Word of the Day

Anticappoint - To have a highly anticipated event fail to satisfy. To have high hopes met with disappointment. Similarly: anticappointed, anticappointing, anticappoints.

I wore a pantsuit. Last night. I figured I'd be more comfortable than if I wore a dress and had to constantly tug on sagging pantyhose and battle sore feet at the end of the night from wearing high heels. HTP and I had a wonderful dinner last night at Donovan's on Sam's Town's dime. Gotta love it. Donovan's is a wonderful restaurant. Expensive. Luxurious. All dark wood and peace. Great atmosphere. For a treat, HTP and I might even go there and enjoy the place on our dime. Pretty neat that we got to enjoy all that luxury and didn't have to pay more than carfare.

MC Daughter and D Buddy are spending the day cleaning their old apartment. I'm sure that they'll both be relieved when they can finally turn over the keys and see the last of the place. I know that they're both looking forward to their Minnesota adventure.

Me? I'm going to be throwing a nice beef roast in the oven for tonight. We'll be having beef au jus with garlic mashed potatoes and a nice garden salad when MC Daughter and D Buddy get here. It may not be as good as the garlic shrimp and filet mignon of last night, but we'll be home. Home is always far more comfortable than any restaurant can ever be. Besides....not to break my own arm patting myself on the back....I make a heck of a wonderful roast beef dinner.

Murphyism of the Day

Second Law of Particle Physics

The basic building blocks of matter do not occur in nature.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The heart hath its own memory, like the mind. And in it are enshrined the precious keepsakes, into which is wrought the giver's loving thought. -- Longfellow.

Word of the Day

Annoyitate - Using one's ability to annoy and irritate, at the same time.

It's my sister's birthday today! I sent her a card but...

Happy Birthday!


Sis!



Happy Birthday


To You!



Happy Birthday


To You!



Happy Birthday


Dear


Sis!



Happy Birthday


To you!


MC Daughter and D Buddy planned to leave for Minnesota on Sunday but....plans change. Their truck is taking a bit longer to fix than they thought it would take so it looks like they may leave on Monday...or Tuesday. In the meantime, we went out and got a TripTik for them today along with travel books. Until they leave, they'll be staying here with HTP and me. More cats in the guest room. Phobia and Triophelis. MC Daughter and D Buddy have gone back to their apartment to pack up the rest of their stuff and shampoo the carpet. And let's not forget the cats.

The results of my MRI came in this morning. No visible problems. My doctor is recommending physical therapy/torture. Since my neck is feeling lots better, I may skip the torture...at least for now.

HTP and I are heading out to dinner tonight. I have no idea what I'm going to wear...yet. Pant suit? Dress? Oh well...I've got another hour or so to figure it out.

Murphyism of the Day

First Law of Particle Physics

The shorter the life of the particle, the more it costs to produce.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

A joy that's shared is a joy made double. -- English Proverb

Word of the Day

Analog-retentive - Describing antiquated computer systems, or those who have an undying love for them.

I had my MRI this morning. I survived. I didn't claw my way out of the tomb. I didn't move. They gave me a blindfold. I don't smoke. Results? Pending.

MC Daughter and D Buddy are going to be heading to Minnesota on Sunday. They're going to stay with us for a couple of nights before they hit the road. All my children are going to be living in the midwest now. Oh well...at least we'll be able to see them during the summer.

I refuse to think about getting packed to return to The Lake until "tomorrow". That's a Scarlett O'Haraism. I'm not literally going to start packing tomorrow. I've got a few too many irons in the fire right now that have to cool off a bit before I can worry about packing. It'll get done. Stuff always gets done if you take it one at a time.

Murphyism of the Day

Cerf's Extensions to the Handy Guide to Modern Science

1. If it's incomprehensible, it's mathematics.
2. If it doesn't make sense, it's either economics or psychology.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

French Ban Fireworks at Euro Disney

(AP), Paris , March 5, 2003

The French Government announced today that it is imposing a ban on the use of fireworks at Euro Disney. The decision comes the day after a nightly fireworks display at the park, located just 30 miles outside of Paris , caused the soldiers at a nearby French Army garrison to surrender to a group of Czech tourists.

Word of the Day

Anaception - The body's ability to actually affect television reception by moving about the room.

Dust storms! We had a full day of dust storms yesterday. The air remain a hazy brown color for the entire day. Lots of wind. My plan of airing out my guest room had to be put on hold until last night at about the time I went to bed when the winds finally died down a bit. Too much dust...desert grit. I have drifts of the stuff littering my back yard patio and patio furniture. The water in the fountain is brown. I'll have to go out and vacuum everything. Sweeping doesn't work too well because it just kicks everything up again. The poor dogs took one look at the water in their water dish and decided that the water in the fountain looked fresher. Not to worry, I already washed out their dish. They have nice clean water now.

Murphyism of the Day

Handy Guide to Modern Science

1. If it's green and it wiggles, it's biology.
2. If it stinks, it's chemistry.
3. If it doesn't work, it's physics.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

To know someone here or there with whom you feel there is an understanding in spite of distances or thoughts unexpressed--that can make of this earth a garden.-- Goethe

Word of the Day

Amsniffalent - The act of not covering one's mouth when they sneeze, thereby showing their willingness to share their cold with others.

