Day Two. South Carolina.
Word of the Day
Tomorrow: One of the greatest labor devices of today.
Today we'll see our daughter for the first time since the end of October. I'm not sure what changes we'll see. She's gone through a lot since she started Marine boot camp in January.
I woke up early this morning. I was awake long before my cell phone started buzzing. Our daughter's fiance called at around 7:30 AM to tell us that he was on base. He has a military ID so they let him have a few more privilege then we civilians. We can't get on base for a few hours yet. Actually, since our daughter can't run in the Motivational Run that is scheduled for 9:30 AM and since we probably won't have a chance to see her until closer to 1 PM at the EGA Ceremony (Eagle Globe Anchor) when she receives her EGA pin, we decided to meander over to base closer to 11 AM
I've started writing this blog but I'm going to add to it later tonight if I get the chance. We have many activities planned between now and then but plans can change. We plan to order lunch and have it delivered on base picnic-style. We plan to take a tour of the base. We plan to watch the EGA ceremony. We plan to grab our daughter afterwards and spend as much time as we can before we have return her to her squad bay. We plan to meet with some of the other parents at an Italian restaurant close to the base...and then...I plan to see if I can blog and tell you what really happened today before I crash. So...if you don't see any changes made today, I crashed beforehand and I'll try and catch you up later.
*****
OK...a promise is a promise. It is now 10:42PM and we're finally back here at the hotel for the night. We stuck to our plan for the most part. We weren't sure for quite some time where our wounded recruit would be sitting during the EGA ceremony. Our daughter's fiance was the one who ran around like crazy, grilling any official looking military person. He discovered that our daughter was going to be sitting in the front seats of the bleachers on what I'd call the 50 yard line. We were able to sit right next to her and the other wounded Marines. Woohoo! Poor kid. We kept making comments and faces and she had to maintain military bearing. Teehee! We were so mean. Of course, they played "I'm Proud to Be An American" and she ended up with tears as she got her EGA pin. We got pictures. Close-ups. We got to see her as soon as they released the recruits for Liberty but after a few short moments, hugs, and kisses, the DI's grabbed her away from us. They had to take her over to her new platoon and check her in before they could release her for Liberty. She'll be returning to Parris Island after her 10 day leave. Not as a recruit, but as a Marine. She'll be joining other "broken" Marines in a Basic Marine Platoon until her broken hip heals. Anyway, this meant that we had to wait for her at her squad bay until procedures were adhered to. She doesn't really get 10 days leave. She has to return to Parris Island in 8 days. Oh well. She's a Marine. Official. Well...tomorrow. Graduation is tomorrow.
We ordered calzones from the local Italian restaurant that I mentioned earlier but HTP drove out to pick them up for us. While we were waiting for the food, we walked through the PX. I bought a mug. My Daughter, One of the Few, The Proud, A Marine. We wandered over to another of the Military Exchanges and I got a pair of real Marine boots for #1 son under the eagle eye of our new Marine. After HTP returned with our food, we joined the crowds of new Marines and their parents for a picnic lunch at Pizza Hut on base. No-one seemed to notice or care that we brought our own food and beverages. We got to bombard our daughter with all kinds of questions about her training.
After lunch we drove around the base with our daughter as tour director. We got to see the obstacle courses, the rifle-range, the swim center and all kinds of fun stuff. We had to return her to her squad bay at 6:30 PM. We were exhausted.
Although we were supposed to rendevous with other Marine parents for supper after dropping off our daughter, we decided to make the rendevous short and sweet. I was in and out in record time. Did I tell you we were a bit tired? After kicking back a short while at our hotel, we caught a late supper...really late...at Applebee's.
Tomorrow is another big day. Graduation Day. Our daughter's leave papers won't be signed until after 1 PM, so we'll hang around base until then. After that, we'll boogie on to Savannah for the night. We have to get to Parris Island at 7 AM tomorrow. We've been warned that the bleachers fill up fast on Graduation Day. If it rains? 80% chance. The ceremony will be moved to the inside facility. Should be interesting to see if everyone can fit. BTP (my daughter's fiance) plans to get to base tomorrow at 6 AM. He's going to make sure we'll have seats again...next to our new Marine.
Murphyism of the Day
Heller's Law
The first myth of management is that it exists.
Johnson's Corollary
Nobody really knows what is going on anywhere within the organization.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
We're Here in Beaufort....as close as we can get to Parris Island for today because they won't let us on base until tomorrow.
Word of the Day
Tolerance: What you get after giving growth hormone to ants.
It's my sister's birthday today! Happy Birthday Sis!
HTP and I left our house in Arizona at 4 AM. There was very little traffic on the roads. I did see a coyote but he was going the other direction. After arriving at the airport, we parked our car in one of those Park n' Fly lots and waited for the airport shuttle. It was cold outside but we didn't have to wait long. The shuttle came and picked us up along with many other "Park n' Fliers". We were the first to hit the pavement at the airport. Unfortunately, there weren't any employees manning the check-in desk. We had to wait until 5:30 AM before we could check our luggage. Gee! I sure am glad that we got to the airport early so we wouldn't have to stand in those long security lines. Instead we got to the airport early so we could stand in the long lines of people waiting for someone to check in their luggage. Actually, the security line wasn't too bad compared to the check-in line. I was happy to discover that after stripping off my jacket and my sweater and my shoes and putting all into a tub, I got through the security screening just fine. HTP had to go back through and take off his shoes. Pffft. I don't care if they tell you that you don't really have to take off you shoes, you do. I'm just glad that I wasn't that elderly gentleman who they had spread-eagled against the wall. That poor man was being wanded and patted down in a rather thorough manner that I'm sure I would have found offensive. Then there was that poor woman with the leg braces... They did let her go on through after it became obvious that she couldn't easily remove her shoes.
OK. We got past security and we were able to pick up a cup of coffee and roll to munch and slurp as we waited for our plane. I'd just finished my Venti Cafe Latte and half my roll when they called for us to start boarding our plane. Every seat on the plane was filled. HTP and I had a window and aisle seat. Next to me in the center aisle was a rather inebiated young man. He had friends of like mind in front of him and in front of me. I guess I've always felt that 7 AM was a bit early to start drinking but it became obvious that these guys felt differently. Thankfully, they weren't obnoxious. I was just totally amazed at how many drinks they were capable of downing in a three hour flight. I must say that the inflight movie seemed appropriate...not that they watched it...The Incredibles. I watched the movie without the sound. It really is a good movie but I'd just watched it Sunday and I didn't want to pay the $2 for a headset. No free food anymore on flights. We did get a couple of teeny cookies and a package of mini pretzels. Oh...and I got two beverages. No alcohol for me. Too early.
We arrived in Atlanta and caught the airport train from our gate to the gate where #1 son's flight was supposed to arrive. It did. So far, so good. No problems there. #1 son told us that his airport shuttle broke down and was late to pick him up at his dorm. They sent a taxi for him so he only arrived 30 minutes late to the airport. Fortunately, this didn't cause any problems with his flight. I guess he didn't have to go through any spread-eagle security searches. Anyway, after we rendevoused with #1 son, we all caught the airport train to again so we could get to the gate of our connecting flight to Savannah. We were early so we picked up a bite of lunch. There were lots of fast food type restaurants at the Atlanta airport so it wasn't hard to find something to eat.
Our new plane was smaller and packed. No inflight movie this time. The flight took only about 30 minutes. We were lucky to get a beverage on this flight. I barely had the time to gulp down my 8 oz. bottle of water before we were taxi'ing into the gate. Now we had to wait for our luggage. HTP went to get our rental car while #1 son and I waited to collect our luggage. I figured that HTP would be pacing a hole in the airport carpet by the time #1 son and I were finally able to collect our luggage. #1 son's suitcase came down the shoot before HTP's suitcase. My suitcase took longer. Oh well. We raced the bags over to the rental desk and were amazed to see that HTP was still waiting in line to get a car. There was only one gal working at the rental desk. OK. Patience. HTP finally got up to the desk. They ran out of full-size cars! What! What about a free upgrade? Nope..they didn't have any upgrades! What?! They could give us a down-grade. No way! Off she went to see if she could dig up a car for us. They were able to upgrade us to a Jeep Laredo. I mean, on the surface, you may think that this was a bigger car but it really isn't. It only seats four people. Max. There is no trunk. Sigh. We took it. HTP has been mumbling/grumbling ever since.
We loaded up our luggage and headed away from the Savannah airport. #1 son expressed the desire to check out the local Walmart. What is it with this family and Walmart? He must get this Walmart thing from his Grandmother G. There are no Walmarts near my son's college so he didn't want to miss the opportunity to pick up some soap and laundry detergent. Blink. OK. I guess he can fit it into his suitcase. Why not?
After Walmart, we continued on to Beaufort, South Carolina. We checked into our hotel. Nice hotel. #1 son said the room is a lot nicer then his dorm room. We've got a fridge, a microwave, and a comfy easy chair. #1 son approves. He raced off to shower before dinner...with his new soap.
We had supper at The Dockside. There was an hour long wait to get a table but the wait was worth it. The food was great and the view spectacular! And while we waited, we noshed on an onion loaf and sipped on beer. #1 son had a virgin Pina Colada...after he polished off the virgin strawberry dacquiri that they made for him by mistake. As we were noshing, we chatted with another couple of parents sitting next to us at the bar who have a daughter graduating on Friday too. I'm pretty sure that the reason The Dockside was so crowded was because of all the parents and relatives of graduating Marines. I mean the food was great but I'm pretty sure that Wednesday isn't a high traffic food service day. Actually, I'm pretty sure that Beaufort would cease to exist if it weren't for the USMC.
Well we're back at the hotel. We have high-speed internet. I can blog...if I can find the time. Tomorrow is another day and HTP is already sleeping. #1 son is watching the Suns play basketball....no...I'm wrong, he's sleeping too. What a great idea! Sleep! But first I'll turn off the TV.
Murphyism of the Day
Wellington's Law of Command
The cream rises to the top.
So does the scum.
Word of the Day
Tolerance: What you get after giving growth hormone to ants.
It's my sister's birthday today! Happy Birthday Sis!
HTP and I left our house in Arizona at 4 AM. There was very little traffic on the roads. I did see a coyote but he was going the other direction. After arriving at the airport, we parked our car in one of those Park n' Fly lots and waited for the airport shuttle. It was cold outside but we didn't have to wait long. The shuttle came and picked us up along with many other "Park n' Fliers". We were the first to hit the pavement at the airport. Unfortunately, there weren't any employees manning the check-in desk. We had to wait until 5:30 AM before we could check our luggage. Gee! I sure am glad that we got to the airport early so we wouldn't have to stand in those long security lines. Instead we got to the airport early so we could stand in the long lines of people waiting for someone to check in their luggage. Actually, the security line wasn't too bad compared to the check-in line. I was happy to discover that after stripping off my jacket and my sweater and my shoes and putting all into a tub, I got through the security screening just fine. HTP had to go back through and take off his shoes. Pffft. I don't care if they tell you that you don't really have to take off you shoes, you do. I'm just glad that I wasn't that elderly gentleman who they had spread-eagled against the wall. That poor man was being wanded and patted down in a rather thorough manner that I'm sure I would have found offensive. Then there was that poor woman with the leg braces... They did let her go on through after it became obvious that she couldn't easily remove her shoes.
OK. We got past security and we were able to pick up a cup of coffee and roll to munch and slurp as we waited for our plane. I'd just finished my Venti Cafe Latte and half my roll when they called for us to start boarding our plane. Every seat on the plane was filled. HTP and I had a window and aisle seat. Next to me in the center aisle was a rather inebiated young man. He had friends of like mind in front of him and in front of me. I guess I've always felt that 7 AM was a bit early to start drinking but it became obvious that these guys felt differently. Thankfully, they weren't obnoxious. I was just totally amazed at how many drinks they were capable of downing in a three hour flight. I must say that the inflight movie seemed appropriate...not that they watched it...The Incredibles. I watched the movie without the sound. It really is a good movie but I'd just watched it Sunday and I didn't want to pay the $2 for a headset. No free food anymore on flights. We did get a couple of teeny cookies and a package of mini pretzels. Oh...and I got two beverages. No alcohol for me. Too early.
We arrived in Atlanta and caught the airport train from our gate to the gate where #1 son's flight was supposed to arrive. It did. So far, so good. No problems there. #1 son told us that his airport shuttle broke down and was late to pick him up at his dorm. They sent a taxi for him so he only arrived 30 minutes late to the airport. Fortunately, this didn't cause any problems with his flight. I guess he didn't have to go through any spread-eagle security searches. Anyway, after we rendevoused with #1 son, we all caught the airport train to again so we could get to the gate of our connecting flight to Savannah. We were early so we picked up a bite of lunch. There were lots of fast food type restaurants at the Atlanta airport so it wasn't hard to find something to eat.
