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July 31, 2004

Good News!

Kelley is backRevenge of the Burbs
Apparently, she has done all kinds of things - from going to Hawaii to breaking an arm to getting a job!

Welcome back, Kelley, and I truly hope your new career is wonderful.

Posted by Beth at 9:27 PM

I need to recover from vacation

It would have been so nice if John and I could have just hung around the house today - blog nekkid, have a drink, relax. Relax some more.
But we couldn't. We have responsibilities.
Many of you will not understand this, but here goes.
We are fortunate enough to be able to board our two horses, Willie and Petey at the Ft. Leavenworth Stables. This is an MWR Activity. We are able to do this because John is a retired Army guy. But, because it is the Army (or, I'm sure any branch of the military), we have to make sure that the Stable Activity makes a profit, while keeping costs down.
One of the ways we do that is to hold two horse shows a year. The proceeds help keep costs down and profits up, so the Army doesn't raise our boarding fees.
Several years ago, I wrote an Access/Visual Basic program to track all the riders, horses, monies and classes in a horse show. I need to run the office at all of our shows so we can keep track of the money the Stable makes, and so the Show Judge can keep track of who is in what class, etc.

It really does make life easier for the folks at the stable - we used to need 4 or 5 volunteers just in the office to run the financial stuff for the show, now we can do it with just 2 people.

However, everytime I teach someone how to do the software part, their spouse ends up getting transferred to Germany or something, and they can never help again.

Therefore, I am the computer person for all shows. I don't mind, because the Stable needs our support.

Today, though, we only had an announcer until 11:45 in the morning, and we ended up having a larger turnout for the show than normal, so I called John of Arrggghhh! to do the announcing. He had had a lot of experience doing speaking things, but this was his first horseshow.

If you have met John, like Rosemary and Dean Esmay, you know just how wonderful his voice is. Well, I suspect that now that the other members of the Ft. Leavenworth Riding Activity have heard John's perfect delivery, he will be a permanent member of the putting on the Horse Show club along with me and my good friend Sgt. Linda Day - who is the Paddock Master.

Anyway, we had a long, hot day, but we did well, and the Stable will be allowed to exist for another year.

But I'm still pooped from vacation!!!

Posted by Beth at 8:01 PM | Comments (7)

Goodbye, Jerrod!

Subway Corporation is bad-mouthing America and Americans in Europe with its advertising.

Today the National Legal and Policy Center called on the SUBWAY restaurant chain to immediately stop a European advertising campaign designed to exploit anti-American sentiment in countries like Germany. SUBWAY restaurants in Germany now feature tray-liners and posters promoting the film “Super Size Me.” They portray an obese Statue of Liberty holding a package of fries and a hamburger and begin with the bold headline “Why Are Americans So Fat?”

No more lunches at Subway for me.

Posted by Beth at 6:14 AM | Comments (7)

This is my blog. Please stay on topic.

This morning I deleted a comment from Sinister Minister because it was an obvious ad for John Kerry.

Let me make this perfectly clear. If someone would like to add a comment that is related to what I am discussing, that is fine.

Just being anti-President Bush when commenting on a post that says "We are coming home", is not fine.

Please remember that I pay for this blog. It is *not* a newspaper editorial page where anyone can write whatever they want.

I will ban anyone who takes advantage of my blog in this fashion.

Goodbye, Sinister Minister.

Posted by Beth at 5:46 AM

July 30, 2004

Heading back home today

Yesterday ended up being another pretty long day, but at least we got to bed before midnight.

Penn and Teller was probably a lot better than I realized because I was so tired, that I frankly was thinking too slowly to get all the jokes. I was also so tired that I was bored by the show, which is too bad considering how much it cost!

It was just my luck that there was a Cigar convention here in Vegas this week. I really hate cigars. They smell lots worse than anything I can think of and they give me headaches. They were everywhere this week. Most restaurants and casinos just reeked of the nasty phallic nicotine generators. Sorry to those of you out there who think that cigar smoking is cool and manly and sophisticated, but you all need to have your heads examined!

John and I noticed that the casinos no longer use money in the slot machines. You can put money in, but if you cash out, you get a fricking voucher. So there are no old ladies carrying around huge tubs of quarters or nickels - now they just have a voucher. Just doesn't seem like fun without seeing all those quarters go clink clink clink into the tray.

Another thing, Vegas has really lowered the volume on the slot machines. They have even turned the volume off of some slot machines - usually the ones in the middle of a row of them.

I don't know if my observations are accurate, and they are certainly not scientific, but it seems that this year there are a lot fewer people playing slots - could it be because the coins don't clink and the machines don't make appropriate noises? John thinks that maybe the casinos did this to cut back on personnel - makes sense - they don't need change people anymore because there is no change. And .. I'm sure their repair costs go down if they turn off sound, because they don't have to fix the sound that is broken.

Just a few observations.

By the way, I am blogging nekkid right now - seemed important to tell you that.

Posted by Beth at 8:39 AM | Comments (2)

July 29, 2004

More on Vegas Vacation

It was an incredibly long day - I scheduled too much stuff, and we were really dragging by the time Mystere finally started.

Emeril's Fish House is very good - I'll let John describe the waiter - but the food was good. Both of us had a very light meal - I had the duck confit in spinach salad with roasted pecan vinagrette and goat cheese (really yummy), and John had the gumbo.

There are very few good bartenders in Vegas - at least ones who can fix a decent drink - I have yet to have a margarita as good as they make at Outback - in fact, I think maybe we will go by there tonight to get a good margarita!

Delmonico's (also an Emeril entity) was excellent. Very pricey, but the food was superb. We had a hickory smoked mushroom appetizer which was out of this world! Then we had French Onion soup (the only disappointment in the meal, it was just not seasoned quite properly and I had to add a lot of salt - something I rarely do). We both had bone-in prime ribeye steaks - I could only eat about 1/4 of mine because it was simply too big - but it was mouthwateringly good and tender and tasty. If anyone plans on going there, please note that the side dishes are enough for several people - we didn't realize that and we each ordered one - creamed spinach, Southern style- excellent, and truffle parmesan potatoe chips - unbelievably fantastic! Next time we go, we'll share a side order, and I will get something other than the giant steak. John managed to save room for desert, and he had a bourbon brownie bread pudding. He reports that it was good.