DD Daughter left this morning after breakfast (along with her Todd, Taye, and MiMao...the cats). First stop? Albuquerque. I think. The only remaining sign that she was ever here is that the guest room kind of smells like a pet shop. I'll air it out tonight when the temperatures cool off. It always amazes me how DD Daughter can clean a room so clean you'd never know that she'd ever been there. That wasn't always the case. It's only since she joined the Marine Corps that she's been able to detail a room like that. The pet shop odor? Well...that couldn't be helped. She did have her three cats in that one tiny room for the entire time that she was here. It's not like it smells like cat urine or cat other. It smells like a very clean pet shop. Pet shops smell like pet shops. Candy stores smell like candy. Flower shops smell like flowers. Perfume shops smell like perfume. My guest room will smell like a guest room tomorrow....after I air it out a bit.

Murphyism of the Day

Hanggi's Law

The more trivial your research, the more people will read it and agree.

Corollary

The more vital your research, fewer people will understand it.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The AP and UPI reported that the French Government announced after the London bombings that it has raised its terror alert level from Run to Hide. The only two higher levels in France are Surrender and Collaborate. The rise in the alert level was precipitated by a recent fire which destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively disabling their military.

Word of the Day

Ameriglish - The language spoken by the majority of the United States of America. Often considered close to the original form of the English language.

Yesterday was spent at The Renaissance Festival. It took two hours to drive to the festival parking lot. It really should have taken an hour to get there but it turns out that there was a golf tournament being held really close to the festival grounds and the traffic tie-ups were of parking lot legend. The festival was the festival. I can't say that I saw anything different than what I saw the many years ago that have come and gone since I was there before. I saw Ded Bob. Always funny. I saw the Tortuga Twins...still gay and there's three of them...still. I did buy myself a couple of new coffee mugs and a way cool filet knife with a carved antler handle. Way cool! I also enjoyed a couple of beers with D Buddy after he and MC Daughter joined DD Daughter and me later in the afternoon. The traffic coming home from the festival was again of parking lot legend. Same reason. The LPGA tournament. Not to worry...DD Daughter did the driving on the way home. I NEVER drink and drive...even a little.

Today, I went shopping with DD Daughter. She decided to stay here in Arizona one more day. Today. She'll be heading on to Nebraska tomorrow. She bought a couple of pairs of maternity jeans. I bought her a couple of maternity tops. I've got to alter one of them for her tonight. Right now she's out shopping and spending quality time with MC Daughter.

HTP is plotting our return trip to The Lake. Sometimes it takes a couple of attempts before a final itinerary can be plotted. I won't start the final countdown until the beginning of April. Oh...and I get to see the doctor on Wednesday about my neck. Wheee!!!! What fun! MRI? Let's see what the doctor says on Wednesday. My neck still hurts but the Advil I've been taking is keeping ahead of the pain. I'm saving the strong stuff...just in case the Advil fails.

Murphyism of the Day

Freivald's Law

Only a fool can reproduce another fool's work.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Take spring when it comes, and rejoice. Take happiness when it comes, and rejoice. Take love when it comes, and rejoice. -- Carl Ewald

Word of the Day

Americanese - The language spoken by the majority of the American people according to much of Eastern Asia.

A weekend from Hell. It's just been one of those...though my Pollyanna side keeps telling me things could be worse. They can, can't they? Anyway, I have a golden excuse for why I didn't blog. I wasn't goofing off.

On Friday, I brought my two little chihuahuas to the vet because they've been eating some of that recalled dog food that everyone has been warning us about. My dogs seemed to be OK other than the older one wanting to drink all kinds of water constantly and halving to go outside a lot to eliminate whatever she'd been drinking. Anyway, the vet did a blood test and my older dog has almost total loss of kidney function. It isn't because of the food, it's because she's old...really old. When the vet tells you that you should really enjoy the time you have left with your pet, he's telling you that there really isn't too much time left. I'm to feed my dying dog a special diet for dogs with failing kidneys and try to get her to drink some pedialite (which, I can tell you right now, she hates.) The other little chihuahua is doing just fine. She's old too but not that old. Anyway, that was the beginning of my bad weekend.

The only nice think about yesterday was that DD Daughter arrived for a visit. I was so excited that I'll have her here until Monday morning. I can even "see" my new grandchild...who hasn't been born yet. DD Daughter is definitely showing...a little.

So, to continue on with my weekend from Hell...my neck started hurting for no reason that I can figure out. It started as a minor stiff neck. A couple of advil and I'm good to go...right? Wrong. At around midnight my neck is really starting to complain and I get up to take an Aleve. That should fix it. Right? Wrong. It just got worse and worse. The pain starting traveling down both of my arms and into my hands. There was absolutely no comfortable position to sleep in and, therefore, no sleep. Reluctantly at around 6 AM I woke my husband and told him that maybe I'd better go see a doctor. Of course, my doctor isn't available on Saturdays but when you're going through a weekend of Hell, that would be a given. The on-call doctor wasn't available either. I don't know why they call themselves on-call doctors if they aren't on-call. I was told to go to the Emergency room. Lovely. HTP got up and took my to the Emergency room. DD Daughter helped me by taking care of my ailing dog with her special diet food and her medicines while I'm off to the hospital.

