Random Musings of a Curious Mind

God Bless the USA

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:28:51 -0700

I know I'm a little early, but this is a song that needs to be played - over and over, regardless of the date.

We don't all share the same political views. We don't, it seems, all share the same goals for this country. We, thank our forefathers, don't share the same beliefs.

That is what it is to be an American - we are free to believe as we choose; we are free to worship as we choose. And we are free to speak our minds!

God Bless the USA!

Howie Mandel as 'Bobby'

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:08:05 -0700

Years and years ago, (sorry, Howie) I saw Howie Mandel do a character named 'Bobby' and have remembered that 'little boy' ever since. Today, I found a video of one of the routines and just had to share it. For anyone who has or knows little kids, this is such a great re-creation of kids telling stories.

(Warning: The story finishes a little harshly. Remember, this was many years ago; sensibilities were slightly different. And, after all, little kids are little kids.)

Livestock Supplies

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:33:30 -0700

Years ago, I wrote a novel about a woman who inherited a horse ranch from her eccentric uncle. In the process of putting it all together, I did a fair amount of research into ranches and horses. What I didn't research (and should have) is the care of livestock. Horses, cattle, sheep - different species, different needs, different problems.

I mention this because, a few nights ago, I had an idea for another story - about a woman and her daughter, and their collection of animals. This triggered the memory of a baby lamb in my aunt's farmhouse kitchen, next to the stove during one very cold winter. How did my aunt and uncle know how to care for this little creature? What did they feed it? How often? Did it have to have shots? Why wasn't it with the ewe?

Obviously, if I am going to write a story about caring for, in this case, a newborn calf - I need to get educated. So, since I'm really tired of unpacking and putting away, why not start my research?

After a couple of false starts, I found an interesting site that offers cattle supplies and information about why, when, and how to use them. For example, there is an energy supplement to help calves under stress or when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. (An important thing for me to know, since my stories tend to take place on the chilly Colorado plains.) Then, there are pest-control items, grooming tools, feeders, mineral holders, fencing, and on and on and on. It would be impossible to rely on my memory of family farms from almost 40 years ago, so everything becomes important pieces of the whole. As they are for people with real livestock in real fields and real barns.

I'm glad I found Jeffers Livestock, because I need to know more than just what my characters' animals require. I need to know what supplies cost, how and when to use them, and how to get them from the supplier to the barn. Readers who know are not shy about 'educating' lazy authors!

We're Moved! More or Less

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:57:16 -0700

Oh, my Heavens! I didn't know I had those muscles, or (at least) that they still worked. I know now! Cuz every single muscle in every single body part is screaming at me this morning! I jumped out of bed, forgetting the massive abuse my body has suffered and nearly hit the floor when my legs immediately and completely refused to play. It's gonna be a long, long day.

The majority of our too-much-stuff is moved - Hooray! We have bits and pieces left to bring over - Totally Doable! The old place has to be cleaned before we can turn in the keys - Booooo! Hisssss!

We're trying a new furniture layout - in the interest of a new start in a new apartment. The computer desk is now a divider, blocking the view from the front door and freeing up a huge amount of wallspace. Although it's hard to tell, with 7 years of junk in the middle of the living room, I think this is going to be a nice change. Who knows? I might even stop stubbing my toes on the washing machine.

Then again, with my luck, I'll probably just find something different to bang my feet against.

Happy Father's Day

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:57:49 -0700

"Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development."
~ David Gottesman

Father's Day is not a big holiday for me. I've never known my birth-father and my adoptive father died when I was two-and-a-half years old.

When my kids were little, it was a lot of fun picking out presents with them for their dad and celebrating the day. I was lucky, also, to have two very special fathers-in-law, who made every day special. Now that they have passed, it's become just another Sunday for me.

"It no longer bothers me that I may be constantly searching for father figures; by this time, I have found several and dearly enjoyed knowing them all."
~ Alice Walker

Mark has several kids; two in Arizona. But, today, we're in the middle of moving and it will be a long tiring day. Hopefully, Mark will hear from his kids between trips between apartments. Either way, it won't feel like much of a holiday.

