2/28/2014
For the zillions of people who are going to watch the Oscars on Sunday (most of the watchers being women), the hype has already begun. Who's going to wear haute couture, vintage, or something from a barely known designer?
Who's going to wear a dress that will need glue or tape to keep "the girls" covered or semi-covered? Or perhaps some tape to keep the backside from sliding down too far. And because I'm curious, some of the dresses are so tight that don't know they sit down! I love watching the Oscars particularly because I like to see what the stars have chosen to wear to the awards ceremony. And who chooses which stars get interviewed while on the red carpet? Maybe the only requirement for being interviewed on the red carpet is how well known they are. Or perhaps it comes down to how beautiful or ridiculous the gown the star has chosen to wear will get them a brief interview on television.
Is it possible for a star to avoid the red carpet and just go inside and find their seat? Or do they actually (ya think) the spotlight? They are stars after all and definitely know how to work the camera, it's their day job.
So on Oscar night I become a sofa critic as all the stars parade their gowns and give a mental thumbs up or down on their selection. Sometimes I wonder how women who have lots of money, and lots of connections, wear what they do. Occasionally, a dress is do dreadful that I think they would have been better off buying something of the rack. Just my opinion of course.
I'm going to record the ceremony on my Tivo so that I can fast forward through commercials I can already tell you what will be on the front page of the Style section in the newspaper on Monday - actresses, gowns and somebody who knows fashion (or at least they think so) offering up their opinion. I'll have my own opinion but will keep them to myself.
P
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Year's Best Bathrooms!
2/26/2014
Trust me people I'm not kidding about the "best" bathrooms. The National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA") actually have an annual competition for bathrooms. After looking at the nine finalist bathrooms, they are all gorgeous. Probably too beautiful to actually be used! You won't find any old generic toilets, showers and sinks. There is only one bathroom that has white products, but even that bathroom doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before. And for sure these bathrooms, even the white one, doesn't resemble anything I have in the house! Several years ago we updated our master bathroom. We now have decorative tile and a glass shower door. The improvements were nothing fancy in the big scheme of things, but it moved us away from builder's white tile everywhere!
So I went out to my favorite source for information - the internet. There is a company that is selling a copper vessel sink for the bathroom for only $5,295. The copper bathtub is a mere $45,000. Can you imagine paying more for a sink than most people do for a car. Seems a bit over the top to me. I'm not positive but pretty sure that copper requires special cleaning. After doing some more research yes copper tubs do require special care. It is recommended that you dry the tub after use and that periodically you wax the tub for extra protection. That sounds like way too much work to me.
Now if you spend $45,000 for a tub for the master bedroom, then I would want to move the bathroom to the first floor. What good is a fancy dancy tub if nobody but you and hubby ever get to see it.
I'm not a cheap buyer, I'm a prudent buyer. I don't "need" fancy kitchen and/or bathroom fixtures and if money was no object, then I would be more open to spending more money, but not ridiculous amounts, on fancier fixtures. A basic bathroom faucet does exactly the same thing as a high end one does - delivers hot and cold water!
Copper toilet lined with pennies!
A copper toilet and/or sink should be put someplace in the house where folks can see them. For the price you would have to spend to own one or both of these, I think that you would want to show them off just as much as you would the bathtub!
So don't all of you stampede down to the local bathroom store (if there is such a thing) and rush to replace the old stuff. The good thing about copper sinks and toilets is that once you get tired of them, you will likely be able to get a good return on your money.
P
Trust me people I'm not kidding about the "best" bathrooms. The National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA") actually have an annual competition for bathrooms. After looking at the nine finalist bathrooms, they are all gorgeous. Probably too beautiful to actually be used! You won't find any old generic toilets, showers and sinks. There is only one bathroom that has white products, but even that bathroom doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before. And for sure these bathrooms, even the white one, doesn't resemble anything I have in the house! Several years ago we updated our master bathroom. We now have decorative tile and a glass shower door. The improvements were nothing fancy in the big scheme of things, but it moved us away from builder's white tile everywhere!
So I went out to my favorite source for information - the internet. There is a company that is selling a copper vessel sink for the bathroom for only $5,295. The copper bathtub is a mere $45,000. Can you imagine paying more for a sink than most people do for a car. Seems a bit over the top to me. I'm not positive but pretty sure that copper requires special cleaning. After doing some more research yes copper tubs do require special care. It is recommended that you dry the tub after use and that periodically you wax the tub for extra protection. That sounds like way too much work to me.
Now if you spend $45,000 for a tub for the master bedroom, then I would want to move the bathroom to the first floor. What good is a fancy dancy tub if nobody but you and hubby ever get to see it.
I'm not a cheap buyer, I'm a prudent buyer. I don't "need" fancy kitchen and/or bathroom fixtures and if money was no object, then I would be more open to spending more money, but not ridiculous amounts, on fancier fixtures. A basic bathroom faucet does exactly the same thing as a high end one does - delivers hot and cold water!
Copper toilet lined with pennies!
A copper toilet and/or sink should be put someplace in the house where folks can see them. For the price you would have to spend to own one or both of these, I think that you would want to show them off just as much as you would the bathtub!
So don't all of you stampede down to the local bathroom store (if there is such a thing) and rush to replace the old stuff. The good thing about copper sinks and toilets is that once you get tired of them, you will likely be able to get a good return on your money.
P
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Selling Stuff
2/25/2014
I don't know about your house, but inside my house there is lots of stuff! Jeff and I are hampered by memories which makes it nearly impossible for us to sell or give away our treasures. For instance I have a heart shaped piece of polished wood that my Dad made during the war. It doesn't take up much sense and I know I'll never part with it. Why? It belonged to Dad which is enough of a reason for me.
I have several ceramic bowls and vases that were made by the boys along time ago. Keeping them? You bet. I'm very sentimental and while I haven't seen the boys' art projects in years, believe they are stored in a trunk in the basement.
As far as anything Benjamin has ever made for me, it's inside my hope chest, which is getting kind of full! I have even saved a pair of Benjamin's baby socks. I'm keeping them simply because they remind me of how small he used to be. I have lots of photo albums which is where pictures were kept in the "old days". Now all pictures are digital and "pixels" (or whatever they're called) of data take up very little space.
I have all of Dad's slides most of which were taken while he was stationed in France. As kids, we loved it when Dad took the projector and screen out. We loved looking at pictures from our past and Dad was a pretty good photographer. When we went to Holland for the Tulip Festival, there was a float parade. All the float were made from flowers (lots of tulips) and there was at least one or two beautiful women on the float. Apparently, at some point in taking pictures, Dad started concentrating on the women and less on the flowers! Mother got him back on track.
I have a beautiful rhinestone and sapphire necklace that belonged to my Mother. I think I've only worn it once or twice, but I'm not willing to part with it.
Then there is my Dad's British stamp collection, which Jeff funded for Dad, so that he could continue to mount stamps without any expense on his part. It was nice of Jeff to give Dad what turned out to be years of pleasure. Now I have the stamps and don't feel sentimental about them. I'm intending to sell them and will accept whatever price I'm offered. I know that the boys will not want to deal with selling the stamps (all mint) at some date in the future.
Benjamin will be six in April and is no longer a little boy. I've listed some of this things, like his play kitchen, on Craigslist and hope that somebody offers to buy his toys. I know I will never have another grandchild and Benjamin is spending less time at our house, so it makes sense to me to try and sell these things so another little boy/girl can enjoy them as much as he once did. I listed the toys at very fair prices in hopes of selling everything quickly. Time doesn't standstill and I know that Benjamin is not a little boy now - he's a big boy - and will want us to have different kinds of toys here when he visits.
P
I don't know about your house, but inside my house there is lots of stuff! Jeff and I are hampered by memories which makes it nearly impossible for us to sell or give away our treasures. For instance I have a heart shaped piece of polished wood that my Dad made during the war. It doesn't take up much sense and I know I'll never part with it. Why? It belonged to Dad which is enough of a reason for me.
I have several ceramic bowls and vases that were made by the boys along time ago. Keeping them? You bet. I'm very sentimental and while I haven't seen the boys' art projects in years, believe they are stored in a trunk in the basement.
As far as anything Benjamin has ever made for me, it's inside my hope chest, which is getting kind of full! I have even saved a pair of Benjamin's baby socks. I'm keeping them simply because they remind me of how small he used to be. I have lots of photo albums which is where pictures were kept in the "old days". Now all pictures are digital and "pixels" (or whatever they're called) of data take up very little space.
I have all of Dad's slides most of which were taken while he was stationed in France. As kids, we loved it when Dad took the projector and screen out. We loved looking at pictures from our past and Dad was a pretty good photographer. When we went to Holland for the Tulip Festival, there was a float parade. All the float were made from flowers (lots of tulips) and there was at least one or two beautiful women on the float. Apparently, at some point in taking pictures, Dad started concentrating on the women and less on the flowers! Mother got him back on track.
I have a beautiful rhinestone and sapphire necklace that belonged to my Mother. I think I've only worn it once or twice, but I'm not willing to part with it.
