I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Big Day is Tuesday, but I'm still getting ready for it.

I have to shut down this blog for a week, but I'll be back in no time at all. I've closed commenting temporarily, so my lovely friends, advert spammers and internet troll assholes alike, are all simply going to be plumb outta' luck.

Still sick--very sick. I was better, but no I've developed bronchitis, and am quite tired and feverish this am. Oh, I'll be fine. I'd rather a cold than a bad back, or something more serious.

Flame has been making a nusience of herself lately,. She's got this new thing, where she sits in front of my monitor, to get attention. Normally, she sits on the back of my chair, reaching around and poking at me me in the arm or shoulder with her paw. Nag, nag, nag. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do--and Flamey has elected herslf.

It's overcast today, but not so cold as it's been.

That stoner girl downstairs last night, made me so glad I'm leaving this armpit in the southern Adirondack mountains.

Some class at the local community college up the road did a study of local women, recently. They went out for two weeks, and randomly surveyed women on the street who reside in this city, asking if they are or ever have been, in a physically or emotionally abusive relationship with a man. 87% said yes, they had. 4% said no, the rest wouldn't answer the question.

And people wonder why I stopped dating, in 1997.

Hello, bad idea in this part of the world.

American men largely are irresponsible, prideless, adolescent morons, I've had the misfortunte to discover. Not all,tho'. I found that there's some really cool guys out there, a few whom are a real pleasure to know...but they are the exception, not the rule...and about half those men whom I've met and enjoyed their company, are gay, ha-ha.

I think the thing I'm going to miss most about being offline, isn't blogging, but music. I only get one station here--the old fart's easy listening station, which is really bad--and I like easy listening, normally.

Don't own many CD's, maybe six or eight, I guess. But they'll just have to do, I suppose. If I still owned a tape recorder, I could have made some mix tapes...but I don't, so I'll just have to tough it out, I guess.

Jeez, it's a gloomy day, today. I feel rubbish, so I'm going back to bed for an hour or so. I have to go out later, and I want to be rested.

Cheers all, see you next Friday, I hope!

In the news is the story where a Northwest Airbus jet overshot its destination by around 150 miles, and had to turn around and go back.

No, really.

Seems the pilots dropped out of communications with the tower at 37,000 feet, and just sort of forgot to get back in touch with them.

The two male pilots were completely unaware that they had flown over--and past, the airport, until a female flight attendtant told them they'd missed their "exit" on their heavenly highway.

The pilots immediately contacted the tower and turned around and headed back to the airport. They'd gone only 150 miles, which isn't far by plane, so the passengers never noticed they were in the air a bit longer than they were meant to be.

Men.

The plane was traveling from San Diego, CA, to Minneapolois, Minnesota. No passengers were ever in danger over the incident. The passengers never learned about the pilot's error, until the local police converged on the plane. The pilots claim they were engaged in a heated discussion, but authorities are looking into whether the pilots may actually have fallen asleep at the wheel, so to speak. Some passengers claimed to be appalled by the pilot's unprofessional behaviour, while other passengers seemed to find the situation rather humourous.

The chav bimbo girl downstairs just called the cops on me, cos she thought I was trying to break into her apartment!

It 11.05pm, and I was taking out my bin bags to the big wheelie bin outside--which neither of the two able-bodied males across the hall could be arsed to take in from the kerb, so I had that to do, as well.

I had to drop one heavy bag from the balcony, cos' it was just too heavy to carry down two flights of stairs (I'd just cleaned out my fridge). I drop one bag from the balcony, and wheel a bin near the windows, and this ditzy girl is all freaking out and calling the cops.

Now we've had the cops here, time and again, in the last 3 years--even a fed from Homeland Security looking for someone. I had my bike stolen, and petty stuff, but in 3 years, no one that I know of, has ever tried to break in through a window--while someone was home with the lights and tele on (which was the case with stoner girl downstairs).

Un-freaking-believable.

There I am, putting bags in the bin, and a black and while unit pulls up to the kerb, and the cop shines his spotlight in my face. He comes walking over with his hand actually on his Taser. Jesus Christ! I'm 49 years old, have a chest cold and a bad back and weigh over 200 pounds..I couldn't climb through her window if my very life depended on it--in fact, if my life did depend on me climbing the 4 feet to her window, I'd be a dead woman.

I had to give the cop all my personal details....the stoner girl comes out on the porch all timid-like and acting scared half to death. I told her I was sorry, I didn't think I'd made that much noise.

Damn, I can't wait to get the hell out of this city full of pissants.

Mr Griffin has publicly stated that he supports the KKK. He claims that parts of the racist group (the Klu Klux Klan), officially classed as a "hate organisation" in America, were "non-violent". Griffin says: "I’m not a Nazi and never have been."

Actual photos of the KKK--HELLO, do I see Nazi salutes and swastika armbands???

You're so full of shite Mr. Griffin, it's a wonder you didn't stink up the whole West End of London on Thursday night.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

"Ku Klux Klan (KKK), informally known as The Klan, is the name of several past and present hate group organizations in the United States whose avowed purpose was to protect the rights of and further the interests of white Americans by violence and intimidation.....

...The KKK has a record of using terrorism,[2] violence, and lynching to murder and oppress African Americans, Jews and other minorities and to intimidate and oppose Roman Catholics and labor unions.

FROM 5TH AUGUST, 2009

Shane Foster, 21, of Bogalusa Louisiana, is accused of trying to cover up a shooting his father Raymond Foster allegedly committed last November.

The elder Foster is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing a Ku Klux Klan recruit who changed her mind and wanted to go home.

Foster was a former Imperial Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan.

Also...

"A former Ku Klux Klan member goes on trial, accused of murdering two black teenagers in 1964...." This was on the BBC News a while back. So, Griffin either was busy having a frontal lobotomy when this news story broke, or he is a lying hypocritical bigot.

Brave men tell the truth, cowards are pathological liars who tell whatever "truths" work for them at the moment, factual or not.

Some loser in Bejing, China just hit me with half a dozen spams for cheap imitation designer handbags.

Business must really be bad in China, ey?

Yeah, I'm gonna' click on a spam link to buy some crap purse that I can probably buy for the same or less at my local Walmart? I. Don't. Think. So.

The Chinese used to be clever, but I don't think they quite grasp western culture very well.

She or he must not understand English, cos' it says that the comment won't be posted until I accept it...which of course, I didn't.

So, some loser in China just wasted 20 minutes or a half hour of his or her time, posting spam that no one will ever see.

Nice to know that Americans are the only stupid twats out there in the world.

In clearing out some boxes stuff with personal papers belonging to my family, I found something my mum must have salvaged and saved, a few years back.

She was like that; I'd bin some bit of homework--an essay, a poem, a play, whatever...she'd find it and squirrel it away with her other little momentos of me and my sister.

I have this one totally embarrassing photograph taken of me when I was just a baby...and I SWEAR, I would keep throwing it away, and it would somehow, keep finding its way back into the trunk containing family photos. How did she do that?

Even recently, just when I thought the baby photo from hell had vanished forever, as I was sorting pictures in the box, not one--but two of the pics re-surfaced!

Even in heaven or wherever she is, mum will not let me toss those photos!

Getting back to the subject at hand, as I was going through some of my late mother's stray genealogy papers that'd I'd uncovered, I found something I'd written in the late autumn of 2001.

You see, my liberal arts degree required me to enroll in a "main" liberal arts subject. Well, I'm rubbish at art, and my dyscalculia gets in the way of studying music...and some of the other fields of study were filled already. So, I got "stuck" into theater classes--which I certainly didn't object to, thought I was a wee hesitant, cos' I've not a talented bone in my poor blubbery Polish babuska body.

So, in the autumn 2001 semester, I enrolled in an acting course. The following spring semester it was acting 102 and intro to theater, and in autumn of 2002, I found myself in a playwriting course.

We read some plays, did a few skits, attended lectures and took notes. It's amusing to note that the class was beyond capacity with around 30 students, on my first day. But the time we were at mid-terms in November, There were, counting myself, only about six of us, and we swapped the drafty theatre auditorium, for a small classroom in the adjoining science wing of the building.

Our first "big" assisngment was actually a no-brainer, something to get our feet wet in way of how to write a proper play. We were assigned the task to write a play in the fairly new 10-minute play format.

You've heard of speed dating? You know, where a mob of strangers meet at a pub or wherever, and go from table to table every 8 or 10 minutes, busking everyone, trying to chat each other up?

Well, loosely speaking, ten mintue plays are sort of like speed-drama, I suppose.

My first actual "play," was sort of a no-brainer, really. We were sat around in a group and the theater professor/director shot questions at us, and wrote our answers on a chalkboard--how many characters? Who were they? What were their names? Where were they? When were they? What should the play be about? What was the conflict? Stuff like that.

All we had to do, was fill out their characters and decide how their 'conflict' was going to actually unfold.

So, I wrote the play. I'm absolutely RUBBISH at coming up with titles, so I just called it "Masks" because some of the characters aren't necessarily what they seem to be.

There I was, sitting on my bedroom floor, reading this play I'd totally forgot I'd even written--wincing like hell. Jeez, no actor in his right mind would want to do this.

Before you graduate from our local community college here where I presently live, you have to do a manditory writing portfolio--it's standard practice at colleges over here, to prove you actually learned how to write English (something American public (what would be your state) schools don't really bother with--one of the southern states just did away with lessons in cursive writing.)

Anyway, you also have the option, in your very last semester at the college before getting your degree, to submit a voluntary writing portfolio. The incentive being that if your writing is deemed good enough by a panel of five English professors, you get an utterly worthless "letter of commendation" ---which is given to you as a photocopy, cos' the original stays in the college's files--to hang on your wall to gather dust and fly droppings.

I made the mistake of submitting Masks in my portfolio. While my essays and one short story got high marks, "Masks" came back with some really snarky and withering comments from one of the professors....I went into the cab of my pick up truck out in the car park and cried like a little girl.

Oh, don't worry, I got over it. It wasn't a bad thing, cos' it sure killed my writer's ego in a hurry!

But, reading it seven year's on...yeah, I suppose I deserved the hiding I got.

Here's the first page and a half of the script:

SETTING: A cozy little Italian restaurant and pub, in a small city in upstate New York. It is June of 1980.

JIM: (Slaps the table with his hand) Don't you even say it!

DAD: Now who has, as you say, (makes quote marks with his fingers) the "hang up"?

"OK, the queue for Matt Smith fans is back by the loos, the David Tennant fans can form up right here in front of David."

This was a question on one of the forums I follow on another website....since the subject seems to be popping up on more than one blog or forum site lately, I found it interesting reading what other people think.

I guess how us adults feel about these internet trolls, is pretty much universal.

Here's some of the answers that were given by other members on this forum:

"I checked the DSM IV TR, and found an entry for 'Assholery Not Otherwise Specified.'"--TJ

**that stands for "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

"Their empty little minds can't figure out how to deal with boredom."--Spicelady

"They aren't getting enough attention at home."--Cassiedubonet

"They get they tiny rocks off being mean for fun--like torturing cute fluffy animals."--Katiedidnt

"Cowards always prefer to attack the helpless or vulnerable and they are too scared to hurt anyone face to face so the internet is the perfect place for this garbage to fuck around."---Jonaswale

"They got tired of masturbaing?"---Jenblue

"In real life they'd be the kind to slowly cross a busy intersection with their thumbs up their butt. But they get stupid on the internet because they are too lazy to have a life like the rest of us."----Larryb

"They're just mental. Nothing a good dose of shock therapy and a padded cell wouldn't cure."--Fadwasaj

"You know the type: leave the bathoom without flushing, never clean up after themselves, always whining about something, no sense of personal responsibilty, no intellectual stimulation, social rejects, parents can't be assed, the usual thing."---Yarndoll

"They want the world to know that theyre stupid assholes, what else is there to know?"--joetrekie

"Lousy personal self-esteem and probably also some kind of sadisic personality or anti-social behavioral disorder."---Martinx

"They're just stupid retards with nothing better to do."--krazigo

"These people are so low on the evolutionary scale, that the only way they can figure out how to get attention, is to make people angry."--Starrunner

"It's just a bad person, nothing else."---Drunkenpirate

"He or she is a mentally unstable human being who needs help and isn't getting any."--Monalisagirl

"They feel powerless and are lashing out at the first one that comes along, like any rapid animal would. Please don't feed the trolls."---jonlarson23

Lately I noticed that my wee ginger cat, Flame, has developed these black spots on her nose.

I wasn't too concerned, but went to one of those "ask the vet" websites. I found out it's no cause for alarm, whatsoever.

My little girl just has got something called, lentigo simplex. It's basically freckles for cats.

Apparently, only ginger tabby cats, and sometimes a calico, will get middle aged freckles on their noses, sometimes lips, too. Only, unlike human redheads, cat's freckles come in black, insted of brown.

Her nose is still dark red, but now it's got poka-dots, too!

I suppose it's a bit like me, getting those brown age spots on my hands and arms.

Hey, ya' learn something new, every day, ey?

"This republican fortune cookie from America really gets right to the point. It says: "We think you're gay. Start wearing something more butch."

I just, out of the blue and totally unexpected, got two birthday gifts today.

Considering that this year, I wasn't expecting ANYTHING--no cards, gifts or cake or anything, I am just gobsmacked.

First, one of my best friends sent me two DVD's--Firefly and Serenity. Wow, that's so cool! I've been dying to see Firefly since my friend told me about it, and I've never had the opportunity to see Serenity.

Plus the fact, that she took the time and effort to think of me in this way, is just amazing. I am so very touched.

I've spent so many days--holidays, birthdays, sick-injury days, ordinary days---totally alone, that I am always taken a bit aback, when someone goes out of his or her way to remember me and/or do something for me. That just leaves me so chuffed and very touched, as well.

Then, one of my gal pals from my former job, (she and her hubby are just two of the loveliest people), stopped by to drop off a card and a gift, as well.

Whoa. I think my jaw must have fell to the floor.

She said she couldn't stay, but I gave her a big hug, and she promised she'd try to stop by again this weekend, if she could.

Wow, that is so fantastic, I'm just so...well, as the post title says, I'm feeling a bit teary-eyed.

My mate from work gave me a $5 gift card to McDonald's, and a blue novelty tee-shirt, with the logo of the band, The Who, on it. Brilliant! I love The Who.

Our new mayor--whom I'm ashamed to say is a democrat, is a total loser.

He acts more like a rethuglican than an elected official. "I want what I want, and to heck with what the people who elected me want."

In yet another move to irradicate the undesirable elements in the city, so the posh people coming in from other parts of the state can feel "safe," the mayor is advocating the judicious use of electronic tasers...bacially torture.

300 citizens of this city, have signed a petition asking the mayor to remove tasers from the police. The mayor refuses, saying the benefits to the police are more important than the pain and suffering the misjudged use of said weapons, have caused members of the local public.

Now, I'm not against tasers--better a taser than a club or bullet, but I AM against abuse of tasers by police.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, since Glens Falls police began using tasers, they've used their tasers against local citizens 94 times from 2004 to 2009.

Not an awful lot, in a city of 15,000 souls, but...it's not the number in question, so much as the judgement of officers, at times.

Also known as "stun guns," tasers work by upsetting the electrical signals that direct the body’s nervous system. When a human being is tasered, it effects the nervous system and the brain. The nerves first transmit pain to the brain, but then, this is followed by muscle spasms and total confusion. For someone with a heart condition, epilepsy or certain other medical conditions, a taser hit can potentially cause serious medical issues or even be fatal.

In one instance, an unruly patient at the hospital's mental health in-patient unit, whom was refusing to take some medicine, was tasered by police, after he pushed an officer with his hand.

Officers also tasered three people five times each, and seven people three times each--which is considered by some experts as "excessive, bordering on torture."

Additionally, 95% of the people who were tasered between 2004 and 2005 had absolutely no weapons on their persons.

Now, no one is trying to say that all the tasered people didn't deserve it--I'm sure a few probably did, but, a taser is much more easily a weapon of aggression, whereas a martial arts technique is purely defensive. Some officers in the force, quite frankly--and I can tell you this from both observation and discussions with those who are related to some of these officers, that several patrol men and women, are simply not very fit. In fact, I know of one Glens Falls patrolman, whom weighs close to 300 pounds (21 stone)! And, trust me, it ain't muscles--gee officer, is that a bullet-proof protective layer of fat hanging over your gunbelt, or a sack of 500 donuts?

These officers possibly use a weapon, simply because they are not physcially able to perform martial arts techniques.

Mayor Diamond--whom has only been mayor since Nov. of 2008, steadfastly maintains that local police have never been excessive in their use of tasers.

No one is arguing that tasers aren't useful to police, only that they should be used with good judgement, and only in cases where police are truly in a life-threatening situation. Most anti-taser advocates say that good self-defense training would be more humane than tasering combative, but totally unarmed, citizens.

In the neighbouring community of Hudson Falls, NY, police also carry tasers--but have yet to ever use one. The police chief there says that so far, all their officers have needed to do, was point the taser at a compative suspect and threten them with its use, and the suspect automatically gives up.

Let's face it: there's good cops, bad cops and mediocre one's. My contact with the local police has largely been negative. They are gruff, ill-mannered and have crap people skills. The Glens Falls police behave as much like thugs, as the thugs they go after.

I don't say that lightly. I happen to LIKE most police officers I've met in the past, and have nothing but the greatest respect for them...but then, the police in this city, aren't like most officers I've met in the past 40 years. These police officers largely act more like marines fighting a war, than public servants helping local citizens feel safe.

Glen Fall's Mayor Diamond says the taser's will save officer's lives--yet no officer in the department in the past 30 years, has been killed while on duty. In fact, outside of the occasional knifing or fist fight, there hasn't even been a serious violent crime in the city, in several years now. While some illegal weapons have been seized by police, the fact remains that NO firearms have been discharged by any citizens within this particular city, in the last 2 years.

There's a major interstate motorway that runs through our area. I-87, (Aka: the "Northway"), is the main motorway from the south-north New York City to Montreal, Canada route.

One of the motorway exits, comes out on a busy A-type road, which has on or near it, shopping centres, a shopping mall, hotels, restaurants, the local high school, petrol stations and residential streets.

In New York, unless otherwise indicated by signs, people in cars can turn right at a red light--providing they stop first, and that nothing (cars, pedestrians, etc) is coming.

Unfortunately, I can attest to the fact that many New York motorists are dumb assholes, and totally ignore those little signs that say "No right on red," and/or won't bother to stop, and will turn despite there being legal right-of-way traffic or pedestrians in the way.

A young man in a motorized wheelchair, was hit no less than three times at the motorway exit--while he had the right of way.

Last autumn, it was the last straw, when some plonker coming off the motorway, illegally turned right, and hit the bloke's wheelchair, knocking the poor soul off, giving the lad some nasty cuts and bruises.

The lad got angry, and wrote to the local New York state assembly woman, demanding that something be done...and it was...a year later.

The assembly woman down at the capital in Albany, turned in the bloke's letter to the New York State Dept. of Transportation (DOT). They took some months to do a study of traffic flow and how exiting traffic interacted with pedestrian traffic.

The formed the conclusion that the bloke in the wheelchair was right--New York drivers are indeed, often total assholes.

Unfortunately, they couldn't install a 24/7 "No right on red" sign, because the off-ramp was somewhat short, and they feared the tail-back traffic from the red light, would back up onto the motorway too much.

So, New York State made a brand-new type of road sign...an electronic "No right on red when flashing" sign. The sign will only come on, when someone pushes the pedestrian crossing button on a nearby pole.

So now New York drivers will have to be really massive assholes, if they go right on red while some guy in a wheelchair is legally using the zebra crossing.

Unfortunately, even though the new "No right on red" sign will be flashing at driver's like a call girl on a Saturday night, I'm sure some stupid American mook will ignore it, anyway, and end up having to pay compensation to some hapless person just trying to cross the blinking street.

I guess that bugs me about driver's sometimes. The crass one's, I mean. The one's who try to mow you down just for you actually trying to simply cross the street: they're usually pretty fit, sitting comfortably--and protected from the weather, in a car that can go zero to fast in about 30 seconds (unless it's a Yugo or a Smart car)...yet they begrudge a disabled person or an elderly person, their right to simply cross the street safely.

I mean, it takes what, to cross a street---10 or 15 seconds, tops? Seriously, these assholes can technically can drive a good 200 feet in 30 seconds, while in that 30 seconds, the lame or elderly person can't go more than 10 or 15 feet. Is trying to play chicken with the halt and the lame--who aren't fit and are out in the elements, really necessary? It's just selfish impatience and moral laziness.

Recently, actor David Tennant was threatened with being sectioned, after trying to turn the airport baggage check-in queue, into an impromptu conga line.

Tennant also allegedly abruptly began slapping his bottom, while bursting into song, singing: "Give your body pleasure, Macarena, eyyyy--Macarena!"

As we all know, trolls--of both the internet and mythological variety, are ugly little mothers, but....

If you're over a certain age (say 35 or 40), you may remember these, that you could get from a gumball machine or carnival booth:

Do they still sell them? I've not seen one in yonks of years. My sister used to put perfume in her troll's hair.

Now here's a manly tattoo--imagine seeing this across the dinner table, every night:

Erm---??? Just what I'd always want, a picture of me sitting in front of a troll's crotch.

