This is a phrase I put together this morning driving into work.
You get on the road and are given a set of lanes to operate. You can keep them or change your route. In light traffic it's best to go your regular direction, but in heavy traffic this is a gamble. Stay in the slowly moving traffic? Or exit for what is a seemingly faster route only to get held up by a bunch of other people making that same decision or by traffic lights or yet another accident?
Change lanes? Or stay here?
Change lanes to pass a slower car only to miss your exit?
It's always a gamble.
And game face. Oh that is sooo important in poker. Game face for Traffic Jam Poker is letting other people in your lane or you trying to get into a different lane. Speed up, slow down. Everyone is jockeying for a spot.
Some people take this game very seriously, others just go with the flow. I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I verbalize a lot as I drive and it makes me think I am filled with rage, but the idiot quotient is high so I'm sure it's them, not me.
Thinking of it like a card game may lower my stress levels on the highway.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday Fragments - February 24, 2012
Oh this week has been eventful in many ways. This is what I get for bemoaning a boring life, right?
Over the weekend my future daughter-in-law took the baby with her parents to visit her brother in Florida. My grandbaby got to go to the beach!!!! From the texts and pictures it looks like he had a great time.
*****
As they drove back to Missouri, my brother was making his way to Florida. I'm quite sure they passed each other. After a blown tire and a midnight fiasco trying to repair it, he managed to get to Florida, retrieve what he needed out of his storage locker and return three days later. Sadly the shrimp vendors only come out on the weekend so he didn't bring back any fresh shrimp. DARN!
*****
I made a special trip myself - to the ER! Don't worry, I'm fine. I have a history of rapid heartbeat and had a little episode. I went in to just be safe that it wasn't something truly scary. Over the last 25 years I've visited about half of the ER's in the St. Louis area. That means I have a few more to go. I went to Mercy Hospital (recently renamed from St. John's - a change I'm still getting used to). I had decent service although there has to be latex in some part of the EKG leads because I still have a rash from them!
*****
In other news, I managed to smack my leg into the toilet seat. I heard a crack, no not from my knee, WORSE... I managed to BREAK THE TOILET. Okay, just the toilet seat, but it was still a major inconvenience. Nothing like trying to do your business with the toilet lid resting on your back while keeping the seat in place with your thighs and not tipping over. That is way too much coordination for me during the day, much less at 2am. This required a trip to Walmart, a new seat selection and then installation. Why is it necessary for men (I don't know a single woman guilty of this) to rachet every single screw, nut, and bolt at it's absolute tightest? I didn't mess with the installation, but there was a lot of swearing and grumbling and seeking of alternate tools to undo the old seat and then rachet the new one down so the next sucker stuck with removing it will have to swear, grumble and seek alternate tools. Vicious circle.
*****
AND THEN... I would have posted this mess sometime on Friday but I made the mistake of getting my eye exam (another trip to Walmart). I love those wonky eye drops where I can't read shit. Of course they wait until after your eyes are all doped up before they ask you for payment and signing the payment slip. I'm pretty sure I've mortgaged off one of my children. Sorry kids.
Then, before we got home there was a panic call from my brother, back in town less than 24 hours and sitting roadside with a flat. We ended up sitting with my brother as he waited for a tow truck and then at the tire shop.
*****
I've had three days off work, which I had been wanting, just not like this. And now I need to get back to work so I can relax! :)
Over the weekend my future daughter-in-law took the baby with her parents to visit her brother in Florida. My grandbaby got to go to the beach!!!! From the texts and pictures it looks like he had a great time.
*****
As they drove back to Missouri, my brother was making his way to Florida. I'm quite sure they passed each other. After a blown tire and a midnight fiasco trying to repair it, he managed to get to Florida, retrieve what he needed out of his storage locker and return three days later. Sadly the shrimp vendors only come out on the weekend so he didn't bring back any fresh shrimp. DARN!
*****
I made a special trip myself - to the ER! Don't worry, I'm fine. I have a history of rapid heartbeat and had a little episode. I went in to just be safe that it wasn't something truly scary. Over the last 25 years I've visited about half of the ER's in the St. Louis area. That means I have a few more to go. I went to Mercy Hospital (recently renamed from St. John's - a change I'm still getting used to). I had decent service although there has to be latex in some part of the EKG leads because I still have a rash from them!