Our new plane was smaller and packed. No inflight movie this time. The flight took only about 30 minutes. We were lucky to get a beverage on this flight. I barely had the time to gulp down my 8 oz. bottle of water before we were taxi'ing into the gate. Now we had to wait for our luggage. HTP went to get our rental car while #1 son and I waited to collect our luggage. I figured that HTP would be pacing a hole in the airport carpet by the time #1 son and I were finally able to collect our luggage. #1 son's suitcase came down the shoot before HTP's suitcase. My suitcase took longer. Oh well. We raced the bags over to the rental desk and were amazed to see that HTP was still waiting in line to get a car. There was only one gal working at the rental desk. OK. Patience. HTP finally got up to the desk. They ran out of full-size cars! What! What about a free upgrade? Nope..they didn't have any upgrades! What?! They could give us a down-grade. No way! Off she went to see if she could dig up a car for us. They were able to upgrade us to a Jeep Laredo. I mean, on the surface, you may think that this was a bigger car but it really isn't. It only seats four people. Max. There is no trunk. Sigh. We took it. HTP has been mumbling/grumbling ever since.
We loaded up our luggage and headed away from the Savannah airport. #1 son expressed the desire to check out the local Walmart. What is it with this family and Walmart? He must get this Walmart thing from his Grandmother G. There are no Walmarts near my son's college so he didn't want to miss the opportunity to pick up some soap and laundry detergent. Blink. OK. I guess he can fit it into his suitcase. Why not?
After Walmart, we continued on to Beaufort, South Carolina. We checked into our hotel. Nice hotel. #1 son said the room is a lot nicer then his dorm room. We've got a fridge, a microwave, and a comfy easy chair. #1 son approves. He raced off to shower before dinner...with his new soap.
We had supper at The Dockside. There was an hour long wait to get a table but the wait was worth it. The food was great and the view spectacular! And while we waited, we noshed on an onion loaf and sipped on beer. #1 son had a virgin Pina Colada...after he polished off the virgin strawberry dacquiri that they made for him by mistake. As we were noshing, we chatted with another couple of parents sitting next to us at the bar who have a daughter graduating on Friday too. I'm pretty sure that the reason The Dockside was so crowded was because of all the parents and relatives of graduating Marines. I mean the food was great but I'm pretty sure that Wednesday isn't a high traffic food service day. Actually, I'm pretty sure that Beaufort would cease to exist if it weren't for the USMC.
Well we're back at the hotel. We have high-speed internet. I can blog...if I can find the time. Tomorrow is another day and HTP is already sleeping. #1 son is watching the Suns play basketball....no...I'm wrong, he's sleeping too. What a great idea! Sleep! But first I'll turn off the TV.
Murphyism of the Day
Wellington's Law of Command
The cream rises to the top.
So does the scum.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
1 More Day and an EARLY Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Terminal Illness: Getting sick at the airport.
Well, today's going to be rather hectic and I imagine it's just a precursor of the days to come. I have the pet-sitter coming over to pick up our key and the gate pass. I'm doing laundry....that's a given. I'll be packing. We leave tomorrow at 3 AM. Maybe I can catch some sleep on the plane. I still need to clear out my purse. This may be my last blog until we get back from Parris Island.
We plan to bring the laptop with us but who knows when or if I'll be able to battle our son and my husband for the usage. Not to mention that my Marine daughter may want to attack it once she gets out of there. She hasn't been able to get near a computer for three months. I imagine she's suffering withdrawal symptoms. I know that I start quivering after one day. She mentioned laptops and chocolate in her latest letter to her fiance. Her hip mustn't be bothering her too much because she's getting yelled at a lot for not using her crutches for every little thing.
Our plans once we finally arrive at Parris Island, are to look for a seafood restaurant. The Dockside has been highly recommended by people who have visited the area, so we'll try and see if we can get there before supper tomorrow. Thursday will be Family Day. We'll see our daughter get her Eagle Globe and Anchor pin that day. Needless to say, we'll be taking pictures. Lots of pictures. After the ceremony, we plan to spend the entire day with her. Or until she has to report back to the barracks at 6:30 PM. After that, we plan to meet up with some of the parents at a local Italian restaurant that is famed for its support for our Marines. Friday is Graduation Day. More pictures! After the graduation ceremony, our Marine expressed the opinion that she just wants to get off the island and out South Carolina as fast as possible. We plan to head right out to Savannah where we'll spend the night. A nice steak dinner was mentioned on our daughter's Gotta Do List, so that's what we'll have for supper that night. HTP and I will be returning to Arizona on Saturday. Our son will be flying back to his college on Saturday. Our daughter and her fiance have their own set of plans. They can be a bit more flexible with their plans but not too much. Our daughter has to report back to Parris Island after her 10 day leave. She'll be joining a BMP (Basic Marine Platoon) at Parris Island for 4 to 8 weeks or until she recovers from her hip fracture and can go on to MCT (Marine Combat Training) in North Carolina.
Murphyism of the Day
Gottlieb's Rule
The boss who attempts to impress employees with his or her knowledge of intricate details has lost sight of the final objective.
Drew's Law of Professional Practice
The client who pays the least complains the most.
Word of the Day
Terminal Illness: Getting sick at the airport.
Well, today's going to be rather hectic and I imagine it's just a precursor of the days to come. I have the pet-sitter coming over to pick up our key and the gate pass. I'm doing laundry....that's a given. I'll be packing. We leave tomorrow at 3 AM. Maybe I can catch some sleep on the plane. I still need to clear out my purse. This may be my last blog until we get back from Parris Island.
We plan to bring the laptop with us but who knows when or if I'll be able to battle our son and my husband for the usage. Not to mention that my Marine daughter may want to attack it once she gets out of there. She hasn't been able to get near a computer for three months. I imagine she's suffering withdrawal symptoms. I know that I start quivering after one day. She mentioned laptops and chocolate in her latest letter to her fiance. Her hip mustn't be bothering her too much because she's getting yelled at a lot for not using her crutches for every little thing.
Our plans once we finally arrive at Parris Island, are to look for a seafood restaurant. The Dockside has been highly recommended by people who have visited the area, so we'll try and see if we can get there before supper tomorrow. Thursday will be Family Day. We'll see our daughter get her Eagle Globe and Anchor pin that day. Needless to say, we'll be taking pictures. Lots of pictures. After the ceremony, we plan to spend the entire day with her. Or until she has to report back to the barracks at 6:30 PM. After that, we plan to meet up with some of the parents at a local Italian restaurant that is famed for its support for our Marines. Friday is Graduation Day. More pictures! After the graduation ceremony, our Marine expressed the opinion that she just wants to get off the island and out South Carolina as fast as possible. We plan to head right out to Savannah where we'll spend the night. A nice steak dinner was mentioned on our daughter's Gotta Do List, so that's what we'll have for supper that night. HTP and I will be returning to Arizona on Saturday. Our son will be flying back to his college on Saturday. Our daughter and her fiance have their own set of plans. They can be a bit more flexible with their plans but not too much. Our daughter has to report back to Parris Island after her 10 day leave. She'll be joining a BMP (Basic Marine Platoon) at Parris Island for 4 to 8 weeks or until she recovers from her hip fracture and can go on to MCT (Marine Combat Training) in North Carolina.
Murphyism of the Day
Gottlieb's Rule
The boss who attempts to impress employees with his or her knowledge of intricate details has lost sight of the final objective.
Drew's Law of Professional Practice
The client who pays the least complains the most.
Monday, March 28, 2005
2 Days and a Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Telecrastination: The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're six inches away.
Easter dinner leftovers along with coffee were served for breakfast this morning. I need to clear the fridge of perishables before we head off to the beautiful beaches of Parris Island, South Carolina. We'll only be gone for a few days but some things don't last too long. I finished up the raspberries this morning. I'll work on the strawberries tonight and tomorrow morning. I gave the desserts to my daughter and her husband. Tonight we'll finish up the prime rib.
Our Marine recruit daughter had no opportunity to call us yesterday. The weather at Parris Island shortened the famed Liberty Sunday to a mere 2 hours. The female recruits were kept close to shelter. I'm not sure if the entire platoon were "sheltered". It could be that they just sheltered the injured recruits. My daughter is on crutches and I'm sure she wouldn't have been able to move all that fast in case weather hit. I suppose we should be grateful that they were so well guarded but... I've learned a new military term. L-5. That's the signal that goes out if there is any lightning is within 5 miles of Parris Island. All recruits must be inside if L5 sirens are sounded. All the phone booths are outside on Parris Island. My daughter was able to make a 30-second phone call to her fiance. Some sainted person allowed the girls to use their cell phone. The batteries were failing but they were able to pass the cell phone around. Unfortunately, 30 seconds isn't all that long. Just long enough to hear a loved one's voice. I won't complain because I know that none of the other parents of Plt. 4009 received phone calls yesterday either...at least as far as I know. It won't be long now and we'll be able to see our daughter face to face.
Murphyism of the Day
First Rule of Superior Inferiority
Don't let your superiors know you're better than they are.
Word of the Day
Telecrastination: The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're six inches away.
Easter dinner leftovers along with coffee were served for breakfast this morning. I need to clear the fridge of perishables before we head off to the beautiful beaches of Parris Island, South Carolina. We'll only be gone for a few days but some things don't last too long. I finished up the raspberries this morning. I'll work on the strawberries tonight and tomorrow morning. I gave the desserts to my daughter and her husband. Tonight we'll finish up the prime rib.
Our Marine recruit daughter had no opportunity to call us yesterday. The weather at Parris Island shortened the famed Liberty Sunday to a mere 2 hours. The female recruits were kept close to shelter. I'm not sure if the entire platoon were "sheltered". It could be that they just sheltered the injured recruits. My daughter is on crutches and I'm sure she wouldn't have been able to move all that fast in case weather hit. I suppose we should be grateful that they were so well guarded but... I've learned a new military term. L-5. That's the signal that goes out if there is any lightning is within 5 miles of Parris Island. All recruits must be inside if L5 sirens are sounded. All the phone booths are outside on Parris Island. My daughter was able to make a 30-second phone call to her fiance. Some sainted person allowed the girls to use their cell phone. The batteries were failing but they were able to pass the cell phone around. Unfortunately, 30 seconds isn't all that long. Just long enough to hear a loved one's voice. I won't complain because I know that none of the other parents of Plt. 4009 received phone calls yesterday either...at least as far as I know. It won't be long now and we'll be able to see our daughter face to face.
Murphyism of the Day
First Rule of Superior Inferiority
Don't let your superiors know you're better than they are.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
3 Days and a Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Rarefaction: A number not commonly used in math.
Happy Easter Everyone! After I brewed my first pot of coffee for the day, I downloaded my recipe for Garlic Crusted Prime Rib Roast. I did the math, and it looks like I need to take the roast out of the fridge at around 11 AM so it can come to room temperature in time to throw it into a 500°F oven at around 11:45 AM. Twenty minutes after that...I'll have to run in and turn the temperature of the oven down to 250°F until my roast is done. I made eggs for HTP and savoured my raspberries drenched in cream with toasted bagel and cream cheese. I'm currently sipping on a Mimosa as I type this blog. MMMM.
Today is Liberty Sunday for our Marine recruit. This is the day when she has her only real opportunity to phone home. They are at Liberty from 1 PM until 5 PM today. They are free to do whatever they want to do...within reason. I'm not sure if phoning home will actually be possible now. We've been warned that the weather at Parris Island today is severe today. Recruits aren't allowed to go outside when there is lightning in the area. Any guesses as to where the phones are located? All the phones that the recruits are allowed to use on Liberty Sunday are located outside. Phone booths. Oh well. We'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll get a call today. I know that all the parents, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, and fiances are wishing for the same thing. With limited phones aggravated by limited opportunity due to weather restriction, I won't be disappointed if we don't get a call.
Murphyism of the Day
First Law of Traffic
The slow lane you were stopped in starts moving as soon as you leave it.
Second Law of Traffic
The extra hour you allowed for traffic will be superseded by an hour-and-a-half traffic jam.
Word of the Day
Rarefaction: A number not commonly used in math.
Happy Easter Everyone! After I brewed my first pot of coffee for the day, I downloaded my recipe for Garlic Crusted Prime Rib Roast. I did the math, and it looks like I need to take the roast out of the fridge at around 11 AM so it can come to room temperature in time to throw it into a 500°F oven at around 11:45 AM. Twenty minutes after that...I'll have to run in and turn the temperature of the oven down to 250°F until my roast is done. I made eggs for HTP and savoured my raspberries drenched in cream with toasted bagel and cream cheese. I'm currently sipping on a Mimosa as I type this blog. MMMM.
Today is Liberty Sunday for our Marine recruit. This is the day when she has her only real opportunity to phone home. They are at Liberty from 1 PM until 5 PM today. They are free to do whatever they want to do...within reason. I'm not sure if phoning home will actually be possible now. We've been warned that the weather at Parris Island today is severe today. Recruits aren't allowed to go outside when there is lightning in the area. Any guesses as to where the phones are located? All the phones that the recruits are allowed to use on Liberty Sunday are located outside. Phone booths. Oh well. We'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll get a call today. I know that all the parents, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, and fiances are wishing for the same thing. With limited phones aggravated by limited opportunity due to weather restriction, I won't be disappointed if we don't get a call.
