Just A Flesh Wound

Goodbye Earl (i.e., 2011)!!

2011-12-27T22:17:00.001-05:00

Hi world and happy after Christmas!!!

There is something about this time of year that makes me a little nuts. Not in the 'tres excited about Christmas' way, but in the 'why the **** can't we be nice like this all year' way. Plus this was the time of year that my late father was at his most cruel.

He wasn't exactly in a position to help himself, being undiagnosed (and anti-psychiatry) bipolar. Although he was the brightest of his family and definitely the best, he (and thus we) suffered a lot throughout his lifetime from the unpredictable but highly visible highs and lows (Rage was a common feature of both).

Anyway enough of that.

Good news, world. He who shall not be named has moved out of the country to live with the other criminals and other colorful folk in Las Vegas (apologies to all the rest of you who live there). They (he has a 'better half') also bought a trailer (ugh) somewhere in the country where they plan to stay I guess in the summer. The good news is that any verbal abuse and attempted thefts will have to take place long distance now, and so are less likely to occur.

There was drama over the holidays though, still inspired by His Nastiness, to wit, his progeny, who seem to have inherited some personality aspects from their unfortunate male protogenitor. So there was a messy Christmas scene and for once I had nothing to do with it. Suffice it to say that the two involved are going to play a very much reduced role in the lives of our family. I sent them both presents anyway, both ignored but not returned (heh they were edible) because I thought it was the right thing to do. Notice the use of the past tense?

Didn't disturb our celebrating though.

I ran out of vacation days looking after Mom (who is tremendous now) this year, so I have to go back to work tomorrow. Just think, world, a year ago Mom was recuperating from a hip replacement. The funding has been cut back so deeply in Ottawa hospitals that they don't provide physiotherapy (or not as much as doctors order, at least in Mom's case). If it weren't for Sis and I going in there three times per day and doing it with her, she would have had none at all. Then everyone on Mom's floor came down with the same superbug on the same day. We got Mom out of there asap to a rehab place and since we had to go back to work (this was November-December-January 2010), we hired a physiotherapist to work with her and we came in at night to work with Mom. It took a heroic effort on all of our parts but Mom did make it home, I think it was in March.

This year was a walk in the park by comparison, and we are all very grateful for it.

Since the death of my dear Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe in October (the 4th), I've adopted two monsters called kittens. They're four months old and spend their nights thinking up ways to drive me crazy. Unknowingly I wound up with male-female litter-mates, who are going to be operated on *wink* before any naughty stuff enters their little minds.

The male is Tiger (I know, no imagination) and the female is Princess. They appear to be marled and white bengals (respectively), and were found on a road somewhere close by. They weighed ~0.4 kilograms when I got them and their stomachs were inflated, they had some 'bugs' in their systems too and that charming combination gave them the runs. They were starved about as far as you can be starved and still living. I found them in PetsMart, where they both picked me out. So home we went almost two months ago and we're a pretty good furry family.

It's a great experience to be able to watch two cute and lively creatures treat everything that they run into as either a toy (toilet paper) or a game (me trying to use the bathroom or trying to get dressed, make the bed, re-roll the toilet paper, you name it). Their joi de vie is unreal. Their impact on the HOUSE is unreal! Looks like a bomb went off in it, or it did until I finally vacuumed tonight.

So back to work tomorrow. Sigh. The entire organization in which I work is expecting huge budget cuts in February, which makes most of us feel like a combination of Sisyphus and Charlie Brown just before Lucy pulls the football away. But we do it anyway.

Also started working on a HUGE family tree, folks. Found out that a long-ago relative on my grandmother's side may have been one of two boys who's vigorous ringing put the final crack in the Liberty Bell. Did you know that it broke more than once?

OK enough for one night. Will post some jokes soon, and hope that your holiday was safe and loving, world.

Bridg

You're So Vain/Mean

2011-10-08T13:58:00.000-04:00

Hi World,

Can't say that life is back to normal or that I'm over it. Guess you don't get over someone close to you passing, you just get used to that fact. God knows there have been enough losses. In Canada it's the Thanksgiving weekend, so we are not at work on Monday.

However on Friday, or rather, BY Friday, my team leader and I had had just enough of being inundated with phone calls and e mail demands from a bully bigshot. I was seriously considering (as in 1/2 an hour away from) calling in the ethics/harassment people, when Team Leader decided to take the rest of the day (this was about 1:30) off. She put an 'Out of Office' message that said to call me; and I put one on to call HER, and gave next year as my return date. Then we both left for the weekend. Smirk.

Our boss, who had promised to deal with the Bully (but had not) for about a month, was still in the office and presumably will have to deal with Bully. Am still smiling over that one.

The Bully was trying to get us to do something rather unethical, which of course we are not going to do. What an idiot.

It's sunny, unseasonably warm and lovely weather up here. Can't say that I'm really seeing it but am glad that it isn't raining.

And how is life in your corner of the universe, world?

Give your loved ones a hug.

Bridg

Year of the Cat

2011-10-04T18:37:00.000-04:00

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe, my best friend, furry kid and all around best creature ever, passed away tonight (cancer). She weighed only 3.2 kilograms.

Feel like hell.

Bridg

Friday on My Mind

2011-09-23T19:02:00.000-04:00

Yahoo this week is over!

Hi world! Actually was threatened by a very senior but stupid manager today. Why stupid? Well, besides the fact that I'm writing a report about his performance that will be put on the WEB, all of the meeting was being tape-recorded.

Idjit.

Also found out that they're putting together an inventory of everyone over 50 at work (big budget cuts coming, not that it will contribute much in the way of money). I'm 59 and fed up with this kind of nonsense. And it's Friday so who cares. I'll get mad about it on Monday. No sense wrecking the weekend.

So here I am in flannel pjs thrilled to bits not to have to get up early for the next 2 days.

How are YOU out there, world?

Bridg

The Alphabet Song

2011-09-22T20:26:00.001-04:00

Thanks Eric....I think.....

The Letter

2011-09-22T20:17:00.000-04:00

TY Vic!

Seems Like a Long Time

2011-09-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

Another oldie but goodie (the song, not me, world!). Hello again.

I used to blog to get rid of tension, then discovered Facebook games. Where I bipolarly (code for "no impulse control") spent $5K in a month without realizing it.

So here I am back again!

Can't begin to think of all the stuff that's gone on in 2011 to post on world, there was a lot. Chief among that:

1. Escaped from The Place that Hope Goes To Die, and went back to my normal sane job. Had I mentioned that?

2. Went on stress leave before 1 preceding happened. Was embarrassed about it but it was one of the best things I've ever done. Seriously. Read every Gabaldon book published.

3. He Who Shall Not Be Named moved out of town (and to a place where they gamble a lot), ticking off Mom's next door neighbor (at least) as he went. No further comment.

4. Little Sis continues to grow and amaze me. She's the smartest one of us all. Littlest Bro is fine and his son is one heck of a football player.

5. The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is pretty sick but then she's the cat equivalent of 90. They think that she has cancer of the pancreas and wanted me to put her down. She isn't in pain (doesn't act like it), still is bossy as hell, and in general except for losing weight is her normal self. So I am expecting the inevitable but won't take any action until I know that pain is involved. Have been advised what to look for. :(

6. Had another heart artery reaming-out (I call it rotor-rootering) and this time it was a 99%+ blockage. Hmm. Also kidney stones and gall stones. First time anyone's accused me of being an over achiever (ha ha). The kidney stone was too big to get rid of naturally and let me tell you morphine doesn't do a THING for pain. Got to ride in an ambulance (went barefoot and in pjs. Boy am I classy or what) with nosy neighbor looking on. Took a few days because the heart rotor rootering had happened the week before (anticoagulants cause issues with lasers). Am pretty sure I blogged about the heart thing.

7. Mom had a hip replaced. It took 4 months of hell (aka physiotherapy delivered by Sis and Yours Truly). The system was set up to encourage her to remain wheelchair bound. It was a FIERCE struggle to get her well again but in the end we did. Sis and I spent all of our annual leave on it but it was well worth it. She's doing great even though we can't get her to go out of the house (she prefers to stay in and it isn't a pain thing). While she was in the hospital, the hospital developed all three superbugs, and everyone in Mom's wing came down with one of them--the SAME bug within the SAME three days (coincidence my eye). Fortunately Mom was colonized but wasn't sick. We set a ground speed record getting her out of there.

8. Speaking of Mom, we got a new doctor. This one's competent but he has a 'God complex' and is of a culture that doesn't hold women in high regard. Complained that I joke too much.

9. Heard (again) from first bf I ever had and realized why Dad moved us here to get away from him. Basically he's an abusive alcoholic, and now even looks the part. It was scary actually.

10. Started a family tree. Holy cow this involves a lot of people. Am back to the mid 1700s.

11. Got asked by a 38 year old (male) for my phone number WHILE I WAS DRIVING (!!???). I apologized for cutting him off and he saw it as an opportunity to try to pick me up. Explained that I'm old enough to be his mother. Eventually he saw reason but hell it was funny! Now the pals at work are calling me a cougar.

That's pretty much it for now folks. Will post some jokes too. Glad to be back!

Bridg

Friday On My Mind

2010-09-10T19:57:00.000-04:00

And if you remember THAT song, you're as old as I am, world!

Had the get-together with old friend/wife of old university pal. It was terrific. They aren't as close to ex as I'd feared, and nothing about the chat was awkward--it was as if we'd just been talking a week or so ago. So I was worried for nothing.

Stayed home from work today because I'm finding it hard to wake up these days. Apparently that's a bipolar thing. In the spring, I can't sleep, and in the fall I can't wake up. Either that or maybe I just need to hibernate?

An acquaintance who's a general practioner doctor said that in his practice, the bipolar folks can't work at a 'regular' job. I can! That comment of his really bothered me, especially since I can/do/have to work, and at the ripe old age of 58, I've been working a long time apparently with success.

Not much else going on lately. My boss is driving me absolutely bonkers tho. She likes to brag/throw her weight around a lot, which is a right royal PIA. Oh well at least today by staying home I got to miss out on it ;)

Happy weekend, world. Hope it's a good one!

Bridg

Waking Up Is Hard To Do

2010-09-06T17:05:00.000-04:00

Just Wasn't Made For These Times

2010-08-29T14:14:00.002-04:00

Well, this is supposed to be a blog partially about mental illness, and God knows I've gone through a mitt-full. This post is about someone who's a....well, not mentor, not idol, just someone who stupefies me. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

So if you're not into music, this isn't the post for you. We'll be back to tasteless jokes soon.

I've been doing a lot of reading about BW and his family/group. The fact that the man is even alive is a miracle, given the trek he's made through the worst family dynamics (father) I've ever read about, mental illness of several kinds (including bipolar-ism, schizophrenia, and other drug-induced nightmares), lack of good commercial advice, parasitism of others, deafness in one ear, lack of formal musical training, the hostility/envy/jealousy of his father as a 'producer', premature deaths of his two also talented siblings Carl and Dennis, addictions--the list goes on and on.