*****
In other news, I managed to smack my leg into the toilet seat. I heard a crack, no not from my knee, WORSE... I managed to BREAK THE TOILET. Okay, just the toilet seat, but it was still a major inconvenience. Nothing like trying to do your business with the toilet lid resting on your back while keeping the seat in place with your thighs and not tipping over. That is way too much coordination for me during the day, much less at 2am. This required a trip to Walmart, a new seat selection and then installation. Why is it necessary for men (I don't know a single woman guilty of this) to rachet every single screw, nut, and bolt at it's absolute tightest? I didn't mess with the installation, but there was a lot of swearing and grumbling and seeking of alternate tools to undo the old seat and then rachet the new one down so the next sucker stuck with removing it will have to swear, grumble and seek alternate tools. Vicious circle.
*****
AND THEN... I would have posted this mess sometime on Friday but I made the mistake of getting my eye exam (another trip to Walmart). I love those wonky eye drops where I can't read shit. Of course they wait until after your eyes are all doped up before they ask you for payment and signing the payment slip. I'm pretty sure I've mortgaged off one of my children. Sorry kids.
Then, before we got home there was a panic call from my brother, back in town less than 24 hours and sitting roadside with a flat. We ended up sitting with my brother as he waited for a tow truck and then at the tire shop.
*****
I've had three days off work, which I had been wanting, just not like this. And now I need to get back to work so I can relax! :)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
You Might Be From North Dakota
Although it's on my list of places to visit, I've never been to North Dakota. BUT, my brother lives in ND and my best friend's husband is from there so I've been loaded up with all sorts of local quirks. So when an email like this comes across my computer I feel some sort of familiarity...
(Send me your local "You might be from" emails and I'll share them when my brain goes dry for blog posts)
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 8 inchesof ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, You might live in North Dakota.
If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation, You might live in North Dakota.
If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy", You might live in North Dakota
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You might live in North Dakota.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, You might live in North Dakota.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, You might live in North Dakota.
If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You might live in North Dakota.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, You might live in North Dakota.
If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know how to correctly pronounce Medina, Cando, and Hebron, You might live in North Dakota.
If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, You might live in North Dakota.
If "vacation" to you means going shopping for the weekend in Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot or Bismarck (while the kids swim at the Comfort Inn), You might live in North Dakota.
If you measure distance in hours, You might live in North Dakota.
If your family vehicle is a crew cab pickup, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know several people who have hit deer more than once, You might live in North Dakota.
If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, You might live in North Dakota.
If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching, You might live in North Dakota.
If you see people wearing hunting clothes at social events, You might live in North Dakota.
If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked, You might live in North Dakota.
If you think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison, You might live in North Dakota.
If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a high school basketball game, You might live in North Dakota.
If you carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them, You might live in North Dakota.
If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at any given time, You might live in North Dakota.
If there are more people at work on Christmas Eve Day than on Deer gun Opener, You might live in North Dakota.
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, You might live in North Dakota.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, You might live in North Dakota.
If you can identify a southern or eastern accent, You might live in North Dakota.
If you consider Fargo exotic, You might live in North Dakota.
If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your cottonwood, You might live in North Dakota.
If the sunbelt to you means Bismarck, You might live in North Dakota.
If a brat is something you eat, You might live in North Dakota.
If finding your misplaced car keys involves looking in the ignition, You might live in North Dakota.
If you go out to a fish fry every Friday, You might live in North Dakota.
If you find 0 degrees a little chilly, You might live in North Dakota.
(Send me your local "You might be from" emails and I'll share them when my brain goes dry for blog posts)
******
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 8 inchesof ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, You might live in North Dakota.
If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation, You might live in North Dakota.
If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy", You might live in North Dakota
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You might live in North Dakota.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, You might live in North Dakota.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, You might live in North Dakota.
If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You might live in North Dakota.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, You might live in North Dakota.
If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know how to correctly pronounce Medina, Cando, and Hebron, You might live in North Dakota.
If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, You might live in North Dakota.
