Kitten Tales.
Our daughter brought home a kitten. No one really likes to hear kitten tales, but I like to tell them. He was rather small, and still is. In fact, we're not even sure he's actually a "he" it's too hard to tell yet.
Everyday he makes new discoveries. The first day he hissed at everyone, pets and people included. The next day he only hissed at the dog. The day after that he didn't hiss at anyone. He still does the Halloween cat and hissing anytime he meets a new creature.
He has discovered he can run out the door when someone is going in or out of it. He's extremely small, about the size of my shoe, so it's quite easy for him to get out. Yesterday he tested his new skills repeatedly to the point I tired of trying to catch him before he escaped into the bushes so I just avoided opening or closing the door for several hours until he forgot about this new talent.
He found out that the big orange male cat has very little patience or use for his energetic little ball of gray fluffy self. He also found that the big orange cat will bat him in the head when he tries to nuzzle in said cats belly. "I ain't your momma kid" /fwap fwap.
Tonight he was quite entertained by watching me move a pen back and forth on the desk for the sheer enjoyment of the sound it makes when it moves.
I'm enjoying this little guy (or girl). He may end up being named "Kitty!!" because as of yet we can't decide on a name.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Hell's Tentacles
My Backyard.
It was absolutely balmy today, perfect weather for yard work. I found the digging fork and set my mind on extracting the weeds that surround the patio. Eyesores!
The winter brought very little snow, the spring brought even less rain, and it's obvious we are in a serious drought here. This being a semi-arid climate already the drought is rather serious. It's not unusual, although it seems to have long since worn out its welcome this unwelcome drought! As a result, many once beautiful lawns are now mostly dead. It's just the way it is.
We always battled the weeds in the back, the front seemed to fair better somehow, we actually still have some grass there. It is a fool's errand to run the sprinkler system on a yard full of weeds, and so we are not. We're not turning it on this year. Even with a sprinkler system, if mother nature does not cooperate in the effort it's just almost impossible to keep the grass, that was never really meant for this climate, alive.
So, we are concentrating our efforts at keeping the smaller more manageable area in the front alive. This plan is working well so far, however I've mostly tried to blank out in my mind the disaster we call our back yard. It's really one of the ugliest most unmanageable yards I've ever seen, but I will get to that.
Today I decided to face the demons, and I went out found the digging fork, and set about to digging up some weeds. Sure, I could spray it all with weed killer, however that would require A LOT of chemicals, and well, it works too well. We end up with a big patch of dirt, dirt that in this dry, windy climate just blows away. Have I mentioned that our lot is 8 thousand square feet? It's a sizable yard, at one time I thought that a desirable thing, but my foolish fantasies have succumb to reality, and I have given up those childish dreams!
One word can describe my ambitions for the day, "defeated". Yes, I was.
Well, this weed has made it's way along the patio particularly, but really it's all over the yard in places, it's really the only green in the back yard sadly.
There's not much to say except, I HATE THIS YARD so very very very much. Yep, that's about it!
I did clear the weeds lining one pathway, haven't even started around the patio yet. I absolutely hate garden magazines and such, big fat liars! I can't have a yard like that, unless of course I have thousands of dollars to spend on it.
I see why people give up and dump 12 tons of rocks on their yards. The sad thing about it is in time the weeds grow in the rocks and it's ugly.
We know we can't even bother to plant grass with this lack of moisture it would die. Case in point, our neighbors that put sod down in their front yard last year, sadly it didn't survive the dry winter and spring we have had.
Oh well, no use in crying about the weather. Now, my sore muscles, yes! I tugged so hard on some of those weeds that I envisioned a China man on the other side of the world tugging back. The roots were long and thick, and a couple of them I had to give up and hack away at with a shovel. I dug down far enough I unearthed a big wad of cable, which really was not deeply buried at all just a couple inches, those lazy cable people never remove the cords, they just put new ones in, that's another store altogether. I have found countless cables in the yard some with the ends cut, just long pieces of cord. I ought to make them come bury the cords, we sure pay enough for the service I don't see why they can't clean up their mess.
This is all just the beginning, there is a rough summer of yard work ahead.
It was absolutely balmy today, perfect weather for yard work. I found the digging fork and set my mind on extracting the weeds that surround the patio. Eyesores!
The winter brought very little snow, the spring brought even less rain, and it's obvious we are in a serious drought here. This being a semi-arid climate already the drought is rather serious. It's not unusual, although it seems to have long since worn out its welcome this unwelcome drought! As a result, many once beautiful lawns are now mostly dead. It's just the way it is.
We always battled the weeds in the back, the front seemed to fair better somehow, we actually still have some grass there. It is a fool's errand to run the sprinkler system on a yard full of weeds, and so we are not. We're not turning it on this year. Even with a sprinkler system, if mother nature does not cooperate in the effort it's just almost impossible to keep the grass, that was never really meant for this climate, alive.
So, we are concentrating our efforts at keeping the smaller more manageable area in the front alive. This plan is working well so far, however I've mostly tried to blank out in my mind the disaster we call our back yard. It's really one of the ugliest most unmanageable yards I've ever seen, but I will get to that.
Today I decided to face the demons, and I went out found the digging fork, and set about to digging up some weeds. Sure, I could spray it all with weed killer, however that would require A LOT of chemicals, and well, it works too well. We end up with a big patch of dirt, dirt that in this dry, windy climate just blows away. Have I mentioned that our lot is 8 thousand square feet? It's a sizable yard, at one time I thought that a desirable thing, but my foolish fantasies have succumb to reality, and I have given up those childish dreams!
One word can describe my ambitions for the day, "defeated". Yes, I was.
