A co-worker just emailed this to me. . . .
All this to accomplish and no computer to help find the answers? What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...
-Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895? This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. Itwas taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.
8th Grade Final Exam:
Salina, KS -1895 Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal partsof"lie,""play," and "run."
5. Define case; Illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that youunderstand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time, 125 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushelsof wheat will it hold?3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel,deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy tocarry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 forincidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 permetre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of whichis 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a! Promissory Note, and a Receipt.
U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, andHowe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849,1865.
Orthography (Time, one hour) Do we even know what this is?? (I only know what this is because I took a class in this for my 1st Masters degree. It is the study of language and how it evolves. The class kicked my butt and helped drive home just how tone deaf I am.)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography,etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals,diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ! 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis,mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name thesign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise,blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain,feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation byuse of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba,Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.
Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?! Also shows you how poor our education system has become... and, NO! I don't have theanswers, and I failed the 8th grade test!
Monday, August 15, 2005
"Stuff"
Found this on cnn.com
Man kills wife, self at Atlanta hospital
Monday, August 15, 2005; Posted: 1:53 p.m. EDT (17:53 GMT)
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A 71-year-old man fatally shot his ailing wife in her hospital room and then killed himself Monday morning, authorities said.
Donald Shields walked into St. Joseph's Hospital at about 6 a.m. and shot his wife, Beverly, in her intensive care room before turning the gun on himself, said Fulton County Police spokesman Cpl. Gary Syblis.
The shootings were confined to one room and no other injuries were reported, police said.
Beverly Shields, 70, had suffered from a heart-related illness, Syblis said. He did not say what sort of treatment she had undergone, but said she had been in the hospital for several weeks and that her recovery was not going well.
Syblis would not speculate about a motive and declined to say how the man got a gun into his wife's hospital room.
A hospital spokeswoman declined to comment on the shooting, saying hospital officials were preparing a statement.
St. Joseph's, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, is Atlanta's oldest hospital. The 360-bed facility in north Atlanta specializes in cardiac care.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
I think what bothers me the most about this is I can guess at some rather depressing reasons why this man killed his wife and then himself. Most of them revolve around money and quality of life. If she had been in the hospital and was not doing well by any stretch of the imagination, then I would hope someone would shot me if I were in the same position. Then there is the entire issue of how the hell did he get a gun in the hospital? THAT is just scary!
Am I the only person who is having problems staying awake? Today just seems to be the sort of day when caffeine is a must, a necessity, forget an indulgence.
This weekend I was able to watch several movies and 1/2 of them were great, the other 1/2 were anything but. The 1st set I watched were actually not movies but 3 episodes of my favorite BBC show, Brother Cadfael. I have a sneaking fascination with all things British, and I adore Ellis Peter's (the author of the Cadfael books) as an author.
I also watched Dragons: Fire and Ice. That was a cute animated flick that had no real value beyond yet another moral lesson in communication and how ultimate power corrupts. I liked it but then again, I like almost anything involving dragons. After that, watched Boogeyman. Do not waste your time. I can't say it was awful because the 1st half was really spooky, but it flopped about half way through. I then watched Pirates of the Caribbean - again. I love that movie! After that, watched Cirque du Soleil's Dralion. I enjoy those just because the people involved are flexible beyond belief and the choreography is fascinating.
This weekend was a rather interesting one. On Saturday at work we had some of our problem children. There are 2 brothers who come in to my library practically every day. I have no problem with that, but what annoys me to no end is how they feel this public facility is their personal living room. They frequently get angry because they are told that their shoes MUST remain on their feet. The chairs are just that, the word "rocking" is not attached anywhere to any chair in this building. Food and drinks are not allowed in the building because, duh, there are computers, electronics, books, and other easily damaged items all through this building. Computer usage is strictly first come, first serve. You do not get to harass other patrons to the point they get off the computers. Yet these concepts seem to escape these 2 juvenile delinquents.
(FYI-Lollipops are seriously frowned upon in the library. Along with using slices of bacon or sandwich meat in general as bookmark. As a civic kindness, please remember that food is not a good bookmark.)
I also had some company this weekend. I must say it was rather fun to have someone new to talk with a do things with. I definitely appreciate that aspect of company. It was down right strange having someone in the other bedroom who walks on 2 legs and not 4, but that is a commentary on my life I am not delving too deeply in to.
This week I will be posting comments on the wisdom of moving back home. There are numerous financial reasons to do this, but the biggest is sheer laziness. I spend 95% of my free time at my mothers as it is. If I am going to be spending my nights there, then I want my own bed so I can get some sleep. The floor is not the most comfortable place to sleep, esp. when your bones scream at you all the next week.
I am going to spend most of this next week up at my mother's and it is going to be a rather trying experiment. I am going up straight from work Tuesday, spending Wednesday running my sister around, and then praying for a decent nights sleep the rest of the week. I will keep everyone posted as the week goes by.
Man kills wife, self at Atlanta hospital
Monday, August 15, 2005; Posted: 1:53 p.m. EDT (17:53 GMT)
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A 71-year-old man fatally shot his ailing wife in her hospital room and then killed himself Monday morning, authorities said.
Donald Shields walked into St. Joseph's Hospital at about 6 a.m. and shot his wife, Beverly, in her intensive care room before turning the gun on himself, said Fulton County Police spokesman Cpl. Gary Syblis.
The shootings were confined to one room and no other injuries were reported, police said.
Beverly Shields, 70, had suffered from a heart-related illness, Syblis said. He did not say what sort of treatment she had undergone, but said she had been in the hospital for several weeks and that her recovery was not going well.
Syblis would not speculate about a motive and declined to say how the man got a gun into his wife's hospital room.
A hospital spokeswoman declined to comment on the shooting, saying hospital officials were preparing a statement.
St. Joseph's, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, is Atlanta's oldest hospital. The 360-bed facility in north Atlanta specializes in cardiac care.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
I think what bothers me the most about this is I can guess at some rather depressing reasons why this man killed his wife and then himself. Most of them revolve around money and quality of life. If she had been in the hospital and was not doing well by any stretch of the imagination, then I would hope someone would shot me if I were in the same position. Then there is the entire issue of how the hell did he get a gun in the hospital? THAT is just scary!
Am I the only person who is having problems staying awake? Today just seems to be the sort of day when caffeine is a must, a necessity, forget an indulgence.
This weekend I was able to watch several movies and 1/2 of them were great, the other 1/2 were anything but. The 1st set I watched were actually not movies but 3 episodes of my favorite BBC show, Brother Cadfael. I have a sneaking fascination with all things British, and I adore Ellis Peter's (the author of the Cadfael books) as an author.
I also watched Dragons: Fire and Ice. That was a cute animated flick that had no real value beyond yet another moral lesson in communication and how ultimate power corrupts. I liked it but then again, I like almost anything involving dragons. After that, watched Boogeyman. Do not waste your time. I can't say it was awful because the 1st half was really spooky, but it flopped about half way through. I then watched Pirates of the Caribbean - again. I love that movie! After that, watched Cirque du Soleil's Dralion. I enjoy those just because the people involved are flexible beyond belief and the choreography is fascinating.
This weekend was a rather interesting one. On Saturday at work we had some of our problem children. There are 2 brothers who come in to my library practically every day. I have no problem with that, but what annoys me to no end is how they feel this public facility is their personal living room. They frequently get angry because they are told that their shoes MUST remain on their feet. The chairs are just that, the word "rocking" is not attached anywhere to any chair in this building. Food and drinks are not allowed in the building because, duh, there are computers, electronics, books, and other easily damaged items all through this building. Computer usage is strictly first come, first serve. You do not get to harass other patrons to the point they get off the computers. Yet these concepts seem to escape these 2 juvenile delinquents.
(FYI-Lollipops are seriously frowned upon in the library. Along with using slices of bacon or sandwich meat in general as bookmark. As a civic kindness, please remember that food is not a good bookmark.)
I also had some company this weekend. I must say it was rather fun to have someone new to talk with a do things with. I definitely appreciate that aspect of company. It was down right strange having someone in the other bedroom who walks on 2 legs and not 4, but that is a commentary on my life I am not delving too deeply in to.
This week I will be posting comments on the wisdom of moving back home. There are numerous financial reasons to do this, but the biggest is sheer laziness. I spend 95% of my free time at my mothers as it is. If I am going to be spending my nights there, then I want my own bed so I can get some sleep. The floor is not the most comfortable place to sleep, esp. when your bones scream at you all the next week.
I am going to spend most of this next week up at my mother's and it is going to be a rather trying experiment. I am going up straight from work Tuesday, spending Wednesday running my sister around, and then praying for a decent nights sleep the rest of the week. I will keep everyone posted as the week goes by.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
This is just a sign of how accurate today's reporter's are.
By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer Sat Aug 13, 1:06 PM ET
KANDAGAL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military has gone low-tech. Frustrated with the limitations of using its fleet of modern Humvee four-wheel-drives in rugged mountains with few roads, a battalion of Marines has enlisted the help of transport vehicles that Afghan villagers have been using for centuries — donkeys.
About 30 of the animals have been rented from local farmers to haul food and bottled water to hundreds of Afghan and U.S. troops on a major two-week operation to battle militants deep in remote mountains in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province.
"With all the smart bombs and the modern stuff in war nowadays, this is the best way for us to resupply our troops there," said Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan, commander of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which is based in Hawaii. "It's also much cheaper for the U.S. taxpayer for us to rent the donkeys than for everything to be air-dropped."
Using aircraft to resupply the forces is also dangerous.
In late June, militants in the area shot down a special forces Chinook helicopter, killing all 16 troops on board, as it tried to land in one of the many steep-sided, wooded valleys that snake their way through the mountains.
The operation, which began Friday, is aimed at flushing those fighters out of the valley and U.S. commanders are nervous about risking other choppers in the process.
From a temporary resupply base in a corn field near Kandagal, a tiny village, at one end of Korengal Valley, where the militants are suspected of hiding, squads of Marines with heavy packs on their backs led out lines of donkeys, each laden with two boxes of water, a box of food rations and a sack of grain.
While each Marine carried enough food and water for themselves for two days, the donkeys gave each squad supplies for an extra 48 hours. Once finished, the animals would be led back to the resupply base to load up again and then return to the mountains.
Before coming to Afghanistan, some of the troops received training in handling donkeys at the Marines' Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Nevada, said Capt. John Moshane.
"Marines have used donkeys since the American revolution," he said, as each animal was being spray painted with a number for identification.
Still, the donkeys' stubbornness to cooperate and their determination to try to mate with each other whenever they were untied persistently frustrated their handlers. When one Marine slapped one of the animals on the rump in exasperation, the donkey promptly gave him a sharp kick with one of its hind legs.
Donkeys have long been used by armies in Afghanistan, including by mujahedeen independence fighters against Soviet troops in the 1980s. They have also been popular with smugglers who use them to sneak loads of opium, illegally mined gems and timber across the country's mountainous borders.
By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer Sat Aug 13, 1:06 PM ET
KANDAGAL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military has gone low-tech. Frustrated with the limitations of using its fleet of modern Humvee four-wheel-drives in rugged mountains with few roads, a battalion of Marines has enlisted the help of transport vehicles that Afghan villagers have been using for centuries — donkeys.
About 30 of the animals have been rented from local farmers to haul food and bottled water to hundreds of Afghan and U.S. troops on a major two-week operation to battle militants deep in remote mountains in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province.
"With all the smart bombs and the modern stuff in war nowadays, this is the best way for us to resupply our troops there," said Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan, commander of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which is based in Hawaii. "It's also much cheaper for the U.S. taxpayer for us to rent the donkeys than for everything to be air-dropped."
Using aircraft to resupply the forces is also dangerous.
In late June, militants in the area shot down a special forces Chinook helicopter, killing all 16 troops on board, as it tried to land in one of the many steep-sided, wooded valleys that snake their way through the mountains.
The operation, which began Friday, is aimed at flushing those fighters out of the valley and U.S. commanders are nervous about risking other choppers in the process.
From a temporary resupply base in a corn field near Kandagal, a tiny village, at one end of Korengal Valley, where the militants are suspected of hiding, squads of Marines with heavy packs on their backs led out lines of donkeys, each laden with two boxes of water, a box of food rations and a sack of grain.
While each Marine carried enough food and water for themselves for two days, the donkeys gave each squad supplies for an extra 48 hours. Once finished, the animals would be led back to the resupply base to load up again and then return to the mountains.
Before coming to Afghanistan, some of the troops received training in handling donkeys at the Marines' Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Nevada, said Capt. John Moshane.
"Marines have used donkeys since the American revolution," he said, as each animal was being spray painted with a number for identification.
Still, the donkeys' stubbornness to cooperate and their determination to try to mate with each other whenever they were untied persistently frustrated their handlers. When one Marine slapped one of the animals on the rump in exasperation, the donkey promptly gave him a sharp kick with one of its hind legs.
Donkeys have long been used by armies in Afghanistan, including by mujahedeen independence fighters against Soviet troops in the 1980s. They have also been popular with smugglers who use them to sneak loads of opium, illegally mined gems and timber across the country's mountainous borders.
Some Camp
I watched a really campy Japanese flick that I have to recommend. If you go to Amazon (& I hope this works), you can see the write up for the movie called Kibakichi. It is amazingly awful & laughed all the way through it. For those who like Bruce Campbell and movies like Army of Darkness, then you have got to try this movie. It is hilarious!
This summary gives the best description of what happens. I stole it off Amazon and was written up by D. Allen "Wolfman" -
"In the early 1700's, men and monsters lived in peace with each other and nature. It wasn't long before men lost their fear of mosters, and soon turned on them, determined to wipe the monsters from Japan. Though largely successful, small bands of monsters survived, hiding out deep within the mountains. Enter Kibakichi, a ronin from a slaughtered band of werewolves. Kibakichi happens upon one of the last surviving towns populated by monsters. The head of the clan has a dream that once more, men and monsters can live together, though the town feeds off of gamblers who come to the local casino. Though Kibakichi warns them against this corse of action (Kibakichi once trusted humans, but his trust lead to the massacre of his clan of werewolves, who, interestingly enough, are a clan of Japanese dressed up like Native Americans!), the clan leader persists, putting his trust in a band of humans (what's the clue that the humans will betray the monsters? How about the fact that the humans are all dressed in "Hellraiser" / cenobite style outfits, and their leader wears a Ku Klux Klan style hood!) The humans decide to betray the gullible monsters (gee, we didn't see this coming!), and with Gatling Guns bought from England (and dispite it being the 1700's, a batch of billet aluminum cased hand grenades, as well as WWII German "Patato Masher" Grenades), the humans begin to decimate the township of monsters. This pisses off Kibakitchi so much, he turns into a werewolf, and there begins a classic monster bash, straight out of "The Guiver"! "
What makes it so funny for me is the dubbing. It is absolutely awful. You have to wonder just what was really being said because there are so many scenes when the dialogue and action do not match that you do not notice until later that the lip movement is off even more. For those who have "cheesy" movie nights this is one I definitely have to recommend.
