April 2004 | Main | June 2004
May 31, 2004
Memorial Day
John's post says everything for me.
I'll get back to blogging tomorrow, after I get to Richmond, VA.
Posted by Beth at 12:10 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2004
At Last!
Muslim Group Wants to Fight Terrorism
LOS ANGELES - A national Muslim group called Friday for a campaign within the Muslim community and mosques to root out terrorist supporters after federal officials said they were looking for a California man with links to al-Qaida.
Thanks to Little Green Footballs for the link.
Charles believes this statement should be taken with a grain of salt. I really hope he is wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by Beth at 6:22 PM
May 28, 2004
This may come as a surprise to you
Sometimes I can be pretty outspoken. Especially when I'm traveling home after a week of work, even more so when I feel ill most of that week.
Last night, as I waited forever in line at the Frontier Airline counter to check my luggage, two guys walked up to a friend who was behind me, and butt into line.
There were at least 75 people behind them.
I could see the anger on all those faces as these jerks just added a few more minutes of waiting to everyone behind them. But not one person said a word.
Except for me.
I turned around and said, "Excuse me, perhaps you did not realize that the end of the line is back there?" (Pointing off into the distance)
One of the jerks said - "We are traveling together".
Me: "So what?"
The second jerk points to the first jerk and says, "He bought our tickets, we have to go together".
Me: "Just how stupid do you think I am? Go to the back of the line"
The third jerk says, "Why do you care, you are in front of us?"
Me: "Someone should care, and you need to learn to be more considerate, and you are being jerks - look at all those families with little kids behind you who now have to wait longer because you think you are so special!"
By now, people standing close to me are backing away.
But one mom, traveling with two kids, standing behind the 3 jerks, said, "She's right, so I'll get in front of you" And she moved her two children and her suitcases in front of them.
Another woman and her husband moved in front of them.
Everyone else in line said ' baaaaaa, we are sheep, we will let anyone take advantage of us" Or at least their faces said that!
The first jerk was not happy, he said, but we are traveling together, like family -
Me: "You three don't look married to me".
So, as a warning, if you ever travel with me, chances are I will embarrass you.
Damn jerks never did go to the back of the line.
Posted by Beth at 7:26 AM | Comments (10)
May 26, 2004
Oh, My
The testosterone levels in this hotel are at an all time high. I can barely stand it.
Why?
There are 4 busloads of Playboy Bunnies parked out back, and they are all staying here.
The men are sneaking through all the floors hoping for a glimpse of a girl gone wild.
I'm very tempted to step out of my room topless.
That'll teach 'em!
Posted by Beth at 8:46 PM | Comments (8)
Cilantro
HoustonChronicle.com - Cilantro can kill dangerous bacteria
WASHINGTON -- Another reason to eat spicy foods: cilantro, an herb key to many cuisines and central to salsa, can kill food poisoning bacteria, researchers said Tuesday. U.S. and Mexican researchers said they had identified a compound in cilantro that kills harmful salmonella bacteria. They hope it can be developed into a safe food additive that could help prevent foodborne illness.
The cilantro in my garden is doing quite well. As soon as I have some tomatoes, I'll make my own salsa.
Posted by Beth at 7:46 AM | Comments (8)
Gee, Thanks A Bunch, Spanish Voters
U.S. Warns Of Al Qaeda Threat This Summer (washingtonpost.com)
al Qaeda operatives are pleased with the change in government resulting from the March 11 terrorist bombings in Spain and may want to affect elections in the United States and other countries. "They saw that an attack of that nature can have economic and political consequences and have some impact on the electoral process," said one federal official with access to counterterrorism intelligence.
This is no surprise to me at all. Just goes to show you that you can't stop terrorism by doing what the terrorists want, eh?
Posted by Beth at 7:39 AM | Comments (1)
May 25, 2004
Bar conversation
I sat in the little hotel bar with my diet coke, and then later, a glass of wine. A young man sat there also, and we struck up a conversation.
He was really annoyed with Bush, and said - I watched his speech last night - it all consisted of kill them, kill them, kill them, kill them, kill them.
I replied - but if we don't do that, they will kill us, kill us, kill us, kill us, kill us.
He looked at me as if a lightbulb had turned on, and said. Oh. You have a point.
Posted by Beth at 11:30 PM | Comments (3)
This is *so* embarrassing
I felt really bad when I arrived here in the Denver area on Sunday night. I thought it was because I had to sit next to a young lady with unbelievable body odor on the flight here. I had a headache, and was a little dizzy and just didn't feel right.
I only had a few hours of sleep on Sunday night - I kept waking up, gasping for air, and thirsty, thirsty, thirsty.
Yesterday, I felt a little better, but nauseous all day long. Last night, another night of little sleep. Went to work this morning and I felt horrible. Around 10:30 am, S and decided to go for a break and take a walk - we took about a 20 minute walk, then when I got back, I felt like death warmed over. So, I got all the installation stuff done and trained S on as much as I could, then I had her drive me back to the hotel, as I was afraid I was going to pass out.
I woke up a couple of hours ago, went down to the hotel bar for some appetizers and a coke and felt a little better. The very kind bartendress explained to me that I probably had altitude sickness. 20 to 30 % of all visitors to Colorado experience this, but usually not until they are about 1,000 feet higher than I am.
I have been to Colorado several times before, but always drove- so I guess I acclimated better. This it the first time I have flown to Denver, and I am really suffering for it. I'm sure part of it is because I am so out of shape and overweight. I had altitude sickness once before, but we were camping out at about 9,000 ft, and I'm not nearly that high up now.
I still love the mountains, though I wish the air was just a little thicker!
Update: I don't think it is altitude sickness. I have a fever. Yuch.
Posted by Beth at 9:37 PM | Comments (2)
Trying to diet
I signed up for Ediets.com diet stuff - figured it could not hurt. There are a wide variety of diets there, and they set up meal plans for you. But I can't find a meal plan that recognizes that I travel 4 to 5 days a week. Everytime I try to select a plan that will let me eat out 3 times a day 4 days a week, it tells me I can't lose weight that way.
Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
I simply can't cook when I'm in most hotels. This is making me crazy.
I guess I did wake up grumpy.
Posted by Beth at 7:57 AM | Comments (6)
Dinner talk
S (my co-worker) and I had dinner together last night. S is 26 years old, and is of Indian descent (her parents came here from India many years ago). We get along very well. I kind of feel like a big sister to her sometime - okay, a much older sister, ok well, maybe a mom to her, and we have some interesting discussions.
