Never plan anything for a weekend, lol!
Mine was to try and rebuild the rear brakes on my Chrysler. (They haven't exactly been working right for a couple of months, but when I do them I need someone to pump the pedal for me to bleed them. I have been waiting for a weekend when we were both off with no other plans, and thought this was the one.)
After I jacked it up and soaked the bleedscrews in penetrating oil, Dottie said we should really shop for Caleb's upcoming birthday. I figured I'd be back in two hours, no problem. The shopping goblins had other thoughts however!
We have 3 grandkids, all moving into the "Gameboy" age. Their dad also has one, so we were trying to find one in a different color to make things easier to keep track of. 3 colors are readily available. After 5 hours of shopping and finally giving up for the day, I came home to check the net and found out that the only others are pre-packaged special editions not available everywhere. By then it was dark, of course.
The "Omnicef" they gave me for an antibiotic works like some kind of "cleaning agent" on me, I've been eating those little pills from Wal-Mart with regularity, and maintaining control of things enough to function, but occasional rounds of frequent trips to the bathroom have been interspersed through the last 4 days; Dottie had been craving "Gorditas" for a while, so that was dinner Saturday night. About 4AM Sunday I was regretting those...and off and on for the rest of the day!
Sunday I tracked down one of those special edition Gameboys, cobalt blue, problem solved. That afternoon I crawled under the back of my 26 year old Newport and realized that the "box" that attaches the leaf spring to the axle on the driver's side was completely rusted through and bending open; the passenger side is thinking about it.
Deciding that adding any further load to it (i.e. braking forces) is only going to add to it's demise, I let the car down and gave up on that for the weekend, figuring I'd call a spring shop today and be able to get a pair of the boxes for $50 or so.
No such luck; a dealer item, no longer stocked or in use anywhere on earth (after many phone calls and a lot of surfing). The best advice says to buy other spring pads, cut off the old ones (torch work) weld on new ones, and rebuild them into something else. Several hundred dollars if I do it myself, more if I pay someone, for something I'm only trying to limp along for 18 months or so before I scrap it! Ain't gonna happen!
These have probably been this way for a while (explaining the funny wiggle I get out of it every now and then), but the idea of driving it now that I know brings a bit of dread. I don't even dare make the extra trips to go the gym in it, figuring if it has "X" number of trips left before the axle lets loose, I should apply them all to going back and forth to work...
I don't know where this is going to end up, but I have to go figure something out!
alan
Monday, September 11, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Evil bugs!
My wife finally brought one home that got me instead of her...a little sinus bug that started last week settled into my crowns and root canals and teeth late Sunday and, being stubborn (and having to co-pay more under my new insurance) I kept trying to fight it off. I went to work on Tuesday, and was actually beating on my leg at certain points to make something hurt more than my teeth did. That night I came home started taking some leftover hydrocodones; it took 4 to take the edge off enough I could sleep a few minutes at a time.
I went yesterday and got antibiotics, took the night off and laid on the couch and tried to ignore things, and am finally better today. Hopefully I still think that at 2AM when my shift is done!
Dottie worked Labor Day and so has to take a day off to make up for it (?) and picked tomorrow, giving her a 3-day weekend starting tomorrow. While I'm looking forward to it and getting some things done around her, I may not be around much while my keeper is keeping on...
May the weekend be kind to you all!
alan
I went yesterday and got antibiotics, took the night off and laid on the couch and tried to ignore things, and am finally better today. Hopefully I still think that at 2AM when my shift is done!
Dottie worked Labor Day and so has to take a day off to make up for it (?) and picked tomorrow, giving her a 3-day weekend starting tomorrow. While I'm looking forward to it and getting some things done around her, I may not be around much while my keeper is keeping on...
May the weekend be kind to you all!
alan
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Hmmmm....
Which Cowboy Bebop character are you?
Fell in love with this series a few years ago; I ran across this the other night and couldn't resist...
:o)
alan
Sunday, September 03, 2006
"The Life of Riley"
Some of us have it...
(Does anyone else remember William Bendix's show of that name?)
Then there are the rest of us who work for a living!
Between the work hours and the gym hours it's been a busy week; thank goodness I got a 3 day weekend, although Dottie gets to work all 3 of them. I have enough things on my plate to keep me occupied, however, with pleny to spare!
Since I didn't mow for 3 weeks through the worst of the drought, then when I was going to two weekends ago, other things intervened, we just had to go and get about 4 inches of rain last weekend, so when I started my lawn work this afternoon, it was as tall as the mower. I got the front done, having to double cut it to make it look even, and trimmed most of it; the back I'll finish today. I also have to put the passenger-side wiper arm in my Chrysler back together, as it disconnected itself last week at the height of one of the storms. Of course, it's not somewhere easy to get to...
If I get those done tomorrow, then Monday I may try and go walking or ride my bike for a while, and maybe slip off to the the "art house" for a movie before Dottie gets off work.
I also have to box my Nikon up to return to them, as after two and half years, I pulled it out of the bag last weekend at my sister's birthday and the display was black. I changed batteries and CF cards, then gave up and finished fixing dinner.
I had lent it to Noel for "first day back to school pictures" so I thought somehow something must have happened to it when it was out of my hands; checking the extended warranty I found it had expired last February.
Finally, early in the week I went to Nikon's website, hoping to find out they made something that would still use the lenses I bought to go with it; instead I found a notice saying they had found out there was an electronic component that would cause this, or color aberrations (had a few of those a while back, but assumed it was a low battery causing them, as it was almost time to change it when they occurred). They also stated that they would happily repair any affected cameras for free!
Hooray for Nikon!
One of the highlights of my week was hearing "Click and Clack", the "Car Talk" brothers on NPR say that Honda was having to recall several million Hondas and Acuras, but not for a mechanical defect! It seems one of the 1-800 numbers they printed in the owner's manuals for help charges $2.99 a minute because it's "Erotic Encounters" phone number, they were off by one digit...
Better them than us! :o)
Which brings us to my first Photo Sunday in a while. Above is "Frankie" sleeping in my wife's chair, originally my Dad's 1950 Bishop platform rocker. It was the first piece of furniture Mom and Dad bought; he recovered it twice, and it's in need of it again, along with some spring work this time...guess I'm going to have to figure out how to do that before long, 'cuz the one bid I had is more than my house payment!
Frankie has grown a bit since we got him, and is full enough of himself to warrant the moniker "Frankestein" at times, but we love him dearly!
Some of you will remember Angel from a previous post; her hair is about half grown back now after her spring clipping, and another thing I need to do this weekend is brush and bathe her again, then put "the medicine" on her neck, as the chiggers are eating she and I both alive, but Dottie won't let me spray outside because Frankie eats all the bugs that get into the house...anyway, I have a few of Angel I'll put up soon...
All of these, by the way are from my camera/phone; the following are the Saturday night repast while I was fixing it.
A pound of mushrooms...
Something new for us, "Pierogies" (Costco frozen, in Newman's "Pesto")...
And a couple of "Sam's Club" sirloins..
Tonight I'm going to try cubing up a cheap patio steak and making a stir fry with it...no recipe, just a shot in the dark...beef and veggies...
Hope you are all having great weekends and for those who get Monday off, that you have a wonderful "Labor Day"!
alan
(Does anyone else remember William Bendix's show of that name?)
Then there are the rest of us who work for a living!
Between the work hours and the gym hours it's been a busy week; thank goodness I got a 3 day weekend, although Dottie gets to work all 3 of them. I have enough things on my plate to keep me occupied, however, with pleny to spare!
Since I didn't mow for 3 weeks through the worst of the drought, then when I was going to two weekends ago, other things intervened, we just had to go and get about 4 inches of rain last weekend, so when I started my lawn work this afternoon, it was as tall as the mower. I got the front done, having to double cut it to make it look even, and trimmed most of it; the back I'll finish today. I also have to put the passenger-side wiper arm in my Chrysler back together, as it disconnected itself last week at the height of one of the storms. Of course, it's not somewhere easy to get to...
If I get those done tomorrow, then Monday I may try and go walking or ride my bike for a while, and maybe slip off to the the "art house" for a movie before Dottie gets off work.
I also have to box my Nikon up to return to them, as after two and half years, I pulled it out of the bag last weekend at my sister's birthday and the display was black. I changed batteries and CF cards, then gave up and finished fixing dinner.
I had lent it to Noel for "first day back to school pictures" so I thought somehow something must have happened to it when it was out of my hands; checking the extended warranty I found it had expired last February.
Finally, early in the week I went to Nikon's website, hoping to find out they made something that would still use the lenses I bought to go with it; instead I found a notice saying they had found out there was an electronic component that would cause this, or color aberrations (had a few of those a while back, but assumed it was a low battery causing them, as it was almost time to change it when they occurred). They also stated that they would happily repair any affected cameras for free!
Hooray for Nikon!
One of the highlights of my week was hearing "Click and Clack", the "Car Talk" brothers on NPR say that Honda was having to recall several million Hondas and Acuras, but not for a mechanical defect! It seems one of the 1-800 numbers they printed in the owner's manuals for help charges $2.99 a minute because it's "Erotic Encounters" phone number, they were off by one digit...
Better them than us! :o)
Which brings us to my first Photo Sunday in a while. Above is "Frankie" sleeping in my wife's chair, originally my Dad's 1950 Bishop platform rocker. It was the first piece of furniture Mom and Dad bought; he recovered it twice, and it's in need of it again, along with some spring work this time...guess I'm going to have to figure out how to do that before long, 'cuz the one bid I had is more than my house payment!
Frankie has grown a bit since we got him, and is full enough of himself to warrant the moniker "Frankestein" at times, but we love him dearly!
Some of you will remember Angel from a previous post; her hair is about half grown back now after her spring clipping, and another thing I need to do this weekend is brush and bathe her again, then put "the medicine" on her neck, as the chiggers are eating she and I both alive, but Dottie won't let me spray outside because Frankie eats all the bugs that get into the house...anyway, I have a few of Angel I'll put up soon...
All of these, by the way are from my camera/phone; the following are the Saturday night repast while I was fixing it.
A pound of mushrooms...
Something new for us, "Pierogies" (Costco frozen, in Newman's "Pesto")...
And a couple of "Sam's Club" sirloins..
Tonight I'm going to try cubing up a cheap patio steak and making a stir fry with it...no recipe, just a shot in the dark...beef and veggies...
Hope you are all having great weekends and for those who get Monday off, that you have a wonderful "Labor Day"!
alan
Monday, August 28, 2006
"I am shocked...
shocked to find gambling going on here!" (Renault, played by Claude Rains, in "Casablanca" from 1942.)
This display of nerve leaves Rick at a loss. The croupier comes out of the gambling room and up to Renault. He hands him a roll of bills.
Croupier: "Your winnings, sir."
Renault: "Oh. Thank you very much"
From the script of "Casablanca", 64 years ago...
The above has been much in my mind, repeating over and over since last Friday when the State Department announced they were shocked that Israel "might" have used American made cluster bombs in civilian areas of Lebanon last month, and they would begin an "immediate investigation to make sure that none of the agreements we had with them about the use of such weapons had been violated"...
Jim Clancy of CNN was on the ground there last week, showing the bomblets scattered everywhere by the thousands, and speaking to doctors and nurses in the hospitals who were trying to save some of the children injured by these miniature airborn mines. One child had not even been playing with one or touching it at the time he was "hit". It fell from the tree where it had been stuck, next to the front stoop of his home...
He was about a year older than my grandson.
CNN also showed people trying to go out and clear the bomblets. There aren't enough of them of course, and they are scattered not only all over the ground, rooftops and in trees, but in the rubble of every building that dropped from other bombs, etc..
What a wonderful world...
alan
This display of nerve leaves Rick at a loss. The croupier comes out of the gambling room and up to Renault. He hands him a roll of bills.
Croupier: "Your winnings, sir."
Renault: "Oh. Thank you very much"
From the script of "Casablanca", 64 years ago...
The above has been much in my mind, repeating over and over since last Friday when the State Department announced they were shocked that Israel "might" have used American made cluster bombs in civilian areas of Lebanon last month, and they would begin an "immediate investigation to make sure that none of the agreements we had with them about the use of such weapons had been violated"...
Jim Clancy of CNN was on the ground there last week, showing the bomblets scattered everywhere by the thousands, and speaking to doctors and nurses in the hospitals who were trying to save some of the children injured by these miniature airborn mines. One child had not even been playing with one or touching it at the time he was "hit". It fell from the tree where it had been stuck, next to the front stoop of his home...
He was about a year older than my grandson.
CNN also showed people trying to go out and clear the bomblets. There aren't enough of them of course, and they are scattered not only all over the ground, rooftops and in trees, but in the rubble of every building that dropped from other bombs, etc..
What a wonderful world...
alan
Friday, August 25, 2006
Friday morning...
almost 3AM. Playing beat the clock again, as I need to do a few things and hit the shower and be in bed by 3...
Good week in the gym, personal bests all 3 days for weight, reps or both. Feeling it very much tonight, lol!
Grandkids are spending the night tonight, then Saturday is my "little" sister's birthday party, postponed from two weekends ago because we couldn't get everyone together for more than an hour that weekend. Grilled chicken with that marinade I shared so long ago on the menu, along with corn on the cob, baked potatoes and rolls.
I might not be around much until late on Sunday, so forgive me for not checking in sooner...
Hope you each have wonderful weekends!
alan
Good week in the gym, personal bests all 3 days for weight, reps or both. Feeling it very much tonight, lol!
Grandkids are spending the night tonight, then Saturday is my "little" sister's birthday party, postponed from two weekends ago because we couldn't get everyone together for more than an hour that weekend. Grilled chicken with that marinade I shared so long ago on the menu, along with corn on the cob, baked potatoes and rolls.
I might not be around much until late on Sunday, so forgive me for not checking in sooner...
Hope you each have wonderful weekends!
alan
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Playing "beat the clock" tonight...
I was trying to make it to bed by 2, now I'm going for 2:30, lol! My intent was 8 hours sleep before I get up to hit the gym tomorrow, and I may still get it. I'm still trying to do a 3 day split (chest and back, legs, then arms and shoulders) and get some cardio in each time, but keep getting there later than I want to and the cardio is suffering, therefore I'm not bouncing right back down to the weight I was when vacation began last month!
Of course, fighting through the Ruffles and Vanilla Wafers withdrawal after spending two weeks mostly in the car and munching isn't helping that battle, either! The week I went back to work I did even more damage, as I touched peanut butter for the first time in a year (when I came home, worse yet) and went through a half a large jar of Skippy in about 3 days...with a spoon!
Slowly gaining control over my diet again, and the rest will fall into place...or fall off of place...or something like that, anyway!
Happy Wednesday!
alan
Of course, fighting through the Ruffles and Vanilla Wafers withdrawal after spending two weeks mostly in the car and munching isn't helping that battle, either! The week I went back to work I did even more damage, as I touched peanut butter for the first time in a year (when I came home, worse yet) and went through a half a large jar of Skippy in about 3 days...with a spoon!
Slowly gaining control over my diet again, and the rest will fall into place...or fall off of place...or something like that, anyway!
Happy Wednesday!
alan
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Saturday finds me being lazy...
I slept 'til noon, despite my better intentions. 8 hours for the first time in a week!
I should be cleaning, mowing, running errands; instead I've been catching up virus definitions and updating Ad-Aware, etc..
I did upload from the memory card of my phone finally...not a great photo, but something to make you appreciate your own "look in the mirror" all the more!
Off to change a water filter!
alan
I should be cleaning, mowing, running errands; instead I've been catching up virus definitions and updating Ad-Aware, etc..
I did upload from the memory card of my phone finally...not a great photo, but something to make you appreciate your own "look in the mirror" all the more!
Off to change a water filter!
alan
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
It's strange to sit here...
with thunder and lightning all around and be writing a post instead of worrying about a lightning strike! I'm on the laptop, Dottie went to bed a bit ago, and I'm heading for the shower when the lightning slows a bit.
