Well, not really, just in the arm. I got my tetanus shot today when I was in for my physical. They also sneak a Whooping cough vaccine in there with it. Whatever. At least it didn't burn like the last tetanus shot I got. My gr. grandfather died of tetanus. His foot was run over by a trolley in Boston. Funny how things like that stick in your head.

I gave my doctor the paperwork that I need to send in to the DMV or Dept. of Safety or whoever it is. She didn't quite know what to do with it. I'm healthy, so she signed it. She was very puzzled over the parts that seemed to indicate that if you even had high blood pressure, you would be denied. I'm not sure if that's what it really says, because you know damn right well half the beer guzzling overweight union guys have GOT to have at least high blood pressure.

I always love how the nurse or doctor tells you these numbers, like your blood pressure, and they expect you know what the hell it means, or if its good or not. I know the ox number was good, because it was 99 out of 100. But something or other over something else. Who cares. Means as much to me as pieRsquared. How about you just say if it's normal or not? Or better yet, write it down. Because sure as hell two seconds later it's gone.
I've shrunk half and inch. But unlike my father, I won't fight it.

So Sen. Brown gets sworn in, and this Republican Shelby(pardon the word)douche bag decides he's now going to hold up every single nomination of Obama's? Now that's what we need! Real Republican leadership. Someone who looks out for the country, and not just his state. Oh, and you better give him his government contracts, or nothing is going to move forward. Well, I agree with one thing that's been coming into my mailbox a lot. VOTE THEM ALL OUT! I wonder how the Tea Party will view him? I'd like to know.

I'm thrilled for the mid Atlantic states. You all enjoy your two feet. Is it really getting closer to a 'cold day in hell'? Just see what DC looks like in the morning. lol

There is a town truck that's been hiding in the cemetery, and I'm getting sick of it. Its' there every morning for quite a while. They park in our dumping area. I went up one morning to find a guy peeing up there. This morning they didn't even bother to leave when I went up to dump some branches. This is going to get old fast when it comes time to do real work. The truck today was loaded with cold patch. I finally saw them out filling holes around 11:30. They were hiding out from at least 9:30 to 10:15. That's a very long coffee break. I think I need to send an note to the DPW. Keep the hell out.

Didja miss me? (echo, echo, echo)

It's been cold this week. I chopped up a snow pile and it's all still there. I thought the sun would have done a job on it. I put out a load of laundry to day and when I took the second batch out, the first was cardboard. Too funny. But the air is so dry, it should suck the moisture, or at least most of it, out by tomorrow. I hope.

I have a doctors' appt. tomorrow. I wonder what pills I'll need to be put on? lol. I also made an appointment to get an eye exam, but that's not till later in the month. Well, making the appointment is half the battle, right?

I keep trying to catch up on paperwork, and I'm making some headway, but I feel like I'm just too distracted. I've lost two things that I cant find, and it's driving me nuts. They were just there...

The Ins. Co. called me and then emailed me forms to fill out for the insurance on my father's house. Because the estate is still not settled, a regular insurance co. wont insure it, so for over $1300.00 I can get basic fire and liability Insurance. And my brother who lives there still has to get rental insurance. WTF? I just emailed the GD lawyer again. He said this should be simple. What a frigging.... lawyer.

The female cat is driving me nuts. She was screaming last night at some ungodly hour and woke up the kid. He called down, but I didn't answer and I guess he went back to sleep. She seems to be getting worse with the screaming. Mostly it's because there isn't something wonderful in her bowl, but then again, she does it after she eats something wonderful. AAHHHH. Does it make me a bad person to keep looking in the paper for kittens? I realized today that I'm in a state of perpetual 'waiting for things to die.' People, lizards, cats... And that isn't even counting my job.

I just realized my selkie's belly button is in the wrong place. Hopefully not too many people will be staring at her pubic area to figure it out. Then again, if you can get hundreds of millions of dollars for this: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108752/giacometti-sculpture-becomes-most-expensive-work-ever-to-sell-at-auction
then well, who's going to even care about a belly button?

I put out a two day old pancake for the birds, only to see the cat out there munching on it. I just don't get it.

We watched Caprica last night. Looking fun, interesting. I have no idea where it's going, but hey, it's all about the ride. Also enjoyed the opener of Lost. And also have no idea where it's going, but I'm going to enjoy the ride. Waiting for V and Flash Forward to come back. Then I'll have no time to blog at all.

Speaking of Moose.. no, no one was? Seems she now has the genealogy bug, and the old stone photographing bug. Wonder where that came from.. wonder...Phase5?

