Tonight is mystery night. Going to watch a mystery movie on TV. Read a J.A. Jance Novel. And try to solve a mystery why a decent guy like me doesn't have a date on New Year's Eve.
Here is the good story. Gives you a really good reason to root for the Ducks tomorrow in the Rose Bowl:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2009/12/ducks_learn_life_lessons_and_a.html
Been on a movie kick this week. Took in It's Complicated with my Mom. Then on my own saw Invictus and Sherlock Holmes. I will be reviewing those movies in the next few days.
The next ten days or so I am going to list an old post a day from my blog. When I am done with old posts I will have you vote on your favorite post. I went way back to the beginning of the blog before some of you like Kaye, DR, Dona, Maryann and others started following the blog. I am doing this for a couple of reasons. One if I know what writings you like it well help me gauge how I am doing with the blo. It will also help me think of things to write about in the future. The other reason is so someone like Maryann will know what the blog is about. Today's entry is from one of my favorite writers, Robert Fulgham. Sometimes on the blog I will see something that I just love and repeat it here on the blog. This post is titled "The Pig In Cinderella:
http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2008/02/pig-in-cinderella.html
Tonight one decade ends, another begins. One year ends, another begins. Are you as glad to see both the decade and year go away as I am? And like Norman the Pig in Cinderella, have you ever been left on the sidelines? Have you ever shut someone out? Yes, I have often been on the sidelines. Yes, I have shut people out and made them feel like they were on the outside looking in. I work everyday to make sure I don't do the later and I work everyday to improve to the place that people see me as someone to include. How about you?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Weather Out There
We had an unexpected snowstorm yesterday. Dropped five inches of snow in Sherwood and anywhere from one to five inches of snow in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro areas.
I am of the opinion that we should ban weathermen and weather women from television in Oregon. They are clueless. Two or three weeks back there was a winter storm warning here for freezing rain. Scared everyone. Everyone left work early, got some videos, stayed home and popped popcorn. The winter storm never happened. Turned out to be one of the nicest days of the winter so far. Yesterday there wasn't any winter storm warning. The weather doofuses predicted sunny with a little rain. That little rain turned out to be a major snowstorm that caught everyone by surprise. Turned out to be on the worst traffic jams in history. Sometimes taking people seven hours to get home from downtown Portland. You can read about the storm here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/unexpected_snow_storm_slows_we.html
I am a really good driver in the snow. I won't try the ice. But on snow I never have any trouble. Mom spent her second night alone last night. I went in there at five this morning to get her newspaper and set out her breakfast. On the way over there I saw several abandon cars. Yup that happens here during a winter storm. It doesn't snow here enough for people to be used to enough to know how to drive in the snow. They get in crawling traffic or they get stuck. They get tired of it and leave their car whereever they are and walk home, take the bus, or catch a ride with a four wheeler. Doesn't matter if the car is in the middle of a freeway or in a traffic lane. It is the heck with this shit I don't give a damn about my car, I am out of here. They value their bodies more than their cars. Now if they would just value everyone else's life that they endanger by leaving their car in traffic lanes things might get better. Read about the locals winter storm game plan here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/authorities_to_motorists_retri.html
Would you ever abandon your car during the middle of a snowstorm? Would you at least push it out of a traffic lane? Should we change that famous Shakespearean quote "kill all the lawyers" to "kill all the weathermen"?
I am of the opinion that we should ban weathermen and weather women from television in Oregon. They are clueless. Two or three weeks back there was a winter storm warning here for freezing rain. Scared everyone. Everyone left work early, got some videos, stayed home and popped popcorn. The winter storm never happened. Turned out to be one of the nicest days of the winter so far. Yesterday there wasn't any winter storm warning. The weather doofuses predicted sunny with a little rain. That little rain turned out to be a major snowstorm that caught everyone by surprise. Turned out to be on the worst traffic jams in history. Sometimes taking people seven hours to get home from downtown Portland. You can read about the storm here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/unexpected_snow_storm_slows_we.html
I am a really good driver in the snow. I won't try the ice. But on snow I never have any trouble. Mom spent her second night alone last night. I went in there at five this morning to get her newspaper and set out her breakfast. On the way over there I saw several abandon cars. Yup that happens here during a winter storm. It doesn't snow here enough for people to be used to enough to know how to drive in the snow. They get in crawling traffic or they get stuck. They get tired of it and leave their car whereever they are and walk home, take the bus, or catch a ride with a four wheeler. Doesn't matter if the car is in the middle of a freeway or in a traffic lane. It is the heck with this shit I don't give a damn about my car, I am out of here. They value their bodies more than their cars. Now if they would just value everyone else's life that they endanger by leaving their car in traffic lanes things might get better. Read about the locals winter storm game plan here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/authorities_to_motorists_retri.html
Would you ever abandon your car during the middle of a snowstorm? Would you at least push it out of a traffic lane? Should we change that famous Shakespearean quote "kill all the lawyers" to "kill all the weathermen"?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A Big Step For Mom
My Mom spent the night alone last night. First time since she was married. She has been very frightened to try to spend the night alone. What if she falls? What if someone breaks in? And so the list goes on. Last night she decided to try it and she did extremely well with it. Sis lives three doors down so she could have been there in a minute. I could have been there in five to seven minutes depending on traffic. Sis stayed with her until eight thirty last night. I got there a little after five this morning.
I really had a hard time with it. I was more scared than Mom. What if she got so scared that she had a heart attack? Since it was my idea that she try it I would have lived out my life in excessive guilt. Plus it was like sending a kid of to college. You know if they do something they will feel free and gain confidence but you are worried sick about them. I bet I got up four our five times last night and almost went into Mom's. But I didn't. I bit the bullet. When I got there this morning Mom was sound asleep. Snore city. Where last night I slept like a baby, up every two hours. I put out her breakfast, fixed my own breakfast, and read the morning newspapers until she woke up. She didn't get up until almost seven which is really late for her. She was smiling the whole time. She didn't get scared once. She didn't have any pain like she normally does. And it was obvious she had a new confidence. To say I am damn proud of her would be an understatement. And I told her that. She said one of the reasons she was able to spend the night alone was that I gave the confidence to do it. Looks like I am better at giving other people confidence than I am at giving myself confidence. I mean now if a woman Mom's age can overcome a huge fear like that then this wuss here is going to have overcome some of his fears! Damn.
This does open a lot of new avenues for Mom but it also opens a lot of new avenues for me. Maybe I can have that life I've been missing.
Now the good story for the day:
http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/12/28/dallas-airplane-proposal-john-kilpatrick-erin/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lemondrop.com%2F2009%2F12%2F28%2Fdallas-airplane-proposal-john-kilpatrick-erin%2F
What are you better at? Giving confidence to others or giving confidence to yourself?
I really had a hard time with it. I was more scared than Mom. What if she got so scared that she had a heart attack? Since it was my idea that she try it I would have lived out my life in excessive guilt. Plus it was like sending a kid of to college. You know if they do something they will feel free and gain confidence but you are worried sick about them. I bet I got up four our five times last night and almost went into Mom's. But I didn't. I bit the bullet. When I got there this morning Mom was sound asleep. Snore city. Where last night I slept like a baby, up every two hours. I put out her breakfast, fixed my own breakfast, and read the morning newspapers until she woke up. She didn't get up until almost seven which is really late for her. She was smiling the whole time. She didn't get scared once. She didn't have any pain like she normally does. And it was obvious she had a new confidence. To say I am damn proud of her would be an understatement. And I told her that. She said one of the reasons she was able to spend the night alone was that I gave the confidence to do it. Looks like I am better at giving other people confidence than I am at giving myself confidence. I mean now if a woman Mom's age can overcome a huge fear like that then this wuss here is going to have overcome some of his fears! Damn.
This does open a lot of new avenues for Mom but it also opens a lot of new avenues for me. Maybe I can have that life I've been missing.
Now the good story for the day:
http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/12/28/dallas-airplane-proposal-john-kilpatrick-erin/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lemondrop.com%2F2009%2F12%2F28%2Fdallas-airplane-proposal-john-kilpatrick-erin%2F
What are you better at? Giving confidence to others or giving confidence to yourself?
Monday, December 28, 2009
Words of The Decade/A Year In Review
Dona has asked us to send positive vibes, good thoughts, and prayers in the direction of her and The Shankster that he doesn't have kidney stones. Of course I do! Keep us updated, Dona!
On the blog today are two stories.
First up is words that were created during the decade that some of us are tired of hearing. Are you tired of hearing these words:
It is what it is.
Jump The Shark.
Think Outside The Box.
Win, Win.
Drink The Kool-Aid.
Social Media.
To Be Honest.
At The End of The Day.
Read the entire list here:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/speak-no-evil-the-decades-worst-new-business-terms/19285560/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl2|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fspeak-no-evil-the-decades-worst-new-business-terms%2F19285560%2F
On to the next subject, a review of 2009.
January - the first African-American Takes Office. Captain Sully safely lands a jet in the Hudson River.
February - Stimulus package passed. Steelers win the Super Bowl. Slumdog Millionaire wins the Oscar. The stock market hits its lowest level since 1997.
March - AIG pays bonuses. Madoff pleads guilty.
April - G-20 Summit. North Korea launches a test missile. Swine Flu spreads.
May - Sonia Sotomayer nominated for the Supreme Court.
June - Michael Jackson dies. Al Franken declared winner of Minnesota senate race. Mark Sanford goes missing.
July - Cash for Clunkers begins. Gov. Palin announces she will not complete her term as Gov of Alaska.
August - Former President Bill Clinton helps in the release by North Korea of two women journalists.
