Reading...

Word of the Day

Orbining - Becoming a spherical shape; likening to an orb.

I started reading the books from the Paranormal/Time Travel category of the contest. So far, I've read two of the four books from that category and they were pretty good. They weren't books that I would have purchased and I probably won't feel that I HAVE to buy further or previous books from these authors but they were fun reads and pretty much tied when it comes to my ranking. I can't rank them until I finish the last two books from the category. Guess what I'm going to do today?

Murphyism of the Day

Tom's Law

When you finally meet the perfect woman, she will be waiting for the perfect man.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.

- Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)

Drinking that last cup of coffee for the morning.

Word of the Day

Oralgasmic - A taste that is so great that it puts you on the verge of an orgasm.

I've got books to read! Woohoo! It's contest time again. They gave me two categories to judge this year (I read fast) so I've got LOTS of books. Lovely books. And the categories are: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Futuristic and Paranormal, Time Travel. One might think that both of these two categories are one and the same but, such is not the case when it comes to romance novels. I've got four published books from each of the categories. Eight books. All I have to do right now is decide which book to read first. Decisions, decisions. I wish all decisions were this fun.

Murphyism of the Day

Yasenek's Observation

Kissing is a means of getting two people so close together that they can't see anything wrong with each other.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

What's the difference between a boyfriend and a husband? About 30 pounds.

- Cindy Gardner

T-Square - Christmas 2008

Word of the Day

Opup - To push one's glasses back on the nose.


It's my Dad's birthday today! You know him as T-Square. Happy Birthday T-Square!


Happy


Birthday


Dad!


Murphyism of the Day

Tristan's Law

Appealingness is inversely proportional to attainability.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.

- Rita Mae Brown

It's still winter at The Lake - Picture taken by T-Square on January 20, 2009

Word of the Day

Optoblur cycle - An occasional seven to eight second vision loss, where one’s eyes blur out of focus and then back, loosing all aspects of color and detail; often occurring in the morning, as one’s eyes adjust to the light.

I performed my last sheet dance of the season(knock on wood). The outdoor temperature reading on my digital thermometer read 33°F this morning. Since my outdoor sensor is attached to the house, the actual temperature might have been colder than that but...I have no way of knowing. I know I should put the sensor out in the yard somewhere but I'd have to find a place that is close enough to the base unit without actually sitting in the full sun which isn't all that easy. So...in the meantime I'll have to guess.

Tempting fate, when I removed the sheets and towels from my frost sensitive plants, I also decided to break from my once a week traditional laundry day. I'm washing my sheet dance sheets today. The ten day forecast shows temperatures climbing to the mid-70's, and low temperatures in the 40's. Hopefully, I'm not jinxing this warming trend.

Murphyism of the Day

Onassis's Axiom

If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone does not know everyone else.

- Julian Jaynes

My Zulu Rubber Tree Doesn't Like Freezing Temperatures

Word of the Day

Opling - The act, when feeding a baby, of opening and closing one's mouth, smacking one's lips and making "yummy" noises, in the hope that baby will do the same.

Aside from ruining an entire day doing laundry, there really isn't too much to blog about. As an "I told you so", I'm going to have to cover my plants tonight. The forecast for tonight calls for a low temperature of 33°F. That's just too close to freezing for me to risk my frost sensitive plants. I'm glad I haven't washed and stowed away my sheet dance sheets.

Murphyism of the Day

Lovka's Other Advice

Never rely on a person who uses "party" as a verb.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Buy the ticket take the Ride

- Hunter S. Thompson (1939 - 2005)

"Any flattering photo of yourself will, at some point, elicit a comment that the photo looks nothing like you."

Word of the Day

Onycheldigger - Any object used as a tool to clean the disgusting build-up of grime under the fingernails. Usually something found nearby, like a push pin or a sharp corner of a folded piece of paper.

HTP and I finally got around to racking the wine today...a few days late but it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Of course, I had to sample a bit from each...a tiny bit from each...and I can safely say that all the wine is progressing well. The Pyracantha wine is going to taste really nice which is a good thing since we made so much of it (9 gallons?). It has deepened in color. I like the Pomegranate wine that used barley water but the Pomegranate with white grape juice tastes good too. However, economically speaking, it might be cheaper in the long run to make the recipe that calls for barley water. The Prickly Pear wine has deepened to a red color. It still has a kind of vegetable/cucumber? taste which I hope will mellow out with age. It's going to be a beautiful wine but looks aren't everything. All the wine is clearing nicely. I'm not sure that it will be necessary to rack them again until the end of March and then again in at the end of April when they should be ready for bottling.

We went to see Inkheart last night with friends. I liked it but it's not a movie that I'd want to own. It kind of reminded me of Return to Oz. Very artsy. Weirdly interesting. Very scenic. I'm not sure HTP liked it...but he didn't fall asleep. There wasn't too much to discussion after the movie but we all agreed that this was one movie that was better viewed in a movie theatre setting rather then in a "rent the DVD and watch it at home" setting. As for dinner at Valle Luna...we shared a pitcher of margaritas and enjoyed our meal and quiet conversation.

