Monday, November 27. A day which will not be forgotten by me anytime soon. Oh, it sounds like a nice enough date, very unassuming, very modest, but don't let it fool you! It took me out, like wind being knocked out of you when you are on the wrong end of an ill fated teeter-tot war.
The day started off bad. I woke up to a severe case of flu symptoms which lasted most of the night and morning. That day I was to pick my friend Mary Lou up from the airport. I felt like death so I tried to find someone to drive there and meet her but alas no one could be found. On my way to the airport Lou calls me and tells me her plane will be late...two hours late. No biggie I thought, I'll just sleep in my car until she arrives. So I pull into the airport parking lot and commenced falling asleep only to be awoken by my car being hit! I popped out of the car and took a look at the damage (a two foot scrape on the back quarter panel) when I saw the person who hit me was driving off! I dashed after the car in the rain, oh, did I mention it was raining? Yeah, it was! So, I dashed after the car in the rain and told her she had just hit my vehicle. She didn't seem very agreeable to getting out of her car, or giving me any insurance info but I finally got it out of her.
Cold, miserable, and cranky I went inside to wait. When Lou finally arrived I asked her if she could drive us home because I just didn't think I could have made it back without ending us up in a ditch. Mary Lou readily agreed.
Over the next few days what I thought was a case of the 24 hour flu bug turned into strep throat. So now I am at home, quarantined, and on antibiotics. Oh, you know what else? I misread the instructions to my meds and was accidentally overdosing myself ! Now I'm a penicillin junkie to boot!
November 30, 2006
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world....
The big holiday event this year was me trying to purchase an obscenely cheap laptop at Best Buy on Black Friday. My brother, nephew, niece, and I left home Thursday evening, ready to spend the night in the store parking lot so we could have first dibs. We arrived at the store around ten and what greeted us (and I use the term "greeted" very loosely) was a line of people stretching almost beyond the parking lot to the service road next to it . We were stunned! What time did these people get there!? The answer: 1:00 that afternoon. That's the time the first person in line arrived there to wait on those stupid laptops! They had spent almost their entire Thanksgiving day waiting in line for cheap electronics. I figured there was no way I was going to be able to get one seeing as the store probably rationed them out hoping to create a huge shopping frenzy. Highly dejected and discouraged I went home empty handed....only to wake up the next morning to go shopping! From five in the morning til five in the evening we too were among the frenzied hoard of shoppers.
All in all, another headache inducing event that we get ourselves into every year knowing better, but hey, I found a neat-o bag regularly priced $40 and got it for $5!!! Vindicated!
All in all, another headache inducing event that we get ourselves into every year knowing better, but hey, I found a neat-o bag regularly priced $40 and got it for $5!!! Vindicated!
November 22, 2006
Turkey Time
The day of giving thanks is almost upon us. Tomorrow I will be heading to my parent's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with the rest of my family. And what a family it is! Currently my brother has moved back home thus taking up the ONLY extra bed in the house relegating me to a lovely air mattress in the computer room. The computer room has kind of turned into the grandchildrens play area, which in turn has turned into crumb central. I swear, whatever food they are eating, seventy percent of it falls onto the floor. You don't dare walk barefoot in this room (this phenomenon seems to be spreading to the living room) for fear of ending up with a Lays potato chip lodged in your foot! The salt? My God the pain!
My Mom's side of the family joins us for this holiday. The tradition is for everyone to bring some type of side dish while the aunts make the big ticket items; ham, turkey, homemade noodles, etc., we then pile the food high upon our Chinaware heavy duty plates, roam off to the living room or wherever there is space to sit, and become large roly-poly like creatures that go for seconds, thirds, and even sometimes fourth-sies.
After the eats, its game time! Not football mind you. Some stay inside for that, but we LOVE badminton in my family. Okay, I love badminton and thus force the kids to play with me. If no badminton can be played, darn you Kansas winds!, then we play tons of hide and seek, and croquet. Now just imagine these games being played with 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13 year old kids and that is exactly what it is like. Pure chaos. Very enjoyable indeed.