If "vacation" to you means going shopping for the weekend in Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot or Bismarck (while the kids swim at the Comfort Inn), You might live in North Dakota.
If you measure distance in hours, You might live in North Dakota.
If your family vehicle is a crew cab pickup, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know several people who have hit deer more than once, You might live in North Dakota.
If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, You might live in North Dakota.
If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching, You might live in North Dakota.
If you see people wearing hunting clothes at social events, You might live in North Dakota.
If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked, You might live in North Dakota.
If you think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison, You might live in North Dakota.
If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a high school basketball game, You might live in North Dakota.
If you carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them, You might live in North Dakota.
If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at any given time, You might live in North Dakota.
If there are more people at work on Christmas Eve Day than on Deer gun Opener, You might live in North Dakota.
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, You might live in North Dakota.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, You might live in North Dakota.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, You might live in North Dakota.
If you can identify a southern or eastern accent, You might live in North Dakota.
If you consider Fargo exotic, You might live in North Dakota.
If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your cottonwood, You might live in North Dakota.
If the sunbelt to you means Bismarck, You might live in North Dakota.
If a brat is something you eat, You might live in North Dakota.
If finding your misplaced car keys involves looking in the ignition, You might live in North Dakota.
If you go out to a fish fry every Friday, You might live in North Dakota.
If you find 0 degrees a little chilly, You might live in North Dakota.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Westerns
I do not watch westerns.
I am not a fan.
They were pure drudgery to endure back in the days before cable. For as much as I hate to blame TV for the degradation of America, I can concede that when a crappy movie like a western was the only thing to watch I was clawing at the front door to run free like a dog needing to take a piss. Lord help anyone in the vicinity if it was raining and I was stranded indoors. Whine whine whine until I sought refuge in the pile of toys scattered on my bedroom floor.
And then I married the man from Oklahoma.
A man who likes westerns.
Especially John Wayne.
He's watched some of them so many damn times he can recite them.
Do you know what's worse than watching a movie you weren't interested in to begin with? It's watching it with someone who can tell you the next line. It makes one ponder the need to watch this movie yet again and maybe, perhaps, move on to greener pastures to movies not yet seen?
Surely I jest.
Now that I've seen ninety bajillion western movies in the past few years I've actually grown not to dismiss them quite so quickly. They don't all suck. They're not all formulaic. And some, heaven forbid, are actually educational.
And then there was the one I watched yesterday, Drum Beat. It piqued my interest somewhat from the opening credits as it claimed to be based on actual facts. I watched it half-assed while playing on the computer like I do most everything (amazing my husband that I catch far more than you would expect - one of the most fantastic talents possessed by people with ADD) when I heard President Grant mention the Modocs.
Ahem
Modocs? I know about Modoc Indians. I grew up in Modoc country. The arrowhead tucked deep in my jewelry box is surely Modoc.
Uh, that would be southern Oregon and very northern California.
Ooooh shit, now I have to pay attention. So I google Modoc Indians because I still wasn't clear what historical event this movie was portraying. Well, my my my - there happened to be an actual "Modoc War" in 1873. 57 Indians against 1,000 calvary and it is the only Indian war where a general was killed in action. WHO KNEW?
And I got to tell you, I've been through the Klamath County Museum plenty of times and do not remember a damn thing about the Modoc War. Then again I was rather fascinated with the real live stage coaches and recreation of a one-room school house to be able to recount any of the wars detailed elsewhere in the facility. The only Indian stuff that stands out in my memory were the scads of arrowheads. By the way my awesome arrowhead did not come from the museum as I had not yet refined my kleptomania skillz (yo) at such a young age. It actually came from a stream running through a ranch (an actual, up-and-running ranch with real live cows roaming around). It is my firm opinion every child should go on a field trip to a ranch and get to grab up arrowheads as souveniers. Stick that in your Gateway Arch and smoke it, St. Louis!
So eyes back on the TV screen. Suddenly I turn into my mother who when watching any TV show filmed in the greater Los Angeles area (every damn one, by the way) would start to click off the street and intersection in question. As a cruel joke my mosterous children should get me a GPS with my mother's voice. Unfortunately I couldn't quite recite landmarks since they didn't film this Modoc War reenactment anywhere near the states of Oregon or Califor-NA-YAY.