Well, this weed has made it's way along the patio particularly, but really it's all over the yard in places, it's really the only green in the back yard sadly.
There's not much to say except, I HATE THIS YARD so very very very much. Yep, that's about it!
I did clear the weeds lining one pathway, haven't even started around the patio yet. I absolutely hate garden magazines and such, big fat liars! I can't have a yard like that, unless of course I have thousands of dollars to spend on it.
I see why people give up and dump 12 tons of rocks on their yards. The sad thing about it is in time the weeds grow in the rocks and it's ugly.
We know we can't even bother to plant grass with this lack of moisture it would die. Case in point, our neighbors that put sod down in their front yard last year, sadly it didn't survive the dry winter and spring we have had.
Oh well, no use in crying about the weather. Now, my sore muscles, yes! I tugged so hard on some of those weeds that I envisioned a China man on the other side of the world tugging back. The roots were long and thick, and a couple of them I had to give up and hack away at with a shovel. I dug down far enough I unearthed a big wad of cable, which really was not deeply buried at all just a couple inches, those lazy cable people never remove the cords, they just put new ones in, that's another store altogether. I have found countless cables in the yard some with the ends cut, just long pieces of cord. I ought to make them come bury the cords, we sure pay enough for the service I don't see why they can't clean up their mess.
This is all just the beginning, there is a rough summer of yard work ahead.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
This is fun
My neice told me about this site, and when I went to read it I spent probably an hour reading her posts. This is a really fun and creative blog, and I enjoyed the humor. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
A picture!
Because I like pictures...
This is my blogging assistant, as you can see we don't get much done.
I Don't Know About You But.....
I Can't Wait To Be Brazil's Biggest Customer!
Riiiiight.
Um, I can't help it, I'm quite disturbed that the President of the U.S. would go to Brazil and say such things. Here, see it with your own eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7FrK8tNKqA&feature=related
I was stunned. I realize this is "old news" but it doesn't change how I feel about it.
Riiiiight.
Um, I can't help it, I'm quite disturbed that the President of the U.S. would go to Brazil and say such things. Here, see it with your own eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7FrK8tNKqA&feature=related
I was stunned. I realize this is "old news" but it doesn't change how I feel about it.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
I Have Wanted To Say This
I guess I will!
I am a conservative, I have been one all my life. When I was 18 years old I voted in my first presidential election, I voted for Bush Sr. I have never voted Democrat. I am registered Republican, although I consider myself a conservative first, THEN a Republican.
I want to talk about gay stuff. I am not gay. I have no stake in the debate, other than being a member of a shared society with gay people. I think gays should be allowed to be open and serve our nation if they so choose it, and are qualified to do so. I think it is wrong to exclude them from the armed forces. Gay people are part of society, and I am thankful to any person that feels the call to join, train, and defend our country. I think Republicans are wrong to stand in the way of this happening.
There are already gays in the military. The argument has been presented that openly gay people would be the target of other people in the military who are uncomfortable sharing close quarters with gay people. I do not believe that a man would harm another man fighting on the same side unless he has more than a few screws loose in his head, in that case court martial would be the best method of retribution, however I believe it would be a rarity and not a norm.
The military is much more politically correct than many people might realize. Men and women work side by side in jobs that women were once excluded from, the same goes with people of different races and religious creeds. They find ways to get along, and I don't think it would be any different with gays. Of course there are people within the armed forces who do not play well with others for whatever reason, as has always been the case I suppose, those people are dealt with in one fashion or another. Not being able to get along with people is a sure way to have a short military career.
Unfortunately, there is a large number of little Caesars with far too much power in the military as well, however the chain of command is never ending if someone is brave enough to take things that far, but it is often the case that people suffer through until the next set of orders comes where they get sent to a new duty station, one that hopefully is not run by complete idiots. Such is military life. One learns quite quickly to subordinate himself to the next higher rank, that is just how it goes it's taught from the moment the recruit steps off the bus.
Despite all that, the comraderie and brotherhood in the military exists quite strongly to this day, despite the many different races, religions and cultures that are moshed in together. I've seen it with my own eyes. The military is probably far ahead of the rest of society in that regard, the unit is greater than the individual. That's how it works, much like team sports, only the team is much much larger, and from what I've seen it is working. I don't see gays being allowed to serve openly having much effect on that dynamic, especially since they are already serving anyway.....
On another note, Gays need to wake up and smell the coffee, and start asking what with the Democrat stronghold in the White House and Congress in the last 2 years, WHY hasn't the DEMS done anything for them?! I'll tell you my theory, as long as they can convince gays that the right wing stands in the way of gay rights and equality, and that the Democrats are the only hope for such things, they can continue to pander for the gay vote. The right is playing into the Dem's hands by failing to accept that homosexuality is part of society, and is not honoring the ideal that individuals should have equal opportunities, do I really need to state here that I refer to consenting adults where no coercion is involved? Well, that's why, and as long as people feel they "need" them they will continue to vote for Democrats even though they have only given lip service to gay rights up until now. They had 2 years...
I am a conservative, I have been one all my life. When I was 18 years old I voted in my first presidential election, I voted for Bush Sr. I have never voted Democrat. I am registered Republican, although I consider myself a conservative first, THEN a Republican.
I want to talk about gay stuff. I am not gay. I have no stake in the debate, other than being a member of a shared society with gay people. I think gays should be allowed to be open and serve our nation if they so choose it, and are qualified to do so. I think it is wrong to exclude them from the armed forces. Gay people are part of society, and I am thankful to any person that feels the call to join, train, and defend our country. I think Republicans are wrong to stand in the way of this happening.