My friend is a devout Hindu. She is a vegetarian as part of her faith, and she thinks the whole Vegan movement is very silly. She is going to be officially engaged in a couple of months, and is will get married in about a year. S has saved herself for marriage, also as her religion requires.
Somehow, our conversation turned to different religions - and we both felt that all religions have some truth, some value - and then S looked at me and said, of course except for that one religion. And this very kind, sweet, smart young woman said - you know, the whole Muslim thing. And I agree with her.
When I was in elementary school - all girl Catholic school - Mother Earhardt was our religion teacher from 1st to 4th grade. She once said that if you think of a tall tower, with windows all around the top of it, the view outside of each window could represent the different views of each religion - they all see part of the truth, but none of them see all of the truth.
I think that perhaps that Mother Earhardt was wrong - I think that perhaps one religion is in the basement, looking at the dirt around the tower and trying to figure out how to blow up the tower so that all the other religions will perish. So they can force all of us, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Animist, Buddhist, all of us, to face East, kneel and submit to their religion - so they can rule us and enslave us.
I think we need an exterminator to get that rat out of the Tower's basement before the foundation of all of faiths is fouled.
Posted by Beth at 6:10 AM | Comments (6)
May 24, 2004
Tornadoes
This is a very dangerous time of year in the flyover states. The Queen of All Evil has spent worried hours waiting for storms to pass over in the Detroit area.
An entire town in Nebraska was demolished over the weekend by an F3 class tornado. Those are pretty darn big ones, but not the biggest.
And it looks like the weather pattern for much of this week will continue to spawn storms that can bring tornadoes. So, everyone between Minnesota and Texas and west of the Rockies and East of the Eastern Seaboard - stay safe and keep you eye on the skies.
Posted by Beth at 12:04 PM | Comments (2)
Ahhh, mountains
I am not a beach bunny. I don't like sand in my bathing suit and I really don't like those creepy nasty jelly fish that are all over the Gulf Coast. I don't like sunburns or the feel of seaweed under my feet. I don't like saltwater going up my nose when a wave is bigger than I expected. I am too fat to look good in a swimming suit, especially the tiny patches of cloth that some people must paste onto their nether regions these days. I don't like the extreme humidity in the air around beaches and such.
Give me a mountain anyday. Rugged, majestic, awesome (in the true sense of the word) mountains. The air is dry and clear. The streams are cold as ice ... and clear. No jelly fish. No sharks. No seaweed. No sand. I've never had a chigger bite or a mosquito bite in the mountains.
I looked out my window this morning and I can see the Rocky Mountains, Front Range, I believe. Lots of snow on the peaks this time of year.
With a little luck and a lot of planning, S (my co-worker) and I will get done really early today or tomorrow and head for Rocky Mountain National Park. She has never been there, and it is one of my very favorite places on earth. I did bring the camera this week, so if we get the time, you will get to see some pictures.
Posted by Beth at 6:41 AM | Comments (4)
May 23, 2004
Speaking of furry critters
Andy, son and heir to the Donovan fortune (ha ha), is back home from his first year at college.
Now, Andy started shaving when he was 12 - he actually needed to. He had pretty hairy legs by age 14, and Hobbit Feet soon after.
Yesterday morning, he was walking around without his shirt, and he now has hair on his upper chest.
Poor Andy, wouldn't you know that he would come of age in an era where hairless men seem to be 'in'. Andy, thank God, would never have his body waxed or shaved, but the smooth skin thing on guys (there is something not right with that to my mind) has caused him to refuse to wear shorts.
It can be 105 degrees, and Andy won't wear shorts because of his hairy legs.
Sigh.
Posted by Beth at 8:10 AM | Comments (7)
Another Week, Another Trip
John and I didn't finish last week's to do list, and I have to leave this afternoon for Denver.
I am just a little worried about this trip. The last I heard, I was going to train one of my co-workers, 'S' on how to do this particular type of implementation. She is supposed to fly into Denver from Austin, Texas, and I am to pick her up at the airport. Just now, I checked my work email, and it looks like there is a chance they decided to send her to Virginia, instead. But no one let me know either way, and I don't have her cell phone number. I sent her and my boss notes asking them to let me know WTF is going on. If she is not going to Colorado, I'll drive up to Estes Park this afternoon, take some pictures, and be back in time for bed. Otherwise, I'll have to hang around Denver until her plane gets in, about 5 hours after mine.
I do want to train S how to do this capacity planning stuff so that we can share the travel load more and I can stay home with John, Andy and all other furry creatures here in Leavenworth more often.
Posted by Beth at 8:01 AM
May 22, 2004
Weiner Dogs
A dachshund is a mlah: Good Dog.
I love dachshunds - had them growing up - even showed and bred my long hair dachshund.
MLAH is a new blog for me. I've added MLAH to my blogroll, except for his inability to use upper case letters, I like him.
Posted by Beth at 7:54 PM | Comments (5)
Garden Talk Time
Got Andy home from KSU yesterday, and he and John and I are working on improving his living environment by redoing his bedroom.
While we are busy doing that, I'd like to show off some of my plants that live outside on my deck.
I invite you to comment with links to your gardening achievements or underachievements (in my case!)
Or, I'll link with them!
Rachel Lucas has some tomatoes which are much farther along than mine.
Calliope has cute little baby corn.
Laurence Simon (late of Amish Tech Support, now of This Blog is Full of Crap)
has a very nice patio garden and he is able to grow peppers!
So here's to all my blogfriends who have gardens.
Plant pictures will be in the Extended Entry as I upload them
My tomato plants are finally blossoming:
My strawberries are actually bearing fruit!
Posted by Beth at 2:11 PM | Comments (1)
May 20, 2004
New Donovan Vehicle
John and I are very cheap when it comes to our cars. We would rather spend money anywhere else. But today, as I drove out to Manhattan, Kansas - to pick up 1/2 of Andy's stuff from the dorm, I realized that Spot had no power anymore.
After 286,652 miles, I could not go uphill and keep the speed even - even if I floored the accelerator.
I called John on my cell phone and told him that we need a new car. Now.
When I got back from Manhattan, we went to a pretty darn good sale that a local Leavenworth dealership was having and we bought a brand new vehicle.
They had $5,000 in rebates - which was damn good - made the new car the same price as a used one.
So, we got an Aztek - I know, lots of people think it's the ugliest thing on the face of the earth. The rest of us think it's so ugly that it's cute.
This is the first new car we have purchased as a couple - I'm so excited!
We have been spending at least the car payment every month on car repairs - it was time!!!