Troll Boy: “I learned my first human words today!”

Troll Boy: “Eeeeek, a Troll!”

I done got tagged, Maw!

Bombs away!

1 What music do you listen to the most?

Lately, a mixture of indie pop and oldies...but I do listen to other stuff, as well.

2 Do you like to read? If so...favorite book(s)?

I adore reading. Even if my mum hadn't been a librarian, I would have grown up adoring books.

I guess the books I've read (and re-read) the most over the years, are: Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Walking Drum, The Sackett Brand and To Tame a Land all by Louis L'amour, Wuthering Heights, Black Beauty, Afraid to Ride by C.W. Anderson, Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, Blood Harvest by Terrence Dicks, Sabriel by Nix, Man on Horseback (non-fict), Walden by Thoreau, Complete Guide to North American Wildlife, Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenrich, Ciscero: Modern Politics in a Roman Toga, Three Plays by Eugene O'Neil, Famous Poems, Morning Moods (poetry) by Lorna Greene, The Virginian by Owen Wister, Murder on the Appian Way by Steven Saylor, The Charge of the Light Brigade (non-fic) by Woodham-Smith, New Way of the Wilderness by Fester-Lampert.

Recent favs include: Lost Horizons, Cannery Row, A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisnovich, Spartan by Manfredi, Shakespeare ALIVE!, The Writer's Tale by Davies, Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards, The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty, A Mulligan for Bobby Jobe (which I never got to finish), Harriet Jacobs: A life, Horse Tradin' by Ben K. Greene.

3 How often do you really "go out"?

Pfft. Yeah, right. Next question?

4 Have you ever lost anyone you loved?

My parents and two very close friends.

5 Ever been in love?

No, not yet.

6 On a scale of 1-5 how organized are you?

About a 2

7 Last Song you listened to?

I Will Walk 500 Miles. Right now, In the Sand by Kashmir is playing.

8 Zodiac sign?

Scorpio, I think?

9 Movie(s) you can watch over and over?

Aresenic and Old Lace, Anatomy of a Murder, Scarlet Street, Jose Ferrer's Cyrano De Bergerac, The Out-of-Towners with Jack Lemon, Lillies of the Field, James Bond films from Moore to Brosnan, original Star Wars films, Nine-to-Five, The Far Country, True Grit, Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, Vertigo, Pillow Talk, The Magnificent Seven, Galaxy Quest, Stagecoach, It Happened One Night.

10. What is/was your worst subject in school?

Maths or anything involving maths...and sewing class, I was rubbish at sewing...and PE.

11 Your best subject?

Growing up, it was English-writing and history. In college, it was the same, but I also got good grades in theatre, archaelogy, western riding (PE) and political science.

12 Where, outside of your country, would you like to visit?

The UK, Iceland, Italy (Pompeii), Austria, Canada, Finland, Norway.

13. Any disorders you've actually been diagnosed with (O.C.D., A.D.D...)?

Dyscalculia, bi-polar, mild DCD (dyspraxia)

14 When you die, would you rather be burried or cremated?

Ideally, I'd like to be buried with my mum and grandad and Great-aunt Orpha....but, realitically, I suppose what Ill get is a cardboard box of ashes. Maybe someone will scatter them on a hill or in a stream in Albany Rural Cemetery, that would be the next best thing, I suppose.

15 Clothing stores you shop at the most:

Peter Harris Clothing
local consignment shops
Tractor supply Co.
TJ Maxx
Walmart
K-Mart
Target

Well, if yesterday was sunny and lovely, then today is its evil nemisis. It's cold, gloomy and looks like rain or snow.

It was 38 F (3.3 C) when I woke this morning. The temp is suppose to rise by about 20 degrees, and no rain or snow is forecast, so hopefully this will all clear away by this afternoon.

I had a slightly better night last night--tho' I was wakened frequently. Marginally better this morning, so hopefully this thing is finally winding down.

My throat has taken an awful beatng though, and I sound a bit like the character Froggy, in those old Little Rascals/Our Gang film shorts...

....except when I'm angry, then I sound like a Dalek, so watch out!

Oh, I had such a hard time trying to motivate myself today, to do anything, after only 3 hours of sleep. I strongly suspect there's some caffinne in one of my medications. I've not had any coffee or cola in days...of course, coughing isn't very conductive to sleep, either.

I needed a song to fire me up. This came on, and I was pumped, ha-ha. I DARE you to listen to this song and not feel like rockin' and singing along.

I confess I don't know a damn thing about them, other than they're from (I think) Nova Scotia, Canada. Nevertheless, I love The Trews, this is a fantastic song.

President Obama, America's first African-American president, has received more death threats than any other American president in 233 years.

The Secret Service has gotten information on so many assassination attempts, that it actually is overwhelmed and cannot cope with them all.

Indeed, even before Barack Obama was elected president, right-wing conservative forums--from political, to "Christian" to hunting clubs---boasted white men all across America, advocating the murder of a U.S. president.

Few of the threats come from foreign or non-white sources.

Most of the threats come from American citizens. The very same citizens who fuss over their constitutional right to bear arms, hypocritcally and stupidly advocate both high treason and murder.

The majority of the threats are due to paranoid cowardly white men terrified of a black man in power. In other words, the threats are purely of a racial nature.

Other white men threaten the president out of fear of losing their precious second penises with bullets, erm--guns.

Since the president's election to the nation's highest office, enrollment in the KKK and other fascist and white supremiscist groups has risen by 35%.

The U.S. Secret Service is reportedly underfunded and understaffed, and not able to deal with the sheer volume of threats by the American terrorist factions.

What these stupid white trash males don't grasp, is that not all terrorists are foreign. ANYONE who threatens the USA--which includes assassinating our presdident, is an effing terrorist.

I'm telling you, with every new headline I read every day, I get more and more and more disgusted and ashamed of America and Americans.

Last night, the sunset was marvelous: a sky painted with the colours of lavender and roses.

This morning, before sunrise, the sky was a light periwinkle blue, brushed at the bottom edges with a hint of orange and gold.

Wednesday morning, sometime between 1am and dawn, the Orionid Meteor Shower will grace the smooth black velvet skies of Autumn.

Nature is the world's greatest artist, the ultimate master...one who never stops changing palates, techniques and scenes. An eternal work of art, constantly unfolding before our eyes--if we choose to see it.

I was lucky, growing up. I lived on a small east-facing hill, in the Upper Hudson Valley. I had sunrise's facing me, every day of my life, for over 20 years. And, at night, there was the sunset through the pine grove behind our house--and the reflection of that sunset, on the hills across the valley. (See below.)

BELOW: A sunset over New York's Upper Hudson Valley. A sunset just as I grew up seeing it.

Balloon boy's twat of a dad is getting arrested...it appears that he also had an accomplace, and that the two of them spent months planning the hoax.

This latest revelation may change the charges against the parents from a misdomenor to a felony--which brings much harsher fines and jail time penalites.

It is believed it was all meant as a sick idea of a publicity stunt for a pending reality television programme on cable network TLC--The Learning Channel. TLC has since dumped the father and his plans. It is alleged that the father and his accomplice spent months discussing the hoax.

According to e-mails obtained by authorities, the father wanted to call attention to his beilef in UFO's, via a reality show. The show was to feature the father as a crazy scientist who did all sorts of strange experiments.

Website Gawker.com has already paid the father's accomplice an undisclosed amount for the story of planning the UFO hoax. The accomplice claims he didn't know the father would involve his children in the stunt.

The hoax cost the taxpayers of Colorado over ten thousand dolllars in emergency services manpower, took away key emergency personnell from their posts, put the military on alert , and completely shut down the Denver airport for about 10 or 15 minutes, and forced the re-routing of flights to and from the Denver metro area, for hours.

What a stupid plonker! Always, always, there's continual proof that America is the dumbest country on the ENTIRE planet.

You are always watching me?

OK, so either fucking ask me for a date already, or just shut up and go suck your thumb, you paththetic 13 year old twat.

Maybe I shold start selling tickets!

Who the fuck cares? No one cares about some obnoxious sociopathic brat. NO. ONE. You are NOT a normal human being. You're going to grow up to be a woman and/or child abuser, or a pedophile, or a substance abuser. Maybe all of those.

I have never done what you do, and never will. I am better than you. I am stronger, more clever and--good or bad---I KNOW that I have had a fuller and richer and more satisfying life you will ever have.

You, cyberfart, are nothing. Long after I am dead, you will continue to be nothing. You have no life, and you never will. You will be the same mental, spineless loser at 50, that you are today.

I have sybolically cut your tiny little manhood off, and zapped you with my ray gun, intil you aren't even ashes.

You can post all the stupid arse comments (see below) you want, but I won't read them. I didn't even read the one on here--but I know it's just another one of your stupid baby tantrum rants, so who the fuck cares?

In other words, you plonker, you're invisible. You don't exisit for me any more, you are not even a mote of dust in the sunlight.

I've taken the ignore-delete blog pledge with you. This is the last time you will ever get a response from me. I am done playing with you, because unlike you, asshole, I have a life to live and am not afraid to live it. Final notice: Goodbye, you freak. Take your stupid little baby tantrums and shove them up your tight little arse.

Author: admins always watching (IP: 204.15.226.240, 204.15.226.240)
Email: blogUK@AOL.com
Url:

Comment:
one wrong move and this blog is going down

Author: the balloon boy (IP: 204.15.226.240, 204.15.226.240)
Email: balloonsfraudsRus@yahoo.com
Url:

Comment:
And remember we did it just to piss you off!

Hello all,

I had the devil of a time getting on bcuk tonight, dunno' why. Didn't have any issues with any other site...it was like bcuk's server was busy, or something.

Feeling marginally better, thanks for all of your good wishes. This chest thing should be slowly winding down, as the week draws on, I hope.

Beautiful sunset tonight--the entire sky, west-southest, was coloured all roses and lavender.

Since my cold came on, I swear, I've been having the oddest dreasm--benign dreams, thankfully, no nightmares.

Don't remember them too well. The only two I really remember, was one where I kept seeing bald eagles flying around everywhere. The other dream was just as strange...my mum was alive, and she'd made some kind of art-glass bowl...it was a clear shallow square bowl. Mind you, my late mum wasn't crafty at all. Outside of reading and beating me at Super Mario Brothers, mum's only other hobby was her genealogy. So, anyway, mum made this little art glass dish thingy, just on a whim, apparently, and it fetched $30,000 at some auction. Why my dream came up with that sum, is beyond me. Strange, strange dream.

Speaking of money, my city had it's first million-dollar lottery winner this week. A man came in the little convenience shop just down the street from me, and bought a scratch-off ticket.

The instant winner ticket won him a million bucks. He hasn't stepped forward to claim it yet. The chances of winning the jackpot prize on that particular scratch-off instant win ticket, are, according to the New York State Lottery office, 2.6 million to one.

He's probably one of those plonkers that holds up the till line for 20 minutes, while they buy 50 dollars worth of various scratch-off tickets. Usually, the people with big lottery wins, aren't people whom actually need money.

It's always some jackass saying, "it won't change me, I'll go on as before, I'll give it all to the kids and charity..." Oh. Shut. Up.

Just for ONCE, I'd like to hear someone win and say, "I just won the lottery, and I'm going to buy a mansion and a yacht, screw the kids!"

The same sheriff in charge of the balloon boy saga, whom swore that it was genuine and not a deliberat hoax on Thursday, did an abrupt about-face yesterday, saying they were well-fooled by the parents, and that it was indeed a deliberate hoax...he added that he was going to pursue changes against the couple, and was sorry it was only a minor crime.

The crime of filing a false police-emergency report, in the USA, is only a minor offense. It can result in a small fine of $50 and no jail time, or the maximum penalty--in Colorado, a fine of $750 and six month's in jail.

The sheriff won't discuss any alleged evidence that he has, but has said he's pondering talks with federal officials, to see if any US govt. charges can apply to the case.

While the family's other two boys continuted to film the balloon from the rooftop, the father called the local airport, then the local news station...then the 911 emergency number.

Other possible charges could include contributing to the delinquency of a minor and conspiracy, which would carry additional jail time and fines, and might even result in one or more of the children being put into foster care.

The boy was missing for five hours, and later was found in the attic over the family's garage. Police wouldn't say why no one was assigned to search the home thoroughly, and it is not known if any family members bothered to search the home, during the event--while millions of viewers in America and around the world, watching in horror, thinking that the boy was up in the lost balloon.

I feel incredibly rubbish this morning. Had a cough-fest last night, won the grand prize...think I may have coughted up part of a lung.

Finally fell asleep around 3am, woke up at noon-ish.

I can't eat today, my throat feels like it's been strafed by jagged glass, and my lungs feel like someone's been jumping up and down on them, my head feels like it's been assulted by a hammer and tongs. I'd hoped I was getting better, damn. Gonna' be a misery, if I have to move when I'm sick.

It's an overcast and gloomy afternoon here. in the low 40's F. The good news, is that we're missing the snow storm. Well, more like a snow-rain storm. It's going to stay to our southeast, in downstate New York--just north of New York City, and southern New England.

I'm going to go back to bed shortly. Not planning on doing much blogging today, but you never know, I might feel better, later.

Jeez, the nutjobs are coming out of the woodworks. Now a blogger, "tell1432" or something like that, left a long, rambling comment about religion on a blog post about the republicans.

I have no idea if the rant was pro Christ or anti-Christ, but I left her a comment that (politiely as possible) told her to shut the eff up.

Don't you hate gettting religious--or anti-religious, rants on your blog comments?

Jeez--it was one of those War and Peace comments....that had NOTHING to do with the post.

I'm mildly agnostic. I rarely discuss religion on my blog...except when it comes to the phoney republican Christians. But, religious discussions I really do try to avoid, simply because there's often very little room for logic--especially in my country.

I hope I didn't hurt this person's feelings, but I'm sick and feeling rubbish, and if I want someone preaching at me--whether they like religion or not---there's a prfectly good Presbyterian church just two streets away.

I slept most of the day. I was quite ill last night, so didn't get much sleep.

Diddled around on the computer part of the day. I had no idea it was even Saturday, until about 5pm this evening. Really was out of it, part of the day.

I'm sure I'll be feeling better by Monday or Tuesday. This won't last forever. Its a chilly October night. The sunset was lovely, a western sky filled with the colour of roses.

Before I got sick, I had planned on going down to the little pub on South Street where an acquaintence of mine works, for my usual lime and soda. There was supposed to be some local band playing there tonight, that's not too bad, from what I was told earlier this week.

Ah well, maybe some other time.

I'll be offline for about a week or two, come the end of the month, early Nov.

Not much to say. I'm pretty washed out, at the moment, sort of in a stupor. Hope you all have a good Sunday. Cheers.

Wow, 30,000 unemployed people in the UK, are about to get very lucky, perhaps. I've read where the postal strike is going to happen--once again near the holiday season....which is really, really in poor taste, especially with the British economy still in the crapper.

Now, I KNOW that postal employees..most of them, work very hard and have very stressful jobs. Two of my good friends work as sorters for a local post office up in the mountains. They're young women, and even they get quite tired, by the end of the day.

Still....there's at least 18 million human beings out of work in the UK alone. I know that the Royal Mail is giving workers short shrift--but you know what? Tough cheese!

I was getting short shrift on my private-sector job. I had not holiday pay, no sick pay, no health care coverage, nothing. Nothing but an effing small paycheck every Friday...and you know what? This was one of the BETTER jobs in my area! *(Jobs that aren't "professional" or "executive" in nature, I mean.)

Before the recession was officially announced, we had to take a 14% pay cut for three months. We had to put up with temporary lay-off's...lay-off's that were largely unannounced...imagine showing up for work, only to be told there IS NO WORK, and go home...no work, of course, meaning NO PAY.

Did we effing whinge and crab and complain like a mob spoiled little girl's blouses? Did we go on strike? No. We either dealt with it and tigntened our belts, or quit and went off to find work elsewhere.

Did we threaten to withhold Christmas presents from children and loved one's far away? Did we do our level best to further eff up our nation's foundering economy? Did we do something that would hurt our company and maybe put some of our co-workers out of work permanently? NO. We bitched and moaned for a bit, sure...but then we stinking sucked it up and CARRIED ON.

And, even when I was working at the casino-race track, and did have benefits AND a union behind me, it still was a crappy, low-wage, literal back-breaking job. Long hours, hard dirty work, very, very low pay. I had a flippin' union. I was working 42 hours a week doing backbreaking dirty labour...and still sometimes going hungry. My wages didn't keep up with the local cost of living...did I go to the union and threaten to strike? No. I was too busy trying to effing survive...and too utterly knackered from doing my job at the end of the night, to really think about unions or anything else.

So, sorry for anyone of you who works for--or no someone who works for the Royal Mail...I'm sorry their jobs suck so much that they feel the need to strike...but you know what sunshines? There's BILLIONS of us who have or have had, jobs that suck...but unlike the RM workers, we appreciate the fact that we even HAVE a flippin' job. Many millions of us have NO RECOURSE against our employers...we don't have unions or lots of benefits to lose.

I think the Royal Mail employees--and everyone else who is bitching about going on strike right now, needs to shut up and just appreciate that they are at least working, and not going hungry, and not homeless....like too many working and unemployed people.

The latest weird thing the father of the "balloon boy" is doing, occured early today.

Reporters and gawkers have been camped outside the family's home. Some of the crowd of by-standers have held up derivsive signs or waved mock-ups of the balloon made out of foil popcorn poppers, and one enterprising neighbour was attempting to sell hot coffee to onlooker and reporters.

This morning, the father came out of the home, and knocked on reporter's caravans and trucks. He told them he was about to have some grand "announcement."

The announcement turned out to be a cardboard box.

Dear old dad told reporters he doesn't have cable or sattlelite television, and had no idea what people were saying about the whole incident (OK, let's pretend he doesn't know that there's a 24 news radio station--KOA, in Denver, which isn't so far away that he can't tune it in--I used to listen to it deep in the Wyoming wilderness!)

On that note, daddy ordered--and I mean ordered, the journalists to write down their questions and put them in the cardboard box. Some of the man's neighbour's also dropped pieces of paper in the box, as well.

I wonder if any of them asked, "Do you have any plans to seek phyciatric counciling?"

The father met with police a second time today, followed three hours later, by his wife.

The incident with the balloon killed a "scientific" reality progamme deal with cable network, The Learning Channel.

The father is a amatuer storm (tornado-hurricane) chaser, who genuinely believes that anti-gravity is formed by tornados, and whom once pitched an idea to the TLC network, to ride a motorbike into an actual tornado.

He is also a psuedo-reality show celebrity, a handyman and a failed stand-up comic...and possibly a wife-beater.

I was reading about the Colorado balloon kid's dad: do you know the bloke once proposed riding a motorcycle into a tornado, for a TV show?

For the same show, which has never aired (gee, I wonder why) he also proposed that he and his two producers wear "Matix" style clothing, go to the top of a mountain, and get straffed by a helicopter. Wisely, the would-be producers said "NO."

The man, a self-styled amateur scientist, believes in extra-terrestial life, and that tordanos can cause anti-gravity shifts. He hung around Hollywood for a few years, as a failed stand-up comic and handyman.

He and his wife appeared on the reality programme, "Wife Swap."

And, earlier this year, someone police believe to be his wife, called the equivilent of 999, on a domestic dispute complaint. A man could be heard by the 911 operator, yelling in the background. When cops got there, she said she got the black eye from her contacts, & dad was just yelling at the kids to go to bed. Riiight. And the fish are jumping and the cotton is high, and it don't rain in Indianapolois in the summer time.

Oh, and after thousands of dollars were spent by county emergency workers and police, to locate the boy, did the parents hide in shame? Did they try to protect their precious little boy from the prying eyes of the press? NO.

Dear old mum and dad, bless them, they paraded the kid on all the breakfast programmes, whereupon the kid puked twice--off camera, on live TV.

The kid says dad did it for "a show," dad says the idea of him staging a hoax is ridiculous. Erm--so is thinking of riding a motorbike into a tornado, sonny-jim.

I personally don't think the kid hid for 5 hours in the rafters of the garage, cos' he was afraid of being grounded & sent for a time out. Of course, we'll probably never get the long and the short of it, I reckon.

The cops don't want to admit to being made fools of. But, when the balloon broke loose, dad kicked and swore--and then called the FAA and the local television station, before calling 911. The local police chief says that was "odd, but not unreasonable."

Come again? If I had a 6 year old child I loved dearly, and he went up solo in a homemade balloon, I'd be calling 911, not the flippin' airport tower! What're they gonna' do? Talk him down using two tin cans and a very long piece of string???

It's a great big silver balloon shaped like a flying saucer, whirling and twirling through the air--did he not guess that a plane would probably notice that???

They claim they that they called the TV station, because it had a news helicopter--again, the police cheif says that that thought "was logical," because the news chopper would be able to get in the air, right away. And the emergency copter coldn't? That's very sloppy emergency services, Ey?

Even in a panic, what parent calls emergency services THIRD? And why did they keep on filming? Too, too many questions, not many answers.

America is getting weirder every day. For Christmas this year, there's a dolly that both pees and poos, Now, I've seen an advert for an indoor doggie toilet. Oh, just what Spot wants for Christmas, ey?