There are already gays in the military. The argument has been presented that openly gay people would be the target of other people in the military who are uncomfortable sharing close quarters with gay people. I do not believe that a man would harm another man fighting on the same side unless he has more than a few screws loose in his head, in that case court martial would be the best method of retribution, however I believe it would be a rarity and not a norm.
The military is much more politically correct than many people might realize. Men and women work side by side in jobs that women were once excluded from, the same goes with people of different races and religious creeds. They find ways to get along, and I don't think it would be any different with gays. Of course there are people within the armed forces who do not play well with others for whatever reason, as has always been the case I suppose, those people are dealt with in one fashion or another. Not being able to get along with people is a sure way to have a short military career.
Unfortunately, there is a large number of little Caesars with far too much power in the military as well, however the chain of command is never ending if someone is brave enough to take things that far, but it is often the case that people suffer through until the next set of orders comes where they get sent to a new duty station, one that hopefully is not run by complete idiots. Such is military life. One learns quite quickly to subordinate himself to the next higher rank, that is just how it goes it's taught from the moment the recruit steps off the bus.
Despite all that, the comraderie and brotherhood in the military exists quite strongly to this day, despite the many different races, religions and cultures that are moshed in together. I've seen it with my own eyes. The military is probably far ahead of the rest of society in that regard, the unit is greater than the individual. That's how it works, much like team sports, only the team is much much larger, and from what I've seen it is working. I don't see gays being allowed to serve openly having much effect on that dynamic, especially since they are already serving anyway.....
On another note, Gays need to wake up and smell the coffee, and start asking what with the Democrat stronghold in the White House and Congress in the last 2 years, WHY hasn't the DEMS done anything for them?! I'll tell you my theory, as long as they can convince gays that the right wing stands in the way of gay rights and equality, and that the Democrats are the only hope for such things, they can continue to pander for the gay vote. The right is playing into the Dem's hands by failing to accept that homosexuality is part of society, and is not honoring the ideal that individuals should have equal opportunities, do I really need to state here that I refer to consenting adults where no coercion is involved? Well, that's why, and as long as people feel they "need" them they will continue to vote for Democrats even though they have only given lip service to gay rights up until now. They had 2 years...
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Just In Case You Wondering
For a couple months now I've been wondering why the hell my dishes don't come out of the dishwasher clean, they have a white milky film on them. I also recently bought a new dishwasher, and I didn't think it could possibly be failing so soon. My parents are also having the same problem at their house, my dad told me it had something to do with phosphates being removed from the dishwasher soap. Ugh. Well what he said is correct. If curious, you can read about it here and also the comments here are informative.
I may just start washing the dishes by hand, the grimy residue makes me feel like they aren't clean, and it's ruining all of my plastic cups and utensils.
I may just start washing the dishes by hand, the grimy residue makes me feel like they aren't clean, and it's ruining all of my plastic cups and utensils.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I laughed out loud
Visiting with my parents today, my dad and I got on the topic of Keith Olbermann's sudden departure from whatever it was his stinky show was called. I watched it a few times, it was utterly ridiculous so I would change almost immediately. My dad and I made some silly mockery of his name, I said, "oh I just call them Dolberman and Madcow" My dad said, "some people on the internet call her Ralph Maddow" and we laughed out loud. She's just as bad as the other was, what was his name again?
End of Silence
It's been so long since I've written anything here the whole format seems to have changed, for the better I'm sure I just don't know yet.
As per normal on this space I have no pre determined topic of discussion in mind.
I have Glenn Beck on at the moment. I am extremely appreciative of his show and the topics he discusses. It bothers me that I have met people that have never so much as watched his show, but are willing to dismiss him at best, and attack him at worst.
I'm paying attention to what's going on in the world, but I have very little desire to discuss most of it on this blog anymore. Apathy is not the word I would use to describe the situation, as I am paying close attention and do care. No, it's not apathy. It's just that there is so much that is mind numbingly frustrating that I can't stomach giving it the energy I used to. It is the vitriolic hatred that some dare to pretend is political discourse that I just can't stand anymore. Oh who am I kidding, I've damn near given up on the idea that people don't want the stuff that the shellacker in chief is peddling, they want it, and they want my family to pay for it.
Whenever I decide to venture back into the never ending vortex once known as "blogdom" the first place on my trek is that dear Francis Porretto's Eternity road. That is my one stop shop for seeing what "peeps" are saying "out there", or in any case, what people I think are worthy of reading are saying. I must say I'm very pleased with the contributors that Fran has selected to enlighten and entertain us.
So, for many months I have spent my time sitting at this ridiculous computer screen playing an online game rather than shout my unimportant thoughts and views into the wind. That's pretty much where I've been! What about you?!
As per normal on this space I have no pre determined topic of discussion in mind.
I have Glenn Beck on at the moment. I am extremely appreciative of his show and the topics he discusses. It bothers me that I have met people that have never so much as watched his show, but are willing to dismiss him at best, and attack him at worst.
I'm paying attention to what's going on in the world, but I have very little desire to discuss most of it on this blog anymore. Apathy is not the word I would use to describe the situation, as I am paying close attention and do care. No, it's not apathy. It's just that there is so much that is mind numbingly frustrating that I can't stomach giving it the energy I used to. It is the vitriolic hatred that some dare to pretend is political discourse that I just can't stand anymore. Oh who am I kidding, I've damn near given up on the idea that people don't want the stuff that the shellacker in chief is peddling, they want it, and they want my family to pay for it.