Then there is my Dad's British stamp collection, which Jeff funded for Dad, so that he could continue to mount stamps without any expense on his part. It was nice of Jeff to give Dad what turned out to be years of pleasure. Now I have the stamps and don't feel sentimental about them. I'm intending to sell them and will accept whatever price I'm offered. I know that the boys will not want to deal with selling the stamps (all mint) at some date in the future.
Benjamin will be six in April and is no longer a little boy. I've listed some of this things, like his play kitchen, on Craigslist and hope that somebody offers to buy his toys. I know I will never have another grandchild and Benjamin is spending less time at our house, so it makes sense to me to try and sell these things so another little boy/girl can enjoy them as much as he once did. I listed the toys at very fair prices in hopes of selling everything quickly. Time doesn't standstill and I know that Benjamin is not a little boy now - he's a big boy - and will want us to have different kinds of toys here when he visits.
P
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Pantry Weevils
2/23/2014
Bugs - hate 'em! Doesn't matter what kind, all I know is they don't belong in my house. A trail of ants in the kitchen during summer makes me crazy (which I know is a short trip!). This week's problem is weevils that lurk unknowing in the pantry. They love cereal, grains, flour, pretty much anything that isn't in a can or a glass container.
How do these pesky devils get in the house? Orkin tells me that they generally start in the store where you buy groceries. You don't notice them obviously, these suckers are very small. Once they get in the pantry, they run wild and contaminate food.
As you all know I keep a very well stocked pantry and deep in the dark corners of my top shelf, the little weevils were getting into everything. How did I find them? I went to get a Jiffy cornbread mix to use in a recipe. What a shock when I opened the box - there was more than just the mix inside. After seeing bugs in that box, I started taking everything out of the pantry. Box by box of cereal, crackers and dried mixes, among other things, when opened were a playground for these little pests.
Before I knew it I pulled everything, and I do mean everything, out of the pantry. I opened box after box of food and it took mere seconds of looking to realize that I had a full blown invasion of my food. I filled five (yes five) large black trash bags of contaminated food. If you don't notice these little guys, and you know as well as me, that when you open a box, you aren't expecting to find "visitors" inside. Since these bugs are very small and lightly colored, they would be very easy to overlook. Because who actually looks inside a box before using the product. Um, I'm thinking nobody.
Jeff and I went out and bought a large number of plastic canisters to hold food that doesn't turn around quickly. Some food such as Triscuits or my saltine crackers, get used up quickly and don't linger in the pantry.
In preparation for Orkin's visit, I emptied out the pantry and I had cans, jars, etc. on my formal dining room table, the buffet, the kitchen table and every available counter space in the kitchen. Having all of this stuff sitting around really put my OCD in overdrive.
The pantry has now been sprayed in the cracks and crevices and we have a bait trap that attracts these bugs, I'm not sure if it's the male weevil or the female that likes what it smells inside the gluey trap, and I don't care.
After losing so much food, I'll be sure to be more diligent about looking inside the boxes of foods that I bring into the house. I do have to say that after removing so much food, my pantry looks beautiful. Before Orkin came out, I vacuumed and washed the entire pantry. Confession: I don't scrub the pantry on a regular basis, it's just a pain and a lot of work to drag everything down and then put it back.
I'm pretty sure with the poison sprayed into the cracks and crevices plus the "I'm waiting for you big guy" bug trap, I shouldn't (fingers crossed) have a problem in the future. Even though I think I'll be find going forward, it is likely that I will have a peek inside the boxes of food that I bring home from the store!
P
Bugs - hate 'em! Doesn't matter what kind, all I know is they don't belong in my house. A trail of ants in the kitchen during summer makes me crazy (which I know is a short trip!). This week's problem is weevils that lurk unknowing in the pantry. They love cereal, grains, flour, pretty much anything that isn't in a can or a glass container.
How do these pesky devils get in the house? Orkin tells me that they generally start in the store where you buy groceries. You don't notice them obviously, these suckers are very small. Once they get in the pantry, they run wild and contaminate food.
As you all know I keep a very well stocked pantry and deep in the dark corners of my top shelf, the little weevils were getting into everything. How did I find them? I went to get a Jiffy cornbread mix to use in a recipe. What a shock when I opened the box - there was more than just the mix inside. After seeing bugs in that box, I started taking everything out of the pantry. Box by box of cereal, crackers and dried mixes, among other things, when opened were a playground for these little pests.
Before I knew it I pulled everything, and I do mean everything, out of the pantry. I opened box after box of food and it took mere seconds of looking to realize that I had a full blown invasion of my food. I filled five (yes five) large black trash bags of contaminated food. If you don't notice these little guys, and you know as well as me, that when you open a box, you aren't expecting to find "visitors" inside. Since these bugs are very small and lightly colored, they would be very easy to overlook. Because who actually looks inside a box before using the product. Um, I'm thinking nobody.
Jeff and I went out and bought a large number of plastic canisters to hold food that doesn't turn around quickly. Some food such as Triscuits or my saltine crackers, get used up quickly and don't linger in the pantry.
In preparation for Orkin's visit, I emptied out the pantry and I had cans, jars, etc. on my formal dining room table, the buffet, the kitchen table and every available counter space in the kitchen. Having all of this stuff sitting around really put my OCD in overdrive.
The pantry has now been sprayed in the cracks and crevices and we have a bait trap that attracts these bugs, I'm not sure if it's the male weevil or the female that likes what it smells inside the gluey trap, and I don't care.
After losing so much food, I'll be sure to be more diligent about looking inside the boxes of foods that I bring into the house. I do have to say that after removing so much food, my pantry looks beautiful. Before Orkin came out, I vacuumed and washed the entire pantry. Confession: I don't scrub the pantry on a regular basis, it's just a pain and a lot of work to drag everything down and then put it back.
I'm pretty sure with the poison sprayed into the cracks and crevices plus the "I'm waiting for you big guy" bug trap, I shouldn't (fingers crossed) have a problem in the future. Even though I think I'll be find going forward, it is likely that I will have a peek inside the boxes of food that I bring home from the store!
P
Friday, February 21, 2014
Perks of Retirement
2/21/2014
In case you're wondering, there are a few perks about being retired. There is also a downside to retirement where your earnings are greatly decreased! But on the upside, so is your spending.
For all of my working years, it seemed necessary (to me only), to have new clothes for all four seasons. Oh, and shoes too! You can never have enough shoes. I have never been into designer labels partly because some pieces of clothing don't look much different to me whether I'm paying $100 for a blouse or $23.00 at one of the "mart" stores. I have never been associated with a lot of style, comfort is definitely my thing. I gave up wearing high heels years ago and even for the boys' weddings wore a more practical (and comfy) short thick heel. I don't intend to suffer for the sake of fashion.
So since I am no longer working, my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. When the warmer weather comes, then I'll swap the jeans for capris and the sweatshirts for sleeveless tops (that I only wear at home). I may not be "styling", but I never leave the house looking like something a dog dragged in! And a lady ALWAYS wears lipstick. Lipstick is my beauty routine truly. I don't bother with stuff to make my age spots disappear, or color my hair so that the gray hair is disguised. I "earned" each and every one of those gray hairs and frankly I'm too cheap to pay for a regular coloring job so that nobody knows I'm going gray. Who cares?
Another perk of staying home - no alarm clock! Yes after 45 years of waking to the annoying noise of an alarm clock, I now allow my body to wake up naturally - or when Sam starts walking on my body to let me know it's time for breakfast!
I can now make a doctor/dentist appointment for any day of the week and at any time. I don't have to try and coordinate being away from the office with my co-workers. It's freeing to know that my time is really my time. I can come and go as I please and that's really a luxury, particularly after working in an office for so many years.
I can (if I wish) start opening up drawers and closets to dig for unburied "treasures" that I can use or give away. I can clean out cupboards (ick) which is one of my least favorite things to do, but luckily I have plenty of time to drag out the cleaning/organizing! After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, and my kitchen isn't going to get completely organized in a day either - probably due to my lack of interest!
It's understood by my friends and family that I am a reclusive person and have been for many years. I like my company and the quiet of my house. Before you send me a comment telling me how bad it is to be reclusive, I already know this. I just don't quite know how to put myself out there. I am an introverted/extrovert and social situations cause me a great deal of anxiety and I avoid them whenever I can.
Today's job is to clean out a basket I found in the linen closet. The basket is filled with scraps of paper from 2010, most of which were saved only for book reviews. I found a tiny sock of Ben's. A receipt from 2009 for slippers, and one (and only one) sock of mine! I have no idea when and why I stuffed so much in this basket and then just left it to gather dust on a shelf. You'll be happy to know that today is "tackle the basket" day! Tomorrow, I'll find something else to go through and likely most of whatever I find will end up in the trash.
P
In case you're wondering, there are a few perks about being retired. There is also a downside to retirement where your earnings are greatly decreased! But on the upside, so is your spending.
For all of my working years, it seemed necessary (to me only), to have new clothes for all four seasons. Oh, and shoes too! You can never have enough shoes. I have never been into designer labels partly because some pieces of clothing don't look much different to me whether I'm paying $100 for a blouse or $23.00 at one of the "mart" stores. I have never been associated with a lot of style, comfort is definitely my thing. I gave up wearing high heels years ago and even for the boys' weddings wore a more practical (and comfy) short thick heel. I don't intend to suffer for the sake of fashion.
