they caught a bad guy at work today. it's not that unusual, really -- they seem to find drugs or pests (agriculture) or something which isn't allowable on a regular basis. i just usually never hear about it.
but today i knew about it as it was unfolding. not that i was in the middle of it, but one of the top guys left the office for a bit and then there was a lot of activity outside and i could see it from my top-floor window.
sooooooo cool!! down with the bad guys and up with us!!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
oh, good grief
'politically correct' is one thing, but 'ridiculous' is another.
for quite a while now i've thought the p.c. idea has gotten totally out-of-hand, but yesterday a couple of co-workers told me that gossiping at work had gotten three people, from some company in this country, fired.
fired. for gossiping. i'm sorry, i just think that's stupid. sticks and stones and all that, so grow up.
the freedom of speech issue aside, unless someone can go back in time and take roseanne off the air, along with all the hateful, snide, snotty-commenting programs since, it's going to be hard to get workers to stop being so catty/snotty/hateful.
people have always been that way, but i think it's gotten worse since being negative was okayed by hollywood. good manners aren't nearly as valued as a quick, nasty wit.
i'd like to see political correctness die a quick death and i'd love a return to good old-fashioned manners. i don't mind all-inclusive terms like mailman, councilmen, brotherhood, etc. and i love someone opening the door for me, allowing me to exit first, helping me on with my coat. so there. pppffffththttttt.
for quite a while now i've thought the p.c. idea has gotten totally out-of-hand, but yesterday a couple of co-workers told me that gossiping at work had gotten three people, from some company in this country, fired.
fired. for gossiping. i'm sorry, i just think that's stupid. sticks and stones and all that, so grow up.
the freedom of speech issue aside, unless someone can go back in time and take roseanne off the air, along with all the hateful, snide, snotty-commenting programs since, it's going to be hard to get workers to stop being so catty/snotty/hateful.
people have always been that way, but i think it's gotten worse since being negative was okayed by hollywood. good manners aren't nearly as valued as a quick, nasty wit.
i'd like to see political correctness die a quick death and i'd love a return to good old-fashioned manners. i don't mind all-inclusive terms like mailman, councilmen, brotherhood, etc. and i love someone opening the door for me, allowing me to exit first, helping me on with my coat. so there. pppffffththttttt.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
vignette ~ What's Going On?
Everyday when Janet got off work, she drove out of the parking lot and past a little white house with a nicely-kept yard. It was always so neatly trimmed and pleasant-looking that it made her happy no matter how strained her day had been.
This evening she had worked late and, since it was Friday and she didn’t have to hurry home to do chores, she took her time walking to her car and getting it out of the lot. The little old lady who lived in the white house was outside sweeping her sidewalk and, on a spur-of-the-moment impulse, Janet pulled over to the curb and got out.
“Hi,” she said walking up to the wizened, grizzled woman, “I work across the street and I just have to tell you how much I love your home and yard.”
The old lady’s face split into a huge grin and she bobbed her head and said, “Thank you.”
Janet went on, “Everything is so nicely trimmed and cleaned up that it completely cheers me up, even after I have a really bad day. Like yesterday, for example, it was the worst day I’ve had in a couple of weeks, but when I got off work I made sure to look at your place. It was very soothing, but then when I saw the fire in your fireplace through the window, it made me smile and all the day’s irritations just went away.”
The old woman cackled an old-woman laugh and said, “Well, that’s a nice thought, dearie, but I don’t have no fireplace.” Janet looked at her with puzzled eyes and the old lady turned, pointed to her full-glass front door and said, “Look for yourself. I don’t know what you saw, but it weren’t no fireplace.”
Janet was seeing the cozy corner where the fire had been pleasantly flaring yesterday and where a rocking chair sat today. “Wha ... ?” She finally closed her mouth, shook her head, and mumbled, “I must be working too hard.” Remembering her manners she said, “Well, whatever it was I saw, I still love your home and yard and I just wanted to tell you.”
“You’re a nice girl to say those things, thank you kindly now.” The woman grinned and continued, “You just look at it all you want,” and she went back to her sweeping. Janet went back to her car, got in, and headed for home.