Murphyism of the Day

Keller's Constant

Any flattering photo of yourself will, at some point, elicit a comment that the photo looks nothing like you.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.

- Alice Walker

Catching Old Grey Frog with Her Hair in a Towel

Word of the Day

Onosecond - The period of time one spends between pressing the send button and then realizing that they really shouldn't’t have sent that e-mail message.

Surprise! I got a call from the church's musical director last night, shortly before I was thinking about heading to bed. She called to remind me that there was an orchestra practice scheduled at the church this morning. Quite frankly, it was more of a "Sorry, I forgot to let you know about this before but I know you won't mind because you have no life and nothing better to do" informational call. Everyone else in the orchestra got their music sent to them in the mail. Me? The music director lives in my neighborhood so she figured that she'd have plenty of time to just drop it off for me some time last week. She forgot. Thus, the phone call. I knew that the orchestra was going to play at some nebulous future date in February but I didn't know that there was going to be a scheduled practice for today...especially at such an early hour of the morning. Actually, 8 AM isn't all that early but this meant that I had to leave the house at 7:30 AM which meant that I had to get up at 6:30 AM so that I could get all my normal morning activities done before leaving the house. Oh well, I have no life and I didn't have anything more important to do so I got there in time, even if I didn't have time to wash my hair.

There was no time to wash my hair. I should have washed my hair yesterday afternoon, after I finished in the yard, but I was too tired. At the time, it made perfect sense to me when I decided to put off washing my hair until this morning. But then, by the time the music director called, it was already too late in the evening to wash my hair. When you've got long hair, you can't just wash, dry, and style your hair before you hop into bed. From past experience, long-haired people know that doing so will guarantee a terminal case of bedhead when you get up in the morning. You'll just have to re-wash, re-dry, and re-style your hair before you can be seen in public. There wasn't time to mess with my hair this morning. The best I could do was to twist it into a French twist so it wouldn't look too nasty. At least I didn't have twigs and leaves sticking out here and there.

I washed my hair when I got home from the orchestra practice. I've got plenty of time now to deal with my hair....and Gypsy's hair. I figured that I'd give Gypsy a quick bath after I got my head out of the kitchen sink. HTP commented about how nice Gypsy smells after she's had a bath so...into the sink with Gypsy. It's nice enough outside today so that I don't have to drag out the blow dryer for Gypsy. Her hair is short enough that it'll dry after a slap and dash wipe with a towel. And...by the time HTP and I head out the door tonight (movie and dinner with friends), my hair will be dried and styled.

Murphyism of the Day

Murphy's First Law of Dieting

The first pounds you lose are in areas in which you didn't want to lose them.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 1894)

Pruning is more intensive at The Lake

Word of the Day

Oneirogenic - Having a propensity to appear in somebody's dreams.

Exhaustion - Part II. I decided to tackle the pruning in the front yard. After pruning two of the trees and one single bush, it became apparent that there wouldn't be enough room in our garbage can for all the trimmings in the front yard. So...I hung up my pruners until after garbage collection day. The bushes aren't going anywhere. Besides, all this pruning has raised a blister on my pruning hand...despite the caution of wearing gloves. Perhaps the week of rest will help.

HTP wasn't able to help me with the pruning today but I did have the moral support of Gypsy. She sat quietly outside in the front (on a sit stay command) while I was doing all the pruning. She watched with a look of total puzzlement. Poor Gypsy probably thinks HTP and I have lost our minds. What kind of idiot spends hours upon hours whacking away at trees and bushes, shredding leaves and branches and stuffing the debris into garbage cans? Weird! The last time she witnessed such odd behavior was when she was at The Lake.

Murphyism of the Day

Goldstick's Rule

Be kind to everyone you talk with. You never know who's going to be on the jury.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

As we look deeply within, we understand our perfect balance. There is no fear of the cycle of birth, life and death. For when you stand in the present moment, you are timeless.

- Rodney Yee

Spring 2008 (I still need to take a Spring 2009 picture)

Word of the Day

Omnivolent - Uncertain about absolutely everything; hesitant to move in any direction at all.

HTP and I making a run to the dump. We pruned the trees and bushes in the backyard. Exhaustion is setting in. HTP checked the ten day forecast and decided that we could safely start our spring yard clean up. I suppose that means that I could start washing my sheet dance sheets next. But, first things first, our Gator is filled with garbage bags of tree trimmings...and that's just from the backyard. We'll tackle the front yard another day. All this was triggered by the sound of leaf-blowers in the neighborhood. It's amazing how some sounds act like a spur. I had other plans for today but I've always found that if HTP is willing and in the mood for yard clean-up, it's best to take advantage of the mood.

Murphyism of the Day

Law of Aspersion

If you say something bad about someone, you will discover that the same criticism applies to you.

Corollary

The only faults that bother us in others are faults we share.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I have found adventure in flying, in world travel, in business, and even close at hand... Adventure is a state of mind - and spirit.