Well, one of my LJ friends has found employment, if temporary. Yay for Mrknowitall. The G man.

I know I had a bunch of stuff to comment on, but honestly, I just cant keep a thought.
I did find it absurd that the Indians (not sure which tribe) actually are trying to argue that they cant put in Cape Wind because when they did a core sample of the ocean floor, they found that 7000 years ago, it was not under water and their ancestors 'may' have been buried there. WTF? May have? Give me a break. If that be the case, stop all construction now, everywhere. Because Indians MAY be buried anywhere. That's just an absurd argument. Really the only thing that interests me about the Cape Wind project is the money. Who's making it, what deals are being done.... That's what bothers me. But that there are going to be wind turbines off the coast interfering with my view... more power to them. I love to see them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBazB5SrKhU PEI wind turbines.

Mr. Brown has gone to Washington.... He's already felt the power of the Republican party. He was going to wait another week, but I think he got hit by the Whip who said "get yer ass down there boy" and so he did. It's wake up time. And I don't mean for the Democrats, I mean for Mr. Brown.

The wind is blowing so much the plastic film on the windows is pushing the modem off it's perch.

Today's high was about 57. That matches the wind gusts I think. But at least the snow is mostly gone. Making room for new stuff I guess.

Well, it took a few weeks, but Biv came calling for her money.  She apparently figured out how much she can get away with making while collecting.  It's her money, so I don' t care. I'm just surprised as hell it took her this long.
And on the subject of unemployment, I got my check back from the state. I made it out to the wrong department, and oh, I cant write a check, I have to pay on line with the Quest system. I guess the letter explaining that I couldn't get through their system TO get to online payment didn't register. Well, back to the drawing board. There is only so much I can do.

A few interesting news notes.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35049326/ns/travel-news/
PHILADELPHIA - A college student returning to school after the winter break fell victim to a prank at Philadelphia's airport by a Transportation Security Administration worker who pretended to plant a plastic bag of white powder in her carryon luggage.
Oh yeah, that's really funny. Now, what charges are you going to file against that sociopath?



http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100111/NEWS02/1110345/1003/NEWS02
BRATTLEBORO — Tritium leaks have surfaced at more than a dozen nuclear plants across the country, including several plants owned by Entergy Nuclear, the owner of Vermont Yankee.
Last Thursday, Entergy Nuclear announced that a monitoring well on the banks of the Connecticut River showed low levels of the radioactive isotope tritium, 17,000 picocuries per liter; the reportable levels is 20,000 picocuries, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
This is why, as carbon neutral as it is, people are rightfully scared to death of nuclear reactors and the humans that run them.

My son has hooked us up to a very silly movie review broadcast. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ It's pretty funny, although it can be too silly at times. But it has reviews or clips there of from average people.  It's no Siskel and Ebert, but well, they are dead anyway.

And speaking of dead, the leopard gecko finally died. And he was heartbroken. But I'm so done with lizards. No more small animals. And its going to be mammals only.  Nothing that requires special heat and lights and humidity or lack there of.  I bet my light bill drops $10.00 next month.

My crazy friend and I got into a pissing contest today on FB. She wrote an entry that said she wanted to adopt a girl from Haiti, (she has 4 kids now) and if only someone would front them the $30,000. adoption fees.  Knowing she has only just escaped foreclosure, has no health insurance for any of her kids (the hospital is actually suing them right now) and her husband is in 'meltdown' as she said, I gave her a WTF reply. She didn't like that. So she actually changed her original entery, delated the stuff about asking for money, and made it look like she was just 'wishful thinking' and how dare I come down on her for that. Well, I guess I have another Moose on my hands. When confronted, change the story. I did get confirmation from someone else who's tired of her marterdom posts. She did ask for money to adopt. So at least I'm not losing my mind.  Maybe I'll have to block her again, just so I am not tempted to reply to her posts.

I received the new pamphlet from the US govt. telling me how much to take out in taxes on the payroll, and the tax break from last year is gone it seems. I have to take out an additional $2.00 in Fed taxes now. But wait! I thought Obama wasn't going to raise taxes on anyone who didn't make at least $250,000? I sure as shit don't make anywhere near that.

I was just commenting on Jarvenpa's blog yesterday that I should start seeing the crocuses next month, and low and behold when I got out of the car today, I saw a fresh green shoot coming out of the ground on the sunny side of the house. Perhaps I wont have to wait so long as I thought. And of course, those foolish crocuses will pay the price for their early arrival.