“What in the hell did I see yesterday I wonder. I know damn-good-and-well there was a fireplace in that corner,” she softly muttered. After driving another three blocks she muttered some more, “That just doesn’t make any sense.” By the time she got home she had decided to have left-overs for supper and then take a long bubble-bath. Maybe relaxing would help her figure out what she’d seen.
The phone chimed as she was sticking a plate of food in the microwave and she answered it on the second ring. “Janet,” said Polly, her best friend of 25 years, “you’ll never guess what. Joe got the supervisor job he bid on!” Polly was so happy, Janet could just see her doing her happy-dance steps.
“I know. You told me yesterday and you still sound excited about it. Are you guys going to celebrate?”
“What do you mean I told you yesterday?” Polly sounded puzzled. “I only found out ten minutes ago when Joe called me from work. His boss didn’t get back from the conference until after midnight last night.”
“No, you told me yesterday when you called to get my applesauce cookie recipe. You wanted to make them special for Joe.”
“Janet I didn’t call you yesterday. It was my sister’s last day in town and we had some shopping to do before she packed. Then I took her to the airport, came home, and ironed shirts until I went to bed. We didn’t talk. What’s going on?”
“Polly, we talked and I can prove it. Joe’s new job will give him $57,000 a year. That’s what you said. And I remember that figure because Joe turned 57 last month.”
“Look. This doesn’t make any sense. Joe only just now called me, right from his boss’ office, and he didn’t tell me how much he’d be making so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Janet felt a cold chill go down her back and decided she needed some down-time. “Listen, Polly, I’ve got to go but I’ll get back to you tomorrow. Don’t mention our conversation to Joe; just have a good time tonight and celebrate. He’s worked hard a lot of years. And tell him I’m happy for him.”
They hung up and Janet got her warmed-up plate. “What-in-the-hell is going on,” she muttered. Armed with chicken and peas, she walked past her glass of water and grabbed a beer on her way out to the back porch. She knew it would be chilly outside before too long, but she loved sitting out back. When Charlie had died two years ago it was the only place she could go and feel safe and close to him. The bedroom made her cry. The kitchen made her cry. The living room made her cry. The back porch was the only place she had some peace, and she had spent a lot of time out there.
So she ate her supper and rocked in her chair, trying to relax. Charlie had taught her that if she had a big problem sometimes the best way to handle it was to turn to something else, let the problem sit, and go back to it later. Then, more often than not, the solution was there waiting.
She missed him. He had been the other part of her. Always helping her with things, giving her new ideas, solving problems. He’d be able to figure out what was going on right now. This was just so strange and she really didn’t want to think it might be her mind giving out. After all, she was only 54.
No, something was off and Charlie would have been able to figure it out. Her mind wandered through her thoughts as she absently looked around the back yard. It was nicely private with a one-car detached garage and a chain-link fence which ran around the perimeter. You couldn’t see the fence since the bushes had intractably interwoven through the links, but that was okay with her since she didn’t do more than say ‘Hi’ to her neighbors.
She jerked her head up as it suddenly occurred to her that there had been a number of unexplained episodes since Charlie’s death. Her favorite angora sweater had gone missing and never turned up. She found an unopened packet of her favorite incense under the bathroom sink when she knew she had used the last stick. She couldn’t find her favorite pair of earrings. Something weird was going on and it didn’t make a bit of sense.
She shivered, realized the sun was setting on a beautiful pink sky, and decided it was chilly enough she should be getting inside. She gave a big sigh and rose, plate in hand, turning to the back door.
“Janet,” said Charlie standing on the edge of the driveway with his hands in his coat pockets. She froze then screamed, dropped the plate, and reached for the back door. “Janet, wait,” he said but she screamed again -- a very panicked, frightened scream which stayed with her all the way to the floor and under the blanket in the back of the bedroom closet.
This evening she had worked late and, since it was Friday and she didn’t have to hurry home to do chores, she took her time walking to her car and getting it out of the lot. The little old lady who lived in the white house was outside sweeping her sidewalk and, on a spur-of-the-moment impulse, Janet pulled over to the curb and got out.
“Hi,” she said walking up to the wizened, grizzled woman, “I work across the street and I just have to tell you how much I love your home and yard.”
The old lady’s face split into a huge grin and she bobbed her head and said, “Thank you.”