Murphyism of the Day
First Law of Traffic
The slow lane you were stopped in starts moving as soon as you leave it.
Second Law of Traffic
The extra hour you allowed for traffic will be superseded by an hour-and-a-half traffic jam.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
4 Days and a Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Rhinoplasty: Change card for the zoo.
I went out grocery shopping yesterday so I'd have all the fixings for an Easter Brunch. Plans change. Schedules conflict. So...no more Easter Brunch. I'm making a 2 PM Easter Dinner instead. I'm going to make a prime rib roast. Garlic and pepper crusted. Along with that I'll serve fresh green beans and a salad and raw veggies for dipping. Baked potatoes...of course (HTP has to run out today and get the fixings for baked potatoes). I've got carrot cake and French Silk pie for desserts along with strawberries that I'm planning on dipping in chocolate...if I get around to it. What am I going to do with the champagne and orange juice? I think I'll start drinking that with breakfast tomorrow. Waste not, want not. I can serve it with dinner too. I was thinking about hardboiling some eggs for deviling but HTP doesn't really LOVE them and neither does my daughter. I can take 'em or leave 'em, and I have no idea what my son-in-law feels about deviled eggs. So...I think I'll just save our eggs for breakfast. HTP wants fried eggs and toast for his breakfast on Easter and I plan on humoring him. I'm going to have a bowl of raspberries with cream (aka. skim milk) . And a toasted bagel with cream cheese (lite). And I might even butter up a hot-crossed bun.
It's a gorgeous day out today. I'm back in shorts and if it warms up a bit more, I'll take off my sweater and sit outside in the sun. I'm also going to drag my patio furniture back onto the patio. The Kool-deck removal crew hasn't returned as yet and I doubt that they'll show up today. If we want to sit outside tomorrow, I'll have to bring back the chairs from their exile near the air-conditioning unit. If the weather holds, I plan to wear shorts tomorrow too.
Murphyism of the Day
Einstein's Observation
Inasmuch as the mathematical theorems are related to reality, they are not sure; inasmuch as they are sure, they are not related to reality.
Word of the Day
Rhinoplasty: Change card for the zoo.
I went out grocery shopping yesterday so I'd have all the fixings for an Easter Brunch. Plans change. Schedules conflict. So...no more Easter Brunch. I'm making a 2 PM Easter Dinner instead. I'm going to make a prime rib roast. Garlic and pepper crusted. Along with that I'll serve fresh green beans and a salad and raw veggies for dipping. Baked potatoes...of course (HTP has to run out today and get the fixings for baked potatoes). I've got carrot cake and French Silk pie for desserts along with strawberries that I'm planning on dipping in chocolate...if I get around to it. What am I going to do with the champagne and orange juice? I think I'll start drinking that with breakfast tomorrow. Waste not, want not. I can serve it with dinner too. I was thinking about hardboiling some eggs for deviling but HTP doesn't really LOVE them and neither does my daughter. I can take 'em or leave 'em, and I have no idea what my son-in-law feels about deviled eggs. So...I think I'll just save our eggs for breakfast. HTP wants fried eggs and toast for his breakfast on Easter and I plan on humoring him. I'm going to have a bowl of raspberries with cream (aka. skim milk) . And a toasted bagel with cream cheese (lite). And I might even butter up a hot-crossed bun.
It's a gorgeous day out today. I'm back in shorts and if it warms up a bit more, I'll take off my sweater and sit outside in the sun. I'm also going to drag my patio furniture back onto the patio. The Kool-deck removal crew hasn't returned as yet and I doubt that they'll show up today. If we want to sit outside tomorrow, I'll have to bring back the chairs from their exile near the air-conditioning unit. If the weather holds, I plan to wear shorts tomorrow too.
Murphyism of the Day
Einstein's Observation
Inasmuch as the mathematical theorems are related to reality, they are not sure; inasmuch as they are sure, they are not related to reality.
Friday, March 25, 2005
5 Days and a Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Peppier: The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want pepper.
I'm back into jeans and long-sleeved shirt today. The temperature is only supposed to get up to 69°F today. It's in the lower 50's right now. That doesn't sound all that cold to people from snow country but it's darn cold for the desert southwest. I know that if my sister was here right now, she'd be in shorts. I'm tempted to put on my winter jacket.
I ordered my vegetable plants for back in Wisconsin. This morning the growers confirmed that they would delay shipment until after May 1st. Good thing. If they tried to ship out those poor plants right now, they'd be sitting on the front doorstep of our Wisconsin home in the snow. Frozen solid.
Our meeting with the customer representative for the builder went just fine. She suggested some things that we hadn't thought about. They're going to send someone out to check our roof. They're going to top off our ceiling insulation. And...they're going to check our furnace in the attic. All this in addition to the list HTP and I compiled. Work on the repairs begins after we get back from our trip to the sunny, sandflea-infested beaches of Parris Island. (Actually, the whole area is a bit swampy. Sandfleas thrive regardless and mosquitoes abound as well. There aren't any sandy beaches...as far as I know. I'll let you know if I find any.)
Murphyism of the Day
Young's Comment on Scientific Method
You can't get here from there.
Word of the Day
Peppier: The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want pepper.
I'm back into jeans and long-sleeved shirt today. The temperature is only supposed to get up to 69°F today. It's in the lower 50's right now. That doesn't sound all that cold to people from snow country but it's darn cold for the desert southwest. I know that if my sister was here right now, she'd be in shorts. I'm tempted to put on my winter jacket.
I ordered my vegetable plants for back in Wisconsin. This morning the growers confirmed that they would delay shipment until after May 1st. Good thing. If they tried to ship out those poor plants right now, they'd be sitting on the front doorstep of our Wisconsin home in the snow. Frozen solid.
Our meeting with the customer representative for the builder went just fine. She suggested some things that we hadn't thought about. They're going to send someone out to check our roof. They're going to top off our ceiling insulation. And...they're going to check our furnace in the attic. All this in addition to the list HTP and I compiled. Work on the repairs begins after we get back from our trip to the sunny, sandflea-infested beaches of Parris Island. (Actually, the whole area is a bit swampy. Sandfleas thrive regardless and mosquitoes abound as well. There aren't any sandy beaches...as far as I know. I'll let you know if I find any.)
Murphyism of the Day
Young's Comment on Scientific Method
You can't get here from there.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
7 Days and a Wake Up Before We Fly to Parris Island
Word of the Day
Pelvis: Cousin of Elvis
HTP and I have been scurrying around cleaning the house this morning. The customer service representative for our builder is going to be coming over to review our list of things that we need to have fixed as per our one year warranty. We've printed up a list and took pictures to give her. Cleaning the house wasn't a requirement but HTP and I are both a bit paranoid when it comes to having people tour our house if it isn't clean. We're just weird that way.
My house is all decorated for Easter. I didn't decorate the house last Easter because we had just moved and it just seemed a bit too much work. No excuses this year. I dragged out all my Easter snowglobes and jeweled Easter eggs. I got out all my Easter frogs too. I really don't have all that many Easter decorations. Now, if it were Halloween or Christmas, decorating the house would be more of a challenge. Decorating the house for Easter only took a fraction of the time that it would have taken to decorate for those other holidays. I don't know how I'll decorate the house after Easter. I won't be here this summer so decorating for the 4th of July is out. I suppose I could decorate for Halloween, knowing that I'll be coming back to Arizona just before Halloween. I didn't decorate for Halloween last year. We didn't have time. I'll think about it.
Murphyism of the Day
Darwin's Law
Nature will tell you a direct lie if she can.
Bloch's Extension
So will Darwinists.
Word of the Day
Pelvis: Cousin of Elvis
HTP and I have been scurrying around cleaning the house this morning. The customer service representative for our builder is going to be coming over to review our list of things that we need to have fixed as per our one year warranty. We've printed up a list and took pictures to give her. Cleaning the house wasn't a requirement but HTP and I are both a bit paranoid when it comes to having people tour our house if it isn't clean. We're just weird that way.
My house is all decorated for Easter. I didn't decorate the house last Easter because we had just moved and it just seemed a bit too much work. No excuses this year. I dragged out all my Easter snowglobes and jeweled Easter eggs. I got out all my Easter frogs too. I really don't have all that many Easter decorations. Now, if it were Halloween or Christmas, decorating the house would be more of a challenge. Decorating the house for Easter only took a fraction of the time that it would have taken to decorate for those other holidays. I don't know how I'll decorate the house after Easter. I won't be here this summer so decorating for the 4th of July is out. I suppose I could decorate for Halloween, knowing that I'll be coming back to Arizona just before Halloween. I didn't decorate for Halloween last year. We didn't have time. I'll think about it.
Murphyism of the Day
Darwin's Law
Nature will tell you a direct lie if she can.
Bloch's Extension
So will Darwinists.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Word of the Day
Pathology: Study of roadmaps
Today is Wednesday. This time next week, HTP and I will be on a plane, winging our way to Georgia...and from there, we'll be driving on to South Carolina and Parris Island. Our daughter is graduating from Marine bootcamp. I've got to be honest with you. I, never in my wildest imagings, thought that any of my children would join the military. Well...maybe my son. He was seriously talking about it when he hit those high school years but it never occurred to me that one of my daughters would think about joining the military.
Making a Marine Update
My daughter passed her final PFT with flying colors. She ran 3 miles in less then 27 minutes. That's the fastest that she's ever made that run. She went through Crucible and wrote that it was a blast. And here I was sitting at home all worried about her. But then...
In the letter that she wrote on the day after Crucible, she wrote that the entire platoon underwent a regular check-up. My daughter mentioned at that time that her hip was bothering her a bit. She had mentioned this in previous letters but figured that it was just normal stuff and no worse then her ankles. Anyway, it turns out that she's been training with a fractured hip. We've found that stress fractures are fairly common with women. So...Running three miles in < 27 minutes, miles and miles of marching, repelling, PT, The Crucible...all on a fractured hip. One tough Marine in the Making. Well, as of that last letter...she will be graduating with her class but she'll have to sit it out in the stands during the ceremonies with the other walking wounded. I'm sure that she's not too happy. She was looking forward to Moto run and all the Graduation marching with her platoon. She won't be able to do any of that now. But...She'll be a Marine! She's looking forward to seeing us all. She's also looking forward to her leave time. If she never saw Parris Island again, I'm sure she wouldn't be upset but... who knows...I never thought that she'd think that Crucible was a blast. After her 10-day leave, she'll have to report back to Parris Island for physical therapy until her hip heals before they'll release her to MCT..(infantry training) and then on to her MOS (fire-fighting...I think she'll be going into forensics of plane crashes). In the meantime, she's back on crutches.
Anyway, from all I've heard, her life on Parris Island after leave will be physical therapy, and doctor visits until she heals. Her only job will be to get better. She'll have access to the library and computers and phones. She'll be a Marine and so she'll have more privileges then she had as a recruit. She even can leave the base on weekend trips. At least this time, she won't have to depend on snail mail to keep in touch with us all.
We're hoping that she'll have time to call us this Sunday...Liberty Sunday (this is the only day that recruits are allowed to use the phones)...so maybe, if she can get near the phones, we can hear more about her hip fracture and graduation. We've been depending on our daughter's fiance to keep us updated...she writes him more then she writes us...go figure.
HTP and I are going to be leaving for Parris Island on March 30th so we can attend the graduation ceremonies and spend time with our new Marine before she heads off on leave with her fiance. Our daughter's fiance is driving down from Nebraska so he'll be there too. He and our daughter plan on driving on back to Omaha after graduation. They'd hoped that she'd be able to stay longer in Omaha working in the recruiting office as an RA but it looks like that might not happen unless they'll let her do her physical therapy at the airforce base. BTP (my daughter's fiance) told me he was going to talk to the recruiter about it but...
Murphyism of the Day
Handy Guide to Modern Science
1. If it's green or it wriggles, it's biology.
2. If it stinks, it's chemistry.
3. If it doesn't work, it's physics.
Cerf's Extensions to the Handy Guide to Modern Science
4. If it's incomprehensible, it's mathematics.
5. If it doesn't make sense, it's either economics or psychology.
Pathology: Study of roadmaps
Today is Wednesday. This time next week, HTP and I will be on a plane, winging our way to Georgia...and from there, we'll be driving on to South Carolina and Parris Island. Our daughter is graduating from Marine bootcamp. I've got to be honest with you. I, never in my wildest imagings, thought that any of my children would join the military. Well...maybe my son. He was seriously talking about it when he hit those high school years but it never occurred to me that one of my daughters would think about joining the military.
Making a Marine Update
My daughter passed her final PFT with flying colors. She ran 3 miles in less then 27 minutes. That's the fastest that she's ever made that run. She went through Crucible and wrote that it was a blast. And here I was sitting at home all worried about her. But then...