I mean, whatever happened to getting games and candy and toy figures and such? And, what's with the shops setting out Xmas displays in September or early October?

And what's with people setting up their Christmas trees in early November, now? Won't the magical holiday glow wear off by the end of December?

I think I should point out, that unless I know you personally, I NEVER click links posted in my comments, so please don't bother.

Also, any comments that having nothing to do with the post, are generally ignored and rejected...but it's up to you of course, if you want to waste precious minutes of your life writing something no one will ever read.

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?

No, can't say I ever have.

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?

I've only ridden one, the Steamin' Demon corkscrew coaster, when I was working as a ride operator, running the ride...just to get the feel of what it was like. Yes, I did close my eyes, said some rude words, screamed like a little girl. I'm not very fond of roller coasters.

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?

I was actually going to go tubing at the nearby ski centre, West Mountain, this past winter, but didn't manage it. I guess I haven't been sledding since I was 18 or 19 years old.

4. Do you believe in ghosts?

Having come face-to-face with one, it would be sort of pointless denying it, wouldn't it?

5. Do you consider yourself creative?

Meh, in an average sort of way, I suppose.

6. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?

The jury said no. That said, judging by his behaviour since the trial, I think he certainly probably had a hand in it, if he was not the actual murderer.

7. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?

Who??? I've heard of these two women--actresses, right? I don't bother with celebrities, I barely know one from another.

8. Do you know how to play poker?

seven card stud, five card stud, and Texas hold 'em....which is poker for toddler's, ha-ha. I've never played for money though, just on the computer, or with my late mum, for matchsticks.

9. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?

Oh sure, when I was in college full-time and caring for mum, especially around mid-term's or finals week, it wasn't unusual for me to go a few days with little or no sleep.

10. What are you allergic to?

Vicodin, some theatrical make up, bath beads, certain (cheap) pefumes.

111. How often do you remember your dreams?

Sometimes, especially the really weird one's.

12. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?

Yellow Submarine
Hard Day's Night
Let It Be
Sargent Pepper's Lonely Haeart's Club Band
Lovely Rita

13. what shoe size do you have?

Used to be 8 1/2 Wide (US), but now I often have to wear 9's, cos' of my mis-shapen right foot.

14. Classic Rock or Rap?

Sorry to say, that I genuinely cannot stand rap music. I think it's total rubbish. I listen to classic rock-oldies, and indie pop, mostly...but I also listen to other stuff: big band, jazz, blues, classical, folk, celtic rock, southern rock, western swing, Cajun.

15. Current favorite Song?

A tie between Pricilla by Bat For Lashes and Badly Drawn Boy by The Rifles. My favorite song changes all the time, depending on my mood.

16. What food do you find disgusting?

Any food with mushrooms in it, sushi, squid, brains, and any food with the eyes still attached--the thought of my food staring up at me while i eat is massive turn-off.

17. Have you ever been punched in the face?

Yeah, my sister was strung out on drugs 20 years ago, and belted me in the eye. Damn, she has one helluva right hook.

18. How do you feel, right now?

Well, I've got a chest cold and it hurts to breathe, and my throat feels like ground glass, but other than that, hey, I'm fine.

19. Have you ever seen a shrink?

I'm bi-polar, yes, I've seen a shrink.

20. Have you ever bought or rented a foreign film?

Yes, a few times. I rented the Iranian film, The Colour of Paradise--which was both beautiful and sad, and the French film, The Closet, which was hilarious.

I pledge that I will NOT be bullied or abused. I've been bullied and abused all through my life, and I will NOT tolerate it.

1. If weak, cowardly troll wants the wrong kind of attention from me, I will happily oblidge!. I've had just a year shy of half a century of practice, and I can give it back to them, worse than they can ever give it to me--if that's what these pukes want, they'll get it...with both barrels. Period. The agressive blog troll will become my play-thing.

2. I will post their comments publicly, so EVERYONE IN CYBERSPACE can see them for the mentally ill, socially backwards, cowardly, emotionally insecure, sad little pricks that they are.

3. THEN, and only then, will I pretend that they are a cold dead corpse--no longer human, no longer existing in the world--and then, very happily, I will ignore and reject their comments, and never respond to them, ever agian. At stage 3, they don't exist, they aren't even a mote of dust in my world. For all intents and purposes, they are gone from this world.

As most of us die-hard Whovians already know, the last two tenth Doctor Who specials, will air at the holidays--Christmas and New Year's very probably.

I just read online on a television website, that the Royal Shakespeare Company's film of Hamlet, which was produced back in June, and features David Tennant and Patrick Stewart in the male leads, will air on Christmas day on BBC. Which BBC, I am afraid I didn't read, sorry.

The young cow moose which caused such a bother in a local suburb earlier this week, has been relocated.

She re-appeared yesterday, in the back garden of a pensioner's flat in the suburb, not far from where she was spotted before.

New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation officials, decided to tranq Miss Juliet Moose, and take her somewhere else to search for unrequited love.

Forest rangers confirmed that this was indeed the same moose who had to be tranquilized earlier this summer, some 15 miles away in the city of Saratoga Springs. That time, she ended up at the thoroughbred race track, and had to be put to sleep, loaded into a horse box, and re-located to Lake Desolation, a wooded area about 5 miles west of the city of Saratoga Springs, NY.

This time, she was tranqed by officers and sent to an undisclosed location in the Adirondack high peaks area, about 75 miles north.

The location remains undisclosed, to discourage hunters from trying to find her. Hunting season has begun for bow hunters, and firearm season begins next month.

Nap time for Juliet in the pensioner's garden--"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow..."

I got up at 3.45am, cos the pain in my chest was getting bothersome. My head cold became a chest cold, yesterday afternoon. I'm so congested, breathing isn't a fun thing, right now. My throat feels like I've been gargling with ground glass, as well. Bleh.

As some of you already know, coughing is no pleasure at any time, but it's a misery when both your throat and chest feel like live coals have been shoved down them.

God, what I wouldn't give to sleep! I've hardly slept a wink all night. Ah well, I will do the usual, drnk plenty of fluids, bed rest, yadda-yadda-yadda, and hope I get some sleep later.

The cats are restless. Boots is picking on Flame, Flame isn't pleased, and is cranky cos' she equates my being up, with feeding time, and that's several hours away...and I can't tell her that.

Flame just hissed and spat at Boots, and now he's on top of the lounge radiator, whinging at me and feeling sorry for himself.

Well, he started it....jeez, they're just like little kids, sometimes.

I was bored, surfing the web, trying to avoid Dr Who spoilers, while at the same time checking out Dr Who goings-on...not an easy thing to do, trust me!

Latest rumour is that new Doctor Matt Smith is leaving Dr Who already.

What??? The bloke just got the Tardis key, and he want to trade her in already?

Unthinkable!

I think it's just some stupid rumour some fan who is far more bored than I am, started. Or maybe they're afraid Smith will pull another Christopher Eccleston, or maybe it's some fan-girl pining for Tennant and doing some wishful thinking?

Who knows, who cares. Some of the rumours can get a bit strange though, sometimes, can't they?

The Colorado "balloon boy" whom was supposed to have climbed into a balloon and then was supposed to have fallen out--is alive. He never was in the balloon. He was hiding in his parent's attic.

I'm thankful the boy's safe. I couldn't imagine a worse thing for a child to go through, personally.

The spoiled brats all made it up. They hid their brother--whose name is Falcon, in the attic, and then pretended he floated off in the balloon.

The brats, "Ryo," and "Bradford," knowing that a massive search was being mounted, and their parents were frantic and tramastised about wee Falcon, kept up the lie for about 3 or 4 hours.

Their father is a amateur scientist and published a book called The Official Offensive Driving Handbook.

He and his wife are also convinced they have found the secret of an antigravity device in the cyclonic action of tornadoes.

I just made the Manhattan clam chower recipe I posted yesterday. Nom-nom! It came out perfect! I added a dash of worcestershire to it, though.

Thought I'd post some more recipes--this time in honour of Halloween.

Here's a complete Halloween meal: main course to deserts.

Ghostly chicken salad sandwiches

2 cups minced cooked chicken
3 to 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspooons onion powder, or 2 teaspoons grated onion
1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish or chopped sweet pickle
14 slices white sandwich bread
14 raisins

In a bowl, combine chicken with desired amount of mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion and pickle relish.

Take a ghost-shaped (or gingerbread man) cookie cutter, and use it to cut out the bread. (Slice off the legs, if using a gingerbread cutter). Fill the sandwiches with the chicken salad filling, and stick two raisins for "eyes" onto each slice of bread. Serves 6 to 7. Halve recipe for 3 or 4.

Adirondack Apple Squash Soup

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup butter, divided
4 tablespoons maple syrup. (Real maple syrup of course is best, but not suited for every budget, so I say it's OK to substitute maple flavor syrup).
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken stock or broth
2 cups unsweetened apple sauce
1 cup coarsely chopped tart apples
2 cups light cream
salt and white pepper to taste

Boil or microwave squash until tender. Mash squash with 4 tablespoons butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger. Melt the remaining butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring well. Add the chicken stock. Cook and stir for a few more minutes until the soup has thickened. Add the squash mixture, applesauce, and apples. Continue to cook until the soup is thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Once warmed, stir in the cream and heat until the soup just starts to bubble. Remove from the heat. Cool and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to three days. Reheat over medium heat until warmed through. Serves 4

Pumpkin milkshake

1 frozen peeled banana, broken into pieces
3 tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
3 tbsp. pumpkin puree
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
1/3 cup water

Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Serves 2, double the recipe for 4.

Brain Cupcakes

cupcakes:

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake tin with paper or foil liners. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the butter mixture one third at a time, alternating with the milk. Pour into the prepared cupcake pan and bake for 18 to 24 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Frosting:

1/2 c. solid shortening
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk

Cream butter and shortening. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar. Add milk, beat until light and fluffy. Stir in drops of yellow and pink food coloring, and just a touch of green, into 2 cups of frosting, until you get a "brain-color" tone. Use a pastry bag fitted with a number 10 round (narrow) tip. Squirt 12 cupcakes with fat zigzags, in a "brain" pattern. It works best to first pipe two zigzags down the middle and then fill in the sides.

The republicans have made no bones about the fact that they hate blacks, hispanic immigrants, anyone of Arab decent, women, and the poor...now they are once again showing the world how infantile, fearful, stupid and mean they are.

No less then FIFTY-THREE republican members of congress, are telling President Obama to fire his new director of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools...not because he isn't doing his job, not because he did ANYTHING illegal....

...but only because Director Jennings is GAY.

Conservative politicians in Washington, are quaking in their boots, over the totally unfounded, and unsubstantiated "idea" that the director will use his office to promote a "homosexual agenda."

Oh, that's a very intelligent conclusion--NOT.

Can you say "Republicans are sexually insecure, paranoid little morons?"

When will rethuglicans stop embarrassing the hell out of the rest of us, in the eyes of the civilized, intelligent free world?

Darwin was not only right, America's conservative white males are continually proving that their brains are still very ape-like, every time they open their pathetic mouths to spew hate vomit.

"AHHHH! THE GAYS AND ARABS AND LIBERALS ARE TAKING OVER THE PLANET, WE MUST DESTROY THEM!"

I've just now gotten an e-mail from a rather excited David Tennant fan. She says that Mr. Tennant will be filming a movie in London next month, playing one of a duo of true-life early 18th century murderers, known as Burke and Hare.

Those spooky old tales of body snatchers, have their foundations in the famous Burke and Hare case.

The two men, in the 1820's, murdered a mess of people, in order to sell the bodies to medical schools.

This was actually a common practice in the 19th century. Schools, doctors and scientific researchers would pay cash money for fresh corpses to work on.

In my birthplace of Albany NY, I once came across a 19th century newspaper account (while doing historical research on a cemetery), that says that two men were digging up a fresh grave in a city cemetery. They left the body, to go refresh themselves after their shoveling, with a nip of gin from a bottle they'd left in a wagon.

A man passing by, had spied the pair, and feeling michevious, after moving the body to a safe place, he jumped down into the open grave. The two body snatchers came back, and one says to the other, "Lemme' have a nip of that stuff." The man down in the grave called up, "I wouldn't mind a nip of that myself, it's cold down here in the grave!"

The news account said that the two body snatchers got so scrared they screamed like little girls and ran off. The good samaratian then reburied the poor soul. Recognizing the horse as an animal from the local livery stable, he merely untied it and thumped it on the rump, sending it home. Then, the man--whom it turned out was a city lawyer, went on his merry way.

It was pitch black outside at 6.30am. It's five minutes to seven, and it's only just getting light in the sky, no sunrise as of yet.

It's -1.6 C outside where I am. My sister e-mailed me, said it was lightly snowing there, where she is in Vermont, and 25 F, or minus 3.8 C.

A cooler than normal October, so far. Oh well, sh it happens.

Because of a formula set up in 1975, which bases increases in Social Security payments to the elderly, disabled and American veteran's, there will be no increase in payments--despite the recession-- to those Americans living hand-to-mouth on fixed incomes, this year. This will be the first time since 1975, that there has been no increase.

That's because the formula is based on inflation...and there was, technically, (tho' those of us whom shop at supermarkets regularly know otherwise), no inflation this year, according to the powers that be in the Federal Reserve.

President Obama and most democrats, support a one-time payment of $250, to select Socail Security recipients, to help the pay for things like heating, medicine and food--all of which are expected to rise in cost, in 2010, especially in the northeastern states, where a colder than normal winter is predicted, causing heating costs to soar.

Plus, many pensioners have lost value in their homes, and their other savings as well, in the past year--which the inflationary adjustment does not take into account.

The money for these payment will likely come from a loan, which will raise the national deficit...a deficit taken out of sight, by the previous administration of George W. Bush.

Republicans are angry about the American government giving poor elderly people, the legally disabled--such as those in wheelchairs, and American veterans any assistance at all.

Says this republican politician in Washington, D. C.: "I think it would be inappropriate," said Sen. Judd Gregg, a republican from the state of New Hampshire, "The reason we set up this process was to have the Social Security reimbursement reflect the cost of living."

It's quite clear that this patiently ignorant, shallow and wealthy politician has plenty of money to pay for heating and the roof over his head, good medical insurance coverage, and he very obviously hasn't done any grocery shopping lately.

Meanwhile this coming winter, in cold and snowy New Hampshire, the grey-haired gran who is freezing, and the soldier who fought for Sen. Gregg's freedom whom is going hungry, and the person in a wheelchair who can't afford his medicines; they will all gratefully thank Senator Gregg for his empathy with their plight, and for his oh-so-compassionate stance.

But what the heck, it's not like I have a life, a hobby, television to watch, anything to actually do at 10pm at night....

Why did the chicken cross the road?

It was camera-shy and was running away from Jamie Oliver.

If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do they all have to drown?

Only if it means they get the gold medal postumously.

Why do they report power outages on TV?

Because they'll always be some plonker turning on the tele to see why his power is out.

If a quiz is quizzical. Then what's a test?

A pain in the testicles arse if you forgot to study for it.

Is it scary to know what doctors do for a living is called "practice"?

You haven't seen my doctor.

If God sneezed, what would you say?

"Bless me--I don't want to get your cold."

If Donald Duck has waterproof feathers and doesnt wear pants, why does he wrap a towel around his waist?

He thinks it makes him look sexy?

Do fish ever get thirsty?

Haven't you ever heard the expression, "drinks like a fish?" Fish are notorious alcoholics.

If you stick a sticker on a non stick pan would it stick?

It would if you used super-glue.

Why does it say on CHILDRENS tylenol not to operate heavy machinery?

If, in America, a 6 year old can be allowed to fire an AK-47, then certainly they can operate a bulldozer!

If Barbie is so popular, then whey do you have to buy her friends?

Because shagging yourself can get kind of boring?

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

Because misery loves company.

Do vegitarians eat animal crackers?

Only if they're plant eaters.

If all the world is a stage, what part are you playing?

Shakespeare's Catherine...or Barney Fife, take your pick.

If a tree falls in the woods ... Do all the other trees laugh at it?

Only if falls on it's bottom.

If Hooters delivered would they be called knockers?

No, they'd be called "indecent exposure" and hauled away to jail.

If the dictionary spells a word wrong how are we suppose to know?

In America, it really doesn't make much difference, cos' no one uses them, anyway.

My cold is moving right along, but at least I'm not coughing--that's the worst part of a cold, I think.

Threw out my left back tonight, not sure how. It's OK though, just really stiff and sore. The right side was hurting a bit on Saturday and Sunday, but it's OK now. As long as I'm not crippled from the pain, I'm fine.

I got kicked off of Twitter tonight. It's having loads of issues, lately. Constantly saying it's "overcapacity." They need to fix it, or they'll start to lose users.

Not many people blogging these days, or reading blogs for that matter. People are leaving blog sites, Facebook, Myspace, and flocking to Twitter. Too much effort to actually write a blog, I suppose.

I stopped using Facebook. Personally I hate it...it's NOT newbie friendly. There is no explaination for how the hell to use it, and it's way, way too complicated for this non-techy person. I don't even blinking know how to work an I-pod!

Facebook just leaves me frustrated and totally at sea, and feeling like a dummy. It's great that some of you know how Facebook effing works, but I don't, so don't tell me it's "easy," or I'll have to throw a pie in your face, yeah?

I watched a Dr Who video earlier, and an old Neil Simon film. I saw some nice videos on sale for $7 the other day, but I couldn't afford them. Wish we had a video rental shop around. But they're few and far-between now that people with credit cards can rent videos online. (I don't actually have a credit or debit card--for a practical reason I won't discuss on here.)

I'm cranky tonight. I've had a sore thoat for 4 days and it's finally making me irritable, I'm afraid. No big deal. I'm middle aged and cranky anyway. It's my job.

I am a big, big fan of plain old ordinary "comfort food."

For anyone overseas, you can easily find recipe conversion websites, by Goggling receipe conversion, US and Europe.

Here's some recipes prime for the autumn months, from northeastern New York state and New Englsnd:

BOSTON BEEF STEW

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds fatty beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces, seasoned with salt & pepper
6 large garlic cloves, minced
6 cups beef stock or canned beef broth
1 cup of beer
1 cup of non-alcoholic apple cider (can substitute a dry red wine, in a pinch)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar (can substitute regular sugar)
1 tablespoon dried thyme, crumbled between your fingers
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
3 pounds potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups peeled baby carrots, or peeled carrots, sliced 1/2 inch
Salt and Pepper, to taste

In a large pot, heat oil. Lightly brown meat in oil. Add garlic, and saute for 3 minutes. Drain off fat. Add remaining ingredients, except for potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer over low heat, covered, for one hour. Add potatoes and continue to simmer for 30 more minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Serves 4 to 6.

NEW ENGLAND BEEF STEW

2 pounds lean stewing beef, cut into 1in cubes
2 cups potatoes, cut unto chunks
1 teaspoon salt
1 16 ounce can dicd tomatoes
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (can substitute white distilled vinegar)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups turnips, peeled and diced
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup beef broth
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, sliced
1/2 cup maple syrup (can substitute a slightly smaller amount of molassas)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder, (or substitute 1/4 clove garlic, finely minced)

Combine flour & seasonings in a bowl or plastic bag. Dredge beef in seasoned flour. In a large pot, brown meat in vegetable oil. Drain off fat. Add tomatoes, water, onions and broth, and bring to a boil. Cover up, simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Stir in remaining ingreadients. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. To thicken stew, at 2 Tablespoons of flour to 1/4 cup of water. Stir into stew until throughly blended, just before serving...can darken colour with some Gravy Master, if desired. Serve with fresh baked bread and salad. Serves 4.

One of the guys always made this for our village's annual Vounteer Fireman's Picnic. It was delicious!

MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

2 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams
1 1/2 cups water
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or canned tomatoes, diced, retaining juice)
1 cup chopped onion
2 potatoes, peeled and diced small
1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Drain clams and reserve liquid. Add enough water to reserved liquid to make 3 cups of stock. In a large saucepan pour clam juice and water mixture, undrained tomatoes, onions, potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper and oregano. Cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Mash the vegetables slightly to thicken the broth. Add clams to the saucepan and heat thoroughly. Serve hot. Often served with oyster crackers (optional).

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 cup carrots, very finely diced (can substitute celery)
1 cup diced onion
1/2 cup raw diced bacon
1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
2 Bay Leaves
3 1/2 cups chopped sea clams
1/2 gallon clam juice
1 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup diced cooked potatoes
2 cups heavy cream
salt & pepper to taste

In large pot, sauté bacon, onion, and carrots (or celery) in butter or margarine (do not brown bacon). Add garlic, thyme, bay leaves, clams, and clam juice. Bring to a boil. Melt 1 cup butter in medium skillet. Add flour and cook for 5 minutes. Add butter/flour mixture to boiling clam mixture, stirring constantly until thickened. Add cooked potato, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Serve hot. Serves 4 to 6.