Janet went on, “Everything is so nicely trimmed and cleaned up that it completely cheers me up, even after I have a really bad day. Like yesterday, for example, it was the worst day I’ve had in a couple of weeks, but when I got off work I made sure to look at your place. It was very soothing, but then when I saw the fire in your fireplace through the window, it made me smile and all the day’s irritations just went away.”
The old woman cackled an old-woman laugh and said, “Well, that’s a nice thought, dearie, but I don’t have no fireplace.” Janet looked at her with puzzled eyes and the old lady turned, pointed to her full-glass front door and said, “Look for yourself. I don’t know what you saw, but it weren’t no fireplace.”
Janet was seeing the cozy corner where the fire had been pleasantly flaring yesterday and where a rocking chair sat today. “Wha ... ?” She finally closed her mouth, shook her head, and mumbled, “I must be working too hard.” Remembering her manners she said, “Well, whatever it was I saw, I still love your home and yard and I just wanted to tell you.”
“You’re a nice girl to say those things, thank you kindly now.” The woman grinned and continued, “You just look at it all you want,” and she went back to her sweeping. Janet went back to her car, got in, and headed for home.
“What in the hell did I see yesterday I wonder. I know damn-good-and-well there was a fireplace in that corner,” she softly muttered. After driving another three blocks she muttered some more, “That just doesn’t make any sense.” By the time she got home she had decided to have left-overs for supper and then take a long bubble-bath. Maybe relaxing would help her figure out what she’d seen.
The phone chimed as she was sticking a plate of food in the microwave and she answered it on the second ring. “Janet,” said Polly, her best friend of 25 years, “you’ll never guess what. Joe got the supervisor job he bid on!” Polly was so happy, Janet could just see her doing her happy-dance steps.
“I know. You told me yesterday and you still sound excited about it. Are you guys going to celebrate?”
“What do you mean I told you yesterday?” Polly sounded puzzled. “I only found out ten minutes ago when Joe called me from work. His boss didn’t get back from the conference until after midnight last night.”
“No, you told me yesterday when you called to get my applesauce cookie recipe. You wanted to make them special for Joe.”
“Janet I didn’t call you yesterday. It was my sister’s last day in town and we had some shopping to do before she packed. Then I took her to the airport, came home, and ironed shirts until I went to bed. We didn’t talk. What’s going on?”
“Polly, we talked and I can prove it. Joe’s new job will give him $57,000 a year. That’s what you said. And I remember that figure because Joe turned 57 last month.”
“Look. This doesn’t make any sense. Joe only just now called me, right from his boss’ office, and he didn’t tell me how much he’d be making so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Janet felt a cold chill go down her back and decided she needed some down-time. “Listen, Polly, I’ve got to go but I’ll get back to you tomorrow. Don’t mention our conversation to Joe; just have a good time tonight and celebrate. He’s worked hard a lot of years. And tell him I’m happy for him.”
They hung up and Janet got her warmed-up plate. “What-in-the-hell is going on,” she muttered. Armed with chicken and peas, she walked past her glass of water and grabbed a beer on her way out to the back porch. She knew it would be chilly outside before too long, but she loved sitting out back. When Charlie had died two years ago it was the only place she could go and feel safe and close to him. The bedroom made her cry. The kitchen made her cry. The living room made her cry. The back porch was the only place she had some peace, and she had spent a lot of time out there.
So she ate her supper and rocked in her chair, trying to relax. Charlie had taught her that if she had a big problem sometimes the best way to handle it was to turn to something else, let the problem sit, and go back to it later. Then, more often than not, the solution was there waiting.
She missed him. He had been the other part of her. Always helping her with things, giving her new ideas, solving problems. He’d be able to figure out what was going on right now. This was just so strange and she really didn’t want to think it might be her mind giving out. After all, she was only 54.
No, something was off and Charlie would have been able to figure it out. Her mind wandered through her thoughts as she absently looked around the back yard. It was nicely private with a one-car detached garage and a chain-link fence which ran around the perimeter. You couldn’t see the fence since the bushes had intractably interwoven through the links, but that was okay with her since she didn’t do more than say ‘Hi’ to her neighbors.