I had planned to spend all kinds of time with DD Daughter yesterday. Instead, the Emergency room doctor shot me up with a muscle relaxant and some pain killer. I barely made it back to the car and I'm not sure how I managed to pour myself back into my bed. I was out like a light. I slept most of the day away. Meanwhile, HTP and DD Daughter enjoyed quality Father/Daughter time together. I vaguely remember a few phone calls. I might even have answered the phone and talked to people. It's hard for me to remember. I started to surface at around 10 PM last night. So did my neck. I took 1/2 a dose of the pain medication that the doctor recommended and one of the muscle relaxant and then returned to the land of nod.

My neck is feeling pretty good today. I can still feel a bit of pain but I can live with it. I am going to go to the Renaissance Festival...even if it kills me. It's a beautiful day and I refuse to waste the last day that I have here with DD Daughter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Sunday isn't part of the weekend. It's the start of a new week.

Sigh. I have to call the doctor tomorrow to schedule an MRI. They want to make sure that I don't have a slipped disk in my neck or a bulging disk. Lovely. I love going to see doctors....not.

Murphyism of the Day

Parkinson's Law

The progress of science varies inversely with the number of journals published.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Grant me the power of saying things too simple and sweet for words. --Coventry Patmore

Word of the Day

Ambivalate - To play devil's advocate. Acting out ambivalence or to vacillate between two opposing desires, impulses or decisions.

Measurable rain. We got measurable rain. That doesn't happen too often here in the desert so it bears noting. We got 3/4" of rain. I know this because HTP bought me a rain gauge last year for my birthday and it finally got a chance to measure some actual rain. I'm sure that the spider that had taken up residence in the rain gauge was totally shocked. Our rain storm of yesterday and last night produced a mere drip compared to Wisconsin standards but it was flood conditions when it comes to desert standards. I still have puddles in the back yard.

Of course, regretfully, I hadn't spread my weed preventer before the rain came. Figures. HTP and I ran outside this morning after breakfast to spread the stuff. It needs water...or rain...to activate it. We're hoping that we'll be getting more rain today. They (the weather guys) promised me that we're supposed to get more rain. HTP and I used up two canisters of Preen and then HTP had to go out and buy more. We ran out. It's hard to figure out how much you actually need. Note for next year? We need three canisters of Preen.

DD Daughter is all packed up and leaving California today....heading our way en route to her return to Nebraska. She called this morning. I expect that we'll see her around 8:30 tonight. Tomorrow? I think we'll be paying a visit to the Renaissance Festival. Hopefully, it'll be a wonderful sunshiny day. I love rain but not while I'm spending time and money at the Renaissance Festival. I can't actually remember the last time I've gone. I think it was with DD Daughter and MC Daughter and maybe #1 Son. #1 Son won't be there this time but DD Daughter and I will be meeting MC Daughter and her husband D Buddy there.

MC Daughter and D Buddy are moving today into a different apartment. I've often noticed that MC Daughter and DD Daughter tend to do the same things at the same times. Both of them are moving on the same day. It's really weird because they don't get together to plan these synchronized events. Cue the Twilight Zone music.

Murphyism of the Day

Futurity Factor

No experiment is ever a complete failure--it can always serve as a negative.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Not everything than can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. - Albert Einstein

Word of the Day

Ambiportalous - Possessing the uncanny knack for approaching a set of double doors and always pushing the locked one.

We're back in Arizona! The luck of the Irish failed me but smiled upon HTP (my Italian husband). Go figure. Oh well...I still had fun.

It's raining! Woohoo! It's raining! Only another desert-dweller can truly understand the awe and wonder of rainstorms in a desert. I love it. Of course, I love storms wherever they occur. Wisconsin has some humdingers. I love them all. Lightening. Thunder. There's nothing like witnessing all that power and fury. But, rainstorms in a desert are special for their rarity. My plants are loving it. I've got all the windows that I can have open without ruining the carpet. It's 65°F outside right now. Inside? 76°F. Time to air out the house and humidify a bit.

Now...having said that...I'm just waiting for the first stupid motorist to drive into one of the flooded washes.

Murphyism of the Day

Souder's Law

Repetition does not establish validity.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

God is the sunshine that warms us,
the rain that melts the frost and waters young plants.
The presence of God is a climate of strong and bracing love,
always there. --Joan Arnold

Word of the Day

Ambididdlemous - The inability to tell left from right.

Happy


St. Patrick's


Day!


There's Irish in my blood and I've passed a bit of it onto my children. I was going to wear green but...I decided to wear my Maxwell Clan t-shirt today. The family originated in Scotland before it moved on to Ireland. As my father wrote:

"By 1650, the family had broken up and few remained in Scotland. Many crossed the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland as settlers in the Irish province of Ulster. Our branch of the family was among those who settled in County Antrim, Northern Ireland."