From what I've read, he not only survived but produced more and more innovative music than just about anyone you can think of--and he's still at it.

I don't understand how he managed to do it all, but am very glad that he did. The raw courage alone is amazing. The love of his two brothers in helping save him again and again--amazing. The abilities--astounding.

If anyone out there is looking for a model of how to get through adversity--there he is.

Behind The Sounds: Let's Go Away For Awhile aka Most Beautiful Song Ever Written

2010-08-29T12:22:00.002-04:00

Happy Feet

2010-08-28T12:18:00.000-04:00

Hello Again

2010-08-28T12:05:00.018-04:00

Here I am back again, world. Glad that you're still with me!

Have been spending FAR too much time on Facebook. Those games are addictive, but I've cut it down to 3-4.
The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is still fine and more bossy than ever. She's 17 now and long may she 'boss'!

Mom is doing fine also. She's had a heart attack a few years back, not sure whether that was when I was blogging before or not. But she's fine. Her brother-in-law (sister's husband) died a few months back. He and his wife, my only aunt, are the world's very best folks. I miss him already but can sense him around, especially when I'm up to something humorous. He made it his life's mission to make people happy, and as a retired obs-gyn doctor he sure did that and more.

Sis and I have been helping her (Mom) fix up her house. Just had it painted inside and out yesterday, had the patio door replaced etc., hired a lawn cutting firm, etc. and people come by every day to make sure that she eats and takes her meds. We also found a competent doctor for her to go to instead of Dr. Stupid. Will blog about that guy later. Basically he's prescribe meds that conflicted, made her sick and then he got more office visits to bill the provincial health agency for. Prince of a fellow, lemme tell ya.

Work is fine too, amazingly enough. I bailed out of the old place I joined in 2005, which turned out to be 'managed' (ha ha chortle chortle) by the most unethical and ummm hot-and-bothered person I've ever met. He was 'retired', thank heavens, after I and 17 other people left over the space of two years. You'd think some one would have noticed an issue...but noooooo! Anyway got the heck out of there and went back 'home', where all is just terrific. I also rescued a colleague from the old office and now we work together (sounds a bit like the start of Charlie's Angels, doesn't it?).

As more of the update, I've found out, since May this year, that I have kidney stones (had two attacks), gall stones (silent), am diabetic and have an Achilles heel spur (a big one). In 2005 found out that I'm bipolar and have had two stents put in my coronary arteries, one of which (the circumflex) was 90% blocked. All is under medical control. It just wasn't a fun June.

(Courtesy of http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://home.comcast.net/~wnor/heartantmajorvessels.jpg&imgrefurl=http://home.comcast.net/~wnor/thoraxlesson4.htm&h=596&w=438&sz=48&tbnid=LB7GiyjMqDhrYM:&tbnh=262&tbnw=192&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bheart%2Bcircumflex&zoom=1&hl=en&usg=__7clfY_MN2O7gjEvYEyfSOIHk3Vs=&sa=X&ei=kU15TJWgDYLGlQej3vXrCw&ved=0CBgQ9QEwAA)

Speaking of updates, heard from someone (married to an old university chum) the other day who I fell out of touch with, get this, over 20 years ago. Not sure how this is going to work out but it was nice chatting. They live 6 hours from here by car, and part of the problem is/was that I find that a very long drive. But they still hang out with the rest of the university crowd (note: we graduated in the mid 1970s!). One of them was a guy I dated for several years.

When my ex took off with a younger woman (cliche, I know), it was a very nasty split. He left saying that I was ugly, he was ashamed to be seen with me, etc. etc. One of the nastiest splits that my lawyer had ever handled. Anyway, ex boyfriend (GH), who had gotten married, invited BOTH me and the ex to a Christmas party one month after the ex left. GH's rationale for this thoughtful gesture was that he didn't want to choose between us and he'd assumed that we'd work such things out amicably (Note that I never commented on the guy's smarts). Naturally ex-husband shows up, girlfriend in tow, smirking and looking for me. Thank God I was in the washroom. Girl friend (the one I just heard from) came into the washroom to warn me, and snuck me out of the house without running into ex husband. I should mention that ex husband can be quite cruel and mocking. I had no intention of talking to the man, especially since I'd come to that party stag. There had been a lot of dirt flung at me from him at the time..most of it untrue. A true prince.

(courtesy of http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://joanharvest.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/skunk-spraying.jpg%3Fw%3D500&imgrefurl=http://joanharvest.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/how-i-got-burned-by-a-skunk/&h=432&w=320&sz=17&tbnid=SPUrEPpWp0M_8M:&tbnh=261&tbnw=193&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dex%2Bhusband%2Bskunk%2Bpictures&zoom=1&usg=__O2wPgjJ8f86u6nwxH17Q_QwHohk=&sa=X&ei=1FB5TJGkMIOBlAe52sHsCw&ved=0CBgQ9QEwAA)

NOT my idea of fun.

But it appears that the university crowd saw that as an understandable action and they're still up on the ex's doings. I'm still not over that incident or ex and it was decades ago. I don't even go to that part of town anymore, and I sure don't hear from GH either (the host of that party). That whole ball of wax was like sitting naked on a red hot stove. Does anyone (a) ever do that or (b) ever do it twice?

Do I want to start hanging out with these folks again?

I don't think so. There's some saying about people from your past belonging there. I don't want to be an angry resentful person, but hell I sure don't want to go 'back there' again and that includes running into the ex husband, who is now on his 4th wife/partner (and balding according to the others).

I'm glad I heard from MT (wife of university pal, and a genuinely good person) and wish them well. I like that whole family and the kids (there are 7) actually remember and miss me. But geez I would just as soon leave the ex where he is.

Have any of you ever been in a similar position?

Will post some humor soon to lighten things up.

Hello again world!

Bridg

The **tch Came Back

2010-04-28T07:26:00.000-04:00

Heh heh heh. Like that title?

OK an update or two.

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is fine. She had diabetes for a while, now gone. Then we worried about kidney failure, now pretty much gone/under control. Is just as frickin' bossy as ever. She has a babysitter (yah, they're sending me out of town now occasionally) who adores her.

Mom is fine. She has ummm memory issues, but is in good health. We have helpers coming in twice a day to clean and prepare meals (otherwise Mom wouldn't eat or have a decent house) and that seems to be working out fine. Sis and I are over there almost every day for one thing or another.

Sis is terrific. The other two, well....we don't see them much.

My best pal Jery passed away from complete liver failure. I miss him a lot and am still a little ticked with him for dying.

Other pals are terrific, especially Doctor Peggy.

GI? He turned out to be one of those people you only hear from when they want something. So I decided that enough was enough after three years (every visit involved carping about one thing or another. Not fun).

Work? Also terrific. As usual the budget police are a terror, but things are fine. I left the zoo I was in in 2005 and went 'back home'. Sigh. Lovely, just lovely. There are some idiotic juniors there, wonderful senior types too (old friends). Have gotten involved in some very hot topics in the last year. Will post on it once I figure out a way to do it safely (more or less safely).

Health? Well, yesterday I found out that I might have to/likely will get coronary bypass surgery (am at least in for clearing out two blocked arteries but they're pretty sure that there's more to be done) AND am mildly diabetic (no one had told me that until yesterday. I hit the roof, which is likely why no one else brought the subject up). Thought I was OK with it, but was kinda grumpy at work sooooo I took today off.

Jokes? Have some real beauts. Will post them soon.

What's next? Who knows!

Will be visiting soon world.

OK Enough of Being Quiet

2010-04-28T07:13:00.001-04:00

Hi folks/world!

Knew it wouldn't last. Have been quiet way too long.

Hope there's someone out there who's interested. It's back to smart-*ss comments, jokes and the occasional rant. Perhaps health stuff too, who knows?

Luv ya, missed ya.

Bridg

The The That's All Folks

2009-06-21T13:57:00.003-04:00

World, I've tried to come back to blogging but it just isn't in me anymore. Am hereby quitting, although I'll be in touch via FB.

THanks for the love, and know that it is returned, Bridg

The Cat Came Back

2009-06-20T13:12:00.000-04:00

Thank you, I can hazcheeseburger!

Beautiful Day (?)

2009-06-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks Peter T....

If you walk out the door tomorrow morning and see this in the sky......

.....just go back inside, have another cup of coffee, and stay home.

It's NOT going to be a good day.

Hello Yah It's Been A While

2009-06-18T20:38:00.004-04:00

Hi folks and very sorry for the prolonged absence.

A fair bit's been going on here lately....hmmm how to describe it.

First, a relative I'm not allowed to blog about was very very ill. In the hospital for more than three weeks. At one point five TEAMS of doctors were involved, no one knew what the heck to treat first and no one could (or can even now) know what the heck was wrong. There was a day when I didn't think the person would live. 40 pounds lost. No solid foods for days. Man it was awful. But they're on the mend, so now things are better.

I also lost something that could have gotten a lot of folks in trouble. Well, actually I didn't lose it as much as I forgot where I'd put it. It was a very hairy week. Suddenly something hit the press, and my boss remembered that she'd borrowed the thing I'd lost.

Yee gadzooks.

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe has kidney failure, but no one knows how bad it is. Might be just starting. The vet noticed that she'd lost a kilogram in a year. For a cat the size of a raccoon, that isn't great but not a whole lot. The problem is that with kidneys, by the time that symptoms show up, things are pretty far gone. I did get her teeth cleaned/pulled, and now she's even happier. So she doesn't look, eat or act sick. Hopefully she'll live a lot longer. She's 15 (I think) now.

And me? Still ummm round, oldish and sassy. Work's fine as I said before, not much new there except that if you see something nasty on TV, I"m studying it. Dirty Harriet, that's me.

Will be round to visit you all asap. Have seen some of you on FB (my addiction).

The Campbells Are Coming

2009-03-14T20:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks Peter M!

Voted Best Scottish Short Joke

A bloke walks into a Glasgow library and says to the prim librarian,

'Excuse me Miss, dey ye hiv ony books on suicide?'

To which she stops doing her tasks, looks at him over the top of her glasses and says,

'Fook off, ye'll no bring it back!'

Thanks Phlegmfatale!

2009-03-14T17:58:00.000-04:00

What American accent do you have? Your Result: Boston You definitely have a Boston accent, even if you think you don't. Of course, that doesn't mean you are from the Boston area, you may also be from New Hampshire or Maine.
The Midland
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The West
The Inland North
North Central
The South
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Rough Throat (Boy)

2009-03-14T17:07:00.002-04:00

Hey world, just can't stop playing that ZZ Top song. Must be driving my neighbors a little nuts.

Have had bronchitis since Feb. 14. This is getting ridiculous! Am back at work. Not much coughing except for when the Tylenols wear off. Didn't ask for more antibiotics--the side effects are worse than bronchitis. Anyway it's slowly going. Slowly.

Not much news to relate, except that there has been a fair bit of partying going on here despite the cough. I turned 57 (UGH!) last Sunday, and as of yesterday was still going out with pals to celebrate. Honestly you guys are the very best.