In the letter that she wrote on the day after Crucible, she wrote that the entire platoon underwent a regular check-up. My daughter mentioned at that time that her hip was bothering her a bit. She had mentioned this in previous letters but figured that it was just normal stuff and no worse then her ankles. Anyway, it turns out that she's been training with a fractured hip. We've found that stress fractures are fairly common with women. So...Running three miles in < 27 minutes, miles and miles of marching, repelling, PT, The Crucible...all on a fractured hip. One tough Marine in the Making. Well, as of that last letter...she will be graduating with her class but she'll have to sit it out in the stands during the ceremonies with the other walking wounded. I'm sure that she's not too happy. She was looking forward to Moto run and all the Graduation marching with her platoon. She won't be able to do any of that now. But...She'll be a Marine! She's looking forward to seeing us all. She's also looking forward to her leave time. If she never saw Parris Island again, I'm sure she wouldn't be upset but... who knows...I never thought that she'd think that Crucible was a blast. After her 10-day leave, she'll have to report back to Parris Island for physical therapy until her hip heals before they'll release her to MCT..(infantry training) and then on to her MOS (fire-fighting...I think she'll be going into forensics of plane crashes). In the meantime, she's back on crutches.
Anyway, from all I've heard, her life on Parris Island after leave will be physical therapy, and doctor visits until she heals. Her only job will be to get better. She'll have access to the library and computers and phones. She'll be a Marine and so she'll have more privileges then she had as a recruit. She even can leave the base on weekend trips. At least this time, she won't have to depend on snail mail to keep in touch with us all.
We're hoping that she'll have time to call us this Sunday...Liberty Sunday (this is the only day that recruits are allowed to use the phones)...so maybe, if she can get near the phones, we can hear more about her hip fracture and graduation. We've been depending on our daughter's fiance to keep us updated...she writes him more then she writes us...go figure.
HTP and I are going to be leaving for Parris Island on March 30th so we can attend the graduation ceremonies and spend time with our new Marine before she heads off on leave with her fiance. Our daughter's fiance is driving down from Nebraska so he'll be there too. He and our daughter plan on driving on back to Omaha after graduation. They'd hoped that she'd be able to stay longer in Omaha working in the recruiting office as an RA but it looks like that might not happen unless they'll let her do her physical therapy at the airforce base. BTP (my daughter's fiance) told me he was going to talk to the recruiter about it but...
Murphyism of the Day
Handy Guide to Modern Science
1. If it's green or it wriggles, it's biology.
2. If it stinks, it's chemistry.
3. If it doesn't work, it's physics.
Cerf's Extensions to the Handy Guide to Modern Science
4. If it's incomprehensible, it's mathematics.
5. If it doesn't make sense, it's either economics or psychology.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Word of the Day
Pasteurize: Too far to see
Kool-deck update. Didn't I tell you that one of my neighbors was going to complain about all the dust? The Kool-deck people came back yesterday to finish up the kool-deck removal. They started and got maybe a three square feet portion removed when one of the neighbors screamed at them over the wall. He threatened to call the City and report the workers. I didn't see the neighbor but the workmen packed up and ran away. OK...they didn't immediately run away. They knocked on my door so they could inform me about my unhappy neighbor. The workmen promised to return today sometime with different equipment that will actually suck up the debris before it's thrown into the air after they chattered in Spanish for a while on a cell phone. I assume that they were talking to my landscaper. In the meantime, they swept up the dust and moved my grill back onto the patio. These actions actually raised a mental red flag in my mind. I have my doubts that I'll be seeing this crew for some time to come. It sure would have been nice if they'd completed the entire job before they were chased away.
Murphyism of the Day
First Law of Note Taking
The lead in a pencil will break in direct proportion to the importance of the notes being taken.
Second Law of Note Taking
If there is two possible ways to spell something, you will pick the wrong spelling (but as long as you understand it...who cares?)
Pasteurize: Too far to see
Kool-deck update. Didn't I tell you that one of my neighbors was going to complain about all the dust? The Kool-deck people came back yesterday to finish up the kool-deck removal. They started and got maybe a three square feet portion removed when one of the neighbors screamed at them over the wall. He threatened to call the City and report the workers. I didn't see the neighbor but the workmen packed up and ran away. OK...they didn't immediately run away. They knocked on my door so they could inform me about my unhappy neighbor. The workmen promised to return today sometime with different equipment that will actually suck up the debris before it's thrown into the air after they chattered in Spanish for a while on a cell phone. I assume that they were talking to my landscaper. In the meantime, they swept up the dust and moved my grill back onto the patio. These actions actually raised a mental red flag in my mind. I have my doubts that I'll be seeing this crew for some time to come. It sure would have been nice if they'd completed the entire job before they were chased away.
Murphyism of the Day
First Law of Note Taking
The lead in a pencil will break in direct proportion to the importance of the notes being taken.
Second Law of Note Taking
If there is two possible ways to spell something, you will pick the wrong spelling (but as long as you understand it...who cares?)
Monday, March 21, 2005
Word of the Day
Mammary: Something you remember
What do you do when you can't think of anything to write? You dig out a "funny" that one of your friends sent and post that.
The high school coaches went to a coaches' retreat. To save money they had to room together. No one wanted to room with Coach Daryl because he snored so bad. They decide it's not fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they vote to take turns.
The first coach sleeps with Daryl and comes to breakfast next morning with his hair a mess, eyes all bloodshot. They say, "Man, what happened to you?" He said, "Man, that Daryl snored so loud, I watched him all night."
The next night it was a different coach's turn. In the morning, same thing -- hair all standing up, eyes all bloodshot. They say, "Man, what happened to you? You look awful!" He said, "Man, that Daryl shakes the roof. I watched him all night."
The third night was Frank's turn. Frank was a big burly ex-football player-looking type of man's man. Next morning, he comes to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed. "Good morning." They can't believe it! They say, "Man, what happened?" He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Daryl into bed and kissed him good night. He watched me all night.
Murphyism of the Day
Murphy's Paradox
Doing it the hard way is always easier.
Mammary: Something you remember
What do you do when you can't think of anything to write? You dig out a "funny" that one of your friends sent and post that.
The high school coaches went to a coaches' retreat. To save money they had to room together. No one wanted to room with Coach Daryl because he snored so bad. They decide it's not fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they vote to take turns.
The first coach sleeps with Daryl and comes to breakfast next morning with his hair a mess, eyes all bloodshot. They say, "Man, what happened to you?" He said, "Man, that Daryl snored so loud, I watched him all night."
The next night it was a different coach's turn. In the morning, same thing -- hair all standing up, eyes all bloodshot. They say, "Man, what happened to you? You look awful!" He said, "Man, that Daryl shakes the roof. I watched him all night."
The third night was Frank's turn. Frank was a big burly ex-football player-looking type of man's man. Next morning, he comes to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed. "Good morning." They can't believe it! They say, "Man, what happened?" He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Daryl into bed and kissed him good night. He watched me all night.
Murphyism of the Day
Murphy's Paradox
Doing it the hard way is always easier.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Word of the Day
Lactomangulation: Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk carton so badly that one has to resort to the 'illegal' side.
It's not my fault! I stopped at the store on my way home from church to buy Easter stuff. I also wanted to buy a card to send to my daughter because I can't send her an Easter basket. They frown on sending food to boot camp. I also figured, while I was at it, that I'd look for a nice card to give her for her graduation. Usually, more often then not, I have a really hard time finding appropriate cards. I can spend hours upon hours reading cards at a store and still not find anything. I mean, some of them are really dumb. And some of them are just so mushy that they drip with it. And then some of them are just plain mean. So...I settled in to start reading the cards with very little expectation of finding one. I figured that if I failed to find one, I'd go over to a Hallmark store that was not too far away. Well...in no time at all I found the perfect card for Easter. But, maybe there was a better one. So I kept looking... I found another one, and another, and another..., and another,.... This was not good! I just kept finding them and they were really great! So I tried my luck at graduation cards and ....the result was similar. And then I peered into another section of cards...the humorous cards...and.... OK. I bought lots of cards. LOTS OF CARDS. Darn it! Now I need to go out and buy more stamps. I sure hope my daughter doesn't get into too much trouble from all these cards. It's not my fault! If they'd let me send her a nice Easter basket, I wouldn't have gone looking for cards.
Murphyism of the Day
Ginsberg's Theorem
1. You can't win.
2. You can't break even.
3. You can't even quit the game.
Freeman's Commentary on Ginsberg's Theorem
Every major philosophy that attempts to make life seem meaningful is based on the negation of one part of Ginsberg's Theorem.
1. Capitalism is based on the assumption that you can win.
2. Socialism is based on the assumption that you can break even.
3. Mysticism is based on the assumption that you can quit the game.
Lactomangulation: Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk carton so badly that one has to resort to the 'illegal' side.
It's not my fault! I stopped at the store on my way home from church to buy Easter stuff. I also wanted to buy a card to send to my daughter because I can't send her an Easter basket. They frown on sending food to boot camp. I also figured, while I was at it, that I'd look for a nice card to give her for her graduation. Usually, more often then not, I have a really hard time finding appropriate cards. I can spend hours upon hours reading cards at a store and still not find anything. I mean, some of them are really dumb. And some of them are just so mushy that they drip with it. And then some of them are just plain mean. So...I settled in to start reading the cards with very little expectation of finding one. I figured that if I failed to find one, I'd go over to a Hallmark store that was not too far away. Well...in no time at all I found the perfect card for Easter. But, maybe there was a better one. So I kept looking... I found another one, and another, and another..., and another,.... This was not good! I just kept finding them and they were really great! So I tried my luck at graduation cards and ....the result was similar. And then I peered into another section of cards...the humorous cards...and.... OK. I bought lots of cards. LOTS OF CARDS. Darn it! Now I need to go out and buy more stamps. I sure hope my daughter doesn't get into too much trouble from all these cards. It's not my fault! If they'd let me send her a nice Easter basket, I wouldn't have gone looking for cards.
Murphyism of the Day
Ginsberg's Theorem
1. You can't win.
2. You can't break even.
3. You can't even quit the game.
Freeman's Commentary on Ginsberg's Theorem
Every major philosophy that attempts to make life seem meaningful is based on the negation of one part of Ginsberg's Theorem.
1. Capitalism is based on the assumption that you can win.
2. Socialism is based on the assumption that you can break even.
3. Mysticism is based on the assumption that you can quit the game.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Word of the Day
Keyboard Plaque: The disgusting buildup of dirt and crud found on computer keyboard.
I'm going to have to clean out my purse. My purse isn't really all that messy but we're going to have to brave airport security on our way to our daughter's graduation ceremony. I don't carry a big purse but I tend to amaze people when it comes to what I might have secreted inside it at any given time. The closest analogy would be that of Mary Poppins and her famous bag. My purse is smaller then hers but I use my Tetris experience when it comes to packing. Tetris wasn't around in Mary Poppins' day. My purse alone, because of its very weight, could be mistaken for a deadly weapon. Anyway, I decided that I'd better dump out everything in my purse and check the items against the Prohibited Items List that I found on the internet. Have you ever read that list? I can't even bring a pliers on board that plane! I guess I'll just have to pack all the Prohibited stuff into a bag and stow it in my check-on luggage. I refuse to wander around South Carolina or anywhere else for that matter without my tools. One never knows when one might need a screwdriver.
Murphyism of the Day
The Ultimate Principle
By definition, when you are investigating the unknown, you do not know what you will find.
Keyboard Plaque: The disgusting buildup of dirt and crud found on computer keyboard.
I'm going to have to clean out my purse. My purse isn't really all that messy but we're going to have to brave airport security on our way to our daughter's graduation ceremony. I don't carry a big purse but I tend to amaze people when it comes to what I might have secreted inside it at any given time. The closest analogy would be that of Mary Poppins and her famous bag. My purse is smaller then hers but I use my Tetris experience when it comes to packing. Tetris wasn't around in Mary Poppins' day. My purse alone, because of its very weight, could be mistaken for a deadly weapon. Anyway, I decided that I'd better dump out everything in my purse and check the items against the Prohibited Items List that I found on the internet. Have you ever read that list? I can't even bring a pliers on board that plane! I guess I'll just have to pack all the Prohibited stuff into a bag and stow it in my check-on luggage. I refuse to wander around South Carolina or anywhere else for that matter without my tools. One never knows when one might need a screwdriver.
Murphyism of the Day
The Ultimate Principle
By definition, when you are investigating the unknown, you do not know what you will find.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Word of the Day
Inflation: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.
HTP expressed the concern that our weather forecaster forecasted rain today. I blinked, and then asked him why rain would trouble him at this point. He reminded me that our landscaper had told him that the non-Kool-deck crew is supposed to resume grinding operations again today and that the dust might fall onto our neighbors' yards, get wet, and turn into a real mess that would be hard to clean off. I blinked. And then I asked him why he actually thought that the non-Kool-deck crew would actually show up today. Poor HTP, he still has a lot to learn when it comes to contractors. The minute HTP told me that our landscaper told HTP that the crew would be out here on Friday....or Saturday, I knew that there might be a 2% chance of anyone showing up on Friday and a 30% chance of anyone showing up on Saturday. It's the weekend! I was shocked to see these guys last weekend. I'm sure it was a fluke. If they didn't show up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, chances are they aren't going to show up on a weekend.