The service at Delmonico's was the best service I have ever had anywhere. I would love to see the kitchen, for everything was timed perfectly, and the team (yes, team) of 3 guys who served us, Mike, Tom and Mark, were just great.

Mystere was wonderful. We ended up getting tickets that put us almost in the middle of everything, and it was great fun. I have never seen bodies like the bodies of the men and women in this show - they are in peak physical condition, and their strength, agility and grace were outstanding.

One pair of performers wore only - I don't know what you would call it - well, allmost just a fancy breechcloth? Anyway, those two men were incredible - their bodies reminded me of the sketches that Leonardo Da Vinci did from cadavers - every muscle, sinew and blood vessel was defined - their bodies were truly works of art, and every movement they made was exceedingly slow and full of strength - you had to be there - so if you ever get the chance to see Cirque Du Soliel, do it! The tickets were only $60 on Wednesday night at 10:30, they were worth 3 times that.

Well, John wants to have the computer so he can see what's going on in the world.

We see Penn and Teller tonight, other than that, we will relax today!

Posted by Beth at 10:29 AM | Comments (3)

Go tell John Happy Birthday!

It the Imperial Armorer John's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Handsome!

So far, the day has been quite nice, even though we are barely out of bed yet.

Posted by Beth at 10:10 AM | Comments (4)

July 28, 2004

Day Two of Vacation

We pretty much just relaxed yesterday - so far, we have not spent one penny on gambling. I had insomnia last night. I suspect it is because I missed all the cats and dogs coming to visit us in the middle of the night.

Today we have a busy schedule. John and I love watching Emeril's TV show on the Food Network. So, we decided to try out a couple of his restaurants.

For lunch, we have reservations at Emerils Fish House at the MGM Grand and for dinner, Emerils Delmonico Steak House at the Venetian. Yum.

Then at 10:30 PM, we are going to see Mystere - Cirque Du Soliel - at Treasure Island.

I figure that after all that activity and good food, I'll sleep well tonight.

Posted by Beth at 8:42 AM | Comments (5)

July 27, 2004

Airport Report

We are being tortured.

We are sitting at Gate 50 at KCI waiting for our Southwest flight to Las Vegas and we are being tortured.

The TV set is covering all things Democrat. The volume is really loud. We are sitting right under the TV and right next to the speaker.

Ugh. It's CNN.

Posted by Beth at 11:28 AM | Comments (10)

How pathetic is this?

We are sitting in the waiting area at Kansas City International, waiting for our plane - and what do we do? Check to see if we have any comments!

Posted by Beth at 11:25 AM | Comments (3)

Before we go - a short moment of Kitty Zen

Posted by Beth at 9:23 AM

We are off to Las Vegas!

This time, I travel to vacation! It's good to go to Sin City on the last few days of the month - we can't blow much money because we don't get paid until Friday, the same day we return.

John and I are not much in the way of gamblers anyway.

We are bringing our laptops with us because we are nerds. Maybe we'll sit around the pool at the Luxor and blog. Or not.

If anyone else is going to be in Las Vegas, well, let us know - we'll meet ya for a drink!

Posted by Beth at 9:15 AM | Comments (5)

I went shopping after work yesterday

And I really splurged. I bought absolutely the most comfortable sandals on earth, by ECCO, a sandal named Delight.
Wow. My feet feel like they have nothing on, only better.
Mind you, I am very hard to fit. I am flat footed, wide footed and most shoes hurt for a month after I buy them. Not Ecco's. My only regret is that they are not made in the USA, but in Denmark.

Oh, and I bought a second pair, too. Mary Jane's.

Posted by Beth at 8:34 AM

July 25, 2004

On Terror

Some of my regular reads in the Blogosphere think that Annie Jacobsen is hysterical for reporting what happened to her on a nightmare of a flight from Detroit to LA now that it has been found that the 14 Syrians who were causing fear on that flight were actually a legitimate music group.

So what if they were in this country legitimately and that they are in a music group - that does *not* mean they are not terrorists in training! Or they could still be testing our security for others to see how far they can go in an attempt to hurt American citizens.

Face it folks, the next terrorists who attack us from our own airlines are going to be here legally. Chances are they will be of Middle Eastern heritage. It is not racist to be wary of Muslims on airplanes, it is prudent. In fact, it is prudent to be very aware of everyone flying on the same plane you are on.

I would have done more than Annie Jacobsen did. I would have said something to at least one of the Syrians standing in the aisle - but I'm like that (ask John, it makes him crazy). All of you in the blogosphere who have criticised Annie Jacobsen simple because she was brave enough to make her experience public are being overly politically correct and naive to the nature of terrorism.

I would prefer that we err on the side of safety - if a foreign national is behaving badly, or scaring people, we should not ignore that behaviour simply because we might offend them.

Good lord, folks. You have to know that AlQueda and friends are working to hurt us hard again. If you pretend that such stories are simply the result of hysterical women (a sexist way of thinking that went out with Freud), then you are just sticking your heads in the sand.

UPDATE: I just read Teresa's take on the same subject - and I'm so relieved to see that I am not alone!

UPDATE again: Go read Blackfive's post on this same subject. Blackfive also believes someone should have said something to the Syrians.

Posted by Beth at 4:33 PM | Comments (7)

Answer to Detroit Airport picture below

Before you click on "Read on", look at the previous post and see if you can figure out what that first picture is.

This is the most amazing fountain I've ever seen. The streams of water are so precise that there are hardly any splashes - and the display changes all the time.