She jerked her head up as it suddenly occurred to her that there had been a number of unexplained episodes since Charlie’s death. Her favorite angora sweater had gone missing and never turned up. She found an unopened packet of her favorite incense under the bathroom sink when she knew she had used the last stick. She couldn’t find her favorite pair of earrings. Something weird was going on and it didn’t make a bit of sense.
She shivered, realized the sun was setting on a beautiful pink sky, and decided it was chilly enough she should be getting inside. She gave a big sigh and rose, plate in hand, turning to the back door.
“Janet,” said Charlie standing on the edge of the driveway with his hands in his coat pockets. She froze then screamed, dropped the plate, and reached for the back door. “Janet, wait,” he said but she screamed again -- a very panicked, frightened scream which stayed with her all the way to the floor and under the blanket in the back of the bedroom closet.
dream last night
i was in a shopping area alongside which ran a very busy street which was under construction. the shopping area had street vendors along with busy stores and i was walking past things for sale when i noticed a hot-air balloon coming down to land.
it was a beautiful day with no wind and the balloon was set to land across the street in a pasture. when the gondola touched down, all that forward motion translated into splintered motion and the gondola with its twelve passengers sort of bubbled and bounced around for a bit, like a drop of water on a hot skillet.
another one was coming in to land but i resumed my walking and found myself going by the american indians who had the hot-air balloon business. the balloons were laying right there by the roadway, unfilled, waiting for the next passengers so they could inflate. i remember thinking the balloons weren't big at all, only about 12-15 limp feet long, with a couple of eagle feathers on the top.
it was a beautiful day with no wind and the balloon was set to land across the street in a pasture. when the gondola touched down, all that forward motion translated into splintered motion and the gondola with its twelve passengers sort of bubbled and bounced around for a bit, like a drop of water on a hot skillet.
another one was coming in to land but i resumed my walking and found myself going by the american indians who had the hot-air balloon business. the balloons were laying right there by the roadway, unfilled, waiting for the next passengers so they could inflate. i remember thinking the balloons weren't big at all, only about 12-15 limp feet long, with a couple of eagle feathers on the top.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
vignette ~ What To Do
After twenty-two years of an uneventful marriage, Bretta and Dave divorced four years ago. No acrimony, just ennui. The twins, Samantha and Tatiana -- Sam and Tits for short -- were in college when the decision was made. They accepted the news with only a few questions, and the divorce was amicably handled by an acquaintance of Dave’s. From different apartments in different parts of town, they sold the house and divided everything up neatly and politely, exactly as things had always been in their marriage.
Then, three months after the papers were signed and two days before the divorce was technically final, Dave was. Final, that is. He had a heart attack while he was working late, and was found by the janitor. Apparently it had happened very quickly, meaning Dave left this life as easily as he’d come in. Honestly, some people just had all the luck.
None of it had been an emotional watershed, thought Bretta, so why, after four years, was there still just a touch of emptiness which persisted in coming and going of its own accord? Irritating in its constant incongruity, but there you are. Where are rules when you need them?
And besides the occasional bouts of loneliness, there was that whole aging thing. I mean, getting older was just such a let-down. New wrinkles, no matter how cute, and sparse hair, even if one didn’t really need all those pubes, just didn’t do all that much for the self-esteem department, not to mention the tiny little bits of weight gain here and those little pooches of sagging flesh there. Even wisdom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
So here she was, just four months past her sixtieth birthday, wondering what she should do with her three weeks of vacation this year. Her girlfriend was tied up with a sick parent and a wandering husband so making plans with her wouldn’t happen. The twins were both starting new jobs, Sam in Pittsburgh and Tits in Fort Wayne, and going anywhere with either of them was out of the question.
What to do, what to do. She could take a cruise, fly to Italy or New Zealand, do the Elderhostel thing somewhere, drive across the country. But there was nothing which cried out and said, “Do Me.” Not even a man. And it had been so long since she’d had a good roll in the hay, she wasn’t even sure she remembered how. Haha, as if. Baby boomers could do anything. Show her a willing man and she’d show him a thing or two. Maybe even with the lights on.
But boyfriends from high school and college were gone and long forgotten and, Demi not withstanding, most younger guys weren’t looking for an older partner. Oh well, maybe she’d meet up with someone when she lived in an old folks’ home, and they could watch Frisky Business together as their dry, arthritic hands curled around each other’s fingers.