Murphyism of the Day
Steiner's Precepts
1. Knowledge based on external evidence is unreliable.
2. Logic can never decide what is possible or impossible.
Inflation: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.
HTP expressed the concern that our weather forecaster forecasted rain today. I blinked, and then asked him why rain would trouble him at this point. He reminded me that our landscaper had told him that the non-Kool-deck crew is supposed to resume grinding operations again today and that the dust might fall onto our neighbors' yards, get wet, and turn into a real mess that would be hard to clean off. I blinked. And then I asked him why he actually thought that the non-Kool-deck crew would actually show up today. Poor HTP, he still has a lot to learn when it comes to contractors. The minute HTP told me that our landscaper told HTP that the crew would be out here on Friday....or Saturday, I knew that there might be a 2% chance of anyone showing up on Friday and a 30% chance of anyone showing up on Saturday. It's the weekend! I was shocked to see these guys last weekend. I'm sure it was a fluke. If they didn't show up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, chances are they aren't going to show up on a weekend.
Murphyism of the Day
Steiner's Precepts
1. Knowledge based on external evidence is unreliable.
2. Logic can never decide what is possible or impossible.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Word of the Day
Floppy: The condition of a constant computer user's stomach due to lack of exercise and a steady diet of junk food.
Phew! Done with that worry! The Crucible is done with and by now my formerly vegetarian daughter will have stuffed her face with eggs (she hates eggs...she really does hate eggs) and steak at the Warriors Breakfast. The eating habits of a Marine Camp Recruit tend to change shortly after that first communal meal. I gather that you eat what you can get your hands on with very little time for identification. No picky eaters allowed.
It's St. Patrick's Day! For just a second I panicked because I didn't think I was wearing any green. I am wearing green so keep your pinching fingers away from me! You can't be a frog lover and not have something green in your wardrobe. I've wearing my jade frog and my socks have little green frogs on them too. I have food coloring in my pantry to color the beer but...I'm sorry...I just can't get into green beer. Yuck! I just can't bring myself to drink green beer. The only green beverage that I might be able to stomach is lime kool-aid or that wonderful minty ice cream drink, The Grasshopper. Beer just isn't supposed to be green.
I have a head of cabbage along with a nice corned beef brisket waiting to be cooked in my fridge. Supper! My Italian husband will have to suffer through my annual craving for corned beef and cabbage.
Murphyism of the Day
Disimoni's Rule of Cognition
Believing is seeing.
The Siddhartha Principle
You cannot cross a river in two strides.
Meadow's Maxim
You can't push a rope.
Floppy: The condition of a constant computer user's stomach due to lack of exercise and a steady diet of junk food.
Phew! Done with that worry! The Crucible is done with and by now my formerly vegetarian daughter will have stuffed her face with eggs (she hates eggs...she really does hate eggs) and steak at the Warriors Breakfast. The eating habits of a Marine Camp Recruit tend to change shortly after that first communal meal. I gather that you eat what you can get your hands on with very little time for identification. No picky eaters allowed.
It's St. Patrick's Day! For just a second I panicked because I didn't think I was wearing any green. I am wearing green so keep your pinching fingers away from me! You can't be a frog lover and not have something green in your wardrobe. I've wearing my jade frog and my socks have little green frogs on them too. I have food coloring in my pantry to color the beer but...I'm sorry...I just can't get into green beer. Yuck! I just can't bring myself to drink green beer. The only green beverage that I might be able to stomach is lime kool-aid or that wonderful minty ice cream drink, The Grasshopper. Beer just isn't supposed to be green.
I have a head of cabbage along with a nice corned beef brisket waiting to be cooked in my fridge. Supper! My Italian husband will have to suffer through my annual craving for corned beef and cabbage.
Murphyism of the Day
Disimoni's Rule of Cognition
Believing is seeing.
The Siddhartha Principle
You cannot cross a river in two strides.
Meadow's Maxim
You can't push a rope.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Word of the Day
Disconfect: To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow 'remove' all the germs.
I am not obsessed with the thought of my daughter tackling the challenges of the Crucible. Just because I've been logging onto the Parris Island support site and checking the weather every half hour or so, that doesn't mean that I'm obsessed. I'm just checking to see how the other parents are reacting. Argh!!!! It's raining at Parris Island. Not one of those nice warm rains. I have no idea how my daughter's platoon or the brother platoons are doing anything today. I'm not obsessed. Concern...that's it...I'm just a bit concerned. Yah, right! On the positive side, I know that the drill instructors and the masochists that designed the challenges are all out there in this mess too so it's not just my daughter out there. I also have to trust that they won't ask these recruits to do anything in this rain that could prove too dangerous because of the rain. I'm not stupid when it comes to war. People don't put wars on hold just because it's raining. These recruits are sure getting a taste for challenges in less then ideal conditions. I just wish that it wasn't raining on this part of the world right now. I'll breath a lot easier tomorrow. I'll sleep a lot better tomorrow. But...I'm not obsessed. Not a bit of it. I sure am glad I won't have to get all the mud out of those cammies...underwear...socks... I hope they give them more then 5 minutes for their showers after they get back. I hope they allow them to use shampoo and hot water. I pray they all come back in one unbroken piece.
OK...enough of that. It's a beautiful clear day here in Arizona. I think the non-Kool-deck crew are waiting for it to rain before they come back. Failing that, I think they're waiting until the temperatures sore to the 90's. Right now, it's only in the 60's with the high predicted to be in the lower 70's. The dogs have staked out their spots in a patch of sun. One is reclining on the decorative brick edge of the raised garden bed, the other is laying on a patch of non-Kool-deck that still awaits removal. They create quite a picture of contentment outside in our backyard. I'd go out and join them but the non-Kool-deck crew stacked up all my yard furniture in a pile over by the air-conditioning unit and all the cushions are stored in the garage for the duration.
Murphyism of the Day
Oppenheimer's Law
There is no such thing as instant experience.
Disconfect: To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow 'remove' all the germs.
I am not obsessed with the thought of my daughter tackling the challenges of the Crucible. Just because I've been logging onto the Parris Island support site and checking the weather every half hour or so, that doesn't mean that I'm obsessed. I'm just checking to see how the other parents are reacting. Argh!!!! It's raining at Parris Island. Not one of those nice warm rains. I have no idea how my daughter's platoon or the brother platoons are doing anything today. I'm not obsessed. Concern...that's it...I'm just a bit concerned. Yah, right! On the positive side, I know that the drill instructors and the masochists that designed the challenges are all out there in this mess too so it's not just my daughter out there. I also have to trust that they won't ask these recruits to do anything in this rain that could prove too dangerous because of the rain. I'm not stupid when it comes to war. People don't put wars on hold just because it's raining. These recruits are sure getting a taste for challenges in less then ideal conditions. I just wish that it wasn't raining on this part of the world right now. I'll breath a lot easier tomorrow. I'll sleep a lot better tomorrow. But...I'm not obsessed. Not a bit of it. I sure am glad I won't have to get all the mud out of those cammies...underwear...socks... I hope they give them more then 5 minutes for their showers after they get back. I hope they allow them to use shampoo and hot water. I pray they all come back in one unbroken piece.
OK...enough of that. It's a beautiful clear day here in Arizona. I think the non-Kool-deck crew are waiting for it to rain before they come back. Failing that, I think they're waiting until the temperatures sore to the 90's. Right now, it's only in the 60's with the high predicted to be in the lower 70's. The dogs have staked out their spots in a patch of sun. One is reclining on the decorative brick edge of the raised garden bed, the other is laying on a patch of non-Kool-deck that still awaits removal. They create quite a picture of contentment outside in our backyard. I'd go out and join them but the non-Kool-deck crew stacked up all my yard furniture in a pile over by the air-conditioning unit and all the cushions are stored in the garage for the duration.
Murphyism of the Day
Oppenheimer's Law
There is no such thing as instant experience.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Word of the Day
Barium: What doctors do when treatment fails.
I'm back into blue jeans. The balmy temperatures for yore have dipped to the frigid temperatures of today. We've gone from the upper 80's down to the lower 50's. I'm even wearing a sweatshirt this morning. My shorts are back in the drawer.
Making a Marine Update
Only 17 more days until my daughter becomes a Marine. But these days are crucial. I woke up at midnight Arizona time. With the time difference, this was the time that my daughter and her platoon left for Crucible. Crucible is the final test. It's a pass/fail test. Having gone through 10 weeks of training to get to this point. Failure is not an option. The following is an excerpt from an article written about The Crucible.
The Crucible emphasizes trainee teamwork under stress. Recruits get eight hours of sleep during the entire 54 hour exercise. They get two-and-a-half MREs and they are responsible for rationing out the food to themselves. Then we put them through tough physical activities like road marches and night infiltration courses. They march about 40 miles in those 54 hours. It isn't long before the recruits are tired and hungry, but as they keep going they realize they can call on reserves they never knew they had. Some of these recruits do things they never thought they could do. Some of them come from middle-class homes where everything has been handed to them. Others come from poorer homes where nothing was ever expected of them. If they finish the Crucible, they have accomplished something. One recruit put it best. "I am going to finish this," he said. "And when I do, it will be the most positive thing I have done in my life."
Someone posted this on the Parris Island Support Board and I thought I'd share it here on my blog. Our future Marines may not have that "awesome" Marine haircut, but I sure have been hovering by my daughter's shoulder and humping right by her side and if I could take away just one of those bruises or ease her sore ankles, I would. I can hardly wait to meet this new Marine.
A Mom's Crucible
When you awoke this morning to begin the crucible,
Did you know I walked every step with you that was possible?
When you humped all those miles over rough terrain,
Did you know I was by your side again?
When the rations were low, and your belly was hungry,
Did you know that I wished it wasn't you, but instead it was me?
When your feet ached and blistered from the stress,
Did you know that I was carrying you deep in my chest?
When you were tired and sore and almost ready to fall,
Did you realize I would have carried it all?
When you had little sleep and your eyes were red,
Did you know I would have given you my bed?
When you had to push and pull for that extra mile,
Did you know that I was so proud and so tall, with such a big smile?
When you went to boot camp, I went to one too.
It's the one where moms worry over all you go through.
I couldn't eat dessert, knowing that you had no treats.
I felt guilty for wanting a pedicure, when you had tired feet.
I anguished over every tough moment I thought you had.
I cried when I missed you, I cried when I was sad.
I cried over your letters, that declared your love for "mom".
I cried over thinking about the day you come home.
I cringed if I thought someone was yelling at you
Even though I know its what they had to do.
I lost a lot of sleep just wondering how you are.
I prayed, and thought, and even wished upon a star.
Now you're almost through, and soon you will be
One of the few, the proud, a new Marine.
I get an honor too for going through the boot camp for moms
I get to hug you and hold you in my arms
I get to see how handsome you really are
I get to see my bright and shining star.
No I don't get a medal, or a pin to wear
I don't get to sport that awesome Marine hair.
My reward is one that can't be seen
Its called "being the mom of a U.S. Marine."
*****
I've got three children. I think all Mothers go on Crucibles with each of their children. It doesn't matter if in the end they're a Marine or something else that will make them happy. Don't think that I've forgotten any one of my children in my concern for the one. It may not seem like it but my prayers are said for every one of my children. I am proud of them all.
Murphyism of the Day
Kierkegaard's Observation
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.
Barium: What doctors do when treatment fails.
I'm back into blue jeans. The balmy temperatures for yore have dipped to the frigid temperatures of today. We've gone from the upper 80's down to the lower 50's. I'm even wearing a sweatshirt this morning. My shorts are back in the drawer.
Making a Marine Update
Only 17 more days until my daughter becomes a Marine. But these days are crucial. I woke up at midnight Arizona time. With the time difference, this was the time that my daughter and her platoon left for Crucible. Crucible is the final test. It's a pass/fail test. Having gone through 10 weeks of training to get to this point. Failure is not an option. The following is an excerpt from an article written about The Crucible.
The Crucible emphasizes trainee teamwork under stress. Recruits get eight hours of sleep during the entire 54 hour exercise. They get two-and-a-half MREs and they are responsible for rationing out the food to themselves. Then we put them through tough physical activities like road marches and night infiltration courses. They march about 40 miles in those 54 hours. It isn't long before the recruits are tired and hungry, but as they keep going they realize they can call on reserves they never knew they had. Some of these recruits do things they never thought they could do. Some of them come from middle-class homes where everything has been handed to them. Others come from poorer homes where nothing was ever expected of them. If they finish the Crucible, they have accomplished something. One recruit put it best. "I am going to finish this," he said. "And when I do, it will be the most positive thing I have done in my life."
Someone posted this on the Parris Island Support Board and I thought I'd share it here on my blog. Our future Marines may not have that "awesome" Marine haircut, but I sure have been hovering by my daughter's shoulder and humping right by her side and if I could take away just one of those bruises or ease her sore ankles, I would. I can hardly wait to meet this new Marine.
A Mom's Crucible
When you awoke this morning to begin the crucible,
Did you know I walked every step with you that was possible?