So, I decided to wear my Maxwell Clan t-shirt with the family coat of arms on the back.



HTP and I are heading to Vegas tomorrow. I hope the luck of the Irish goes with me. When it comes to blogging, by now you know that I may or may not blog while in Vegas. Maybe. We'll see.

Murphyism of the Day

Tenenbaum's Law of Replicability

The most interesting results only happen once.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Word of the Day

Amazorize - To make amazing or more amazing than it was previously.

Since HTP and I are heading to Vegas on Sunday, I decided to start our St. Paddy's Day celebration early. I bought a corned beef brisket and it's in the oven right now...slow roasting. The cabbage was 4/$1...I bought one. I'll boil up half of it and save the rest for cole slaw. HTP isn't all that fond of boiled cabbage but I'm sure he'll choke down a little of it. Then...I bought baby carrots and new potatoes. And...to wash it all down...Guinness. We'll be eating left-overs from tonight's meal tomorrow night. And...to wash it down....more Guinness.

Murphyism of the Day

Wyszowski's Law

No experiment is reproducible.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

When the eagle shall nest in the hollow glen
When mountain and fen shall from mists be free
When the priests shall no longer for gold be seeking
The crow shall be speaking as plain as we

Word of the Day

Aluminumish - Anything that looks like, is made of, or resembles aluminum.

Remember all that heavy equipment that's busy burying irrigation pipe near our house? I heard a snippet of news on my morning radio yesterday about an Indian casino moving to the southern part of our part of town here in Arizona. Guess what? HTP clipped out a news article from our local rag that detailed this Indian casino and its move to....drum roll, please....a block from my house. Gee! I could actually walk there. I shudder when I think about all the traffic that this is going to produce in an area where the traffic is already a problem. HTP doesn't think it'll cause any added security issues but I have my doubts. This is definitely going to impact our neighborhood and the surrounds. I hate to think about how it'll impact the value of our house. I guess I'd better get used to the heavy equipment noise. The news article claims that there will be a brand new Indian casino REALLY close to my Arizona house by the fall of 2008. I can wait. I can wait.

Murphyism of the Day

Fett's Law of the Lab

Never replicate a successful experiment.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"Do you know how many Frenchmen it takes to defend Paris? It's not known, it's never been tried."-- Rep. R. Blount, MO

Word of the Day

Aluminum ghetto - A term used to describe a trailer park, usually in a poor, unkempt condition.

76'F inside, 88'F outside...in the shade. I'm told that we're having global warming weather. I've come to realize that it really doesn't make too much difference what kind of weather we get because the global warming zealots always seem to claim it. Me? I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it. If my windows were open, I would be hearing the sound of the water in my fountain out in back. I'd also be hearing the sound of heavy equipment. Actually, even with the windows closed I can hear the heavy equipment. From the looks of things, "they" are burying a huge irrigation pipe along the main road which runs just a stone's throw from our house. We're not on that main road, there's the street that we live on, the houses across the street, the backyards of those houses, their back walls and then...the main road. So...we're close. Not so close that a wild truck ends up parked in my backyard but close enough that I can hear heavy equipment that's burying irrigation pipe and hot-rodders drag racing in the middle of the night. I think I'm missing the quiet at The Lake.

Speaking of The Lake, HTP and I are just starting to think about planning our return trip to The Lake. The annual migration of The Snowbirds. We've got a bit over a month yet left here in Arizona but it's time to start thinking. Do we decide to make the trip with three nights on the road? Or do we take things easier and make the trip with four nights on the road? Decisions, decisions.

Murphyism of the Day

Parkinson's Law of Medical Research

Successful research attracts the bigger grant, which makes further research impossible.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"Let me give you a little serious political advice. One single word. Puppies. Worth the points." - President George Bush

Word of the Day

Alpopuck - Any empty dish pushed around the kitchen floor by a dog trying to get the last morsel.

St. Patrick's Day is on Saturday. I'd better get my rear end in gear if I want my traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage. One year I had to go to three stores before I could find any cabbage. They'd all sold out. Oh...and I need to get some real good boiling potatoes. Corned beef is a given. HTP loves this Irish favorite and looks forward to it every year....NOT! As an American of Italian descent, with not a drop of the Irish in his blood or background, Irish food is not his favorite. He's not fond of German food either...except bratwurst. Oh well...I have beer. The green food coloring will remain in the cupboard to be used for Easter eggs and Christmas Tree spritz. There's no way that I'll willingly drink green beer.

I planned to clean and defrost the freezer today but it'll have to wait until tomorrow. HTP has been trying to fix the really loud noisy fan in our refrigerator so cleaning the freezer will just have to wait. I guess I'll have to figure out another way to use my time today...other than laundry.