Posted by Beth at 9:38 PM | Comments (14)
I have today and tomorrow off
Andy has his last final of the year tomorrow afternoon, so it's time to start moving him home for the summer. I am driving out to Kansas State this morning to pick up as much of his stuff as I can fit in Spot®. Then tomorrow afternoon, John and I will go and pick up the remainder and Andy.
John took the day off so he can help around the house (what a grand man!).
I'm going to let him decide what needs doing most desperately.
That will make him nervous!
Posted by Beth at 8:24 AM | Comments (2)
Bad Hair
Michele was unfortunate enough to get one of those awful bad haircuts and is having a really Bad Hair Day.
I feel for Michele, because not only have I had many a Bad Hair Day, but I would even go so far as to say that I have had a Bad Hair Life. It has not improved with age.
Now, I have seen pictures of Michele on her blog, and she has thick, luxurious dark hair. I am willing to bet that a good hair day for me would be a bad hair day for her.
I was born with baby fine hair. It is very straight, very fine and I don't have a lot of it. No bald spots, thank God, but it just doesn't do much.
People used to tell me that once I went gray, my hair would be thicker.
I fart in their general direction.
My hair has been nearly completely gray since I was about 32, and it has never thickened. I have it professionally colored these days, and it looks good for approximately 8 hours after Lyndsay does her magic and makes it kinda poufy and pretty. But it is still lousy hair.
It only looks good when covered by a big floppy hat. But that's not terribly professional looking when I'm traveling, so I just have learned to try to live with my bad hair. But I still hate it.
So I have complete empathy with anyone having a bad hair day. I know how you feel.
Posted by Beth at 7:12 AM | Comments (9)
Looks like things are looking up for Chris
My favorite cartoonist ever! Can't wait to hear the whole story, Chris!!!
Posted by Beth at 6:59 AM | Comments (1)
May 19, 2004
Please click on link below
At least once a day.Insults Unpunished » Two-Year Blogiversary Approaching
Posted by Beth at 8:33 PM | Comments (3)
I found a new (at least for me) blog
Well, actually, I suppose BeeBee found me - she posted a comment this evening, and I thought I'd look her up.
I like this woman. She is made of good stuff. And she writes a whole lot better than me!!!
Adding her to my blogroll now!
Posted by Beth at 7:56 PM | Comments (5)
VRWC
This is funny. You just have to go and read it. Then you will understand.
Posted by Beth at 7:05 PM | Comments (4)
Backyard stuff
I planted 4 roses in our back yard this past weekend. Not Tea Roses, as they are picky and hard to please, but hedge roses and bush roses, guaranteed to be easy keepers.
When I was a little girl, my mom would give me the special tool for cutting roses properly and have me go outside and collect some pretty flowers for dinner (to look at and smell, not to eat!). After I brought the flowers in, Mom woud break off one of the biggest thorns, lick the flat side and stick it on the tip of my nose.
She then called me Bee.
I don't have a little girl, and my little boy is pretty much grown up now, but I do have someone who appears to be interested in being a Bee:
Annie stops to smell the roses - then she eats them.
Posted by Beth at 4:58 PM | Comments (1)
May 18, 2004
Sarin in shell confirmed
FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Tests Confirm Sarin in Iraqi Artillery Shell
NEW YORK: Tests on an artillery shell that blew up in Iraq on Saturday confirm that it did contain an estimated three or four liters of the deadly nerve agent sarin, Defense Dept. officials told Fox News Tuesday.
Had that shell worked the way it was made to, a gallon of Sarin would have done a lot of damage.
I'll leave the info on WMD to John, though.
Posted by Beth at 1:11 PM | Comments (2)
This Lynndie England chick is nuts
At this point, I don't know if I would believe a word she said. It seems that she is embellishing things a bit much. I suspect that she is not exactly the most stable of young women.
And if her new allegations are true, then she should come here and live in the Ft. Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks for many, many years. Because she was involved. With it all.
Read the article.
New York Post Online Edition: Lynndie Bares New Jail Horrors.
Note her excuse: "England said she did not believe the guards should be punished, because "we did what we were told." "
Everyone who knew about this needs to be court marshaled.
Posted by Beth at 9:31 AM | Comments (4)
May 17, 2004
Why I hate going into the Office
I really like what I do. Really and truly. But when I am in town and have to go to the office, I become a nervous fricking wreck.
Why is that? Because some of the people I work with are unbelievably annoying in pushing their viewpoint that the USA is arrogant and if they were from another country, they would want to kill us, too.
One of the guys I work with, "R", is a very intelligent guy. He has worked for company Z (that's what I'll call it, OK?) for probably 4 or 5 years, and spent a couple of years working for us in Australia.
This means that he is a well-traveled, worldly guy. (at least he thinks so)
He strolled in this morning and immediately wanted to talk about some HBO special with Lewis Black that he watched last night.
Heck, I think Lewis Black can be a pretty funny guy, and I told R that.
But then, R went on - he said that Lewis Black did a great job of explaining why other countries hate us.
I countered with - gee, isn't Lewis Black lucky that he can say anything he wants to about the USA and we won't cut his tongue out, rape his wife or otherwise attempt to abridge his right to free speech?
R said, well, yeah, but you have to admit that the USA is arrogant and pisses people in other countries off.
I looked him in the eye, and I said, R, you do not want to talk politics with me at work. We are co-workers, we get along just fine, and I want to keep it that way.
He started again - 'well, you have to admit that we brag about how great we are and how awful that must sound to other countries:
Then he said to me - "but you haven't traveled much around the world, have you?"
I told my co-worker, R - "I have traveled extensively through the US, but you are right, I have only been abroad once, last fall, when I went to England".
He then said " well, that is why you can't possibly understand ...
And I rudely interrupted him and said, "R, you do not want to talk politics with me, I have a military background (if'n you count John's - my little time in the US Army Reserve hardly qualifies) and you are not going to change my feelings about the United States of America, so let's just leave it."
He started again - I said "No, R, I do not want to have this discussion with you."
He started yet again, and I interrupted yet again and said, " R, I am trying to preserve our relationship as good co-workers. Stop the political diatribe NOW."
Finally, he got it - though he was mumbling to himself for the next 30 minutes.
That's why I would rather be in Dearborn Michigan working with a kind Arab who likes America than in Kansas City with a rude American who hates America.
Sigh.
Posted by Beth at 9:02 PM | Comments (8)
Damn
Houdini has escaped yet again - mind you folks, we have a very large backyard with 6 foot privacy fencing all around. This dog was on a 60 foot chain within the perimeter of the backyard and he still ran off.