Posted by Beth at 6:19 AM | Comments (3)

July 24, 2004

Detroit Airport Surprises

I found this at the Detroit Airport on Thursday:

And then, I found this:

The bottom picture is the tunnel between Concourse A and C - can you guess what the top picture is?

Posted by Beth at 7:12 PM | Comments (7)

This is not a defense of abortion - it is a rationalization of stupidity and low morals

Aside from the incredible snobbishness this woman reveals about herself (lower middle class people are grubby), Barbara Ehrenreich is simple demonstrating that she is lazy, thoughtless, stupid and immoral. Why? Because she had not only one, but two abortions as a married woman. And apparently, she thinks that there is no reason for her to feel bad about it.

There are many, many forms of birth control, apparently, she was too lazy or incompetent to be sure that she and her husband used them. She didn't want to be lower middle class with children - so, Barbara - why couldn't you have let someone else have those babies that you murdered? There is such a thing as adoption.

Anyway, I have no use for a woman such as her. Or her husband, for that matter - why could not he had been a real man and had a vasectomy?

If you want to read the whole stupid diatribe, go to the New York Times.

Honesty begins at home, so I should acknowledge that I had two abortions during my all-too-fertile years. You can call me a bad woman, but not a bad mother. I was a dollar-a-word freelancer and my husband a warehouse worker, so it was all we could do to support the existing children at a grubby lower-middle-class level. And when it comes to my children - the actual extrauterine ones, that is - I was, and remain, a lioness.

At least she admits that the non-extrauterine children were children.

I wonder how they feel about their murdered siblings?

Posted by Beth at 7:07 PM | Comments (1)

Rainy Day in Leavenworth

It has rained all day long today. Everyone has been staying inside, except for those absolutely necessary visits that the dogs have to take outside. John has mostly flown planes attacking bad guys with his flight simulators. He also vacuumed the kitchen floor for me (yes, we have horrible carpeting in the kitchen, but the vinyl underneath is worse, and replacing the flooring is not yet on the top of our very long list of things to do to this house).

Andy has played with his Play Station 2, watched TV movies and helped me with hauling the never-ending pile of laundry that we have accumulated up and down the stairs.

There are only three humans in this family, and we have way too many clothes, towels, sheets and other washable items. Of course, the main reason that our sheets, pillowcases and bedspreads have to be washed so often is that we have 7 cats and 3 dogs, many of whom want to sleep with us (under the covers if possible) at night.

Wish dogs and cats had opposable thumbs. Maybe they could hang up the laundry for me!

Andy, our college aged son, home for the summer, is bored to death. The rain just finally let up, and he is taking Shadow, our biggest and oldest dog, out for a walk. He doesn't yet know that when he returns, he needs to take Whiskey, our middle-sized and middle-aged dog out for a walk. Houdini (the youngest canine) is acting like a cat and is wrapped around John's shoulders as he flies his WWII plane over an unidentified river. The graphics on these flight Sims are really unbelievable.

I am saving 213 pictures from the past couple of weeks to my hard drive. I'm only up to picture #67. I will be sharing more of these pictures with you than you ever wanted to see, but it will make me feel like my life is worth living (kidding, really, kidding!).

I do not have much in the way of photographic talent, but I truly love playing with the camera and using different settings - what are they - f-stops, aperture settings, etc. When I was in Pennsylvania last week, I took about 20 pictures of the same thing - I just changed the settings for each one, so I could see what happens.

Once upon a time, I fancied myself a photographer - back before Andy was born, and I had a lovely Minolta 35mm SLR camera. Seemed like I had more time back then, and I did take some nice pictures - but I can do so much more with a digital SLR camera using software.

Oh, golly, I'm rambling, aren't I? I'll download more pictures, then I'll upload them with stories.

I saw a pretty reddish colored thing in the pond, and I just walked out there and I'm pleased to report that one of the 1/2 price water lilies I bought at Lowes last month has bloomed, I'll take a picture and post it shortly. Well, at least once all those pictures have downloaded.

In case I have never said anything to you all, it is really quite a thrill that anyone would want to read what I have to say, and I truly appreciate you all. Thanks!

Posted by Beth at 4:08 PM | Comments (2)

Northwestern University must believe in torture

To apply for admission to Northwestern University, students must write a 'personal statement'.

... essay questions -- we call them personal statements -- that will appear on the 2005-06 freshman application. You will be asked to respond to one of the four topics with an essay of 400-500 words.

Here is the 3rd question - you can go read the others on your own:

3. According to astronomer Carl Sagan, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." What unknown would you like to see revealed in your lifetime? Why is this of personal importance?

Please, tell me - how on earth can anyone know what unknown thing can be known? I mean, if it is unknown - we just don't know.

If we don't know it exists, how can we possibly know that we don't know about it?

I found this link looking at one of Harvey's old posts about his bad experience with llamas, by the way.

Update: SuperSon says I'm thinking too much. He also said that is why he didn't apply for Northwestern.

Posted by Beth at 9:20 AM | Comments (3)

July 23, 2004

If I had lots and lots and lots of money

I'd have a big weekend party and I'd fly all of my favorite people in the blogosphere here to just have a good time together. John would call it a hen party, probably, anyway, John would be in charge of inviting the blogger friends of male persuasion.

The following is not in any order whatsoever because I really love all of you!
I would invite Joanie, DaGoddess and photographer extraordinaire, Pam, the Security Nana, Samantha, Daughter of Acidman, LeeAnn, Cheesemistress and funniest women on the internet, BeeBee, writer of wonderful stories, discoverer of Speedoman, and creator of wonderful stained glass windows!, Boudicca, brave martial arts mother of three boys, Calliope in Houston, grower of corn and other veggies, Key, the only woman who can tell Acidman how to behave, Tammi, who travels more than I do!, Teresa, who moved her blog without telling me - I had to find out from John, how embarrassing!! And I can't forget Juliette, who doesn't let anyone push her around, DC, not a vegetarian! and of course, Helen - I want to be her big sister for some odd reason, and darling Rosemary (who I have met - twice! and just love her), the Queen of All Evil.

