what does a person have to do to get some respect? mark's dog drives his (mark's) car into a river, and the tow-truck driver wants mark to hold his (the tow truck driver's) false teeth while the tow-truck driver fishes out the wayward car.
what's next? someone wanting mark to take a picture of the tow-truck driver next to the wet car with the shameless dog sitting at the tow-truck driver's feet?
story here.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
zip, zip, zip...
wow, has it been busy around here lately. i love my job but have awakened several nights thinking at warp speed about incidents, problems, happenings, etc. -- it's very annoying to not be able to get right back to sleep.
yesterday one of the employees was very rude -- i'm not sure he meant to be, he probably was stressed or had other things on his mind so it was nothing. that's a female talking. but as a scorpio i would say, that arrogant prick was rude and i'm waiting for the day when he needs my help 'cause the stupid fucker isn't going to get it. (i have these little battles with myself.)
time to get moving. it's a beautiful day outside and we're having a big meeting at work -- i expect to be busy all day. chow! or is it choi? chau? whatever, see ya later.
yesterday one of the employees was very rude -- i'm not sure he meant to be, he probably was stressed or had other things on his mind so it was nothing. that's a female talking. but as a scorpio i would say, that arrogant prick was rude and i'm waiting for the day when he needs my help 'cause the stupid fucker isn't going to get it. (i have these little battles with myself.)
time to get moving. it's a beautiful day outside and we're having a big meeting at work -- i expect to be busy all day. chow! or is it choi? chau? whatever, see ya later.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
big surprise
it's a girl !!!
our daughter-in-law called last night to say the ultrasound indicates they're having a baby girl in october. now that we know, of course, i'd like october to be tomorrow!
it's hard to wait!
our daughter-in-law called last night to say the ultrasound indicates they're having a baby girl in october. now that we know, of course, i'd like october to be tomorrow!
it's hard to wait!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
hollywood - 0, paris - 1
hey, cool. paris says she thinks this is all a message from god and she plans to turn herself around. i'm all for self-improvement, and totally wish her success in leaving her old self behind. we'll see if she can stay the course but for now i congratulate her words. way to be aware!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
whoa .. Whoa .. WHOA
Guy in wheel chair zooms along at 50 mph -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19088976/
oh, please...
you have to read this -- paris is in tears, poor baby. hahahahahaha, my god, you'd think they were ordering her death. what world do those people live in? hahahahaha ......... and be sure to vote. then let me know which statement you voted for. you can surely guess mine.
suck it up
i whine when i have a hangnail or a paper cut. wonder what sound i'd make if i had to cut my leg off ...
Thursday, June 07, 2007
all the things it can do
i've just seen the future, but my imagination isn't good enough to figure out how it's really going to play out!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
Monday, June 04, 2007
another note
a post-funeral note from my oldest younger brother ...
The funeral was very nice, and well attended. We had lots of flowers, and your's were by far the most beautiful, and the biggest. Those people at Oak Creek are good. I read Kristopher's poem and it choked me up. The minister was impressed by how evocative so few words could be. So was I.
The funeral was very nice, and well attended. We had lots of flowers, and your's were by far the most beautiful, and the biggest. Those people at Oak Creek are good. I read Kristopher's poem and it choked me up. The minister was impressed by how evocative so few words could be. So was I.
just a note
a post-funeral note from my youngest brother ...
Sorry I didn't update you on Friday, it went fine. The flowers you guys sent were beautiful and arrived on time, I will send you a picture of them but I got busy and forgot to get the pic from the camera to my laptop Friday evening. The funeral was attended by family, some people dad had known over the years, and people we work with. I believe the left-over coffee and lemonade was pitched, but we have frozen the remaining cookies for when you guys can make it to Lincoln. We look forward to seeing you when you can make it to town.
Sorry I didn't update you on Friday, it went fine. The flowers you guys sent were beautiful and arrived on time, I will send you a picture of them but I got busy and forgot to get the pic from the camera to my laptop Friday evening. The funeral was attended by family, some people dad had known over the years, and people we work with. I believe the left-over coffee and lemonade was pitched, but we have frozen the remaining cookies for when you guys can make it to Lincoln. We look forward to seeing you when you can make it to town.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
more nature ...
we took some other pictures on our walk...
here's a handsome man ...
death stalking ...
gears ...
driftwood ...
prickly beauty ...
here's a handsome man ...
death stalking ...
gears ...
driftwood ...
prickly beauty ...
nature moves on...
My Older Son drove up yesterday and spent the night. he and i spent more time together than we have since he graduated from college. it was so nice. we talked about his work and my work and bumpah and memories.
this morning we went for a walk over on the spit. we parked the car, walked all the way down the east side, crossed the road, started north. all of a sudden we saw a very very young seal. it still had some of the umbilical cord attached. it was laying amongst some large boulders and we almost didn't notice it.
it seemed to be tired or worn out or something, and the mother was nowhere in sight.
it was just so cute!
we watched it quite awhile (it seemed to be trying to slowly and awkwardly move toward the water) but it sure wasn't moving very quickly so we finally left.
we returned later, wondering how it was doing.
it had made some progress on getting toward the water (the tide was going out -- yikes!).
we debated trying to help it, but decided nature wouldn't want us to. i wondered if making its way to the water was how nature taught it to use his flippers. still, it just seemed soooooo tired.
later, as we were driving away from the area, we stopped briefly to see if it was still there. it had turned around and was slowly scooting back toward the rocks! what the heck?? we left, but took a bunch of questions with us.
this morning we went for a walk over on the spit. we parked the car, walked all the way down the east side, crossed the road, started north. all of a sudden we saw a very very young seal. it still had some of the umbilical cord attached. it was laying amongst some large boulders and we almost didn't notice it.
it seemed to be tired or worn out or something, and the mother was nowhere in sight.
it was just so cute!
we watched it quite awhile (it seemed to be trying to slowly and awkwardly move toward the water) but it sure wasn't moving very quickly so we finally left.
we returned later, wondering how it was doing.
it had made some progress on getting toward the water (the tide was going out -- yikes!).
we debated trying to help it, but decided nature wouldn't want us to. i wondered if making its way to the water was how nature taught it to use his flippers. still, it just seemed soooooo tired.
later, as we were driving away from the area, we stopped briefly to see if it was still there. it had turned around and was slowly scooting back toward the rocks! what the heck?? we left, but took a bunch of questions with us.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Grandfather
My Younger Son's thoughts about his Grandfather ...
to Whom it may concern
hands,
mustache,
barrel laugh and
brown leather.
hands.
breeze of pine,
splash of sun,
sip of A&W's Finest Root Beer.
hands.
...to Whom it may concern:
I don't care what else I forget,
what else becomes misty and gray
and falls away forever.
Just --
let me remember
mustache,
smile,
hands.
to Whom it may concern
hands,
mustache,
barrel laugh and
brown leather.
hands.
breeze of pine,
splash of sun,
sip of A&W's Finest Root Beer.
hands.
...to Whom it may concern:
I don't care what else I forget,
what else becomes misty and gray
and falls away forever.
Just --
let me remember
mustache,
smile,
hands.
thoughts about my Dad
My Dad was a gentle man. He was patient, good-natured, soft-spoken, and rarely angry. I remember one time when we lived in Curtis -- I had noticed one young tree in our backyard which had somehow lost a little bit of its bark. The part which was showing was smooth and was such a pretty buttery color. So I proceeded to take off more bark, thinking how pretty it made the tree look. I finally took it off all around the trunk. When Dad saw what I had done, he wasn’t very happy about it, but rather than ranting, he explained that I had disrupted the way the tree got its nourishment. I had killed the tree. But his explaining what had happened left a stronger impression on me than if he had gotten angry or if he had punished me.
Dad always felt that everyone was equal, and always said I could be anything I wanted to be. His support, before 1960’s feminism really got it’s start, was fairly unique as I later discovered out in the work world. His sense of fairness was strong and the concept of discrimination was intolerable. He counseled us kids to vote and to be aware of the world around us. We were encouraged to be doers -- to take whatever steps were needed to right wrongs or to stand up for something. He wanted us to stand on our own two feet and be the best that we could be.
Dad had such a nice smile and I enjoyed it when he laughed; it made him even more handsome than he already was. And dance -- he could dance up a storm. Music must have been part of his soul because when Glenn Miller was playing, he couldn’t sit still. If we were out hiking, he’d break into song, teach us some little ditty, or get us singing a round. “To ope’ their trunks the trees are never seen. How then do they put on their coats of green? They leave them out.”
Dad’s compassion and concern for other people’s feelings had a strong influence on me. His teaching of being considerate has stayed with me through many trying situations. And it wasn’t just his words, he taught by doing. I’ll never forget when he came to visit me after I had my mastectomy. He gave me a great big hug, and I knew it was intended to bolster my self-image, to let me know I was still a valuable, loveable person even though I might not feel that way. It was a tremendously kind and loving thing to do.
Kind and loving, that was my Dad. Accepting, supportive, gentle, yet strong and lasting. His teachings, his memories, his goodness lives on. But I shall always miss him.
Dad always felt that everyone was equal, and always said I could be anything I wanted to be. His support, before 1960’s feminism really got it’s start, was fairly unique as I later discovered out in the work world. His sense of fairness was strong and the concept of discrimination was intolerable. He counseled us kids to vote and to be aware of the world around us. We were encouraged to be doers -- to take whatever steps were needed to right wrongs or to stand up for something. He wanted us to stand on our own two feet and be the best that we could be.
Dad had such a nice smile and I enjoyed it when he laughed; it made him even more handsome than he already was. And dance -- he could dance up a storm. Music must have been part of his soul because when Glenn Miller was playing, he couldn’t sit still. If we were out hiking, he’d break into song, teach us some little ditty, or get us singing a round. “To ope’ their trunks the trees are never seen. How then do they put on their coats of green? They leave them out.”
Dad’s compassion and concern for other people’s feelings had a strong influence on me. His teaching of being considerate has stayed with me through many trying situations. And it wasn’t just his words, he taught by doing. I’ll never forget when he came to visit me after I had my mastectomy. He gave me a great big hug, and I knew it was intended to bolster my self-image, to let me know I was still a valuable, loveable person even though I might not feel that way. It was a tremendously kind and loving thing to do.
Kind and loving, that was my Dad. Accepting, supportive, gentle, yet strong and lasting. His teachings, his memories, his goodness lives on. But I shall always miss him.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
wait a sec...
big business vs. consumer health -- a small beef producer in kansas wants to test all its cows for mad cow disease, but large meat companies don't want to have to spend money for the test for its cows, so their political clout has ensured the u.s. ag. dept. will fight this keep-our-food-supply-safe test.
what's wrong here?
what's wrong here?
evil and your money
have you got some time on your hands? do you want to be totally disgusted about banks and their pranks, i mean, rules? read on ...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
my Dad
Dad was moved out of the hospital today. my brother B sent me a note this evening bringing me sadly up-to-date:
We moved Dad to Tabitha today. Yesterday his Dr. said he wouldn't move him unless he seemed pretty strong. This morning another Dr. said he seemed so strong they might move him by van. I went to see him this morning late and he seemed comatose. Someone from Tabitha later told me she insisted he be moved by ambulance. When he got to Tabitha they said he will not last the night. So, we all gathered to say goodby, as he breathed on, and I thought, he'll still be here tomorrow night. We are all the 5 blind men trying to describe the elephant. He goes through stages during the day. In the early part he opens his eyes and talks, seems coherent, but makes no sense. Later he just sleeps and breathes. He is not suffering, he is just leaving slowly, because he has great strength, and loves life.
