Screwed Again

Work has screwed me again. I got a call, waking me up, of course. Long story short, I'm being moved off night shift. I'm not sure if I'll be going to days or evenings-but I don't want either. I just pray that I'll be able to stay on nights til after Christmas. Why do they always have to mess with me during the holidays?

Terrapin - Syd Barrett

Vince Guaraldi - Little Birdie -

I've always loved this song. Since I'm celebrating Thanksgiving with my folks today, I thought it was appropriate to post it! Happy Turkey Day-whenever you celebrate it!

Blogs I Read

If you scroll down the right side of my blog you'll see a list of blogs that I read. I'm not sure if anyone looks...but I decided to update the list. You'll see some new blogs and a few that are gone. Although I still follow all of them, I decided to delete those blogs that aren't updated on a regular basis from my page. I hope I haven't offended anyone-but when months go by without a post...still, I'm here when you start posting again. So stay tuned to the Blogs I Read-it may change on a fairly regular basis.

Photo Phriday - Phireplace

Arlo Guthrie/Alice's Restaurant *

Another Thanksgiving tradition. Sit back for a while and enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone a wonderful turkey day. It's just another work day for me-although I did pick up a nice herb stuffed chicken breast from Wegman's, so that'll be a nice dinner along with some cranberry sauce. I'll celebrate with my folks on my day off-and have the traditional turkey day meal then. I do have a lot for which to be thankful: a job that allows me to live a comfortable lifestyle (even though I do hate it), a home of my own (which I just successfully refinanced), 15 wonderful kids (from eldest-Harley, Seneca, Aleister, Calumet, Snickers, Aquinas, Dylan, Harrison, Napoleon, Wallace, Marlin, Grodziskie, Okocim, Zywiec, and Tyskie), great parents, wonderful friends and family and so much more. Thank you for reading my blog-have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving Song by Adam Sandler (subscribe if you like this video)

Get into the holiday spirit. This song makes me laugh-I hope you enjoy it too. Oh, I did get the rest of my outdoor lights up!

Preparations

I had thought I'd get a jump start on my holiday preparations. No one was coming to the house, so I thought I'd skip Thanksgiving this year and get a head start on Christmas. Well, Thanksgiving is 2 days away and I haven't done any decorating at all! I should finish putting the outside lights on...but I want to go to bed. Of course, it'll be too dark when I wake up. Tomorrow I'll finish-no excuses. As for the inside...sigh. And the rest? I have my cards (got them last year) and picked up Christmas stamps last week. I still need to make my list (check it twice), sign the cards and decorate the envelopes. I need to wrap presents and prepare them for shipping...and do some holiday baking...and a host of other things. Why does time have to move at warp speed?

The 5th Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues - 1969

Marilyn McCoo has an incredible voice. Thanks Mike for reminding me!

Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights...although I don't enjoy putting them up or taking them down. In fact, after last season, I left the lights in the bushes. Tonight I decided to hook everything up and see what worked. As you know, I firmly believe there is a scam and that Christmas lights basically only work 1 year. So I started looking for my timers...and couldn't find them. I found the extension cords and the outside Christmas extras, but no timers. After walking back and forth from basement garden room (where they should have been) to the garage (where they might have been) with a few steps in between (you never know where they could wind up) I finally had a thought. I looked at the outlets where I would plug them in and....there they were, still attached to the house. Sigh. I flicked switches and took a look. Actually, a good percentage of the lights came on-although the colors were definitely muted. The East side of the house is all set. The main outages were on the corner as the bushes go around the West side of the house. I picked up a few packages of lights and, although I knew I wouldn't have enough to finish, figured I'd put what I had out. Unfortunately, I discovered that I goofed on 2 of the packages and got white, instead of green cord. Hmmm. Take back to store? Nope, I was on a roll. It'll snow soon anyway. So I put up 4 strands and will get a few more this week. Closer to Thanksgiving I'll put up the outside Christmas extras-the present for the front porch, candy canes for the walkway to my back door, 2 little lit trees, and some lit poofy frond things I saw on sale and couldn't resist. Do you have your Christmas lights up?

New Glasses

I hate getting new glasses. I despise picking out frames-how can you tell what the heck you look like when you can't see?!?! Then, when you get your new glasses, you have to adjust to the new prescription. This go around was especially bad for me. I have to get used to, not only a new prescription, but having bifocals as well. Sigh. Yesterday I was continually dizzy and nauseous. Today is better, thankfully. I'm not sure how I like the frames...but at least I can see better, when I don't make myself dizzy.