We did an "us" weekend, 2 movies in the theatre yesterday, then one last night off DVD after we got home. Today we slept late, stuck a turkey in the oven and went to another, then came home and ate and watched a second, then watched the 2nd episode of "3 Moons Over Milford".
The worst "discussions" of our 30 years have always been over gay rights and women's rights; the events of the last month have added a 3rd to that list. She of course, has no idea about my friend in Beirut and her family. She also thinks that as long as a single missle lands in Israel they have a right to target the entire population of a country instead of just the ones firing them...
Perhaps I've offended some of you as well over this last few weeks as well as my wife; if so I'm sorry for that.
Somehow the idea of "killing the patient to cure a boil" bothers me!
We saw Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" on Saturday. I had heard interviews last week with some of the people who were there, and they had good things to say about it. It was a good movie, well done. Apparently the events of last week made it poor timing for it's release, as people seem to be avoiding it. Maria Bello is always stunning, and it's really a very good ensemble.
That afternoon we finally got to "An Incovenient Truth". This one needs to be seen in all the schools when it hits DVD, and I hope it is. This might be one more time when the kids can help save the parents!
On the way home last night I stopped and rented "Brick". I had wanted to see it at the "art house" but it only stayed a week, and those are really hard to get to on my hours. I had read about it somewhere (USA Today, maybe) being a Raymond Chandler "Sam Spade" type of yarn, set in high school. It was, it was good, and has me digging for my copy of "The Maltese Falcon". Chandler and Hammett have been on my reading list for a long time, just to see how they compare to those old movies I love; sometime I'm going to have to get to them.
Today, after the turkey found it's way into the oven, we went to see "Prarie Home Companion". I love the radio show, my wife is bored by it, but I really wanted to see the movie, so we went. I liked it a lot, and love having faces to go with the voices I've treasured for so long now. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly slipping in as the cowboys didn't jar me as badly as I had feared, and Meryl Streep can sing! This may not be ranked with Altman's "MASH" but it's a really good movie! Dottie still doesn't care for the radio show, but laughed pretty hard during parts of the movie. I had hoped it might draw her into fandom, but no such luck.
We came home, I did chores while she made gravy, then we ate and watched "Failure To Launch", one we had missed in the theatres and had been looking forward to. We both enjoyed it very much, and the interviews with McConaughey and Bradshaw in the making of stuff are a riot!
Hope you all had nice weekends!
alan
We did an "us" weekend, 2 movies in the theatre yesterday, then one last night off DVD after we got home. Today we slept late, stuck a turkey in the oven and went to another, then came home and ate and watched a second, then watched the 2nd episode of "3 Moons Over Milford".
The worst "discussions" of our 30 years have always been over gay rights and women's rights; the events of the last month have added a 3rd to that list. She of course, has no idea about my friend in Beirut and her family. She also thinks that as long as a single missle lands in Israel they have a right to target the entire population of a country instead of just the ones firing them...
Perhaps I've offended some of you as well over this last few weeks as well as my wife; if so I'm sorry for that.
Somehow the idea of "killing the patient to cure a boil" bothers me!
We saw Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" on Saturday. I had heard interviews last week with some of the people who were there, and they had good things to say about it. It was a good movie, well done. Apparently the events of last week made it poor timing for it's release, as people seem to be avoiding it. Maria Bello is always stunning, and it's really a very good ensemble.
That afternoon we finally got to "An Incovenient Truth". This one needs to be seen in all the schools when it hits DVD, and I hope it is. This might be one more time when the kids can help save the parents!
On the way home last night I stopped and rented "Brick". I had wanted to see it at the "art house" but it only stayed a week, and those are really hard to get to on my hours. I had read about it somewhere (USA Today, maybe) being a Raymond Chandler "Sam Spade" type of yarn, set in high school. It was, it was good, and has me digging for my copy of "The Maltese Falcon". Chandler and Hammett have been on my reading list for a long time, just to see how they compare to those old movies I love; sometime I'm going to have to get to them.
Today, after the turkey found it's way into the oven, we went to see "Prarie Home Companion". I love the radio show, my wife is bored by it, but I really wanted to see the movie, so we went. I liked it a lot, and love having faces to go with the voices I've treasured for so long now. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly slipping in as the cowboys didn't jar me as badly as I had feared, and Meryl Streep can sing! This may not be ranked with Altman's "MASH" but it's a really good movie! Dottie still doesn't care for the radio show, but laughed pretty hard during parts of the movie. I had hoped it might draw her into fandom, but no such luck.
We came home, I did chores while she made gravy, then we ate and watched "Failure To Launch", one we had missed in the theatres and had been looking forward to. We both enjoyed it very much, and the interviews with McConaughey and Bradshaw in the making of stuff are a riot!
Hope you all had nice weekends!
alan
Friday, August 11, 2006
So true...
My feelings in a nutshell!
Tomorrow (a UN resolution) has been coming for weeks now, and it isn't here yet!
Everyone puts their positive spin on things, and so far the only proposal that might actually do anything to help NOW is the Russian one, which Bolton is saying "is a distraction".
I'm ashamed of my country and it's inaction; let alone it's supplying the means of destruction!
Sorry but this has my stomach in knots, and I can't help but write about it...
alan
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Just a recurring thought...
If some guys did at home what they'll do in a public restroom, they'd be "Bobbittized"!
alan
alan
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Tagged...
a few days ago for "Five Weird Things About Me". I've been mulling trying to come up with some I haven't listed before...
1. I've set myself on fire once! Burning paint off a motorcycle frame I couldn't afford to sandblast. It was lying on a patio, I covered it and lit it, then when the flames went out, I used a 1/2 gallon pitcher to pour more on it. Apparently, it was still hot enough to provide instant ignition, and the fire came right back up to the pitcher, and up across my face as I tossed it. I lost part of my goatee and moustache, most of my eyebrows and my hair was singed. After driving to get my wife we went to the base dispensary (I was her dependent in those days) and they ran cold saline solution over my face for a long time, then checked my eyes to make sure they were OK. The cold drew out the heat, the saline drew the moisture to keep it from blistering, and I never blistered or peeled!
A few years later I read in another magazine that the best thing you could do for a sunburn was to make saltwater with as much salt as you could dissolve in it, then chill it with ice cubes, and dip washrags or towels in it to apply it to the burn. Change them when they don't feel cold anymore...
2. I have an ugly scar on the inside of my left elbow. We moved when I was in the 5th grade and the new house was on a septic tank. Dad gave away Mom's automatic washing machine and bought a wringer one so less water went through the septic. The first thing Mom said was to never walk my fingers on the wringer. I didn't understand what she meant, and got her to explain it. Everytime I went to the basement she would utter those cautionary words; after about 6 months I tried it.
I had on a long sleeve nylon shirt and my arm got sucked in up to the elbow, then it couldn't go any further, so it just sat there and spun while I screamed. I wasn't strong enough to pop the safety release, or smart enough to pull the plug. It peeled the hide off the inside of my arm from about the time it was halfway to the elbow, then as it sat and spun it got down into the meat a bit. Mom finally came downstairs, unplugged it, then used a hammer to open the release bar.
Of course, all the way to the doctor's, she said "I told you not to do that!"
3. I listen to a lot of jazz, big band, swing and classical. I grew up listening to swing era stuff, and found earlier and later jazz on my own. I played classical through school, only to get myself into the stage bands, but these last few years have come to love it as well. I never really listened to rock until I was in the service! Working where I do with so many radios on throughout the assembly plant, either on classic rock or country or rap stations, you can only listen to those 50 songs that are in rotation so many times before you burn out...consequently (and for commercial free listening) I gravitate to the left end of the dial...I'm happy with New Age, Celtic, trance, techno, world, reggae, Asian...there are times my wife will get in the car and it's Tejano or Persian music; then she'll ask if I can at least play something in English...
4. I don't have a savings account, and no prospect for one...
5. I have no stock, PSP, 401K or any of that...only my GM retirement, which seems to be more endangered everyday!
Sorry if those last two are "wimping out" but it's Saturday night now, I've been mulling these for days; Dottie stayed home sick today so I didn't get here until midnight, and I'm heading for the shower and to bed! I did laundry, replaced the alternator on my Chrysler and shopped today, fixed dinner, and spent a few hours watching "Ghost Whisperer" with her, along with trying to transfer our phone books to two new cellphones and figuring out how to load MP3's onto mine (Gayanne, the ballet score, Gerry Mulligan and Astrud Gilberto were first, see 3 above...)
I don't have the heart to tag anyone else...hope I'm forgiven!
Hope you're all having wonderful weekends!
alan
1. I've set myself on fire once! Burning paint off a motorcycle frame I couldn't afford to sandblast. It was lying on a patio, I covered it and lit it, then when the flames went out, I used a 1/2 gallon pitcher to pour more on it. Apparently, it was still hot enough to provide instant ignition, and the fire came right back up to the pitcher, and up across my face as I tossed it. I lost part of my goatee and moustache, most of my eyebrows and my hair was singed. After driving to get my wife we went to the base dispensary (I was her dependent in those days) and they ran cold saline solution over my face for a long time, then checked my eyes to make sure they were OK. The cold drew out the heat, the saline drew the moisture to keep it from blistering, and I never blistered or peeled!
A few years later I read in another magazine that the best thing you could do for a sunburn was to make saltwater with as much salt as you could dissolve in it, then chill it with ice cubes, and dip washrags or towels in it to apply it to the burn. Change them when they don't feel cold anymore...
2. I have an ugly scar on the inside of my left elbow. We moved when I was in the 5th grade and the new house was on a septic tank. Dad gave away Mom's automatic washing machine and bought a wringer one so less water went through the septic. The first thing Mom said was to never walk my fingers on the wringer. I didn't understand what she meant, and got her to explain it. Everytime I went to the basement she would utter those cautionary words; after about 6 months I tried it.
I had on a long sleeve nylon shirt and my arm got sucked in up to the elbow, then it couldn't go any further, so it just sat there and spun while I screamed. I wasn't strong enough to pop the safety release, or smart enough to pull the plug. It peeled the hide off the inside of my arm from about the time it was halfway to the elbow, then as it sat and spun it got down into the meat a bit. Mom finally came downstairs, unplugged it, then used a hammer to open the release bar.
Of course, all the way to the doctor's, she said "I told you not to do that!"
3. I listen to a lot of jazz, big band, swing and classical. I grew up listening to swing era stuff, and found earlier and later jazz on my own. I played classical through school, only to get myself into the stage bands, but these last few years have come to love it as well. I never really listened to rock until I was in the service! Working where I do with so many radios on throughout the assembly plant, either on classic rock or country or rap stations, you can only listen to those 50 songs that are in rotation so many times before you burn out...consequently (and for commercial free listening) I gravitate to the left end of the dial...I'm happy with New Age, Celtic, trance, techno, world, reggae, Asian...there are times my wife will get in the car and it's Tejano or Persian music; then she'll ask if I can at least play something in English...
4. I don't have a savings account, and no prospect for one...
5. I have no stock, PSP, 401K or any of that...only my GM retirement, which seems to be more endangered everyday!
Sorry if those last two are "wimping out" but it's Saturday night now, I've been mulling these for days; Dottie stayed home sick today so I didn't get here until midnight, and I'm heading for the shower and to bed! I did laundry, replaced the alternator on my Chrysler and shopped today, fixed dinner, and spent a few hours watching "Ghost Whisperer" with her, along with trying to transfer our phone books to two new cellphones and figuring out how to load MP3's onto mine (Gayanne, the ballet score, Gerry Mulligan and Astrud Gilberto were first, see 3 above...)
I don't have the heart to tag anyone else...hope I'm forgiven!
Hope you're all having wonderful weekends!
alan
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Sadness ensues...
I awoke at 11 and came here to "check in" and change the shipping on an Amazon order before I left for the gym. First I turned on the Weather Channel (like always) then CNN International...something about the "train wreck" of our world always draws me.
They were showing satellite photos of southern Beirut from before the present madness began, and then from yesterday.
They look like the aerial photos of Berlin or a number of other European cities after the 8th Army Air Corps raids of the 2nd World War!
So much for "precision bombing of selected targets" and all of that fooforaw about "only targeting sites due to intelligence". There are entire blucks missing!
My friend was interviewed by the BBC for their noon broadcast today; I'm hoping they repeat part of it tonight at midnight when I get to tune in from work...
Sorry about going on about all of this. My next post was supposed to be my "5 weird things about me" answer to being tagged, and I have been working on it, trying to come up with ones I haven't used before. So far I have 3...more soon I promise!
alan
They were showing satellite photos of southern Beirut from before the present madness began, and then from yesterday.
They look like the aerial photos of Berlin or a number of other European cities after the 8th Army Air Corps raids of the 2nd World War!
So much for "precision bombing of selected targets" and all of that fooforaw about "only targeting sites due to intelligence". There are entire blucks missing!
My friend was interviewed by the BBC for their noon broadcast today; I'm hoping they repeat part of it tonight at midnight when I get to tune in from work...
Sorry about going on about all of this. My next post was supposed to be my "5 weird things about me" answer to being tagged, and I have been working on it, trying to come up with ones I haven't used before. So far I have 3...more soon I promise!
alan
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
I've been biting my tongue...
for days now, and just can't stand it anymore!
14 artillery shells fired into a clearly marked UN observer post.
6 phone calls pointing out the error to those firing the shells.
Guess they were tired of the phone calls because next it was a 500 pound American made laser guided bomb that found it's way to them!
It was bad enough when people were being told to leave after the bridges and roads had already been blown up...
When our government was planning on charging the Americans that were trying to leave for their transportation to Cyprus and then home...
When the BBC announced that the US military aircraft ferrying the smart bombs and other munitions to Israel (more of our tax dollars at work) were stopping over at an airbase in the UK without having asked permission (big no-no)...
Then we have the 2nd massacre at Qana on Sunday, with at least 60 dead, mostly women and children (again). Last time (1996) the residents had gone to a UN base for their safety as they couldn't evacuate.
It was shelled by artillery! 106 dead...
This time two more American made laser guided bombs were dropped on a building "that was close to where we thought some missles were fired from"!
They regret the loss of life...Bush regrets the loss of life...
They say they'll stop bombing for 48 hours to let people leave and let aid convoys in; tonight on the BBC Oxfam said that they are requiring clearance for each individual convoy and 72 hours notice before they can move. Of course, the 48 hours will be over before the 72 hours is!
So much for a pause...
Bush says we're going to send aid...
Guess we should, we already sent the bombs!
My friend in Beirut was OK as of yesterday. Her company is trying to get their employees to relocate to offices in other countries "for the duration". If she doesn't, she goes on half pay for the forseeable future. She doesn't want to leave her parents and grandparents (in their 90's and not in good health). I can't blame her...
I can't imagine her Dad and what he must be thinking. A Palestinian Christian, born in Haifa in what is now Israel, uprooted and exiled as a boy...
My head is spinning as I think of all of this...my heart is heavy...
There are so many ways to die in this world...traffic, disease, accidents...
Why do we have to kill each other as well?
alan
14 artillery shells fired into a clearly marked UN observer post.
6 phone calls pointing out the error to those firing the shells.
Guess they were tired of the phone calls because next it was a 500 pound American made laser guided bomb that found it's way to them!
It was bad enough when people were being told to leave after the bridges and roads had already been blown up...
When our government was planning on charging the Americans that were trying to leave for their transportation to Cyprus and then home...
When the BBC announced that the US military aircraft ferrying the smart bombs and other munitions to Israel (more of our tax dollars at work) were stopping over at an airbase in the UK without having asked permission (big no-no)...
Then we have the 2nd massacre at Qana on Sunday, with at least 60 dead, mostly women and children (again). Last time (1996) the residents had gone to a UN base for their safety as they couldn't evacuate.
It was shelled by artillery! 106 dead...
This time two more American made laser guided bombs were dropped on a building "that was close to where we thought some missles were fired from"!
They regret the loss of life...Bush regrets the loss of life...
They say they'll stop bombing for 48 hours to let people leave and let aid convoys in; tonight on the BBC Oxfam said that they are requiring clearance for each individual convoy and 72 hours notice before they can move. Of course, the 48 hours will be over before the 72 hours is!