- Jacqueline Cochran (1910 - 1980)

I'm an Amaryllis Killer

Word of the Day

Omniloathe - An all-encompassing feeling of disgust or repugnance toward a subject.

My Mom has a green thumb. Actually, I think she's got more than one green thumb. To be honest, I think all her other fingers are green along with both her arms. She can make ANYTHING grow. Well...maybe not everything, because last time I looked, before heading back to Arizona last fall, the Venus Flytraps that she was trying to baby weren't doing so well but that might be because my sister and I didn't inherit her green thumbs and we pretty much killed the ones that she gave us before Mom stepped in to rescue them. Not her fault. They were still hanging in there...barely...last fall.

My Mom did something magical to the amaryllis plants that she gave me before Thanksgiving this year, amaryllis bulbs that came from a single bulb that a friend of mine bought for me when we were college room-mates which I gave to Mom before I could kill it. Knowing my record for killing plants, I'm sure my Mom felt sorry for it and snaffled it before I could do it in. Mom not only managed to keep the thing growing for the last thirty years, years where the bulb has had several baby bulbs, creating three large bulbs where there once was only one, she managed to do something magical so that two of those bulbs are going to actually bloom. I'm totally amazed. I've never had much luck with amaryllis plants...after that initial blooming. I either kill the plant shortly after the plant blooms, beautifully, or I baby the plant for bloomless years before I finally manage to kill the poor thing.

I wish I had even one green thumb. My Mom tells me that I should re-pot my amaryllis bulbs (the bulbs that I purchased for myself this Christmas and the one surviving bulb that I haven't killed from last Christmas) into clay pots and then plunge them out into the ground in a shady spot in my landscape for this summer...where they can suck up water from my drip system while I'm at The Lake. I plan to give it a try but we'll just have to see if Mom's magic will keep these poor bulbs alive.

Murphyism of the Day

The Twain Observation

Good breeding consists of concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

- Anaïs Nin (1903 - 1977)

Water Water Everywhere but...not right now.

Word of the Day

Oldfolkals - The eyeglasses one needs when they can no longer see anything more than ten feet away, or their arms appear to have shrunk too much to hold the newspaper at a reasonable reading distance.

Water water everywhere but...not here at home. HTP pointed out that our water pressure was really bad this morning. He was concerned that we might have a sprung a leak somewhere. When we didn't have any huge unexplained puddles outside in either our front or back yards, horrible thoughts of SLAB LEAK raced through our brains. Horrors!!!! However, I just received notification that the water pressure problem wasn't an isolated incident. Our HOA sent the following e-mail (PTL for e-mail notifications).

City of C--- Water Problems

The water is out in the Community right now. We have contacted the City of C--- and they are working on the problem. This problem is not just occurring in S--- but also in surrounding communities. We do not have a time that this will be fixed but wanted to let you know that the City is working on this problem and will have us up and running just as soon as they can.

Thank you and have a good day,
Rhonda

It's always nice to know that we don't have to call a plumber...or hunt down a cracked pipe somewhere with HTP before calling a plumber. However, I dread when they turn the water back on because there's always a chance that pipes that weren't leaking before might spring a leak when they turn things back on.

Murphyism of the Day

Beirce's Definition

A boor is a person who talks when you wish him to listen.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

- Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

Picking a Peck of Pink Peppercorns - January 2009

Word of the Day

Oinkmeal - Instant oatmeal.

We've got a new president of the United States. President Barack Obama. I've promised to stay away from political commentary on my blog. However, I feel that historical events are something that should be acknowledged. Should someone read this some day many years from now, it should be noted that President Obama took the oath of office today along with Vice President Joe Biden. No-one can know what the next four years will bring. I can only say that people have high hopes. I can only add my hopes and prayers to the rest of our nation.

Murphyism of the Day

Berra's Law

Anyone who is popular is bound to be disliked.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything.

- Frank Dane

Word of the Day

Offshource - To send jobs to another country.



Happy


Birthday


Mom!


It's my Mom's birthday today! I talked to her and Dad last night on the phone but didn't wish Mom a happy birthday...well...because yesterday wasn't her birthday. I didn't forget. Have a great day Mom! If I were there, I'd bake you a cake. It's the thought that counts.

Murphyism of the Day

Voltaire's Law

There is nothing more respectable than an ancient evil.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Frequency of a tragedy does not diminish the wound when it is your own.

- Linda Berdoll

Word of the Day

Octavize - To write musical parts in octaves; to make musical parts to be in octaves.

Arizona still won't sell alcohol before 10 AM on Sundays. I know this because when I went out to buy the Sunday paper this morning, I decided that I might as well do some grocery shopping while I was at it. Wine was on my shopping list. It was only when I tried to checkout that I was informed that Arizona's antiquated Sunday alcohol laws remain unchanged. Oh well...I didn't really NEED any wine. However, I did need the bagels that jumped into my shopping cart and I couldn't resist the assorted pork chops, not when they were only 88 cents per pound. AND? I didn't forget to buy the Sunday newspaper.