At this point, I have to wonder - maybe he just doesn't like us?
He somehow pulled himself off the chain - left his license tag on the ground but apparently managed to keep his collar on.
Our other two dogs have never done this kind of thing.
Now, I have to go look for the little mutt and pray he isn't dead.
He's probably in jail again.
sigh
Update:
John found him. The little shit is here with me - we don't know if he was close by the whole time or not, but needless to say, even in a fenced yard with a chain, he ain't going out without adult supervision until we can find a way to keep him here at home!
Posted by Beth at 8:14 PM | Comments (3)
It's Uptown Girl's 300th Post
And she did an incredible amount of linking in it. Go read her, I found some new bloggers by checking through her recommendations.
Posted by Beth at 5:39 PM
You knew that WMDs were somewhere, didn't you?
I predict that this is just the first of many more discoveries of WMD in Iraq.
Coalition forces in Iraq find sarin gas device - May 17, 2004
Thanks to the Queen of All Evil for the tip.
Posted by Beth at 10:43 AM
May 16, 2004
I don't know what world this woman, Antonia Zerbisias lives in ...
But it's not the real world.
Insult-happy Web guns fall quiet
Go read Jeff's post.
Posted by Beth at 8:35 PM | Comments (3)
Mmmmmm, strawberries and champagne!
I just harvested my first home-grown strawberries. 7 of them! Count them, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.
John says that perhaps I need a second strawberry pot so we could have enough strawberries ripen at one time for us both to have some.
They were pretty good. I poured a little champagne over my 6 berries (John got the first one, I got the next 6 - I grew them afterall) and ate them all up.
Yum.
Posted by Beth at 8:26 PM | Comments (1)
Who made this decision?
Warning - I'm pissed, 4 letter words may follow.
Joe at the Moderate Voice pointed this Washington Times article out.
U.S. athletes told to cool it at Olympics - The Washington Times
American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image.
Ok - who the fuck made this decision? Was it someone who is a member of the State Department? Was it someone in the government at all? Was it someone unaware of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution?
Damn. They were 'warned' were they? So, what is going to happen to the athlete if he or she says he or she is proud to be an American?
The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior.
Hmmmm - who elects the US Olympic officials? Lets look at the definition of the word jingoistic, eh?
Ah, here it is, from the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary: extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy.
It doesn't appear to me to indicate that a person who wins a relay or high jump is jingoistic because they wave the flag of their country.
Obviously, the USOC (US Olympic Committee) would prefer for us to be overrun by terrorists than to embarrass them or the EU by defending ourselves and the world from terrorists.
Hell, they ought to be more concerned that Greece won't have any of the athletic fields finished before the Olympics start.
"American athletes find themselves in extraordinary circumstances in Athens in relation to the world as we know it right now," said Mike Moran, a veteran former spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee who has been retained as a consultant to advise athletes how to behave.
"Regardless of whether there is anti-American sentiment in Athens or not, the world watches Americans a lot now in terms of how they behave and our culture. What I am trying to do with the athletes and coaches is to suggest to them that they consider how the normal things they do at an event, including the Olympics, might be viewed as confrontational or insulting or cause embarrassment."
"What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another manner."Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union flag.
Oh, now I get it - USOC (the US Olympic Committee) has decided that our country has embarrassed them by going to war against terrorists.
Why don't we just tell our athletes to lose on purpose, to make all the other countries feel better.
This guy needs to be fired, pronto - by whomever it is who hired him.
Oh, no such luck - the acting president of USOC thinks this is all a great idea:
"We're not the favorite kid in the world right now," conceded Bill Martin, the USOC's acting president. "We are sensitive not only to the security issue, but to jingoism in its raw sense. That is why we are sending people around to educate the athletes as to the appropriate behavior."
If I was an athlete competing in the Olympics, I would do what I felt in my heart was the right thing.
I would pick up the American Flag and wave it every time any American or Brit won an event.
Posted by Beth at 7:56 PM | Comments (5)
I think the US should Extradite all criminals of this sort from Great Britain!
Read this article:The forces of lawn and order
police were hunting two men who had broken into 25 garden sheds in the Chesterfield area and had tidied them up, stacking empty plant pots and organising seed trays.
Heck, I don't care if they didn't commit those crimes here in the U.S. I want to let these evil criminals loose in my yard!
I won't even call the coppers!
Posted by Beth at 3:50 PM
Books
Everyone in the Blogosphere (myself included) has divulged which of the 101 Great Books recommended by the College Board they have read (be it forced or voluntary).
Now, I want to know - what books have influenced you or were important to you in some way(outside of your own religion's book - be it the Bible, the Koran, the Book of Morman, etc.)?
Here is a short list of books that I love:
The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinsky> This one hit me like a ton of bricks. I highly recommend it to everyone. I read it in 1974 - 30 years ago - and the story has always stayed with me.
1984 by George Orwell
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I Robot by Isaac Asimov
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
Naturally, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkein
The Winds of War by Herman Wouk
There are many more books that I have enjoyed but these are the ones that I remember for years, with great detail.
So - anyone else?
Posted by Beth at 1:45 PM | Comments (2)
The Esmay Family
Last week I had dinner with Rosemary, Dean and Jake Esmay. We went to a wonderful restaurant close to the Detroit Airport called Beaver Creek.
I had never met the Esmays before, and the only picture I could remember seeing of Rosemary was the famous rack shot. So I was a little nervous that I might not recognize them.
As soon as they walked through the door, I knew that it was them. Rosemary has an incredibly bubbly, funny and smart personality, and Dean has a presence - he's so smart, you can see brains leaking from his ears.
Jake is a cutey. He spent most of the evening playing video games.
So, go to the extended entry for pictures.
I took lots of pictures, but as Rosemary and I were drinking more than we should have, some of them came out a bit blurry. This is my favorite of Rosemary - her sparkling personality shines through her eyes, I think.
Poor Dean, I think we left him out of a lot of the conversation, though he did pay attention when we talked about boobs and Renaissance Festival costumes with boob push up things. I think I kinda demonstrated. I have a pretty Ren Fest costume I am going to send to Rosemary - they are going to a wedding in a few weeks that has a Ren Fair theme.
Here is a picture of the Esmay Family:
Here is a sweet, sweet picture of Rosemary and Jake (Jake has some chocolate on his face, such a boy!):
Anyway, we had a lovely dinner and a good time, and I'll probably get to see them again in June when I return to Detroit.