VERMONT CHEESE & ONION PIE

Pie crust:

1 cup (or 8 ounces) of all purpose flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 flat teaspoon of Coleman's dry mustard
3 ounces of butter or margarine
4 ounces of grated sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of water

Pie filling:

3/4 cup (or 6 ounces) of grated sharp or extra sharp Cheddar cheese
4 large onions, chopped.
2 ounces of butter or margarine
salt and pepper, to taste

Pre-heat oven to 400 F degrees.

In a mixing bowl sieve the flour, salt and pepper together. Add the butter, cheese, and mustard and rub it into the flour. Gradually pour in the water so that it forms a firm dough. Melt the butter in a pan and add the onions. Cook until they are soft, but not browned.

Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll it out. One piece for the bottom of the pie and the other for the top. Line the bottom of a pie dish with the first piece of pastry, and prick it with a fork. Start with the cheese and put a layer of cheese in the pie, then onions, and continue this way, finishing with cheese. Add a little salt and pepper to each layer.

Cover the pie with the second rolled out piece of pastry. Press your thumbs into the edge of the pastry to seal it. Make a air hole in the middle of the pie. With a pastry brush coat the top, with either a little beaten egg or milk. Bake for approximately 30 minutes. When cooked the Cheese and Onion Pie should be golden and crisp. May be eaten either hot or cold. Serves 4 to 6.

When I was a wee child, we used to play a game called, "duck duck, duck goose!"

This week, NY state police and state conservation officers, played a different sort of game--with a moose.

A cow moose was wandering around the car park of the local shopping mall, here. The mall is located in a bustling suburb full of shops and shopping centres, adjacent to a divided six-lane motorway, I-87, and also next to two major four-lane A-type roads...state highways.

The cow was chased down a steep gravel foot path leading from the mall, to a nearby shopping centre, and hung around the Tractor Supply Company for a while--possibly smelling the tonnes of feed inside the farm supply store. (see photo below).

By late afternoon, police managed to chase her into some nearby woods. The moose was wearing a NY State Dept. of Conservation tag, and may have been the same young cow who had wandered onto the Saratoga (thoroughbred) race course this summer, after her mum had chased her off. Saratoga race course is about 15 miles south off of I87, from the Glens Falls NY area.

To the east of Glens Falls, recently, in the town of Hudson Falls, which borders the city, a bull moose was spotted, wandering the streets.

Is Juliet Moose in search of Romeo Moose? Or is she just lost and scared and alone, and doesn't know which end is up? Poor wee girl. well, not so wee. Moose are larger than many horses, when they get full grown.

Here's our local Juliet Moose:

I can remember how excitig autumn was for me, as a child. Oh, not the going back to school. Bleh! No, that was actually the low point of autumn, actually.

But, the season itself was very exciting. The leaves were falling--which meant that dad would be raking them up in big piles on the front lawn. We had 3/4 of an acre, that our little black and white Cape Cod style surburan home was sat on. Two over-size hackberry trees in the front yard.

Now I say over-size, cos' hackberry trees generally only grow about 10 to 20 feet high...these two trees, which my dad had ordered the builders to leave as they were, when our home was built in '59, were twice as tall as they should be--taller than our house, with great speeading leaves...lots of nice shade in the hot summer months.

I reckon it was partly the rich clay-filled soil, but also there was an underground stream directly below our property, so that may have had something to do with it.

While the trees were great in summer, offering their shade as compensation for the heat, in autumn that meant extra work for dad. Out would come the wood rake from K-Mart and the old blue metal wheelbarrow from Montgomery Ward.

Dad would rake the leaves in deep piles--the leaves would have a crisp, clean, earthy smell to them, that is hard to describe. The sensation the smell of those piles of dead leaves gave off, was reminicent of when I was a wee child, and mum would take us to the village A & P grocery store, and at the till, they'd grind your coffee beans while ringing up your shopping.

Not that the leaves smelled like freshly ground coffee--but it was the pleasure of the smell, that same warm-all-over feeling, you got from sitting in the piles of dead leaves, as I got, hanging on to mum's hand, and smelling that coffee being ground.

It was a simple pleasure--from a simpler time, I suppose, a time before computers, multi-channel television, mobile phones, etc.

We'd run and jump into the piles of leaves, roll in them, sometimes dad would let us ride on top of the leaf piles in the wheelbarrow. Sometimes the smallest joys make the most pleasurable memories.

I used to respect the views of those "Christians" against abortions, even if I didn't agree.

But, the right-to-life crowd has sunken to the depths of hypocracy, when they try to prevent ALL abortions.

Aside from the harsh reality of just who the hell is going to love, and care for, all of these unwanted children--including children born HIV positive or with deformities or other diseases, or into excessive poverty, or born into abusive and/or uncaring families--aside from blindly refusing to see that not all foster and adoptive parents are suitable, the hunger amd diease that impoverished children in third world nations will be born into...all this blinkered visio aside,

The right wing "right to life" party mob, needs to change their stupid title.

That's because figures relased recently, show that tens of thousands of women, forced into having abortions illegally, have died. 70,000 teenagers and women, in the past year have DIED--along with their unborn child. Had they been able to have a LEGAL abortion, with a proper medical professional, those 70,000 women who died around the world this year, would likely be alive today--and yes, their unborn child would be dead--but, they might have changed, their situation might have changed, and they could have had a baby, later in life.

Now, they will never have a baby, or be loved, or know guilt or sorrow. When did so-called "Christians" decide it was OK to play God? Isn't it God's decision--according to their own doctorine, who lives or dies? Thou shalt not kill, the Right-to-lifer's say, but, by making all abortions illegal, they very much have the blood of over 70,000 human beings on their hands--and that's just the number that's been reported. Estimates are, if the unreported abortion deaths were factored in, the number could be as much as 80,000.

Right to life? Whose life would that be, then?

Christians can't have it both ways, sorry. You either support the "right to life" for EVERYBODY--innocents and sinners alike, or you DON'T.

Who really is the sinner here, I ask? What Would Jesus Do? Would Jesus condem the women who choose a risky abortion, or would he forgive them their sins and allow them to live?

I'm listening to some oldies, this afternoon.

Young Girl--my dad used to always sing that song--very badly, he was tone deaf--when he was in the loo putting on his Old Spice aftershave.

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap had that million-dollar hit, back in 1968. My dad just sort of latched on to it, after that. I don't think my dad ever really stopped to think about the lyrics of Young Girl...espeically in light of what a neighbour did to me, later.

We didn't pay much attention to lyrics. Some things were banned, others, like Walk on the Wild Side, slipped through--sort of. No rhyme or reason to it, if you ask me.

Parts of the the lyrics of Walk on the Wild Side were sanitized for radio. As was the end of American Woman and other hits.

When mum bought us the American Woman 45, she had NO idea, the last line had been left off on the radio,"goodbye American bitch."

The record disppeared, a few weeks later. Gee, I wonder who did that, ha-ha. Good ol' mum, we WERE going to be ladies, like it or not!

Here's some funny one-liners I heard online, recently:

What do you call a fly with no wings? A "walk?"

Do we really need soap on a rope? What? Is it like we're prisoners, afraid another inmate is going to take it?

They say when your palm itches, it means that you're coming into money. What does it mean when your ass itches? ....Probably that you need some soap on a rope.

Why do they call it an elevator (lift), when it also goes down, as well?

Does the TV remote go to the left or right of the dinner plate and salad fork?

In the past year or two, I've seen some morons taking pot shots at Gordon Brown because of his partial blindness. Our Gov. Patterson here in New York state is legally blind. One of my best friends was legally blind, my great-gran and my Aunt Mary, as well as both my parents in their last years of life, were all legally blind. I'm not legally blind yet, but I do have a 1/4 vision loss in my right eye, and a speck of blindness in my left.

I actually have more than one disability. I tick off all the boxes: physical, mental, learning.

The only thing about a disability--no matter if it's physical, mental or learning-based, is that it makes doing some things harder, but not impossible.!

For heaven's sake, PM Brown's blindness isn't a weakness--it is a strength!

A disability is a strength, because having a disability makes us work harder physically, it makes us stronger emotionally, it makes us think outside of the box, it lets us embrace change, to think of new ways of doing things, of ways to overcome our "weakness," and be the best we can be.

There was a recent gay march in Washington D.C., and Obama is giving the bigoted pseudo-Christian rethuglicans apoplexy, by saying that he "will not waver" in his support of two of his openly gay nominees for important government posts.

Says the president: "Nobody in America should be fired because they're gay, despite doing a great job and meeting their responsibilities. It's not fair. It's not right. We're going to put a stop to it," Obama said. "And it's for this reason that if any of my nominees are attacked, not for what they believe but for who they are, I will not waver in my support, because I will not waver in my commitment to ending discrimination in all its forms."

One of the gay nominee's is slated to be head of the US Dept. of Educations programme for drug-free and safe schools.

The other nominee, a lesbian, is to become a commissoner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She was attacked by conservatives, for beliving that "Gay sex is morally good."

Apparently, right-wing Americans have decided that they have been personally appointed by God, the Pope and the Westboro Baptist Church, to decide what is moral or not, for all 307,682,185 American citizens in this country--regardless of their regligious beliefs, or non-beliefs.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the pilgrams come to America to escape religious persecution?

And, doesn't freedom of religion also mean, the freedom to believe differently--or, not to believe at all, as well?

And so, the American Nazi party erm--conservative party, just keeps showing us their true colours--yellow.

This is gonna' be soo-cool! I'm so sad that I'm not going to be able to see it.

Ruby Tuesday, was playing, and it abruptly brought back a memory long forgotten. Funny how a song can trigger an otherwise totally insignificant memory, isn't it?

I remembered walking down a hallway at college, in my spurs, singing the chorus of Ruby Tuesday. should explain that I took Western Horsemanship in college when I was 18/19. Hence the ching-ching as I sang my way down the hallway.

Well, I suppose it may have looked odd to an outsider, me in my fringed chaps and spurs and hat, walking along singing loudly and badly.

But, put into prospective, I was wearing chaps cos' it was cold at the stable, spurs cos' my horse was lazy, and singing the chorus of Ruby Tuesday cos' I was going riding and was blissfully happy about it.

This got sent to me a while back:

1. What would you choose as George W. Bush's theme song?

Chain of Fools

2. Song that describes your weather today?

Baby It's Cold Outside

3. Song that best describes you?

I Gotta' Be Me

4. Song which symbolizes the place you live in?

We Gotta' Get Outta' This Place

5. Song to describe today?

Monday, Monday

Honestly, are you in love right now?

Nope.

Honestly, what color is your underwear?

Black.

Honestly, what's on your mind right now?

I really should stop messing about on the computer and go take the bin bag down to the bin.

Honestly, what are you doing right now?

Messing about on the computer, when I should be taking the bin bag downstairs--and listening to The Guess Who singing "No Sugar Tonight"--the album version.

Honestly, what did you do today?

I went shopping to get some stuff for my cold, and Price-Rite had my favourite bottled water--Fruit 2-0, on sale for 75 cents off, and smoked pork chops on sale, as well...met my cowgirl mate driving the bus (she's also a city bus driver on weekdays), and we chatted. Now, as soon as I'm done messing about on the computer, I'm going to take the bin bag downstairs.

Honestly, do you think you are attractive?

Honestly? Absolutely not. I've not exactly got a face that's easy on the eyes, alas.

Honestly, have you done something bad today?

Not taken the bin bags out when I should. Shame on me.

Honestly, do you watch Disney channel?

I have never watched the Disney Channel, cos' I've not had cable television in 5 years.

Honestly, are you jealous of someone right now?

Not at all. OK, I'm jealous of anyone that is going to get to see the Dr Who specials in Nov. and at Christmas. Damn, wish I was British.

Honestly, what makes you happy most of the time?

Gosh, I don't know. I'm easily amused. My friends thinking of me, hanging out with a mate who doesn't mind me being silly/myself.

Oh, and of course, my cats, horses, Dr Who, reading a really good book, listening to music, getting to see the seasons change, Getting out of my flat--for nearly any reason, writing, picnics (with someone, not by myself, that's rubbish)

What else? Going to a fair or horse show, milking and petting cows, being around dogs, getting to do a hobby, retail therapy, auction-flea market-boot sale therapy, good food, eating out, learning-seeing-doing something new, theater (plays), anything historic, looking at art.

And, thinking of my family-happy memories, talking to my sister (sort of) and nephew, playing a game (by myself, there's no one to play with), playing horseshoe pitching, crazy golf, bowling, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, hiking. And decorating, I like that, and doing some silk floral designs and a bit of gardening, that's relaxing. Oh, and baby animals make me all joyful and giggly.

Honestly, do you bite your nails?

Rarely, I have other little quirks.

Honestly, what is your mood right now?

I dunno' Not happy, not sad, sort of neutral, I suppose.

There's a thick rime of frost in the dark corners of the rooftops, and white plumes coming from the chimneys....methinks it's just a tad cold, out there this morning.

It's 36 F (2 C) outside right now.

Wednesday, they changed the forecast, and now it will be even colder, around 25 F, or around minus 3 or minus 4 C. That's at night though. Day time it will be in the upper 40's and lower 50's F, so not too bad. We may get a rain-snow mix on Tuesday night, or it may just rain, who knows?

They've changed the weather forecast for Friday, yet again--third time now, and now we're back to a 30% chance of snow.

About 75 miles (121 km) north of us, in the Saranac Lake-Lake Placid area, it's all of 21 F right now, or minus 6 C.

So, I guess it could be worse, ey?

Well, I'm getting ready to change flats next week, traveling some 200 km from here to there. Can't stop change, have to roll with life's punches.

The cats are content this morning. Charlie played for a while, then looked out the window, now he's snugged up next to the radiator, getting what warmth there is. I had to turn the heating on, last night. Albeit very reluctantly. I've been having chills...well, even my chilblains have been having chilblains, ha-ha. Still got the raw throat. Can't eat this morning, so I'll have to bite the bullet and go out later, for some honey and lemon and some throat drops.

Not how I planned on spending my Monday. It's Columbus Day here, semi-national holiday. Big sales on at the shops, the post office, local & natl. govt. offices, banks and some schools are all closed today. Most everyone else has to work though, poor sods. The Fedex and UPS vans have been bustling around back and forth, taking up the slack from the lack of postal service today. The city buses are running, so it's sort of a quasi-holiday, today.

My cold has taken a turn for the worse, so I'm off to bed.

Cold this week. Freeze and frost warnings up. They say our growing season ends tonight. Gee, d'ya think?

Night time temps are going to vary from 1.6 C to minus 1.6 C, for the rest of the week. (31 to 29 F.)

They've called off the rain-snow storm on Friday, though, say they think it's going to give us a pass, and stay out of the area. We'll see. TV weather men like to sensationalize everything, tell us the sky is falling, then of course, nothing much happens--it's all about ratings, more than the weather, these days. Americans have become totally obsessed with the weather...some people do nothing but watch The Weather Channel all day.

Which seems absurd, especially when you realize that the bulk of Americans don't work outside for a living--unless they're contruction, farmers, horsemen, forest rangers, etc, or depend on the weather for their livelihood, like farmers and loggers, etc, often do.

Most people around here--the natives of northeastern New York state--take it all in stride, we know what to do.

winter prep....for the car, you check the battery, put on snow or all-season tyres, put on winter wiper blades, put in new anti-freeze, put a shovel and blanket in the boot, make sure your heater works in your car, stock up on windshield wash--the kind that doesn't freeze, put an ice scraper-snow brush under the front seat, etc.

At home, you break out the snow shovel or tune up the snowblower, or line up a snow plowing contractor. Stock up on more non-perishable foods, buy an extra gallon or two of bottled water for possible power outages. Buy ice melt pellets, rock salt or sand to put down on the walks and drive. Make sure all the blankets, coats, jumpers, mittens, boots, etc, are ready. If you can afford it, have your furnace serviced and fill up the fuel tanks (if you don't have natural gas), get in wood, wood pellets or pea coal for their wood stoves and fireplaces. Put insulating plastic up to the windows, all that fun crap, that folks in my part of the world, take for granted.

Some rural people buy portable generators, to run their well pumps and lights during a power outage. Unfortunately, those lacking knowledge or common sense, sometimes die, by putting the generator in the garage--carbon monoxide poisoning. That happened this year. It's the same reason you should never operate a charcoal grill in a garage--the fumes will build up and kill you.

Yesterday morning, as I was setting up my moving sale on the front lawn of the building where my flat is, I had time to do some people watching. That's free entertainment sometimes...unfortunately, I missed the nude jogger, last week.

Now, I often see couples going down my street--it's the main street, there's almost always people about, even in the wee hours, there's usually a drunk or a teenager, or a drunken teenager, wandering home.

There's teenage mum's and dads with prams and toddlers in tow, yuppies on $1000 bikes in their daft looking trendy cycling gear, pensioner's out for a stroll, dog walkers, office workers taking excercise during their lunch hour, people walking to work or the bus stop, young skateboarders, etc.

Saturday morning, I spied a couple in their late 50's or early 60's on the other side of the street. One looked the spitting image of TV wrestler, Hulk Hogan. And her hubby was very butch, as well.

They were "power walking"...in snyc like a pair of robots...wearing matching grey sweats.

I never could get whole point of power walking.

Seriously, if you're going to walk that fast--why not just go all the way, and jog?

And what's with the arm swinging? Besides looking ridiculous, it also doesn't actually burn all that many extra calories.

Yeah, my doctor once said it was rather pointless, as just moving your arms naturally, burns almost the same calories.

I would never powerwalk, I think it looks absurd---swinging your arms like some mechanical monkey, and looking like you seriously need to drink a lot less coffeee.

To me, power walking is just jogging for lazy people.

"Marge? I think we have a serious mole problem."

The CEO forgot to tell Larry that his retirement dinner was changed from a fancy dress party to a formal dress banquet.

"Damn! That's the last time I make love in a patch of poison ivy!"

"Look! I'm doin' my part to stop global warming!"

The Whitetrashe family from Texas, is shown practicing the safe sex technique they were taught by members of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Bambi didn't realize that besides premature aging, another side effect of those funny little mushrooms was pyscadelic farts!

This Fox News photographer didn't quite understand the concept of an underwater camera.

I think I may have posted the wrong link for the poster in my bedroom. It's a poster of this window:

Here's some other beautiful windows by the master;

This one is also on display at the Metropolitain Museum of Art in Manhattan, called Magnolia and Irises.

And here's some other works by Louis Comfort Tiffany:

This is a window which Tiffany created for the Reed Presbyterian Church in Indiana.

This face of Indian Princess, Minne-ha-ha, in Duluth, Minnesota, is attribuited to Tiffany:

It's a lovely day here, today.

I just found out my current bedroom decor will work in the new place.

I have this poster, from the Metropolitain Museum of Art, on my wall, been a fixture in my bedroom since 2001--I do adore Tiffany glass. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5S8izeHOhIc/SreezJvbEuI/AAAAAAAABY4/JyeKYTNXdYs/s320/tiffany5.jpg

Had a weird dream last night. I took a taxi to Kanas with some thick bloke who keept getting lost. Then, I was at a "tornado" party at someone's home--bunch of total strangers, and we had cower in the basement for "tornado watching." Never eat fried haddock and onion rings before bedtime, ha-ha. Wow, that was a crazy dream.

I'm listening to The Style Council, singing "you're the best thing." Like it, very retro motown sound, very, very cool!

We had frost last night. It's 37 F (a bit under 3 C) right now, with a rain-ice pellet-snow storm expected for Friday. Bit early this year. Supposed to warm up to about 55 F (about 13 C), later on today, partly sunny. not too bad, then.

I can remember one Halloween, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, having to wear a my winter coat over my fancy dress outfit, while I was going door to door trick-or-treating, cos' it was snowing a bit--just flurries, as I recall. Not much fun though, trick-or-treating in a parka and mittens.

The leaves are so utterly brilliant here, people come from all over the world to the Adirondacks and Vermont, just to see them. I went to the grocery store after the yard sale yesterday, rode the red trolley bus for the very last time. It was making it's last run of the year, back from Lake George. I said goodbye to the driver. She's really nice, we used to chat a lot, if there wasn't any other passengers on the bus.

Oh, get this, I checked my Feedjit widget...someone in Manchester was googling for pics of David Tennant's SOCKS. What the??? If people only knew that we can all see what they're googling for, ha-ha. Now I know someone in Manchester has a serious sock fetish! Poor David Tennant, I really kind of feel for the poor bloke. It must be quite a challenge for the gentleman, trying to live a reasonably normal life, with all these fruitcakes hounding you.

Well, I've got some chores to do today, but also, I'm going to loosen up my sore, stiff muscles with a short walk to the park, later, I think...when it warms up a bit more. If we're getting snow flurries in Sept, and early Oct, I think it's going to be a very long, cold winter this year...definately a five-monther..maybe even a six month long one. Then again, we could have a thaw for a few weeks, you never know, in northeastern New York state. It can be five below zero F, one day, and 40 degrees F, a week later. It's happened.

I think we'll be hearing about GWB's legacy of cheap chav crappola behaviour for years to come.

The republican poo will be consistantly flung against the US flag for decades, before we hear the end of it.

Now his pick for Secretary of the Interior---that's the department which overseas national parks, govt. owned public lands (such as national forests and wildlife preserves), and Native American reservations---is being asked to appear before a judge, on allegations she contacted Shell Oil about a job, while still in office, overseeing the use of public lands.