When you humped all those miles over rough terrain,
Did you know I was by your side again?
When the rations were low, and your belly was hungry,
Did you know that I wished it wasn't you, but instead it was me?
When your feet ached and blistered from the stress,
Did you know that I was carrying you deep in my chest?
When you were tired and sore and almost ready to fall,
Did you realize I would have carried it all?
When you had little sleep and your eyes were red,
Did you know I would have given you my bed?
When you had to push and pull for that extra mile,
Did you know that I was so proud and so tall, with such a big smile?
When you went to boot camp, I went to one too.
It's the one where moms worry over all you go through.
I couldn't eat dessert, knowing that you had no treats.
I felt guilty for wanting a pedicure, when you had tired feet.
I anguished over every tough moment I thought you had.
I cried when I missed you, I cried when I was sad.
I cried over your letters, that declared your love for "mom".
I cried over thinking about the day you come home.
I cringed if I thought someone was yelling at you
Even though I know its what they had to do.
I lost a lot of sleep just wondering how you are.
I prayed, and thought, and even wished upon a star.
Now you're almost through, and soon you will be
One of the few, the proud, a new Marine.
I get an honor too for going through the boot camp for moms
I get to hug you and hold you in my arms
I get to see how handsome you really are
I get to see my bright and shining star.
No I don't get a medal, or a pin to wear
I don't get to sport that awesome Marine hair.
My reward is one that can't be seen
Its called "being the mom of a U.S. Marine."
*****
I've got three children. I think all Mothers go on Crucibles with each of their children. It doesn't matter if in the end they're a Marine or something else that will make them happy. Don't think that I've forgotten any one of my children in my concern for the one. It may not seem like it but my prayers are said for every one of my children. I am proud of them all.
Murphyism of the Day
Kierkegaard's Observation
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Word of the Day
Aquadextrous: Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes.
I finally dug out my shorts and summer wear yesterday. It isn't all that hot but it's borderline too warm to wear those heavy blue jeans. And now, even though it's supposed to be cooler for the rest of the week, I've decided to continue on with my shorts.
I was shocked when I saw how white my legs looked when I donned my shorts. People don't expect to see white legs here in Arizona. We're all supposed to look radiantly brown as if we've just come in from the pool. It doesn't happen. I've lived here for over twenty years. I learned after a few months that you cover up any skin that you can for as long as you can and you own stock in a sunblock company. If you don't you tend to look a lot older then you'd care to look sooner then you'd care to look it. The only radiant brown skin that you see on someone who claims Caucasian on a job application, is from tourists who limit their exposure to a week in the sun or teenagers who think that they're indestructible. The Arizonans who have spent time in the sun end up looking like dried up shoe leather walking. On the other hand, my legs are a brilliant shade of white right now so I'll have to start wearing my shorts again. I'll just have to slather on lotion so I don't dry up like a prune.
Murphyism of the Day
Parkinson's First Law
Work expands to fill the time available for its completion; the thing to be done swells in perceived importance and complexity in a direct ratio with the time to be spent in its completion.
Aquadextrous: Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes.
I finally dug out my shorts and summer wear yesterday. It isn't all that hot but it's borderline too warm to wear those heavy blue jeans. And now, even though it's supposed to be cooler for the rest of the week, I've decided to continue on with my shorts.
I was shocked when I saw how white my legs looked when I donned my shorts. People don't expect to see white legs here in Arizona. We're all supposed to look radiantly brown as if we've just come in from the pool. It doesn't happen. I've lived here for over twenty years. I learned after a few months that you cover up any skin that you can for as long as you can and you own stock in a sunblock company. If you don't you tend to look a lot older then you'd care to look sooner then you'd care to look it. The only radiant brown skin that you see on someone who claims Caucasian on a job application, is from tourists who limit their exposure to a week in the sun or teenagers who think that they're indestructible. The Arizonans who have spent time in the sun end up looking like dried up shoe leather walking. On the other hand, my legs are a brilliant shade of white right now so I'll have to start wearing my shorts again. I'll just have to slather on lotion so I don't dry up like a prune.
Murphyism of the Day
Parkinson's First Law
Work expands to fill the time available for its completion; the thing to be done swells in perceived importance and complexity in a direct ratio with the time to be spent in its completion.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Word of the Day
Antibodies: Something Uncles are familiar with.
It's Sunday. The workers who have been grinding down of my Kool-deck have taken the day off. The crew completed over half of the deck dust production. They'll produce more of the stuff on Monday. It's nice of them to give my neighbors and myself a break from the noise and haze. Right now we can see a clear before and after in the project. I like the after much more then the before. Thankfully, no neighborhood posse was formed and no angry phone calls made....yet. I spent the morning washing my outdoor plants. My flowers are again happy and their blossoms a proudly exhibiting their true colors.
Murphyism of the Day
Vail's Axiom
In any human enterprise, work seeks the lowest hierarchal level.
Antibodies: Something Uncles are familiar with.
It's Sunday. The workers who have been grinding down of my Kool-deck have taken the day off. The crew completed over half of the deck dust production. They'll produce more of the stuff on Monday. It's nice of them to give my neighbors and myself a break from the noise and haze. Right now we can see a clear before and after in the project. I like the after much more then the before. Thankfully, no neighborhood posse was formed and no angry phone calls made....yet. I spent the morning washing my outdoor plants. My flowers are again happy and their blossoms a proudly exhibiting their true colors.
Murphyism of the Day
Vail's Axiom
In any human enterprise, work seeks the lowest hierarchal level.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Word of the Day
Anasthesia: A Russian princess you studied about in school.
And if there weren't enough dust....
Kool-deck Update
I don't have real Kool-deck. I have a product that's a Kool-deck look-a-like. A Kool-deck wanna-be. Right now, I've got a crew of men with hand-held grinders, grinding off my "Kool-deck that isn't Kool-deck", right down to the concrete slab. Why? I think I mentioned in a past blog that we were having problems with this "Kool-deck that isn't". It started to erupt in large patches, separating from the base concrete slab in huge chunks. Efflorescence formed over the whole. It looks like we had been visited by Mr. Frost...or maybe a freak desert snow. The dogs tracked through the efflorescence leaving little tiny footprints in the "snow". I don't plan on replacing this "Kool-deck that isn't". I'm going to try something else.
Dust. Huge white clouds of dust and fine grit are rising from my backyard. Blowing in the breeze. Settling on my grill, the outdoor furniture, the leaves of my trees and my once red hibiscus blossoms. I made them cover my fountain. I hate to think what this grit would do to my fountain pump. At this point there's a fog of white dusty haze blanketing my backyard. It reminds me of the time my son stripped off his diaper and dumped a whole economy-sized container of Johnson's Baby Powder onto himself and everything else in his room. At least that dust smelled nice. I don't know what this dust smells like. I don't plan on going outside to find out.
I dread what my neighbors must be thinking. I await, with trepidation, the ring of our doorbell. A vengeful neighborhood posse wouldn't surprise me at this point. The origin of all this dust is pretty obvious. Clouds of dust are wafting and exploding from our yard, carried in the breeze toward the east. One point in my favor is that the house behind me is vacant. You can't receive angry phone calls from non-existent neighbors. Another adjoining house is a rental home. I think it might be vacant right now too. One can only hope. I did call my other neighbor. She wasn't home. I left a message offering to help her clean whatever mess settles into her yard. I've done what I can. I can do no more.
Murphyism of the Day
Freeman's Rule
Circumstances can force a generalized incompetent to become competent, at least in a specialized field.
Anasthesia: A Russian princess you studied about in school.
And if there weren't enough dust....
Kool-deck Update
I don't have real Kool-deck. I have a product that's a Kool-deck look-a-like. A Kool-deck wanna-be. Right now, I've got a crew of men with hand-held grinders, grinding off my "Kool-deck that isn't Kool-deck", right down to the concrete slab. Why? I think I mentioned in a past blog that we were having problems with this "Kool-deck that isn't". It started to erupt in large patches, separating from the base concrete slab in huge chunks. Efflorescence formed over the whole. It looks like we had been visited by Mr. Frost...or maybe a freak desert snow. The dogs tracked through the efflorescence leaving little tiny footprints in the "snow". I don't plan on replacing this "Kool-deck that isn't". I'm going to try something else.
Dust. Huge white clouds of dust and fine grit are rising from my backyard. Blowing in the breeze. Settling on my grill, the outdoor furniture, the leaves of my trees and my once red hibiscus blossoms. I made them cover my fountain. I hate to think what this grit would do to my fountain pump. At this point there's a fog of white dusty haze blanketing my backyard. It reminds me of the time my son stripped off his diaper and dumped a whole economy-sized container of Johnson's Baby Powder onto himself and everything else in his room. At least that dust smelled nice. I don't know what this dust smells like. I don't plan on going outside to find out.
I dread what my neighbors must be thinking. I await, with trepidation, the ring of our doorbell. A vengeful neighborhood posse wouldn't surprise me at this point. The origin of all this dust is pretty obvious. Clouds of dust are wafting and exploding from our yard, carried in the breeze toward the east. One point in my favor is that the house behind me is vacant. You can't receive angry phone calls from non-existent neighbors. Another adjoining house is a rental home. I think it might be vacant right now too. One can only hope. I did call my other neighbor. She wasn't home. I left a message offering to help her clean whatever mess settles into her yard. I've done what I can. I can do no more.
Murphyism of the Day
Freeman's Rule
Circumstances can force a generalized incompetent to become competent, at least in a specialized field.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Word of the Day
Adminisphere: The rarified organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
Here we go again. I can't think of a thing to write about. So I thought I'd share the following facts (disgusting though they many be) that I found in one of my bathroom readers.
The average human foot has about 20,000 sweat glands and can produce as much as half a cup of sweat a day.
Cockroaches can flatten themselves almost to the thinness of a piece of paper in order to slide into tiny cracks, can be frozen for weeks and then thawed with no ill effect, and can also withstand 126 g's of pressure with no problem (people get squished at 18 g's).
Most of the dust in your house is made up of dead human skin cells. Every day, millions of them float off your body and settle on furniture and floors.
The average municipal water treatment plant processes enough human waste every day to fill 72 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
According to a recent survey, over 10% of Americans have picked someone else's nose.
Tears are made up of almost the exact same ingredients as urine.
Most people generally fart between 10 to 20 times a day, expelling enough gas to inflate a small balloon.
Your mouth slows production of bacteria-fighting saliva when you sleep, which allows the 10 billion bacteria in your mouth to reproduce all night; "morning breath" is actually bacteria B.O.
Leeches have mouths with three sets of jaws and between 60 to 100 teeth.
A tapeworm can grow to a length of 30 feet inside human intestines.
The crusty goop you find in your eyes when you wake up is the exact same mucus you find in your nose---boogers.
Spiders don't eat their prey; they paralyze the victim with venom, vomit a wad of acidic liquid onto them, and then drink the dissolved body.
Teh average person will produce 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime--enough to fill up two swimming pools.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Placebo
An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance.
Adminisphere: The rarified organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
Here we go again. I can't think of a thing to write about. So I thought I'd share the following facts (disgusting though they many be) that I found in one of my bathroom readers.
The average human foot has about 20,000 sweat glands and can produce as much as half a cup of sweat a day.
Cockroaches can flatten themselves almost to the thinness of a piece of paper in order to slide into tiny cracks, can be frozen for weeks and then thawed with no ill effect, and can also withstand 126 g's of pressure with no problem (people get squished at 18 g's).
Most of the dust in your house is made up of dead human skin cells. Every day, millions of them float off your body and settle on furniture and floors.
The average municipal water treatment plant processes enough human waste every day to fill 72 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
According to a recent survey, over 10% of Americans have picked someone else's nose.
Tears are made up of almost the exact same ingredients as urine.
Most people generally fart between 10 to 20 times a day, expelling enough gas to inflate a small balloon.
Your mouth slows production of bacteria-fighting saliva when you sleep, which allows the 10 billion bacteria in your mouth to reproduce all night; "morning breath" is actually bacteria B.O.
Leeches have mouths with three sets of jaws and between 60 to 100 teeth.
A tapeworm can grow to a length of 30 feet inside human intestines.
The crusty goop you find in your eyes when you wake up is the exact same mucus you find in your nose---boogers.
Spiders don't eat their prey; they paralyze the victim with venom, vomit a wad of acidic liquid onto them, and then drink the dissolved body.
Teh average person will produce 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime--enough to fill up two swimming pools.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Placebo
An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Word of the Day
Vaguegrant: An unsure transient
The weather outside today is the reason snowbirds fly to Arizona during the winter. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I can open all my windows and enjoy a gentle breeze without running to the closet for a sweatshirt. I could sit outside in the shade of the patio without a sweatshirt or jacket. But failing that, I'm sitting at my computer next to an open window, enjoying the sound of the water dancing in my fountain as I blog. My annual flowers are all blooming and I just planted them a week ago. My star geraniums are preparing to burst out into bloom...again. My windbells are gently clanking in the breeze. Loud enough to hear but not loud enough to disturb. People are out jogging and walking. I greeted them on my way to the mailbox this morning. These are the days the snowbirds were waiting for. I suspect the golfers are all crowded on the golf course that surrounds our community. In another week the smell of citrus blossoms will hang heavily in the air. You can't beat that.