So the Supreme Court will let corperations have their free speach. I wish I know more about what the laws are now for contributions and PACs and all, but since I don't, I'm just going to wing it. Correct me if I'm wrong. It seems to me that corperations already run American politics, that lobbyist paid by the drug companies, the oil companies, the agro companies, they alwasy get what they want basically and screw Joe American. Poison his water, feed him amonia, let him be a guinee pig. So do I really think that this will help the little guy, as I heard Gingrich praporting? No. I think it will just make it that much easier for the mega corperations to drown out any opposition. Is that what the first amendment is supposed to be for? For corperations? I thought the Constitution protected 'the people' ? And yeah, corperations are made up of people, and they should have their freedom to speak and donate, as people. But as a corperation? I don't know. 

I recently asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when she
Grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked
Her,' If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'

She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

Her parents beamed.

'Wow! What a worthy goal.' I told her, 'But you don't have to wait until
You're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the
Lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50.

Then I'll Take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs
out, and You can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in
The eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the
Work, and you can just pay him the $50?'

I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party..'

Her parents still aren't speaking to me!!

Last night Ryther and I watched the end of Frost/ Nixon. The end because we started it the night before, and as usual, didn't have time to finish it. Anyway, as coincidence would have it, we were heading out to Thanksgiving dinner today at about 12:15, and we put on the radio, and we catch the end of the traditional Alice's Restaurant song. When that was over, (and I was bummed we missed it) we switched channels and found the end of another version of Alice's Restaurant. But this version was talking about Nixon, and how coincidentally there was 18 minutes and some odd seconds missing from the Nixon tapes, and that is the length of Alice's Restaurant. It was too funny, just having seen the movie where that was so prominently referred to.

We had dinner at my brother in laws, which was yummy. His sister in law was only a bit annoying today, she focused on someone else thank god. I cant stand being boxed in, or repeatedly touched by someone I really don't like. But anyway, that aside it was a fun. My BIL's friend came by with his girlfriend. She's from Morocco. I don't know if she's Muslim or not, but if she is, she's not very devout, as she was drinking alcohol. But the funny thing was when my BIL was inviting them to come back over on Sat. for ham and the friend was motioning behind his girlfriend "no" because, well, ham is pork. It was kind of funny. But there will be lots of leftover turkey to take it's place.

Well, ten, twenty, thirty, but still, not too bad. I finally got the title for my father's truck changed over. No line going in to the Reg. and then only about a half an hour wait. Not bad at all. I'd like to think that I cracked a joke about the broken ticket dispenser.

I was asked about my baseball hat today which boasts the logo of one of the products my husband's company sells. See, subtle advertising works. And it helps if what you do is in the name. Like "John's Roofers" or "Cooking with Art". Not "Presto" or "Vinallobo". IMHO

I got my recipe from Stop and Shop yesterday. Its fully three feet long. The last foot gives me a run down of my 'rewards'. There are Gas rewards, A+ Bonus rewards, A+ Extra Credit, Holiday card rewards, Play 60 program, and Maxwell House program. The only thing I even know anything about is the Gas rewards program, and one of the A+ things is something that gives money back to the schools, but there are two and I don't know which is which.

I have one more oil class after Thanksgiving. I won't be doing the winter course. I just think I'm not really getting all that much out of the class now. I wouldn't mind taking the time to do my own painting, but then if I do that, he will come over and commandeer it when I least expect it. I don't like that. I like to be told and maybe shown something, but not have someone take over. Then it's not mine, it's his, and it really annoys me. That's one reason I really like the sculpting teacher, he doesn't just jump in, he asks first, and mostly he tells you what YOU need to do, and lets you do it.

You know that anti National Marine Fisheries sticker I was telling you about? I saw another one today. After I posted that last entry there was an article in the Ledger about just that subject. I guess it explains pretty well why fishermen hate the NMFS so much. http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1659496871/MASS-MARKET-Fishermen-s-frustrations-with-government-continue
Which makes more sense if you are trying to regulate fishing. Deciding how many days at sea a fisherman can spend, or how many pounds of fish he can take? Seriously, it's about the haul, not how long you are out at sea.

One of those add cards that are abundant in magazines fell out onto the floor. It read "Return this card to get your FREE issue." Great, a free kid just for returning a card. Awesome deal.