And we would all toast each other with a nice glass of champagne and have a wonderful time!

Posted by Beth at 7:48 PM | Comments (13)

Wow

The company I work for, which must remain nameless, is so pleased with all of our hard work that they are giving eveyone in the company a free day off - a Friday in August, yet. We don't have to use a personal day or vacation - it's just a thank you.

How cool.

They expect a lot from us, and they pay us well, and apparently, they really appreciate us.

I wish everyone could work for a company that demands much but gives much in return.

Posted by Beth at 6:49 PM | Comments (2)

I stand in awe of the Cheese Mistress

LeeAnn knows just how to handle a person calling the wrong number.

I usually apologize when someone calls me and it's a wrong number.

Posted by Beth at 7:37 AM | Comments (1)

July 22, 2004

Home Today

And not a moment too soon. Only problem is that there are storms across the country. Storms I have to fly through.

I better take a whole xanax when I get to the airport instead of just one half!

I have slept very poorly the last couple of nights. I miss John and Andy and all the critters!

Maybe John and Andy will take me out to dinner after they pick me up from the airport tonight!

hint. hint.

Posted by Beth at 6:46 AM | Comments (2)

July 21, 2004

Xanax, Rachel, Xanax

Rachel Lucas is worried about flying to Vegas next week:
I'm gonna need a Valium prescription now

I will be be flying on a plane next week, for the first time since 1992, and needless to say I am completely and utterly horrified and terrified in general because (1) I hate flying in the summer with all those cranky stinky people and (2) I'm a pessimistic fatalist and have always believed I'll die in some horrible untimely way at a young age, and (3) flying is scary because, um, you're miles above the earth in a giant manmade metal bird driven by men you have never met and carrying 100 other people you have never met, some of whom may possibly want to kill you because you're an American.

Rachel, all I can say is to call your doctor, explain your fears and ask him to give you two XANAX pills - one for the flight to Vegas and one for the flight back.

You will be amazed at how relaxed you will feel.

I have been phobic for many, many years - of planes, in case that was not obvious.

When I was young, I was in a very scary emergency landing - the flight attendant (way back then they were called stewardesses) lost her cool and screamed "We are all going to die!!".

I have to fly for work a lot these days, and Xanax has kept me cool and calm for many a scary flight.

By the way, my John and I are also flying to Vegas next week - if anyone out there would like to meet a couple of bloggers, let us know. It would be fun.

I don't expect anyone as big as Rachel Lucas to want to meet us - but heck, maybe someone else would!

Posted by Beth at 9:01 PM | Comments (10)

As Time Goes By

As I was reading today's Bleat, the following lines caused me to flash back many years to my own childhood:

And that's when I realized that I have set up Jasperwood so there are clocks everywhere. Small ones, yes. But lots of them. Because I/m always checking the time. Always.

Oh, dear. I hope that James is not quite as hooked on time as my mom was.

I grew up in a house with clocks everywhere. I mean everywhere - even in the bathrooms.

And that would have been okay, but Mom was so worried about being late, that she set every clock 20 minutes fast.

As a result, for years, I automatically subtracted 20 minutes from the time of every clock I saw - at home or away!

So, James Lileks, please don't do that to Gnat!

It gets difficult to explain to teachers and friends why one can never really be on time.

Posted by Beth at 7:52 PM

What a day

I have been training a very nice gentleman here in Pennsylvania this week.
We have worked very had at figuring out some capacity planning stuff.

A group of us walked to a really nice deli-type restaurant for lunch today. As we were leaving, the power went out. We walked back to the data center and noted that the very large generator on the roof was running - power must have gone out there, too.

We went in and started back to work. Suddenly, the fire alarms started going off, and everyone was saying - get out! Get out of the building!

So I grabbed my laptop and purse and went outside.

The generator had caused a fire on the roof. Wow. Scary. The volunteer fire department here appeared within one minute - they put out the fire, checked everything - they fixed something so the generator would not exhaust out onto the roof after about 3 hours, we were allowed back in.

I have some great fire engine and fireman pictures, but I don't have our picture software on this laptop, so I can't put them up for you.

Anyway, it was a very interesting day. And I am totally amazed at how quickly a volunteer fire department can show up and do their job - thanks, guys! We were all very impressed!

Posted by Beth at 6:59 PM | Comments (2)

Wictory Wednesday

If you are as sick and tired as I am of the leftist, Bush-hating propaganda that is being perpetrated by the Media, so-called Intellectuals (so-called, because if they were truly intellectuals, they would see the errors in their logic) and Hollywood (and Hollywood wannabees like Linda Rondstadt), then fight back.

Donate your time or money to help reelect President Bush.

I support George Bush. I will vote for him in the coming election. Even though I am an independant voter and was once a Democrat, the Republican Party (despite their undeniable faults) is the best choice. George Bush is the only leader running for election. We need a leader during time of war. Not just the war in Iraq, but the global war on terror that we are just starting.

If John Kerry is elected, we will lose the War on Terror. In fact, if he has his way, we will be subjugated to so-called "International Law" and our Constitution will be secondary.

All the bloggers listed below are also proud to support President Bush.

Posted by Beth at 5:59 AM | Comments (1)

More on Inadvertent misbehaviour

From Instapundit - the law that is applicable to Sandy Berger's misbehaviour:

Sec. 793. - Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information
(f)
Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense,
(1)
through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or
(2)
having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer -

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

I suspect the only reason he has not yet been indicted is because he is a highly connected Democrat. If any of us non-politically connected people did the same thing, believe me, we would be prosecuted. Just as Sandy Berger should.

It does not matter if he did it inadvertently

Posted by Beth at 5:26 AM | Comments (2)

July 20, 2004

TV in hotels

Most of the hotels I go to these days have a lot of channels. They have ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, ABCDE, ABC, NBC, CBS, HGTV, TNN, etc., etc., etc.

However, only about one out of 10 hotels has Fox News.

It's almost enough to make me want to find out who makes these hotel TV Channel decisions.