My Mom's side of the family joins us for this holiday. The tradition is for everyone to bring some type of side dish while the aunts make the big ticket items; ham, turkey, homemade noodles, etc., we then pile the food high upon our Chinaware heavy duty plates, roam off to the living room or wherever there is space to sit, and become large roly-poly like creatures that go for seconds, thirds, and even sometimes fourth-sies.
After the eats, its game time! Not football mind you. Some stay inside for that, but we LOVE badminton in my family. Okay, I love badminton and thus force the kids to play with me. If no badminton can be played, darn you Kansas winds!, then we play tons of hide and seek, and croquet. Now just imagine these games being played with 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13 year old kids and that is exactly what it is like. Pure chaos. Very enjoyable indeed.
November 21, 2006
Movie Mania
Last week I saw three movies at the theatre. I know, I know, who sees
three movies in one week? For some reason, my friends and I had TONS
of free time so we took advantage of it. The first movie was
Invincible. I could have sworn as we we were walking into the theatre
that this was a Jet Li movie but to Bob and Craig's astonishment (and
my own!) it was that crazy MarkWahlberg movie about the Philadelphia Eagles! At first I thought, what's Mark Wahlberg doing in a Jet Li movie and then the light bulb flashed over my head and *ding*, we were at the wrong movie. But alas, we stayed and it turned out to be quite the enjoyable film.
We then saw Borat a few days later. Hum, how should I describe my feelings about this wonderful social commentary....funny? Yes, it was funny. Disturbing? Yes, the fat man wrestling naked was disturbing. Overall, it was like nothing I'd
ever seen before, nor do I think I'll ever see it again. My mind was
traumatized for a few days after seeing it.
Last but not least was my favorite of all three, Casino Royale, the new Bond movie with the new James Bond. I've never been a James Bond fan, even though they have such interesting character names such as Octopussy and Miss Moneypenny, but this new installment was quite good. The new Bond, played by Daniel Craig, was just what was needed; a shot of new blood for perhaps a sagging franchise.
three movies in one week? For some reason, my friends and I had TONS
of free time so we took advantage of it. The first movie was
Invincible. I could have sworn as we we were walking into the theatre
that this was a Jet Li movie but to Bob and Craig's astonishment (and
my own!) it was that crazy MarkWahlberg movie about the Philadelphia Eagles! At first I thought, what's Mark Wahlberg doing in a Jet Li movie and then the light bulb flashed over my head and *ding*, we were at the wrong movie. But alas, we stayed and it turned out to be quite the enjoyable film.
We then saw Borat a few days later. Hum, how should I describe my feelings about this wonderful social commentary....funny? Yes, it was funny. Disturbing? Yes, the fat man wrestling naked was disturbing. Overall, it was like nothing I'd
ever seen before, nor do I think I'll ever see it again. My mind was
traumatized for a few days after seeing it.
Last but not least was my favorite of all three, Casino Royale, the new Bond movie with the new James Bond. I've never been a James Bond fan, even though they have such interesting character names such as Octopussy and Miss Moneypenny, but this new installment was quite good. The new Bond, played by Daniel Craig, was just what was needed; a shot of new blood for perhaps a sagging franchise.
November 19, 2006
Not to be morbid, but...
I saw the most interesting obituary today. A fairly young woman (is 52 young these days?), passed away earlier this week. Not that I habitually read the obituary section of the newspaper but young ages usually catch my eye so I stopped to read the notice. What I found interesting was that they were going to have the memorial service at a bowling alley. Yes, a bowling alley! A few words were going to be spoken and then the "attendees" were asked to play a round of bowling in memory of the deceased! How cool is that?
Animal House
Every Wednesday I volunteer at a nature center. Mostly this nature center focuses on educational programs for school children and rehabilitation for injured animals.. The animals we take in our mostly non-domestic creatures that most people don't know what to do with....nuisance animals I guess you could call them. Turtles, possums, raccoons, etc.
When I went in this past week, I entered the "rat room". The rat room mostly houses animals that are going to be at the nature center temporarily.
