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Posts archive for: 3 September, 2008
  • Dealing with death....

    I look forward to the autumn. I love the crisp bite in the air, the smell of the maple leaves, the billowing gray clouds, the wind and the tang of change in the air--and of course, the lovely colours.

    Yet, autumn is a bit sadder time of year for me now, than from when I was a child.

    It was in the autumn that I lost one of my dearest friends to a long-term illness...my first brush with grief. It was in the autumn when I walked the woods and fields of my childhood, for the last time in my life. It was in the autumn when mum finally gave in to her kidney failure, and that same month when I finally (thanks to Bush's cuts) had to give up my dream of better life--my very future--when, after 5 years of struggle, I finally was forced to drop out of college...forever this time. It was 20 years before I could get back, in another 20 years my future will have been spent and perhaps, I shall not be here, anyway. It was in the autumn, I got my first eviction notice--six months after getting my first foreclosure notice.

    And, it was in the autumn, that I had to put four cats to sleep..two of mums, and worst of all, my two cats of 18 years, JR and Redcat--brother and sister, whom I'd literally helped to bring into the world. Red was my best friend, and saw me through some really rough times...but, he was dying, and I had no choice...and JR had a tumour, and I had no funds to help her...that last trip in the cab, with those four cats...horrible memory.

    Nearly a year to the day, I had to sit in a vet's office with my four cats--whom I really did love, I assure you...and tell the vet to put them down. A year to the day--almost, when I had to stand at a reception desk in the ICU of the local hospital here, and sign a paper terminating my mum's life support. The year before, I sat in a room, and held mum's cold hand, watching her heart rate drop on a monitor, crying into the phone, telling my sister, "She's gone." Two of the absolute worst words I've ever had to say to anyone...and hope I never have to again. So, when the vet asked me, if I wanted to be with my pets when she put them down...why could I not do it? It's something I will forever ponder.

  • Wow. No global warming? Think again, people.

    A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.
    Large pieces of ice are seen drifting off the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf in this July file photo.

    Large pieces of ice are seen drifting off the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf in this July file photo.

    Derek Mueller, an Arctic ice shelf specialist at Trent University in Ontario, told The Associated Press that the 4,500-year-old Markham Ice Shelf separated in early August and the 19-square-mile shelf is now adrift in the Arctic Ocean.

    "The Markham Ice Shelf was a big surprise because it suddenly disappeared. We went under cloud for a bit during our research and when the weather cleared up, all of a sudden there was no more ice shelf. It was a shocking event that underscores the rapidity of changes taking place in the Arctic," said Muller.

    Muller also said that two large sections of ice detached from the Serson Ice Shelf, shrinking that ice feature by 47 square miles -- or 60 percent -- and that the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf has also continued to break up, losing an additional eight square miles.

    Muller reported last month that seven square miles of the 170-square-mile and 130-feet-thick Ward Hunt shelf had broken off.

    This comes on the heels of unusual cracks in a northern Greenland glacier, rapid melting of a southern Greenland glacier, and a near record loss for Arctic sea ice this summer. And earlier this year a 160-square mile chunk of an Antarctic ice shelf disintegrated.

    READ MORE OF THIS ARTICLE, HERE: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/09/03/arctic.ice.shelf.ap/index.html?iref=werecommend

  • My internet ranking? Well...at least I'm not last....

    QDOS ranking: #56,494 from 65,570

    QDOS measures your internet status and helps you manage your online profile. To calculate your internet status, QDOS measures your digital footprint - how active, popular and impactful you are online.

    I'm more popular online than Steven Moffatt, but less popular than David Tennant and the Queen. Ah well, easy come, easy go. Liberals take heart: Obama leads McCain.

    DAVID TENNANT'S DIGITAL FOOTPRINT: (This site only lists 2 sites, so I suspect it's considerably higher than that. Sorry David, but once again--like the speed test you took in that old car, one of your female co-stars has trounced you. We are women--hear us ROAR, David dear. :))
    TENNANT'S SCORE IS....

    Q3942

    CATHERINE TATE

    Q4636

    DUTCHESS OF GLOUCESTER:

    Q3572

    GORDON BROWN

    Q6537

    GEORGE LUCAS

    Q7315

    GEORGE W. BUSH

    Q8179

    QUEEN ELISABETH II

    Q6471

    STEVEN MOFFATT

    Q996

    JOHN MC CAIN

    Q9256

    BARACK OBAMA

    Q10886

  • Macaroni and Beef the way mum made it...