We moved Dad to Tabitha today. Yesterday his Dr. said he wouldn't move him unless he seemed pretty strong. This morning another Dr. said he seemed so strong they might move him by van. I went to see him this morning late and he seemed comatose. Someone from Tabitha later told me she insisted he be moved by ambulance. When he got to Tabitha they said he will not last the night. So, we all gathered to say goodby, as he breathed on, and I thought, he'll still be here tomorrow night. We are all the 5 blind men trying to describe the elephant. He goes through stages during the day. In the early part he opens his eyes and talks, seems coherent, but makes no sense. Later he just sleeps and breathes. He is not suffering, he is just leaving slowly, because he has great strength, and loves life.
Monday, May 28, 2007
head in the sand
freebirth. sounds like some kind of drug thing, doesn't it. actually, it's an absence of things. the concept means birthing a child by yourself. and one supporter believes "As long as clean water and reasonable living standards are available ... then the task is to eliminate the other two factors and a natural birth will be as safe as it can be." (the three factors being, according to her, poverty, intervention, and fear.)
excuse me while i guffaw here. i mean, are these people really serious? yes, apparently they are. the idea has taken hold in britain and here in the u.s. the proponents say that we haven't gotten where we are, as homo sapiens, by requiring medical personnel to help with birth events.
that's true, but it's also true that many women throughout the ages have died in childbirth. while i have to admire the indian woman who goes off to have her child by herself (is that really true?), i don't think i would have done a very good job of delivering my two children all by myself. i suppose i could have done it if i'd had to. but i didn't have to. i chose to do the lamaze thing and felt proud of myself for handling that much of it in a self-reliant way.
but, freebirth? pardon me, but i have no desire to pull my own tooth, bandage my own broken leg, take out my own appendix. or anyone else's for that matter. if i were the only one left after an earthquake of maximum proportions, then yes, necessity is the mother of do-it-yourself. but when there's a choice? hufft ... haha, you've got to be kidding. hahahaha.....
excuse me while i guffaw here. i mean, are these people really serious? yes, apparently they are. the idea has taken hold in britain and here in the u.s. the proponents say that we haven't gotten where we are, as homo sapiens, by requiring medical personnel to help with birth events.
that's true, but it's also true that many women throughout the ages have died in childbirth. while i have to admire the indian woman who goes off to have her child by herself (is that really true?), i don't think i would have done a very good job of delivering my two children all by myself. i suppose i could have done it if i'd had to. but i didn't have to. i chose to do the lamaze thing and felt proud of myself for handling that much of it in a self-reliant way.
but, freebirth? pardon me, but i have no desire to pull my own tooth, bandage my own broken leg, take out my own appendix. or anyone else's for that matter. if i were the only one left after an earthquake of maximum proportions, then yes, necessity is the mother of do-it-yourself. but when there's a choice? hufft ... haha, you've got to be kidding. hahahaha.....
update on dad
after several e-mails and phone calls, here's what i know about dad: his body is strong. even though he has pneumonia and they are not giving him anything for it, he may still recover. he is getting medication for pain and that is a good thing. and not giving him treatment is also a good thing. 'no resuscitation' is also part of the plan, and he has a living will. his life is not to be extended by medical means but he's always kept himself so healthy, he may outlive us all.
during part of his hospital stay, he has been gone, sort of comatose. and yet, saturday he was awake, alert, and extremely talkative. for the most part his comments were unintelligible, but he wasn't aware of that and happily talked everyone's ear off. at one point uncle L was carrying granddaughter J (who's about three or four now, i think) and stood beside dad's bed. when dad realized someone was there, he turned to L, saw J, and said "Well, hi there cutie!" then he was distracted and turned away. it was a sweet moment.
apparently the doctor thought he'd probably die by yesterday and the nurse thought maybe by tuesday, but it's all a guessing game. he has to stay in the hospital (for the infamous insurance purposes) until tuesday, and after that will probably be moved to a hospice location. unless he's able to dance out of the hospital in which case it's back to an alzheimer's unit.
this is all so amazing. and i think he'd get a very big kick out of surprising everyone and keeping the experts guessing.
during part of his hospital stay, he has been gone, sort of comatose. and yet, saturday he was awake, alert, and extremely talkative. for the most part his comments were unintelligible, but he wasn't aware of that and happily talked everyone's ear off. at one point uncle L was carrying granddaughter J (who's about three or four now, i think) and stood beside dad's bed. when dad realized someone was there, he turned to L, saw J, and said "Well, hi there cutie!" then he was distracted and turned away. it was a sweet moment.
apparently the doctor thought he'd probably die by yesterday and the nurse thought maybe by tuesday, but it's all a guessing game. he has to stay in the hospital (for the infamous insurance purposes) until tuesday, and after that will probably be moved to a hospice location. unless he's able to dance out of the hospital in which case it's back to an alzheimer's unit.
this is all so amazing. and i think he'd get a very big kick out of surprising everyone and keeping the experts guessing.
vignette ~ A Town
“You are the most barbaric mother in my class!” she screamed as she slammed the door behind her and ran across the back yard. She was so angry that she started crying, and that made her even angrier. “Bitch,” she muttered as she ran out from the alley and onto the sidewalk.
“Whaaaat,” the little old lady said slowly in her creaky voice as the girl rushed by. But the girl didn’t answer her and the little old lady carefully continued on, thinking She looked like she was having a bad day, the poor thing. Probably a fight with her boyfriend. She placed her cane precisely and thought about the beautiful autumn day. The little old woman was glad she had her health so she could spend time walking outside, and thought about her friend who had broken her hip eight months ago and would probably never leave the nursing home into which they’d placed her. She cautiously stepped off the curb, the last street she crossed before she returned to her house. Her mind on things of long ago, she never saw the car that hit her doing 50 in the 25 mph zone.
He slammed on his brakes, but it was too late. “Oh god, ohmygod, ohmygod.” He got out of the car, shaking, and went around to where the little old woman was lying crumpled on the street. Shit! I was speeding! That little old lady isn’t moving. He bent down and gently touched her, but her eyes were closed. He tried to feel for her pulse, but her wrist was so small and dainty, and he felt weird touching her. He figured she was dead so he straightened her jacket, fetched her purse from where it had landed, and sat down on the curb holding her hand. My life is over. I’m done for now. Dammit! If I’d just seen her...
It was a middle-aged policeman who pulled up to the accident. Well, at least the kid stopped and stayed with her. He got out of the cruiser and walked over to examine the woman. “Hey son, what happened?” He could tell the kid was just a high schooler and knew he had messed things up for himself real good. The kid had been crying a bit, but that wasn’t unusual in an accident like this. And it was pretty obvious the old woman was dead. That was too bad. He’d seen her at church and knew she’d lived here a long time.
The ambulance drove the little old lady to the town’s mortuary. The funeral director indicated where to place the body and spoke briefly to the driver before going back inside to close things up for the evening. He’d gotten a call from his wife, earlier, saying their daughter had stormed out of the house again. Then when he’d gotten the fatality call, he worried it might have been her who was hit. He felt bad that he’d been relieved to find out it had been this sweet old woman who’d been killed instead of his daughter. He knew the woman lived just a block from his house and he’d seen her around town quite a bit. “God bless her,” he said as he locked up for the night.
“Whaaaat,” the little old lady said slowly in her creaky voice as the girl rushed by. But the girl didn’t answer her and the little old lady carefully continued on, thinking She looked like she was having a bad day, the poor thing. Probably a fight with her boyfriend. She placed her cane precisely and thought about the beautiful autumn day. The little old woman was glad she had her health so she could spend time walking outside, and thought about her friend who had broken her hip eight months ago and would probably never leave the nursing home into which they’d placed her. She cautiously stepped off the curb, the last street she crossed before she returned to her house. Her mind on things of long ago, she never saw the car that hit her doing 50 in the 25 mph zone.
He slammed on his brakes, but it was too late. “Oh god, ohmygod, ohmygod.” He got out of the car, shaking, and went around to where the little old woman was lying crumpled on the street. Shit! I was speeding! That little old lady isn’t moving. He bent down and gently touched her, but her eyes were closed. He tried to feel for her pulse, but her wrist was so small and dainty, and he felt weird touching her. He figured she was dead so he straightened her jacket, fetched her purse from where it had landed, and sat down on the curb holding her hand. My life is over. I’m done for now. Dammit! If I’d just seen her...
It was a middle-aged policeman who pulled up to the accident. Well, at least the kid stopped and stayed with her. He got out of the cruiser and walked over to examine the woman. “Hey son, what happened?” He could tell the kid was just a high schooler and knew he had messed things up for himself real good. The kid had been crying a bit, but that wasn’t unusual in an accident like this. And it was pretty obvious the old woman was dead. That was too bad. He’d seen her at church and knew she’d lived here a long time.
The ambulance drove the little old lady to the town’s mortuary. The funeral director indicated where to place the body and spoke briefly to the driver before going back inside to close things up for the evening. He’d gotten a call from his wife, earlier, saying their daughter had stormed out of the house again. Then when he’d gotten the fatality call, he worried it might have been her who was hit. He felt bad that he’d been relieved to find out it had been this sweet old woman who’d been killed instead of his daughter. He knew the woman lived just a block from his house and he’d seen her around town quite a bit. “God bless her,” he said as he locked up for the night.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
vignette ~ The Mission
"... so in theory this process works a-okay. You'll be the first troops to actually utilize the effect, however, and I'm confident it will be a success. Am I clear on that?" Lieutenant Crosby looked each of the men in the eye. "You will succeed on this mission, and return to explain to MedOps any variables you encountered on the way. Dismissed."
Twelve men filed out of the small room and made their way at a rapid clip over to MedOps, or MedOops as some of the men called it. Sergeant Pitter stayed to ask Lt. Crosby one question. "Sir."
Lt. Crosby turned away from the diagram-laden blackboard and calmly eyed him. "Pitter. You have a question?"
"Yes sir. Off the record, sir?"
Crosby hesitated. He liked Pitter, but didn't really want any questions about the operation -- it had been a very long day. Finally he replied, "Off the record, Sgt. What's the problem?"
"I don't like this, sir. The men aren't guinea pigs and there's no war going on."
"Pitter, there's always a war going on. Sometimes it just isn't visible."
"Yes sir, but even though no one was supposed to find out, I know some of those tests came out bad. I don't want that to happen to the guys in my unit."
Crosby stared at Pitter, thinking about the results he himself had seen and wondering how the higher-ups had felt when they'd okayed this dangerous mission with so many unknowns. Some of the tests had horrible results, yet the need for swift action had burst upon them, leaving no choice but to up the ante.
He debated sharing a confidence, though it was an extreme move and certainly not the official viewpoint. They needed an edge, however; they simply had to accomplish this assignment.