Whenever I decide to venture back into the never ending vortex once known as "blogdom" the first place on my trek is that dear Francis Porretto's Eternity road. That is my one stop shop for seeing what "peeps" are saying "out there", or in any case, what people I think are worthy of reading are saying. I must say I'm very pleased with the contributors that Fran has selected to enlighten and entertain us.
So, for many months I have spent my time sitting at this ridiculous computer screen playing an online game rather than shout my unimportant thoughts and views into the wind. That's pretty much where I've been! What about you?!
Monday, December 06, 2010
How do you spell Totalitarianism?
I remember when I was 12 years old I read the Diary of Anne Frank, it was assigned reading as I recall. The true story was moving and unforgettable. I suddenly became aware of something in human history so mind boggling it was extremely hard to forget of course. Something happened. Something led up to those horrible years in Europe.
Everytime I think of the government demanding to see our naked bodies, or to feel our private parts in order to board a plane I think is this one of those "things" that leads to even worse things?
If our private personal space is not sacred, nothing is. Will we soon be treated to these scans before we enter any public place? This is not about modesty. The argument, "well I'm not modest so I don't mind the scanner...."
Someone I love would have to be a plane ride away, and dying in order for me to fly anywhere ever again. I cannot believe people are willing to go along with this.
A Photo I found on the internet somewhere:
Thank God we have someone checking this man's prostate before he boards a plane.
Everytime I think of the government demanding to see our naked bodies, or to feel our private parts in order to board a plane I think is this one of those "things" that leads to even worse things?
If our private personal space is not sacred, nothing is. Will we soon be treated to these scans before we enter any public place? This is not about modesty. The argument, "well I'm not modest so I don't mind the scanner...."
Someone I love would have to be a plane ride away, and dying in order for me to fly anywhere ever again. I cannot believe people are willing to go along with this.
A Photo I found on the internet somewhere:
Friday, April 30, 2010
Do As I Do and Not As I Say
I Know Better Than You
Last night I was watching a show on HGTV called Selling New York. I had never seen the show before, but I thought it was interesting from the start because it was about selling high end properties in New York city, and by high end I mean places going for millions and millions of dollars. One property that was up for sale was an 11 THOUSAND foot condo going for something like 12 million dollars or some fantastic amount like that. It was an enormous condo that was designed for holding very large soirees which was one of the selling points that were being presented. It had heated wood floors! How decadent! It was a beautiful place by all means, and just amazing to see. It boasted a unique staircase that was designed my some person whose name isn't really important to me so I do not remember it.
Apparently, the current owners of the home were big wig New York city liberals, that have big parties there all the time. One major selling point was the picture of Obama standing at the foot of the very unique stair case in the home seemingly going to give a speech or something. I don't know if it was pre or post election, doesn't matter, I'd guess pre as part of campaigning/fundraising. Anyway, it doesn't matter these people are big time liberals of some importance to get a guest of Obama's caliber to visit their home.
I am not opposed to people having wealth or big houses if they can afford it, but I am opposed to the hypocrisy of the causes that the left supports. It is the same criticism that Al Gore the jet setting liberal owner of enormous mansions received for lecturing the rest of us nobodies on being green. Umm, hypocrit much?
I'm sorry, but my 1400 square foot home, that's FOURTEEN HUNDRED, not ELEVEN THOUSAND square feet... takes a heck of a lot less energy to heat and light then one of these 11 thousand feet monstrosities these fancy liberals live in. So, the next time one of these blowhards wants to whinge on about carbon footprints I'm apt to tell I would be happy to stick my carbon footprint where the sun doesn't shine.
Last night I was watching a show on HGTV called Selling New York. I had never seen the show before, but I thought it was interesting from the start because it was about selling high end properties in New York city, and by high end I mean places going for millions and millions of dollars. One property that was up for sale was an 11 THOUSAND foot condo going for something like 12 million dollars or some fantastic amount like that. It was an enormous condo that was designed for holding very large soirees which was one of the selling points that were being presented. It had heated wood floors! How decadent! It was a beautiful place by all means, and just amazing to see. It boasted a unique staircase that was designed my some person whose name isn't really important to me so I do not remember it.
Apparently, the current owners of the home were big wig New York city liberals, that have big parties there all the time. One major selling point was the picture of Obama standing at the foot of the very unique stair case in the home seemingly going to give a speech or something. I don't know if it was pre or post election, doesn't matter, I'd guess pre as part of campaigning/fundraising. Anyway, it doesn't matter these people are big time liberals of some importance to get a guest of Obama's caliber to visit their home.
I am not opposed to people having wealth or big houses if they can afford it, but I am opposed to the hypocrisy of the causes that the left supports. It is the same criticism that Al Gore the jet setting liberal owner of enormous mansions received for lecturing the rest of us nobodies on being green. Umm, hypocrit much?
I'm sorry, but my 1400 square foot home, that's FOURTEEN HUNDRED, not ELEVEN THOUSAND square feet... takes a heck of a lot less energy to heat and light then one of these 11 thousand feet monstrosities these fancy liberals live in. So, the next time one of these blowhards wants to whinge on about carbon footprints I'm apt to tell I would be happy to stick my carbon footprint where the sun doesn't shine.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
I like to imagine
Reality
I like to imagine...one day...hopefully 50 years at the very least from now when I am dead and gone, my daughter will enjoy reading this blog. Maybe even my great grand children will find something of interest here. Who knows?
I haven't been writing much here for quite some time. Mostly, the reason for my absense, has been because I have been busy playing an online game (Everquest). Hell no it's not Podunktown, on Face Space or whatever the thing is called. Yes, I admit I did make a fake Space Face name so that I could go spy on people I went to high school with. Yes I did. I logged in check out a whole bunch of people's SpaceFaces and moved the hell on with my life. Just like I did when I graduated from High School. I did not look back. I have only passing interest in it otherwise, and just like face piercing's: I Don't Get The Appeal.
