Monday, March 27, 2006
Elec-tricity, E-lec-tri-city
The Boy has gotten on an energy saving kick. Don't get me wrong, with global warming, peak oil, a 10% rate increase from our electrcity co. and all, I'm glad. He put new, super-efficient florescent bulbs in my light fixture in my office, the place I'm sitting now as I write to you Dear Reader. It's like sitting under a spotlight. Three spotlights, to be exact. Although my eye doctor and my mother would disagree, it hurts my eyes less to turn off the lights and manage with only the light from the monitor.
Watched an episode of "Big Love" just now. I almost hate to get into yet another show on HBO, but this one might carry me until Inside the NFL comes back on. I can't imagine sharing The Boy with 2 other women. Polygamy just isn't my thing. Now I might be willing to give polyandry a try. The yard would get mowed, The Boy could work in the shop all day....and I'd get taken care of too!
Watched an episode of "Big Love" just now. I almost hate to get into yet another show on HBO, but this one might carry me until Inside the NFL comes back on. I can't imagine sharing The Boy with 2 other women. Polygamy just isn't my thing. Now I might be willing to give polyandry a try. The yard would get mowed, The Boy could work in the shop all day....and I'd get taken care of too!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Italy Prep, Part I
Part one of....well, I'll venture to say, "a lot". Got the Pimsleur's Italian...I can say a few phrases so far. It's funny how my 3 years of French is popping into my head and getting in the way. I'm sure I'll be able to get around by September. And speaking of September....I've bought our tickets, so we're one step closer. We'll get to spend a little extra time hanging out and that will be GREAT.
Did a little manual labor today. The boy laughed at me. I picked up sticks and stacked some wood. His point was that HE was the one who cut down the trees in the first place. Fine. Yes, he did. I'm just trying to help and not sit inside on my butt watching TV on a nice day. I've also baked a loaf of soda bread to take over to Dave's for dinner. It should go well with our lamb stew. I'm trying to be open minded about the lamb. I've only had it once before and it was lamb chops, so I had a weird thing going on mentally. I'd see the nice red meat and part of me would think "oh, nice lovely beef" "no, idiot, it's lamb" "oh, nice lovely beef" "What the $^&#? This isn't beef?!?!?!" "no, genius, like I've been saying, it's lamb". Completely ruined the dinner for me.
There's a couple working to clear the lot across from us. Ah! How I remember those days! Carrying branches to the fire, hearing the Boy cuss his chainsaw and the rocks. Yeah, glad we finally threw in the towel and hired professional dirt/tree clearers. If they're out there this week or next weekend (and I'm sure they will be), I'll go introduce myself and take some water.
Did a little manual labor today. The boy laughed at me. I picked up sticks and stacked some wood. His point was that HE was the one who cut down the trees in the first place. Fine. Yes, he did. I'm just trying to help and not sit inside on my butt watching TV on a nice day. I've also baked a loaf of soda bread to take over to Dave's for dinner. It should go well with our lamb stew. I'm trying to be open minded about the lamb. I've only had it once before and it was lamb chops, so I had a weird thing going on mentally. I'd see the nice red meat and part of me would think "oh, nice lovely beef" "no, idiot, it's lamb" "oh, nice lovely beef"
There's a couple working to clear the lot across from us. Ah! How I remember those days! Carrying branches to the fire, hearing the Boy cuss his chainsaw and the rocks. Yeah, glad we finally threw in the towel and hired professional dirt/tree clearers. If they're out there this week or next weekend (and I'm sure they will be), I'll go introduce myself and take some water.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Illin'
No, not me, the dog. We went to Springdale this weekend and put her in the backyard as we were unpacking from the trip (she went with us--she's a good travelling dog). The Boy noticed a bit later that she had a bad tear in her skin. We're not sure how it happened, but it definitely required a trip to the vet. The vet found 3 torn spots: one that didn't require stitches, 2 that did. One (the one that The Boy noticed first) also has a drain.
Emma is totally bored with me (I stayed home with her today) and is very sleepy. I can't tell if she's in pain or not, but I do have pain meds for her. I guess we'll take a walk in a minute so that she can get outside.
Emma is totally bored with me (I stayed home with her today) and is very sleepy. I can't tell if she's in pain or not, but I do have pain meds for her. I guess we'll take a walk in a minute so that she can get outside.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Misc
I enjoy being a sports fan and sometimes I wish that DH were one too. But then, there are other days....days like today. Today, while heating up my lunch in the breakroom, I had the joy of listening to 2 men discuss various basketball players from around the state and how their school's team would fare against them. I'm glad they support their schools, really, I am. But I think I'd feel better about it if I thought for one minute they supported the academics 1/4 as much as they support the sports. I've always found it odd that people "re-live" their sports dreams through high school teams, whether or not their child is playing (of course, it's a tragedy and a conspiracy when their child ISN'T a star). But admittedly, the gentlemen discussing this are long overdue for a coffee shop. Not a coffee house and certainly not a Starbucks. No, these men need a coffee shop.
