He finally called!

I was out watering my pine tree that is on life support (see previous blog post) and when I came inside my answering machine was beeping. I hit the play button and was hoping that it was the lady who is going to cut all my hair off, but alas it was John.

John McCain called me. I think I would have rather it been wardrobe tips from Cindy but a brief message from such an important man really made me stop and listen. He spoke a bit slowly and without the dynamics of a person who paid attention during speech class, but still, John called.

John was hoping that I had penciled in the convention dates. After finding out that George couldn't find Dick in enough time to get the flight plan cleared so they couldn't attend. The excuse has something to do with a hurricane, New Orleans and disaster. Last I heard Nagin has consulted his Ouija board to see who's to blame for Gus.

Sorry, I'm off topic. John called to make sure that he could count on me this coming week. And you know what else...he's making sure that an absentee ballot application is sent to me. I guess he knows how busy I am. He wants to make sure that I vote, and that my vote gets counted. Guess he doesn't want a bunch of states dealing with hanging chads. But what's even funnier than that, the state of Ohio has issued a statement that there will be no sleep overs with voting machines.

John called me today, I guess I'll try to watch the convention. It promises to be about as exciting as a root canal.

And yes, I know it wasn't really him!

Update 9-1-08 I told my daughter Sarah that McCain called me yesterday. She asked me if I knew that it was only a computer. Gotta love kids

Bad eManners

This year was my high school 25th reunion.  This means that I've known Krista for 21 years.  Almost half my life. 

She sent me three emails in the course of two weeks, interested in how I was doing.  What did I do?  I tossed my blog address to her and said - Here I am. 

Quite frankly I'll be lucky if she ever speaks to me again.  I'm a product of the pen and paper world.  I derive pleasure from writing, be it on lined paper or expensive stationery.  I try to get my children to write thank you notes, even if they "told Debi thank you when she dropped me off."

As we travel down the eHighway, be it text, Internet or what's waiting for us in the future, it's important that we don't forget who is important to us.  We also must remember to make sure these special people know that they are indeed special to us.

So here I sit, the person who demands that my children write thank you notes, and I didn't have the time to send an electronic message.  I've taken that time now, and looked through all of Krista's photos on Facebook.  I even commented on a few of them.

The moral of this lesson is to get out of the speeding lane of the electronic world.  Slow down, and let those you care about and those who care about you know that you also think of them.

Krista, I hope that you can look past my faux pas!  Friends are few and those who can smack you on the back of the head while warning you not to do what you did ever again are even fewer.  I'll consider myself smacked if you agree!

Who is this guy

I snapped this picture at the Polaris Hooters. This man has a T-shirt sitting on the photo album on the right side of the page as you're looking at it. The T-shirt contains the signatures of many Hooter girls from different locations. He also has photo ablums set up around him. He's drinking water and playing word search games. Gentlemen, this is retirement!

Digger

As some of you may know, Jacob Lewis, my 13 year old pound puppy gave me a scare this week.  So much so, I thought the end was near.  I made the necessary phone calls, announcing his Fair Well Tour and made an appointment with the Vet.

Among his vast array of geriatric attributes, Jake was having issues with bladder control.  When he didn't feel like controlling it, he wouldn't.  Because of this issue, I let him stay outside yesterday.  Jake is one who will lay in the sun until he is two minutes shy of heatstroke, so I had no problem with him spending the day outside.

(Thursday - 8/14/08)  I've got Jake's issue figured out.  He's solar powered.  Yesterday he stayed out again.  He was outside (with water for you asking people) laying in the sun.  When we came home Jake was jumping around and carrying on - like the Jake of years past.

The only thing I can figure out is that he's solar powered and his light cells were on empty.  I'm thrilled to say that he appears to have hopefully another year of playfulness left in him.

Wisdom

Due to budgetary constraints,
The light at the end of the tunnel,
Has been turned off.

Today I cleaned

Today I cleaned out my little corner of the basement.  It now represents the "workbench" it once was.

I uncovered quite a few items that I had saved over the years.  These are those items that you want to save forever, so I decided to put them into the electronic format, subject the general public to them and hope that you find the same joy, humor and sorrow that I did.