Public lands, besides being set up for protection, also can be leased out to ranchers, mining companies, and, you guessed, oil companies. Definately more than a little conflict of interest there.

That this woman hadn't the personal or professional ethics, to wait until she'd left office--or at the very least, was about to leave office, doesn't say much for her...and is yet more damning evidence of the irresponisble, infantile, We-can-do-anything-we-want-because-we're-spoiled weakling-prats-with-no-ethics, Bush Administration.

Bush and his little band of greedy twats, are going to be making news headlines, long after they've retired and/or died, methinks.

Sorry I've not been responding to comments, I'm going to try and catch up tomorrow.

Doing a moving sale by yourself--when you live on the second floor and have to carry everything down yourself, is nothing short of exhausting! I'm knackered. It also means, after you've set up the tables and put everything out, standing and sitting outdoors for five or six hours...in October in these parts, that means being chilled by a raw wind and occasional sprinkles of rain.

I was shivering for about an hour after I got done! And my back, don't even go there--I hurt it a bit again, taking down a solid wood end table that weight around 30 pounds (about 2 stone) down two flights of stairs--that have a shart left turn, with wedge shaped steps. I wound up selling mum's old octongonal shaped end table for $2, rather than face bringing it upstairs again.

All told, I made roughly $40...which partly went on cat food and kitty litter--and some linament and more ibuprofen...and some band aids (sticking plaster), cos I sliced my hand on a box lid, and don't have any here at home.

I was starving, and bought a slice of pizza and a small Pepsi from the deli-buffet at the super-duper Price Chopper supermakret--the one with the hot and cold buffet, sushi bar & chippy, pizzeria, rotisserie chicken dinners, coffee shop, etc.

While at the market, I picked up some remarkably cheap fried haddock from the chiller cabinet at the fish market section. Bit soggy, reheated, but with some breaded baked onion rings...nom-nom! Jeez, I really enjoyed that simple little meal. And it was so affordable, too! Two nice-sized pieces of breaded fried haddock, for only $3.25! Usually it's more like $5 or $6 for just one piece of haddock! Wish I'd gotten two packages. Fish used to be poor people's food, cos' it was so cheap, now...wow, you have to practically have a gold card, just to buy some swordfish or salmon or whatever.

Even tinned tuna is getting ridiculously high. In 2007, you could find it for 49 or 50 cents a tin, the next year, it went up to 60 to 70 cents, now, you can hardly find that same tin of tuna for under a dollar--the price of tuna fish has doubled in less than 2 years....that's more than inflation. That's just scary. People can afford to feed themselves, any more, from the working poor to pensioners to people in wheelchairs, to single mum's, the free food pantries run by various charities are just overwhelmed this year.

It's sad when the working poor, elderly, disabled and others, struggle to by what was once affordable food--peanut butter and jelly (I saw a jar of peanut butter tonight for $5.99! Used to be $1.99 or $2.99)...tinned tuna, beans, etc. Although, Chefboyardee's tinned pastas have gone down in price a tiny bit, to $1 a can. Mind you, you get less in a can than you used to do--more sauce, less pasta and meat.

Well, I'm doing something I rarely do--noshing on some fruit. They had in-store 20 cent off coupons for these little plastic cups of diced peaches, with pomegranite-orange syrup, called "Superfruit." Meh, it's not bad. The syrup is good. I'm not a huge fan of fruit, truth tell. I'd rather have some Starbuck's Mocha-Cappuchino ice cream.

On that note, I'll bid you a good night, have a pleasant Sunday, all.

Randomly Random 20 questions meme

1. If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

I'd go back to 1994, and neuter Bill Clinton.

Serious answer: I don't think history should be messed with, too much--you might make thing better, save a few lives...then again, you might just as well cause the end of the world!

2. Your last tea time meal?

Tea time...that's evening, right? Or is that lunch? We don't have "tea time" in the USA, just breakfast, lunch and dinner/supper, brunch on Sundays.

Assuming tea time is dinner, I had some fried haddock I got at the local fish market, and some frozen breaded onion rings, all baked piping hot in the cooker.

3.Cinema or DVD at home?

Can't afford the cinema, just my DVD's at home.

4.Shopping mall or boot sale?

Oh boot sale, hands down. Shopping malls are usually kind of boring, and a bit expensive, as well. Boot sales (or flea markets and/or garage sales, as we yanks call them)--you can find the coolest stuff at 'em, sometimes...and you can meet nice people and chat them up.

5. what colour is your purse (or wallet/man bag, if you are a man)?

I own four purses: cream/green, brown leather, scarlet and dark multi-colour.

6. Lemonade or Beer?

Lemonade--that's what I had today, out on the lawn during my yard sale, I knew I'd be thirsty, so I bought a small bottle of lemonade.

7. Pizza or Sushi?

Pizza, I'd never eat sushi...bleh! Please pass the puke bucket!

8. Do you like the bagpipes?

Actually, yes I do. Dunno' why, I've only one (tentative) Scottish ancestor.

9. Have you ever listened to opera?

A few times, yes. I'm not overly keen on it, but I watched Pagliachi on PBS years ago, and liked that. And, I listed to Madame Butterfly once, on the local public radio station.

10. Favourite fruit?

Like very few fruits, so I'd say a toss up betwen fresh apples and tinned peaches.

11. Last time you wrote a poem?

Oh, I don't know, sometime this summer.

12.. Your favourite country you've visited?

Believe it or not, I really got a kick out of Iceland, had a wonderful time there--tho' I was only there for two days and a night. Nice people, beautiful country, lots to do in a short visit.

13. Trainers or boots?

I have trainers, but because I've done so much walking, I've always been more of a boot person, myself.

14. Snooker or Tennis?

Snooker? Isn't that what we lot over here call pool, or billiards? If it is, I go for the snooker--even tho' I'm totally rubbish at it. I had to take a tennis course in college, hated every blasted second of it...I have virtually no hand-eye coordination.

15. Name of one of your pets?

Shamrock my beautiful, clever, gentle and personable half-collie, who was my constant companion as a teenager.

16. Last radio station you listened to?

Absolute radio online.

17.. Every acted in a play?

Just a church muscial, and a play and numerous skits, in college.

18. Do you like gardening?

I don't have a green thumb, and I'm not super into it, but I do find messing about with flowers and veggies sort of relaxing, yeah.

19. Star Trek or Doctor Who?

(Snorts), well, if you don't know my answer to that by now...!!!

20.CSI or Columbo?

I took Topics in Chemistry with a former forensics expert--she points and laughs at CSI, used to critique episodes to the class, point out glaring errors and downright Bullpoo. Never could take CSI seriously, after that.

Besides, I adored Columbo--and it's short-lived spin-off series, "Mrs. Columbo"---which starred Kate whatshername, the captian of Voyager or Enterprise or whatever. I think Columbo was really cool, and Peter Falk was a top-notch actor.

In remarking about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, one White House aide said, "I'd rather see awards thrown at him (Obama), than shoes."

ZING!

Ironically, our newest Nobel Peace Prize winner, is working at this moment, on trying to surpress about 20 colour photos of Gitmo prisoners being tortured and abused by US soldiers.

Hmmm--Obama got the prize for "opening dialogs." Seems he can talk the talk, but can't quite walk the walk, ey?

These phone phychics were recently rejected by the physchic hotline because:

* George kept shaking his black crystal ball and saying, "Ask again later."

* Every time Sadie drew the Death card, she yelled "Bingo!"

* Phyliis was that teenager who bagged your order at Sainsbury's last week.

* Frederico's idea of an "out of body experience" involves some really good weed.

* Larry's spoon bending required a spanner and a pair of pliers.

* Magdaline's business card read: "As Seen on the Home Shopping Network."

* During card-readings, Georgia asks if you want to "hit" or "stand."

* Marcus told fortunes using a "Guess Your Weight" arcade machine.

* Irine always insists that your astrological sign is "The Hamster."

* Psychic Magazine rated Katerina somwhere between a fortune cookie and the Sun's horoscopes.

* Roberto repeatedly attempts to read your palm with his genitalia.

* Cindy Shakes her crystal ball, and then predicts a large snowstorm.

* Tobias Kept insisting that he could only do a reading by holding your credit card.

* Ian told every girl that she'd marry an ugly bloke from Transylvaia named "Igor."

You know, it's a long-established fact, that Adolf Hitler had a passionate hatred of liberal thinkers.

Pretty much how most Amrican conservatives feel today, about their own fellow Americans, whom happen to be exercising their utltimate freedom--not owning a gun, not voting, but the freedom to disagree with their country and fellow citizens-- without fear of being persecuted, publicly censored, abused or harmed.

Every since they totally lost their political power, right-wing Americans have been turning on liberals, like rapid skunks. Insecure people. Maybe the govt. should start giving out free Viagra to America's conservatives, give them something else to occupy their tiny little "brains."

That precious freedom--the freedom to say what your think and feel, the freedom to reject bigotry, hatred and violence, the freedom to tell a political party you think they're wrong--without being hurt or threatened or arrested or abused-that, is the TRUE gift of democracy.

Unfortunately, the republican party doesn't agree with this--when it doesn't apply directly to them.

A one-sided democracy is a LIE. A one-party system is a dictatorshop, not a democracy. A simplistic truth that the rethuglicans can't seem to grasp. They are bigger traitors to America, every time they insist that only THEY have any rights, than any terrorist or communist ever could be.

Phase one of my moving sale went alright today, despite the rubbish weather, which was windy, raw and drizzly. I made $21 in the first two hours--but no one stopped the last hour.

I had people stop, who were from Long Island outside of New York City, and one man stopped who said he was from the other end of the state, Niagara Falls.

One of the people who live in the building next to us, bought something, and my cowgirl friend--the one that offered me the wrangler-horse trekking job at Wild West Ranch next year.

She pulled her shiny red beemer convertable up to the kerb, and we chatted for a bit.
She bought the few model horses I put up for sale...I only kept my favourites, and sold the one's that were either too big to take to my new place, or that I didn't care that much for. So, I made $8 off of her. Yep, only in America do you find a cowgirl driving a shiny red BMW, ha-ha.

We talked for several minutes. I met her hubby, who's a chef. He's very nice, as well. Turns out, as we talked about model horses--we're both collectors, we have a mutual friend (who is a model horse dealer); my former maths professor! We're both very fond of her, and were delighted to have one more thing in common. So sad I have to move away, I would have loved working with my cowgirl friend--and being a wrangler. I grew up in America in the 60's and 70's--where the western ruled the airwaves (mainly in the 60's and early 70's)--I had cowgirl outfits, toy guns, cowboy hats, toy cowboys and indians--the whole enchilada.

It was my first dream...since age 4, I wanted to be a real cowgirl---it really is like David Tennant, who grew up watching the show, and playing he was Dr Who, being forced to turn down the role of his dreams.

Ah well. My cowgirl friend invited me to go riding on Sunday. But, even if I could afford the $20 for a half-hour ride, there's no bus there any more, and a cab would cost $24 round trip...no way!

The brats upstairs had me up all night with their flippin' party. They were hammering again at 3am, then started getting really loud--I coudl hear the little Barbie/Britney girls, giggling and being obnoxious right through my ceiling at 4am. One of them kept pacing back and forth on the hardwood floor upstairs--in high heels...have you ANY idea what that sounds like below, at 4am? Right now they're hoovering at 10.18 pm at night. They sleep all day, party and do housework all night. Effing stoners. Nothing against stoners, mind you. Some of my friends and relations have been stoners--I think they can do whatever they please...as long as they aren't bothering anyone or seriously harming themselves.

But, that's the problem, stoners and drunks (all the same to me) sometimes do make a nusience of themselves. Then I do dislike them, rather thoroughly, I have to admit.

Oh god, suddenly I can't remember how the heck to spell nuisence...it's completely gone from my head. That's annoying. I DO know how to spell that! Guess I'm just tired.

Well, bit earlier start for tomorrow. Hopefully the rain will clear off by 9am. I don't have loads of stuff to sell. Every time I move, it's to smaller and smaller place. I keep having to downsize, so it means less and less stuff to get rid of.

Sold my blue willow ceramic pitcher, my 1930's Price Bros. teapot, my 1900's wee folding Adirondack camp chair--the lady from Long Island bought it for her mum in North Carolina, and was so delighted..I sold it for $5--- a couple of dollars more than I oringially paid for it. Blimey! Maybe I should have asked for more, for it, ha-ha.

I priced most things to sell, and am even giving some stuff away, so no big profits from this moving sale. It's just a chance to re-coup some money I've had to spend on things I hadn't planned on, and also, it's a chance to reduce the ol' carbon footprint by "recycling" my unwanted stuff, rather than putting out for the bin men to haul away to the next county, to the trash burning plant.

What doesn't sell, and I don't want to take with me, I'll just put out front with a "free" sign, or leave by the bins--the bin diver's are quite active in this town. I've had people rummaging through my bins for stuff, several times--even tho' technically--unless there's a "free" sign on the stuff--it's illegal to paw through people's bins and rubbish.

My feet and legs are really swollen tonight, so I'm off to bed early, to put my legs up. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend--cheers!

1. What are you wearing today:

A long-sleeve black and white houndstooth blouse, with handpainted flowers on the front and back of the shoulders, black Jean star jeans, fleecy multi-colour socks, and erm... undergarments.

2. What song did you last listen to today:

A very dark-sounding song that I like very much, called Tears of Laughter, by Diary of Dreams.

3 Where did you go today:

Outside on the front lawn.

4.What did you eat today:

I popped a small frozen pepperoni pizza in the cooker, and had it with a Diet Pepsi.

5.What colour is the room you are you in right now:

White.

6 Last person talked to today:

My cowgirl friend, Cindy, from Wild West Ranch. She and her hubby (who's a chef) pulled up to the kerb in her red beemer, and she got out and talked to me for a few minutes, invited me up to the ranch to go riding on Sunday(can't go, can't afford it, and no way to get there) It also turns out, that we have a mutial friend whom we're both very fond of. Small world!

7.Last thing you wrote today:

I just wrote a blog post about our national embarrassment--the rethuglicans.

8. Last thing you read today:

A story online, about harness racing.

9. Last thing you watched on television today:

I don't get tele, can't afford it.

10.Last news story you watched/read/listened to today:

The news story about the cowardly rethuglicans shooting at targets of Arabs and a woman...at a political meeting.

11.Fun thing you did today:

Talked to my cowgirl friend!

12. Unpleasant thing you did today:

Cleaned out the litter box this morning.

In case anyone overseas had any doubts that America has turned into a genuine cesspool filled with trash every bit as ignorant and agressive as Al Queda--actually worse, since Americans are born more freedom and privledges than those in Arab nations, and should know better.

Anyway, while at a rethuglican political meeting at a gun club (WTF???) in Florida, a conservative political candidate took a pistol and fired at targets--dressed as Arabs, and a target clearly marked with the initials of his female liberal political rival.

The republicans have no grasp that a bunch of men shooting at a target with a woman's initials on it, is not only stupid, childish and cowardly---it just plain seriously DISEASED.

"That's our right," said Napolitano, president of the Southeast Broward Republican Club. "If we want to shoot at targets that look like that, we're going to go ahead and do that."

No, asshole, it's NOT "your right." The founding fathers did not envision a member of the national political party using his "right to bear arms" to shoot at a target meant to be a real-life person--and a woman, at that.

What's next? Is the republican party going to start symbolically smashing babies of liberal parents against the sides of trees? Are they going to symbollically fly a model airplaine into the White House? Symbolically hang the effigy of a black man, shoot at targets dressed as gays, or nail paper cut-outs of non-Christians to crosses?

Tell me Americans aren't a bunch of adolecent drooling degenerates now!

Here's a link to the article:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/gop-candidate-shoots-at-target-with-wasserman-schultzs-initials.php

Where were you when you...

FIRST FELL IN LOVE?

Hasn't happened yet, for this old maid. Don't expect it ever well, truth to tell.

GOT LOST?

I was about 8, and got lost at a county fair and freaked out my parents. A nice man found me, thankfully. I got a toy horse out of it, so it wasn't so bad.

FIRST DROVE A CAR?

Not counting sitting on my dad's lap as he drove down our dead-end street, my first driving lesson was in the enormous car park at the Regional Farmer's Market--where all the local fruits and veggies and stuff off ships at the Port of Albany, went to. The car park was big because of all the lorries, so there was little chance of me actually hitting something, ha-ha.

GOT IN A FIGHT?

Probably when was 7 or 8 when I was in school, I imagine. I got picked on and bullied rather early in life.

LOST SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU?

Lost an especially close friend in '83. I was living at my parent's home at the time.

DRANK ALCOHOL?

18 (that was before NY state raised the drinking age to 21), probably at our village Pub.

SMOKED WEED?

Never have, can't stand the stink, and it's just not my thing, honestly. I first got offered a joint in high school, by my friend, Phyllis.

GOT STUNG BY A BEE?

Oh, probably about 6 or 7 years old, I was walking barefoot on a neighbour's lawn and got nailed by what I now know was a hornet.

WENT TO THE HOSPITAL?

Age 5, I sliced my head open getting hit by the sharp edge of a metal swing at a neighbour's home, passed out too, was rushed to the local ER.

GOT YOUR HEART BROKEN?

Never got that far into any relationships.

LOST A PET?

I think our first cat, Buttons, died when I was about 8, so it was at home.

CLIMBED A TREE?

Oh, I don't know, probably about 10 or 12? We had some ancient apple trees in the field next door to our home, which were perfect for climbing.

SMOKED A CIGARETE?

Never have, tho' I did try some chewing tobacco on a dare when I was 19, and living in Wyoming. Bad idea.

BROKE A BONE?

Never broke a bone, but I did slightly fracture my kneecap in a fall from a horse at my college's western riding facility, in the autumn of 1979.

GOT AN AWARD?

My first award was in 1972, the village softball team my sister and I (reluctantly) played on, won the championship (without any help from me, alas). We all got treated to a banquet dinner at the Glass Lake Hotel and a wee trophy.

GOT A JOB?

I was around 13 or 14, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars post downstairs from the library where mum worked, took me on as a waitress for special dinners and banquets on weekends.

LEARNED HOW TO SWIM?

Actually, I never could learn how to swim...the mild DCD/dyspraxia, I guess. But I taught myself to float on my back, and I can swim that way...that was at the small lake up the road from our street I grew up on.

CHEATED ON A TEST?

Actually, I don't think I've ever cheated on a test. Just never occured to me.

WENT ON YOUR FIRST DATE?

Oh, I was about 17, we went to a party at someone's house. He left after 15 min. and stranded me there--shortest date in history.

RODE THE CITY BUS?

Oh, I was quite young, maybe 4 or 5, my mum took me on those smelly old buses to the capital city, near our village, to go shopping.

WENT TO A CONCERT?

1969 or 70, Chatam Fair, saw the top 40 pop group, The Cowsills.

MET SOMEONE FAMOUS?

I met Adam West (TV's Batman), in costume, when I was a wee child...not sure, 7 or 8? It was VERY cool, but I was horribly shy and awestruck, as I recall now. Funny thing is tho', that I didn't even remember it, until my sister mentioned it, last year when we talked on the phone.

GOT IN A CAR CRASH?

I was about 14. My mum had a petite mal epileptic seizure while driving, rear-ended a woman...no injuries, thankfully. She wasn't supposed to drive--tho it wasn't illegal then, at the time (I think it is, now), but she really didn't have much choice, sometimes.

DYED YOUR HAIR?

I think I was in my early 20's, I went to mum's and we did it in her kitchen sink.

RODE AN AIRPLANE?

18, at a small airport in the mid-Hudson Valley of NY state. My first jet ride, wasn't until 2001, when my college group went to the Netherlands and Iceland...went Southwest and Icelandair, as I recall.

WENT TO ANOTHER STATE, PROVINCE OR COUNTY

Day trip with my parent's to my Aunt Mary's home in eastern Massachustts. I was about 6 or 7 years old.

Excerpt from "Ramses Before the Walls of Kadesh," by Lorna Greene

Ramses, firey and passionate,
Seeking to conquer in one great stride,
What Solomon himself
Could not have weilded together in
Many decades of years,
Marched so quickly upon Kadesh
That the armies of Ra, Ptah, and Sutekh
Sagged far behind, and only the men of Amon
Kept pace with the Pharaoh in his chariot drawn.
They crossed the river below the city,
At the time-honored ford of Shabtuna,
Called by the Hebrews Ribleh,
And, it being all clear before them, with
Never a sign of the Hittite or his crafty King,
Swept quickly down by the river under
The noonday sun, to rest at last
within a spear's throw of the
City's brooding walls.

RIGID PILLARS by Lorna Greene

A soul is riding
Over gray seas and through
The countless weight of time;
Through, to a golden glimpse.
It has been thrown like
A cloud at sunrise,
From the rosy tops
Of delight
Into the deep brook of
Pain;
It has floated like a leaf
Through dusky caverns
Of the water's hidden course,
It has risen again
As a bird from the earth--
Risen,
To those heights of silver calm
That hide between the rigid
Pillars of unbending passion.