"Okay. I'll lay it out for you, Pitter. This is top-secret classified and I don't want you to share it with anyone -- this mission must succeed. We have proof agents from Alpha-5 have infiltrated the British high government. Six of our best men died to get this information to us and we have to act immediately. You have to get those men in there and take those agents out. I won't explain why or give you any more details. Now go do the job you've been assigned. Dismissed."
Pitter hurried across the grounds toward MedOps. There was no more uncertainty in his mind. His close friend, Walker, had been killed recently under very mysterious circumstances. He'd been the best tracker/sniffer at this post, and Pitter now realized the true extent of the danger facing them. It wasn't this untried medical process, it was the Alphans. This was no longer a critical mission, it was personal. And, by god, he and his men would succeed.
Two hours later, at 11:45 pm, a low-slung, battered junker chugged drunkenly through the recently rained-upon streets on its way past the mix of downtown buildings which included the austere high government compound. The junker back-fired and, suffering from multiple engine troubles, slowed to a crawl near the compound's front gates. The ever-so-formal guards didn't turn their heads or bat an eye when the oil-burning rig coughed past.
The vehicle managed to keep going and if anyone had been closely watching, they'd have seen the next street drain stolidly swallow up the remains of the rain along with thirteen maple leaves. The leaves were swept underground and immediately thirteen tiny camouflaged men sprang up from the fabric leaves they'd anchored onto and dashed through the drains toward the compound, following the map they'd memorized.
In many ways they were successful. Ninety minutes into the mission they had positioned themselves under the living quarters where they split into three groups. Each group headed for a drain which would take them to the sleeping quarters of the enemy. Working quickly, they emerged about forty-five minutes after that through the shower drain in the designated bathrooms. Climbing up the bed and taking out the enemy had been the easiest part of the task.
It was what happened when the Alphans died that had started the real trouble.
Twelve men filed out of the small room and made their way at a rapid clip over to MedOps, or MedOops as some of the men called it. Sergeant Pitter stayed to ask Lt. Crosby one question. "Sir."
Lt. Crosby turned away from the diagram-laden blackboard and calmly eyed him. "Pitter. You have a question?"
"Yes sir. Off the record, sir?"
Crosby hesitated. He liked Pitter, but didn't really want any questions about the operation -- it had been a very long day. Finally he replied, "Off the record, Sgt. What's the problem?"
"I don't like this, sir. The men aren't guinea pigs and there's no war going on."
"Pitter, there's always a war going on. Sometimes it just isn't visible."
"Yes sir, but even though no one was supposed to find out, I know some of those tests came out bad. I don't want that to happen to the guys in my unit."
Crosby stared at Pitter, thinking about the results he himself had seen and wondering how the higher-ups had felt when they'd okayed this dangerous mission with so many unknowns. Some of the tests had horrible results, yet the need for swift action had burst upon them, leaving no choice but to up the ante.
He debated sharing a confidence, though it was an extreme move and certainly not the official viewpoint. They needed an edge, however; they simply had to accomplish this assignment.
"Okay. I'll lay it out for you, Pitter. This is top-secret classified and I don't want you to share it with anyone -- this mission must succeed. We have proof agents from Alpha-5 have infiltrated the British high government. Six of our best men died to get this information to us and we have to act immediately. You have to get those men in there and take those agents out. I won't explain why or give you any more details. Now go do the job you've been assigned. Dismissed."
Pitter hurried across the grounds toward MedOps. There was no more uncertainty in his mind. His close friend, Walker, had been killed recently under very mysterious circumstances. He'd been the best tracker/sniffer at this post, and Pitter now realized the true extent of the danger facing them. It wasn't this untried medical process, it was the Alphans. This was no longer a critical mission, it was personal. And, by god, he and his men would succeed.
Two hours later, at 11:45 pm, a low-slung, battered junker chugged drunkenly through the recently rained-upon streets on its way past the mix of downtown buildings which included the austere high government compound. The junker back-fired and, suffering from multiple engine troubles, slowed to a crawl near the compound's front gates. The ever-so-formal guards didn't turn their heads or bat an eye when the oil-burning rig coughed past.
The vehicle managed to keep going and if anyone had been closely watching, they'd have seen the next street drain stolidly swallow up the remains of the rain along with thirteen maple leaves. The leaves were swept underground and immediately thirteen tiny camouflaged men sprang up from the fabric leaves they'd anchored onto and dashed through the drains toward the compound, following the map they'd memorized.
In many ways they were successful. Ninety minutes into the mission they had positioned themselves under the living quarters where they split into three groups. Each group headed for a drain which would take them to the sleeping quarters of the enemy. Working quickly, they emerged about forty-five minutes after that through the shower drain in the designated bathrooms. Climbing up the bed and taking out the enemy had been the easiest part of the task.
It was what happened when the Alphans died that had started the real trouble.
Friday, May 25, 2007
computer tips
reading these may be worth your time:
http://tech.msn.com/news/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=4868943>1=10036 -- can harm really be done?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129141/article.html -- printer ink
http://tech.msn.com/news/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=4868943>1=10036 -- can harm really be done?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129141/article.html -- printer ink
Thursday, May 24, 2007
my dad
i got this note from one of my brothers this evening:
Today I checked Dad into the emergency ward of St. Elizabeth with pneumonia. He developed a respiratory infection a couple days ago, I asked this morning if he had pneumonia and was told no. About an hour later they called to say his lungs seemed to be filling up, they had him on oxygen, and they wanted me to ok sending him to the hospital. I did, they did, and then I wondered if I should have. This is tricky business. His wishes were not to have his life prolonged beyond a certian level of quality, as you know. I believe we have discussed this sufficiently, and my feeling is that we see it the same way. Still some decisions have to be made, and after seeing him at the hospital I feel I did the right thing by saying yes. He still may not survive this, but they can do more for his comfort at the hospital than at the home. I'll keep you posted.
losing someone just sucks.
Today I checked Dad into the emergency ward of St. Elizabeth with pneumonia. He developed a respiratory infection a couple days ago, I asked this morning if he had pneumonia and was told no. About an hour later they called to say his lungs seemed to be filling up, they had him on oxygen, and they wanted me to ok sending him to the hospital. I did, they did, and then I wondered if I should have. This is tricky business. His wishes were not to have his life prolonged beyond a certian level of quality, as you know. I believe we have discussed this sufficiently, and my feeling is that we see it the same way. Still some decisions have to be made, and after seeing him at the hospital I feel I did the right thing by saying yes. He still may not survive this, but they can do more for his comfort at the hospital than at the home. I'll keep you posted.
losing someone just sucks.
aurora alert
there's a good possibility we may be able to see the northern lights each night around midnight, from tonight 'til next tuesday night.
that's always a waaaaaay cool experience!
that's always a waaaaaay cool experience!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
making mistakes? do it big!
it's all about doing the job right for the boss. especially the top boss.
yesterday i had a long day which was full of learning, interruptions, and mini-snags. so when it came time to go home, i was more than ready. i turned off the computer, gathered up my things, started to walk out the door then remembered maybe i should say good-bye to the top boss. so i went into her office and said, "are you going to be here tomorrow?" she looked at me funny and said, "yes." i said, "okay then, i'll see you tomorrow." she hesitated a second then asked, "what time to do you go home?" i smiled and cheerily said, "4:30" but the back of my mind thought that was an odd question. she looked up at her wall clock. i followed her gaze and looked at the wall clock. it said 4:00. horrified, i mumbled, "what am i doing?" then "this is extremely embarrassing" then went back to my desk.
mortifaction.
stress works in subtle and mysterious ways.
yesterday i had a long day which was full of learning, interruptions, and mini-snags. so when it came time to go home, i was more than ready. i turned off the computer, gathered up my things, started to walk out the door then remembered maybe i should say good-bye to the top boss. so i went into her office and said, "are you going to be here tomorrow?" she looked at me funny and said, "yes." i said, "okay then, i'll see you tomorrow." she hesitated a second then asked, "what time to do you go home?" i smiled and cheerily said, "4:30" but the back of my mind thought that was an odd question. she looked up at her wall clock. i followed her gaze and looked at the wall clock. it said 4:00. horrified, i mumbled, "what am i doing?" then "this is extremely embarrassing" then went back to my desk.
mortifaction.
stress works in subtle and mysterious ways.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
second trimester
Sunday, May 13, 2007
have a good monday
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A bumbling intruder broke into an empty New Zealand police station and accidentally locked himself in a cell but managed to smash his way out again just before authorities arrived.
Sgt. Graham McGurk on Monday said the person broke into the deserted police station in the town of Matamata on North Island on Saturday night through the front office.
The intruder went to the cell block and was accidentally locked in when a self-closing door clicked shut.
As police rushed to respond to an intruder alarm at the post, the intruder used a wooden chair that was inside the cell to smash through a window — supposedly outfitted with shatter-proof glass — to freedom.
Arriving officers could hear the intruder, but he fled through the front of the station as police were closing in from the back, McGurk said.
"It was quite unusual. The offender has almost done the job for us, getting himself locked in our cell," he said.
It wasn't known why the person broke into the police station, and nothing was stolen, McGurk said.
Sgt. Graham McGurk on Monday said the person broke into the deserted police station in the town of Matamata on North Island on Saturday night through the front office.
The intruder went to the cell block and was accidentally locked in when a self-closing door clicked shut.
As police rushed to respond to an intruder alarm at the post, the intruder used a wooden chair that was inside the cell to smash through a window — supposedly outfitted with shatter-proof glass — to freedom.
Arriving officers could hear the intruder, but he fled through the front of the station as police were closing in from the back, McGurk said.
"It was quite unusual. The offender has almost done the job for us, getting himself locked in our cell," he said.
It wasn't known why the person broke into the police station, and nothing was stolen, McGurk said.
Friday, May 11, 2007
wedding bells
one of my nephews and his fiancee are getting married today. they live in the midwest so i am keeping my fingers crossed they will have lovely weather instead of one of the hellacious tornadoes that plague the mid-states.
congratulations mike and blair, and i hope you have a long life together filled with joy and success!
congratulations mike and blair, and i hope you have a long life together filled with joy and success!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
vignette ~ Harborville
“Hey Jed, I think I’m gonna have to call it a night. We just cain’t see nothin even with that there sky fulla stars.”
“Well, dangit, Punk. Since we left that there tree line, we don’t even have no trees to tie up the horses and that ole’ mule would justa soon wander off as stay put. This has been one long day of ridin’ but I thought sure we woulda reached Harborville by now.”
“Cain’t help it none -- that there farmer musta give us bad directions, but I cain’t go on furever and Slocum here is gonna drop and mash my legs if I don’t get off him purty dang quick.” With that Punk reined up, slid off the horse, stretched his arms, and worked the kinks out of his back. “This shore is soft ground we got -- ain’t nuthin like that good ole’ hard Oklahoma dirt. Fact is it’s kinda like mud, but without the mess. It’s gonna make a nice soft bed, but I wonder whut it is?”
Jed finally stopped, cranked his neck from one side to the other and mumbled, “Dad gummit.” He swung his leg over his saddle, but nearly fell when he stepped down. “Dangit! That there ground is soft as quicksand. Whut in tarnation? Don’t got no grass, no weeds, no nothin that I can feel except it’s a little damp.”
