I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Some upper middle class tourist from down around Long Island (New York City area) was asking me about the local theatre programmes--I think it's The Altar Boyz--she goes, "is it REAL (proper) theatre?"

It took me a second to take that in, then I replied, "Erm--Altar Boyz was on Broadway?" She's like, "Ooohhh, yes, so they do real theater there?"

What I felt like saying was:

"Noooo--it's really a dog and pony act with two lumberjacks named "The Really Butch Guys", juggling chainsaws and beercans, and a fat lady named Bessie, playing her rendition of "She Thinks my Tractor is Sexy" on a musical saw. You'll love it" DOH.

"The Butch Guys" Now appearing nightly at Joe's Girly Bar, juggling running chainsaws while swilling cheap beer.

Bessie, playing the musical saw--and waiting on tables, every weekend, at the Eighteenth Sort-of-Baptist Church, Golf Course and Snack Bar.

Just for the record; We have "proper" theater, community theatre, diner theeater, a world-class (but very small) art museum, art shows and craft festivals, opera, the symphony, chamber music, a downtown (here in my city) "art-walk" every Thursday of local art galleries, wine merchants, gourmet restaurants...yes, we have rednecks with guns in the back of the pick up trucks, and gin joints galore, and welfare shirkers, and drug dealers, real lumberjacks, farmers and cowboys, as well. We have outhouse races, and snowmobile/ATV races, Truck and tractor pulls, truck shows, Elvis festival, and country and bluegrass music festivals, as well.

I've not checked my stats in a couple of weeks, so out of curiosity I took a quick look--very odd stats for the last couple of days.

Date-- Total Pageviews-- Total Visitors
2008-08-18 --- 3032 --- 867
2008-08-17 --- 3136 --- 848
2008-08-16 --- 2381 --- 699
2008-08-15 --- 1761 --- 796
2008-08-14 --- 1863 --- 764
2008-08-13 --- 2083 --- 867
2008-08-12 --- 1961 ---900

Huh. I know, I know, the stats--especially pageviews, aren't really all that accurate on here. Still, that's an awful lot of pageviews, isn't it? Must be 'bots again, I reckon. Either that, or someone has got a LOT of time on his or her hands!

So, I'm actually hungry--the 20 minutes "swim" did me good, I guess. I've still got a cheap steak in the 'fridge, and yesterday, the All for One Dollar store had little packets of frozen breaded shrimp in their food section, so I thought I'd so a version of what we yanks call "surf and turf,"---seafood and steak, and have steak and shrimp for dinner, with a jacketed potato and some peas.

Then, it's time for chores and maybe do some reading later.

Not a very interesting post this, is it?

We have a large contingent of foreign students working in the area every summer. This is a HUGE resort area--mountains, lakes, rivers...amusement parks, boat rides, beaches, wax museums, crazy golf, rafting/tubing, horseback riding and carriage rides, rodeos, parasailing, fishing, hiking, cycling, go-karts, waterparks--good gosh, there's no end of things to do here--and, they can even take a Trailways coach, right from Lake George or Glens Falls, to the other resort town of Saratoga Springs--with two kinds of horse racing, posh botiques, museums, sidewalk cafes, concerts, and the like...it's only 15 miles away, and they can go there for about 10 or 12 dollars round trip.

But, WHERE do they always tell the trolley driver they want to go?

The SHOPPING MALL.

Not the big strip of major name brand outlets (Brooks Broshers, Hilfinger, Orvis (Vermont's answer to Abercrombie and Fitch), Ralph Lauren, and dozens of others. Nope they want the flippin' MALL. Or, Wal-Marts.

Imagine, traveling thousands of miles, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and tons of recreational activities, lots of posh brand discount outlets--and you want to go here:

Maybe they're going to see our local "mall moose," (pictured below) who's been sighted in the wetlands behind the rear car park:

Geez, got a PM in my box, from someone I honestly don't know, telling me that the (whatshould have been obviously FAKE) e-mail addresses I gave for e-mailing David Tennant (as a J-O-K-E), were "all wrong."

