Manic Monday

Dear Susanna,

You forewarned me. You spoke to me this morning and warned me that today would suck. Why couldn't you tell me how much. Today was indeed a Manic Monday. I did get a lot done. But you didn't have to whisper in the ears of so many others. Your song set the tone for the day. You're not to blame eternal flame, you're just the messenger. The beautiful muse that shaped my day. It wasn't your gorgeous wrapping; rather the sweet timbre of your voice. Where were you when I needed you in the mid-day. It was a gloomy day for Spring, more like a hazy shade of winter, with the overcast and cool sky.

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I'll set you free now beauty, because tomorrow I need to jam to work by the sound of a different muse. Crash and burn, this hero takes a fall.

Aki

From work I have a email buddy, having helped her out with a problem. This blog is a bit lopsided because I am combining two thoughts. One being my buddy in Australia. Being at home at the moment, I believe she is from the Sydney area (map above) and her name is Aki. I thought of her today because (second) I visited my daily puppy site and found an adorable puppy by the same name. Both Aki's are international movers. Aki the human has lived all over the globe. And Aki the puppy was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States.

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Aki the human is due an email from me. Normally I do not have continuous emails between customers at work. Aki is funny and she is a delight to correspond with. While her dilemma started out problematic, she was always kind and gracious.

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I love the picture of Aki the canine puppy. Especially the running pose with the flower in it's mouth. It's mischievous, playful and energetic. Sort of how I envision Aki the human. Yes, I think I'll email her tomorrow/Monday.

WWJD

What Would Jesus Do

Sometimes I'm a heartless Christian. I had to stop by the local WalGreens a bit ago. That would be the WalGreens on the fine road of Chamberlayne Avenue. The infamous stretch of gun-shots, prostitution and drugs. Not to mention a plethora or other comical sorts in needy dire straights.

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Park the car, get out and I'm immediately questioned "Sir, can you help me? I'm struggling, no place to live and been abused. I just needs some money for food."

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I'm not familiar with this one. But she certainly had a more needy tone about her begging. But my "out in public" not-so-nice guy and distrusting inner cynic took control and I told her that "I'm just taking care of myself today." I know, not the most sensitive thing to say.

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I'm reminded of my Spanish teacher in High School. Her name was Senorita Bianchi. She warned us about donating to the beggars on our trip to Spain. "Just keep walking and give them nothing. The beggars have more money than they let on." I'm also reminded of a study done once on the "art" of street begging. The students begged for a month and found that at the end of each day they had enough money to for their meals, a nice hotel room, clothes with money some left over.

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When I was in Georgia, I worked with a woman named Dee. She and I would often take long drives to nowhere and get lost. She always found a stray to give money to, and never batted an eye. I asked her why she did that and she said that you just never know when it's 'Jesus on Earth here to test you.' An interesting notion but, may he forgive me, I just can't think like that.

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So, inside WalGreens I told the security officer that a woman was outside begging for assistance. When I left she was gone. I went to the BK (decided not to sue them) and there she was with her BK bag of burgers talking to 2 ladies and another man having a good ole time. Not so alone and feeling abused after all.

SESQUIPEDALIAN

As if my lengthy day at work wasn't long enough, I was at work 2 hours later than I wanted to be tonight. I had found myself needing help and only a lynchburgsonian would be able to help me. But my favorite one had bailed on me 2 hours earlier. How dare she!! Search and find, I found one lone person 2 hours away (kind of ironic) still within instant messaging reach. He was online as active so I *pinged* him. Not only was he not able to help me because he doesn't have the super duper computer accesses my heroine possesses, but he was quite wordy about it. A full 1/2 hour later he was detailing how if asked the time, he would tell me how to make a watch. Now that was funny, in a "hey man, I just want my answer and leave for home" kind of way. His definition of sesquipedalian was a bit skewed and I think he rather fancies the word because of it's obnoxious quality. But by days end I was tired and worn. That word made my head explode out of laughter. I sort of like and can appreciate the word. My guess is that I will never use it again on purpose. Heck - it was hard enough to spell and find online. Even Miriam Webster didn't care for the word. But to educate:

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SESQUIPEDALIAN

1. Having many syllables

2. Giving to or characterized by the use of long words

Firefly

Well I'm not going to say a whole lot here. Jadielady introduced this to me a while back. It began somewhat backwards as I watched the movie first: Serenity. I do suggest you do the same because you will be wanting more and more. So Jadie made the mistake of telling me about the TV show: Firefly. There are 4 DVD's with the show's episodes. A watched disc 1 and 2 a while back. Disc 3 and 4, *for some reason didn't work.* I patiently went through my planned queue of Netflix movies waiting for Disc 3 to get to me. Folks, I'm a Firefly junkie and I want more. So Disc 3 is just about complete and Disc 4 will be here on Saturday. Sadly after that it will be all over. But I'm enjoying the ride. ... I'll be an official Browncoat at that point. OH YES I ARE!!!