“I don’t know, but I’m too tired to care. Whut with sleepin in bear country, sleepin in cougar country, sleepin on rocks, and sleepin with bugs, I don’t think I’m gonna be much bothered about some kinda soft sand. Let’s git that ole’ tarp out and bed down on it. That way our clothes’ll stay dry.”
So they put their saddles on the tarp then tethered the horses and mule to the saddle horns. Their late supper of cold beans and hardtack wasn’t all that great, but it was filling and they both really were tired. It had turned a little chilly, so the men bedded down with their blankets and said good night.
Thanks heavens they were pretty light sleepers, because two hours later the tide turned and started coming back in.
“Well, dangit, Punk. Since we left that there tree line, we don’t even have no trees to tie up the horses and that ole’ mule would justa soon wander off as stay put. This has been one long day of ridin’ but I thought sure we woulda reached Harborville by now.”
“Cain’t help it none -- that there farmer musta give us bad directions, but I cain’t go on furever and Slocum here is gonna drop and mash my legs if I don’t get off him purty dang quick.” With that Punk reined up, slid off the horse, stretched his arms, and worked the kinks out of his back. “This shore is soft ground we got -- ain’t nuthin like that good ole’ hard Oklahoma dirt. Fact is it’s kinda like mud, but without the mess. It’s gonna make a nice soft bed, but I wonder whut it is?”
Jed finally stopped, cranked his neck from one side to the other and mumbled, “Dad gummit.” He swung his leg over his saddle, but nearly fell when he stepped down. “Dangit! That there ground is soft as quicksand. Whut in tarnation? Don’t got no grass, no weeds, no nothin that I can feel except it’s a little damp.”
“I don’t know, but I’m too tired to care. Whut with sleepin in bear country, sleepin in cougar country, sleepin on rocks, and sleepin with bugs, I don’t think I’m gonna be much bothered about some kinda soft sand. Let’s git that ole’ tarp out and bed down on it. That way our clothes’ll stay dry.”
So they put their saddles on the tarp then tethered the horses and mule to the saddle horns. Their late supper of cold beans and hardtack wasn’t all that great, but it was filling and they both really were tired. It had turned a little chilly, so the men bedded down with their blankets and said good night.
Thanks heavens they were pretty light sleepers, because two hours later the tide turned and started coming back in.
job worries
i'm into my second week of work and i'm wondering if i may not be able to keep this job after all. tuesday i had to go to the post office to pick up a bunch of boxes. they were heavy. not only do i not want to lift heavy boxes, my arm doesn't want me to. so it's a dilemma since there was nothing in my job description about lifting heavy boxes or i wouldn't have applied for the job.
i talked with my acting super about it figuring the sooner we address the issue the better. she was totally professional, listening to me and not commenting about the outcome. when my real boss comes back from her trip, the issue will be addressed. i'd just as soon keep the job since it was so hard to get, since i like the people, and since i like the job. plus i'm an excellent employee so they would be short-sighted to get rid of me.
stay tuned for the outcome.
i talked with my acting super about it figuring the sooner we address the issue the better. she was totally professional, listening to me and not commenting about the outcome. when my real boss comes back from her trip, the issue will be addressed. i'd just as soon keep the job since it was so hard to get, since i like the people, and since i like the job. plus i'm an excellent employee so they would be short-sighted to get rid of me.
stay tuned for the outcome.
oh, the trials
getting to work can be so extreme. when i leave the driveway and head off at about 7:45, it's pretty much rush hour on peace portal and as such it usually takes a good six minutes to get to work! i know, i know -- i couldn't believe it either!
Monday, May 07, 2007
umm ... pardon me
underwear makes mischief from time-to-time. there was that once when the queen mother (or one of the royals) was walking along on some international mission and her underpants fell down, so one of her aides picked them up and discreetly made them disappear. what aplomb!
today my pantyhose decided to be ornery. you need to know first-of-all that, even though most of the women i've known have worn their pantyhose over their panties, i've always worn them under my panties, right next to my skin. why? because way back in high school one of the older sales ladies at miller and paine's told me that was the best way to wear them. at any rate, today the new pair i wore to work decided to naughtily start inching their way down from my waist. since i was quite busy and kept being engaged in conversation by cohorts, i could not get away to the restroom to rectify the situation, so ...
when i was told to go to lunch, they had effectively dropped below my navel in front and half-way down my behind. by the time i walked down two flights of stairs and was one-third of the way to my car, the impish pair had gleefully rolled completely below my torso. at that point the only thing keeping them from joining my feet was that they were trapped by my underpants.
ahem. thank you, sales lady.
today my pantyhose decided to be ornery. you need to know first-of-all that, even though most of the women i've known have worn their pantyhose over their panties, i've always worn them under my panties, right next to my skin. why? because way back in high school one of the older sales ladies at miller and paine's told me that was the best way to wear them. at any rate, today the new pair i wore to work decided to naughtily start inching their way down from my waist. since i was quite busy and kept being engaged in conversation by cohorts, i could not get away to the restroom to rectify the situation, so ...
when i was told to go to lunch, they had effectively dropped below my navel in front and half-way down my behind. by the time i walked down two flights of stairs and was one-third of the way to my car, the impish pair had gleefully rolled completely below my torso. at that point the only thing keeping them from joining my feet was that they were trapped by my underpants.
ahem. thank you, sales lady.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
vignette ~ The Camera
Click, whrrrt ... click, whrrrt. The man put the camera down and started the lawnmower. As soon as he disappeared around the corner of the house, the camera shot forward. Yippee, I’m freeeee! I’m freeeee! I’m off to see the wizard, la lalala la la la la and it took off down the sidewalk.
Jogjogjog, hop-a-rock, jogjogjog ... pretty soon the camera was far enough away to safely stop and take stock of its surroundings. A bunch of trees, a mailbox, a ... wooooooo wooooooo ... a train! The camera quickly moved through the trees until it could see the gigantic cars lumbering down the tracks. Wheeeee! Wheeeee! With great excitement the camera hurried closer, admiring the huge stolid train cars.
It looked to the left and saw the engine disappear around a bend, then looked to the right to see ... oh no! The caboose was just about to move by. Don’t ... have ... much ... time ... with a prayer to almighty Toner and a giiiiiiiant leap, the camera launched itself up and landed gingerly on top of the caboose.
Ahhh, the view ... the wonder of it all ... a mighty-fine adventure ... I’m king of the world ... heh, it could get a little chilly up here but hey, who’s complaining ... the camera gazed around and lazed about, thoroughly enjoying its musings and quite content to literally watch the world go by. So pretty ... lalala ... all the trees, the cows, the farms ... it’s gorgeous ... I get to experience it all! I’ll be a world-traveler, world-famous -- the Cosmopolitan Camera! Yes, C.C., no, C.C., what do you think of this, C.C.! I can just see it n-- ... thwack ... tumble, tumble, tumble ... thunk.
Stunned, the camera slowly blinked, then noticed a woozy crow pick itself up and take off, wobbly flying away. Then it noticed nothing else was moving. Oh. My. Goodness. My adventure ... noooooooooo this can’t be happening .....
Sadly the camera moved away from the tracks and hunkered down out of the gravel and close to the weeds, almost in tears. Ah, the slings and arrows ... that it should come to this ... the world was mine oyster ... what’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief ... even so, this was the unkindest c-- ...
Crunchcrunch, crunchcrunch ... suddenly the camera was lifted aloft and cradled in small gentle hands. “Maman, vois!” An unintelligible conversation followed between a woman and a little girl, then the camera was tenderly wrapped in a handkerchief and sequestered in a cloth bag.
Oh joy! A new adventure! Fear not for the future ... life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim ... zip-a-dee-doo-dah ... and off he went, snugly into the sunset.
Jogjogjog, hop-a-rock, jogjogjog ... pretty soon the camera was far enough away to safely stop and take stock of its surroundings. A bunch of trees, a mailbox, a ... wooooooo wooooooo ... a train! The camera quickly moved through the trees until it could see the gigantic cars lumbering down the tracks. Wheeeee! Wheeeee! With great excitement the camera hurried closer, admiring the huge stolid train cars.
It looked to the left and saw the engine disappear around a bend, then looked to the right to see ... oh no! The caboose was just about to move by. Don’t ... have ... much ... time ... with a prayer to almighty Toner and a giiiiiiiant leap, the camera launched itself up and landed gingerly on top of the caboose.
Ahhh, the view ... the wonder of it all ... a mighty-fine adventure ... I’m king of the world ... heh, it could get a little chilly up here but hey, who’s complaining ... the camera gazed around and lazed about, thoroughly enjoying its musings and quite content to literally watch the world go by. So pretty ... lalala ... all the trees, the cows, the farms ... it’s gorgeous ... I get to experience it all! I’ll be a world-traveler, world-famous -- the Cosmopolitan Camera! Yes, C.C., no, C.C., what do you think of this, C.C.! I can just see it n-- ... thwack ... tumble, tumble, tumble ... thunk.
Stunned, the camera slowly blinked, then noticed a woozy crow pick itself up and take off, wobbly flying away. Then it noticed nothing else was moving. Oh. My. Goodness. My adventure ... noooooooooo this can’t be happening .....
Sadly the camera moved away from the tracks and hunkered down out of the gravel and close to the weeds, almost in tears. Ah, the slings and arrows ... that it should come to this ... the world was mine oyster ... what’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief ... even so, this was the unkindest c-- ...
Crunchcrunch, crunchcrunch ... suddenly the camera was lifted aloft and cradled in small gentle hands. “Maman, vois!” An unintelligible conversation followed between a woman and a little girl, then the camera was tenderly wrapped in a handkerchief and sequestered in a cloth bag.
Oh joy! A new adventure! Fear not for the future ... life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim ... zip-a-dee-doo-dah ... and off he went, snugly into the sunset.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
priceless...
well, it's about time. apparently stay-at-home moms are worth $138,000+ a year. i think that figure may be low, but at least it's nice to see better-than-minimum-wage attributed to an important, stressful, and often difficult job.
the article stated "the 10 jobs listed as comprising a mother’s work were housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist" -- i would have added mediator, cheerleader, dragon-slayer, dishwasher, nurse, high-priced call girl, social director, librarian, head of creativity, spiritual counselor, fairy godmother, phys ed coach, seer, animal control, activities director, judge, dispenser of guidance and wisdom, and giver of boundless love. i'm sure there are more i will think of later, and more you would add.
some moms don't get respect, some don't get support, some don't get acknowledged for all they do. i, on the other hand, have two more-than-wonderful sons and le husband parfait. i am blessed.
the article stated "the 10 jobs listed as comprising a mother’s work were housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist" -- i would have added mediator, cheerleader, dragon-slayer, dishwasher, nurse, high-priced call girl, social director, librarian, head of creativity, spiritual counselor, fairy godmother, phys ed coach, seer, animal control, activities director, judge, dispenser of guidance and wisdom, and giver of boundless love. i'm sure there are more i will think of later, and more you would add.
some moms don't get respect, some don't get support, some don't get acknowledged for all they do. i, on the other hand, have two more-than-wonderful sons and le husband parfait. i am blessed.
Friday, May 04, 2007
hear ye, hear ye ....