Oh, d'ya think?

She then gives me the man's "real" address (a number with the name "David" on hotmail or gmail or something with "mail" in it, I didn't pay much attention to that part or the PM)...okay, who here thinks Tennant actually uses hotmail? Anybody? This is about the 4th time in the last year, some person--both acquaintences and strangers--have pawned of a supposedly true e-mail or postal address of Tennant on me, that I NEVER wanted or asked for!

Anyway, this fan-girl thinks I should "correct" my post, and post his real address on there. Not gonna' happen. I mean, that just would not be right, plain and simple....it' would be outrageously ill-mannered and completely disrespectful of the man's privacy, in my opinion.

I suppose it's possible that I just got PM'd the man's real e-mail address, but c'mon. Common sense tells me....not.

Good gravy on toast with cheese! (I just made that up, it's a lot more creative than swearing.)

In other news, my trip to the health centre for my shot took all of a half-hour, which is a first. The cab was prompt not only picking me up, but taking me home--and also a first, the nurse actually saw me right off, without me having to cool my heels in the waiting room for over an hour.

I hate these shots--they HURT, okay? Not the needle--the medicine going in--stings like a bee sting in your tummy. Okay, so I'm wimpy about shots, so sue me.

Anyway, got back just before 4pm, and went to Lake George for an hour. Last night, Flame got into one of my closets, and knocked all the clean sheets on the floor. So, I was picking them up, when on the floor at the back of the closet, I spied...my swimsuit! I thought I'd lost it! But, when I moved in, it must have fallen out of one of the storage boxes...I have marginal nightblindness, so normally I can't see dark spots in closets at all, without a light. So, had my torch out, so I could make sure I didn't miss any linens that fell off the shelf--and viola!

So, I just came from a short swim at the beach--bit crowded for a Monday, but it was nice. I am not the type to hang out at the beach all day--boring! But I do enjoy a short swim, yes, maybe dangle my feet in the water, but....no. You'll never see me sitting in a beach chair all day. Bleh! I'd rather be out doing something--even if it's just walk around, or sit and watch the boats, tourists, etc.

I've not got the body to be a beach babe anyway...

Well, I have to go somewhere, so this must be quick--time for my thrice weekly shot in the stomach.

It was a less-than-lovely day at work. It was sooo-hot in there, felt like I was getting hot flashes! Then, to make matters worse, the teeny-boppers sitting near me--two teenage (or at least they act like teenagers) girls were spraying perfume about--one walked into the office smelling like a blinking perfume factory! Blimey! Hasn't she heard of showering? It's beyond me why some people have the urge to douse themselves--insecurity complex? The two of them have their little confabs, and get put out with anyone--especially anyone older than them , who asks them (nicely) to do anything--you know the type, won't do any more in life than the bare minimum, and resent being asked to do anything more. I asked them not to spray perfume (I have allergies to certain perfumes in certain quantities-and it did for a moment effect my eyes and breathing-- so I don't think my polite request was out of line--but they seemed rather miffed with me. Ah well, you get these types in every office, I suppose. I just moved to another station, sod them.

Well, my stomach was cramping and doing a tap dance half the day, and as I said, I was having hot flashes and breathing problems besides, but the stomach seemed to get better by 1pm. I was able to eat lunch, at any rate. I even made a credit sale, which is amazing considering how lousy I felt. I do wish the office would have a "no spraying perfume or other smelly stuff" rule, though. I'm not the only one with allergies...though mine are usually fairly mild, and I've seldom broke out in rashes and the like.

The boss looked nice today--she was wearing a nice colour that goes well with her complexion. I don't pay much mind to fashion, but I do notice when someone is wearing something especially attractive--this may sound hokey, but even if I don't tell them, it makes me glad to see someone I know wearing something that makes them look nice--NOT that I EVER judge by appearence--I've had too many (shallow) people do that to me! Some of my best friends have dressed like total slobs, ha-ha.

Well, gotta' run. Have a good night, all.