September - "You Lie" is shouted by Senator Wilson during a speach by the President.
October - Rio de Janeiro is chose to hold the 2016 Olympics, beating out Chicago. The President wins a Nobel Peace Prize. David Letterman comes clean.
November - Yankees win the world series. Tiger Woods comes clean.
December - More troops to be sent to Afghanistan. Retailers have a better year than last year. Ducks and Ohio State to meet in the Rose Bowl.
I honestly don't know if the timing of the above events are right or not because I took them from a very funny review of the year by Dave Barry. You can read his take on 2009 here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/12/2009_how_much_fun_can_one_year.html
What words of the decade are you tired of? What do you remember about 2009? What do you think is the top story of 2009?
On the blog today are two stories.
First up is words that were created during the decade that some of us are tired of hearing. Are you tired of hearing these words:
It is what it is.
Jump The Shark.
Think Outside The Box.
Win, Win.
Drink The Kool-Aid.
Social Media.
To Be Honest.
At The End of The Day.
Read the entire list here:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/speak-no-evil-the-decades-worst-new-business-terms/19285560/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl2|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fspeak-no-evil-the-decades-worst-new-business-terms%2F19285560%2F
On to the next subject, a review of 2009.
January - the first African-American Takes Office. Captain Sully safely lands a jet in the Hudson River.
February - Stimulus package passed. Steelers win the Super Bowl. Slumdog Millionaire wins the Oscar. The stock market hits its lowest level since 1997.
March - AIG pays bonuses. Madoff pleads guilty.
April - G-20 Summit. North Korea launches a test missile. Swine Flu spreads.
May - Sonia Sotomayer nominated for the Supreme Court.
June - Michael Jackson dies. Al Franken declared winner of Minnesota senate race. Mark Sanford goes missing.
July - Cash for Clunkers begins. Gov. Palin announces she will not complete her term as Gov of Alaska.
August - Former President Bill Clinton helps in the release by North Korea of two women journalists.
September - "You Lie" is shouted by Senator Wilson during a speach by the President.
October - Rio de Janeiro is chose to hold the 2016 Olympics, beating out Chicago. The President wins a Nobel Peace Prize. David Letterman comes clean.
November - Yankees win the world series. Tiger Woods comes clean.
December - More troops to be sent to Afghanistan. Retailers have a better year than last year. Ducks and Ohio State to meet in the Rose Bowl.
I honestly don't know if the timing of the above events are right or not because I took them from a very funny review of the year by Dave Barry. You can read his take on 2009 here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/12/2009_how_much_fun_can_one_year.html
What words of the decade are you tired of? What do you remember about 2009? What do you think is the top story of 2009?
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Award Winning Rest.
The good story:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2009/12/roosevelt_high_five_loaves_a_c.html
Brother and his wife left yesterday morning for Las Vegas to meet up with their eldest daughter and her family for another Christmas celebration. Niece and her husband are flying out this morning to return to Salt Lake. It was a fun holiday and one of the best celebrations we had in years, however, I am glad to have things going back to normal. Back to a normal schedule. I will miss the most everyone that visited but it is still good to be back to life as I know it. What about you? How are you feeling today?
We all kind of updated each other throughout this holiday weekend so it seems an Update Day would be kind of futile. Let's just call this post anything you darn well please day. Just post whatever you want to and whatever you want to tell us about.
I'm just going to do the update on award nominations and then spend this day resting and recharging my batteries. On the Myer-Brigs I came out an introvert which basically means you get your energy from within and being around a lot of people zaps your energy. So I am hooking the jumper cables up to unmentionable parts of my body and recharge today.
I reported on the Screen Actors Guild Nominations earlier. Today it is Golden Globe Awards, which will air on January 17th, 2010 on NBC. Again my key is W= Will win. S= Should Win. I= The Hurt Locker
MOTION PICTURES
Picture, Drama:
Avatar
The Hurt Locker W, I
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire S
Up in the Air.
Picture, Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer I, S
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia W
Actor, Drama
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus" W
Tobey Maguire, "Brothers." I, S
Actress, Drama:
Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" I
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station" W
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." S
Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" I, S
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Clint Eastwood, "Invictus" W
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglorious Basterds."
Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Matt Damon, "The Informant!"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes" W
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer" I,S
Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man."
Actress, Musical or Comedy:
Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard, "Nine" S, I
Julia Roberts, "Duplicity"
Meryl Streep, "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia." W
Supporting Actor:
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger" W
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station" S, I
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglorious Basterds."
Supporting Actress:
Penelope Cruz, "Nine" W
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" - S
Julianne Moore, "A Single Man." I
Original Song:
"Cinema Italiano" (written by Maury Yeston), "Nine"
"I Want to Come Home" (written by Paul McCartney) "Everybody's Fine"
"I Will See You" (written by James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell), "Avatar"
"The Weary Kind (Theme from 'Crazy Heart')" (written by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett)., "Crazy Heart"
"Winter" (written by U2), "Brothers."
TELEVISION:
Series, Drama:
Big Love, HBO
Dexter, Showtime
House, Fox S, W, I
Mad Men, AMC
True Blood, HBO.
Actor, Drama:
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" W
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House I
Bill Paxton, "Big Love" S
Actress, Drama:
Glenn Close, "Damages" W
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife" S
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer." I
Series, Musical or Comedy "
"30 Rock," NBC W
"Entourage," HBO
"Glee," Fox
"Modern Family," ABC
"The Office," NBC. S, I
Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" W
Steve Carell, "The Office"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matthew Morrison, "Glee." S, I
Actress, Musical or Comedy:
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara"; S
Courteney Cox, "Cougar Town"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" I
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" W
Lea Michele, "Glee."
I hope this is an award winning day for you. What is going on in your life today? Got any big plans for the new year? Are you glad 2009 is ending?
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2009/12/roosevelt_high_five_loaves_a_c.html
Brother and his wife left yesterday morning for Las Vegas to meet up with their eldest daughter and her family for another Christmas celebration. Niece and her husband are flying out this morning to return to Salt Lake. It was a fun holiday and one of the best celebrations we had in years, however, I am glad to have things going back to normal. Back to a normal schedule. I will miss the most everyone that visited but it is still good to be back to life as I know it. What about you? How are you feeling today?
We all kind of updated each other throughout this holiday weekend so it seems an Update Day would be kind of futile. Let's just call this post anything you darn well please day. Just post whatever you want to and whatever you want to tell us about.
I'm just going to do the update on award nominations and then spend this day resting and recharging my batteries. On the Myer-Brigs I came out an introvert which basically means you get your energy from within and being around a lot of people zaps your energy. So I am hooking the jumper cables up to unmentionable parts of my body and recharge today.
I reported on the Screen Actors Guild Nominations earlier. Today it is Golden Globe Awards, which will air on January 17th, 2010 on NBC. Again my key is W= Will win. S= Should Win. I= The Hurt Locker
MOTION PICTURES
Picture, Drama:
Avatar
The Hurt Locker W, I
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire S
Up in the Air.
Picture, Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer I, S
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia W
Actor, Drama
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus" W
Tobey Maguire, "Brothers." I, S
Actress, Drama:
Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" I
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station" W
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." S
Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" I, S
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Clint Eastwood, "Invictus" W
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglorious Basterds."
Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Matt Damon, "The Informant!"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes" W
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer" I,S
Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man."
Actress, Musical or Comedy:
Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard, "Nine" S, I
Julia Roberts, "Duplicity"
Meryl Streep, "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia." W
Supporting Actor:
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger" W
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station" S, I
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglorious Basterds."
Supporting Actress:
Penelope Cruz, "Nine" W
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" - S
Julianne Moore, "A Single Man." I
Original Song:
"Cinema Italiano" (written by Maury Yeston), "Nine"
"I Want to Come Home" (written by Paul McCartney) "Everybody's Fine"
"I Will See You" (written by James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell), "Avatar"
"The Weary Kind (Theme from 'Crazy Heart')" (written by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett)., "Crazy Heart"
"Winter" (written by U2), "Brothers."
TELEVISION:
Series, Drama:
Big Love, HBO
Dexter, Showtime
House, Fox S, W, I
Mad Men, AMC
True Blood, HBO.
Actor, Drama:
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" W
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House I
Bill Paxton, "Big Love" S
Actress, Drama:
Glenn Close, "Damages" W
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife" S
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer." I
Series, Musical or Comedy "
"30 Rock," NBC W
"Entourage," HBO
"Glee," Fox
"Modern Family," ABC
"The Office," NBC. S, I
Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" W
Steve Carell, "The Office"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matthew Morrison, "Glee." S, I
Actress, Musical or Comedy:
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara"; S
Courteney Cox, "Cougar Town"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" I
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" W
Lea Michele, "Glee."
I hope this is an award winning day for you. What is going on in your life today? Got any big plans for the new year? Are you glad 2009 is ending?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
History
Things are winding down here and I had a really nice holiday. The good is that I really enjoyed meeting my Salt Lake City niece's husband, Ty. He is really a nice guy and it was fun connecting with him. He did tell my sister that this was the best Christmas that he has had in a while. I also enjoyed seeing my Salt Lake City niece. We had a nice talk about writing and life in general. It was also good to see my brother for the first time in a while. We had a nice breakfast watching sports and a nice game of scrabble with Mom. Plus he was part of the Christmas Eve celebration.
My gifts went over well. I bought Mom this really cute Navy blue pajama set. Solid Navy blue top and Navy blue bottoms with a white flower design. Both my sister and niece thought they were really, really cute. They were surprised by my taste! Also it is a tradition in our family that I buy funny cards for everyone. And I try to fit them to the personality receiving them. As an example I will use the one I gave Ty. It shows a guy from the back with shorts on above the cheeks and a hairy derriere. You open it up and it says "see, there are some things more frightening then spending Christmas with relatives." Everyone loved the cards.