At three minutes and four seconds after 2 AM on the 6th of May this year, the time and date will be: 02:03:04 05/06/07.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
i've been busy
well, gentle readers, you recall that this week has been the beginning of my new governmental career. it has been very interesting to see the organization, the people, and my new duties. monday i started out confident and happy, but became less confident and less happy the next couple of days. but today i was left to myself, so i worked with what i had learned while cleaning up and personalizing my work area. it was a very good day.
i have the largest office, on the top floor. yes, it's true. of course, it's technically a reception area, but 90% of the time i'm the only one around, so ... it's mine. with one whole wall full of floor-to-ceiling windows. so i'm golden!
i really, really like my temporary boss (she has a joisey accent) as well as the other people i work closely with. my regular boss got called back to d.c. but will be back soon. and i expect to like her.
remember how i was trying to change from a night person to a morning person? the biggest problem i've had with everything is that each morning this week i've awakened half an hour earlier than the day before. at this rate saturday morning i'll awaken just about the time i used to go to bed! okay we can stop now...
i have the largest office, on the top floor. yes, it's true. of course, it's technically a reception area, but 90% of the time i'm the only one around, so ... it's mine. with one whole wall full of floor-to-ceiling windows. so i'm golden!
i really, really like my temporary boss (she has a joisey accent) as well as the other people i work closely with. my regular boss got called back to d.c. but will be back soon. and i expect to like her.
remember how i was trying to change from a night person to a morning person? the biggest problem i've had with everything is that each morning this week i've awakened half an hour earlier than the day before. at this rate saturday morning i'll awaken just about the time i used to go to bed! okay we can stop now...
Sunday, April 29, 2007
if it seems too good to be true...
the husband and i just watched a movie i think everyone should see -- Enron, The Smartest Guys In The Room by magnolia home entertainment.
i'm not one for documentaries, usually, but our neighbor who had the restaurant and then moved back to georgia, lost all her money due to her then-husband's investment of everything they had in enron, and i felt compelled to watch the story.
since i don't read a newspaper, i didn't really have a good grasp on the enron situation. the documentary does an excellent job of uncritically putting forth information with congressional testimony, eye witness interviews, and company footage. megalomania, greed, group mentality, and a complete lack of ethics seemed to be the key factors in this debacle.
and i add a caution to this notion: "ca·ve·at emp·tor (kav-ee-at emp-ter) -noun- let the buyer beware: the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty." -- and the caution is: neither a guarantee nor a warranty will help if you're dealing with a liar.
i strongly encourage you to watch this film as this is not a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
i'm not one for documentaries, usually, but our neighbor who had the restaurant and then moved back to georgia, lost all her money due to her then-husband's investment of everything they had in enron, and i felt compelled to watch the story.
since i don't read a newspaper, i didn't really have a good grasp on the enron situation. the documentary does an excellent job of uncritically putting forth information with congressional testimony, eye witness interviews, and company footage. megalomania, greed, group mentality, and a complete lack of ethics seemed to be the key factors in this debacle.
and i add a caution to this notion: "ca·ve·at emp·tor (kav-ee-at emp-ter) -noun- let the buyer beware: the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty." -- and the caution is: neither a guarantee nor a warranty will help if you're dealing with a liar.
i strongly encourage you to watch this film as this is not a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
too much
we watched several movies this past week. one was Striking Distance (1993) with bruce willis and sarah jessica parker. it was a who-done-it and even though it got tense at times, it's probably not worth sitting through. bruce is always fun, but the story was contrived and i got tired of seeing bruce running the gauntlet over and over and over (i wanted to slash brion james' heart out).
the other was Man On Fire (2004) with denzel washington, christopher walken, dakota fanning, mickey rourke and marc anthony. i like denzel and thought he did a good job with a strange part; dakota was great; the ONLY movie i've ever seen mickey in where he was any good at all was Sin City; marc was actually good (i thought he was just a crooner, not an actor); christopher is always interesting, but ... this was the most violent, graphic movie i've ever seen. not gory, necessarily, but showing sadism i don't really need.
yes, i love it when the bad guys don't get away! but i also like a happy ending.
the other was Man On Fire (2004) with denzel washington, christopher walken, dakota fanning, mickey rourke and marc anthony. i like denzel and thought he did a good job with a strange part; dakota was great; the ONLY movie i've ever seen mickey in where he was any good at all was Sin City; marc was actually good (i thought he was just a crooner, not an actor); christopher is always interesting, but ... this was the most violent, graphic movie i've ever seen. not gory, necessarily, but showing sadism i don't really need.
yes, i love it when the bad guys don't get away! but i also like a happy ending.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
what next? conversation?
i am soooooooo not a morning person.
that is the biggest draw-back of this new job of mine -- they expect a person to not only be awake but to be at work at the ungodly hour of 8 am.
i just don't know how i'm going to do it.
that is the biggest draw-back of this new job of mine -- they expect a person to not only be awake but to be at work at the ungodly hour of 8 am.
i just don't know how i'm going to do it.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
medicine
my friend from south dakota is a caregiver for her mother and brother. that labor of love is extremely wearing so it was with great delight that the husband and i received a post card from her and her husband from cancun! from there they will travel to belize!
excellent plan, pat -- way to go! i hope your journey is refreshing, soothing, and fun!!!
excellent plan, pat -- way to go! i hope your journey is refreshing, soothing, and fun!!!
Monday, April 23, 2007
word play
Washington Post sillyness (the first three are my favorites):
Zencompass: Wherever you go, there you are.
Balderdash: a rapidly receding hairline.
Fistipuffs: Very minor squabbling.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating.
Gargoyle: olive-flavored mouthwash.
Negligent: describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
Flatulence: emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
Unergy: A condition that strikes people on the way to work, mostly on Mondays.
Ennaui: The least exciting of the Hawaiian islands.
Stonia: A small European country with very loose drug laws.
Engin: Gasohol.
Nestrogen: A hormone produced during pregnancy that produces cravings for wallpaper with matching borders and dust ruffles.
Experdition: The journey to Hell.
Zencompass: Wherever you go, there you are.
Balderdash: a rapidly receding hairline.
Fistipuffs: Very minor squabbling.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating.
Gargoyle: olive-flavored mouthwash.
Negligent: describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
Flatulence: emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
Unergy: A condition that strikes people on the way to work, mostly on Mondays.
Ennaui: The least exciting of the Hawaiian islands.
Stonia: A small European country with very loose drug laws.
Engin: Gasohol.
Nestrogen: A hormone produced during pregnancy that produces cravings for wallpaper with matching borders and dust ruffles.
Experdition: The journey to Hell.
Friday, April 20, 2007
true crime -- small town beat
April 16: Officers checked a residence after a man called repeatedly, insisting people were trying to get into his home. A cat was observed trying to get into the door, and officers shooed it away.
April 16: A resident reported that a former friend had entered his car without permission and scratched curse words into the paint on the vehicle after the two men had exchanged angry words. The victim turned over to police mail that he believed the suspect had left in his vehicle on the day of the crime.
April 14: Police were dispatched to an alarm. On arrival with two Border Patrol agents they found a partially open rear door. The homeowner and an alarm company call-out arrived and found nothing disturbed, except the owner's four dogs who had all been waiting inside the house to greet whoever entered. It appeared as though someone tried to get into the home and activated both the electronic and canine intrusion systems. Officers learned that teenagers had been seen jumping a fence into a neighbor's backyard earlier in the day.
April 16: A resident reported that a former friend had entered his car without permission and scratched curse words into the paint on the vehicle after the two men had exchanged angry words. The victim turned over to police mail that he believed the suspect had left in his vehicle on the day of the crime.
April 14: Police were dispatched to an alarm. On arrival with two Border Patrol agents they found a partially open rear door. The homeowner and an alarm company call-out arrived and found nothing disturbed, except the owner's four dogs who had all been waiting inside the house to greet whoever entered. It appeared as though someone tried to get into the home and activated both the electronic and canine intrusion systems. Officers learned that teenagers had been seen jumping a fence into a neighbor's backyard earlier in the day.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
#1 is blue, #2 is pink, #3 ...
i just watched a strange, to put it mildly, flick -- A Scanner Darkly, taken from a novel by Philip K. Dick, animated, starring Rory Cochrane, Robert Downey Jr, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, and Woody Harrelson.
the animation was excellently done, although it mainly looked like paint-by-number. be sure to watch the special feature on the animation -- those guys would be fun to work with.
i'm not familiar with the story or Dick but the adaptation by Richard Linklater told about a time in the near future when an undercover cop gets hooked by the drug culture he's supposed to be investigating.
i was more intrigued by the animation than anything else. maybe i'm just too used to disney.
cochrane's characterization was simply great -- that guy was down-and-out crazy and cochrane played the role perfectly -- you should watch it for him if nothing else. downey's character was the comic relief -- a smart guy and quick with the wit, and probably no one else would have done as well as he. ryder was very good and very pretty, too. reeves was good, but i had the most trouble reading his character. harrelson -- gees, i simply can't stand the guy no matter who he plays.
oh yes, and you will become distracted by the scramble suit.
the animation was excellently done, although it mainly looked like paint-by-number. be sure to watch the special feature on the animation -- those guys would be fun to work with.
i'm not familiar with the story or Dick but the adaptation by Richard Linklater told about a time in the near future when an undercover cop gets hooked by the drug culture he's supposed to be investigating.
i was more intrigued by the animation than anything else. maybe i'm just too used to disney.
cochrane's characterization was simply great -- that guy was down-and-out crazy and cochrane played the role perfectly -- you should watch it for him if nothing else. downey's character was the comic relief -- a smart guy and quick with the wit, and probably no one else would have done as well as he. ryder was very good and very pretty, too. reeves was good, but i had the most trouble reading his character. harrelson -- gees, i simply can't stand the guy no matter who he plays.
oh yes, and you will become distracted by the scramble suit.
Medic Alert
i discovered the Medic Alert organization back in 1975 and became a member. why? because i'm allergic to penicillin and my father was concerned that i needed to wear some easily identifiable notice to that effect. if he hadn't been concerned, it never would have occurred to me to take the step. many thanks, dad!
i started wearing a nice bracelet (rather than a necklace) and have worn it ever since. if you get hurt or knocked unconscious, would your medical condition (if you have one) get recognized in time to keep you from harm? you might give serious thought to obtaining this identification for your safety.
being a bad girl, until today i had not updated my medic alert information (doctors, contacts, etc.) since the mid-90's and when the Medic Alert magazine arrived today (addressed to My Older Son, inexplicably at my address), i looked through it and discovered i really needed to get my information current, pay my dues, and get a new bracelet. a phone call later, all is okay.
one more note -- they have a program called Kid Smart and even children who have no medical conditions can participate. the advantage for those kids is an emergency contact is on file, as well as immunization history and personal health record (if you've kept it updated). if you travel or move around a lot, having your child's immunization records where they can't get lost is major peace of mind.
visit them at www.medicalert.org or call them at 888.633.4298. they're open monday through saturday, with convenient hours for those of us in the pacific northwest.
i started wearing a nice bracelet (rather than a necklace) and have worn it ever since. if you get hurt or knocked unconscious, would your medical condition (if you have one) get recognized in time to keep you from harm? you might give serious thought to obtaining this identification for your safety.
being a bad girl, until today i had not updated my medic alert information (doctors, contacts, etc.) since the mid-90's and when the Medic Alert magazine arrived today (addressed to My Older Son, inexplicably at my address), i looked through it and discovered i really needed to get my information current, pay my dues, and get a new bracelet. a phone call later, all is okay.
one more note -- they have a program called Kid Smart and even children who have no medical conditions can participate. the advantage for those kids is an emergency contact is on file, as well as immunization history and personal health record (if you've kept it updated). if you travel or move around a lot, having your child's immunization records where they can't get lost is major peace of mind.
visit them at www.medicalert.org or call them at 888.633.4298. they're open monday through saturday, with convenient hours for those of us in the pacific northwest.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
i'd forgotten how funny ...