    Known as "Macaroni goulash," or "American goulash" in my home, this was an economical, reasonably quick, and tasty dish, that was a popular weeknight supper in my house, in the 1960's and 70's. I plan on making this next week, as I have some leftover macaroni I want to use up.

    1 pound ground beef (mince)
    1 small can tomato sauce*
    1 small can tomato paste
    1 small can peas, drained
    1 tsp garlic powder (or 1/2 tsp finely minced garlic)
    1 small yellow onion, chopped (can substitute 1/2 TBLS onion powder)
    1/2 small box elbow macaroni

    Cook macaroni in boiling salted water, to which a few drops of vegetable or olive oil have been added. When tender, drain and give a quick rinse in cold water, then set aside.

    In the meantimes, brown ground beef with onions in a large, deep skillet or electric fry pan, until crumbly. Drain, and add stir in all remaining ingredients, including macaroni. Reduce heat and simmer over low heat, for about 15 minutes, being careful not to burn it.

    *Can substitute a cup of tomato puree or crushed tomatoes, if tomato sauce is unavailable.

  • MEH--so what?

    What's your current mood like?

    I took this quiz- What's your current mood like?

    My Result Was:
    Your mood is balanced right now. You are neither feeling total irritation nor total exhilaration.

    Take this quiz- What's your current mood like?

    More Friendster Quizzes on lots of topics.

    COLOUR TEST RESULTS:

    Seeks to express the need for identification in a sensitive and intimate atmosphere where esthetic or emotional delicacy can be protected and nurtured.

    Wishes to be independent, unhampered, and free from any limitation or restriction, other than those which she imposes of herself or by her own choice and decision.

    Distressed by the obstacles with which she is faced and is no mood for any form of activity or for further demands on her. Needs peace and quiet, and the avoidance of anything which might distress her further.

    Very exacting in the standards she applies to her choice of a partner and seeking a rather unrealistic perfection in her sex life.

    Needs a peaceful environment. Wants release from stress, and freedom from conflicts or disagreement. Takes pains to control the situation and its problems by proceeding cautiously. Has sensitivity of feeling and a fine eye for detail.

    Does not wish to be involved in differences of opinion, contention or argument, preferring to be left in peace.

    take the colour test:

    http://www.colorquiz.com/cgi-bin/start3.cgi

  • Who Am I? The BBC knows....

    You are a Linguistic Thinker
    Linguistic thinker Linguistic thinkers:

    * Tend to think in words, and like to use language to express complex ideas.
    * Are sensitive to the sounds and rhythms of words as well as their meanings.

    Like linguistic thinkers, Leonardo made meticulous descriptions in his journals. He also made an effort to learn Latin - a foreign language Other Linguistic Thinkers include
    William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Anne Frank

    Careers which suit Linguistic thinkers include
    Journalist, Librarian, Salesperson, Proof-reader, Translator, Poet, Lyricist

    ART PERSONALITY TEST RESULTS:

    Your favourite type of art is Impressionism.

    In the personality profile you had a high agreeableness score, which suggests you are keen to understand others’ feelings and put people at ease.

    PHYC QUIZ
    My Results
    Extraversion

    Some people like lots of stimulation; they want people around them, activity and excitement, whilst others prefer to be able to focus on things in a calm and quiet environment. Most people prefer a blend of the two extremes and your answers suggest that you are quite comfortable in either situation. You can probably cope with things being a bit hectic or a bit quiet but, like most people, you may find extremes in either direction uncomfortable or annoying.
    Confidence

    Some people make decisions very easily and tend not to worry about them before or afterwards while, at the other extreme, some people are so careful and cautious that the decisions never get made! Taking a cautious approach can be a good thing (do you want to fly with a pilot that is so free from worry and concern that she never checks her controls and instruments and doesn't bother to communicate with air-traffic control?) and you seem to have described yourself as someone who does tend to be quite cautious and careful. This can be very important in detailed work or areas were mistakes can have a major cost although you may find yourself avoiding risks and many cautious people wish they were bolder.
    Openness

    While some people like experimenting with new things and ideas, others prefer traditional methods and taking a very practical approach to problems.

    Your answers suggest that you like to balance a willingness to try new things with making sure you don't scrap an existing approach that works just because it has been around for a while. Like most people you may not enjoy constant change and uncertainty or an environment where nothing develops from year to year, but your preparedness to see the merits of new and old alike can be helpful.
    Agreeableness

    Most people want to be able to get on with others but to some it is the most important thing in the world, whilst others are quite happy to upset someone else if it means that things get done.