This summary gives the best description of what happens. I stole it off Amazon and was written up by D. Allen "Wolfman" -
"In the early 1700's, men and monsters lived in peace with each other and nature. It wasn't long before men lost their fear of mosters, and soon turned on them, determined to wipe the monsters from Japan. Though largely successful, small bands of monsters survived, hiding out deep within the mountains. Enter Kibakichi, a ronin from a slaughtered band of werewolves. Kibakichi happens upon one of the last surviving towns populated by monsters. The head of the clan has a dream that once more, men and monsters can live together, though the town feeds off of gamblers who come to the local casino. Though Kibakichi warns them against this corse of action (Kibakichi once trusted humans, but his trust lead to the massacre of his clan of werewolves, who, interestingly enough, are a clan of Japanese dressed up like Native Americans!), the clan leader persists, putting his trust in a band of humans (what's the clue that the humans will betray the monsters? How about the fact that the humans are all dressed in "Hellraiser" / cenobite style outfits, and their leader wears a Ku Klux Klan style hood!) The humans decide to betray the gullible monsters (gee, we didn't see this coming!), and with Gatling Guns bought from England (and dispite it being the 1700's, a batch of billet aluminum cased hand grenades, as well as WWII German "Patato Masher" Grenades), the humans begin to decimate the township of monsters. This pisses off Kibakitchi so much, he turns into a werewolf, and there begins a classic monster bash, straight out of "The Guiver"! "
What makes it so funny for me is the dubbing. It is absolutely awful. You have to wonder just what was really being said because there are so many scenes when the dialogue and action do not match that you do not notice until later that the lip movement is off even more. For those who have "cheesy" movie nights this is one I definitely have to recommend.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Some humor
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.
THEY CAN TRACK A COW, BUT CAN'T TRACK A KIDNAPPED CHILD.
CONSTITUTIONThey keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore. TEN COMMANDMENTSThe real reason that at we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse?You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment! And Last but not least..... George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart:"Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her ass off to jail."
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.
Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches!)
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
6. The tears happen so endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county or to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
How to pass an immigration test in the United States...
Mujibar was trying to get into the USA legally through Immigration. The Officer said, "Mujibar, you have passed all the tests, except there is one more test. Unless you pass it you cannot enter the United States of America.
Mujibar said, "I am ready."
The officer said, "Make a sentence using the words Yellow, Pink and Green."
Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said, "Mister Officer, I am ready."
The Officer said, "Go ahead."
Mujibar said, "The telephone goes green, green, green, and I pink it up, and say, 'Yellow, this is Mujibar.'"
....Mujibar now lives in a neighborhood near you and works for Verizon in their Customer Service Department
WINDOW SIGN:"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH A SINGLE AMERICAN" Doesn't that just make you see red???This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia. You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching on this business . .. and that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the angry crowds back.But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors simply make their statement . . We are a society which holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty And after all, it is just a sign. You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign? Answer: A Funeral Home (Who said morticians had no sense of humor?)
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.
THEY CAN TRACK A COW, BUT CAN'T TRACK A KIDNAPPED CHILD.
CONSTITUTIONThey keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore. TEN COMMANDMENTSThe real reason that at we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse?You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment! And Last but not least..... George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart:"Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her ass off to jail."
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.
Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches!)
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
6. The tears happen so endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county or to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
How to pass an immigration test in the United States...
Mujibar was trying to get into the USA legally through Immigration. The Officer said, "Mujibar, you have passed all the tests, except there is one more test. Unless you pass it you cannot enter the United States of America.
Mujibar said, "I am ready."
The officer said, "Make a sentence using the words Yellow, Pink and Green."
Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said, "Mister Officer, I am ready."
The Officer said, "Go ahead."
Mujibar said, "The telephone goes green, green, green, and I pink it up, and say, 'Yellow, this is Mujibar.'"
....Mujibar now lives in a neighborhood near you and works for Verizon in their Customer Service Department
WINDOW SIGN:"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH A SINGLE AMERICAN" Doesn't that just make you see red???This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia. You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching on this business . .. and that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the angry crowds back.But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors simply make their statement . . We are a society which holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty And after all, it is just a sign. You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign? Answer: A Funeral Home (Who said morticians had no sense of humor?)
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
An Idea I Want To Run With
Several of the people who regularly post on my blog (or just know me) had the idea of my professionally reviewing books. I like the idea but have no real idea how to enter that particular field. As a superstitious soul, I believe when an idea is presented multiple times, then you should take the hint and grab it with both hands and run as far and fast as you can with the idea. exmi had the idea of adding ads to my blog for the books I review and seeing how long it takes to get noticed. The 2nd idea put forth was to check with the local papers and seeing if they would be interested in hiring me as a book reviewer. The 3rd idea mentioned was to email/contact other book reviewers and see how they got in the field.
If anyone has any additional comments and suggestions, then I am more than willing to entertain them and I'll keep everyone updated on how this goes. My first, biggest, question is - how do I add those ads to my blog? I know that I'm tired but those directions had me REALLY confused!
If anyone has any additional comments and suggestions, then I am more than willing to entertain them and I'll keep everyone updated on how this goes. My first, biggest, question is - how do I add those ads to my blog? I know that I'm tired but those directions had me REALLY confused!
Yesterday was an ADVENTURE!
I am going to put this chronological order, so bear with me. But as of 3:00 p.m. yesterday, I am officially filing chapter 13 bankruptcy. It was far less painful to file compared to finding an affordable lawyer. I am not sure what that says.
First off, I had the exquisite pleasure of calling my boss up and telling him I would not be in to work because of various financial difficulties that needed to be dealt with immediately. Once that was accomplished, I headed off to meet the 2nd bankruptcy lawyer. Let me interject a bit of back ground here. The 1st lawyer I met with was incredibly nice in a down home, good old boy manner. However, they did not discuss any options with me and informed me that I would be filling Chapter 7 and that would be $1300 due immediately. Well, if I had $1300, I would not be talking to the lawyers! Sheez! So I decided to follow my shopping mantra of "Price EVERYTHING!" So I made yesterday's appointments.
Anyway, so after making the call, I went to meet the lawyer. I was already feeling a bit iffy about this entire experience, was terrified of how much this would cost, and uneasy because the add had a really weird looking fellow running around, poking his head around corners and just being strange. I could not get the humor in the character. When I walked in there, the staff was incredibly professional, answered all sorts of questions, told me about the options, and gave me their suggestions. After answering my questions, I agreed that a chapter 13 would be my best option, and in a year or so I would convert to a chapter 7 & my life would improve dramatically. The problem was they not only wanted $200/month, but the lawyer himself. He kept striding in to his paralegals office like God Himself, asking if she was done, how much longer she would take, and never once actually looked at me. I left there feeling slightly more optimistic about my situation, but leery of hiring him as my lawyer.
I then took the time between appointments to run errands, run in to an old college friend who was shocked by the length of my hair, and then got a magnificent phone call. Old of my closest friends has had her baby and I am beyond thrilled for her and her husband. I hope they realize how lucky they are and know how happy I am for them because this is perfect for them. I m so thrilled!
Enough gushing and on to my 3rd lawyer appointment. He is proof that the old cliche of "third time is the charm" is a cliche for a reason. I walked in to his office and felt relaxed by the ambiance immediately. Compared to the 1st to, who were in hole in the wall, crowded, dark, dirty locations, this man had renovated an older home in to his office and it was surprisingly welcoming. I admit that I did not appreciate having to wait 45 minutes, but when the couple left who had been taking up my appointment, I felt guilty for being impatient.
It was an elderly couple who, from what I had blatantly eaves dropped on, were having problems with the insurance company of the man who put her on a walker and him in multiple casts. She was obviously upset and I know my new lawyer spent a lot of time calming her down and was incredibly nice.
So, it was my turn. He looked everything over and not only gave me the same information lawyer #2 had given me, but explained which way I could go for all the options open to me and their consequences. He then gave me his recommendation and all the reasons he felt that was my best option. Following that, he explained to me why he would not do a few things because, in his opinion, I am "barely making enough to eat after I take my fees out. I'm not going to do that to you." Any guesses as to why I made the decision to have him represent me?
So, I filled out some additional forms, we reviewed time lines, and that was it. He then laughed at me because I was stunned at how painless he had made the experience, and he escorted me out of the building, just as he had with the couple before me. I definitely appreciated that level of common courtesy. Mostly because it is so rare!
I then drove home and talked to the new mom and heard all about the new baby and its so thrilling to know that 2 such wonderful people are now parents. I am just proud as can be because they are going to be excellent parents and that child is going to have a great life. Am I being too cheerleader-ish?
I then spent the next few hours watching TV & reading. Out of that short list, I read The Icon by Neil Olson, Bedlam's Edge edited by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edgehill, and started Ghosts by Noel Hynd. The Icon was decent, but rather dull. The thrill was definitely absent. It was one of those painful books were the author tries soo hard to be grammatically correct, but fails and it comes across as remarkably stilted and fake. There was no real emotion to the writing. If it was a textbook, I would recommend it. It is a thriller though so something went seriously awry, which is a shame because the premise is a good one. The author just could not carry through with it.
Next was Bedlam's Edge. I like Lackey any which way, so this was a fun read. There is nothing complicated about this collection of short stories dealing with elves from Lackey's world. In fact, most were so simple that even if the authors wanted too, I doubt there was any way to stretch the tales into a longer book. But they were fun and the editor's notes at the end clarifies all sorts of strangeness about the other elven series and gives those fascinating details that just make an author more fun.
Ghosts was probably a mistake given what happened later on. I will post a more detailed review later, but suffice to say that the story is amazingly well done without any of the gore of King or just strangeness of Koontz. I am enjoying it immensely.
The problem lies in what happened from 8:00 p.m. until midnight last night. Starting at 8:00 p.m. all 3 of the dogs started barking like lunatics. This is not unusual by any means. I mean really, 1 is a fox hound used to hunt deer and possum and who knows what else; the other is a beagle also used to hunt deer, possum and raccoons among other things; and then there is the pit bull/lab mix who can take it in to her head that something is debating an invasion on go on a barking frenzy just because.
I ignored them because they routinely go on barking frenzies because something is in the trees that they feel must be barked at. Around 10:00 p.m., I started paying attention because my 3 indoor cats all scrambled away from the 1 door, the 2 cats I keep in the laundry room at night so they can eat started acting up, and the 3 dogs came tearing around to the pen, hackles raised, teeth bared, growling, and acting like they wanted to tear something to bloody bits. At the same time, the ladder out front fell down and something tried the FORTUNATELY locked door. The one closest to my bedroom. For some reason, I called the police. They arrived and by the time everything was said and done, it was midnight before the nice police officer left. Since I get up at 5:00 a.m., I am seriously dragging today. I did not feel too bad or like too much of an idiot because while the nice officer could not tell me what had come scratching at the door, it was something and the dogs were good doggies and chased whatever/whomever away. They got treats this morning.
It is now Wednesday and I am soooo looking forward to going home and relaxing. Just a few errands and then I can crash out in my bed. I just have to get through the next few hours. WAAAH!
First off, I had the exquisite pleasure of calling my boss up and telling him I would not be in to work because of various financial difficulties that needed to be dealt with immediately. Once that was accomplished, I headed off to meet the 2nd bankruptcy lawyer. Let me interject a bit of back ground here. The 1st lawyer I met with was incredibly nice in a down home, good old boy manner. However, they did not discuss any options with me and informed me that I would be filling Chapter 7 and that would be $1300 due immediately. Well, if I had $1300, I would not be talking to the lawyers! Sheez! So I decided to follow my shopping mantra of "Price EVERYTHING!" So I made yesterday's appointments.
Anyway, so after making the call, I went to meet the lawyer. I was already feeling a bit iffy about this entire experience, was terrified of how much this would cost, and uneasy because the add had a really weird looking fellow running around, poking his head around corners and just being strange. I could not get the humor in the character. When I walked in there, the staff was incredibly professional, answered all sorts of questions, told me about the options, and gave me their suggestions. After answering my questions, I agreed that a chapter 13 would be my best option, and in a year or so I would convert to a chapter 7 & my life would improve dramatically. The problem was they not only wanted $200/month, but the lawyer himself. He kept striding in to his paralegals office like God Himself, asking if she was done, how much longer she would take, and never once actually looked at me. I left there feeling slightly more optimistic about my situation, but leery of hiring him as my lawyer.
I then took the time between appointments to run errands, run in to an old college friend who was shocked by the length of my hair, and then got a magnificent phone call. Old of my closest friends has had her baby and I am beyond thrilled for her and her husband. I hope they realize how lucky they are and know how happy I am for them because this is perfect for them. I m so thrilled!
Enough gushing and on to my 3rd lawyer appointment. He is proof that the old cliche of "third time is the charm" is a cliche for a reason. I walked in to his office and felt relaxed by the ambiance immediately. Compared to the 1st to, who were in hole in the wall, crowded, dark, dirty locations, this man had renovated an older home in to his office and it was surprisingly welcoming. I admit that I did not appreciate having to wait 45 minutes, but when the couple left who had been taking up my appointment, I felt guilty for being impatient.
It was an elderly couple who, from what I had blatantly eaves dropped on, were having problems with the insurance company of the man who put her on a walker and him in multiple casts. She was obviously upset and I know my new lawyer spent a lot of time calming her down and was incredibly nice.
So, it was my turn. He looked everything over and not only gave me the same information lawyer #2 had given me, but explained which way I could go for all the options open to me and their consequences. He then gave me his recommendation and all the reasons he felt that was my best option. Following that, he explained to me why he would not do a few things because, in his opinion, I am "barely making enough to eat after I take my fees out. I'm not going to do that to you." Any guesses as to why I made the decision to have him represent me?
So, I filled out some additional forms, we reviewed time lines, and that was it. He then laughed at me because I was stunned at how painless he had made the experience, and he escorted me out of the building, just as he had with the couple before me. I definitely appreciated that level of common courtesy. Mostly because it is so rare!
I then drove home and talked to the new mom and heard all about the new baby and its so thrilling to know that 2 such wonderful people are now parents. I am just proud as can be because they are going to be excellent parents and that child is going to have a great life. Am I being too cheerleader-ish?
I then spent the next few hours watching TV & reading. Out of that short list, I read The Icon by Neil Olson, Bedlam's Edge edited by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edgehill, and started Ghosts by Noel Hynd. The Icon was decent, but rather dull. The thrill was definitely absent. It was one of those painful books were the author tries soo hard to be grammatically correct, but fails and it comes across as remarkably stilted and fake. There was no real emotion to the writing. If it was a textbook, I would recommend it. It is a thriller though so something went seriously awry, which is a shame because the premise is a good one. The author just could not carry through with it.
Next was Bedlam's Edge. I like Lackey any which way, so this was a fun read. There is nothing complicated about this collection of short stories dealing with elves from Lackey's world. In fact, most were so simple that even if the authors wanted too, I doubt there was any way to stretch the tales into a longer book. But they were fun and the editor's notes at the end clarifies all sorts of strangeness about the other elven series and gives those fascinating details that just make an author more fun.