Well, that thought was simply depressing and right now she had places to go and people to see, so she grabbed her coat and went out to enjoy a walk on this beautiful Autumn day.
Still air, smelling of burning leaves, made her think back fifty years. And the sound of crunching leaves under her feet made her feel like scooping a bunch together and jumping into them for fun. “On second thought, breaking bones would be painful. Good grief, can't we have any fun anymore?” she muttered as she walked along.
Then, three months after the papers were signed and two days before the divorce was technically final, Dave was. Final, that is. He had a heart attack while he was working late, and was found by the janitor. Apparently it had happened very quickly, meaning Dave left this life as easily as he’d come in. Honestly, some people just had all the luck.
None of it had been an emotional watershed, thought Bretta, so why, after four years, was there still just a touch of emptiness which persisted in coming and going of its own accord? Irritating in its constant incongruity, but there you are. Where are rules when you need them?
And besides the occasional bouts of loneliness, there was that whole aging thing. I mean, getting older was just such a let-down. New wrinkles, no matter how cute, and sparse hair, even if one didn’t really need all those pubes, just didn’t do all that much for the self-esteem department, not to mention the tiny little bits of weight gain here and those little pooches of sagging flesh there. Even wisdom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
So here she was, just four months past her sixtieth birthday, wondering what she should do with her three weeks of vacation this year. Her girlfriend was tied up with a sick parent and a wandering husband so making plans with her wouldn’t happen. The twins were both starting new jobs, Sam in Pittsburgh and Tits in Fort Wayne, and going anywhere with either of them was out of the question.
What to do, what to do. She could take a cruise, fly to Italy or New Zealand, do the Elderhostel thing somewhere, drive across the country. But there was nothing which cried out and said, “Do Me.” Not even a man. And it had been so long since she’d had a good roll in the hay, she wasn’t even sure she remembered how. Haha, as if. Baby boomers could do anything. Show her a willing man and she’d show him a thing or two. Maybe even with the lights on.
But boyfriends from high school and college were gone and long forgotten and, Demi not withstanding, most younger guys weren’t looking for an older partner. Oh well, maybe she’d meet up with someone when she lived in an old folks’ home, and they could watch Frisky Business together as their dry, arthritic hands curled around each other’s fingers.
Well, that thought was simply depressing and right now she had places to go and people to see, so she grabbed her coat and went out to enjoy a walk on this beautiful Autumn day.
Still air, smelling of burning leaves, made her think back fifty years. And the sound of crunching leaves under her feet made her feel like scooping a bunch together and jumping into them for fun. “On second thought, breaking bones would be painful. Good grief, can't we have any fun anymore?” she muttered as she walked along.
flash gordon
oh man, i was born 50 years too early. for those of us who like cars of the future, check this out: http://autoshow.autos.msn.com/autoshow/Tokyo2007/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=5630722 -- i like the Honda Puyo with its soft surface and bumper-car look, and i can see that the Nissan NV200 would be really cool to use if it fit your needs (the Pixy, too, for that matter), but i totally love the Nissan Pivo2!! i want one NOW!!!!!
Monday, November 05, 2007
your health
time to get a flu shot. the husband and i got ours last month and there's still time to get one at a flu clinic in your area.
be smart and be safe.
be smart and be safe.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
the way-back machine
spanky
ah-oooooooga
duck and cover
esther williams
mr. green jeans
the wayward wind
buck rogers
the tramp
helps build strong bodies twelve ways
cherry mash
green river
saddle shoes and bobby socks
pinafore
iron lung
vacuum tubes
test pattern
his master's voice
sputnik 2 and laika
ah-oooooooga
duck and cover
esther williams
mr. green jeans
the wayward wind
buck rogers
the tramp
helps build strong bodies twelve ways
cherry mash
green river
saddle shoes and bobby socks
pinafore
iron lung
vacuum tubes
test pattern
his master's voice
sputnik 2 and laika
tocsin
Cargill is recalling a million pounds of beef. if you bought any meat recently, check to see if it has any of these words on the label:
Century Farm, Giant, Giant Eagle, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans, Weis Premium Meats, Meatload Mix, and ...for Chili.
Full details are here -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15587340/ -- and kudos to Cargill for getting on top of the situation quickly. well, i guess it's been almost a month, but still ... at least they aren't denying the situation.