So much for a pause...
Bush says we're going to send aid...
Guess we should, we already sent the bombs!
My friend in Beirut was OK as of yesterday. Her company is trying to get their employees to relocate to offices in other countries "for the duration". If she doesn't, she goes on half pay for the forseeable future. She doesn't want to leave her parents and grandparents (in their 90's and not in good health). I can't blame her...
I can't imagine her Dad and what he must be thinking. A Palestinian Christian, born in Haifa in what is now Israel, uprooted and exiled as a boy...
My head is spinning as I think of all of this...my heart is heavy...
There are so many ways to die in this world...traffic, disease, accidents...
Why do we have to kill each other as well?
alan
Friday, July 28, 2006
My contest entries...
I spoke earlier in the week of turning in some of my vacation photos for a contest the "Skill Center" at work was having. The "Orange Moon", the "Malibu on the Floating Bridge and the "foxglove?" white flowers I posted yesterday were 3 of them.
There is a (longish) story behind the other 3.
Back in grade school, the one I used to walk to when I lived in this house (before we moved when I was in 5th grade), I read a lot. My "Friendship 7 Summer Reading Program" card from the summer of '62 has all the slots filled out (maybe 25 books, I haven't seen it for a while) with a little Mercury capsule stamped for each book I read, but the front of it is covered with dozens of stamps for the ones there was no room to write in. Someday I'll find it and scan it...
I don't know if it was that summer, or later, but in that library (and I remember it being that library) was one about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. I don't remember much of it, but that was my first memory of Vermont.
All these years of going to Vermont I've passed things by getting there. Niagra Falls, the Air Force Museum at Dayton along with the Wright Brothers sites that are there, the Erie Canal. Two trips ago we stopped at the Bennington Museum on the way out coming home, and even Dottie was glad we had (Bill was with us that time). Last time (2004)I tried to stop at the Bennington Battlefield Monument, but missed the closing time by a few minutes. (Someday...)
That last week before we left I looked up the Old Rhinbeck Aerodrome. I had seen it when Neil Armstrong did a PBS series called "First Flights". It is a museum to the first two decades of aviation- with flyable aircraft or replicas. Though open all week, they only fly on the weekends. It's a bit south of Troy in New York State.
The weekend was already taken by an anniversary party for Ed and Jane (their 25th), so that got demoted to someday...
I also printed some short haul rail excursions that run in Vermont and their prices. Time didn't allow for them, either...
The night before we left I googled Fort Ticonderoga, thinking of Ethan Allen, and Vermont history, etc.. I found a website and printed some things including a map and the hours, etc..
Deb and Verne, Dottie's two youngest sisters, have always been wonderful about putting up with my camera and I. In 2004 it was Deb who said "when I come home this way I get a really nice view of Camel's Hump, if there's a sunset tonight it might be perfect". It was, I shared it with you all a while back. Verne took me to Lake Iroquois; you have been there as well with me.
When they found out I wanted to go to Fort Ticonderoga they worked it out so that the day before we left, the two of them, along with Verne's husband and two sons could all go as well. We loaded our Malibu and Verne's SUV on a ferry and crossed Lake Champlain, then drove about an hour south.
The fort and the battlefield park surrounding it were amazing! There are still trenches there from 1758 and what we call the French and Indian War. The memorials to the soldiers that fell in those battles have fresh flowers on them, 258 years later!
Then after you pass the memorials and plaques to these earlier battles, you come to the fort itself.
Which brings me to my other contest entries (finally...hope you're still with me).
That may be in the half dozen "best things I've ever shot"...
You enter through a wonderful gift shop/snack bar (really good food as well). There are re-enactors, there are guided history tours...the museums that are housed in the fort structure itself have some amazing things I'll share in the next few days.
That one I actually had to let them pull because I turned in 6 prints and hadn't read the fine print, I was only allowed 5. One instructor wanted to pull the Malibu on the bridge out, but since that's what we build for a living, I told him to pull the fife and drum corps instead, and kept this next one in as well.
Sometimes you get lucky...
Our weekend plans are up in the air; we're trying to keep the 3 grandkids on Saturday night so John and Noel can have a "date night" before school starts again the middle of August. So far they haven't committed, but if we don't we have lots of things we can do. I might get a chance to visit some of you over the weekend, but most likely won't be posting again until Monday (now if you got this far you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Dottie's sisters have always complained about how long it takes me to tell a story).
Lovely weekends to each of you!
alan
There is a (longish) story behind the other 3.
Back in grade school, the one I used to walk to when I lived in this house (before we moved when I was in 5th grade), I read a lot. My "Friendship 7 Summer Reading Program" card from the summer of '62 has all the slots filled out (maybe 25 books, I haven't seen it for a while) with a little Mercury capsule stamped for each book I read, but the front of it is covered with dozens of stamps for the ones there was no room to write in. Someday I'll find it and scan it...
I don't know if it was that summer, or later, but in that library (and I remember it being that library) was one about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. I don't remember much of it, but that was my first memory of Vermont.
All these years of going to Vermont I've passed things by getting there. Niagra Falls, the Air Force Museum at Dayton along with the Wright Brothers sites that are there, the Erie Canal. Two trips ago we stopped at the Bennington Museum on the way out coming home, and even Dottie was glad we had (Bill was with us that time). Last time (2004)I tried to stop at the Bennington Battlefield Monument, but missed the closing time by a few minutes. (Someday...)
That last week before we left I looked up the Old Rhinbeck Aerodrome. I had seen it when Neil Armstrong did a PBS series called "First Flights". It is a museum to the first two decades of aviation- with flyable aircraft or replicas. Though open all week, they only fly on the weekends. It's a bit south of Troy in New York State.
The weekend was already taken by an anniversary party for Ed and Jane (their 25th), so that got demoted to someday...
I also printed some short haul rail excursions that run in Vermont and their prices. Time didn't allow for them, either...
The night before we left I googled Fort Ticonderoga, thinking of Ethan Allen, and Vermont history, etc.. I found a website and printed some things including a map and the hours, etc..
Deb and Verne, Dottie's two youngest sisters, have always been wonderful about putting up with my camera and I. In 2004 it was Deb who said "when I come home this way I get a really nice view of Camel's Hump, if there's a sunset tonight it might be perfect". It was, I shared it with you all a while back. Verne took me to Lake Iroquois; you have been there as well with me.
When they found out I wanted to go to Fort Ticonderoga they worked it out so that the day before we left, the two of them, along with Verne's husband and two sons could all go as well. We loaded our Malibu and Verne's SUV on a ferry and crossed Lake Champlain, then drove about an hour south.
The fort and the battlefield park surrounding it were amazing! There are still trenches there from 1758 and what we call the French and Indian War. The memorials to the soldiers that fell in those battles have fresh flowers on them, 258 years later!
Then after you pass the memorials and plaques to these earlier battles, you come to the fort itself.
Which brings me to my other contest entries (finally...hope you're still with me).
That may be in the half dozen "best things I've ever shot"...
You enter through a wonderful gift shop/snack bar (really good food as well). There are re-enactors, there are guided history tours...the museums that are housed in the fort structure itself have some amazing things I'll share in the next few days.
That one I actually had to let them pull because I turned in 6 prints and hadn't read the fine print, I was only allowed 5. One instructor wanted to pull the Malibu on the bridge out, but since that's what we build for a living, I told him to pull the fife and drum corps instead, and kept this next one in as well.
Sometimes you get lucky...
Our weekend plans are up in the air; we're trying to keep the 3 grandkids on Saturday night so John and Noel can have a "date night" before school starts again the middle of August. So far they haven't committed, but if we don't we have lots of things we can do. I might get a chance to visit some of you over the weekend, but most likely won't be posting again until Monday (now if you got this far you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Dottie's sisters have always complained about how long it takes me to tell a story).
Lovely weekends to each of you!
alan
Thursday, July 27, 2006
A little something...
to make up for the longer post I had planned for tonight (overtime and my first day back in the gyn are catching up with me, not to mention Photoshop wasn't cooperating as I tried to reduce these, lol).
Our first Monday in Vermont, after I photographed the car on the Brookfield Floating Bridge, we had gone back to my sister-in-laws in East Roxbury. We went up the road past her house, one I've been down many times, and I ran across these flowers...
Back down the hill and in her front yard, I found these...
4:17AM, my clock is set for 10:30...
Goodnight all!
alan
Our first Monday in Vermont, after I photographed the car on the Brookfield Floating Bridge, we had gone back to my sister-in-laws in East Roxbury. We went up the road past her house, one I've been down many times, and I ran across these flowers...
Back down the hill and in her front yard, I found these...
4:17AM, my clock is set for 10:30...
Goodnight all!
alan
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Photo Sunday...
was going to be the St. Johnsbury Library and Atheneum, but I haven't Photoshopped those yet. I have been working on some other things, though, and it's almost 5 AM so I'm going to post them instead...
A while back I posted about a place I love and showed off some of my wife's homestate from 2 years ago. Among those was this one of our Neon and a Floating Bridge at Brookfield, Vermont.
The bridge and Brookfield are still as lovely as ever, though the bridge might be floating a tad lower this time. This one is a bit over 30 years old, as the last one got flipped by someone who decided to haul his dozer across it on a gooseneck trailer (way way overweight of what it's posted for).
The night shot I posted while I was gone was shot the same place as the day one I posted then...
In shooting a one minute time exposure to get the silver shine across the water I "burned out" the moon itself, which was gorgeous that night. I had shot several when I heard the car coming, so timed my next one to get the tailight streak all the way across and up the hill, and the headlights lit the end of the house just enough to make it show up nicely.
After that I put a telephoto on and shot the moon itself...thinking of so many of you like always...
I've been printing some things for a vacation photo contest held by the "Skill Center" at work, I'll share some later in the week.
May you all have a lovely Sunday!
alan
Addendum: Forgot to say (though most of you know) that the white car on the bridge is the Chevrolet Malibu I build for a living...
A while back I posted about a place I love and showed off some of my wife's homestate from 2 years ago. Among those was this one of our Neon and a Floating Bridge at Brookfield, Vermont.
The bridge and Brookfield are still as lovely as ever, though the bridge might be floating a tad lower this time. This one is a bit over 30 years old, as the last one got flipped by someone who decided to haul his dozer across it on a gooseneck trailer (way way overweight of what it's posted for).
The night shot I posted while I was gone was shot the same place as the day one I posted then...
In shooting a one minute time exposure to get the silver shine across the water I "burned out" the moon itself, which was gorgeous that night. I had shot several when I heard the car coming, so timed my next one to get the tailight streak all the way across and up the hill, and the headlights lit the end of the house just enough to make it show up nicely.
After that I put a telephoto on and shot the moon itself...thinking of so many of you like always...
I've been printing some things for a vacation photo contest held by the "Skill Center" at work, I'll share some later in the week.
May you all have a lovely Sunday!
alan
Addendum: Forgot to say (though most of you know) that the white car on the bridge is the Chevrolet Malibu I build for a living...
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
A beautiful buiding in it's own right, this museum is a treasure! The turret in the "L" houses a planetarium; the current show, besides the usual nightime sky is explaining volcanoes throughout the solar system and is quite amazing!
The first floor is a natural history museum, and also houses a gift shop inside the front entrance, and at the far end is a gallery that rotates exhibits. The current one is an amazing set of images shot with an 8x10 (negative size) view camera of Vermont side-hill farms.
You'll have to pardon my attempts to convey the scope and beauty of the interior of this wonderful place. These are handheld, existing light exposures at 1/8 to 1/15 of a second, wide open aperture with my digital Nikon set on 400 ASA speed.
The second floor has an overview of cultures from around the world through the ages, along with some Vermont, St. Johnsbury and Fairbanks history. It also houses the rock exhibits that used to be in the basement before the weather station was enlarged.
The basement has a small display showing the history of Fairbanks scales and their manufacture in St. Johnsbury, and houses the weather station for Vermont Public Radio and some other affiliates.
I've been here many times through the years, the first time with my mother-in-law who could remember attending dinners in the Fairbanks family homes when she was young, before the "family fortune" disappeared and they lost everything. It was always a very special place for her, and has become one to me as well.
alan
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Moving this from reply to post...
Jon-Marc; the Bennington Museum is in southern Vermont and as I drove by when I left, had signs out for a Rembrandt exhibit. I was running too late to stop, but have visited it before and seen it's wonderful collection. Art, history, a bit of everything.
If cityscape interests you, Burlington is awfully nice, especially the downtown area and waterfront. Sailing cruises, kayak or sailboat rental, a public beach, lots of cool stuff going on especially in the summer months. Shelburne is a beautiful place, and has the Shelburne Museum
To the northeast there is St. Johnsbury, a gorgeous "old city" with the Fairbanks Museum, and the St. Johnsbury Atheneum (a library and art gallery contributed by another Fairbanks decendant). (My wife is descended from the Fairbanks family, so I've been to the museum many times now; it's a beautiful building and a wonderful natural history museum, along with other collections of Vermont history. The Atheneum building is stunning in it's own right, and the paintings in the gallery have just been restored and are glorious!)
There are lots of "touristy" things to do as well, from touring Ben and Jerry's (free samples of what they're making) to riding the Alpine Slide at Stowe. I promise you that no matter where you drive in the Green Mountains, it will be one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen.
If you plan on being outside in the late afternoon, some kind of insect repellant is advisable, they've a pretty good crop of mosquitoes this year from all the rain!
:o)
alan
If cityscape interests you, Burlington is awfully nice, especially the downtown area and waterfront. Sailing cruises, kayak or sailboat rental, a public beach, lots of cool stuff going on especially in the summer months. Shelburne is a beautiful place, and has the Shelburne Museum
To the northeast there is St. Johnsbury, a gorgeous "old city" with the Fairbanks Museum, and the St. Johnsbury Atheneum (a library and art gallery contributed by another Fairbanks decendant). (My wife is descended from the Fairbanks family, so I've been to the museum many times now; it's a beautiful building and a wonderful natural history museum, along with other collections of Vermont history. The Atheneum building is stunning in it's own right, and the paintings in the gallery have just been restored and are glorious!)
There are lots of "touristy" things to do as well, from touring Ben and Jerry's (free samples of what they're making) to riding the Alpine Slide at Stowe. I promise you that no matter where you drive in the Green Mountains, it will be one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen.
If you plan on being outside in the late afternoon, some kind of insect repellant is advisable, they've a pretty good crop of mosquitoes this year from all the rain!
:o)
alan
Monday, July 17, 2006
Home again...
finally! I love Vermont, love being there, but my own bed has much to recommend it!
I had hoped to update more often while there, but we packed so much into the days we had that getting 5 or 6 hours sleep was hard to do; some nights it was only 4. I will give more detail in the coming days...with photos...
We ate in the car on the way home, rather than stopping, to try and make up some of the time we lost on Saturday as we "shopped" our way out of Vermont, trying to find a last few items for the grandkids and such. I drove 'til 1AM Sunday and made the "halfway" point, between Cleveland and Columbus when we stopped. Up at 8, out the door by 9, and after the time change we rolled into our driveway a few minutes after 9 last night. An offer of pizza got Bill and Laura to pick Angel up at my sisters and save us trying to pick her up before bed time or having to wait until tonight, so we unpacked and I started doing laundry.
The whole time we were there, people were complaining about the heat; it was in the upper 80's and low 90's. Right now, it's 96 and the heat index is 103; they're predicting 101 this afternoon!
I miss the Green Mountains!
alan
I had hoped to update more often while there, but we packed so much into the days we had that getting 5 or 6 hours sleep was hard to do; some nights it was only 4. I will give more detail in the coming days...with photos...
We ate in the car on the way home, rather than stopping, to try and make up some of the time we lost on Saturday as we "shopped" our way out of Vermont, trying to find a last few items for the grandkids and such. I drove 'til 1AM Sunday and made the "halfway" point, between Cleveland and Columbus when we stopped. Up at 8, out the door by 9, and after the time change we rolled into our driveway a few minutes after 9 last night. An offer of pizza got Bill and Laura to pick Angel up at my sisters and save us trying to pick her up before bed time or having to wait until tonight, so we unpacked and I started doing laundry.