Murphyism of the Day

The Three Least credible Sentences in the English Language

1. "The check is in the mail."
2. "Of course I'll respect you in the morning."
3. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.

- Henry Ford (1863 - 1947)

It's Still Winter at The Lake...and Here.

Word of the Day

Obvium - Something that is obvious.

I've gone back to check my past blogs for this date over the last few years and decided that I'm going to leave the sheet dance sheets where they are for right now. I was right in my thought that we could still get freezing temperatures here in The Valley of the Sun...even though there are none predicted in the coming days.

After enjoying waffles made with kefir milk instead of buttermilk for breakfast this morning, HTP helped me take the dishwasher apart so I could clean the filter. Yuck! While putting the dishes away this morning, I noted that there was LOTS of stuff caked on filter. Yuck! Unfortunately, cleaning out the filter appears to be a two man job - or a one man, one woman job. It's not an easy process, especially since you're really not supposed to have to clean the filter on this dishwasher. After five years, this dishwasher's filter needed cleaning. Yuck!

Murphyism of the Day

The Ire Principle

Never try to pacify anyone at the height of their rage.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy.

- Florence Shinn

Waxing Poetic About the Weather at The Lake - Picture taken by T-Square January 15, 2009.

Word of the Day

Obstetricize - To shun a baby.

I got an e-mail from my Dad this morning. He's starting to wax poetic about the weather at The Lake.

I hope that I will never see,
Another winter sub degree.
Especially 38 in line,
Becoming minus 39!!

It's not cold here in Arizona. Actually, I've been seriously thinking about washing, folding, and storing away my sheet dance sheets. Only...I'd hate to jinx things. Having a basket of sheets out in the garage may be the only thing that is holding off the freezing temperatures.


Murphyism of the Day

Law of Arrival

Those who live closest arrive latest.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It is the loving, not the loved, woman who feels lovable.

- Jessamyn West (1902 - 1984)

So...I understand the OFL thing but, why does the inside temperature read 55.3°F? - Photo taken by Sis at 5:46 AM (OMG!)? on January 15, 2009.

Word of the Day

Obnoxion - 1. Someone or something that is considered obnoxious. 2. Any obnoxious material; an atom of obnoxious behavior.

OK. I admit it. My reply to Sis' e-mail this morning has tipped me right into apropos when it comes to my selection of today's Word of the Day. I am the living personification of obnoxion. She sent me a picture of her digital thermometer which clearly reads an outdoor temperature of OFL. Actually, after reading the responses given by Sis' sons..."Obnoxion" seems doubly apropos as the Word of the Day. One of her sons wrote, "OFL is clearly digital thermometer speak for "awful" as in it's awful cold!" The other son wrote, "Or...On the Floor Laughing--as in On the Floor Laughing that your fools would live in this climate!" However, since they are probably experiencing the same frigid temperatures in the frozen lands of Minnesota and Wisconsin, they get a pass. Actually, it turns out that digital thermometers (at least the ones owned by my Sis and my Dad) don't register when the temperatures dip below 21.8°F. They go OFF LINE (OFL). Since the high temperature here in Arizona today will be in the 70's, I can't think of a reply that I wouldn't have made me an ubber obnoxion. Even a polite, non-response would have qualified as obnoxious. Sorry Sis. My Dad sent a picture of his thermometer too. His digital thermometer also reads OFL but he's got an old traditional thermometer which (when you brush off the snow)can still tell you how cold it is outside. He tells me that the temperature has warmed up to -28°F now that the sun has come up and his digital thermometer remains ODL.

The weather service has issued the following weather ALERT!

****


500 AM CST THU JAN 15 2009
...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON FRIDAY...
DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILL READINGS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE
NORTHLAND INTO FRIDAY. ARCTIC AIR...COMBINED WITH WINDS OF 10 TO
15 MPH AT TIMES...WILL CREATE WIND CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS 40 TO
50 BELOW ZERO THIS MORNING. WIND CHILL VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO
CLIMB TO 25 TO 35 BELOW ZERO THURSDAY AFTERNOON...BEFORE DROPPING
AGAIN INTO THE 40 TO 50 BELOW ZERO RANGE THURSDAY EVENING. THE
COLDEST WIND CHILL READINGS WILL OCCUR IN THE ARROWHEAD
REGION...AS WELL AS AREAS NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR WHERE WINDS WILL BE
HIGHEST. EXPOSED SKIN CAN FREEZE IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS IN THESE
CONDITIONS. HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH MAY RESULT IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT
TAKEN IN SUCH EXTREME COLD.
THE ELDERLY...YOUNG CHILDREN...AND THOSE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS
HAVE AN INCREASED RISK TO THE EXTREME COLD. REMEMBER TO BRING
PETS INDOORS AND INSULATE PIPES ALONG EXTERIOR WALLS.

****

Sis tells me that she and her husband are looking forward to their upcoming vacation in Florida. At this point, 40°F sounds positively balmy to them at this point. Brrr!