The family party was great too. No one was ticked with anyone else, and we celebrated not only me but nephew and niece as well (March 4 and Feb 28, respectively). It was a truly good time. So next week's gonna seem a bit dull.

Except that boss-man will be on vacation *grin* and pal Peggy will be in town that weekend (21-23). AND except that it is pal Aggie's birthday on Tuesday!!! Not just St. Patty's day!

It's slowly turning to spring here, folks. There's actually sun and today it was 40 outside (Farenheight). It's been damn cold this week but OK today. Not that I'd know, since I'm not even dressed yet and it's 5:11 (am taking it easy, obviously). The snow's going away (lots left tho) and the cardinals sound like they're pretty busy.

Don't know how Mom's doing since I haven't been over there since I got sick. Sis has taken up the slack. If I'm feeling good tomorrow will go. She has a tendency towards pneumonia so am being cautious.

And what season is it chez you, world?

Barbie Girl

2009-03-01T21:09:00.002-05:00

Thanks Vic! Two of us in blogland of whom I'm aware have birthdays this month!

Centerfield (OK it's the wrong sport)

2009-03-01T20:43:00.003-05:00

Thanks Peter M, would not have missed seeing this for the world!

Calling America

2009-02-26T21:02:00.003-05:00

Hi world! Sorry for the long absence, I had and still have bronchitis. An old un-fave illness.
Friend Tina said that daytime TV is good motivation to have a job. Guess what, she's right!

The doc cleared me to go back to work tomorrow. My boss was astonished but since a lot of the other staff are sick, I think he'll be glad for the company. And guess what, my office-mate, the new guy, actually sent me 'how are you' notes while I was home sick. Isn't that nice? And pal/colleague S called me too.

Those guys are terrific.

Sis might wind up working in my org. She had an interview, and although I'm not sure about the level of enthusiasm she displayed (low in my view), they're checking out her references. Kewl. And a pal who slaved in the hellhole with me, is going to wind up working in my group. Yahoo, she is just what the boss needed too.

So that's all great news, isn't it?

Mom's doing fine, I think. Have not been to see her in two weeks because she's prone to lung illness and I don't want her to get this bug that I have.

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is quite happy. The more I"m home,the more she gets petted and brushed and the more TV she gets to watch. Plus she has a nice warm body to sleep on. When I go back to work she'll be heartbroken.

Will be visiting you all this week, world.

Hang in there, and steer clear of coughing people!
BJ

Speechless

2009-02-11T10:09:00.003-05:00

Thanks Fatma, this is hilarious!

Wedding Song

2009-02-10T21:50:00.004-05:00

Thanks Vic!

Just My Imagination

2009-02-10T21:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks Vic!

LOLCATS Does It Again!

2009-02-10T21:22:00.003-05:00

2009-02-09T21:21:00.001-05:00

Another PeterM gem!

Southern Style Marital Counselling

Earl and Bubba are quietly sitting in a boat fishing, chewing, and drinking beer when suddenly Bubba says, "I think I'm gonna divorce my wife - She ain't spoke to me in over 2 months."

Earl spits, sips his beer and says, "Better think it over, women like that are hard to find"...

There Ain't No Cure For the Summertime/February Blues

2009-02-09T21:18:00.003-05:00

Thanks Peter M! This DOES say it all.

It Takes A Worried Man To Sing A Worried Song

2009-02-09T20:19:00.002-05:00

It takes a worried man
to sing a worried song
oh yes it takes a worried man
to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man
to sing a worried song
I'm worried now
but I won't be worried long.

Hey world! I feel more than a little bit stupid posting those lyrics with the lethal brushfires going on Down Under.

Here we are in Ottawa, the town that nobody loves, under the light of a full moon. The buses are back, more or less. I thought that people would be in better spirits than lately, but no, not in BJ's office.

Is it the February blahs?

Or are more people suffering from bipolar disorder than would appear?

What does this have to do with bipolarism, you ask?

Spring is the hardest time for me and I've been told for most people who are bipolar. No one knows why for sure. Bipolars are thought to be more sensitive to changes in light intensity than other people, but that's just a theory (this nasty little article identifies the late Benito Mussilini as bipolar. Wonderful company I'm in). At any rate, world, I might be posting a bit less frequently in the next month or two as I come to grips with the spring gripes.

Or on the other hand I might/probably will need to vent more in this blog to keep my usual sweet (grimace) disposition!

Things at home seem to be stable, at work everyone except yours truly appears to be in very grumpy/throttle-the-boss-and-each-other mindsets. Isn't it weird that the depressed one is the least unhappy? Am trying very hard to be unjudgemental except in cases where someone's being an absolute a**hat, and in those cases am using the avoid-at-all-costs-don't-verbalize approach. It isn't as easy as it sounds. Even the newspapers are grumpy.

Sis is having a horrid time at work, pal P is also ('horrid' as in the hellhole I used to work in).

When you think of things like the Australian brushfires, the flooding of the Big Easy, and the state of many of our formerly big industries....isn't it worth it to create or try to create/maintain some happy? I'm the last person who should be preaching at all, let alone this stuff. It's just hard to understand.

How are you guys out there handling it? I hope you're happy, safe and healthy. Those appear to be rare commodities these days, but very valuable ones.

Luv and hugs, BJ

Movin' Out

2009-02-05T18:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks Peter M! Did the sign net any sales?

When We're 64

2009-02-05T18:25:00.001-05:00

Uhhh thanks Vic.

Tomorrow

2009-02-01T21:35:00.003-05:00

Hi world, how did you like all those jokes on Saturday? The one on America the Beautiful is positively blegard without being obscene. Hmm.

Anyway world. Today it was bright, clear, sunny and warm (in Ottawa terms) at 4 degrees. Yesterday it was even nicer and I just lazed all day. But today I got all the errands done (there were a lot), groceries, etc. and finished in time to go out with Mom for dinner.

And found her in a dressing gown! So she gets dressed, we go out and have a great time. She confided in me that she'd forgotten how to use the microwave, which is understandable given that other people have been making her meals for almost a year. Well, she went to warm up some pasta that we had taken home from a restaurant earlier in the week, and left it in the box to warm it up. The box caught fire. She left it in the microwave knowing that the lack of oxygen would eventually end the fire.

So I went home and looked at it. Holy Hannah it was sooty allll over the place. Took a bit of doing to clean, but it's clean now! And guess what world-it still works!!! So that was sort of a mini adventure.

Not much else going on, world. Sis's partner has the flu, so they're not going anywhere. Bro is visiting his son in northern Alberta (the one that got married this summer). Am looking forward to Monday because I'll see pal of pals S again (we work together) and that is always a hoot. Besides have to pay the bills somehow.

The flippin bus strike is finally over, but full bus service won't be back till....get this one world....MAY!!! Can you believe that? So we'll have the driving morons until then.

Thank you, LOB (our 'mayor') and the rest of the circus clowns responsible for this. When he was here years ago, Dan Rather called Ottawa a 'backwater capital' and there was great indignation about it.

Well, Dan, you were right and this bus nonsense proves it.

Anyway, world, back to more pleasant things. Days are getting longer, temperatures a bit higher...can spring be all that far away?

Let's hope not.

And what's new with you, world?

BJ

All I Need Is The Air That I Breathe....

2009-02-01T13:12:00.003-05:00

Ummm thanks Vic?

25 Random Things About Me (Facebook tag by GWB)

2009-01-31T19:01:00.002-05:00

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. First of all, I didn't know that there WAS a 'notes' tab on my profile page.

2. And I don't get 'Tagged' at all.

3. I'm from Pennsylvania, and I miss it dearly.

4. Love the ocean and really hate being away from it. Since I've been in Ottawa for 40 years...well....

5. Bullies, mean-spirits and arrogance drive me nuts and not in a good way.

6. My nickname (given to me by the nuns who tried to teach me) was 'The Instigator'. I earned it.

7. I have a very active sense of humor.

8. Have had anorexia nervosa twice.

9. My hair's Santa Claus white. The color is rented.

10. Am very good at languages.

11. I suck at math, which is weird since both my parents taught it and my mother was an actuary.

12. Burnt out twice.

13. Had a scuba diving accident that my doc said no one she knows of has ever survived.

14. Am dyslexic, which helps with language learning.

15. Have a very strong mothering streak.

16. I believe in God more than religion.

17. Also believe in angels, auras and most of that new age stuff.

18. Had a really bad year in 1990, when my dad died suddenly, boyfriend of 10 years died suddenly, my 9 month old car was written off (while I was in it), had the scuba accident, and my boss' boss' boss hit on me and I turned him down (with predictable consequences) all in a 11 month timeframe. I'd been working 95 hour weeks for 4 years by 1990, and by this year my short term memory was shot and half my hair fell out (fun times!). If not for my pal Peggy, I'm sure I would have been in a looney
bin.

19. Like my friend Mark, am pretty sure that I've lost the ability to feel romantic love.

20. Despite #19, I trust easily until someone breaks that trust, except romantically. There, trust is really tough for me in a 'letting go' sense.

21. Love, love, LOVE dogs. Can't imagine not being around them.

22. Also love my friends with all my heart. Fiercely.

23. Was an executive for 5-6 years and 'demoted' myself. Hated every second of management.

24. Am my mom's daughter and best friend, and vice-versa.

25. Love movies and the 'losing yourself' aspect of that.

26. 'bonus' like Mark's: I am terrified of bees and heights; and detest eggs (as food)

I've tagged a lot of you on Facebook, so I'll just tag Rhi and Kelly here!

Borrowed from Tweety

2009-01-31T15:09:00.004-05:00

You Are Chess

You are brilliant and shrewd. You can often predict what people will do in the future.
You thrive in complex situations. You deal with contradictions well.
You can have many streams of though going on at your mind at once. You keep track of things well.
You are very patient. You have lots of endurance, even when your energy dwindles

http://blogthings.com/whatboardgameareyouquiz/">What Board Game Are You?

Am pretty sure that this thing's deluded at least in my case. I hate chess.

Goodnight Sweetheart

2009-01-31T13:44:00.002-05:00

This is from Peter M and it's sweet!

Another One Bites The Dust

2009-01-31T13:37:00.002-05:00

Thanks Dar.

Folks, might want to read the GTO pose in connection with this one.

Read the info first, then watch the clip....link below.

And you thought those people that set up roomfuls of dominos to knock over were amazing.

There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film linked below. Everything you see really happened in real time exactly as you see it.

The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again. The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions.

The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete including full engineering of the sequence. In addition, it's two minutes long so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they're shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime.

However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in "free viewings" (Honda isn't paying a dime to have you watch this commercial!).

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation including the costs. There are six and only six hand-made Honda Accords in the world.

To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film.

Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp, and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars. The voiceover is Garrison Keillor.

When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have become.

They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real. Oh, and about those funky windshield wipers.

On the new Accords, the wind shield wipers have water sensors and are designed to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they become wet. Click below. http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/honda.php

Food Glorious Food

2009-01-31T13:23:00.002-05:00

Thanks again Peter M

No Mushrooms> =============>

> A group of country friends from the Cottonwood Baptist Church
> wanted to get together on a regular basis, socialize and play
> games. The lady of the house was to prepare the meal.