    Your answers suggest that you can be firm with people when you need to be but that getting on with others is still important to you. Like most people you would rather avoid conflict but are not prepared to put up with being treated badly by others.
    Conscientiousness

    Some people like everything to be well planned, tidy and organised, whilst others prefer to deal with things as they come up and appear to work in absolute chaos.

    Your answers suggest that you don't like having things too structured or being tied down and you can cope quite well without having to have everything organised. This may make it hard to find things at times or for colleagues to know where you are or what you are doing, but you probably find coping with the unexpected (the things your colleagues didn't plan for!) easier than many.

    SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

    My Results

    Your score puts you in the mature category of social reasoning and the majority of people will have scores in this range. Thinking here transcends the practicalities of one's preferences and exchanges to an emphasis upon social feeling, caring and conduct.

    You take into account the consequences of actions for other people, whether for benefit or harm, as a consideration in its own right for deciding how one should act towards others. You emphasise relationships, thinking how you might feel if you were on the receiving end. Empathy is important, as well as compassion.

    You are likely to expect others to conform to normally expected conduct, reflecting on "common decency" and will think of the chaos caused by laws being broken. You will value, love and respect others, and appreciate some higher values, as well as speaking of the benefits of a clean conscience or pride.

    MIND OF A MILLIONARE QUIZ:

    What is your millionaire potential?
    Your score is: 18
    You're in the top group - score 17 - 25
    You've got top-dollar millionaire potential. You're careful with your money and have a healthy attitude to it. You're hard-working and determined to be successful.

    "careful with my money? WHAT money?" :))

    BBC'S CAREER QUIZ:

    Read below to find out what careers you seem to be suited to based on your results in the test:
    Artistic

    Your results suggest that Artistic type work might suit your interests and preferences.

    Artistic types are interested in creativity and art, preferring freedom and independence to following rules and procedures. Self-expression is very important to Artistic types and they may prefer to work alone. Typical roles for Artistic types include artist, singer, designer, photographer, musician, writer and actor.
    Enterprising

    Your results suggest that Enterprising type work might suit your interests and preferences.

    Enterprising types like persuading and influencing people as well as controlling, managing and selling to them. They like to take a lead and are often quite motivated and ambitious but may be impatient and can find rules and detail frustrating. They tend to favour roles such as salesperson, manager, estate agent, supervisor, lawyer, advertising or marketing executive and often like positions that have status and prestige.
    Realistic

    Your results suggest that Realistic type work is less likely to suit your interests.

    Realistic types generally prefer action to words, they like physical activity and may prefer working with things to working with people. They tend to favour jobs where they can work with their hands or produce things, and often like outdoor work. Typical roles that suit Realistic types are gardener, mechanic, driver, electrician, farmer, sportsperson, skilled trades, labourers and some engineering and military roles.
    Conventional

    Your results suggest that Conventional type work is less likely to suit your interests.

    Conventional types are happy to work within systems and large organisations and tend to focus on accuracy and efficiency, preferring to know what is expected of them. They tend to like things to be organised and predictable and are often involved in roles that involve recording, sorting, documenting and organising. Typical roles for Conventional types include the range of administrative and clerical roles (e.g. in the government and financial sectors) as well as accountancy, banking, bookkeeping, secretarial work and some inspecting roles.

    THRILL SEEKING QUIZ:

    Thrill and adventure seeking - you score 6 out of 10

    This consists of items expressing desires to engage in sports or activities involving some physical danger or risk such as mountain climbing, parachute jumping, scuba diving, speeding in a car, etc.
    Experience seeking - you score 5 out of 10

    This descibes the desire to seek new experiences through the mind and senses by living in a nonconforming life style with unconventional friends, and through travel.
    Disinhibition - you score 0 out of 10

    This describes the need to disinhibit behaviour in the social sphere by drinking, partying and seeking variety in sexual partners.
    Boredom susceptibility - you score 1 out of 10

    This indicates an aversion for repetitive experience of any kind, routine work, or even dull or predictable people. Other items indicate a restless reaction when things are unchanging.

    Your total sensation seeking score is 12 out of 40

    What's this say about me? Who cares?

    Visit the webpage and do your own quizzes:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/index_surveys.shtml

  • When Boob Jobs Go Wrong...

    ...or right, if you're the woman's partner...

  • From the pages of our local paper, this morning...

    "MORNING UPDATE---M"

    What, there's a character from James Bond in Glens Falls? That was my initial reaction...then to my disappointment, discovered it was just really horrible writing/copy editing again.