Young chick to pal: Carly Simon? Wasn't she the one who sang 'You're So Vague'?--Nail salon
Man on phone: I'm not saying it's your fault. I am saying you're a liar, but I'm not saying it's your fault!--10th & Broadway
Woman to little girl: To be perfectly honest it just makes you look dumb, because you can only spell backwards.--Times Square
Chick on cell: The only thing getting me through this day is the liquor at the end of the tunnel.--Columbia University
Guy yelling from street: Does anyone know where McDonald's is? Anyone? Anyone?! Help meee!--114th & Broadway
Dude on cell: I said I was born at night. I didn't say I was born last night. I'm not stupid.--Manhattan Mall
Man on cell: Yeah, but then once you graduate from college it's called alcoholism.--West Village
Woman: Why are you not breathing? You're the worst patient ever!--ER, Methodist Hospital
quotes from http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/
Man on phone: I'm not saying it's your fault. I am saying you're a liar, but I'm not saying it's your fault!--10th & Broadway
Woman to little girl: To be perfectly honest it just makes you look dumb, because you can only spell backwards.--Times Square
Chick on cell: The only thing getting me through this day is the liquor at the end of the tunnel.--Columbia University
Guy yelling from street: Does anyone know where McDonald's is? Anyone? Anyone?! Help meee!--114th & Broadway
Dude on cell: I said I was born at night. I didn't say I was born last night. I'm not stupid.--Manhattan Mall
Man on cell: Yeah, but then once you graduate from college it's called alcoholism.--West Village
Woman: Why are you not breathing? You're the worst patient ever!--ER, Methodist Hospital
quotes from http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/
straight-faced gaiety
Improv Everywhere has struck again ... well, back on january 13, that is.
check out this web site for general hilarity and then this site for the specific event.
scroll down through the pictures and story, then be sure to watch the little video at the bottom -- it's pretty good, if only for the music.
(note -- i think if i saw just one person sans pants, i would wonder if i should flee in the opposite direction. seeing a number of said persons is just quite funny.)
check out this web site for general hilarity and then this site for the specific event.
scroll down through the pictures and story, then be sure to watch the little video at the bottom -- it's pretty good, if only for the music.
(note -- i think if i saw just one person sans pants, i would wonder if i should flee in the opposite direction. seeing a number of said persons is just quite funny.)
i'm not prejudiced
My Younger Son presented a paper at scientific workshop in sauze d'oulz, italy this past january. the following are some pictures from that event.
can you find the scandinavian?
the young professional ...
camaraderie ...
a lot of the presenters seemed to be very informal, dressed as if they were going bowling, but MYS looked excellent and presented as well as he looked!
the landscapes pictures were lovely and give you a taste of the area.
can you find the scandinavian?
the young professional ...
camaraderie ...
a lot of the presenters seemed to be very informal, dressed as if they were going bowling, but MYS looked excellent and presented as well as he looked!
the landscapes pictures were lovely and give you a taste of the area.
we're running amuck
the husband's post this morning was brilliant, and i encourage you to read a.d. lelong's spot-on commentary.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
strong opinion
lee iacocca has some interesting things to say about the present leadership in this country. or lack of leadership to be more precise.
go to borders web site -- http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone -- to read the blurb. it's from iacocca's new book Where Have All The Leaders Gone?
go to borders web site -- http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone -- to read the blurb. it's from iacocca's new book Where Have All The Leaders Gone?
Monday, April 16, 2007
danger, will robinson...
in addition to any concerns a person may have about flying (terrorists, mechanical failure, storms, birds, etc.), there are additional concerns about the motel or hotel in which you stay.
this article talks about lice, bedbugs, athlete's foot, and more.
this web site gives info about current bedbug reportings.
hmmm ... motorhomes and retirement sound better and better.
oh, wait .....
this article talks about lice, bedbugs, athlete's foot, and more.
this web site gives info about current bedbug reportings.
hmmm ... motorhomes and retirement sound better and better.
oh, wait .....
Friday, April 13, 2007
ah-choooo....
rats! i have the husband's cold. we were going to have company this weekend since tomorrow is the hubby's birthday, but now everyone is sick. dratted germs!
to surf
where have i been? i just discovered this web site -- http://www.straightdope.com/ -- and although the name sounds familiar, i'm sure i've never visited the site before. interesting info.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
the mighty have fallen
"Tiny bits of protein extracted from a 68-million-year-old dinosaur bone have given scientists the first genetic proof that the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex is a distant cousin to the modern chicken."
that interesting bit of information came to me via My Older Son this morning. the referring article says "Mary Higby Schweitzer of North Carolina State University reported finding soft tissue, including blood vessels and cells, in a T. rex bone dug out of sandstone from the fossil-rich Hell Creek Formation in Montana."
wow and wow again. soft tissue after 68-million years? amazing!
that interesting bit of information came to me via My Older Son this morning. the referring article says "Mary Higby Schweitzer of North Carolina State University reported finding soft tissue, including blood vessels and cells, in a T. rex bone dug out of sandstone from the fossil-rich Hell Creek Formation in Montana."
wow and wow again. soft tissue after 68-million years? amazing!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
master of my destiny...
hold it! hold it! there's a minor glitch in my get-along.
it seems the people i will be working with are going to be out of the office next week, so they've moved my report date to the 30th (2-week pay schedule).
oh well. the husband has a really bad cold and that will give me time to catch it and get over it. personally i'd rather skip the catching.
regardless, i'm happy to go with the flow.
it seems the people i will be working with are going to be out of the office next week, so they've moved my report date to the 30th (2-week pay schedule).
oh well. the husband has a really bad cold and that will give me time to catch it and get over it. personally i'd rather skip the catching.
regardless, i'm happy to go with the flow.
good quotes
"The best eraser in the world is a good night's sleep." -Orlando A. Battista
"The key to getting ahead is setting aside 8 hours a day for work and 8 hours a day for sleep -- and making sure they're not the same hours." -Gene Brown
"The lion and the lamb may lay down together, but the lamb will have a harder time sleeping." -Alan Joseph
"I am a big believer in the power of Neuro-Attitudinal Positioning, or N.A.P." -Joe Tye
(These quotes originated in church bulletins, announcements, or related communications.)
The Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. ...please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the basement hall on Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
The Fasting & Meditation Conference includes meals.
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Don't let worry kill you off - let us help.
from Tim Lane -- fitnet@lists.ia.gov (tlane@idph.state.ia.us)
"The key to getting ahead is setting aside 8 hours a day for work and 8 hours a day for sleep -- and making sure they're not the same hours." -Gene Brown
"The lion and the lamb may lay down together, but the lamb will have a harder time sleeping." -Alan Joseph
"I am a big believer in the power of Neuro-Attitudinal Positioning, or N.A.P." -Joe Tye
(These quotes originated in church bulletins, announcements, or related communications.)
The Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. ...please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the basement hall on Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
The Fasting & Meditation Conference includes meals.
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Don't let worry kill you off - let us help.
from Tim Lane -- fitnet@lists.ia.gov (tlane@idph.state.ia.us)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
waiting is a fact of life
yippee, skippee -- i FINALLY got the job!
i just got a phone call from the gal in minneapolis and she asked me when i wanted to start. i chose to start next monday with the caveat that i have a doctor's appt on tuesday which i don't want to cancel (since i've waited months already for it) but at the same time i don't really want to look like a slacker to my new office people.
but she didn't think it would be a problem, so unless the new office does have a problem with it, i start with glee at 8am on the 16th.
i just got a phone call from the gal in minneapolis and she asked me when i wanted to start. i chose to start next monday with the caveat that i have a doctor's appt on tuesday which i don't want to cancel (since i've waited months already for it) but at the same time i don't really want to look like a slacker to my new office people.
but she didn't think it would be a problem, so unless the new office does have a problem with it, i start with glee at 8am on the 16th.
Monday, April 09, 2007
a scarecrow
when i went through chemo for breast cancer which was diagnosed in 1992, the prevailing dogma was that nothing crossed the blood-brain barrier therefore any new mental problems were not caused by the drugs, that mental concerns would resolve themselves after treatment, or that "you're simply upset, honey, just trust us to know what's best."
now, of course, chemo-related mental problems are acknowledged as 'chemo brain' -- a scurrilous term applied to a condition that has been researched but continues to be under-studied.
i ran through several articles to see what the internet had to report. most of them said the condition was temporary and would be resolved within two to ten years, it was hard to study the condition without knowing the patient's mental levels before chemo, and that yes some drugs do cross the barrier (one of them being methotrexate which was one of the three given to me).
well, it's been fifteen years and i still miss the level of acuity i had before 1992. but my cancer was very aggressive so i believe it was handled the best it could have been back then. and i've loved being alive to see my kids grow up and to deepen my relationship with the husband. still, as d.q. once said, "What a terrible thing to have lost one's mind. Or not to have a mind at all." (for more quotes, go here.)
now, of course, chemo-related mental problems are acknowledged as 'chemo brain' -- a scurrilous term applied to a condition that has been researched but continues to be under-studied.
i ran through several articles to see what the internet had to report. most of them said the condition was temporary and would be resolved within two to ten years, it was hard to study the condition without knowing the patient's mental levels before chemo, and that yes some drugs do cross the barrier (one of them being methotrexate which was one of the three given to me).
well, it's been fifteen years and i still miss the level of acuity i had before 1992. but my cancer was very aggressive so i believe it was handled the best it could have been back then. and i've loved being alive to see my kids grow up and to deepen my relationship with the husband. still, as d.q. once said, "What a terrible thing to have lost one's mind. Or not to have a mind at all." (for more quotes, go here.)
a glacial pace
i just read an article which states that doing tai chi on a regular basis helps prevent shingles.
the husband and i did tai chi for awhile when we lived in oklahoma, but i haven't thought much about it since. maybe i should. not that i have shingles, but apparently the condition is more common in people 50 and older who've had chicken pox.
the husband and i did tai chi for awhile when we lived in oklahoma, but i haven't thought much about it since. maybe i should. not that i have shingles, but apparently the condition is more common in people 50 and older who've had chicken pox.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
come bide a wee
we're having a visit by The Pregnant Ones this coming weekend -- it's the husband's birthday so we're making merry. not sure what we're doing yet -- the son suggested bowling. i'd like to go paint pottery (and then have gelato), but the husband isn't fond of that activity. and after all, it is his birthday...
husband is still having a lot of gunk and junk in his head and chest. he seems really beset by some kind of gremlin so i hope he's better by friday. if he doesn't sound better pretty soon, i'm going to have to worry.
i'm listening to Joey Fehrenbach playing Beltenebros from the mellowdrama album on groovera.com -- this guy's music is soooooo great!!! right up my alley!
husband is still having a lot of gunk and junk in his head and chest. he seems really beset by some kind of gremlin so i hope he's better by friday. if he doesn't sound better pretty soon, i'm going to have to worry.
i'm listening to Joey Fehrenbach playing Beltenebros from the mellowdrama album on groovera.com -- this guy's music is soooooo great!!! right up my alley!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
vignette ~ Butterfly Tree
She lay on her back under the wispy tree, watching the butterflies as they wandered from branch to branch. The butterflies seemed to love the tree -- they spent time in other trees, but always returned to this one. She knew they did, because the butterflies all had slight differences in their coloring which allowed her, or any others who wished to take the time to observe, to note which was which and so to keep track of them.