D-TV Update

Neato!!

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Interesting that I blogged about the D-TV coupon program recently. In the mail today I received the 2 coupons I had requested. Each is for $40 toward a converter box. The coupon looks more like a Debit Card.

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There's three places currently accepting the coupon.

Radio Shack

Wal-Mart

and

Best Buy

**Expires 06/06/2008**

Monday

Geepers! I woke up this morning to the alarm just ENK-ENK-ENKing away. It had to have been doing it for some time. I know I was sleeping hard because I could feel that heavy feeling in the middle of my brain and the weight pulling my forehead down. Dog - where's the dog? Very odd, that my dog was not running to get me. Ugh, get up to turn the ENK off. Still no dog in sight. ENK off, and called the dog. He usually runs, but this morning he was dragging his tail. Gave me the first chuckle of my day - I thought, maybe he and I were sleep linked in some sort of Vulcan mind-meld that made us sleepy together. *It could happen!!*

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My first problem is that I like to stay up late. I enjoy the peace and quiet.

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My second problem is that i enjoy the early mornings as well, for the peace and quiet.

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I'm a combination of a Vampire and a Rooster... a Roopire, a Vaster, a Ampoo, a Vampster... hee hee I like that one. I've always been that way for as long as I can remember. Don't get me wrong, I do like to sleep and can power-sleep with the best of you. I have really strange dreams. Dreams that just aren't right. Dreams in vivid color to almost entire darkness. I take external sounds into my dreams and make them part of my dreams. I remember most of my dreams. Someday, I'll blog about my Bigfoot dream I had last year.

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I don't get enough sleep. I usually get about 5 hours and this article got me to thinking about how much sleep I get versus how much I need. And because I was a yawning fool all day long today. But the article asked what you do to fall asleep. I don't have trouble falling asleep. Every night I say my prayers. I always have to start my prayers a bit different so I catch all those that are important to me because the sleep monster gently lies down beside me and knocks me out right in mid-stream to dear Jesus. What do you do?

D-TV

Thomas - Thomas - Thomas, don't worry, it's still a year away. Shyeah!

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But my box is going to go black. I won't be able to see my shows I like on channel 12/NBC, channel 6/CBS, and my fuzzy channel 8/ABC. I can't get some of the other local channels because my rabbit ears just are not "bunnie" enough. *Hey wait, why are you scrunching your nose up like that?* Oh, I see, you're a cable TV snob - something like a snooty wine connoisseur. Well, fine be that way. Verizon is an available option, sure, but they won't get my business because I think they charge to much. Comcast won't get my business, much for the same reason but they also over billed me once long ago and refused to credit me. Cavalier would get my business but I am apparently 800 silly feet away from being able to be connected for going on 2 years straight now.

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I am considering Direct TV. So don't give up hope yet. But in the meantime I did sign up for the DTV converter box coupon program. If you are in the situation similar to me, you may need to consider this option provided below. So hook that bad boy up to your "box" and it will at least help you get the local channels on 02/17/2009. Even if you have cable or satellite TV, you might consider getting a DTV converter in the event the trusty cable/satellite company goes down.

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Need a DTV coupon that will only help pay for a portion of the converter box?

• http://www.dtv2009.gov/
• or call, 1-888-DTV-2009

Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)"

This song now ranks, in my opinion, as one of the most annoying songs in my lifetime. First on the list is the incessant Beatles song "I want to hold your hand," and second place goes to the Destiny's Child "Say my name."

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Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," was fine for the first run of the song. The second time I heard it I got into the lyrics. The third time, the meaning of the lyrics hit me. The irony of the song is the fun dance effect set to a fairly depressing portrayal of life and the heartbreaking turn of events of a young woman. Sorry, not sure I need that in my entertainment.

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If you know me, you know that - even given all the media hype about Michael Jackson, I am a fan. I will not change my mind on that but I may have to amend my thinking about his song titled "Money." This is distressing to me, because I love that song. I will have to meditate and ponder my dilemma. Pray for me.

