Monday, June 30, 2008

Tag, we're it . . .

The state is most efficient. We received a notice that our vehicle tags were to expire soon and an offer to renew by mail, which we accepted. When the new decals arrived, one was accompanied by a whole new tag which had to be put on the older car. J did that with dispatch, which I admired. He did it before we might misplace it: a clever move.

Today's mail bore more evidence of the efficiency of the state. It was a notice that we were in violation of a toll payment on the Turnpike. They even included a picture of the tag on the rear of the car. It was blurred, but readable.

At first we thought it might be a bad battery in the transponder. But then, I realized that duhh I had neglected to notify them of the change of tag number. The young woman I spoke with at the other end of the 800 number took care of recording the tag change, subtracted the toll amount from our account, and wished me a nice day.

She also took care of the second violation notice which is on the way to us. Wouldn't you think that, if they are so dreadfully efficient, they should have known?

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Plant-icide . . .

A neighbor, not directly behind us, is having a party. This neighbor has been playing his party loudly for most of the day, off and on. Right now, he is playing thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP. Earlier there was playing of thumpety-BAM, thumpety-BANG. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. Wait, it just changed to thump-bang-THUMP, so there is a difference.

Why will this will not give a massive headache to the partier? Perhaps, if there will be a hangover anyway, there may be nothing to choose between the two kinds of pain.

This may kill our hibiscus, to say nothing of the new roses . . .

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Back, back . . .

This morning, I was a teenager in the summer again: carefree, waking naturally and not by a regimented clock, wandering out to see what was up. Then, I was unkindly slammed right back to that part of high school where the oversleeping thing resided. Checking the morning paper at leisure, I realized this is a Thursday. In two hours, I had an appointment.

I can still do it. I still have it. I can still shower, wash and dry hair, put on an approximate face, and scoot in an hour and fifteen minutes. Okay, an hour and twenty.

But, I never want to have to do it, again . . .

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Bring it . . . closer

We received an E-mail from a national chain store (okay, Sears) informing us that, today, it is opening an outlet on Killian at 79th AV. The communication also included a printable coupon. How happy am I? So much so that if I don't go today, I surely will on Monday. The nearest outlet of this kind is so far north of us, it might as well be in another county.

This is almost close enough to pogo stick over . . .

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Cat-mentary . . .

In the interest of family unity, it may be just as well that the U of M lost last night. At least the team did not defeat itself with errors. Although the incidents from the Georgia game had repercussions: their win-or-go-home status being the most obvious.

This morning, we had what I am beginning to think of as scared-y-cat weather. Mew took the thunder as long as she could and then bolted, low to the ground, for sanctuary. The door to our bedroom was left
only cat-wide to discourage intruders. She came out after all was quiet and joined us.

I guarantee that a cat can
look embarrassed: she did . . .

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Oh, those Florida State fans . . .

We watched the U of M play Fla. State. I could hardly stand the suspense in the ninth inning. We had seen the U of M fall apart while losing to GA. Glad to see them pull themselves together to edge out a rival.

We also watched the US Open's extra 18 holes with Mediate and Woods. Who would have thought a golf game could be as suspenseful as a college playoff?

Well, almost . . .

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Stuffing and stuff . . .

Yesterday, five of us went to the Golden Corral down at the southern end of the Turnpike. J and I had not been down that far for years and the changes in the place are impressive. According to J, that is the fastest growing town, for its size, in the U.S. I do believe it. We found a Lowes, a Kohls, and lots of other shopping in a concentrated area. Plus more new multi-level housing than you would believe could be shoe-horned in.

We thought the restaurant might be crowded but it wasn't. Where are most people on the day before Father's Day? Turned out that many are in the malls or outlets frantically scooping up what Father might like. To me, a great deal of the fun of going someplace like the GC is seeing what other browsers score bring back from the serving areas. What's that you have? Oooh, where it it? Dessert? Who has room for dessert? Turns out several of us left room.

We really enjoyed going with Zeta, M, and Big Ed.

Happy Father's Day!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Rite vs Rong . . .






Sleep: UR doin' it rite.








Sleep: UR doin' it rong.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Does not compute . . .

We are having computer problems and I don't believe it is the computer's fault.