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
~ Mark Twain

Getting the Best Auto Insurance Rate

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:50:05 -0700

It's never fun to shop for car insurance. Trust me! What looks good on the outside may be very, very different on the inside. And what works for me may be a bad idea for my neighbor.

We've all seen the commercials where the insurance company flashes dramatic 'savings' amounts on the screen - This driver saved $$$ over this-company and that-company! or You could save up to $$$ by switching to our-company. Technically, those claims are all true - under rather specific circumstances. It's important to know when they're true, when they're not, and - most importantly - when you can take advantage and save money. That requires some basic knowledge and/or research.

In a nutshell, if you have: a good credit rating, a clean driving record, no lapses in auto insurance coverage, own a vehicle without a lien that isn't popular with car thieves, and live in a low-crime zip code, you can get amazing insurance rates. (If you have all of those things, they may be knocking on your door begging you to switch to their company!) For the rest of us, we need a helping hand. That's why different companies have different options for different drivers.

If you have a poor driving record or repeatedly let coverage lapse on your car, 'ABC Insurance' won't cover you. So, you go with 'XYZ InsCo,' which will write a policy for you, and you pay more. Over time, your driving record improves, you maintain coverage, old problems fall off, (new problems don't appear) and you can now get coverage through a 'ABC Insurance.' Your premiums drop accordingly and, sometimes, dramatically. That's why - You could save up to $$$ by switching to our-company.

Additionally, some of these savings may be like comparing apples and oranges. Policy A for $200/year (don't we wish?) may have slightly less coverage or a higher deductible than Policy B for $400/year. It's all in the fine print and careful coverage selection. Because slapping any-old coverage on your vehicle is bad. You can end up paying far too much or, even worse, you can end up with too little coverage.

For example:

If you have great medical coverage through your job that will cover you under any and all circumstances, you may not need medical in your auto insurance. (Be very, very careful about reducing medical coverage.)
Conversely, if you've recently lost or reduced work-related medical coverage, you many want to consider adding medical to your auto policy. There are many levels of coverage available. (It wouldn't take a serious accident to have a serious financial impact, if doctor and hospital bills aren't covered.)

The Learning Center at 2insure4less.com is a great place to start learning about what coverage is right for you and your family. And how to communicate those needs to an insurance company. Sometimes, just knowing what to ask or how to ask, can make a big difference.

We're Moving!

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:38:48 -0700

Mark and I have been wanting to move next door for years. Our front door is right at the end of a walkway and everyone walking by can see right in. This means no open door or curtains, unless we want constant peepers. We also have neighbors on both sides and below who always seem to be the people who love loud music and wall-banging at 2:00 a.m.

If that weren't enough, the walkway itself is shaky. It makes tremendous amounts of noise and shakes the floor when people walk by, which they do a lot. Residents and visitors can't get to the stairs, without passing our apartment. They can't get to the neighbors' unit, without passing our apartment. Some days it seems that everyone in our complex has to pass our apartment to get where they're going.

Finally, our long-term neighbors have moved and we've gotten permission to move into the corner unit. Yay!! No people walking by; no people looking in; and no shaking floors! Hip, hip hooray!!

Now we just have to pack up 6 years worth of stuff and get it next door, along with all of our suddenly enormous furniture. Hmmmm!? Maybe this needs rethinking.

Just the Two of Us

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:47:46 -0700

Sadly, it's back to just Mark and me again.

Don't get me wrong - there's a huge difference in having two people in this little apartment, versus three of us trying to fit all of our stuff in here. But, now that Frankie has moved back up north, it's really quiet. On the other hand, I haven't tripped over a bicycle in a couple of days and there's no giant white tiger staring at me from the corner of the living room.

Honestly, I don't blame him for moving back and, if we could get there, would probably seriously consider doing the same.