She liked one of them in particular, a small green one with lavender and blue spots. At times it was iridescent, but usually it was a muted swirl of soft colors which blended in nicely with the flowers in and near the tree. Mentally she had named the butterfly Pal, a shortened version of palette, since the colors which ran across the surface of its wings were a mixture of some of her favorites.
Oh Pal, what do you play, and where do you go, at the end of the day. The little ditty she had thought up drifted through her mind. It was something she always wondered about: the butterflies would be there and then, without a person even being aware it was happening, they would simply disappear. No matter how many times she watched for it and regardless of the season or the weather, it was always the same. They just disappeared. Sort of like what happened to me, she thought.
Almost a year had gone by since that afternoon ... It had been a beautiful spring day with lots of sunshine, fluffy little clouds, and friendly noises -- a tractor, a barking dog, a coal train going through the tunnel a mile away. She took a break from studying for her botany final to hang the clothes out to dry while her mom went to the store.
She loved botany, but Dodsen was the worst teacher she’d ever had. He was boring, egotistical, and graded like his class was the only one the students had to study for. And it seemed so wrong, since students PAID to go to the university and should be able to FIRE someone who wasn’t doing a good job. But it didn’t work that way and even though botany was her major, she actually had to force herself to study for that class. It didn’t take much to pry her away, and hanging clothes was her favorite thing to do -- right now anyhow.
She loved their small farm in the country -- there was no place else like it in the whole world. Not that she’d traveled the whole world, but she loved her home so much she had no desire to go anywhere else. After her dad died, she and her mom made some changes. The fields were rented out to old man Halley, the orchard was maintained by people from the coop, and the forest was left undisturbed so as to provide a buffer around the house and keep outsiders at bay.
A light breeze drifted through the yard that day, just enough to fan the sheets she was hanging and to ruffle the kitchen curtains. She remembered hearing her window chimes softly tinkling to each other. Donut, her faithful German Shepard, was lounging under the elm tree with his tongue out, watching the world go by.
No matter how often she thought about it, she couldn’t quite put together the events that led up to her... well, her journey. There she was hanging clothes and just being. Then she noticed her chimes. Then things got a little blurry and Donut barked twice. She had closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, but when she opened her eyes again her whole world was different.
With a gasp, she noticed several things in quick succession: the sky was deep blue overhead but pinkish-red near the horizon -- in all directions; her farm was gone; she was trying to run and scream maniacally at the same time. In pure panic mode she wildly girl-ran about 30 yards across the short field-grass before she tripped over a rock and fell.
She lay there whimpering, trying to catch her breath and make sense of what she was seeing. The sky was just not right. And not only was her farm gone, but there were no trees. She sat up and saw there were no phone lines, no roads, nothing which indicated people were nearby. There were no cell phone towers, no contrails, no noises ... where could she possibly be?
Slowly fear gave a little ground to fascination, and as her heart rate slowed she took a deep breath, stood up, and looked around. She almost felt like she needed to duck her head, what with the sky not being quite right, but it wasn’t hurting her so she tried to figure out if there was some place and something she could make into a shelter. Scanning the horizon, she slowly turned 360°, intent on finding something besides the grassy ground. There was only a stream.
Well, at least there’s water. She thought for a minute about what was happening and tried to come up with something logical. Or at least reasonable. I’m hallucinating. I hit my head. I had a stroke and I’m dying. I’ve traveled back in time. Oh god, I’ve traveled forward in time and the whole world has killed itself.
She finally stopped thinking and just stood still for about 5 minutes. When nothing happened she decided that night would come sooner or later and maybe she should figure out how to handle that -- where to sleep, what to eat, what to beware of. At least she wasn’t going to run out of things to think about and be bored like Dodsen’s class. This is better than Dodsen anyday ... probably ... maybe.
She liked one of them in particular, a small green one with lavender and blue spots. At times it was iridescent, but usually it was a muted swirl of soft colors which blended in nicely with the flowers in and near the tree. Mentally she had named the butterfly Pal, a shortened version of palette, since the colors which ran across the surface of its wings were a mixture of some of her favorites.
Oh Pal, what do you play, and where do you go, at the end of the day. The little ditty she had thought up drifted through her mind. It was something she always wondered about: the butterflies would be there and then, without a person even being aware it was happening, they would simply disappear. No matter how many times she watched for it and regardless of the season or the weather, it was always the same. They just disappeared. Sort of like what happened to me, she thought.
Almost a year had gone by since that afternoon ... It had been a beautiful spring day with lots of sunshine, fluffy little clouds, and friendly noises -- a tractor, a barking dog, a coal train going through the tunnel a mile away. She took a break from studying for her botany final to hang the clothes out to dry while her mom went to the store.
She loved botany, but Dodsen was the worst teacher she’d ever had. He was boring, egotistical, and graded like his class was the only one the students had to study for. And it seemed so wrong, since students PAID to go to the university and should be able to FIRE someone who wasn’t doing a good job. But it didn’t work that way and even though botany was her major, she actually had to force herself to study for that class. It didn’t take much to pry her away, and hanging clothes was her favorite thing to do -- right now anyhow.
She loved their small farm in the country -- there was no place else like it in the whole world. Not that she’d traveled the whole world, but she loved her home so much she had no desire to go anywhere else. After her dad died, she and her mom made some changes. The fields were rented out to old man Halley, the orchard was maintained by people from the coop, and the forest was left undisturbed so as to provide a buffer around the house and keep outsiders at bay.
A light breeze drifted through the yard that day, just enough to fan the sheets she was hanging and to ruffle the kitchen curtains. She remembered hearing her window chimes softly tinkling to each other. Donut, her faithful German Shepard, was lounging under the elm tree with his tongue out, watching the world go by.
No matter how often she thought about it, she couldn’t quite put together the events that led up to her... well, her journey. There she was hanging clothes and just being. Then she noticed her chimes. Then things got a little blurry and Donut barked twice. She had closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, but when she opened her eyes again her whole world was different.
With a gasp, she noticed several things in quick succession: the sky was deep blue overhead but pinkish-red near the horizon -- in all directions; her farm was gone; she was trying to run and scream maniacally at the same time. In pure panic mode she wildly girl-ran about 30 yards across the short field-grass before she tripped over a rock and fell.
She lay there whimpering, trying to catch her breath and make sense of what she was seeing. The sky was just not right. And not only was her farm gone, but there were no trees. She sat up and saw there were no phone lines, no roads, nothing which indicated people were nearby. There were no cell phone towers, no contrails, no noises ... where could she possibly be?
Slowly fear gave a little ground to fascination, and as her heart rate slowed she took a deep breath, stood up, and looked around. She almost felt like she needed to duck her head, what with the sky not being quite right, but it wasn’t hurting her so she tried to figure out if there was some place and something she could make into a shelter. Scanning the horizon, she slowly turned 360°, intent on finding something besides the grassy ground. There was only a stream.
Well, at least there’s water. She thought for a minute about what was happening and tried to come up with something logical. Or at least reasonable. I’m hallucinating. I hit my head. I had a stroke and I’m dying. I’ve traveled back in time. Oh god, I’ve traveled forward in time and the whole world has killed itself.
She finally stopped thinking and just stood still for about 5 minutes. When nothing happened she decided that night would come sooner or later and maybe she should figure out how to handle that -- where to sleep, what to eat, what to beware of. At least she wasn’t going to run out of things to think about and be bored like Dodsen’s class. This is better than Dodsen anyday ... probably ... maybe.
Friday, April 06, 2007
soul food for dada
the husband is sick today. he has a cold or some lay-you-low thing like that. as soon as i've had my tea i'm off to get him some campbell's chicken noodle soup and orange juice.
Vonage - yay, verizon - boo
between the lawyers and mbas, the little guy (consumer) doesn't stand a chance.
i already hate verizon and am going to switch to another cell provider when my contract is up this year, but the poisionous tactics they've used on Vonage, our home phone (internet) provider, is disgusting.
did Vonage abuse patent rules? i can't tell since the story doesn't address the details of that. my understanding, however, is that Vonage has been paying at least some patent dues like it should.
Vonage has done an excellent job of providing great service at very little cost, and its 2+ million customers obviously agree. but gutting a superior company seems to be business as usual here in this country. remember ma bell? i know there are others but i'm so appalled right now i can't think of any. just hell.
story here.
i already hate verizon and am going to switch to another cell provider when my contract is up this year, but the poisionous tactics they've used on Vonage, our home phone (internet) provider, is disgusting.
did Vonage abuse patent rules? i can't tell since the story doesn't address the details of that. my understanding, however, is that Vonage has been paying at least some patent dues like it should.
Vonage has done an excellent job of providing great service at very little cost, and its 2+ million customers obviously agree. but gutting a superior company seems to be business as usual here in this country. remember ma bell? i know there are others but i'm so appalled right now i can't think of any. just hell.
story here.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
vignette ~ Rumblings
So many errands to run and things to do, but what a beautiful day -- lots of sun, blue sky, and a perfect temperature! Why is it that springtime just makes a person feel good? His mind wandered as he moved through the steady traffic observing a greening yard here, a budding tree there. Yes, things were finally looking cheerful after the long, cold, dreary winter.
Suddenly his tummy rumbled -- he glanced at the clock and realized it was almost 1 pm. No wonder I’m hungry, he thought. As he went through the roundabout, he decided to go to the Chinese restaurant just down the street. He’d passed by it often and always wondered if it was any good. He loved Chinese food, but there was no local place which really met his exacting tastes. Being an optimistic person by nature, however, he looked forward to a pleasant discovery as he drove into the moderately-populated parking lot, sandwiching himself between an SUV and a Smart car before locking up and strolling easily through the sunshine.
A tiny hostess met him and said, “Tabo fo one?”
“I’d like to look at your menu first, please.”
“Menu? We no have menu. You come, I sit.”
Before she could start off, he interrupted her. “Wait. You don’t have a menu?”
“No, we only have one thing. Come.”
“One thing? Well ... what is it?”
“Haggis.”
“H-haggis?”
“Yes, haggis.”
“Scottish haggis?”
“Yes, you come now?”
“Uhhh, well ... maybe some other time. Thanks anyway, though.”
He turned around, glancing at the nearest tables as he reached for the door. He couldn’t really make out anything on the plates and he didn’t want to stop and stare so he smoothly continued his way outside.