We also had some nice dinners. Ham with the trimmings on Christmas Eve. Pot roast with the trimmings last night. In addition last night there was some private time with my brother-in-law and Ty.
The one disappointment of the celebration was on Christmas Eve. I failed to bite my tongue. In order to understand why, you need the history. My brother and his wife started dating in high school. He was elected Joe High School, she was elected Betty Coed. Basically the two most popular people in high school. I was a nobody, not popular, didn't care, didn't want to be. In their behalf despite a lot of bad times they are still married and they raised three pretty damn good kids. The oldest got 98% on his SAT and is a nuclear physicist. The second oldest is an attorney but has taken a break from practicing so she can raise her three children. The youngest was an All American basketball player and for two years captain of the Nebraska University's women's basketball. She is a pharmacist and now in charge of a pharmacy inside a large grocery chain. That is the good. Now the bad. It started in the halls of the high school when I was constantly made fun of and in the city when her and her mom spread rumors about me being not college material. I was quiet and different not dumb. They got married the day after they graduated from high school. The abuse continued when they went off for college. One weekend I visited them. My brother and I went on a walk and came back. She locked us out. When I had the accident I didn't get letters of support during my recovery, I got poison pen letters telling me how awful I was and even once told not to contact them. For a number of years I saved the letters and left them to her in my will. Eventually though I got over them and destroyed the letters. During their marriage she has done things like go after my brother with a large kitchen knife. Called my mom several times calling her the b word among other things because of the horrible sons that she had raised. She has sent my mom poison pen letters. Isolated my brother from his family. One of the things about being married so young as there becomes a point when one or both parties miss not having a single life. One did in this marriage. A young good looking successful attorney attracts a lot of women. Bro wasn't good at fighting temptation. I was the one at fault, I corrupted my brother according to the other part of the marriage. Truth is I was the one telling my brother he was leading the wrong life and marriage and family were more important. They eventually worked through that, he got his priorities straight and their marriage survived. Later brother had a stressful case that turned him off to not only the law but to Portland. He needed a new start, he gave up his law license to become a hunting and fishing guide in Wyoming. In the outfitting business the busiest weekend of the year is Labor Day weekend. They had been in Wyoming maybe eight years at the time. Brother came home from taking out a group on a hunting and sightseeing trip. Opened the door to his house and everything was gone. She not only left him. She left him without anything. All the bank accounts drained. All the furniture gone. All the food gone. Neither my brother and I are perfect and maybe she had good reasons to leave him. My problem is how it was done. Brother called my immediately. This is the one time where I really blew it. He was in tears. I thought he needed to know someone was on his side. The conversation basically went like this. "She left me." "Good I didn't like the bitch anyhow." OK, truer words were never spoken. However, had I known they would be back together three weeks later I might of said something different. And when they were back together she was told what I said. I'm sure you can see how that would make her love me even more.
Fast forward to this year. Wednesday night the group met at Mom's house to see the Utah niece that none of us have seen for a very long time. I was the last one there. My sister and her husband appreciate me and are thankful for everything I do. When I do tax returns for relatives I don't charge them. Yet sis and brother-in-law always pay me anyway. As does Mom. Wednesday evening I came in on a conversation where brother-in-law was telling the sister-in-law that I really saved them a lot of money by doing their returns. Sister-in-law responded, well he isn't that good because he got the address wrong on our return one year. I bit my tongue. I wanted to say that why don't you tell them the rest of it, that I didn't charge you that year or the twenty years before that or the ten years after that. Or why don't you tell them you told me if I would come to Wyoming and straighten out your books you would pay for the trip, I did and you didn't.
Next night was game night. It is just a game. Catch Phrase. Fun game. You sit in a circle. Odds on one team, Evens on the other. You have a timer built into the circular game piece. The time starts and the person holding the game piece gives clues. Team guesses word. Game piece is handed to the next person. More clues. If you get caught holding the game piece when the buzzer goes off your team losses that round. I'd never cheat. I might push the rules to the limit but I'd never cheat. Game starts, first round "Don't let Bill see the word." Second round, "Don't let Bill see the word." Third round, "Don't let Bill see the word." That did it. I looked right at her and said "Get off my case." The rest of the night was better. My name wasn't mentioned by her the rest of the night. Peace. I know it is just a game and the better part of valor would have had me keep my mouth shut. I didn't. I am not disappointed I didn't.
Do you have a relative that you would just as soon not spend time with? What about if you get thrown in with them at a gathering, do you keep your mouth shut for the betterment of the evening? Did I do the right thing? Should I have just bit my tongue? Should I apologize to anyone?
My gifts went over well. I bought Mom this really cute Navy blue pajama set. Solid Navy blue top and Navy blue bottoms with a white flower design. Both my sister and niece thought they were really, really cute. They were surprised by my taste! Also it is a tradition in our family that I buy funny cards for everyone. And I try to fit them to the personality receiving them. As an example I will use the one I gave Ty. It shows a guy from the back with shorts on above the cheeks and a hairy derriere. You open it up and it says "see, there are some things more frightening then spending Christmas with relatives." Everyone loved the cards.
We also had some nice dinners. Ham with the trimmings on Christmas Eve. Pot roast with the trimmings last night. In addition last night there was some private time with my brother-in-law and Ty.
The one disappointment of the celebration was on Christmas Eve. I failed to bite my tongue. In order to understand why, you need the history. My brother and his wife started dating in high school. He was elected Joe High School, she was elected Betty Coed. Basically the two most popular people in high school. I was a nobody, not popular, didn't care, didn't want to be. In their behalf despite a lot of bad times they are still married and they raised three pretty damn good kids. The oldest got 98% on his SAT and is a nuclear physicist. The second oldest is an attorney but has taken a break from practicing so she can raise her three children. The youngest was an All American basketball player and for two years captain of the Nebraska University's women's basketball. She is a pharmacist and now in charge of a pharmacy inside a large grocery chain. That is the good. Now the bad. It started in the halls of the high school when I was constantly made fun of and in the city when her and her mom spread rumors about me being not college material. I was quiet and different not dumb. They got married the day after they graduated from high school. The abuse continued when they went off for college. One weekend I visited them. My brother and I went on a walk and came back. She locked us out. When I had the accident I didn't get letters of support during my recovery, I got poison pen letters telling me how awful I was and even once told not to contact them. For a number of years I saved the letters and left them to her in my will. Eventually though I got over them and destroyed the letters. During their marriage she has done things like go after my brother with a large kitchen knife. Called my mom several times calling her the b word among other things because of the horrible sons that she had raised. She has sent my mom poison pen letters. Isolated my brother from his family. One of the things about being married so young as there becomes a point when one or both parties miss not having a single life. One did in this marriage. A young good looking successful attorney attracts a lot of women. Bro wasn't good at fighting temptation. I was the one at fault, I corrupted my brother according to the other part of the marriage. Truth is I was the one telling my brother he was leading the wrong life and marriage and family were more important. They eventually worked through that, he got his priorities straight and their marriage survived. Later brother had a stressful case that turned him off to not only the law but to Portland. He needed a new start, he gave up his law license to become a hunting and fishing guide in Wyoming. In the outfitting business the busiest weekend of the year is Labor Day weekend. They had been in Wyoming maybe eight years at the time. Brother came home from taking out a group on a hunting and sightseeing trip. Opened the door to his house and everything was gone. She not only left him. She left him without anything. All the bank accounts drained. All the furniture gone. All the food gone. Neither my brother and I are perfect and maybe she had good reasons to leave him. My problem is how it was done. Brother called my immediately. This is the one time where I really blew it. He was in tears. I thought he needed to know someone was on his side. The conversation basically went like this. "She left me." "Good I didn't like the bitch anyhow." OK, truer words were never spoken. However, had I known they would be back together three weeks later I might of said something different. And when they were back together she was told what I said. I'm sure you can see how that would make her love me even more.
Fast forward to this year. Wednesday night the group met at Mom's house to see the Utah niece that none of us have seen for a very long time. I was the last one there. My sister and her husband appreciate me and are thankful for everything I do. When I do tax returns for relatives I don't charge them. Yet sis and brother-in-law always pay me anyway. As does Mom. Wednesday evening I came in on a conversation where brother-in-law was telling the sister-in-law that I really saved them a lot of money by doing their returns. Sister-in-law responded, well he isn't that good because he got the address wrong on our return one year. I bit my tongue. I wanted to say that why don't you tell them the rest of it, that I didn't charge you that year or the twenty years before that or the ten years after that. Or why don't you tell them you told me if I would come to Wyoming and straighten out your books you would pay for the trip, I did and you didn't.
Next night was game night. It is just a game. Catch Phrase. Fun game. You sit in a circle. Odds on one team, Evens on the other. You have a timer built into the circular game piece. The time starts and the person holding the game piece gives clues. Team guesses word. Game piece is handed to the next person. More clues. If you get caught holding the game piece when the buzzer goes off your team losses that round. I'd never cheat. I might push the rules to the limit but I'd never cheat. Game starts, first round "Don't let Bill see the word." Second round, "Don't let Bill see the word." Third round, "Don't let Bill see the word." That did it. I looked right at her and said "Get off my case." The rest of the night was better. My name wasn't mentioned by her the rest of the night. Peace. I know it is just a game and the better part of valor would have had me keep my mouth shut. I didn't. I am not disappointed I didn't.
Do you have a relative that you would just as soon not spend time with? What about if you get thrown in with them at a gathering, do you keep your mouth shut for the betterment of the evening? Did I do the right thing? Should I have just bit my tongue? Should I apologize to anyone?