Yesterday I was going past my gr. grandmother's house, and saw that there was an open house. So I turned the car around and went in. The Realtor was just finishing up, but I explained why I stopped by, and that I just wanted to poke around and see the inside. I've never been in the house, never knew the woman, but it has always been referred to as the 'homestead' and I have pictures of my Gr. Grandmother in front of the house in 1923. It was a lot better looking then. The best thing I can say about this poor neglected home is that it still has the original mahogany banister and a sweet staircase that has a slight curve at the top. The rest of the house needs to be gutted. There are beautiful fancy radiators in the house, but you can see that over the years, rooms have been opened up but the radiators were never moved, so they sit in the middle of no where. Doors with boards over them, desperate need of a paint job. A claw foot tub that someone took and spattered with paint, I guess to hide chips and such, or as some kind of artistic expression, but Yuck! It makes one think of blood spatters. My father remembered his grandmother in that house, dying of something that made things smell bad. There was some kind of smelly stuff they kept around to try to manage the smell. I forget what it was called. Red something. Anyway... I emailed the photos I had to the realtor who was very happy to get them. I said perhaps someone will buy the house and restore it to it's former glory. One can hope.

Will Obama ever get a protocol expert on his team? This is the second bow fauxpas he's done.

Picked up leaves today using the machine. License... we don't need no stinking license. Actually, I really do need to get that damn thing.

The winter moths are back. Kill them, Kill them all.

One of the neighbors had her check book stolen out of her husband's truck last night. So far the thieves have spent $1000.00. Now, I have to say that you can barely cash your own check in your own back, so how can someone take your checkbook and spend your money in this day and age? Seems they are cashing or using the checks in a bunch of towns. They may have them on camera. And one of the other neighbors also had something stolen out of their car before that. So now I'm thinking it's the same kids that slashed the tires a few months ago. Bad apples. I hope they find them and let us know, because if there are some thieves in the neighborhood, I want to be aware of who they are.

Before my MIL went to Italy, she had to get Euros for the trip. She went to one of the BIG BANKS, which wouldn't give her the amount she needed unless she opened a checking account. Now me, I'd tell them to go screw, but she had waited too long and needed them, so she did it. Then she got a coupon for a free turkey. So she got her money, got her turkey, when she gets back she can cash in any remaining Euros for free, then she is going to close the account. And do you think she'll ever be a customer of theirs again of her own free will? Doubt it.

Got to go catch up on Flash Forward.

I'm tired, my legs are tired. We went for our two mile walk for the first time in perhaps a week. Outch. Amazing how fast those muscles shrink back up. Must be the rain. I also had my art class tonight, so I was standing for an hour before I realized I just had to sit. The it downed on my that I was also weed whipping today, which I have not done in a number of weeks, so those muscles were sore. All in all, a good night to hit the hey early.

We did a 'teacher's pick' picture tonight, that while not finished, I don't totally dislike. I had gessoed over a picture from last year that I actually kind of liked, but I knew I would never finish, so why bother?
I have two pictures to post that here. I'll get to it eventually. Next week is our pick. I want to do a picture of my brother's dogs for his girlfriend's Christmas gift. I've never painted dogs, so that will be interesting. I need a better photo though. I'll have to get on him for that.

Wed night is sculpture. I'm really enjoying that. I'm going to try to remember to take a camera and take a picture of it. I'll post that too if I remember.

Tomorrow the truck goes over for it's freeze plug and motor mounts. Then we have a dig on Thursday so I hope it's all back together by then. Keeping fingers crossed.

I was just getting out of the car when Terrie Gross on Fresh Air was interviewing someone about water pollution. Maybe I'll try and catch it on line so I can depress myself. That's one thing we can give the Bush administration some real credit for it sounds like, totally not giving a shit if businesses dump poison into your drinking water. Yeah team. I guess that's the flip side of the Liberal, nanny state thinking. Whatever makes the most money.

They changed the cat food bags again. It's like it's a joke now.

Well, that's all my brain can recall at the moment.

Solve one problem, get another.
I ran the mower this morning, keeping and eye on the belt and pulley, and seemed to have no problem. Then later I went to another section and was mowing fine. I thought I felt the mower lose some power, but then I realized I didn't have the throttle up, and again was fine. Then suddenly, out of the blue, it just sputtered and died. Like the gas had been shut off.
So, not being a mechanic, I'm kind of without a clue. It turns over, but won't catch. I let it cool off, and still no go, I soaked the plug, so I took that out and have a new one to try in the morning after I let everything dry out. I need to get a two new fuel filters, which might be on tomorrows list of things to do. My brother is going to stop by at lunchtime for something else, so maybe he can give me some ideas. Lordy lordy, I just cant seem to get ahead. At least it's the end of the season, not the beginning. I'm wondering what an engine for these mowers would cost, if I can even get one. I mean, heck, the mowers are only 19 or so years old, I can't imagine why they wouldn't work right.