...I awoke to my scrollbar missing from Opera, so I quickly had to re-download Mozilla 3.0.01, in order to use the internet this morning. Life sucks, don't it though?

So, sometime in the next couple of days, I need to research why Opera decided to nix my scrollbar.

My audio plug-in's still aren't working on the internet. However, my disk check function suddenly decided to work. A lot of entries were "trucated," whatever that means, on start up this morning. At least, I think that was the disk check, I was kind of half-asleep.

Didn't sleep well last night. Almost every morning I've been waking to stomach pains, for the last week or so. They wake me up at night, as well. Stomach's been doing some odd things this week. Don't know now if it's a bug, or what. No big deal, of course, but it is a bit of a bother, as I can't go all day without eating, but don't want to eat in the morning. Lately, I've been doing with just one full meal a day, and a couple of light snacks or a sandwich, the rest of the day. Not 'cos I want to, it's just that my appetite isn't so hot right now.

Well, have to TRY and eat SOMETHING, before I finish dressing for work. Going to be a long, long day. Cheers.

...from deeply personal posts.

Once again, BCUK--or my wonky 'puter, won't let me do a "friends only" post, so I'm posting this publicly.

I've recently discovered someone is reading my blog who may personally know me (in the physical sense, not one of my blog pals, or overseas friends or internet acquaintences), so I will keep my personal life out of my blog for a while, except for mundane stuff, or maybe old memories, that don't have any impact on my life in the here and now.

(I'll still be posting deeply personal stuff, as it's turned out to be good for me to get this stuff out of my system, but the posts will be for certain of my friends, and won't be available to the general public.)

I don't mind getting personal to strangers, but that's just it, strangers don't know you, so there's no harm. And, my blog friends do know me, but are supportive of me. Now, I may be wrong, and actually, I rather hope I am. But, I know human nature, and there's a chance this local voyeur isn't reading my blog for innocent or compassionate reasons. I checked, and it isn't my IP address. I don't like people I know, prying into my personal life behind my back. It makes me feel...dirty.

It makes me uncomfortable--like the time that nutter started stalking me on the internet, and then somehow got hold of my e-mail and mailing address, and began writing me, acting like I was his instant girlfriend--just add water and stir. Even after I (repeatedly) told him I was a dedicated old maid, he persisted in trying to get me to move in with him--mind you, we'd never met, and hadn't exchanged any more than two or three e-mails when he came up with the idea that we'd make a great couple. No, I don't think so. That was...very strange, and just a little bit creepy. Honestly? I don't know how David Tennant deals with this sort of stuff. Well, he can probably afford a body guard and a good security system, I reckon. But, considering my looks, my personality, and my lifestyle, I found being stalked truly ironic and ridiculous...and like I said, kind of creepy.

In my life, I've had to deal with a pedo, and a bus passenger with roaming hands (in very much the wrong place!) while I was traveling alone on a full bus on a cross-country trip, a classmate who rang me up in the middle of the night moaning that he was going to commit suicide--then telling me he was 'fine now' 'cos his girl came back to hime (they'd just had a spat, apparently), before closing the door on my face after I drove like a madwoman the 15 miles to his apartment at 3am.

Oh, and then there was the not-so-fun experience of almost being kidnapped by my last date (no, really--why do you think I gave up dating over 10 years ago?), and some woman who kept copy-catting all my apparel and interests...another slightly creepy experience. So, I got through all that, I can get through this invasion of my life, it's no different, really.

So, yeah, find that my obscure, UK-based blog being read by someone in my own backyard sort of uncomfortable. I suppose it's inevitable, though. It's easier to pry, than when you're looking that someone in the eye, isn't it?

Well, that's what they make "private" posts for, isn't it?

So, still public posts, I'm not going away--unless my 'puter crashes, of course. No worries there, mates. Just shadowing the more intimate stuff from public viewing for a bit.