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!!
Two Christmas Spirit stories.
The rabbit was let out of the bag and everyone hopped to help:
http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/23/womans-pet-bunny-is-her-angel/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl3|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F12%2F23%2Fwomans-pet-bunny-is-her-angel%2F
She stopped. She wrote her friends. Now she has a new friend.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/portland_woman_helps_a_homeles.html
Merry Christmas Everyone. Hope last night and today are special for you!! We had a nice time last night. We had a nice dinner. Then we played charades. Then we played Catch Phrase. Then we shared gifts. One of the things I enjoyed about charades was it really hit home to me how much the comedy classes helped. I am a lot better at charades then I was before the classes.
I got some nice gifts too. One of the big type of gifts this year is Oregon Duck gear. This is the first time in a lot of years that Oregon has been in the Rose Bowl so the whole state has gone overload on their support of the football team. My sister got me a nice pair of Oregon Duck pajamas. If I do meet Miss Right I hope she goes quakers over the pajamas. I also got a nice tool set. Plus Mom gave me a hundred bucks and a bunch of socks. I also scored a nice shirt and tie.
The gift from heaven went over well. "You can have anything I have but you can't have my woman." That may be a sexist statement but Mom and dad are from a different generation and that was what Dad always said and Mom always loved the phrase. That is how the card from heave started. Written in what looked like dad's writing. It was a special way to end the evening. I think, however, this may be the last year I do it.
I did most of the time bite my tongue at the game circle last night but I completely failed to make it through the entire evening keeping quiet and take one for peace and the team. I will expand on this in another post. To much history and to little time to write about it today. Believe me I tried. And when I did indicate to the offending relative that she had crossed the invisible line it got better. We will see at another family get together today. Wish me luck and not only send me good thoughts and vibes but send me the courage to bite me tongue for peace and harmony today and include a few band aids to cover the holes in my tongue that will be created!
How was your Christmas? What did Santa bring you? Peace On Earth and Goodwill Towards Men and Women?
The rabbit was let out of the bag and everyone hopped to help:
http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/23/womans-pet-bunny-is-her-angel/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl3|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F12%2F23%2Fwomans-pet-bunny-is-her-angel%2F
She stopped. She wrote her friends. Now she has a new friend.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/portland_woman_helps_a_homeles.html
Merry Christmas Everyone. Hope last night and today are special for you!! We had a nice time last night. We had a nice dinner. Then we played charades. Then we played Catch Phrase. Then we shared gifts. One of the things I enjoyed about charades was it really hit home to me how much the comedy classes helped. I am a lot better at charades then I was before the classes.
I got some nice gifts too. One of the big type of gifts this year is Oregon Duck gear. This is the first time in a lot of years that Oregon has been in the Rose Bowl so the whole state has gone overload on their support of the football team. My sister got me a nice pair of Oregon Duck pajamas. If I do meet Miss Right I hope she goes quakers over the pajamas. I also got a nice tool set. Plus Mom gave me a hundred bucks and a bunch of socks. I also scored a nice shirt and tie.
The gift from heaven went over well. "You can have anything I have but you can't have my woman." That may be a sexist statement but Mom and dad are from a different generation and that was what Dad always said and Mom always loved the phrase. That is how the card from heave started. Written in what looked like dad's writing. It was a special way to end the evening. I think, however, this may be the last year I do it.
I did most of the time bite my tongue at the game circle last night but I completely failed to make it through the entire evening keeping quiet and take one for peace and the team. I will expand on this in another post. To much history and to little time to write about it today. Believe me I tried. And when I did indicate to the offending relative that she had crossed the invisible line it got better. We will see at another family get together today. Wish me luck and not only send me good thoughts and vibes but send me the courage to bite me tongue for peace and harmony today and include a few band aids to cover the holes in my tongue that will be created!
How was your Christmas? What did Santa bring you? Peace On Earth and Goodwill Towards Men and Women?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Stealing For Christmas
This is one for the books!
http://news.holidash.com/2009/12/24/5th-grader-with-10-000-hands-out-grandparents-cash-on-the-bus/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl7|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.holidash.com%2F2009%2F12%2F24%2F5th-grader-with-10-000-hands-out-grandparents-cash-on-the-bus%2F
What should happen to the boy? And what kind of grandparent would keep ten grand at home, anyhow? And what about those little tattletales that couldn't wait to fink on Robin Hood?
OK, I think the boy should be grounded. At least for a month. And given household chores to do without payment. But I wouldn't take Christmas away from him. I'd let him have Christmas, then I would let him have hell. As to the tattletales, I think they did the right thing. What is your opinion? And do you have any Christmas Stories you would like to fess up to now?
OK, I admit one year I just couldn't wait to see what I was getting and a couple of days before Christmas when nobody was home, I peaked. I unwrapped and checked out my gifts then wrapped them back up hoping nobody would notice the difference in the wrapping. I got caught. Truthfully, my curiousity ruined that Christmas for me. And my parents thought that wa spunishment enough. Your turn.
Today's Who Am I?
Nobody is really sure when I was born but people look for me on sometimes on the evening before a famous person's birthday and sometimes on the day of his birthday. Thomas and Clement helped create the modern image of me. I am known by many different names around the world. And somewhere in the world I show up nineteen days before that famous person's birthday and in some places I show up on New Year's day.. Some say I live in the north, some say I live in perpetual snow, and some say I living on a mountain high. Energy efficient I sometimes give coal as a gift if you get on my bad side. Some say I originated from the Boyana Church in Bulgaria. Some say the reason I came about was an excuse to give gifts to three impoverished daughters so that they would not have to become prostitutes. I am considered a patron saint by many gourps from archers to children of pawnbrokers. Amsterdam and Moscow also consider me their patron saint. In German lore I was called Odin and sometimes I was recorded at the Germanic holiday of Yule leading a great hunting party. Children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse,to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing the horse's food with gifts or candy. Be a good girl or boy and tell me who I am,
http://news.holidash.com/2009/12/24/5th-grader-with-10-000-hands-out-grandparents-cash-on-the-bus/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl7|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.holidash.com%2F2009%2F12%2F24%2F5th-grader-with-10-000-hands-out-grandparents-cash-on-the-bus%2F
What should happen to the boy? And what kind of grandparent would keep ten grand at home, anyhow? And what about those little tattletales that couldn't wait to fink on Robin Hood?
OK, I think the boy should be grounded. At least for a month. And given household chores to do without payment. But I wouldn't take Christmas away from him. I'd let him have Christmas, then I would let him have hell. As to the tattletales, I think they did the right thing. What is your opinion? And do you have any Christmas Stories you would like to fess up to now?
OK, I admit one year I just couldn't wait to see what I was getting and a couple of days before Christmas when nobody was home, I peaked. I unwrapped and checked out my gifts then wrapped them back up hoping nobody would notice the difference in the wrapping. I got caught. Truthfully, my curiousity ruined that Christmas for me. And my parents thought that wa spunishment enough. Your turn.
Today's Who Am I?
Nobody is really sure when I was born but people look for me on sometimes on the evening before a famous person's birthday and sometimes on the day of his birthday. Thomas and Clement helped create the modern image of me. I am known by many different names around the world. And somewhere in the world I show up nineteen days before that famous person's birthday and in some places I show up on New Year's day.. Some say I live in the north, some say I live in perpetual snow, and some say I living on a mountain high. Energy efficient I sometimes give coal as a gift if you get on my bad side. Some say I originated from the Boyana Church in Bulgaria. Some say the reason I came about was an excuse to give gifts to three impoverished daughters so that they would not have to become prostitutes. I am considered a patron saint by many gourps from archers to children of pawnbrokers. Amsterdam and Moscow also consider me their patron saint. In German lore I was called Odin and sometimes I was recorded at the Germanic holiday of Yule leading a great hunting party. Children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse,to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing the horse's food with gifts or candy. Be a good girl or boy and tell me who I am,
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
No Dead Bodies
This is not only a good story, it is a heck of an idea!
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2009/12/donorsresourceorg_lets_people_pay_it_forward_on_the_web.html
Not much going on today. Niece and husband are coming from Salt Lake. Since my sister hasn't seen her daughter for a while I am picking up Mom and bringing her out here for lunch and a game of Scrabble or two. Then sis and her daughter can have lunch on the way home for the airport and do it in a quiet setting before all the family gets here for tomorrow night.
My house is as clean as it can be. I am a really good cleaner when I set my mind to it. I do the light switches, behind the refrigerator, under the couch and just about everywhere in sight. Fortunately, I didn't find any dead bodies under the couch but I did find one of my remote controls that was missing.
I am really excited this year about Christmas. More so than I have been in a number of years. The only thing that would have made this Christmas more exciting is if I had met Ms. Right and was spending it with her! First, the weather is much better this year. Last year we had the snow and ice storm from hell. We were housebound for a week. This year it is cold and I can live with that. But no snow or ice. Second, I am looking forward to a bigger Christmas Eve dinner and spending time with some relatives that I haven't been able to spend time with for a while.
Questions for the day. When you get around to cleaning your house do you ever find any dead bodies? Or do you find things that have been missing for a while? How are you about Christmas this year? More excited that previous years? Same feelings as previous years? Or are you going to be glad when it will be all over?
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2009/12/donorsresourceorg_lets_people_pay_it_forward_on_the_web.html
Not much going on today. Niece and husband are coming from Salt Lake. Since my sister hasn't seen her daughter for a while I am picking up Mom and bringing her out here for lunch and a game of Scrabble or two. Then sis and her daughter can have lunch on the way home for the airport and do it in a quiet setting before all the family gets here for tomorrow night.