This must be the point where I get dropped off at some greasy spoon truck-stop just off of the great information superhighway of life to die with my bottomless cup of coffee and boring old blog. Blogging is so 2004, but I really can't see publicly humiliating myself in any other way. Blogging is real, people spend a lot of time (some of them, I'm not one of the people I speak of) putting their thoughts, concerns and care together on their blogs. Twatter, or SpaceFace, really those are fine. I don't want anyone to feel the need to defend these things at all, I just really don't have much interest in them. They feel too joiny to me.
Actually, I am very glad for those things though, and glad that people enjoy the networking sites. So this is not a slam for that, it really is not meant to be an insult, I'm more poking fun at myself.
I like to imagine...one day...hopefully 50 years at the very least from now when I am dead and gone, my daughter will enjoy reading this blog. Maybe even my great grand children will find something of interest here. Who knows?
I haven't been writing much here for quite some time. Mostly, the reason for my absense, has been because I have been busy playing an online game (Everquest). Hell no it's not Podunktown, on Face Space or whatever the thing is called. Yes, I admit I did make a fake Space Face name so that I could go spy on people I went to high school with. Yes I did. I logged in check out a whole bunch of people's SpaceFaces and moved the hell on with my life. Just like I did when I graduated from High School. I did not look back. I have only passing interest in it otherwise, and just like face piercing's: I Don't Get The Appeal.
This must be the point where I get dropped off at some greasy spoon truck-stop just off of the great information superhighway of life to die with my bottomless cup of coffee and boring old blog. Blogging is so 2004, but I really can't see publicly humiliating myself in any other way. Blogging is real, people spend a lot of time (some of them, I'm not one of the people I speak of) putting their thoughts, concerns and care together on their blogs. Twatter, or SpaceFace, really those are fine. I don't want anyone to feel the need to defend these things at all, I just really don't have much interest in them. They feel too joiny to me.
Actually, I am very glad for those things though, and glad that people enjoy the networking sites. So this is not a slam for that, it really is not meant to be an insult, I'm more poking fun at myself.
Friday, April 02, 2010
I Don't Know
WHY?
I haven't posted in a while, and it seems like all of my formats have changed, and not for the better. BLEH. Well, I'll have to figure out how to use this again.
I haven't posted in a while, and it seems like all of my formats have changed, and not for the better. BLEH. Well, I'll have to figure out how to use this again.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Turduckhenham Day (repost)
Why Not?
Well, it was about this time last year that I heard of it for the very first time in my 35+ years of life, the thing known as Turducken. Ever since my eyes were opened to the possibilites of how many different animal carcasses can be crammed inside a turkey, I've been somewhat interested in the idea. I came up with a new one though, although I've never actually tried it, but then again, I've never tried Turducken either.
For those who are just as in the dark about the whole Turducken thing as I was, let me explain. Apparently there are people who live lives that are so incredibly decadent that not only do they eat turkey, someone came up with the idea of stuffing a turkey with a duck, but if that wasn't enough they also thought it might be clever to stuff the duck with a chicken, hence Turducken was born.
Now, that was what they told me, I can't say for sure that a Turducken is not actually some sort of hybrid breed that will soon be all the rage at Thanksgiving, maybe rivalling even the new rage, the Deep Fried Turkey, eh? How many hours in the oven it takes to actually cook the turducken all the way through is beyond me, but just say it is possible, well heck, I got to thinking, what about cooking a Turkey, Stuffed With a Duck, Stuffed With a Chicken, Stuffed with a Cornish Game Hen, Stuffed With Some Ham. We could call it Turduckhenham, it does have quite a nice ring to it don't you think? I suppose it could be deep fried, although I'm not sure how the whole thing comes together. It seems like quite a lot of bird meat to me.
Anyway, whatever you eat tommorrow I hope you enjoy it. I know I have plenty to be Thankful for, I shouldn't need just one day a year to say that out loud, but this is as good of an opportunity as any.
Enjoy.
Well, it was about this time last year that I heard of it for the very first time in my 35+ years of life, the thing known as Turducken. Ever since my eyes were opened to the possibilites of how many different animal carcasses can be crammed inside a turkey, I've been somewhat interested in the idea. I came up with a new one though, although I've never actually tried it, but then again, I've never tried Turducken either.
For those who are just as in the dark about the whole Turducken thing as I was, let me explain. Apparently there are people who live lives that are so incredibly decadent that not only do they eat turkey, someone came up with the idea of stuffing a turkey with a duck, but if that wasn't enough they also thought it might be clever to stuff the duck with a chicken, hence Turducken was born.
Now, that was what they told me, I can't say for sure that a Turducken is not actually some sort of hybrid breed that will soon be all the rage at Thanksgiving, maybe rivalling even the new rage, the Deep Fried Turkey, eh? How many hours in the oven it takes to actually cook the turducken all the way through is beyond me, but just say it is possible, well heck, I got to thinking, what about cooking a Turkey, Stuffed With a Duck, Stuffed With a Chicken, Stuffed with a Cornish Game Hen, Stuffed With Some Ham. We could call it Turduckhenham, it does have quite a nice ring to it don't you think? I suppose it could be deep fried, although I'm not sure how the whole thing comes together. It seems like quite a lot of bird meat to me.
Anyway, whatever you eat tommorrow I hope you enjoy it. I know I have plenty to be Thankful for, I shouldn't need just one day a year to say that out loud, but this is as good of an opportunity as any.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Uh
I did not plan so well.
