Lexigame Community
General Category => Say Hello => Topic started by: anonsi on July 26, 2007, 04:41:01 AM
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Hi Threeb. Just checking in to see if you ventured out to the grocery store so that you could do some baking.
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Hi Binks ;D
Have you had a good day...yesterday now i suppose?
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Well, yes, I DID go to the store, as a matter of fact ... but the hubby distracted me from my original quest. However, I think I'll go ahead and make some scones per the recipe I received a while back from our expert little scone-makers here on the forum. The jam is ready and waiting! :-H
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Hi threeb... :-*
did you manage to get some cream?
Whipped thick double cream might suffice....
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Yes, dear! Except it didn't come from Devonshire, as the original recipe called for, but it will have to do for now! :angel:
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Ok, well done...
When the scones are made, leave them to cool while you make the tea....then split the scones in half.....spread each half with a thick layer of cream, then dollop girt big spoonfuls of the jam on top. Pour the tea, and eat away....
I am sooo jealous....
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With your cooking talents, just go out and make some quick!
Your guests would enjoy them, too!
By the way, how's that going? Are you having fun (I hope)??? :angel:
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It's too late now i fear...at 1/4 to 1...
It's going good...
We had a very wet day, but got out this morning and went to see Hairspray this afternoon, had supper and chatted...
Our meal last night was lovely.
Hopefully we will get out tomorrow too..weather permitting...
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Hairspray -- Was it the play or the movie?
I saw the older version of Hairspray with Divine and Rikki Lake -- that was such a hoot! John Waters was the director -- Mr. Weirder than Andy Warhol! But I heard that John Travolta was really quite amazing, too, in the new movie version, as a woman!
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It was the movie...
John T was pretty good...
Queen Latifa and a new girl were fab, Michelle Pfeifer looked gorgeous as always...
Yes..it was ok...
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I'll be sure to check it out.
Keep us updated on your fun! I can at least enjoy it vicariously! :angel:
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What are you up to today? More baking? How were your scones...delicious?
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Very aromatic and delightful -- better than the dinner (shrimp alfredo w/pasta)!
This rain is really starting to get ON MY NERVES! (sorry - I suffer from bad weather affective disorder, otherwise called SAD)
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Sorry to hear that it's still raining where you are. It's really sunny here today. I've heard that if you turn lots of lights on in your house it can help with SAD. It's worth a try, at any rate.
Your dinner sounds like it was amazing. I'll have to try the recipe sometime...All of this talk about food is making me hungry. I'm off to lunch now. Be back soon.
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Don't be too long! Oooooooooooh! :'(
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I'm back from :-H. It was good, but now I am full.
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Can you feel a nice nap coming on?
(http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/computer/attachment-190.gif)
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Yes I can...but I must...fight...:-P...have to work...
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Try this! (I used it earlier but if the shoe fits ...)
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Maybe this will help you!
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Yessss - there IS hope!
That was really sweet to go to all that trouble just for little ole' me! THANKS!
(http://www.forumup.com/images/smiles/slider_thankyou.gif)
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Aww, shucks. It wasn't nothing.
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Don't argue with me! >:D
YES IT WAS!!
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Okay woman! I won't argue!
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Good girl! :angel:
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Hi Threeb,
I thought of you this morning when I opened the back door and saw a hot air balloon floating over, so close it felt as if I could reach up and touch it.
I watched it float over and saw it slowly going down, and sure enough when we drove down the street a few minutes later it was being dismantled on the park just near our place. We often see them flying over our place but this was about the closest I have seen them in the sky, except for when my hubby went up in one. We tried to follow him by car all over Canberra, but finally lost it. He had a great time. Might go with him if there ever is a next time.
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That was so sweet, Gaye! Yes, I would've followed him as far as I could, too. If you could get a ride, what a thrill that would be. Thanks for telling me -- that was cool!
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Sure is quite tonight! Everyone's out of town here, and it seems that way on Chi, too.
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I was thinking the same thing, R_M!
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It's almost freaky to drive around town, the streets and stores are so empty.
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YOOHOO !
I'm here now, and I'll make lots of noise, if you like.
(http://img213.echo.cx/img213/4288/tulum1mh.gif)
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Go for it Binks! :laugh:
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All right! Par-tay!!
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I'll do my best but it's only lunchtime here!!
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It's only lunchtime?! You know what they say...it's 5:00 somewhere!
It's 9:30 p.m. here, and 10:30 where R_M is.
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How about where JayInThailand is? Let's all go over to his house!
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I guess I'd better start partaying then, if only to be polite!
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Or else Anonsi and I will just have to partay twice as hard...Our dishes are all done and we're ready to get down.
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>:D >:D
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Let the wild rumpus begin!
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The question is, Where is threeb? This is, after all, her thread!
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I don't know! She was online when I posted my hello, but then she disappeared...
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Yoohoo! Threeb, over here!
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Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to be a no-show at your par-tay, but hubby needed the computer for some board business, so I missed all the hooplah!!
Now, I'm back --- hope you don't all vacate the premises! I'm always trying to play catch-up, or up here with everyone else off going something or other!!!
Hey, Hey!!
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I'll stick around for at least a while. My drink isn't finished! And both of the puzzles are quite challenging today.
We became a two computer family very rapidly when my husband suddenly was "between jobs" at the end of May. There is no way we could coexist with only one computer when he is around all day.
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We usually manage to time-share quite well, and generally I've got it most of the time in the early morning and later evening hours. He usually works around that when he's home, but this was kind of an exception. I'm an early riser, and he sleeps in ... that is, on the days we don't have a lot of work. I work oddball days and hours anyway, and he teaches theater, so often, he is out with rehearsals at night during school -- which is starting this week, so we're always in a flux! Plus, he can use the computer at work.
Anyway, did you see my little chihuahua dancing under the other thread (word games) yet? It was a response to Alan's suggestion about Paris Hilton and her bagged dog, which he abandoned using in favor of another celebrity whom the younger forumites may not remember -- Jayne Mansfield, who died tragically in an auto accident. She was a Marilyn Monroe knock-off, but became pretty famous in her own time.
Anyway -- so let's dance!
(http://www.comicguide.net/images/smilies/ringelrein.gif)
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I saw the clip you linked to. I remember Jayne Mansfield but didn't connect her with chihuahuas. The chihuahua I always think of is the one in the move Legally Blonde.
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Good memory! I'd forgotten about the dog in that one!
Where'd everybody else go, R-M? There was such a flurry of posts and now, everyone's just laying back but you and I. I know anonsi's in my time zone, and you're one ahead. Binks is in the middle of the afternoon.
Haven't heard a peep from our Brit friends much at all today, even in the early morning, when they're up and at 'em. They must be off on their "holidays" which they seem to have for a solid month all over the country. If everyone's off on holiday, who's minding the stores?? When do the merchants get THEIR holidays, I wonder!
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Good question, threeb. Maybe for them it is sort of like here, in that they have to take vacation in smaller chunks throughout the year.
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Binkie said that it was lunchtime where she was. I guess it's just a busy work day. The Brits are probably all asleep by now, but it has been unusually quiet all day.
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So now that the Aussies are free to roam, it's getting near our bedtime. We're always fighting these darn time zones ... maybe we should campaign to have everyone in the world be in the same time zones! Wouldn't that be nuts? Half the world would be up all night trying to plow fields and do day-time activities in the dark ... going to the beach might be prohibitive as well... while the rest would be trying to sleep while the sun is up. There'd be even more chaos than there is already! >:D
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At first I thought you meant that everyone should move so that they live in the same time zone. That would be crazier yet! I bet the environmentalists would enjoy it, as most of the world wouldn't have humans living on it!
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Yes, but think of the double-high/deep mounds of trash in the poor half everyone inhabited!!!
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Chaotic for sure, since we are biologically programmed to be diurnal. It seems to me that when we have the most diverse population in the forum is first thing in the morning here. Then it is lunchtime in Britain, breakfast time here, and evening in Austalia.
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Well, I think I'm done for the night. I have an early morning tomorrow, and I need my beauty sleep!
Great chatting with you ladies!
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You're right, R-M. If I manage to awaken at the unholy hour of 4 am, there are some vestiges of the Brits and Oz's online, but the rest of the US crowd's still abed. It's a good time to catch up on the game, read neglected e-mails and check news headlines. I'll usually turn on our local radio news channel and let it stream for updates off the internet. Between 6-8 a.m., there's another lull, and then the Oz's are asleep. Sometimes the Brits are back, and then EVERYONE disappears for a while. About an hour before the puzzle goes to the new one, sometimes the Brits are catching up, and right after they play a bit, they're gone. I really miss it sometimes when everyone really batting back and forth and just like tonight, by the time I get back in, only a handful are there.
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Night, night, Anonsi!
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Ta-ta, as they say! :angel:
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In the middle of the afternoon I often find that I am the only one online.
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Your newspaper job sounds really interesting. I could never do something like that, because I write really slowly. One of my sisters works for a small town paper in Pennsylvania.
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It feels like such a wasteland, to be sure!
So is your schedule pretty much up to you? Sounds like you do freelance work. I was interested in the research you mentioned earlier about genealogy. In your area, there must be a wealth of places to access directly, and the history is quite rich.
I recently wrote about a man who photographed pictographs left behind by Cherokees during the 1600s in the Trans-Pecos area of Texas. Later, when the Army was escorting settlers, they took along a group of "Black Seminoles," as they were called, who used the pictographs for target practice and actually scratched their names graffiti-like onto the images. One of those pictographs was named Albert's Bird, because it looked like an eagle, but across its chest, was the man's name etched into it. There are tours there, I understand. The pictographs, I believe, were in caves and on rock faces. Very interesting. I might go out there sometime to see for myself.
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I get to determine my own schedule, which isn't always the best thing. This area is incredibly rich with research facilities, which is probably why I ended up doing this. We've got the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters Library, plus numerous universities, public libraries, and courthouses. Within two hours drive we have Richmond, Baltimore, and Annapolis -- no end of opportunites.
I'd love to see some pictographs some day. I understand that scientists can roughly figure out how old they are, and some of them are pretty ancient.
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I've been to the DC area, many years ago, and wish I'd been as keen on the old history then as I am now, ironically, living far away.
One of the high points of a recent trip back east (in '04) was visiting Philadelphia, where we have a family cemetery. We threw coins on Ben Franklin's tomb, rode the "duck" tour through the streets of town and then straight into the river, saw Independence Hall and the bell, and so much more. I miss those old cobbled streets ... ate a Philly cheese steak at Jim's on 6th Street. It was wonderful!!
I, like your sister, do work at a small-town paper, and though the pay is paltry and the recognition only local, it's a great job. I'm always learning something new (since I must know what I'm talking about, I must be quick to absorb information), and meeting so many people. I feel like I'm making a small contribution by printing stories about the people, both good and bad, and getting the truth out as best I can. Is her paper a weekly like mine?
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No. I forget if it is five days a week or seven. Probably five. Besides writing stories, she is an assistant editor. She left for a while because the hours were affecting her health. They wooed her back by agreeing that she could work 9 to 5; they were pretty desperate!
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That's tough work!
The luxury of a weekly is that you get a chance to develop stories in better depth. The downside is that the obits are often too dated, and funerals generally are over before they get to press.
I do miss the resources of a place such as yours, but nowadays, it's a bit easier with the Internet -- although, I'm sure you know better than I, that one must be VERY careful, as often family names/lines are not entirely reliable and you can't always trust the sources.
The series I've been doing on old settler families has been extremely rewarding (up to #81 already -- one a week since January '06), but the task can be daunting, as people cancel or postpone interviews, some are reluctant to talk, etc. I've done several on Native Americans -- one whose ancestor was at the Battle of Little Big Horn (Greasy Grass, they called it) -- Chief Gall who fought vs. Custer. It also tied into the Trail of Tears and "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", so the story was very compelling. Another was about a white German boy captured by Apaches, who lived with them for 9 years (part of that time with Comanches, too) and was even adopted by Quanah Parker. He returned into white society, but could never quite re-integrate. I met his 83-year-old niece and interviewed her. Wonderful stuff!!!
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Fascinating! Mostly I dig around in the military service records and pension files for people, also court martial records. They can't get those online. One time I had a request to look at a petition that members of the 7th Cavalry had signed in support of Major Reno when he had been court-martialed after the Battle of Little Big Horn. I felt very privileged, because that is a document that is kept in The Vault.
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What a treat -- seeing those old documents!!
I've been trying to get into our local university's library that contains some old letters and now that school's back in session, the director should be available to help me. They have lots of historical items like that in their archives, which they've been trying to get scanned and digitized.
The man I met doing this week's story (he's an automotive designer for GM and Ford--himself an interesting person) sold me an old deed from the 1880s that had some very interesting language in it regarding the bounds and meets of the property, which caught my attention.
Part of it reads: "Beginning at a Rock on the bank of the Guadalupe River, the lower corner of Survey # 673 a cypress 4 in. in diameter (giving the NW location in varas) ... whence west at 120 varas crosses a spring 2012 varas. A stake and mound. ... Whence S. 1780 varas to a pile of rocks in the bank of the river ..." What a description!!! Rocks, small trees and a spring!
The other interesting thing, if you don't know about a vara, it is a measure of distance, but before they had become uniform, the distance could mean anything from 34-43 inches. Rather an arbitrary system, eh? Now that's what I mean about this being a real education!!
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That's the great thing about genealogy. The learning never stops. History, geography and detective work are all rolled into one.
All land back here in the East is described in metes and bounds, although the different points are now described in terms of degrees, minutes and seconds instead of rocks, trees and posts. Quite a different system than in the public land states, where everything is in townships and ranges, sections and quarters.
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Bye for now. Talk to you later!
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I also just love the drama. Getting the families to talk, though, is the real trick. You have to get them to trust you, esp. if the stories are getting to print for the general public. Many dead bodies litter the landscape, but getting the ghosts to reveal their secrets is always a challenge.
I try to make the stories real...have the ancestors come alive. In some cases, you have to really coddle the descendants, and let them know, that we want to tell what really happened. The tragedies and triumphs, not just dates, names and places. And, that whatever may have occurred in the past is just that -- the past. It helps if you can enlist the help of other family members who sometimes can prod the reluctant ones to open up -- then it's a nice victory! Once that happens, often they just start pouring it all out. They've given me little souvenirs, like family books, photos, and other things as keepsakes. I even had a woman send me a box of cookies taken from her great-grandmother's recipes as a thank you, after I'd mentioned them in the story! It was really fun.
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All right, then -- fare thee well. Chat again soon -- I really enjoyed it!
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Threeb, you are a national treasure for what you are doing! It takes a special kind of person to get people going like that. Sounds like you're the right person in the right place at the right time.
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High compliments from you, R-M, although I hardly can feel quite so elevated! :-[ But I do thank you, that was very kind. :)
Probably the strongest motivation is that people tell me every week that the first thing they look for is the next story -- I've signed up dozens of new subscribers based on that interest.
As of today, I'm still needing to set up the interview for the coming issue (we publish every Thursday), so the hunt begins. Although I have a list of prospects, getting the appointment is the first big step, and many are either tired, retired, busy, or say they're still trying to put more data together.
Eventually, the stories will get compiled into some kind of compedium, perhaps a book or very special limited edition of the paper that will be a collectors' item. We've had lots of inquiries about doing that, too. It's just a matter of funding, now, and the particulars of the layout, etc. etc.
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Nothing succeeds like success. Whatever you are doing is working just fine. I agree that this should all be collected into a special edition or book, perhaps with a CD version. I've gotten some great family stories collected by others like you in other parts of the country. You'll just have to accept my thanks in their stead.
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Doing a CD version is a wonderful idea, R-M!
We're somewhat "low-tech" so I'm not sure if the publisher (a personal friend of mine, ha, ha!) has even thought of that option. I'll be sure to pass it along.
Perhaps eventually (whenever it does come to fruition) I might be able to wheedle a copy for you so you could add it to your collection as well. The more this kind of information gets distributed, the better all our resources become.
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I am on my way to the library today. Two newspaper microfilms that I ordered on interlibrary loan have come in. It's so great to have ancestors who lived in Kansas. The Kansas Historical Society has done a wonderful job of preserving things on microfilm, and it's freely available on ILL.
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There's nothing like getting down to the old musty records, is there, so I know you'll have a good time today!
Some states got started earlier than others in getting on the ball. Texas is catching up, too, albeit a bit slower. The University of Texas, A&M has been a big resource, as well as a website, Handbook of Texas Online gives a lot of facts as well. I find this state is so colorful and rich in its history as well. I've also done some related research from Kansas, esp. from the Civil War era, Jayhawkers, land rush (Sooners), etc.
What's also so fascinating, is how these events and families are so interconnected -- it becomes mind-boggling -- we are truly a web of humanity!!!
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How many total stories do you plan to tell in this series, threeb?
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There's no telling, Anonsi. I guess for as long as I can keep it up. I've been so lucky not to miss a single week so far, which is nothing short of miraculous! I always try to have something else in the bag (like the ones I did on cemeteries and maps, that were a backup, and mostly were a general overview than a specific family's story), and they seem to have met with the same positive response.
The book/limited edition/whatever will probably have to have more than one part, I think. We might do it one year at a time (50 or so), since the second year's portion is already approaching its end! The weeks just fly by so fast!
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I'd love to be the proverbial fly on the wall while you're doing your work, threeb! Gotta run now, though. Talk to y'all later...
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Probably tonite!! Enjoy!!
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She's baaack! I went to the library to look at two obituaries. One of them turned out to be for probably someone else, but even negative results are still results. Don't know how much I'll be on this afternoon. We're giving the washing machine a real workout in preparation for a weekend trip to New York tomorrow. Three days without Chi...I have become hooked.
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Welcome to the club!
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Yes, you are officially IN!!! It does take a lot to take one away but think of all the stories you can tell!! There will be much posting next week, I think, so brace yourselves gang!!! ;)
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P. S., R-M! I'd love to know more about that slave cemetery you mentioned when you have more time!
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Threeb and R-M....please feel free to tell us as much as want about your research....it's all fascinating. I'd love to hear more about your history, particularly social history. We were taught the main events at school, of course...the Civil War, War of Independence, and so on, and I suppose I've gleaned bits and pieces from TV and from reading, but it's all fairly scratchy!
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We don't call it the War of Independence...we call it the Revolutionary War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War
It's weird how things get called by different names in other countries.
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That's right anonsi, good point -- and don't you forget it!! >:D
On the other hand, Binks, although we've had our share of the history of England (probably just a tiny morsel of what you get there), there's very very little about Australia that we learn. Except about it originally being a dumping grounds for prisoners, a bit about the natives, and the rest is just about the funny names of your animals -- personally, I've always loved the name wombat!!
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Oooops. I lost a post somewhere along the line.....not to worry. I love Australian animal names too. We once sent my parents a set of black and white ink drawings of a wombat, a platypus, a fruitbat and a possum. They wrote back to say that the wompuss and platybat were hanging in pride of place. Needless to say, wombats and platypuses have been wompusses and platybats ever since!
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Even within a country a war might have different names. Depending on which side you were on, the American Civil War might be called the War Between the States or the War against Northern Agression. Here in Virginia it is referred to by some as the Late Unpleasantness.
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I love that....."Late Unpleasantness" !
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Talk about a genteel term! Just something unpleasant ... perhaps a bit worse than an annoyance! Wow.
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It reminds me of when I was told by a surgeon that I would experience "slight discomfort" after an operation. The pain was appalling, so now, naturally, if any of us are REALLY suffering, we explain that we have "slight discomfort"
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And doctors, of course, are the WORST patients themselves! (sorry to change the topic momentarily)
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Hi, threeb! When I was catching up on the goings on at Chi during my absence, I noticed that you got a trophy the other day. Well done!
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Thanks, R-M. Haven't seen a "triple-crown", so to speak, in a while, so it was fun.
So, what's your plan now that the NY trip is done? I was curious, too, about your search at the cemetery. Too bad you couldn't accomplish your mission. Is there any way you could access the Harlem cemetery's records to verify the information you want? Would there be any archives to search on-line, or do you suspect their record-keeping might have gotten lost? Since Harlem has undergone a resurgence (from what I gather), perhaps folks are starting to compile/rediscover those kinds of things more diligently these days.
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The first step would be to identify existing cemeteries and how old they are. If any existing cemeteries meet the criteria, then I would see what I could find out about them online. Failing that, I might look for published books at the DAR library. I'm not expecting to find any headstone or exact burial site; just the cemetery would be sufficient. My ancestral couple who lived on Manhattan are identified in a published genealogy as being the first two people to die in New Harlem (early 1660's). After I have confidently identified the cemetery I would investigate whether that section of town is safe for a daylight visit. My daughter seems to think that most of Manhattan is safe when the sun is up, but I would want to double check.
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Having been there, I KNOW what you mean about safety, R-M. I used to have to ride the bus from the East side of the Bronx (there's an old Dutch name, too!) all the way to Columbia University through Harlem, and sometimes I got a little edgy. I must say, though, that nothing ever happened, so I guess "someone" was looking over me. That was in the mid/late(19)60s, and the place went downhill from there.
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Sorry, but I must run for now -- hope to catch your replies later this evening!!! Have a wonderful day. :D
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Wotcha threeb,
How's it hanging?
Have you had a good day?
What you been up to?
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Been busy today like you -- got a much-needed car part to alleviate the inspectors for a renewal sticker, as well as a brilliant new (cheap!) Canon camera that's got an 8 megapixel resolution -- quite compact and easy to use.
The best feature is the swiveling view-finder that virtually gives me a 360-degree ability to see what I'm shooting. It twists and turns in every direction, so I can even take my own picture and see if I'm in the frame!! Great feature! I can aim the camera over my head, turn the viewfinder, and shoot downward from above, and see what I'm getting -- wonderful for us vertically-challenged folk when in a tall crowd!!!
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OOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Get you...so we can expect a new super dooper piccy of you now can we...???
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I never said I WOULD take one of me -- only that I COULD!!! >:D
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NO NO NO NO NO !!!!!
Not good esnuff....
We will plague you now till we get one...you know we will..
So just do it..you know it makes sense..
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You relentless hag!!! >:D
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Aren't you glad i'm back??? :laugh:
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Naturellement, ma petite choux!
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Moi, aussi! ;)
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Tres bonne..
Mais je suis un pomme de terre n'est ce que pas?
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La belle jolie!
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Good morning! Not much time to chat, but I wanted to say hello...I'm headed downtown to the D. C. Superior Court to locate a couple of potential probate files. The last time I went, their computers were down.
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Good morning/afternoon R_M .... sounds v. impressive .... I have been ironing (not v. impressive!) >:D
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It's impressive when I iron, because I do it so seldom!
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I find it quite therapeutic (how sad am I?) ... tend to drift off into another place ... quite possibly Majorca ... see Tennis thread! >:D
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Yes, I saw. You are quite the Rafa fan. I don't follow tennis much, but my husband does, so I look in once in a while. My favorite is Venus Williams.
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NO! Really? >:D
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Really! But I don't daydream about her, even when I'm ironing. Wrong gender...
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Phew! Glad to hear it! Please forgive the Brits for sending over Tim Henman ... we're sorry, honest! >:D
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Hi, Threeb, it seems everybody except me has a life today! I found an article on the Internet about the old Dutch church in Harlem that describes its location. The cemetery was attached. I can't find whether the cemetery is extant, but the good news is that the location is on one of the main streets. It doesn't look like it would be too dangerous to visit in broad daylight.
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Sounds promising, R-M. I know you'll find it sooner or later. Probably going in a group would be okay, esp. since you sound like your bunch is pretty city-savvy, and know how to walk, dress and keep an eye out for trouble so's not to attract ne'er-do-wells with bad intentions!
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Hi Threeb,
How are you today? I've spent the last 3 days in the Uni library holed up with my pal Sam in a group study room, nose to the grindstone churning out a 3000 word essay on occupational profiling.
Very touchy-feely stuff about how you view your spirituality in terms of your occupations. Easy for the Christians, they can bang on about going to church, bible study and prayer group and how this social contact connects them not only to their maker but also to humanity. I was helping a muslim girl with her essay on thursday afternoon and again, she had no problem with that section - a whole bunch of stuff about facing Mecca five times a day and how this sets up occupational patterns in her day for her. Perhaps I should have lied...
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It must be a touchy and difficult thing for you ... I guess it depends on how you view spirituality per se, and whether it is manifest internally or externally, religiously or concretely. There's probably a sharp dichotomy in the fact that for some people, it's faith over thought; for others, it's the reverse. A struggle that has been brewing in mankind since "the beginning..."
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I managed okay: stuff about humanism and Maslow's hierarchy of needs and more stuff about creativity and music connecting people at a spiritual level. And I threw some extra stuff in about the Bright Movement because they amuse me.
But poor Sam was struggling. He's written about family. And about volunteering (he's a seasoned St John supporter and volunteer ambulance crew member in summer,) and how this connects him to the world.
We're both "mature" students, and I think the school leavers are even more lost, poor things.
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Hey Threeb--Are you watching the Dr. Who marathon on BBCAmerica tomorrow?
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I've already seen every episode they're showing, Anonsi, but there are some that I'll probably want to see again. Thanks for reminding me -- I can TiVo what I might miss!!
There were some very excellent ones -- like the one when Dr Who and Rose were stranded on a space ship, and they went into a huge dark pit to see the horned one...
the one about the hollow children was good--
lots more I can't name them all--
oh, the hospital one -- and that woman who was just a thin layer of skin with a face! that was really creative!!
Let me know which you like best!!
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I thought some of the later ones were a bit disappointing....still trying to get used to the loss of Rose! Martha is a reasonable substitute, I suppose, but somehow the spark has gone - for me at any rate.
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Yes, I really did like Rose a lot --she was so feisty, and all that bit with her mother and father was very well done and carried through! I do like Martha, though -- it's all about her feeling second-rate and trying to prove herself worthy, and I'll be interested in how that plays out.
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True......a lot depends on future scripts! Some of the recent ones seemed less than inspiring...more like your usual alien-spaceship-off-course-with-wildly-divergent-crew etc etc. I look to Dr Who for really ingenious ideas and concepts..... and (this is showing my age) I remember running home as fast as possible after Guides, in order not to miss the latest episode!
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You and I both. One difference, too, is the way the Doctor is portrayed. These days, the character has more angst and not enough of the wild look in his eyes like Tom Baker had.
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Oh I did like Tom Baker, especially his scarf! He hasn't aged terribly well....have you seen him recently? Oh dear....that was probably an awful ageist remark....forgive me.