> > When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts, Janet
> wanted to outdo all the others. Janet decided to have mushroom-
> smothered steak. But mushrooms are expensive.

> > She then told her husband, 'No mushrooms. They are too high.'
> He said, 'Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of
> those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed.' She said,
> 'No, some wild mushrooms are poison.' He said, 'Well, I see
> varmints eating them and they're OK.'

> > So Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a bunch, washed,
> sliced, diced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out
> on the back porch and gave Ol' Spot (the yard dog) a double
> handful. Ol' Spot ate every bite. All morning long, Janet
> watched Ol' Spot and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect
> him, so she decided to use them.

> > The meal was a great success, and Janet even hired a helper
> lady from town to help her serve. She had on a white apron and
> a fancy little cap on her head. After everyone had finished,
> they relaxed, socialized, and played 42 and dominoes.

> > About then, the helper lady from town came in and whispered in
> Janet's ear. She said, 'Mrs. Williams, Ol' Spot just died.'

> > Janet went into hysterics. After she finally calmed down, she
> called the doctor and told him what had happened.

> > The doctor said, 'That's bad, but I think we can take care of
> it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quick
> as possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out
> everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them
> calm.'

> > Soon they could hear the siren as the ambulance was coming down
> the road. The EMTs and the doctor had their suitcases,
> syringes, and a stomach pump. One by one, they took each person
> into the bathroom, gave them an enema, and pumped out their
> stomachs.

> > After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said,
> 'I think everything will be fine now.' and he left.

> > They were all looking pretty weak sitting around the living
> room and about this time the helper lady came in and said,
> 'You know, that fellow who ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped.'

Come Josephine In My Flying Machine

2009-01-31T13:16:00.003-05:00

Thanks Peter M! Wonderful .....

America The Beautiful---NO KIDS PLEASE!

2009-01-31T13:05:00.004-05:00

What could be wrong with playing the kazoo, you ask? PeterM shows us.

GTO

2009-01-31T12:41:00.002-05:00

Thanks Noel!

Oh Canada-True Canadians Part Deux

2009-01-31T12:17:00.004-05:00

More gems from Noel

Oh Canada--True Canadians

2009-01-31T12:11:00.004-05:00

Thanks Noel! I seem to be posting a lot of your e mails today....

Little Old Lady from Pasedena

2009-01-31T11:49:00.002-05:00

Thanks for this one, LB! I edited it a bit ;)

Lawyers should never ask a grandmother a question if they are not prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a small town prosecuting lawyer called his first witness, a local elderly grandmother to the witness box.

He approached her and asked "Mrs Jones do you know me?" She responded by saying "Of course I do--I have known you since you were a boy, and you have been a great disappointment me and yor parents. you tell big fibs, you cheat on your wife and manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs, you think you are a big shot and you will never amount to anything but a paper pusher. Yes I know you".

The lawyer was stunned, not knowing what to do, he pointed across the room and asked " Do you know the counsel for defence"

She replied " Yes I do, I have known him for years ever since his schooling, he's lazy bigoted and he has a drinking problem. he can't build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is the worst in the country. not to mention he has cheated on his wife several times, one of whom was your wife. Yes I know him".

Counsel for the defence freaks out.

The judge asked both lawyers to approach the bench, and in a quiet voice, said, " If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send both of you to the electric chair!

Victory Day

2009-01-31T11:46:00.001-05:00

Thanks for this, Noel.

Popular Science posted this amazing satellite image of Barack Obama's inauguration, two million people captured in amazing crispness by commercial satellite GeoEye-1.
http://www.popsci.com/content/inauguration-day

Keep scrolling down once the pic opens.

Beat It

2009-01-31T11:33:00.001-05:00

Thanks Noel! This is a 7 year old breakdancer who appeared on Ellen.

House on Pooh Corner

2009-01-28T21:40:00.003-05:00

Thanks Vic....I don't get the joke tho.

Tea For Two

2009-01-28T21:34:00.004-05:00

This one is from PeterM. I hope you're not reading this with anything in your mouth.

Cup of Tea

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me.

I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and had just recovered from an accident.
Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.

My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.

Then she says, (as only a mother would know... :)

'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet'?

Poke Salad Annie

2009-01-28T21:29:00.003-05:00

This is probably the worst joke I have seen in months. Thought I should sendit on, just in case you thought my other jokes were bad. No, this is bad. Vic is responsible for this one.....

This really works.

A friend of ours, a nurse, who has done a lot of research about dieting, hadgiven us information about the various popular diets including Atkins, JennyCraig, Weight Watchers, and the South Beach Diet.

She then mentioned a diet about which we haven't heard previously, but which she insists works for almost everyone:

The Dawn Keye Diet

Too bad it doesn't come with a dictionary or spellcheck, huh?

Thank Heaven For Little Girls

2009-01-28T21:27:00.001-05:00

Thanks PeterM

Girlie Wisdom!

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... she has 14 kids but doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers'.

10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12. The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

13. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

I Want You To Want Me

2009-01-28T21:16:00.003-05:00

Thanks for this, Vic. He called it 'terrible pitbull'. I'd call this a blended family!

It's A Small Small World

2009-01-27T21:30:00.003-05:00

This is from my pal Noel. It has something to offend EVERY nationality---so please blame him, not me!

Because Everyone In Canada Lives In An Igloo.

Since Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking.Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website.

Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q:I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow?(England )
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q:Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q:I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto -can I follow the Railroadtracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q:Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? ( Sweden )
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton and Halifax ? ( England )
A: What, did your last slave die?

Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? ( USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe . Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

Q:Which direction is North in Canada ? ( USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ?( England )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? ( USA )
A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary , straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada ? ( Germany )
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada ?( USA ) A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? ( Italy )
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada ? ( USA )
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round?( Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada , but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA )
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

No One As Irish As Barak O'Bama

2009-01-27T20:41:00.002-05:00

Thanks Vic, this is WELL worth a listen. Crank the speakers up, all!

THE BARACK OBAMA IRISH SONG.
Moneygall is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It has a population of approximately 300 people, has a Roman Catholic church, five shops, a post office, a national school, a police station and two pubs. The new President of the United States Barack Obama's great-great-great grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, emigrated from Moneygall to New York City at the age of 19 in 1850 and eventually resettled in Tipton County, Indiana. Kearney's father had been the village shoemaker, then a wealthy skilled trade. And now for the SONG...Crank up your speakers. http://www.oneeyedparrot.org/obama.html

Here are the words so that you can sing along. Believe me, you'll want to!!

No one as Irish as Barack OBama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama
You don't believe me, I hear you say
But Barack's as Irish, as was JFK

His granddaddy's daddy came from Moneygall
A small Irish village, well known to you all
Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

He's as Irish as bacon and cabbage and stew
He's Hawaiian he's Kenyan American too
He’s in the white house,
He took his chance
Now let’s see Barack do Riverdance
Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

From Kerry and cork to old Donegal
Let’s hear it for Barack from old moneygall
From the lakes if Killarney to old Connemara
There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama
From the old blarney stone to the great hill of Tara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

2008 the white house is green, their cheering in Mayo and in Skibereen.
The Irish in Kenya, and in Yokahama,
Are cheering for President Barack O’Bama
O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

The Hockey Moms gone, and so is McCain
They are cheering in Texas and in Borrisokane,
In Moneygall town, the greatest of drama,
for our Famous president Barack o Bama
Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

The great Stephen Neill, a great man of God,
He proved that Barack was from the Auld Sod
They came by bus and they came by car,
to celebrate Barack in Ollie Hayes’s Bar
O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

By
Hardy Drew

And Now For Something Completely Different Again

2009-01-26T21:12:00.002-05:00

Hi world, am back to being myself.

'Oh God', you say?

Tough toenails!

No the bus strike hasn't ended (day 48). It was -35 most of today and it'll probably be that temp tomorrow. Work's going on as usual (good so far), and Mom and The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe are both doing fine. Well, Mom's a bit down but we're working on that.

What happened today, world, is that I got my cholesterol results back today. Usually this isn't good news for me, and I was worried about being diagnosed as diabetic since I've been flirting with it for a while.

Nosiree, had excellent results. The best so far. Even lost a bit of weight.

And the doc halved my dose of beta blockers. In case you don't know, world (lucky YOU!) beta blockers control how hard your heart works. And they make you feel like death. All.the.time. Have been on this stuff since 2002, so getting to take half doses is a real treat. YAHOO!

Plus to get into the doctor's office, I had to park in front of a fire hydrant. And got no parking ticket. And the entire appointment took less than 10 minutes. YAY!

Didn't have as much of a traffic nightmare to deal with today because I got up at 6:30 (groan), and left half an hour early.

Also dumped all of the games I've been playing on Facebook. Many of those games have names ending in 'Wars', and the people playing them take that very much to heart. Well, some of them do. You can get attacked 20 times in less than a minute, even if the results don't benefit the attacker. I got fed up with this kind of stuff and quit. Guess I'm not hostile enough, or that my meds are working too well (ha ha ha). At any rate, I feel much less sensitive since I quit playing that stuff.

Will be around to visit soon. In the meantime, have run across some good ha ha material and will be posting it.

Luv ya, world.

BJ

Nashville Cats

2009-01-26T20:53:00.001-05:00

Thanks Vic!

This May Explain A Bit About Me.....Us.....

2009-01-26T20:43:00.001-05:00

Well-behaved women rarely make history. Thanks Peggy!!!

Red Red Wine

2009-01-25T21:59:00.001-05:00

Thanks Peter M!

A fellow walks into a bar,
notices a very large jar on the counter,
and sees that it's filled to the brim with $10 bills.
He guesses there must be
more than ten thousand dollars in it.
He approaches the bartender and asks,
'What's with the money in the jar?'

'Well......you pay $10 and
if you pass three tests,
you get all the money and
the keys to a brand new Lexus.'

The man certainly isn't going to pass this up.
And so he asks, 'What are the three tests?'

'You must pay first......
Those are the rules,' says the bartender.

So, after thinking it over a while,
the man gives the bartender the $10
and the bartender drops it into the jar.

'Okay,' the bartender says,
'Here's what you need to do:
First - You have to drink a whole quart of tequila,
in a minute or less, and
you can't make a face while doing it.

Second - There's a pit bull chained in the back with a bad tooth. You have to remove that tooth with your bare hands.
>
Third - There's a 90-year old lady upstairs
who has never had sex....
You have to take care of that problem!'

The man is stunned.
'I know I paid my $10, but I'm not an idiot!
I won't do it!
You'd have to be nuts
to drink a quart of tequila, and
then do all those other things...'

'Your call,' says the bartender.....
'But, your money stays where it is.'

As time goes on, and
the man has a few more drinks,
he finally says,
'Where's the damn tequila?'

He grabs the bottle with both hands
and drinks it as fast as he can.
Tears stream down both cheeks...
but he doesn't make a face, and
he did it in fifty-eight seconds!