See, the movie makers can get away with using one tiny plot of land for all of their wild west films because most audience members wouldn't know any different. If you've seen one western landscape, you've seen 'em all. And those of us who are actually from the area in question, well, hush, you're detracting from the movie when you point out that pile of dirt looks like it's from Arizona or Utah. Who cares that it doesn't look like lava beds.
What the hell does a lava bed look like anyway? OH MY GOD, DEFINITELY NOT LIKE THAT!
I'm pretty sure I'm the only kid on the face of the earth... well me and my brother... and then any poor sap that moved into the house after us... that had a "sand box" filled with jagged lava rocks. RED jagged lava rocks. I'm actually really sad I didn't keep one of the damn things - we brought them inside all the time only to get yelled at. We would play in the rock box for hours trying to make roads, you know trying to use it like a sand box? I'm sure it always ended up with us throwing rocks at each other. We were loving like that.
But this fucked up childhood memory serves to make me an expert as to what a lava bed looks like. And it is NOT smooth or sandy like what was portrayed in this Indian war as seen from the white perspective. And you know what? It had what is seen in every flipping movie of this genre - the same eroded rock steeples in the background.
Methinks a bigass studio owned or had rights to one certain plot of scenic desert. I'll be stunned to discover if they also used the same sappy violin background music.
I am not a fan.
They were pure drudgery to endure back in the days before cable. For as much as I hate to blame TV for the degradation of America, I can concede that when a crappy movie like a western was the only thing to watch I was clawing at the front door to run free like a dog needing to take a piss. Lord help anyone in the vicinity if it was raining and I was stranded indoors. Whine whine whine until I sought refuge in the pile of toys scattered on my bedroom floor.
And then I married the man from Oklahoma.
A man who likes westerns.
Especially John Wayne.
He's watched some of them so many damn times he can recite them.
Do you know what's worse than watching a movie you weren't interested in to begin with? It's watching it with someone who can tell you the next line. It makes one ponder the need to watch this movie yet again and maybe, perhaps, move on to greener pastures to movies not yet seen?
Surely I jest.
Now that I've seen ninety bajillion western movies in the past few years I've actually grown not to dismiss them quite so quickly. They don't all suck. They're not all formulaic. And some, heaven forbid, are actually educational.
And then there was the one I watched yesterday, Drum Beat. It piqued my interest somewhat from the opening credits as it claimed to be based on actual facts. I watched it half-assed while playing on the computer like I do most everything (amazing my husband that I catch far more than you would expect - one of the most fantastic talents possessed by people with ADD) when I heard President Grant mention the Modocs.
Ahem
Modocs? I know about Modoc Indians. I grew up in Modoc country. The arrowhead tucked deep in my jewelry box is surely Modoc.
Uh, that would be southern Oregon and very northern California.
Ooooh shit, now I have to pay attention. So I google Modoc Indians because I still wasn't clear what historical event this movie was portraying. Well, my my my - there happened to be an actual "Modoc War" in 1873. 57 Indians against 1,000 calvary and it is the only Indian war where a general was killed in action. WHO KNEW?
And I got to tell you, I've been through the Klamath County Museum plenty of times and do not remember a damn thing about the Modoc War. Then again I was rather fascinated with the real live stage coaches and recreation of a one-room school house to be able to recount any of the wars detailed elsewhere in the facility. The only Indian stuff that stands out in my memory were the scads of arrowheads. By the way my awesome arrowhead did not come from the museum as I had not yet refined my kleptomania skillz (yo) at such a young age. It actually came from a stream running through a ranch (an actual, up-and-running ranch with real live cows roaming around). It is my firm opinion every child should go on a field trip to a ranch and get to grab up arrowheads as souveniers. Stick that in your Gateway Arch and smoke it, St. Louis!
So eyes back on the TV screen. Suddenly I turn into my mother who when watching any TV show filmed in the greater Los Angeles area (every damn one, by the way) would start to click off the street and intersection in question. As a cruel joke my mosterous children should get me a GPS with my mother's voice. Unfortunately I couldn't quite recite landmarks since they didn't film this Modoc War reenactment anywhere near the states of Oregon or Califor-NA-YAY.