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Oh, yes -- the scarf!! And that tousled mop on top!
No, I haven't seen him lately ... and now that you've warned me (as for the agist remark, don't worry -- it's probably just the bitter truth), I'll try not to, so as to maintain the illusion of better days.
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Tom Baker was definitely my favorite Dr. Who, followed by Christopher Eccleston. When I first discovered Dr. Who, he came on while I was cooking dinner. The television had to be turned so I could see it from the kitchen. My husband watched along with me, but only when Leela was the travelling companion.
A few years ago I saw an interview with Tom Baker that was already old. He looked so different without the wig! I can imagine that he would not have aged well.
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So, will you get a chance to watch the marathon today on BBC (I think it will start at noon in Central time), or record it? The Eccleston episodes start first, and then the Tennant ones. What did you think of Rose -- should she have been replaced?
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I'll try to watch some of it. Today is my day to reconcile the household accounts, which I always do on the first of the month. I liked Rose a lot, but after so many years I have gotten used to both doctors and companions coming and going.
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Paperwork!! Ugh! Certainly a necessary evil, accent the latter!
I'm listening to Car Talk with Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers on the local NPR station -- have you ever heard it? Besides the fact that they actually do diagnose car problems, those two guys from Massachusetts are hilarious! Some people think they're annoying, but I love the show.
Now it's in reruns, but it doesn't matter. they laugh at their own bad jokes, but they are really funny.
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But of course! Saturday just wouldn't be the same without Tom and Ray. I keep every radio in the house tuned in to them so I don't have to miss a word as I go about my routines.
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How cool! I even listen all the way to the end for the zany credits -- dewey cheatem and how! etc... That and Prairie Home Companion are can't misses at our house.
I do love Musica Antiqua (although Wednesdays are hard to remember) and on Sunday nights, Pipedreams. Takes me back to my classical music background. Most of them can be found at their own websites in case you miss them, except for Musica Antiqua, which really is too bad, because I dearly love hearing the pre-Renaissance monastic chants. Now, though, at least you can get them on CDs, since several groups have recorded them -- and they've been very popular in past few years.
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I'm not familiar with those programs. I'll have to check the schedules. We have a couple of public radio stations here. One of them is devoted to classical music all day long, and the other one has a lot of talk. When the other station does music, it is usually traditional music, like jazz, bluegrass, folk and Celtic. Up until this year there was more variety as far as public radio goes, but our commercial classical music station changed formats. One of the public radio stations picked up the slack. My husband listens to the classical music station all day long. I love classical music, but in much smaller doses. Thank Heaven we both like the same eras of classical music -- Baroque and early Classical, with a smattering of Renaissance and Romantic tossed in for variety.
Like you, I took piano lessons as a child. I played the cello in the high school orchestra, as well, though I never owned an instrument.
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Hope you find them, R-M. If not, you could call the station and ask if they'll consider programming them in. Anyway, I must go now -- writing to do. Will return later in the p.m. Have a nice morning!
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I've got to go, too! Only a couple of free hours until Dr. Who comes on, and a lot to do...Bye, y'all.
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Hello, ThreeB, or B3
With regard to Car Talk with Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers, I listen to them all the time. I think their reruns are as funny as their live broadcasts.
I believe they are both graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sometimes their very well-reasoned answers are supported by technical concepts that engineers have learned. (Having gone to engineering school myself...)
I will grant that sometimes they do not have a clue as to what may be causing the caller's automotive problem, but I think they give it their all.
As a car owner myself (but not mechanically inclined), I think their responses are as good as they could be without having the car there to examine themselves. I think they give pretty good advice.
It's true they like to joke around a lot. I think their joking is good natured. Sometimes it borders on the raunchy, but I don't think they go over the line into poor taste. I find them extremely entertaining.
Very often the automotive question is intertwined with an aspect that includes human relationships. When this comes up, I think their responses are appropriate.
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I have never heard of any of the above...should i look them out somewhere/somehow???
The closest we get is Top Gear...mighty funny programme...
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I know that these broadcasts are carried on National Public Radio (NPR) in the USA.
I have no knowledge of whether these may be carried in other areas of the world.
I know that in the USA, in additon to all the programming (here I'm thinking about television programming) that is produced in the USA, we receive many programs that originate in Great Britain.
Many of these British television programs are broadcast on USA channels are are similiar to National Public Radio. I have a great fondness for the British programs as I believe they provide a more wholesome approach.
I should point out that NPR and the corresponding television channels do not broadcast the torrent of advertising that "commercial" radio and televsion outlets spew forth.
As a consequence, NPR and the corresponding television channels depend on voluntary contributions by listeners and viewers.
Someone above mentioned "Musica Antiqua". I'm not sure, but I think this may refer to the kind of very old music that I personally enjoy very much. I am a great devotee of "Baroque Music", that is music that was written in the time period of 1700 and following. These composers are considered "classical" and in my estimation their work is priceless.
In the USA, there is always a focus on the "bottom line"...that is, how much money can be made from a broadcast enterprise. Sadly, very little money is to be made by broadcasting "old" or "classical" music. The audience is not that large.
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T -- you can catch them on their website through Google at:
http://www.cartalk.com/
You'll love it!
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Well, A-Q, nice to know there are a few of us Musica Antiqua fans out there! It's so beautiful to hear voices singing completely a cappella without all the noise of electronics and screeching guitars. It takes more finesse to appreciate it, I think.
You're right -- nowadays, it's all the bottom line, sadly, that goes into programming, since demographics plays into everything we hear and see these days. And so much of it is really drivel!
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Drivel is right!
A lot of what is broadcast nowadays sounds like it is being played out of back of a garbage truck!
I have always been fond of guitar music, especially classical guitar music. (I know that several centuries ago, the guitar was considered to be a musical instrument to be played in a tavern, not in an orchestra.) I know there are many famous classical Spanish guitarists, and I love to listen to their music.
What I don't particularly care for are the new "electric guitars". Often the sounds that emanate from them sound horribly tortured.
A word had to be invented for the "original" guitar. They are known as "acoustic guitars".
This designation "acoustic guitar" is a "retronym". That is, a word that was devised because of a new invention, to refer to something that existed before the invention.
Another example of a retronym is "land line telephone", of course needed with the invention of "cellular telephones" (also known as "mobile telephones").
Question—is "musica antiqua" music from a long time ago sung "a capella" (without any musical accompaniment)?
I have listened to Gregorian chants (a capella)...I find them very meditative.
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Don Alonzo, if you like classical guitar, you should listen to music performed by Peter Blanchette on an instrument that he had developed called the archguitar. Blanchette performs everything from Renaissance dances to works by Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Bach to more contemporary composers such as Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Satie, Villa-Lobos and Nino Rota. Sometimes he plays solo; sometimes he partners with another archguitar, a trumpet, an English horn, even voice. His website is at http://www.archguitar.com/ (http://www.archguitar.com/).
Just now as I was getting the link, I see that he has updated his website and has a new CD. I must purchase it right away!!! I own just about every CD he has ever issued. I discovered him and his early partner, Peter Michelini, at a craft fair in Vermont. Since then they have appeared on Prairie Home Companion and parted ways. I don't know what Michelini is doing these days, but Blanchette keeps on making CD's.
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Thank you, R_M—
I just looked at that website and the archguitar looks quite awesome. It looks like it has 12 strings.
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Yes, that way the guitarist can get a fuller range out of a single instrument. He sounds amazing in a live performance, and the CD's are pretty darn good. My least favorite of his albums is Night in the Village, but I never get tired of hearing any of his others.
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A-Q,
Musica Antiqua does often include Gregorian chant, and much more. T(exas)PR describes the show:
Each week, Texas Public Radio's own Gerald Self takes you on a trip back in time, exploring the very best in early classical music on Musica Antiqua. Self not only details the history of the beautiful music you hear, but talks about the rare instruments on which it is played. Self is not only an authority on early music, but is an accomplished harpsichord builder as well.
I am not sure whether it is carried on other NPR stations, or just in Texas, but it really is a great treat!
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Hi, R-M! I just went to the archguitar website, and it sounded wonderful! You might have gotten me hooked on Blanchette's style.
I'll look for him at the local CD outlet, although I probably won't find him at Wal-Mart (or can I?).
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ThreeB—
I have heard references to Musica Antiqua, but I don't know if I've heard it directly.
We have an NPR station up here. It is based in Fairfield Connecticut—WSHU 91.1.
Every Sunday between 7am and 1 pm they broadcast "Sunday Morning Baroque". It is available via the Internet. It is hosted by Suzanne Bona—she is highly eloquent in describing what is being presented. She also gives intriguing, informed background information about the compositions and the composers.
Their web address is: sundaybaroque.org
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Thanks for that tip, too, AQ. I'll try to listen in on the internet.
Right now, though, I've got Prairie Home Companion playing on the computer, and the Dr. Who on the TV, plus chatting here -- talk about multi-tasking!! It's all good, though, and makes me happy! ;)
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ThreeB—
From looking at the WHSU website, I believe there may be as many as 50 or so NPR stations around the country that may broadcast "Sunday Morning Baroque".
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Hi Threeb,
I've been watching Dr Who...They had another one of those funny commercials on, "If you find yourself laughing at the British accent, rather than understanding, the closed captioning button might be for you."
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They are really funny, I know.
The Dr Who episode that's on now is soso, so I've changed over to X-Men 3, on HBO. What I'm really waiting for is next week's new Dr. Who season starter! It looks very good.
Hope your weekend's looking good. Labor Day plans, Anonsi? I'll probably work a bit each day and then hump it on Tuesday as usual.
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No real plans, just relaxing.
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We all need some down time -- you never know what could come up. A couple of naps are wonderful, too!
Is it raining there? We've had overcast skies and a little stray sprinkle today ... nothing drastic or even meaningful.
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Nope, no rain at all. Beautifully sunny day here today!
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I doubt you can buy any of Blanchette's CD's in a store. I think one or two of them are on Amazon.com. I have generally bought them directly from him at craft fairs, although I did buy some from him direct through the mail. It seems that he has added PayPal to his website, which is great for me. I have a PayPal account, so I jumped right in this evening and ordered a couple more CD's. One of my brothers-in-law plays classical guitar, so I occasionally give him a Blanchette CD for Christmas. A few of them are available new or used through various assorted Amazon.com associated vendors.
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Zowie wow! It's a good thing you asked me for a link to Stained Glass Bluegrass. I went to the station website and discovered that on 17 September the station is moving all of its bluegrass and other musical programming to HD radio. I won't be able to listen to them without a special receiver, except via the Internet. Anyway, here is the link to their bluegrass programming: http://www.bluegrasscountry.org/. You have to register to listen, but I don't think it costs anything except being eternally nagged to support them financially. The main station link is http://wamu.org/.
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And thanks for the info, R-M -- I have already bookmarked it for future reference and look forward to hours of great listening!!
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Hey Threeb,
How was your day? Was it as relaxing as it was supposed to be? Are you looking forward to getting back to the grindstone tomorrow?
Also, what is your story this week???
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Not a bad day at all, Anonsi! Rather laid-back, and was home after only about 4 hours' work.
The next story will be centered around interviews with a 100-year-old (this month) lady and her 93-year-old "baby" sister! Their family got here in the 1800s, and three siblings of her family married three siblings of another family in one generation, creating a trio of double-cousins!!
Anyway, it will be fun, since our subject is also a member of the Red Hat society, who will honor her next week with a big party -- all dressed in purple (don't tell Linda!) and red, so that's be quite a hoot.
How was your day? We've started drying out a bit here, finally! The sun eventually peeked out.
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Wow. That already sounds like it will be another interesting read! My day was pretty good, nothing to complain about, at any rate.
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Staying positive, as usual!! :angel:
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Your project sounds like loads of fun threeb...
Just think..when they were kids there were no planes..washing machines..computers...phones...CD's...
WOW...
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Good morning -- too early, but I'm up nonetheless, coffee in hand, blinking thru the messages. Whew!
It will be fun -- these ladies have the spirit and energy of teenagers, at least mentally. They're full of cheer and talk, talk, talk! Everyone just loves them.
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You reckon??
Well i'm sure it will be an interesting interview....
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Just a note to say hi...I know this is your busy day at work. I am struggling to write a client report, but it is slow going... We have gotten the weather system that was hanging over Anonsi for a while. The grey skies make it harder to concentrate; but then, sunny skies make it harder to concentrate, too, so what can one do?
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Personally, R-M. I'd definitely rather have to work (or take a nap) when it's gloomy, and then bask outdoors when it's sunny. You're right -- what can you do?
I hear you've really been on a long ancestral odyssey for your client, and have made great strides. Well done! That is a LOT of work! Catchya when I can! 8)
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Wotcha You,
Wot u up 2 2day?
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Hi, T -- I must have heard you talking, and here I am at not quite 4 in the morning. Crazy, huh? Killed myself slamming out the stuff yesterday and got home a reasonable hour. Once I plopped through the puzz and some bits of chatting, I had a bite and just collapsed. NEED MORE VITAMINS!
How's with you, kid? Any news (nudge-nudge, wink-wink)? Any olds? Any tweens?
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Heelo matey.....
I'm good....nothing new in the ;) ;) area....
You need to get your sleeping habit sorted mate...you can't go on like this..it is ridiculous...
I thought i was a night bird...but you take it to the next level...
Get to a herbal shop and get something to help...
I am seriously worried mate...
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Oh, don't worry, T, I'll be fine! I've never needed more than 6 hours of sleep, which is about what I got last night after crashing just before 10 p.m.
But thanks for the concern, really. I'll probably catch a catnap later, and keep on going. I actually feel pretty good right now. The part I love the most about this part of the day is that it gives me time to think in peace and quiet without a lot of interruptions -- except for when the forum runs amok, of course, and I start posting like crazy for a bit.
I get to drink coffee in the silent peaceful hours of early morning, plan my day, hear some news and not have to dash about.
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I can see your point...i love it when the kids have gone to bed and the house is quiet.... same difference i suppose!!
I'm glad you're ok..
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That's when I started getting this way -- like you said, when the kids were asleep, I'd have MY time. Now, it's just habit. But not a bad one.
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Hey Threeb,
How did your article go (the one about the two old ladies...)?
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I think it turned out well, anonsi. The party for our centenarian was a lot of fun, with tons of red and (oh, my!) purple -- here comes Linda, I bet!
She was all smiles and was surrounded by lots of family and friends. Very sweet, and everyone thanked me for taking pictures and doing the story. The other newspaper was there, too, but my story will be much more detailed and a historical piece about the whole clan from the mid-1800s. I even got a photo of the family's wagons hauling freight through an area which is now completely developed, when it was just a muddy path by the river and a few structures on the hill above.
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I really wish I lived near you so that I could read your stories. They sound amazing. It's hard to believe what families had to go through to settle new areas. It's a subject that has always fascinated me. I used to read all sorts of pioneer stories as a little girl.
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I'm glad the party was fun, threeb, even I will forgive a dentenarian for wearing p****e .... no-one else though! >:D
My mother has a p****e fleece which she doesn't wear but insists on keeping for some bizarre reason ... probably because she knows how much I dislike the colour!! >:D
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Of course, Linda -- a mother can have her fun, tormenting the children even when they're grown, eh? >:D
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Maybe the paper is online?
Anonsi, I thrived on the Little House books, and I'll bet threeb did, too. I have read them countless times. There is probably no aspect of Laura's life that I do not know. I often use those stories as a framework for picturing my own ancestors' lives when they pioneered in Wisconsin and Kansas.
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I wanted to live with that family....it seemed like heaven compared to mine...
Linda, maybe your Mum is keeping it for you for when you grow up??!!
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I try and avert my eyes as I walk past the damned thing ... which is kept on a hook by the front door! ... but I am inevitably drawn to the damned thing like a little crimson moth to a vibrant flame! As I have no intention of every growing up, that'll never happen, T!! >:D
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Will keep you posted on the story, R-M.
Seeing all those old photos really brings it home much better than any narrative, esp. when you see and know who it is that did those things. You know, I never really appreciated the Little House series until more recently, since I started getting into the history. What I love is when you talk to these older people who actually REMEMBER how life was back then.
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Linda -- you are your own worst enemy! Just like you couldn't keep out of the (B**D) thread I distinctly told you NOT to read. Don't go near any high cliffs, please!
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Haven't been anywhere near the b**d thread for ages .... so flutter off! >:D
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tweet tweet/buzz buzz goes the threebee!!
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Yes, R_M, I also thrived on the Little House books...and every other pioneer-type book I could get my hands on!
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It didn't hurt that the first time I was exposed to them, I was living in Kansas. I was extremely disappointed when they made the books into a TV series. The show resembled the books very little; it was a travesty.
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It seems like the TV show covered one v. small part of the books. And as you mentioned, it wasn't v. true to the books.
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Well, everyone knows Pa had a beard and played the violin. I thought the show was more about Michael Landon, not about the Ingalls.
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Hey threeb,
did you have a lie-in? This is late for you to be joining in!!!
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Good morning, all! Yes, I crashed much earlier than usual and arose about an hour later. Yesterday left me beat: running and cramming, gunning and slamming, humming and jamming! Didn't even do much of the puzzles, and don't know if I even will get far today, as I have the usual deadline-Tuesday-from-hell scheduled.
Looks like everyone else has been busy as little gerbils as well. Hey, guys, I liked your versification session with dapper Dave!
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This is the longest i have known you sleep....
And another busy day ahead too....
I thought it had been very quiet over night...oftentimes when i log in in the morning it takes me absolutely ages to catch up...it was just a few minutes this morning...
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That's what usually happens after several days of insomnia -- I crash and burn all at once.
You and Linda have sure been chatting it up -- took me 15 mins. to wade through it all.
Mostly what I heard was you were cold, hungry, busy and the puzzle crapped out. Gee, now I'm so motivated.
We've got a hot day on tap, here, with a bit of rain, I think. Yesterday, it all was dry until a sudden stray rain-storm passed by -- quickly and with vigor!
Gotta photo shoot at 8:30 today, then reams of writing and more phone interviews on tap, IF I can reach the people I need. So for now, I'm just trying to wake up.
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Get the caffeine inside you, mate ... and plenty of it! Think I'm going a bit dyslexic ... keep typing the letters in the wrong order ... senility setting in! >:D
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I oftne ahve syda hewre ym ginfers kepe dinfing hte grown lrttrees!
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It's a bit worrying ... I used to be able to type around 80 words a minute (accurately) but then I was a sexetary (!) at the time and quite a bit younger! >:D
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Did you marry your boss??
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No ... just flirted with him and wrapped him round my little finger ... no change there then! >:D
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Now there's a shocker....
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I could reveal far more shocking things but if I did I would have to kill you! Want to know more?! >:D
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I was hoping ....
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....... hope on! >:D
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You're dying to let it out -- come on!
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It's amazing what one can do on a boardroom table...or under it, or over it....
Or the photocopier.....or the fax machine.....or while 'take this down Miss primm...'...
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Sounds like another woman of experience!
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Well ... once upon a time there was a fairytale castle in a green and pleasant land and a beautiful young wench worked for a powerful and handsome boss ... they found they had a lot in common and soon established a rapport, much to the envy of the lesser serfs who worked in the castle.
Time passed by and each day was filled with laughter, wit and happiness .... the young wench thought how lucky she was to work for such a charming man ... then came the evening of the Christmas office party ... all was going well, the drink was flowing and spirits were high ... the charming boss was very full of high spirits (Bacardi, I think it was) and decided he liked the young wench so much that he asked her to accompany him down to the sauna room and she .........
Sorry, can't continue, proofreading to be proofread!! >:D
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Tease! >:D
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That's what he said! >:D
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You don't need much of an imagination to work that one out threeb....
Trollop!!!!
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Just wanted her to SAY it! I mean, after all ...... it IS a soap aropy, no? (dyslexia set in again)
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Don't call threeb a trollop! >:D
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I'll bet she has been at least once or twice during her marriage....
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Yeah -- a proper tramp, please! >:D
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Threeb, have a great time visiting your grandkids this weekend. They look like sweeties, and of course they are, being yours. I know that you are one grandmother who doesn't have to be told to lavish love and affection on them.
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I wish someone would tell my mum and parents-in-law that....
Neither set of my grandparents had anything much to do with us for one reason or another. and i always felt i had missed out.
I didn't want my kids to think the same...however, i think they probably will....
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I know a little bit about what you mean, missing out, although I think my grandparents might have wanted to spoil us if we lived closer. Thanks to my dad's military career, we saw them only sporadically.
Your parents and grandparents may have missed the boat in the love and affection department, but fortunately you are in a position to break that chain. It sounds like you are a loving mother, and that can't help but to make a different atmosphere for your children than the one you had growing up. They'll be smart enough to figure out that you will be a different kind of grandma than the ones they had. Once you let them out of the shed, that is. ;-)
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They were out today, but only to go to school....
I have to say RM that i think i am a completely different sort of mother to my Mum.
Mine know that i love them more than anything, and i tell them everyday...which is more than i can say about mine.
And i think they know that ...they see things, and hear things, and comment about them...about other children or families that we see, and they know they are lucky in having parents who care about them like i/we do.
They are really good kids. Bless em... they don't miss much that's a fact.
It's just a shame that they had to go through what they did when my husband lived with us.
But that's another story...
In the meantime, i'm off to bed.
It's been really nice chatting with you RM.
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Hey threebs...
3 guests were just checking out this thread....
What are they doing? why don't they just join in...???
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Now they are reading your profile....
I feel like Julia Roberts in the P**i**n Brief...
Couldn't mention the word, cos of LL, and notice..no 's' on the brief...
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Geez, Threeb. You're awfully popular today...or are you just signing in on multiple computers to make it look like people are scoping your thread/profile out?!
How's your day treating you so far?
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2 more threeb...and an unknown action going on under the desk....
That's spooky...creepy even...
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Now roberts is at it too......
What's going on here...did i miss something???
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I've been working all day, so haven't a clue! Still working, but saw this and thought I'd see what's going on. You'll probably be long gone by the time I'm home!
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Sorry mate...
You were right...
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Hi, Threeb, I read that you are gearing up (down?) for a lazy day tomorrow. I expect you'll be ready for a breather; it sounds like your week was extra busy.
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Perhaps I misspoke, R-M. It was actually today that was a light one. My biggest project was getting the trees trimmed away from the roof.
Tomorrow, I've got a morning interview/research, writing to do, a blessing at a religious retreat, a book-signing (our local hero, Kinky Friedman, author/sometime gubernatorial candidate - and brother of Tom Friedman, the Pulitzer winning writer) and an art-auction at the Museum of Western Art. Sunday will probably also be light, but by Monday, there's a commissioners' meeting (half-day, usually), historical interview and a large chunk of writing. And then, Tuesday, of course, is the next deadline.
How was your day?
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Could be that I didn't soak in the time of your post. Sometimes I lose track of that when I am catching up on several threads at one time.
My day wasn't too bad. I am still trying to shake off the cold that has been threatening the past couple of days, and now it looks like I am winning. I have been able to keep my schedule fairly light, so I have not been overstressed. Mostly I have been preparing for tomorrow's workshop. I was really worried that I would be miserable, but now I can relax. The speaker, John Colletta, is a nationally known genealogist who is both entertaining and educating at the same time. He'll be discussing several topics, but the one I am most interested in is doing doing research in Alsace Lorraine.
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I really hope you get up to par by the time of the workshop.
Regarding Alsace-Lorraine, it might be purely coincidental (or perhaps right on point) that you are interested in that area -- so many early Germans who arrived in this neck of the woods of Texas came here directly from that region, particularly through the (now-nonexistent) port of Indianola, which was located in the Gulf of Mexico. You probably know about it, and that it was destroyed by a hurricane a few small vestiges of it exist.
This link gives a lot about it (photos, history, etc.) which you still might find useful:
http://www.indianolatx.com/history.html
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The workshop was a great success. I have heard this speaker before on some of the topics he was covering, but the section on Alsace-Lorraine was new. I always learn something when I go to these events. One of the ladies that I carpooled with insisted on sitting right up front. That's not my usual style, but this time I didn't mind. The speaker is devastatingly handsome in addition to being entertaining and full of knowledge. After hearing him talk all day it is difficult to leave the workshop without getting all fired up about doing family history.
The cold is still threatening to happen, but for some odd reason it went into remission for the duration of the workshop. Adrenalin, maybe?
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Your temporary recovery might have been influenced somewhat by the speaker's good looks, R-M! ;)
I'm glad that you enjoyed the lecturer's information as well. It's always great to learn more about your favorite subject. Was there also time for a Q&A?
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Yes, there was plenty of time allowed for that. My biggest problem was that they had more and better vendors than at many of their recent meetings, but they didn't allow us enough time to do our shopping! I did get several new books on CD, but there were two other vendor tables that I didn't have time to browse at properly.
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Sometimes one would think that the planners would take it into consideration that the vendors would actually benefit from extra shopping time. After all, it would encourage them to come back again, and everyone would enjoy the experience. What CDs did you get?
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I got some pre-1837 parish records from a couple of counties in England (Kent and Buckinghamshire), a history of Huguenots in England and Ireland, and a directory of residents on Prince Edward Island in 1871. Not exactly exciting bedtime reading, but the English titles were on sale, and they may help me move my research forward. My and my husband's Huguenot ancestors weren't in England or Ireland, but a man the right name to be part of my husband's family was travelling in England and Ireland after their congregation in Calais was broken up in 1700. I'd like to get some background information on what was going on back then.
I know you know how much genealogical information is available on the Internet now, and one of the wonderful resources that is available is the indexes to the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths in England, which began in 1837. I am hoping that the pre-1837 parish records may extend my research backwards somewhat. I am working on my husband's elusive English great-great-grandparents.
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Those materials certainly sound worthwhile, and will probably come in very handy for you. I do get to use the internet for some information, too, but for my family it's simply not there. They came from parts of the world which are only now starting to locate a lot of data that goes back before the 19th century -- it's a long story.
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Welcome back! I saw in another thread what happened about the tickets. Woohoo! You must be pretty pumped up; you raced to a rosette in both puzzles in what seems like record time.
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Yes, it really got the adrenaline going, R-M. It's amazing how rejuvenating the whole day has been! Now, I'm so pumped up, I hope I can rest tonight, with such heavy days facing me tomorrow and Tuesday. Oh well, as they say -- although it's a bit morbid -- I'll sleep when I'm dead!
I hope you're starting to feel better, too!