Posted by Beth at 8:24 PM | Comments (8)

Acidman's Daughter, Samantha

Samantha used to have a blog, but I think maybe she got frustrated with politics, just like I do sometime.
Anyway, I was very happy to find that she is doing some guest blogging on her Dad's blog, Gutrumbles.

Samantha has taken some great pictures, so go and enjoy her writing.

And thanks, Samantha, for the lovely link!

Posted by Beth at 8:14 PM

Unbelievable

Sandy Berger was actually seen stuffing documents into his clothing.

How can a man, a very intelligent man, inadvertently take classified documents? Gee, did he forget they were classified? Did he think no one would notice?

How can that same man proceed to accidentally destroy classified documents that were not advantageous to the Clinton Administration?

I just flipped through TV this morning and newsreaders everywhere are exclaiming that it was "No big deal".

David Gergen says "This is more innocent than it looks. Sandy Berger is a hero in the war on terror." He went on to say - he took copies, not the original - so it's no big deal. I'm sorry - you can't take copies or notes of classified material - it's not just a 'rule' David, it is a law.. And now, Gergen is suggesting that this information is politically motivated.

What fricking bullshit. Yes. Bullshit.

Harumph.

Posted by Beth at 6:06 AM | Comments (1)

Two days in a row

This may be a life time record. Today I walked into the lovely town of Hummelsburg for about 40 minutes. Saw some absolutely gorgeous gardens!

Posted by Beth at 5:48 AM

July 19, 2004

But they *ARE* Girlymen!!

I assume you have heard about how upset the press is about Arnold calling wussboy legislators in California Girlymen?

I love it. I completely agree with Tammi, our favorite Road Warrior:
Oh For Cryin' Out Loud

Yep, the old TV and Newspaper types are just so offended by Arnold.

Well, too bad, so sad, you girly men Democrats in California. Ha!

So there.

Update: Go read Al's take on the Story. It's a good one!

Posted by Beth at 6:55 PM | Comments (1)

It's very purty here

I have never been to this part of Pennsylvania before, so I didn't know what to expect. I am staying in Hummelstown, which is next to Hershey. The town is just beautiful. I'll take pictures after work tonight, and maybe figure out how to get the pictures on my laptop and then to you.

I'm trying to start a new exercise program - which has to be better than no exercise program whatsoever.

I got up at 5:30 and took a walk, then I went to the hotel gym and did 15 minutes on the treadmill and then another 15 minutes on the bike. And all of you health nuts who are going to tell me that's not enough - please refrain yourselves, you don't know anything about my body.

My plane trip from Kansas City to Atlanta was unremarkable, however from Atlanta to Harrisburg, a very stupid woman thought it was a good idea to open her bottle of oil of eucalyptus and let her neighbor sniff it. Within seconds, the entire plane was full of people sniffing and getting very worried. I (ask John) have a nose like a bloodhound, and I turned around (the woman was behind me) and asked if she smelled something funny. She held up her bottle of oil of eucalyptus and said, "Isn't this marvelous? It clears my sinuses right up." I told her that maybe she didn't realize it, but everyone in the plane ( a small commuter plane) could smell it, too, and could she please put the stopper on it.

Stupid, stupid, thoughtless people. They are everywhere.

Posted by Beth at 5:57 AM | Comments (5)

July 17, 2004

On the road again

I have been home for four weeks. Driving into the cubicle farm office. My boss needed me here for awhile, but I take off tomorrow for Hershey, Pennsylvania.
I will hopefully come back home on Thursday afternoon.

I imagine that most of you have read Annie Jacobsen's story of her recent scary flight. This story worries me a bit, I will be very cautious when flying tomorrow. I will have a plan.

I found the story via Michelle Malkin, who did a tremendous job of covering the Terror in the Skies, Again?. Michelle has really done some fact checking on this story. Despite the fact that Michelle Malkin actually spoke to a representative from the Federal Air Marshall's office and verified the facts of the case - many, many people in the blogosphere are calling Annie Jacobsen a liar, a nut case, a bigot and worse.

I have a question - if a man had written the same story, would there be so many doubters? I don't think so. Too many tend to think that we women are hysterical, and many apparently don't think we are observant enough to pay attention to what Annie saw.

What really irks me is this - bloggers don't want to believe it could happen - even if deep down they know it might be true. And, because they are afraid of not being politically correct. Come on, folks, the people who are trying to kill us are by and large Arabs. Chances are pretty good if there is another AlQuaida attack, there are going to be Arabs involved.

Then, there are those whoclaim to be such air travel experts that seeing 14 adult Syrian men on one flight behaving in the fashion these men behaved is normal, if you think of 14 teenagers on a plane - only they were not teenagers. They were not Americans - they had Syrian Passports.

And I'm not even going to link to the leftie nutcases who accuse Mrs. Jacobsen of just being paranoid and anti-Arab.

I travel more than anyone I know. I am always extremely sensitive to other people flying on the same plane I am on. I do notice odd behaviour. I have even been known to take notes when I see extremely worrisome behaviours when I'm flying from one city to another. Of course, I am trained to observe - I used to be a child abuse investigator.

I have witnessed severe security lapses at checkin points at Kansas City International Airport, at Detroit's Munincipal Airport and at Baltimore. I have called the TSA, emailed the TSA and made written complaints to the TSA about these lapses. I get a polite letter - thanks for your interest, we'll look into it, and that's it. The same women who didn't bother to check my ID against my boarding pass 2 weeks in a row was still at the Delta Gate at KCI the last time I checked.

Anyway, my point is this - I start flying again tomorrow. I will keep my eyes open. I will continue to make complaints to Security when I see them wave Arabs through without checking their IDs (as I saw in Detroit) and their boarding passes. I will continue to be very very observant. We all need to be vigilant.

I believe that what Annie Jacobsen saw is what happened. Face it, folks, there are still a whole bunch of bad guys out there. And this fat, middle-aged woman will do anything and everything in her power to keep them from bringing down any plane I'm on.