See, the movie makers can get away with using one tiny plot of land for all of their wild west films because most audience members wouldn't know any different. If you've seen one western landscape, you've seen 'em all. And those of us who are actually from the area in question, well, hush, you're detracting from the movie when you point out that pile of dirt looks like it's from Arizona or Utah. Who cares that it doesn't look like lava beds.
What the hell does a lava bed look like anyway? OH MY GOD, DEFINITELY NOT LIKE THAT!
I'm pretty sure I'm the only kid on the face of the earth... well me and my brother... and then any poor sap that moved into the house after us... that had a "sand box" filled with jagged lava rocks. RED jagged lava rocks. I'm actually really sad I didn't keep one of the damn things - we brought them inside all the time only to get yelled at. We would play in the rock box for hours trying to make roads, you know trying to use it like a sand box? I'm sure it always ended up with us throwing rocks at each other. We were loving like that.
But this fucked up childhood memory serves to make me an expert as to what a lava bed looks like. And it is NOT smooth or sandy like what was portrayed in this Indian war as seen from the white perspective. And you know what? It had what is seen in every flipping movie of this genre - the same eroded rock steeples in the background.
Methinks a bigass studio owned or had rights to one certain plot of scenic desert. I'll be stunned to discover if they also used the same sappy violin background music.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Sunday In My City - On The Road
The drive home from North Carolina
If you look closely, there's a rainbow
Once I got the camera in better focus I lost the rainbow, but I do love the shot anyway. Unfortunately I slept through the most scenic part of the mountains. Damn allergy medicine.
Kentucky - you can never go wrong with a sunset picture, can you?
If you look closely, there's a rainbow
Once I got the camera in better focus I lost the rainbow, but I do love the shot anyway. Unfortunately I slept through the most scenic part of the mountains. Damn allergy medicine.
Kentucky - you can never go wrong with a sunset picture, can you?
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Sunday In My City - Lake Norman
I spent last week near Charlotte, North Carolina (I passed a sign for Lake Lure and thought of fellow blogger "Lake Lure Cottage"). We had splendid weather and one day took advantage of it with a walk to Lake Norman... of course with camera in hand.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday Fragments - December 30, 2011
Hey all! Did you miss me? I took a vacation - both virtual and real. Hubby and I traveled to North Carolina visiting his sister. That is a TWELVE HOUR drive from St. Louis. Good thing I like driving... a lot... and think roadtrips are awesome. We had a splendid time and I will be posting pictures on Sunday.
Well... okay... here...
Friday night dinner - a fish fry! The last time we visited we were treated to fish, shrimp and chicken deep fried and it was yummy. So this was our big request for this trip. Yeah, we make our own every so often, but not all three at once and we never do shrimp. Quite the treat.
So a few years ago my daughter encouraged me to join Facebook if for no other reason than it was an easy way to exchange pictures. And I did. And she has regretted that suggestion every day since. You would think she would learn. The little idiot (wave hi - she's a frequent lurker) sent me an invitation to Pinterest. At first I was sort of "eh" about it but then several other people started up on it. Again, I'm pretty sure my daughter regrets the suggestion. I've gone full tilt and am always finding more crap to post.
Oh, you're not familiar with Pinterest? It's a website where you post pictures of stuff you like. There are a ton of pins posted by other people that you can grab for your own, like funny sayings you see plastered all over Facebook or all of the elements you like when planning your wedding. You can also grab pictures off the internet or upload your own. It's not "stealing" pictures, just posting that you like it. You could pin that fried shrimp picture above. It will link back to this blog and actually increase traffic here - so yeah, pin it!
Who is missing the snow? Evidently there was a little splatter sometime on Monday but I wasn't here to savor it. If you'll all remember, I was NOT among those last year bitching about the white fluffy stuff - I like it. I do find it funny that everyone is bemoaning the lack of winter.
Happy New Year! Stay safe and I'll see you on the flip side!
Well... okay... here...
Friday night dinner - a fish fry! The last time we visited we were treated to fish, shrimp and chicken deep fried and it was yummy. So this was our big request for this trip. Yeah, we make our own every so often, but not all three at once and we never do shrimp. Quite the treat.