    Blimey! Even the London Times and the Associated Press is turning to rubbish, with their online editions of the paper, so I shouldn't be surprised when my local paper makes a big gaff.

    I suspect, the lead is supposed to read, "MORNING UPDATE--MISDEMEANOR DRUG POSSESSION CHARGE." Or something like that, as that was what the article was about, some guy from Saratoga Springs getting arrested after he was spotted acting suspiciously while hanging around outside of a local Chinese takeaway--a popular meeting place for cocaine and canabis transactions. After being questioned by police, the man finally admitted he was waiting for someone so he could make a buy. He was arrested after a search by police found him in possession of a crack pipe which had cocaine residue in it.

    A man was arrested in the city of Glens Falls, for drink driving, and First Degree aggravated operation of an unlicensed vehicle--a felony, after officers in a patrol car used their computer number plate scanner on the car--which was parked in front of the bar, and found it was unregistered. Fifteen minutes later, the officer spotted the car being driven down a nearby street. The driver was drunk and also had seven suspensions of his driving privledges. He was released pending prosecution in city court. (Oh good, then he can drive around drunk some more, while he awaits sentencing!)

    One of the contenders for replacing this city's recently deceased mayor, has dropped out of the race, a supervisor of the 5th Ward district.

    On the dreaded Route 149 (a nasty B-road, the ONLY main route from New York state to central Vermont, which I had to travel everyday for a couple of years), there was a terrible car crash, in which a Saturn sedan smashed into an ice truck, completely totaling the car. Remarkably, no one was killed, in fact the three passengers got off with only minor injuries--despite being hit both front and rear by the ice truck, such was the force of the crash, which caused the Saturn to spin back into the path of the truck a second time. East bound traffic was brought to a standstill (trust me, no way around) for over a half mile, until the accident scene was cleared away.

    Ice hockey's most prestigious award--The Stanley Cup, will be on display for viewing at the Glens Falls Civic Center from 4:30 to 6pm today. The civic center is home of the city's Ice Hawks semi-pro hockey team. The cup will also make the rounds at some local schools.

    The opening of this area's biggest autumn event--the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival--will have a new thing this year, with three balloonists inflating right in the heart of the city centre, as part of the downtown Glens Falls festivities, welcoming in the festival. The other attractions of this years opening will be kid's games sponsored by Radio Disney, a local school band called "Detention," another band "Opus," and a classic car show. More hot air balloons will launch from the city's Crandall park, on Glen Street near the city line, at dusk, to kick off the first official launch of the four-day festival, which encompasses launches in the city of Glens Falls, and at Floyd Bennett Airport in Queensbury, Adirondack Community College in Queensbury and Lake George village.

    Hundreds of balloonists from all over the US and parts of Canada, participate in this event.

  • And in the "MEN!!!" Department....

  • morning

    Not much to say at 8:20am.

    Used up the last of the bacon and eggs yesterday, now haven't got much of anything for breakfast but some partly stale honey-nut Cherrios, and two hash brown potato patties...neither of which I want, nor toast..but I'll have to have SOMETHING, but nothing appeals. Stomach says I'm hungry, appetite says I'm not. What to do?

    Rough night. As I'd predicted, accidentally falling asleep yesterday afternoon, made sleeping last night difficult--wide awake at 2am. Then, when I finally did sleep, it wasn't well.
    Had the heart flutters again, and then woke twice with breathing problems--my sinuses perhaps, but think I"m getting a cold, as I had a slight cough and sneezing last night, as well.

    I'm incredibly tired, but nothing I can do about it, just slog into work, do my best, and that's that.

    I see a few splashes of pale greenish yellow, amid the lush green leaves of the maple tree outside my front window. Autumn is definitely 'round the corner, tho' it's quite hot these last few days, in the low 80's F.

    Had a mosquito in my living room last night--for some reason they are worse now, than in the height of summer--now I have a couple of itchy bites. Also had a cricket in the house....I live on the second floor, so find that a bit strange--tho' I've heard crickets inside air ducts in buildings before. I've been around crickets since I was a little girl...we had a bucket in our garage one year, when I was about 10 years old, that for some reason became full of the darn things. Unlike most bugs, I rather like crickets. I tried to catch this one, but it kept hopping away--then it dis something I'd never seen before: it FLEW. Not far, but in 47 years--mind you, nature girl here SHOULD have observed this at some point in the last 40 years---I never knew crickets had wings and could fly very short distances!

    Huh. Ya' learn new things every day, ey?