I just read that the RMV will again be sending out reminders about license renewals. They will use email or texting or something like that. Wow, can they afford it? I wonder what caused them to change their minds. Could it have been the loss of revenue? LOL!

NPR had something on today to wrap up the series on Bowl and Board in Cambridge. They had declared bankruptcy and were trying to pull it together, but in the end, they decided to do a chapter 7 liquidation. Pretty sad. But that's the way things are today. No one is buying.

I also read a few days ago that the company that made the concrete railroad ties for the rail lines around here, which are falling apart but are guaranteed, has said if the state tries to collect on the warranty, they will simply declare bankruptcy. Stellar!! Let that be a lesson to you. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'warranty'.

On a lighter note, last night was my first sculpture class. I really enjoyed it and did far better than I expected. Got the gumby figure finished. We have a live nude model, which took a few minutes to get used to, but she's very professional. I'll post pictures when I'm all done, assuming my lady doesn't blow apart in the kiln.

Well, I could debate more on the death penalty or animal cruelty videos, but I think I'm going to get ready to watch House with my hubby.

Oh one last note, I know I mentioned cross contamination with Facebook and Mr. Moose. Well, guess what? Either he got his hand caught in the cookie jar and Mrs. Moose made him quit, or he did flip when he saw that we had shared friends, because suddenly he has vanished from FB, just when he was starting to get a few friends. Funny that.

Brought the car to the dealer today ( I know, not a great idea, but whatever) and had the 30,000 mile check done. They replace fluids and grease and oil and so on. I also had them look at the door latch that wasn't locking, and that is still under warranty. They also got me for 'loose covers' on the catalytic converter. That's not the right wording, but whatever. I told them to skip the greasing and so on of the brakes for $300. For that I should be able to get new brakes, never mind anything else.
Aside from the warranty work, I would like to take the car to my regular shop, but I no longer have a ride now that my father is gone. I could walk over, but it's a pain in the ass. I'm going to have to figure this out somehow, because I really don't like going to the dealer. I did get a loaner car for the day at least, and while it was interesting to drive the 2010 model Forrester, I can tell you I don't like it. It looks and feels more like a minivan for some reason, and I nearly put myself through the window with the brakes. It also has a new transmission, where there is no 1 or 2nd on the shift, you put it in plus or minus and that is 1 or 2. There was also some 'sport' thing that came up on the dash, and I have no idea what it means.
They also added a bracket around the windows, unlike my car where when you open the window, there is nothing but the door left. Of course I whacked my head on the bracket because I didn't expect it to be there. Ho hum.

On my way down, I noticed that they, meaning the state, are FINALLY working on the overpass in Hanover before the mall. The overpass has been narrowed down to three lanes from four for I can't tell you how many years now. I wonder if the stimulus helped that or if it just finally got off the drawing board.

I emptied the water barrels today. Didn't need them much this year. Still, it's nice to have them. I found a home for a trunk I found down the street put out for the rubbish. I am sure the wanted people to take the stuff, as they put it out on Monday for a Wed. pickup. They just today put a 'free' sign on it. I also got a nice chunk of plywood.

Bear has joined Facebook. Another victim of social media.

I was going to comment on the Supreme Court and killing animals on film as free speech, but I think I'm going to go read. I was going to paint some more, but I'm too tired. I have my first sculpting class tomorrow. Live nude model. I'd rather be drawing or painting her. But, well, there you go. My MIL forwarded me some photo's her instructor sent her of Himself's head, which he modeled for on Sat. Yeah, whip out a head in three days. Sucks to be talented.

When the Pentagon says it doesn't want something, doesn't need it, and the Senate votes to give it to them anyway... well, that's when they should get out the firing squad. It's not like they cant find something else to spend the money on. I need to find out how my 'Senators' voted. Ah, both my Senators voted nay, or in other words, to spend money on unwanted planes, but hey, it keeps people working, so who cares what we spend the money on. Hell, you wouldn't want to put that same money into things that are needed or wanted that would still employ people. Nah, that would be too complicated.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009976016_apuscongressdefensespending.html?syndication=rss

Two treasure hunt stories. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090924/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_anglo_saxon_gold A hoard of Anglo Saxon treasure is dug up in an English farm field, and
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gfdqKcxmLVrbhs_2B2HkyoBJPbRwD9B1RF580
Note in an antique chair leads to a treasure hunt. I'm wondering if this one is a fake though. But it will be interesting to find out.