Murphyism of the Day

Cohen's Law

People are divided into two groups - the righteous and the unrighteous - and the righteous do the dividing.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

Andre Gide (1869 - 1951)

"It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven."

Word of the Day

Oblivity - The measure of one's complete lack of attention to their direct surroundings.

My Dad sent me an e-mail "funny" that I've been searching for since my folks sent me that first beautiful snowy picture of Winter at The Lake. I've often thought that I'd love living at The Lake year-round. However, if HTP and I did end up moving to The Lake, I could only imagine that HTP might write the following blog entries...if he decided to blog.

****

The Blog of a Demented Snow Shoveler

December 8

It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!


December 9

We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!


December 12

The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry - we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.


December 14

Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20F. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.


December 15

20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.


December 16

Ice storm this morning. Fell on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.


December 17

Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.


December 20

Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.


December 22

Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think he's lying.


December 23

Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.


December 24

6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the guy who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.


December 25

Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - Snowed in!! The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.


December 26

Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.


December 27

Temperature dropped to -30F and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.


December 28

Warmed up to above -20F. Still snowed in. My wife is driving me crazy!!!


December 29

10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?


December 30

Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.


December 31

I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.


January 8

Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

****


Murphyism of the Day

Munder's Theorem

For every "10" there are ten "1s."

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

A compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly, unless you want to hurt the giver.

- Eleanor Hamilton

Yesterday, #1 Son said, "What's with all that snow?" DD Daughter told me that the blizzard conditions were shaking her house. I wonder how cold it is at The Lake today?

Word of the Day

Obliviot - Someone who is completely unaware of their idiocy.

I woke up to the sound of landscape crews working on someone's yard. Actually, after rising and sipping on my first cup of coffee, I noticed that the culprit for all this noise was a single landscape crew that was working on the house right behind our house...across the back wall. Leaf-blowers make lots of noise. Landscape crews are famous for their use of these leaf-blowers. Even HTP and I own one...only...we use ours on vacuum mode. I wouldn't mind so much if all they blew was leaves but as HTP and I sat down to eat our breakfast, I saw ,wafting through the air, millions of little seeds, hanging from their downy parachutes, parachuting into my backyard, settling gracefully onto the fertile ground. I'm going to have to get out there with some pre-emergent weed-killer.

I sprayed all the weeds that I could see in the front yard yesterday afternoon. In a day or so, I'll check to see what I missed. It's never easy to see what has been sprayed or what hasn't been sprayed. I noticed that professional landscapers mix some sort of green dye into their weed spray. Eventually the green color disappears but...HTP won't let me mix green food dye in with our weed spray so...sure as shootin' there's going to be some weeds that will escape.

I still have to shoot the weeds in the backyard. That, along with doing the laundry, is on my To Do List today. I'll have to see if there's any pre-emergent weed-preventer in the garage, not that I've got millions of potential weeds just waiting to sprout....thanks to my neighbor.

I can't blame the neighbors for getting excited about yard clean-up. When I was outside with Gypsy this morning, it felt a lot like Spring. It even smells like Spring...as much as a desert can smell like Spring. The high temperatures this week are supposed to be in the 70's. However, even though I've been seeing neighbors clad in shorts and sleeveless shirts, walking around the neighborhood or peddling by on bikes, I doubt this fair weather will last. It's never a good idea to prune plants until there is absolutely no danger of plant-killing frosts. I don't plan to do any pruning for another month....or even until March. I'm not going to wash and fold up my sheet dance sheets for a while yet. We could still have more freezing temperatures this winter.

I do NEED to get out and kill those weeds before we get a nastygram from the HOA. Heck! We'll probably get one anyway. I think they send nastygrams about weeds to everyone in the neighborhood, knowing that more than 50% of the people who live here will have weeds in the yards at any given time during the year...99% will have them when there's been rain and the temperatures are in the 70's.

However, with temperatures rising to the mid-70's, I may take my laptop outside with me later this afternoon. I might even open the windows now that the neighbor's landscape crew has stopped blowing dust and seeds all over the place. I might as well enjoy these non-blizzard conditions while they're here (not that we ever get blizzards here in The Valley of the Sun).

Murphyism of the Day

McDlaughry's Codical to Jones's Motto

To make an enemy, do someone a favor.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who believe there are two kinds of people in the world and those who don't.

- Robert Benchley (1889 - 1945)

A Full Moon Over a Frozen Lake - Picture taken by T-Square at The Lake 1/11/09

Word of the Day

Obeseist - Anyone who is discriminatory or acts disrespectfully towards somebody because of their extreme overweight appearance.

A friend of mine sent the following e-mail "funny" and I immediately thought of my Mom.

****

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors' special" was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.

"Sounds good," my wife said. "But I don't want the eggs."

"Then, I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.

"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" my wife asked incredulously.

"YES!!" stated the waitress.

"I'll take the special then." my wife said.

"How do you want your eggs?" the waitress asked.

"Raw and in the shell,"my wife replied.