First of all, our old, and I
really mean old, scanner died. I ordered and installed a replacement from Amazon. After that install, an ancient and useless page displays when the computer boots up. It requires me to click on my name before it will load settings. I have to wait for it to come up before I can leave the computer alone to arrange itself in the usual way.

My copy of AdAware from Lavasoft downloaded the 2008 version, with my complete permission. It is not working correctly. Yet. I am still tweaking and not successfully.

At Susan's site this morning, I wrote a comment and forgot to delete a word when I was editing that comment. Then I posted an oops to explain. When I posted the oops, the comment repeated itself in all of its error-ful glory.

I should probably shut this machine down gracefully and clomp back to bed . . .


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

I wish it had been "Cats"

I entered a contest just a few minutes ago. The method of entering was to post in the comments section of Pioneer Woman and mention any live concert where I had been present. At the time, I could only think of a Chicago concert presented by the Youth Fair plus a couple of Broadway musicals that traveled here to the semi-tropics. I forgot completely about visiting the Grand Ole Opry when we went to visit J's brother in Nashville. It didn't "take" as I am still not a fan.

Perhaps it was a Freudian slip of memory or maybe it was that the temperature that evening was announced on public media as five below zero. I was dressed in layers underneath an overcoat that was bought here in the semi-tropics. It wasn't heavy enough. Twice as many layers plus mukluks and a parka would not have been heavy enough.

Possibly that was the lifetime nadir of my being cold. Certainly, I hope so . . .

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Under the clouds . . .

The weather was really nice, today. Too bad that I was under it. Even large quantities of Imodium didn't help, which may give you some idea. My doctor's office was a peach and faxed a prescription to CVS. I take back everything negative I ever thought about CVS. They had it ready by the time the collector arrived to pick it up. Thanks B.E.

Much better now. Dining on scrambled eggs and dry toast felt like a filling feast. At present, all-the-fish-in-the-sea and I are inhaling water, big time.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Market value, yeah right ...

David Pogue writes a technology column that appears in the NY Times on Thursdays. He also authors a blog called Pogue's Posts. The following URL will take you to a specific post about zillow that I found fascinating. I’d bet you would too. Plus, you can discover what your house is ... never mind, go see.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/a-zeal-for-zillow-in-this-crazy-home-market/

Friday, June 6, 2008

Go leave a comment ...

Coffee Bean at The Righteous Buzz, is holding a contest in honor of National Dystonia Awareness Week. Leave her an encouraging comment and you will be entered for a drawing of a $20 Starbucks gift card.

The video that she posted demonstrates how dystonia affects her life. Encouraging words are always welcome. She is a Christian lady who is bearing her burden as best she can. We should let her know we are thinking about her.

Warm enough?

I made an errands-run yesterday afternoon. It was more brief than I had intended because the walk from the parking lot was like a safari - couldn't wait to get into the A/C. Thank heaven the car was parked by a tree which would provide some shelter. The twenty feet from the pharmacy to the grocery store was like wading through hot sand.

Inside Publix back toward the delicatessen area, there was a young woman stretched out on the floor with her head on her purse.
She had fainted. An older lady sat next to her rubbing her back. I asked the older lady if I could help or call someone for her. She said they were waiting for 911 to come. They did arrive quickly and performed a transport.

I was outside when the rescue vehicle drove the wrong way down an aisle of parked traffic which I thought was smart of them. If they had followed the proper flow of traffic, they might have gotten stuck behind a car which was stopped and waiting for another car to vacate a parking space. That kind of driver seldom abandons its prey.

When I got home, I discovered that it was 99° in the shade of our front porch.
Today, the plan is: out-and-back early . . .

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Answers . . .

The fluffy stuff is: leftovers! This was an almost free dinner. And it would have been much tastier had I remembered the cheese for the broccoli. I just added some Land O Lakes and served it. The cheese languished in the refrigerator.

Leftover what? Leftover pork chops that were of different ages. Various leftover chops from various meals were frozen and vacuum bagged (at various times). After accumulating enough of the orphans to make a dinner, the sealed packages are placed in a pot of water and simmered for 20-30 minutes. They taste like just-baked, fresh from the oven. Really.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it . . . .

Monday, June 2, 2008

Whats-it?





Can anyone discern what's cookin,' if anything? Any guesses what the fluffy stuff is?

Heh?

BigEd can be the judge of this one ...