Computer Memory Shopping

Tue, 26 May 2009 14:10:27 -0700

Due to a (literal) computer crash, Mark and I are sharing the desktop again. This is, in case you haven't tried it, a serious test of any relationship. Not to mention, a regular battle of wills. "I need it now!" "No! I need it! You just had it for 30 seconds, you inconsiderate ..."

Actually, we share pretty well. It's just a function issue, right now. With everything we run, our computer memory isn't quite living up to expectations. One can only recover and defrag memory so many times in a day before the fun just goes out of being on line. (Basically, after the first time it gets old.)

Even after we replace the laptop (again), it would be a good idea to improve the memory on the desktop. There are some games that are just ... big! and they do not work well on an antiquated system. Getting in and out of websites (for me) just has to be quicker. More, faster memory is the key to happiness.

Well, it is when you're trying to accommodate two people's needs on one old computer.

Remembering Those Who Died for Our Freedom

Mon, 25 May 2009 12:04:33 -0700

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." -- General John Logan - May 5, 1868

Over the years, with the government changing the date of Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day, for the women who decorated the graves of those killed in the Civil War), the day has become just another 'day off' and we've lost sight of the purpose of this day of mourning:

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it. [U.S. Memorial Day History and Information on U.S. War Memorials, © 1994 - 2009 SUVCW & David Merchant, http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html]

Let us remember those who gave their lives that we might be free. Take flowers to your local cemetary and honor the fallen, today or on the traditional date: May 30th.

Baby Shower Goodies

Sun, 24 May 2009 10:31:40 -0700

There are few parties that are more fun for the givers and the guest than a baby shower. Nothing is as fun as oohing and aahing over cute little baby stuff. I just love booties and hats and sweaters and teeny, tiny outfits. Even itsy, bitsy diapers are adorable. (When you're not the one changing them.)

Putting together a baby shower, on the other hand, isn't always quite as much fun. There are so many things to remember and so many choices available. Take the baby shower favors, for example. Finding just the right treat for your guests can be daunting. And, if you aren't careful, expensive.

Thanks to "Party Pail," things couldn't be simpler. There are dozens and dozens of items for any style or budget. Start with a theme and go from there. Or pick your favorites and create a unique theme that reflects the taste and interests of the mother-to-be. I, personally, fell in love with the baby bottle candles and the silver cross bookmarks.

Now, all I need is a shower to plan!

Economic Forecast and Big Spending

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:28:06 -0700

It isn't enough that the global economy is in the crapper. Not to mention, the U.S. forecast is even gloomier than thought just 3 months ago. Now, the Senate has decided to approve 91.3 billion dollars for the 'wars' in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Didn't our prez run his campaign leaning heavily on his record of being against the war in Iraq? on voting against invading and spending American lives and dollars on this proven lie? Hmmmmm?! Well, didn't he?!

Now that we've made a total mess in the Middle East, are we ever going to just get the heck out!? Yes, I know that we've created a situation that makes it impossible for the Iraqi government and people, and just walking away would (or so it's believed) be worse than the current situation. Has anyone checked with the Iraqis? What I've been reading is that not much has changed. They still want us out - now. (Although the billions of American dollars that have disappeared were, undoubtedly, welcomed with open hands.)

How long can the United States, its citizens and its virtually failed economy, be expected to continue this financial fiasco? It's like using the Visa to pay the the MasterCard - bad business. Before long, the small percentage of this country that is still owned by this country will be gone as well. Then, where will all of this reckless spending have gotten us? Third-world status? A level of poverty that this country hasn't seen in generations? I don't know. But, I'm probably going to find out.

When will the military realize that we should be working with the citizens of Pakistan and Afghanistan, who truly want the Taliban out of their villages and out of their lives? Over the last year or so, I have read articles and opinion pieces that show far more intelligence and understanding than our current government policies. They offered advice and recommendations for behavior and interaction that would gain the respect and trust of village elders. Currently, they hate the foreign military more than they hate the Taliban - which says a lot, don't you think?

Someone has to say "Enough is enough!" and say it soon. This cannot continue.