Century Farm, Giant, Giant Eagle, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans, Weis Premium Meats, Meatload Mix, and ...for Chili.
Full details are here -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15587340/ -- and kudos to Cargill for getting on top of the situation quickly. well, i guess it's been almost a month, but still ... at least they aren't denying the situation.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
spooky
it seems like there's never enough time to relax anymore. but yesterday was halloween and some of us at work decided to go crazy and dress up a little bit. we wore black pants and orange shirts. i wore black pants, a black shirt, and an orange vest, one of those puffy, down things which made me look like a pumpkin. then we put tattoos on our arms and D put one on her cheek and then we were rough tough killing machines!
my boss walked by once, turned, and said, "Nice mask. Oops..." cracked me up -- i wasn't wearing a mask.
my boss walked by once, turned, and said, "Nice mask. Oops..." cracked me up -- i wasn't wearing a mask.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tenacious J
we got another happy surprise yesterday, in addition to lovely little Ava joining our world a week and a half ago. the husband's oldest son called to say he had just been hired as an airline pilot for SkyWest Airlines.
J has had two overriding interests in his life -- making movies and flying. he has spend most of the last 20+ years being involved behind the camera and has had his name in the credits of several recognized movies, e.g. The Green Mile.
but while he was doing camera things, he was taking flying lessons, practicing practicing, buying an airplane of his own, flying flying everywhere every chance he got. somewhere along the way decided he wanted to be an airline pilot.
J starts his training next monday -- 6 weeks in salt lake city. his wife is happy for him since it's something he really wants, but hates the idea of him being gone so long. but at least he isn't headed to the middle east for a year!
congratulations! and we hope it's everything you expect it to be!
J has had two overriding interests in his life -- making movies and flying. he has spend most of the last 20+ years being involved behind the camera and has had his name in the credits of several recognized movies, e.g. The Green Mile.
but while he was doing camera things, he was taking flying lessons, practicing practicing, buying an airplane of his own, flying flying everywhere every chance he got. somewhere along the way decided he wanted to be an airline pilot.
J starts his training next monday -- 6 weeks in salt lake city. his wife is happy for him since it's something he really wants, but hates the idea of him being gone so long. but at least he isn't headed to the middle east for a year!
congratulations! and we hope it's everything you expect it to be!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
true crime -- small town beat
October 17: Police officers responded to assist a resident who was locked out of her home. The problem was of some importance, as her lunch was in flames on her stove inside. Officers and responding fire apparatus made entry. The caged Cajun chicken was pronounced dead at the scene.
October 17: Police observed a teenage boy on the school campus after having been expelled and trespassed from the property. Officers contacted the teen, who thought his transgression was pretty funny. Officers forwarded a trespassing complaint to the prosecutor to get a judge's opinion on the hilarity of the situation.
October 16: A woman called to report that her husband had been missing from their home for over four days. A report was taken and investigation initiated. Officers located the man safe at a friend's place where he had been staying. He did not want to return home. His wife was advised by police that he was safe -- at least for the time being.
October 15: A resident called 911 to report there four people in her back yard with weapons, trying to break into her house to kill her. She also thought they had broken into her car and put an animal inside. Responding police found that there were no criminals in the area and no critters in her car.
October 15: A resident reported two men and a woman were trying to break into vehicles and her house. An officer and four Border Patrol agents responded within 60 seconds and no suspects were located. The officer investigated the incident and discovered no evidence of prowling. The suspects left no footprints in the wet grass or on her dry wooden porch. The resident called in a second report a few minutes later that six suspects had just broken into her neighbors residence and fled in a flatbed truck. Officers helped the resident realize that she had been hallucinating.
October 17: Police observed a teenage boy on the school campus after having been expelled and trespassed from the property. Officers contacted the teen, who thought his transgression was pretty funny. Officers forwarded a trespassing complaint to the prosecutor to get a judge's opinion on the hilarity of the situation.
October 16: A woman called to report that her husband had been missing from their home for over four days. A report was taken and investigation initiated. Officers located the man safe at a friend's place where he had been staying. He did not want to return home. His wife was advised by police that he was safe -- at least for the time being.