Posted by Beth at 10:28 PM | Comments (1)

Elton John does not understand what Censorship means

Elton attacks 'censorship' in US

Sir Elton John is currently performing in New York
Elton John has said stars are scared to speak out against war in Iraq because of "bullying tactics" used by the US government to hinder free speech.

What Elton John does not understand is that the US government does not and has never censored any entertainer's free speech. We, the public, have made purchasing decisions based on the words and actions of some celebrities. We have exercised our own freedom and boycotted the Dixie Chicks, for example. Personally, I liked their music, but when they went to England to put down the President, I made the decision not to play or buy their music again.

That's what a free country is all about - we the 'little people' get to decide what we buy.
Apparently, Mr. John does not understand that normal people get to make the buying decisions in this country - not the Royals.

Elton John said

" the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable."

And they are accountable to their consumers, dullboy.
Again, what this thick-headed Englishman does not understand is that people like you and me made the decision to boycott the Dixie Chicks because of what they said.

No one prevented the Chicks from saying what they said about the President. The government did not prevent their records from being sold. The government had nothing whatsoever to do with anything that may have happened to their careers. If the Dixie Chicks lost a chunk of country fans, well, that was their own damn fault, and if they had a brain between them, they would have known more about their fans, and what is important to their fans.

In this free country - with greater free speech rights than in Great Britain - the consumer decides whether or not they want to listen to or purchase or pay to see an actor, singer or whatever who doesn't agree with them.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with censorship. Blaming the government for the public's anger at the Dixie Chicks is just plain stupid, ignorant and ludicrous.

By the way, I have not liked anything Elton John has writen or sung since about 1973.

I'm not censoring him. I just don't care for his music anymore.

Posted by Beth at 6:55 PM | Comments (4)

Yardwork today

Arggghhh. I just wrote the most lovely story about how hard WonderHusband and WonderSon worked to create a flagstone path from the sidewalk to the pond.

I hit some kind of evil key combination and it all went away.

So here it is, without the nice embellishments, etc.

Last week, John and Andy worked hard to make the area under the Oak Tree (capitalized because it is a BIG oak tree) look nice by mulching the area (a really large area - probably 30 feet in diameter) under the tree, where nothing dared to grow.

The front yard, as a result, is taking on a more and more park-like look.

There is a path of no grass between the front porch and the pond, so John thought we might go to Home Depot and buy some pavers and make a path.

So there we went. But the concrete pavers left me cold - they had no soul!

I managed to convince the good man to take me Mt. Olivet Stone, a lovely stone yard outside of town where we have puchased some tons of Colorado river rock, etc, to build our pond and waterfall.

They are nice stone people. If you live in the Kansas City area, I highly recommend them. Their prices are fair, and they are friendly.

Anyway, we bought about 400 pounds worth of flagstone - enough for a decent size split path - we may buy some more, to extend the path around the spruce tree to the beginning of the train tunne.

The flagstones cost less than the nice pavers at Home Depot - 16 cents a pound - we spent $64. The fake flagstones at Home Depot would have cost us about $90 for the same amount of coverage.

And then, SuperSon, Andy, unloaded the Aztec and built the path himself - making it nicer than anything I imagined (thanks, Andy!).

I spent the rest of the day planting plants to grow around and between the flagstones.

I planted 16 plants (all perennials of sorts), but I am going to have to buy at least 3 times as many to continue to naturalize the area.

I planted coreopsis, mazus, Irish Moss, and a couple of other low, spreading perennials whose names I've forgotten.

I am tired now. I forced John to go out in search of food for us.

Posted by Beth at 5:26 PM | Comments (4)

July 16, 2004

Stormy Stormy Night

Here in Eastern Kansas, at the start of the prairie, we get weather. There is enough space between the Rockies and us for winds to be whipped to a frenzy and all the humidity from the Gulf gets sucked up into this part of the country to produce some frankly spectacular weather.

I have seen hail the size of grapefruits (that was about 19 years ago) and I've seen tornadoes in the sky and on the ground. I've seen floods and even an occassional blizzard. Back in the 80s, we even had such a drought that there were dust storms.

So you would think I'd sleep through storms that go bump in the night. Andy can sleep through them, John can sleep through them, but I cannot.

I think it might be the dogs who wake me - because they will crawl up into our bed long before I hear thunder, and when lightning is only a distant blink of light through the window. Shadow, our very large black lab, doesn't like lightning. He doesn't cry or whine, he just moves his very large body into bed and stretches himself out so that he is snuggled right next to me - and then he leans against me until the thunder and lightning stop.

At the same time, Houdini snuggles up on my other side, and Gandalf the Grey Persian crawls up on my chest, Annie the kitty with 1/2 of a tail stretches herself across my neck.

It gets busier than that. Barnacle snuggles next to Shadow and me and even Cleo, the once feral cat, gets on the bed and settles down on my pillow.

As a result of all this nighttime activity, I'm really tired this morning.

I want to write more about the newspapers, magazines, TV and radio and their awful prejudices against non-liberal people, Catholics(unless they pretend to be Catholic, like Kerry), Jews and people who live in the flyover states.

I'll do that tonight.

Must go to work. Guess I better shower and dress first.

Posted by Beth at 7:19 AM | Comments (9)

I Paid for this Microphone

And if you leave a comment that is rude, I shall delete it.

If you leave several comments that are rude, I shall ban your IP.

I am too busy to argue with screwballs.

There are other people who are happy to do so.

But none of them are here on this blog.

Posted by Beth at 6:33 AM | Comments (3)

July 15, 2004

This is one of the things you get with Socialized Medicine

In Britain, too many people are dying from viruses and infections while in the hospital.

Killer superbugs are now out of control with 5,000 people a year dying from viruses picked up in hospitals says a damning report. Health chiefs have been slammed for allowing patients to be treated in filthy hospitals where the number of patients contracting infections is soaring.The numbers of blood infections from Staphylococcus aureus has gone up almost 8% from 17,933 in 2001-02 to 19,311 in 2003-04 - of these 40% were a strain of the deadly MRSA.