My brother put in the new radiator in the dump truck today. Yay! I actually realize I can do it myself now that I see it done. It's pretty darn simple. Getting the right size radiator was the hard part. I'll keep the old radiator, and if ever we need it, I can send it out to be re cored at the first sign of a leak, and we can be sure to have the right one every time. I hope that would not be for many years, but you never know. I wouldn't do it ahead of time because the truck may not last that long.

I think I'm going to read tonight. Ryther got me the second book in the Vampire series, and although I started another book, once that came in the door... well, addictions are difficult to deal with, that's all I'll say.
Shoot, I forgot to do laundry. I have to get some out tomorrow as the weekend is going to be a washout.

Well, as soon as Gov. Patric signs it, a new law will allow him to name a replacement to the late Sen. Kennedy, at least until we the people vote in Jan. or Feb. on a permanent replacement.

In all this, I did hear something interesting. Originally, back when Romney was Gov. of MA, and John Kerry was running for President, the Governor had the right to appoint a replacement Senator who would serve until the next general election. So, the Dem. dominated politicians on Beacon Hill voted to take that power away from the Governor, mandating the people elect a new Sen. in a special election, thereby thwarting a Republican governor from naming a Republican Sen. who might serve for quite a while before the voters got their say. But suddenly the Dems. find themselves needing every liberal vote they can find for any health care vote that may come up, and they can't wait for the special election, so they go back and again change the law, once more giving the Governor the power to appoint a replacement Sen. but this time it's only until the special elections are held. So that actually makes sense to me, although why they couldn't have put that in the original change back when Romney was in beats the hell out of me. Well, it doesn't really, it's politics. Never give an inch.
One interesting point of possible contention that I am not positive about, is that in this bill, the Governor does not have to appoint someone of the same party as the Sen. leaving office. I'm not sure on that, but I wonder if that's some kind of opening they will use to 'adjust' this bill in the future, should they feel it's politically 'in their best interest' to do so? Just wondering.
Really, it just shows how hypocritical the Democrats are, and I'm sure Republicans would do the same thing if they were in that position. Sad. And of course the question remains, who will be the intrum Senator? Drum roll please.

House votes to extend jobless benefits

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_go_co/us_unemployment_benefits

I'm drinking hot coffee why?

Boys are out for a game at Ged's. I should be cleaning the house while they are gone, but it's just so warm. Although really, this past week, while a hot one, is at least a normal August heat, and not as humid as it could be. I can deal with 90 in late August. 96 or 98 is another story. But I will be glad when it's back to the 80's.

Biv called in sick today (happy dance, happy dance). As it was, I had an early start since Himself was off to Nantucket with camp at 6:45, so I was at work at about 7:30 for a change, figuring I'd have time before Biv needed to be picked up. (Oh, have I mentioned I have to give her a ride to and from work? Well, she could take the bus, but that would take a bit longer and it used to be on my way when I was doing my father's routine. Not sure what I'm going to do when school starts. Might just get her at 9 and give myself some time to think in the morning. I'd like that.) I got a grave tamped and re-sodded and when I got back to the shop I got the message that she was sick. Actually, I kind of expected her to call in, or hoped anyway. She announced yesterday she was getting her period, and was moaning and groaning half the day about being tired. Do other women do that at work? Announce their menstrual cycle? Anyway, I figured with the heat, and her period, she wouldn't be up to working too hard today, and I had stuff to do. As it worked out, I got a ton of stuff mowed and whipped without her there, and I didn't have to feel bad about her being ill. Yeah team. Can we do this more often?

There was a nice breeze blowing today that kept things cooler, although the sun was hot.

My brother has been cleaning out my father's house bit by bit. He's gotten rid of two of my uncles dressers and one of his own that he never used, and has a taker for some old bank cabinets that my father just 'had' to have that have been sitting in the kitchen collecting junk. They are being donated to someone with a garage where they will make a fine bench.

I weeded a bit at the house and checked on my corn. Looks bad. Tiny tiny ears on some of the corn. I have two varieties. One is taller and just starting to produce corn, so there's hope for that, but the others look like I am growing those baby corn you get in Asian food. But the winter squash is still growing, so there is that. I hope we get a bit of rain soon.