So since I am no longer working, my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. When the warmer weather comes, then I'll swap the jeans for capris and the sweatshirts for sleeveless tops (that I only wear at home). I may not be "styling", but I never leave the house looking like something a dog dragged in! And a lady ALWAYS wears lipstick. Lipstick is my beauty routine truly. I don't bother with stuff to make my age spots disappear, or color my hair so that the gray hair is disguised. I "earned" each and every one of those gray hairs and frankly I'm too cheap to pay for a regular coloring job so that nobody knows I'm going gray. Who cares?
Another perk of staying home - no alarm clock! Yes after 45 years of waking to the annoying noise of an alarm clock, I now allow my body to wake up naturally - or when Sam starts walking on my body to let me know it's time for breakfast!
I can now make a doctor/dentist appointment for any day of the week and at any time. I don't have to try and coordinate being away from the office with my co-workers. It's freeing to know that my time is really my time. I can come and go as I please and that's really a luxury, particularly after working in an office for so many years.
I can (if I wish) start opening up drawers and closets to dig for unburied "treasures" that I can use or give away. I can clean out cupboards (ick) which is one of my least favorite things to do, but luckily I have plenty of time to drag out the cleaning/organizing! After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, and my kitchen isn't going to get completely organized in a day either - probably due to my lack of interest!
It's understood by my friends and family that I am a reclusive person and have been for many years. I like my company and the quiet of my house. Before you send me a comment telling me how bad it is to be reclusive, I already know this. I just don't quite know how to put myself out there. I am an introverted/extrovert and social situations cause me a great deal of anxiety and I avoid them whenever I can.
Today's job is to clean out a basket I found in the linen closet. The basket is filled with scraps of paper from 2010, most of which were saved only for book reviews. I found a tiny sock of Ben's. A receipt from 2009 for slippers, and one (and only one) sock of mine! I have no idea when and why I stuffed so much in this basket and then just left it to gather dust on a shelf. You'll be happy to know that today is "tackle the basket" day! Tomorrow, I'll find something else to go through and likely most of whatever I find will end up in the trash.
P
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Failing Eyes and Proper Lighting
2/20/2014
I have reached a "certain age", which means among other things, that the old eyeballs just aren't what they used to be. Thanks to a growing cataract in one eye, reading, which has been a lifetime passion of mine, is getting more and more difficult. The local library only carries so many large type books and even with the large type, I still have to use my reading glasses! Oh and wait it gets better - I also have to have a super bright bulb like a halogen, aimed at the page I am reading.
Books with what most people would consider normal size print, is now almost out of the question. Smaller print strains my eyes and makes me tired.
I can find large type books on the internet and the books themselves aren't very expensive, but you get to shell out at least $3.99 for shipping.
But I've come up with a solution to my problem - books on dvd's. Through the Library of Congress for the Blind and Handicapped I can receive a digital player as well as dvd's, for free. Shipping doesn't cost me anything. Years ago, Scott used a player from the Library but in those days it was cassette tapes and the player was bulky. The equipment is much more streamlined now.
I am getting to the point where I am willing to give up on reading "real" books, unless they are in large type, in favor of the Library's books recordings. One of my joys is actually holding the book. Sometimes if you are reading an older book, there is a certain smell (from age) that for reason or another pleases me. Sure I use the Kindle but it's just not the same. I know the dvd's won't either, but at least I don't have to buy them. "Read" them and return them in the mail.
If I could find more large type books from the local library, I probably wouldn't bother getting books in the mail. Trouble is the selection is very limited and sometimes there is a long queue for these books.
Apparently you can get recorded magazines. For instance People is one magazine that is recorded. I'm just not sure how that would work with no pictures. Consumer Reports would be better suited to audio, because if they're talking about a toaster, you can at least visualize a toaster.
Anyway I am crying "uncle" on my reading and will now do just about anything that allows me to continue reading. One piece of equipment that I need is a good (really bright) reading lamp, with an arm that can be moved up or down. I'm pretty sure that if we go to Lowe's or Home Depot we will be seriously disappointed in the selection. I don't need a pretty light, I need a useful light. There is a local lamp shop and Jeff is going to take me there so that we can see first hand what the lights are capable of. Wish me luck.
P
I have reached a "certain age", which means among other things, that the old eyeballs just aren't what they used to be. Thanks to a growing cataract in one eye, reading, which has been a lifetime passion of mine, is getting more and more difficult. The local library only carries so many large type books and even with the large type, I still have to use my reading glasses! Oh and wait it gets better - I also have to have a super bright bulb like a halogen, aimed at the page I am reading.
Books with what most people would consider normal size print, is now almost out of the question. Smaller print strains my eyes and makes me tired.
I can find large type books on the internet and the books themselves aren't very expensive, but you get to shell out at least $3.99 for shipping.
But I've come up with a solution to my problem - books on dvd's. Through the Library of Congress for the Blind and Handicapped I can receive a digital player as well as dvd's, for free. Shipping doesn't cost me anything. Years ago, Scott used a player from the Library but in those days it was cassette tapes and the player was bulky. The equipment is much more streamlined now.
I am getting to the point where I am willing to give up on reading "real" books, unless they are in large type, in favor of the Library's books recordings. One of my joys is actually holding the book. Sometimes if you are reading an older book, there is a certain smell (from age) that for reason or another pleases me. Sure I use the Kindle but it's just not the same. I know the dvd's won't either, but at least I don't have to buy them. "Read" them and return them in the mail.
If I could find more large type books from the local library, I probably wouldn't bother getting books in the mail. Trouble is the selection is very limited and sometimes there is a long queue for these books.
Apparently you can get recorded magazines. For instance People is one magazine that is recorded. I'm just not sure how that would work with no pictures. Consumer Reports would be better suited to audio, because if they're talking about a toaster, you can at least visualize a toaster.
Anyway I am crying "uncle" on my reading and will now do just about anything that allows me to continue reading. One piece of equipment that I need is a good (really bright) reading lamp, with an arm that can be moved up or down. I'm pretty sure that if we go to Lowe's or Home Depot we will be seriously disappointed in the selection. I don't need a pretty light, I need a useful light. There is a local lamp shop and Jeff is going to take me there so that we can see first hand what the lights are capable of. Wish me luck.
P
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Sam and Maggie
2/16/2014
It's likely while you are reading this, that your dog(s) and/or cat(s), are somewhere in the house lounging around on the sofa or your bed, which is a particularly favorite place to sleep!
We have two dogs: Maggie (the lab) and old Sam (the Westie) who we love and care for. The love between a dog and his person is very strong and dogs are also fiercely loyal. Over the years, we have owned 3 yellow labs, Daisy, Susie and now Maggie. Labs are great dogs, and not prone to barking (thank goodness). When Maggie jumps on the sofa in the evening, it's a bit more difficult to get her to fit between Jeff and I, but somehow we always manage. Maggie is 9 and because she's a big dog, her longevity isn't expected to be as long as smaller breeds.
We have also owned several Westies: Devon (super great dog), Abby and now Sam.
We adopted Sam from Westie Rescue when he was 7. We believe, but can't prove, that Sam spent a lot of time in a crate and not socialized a great deal. When Sam arrived, he was full of piss and vinegar. He had a nasty attitude and we went spent several months working with him so that he would learn it was not okay to bite the hands that feed you - literally. He snarled a great deal and was a very unloving dog and it was all we could do to not send him back to Westie Rescue, because he was difficult.
That was then and with gentle handling and lots of love, Sam, who is now 14, is a great little guy. He can't jump on the bed anymore, so when you pick him up, he still has to give us some attitude while we put him on the bed. Sam has cataracts and has trouble seeing, so there are nightlights in the hallways.. I also have a cataract and have sympathy for him, because I can no longer just read anywhere. Nope, now there has to a bright light directly aimed at the book.
We both know that our lives would be simpler if we had no pets, particularly when you want to travel. Boarding is based on pounds ($$$) and Maggie is a big girl! At most, the dogs might be boarded once a year - we don't do much traveling.
Because we didn't have Sam as a puppy who we could train, he gets a bit yappy when he's in the yard. If we're home, a slight rap on the window and he bounds back into the house as fast as he can. Statistics say that Westies live somewhere between 12 and 16 years. Since Sam is 14, he's somewhere in the middle of the statistics. We're keeping our fingers crossed that Sam will be with us for more, not fewer, years.
I have to tell you that life is good, very good indeed, when I'm sitting on the sofa and he's beside me snoring lightly. I get so much peace from just having him there and petting him. Life doesn't get better than that.
We love our dogs very much, even when we're picking up dog hair! Both dogs love us and the bond between the four of us is a beautiful thing.
P
It's likely while you are reading this, that your dog(s) and/or cat(s), are somewhere in the house lounging around on the sofa or your bed, which is a particularly favorite place to sleep!
We have two dogs: Maggie (the lab) and old Sam (the Westie) who we love and care for. The love between a dog and his person is very strong and dogs are also fiercely loyal. Over the years, we have owned 3 yellow labs, Daisy, Susie and now Maggie. Labs are great dogs, and not prone to barking (thank goodness). When Maggie jumps on the sofa in the evening, it's a bit more difficult to get her to fit between Jeff and I, but somehow we always manage. Maggie is 9 and because she's a big dog, her longevity isn't expected to be as long as smaller breeds.