Um, I'm sorry, announcing that I'm going to start actually posting while at the same time returning to school full-time was not the most well thought out post in the entire history of blogging. I can't handle the thing nagging away at me. I keep thinking why did I do that, and how rude of me. I'm sorry I can't really predict when I'll actually write something here. I'm so sorry. =(
Um, I'm sorry, announcing that I'm going to start actually posting while at the same time returning to school full-time was not the most well thought out post in the entire history of blogging. I can't handle the thing nagging away at me. I keep thinking why did I do that, and how rude of me. I'm sorry I can't really predict when I'll actually write something here. I'm so sorry. =(
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Rudest Customers
Grocery Store Shoppers.
When I was young I thought working in a grocery store would be a fun job, so when I got a job at the customer service desk in one a few years ago I was really excited about it. Oh was I ever wrong. It was not the pleasant customer interaction I had envisioned at all. My co-workers were often unpleasant and surly, and management were a bunch of ill breed baffoons. And the customers, my goodness, the customers, how can I say it? What a horrible lot.
Most people know that you don't mistreat the people who are handling your food, and those who don't understand this rule, well I pity you, you are a fool. At the customer service desk though, all bets are off. A day at the desk meant, selling people cigarettes, lottos, movie rentals, money orders and taking returns. One would think the people trying to return items they are displeased with would be the majority of the problem, but no, most of them were unusually polite as they should be. Most of the returners were scamming anyway, so they didn't want to draw attention to themselves in a negative light. These were the people who would bring in a quarter of a loaf of moldy bread expecting a refund, which was then taken next door the liquor store for a pint of some horrible tasting cheap liquor.
No, surprisingly, the most memorable mean customer was an old lady wearing too much rouge. This woman walked up to my desk one day asking for money orders, for "a hundred and thirty". I said, "you want a money order for a hundred and a thirty?" And it went like this:
Old lady: Scowls, "That's what I said, a hundred and thirty"
Me: "So, a money order for 100 and a money order for 30?"
Old lady: Snarls, "That's what I said, what are you some sort of idiot?"
Me: Glance at my supervisor who is observing the exchange
Old lady: Growls, "What are you looking at her for? She's an idiot too."
Supervisor: "Don't bring me into this, I'm just standing here."
Old lady: "What's wrong with her?" (points at me) "Is she stupid or something?"
Me: "Ok, so two money orders then?"
Old lady: "What an idiot!"
Supervisor: (wanders off)
That's how it went. Later that day, one of my nicer co-workers came in and I told her about the exchange with the customer, and she said, "Well, you would have to be stupid to work here."
My supervisor who seemed nice the first few days, got mean thereafter. There was a point that she treated me like a person, and then, one day, she stopped. I came in one day, and she said, "You stocked the cigarettes wrong." I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, what did I do wrong?" She showed me and then said, "And don't LET it happen again." I laughed, and said, "oh all right." and smiled, and she looked me straight in the face without even a hint of a smile and said, "I'm not joking.'' And she wasn't.
I walked past the Store Directors office one day, and overheard her speaking to one of her henchmen, err I mean managers. The conversation went like this:
Manager: "so and so called in sick"
Director: "tell him if he calls in again he could be fired"
Manager: "it's his first time"
Director: "let him know now that we don't tolerate people calling in"
Then there were the soccer moms. They came in with a gaggle of pre-teen girls, decided to skip standing in line at the check out and instead walked up to my desk and dropped about 40 pieces of candy on the counter. Our registers were sort of dated, and there was not a function to ring up multiple items at the same time. So, I started ringing them up, and the really pushy soccer mom sniffed and sighed and finally said, "What the hell? Can't you ring them up all at once?" I said, "No, we don't have that function on our register." I know because I had asked about it before these two bimbos had ever shown up at my desk. Here's how it went after that:
Snotty Soccer Mom: (rolls eyes) "Oh my God, this is ridiculous, you've got to be kidding me."
Me: "Sorry, there just isn't an @ function for several items at once"
Snotty Soccer Mom: (smirks, rolls eyes, expresses utter annoyance) "I'm sure there has to be, maybe you just don't know what you're doing!!"
Me: "Well, if you like I could call a manager and see if she can help"
Snotty Soccer Mom: (shakes head, rolls eyes) "There's got to be a faster way to do this"
Me: "One moment, let me call a manager" I'm doing that now just to piss her off, since she's so impatient, I figure she'll just love waiting on a manager.
Snotty Soccer Mom: (looks at her friend in disbelief) "This is ridiculous!"
Me: (laughing inside because every time she complains it takes longer to ring her up)
Me: (on the phone with manager) "Could you come to the desk, am having a problem with register, the customer would like to know why I can't ring up multiple items at once."
Manager: "tell her we can't do that"
Me: "could you please come and tell her, she's really mad, and doesn't believe me"
Manager: (sighs) "all right, I'll be there in a minute."
Me: (walk back over to register/customer) "A manager is coming to help you, since I apparently can't do it right" (walk away)
Snotty Soccer Mom: (looks about to blow)
Manager: (shows up about 5 minutes later)
Snotty Soccer Mom: (highly annoyed) "I can't believe this! Why can't she ring up my items at once?"
Manager: "our register cannot ring up multiple items at once ma'am"
Blah blah blah, manager makes me finish ringing her up.
Snotty Soccer Mom: (BITCH personified) "I can't believe how long this took!"
Me: (beyond caring at this point) "Would have taken a lot less time if you had just let me do it how I was doing it"
Snotty Soccer Mom: Hrrumph!