In my garden, lots of tiny green cherry tomatoes waiting to ripen, and more winter squash. not much else edible till the fall if the carrots and beets do anything. We'll see. I've been shredding my newspaper and putting it in my compost bin for more dirt. I need more compost. I want more potatoes next year. Ones that can read. I lost more sunflowers to those damn maggoty things. I pulled them out and drown them in a bucket. I may have one more to go. Uck.

Good for Barney Frank for putting the Nazi poster in her place. It's a stupid comparison. If you want to argue, can you at least put people up that have real questions or real concerns, not just crap? How about this "Con. Frank, after the debacle on the Bank Bail out bill, where it was crammed through congress without anyone really knowing what it was about, and being full of pork, and then having congress say they would 'fix it later' and still loans aren't being made to help the people losing their houses; and with Social Security and Medicare on the verge of bankruptcy in the near future; and with China owning most of our debt, how do you intend to put forth a government run health care system that is any better than what we have now, and how are you going to pay for it? And why won't you step back and look at how to fix the problems now in the system that can be fixed before undertaking making another out of control government program?" Well, maybe that's a bit run on, but it's what I'd ask.

Seriously, my father has the honor of being the first guy in the history of Massachusetts to have died without transferring his vehicle and no one has a clue as to how it's done.

First trip to the Registry with what I was told I would need (a death certificate and the long searched for title) got me no where. I was told I had to go to the Insurance Co. first. Well I went right over there, and they filled out two more forms for me, got the fax Ryther sent to show I am on the will as the executrix. They said I just needed the plates and to write in the odometer reading, and that would do it. They were not sure how I should sign the title, and suggested that I sign my father's name. I said no way to that as a friend of the family had just recounted how his lawyer had done that (or was it the insurance agent?) and he was screwed. He had to get a new title and it was very illegal to do that. So I signed my name and 'executrix'.

Well I took that over today, and although I got a much friendlier person (yesterday an actual troll was handling the counter, I kid you not) and she said I needed to go to the probate court and get a statement saying I was the executrix. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!

So when I got home I called the lawyer and the Insurance Co., neither of whom got back to me.

Well, now it's raining with thunder in the distance moving closer, so I guess I'll again put off my health care comments for a while.

What is with politicians? You can figure liberals would do anything, sleep around, cheat, whatever. But why is it always the conservatives who cant keep their pants on? Is it just because they make a big show of being so intolerant of those who slip, that when it comes out they are doing the same damn thing, it's so... laughable?

About a week ago I was pondering the whole guns vs abortion argument. With Obama in office, NPR was reporting on how gun sales have soared, because many pro-2nd amendment people think that eventually, the Democrats will try to restrict gun rights, as they always have in the past. Just yesterday a report, also on NPR, was explaining how most of the guns in Mexico come from the US, so you can see where that is going. (they then went on to explain the only legal ways to get a gun in Mexico, at the only legal store in Mexico City. One place in all of the country of Mexico to buy a gun, even for killing varmints on your ranch? No wonder they buy them illegally and the gangs rule.)
Anyway, I was thinking that the pro choice people and the pro gun people have something very much in common. Both understand that 'reasonable legislation' mean a slow encroachment on their rights that never ends. Whenever gun control people start talking about taking guns away, or things related to guns, they always refer to it as 'common sense gun legislation' because you cant argue with common sense, right? It's common sense that people should get a background check. It's common sense that assault rifles should be banned. It's common sense that only police should have guns. It's common sense after all.
The same goes with abortion. It's common sense that abortions can only happen before the 24th week. It's common sense that teenagers need permission to get one. It's common sense that women should take 24 hours to think about it. It's common sense that abortions are traumatic and unhealthy and no one should have one. It's just common sense.
So it's funny two ideas, one very conservative and one very liberal, both understand how easy a slippery slope can take their rights away.

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http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/16/news/economy/consumer_protection/
Obama will call for the creation of a new financial watchdog agency. Its mission will be to protect consumers from deceptive or dangerous mortgages, credit cards and other financial products. The White House is calling it a "Consumer Financial Protection Agency," according to an administration official.

Don't we already have something that does this? Truly, who watches the watchmen?

A plane and a truck had a near miss at Logan airport today. A few seconds give or take and it would have been lights out for someone. Which just goes to show that what your mother told you was true. Look before you cross.

This leads me to the two recent cases of kids being hit in cross walks. We've done kids no favors by telling them they have the right of way in a cross walk. While it would be nice if people would stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, the fact is that they don't always. Sometimes you can't, because if you do, you'll get a rear end full of the ass who's too busy texting or dialing his cell phone to notice you stopping for someone in a crosswalk. Again, you need to look before you cross. It could save your life.