As I entered, I heard the most vicious growling noise I've ever heard! I crept in, turned on the light, and beheld the surliest raccoon I've ever laid eyes upon. It was growling one minute and making some other disturbing noise the next. It looked as if it's back leg was injured and couldn't move around very well. I crept near him but as I got closer he got more agitated so I backed off. I realized that I would have to feed and water him but I was too scared at the moment to think of how I was going to do this. In the end I put on two HUGE leather gloves (used to handle our large birds of prey) and tried to cajole the little raccoon to settle down a bit. I slid the food into his little pen and that's when he attacked my hand!....Thank goodness for leather, I could have been a rabies victim! After the initial interest and attack on me, he dove for the food. I guess "dove" isn't the correct word since we couldn't move all that well....perhaps, lunged. Yes, he lunged for the food and paid me no more attention.
Since I mentioned rabies I thought I'd include this little known fact: Unlike raccoons, possums are not carriers of rabies. There have been a few cases but it is VERY RARE for possums to ever have rabies.
When I went in this past week, I entered the "rat room". The rat room mostly houses animals that are going to be at the nature center temporarily.
As I entered, I heard the most vicious growling noise I've ever heard! I crept in, turned on the light, and beheld the surliest raccoon I've ever laid eyes upon. It was growling one minute and making some other disturbing noise the next. It looked as if it's back leg was injured and couldn't move around very well. I crept near him but as I got closer he got more agitated so I backed off. I realized that I would have to feed and water him but I was too scared at the moment to think of how I was going to do this. In the end I put on two HUGE leather gloves (used to handle our large birds of prey) and tried to cajole the little raccoon to settle down a bit. I slid the food into his little pen and that's when he attacked my hand!....Thank goodness for leather, I could have been a rabies victim! After the initial interest and attack on me, he dove for the food. I guess "dove" isn't the correct word since we couldn't move all that well....perhaps, lunged. Yes, he lunged for the food and paid me no more attention.
Since I mentioned rabies I thought I'd include this little known fact: Unlike raccoons, possums are not carriers of rabies. There have been a few cases but it is VERY RARE for possums to ever have rabies.
November 16, 2006
I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
Diligence. Attentiveness. Alertness! All these my friends, are what you
need to be practicing for *gulp* deer season. Yes, deer season is fully
upon us here in Kansas. That awful time of year when deer are out and
about, lookin ' for a good time with some other deer, making highways
and interstates places of death and destruction.
A friend of mines car was hit by a deer this week and totalled the vehicle. I believe someone told me that the highest deer/vehicle accident day is sometime this
week, so...for all of those heading out in the early morning or early
evening, be on guard!
While I was eating lunch yesterday, we all started talking about deer accidents when someone said they had seen a deer get hit by a semi-truck. He started going into detail of the accident when they stopped, looked at me and said "the deer kind of
ended up looking like chili". Of course, I was eating chili. Yum.
need to be practicing for *gulp* deer season. Yes, deer season is fully
upon us here in Kansas. That awful time of year when deer are out and
about, lookin ' for a good time with some other deer, making highways
and interstates places of death and destruction.
A friend of mines car was hit by a deer this week and totalled the vehicle. I believe someone told me that the highest deer/vehicle accident day is sometime this
week, so...for all of those heading out in the early morning or early
evening, be on guard!
While I was eating lunch yesterday, we all started talking about deer accidents when someone said they had seen a deer get hit by a semi-truck. He started going into detail of the accident when they stopped, looked at me and said "the deer kind of
ended up looking like chili". Of course, I was eating chili. Yum.
November 15, 2006
Now That's a Spicey Meatball!
Last night I was invited to an "authentic" Italian dinner. Now most of
my friends think this was some kind of pity invite but I know I was
wanted there for my fine conversation skills and wonderful table
manners. No elbows on the table for me!
One of the guests included a nice older gentlemen who immigrated
to the US after WWII. A co-worker of mine is hoping to obtain an oral
history from him about his journey over here and his experiences right
after settling in the States.