My house is as clean as it can be. I am a really good cleaner when I set my mind to it. I do the light switches, behind the refrigerator, under the couch and just about everywhere in sight. Fortunately, I didn't find any dead bodies under the couch but I did find one of my remote controls that was missing.
I am really excited this year about Christmas. More so than I have been in a number of years. The only thing that would have made this Christmas more exciting is if I had met Ms. Right and was spending it with her! First, the weather is much better this year. Last year we had the snow and ice storm from hell. We were housebound for a week. This year it is cold and I can live with that. But no snow or ice. Second, I am looking forward to a bigger Christmas Eve dinner and spending time with some relatives that I haven't been able to spend time with for a while.
Questions for the day. When you get around to cleaning your house do you ever find any dead bodies? Or do you find things that have been missing for a while? How are you about Christmas this year? More excited that previous years? Same feelings as previous years? Or are you going to be glad when it will be all over?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Incurable Doofus
First the good news:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/scientists-map-cancer-genes-personalized-treatments-could-be-ne/19286983/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fscientists-map-cancer-genes-personalized-treatments-could-be-ne%2F19286983%2F
I am learning to ask for help when I need it. However, sometimes that help ends up costing me more in time and money then if I just had handled it myself. OK, admittedly I am sometimes a clueless doofus. After lunch yesterday with the marvelous Lorraine, (thank you for the movie tickets!), I headed to the Sherwood Post Office to send off my last Christmas package. After the lady behind the counter at the post office complimented me on my wrapping skills I went out to get in the car. I pushed the little car door opener on the key chain and NOTHING HAPPENED!! The door didn't unlock. The battery was dead on that little electronic door opener. I panicked. Then I remembered there was an extra set of keys to my car at Mom's house. So rather than call AAA and wait for a bit I called mom to ask sister to bring me the extra set of the car keys. I was only four miles from Mom's. Sister wasn't there but as things have it the caregiver had stopped by to wish Mom a Merry Christmas and tell Mom that she missed her. She told Mom that she wanted to bring the keys to me. And she did. The second set of keys worked. Before she left the caregiver said, "when that happened to me, I just unlocked the door with the key," NOW WHY DIDN'T I THIINK OF THAT? Mr. Stud has become Mr. Clueless. Both the caregiver and I went on our merry ways. Well at least we did for five minutes. I got a call from the caregiver. Her car died as soon as she left me. I drove over to where she was. First I tried to start her car with jumper cables. Didn't work. Then I went and got her a couple of gallons of gas, I always carry a gas can in the car. Didn't work. Tow truck time. She told me she would be all right waiting for the tow truck alone. But it was dark and cold. I'm not going to leave any woman (well maybe my sister-in-law) alone in the dark and cold under those circumstances. So I had her sit in my car with the heater going while we waited the forty-five minutes for the tow truck. While we were waiting she said that the sixty dollar cost of the tow truck was going to mean she couldn't buy her grandkids Christmas gifts. When the tow truck drivers got there, they tried the same things I did. Gas and battery. Didn't work. So they had to tow her car to an auto repair place. Of course at that time of night it was closed. While one of the tow truck drivers was unloading the car I went over and asked the other one if I could use my AAA membership for the caregiver's tow. He said since I had the plus of course I could. Problem solved. The tow didn't cost me a dime, didn't cost the caregiver a dime. Bless AAA. She can still buy here grandkids gift. I drove her to her girl friend's house where she was staying. The girl friend will take her to the car repair shop in the morning. I ended up getting home three hours after I asked for help.
I know it was really, really dumb of me not to just unlock the car door with the key. I just didn't think about that. I am so used to using technology to do things for me that I just forgot about the old way of getting in a car. However, had I not called Mom for someone to bring me the second set of keys, had not the caregiver willingly brought me that set of car keys, it could have been almost a tragic night for the caregiver. She would have left Mom's, her car would have died on the freeway, and her fate would have been put in the hands of complete strangers. Fate. I asked for help for once in my life and still ended up being the freaking rescuer.
Now on to an interesting story. They always said that if we did something as kids it would cause us to go blind. Now there is a modern version that fear. Read the interesting article here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=al6maBDidAb8
Are you going to quit texting to save your eyesight? After my last experience should I still make the effort to ask for help? Have you ever ended up asking for help and ended up being the helper? Are you excited that maybe the cure for cancer may come in our lifetime? And have you ever forgotten how to do something because you are so used to new technology?
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/scientists-map-cancer-genes-personalized-treatments-could-be-ne/19286983/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fscientists-map-cancer-genes-personalized-treatments-could-be-ne%2F19286983%2F
I am learning to ask for help when I need it. However, sometimes that help ends up costing me more in time and money then if I just had handled it myself. OK, admittedly I am sometimes a clueless doofus. After lunch yesterday with the marvelous Lorraine, (thank you for the movie tickets!), I headed to the Sherwood Post Office to send off my last Christmas package. After the lady behind the counter at the post office complimented me on my wrapping skills I went out to get in the car. I pushed the little car door opener on the key chain and NOTHING HAPPENED!! The door didn't unlock. The battery was dead on that little electronic door opener. I panicked. Then I remembered there was an extra set of keys to my car at Mom's house. So rather than call AAA and wait for a bit I called mom to ask sister to bring me the extra set of the car keys. I was only four miles from Mom's. Sister wasn't there but as things have it the caregiver had stopped by to wish Mom a Merry Christmas and tell Mom that she missed her. She told Mom that she wanted to bring the keys to me. And she did. The second set of keys worked. Before she left the caregiver said, "when that happened to me, I just unlocked the door with the key," NOW WHY DIDN'T I THIINK OF THAT? Mr. Stud has become Mr. Clueless. Both the caregiver and I went on our merry ways. Well at least we did for five minutes. I got a call from the caregiver. Her car died as soon as she left me. I drove over to where she was. First I tried to start her car with jumper cables. Didn't work. Then I went and got her a couple of gallons of gas, I always carry a gas can in the car. Didn't work. Tow truck time. She told me she would be all right waiting for the tow truck alone. But it was dark and cold. I'm not going to leave any woman (well maybe my sister-in-law) alone in the dark and cold under those circumstances. So I had her sit in my car with the heater going while we waited the forty-five minutes for the tow truck. While we were waiting she said that the sixty dollar cost of the tow truck was going to mean she couldn't buy her grandkids Christmas gifts. When the tow truck drivers got there, they tried the same things I did. Gas and battery. Didn't work. So they had to tow her car to an auto repair place. Of course at that time of night it was closed. While one of the tow truck drivers was unloading the car I went over and asked the other one if I could use my AAA membership for the caregiver's tow. He said since I had the plus of course I could. Problem solved. The tow didn't cost me a dime, didn't cost the caregiver a dime. Bless AAA. She can still buy here grandkids gift. I drove her to her girl friend's house where she was staying. The girl friend will take her to the car repair shop in the morning. I ended up getting home three hours after I asked for help.
I know it was really, really dumb of me not to just unlock the car door with the key. I just didn't think about that. I am so used to using technology to do things for me that I just forgot about the old way of getting in a car. However, had I not called Mom for someone to bring me the second set of keys, had not the caregiver willingly brought me that set of car keys, it could have been almost a tragic night for the caregiver. She would have left Mom's, her car would have died on the freeway, and her fate would have been put in the hands of complete strangers. Fate. I asked for help for once in my life and still ended up being the freaking rescuer.
Now on to an interesting story. They always said that if we did something as kids it would cause us to go blind. Now there is a modern version that fear. Read the interesting article here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=al6maBDidAb8
Are you going to quit texting to save your eyesight? After my last experience should I still make the effort to ask for help? Have you ever ended up asking for help and ended up being the helper? Are you excited that maybe the cure for cancer may come in our lifetime? And have you ever forgotten how to do something because you are so used to new technology?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Award Season Is Here!
Award season has started!! As you know I am huge fan of award shows. Love them. Love the glitz and glamour. Recently both The Golden Globe and The Screen Actors Guild announced their nominations. Before giving you the nominations I want to seek out your advise. I always am interested in what type of things the readers here like me to write about. I am considering picking ten posts this year and have you vote on them as the favorite post of the year. Of course if you wanted to vote on one of the posts not nominated, write-in votes would be allowed. Good idea or bad idea?
Now on to the nominations.
The Screen Actors Guild Nominations for their show that will air live from Los Angeles on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 23rd, 2010. The key: W= Will Win. S= Should win. I= I want to win.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart I
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus W
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side I
Helen Mirren, The Last Station S
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia W
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon, Invictus I
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger W
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones S
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING
ROLE
Penelope Cruz, Nine W
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious I, S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
An Education
The Hurt Locker I
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious S, W
TELEVISION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter S, W
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House I
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace W
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife I,S
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock S
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Tony Shalhoub, Monk W, I
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? I
Toni Collette, United States of Tara S
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock W
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
The Closer
Dexter
The Good Wife I, S, W
Mad Men
True Blood
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock W
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee S, I
Modern Family
The Office
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance W
Cuba Gooding, Jr., Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story I
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O'Keeffe
Kevin Kline, Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac
Tom Wilkinson, A Number S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Joan Allen, Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens S
Ruby Dee, America
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens I
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby W
I will bring you the Golden Globe nominations in the next couple of days. Who are some of your favorites? And what do you thing about nominating posts? May this be an award winning day for you!!!
Now on to the nominations.