  • David Tennant's 15 second Hamlet

  • David Tennant Exposed!

    When the director ordered everyone's favourite Time Lord David Tennant to hold his mark while crew were setting up a shot, it seems that wasn't the only thing Tennant was holding! True to his profession, rather than ask for a break to nip into his nearby caravan, Tennant stayed put as requested, yet paused to take a slash against this fence rail.

    When asked about the incident, the actor replied, "It's enormous erm--pressure, when yer trying to create a good performance...and what canna' say? When ya' gotta', ya' gotta'--and I really, really really had'ta."

  • The "What Would YOU Do?" Quiz borrowed from Lazerdude

    Q1 – You have to put up a set of shelves. What do yo do?

    Pull everything out of the box, look at the instructions, swear a lot, then put everything back in the box again, and take it back to the shop for a refund.

    Q2 – There’s a family party coming up. What would you do?
    Well, if it's my sister (which is pretty much the only family I have), I'd make sure to have some Pepto-Bismol handy, and eat good before I leave on my visit, 'cos either she overcooks the food, or doesn't offer me anything but instant coffee...oh, and I'd wear comfy shoes, 'cos she often forgets to ask me to sit down, as well.

    Q3 – When working on a project, what do you do?

    Make sure the cats are fed so they'll leave me alone, and either put in some ear plugs or play some music, to drown out the sounds of barking dogs and fighting siblings, coming from my redneck neighbours on the other side of my wall.

    Q4 – When it come to work, what is your motto:

    "Let's just get this over with, already."

    Q5 – At the end of a typical day, what do you do?

    Walk home, eat lunch, blog, fall asleep and then be surprised when I realized I fell asleep.

    Q6 – At the office party, what award would you win?

    The "Stupid Award," for still working there nearly two years without a raise or any job benefits.

    Q7 – It’s time for your annual pay review. What would you expect?

    WHAT pay review???? (See above).

    Q8 – It’s 5pm and your boss calls an impromptu meeting. But you already have plans to see friends. What do you do?

    Tell him/her to feck off or pay me some overtime, I got better things to do, than sit in around a conference table, in a tiny hot, airless room, squeezed in with 20 other people, listening to the head honcho in India, telling us we're _____________(having another pay cut, not getting any benefits, not getting our annual cruise outing, having to work manditory weekends, etc...)

    Q9-You are traveling on a Transatlantic flight over the arctic, and the plane begins shuddering, the oxygen masks drop down and the pilot comes over the intercom and tells you there is a problem with the aircraft and that instructions from crew members will follow. What do you do?

    Scream my bleeding head off?

    Really, though I'll probably be scared sh*tless, I'd like to think I'll just take a deep breath, try to stay calm and just deal with it realistically--either I'm gonna' die horribly in the next few minutes, or I'll live, and very probably there's not much I'm able to do about it either way, is there? What happens, happens.

    Q10-You're at an awards dinner. You've been seated at a table with a couple having a massive row, a smelly drunken has-been eighties singer--who keeps hitting on you, a very rude female comedian, a gay screenwriter and his ex-partner, and your favourite television star. What do you do?

    Ask the TV star if he wants to go have a drink with me, and when he says "no thanks," use that as an excuse to get put out (tho' I really wouldn't be), and get the hell out of there!

    Or, alternately, I would just sit back and watch the fireworks, and be glad I'm not related to any of them (except the TV celebrity, of course).

  • ATTN Western USA Bloggers! Child abduction emergency

    Besides weather warnings and watches, the National Weather Service also, as a public service, issues "Child abduction emergencies." The following alert has been issued this evening for the state of Utah:

    URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    CHILD ABDUCTION EMERGENCY
    UTAH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SALT LAKE CITY UTAH
    RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
    1117 PM MDT MON SEP 1 2008

    THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE UTAH
    EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SALT LAKE CITY UTAH.

    THREE CHILDREN ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED FROM WEST
    VALLEY, UTAH BY THEIR FATHER...ISRAEL HERNANDEZ. HERNANDEZ IS A 30
    YEAR OLD HISPANIC MALE ABOUT 5 FEET 5 INCHES TALL WEIGHING 150
    POUNDS. THE SUSPECT WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A RED CHEVY CORSICA OR
    BLACK CADILLAC ESCALADE.