Once upon a time, I used to keep lists of the various chores that needed doing and on which day of the week they were to be done. I was a lot younger back then. Now, I'm an empty-nester and if something needs doing, I'll get around to it eventually. If it needs doing, it'll get done. I figure it's kind of like triage in the emergency room of a hospital. I triage my household chores. Those things that need desperate attention get taken care of first. I mean, I really should polish the copper containers that I keep my flour and sugar in but....maybe next winter. If someone decides to come over for a visit...I'll run around like a crazy person vacuuming, dusting, cleaning toilets, etc. But...as of right now? All that stuff will be fine for another day or so.

Murphyism of the Day

Young's Law

All great discoveries are made by mistake.

Corollary

The greater the funding, the longer it takes to make the mistake.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Q. What did the mayor of Paris say to the German Army as they entered the city in WWII?
A. Table for 100,000 m'sieur?

Word of the Day

Alphageek - The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. Often found shunning lesser geeks in their cubicles.

So...I talked to DD Daughter last night....for two hours. HTP asks me...."What's new? What did she say?" Everything's fine. "So what did she say?" Nothing...she's fine. "For two hours you talked about nothing?" Yup. Men just don't understand stuff like that. Should I tell him what we really talked about? Good God! Never! It was woman to woman talk. I think there's an unwritten law when it comes to woman to woman talk. No men allowed. Woman talk tends to just make them totally uncomfortable.

And how did I start my day? On closer inspection, the tree that I thought may have bit the big one due to our overly cold winter seems to be on the mend. My not so young eyes noted new growth. Tiny new growth but new growth none the less. There is hope. And then my neighbor from across the street caught me peering and decided to come over to talk to me about pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice? I guess his doctor told him that he should drink a glass of the stuff every day to help his eye sight. So...I told him that there was nothing better than fresh pomegranate juice...and our conversation developed into the fact that I have a pomegranate tree in our backyard and then he had to come back and see it. I tried to tell him that he'd only need one tree but I think he plans to plant two of them in his yard now that he's seen mine. Good grief! I wonder what he'll do with all those pomegranates? I mean, there is a reason that I ended up making pomegranate liqueur and pomegranate wine. One can't drink all that much pomegranate juice before it starts going bad...unless they freeze it. That would work. A whole freezer full of pomegranate juice. Then...make wine and liqueur.

Murphyism of the Day

Rule of Accuracy

When working toward the solution of a problem, it always helps if you know the answer.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Take time to notice all the usually unnoticed, simple things in life. Delight in the never-ending hope that's available every day!

Word of the Day

Alliterate - Having the ability to read but choosing not to. Not to be mistaken with those who are illiterate, and can not read.

Things are starting to heat up outside. It's supposed to get up into the 90's this week. Despite all that, I'm hoping to avoid using the air-conditioner. It's not all that hot as yet. HTP and I are just beginning to use the time-honored tricks for keeping a home cool. Tricks that we both learned from our youth. Although, air-conditioning existed when HTP and I were young, neither of us actually had air-conditioning in our homes back in Minnesota where we grew up. At least, my family had air-conditioning (a window air-conditioner) but not until I was in the last years of high school. We did without. The trick for keeping a house cool is to open up windows at night after the temperatures outside have cooled more than the temperature inside the house. Then...the next day, when temperatures outside start to climb, close all the windows and pull the shades. Works every time...until the temperatures get up past 100'F and the temperatures at night don't go down past 86'F. That's when air-conditioning comes into play. In Minnesota, temperatures rarely reached the 100'F mark. It was a heck of a lot easier to keep things cool back in Minnesota. On the other hand, keeping warm in Minnesota during the winter was a bit more challenging.

Murphyism of the Day

Wingo's Axiom

All Finagle Laws may be bypassed by learning the simple art of doing without thinking.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

God's touch...lights the world with color and renews our hearts and life. - Janet L. Weaver

Word of the Day

Allergize - To cause your allergies to act up.

I wore shorts for the first time this year. I sat outside in the sun to put some color in my legs so they won't look so bad now that it's shorts weather outside. I'm happy to wear sandals instead of shoes and socks. Woohoo! My toes are loving it. I did my fertilizing. I sprayed for weeds. I finished my Sudoku puzzle of the day. I decanted the second batch of wine. I cleaned the kitchen. I played Pogo. I read a couple of books. I made lunch..and ate it. I took a nap. I walked over to the mailbox to get the mail....and back. I blogged. I plan to make supper. I plan to watch TV.

Murphyism of the Day

Finagle's Rules

1. To study a subject best, understand it thoroughly before you start.
2. Always keep a record of data-it indicates you've been working.
3. Always draw your curves, then plot your reading.
4. In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.
5. Experiments should be reproducible-they should all fail in the same way.
6. Do not believe in miracles-rely on them

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. -- Proverbs 3:5-6

Word of the Day

Alponium - A gaseous material identified by the initial blast of odor upon opening a can of dog food.

It's Friday!

OK...that doesn't mean too much to me. Here in our little retirement community, one day is pretty much like the next unless you're talking about Sunday when some of us go to church. People will still be out walking their dogs. People will congregate at the mailbox to talk with neighbors. People will be working in their yards. The weather has been wonderful. It's getting warm enough that I'm glad that I already did the majority of my yard work. It's getting warm enough to close up the house.