SPLENDORS THAT FADED by Lorna Greene

A burst of sun-glory
That made pink magic
Of soft-topped woods,
And torches of their trunks;

The sun, worn with his day,
Dipped behind a cloud--
The woods were drab and bare!
Like the heart,
When after a great moment
One stands once more
Up to the drudgeries of life,
And wonders, with a sigh,
How this soul,
Concerned with dish-washing,
Could lift itself to rose-capped peaks.

THE NIGHT OF A FROST by Lorna Greene

The wind blows the world silver,
The moon casts a cloak of coldness.
An orange glow in the west
Under sullen purple clouds,
Fails in its attempt to cheer,
Like some old woman
In a ball-gown of gray, who,
Piqued that she goes unmarked,
Torments herself in brilliancy.

The world is cold and silver,
And the north wind
Scurrying in the tree-tops
Chants the death of
All that grew.

MAY CHORES by Lorna greene

When I'm tied
To the pots and pans and cakes of life,
And a May day outside
Is blowing yellow tree-tops,
Throwing leaves
Over a fair blue sky
And down far, green meadows,
Horrible and acient as it is--
On a May day
I could keep a slave.

CLEARING THE WATERING-TROUGH, Lorna Greene

A cold gray morning
Filled with storm to be.
The water flicks with chill
Green, brown, water colors
In my face,
As I bend over it,
Flashing gleaming ice
On to the hard brown earth;
No softness, no sympathy.
Cold gray, cold green, cold brown,
And the flying splinter of
Dull white ice.

A DANCER (To M. L.), Lorna Greene

She is an elf of many phases,
Whitely oval like a Paris butterfly,
Curled into frank joy
That only Anglo-Saxons flavor,
Lost in Slavic storminess
To flash to
Rippling Latin laughter;
My dear, you have never
Guessed my delight
And love,
In every lift of those
Whimsically set eyebrows.

THE PICTURE BELOW, WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROIMATELY THE POET'S VIEW WHEN WRITING THE ABOVE POEM. Lorna died a young woman, in the mid 1920's, in a automobile accident, after her car plunged off a dirt road near the Vermont mountain in the background of this photo. The place she dwelled in and wrote her poems, has changed surprisingly little, in the intervening 80 some-odd years.

WHAT SONG---

Reminds you of your childhood:

Oh, there are so many of those: Everything from Puff the Magic Dragon, Johnny Angel, to Windy by the Association, Yellow Submarine, Joy to the World, Mandy...I was ALWAYS listening to records or the radio, there really isn't just one song that stands out in my mind.

Reminds you of an old friend:

The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem, makes me really sad, cos' it reminds me of a close childhood friend who was killed back in the early 90's.

Speaks to how you really feel:

Stars by The Cranberries. If only...

Makes you cry:

The song "I Would Give Everything" by Bread, reminds me of another very special close friend I lost, back in the early 80's.

Makes you laugh:

Yoko Ono by Barenaked Ladies.

You never want to hear again:

She Thinks My Tractor Is Sexy

Sums up your teenage years:

Mother Nature's Son (John Denver version)

You want to dance with your first love to:

Earth Angel by The Penquins.

You like to wake up to:

Don't laugh, but ideally, I'd like to hear "Top of the World" by The Carpenters

You like out of your parents collection:

Mum was a big Johnny Mathias fan, and I liked "Chances Are."

Wouldn't know about if it weren't for a friend:

Someone I was chatting online to, back over the winter, recommended a band called The Housemartins to me. I've only been able to find a few of their songs, but I really like them.

You'd like played at your funeral:

Oh heck, I don't know. Maybe "I'm Gonna' Fly" by Sydney Forest?

Makes you feel better when you're sad:

There's several, but if I had just one, I'd say "Sweaters" (jumpers) By Beth Waters

A blustery evening here, but it's supposed to be nice tomorrow. Tho' my yard sale my be a wash-out one day, it will be before the cold weather hits.

There's a slight chance of snow in next week's forecast...in the night hours, when it will be dipping down to freezing or lower, in the higher elevations in the mountains around here. Brrr--everyone is saying that winter is coming early this year, and may be a bad one...but, that's happened before, where we've had a cooler than normal summer and autumn, and then it warms up briefly, in November and December.

There's roll upon roll of heavy dark clouds, pearly and dark grey, looking like they're pregnant with rain or snow...but some are reflecting the roses of the setting sun, where it's broken through the clouds over towards West Mountain.

In the distance, I can see the flaming orange-red leaves of some maple trees. It's about at 25%, with the autumn colours, hereabouts. Likely closer to 75% about 30 miles to the north, in the mountains. I bet it's beautiful! I used to love going for a drive in foliage season, simply because it can be so utterly breathtaking, looking at the living artwork, the world's greatest master has painted for our eyes--Mother Nature.

There's this road, in the town of Fort Ann, in the southern Adirondack, off NY Route 149, called South Bay Road. It's basically a dead-end that winds up in some genuine hillbilly's dirt yard--and becomes a narrow dirt road that winds up into the deep forest--- an ATV and hiker's access trail for the rolling, heavily treed mountains bordering the south shore of 27-mile long Lake George.

But--I never drove down that road for access...but for the view. The view in autumn is nothing less than wonderful. It's a valley that folds between two mountain ranges, with picturesque farmland and wonderful views, nearly every inch of the way. I used to love taking photos. And it's a short drive, as well, so you're not wasting petrol--or making too big of a carbon footprint--so you are getting a lot of scenic "bang for your buck", as we Yanks say. (Meaning you're getting more than your money's worth.)

For a Sat view, go to Google Maps and put in "Fort Ann South Bay Rd"....then click the directional pointer north--towards the top of the page, to follow the road to the end--you'll see why it's so beautiful in the autumn, as you near the edge of the "Adirondack Park" on your left and right. (Although it's not a "live" view, of course).

I met a kindred spirit in Walmart's today.

I was standing there in the cleaners aisle, eyeing the prices on the furniture polish. Now, I am old enough to remember when you could buy a can of spray furniture polish for 89 cents. The cheapest can they had there--the store's label--was $2.98. "Whoa!" I said out loud. A 30-something woman was standing near me, and gave me a look. Sheepishly, I said that I remembered when you didn't need to take out a loan to buy furniture polish---and she laughed! She said, "Oh thank you! I thought was the only one who felt that way!"

I have mentioned before, that I have a learning disability, a maths disability, called dyscalculia.

I went for years, genuinely thinking I was stupid, cos' I couldn't even do basic division or algebra. Then, bless her, a college professor who had training in working with children with learning disabilities, recognized my "symptoms," and arranged for me to get testing.

Then, a second professor, worked closely with me for a year, so I could pass the maths requirement in college, in order to graduate. Thanks to her, I got my first-ever "A," in maths! Man, it felt good, telling that to my mum and dad. And, of course, I was able to graduate and get my degree.

But, some students in the county I live in, aren't so lucky. This county in rural northern New York state, often treats its learning disabled, its poor and its mentally ill residents, with a 1950's mentality.

When I had decided to go back to college, at the tender age of 39, the councelor at the local branch for the state's office of VESID---"Vocational and Educational Services for Indivduals with Disabilities"---told me, very rudely and sarcastically, that she didn't think I'd "make it through the first semester," and told me to come back and see her if I "made it" through the first year.

Well, I not only made it through the first year, I got straight-A's, became a Phi-Theta-Kappa, and graduated with honors...without ANY educational assistance from this county or my state.

The local newspaper had an article about a boy whose parents moved to this area a while back. He had a language learning disability. The first thing the school district in Warren County did, was insist that he go into a vocational programme. When his parents--and rightly so, insisted on the boy having a "normal" educational experience, the school responded by shutting the boy up all alone in a room all day, with a single "teacher," and refused to give him any school books, or teach him history or science.

I am not making this up. Read the article I've posted the link to. Warren County New York, is a republican cesspool of empty-headed, shallow, bigoted people, whom still believe that they live in the sanitary world of the 1950's, when things like poverty, learning disabilities and mental illness, were, like homosexuality (another issue this area has), best kept hidden away, under the lock and key of total ignorance.

It's not those with learning disabilites whom are stupid---it's those people, who should know better, which deliberately choose to not enlighten themselves, and see the human individual--not the disability.

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2009/10/07/news/local/doc4acbb2ae9a32c803095956.txt#blogcomments

Little Johnny watches Brokeback Mountain for the first time...

Maybe Gilligan wasn't really the dumb one....

Mrs. Schmooter proves that the American educational system is the best in the world:

Spock, you're soooo--busted!

This past Monday, President Obama signed an executive ordered that all climate-altering pollution be reduced from government buildings, fleets and federal worker's commuting vehicles.

Each US govt. agency has just 90 days now, to tell the govt. how they plan to reduce greenhouse emmissions.

The Whitehouse is also working on requiring automakers and large industrial facilities to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

There are over 500,000 US Govt. buildings, and over 600,000 US govt. vehicles for which this new executive order would apply.

Obama claims the average citizen would also benefit by this, by the savings in energy costs.

Recently political presenter Bill Maher had this to say, to conservaitive Americans--particularly republican politicians--whom all insist that global warming isn't a serious issue, and any impact is centuries away--if they belive there's an impact at all.

Maher spoke of Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma--who didn't do so well in science in school, apparently. Sen. Inhofe has referred to global climate change as "the greatest hoax."

Maher said to republicans who insist that climate change needs more study before it can be addressed by the government, that "it's probably too late (for that) now, anyway."

Republican Senator Joe Barton of Texas (oh, big surprise there), merely shrugs and says, that the human race will "probably adapt" to climate change.

Says Maher of republican "wisdom,": "These people are so stupid they make ME question evolution!"

Good one, Bill!

What did you have for breakfast?

Oatmeal (porage)

Where are you?

In my lounge.

Where do you wish you were?

Oh, pretty much anywhere but here, I reckon--except maybe Fargo, North Dakota...or Milton Keynes.

Are you happy with your life?

No comment

Do you make people angry?

Judging by some of the excessively obsessed weirdos I seem to attact, I'd say yes.

Do you like who you are?

Meh--I am who I am. Is anybody really totally happy with whom they are?

Are you random?

Meh--depends on my mood. Why, do you want me to be?

Do you like the cold?

Yeah, I don't mind it, I grew up with it.

Do you like the heat?

Not over 85 F, I don't, or when it's really humid.

Aren’t thunderstorms awesome?

Only someone who has never been struck--or almost struck--by lightning would say that.

Do you like to walk in the rain?

Actually, most of the time, yes I do.

Isn’t walking in the leaves romantic?

I wouldn't say that in the sexual sense, in the playful or poetic sense, yes, it is.

Do you have any one in mind that you want to walk in the leaves with?

Not David Tennant, ha-ha.

Do you like expensive things?

My mum used to tell me that I had expensive taste--but, oddly, I rarely think in terms of trendy or posh. If I find something that appeals from Walmart, that's fine...it's just that, unintentionally, for some reason, my personal tastes runs more upscale. Dunno' why.

Have you been called a slut before?

No.

What makes you laugh or smile?

Lots of things can make me laugh. Laughter is very importantant to me, it's my "drug" of choice, I suppose.

My friends make me smile, my pets, some beauty in nature, Dr Who, horses, seeing a play, eating out, traveling somewhere, finishing a really good book, an unexpected nice surprise, a pleasant conversation, and ice cold glass of Coke or a really good cup of coffee, a nice antique or a beautiful painting, hearing a favourite song...lots of things make me smile.

Do people asking you too many questions in a row bother you?

No, not at all--as long as they're not too deeply personal.

Why?

Because--usually--the only truly stupid question, is the one never asked.

Do you like cameras?

Sure, I suppose.

Do you like taking pictures?

When I had my Kodak 35mm Easyload camera, I loved it, and enjoyed driving about, looking for things to photograph. I've never studied photography, though.

What is the weather like out side?

Mostly cloudy, cool but not cold.

Do you like looking up at the stars?

Oh yes, very much. I've never really studied astromomy, being crap at maths, but yes, I've always loved stargazing, since I was a child.

Do you like coloring?

Sometimes, it's something to do when I'm sick or laid up.

Do you like to draw?

I would, if I were physically capable of it, unfortunately, I have mild DCD (aka: dyspraxia), which messes up my hand-eye coordination.

See anything cool today?

Actually, a pretty blue jay just landed on my balcony railing--it's really rare for birds to land out there, cos' of the cats.

What's annoyed you today?

This stupid lone fly--it keep flying around my head, face and arms, and it's driving me posistively bonkers!!!

Can you type fast?

No, best I can do is about 30wpm.

What have you been labeled?

Oh hell yes, all the time!

Do you want to move?

Yes and no. I am, but reluctantly.

If yes where do you want to move to?

West roughly 150 miles.

How come?

lost income, severe shortage of pet-friendly, affordable housing in the southern Adirondacks, slim chance of more secure life, a better job.

Are you a geek?

I suppose, in an off-hand way, I am...only not a brainy one.

Are you good at math?

No, I have dyscalculia.

Are you good at history?

Oh yes, I love history.

Are you good at English?

I'm average, and got pretty good grades, so yeah, I guess.

Are you good at science?

Only very marginally better than I am at maths...but no, not all that good, really.

This fascinating article shows the imporantce of Stonehenge and the River Avon in the religious and funerary rites of the ancient Britons.

Archeologists just found a second, smaller circle--called "Bluestonehenge," after the stones used in the site, down the road from Stonehenge, following the river. They believe that the orignal blue stones from Wales (see below) were removed for use when Stonehenge was later enlarged.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/06/second-stonehenge-discovered

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the new Dr Who logo for 2010, courtesey of the BBC:

Do I like it? Meh--it's...different. I will get used to it. In fact, I'm sure I'll may even come to like it, given time.

It took me ages to endear myself to the new Tardis, but now, I can't imagine it being anything else.

Did I like the new "modern" Who costumes? Not at first, but I kept an open mind, and they grew on me.

Was I thrilled with a "teenage" Doctor?

No, but like Davidson after Tom Baker, and Tennant after Eccleston, I've heard Smith is a good actor, and if the scripts are up to scratch, and it doesn't pander too much to the teens (to the point where I can no longer relate to the characters), I'm guessing that I will come to love Matt Smith's Doctor, in due course.

Actually, the only things I've seen so far that I'm not especially keen on, are the new Tardis and the assistant's unrealitically short skirt--(possibly we're going to see more hottiness on Dr Who, than Davies had penned?) Forgive me for being rude and a prude, but if that skirt got any shorter, the kiddies would be seeing the girl's vatch the first time she bends over! "Daddy, I didn't know girls had hair down there."

Seriously though, I love Dr Who with all my heart. Oh sure, sometimes I nit-pick at continuity errors and blooopers and things, but--it's like a close friend, sometimes they annoy you, but you don't take it too personally, and you love them anyway, despite that.

Honestly, it would have to take something really awful or bad, to drive me away from it. If I don't like a logo, or the new Tardis, or the companion's skirt--who cares? I love Doctor Who, not the skirt or the logo!

And, like I said with my approach to Davies, who cares if I like everything the writer puts into the script? The day I agree with everything someone does...that's the day I'll know I've lost my independent thought, and have become an automaton. Davies was brilliant, and Moffat is brilliant, and new logo, new doctor, whatever--if it's good, it's good, and I'm sure we'll most of us adjust, just fine.

I am Whovian, hear me roar!

Getting a lot of spam tonight--a case of reject, delete...not even bothering to read the junk...life's too short to waste on worthless crap.

But here's some adverts I thought are quite clever:

Having children is getting so expensive, that pretty soon we may actually see: "This baby sponsored by...."

This one's a bit of a macho brag, ey?

Now THAT'S projecting your point!

It's all in the wording....

Check out these ACTUAL business names:

Adequate Electric company
Addictions To Go
A-Furniture Store
Amigone Funeral Home
Armeggedon Carpet Cleaners
Analtech
Ash Wipes Chimney Sweeps
Ave's Taxidermy and Cheese

Basic Mortgage Company
Bates Motel
Beef People
Beef-A-Roo
Beepers and Human Hair
Beer World
Big Bone Lick State Park
Big Weiner Hot Dogs
Bob's Filthy Franks
Big Boys Steel Errection
Billy Bob's Park & Pork
Bloodbath and Beyond Gun Shop
Bong Recreation Area
Booze & Bait
Bunghole Liquors
Burning Stoves & Stuff
Buy-N-Leave

Chat'n Chew
Chick'n Chop
Chubby & Tubby Department Store
Chuck-a-rama Restuarant
Cluck-U-Chicken
Come As You Are and Eat In Your Car
Come N Shop
Common Sense Novelty Company
Crab and Things
Crawford Coal and Mattress Works
Crooks Warehouses
Crusin' Chubby's Gentleman's Club
Crummy Funeral Home
Cum Park Plaza

Dairy Cheer, Home of the Smashburger
Dave's Drink and Drive
The Dead Cow
Decency Motors
Decent Convenient Store
Dehart's Bible and Tire Center
Doggy Style Groomers
Donuts and Gyro's (donar kebabs)
Dolittle--Dailey Real Estate
Doom & Son Funeral Home
Dull Funeral Home

Eat It And Beat It
Eat My Buns Bakery & Donuts
Eat N Get Gas

Fairly Reliable Bob's Used Cars
Fat Boys Pork Palace
Flea N Eat
Fluke Transport & Warehousing - "If it arrives on time, it's a Fluke"
Food N Scat
Fractured Prune Donut Shop
Franks-a-lot
Frigid Fluid Company
Fucifino Cafe
Funeral Supplies & Day Care Center
Funny Cry Happy Gift

Gas & Grub
Gas N' Git
Get Head Unisex Salon
Gleed Feed & Seed
Gobs of Hobs, The Hobby Store
Goodbody Mortuary
Gross Convenient Store
Gross Gas
The Ground Cow

Hair and Things
Hardware & Paine (lawyers)
Harry Little Pizza
Hi! Let's Eat!
Hiram's Guns and Spirits
Ho-Hum Motel
Holy Sheet Housewares
Hot 'N Ready
Honky's Ribs
Mr. Bed City Motel
The House of 220 Volt Appliances
Human Electronics

I Am A Print Shop
Imperial House of Glass Blocks
It'll Do Motel
It's a Wonderful Knife

Just Stuff

King Dollar Discount A-Go-Go Liquors
King Dong Restaurant
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
Kiss My Glass
Kum N' Go

Let's Pet Puppies
Lick-A-Chick
Liquor Lotto Pizza Video Check Cashing
Liquor, Guns and Ammo
Litteral Photography
Little Jake's Eat It An Beat It
Little Taste Restaurant
Long Funeral Service
The Lord Jesus Christ if I be Lifted Up Chair Caning and Variety Store
Lucky Pork Store

Mangy Moose Cafe
Master Bait & Tackle
May Pop Tire Shop
Mohammed's Imports and Respect for Life Fish House
Moo and Oink Hydraulics
Mr Rib and Beef Pizza
Mr. Taco
Mr. Chicken
Mr. Beef
Mr. Gas Food Mart
Mr. Check Casher

No Name Nothing Special Produce Co
Not Just Futon's and Bar Stools

Cluck Oink and Moo BBQ

Pee-pee Gas
Peed Plumbing
Pass Gass
Pastry Dynamics
Prison View Party Store

Raper's Rent-to-own
Rocks 'N Rugs

S & M Motel
S & M Supply Co.
Sam-N-Ella's River Club (now THERE'S a bad name for a place that serves food!)
Sanitary Food Circus
Sav U Tax
Save n' Have
Short Funeral Service
Soda and Pet Food City
Spit 'N Shine Car Wash
Splash-O-Matic
Spout 'N' Toad
Squat and Gobble luncheonette
Steak-N-Egger
Stop & Drink
Stumble Inn bar and grille
Sweet Septic Systems

Tank N' Tummy
Terminal Subs
Thomas' Formal Wear and Flags
Toot And Tell It
Tooth and Nail
Tosser's Coffee Shoppe
Trav-A-Leer Motel

U-Squirt-It Carwash
We Sell Fried Catfish and Fix Flats (punctures)
Whirligigarama
Whoot! Hair It Is
Wings N' Things
Wreck & Roll Auto Body

Yeah Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
Yo Chinese Food

A local woman went missing early Saturday morning--and was found 40 hours later.

Driving home from a bar around 2am Saturday, the woman texted that she was driving home...and didn't answer her phone afterwards, because she'd left the mountain road, hit a utility pole, drove over a culvert, and into deeply covered forestland.

She's still in critical condition. A police search helicopter couldn't find her, because the forest cover was too thick. It wasn't until a few days later, that a relative helping police searh, caught a glimpse of a car reflector deep in some woods alongside the rural A type road the woman was driving on.

Police believe the woman may have been texting when she crashed, but can't confirm it.

As an aside, I actually saw the ambulance, late Sunday afternoon, that came up from Albany to get her--as the Mohawk ambulance went screaming past me, siren blaring, on the street, headed for the hospital up the road, I knew someone was in trouble, and murmured that someone being rushed down to Albany Medical Center, (the best upstate NY hospital, which is in the state capital). Mohawk is from the captial of Albany, they don't service this area.

The bottom line--it's against the law to call or text on your phone while driving, for a reason: It can injure or kill...you, your friends or family, or some total stranger, minding his or her own buisness.

For eff's sake, when will human beings get that using a hands-on mobile or texting while driving is an admission that you're not the cleverist person on the road?