Next, he staggers out the back door,
where he sees the pit bull chained to a pole.
Soon the people inside the bar hear
growling , biting, and screaming sounds...
then nothing but silence!

Just when they think that
the man surely must be dead,
he staggers back into the bar,
with his shirt ripped open
and there are scratches and
he's bleeding all over his body.

He says,
'Now where's that old woman
with the bad tooth?'

The moral to the story:
Listen carefully to the directions,
and don't
trust your judgment
when alcohol is involved!

It's The End of the World As We Know It

2009-01-24T12:50:00.004-05:00

Thanks Peter M. I don't agree with the politics of this but it is funny

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round And Roun But NOT in Ottawa!

2009-01-24T11:27:00.003-05:00

Hello and happy Saturday world!!!

Be grateful that you don't live in Ottawa. Really.

First, we have an independently wealthy/millionairre mayor who hasn't the foggiest notion of how to govern. He appears to view civics as business.

As a result, we've had no bus service (they're on strike) for 45 days.

For those of us who are reasonably well off, it's sort of manageable. We can drive. Others, such as small businesses--even large ones for that matter--, the not so well off, seniors, etc. are suffering tremendously.

This doesn't appear to matter to city council, who've dug in their heels on matters underlying the strike. The issues that have been made public are no-brainers. It's a mystery why they haven't been solved. I negotiate for a living and even I could have dealt with this long ago.

At this point, most of us don't give a s**t WHO's wrong or who's right, we want the service back.
And thanks to what passes for democracy, we all get to vote. If council had a brain collectively among its members, they'd act for no other reason than self-interest.

Oh well.

What used to be a 20 minute drive to work now takes 1.5 hours each way on the average. When it snows, or worse, when it snows and/or there's a Senators hockey game, thanks to mayor Larry O'Brien's budget expertise (wink, grimace), that former 20 minute drive takes over three hours each way.

There are people driving who have no idea of how to do that. Many are obviously scared, and drive on the highways at 40 kmph and slower. Or they change lanes without looking. Twice in one day (ha in one TRIP) I was almost broadsided by such drivers. My little brother watched as a truck jumped the median of a six lane road and hit the car right in front of him at high speed.

Thanks to council, these things are fairly common now. Gee I'm glad we voted a millionairre mayor in (groan). Actually I did not do any such thing. I know better. But others were more optimistic and gave him the nod. I hope they've learned their collective lesson.

All this ranting, folks, is to explain why I"m not blogging as frequently as before. I stay at work until 7:00 at night, waiting for some of the traffic to die down. At 7:00, the traffic is more manageable and resembles normal rush hour. By the time I get home I'm shaken by the accidents on the road and near misses, and exhausted by the long drive and efforts to stay out of the way of the can't-but-must-drives. And am not my usual sunny self.

On the plus side, at least the USA has a new leader that isn't GWB and who uses complete sentences. Did you all watch the inauguration? I did.

Can any of you imagine the current Canadian prime minister getting a reaction like the ones Barak did? I can. The day he leaves office!!!

Sigh.

Guess I"m just a grumpy old lady today. Sorry world, am just so ticked at city council and our so-called national leaders.....but as I said, at least the US has what appears to be competent leadership. And the Liberal party appears to be improving by leaps and bounds too.

So there's some brightness out there.

Stay warm, and stay the heck away from Ottawa and you'll be OK!!!

Luv, BJ

Thanks I Can Haz Cheeseburger

2009-01-17T21:18:00.002-05:00

How many times have we heard this one? Or said it?

Thanks Peter M!

2009-01-17T21:15:00.000-05:00

Words

2009-01-15T13:35:00.002-05:00

Thanks Peter M!!

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.'

- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

<><>
I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.'

- Eleanor Roosevelt

<><>
Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.

- Mark Twain

<><>
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.

- George Burns

<><>
Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.

- Victor Borge

<><>
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

- Mark Twain

<><>
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

- Socrates

<><>
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

- Groucho Marx

<><>
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.

- Jimmy Durante

<><>
I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.

- Zsa Zsa Gabor

<><>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

- Alex Levine

<><>
My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.

- Rodney Dangerfield

<><>
Money can't buy you happiness .. But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.

- Spike Milligan

<><>
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP.

- Joe Namath

<><>
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.

- Bob Hope

<><>
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it.

- W. C. Fields

<><>
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.

- Will Rogers

<><>
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.

- Winston Churchill

<><>
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty .. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.

- Phyllis Diller

<><>
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.

- Billy Crystal

Borrowed from Wandering Coyote

2009-01-14T21:06:00.001-05:00

You're Confessions!

by St. Augustine

You're a sinner, you're a saint, you do not feel ashamed. Well, you
might feel a little ashamed of your past, but it did such a good job of teaching you
what not to do. Now you've become a devout Christian and have spent more time
ruminating on the world to come rather than worldly pleasures. Your realizations and
ability to change will bring reverence upon you despite your hedonistic transgressions.
Florida will honor you most in the end.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

This Land Of Ours

2009-01-14T20:57:00.003-05:00

This came from Vic or Peter M===thanks! Lve it

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
1. Vancouver: 1.5 million people and two bridges. You do the math.
2. Your $400,000 Vancouver home is just 5 hours from downtown.
3. You can throw a rock and hit three Starbucks locations.
4. There's always some sort of deforestation protest going on.
5. Weed.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN ALBERTA
1. Big rock between you and B.C.
2. Ottawa who?
3. Tax is 5% instead of the approximately 200% it is for the rest of the country.
4. You can exploit almost any natural resource you can think of.
5. You live in the only province that could actually afford to be its own country.
6. The Americans below you are all in anti-government militia groups.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN SASKATCHEWAN
1. You never run out of wheat.
2. Your province is really easy to draw.
3. You can watch the dog run away from home for hours.
4. People will assume you live on a farm.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN MANITOBA
1. You wake up one morning to find that you suddenly have a beachfront property.
2. Hundreds of huge, horribly frigid lakes.
3. Nothing compares to a wicked Winnipeg winter.
4. You can be an Easterner or a Westerner depending on your mood.
5. You can pass the time watching trucks and barns float by.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN ONTARIO
1. You live in the centre of the universe.
2. Your $400,000 Toronto home is actually a dump.
3. You and you alone decide who will win the federal election.
4. The only province with hard-core American-style crime.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN QUEBEC
1. Racism is socially acceptable.
2. You can take bets with your friends on which English neighbour will move out
next.
3. Other provinces basically bribe you to stay in Canada.
4. You can blame all your problems on the 'Anglo *#!%!'

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN NEW BRUNSWICK
1. One way or another, the government gets 98% of your income.
2. You're poor, but not as poor as the Newfies.
3. No one ever blames anything on New Brunswick .
4. Everybody has a grandfather who runs a lighthouse.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN NOVA SCOTIA
1. Everyone can play the fiddle. The ones who can't, think they can.
2. You can pretend to have Scottish heritage as an excuse to get drunk and wear a
kilt.
3. You are the only reason Anne Murray makes money.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
1. Even though more people live on Vancouver Island, you still got the big, new
bridge.
2. You can walk across the province in half an hour.
3. You can drive across the province in two minutes.
4. Everyone has been an extra on 'Road to Avonlea.'
5. This is where all those tiny, red potatoes come from.
6. You can confuse ships by turning your porch lights on and off at night.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN NEWFOUNDLAND
1. If Quebec separates, you will float off to sea.
2. If you do something stupid, you have a built-in excuse.
3. The workday is about two hours long.
4. It is socially acceptable to wear your hip waders to your wedding.

Pass this along to Canadians who need a laugh and foreigners who can learn something about Canada and then laugh.

Let's face it, we're a rare breed.

On a Cold Winter's Night That Was So Deep.....

2009-01-14T19:58:00.004-05:00

OK world, it's not 'Noel' time, but it's winter, it's dark and it's cold--minus 20 is the HIGH for the week and this morning it was minus 37 with the wind.

Enough!

But at least it's really sunny.

Mom had her check up with the Memory Disorder Clinic. Her doc is a neurologist specializing in dementia. He's an incredibly smart and old-world type gentleman. The verdict is that Mom's getting better except on one test. But she's depressed, so he's referring her to a different doc for that. He also thinks that she needs to move into a more stimulating home environment (i.e. with more people). Of course Mom won't hear of it.

She did go out to lunch with her pals today and had a good time despite the cold. I'm still popping over there cooking her meals and making sure she takes her meds. That's why I haven't been blogging in a while-am just exhausted.

Work's going fine. No new developments there. It's good that I can work at home if needed--the cold, idiotic bus strike and even more moronic drivers in Ottawa, plus the lax snow removal on the roads, makes for hellish driving conditions. Three hour one-way commutes are not that unusual.

Today I narrowly avoided getting smucked by other drivers who weren't paying attention three times! At highway speeds that isn't good news. Ice is everywhere, including black ice. In case you didn't know, black ice isn't black and isn't shiny. You don't know it's there until you (try to) brake.

Lovely!

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is terrific, and very happy to be an indoor cat these days, let me tell you. We both discovered that there is a grouse living in my hedge. It eats the cherries on Emmi's tree next door, and is quite a respectable size (as in football-sized). The grouse isn't afraid of Smokey or the border collie next door. Of course being that size AND capable of flight, I guess I wouldn't be afraid of much either.

The house is dangerously in order (unusually neat).

Not much new is going on here folks, just trying mainly to keep getting up in the mornings and look after work/Mom.

How are you handing winter?

BJ

p.s. how could I have forgotten our two notable items in O town?

First, the bus strike continues. At this point I don't care who's responsible or what they do, it just needs to be fixed and now. Almost every small business (like my hairdresser) that I know of is suffering badly at this point. And the commutes are just awful.

Second, am finally giving up on the Senators. Good gravy, they couldn't score in a w*orehouse! Seven losses in a row? Virtually every road game? I have three Sens T shirts and am going to wear them inside out from now on. It's embarrassing.

Yee gods.

Does Your Mother Know

2009-01-08T17:47:00.003-05:00

Hi world! It was cold, clear and icy here in O town as usual. And the bus drivers are still on strike for over a month now.

Driving is really fun.

Really.

Because of the traffic, I get to work at home these days. Usually give it an hour to see how far I can get by driving, then give up and go home. And then start working!

The problem with that is: (a) staying committed to working; (b) resisting the call of food; (c) resisting the call of Facebook; and (d) missing human contact!

So I haven't had much material to blog about. Sis is having a right royal time of it at work. She's got a boss exactly like The Rodent who ran the hellhole I escaped from last spring. Funny, I would have sworn that one mistake-on-two-legs was enough. This one's female tho. We'd better hope that they don't meet and start reproducing. Ewwwww.

Mom is tired these days but otherwise well.

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is doing just fine. She loves having me at home to be her handmaiden day and night. Does anyone else leave their TV on so that their cat/dog/other pet can watch? Just wondering. Mine watches it, I swear.

Not much else going on here, world. How about you?