Me? I'll decant that second batch of pomegranate wine on Saturday but other than that...maybe I'll fertilize the rest of our landscape plants if I run out to the Lowe's to buy fertilizer. Maybe I'll buy and plant a new plant to replace one that died last summer...but since no-one has actually noticed the fact that it's gone...maybe not.

Murphyism of the Day

Finagle's Fourth Law

Once a job is fouled up, anything done to improve it only makes it worse.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, in the way we receive, in the way we need. -- Mother Teresa

Word of the Day

Alcologic - Logic that is only understood while one is inebriated. To justify everything by the use of alcohol as the basis for every problem, debate, or argument. Any attempt at making a logical statement while one is drunk; Often identified as fuzzy logic. A system of reasoning based on alcohol and often not involving reason.

No supper for me. HTP and I took MC Daughter out for an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet at The Delhi Palace...an Indian restaurant. MMMMMM. Tandoori chicken and that wonderful flat bread that they make with herbs and garlic. MMMMM.

Then...believe it or not...HTP and I walked through the Superstition Mall with MC Daughter. HTP loathes tromping aimlessly through malls. MC Daughter found a really cute skirt that she bought at Hot Topic. She also saw a really cute pair of shoes which she passed up. Me? I didn't buy anything...this time. I just like to walk around aimlessly and look at stuff. I did take a trip down memory lane. Ghosts of Mall Shopping Past. I actually could see my two young daughters in their cute little colorful shorts and tops, their sun-bleached hair in matching pig-tails, as they raced each other to the end of the food court where the Merry-Go-Round still sits. There they were again in my mind wanting to ride on the very best and prettiest horse. *sigh* They grew up so fast.

Murphyism of the Day

Finagle's Third Law

In any collection of data, the figure most obviously correct, beyond all need of checking, is the mistake.

Corollaries

1. No one whom you ask for help will see it.
2. Everyone who stops by with unsought advice will see it immediately.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Good friends reveal themselves slowly, in the shimmer and shadow of living....in the years of shared experience.

Word of the Day

Allergivate - The inevitable action of a cat or dog to constantly gravitate toward guests who are allergic to them.

I got the results of my blood test! Woohoo! No stupid little pills for me! I passed, I passed. No more tests until November.

Someone told me that the tangelo tree that I planted in my backyard was a semi-dwarf tree. I have my doubts. It's getting huge. I trimmed back the branches that were starting to invade my neighbors' yard. She hasn't complained but I know that I wouldn't particularily want to do battle with a man-eating tangelo tree every time I went to dump something into my garbage can. OK...so, I'm exaggerating a bit. My tangelo tree doesn't actually eat men...or women. It just reaches out and bites a bit. I have the scars to prove it.

Most of my day was spent playing Pogo games. A total and complete waste of time. I could have been working on my backlog of Sudoku puzzles. I could have been working on that baby afghan that matches DD Daughter's hair. Instead, I played Fortune Bingo and First Class Solitaire. Oh well...I'll get back to work tomorrow.

Murphyism of the Day

Finagle's Second Law

No matter what the anticipated result, there will always be someone eager to (a) misinterpret it, (b) fake it, or (c) believe it happened to his own pet theory.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them. -- Lucy Maud Montgomery

Word of the Day

Alfred Hitchcook - To stab continuously at a block of frozen vegetables or other frozen food items to make them cook faster.

After fasting for at least twelve hours, HTP drove me over to see a vampire about some blood. Those blood tests that the doctor wanted me to have. I walked through the door of the clinic and immediately saw that I wasn't their only customer. The place was packed. I'm surprised that there were still two seats left in the waiting room. I took one and saved the other for HTP while he circled the parking lot looking for a place to park. *sigh* I signed my name on their little guestbook. Time? 8:45AM. At around 9:15AM, they called my name and took my paperwork, insurance card and corrected the wrong address that they had for me. by this time even more people had crowded into the waiting room. It's a big waiting room, maybe they need a bigger one. I sat back down to wait some more. Thankfully, HTP had guarded my chair. People were holding up the walls by this time. At around 9:30 AM, they called my name again, this time to take me back to suck blood out of my veins. I can't ever look while they do that. Three vials full. Somehow I don't mind seeing all that blood penned up in vials but I can't watch as they jab me and start the sucking process. Yuck! And the only artwork that they had on the wall was a calendar with two kittens on it. One grey and one black. No way was I going to watch as the nurse jabs a needle into my arm. Thankfully, she hit the vein right off so I didn't have to endure endless stabbing. To celebrate this, HTP and I went out to eat for breakfast. Coffee. At last.

I'm doing laundry today. Tuesday. I'm back on schedule. I also went out and sprinkled fertilizer on my citrus trees and palm trees. Hopefully, the fertilizer will perk up those poor palm trees. The citrus trees are coming back just fine. I'm looking forward to the sweet perfume of citrus blossoms. In the meantime, it's a beautiful day, and my only remaining responsibility today is to finish up the laundry.