The US Govt Transportation and Safety board has made a proposal that has towns throughout New York's Adriondack State Park--a 6 million acre state park of public and private lands, larger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined---has these towns up in arms.

What's the big brouhaha, that's making the townships and counties of the region, doing some fist-shaking?

Signage--or rather, the colour of the signage.

You see, in most of New York state, highway signage is green with reflective white letters.

But, the roads of the Adirondack State Park have their own distinct colours: Brown with yellow reflective letters.

The US govt. has decided that yellow on brown isn't visible enough to motorists--the same motorists who have seen these signs and read them clearly, for roughly 40 years.

No, the towns are seeing red, because the US govt, wants the signs to be changed to brown and white--at a cost to these small mountain towns (many of which already have tight budgets being rural, and even remote) tens of thousands of dollars to replace.

Yeah, way to go USA--in a recession, make the towns pay for new signs, rather than for police protection, schools or economic assistance.

Bueraucrats are dumber and stranger than anything Hollywood could devise.

When I was a wee child, mum bought me a dolly at a church auction. It was an old Besty-Wetsy doll. Mum went right down to the Esquire Drug Store, and bought me a mini-baby bottle from their toy section.

Yep, my first dolly was a doll that could wee.

Well, now Hasbro toy makers have taken the Besty-Wetsy doll one step further, with the

"Whoopsie Doo Doll" Or, more acceptably, "Baby Whoopsie."

The doll comes with the parent's choice of white, black or Hispanic features.

The doll that pees---and poos. Ewwwww---!

How it works: There's the usual bottle full of water, that the dolly leaks out. Then, the child feeds dolly the "food," then sits dolly on a little toilet, and the dolly craps out the food into the toilet. Or, into the handy nappie, which the child can then change.

POV: LITTLE GIRL GAZING LOVINGLY DOWN AT HER DOLLY

LG: "She does number one---AND, number two!"

POV: LG CLAPS HER HANDS WITH DELIGHT!

LG: "Oh, Whoopsie! You did a Whoopsie! Now I'll have to change you!"

As someone who has changed adult nappies, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that. Clelaning off a bum full of poo, and changing a nappie full of the brown stuff, never made ME clap my hands with delight. "Oh mum! You made a Whoopsie!" Erm---no. I don't think so.

Sometimes for a part, an actor or actress has to wear a prostetic device...sometimes a long nose or a fat stomach--and sometimes something more, erm--personal, such as a penis extension, fake breasts or a false bottom.

For one film she worked on, actress Penelope Cruz had to wear a fake bottom. Now, most of us "normal" people, would like to do away with some portion our bottoms, but not film stars, apparently.

The actress claimed that she became "emotionally attached" to her fake bum, and didn't want to take it off. Penelope went so far as to say that she suffered "emotional and physcollogical distress" from having to remove her fake bum at the end of each day's shooting. Cruz said she was "a disaster for two months," over losing her phoney arse.

Uh-huh. Riiiight. I'm sure losing your fake arse was a real erm--bummer. There's women wearing fake boobs because they lost them to cancer-THAT causes emotional distress, too, Ms. Cruz. Jeez--get a grip, Penelope.

Another actress had a startling out-of-body experience while filming the film Fargo, in a cold northern Midwestern winter.

Actress Frances McDormand was doing a part where she was pregnant, and had to wear fake breats. However, the sub-freezing temperatures on the set, froze one of her silicon boobs, and caused it to explode while filming a scene.

Whoops! Maybe she was a fembot in disquise!

Jeez--I put up a sign advertising my pending yard sale, and I just watch some yobbo walking down the street, rip my sign off, carry it about 10 feet, then drop it, and walk over it...they he looked back, to see if anyone was looking, and casually walked on, as if nothing had ever happened.

I can't wait to get out of Glens effing Falls, New York!

Sadly, chav brats like this, are actually average for this city. I think there might be lead in the environment or all the pollution from the mills over the decades...or the in-breeding.

Teens, adults, they're all a bunch of brain-numb, mindless, devolving droolers.

George W. Bush wasn't an exception--he is the RULE. If you are like me, and think Bush is an infantile, destructive, brainless twat---well, welcome to "normal" American thought and behaviour.

I went and put the sign back up.

What in the name of hell, was the whole point of that? I never saw the brat in my life, he just had nothing better to do with his life at that point and time, than cause mindless damage. At least animals and terrorists get destructive for reasons--however wrong, but American asshats don't need a reason--because they have NO reason.

They don't think, they don't feel, they don't...anything. Might as well be made of cardboard, they're like walking bodily fuctions--every creature has to eliminate somehow, Americans tend to poo through what used to pass for their brains.

1. Your favourite fizzy drink (soda)?

Classic Cocacola, Schweeps gingerale or Orange Crush.

2. Last time you went bowling?

About five or six years ago, there was a bowling alley and crazy golf place about a five minute walk from where I lived at the time.

3. Favourite advert?

I don't have one, at the moment.

4. Your teenage celebrity crush?

David Cassidy, John Denver, Parker Stevenson

5. Last comic book you bought?

About six or seven years ago, I went to a local comic convention and bought a Dr Who comic, an old Kid Colt comic, and a Spiderman comic.

6.Last time you stepped in something nasty?

About a week ago---ewww! Wish the people across the hall would clean up after their flippin' cat and dog!

7. Your favourite mall shop?

I rarely go to the mall to shop, when I do, it's usually either to Arby's roast beef in the food court, or to TJ (TK) Maxx, or Target.

8. What do you like on your hamburger?

Depends on the burger. Normally, I like ketchup, mayo, onions and lettuce. But I like my burgers lots of ways, really.

9. Have you ever cooked on a BBQ?

Ever since my mum decided I was old enough to responsibly light the grill, since I was around 15 or 16. I've never used a gas cooker, though. Just ye olde charcoal.

10. Ever get locked out of your car or home?

Hell yes. I've had to climb the windows, and jimmy car windows open.

Frustrating experience...I almost missed my dad's funeral, cos' I'd accidently locked my car and house keys in our caravan--I ended up having to...dressed in my most posh dress, had to break my bedroom window, grab a saddle blanket to put over the jagged glass, borrow a ladder, and climb through--not easy for a 44 year old 15 stone woman! Mind you, it was also January, and snowing at the time, so I also had to stop and find something to cover up the window with, before I left. Not my fondest memory.

11. Have you ever used a bow and arrow?

Just once, at a county fair demo booth for an archery club--I sent the arrow into the ceiling...Robin Hood I ain't!

12. What do you think is the most boring televised sport?

Blimey! That would take me hours to put down it all. Off-hand, I'd say baseball pretty much puts me into a dead snooze.

13. Ordering dinner out: pizza or Chinese takeaway?

Pizza--I have to be in the mood for Chinese.

14. Crazy golf or real golf?

To play I like crazy golf, to watch I like "real" golf.

15. Have you ever ridden an animal?

Mostly horses, but I've ridden a camel and an elephant, once.

16. Did you brush your teeth today?

Erm--oops, I forgot, thanks for the reminder!

17. Would you choose a time machine or a space ship to Mars?

Time machine. Mars is boring, just rocks and dust and little green men. Pfft.

18. Favourite smell?

Pine trees in the rain.

19. Do you buy used clothing?

Sure, I dig consignment shops, I've gotten some totally cool stuff from them, that I'd never be able to afford, new.

20. What colour socks are you wearing right now?

Slate blue with a brown horse on them near the top cuff.

A new pic has surfaced online of actor Matt Smith, presumably filming the post-regenerations scene--with a shamlessly scantially clad assistant (so much for women's lib).

The actor is wearing Tennant's ripped and disheviled costume--sans the suit jacket, which someone allegedly nicked off the set, during the actor's last day of filming.

The Fifth series of Doctor Who--starring Matt Smith, is filming now, to be shown in 2010.

As of 1st December 2009, the FTC will require bloggers to disclose any free gifts or payments they get from businesses, if they review the company's products or services.

It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements, and this also marks the first time the FTC's rules have been exclusively aimed at bloggers.

Bloggers who violate these new rules, could face up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

I slept 14 hours, so why am I tired this morning?

Suppose I must not be fully recovered yet, if hauling a few loads of wash to the laundromat, exhausts me like that. Jeez, I thought I was doing OK. Guess not, ey?

Got all the stuff together for the yard sale. Hope the weather will be decent. Hope I can get it all downstairs without killing myself, ha-ha.

Flame is being incredibly sweet and loving this morning...she must be hungry. Blimey! She's been ravenous the last few days! I don't know why, but she's just eating her head off. She's a bit of a foodie, always has been, but this is unprecidented. She's getting so, she wants to be fed her tinned food, three or four times a day. (She prefers tinned to dry food--they have dry food out to eat, 24/7.)

Well, I can't afford to feed Flamey tinned food three times a day, so little princess will just have to eat the dry stuff and be happy with it, like the boys do.

But, the usually fickle Flamey has also decided she NEEDS to be held today. Flamey is very loving, but she's not a touchy-feely kind of cat, like the boys are. So, her wanting to be held and cuddled, is quite rare.

The weather's a bit odd, today.

An hour ago, it was sunny and not a cloud in the sky. I was thinking it would be a nice day to go for a short walk or bike ride. Now, there's nothing but clouds in the sky! It's quite dreary-looking--heavy, dark grey, low rolling clouds.

Not a bit of sun in sight, now! Too bad, the day started out glorius. I suppose it's going to rain, then. I've not seen a weather forecast in several days, so I don't know.

Well, I've a busy day ahead. And, I'm famished. I didn't have anything to eat last night, wasn't hungry. I am now, though! Reckon I better go and have some breakfast. Have a good day, all.

1. Who was your first love?

I've yet to be in love, alas

2. Who was your first kiss and when?

Erm--probably kissed my mum or dad on the cheek?

3. Who was your first prom date?

I didn't get asked to the prom.

4. Who was your first room mate?

Karen

5. What was your first job, and how hold were you?

Waitressing for the local Veteran's of Foreign Wars post banquets and dinners. I was about 14 years old, I think.

6. What was your first car?

A beige 1967 AMC 4 door Rambler, automatic, no power anything, no air conditioner, no working heater, no radio, manual choke...but, until the transmission went, it drove like a Mack truck, but that baby ran like a dream--you couldn't hardly hear the engine!

7.When did you go to your first funeral?

I was about 3 or 4 years old, mum said she had to take me and my 5 or 6 year old sister to gran's funeral, cos' she wasn't able to get a minder for us.

9. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?

Just turned 23.

10. Who was your third grade teacher?

I think it was Mrs. Galletelli. Her dad one one of our village's two barbers, and she lived next door to one of my dad's cousins.

11. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?

Mum and dad gave me a plane ride (per my request), on a 4 seater Cesna, for my 18th birthday present. We flew for about 15 minutes over the mid-Hudson Valley and Hudson River--it was very cool.

13. Where did you go for your first date and who was it with?

We went to a high school party at someone's house, back in 1978 or 79. Long since forgotten with whom I was with. The only thing that I remember clearly, was dancing to "Hold the Line," by Toto.

14. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?

By myself. I climbed out my bedroom window, after my mother grounded me, cos I was angry. She found me, alas, and I got into even more hot water.

15. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them?

His name was Tommy, and no, I've not seen him since the late 70's.

16. Who was the first person to send you flowers?

I think a blind date gave me flowers once, back in the mid-80's.

17. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents house?

"Windflower Dorm," an employee dorm at Old Fathful, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

18. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?

No one. I just deal with it on my own, or send an e-mail to a friend or, just as likely, I blog about it.

19. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen?

My friend Phyllis in high school, the only time I was a bridesmaid (my sister's two marriages, she chose her friends, lol.)

20. What was the first concert you went to?

The Cowsills in 1969 or 1970. They were a semi-famous family pop group, which the TV series The Partridge Family was loosely based on.

I just used up the very last minutes on my Virgin Mobile...on wrong numbers!

Oh, I WAS dialing the right 800 number for my drug store--three times I dialed the right number...but, I kept getting a car dealership, instead! I doubled checked the phone number on the bottle, with the local telephone directory, and looked at my mobile's display, to see if I was indeed dialing correctly--I was. The mobile said I was, the phone book said I was--so why the hell I was getting a Chrysler dealership...

I mean, I know Chrysler is in trouble, but hijacking people's mobile calls, isn't the best way to endear people to their cars!

I forgot to buy a minutes card at Walmart on Friday, and yesterday I was in Target, but they were out of the only pay-as-you-go cards I cold afford to purchase--all they had was the $90 cards....yeah, well, if I had $90 to spend on my mobile, I could afford to stay where I'm living.

So, now I have to either borrow my neighbour's mobile, or, walk 4 streets down to the convenice store, and leave a time-call for 2pm with the taxi dispatcher. Damn, I miss having a land line.

I got up at half-past six am. The woman across the hall, "madame foghorn," decided to have a loud argument with someone outside in our hallway, this morning...right outside my (permanantly locked) bedroom door, that opened into the hallway.

Yeah, real fun waking at half-past six in the morning, to two hillbilly's fighting a foot or two from your bedroom wall--and, consequently in my case, from my head on its pillow. Cheers, ya' bastards.

Yesterday's front page headline in our local newspaper (not making this up):

"CANNON MISHAP INJURES MAN"

Yes, a man was hurt by a cannon accident over the weekend.

Seems this tourist from Kentucky, was sitting on the shore of Lake George, eating a sandwich, when something came whizzing through the air, and struck his leg, breaking it.

On a hill overlooking the lake, is Fort Willam Henry. a restored wooden and stone fort orignially built in 1715. It's basically a tourist trap today, with costumed guides dressed as British soldiers and Native Americans, taking tourists and children around the fort. Part of the tour is a musket and cannon firing demonstration, about half a dozen times each day.

The weapons aren't loaded, of course, but they do use real gunpowder.

I read where the cannon had just been mock-loaded with a wooden ramrod, and just as the costumed soldier interrperator was touching off the cannon--the wooden ramrod, which was leaning against the muzzle, fell in front of the cannon--and the explosion broke the ramrod in half, and sent it flying over 1000 feet through the air, down the hill, across a small car park and four lanes of traffic, and struck the Kentucky man, as he was sitting on the grass by the shore, eating lunch with his wife.

The fort guide and several onlookers all rang up our equivilent to 999--911, and reported the "mishap." The local volunteer ambulance squad from Lake George, then transported the tourist to Glens Falls Hospital 8 miles away, where he was treated for his broken bone, and released.

This may well be the first lawsuit for a cannon accident, in the history of New York state. And, it is very likely the first time anyone has been injured by cannon fire, in the Adirondacks, since the 1770's.

1 Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the planet?

Right-wing talk show host, coward, liar, racist, homophobe and human poo extrodinare: Rush Limbaugh

2. How do you flush the toilet in public?

Erm--with my hand...well, OK, if it's one of those push-button toilets, I have to use my foot.

3. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car?

When I had a car, yes, it's not worth getting a ticket (or an injury) over.

4. Do you have a crush on someone?

Not lately, no.

5. Name one thing you worry about running out of.

Cat food.

6. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble?

No one famous. I seriously mostly look like my Polish gran and aunts...and a tiny bit like my mum, as well.

7. What is your favorite pizza topping?

Tie between sliced sausage (not the crumbly kind), and Pepperoni.

8. Do you crack your knuckles?

Can't say I ever have, no.

9. What song do you hate the most?

Any rap song. I hate rap with a passion. But, the song I really hate, is "She Thinks My Tractor is Sexy"....or "The Pina Colada Song."

10. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head?

No, not especially--at this moment, I'm actually listening to "I can Do Anything" by Strawberry Fair.

11.What are your super powers?

I can detect a nouveau riche (or yuppie) person at 40 paces.

12 Peppermint or spearmint?

Oh, that's tough, but I'm a bit partical to spearmint--a neighbour on our street used to grow it, I liked to chew on the leaves when I was a kid.

13.Where are your car keys?

In the dump, I haven't had a car since summer '06.

14.Last song you listened to?

"Didn't Have A Home," By Michael Mazzarella and The Rooks

15. What's your most annoying habit?

Plucking at my eyebrows--nervous habit, like fingernail biting.

16 Where did you last go on vacation?

Egypt with my college class, in 2004.

17. What is your best physical feature?

My voice supposedly, or so I've been told.

18. What CD is closest to you right now?

My all of five or six music CD's are already packed away in my CD/DVD/VHS trunk, the only CD out at the moment, is my Radio Times Dr Who "Feast of the Drowned," audio book CD.

19.What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator?

Milk, soda or flavoured sparkling water, margarine

20 What superstition do you believe/practice?

None that I can think of. My mum used to swear that sapphires were bad luck for her, though, and she refused to wear them. I've never held with good or bad luck...chance, yes, coincidence, certainly..but luck? Nahhh.

21. What color are your bed sheets?

At the moment they are plain off-white.

22. Would you rather be a fish or a bird?

A bird.

23. Last thing you broke?

The can opener I'd only just bought at Walmart.

24 What are you having to eat tonight?

Spaghetti bolognese.

25. What color shirt are you wearing?

A ladies plaid flannel shirt--orange, brown and grey.

26. If you could be doing anything else today, what would you rather be doing?

Walking around the "World's Largest Garage Sale" up in Warrensburg, NY, with a $100 spending money in my pocket, ha-ha.

27. Do security cameras make you nervious?

No.

28. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

"Life Sucks and Then You Die."

29. Last time you went to a cemetery?

I visited my mum's grave, as well as that of my "aunt" Doris and "Uncle" Irving, back in May.

30. Last concert you went to?

I went down to the pub on South Street in late July, and watched a steel drum band-- family group from Trinadad or Tobago, perform.

31. Favorite musician(s)/bands you've seen in concert?

John Denver, Bill Staines, Pete Seeger, Jean Redpath, The Beach Boys, The Cowsills. (I have rarely had the opportunity to attend concerts).

32. Next concert you're planning to attend?

There's a free celtic concert tomorrow--a recital by the local pipe band, and some celtic dancers.

33. Do you talk to yourself?

I have a 30 year plus habit of thinking out loud, yes....also, I think it's simply a side effect of being alone a lot.

34. Have you ever adopted or purchased a pet?

Oh heck yes. I've never not had a pet in my life.

35. Have you ever been present when an animal is being born?

Yes, mostly small animals.

I didn't sleep well--just couldn't get to sleep last night, until about 3am, woke this morning, couldn't get back sleep. I've had all of about 3 1/2 hours rest. This is going to be a fun day.

I have to go pick up my pills at the druggists and do some laundry--the laundromat is across the street, might as well. My jeans are about to stand up and start walking about on their own, I'm down to just three of long-sleeve tops and no autumn jumpers (I'd feel a git walking around in a Christmas themed jumper this time of year).. . and my bedding hasn't seen the inside of a washing machine since August.

Waking today, listening to some good tunes. Another Race by Eiffel 65 isn't to everyone's taste, but, I have a memory associated with it, that makes me fond of it.

I was commuting 5 days a week, from my caravan in a small mountain community in New York's Adirondacks, nearly 60 miles to my 4 year college in Vermont.

The ONLY route to central Vermont from New York State, is down NY Route 149 to NY Route 4--bascially two-lane A-type roads....with relatively few safe places to pass on them...a LOT of people have died in accidents on Route 149.

You share Route 149 with a variety of fellow travelers: Huge 18-wheeler semis with trailers, school buses, tour coaches, cattle trucks, horse boxes, farmers in pick up trucks, other cars, motorcylists...elderly tourists hauling enormous travel trailers or riding in big motorhomes.

Well, parts of the year, the commute isn't bad at all--I used to do it in an hour.

But, other times, on a holiday weekend, in the summer months, and during fall foiliage season, Route 149--especially on a Friday, can be a hell hole.

One Friday, I woke late and needed to be to my World Lit class by 9am--so I could take an important test. I left at 8am, instead of my usual half-past 7.

About halfway into my trip, I got stuck behind some pensioners hauling a big silver Airstream trailer....doing 35mph, in a 55 zone...in a winding stretch of road with no safe places to pass.

Frustrated, moi? Oh yes. As my fingers nerviously drummed the steering wheel, I stuck in a cassette tape of Euro-dance music I'd purchased at the one-dollar shop.

As "Another Race" came on---I suddenly grinned, cos' the timing couldn't have been better-- I'd just at that moment muttered that these pensioners in their stinking slow caravans, must be some kind of alien plot, to test the patience of us humans.