Luv, BJ

Doctor Doctor

2009-01-08T17:42:00.001-05:00

Thanks Jipzee, this is hilarious!!

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto. The blockage will be almost instantly removed.

2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget> about the toothache.

Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:

You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Remember:
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
Never pass up an> opportunity to go to the bathroom.
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance.
And finally, be really nice to your family and friends; you never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.

No Dogs Allowed

2009-01-05T12:23:00.002-05:00

Thanks Peter M!

Two women were out for a Saturday stroll. One had a Doberman and the other, a Chihuahua. As they walked down the street, the one with the Doberman said to her friend, 'Let's go over to that bar for a drink.'

The lady with the Chihuahua said, 'We can't go in there. We've got dogs with us.'
The one with the Doberman said, 'Just watch, and do as I do.'

They walked over to the bar and the one with the Doberman put on a pair of dark glasses and started to walk in.

The bouncer at the door said, 'Sorry, lady, no pets allowed'

The woman with the Doberman said, 'You don't understand. This is my guide dog.'

The bouncer said, 'A Doberman?'

The woman said, 'Yes, they're using them now. They're very good.'

The bouncer said, 'OK, come on in.'

The lady with the Chihuahua thought that convincing him that a Chihuahua was a guide dog may be a bit more difficult, but thought 'What the heck,' so she put on her dark glasses and started to walk in.

Once again the bouncer said, 'Sorry, lady, no pets allowed.'
The woman said, 'You don't understand. This is my guide dog'

The bouncer said, 'A Chihuahua?'

The woman with the Chihuahua said, 'A Chihuahua! They gave me a f******g Chihuahua??

Return Of The Native

2009-01-04T20:32:00.003-05:00

Hello world and I apologize deeply for my prolonged absence.

Mom continues to do quite well these days. I've been over there about once a day, four to six hours at a time. Am tapering off, since I have to go back to work on Tuesday. She's eating well, taking her meds, and with less and less urging on our parts. But it's exhausting. This week alone we've been out to eat about four times.

Sis got me into some Facebook games (fashion wars, zoo, metro, stop global warming, dragons) which brought about new friends/contacts, which in turn brought about more activity/invitations. Was drowining in them but think it's under control now.

The break from work has been fantastic except for the shopping, which I don't really wanna get into just now. It's not as bad as it sounds but...oh well.

Had company shortly after Christmas. Still have to do the laundry from that.

The weather's been changing every day here. Sometimes clear and warm (like T shirt weather), others, clear and minus twenty-something. And of course, snow and freezing rain. Today it was clear and frosty.

Have had dreams/nightmares about work, but hope that's over for now.

Will be around to visit in the next few days. Please don't give up on me.

And thank you VERY much, Secret Santa, for that lovely gift. It's stunning and I love it.

Hugs to each and every one of you, BJ

p.s. three trips with Mom to Emergency on the week of Christmas, but not one family blow-up. YAY!!

Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night!

2008-12-24T17:14:00.003-05:00

First, I love you guys dearly.

Second, am wishing all the very best that life has to offer for each and every one of you. Merry Christmas (or whatever you observe/cherish at this time of year)!!!

Third, Mom seems to be blooming! The bags under her eyes are gone, she has pink cheeks again, and she's regularly eating three meals a day, is sleeping well--the whole enchilada. Her spirits are greatly improved. So all it took was company with meals. Now we know what to do. I can't do this while at work, but it's shown to Mom and the rest of us what was needed. Plus she's taking her meds regularly too. Guess all of it works together.

Hope that each of us is with loved ones, or feels the love that I'm sending out tonight.

Merry Christmas, all.

bj

Rain Dance

2008-12-22T22:10:00.002-05:00

Hi world, just a quickie.

Got Mom lunch and dinner today, dropping by at various times. She ate it all including dessert!!! And happily too. I think the main thing is company. But anyway, all's well.

Finished Christmas shopping and will never do that again this late. Yee gadzooks the lineups. Also got the munchables for Christmas Eve.

Am off to make sure Mom took her meds, and to put her present for her home care worker out so that she can't forget to give it to her (forgot to do that at dinner).

Nope I can't keep this up for long, but for a few days till she gets the hang of it.

I hope!

Luv ya, world.
BJ

Fa La La La La La LA!

2008-12-22T10:40:00.003-05:00

Hi world, at least it's sunny today. Frickin' cold but sun's better than clouds.

It snowed something fierce here yesterday. Have no idea how much but it took forever for the plows to show up. Not many people were crazy enough to venture out except yours truly and some hardy other souls.

Yes you guessed it, did some more Mom duty yesterday. Most of her towels appear to have vanished, so I got her three sets, plus decent hangers and some picture frames, tableware that is easier for her to hang onto, etc. The lovely folks at the pharmacy advanced her some nitroglycerine patches, which I promptly lost. Searched for at least an hour, couldn't find them, and begged the pharmacist to issue more. Turns out they were in my purse! So I trekked over there to explain. Much laughter ensued. Maybe I"m getting dementia too? Ha ha.

Brought Mom breakfast in bed/in bedroom. She wasn't doing too well yesterday, until I pointed out that she forgot to put on her nitro patches. Once they were on she was fine. This is why we have workers coming in to check on her twice a day. I think you're right, folks, we have to do something sooner rather than later. Or maybe she just forgot her meds in the excitement of my being there? Anyway it all worked out. Made her dinner too, which she really liked.

I allegedly have a heart doc appointment today, but since I forgot to get my blood test done, will skip it. I did call early today to ask for a new appointment. Did do housework, so my place is looking better. Am definitely sleeping in tomorrow. Remembered that I have more stuff to get (food for Christmas Eve doings at Mom's, presents for pets and for a friend).

And A Partrige In A Pear Tree!

2008-12-22T10:31:00.004-05:00

www.impactlab.com/.../2008/02/palmtrees-snow.jpg

Thanks Peter M!

This is a hoot and so very true. The panic is on for Vancouver Island. I couldn't even find the snow shovel!! Do we own one? Go ahead and laugh our Eastern friends; by Wednesday, it will all be gone and the temp will again be 15 degrees. well maybe !!!!

The following is a minute-by-minute report of the extreme weather concerns in Victoria , British Columbia :

6:22 a.m. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that a Victoria man finds ice on his windshield! Curious neighbors gather to watch him scrape it off with a credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious"defrost" switch on dashboard can aid in process.

9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.

10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snow blower incident" of the Blizzard of'96, switch to orange uniforms.

Noon: Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidemic of sprained wrists related to viewers high-fiving one another.

1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counselors. Grief counselors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.

2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.

2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between Island and rest of the world. Times Colonist headline: "Mainland cut off from Civilization."

3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Harper announces Canada 's DART rapid-response team can be on the ground within six months." We can't leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimeters of snow on its own," he tells Mayor Lowe. "Um, that's two to five centimeters, not two-two-five," replies the Mayor. The Prime Minister hangs up.

3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines in homeless shelters.

4:10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.

4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortages lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay ,where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.

4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Searchlights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.

4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across the region as words come in that the first flakes of snow have fallen on the Malahat. False alarm! "Flakes" turnout to be nothing more than anthrax spores released by terrorists. An uneasycalm returns to city.

5:40 p.m. Television reporter, Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warnings have been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in-August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish an emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu .

Run Through The Jungle

2008-12-20T22:02:00.004-05:00

Not Christmasy song world but what can I say?

It started off today with me waking up with the world's worst headache. Called GI and Dar and cancelled. Between my head, my cold and my Mom, well it was just too much. Wouldn't have been good company, that's for sure.

So. I called Mom. She'd had an entire night of incontinence. And it wasn't stopping. So I called Sis, and we got her to the hospital. See, Mom had just finished two weeks worth of Cipro (antibiotic) at 1000 mg/day. Last night was her first night of not taking it.

So off we go to the hospital. Another four hours, from noon till 4:30. This time we got a really cute guy doctor, but young enough to be my son/grandson. Turns out he's a hockey player from Kanata. Anyway, Mom's urine was clear, no bugs. That might mean a bladder issue and some of that stuff is bad news (and some maybe not). So off she goes to see her gp.

While we were there, Sis' daughter comes down with tonselitis. So they wound up in the emergency room next door (her tonsils were touching). Since she also has mono, this was something to act on fast. Sis stayed with her family, I took Mom home.

Then the work started: I fed Mom, the cat, did all the laundry she had (4 loads I think), put that and her clean dishes away, cleaned and remade the bed, and then noticed that most of her clothes were on a chair. OK that started a closet-cleaning exercise. All the summer stuff went to another bedroom closet, and I got rid of as many of her wire hangers as possible. Cleaned up the kitchen and living room, took out the trash and recycling (while waiting for the bedclothes to dry)...my back is killing me. So even though I wasn't looking forward to cleaning my house, I wound up cleaning hers!

Also made sure Mom took all her meds.

And put light bulbs into her two bedroom lamps. She's been in that house for 14 years at least, and I'd never seen those lamps lit. Now I know why, but now they work. Also found the winter gloves she'd lost. Sis discovered that Mom was almost out of nitroglycerine patches, and I called the drug store about it. THEY said that her prescription ran out a year ago and that she hasn't been using them much. Well @#$%^&^&** no wonder she has heart problems. I begged them to get the doc to renew the prescription. Then I found out that her glaucoma drops had a 'best before' date of October 2008. They're renewing that for her right now. Geez. Will start monitoring her much more closely. Guess ya gotta watch like a hawk.

Wow what a day. Mom's house is much more in shape (even cleaned the blinds on her front door), she's feeling better and has a clean bed to sleep in. My headache's gone. Am just making dinner (for me) now and it's 10:00. But it's a good tired that I'm feeling, if you know what I mean.

Hope your Saturday was good, world. Here's it's going to minus 27 allegedly, and that's nothing compared to what the midWest is going through. Sending all you cold folks very warm thoughts and wishes.

Don't leave the brass monkeys out tonight!!!

Luv, BJ

Here Comes The Sun

2008-12-19T22:30:00.003-05:00

Hey world, happy Friday!

Things got better today. Mom was very sore still from her fall and all the exercises that the doctors in the hospital made her do (as part of her exam) so she stayed home today. So did I, thanks to great bosses and friends.

Got a LOT of shopping done, both Internet and IRL (in real life). Got them sent too except one. Don't have my nephew's new addy, but will work on that. He's just moved from one house to another.

Got groceries for me and Mom, then took her out to dinner. She was a lot more cheerful, and perked up when we got to the restaurant. Mind you, it was snowing like all get-out and the wind chill is downright horrid, but she needed to get outside, so outside she/we went. To a fave spot--the ever-elegant Pizza Hut. We had Alabama Slammers, a new experience, and loved them. Well, OK we had pizza too.

So I know she had a good dinner, protein and all, and her cat's fed. AND she's got decent food in the house. Now to make sure she eats it! Sis and Bro are helping there.

Am not nuts about having to houseclean tomorrow, but perhaps the company will give me a welcome break from all the recent doings. We'll see! It'll be great not to be in stores tomorrow--it's insane out there! Plus we're apparently due for some snow on Sunday.