What about the mammogram and bone density tests? I called to make an appointment. The soonest that they could get me in for those tests was sometime in August. Blink. I plan to be settled back at The Lake in August. Maybe enjoy a side trip down to Omaha to visit with my first grandbaby? So, I asked if it would be OK to schedule something in November. November 6th. It's on the calendar. Circled and in stars so I don't forget. I'll be back here in Arizona by then. I've got to schedule that eye exam for around then too.

Murphyism of the Day

Finagle's First Law

If an experiment works, something has gone wrong.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"The French will only agree to go to war when we've proven we've found truffles in Iraq."-- Dennis Miller

Word of the Day

Alcolean - The angle of a drunk's body before they go into stagger mode.

It's not that I don't like doctors. They're very nice...really. It's just that I don't like someone poking at me with sharp objects. Plus, they like to hand out all kinds of pills. Pills that they want you to take for the rest of your life. I don't like taking all kinds of pills that you have to take for the rest of your life. So far I've avoided all this by avoiding going to see doctors. I suppose that's kind of like sweeping that dust pile under the rug or shoving your clothes under the bed instead of hanging them up. I hate that. Oh well...so today, I went to see the doctor. The usual. I have to fast now for eight hours before I get some blood taken at one lab. Then I have to go and get a bone density test...and a mammogram. She mentioned something about a colonoscopy too. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Then she asked me when I had my last tetanus shot. Since I couldn't remember, the nurse stuck me with one of those before they let me escape with all kinds of paperwork for the tests that I need to take. See what I mean? With any luck at all I won't have to go back for any follow-ups or end up with all kinds of pills. One thing I did find out. She told me that I can continue to enjoy having a half a grapefruit if I like no matter what medication they put me on. Hah! It's just that they don't want you drinking copious amounts (defined as a quart) of grapefruit juice with certain meds. I don't like grapefruit juice anyway. She told me that even if I fail my test and have to take a pill that they tell you not to eat grapefruit with, they aren't talking about a mere half a grapefruit. They're just covering their bases. I'm glad I asked...since I do have a grapefruit tree in my backyard. What would I do with all my grapefruit?

When I got home I saw that HTP was finishing up the finishing touches of the yard cleanup in the back. Dutifully, I went outside to ask if he wanted any help. He waved me away. So...I decanted the first batches of wine that I made when HTP and I got here in October. Blackberry. Pomegranate. I tasted a sip of the pomegranate, though it's not near done as yet. It wasn't too bad, even though it needs some age on it. Next October? Anyway, I'll decant it again at the end of April and then bring half of it to the lake with me along with some of the Arancello and some of the Limoncello.

Murphyism of the Day

Fourth Law of Revision

After painstaking and careful analysis of a sample, you are always told that it is the wrong sample and doesn't apply to the problem.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

-- Eighteen-year-old male can't get any rest at home and wants a ride to the hospital.
-- Lady has blisters from working three days at a Taco Bell.
-- Man is out of breath from running from the police.
-- Person answered no to the question "Are you conscious?"

Calls recorded by California 911 operators, as reported in the Los Angeles Times

Word of the Day

Alcohological - Things that seem logical only after consuming large amounts of alcohol.

With all but the finishing touches of yard work done, I decided to do absolutely nothing more strenuous then lay about and read...after I went to church. I played my clarinet with the contemporary group, third service. I had to park my car two whole blocks from the church. Second service was packed. Even the third service had more people than normal. Oh well, walking a couple of blocks after spending two days doing squats (gardening) isn't going to kill me.

A friend gave me a calendar for Christmas. The quote on the calendar for today was so appropriate that I thought I'd share.

The three grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. -- Thomas Chalmers

I have all three grand essentials and am content to state that I am indeed happy....even if DD Daughter did dye her hair pink. Ewwwww! Pinky?!? Well...I suppose she couldn't grow a beard like the other Marines who leave the military and she had to do something to celebrate her return to civilian life. She looks like an fairy...with pink hair.

Murphyism of the Day

Harvard's Law

Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, volume, and other variables, the organism will do as it darn well pleases.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on eBay the other day--the description was, 'Never shot. Dropped once.'"-- Rep. Roy Blunt, MO

Word of the Day

Alarmisist - A person who causes by direct conflict or by interjecting false conflict in a situation to purposely cause alarm in others. Also known as an Eeyorist, akin to Winnie the Pooh's friend Eeyore.

Tiredness! However, I have finished removing all the winter kill vegetation from my yard, back and front. My hands and arms look like I lost a battle with a rabid cat but all the dead vegetation is bagged and ready for disposal. HTP vacuumed up all the loose dried leaves from the front yard. I expect we'll tackle that little chore in the backyard after I get back from church tomorrow. On the plus side, I didn't lose as many plants as I thought. On the negative side, things aren't exactly pretty and green outside right now. It's going to take a while for everything to make a comeback out there.