Believe it or not, every day was much more of the same. I worked at that job for 6 weeks, and finally, I called them one day and said, "Hey, I'm not coming back." I had a very strong job lead, which I later got, and I told those horrible people at that grocery store to kiss off. To this day I have not stepped back in that store, and I refuse to shop there, no matter what they have on sale. My friends and family secretly shop there behind my back, but I won't. It's the principle of the thing, I know I'm not affecting that stores sales at all, but I simply cannot bring myself to walk through those doors of unhappiness ever again.
I've worked fast food, I've worked day care, retail, and other types of places, but the grocery store was the worst as far as the customers went. The day care was awful beyond words as the management went, they were just terrible to us, but serving customers at that grocery store jaded my view of the public forever.
When I was young I thought working in a grocery store would be a fun job, so when I got a job at the customer service desk in one a few years ago I was really excited about it. Oh was I ever wrong. It was not the pleasant customer interaction I had envisioned at all. My co-workers were often unpleasant and surly, and management were a bunch of ill breed baffoons. And the customers, my goodness, the customers, how can I say it? What a horrible lot.
Most people know that you don't mistreat the people who are handling your food, and those who don't understand this rule, well I pity you, you are a fool. At the customer service desk though, all bets are off. A day at the desk meant, selling people cigarettes, lottos, movie rentals, money orders and taking returns. One would think the people trying to return items they are displeased with would be the majority of the problem, but no, most of them were unusually polite as they should be. Most of the returners were scamming anyway, so they didn't want to draw attention to themselves in a negative light. These were the people who would bring in a quarter of a loaf of moldy bread expecting a refund, which was then taken next door the liquor store for a pint of some horrible tasting cheap liquor.
No, surprisingly, the most memorable mean customer was an old lady wearing too much rouge. This woman walked up to my desk one day asking for money orders, for "a hundred and thirty". I said, "you want a money order for a hundred and a thirty?" And it went like this:
Old lady: Scowls, "That's what I said, a hundred and thirty"
Me: "So, a money order for 100 and a money order for 30?"
Old lady: Snarls, "That's what I said, what are you some sort of idiot?"
Me: Glance at my supervisor who is observing the exchange
Old lady: Growls, "What are you looking at her for? She's an idiot too."
Supervisor: "Don't bring me into this, I'm just standing here."
Old lady: "What's wrong with her?" (points at me) "Is she stupid or something?"
Me: "Ok, so two money orders then?"
Old lady: "What an idiot!"
Supervisor: (wanders off)
That's how it went. Later that day, one of my nicer co-workers came in and I told her about the exchange with the customer, and she said, "Well, you would have to be stupid to work here."
My supervisor who seemed nice the first few days, got mean thereafter. There was a point that she treated me like a person, and then, one day, she stopped. I came in one day, and she said, "You stocked the cigarettes wrong." I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, what did I do wrong?" She showed me and then said, "And don't LET it happen again." I laughed, and said, "oh all right." and smiled, and she looked me straight in the face without even a hint of a smile and said, "I'm not joking.'' And she wasn't.
I walked past the Store Directors office one day, and overheard her speaking to one of her henchmen, err I mean managers. The conversation went like this:
Manager: "so and so called in sick"
Director: "tell him if he calls in again he could be fired"
Manager: "it's his first time"
Director: "let him know now that we don't tolerate people calling in"
Then there were the soccer moms. They came in with a gaggle of pre-teen girls, decided to skip standing in line at the check out and instead walked up to my desk and dropped about 40 pieces of candy on the counter. Our registers were sort of dated, and there was not a function to ring up multiple items at the same time. So, I started ringing them up, and the really pushy soccer mom sniffed and sighed and finally said, "What the hell? Can't you ring them up all at once?" I said, "No, we don't have that function on our register." I know because I had asked about it before these two bimbos had ever shown up at my desk. Here's how it went after that:
Snotty Soccer Mom: (rolls eyes) "Oh my God, this is ridiculous, you've got to be kidding me."
Me: "Sorry, there just isn't an @ function for several items at once"
Snotty Soccer Mom: (smirks, rolls eyes, expresses utter annoyance) "I'm sure there has to be, maybe you just don't know what you're doing!!"
Me: "Well, if you like I could call a manager and see if she can help"
Snotty Soccer Mom: (shakes head, rolls eyes) "There's got to be a faster way to do this"
Me: "One moment, let me call a manager" I'm doing that now just to piss her off, since she's so impatient, I figure she'll just love waiting on a manager.
Snotty Soccer Mom: (looks at her friend in disbelief) "This is ridiculous!"
Me: (laughing inside because every time she complains it takes longer to ring her up)
Me: (on the phone with manager) "Could you come to the desk, am having a problem with register, the customer would like to know why I can't ring up multiple items at once."
Manager: "tell her we can't do that"
Me: "could you please come and tell her, she's really mad, and doesn't believe me"
Manager: (sighs) "all right, I'll be there in a minute."
Me: (walk back over to register/customer) "A manager is coming to help you, since I apparently can't do it right" (walk away)
Snotty Soccer Mom: (looks about to blow)
Manager: (shows up about 5 minutes later)
Snotty Soccer Mom: (highly annoyed) "I can't believe this! Why can't she ring up my items at once?"
Manager: "our register cannot ring up multiple items at once ma'am"
Blah blah blah, manager makes me finish ringing her up.
Snotty Soccer Mom: (BITCH personified) "I can't believe how long this took!"
Me: (beyond caring at this point) "Would have taken a lot less time if you had just let me do it how I was doing it"
Snotty Soccer Mom: Hrrumph!