The Screen Actors Guild Nominations for their show that will air live from Los Angeles on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 23rd, 2010. The key: W= Will Win. S= Should win. I= I want to win.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart I
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus W
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side I
Helen Mirren, The Last Station S
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia W
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon, Invictus I
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger W
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones S
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING
ROLE
Penelope Cruz, Nine W
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious I, S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
An Education
The Hurt Locker I
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious S, W
TELEVISION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter S, W
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House I
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace W
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife I,S
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock S
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Tony Shalhoub, Monk W, I
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? I
Toni Collette, United States of Tara S
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock W
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
The Closer
Dexter
The Good Wife I, S, W
Mad Men
True Blood
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock W
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee S, I
Modern Family
The Office
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance W
Cuba Gooding, Jr., Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story I
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O'Keeffe
Kevin Kline, Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac
Tom Wilkinson, A Number S
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Joan Allen, Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens S
Ruby Dee, America
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens I
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby W
I will bring you the Golden Globe nominations in the next couple of days. Who are some of your favorites? And what do you thing about nominating posts? May this be an award winning day for you!!!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A Challenge To Blog Readers & Posters!
HELP EVERYONE! With me already updating you daily on my life last and with all the reality shows' finals done and in the bank I am going to need your help. Because this most likely will be an uneventful, boring post I need you all to make the blog exciting today by updating me on your life! Come on now, bring some excitement to this blog, you can do it!
The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was the late and great and absolutely beautiful Jennifer Jones.
My life last week you already know about. Extreme fear on Monday. Finding on later that day that I am in better shape than I thought. Tuesday a day of rest. Wednesday Mom to lunch. Thursday housecleaning and also discovering a secret that the family kept from me. Friday the results of the stress test. By the way when I took the stress test on Monday my sister was with me the entire time. All three and half hours of it. And Friday when I got the results Mom was there. Sister was busy unloading the Vans that arrived from Utah Friday. Mom didn't want me to go alone for the results so she went with me. I am usually the supporter in the family but it was really nice to be the supported this week.
What is on the agenda? Today it is breakfast with the boys and one of the boys will be my brother. He and his wife are visiting from Wyoming. I haven't seen him in quite a while so this will be a really nice reconnection. Monday I have a lunch with one of my favorite women. A former business associate that along with her husband have become friends. I am really looking forward to it. Tuesday it is errand day for Mom. Wednesday I get to meet my sister's son-in-law. Niece and husband are visiting from Utah. Thursday is the biggest darn Christmas celebration that we have had in ages. This is the first time in over five years that all three siblings have been together during the holidays. At Christmas Eve dinner will be Mom, Sister, Brother-in-law, Brother, Sister-in-law, Sister's daughter and husband, Brother's Son and his wife and two of their children, Brother's youngest daughter and her husband and two kids and myself. How many is that? Seventeen. I bought the two hams for the feast. Now for that evening my job is stay out of the kitchen and get out of sister and mom's way while they cook Christmas Eve dinner. We always celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day we all just chill and relax. I, for some strange reason, am looking forward to the Christmas Eve family get together. Since I am the off center one in the family sometimes I really don't look forward to relative gatherings because I feel like an outcast. This time I decided to embrace my outcastness. I am going to be me and enjoying them for who they are!
When do you celebrate Christmas? Eve or Day or both? What is on the agenda this week for you? And give me an exciting update! The blog is now yours!
The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was the late and great and absolutely beautiful Jennifer Jones.
My life last week you already know about. Extreme fear on Monday. Finding on later that day that I am in better shape than I thought. Tuesday a day of rest. Wednesday Mom to lunch. Thursday housecleaning and also discovering a secret that the family kept from me. Friday the results of the stress test. By the way when I took the stress test on Monday my sister was with me the entire time. All three and half hours of it. And Friday when I got the results Mom was there. Sister was busy unloading the Vans that arrived from Utah Friday. Mom didn't want me to go alone for the results so she went with me. I am usually the supporter in the family but it was really nice to be the supported this week.
What is on the agenda? Today it is breakfast with the boys and one of the boys will be my brother. He and his wife are visiting from Wyoming. I haven't seen him in quite a while so this will be a really nice reconnection. Monday I have a lunch with one of my favorite women. A former business associate that along with her husband have become friends. I am really looking forward to it. Tuesday it is errand day for Mom. Wednesday I get to meet my sister's son-in-law. Niece and husband are visiting from Utah. Thursday is the biggest darn Christmas celebration that we have had in ages. This is the first time in over five years that all three siblings have been together during the holidays. At Christmas Eve dinner will be Mom, Sister, Brother-in-law, Brother, Sister-in-law, Sister's daughter and husband, Brother's Son and his wife and two of their children, Brother's youngest daughter and her husband and two kids and myself. How many is that? Seventeen. I bought the two hams for the feast. Now for that evening my job is stay out of the kitchen and get out of sister and mom's way while they cook Christmas Eve dinner. We always celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day we all just chill and relax. I, for some strange reason, am looking forward to the Christmas Eve family get together. Since I am the off center one in the family sometimes I really don't look forward to relative gatherings because I feel like an outcast. This time I decided to embrace my outcastness. I am going to be me and enjoying them for who they are!
When do you celebrate Christmas? Eve or Day or both? What is on the agenda this week for you? And give me an exciting update! The blog is now yours!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
95% Clear/I've Got A Secret!
As you all know after years of a little to much stress I began to have symptoms that worried me. Worried me so much that I scheduled an appointment with my Mom's heart doctor. The doctor was concerned enough about the symptoms that he scheduled a stress test. As soon as friends found about the stress test the stories about people having heart attacks during the stress test became the focus of their conversations. By the time the stress test happened I was scared stiff. I not only survived the stress test, I did damn good with it. Yesterday was my follow-up appointment with Dr. Leno (he looks like Jay Leno). I am not one hundred percent in the clear but I am at least ninety-five percent in the clear. They did detect a small problem at the bottom of the heart. Nothing major. Just something to watch out for. Not even major enough to schedule an angiogram. The symptoms that I had that made me want to see a heart doctor have gone. So where we are at right now? Continue the walking program. Watch the fatty foods. Call him if the symptoms return. Then see him March 23 of next year. If the symptoms haven't returned by then I will be in the clear. I thank you all so much for your good vibes, good thoughts, and prayers. Keep them up and then also keep me in line! Make sure I keep walking!!
One thing that came up this last week was really disturbing to me. I handled it really well, even though I was dutifully ticked. I took a deep breath and made the responsible people feel OK about a secret they kept from me. Their intentions were honorable which smoothed my feelings a bit. We have a friend of the family, Ted, who is just about the nicest and most helpful person on the planet. This is a really close family friend and a really close friend to me. He called me Thursday night and left me a voice mail. "I thought you might want to know that I had a quadruple bypass." I immediately called my Mom, "Mom, I thought you should know that Ted had a quadruple bypass." Mom, "I know but we were told not to tell you. With your stress test we knew how scared you were and thought knowing about Ted would make it even worse for you." Apparently my Sis had told everyone not to tell me until after the follow-up appointment with Dr. Leno. Mom who usually has a hard time keeping a secret chose this one instance to show us all that she can keep a secret. Boggles the mind.
Here is what bothered Sis. Ted couldn't complete the stress test so they had to immediately take him to the emergency room where they did an angiogram. They then discovered that he had several blockages and right then and there did the bypass. She was afraid I would translate that information into me not being able to complete the stress test and maybe cancel the test.
When sis called and apologized, because her motivations were good, I just told her it was forgotten. I bit my tongue. The thing is I could have handled the information. I have a reputation as being the strongest one in the family. Besides having the secret kept from me it also bothered me that they thought I needed protection.
Did I do the right thing? Or should have I expressed my anger at being kept in the dark? Under the same circumstances would have you wanted to know if a close friend or relative had major surgery? What would you have done if they had kept that information from you?
TODAY'S WHO AM I?
I was born in 1919 in Oklahoma to parents that toured the Midwest in a traveling tent show that they owned and operated. At 19 I went to an academy of dramatic arts in New York City. I met Robert there and we married in 1939. We divorced in 1945. We had two sons, one died before I did. I married again and after my second husband's death I attempted suicide by jumping off a cliff. After I came out of a coma and recovered my daughter committed suicide by jumping out of a 20th floor window. I married a third time to a wealthy industrialist. In my first movie I shared the screen with The Duke. I was billed in my first two films under my birth name not the name that I was most known by. After failing a screen test I worked as a part-time hat model. Although I left my next audition in tears because I thought I did so terrible I was signed to a seven year contract and given my new name. On my 25th birthday I won a famous award for singing about Bernadette. Also up for the award was by friend Ingrid for whom the bell tolled. The next year I was able to present the same award to dear Ingrid for a gaslight performance. Over the years I had a Duel In The Sun, found out that Love Was A Many Splendid Thing, wrote Love Letters, made a Portrait of Jean, had an Indiscretion Of An American Wife, met Gregory when he was A Man In The Gray Flannel Suit and said a Farewell To Arms with him. My last hurrah was dancing with the famous Fred right before an earthquake caused The Towering Inferno. In my last role after saving two children I fell one hundred and ten floors to my death. I received a Golden Globe nomination for that touching scene. I was a breast cancer survivor. I died recently at age 90. Who Am I?
One thing that came up this last week was really disturbing to me. I handled it really well, even though I was dutifully ticked. I took a deep breath and made the responsible people feel OK about a secret they kept from me. Their intentions were honorable which smoothed my feelings a bit. We have a friend of the family, Ted, who is just about the nicest and most helpful person on the planet. This is a really close family friend and a really close friend to me. He called me Thursday night and left me a voice mail. "I thought you might want to know that I had a quadruple bypass." I immediately called my Mom, "Mom, I thought you should know that Ted had a quadruple bypass." Mom, "I know but we were told not to tell you. With your stress test we knew how scared you were and thought knowing about Ted would make it even worse for you." Apparently my Sis had told everyone not to tell me until after the follow-up appointment with Dr. Leno. Mom who usually has a hard time keeping a secret chose this one instance to show us all that she can keep a secret. Boggles the mind.