Ghosts was probably a mistake given what happened later on. I will post a more detailed review later, but suffice to say that the story is amazingly well done without any of the gore of King or just strangeness of Koontz. I am enjoying it immensely.
The problem lies in what happened from 8:00 p.m. until midnight last night. Starting at 8:00 p.m. all 3 of the dogs started barking like lunatics. This is not unusual by any means. I mean really, 1 is a fox hound used to hunt deer and possum and who knows what else; the other is a beagle also used to hunt deer, possum and raccoons among other things; and then there is the pit bull/lab mix who can take it in to her head that something is debating an invasion on go on a barking frenzy just because.
I ignored them because they routinely go on barking frenzies because something is in the trees that they feel must be barked at. Around 10:00 p.m., I started paying attention because my 3 indoor cats all scrambled away from the 1 door, the 2 cats I keep in the laundry room at night so they can eat started acting up, and the 3 dogs came tearing around to the pen, hackles raised, teeth bared, growling, and acting like they wanted to tear something to bloody bits. At the same time, the ladder out front fell down and something tried the FORTUNATELY locked door. The one closest to my bedroom. For some reason, I called the police. They arrived and by the time everything was said and done, it was midnight before the nice police officer left. Since I get up at 5:00 a.m., I am seriously dragging today. I did not feel too bad or like too much of an idiot because while the nice officer could not tell me what had come scratching at the door, it was something and the dogs were good doggies and chased whatever/whomever away. They got treats this morning.
It is now Wednesday and I am soooo looking forward to going home and relaxing. Just a few errands and then I can crash out in my bed. I just have to get through the next few hours. WAAAH!
Monday, August 08, 2005
I Did Some More Reading
This weekend I basically hid myself between the covers of several books. I had no desire to even pretend that I was capable of functioning after last week. Since a large chunk of Friday was spent working, whimpering about the 2 checks I got to write so that I could have my car back, and then watching"Constantine" and "Steam Boy" with exMI, that day was as close as I got to being functional. Since I ended up regretting that wonderful tasting Brunswick stew I had from Vandy's, Saturday was especially appalling.
BUT! I did manage to ignore my woes by reading. What did I read you ask? Well, 1st I read Jim Butcher's Academ's Fury. If you have not read anything by him, get your local library to find it for you and make your own decision. The link to his website with far better write ups than I can give is on the side bar. I love his stuff. It is blatantly obvious what is happening but the development of the characters is why I enjoy the books.
I admit that I really have no problem with formula writing. What I can not stand is when the characters are stagnant and only go from 1 scene to the other & repeat themselves endlessly. To go back to my favorite example, Laurell Hamilton's books were interesting because the characters were growing up and realizing that the world is not all black & white, along with that hard truth to not only swallow but remember that your truth is not the other person's truth. But then Hamilton discovered the wonderful world of soft porn and has gone down that road with increasing glee ever since.
Next, I read Laurence Yep's The Tiger's Apprentice. The write up at work reads like this, "A tiger, a monkey, a dragon, and a twelve-year-old Chinese American boy fight to keep a magic talisman out of the hands of an enemy who would use its power to destroy the world." I enjoyed it because not only is Yep an excellent writer, but I enjoy reading about world myths and the different interpretations and emphasizes each culture gives the myths.
I then read Isabel Allende's City of Beasts and Kingdom of the Gold Dragon. These are Isabel Allende's 1st children's books. I picked them up because I adore her other books. The House of Spirits being just one of them, but probably the one most Anglo's would recognize thanks to the movie version with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. These were fascinating reads just because of the sheer research that was done by the author and then the translator just to get every detail right. I wish that I read Spanish because I know that the originals are vastly better than these translations, yet these were great reads.
The details about these is that the main character is your typical California small town kid whose mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She has to go in for treatments so he ends up with his rather eccentric (not to mention difficult) grandmother, Kate, who is a photographer for National Geographic. He ends up going on assignment with her and each book is devoted to the adventures, friends, lessons, and experiences they have while they travel. The first book they end up in the Amazon and the other they end up in a small kingdom in the Himalayas'. The details were absolutely incredible and I can't say enough good things about them.
I also read the mysteries by Pat McIntosh - Harper's Quine and The Nichoalus Feast. Those were good but because my knowledge of medieval Scottish life is only so deep, there were nuances that I just did not get, especially were language was concerned. I know what a bannock and haggis is, but some of the local color in the form of language had me puzzled. If you are a fan of mysteries based in medieval times and like Scottish history, then I can recommend these. If not, then do not touch them. I liked them, but then again, I like Ellis Peters and Brother Cadfael.
I changed cultures and went to a mystery set in Montana dealing with Native American Indians and dinosaurs. That one, well, skip it. Carnasaur Crimes by Christine Gentry is not worth it. I was bored to the point I skipped chapters and barely read the last paragraph.
I went back to YA literature and read the Lion Boy books by Zizou Corder. Those were another series that I enjoyed not only because they dealt with a boy who could talk with cats, but because a lot of African myths were mixed in and it was a wonderful combination of futuristic worlds with science and fantasy, all mixed in to an adventure where the hero is a lot smarter than anyone gives him credit for. The only big problem was the heavy handed political messages slathered in to the story. If you can ignore those, then it was a good story. The political stance taken was way too heavy handed, even for me in desperate need of a place to mentally hide. I still enjoyed the books & intend to read the conclusion, but I would never buy them and I'd warn anyone reading them for the 1st time that there are some serious political opinions being put forth.
Other than some mental hiding in fantasy land, I did nothing exciting. I turned my cell phone off, picked blue berries, cleaned my home really well, cleaned a few closets out, took lots of naps, and generally did nothing but turn in to a vegetable. I seriously recommend the practice when life throws one too many curve balls your way.
BUT! I did manage to ignore my woes by reading. What did I read you ask? Well, 1st I read Jim Butcher's Academ's Fury. If you have not read anything by him, get your local library to find it for you and make your own decision. The link to his website with far better write ups than I can give is on the side bar. I love his stuff. It is blatantly obvious what is happening but the development of the characters is why I enjoy the books.
I admit that I really have no problem with formula writing. What I can not stand is when the characters are stagnant and only go from 1 scene to the other & repeat themselves endlessly. To go back to my favorite example, Laurell Hamilton's books were interesting because the characters were growing up and realizing that the world is not all black & white, along with that hard truth to not only swallow but remember that your truth is not the other person's truth. But then Hamilton discovered the wonderful world of soft porn and has gone down that road with increasing glee ever since.
Next, I read Laurence Yep's The Tiger's Apprentice. The write up at work reads like this, "A tiger, a monkey, a dragon, and a twelve-year-old Chinese American boy fight to keep a magic talisman out of the hands of an enemy who would use its power to destroy the world." I enjoyed it because not only is Yep an excellent writer, but I enjoy reading about world myths and the different interpretations and emphasizes each culture gives the myths.
I then read Isabel Allende's City of Beasts and Kingdom of the Gold Dragon. These are Isabel Allende's 1st children's books. I picked them up because I adore her other books. The House of Spirits being just one of them, but probably the one most Anglo's would recognize thanks to the movie version with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. These were fascinating reads just because of the sheer research that was done by the author and then the translator just to get every detail right. I wish that I read Spanish because I know that the originals are vastly better than these translations, yet these were great reads.
The details about these is that the main character is your typical California small town kid whose mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She has to go in for treatments so he ends up with his rather eccentric (not to mention difficult) grandmother, Kate, who is a photographer for National Geographic. He ends up going on assignment with her and each book is devoted to the adventures, friends, lessons, and experiences they have while they travel. The first book they end up in the Amazon and the other they end up in a small kingdom in the Himalayas'. The details were absolutely incredible and I can't say enough good things about them.
I also read the mysteries by Pat McIntosh - Harper's Quine and The Nichoalus Feast. Those were good but because my knowledge of medieval Scottish life is only so deep, there were nuances that I just did not get, especially were language was concerned. I know what a bannock and haggis is, but some of the local color in the form of language had me puzzled. If you are a fan of mysteries based in medieval times and like Scottish history, then I can recommend these. If not, then do not touch them. I liked them, but then again, I like Ellis Peters and Brother Cadfael.
I changed cultures and went to a mystery set in Montana dealing with Native American Indians and dinosaurs. That one, well, skip it. Carnasaur Crimes by Christine Gentry is not worth it. I was bored to the point I skipped chapters and barely read the last paragraph.
I went back to YA literature and read the Lion Boy books by Zizou Corder. Those were another series that I enjoyed not only because they dealt with a boy who could talk with cats, but because a lot of African myths were mixed in and it was a wonderful combination of futuristic worlds with science and fantasy, all mixed in to an adventure where the hero is a lot smarter than anyone gives him credit for. The only big problem was the heavy handed political messages slathered in to the story. If you can ignore those, then it was a good story. The political stance taken was way too heavy handed, even for me in desperate need of a place to mentally hide. I still enjoyed the books & intend to read the conclusion, but I would never buy them and I'd warn anyone reading them for the 1st time that there are some serious political opinions being put forth.
Other than some mental hiding in fantasy land, I did nothing exciting. I turned my cell phone off, picked blue berries, cleaned my home really well, cleaned a few closets out, took lots of naps, and generally did nothing but turn in to a vegetable. I seriously recommend the practice when life throws one too many curve balls your way.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Want to join a new country?
A friend from the UK just emailed this to me.
"This is an interesting story. (My friend) started watching a new six-part series on BBC2 this week. It's called"How to Start Your Own Country." Danny Wallace is a Londoner with ambition - he's attempting to start his own country in his flat (after failing in his invasion of Eel Pie Island, and being unable to purchase an island for his own use). This week, he delivered notice to Tony Blair that his flat is seceding from the UK. He is recruiting citizens on the internet. (When [she] checked, he had just over 3700.) If you'd like to read about his inspiration for this, and follow his quest to establish his own country (even join and be a citizen), here's the website:http://www.citizensrequired.comNot too sure how serious this guy is, but it's an interesting story, and very funny."
"This is an interesting story. (My friend) started watching a new six-part series on BBC2 this week. It's called"How to Start Your Own Country." Danny Wallace is a Londoner with ambition - he's attempting to start his own country in his flat (after failing in his invasion of Eel Pie Island, and being unable to purchase an island for his own use). This week, he delivered notice to Tony Blair that his flat is seceding from the UK. He is recruiting citizens on the internet. (When [she] checked, he had just over 3700.) If you'd like to read about his inspiration for this, and follow his quest to establish his own country (even join and be a citizen), here's the website:http://www.citizensrequired.comNot too sure how serious this guy is, but it's an interesting story, and very funny."
Ramblings
Here are some links that I will add to the side bar, but were sent to me by exMi.
http://offmyblog.blogspot.com/
http://zombie-slayer.blogspot.com/
http://zombielama.blogspot.com/
http://underachieverscorner.blogspot.com/
http://www.wayofsamurai.blogspot.com/
http://mustbetuesday.blogspot.com/
This one is an author I have really been impressed with.
http://victorialaurie.com/
Zombie Slayer & Zombie Lama are definitely entertaining and have rants that spark some rather interesting conversations. I would suggest checking them out.
Beyond that bit of extra light reading for your pleasure, not much else is going on. I managed to sleep last night, got my car back (for a mere $75). Sent off for my pseudo rebate from my car insurance since they could not find me a tow truck. Applied for another 3 jobs today. Set up 2 more appointments with lawyers to discuss bankruptcy options. Planning to treat my grumbling landlord exMi to take out from Vandy's B-B-Que tonight & maybe rent a few action/adventure flicks as well. I think The Transporter, Man of the House, are 2 definite renters, though no idea what else I might get. If I get anything. Life is bumbling along.
About the only really exciting conversation going on now is the ongoing debate over sex in chick lit, romances, and the multi-genre romances like Laurell Hamilton & L.A. Banks.
Let me start off by saying that I am all for a good sex scene. They are a great supplement seeing as how my love life is best compared to a nun's. That really has never bothered me because I find the monastic life deeply intriguing. I just refuse to give up my bed or my cats, let alone my personal library. If I could find an order that would let me haul those 3 loves with me, then I'd join today. Since that is a true dream (and we all know how well those work out), I figure I will wait and not replace my cats until after I have joined an Augustine or Franciscan order and then figure out how to get my book fetish met and keep my nest. Who knows. None of this might ever happen and I might actually make something approaching a commitment to someone. I doubt it, but who knows?
And NO - no where in my future is anything close to reproduction in my future. Do you understand that exMI? And remember, I have the house keys. I am not above blackmail, tears, threats, or extreme hysteria to get my way. Under no circumstances will any I have children. If the hound DH has puppies, then we will call it even and have further evidence that tarot cards are accurate in screwy ways.
But getting back to the original point of this rambling, a lot of the books I have been reading from the chick lit area have lead female characters I just do NOT understand. I am including the Laurell Hamilton books and several of the supernatural/horror women authors out as well. I love the plots of these stories, but there is something about the concept of going out to a party, meeting a guy, barely getting their name, then going home with them and fucking that justs leaves me cold. It does not matter how well written a book is if that's is the level of stupidity the lead characters demonstrate. I don't care if that solves all sort of plot twist issues. There are better ways around it. All it does, for me at least, is make me pity the character and wonder how they could be so stupid. After all, there is no way anyone can tell what they are getting involved in by jumping in & out of the sack that easily. Then there is the safety question. How on earth can you trust someone after only maybe an hours question not to be an absolute lunatic who stalks small animals while singing nursery rhymes? Or someone who is in to needles or blood letting during sex? If that is what you are in to, great, but how can you know beyond that is the type of bar you met at?
For the books like Hamilton has been putting out, why not just market them as soft porn and start directly competing with Anne Rice instead of trying to hype the stories as mysteries. The only mystery I have found in the latest by Hamilton are how they can get cleaned up after all the sex. Last time I checked, the variety described tends to involve lots of sweat and grinding each other into the ground. Fun, but there is a marked tendency to get sweatstreaks, saliva, cum, and other bits and pieces all over the place. I do not care if you have spells of illusion that allow you to hide the effects. You still need to get cleaned up sooner or later. I mean really, who wants grass in their hair any longer than necessary? And considering how often Hamilton's leading ladies end up in broken glass, splintered furniture and various muddy locations, you would think showers would play a larger role in their lives.
http://offmyblog.blogspot.com/
http://zombie-slayer.blogspot.com/
http://zombielama.blogspot.com/
http://underachieverscorner.blogspot.com/
http://www.wayofsamurai.blogspot.com/
http://mustbetuesday.blogspot.com/
This one is an author I have really been impressed with.
http://victorialaurie.com/
Zombie Slayer & Zombie Lama are definitely entertaining and have rants that spark some rather interesting conversations. I would suggest checking them out.
Beyond that bit of extra light reading for your pleasure, not much else is going on. I managed to sleep last night, got my car back (for a mere $75). Sent off for my pseudo rebate from my car insurance since they could not find me a tow truck. Applied for another 3 jobs today. Set up 2 more appointments with lawyers to discuss bankruptcy options. Planning to treat my grumbling landlord exMi to take out from Vandy's B-B-Que tonight & maybe rent a few action/adventure flicks as well. I think The Transporter, Man of the House, are 2 definite renters, though no idea what else I might get. If I get anything. Life is bumbling along.