While visiting with him at the dinner, he showed
me a nice little pill box he stores his medication in. On the pill box
was a picture of a flower and as I looked at it he asked if I knew what
flower that was. I am probably the most ignorant female on earth when it comes
to flowers so I didn't try to even guess so I just said that I
had no idea. He then said, "Edelweiss". And I did a mental head slap after that! Of course "Edelweiss". Hadn't I seen Sound of Music a bazillion times!?
But the really interesting part was when he started singing "Edelweiss" to me...in Russian. At this point I didn't' know what to do. Smile, sway, I had no idea! So I did both. He seemed to enjoy it!
my friends think this was some kind of pity invite but I know I was
wanted there for my fine conversation skills and wonderful table
manners. No elbows on the table for me!
One of the guests included a nice older gentlemen who immigrated
to the US after WWII. A co-worker of mine is hoping to obtain an oral
history from him about his journey over here and his experiences right
after settling in the States.
While visiting with him at the dinner, he showed
me a nice little pill box he stores his medication in. On the pill box
was a picture of a flower and as I looked at it he asked if I knew what
flower that was. I am probably the most ignorant female on earth when it comes
to flowers so I didn't try to even guess so I just said that I
had no idea. He then said, "Edelweiss". And I did a mental head slap after that! Of course "Edelweiss". Hadn't I seen Sound of Music a bazillion times!?
But the really interesting part was when he started singing "Edelweiss" to me...in Russian. At this point I didn't' know what to do. Smile, sway, I had no idea! So I did both. He seemed to enjoy it!
November 13, 2006
Game On!
Ugh, people seem to have way too much money! The PlayStation 3 that's coming out in the US this winter will sell for around $600 but has been selling on eBay for around $2500! People are nuts! This kind of seems reminiscent of the whole Elmo doll fiasco several Christmas' ago but only fifty times worse.
The BBC article I was reading about the launch of the PS3 in Japan on November 11 stated, "The first buyers of the PS3 were largely elderly Chinese men and young Chinese women with shaky Japanese language skills. Opportunistic Japanese business men have the largest presence, hiring poor Chinese men and women to wait in line for a PS3." Nuts I tells ya!
On the plus side of gaming, the new Nintendo Wii that comes out soon will sell for around $250. No need to mortgage your house for this one!
The BBC article I was reading about the launch of the PS3 in Japan on November 11 stated, "The first buyers of the PS3 were largely elderly Chinese men and young Chinese women with shaky Japanese language skills. Opportunistic Japanese business men have the largest presence, hiring poor Chinese men and women to wait in line for a PS3." Nuts I tells ya!
On the plus side of gaming, the new Nintendo Wii that comes out soon will sell for around $250. No need to mortgage your house for this one!
November 12, 2006
My new pal, Stephen King
Stephen King and I both adore audio books. I found this out by running across his monthly opinion page in Entertainment Weekly (my favorite magazine!). In this article he weighs the pro's and con's of reading the written word as opposed to listening to it.
Of course it's crazy to think that we do not enjoy reading, it's Stephen King for crying out loud, but I do enjoy listening to someone tell me a story. I sometimes have a bad habit, especially with LARGE books, to skim and skip pages just to reach the end.
I'm still relatively new to the whole audio book scene but the ones I have listened to have been really enjoyable. Here are just a few so far: The Prodigal Summer, River of Doubt, Horatio's Drive, and Undaunted Courage (I'm still in the middle of this one).
Of course it's crazy to think that we do not enjoy reading, it's Stephen King for crying out loud, but I do enjoy listening to someone tell me a story. I sometimes have a bad habit, especially with LARGE books, to skim and skip pages just to reach the end.
I'm still relatively new to the whole audio book scene but the ones I have listened to have been really enjoyable. Here are just a few so far: The Prodigal Summer, River of Doubt, Horatio's Drive, and Undaunted Courage (I'm still in the middle of this one).