Here is what bothered Sis. Ted couldn't complete the stress test so they had to immediately take him to the emergency room where they did an angiogram. They then discovered that he had several blockages and right then and there did the bypass. She was afraid I would translate that information into me not being able to complete the stress test and maybe cancel the test.
When sis called and apologized, because her motivations were good, I just told her it was forgotten. I bit my tongue. The thing is I could have handled the information. I have a reputation as being the strongest one in the family. Besides having the secret kept from me it also bothered me that they thought I needed protection.
Did I do the right thing? Or should have I expressed my anger at being kept in the dark? Under the same circumstances would have you wanted to know if a close friend or relative had major surgery? What would you have done if they had kept that information from you?
TODAY'S WHO AM I?
I was born in 1919 in Oklahoma to parents that toured the Midwest in a traveling tent show that they owned and operated. At 19 I went to an academy of dramatic arts in New York City. I met Robert there and we married in 1939. We divorced in 1945. We had two sons, one died before I did. I married again and after my second husband's death I attempted suicide by jumping off a cliff. After I came out of a coma and recovered my daughter committed suicide by jumping out of a 20th floor window. I married a third time to a wealthy industrialist. In my first movie I shared the screen with The Duke. I was billed in my first two films under my birth name not the name that I was most known by. After failing a screen test I worked as a part-time hat model. Although I left my next audition in tears because I thought I did so terrible I was signed to a seven year contract and given my new name. On my 25th birthday I won a famous award for singing about Bernadette. Also up for the award was by friend Ingrid for whom the bell tolled. The next year I was able to present the same award to dear Ingrid for a gaslight performance. Over the years I had a Duel In The Sun, found out that Love Was A Many Splendid Thing, wrote Love Letters, made a Portrait of Jean, had an Indiscretion Of An American Wife, met Gregory when he was A Man In The Gray Flannel Suit and said a Farewell To Arms with him. My last hurrah was dancing with the famous Fred right before an earthquake caused The Towering Inferno. In my last role after saving two children I fell one hundred and ten floors to my death. I received a Golden Globe nomination for that touching scene. I was a breast cancer survivor. I died recently at age 90. Who Am I?
Friday, December 18, 2009
Happy Holiday Heart Attack
While at Mom's yesterday by accident I caught the Dr. Oz show. Did you know the three days of the year that there are the most heart attacks are Christmas Day, December 26th, and New Year's Day? Heart attacks are now the leading cause of death among women. And most of the holiday heart attacks are suffered by women. According to Dr. Oz there are four steps to take during the holiday season to maybe prevent a heart attack. Those four things are:
Decrease the intake of booze. Never have two drinks in a row. Alternate drinks with a glass of water.
Don't eat fatty foods. Quoting Dr. Oz "A high-fat meal can lead to dysfunction in artery lining for six to 12 hours after eating."
Know your feelings. Part of the reason we need the comfort food is because of holiday stress. Relatives are hardwired to get on our nerves. Stress comes from the financial pressures of purchasing gifts, decorating, travel, interaction with family, and entertaining. Depression and grief can break your heart. For some people the holidays magnify loneliness and sadness. So know the stress and the physical symptoms they cause. Call and check on those alone. Reach out if you are alone. Instead of eating and drinking, call someone in pain.
Either tube the fire place or stay a good distance from it. Particles that the fireplace emits can cause spasm of the arteries.
Remember also women often do not get chest pains as a symptom of a heart attack. Watch for indigestion, shortness of breath, and sweating. Men are more likely to have chest pains. If you think you are having a heart attack take an aspirin and call 911.
You can read all about Dr. Oz and the holiday heart attacks here:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/dr-mehmet-oz-tips-preventing-heart-attack-holidays/story?id=9329383
I was surprised by a number of things. Mostly that the holidays were such a magnet of heart attacks and also that a fire place could have such an impact on the heart. This wasn't in the article but I think it is really important, we have a tendency during the holiday season to quit exercising. Make sure you continue to walk or run, take a deep breath, enjoy your relatives instead of letting them get to you, and remember the holidays will be over soon and everything will be back to normal. Please pass the above link along to your women friends or if you want pass along this post.
What about the above surprises you? Anything?
Decrease the intake of booze. Never have two drinks in a row. Alternate drinks with a glass of water.
Don't eat fatty foods. Quoting Dr. Oz "A high-fat meal can lead to dysfunction in artery lining for six to 12 hours after eating."
Know your feelings. Part of the reason we need the comfort food is because of holiday stress. Relatives are hardwired to get on our nerves. Stress comes from the financial pressures of purchasing gifts, decorating, travel, interaction with family, and entertaining. Depression and grief can break your heart. For some people the holidays magnify loneliness and sadness. So know the stress and the physical symptoms they cause. Call and check on those alone. Reach out if you are alone. Instead of eating and drinking, call someone in pain.
Either tube the fire place or stay a good distance from it. Particles that the fireplace emits can cause spasm of the arteries.
Remember also women often do not get chest pains as a symptom of a heart attack. Watch for indigestion, shortness of breath, and sweating. Men are more likely to have chest pains. If you think you are having a heart attack take an aspirin and call 911.
You can read all about Dr. Oz and the holiday heart attacks here:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/dr-mehmet-oz-tips-preventing-heart-attack-holidays/story?id=9329383
I was surprised by a number of things. Mostly that the holidays were such a magnet of heart attacks and also that a fire place could have such an impact on the heart. This wasn't in the article but I think it is really important, we have a tendency during the holiday season to quit exercising. Make sure you continue to walk or run, take a deep breath, enjoy your relatives instead of letting them get to you, and remember the holidays will be over soon and everything will be back to normal. Please pass the above link along to your women friends or if you want pass along this post.
What about the above surprises you? Anything?
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Overcommitted
Been a busy day so no real post today. One of those days when there was more chores than time. I will return tomorrow with a post. Just didn't want anyone to worry.
All of the prizes went into the mail on Tuesday. If you don't get the prizes by Saturday make sure you email me and let me know!
Hope this is a great day for all of you! Or what is left of it!!
All of the prizes went into the mail on Tuesday. If you don't get the prizes by Saturday make sure you email me and let me know!
Hope this is a great day for all of you! Or what is left of it!!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
When Will They Ever Learn?
Three years ago three climbers were lost on Mount Hood near Portland, Oregon trying to climb the mountain in the winter. They found one body. The other two bodies were never found and are presumed dead. Now just five days ago another set of three mountain climbers tried to climb Mount Hood in the winter time and are missing. One body has been found, the other two climbers are still missing. According to today's paper there is less than a one percent chance that the remaining two climbers will found alive if found at all. Due to severe avalanche warnings and dangerous weather conditions the rescue teams haven't been able to conduct a ground search for the climbers. Both group of climbers, the ones three years ago, and the ones currently missing were/are "experienced climbers." Why is it that it is always the experienced climbers that end up missing?
Mount Hood isn't anywhere near as tall as Mount Everest or numerous other mountains and maybe that is why climbers get overconfident with it. However, what makes Northwest mountains treacherous is there is often rapid changes in weather conditions. The temperature can drop thirty of forty degrees in a matter of minutes. During the winter there can be gusts of winds up to one miles an hour near the top of the mountain. There are some reports is that is what happened to the remaining missing climbers from 2006, that they were blown off of the mountain.
MLU. Remember those initials they mean "mountain locator unit." How much does one cost? You can rent one for five dollars at the lodge at the base of the mountain before you begin your climb. It sends out a beep that helps rescuers pinpoint where you are. Cell phones are nice but sometimes you can't get a signal, sometimes they get wet and quit working. Two way radios? Not enough range. The mountain locator units won't guarantee that you are found but they certainly increase the chances that you will be. Neither the set of climbers three years ago or the set climbers now lost on Mount Hood had an MLU. Three years ago a state representative proposed a law that would require climbers that climb Mount Hood to have an MLU. It was narrowly defeated and one of the reasons it was defeated was mount climbing organizations were against the proposed law. Quoting a position statement from one of the rescue and climbing organizations "contrary to what might seem common sense we believe that mandating beacons actually increases the risks for both climbers and rescuers." They are afraid climbers would feel more comfortable and take more risks if they had an MLU than the would take without one. In my humble opinion that kind of rationalization is going to lead to another here we go again and another search for missing climbers. Another family agonizing while their relatives are searched for. Another wife without a husband. More children without a mother or dad. More parents without their sons or daughters. More lost friends. If I were a climber out of respect for the mountain, out of respect for my friends, out of respect for my loved ones I would spend the five dollars and take an MLU with me. In the words of the famous song often sung during my youth, when will they ever learn my friend, when will they ever learn.
If you decided to climb a mountain would you us an MLU? How would you pass the time as your husband, wife, son, or daughter were missing on a mountain and it was just to dangerous to go look for them? Should it be legally required of climbers of Mount Hood to carry a mountain locator unit? Should winter climbing of Mt. Hood be banned? My heart just goes out to not only the missing climbers but for their family and friends also. I so hope that they are found and found alive. Miracles do happen. Let's all pray for a miracle.