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I'm feeling pretty good, too, though a little tired. After giving my husband his monthly haircut I persuaded him to go on a hike with me. We went to a small nature preserve that has a couple of trails that lead to the Potomac River. We probably hiked four or five miles up and down hill. The highlight was a spectacular orange fungus on a decaying tree trunk, but we also saw a small waterfall and a lot of waterfowl on the river.
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I love getting out into nature! Even the wonderful fungus is a sight to behold. That probably helped you a lot. Glad your hubby didn't have to carry you back in your weakened condition! >:D
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He was glad, too! I got a minor strain in one of my thigh muscles, and I wasn't sure I was going to make it up the hills on the way back to the parking lot. We just took it slow and easy. He took some pictures of the fungus. I sure hope they turn out; it was amazing.
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Post 'em if you can! I'd love to see it! Take care. :-Z
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Hi RM,
It sounds like the fresh air did you the world of good, and your husband sounds like a real fungi.... :laugh: :laugh:
Sorry...not mushroom for anything else in this post...
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Hi threeb,
Is this a flying visit, or are you hanging around for a bit?
Roberts was peeking in a few mins ago....he is about at some strange hours...!!!
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That was flying threeb.....
Thank you for travelling with Air 3B....
We will be flying at a speed of 650 mph, at an altitude of 10 feet....
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Sorry about all that yesterday, T! It was a buggering day and I only had time to peek in and then had to up and leave. By the time I got home last nite, I just had enough energy to eat dinner and crash. Hubby took up the computer but I was too weak to protest or insist.
So, how is everyone? I really missed you guys!
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Morning threeb .... hope you are refreshed today ... I feel about as refreshed as something not very refreshed! Am relying on you to get today's final common word and then give me a not so very subtle hint! >:D
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I haven't even looked at the puzzle yet! Wanted to catch up on the chats first, as I missed everyone terribly yesterday. I'll do my best for you, but no promises. I was waiting for that "magic hour" when everyone scoots off and the forum becomes a vast, silent wasteland!
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Give it another hour and it will be like the Marie Celeste! >:D
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Or the Titanic! >:D
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.... but our hearts will go on and on!! >:D
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Leonardo and Kate standing at the top of the ship as the wind blows!
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.... with Celine bellowing in the background! Should think they were glad to disappear into the icy depths! >:D
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That was really good, Linda! Celine bellowing! Hahahah! I never thought of it that way, but sometimes those (mel-)odious divas do take those high long notes to heights/depths that make you want to pound the CD to bits!
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.... Shirley Bassey, too, over the top .... which is where she should be ... over the top of a high cliff! >:D
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Whitney Houston -- "I, I-I, I-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII will always love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
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Don't forget the horrendous Mariah Carey.....
A very good reason for a bit more strangulation....
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The sad part is, that they really do have lovely voices -- just mis-/over-use them on drivelly songs.
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I quite like her version of 'Without You' ... though not up to Nilsson's standard, of course!
Afraid I like her Christmas song too but that's about it .... don't particularly like her at all! >:D
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At least Celine doesn't do hip-hop much (or does she?), which is a plus for her in my book!
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More like clip clop than hip hop! >:D
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... or is that hee-haw!!!??? >:D
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She does bear an uncanny resemblance to a horse! >:D
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The long jaw and big teeth?
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... the tossing of the mane! >:D
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... the snorting, and stamping of hooves!
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Neigh doubt about it, she's saddled with an equine look! Why the long face?!! >:D
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and the sad somewhat frightened eyes?
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.... probably got a touch of hoof rot! >:D
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hoof and mouth!!!!! ;) >:D
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Celine's a horrid name too ... sort of lime green! >:D
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Cee-lime-green? That sounds about right!
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Hmmm .... perhaps that was word association after all! >:D Bogging off to do ironing. Get on with making delish antidote quoted in other thread! >:D
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I'm on it! Don't burn your fingers, now! Nor the PANTS! >:D
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Pants have been ironed to perfection ... time to make evening meal now ... the cauldron is on as we speak! >:D
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... bubble bubble toil and ... rubble? Do your worst, hag!
Must start getting up and away now ... afternoon sorting, a bit of cash and then shopping and paying bills. Hope to chat later again!
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Hi threeb,
you have appeared just as i'm about to disappear...
So i thought i would just say a quick hello....
Blast it's too late now....the new game will start in a few minutes, and i don't have the willpower to go now...
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Well, then, it's good to know you missed me -- I missed all you too today! Had a very busy one, but a good one nonetheless! Catchya after puzzle time or in the morning, as the case may be! :angel:
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Tomorrow sometime probably...
I will play for a bit, then go to bed...
Which will give me time to sink my glass of wine...
Course i missed you today...did everything go ok?
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Yep! Except later, in the middle of doing the puzzle, hubby came home (walked!) after running out of gas in his truck, so I had to be Florence Nightingale and come to the rescue, of course!
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If only women ruled the world...[officially!]
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Everyone knows we do, but have yet to be so named by the big boys who are really still little lads underneath it all!
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If only they would admit it....
Just think...
*the world economy would be sorted in no time.. it's just good money management...
*There would be no more wars.... we can't be doing with the macho fighting stuff...
*Prison sentences would be fairer.....just like sorting out the kids' punishments...
*Wages would be fairer....the deserving workforce would get what they deserve, as opposed to models/sportsmen/actors etc...
There are so many things...
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... not to mention a ban on "plumber's butts" showing in public!
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Men wearing sandals AND socks...what is that all about???
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Have you ever seen old men wearing shorts, black socks, and garters to hold them up? Ewwwwwwwwww!
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....hankies on their heads, with their string vests...
A very stereotypical picture of the English gent promenading....
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That's about as bad as those horrid "comb-overs" that balding men wear, acting as if nobody notices! >:D
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Especially on a windy day... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Which you have plenty of in England, yeah?
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Of both things....
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To quote LL -- Presactly! >:D
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AMEN to that !!!
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Now, of course, it's not just men. Two things about women:
The fashion these days where when a girl/woman/harridan wears a top with spaghetti straps and the bra straps show. Pregnant girls with belly buttons hanging out and bellies bare over stretch pants! Ughhhh!
Old ladies (before pantyhose days -- puts me back in the stone age!) who used to wear their stockings rolled up to their knees and knotted on one side to keep them from falling down. Hairy legs and all! Pretty gross as well.
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Leggings are my bug-bear...
Ok on tall slim young women, but not on anyone else...
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Hey there Threeb,
Just about to log off and go to bed. Had an awful day. My new (5 week old, replaced by our insurance company) laptop wouldn't turn on this afternoon. I've taken it down to my old pal James at Computeraid, and he's pretty sure the motherboard's fried and the insurance co. will just replace the laptop with yet another new one (without of course all the stuff I had loaded onto my machine over the past five weeks.) The disaster is that I have two essays due to be handed in at lunchtime on Thursday (it's now almost midnight here on Tuesday). James can probably extract my essay files from the dead machine tomorrow morning, but it's still an awful inconvenience, and has meant I couldn't work on the jolly things tonight.
I'm praying that he can in fact retrieve my files. Last time I saved to my memory stick was Sunday, and that's pretty much a skeleton version of both. :'(
I'm not a happy camper!
So goodnight. I'm hoping I don't dream about all the stuff I still need to add to my work before Thursday.
Had a really good singing practice with my women's ensemble tonight though. We started work on our Xmas repertoire. Such fun!
g'night XXX
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I hate it when computers ruin your day! Esp. when things are pressing.
Sweet dreams, Bobbi -- hope things are better tomorrow ... tomorrow .. tomorrow... tomorrow! :angel:
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Sorry to hear that bobbi,
I hope it is all better in the morning....
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Wow, Threeb, congrats on getting the trophy so soon!
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I must've gotten on a roll after busting my heinie all day, anonsi! >:D Sometimes they just pour out and sometimes they just leak.
How are you today? You've been a bit quiet lately. Are you feeling okay, or is working a bit overwhelming?
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I've been fine, just a bit busy lately. I'm about to head off to bed soon; I'm just waiting for the dryer to get done.
Did you just get done with your newspaper for the week?
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Yes, thank goodness. This week, the story's about a Mexican who was captured by Comanches as a child, and then grew up to become an Indian scout and guide in West Texas for the US Army (with the black Buffalo Soldiers) after the Civil War.
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It's amazing how many intriguing people you have where you live!
About the only thing I can think of that is remotely interesting about my relatives is that my great uncle has a farm that has been in the same family for something like 150 years. And the last name of the original relatives who had the farm was Mac Donald (really!).
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E-I-E-I-Oh!! ;) (I couldn't resist, anonsi!)
I don't know if it's just the people who live here that happen to have great stories, or I'm just incredibly lucky in finding out those who do. Sometimes it's through word of mouth, and otherwise I just stumble across them. It's also a matter of talking to the key people in the family who have kept those stories alive ... there have been several cases, though, where I know there's really something to tell, but no one is willing to speak up, or those who knew have already died.
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So how do these articles come about threeb?
Do people approach you and say 'we've got interesting relatives and stories', or do you research a subject then seek out the appropriate folk.... I can't quite imagine.
IE: How did you find out about your Mexican Indian scout?
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Usually, I get the names from people, mostly old-timers, and historians who have either heard of or know the others. Sometimes, they come from branches of ones whose stories I have already done. Other times, I just meet them by chance. So, yes, T -- all of the above. Since the series has been going on so long, there has been a lot of interest, and many have willingly offered as well.
And because of that, we've really sold out of a good number of editions, which is good for job security, too!
It's been a very wonderful, and completely unexpected journey!
By the way, after I finished writing this last story and my editor read it, he said that so far, it's the best one I've done yet! That's really encouraging, too, because it means I haven't burned out.
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There is always room for improvement threeb....unless of course you're me....in which case there is absolutely no hope at all....
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Well done, you! I've just received a similar boost to my ego this morning. The v. clever lady I do proofreading for asked me to edit a student's work down to half its size. When the student saw what I'd done to it he was really pleased and told her that he is sure he would have got a higher grade in his assignment if he'd presented it in the way I had amended it! Not so very thick and frivolous all the time, then!! >:D
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I don't think any of us are thick nor shallow! Nor Oxymorons of any kind. That's why I love this place -- you guys!
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We are all fabulous, feisty, fun loving, frolicking females ... frivolous, maybe, but fair minded, always! >:D
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I, for one, would love to read some of your articles threeb....
you are obviously very good at it....not that there would have been any doubt...
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Thanks, T. I'll see what I can do. The only thing about them is that in the on-line version, there is only one photo -- the pictures on the inside pages don't appear there, just in the paper edition. They do add a lot to the context, but the narratives can be quite compelling nonetheless, I think.
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I am sure others would love to read some of your articles...even if they are edited...
Have a think on it....
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I will -- and thanks for the encouragement! :angel: That's what keeps me going, and going, and going ...
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You are very welcome....
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Hi Threeb,
Have you considered a book? Wouldn't be much work, you've done all the writing. It would just need a competent editor with a feel for flow to put them in good order and perhaps consult with you on which to include/leave out.
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I believe that Threeb has said that there is a book in the works, eventually. It is not unusual for a local newspaper to do this sort of thing -- run a series of local history articles, then publish them as a collection. I couldn't imagine leaving anything out. Better to publish two volumes if there is too much.
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Hi bobbi,
I think it's a great idea too, i'm sure it would sell well, locally at least.
And i think RM is right, it has been discussed, so i hope it comes off. I will want a signed copy, as would we all, having encouraged her so much....
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Yes, ladies, a collection is in the works -- and like R-M suggested, it will probably be published in two separate parts, as I'm up to #89 this week.
However, more than likely, it will not exactly be a book in the traditional sense. We're looking at putting out a commemorative type of newspaper issue. Fifty stories in each part. We'll probably have sponsors help fund it, almost like yearbooks -- using tasteful ads that aren't like "BUY! BUY! BUY!" kinds of things, but a bit more generic. It's still going to take a lot of work, though, because typos need to be fixed, several errors, and we will add bonus features like extra photographs that didn't make it into the original printing.
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#89! Wow that's productive.
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HI Threeb,
In light of Viral growling (oh so gently) about us posting in wrong threads, Just want to say hi to you here befor I retire to bed.
Have a long day ahead coaxing my Uni buddies into getting their essay submitted on time. My carrot is lunch on me - at Ponsonby Belgian Beer cafe. They do a mean green-lipped mussels in blue-cheese and spinach sauce option with of course the obligatory fries with mayo option that the Belgians have made so popular!
And of course the fruit beer (a.k.a. alco pops) are irresistible!
I'm only at Uni for the food...
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Bobbi, before you go to bed, how do you like MS 2007? Do you find it a great deal different from other versions? I have had a play around with it and thought it a vast improvement but takes some getting used to.
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Hey, Bobbi -- I think the Uni is lucky to have you there! Your presence in any group is probably most welcome ... maturer students often add much to the classes, and I bet you're a wonderful mentor to a lot of those young sprouts!
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He Threeb, not to mention I shout them lunch :D
Hi Linda,
I like MS Office 2007 fine but with major reservations. I think most of the revisions are obvious and superb. However, the amount of stuff added (size) and the resources required (memory) are beyond the comfortable capabilities of most current hardware.
Basically, the software is unfortunately ahead of its time. It makes sense, and it's great in concept. But it slows most machines down too much because of its resource requirements. And there are 2003/2007 compatibility issues that need to be resolved.
Again, a beta version has been launched commercially, and I'm not too happy with that.
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Better not yearn for what I haven't got then! My machine can be slow enough as it is ... overloaded with son's music and pictures, which doesn't help matters!
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hello mate,
I doubt i will be about to chat later...so in case not..
I hope you've had a good day...
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Not too bad, kid, considering the cool weather and deadlines coming up. Hope I get to catch up with you by Wednesday a.m.
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Hey there threeb as well.....
Have you had a good day?
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Hey, T! It was fairly mellow, really. Started the historical interview at 10 am, then on to the office for about 3 hours of sorting papers, writing out the genealogy of the family (I always start work on the stories by making a large family tree, names, dates, places, etc.) and then visiting a sales client at her art gallery. Then a short trip to the grocery store (had to get some yogurt and chocolate syrup) and home now. Don't really have to cook dinner, as hubby didn't eat his last nite so I saved it for leftovers tonight. I just nibbled on a quesadilla (which basically is two flour tortillas stuffed with monterey jack and mozzarella cheese I quick pan-fried in a skillet just long enough to melt the cheese and get the tortillas toasty). So now I'm content. Have been catching up on "Mrs. Pritchard," recorded for Masterpiece Theater on PBS -- about how a woman/housewife winning the election and becoming Prime Minister of YUK, an overnight sensation, whose Purple Alliance Party got the vote from all the "little" people.
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Hey, T -- yoo-hoo! Did ya fall asleep? Hope you feel better now.
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No mate, i'm still here...
Waiting for the new game to start....can't go to bed now with only 5 minutes or so to go...
Glad you had a good day.
Why did you need chocolate syrup....i can understand the yoghurt...but choc syrup is hardly an essential [well not in our house -it would be if meg had her way mind...]
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When I'm in a hurry, or on a budget, I put it in my coffee, for a bit of mocha flavoring. Works quite nicely on ice cream, as well!
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That sounds gross.....
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Ha ha...you beat Mum.....hahahahahah!!!!
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Unbloodybelievable! Hahahha!
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Right..that's my twopenneth worth for tonight...
I'm off to get some sleep....after my exhausting day of doing absolutely nothing but lazing around.....
It's been bliss....and i am feeling so much better for it...
Thanks for all the good advice guys....i took it...and it has worked so far...
Take care...
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I expect you'll be all chipper in the morning! :angel:
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Good afternoon, fellow hag ... just thought I'd say hi before I fly off for the afternoon ... hubby is whisking me away from the computer for a drive around the lakes (well, not all of them, natch) to see the beautiful autumn colours! Hope you are well and had plenty of caffeine to charge you up for the day ahead! >:D
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Have a wonderful time -- I'd love to get whisked away somewhere, too!
I'm just working on the first cup, so, two more to go and I'll be right as rain.
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Why is rain so right? I'm just going to have one more coffee before the off ... only third today, most abstemious! >:D
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You are the model of self-control, dear! Rain is only right when there's a drought!
Be sure to take some piccys on your jaunt.
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Good idea, however I won't be able to share them with you due to lack of USB cable thingy ... must get one! >:D
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They're not v. expensive, and would open up a whole new world for you.
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Hello there threeb...
How goes it today with you?
Is it just about lunchtime where you are?
It is absolutely peeing down here today....it's 5.30ish and just about dark already...it's cold and, quite frankly, bloody horrible.
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Hi, T! Yes, it's about lunch, but sadly, I'm not about IT! However, I can spare a bit for a quick chat.
I'm at work now since I started lazy this morning, and hustling hurrying to get work done and retrieve at least a part of the weekend. Yesterday was very very busy, but luckily, I did get a free dinner for two (to go) out of it! Got off easy on the cooking, at least.
Today, after this, I'll be off to shop and perhaps come home and maybe get a bit of relaxation, or a few light chores. Those, of course, get saved for last! If they get saved at all ...
How 'bout you, dear? Have a nice afternoon? Pooting about the kitchen making delightful goodies?
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I stayed in bed all morning, cos i'm still feeling pretty grotty, then went out with the girls and their dad for a while.
All we got was wet and fed up....
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Would more chicken soup help, then? :'(
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I'm all chicken-souped out threeb....i don't think i could stomach another bowl...
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Well, then, there's only one other suitable remedy -- a nice hot toddy, feet by the fire and a good book -- preferably a scary one!
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That sounds like a good option...after a hot bath methinks...
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With soothing oil, music and candles, of course!
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Indutibly Of course...
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You all done already threeb...that was quick work...
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It was a very short day at the office ... not meant to be too full. Hubby promised to grill some chicken this afternoon but as of yet, (4:50 p.m.), he is actually examining the insides of his eyelids! I'm giving him another few minutes, but I don't intend on eating dinner at 10 p.m.
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I wouldn't want to fall foul of you threeb, give him a nudge, then he can wing it....
I'm off to bed with my Walter hottle bottle...
Night mate...
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Rest well ... will need all your energy in the morning! :-Z :-Z :-Z
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Hey threeb,
Happy hagging...chat to you later no doubt.
Hope you had a good day...
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I'm here! Didn't sleep well last night -- another round of insomnia but I guess cumulatively got my minimum 6 hours, though in fits and starts. Fatigue from work, yet anticipation of the new day!
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Threeb ... what on earth are you doing up so very early? I know, it's the excitement of this very special day, isn't it?! >:D
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Presactly! >:D
Hey, guys -- I'll be needing a few extra caffeine boosts, though, to get "up to hag-speed"!! The day will require much effort, as the costume is only still in pieces and must be planned properly and assembled.
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I am sending you hag help over the airwaves ... should be with you shortly! >:D
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It has arrived in my absence, and I appreciate your sisterly efforts on my behalf! I expect I will feel my strength to be increasing very shortly
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Should do ... the force is very strong today amongst the sisterhood! >:D
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I'm scouring the skies for more signs ... and of course, the cupboards for some more brew ingredients. Do you get many little costumed kiddos at your doorstep where you live? As I've said, we usually don't, in our unlit and treacherous entry.
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We get loads of the little
sods .. darlings! Don't mind the little ones who have dressed up and made an effort but we also get hulking great youths who've got one scary mask between them ... do my best to humiliate them by saying 'Do you want some sweeties?' ... think they're hoping for money ... well they can think again!
Cat hates this time of year ... doesn't like to be disturbed and the doorbell rings and rings for hours on end and then the fireworks start ... from now until after New Year! He's a nervous wreck half the time!! >:D
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Poor baby! You have to treat him with "kit"-gloves I suppose, and give him extra strokings, I'm sure.
I met a cat named "Hoot" at a business recently. Animals at small stores are usually quite charming and well-socialized. This one was a beautiful long-haired orange and white specimen, who came up and greeted everyone as they walked in, and once he assessed your worthiness, would then engage you in a bit of interaction.
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He sounds delightful and what a great name ... bordering on haggish! >:D
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I knew you'd catch that -- yes, serendipity was definitely at work there!
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Funnily enough, I used to know a cat called Serendipity ... how serendipitous! >:D
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... to everyone's delight, it just pops up out of nowhere!
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... and it is one of my favourite words! >:D
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Definitely on my top-10 list as well. Just the spice needed for life to be filled with wonder and amazement!
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hi Threeb,
Just saw that we were the only 2 online - now that I know what that stuff at the bottom of the screen means (spider/guest/whatever).
Just saying hello and how is the weather? (what one always talks about when there is nothing really meaningful to say - but hey, weather is a great topic because everyone is affected by it) It's bright and chilly here in NYC, but going up to the mid-60s this afternoon - great weather for the fall.
Have been reading old posts to get more of a feel for the forum members - nice to be able to attach personalities to names, eh?
One question - curiosity only - however do our leading lights get so many words up on the board so soon after the beginning of each game? Not that I couldn't find them - well, I don't find as many as they do, but at the beginning of the game I find quite a few - usually the easy ones, not necessarily the common ones - but there is no way I can type them that fast. But 5 minutes after the game begins, they have 40 or 50 words up there.
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Well, I'm also sometimes amazed at the speed of people typing, too. Part of it is just skill, and the more you keep practicing words (esp. those which have a lot of vowels, I find easier to do), the more you'll get familiar with all those quirky ones that come up often. Some people just drink an awful lot of coffee!
We've got sunny skies here in central Texas, with temps to get up into the low 80s perhaps.
I miss the NY autumns, and the drives upstate and New England, but not the winters!
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I do notice that I get the "little ones" - the four- or five-letter words that reappear so often in the puzzles, frequently the same four or five letters just rearranged for new words, very quickly. I tend to write them on paper first (to see how they look - isn't it strange how a combination of letters on paper makes you see others?) and then type them in in bunches. But even when I type them in from a list right in front of me, I don't type that fast. Oh well, this game may improve not only my vocabulary but also my typing skills.
My day is looking up - the periodontist went home sick and my appointment was cancelled - so I'm going out into this beautiful day to shop - the excuse I use to go out and walk around. Back later...
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Any cancellations with the masters of pain are always a reason to rejoice, birdy!
Enjoy your day -- I'll be off in a sec, mummy costume in hand, heading for work (head is NOT in hand, though!).
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Are you not going to tuck your head underneath your arm, threeb? I'm sure it would look most effective!
Birdy - the words will become more familiar to you the longer you play. I've learned a lot of new words through playing this game! As for quick typing .... I'm usually pretty fast (used to be able to type 80 words a minute) but that has its drawbacks if you're having a 'fat finger' day and typing faster than your fingers can catch up with ... also, there are some words which I just know will not be accepted but which I feel compelled to try anyway! Why? Dunno! My brain makes me do it!
Hope you have a lovely day ... I need the dentist ... think I've got a crack in a filling which is making it a bit painful to drink anything too hot ... oh well, will just have to stick with chilled, white wine instead! What a hardship! >:D
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hi Linda,
Yes, i'm learning lots of new words - now if only I could remember them. It might be easier if I knew what they meant...some of them aren't even in the unabridged.
Got futzing around and never did get out shopping - so here's another try at it. It's still sunny and warm - got to take advantage of these last fine days before winter .
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Hi Birdy,
'Futzing'....what a fab word...is that one an allowed chi word? If not it should be.
Why don't you try jotting them down....i find they stick in my noodle a bit better. It is hard to find definitions for some of them....try googling them and see if that helps!!
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Blimey threeb....
Off i went at 11.20ish last night, and here i am at 9.22 this morning, and there was only 1 post to read.
What happened to the overnight badinage?
Where did everyone go?
Usually there are several word suggestions from Dave [who has been strangely quiet of late...],
several replies to word suggestions from Viral, a slapping or 2 from Viral, even a frivolous retort or 2, and at least a bit of banter from those down under.....
Has down under gone completely under, and no-one has told us?
Can't be cos roberts is lurking in the undergrowth somewhere.
What think you mate....
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I'm still here, matey ... I will never surrender! >:D
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Hi, T. Good to see you here!
You're right, as usual. Well, it seems like when we hags are offline, the rest just lose focus and peck about here and there. The dynamic isn't the same. It's like a good cake without the frosting, if I may be so bold. ;)
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... a bit like headless chickens?! >:D
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Presactly! >:D
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I'm not sure other faithful forumites will like that analogy....
There is usually something going on while we sleep....it just seemed really odd....
Did no-one have a thing to say?
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Well, yeah -- the Aussies are usually up, being their afternoon. I think many of them wait for one of us to arrive and then perk up. Now, it's after dinner, so a few more pop in before bedtime. When it's their early morning, most of you Brits are asleep, and we're getting ready to retire here in the US.
Don't like the chicken remark? We'll ask roberts what HE thinks!
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Oh, but now he's off again! Darn!
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T's worked her magic yet again!
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There is no escape ... resistance is futile!
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Shoot...is that all!
No reason T...honestly didn't even occur to me.
To be candid, I can get so focused on the puzzle that I'm only distracted if my name pops up...
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Just like a man -- no multi-tasking skills at all...and self-centered!
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With the greatest of respect, O great Hag 3B...I disagree...multi tasking is a myth...neither man nor woman can do more than one thing at one time...there you go T, there's an opinion.
As for self - centred...aren't we all, I'm mean really...
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Well, I most certainly can do more than one thing at one time .... I will leave the details to your vivid imagination! >:D
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Ok, with one exception...neither man nor woman etc
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I like to be the exception to the rule ... but I think you'll find that ALL women can multi-task!
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Oh, roberts ... please! Multi-tasking as a woman's skill has been proven by psychologists, social anthropologists, and experts all over the world. Just admit it, and go on.
As for everyone being self-centered, there is more latitude in that area, but there are degrees as well, and a bit different from vanity. Men just like to puff themselves up a lot ... the old macho thing, you know.
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Linda - Bull.
3B - Bull and more Bull
...now where was I up to?
Hey, I have a puzzle for you hags.
I will ask you a question and you have to think of the answer.
Don't respond...I'll give the the questions and then post the answer in 5 min.
Ok...the questions
Q 1...Think of a tool (no Linda, not that kind of tool, handyman tool)
Q 2...Think of a colour
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It doesn't take us hags 5 minutes to think of two things ... spit it out, man!
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Sounds like another shell game!
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A1 - Hammer
A2 - Red
I was reading today that 75% of men and 85% of women will give these answers...
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Well, it just goes to show what you know .... I thought of Spanner and Red ... so there! >:D
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Did you see that in your little crystal ball, then?
