Monday, August 29, 2005
Family
Family, ahhhhh what images that brings to our minds.............
I have the best family of them all. You see, while I have a biological family like everyone else on the planet; I also have my adopted family. In my adopted family I have more than one dad and more than one mom. Not all of my adopted family members are still alive - I lost one of my dads to a car accident and one of my moms to cancer - but they still hold a place in my heart.
Sunday we drove to visit a couple that since I was a teen I have considered my adopted parents (I adopted them - they didn’t adopt me). Haven’t physically seen them for almost ten years, we have kept touch via email and snail mail through the years, and they are very dear to me. I have so many wonderful memories of times spent with them and Sunday’s visit gave me even more.
Monday we had dinner with my adopted grandma/mom - she often plays that dual role in my life. She has offered me counsel, comfort and unconditional love for over half of my life. It hurts now to see her growing older and starting to show the effects of her age.
Having an adopted family is cool because you chose who you get for parents, for siblings - you aren’t ‘stuck’ with what you were born into - and most of all you get to have the kind of relationship that most people crave from family and seldom receive.
I know that there is so much more that I want to write about this subject; but I’ll admit it - it is late, haven’t been getting near enough sleep the last few days and my brain is kind of fuzzy at the moment so this is a subject that will have to be explored more in depth at a later date. Heck, I have to since I didn’t even mention any of my adopted siblings.
More later...............
Saturday, August 27, 2005
On The Road Again
Sorry for not writing for about the last week or so - has it really been that long???
Took the oldest up to college last weekend; let her take a truck because she goes to school in the mountains. She had to follow me with the old man riding shot gun with her - what a riot!! Ever have someone follow you through NYC and the Bronx?? Thank God we didn’t go on a weekday - otherwise I would have gone totally gray!! Can’t stand driving that part of the trip anyway, let alone with someone with little city driving experience following me. Drivers are probably more ruder in that stretch of the trip than anywhere else on the island parts of NY.
Do have to say that she did pretty good all things considered - and at the moment we aren’t worrying too much that she will try to drive way faster than normal people; the truck always gives you the feeling that it will roll-over if you take a corner or curve too fast (which in truth it will) so hopefully she will remember that it doesn’t like to take curves at more than the posted limit.
Well, we got up there late on Saturday; found out that the part that had been fixed on Friday malfunctioned so needed to find someone to repair it - ah, small town no one open on Sunday. So, we stayed an extra night and got it all set up to be repaired on Tuesday and late Monday we headed back towards home to prepare for our next adventure.
Got home Monday night and started doing wash so that clothes were clean to pack on Tuesday.
Packed early afternoon on Tuesday, picked up our precious pups from the kennel and started on our journey west toward Michigan!! Got in the middle of the Bronx and the pups just had to have a potty break so we stopped at the only McDonald’s that we know in that area and took the dogs out. Forget taking a potty break when you are in the city, under EL tracks (elevated trains), and ninety people around you who are strange - and we mean that in every sense of the word - there was no shutting these pups up. I truthfully think that if they hadn’t been on leashes they would’ve killed someone. (Have to mention here that both dogs were born in the Bronx (strays) taken to a shelter, landed at a joke of an ‘animal rescue’ person in Brooklyn and then adopted by us).
After that fun filled (note sarcastic tone) rest stop we got back on the very heavily congested roadway and proceeded to head to the George Washington Bridge and the main land. Ever been in a vehicle with pups in a crate and end up in a tunnel with a semi truck next to you that is making that awful rumbling racket?? Did you go deaf from the barking?? The next best noise creator was the motorcycle - eventually I couldn’t hear it over the noise in the vehicle.
Having never traveled a long distance with the pups we played it safe and stopped to let them out often - this also makes your 5 1/2 hour ride last a very long time. We stopped at our usual stopping place in PA at 3 a.m. - please remember that we started on the road around 6:15pm. At the motel the pups wanted to go outside every hour on the hour so dear hubby had to take them outside - this is ok, because he can sleep in the vehicle - I can’t, I have to drive.
The next day went much faster and smoother because we didn’t give the pups the recommended “Rescue Remedy” that was supposed to calm them down and let them sleep during the trip. After reading the bottle - 27% alcohol - I decided that drinking does not agree with the pups so we are not giving them that again.