The whole time we were there, people were complaining about the heat; it was in the upper 80's and low 90's. Right now, it's 96 and the heat index is 103; they're predicting 101 this afternoon!
I miss the Green Mountains!
alan
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sunday, July 09, 2006
A beautiful day...
of boating on Lake Champlain with Dottie's sister Jane and her husband. We were out about 4 hours; it was pure bliss!
Yesterday we made it in about 5AM; I had driven the whole 20 hours (I don't get to drive her Malibu very often, and loved every minute). I did finally check the mileage on the Syracuse to Albany part of the New York Thruway; it was getting 37.4. It's average since it was new is 35 according to the dash display...
After we got back we shopped for the surprise 25th anniversary party for Jane and Ed that's tomorrow; guess what chicken is on the menu, lol!
Off to bed...miss you all!
alan
Yesterday we made it in about 5AM; I had driven the whole 20 hours (I don't get to drive her Malibu very often, and loved every minute). I did finally check the mileage on the Syracuse to Albany part of the New York Thruway; it was getting 37.4. It's average since it was new is 35 according to the dash display...
After we got back we shopped for the surprise 25th anniversary party for Jane and Ed that's tomorrow; guess what chicken is on the menu, lol!
Off to bed...miss you all!
alan
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Greensville, Indiana...
12:45am EST.
We finally got away at noon; now Dottie's in the shower, and I'm waiting my turn. Not a bad day for no more sleep than we got; we are east of Indianapolis and west of Dayton, and will make the rest of the journey tomorrow on more sleep!
Malibu running wonderfully; haven't checked the milage yet, the computer says it's in the mid 30's...
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement!
Tomorrow, VERMONT!!!
:o)
alan
We finally got away at noon; now Dottie's in the shower, and I'm waiting my turn. Not a bad day for no more sleep than we got; we are east of Indianapolis and west of Dayton, and will make the rest of the journey tomorrow on more sleep!
Malibu running wonderfully; haven't checked the milage yet, the computer says it's in the mid 30's...
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement!
Tomorrow, VERMONT!!!
:o)
alan
"East Bound and Down"!
Though we were further ahead than we've ever been, it was still a 4AM morning by the time we got everything and everyone dealt with last night, the last laundry done, etc.. Up at 9, Dottie's in the shower, and in about an hour we'll be heading out for Vermont.
Not sure how much time I'll have to check in or update, but know I'll be thinking of all of you...
Love,
alan
Not sure how much time I'll have to check in or update, but know I'll be thinking of all of you...
Love,
alan
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
July 4, 2006
As the final countdown to our family 4th of July begins, I remember the 4th's past...
The ones at Grandma and Grandpa's house, with my Great Grandmother; my Great Aunts and Uncles; my Mom's sister and brother-in-law and my cousins; sometimes 2nd cousins...hours of food, hours of fireworks. Grandpa striking yellow "fusees" from the railroad so the sulfur smell would drive away the mosquitos; him standing holding a Roman candle in his hand and shooting the flaming balls out across the yard all the while telling us not to hold them in our hands. After his stroke, one of his big treats for the year was to sit in a lawn chair and have us bring them to him.
After Grandma and Grandpa gave up their house and moved into a retirement apartment, they came to my Mom and Dad's. We lost the cousins then, and most of the Great Aunts and Uncles were gone by then, but it was still the family 4th, with almost as many fireworks.
Grandma got sick the night of the 4th in '79; we didn't know for a few days it was the beginning of her last round with cancer.
After we lost her, then Grandpa, then my Dad, things were a bit dampened for few years. For a while it was just Dottie and I and our boys. My sister married and moved just out of town, and the family 4th gathering moved to her house the first time she asked. Her husband's Uncle Miller came to the first few, and would speak of growing up getting a "brick" of .22 shells for the 4th and being admonished to make them last all day. He spoke of re-enacting Civil War battles they'd been told of, or 1st World War ones..."they're coming through the woods" he remembered them "hollering", lol. Then he was gone as well. Cindy moved off to Lawrence, and we gathered there until they outlawed fireworks there three years ago.
Now my sons and their families, my sister and hers will gather here this evening. 20 pounds of chicken for the grill, several hundred dollars worth of fireworks we bought yesterday...somehow it will still be the family 4th, but somehow I'll be thinking of a lot of wonderful people who aren't here to celebrate as well!
Happy 4th of July to all!
alan
The ones at Grandma and Grandpa's house, with my Great Grandmother; my Great Aunts and Uncles; my Mom's sister and brother-in-law and my cousins; sometimes 2nd cousins...hours of food, hours of fireworks. Grandpa striking yellow "fusees" from the railroad so the sulfur smell would drive away the mosquitos; him standing holding a Roman candle in his hand and shooting the flaming balls out across the yard all the while telling us not to hold them in our hands. After his stroke, one of his big treats for the year was to sit in a lawn chair and have us bring them to him.
After Grandma and Grandpa gave up their house and moved into a retirement apartment, they came to my Mom and Dad's. We lost the cousins then, and most of the Great Aunts and Uncles were gone by then, but it was still the family 4th, with almost as many fireworks.
Grandma got sick the night of the 4th in '79; we didn't know for a few days it was the beginning of her last round with cancer.
After we lost her, then Grandpa, then my Dad, things were a bit dampened for few years. For a while it was just Dottie and I and our boys. My sister married and moved just out of town, and the family 4th gathering moved to her house the first time she asked. Her husband's Uncle Miller came to the first few, and would speak of growing up getting a "brick" of .22 shells for the 4th and being admonished to make them last all day. He spoke of re-enacting Civil War battles they'd been told of, or 1st World War ones..."they're coming through the woods" he remembered them "hollering", lol. Then he was gone as well. Cindy moved off to Lawrence, and we gathered there until they outlawed fireworks there three years ago.
Now my sons and their families, my sister and hers will gather here this evening. 20 pounds of chicken for the grill, several hundred dollars worth of fireworks we bought yesterday...somehow it will still be the family 4th, but somehow I'll be thinking of a lot of wonderful people who aren't here to celebrate as well!
Happy 4th of July to all!
alan
Friday, June 30, 2006
As My Stomach Churns...
Since the Supreme Court ruling yesterday, I keep hearing the Shrub say he's going to protect us...!
So if there are 400 something still being held at Guantanamo, not counting the ones already released, then you count their relatives, and the coming generations of relatives who are all going to despise the next 20 or so generations of Americans (provided we're still around, of course at the present rate of our own loss of freedom)...
Factor in all of the relatives of every dead Iraqi since the first Gulf War...
Then there's that whole thing about there weren't any terrorists in Iraq...until AFTER we occupied their country...and since we're so busy with Iraq and poking our stick at Iran and North Korea, the Taliban have been borrowing from the Iraqi insurgent's manual...
Yeah, he's doing a great job of protecting us!
Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
alan
So if there are 400 something still being held at Guantanamo, not counting the ones already released, then you count their relatives, and the coming generations of relatives who are all going to despise the next 20 or so generations of Americans (provided we're still around, of course at the present rate of our own loss of freedom)...
Factor in all of the relatives of every dead Iraqi since the first Gulf War...
Then there's that whole thing about there weren't any terrorists in Iraq...until AFTER we occupied their country...and since we're so busy with Iraq and poking our stick at Iran and North Korea, the Taliban have been borrowing from the Iraqi insurgent's manual...
Yeah, he's doing a great job of protecting us!
Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
alan
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Toisday...
Talia is doing well. Noel said she cried a bit when she woke up today, otherwise she was doing well. Soft diet, and she gets to pick what's on the TV and her brother's were told it's her turn, lol!
Two more shifts before our two week shutdown! I'm so (desperately) looking forward to this!
I did finally find the "export as HTML" for my bookmarks (I run Opera for a browser because no one writes viruses for it), so am transferring the HTML document and a few photo retouching programs to the laptop in a few minutes. I already loaded Photoshop and Nikon View. It doesn't have a built in card reader, so I bought a Dazzle one so I don't have to unhitch mine to take; it supposedly has a faster transfer rate than my old one, so every little bit helps I guess. I can always use the USB cord for the camera as well, but they warn against wearing out the camera port as it's where the "cable release" also plugs in; I'd rather pop my CF cards out at this point.
I've been cutting my sleep a bit short (6 hours or so) to get those things done and still have time in the gym. Monday was chest, back, abs and cardio. Wednesday was shoulders, arms, abs and cardio. Today will be legs, abs and cardio. If I'm lucky I'm going to slip back in tomorrow and do a straight 3 hours of cardio, as I don't know how much time I'll have to walk on our little excursion next week, but know I'll be eating less than healthily!
Hopefully the Northeast dries out a bit before the middle of next week, because if the New York Thruway is still closed, I don't have a "stamped" copy of my birth certificate and my wife's we'd have to get from Vermont, so cutting through Canada isn't an option, lol! Pennsylvania's in as bad a shape as New York at the moment, so I-70 might not fare any better!
Meanwhile I heard tonight they shut down some Interstate out west because of wildfires...but we haven't screwed up the atmosphere, oh no!!!
Hopefully all of you are dry and comfortable!
alan
Two more shifts before our two week shutdown! I'm so (desperately) looking forward to this!
I did finally find the "export as HTML" for my bookmarks (I run Opera for a browser because no one writes viruses for it), so am transferring the HTML document and a few photo retouching programs to the laptop in a few minutes. I already loaded Photoshop and Nikon View. It doesn't have a built in card reader, so I bought a Dazzle one so I don't have to unhitch mine to take; it supposedly has a faster transfer rate than my old one, so every little bit helps I guess. I can always use the USB cord for the camera as well, but they warn against wearing out the camera port as it's where the "cable release" also plugs in; I'd rather pop my CF cards out at this point.
I've been cutting my sleep a bit short (6 hours or so) to get those things done and still have time in the gym. Monday was chest, back, abs and cardio. Wednesday was shoulders, arms, abs and cardio. Today will be legs, abs and cardio. If I'm lucky I'm going to slip back in tomorrow and do a straight 3 hours of cardio, as I don't know how much time I'll have to walk on our little excursion next week, but know I'll be eating less than healthily!
Hopefully the Northeast dries out a bit before the middle of next week, because if the New York Thruway is still closed, I don't have a "stamped" copy of my birth certificate and my wife's we'd have to get from Vermont, so cutting through Canada isn't an option, lol! Pennsylvania's in as bad a shape as New York at the moment, so I-70 might not fare any better!
Meanwhile I heard tonight they shut down some Interstate out west because of wildfires...but we haven't screwed up the atmosphere, oh no!!!
Hopefully all of you are dry and comfortable!
alan
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
:o)
Dottie's jury duty was cancelled; instead we have a pair of grandson's in the living room watching Disney movies while their sister has her tonsils and adenoids out! John called a bit ago, the surgery went well, though the surgeon commented on how huge both tonsils and adenoids were. Hopefully this will help Talia's hearing a bit...
I've spent the last half hour e-mailing myself links so I can open them with the laptop as I haven't figured out how to transfer them directly from browser to browser. I probably don't really need all of them for vacation anyway, lol!
Going out to mow (I didn't get it done before the party on Sunday) so the boys can swing a bit before they go home!
I'll try to catch up with you all this evening...
alan
I've spent the last half hour e-mailing myself links so I can open them with the laptop as I haven't figured out how to transfer them directly from browser to browser. I probably don't really need all of them for vacation anyway, lol!
Going out to mow (I didn't get it done before the party on Sunday) so the boys can swing a bit before they go home!
I'll try to catch up with you all this evening...
alan
Friday, June 23, 2006
TGIF!
We've gone back to 9 hour shifts this week, what with getting 2007's out and building the first waves of the new Saturn. Between that, the gym, trying to get some things ready for vacation, it's been fun, lol!
After 2 months of "supposed to" and "should", Angel finally got clipped yesterday. (Funny, Paul's been up to the same thing, lol!) Tuesday I came home from the gym to brush and comb her; Dottie came home that night and scissors cut everything she could, then Wednesday I got up and bathed her. Once in Selsun Blue (vets recommendation to kill any critters that she might have picked up), once in an oatmeal shampoo because the Selsun Blue dries her skin so badly she chews and licks herself raw after, then Pantene conditioner so she'll comb out again after. By the time I was done and cleaned up the tub (I didn't have the heart to bathe her outside with cold water from the hose; she's 10 now, and it just seemed cruel!) I ended up getting to the gym in time to do one hour on the treadmill (4.5 miles).
Dottie traded days off with a girl at work who's getting married this weekend so the girl could have 3 days off in a row; since she was off yesterday, after we had some "time together" (a rarity when you work opposite shifts) we spent 2 hours clipping Angel in the kitchen as it was pouring outside. Actually easier, because the dog and I could both take a break on occasion, while Dottie petted and cajoled her as I clipped. Then I ran through the shower and we took her for her annual checkup. By then it was 3 something and time to get ready for work!
Hopefully I can catch a decent photo of her now she's shorthaired and put it up for Sunday!
Today, I'm off the gym to do the "leg day" I was due on Wednesday. Since Dottie's working this weekend, tomorrow I plan on hitting the gym at 10 to do shoulders, arms and abs. After I come home and shower it's Costco, Sam's and Wal-Mart in time to come home and grill some shrimp skewers (frozen pre-packaged, sorry!) and fix some rice for dinner when she get's home around 6.
Sumday my sister is having a going away party for my nephew Brett who leaves for Wyoming Tech this next week. Since she volunteered to keep Angel rather than having us kennel her at the vets while we make the Vermont trip next month, I'm taking her along to meet Grady, my sister's collie (a purebred pup, blind in one eye; a common defect I'm told) and her 18 year old cat Chip (hmmmm). May take my bike, and after the rest of the family shows up another family baseball game is planned. Dottie is coming up after work and bringing my Mom (she can't be out in the heat all day because of her MS, and didn't want to give up church and Bingo that afternoon, but wants to come eat and say "Bye" to Brett). I'm hoping to mow that morning before I go...
Monday Dottie goes on Jury Duty, so I'm planning to hit the gym that morning, figuring she'll be at the courhouse most of the morning and early afternoon. Tuesday is usually a call-in day, and if she's not selected she'll go back to work on Wednesday. Maybe a movie if we're lucky on Tuesday (Prarie Home Compannion if I play my cards right).
The clock is ticking...hope each of you have a Friday that's as wonderful as you are! You would probably all chuckle if you knew how often you ride along with me at work, or I hear something on the radio and think "I wonder what ... would think about that?" This is quite a wonderful little family we have here, and I am grateful for each and every one of you!
Lowely weekends to all!
alan
*Addendum, 3:15 pm. Second weigh-in at 188 this afternoon, so I guess that makes "the century mark" official. 100 pounds in 16 months...34's are getting loose now, might rry on some 32's this weekend!
:o)
After 2 months of "supposed to" and "should", Angel finally got clipped yesterday. (Funny, Paul's been up to the same thing, lol!) Tuesday I came home from the gym to brush and comb her; Dottie came home that night and scissors cut everything she could, then Wednesday I got up and bathed her. Once in Selsun Blue (vets recommendation to kill any critters that she might have picked up), once in an oatmeal shampoo because the Selsun Blue dries her skin so badly she chews and licks herself raw after, then Pantene conditioner so she'll comb out again after. By the time I was done and cleaned up the tub (I didn't have the heart to bathe her outside with cold water from the hose; she's 10 now, and it just seemed cruel!) I ended up getting to the gym in time to do one hour on the treadmill (4.5 miles).
Dottie traded days off with a girl at work who's getting married this weekend so the girl could have 3 days off in a row; since she was off yesterday, after we had some "time together" (a rarity when you work opposite shifts) we spent 2 hours clipping Angel in the kitchen as it was pouring outside. Actually easier, because the dog and I could both take a break on occasion, while Dottie petted and cajoled her as I clipped. Then I ran through the shower and we took her for her annual checkup. By then it was 3 something and time to get ready for work!