******
So a few years ago my daughter encouraged me to join Facebook if for no other reason than it was an easy way to exchange pictures. And I did. And she has regretted that suggestion every day since. You would think she would learn. The little idiot (wave hi - she's a frequent lurker) sent me an invitation to Pinterest. At first I was sort of "eh" about it but then several other people started up on it. Again, I'm pretty sure my daughter regrets the suggestion. I've gone full tilt and am always finding more crap to post.
Oh, you're not familiar with Pinterest? It's a website where you post pictures of stuff you like. There are a ton of pins posted by other people that you can grab for your own, like funny sayings you see plastered all over Facebook or all of the elements you like when planning your wedding. You can also grab pictures off the internet or upload your own. It's not "stealing" pictures, just posting that you like it. You could pin that fried shrimp picture above. It will link back to this blog and actually increase traffic here - so yeah, pin it!
******
Who is missing the snow? Evidently there was a little splatter sometime on Monday but I wasn't here to savor it. If you'll all remember, I was NOT among those last year bitching about the white fluffy stuff - I like it. I do find it funny that everyone is bemoaning the lack of winter.
******
Happy New Year! Stay safe and I'll see you on the flip side!
Friday, December 09, 2011
Friday Fragments - Dec 9, 2011
When the pudding cup is filled with liquid that sloshes back and forth, it's just a guess that maybe you shouldn't eat it. ~count this as a friendly, helpful tip~ So I didn't open the buldging top and just tossed it right into the trash.
I really hate the news stations. I watch both local and national news. They always glom onto a set of few topics and drive them into the ground. St. Louis news is all atwitter over Albert Pujohls accepting LA's bigass contract (baseball, in case you don't know/care). They are so worked up they can barely squeeze in the weather report. It's going to be huge news here for a while.
I just watched my recorded sunday morning shows and saw a quick, barely 3 second report about a WWII mine found in the Rhine River. THAT is interesting. Who cares if it isn't something unfolding on our soil? Give me more information. I think they said something about evacuating the town so they can detonate it. This is huge. And yet I'm getting play by play of anything Kardashian - WHO THE HELL CARES? And for those who do care, there are plenty of ways to fulfill the last three minutes of their lives. Ugh.
My Nashville trip has been postponed yet again. Bummer. But that's okay, I have plenty of other things to fill my time. I'm a little frustrated because no one really took the lead in getting this trip put together so I was patting myself on the back for coordinating everything instead of waiting until the last minute as would have happened if the other participants had stepped up. So instead, nearly in the last hour, it was decided for reasons beyond our preparation to hold off. Maddening.
~~~~~~~~~
I really hate the news stations. I watch both local and national news. They always glom onto a set of few topics and drive them into the ground. St. Louis news is all atwitter over Albert Pujohls accepting LA's bigass contract (baseball, in case you don't know/care). They are so worked up they can barely squeeze in the weather report. It's going to be huge news here for a while.
I just watched my recorded sunday morning shows and saw a quick, barely 3 second report about a WWII mine found in the Rhine River. THAT is interesting. Who cares if it isn't something unfolding on our soil? Give me more information. I think they said something about evacuating the town so they can detonate it. This is huge. And yet I'm getting play by play of anything Kardashian - WHO THE HELL CARES? And for those who do care, there are plenty of ways to fulfill the last three minutes of their lives. Ugh.
~~~~~~~~~
My Nashville trip has been postponed yet again. Bummer. But that's okay, I have plenty of other things to fill my time. I'm a little frustrated because no one really took the lead in getting this trip put together so I was patting myself on the back for coordinating everything instead of waiting until the last minute as would have happened if the other participants had stepped up. So instead, nearly in the last hour, it was decided for reasons beyond our preparation to hold off. Maddening.
~~~~~~~~~
I saw Santa Claus walking out of Burger King last night. Red suit and all. He lingered around a pickup truck and then crossed the lot. I bet he was waiting for his ride to swoop down from the roof of Bed Bath and Beyond. Just guessing.