A Good Friday

I had good intentions today. But I got lazy. The yard needs tending to and I had planned to take advantage of my day off. But my arms just weren't into all the raking I had planned. So here's to a day off and using it to do nothing. Absolutely nothing at all.

aaaaaAAAAAHHHHHH !!!

I had a few questions today:

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1. Why did everyone wake up late today making traffic hell?
2. Why was the carbonation on the diet coke fountain machine turned up so stinking high?
3. Why did he wear those ugly red shoes?
4. Why must she wear panties under those horrendously tight pants?
5. If you sprinkle when you tinkle, why can't you be neat and wipe the seat?
6. Did I really expect to get out from work at 5 pm?
7. Since Christianity was borne from Judaism, why aren't Jewish Holidays in the USA celebrated as national holidays too?
8. Why doesn't my dog think to scratch my back?
9. Was Jeremiah really a bull frog?
10. If tomorrow turns out to be a really bad day, is it still Good Friday?

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And if you're wondering... Yes... I thunk all those thoughts today.

Par for the course, in my world. Join me?

Kia wins

Recently I posted about my state tax return. Now is the Feds turn. Still quite happy that I bought a house and get reap a higher return. Don't get all giddy, in the scheme of things it doesn't make me rich. But it will help me pay the bills. As I was speeding along I-64 today I noticed my odometer and it was creeping close to 50,000 miles. The picture above is a very close likeness of what I drive. Sadly it's not my Mercury Mountaineer I once had, but it hauls my fanny to and fro. Anyhow, at 50,000 miles I have to get a mandatory servicing completed. I had to have one of those at 25,000 miles. Nice and expensive warranty requirement. Well over 1/3 of my return will go to pay KIA for that service. It will be timely though, right before a trip to see mother and daddy in New York and in time for my state inspection all wrapped into one big bundle of cash for KIA - goody for them. Oh, so I need some of that cash for trip. And I have some bills earmarked for the money. Not sure I'll be getting a laptop Jadielady. And I'm not sure I'll be getting a newer desktop, but I'm still thinking about it. The realization that I have that car stuff hit me before I spent like a child. But the warranty is definitely worth because I had to get a brand new transmission last summer. That would have set me back over $3,000.00. Since I kept the warranty current, KIA had to suck all that up. So it pays to sacrifice on occasion.

Main Post Office - Richmond VA

12:40pm in

1:10 pm out

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I counted today the number of people in line ahead me at the Brook Road Main Post Office. There were 8 people, making me number 9 (see I can count). A modest line for a lunch hour crowd. I figured that I would be out in no time. But I did have that sinking feeling when I noticed that there was only one person tending the line. No wait -- there was another person and that person is always there just watching from behind the counter. Sort of like a prison security guard on watch, but friendlier. I have never been able to figure out her job, because she just stands around, talks to people in line, walks back and forth, opens a random door for no apparent reason and answers a few questions. So I really can't count this person as an employee for my benefit, when I just want out as quickly as possible.

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I'm becoming increasingly concerned because the one attendant seems to delight in talking more than processing the order at hand. It's quite apparent that she is not giving any care to the line, which has grown a few more people deep, but I'm not concerned about them.

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Oh nice, another counter representative arrives and hope is looking up. Ah but then I recall that this person is the extremely pleasant and slow attendant that asks you all the questions about mailing parcel post that you never really wanted to know but really seem to must need to know. This person even goes to the depths of analysis to let you know your package is an irregular size and measures it and shows you just how irregular it is, which is no doubt going to cost more. Which also takes time to explain. Yes, I'm starting to roll my eyes, but I am vindicated when I see the other people fidgeting in line and drumming their fingers.

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You might think that I'm being silly. But I'm on my lunch break trying to take care of personal matters during BUSINESS hours. I still had another errand to complete in addition to mailing my father his Jelly Belly's for Easter. I really do believe in customer service. I just don't believe in being excessively customer service-centric (which in truth, this was still far from it). Because by the time I got up to the attendant that helped me; I was through. I plopped down my package and said "Priority mail, that will be $4.60, hop to it, I'm in a hurry thank you!" This is your opportunity to reread my short self-bio, paying particular attention to "I will show out in public." The attendant had the audacity to ask me if I wanted delivery confirmation. I said, "They're jelly beans, what do you think?" and I twirled my fingers to signify "hurry it up!"