We have also owned several Westies: Devon (super great dog), Abby and now Sam.
We adopted Sam from Westie Rescue when he was 7. We believe, but can't prove, that Sam spent a lot of time in a crate and not socialized a great deal. When Sam arrived, he was full of piss and vinegar. He had a nasty attitude and we went spent several months working with him so that he would learn it was not okay to bite the hands that feed you - literally. He snarled a great deal and was a very unloving dog and it was all we could do to not send him back to Westie Rescue, because he was difficult.
That was then and with gentle handling and lots of love, Sam, who is now 14, is a great little guy. He can't jump on the bed anymore, so when you pick him up, he still has to give us some attitude while we put him on the bed. Sam has cataracts and has trouble seeing, so there are nightlights in the hallways.. I also have a cataract and have sympathy for him, because I can no longer just read anywhere. Nope, now there has to a bright light directly aimed at the book.
We both know that our lives would be simpler if we had no pets, particularly when you want to travel. Boarding is based on pounds ($$$) and Maggie is a big girl! At most, the dogs might be boarded once a year - we don't do much traveling.
Because we didn't have Sam as a puppy who we could train, he gets a bit yappy when he's in the yard. If we're home, a slight rap on the window and he bounds back into the house as fast as he can. Statistics say that Westies live somewhere between 12 and 16 years. Since Sam is 14, he's somewhere in the middle of the statistics. We're keeping our fingers crossed that Sam will be with us for more, not fewer, years.
I have to tell you that life is good, very good indeed, when I'm sitting on the sofa and he's beside me snoring lightly. I get so much peace from just having him there and petting him. Life doesn't get better than that.
We love our dogs very much, even when we're picking up dog hair! Both dogs love us and the bond between the four of us is a beautiful thing.
P
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Post Valentine's Day
2/15/2014
Okay, Cupid has put away his arrow for another year. Roses have been delivered, chocolates consumed, and fancy dinners (requiring reservations!) have been eaten. Cards are given, some sappy (my favorite) and the gushy kind. You can go into a store and read the sentiments from cards to your significant other for free! I know this isn't likely to be considered romantic for most of you, but it saves a lot of money since I don't tend to save a lot of cards. I did save all the cards I received in 2013 from family and friends during my very difficult time. Thank you to every onel who remembered me with your positive thoughts of recovery.
So let me tell you what my sweetie did for me yesterday. AND, this is way cooler than flowers that wilt and die, chocolates that make the scale creep up and not down. And we didn't eat dinner out, Jeff had made a wonderful chicken vegetable soup on Thursday - we warmed it up on Friday and sat on the sofa while watching our favorite shows. Not really romantic like you read about in novels, but works for us.
Jeff shoveled the driveway clean, went into the backyard and shoveled a path from the slider to the doggy door. Maggie just plows through deep snow, but old Sam has little legs, and he finds it much harder to get around. Plus since he has white fur, it's easy to lose him!
Jeff found a brighter reading lamp to help make it easier for me to read, and I really appreciated that. It's getting harder to read unless it's large type books, which are sometimes hard to find at the library. I have asked my ophthalmologist to sign a form that I can send to the Library of Congress for the Blind to start receiving books on disks. When Scott used talking books, they only had cassette tapes and the machine was big. I'm supposing that this many years later, the machines are more compact, at least I hope so. It appears that I can get a lot of magazines from the Library also, but I'm having trouble figuring out how much satisfaction I would get from a recording of People magazine, for instance. Consumer reports would lend itself to a talking format. I don't need pictures to see what the latest toaster looks like! So I'm a bit iffy about magazines, but if the doctor agrees that talking books would make my life easier, then I will at least try out a magazine.
After 26 years of cooking, our cook top arced on Friday, which required turning off the power to the cook top. Jeff went to the local store that sells replacement parts for appliances. They didn't have the part (ya think?), but they gave him a lead on someone in California, who did happen to have the part and it's being shipped out this week. In the meantime, Jeff worked some "Macgyver" magic to make it possible to continue cooking. What a guy!
He also listened to me yesterday when I was clearly having an off day. I can't explain what comes over me, but when it does - it just does. So when I get this way, he's patient and let's me get off my chest what's bothering me. I know that I'm a very lucky woman to have a husband who still loves me (even after everything I have done) and puts up with my mood swings. Thank you Jeff from the bottom of my heart..
It's gently snowing here at the house but it's not going to be the big snow storm we had earlier in the week. I hope it's snowing where you are.
P
Okay, Cupid has put away his arrow for another year. Roses have been delivered, chocolates consumed, and fancy dinners (requiring reservations!) have been eaten. Cards are given, some sappy (my favorite) and the gushy kind. You can go into a store and read the sentiments from cards to your significant other for free! I know this isn't likely to be considered romantic for most of you, but it saves a lot of money since I don't tend to save a lot of cards. I did save all the cards I received in 2013 from family and friends during my very difficult time. Thank you to every onel who remembered me with your positive thoughts of recovery.
So let me tell you what my sweetie did for me yesterday. AND, this is way cooler than flowers that wilt and die, chocolates that make the scale creep up and not down. And we didn't eat dinner out, Jeff had made a wonderful chicken vegetable soup on Thursday - we warmed it up on Friday and sat on the sofa while watching our favorite shows. Not really romantic like you read about in novels, but works for us.
Jeff shoveled the driveway clean, went into the backyard and shoveled a path from the slider to the doggy door. Maggie just plows through deep snow, but old Sam has little legs, and he finds it much harder to get around. Plus since he has white fur, it's easy to lose him!
Jeff found a brighter reading lamp to help make it easier for me to read, and I really appreciated that. It's getting harder to read unless it's large type books, which are sometimes hard to find at the library. I have asked my ophthalmologist to sign a form that I can send to the Library of Congress for the Blind to start receiving books on disks. When Scott used talking books, they only had cassette tapes and the machine was big. I'm supposing that this many years later, the machines are more compact, at least I hope so. It appears that I can get a lot of magazines from the Library also, but I'm having trouble figuring out how much satisfaction I would get from a recording of People magazine, for instance. Consumer reports would lend itself to a talking format. I don't need pictures to see what the latest toaster looks like! So I'm a bit iffy about magazines, but if the doctor agrees that talking books would make my life easier, then I will at least try out a magazine.
After 26 years of cooking, our cook top arced on Friday, which required turning off the power to the cook top. Jeff went to the local store that sells replacement parts for appliances. They didn't have the part (ya think?), but they gave him a lead on someone in California, who did happen to have the part and it's being shipped out this week. In the meantime, Jeff worked some "Macgyver" magic to make it possible to continue cooking. What a guy!
He also listened to me yesterday when I was clearly having an off day. I can't explain what comes over me, but when it does - it just does. So when I get this way, he's patient and let's me get off my chest what's bothering me. I know that I'm a very lucky woman to have a husband who still loves me (even after everything I have done) and puts up with my mood swings. Thank you Jeff from the bottom of my heart..
It's gently snowing here at the house but it's not going to be the big snow storm we had earlier in the week. I hope it's snowing where you are.
P
Thursday, February 13, 2014
It's Gonna Snow, It's Gonna Snow ...... It's snowing!
2/13/2014
After a week of "the sky is falling", it finally fell. The snow started around 9:00 last night and when we woke up this morning it was definitely a beautiful, quiet world of white. With freshly fallen snow you can tell if the "varmints" (squirrels) have come through the yard.
Yesterday, we would check in with the weather channel from time to time. But the near constant blabbering about how awful this storm is, etc., it was refreshing to watch The Price is Right! Every time I "forced" myself to go to the weather channel, we were going to get snow, probably ice and/or sleet. Okay the snow arrived last night and Jeff has been out twice to start the big job of shoveling the driveway. If you get the driveway down to blacktop and there is any sun at all, melting begins - and that's a good thing.
Today, we're going to make chicken vegetable soup, enough to last us for at least two days. When we make soup, we make a LOT of soup. And when Jeff comes in from the cold after shoveling, a cup of soup or even the broth warms him up quickly.
I think this is the biggest snowstorm we have had since we installed "Jenny" (our whole house generator) and it's possible that this could be Jenny's day, especially if the overhead wires, on some major streets, get covered in ice. Since installing Jenny, we lost power once for a few hours and she performed exactly as she was supposed to. And I know she won't disappoint us today if the power goes out. Of course, with the world blanketed in snow and very quiet, Jenny will sound louder than she normal does during our test each week on Saturday.
The dogs had to "plow" their way out of the doggy door. Maggie (the lab) obviously was the trail blazer and Sam (small terrier) was just trying to not get lost in the snow. With Sam's white coat and this much snow, it's sometimes a bit hard to find him!
Jeff took both dogs out front while he was shoveling. The dogs were in heaven, bounding (more or less depending on the length of their legs) through the snow. Sam, was trying to sniff out something he could chase, but I haven't seen any little footprints around the house so far this morning.