HTP took our car out to get it "maintained". Our time here in Arizona is quickly running out. The remaining time will be spent taking care of those things that need to be done before we head off to Wisconsin. Warranty work on the house, getting the car ready for the long drive back home to Wisconsin, but mainly, enjoy the time we have right now, here, in Arizona. One should never spend their entire time in anticipation for what is to come thereby losing out on the appreciation of the time that is. I may look forward to my return to Wisconsin, but I plan to take more time in appreciation for my time here in Arizona. But let's not go too crazy with this. The second the weather turns too hot...I'm outta here.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Prognosis
Spend sufficient time in confirming the need and the need will disappear.
Vaguegrant: An unsure transient
The weather outside today is the reason snowbirds fly to Arizona during the winter. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I can open all my windows and enjoy a gentle breeze without running to the closet for a sweatshirt. I could sit outside in the shade of the patio without a sweatshirt or jacket. But failing that, I'm sitting at my computer next to an open window, enjoying the sound of the water dancing in my fountain as I blog. My annual flowers are all blooming and I just planted them a week ago. My star geraniums are preparing to burst out into bloom...again. My windbells are gently clanking in the breeze. Loud enough to hear but not loud enough to disturb. People are out jogging and walking. I greeted them on my way to the mailbox this morning. These are the days the snowbirds were waiting for. I suspect the golfers are all crowded on the golf course that surrounds our community. In another week the smell of citrus blossoms will hang heavily in the air. You can't beat that.
HTP took our car out to get it "maintained". Our time here in Arizona is quickly running out. The remaining time will be spent taking care of those things that need to be done before we head off to Wisconsin. Warranty work on the house, getting the car ready for the long drive back home to Wisconsin, but mainly, enjoy the time we have right now, here, in Arizona. One should never spend their entire time in anticipation for what is to come thereby losing out on the appreciation of the time that is. I may look forward to my return to Wisconsin, but I plan to take more time in appreciation for my time here in Arizona. But let's not go too crazy with this. The second the weather turns too hot...I'm outta here.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Prognosis
Spend sufficient time in confirming the need and the need will disappear.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Word of the Day
Unbrella: A wind reversed umbrella.
The painters are done! The second crew. Woohoo! It's not perfect but at this point...I don't care! It's a lot better then what was presented to me after the first crew finished up.
HTP and I walked around the house yesterday and listed all the warranty repair work that needs to be done. I'm rather hesitant to have these repairs done at this point. Courage! I must have courage. I can handle this. I can't judge any future groups of repairmen from my recent past experience. I won't mention the drywall that looks like it's cupping on the walls. It's not that bad. I can live with it. I can't live with yet another painting crew.
Despite the fact that I really can't think of anything interesting to write about. I'm happy to back in front of my own computer. Dealing with the laptop in our guestroom was not a happy experience. Oh, my aching back. Added to my paint fume headache, I'm heading off to find the Advil.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Rule for Creative Incompetence
Create the impression that you have already reached your level of incompetence.
Unbrella: A wind reversed umbrella.
The painters are done! The second crew. Woohoo! It's not perfect but at this point...I don't care! It's a lot better then what was presented to me after the first crew finished up.
HTP and I walked around the house yesterday and listed all the warranty repair work that needs to be done. I'm rather hesitant to have these repairs done at this point. Courage! I must have courage. I can handle this. I can't judge any future groups of repairmen from my recent past experience. I won't mention the drywall that looks like it's cupping on the walls. It's not that bad. I can live with it. I can't live with yet another painting crew.
Despite the fact that I really can't think of anything interesting to write about. I'm happy to back in front of my own computer. Dealing with the laptop in our guestroom was not a happy experience. Oh, my aching back. Added to my paint fume headache, I'm heading off to find the Advil.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Rule for Creative Incompetence
Create the impression that you have already reached your level of incompetence.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Word of the Day
Tentrum: A camping argument.
I finally got around to emptying my rain gauge. All almost 1/2" of rain that was deposited the other day. There's no rain in sight today. The sky is blue. The annual flowers that I planted are blooming. The water in the fountain is splashing. On occasion, I catch a glimpse of one of my elusive goldfish.
I'm hanging around the house today until the Cox Cable guy shows up. He was supposed to be here over an hour ago. I did have plans for today that didn't include hanging around the house. I want to go shopping. We're down to the last two crusts of bread in our pantry. There was enough milk to put on our cereal for breakfast. I can heat up some soup for lunch. But it might be nice to go out and get more milk and bread for tomorrows' meals.
I guess I'm not just hanging around the house today. I'm also doing the laundry. Imagine that? I'm actually doing laundry this week on Laundry Day. This isn't always the case. I try to keep things scheduled but trips to Vegas can trump and planned Laundry Day. As a matter of fact, it doesn't take much of an event to trump Laundry Day. The same holds true for Dusting Day, Toilet Cleaning Day, and Vacuuming Day. Actually, the same holds true for any Housework Day. Any excuse to be environmentally fiscal. Think of all the electricity and water that I'm saving by not cleaning.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Law of Substitution
Look after the molehills and the mountains will look after themselves.
Tentrum: A camping argument.
I finally got around to emptying my rain gauge. All almost 1/2" of rain that was deposited the other day. There's no rain in sight today. The sky is blue. The annual flowers that I planted are blooming. The water in the fountain is splashing. On occasion, I catch a glimpse of one of my elusive goldfish.
I'm hanging around the house today until the Cox Cable guy shows up. He was supposed to be here over an hour ago. I did have plans for today that didn't include hanging around the house. I want to go shopping. We're down to the last two crusts of bread in our pantry. There was enough milk to put on our cereal for breakfast. I can heat up some soup for lunch. But it might be nice to go out and get more milk and bread for tomorrows' meals.
I guess I'm not just hanging around the house today. I'm also doing the laundry. Imagine that? I'm actually doing laundry this week on Laundry Day. This isn't always the case. I try to keep things scheduled but trips to Vegas can trump and planned Laundry Day. As a matter of fact, it doesn't take much of an event to trump Laundry Day. The same holds true for Dusting Day, Toilet Cleaning Day, and Vacuuming Day. Actually, the same holds true for any Housework Day. Any excuse to be environmentally fiscal. Think of all the electricity and water that I'm saving by not cleaning.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Law of Substitution
Look after the molehills and the mountains will look after themselves.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Word of the Day
Submission: Underwater warship on patrol.
I've spent the entire day hiding in our guest room and walking the dogs. Painters. They masked off the entire living room, kitchen and my bedroom after they moved furniture. We had to have painters come so they could paint the ceilings that we had to have refloated. I should have known that there would be a problem when the painters asked in halting English, what we needed to have painted. I hate that. I mean. Someone sent them over here to paint something and they didn't bother to tell them what it was that they were supposed to paint? Well, now the job is done. AHHHHH!!!!!! They had better not send this crew back to fix this mess. The ceilings are all streaky and they forgot a whole section near the back wall of my bedroom. Then...they had to borrow some of my paint that I have for the walls because when they took down the plastic, they smeared white paint all over my walls. After they left, I saw that they'd tracked paint on my carpet, smeared paint on my front door, and they'd slopped paint on my ceiling fans, and my husband's surround sound speakers. Why would I want these idiots back inside my house? I felt like I spent the day with The Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy...but in Spanish with English subtitles and there were more then just two or three of these guys. And now I have a call in to our customer representative, who I've never actually met, and she hasn't called us back yet. Lovely.
OK. Our representative just called. She's coming over tomorrow with the painting supervisor and she promises me that all will be fixed. I have my doubts. Somewhere in this whole disaster, I'm sure I could make up a proper Murphyism of the Day but I can't think right now. I'm sure I could if I didn't have such a headache from all these paint fumes. On the plus side, I didn't have to repell off a 47-foot tower or jog 3 miles or fight with sand fleas. I feel so much better now.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Theorem
Incompetence plus incompetence equals incompetence.
Submission: Underwater warship on patrol.
I've spent the entire day hiding in our guest room and walking the dogs. Painters. They masked off the entire living room, kitchen and my bedroom after they moved furniture. We had to have painters come so they could paint the ceilings that we had to have refloated. I should have known that there would be a problem when the painters asked in halting English, what we needed to have painted. I hate that. I mean. Someone sent them over here to paint something and they didn't bother to tell them what it was that they were supposed to paint? Well, now the job is done. AHHHHH!!!!!! They had better not send this crew back to fix this mess. The ceilings are all streaky and they forgot a whole section near the back wall of my bedroom. Then...they had to borrow some of my paint that I have for the walls because when they took down the plastic, they smeared white paint all over my walls. After they left, I saw that they'd tracked paint on my carpet, smeared paint on my front door, and they'd slopped paint on my ceiling fans, and my husband's surround sound speakers. Why would I want these idiots back inside my house? I felt like I spent the day with The Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy...but in Spanish with English subtitles and there were more then just two or three of these guys. And now I have a call in to our customer representative, who I've never actually met, and she hasn't called us back yet. Lovely.
OK. Our representative just called. She's coming over tomorrow with the painting supervisor and she promises me that all will be fixed. I have my doubts. Somewhere in this whole disaster, I'm sure I could make up a proper Murphyism of the Day but I can't think right now. I'm sure I could if I didn't have such a headache from all these paint fumes. On the plus side, I didn't have to repell off a 47-foot tower or jog 3 miles or fight with sand fleas. I feel so much better now.
Murphyism of the Day
Peter's Theorem
Incompetence plus incompetence equals incompetence.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Word of the Day
Spinster: Political speech writer.
I "have to" read two more books for a contest that I'm helping to judge. I've never been fond of "having to" read anything. The minute I "have to" read something, I subconciously balk. Let's be honest. I hate to "have to" do anything! Anything that I "have to" do, all of a sudden, becomes a chore. I love to cook but I hate to "have to" cook. I love to garden, but I hate to "have to" garden. I love to take long walks, but I hate to "have to" take long walks. I love to read but I hate to "have to" read. I still do the things that I "have to" do but somehow the pleasure just isn't there that would have been there if I didn't "have to" do something.
One of the books that I had to read was really pretty awful. The other two books weren't too bad. One was really good and I would have been able to rate it higher if the last part of the book hadn't been so confused and confusing. It was almost like the author took her time and did a really good job on the first two parts of the book, she ran out of time, and then rushed the last part. I must say, it's not easy judging a three part book. I scored the three parts seperately and then averaged the score to get my final ranking on the book.
I still "have to" read two books. It shouldn't take me too long. One of the books is actually a re-read because before I knew that I had to judge the book, I purchased the book. Argh! Now I've got two copies of the book. I don't recall the plot so to be fair, I'll have to read it again. Couldn't have been that great or I would remember, right? Not really. I read a lot of books. I'll probably remember after reading just a couple of pages. But I'll re-read the whole book. I didn't read it the first time with judging in mind.
Will I agree to judge next year's contest? Probably. "Having to" read isn't all that much of a chore for me. Besides, I got free books out of the deal. Free can be a powerful motivator sometimes.
Murphyism of the Day
Law of Committo-Dynamics
Those most opposed to serving on committees are made chairpersons.
Spinster: Political speech writer.
I "have to" read two more books for a contest that I'm helping to judge. I've never been fond of "having to" read anything. The minute I "have to" read something, I subconciously balk. Let's be honest. I hate to "have to" do anything! Anything that I "have to" do, all of a sudden, becomes a chore. I love to cook but I hate to "have to" cook. I love to garden, but I hate to "have to" garden. I love to take long walks, but I hate to "have to" take long walks. I love to read but I hate to "have to" read. I still do the things that I "have to" do but somehow the pleasure just isn't there that would have been there if I didn't "have to" do something.
One of the books that I had to read was really pretty awful. The other two books weren't too bad. One was really good and I would have been able to rate it higher if the last part of the book hadn't been so confused and confusing. It was almost like the author took her time and did a really good job on the first two parts of the book, she ran out of time, and then rushed the last part. I must say, it's not easy judging a three part book. I scored the three parts seperately and then averaged the score to get my final ranking on the book.
I still "have to" read two books. It shouldn't take me too long. One of the books is actually a re-read because before I knew that I had to judge the book, I purchased the book. Argh! Now I've got two copies of the book. I don't recall the plot so to be fair, I'll have to read it again. Couldn't have been that great or I would remember, right? Not really. I read a lot of books. I'll probably remember after reading just a couple of pages. But I'll re-read the whole book. I didn't read it the first time with judging in mind.
Will I agree to judge next year's contest? Probably. "Having to" read isn't all that much of a chore for me. Besides, I got free books out of the deal. Free can be a powerful motivator sometimes.
Murphyism of the Day
Law of Committo-Dynamics
Those most opposed to serving on committees are made chairpersons.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Word of the Day
Premorseful: Knowing full well that you will be sorry for what you are going to do.