Now we are here in Michigan and other than trying to get our house in shape, we have been on the road or stuck waiting for appointments every spare minute. And now that it is after 3 a.m. if I hurry I can still get to bed earlier than I did last night!! (Yeah)
More updates on our traveling and conversations overheard while on the road - lots of fun stuff to share - so stay tuned!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Boy, Now That’s Entertainment!!
Went the other night for a rare movie outing with the family - part of celebrating our daughter’s birthday - and saw the newly released “Must Love Dogs” with Diane Lane and John Cusack.
The movie was about two 40-somethings who had been through painful breakups and their family or friends ‘helping’ them to find suitable dates via internet dating services; without their knowledge, of course. Having been in my mid 30’s and having a hard time finding suitable dates I opted to spend time visiting chat rooms on AOL; this is indeed where I met my spouse. So I, of course, had to see the movie.
This movie was by far one of the funniest ones that I have seen in a long, long time. Your friend or family member places an ad on the internet and also puts in your ad that the person you want to meet ‘must love dogs’. Then you have to have a dog to meet the person. So you go to meet the person and you aren’t sure; so you say no thanks and try others that fall into your categories. But what happens when the one you want is the one you initially rejected and the one that wants you is not the one you want? This all sets you up for some of the most hilarious situations I have seen in a movie in recent years.
Miscommunication, misunderstandings, missed opportunities, family interference and probably the most hysterical discussion of Saran Wrap I have ever heard had me laughing almost the entire movie. And when I wasn’t laughing, I was growling at the jerk and also saying stuff like ‘yup, dated one like that once too’.
I read alot of reviews before seeing this movie and wasn’t sure that I even wanted to see it. I am so glad that I did; I hope that it wins something. John Cusack and Diane Lane did a superb job portraying their characters, while Jordana Spiro played the ditzy blonde arm candy to a T.
This movie rates 3 1/2 stars out of 4. Highly recommend to anyone in need of laughter.
Monday, August 15, 2005
I say Daisy, are you listening to me??
(Aside to Scooter - no, honey not talking about you today)
I was wondering how many people have the same experiences that I have when dealing with companies that have information about us that truly needs to be correct. Read along and see if you have had this experience.
A couple of weeks ago, after I received a decline letter for a loan that I wanted (what do you expect when you’ve only been self-employed for a year?), I decided to go online and order my free credit report - the one you’re entitled too after getting a letter like that. I went to their site, followed all the directions to get my free online report and then followed the directions to view it. Should be a piece of cake right?? Wrong!!
First I get an error message that I haven’t set up an account yet, so I go back to step one and start over; then I receive a message that my account has been suspended. I wait about ten minutes and then try to log on again. Receive message that I haven’t set up an account yet, go back to step one; then I receive the message that my account has been suspended. After playing this game for about 20 minutes (I know, I should’ve given up sooner - but I just wanted my report!!) I decided to call their 800 number to get some customer service.
The following is almost a near perfect transcription of the call:
Hello welcome to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX how can I help you?
I’ve been trying to set up an account online to view my credit report but it won’t work.
Give me your social security number so I can check it for you.
###-##-####
You don’t have an account with us, that is why you can’t view it online.
I know I don’t have an account yet, that is what I was trying to do online. Can you help me?
I can’t help you unless you have an account with us.
I understand that. I was trying to set one up online and I kept getting this problem (see description above) and I really would like to get it set up so that I can view it online tomorrow.
I can help you set up an account, but you won’t be able to view it online.
Well, I need you to set it up so that I can view it online.
I can’t do that because you don’t have an account with us.
Ok!! Now if I can’t set it up online, can you set it up for me over the phone?? I really want to be able to view this online.
If you give me your information I will set up your account and your report will be mailed to you within 5 to 7 business days.
I don’t want it in the mail, I want to do this online.
Well, I can’t help you because you haven’t set your account up online yet.
ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?? I ALREADY TRIED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND YOUR WEBSITE DOESN’T WORK.
Obviously I do because you aren’t listening to me. Your website doesn’t work and I can’t set the account up.