 

The following is dedicated to my Jake and all those we've loved and those who are yet to find their humans.

 

I AM YOUR DOG

I am your dog, and I have a little something I'd like to whisper in your ear.  I know that you humans lead busy lives.  Some have to work, some have children to raise.  It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.  Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer.  See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours?  They are slightly cloudy now.  That comes with age.  The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle.

You smile at me; I see love in your eyes.  What do you see in mine?  Do you see a spirit?  A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world?  A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time?  That is all I ask.  To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me.  So many times you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of others of my kind passing.  Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat.  Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes.  Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land.

I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week.  Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just "One more day" with me.  Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me.  We have NOW together.  So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes.  What do you see?  If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart.  Come to me not as 'alpha' or as trainer or even Mom or Dad.  Come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another's eyes, and talk.

I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even in general.  You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with.  Someone very different from you, and here I am.  I am a dog, but I am alive.  I feel emotion, I fe3el physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls.  I do not think of you as a "dog on two feet" I know what you are.  You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.

Now, come sit with me, on the floor.  Enter my world, and loet time slow down if only for 15 minutes.  Look deep into my eyes, and whisper in my ears.  Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self.  We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.

(on behalf of canines everywhere)

Author unknown

The Rescuers Quilt

Author Unknown

 

As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the animals that had gone there before me.  Before each of us go to the Bridge, we live our lives like the squares of a quilt, mirrored in the eyes of the animals awaiting us.  An animal Angel sits before each of us sewing our quilt squares together in a tapestry that is our life.  But as my animal Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.  They were filled with giant holes.  Each square was labeled with a part of my life as a rescuer that had been difficult, the challenges I was faced with in my quest to save lives and the times I had been tempted to take the easy way out and avoid the controversy rather than speak for the animals that could not speak for themselves.

I saw hardships that I had endured for the sake of the animals, which were the largest holes of all.  I glanced around me.  Nobody else had such squares.  Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.  I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.  My animal Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.  Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, and scrutiny of truth.  The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.  So filled their lives had been with the riches of the Earth.

My animal Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.  My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.  I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.  I had love in my life and laughter and the sweet kisses of the precious animals that Honored my life with their presence.  But there had also been the trials of illness, and death.  I had to start over many times.  I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.  I spent many nights crying and praying that somehow the strength would come to go on, asking for help and guidance as I tried to help the Helpless.  I had often been held up to ridicule which I endured painfully each time enduring it for the sake of the animals who looked at me with trust and love in their eyes.

And now, I had to face the truth.  My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.  I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.  An awe-filled gasp filled the air.  I gazed around at the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wide eyes.  Then I looked upon the tapestry before me.  Light flooded the many holes, creating an image of an animal that had depended on me.  All the animals at the Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their eyes.  They said, "Every time you gave over your life to help us, it gave us life.  Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let us shine through, until there was more of us than there was of you." 

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the animals to shine through.

Definitely a half full glass

The following was found in the Financial Post (Toronto) printed Friday, February 23, 2001

 

Former Marijuana Smuggler

 

Having successfully completed a ten year sentence, incident-free, for importing 75 tons of marijuana into the United States.  I am now seeking a legal and legitimate means to support myself and my family.

 

Business Experience - Owned and operated a successful fishing business - multi-vessel, one airplane, one island and processing facility.  Simultaneously owned and operated a fleet of tractor-trailer trucks conducting business in the western United States.  During this time I also co-owned and participated in the executive level management of 120 people worldwide in a successful pot smuggling venture with revenues in excess of US $100 million annually.  I took responsibility for my own actions, and received a ten year sentence in the united states while others walked free for their cooperation.

 

Attributes - I am an expert in all levels of security.  I have extensive computer skills, am personable, outgoing, well educated, reliable, clean and sober.  I have spoken in schools to thousands of kids and parent groups over the past ten years on "the consequences of choice" and received public recognition from the RCMP for community service.  I am well-traveled and speak English, French and Spanish.  References available from friends, family and the US District Attorney, etc.

 

he then listed a PO box in Ontario for replies.  The job skills are something to consider....

Adventures of the Intellectual type

Must Read

The above is a news article that is a Must Read. I must say that I don't believe that all iPhone users are MAC users and the insults directed toward Apple and MAC are unfounded.