My goodness, this is a government report, talking about government run hospitals in Britain, and the hospitals are described as filthy.

In the United Kingdom there is no competition for health care dollars, patients are assigned to facilities, they don't get to pick them. Therefore, the hospital administrators have absolutely no incentive to spend the time and money to keep the facilities clean. They are going to get patients, no matter what the condition of the hospital.

Britain has the highest infection rate in Europe for MRSA which is resistant to most antibiotics.

That's pretty bad - think of all the European countries that are considered to be a bit on the 3rd world side - Romania, Bulgaria, etc.

In fact,

The report says our (British) hospitals are dirtier than those in countries such as Romania.

What's really frightening is that most of these infections can be prevented, cheaply and easily.
But the National Health System works their employees so much that they can't go to the bathroom to wash their hands!!!!!

Staff are still not washing their hands properly says the report but this is not because they are lazy. Nurses and other staff are so overworked they don't have time to use the bathroom.

Aside from the lack of handwashing - when do they get to go potty?

Remember this article when the Democrats start their whining about nationalizing health care again.

In fact, read the whole article, and be afraid.
Killer Superbugs Soar In Hospitals

Posted by Beth at 6:43 AM | Comments (3)

July 14, 2004

I'm so tired

Like my friend, Pam, I am so tired of the news - listening to all the bullshit about how 'Bush lied' - even with proof now that he didn't.

Has the Press always been this way? Was I just naive as all get out before?
Maybe. What I do know is that I am starting to listen to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh for the first time in years, because they are the only people on radio here who are not Kerry ass-lickers.

Any other station I listen to, even the music stations, has dj's or talk jockeys or whatever who hate President Bush.

The hate is so nauseating, and disturbed.

And I see George Bush as a good man, doing way better than most men would in a time of war.

I may not agree with everything he does - but he has done the right thing in responding the the declaration of war that the Islamic fundamentalists have made against the USA.

I have faith in President Bush's motives. President Bush has made us safer.

We have not had a terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11.

I have absolutely no confidence in John Kerry's ability to stand strong. His history indicates that he will run, like Spain, at the first sign of discomfort.

It's very tiring.

It's way too tempting to just give up.

So I won't. I hope you don't give up, too.

Posted by Beth at 9:53 PM | Comments (3)

July 13, 2004

Why I like Jeff

Now for a bit of poetic wisdom from Jeff:

Lifted in its entirety from protein wisdom

The All-Star Game Poem

Man, he absolutely...
1. crushed that pitch!
2. blew that one by him!

Epilogue

Beer is good, and
so are hot dogs with
mustard and relish and
onions. God Bless
America. Screw
Michael Moore

Epilogue Addendum

...the Twinkee-sucking
goo pit of hate.

Posted by Beth at 7:24 PM | Comments (3)

The Blog-Room isn't ready yet...

...not for viewing, anyway - but here is a picture of Beth's view while she blogs!

Click the pic for the hi-res version!

Posted by John at 8:11 AM | Comments (6)

They do this to cows here in Kansas

Japan: Schoolkids to be tagged with RFID chips

Imagine being a teenager. Do any of you remember that?
You take off in the car, go to the park, go to the zoo, go to your boyfriend's (girlfriend's) house and then drive around the town hangout on the way to the grocery store for mom.

As a parent, and a once-upon-a-time teen, this is perfectly understandable behaviour. Now, imagine doing all those things while being tracked. Every. Single. Minute.

Bad for teen. Bad for parent. Bad for society.
Very bad for schools and teachers. Good for the chip implant manufacturers.

Posted by Beth at 7:17 AM | Comments (2)

July 12, 2004

Happy Blog Day to you, Happy Blog Day to you,

Happy Blogiversary, Dear Sweetie,
Happy Blogday to you.

....aaaaand mannny more!

Love,

Me (no, all y'all don't get to know my secret name!)

Posted by John at 7:49 PM

Truth in Reservations ought to be the law!

I really dislike flying on Northwest Airlines, so when I made my reservations via the on-line reservation program we have here at work for a trip to Harrisburg, PA next week, I purposely chose Delta.
Everything said Delta, Delta, Delta.

Then, my reservations were emailed to me.

Well, I kinda sorta fly on Delta - for one leg - KC to Atlanta. Then I get to get on "Delta" Operated by COMAIR (a regional jet, they really are not that bad, I've flown them before.

For me trip home, at first glance, it looks like Delta moved me to Continental - which is OK, I like Continental. But then, it seems that it's not really Continental Airlines I'll be riding on back to KC from Harrisburg - it's NORTHWEST!!!!

I so hate the airline industry, except for Southwest Airlines.

Believe me, if Southwest flew to Harrisburg, I'd be flying Southwest next week.

Posted by Beth at 10:15 AM | Comments (1)

Items of Dubious Worth found in Computer room

1. Mustek Scanner - huge - old - drivers not available for years.
2. Empty large kitty litter bucket - we buy in large amounts. Not sure why I was saving this!
3. Cell phone that I thought was lost and replaced about a year ago.
5. One 486 pc.
6. One Pentium III PC.
7. Lots of wires and plugs that don't appear to go with anythingl
8. Grooming supplies for dogs and cats.
9. Grooming supplies for humans. (sometimes my son thinks they are one and the same)
10. Some beautiful fabric, yards and yards of it, and I have no recollection what I bought it for!
11. My sewing machine.
12. My Mother's-in-law sewing machine (comments on usage here welcome)
13. Lots of change.

It took all weekend. I decided to pull up the carpeting and that slowed me down considerably. The wood floor under it is mostly in pretty good shape, but there are some big stains that I'll have to buy a rug to cover until I can get around to having it refinished.

Posted by Beth at 8:41 AM | Comments (10)

July 10, 2004

Today is the Day I clean out the computer room.