Photo Phriday - 1st Snowfall

When I got out of work this morning I saw snow on the ground. It was here at home too. Our first accumulation of the season.

High Risk

I took my folks to the hospital today for Dad's surgical consult. According to the surgeon, he's high risk-"That's why you're seeing me". Due to all the mess created by the surgery in Buffalo, he may have to do in through the side to get to heart, instead of through the chest. Which makes it trickier. But he's done it before. He's done heart transplants, put in artificial ones, and more. The guy seems good...and nice too. I stayed in the waiting room, so I didn't meet him, but from what the folks said, he seems like a good guy. He said he's building a band. Dad will be his second trumpet-he put an artificial heart in another trumpet player! Dad has to go through several tests, both in Buffalo and Rochester, before the surgeon can figure out how he's going to proceed. So Dad may not have the surgery for a while. Both of my parents seemed quite pleased with the hospital. Hopefully he'll get much better care than he did in Buffalo.

Travesty

I love ballroom dancing. I love to watch professionals, and I enjoy watching ballroom competition. I was thrilled when Dancing with the Stars came to TV. However, I was not a religious viewer. Too many times I was disgusted by the voting public (as I am with most competition shows where viewers vote). Plus, I often had other things going on. This season I did watch periodically, even more that usual. Last night was the show that showed which 3 couples made it to the finals. Still amazed that Bristol Palin was still in the competition, I was shocked when, in the bottom 2 yet again, yet again, she remained. My face probably mirrored Jennifer Grey's. First, shock. Within moments, shock gave way to disgust and I shut off the TV and left for work. It is an absolute travesty that Brandy was eliminated and Bristol is in the final 3.

Why is it a travesty? Bottom line-Brandy dances very well...Bristol does not. You want more? You got it. First of all the show is Dancing with the Stars. And Bristol Palin is a star how? She got knocked up as an unwed teen and then became an activist for abstinence. OK. Is an activist a star? Maybe...what has she done as an activist? Has she written a book? Done a TV series? Does she even have a web series? Sorry, a blog, if she even has one doesn't count. I have a blog. I am not a star. With the answer to these questions a negative, the only reason people know her name is because of her famous mother...who may be famous, but isn't a star either. She, the mother, is a former governor, a losing candidate for vice presidency, and a basically a nut job working to destroy the environment. So how did Bristol Palin even get on the show? But, get on the show she did. So she danced. And she was lousy. She wasn't a performer and it showed. Yet, each week she remained in the competition-when much better dancers were eliminated...Audrina and Rick are big jump outs to me. Did she improve? Yes, she did. So did everyone else! But, the show is not "the most improved dancer". Nor is it "America's Favorite Dancer" like on So You Think You Can Dance. The winner should be the best dancer-in both technique and performance. Bristol has never been best in either category. "Oh, but she worked so hard." Yea...and so did every other contestant. I don't even want to watch the finale-my disgust is so high. But I must, because I must vote for Jennifer or Kyle. Will it even matter though? I hear there is a glitch in the system allowing people to send hundreds of votes online. Rumor has it that this method of cheating has allowed Bristol to remain on the show. Will they fix the glitch before the finale? Or will the least talented dancer actually win?

Passe

I heard on the radio today that e-mail (at least as we know it today) is passe and will be gone from the masses...like landline phones. I'm sorry I like e-mail...and I have a landline phone. "They" say e-mail is too slow. People want immediate contact. Texting and instant messaging are the way to go. I say, "No Thank You!" I don't want instant contact. While periodically it's nice to IM online-for the most part, I don't want to be bothered. Let me get to you when I want to get to you. As for phones...while Smart phones may be neat-I don't want one! I have a tracfone that I use for emergencies and the rare long distance phone call. People don't know the number...and I don't want them to know it. It's only turned on when I'm traveling and meeting up with people-and sometimes not even then.When I'm out and about, I don't want to stop to talk on the phone. I'll get back to you when I get home-so just leave a message. Yes, I still have an answering machine. Deal with it! I also write letters...on real stationery. I guess I'm just an old curmudgeon who is passe. Guess what. I can live with that!

Welcome to the Family

I'd like to introduce the newest members of my family, Grodziskie, Okocim, Tyskie, and Zywiec. 