About the only really exciting conversation going on now is the ongoing debate over sex in chick lit, romances, and the multi-genre romances like Laurell Hamilton & L.A. Banks.
Let me start off by saying that I am all for a good sex scene. They are a great supplement seeing as how my love life is best compared to a nun's. That really has never bothered me because I find the monastic life deeply intriguing. I just refuse to give up my bed or my cats, let alone my personal library. If I could find an order that would let me haul those 3 loves with me, then I'd join today. Since that is a true dream (and we all know how well those work out), I figure I will wait and not replace my cats until after I have joined an Augustine or Franciscan order and then figure out how to get my book fetish met and keep my nest. Who knows. None of this might ever happen and I might actually make something approaching a commitment to someone. I doubt it, but who knows?
And NO - no where in my future is anything close to reproduction in my future. Do you understand that exMI? And remember, I have the house keys. I am not above blackmail, tears, threats, or extreme hysteria to get my way. Under no circumstances will any I have children. If the hound DH has puppies, then we will call it even and have further evidence that tarot cards are accurate in screwy ways.
But getting back to the original point of this rambling, a lot of the books I have been reading from the chick lit area have lead female characters I just do NOT understand. I am including the Laurell Hamilton books and several of the supernatural/horror women authors out as well. I love the plots of these stories, but there is something about the concept of going out to a party, meeting a guy, barely getting their name, then going home with them and fucking that justs leaves me cold. It does not matter how well written a book is if that's is the level of stupidity the lead characters demonstrate. I don't care if that solves all sort of plot twist issues. There are better ways around it. All it does, for me at least, is make me pity the character and wonder how they could be so stupid. After all, there is no way anyone can tell what they are getting involved in by jumping in & out of the sack that easily. Then there is the safety question. How on earth can you trust someone after only maybe an hours question not to be an absolute lunatic who stalks small animals while singing nursery rhymes? Or someone who is in to needles or blood letting during sex? If that is what you are in to, great, but how can you know beyond that is the type of bar you met at?
For the books like Hamilton has been putting out, why not just market them as soft porn and start directly competing with Anne Rice instead of trying to hype the stories as mysteries. The only mystery I have found in the latest by Hamilton are how they can get cleaned up after all the sex. Last time I checked, the variety described tends to involve lots of sweat and grinding each other into the ground. Fun, but there is a marked tendency to get sweatstreaks, saliva, cum, and other bits and pieces all over the place. I do not care if you have spells of illusion that allow you to hide the effects. You still need to get cleaned up sooner or later. I mean really, who wants grass in their hair any longer than necessary? And considering how often Hamilton's leading ladies end up in broken glass, splintered furniture and various muddy locations, you would think showers would play a larger role in their lives.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
I REALLY Hate Life Sometimes
I often wonder just what I did in a past life to get such a shitty hand dealt to me by life. I mean, I recognize that I am not dying from some incurable form of cancer and that I have a whole host of advantages that millions of people would love to have. But there are ever increasing periods when I wish I was not a good Catholic girl and raised in a traditional Chinese household were ritual suicide was an option.
OK, that was over the top & waaaaaaay more dramatic than the truth is but I am indulging in a pity fest right now so suffer. I certainly am.
I just can not understand why, after busting my ass for 15 years, I have 3 lovely degrees yet am working at a position that someone with a high school degree could handle for a salary/benefit package less than what I could make at the local Time Saver. So why am I not working for the local Time Saver? Because they won't even return my calls when I apply. I send out my resume to a minimum of 10 positions around the country every week, usually more. The amount of positions applied for varies by the length of free time I can scam here at work. Yet in the past 6 years, I have had 2 phone interviews, which led no where. 2 real interviews, which led to a really nice "thanks but no thanks" letter. I remember them because they were some of the better letters I have gotten. I have gotten 3 job offers, but of the 3, I accepted this position as branch manager at a public library. The other was for a position in Macon at a montessourri school were I would make even less than I do now, and dealt with children all day. I know myself too well. I would have been miserable in less than a week. The other position was for a manager position with Wal-Mart. I know that I should have taken that job, but I just could not stomach all that working for Wal-Mart implies. I want a life and a job, not a career and a life that revolves around my career. I am not someone who enjoys dealing with the wide spectrum of humanity under the best of circumstances. That position would have been sheer hell & I know it. But that pay check sure would have been heavenly.
When I look around at my life and realize that I am going to have to declare bankruptcy, I have no hope in hell of ever getting my school loans under control unless I move in with my mother, esp. Since I can barely afford the resent at my current place with the expenses of needing to get my car towed tonight & an extra $100 for repair work, throw in all the dental work I need done, medical expenses, and the fact that I do not get my hair cut because I can't fucking afford a $10 Wal-Mart trim, and my financial life is fucking in hell. And I am at the end of my rope. In fact, I am so far past the end of my rope I am not sure what to do.
All I do know is that it really amazes me when the people I should be able to rely on are "too tired" to come get me and is there any reason I can not spend the night at 1 of my co-workers? Or could I keep trying & reach my land lord since he can come get me & is closer by a whole 10 minutes? That conversation is on top of 1 had yesterday with another parental unit who not only said that I was incredibly lacking in self-confidence and was a ball buster so I needed to mellow out. I wonder if the obvious dichotomy even occurred?
The only reason I am staying sane right now is because there is no other option & I know it. I just want to laugh again. I am tired of wondering what else will go wrong and when will someone else get pissed off or what nonsense will crop up - again - that is an incredible nuisance and I can not afford on any level.
People keep telling me how I am so strong yet inside this head of mine I just want to run away and join an anchorite community of nuns and never have to cope again. I am doing something wrong because I can't seem to figure out how to pay my bills and keep everyone content. Not even myself.
Changing the subject before I start bawling all over again. I have been reading some of the books I got from work. The latest Dean Koontz Frankenstein installment was incredible! I really love the way this trilogy is forming up and can not wait for the conclusion to be published. The sooner the better in my book!
I also have finished the latest Robert Aspirin book about Skeeve, Myth-taken Identities. I am rather grateful that I read that last night because otherwise I would have fallen apart while waiting for the tow truck tonight instead of after they dropped me back off at the library. And it was only a $75 fee compared to the $500 fee they would have charged me if they had hauled me & my car back home. Some reason, that was not especially helpful cause I have exactly $30 in my checking account right now & still have to pay those little things like rent, phone, get gas in the car, food on the table, insurance for the car, $100 in repair for the car, $30 for an oil change, car tags, and the list goes on. Some reason, I do not feel like all that lucky of a person.
OK, I have whined enough. For those of you who know & love me, I am OK, just really tired. Don't worry about this whine because it is just another paragraph in the ongoing financial woes saga of my life. I know I will get through this one way or another. I just do not like the windows of opportunity I am seeing cause there really are not all that many, you know?
I do know that I am still healthy. I know that I am extremely lucky because the fibromyalgia and arthritis are all in the early developmental stages and I have decades before they do anything but leave me exhausted. I know that I have several incredibly good friends who put up with my whines and whimpers and give a damn about me, sometimes more than I know how to cope with. I am thrilled for every single one of my friends and how their lives are falling in to place, especially since I know how hard they have worked to get to where they are (including you T.N.). I have 3 adorable cats who love me, and there are 2 other cats who like me & 3 dogs who would defend me - kind of - if their food bowls were involved. I have a good car that I really do love, despite its age related headaches that cause me financial grief. I have this blog that allows me to vent in a safe way so that anything I say is filtered and anyone reading it who knows me can take what they need to know from it. Then if they want they can post on here, email me, call, or just show up. I admit I am partial to the 1st 3 lately because I am getting so shaky emotionally I'll turn into the cliched watering pot if I am not planning on your appearance. My family has matured to the point where I only want to beat my head against the wall and not run screaming. I have an absolutely wonderful nephew I adore and with some major exceptions, pretty much the life I want. I
just can not figure out the financial side. I have read all the books. I have followed all the advice that I can. (Setting aside 10% or more of $0 is pretty hard to do after all.) But when there are these constant unpleasant surprises, it is impossible to get any where and I am sick to death of it. I am tired of the frustration and humiliation. And I am so very tired.
OK, that was over the top & waaaaaaay more dramatic than the truth is but I am indulging in a pity fest right now so suffer. I certainly am.
I just can not understand why, after busting my ass for 15 years, I have 3 lovely degrees yet am working at a position that someone with a high school degree could handle for a salary/benefit package less than what I could make at the local Time Saver. So why am I not working for the local Time Saver? Because they won't even return my calls when I apply. I send out my resume to a minimum of 10 positions around the country every week, usually more. The amount of positions applied for varies by the length of free time I can scam here at work. Yet in the past 6 years, I have had 2 phone interviews, which led no where. 2 real interviews, which led to a really nice "thanks but no thanks" letter. I remember them because they were some of the better letters I have gotten. I have gotten 3 job offers, but of the 3, I accepted this position as branch manager at a public library. The other was for a position in Macon at a montessourri school were I would make even less than I do now, and dealt with children all day. I know myself too well. I would have been miserable in less than a week. The other position was for a manager position with Wal-Mart. I know that I should have taken that job, but I just could not stomach all that working for Wal-Mart implies. I want a life and a job, not a career and a life that revolves around my career. I am not someone who enjoys dealing with the wide spectrum of humanity under the best of circumstances. That position would have been sheer hell & I know it. But that pay check sure would have been heavenly.
When I look around at my life and realize that I am going to have to declare bankruptcy, I have no hope in hell of ever getting my school loans under control unless I move in with my mother, esp. Since I can barely afford the resent at my current place with the expenses of needing to get my car towed tonight & an extra $100 for repair work, throw in all the dental work I need done, medical expenses, and the fact that I do not get my hair cut because I can't fucking afford a $10 Wal-Mart trim, and my financial life is fucking in hell. And I am at the end of my rope. In fact, I am so far past the end of my rope I am not sure what to do.
All I do know is that it really amazes me when the people I should be able to rely on are "too tired" to come get me and is there any reason I can not spend the night at 1 of my co-workers? Or could I keep trying & reach my land lord since he can come get me & is closer by a whole 10 minutes? That conversation is on top of 1 had yesterday with another parental unit who not only said that I was incredibly lacking in self-confidence and was a ball buster so I needed to mellow out. I wonder if the obvious dichotomy even occurred?
The only reason I am staying sane right now is because there is no other option & I know it. I just want to laugh again. I am tired of wondering what else will go wrong and when will someone else get pissed off or what nonsense will crop up - again - that is an incredible nuisance and I can not afford on any level.
People keep telling me how I am so strong yet inside this head of mine I just want to run away and join an anchorite community of nuns and never have to cope again. I am doing something wrong because I can't seem to figure out how to pay my bills and keep everyone content. Not even myself.
Changing the subject before I start bawling all over again. I have been reading some of the books I got from work. The latest Dean Koontz Frankenstein installment was incredible! I really love the way this trilogy is forming up and can not wait for the conclusion to be published. The sooner the better in my book!
I also have finished the latest Robert Aspirin book about Skeeve, Myth-taken Identities. I am rather grateful that I read that last night because otherwise I would have fallen apart while waiting for the tow truck tonight instead of after they dropped me back off at the library. And it was only a $75 fee compared to the $500 fee they would have charged me if they had hauled me & my car back home. Some reason, that was not especially helpful cause I have exactly $30 in my checking account right now & still have to pay those little things like rent, phone, get gas in the car, food on the table, insurance for the car, $100 in repair for the car, $30 for an oil change, car tags, and the list goes on. Some reason, I do not feel like all that lucky of a person.
OK, I have whined enough. For those of you who know & love me, I am OK, just really tired. Don't worry about this whine because it is just another paragraph in the ongoing financial woes saga of my life. I know I will get through this one way or another. I just do not like the windows of opportunity I am seeing cause there really are not all that many, you know?
I do know that I am still healthy. I know that I am extremely lucky because the fibromyalgia and arthritis are all in the early developmental stages and I have decades before they do anything but leave me exhausted. I know that I have several incredibly good friends who put up with my whines and whimpers and give a damn about me, sometimes more than I know how to cope with. I am thrilled for every single one of my friends and how their lives are falling in to place, especially since I know how hard they have worked to get to where they are (including you T.N.). I have 3 adorable cats who love me, and there are 2 other cats who like me & 3 dogs who would defend me - kind of - if their food bowls were involved. I have a good car that I really do love, despite its age related headaches that cause me financial grief. I have this blog that allows me to vent in a safe way so that anything I say is filtered and anyone reading it who knows me can take what they need to know from it. Then if they want they can post on here, email me, call, or just show up. I admit I am partial to the 1st 3 lately because I am getting so shaky emotionally I'll turn into the cliched watering pot if I am not planning on your appearance. My family has matured to the point where I only want to beat my head against the wall and not run screaming. I have an absolutely wonderful nephew I adore and with some major exceptions, pretty much the life I want. I
just can not figure out the financial side. I have read all the books. I have followed all the advice that I can. (Setting aside 10% or more of $0 is pretty hard to do after all.) But when there are these constant unpleasant surprises, it is impossible to get any where and I am sick to death of it. I am tired of the frustration and humiliation. And I am so very tired.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
New Mystery Writer
I managed to finish a few more books this week. Two were by Victoria Laurie. Her website is http://www.victorialaurie.com. She is a professional psychic who became fed up with all the media portrayals of pyschics as total flakes. Her 2 books are in response to that portrayal. I found the books to be rather fun. The ist is Abby Cooper, psychic Eye and the 2nd is Better Read Than Dead. For a fun romantic mystery without a lot of sex and some actual thought involved then try them.
The main character, Abby Cooper, is a psychic who gets involved in a dating service, meets her date, and then is involved in a murder case her date is investigating because she gace a reading to the woman murdered. The man she thought was in "securities" is actually a detective who thinks she is a flake and possible the murderer. It all gets worked out, but the problems! Sheez! If they were not realistic, one-after-the-other type problems, the book would have been ruined. As it is, it actually made the story that much better.
The next book I read this past week is Julie Kenner's The Givenchy Code. I like her writing because the romance scenes appeal to me and while I can easily pass over the sex scenes (mostly because my memories are so foggy it is hard to tell how good the scenes are), the book is basically a fun summer beach read. I liked how the book ended with all the main mystery threads ties up, but there were several unanswered questions and plenty of room for more stories with different characters, or even the same characters but as supporters instead of as the leads.
Changing genres, I also managed to finish Steve Whites The Demon Gate. It was pure fantasy fiction. The setting was about the bronze age, but a lot of the problems I had were that after all the attention to detail to make sure that the setting was as close to accurate as possible, he blew it with the mind set of the characters. A person from the Bronze Age would never have the thought processes these characters followed. I am not saying that a Bronze Age person is dumb as dirt, just that they would not have logically cause and effect trains of thought. The last time I checked, the Bronze Age was still heavily superstitious and based heavily on "I saw it happen once and so it will hopefully happen again if the gods allow it to." Not "I saw "x" happen under these circumstances, so logically, if I duplicate these circumstances, it should happen again."