I noticed when the dogs came back from their little frolic, Sam moved very close to the fireplace to warm up his old and arthritic body. When I turn on the fireplace, either Jeff or I, will joke about bringing in the firewood and kindling to get a real fire started! While a gas fireplace doesn't have quite the same ambience of a real fire. But it's really convenient just to press a button and not have to wait for the fire to get started and having to keep adding wood throughout the day. As an added bonus, there are no little embers that would occasionally jump out of the fireplace. Maybe we're getting old (ya think?) but this button pushing business is delightful. I can start a fire all by myself!
I hope you all a good day, whether you're playing the snow or basking in the sun.
P
After a week of "the sky is falling", it finally fell. The snow started around 9:00 last night and when we woke up this morning it was definitely a beautiful, quiet world of white. With freshly fallen snow you can tell if the "varmints" (squirrels) have come through the yard.
Yesterday, we would check in with the weather channel from time to time. But the near constant blabbering about how awful this storm is, etc., it was refreshing to watch The Price is Right! Every time I "forced" myself to go to the weather channel, we were going to get snow, probably ice and/or sleet. Okay the snow arrived last night and Jeff has been out twice to start the big job of shoveling the driveway. If you get the driveway down to blacktop and there is any sun at all, melting begins - and that's a good thing.
Today, we're going to make chicken vegetable soup, enough to last us for at least two days. When we make soup, we make a LOT of soup. And when Jeff comes in from the cold after shoveling, a cup of soup or even the broth warms him up quickly.
I think this is the biggest snowstorm we have had since we installed "Jenny" (our whole house generator) and it's possible that this could be Jenny's day, especially if the overhead wires, on some major streets, get covered in ice. Since installing Jenny, we lost power once for a few hours and she performed exactly as she was supposed to. And I know she won't disappoint us today if the power goes out. Of course, with the world blanketed in snow and very quiet, Jenny will sound louder than she normal does during our test each week on Saturday.
The dogs had to "plow" their way out of the doggy door. Maggie (the lab) obviously was the trail blazer and Sam (small terrier) was just trying to not get lost in the snow. With Sam's white coat and this much snow, it's sometimes a bit hard to find him!
Jeff took both dogs out front while he was shoveling. The dogs were in heaven, bounding (more or less depending on the length of their legs) through the snow. Sam, was trying to sniff out something he could chase, but I haven't seen any little footprints around the house so far this morning.
I noticed when the dogs came back from their little frolic, Sam moved very close to the fireplace to warm up his old and arthritic body. When I turn on the fireplace, either Jeff or I, will joke about bringing in the firewood and kindling to get a real fire started! While a gas fireplace doesn't have quite the same ambience of a real fire. But it's really convenient just to press a button and not have to wait for the fire to get started and having to keep adding wood throughout the day. As an added bonus, there are no little embers that would occasionally jump out of the fireplace. Maybe we're getting old (ya think?) but this button pushing business is delightful. I can start a fire all by myself!
I hope you all a good day, whether you're playing the snow or basking in the sun.
P
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Snow/No Snow?
2/12/14
That is the million dollar question here in the D.C. area. It is also the question that is asked every time a weatherman puts a prediction of an upcoming storm. Will it be inches, a dusting or foots? Getting is just right is a crap shoot, and sometimes they actually get it right.
So, because we were out of one of the major staples needed for a storm, at least in our house, is milk we journeyed to Costco to buy some and a few other needed or wanted items. From there we went to WalMart, which was really busy. Go figure. Now Jeff and I keep, at all times, a really full pantry, our large chest freezer is packed. We have all the ingredients to make chicken soup tomorrow which will feed us for at least two days and so warming. Also a near necessity for me is WalMart's chicken and turkey pot pies - at 82 cents - how can you go wrong? These pies aren't as good as Marie Callendar's, but they are tasty enough and the price difference is huge. And whether you buy a more expensive pot pie or the cheapy (sp), at the end of the meal, all you have left is an empty plate. For me, I would rather have ice cream or a stash of cookies. These are life necessities in my book, but them I'm a sugar freak! Jeff's into salt and fat, so we make the perfect couple.
Since we installed a whole house generator that runs off our house line, we would like to hear it's steady hum that we currently only here on Saturday during the weekly test to make sure it's okay. Basically, if we lose power, once the generator starts up, we can run everything and I mean everything (furnace, air conditioning, oven, stove, washer, etc. indefinitely. I think some people scoff at us for installing it, but just wait until we lose power, then we will have a silent smug attack. So far, the prediction looks like we may have a major snowstorm, but only time will tell. If we do, no worries here. And since we installed a gas fireplace a year ago, we don't even have to haul in firewood and dump ashes. We are definitely getting lazier as we get older. And, there are no boys around anymore to help bring in the wood. Having sons does have its benefits!
It was late when we got back from WalMart and my hip was very sore, so Jeff just put away the cold stuff and today, I'll put away the rest of the food.
Stay warm.
P
That is the million dollar question here in the D.C. area. It is also the question that is asked every time a weatherman puts a prediction of an upcoming storm. Will it be inches, a dusting or foots? Getting is just right is a crap shoot, and sometimes they actually get it right.
So, because we were out of one of the major staples needed for a storm, at least in our house, is milk we journeyed to Costco to buy some and a few other needed or wanted items. From there we went to WalMart, which was really busy. Go figure. Now Jeff and I keep, at all times, a really full pantry, our large chest freezer is packed. We have all the ingredients to make chicken soup tomorrow which will feed us for at least two days and so warming. Also a near necessity for me is WalMart's chicken and turkey pot pies - at 82 cents - how can you go wrong? These pies aren't as good as Marie Callendar's, but they are tasty enough and the price difference is huge. And whether you buy a more expensive pot pie or the cheapy (sp), at the end of the meal, all you have left is an empty plate. For me, I would rather have ice cream or a stash of cookies. These are life necessities in my book, but them I'm a sugar freak! Jeff's into salt and fat, so we make the perfect couple.
Since we installed a whole house generator that runs off our house line, we would like to hear it's steady hum that we currently only here on Saturday during the weekly test to make sure it's okay. Basically, if we lose power, once the generator starts up, we can run everything and I mean everything (furnace, air conditioning, oven, stove, washer, etc. indefinitely. I think some people scoff at us for installing it, but just wait until we lose power, then we will have a silent smug attack. So far, the prediction looks like we may have a major snowstorm, but only time will tell. If we do, no worries here. And since we installed a gas fireplace a year ago, we don't even have to haul in firewood and dump ashes. We are definitely getting lazier as we get older. And, there are no boys around anymore to help bring in the wood. Having sons does have its benefits!
It was late when we got back from WalMart and my hip was very sore, so Jeff just put away the cold stuff and today, I'll put away the rest of the food.
Stay warm.
P
Monday, February 10, 2014
Lion Food
2/10/2014
A zoo in Denmark killed a two year old male giraffe and fed the remains to lions, as visitors, some of whom were children, watched. How could they have allowed children to watch as the giraffe was cut up to be fed to the lions? What's wrong with this picture, except just about everything? If they didn't want to be publicly "fed" to the news media and people in general, surely they could have done the deed after the zoo was closed. It wouldn't have made what they did right, but at least it's likely that nobody would miss the young giraffe The zoo had received offers from other zoos and a private individual to save the animal. The genes of the giraffe, named Marius, were too similar to other giraffes in a breeding program run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). A young bull could theoretically be sent to an all-female group as stud, but experts prefer a larger, more mature male for that, and Marius didn't fit that bill. Apparently poor Marius didn't measure up to Denmark's stud standards.
A final option would be to send a giraffe to a zoo that doesn't participate in the EAZA-led breeding program. The Denmark Zoo received two offers from zoos for Maricus and an offer of $680,000 from an individual. Now why an individual would want a giraffe is up for speculation. Thinking positively perhaps this individual just loves giraffes and wants one for his "backyard". Or, thinking worst case scenario, intended to use the animal for hunting purposes by hunters. If the latter were true, then paying $680,000 merely for the sport of hunting, seems like a very expensive purchase for a one-time experience, not to mention the waste of a healthy animal. But, I've never understood hunting. If you're going to eat what you kill, I get that. What I don't understand is the sport of hunting animals just for an adrenalin rush.
If this zoo had too many giraffes, wouldn't it have been easier to just neuter or spay the animals? Seems to make good sense to me. In Maryland, they neuter the deer to keep the deer population from getting out of control.
Apparently the only thing "wrong" with Marius was that his genes were too similar to other giraffes in the breeding program, and that wasn't something he could control.
P.
A zoo in Denmark killed a two year old male giraffe and fed the remains to lions, as visitors, some of whom were children, watched. How could they have allowed children to watch as the giraffe was cut up to be fed to the lions? What's wrong with this picture, except just about everything? If they didn't want to be publicly "fed" to the news media and people in general, surely they could have done the deed after the zoo was closed. It wouldn't have made what they did right, but at least it's likely that nobody would miss the young giraffe The zoo had received offers from other zoos and a private individual to save the animal. The genes of the giraffe, named Marius, were too similar to other giraffes in a breeding program run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). A young bull could theoretically be sent to an all-female group as stud, but experts prefer a larger, more mature male for that, and Marius didn't fit that bill. Apparently poor Marius didn't measure up to Denmark's stud standards.