Posted by Beth at 8:11 AM | Comments (6)
May 15, 2004
This week's to do list.
Things we need to do this week:
1. get the slime off the back porch.(we have had a ton of rain, and it's not draining well from the porch.)
2. Clear the limbs from the back and front yard,cut them to size and tie together for Tuesday pickup.
3. Laundry (but not critical -have enough underwear to last all week)
4. Get more pots for plants – plant the plants that have not been planted.
5. vacuum hallway /kitchen
6. Clean all the crap out of Andy’s room (he is 19 and in college)
7. Paint Andy’s room (Deferred, we're going to host a painting party with Andy's friends... a little Tom Sawyer action!
8. Buy him something to sleep on! (we threw out the old waterbed - need new normal bed before he comes home from college on Friday)
9. Work on deck – Give away old patio furniture and get new!!!
10. Maybe go and buy swing for deck?
11. Pond – eliminate leaves, maybe some new fishies.
12. change sheets on bed
13. clean kitty litter
14. clean both bathrooms
15. clean kitchen counters (half done)
16. purge accumulated stuff from computer room
17. must download Esmay pics to my PC and upload to my blog.
Things I’d like to do:
1. Get a little horse time
2. little stained glass time
3. sex - XXXXXXXX times at least.
4. champagne
5. food
This is not necessarily the order in which things will be done. And numbers 3,4 and 5 of the I'd like to do list are repeated as often as necessary.
Update:
I have crossed out those things that are finished. Please keep in mind that Numbers 3, 4 and 5 of my second list are repeatable - so they continue to need to be done over and over and over.
Posted by Beth at 2:29 PM | Comments (15)
If you are feeling a little down today
click here and type in your first name.
Posted by Beth at 2:07 PM
Spring Cleaning?
I have been trying to make some kind of sense of the disarray I live in.
Andy, John and I all read a lot of books. We probably have a thousand paperbacks laying around.
Thanks to Blackfive, I found a way to recycle those books for a good cause.
Books For Soldiers - Care packages for the mind.
You can send to a particular soldier or to the organization and they will get your books and dvds to the guys and gals overseas.
I am going to go look for a large box now - some of them really like science fiction!
Posted by Beth at 1:33 PM
My boobs are uneven
Damn - looked in the mirror - left is at least a cup size larger than the right. You would think I woulda paid more attention over the last 51 years.
No wonder I can't find bras that fit.
Posted by Beth at 9:27 AM | Comments (9)
It's Saturday
When I got home last night, John picked me up at the airport - eventually - he was running late, and I called him on my cellphone to find out where he was. He was only a few miles from the airport, so I told him that I'd get my luggage and meet him out front, so he would not have to park.
I got my suitcase, camera case and backpack and stood outside and John drove right by me. Twice. Completely oblivious to my frantic waving, he drove by.
I wondered if I had been traveling for so much that he forgot what I looked like.
Called him again - finally he stopped (the third time around the circle) and we went out to dinner.
Outback was good.
Then we went home.
We had fun. And champagne. And a little more fun.
Today, we'll have some more fun.
But we do have work to do in the house and the yard - and I have photos of the elusive Esmay Family to download and post.
So I'll be back.
Posted by Beth at 8:03 AM | Comments (2)
Vatican does something right
Vatican Warns Catholics Against Marrying Muslims
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican warned Catholic women on Friday to think hard before marrying a Muslim and urged Muslims to show more respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy.Calling women "the least protected member of the Muslim family," it spoke of the "bitter experience" western Catholics had with Muslim husbands, especially if they married outside the Islamic world and later moved to his country of origin.
The comments in a document about migrants around the world were preceded by remarks about points of agreement between Christians and Muslims but they seemed likely to fuel mistrust between the world's two largest religions.
The document said the Church discouraged marriages between believers in traditionally Catholic countries and non-Christian migrants.
It hoped Muslims would show "a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered."
When a Catholic woman and Muslim man wanted to marry, it said, "bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for."
It said one possible problem was with Muslim in-laws and advised future mothers that they must insist on Church policy that children born of a mixed marriage be baptized and brought up as Catholics.
If the marriage is registered in the consulate of a Muslim country, the document said, the Catholic must be careful not to sign a document or swear an oath including the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith, which would amount to converting.
Note the editorial comment by Reuters that I have highlighted.
It was almost just a news article.
Posted by Beth at 7:07 AM | Comments (2)
May 13, 2004
oops, one more thing
I have been neglecting one of my favorites lately - LeeAnn - the funniest women blogging. Go see her story about HR and Political Correctness.
I can relate - I once had a co-worker complain about me because I once told her that I had PMS - she said I was being disrespectful of women - ?????? Damn, I am a women!
Posted by Beth at 10:24 PM | Comments (1)
Short Note before I hit the hay
I met Dean, Rosemary and Jake Esmay tonight. We had dinner together and I just love them all.
I only have dial up here at the hotel, but I promise pictures once I get home tomorrow.
Rosemary is such a love, and Dean is smart and funny, and Jake is smart and funny too!
It was a great evening. Good food, good new friends, good time.
Posted by Beth at 10:21 PM | Comments (5)
May 12, 2004
Unemployment insurance extension not passed
Just thought I'd pop in with an understanding of joblessness that most of us of mature age have these days. (Yeah, I'm an over-50 fogey, live with it).
When I took Macroeconomics in College, we were taught that full employment would occur when the jobless rate fell to between 5 and 6 percent.
There are always people who are between jobs, people who quit working to have kids (though those good people can hardly be said to quit working - they work harder than most of us to raise the future), people who decide to go back to school in order to make a future career change.
Most of you were fortunate enough to graduate from college during very good times. That has not been the case with the majority of Americans - ever.
When I graduated from college in 1975, jobs were extremely scarce. But I still found one. Not in my chosen field perhaps, but I found one.
I was layed off a job once many years ago, and I did collect unemployment for 2 months. After a week or two of moping around, I got off my rear and started looking for a job in earnest. I found one. Months and months before my unemployment would have run out.
There are jobs available in this economy. Look at how many people technical companies hire from other countries. Most corporations say that they cannot find the high quality technical types here in the US, so they look to people from other countries, who move here and work here. I only wish they all became citizens, because the US needs good, smart hardworking people here as citizens. The fact is, we have many many foreign workers here in this country who have found good jobs. These people work very hard at their jobs, and are good at their jobs.
Now, this makes me wonder, how many of our fellow Americans are not working because they are not looking for a job, or they are not preparing themselves for a job, or because they will only accept the perfect job?