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I'm more impressed with customer service that gets me what I want, when I want it, in a pleasant manner and out I go - to get on with life. The last time I had that kind of service like that at the post office was during the Christmas season. Lightening fast. Why you may ask? Because they had the attendant stations adequately staffed during the lunch hour. Why doesn't that philosophy translate to 365 days a year? Or, 366 for this leap year. Or stay open past 5pm so that I'm not is as much of a hurry. Trust me, the Post Master's getting an email on this one.

Daffodils

I think I'm becoming disappointed. I planted bulbs in the fall and I only see a few popping up. By a few, I mean three. And I planted about 40. Mostly Daffodils and a smattering of Tulips and Firecrackers. The Firecrackers still have time to pop up since they are late bloomers. But the Daffy's should be up by now. A friend gave me some of her daffodils and they seemed to have stressed from the replanting. So I'll be patient until next year for those. I'll have to keep you posted.

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On a good note, the Hostas seem to want to grow. I can see them breaking free of Mother earth. Those are from New York. My daddy dug them from his yard. One of them should grown monster huge. I can't wait to see it do it's thing. Big big big.

Grub Kitty

"Surreal" is one of those words I find awkward to use, and giggle when other's convey some experience they have been a part of and can't think of a more appropriate word. I will abandon all hope of trying to evoke the spirit of the word. Instead, I will help you visualize an idiotic, busy-body, nosey and potentially thieving experience I had at the Grub Kitty. Otherwise known to most people as the Food Lion grocery store.

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I had just about completed my Sunday evening ritualistic run to the store. I try to go at dinner hour to avoid the crowds. I was not even the slightest bit fortunate this evening. It was one of those - turn a corner, and ram your buggy into someone evenings. I was just about done. I wanted to take a quick spin down the dog food isle. And there she was. An elderly African American woman dressed just shy of her Sunday best. I can't really talk, cause I was in my sweatpants, t-shirt, fleece-pullover and Mets Baseball cap. *shut up, someone has to support the Mets!*. I parked my buggy out of the way. She proceeded to look into my buggy as if it were there for public inspection. Which apparently is just what she was doing. She started asking me this and that were on sale, how much it was, and where she can find the specific items.

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Now you'll have to forgive me, but at first I thought it comical. It quickly meandered into the realm of annoyingly creepy. Then she triggered my assertive, get out of my space mode. I just had to tell her to go on and find what she wanted on her own. No, I wasn't terribly pleasant about it, but she got the hint and walked away. But I wondered, what would possess someone to rifle through the grocery haul of another person. If I had had an entire buggy filled with condoms.... then I might have opened the door for a lot of questions. But I save those trips for WalMart.

The King is trying to kill me

I went to Burger King tonight to grab some grub. Placed my order via the drive-thru and proceeded forward in line. Wait Wait and Wait some more. I'm glad I wasn't in a hurry, because this fast food was ever-so not. But I thought to myself *dude seemed fairly competent and polite when he took my order, so I'm feeling pretty good about this experience* (yes I do think like that). Probably 15 minutes passed by till I was up to the window with only having 2 cars ahead of me. Dude was actually very friendly but was a new guy I had not seen before. Not that I'm a big Burger King person. I really prefer McDonald's, not really sure why since I tend to age faster in their waiting lines. I got my order and quietly went about my business to my home about a mile away. I got comfy in my warm house and settled in to have my meal. If you know me, I tend to eat then have my beverage. Just one of my quirks I suppose, of which there are many. Dinner done, took a sip of my diet coke. My eyes lit up and I immediately thought - Damn it, Dude gave me regular coke.

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That's not so bad, you might think. It is however not a good thing. I'm diabetic and I mostly drink water. But I thought, tonight I would get a diet coke. After all it's Saturday, let's throw caution to the wind. Well not that much caution. Sugar is killing me.

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So, Burger King, I ask you; where is your social responsibility to provide the specific order that your customers purchase? I order DIET coke for a reason. If you actually had DIET sprite on your menu, I would prefer that, but you only offer one diet choice (and I'm not paying you for bottled water.) How do you feel about your business providing a regular coke to a diabetic that specifically ordered DIET. I also wonder how the Coco-Cola company might feel about that. I also ponder if I can sue your butts.

Queen of the Jungle

"I mean - What the Hell?"