A final option would be to send a giraffe to a zoo that doesn't participate in the EAZA-led breeding program. The Denmark Zoo received two offers from zoos for Maricus and an offer of $680,000 from an individual. Now why an individual would want a giraffe is up for speculation. Thinking positively perhaps this individual just loves giraffes and wants one for his "backyard". Or, thinking worst case scenario, intended to use the animal for hunting purposes by hunters. If the latter were true, then paying $680,000 merely for the sport of hunting, seems like a very expensive purchase for a one-time experience, not to mention the waste of a healthy animal. But, I've never understood hunting. If you're going to eat what you kill, I get that. What I don't understand is the sport of hunting animals just for an adrenalin rush.
If this zoo had too many giraffes, wouldn't it have been easier to just neuter or spay the animals? Seems to make good sense to me. In Maryland, they neuter the deer to keep the deer population from getting out of control.
Apparently the only thing "wrong" with Marius was that his genes were too similar to other giraffes in the breeding program, and that wasn't something he could control.
P.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Generic Products
2/9/2014
Save a penny, save a pound is a favorite saving. I'm all for saving money and will buy generic products to save that penny, with a few exceptions. Here are some of the things I will buy to save pennies and sometimes dollars:
Happy shopping.
P
Save a penny, save a pound is a favorite saving. I'm all for saving money and will buy generic products to save that penny, with a few exceptions. Here are some of the things I will buy to save pennies and sometimes dollars:
- Generic soap for the dishwasher and washer
- Toilet paper, paper towels and Kleenex
- The crackers shaped and taste like Triscuits
- Saltines
- Most cereals
- Honey
- Jam/Jelly
- Soup
- Dietsoda
- Dog Food and biscuits
- Shampoo
- Aluminum foil
- Buttermilk (ick) and regular milk
- Trash bags for use in the house
- Most cleaners for the house
- Ice cream
- Cookies (unlike my Peppermint Patties, I'm not overly fussy about cookies)
- Canned fruits
- Frozen veggies
- Ice Cream
- Some frozen dinners/meals - like pot pies (which I love)
- Pain relieving medicine
- Jello
- Peppermint Patties. The generic ones are frankly no good. I love candy so if I'm going to indulge, I want the real thing
- Mayonnaise. I never use this unless it's in a salad, but Jeff loves Mayonnaise and we don't buy anything but the real thing
- Neutrogena soap
- Pizza. As far as I'm concerned there is only one pizza to buy - Tombstone
- Sliced cheese
- Hot dogs
- Toothpaste - always Crest - no substitutes
Happy shopping.
P
Friday, February 7, 2014
Ethics and Morals
2/7/2014
Today in the news is a Judge who allegedly steered a $43,000 contract to the husband of a business partner and then lied to investigators about her actions. The Judge is being charged on 19 counts of wrongdoing by the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. The board also levied 10 counts against the agency's general counsel, who is a partner in a property management business with the Judge. Why do people in power continue to take risks that might (and should in my opinion) upend their careers. If these wrong doers were regular people, like you and me, granted we likely wouldn't make the paper, but we would certainly end up in a courtroom.
And what's up with the firemen who refused to help a man who had a heart attack. Bystanders rushed to the fire station but reportedly were told that they couldn't respond until the family called 911. Apparently, a fireman watched but did nothing and the man died later in the hospital. Seriously? All they had to do was cross the street and help. Forget policies and procedures, this man needed medical attention and needed it now. How could the firemen simply refuse to do anything? Forget protocol for a moment, if for no other reason than compassion, why didn't they try and help this man? What a surprise that a fire lieutenant at the center of the investigation submitted her retirement papers after being placed on administrative leave. What is wrong with these people and perhaps more to the point, the system in general?
You know as well as I do, that a regular person who came across someone clearly having a serious medical problem, would try and do something. Few of us would just keep walking because we didn't want to get involved. The man's daughter could have called 911 but under the circumstances I'm sure she was out of her mind with worry about her father, and likely was in shock and panicked (I know I would be). I'm also assuming that since the firehouse was just across the street, she probably didn't think that she would need to call 911. I know I would assume that the firemen would do something, and I'd be wrong.
Police Officers have several opportunities to gain personally from their status and authority as law enforcement officers. Police Officers are there to serve and protect and should not be above the law. Yet it's clear that the Blue Code of Silence among policemen can prevent corruption from becoming public. The investigation of corruption in the New York City Police Department in the early 1970s, divided corrupt officers into two types: meat-eaters, who "aggressively misuse their police powers for personal gain," and grass-eaters, who "simply accept the payoffs that the happenstances of police work throw their way." The sort of corrupt acts that have been committed by police officers have been classified as follows, and this is only a partial list:
P
Today in the news is a Judge who allegedly steered a $43,000 contract to the husband of a business partner and then lied to investigators about her actions. The Judge is being charged on 19 counts of wrongdoing by the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. The board also levied 10 counts against the agency's general counsel, who is a partner in a property management business with the Judge. Why do people in power continue to take risks that might (and should in my opinion) upend their careers. If these wrong doers were regular people, like you and me, granted we likely wouldn't make the paper, but we would certainly end up in a courtroom.
And what's up with the firemen who refused to help a man who had a heart attack. Bystanders rushed to the fire station but reportedly were told that they couldn't respond until the family called 911. Apparently, a fireman watched but did nothing and the man died later in the hospital. Seriously? All they had to do was cross the street and help. Forget policies and procedures, this man needed medical attention and needed it now. How could the firemen simply refuse to do anything? Forget protocol for a moment, if for no other reason than compassion, why didn't they try and help this man? What a surprise that a fire lieutenant at the center of the investigation submitted her retirement papers after being placed on administrative leave. What is wrong with these people and perhaps more to the point, the system in general?
You know as well as I do, that a regular person who came across someone clearly having a serious medical problem, would try and do something. Few of us would just keep walking because we didn't want to get involved. The man's daughter could have called 911 but under the circumstances I'm sure she was out of her mind with worry about her father, and likely was in shock and panicked (I know I would be). I'm also assuming that since the firehouse was just across the street, she probably didn't think that she would need to call 911. I know I would assume that the firemen would do something, and I'd be wrong.
Police Officers have several opportunities to gain personally from their status and authority as law enforcement officers. Police Officers are there to serve and protect and should not be above the law. Yet it's clear that the Blue Code of Silence among policemen can prevent corruption from becoming public. The investigation of corruption in the New York City Police Department in the early 1970s, divided corrupt officers into two types: meat-eaters, who "aggressively misuse their police powers for personal gain," and grass-eaters, who "simply accept the payoffs that the happenstances of police work throw their way." The sort of corrupt acts that have been committed by police officers have been classified as follows, and this is only a partial list:
- Corruption of authority where officers receive free drinks, meals and other gratuties.
- Kickbacks, receiving payment from referring people to other business. This can include contractors and tow truck operations.
- Shakedowns for accepting bribes for not pursuing a criminal violation
P
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Alcohol
2/6/2014
Drinking is and always has been a way of life for most people. Luckily for the majority, we're talking about responsible drinking: a glass or two of wine, beer and perhaps some of the harder stuff. The problem is that teenagers and young adults don't seem to know when to stop, and then they get in their cars and drive. Result for a lot of these young people? Accidents, injuries and sometimes death.
Luckily for Jeff and I, our two youngest sons thought a wild Saturday night was some popcorn, diet coke and computer games until the wee hours of the morning. They were definitely not part of the in crowd nor did they want to be. We told the boys that they could call us anytime day or night if they found themselves in a situation that was uncomfortable and we would come and get them immediately, no questions asked. We were very fortunate to have never received that call.
Statistics say that 1 in 10 teens in high school drink and drive. Kids ages from 16 to 20 are 17 times more likely to die when their blood alcohol is 0.8%.
In the 60's as a teenager, it was cool to smoke, a habit I never took up. I lived in a small town and there was, of course, some beer drinking. I don't remember my school mates hitting the hard stuff (or perhaps I was just naive).
Yesterday, the Maryland Senate passed a bill with a vote of 37-10 that would ban high-proof alcohol from liquor stores. The bill would ban any drink that is 95% alcohol - 190 proof from being sold in Maryland.The Senator said that the measure really targets only one kind of liquor: grain alcohol.
There are many dangers stemming from such high-proof alcohol according to the Senator, who says that leaders at universities in Maryland are asking for the measure. They blame alcohol poisoning for fights, sexual assaults, injuries, and deaths. Some say that the high proof alcohol is tasteless and is an easy way to dump grain alcohol into a punch or any other drink, in order to up the grain alcohol content.
One Senator bought a bottle of Everclear at a liquor store and brought it to the Senate. He disagrees with the characterization that it is odorless.
The Senate was prepared to vote on the bill yesterday, but a one-day delay was granted so skeptical senators could see what restrictions neighboring states such as Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania have on high-proof liquor. All three states have either prohibited its sale or put severe restrictions on those who can buy it.
Even if the bill becomes law, you know as well as I do, that if a young person wants to drink, they will. Where there is a will, there is a way.
P
Drinking is and always has been a way of life for most people. Luckily for the majority, we're talking about responsible drinking: a glass or two of wine, beer and perhaps some of the harder stuff. The problem is that teenagers and young adults don't seem to know when to stop, and then they get in their cars and drive. Result for a lot of these young people? Accidents, injuries and sometimes death.