Hopefully I can catch a decent photo of her now she's shorthaired and put it up for Sunday!
Today, I'm off the gym to do the "leg day" I was due on Wednesday. Since Dottie's working this weekend, tomorrow I plan on hitting the gym at 10 to do shoulders, arms and abs. After I come home and shower it's Costco, Sam's and Wal-Mart in time to come home and grill some shrimp skewers (frozen pre-packaged, sorry!) and fix some rice for dinner when she get's home around 6.
Sumday my sister is having a going away party for my nephew Brett who leaves for Wyoming Tech this next week. Since she volunteered to keep Angel rather than having us kennel her at the vets while we make the Vermont trip next month, I'm taking her along to meet Grady, my sister's collie (a purebred pup, blind in one eye; a common defect I'm told) and her 18 year old cat Chip (hmmmm). May take my bike, and after the rest of the family shows up another family baseball game is planned. Dottie is coming up after work and bringing my Mom (she can't be out in the heat all day because of her MS, and didn't want to give up church and Bingo that afternoon, but wants to come eat and say "Bye" to Brett). I'm hoping to mow that morning before I go...
Monday Dottie goes on Jury Duty, so I'm planning to hit the gym that morning, figuring she'll be at the courhouse most of the morning and early afternoon. Tuesday is usually a call-in day, and if she's not selected she'll go back to work on Wednesday. Maybe a movie if we're lucky on Tuesday (Prarie Home Compannion if I play my cards right).
The clock is ticking...hope each of you have a Friday that's as wonderful as you are! You would probably all chuckle if you knew how often you ride along with me at work, or I hear something on the radio and think "I wonder what ... would think about that?" This is quite a wonderful little family we have here, and I am grateful for each and every one of you!
Lowely weekends to all!
alan
*Addendum, 3:15 pm. Second weigh-in at 188 this afternoon, so I guess that makes "the century mark" official. 100 pounds in 16 months...34's are getting loose now, might rry on some 32's this weekend!
:o)
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
In my humble opinion...
Every clueless prick who voted against raising the minimum wage today should have to live on it for a year!
With no food stamps and no health benefits!
alan
With no food stamps and no health benefits!
alan
Monday, June 19, 2006
Monday Monday...
Father's Day was wonderful! When I came home from work a bit after 1AM, Dottie was up and gave me the gifts she had told me she hadn't been able to find when she shopped last week...a DVD of "The World's Fastest Indian" and (does anyone else remember?) the 50th anniversary edition of "The Phil Silvers Show", alias "Sgt. Bilko".
In trying to keep Laura in bed, my nephew had lent her his new (graduation and going off to tech school present) laptop to do her homework, but needed it back on Sunday. When Bill tried to get her homework from her GTA, the teaching assistant dropped her from the class, saying it's only a 4 week class, she can't just miss a week of it.
I had been planning on buying a bottom end laptop for a very long time so I could upload memory cards from my Nikon on longer vacations and burn back-up discs of them. I was looking at a WinBook, and planning on buying it the first of July at MiroCenter so the first payment wasn't due until after Christmas. Since I could find no Epinions reviews of it, and since we already had a clear account at Nebraska Furniture Mart, Dottie had me go ahead and spring for a name brand (Toshiba) for about 1/2 again more. We picked it up on Saturday, I came home from work and started trying to load ZoneAlarm and Norton. By the time I got done, I went to bed at 6:30, and got up at 9:30.
John and Noel came by on their way home from church and brought me a card and a gift card for the new movie theatre just west of us by the Kansas Speedway in the huge shopping district that's grown around it. We also got to talk for a while, which doesn't happen often enough with their lives as busy as they are.
When I called home from work on Saturday night during my break, Dottie told me Laura had spent most of her day at her desktop computer with "the leg" propped up on another chair, playing "World of Warcraft" online. The nurse had told her that would probably be OK instead of just staying in bed like the Doctor had said...
So when we got there she immediately started loading "WoW" on my laptop, lol!
I couldn't do the stir fry, as she can't have anything with Vitamin K in it for the 6 months she's on blood thinners, at it will counteract them. So Dottie had grilled 3 packages of brats (one of Laura's favorites) the night before while I was at work, and also fixed a 3-day batch of "chicken ala king" and mashed potatoes that we took, so they are set for a few days. When we called after we got home last night she was happily lying in bed playing their game.
We got home around 10 last night, and our dinner was frozen breaded chicken breasts w/Vidalia dressing, and asparagus the quickest thing we could throw together that sounded good. We watched the first episode of Bilko (never one of her favorites, but she put up with it for me, lol) and some of the extra stuff (the 1955 Emmies when it won 8 of them, Jack Benny and Phil Silvers on Dick Cavett, etc.). She showered and went to bed: I hung up one more load of laundry and joined her. I slept over 10 hours, sorted the 1500 mails from my inbox down to none (a bit behind I was!) and then started to blog.
For a one day weekend it wasn't bad; for Father's Day it was great!
I hope all of you are having a great Monday; by the time my workday begins most of you will be home or on your way, lol!
alan
In trying to keep Laura in bed, my nephew had lent her his new (graduation and going off to tech school present) laptop to do her homework, but needed it back on Sunday. When Bill tried to get her homework from her GTA, the teaching assistant dropped her from the class, saying it's only a 4 week class, she can't just miss a week of it.
I had been planning on buying a bottom end laptop for a very long time so I could upload memory cards from my Nikon on longer vacations and burn back-up discs of them. I was looking at a WinBook, and planning on buying it the first of July at MiroCenter so the first payment wasn't due until after Christmas. Since I could find no Epinions reviews of it, and since we already had a clear account at Nebraska Furniture Mart, Dottie had me go ahead and spring for a name brand (Toshiba) for about 1/2 again more. We picked it up on Saturday, I came home from work and started trying to load ZoneAlarm and Norton. By the time I got done, I went to bed at 6:30, and got up at 9:30.
John and Noel came by on their way home from church and brought me a card and a gift card for the new movie theatre just west of us by the Kansas Speedway in the huge shopping district that's grown around it. We also got to talk for a while, which doesn't happen often enough with their lives as busy as they are.
When I called home from work on Saturday night during my break, Dottie told me Laura had spent most of her day at her desktop computer with "the leg" propped up on another chair, playing "World of Warcraft" online. The nurse had told her that would probably be OK instead of just staying in bed like the Doctor had said...
So when we got there she immediately started loading "WoW" on my laptop, lol!
I couldn't do the stir fry, as she can't have anything with Vitamin K in it for the 6 months she's on blood thinners, at it will counteract them. So Dottie had grilled 3 packages of brats (one of Laura's favorites) the night before while I was at work, and also fixed a 3-day batch of "chicken ala king" and mashed potatoes that we took, so they are set for a few days. When we called after we got home last night she was happily lying in bed playing their game.
We got home around 10 last night, and our dinner was frozen breaded chicken breasts w/Vidalia dressing, and asparagus the quickest thing we could throw together that sounded good. We watched the first episode of Bilko (never one of her favorites, but she put up with it for me, lol) and some of the extra stuff (the 1955 Emmies when it won 8 of them, Jack Benny and Phil Silvers on Dick Cavett, etc.). She showered and went to bed: I hung up one more load of laundry and joined her. I slept over 10 hours, sorted the 1500 mails from my inbox down to none (a bit behind I was!) and then started to blog.
For a one day weekend it wasn't bad; for Father's Day it was great!
I hope all of you are having a great Monday; by the time my workday begins most of you will be home or on your way, lol!
alan
Friday, June 16, 2006
For the weekend...
Dottie's off; I work tonight and tomorrow as well, but our grandaughter is spending the night tonight and if the weather cooperates we'll be going to the park tomorrow to get her some time on her Barbie Princess bike.
:o)
Sunday being Father's Day, I plan to be in Lawrence with Bill and Laura. We had a health scare with her earlier in the week. She had a leg cramp that was relentless; it wouldn't stretch out or walk off for 4 or 5 days. Dottie tried to tell her it might be a blood clot, please go to the emergency room. That was Tuesday; on Wednesday she called our doctor and he said the same thing, so she did.
It was a blood clot, a reaction to the pill. She's on oral blood thinners for 6 months, twice a day injections for a week (my son is giving her those because they couldn't afford $300 a pop for home nursing visits), and complete bed rest for that week as well. Bill is trying to pick up her class assignments, as well as getting his professor to let him have some time off from his Master's research; my nephew loaned her his new laptop to do her homework.
These things aren't supposed to happen to 20 somethings!!!
Sunday I plan to take my wok and cook honey chicken for them...
My other thoughts for Father's Day are the 2500 kids who won't be calling home this Sunday because they died in Iraq...
May you all have wonderful weekends!
alan
:o)
Sunday being Father's Day, I plan to be in Lawrence with Bill and Laura. We had a health scare with her earlier in the week. She had a leg cramp that was relentless; it wouldn't stretch out or walk off for 4 or 5 days. Dottie tried to tell her it might be a blood clot, please go to the emergency room. That was Tuesday; on Wednesday she called our doctor and he said the same thing, so she did.
It was a blood clot, a reaction to the pill. She's on oral blood thinners for 6 months, twice a day injections for a week (my son is giving her those because they couldn't afford $300 a pop for home nursing visits), and complete bed rest for that week as well. Bill is trying to pick up her class assignments, as well as getting his professor to let him have some time off from his Master's research; my nephew loaned her his new laptop to do her homework.
These things aren't supposed to happen to 20 somethings!!!
Sunday I plan to take my wok and cook honey chicken for them...
My other thoughts for Father's Day are the 2500 kids who won't be calling home this Sunday because they died in Iraq...
May you all have wonderful weekends!
alan
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Better today...
Still have the headache, but the elephant isn't standing on my innards anymore!
Slept 13 hours Wednesday, on top of almost 12 Tuesday!
Made it to the gym for a "weak" workout today; off to the shower and work now!
Thank you all for the kind words and empathy!
alan
Slept 13 hours Wednesday, on top of almost 12 Tuesday!
Made it to the gym for a "weak" workout today; off to the shower and work now!
Thank you all for the kind words and empathy!
alan
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The family flu bug...
came home to roost yesterday. Dottie was sick for days a couple of weeks ago; my grandaughter was sick last week, so apparently when Dillon came to spend the night Friday and we went bike riding on Saturday, it decided it liked me.
We thought Talia was spending the night on Monday night since Dottie was off today. I got up, vacuumed, did laundry, mowed and made sure things were ready for her to spend the night. Then it was remembered that she has vacation Bible school this week.
About the time I headed for the door to go to work, a wicked headache, my first in months kicked in. By the time first break rolled around I felt like someone was standing on my innards, just below my navel. I survived work, came home and was in bed by 2 and slept 'til 12:40 this afternoon. So much for everthing I was supposed to accomplish on her day off! Still cramping and aching all afternoon.
Knowing that they were going to be short of people at work, I went anyway. After first break I chilled and shook and my teeth chattered for about 3 hours; it took an hour to get caught up enough to go get my shirt out of my locker. Finally about 11p, that ended, and I almost broke a sweat.
I'm hoping the worst is over now, though I'm headed to bed early again. If I wake in the morning and I'm not hurting I'll go the gym; if I am then I'm going back to sleep again...
Sorry about not visiting and catching up with you all...I feel guilty every time I let a day or two slip by!
alan
We thought Talia was spending the night on Monday night since Dottie was off today. I got up, vacuumed, did laundry, mowed and made sure things were ready for her to spend the night. Then it was remembered that she has vacation Bible school this week.
About the time I headed for the door to go to work, a wicked headache, my first in months kicked in. By the time first break rolled around I felt like someone was standing on my innards, just below my navel. I survived work, came home and was in bed by 2 and slept 'til 12:40 this afternoon. So much for everthing I was supposed to accomplish on her day off! Still cramping and aching all afternoon.
Knowing that they were going to be short of people at work, I went anyway. After first break I chilled and shook and my teeth chattered for about 3 hours; it took an hour to get caught up enough to go get my shirt out of my locker. Finally about 11p, that ended, and I almost broke a sweat.
I'm hoping the worst is over now, though I'm headed to bed early again. If I wake in the morning and I'm not hurting I'll go the gym; if I am then I'm going back to sleep again...
Sorry about not visiting and catching up with you all...I feel guilty every time I let a day or two slip by!
alan
Sunday, June 11, 2006
And poof the weekend's gone!
Dillon (my oldest grandson) came to spend the night Friday night, so when Dottie got up to go to work Saturday morning, I got up and cooked breakfast then we took our bikes and went to the park for a couple of hours. Dillon really wants to practice enough to get his training wheels off, so going to try to do that a couple of days a week before work now that he's out of school for a bit.
Met my nephew at Dave and Buster's earlier for the arcade time we promised him as the rest of his graduation. He leaves for Wyoming in two weeks, so he's making the rounds of the family saying his goodbyes. Right now he's at his grandmother's for a family birthday, then he's coming back here this evening for dinner after Dottie gets off work, then we're going to the art house to see "Thank You For Smoking". He saw previews for it when I took him to see "The World's Fastest Indian" and really wants to see it before he goes.
Hope each of you is having a great weekend; hope to do some "blog-hopping" tonight and catch up with you all!
How is it that life can just keep getting busier...?
alan
Met my nephew at Dave and Buster's earlier for the arcade time we promised him as the rest of his graduation. He leaves for Wyoming in two weeks, so he's making the rounds of the family saying his goodbyes. Right now he's at his grandmother's for a family birthday, then he's coming back here this evening for dinner after Dottie gets off work, then we're going to the art house to see "Thank You For Smoking". He saw previews for it when I took him to see "The World's Fastest Indian" and really wants to see it before he goes.
Hope each of you is having a great weekend; hope to do some "blog-hopping" tonight and catch up with you all!
How is it that life can just keep getting busier...?
alan
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Senatorial bigotry...and activist judges!
From the Associated Press, Wednesday afternoon:
"The Republican leadership is asking us to spend time writing bigotry into the Constitution," said Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage in 2003. "A vote for it is a vote against civil unions, against domestic partnership, against all other efforts for states to treat gays and lesbians fairly under the law."
In response, Hatch fumed: "Does he really want to suggest that over half of the United States Senate is a crew of bigots?"
Like that would be something new, let alone impossible, Orrin?
From Dictionary.com:
bigotry
n : the intolerance and prejudice of a bigot [syn: dogmatism]
So just off the top of my non-collegiate head:
The Missouri Compromise...yes, it's 186 years old, or 156 depending on which clauses you'd care to examine, but it's bigotry at it's finest!
I'm sure there are other examples of legislation; that just happens to be the one I'm familiar with.
Of course, as far as bigoted Senators go, does anyone remember Strom Thurmond?
from Wikipedia:
"...Thurmond supported racial segregation with the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single Senator on the Senate floor, speaking for 24 hours and 18 minutes in an unsuccessful attempt to derail the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Southern Senators, who had agreed as part of a compromise not to filibuster this bill, were upset with Thurmond because they thought his solo filibuster made them look bad to their constituents.[1]
[edit]
1960s
On September 16, 1964; Thurmond, increasingly at odds with the national Democratic party over racial integration switched his party affiliation, becoming a Republican. In 1964 South Carolina and other states of the Deep South, white segregationists supported Goldwater instead of Johnson, whose support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and integration rankled the segregationists."
All of that while paying an African-American woman to raise the child he had (out of wedlock) with her!
My favorite story of a bigoted (though this time it's actually a chauvinist) Senator goes back to the Civil War. It seems that a Senator made a comment on the floor of the Senate about the wife of a Union cavalry General, much decorated and favored for his service. She had joined him at an encampment, and the Senator opined that any woman who did that could be no better than one of "Hooker's girls" (I'm paraphrasing across several years since I read this story). The quote made the newspaper with the general's name and that of his wife; the general happened to be in D.C. at that moment, and that evening the Senator received a thorough thrashing as he took his evening stroll.
Though I'm not a violent person, and try not to even consider violence an alternative, I imagine that Senator thought twice before he made a snide comment about another man's wife (in public anyway)!