Grodziskie & Okocim are brothers born September 11, 2010. Grodziskie is a Wheaten Burmese and Okocim is a Siamese-seal point, or possibly agouti point.
Tyskie & Zywiec are brothers born October 7 2010. They are the nephews of Aquinas, Dylan, and Harrison. (The babies mom is sister to my boys.) Tyskie is a Black Eyed White and Zywiec is a dalmation. Tyskie is tiny at only 90 grams!!!

Aren't they all so sweet?!?! Can you guess what they are named after?

Priceless

Tolls - $10.30

Gas - $70.00

Baby Ratties - Priceless

Photo Phriday - Storm Windows In

With the help of my friend, Kim, I got the storm windows in this morning. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture...and now it's dark. So....picture coming tomorrow. For now-use your imagination!

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. To all of those who have served, I thank you.

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense And Peppermints

Landscaping

The landscapers arrived. From afar, Dave was concerned that he was too late to save the arborvitae-but they looked better close up-so we're going to try to transplant. After discussing where to put them, and the 2 cherry trees (1 sweet, 1 sour), and concerns over the apple and ornamental plum I asked if he needed me for anything else. He said, nope, "go to bed". Seeing as it's past my bedtime, I will. It's nice leaving the hard labor to the professionals!

I'm Old

After my visit to my regular doctor I went to the eye doctor. I need bifocals! OMG. I'm old! Then I picked up prescriptions-including a new one for a nasty cough left over from a cold. Turn out my folks use the same thing! Auughhhh I am old! My new glasses should be ready in about 2 weeks. Then I'll need to adjust to bifocals. Ugh. Getting old sucks...but it's better than the alternative!

Got Some-Need More

I got an extra hour...but I really need an extra day. How about an extra week? I actually woke at a decent hour and went to the barn where I worked with my horse. Used some coupons (great deals) and came home. Doing lots of laundry and cleaned the Cheektowaga boys cage. It is nice to just relax....but I need to work on some crafts. I need to figure out the concept for my Thanksgiving Day cards-and make them. I also need to make some cards for a craft show and start a Christmas project that I intended to start a year ago! So, on that note, I'm going to get busy!

Time Change

Tonight we change our clocks back. I'm looking forward to gaining an hour-heaven's knows I need it! The time chance used to occur earlier-who gets to decide to change the day? For that matter, who gets to decide-hey lets change time around?

Closed

Yesterday evening I signed all the paperwork and closed on the refinancing of my home. I lowered my interest rate a great deal and now have only a 15 year mortgage! Plus, I'll be getting a check and don't have to pay my mortgage until January! As the title lady said, "Merry Christmas"!

15 Authors

So, who were my 15 authors in 15 minutes from yesterday's post?

1. William Shakespeare
2. Yukio Mishima
3. John Steinbeck
4. Lawrence Ferlinghetti
5. Madeline L'Engle
6. Douglas Adams
7. Elizabeth Peters AKA Barbara Michaels
8. Nikos Kazantzakis
9. A.A. Milne
10. Michael Bond
11. Brian Jacques
12. Edward Eager
13. Kathleen O'Neil Gear & Michael Gear
14. Tony Hillerman
15. Aimee and David Thurlo

My Own Disparity

When I lived in Texas I was a member of the Heart of Texas Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Sisters is a wonderful organization that promotes female mystery writers. The truth is that while females write many mysteries, the field is dominated by male authors who receive more press and recognition. There is a disparity and it's not pretty. I am a voracious reader and the majority of books I read are by female authors. However, I noticed a glaring disparity created by myself. Recently I was challenged to list 15 books of great importance to me. Shortly thereafter I was told to list 15 authors that have greatly influenced me in 15 minutes. I came up with my author list and while many authors are on both lists-there are differences. Here's my issue with myself-of the 15 books...only 4 were written by women. Of the 15 authors, again, only 4 were women and of those 4, 2 write with their husbands. Why aren't women featured more predominantly on my lists? Or at least closer to 50/50?

Vote!

It's election day-so go out there and vote. I did...even though they're all a bunch of crooks. Sigh. But I voted. I even used the new system. You get a paper ballot and have to fill in the circles, like the old standardized testing. Then you feed it into a machine that reads it. At first the machine wouldn't take my ballot. One volunteer suggested removing the privacy holder-that worked. My vote has been tabulated. Has yours?

Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (Live Video)