Unemployment benefits don't come out of nowhere. They come from .... taxes.
I work very hard - you all work very hard. My family got to keep 57% of our earnings last year (after state, local and federal taxes were paid).
Personally, I pay enough in taxes. I would prefer that anyone who is too lazy or too picky to accept a job that may not be perfect is not someone who needs my money. They need to go an make their own.
I have done whatever it takes to make sure I could pay my bills. That includes cleaning houses for other people.
So, I'm happy that the unemployment insurance bill did not pass in the Senate. I am happy that Kerry missed the vote.
I will, however, never vote for Kerry.
Posted by Beth at 6:20 AM | Comments (4)
May 11, 2004
I can't watch anymore right now
Go read Michele. She is far more eloquent and far more resourceful than I could ever be. Everything she states about 9/11, Iraq, crazy ass lefties, torture, humiliation and beheadings is correct as far as I am concerned.
My heart breaks when I read about Americans being beheaded by crazed Islamofascists.
I become frightened when I look around and our media, our own free press, in search of the exciting story, make the US out to be bad and evil, and excuse the scum who commit atrocities (not just humiliation, but out and out atrocities on a par with Hitler's actions) to get ratings.
Does NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN just want to hand our country and our lives to the crazed idjits of the third world (and France)?
Do you know how daring Michele is to say what she says - and how ashamed we should all be that telling the truth has become something that can be defined as daring?
Sometimes, there is just too much input. Today is one of them.
Posted by Beth at 9:39 PM | Comments (3)
Already Tuesday
It's been a tough couple of days. I am here to complete the last week of a three week implentation. I did not do the first two weeks- a golden boy in our group was here. And guess what. He did everything. Wrong.
So, I had to strip out all of his work and start from scratch. He also failed to train the client - so I am trying to fit 3 weeks of work into one week - again.
I am not a member of the National Organization for Women, and I am pro-life, and I think that if a mom can stay home with the kids, that's the best thing possible for the children - much better than daycare or just letting the guvmint take over all our childcare tasks.
However, the technical field is full of men. It is an old boy network. Everywhere. No one can convince me that there is a technical company in the entire universe that treats women on an equal basis with men.
Men expect us to clean up their fricking messes in this business - and they except you to not rat them out to the bosses as to who is really doing the work.
Sorry - I'm just pissed. I'm really pissed. I am more billable than anyone else in our group - but an award goes to golden boy because he worked harder than he used to work (that's the reasoning I was given). So WTF. Why should I work my ass off when I'm not going to get awarded more than a couple of movie tickets.
harumph.
Posted by Beth at 7:13 PM | Comments (3)
May 9, 2004
Getting ready to travel again
Tomorrow, I fly to Detroit. I will be working in Dearborn, Michigan all week.
I'm excited, because I will get to meet Rosemary and Dean Esmay - two of my very favorite bloggers.
Normally, traveling to yet another city, is just kind of blah - I don't really like to go out and about by myself much, I tend to stay in the hotel. But this week, I'll get to meet two famous bloggers who are also really nice people.
The first time I found Dean's World, I was probably a bit of an annoying commentor. It was the first time I had ever commented on a blog. Dean didn't care for my comments one bit. I'm afraid that if I link to that rant of well over a year ago, Dean will change his mind and not want to meet me at all.
So, please Rosemary, if you read this, say nothing! Nothing at all. I don't think he knows, and I don't particularly want him to - even though I was right. :-)
Posted by Beth at 9:37 PM | Comments (1)
I have proof now...
That John blogs nekkid. Thanks to the new camera, I got off about 8 shots in a row before he reacted.
Of course, the only pictures I can put up here would be the ones of the back of his head and bare (yet every so sexy and manly) shoulders.
And I can't do that until I get all the software for the camera installed on my laptop. I'll try posting it in the AM.
Posted by Beth at 8:27 PM | Comments (3)
Our new camera is very nice!
The camera is great, but I found that I have to take about 100 pictures to get one good one. That is the great thing about digital cameras.
The detail and focus on this is wonderful. It's so much faster actually taking pictures than our old Olympus Camedia (about 3 years old). I'm very happy with it. Here is my one good picture out of 100:
Update: I forgot to mention that the model is Meriwether Donovan. Named after Meriwether Lewis, Clark's friend. Meriwether is quite the explorer.
Posted by Beth at 7:11 PM | Comments (4)
Happy Mother's Day
I hope all of you get a Mother's Day gift as great as the gift that John gave me.
Posted by Beth at 10:56 AM | Comments (5)
Alrighty then
Somebody needs to Fisk this article outlining this speech that LA Times Editor, John Carroll delivered on ethics in journalism.
Gee, maybe I should try. Keep in mind, this is the article written about the speech by Ayisha Yahya in the University of Oregon's "Independant Campus Newspaper, the Daily Emerald". So maybe we should give her some slack for being a student.
Esteemed journalist lectures on ethics.L.A. Times Editor John Carroll spoke about journalism ethics and pseudo-journalism at the Gerlinger Lounge on Thursday.
Okay, so what makes John Carroll esteemed? Is it the fact that he is the editor for the Los Angelos Times? Oh, gee, that's a paper that I trust to be fair and balanced, don't you?
The media industry has been infested by the rise of pseudo-journalists who go against journalism's long tradition to serve the public with accurate information, Los Angeles Times Editor John S. Carroll told a packed room in the Gerlinger Lounge on Thursday. Carroll delivered the annual Ruhl Lecture, titled "The Wolf in Reporter's Clothing: The Rise of Pseudo-Journalism in America." The lecture was sponsored by the School of Journalism and Communication.
Wow, I thought - he must be admitting that Dan Rather and Peter Jennings are bending the news to their viewpoints - how cool. Someone in LA is 'getting it'.
Or, perhaps he will decry the Jason Blair's of the newspaper world, if he wasn't a pseudo-journalist, no one is.
"All over the country there are offices that look like newsrooms and there are people in those offices that look for all the world just like journalists, but they are not practicing journalism," he said. "They regard the audience with a cold cynicism. They are practicing something I call a pseudo-journalism, and they view their audience as something to be manipulated."
Wow, I can't believe someone from the big leftist media is admitting this! This is getting pretty damn exciting. Finally, someone from a large newspaper is being honest about what has happened to journalism.
In a scathing critique of Fox News and some talk show hosts, such as Bill O'Reilly, Carroll said they were a "different breed of journalists" who misled their audience while claiming to inform them. He said they did not fit into the long legacy of journalists who got their facts right and respected and cared for their audiences.