Cash for Clunkers? Sounds like they are talking about the bill itself. How is this going to work, and is it really a sound economic policy? I duno.

The Senate apologized for Slavery. And about time too. Now that we have a black president and all. Have we apologized for the genocide against the Indians yet?

My good friend Wolfgaar has some issues about gay marriage. One of his arguments has been that now that two gay people can marry, why, all bets are off and any number or combination of people can now reason that they should be able to marry. I wonder if that was the reaction of people to the idea of whites and blacks being able to marry. Remember when that was illegal? I mean, it just aint natural for black people to marry whites. Hell, that upsets the whole natural world. Like tigers and lions getting together. And yes, it is comparable. As stupid as it sounds to us now, it was as serious to those people as it is to Wolfgaar. And I'm pretty sure they used the Bible to back it up too. Not mixing things and all. So I just wanted to remind him of that, because just because it isn't natural to him, doesn't really justify not allowing it. Got to come up with something better than that.

Apparently CVS's minute clinics are not doing so well. Could that be because they don't accept my insurance?

So on to other news.
I picked some of my first lettuce today. Ryther had it in a sandwich. Things are starting to move in the garden. Although I've lost a number of beans to some critter or other. I need to put a few more seeds in to take there place. I think if the fruit comes out, I'm going to be overrun with squash.

Today while whipping, the baby bunny made an appearance again. Then I though I scared out a big brown toad, but it turned out to be a baby bird. A wren I think. Mommy wren was nearby. Baby hopped like the bunny, but couldn't fly. Must be just out of the next. I hope they are flying by the next time we go to mow.

White House Not Releasing Records On Visitors

By Mark Memmott

The logs of visitors who come and go from the White House are in the news again.

MSNBC writes that "the Obama administration is fighting to block access to names of visitors to the White House, taking up the Bush administration argument that a president doesn't have to reveal who comes calling to influence policy decisions."

And the Associated Press says "the Obama administration is declining to release documents that would identify visitors to the White House, embracing a legal position taken by the Bush administration, according to a watchdog group that filed a federal lawsuit over access to the records."

Asked about this today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that "we want to be transparent," but that the White House is reviewing the policy on release of such records.

Happy Memorial Day.

Instead of waiting for something profound from the Moose, I though I would write a little about a conversation yesterday that we had with Ryther's friend R. R was in the Air Force. He served in the first Gulf War, and I mean he actually served, he was over there, unlike the 'trained for special forces' BS that Mrs Moose perpetually put out. He didn't fly, he's not a pilot. He debriefed. He was with or associated with SAC as I recall for a while. Every time I hear about the torture thing, I think of him because he went through that training, where you are supposed to resist as long as possible. They played a Beatles song "You say it's your Birthday" and he cant listen to it anymore. But I digress..

R is no longer in the Air Force, but he's still working for the government, basically doing what he did before but as a civilian. Mrs. Moose should really like that one, working for the government and all being her wet dream.
So part of the conversation yesterday was how the military has changed since the time of WW2, Korea and Vietnam. That the military of today, or perhaps I should say the 80's/90's is a much different military because it is a professional army, where as before that, the military was made up of everyday Joes, who had something to get home to. The military has become like the government. Instead of going in and doing ones job, and going home, it has become the job. A lifetime employment opportunity. And we see how that disconnect has affected the government and the way the "GOVERNMENT" sees the world. I think the same thing has happened to the military. As demonstrated by the world view of Mrs. Moose that somehow Military people are better, braver, stronger, more self sacrificing, than any other human on Earth. Not so say that many aren't and have sacrificed a lot, but so have many other Joes, in many other ways.

R mentioned a book that he read (yes, he actually reads about the military and history) that said what the anti-war people should do is JOIN the military. Because there is a total imbalance of pro-war people vs. anti-war people. I think that totally makes sense. If your get a military who's world view revolves around the military and war, I think you get a very different mind set than one that actually has a life outside the military. And vise versa, you get anti-war people who can understand the experience of going to war, and what it takes out of a person or family. I think that actually happened in this war. By calling up the National Guard to support the Army, by taking in people who really never wanted to go to war, they just wanted a college education, you had a really different military and a lot more vocal opposition to the war I think from the military. I gather from R that the powers that be in the military would rather deal with a professional military, one trained from day one to do the work, who knew that was what they were going to do.

It was an interesting but too short conversation.

And the point of it on this Memorial Day is that there is none. I'm just musing about war and the military.