Believe it or not, every day was much more of the same. I worked at that job for 6 weeks, and finally, I called them one day and said, "Hey, I'm not coming back." I had a very strong job lead, which I later got, and I told those horrible people at that grocery store to kiss off. To this day I have not stepped back in that store, and I refuse to shop there, no matter what they have on sale. My friends and family secretly shop there behind my back, but I won't. It's the principle of the thing, I know I'm not affecting that stores sales at all, but I simply cannot bring myself to walk through those doors of unhappiness ever again.
I've worked fast food, I've worked day care, retail, and other types of places, but the grocery store was the worst as far as the customers went. The day care was awful beyond words as the management went, they were just terrible to us, but serving customers at that grocery store jaded my view of the public forever.
Friday, October 09, 2009
This Crazy Thing
I Have It.
I did something that might just have me branded a nut by many standards. A few months ago, I quit my job and am now attending college full-time. It's something I have wanted to do for many years now, and there just came a point where it seemed possible.
So, I'm that student. You know, the one who always has their homework done, the type who speaks with the instructor as if we are somehow on equal footing, the kind that asks questions in class, and will even contribute to discussion. Yeah, the annoying older student that I remember just couldn't seem to fail when I was that sleepy eyed kid years ago.
Well, I don't remember things like I did when I was 18, I've noticed that for sure. However, in some subjects, the second time around seems much easier. I listen better, study longer, and take the whole thing so much more seriously than I did when I was young. However, I doubt myself constantly, and wonder what type of fool I am to go back to school at my age.
The instructors, it seems, have a love/hate relationship with non-traditional students. They seem to love that many of us require little guidance, that we do the work, and are present for class. They seem to hate that we don't shut up, that we don't slurp up their opinions like spaghetti, and that their classes are merely speed bumps for many of us.
I try not to talk too much, ask too many questions, or contribute to discussion too much. I try not to come across as a know-it-all, or to confront or disrespect the instructor even if they deserve it. I do understand that this information is new to some people, and avoid making an ass out of myself whenever possible. The way I see it is, I had my turn when I was young to be naive, clueless, and immature, and I mean no insult by that. In some ways, that is the audience the instructors are trying to reach, not the old fart know-it-alls that never shut up. They focus on the kids, and that's where it should be.
Oh I've got plenty to learn don't get me wrong, I just have to remind myself of that now and then. A couple of my classes have been quite humbling. Going back to school at just shy of 40 is humbling in itself, and my doubts, they don't ever go away. The discussion in my head is a constant battle of reassuring myself that I can do this, that it's not a fools errand, and that everything is going to work out swell. I can say this, I've experienced more happiness in each and every day of going to school, than I did doing the job I had. So, there is that, even if I'm still sort of crazy for doing this.
What's even more silly of me, posting that I was going to post, and then not doing it. I don't know when I thought I was going to post anything besides in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. I hope none of my instructors find my blog. My English teacher calls them "those dreadful blog things".
I did something that might just have me branded a nut by many standards. A few months ago, I quit my job and am now attending college full-time. It's something I have wanted to do for many years now, and there just came a point where it seemed possible.
So, I'm that student. You know, the one who always has their homework done, the type who speaks with the instructor as if we are somehow on equal footing, the kind that asks questions in class, and will even contribute to discussion. Yeah, the annoying older student that I remember just couldn't seem to fail when I was that sleepy eyed kid years ago.
Well, I don't remember things like I did when I was 18, I've noticed that for sure. However, in some subjects, the second time around seems much easier. I listen better, study longer, and take the whole thing so much more seriously than I did when I was young. However, I doubt myself constantly, and wonder what type of fool I am to go back to school at my age.
The instructors, it seems, have a love/hate relationship with non-traditional students. They seem to love that many of us require little guidance, that we do the work, and are present for class. They seem to hate that we don't shut up, that we don't slurp up their opinions like spaghetti, and that their classes are merely speed bumps for many of us.
I try not to talk too much, ask too many questions, or contribute to discussion too much. I try not to come across as a know-it-all, or to confront or disrespect the instructor even if they deserve it. I do understand that this information is new to some people, and avoid making an ass out of myself whenever possible. The way I see it is, I had my turn when I was young to be naive, clueless, and immature, and I mean no insult by that. In some ways, that is the audience the instructors are trying to reach, not the old fart know-it-alls that never shut up. They focus on the kids, and that's where it should be.
Oh I've got plenty to learn don't get me wrong, I just have to remind myself of that now and then. A couple of my classes have been quite humbling. Going back to school at just shy of 40 is humbling in itself, and my doubts, they don't ever go away. The discussion in my head is a constant battle of reassuring myself that I can do this, that it's not a fools errand, and that everything is going to work out swell. I can say this, I've experienced more happiness in each and every day of going to school, than I did doing the job I had. So, there is that, even if I'm still sort of crazy for doing this.
What's even more silly of me, posting that I was going to post, and then not doing it. I don't know when I thought I was going to post anything besides in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. I hope none of my instructors find my blog. My English teacher calls them "those dreadful blog things".
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I Did Not Lie
Will Post Soon.
I didn't lie, I really am planning on blogging. I started school again, going full-time, life does not care about my schedule. I will be back soon. At least I have a picture!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I'm Still Alive
I Did Not Quit.
I just could not think of anything to say for a really long time. It seems I have come out of my stupified state, and I am suddenly driven by some unseen force to get up in the wee hours of the morning and spend precious sleeping time yacking on the internet. Here goes...
I just could not think of anything to say for a really long time. It seems I have come out of my stupified state, and I am suddenly driven by some unseen force to get up in the wee hours of the morning and spend precious sleeping time yacking on the internet. Here goes...
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