October 15: A resident called 911 to report there four people in her back yard with weapons, trying to break into her house to kill her. She also thought they had broken into her car and put an animal inside. Responding police found that there were no criminals in the area and no critters in her car.
October 15: A resident reported two men and a woman were trying to break into vehicles and her house. An officer and four Border Patrol agents responded within 60 seconds and no suspects were located. The officer investigated the incident and discovered no evidence of prowling. The suspects left no footprints in the wet grass or on her dry wooden porch. The resident called in a second report a few minutes later that six suspects had just broken into her neighbors residence and fled in a flatbed truck. Officers helped the resident realize that she had been hallucinating.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
what to do, what to do
i have a dilemma -- i am going to drop verizon as my cell provider because they pissed me off. twice. that's too many times.
so i'm looking at at&t, even though we had them back in the mid-90's and they pissed me off. but not as much as verizon.
at any rate, i am trying to decide if i should get the i-phone, which has features which i might never use, or if i should just get a regular phone and then get an i-pod for music.
to get the i-phone, it would cost $399 plus $59.99 a month for service which includes 450 minutes talk-time, 200 minutes of texting, unlimited e-mail, and web surfing. a regular phone would be whatever it would be for the phone, then $39.99 a month for 450 minutes plus between $5-$20 more a month for texting. which i have actually done a little bit of.
to buy an i-pod nano with 8 gb of memory, it would be $200. 8 gb = 2,000 songs. don't laugh. i could easily get there. the i-pod classic (80 gb) is $50 more.
would i use the i-phone if i had it??? well, it'd use it for the music. and when i was in the car and needed a phone, i'd use it for that. if i got lost, i could go online and call up google maps. i could check my voice mail, decide if i wanted to listen to one before another. stuff like that.
am i technologically interested enough? the older i get, the less i'm interested. i don't like that, but there it is. if you have any thoughts, feel free to leave them.
so i'm looking at at&t, even though we had them back in the mid-90's and they pissed me off. but not as much as verizon.
at any rate, i am trying to decide if i should get the i-phone, which has features which i might never use, or if i should just get a regular phone and then get an i-pod for music.
to get the i-phone, it would cost $399 plus $59.99 a month for service which includes 450 minutes talk-time, 200 minutes of texting, unlimited e-mail, and web surfing. a regular phone would be whatever it would be for the phone, then $39.99 a month for 450 minutes plus between $5-$20 more a month for texting. which i have actually done a little bit of.
to buy an i-pod nano with 8 gb of memory, it would be $200. 8 gb = 2,000 songs. don't laugh. i could easily get there. the i-pod classic (80 gb) is $50 more.
would i use the i-phone if i had it??? well, it'd use it for the music. and when i was in the car and needed a phone, i'd use it for that. if i got lost, i could go online and call up google maps. i could check my voice mail, decide if i wanted to listen to one before another. stuff like that.
am i technologically interested enough? the older i get, the less i'm interested. i don't like that, but there it is. if you have any thoughts, feel free to leave them.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
not my problem anymore
well, that was interesting.
shopping online is usually not a hassle for us. until this one.
i ordered 6 items from Serengeti catalog, associated with NorthStyle catalog, on the 8th. when i checked the order just now, thinking it surely should have arrived by now, it was still in the warehouse.
hmmmm, still in the warehouse. WTF??!
so i called and the gal put me on hold. then she switched me to customer service. then he couldn't figure out why the order hadn't gone out. so i asked for the supervisor. she was one of those types who kept interrupting me. she finally said she would send it out overnight. fine, i said, but what about the trouble i had trying to place this order online (it wouldn't take the credit card -- which has NEVER happened with any other company before -- i'd had to call in the order). i must have been typing something in wrong, she said. WTF??! this has been my problem?
fine, go ahead and send the order, i said, then take me off your mailing lists. fine, she said.
fine.
shopping online is usually not a hassle for us. until this one.
i ordered 6 items from Serengeti catalog, associated with NorthStyle catalog, on the 8th. when i checked the order just now, thinking it surely should have arrived by now, it was still in the warehouse.
hmmmm, still in the warehouse. WTF??!