Well, time for bed, have to work tomorrow--gawd, three week's worth of laundry cleaned and I'm knackered. Didn't finish the Hoovering...my living room rug looks as good as an old ratty living room rug can do, but the bedroom rug still looks a bit scruffy, so I have a little task to do, when I get home from work tomorrow. At least the kitchen looks halfway decent...but I still need to clean the oven and the fridge, though..and probably should pick up a can of "Bartender's Friend" for the stainless steel sink, as its getting a bit dull-looking and could do with a shine. never did make my bed today, or clean the loo. Oh well, I'll get to it some time this week.

I've decided to delete my "Bitter Revenge" play. It's garbage! Maybe I'll finish the Dr Who story I started to write back in June.

Well, time to hit the hay. Hope you all have a good Monday, whatever you're doing.

Well, there's some interesting local free events coming up:

This Wednesday night is an open house at the local model railroading club, and this time they'll be running three track layouts for visitors to view. I've been invited, so I reckon I shall walk downtown (weather permitting) and check it out.

The very next night on Thursday, for some reason lost to me, the city of Glens Falls is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's admission into the union (the anniversary of it becoming our 50th state), by having a downtown "luau." Yup, the entire downtown of Glens falls (two whole city blocks an part of the city park that's not under construction), will be transformed into the state of Hawaii, complete with a giant working "volcano," real Polynesian "tiki" dancers, a woman with a big harp doing ukalele impressions, a strolling comic pretending to be "Don Ho," free rum tastings (only if you're 21 or older, of course), and free tropical fruit drinks, games for the kiddies, etc. cumulating in fireworks display from the traffic roundabout at 9pm or thereabouts.

There's also a free folk music concert coming up at the city library, as well.

Can't afford the theatre events ( ) 'Cos they're priced for the posh people, but I hear there's a free lecture on Adirondack wildlife coming up--with a live red-tailed hawk and a raccoon (cool!), and I will try to mark that on my calendar.

Just clearing out some pics from photobucket--yiikes! Who's THIS tub of lard? Don't tell me I don't need a makeover. Well...I have lost about 35 or 40 pounds since these were taken, to be fair...still, ouch. The top one is me and my nephew at a beach on the Hudson River, back when I was in my mid to late 30's. The second pic was taken late May of 2001, at a little town on the IJsselmeer (a big lake) in the Netherlands. That's me petting one of the super-friendly, gentle, lovely (can you tell that I adore them?) and utterly magnificent Friesian horses.

My cat Boots, on a blazing hot day in our caravan, when he was just 1 year old (he's around 7, now):

Reckon most of my blog friends are happily snoring away in bed about now. It's half-past 8 in the evening over here. Dark outside--the long summer dusk is nearing it's end, and before we know it, it'll be dark by 5pm again. That's what I liked about living in Wyoming, the summer of 1980, was that being that far west, it didn't get dark until around half-past ten in the evening. That'll never happen in northeastern New York. Best we get is late-June, early July, when it gets dark around half-past nine, maybe 9:45 at the very latest.

Some of the leaves are turning already. Looks like we may have either a good peak year for foliage, or a cr*p year like last year, when the foliage didn't really peak all at once, but in dribbles and drabs. You need a lot of cold, frosty nights for a peak. The state of New York, as well as most local news broadcasts, actually issue "Fall Foliage" reports:

LEAF COLOURS FOUND IN NEW YORK STATE, FROM MID TO LATE OCTOBER:

Fall foliage season for Northern New York and Vermont, is a major tourism industry. We're talking big dollars if we get a prolonged "peak" year. When we do get a good peak year, it looks like this:

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM A HOT AIR BALLOON, NOT MORE THAN 5 OR 10 MILES FROM WHERE I'M SITTING RIGHT NOW, BY A LOCAL BALLOONIST.

TWO OF MY OWN PHOTOS OF LOCAL FOLIAGE

THIS ONE WAS TAKEN IN THE TOWN WHERE I WAS LIVING AT THE TIME, AUTUMN OF 2004. (DURING IT'S "PEAK"):

THIS ONE WAS NEAR SOUTH BAY ON LAKE GEORGE, IN THE TOWN OF FORT ANN, NY. IT WAS TAKEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, WHEN THE FOLIAGE WAS "PAST PEAK."