Skin Care Help

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:54:48 -0700

There is not much worse (I was going to say nothing worse, but then I started thinking about it and - oh, yeah there is worse) at my age than getting a glimpse of your first-thing-in-the-morning face in the mirror. At least for those of us who are a little hit-or-miss with the skin care regimen. So, you know me, after the initial shock at having age spots and 2 new pimples on my 52-year-old face, I went shopping.

First, whatever skin care products I use have to be easy; just pluralizing product, as in I have to use more than one thing, is daunting. I am the laziest person in the world when it comes to my skin. Like this morning, I'll get a shock and dedicate myself to improving the quality of my skin - for about 3 days. Then, lazy kicks in. A couple of weeks later I get another shock, dedicate myself and ... you get the idea. Not good.

Since I truly do not know what I need, it made sense to start with the anti-aging page. Egads! I'm in trouble! There are 3 general categories for aging skin types - hormonal, genetic, and environmental. Thanks to time, nature, and laziness - I'm suffering the effects of all three. Ah, crud. Now what do I do?

Due to the overwhelming I-truly-have-no-idea situation, I determined that the Which products are right for me? test would be the logical place to start. With serious trepidation, fear, and sweaty palms, I clicked the link. Oh, dear heaven! So far, I have somewhat oily, dull, sagging skin with age spots and giant pores. (There went any hope of keeping my sense of humor - I'm a hideous monster!) The rest of the questions were equally embarrassing, but the last one did make me laugh. Out loud!

When asked about my daily skin care regimen, there was one option that was - obviously - directed at me: Less than 1 step (I barely wash my face). Suddenly, I felt better. If they'd added that option, then I couldn't be the only lazy non-skin-caring soul in the world. Maybe there was hope, after all.

Nope! Abandon all hope, ye who have destroyed this skin!

I have done so much damage, through neglect and indifference, that my recommended regimen involves somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 internal and external products. And that's just for my face. Frankly, in order to repair my face and return to anything even approaching decent skin, I would have to move into the bathroom - for the foreseeable future. Or until I die, whichever comes first.

And we haven't even begun to discuss ... the dreaded, horrible ... cellulite.

Olympia Steel Buildings

Wed, 20 May 2009 11:10:38 -0700

Once again, I learned something new today. While helping a friend, who was looking to add a simple storage shed in the backyard, I stumbled across something much better. In fact, my first thought when I hit the website was that these steel buildings would make great homes. Little did I know how right I was.

Just look at the interior of this building! I have seen (and lived in) much smaller and less comfortable places. In fact, the open structure is just what I have always preferred; my ideal being a loft style. This looks and feels like a home, although we'd have to add carpeting for Mark. (He has a 'thing' about hardwood floors.)

And, honestly, the exteriors are quite attractive as well. The stairs and small deck on this building are perfectly charming. For me, it needs a smaller garage-style door and more windows, especially with the incredible scenery. But it's not difficult to imagine someone being quite comfortable there.

Located in the United States and Canada, in areas with widely diverse climates, you know that they understand comfort levels and - the magic word for me - insulation. Frankly, I was impressed with their offerings. From aircraft hangars to churches to sports arenas to commercial retail buildings, I was oohing and aahing through the whole site.

Oh, and we did find the perfect storage unit, too.

Drowning Risk for Fishermen

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:35:06 -0700

I stumbled across a serio-comic story in All Headline News that initially made me laugh. It was about a 10-year study, from the Canadian Red Cross, on water-related injuries and deaths. The risk of drowning appears to be highest for fishermen and swimmers. Which, undoubtedly, led to the story being titled as 'Obvious File: ...'

Naturally, one would expect that those who are around water - fishermen and swimmers and boaters - would be more at risk than me sitting here at my computer. But, there were also some unusual statistics. Apparently, road travel and bathing are also quite risky water-related behaviors. Even walking or playing near water resulted in the third highest number of fatalities.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not pooh-poohing any loss of life. It was just the obvious nature of the findings that seemed amusing.