Fortunately, I am used to ignoring such blatant problems and once I figured out why I kept sneering at what I was reading, I was able to laugh, go back to the beginning of the book, and read the book with complete abandonment & enjoyed it immensely.
I really should make it clear that I love to read. The number of books I have not been able to read is an amazingly short list. In fact, the only book I can think of recently is the new book called The Historian. I tried to read that but it was so badly written and such a bundle of trite mawkishness that I never could get past page 2. Now, for me to say this given my horrible taste in reading should be a sign of just how bad the book was. I am not saying that it was a badly written book in the sense that it was ungrammatical or the ideas were bad, or there were gaping holes in the plot. From the 2 pages I read that is not it at all. The problem was that the author spent 2 pages delving in to why she was so passive about following her fathers orders involving her home and education while growing up. For 90% of humanity, it would take maybe a paragraph to delve in to that particular topic, and then get into stories and examples if necessary. The author took 2 pages just to explain that she was very passive about her educational life, how that played a role in where she lived, and then about 1/2 way in to page 4, I saw that was where she started giving examples. Quite honestly, I can't stomach that sort of mentral purging. Especially when I am reading for pleasure.
This past week I also managed to watch a few movies. "Ocean's Eleven" was a fun flick and I am not going to bother saying anything else beyond how Brad Pitt is an exceptionally attractive man & I really do prefer him over Clooney. Clooney is always too smarmy while Pitt seems smother & more solid - and not just in the chest.
I watched a few episodes of 1 of my favorite anime's. InuYasha is really just a fun story line and I like how I laugh when I watch the antics of the characters as they continue in their search to find all the sacred jewel shards and destroy all evil demons. I mean, that's a world of laughter in & of itself if done right. The fact that InuYasha has puppy dog ears and is an obnoxious white knight is tarnished armor & would deny all nobility just makes him that much cooler. And watching him try to not care is just sweet.
I watched a piece of teen drivel just so I could figure out who Hilary Duff was. I watched A Cinderella Story. I can not recommend it for anyone over the age of 13, unless you are like me & prefer having the TV on instead of the radio while reading or just taking care of those odds & ends that need to be done all the time. Then, maybe, if there is nothing else available, it might be suitable. I doubt it but I'll be generous. To put it another way, I not only read a book while watching the movie, but I made a pitcher of tea, cleaned the litter box, gather trash, cut my nails, weeded my cook books out, reorganized some files, and worked on a puzzle. All within the 2 hours this piece of intellectual stulification was playing.
The main character, Abby Cooper, is a psychic who gets involved in a dating service, meets her date, and then is involved in a murder case her date is investigating because she gace a reading to the woman murdered. The man she thought was in "securities" is actually a detective who thinks she is a flake and possible the murderer. It all gets worked out, but the problems! Sheez! If they were not realistic, one-after-the-other type problems, the book would have been ruined. As it is, it actually made the story that much better.
The next book I read this past week is Julie Kenner's The Givenchy Code. I like her writing because the romance scenes appeal to me and while I can easily pass over the sex scenes (mostly because my memories are so foggy it is hard to tell how good the scenes are), the book is basically a fun summer beach read. I liked how the book ended with all the main mystery threads ties up, but there were several unanswered questions and plenty of room for more stories with different characters, or even the same characters but as supporters instead of as the leads.
Changing genres, I also managed to finish Steve Whites The Demon Gate. It was pure fantasy fiction. The setting was about the bronze age, but a lot of the problems I had were that after all the attention to detail to make sure that the setting was as close to accurate as possible, he blew it with the mind set of the characters. A person from the Bronze Age would never have the thought processes these characters followed. I am not saying that a Bronze Age person is dumb as dirt, just that they would not have logically cause and effect trains of thought. The last time I checked, the Bronze Age was still heavily superstitious and based heavily on "I saw it happen once and so it will hopefully happen again if the gods allow it to." Not "I saw "x" happen under these circumstances, so logically, if I duplicate these circumstances, it should happen again."
Fortunately, I am used to ignoring such blatant problems and once I figured out why I kept sneering at what I was reading, I was able to laugh, go back to the beginning of the book, and read the book with complete abandonment & enjoyed it immensely.
I really should make it clear that I love to read. The number of books I have not been able to read is an amazingly short list. In fact, the only book I can think of recently is the new book called The Historian. I tried to read that but it was so badly written and such a bundle of trite mawkishness that I never could get past page 2. Now, for me to say this given my horrible taste in reading should be a sign of just how bad the book was. I am not saying that it was a badly written book in the sense that it was ungrammatical or the ideas were bad, or there were gaping holes in the plot. From the 2 pages I read that is not it at all. The problem was that the author spent 2 pages delving in to why she was so passive about following her fathers orders involving her home and education while growing up. For 90% of humanity, it would take maybe a paragraph to delve in to that particular topic, and then get into stories and examples if necessary. The author took 2 pages just to explain that she was very passive about her educational life, how that played a role in where she lived, and then about 1/2 way in to page 4, I saw that was where she started giving examples. Quite honestly, I can't stomach that sort of mentral purging. Especially when I am reading for pleasure.
This past week I also managed to watch a few movies. "Ocean's Eleven" was a fun flick and I am not going to bother saying anything else beyond how Brad Pitt is an exceptionally attractive man & I really do prefer him over Clooney. Clooney is always too smarmy while Pitt seems smother & more solid - and not just in the chest.
I watched a few episodes of 1 of my favorite anime's. InuYasha is really just a fun story line and I like how I laugh when I watch the antics of the characters as they continue in their search to find all the sacred jewel shards and destroy all evil demons. I mean, that's a world of laughter in & of itself if done right. The fact that InuYasha has puppy dog ears and is an obnoxious white knight is tarnished armor & would deny all nobility just makes him that much cooler. And watching him try to not care is just sweet.
I watched a piece of teen drivel just so I could figure out who Hilary Duff was. I watched A Cinderella Story. I can not recommend it for anyone over the age of 13, unless you are like me & prefer having the TV on instead of the radio while reading or just taking care of those odds & ends that need to be done all the time. Then, maybe, if there is nothing else available, it might be suitable. I doubt it but I'll be generous. To put it another way, I not only read a book while watching the movie, but I made a pitcher of tea, cleaned the litter box, gather trash, cut my nails, weeded my cook books out, reorganized some files, and worked on a puzzle. All within the 2 hours this piece of intellectual stulification was playing.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Odds & Ends Today
Today, I am going to wander all over the place so bear with me.
First off, welcome to anyone who checks out stephalupogus when they click to see who posted a comment on their blog. A friend of mine who writes the blog http://exmi.blogspot.com told me how he cons others in to looking at his blog. He clicks on the link for "next blog" and makes random postings. Since I enjoy reading others blogs and enjoy having people post to mine, I figured "Why not?" So welcome and thank you to one and all! :-)
I was also informed that I did not accurately answer the question on whether or not my aversion to being touched any more is physiologic or psychological. Well, I honestly do not know what the answer is, but here are more details on where I am coming from. Everyone and everyone is welcome to post their opinion, ask questions, or just tell me how weird I am.
First off, part of it is growing up. I spent a lot of my early college years being open to anyone & everyone touching me. That caused all sorts of headaches and I learned that lesson well in an amazingly short time. I only had to go through 1 really bad situation and then a few moments of absolute humiliation before I FINALLY learned.
Have I mentioned I am a bit hard headed and have issues with all sorts of things? The biggest being self esteem and trust?
Another aspects have a lot to do with how I hate the way 99% of humanity smells. It is not so much a matter of offensive body odor as a matter of most of humanity just smells bad. I have no idea why I have such a sensitive nose on this level, but part of the reason I do not control my allergies with the best modern medicine has to offer is because if I can't smell, then I can cope with the patrons who come in to my library, people walking by me in Wal-Mart, getting gas in the car, going out to dinner with an increasingly small number of friends, visit an even smaller number of friends, and cope with small children. If I could smell, I'd be constantly on the verge of throwing up. The few times I took Claritan were nose opening experiences and I never want to go through that again. It is hard to smile and be pleasant when a patron is smiling and gossiping and asking for the latest Harry Potter when all I want to do is throw up because they smell like a bad mix of bologna and cigarettes.
The other part is that so many people in this area of the coastal Georgia feel that touching is just part of the conversation. Now, keep in mind that I am perfectly willing to pay $60 for a massage once or twice a month. The problem is that it is rather creepy when Mr. "X" comes up, gives me a hug & some how the hand makes a passing stop at my breast. Or when the 70 yr old grandmother comes in and hugs me, loosening her dentures and smearing her make-up on my shirt. And I find it annoying beyond belief when small children are left to roam the building and they end up in my lap, smelling of dirty diaper and cheerios.
Then there is just the fact that I am out of the habit of being touched beyond these casual, disturbing/messy ways. When those are the main sources of physical touch I receive, then any touch is hard to cope with considering my Pavlovian response training.
For my next topic, I was asked by "anonymous" whether or not there was anyone who could help me relax, take on some of my chores, and generally just be there to help create a more relaxing evening. Well, the answer is no. Part of the reason I am moving in with my mother & sister this Thanksgiving is because of money on all sides, mixed with the fact that my sister is an epileptic with no job and forbidden to get a license, ever. I am hoping that will change, but for now, she needs someone to drive her around and while our mother is willing to do a lot, she is an elementary teacher with a school an hours drive away from home. There is only so much Mom can do so that leaves me.
Our father lives in AL and in an emergency can be here to help out in about 4 hours, but it is normally a 9 hour drive from his home to my sisters home. If anyone needs to run to the pharmacy, stop and pick up an extra gallon of milk, or whatever, the list of options is pretty short. So, that leaves me. I do not mind helping out, but I am physically at the point where I can not keep going this way.
As for having someone at home able to get the movie and popcorn ready, or the bath drawn, or whatever, I live alone. Moving in with my mother & sister will mean that my sister can help out a great deal on that level, but I will still be the one running errands and generally helping my sister out.
I just realized that this sounds as if my mother does nothing. That is anything but the truth. The problem is that she is a school teacher who during the school year gets up at 5 am, is out the door by 6 am, at work no later than 7 am, there until 5 pm, usually stays until 6-8 pm because of meetings or work that needs to be accomplished before the next day, and then gets home at 7 on a good day. So free time is non-existent and she really just can not get enough free time to get my sister and nephew's prescriptions, take the 3 hours at Wal-Mart necessary when my nephew goes along, and still help out with the basics of living. That is where I come in because I can. My schedule is a lot more consistent and I can leave my job for my lunch hour, I can stop at Wal-Mart before getting home at a time when the pharmacy is open. I can stop and get the milk because I pass 3 WalMarts & 15 grocery stores between work & Mom's. And don't forget all the gas stations!
OK, now that I have covered that subject, everyone is welcome to tell me if I answered in enough detail or not. But right now, it is time for me to start wrapping up so that I can go home and get some sleep.
First off, welcome to anyone who checks out stephalupogus when they click to see who posted a comment on their blog. A friend of mine who writes the blog http://exmi.blogspot.com told me how he cons others in to looking at his blog. He clicks on the link for "next blog" and makes random postings. Since I enjoy reading others blogs and enjoy having people post to mine, I figured "Why not?" So welcome and thank you to one and all! :-)
I was also informed that I did not accurately answer the question on whether or not my aversion to being touched any more is physiologic or psychological. Well, I honestly do not know what the answer is, but here are more details on where I am coming from. Everyone and everyone is welcome to post their opinion, ask questions, or just tell me how weird I am.
First off, part of it is growing up. I spent a lot of my early college years being open to anyone & everyone touching me. That caused all sorts of headaches and I learned that lesson well in an amazingly short time. I only had to go through 1 really bad situation and then a few moments of absolute humiliation before I FINALLY learned.
Have I mentioned I am a bit hard headed and have issues with all sorts of things? The biggest being self esteem and trust?
Another aspects have a lot to do with how I hate the way 99% of humanity smells. It is not so much a matter of offensive body odor as a matter of most of humanity just smells bad. I have no idea why I have such a sensitive nose on this level, but part of the reason I do not control my allergies with the best modern medicine has to offer is because if I can't smell, then I can cope with the patrons who come in to my library, people walking by me in Wal-Mart, getting gas in the car, going out to dinner with an increasingly small number of friends, visit an even smaller number of friends, and cope with small children. If I could smell, I'd be constantly on the verge of throwing up. The few times I took Claritan were nose opening experiences and I never want to go through that again. It is hard to smile and be pleasant when a patron is smiling and gossiping and asking for the latest Harry Potter when all I want to do is throw up because they smell like a bad mix of bologna and cigarettes.
The other part is that so many people in this area of the coastal Georgia feel that touching is just part of the conversation. Now, keep in mind that I am perfectly willing to pay $60 for a massage once or twice a month. The problem is that it is rather creepy when Mr. "X" comes up, gives me a hug & some how the hand makes a passing stop at my breast. Or when the 70 yr old grandmother comes in and hugs me, loosening her dentures and smearing her make-up on my shirt. And I find it annoying beyond belief when small children are left to roam the building and they end up in my lap, smelling of dirty diaper and cheerios.
Then there is just the fact that I am out of the habit of being touched beyond these casual, disturbing/messy ways. When those are the main sources of physical touch I receive, then any touch is hard to cope with considering my Pavlovian response training.
For my next topic, I was asked by "anonymous" whether or not there was anyone who could help me relax, take on some of my chores, and generally just be there to help create a more relaxing evening. Well, the answer is no. Part of the reason I am moving in with my mother & sister this Thanksgiving is because of money on all sides, mixed with the fact that my sister is an epileptic with no job and forbidden to get a license, ever. I am hoping that will change, but for now, she needs someone to drive her around and while our mother is willing to do a lot, she is an elementary teacher with a school an hours drive away from home. There is only so much Mom can do so that leaves me.
Our father lives in AL and in an emergency can be here to help out in about 4 hours, but it is normally a 9 hour drive from his home to my sisters home. If anyone needs to run to the pharmacy, stop and pick up an extra gallon of milk, or whatever, the list of options is pretty short. So, that leaves me. I do not mind helping out, but I am physically at the point where I can not keep going this way.
As for having someone at home able to get the movie and popcorn ready, or the bath drawn, or whatever, I live alone. Moving in with my mother & sister will mean that my sister can help out a great deal on that level, but I will still be the one running errands and generally helping my sister out.
I just realized that this sounds as if my mother does nothing. That is anything but the truth. The problem is that she is a school teacher who during the school year gets up at 5 am, is out the door by 6 am, at work no later than 7 am, there until 5 pm, usually stays until 6-8 pm because of meetings or work that needs to be accomplished before the next day, and then gets home at 7 on a good day. So free time is non-existent and she really just can not get enough free time to get my sister and nephew's prescriptions, take the 3 hours at Wal-Mart necessary when my nephew goes along, and still help out with the basics of living. That is where I come in because I can. My schedule is a lot more consistent and I can leave my job for my lunch hour, I can stop at Wal-Mart before getting home at a time when the pharmacy is open. I can stop and get the milk because I pass 3 WalMarts & 15 grocery stores between work & Mom's. And don't forget all the gas stations!