Hope you're doing well out there, world. Am not going to ask if you're ready for Christmas, I hate that phrase and I bet you do too.

Will be 'round to visit soon.

Hugs, BJ

This Is The Song That Never Ends

2008-12-19T10:51:00.004-05:00

Hi Folks/World and thanks very very much for your support. Words don't exist to describe how much I depend on it and how much it helps.

We all suddenly wound up at the Civic Hospital yesterday afternoon. Bro was out with Mom at lunch. She turned grey, couldn't get up out of her seat at the restaurant, and wanted to go home.

Nothing doing, says Bro, we are off to the Civic (he and I are both Heart Institute alumni). Then he called me and Sis from there to let us know what was going on. Sis and I left work immediately. Thank Heaven we work for wonderful bosses.

We were there for about four hours. They gave Mom a pretty thorough going-over--we all were convinced that she'd had a stroke either at lunch or when she fell on Tuesday night. The docs couldn't find any sign of that, although she was weak. They said that she cannot continue to live alone anymore, and that her falling Tuesday night was a milestone. She's very lucky not to have broken anything, like a hip. Fortunately she (as do we all) have majorly big strong bones. I've done research on aging, and people usually live only five years after a major bone break or after moving into rest/nursing homes. Those are huge events.

So we had a family meeting at Mom's when we got home. The girls (me, Sis) gave Mom the option of moving in with either of us or having folks stay with her (like a nurse). How we'd pay for that God only knows, but it's an option. Bro voted for nursing home, which Sis and I are dead set against.

So Mom has some stuff to think about.

Then it hit me.

I asked her if she'd had her nitroglycerine patches on that day (Thursday) when she turned grey. "Oh yes," she says, showing us them. Sis laughed. "Those are YESTERDAY'S patches, Mom". Sis had put one of the patches on sideways so that she'd know if Mom changed it. Our crafty Mom hadn't.

So her grey/weak spell was caused by lack of nitroglycerine. Mom always gets 'spells' after eating if she hasn't put her patches on.

After I realized that, we had another talk about whether her risking her health is deliberate. Yes it was, she admitted, she thinks that 80 is old enough. We pointed out that the outcome could be a vegitative state, not death. And now her options (like living with one of her daughters) are, we hope, more to her liking. I told her in no uncertain terms that I still need my mom!

Time will tell.

There is more jockying around re power of attorney, but I don't wanna talk about that, except to say that I"m not into it.

My wonderful pal S called me just as I got home that (Thursday) night. I'm working with him, and Friday was to be my last day before holidays. He said not to come in because I was exhausted (I was too). So here I am at home today, resting, bless his heart.

He also said that more than one person can be the power of attorney, and sent me a link about it. Yahoo, one more hassle over.

GOD I have great friends! Thank You.

Anyway, now I have to check up on Mom (she should not be home today, want to make sure that she's out with her pals), get this house in order for company (the thought makes me feel overwhelmed right now but GI and Dar are coming here tomorrow) and get Christmas gifts out the door to the long distance folks. Did take care of three earlier today but still have a few more to buy and send, plus familiy.

Please forgive me if I can't do my blog visiting rounds for a day or two. This feels like a roller-coaster ride!

Hopefully the right decisions will get made, and all will be well.

Hugs to you all, and I mean that most sincerely, BJ

Grumble Puss Is Coming To Town

2008-12-17T19:20:00.003-05:00

Hey world, a quick update.

Took 3 frickin hours to get to work today. It only snowed 8 centimetres, but it didn't look to me as if much if any plowing had been done. The roads were covered in snow and in the three hours, I didn't see one snowplow. Neither did other folks--many were talking about it.

Called Mom a few times and she didn't answer. I thought that it was because she was having a bath (as is supposed to happen). Nope. She'd fainted, didn't get up, forgot that she was wearing a buzzer for someone to come help her. The home care person was delayed by the snow, didn't show up in the morning. The way we found out that she'd had an accident was that the bus people (ParaTranspo, who thank God are NOT striking now) came to pick her up and heard/saw her through the door, called police...etc. She's quite weak and aside from the dinner I fed her last night appears not to have eaten much. And had not taken her meds (contrary to what she told me last night).

Am so ticked about this.

So now we're getting people to come by every day to feed her and make sure she's taken her meds. I'm going over there every night (groan) to check up on her too. This is ridiculous, but the state of nursing homes is so bad there's no way we want her in one.

What impact this'll have on my insomnia and getting to work on time is anyone's guess (need to check on her meds late at night--that's when she takes them) but she's Mom--she comes first.

If I'd known that the home care person had not made it on time, I would have driven to MOm's instead of sitting in traffic. So I gave the home care folks a blast for not phoning me (why did I bother giving them the numbers?).

So to the home care company, thanks for not so much.
To Larry O'Brien, our millionaire mayor who cut the snow removal budget--drop dead.
To OC Transpo who created the entire traffic mess--see Larry O'Brien comment.
And to the brilliant minds in provincial and municipal government who treat nursing homes so flippantly--your time's coming. Wait till you're in one.

Grr

Sorry for the rant folks, but I gotta ask--who looks out for us?
BJ

It's Beginning To Sound A Lot Like Christmas

2008-12-17T19:12:00.002-05:00

Thanks Tim, I sure identify with these personally...especially 5. With apologies to all the non-perfect people out there like me.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE DISTURBED

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....
6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?
10.Narcolepsy - Im Dreaming of a ...zzzzzzzzzzz
11. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle, Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle

Thank You, LOLCats _ I Can Haz Cheezeburger

2008-12-17T19:06:00.002-05:00

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

ROFLMAO!

Amazing Grace

2008-12-16T21:12:00.007-05:00

Thanks Vic. Hang in there folks, slow at first but worth waiting for.

Guide For The Married Man

2008-12-16T20:59:00.002-05:00

Thanks Vic, literally ROFLMAO still on this....

Come Fly With Me

2008-12-16T20:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks Vic. Not sure if this is real or not but it sure is cool to watch.

Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)

2008-12-16T20:37:00.003-05:00

Yahoo thanks for the good wishes world, they worked!

Accidentally slept in this a.m.

Since it takes 1.5 hours to get to work now, waking up at 7:50 when I had to leave at 8:00 wasn't great. Somehow I got out the door at 8:05, took Carling, not the Queensway/417 to work and made it in an hour.

Had time for brekkie, then went to a 2+ hour meeting. Went OK-ish.

Meanwhile BB was looking for me (he has access to my calendar, but hey). He needed help/assistance on something.

I was supposed to have written a cheat-sheet on how to do contracting in our org. Have not done this for almost three years. Boss/Colleague was the contracting guy and he's too busy to bring me up to speed. But now the cheat sheet is really needed...so I dropped everything else (again), looked up all the stuff I'd stored from years ago, checked out the Web and did the cheat sheet plus a few templates (how to's with most of the text already in it). Ta da. Without B/C's help, well...I asked him to check it over at the same time that I mailed it out.

Then went to Mom's, took her trash out (too heavy for her), made her dinner, fed the cat, stayed to make sure that Mom ate the dinner, then went and cleaned up here (it's trash day tomorrow). Ta da.

Feels like a good day. Went a lot smoother than yesterday and yahoo the unmentionables are dry!!!

And last night's 'drop everything' request? He (BB) didn't say anything/respond to it. Hmm. But someone else did, which made a bigger impact. I found something that was due last Thursday that I'd sent him on Dec. 5. He'd forgotten about it, so I sent it to him again.

This isn't a bad person, but he can drive you a little nuts without meaning too. And he's no rodent.

Sigh.

But all's better on this front, folks. Thanks for the moral support!

MWAH!

Monday Monday

2008-12-15T22:49:00.003-05:00

OK this is national 'let's bug Bridg' day.

Mostly caused by Big Boss. And slow drivers on the Queensway (if you're doing to drive at 60 in the passing lane, yes you'll get dirty looks. Go take a cab willya?).

BB is a little panick-y about me being off (and everyone else) after this week. Well geez. I'm not the one who's delaying my work, it's HIM! Kind of the 'well I'm done messing this up for five months why isn't it ready you've had a whole week!!' type of thing.

But he isn't mean, or malicious, which puts him 200% ahead of the rodent (chief whipper at the hellhole).

BB came around to see if I and my officemate (The Kid Who Knows All) were in our offices today! Neither of us thought much of that and let him know. So he left.

Then got a lot of 'do this will ya' requests from the same guy on top of regular work load plus I have a major major deliverable for end of week (which this guy is delaying). The last 'do this' took three hours to complete. And he made me go to a meeting with him where he exasperated most of the participants AND sniped at me (so I shut up and let him carry the meeting. Hence the exasperation).

Oh well, at least I'm getting paid.

Have been wearing the same two pairs of pants for the past three weeks, so I got new ones yesterday. Now I don't look like a homeless person. Well, today I didn't.

Had to instruct The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe where we do and do not poo. She took some degree of offense. Later I saw her standing in front of said litter box, contemplating. I said, ominously, 'thou SHALT use the BOX'. She did.

Also had to rush through the laundry once I got home at 8:00 because I was out of unmentionables and you can't go to work without unmentionables.

Sis called--she had an even worse day.

Hope you all survived Monday better than we did!

At least tomorrow isn't Monday!

If I Had A Million Dollars

2008-12-12T21:05:00.004-05:00

I`d find a way to pull THIS off. Thanks Peter M.

Have a great weekend, folks. It`s been a tough one here with snow by the ton, a bus strike, traffic woes and snotty junior staff, but thank God it`s over for the week!!

YAHOO!!
BJ

Borrowed from WC

2008-12-11T22:32:00.002-05:00

Borrowed from my truly excellent friend WC, who borrowed hers from her pal Marja-Leena, who is Anita's, mom.
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (concert band in high school; I played the flute)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

The rules are simple: bold the things you've done. Explanations are optional. Fun is guaranteed.

The Stranger

2008-12-07T23:10:00.002-05:00

Thanks Vic!

Winter Wonderland Part 3

2008-12-07T23:06:00.002-05:00

Again, thanks Peter M

Winter Wonderland Part 2

2008-12-07T23:00:00.002-05:00

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-07T22:38:00.004-05:00

Thanks Peter M. Some are a repeat but so funny I just had to post them...

And Now We Return to Our Normal Program

2008-12-07T22:31:00.002-05:00

of utter nonsense. Thanks for this one, Vic.

And Now For Something Completely Different

2008-12-07T22:29:00.001-05:00

Thanks Vic!

Five Germans In An Audi Quattro

Just a little car humor!

Five Germans in an Audi Quattro arrive at the Italian border.

The Italian customs officer stops them and tells them, "Itsa illegalla to putta 5 people in a Quattro!"

"Vot do you mean, it's illegal?" asks the German driver.

"Quattro means four!" replies the Italian official.

"Quattro iz just ze name of ze automobile" the Germans retort unbelievingly."Look at ze paperz: Ze car is dezigned to carry 5 people!"