I went to O'Charley's with a friend this evening. I really enjoy how expressive my friend is when she's expressing herself. Now, to be clear, we tend to have conversations that border on the weird, bizarre and frankly... well, just not right. We sat in the bar area and drank respectfully. It was loud thank goodness cause we tore a hole straight through reality with some of our conversations. Thankfully no one appeared to over hear us talk about life issues and nonsense. Certainly there was no rhyme or reason to what we were discussing at times. Some moments did entail work related anecdotes that would have only made sense to us. But if you work with us, yes we were probably talking about YOU and having quite a good time. It was all good, not to worry. And I think she and I were the two best looking people in there. Which frankly, happens to me all the time. It's late, good night.

Prejudice vs. Racism

Tough love. Words hurt. Sticks and stones.

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I've often waffled on whether or not I was a Geraldine Ferraro fan over the years. I still haven't decided. But I respect her for not backing down on what she said about Barack Obama.

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Prejudice: an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.

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Racism: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

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Ms. Ferraro is being called a racist for her comments that “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

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As I read that, I can't help but think that if Ms. Ferraro is racist, then she is also sexist. I believe neither. I was brought up and educated to believe that prejudice is a belief I may have that is based on a lack of understanding, stereotypes and ignorance. To be a racist was to apply actionable energy to your prejudice. Words sometimes hurt, is that racism. I don't really think that it is. Words hurt, if you let them hurt you. There may be an emotional impact behind the words, but ownership to accept the hurt falls on the willing victim. I also don't believe that Ms. Ferraro's words were based on prejudice. It's entirely possible that she harbors some prejudices, but the content of her language begs for a deeper understanding of the motive behind her words. Seems to me, the medias have jumped off the deep end to presume her words are prejudicial and not circumstantial.

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**this ad paid for by a non-supporter of Clinton and/or Obama. And heaven forbid a combined ticket.**

Janet Jackson - SNL

I have been a Janet Jackson fan ever since she made my little sister cry. At the time, Janet was playing a physically abused child on the TV Sitcom "Good Times." I thought Janet was cute then and I think she is absolutely gorgeous now. Me and a lot of other folks, but this is about me. The others can write their own nonsense. Well, my-Janet is sick with the flu right now. I have been much anticipating her performance on this weeks Saturday Night Live show. You can well imagine that I am disappointed. I'm even more disappointed with her replacement. The brainiacs that be, have replaced Queen Janet with the ultra annoying Mariah Carey. Bleck!! I guess I'll be going to bed early this Saturday night.

VA State Tax Return

I mailed my 2007 Federal and State Tax returns the second week of February. Today I received my Virginia State return in the mail. Side note: My dog put a nice bite mark in the end of the check but I can still cash it. I'm rather thrilled when I get my state return. Yes thrilled. It is the smaller of the two checks and your thrilled Thomas? Yes, because for years I would have to pay Virginia. I never understood how I could owe the state money and still get money from the Fed's, but I'm no CPA. Well since I purchased my house, I get money back from the state and that just makes me giddy. Though Richmond City worked my last nerve jacking my house assessment by 94% (yes, that's the correct number, but I was able to fight them to reduce that figure). So anyhow, I'll put that money toward my bills and be responsible. My inner child wants to waste it on something frivolous, but I know I will be better off listening to the adult in me. Hey hey hey, the adult exists!!!

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So I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Virginia Housing Development Authority. They helped make it possible for me to be a homeowner. They have a first-time home buyers course you can take at their Belvidere Location. After completing the course, you can then qualify for certain loans that others might not be able to. If you have ever owned a house you can still qualify as a first-time homeowner if you have not had a mortgage payment in over three years (last I knew). I really encourage you to seek out their programs if you're considering buying a home. Just do it. Renting goes into someone else's pocket and you're paying them rent that you could be paying for a mortgage and you'll never see that money again. Unless you buy, you're saying 'so long' to your State tax return money. Thank you VHDA.

Air Land and Speed

Virginia State's Operation Air Land and Speed

The above operation was again in effect this past Sunday and Monday. This is when the State Police are charged with keeping the roads safe from speeders. Generally they are targeting higher than normal traffic patterns. This one coincides with Spring Break. Are you kidding me?
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I'm sure their efforts will be lauded as a job well done and rightfully so.
In comparison, it's a better tactic than the ill conceived higher penalty fine laws that were passed last year and revoked (I think) this year. But I can't help but feel that using the Air Land and Speed approach is a crutch to demonstrate that our State Police can be useful.
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I would much rather see them doing their jobs on a daily basis on I-64 and I-95.
Why don't they exercise the same determination 365 days a year?
As a matter of fact if they aren't applying this measure that often, what exactly are they doing?
"I think I can, I think I can, I think can!" The little engine that could, did.
True and steady, he kept at his job and was successful.
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But then, we are speaking of the State Police that thought Staples Mill Road was out near the Airport 10 miles away from the place my car took a bullet.
I can't expect them to use their brains.
Bitter Thomas? Just a bit.