We're back in Arizona! No luck in Laughlin and no luck in Vegas. We did get lucky crossing the Dam as there was no traffic. We drove by Nowhere on our way home. We always do. Nowhere is a small isolated desert "town" on the road to Vegas. People drive from all over to get their pictures taken in Nowhere. They can finally answer the question, "Where did you go?" with an honest reply. "Nowhere."
Shortly after passing Nowhere, we hit a spot of rain. More then a spot really. We got hard rain (hail), mixed with semi-hard rain (slush), and really big drops of rain. It tends to upset some drivers in Arizona when it rains. I don't mind it but rain doesn't hold too many mysteries for me. Despite the rain that we apparently received while HTP and I were in Vegas, my new rain gauge refused to acknowledge any significant amount. Either that or it all evaporated before anyone could dump it out.
HTP picked up the mail as soon as we got here. Thankfully, we didn't have the mail held while we were away because I got a jury questionnaire from Wisconsin. It was sent on February 24th to our Birchwood post office and then forwarded to us here in Arizona. I had 10 days to reply back. I hope I don't get whacked with that $500 fine for not returning my questionnaire on time. At least they allowed me to answer online...so maybe I squeaked in under the wire. I tried.
Making a Marine Update
Jackpot! We got a letter from our daughter at bootcamp! She passed her rifle qualification! Yes! A letter from our soon-to-be Marine means more to us then any Jackpot in Vegas. I think we can finally make our airline reservations so we can go see our daughter graduate.
Murphyism of the Day
Collins' Conference Principle
The speaker with the most monotonous voice speaks after the big meal.
Premorseful: Knowing full well that you will be sorry for what you are going to do.
We're back in Arizona! No luck in Laughlin and no luck in Vegas. We did get lucky crossing the Dam as there was no traffic. We drove by Nowhere on our way home. We always do. Nowhere is a small isolated desert "town" on the road to Vegas. People drive from all over to get their pictures taken in Nowhere. They can finally answer the question, "Where did you go?" with an honest reply. "Nowhere."
Shortly after passing Nowhere, we hit a spot of rain. More then a spot really. We got hard rain (hail), mixed with semi-hard rain (slush), and really big drops of rain. It tends to upset some drivers in Arizona when it rains. I don't mind it but rain doesn't hold too many mysteries for me. Despite the rain that we apparently received while HTP and I were in Vegas, my new rain gauge refused to acknowledge any significant amount. Either that or it all evaporated before anyone could dump it out.
HTP picked up the mail as soon as we got here. Thankfully, we didn't have the mail held while we were away because I got a jury questionnaire from Wisconsin. It was sent on February 24th to our Birchwood post office and then forwarded to us here in Arizona. I had 10 days to reply back. I hope I don't get whacked with that $500 fine for not returning my questionnaire on time. At least they allowed me to answer online...so maybe I squeaked in under the wire. I tried.
Making a Marine Update
Jackpot! We got a letter from our daughter at bootcamp! She passed her rifle qualification! Yes! A letter from our soon-to-be Marine means more to us then any Jackpot in Vegas. I think we can finally make our airline reservations so we can go see our daughter graduate.
Murphyism of the Day
Collins' Conference Principle
The speaker with the most monotonous voice speaks after the big meal.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Word of the Day
Pasturize: To convert into grassland.
Still no jackpots in Vegas. It looks more and more like we'll be returning home with empty pockets this time. On the otherhand, we'll definitely leave Vegas with full stomachs. You just can't come to Vegas without over-eating.
I'm going to have to go down and buy myself some Ethel-M chocolates before we leave. No trip to Vegas is complete without a box of Ethel-M chocolates.
Tonight is the seafood buffet. HTP and I are going to go down in a couple of hours for that. All the raw oysters I can eat tonight. HTP won't eat those. I'm sure he'll find plenty to eat.
In the meantime, I finished up one of my books and started on another. There is plenty for me to do up here in the room. I think the season finale of Monk is on tonight too.
Murphyism of the Day
Morris' Law of Conferences
The most interesting paper will be scheduled simultaneously with the second most interesting paper.
Pasturize: To convert into grassland.
Still no jackpots in Vegas. It looks more and more like we'll be returning home with empty pockets this time. On the otherhand, we'll definitely leave Vegas with full stomachs. You just can't come to Vegas without over-eating.
I'm going to have to go down and buy myself some Ethel-M chocolates before we leave. No trip to Vegas is complete without a box of Ethel-M chocolates.
Tonight is the seafood buffet. HTP and I are going to go down in a couple of hours for that. All the raw oysters I can eat tonight. HTP won't eat those. I'm sure he'll find plenty to eat.
In the meantime, I finished up one of my books and started on another. There is plenty for me to do up here in the room. I think the season finale of Monk is on tonight too.
Murphyism of the Day
Morris' Law of Conferences
The most interesting paper will be scheduled simultaneously with the second most interesting paper.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Word of the Day
Pollitician: A candidate who heeds the polls.
Still in Vegas and still no jackpot. As a matter of fact... OK. You can't always win. Tomorrow is another day. Despite the money-sucking machines, it's been a nice get-away for me and HTP.
We still haven't heard from our daughter at bootcamp. I got an email from her fiance today. He says that she wrote to say that she hasn't had any problems with her marksmanship and that she's really trying for the Expert level. That doesn't tell us much but maybe it's a hopeful sign that she's doing well in her rifle qualification. She only needs to qualify as Marksman to pass. Expert is the highest level. Reading between the lines, I think she must have made the Marksman level and is trying for higher levels? The next few days will tell. When it comes to the Marines and bootcamp, no news is good news. If my daughter's fiance doesn't get a phone call, this is a good thing. A phone call would mean that she's been held back, or recycled, because she didn't qualify with her rifle. It would mean a delayed graduation. As soon as HTP and I hear that she qualified "for sure", we can make our air reservations so we can see her graduate with her platoon. Even then we're gambling. Anytime between now and graduation she could sustain a graduation delaying injury. Such is Marine bootcamp.
Murphyism of the Day
Sweeney's Law
The length of a progress report is inversely proportional to the amount of progress.
Pollitician: A candidate who heeds the polls.
Still in Vegas and still no jackpot. As a matter of fact... OK. You can't always win. Tomorrow is another day. Despite the money-sucking machines, it's been a nice get-away for me and HTP.
We still haven't heard from our daughter at bootcamp. I got an email from her fiance today. He says that she wrote to say that she hasn't had any problems with her marksmanship and that she's really trying for the Expert level. That doesn't tell us much but maybe it's a hopeful sign that she's doing well in her rifle qualification. She only needs to qualify as Marksman to pass. Expert is the highest level. Reading between the lines, I think she must have made the Marksman level and is trying for higher levels? The next few days will tell. When it comes to the Marines and bootcamp, no news is good news. If my daughter's fiance doesn't get a phone call, this is a good thing. A phone call would mean that she's been held back, or recycled, because she didn't qualify with her rifle. It would mean a delayed graduation. As soon as HTP and I hear that she qualified "for sure", we can make our air reservations so we can see her graduate with her platoon. Even then we're gambling. Anytime between now and graduation she could sustain a graduation delaying injury. Such is Marine bootcamp.
Murphyism of the Day
Sweeney's Law
The length of a progress report is inversely proportional to the amount of progress.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Word of the Day
Policretin: What you call a dumb politician.
Change of plans. We did run away to Laughlin for one night. One night in Laughlin was enough for us. I hate to say it but it looks like the Flamingo is standing on its last leg. Nothing looks like it's changed much in Laughlin. I was afraid that I would have trouble finding our hotel. Nope. It was still where it's been standing for years and years and years. If you want to discover a taste of what Vegas was like back in the day, Laughlin is it. I can't believe we actually paid for the experience. That's OK. We had a wonderful dinner at the Pioneer Casino with HTP's folks and Aunt L. And this morning we joined them for a wonderful breakfast at The Riverside at a table with a view of the river. The river is much depleted due to the drought, but the view was still nice. The food was great too. Maybe we should have stayed at The Riverside.
After a quick trip back to the Arizona side of the river (Bullhead City), to do a bit of shopping at a local Super Walmart with HTP's folks and Aunt, hugs and goodbyes at the front of their hotel, we made another Great Escape. Sam's Town located off Boulder Highway in beautiful, smoggy Las Vegas. HTP and I are beginning to think of Sam's Town as our third home.
It's good to be home again. $1 a day for all the local phone calls you would want to make. That means I can set up my laptop and stay on the internet all day if I want. I can blog. The bathroom is bigger here. I can go downstairs and get a free cup of coffee. I can get free food. I can play on money-sucking machines...OK...that's not so good but there are more nickel and penny machines here.
We're going to eat Mexican food tonight and embibe on Giant Margaritas. Aside from that? Well...maybe I'll hit a jackpot, maybe I won't. But at least I've got books to read and a laptop and I can always go down and get a cafe latte in the park.
Murphyism of the Day
Kirby's Comment on Committees
A committee is the only life form with twelve stomachs and no brain.
Policretin: What you call a dumb politician.
Change of plans. We did run away to Laughlin for one night. One night in Laughlin was enough for us. I hate to say it but it looks like the Flamingo is standing on its last leg. Nothing looks like it's changed much in Laughlin. I was afraid that I would have trouble finding our hotel. Nope. It was still where it's been standing for years and years and years. If you want to discover a taste of what Vegas was like back in the day, Laughlin is it. I can't believe we actually paid for the experience. That's OK. We had a wonderful dinner at the Pioneer Casino with HTP's folks and Aunt L. And this morning we joined them for a wonderful breakfast at The Riverside at a table with a view of the river. The river is much depleted due to the drought, but the view was still nice. The food was great too. Maybe we should have stayed at The Riverside.
After a quick trip back to the Arizona side of the river (Bullhead City), to do a bit of shopping at a local Super Walmart with HTP's folks and Aunt, hugs and goodbyes at the front of their hotel, we made another Great Escape. Sam's Town located off Boulder Highway in beautiful, smoggy Las Vegas. HTP and I are beginning to think of Sam's Town as our third home.
It's good to be home again. $1 a day for all the local phone calls you would want to make. That means I can set up my laptop and stay on the internet all day if I want. I can blog. The bathroom is bigger here. I can go downstairs and get a free cup of coffee. I can get free food. I can play on money-sucking machines...OK...that's not so good but there are more nickel and penny machines here.
We're going to eat Mexican food tonight and embibe on Giant Margaritas. Aside from that? Well...maybe I'll hit a jackpot, maybe I won't. But at least I've got books to read and a laptop and I can always go down and get a cafe latte in the park.
Murphyism of the Day
Kirby's Comment on Committees
A committee is the only life form with twelve stomachs and no brain.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Word of the Day
Poditorium: A fancy word for the bathroom stall.
Run Away! This time it's me and HTP. Hey! That rhymes! Me and HTP.
HTP and I are running away to Laughlin. Well...as soon as these ceiling refloaters are done. They finished the living room and the kitchen yesterday. Today, they're supposed to finish up with our bedroom. Good grief! The mess! This refloating project has set us back to a time when we had just moved into this house. And after they're all done with their thing, I have to endure a bunch of painters. HTP and I have decided that enough is enough. We postponed the painters, got a pet-sitter, and we're escaping to Laughlin for a few days.
Actually, there is another reason for this Great Escape. HTP's parents are in Laughlin right now. We're going to surprise them. HTP and I haven't been to Laughlin in ages. We used to go there with the kids once and a while. I guess we stopped going there when we decided that it wasn't all that much farther to go to Vegas. The gaming was a lot better in Vegas....not to mention that my folks live in Vegas now. I wonder if the gaming in Laughlin has improved. I guess we'll just have to wait to see.
In the meantime? If I find the time to blog, I'll blog. If I don't find the time to blog, I won't.
Murphyism of the Day
Kennedy's Comments on Committees
A committee is twelve people doing the work of one.
Poditorium: A fancy word for the bathroom stall.
Run Away! This time it's me and HTP. Hey! That rhymes! Me and HTP.
HTP and I are running away to Laughlin. Well...as soon as these ceiling refloaters are done. They finished the living room and the kitchen yesterday. Today, they're supposed to finish up with our bedroom. Good grief! The mess! This refloating project has set us back to a time when we had just moved into this house. And after they're all done with their thing, I have to endure a bunch of painters. HTP and I have decided that enough is enough. We postponed the painters, got a pet-sitter, and we're escaping to Laughlin for a few days.
Actually, there is another reason for this Great Escape. HTP's parents are in Laughlin right now. We're going to surprise them. HTP and I haven't been to Laughlin in ages. We used to go there with the kids once and a while. I guess we stopped going there when we decided that it wasn't all that much farther to go to Vegas. The gaming was a lot better in Vegas....not to mention that my folks live in Vegas now. I wonder if the gaming in Laughlin has improved. I guess we'll just have to wait to see.
In the meantime? If I find the time to blog, I'll blog. If I don't find the time to blog, I won't.
Murphyism of the Day
Kennedy's Comments on Committees
A committee is twelve people doing the work of one.