OK, now that I have covered that subject, everyone is welcome to tell me if I answered in enough detail or not. But right now, it is time for me to start wrapping up so that I can go home and get some sleep.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Some Questions
I have recently been asked a few questions and I honestly do not know the answers to any of them. They are 1. since I do not associate memories, what do I associate memories with? 2. What do I want for myself career-wise? And 3. Is my aversion to being touched physiological or psychological.
Taking these in order, the answer is still I have no idea, but . . .
I have never had a "special song," or associated music with an event or era. I just never have and doubt if I will start to now. Probably the closest I will ever get is the memory of being asked if I had ever been in love before by an old college roommate back when I played 1 CD incessantly. And that memory is ties mostly to the embarrassment of the fact that she drew that conclusion when the reality was I had few CD's to listen to & that was 1 I could listen to incessantly while studying.
So I guess my method of recalling memories is through emotions. I can recall in exquisite, painful detail every memory that deals with some form of embarrassment. I treasure my memories that deal with laughter and happiness. I brood over moments when something happened and I just do not understand the why's and where for's - an emotion otherwise known as confusion. But sound or music? No, can't say that there is any 1 song that I will hear and automatically think of an era or event. There certainly are no smells that trigger my memory. Cripes, the delightful smell of papermills in Savannah does nothing but make me curl my nose and then I shrug my shoulders and go on. So does that make me weird? Or just another sign that my memory works differently?
As for what I want for myself career-wise, I am at a total loss. In many ways my current job is perfect. I have lots of time to read and order more books to read. I get first dibs on any & all new books and that is great. The problem lies in how much I despise dealing with the public and the sector I deal with is the upper strata of society - they read! But I hate being a baby sitter during the summer because the parents are too lazy to come up with something for their kids to do. I hate helping people who have no idea how to turn on a computer and are too lazy to read directions on the screen.
So what does that leave me with? I enjoy writing and reading, but I also enjoy traveling and being active. I hate just sitting and answering questions. I feel like my brain is being wrapped in a fog and I will never escape. I am being urged by some to go back to school and get an American Library Association approved degree so that I can get a promotion and a pay raise. The problem with that suggestion is that I have no desire to get another degree and I most especially have no desire to go back to school. I put in my time & have 3 degrees. I MIGHT go back to get my Education degree certified just so I can say I have completed the degree, but that is as far as I want to go. I am tired of killing myself in classes I am not interested in.
The other option is the 1 that is sounding more and more appealing but I need support in a physical manner. I will need to keep the job just because of the benefit package. With fibromyalgia, arthritis, and migraines, I can not afford to give up the deep discounts on doctor visits and prescriptions. But I also can not keep up a home; drive 2 hours every day; work 40 hours a week; help my sister, nephew & mother out with the odds & ends they need; deal with all the problems of living by myself; deal with a 10 year old car; and still try to have a life. I need help with some of this and I know it. A roommate is completely out because I have little to no trust for a stranger and the few friends I have I want to keep.
So I guess what I am saying is that while the idea of writing appeals, and I have ideas that I want to write about, I can't do it with the way my life is now. I have little to no joy and happiness in my life. I spend my days in a fog and am constantly exhausted. Several somethings need to give and once they do, then I can start writing. Hopefully, if my life progresses the way I think it will, that will be this Christmas. I just hope I can survive till then.
I really hate being this tired. I know all the whys & where for's, but it does not help 1 bit. I could enjoy this job if I was not so tired 99% of the time. No job is perfect & I know it. This position offers all sorts of perks, including unlimited reading access which I love. The problem is that there are too many places I need to be and they are scattered all about. Traveling is 1 thing, but having to be in 1 of 4 places every day & none of them are less than 30 miles apart, is tiring & I cannot physically take it. I especially hate being in a mental fog so thick that the stories I want to tell are stuck in the background. I like writing. I mean really, look at how much I can spew forth on this blog. But to write a story takes a bit more than what I have now.
And revealing probably more than I should, I would love it if I could come home every now and again to that days perfection. Some days, the bed ready for me to crawl between the sheets with something light and soothing playing on the stereo. Other days, the pop corn and movie ready to go. Then there are the x-rated fantasies but those are mine and no one else's.
Taking these in order, the answer is still I have no idea, but . . .
I have never had a "special song," or associated music with an event or era. I just never have and doubt if I will start to now. Probably the closest I will ever get is the memory of being asked if I had ever been in love before by an old college roommate back when I played 1 CD incessantly. And that memory is ties mostly to the embarrassment of the fact that she drew that conclusion when the reality was I had few CD's to listen to & that was 1 I could listen to incessantly while studying.
So I guess my method of recalling memories is through emotions. I can recall in exquisite, painful detail every memory that deals with some form of embarrassment. I treasure my memories that deal with laughter and happiness. I brood over moments when something happened and I just do not understand the why's and where for's - an emotion otherwise known as confusion. But sound or music? No, can't say that there is any 1 song that I will hear and automatically think of an era or event. There certainly are no smells that trigger my memory. Cripes, the delightful smell of papermills in Savannah does nothing but make me curl my nose and then I shrug my shoulders and go on. So does that make me weird? Or just another sign that my memory works differently?
As for what I want for myself career-wise, I am at a total loss. In many ways my current job is perfect. I have lots of time to read and order more books to read. I get first dibs on any & all new books and that is great. The problem lies in how much I despise dealing with the public and the sector I deal with is the upper strata of society - they read! But I hate being a baby sitter during the summer because the parents are too lazy to come up with something for their kids to do. I hate helping people who have no idea how to turn on a computer and are too lazy to read directions on the screen.
So what does that leave me with? I enjoy writing and reading, but I also enjoy traveling and being active. I hate just sitting and answering questions. I feel like my brain is being wrapped in a fog and I will never escape. I am being urged by some to go back to school and get an American Library Association approved degree so that I can get a promotion and a pay raise. The problem with that suggestion is that I have no desire to get another degree and I most especially have no desire to go back to school. I put in my time & have 3 degrees. I MIGHT go back to get my Education degree certified just so I can say I have completed the degree, but that is as far as I want to go. I am tired of killing myself in classes I am not interested in.
The other option is the 1 that is sounding more and more appealing but I need support in a physical manner. I will need to keep the job just because of the benefit package. With fibromyalgia, arthritis, and migraines, I can not afford to give up the deep discounts on doctor visits and prescriptions. But I also can not keep up a home; drive 2 hours every day; work 40 hours a week; help my sister, nephew & mother out with the odds & ends they need; deal with all the problems of living by myself; deal with a 10 year old car; and still try to have a life. I need help with some of this and I know it. A roommate is completely out because I have little to no trust for a stranger and the few friends I have I want to keep.
So I guess what I am saying is that while the idea of writing appeals, and I have ideas that I want to write about, I can't do it with the way my life is now. I have little to no joy and happiness in my life. I spend my days in a fog and am constantly exhausted. Several somethings need to give and once they do, then I can start writing. Hopefully, if my life progresses the way I think it will, that will be this Christmas. I just hope I can survive till then.
I really hate being this tired. I know all the whys & where for's, but it does not help 1 bit. I could enjoy this job if I was not so tired 99% of the time. No job is perfect & I know it. This position offers all sorts of perks, including unlimited reading access which I love. The problem is that there are too many places I need to be and they are scattered all about. Traveling is 1 thing, but having to be in 1 of 4 places every day & none of them are less than 30 miles apart, is tiring & I cannot physically take it. I especially hate being in a mental fog so thick that the stories I want to tell are stuck in the background. I like writing. I mean really, look at how much I can spew forth on this blog. But to write a story takes a bit more than what I have now.
And revealing probably more than I should, I would love it if I could come home every now and again to that days perfection. Some days, the bed ready for me to crawl between the sheets with something light and soothing playing on the stereo. Other days, the pop corn and movie ready to go. Then there are the x-rated fantasies but those are mine and no one else's.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Today's Revelations
Nothing much has been revealed. I am just realizing that I am getting old and deciding that I detest the process. I miss being able to go all week on 4 hours of sleep a night. I miss being able to wear my contacts for 24 hours plus before my eyes started burning & itching. I miss being so relaxed and uninhibited that hugs were to be relished and not avoided like the plague.
It is rather depressing to know that at 1 point in my life, I had no problem sitting beside another, or under various circumstances even in another persons lap. Amazing how often that happened on trips to the beach. ;) Now, I am getting rid of my sofa partially because I want it gone but also because I want to reduce the odds of having to sit beside someone. At work, there are numerous individuals who are absolute dolls who love to hug. I manage about 90% of the time to avoid them by either being involved helping another patron or gathering an arm load of books up so it is to difficult for them to hug me.
Going back to the sofa tangent, but I really am looking forward to getting rid of it. I have never wanted any piece of furniture so big & heavy that I can not move it by myself. There are 2 massive exceptions - an old organ and even older commercial ice box - but everything else I can pick up and haul to a truck, another room, where ever I want to move it to by me, myself and I. That sofa does not fall under that category & I want it gone. My decorating ideal is very simple - pillows and color. Nothing else is needed except for the book shelves and light so I can see even without my contacts or glasses.
I really am tired today. Putting my head down and snoozing sounds like a magnificent idea. I think I will have to become energetic and productive soon. Being a snoozer at work is a BAD thing.
It is rather depressing to know that at 1 point in my life, I had no problem sitting beside another, or under various circumstances even in another persons lap. Amazing how often that happened on trips to the beach. ;) Now, I am getting rid of my sofa partially because I want it gone but also because I want to reduce the odds of having to sit beside someone. At work, there are numerous individuals who are absolute dolls who love to hug. I manage about 90% of the time to avoid them by either being involved helping another patron or gathering an arm load of books up so it is to difficult for them to hug me.
Going back to the sofa tangent, but I really am looking forward to getting rid of it. I have never wanted any piece of furniture so big & heavy that I can not move it by myself. There are 2 massive exceptions - an old organ and even older commercial ice box - but everything else I can pick up and haul to a truck, another room, where ever I want to move it to by me, myself and I. That sofa does not fall under that category & I want it gone. My decorating ideal is very simple - pillows and color. Nothing else is needed except for the book shelves and light so I can see even without my contacts or glasses.
I really am tired today. Putting my head down and snoozing sounds like a magnificent idea. I think I will have to become energetic and productive soon. Being a snoozer at work is a BAD thing.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Newest Reviews
I just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling and Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson. Both were excellent!
Rowling managed another impressive feat with her latest book. I hated how she ended the book though. I like how Harry has matured and how all the characters are developing, including Malfoy. I just hate how death plays such a devastating role! Just because it works and makes the book that much stronger is no reason why people have to get killed off.
As for Davidson's, well, it needs to be longer! I can't wait for the next installment because I laughed all the way through it. I adore this series about Betsy the Vampire Queen. She is shallow, uneducated, but such a happy person it just does not matter. I like her - Betsy that is. That & anyone who has a cat wandering around is a good soul under any circumstances.
This time around Betsy met her sister, the child of Satan, Laura. Laura is far too sweet but since she tends to also kick serious ass when she gets pissed off, it really does not matter. And since Laura helps Betsy out of various troublesome spots, it all works out. And of course there are all the normal problems of ruling a kingdom of vampires, compounded by having to plan a vampire wedding she is going to officiate. Its great!
I also read a few news magazines. The articles that caught my interest are mostly from the July 18, 2005 edition of Time. "A Jury of Their Peers" was particularly interesting because it answers all sorts of juvenile crime problems, ranging from cost to getting through the hormonal fog known as puberty. I acknowledge that juv crime is not only petty theft and malicious mischief, but there is a large body of statistics saying that is the majority of juv crime. In the article, several of the bigger cities are creating small "courts" of carefully vetted and trained teenagers who rotate through the various court positions and try the cases of their peers. The numbers support this move.
According to the article, "perps are limited to first-time offenders who are under the age of 19 and who admit guilt to minor crimes." It is far more cost effective. A youth court trail tasks an hour +/-, & the average cost is $480. Sentences tend to be creative forms of community service. In contrast, probation costs about $1635 and a regular juvenile trail in criminal court ranges from $210000 to $84000. The record shows that 99% complete their sentence, which includes creative community service projects like washing police cars, working at food banks, whatever.
Since the idea works, has been around since 1947 in Mansfield, OH, why is the concept not being implemented other places? Oh, wait! I know! Because it not only makes sense, but it also does the unpardonable of actually working! That's right!
I also have read the latest 2 Reader's Digest and Cooking Light magazines. Those were neat, but beyond an article about a girl from Afghanistan who was burned horribly and then, thanks to a Green Beret on duty and him being a big sap, flew to the USA and underwent numerous surgeries to release her arm and face from her chest, as well as giving her enough flesh & flexibility to close her eyes and mouth. That will stick in my memory for a while because those pictures were startling. She was adorable quite obviously, but now, after all those surgeries, she has the chance to grow up as cute. Since the doc's found an inch worth of scar tissue where her chin had melted to her chest, she also now has the chance to grow up.
The latest silliness I have indulged in is that I bought the winged My Pretty Pony set from Hasbro and it came with a DVD. I have yet to watch the DVD, but I have pulled out all my other ponies and played with them for a bit last night. It was such a cute little toy. Silly beyond belief, I know, but I like them. My justification is that I have only 2 vices any more and since I satisfy my book lust here at work 98% of the time, that leaves the My Pretty Ponies.
I definitely need to get a life if my days revolve around getting up, taking care of the animals, doing my yoga, going for a 2-3 mile walk, eating breakfast, showering, driving to work, staying there for 9 hours, driving home, reading for an hour or so, going to bed, repeat ad neaseum.
And my off days are a rotation of sorts. Weeks 1 & 3, I work Friday & have Saturday off. Weeks 2 & 4, I have Friday off & work Saturday. Every fourth week, I work Sunday. So on my 2 Fridays off I tend to get the car taken care, get any doctor appointments taken care of, do grocery shopping, maybe watch a movie at the theater, then come home and crash before working Saturday. Then on those Sundays, I tend to do a serious cleaning where I even get down on my hands & knees to scrub the floors and I wash anything & everything I can. The weekends I have Saturday & Sunday off, I go to my Mother's & help mow their grass, do any puttering & driving necessary, and veg out until I go home or to work on Sunday. It is extremely sad because I have no life!
Oh well.
Rowling managed another impressive feat with her latest book. I hated how she ended the book though. I like how Harry has matured and how all the characters are developing, including Malfoy. I just hate how death plays such a devastating role! Just because it works and makes the book that much stronger is no reason why people have to get killed off.
As for Davidson's, well, it needs to be longer! I can't wait for the next installment because I laughed all the way through it. I adore this series about Betsy the Vampire Queen. She is shallow, uneducated, but such a happy person it just does not matter. I like her - Betsy that is. That & anyone who has a cat wandering around is a good soul under any circumstances.