Virginia General Assembly

I do not understand politics.

I do not understand the people that represent me/us.

There used to be a term given to politicians that represented their constituents irregardless of their own views. The word that was used was "Statesmen." Or at least that is my understanding.

All I see are selfish bickering time-wasting bodies that are in the General Assembly.

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The General Assembly has been in session since mid-January. I'm sure they have completed a lot for good. I'm also fairly certain that they have made decisions they have no business making decisions on. But what I don't understand is this, and I would like to know the answer:

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Why doesn't the General Assembly focus on the State Budget as their first item on the agenda. And until that is complete, not move onto the other items at hand?

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Your move...

Iceland

Iceland seems like an interesting place to go for a vacation. Maybe not right now, as it's February in the Northern Hemisphere. Sometime in the summer months possibly.

Anyone have any fun out of the norm information?

I'm not the adventure seeker. Just looking for relaxing, visually spectacular and historical.

Would like to hear from the locals, but certainly all are welcome to indulge.

Lychee

I had dinner at my friend Scottie's tonight with her boyfriend Lee and our mutual friend Michael. I brought the wine a fairly light Chinon, commonly known as Cabernet Franc to compliment the grilled beef and chicken. Dinner was very good and dessert was destined to be a treat. I had no clue what was for dessert, but Scottie seemed beside herself when she brought it out. Inside the bowl were clearly 2 cookies (I think she said sesame cookies) and they were really nice and pleasantly light. Deeper inside the bowl were these white gummy looking oddities. The picture shows you what I saw resting in a clear liquid. Ummmm... I'm not always the most polite person in the world but I was game to see what this was all about; hoping against hope that it might be some form of gelatin. Because I was not interested in tasting what my friend Micheal referred to their appearance as Rocky Mountain Oysters.

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Well it is a fruit grown in the state of Florida called a Lychee. So I weaseled my mind to imagine that I was going to eat grape-pears, because that is what I so very badly wanted them to be. Oh dear me, the texture was somewhat chewy and grape-like, but oooh so NOT grape like. The taste was the utter opposite of what my tongue anticipated in advance to be pear. Please understand that I like fruit, I really do. This lychee was fruit-ish, the same way a gummy bear is fruit-ish. But I think that gummy bears and sesame cookies would have sufficed.

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I have not a clue what these little suckers tasted like. They, all 5 of them, were not totally unpleasant to consume. I tasted the light sugar flavor. I tasted something else. And then I tasted something else altogther. Now, the first "something else" I do not have an accurate palatable description for you. Not pear, that's for sure. It was just a fruity "other flavor." The kicker, and deciding factor in my appreciation for Lychee was the second "something else" which was altogether icky. It was an after-taste, kinda like when you burp bologna, but not. It hit the back of my tongue, but not quite *back* enough. It sort of tasted like a subtle hint of sharp hickory smoke. Yes, that was an experience not to be repeated. But Scottie and Micheal apparently like them. Lee just giggled.

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... and the cucumber mint vodka concoction... oh hell I should just stop. We should have ended with the meat. Thank you Scottie for inviting me for dinner.

Knitting Contest

Malabrigo yarn looks wonderously thick and chunkaliciously warming. I sense you're laughing at me. Well don't - because yarn is fun to buy for friends that appreciate it as gifts. If you're into knitting you already know this fact. If you know nothing of yarn, I suggest that you drop whatever you are doing and run right over to a craft shop that has yarn. Just look at the varieties. I originally thought yarn was going to be outrageously expensive; and while some can be, you can find really good bargains. And you make a yarn aficionado giddily happy. Amazing!

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So Thomas, why are you blogging about yarn, we know your not a knitter. Ah but I like receiving knitted goodies.

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First, visit: Mariknits

You will see this blogger has an interest in knitting. She hails from Austin, Texas, USA

Even more impressive - she's a Depeche Mode fan - I'm in love already.