Murphyism of the Day

Edington's Theory

The number of different hypotheses erected to explain a given biological phenomenon is inversely proportional to the available knowledge.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"I think we're capable of going exactly as far as we go." --Boston Celtics coach Chris Ford

Word of the Day

Agromagulated - Very angry.

Exhaustion sets in. I need a bath. With reason, mind you, with reason. After breakfast this morning, I sallied forth with pruning shears and garbage can. My goal and determination was to prune back all the winter killed vegetation in my front yard. My neighbors came by to cheer me on. One of my neighbors had me come over to her yard to show her what to do with her plants when her husband finds the energy to prune them. I pointed out the various botanicals and told her not to lose all hope. Most of them were already showing a wee bit of new growth. Then, my other neighbor got out her shears and started pruning the plants in her front yard. It's amazing how it only takes one person to shame everyone into getting down to Spring yard work. Needless to say, that one person isn't generally Old Grey Froggy. I was as amazed as anyone. So, anyway, with all the pruning and clean up in the front yard accomplished, I retreated inside to enjoy the second half of my now cold morning coffee. I nuked it.

After lunch, I decided, what the heck, I'd start pruning the winter killed vegetation in my back yard. I ran out of garbage can room at about the same time I ran out of energy with only a third of the backyard looking lots better than when I started. My arms are bleeding from the two groups of pygmy date palms that I trimmed back. I have my doubts as to the survival of one whole clump. *sigh* It was a REALLY bad winter here. My hibiscus had to be cut down nearly to the ground. My natal plum had many new green buds and leaves hidden under all the dead and brown. Thankfully, the miniature rose bushes look good and my Brazilian Pepper trees are budding out...in the backyard. *sigh* I may have lost one of my Brazilian Pepper trees in the front yard. I'm still hoping that it'll surprise me with a miraculous recovery...next month?

So, anyway, that's all the yard work I plan to work on today. What I can see from the window by my computer looks wonderful (well...all except that one clump of "it looks a bit dead" pygmy date palm). I've had plenty of bending and stooping exercise for one day. I'll let HTP haul off the bagged remains.

On a historical note, I strained the Arancello yesterday and added the sugar syrup to it. It is now resting. 40 days and nights before I strain it again, bottle and label it. My kitchen still smells like oranges. Actually, HTP claims that it smells like that orange smelling cleaning product stuff. He hates that smell.

Murphyism of the Day

Williams and Holland's Law

If enough data is collected, anything may be proven by statistical methods.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"They've taken their own precautions against al-Qaida. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house." -- Argus Hamilton

Word of the Day

Agreeance - The state of agreement; when two or more people possess the same opinions or ideas.


I'm Home! I got home last night but I was too tired to blog. I'm not tired anymore and just because my knees and shins hurt, that's no excuse not to blog.

Three days in Vegas with Arizona Daughter. Quality Time. I think I walked more in those three days than I've walked since walking the logging road at the lake last summer. My knees and shins are complaining. I did have fun. I did do things that HTP and I don't do when we're in Vegas. We ate LOTS. We gambled together. We explored The Strip. Paris. New York. MGM. Bally's. Caesar's. Venetian. Kind of like an adult version of Epcot. We bought weirdly named drinks at Fat Tuesday's with extra shots of rum. Mine was called 151 Octane mixed with Pina Colada. Her's was Strawberry Daiquiri mixed with Pina Colada. I didn't know what 151 Octane meant. Silly me. Tasted good. I stopped hearing the complaints that my knees were making. I bought a really cute stuffed toy for DD Daughter's Pup.

Then....the next night....Arizona Daughter and I explored the Old Vegas Strip. Fremont. Golden Nugget. California. Four Queens. The Bayou....where we got that Football Drink. We shared it. I didn't buy it so I have no idea what was in it. It was red....and the pain signals that my knees were sending to my head got lost...or scrambled. And...I got LOTS of those Mardi Gras beads. LOTS! Apparently, all the bead girls were impressed that Arizona Daughter and her Mom were sharing a Football Drink.

So...anyway...I've got to re-name Arizona Daughter now that she and her hubby are going to be moving to Minnesota. She never liked the Arizona Daughter name so I've been thinking on it. Should I call her Fat Tuesday Daughter? FTD? Somehow that doesn't sound right. Flowers come to mind. How about Football Drink Daughter? FDD? I'm not sure that I like that either. I think I'm going to go with MC Daughter. Although she doesn't like to think of herself as a chef, I say that she's a Master Chef! A pastry chef. She can make those wonderful pastries that we saw at the Paris. So...Arizona Daughter? I dub you MC Daughter. Oh...and from now on we'll call MC Daughter's hubby, D Buddy....instead of TJ....just because MC Daughter and I talked about it and thought it was more appropriate. (Don't expect an explanation).

So...I'm Home! I'm unpacked! Oh...and MC Daughter ended up with the empty Football.

Murphyism of the Day

Gordon's Law

If a research project is not worth doing at all, it is not worth doing well.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

"Winfield goes back to the wall. He hits his head on the wall and it rolls off! It's rolling all the way back to second base! This is a terrible thing for the Padres!" - Jerry Coleman, Padres radio announcer