I am sure that Strom Thurmond and a lot of other people from "the south" considered the entire Supreme Court to be activist when the following was read:
"On May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren read the decision of the unanimous Court:
"We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does...We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
That's from Brown vs. Board, the Supreme Court decision that began the desegregation of the school system. It did nothing for the rest of the "Jim Crow" laws, of course. It did nothing for those who had been promised that they could vote 90 years earlier. It did nothing for those who fell in love with someone outside their race...
Someday these attempts to pass legislation defining marriage will be looked back on in the same light those "Jim Crow" laws are now. I hope I live to see that day!
alan
"The Republican leadership is asking us to spend time writing bigotry into the Constitution," said Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage in 2003. "A vote for it is a vote against civil unions, against domestic partnership, against all other efforts for states to treat gays and lesbians fairly under the law."
In response, Hatch fumed: "Does he really want to suggest that over half of the United States Senate is a crew of bigots?"
Like that would be something new, let alone impossible, Orrin?
From Dictionary.com:
bigotry
n : the intolerance and prejudice of a bigot [syn: dogmatism]
So just off the top of my non-collegiate head:
The Missouri Compromise...yes, it's 186 years old, or 156 depending on which clauses you'd care to examine, but it's bigotry at it's finest!
I'm sure there are other examples of legislation; that just happens to be the one I'm familiar with.
Of course, as far as bigoted Senators go, does anyone remember Strom Thurmond?
from Wikipedia:
"...Thurmond supported racial segregation with the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single Senator on the Senate floor, speaking for 24 hours and 18 minutes in an unsuccessful attempt to derail the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Southern Senators, who had agreed as part of a compromise not to filibuster this bill, were upset with Thurmond because they thought his solo filibuster made them look bad to their constituents.[1]
[edit]
1960s
On September 16, 1964; Thurmond, increasingly at odds with the national Democratic party over racial integration switched his party affiliation, becoming a Republican. In 1964 South Carolina and other states of the Deep South, white segregationists supported Goldwater instead of Johnson, whose support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and integration rankled the segregationists."
All of that while paying an African-American woman to raise the child he had (out of wedlock) with her!
My favorite story of a bigoted (though this time it's actually a chauvinist) Senator goes back to the Civil War. It seems that a Senator made a comment on the floor of the Senate about the wife of a Union cavalry General, much decorated and favored for his service. She had joined him at an encampment, and the Senator opined that any woman who did that could be no better than one of "Hooker's girls" (I'm paraphrasing across several years since I read this story). The quote made the newspaper with the general's name and that of his wife; the general happened to be in D.C. at that moment, and that evening the Senator received a thorough thrashing as he took his evening stroll.
Though I'm not a violent person, and try not to even consider violence an alternative, I imagine that Senator thought twice before he made a snide comment about another man's wife (in public anyway)!
I am sure that Strom Thurmond and a lot of other people from "the south" considered the entire Supreme Court to be activist when the following was read:
"On May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren read the decision of the unanimous Court:
"We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does...We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
That's from Brown vs. Board, the Supreme Court decision that began the desegregation of the school system. It did nothing for the rest of the "Jim Crow" laws, of course. It did nothing for those who had been promised that they could vote 90 years earlier. It did nothing for those who fell in love with someone outside their race...
Someday these attempts to pass legislation defining marriage will be looked back on in the same light those "Jim Crow" laws are now. I hope I live to see that day!
alan
Monday, June 05, 2006
Sometimes...
I get "taken over" by things beyond my control! Dragonflyfilly had an entry on Friday that I just caught up with that reminded me of one of those events.
In 1988 I got "bumped" from the Paint Department where I had always worked to the "Chassis" department. I only knew the few paint people who got moved along with me, and we got scattered around the department in short order.
I landed in a team of 10, working over my head shooting brake line bolts and a few screws and hooking a spring underneath the car. As I got to know people the Korean War veteran who was my team leader pointed out to me how proud he was that his team were all veterans, all male, and all white. I was taken aback, but didn't say anything. I, like so many others, tend to hold my tongue in spite of how I seethe inside about things.
Each night as we started up from lunch, a friend from Paint would stop on his way back in from the parking lot to "mooch" a cigarette. I'd happily give him one, and a light, glad to see a familiar face and have a minute of conversation.
After a week or so, my team leader came and asked me "why I let that no good black so and so do that night after night"? I turned and looked him in the eye and said:
"I guess I should tell you that these spots on my face aren't freckles, Norman; one of my parents is black, and Eddie's my half brother!"
No one spoke to me again for about 6 months after he went around the shop with that bit of gossip...
:o)
alan
In 1988 I got "bumped" from the Paint Department where I had always worked to the "Chassis" department. I only knew the few paint people who got moved along with me, and we got scattered around the department in short order.
I landed in a team of 10, working over my head shooting brake line bolts and a few screws and hooking a spring underneath the car. As I got to know people the Korean War veteran who was my team leader pointed out to me how proud he was that his team were all veterans, all male, and all white. I was taken aback, but didn't say anything. I, like so many others, tend to hold my tongue in spite of how I seethe inside about things.
Each night as we started up from lunch, a friend from Paint would stop on his way back in from the parking lot to "mooch" a cigarette. I'd happily give him one, and a light, glad to see a familiar face and have a minute of conversation.
After a week or so, my team leader came and asked me "why I let that no good black so and so do that night after night"? I turned and looked him in the eye and said:
"I guess I should tell you that these spots on my face aren't freckles, Norman; one of my parents is black, and Eddie's my half brother!"
No one spoke to me again for about 6 months after he went around the shop with that bit of gossip...
:o)
alan
Friday, June 02, 2006
Friday...Hooray!
Why is it a 4 day week can seem longer than a 5 day one sometimes?
It really was 8 hours last night; I didn't get to bed any sooner (I should never have sat down here!) but somehow it feels better! Up early to pay some bills online, then hit the gym for the 3rd of my 3 day "split".
Dottie is off this weekend; my younger son and his family are returning from vacation, I need to mow (and, and, and) so I won't be around much 'til Monday. I keep reading other posts about spouses who don't appreciate the time spent here; mine is that way as well. She also doesn't approve of blogs, chat programs, or e-friends...lol!
You'd think as long as it wasn't "educational material"!
:o)
May you each have a lovely weekend!
alan
It really was 8 hours last night; I didn't get to bed any sooner (I should never have sat down here!) but somehow it feels better! Up early to pay some bills online, then hit the gym for the 3rd of my 3 day "split".
Dottie is off this weekend; my younger son and his family are returning from vacation, I need to mow (and, and, and) so I won't be around much 'til Monday. I keep reading other posts about spouses who don't appreciate the time spent here; mine is that way as well. She also doesn't approve of blogs, chat programs, or e-friends...lol!
You'd think as long as it wasn't "educational material"!
:o)
May you each have a lovely weekend!
alan
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Just a quick pass...
on my way to the shower and bed. Dottie's antibiotic slayed her innards, so she ended up not working on Saturday; she did go on Sunday, then had Monday for the holiday and Tuesday was her normal off day. She finally gave up and asked them to change the antibiotic on Monday and we picked it up that evening; she started on it yesterday and things are finally "slowing down". She did go to work today, so I hit the gym and started trying to make up for the days I lost last week. Tomorrow I'll go again, but have to swing by to check on my son's house (they're due back this weekend) so I need to leave even earlier to get the same amount of time in the gym.
They took my measurements for the first time in a year today. Weight 193, a year ago 258 on May 19 when I joined. Waist today, 36" at the navel, last year it was 52". They didn't have a device to measure body fat then, but today it was 25%, a year ago she said it would have been 35% or so. Still a ways to go...
They asked me to fill out a questionnaire for their "Member of the Month" (yes, my mind went straight to the gutter). Since haven't had one since January, that might be kind of neat...
Today puts us within 2 weeks of "model change" so we're supposed to only do 8 hour shifts for the next little bit (I'll believe it when I'm going out the door at 1AM). It would be nice, just a little bit of slack right now would go a long ways!
2:49, gotta go!
Thinking of each of you!
alan
They took my measurements for the first time in a year today. Weight 193, a year ago 258 on May 19 when I joined. Waist today, 36" at the navel, last year it was 52". They didn't have a device to measure body fat then, but today it was 25%, a year ago she said it would have been 35% or so. Still a ways to go...
They asked me to fill out a questionnaire for their "Member of the Month" (yes, my mind went straight to the gutter). Since haven't had one since January, that might be kind of neat...
Today puts us within 2 weeks of "model change" so we're supposed to only do 8 hour shifts for the next little bit (I'll believe it when I'm going out the door at 1AM). It would be nice, just a little bit of slack right now would go a long ways!
2:49, gotta go!
Thinking of each of you!
alan
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Photo Sunday...
brings a quandry of old, new...what to do...
Memorial Day weekend, yet I'm not in that kind of mood...
Last Monday was my oldest's 2nd anniversary. Bill waited a long time, but when he found the one, she really was the one!
Laura is a joy; that wonderful person you meet once or twice in a lifetime who 5 minutes after you meet her you wish you'd known her forever! Though it hasn't been easy for them, trying to make ends meet while he works on his Masters and she on her degree, they delight in each other in every way.
Their wedding was a gorgeous ceremony, done on a shoestring with them paying for most of it themselves. I bought my Nikon to shoot it, and helped a bit here and there; in the end her parents helped some as well. They got the outdoor ceremony they wanted, at the place they wanted and though it turned out to be the one of the hottest days that year, it was wonderful!
I started with over 400 images and started learning Photoshop "the hard way", then found that what you see isn't always what you get from your printer; more than a bit like my Dad when he learned the color darkroom all those years ago while I was off floating in the Pacific. It took months, but I finally put together an album that even Dad would have been proud of; over 100 8x10's and almost 50 5x7's. As I look at these images today for the first time in a while, it's hard not to start tinkering with them again...
I don't remember much of the day; for me it was focus and shoot, focus and shoot. When I go back through the images now, though, each brings a smile. Hopefully a couple of generations from now, they will still evoke smiles and through those smiles I'll still be a part of things even then!
So I guess in a way this ends up being a "Memorial Day" post after all; for the skills I learned shooting weddings with Dad; for the grandparents that taught me the treasure of family and handing down memories; for the generations before and the ones to come.
May you each have a wonderful holiday! May your memories glow brightly with love!
alan
Memorial Day weekend, yet I'm not in that kind of mood...
Last Monday was my oldest's 2nd anniversary. Bill waited a long time, but when he found the one, she really was the one!
Laura is a joy; that wonderful person you meet once or twice in a lifetime who 5 minutes after you meet her you wish you'd known her forever! Though it hasn't been easy for them, trying to make ends meet while he works on his Masters and she on her degree, they delight in each other in every way.
Their wedding was a gorgeous ceremony, done on a shoestring with them paying for most of it themselves. I bought my Nikon to shoot it, and helped a bit here and there; in the end her parents helped some as well. They got the outdoor ceremony they wanted, at the place they wanted and though it turned out to be the one of the hottest days that year, it was wonderful!
I started with over 400 images and started learning Photoshop "the hard way", then found that what you see isn't always what you get from your printer; more than a bit like my Dad when he learned the color darkroom all those years ago while I was off floating in the Pacific. It took months, but I finally put together an album that even Dad would have been proud of; over 100 8x10's and almost 50 5x7's. As I look at these images today for the first time in a while, it's hard not to start tinkering with them again...
I don't remember much of the day; for me it was focus and shoot, focus and shoot. When I go back through the images now, though, each brings a smile. Hopefully a couple of generations from now, they will still evoke smiles and through those smiles I'll still be a part of things even then!
So I guess in a way this ends up being a "Memorial Day" post after all; for the skills I learned shooting weddings with Dad; for the grandparents that taught me the treasure of family and handing down memories; for the generations before and the ones to come.
May you each have a wonderful holiday! May your memories glow brightly with love!
alan
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Simple and delicious!
Chicken Marsala
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup mushrooms, fresh, sliced (I was out, used a jar of Giorgio's)
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast; four 4oz pieces
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup wine, Marsala variety
1-1/4 cup canned beef broth (divided)
1-1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and saute until
tender and releasing liquid, about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken on a plate and season both sides with thyme, salt and pepper. Move mushrooms to outer edge of skillet; place chicken in center of skillet and saute until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side. (Mine took longer and several turnings.)
3. Add wine to skillet, simmer 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup of broth and simmer uncovered
until chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. While chicken cooks, dissolve cornstarch in remaing 1/2 cup of broth in a small bowl; add to skillet. Simmer until sauce thickens, stirring constantly and incorporating mushrooms into the liquid, about 1 minute.
Serve chicken with mushroom sauce spooned over the top. Yields about 3 ounces of chicken and 1/3 cup of sauce per serving.
I served it with brown rice on the side. Dottie thought the chicken was "OK" but didn't like the sauce at all. She also doesn't like brown rice. Next time I'll cook her chicken in a seperate skillet, and serve it with "Rice a Roni" chicken or a pasta salad...
We didn't end up doing a movie before I went to work today; her cold was bad enough finally she didn't sleep a lot and so we both got 2 hours extra sleep (my first 8 this week) then did most of the shopping for the week together instead of me trying to do it tomorrow. After I went to work she went to "Urgent Care" and got prescriptions for antibiotics and nasal spray.
My clock is set for 10, I'm hoping to mow, and then take my bike out to the park for a while before she comes home from work. If I get back from there early enough, I'll change the oil in my car when I get back. Dinner will be the other half of the chicken we bought at Sam's today with whatever I throw together to go with it (stuffing and a salad sounds good!).
Way too much going on in the news this week; although they'll keep appealing for years, at least Lay and Skilling were convicted once! Not so sure about the B&B show I heard Thursday night on the radio; Bush being all introspective all of a sudden really gave me the "willies". A 6.2 earthquake in Java tonight; no tsunami thank goodness, although they were talking about it affecting the volcano that had become active there lately! 450 dead the last count I saw; I can't imagine going through that! The little tremblers we got when I lived in California were just a inkling of what's possible!
Off to bed! Have a wonderful weekend all!
alan
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup mushrooms, fresh, sliced (I was out, used a jar of Giorgio's)
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast; four 4oz pieces
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup wine, Marsala variety
1-1/4 cup canned beef broth (divided)
1-1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and saute until
tender and releasing liquid, about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken on a plate and season both sides with thyme, salt and pepper. Move mushrooms to outer edge of skillet; place chicken in center of skillet and saute until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side. (Mine took longer and several turnings.)
3. Add wine to skillet, simmer 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup of broth and simmer uncovered
until chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. While chicken cooks, dissolve cornstarch in remaing 1/2 cup of broth in a small bowl; add to skillet. Simmer until sauce thickens, stirring constantly and incorporating mushrooms into the liquid, about 1 minute.
Serve chicken with mushroom sauce spooned over the top. Yields about 3 ounces of chicken and 1/3 cup of sauce per serving.
I served it with brown rice on the side. Dottie thought the chicken was "OK" but didn't like the sauce at all. She also doesn't like brown rice. Next time I'll cook her chicken in a seperate skillet, and serve it with "Rice a Roni" chicken or a pasta salad...
We didn't end up doing a movie before I went to work today; her cold was bad enough finally she didn't sleep a lot and so we both got 2 hours extra sleep (my first 8 this week) then did most of the shopping for the week together instead of me trying to do it tomorrow. After I went to work she went to "Urgent Care" and got prescriptions for antibiotics and nasal spray.
My clock is set for 10, I'm hoping to mow, and then take my bike out to the park for a while before she comes home from work. If I get back from there early enough, I'll change the oil in my car when I get back. Dinner will be the other half of the chicken we bought at Sam's today with whatever I throw together to go with it (stuffing and a salad sounds good!).
Way too much going on in the news this week; although they'll keep appealing for years, at least Lay and Skilling were convicted once! Not so sure about the B&B show I heard Thursday night on the radio; Bush being all introspective all of a sudden really gave me the "willies". A 6.2 earthquake in Java tonight; no tsunami thank goodness, although they were talking about it affecting the volcano that had become active there lately! 450 dead the last count I saw; I can't imagine going through that! The little tremblers we got when I lived in California were just a inkling of what's possible!