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Mariknits is holding a contest that my friend Jadielady.com would very much like to benefit from. Or me, because then I can gift the yarn referenced above to Jadie.

** Jadie sent me - So I send you on her behalf **

GO NOW TO: Mariknits

Time Travel

The dork in me was inspired to think about time travel this evening. And I was wondering, were it possible to time travel; where would I go? Or rather, which way would I go. Would I decide to go back in time or go forward in time. The fantastical side of me wants to venture way out into the future to see what really happens to man and woman-kind.

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It then occurred to me that I was giving into my Science Fiction inner focused geek. What I really want to see is the past. Now mind you, I'm not limiting you to one travel trip. In my time travel universe you can do it over and over again. You will travel safely and unseen; again, my time travel universe.

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With those parameters, I'd want to start at the beginning. Give me the site of the Big Bang or the molding hands of Yahweh, temporal aliens from an alternate reality planting primordial ooze all over the place. No matter, I want to see it as it all started. And you, what direction do you "really" want to travel and why? I bet I dream fun tonight.

Sen. McCain: Republican Nominee

It occurred to me while Senator McCain was announcing himself as "The" Republican candidate for President tonight on the news... well, he sounds a lot like Winnie-the-Pooh!!

Aloe Plants

Two years ago my friend mary let me take a baby shute from her aloe vera plant. It looked so cute and I had been wanting to have my own aloe plant. And plants mean a bit more when you get them from a friend. Off with my little aloe baby I went. I took it home and mothered it. Side note: Did you know that England just celebrated it's "Mothering Day." Our version of Mother's Day but in March; well this past Sunday at least. Anywho, I stopped off at Lowe's to get some potting soil (rather than go to their competition cause I despise that company). I knew nothing about planting aloe, but I do fairly well with plants, or so I thought. I just planted as came natural to me and gave no thought to what the plant needed to grow. The little sucker did nothing for along time. But I'm patient when I want to be (take careful note of that last comment). A year went by and it still was a sad little baby plant. At one point I thought surely I had killed it. But that plant has proven to be a tough fighter. The past year it started to grow. Oddly, it was in a shaded point at that time cause I was giving up on it. But the plant thought better and grew, and grew, and grew. I finally took it into some sun and it grew some more. Now it rests in a window and is growing more stalks from the soil. And it leans toward the sun, which is sorta of fun to watch it do that over time; cause I'm certainly not sitting here just watching it do that. Since it's decided to live, I think I'm going to name him. Yes, him! It's my plant and I'm giving it a male gender. I once had a Russian Snake plant that met a 2 story demise, but that's another blog too. I named that plant Vladimir Defected. So I need to come up with something fun for Mr. Aloe. Any suggestions?

Health

Breads and Cereals Group

Vegetables and Fruit Group

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese Group

Meat, Beans and Nuts Group

Fats, Oils and Sweets Group

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Basic stuff right?

You learned about this in grade school.

But as an adult it can be daunting to control.

I know, because I'm a carbohydrate freak.

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Most of the people I know do not eat a balanced diet, myself included. I know how to, I just get into a pattern of doing what I do and forget to focus. Work becomes all important and I fail to concentrate on the personal. I need or prefer fast and fast means less thinking about content. It's really not very hard to sit down and plan out your meals. But it's so much easier to pop into a drive-thru and get the quick meal. I think I need more brain-power. I'll call him "Will."

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You may want to consider calculating the following: BMI Index

Nooooooooooo !!!!!!

Limerick Contest

The Richmond Times-Dispatch Newspaper in conjunction with Dominion Virginia Power and Borders is sponsoring a Limerick contest. The contest provides 7 words, from which you must choose 2 of the words to write your limerick. You get bonus points for using more of the words. A limerick is a 5-line humorous poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme. This particular limerick contest has chosen the following words: retinue, agile, brackish, garrulous, idyllic, clamber, and patina. I like participating in things that are really outside my scope of experience. Things that I really have no business touching. But here is my current limerick on paper. Once I was finished, I realized 'gosh Thomas, kinda gloomy.' I figure my subconscious must have been leaning on the side of annoyed with a certain gender.

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Idyllic and warm the woman’s womb
Burst patina of the brackish room
Clamber, stand, agile feet
Garrulous girls make you neat
Then drag male retinue to their doom

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You'll notice I used all 7 words, so I really must have been focusing on my grind.

What do you think?

By the way, I leaped over Feb. 29th in retaliation.