~~~~~~~~~
Words With Friends. OMG. 1) I wondered how I hadn't sought out this incredibly popular game 2) oh yeah, my easily-addicted-to-games personality. Oh holy shit, I'm having fun. I might have to download it on one of my other facebook accounts... er, my husband's account. Did I mention how easily I get addicted to games? Yeah, this girl? Totally mastered Zelda. Twice. Zelda One AND Zelda Two... twice.
Oh, yeah, I assume you know what I'm talking about, but maybe you've been hiding like I was. Scrabble. AWESOME! It's not a timed game so you can play a word and then go brush your teeth, work 8 hours, fix dinner, eat it and then hope your opponent played their word so you get your turn. I was playing it on my iPhone but it was draining the battery something fierce. My brilliant son suggested I find if there's an app for our iPad. TA DA! AND it's easier for my squinty eyes to read.
PS. If I gave birth to you and you happen to be reading this, PLAY WITH ME. I know you own an iPad, be nice to your old mom, let me kick your arse with triple point words containing V.
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There you go, a truly fragmented post (sorry I wasn't very fragmenty for the past several Fridays). Check out all of the other fragmenters...
Friday, December 02, 2011
Friday Fragments - December 2, 2011
Okay, Thanksgiving is down and it's time to start working on Christmas. Guess WHO is not anywhere near ready? Guess whose tree is not up and has no idea when that's going to happen? Guess who hasn't put together her Christmas Card list or even started working on it? Guess who hasn't started real Christmas shopping? Well, okay, there are a few things stashed in a back closet that I picked up ages ago that I've totally forgotten what's been acquired so far... guess who hasn't even peeked in that closet?
The only bright spot in my lagging Christmas Spirit is that I have an extra week to work with. We are celebrating Christmas a week later because me and my beloved are leaving town for a few days to visit with his side of the family. The giddy feeling of "OMG I'M TAKING A VACATION" hasn't quite hit, but that's because I won't let myself get excited, at least not until I'm filling my suitcase the night before in true procrastinator fashion.
What's crazy is the excitement starting to brew in my head is that I get not one, but TWO, roadtrips before the end of the year. One is the Christmas trip to North Carolina, but two weeks before that I have an overnight trip to Nashville. And yes, I love the thought of sitting in a car driving for hours. The only thing that would make it better is if I was driving by myself so I could crank the radio and bellow along at the top of my lungs.
On the downside, I won't get to spend Christmas Day with this little love muffin :( Although, postponing our celebration means I get to spend even more time with him because he doesn't have to be whisked away to share with the rest of the family.... yay me!
The only bright spot in my lagging Christmas Spirit is that I have an extra week to work with. We are celebrating Christmas a week later because me and my beloved are leaving town for a few days to visit with his side of the family. The giddy feeling of "OMG I'M TAKING A VACATION" hasn't quite hit, but that's because I won't let myself get excited, at least not until I'm filling my suitcase the night before in true procrastinator fashion.
What's crazy is the excitement starting to brew in my head is that I get not one, but TWO, roadtrips before the end of the year. One is the Christmas trip to North Carolina, but two weeks before that I have an overnight trip to Nashville. And yes, I love the thought of sitting in a car driving for hours. The only thing that would make it better is if I was driving by myself so I could crank the radio and bellow along at the top of my lungs.
On the downside, I won't get to spend Christmas Day with this little love muffin :( Although, postponing our celebration means I get to spend even more time with him because he doesn't have to be whisked away to share with the rest of the family.... yay me!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday In My City - New Salem pt 2
More from my visit to the New Salem settlement outside Springfield Illinois...
I'm sure New Salem is pretty any time of the year, but the rustic features really fit with the dried leaves of fall
This shot is duplicated on the edges of the blog
Beyond the fence is one of many kitchen gardens in the settlement. It amused me to see the tomatoes set on the fence to ripen. Clearly this garden does not suffer midnight marauders like my struggling container garden.
I LOVE this shot! I knew I would love it as soon as I snapped it. The afternoon sun striking the grass, the gentle breeze making the stems sway...
I'm sure New Salem is pretty any time of the year, but the rustic features really fit with the dried leaves of fall
This shot is duplicated on the edges of the blog
Beyond the fence is one of many kitchen gardens in the settlement. It amused me to see the tomatoes set on the fence to ripen. Clearly this garden does not suffer midnight marauders like my struggling container garden.