Arggghhh? Okay, I don't care much for Bill O'Reilly, but I have never considered him to be a journalist - just a whacky talk show host. Since when do talk show hosts have to be journalists? I wonder if he considers Oprah to be a journalist, or any of those talk show hosts on daytime tv? Odd definition.
But Fox News? This man accuses Fox News of not getting their facts right?
Please, tell me, Mr. Carroll, where do you get your facts?
Carroll cited a study released last year that showed Americans had three main misconceptions about Iraq: That weapons of mass destruction had been found, a connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq had been demonstrated and that the world approved of U.S intervention in Iraq. He said 80 percent of people who primarily got their news from Fox believed at least one of the misconceptions. He said the figure was more than 57 percentage points higher than people who get their news from public news broadcasting.
Ah, a study. Well, that means it must be correct, eh? We all know that 'studies' (in this case it sounds like a poll) are always correct, don't we!
Oh, oh, and a study that compares Public News listeners to FOX News watchers? Ummm, I think those are apples and oranges there. You know, TV vs Radio - normal people vs elite snobs, that kind of thing. I'm just making a guess here, but this 'study' doesn't seem to be based on stats that are even closely related.
As far as his WMD statement, even John Kerry believed there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, as did Bill and Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Jacques Chiraq and pretty much the entire world believed that there were WMD in Iraq.
Mr. Carroll goes on (and on, and on - kind of like that Energizer Bunny)
"How in the world could Fox have left its listeners so deeply in the dark?" Carroll asked.He added that a difference exists between journalism and propaganda.
As he addressed some of the hard hits journalism has taken in the field of ethics, Carroll noted that anyone could be a journalist because, unlike other fields, journalism had no qualification tests, boards to censure misconduct or a universally accepted set of standards.
However, Carroll said a great depth of feeling remains on the importance of ethics that is centered around newspapers' sense of responsibilities to their readers.
"I've learned that these ethics are deeply believed in even though in some places they are not even written down," he said. When ethical guidelines are ignored, their proponents respond with 'tribal ferocity,'" he added.
"If you stray badly from these rules, you will pay dearly," he said.
He said while much media has ended up "in the gutter," the L.A. Times has a different philosophy and was dedicated to taking the "high road."
Gosh, I'm sorry - you all need to finish this for me, as I just felt my blood pressure zip up after reading that.
Must.Control.Fisk.Of.Death
Posted by Beth at 8:21 AM | Comments (1)
May 8, 2004
Yardwork and dogs.
We had a lot of mowing to do, so I armed myself with some benadryl and started up the lawn tractor for the first time this season. It started right up - which really impressed me, as it stays outside under the deck all winter.
I realized as I was mowing that a lot of pruning was needed - lots of trees and bushes have sprouted low hanging branches that I could not mow under. So I got out my handy dandy lopper and lopped away.
There is a corner in our yard that is kind of wild - ancient redbud trees, honeysuckle, climbing roses and lots of vinca on the ground. I cleared out all the dead wood, and cut back the honeysuckle and found a huge hole under the fence.
I had missed that one on my earlier check of the perimeter before I let Houdini outside. By the time I found his escape hatch, Animal Control had already called to let John know that Houdini was in jail until Monday.
This is his third strike in a month. The little shit.
What really makes me crazy is that we had a 6 foot high privacy fence built around our backyard at a very high cost to keep Shadow from walking over the old chainlink fence. Now, we have added a rodent dog to our family, and like a rodent, he burrows under it to escape. I don't want to put him on a chain inside a perfectly good fence, but unless we build a cement trench all around the perimeter, I don't know how we are going to keep him home.
Posted by Beth at 2:55 PM | Comments (4)
Massage is a wonderful thing
I have learned to indulge myself a bit as I age. I have two big indulgences - I get my hair professionally cut and colored once a month and I get a full body massage every chance I get.
It has been awhile since I had a good long massage. I've snuck a couple of 30 minutes massages in since the first of the year, but for a really good massage, you really need at least an hour.
My massage therapist has ended up being a friend of mine. We talk and laugh the whole time she gives me a massage, so it is emotional therapy as well as physical. Jessica comes and rides horses with me, when I have time, and we get along really well.
All week long, my right forearm has been bothering me a lot - pain from my elbow to my wrist. I'm pretty sure it is from using a mouse in a non-ergomanic matter. I am lucky to have a desk at all when I am at a client site - I even sat on the floor with my laptop for a week at once place, so my positioning is not exactly perfect.
Anyway, back to the massage - I asked Jess if she could work on my arms and hands - and it was just heaven. She has a very strong touch - never tickles - and though it hurts when she works on the muscles giving me trouble, it is well worth it for the relief I get by the end of the hour.
And having my hands massaged - I swear, that is the most wonderful feel, especally as I am getting a little stiff in my fingers on bad days. (well, ok, a lot stiff and sore).
I highly recommend a good massage to help put your body and your mind in a better, happier place.
And if anyone who reads this lives in Leavenworth - Jessica Johnson is my masseuse. She works at Kerry's Hair Design - it's in the book. Call her and say that Beth sent ya. You will be glad you did.
Posted by Beth at 12:46 PM
Well, Rachel's back
Obviously, I'm a little late on this news, but in case you had not heard, Rachel Lucas is back blogging again.
Hope to see some pictures of her puppies soon.
Posted by Beth at 8:13 AM
Oh, boy. New camera!
Our new Digital Canon Rebel EOS came this week. It is pretty cool. I bought it because I have a 35 milimeter Canon Rebel, and the lenses are interchangeable, and because it is a really cool gadget.
Now, though, I have to learn how to use it. I bought a 1 gig memory card for it, so I can actually do some avi's of more than 3 second length.
When Andy was a baby, I used to be a half-decent photographer - I practiced all the time, and as a result I have a huge box of baby pictures, but that was a long time ago. Now I have to get the manuals out and remember how to use an SLR camera.
So, y'all can expect a bunch of pictures this weekend. Probably of my little herb garden, strawberries and other stuff in the yard.
Speaking of the yard ... we have had a very wet few weeks, and the ground has not been dry enough to mow, so we have more of a pasture at the moment. I'll have to whip John and Andy into shape and make them mow.
I used to mow the lawn myself, but my allergies have become so bad, that I can't anymore.
Posted by Beth at 6:40 AM | Comments (1)
May 7, 2004
Tummy Rubs
Who's this Joanie person? Can she come visit? Can we give her a key? I like tummy rubs! Lots and lots and lots of them.