This time around Betsy met her sister, the child of Satan, Laura. Laura is far too sweet but since she tends to also kick serious ass when she gets pissed off, it really does not matter. And since Laura helps Betsy out of various troublesome spots, it all works out. And of course there are all the normal problems of ruling a kingdom of vampires, compounded by having to plan a vampire wedding she is going to officiate. Its great!
I also read a few news magazines. The articles that caught my interest are mostly from the July 18, 2005 edition of Time. "A Jury of Their Peers" was particularly interesting because it answers all sorts of juvenile crime problems, ranging from cost to getting through the hormonal fog known as puberty. I acknowledge that juv crime is not only petty theft and malicious mischief, but there is a large body of statistics saying that is the majority of juv crime. In the article, several of the bigger cities are creating small "courts" of carefully vetted and trained teenagers who rotate through the various court positions and try the cases of their peers. The numbers support this move.
According to the article, "perps are limited to first-time offenders who are under the age of 19 and who admit guilt to minor crimes." It is far more cost effective. A youth court trail tasks an hour +/-, & the average cost is $480. Sentences tend to be creative forms of community service. In contrast, probation costs about $1635 and a regular juvenile trail in criminal court ranges from $210000 to $84000. The record shows that 99% complete their sentence, which includes creative community service projects like washing police cars, working at food banks, whatever.
Since the idea works, has been around since 1947 in Mansfield, OH, why is the concept not being implemented other places? Oh, wait! I know! Because it not only makes sense, but it also does the unpardonable of actually working! That's right!
I also have read the latest 2 Reader's Digest and Cooking Light magazines. Those were neat, but beyond an article about a girl from Afghanistan who was burned horribly and then, thanks to a Green Beret on duty and him being a big sap, flew to the USA and underwent numerous surgeries to release her arm and face from her chest, as well as giving her enough flesh & flexibility to close her eyes and mouth. That will stick in my memory for a while because those pictures were startling. She was adorable quite obviously, but now, after all those surgeries, she has the chance to grow up as cute. Since the doc's found an inch worth of scar tissue where her chin had melted to her chest, she also now has the chance to grow up.
The latest silliness I have indulged in is that I bought the winged My Pretty Pony set from Hasbro and it came with a DVD. I have yet to watch the DVD, but I have pulled out all my other ponies and played with them for a bit last night. It was such a cute little toy. Silly beyond belief, I know, but I like them. My justification is that I have only 2 vices any more and since I satisfy my book lust here at work 98% of the time, that leaves the My Pretty Ponies.
I definitely need to get a life if my days revolve around getting up, taking care of the animals, doing my yoga, going for a 2-3 mile walk, eating breakfast, showering, driving to work, staying there for 9 hours, driving home, reading for an hour or so, going to bed, repeat ad neaseum.
And my off days are a rotation of sorts. Weeks 1 & 3, I work Friday & have Saturday off. Weeks 2 & 4, I have Friday off & work Saturday. Every fourth week, I work Sunday. So on my 2 Fridays off I tend to get the car taken care, get any doctor appointments taken care of, do grocery shopping, maybe watch a movie at the theater, then come home and crash before working Saturday. Then on those Sundays, I tend to do a serious cleaning where I even get down on my hands & knees to scrub the floors and I wash anything & everything I can. The weekends I have Saturday & Sunday off, I go to my Mother's & help mow their grass, do any puttering & driving necessary, and veg out until I go home or to work on Sunday. It is extremely sad because I have no life!
Oh well.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Some cat quotes
Cat Quotes
"How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven." Robert A. Heinlein
"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." Anonymous
"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."--Sarah Thompson
"One must love a cat on its own terms."--Paul Gray
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." Mary Bly
"No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch." Leo Dworken
"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat." Ellen Perry Berkeley
"You can't own a cat. The best you can do is be partners." Sir Harry Swanson
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." - Jeff Valdez
"There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats." - Anonymous
"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." --Unknown
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"What greater gift than the love of a cat?" ~ Charles Dickens
"There is no such thing as 'just a cat'." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"One cat just leads to another." ~ Ernest Hemingway
"Cats, like butterflies, need no excuse." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"Cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human mind. They realize...that we have an infuriating inability to understand, let alone follow, even the simplest and most explicit of directions." ~ Cleveland Amory
"It's really the cat's house--we just pay the mortgage." ~ Unknown
"If you yell at a cat, you're the one who is making a fool of yourself." ~ Unknown
"Your cat may never have to hunt farther than the kitchen counter for its supper nor face a predator more fierce than the vacuum cleaner..." ~ Barbara L. Diamond
"Dogs have owners, cats have staff." - Unknown
"When God made the world, He chose to put animals in it, and decided to give each whatever it wanted. All the animals formed a long line before His throne, and the cat quietly went to the end of the line. To the elephant and the bear He gave strength, to the rabbit and the deer, swiftness; to the owl, the ability to see at night, to the birds and the butterflies, great beauty; to the fox, cunning; to the monkey, intelligence; to the dog, loyalty: to the lion, courage; to the otter, playfulness. And all these were things the animals begged of God.
At last he came to the end of the line, and there sat the little cat, waiting patiently. "What will YOU have?" God asked the cat.
The cat shrugged modestly. "Oh, whatever scrapsyou have left over. I don't mind."
"But I'm God. I have everything left over."
"Then I'll have a little of everything, please."
And God gave a great shout of laughter at the cleverness of this small animal, and gave the cat everything she asked for, adding grace and elegance and, only for her, a gentle purr that
would always attract humans and assure her a warm and comfortable home.
But he took away her false modesty.
Lenore Fleischer - The Cat's Pajamas"
"How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven." Robert A. Heinlein
"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." Anonymous
"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."--Sarah Thompson
"One must love a cat on its own terms."--Paul Gray
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." Mary Bly
"No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch." Leo Dworken
"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat." Ellen Perry Berkeley
"You can't own a cat. The best you can do is be partners." Sir Harry Swanson
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." - Jeff Valdez
"There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats." - Anonymous
"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." --Unknown
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"What greater gift than the love of a cat?" ~ Charles Dickens
"There is no such thing as 'just a cat'." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"One cat just leads to another." ~ Ernest Hemingway
"Cats, like butterflies, need no excuse." ~ Robert A. Heinlein
"Cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human mind. They realize...that we have an infuriating inability to understand, let alone follow, even the simplest and most explicit of directions." ~ Cleveland Amory
"It's really the cat's house--we just pay the mortgage." ~ Unknown
"If you yell at a cat, you're the one who is making a fool of yourself." ~ Unknown
"Your cat may never have to hunt farther than the kitchen counter for its supper nor face a predator more fierce than the vacuum cleaner..." ~ Barbara L. Diamond
"Dogs have owners, cats have staff." - Unknown
"When God made the world, He chose to put animals in it, and decided to give each whatever it wanted. All the animals formed a long line before His throne, and the cat quietly went to the end of the line. To the elephant and the bear He gave strength, to the rabbit and the deer, swiftness; to the owl, the ability to see at night, to the birds and the butterflies, great beauty; to the fox, cunning; to the monkey, intelligence; to the dog, loyalty: to the lion, courage; to the otter, playfulness. And all these were things the animals begged of God.
At last he came to the end of the line, and there sat the little cat, waiting patiently. "What will YOU have?" God asked the cat.
The cat shrugged modestly. "Oh, whatever scrapsyou have left over. I don't mind."
"But I'm God. I have everything left over."
"Then I'll have a little of everything, please."
And God gave a great shout of laughter at the cleverness of this small animal, and gave the cat everything she asked for, adding grace and elegance and, only for her, a gentle purr that
would always attract humans and assure her a warm and comfortable home.
But he took away her false modesty.
Lenore Fleischer - The Cat's Pajamas"
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Can I Go? Please?
http://www.dragoncon.org/index.htm
I just checked out this website today because a new friend of mine is lucky enough to be going this year. And I want to go too! Admittedly, part of the reason I want to go is Kevin Sorbo, but the list of events and shopping & just all the fun stuff also inspires a deep longing to go play.
All I have to do is figure out how to pay for the tickets, gas to drive to Atlanta, room rentals, and most importantly, how to get time off. Disgustingly enough, I could probably figure out all but the last because so many of my staff are taking off for various and sundry reasons and I feel guilty taking time off & leaving my remaining staff short handed. I do not know why I feel that way since they feel no qualms about going off themselves & I frequently shoo them out the door for their mini-vacations, but that's a trip to see a shrink & I don't care to go there.
I just checked out this website today because a new friend of mine is lucky enough to be going this year. And I want to go too! Admittedly, part of the reason I want to go is Kevin Sorbo, but the list of events and shopping & just all the fun stuff also inspires a deep longing to go play.
All I have to do is figure out how to pay for the tickets, gas to drive to Atlanta, room rentals, and most importantly, how to get time off. Disgustingly enough, I could probably figure out all but the last because so many of my staff are taking off for various and sundry reasons and I feel guilty taking time off & leaving my remaining staff short handed. I do not know why I feel that way since they feel no qualms about going off themselves & I frequently shoo them out the door for their mini-vacations, but that's a trip to see a shrink & I don't care to go there.
Some Randomness
Just went yesterday to see "Fantastic 4." It was fun! Pure cheesy comic book action with no redeeming value at all. It was great! Go to a matinee but see it on the big screen because the special effects really were cool.
I have been reading again and decided to post my personal reviews - again.
I just finished last night several manga books - Eerie Queerie, Naruto and Inu Yasha. Well, they are all fun but they are manga books. If you are not a fan of manga, do not pick them up. And if you are homophobic most definitely do not pick up Eerie Queerie. It was cute, especially since the poor characters are all such terribly confused teen boys.
I also read A New Leash On Death by Susan Conant. I enjoyed it, but that is mostly because I found the technical information about dog showing rather interesting. The story itself was nothing great and there was lots of dull prose, but for a beach read, I'd recommend it. The other book by her that I read is Scratch the Surface, a Cat Lovers Mystery. I preferred that book because there was more depth to the characters.
Then I read Ann Stuart's Black Ice. I enjoyed that except for 1 minor detail. OK, I understand that the main female character has been thrown completely to the wolves and the only 1 who might save her is another wolf who is technically a good guy. His big problem is that he has been playing international spy too long and is no longer sure who is wearing what hat, himself included. So here he is, all burned out, ready for a change, longing for a home, and in walks this innocent who sets of all his hormones. The adventure progresses, he saves her, she is willing to let him go because he is a lone wolf (GAG!), but he chooses to stay with her.
OK, that is sweet and wonderful. The problem is that there is no way this relationship will last. Come on! This is a man who has killed numerous times, is burned out, ready to sleep with 1 person, in his 30's - traditionally an age when the male gender decides to settle down - and here is someone he knows is safe. Gee, what a thrill that has to be for her. Here is Mr. Macho, who while he has literally saved her ass numerous times, is a serious bad ass with intense communication issues. Completely unbelievable.
And despite all my anti-ranting, I still say it was a fun book to read. I have already requested several of her other books from the library and am looking forward to reading them.
Next, I was playing on-line & at http://www.baen.com they have a schedule of upcoming releases. The one that I am sincerely looking forward to reading is John Ringo's Ghost. The excerpt published on-line is a bit on the graphic side for my taste and knowing that the main character considers himself a rapist in thought if never in deed is not the way to win brownie points. However, what happens in the 1st 9 chapters is interesting enough that I really do not care. The fact that the hard ass main character re-names the college co-ed's Bambi, Thumper & 1 other name I can't recall is just a bit of sarcasm that I enjoy.
Besides Ghost, I am also looking forward to David Weber's At All Costs. I am a fan of th Honor Harrington series, though anything involving a cat tends to grab my interest. It is just a pleasant bonus that the series is well written and the characters are interesting. The majority of what I read, the sequence of events and sarcasm/humor is what makes the book. Weber is 1 of the few author's who has characters whose evolving maturity and experiences are what makes the books so fascinating.
Let's see, what else is going on . . .
I am going to be giving the hunting dog to a good home once I find one. I keep thinking about what I would do if I kept her, but there is no way I can afford the medical care she needs now, let alone everything that goes with owning a dog. I will be moving in a few months and I do not know where to. I might be moving in with my Mother. Since there is already 3 cats & a dog there, adding my 3 is going to be a headache, a younger dog is not going to help matters at all. If I manage to find a better job and move some pace closer to the new position, that will mean greater pet deposits. Unless I am lucky enough to get a position paying well over $70k, I do not think I will be able to afford those deposits any time soon.
I am constantly beating my head against the wall as it is trying to figure out how to keep food on the table for myself, forget anything else. And what makes it truly depressing is that I still can't lose weight! I have barely anything resembling human food in my house, do not eat out at all, my indulgences tend to be carrots with hummus any more, yet I can't drop an inch let alone a pound. There is something definitely wrong with this scenario.
I have been paying attention to the news and all, but it is just so depressing. I am grateful that the London bombing had such a small number of deaths, but there were deaths. What is the point? What is the point of suicide bombers and bombers in general? It does nothing but piss people off, destroy resources that everyone uses, and generally accomplished nothing because as a rule of thumb, humanity tends to rebuild bigger and better.
If the land gets so bad that there is nothing to rebuild on? Move! So what if the entire country is now a mined waste land unusable by anything but the cockroaches. Everyone, pick a country and relocate! Lord knows humanity has done just that often enough. In case anyone forgot, we all come from nomadic tribal cavemen societies. Many come from nomadic tribal societies still - just look at the Native American tribes. It was not until the great settlements that it back a literal rule they had to stay on a set piece of land. Those famous Mongolia hordes really are not that far back in our history. Bandits of all stripes are an infamous example, both past and present. All of American history is a running example of what can happen when you screw up in 1 location and move some place else. Look at the Irish. They had the Great Potato Famine and America got its police force in exchange for giving all the Irish immigrants a new home and a chance.
Yes, I am being facetious and glib. Sue me. But it does not change the fact that blowing yourself up and numerous others really accomplishes nothing. I will always wonder why these suicide bombers think that they will go to a paradise. No one has ever come back and confirmed that why, yes, blow yourself up in the name of Allah to remove the capitalist pigs from this country, and you will go to the perfect paradise and be honored above all others. Reality check please! I would want that in writing, notarized, and blessed by a rabbi, priest and anyone else, including the IRS.If disappointed, I would sue for false advertising. But that is just me & my cynical untrusting self saying that.
I have been reading again and decided to post my personal reviews - again.
I just finished last night several manga books - Eerie Queerie, Naruto and Inu Yasha. Well, they are all fun but they are manga books. If you are not a fan of manga, do not pick them up. And if you are homophobic most definitely do not pick up Eerie Queerie. It was cute, especially since the poor characters are all such terribly confused teen boys.
I also read A New Leash On Death by Susan Conant. I enjoyed it, but that is mostly because I found the technical information about dog showing rather interesting. The story itself was nothing great and there was lots of dull prose, but for a beach read, I'd recommend it. The other book by her that I read is Scratch the Surface, a Cat Lovers Mystery. I preferred that book because there was more depth to the characters.