(http://www.webssmilies.de/big/81.gif)
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Well thanks for answering that....[in the wrong thread, i hasten to add.....slapped thighs...]
I multi-task constantly.....
I can be cooking dinner, hanging out washing, child-minding, chi'ing, listening to music, and gardening all at the same time...
Torque-wrench and blue.....
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Screwdriver and purple!
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Which just goes to prove ...... absolutely nothing! >:D
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That was never an hour Linda...you're skimming
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Multi-tasking! >:D
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skimming!
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I am of such superior intelligence I can proofread and keep an eye on your misbehaviour at the same time with great ease!
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(*&^%R$E#...sorry...I just fell backwards off my chair, and inhaled my smoke...
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Is that your pathetic attempt at multi-tasking?!
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It's dangerous when men try it! ;D
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No, Linda - I can't multi task
But I was so taken to laughing with your comment...
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It was your comment, roberts, that made me laugh, too.
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then that's a bonus too 3B
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Laugh? ... I never thought I'd start! >:D
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Oh, come on Linda -- just imagine!
Poor old roberts ... reading at the computer, seeing your comment, and then crashing to the floor as the fag goes down his throat! That's a pretty hilarious scenario!
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Perhaps I was having a minor humour failure! Sorry ..... hahahahahahaha ..... the thought is satisfyingly amusing! >:D
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'satisfyingly amusing'...'satisfyingly amusing'...bloody hilarious mate...especially the catalyst for the said backward flip
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Satisfyingly amusing, actually! >:D
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you Brits type funny...actually
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I take great offence at that remark .... we speak and type perfect English ... not Australian! >:D
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shouldn't it be...'I take very great offence blah blah blah'
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That's 'cause they come from the Land of Oz! Flying monkeys and all that! (Ooops, now I will get slapped by the rest of 'em!)
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You've done it now, mate, hope you're steeling yourself to face the consequences!! >:D
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Now come on 3-B...what is a 'flying monkey'?
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Come one, come all ... is that what you meant?!
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No I meant 'come on'...fat finger
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My fingers are beautifully slim and tapered, thank you, as is the rest of my body!
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Wicked witch, flying monkey, the Great Oz ... does Frank Baum ring a bell?
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Thanks for that image Linda...I'm glad I've finished the quiz for the night...I can only do one thing at a time... ;D
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Ugh!
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Frank Baum?...no, should I 'google' him?
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No, don't bother ... just get yourself down the Yellow Brick Road to bed .... it must be time you were tucked up in you jimmy jammies by now!
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Did you read anything when you were a kid? Watch any movies?
Yellow Brick Road! Dorothy! Toto! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
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Too late...he's been googled :-Z...jim jams...no way, it's not a school night!
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Must've been the knock on his noggin when he fell off the chair! Go to bed!
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What a rebel (without a cause) you are, young man! >:D
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I haven't finished a book of fiction in...a long time.
Like movies...Lawrence of Arabia (no surprise), Zulu (again, no surprise), Dirty Harry (still not surprise)...and Happy Feet...now there's a surprise!
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You ought to try opening a book now and again ... I recommend The Wind in the Willows ... you have a lot in common with the main character! >:D
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Too busy? Short attention span?
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Nah...'wind in the willows'...sounds like a book on gardening...more :-S
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Wind in the Willows, actually! >:D Try it, the words aren't too difficult to read!
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I think it is the short attention span 3-B, I also think that...
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eh? >:D
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Why do you keep sneakily changing your spelling mistakes?
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there you go, multi tasking again...
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I think he was trying (and failing) to be amusing, threeb! >:D
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I thought it was quite clever, and actually quite...
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.... predictable! >:D
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That's us, mate! Live with it!
Oh, yes, LL! That one was a bit less amusing. The chair stunt was much funnier!
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Nice catch Linda...
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Not just a pretty face, you know! >:D
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quite right, actually...I'm still thinking about the fingers...
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I bet you are! >:D
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He's already dreaming, and hasn't even gone to sleep yet! >:D
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Living in a fantasy world! >:D
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beautifully slim...tapered... :-S
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I've also got very small feet .... however, they can pack a powerful kick when necessary! >:D
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... go for the nuts? >:D
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Presactly! >:D
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beautifully slim...tapered...powerful kick in the nuts... :-S...promise to type dirty, actually!
Say, where do you think the Dow's going to open up at this morning?
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13,000! >:D
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sounds like a big 'yours'...I'll take you at 13,000...
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It's the FTSE you have to watch! >:D
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But would you invest my money wisely if you had it?
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yeah, nice play Linda...but I've woken up now.
No, I'll take your 13,000 and reckon we'll see 14,000 before we see 13,000...who cares about the FTSE
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I do, actually, must keep track of my stocks and shares! >:D
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Lose the FTSE, be nimble on the Dow (14,000 and out)...and go long the All Ords - resources
BHP = $100 by 2010...you heard it here first.
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Does that "no" mean you WON'T invest my money wisely? >:D
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'wisely'...'wisely'...I'm not sure I know what you mean 3B?
Is there potential for loss...sure
Is there better potential for gain in the longer term...sure
No risk, no return greater than the Fed Fund rate
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It's a serious business ... which is why I'd rather stick to a 401K and leave it alone. Rather know what's in my pocket, than flying out there. If I win the lotto, well, that might give me more rope to hang myself if I wanted to risk a bundle!
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If that makes you feel comfortable 3B...then that's fair enough
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Hags are known for their wisdom, mate! 'Tis part of our allure!
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I had to go back 5 pages to find my last post and it's response...
Bloody hell.....
And now nothing seems relevant...so i will join in here....
Is the 1/4 of 1 percent reduction in the interest rate going to make much difference to you threeb....?
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Well Heeellllllllllooooooooooooooooooo!! to you to threeb.....
[I thought we ought to revert to the correct thread..]
Good to hear from you......my paranoid mind was getting worried that you had fallen over the edge of the world too.....
It sounds like you had a very good evening....brill.
What was the play about?
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Hey, T. No, I didn't desert the chi-clan -- 'twas just a late evening.
The author called it a "philosophical thriller." She set it around the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, but it really was about the reality of one's existence, the preciousness of life, morality and that sort of thing. She is a "mature" student (50-ish), so her POV and insight are quite more developed than the average bear in school, and is also very well-liked. Normally, we don't get a lot of audience on a Monday night (they do those once a month), but there were only a few seats in the black box theater, so she was very heartened, though nervous.
Before the play began, I suggested she add to the usual "turn off your cell phones, stuff" a bit of intro to the piece, since it was not a well-known play, which she did. It turned out very well, and everyone received a rousing applause.
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Sounds good. Your hubby must have been thrilled too.
Will you write a critique of it?
Glad you are here now....we missed you all morning...
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Hubby is her teacher, so of course, he was proud. He constructed the set, ran the lights and the sound. He said he made a few mistakes, but I couldn't tell.
I took piccys of it, so I'll try at least to get one in the paper with a caption.
I missed you all too. Your latest brain teasers hurt my head so I just jumped to the answers. Boy, you guys are all really great at them -- much cleverer and quicker than me. I've never been good at riddles.
So, how are you doing today -- you seem rather chipper, I must say. Or is it me?
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I got the bit about your hubby being her teacher...so he must have been chuffed that it was full up. It would be great to have a piece in the local rag. When she's hugely famous....you guys can take some of the credit.
Linda is a smart cookie on the puzzles. She must cheat of course....!!!
It's you feeling chipper threeb...i am still coughing and spluttering like a goodjun....and am really really peed of with it now.... I feel ok - just bunged up, coughing, runny nose and tired....apart from that...i'm perfection personified....as always....
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Of course!
I hate to see you drag on with this malaise, T. I've been there, believe me. Wish you could get some relief.
Is the weather at least decent? Any sunshine along with the cold? Here we had a bit of a chill overnight, but only down into the high 40s, so I cranked up the heat a bit before I get in the shower. I hate cold bathrooms -- makes everything goose-bumpy -- but not the pleasant sort.
Linda's a pretty sharp little hag, isn't she? Geo, birdy and binks were pretty witty (I love the way that sounds), too.
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I am the sharpest hag in hagendom and I resent the 'cheating' comment T-hag! To be fair, the questions weren't over-taxing!
I have spent ages proofreading and editing a tedious article which could have been written using half the words ... deleted a lot of howevers and therefores etc ... in fact I completely hacked the whole thing to pieces ... ha ha! >:D
Am so cold now am going to follow your example, threeb, and jump into a lovely warm shower before getting back to it!
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Good for you, LL! Hack 'em to pieces. Perfect job for a sharp hag -- using your razor mind and a bloody virtual axe to slice off the verbal dross.
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3000 words is a lot of editing Linda....
Can you imagine having a conversation with the person that wrote it.....???
Of course you cheated, you didn' t even know Jack and Jill had a second verse...... [ :laugh: :laugh:]
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I bloody well did ... it was my son who was sadly lacking in his nursery rhyme knowledge!
Throw any old quiz question at me, mate, I'm waiting for you!
Verbal dross sliced to within an inch of its life ... emailed to 'very clever woman' ... awaiting feedback!! >:D
Don't tell roberts, but I really am off for a shower now! ;)
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Shhhhh....me too!
Am nearly ready to go, guys. Hurry back - I've got about 10 minutes!
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Just wrote a long message to you and birdy and lost the bloody thing! Can't be bothered to repeat it now! How are things with you two today? I've not long ago come in and am now ready for a nap! Late one last night and feeling a bit tired/delicate!! >:D
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I know what you mean, LL! I've written many a response that has just gone off into thin air. If it looks like things are getting irregular/goofy, sometimes I'll start copying each post to save it for another try, but generally, I'll get blindsided. The worst part is that it's usually the really well-thought-out and witty ones that get lost. Then I just type something short and angry, rather than try to repeat it.
Today, I've had a lot of "error" messages all over the place -- either servers are crashing around our heads or the dumb computers are being incalcitrant! >:D
Feeling delicate, eh? Well, a good nap is always welcome on the weekend. I'll be going off for a long one today -- tons of writing to do with the earlier deadline -- plus a big event in town -- parade, courthouse lighting, etc. and other bits and pieces.
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Well have a >:D of a day, mate! Glad I'm not the only one to lose messages .... perhaps we've over done it with the >:D s and they're causing havoc! >:D
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More likely than not -- powerful as they are! >:D
Must use them with discretion ... but who wants to? >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D
That'll show 'em! >:D
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yes, I've had some of mine disappear too - very frustrating. Happens on my regular email too. And I really hate it when I'm writing a long letter and a message comes up, "Microsoft has discovered an error and must shut down now" or words to that effect.
I've just been over at freerice making a donation. I manage to stay in the high 40s but then get hammered with really obscure words.
Now I'm going to start doing Real Work - well, sort of - I'm checking out the charities I'm considering donating to in my end of the year checks. As with so much else, I'm compulsive about this - I won't give to charities that send me lots of mailings, because I want them to spend their money on their programs. But now I've found a site where I can check how they're rated by independent rating sources, so I figured I'd better try that too. I've already learned enough to eliminate a couple.
But I'll probably pop back in once in a while during the day.
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I used to work for a charity, birdy, Save the Children, and saw how much money was actually wasted when it could and should have been put to better use! I give to selected charities only ... but almost always fill the bags they leave for unwanted clothing etc ... I always have LOTS of unwanted clothing!! >:D
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I've helped Toys for Tots, which coordinates with several organizations here to donate actual toys, rather than money.
There's such a nice feeling you get if you play "Santa" to little kids, bring their stuff to the house, and then watch their faces just beam and glow with joy at getting a toy. Make you see how lucky you are. Seeing them at home, in some of the conditions of poverty they live, breaks your heart a bit, so the help is more meaningful.
We went through some rough patches with our kids growing up, and so I know what it means (although I never got that kind of help -- we just made do).
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We have a new thrift shop here in the neighborhood - a branch of one in "the city" - so I've been able to get rid of a lot of things. I used to give them to the church fairs in the neighborhood but a lot of the churches have stopped doing them - too much work, too few workers.
I just gave away 27 pairs of socks, all in good condition, some brand new! They'd been sitting in the over-stuffed drawer for several years, and weren't being worn because I'm not using that style any more. Not sure the thrift shop can sell them (this is a fairly upscale neighborhood), but I think they pass that kind of thing along to others that might be able to.
But most of my clothes I wear until they are useful for nothing but rags.
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My mom used to go to the "good" thrift shops near tony NYC neighborhoods, and it was amazing what she could find for pennies on the dollar -- clothes, furniture, etc. all in wonderful condition! Taught me how to get you money's worth.
I too will drop lots of stuff off just to reduce the clutter (a never-ending battle) and know that it will help others.
Here, thrift shops go to many charities, including Salvation Army, churches, older folks, even a humane society to help animals, so I try to hit them all and feel like I'm helping many causes.
And fundraisers -- boy, for a small town, they have tons of 'em all the time, so there's no lack of ways to pitch in here.
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Yesterday was our annual Children In Need day ... televised from about 7pm to 2am ... they raised £19m!
birdy, I tend to get clothes which will not wear out and so I have some that are years and years old. I get so sick of the sight of them am relieved to stick them in a sack and feel that some charity may benefit from them! Also, I have made some purchases which have been big mistakes and end up never being worn!! Why, oh why, >:D did I buy that yellow and grey top which looked so nice in the shop and made me look like a bumble bee when I got it home?! It's gone now and hubby has never even commented on the fact that I never wear it!!
My son has a style of his own .... is in to wearing suit jackets with jeans at moment ... got him a fantastic grey jacket in Oxfam the other week .... it cost the vast sum of £6 and he absolutely loves it!! >:D
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One of my friends gets just about all her clothes at thrift shops - yes - she goes to the ones in upscale neighborhoods. I barely have the patience to shop at stores where the clothes are arranged by size, and at this point my closet is full, so I won't be buying anything for a good long time. I'm not fashionable, so it doesn't bother me if something is out of style. But hey, jeans and turtlenecks don't really change that much, do they?
I think the thrift shop in my neighborhood is a little over-priced. People going to thrift shops, even in expensive neighborhoods, are looking for a bargain. I think the shop would get a lot more sales, almost all of which would be profit, if they reduced the prices. As it is, sometimes the shop looks like my sock drawer (before) - it's so full that it's hard to get through the aisles. It does get, and sell, furniture, some of it quite good - a fair turnover there.
The less expensive thrift shops, like the Salvation Army, have lower prices, and really caters more to people who need the savings. I probably should have taken my socks to them, because I'm sure their customers really could use them. I still have the desk/chest I got from them when I moved into my first apartment.
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We have 3 'charity' (as we call them) shops in the town next to us. It is a tiny town so I was amazed that there were three!! Two are OK but one is v good selling a lot of top brand names such as Monsoon, Per Una etc. One of the others does furniture as well. We also have a warehouse style building called The Green Home which is run as a training establishment for people with additional needs and recycles just about anything except clothes. People donate items, they checked over and then put up for sale at v reasonable prices. I have got most of my stuff for childminding from all of these shops at good prices and I am helping others by doing it....
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Morning threeb, am typing this v. quickly as having extreme problems with Chi this morning. Keep losing the game, my score wasn't appearing on the board and it has taken me ages to access the forum. Will most probably lose this message too! Hope all is well with you ... holidays for you, is it? >:D
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Got the message, LL! No worries.
Am up too early, as per usual. Had me 30 minutes of sleep and now I'm good to go! >:D
I'm fine, really. Got work to do, and probably will not get there till mid/late morning, as the hubby has a dinner with his children's theater group tonight, so I'll work till it's time to meet up with him.
Tomorrow will be a bugger, but Tuesday is just the stuffing of papers, so that's pretty easy. And Wednesday, we'll be off to see the little darlins. Of course, the price being, less Chi, more family time. I'll have some work to do on and off when the mood/time permits. Try to catch up on some reading.
There's a book I got from one of the people, a lawyer (excuse me, barrister) I interviewed, called "Gun Crazy" -- about a true Texas murder trial in which he successfully defended one of the accused. I'm looking forward to reading it. It made headlines here, apparently.
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Hiya threeb...
What are you up to today?
I am assuming you might be sleeping, still....unusual for you i know...but..!!!
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Hey, T! Good morning ... I went to bed before 9 p.m., so I guess I've have enough rest for now. Got a full plate today, being deadline early for the holiday. Just one more day ... just one more day ... just one ... more... d...a...y -- then FREEDOM! ;D
How about you, kiddo?
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I'm good thanks,
trying to sort out all the cock-ups from the weekend...
It's a along story and i haven't time now....but will regale you witht he gory details later.
I'm off under cars in a minute...so will have to catch up later....
Glad you're okay mate..
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Can't wait to hear about it. Hope you get back before I leave this morning...got a couple of hours to kill in the dark! >:D
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Hello there, threeb ... thought you were on holiday?! Are you having fun with the grandkids? Weather fine and sunny? All well?
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Good morning, LL, T, and gang!
Yes we arrived safely and had a lovely evening with the babies and their parents ... a cold front blew in last night and it looks like rain is likely in the next day or two.
Only had limited time to play and chat, plus, like I dreaded, daughter in law's laptop has me contorting to fit my fingers on the keyboard, and that finger sensitive "Un-mouse" keep me from aiming properly. I spent half of last night just trying to keep from deleting something, going backwards to the wrong page, and generally keeping my wits together.
Been reading the posts, but won't be able reply crisply, so bear with me. If I can reply at all, that is!
How's everyone! (I hate this laptop)
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Hiya mate..
Glad you got there safely and you're having a good time...
Play nicely now!!
No hissing, spitting, kicking or biting, or hiding toys that you want to play with later, on your own....
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I am fine ... had a chat to geo this morning about her impending wedding to Uncle Vito ... T needs to get her act together as we are planning a winter wedding!
Can you not get a mouse attached to laptop? Makes life a little easier but still doesn't overcome the problem of the stupid keyboard. Try your best ... remember you are a hag and can conquer all! >:D
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Ah yes, the big occasion and only a month away! Everyone is getting sooooooo excited, and the couple haven't even met. What fun!
I'm about ready to fling this on the floor ... but, that would be childish and rude! I shall control myself and be the perfectly agreeable guest and grandma -- sit to the side and just enjoy the shenanigans.
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Teach the youngsters the way of the hag ... we need new recruits! >:D
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Instead of nursery rhymes at bed time, we're reading the beginner's spell-book (everyone thinks it's a spell-ing book). >:D >:D
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Spellbinding!! Start 'em young! Nothing cuter than a baby hag! >:D >:D >:D
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Yes, most assuredly.
And the cutest part is their daddy went to A&M (Texas Agricultural and Mechanical) University, whose students are called "Aggies" -- so they're, technically, just little (h)aggies! >:D
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:D >:D
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;) >:D >:D
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Hi Threeb,
I see that you're still on line in spite of being in the middle of packing up for the return trip - or maybe you just left the computer on while you went off to Goliad.
I'm taking a break from paper work - it's charity-check time - I try to do it right after Thanksgiving, before the holiday/Groundhog's Day rush. Thanksgiving is a good time for thinking about how fortunate I am, and how it's time to help people who might not be as lucky. Compulsive as I am, I'm going through all the solicitations I received last year in the mail - I toss out those from organizations that send me more than 3 mailings since I want my limited donations going for their work, not more fund-raising. This year I also checked a couple of charity-rating lists, so I have even more reason to support/eliminate groups from my list. But it is tedious.
I've been getting comments on a couple of my snowflakes, especially since I detoured from abstract ones to pictorial - someone really liked the cat-and-dog one. It ain't art, but it is fun.
Have a good trip back - hope the traffic isn't too bad.
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There was a slight delay in our departure, but we're pretty well packed and ready to run.
The snowflakes were fun -- my granddaughter and her cousin started doing their own, too, and really were delighted at how easy they were to make, and look pleasing! Thanks.
Will have to catch up later -- have a great rest of the day. Monday looms.... ;)
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I am announcing here that we arrived home safe and sound. Stopped off at Goliad, despite the rather unpleasant cold and mist, and visited the courthouse square first. Plus, we managed to navigate through the buildings such as the Presidio La Bahia, two chapels (really extraordinary and old, going back to the 1700s), and the burial place where Capt. James Fannin and more than 300 Texians were interred after they had been massacred. More Texas fighters died there than at the Alamo, which had preceded this event.
The city of Goliad has this tidbit also: "Goliad is the third oldest municipality and is rich in Texas history. It is the County Seat of Goliad County, one of the oldest counties of Texas. First named Santa Dorotea by the Spaniards in the 16th century, its name was changed February 4, 1829 to Goliad. The name is an anagram derived from the last name of a Spanish missionary priest, Father Hidalgo. Following the Texas Revolution of 1836, General Sam Houston, then the Governor of the Republic of Texas, granted four leagues of land to Goliad on October 25, 1844. Goliad is the smallest town in Texas to be selected for the Main Street Program in 1984 and the Courthouse Square Historic District is one of the most complete examples of early Texas Settlements."
Anyone interested in reading up on a chapter in early (1835-1836) Texas history can go to:
http://www.goliadcc.org/history.htm
and/or
http://www.goliadtx.net/History.htm
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Yes, you've got an A, mate!! Interestingly enough, there used to be a restaurant near here called The Hidalgo! .... strange coincidence! >:D
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Thanks for the gold star! I really did enjoy the tour and am glad we braved the weather to do it.
The threads of coincidences in this world constantly amaze me, too, LL!
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Hi there threeb,
Glad to hear you have had a good few days....even if you are knackered now.....
All will be well again tomorrow when you've had a rest....
I will try and have a read of your 'item' later...looking forward to it too....
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Threeb, I read in another thread that you still have your cold. T is correct -- don't forget the zinc and doughnuts!
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I swear by Vitamin C as a preventative - not sure that it does much good once the cold has started, though. Hope you're feeling better soon.
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What about echinacea? Never tried it myself but some people swear by it.
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Echinacea worked for me when I tried it. Celestial Seasonings used to make a very nice tea with it, which I found quite helpful. But they went and changed the formula, so I stopped using it. That's when I discovered that zinc was just as effective. My daughter can't tolerate echinacea, however, so I know it's not for everyone.
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I can't say as I really like echinacea. I've only used it for one cold, and it didn't really do a whole lot for me. i've never tried zinc, but like birdy, I swear by vitamin c. Plus, with vitamin c you get to drink lots of yummy orange juice -- or go straight to the source and eat an orange!
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Thanks for all the help, guys! I've been loading up on C and Z, and plenty of hot soup, tea with lemon and pretty much as you've advised. Still feeling pretty hammered, but I can imagine how much WORSE I'd feel without all that good stuff.
Now that the pressure of the week's deadline is off somewhat, I can get a bit more R&R for a day or two. BUT, I've still got plenty of proofreading/editing to do on the publication of the 50 stories (going to press this weekend) ... although those can be done on and off as I'm able at home, not sitting in the office with all the hubbub going on.
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I'm glad you're feeling a bit better threeb, and your workload is lessened now.
You need to take care of yourself, or you will be flat out over the festive hols...
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Thanks, T -- I'm doing my best to take care of myself, for once. I also haven't had a cigarette for 24 hours and think possibly that might be a good way for me to quit once and for all -- if only hubby would! I just have to be strong for myself, but boy, it's hard!
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Bloody good luck mate.....
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I've been smoke-free for 36 hours and still counting ... headache doesn't help a bit, but the coughing reminds me I should be strong!
... just stuck away hubby's smokes to another spot, away from my grasp ... Oh, this sure is hard!
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You have cracked it mate, your lungs will already be clearer....
Don't relent, whenever you feel the urge click onto a Stop Smoking help line for some inspiration....
You are doing well....keep it up...
XX
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Good luck with the quit project Threeb. It's bloody hard to stop. I gave up in 1998 but I still occasionally look wistfully at the smokers at social functions.
They say it takes three weeks to create a habit, so I told myself that if I stuck it out for three weeks without a fag, I'd have successfully created a new habit of not-smoking. Worked for me. It also helped that my hubby had given up a couple of years before and was enormously supportive.
Hang in there buddy, it's worth it in the end.
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hi Threeb,
Another deadline day? Our weather is nasty - started sleeting about 20 minutes ago, now a "wintry mix" with sleet, snow and rain all at once. But I knew that and have planned to spend the day indoors. Lots to do here, unfortunately - will it never end? Hopefully I'll get stuff packed for my trip next Tuesday - not the clothes, they're easy and quick to pack, but all the paraphernalia and sundries, which are scattered all over.
Will be watching my mail for interesting views.
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So how goes the no smoking, Threeb? ???
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>:( .. :'( ..
too much stress, too little willpower ... will keep trying again.
Thanks anyway -- wish I could be a better role model but what can I say. We all have our little coping mechanisms -- it would be either that or food!
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Hi, Threeb,
Last week I had to go down to Charlottesville, Virginia, home of The University, to do some research for a client. I made a day trip out of it since it is only two hours away, but the return trip was three hours due to traffic and weather conditions. By the time I got home I was plenty ready to get down off my pony, so to speak. It made me think of you and all the driving you probably have to do, both in your line of work and just because you live out in the country.
Sorry to hear that the stop-smoking campaign hasn't gone well. Hubby is undoubtedly a bad influence. I have two sisters who have been long-time smokers who have tried multiple times to quit. One of them has succeeded, and I'm sure part of what helped is that she just married (a couple of years ago) a wonderful man who doesn't smoke. The other sister has a boyfriend who smokes as much as she does. When you're ready to try again, we'll all be pulling for you.
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Thanks for the encouragement, RM, and the concern, anonsi.
It certainly makes quitting harder with a hubby who really can't/won't either -- it's hard enough on one's own. Oh, well, I always say I'll quit when the stress goes down, but that's a larf!
Perhaps I'll get the urge again -- soon!
I will say, though, that on the good-news front, my special publication (collection of 50 historical stories from 2006) are out on the marketplace, just in time for Christmas and gift-giving, and I think sales are encouraging so far. We have them at the office, and at 4 locations in the area, and people are scooping them up by the handful. They look really nice, and our readers have really given them high praise. Vol. II is already being planned for next year, as I'm already approaching #100!
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Hi Threeb....
Get you..best selling author...
You won't want to speak to us soon....
Well done mate, that's fantastic news. A big PAT on the back..