I LOVE this shot! I knew I would love it as soon as I snapped it. The afternoon sun striking the grass, the gentle breeze making the stems sway...
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Sunday In My City - New Salem
Still posting pictures from our trip to Springfield Illinois. This was the most unexpected stop and was a bit of a jog out of town but sooooo totally worth it. I think I would like to go back and spend a little more time wandering through the area.
New Salem lies 12 or so miles outside of Springfield and it's the settlement where Abraham Lincoln lived as a young adult. The village has been recreated for visitors and on the day we visited they were holding some sort of celebration with re-enactors. I was expecting maybe one or two cabins at most, not a whole township. It happened to be the most beautiful day possible and I went camera happy (more pictures will be posted next week)
These are the people in my header. We stood behind them talking to another re-enactor about her quilts. They looked so authentic standing there, completely oblivious to the camera stalker behind them...
And then husband and wife joined hands and walked back to their car
My mom is such a ding dong, she had to pose between Abraham Lincoln's legs.
New Salem lies 12 or so miles outside of Springfield and it's the settlement where Abraham Lincoln lived as a young adult. The village has been recreated for visitors and on the day we visited they were holding some sort of celebration with re-enactors. I was expecting maybe one or two cabins at most, not a whole township. It happened to be the most beautiful day possible and I went camera happy (more pictures will be posted next week)
These are the people in my header. We stood behind them talking to another re-enactor about her quilts. They looked so authentic standing there, completely oblivious to the camera stalker behind them...
And then husband and wife joined hands and walked back to their car
My mom is such a ding dong, she had to pose between Abraham Lincoln's legs.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday In My City - Lincoln Tomb
Springfield Illinois - the hill in the middle of the cemetery was beautiful and serene with a gentle breeze.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday In My City - War Memorial
I really could have divided this into three different posts. Like I said last week, I knocked out enough sightseeing in one day to fill several posts. There are still another two Sundays worth of pictures so make sure you keep coming back!
I had no idea this even existed. In the middle of a cemetery in Springfield Illinois are several different war memorials.
Korea
I actually laughed when I read this
The bell chimes the anthem of each of the services. The entire time I walked around it I kept hearing The Halls Of Montezuma, the song of the Marine Corps. It struck a chord because that quote I just laughed at would be something my ex, a former Marine, would have enjoyed... oh okay, I sent a copy of the picture to him. As any Marine will tell you, "once a Marine, always a Marine" Oooh rah
World War II
Vietnam Memorial
Each of these were beautiful in their own right. The WWII had a bench in honor of the masons who had served.
As we went to another part of the cemetery I noticed first a big book which I quickly corrected myself - BIBLE, and some huge chairs just randomly sitting there. I didn't get it until we were leaving and then I practically screamed at my mom "OH! IT'S A LODGE ROOM!" DUH. There were four chairs, one in each the south, north, east and west with the Bible on the altar in the middle... exactly like a lodge meeting room. I would have smacked my forehead except that I was driving. My mom agreed, it made sense. She speculated that they probably have ceremonies for member funerals.
I had no idea this even existed. In the middle of a cemetery in Springfield Illinois are several different war memorials.
Korea
I actually laughed when I read this
The bell chimes the anthem of each of the services. The entire time I walked around it I kept hearing The Halls Of Montezuma, the song of the Marine Corps. It struck a chord because that quote I just laughed at would be something my ex, a former Marine, would have enjoyed... oh okay, I sent a copy of the picture to him. As any Marine will tell you, "once a Marine, always a Marine" Oooh rah
World War II
Vietnam Memorial
Each of these were beautiful in their own right. The WWII had a bench in honor of the masons who had served.
As we went to another part of the cemetery I noticed first a big book which I quickly corrected myself - BIBLE, and some huge chairs just randomly sitting there. I didn't get it until we were leaving and then I practically screamed at my mom "OH! IT'S A LODGE ROOM!" DUH. There were four chairs, one in each the south, north, east and west with the Bible on the altar in the middle... exactly like a lodge meeting room. I would have smacked my forehead except that I was driving. My mom agreed, it made sense. She speculated that they probably have ceremonies for member funerals.
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