I must say Kudos to the developer!

PS - Fox New picked up the story

Adventures in Adult Wisdom

As a profession, I'm charged with the responsibility to catch mistakes before software products are allowed out into the general public.

I actually get paid to find fault with other peoples work. As in everyday life, adults say the darndest things.

One application I was responsible for had documents attached to a line item in a grid. We presented users with a paperclip icon. They click on the paperclip and the document(s) opens. On one particular page, the paperclip did not open the document, so I wrote a defect. "I clicked and it didn't open" was pretty much what my issue said.

I also follow up on my defects to ensure that they are being fixed. Imagine my surprise when the above referenced issue was sent back to me, indicating that it wasn't a defect, with the statement - and I QUOTE, "I (Dave, the developer) was able to open the document, so it appears that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't."

I was speechless and had to seek assistance with my next interaction with Dave, as I didn't think I could say something nice...so I chose not to say anything at all.

The assignment I'm on now has our company, Quick Solutions, picking up an application that apparently was developed by a different consulting company.

So, to get myself up to speed, I've been looking over issues that are on our top ten list. This consulting company wrote a defect concerning error messages. One of the error messages they were attempting to rewrite is, "Non-required field is missing." Now in all my years, I had always understood that if the field was required, it could be empty.

Their solution was to keep this error message reading like this, but appending the name of the field on the end.

If they're worried about non-required fields being populated, shouldn't they make them required fields?

Sean, looking cool

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

IMG00029.jpg

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

IMG00027.jpg

Sean at his first practice with full pads
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From PlayStation to Playing Field

As many parents of young boys know, sometimes they like to personify the players in their video games. On more than one occasion, my son has told me about the great plays he made, the teams he beat and lord knows what else.

I'll listen to his stories and gently tell him that it's Madden 08, not real life 2008. My husband on the other hand has a lot less sympathy and tells him without any fluff that he's playing a video game and that real life football isn't as easy as selecting a player and maneuvering a controller.

Perhaps I should have been a little less coddling mother and a bit more reality father. This past Monday Sean started practice with his DFL team the Buffalos. Last year Sean played flag football and had one two-hour practice a week. This year is the first tackle year and I'm spending my free time at the middle school football field.

Last year Sean played center. This year he wants to be the QB. He's having a difficult time adjusting to the fact that he'll probably be a lineman. He wants receiver gloves and I'm leaning toward arm pads.

He's completed only two days of practice and promptly fell asleep both nights. Tonight after school we'll work a bit on his footwork, and push ups.

Sean carrying the ball

Pushing his coach around

Getting the lesson on where to be looking

Smiles

My daughter Sarah spent the weekend at Camp Condo with her niece Mia.  After taking a drive on the wild side the girls finished their day on a pachyderm.  One can see from the smiles that Camp Condo beats Camp Cabin any day.

Addiction

I am a Crack addict. I've found help though at Crackberry Here you will find all things Blackberry. Mind you though, these electronic devices are only known as Blackberries to those who are not users. I would say addicts, but aren't all users addicts, and well - user is so much more politically correct.

I currently am using a Blackberry Curve. But it's not the last one I'll own. Seems there's a Blackberry Thunder (Storm) on the horizon. Ironically it will somewhat resemble the iPhone but we won't have to go through the whole withdraw process.

Now, my Crackberry not only receives calls and allows me to place them, I can take pictures. I use to stare at my phone in wonderment, trying to figure out how to get those pesky pixel out of my phone and into something more useful.

a picture taken at Easter found on my Flickr site. (I'm so organized)

Just about the time I had given up hope I hear from Blackberry that I can now ship my pix to Flickr. Well, tickle me pink, I can post my pixels to that darned old site that allows for people to look at other people's pixels in the comfort of their own home.

Then just today, while trying to make up for the fact that I've not placed any verbiage on the pixel packing site I started writing, and posting and editing and look at what I found. I can now take my mobile pixels and post them to my more stationary pixel posting platform.

I will now stop the silly alliteration and join Judge Judy already in progress.

If I have my cell phone, with pictures stored on them memory card, in my pocket, does that make me a pixel packin' mama?

