Thursday, December 16, 2010

and then...

And then it is winter and the laptop hard drive died, about the same time the roof succumbed to age, as did the furnace.  All are recovered now.  Except the bank account but it isn't a fatal blow.  I'll try to add more pictures, although I'm not sure for what purpose.   Does one need a purpose?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

ribbit

Today's mystery is exactly how did the toad get into the kitchen in the first place?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

nature's bench

When I was in 9th grade our Biology Teacher gave us an assignment of finding leaves from a dozen different types of trees.  Being a serious student (history, algebra, literature, journalism) I thought it a boring project, not worth my serious time so grabbed the first ten leafs I saw and turned in a very average report.   I was very foolish for nothing - save having a certain K9 along on these treks - is more enjoyable than strolling through the woods, imagining the varous tree poses.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

local politics

I live in what is/was called "The Bible Belt" and I've never really understood what that terms means to anyone. Sometimes it seems to be used as a put down, others seem to brag about it, some use it in order to attain influence (both with those who loathe and love the term). Anyway, I do grasp that the region I live in is alleged to be one that according to your preference, "values religion" or "clings to religion". Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum to me but regardless, had to smile when I discovered the following local story.

A powerful member of the state legislature had resigned lat year after allegations of marital infidelity led to a nasty divorce. I'm pretty sure it wasn't just the affair that led to his resignation but it did play a part in it. So a special election was held and the day of the election a story came out that he had had an affair with his Mother-in-law while his wife (now ex wife) was pregnant. He confirmed the story saying something along the lines that it was not "one of the most beautiful" moments of his life. He won.

I have no idea whether he will make a good representative or not. I am upset with myself and the local "big city" paper because I had no idea there was an election until I read the story in the paper - again on the day of the election while I was unable to get back in time to vote. Still it is all a bit sad, a bit silly, and probably a bit more common place than I had once thought. DC and that non-Bible belt portion of the country have nothing on us! LOL

frustration

I called my state dept of labor recently to inquire about an ID appliction that had been submitted back in November in anticipation of a new business that would be starting up this month. We had not received a number nor any correspondence and even though the opening has been delayed until late March I was getting concerned. When I finally got through to a human she at first claimed they hadn't received it, then magically found it on her desk - it was just about to be processed - but then I made my fatal mistake. I mentioned that our first payroll would be coming up next month.
"You mean you haven't issued a payroll yet? We can't issue a number until you have issued one payroll."

Never mind that the payroll processing service needs the ID numbers and that the state applicaction form reads "When do you EXPECT to have your initial payroll"?

So, catch 22 and with a polite click of the phone back to square one on the application.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

nobody knows....

A month ago I had to have roof fixed, two weeks ago I had to have the furnace repaired, last week the car had to go into the shop. I'm seriously considering skipping my doctor's appointment today.

Monday, February 8, 2010

since last post....

Dad's back surgery seems to have gone well. He was as concerned about post surgery depression - something he dealt with after his triple bypass - as he was with any potential surgerical issues but so far so good. All the medical (and several non-medical) folks have told him that depression isn't an unusual byproduct for older men after a bypass. Something that every expert neglected to tell us before that particular surgery.

He did have a reaction to the anethesia in that it made him sick. And for the next 72 hours he would have moments where he wasn't completely clear about where he was. Or more accurately where he wasn't. Mom & I both camped out in his room the first night and we all three woke up at the same time. Mom mentioned being cold while I said the room felt warm. Dad piped up and suggested that Mom go in one guest bedroom and I go into the other one and that would solve everything. We thought he was joking at first but it quickly became clear he thought he was home. When R came to take Mom home the next evening he complained that they left without locking the basement door. He marveled the next morning that the surgeon would come by to see him and thought every nurse and hospital employee that came into the room was someone from his church & community. We were beginning to suspect the drugs might have had a permanent effect on him but by Friday he seemed to be all there. By that time my mind was mush and I could have easily been convinced I was somewhere else.

Finally got back out on the bike trail Sunday and was very dissapointed. I have been lazy since last summer and for the first time I can recall the ride never became fun. It was all work. I pedaled only half the distance I would have normally traveled and had to stop twice on the way back to rest. Made a somewhat belated New Years Resolution to hit the gym three times a week and went there tonight.

Work issue is still ongoing. In many ways I am very fortunate to have the job I do and I enjoy the work but one pesky issue arose in mid November and the owners have been slow to correct things.