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Ditto T
And 3B - I think giving up smoking is one of the hardest things to do. It has been your friend for so long ( in most cases) and then we suddenly try to say 'no, not doing this any more'. Oh my, what do I do with my hands? Try deep breathing? Not quite the same effect. Chew on paperclips (yes, I know someone who gave up that way!). It is a loss - and a real loss, even though you know it is a good one. The Help Lines told me (when I tried to give up a few years ago) that it is equivalent to a loss in the family. Very hard to deal with. Good luck and when you suceed, please pass on your tips.
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way to go threeb, can I have your autograph? XXX
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Thanks so much, guys, for the nice compliments. You're all very kind, I mean it! ;D As for "best-selling," well that's a bit extreme, but it's fun to go and see your own stuff out there in front of the public. Perhaps, it's just more like being a bit "locally famous," I suppose. It was a lot of hard work, but the satisfaction of the accomplishment is definitely worth it all.
And, yes, I'd be happy to autograph any copies you'd like!
Geo -- my hat's off to anyone who can quit -- I truly understand the difficulty of the undertaking. Making that decision is very scary. It's easier when you can get someone to quit with you ... I'll keep trying, and maybe one of these days it will really happen. One trick I used to use was to wear a rubber band on my wrist, so that whenever I'd get the urge, I'd snap it -- like telling myself, "Just snap out of it -- be strong, feel the pain!" ;)
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No pain No gain....
That's how it goes doesn't it?
It is a hard thing to do....any addiction is hard to give up, whether it's sucking your thumb or gambling...makes no odds. But good on you for trying!
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I try to handle challenges in order of priority and ability to cope! Optimism and ambition must be tempered with realism. ;)
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Me too threeb...starting with ;
not turning the alarm clock to snooze again
getting out of bed
etc etc...
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Except for a few small assignments, as of today, I am pretty much off for the week ... turning attention to family and things undone here .... and RELAXING! Yeahhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhh...
Could you please pass me that wine cooler?
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Hiya Mate,
How ya doing?
Busy it sounds like...
Good to hear you had a good time...
We haven't chatted for ages, in fact it seems that no-one has very much.
Things will get to back to normal soon, thank goodness!!!
And now you have gorn... Oh well!! Later maybe???
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It's so great to hear from you, finally, T! ;D I've been popping in and out a lot, but so rarely is anyone online lately.
Have you been scurrying out and about as it seems the rest of the world has been doing during this season?
Yes, I kind of am trying to get back to earth finally! It was all a nice time, but if I keep up that pace, I'll simply turn into a mindless, drivelling slug ... of course, there's something to that as well. ;)
Hope to chat soon ... I miss you guys! PS -- where's LL been -- at least binky, birdy, bobbi and anonsi have cropped up a few times, but she of the non-p***le inclination has been a vanished ghost of late. ???
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I am of the non-p****e inclination am here!! Thank you for your concern, threeb!! Been very busy lately but things should get back to normal in the new year. Missed you all ... even you, T!! >:D
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AAAAHHH!!!!! Bless...
I knew you would...
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Please promise you guys won't stay away so long EVER AGAIN!!!
Please????????
Pretty please???????
With sugar on top???????
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Am here again, threeb. Never fear, I will be around and in and out today in between cleaning up!!
Sending hubby and son out for afternoon so that I can get on with things ... which includes chatting to you, of course!!
Back soon ... >:D
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I have about an hour or so to "kill" -- hurry back! A bit of work awaits at the office, but I hope to wrap up rather early ...
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Are you still here, threeb? Will you be celebrating New Year's Eve tonight? We aren't going out as everywhere is very crowded and messy in this part of the world .... once had an unpleasant experience with a man and a sausage roll on New Year's Eve!! Ugh!! Not my idea of fun spending the evening with an empty glass as you can't get to the bar and surrounded by drunks who seem to think they have a licence to kiss you because it's New Year's Eve!! >:D
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PS Has your puzzle gone all strange? Mine has ... luckily I have found all the common words for the first time in ages! >:D
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My puzzle looks okay so far, LL! Good for you on the rosette, mate ... I got one in challenge, too, but still have one left in the standard ... bugger! My not have the time or desire to keep going there.
Hey, I'll be off in a bit, but hope your day goes well. If by chance I miss chatting before you're off for your New Year revelry/seclusion, have a wonderful time! I'll try to catch up before then, hopefully!
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Puzzle okay now ... temporary glitch!
Have a good day, mate, and a happy New Year's Eve! Speak to you next year, if not before! >:D
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Good afternoon/morning, threeb!
How are things with you today? All well, I hope!
It's a bit of a cold and windy day here at the moment but we've been promised some snow tomorrow!!
Have taken down all my Christmas decorations (much to my husband's joy and relief) and the house is looking somewhat bare and now have no excuse for not dusting around all the cards!!
Still too many boxes of chocs strewn around the house though ... such temptation, even though I'm not particularly keen on them but, as they're there, they've got to be eaten by someone!! Pity the cat doesn't care for chocolate! >:D
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You're so neat and tidy ... prompt and forward-thinking, LL -- or just bored?
I had so few decorations up this year since we went out of town that it seemed pointless to go to all the trouble of doing it with only me and hubby to see it. He was a bit disappointed and swears (politely) that we'll celebrate next year at our house. He really loves all the hoopla, but wants it on his terms. I'd just as soon let someone else do all the work and sit back to enjoy the grandkids.
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I want to go and stay in a hotel for the Christmas/New Year celebrations this year or, perhaps, a chalet in the Swiss Alps! I think Christmas is over-rated!! >:D
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It's not so much the holiday, because I do love the festivity and lighting around the courthouses in town squares. Some towns, like the one my son lives in, do almost nothing and others are as brilliant as peacocks! To me, though, it's more about the spirit of family and togetherness, remembering really what it's all about.
I just hate the shopping and the crass commercialism surrounding it. Stores put stuff up before Thanksgiving is over. And the feeling that one is obligated to provide the most elaborate gifts that some families purchase as if they're competing for love and attention. It's nuts! I prefer getting things that people need, like clothing and maybe a few toys. Hubby just gives me one modest piece of sparkle, and it's fine with me. Nothing elaborate or flashy, but a token of love. I got him new slippers and a nice watch, for which he said he was very grateful -- "just what I need!"
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The Alps are just too cold -- give me the Bahamas!
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You're right, threeb. I bought my hubby a new jacket, a book and some CDs. He bought me lots of clothes, some perfume and a beautiful bookmark!! No sparkly things this year! Spent most of our money on our son, which is as it should be!
Speaking of son, he's going to London on Saturday with his drama group ... so envious! They're doing some sightseeing, having lunch in Covent Garden and then going to the theatre ... more expense!! >:D
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Oh no, you've got to have snow ... am waiting with bated breath for it to arrive here ... probably be just a few measly flakes which soon turn to mush but am ever hopeful!! >:D
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Maybe you're right, 'cause the snow is truly beautiful, but I so much hate cold weather, I'd have to bundled up from head to toe and keep the hot chocolate handy (with marshmallows, of course)! Perhaps an apple-spiced toddy.
We had snow here last year, and it took two days to get out the road because of all the ice. Our house is at the top of a steep hill, and driving down to the highway is very treacherous ... the county doesn't usually get out here to throw sand or salt.
Sounds like your son will have an awesome (though pricey) adventure, but it will probably be worth it. Is it his drama group in school? What theater, what play will they be seeing? Hope they are chaperoned properly!
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He attends a drama group at nearby school twice a week and they're going to see Women of Troy at the National Theatre. I am a bit concerned about it as they will be unchaperoned while they are sightseeing and shopping! Have to stay in groups of at least two and must carry mobile phones so they can get in touch with teacher if necessary who is also giving them a pack with contact numbers, street/underground maps etc! It will be an adventure for him but a worry for me!! >:D
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So the teacher is NOT going? Why not?
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Yes, the teacher is going but will not be with them until they meet for lunch!
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Plenty of time for some questionable diversion for the kids, then, eh? Is your son pretty trustworthy, or is he likely to follow his mates should they stray?
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He's pretty trustworthy (hopefully!) and most of the drama group consists of girls!! >:D
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oops! >:D a boy and a troupe of painted women! :police:
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Presactly! >:D
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Perhaps your hubby might throw in a few "choice words of wisdom" ... ;)
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Might be a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted!!
Anway, son is in lurve with girlfriend so will not be tempted by painted ladies ... at least, that's what he tells me!! >:D
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Is she going, too?
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No ... she is a year older than him ... in fact she will be 18 next week ... he likes the mature women!! >:D
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Yes, but when the cat's away ...
I hope she has an understanding nature ... or enough allure to keep him straight!
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She's got plenty of allure ... very beautiful, quietly spoken and 'natural' ... they like lots of the same things and her mother adores him too! It's a shame they're both so young and will probably go their separate ways but who knows ... my mother was 14 when she met my father!! >:D
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Mine (the adoptive one) was 16, and my dad was 17 years older when they wed! She had lots of allure as well ... and he was very doting, stable and hard-working. My real folks parted ways for unknown reasons (at least to me), which made me sad, but I didn't know about it until much later. It really hit me hard after I found out the whole (long and rather complicated) story.
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That is sad, threeb ... did you know your 'real' parents?
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Yes -- they were my real aunt and uncle (I told you it was complex) and I loved them all, but didn't know who was really who!
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Good morning threeb .... how are you this beautiful day?
Son went on London trip and arrived home safe and sound, thank goodness! Had a fantastic time and crammed in so much sightseeing with his mates he can hardly walk today!! The young seem so fearless ... three of them went off on their own, jumping on tubes to all parts of the city to see as many sights as possible in the time they had. Sure I would not have been so brave at 16 but then again, thinking back, at that age a mate and I set off for Paris without any idea of how we were going to get there, nowhere to stay and certainly no itinerary so perhaps nothing really changes! >:D
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Heya, LL -- I'm up early (as usual). Sounds like a dream trip for your boy and I'm relieved he and his mates returned home safe and sound.
I love the adventurous and bold spirit of the young, as long as nothing unhappy befalls them. Alexander the Great was already on his way to conquering the world at that age, so, why not?
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I did a project on Alexander the Great when I was at school .... he was indeed fearless and a bit of a lad!!
Got a lazy day planned for today as am a bit tired due to lack of sleep last two nights! Was up making chicken burgers at 3.45 a.m. Saturday morning and waiting for son's return last night ... couldn't relax until I heard his key in the door! Hubby and son both still in bed ... due to work and late night ... so having a bit of quiet me time until they come clattering down the stairs!! >:D
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You're picking up some of my bad habits, staying up like that, LL. But I know exactly what you mean ... I'd never be able to rest until I knew everyone was home, kids and grownups alike! And if I happened to nod off, I'd be on the living room sofa with the phone nearby.
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My mobile was about 2" away from my head!! >:D
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Good ole mum that you are!
BTW, I saw your comment about VCW -- I sure hope she doesn't disappoint. Other than that, do you have any other prospects lined up yet? Or, are you just kind of biding your time, and enjoying the bit of freedom from work?
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Am holding out for work with VCW at the moment, mate, as it sounds interesting and lucrative!! If that falls through, will be looking for an alternative with some urgency! >:D
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So, are you willing to share the details? Or would you rather wait until it comes through for fear of a jinx? >:D
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Well, I would tell you more if I knew more myself! All I know is that VCW has been in talks with some 'people' about an educational research project and things are looking hopeful. She's having another meeting with them some time this coming week to work out exactly what they want. She's included me in her proposals and says she's hoping they will go for the 'big package' which will mean plenty of work and plenty of money!! Let's hope so ... Christmas was v. expensive and I have loads of birthdays coming up between now and end of April ... 5 in one week in March!! >:D
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I hope she's not stringing you along just to be social...but I trust you know her better than that.
Five birthdays in one month? Wow -- that's like our family. If everyone were still alive who were around 20 year ago, plus those who've come along since, we'd have 6 birthdays in May/June, and at least that many more around Aug./Sept. That doesn't even include cousins!
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You'd think people would be more considerate and spread their births throughout the year!! My niece is expecting a baby this year and has she planned it for a quiet time .... August through to Novemember? ... no ... she has planned it for February .... typical! >:D
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Of course -- like the old saying goes: "Life happens while you're busy making plans!"
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Presactly! >:D and 'if you want a job doing, give it to a busy person.'
Hear stirrings upstairs ... the creatures from the black lagoon seem to be rousing themselves from their pits ... must go and put kettle on ... back in a bit!
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See you've managed to grab yourself both rosettes, mate! You're such a clever little >:D ... well done!!!
And a trophy, too!! Brain cells must be in fine fettle today! Unlike mine! >:D
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Thanks, LL -- just killing time, kid!
Don't want to get too ambitious on a Sunday, but will have to be off for work in a bit. Then, there's laundry, dinner, and that bunch of nonsense. Might even squeeze in a nap, although that's unlikely once I get running about.
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Run, rabbit, run!! I'm doing nothing more strenuous than prepare dinner today! >:D
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I'm beginning to feel like Watership Down, now!
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Bright eyes! >:D
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See it here: (below)
Here it here:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/waters~1.mid
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Watership Down is okay but not a patch on Wind in the Willows ... poop, poop!!
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Hi threeb ... not much time today as off out soon but hope you're okay and will chat tomorrow ... just grabbing a bit of lunch, having a quick look at puzzle and then off!! >:D
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Hope to catch up soon, too -- today and tomorrow will be my usual "days of madness..." -- so, take care!
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Good morning, mate ... you're up and at it very early today! Isn't today something special for yo? Forget exactly what ... remind me!
Hope you are bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning!! >:D
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The rousing cowboy breakfast kicking off the stock show! I'm up much tooooo early, but I'm so glad to have company at this hour!
I was afraid I'd oversleep. I figured I could go back hope and rest up, since I also have an interview late this afternoon. Hubby might go too!
How are you today?? Any word from VCW?
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Like the sound of a rousing cowboy breakfast!! Me, I've just had a cup of coffee and some cereal!
Sounds like your day will be action packed.!!
I have NOT heard from VCW yet but her second meeting was some time this week so am hoping to hear from her v.v.v.v. soon!! Brain is starting to atrophy through lack of use ... apart from Chi, natch!! >:D
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I hope it's worth the wait! At least someone's out there pitching for you, LL. That's thoughtful.
I can imagine how it must be just moping around hoping something will happen. Bet your house is just sparkling ... or a complete ruin.
What other prospects are there?
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I don't do moping, mate, am usually quite happy whatever I'm doing ... sound a bit Pollyanna now!
The job market is a bit quiet at this time of year so really am just holding out for offer from VCW. If nothing comes of that I will have to review the situation, as Fagin said!! >:D
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Good ole Fagin - was a bit mean, but had a way with words! I absolutely loved that story. Didn't mind wading through Dickens at all ... amazing how he wove sentences and made everything, and everyone, so vivid!
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Me too! He certainly had a way with names ... Pumblechook, Bumble, Pecksniff, Uriah Heep ... wonderful! Most haglike! >:D
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Artful Dodger, too!
I wonder, though, because the girls in his stories always had plain-Jane names, and the old people, even were always Mister, Missus, Master, etc. Interesting.
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I think we should revise the custom of addressing even our spouses as Mister and Missus!! >:D
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Dear Ladies!
Dear Madam's?
Dear madame's??
Dear Mrs's!!
Dear Missusses!!!!
...Oy You 2... Dio i have your attention now....
Didn't want to say anything...just wanted your attention...
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Did someone speak? >:D
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I thought I heard a mouse squeak! ;)
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Could have been my mouse .. needs a bit of oiling, I think! >:D
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I think it was wearing PANTS!
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Thermal pants, too! >:D
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... and maybe earmuffs, too!
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Ok Ok! Don't get your KNICKERS in a twist.....
I love my thermals....trouble is once i put them on i never want to take them off....even on the beach!! And my earmuffs...i've worn them to bed....nothing else mind, just them...
I'm going to make a dash for the workshop while it's not chucking it down...
Did you hear they had snow in Bagdad today, the first time in living memory apparently...weird weather?!?!
I will catch up at t'other end...or later...or both...
BEHAVE!!!
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So much for global warming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toodle-ooo till then, mate!
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I may/may not be on the computer, depending on its behavior. Had to turn it off for a bit, earlier, as it started making some gut-wrenching bumping noises, which really made me nervous.
Threebee, these noises are not normal! Even if your computer seems to behaving well after the noise, DO NOT delay in backing up anything precious. Don't turn off your computer until you do this! I lost a whole year of work when our hard drive crashed at the end of 2003. I had backups, but they were over a year old. I am still trying to recreate some of the work that I did that year... We had another hard drive crash in 2005, but we were better prepared for it. We mostly lost little bits and pieces that disappeared while the hard drive was decaying.
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I empathise totally RM...
When mine crashed a month or so ago i lost precious stuff...never to be seen again... :'(
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Thanks for the advice, R-M. I'll work on it ASAP ... hate to lose some of that stuff, for sure!
I remember, T ... I remember your anguish and despair. :angel:
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Threebee, I hope you will report that you backed up your data straightaway yesterday. Your computer has given you a really big hint that its hard drive is not immortal. And make sure a copy of the really important backups is in your safe deposit box.
T, I'm so sorry about your own hard drive crash. It couldn't have come at a worse time.
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Yes, R-M, thanks. Backup's complete. Most anything else could be replace, I suppose. But, so far, so good -- 'puter's been quiet since then.
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Excellent! I am somewhat superstitious about backups. I like to believe that as long as you do your backups, the hard drive will not crash. That doesn't hold in the real world, of course, but the reverse does. If you don't back up your data, the hard drive WILL crash!
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Yes, a little insurance never hurts. At least if there's some warning, that's better than just a sudden collapse!
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I have a lot of my work on memory sticks but live in fear of losing them!
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Being so small, they could easily get lost in the shuffle!
Also, beware they're not in your clothing when you do the wash. You might accidentally iron one! >:D
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:D If something's ironable, I'll iron it! >:D
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Of course, that would include carpets, drapes, towels and wall-paper? ;)
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Towels and curtains (I ain't got drapes!) certainly but carpets and wallpaper is just plain silly, threeb!! >:D
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Presactly my point! >:D ;D
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Doesn't everyone iron their towels and curtains?! I'd iron the cat if he'd stay still long enough! >:D
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Then, instead of a fat cat, it would be a flat cat! >:D Meee-ooooooooooowwww!
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Hi, Threeb,
Haven't been online at the same time recently - one of the advantages of posting/email is that one person can be writing and the other person can catch up when she has time.
I haven't been spending quite as much time on Chi lately because I've been working on the Groundhog's Day letter. Oh, well, "truth in advertising" - I've also been spending a great deal of time on the snowflake site, as have a lot of other people - my last flake last night was #6048906, and I'm sure there have been another 4 or 5,000 made since then. It's an ideal site for me: crafts without shopping and storing supplies or having the mess of cleaning up.
You're in the Hill Country, aren't you? Do you get the blue northers? Is that why it's so cold? I don't think of Texas being that cold usually.
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Yes, birdy, the blue norther's upon us today ... temp's only 32, but it says it feels like 22!!! Brrr.... We had snow at Christmas a few years ago, and the roads froze up so I couldn't safely drive down our steep hill to town for a couple of days ... old-timers say that our temps have been warmer of late on the average, but the past two summers were not the long hot ones as in the past decade. More rain here lately, too in the past two years. It's all cyclical, though, so I expect a reversion soon.
I am so looking forward to hearing more about your Groundhog Day letter this year ... or at least some parts you might like to share.
I have missed our chats lately, but I know how it is. I keep such weird hours sometimes, I never know who will be on or off, esp. guys like you who also come in ad lib.
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Hi threeb ... trust you to arrive just as I am about to head off! What you up to today? Anything exciting? >:D
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Hey, LL! Sorry to have missed you already. I know you're on the run, esp. now that you've got the paycheck from VCW and are planning the big spree.
Nothing going on here-- the usual Wednesday slowdown, thank goodness. Woke up very bedraggled with a hint of a sniffle -- hope it's just fatigue and nothing serious coming on. Will try to beef up on the C and Z to ward off the bugs.
Horribly busy weekend through Tuesday -- just hammered with stories, esp. since another large fire burned nearly 4,500 acres on Friday and I had to scramble for info there.
And then there were two accidents (one fatality) on Monday. I actually came upon one of them on my way to the commissioners meeting in the morning. A man had slid off the roadway, flipped his truck several times and ended up sideways with all his stuff scattered and his arm hanging out the window. At first, I was afraid he had died, but it turned out later, he'll be all right. Tons of EMS and paramedics arrived, pried him out with the "Jaws of Life," and whisked him away. I took pix, but my editor didn't use them. The other accident happened in the afternoon when a woman tried to pass a friend of mine from the wrong side of the road, their wheels collided, and she went off down a hill, two kids in the car. She was killed, but the kids and my friend were okay. What a week! I'm drained.
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How horrible for you, threeb. No wonder you feel drained. Take it easy and don't let that sniffle turn into a full blown cold ... plenty of vitamins and chicken soup and you'll be right as rain! Sorry to have missed you ... maybe tomorrow! >:D
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Thanks for the sympathy and advice -- will take it! Have a good day -- I'll be getting ready for paper stuffing in a bit, so take care!
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Hi threeb,
Sorry to hear you're feeling rotten...it's no wonder though.
I'm glad to hear your friend and kids are ok...tragedy about the other person though.
Take it easy mate...be kind to yourself - FOR A CHANGE... :-*
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Same goes for you, T -- and I know your party will be an absolute smash!!! ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!! :-* :-* :-*
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I'll do my best, but you know what a miserable old trout i am...i shall just sit in a corner and pretend to be having a good time [NOT]... :o
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I'm sure you'll be fabulous and wonderful!!!
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How are you today, threeb? Well, I hope ... not up and at 'em yet?
I am having a housewifey sort of day ... cleaning and making a Somerset Pork Hotpot for supper! Sounds grand but it's just mince, leeks, apples, sauteed spuds thrown together but v. tasty!! It's so cold today we need something to warm the cockles of our hearts! >:D
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Our cockles don't need too much warming around here, LL, but the Midwest region is getting socked and hammered and pounded with nasty, dangerous weather. Your dish sounds delish -- gotta recipe?
I was more or less up and at 'em, this morning, but then had to clean kitchen, remove trash, and am about to get a nice toasty shower before heading out. So many little chores to be done, I just walk by, picking up as I go, without really getting in a sweat over it. I perform commando housework, using the "hit-and-run" method! >:D
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I googled Somerset hotpot. Looks simple but delish. Definitely winter food though. can't imagine eating anything like that at the moment, let alone spending any time in the kitchen witht he oven on. We had BBQed fresh marlborough salmon with a salad last night. BBQ tiger prawn kebabs tonight. They're busy marinating in a chinese honey soy sauce in the fridge at the moment.
Needs to be an early and quick dinner tonight, I'm off to the final rehearsal for the Starlight Symphony. Then tomorrow night we have the dress rehearsal, with the show on Saturday night. This is a big annual bunfight in Auckland with about 250 000 people coming together for an extravaganza. It's held in the Auckland Domain on the cricket fields. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, our local professional lot set up in the top of the cricket pavilion in case of rain their instruments get some protection. The massed choir of about 600 sit on the bleachers below, and the audience faces us sitting where they please on the grass. The natural depression surrounded by gentle slopes in all directions is yet another of Auckland's 48 volcanos. Must mention that a quarter of a million people is a massive turnout for a city of a mere million people!
This year promises to be very special with our much loved Dame Kiri te Kanawa being the guest of honour. She's singing four arias, one of which has us (the massed choir) as well, so she's coming to the practice tonight, great excitement! The whole thing has a 'Last Night of the Proms' flavour with the same four pieces at the end: Land of Hope and Glory, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture (accompanied by a massive fireworks and laser show display and cannons compliments of NZ army - heaps of jokes about this being their only real job of the year.) And then of course the National Anthem - God Defend New Zealand and the traditional Maori farewell song Haere Ra (Now it the hour when we must say goodbye...)
Unfortunately, it looks as though there's a tropical storm headed this way. If it's as bad as the weatherman threatens, the whole thing may be cancelled :(
http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/skycity/index.cfm?4AA287C0-C09F-429E-8F2D-0763C0F88AEA
I looked for some photos on google images and found one showing me (dressed in black of course,) in the front row of the photo. My face is obscured by a guy rope ha, ha.
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Thanks for the piccies. I spotted you instantly, haha!
What a magnificent setup, bobbi! Lucky you, hearing your Dame sing -- she's brilliant! Plus the ginormous chorus will be an incredible sound as well.
It's like a classical Woodstock gathering, but with more clothing! ;)
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Hi bobbi.
That looks and sounds fantastic....WOW!!
Lets hope the volcano doesn't erupt in sympathy with the fireworks...
Hope it all goes well mate...break a leg etc. etc....
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It's like a classical Woodstock gathering, but with more clothing!
Except it's much better organised.
There are strict parking bans in the vicinty. I think they hire New Zealand's entire stock of portaloos for the night! There's a handsome hot air ballon emblazoned with the legend "lost kids." Loads of trash cans, surprisingly few policemen. And hot food and drink stalls.
Not that many bother with those, half the fun is seeing how much stuff you can carry from home: groundsheet, picnic blanket to put on groundsheet, deck chairs to sit on despite having a waterproofed picnic blanket. In true Kiwi tradition, enough (gourmet) food, all packed in a rigid plastic 50 litre chillybin, to feed a small African country. Thermos flasks of coffee for half time (liberally laced with Irish cream or whisky). Pellegrino water to swig before getting behind the wheel of the car after all those wines and liqueurs. More thermos flasks with Milo for just in case. A case of assorted wines to cater for picky drinkers. Umbrellas, a collapseable 4 metre pole from which to fly a banner so mates can find you and all sit together. A suitable banner with something random written on it. Last year's said "beware, elephants crossing." This year's is much more predictable of course, it says "Sit with us, Kiri!" A hammer to erect aforesaid pole (I kid you not!~ Hubby is pretty anal in a boy scout kind of way). Blankets, parkas, thermals also just in case...
As I said, basically as much stuff as is humanly possible to carry!
For most, this is a hugely masochistic exercise because the nearest one is allowed to park, is a good, stiff, brisk 20 minute walk away, ...if you're lucky and get there insanely early. We're better off, because I write a long letter to the event company in charge of this bunfight (the same letter printed off my file on laptop with the year changed,) explaining that we're participants, transporting at least three more massed choir participants who are elderly, and and we we would like a permit please to to park in the War Museum grounds next door. All of this is true, and as we take our eight seater Nissan Serena coach, hubby can come too together with his (91 this year) mum and our best friends who are essential, because they are needed to carry stuff! Problem is leaving afterwards, Takes upwards of an hour just to get out of the museum grounds. But that's okay, we still have chocolate to keep our spirits up.