I know, I know, almost a year ago I promised the same thing. It did not happen then, but it will now.

I have decided to reclaim this room, make it habitable for humans.

I don't know if you have ever seen the TLC show, Clean Sweep or not. If you have, imagine our 3rd bedroom as the worst most awful bunch of clutter in the history of the show.

That is going to change. Today.

No. Lie.

Posted by Beth at 9:46 AM | Comments (8)

July 9, 2004

More Bloggy Goodness

I must admit, I have not been paying attention to anything important at all lately. I just now found out, via Baldilocks, that Michelle Malkin, one of my favorite columnists ever, started her own blog last month.

Welcome to the Blogosphere, Michelle! I look forward to reading you daily!

Posted by Beth at 6:57 PM

Milestones

He's been at it for two years now, and even the evil puppy blender gave him a link today. Don't quit now, Frank!

Acidman has had 1 MILLION visitors! Wow. A lot of people have watched Rob's ups and downs and ups and downs and ups and downs and hopefully all ups from here on out.
He really does write from his soul - whether you agree with him or not, he is so worth the read.

Posted by Beth at 6:26 PM | Comments (2)

July 8, 2004

The thing is ...

I'm not a gregarious, friendly person. I am happiest when I'm by myself or with my family.
I do just fine when I am flying to a client site on this coast or that coast - only have to be there for 4 days, no biggie, then I get to come home.
But I have been stuck here in KC for what - 2 weeks, 3 weeks? And one more week of hell at the office? Today, I found that I was physically nauseous about the idea of having to drive that damned 50 minutes into the city and to the most awful cubicle you can imagine. I was actually ill - dizzy, nauseous and even congested - talk about psychosomatic.

I have tried to explain this to my boss - let me work at home, please. The noise and distractions at the office keep me from being as productive as I can be.

There are mostly men there. They have very loud voices and even louder opinions - I can be working with a client on the phone and they don't fricking care. They are loud and obnoxious to the point where I have trouble concentrating on what I'm working on. And, to make it worse, most of them come in later than I do and leave earlier than I do.

But that doesn't get me anywhere because they can see my face when they are shooting the shit with each other. They know that I think they are unfucking believable slackers - they are running off to pick up their golf clubs at 2:30 pm - I am working.

It makes me so mad that my blood pressure goes up. If I work at home, all those pressures disappear - and I don't need to be in the office, I can do everything here.

Just letting off steam. Just wishing I was a man who does't let stuff like that bother me!

Posted by Beth at 8:48 PM | Comments (1)

Important reminder

Lileks. Read him. Today.

Posted by Beth at 3:42 PM | Comments (1)

July 7, 2004

It's tomato time!

Suddenly, many tomatoes are ripe and ripening. I cut open the first one on Monday. It was sweet and tasty beyond belief. There is nothing like a home grown tomato. Sliced it, sprinkled a bit of salt on it, and yummy.

Andy, our son, doesn't like tomatoes and won't taste one of the home grown ones. He says that his dad grew them once and he didn't like his dad's, so mine wouldn't be good either. I should have started growing them when he was little, so he could have enjoyed them before his taste buds got so picky!

Anyway, I looked at my little garden this morning and realized that I will have about 10 tomatoes ripen at the same time. I hate to think about doing this, but I may have to give some away because we won't be able to eat them all.

Posted by Beth at 6:35 AM | Comments (14)

July 2, 2004

Independence, Declaration of

On July 4th, 1776, our forefathers declared our independence from England.

It would be nice if this year, on July 4th, we, the People, could renew our Declaration of Independence just to let the rest of the world know that we are not under the jurisdiction of the UN or the EU or NATO or SEATO or any other bunch of letters out there.

AP, UPI, NPR, CBS, ABC, NBC or Reuters do not rule us.

We are free men and women. We are more free than anyone else on earth. But too many of us are willing to give it all up so that Europeans will like us better. Or so the UN will be able to take over the world or whatever.

Too many Americans are willing to give up our sovereignty and our freedoms.

May we never again live under the rule of a foreign country or countries.

Those Americans who don't like it, well, either work within the system, or go move to your favorite European country - see how you like those taxes and socialized health systems. But don't tell the rest of us how we should bow to the European/UNian or others as servants to them.

Posted by Beth at 9:26 PM | Comments (7)

I've been looking around the net this morning

Found that Dave has an excellent take on Bill Cosby's utter courage in suggesting that people of color should be responsible for their lives. Jesse Jackson must be seething. (Dave, the permalink doesn't seem to work there!)

Our friend, Pam, discovered an absolute horror of a story. I shed tears over the cruelty to animals.

Joanie and Little Dude were acosted by an anti-war protester (who sounds very scary) at a rally. Read the whole story and then, read the comments.

Helen is doing admirably well at Dream Job and her Mr. Y. made lovely Independence Day invitations for their barbeque on Sunday. I hope their neighbors enjoy it! If Helen had told us about this earlier, I would have sent her some Kansas City barbeque sauces to try. So next year, Helen, remember to let me know some weeks ahead of time.

I learned about a new blogger, another Michele with one L, from both Harvey and the other Michele with one L. Read Harvey's story about her site actually being taken over, and do look at the screen shot.
The new Michele writes beautifully, and I'm glad to have found her and add her to my blogroll.

BeeBee is out of the hospital after a scary bout with pneumonia. I hope she continues to heal quickly and well! That woman can write a great story, and she is just so homey and friendly, that I wish she lived next door.

Have to run to work now, see you later!

Update: DaGoddess is beautiful and alluring, so she should live close by, too - as should Pam and Helen and well, maybe not the Micheles - they are too New York for this part of the world.

Posted by Beth at 6:56 AM | Comments (6)

July 1, 2004

Newsweek Fisks Moore

It has to be a good sign when a major news magazine reveals Michael Moore's lies and unfounded implications.
Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball point out many outright lies and inconsistencies in this article.

Posted by Beth at 7:09 AM | Comments (1)