LISTENING TO:

Great Expectations by The Gaslight Anthem
Cog, by Simon Smith
Another Race by Eiffel 65
Accused of Stealing, The Delgados
Selfish Jean, Travis
You Stole the Sun From My Heart, Manic Street Preachers
Canadian Rose, Blues Traveler
May Morning, Runrig
Endlessly, Muse
Easy, Barenaked Ladies
Join With Us, The Feeling
I'm Gonna' Be (500 Miles), The Proclaimers
Rooster Mountain, The Court and Spark
Me and the Moon, Gaelic Storm
A Lower Low, Red Light
Lights Went Out, The Cribs
Fading Like A Flower, Roxette
Letter of Inclusion, Foreign Born
Shadow Boxer, Fiona Apple
Relax, Mika
Air, Picture Atlantic
Better Days, The Goo-Goo Dolls
Ruby, The Kaiser Chiefs
Third Rail, Squeeze
I'm Gonna' Fly, Sydney Forest
Closing Time, Semisonic
Build, The Housemartins
Electric Version, The New Pornographers
Toxic Girl, The Kings of Convenience
Sand and Ice, Fanfario
Feeling Sorry for the One You Love, Michael Mazzarella and The Rooks
Wake Up, Living End
Free, Kylie
Island in the Sun, Weezer
Echo, Vertical Horizon
Television, Hard-Fi
Shimmy Low, The Clarks
Stars, The Cranberries
Lone Wolf, Eels
You're the Best Thing, The Style Council
Not Ready To Go, The Trews
Sunday Morning, The Velvet Underground
Librarian, My Morning Jacket
Two Weeks, The Excentrics
Summer Romance, The Redwalls
Cemetery Gates, The Smiths
Sister Jack, Spoon
Glad Girls, Guided by Voices
Bagpipes At Midnight, Jackdaw
Shine On, The House of Love
Leaving to Be Friends, The Pillbugs
Tears of Laughter, Diary of Dreams

The three most sobering experiences I've ever had in my life were:

Being at my mother's death bed
Hearing the honour guard's gun salute in front of my dad's casket at the funeral
Visiting the Anne Frank Huis museum.

Wandering up and down the narrow stairs and rooms of the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, seeing the magazine photos of movie stars which she pinned to her bedroom wall, staring down through the protective glass, at the open pages of her diary--whose quotes were displayed in various rooms...it rattled me a bit, I have to admit. Until the deaths of my parents, nothing in my experience was so melancholy, surreal and unrelentingly bleak--reading the words of this young person; so full of life and hope, sadness and fear, knowing how her end came...there's really no words to describe it.

They're Twittering tonight, that a film of Anne Frank, alive and well, leaning out a window, has surfaced on youtube.

I don't think I can bear to watch it, really I don't. So, you'll have to find it yourself. I made a connection to Anne, visiting her final home in this world, before the Nazi's took her and her family away to die of disease, starvation, gas and whom knows what other horrors.

One person "Tweeted" a flippant remark, and it turned my stomach. How shallow and mindless and hollow, have so-called human beings become, to make jokes about something more horrible than any Horror flick Hollywood could ever devise--all the more terrible, because it wasn't a movie, it was real people, just like you and me, whose ordinary lives were taken from them in a violent and terrifying way.

I know that this is a Scottish song, but this song stirs something in me, that I cannot easily explain.

The hills of my home, well, I can best say that they are a part of me, a part of my heart and spirit and soul. I watched them change, in every hour, and every season, for over 20 years.

My sad grey hills, how I love them so, in the autumn, when the leaves have gone. At sunrise, or sunset, I would watch the sun turn stone to roses, reflecting against the low rolling hills of the Upper Hudson Valley....and my heart would sing, my spirit would rejoice, and my soul would rest contented.

And when I hear this song, a tear comes to my eye--especially now, when I'm leaving the Hudson River Valley, possibly never to live here again.

So, this may be a song for the sons and daughters of Scotland---but it's also a song for any of us, whom have loved the land we were brought up on, and were a part of, part, parcel and soul.

Upper Hudson Valley, Northeastern New York state

A very good morning to you! It's overcast and chilly today. I'll have to wear a jacket when I go out.

Very exciting day for me today. I get my Oct. SSD checque. Today's fun includes trips to: Bank A, Bank B, Social Security office, Walmart, Tractor Supply Co., One-Dollar shop, Price-Rite (messages!). Wheeee! I've an exciting day planned.

I guess I should pack a lunch, but I probably will opt to grab lunch from the $1 menu at the McDonald's inside the Walmart store, or the $3 lunch special at Brooklyn Pizza, or maybe a 99 cent taco from Taco Bell.

I'll be walking, riding in taxi's and taking buses, all day, today. Which is fine, I've not been anywhere in a week, it'll be good to get out, even if it is only to a bank or govt. office or whatnot.

Looks almost like snow, but it's actually supposed to warm up, slightly, until the middle of next week, when it's to be chilly again. Well, if it snows next weekend, it won't actually be the first yard sale I've had in the snow---I had a moving sale outdoors in mid-March of 2006, after I'd sold my caravan, and it did snow flurries on and off all that day--and still people came and bought things.

That's northeasterners for you, they'll go out in any kind of weather, not turn a hair. I've seen families on the sidewalks here, pushing wee children in prams in the middle of a raging thunderstorm. I ran rides at the local aumusement parks, with people riding in snow flurries and pouring rain. People riding wet rides, then walking around the amusement park with wet bottoms, like the ride had given them an incontenence issue.

Well, onwards and upwards, I say! Cheers!

Comic Con of New York comes to the "Big Apple" next week, and among the scheduled guests, will be Star Trek star, William Shatner--and his co-star the charming Nichelle Nichols (who I had the pleasure to meet in Albany NY at a con in the 80's)...they'll be joined by later Star Trek stars, such as ST TNG star, Bret "Data" Spinner.

...also on the bil, will be the original Catwoman on the 1960's Batman TV series, the lovely Julie Newmar. She'll be joined by my favourite childhood (non-cowboy) hero, Adam West--(whom I met when I was about 8 years old)--better known as Batman! And...the original Batmobile (which I've seen)

Among the many Star Wars guests, is included Lando himself, actor Billy Dee Williams, and "Chewbacca," Peter Mayhew. Oh, and the real R2-D2 will be there, as well.

The sci-fi and fantasy convention will also feature:

A Lord of the Rings concert at Radio City Music Hall
Star Trek Enterprise actor, John Billingsly
Star Trek Voyager's Kate Mulgrew--also known to American TV detective fans as "Mrs. Columbo."
1970's-80's sit-com M*A*S*H's star Loretta Switt
Singer Taylor Dayne
Steven Speilburg's wax figure from Madame Tussand's
Manhunter star Tom Noonan
Special guest and assorted actors from Star Wars, including both Bobba Fett actors and Daniel Logan
X-Men actress Kelly Hu
James Bond actor David Hedison
The Punisher star, Thomas Jane
The Warriors star David Harris
Well-known sports figures will be autographing sports memorobilia
Warehouse 13 star Saul Rubinek
DC comics "superstars"
1970's sci-fi stars Gil Gerard and Erin Gray from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Battlestar Gallatica actors, from both the new and the original series
Dollhouse actress Miracle Laurie
Buffy The Vampire Slayer actor Camden Toy
Supergirl actress Helen Slater
A Ghosthunters International investigator
Star Wars SFX man, Joe Viskocil
Aliens actress Cynthia Scot
Actor Edward James Olmos
Spiderman actors Wilem Defoe and Michael Papajohn
Puppeteer (Emprie Strikes Back, Dark Crystal) David Barclay
Smallville, Dukes of Hazzard actor, John Schider, and his Dukes co-starsstars, Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach
Ghostbusters star, Ernie Hudson
Mickey Dolan of 1960's TV stars and pop group, The Monkees
Flash Gordon actress Melody Anderson
1980's police drama Hill Street Blues actor, Bruce Weitz
The Exorcist, Terminator and The Beast star, Linda Hamilton
comic legends Jim Lee and Joe Quesada
TV's Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrengo
Baseball legend Yogi Berra
Baseball superstars Dwight Gooden and Pete Rose
Boxing legend "Smokin'" Joe Frazier
Blade Runner actress Sean Young
1980's sit-com child actors Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman from Diff'nt Strokes
"Survivor" stars
1960's TV Actor, Robert Hedison, from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (I remember that!)
The Brady Bunch actor Christopher Knight-- "Peter"
The Sopranos, Goodfellas actor, Vincent Pastore
Godfather II, Goodfellas actor Frank Silvero
Twilight Saga actor Christian Serratos
Playboy centerfold Tiffany Taylor

http://www.wizardworld.com/guests-apple.html

And many more guests on tap.

End of a long day. I have to decide on what to eat tonight, and have no clue.

I just watched the pizza delivery guy from Irish pizza, deliver a pizza and a bottle of Coke, to the equivilent of the council apartment house across the way (welfare apartments).

God, I'd almost kill for a pizza and and a Coke tonight, ha-ha.

Meh, I'm going to settle for peanut butter and jelly sandwich...really don't feel like cooking tonight. I had to move a piece of furniture today, and my back is seriously aching.

Oooh, if only you could eat and drink photographs, ha-ha!

Former Dr Who actor, Paul McGann, whom appeared in the 1996 one-off American version of Doctor Who, as a two-part mini-series, has ruled out appearing in a Children-in-Need special, in which all 11 Doctors would make an appearence--the three deceased actors appearing courtesy of video clips.

McGann says he has never been contacted by the BBC regarding Doctor Who, since he'd film the special in the 1990's, in which he gave an excellent performance as the 9th regeneration of our Favorite Time Lord.

Although I cannot guess what was really in his mind, I have to say, that McGann seemed unhappy with former Doctor Who producer-writer, Russell T. Davies, when he made this remark:

"It's highly unlikely, because since I walked off that set in 1996, no one's ever called me, I've never met these people, I've never been down to Cardiff and met what's his face, Russell T Davies."

Paul McGann is starring in a new ITV drama, Collision, about a group of people who have never met, but whose lives change forever after they are all involved in a major road accident.

1. Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?

No...people do that???

2. If you could play any character from Shakespeare, whom would you be?

Kate in Taming of the Shrew--I am a crotchety old maid, it would be perfect casting, ha-ha.

2 Ever been in a car wreck?

2 or 3 over the past 40 years, none serious.

3 Were you popular in high school?::

That would be a big "NO."

4 Have you ever flown a kite, and if you could, would you fly a kite today?

Yes I've flown kites when I was younger--and, maybe I would today, if it I had a place to do it, and it were reasonably windy.

5. Did you like studying history in school?

Oh yes, very much. History and English were my favourite classes, growing up.

6. By what age, did you learn to drive a car? Who taught you, and what was your first car?

I was a very late bloomer, I didn't learn until I was about 21 or 22 years old. My mum taught me to drive, and to polish off my city driving skills I went to a driving school for a couple of weeks. My first car was a beige four-door sedan--a '67 AMC rambler, automatic, with no power anything, and a manual choke. It had belonged to my Aunt Mary.

7. Does whether someone does drugs or not, effect how you view them?

I try not to let it, but really, it's behavior that reflects how I view people, really. One of my best friends--besides being gay--was a stoner...quite often he was high when we were hanging together, didn't really bother me. Then again, the people across the hall from me, and upstairs from me, are all a mob of stoners, and I'm not overly fond of them. It's a 50/50 thing with me, I suppose. But, I don't hate stoners or anything like that. My sister was a stoner for decades.

8. Have you ever made a mistake?

Unless someone is actually God, we've ALL made mistakes. It's human nature. Yes, of course I've made mistakes--some pretty big one's. If you don't learn from your mistakes--than that's bad. If you refuse to admit to making mistakes--that's worse.

9. Are you a good tipper?

I can't afford to be, but yes, when I can leave a tip, I normally do--the usual 15%

10.What's the most you have spent for a haircut?

Perms aside, I think the most I've ever spent on a haircut is $30. Normally, I don't spend more than $15 or $20--it's all I can afford--if that!

11.Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?:

Most of my teachers were women or not-so-good-looking older men, so no, not really. I've never had a fit, gorgeous teacher, sorry to say.

12. Have you ever done something unexpected and exciting?

Yes, quite a few times. Sailing a boat in Friesland, riding a horse in Iceland, exploring a closed Egyptian tomb, being interviewed for BBC's Breakfast, getting to sit in Dr Who's car. Riding in my first (and only) horse show, being chosen to be a parade "queen/lady."

13 What song do you want played at your funeral?

Ooh, that's tough. You know, I don't know. Maybe "Stars" by The Cranberries? Or "Sweaters" by Beth Waters, or something reflecting a happy time from my past, like "The Eagle and the Hawk" by John Denver

14. Would you tell your parents if you were gay?

Well, if I did come to the realization that I was gay, and my mum were still alive, I know i could have told her, and she would have been pretty much OK with it. My dad--that would be a no. He was very racist and homophobic, sorry to say.

15. What would your last meal be before getting executed?

Prime rib (med-rare), zucchini squash sliced thin and sauteed until soft in garlic butter, an ear of salted and buttered fresh sweet corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes with gravy, and a big glass of Coke Classic on ice, with some homemade bread pudding with whipped cream, and Green Mountain coffee for dessert. Nom-nom!

16. If you had to pick one person on earth to die, who would it be?

The CEO of National Grid, ha-ha. No, not really. I wouldn't want that, again, I'm not God.

17. Beer, wine or hard liquor?

None, I don't drink. Prefer Coke, gingerale or a lime and soda when I go to a pub.

18. Are you wearing pants, and if you are, what brand and colour?

Erm---

19.What are your plans for the future?

Other than moving this month, I don't plan for the future. Had life smash me in the face once too often, I keep my eyes on the floor, from now on, and won't look ahead any more than I have to.

20.Do you walk around the house naked?

No.

21.If you could do anything, regardless of training or talent, what would you do?

I dunno'. Writing, voice work, working with horses, historical research, a theatre job, farm/animal work, charity work, tour guide...any one of those would make me pretty happy.

22. Last outdoor activity you did?

I went for a very short bike ride yesterday--still not 100% well, yet. I went for a couple of short horseback rides--at a slow walk, in early Sept.

23.Would you rather be blind or deaf?

Blind. I'm already marginally blind in my right eye, and at least would still be able to listen to music, and TV and birds and stuff like that.

24. Do you have any special talents?

Pfft. I WISH! No, nothing special about me, I'm afraid.

25.What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?

Hang my door keys on the key rack in the foyer.

26. Do you like horror or comedy?

Comedy, every time. I've been scared "for real," I'm not fond of horror flicks.

27.Are you missing anyone?

Sure, my mum, miss her very, very much...and my dad, of course I miss him...and some of my aunts and uncles that have also passed on, and my late friend, Bobby, miss him as well.

28.If you weren't straight, what person of the same sex would you do?

I'm an old maid, it doesn't matter about gender-- no one's "doing" me!

(I hate that expression, "do" it sounds so meaningless, like two stray dogs mating.)

29.Where do you want to live when you are old?

I'll probably be alone, so I don't guess it would matter much. Hopefully somewhere nice, close to nature, so I can enjoy the seasons and scenery.

30. Who is the person you first learned to cook with?

I used to help mum bake and do some things around the kitchen, but I first learned to actually cook in school. My home economics teacher, Mrs. S__, taught me about cooking when I was in 7th grade.

31. Any odd coincidences ever occur, when meeting someone?

Strangely, it turned out that my home economics teacher in elemetary school, was my Aunt Mary's next door neighbour, when she was growing up in Massachusetts. Later, when I was in high school in another town approx. 20 miles from my village, my maths tutor turned out to my childhood doctor's daughter.

32.If you could date any celebrity past or present, who would it be?

I know you expect me to say David Tennant--no, I like him as an actor, but he's not my "type." I would have liked dating Gary Cooper or Cary Grant. Definately my "type," ha-ha. Modern celebrity? I don't know...probably Justin Lee Collins--if he was single-- would be more my "type," these days.

33.Did you dream last night?

Yes.

34. What are your favorite sports to watch?

Show jumping, polo, western reining, golf, ten-pin bowling. Very rarely, I'll watch basketball, rodeo, ice hockey, tennis, ski jumping or soccer (football).

35. Have you ever had anyone or anything named after you?

No (thank god).

36. Do you like to wear hats? Do you have a favorite hat?

Yes, I wear hats--mostly baseball caps, but also knit caps in winter, and a straw cowboy hat, sometimes in summer. My cowboy hat has been my personal "trademark" for over 40 years.

37. Do you have a Favorite tee-shirt?

I have a lot of favourite tees--I just had to toss out my all-time favourite, after seven years of wear, it was my 3rd Doctor (Dr Who) tee shirt--the picture on front was all coming off.

Second to that, I have an old navy blue "Oxford" tee that I got at Harrod's Heathrow in 2004, that I'm quite fond of..which is also getting ready to be consigned to the bin, I fear.

38.Have you ever been in love?

Sadly no, and I doubt I shall ever be.

39. Have you ever caught a fish?

Oh heck yes. Mum used to take us fishing all the time, sometimes from shore, sometimes from a row boat. We had loads of places to fish, near where I grew up. I used a 10 foot bamboo pole, maily, or sometimes my old Montgomery Ward fishing rod.

40. If you could go to three cities on vacation, where would you go?

London, Glasgow, New York.

Statistics were released recently, revealing that US military personnel die almost as much from riding their motorcycles unsafely, as they die from roadside bombs and rocket grenades.

Not a few of these men and woman in the marines, navy, air force and army are killed soon after arriving home from fighting overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan.

It seems many of them are buying souped up "racing" style bikes, without properly learning how to ride them. The large majority of the fatalities stem from unfamiliarity with the proper handling of a motorcycle and/or excessive speed.

Motorcycle deaths in the military were up 34% as of 2008.

In 2008, 124 US military personnel were lost to motorcycle deaths.

This year it's slightly lower, at 72 deaths, nationwide.

The majority of deaths occured while riding high-speed sport bikes, or "crotch rockets" as some people call them. Many young soldiers--because of their lower income--buy motorcyles--which average $10,000, as a more affordable alternative to buying a car. Some dealerships offer the extra incentive of military discounts.

The problem lies, in that the bulk of new buyers have never ridden a motorcycle before--and rather than buy a more practical machine for beginners, these young service people are tempted by the sleek lines and high speed capabilities of sport-model cycles.

Many lose control of their bike during high speed accelerations, or when negotiating a curve. Some of these new cyclists have died the same day--or within weeks, of making their first-time purchase.

The US Marines and other branche of the military have instituted riding safety classes, and started staging racing events, to help insure safer driving. They say that these personnel are "irreplaceable," and want to try to prevent as many unnecessary deaths as possible.

Service members are now required to take motorcycle saftey courses within three months of purchasing a bike. The US Department of Defense has also prevailed upon motorcycle manufacturers to change the way they market bikes in military newspapers. In one ad, Yamaha Motor Corp. paired images of an armored tank next to a sport bike with the message that both require special training.

The military says that many of these service men and women have survived combat, safely jumped out of airplanes and done other dangerous activities--which they were well-trained for, and then end up thinking they can do anything without getting hurt.

One gunnery sergeant, said he thought he knew how to handle a bike until he took a basic riding course and had trouble making figure-8 circles without slowing down. "I thought I was a Jeff Gordon kind of racer, but I realized I’m really not," he said.

I woke up today, thinking it was Friday.

Jeez--just give me a bath chair and put me in a nursing home, already.

Bcuk is sometimes so arrogant and childish---not all the time, sometimes they're incredibly kind and helpful. Some people that run it are fantastic, don't get me wrong--but what kind of business REFUSES to address the serious concerns of a user...and, has a tantrum with a customer whom has some serious concerns?

All I set out to do, is encourage them to send a confirmation e-mail, that actually ASKS
members if they want to change their password, BEFORE Bcuk just automatically changes the password? Isn't that a "security" issue?

I mean, assuming that every single user knows that anyone who knows your e-mail address, can change your password, is a bit presumptious and naive, isn't it?

Why don't they put a disclaimer in the profile page, WARNING users that anyone who sees their e-mail can then change their account information?

I didn't know, until it happened to me. They won't even acknowlede that the incident DID happen...they just keep blaming the member=---apparently, it's all MY fault, and BCUK is effing GOD, and they can make no mistakes.

They need to get some women running BCUK, ha-ha.

I STILL don't know how I'm supposed to change my password, when I don't know what the password that bcuk assigned me is!

This is totally unprofessional to frag me, on their part. I would NEVER talk to a customer that way! Maybe that's how people are, in Germany, can't handle problems well, and think everything they do is perfect? My aunt Elfreda was always bragging about Germany, now I can see why--they are perfect little people who can do no wrong, ha-ha. I'm just kidding, nothing mean intended. I love my aunt Elfreda, and think the world of her--and I'm sure Germany is truly a wonderful country. I hear Berlin is fabulous, actually.

As far as I'm concerned--it's BOTH our faults....me, for being naive, and not knowing that someone could use my e-mail on display in my profile to change my password, and BCUK, for not being proactive, and advising members that this could happen.

I tried re-writing my help blog post--didn't frag BCUK, didn't make the obvious mistake of telling them their password security has a security loophole--so hopefully they'll stop having tantrums and just help me resolve my issue.

Anyway--moving on,

I was ill most of the night, last night. Very weak today. Wish I knew what was going on, internally. Eating is becoming a problem, again.

I am down to $1.30 exactly, in change, so I'm relieved that my SSD check comes this weekend.

Oh, and the can opener I just bought from Walmarts--not even 2 weeks old, broke last night. I have to take that back for a refund or exchange. I went to open a tin of peaches, and the handle thing you turn came right off!

You get what you pay for--and I threw away $6 buying a cheap tin opener from Wallyworld.

Busy day ahead--if my wonky stomach will let me. Doctor's appointments next week, to see about my numbness, to make sure it isn't something more serious. Trying not to be anxious about that.

I personally would rather be blind, than in a wheelchair.

Have a good day, all.