My special permit was handed to me by the event coordinator at rehearsal tonight, as is the norm. I'm amazed that nobody else in the choir has thought to ask. I've mentioned it to several people, but they're too shy to ask themselves. Weird. The worst thing that can happen is "No."
Practice tonight was amazing. It was such a privilege to sing with Dame Kiri. She was charming and gracious and all we would want her to be. She made practical musical suggestions which made us all feel like equal professionals. What a gift! Her voice is incredible, but her easy manner was a bonus. And of course, she's simply beautiful. we were asked not to take photos tonight, so my non-compliance meant I was unable to properly focus or compose the shot ha, ha. I'm not very good with rules sometimes.
This is NOT the major Auckland event of the year, that honour goes to the Coca Cola (let's hear a cheer for the sponors folks), Christmas Concert in the Park, same venue, pop and carols rather than classical music, but also with big fireworks. That event has an even larger audience because it also attracts younger folk. Not so much fun for the oldies though - there's an alcohol ban. Somehow a picnic without chardonnay seems positively uncivilised. We haven't been for years. Possibly also because I usually have a clashing carol-singing engagement here on 'The North Shore.'
Sorry to abduct your thread Threeb, I got carried away before, and it seemed silly to continue this elsewhere.
Next week when when I've caught my breath, I'll write something about the cruise to New Caledonia, perhaps properly in my own thread this time.
Night night, XXX
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It's a minor Odyssey, bobbi! Just the description wore me out (I already need a nap!). It sounds joyous and exhilarating -- no wonder you have so much fun, except for the portaging part. Thanks so much for that painstakingly detailed and lengthy description. You painted it wonderfully. I believe you are also a talented writer, as well, added to your other many abilities.
Have fun -- and I do look forward to all your upcoming reports. Raise a toast, and a holy noise!
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You should get that printed in your local rag Bobbi...brilliant!
I was in stitches envisioning all the 'humping and dumping'....been there/done that at many an outdoor concert.
Give me an allocated seat, next to an aisle so i can get up and dance, anyday.
[Old age is definately settling in, just like damp...]
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Hi hag matie - haven't had much chat time recently. Am busy compiling exercises and help guides for student! Got to give her her money's worth!!
Hope you are well and not running around like a headless chicken! >:D
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Thanks, mate! Good to see you're busy (staying out of trouble) with work.
My day starting off slow, but will be hectic once I leave for the rest of the day.
Sorting and distributing papers, shopping, errands, blah blah blah...
Hope to catch you again sometime soon.
Trying to get off to see grandson -- his 2nd birthday party this is weekend, so if I can get away, I will! May have to travel solo as hubby has big plans for work already in place. Naturally, as fate would have it, there is rain in the forecast, making the trip so much nicer -- NOT!
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How sweet ... the terrible twos!! My little boy is 17 in March! Where does the time go? Doesn't seem 5 minutes ago since all he wanted for his birthday were the Power Ranger flick heads! Now it's PS3 games at £40 to £50 each!!
Hope you manage to get to see your grandson, threeb, and that the weather isn't too awful! It's lovely here today ... Spring is in the air! >:D
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The sun's out here as well, birds were twittering, but the air's still chilly from a near-freeze overnight. However, the skies are supposed to darken in the next day or two -- ugh! The timing is often out of favor for me, although I've gotten lucky the past few visits. Maybe the forecasts will be mistaken. Won't be the first or last time.
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A great big cardboard box and a large roll of bubble wrap....he'll love it!!
I hope you manage to get there threeb....it'll be lovely...
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I can't wait, T! :angel:
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Hi threeb .... how are you today? Busy as a bee as usual, no doubt!
I've got my 'personal tuition' student this evening so thinking up lots of fiendish exercises for her to do! I go to her house and she makes me coffee and we sit together for 2 hours and then I get paid ... nice work while it lasts!
Had my B12 shot the other day so am full of bounce now, expecially as I was chatting to dishy vet while waiting for my appointment! Both me and the cat are big fans of his!! >:D
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Hi, LL!
I'm just fine and dandy. Just waiting for a few calls, and hoping for an interview appointment. Am expecting to go on an archaeological dig this weekend -- looking for native artifacts in a midden in the area on private land. It's all very hush-hush as to the location, so prowlers won't try to intrude, but the story on digs should be interesting.
I envy you -- just lolling about and getting paid for sipping coffee. What a sweet gig. I could use a B12 myself. At least this part of the election season is over here, but there will be a runoff in one judge's race, and one of the candidates is my sales client, so am expecting another round of commissions for his ads. That's the good part -- I win, whether he wins or loses! ;)
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We have a programme over here called 'Time Team' which is about archaeological digs ... pretty boring usually as they seem to get excited over the smallest piece of Roman/Saxon pottery! I hope you find something fascinating .... wear gloves though, you don't want to ruin your lily-white hands! >:D
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Oh, yes -- will don both gloves AND hat -- must avoid wrinkles and horrid liver spots!
I don't expect we'll find anything spectacular, but the process itself will be interesting to investigate. But who knows -- perhaps a dinosaur bone might pop up! There are quite a few sites around north Texas where they have found a large number. Here's a bit from Dinosaur News:
"The oldest-known duck-billed dinosaur (hadrosaurid) was found near Flower Mound, in North Central Texas, USA. This fossil, named Protohadros byrdi, dates from the about 95.5 million years ago, much earlier than any other duck-bills.
This plant-eating dinosaur was about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 m) long and 6 feet (1.8 m) tall at the hips. Its hind legs were larger than the front legs; it could walk on two legs or four. It probably walked on 4 legs while grazing low-lying plants. It as a stiff tail, hoof-like nails on their feet, and a bulky body. It had a toothless beak and many cheek teeth that were used for grinding up tough plant material.
This part of Texas was a warm, humid, wooded marsh during the life of Protohadros byrdi.
Although it has been long believed that hadrosaurs originated in Asia, the new find, Protohadros byrdi, seems to shift the birthplace of hadrosaurs to North America.
Protohadros byrdi was described by paleontologist Jason Head from the Department of Geological Sciences at Southern Methodist University's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. His findings were published in the January 1999 issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology."
Here's something else that was found in Texas, which of course, always loves to brag about everything being bigger here -- but I'll warn you -- it's not pretty!
ScienceDaily (Sep. 13, 2007) — An arachnaphobe’s worst nightmare, the gauzy, insect-laden web drew more than 3,300 curious visitors over the three-day holiday to this 376-acre park on the shore of Lake Tawakoni, 50 miles east of Dallas. On Labor Day, the park recorded 1,275 people visiting just to see the web.
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Absolutely revolting!! Ugh, just imagine walking into it ... even a hag would run screaming!!
I hope you find a little dino bone or two, mate, that would be exciting! The Natural History Museum in London is a great place to check out a T Rex .... unfortunately I found that this was a dinosaur and not Marc Bolan! >:D
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That is a fantastic picture!! Linda - we love Time Team, think it's fascinating even if they only find a few little bits and bobs. And yes, the Nat History museum is fantastic, when we lived in England we took the kids at least every couple of years
Marc Bolan.....Mmmmm was only listening to some of his music a couple of weeks ago :) Did you see there is someone on the scoreboard called 'TRex' ??
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He was just the most beautiful creature! Went to see him play in Manchester ..... screamed myself hoarse!
Talking of beautiful creatures, I saw a programme on Cristiano Ronaldo last night .... what a talent and not bad looking either!! >:D
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PS Yes I did see the TRex player .... wish they would join the forum so we could find out whether the name was dino or Bolan influenced!
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Oh! When was that on and what channel, I missed it! I might be able to watch it through the PC?
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Jane, it was on last night I think on ITV4 but not sure. It was on from 10 to 11 pm and was called something like Cristiano Ronaldo : His Story So Far ... well worth seeing if you get the chance!
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You screamed like a horse?? Man, that had to be quite a scene!!! ;)
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Hahahaha - hoarse, you nincompoop!! >:D
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I know, silly hag -- I just couldn't resist saying it! >:D
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I know, you knew ... couldn't resist the opportunity of calling you a nincompoop!! >:D
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Pooh-pooh! >:D
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I know, silly hag -- I just couldn't resist saying it! >:D
Hey Threeb, just say "neigh"!
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Don't start her off, birdy, we have had a spate of 'horse' jokes in the past!! She doesn't need much encouragement! >:D
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Hee-haw!
Hey, birdy -- did you notice this in the earlier post about the dinosaurs?:
"The oldest-known duck-billed dinosaur (hadrosaurid) was found near Flower Mound, in North Central Texas, USA. This fossil, named Protohadros byrdi, dates from the about 95.5 million years ago, much earlier than any other duck-bills...."
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Neigh wonder birdy has flown off if you're calling her an old fossil! >:D
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Moi? I would never be so horsey! >:D
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You do talk a load of 'pony', mate!
Cockney rhyming slang - pony and trap - sure you can guess the meaning! >:D
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Are you saying I'm Eartha Kitt? ;)
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I wouldn't dream of being so coarse and vulgar! I am a laydee, after all! >:D
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God! I just spluttered my tea everywhere reading that last comment!!!!
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I don't know why you should find that so very amusing, Jane! By the way, a laydee never, ever splutters ... sooo common! >:D
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Well T called me smutty (in the Mothers Say thread) and now you saying I'm common cos I spluttered.....I shall have to up my game a bit methinks....
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One would so much appreciate it!
Did you watch 'Ladette to Lady'? Perhaps you should consider enrolling on a course of etiquette!!! >:D >:D
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No I didn't watch it...think it would be a laugh! I was actually thought of as quite posh when I was a kid...went to private school, Dad was in the Army etc but was actually really a tom boy who never wore skirts, rode my bike all the time, mucked about in the woods, LOVED footie and had far more boy friends than girlie ones. Did shooting, fishing, map reading, airplanes etc and loved it all. Have had to learn a bit of etiqette over the years but far happier in your working man type place than the Dorchester!!
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hey Threeb,
Actually, I was rather pleased with the birdy part of the name!
Texas may have the earliest hadrosaur, but I grew up in the town next to where the first one was found and for which the beast is named (the "had" part):
In the summer of 1858, Victorian gentleman and fossil hobbyist William Parker Foulke was vacationing in Haddonfield, New Jersey, when he heard that twenty years previous, workers had found gigantic bones in a local marl pit. Foulke spent the the late summer and fall directing a crew of hired diggers shin deep in gray slime. Eventually he found the bones (above, right) of an animal larger than an elephant with structural features of both a lizard and a bird.
First Nearly-Complete Dinosaur Skeleton
Foulke had discovered the first nearly-complete skeleton of a dinosaur -- an event that would rock the scientific world and forever change our view of natural history.
Today, located where a tidy suburban street dead ends against deep woods, the historic site is marked with a modest commemorative stone and a tiny landscaped park. Just beyond the stone the ground drops away into the steep ravine where the bones of Hadrosaurus foulkii were originally excavated on the eve of the Civil War.
The "Ground Zero" of Dinosaur Paleontology
In relation to the history of dinosaur paleontology, this Haddonfield Hadrosaurus site is ground zero; the spot where our collective fascination with dinosaurs began. Visitors can still climb down crude paths into the 30-foot, vine-entangled chasm to stand in an almost primordial quiet at the actual marl pit where the imagination of all mankind was exploded outward to embrace the stunning fact that our planet was once ruled by fantastically large, bizarrely shaped reptilian creatures.
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Oh, yes, birdy ... I was amazed also to find that there were actually baby hadrosauri still walking the earth! ;D (see actual photo below)
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Wotcha threeb,
We don't seem to have exchanged words for ages....
How the devil are you? That's a silly question because i know, having read all the other posts....but still, it's rude not to enquire!!
All set then...??
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Hya, T!
Yes, I've missed our chats much mucher muchly muchiest!
I'm fine, and although it's cold and windy here (north of us, Dallas had 6 inches of snow), it's not anything like what you're getting, and those up in the New England states. Keeping stocked with hot soups, hot coffee, hot cocoa, and firewood. It will be warming up here soon ... I hope!
How're you and your little girls? Everyone avoiding illness, staying warm?
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We are doing our best threeb..
All well so far, and keeping warm - despite the ever-rising cost of our heating bills....
We are in for a rough few days weather wise i believe...but still nothing much to what other forumites have had to contend with.
Did you notice Mymermaid had been playing....
I wonder where and how she is? Do you think we could coax her out to play??
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If she's smart, she's somewhere much warmer than the rest of us poor chumps!
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Good moaning, mate .... will you please carry on the story as the muse has deserted both me and Binks and T is desperate to add a bit more smut!! >:D Have to fly out fairly soon as have meeting with a financial adviser ... ooh er, posh eh?!! Not really, not much finance to be advised on!! >:D
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I've been buried under at work, with interviews upon interviews, and deadlines upon deadlines this week. Sorry. I'll try to make a contribution soon -- or at least, sooner than later, after work or bright and early in the morning.
Toodles! >:D
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Hiya threeb,
How is your day panning out mate? Are you okay?
When are you going to add to our story?
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I'm doing okay, T! How about you?
Got a slow morning, but after 12, twill be a-blowin' and a-goin'! Full afternoon and evening with stuffing, delivering papers, and then a mass interview with a bunch of seniors reminiscing about their teen years at a BBQ restaurant. I expect mayhem! >:D
As to the story, well, I do like the Dennis twist ... hahaha! Very clever and cute. So we've got transsexuals, missing cats, a near-menage a trois, golddiggers and mean mums, and just barely a week into the story. Beats any soaps on TV.
What will Cassie do next? Hmmmmm...
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I'm good thanks threeb. Glad to hear you're ok.
The BBQ story sounds like a blast...i bet they had a riot.
I will respond to your story thing in the story thing...
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Wotcher, matie, how are you me old china?!! Not had a rabbit for ages ... why am I talking in Cockernee?
Hope you are fit and well and haggish as ever!
Lovely day here today ... tons of washing to do followed by the inevitable ironing .... hurrah!!
Are you interviewing old p****e people today? >:D
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I've missed our chats, too .. but then again, you have been more absent than usual now that you have this new job. The perks (esp. the Rafa treat) seem to agree with you.
You are truly psychic, LL! As a matter of fact, I do have an interview this afternoon ... most of my best friends are over 80 years old. Weird. But so many of them are lovely and sweet, I can't help but adopt them all as grandparents! Esp. the ladies, since I never knew either of my grandmothers.
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I intend to be the most outrageous, naughty and down right cussed OAP ever.....
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You're already there! >:D
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Everything but the OAP bit....got a few years to go yet....
I don't like todays letters..too many E'S, and although i am partial to an 'e' or 2, i think 3 is a bit OTT...
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Me too ... give me consonants any day!! >:D
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q, x, v, k ... hate 'em! >:D
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Poor things ... what have they ever done to you?! >:D
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Y Z....?? Why??
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So you can write things like yippee and zounds! >:D
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I don't think i have ever written either of those 2 words, and am not likely too...but if i decided to visit the animals in the oo, it might be difficult...
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Presactl ! >:D
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it would be hard to ooze, too, which at least has 4 letters.
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Birdy, please tell me that you don't ooze ??!! :-\
What a horrible thought...i might glow a bit if i am very very hot...but not ooze....
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heaven forfend! I may bedew but I certainly don't ooze. In fact, most times I barely snooze! Which may account for the quality of my actions today - sleeplessness without coffee is not a pretty sight. I am off to rectify the situation but will be back imminently.
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Praise the Lord.... 8)
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Apparently, imminently must be a veeeeeeeeeeery long time -- or the coffee's mighty weak!
(http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/computer/attachment-190.gif)
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What can I say? I got distracted and ended up going to the local botanical garden with Natalya. It was gorgeous - so many things in bloom. We're now back here and vainly attempting to think of more words. Got all but one of the common words in the challenge yesterday - I now have new reason to dislike art DECO. GRRR.
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Hiya threeb,
I'm just off to bed, it's past midnight, but didn't want to go without saying hello, and asking how you are.
We haven't chatted for ages, and i'm sorry we can't now!!
Take care, and hopefully will catch up soon...
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I've also missed our chats, T. Hope you're doing alright. I'll try to pop in a bit tomorrow but don't know what kind of schedule I'll have. Will check in to see if you're about. I hope you had a good rest. ;)
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Popping off again...catch up later i hope..
We really are ships in the night just lately!! :'(
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... with BIG foghorns! >:D
I'll be off again in a bit ... interview with -- just guess!
She's 88!
Try to catchya later. 'Ave a great 'un, T!
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So how was the 88-year-old? My mother was sharp as a tack at that age - though a bit deaf.
Any chance of a contribution to the Titleless Story?
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She was very sharp, as well as sweet. However, her diabetes left her a bit weak until she had a nice lunch, and was ready to go.
Story ... contribution ... may try ... later ... just a bit ... worn .... o .. u...t.....
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Wotcha threeb,
This will be fleeting again i'm afraid..off to a lecture shortly..
How are you mate? Having a good day?
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Ah, yes -- after a dodgy wet and cloudy weekend, of course, the sun is shining brilliantly and the birds are chirping their little feathered hearts out!
Hope your lecture isn't too boring -- I'm off in a bit to the fabulously scintillating commissioners court meeting - whee! >:D
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Bless the little feathered creatures ....!!! >:D >:D >:D
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You do have to love their singing, if not their proximity, eh, LL? >:D
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I do love their singing and am especially fond of the cry of seagulls and the cooing of wood pigeons .... however, prefer to see most b***s on a plate with roast potates, bread sauce, veg and gravy!! >:D
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I love the scene in Steel Magnolias where Tom Skerrit fires a length of firecrackers into the tree to get rid of the birds...hilarious....
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I'd forgotten about that, T - it was funny.
And yes, LL, I won't turn down a partridge in a peartree-decorated plate, either!
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Hiya mate,
How ya doing today...
So Birdy has flown the NYest....on her way here..
It will be great to meet up with her...finally the chance to meet another CHI'ite....
Let's hope she has a good and safe flight.
So when are you going to venture over the pond?
If i get over your side of it this year...we will have to work something out!!
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Most assuredly, T -- it would be a blast if you could at least make it to San Antonio! Even if it were just a layover. We could sit in the bar and really chat it up, but it would certainly be even better if you had at least a day. Could paint the town up a bit, eh?
Slim chance of us getting over there unless I hit the lottery or sudden fame ... but one never knows.
Slow start to the day, but I'm hammered -- had a 12-hour-plus grind yesterday, so am trying to laze about a bit before the next onslaught this afternoon.
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Hi mate ... how are you today? Taking it easy or steeling yourself for more gruelling interviews with p****e people?! I am having a fairly lazy day but must go and change the bedsheets soon before they crawl into the washing machine themselves!!
Not a bad day here, fairly sunny and breezy and the blossom is now out on my apple tree which is lovely although it does have the disadvantage of attracting b***s! >:D
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Does your cat go out and chase the winged creatures away for you? Or is it appropriately disinterested, preferring your company?
The beauty of flowers in springtime are truly one of the blessings of life. Sadly, our crop of usual bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush is very sparse this year due to very little rain last winter.
Here's a lovely photo gallery of our area, when they're really glorious! You'll love it -- it really does look like this out in the country!
http://www.pbase.com/richo/bluebonnets&page=all
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How beautiful, threeb. I have never heard of bluebonnets before but they look spectactular. We are daffodiled out at this time of the year .... everywhere you look there is a 'host of golden daffodils'!! >:D
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Yes, they are really amazing. They're not very big, but when there are millions, it's a carpet of glory!
Daffodils are really lovely, too. And irises -- the deep blue and (yes) p****e ones as well.
I'm posting the bluebonnet link in another thread, so others can catch a glimpse as well, since they'll probably miss it here.
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Hello everyone! After discovering the word puzzle a while back I ventured in to the forum and today joined up properly (mainly because you all sound like great people!) The Texas flower pics were fantastic! I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I'm 61 years old (if I say it really fast it doesn't seem so bad!). I took early retirement from teaching and now teach English privately to foreign kids, mostly Korean. Wish I could send some of our glorious autumn sunshine to you guys with raid!
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Hi Toni and welcome from me! Hope to chat to you lots on the Forum ... as you've probably discovered, we talk about anything and everything, serious and frivolous .... so there's something here for everyone! Can't stop right now as have just come back from exhausting shopping day and need to collapse on the sofa! >:D
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Hi mate - Am at work so shouldn't really be here but just wanted to check something after receiving some PMs!! I haven't been bothered by this .... thank goodness!
Beautiful day ... lunch time soon so going to sit by the river and watch the d***s .... aren't I brave?! >:D
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You most certainly are, LL -- and no, am also not bovvered by any odd pm's ... they wouldn't dare!
Enjoy your workday -- hope to chat again when you're free. 8)
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I will be freeish tomorrow in between doing VCW's work so hope to chat then ... just so long as I have not been pecked to death by d***s!!
Mmmmm duck!!! V. delish!! >:D >:D >:D
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a l'orange ... oui, oui! :-H
catchya l8r, hopefully ... >:D
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A belated hello to Toni from me.......you're more than welcome, and don't feel too bad about your age. I am (gulp, deep breath) 62 ! It's horribly unfair, though, because I'm quite definitely only 16 0on the inside!
Different topic.....hello Threeb, me ol' mate.....how are you ?
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Hiya back, binks, me ole gel! Believe me, we're really in the same ball park ... creeping up the age ladder on the outside, but yes, like you, I'm still a kid at heart and mind! And the little grandbabies help to keep one young as well.
Let's live silly, dear! ;D
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Oh I do, I do !! :D
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You definitely set the bar high, binks -- thanks for all of your hilarity and charm!
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If I can help somebody
As I journey on.......
(puke, puke )
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>:D
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and speaking of age.....(we were, weren't we ? )
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I don't know about 16, I was still shy in those days, but certainly not properly grown-up yet and hope never to be. Can't wait for grandkids. So far none that I know of (gulp!), but eldest getting married in December to a darling of a girl who wants kids soon. Goodie!!
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Yo, binks -- how'd you guess? ;)
Patience, toni -- it's worth waiting for!
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Hi Threeb,
How are you doing? I came back to rain - not fun pulling a wheelie bag in the rain, but at least it's stopped now. I understand I've missed 4 straight days of rain and lower than average temperatures. Can I go back to the UK - please?
Am now jet-lagging off to bed.
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Yo, yo, birdy -- you'll be fine in the morning.
Yes, go back to the YUK and give T a big hug for me, too. Sure wish I could have come, but I was there in spirit. So glad you had a blast. The fatigue will fade, but the memories will last forever!
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still on a wierd schedule - woke up after only a few hours sleep and have been running ever since. Don't mind the lack of sleep since I'm at least getting things done - like going through email as well as snailmail.
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Hope you're getting over your time adjustments Birdy
Apparently it's best not to make any allowances. Slot into your normal routine of sleep and wake times immediately and you'll get back to normal quicker.
Personally, I subscribe to the school of thought that after travel covering 5+ hours of difference in time measured against GMT, it requires at least three weeks of needing to take long afternoon naps before even thinking about being able to return to normal. :-Z :-Z :-Z :-Y
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It might just be me, but I found that travelling from East to West (i.e. Australia to Britain ) didn't leave me jetlagged in the slightest. Coming home again from East to West was another matter. I know exactly what you mean about 3 weeks of naps, Bobbi ! Perhaps it was just the sense of anticlimax and return to real life after wonderful trips!
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Ah, the joys of jet lag! I had no problem adjusting to time in the UK, but coming back...I'm dragging. Got up early this a.m. and ran madly around accomplishing things, but then fell asleep on my couch this evening - awakened by fireworks celebrating the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Or maybe I was tired from the five or six trips I made up my five flights of stairs today? My very own Stairmaster!
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Ooh, big fireworks? I LOVE fireworks! Our beloved Sky Tower turned 10 last year (tallest structure in the southern hemisphere). Bless 'em they put on a grand show for us.
One of the best annual fireworks displays in Auckland is during the 1812 Overture which is the culmination of the grand outdoor extravaganza - the Skycity Starlight Symphony concert which is held late February in the Domain every year. Unfortunately I sing in the massed choir, and our backs are to the fireworks, not to mention we have our faces buried in the music for the first half of the display. We then have our music books held judiciously over our heads to protect us from burning falling debris for the second half of the display ;D My hubby tells me every year that "this year was the best" and that I should abandon the choir and go sit with him and his mates on the grass, and quaff chardonnay with the 1/4 million masses, and simply have fun from an audience point of view next year.
This year was the 10th year since sky city corporation (gambling interests) took over the sponsorship, and they managed to persuade Dame Kiri te Kanawa to perform. She's a bit of a princess diva personality, so this was a coup. We loved singing with her, despite the atrocious weather at the dress rehearsal where we all got drenched and blown away. My friend Maggie kept asking me whether this was 'biblical' yet :). Dame Kiri was gracious, beautiful, friendly and simply all that we would wish for from a Kiwi star. It was all worth it in the end. Perhaps next year I'll give the massed choir a miss and sit in the audience?
But I'm rambling, I think I've written this similarly a few months ago after the performance, so you chaps will be bored stiff.
Keep taking those power naps Birdy. They're fun, and as long as you have an excuse, well, why not?
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I love the Brooklyn Bridge, birdy but I don't think I appreciated it enough when I lived in the Big Apple, but it truly is a magnificent structure.
The fireworks must have been awesome -- and the concert sounds just like the July 4th performances in Boston with the 1812 & glorious pyrotechnics & cannons all going off along the harbor.
And Bobbi -- I do remember your drenching at that choir performance, followed by the grinding trek shortly afterward when you hurt your foot. What a year you've had!
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Gosh Bobbi, how incredible to have sung with dame Kiri. What an experience!
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Hi threeb ... told you I'd find you over the weekend!
Just come back from shopping expedition ... bought the cat two catnip mice which he is pummelling to death at the moment. Glorious day here ... hope all's well with you! >:D
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Well, I'm glad we crossed paths, LL, though not for long.
I can just imagine your cat ... swat, swat, swat!
So now that you're flush with cash, I see you've put it to excellent use on the shopping spree. That's always the best solution.
Did you get yourself anything special?
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A pair of white trousers and some flesh coloured 'pants' to wear under them!! >:D
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Sounds very elegant, LL! I can never wear white -- too clumsy. They stay clean about an hour (or less) and I'm bound to spill something on them (usually red or brown), sit on something smudgy or brush by something with dirt. Should wear a big bib.