She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.

DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS!!!

We've been around the block more than once!

****

Actually, next time I go out for breakfast, I may just order the special. I wonder if they'd bring me a raw steak when I order the steak and eggs special?

Murphyism of the Day

Jone's Motto

Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Why does the Air Force need expensive new bombers? Have the people we've been bombing over the years been complaining?

- George Wallace

What do you mean "We're running out of food."?

Word of the Day

Nurge - To inch closer to a stoplight thinking that will cause it to change quicker.

After using the last two eggs and the last two pieces of bread, and after discovering that there was only one more frozen container of Gypsy food, I decided that there was no getting out of a visit to the grocery store. There really weren't any sales worth noting, so it didn't take that long to get my shopping done. I got my eggs, I got my bread, and I bought some frozen peas....for Gypsy's stew.

I came home to find HTP working in the garage? I wasn't even gone that long. Oh well, while HTP broke down countless cardboard boxes that have accumulated during the few months that we've been here in Arizona, I cooked up a batch of stew for Gypsy. She has enough stew for the next forty days.

Murphyism of the Day

The Kennedy Constant

Don't get mad - get even.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The good psychic would pick up the phone before it rang. Of course it is possible there was no-one on the other line. Once she said "God Bless you" I said, "I didn't sneeze" She looked deep into my eyes and said, "You will, eventually." And damn it if she wasn't right. Two days later I sneezed.

- Ellen DeGeneres

Shhhh! Gypsy's Sleeping

Word of the Day

Nunja - Personal bodyguards of the Pope; any nun trained in martial arts.

Who needs an alarm clock when they've got a dog? Gypsy started digging at her kennel door and whining at 7 AM this morning. I got up. I didn't really mind since I was already awake. I woke up at 6 AM and was listening the gardening show that comes on after Coast to Coast on the XM radio. Maybe Gypsy sensed that I was awake. Maybe she heard the sound the coffee-maker makes as it brews that first pot of coffee in the morning. She quieted right down when she heard me getting up. She even waited patiently while I washed up and got dressed. Now that she's had a chance to go outside and eat? She's gone back to sleep.

After breakfast, I picked thirty tangelos from my tree out in the backyard. I was amazed that there were so many tangelos on the tree. It was almost impossible to spot how much fruit was on the tree until the tangelos took on their bright orange color. There is at least another ten or twelve remaining tangelos on the tree but most of the remaining fruit can't be reached without using a ladder. Since my tangelos were so big, I decided to use ten tangelos per recipe of Arancello. I peeled all the fruit and added 3 bottles of Everclear and 3 bottles of vodka to the peelings, splitting the triple batch of Arancello into two large gallon jars. That's it. Just tangelo zest and alcohol. Afterwards, I juiced the zestless tangelos and ended up with three quarts of juice which HTP and I will enjoy in the coming week. Waste not want not.

I've got more grapefruit out on my dwarf tree but will wait until HTP and I finish up the tangelo juice before picking any more. I also have more lemons out on my dwarf tree than I realized. Again, lemons also tend to remain hidden until they start to ripen. I'd thought that I picked all of the limes from my tree but I just saw four that I missed. Now that they've turned yellow, they're lots easier to see. It looks like I'll be making some Limoncello after all. Well...after I buy another bottle of Everclear.

Murphyism of the Day

Steele's Plagiarism of Somebody's Philosophy

Everybody should believe in something-I believe I'll have another drink.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear.

- Herbert Agar

Old Grey Frog is Sucked into Yet Another Book

Word of the Day

Nudge - To exit an area.

It didn't occur to me until I shut down my laptop last night that I hadn't blogged. I forgot. Not to worry. Nothing shook the earth. Nothing even rattled the earth...at least not here. I think there may have been an earth tremor in California but that's not unusual for California. The sun came up and the sun went down in a predictable manner. I took a walk with Gypsy. HTP and I enjoyed the casserole that I made for supper. Well, to be honest, HTP isn't fond of casseroles but he didn't complain...this time. We watched three episodes of The Big Bang Theory. And that was my day...yesterday.

To be honest, I spent most of the day yesterday reading. There's nothing like reading a good book about a elite group of psychics on the trail of a psychic vampire who is also a serial murderer to make all my good intentions...or bad intentions...fly right out the window. I got sucked into Kay Hooper's new book, Blood Sins. Of course, since this is the second of a series of books, I decided to re-read the first book of the series, Blood Dreams. Knowing me, I'll probably re-read both of these books when the third of the series is written/released. In the meantime, I'm not going to buy any new books for a while. Sure as shooting (and isn't that a trite turn of phrase), if I go out to the bookstore and buy a couple of books to tide me over until one of my favorite authors publishes a new book, one or both of those "tide me over" books will be included in the group of books that I'll be receiving next month for the Golden Quill contest. I really don't need to purchase any number of books that I could be getting for free. Besides, none of my favorite authors will be coming out with any new books until...April?