so i called and the gal put me on hold. then she switched me to customer service. then he couldn't figure out why the order hadn't gone out. so i asked for the supervisor. she was one of those types who kept interrupting me. she finally said she would send it out overnight. fine, i said, but what about the trouble i had trying to place this order online (it wouldn't take the credit card -- which has NEVER happened with any other company before -- i'd had to call in the order). i must have been typing something in wrong, she said. WTF??! this has been my problem?
fine, go ahead and send the order, i said, then take me off your mailing lists. fine, she said.
fine.
cool trip
our friends who the girlfriend and i stayed with last year, up and decided to take a cruise to alaska. not being able to do that from south dakota, they flew to vancouver and commenced. a cruise wasn't enough, so they when they were finished with the cruise, they headed to hawaii.
they will have been gone a month -- i can't wait to hear about their trip! hope the northern lights put on a display for them!!
they will have been gone a month -- i can't wait to hear about their trip! hope the northern lights put on a display for them!!
ain't it the truth!
i don't remember jokes well at all, but i have an stupendous ability to mangle one in the telling. however, yesterday one of my male cohorts and i were discussing the downside of getting older, and he made a one-sentence comment which i can maybe remember.
"Ah, well" he said, "we've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."
the visual totally cracked me up.
"Ah, well" he said, "we've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."
the visual totally cracked me up.
grins
there are a couple of gals at work who are such a delight to watch. they work together and talk to each other constantly. they tease, fuss (not really), joke, and banter. constantly. i'm not sure how they can always find so much to say. but it's great fun to watch.
not that they aren't serious -- they are excellent at what they do. it's just that it would be so much fun to invisibly follow them around and listen to all that amazing light-hearted playful talk.
not that they aren't serious -- they are excellent at what they do. it's just that it would be so much fun to invisibly follow them around and listen to all that amazing light-hearted playful talk.
oops ... hahaha
on my lunch break yesterday, i decided to stay at work since it was raining and i just didn't want to bother with it.
i remembered i wanted to look for a raincoat, but i couldn't remember the web site of the one i'd liked, so i was forced to surf a bit. the picture below is what came up at one of the pulled-from-memory web addresses:
Saturday, October 13, 2007
welcome!!!
i am a proud mama of a wonderful Older Son who is now a proud papa of a brand-new baby!
little Ava was born today at 1:30 pm -- 7 lbs, 6 oz. She has brown hair and feisty lungs which got quite a work-out. she must have not liked being taken from a dark, warm place and thrust into a lighted, warm place filled with strangers. well, who would?
i got to hold her and it was so sweet. she's a little precious bit of softness and while her daddy was tenderly holding her, he kept kissing her forehead. she's a very lucky little girl -- he's going to be such a good daddy!
little Ava was born today at 1:30 pm -- 7 lbs, 6 oz. She has brown hair and feisty lungs which got quite a work-out. she must have not liked being taken from a dark, warm place and thrust into a lighted, warm place filled with strangers. well, who would?
i got to hold her and it was so sweet. she's a little precious bit of softness and while her daddy was tenderly holding her, he kept kissing her forehead. she's a very lucky little girl -- he's going to be such a good daddy!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Confucius say ....
certainly it's always wise to be nice to people who control your destiny. and just as wise to be nice to people, period.
but to get screwed around just because you're unfortunately dealing with a class-a jerk is just irritating. this article is appalling and disgusting. and really makes me wish there were more train-travel options.
after dealing with people, impersonally, monday through friday, on the phone, i can attest that some people are the types you really just want to hang up on. some people are pleasant, but a lot of them just don't know when to shut up; some simply want to lazily go to the head of the line; and some have a screaming marquee on their forehead which says ME FIRST.
those experiences have led me to try to remember to be polite, but brief when dealing with beleaguered people. and to avoid crowds and crowded places as much as possible.
but to get screwed around just because you're unfortunately dealing with a class-a jerk is just irritating. this article is appalling and disgusting. and really makes me wish there were more train-travel options.
after dealing with people, impersonally, monday through friday, on the phone, i can attest that some people are the types you really just want to hang up on. some people are pleasant, but a lot of them just don't know when to shut up; some simply want to lazily go to the head of the line; and some have a screaming marquee on their forehead which says ME FIRST.
those experiences have led me to try to remember to be polite, but brief when dealing with beleaguered people. and to avoid crowds and crowded places as much as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