Then I read Ann Stuart's Black Ice. I enjoyed that except for 1 minor detail. OK, I understand that the main female character has been thrown completely to the wolves and the only 1 who might save her is another wolf who is technically a good guy. His big problem is that he has been playing international spy too long and is no longer sure who is wearing what hat, himself included. So here he is, all burned out, ready for a change, longing for a home, and in walks this innocent who sets of all his hormones. The adventure progresses, he saves her, she is willing to let him go because he is a lone wolf (GAG!), but he chooses to stay with her.
OK, that is sweet and wonderful. The problem is that there is no way this relationship will last. Come on! This is a man who has killed numerous times, is burned out, ready to sleep with 1 person, in his 30's - traditionally an age when the male gender decides to settle down - and here is someone he knows is safe. Gee, what a thrill that has to be for her. Here is Mr. Macho, who while he has literally saved her ass numerous times, is a serious bad ass with intense communication issues. Completely unbelievable.
And despite all my anti-ranting, I still say it was a fun book to read. I have already requested several of her other books from the library and am looking forward to reading them.
Next, I was playing on-line & at http://www.baen.com they have a schedule of upcoming releases. The one that I am sincerely looking forward to reading is John Ringo's Ghost. The excerpt published on-line is a bit on the graphic side for my taste and knowing that the main character considers himself a rapist in thought if never in deed is not the way to win brownie points. However, what happens in the 1st 9 chapters is interesting enough that I really do not care. The fact that the hard ass main character re-names the college co-ed's Bambi, Thumper & 1 other name I can't recall is just a bit of sarcasm that I enjoy.
Besides Ghost, I am also looking forward to David Weber's At All Costs. I am a fan of th Honor Harrington series, though anything involving a cat tends to grab my interest. It is just a pleasant bonus that the series is well written and the characters are interesting. The majority of what I read, the sequence of events and sarcasm/humor is what makes the book. Weber is 1 of the few author's who has characters whose evolving maturity and experiences are what makes the books so fascinating.
Let's see, what else is going on . . .
I am going to be giving the hunting dog to a good home once I find one. I keep thinking about what I would do if I kept her, but there is no way I can afford the medical care she needs now, let alone everything that goes with owning a dog. I will be moving in a few months and I do not know where to. I might be moving in with my Mother. Since there is already 3 cats & a dog there, adding my 3 is going to be a headache, a younger dog is not going to help matters at all. If I manage to find a better job and move some pace closer to the new position, that will mean greater pet deposits. Unless I am lucky enough to get a position paying well over $70k, I do not think I will be able to afford those deposits any time soon.
I am constantly beating my head against the wall as it is trying to figure out how to keep food on the table for myself, forget anything else. And what makes it truly depressing is that I still can't lose weight! I have barely anything resembling human food in my house, do not eat out at all, my indulgences tend to be carrots with hummus any more, yet I can't drop an inch let alone a pound. There is something definitely wrong with this scenario.
I have been paying attention to the news and all, but it is just so depressing. I am grateful that the London bombing had such a small number of deaths, but there were deaths. What is the point? What is the point of suicide bombers and bombers in general? It does nothing but piss people off, destroy resources that everyone uses, and generally accomplished nothing because as a rule of thumb, humanity tends to rebuild bigger and better.
If the land gets so bad that there is nothing to rebuild on? Move! So what if the entire country is now a mined waste land unusable by anything but the cockroaches. Everyone, pick a country and relocate! Lord knows humanity has done just that often enough. In case anyone forgot, we all come from nomadic tribal cavemen societies. Many come from nomadic tribal societies still - just look at the Native American tribes. It was not until the great settlements that it back a literal rule they had to stay on a set piece of land. Those famous Mongolia hordes really are not that far back in our history. Bandits of all stripes are an infamous example, both past and present. All of American history is a running example of what can happen when you screw up in 1 location and move some place else. Look at the Irish. They had the Great Potato Famine and America got its police force in exchange for giving all the Irish immigrants a new home and a chance.
Yes, I am being facetious and glib. Sue me. But it does not change the fact that blowing yourself up and numerous others really accomplishes nothing. I will always wonder why these suicide bombers think that they will go to a paradise. No one has ever come back and confirmed that why, yes, blow yourself up in the name of Allah to remove the capitalist pigs from this country, and you will go to the perfect paradise and be honored above all others. Reality check please! I would want that in writing, notarized, and blessed by a rabbi, priest and anyone else, including the IRS.If disappointed, I would sue for false advertising. But that is just me & my cynical untrusting self saying that.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Goofing Off Again
I just found a fellow tea fanatics blog site & 1 of her links is to an incredible shop. http://saphyrerose.blogspot.com/ is the blog & the eshops are rather fascinating, esp. if you are an avid tea drinker.
I should be working hard, being productive, and all that jazz. Instead, I am doing random searches on the net, wondering what people are doing, wishing more of my staff was not going through menopause because it is freaking cold in this building. Stuff like that.
I have discovered 1 thing today's thanks to work. Neil Gaimon's sequel to American God's will be out this September (supposedly the 20th but that involves publishers) & is called Anansi Boys. The blurb I read says," Charlie, 'Fat Chance" Nancy has received many gifts from his father, most of which he would rather have done without - Charlie's nickname, for starters. However, it turns out that old Mr. Nancy has quite a few nicknames of his own, such as Anansi the Spider, the Trickster God and the God of Mischief - and it is only once he has dropped dead in the middle of some phenomenal karaoke stylings that his final, most amazing gift to the quiet, serious and self-effacing Fat Charlie is revealed."
I don't know about anyone else, but that just sounds like a fun read.
Beyond those highlights, today has been rather dull and I am enjoying it.
I should be working hard, being productive, and all that jazz. Instead, I am doing random searches on the net, wondering what people are doing, wishing more of my staff was not going through menopause because it is freaking cold in this building. Stuff like that.
I have discovered 1 thing today's thanks to work. Neil Gaimon's sequel to American God's will be out this September (supposedly the 20th but that involves publishers) & is called Anansi Boys. The blurb I read says," Charlie, 'Fat Chance" Nancy has received many gifts from his father, most of which he would rather have done without - Charlie's nickname, for starters. However, it turns out that old Mr. Nancy has quite a few nicknames of his own, such as Anansi the Spider, the Trickster God and the God of Mischief - and it is only once he has dropped dead in the middle of some phenomenal karaoke stylings that his final, most amazing gift to the quiet, serious and self-effacing Fat Charlie is revealed."
I don't know about anyone else, but that just sounds like a fun read.
Beyond those highlights, today has been rather dull and I am enjoying it.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
It's Semi-Official
It's semi-official - I am a sap, a sucker, a wimp. Any time a 4 legged creature wanders up, I find ways to move it in. I do not need any more animals. I have the 3 cats of my own, the 2 dogs I babysat & the 2 other cats I watch, PLUS the start deer hunting dog that wandered up & has since moved in. I do not want any of them! Well, I will keep my 3, plus the other 2 cats because they are easy to take care of comparatively. But my lifestyle is completely opposed to being a dog owner. I do not have the time to devote to a dog and I travel enough that a dog is an unnecessary burden on myself. So what do I do? I start figuring out ways to keep my bills paid, some food in my tummy, and how to get the stary to the vets for shots & whatever else she needs.
In her defense, she is a sweet heart. I have been calling her Deerheart (& yes it is a bad pun). She showed up about 2-3 weeks ago with her hair falling out, fleas, scratches, cuts, bones sticking out, and obviously in heat since the unfixed males were following behind & trying to mount her. Since then, I put her in a pen and have been feeding her, she has had 2 baths, her hair is growing in. The funniest part about her hair growing back is her eye brows. I had not even noticed they were missing because she was so sad looking, but they are growing back & it is just silly looking. She has started moving around in the pen, and when I come out, she comes up to the fence or door, eager for attention.
I should be desperately looking for a new home for her, but I'm being lazy, bought her a collar named her. and am looking at ways to afford the vet bill & wondering if an indoor dog cage or an outdoor kennel is the better option. What is sad is that there are several cats I have fallen in love with, all of whom would be easier to take care of & would fall in to my current life style without any problem.
I really have to get over this weakness for 4 legs & big eyes. Its bad for my checkbook which is already beyond lean. If I had more money, I'd take all the fuzzies, but I am poor!
There seems to be some sort of correlation there. If you are poor, you end up taking in needy animals by the truck load. That's a cosmic rule that needs to be corrected.
In her defense, she is a sweet heart. I have been calling her Deerheart (& yes it is a bad pun). She showed up about 2-3 weeks ago with her hair falling out, fleas, scratches, cuts, bones sticking out, and obviously in heat since the unfixed males were following behind & trying to mount her. Since then, I put her in a pen and have been feeding her, she has had 2 baths, her hair is growing in. The funniest part about her hair growing back is her eye brows. I had not even noticed they were missing because she was so sad looking, but they are growing back & it is just silly looking. She has started moving around in the pen, and when I come out, she comes up to the fence or door, eager for attention.
I should be desperately looking for a new home for her, but I'm being lazy, bought her a collar named her. and am looking at ways to afford the vet bill & wondering if an indoor dog cage or an outdoor kennel is the better option. What is sad is that there are several cats I have fallen in love with, all of whom would be easier to take care of & would fall in to my current life style without any problem.
I really have to get over this weakness for 4 legs & big eyes. Its bad for my checkbook which is already beyond lean. If I had more money, I'd take all the fuzzies, but I am poor!
There seems to be some sort of correlation there. If you are poor, you end up taking in needy animals by the truck load. That's a cosmic rule that needs to be corrected.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Dream Interpretations, Please!
Tuesday, I woke up several times with some incredibly detailed dreams. The last dream I recall the clearest and am inviting any & all interpretations because I certainly am confused.
In the dream, I had won a lottery. My prize was a dubious one at best. I was going to marry a man I had never met before, a Samoan who was rather large & reminded me of the guy who played opposite Jackie Chan in a lot of the early movies, Sammo, just not as small or cute. Along with an unwanted marriage, I was getting a dream house built by Ty Pendington (spelling?) and it was in the middle of a swamp. I distinctly recall wandering around in all the mud and being shown blue tile chips that I had to choose from. It was incredibly surreal.
As I said, I am open to any & all interpretations because that is just bizarre. The only thing I can come up with to explain the dream is that I had pizza the night before.
Beyond that, my 4th of July was an excellent vacation from the daily grind. I was at my mother's &, along with my sister & nephew, saw several movies and generally did nothing of importance.
The movies we saw were "Herbie Fully Loaded," "The Pacifier," and "GI Joe VS Venom." "Herbie" is an incredibly fun movie and I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Herbie while growing up. The only real problem with the movie is that the only tie-in to the previous movies was the introductory credits. That was annoying because there should have been something acknowledging the previous 4 movies beyond intro credits. "The Pacifier" was definitely a family movie and 1 that had LOTS of wonderful scenes of Vin Diesel running around in a towel. For that reason alone I'd recommend the movie. But there were also several hilarious scenes in the movie that made it worth seeing. There is 1 scene when the youngest daughter seriously kicks Boy Scout butt & it was enough to keep me laughing 3 days later. As for "GI Joe VS Venom," well, I grew up in that era so forgive me for enjoying such incredible trash. I can't recommend the thing, but it was fun in a cheesy kind of way. I just wish that the animators of America would stick to 1 style per series. Most of this new blocky character drawing is just ugly. But that is just my humble opinion.
In the dream, I had won a lottery. My prize was a dubious one at best. I was going to marry a man I had never met before, a Samoan who was rather large & reminded me of the guy who played opposite Jackie Chan in a lot of the early movies, Sammo, just not as small or cute. Along with an unwanted marriage, I was getting a dream house built by Ty Pendington (spelling?) and it was in the middle of a swamp. I distinctly recall wandering around in all the mud and being shown blue tile chips that I had to choose from. It was incredibly surreal.
As I said, I am open to any & all interpretations because that is just bizarre. The only thing I can come up with to explain the dream is that I had pizza the night before.
Beyond that, my 4th of July was an excellent vacation from the daily grind. I was at my mother's &, along with my sister & nephew, saw several movies and generally did nothing of importance.
The movies we saw were "Herbie Fully Loaded," "The Pacifier," and "GI Joe VS Venom." "Herbie" is an incredibly fun movie and I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Herbie while growing up. The only real problem with the movie is that the only tie-in to the previous movies was the introductory credits. That was annoying because there should have been something acknowledging the previous 4 movies beyond intro credits. "The Pacifier" was definitely a family movie and 1 that had LOTS of wonderful scenes of Vin Diesel running around in a towel. For that reason alone I'd recommend the movie. But there were also several hilarious scenes in the movie that made it worth seeing. There is 1 scene when the youngest daughter seriously kicks Boy Scout butt & it was enough to keep me laughing 3 days later. As for "GI Joe VS Venom," well, I grew up in that era so forgive me for enjoying such incredible trash. I can't recommend the thing, but it was fun in a cheesy kind of way. I just wish that the animators of America would stick to 1 style per series. Most of this new blocky character drawing is just ugly. But that is just my humble opinion.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Complete Trivia
I finally remembered to get some pictures developed this past week and this is 1 of them. It was almost embarrassing to look in my camera bag & realize that out of the 12 rolls of film I had, only 2 had yet to be used. So, I bought more film & added to my mid-year resolution list.
Looking at this pictures, all I can say is that I really do not like those curtains. Thank heavens I tossed them. As for the cats, the orange marmalade is my Murphy. He is the man of the house & considers it his duty to yowl at everyone & everything - the faucet, the door, me, the list goes on. Next is the grey potato on a stick. Her real name is Mickey. However, due to an unfortunate combination of short stubby legs & a serious weight problem, she looks like a potato on tooth picks. Last is my late beloved baby, Allison. She dies this year and it was a horrible, painful death that had me a basket case for months, before and after. There is 1 other cat, but she is not in this particular picture. Her name is Mallory and she's the old lady of the bunch. She has been living with me for 15 years now.
It is a rather sad statement that I have lived with a cat longer than I have anyone else in my life, and that includes family.
The next most important part of this picture is my bed. I adore that bed. I'd probably run back in to a raging fire to save it, after getting the animals & important papers out, of course. But that bed is the culmination of several years of acquiring blankets, quilts, tapestries, and various bed coverings. It is my version of the bed from the "Princess and the Pea" fame. I call it My Nest, though others have many other choice terms for it. To give the uninitiated an idea of just how seriously I take my sleeping comfort, that bed starts off with a standard box springs and mattress set. On top of that, I have 2 quilted mattress covers holding 2 small oriental rugs, an old car rug, a tapestry, 4 antique quilts, old curtains I will never use but are soft enough that I decided to use them anyway, sleeping bags, and lord knows how many blankets. On top of that, I have another set of quilted mattress covers holding 3 full size egg crate pads, 2 comforters, and 3 throws. Then there are the 3 body pillows, 2 standard pillows, and then the multiple throw pillows I sleep with. And of course, the cats sleep with me. And I have all of this crammed onto a full sized bed frame. I love it!
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