Off to bed! Have a wonderful weekend all!
alan
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Finally!
I finished putting my son's Neon back together late yesterday afternoon, and we ferried it to his house last night. It's much easier to put things back together when you are the one who took them apart! I let him disassemble most of it while I puttered and put things away,etc., then he got busy and then left on vacation, so I was stuck...
So today I made it to the gym for the first time this week. My back was beginning to "bug me" so that was what I worked; now I should make it through 'til Tuesday when they reopen.
Dottie's off tomorrow; we're going to try and see "X-3" and hit Sam's and Costco before I go to work. She works Saturday and Sunday, so I'm planning on mowing, riding my bike some, cooking, and watching Indy and Monaco if I'm lucky. She's off on Monday as am I, so perhaps we'll make it to another movie or two.
3:19, gotta run. Hope everyone is doing well; I'll try and catch up over the next few days. If you all only knew how many times a night you pop into my head while I'm at work...(you'd probably commit me)!
alan
So today I made it to the gym for the first time this week. My back was beginning to "bug me" so that was what I worked; now I should make it through 'til Tuesday when they reopen.
Dottie's off tomorrow; we're going to try and see "X-3" and hit Sam's and Costco before I go to work. She works Saturday and Sunday, so I'm planning on mowing, riding my bike some, cooking, and watching Indy and Monaco if I'm lucky. She's off on Monday as am I, so perhaps we'll make it to another movie or two.
3:19, gotta run. Hope everyone is doing well; I'll try and catch up over the next few days. If you all only knew how many times a night you pop into my head while I'm at work...(you'd probably commit me)!
alan
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
As Monday turns to Tuesday!
I finally found my way back here for a few minutes!
By the time we ran errands on Saturday and got home it was getting dark, we were hungry, and I decided to skip working on John's car and fix dinner and watch a movie. The chicken marsala turned out well; I loved it, she didn't. My wife has decided she wants nothing to do with anything cooked in wine, even though I fixed something else a year or so ago she thought was OK. I'll share the recipe this weekend.
My nephew's graduation went well on Sunday, in spite of Fred Phelps picketer's waving signs and shouting at the entrance to the stadium grounds. I'm glad I didn't have to explain to my grandkids what the words on the signs were! Some of the sign carriers weren't a lot older than they are.
My wife and I picked up my mother here in K.C. and took her; it's the first thing like this she's consented to attending in a very long time. It was outdoors, and the temp got close to 90. I had stuck a golf umbrella in the trunk in case it rained as we were taking her home; instead she and my wife shared it for a sunshade. Heat being one of those things that sets off MS, when we wheeled her back out of the stadium and got her to the car she was too weak to stand, but we got her back in the Malibu and once she spent some time in the air conditioning, she was fine again.
My nephew decided on his future several years ago. Not being the most academic of kids, but a "hands on" type, he decided he wanted to be a mechanic. As he went through high school he has turned out to be adept at welding and fabricating things from scratch, along with being a pretty good wrench. He spent part of his last two summers in "The Great Race" with an entry from his high school, the first year as a navigator and mechanic, last year as a driver and mechanic. He's met people who are only legends to me, Jack Roush among them.
In July he leaves to start school at Wyoming Technical Institute, one of the top mechanic's schools in the nation. If everything works out, he might be one of those lucky people who gets to do something they truly love and make money at it; I hope so!
I had planned to get here last night and write my little update and visit you all, but it was a long day and I was wiped out by the time we got Mom home, got home ourselves and got things ready for work today. My wife ended up staying home sick today; the cold she brought home from work had degenerated to where she was losing her voice and her ears were bugging her along with her throat. I spent the day putting what I could of John's Neon back together without the new timing cover, which showed up at Chrysler this afternoon just late enough I couldn't go get it before work. So I know where I will be tomorrow! Since they left for DisneyWorld this afternoon, I need to get his car back in his driveway just so it looks like someone is home! Meanwhile, their dog is here for two weeks, and Frankie has disappeared to the basement in protest, lol!
Off to bed; I need sleep before the morrow!
Thinking of you each!
alan
By the time we ran errands on Saturday and got home it was getting dark, we were hungry, and I decided to skip working on John's car and fix dinner and watch a movie. The chicken marsala turned out well; I loved it, she didn't. My wife has decided she wants nothing to do with anything cooked in wine, even though I fixed something else a year or so ago she thought was OK. I'll share the recipe this weekend.
My nephew's graduation went well on Sunday, in spite of Fred Phelps picketer's waving signs and shouting at the entrance to the stadium grounds. I'm glad I didn't have to explain to my grandkids what the words on the signs were! Some of the sign carriers weren't a lot older than they are.
My wife and I picked up my mother here in K.C. and took her; it's the first thing like this she's consented to attending in a very long time. It was outdoors, and the temp got close to 90. I had stuck a golf umbrella in the trunk in case it rained as we were taking her home; instead she and my wife shared it for a sunshade. Heat being one of those things that sets off MS, when we wheeled her back out of the stadium and got her to the car she was too weak to stand, but we got her back in the Malibu and once she spent some time in the air conditioning, she was fine again.
My nephew decided on his future several years ago. Not being the most academic of kids, but a "hands on" type, he decided he wanted to be a mechanic. As he went through high school he has turned out to be adept at welding and fabricating things from scratch, along with being a pretty good wrench. He spent part of his last two summers in "The Great Race" with an entry from his high school, the first year as a navigator and mechanic, last year as a driver and mechanic. He's met people who are only legends to me, Jack Roush among them.
In July he leaves to start school at Wyoming Technical Institute, one of the top mechanic's schools in the nation. If everything works out, he might be one of those lucky people who gets to do something they truly love and make money at it; I hope so!
I had planned to get here last night and write my little update and visit you all, but it was a long day and I was wiped out by the time we got Mom home, got home ourselves and got things ready for work today. My wife ended up staying home sick today; the cold she brought home from work had degenerated to where she was losing her voice and her ears were bugging her along with her throat. I spent the day putting what I could of John's Neon back together without the new timing cover, which showed up at Chrysler this afternoon just late enough I couldn't go get it before work. So I know where I will be tomorrow! Since they left for DisneyWorld this afternoon, I need to get his car back in his driveway just so it looks like someone is home! Meanwhile, their dog is here for two weeks, and Frankie has disappeared to the basement in protest, lol!
Off to bed; I need sleep before the morrow!
Thinking of you each!
alan
Friday, May 19, 2006
TGIF!
Though the weekend will be a whirl of activity, I'm glad the week is done!
Before work today I'm putting back together what I can of my son's Neon as we await the timing cover, due tomorrow or Monday from Chrysler. Since I won't be doing the shopping today, that waits 'til tomorrow and my wife and I will go together. I also need to pick up dress slacks and a shirt (replacing more of my wardrobe, though I hate to) because my nephew graduates high school on Sunday and at this point I have two pair of jeans and the shorts I've picked up for the summer.
Needless to say, I probably won't be here again until Monday!
Hope you each have a wonderful weekend!
alan
Before work today I'm putting back together what I can of my son's Neon as we await the timing cover, due tomorrow or Monday from Chrysler. Since I won't be doing the shopping today, that waits 'til tomorrow and my wife and I will go together. I also need to pick up dress slacks and a shirt (replacing more of my wardrobe, though I hate to) because my nephew graduates high school on Sunday and at this point I have two pair of jeans and the shorts I've picked up for the summer.
Needless to say, I probably won't be here again until Monday!
Hope you each have a wonderful weekend!
alan
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Murphy strikes again!
Got a phone call Monday; "Dad, what do you think it means when my car has a huge puddle of antifreeze under the right side. I shut it off at the toll plaza and it looks like about a 1/2 gallon of Prestone on the ground?"
My brother-in-law was meeting him there to exchange something (it's a halfway between the houses thing) and ended up bringing him home. I told him a hose or a water pump, maybe a freeze plug. At worst, a head gasket.
Got up at 8 this morning, gathered tools and hoses, clamps, etc., and rode out with him to look and see if it was major or minor while he got something he needed for work out of it. (He's one of those lucky people who can work from home sometimes when he needs to!)
I put a pressure tester on it and even in my hearing reduced state, I could hear the biggest gurgle I'd ever heard from a car. It's a '98 Neon w/119,000 on it, so there's not much seeing since it's front wheel drive, but I knew there was no fixing it there! We got it towed in to my house (the first thing the old wrecker driver said was "water pump, huh?", rolled it down the driveway, then he went home to get his manual. He ended up working a bit, and came back about 2 hours later. I spent the time cleaning up the part of the winter clutter I hadn't gotten to yet. Since it was trash day, I just started pitching stuff! They were running late today, and by the time they got here I had quite a pile for them!
Somehow I just knew it had to be the water pump, so we went and got it and the timing belt and idler pulley and fan belt; might as well replace everything you could you were taking off anyway. We got back and started tearing it down and found a crack in the plastic timing cover I didnt understand. It worried me...never having torn down a front wheel drive like this, and seeing things I don't understand a bit...hoping it wasn't something really major!
He went home to get his kids and I had to go buy a special pulley puller to get the balancer off the crankshaft, none of the old ones I had would work on this new fangled critter. We ran by the grocery on the way home.
Finally getting it torn the rest of the way down, it turned out that when the water pump died, it locked up and pitched the belt off the front of the pulley and cracked the cover; it also went cockeyed enough to make an opening bigger than my thumb for the coolant to leak through, under pressure. No major damage; the timing cover is $34 from Chrysler and will take a few days to get; all told, by the time it's back together with parts and wrecker bill he'll be out just over $100.
His wife had to go to a graduation tonight, so while we worked on his car my wife grilled burgers and brats for the grandkids and us, and when we went to pick up buns we had grabbed a French Silk Chocolate pie for dessert (the first time the youngest grandson had had that pleasure, lol). The kids all loved it, eating in the backyard just before dusk like a picnic.
Needless to say, I got in from the garage about 10 and cleaned up, we watched a bit of TV and then she went to bed; I'm headed that way now!
The Marsala is waiting until the weekend...
Back to the gym and work tomorrow!
Hopefully I'm done with Murphy for a little while, anyway! And my garage is a whole lot cleaner than it started the day!
alan
My brother-in-law was meeting him there to exchange something (it's a halfway between the houses thing) and ended up bringing him home. I told him a hose or a water pump, maybe a freeze plug. At worst, a head gasket.
Got up at 8 this morning, gathered tools and hoses, clamps, etc., and rode out with him to look and see if it was major or minor while he got something he needed for work out of it. (He's one of those lucky people who can work from home sometimes when he needs to!)
I put a pressure tester on it and even in my hearing reduced state, I could hear the biggest gurgle I'd ever heard from a car. It's a '98 Neon w/119,000 on it, so there's not much seeing since it's front wheel drive, but I knew there was no fixing it there! We got it towed in to my house (the first thing the old wrecker driver said was "water pump, huh?", rolled it down the driveway, then he went home to get his manual. He ended up working a bit, and came back about 2 hours later. I spent the time cleaning up the part of the winter clutter I hadn't gotten to yet. Since it was trash day, I just started pitching stuff! They were running late today, and by the time they got here I had quite a pile for them!
Somehow I just knew it had to be the water pump, so we went and got it and the timing belt and idler pulley and fan belt; might as well replace everything you could you were taking off anyway. We got back and started tearing it down and found a crack in the plastic timing cover I didnt understand. It worried me...never having torn down a front wheel drive like this, and seeing things I don't understand a bit...hoping it wasn't something really major!
He went home to get his kids and I had to go buy a special pulley puller to get the balancer off the crankshaft, none of the old ones I had would work on this new fangled critter. We ran by the grocery on the way home.
Finally getting it torn the rest of the way down, it turned out that when the water pump died, it locked up and pitched the belt off the front of the pulley and cracked the cover; it also went cockeyed enough to make an opening bigger than my thumb for the coolant to leak through, under pressure. No major damage; the timing cover is $34 from Chrysler and will take a few days to get; all told, by the time it's back together with parts and wrecker bill he'll be out just over $100.
His wife had to go to a graduation tonight, so while we worked on his car my wife grilled burgers and brats for the grandkids and us, and when we went to pick up buns we had grabbed a French Silk Chocolate pie for dessert (the first time the youngest grandson had had that pleasure, lol). The kids all loved it, eating in the backyard just before dusk like a picnic.
Needless to say, I got in from the garage about 10 and cleaned up, we watched a bit of TV and then she went to bed; I'm headed that way now!
The Marsala is waiting until the weekend...
Back to the gym and work tomorrow!
Hopefully I'm done with Murphy for a little while, anyway! And my garage is a whole lot cleaner than it started the day!
alan
Monday, May 15, 2006
Monday rolls around again...
Just in from the gym, a bit early so I can call my grandson and tell him Happy Birthday before I go to work, since he goes to bed before I get my lunch break.
Vacation day tomorrow; hoping to take Dottie to a movie and fix dinner after, then have a quiet evening at home.
If I get to fix the Chicken Marsala, I'll let you know whether it turns out or not on Wednesday; if she wants something else, I'll fix that instead. It's our last mid week day off together until after July, so I hope to see she enjoys it!
Hope all of you are having a good Monday!
alan
Vacation day tomorrow; hoping to take Dottie to a movie and fix dinner after, then have a quiet evening at home.
If I get to fix the Chicken Marsala, I'll let you know whether it turns out or not on Wednesday; if she wants something else, I'll fix that instead. It's our last mid week day off together until after July, so I hope to see she enjoys it!
Hope all of you are having a good Monday!
alan
Saturday, May 13, 2006
From Sly's kitchen! (and an Angel)
Saturday afternoon; Dottie's at work, so I went to the gym and got in some of the cardio (3.75 miles, 48 minutes on a treadmill; another 10 on a stairmaster, plus a light arm workout) I haven't had time for as they keep closing streets and highways around here. What used to be a 7 minute trip to work (and the gym since it's there) now runs 12-22 depending on traffic and lights! The time I used to spend on the treadmill after a couple of hours of lifting has become travel time, lol!
I had planned on making a Chicken Marsala recipe tonight, but our oldest and his wife came from Lawrence last night and spent Friday evening with her while I was at work (they used to do Sci-Fi Fridays 'til everything went into repeats) and she fixed a large roast with potatoes and gravy, so we have leftovers for tonight. Tomorrow I plan on having a steak ready for her when she comes home from work...
So my recipe for today comes from Stallone's kitchen, courtesy of his book "Sly Moves". They are a "good carb" cookie, meaning a "slow" carb instead of a fast one, so they don't "spike" insulin levels like most (triggering fat storage).
Rocky Cookies
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/8 cup brown rice flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/8 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup Quaker old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 egg (ain't that a mean trick?)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon molasses
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium-size bowl, combine wheat and rice flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar and oats. Make in indentation in the center and add egg, olive oil, water and molasses. Mix vigorously until the dough is moistened. Roll tablespoon-size balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until done. Remove cookies from oven and cool on wire rack. They should be soft and slightly chewy.
I was surprised at how much I like these. I took some extras in my lunch and the 3 or 4 people I shared one with wanted the recipe.
Not sure if I'll get something up in time for tomorrow or not; I have a lot on my plate the rest of the day. Need to brush the dog out again to try to get her ready to bathe so I can clip her for spring (and quit vacuuming her winter coat up finally), I need to mow, and I need to wash the "nectar" from the tree off my car, then be ready to go visit my Mom when Dottie comes home from work, besides filling my car and renting "The New World".
So just in case, I'm going to post one of my poor dog Angel. We cut the matts out of her winter coat about two weeks ago, and then I let some more brushing and a bath slip last weekend. If I get time I'll post how she came into our lives for tomorrow! Somehow I doubt I'll have her clipped in time to shoot and post...
alan
I had planned on making a Chicken Marsala recipe tonight, but our oldest and his wife came from Lawrence last night and spent Friday evening with her while I was at work (they used to do Sci-Fi Fridays 'til everything went into repeats) and she fixed a large roast with potatoes and gravy, so we have leftovers for tonight. Tomorrow I plan on having a steak ready for her when she comes home from work...