Luckily for Jeff and I, our two youngest sons thought a wild Saturday night was some popcorn, diet coke and computer games until the wee hours of the morning. They were definitely not part of the in crowd nor did they want to be. We told the boys that they could call us anytime day or night if they found themselves in a situation that was uncomfortable and we would come and get them immediately, no questions asked. We were very fortunate to have never received that call.
Statistics say that 1 in 10 teens in high school drink and drive. Kids ages from 16 to 20 are 17 times more likely to die when their blood alcohol is 0.8%.
In the 60's as a teenager, it was cool to smoke, a habit I never took up. I lived in a small town and there was, of course, some beer drinking. I don't remember my school mates hitting the hard stuff (or perhaps I was just naive).
Yesterday, the Maryland Senate passed a bill with a vote of 37-10 that would ban high-proof alcohol from liquor stores. The bill would ban any drink that is 95% alcohol - 190 proof from being sold in Maryland.The Senator said that the measure really targets only one kind of liquor: grain alcohol.
There are many dangers stemming from such high-proof alcohol according to the Senator, who says that leaders at universities in Maryland are asking for the measure. They blame alcohol poisoning for fights, sexual assaults, injuries, and deaths. Some say that the high proof alcohol is tasteless and is an easy way to dump grain alcohol into a punch or any other drink, in order to up the grain alcohol content.
One Senator bought a bottle of Everclear at a liquor store and brought it to the Senate. He disagrees with the characterization that it is odorless.
The Senate was prepared to vote on the bill yesterday, but a one-day delay was granted so skeptical senators could see what restrictions neighboring states such as Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania have on high-proof liquor. All three states have either prohibited its sale or put severe restrictions on those who can buy it.
Even if the bill becomes law, you know as well as I do, that if a young person wants to drink, they will. Where there is a will, there is a way.
P
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
A Lacy World
2/5/2014
When I woke up this morning and looked out my bedroom window, I saw that Mother Nature visited us last night. She covered all the trees with a thin layer of ice, resembling lace. The trees are beautiful to look at and once again I marvel at our ever changing weather.
Mother Nature (because we have to have someone to blame) can and has wrecked havoc around the world with hurricanes, earthquakes and typhoons. There is nothing pretty about occurrences like this and the damage is generally extensive and devastating.
But there is a softer side to Mother, when gentle spring rains fall lightly on our grass just waking up from it's winter slumber and the buds of tulips and other spring flowers begin poking through the ground.
When we moved here in 1986 from California, our boys had never seen a robin, a dogwood tree or the majestic beauty of tall oak and elm trees. California is known best for palm and fruit trees. Palm trees line the streets and most neighborhoods. When the fronds die, they turn brown and have to be cut off the tree which requires special attention to avoid the sharp edges of the fronds.
They had also never seen much snow, unless we took them up to the mountains occasionally during winter. So when our first winter arrived after moving to Maryland, the boys were thrilled. Jeff and I less so. They were young enough to want to get bundled up, build snowmen and have snowball fights.
As they got older, we had enough snow shovels for each boys' hands! There is an advantage to having sons - they can carry firewood, shovel snow, make holes for planting trees and shrubs, and mowing lawns. Basically, I didn't have to get involved with outside work. My job in the winter was to have a fire going, and hot chocolate (w/marshmallows) waiting for my cold and tired sons.
Luckily for us is that the ice we got last night was not heavy. In our backyard we have an entire row of Leland Cypress trees that after 20 years are quite tall and top heavy. These trees also have shallow roots. With heavy ice or snow, we stand a chance of losing branches due to the weight on the branches.
For now I sit in my favorite chair, drink coffee and enjoy the views from my window. No longer do I need to call the phone number at work to see if the building was closed or delaying opening. I guess that's a small advantage of being retired.
P
When I woke up this morning and looked out my bedroom window, I saw that Mother Nature visited us last night. She covered all the trees with a thin layer of ice, resembling lace. The trees are beautiful to look at and once again I marvel at our ever changing weather.
Mother Nature (because we have to have someone to blame) can and has wrecked havoc around the world with hurricanes, earthquakes and typhoons. There is nothing pretty about occurrences like this and the damage is generally extensive and devastating.
But there is a softer side to Mother, when gentle spring rains fall lightly on our grass just waking up from it's winter slumber and the buds of tulips and other spring flowers begin poking through the ground.
When we moved here in 1986 from California, our boys had never seen a robin, a dogwood tree or the majestic beauty of tall oak and elm trees. California is known best for palm and fruit trees. Palm trees line the streets and most neighborhoods. When the fronds die, they turn brown and have to be cut off the tree which requires special attention to avoid the sharp edges of the fronds.
They had also never seen much snow, unless we took them up to the mountains occasionally during winter. So when our first winter arrived after moving to Maryland, the boys were thrilled. Jeff and I less so. They were young enough to want to get bundled up, build snowmen and have snowball fights.
As they got older, we had enough snow shovels for each boys' hands! There is an advantage to having sons - they can carry firewood, shovel snow, make holes for planting trees and shrubs, and mowing lawns. Basically, I didn't have to get involved with outside work. My job in the winter was to have a fire going, and hot chocolate (w/marshmallows) waiting for my cold and tired sons.
Luckily for us is that the ice we got last night was not heavy. In our backyard we have an entire row of Leland Cypress trees that after 20 years are quite tall and top heavy. These trees also have shallow roots. With heavy ice or snow, we stand a chance of losing branches due to the weight on the branches.
For now I sit in my favorite chair, drink coffee and enjoy the views from my window. No longer do I need to call the phone number at work to see if the building was closed or delaying opening. I guess that's a small advantage of being retired.
P
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Soap Bottles
2/4/2014
Soap bottles you ask? Yes, those annoying plastic bottles that dispense soap for hands or dishes. I don't know about you but the one I use for dishes, that little plastic dispensing thingy gets gunked up a lot. Solution? Put the dispenser to soak in hot water until you have de-gunked the little spout. Put it back on the bottle and within a matter of days, start the process all over again!
Last week I was a woman with a mission - find a better device for soap. Off I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and headed for the kitchen wares. The offerings of dispensers was more than I expected. Perhaps I'm not the only woman who hates those plastic bottles. So I pumped the top of all the containers on display and then carefully read their "instructions" and what kind of soap the dispenser was supposed to be used for. Most of them only said hand soap and nothing about dishes. Do I take a chance on one of these devices and return it if it doesn't work on dish soap? Argh. This type of purchase should be seriously easy and not require me to have to put so much thought into it. It's not like I'm trying to create a new soap device that I can take to the Shark Tank (and be turned down by Mr. Wonderful)!
Just as I was about to give up to go home and de-gunk my dispenser (again), I spotted a dispenser on the bottom shelf which was not on display. Eureka! I found my dispenser. How did I know? Well the little metal scrubbing accessory told me that this device was clearly meant to hold dish soap. Problem solved. I left the store and hurried home to fill up my new toy with dish soap (making sure I saved the receipt just in case), and set about making bubbles of soap in the sink. Did it work? Perfectly. I am truly a happy camper. I will still be buying dish washing soap in plastic bottles so that I can keep my dispenser full. Believe me, sometimes it's the little things in life that can make you the happiest!
Since I no longer have to worry about plastic soap bottles, I will turn my attention to something else. Of course I don't know what that something else is at the moment, but not to worry, I'll come up with something!
P
Soap bottles you ask? Yes, those annoying plastic bottles that dispense soap for hands or dishes. I don't know about you but the one I use for dishes, that little plastic dispensing thingy gets gunked up a lot. Solution? Put the dispenser to soak in hot water until you have de-gunked the little spout. Put it back on the bottle and within a matter of days, start the process all over again!
Last week I was a woman with a mission - find a better device for soap. Off I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and headed for the kitchen wares. The offerings of dispensers was more than I expected. Perhaps I'm not the only woman who hates those plastic bottles. So I pumped the top of all the containers on display and then carefully read their "instructions" and what kind of soap the dispenser was supposed to be used for. Most of them only said hand soap and nothing about dishes. Do I take a chance on one of these devices and return it if it doesn't work on dish soap? Argh. This type of purchase should be seriously easy and not require me to have to put so much thought into it. It's not like I'm trying to create a new soap device that I can take to the Shark Tank (and be turned down by Mr. Wonderful)!
Just as I was about to give up to go home and de-gunk my dispenser (again), I spotted a dispenser on the bottom shelf which was not on display. Eureka! I found my dispenser. How did I know? Well the little metal scrubbing accessory told me that this device was clearly meant to hold dish soap. Problem solved. I left the store and hurried home to fill up my new toy with dish soap (making sure I saved the receipt just in case), and set about making bubbles of soap in the sink. Did it work? Perfectly. I am truly a happy camper. I will still be buying dish washing soap in plastic bottles so that I can keep my dispenser full. Believe me, sometimes it's the little things in life that can make you the happiest!
Since I no longer have to worry about plastic soap bottles, I will turn my attention to something else. Of course I don't know what that something else is at the moment, but not to worry, I'll come up with something!