"You canta pulla thata one on me!" replies the Italian customs officer. Quattro meansa four. You havea five-a people ina your car and you are therefore breaking the law!"

The German replies angrily "You ideeiot! Call ze zupervizor over! Schnell! I vant to spik to zumvun viz more intelligence!!!"

"Sorry" responds the Italian, "He canta comea ... He'sa buzy witha two guys in a Fiat Uno."

Sunday Sun

2008-12-07T21:36:00.003-05:00

Hi folks, and hope you had a good weekend? It was polar cold here. Today/Tonight it's minus 20 with the wind chill. Didn't go to Mom's for dinner--it's too cold for her to go out.

Have calmed down a bit about the proroguing stuff. The Liberals have the most incompetent and egotistical leader since heaven-knows-when and don't have the smarts to replace the nearly dead guy. The Conservatives also have an egotistical dead-head leading them. The only one who isn't a boob is the NDP leader and he's too smooth for my liking. Let's send them all home/to their rooms without supper until they come up with functional budgets and put their egos on hold.

This weekend I did something I thought I'd never do--went back to cable TV. I don't like the reduced scope of programs, but whenever it snows (which is fairly frequent in O town) I don't get TV reception with satellite. But do have to pay for it. Between TV, computer and phone, was paying around $300 per month. Now, due to negotiating and changing TV, I'm paying $110. Big change, and am getting better service on all (TV, computer and phone). There is a lot of competition out there these days.

But in order to get the cable installed, had to uninstall the satellite stuff. It wasn't hard, but in order to access one of the TVs, I had to empty the top and bottom of a six or seven foot long, six feet high wall unit. And then move the unit, which is oak.

That hurt. But I got it done. All was installed, things are back to normal.

Got to see Mom, litle bro and his daughter. That was fun and very heartwarming.

Not much else going on. Work is going fine, more new people are coming and some departures are imminent. The work itself is going well and fast.

The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is well and happy too. She wasn't the least afraid of the cable guy (she isn't afraid of big animals either), and it was cute to see her checking him out.

Seem to be low on energy these days, likely due to all the darkness (both seasonal and from gloomy weather).

Hey, the shortest day of the year is two weeks away (21st) and after that the days start getting longer YAHOO!!!

Have a great week, folks.

BJ

Disgusted!

2008-12-04T17:51:00.003-05:00

Sorry world, am not up to blogging today. There are just too many stupid people in Ottawa!

Did Joe Clark wimp out of a non-confidence motion? No.
Did John Turner wimp out of a non-confidence motion? No.

But look who gets to hide behind mommy's skirts.

And mommy apparently failed to understand that her role is to be NEUTRAL and uphold the integrity of PARLIAMENT, not to defend SH's job, which he's proved he is incapable of doing (OK, incapable of doing well).

For those of you just joining or new to the show, SH, our Prime Minister, tabled an economic update which is a minibudget. In our Westminster parliamentary system, the government either needs to have the majority of the seats in the House of Commons or the support of the majority of seats.

SH produced an economic update that cut funding to all other political parties (oh yah, and he's running a minority government. That means he has to get the support of the other parties. So the first order of biz is to get them to agree to cut their own funding? Smart). It did lots of other things that were draconian and stupid, like removing the right of public servants (the least likely group in the country to strike in the first place), rolling back their wages, and putting a cap on salaries (there are much more nasty surprises in store for them, but I'll keep my mouth shut here). The so called economic update also contained very little in the way of measures to support the economy. In fact, it's been judged as accelerating recession.

In the W Parliamentary system, if government proposes or does something that the other parties don't like, a vote of confidence is taken. If the government loses, an election is called.

In this case, SH went to the Governor General, the person in charge of ensuring Parliament works as it should, and asked her to agree to prorogue the House (meaning, send it on vacation). Without speaking to the other parties, she agreed.

This is a first time in Canadian history that a prime minister (I won't capitalize it when it refers to him) asked for, let alone succeeded, prorogation in order to avoid a vote of non-confidence.

There are other aspects to this circus, like the television appearances last night, that I'm too mad to blog about.

But the GG abrogated her responsibility.
It's to be expected that bullys seek to get around the rules...but she let him get away with it.
And the rest of us have to lump it.

Grrrrrrrr!

Is this how Parliaments are supposed to act?

Isn't it time to ditch this GG thing?

BJ

The Meaningless Meme--Borrowed from WC and Dr. Monkey

2008-11-29T21:11:00.002-05:00

Meaningless Meme
Pilfered from Dr. Monkey and Wandering Coyote

1. Five names you go by: Annbo, sunshine, honey, BJ, and other names that would give me away
2. Three things you are wearing right now: smile, deodorant and pj bottoms
3. Two things you want very badly at the moment: beer and a decent movie to watch
4. Three people who will probably fill this out: Tshsmom, Mr. Anchovy, and maybe Aggie?
5. Two things you did last night: sleep and went home on time for once
6. Two things you ate today: chicken pot pie and toast
7. Two people you last talked to on the phone: Bro and Sis
8. Two things you are going to do tomorrow: Shop and go out to dinner
9. Two longest car rides: from Philadelphia to Denver Colorado in a Thunderbird with my parents, a full size collie, two brothers and a newborn sister. That was fun (she said dryly). The second was a camping trip from Philadelphia to Thunder Bay Ontario. Eww.
10. Two of your favorite beverages: coffee in the morning and iced tea

Have fun, world!

BJ

Thank You, LOLCats _ I Can Haz Cheezeburger

2008-11-29T20:25:00.004-05:00

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Hi world, happy Saturday!!! Isn't that a terrific pic up there? Melted my heart.

It's still cloudy here...lol, what's new?!

Incredible political doings, huh? It's amazing that stuff like this coalition are legal or even possible, but in this instance GOOD!!!! It's amazing that someone who got elected on such a slim minority is acting in such a dictatorial way. That wonderful karma thing, I guess. But what a sorry cynical fumble to recover that Bush II has pulled off.

Argh when are we gonna get power of recall?

On a much happier note, today I got one of those last minute phone calls from the younger of my two bros. He and his daughter had to get out of their house quickly because their wife/mom, respectively, was once again flipping out. So they went to my/our Mom's for a visit. I went too--little bro wanted his daughter to get reacquainted with us, her family (because her flippin' out mom doesn't like us, we hadn't seen her in about 10 years). So it was Mom, me, little bro and his daughter having one lovely reunion. Of course I said that she can bunk with me when needed and Mom said the same. Little bro's son is now 5'10" and a good wrestler--i.e., he can defend himself from his definitely unhappy mom. This is all kinda sad but welcome news. It was a great visit.

Then after it was the usual 'take Mom to get her hair done' thing, followed by late lunch at Darcy McGee's. We both loved it.

Needed to get a present for Dar (GI's wife), it's her birthday on the 4th. Found one that I liked and bought it, then found a much better one and got it. So the first one will be on reserve for another occasion. Also traded in my cell phone, mostly because I got a notice to do so. Like the new one a lot better. The sales guy tactfully advised me that the text is larger. Hmm. Must be showing my age. Not that I mind, it was just a bit of a shock.

At work things are very hectic. And most people were definitely not happy on Friday. Pal Marcus came back for a visit that day, and I think he might want to return. We would love it if he did, that's for sure. A pain-in-the-head woman who we thought was gone for good is likely coming back (she said on Friday), and that might prevent boss/colleague from going on his assignment elsewhere. He's pretty upset by that possibility. Then pal S said that if she returns, he's leaving.

Isn't that a lot of ins and outs?

I have a visit on Monday from a character who can get us into lots of trouble if I'm not careful about what he reads. Unfortunately there are 10 boxes of stuff to go through, and my boss said not to put a lot of time into it but not to let him get us into trouble.

Yah right, that's possible. Let me just put on my superhero cape and boots, OK?

On the day before, it turned out that the guy I share my office with is doing an update of a very controversial study that I did in 2003. It involved a lot of publicity and some pretty negative stuff. When I went through it all, was surprised that I didn't have my stress leave then. Amazing. Wish I could tell you the details, world.

So was very glad to get the heck out of there on Friday night. Today was a tad stressful, then Sunday then go back again. Can't wait for the holidays.

And how is your weekend going, world?

Blinded By The Light

2008-11-24T21:01:00.004-05:00

https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Cow-Jumps-Over...

Hey world happy Monday!

Hope all of you had a great weekend? I find that these days I'm so tired by Friday that I just veg out on Saturday, and then get everything done in a big rush on Sunday. It sorta went that way this past weekend, except that I got 5 loads of laundry done on Saturday. Am not a big fan of laundry. Or vacuuming. Or.....

Anyway, Sunday was a high energy day. The point of it all is that on Sunday Mom and I went out for dinner, as usual. It was my turn to pay, so we went to Baton Rouge.

Well.

Dinner was great, as usual. We had a glass each of Woodbridge wine, and dessert came with dinner (chocolate mousse, wow). Mom was fine up until the end of dinner, when she said "I can't see anything except the (white) napkins on the table". Gradually over the next few minutes, her sight returned. It was a bit scary. Then she became nauseous. I helped her out to the car and raced us to Mom's house, where she was ill.

Today I found out what went wrong.

Have you ever heard of ocular migraines, world? I posted before on them, when we discovered in my office that three guys in the place (our small group) have them. Women usually get them.

The triggers vary a great deal, but are thought to include "changes in hormone levels, flashing or flickering lights, chemical compounds in food, medications the patient is taking, changes in blood flow to the brain caused by alcohol consumption; consumption of certain foods like red wine, hard cheese, milk, preserved lunchmeats and bacon, and foods prepared with MSG. Thus a strict vegan diet, which excludes all meat, cheese, and other animal-derived food products, is thought to control the onset of the migraine headache. . Visual symptoms are a common symptom of these headaches (http://www.cureheadachesnow.com/blog/all-about-the-ocular-migraine/)".

Well, we'd had red wine! Hunger/Skipping meals is thought to be a trigger also.

Anyway, Mom's fine now but she scared the daylights out of me. She goes to an eye surgeon regularly and has been recently.

On the topic of Mom, I found out by accident this morning who the home care worker was who was causing all the problems. All of the workers were told to call me for any changes in schedule, as Mom agrees to any suggestion, however impossible, that they make. One called me this morning and told me that Mom cancelled the visit that this person was to make on Thursday. I know that wasn't true--Mom waited for her and was quite upset that she didn't come. Bro was there too and had the same reaction. Then this lady gave me a litany of things that Mom's doing wrong--again I know that they're not true because the evidence that for certain would be there, isn't. So talked it over with Sis and called the home care place and asked them to replace this person.

Hopefully situation solved. Still, it's a warning. You never know what's going on in this type of business unless someone like family follows up. It's scary. Not in our case because there are three of us on top of it, but holy flippin' cows.

Back to more mundane things...Mom is fine, Sis and both Bros are fine, The Most Spoiled Cat In The Universe is fine. The house is in good order (faint!). I'm even caught on my snail mail. Work's fine too.

And we're coming to the end of November YAY!!!

How was your weekend, world?