I have a mental To Do List which I probably should transfer onto a hard copy To Do List. HTP and I really should clean out the garage and organize stuff...throw things out. I really should clean out both of my pantry closets and toss...ummmm...organize. I should go through the entire house and get rid of stuff that I'll never use...or haven't used since HTP and I moved to this house. I'm a pack rat. I'm pretty sure this tendency is genetic. Sis has it...to a lesser extent. She actually does throw things out. My Mom has it. Her Mom, my Grandmother had it. I'm betting that DD Daughter is looking at the unpacked boxes from her last move and she's thinking as she reads this that she's got the same disorder. And, since there doesn't seem to be any order to things that I've got tucked here and there in my house and out in the garage, things that should be discarded, "disorder" is an appropriate word to use. Oh well...I'll worry about all that tomorrow. I've got a pest control guy coming sometime between 9 AM and noon.

Although I have tons of things on my mental To Do List, I'll probably dig out my recipe for Arancello, and start a batch or two of that. Actually, I'll be using tangelos instead of oranges for the Arancello. I have tangelos growing on a tree in my backyard. Since Arancello (making Arancello)is also on my To Do List, I won't have to feel too guilty about telling HTP that I DO NOT want to clean out the garage today. Have you even noticed that the definition of junk, when it comes to deciding what should be discarded, depends upon who owns said "junk".

Murphyism of the Day

Mr. Cole's Axiom

The sum of the intelligence on the planet remains a constant; the population, however, continues to grow.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815 - 1902)*

*Elizabeth Cady Stanton, genealogically speaking, is part of Old Grey Frog's Family Tree. It's rather startling when you stumble across a Noteworthy Quote of the Day that can be attributed to one of your own relatives.

This is NOT HTP

Word of the Day

Not-girlfriend - A person who behaves in every way like one's girlfriend, but is not actually so.

Nothing new here. OK. HTP got his hair cut...a brand new, no side part style. He no longer looks like a terrorist...not that he ever did look like a terrorist. *cough* You'll have to use your imagination because HTP doesn't want me to take a picture....besides, HTP and I are going to go out to eat soon to celebrate his brand new look.

Murphyism of the Day

Captain Penny's Law

You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool MOM.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Old Grey tries to explain to Gypsy why it isn't advisable to climb into a lap that is already occupied with a laptop.

Word of the Day

Not-boyfriend - A person who behaves in every way like one's boyfriend, but is not actually one's boyfriend at all. These people will gladly take an offer for a not-a-date activity.

It's a good thing that I didn't dawdle when it came to buying my 2009 calendar. I've had to start marking scheduling since November 2008 for January 2009. We've got a new pest control guy coming on Friday. I think I'm playing with the church orchestra this month sometime(I didn't mark it on the calendar). We're going out to eat and to a movie with friends this month. There's a wine and cheese social coming up. And...it looks like I'll be hosting Easter Brunch/Lunch this year at Ristorante di Old Grey Frog in April. I love marking up my calendar. Not only does it help me remember what's when, it's always nice to have something special to look forward to. Not that having a new pest control guy coming is something to look forward to but...well...a scorpion-free home would be nice.

Murphyism of the Day

Pardo's Postulate

Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening.

Old Grey's Corollary

For everything that is good in life, there is a published article explaining why that particular good thing will kill you.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

- Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997)

Beautiful Ms. En

Word of the Day

Not-a-date - An activity that closely resembles a date in every way except that it is not actually a date. A not-a-date activity can either be a purely platonic occurrence or can occur with a not-boyfriend or not-girlfriend.

I've really tried to think of something to blog about but, as seems to be the case for most of my blogging, I can't think of a thing to write. It's not too cold outside, and it's not too hot. It's not raining. Of course, it's not snowing. Gypsy is learning not to sit on my lap while my lap is otherwise occupied with a laptop.

DD Daughter and GI Joe gave HTP and me some pictures of Ms. En. Beautiful pictures. Thank you, DD Daughter and GI Joe! What a wonderful gift! I may be prejudiced (after all, Ms. En is my only grand-daughter right now) but, in my humble opinion, she's gorgeous. I hung one of the pictures they sent of Ms. En in our living room. I hung one of the smaller pictures in HTP and my bedroom. Of course, HTP scanned all of the pictures so we could store them on our computer(s). I already posted two of the pictures on my blog. She's growing up so fast.

Murphyism of the Day

Beckhap's Law

Beauty times brains equals a constant.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I'm a jerk to everyone. Best way to protect yourself from lawsuits.

- David Hoselton

Snow at The Lake - 2006

Word of the Day

Nostralgia - A reminder of one's past brought on by a familiar or more recently unfamiliar smell.

I always love playing my clarinet at the church...even when the music director hands me an unfamiliar piece of music with six sharps and a couple of double sharps. The Christmas decorations were still up...of course. It's still Christmas. But, I noted that a crew of church members were busily starting to take the decorations down after that last church service today.