I don't like RestStop. He claims to be a Kliban model. I don't believe him. And I can't stand that bitch Cleo. Don't let that cute face fool you!
And the new puppy? Puh-leeze! I kinda miss Mickey, she was nice, if a little aloof. But this new dog is a real pain in the patootie!
I keep urging him to go out and explore - but he never does it in the street like I tell him to and they keep finding him, dammit!
And as for you, you Great White Hoser - any drumstick remarks and yer butt is outta here! Fssst!
Posted by at 7:14 AM | Comments (5)
TGIF
Happily, I get to go home tonight. It is very pretty here in Florida, but the traffic is horrid and I've been so busy working that I have not had time to see much between the office and my hotel.
I'm up early (4:30) so I can get my status report for this week out of the way. I have 1/2 yet to train these folks, then I'll drive down to the airport and fly away home.
I do want to thank Little Girl for being my guest blogger yesterday. I think that Barnacle has agreed to guest blog for me today. We'll see.
My apologies to anyone not named Don Lewis with his IP address who is banned from this site. Sorry, though, not taking any chances, and whoever Jimbob or joebob is, well, if you are not Don, then go get another IP address.
Posted by Beth at 4:41 AM | Comments (1)
May 6, 2004
Foolish little mousie.
James.
Poor, pathetic, deluded creature.
You consider yourself to be Old and Evil.
Ha. I was old before your drooling ancestors dropped from the trees.
I was evil before the world was born.
I own you.
Now rub my tummy.
Posted by Little Girl at 7:37 PM | Comments (7)
The Empress of Dark Speaks.
Actually, I post. I will now have my spokescat Little Orpan Annie convey the message.
Mom! Come home this instant!
That is all. You may return to your pointless lives (unless you are staff, of course, then your lives have meaning. To Serve and Adore)
Posted by Little Girl at 7:28 AM | Comments (8)
May 5, 2004
Wictory Wednesday!
Donate your time or money to help reelect President Bush.
No American is safe until those who would deny us our freedoms are vanquished. We are at war. This is a just war. This is a war to rid the world of Terrorism. It's about time. I'm proud that I voted for George Bush in 2000, and I'm proud to vote for him again this year.
The thought of a Kerry as CiC scares me. See Glen Reynold's article.
Read what the Swift Boat Commander who took over after Kerry has to say.
I support George Bush.
All the bloggers listed below are also proud to support President Bush.
Posted by Beth at 7:01 AM
May 4, 2004
Rental Cars
I am a Hertz #1 Gold Member - nyah nyah nyah - anyway, that means that I pay $50 a year so I don't have to stand in line to pick up my rental car. Anyway, yesterday, the Hertz shuttle dropped me off at my car. I have to request a compact car - that's company policy, but as a Hertz #1 Gold Member, they often upgrade me at no charge.
Anyway, yesterday, as I was saying, the bus dropped me off at my rental car. It looked different - not the normal rental kind of car that I usually get - anything from a Mazda 3 to a Pontiac Aztec - it was really different.
I opened the driver's door, looked inside and it was even more different. I picked up what I thought was a key chain - it did have the little buttons you push to lock and unlock the car, and the honk the horn button - but there was no key.
I looked at the dashboard - no place to put a key. A power button. Hmmm. "What the hell is this?", I thought! Then I said it aloud. Several times.
I could not find a button to open the hatchback so I could put my luggage in it. As far as I could see, I could not start it.
I got out of the car again. I looked at it. It said Prius. "Oh, yeah - one of those hybrid thingies", I remembered.
Got back in the car. Opened the glove compartment (does anyone ever put gloves in those?). Retrieved Owner's manual - it did appear to be well-thumbedthrough.
After 20 minutes of reading the instructions on how to *start* the car, I tried to start it.
No noise. No nothing - no display. Something's wrong.
I read the instructions for another 10 minutes - aha - I have to have my foot on the brake to start it. I tried to start it again.
Ooooohhhh! A display comes up - way in front of me. Digital. Colors. coool. Ooooohhh!! Another display comes up in the middle of the dash - more colors.
But - no noise. No feeling of a living car.
Okay, now to figure out how to put the car in reverse.
Aha - there is a little knob thingie on the dash with an R and D an B - B? WTF is a b? Anyway, I try the R - the car beeps. Just like a truck that's backing up.
Well, once I figured it all out, the car ran quite well. It has decent pick up on the highway, and aside from the disconcerting silence, I like it.
I still have no idea WTF the B stands for.
I am totally amazed, though, that it is a rental car - how many people are going to spend the time to read the owners manual so they can figure out how to drive it?
Or, should I ask - how many *men* are going to read the directions?
Posted by Beth at 7:18 PM | Comments (17)
May 2, 2004
Suntan stuff
Tomorrow morning, I am off to Orlando, Florida. I thought it might be nice to look a little tan, so I bought this Endless Summer stuff by Coppertone.
However, I just read the instructions, and it says you can't put on any clothes for 45 minutes or so after applying. 45 minutes that you can't sit down on furniture, or let a cat or a dog come near you. 45 minutes of avoiding everything?
Nah, I think I'll skip the tanning juice. I can't stay still for 45 minutes!
Posted by Beth at 8:18 PM | Comments (6)
Adoption
Baba Wawa's latest ploy for ratings, Be My Baby, has been a subject of discussion on many blogs. I did not watch the show for a couple of reasons - I was stuck in the DFW airport for several hours and - I can't stand Baba Wawa.
In commenting on the bad promos for the show, several bloggers divulged that they were adopted. So am I. I thought that was kind of interesting. When I was growing up I knew only one other child (outside of my family) who was adopted. Now, I see that Venomous Kate, Pam and Kathy are adopted, too.
It made me wonder how many bloggers and readers are adopted, and what our different feelings about adoption might be.
Comments, anyone?
Posted by Beth at 7:46 AM | Comments (8)
May 1, 2004
bloggin' buddies
Houdini really enjoys helping John out whenever possible. However, when John is reading KOS, Houdini has to turn away.
Posted by Beth at 8:19 PM | Comments (4)
Last night's plan didn't happen
Darn it! I flew from Houston to Dallas- ran down the entire terminal to get to my connecting flight on time, and then, a thunderstorm hit the airport - for several hours. I didn't get home until 2:00 am this morning.
I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.
I know if I keep repeating that, it might come true!!
Later, I'll tell you about the Texas blowhard who was so annoying as we waited for the storm to go over that I told him off.
Posted by Beth at 11:27 AM | Comments (5)