P
Monday, February 3, 2014
Super Bowl 2014
2/3/2014
What did you do yesterday? I stayed busy all day on purpose. It was a pretty nice day here weather wise. Could go out with just a sweater and no need for a coat - yeah.
Sunday morning was spent as all of my Sundays are - recording the next week of television. Thankfully because of the football game, there was no need on my part to have to juggle all of our shows making sure that nothing over ran something else. I did record the game, and as it turned out we both ended up watching the entire game, which even to someone as naive about the game as I am, was boring.
Some of the commercials we saw were just so over the top that I initially couldn't figure out what the product was. Loved the Budweiser commercials as I always do, partly because of those beautiful horses. For some of the advertisers and knowing how much each spot cost them, I really felt sorry that they spent so much money on an ad that for me as a consumer would feel no pull to buy their product. In some cases I actually had trouble figuring out what the product was! But more than likely they weren't trying to attract the attention of older people such as myself and I'm okay with that. I have my favorite products and companies and I am a very loyal consumer.
Before the game started, I did some reading and laundry (boring) and continued to find a home for all the things that I had brought home from the office. It may be easier to put the remaining things (which are small and are inconsequential, in a box, snap the lid on top and wait a year. If in a year I haven't missed anything in that box, then they need to find a new home.
Yesterday afternoon, my good friend took me to a movie in a very nice theater which had wide, comfy seats and armrests large enough for two elbows! What a treat. The movie was subtitled and initially you have to adjust to both reading and watching. But after a short bit of adjustment it became easy.
By the time I got home, I fixed myself a bite and settled on the sofa with Jeff to watch the only game he ever watches. The Sea Hawks trounced over the Broncos, which is somewhat ironic to me - birds over horses! I went to bed before the game was over, so convinced that nothing short of a miracle could change the way the game was going to end.
So that was my Sunday. Today is gloomy and raining. It's one of those days where I appreciate that I don't have to go outside. There are some benefits from being retired and this is one of them.
P
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Football
2/2/2014
It's official, the football season is going to end today, unless you play fantasy football. The game today will be watched by millions of folks across the country. They will individually be rooting for their favorite (or at least their pick of the two teams that are playing) team to win. I don't "do" football so I can barely remember who is playing and the outcome of the game doesn't matter to me.
I am not a sports widow, because Jeff isn't particularly interested in sports. We do watch the big game, but find the commercials, which are generally great, more entertaining than the game. I know this puts us in the minority, but we're okay with that.
What the big game does do is make it ridiculously easy for me to line up my Sunday night television, since there is very little else on except 60 Minutes and Downtown Abby. Generally, on Sunday I have to very carefully watch the times of our favorite shows and make sure that there are no conflicts. I love television and after reading the Sunday TV Week, I sit down - coffee and marker in hand - and select the shows we're going to watch for the week. Jeff isn't the tv nut that I am, so I watch my cheesy shows when he's working or flying. We do have several shows that we both enjoy, such as Shark Tank, Elementary and the Mentalist.
I suppose if I were in a grocery store today, I would see carts filled up with chips, dips, and in certain stores beer. I don't think anybody sits down to watch a football game with a dainty plate filled with celery and carrots! Pretty sure those aren't considered "real" football food!
Okay some fun facts:
So enjoy your afternoon and definitely your evening spent probably in front of the television and I hope your team wins.
P
It's official, the football season is going to end today, unless you play fantasy football. The game today will be watched by millions of folks across the country. They will individually be rooting for their favorite (or at least their pick of the two teams that are playing) team to win. I don't "do" football so I can barely remember who is playing and the outcome of the game doesn't matter to me.
I am not a sports widow, because Jeff isn't particularly interested in sports. We do watch the big game, but find the commercials, which are generally great, more entertaining than the game. I know this puts us in the minority, but we're okay with that.
What the big game does do is make it ridiculously easy for me to line up my Sunday night television, since there is very little else on except 60 Minutes and Downtown Abby. Generally, on Sunday I have to very carefully watch the times of our favorite shows and make sure that there are no conflicts. I love television and after reading the Sunday TV Week, I sit down - coffee and marker in hand - and select the shows we're going to watch for the week. Jeff isn't the tv nut that I am, so I watch my cheesy shows when he's working or flying. We do have several shows that we both enjoy, such as Shark Tank, Elementary and the Mentalist.
I suppose if I were in a grocery store today, I would see carts filled up with chips, dips, and in certain stores beer. I don't think anybody sits down to watch a football game with a dainty plate filled with celery and carrots! Pretty sure those aren't considered "real" football food!
Okay some fun facts:
- This game is the second highest day for eating. And yes I know you know that Thanksgiving wins first place in this category.
- 1.23 billion wing portions are consumed; 11 million pounds of chips, 38 million pounds of popcorn; 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips and finally 51.7 million cases of beer are drunk (or should it be drank?)
- Ads during the game cost 3.4 million per 30 SECONDS!
- And finally, 56% of people tune in to watch the game for the commercials as they do for the game itself (Jeff and I are part of that 56% - most of the advertisers make good use of their ad spot
So enjoy your afternoon and definitely your evening spent probably in front of the television and I hope your team wins.
P
Saturday, February 1, 2014
New Glasses
2/1/2014
Over the years, my eyesight continues to deteriorate. I think I'm just one step away from needing a guide dog - and they can't drive!
The prescription for my glasses is a bit complicated - bifocals and prisms and consequently they are quite expensive. I don't change my glasses very often and keep my frames for years. I don't feel the need to have designer glasses, which simply puts more money in the pocket for someone(s) that already has plenty of money.
I put off eye exams, even when I know my eyesight isn't as clear as it should be. I don't like getting new lenses and having to "break" them in. Like old slippers, my old glasses are comfortable and I've gotten used to them, even if I have to struggle a bit to see.
Last month I went to see the ophthalmologist to have my eyes tested because I was having trouble reading the words on the tv. While it's not one of those 60" television, it's good sized and up until recently had no trouble reading the words. One of the things I hate about having my eyes tested, is the part where you have to decide if "1" or "2" is better. I always wonder why I can't have a third option. After I keep going back and forth long enough, I'm so confused. I also keep wondering why the doctor can't somehow make the decision through some magical doctor thing to know exactly which lens is better.
I left the doctor's office with a brand new prescription for my regular (distance) glasses. I was so excited because I knew that very soon I would actually be able to read the television screen. Yesterday, I popped in to get my new lenses. Right out of the gate I didn't like them. I also know intellectually that you have to give new glasses a chance so that your eyes can adjust. The suggestion was to wear my new glasses as much as possible during the next couple of days.
Last night we went out to Andy's house to have cake and ice cream for his birthday. It was dark on our way home and that was when I became frustrated. Every road sign, tail lights, etc. all had half of the sign or light underneath the actual sign. Okay, this nearly drove me nuts. I tried for awhile to close one eye to see if my problem was in just one eye. Nope. Didn't matter which eye was open/closed, still had this annoying shadow thing on everything.
Guess where I'm going today? Yup. Back to the opticians to talk about my night vision. I know the doctor lowered my prisms, which I have had for years to keep me from seeing double. Maybe the solution will be to put back my prisms to what they were before getting new glasses. Wish me luck.
P
Over the years, my eyesight continues to deteriorate. I think I'm just one step away from needing a guide dog - and they can't drive!
The prescription for my glasses is a bit complicated - bifocals and prisms and consequently they are quite expensive. I don't change my glasses very often and keep my frames for years. I don't feel the need to have designer glasses, which simply puts more money in the pocket for someone(s) that already has plenty of money.
I put off eye exams, even when I know my eyesight isn't as clear as it should be. I don't like getting new lenses and having to "break" them in. Like old slippers, my old glasses are comfortable and I've gotten used to them, even if I have to struggle a bit to see.
Last month I went to see the ophthalmologist to have my eyes tested because I was having trouble reading the words on the tv. While it's not one of those 60" television, it's good sized and up until recently had no trouble reading the words. One of the things I hate about having my eyes tested, is the part where you have to decide if "1" or "2" is better. I always wonder why I can't have a third option. After I keep going back and forth long enough, I'm so confused. I also keep wondering why the doctor can't somehow make the decision through some magical doctor thing to know exactly which lens is better.
I left the doctor's office with a brand new prescription for my regular (distance) glasses. I was so excited because I knew that very soon I would actually be able to read the television screen. Yesterday, I popped in to get my new lenses. Right out of the gate I didn't like them. I also know intellectually that you have to give new glasses a chance so that your eyes can adjust. The suggestion was to wear my new glasses as much as possible during the next couple of days.
Last night we went out to Andy's house to have cake and ice cream for his birthday. It was dark on our way home and that was when I became frustrated. Every road sign, tail lights, etc. all had half of the sign or light underneath the actual sign. Okay, this nearly drove me nuts. I tried for awhile to close one eye to see if my problem was in just one eye. Nope. Didn't matter which eye was open/closed, still had this annoying shadow thing on everything.
Guess where I'm going today? Yup. Back to the opticians to talk about my night vision. I know the doctor lowered my prisms, which I have had for years to keep me from seeing double. Maybe the solution will be to put back my prisms to what they were before getting new glasses. Wish me luck.
P
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