HTP and I are still grazing on the leftover appetizers from New Year's Eve. We dined on crackers, cheese, and sausage, some shrimp and some crab dip last night as we watched a couple of episodes of The Big Bang Theory. I'm not sure how we missed this sitcom until its second season. Heck! We missed a lot of season two. We've been enjoying the first season on DVD so we can catch up with all the who's who and what's what. Hilarious show.

Murphyism of the Day

Hartley's Law

Never sleep with anyone crazier than yourself.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.

- Simone de Beauvoir

Ms. En and Santa - 2008

Word of the Day

Noonsense - The keen ability to know what time of day it is based on a feeling.

Everyone knows that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, actually, this is a theory that I don't necessarily adhere to but...having said that, you can apparently teach an Old Grey Frog a few new tricks...with a bit of patience. My new laptop came with a lot of fun toys which I'm slowly beginning to learn how to use. With the built-in web cam, DD Daughter introduced me to Skype. HTP helped me download Skype to my laptop and now...I'm learning all about using the web cam and it's built-in microphone and video for long distance calls. Computer to computer, these video calls are FREE. And? Best of all, it actually works. DD Daughter called me this morning...using Skype...and I got to see and talk to her and Ms En. Real time. Unfortunately, I was right in the middle of cooking breakfast. I almost burned the bacon and I left the water running in the sink but I got to see DD Daughter and Ms. En. It looks like I can use Skype to call land lines and cell phones too....but I'd have to pay for these calls. Ain't happening. Also, if the person I want to talk to, using Skype, doesn't have Skype loaded onto their system, there's no way that I could talk to them computer to computer. See them? They'd have to have a web cam. So...right now...I can at least talk to DD Daughter and Ms. En. Of course, Ms. En hasn't actually committed to saying much as yet but that will come.

Note: My resolution to put away all the Christmas things by January 2nd has been realized. It took a while because I kept finding stuff that I missed but...knock on wood, unless something else shows up....I've got all the Christmas decorations put away until Christmas 2009. Well...everything but the cookie tins. HTP and I still have to put away the Christmas cookies before I can put away the cookie tins.

Murphyism of the Day

Farber's Law

Necessity is the mother of strange bedfellows.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

We know what a person thinks not when he tells us what he thinks, but by his actions.

- Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904 - 1991)

Gypsy Snoozing - January 2, 2009

Word of the Day

Noon-thirty - Twelve-thirty.

I resolved to take my Christmas decorations down today. There's still time. It's not even noon-thirty yet. My resolve hit a bump in the road when I decided to change the photographs in the digital picture frame. It took me two full hours to do this because not only did I have to create a file on my new laptop where I could store the Christmas photos that were on the digital picture frame so I wouldn't lose them forever, I also had to sort through all my 2008 photos to figure out which ones that I wanted to load onto the digital frame...thus creating a folder on my laptop to store said photos. Confused? Well...that's why it took my two full hours. However, our digital picture frame is busily showing off a fine selection of all the photos that HTP and I and friends and family took in the year 2008. Now....I guess I need to start taking photos for 2009. I haven't taken any pictures this year yet. I guess I'll have to get busy.

So far, I've put away Christmas on the digital photo frame. I've folded up and put away the Christmas tablecloth in the kitchen. And....that's about it. I'll work on putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations after I blog. Blogging isn't all that easy when you've got a dog using one of your arms as a pillow. Oh well...at least she hasn't decided to crawl into my lap...on top of my laptop.

Murphyism of the Day

First Law of Sociogenetics

Celibacy is not hereditary.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things.

- Jilly Cooper

Sunset at The Lake


Word of the Day

Noob - Someone who is a beginner to a particular activity; most commonly used for people new to online games and unaware of gamers' nettiquette.


Happy


New Year


Everyone!


Perhaps watching The Bucket List last night wasn't the best way to spend the last hour and a half of 2008. Don't get me wrong. The Bucket List is well worth watching. However, the older I get, the less I want to think about death and dying, especially during an occasion when I want to laugh and have fun. On the other hand, having my ashes stored in a coffee can (Make mine Butternut) might be rather appropriate. Having someone hike all the way up to the top of the Himalayas to bury that coffee can wouldn't be my choice, but to each his or her own.

So far this morning, I mopped the kitchen floor. I'm not sure who spilled sticky stuff on the kitchen floor right by the coffee-maker but I don't like pouring my first cup of coffee in the morning, finding my shoes sticking to the floor. We're not talking Crazy glue or anything like that but...yuck. So, before I could even enjoy that first cup of coffee, I mopped the kitchen floor. Then, after taking care of Gypsy, I put away a full load of clean dishes and loaded the dishwasher with another full load of dirty dishes from last night. After that...I'll only have one more load of dirty dishes to wash. I used LOTS of serving dishes which take up lots of space in the dishwasher.

I've got a fridge full of leftovers. HTP and I will be noshing on finger foods and appetizers for the beginning weeks of 2009. Diets? Oh well...I'll worry about that after the leftovers are gone.

Murphyism of the Day

Bocklage's Law

He who laughs last probably didn't get the joke.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.... Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.

- Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)