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Oh, yeah, pants! >:D
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They're quite casual trousers, lovely and cool for summer! Have also bought a red and white striped top but don't think I can wear them together ... looks a bit 'contrived' for a hag! >:D
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Time for some red PANTS, then! >:D Red leather boots ... hmmm. Red leather whip! >:D >:D
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Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather ... so that I can take a walk on the wild side, maybe! >:D
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You KNOW you WANT to! >:D
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:D ... but only while roberts is offline! >:D
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Presactly! >:D
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Must run in a mo ... have a wonderful evening, LL! And all the rest of the gang. Catchyal8r!
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Nice to chat, mate ... have a lovely day! >:D
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Howdi Threeb....
Just a quick hello cos i'm off again now...
Hope all is well with you...
TTFN XX
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T's there one second ... gone the next -- hellloooooooooooo (reverberating, sad, fading echo) .... :'(
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Just a flash in the pan threeb...
here i am again - but will be gone in the blink of an e.....................................................................
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....and talking [writing] of new photos....
Get you threeb and your new persona!!!! Yummy mummy....
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Thanks, T -- I thought it was brill -- esp. given our haghood here! Linda wanted a life-like piccy, so I figured -- why not?
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Just checking to see if your 'proper' piccy has appeared yet but I see it has not!! Am off now ... v. cross!! >:D
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Oh, now -- don't go off in a huff!
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Yeah, where's the real you? I'm tired of this freaky-looking you already.
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I don't know, anonsi -- where/who the heck AM I? ;)
It's all Linda's fault -- I was perfectly happy as I was ....
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Nice picture, Threeb - looks just like you, I believe!
Saw what you said about people not being around on the forum. My excuse: I'm traveling again - to Minnesota for my niece's graduation. Arrived Wednesday and stayed in Mankato with an old friend who'd moved here from NJ - a lovely trip punctuated by blaring tornado warning sirens, so we all had to pile into a car and drive to a granddaughter's house because SHE had a cellar. I simply do not understand new construction of fairly costly homes in areas prone to tornadoes which do not have storm cellars. Luckily, the tornado did not materialize where I was, though I heard about that boy scout tragedy.
Am now in Northfield, having toured the campus and eaten too much. The graduation is tomorrow, after which I'll check my luggage at the Minneapolis airport and take the subway to the Mall of the Americas - I could not face my friends at home if I didn't at least look in.
When I get home, I'll have time to play Chi again. Until then...
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Not nearly as elegant as your last persona, Threeb, but far more menacing !
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Presactly, binkie! >:D
I believe it suits me in a true Hag-like fashion.
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Hi Threeb,
sorry to hear about your husband's job - a lot of that going around these days. I hope he finds one soon - unless, of course, he's a great cook and this gives him more time to have dinner on the table when you get home from a hard day out interviewing and reporting. In that case, I'll just hope that you win the lottery so that he can stay home.
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Get the whip out threeb and have him slaving away indoors in nothing but a pinny...
Ready willing and able to oblige your every whim the second you walk in the door from your daily toil... Like us good wives have been doing for years!!! [Yeah Right!!!!!! :-\ ]
Seriously though...that must be a blow for him....i hope his motivation and self esteem stay high... It must be a worry for you both. Tough times everywhere it seems...
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My commiserations too, Threeb, dear......bin there, done that, and it's not much fun, is it ? Hope it's just a temporary situation for you.
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Thanks so much, mates -- I'll pass along your good wishes! It does take work for us to keep him upbeat ... but, we'll keep after it!
And yes, been there before, and still managed to get a meal or two and keep the roof overhead, so I have faith that it will work out.
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Hi Threeb,
Looks like it's just you and me, unless you're gone before I post this.
Sounds like you have a good 4th planned. I'll be in Oregon - leaving tomorrow - and I hear that the celebrations where I'm going are quite good - and loud, since the fireworks reverberate around the mountains. I actually met someone recently who had lived in the area - near Mt. Hood.
Probably won't have time to play Chihuahua - I don't have a laptop, so won't have much access either, though I can probably beg access occasionally from a friend who does, at least long enough to check my email.
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You must keep a bag permanently packed for all your getaways, birdy! Oregon sounds wonderful.
Luckily, my kids have a laptop and a pc, so we can be stationary and mobile at the same time. Plus, with their pc in the bedroom, I can still be up all hours and chi to my hearts' content.
With at least 3 overnights (unless we leave tomorrow evening, which would make it four) that will give us plenty of time to play with the grandkids, and just relax. But come Sunday, we'll head home, and I'll have to scramble for a couple of days getting stories finished. That's the price I must pay for leaving town. Oh, well -- at least I'll have the memories, and that should give me the impetus to plug along!
Enjoy the fireworks -- AND WE WANT PICS of the beauty of nature as well. I know you won't disappoint!
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Most frequent travellers seem able to pack with no problem. Not me - I begin stressing at least a week before my departure. I usually set up a chart with the chores for each day for about a week. Then, with my sterling ability to procrastinate, things get put off and put off until the last few days.
I try to set aside at least two days for packing - the first for the sundries and paraphernalia, and one for the clothes, which are the easier part. I actually got most of the sundries and paraphernalia put aside yesterday, except for the last-minute things like the phone charger. Not in the suitcase, mind. That's not even out of the closet yet. It helps a great deal that I have a packing list on my computer. I go through this very comprehensive list, eliminating the things I don't need for that particular trip, and then print it out, checking things off as I gather them together.
And then there's the compulsive aspect. I think it's like that nesting instinct that hits pregnant women just before they go into labor, when they clean the entire house. For me, it takes the form of doing all the chores I've been thinking about for months. Today's list: go to the post office to mail a CD with photos of my English trip, as well as documents I've been collecting for my friend who moved back to England, return all my books to the library (they could be renewed so I could take them back after I return), go to the optometrist to pick up my new reading glasses (not my fault - this is my 3rd trip - he keeps getting the wrong prescription), order a prescription refill, gather recyclables (the weekly pickup is tomorrow) and get them down the 5 flights, go shopping for watercolor pencils in case I have the chance to take a class in nature sketching/journaling on my trip (I went through my art supplies last night and amazingly I didn't have any - but it gave me the chance to clean 4 drawers that haven't been opened in years). Since I realized I don't leave until noon tomorrow, I can do the handwash, change the sheets, and get the manicure tomorrow. Nothing like working up to the last minute!
But that's why preparing for even a little trip becomes a whole megillah!
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I didn't do that much packing and prep when we had a family of four! My goodness, are you thorough or what? I totally believe in minimalist travel. Except for washing clothes the day before, the rest is done within about 2 hours prior to leaving.
Nowadays, in the summertime, I throw in a few pair of jeans, couple of shirts and underwear, toothbrush, makeup, one pair of earrings, slippers, and, of course, a camera. Since we stay with our son, I usually do the laundry just before we leave so we're not stuck with a bunch of dirty clothes going home.
In cold weather, we just add a sweater/coat, socks and a warm cap.
The day of, since we mostly travel by car, I make sure there's air in the tires, water in the radiator, and extra paper towels on the back seat. Then, it's slapping together a couple of nice po-boy roll sandwiches, drinks, chips, etc. in the cooler that goes in the back seat. Wash the dishes just before leaving, feed the bird, leave on a few lights and the TV (so the bird doesn't get too lonely), lock the doors, and away we go! Easy-peasy!
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Oh, yeah -- and checking that the coffee pot and stove are OFF -- three times, just to be sure! >:D
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In my case, it's windows - in the summer, we get thunderstorms most afternoons. And being on the top floor, it's HOT in my apartment. So, I have the windows wide open whenever I'm here, and I have to remember to close them most of the way when I leave, just leaving them open about 6 or 8 inches at the top. And because I'm in an old building, with very little maintenance, they don't work well - I have to use a shim to keep them from closing completely (at which point I can't open them any more).
Off to pack clothes and start that list of errands...
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... and I must off to work -- have fun, birdy! I know once you're on your way, it will be a great trip. Hope you're not too exhausted to enjoy it! Take care, and be careful!
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Don't take any notice of Birdy threeb...she came with the smallest rucksack in the world...it was packet to the gullet mind you with all sorts of
paraferna paraphanalya parifernalia stuff.....but it was small....
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yes, but when you saw me, it was only a five-day trip, and I'd borrowed a small suitcase from my Eastbourne friends for that part. This time I'm doing the nature thing (as if I'm not always) - so I have the knee brace and walking sticks, wellies, hiking boots, sweatshirt, raingear. This is eleven days with iffy weather - very hot (at present) or possibly snow since I'm in the mountains. So I'll have the bigger suitcase with wheels and my very heavy backpack with all the important stuff I have to carry on the plane - camera, binoculars, field guides - the things I can't do without if the airline loses my luggage.
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Ok, i surrender!!! :-R
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No, don't surrender - just revise the thinking. Imagine me as a pack mule rather than a light and lissome mountain goat.
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This has all made fascinating reading, my friends. I have wonderful mental images of you all, industriously preparing for your various trips.
I have only one question.....for Threeb. What in the world are " po-boy roll sandwiches " ??
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It's New Orleans or Cajun for submarine sandwiches, or grinders as they're called in New England. Basically a long roll with various meats and cheeses on it, with maybe some tomatoes and lettuce and pickles and other condiments. At least I think that's what it is - no doubt Threeb will correct me if I'm wrong!
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Sounds delicious.....thankyou for the translation, Birdy !
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Presactly, birdy -- your description is how I make 'em.
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They do sound yum! Have wonderful trips all you happy travelers, and a very happy 4 July to all you American friends. I remember being in Florence one 4 July and there was a large contingent of Americans at the same hotel. Dinner that evening became a long happy party. Great fun.
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We call them SUB rolls [after submarines]...
I had a tuna/mayo/salad one yesterday for my lunch......
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Subs are often made on slightly longer rolls, although you can have them on mini-sub rolls as well. Basically, it's the same concept, whatever the name. Actually, my fave is a real Philly steak sandwich, slathered with drippy gooey cheeeeeeeeeeeeese, please! Had the best IN Philadephia, a magnificent place overall, on one of the best days of our life (after one of the saddest, when we buried my dear mother nearby).
Oh, yes, and I have been to Florence -- another grand city!! My favorite in Italy (of those I saw) -- got to see the immortal statue of "David" there -- oooh! A figure to (live and) die for, and even more stunning "in person" so to speak!
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We actually call them subs more often than submarine sandwiches - the shorter form has pretty much replaced the original.
Americans will know the Subway stores - don't know if they've emigrated to other shores - which having originated in New York (I think), added the glamour (?) of the city to the lowly sandwich. I was in one in Canada, I think, and got all nostalgic over the scenes of NYC transit covering the walls.
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I never got too nostalgic over NYC transit/sub(way) (haha) stations, having ridden the rails for decades growing up. Stateside, the city's subway system in Boston was much lovelier, cleaner, safer and quieter. Of course, that was BEFORE Rudy Giuliani's days as mayor of New York, when there was just graffiti and thugs.
Actually, my preference for trains also brings up the trips around Europe when I traversed Spain and France ... the stations in Paris were so beautiful and exotic, although Grand Central in NY was also comparable.
In Spain, you never knew what would happen -- might get small livestock or poultry as a passenger, and usually, there was some kind of spontaneous musical party going on in the car next door that would regale everyone all night long!
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We've got 2 Subways here in 'not so sunny' Weymouth....
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And they say Europeans don't appreciate American culture and cuisine!
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This is a first in ages....all 4 hags and an honourary hag, all at the same time!!!
Hi guys.....
And 2 McD's....
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I know -- a rare moment indeed! >:D >:D >:D >:D & (>:D)
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Well you first-worlders, you! We don't have any subways (and a very poor and unsafe public transport system altogether). My friend Forbes had a wonderful holiday in Russia a couple of years back and he was raving about the beauty of the stations there. he even brought back some photos and they were magnificent indeed.
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Yes, the subway system is definitely taken for granted in large cities, yet everyone always "rails" against it.
Now, living in a much more rural area, the choices really are up to the residents - cars, motorcycles (which have multiplied tremendously of late), bicycles, or, in very rural areas, a few horses (mostly just for pleasure, though).
A few years back, one area resident, who always sported a shaved head and huge mustache, would saddle up and ride along the major highway all the way into town. He has since moved away, but it's not a sight I will soon forget.
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Oh I love those eccentric souls. They add so much to life. We have one who has made a really weird cycle, It has three wheels and sports all kinds of flags and thingummybobs, and to ride it he lies back, almost completely prone, peddling madly. I've seen him quite far afield. He also has a large moustache, did your guy move to the happy hunting grounds or could he have come here?
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I never got too nostalgic over NYC transit/sub(way) (haha) stations
I have only ridden the NYC subway trains a couple of times. The stations were interesting to me in that each one had decorative tiles on the walls that were individualized for each station. Some of them were fairly plain, but others were definitely worth looking at.
Stateside, the city's subway system in Boston was much lovelier, cleaner, safer and quieter.
Clearly you have never ridden the subway Inside the Beltway. Unless Boston has bought all new trains since I rode their subway in 1976, they can't beat what we have in the Nation's Capital. My only complaint is that the trains don't run often enough throughout the day.
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I must confess, r-m, that we rode the ones in Boston in the early 1970s, so I'm sure things have changed a lot since then.
As to our eccentric friend, I believe he relocated farther west; however, he may have a soulmate counterpart at your end of the country.
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The NYC subway decorations are the subject of a very serious (deadly serious) study still being worked on by an acquaintance of mine. It's been very difficult for him to research, because apparently no one saw them as "art" while they were being done. He has taken it on as a life's work in order to give credit to these unsung artists.
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There were a number of them in the Village that really were quite interesting ... cooper union square, st mark's place (I think had blue tiles).
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I love the way this conversation morphed from Subway Sandwich bars to Metro Subway art. The art and architecture of Moscow's subway system is really hard to beat. Take a look at this link for a taste. http://www.beeflowers.com/Metro/
We don't have a subway system. Partly because most of downtown Auckland is built on reclaimed land and creating an underground system in groundwater would be an engineering nightmare. We just have massive traffic jams instead. That being said, the new North Shore busway is a huge success.
There are Subway sandwich bars all over NZ, over 40 outlets in Auckland alone. Too many branches according to some: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4599872a13.html
My kids practically live on subway takeout. Daughter #1 like her mother, has an intolerance to yeast (bread, beer, soya sauce, and Marmite/Vegemite all cause unpleasant rashes and are to be avoided at all costs - this includes pizza :'( ). Subway bless 'em offer wraps (like enchiladas) instead of bread, and while these still contain a little yeast, we can tolerate this alternative.
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I wonder how many people who use the Moscow metro actually look at it...??
It is stunning!!
Thanks for that Bobbi....
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Really a visual feast, bobbi! I had no idea ... as usual! ;)
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Hey threeb, glad you enjoyed your July 4th weekend. I'm a sucker for a good fireworks display. Possibly our best efforts annually are at the two major outdoor summer concerts: Christmas in the Park which is held on the Saturday before Chritmas, and the Starlight Symphony. Of course I don't get to see much of the fireworks shot off during the Starlight Symphony because the choir has their back to the spectacle, and also becuase we're busy singing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. I con't think why we or the orchestra bother - you can't really hear us under the noise of the spectacular fireworks show.
I wish we could afford to go to the Beijing Olympics. I bet their openeing ceremony fireworks is the biggest and best show ever held! Unfortunately it they don't translate well onto a TV screen.
I love the way little kids wander around the beach talking to all and sundry. We've made friends that way on holiday. Very useful. You can offer to babysit theirs in exchange, and each have a child-free night out. We lost our younger one, aged four at the time, on the beach once. She had asked me to take her out for a swim - there was a nasty deep channel that had to be crossed to get to the decent waves. I was reading and told her "later." Her dad and big sister came back from their walk and she was nowhere to be found. Panic. Rushed to the volunteer lifeguard station for assistance. They were very amused. She had wandered over to them and said "it's your job to take me for a swim," so one of them was out there with her. Little minx.
Our weekend was very cold. Driving rain and hail. We even has frost on Sunday night! (poor banana tree in our garden doesn't take kindly to frost.) The temperature dropped down to 2 degrees (35 for you lot who only talk farenheit.) I suppose it probably gets this cold at least once every winter, but it's a shock to the system every year. It's another crisp, cold day today - 9 or 48 degrees at lunchtime. I think I'll go and have a hot shower to thaw out.
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Too bad your weather has turned bitter on you. I still can't get used to the fact that you Aussies, (and toni in South Africa) are in midwinter right now, as we loll about in shorts and halter tops and sandals.
As to the Starlight Symphony concert, I suppose that your choir's participation mostly adds to the "charm" of the event, but it is a shame you get to miss the spectacle.
And, I agree -- the Chinese will probably have an unbelievable show -- only those with mammoth 52" HD TVs and super stereo systems might get close to feeling the real thing.
I only lost track of my child once, but even that was short-lived, and luckily, like you, easily recovered.
However, I do remember the panic I felt when my mother and I got separated on the NYC train station -- she went on the train, thinking I was with her, whilst I stood on the platform watching the train depart. (I think I told this one once before). All I remember was her banging on the window futilely and desperately as her car accelerated away.
Anyway, some kind (and decent, thank goodness) soul took me by the hand and led me across the way to the other side by a newsstand, where my mother would have had to get off after taking the return trip and could see me fairly well. Everything turned out fine -- as predicted, she came back around and found me there. The other time was when I got bored in our apartment, as a lady was supposed to keep an eye on me when my mother went out. I decided to walk over to a city park
and play on the swings for a while. A neighbor spotted me and was walking me back (about 2-3 city blocks) when my mother rushed toward me. She was madder at the other woman than at me for not paying attention -- I was just a wee 3 years old. But I never forgot either incident, and kept a hawk-eye on my little ones. I was also very social, and talked to anyone who would listen. Like grandma, so the grandson now. It's really amusing.
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Oh you lucky summer people! Were having the most terrible weather here with flooding, most unusual for us. On Friday I had to take my car to the mechanic and my friend Forbes was going to lend me his car for the day. Driving to the mechanic I realised just how bad it was. I was driving down roads that had become rivers and along one road the water was gushing down the high verge and spurting into the road like wild waterfalls. Our Southern Suburbs, where I am, are on the back side of Table Mountain and so hilly. I decided it was too scary to drive someone else's car so Forbes drove me home. On the way all the dips in the road were flooded and as we went through one so did another car traveling in the opposite direction. The water thrown up covered us and for a few seconds we had no visibility at all and felt as if we were underwater. I cancelled my lessons and stayed home for the rest of the day. We feel freezing, but I suppose not bad for most of you people. Our days are usually about 14C.
Threeb and LL, I'm so glad you both had lovely weekends. I must say, it was quite strange sitting and watching the tennis to suddenly think that most of you, in your totally different parts of the world, were all also watching. Made me feel very close to you all!
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It's a big world that's getting closer all the time, toni! One positive benefit of technology and hi-speed communication.
What a miserable time you must have had going "muddin'" as they around here, although certainly NOT recreational. Very dangerous, too, and I'm relieved you did the sensible thing to enlist help and go back to your cozy nest! I've been around some flooding in my day, and know how hazardous it can get and in a split-second, things can get very dicey and dangerous.
Take care -- I hope things improve soon for you. We all get our turn now and then to battle the elements. In a few short months, it will be reversed for you and us.
I HATE COLD WEATHER!!!
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Is there anybody out there in CHIworld that is having the right weather for their time of year in their country...???
It seems we all of us are complaining about extraordinary/weird/out of season weather....
Some governments should use our comments about it as the basis for a survey on international weather problems....global warming!! [it's not warm here, it's like january at the moment and we should be basking in summer sun!!].
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Here at Inside the Beltway the weather is pretty normal for this time of year -- HHH (hazy, hot and humid). Average amount of rain, average amount of heat and humidity. Only a couple of bad air days so far this year, and that is a little unusual.
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I think you must be the only one then RM that isn't reporting adverse weather...
Hurray....it must all be a right propa gander then....there is hope for us all - it's just a blip!!!
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I could start moaning about how cold it is.....(forecasting 5C overnight) but I really mustn't. After all, here in S.E. Queensland the winters are pretty bearable. Even if we do get some chilly nights, when here in Brisbane it can drop to freezing point, by mid-morning the temperature will usually be in the mid-twenties. Add clear blue skies and sunshine, and we don't have much to complain about ! We did have a couple of very wet days recently, but since we still need the rain, that's a Very Good Thing.
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We have had a months worth of rain in the last 24 hours- and no sign of stopping yet :'( >:( :'(
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Forecast for Thursday
A few showers increasing tonight. Local hail and thunder. Snow possible about
the nearby hills tonight. Fresh to strong west to northwesterly winds, reaching
gale force tonight.
Precis: Showers increasing. Windy.
City: Max 13
As we are in winter, this is about right. We still have a lot of catching up to do as far as rainfall is concerned.
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Brrr, Alan!
We've been having frequent but sparse bits of moisture coming down in the past week, but not nearly enough to make up for the paltry 6-7" rainfall so far this year. Compared to last year's drenching thunderstorms, and accompanying cooler weather, our summer is hot and dry. 90-degrees F. average highs during the day. Parts of the river are barely damp, and many creeks that were overflowing last year are dry as a bone. I guess most of that water hit our midwest area and bypassed us. The hurricane season is already gearing up, so perhaps it will bring more our way in a while. I just hope there isn't much damage to lives and property.
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That temperature of 13 is Celsius, by the way (= 55 F).
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My daughter visited an old primary school buddy in Melbourne in November 2006. When she arrived, it was snowing! at the airport and she was really cold because she only had a light cardigan. I think she sent me about 20 txt messages of exclamation. The next day, the high was 32 celcius. Talk about extremes. You probably recall the day Viral, it was fairly unusual I think.
I drove to Hamilton (a 2 hour drive south from Auckland) yesterday to fetch my younger daughter for a visit. It was cold - 3 degrees celcius. I stopped off in Huntly at the supermarket to get some milk. Slipped on black ice outside in the car park. Fortunately, kept my balance. Unusual for North island to have black ice. Also, this was 10 am! But that patch was still in the shade. When I got to the house in Hamilton, the front door was wide open because of the dogs, and it was possibly colder inside than out. I hope Caroline's partner wasn't offended by my apparent haste to get out of there. Basically it was too cold for comfort. We stopped halfway home for lunch and sat in this themed Irish pub/cafe in a patch of sunlight under a skylight -mmm toasty warm :)
It rarely gets this cold in winter in New Zealand, especially North Island which basically has a mediterranean climate (dry(ish) summers and wet winters. Mostly this is because the cloud cover is a protective insulating blanket that prevents the heat escaping into the atmosphere at night. The odd sunny day or two are lovely at midday, but create the intense cold that we then talk about for weeks after. Each occasion, we solemnly intone that this is the coldest it's ever been. Silly us. Happens at least twice every winter.
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I have just been away to Caledon with a friend and kids. (Koreans to whom I am an honourary grandma) Caledon has a spa with natural hot springs and it was bliss sitting there in the hot water pool. I was hoping it would help all my arthritic pains, but I don't think there's much difference, however it was a lovely little mini-break. Coming back there was snow on the tops of the mountains. It was really beautiful.
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Time for a weather report, apparently. It's pretty normal for here - in the 90s (about 32 C) and humid. And ugh! We've had a lot of rain, lightning and thunder.
But other than that, everything is fairly normal for this time of year. Hard to believe so many of you are in winter conditions, though from the sounds of it, most of your winters don't get as cold as it does here! 55f in the winter?! That's practically spring at that temperature!
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The problem Anonsi is that our homes aren't built for cold conditions. Proper insulation is expensive and hard to justify in a climate that's so temperate. So is air conditioning. So when it's cold, we freeze. Today is very cold. Heavy rain clouds are moving overhead in waves, and we've had half a dozen cloudbursts already this morning. I went out to deliver some Avon parcels this morning and there was surface flooding on many of the more level roads around here. It's lunchtime and the temperature outside is 51 farenheit, 11 celsius. Gale force winds are forecast for later this afternoon.
I'm sitting inside at the diningroom table studying. The room thermometer tells me it's 57 or 14 in here. Now that's pretty cold for indoors! I suppose I could make a fire, but it seems a waste to burn a pile of wood to heat one person, so I'm wearing several layers of clothing including fingerless gloves, have a knee rug wrapped around my legs and a cat on my lap. After my lunch break, I'll make myself a big mug of Milo to wam me up from the inside. And I'll make a fire at about 4.30 this afternoon so the house starts warming up before everyone else gets home.
We don't use electric heaters because this house is very open plan and it's almost impossible to close off one small area and heat just that space. I suppose I could retreat upstairs to our bedroom and heat that, but I need the diningroom table space to spread all my stuff out on. Besides, I'm used being a bit cold in winter, doesn't really bother me that much. On average, we have 6 - 9 days like this each winter and the rest isn't nearly as bad.
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Much the same here, Bobbi. We don't possess a heater of any kind. Every year, as winter approaches, we talk about it, and every year we don't get around to it ! We simply pile on a few more clothes in the mornings and evenings, and make sure the bed's warm before we retire for the night. Luckily, the place is well insulated, so the day's warmth is usually enough to keep us comfortable for a couple of hours after sunset !
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As a tenant, I don't control the heat, so if we get an unseasonable cold spell, I have to improvise. Let me tell you about all the batches of brownies I've made so that the oven will heat up the house!
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Wow! 57 in your house? That is a sign of spring approaching to me when that is the temperature outdoors, and it makes me happy usually (or a sign of fall, which is always a little sad). But indoors...I'm not sure I could handle it! Of course our winters are much harsher where I am...so the heat would probably still be on from all winter of cold. It gets down in the negatives (F) here. I suppose if I only had a handful of 50 degree days that I might be able to put up with it.
And birdy...Who doesn't love brownies?! What an excellent excuse to eat them. :)
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Yes, the word calories does relate to warmth, doesn't it? Due to my constant struggle with weight, I've learned to put the brownies in the freezer as soon as they're cool - out of sight, out of mind. Natalya Petrovna was happy to discover my stash - and I was not unhappy to have them out of temptation's way.
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Hi Threeb,
Is Dolly disrupting your life? I'm dim on Texas geography - I know you're in Hill Country, but I'm not sure where that is - northeast or closer to Brownsville?
It's beginning to hit NY but not the city yet, thought the weather channel map looks as if it's imminent so I'm just about to run out and do my minimal grocery shopping (milk) before it starts.