Haggis, he thought. Huh. Haggis. That’s just weird. And he shook his head a couple of times as he drove off to MacDonald’s.
Suddenly his tummy rumbled -- he glanced at the clock and realized it was almost 1 pm. No wonder I’m hungry, he thought. As he went through the roundabout, he decided to go to the Chinese restaurant just down the street. He’d passed by it often and always wondered if it was any good. He loved Chinese food, but there was no local place which really met his exacting tastes. Being an optimistic person by nature, however, he looked forward to a pleasant discovery as he drove into the moderately-populated parking lot, sandwiching himself between an SUV and a Smart car before locking up and strolling easily through the sunshine.
A tiny hostess met him and said, “Tabo fo one?”
“I’d like to look at your menu first, please.”
“Menu? We no have menu. You come, I sit.”
Before she could start off, he interrupted her. “Wait. You don’t have a menu?”
“No, we only have one thing. Come.”
“One thing? Well ... what is it?”
“Haggis.”
“H-haggis?”
“Yes, haggis.”
“Scottish haggis?”
“Yes, you come now?”
“Uhhh, well ... maybe some other time. Thanks anyway, though.”
He turned around, glancing at the nearest tables as he reached for the door. He couldn’t really make out anything on the plates and he didn’t want to stop and stare so he smoothly continued his way outside.
Haggis, he thought. Huh. Haggis. That’s just weird. And he shook his head a couple of times as he drove off to MacDonald’s.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
the light at the end
the neighbors are moving. they have been a thorn in the husband's side since several months after we moved here -- just about the time the neighbor's husband moved out and filed for divorce.
she is a really pretty, 40-ish, slender blond from canada and he is a tall, 40-ish, slender greying okie without an accent since he's lived here most of his life. at any rate, she is very hard to get acquainted with which i could never tell was from shyness, or the innate arrogance that the canadians seem to heavily emote.
the two older boys were in school other-where, but the youngest was a senior in high school and was in band and had his own band and practiced allllllll the time. with the windows open. with the volume mega-loud.
anyhow, it got old and (making a very long story short) the police got involved and the kid had a couple of drinking parties and finally got caught and we think he dropped out of school and he had to go to court and it's been messy.
anyhow, another neighbor told us the loud neighbors are moving away at the end of this month. the mother is going to her sister in canada (and must already be gone since she's not been around, which really is nothing new), and the youngest kid (we think) will be staying with his dad and going to technical school.
yesterday there were a bunch of kids over there all afternoon, smoking and playing loud music outside in the sunshine, while the boys tossed a softball around and the girls stood around and the dog was off-leash.
i'm praying for a month of rain.
she is a really pretty, 40-ish, slender blond from canada and he is a tall, 40-ish, slender greying okie without an accent since he's lived here most of his life. at any rate, she is very hard to get acquainted with which i could never tell was from shyness, or the innate arrogance that the canadians seem to heavily emote.
the two older boys were in school other-where, but the youngest was a senior in high school and was in band and had his own band and practiced allllllll the time. with the windows open. with the volume mega-loud.
anyhow, it got old and (making a very long story short) the police got involved and the kid had a couple of drinking parties and finally got caught and we think he dropped out of school and he had to go to court and it's been messy.
anyhow, another neighbor told us the loud neighbors are moving away at the end of this month. the mother is going to her sister in canada (and must already be gone since she's not been around, which really is nothing new), and the youngest kid (we think) will be staying with his dad and going to technical school.
yesterday there were a bunch of kids over there all afternoon, smoking and playing loud music outside in the sunshine, while the boys tossed a softball around and the girls stood around and the dog was off-leash.
i'm praying for a month of rain.
dream 4
i was talking with someone about a horror movie and proceeded to show them that one of the buildings on campus had a basement which went down several flights underground, the final flight being a narrow, vertical shaft which was sunk much farther underground. as i was explaining, i remembered i'd seen this building in some of my dreams before.
i knew i didn't want to watch the horror movie, so i went to value village and looked around. i discovered some spoons i thought i could use, so picked them up, and continued looking around. there were two complete sets of old-family silver wonderfully wrapped in that bunting which protects silver from discoloration, but the patterns were very ornate and i didn't think mike and his fiancee would like them.
i kept browsing, found a pair of earrings i liked, then bought everything and continued looking. i was surprised to find an old friend convalescing in a bed in the clothing section and talked with him a little bit. he had broken his leg but didn't seem in a hurry to leave the store.
all of a sudden i realized i didn't have my package anymore. i looked all around and re-traced my steps, but couldn't find where i had put it down. dangit!! someone had lifted my stuff! and after i'd already paid for it!
i was very bummed and wondered what this world is coming to that someone would steal something from someone in value village. as i started to leave, i walked by the cashier and, sitting amid a pile of clothes, was my package. she had wrapped it in brown paper after i'd paid, and apparently i'd wandered off before she was finished so she left it on the table for me. someone hadn't stolen it after all.
i knew i didn't want to watch the horror movie, so i went to value village and looked around. i discovered some spoons i thought i could use, so picked them up, and continued looking around. there were two complete sets of old-family silver wonderfully wrapped in that bunting which protects silver from discoloration, but the patterns were very ornate and i didn't think mike and his fiancee would like them.
i kept browsing, found a pair of earrings i liked, then bought everything and continued looking. i was surprised to find an old friend convalescing in a bed in the clothing section and talked with him a little bit. he had broken his leg but didn't seem in a hurry to leave the store.
all of a sudden i realized i didn't have my package anymore. i looked all around and re-traced my steps, but couldn't find where i had put it down. dangit!! someone had lifted my stuff! and after i'd already paid for it!
i was very bummed and wondered what this world is coming to that someone would steal something from someone in value village. as i started to leave, i walked by the cashier and, sitting amid a pile of clothes, was my package. she had wrapped it in brown paper after i'd paid, and apparently i'd wandered off before she was finished so she left it on the table for me. someone hadn't stolen it after all.
Monday, April 02, 2007
a side note
lost luggage is one thing, but unclaimed luggage gets sold! i've never heard of someone NOT claiming their luggage. so where does all this stuff come from???
seems kinda suspicious to me ...
seems kinda suspicious to me ...
bumped people, lost bags...
the airlines are having a lot of problems these days, but the flying public has become more complacent. read on ...
Airline hassles are on the rise: More passengers found themselves bumped, their flights delayed or their bags lost last year than in 2005 ... The report does not include recent weather-related flight delays such as the ones that left JetBlue and United Airlines planes idling for hours on taxiways.
“They just don’t get it yet,” said Dean Headley, an associate professor at Wichita State University who co-authored the study with Brent D. Bowen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Industry spokesman David Castelveter blamed the majority of delays on bad weather. Making matters worse, he said, more planes will be in the air in coming years and the air traffic control system cannot handle the growth.
Southwest had the lowest number of complaints in 2006, 0.18 per 100,000 passengers. United and US Airways tied for the most, 1.36 per 100,000 passenger.
Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance (93.8 percent) for 2006, followed by Frontier Airlines (80.7 percent) and Southwest (80.2 percent). Atlantic Southeast Airlines had the worst on-time performance (66 percent).
Last year, for every 1,000 passengers, 6.50 bags were lost, stolen or damaged, compared with 6.06 in 2005. Hawaiian had the best baggage handling performance; Atlantic Southeast the worst.
The increase in lost bags comes as at least one domestic carrier — Spirit Airlines — plans a new fee for passengers who check their bags. Come June, Spirit will charge $5 each for one or two checked bags if the ticket was booked online and $10 each for passengers who do not book online.
“It just seems to me that consumer expectations have been lowered,” Headley said, explaining that at the end of the 1990s and in 2000 the numbers of complaints were much higher, even though problems with baggage and delays were less frequent.
at least it isn't 'bumped bags, lost people' -- for the full story, go here.
Airline hassles are on the rise: More passengers found themselves bumped, their flights delayed or their bags lost last year than in 2005 ... The report does not include recent weather-related flight delays such as the ones that left JetBlue and United Airlines planes idling for hours on taxiways.
“They just don’t get it yet,” said Dean Headley, an associate professor at Wichita State University who co-authored the study with Brent D. Bowen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Industry spokesman David Castelveter blamed the majority of delays on bad weather. Making matters worse, he said, more planes will be in the air in coming years and the air traffic control system cannot handle the growth.
Southwest had the lowest number of complaints in 2006, 0.18 per 100,000 passengers. United and US Airways tied for the most, 1.36 per 100,000 passenger.
Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance (93.8 percent) for 2006, followed by Frontier Airlines (80.7 percent) and Southwest (80.2 percent). Atlantic Southeast Airlines had the worst on-time performance (66 percent).
Last year, for every 1,000 passengers, 6.50 bags were lost, stolen or damaged, compared with 6.06 in 2005. Hawaiian had the best baggage handling performance; Atlantic Southeast the worst.
The increase in lost bags comes as at least one domestic carrier — Spirit Airlines — plans a new fee for passengers who check their bags. Come June, Spirit will charge $5 each for one or two checked bags if the ticket was booked online and $10 each for passengers who do not book online.
“It just seems to me that consumer expectations have been lowered,” Headley said, explaining that at the end of the 1990s and in 2000 the numbers of complaints were much higher, even though problems with baggage and delays were less frequent.
at least it isn't 'bumped bags, lost people' -- for the full story, go here.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
true crime -- small town beat
March 27: Police were dispatched to a hazard report involving a small boy who was running around a residential yard very close to a man on a riding lawnmower. An officer found a father and son mowing the lawn together.
March 26: A 26-year-old Oregon resident entering the U.S. from Canada on the Amtrak train was found to have a warrant for his arrest. The person was detained by U.S. Customs and then arrested by police when the warrant was confirmed. He was transported to the jail by an officer.
March 26: Police and Border Patrol officers were notified of two individuals who had entered Canada by jumping the ditch between the port of entries. The two individuals were subsequently observed returning to the United States in the same manner. Border Patrol agents apprehended the first individual who was on foot. A police officer later observed the suspect vehicle being driven by the second individual. The driver was contacted and found to be driving with suspended privileges. The man was arrested and cited. The vehicle was impounded.
March 26: A 26-year-old Oregon resident entering the U.S. from Canada on the Amtrak train was found to have a warrant for his arrest. The person was detained by U.S. Customs and then arrested by police when the warrant was confirmed. He was transported to the jail by an officer.
March 26: Police and Border Patrol officers were notified of two individuals who had entered Canada by jumping the ditch between the port of entries. The two individuals were subsequently observed returning to the United States in the same manner. Border Patrol agents apprehended the first individual who was on foot. A police officer later observed the suspect vehicle being driven by the second individual. The driver was contacted and found to be driving with suspended privileges. The man was arrested and cited. The vehicle was impounded.
did you know ...
+ we've decided to join one of the local churches.
+ waving your hand back and forth under running water makes it warm up faster.
+ we've decided to adopt a baby.
+ it's raining again.
+ i report in to my new job tomorrow.
+ today is april fool's.
+ waving your hand back and forth under running water makes it warm up faster.
+ we've decided to adopt a baby.
+ it's raining again.
+ i report in to my new job tomorrow.
+ today is april fool's.
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