November 11, 2006
Goodies for T
My parents came to visit me this weekend. I LOVE when my parents come to visit me! Not only because they are my only parents but because I always get tons of goodies lavished upon me. Yes, I'm old enough not to have my folks buy me clothes, groceries, and other such things but.....what the heck, I don't care if I'm too old. I like free stuff, so sue me. I got new pants, new socks, new gloves, some groceries, this list could get pretty long so I'll stop here.
Went to a really good bbq restaurant while they were up. Famous Dave's has really great food and they get two great big thumbs up for offering sweet tea. Ah, sweet tea, my source of strength and I'm sure future problem with diabetes.
Famous Dave's also has this huge menu item that basically costs $55 and feeds five people. Just about everything offered on the menu but in smaller portions. But just so you don't forget your in abarbecue restaurant they serve this feast to you on a trash can lid. Yum!
I found a very fitting quote from the meat master himself, Homer Simpson.
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No
Homer: Ham
Lisa: No
Homer: Pork Chops
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal,
Homer: Heh. Heh. Heh. Oooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
Went to a really good bbq restaurant while they were up. Famous Dave's has really great food and they get two great big thumbs up for offering sweet tea. Ah, sweet tea, my source of strength and I'm sure future problem with diabetes.
Famous Dave's also has this huge menu item that basically costs $55 and feeds five people. Just about everything offered on the menu but in smaller portions. But just so you don't forget your in abarbecue restaurant they serve this feast to you on a trash can lid. Yum!
I found a very fitting quote from the meat master himself, Homer Simpson.
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No
Homer: Ham
Lisa: No
Homer: Pork Chops
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal,
Homer: Heh. Heh. Heh. Oooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
November 9, 2006
Patio Problems
I've taken to locking my patio lately. I've done this to ensure that the stuff inside my patio doesn't wander off (in ghetto terms: stolen!). I came home a few weeks ago to find my bike falling over from it's previous upright position. Now I could attribute this to strong gusty winds, playfully strong squirrels, or the ghosts that I think reside in my apartment, but.....I really think someone was trying to steal the bike. Luckily, I have it locked around a pole and it just wasn't worth the trouble of breaking the lock I guess. I wonder if they saw the flat tires and thought it just wasn't worth it!
And yes, where I live does skirt the ghetto so this makes much sense to lock anything that can be locked.
Last night I unlocked the patio to find a huge tarp inside on the ground. This was to be expected. Earlier this year my building was painted by my landlord and co. After they left I noticed they had "accidentally" taken off with one of my tarps (to conveniently cover my bike in the winter) and a hose nozzle. Now, these items cost less than five bucks combined BUT I know if I had "accidentally" taken such items from my landlord they would want them back ASAP or charge me for them. So it took me a few months to gather the courage to ask about of their whereabouts and I guess they finally found the tarp. It shall now be my mission to discover the fate of the hose nozzle. Luckily it's getting cold outside and watering seems to be last on my things to do. They soooo lucked out this time. But when spring comes.....they better watch out!
And yes, where I live does skirt the ghetto so this makes much sense to lock anything that can be locked.
Last night I unlocked the patio to find a huge tarp inside on the ground. This was to be expected. Earlier this year my building was painted by my landlord and co. After they left I noticed they had "accidentally" taken off with one of my tarps (to conveniently cover my bike in the winter) and a hose nozzle. Now, these items cost less than five bucks combined BUT I know if I had "accidentally" taken such items from my landlord they would want them back ASAP or charge me for them. So it took me a few months to gather the courage to ask about of their whereabouts and I guess they finally found the tarp. It shall now be my mission to discover the fate of the hose nozzle. Luckily it's getting cold outside and watering seems to be last on my things to do. They soooo lucked out this time. But when spring comes.....they better watch out!
November 6, 2006
Hello World!
I know, I know, another blog entering cyberspace! Not to worry though, I shall make this one as mindnumbing and trivial as possible. Nothing too heavy; mainly because I have a very limited understanding of most heavy topics!
Um, what else, what else.....I think I shall just leave this as it is and make it my first official post. Whoo-hoo!
Um, what else, what else.....I think I shall just leave this as it is and make it my first official post. Whoo-hoo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