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We are pretty much in central Texas, birdy -- northwest of San Antonio, southwest of Austin. It's about 3 hours from Corpus Christi, which is north of Brownsville. Hope that clears things up for you.
My son lives in Corpus, which is probably getting quite a bit more crazy weather than we are but I haven't heard anything from them, so I guess they're alright.
Actually, here, we just had a nice thundershower pass through -- rain forecast for the next day or three, with a slight possibility of tornados, but nothing horrible at all. We don't get the actual hurricanes this far from the coast, but there have been several "legendary" floods down the decades from their aftermath and "training" effects.
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We've had a couple of beautiful days, chilly but windless and clear. Last night when I got home from my last lesson at about 8pm I realised that there was a really hot wind blowing. We get those from time to time, called "berg winds" here. I had left some heavy clothing on the line and they were all bone dry, so I rushed to hang another load that was waiting. By 10:30 they were dry too! I left the outside doors open to get some of the warmth into the house. Like Bobbi our houses have no heating. We sometimes make a fire, otherwise we put on the electric heater at night. Today, as usually happens after a berg wind, we have rain.
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Hi matie ... just about to leave when I saw you pop up! Am in the middle of packing for hol and tidying house so that neighbour who is looking after cat doesn't get lost in the dust!
Been having a chat with Smaug ... who is a (much needed) male Smaug and yet another Aussie!
How are you today? Busy, I suspect! >:D
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Hey, LL -- So glad you're up and about here. It's a bit slow this morning -- winding down from deadline.
I've just been browsing, and didn't notice you were actually here! I've missed chatting with you in past few days. You must be just brimming about going to London -- I know I'd be. So, when do you leave, mate?
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Early tomorrow morning! Weather forecast is fairly good but it doesn't matter much when you're wandering around art galleries and museums! I hate packing ... hate unpacking even more! Should have a lady's maid to help me! >:D
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You deserve one, mate!
Oh, boy -- tomorrow -- staying thru the weekend, then? Where will you be staying? Somewhere posh, or sensibly economical to allow more funds for the shopping and entertainment?
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A hotel in Bloomsbury which looks v. nice and is pretty reasonable for the area! Hubby decided it was a good one when he saw what he could have for breakfast! A lot of hotels do 'continental' these days but he was desperate for a full English ... don't know why, he never gets it at home!! >:D
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Seems like going on vacation brings out his appetite. >:D
Bloomsbury -- sounds very quaint and charming. How will you be getting around? Bus? Rented car? Underground? Rickshaw? ;)
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Does this trip to London have anything to do with restocking your empty wardrobe LL? A good place to be visiting with that purpose in mind. Have fun and don't spend too much.
With a Pret a Manger on just about every street corner you want have to waste too much time finding lunch either. Had many a sandwich from there on my last visit - yum - wish we had them here.
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Hi Threeb,
I gather from your postings that you have survived Ike with electricity intact. Lot more than can be said for Galveston and other coastline communities.
How did the kids like the wind and the rain? I assume they must still be with you, since the power is still off in such a widespread area.
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Well, thanks, birdy, for your concern.
Here, Friday was partly cloudy, and we had a few intermittent sprinkles yesterday, with no interruption of electrical service at all.
The kids/grandbabies left yesterday mid-day, and were just fine. I assume that their home was still standing, intact and well-lit, but the area probably got wet.
The only excitement was that grandpa showed granddaughter how to use a microscope that we'd squirreled away for a while until she was old enough to use and appreciate it.
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I was following the news on Ike on the Weather Channel all day Saturday. The map made it look as though it was getting as far west as you. I'm glad your son and his family had the sense to evacuate - so many people didn't take the warnings seriously and decided to ride it out.
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It really irritates me when people take those chances, and then cry for help! Others have to risk their lives to save them. So much of it is just unnecessary stupidity. I have a hard time feeling sorry for them.
It's one thing if you get hit suddenly, without warning, or you have no means of getting away -- but there was plenty of warning in advance of the storm, and many provisions were made to evacuate anyone who could not get out (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.).
Why do we have to save these idiots? Perhaps, in agreement with part of what pat said, the world might be better off without some of them!
Sorry, I had to vent. I know I shouldn't be so judgmental, but as far as I'm concerned, there's no excuse for that kind of behavior.
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I totally agree - I may have said it before here, but I regard this as a good opportunity to illustrate a Darwinian survival of the fittest - or probably more accurately, non-survival of the unfittest. One reason I love the Darwin rewards...
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Presactly! >:D
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Galveston looks pretty devastated...hope you are okay threeb...
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Yes, T, thanks a bunch, we are fine. Galveston's about 400 miles away and it looks horrendous there. And Port Bolivar as well -- just levelled! At least this time, MOST people got away, but there were still casualties, and in other places as well. One or two in the midwest region of the country as a result of rains and flooding from Ike.
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Haven't heard the latest news, but this a.m. I was reading in the NY Times that there was one whole area that the rescue people had been unable to get to and that they expected a lot of casualties there. There were conflicting reports from the rescue people who had actually finally got there.
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We are so lucky in most of populated Australia to have less problems with the weather - barring drought and fire and the odd flood, which are more localised. We saw the utter destruction of huge parts of the various places in Texas, and can only feel sympathy for those affected - what a clean up there will have to be!
Glad to hear all chi forumites are ok
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We really are, aren't we Smaug ? I was just thinking today about Hurricane Ike and the aftermath, and wondering how on earth does one even begin to rebuild. When all the infrastructure gone, the task seems gargantuan to say the least. I don't know that Australia has ever experienced anything like it, apart from Cyclone Tracey, which flattened Darwin.
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Hi Binkie
I did think about Cyclone Tracey as I wrote - but it just seems that so many more disasters happen in other places, and it must be so hard to rebuild from nothing like that. Like I said, we are so lucky in Oz in so many ways.
I drove to Bathurst yesterday(country NSW, just over The Divide) and it was simply bloody marvellous. Beautiful blue sky above the red sandstone ridges, with the road lined by the green and gold of all the wattles in full flower. I must admit to having a moment- just the clarity of the sky and the road ahead so lovely.
It makes me ponder about my grandparents decision to leave Europe and come to Australia with all their little kids in tow, never to see their parents again - I am so grateful.
Hope those affected by these recent devastations in Texas have a chance to rebuild their lives.
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So do we here, smaug. The Rio Grande is threatening to flood out certain parts of southwest Texas now, so the aftermath of the hurricane is still being felt. I, too, am grateful -- we were spared anything disastrous, but feel badly for our fellow citizens.
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Hi Threeb,
What's on your undoubtedly busy schedule today? We're having great weather in the northeast, and I'm actually hoping to have enough ambition to Get Things Done.
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Hi, binks! Isn't a bit late in the day for getting things done on your side of the world? I see you've been busy posting funnies today -- thanks for that lift, dear!
BTW, I'm interviewing a woman who is visiting here from New Zealand -- she's about 30 years old, and was an exchange student in our area about 12 years ago. She's been around the world twice already (I'm SOOOOOOOO jealous!), and sounds like a great person. I can't wait to meet her -- esp. to hear that wonderful accent (I'm fascinated by foreign and regional accents -- and the people who speak them).
It's raining here right now but supposed to clear up soon. I'm just postponing getting out of the house but will be out in a bit. Have to gas up the car, and am dreading what the price might be now. We have been rather fortunate that our refineries weren't hit by the storm badly, so the haven't been jumping up much except for a brief spike last week.
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hi Threeb, might need to check those eyeglasses. >:D
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Speaking of the rise in gasoline prices due to hurricane Ike, here in the New York area the prices seem to have gone up about 10 to 20 cents per gallon.
I know that in some areas of the country, prices have gone up exorbitantly.
Prices have been dropping since oil hit its peak price of $147 per barrel in mid-July. This week the price fell into the low $90's and then came up a bit.
Once the refineries are functioning again, prices should be more reasonable.
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Hi hag mate ... how you doing? I have swapped my day off with work colleague so am about today! Beautiful autumnal day here which makes a change from the vile weather we have had lately. Should be going for a bracing walk but think I might just slob out instead! >:D
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I am the queen of slobbing up, mate! And am no fan of anything bracing, save a good stiff drink!
Glad you're getting a bit of a mid-week respite. I've got some free time this morning and am definitely slobbing it up, too.
It's a bit chill right now here, but we're due for a warm and sunny weekend. Which is good, because I'll be flying about hither and yon on all kinds of crazy assignments, and wrapping up those pesky loose ends!
Hubby had an adventure -- he was in on a raccoon rescue this weekend. Poor little critter was up a tree, tangled in fishing line and hooks, suffering terribly and frightened to death.
Hubby's friend (for whom he did a small job running her sound system, and they were packing up to leave from their HQ in the country) called in a wildlife specialist, who helped bring it down. "It fought like heck," hubby said, "but once we threw a blanket over its head, it calmed down."
They removed the hooks and fed and watered it. We got an update yesterday -- the little creature is recuperating brilliantly and appears to have a bright future!
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What an exciting adventure ... glad little Rocky Raccoon is safe and well!
The most exciting thing that has happened at work recently is that our office has a furry intruder ... there is a mouse somewhere and we can't find it so a trap has been set ... much to my disapproval!! Woman I work with is terrified of mice and thinks it might run up her leg ... it would take a brave mouse indeed to perform such a daring feat!! >:D
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I'm on the side of the mouse, too, mate, although having one in the office can be distracting, to say the least! Hate those horrid traps, snapping their poor little necks. No easy way to get rid of it, esp. since mice are so swift, stealthy and silent.
It's probably just looking for a warm nook from out of the cold weather, and now has a price on its furry wee head! >:D :police: >:D
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We had a mouse problem in the office a few years ago. The powers-that-be decided to use some sort of chemical traps to catch it, and one was put under each of our desks. Not on my patch, I thought. I waited till everyone had gone home and then put the trap under my desk into a tightly secured plastic bag, meaning to get there early the next morning and take it out again. Unfortunately the mouse trappers got there before I did. They must have thought it was a bloody clever mouse!
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... you clever mouse-lover, you! ;)
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I just use the live-traps - then I take them out and leave them in the local park near the court house down the street. I don't think we have the death penalty here in NY.
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Does anyone object to their release into the wild? It hope there's not some weirdo waiting to take a whack at the mouse once it's freed in the name of overpopulation or some other ridiculous premise ... >:D
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Threeb! You lived in New York! You know nobody notices anything other people do! They're all too busy thinking of important things like where they'll eat that night or who they can run down on their way to their next promotion or how much money they've lost on the stock market that day!
When I let the mouse go, it was into a tangle of ivy there in the park - it was gone in a flash.
I was in the same area - a wide open plaza - one time - there was a dying rat lying right out in the open, very obviously poisoned and suffering. I was standing there thinking what I could do to put it out of its misery, dozens of people passing by, and not a single person even noticed the rat until finally someone looked to see what I was looking at. (I didn't really have the nerve/heart to stomp it, though probably that would have been kindest - I finally picked it up in a newspaper and put it to one side under the bushes so it could die in piece).
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Uuum, am not good with rats and mice - they do tend to overpopulate. A girl that I work with who lives in a semi-rural area of my city (Brookfield, Binkie) which is surprisingly only about 20 - 30 mintues from the city, is a registered wildlife carer. Within the last 3 weeks, she has taken on the care of 2 very very young wallabies (bit like kangaroos) whose mothers have been hit by cars driving way too fast down the roads in her area. The first one, Lily was just gorgeous. My friend Chris brings them to work because they need constant attention. Warmth provided by hot water bottles, pretend pouches, stroking the head with wet finger to simulate Mum's licking, and feeding small amounts of special milk every couple of hours. We get to help by stroking, talking in soothing tones and checking everything is OK while she is lecturing. Trouble is that the impact of the accident is not known for days or weeks. Very sadly, Lily died.
She had a damaged toe on her hind leg which swelling really badly and was operated on by an extremely caring vet who offers her services for no financial return, but the trauma of the anaesthetic was too much for the poor little creature. The operation had to be done because these animals will not be able to survive in the wild if they don't have full use of their hind legs to escape predators.
A couple of days ago Chris told me she'd been alerted to another accident in her area, so went down at 10pm to assess the damage. Mother dead, but male joey quite alive. The impact from the car was quite severe so she took the little boy straight to the vet who kept him for observation for a couple of days to see him through the trauma. No luck for this little fellow either. Sadly, I didn't even get to see this one.
R.I.P. little wallabies
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How lovely to help the wallabies, greenone, and how sad it must be when one of the little creatures dies. A huge amount of wildlife is needlessly slaughtered on the roads every day, very often because people simply drive too fast. Many, of course, simply don't care.
I remember once driving a friend to watch a band in a village that neither of us was familiar with. It was dark and the roads were full of dangerous bends so I was driving very slowly. I spotted a frog in the headlights and stopped to let it cross the road - a fact that my friend found hilarious. She could have understood if I'd stopped for a rabbit or a hedgehog, but not a frog - "It's only a frog". It's that attitude that carelessly wipes out lives.
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When I was growing up, frogs were everywhere and would often scare the s**t out of me by leaping out from dark corners when I was expecting it. We have so few of them now, it is sad.
Sad to say, but I'm not the best wildlife warrior. Loathe reptiles. In fact, am terrified of them, so if a native reptile was lurking around in need of care, I'd probably look the other way. Read that to really mean ' would run the other way screaming'. I guess we can't all be perfect, but we do what we feel comfortable with.
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Have you ever heard a frog scream? Bizarre as it sounds, they actually sound like a child screaming. I didn't believe it until I heard it for myself when one was being tortured by a cat out on the patio. I managed to rescue it and its little heart was beating like a trip hammer. Fortunately the neighbour has a pond and we put it there, seemingly none the worse for its encounter.
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Awwww -- such sad little stories, mates! Gave me a lump in my throat!
And yes, birdy -- I do remember NYC and how everyone plays the ostrich! I had hoped maybe things had changed. :'(
Which is why I love where I live now. It's a much warmer place, in weather ... and in the heart!
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Where is that, threeb?
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The Lone Star State -- Texas!
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Threeb,
Are you aware that you have spent 50 days of your life on this very forum?! I had been thinking my mere 13 days was fairly ridiculous until I was cheered by your total. :)
biggerbirdbrain 50d 43m
Linda 31d 51m
technomc 26d 15h 57m
Alan W 25d 21h 48m
Binkie 19d 18h 52m
anonsi 13d 4h 11m
rogue_mother 8d 8h 5m
birdy 7d 23h 17m
Gaye 6d 12h 12m
bobbi 6d 7h 38m
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Astounding, anonsi! I have actually tracked it too, but you do have to understand, that I rarely log off the website ... makes it so much easier to get back in! So, I'd say, as to the true amount of time I've
wasted played/chatted, it is far less that it appears!
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I rush around rescuing little creatures too. I don't mind what they are. The cats bring in little lizards and gekkos regularly and I usually mange to get them away and to safety before much damage has been done. We have a fairly large wetland area near us and it is cut through by a motorway and housing areas (as always, the destruction of nature was less important. I know it has to be, but it's sad!) Unfortunately that all cuts trough the spring migration path of the Cape Leopard Toad. The last few years caring people in the area have set up patrolles and literally take their own lives in their hands to pick up the little fellows and get them safely across the motorway.
Yikes, must go and shower. Dentist appointment rushing up. AAAAGH!!!
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Don't you just love the way dentists chat away and ask questions when your mouth is full of mirrors, sucking things, cottonwool pads and sundry instruments?
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NO! >:D
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Ditto!!!
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I'm going through a dentist hating phase! This whole problem arose a year ago when he did a root canal and broke a piece of the drill off in the root. ("He" is a new dentist to me, my darling friend Ossie, who was my dentist as well as part of our group of friends, died.) His reaction was along the lines of "Oh dear! Well we'll just have to leave it and see what happens." Well, last week an abscess happened. I think it was the most painful thing I've ever had. Anyway, today the dear man says he's better pull it out. I said I was far from happy with that idea. he then said he could try to remove the piece of drill, (the explanation of how was far from appealing!) but, in any case I would have to have something that sounded like liposuction around the root. I didn't ask for clarity. I said the wasn't a chance in hell I was doing that without a second opinion from someone I felt more confident with and shot out of there. I shall quietly think about it all before I do anything else. Meanwhile I feel like a dishrag after all the antibiotics I've had to swallow.
Well, sorry about loading all that on you guys, but I needed to! Thanks!
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We can relate, toni -- everyone's got a similar horror story to tell -- fangs to dentists! >:D
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Yeah! May they all have to suffer their own medicine! Well, some of them!
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I can sympathise, Toni! I once had an abscess on my gum and could have happily pulled my head off the pain was so excrutiating! Childbirth was a doddle in comparison! >:D
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I'm usually fairly good about the dentist, but I'm not looking forward to the gum surgery next week on Guy Fawkes Day. One of the worst things is the preparation. I'm not allowed any ginger or garlic for two weeks before.
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Good heavens! Why ever not ?
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Not sure - I asked the question on "Does anybody know..." - Linda thinks they may be anticoagulants.
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Hi mate ... you appear to have arrived just as I must leave for a while!
Just want to wish you a wonderful ....
HALLOWEEN!!!(http://smileyshut.com/smileys/new/Angels-and-Demons/horny-0018.gif) (http://smileyshut.com)
Be at your haggish worst tomorrow!! >:D >:D >:D
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Oh, yes -- I will follow your wise advice, O great hag! And the very same to you! >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D
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Hi mate ... long time since we last chatted ... Halloween?! This Forum is becoming far too quiet!
Anyway, hope you're well and looking forward to the Christmas break ... surely you will take some time off from interviewing old people clad in p****e clothing?! I am about a bit today but have a hundred and one chores to do, including some proofreading that I must get done today but hopefully might catch time for a little chat. >:D
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I'll be here for the better part of the (our) a.m., then will whisk(er!) away to stuff and deliver papers. By the time I return, I'm sure you'll be fast asleep.
And yes, I am actually taking the week off (forced as it is, and without pay! >:(), but it will at least give me time to browse a bit for next weeks festivities. The older son and family are due in then, so hopefully it will be a rousing, and likely very warming, gathering. Of course, the little toddler, our baby-man, is expected to run rampant and rowdy, but that's just fine, as long as he doesn't break or lose any small treasure we may have carelessly overlooked and forgot to squirrel away out of his reach. The gifts will probably be modest, but the company will be rich!
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Sounds like you'll have fun! I am cooking dinner for five of us so not too taxing for my very limited culinary skills!! M&S do a wonderful brandy sauce which is one less thing to make from scratch!! >:D
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You'll be busy enough, mate, as will I. Hopefully, though, if tradition holds true, the menfolk will do most of the cooking, and the women cleaning up the horrid mess! Regardless, a few swigs of wine might help ease the burden, and a good nap afterward!
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What with all our travelling, we're celebrating the gift-giving early, this Friday (the younger generation takes off in various directions the next morning). It was originally scheduled for my house, but my family now wants to do it at my brother's. I was originally a little unhappy about it, but right now I'm greatly relieved - my landlord called yesterday morning to inform me that my windows are (finally) to be replaced Friday, and that means even more disruption than already taking place.
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Not to mention a chilly draft! Better run and hide, birdy! Unless, of course, there are some nicely muscled workmen running about. You might get an early Christmas surprise! >:D
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oooh - sounds promising - unfortunately, not the workmen my landlord usually hires. It's a conspiracy to keep me from adding an extra tenant to my apartment.
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Fascists! >:(
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Pigs, even!
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Completely dictatorial, not to mention inconsiderate and selfish! How dare they?! >:D
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I am returning to this thread to report that the workmen were indeed well-muscled, not particularly stunning in looks, but high in competence and very pleasant. They came today and removed all three windows in my apartment at the same time, which made the place a bit chilly since there was a snowstorm raging outside. They took no offense at my curiosity as I stood around watching them, and gratefully accepted an offer of a cup of tea with cookies. I was there in my fleece jacket, not nearly as cold as I had thought I would be - one of them was there in a cotton short-sleeved tee shirt, and he was the one hanging out the window!
I now no longer live in a wind tunnel, but that's okay, I can open the new windows to get the same effect any time I want to.
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Well, birdy -- I'm relieved that you no longer live in a wind-blown hovel, but like proper folks! All that activity probably wore you out, but I'll bet you slept like a baby in your cozy calm nest!
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That's an open and shut casement then Threeb?!?!
Clearly a better situation to be in....
No longer a pane in the neck.....
...so no need to glass on the fitters, who you could frame big time....
[sorry!!] :-R
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After being out all day from 7:15 to 4:30, most of it outdoors in temperatures in the 20s (F) and wind chills in the single digits, I got home to find my newly-windowed, double-glazed apartment at 67 degrees - not because of drafts but because my radiator was only working at 1/3 capacity. I wonder if my landlord thinks that new windows substitute for heat?
Wouldn't be so bad if I weren't already chilled after being out all day in the cold for CLOSE YOUR EYES, LINDA, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS the annual Christmas Bird Count. There were very few birds in view. Unlike us silly humans, they were probably nestled all snug in their little warm hiding places out of the wind and the cold.
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If it isn't one d**n thing, it's another, innit, birdy?
Must be time to call the landlord in yet again to fix the blasted thing!
I remember those bone-aching chills -- no thanks! I'm too old to freeze my fanny off for half the year. One or two months is more than enough for me.
Hope your counting went well. Like, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... ;D >:D
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Why on earth would anyone want to count b***s?!!! What is the purpose of this exercise? - please explain.
Actually, I must admit that I was counting b***s the other day - they were all cosy and nestled together in the freezers of my local supermarket - just waiting to be scoffed on Christmas Day!! >:D >:D >:D Sorry!! >:D Hahaha!! >:D
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If it isn't one d**n thing, it's another, innit, birdy?
Must be time to call the landlord in yet again to fix the blasted thing!
I remember those bone-aching chills -- no thanks! I'm too old to freeze my fanny off for half the year. One or two months is more than enough for me.
Hope your counting went well. Like, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... ;D >:D
Already called him again since it has not improved and in fact has gone down a little. Wouldn't be so bad if I were moving around doing heavy cleaning, but since I did that two days ago after the windows were put in, I'm not about to repeat the process.
The count went well, though it was more like, "1." and "1, 2." The only large numbers we saw were a couple of flocks of (American) robins - one of about 10, and another of about 20 (scattered by a swoop-through of a hawk being hassled by a few ("1,2,3.") bluejays). When I was a kid, they migrated and when they came back, they were the first sign of spring. Now many of them hang around all winter.
So the count was low, but the Garden was beautiful, and luckily I'd brought my camera, so I took lots of photos of the snowy scenery. I tried to attach one, but it's 99 MB, so I couldn't.
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Why on earth would anyone want to count b***s?!!! What is the purpose of this exercise? - please explain.
Hi, Linda,
The Christmas bird count started back at the beginning of the 20th century as a substitute for the then-common practice of going out shooting them on Christmas Day. I found a pretty good explanation for the purpose on an Audubon web site:
The data collected by observers over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years.
The long term perspective made possible by the Christmas Bird Count is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat - and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. For example, local trends in bird populations can indicate habitat fragmentation or signal an immediate environmental threat, such as groundwater contamination or poisoning from improper use of pesticides.
In the 1980's CBC data documented the decline of wintering populations of the American Black Duck, after which conservation measures were put into effect to reduce hunting pressure on this species. More recently, in 2007, the data were instrumental in the development of two Audubon State of the Birds Reports - Common Birds in Decline, which revealed that some of America's most beloved and familiar birds have taken a nosedive over the past forty years, and WatchList 2007, which identified 178 rarer species in the continental U.S. and 39 in Hawaii that are imperiled. These two reports helped scientists and policy-makers to both identify threats to birds and habitat, and promote broad awareness of the need to address them.
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Birdy -- I know you're retired, but how old ARE you?? :o :o
The Christmas bird count started back at the beginning of the 20th century as a substitute for the then-common practice of going out shooting them on Christmas Day. I found a pretty good explanation for the purpose on an Audubon web site:
Did you actually KNOW Mr. Audobon personally? >:D
(I'm going to assume you meant you starting your own counting at the beginning of the 21st century.) ;)
And thanks for the enlightenment about how the practice originated!
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Thank you for the fulsome explanation, birdy. >:D
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Birdy -- I know you're retired, but how old ARE you?? :o :o
The Christmas bird count started back at the beginning of the 20th century as a substitute for the then-common practice of going out shooting them on Christmas Day. I found a pretty good explanation for the purpose on an Audubon web site:
Did you actually KNOW Mr. Audobon personally? >:D
(I'm going to assume you meant you starting your own counting at the beginning of the 21st century.) ;)
And thanks for the enlightenment about how the practice originated!
I have a feeling I wouldn't have liked JJ very much - though I love his paintings - he shot thousands of b__ds to make those paintings. Of course in those days, there was no shortage, and his work did spark an interest in b__ds that led eventually to people wanting to protect them - a little too late for some species like the Carolina parrot and the passenger pigeon.
No, even I am not old enough to have been in on the early counts. And even more recent counts - when I was working, I couldn't take part because I was always too busy with holiday preparations in the small amount of free time I had. But I started a few years ago, and I do the "short version" - the Botanic Garden is a relatively small area, and can be done in just a few hours, unlike people who are out all day in some of the other places. The other advantage is that, as a very civilized public garden, there are very nice restrooms and a place to go in and get warm, and even a small cafe with hot coffee and pastries. Not much like that in the park and certainly nothing like that at Greenwood Cemetery or Floyd Bennett Field or Plumb Beach, which are some of the other areas that are checked.
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I wonder whether JJ actually ate the meat from the birds he "sacrificed." Did he roast them over a campfire and baste them with lemon garlic sauce?
But seriously, kudos on your work, birdy -- and on your resourcefulness in choosing places that have access to basic human survival and creature comforts. :D
The golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo are two birds nearing extinction here and are protected.
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Haven't seen either of them. Would love to.
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If you come visit here, I've got friends in high (and low) places who could help us find them. ;)
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A possibility! When I get back from Bolivia, I'll have to start planning my b__ding adventures for the year.
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You are such a name-dropper Birdy.....and make me green with envy....you gadabout you!!!!!
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She certainly is ... but then, aren't you as well, T?
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I'm not in Birdy's league Threeb....
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Having met her firsthand, you should know, I'm sure, mate. But then, I'm certainly not in either one of yours', either.
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But Bolivia is more a family trip, T, and just think, you don't have to take the typhoid vaccine or malaria prevention pills! There are advantages to not traveling!