An early morning diner where they can pay $.80 for a cup of weak coffee and maybe a fried egg and toast and they can talk (about absolutely nothing) until lunch. There used to be such a place down the street from my grandparent's house. On nice days, Poppy and I would walk. He'd get a cup of coffee and buy me a glass of milk and a honey bun. I'd listen to he and the other farmers detail the season, what was and was not coming up on time, how old so and so never was much of a farmer and won't do well this year either; how this piece of ground was great for soybeans, but another farmer had the best land for cotton. Sigh.
South Dakota women, have you lost your mind? Governor signed the strictest abortion bill into law today. Virtually none allowed. Yes, I know, this is John Roberts and Samuel Alito's moments to pay back them which got them the power in the first place. Gentlemen, could you find another issue? Some of us would prefer to see abortion as a safe (and hopefully RARE), medical procedure rather than a lethal do-it-yourself project. Because that's what it will become. Outlawing abortion doesn't stop it. Any woman with enough disposable income to get herself to Canada or bribe a doctor will have hers. Anyone poor or young enough to not have that kind of spare cash may take it on herself.
Part of me is so tired of it all. Tired of signing petitions and writing letters. Tired of giving money and being outraged. Smug in my decent healthcare, neighbor who gives me samples of pills, knowledge that I could find enough money to get to Canada, Mexico or Europe. But no one should be forced to undergo a pregnancy that she cannot bear, afford or could die from. We should be handing out condoms, the pill, IUD's to every woman from menarche to menopause. Human beings have sex. The young, the poor, the middle class, the rich, the old. And none of us should have to carry to term a child we do not want simply because it doesn't fit someone else's values. Men walk away from their responsibilities toward children every single day and no one bats an eye. Why must society punish women for 2 minutes of irresponsibility by taking away her goals, her reproductive system or at worst, her life?
An early morning diner where they can pay $.80 for a cup of weak coffee and maybe a fried egg and toast and they can talk (about absolutely nothing) until lunch. There used to be such a place down the street from my grandparent's house. On nice days, Poppy and I would walk. He'd get a cup of coffee and buy me a glass of milk and a honey bun. I'd listen to he and the other farmers detail the season, what was and was not coming up on time, how old so and so never was much of a farmer and won't do well this year either; how this piece of ground was great for soybeans, but another farmer had the best land for cotton. Sigh.
South Dakota women, have you lost your mind? Governor signed the strictest abortion bill into law today. Virtually none allowed. Yes, I know, this is John Roberts and Samuel Alito's moments to pay back them which got them the power in the first place. Gentlemen, could you find another issue? Some of us would prefer to see abortion as a safe (and hopefully RARE), medical procedure rather than a lethal do-it-yourself project. Because that's what it will become. Outlawing abortion doesn't stop it. Any woman with enough disposable income to get herself to Canada or bribe a doctor will have hers. Anyone poor or young enough to not have that kind of spare cash may take it on herself.
Part of me is so tired of it all. Tired of signing petitions and writing letters. Tired of giving money and being outraged. Smug in my decent healthcare, neighbor who gives me samples of pills, knowledge that I could find enough money to get to Canada, Mexico or Europe. But no one should be forced to undergo a pregnancy that she cannot bear, afford or could die from. We should be handing out condoms, the pill, IUD's to every woman from menarche to menopause. Human beings have sex. The young, the poor, the middle class, the rich, the old. And none of us should have to carry to term a child we do not want simply because it doesn't fit someone else's values. Men walk away from their responsibilities toward children every single day and no one bats an eye. Why must society punish women for 2 minutes of irresponsibility by taking away her goals, her reproductive system or at worst, her life?
Friday, March 03, 2006
One more thing
I love Bill Maher. Love the New Rules, love the way he cuts through the crap. Yeah, if we had a nice evening of dinner and witty repartee, I'd probably make him breakfast.
I'm not sure I'd put him on the "Free Pass List", but maybe.
I'm just saying....
I'm not sure I'd put him on the "Free Pass List", but maybe.
I'm just saying....
PDA Blues
Tried out a TX and a LifeDrive after reading many many reviews. Could see the points in some of them. Neither really did much for me. The LifeDrive does have a delay in accessing the hard drive--no doubt about that. The TX is light enough to feel "flimsy". Talked to a person who has a LifeDrive and he's not thrilled about it.
Was ill this week and that sucked. A combination of sinuses, weird weather and being tired. I have to say, The Boy did a nice job of taking care of me. Pizza, ice cream and tea. So therapeutic.
Thought quite a bit about a friend who died last year today. His birthday would be Wednesday if he were still with us. I still have him in my email address book and his birthday is still marked on my calendar. He was probably one of the best people I've known. Feels cheesy to phrase it that way, but he was very good without being smarmy. Anyway, miss you Bill.
Was ill this week and that sucked. A combination of sinuses, weird weather and being tired. I have to say, The Boy did a nice job of taking care of me. Pizza, ice cream and tea. So therapeutic.
Thought quite a bit about a friend who died last year today. His birthday would be Wednesday if he were still with us. I still have him in my email address book and his birthday is still marked on my calendar. He was probably one of the best people I've known. Feels cheesy to phrase it that way, but he was very good without being smarmy. Anyway, miss you Bill.