I didn't meet him

I didn't meet someone over the weekend. I do believe his name is Rick, and I'm pretty sure he's as fascinated by greyhounds as I am. He also enjoys photography. Most notably action or sports photography.

He lives in Arizona and frequents the track quite a bit. He's also friends with a few greyhound breeders. I know he has at least one daughter. To say this young lady is an accomplished clarinet player is like saying a Rolls Royce is a four door sedan. The statement may be true, but there's a big middle of information that's being left out.

I've not met Rick, but I will certainly introduce him to each and every greyhound lover here in Ohio. You can view his photos on Flickr...search for Greyhound Rick. You'll be glad you did.

The setting sun only enhances this young lady

Thank You Rick, your photos are breathtaking.

Sean

Sean tries on his first helmet
Sent from the blackberry and posted on the blog! Look Mom - Hands Free

Sorry about my luck (edited)

(Originally posted in June)

That's what he said, at 3:30 this morning. Funny thing is, he meant it. He being a Columbus Police Officer. He was expressing his condolences for the mailbox that broke into 4 pieces, the 20+ year old pine tree that was up rooted and probably most of all the two cans of grass clippings that were so cleverly spread back over the grass that they came from.

Around three this morning there was a faint knock at the door. All I can think of is that he didn't want to wake anyone up. Argus and Sadie woke up. Sadie leads the chorus of barking and Argie supplies the echo, "I guess I should be barking too." I was able to quiet them down, but Sadie maintained a low grumble for another minute or so.

Then the phone rings. It's a pop quiz before the sun is required to shine. Fortunately I knew my address, so after passing the pop quiz, the very nice officer introduced himself

and explained that we was calling because I didn't answer the door. When I spoke to my mom this morning, she asked why I didn't answer the door. I didn't think quick enough to tell her that she taught me not to answer the door in the dark, especially if the weather was staging the perfect murder mystery backdrop.

I'm happy to say that it was only a double homicide, the mailbox and the tree. One trash can will be treated at the scene. The other one may need some minor surgery to become useful again. By the sprinkling of car parts left over, I would say that the culprit, or rather car may be in serious, but stable condition.

I am now starting on the call, coordinate and replace montage. Wish me luck, or as Mr. Police Officer so eloquently said, he's sorry about my luck.

The bucket of car parts,

collected the day after

The 1999 Mustang, defeated by a pine tree.

**Next**

Sometimes life is just a never ending loop.  I was caught in this loop over the weekend.  That's the photo loop.  I had to laugh at all of the sit-coms that made a half hour joke of vacation slides.

 

Family B was invited over to Family A's house for dinner and drinks.  Everyone compliments Mrs. A on such a lovely dinner while husband A slips from the room.  Then Family B hears that unmistakable noise.  I can't quite explain it in the two dimensions that text allows but close your eyes and with the right hand click the magic button.  Now with minimal electronic intervention, slide 1 is pushed back up into the carrousel, as it is being advanced one position so slide 2 can drop into place.

 

That in itself marks the start of boredom.  After making it through the Sit-Coms and laughing when you're in mixed company so that no one knows that you're guilty of subjecting your neighbor to your vacation slides of Branson Missouri, you sell your slide projector at your next garage sale.

 

As 124 film gave way to 110 and the disc camera was poised to change the nation, slide processing became extinct.  Remember grandma's pocket 110 camera with the FLASH CUBE?  We were so in luck when the cube made way to the flash tower (?).  It contained 10 flashes, but you had to flip it after number 5.

 

The disc camera was a new concept and quite a spiffy one at that.  By default the film was auto-advancing an the flash was built in.  Built in, how flipping exciting is that?  It was the disc camera that taught me about grain.  No matter how much you loved the photo, blowing it up to even a 4x6 made it look like a beginner mosaic.

 

Now you're wondering where in the hell this blog post is going.  I'm wondering too, but don't despair, as I won't bore you by telling you I voluntarily spent hours looking at stranger's photos.  Especially those of a Mr. Greyhound Rick, who's photos will be displayed on my blog, with proper credit.

 

Flickr - You can see anyone's vacation photos in the privacy of your own home.  Just don't tell anyone.