I can set the account up and you can get the report in the mail.
I’m going out of town and I want to view it now and your website doesn’t work. Can you transfer me to technical support?
I’m sorry technical support isn’t open at this time.
And there isn’t anyway to help me get my report online?
No.
Thank you. Good bye.
By this time I was totally frustrated and even swore off computer usage for the rest of the evening. Still don’t have my credit report because my account is still in suspense.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Handicapped? ………Ahhhhh Can You Say, Mental??
Ok, today’s blog is more of a rant, let’s say, about one of my real BIG pet peeves:
Moron’s who don’t quite understand the concept of Handicap Parking permits and why the spaces are painted the way that they are; this includes the ones that have the permits and haven’t figured it out either (my BIGGER pet peeve).
Now, before anyone blows a gasket, please be informed that my spouse is permanently disabled and we have a handicap permit, so I am qualified to speak on this subject.
The license plate posted today belongs to one of the aforementioned morons.
We took our youngest daughter out for her birthday the other night to Olive Garden. We went early so as to avoid the crowds that seem to always be there whenever we arrive. We showed up well before the NY dinner hour that starts about 6:30pm and pulled into one of several vacant handicap spots. I always try to park so that my spouse can get out on the lines that mark the area reserved for wheelchair/walker users as he has difficulty getting in/out of the vehicle; accomplishing this we went in to have our birthday celebration.
An hour and a half later we were finally finished with our meal and headed out to the truck to go home. (By now I am sure that you have guessed what we discovered when we came out to the parking lot) Yes, folks you’re right!! A handicapped labeled car was parked on the area reserved for wheelchairs/walkers!! Fortunately not so close that my hubby couldn’t get into the truck, but close enough to make it difficult. And what added insult to this injury?? There were several handicap spots open as well as regular spots within a short walking distance of the doors. The whole family looked at the car, looked at the permit and said “must be mental”.
I have had quite a few people who have handicap permits tell me that those are legitimate handicap parking spots and that I am nuts thinking that they are not for parking but for getting people in and out of vehicles. These are also the same people who drive around with the hang tag hanging from the rear view mirror when it plainly states on it to remove it from rear view mirror when driving. Yup, a whole crop of mental ones!!
I will do the Snoopy dance of joy when every parking lot here follows the example of the local mall and puts a no parking sign in front of those areas and tickets the morons who still park there.
Monday, August 08, 2005
My Humor Level
The other day while reading Stupid Evil’s website I came upon his entry about humor and the link to take a test to determine my humor level. So I clicked on the link and landed at http://www.okcupid.com and after a bit of poking around the site I found the test.
Being somewhat curious as to how I would compare to my ‘bro’ I took the test. Here is what I found out:
the Ham
(43% dark, 52% spontaneous, 16% vulgar)
your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT
Your style’s mostly goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in this sarcastic world.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith
Now I’m reading the description and wondering what it means - “perfect for parties and the dads who chaperone them"- now just what is that supposed to mean exactly?? Could it be that my humor has been shaped by having mostly male friends my entire life?? Corny jokes?? What?? I guess I should take the test again to see if I get the same results, before I swallow the pain pills...........
Till I type again..................
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Welcome To My Blog
Welcome to my blog!
It has taken quite some time to get going with this and I thank you for your patience.
Thanks must be given to my ‘little brother’ Les aka Stupid Evil Bastard for all his help, his generosity with his time, knowledge, et al for without his assistance this blog would not be possible.
Now for a bit about this blog...............
I write this blog mainly to just chat about what is going on in life, what goes on where I live, my views on things - I do not write for anyone’s pleasure but my own so therefore you may find things in the content of this blog that could offend you, make you laugh, make you think, or wonder. I have lived in various areas of the US (sometimes only for days), read many books on many subjects, studied various subjects, met many people, worked various jobs for many different types of companies and all of these things have shaped how I think and feel about many things.
I will not apologize if anything I write offends the reader because like any writer it is my own opinion and you are reading it at your own risk.You can disagree, but then that would be YOUR opinion and as this is America everyone is entitled to their own opinion. (thanks M)
And so the first entry has been made with many more to come..............