    THE CHILDREN BELIEVED TO BE IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. HERNANDEZ ARE
    XIOMARA HERNANDEZ-TORRES...AGE 3 HER 6 YEAR OLD SISTER ALICIA AND
    HER 4 YEAR OLD BROTHER PABLO. XIOMARA IS A HISPANIC FEMALE ABOUT 3
    FEET TALL WITH BLACK HAIR AND BROWN EYES WEARING A ROSE COLORED
    SHIRT...BLACK PANTS AND PINK SHOES.

    ALICIA IS 3 AND ONE-HALF FEET TALL WEIGHS 40 POUNDS AND HAS BLACK
    HAIR AND BROWN EYES. SHE WAS WEARING A RED AND PINK SHIRT...WHITE
    SHORTS AND PINK SHOES.

    PABLO IS 3 FEET TALL WEIGHS 30 POUNDS WITH SHORT BLACK HAIR AND
    BROWN EYES. HE WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A BLUE SHIRT WITH WHITE
    STRIPES...BLUE JEANS AND WHITE SHOES.

    ISRAEL HERNANDEZ IS THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT AND HAS NOT RETURNED
    THE CHILDREN FROM VISITATION ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST. THE CHILDREN
    ARE BELIEVED TO BE IN DANGER OF CHILD ABUSE.

  • Evening all,

    Just woke from a long, completely unplanned nap. 4 hours! Blimey! I'm turning into my gran! 88|

    Now I'll probably be up 'till 2am, 'cos I'm not tired. :roll:

    I stumbled into the living room (lounge), and, wow--hot in here? Yes! It's a humid and stagnant night out there...figures, right? The summer holidays are done, so NOW it gets hot again! Figures.

    I went to turn on my big table lamp in the living room, and it wouldn't switch on. So, I fumed a bit, thinking that expensive "long lasting" energy-saving light bulb I just bought--the curly-queue shaped one's that are supposed to be good for the environment--was dead burnt out already. But, after replacing the bulb with a regular one I nicked from another, smaller, lamp, the lamp still wouldn't switch on! So, I fumbled about with the extension cord it was plugged into and, viola! We have a working lamp--for some reason the plug wasn't plugged into the cord all the way--and I never thought to check it...DOH. (She smacks forehead--ow.) So, I unscrewed the regular bulb, to put the energy saver one back in ('cos that lamp's on more than the others), and as I was removing it, it fell from my hand onto the end table, and shattered into tiny bits---so, after picking up the biggest pieces, I had to haul my shop-vacuum in, to hoover up the glass off the rug. Not the most fun way to spend one's evening.

    Then, as I was putting the vac away, I bumped into one of my bookcases, and sent a couple of knick-knacks that were on top of it, flying all over. I have this little china Scottish collie dog that mum had given me years ago ('cos I have a fondness for Scot Collies, what with growing up watching "Lassie," owning a half-collie as a teen, and later foster caring for two abused collies as an adult for a while, for a local animal rescue) besides horsey things, mum sometimes bought me collie stuff as gifts, as well. :**: Anyway, couldn't find the tiny little dog anywhere--which I found odd, as there really wasn't anything but bare carpet around--then as I was sitting on the floor, looking under the bookcase, I spied it...right next to my hand. I have this little approx. 24 inch, by 18 inch oriental-style throw rug in the door way leading into the bedroom (it covers up the 100 year old cast iron central heating grill in the floor)--the rug is cream/brown/burgundy, so the collie kind of blended in with it. I would'a smacked my forehead again, but that last time kinda' hurt. :))

    So, after grumbling and muttering, I just said "sod it!" and left the vac in the living room, to be put away later, before I go to bed.

    It's just past half-past 8 here, or 20:40 if you're British. and I've dinner in the oven. Making a small baked split fryer--a half-chicken, seasoned with a Quebec (aka: "Montreal") rub--a special blend of spices and herbs popular in northeastern New York. I've a box of instant cornbread stuffing mix, and some frozen broccoli, so I've got a pleasant dinner planned for in a while.

    Work wasn't too bad--only did selling for the first 2 hours, then was switched to a survey--tho Americans are paranoid freaks, and you CAN believe that, trust me.

    You would not believe the number of screamers out there, who shriek "WHERE did you get MY number?" I mean, these people go BALLISTIC!

    I just sooo--would like to mess with their convuluted, obtuse little American brains even further, by saying calmly, "Why, from the CIA, of course, why else do you think we're calling? George Bush wants us to call you just to remind you, that you have NO privacy in America any longer, and he thanks you for allowing him to do that. Have a nice day....oh, and why don't you go for a hair cut tomorrow? Our spy sattleite shows you're getting a bit too long in the back."

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