So my recipe for today comes from Stallone's kitchen, courtesy of his book "Sly Moves". They are a "good carb" cookie, meaning a "slow" carb instead of a fast one, so they don't "spike" insulin levels like most (triggering fat storage).
Rocky Cookies
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/8 cup brown rice flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/8 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup Quaker old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 egg (ain't that a mean trick?)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon molasses
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium-size bowl, combine wheat and rice flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar and oats. Make in indentation in the center and add egg, olive oil, water and molasses. Mix vigorously until the dough is moistened. Roll tablespoon-size balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until done. Remove cookies from oven and cool on wire rack. They should be soft and slightly chewy.
I was surprised at how much I like these. I took some extras in my lunch and the 3 or 4 people I shared one with wanted the recipe.
Not sure if I'll get something up in time for tomorrow or not; I have a lot on my plate the rest of the day. Need to brush the dog out again to try to get her ready to bathe so I can clip her for spring (and quit vacuuming her winter coat up finally), I need to mow, and I need to wash the "nectar" from the tree off my car, then be ready to go visit my Mom when Dottie comes home from work, besides filling my car and renting "The New World".
So just in case, I'm going to post one of my poor dog Angel. We cut the matts out of her winter coat about two weeks ago, and then I let some more brushing and a bath slip last weekend. If I get time I'll post how she came into our lives for tomorrow! Somehow I doubt I'll have her clipped in time to shoot and post...
alan
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Roses and that tree again!
Back in 1953, the spring after they moved in, Mom planted a climbing rose at the corner of the house. When we moved in in 1978 it wasn't doing too well, but each year it gets a bit better. It's just now starting to flower out; this photo is from 2 years ago when I first got the Nikon and hadn't learned yet about using a polarizing filter to shoot flowers, or shading them to hold all the highlights.
Yesterday when I got home from the gym the sun was finally out for the first time in a week, so I grabbed the camera and walked across the street. Hopefully this holds enough detail you can see all the flowers if you click on it for the large version.
Off to the gym, it's leg day!
alan
Yesterday when I got home from the gym the sun was finally out for the first time in a week, so I grabbed the camera and walked across the street. Hopefully this holds enough detail you can see all the flowers if you click on it for the large version.
Off to the gym, it's leg day!
alan
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Fly by...
A very quick passing here...
Tried Sunday night to post the roses part of my Sunday post, Blogger was still having none of it. I didn't start the computer last night because of the beautiful thunderstorm I drove through coming home.
I spent Monday reading and re-reading health insurance stuff as they are closing the PPO I've been in for years and I had until next week to choose between two other plans, a "traditional" and an HMO. Although the idea of paying 100% of our office visits makes my wallet ache, with the fine print that's in what I get to read of the HMO before I'm in it I just can't see giving them the option to deny or delay whatever they'd like. I went and talked to one of our benefits reps at first break last night; he said he's going through the same thing right now, and that his wife was just diagnosed with cancer, and he went with the traditional plan for those exact reasons as well.
So it's 11AM, I just booted the computer so I can go make our plan election (if I don't do it they automatically put me in traditional, but drop her!) and print a copy. Then I have an errand to run and I'm still trying to make the gym by noon as I lost yesterday!
Thank you all for such wonderful comments on my Sunday post. I "Googled" George Washington Poplar and did come up with some links that still call it that, including some pics of one at Mt. Vernon that George planted! They all do get around to the Latin name from the Wikipedia post.
I'll try posting those roses tonight and try to visit you all!
Tried parking on the street last night again as it was storming and I didn't feel like swapping cars...hope my doors aren't glued shut from the "nectar"!
alan
Tried Sunday night to post the roses part of my Sunday post, Blogger was still having none of it. I didn't start the computer last night because of the beautiful thunderstorm I drove through coming home.
I spent Monday reading and re-reading health insurance stuff as they are closing the PPO I've been in for years and I had until next week to choose between two other plans, a "traditional" and an HMO. Although the idea of paying 100% of our office visits makes my wallet ache, with the fine print that's in what I get to read of the HMO before I'm in it I just can't see giving them the option to deny or delay whatever they'd like. I went and talked to one of our benefits reps at first break last night; he said he's going through the same thing right now, and that his wife was just diagnosed with cancer, and he went with the traditional plan for those exact reasons as well.
So it's 11AM, I just booted the computer so I can go make our plan election (if I don't do it they automatically put me in traditional, but drop her!) and print a copy. Then I have an errand to run and I'm still trying to make the gym by noon as I lost yesterday!
Thank you all for such wonderful comments on my Sunday post. I "Googled" George Washington Poplar and did come up with some links that still call it that, including some pics of one at Mt. Vernon that George planted! They all do get around to the Latin name from the Wikipedia post.
I'll try posting those roses tonight and try to visit you all!
Tried parking on the street last night again as it was storming and I didn't feel like swapping cars...hope my doors aren't glued shut from the "nectar"!
alan
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Tulip trees and roses...
Blogger seems to be unhappy again; I've been trying to upload a second photo off and on for 6 hours, and I'm giving up for tonight!
Funny how I've been told my whole life my "tulip tree" is a George Washington Poplar; when I went to Wikipedia to make the link above, I find out that's wrong and it's really a magnolia!
Their photo is better than mine. This is from about two years ago; I was going to take some new ones, but too busy for my own good this week. This afternoon after the birthday party I ended up washing my older son's Neon because they parked under the tree last night (these flowers really drip sap), my Malibu that was under it for about 20 minutes this afternoon and covered, and my Chrysler that I thought was far enough down the street to be safe, but I was wrong! That was after cooking dinner, so I was rather wiped out by the time dark rolled around!
Hope everyone's weekend is lovely!
alan
Funny how I've been told my whole life my "tulip tree" is a George Washington Poplar; when I went to Wikipedia to make the link above, I find out that's wrong and it's really a magnolia!
Their photo is better than mine. This is from about two years ago; I was going to take some new ones, but too busy for my own good this week. This afternoon after the birthday party I ended up washing my older son's Neon because they parked under the tree last night (these flowers really drip sap), my Malibu that was under it for about 20 minutes this afternoon and covered, and my Chrysler that I thought was far enough down the street to be safe, but I was wrong! That was after cooking dinner, so I was rather wiped out by the time dark rolled around!
Hope everyone's weekend is lovely!
alan
Friday, May 05, 2006
Recipe Saturday early...
Since Dillon's party is early and I might not get here tonight, I'm going to put this up now!
Honey Chicken Stir-Fry
(from "The Essential Wok Cookbook")
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves 4
1 pound (500g) chicken thigh fillets (I used a pound of breast meat)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/3 cup cornflour (couldn't find it, used rice flour)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (used peanut oil)
1 green pepper, cubed
2 onions, thinly sliced*
2 carrots, cut into batons*
3.5 oz snow peas, sliced*
*I used a half a one pound bag of frozen Bird's Eye Stir Fry Mix with these and mushrooms in it and added the pepper
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons roasted almonds
1. Dip the chicken cubes into the egg white, then lightly dust with flour, shaking off any excess.
2. Heat a wok over high heat, add 1.5 tablespoons of oil and swirl to coat the sides of the wok. Add the chicken in two batches, stir-fry each for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and just cooked. Remove the chicken and drain on paper towels.
3. Reheat the wok, add 1 tablespoon of oil and stir-fry the vegetable mix and pepper for 3-4 minutes. (If you do your own, it's onion first for 3-4, then pepper and carrot for 3-4, then the peas go in last for about 2 minutes.)
4. Pour the honey into the wok and toss the vegetables in it until well coated. Add the chicken and toss until it's thoroughly coated and reheated as well. Serve immediately sprinkled with the toasted almonds. Serve with white rice.
I never thought I would be able to do something like this so easily, or have it turn out so wonderfully!
Hope you each have a wonderful weekend! Will try and put something up for Sunday...
alan
Honey Chicken Stir-Fry
(from "The Essential Wok Cookbook")
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves 4
1 pound (500g) chicken thigh fillets (I used a pound of breast meat)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/3 cup cornflour (couldn't find it, used rice flour)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (used peanut oil)
1 green pepper, cubed
2 onions, thinly sliced*
2 carrots, cut into batons*
3.5 oz snow peas, sliced*
*I used a half a one pound bag of frozen Bird's Eye Stir Fry Mix with these and mushrooms in it and added the pepper
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons roasted almonds
1. Dip the chicken cubes into the egg white, then lightly dust with flour, shaking off any excess.
2. Heat a wok over high heat, add 1.5 tablespoons of oil and swirl to coat the sides of the wok. Add the chicken in two batches, stir-fry each for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and just cooked. Remove the chicken and drain on paper towels.
3. Reheat the wok, add 1 tablespoon of oil and stir-fry the vegetable mix and pepper for 3-4 minutes. (If you do your own, it's onion first for 3-4, then pepper and carrot for 3-4, then the peas go in last for about 2 minutes.)
4. Pour the honey into the wok and toss the vegetables in it until well coated. Add the chicken and toss until it's thoroughly coated and reheated as well. Serve immediately sprinkled with the toasted almonds. Serve with white rice.
I never thought I would be able to do something like this so easily, or have it turn out so wonderfully!
Hope you each have a wonderful weekend! Will try and put something up for Sunday...
alan
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
No Superman here, lol!
Wednesday; it's 3PM again. Same schedule as Monday.
When I read Stallone's book "Sly Moves" I was shocked to read that for each year we're past 30 we lose 1/2 pound of muscle a year! Meaning that since I had done nothing to maintain what I started with (which wasn't much, I was never a jock) let alone gain, even though I wasn't eating that much more volumewise than I had since my 20's (though probably much better than the hamburger and mac and cheese days), I kept gaining and gaining, like the snowball rolling downhill.
When I went through therapy for my back, after I did my stretches and all, they let me hang around and started teaching me a bit about using their weight machines. I found that when I used their rowing machine, lat pulldowns and chest flyes, the nagging ache in the middle of my back I had thought was arthritis suddenly quit!
When I went back to work I starting going to the company gym. It has cardio, weight machines and free weights. I started doing cardio and some of the weight machines. It took 6 months before I dared try moving to the freeweights. When I started with them I couldn't bench 100 pounds, and only knew what I was reading about other lifts. Today I broke 150 for the first time.
Now I'm trying to work a 3 day "split": chest and back one day, legs another, and shoulders and arms the 3rd day. If I have any extra time I try to get at least a 1/2 hour of cardio.
I've still been slacking on the other 4 days; ideally I should be doing at least a 1/2 hour of cardio each day, plus my stretches and stuff from therapy. Instead, when my back aches a bit, I do the therapy stuff and if I get a chance to ride my bike, jump rope or something else I try to work that in, but it's hard to do all the things I should and have a life!
Speaking of life, it's 3:15 and time to shower, eat, pack my cooler and run out the door again! Storms tonight so I'm shutting down my "magic box" even though I have a battery backup that is supposed to shut it down if the lights blink; Lori ("Thoughts of Laurel") lost her computer to an electrical storm a few weeks ago. Usually I leave mine running SETI packets 24/7 when I'm not using it...
Hopefully I'll get some time to blog-hop tonight and catch up with all of you!
alan
* 2:24am- I left out a line because I was writing so fast earlier! That 1/2 pound of muscle burns calories no matter what you are or aren't doing; awake, asleep, lying on the couch...at 50 that meant I had lost 10 pounds of muscle. Somewhere there's an equation that will relate that into calories, but I don't have time to dig for it right now!
Sorry about leaving out that line!
alan
When I read Stallone's book "Sly Moves" I was shocked to read that for each year we're past 30 we lose 1/2 pound of muscle a year! Meaning that since I had done nothing to maintain what I started with (which wasn't much, I was never a jock) let alone gain, even though I wasn't eating that much more volumewise than I had since my 20's (though probably much better than the hamburger and mac and cheese days), I kept gaining and gaining, like the snowball rolling downhill.
When I went through therapy for my back, after I did my stretches and all, they let me hang around and started teaching me a bit about using their weight machines. I found that when I used their rowing machine, lat pulldowns and chest flyes, the nagging ache in the middle of my back I had thought was arthritis suddenly quit!
When I went back to work I starting going to the company gym. It has cardio, weight machines and free weights. I started doing cardio and some of the weight machines. It took 6 months before I dared try moving to the freeweights. When I started with them I couldn't bench 100 pounds, and only knew what I was reading about other lifts. Today I broke 150 for the first time.
Now I'm trying to work a 3 day "split": chest and back one day, legs another, and shoulders and arms the 3rd day. If I have any extra time I try to get at least a 1/2 hour of cardio.
I've still been slacking on the other 4 days; ideally I should be doing at least a 1/2 hour of cardio each day, plus my stretches and stuff from therapy. Instead, when my back aches a bit, I do the therapy stuff and if I get a chance to ride my bike, jump rope or something else I try to work that in, but it's hard to do all the things I should and have a life!
Speaking of life, it's 3:15 and time to shower, eat, pack my cooler and run out the door again! Storms tonight so I'm shutting down my "magic box" even though I have a battery backup that is supposed to shut it down if the lights blink; Lori ("Thoughts of Laurel") lost her computer to an electrical storm a few weeks ago. Usually I leave mine running SETI packets 24/7 when I'm not using it...
Hopefully I'll get some time to blog-hop tonight and catch up with all of you!
alan
* 2:24am- I left out a line because I was writing so fast earlier! That 1/2 pound of muscle burns calories no matter what you are or aren't doing; awake, asleep, lying on the couch...at 50 that meant I had lost 10 pounds of muscle. Somewhere there's an equation that will relate that into calories, but I don't have time to dig for it right now!
Sorry about leaving out that line!
alan
Monday, May 01, 2006
3:00PM on Monday...
just in from the gym. Up at 10:30, at the gym at 11:45, 2 hours of weights, a half hour (2.2 miles) on the treadmill, then home to shower, eat, pack my cooler and change and be out the door by 4.
Bill had too much grading and research work to do to come to dinner yesterday, so I got to try a recipe from my wok cookbook, a honey chicken stir fry that we both loved. (She said I can fix that one anytime I'd like!) I'll share it on Saturday.
Vacation day tomorrow, as she worked the weekend so she had Friday off and tomorrow. Dillon's birthday bowling party is this weekend, so tomorrow we finish birthday shopping for him. If it doesn't rain, the car will get the two new roof moldings to finish off the hail damage repairs, and if I end up with some extra daylight time maybe I can get her to go to the park with me so I can ride a bit...not going to hold my breath for that one! I need to build my legs up quite a bit before I try hitting the dirt trails!
This next Saturday was supposed to be a work one, but I asked for it off back in February. When I was in the gym (which is in the plant at work) someone came in and said Saturday was cancelled; guess I have nothing to feel guilty about, not that they'd miss me anyway!
Hope your Mondays aren't too blue; mine is a bit brighter knowing I get to play hooky tomorrow!
alan
Bill had too much grading and research work to do to come to dinner yesterday, so I got to try a recipe from my wok cookbook, a honey chicken stir fry that we both loved. (She said I can fix that one anytime I'd like!) I'll share it on Saturday.
Vacation day tomorrow, as she worked the weekend so she had Friday off and tomorrow. Dillon's birthday bowling party is this weekend, so tomorrow we finish birthday shopping for him. If it doesn't rain, the car will get the two new roof moldings to finish off the hail damage repairs, and if I end up with some extra daylight time maybe I can get her to go to the park with me so I can ride a bit...not going to hold my breath for that one! I need to build my legs up quite a bit before I try hitting the dirt trails!
This next Saturday was supposed to be a work one, but I asked for it off back in February. When I was in the gym (which is in the plant at work) someone came in and said Saturday was cancelled; guess I have nothing to feel guilty about, not that they'd miss me anyway!
Hope your Mondays aren't too blue; mine is a bit brighter knowing I get to play hooky tomorrow!
alan
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