You can read the latest about the missing climbers here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/treacherous_conditions_stall_s.html
Mount Hood isn't anywhere near as tall as Mount Everest or numerous other mountains and maybe that is why climbers get overconfident with it. However, what makes Northwest mountains treacherous is there is often rapid changes in weather conditions. The temperature can drop thirty of forty degrees in a matter of minutes. During the winter there can be gusts of winds up to one miles an hour near the top of the mountain. There are some reports is that is what happened to the remaining missing climbers from 2006, that they were blown off of the mountain.
MLU. Remember those initials they mean "mountain locator unit." How much does one cost? You can rent one for five dollars at the lodge at the base of the mountain before you begin your climb. It sends out a beep that helps rescuers pinpoint where you are. Cell phones are nice but sometimes you can't get a signal, sometimes they get wet and quit working. Two way radios? Not enough range. The mountain locator units won't guarantee that you are found but they certainly increase the chances that you will be. Neither the set of climbers three years ago or the set climbers now lost on Mount Hood had an MLU. Three years ago a state representative proposed a law that would require climbers that climb Mount Hood to have an MLU. It was narrowly defeated and one of the reasons it was defeated was mount climbing organizations were against the proposed law. Quoting a position statement from one of the rescue and climbing organizations "contrary to what might seem common sense we believe that mandating beacons actually increases the risks for both climbers and rescuers." They are afraid climbers would feel more comfortable and take more risks if they had an MLU than the would take without one. In my humble opinion that kind of rationalization is going to lead to another here we go again and another search for missing climbers. Another family agonizing while their relatives are searched for. Another wife without a husband. More children without a mother or dad. More parents without their sons or daughters. More lost friends. If I were a climber out of respect for the mountain, out of respect for my friends, out of respect for my loved ones I would spend the five dollars and take an MLU with me. In the words of the famous song often sung during my youth, when will they ever learn my friend, when will they ever learn.
If you decided to climb a mountain would you us an MLU? How would you pass the time as your husband, wife, son, or daughter were missing on a mountain and it was just to dangerous to go look for them? Should it be legally required of climbers of Mount Hood to carry a mountain locator unit? Should winter climbing of Mt. Hood be banned? My heart just goes out to not only the missing climbers but for their family and friends also. I so hope that they are found and found alive. Miracles do happen. Let's all pray for a miracle.
You can read the latest about the missing climbers here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/treacherous_conditions_stall_s.html
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
"Just Tell Them I Was Good"
I'm am so relaxed and relieved today it is almost sinful. Speaking of sinful my subject today has to do with brothels and Nevada. As some of you may know prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada. The brothels are licensed by the state and the rules are enforced by the state. The women have to work out of brothels and also are licensed by the state. The women are required to get weekly health checks. The most famous brothel in Nevada laurels was The Mustang Ranch. It has been closed for a long time now. It was closed by the Internal Revenue Service for nonpayment of federal income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service actually ran it for a while and did quite well with it until it became public knowledge that our IRS was screwing the public. Then they had to shut it down due to all the outrage about the kind of business our government was operating. I'm not sure where I am at with the legalization of prostitution. It just seems that prostitution has been going on for years, it isn't ever going to stop, and that it would be safer for the women if the state monitored it. I promised honesty on this blog and now you will get a dose of it. I went to the Mustang Ranch once. My freshmen year in College at Ashland, Oregon. A friend and I were driving around the small city getting bored and made the decision to drive the three hundred miles to Reno just to visit the famous ranch. Yes, Mr. Goody Two Shoes that at the time wanted to be either a coach or a minister or both took off on a mission to find a famous brothel. When we got to the Reno area we asked a taxi driver for directions. The driver immediately told us to get on the freeway, take the Mustang exit, and follow the red arrows. We went way out into the middle of nowhere where the ranch was. Outside of this really ugly and very cold looking building they had a buzzer that you pushed. When you rang the buzzer the main door opened and about twenty women in bikinis stood up and said their names. I was to shy to even look at them and just called out a name I thought I heard mentioned. There was nobody there by that name. Then one of the women stepped forward, without me asking, took me by the arm and led me to a room in the back. I was still to shy to even look at her. I can't tell you today what color her hair was. Before she took her top off, I gave her a hundred dollars and said "just tell them I was good" and ran like hell out of there to the car and waited for my friend, Phil. Then we drove back to Ashland. Yes, Mr. Stud here drove a six hundred mile round trip, spent a hundred dollars, and couldn't get serviced at a brothel. It was just all so cold. I have not only never again had the desire to seek out a lady of the evening I just could never understand since then how any man could seek such cold companionship. Why am I talking about this now? Because I just read an article that Nevada has made male prostitution legal. Now women, or men for that matter, can go to The Shady Lady Ranch and ask for a male prostitute. I honestly don't know how I feel about this, I am having a little trouble with it. You can read the article here:
http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/shady-lady-ranch-aims-to-offer-first-male-prostitutes/19280606?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl1|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sphere.com%2Fnation%2Farticle%2Fshady-lady-ranch-aims-to-offer-first-male-prostitutes%2F19280606
How do you feel about legalized prostitution? Legalized male prostitution? With all the power men like Sptizer, Woods, Sanford and numerous others having affairs and now legalized male prostitution I just can't help but wonder where this world is heading.
On to a much saner note. Maryanne is a friend of DR, Mary, and Pat and a new friend of mine. She is a very creative soul and has just started a web page. Check out her web page here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/brighthawk
May this be a creative day for everyone!!
http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/shady-lady-ranch-aims-to-offer-first-male-prostitutes/19280606?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl1|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sphere.com%2Fnation%2Farticle%2Fshady-lady-ranch-aims-to-offer-first-male-prostitutes%2F19280606
How do you feel about legalized prostitution? Legalized male prostitution? With all the power men like Sptizer, Woods, Sanford and numerous others having affairs and now legalized male prostitution I just can't help but wonder where this world is heading.
On to a much saner note. Maryanne is a friend of DR, Mary, and Pat and a new friend of mine. She is a very creative soul and has just started a web page. Check out her web page here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/brighthawk
May this be a creative day for everyone!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Walking Works
I started my walking program again about ten days ago after visiting with my Mom's heart doctor due to some problems that I was having. The doctor scheduled a stress test today due to those symptons. I've been scared stiff not only about the symptoms but also about the stress test. About whether or not I would be able manage the stress test due to those symptoms. Not only have the symptoms gone away but I did great on the treadmill today. I did everything they asked! I am not sure about the results and won't know until the follow-up appointment with Dr. Leno (we call him that because he looks like Jay Leno) Friday. However, I think the results will be good, just a feeling! THANKS FOR YOUR VIBES AND GOOD THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!! THEY WORKED! Just to be safe keep them going until Friday!
The test works like this:
They put you on an IV. Then they inject a dye. (20 minute wait afterwards)
Then you get on to some kind of machine and lay still for seventeen minutes. The machine takes pictures of your heart in a resting position.
Then they take you to a treadmill. They hook you up to an EKG. They take an EKG before you get on the treadmill, then they keep the EKG going the whole time you are on the treadmill. They want to get your heart rate to 137. The treadmill is set to three minute time frames, at the end of each time frame the treadmill speeds up and is elevated. They want you to get to the second time frame so that they can inject you with another dye. I got all the way to the third time frame and got the heart rate to 145. With minor problems. Nothing major. Took ten minutes. My pulse droppeed immediately after I was done, which is a good sign.
Then you got out to the waiting room and eat a peanut butter sandwich. The peanut butter sandwich is important because it helps remove the dye from your system. That takes forty minutes.
After the forty minutes you go back to step one and they take more pictures of your heart.
Then they take an EKG.
Then you go home.
Pictures of the heart while resting, while exercising, and after exercising are sent to the heart doctor for a read. That is what I find out Friday!!
I am exhausted now and am going to a movie!! Tomorrow I will put the link to Maryanne's web site in the daily post!
Thanks again.
The test works like this:
They put you on an IV. Then they inject a dye. (20 minute wait afterwards)
Then you get on to some kind of machine and lay still for seventeen minutes. The machine takes pictures of your heart in a resting position.
Then they take you to a treadmill. They hook you up to an EKG. They take an EKG before you get on the treadmill, then they keep the EKG going the whole time you are on the treadmill. They want to get your heart rate to 137. The treadmill is set to three minute time frames, at the end of each time frame the treadmill speeds up and is elevated. They want you to get to the second time frame so that they can inject you with another dye. I got all the way to the third time frame and got the heart rate to 145. With minor problems. Nothing major. Took ten minutes. My pulse droppeed immediately after I was done, which is a good sign.
Then you got out to the waiting room and eat a peanut butter sandwich. The peanut butter sandwich is important because it helps remove the dye from your system. That takes forty minutes.
After the forty minutes you go back to step one and they take more pictures of your heart.
Then they take an EKG.
Then you go home.
Pictures of the heart while resting, while exercising, and after exercising are sent to the heart doctor for a read. That is what I find out Friday!!
I am exhausted now and am going to a movie!! Tomorrow I will put the link to Maryanne's web site in the daily post!
Thanks again.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A Stressful Update
The week ahead: Stress test tomorrow. Follow-up appointment on Friday. Please wish me luck and send prayers, good and positive vibes for good results, good enough that I don't need an angiogram. Also on the agenda is cleaning house. A day or two with Mom. I am also getting up to speed enough that I can go back to writing. Getting a book to read during the three hour appointment at the stress test is also on the agenda.
The week behind. Completed two day boring accounting seminar. Got my Christmas shopping done. A gift card for sister. A gift card for brother-in-law. Really nice sleepwear for Mom. The gift from heaven that I do every year for Mom. The Chanel #5 perfume, that a friend that writes like dad signs a card, and a neighbor brings over when Mom isn't home and sticks under the tree. Two acts of kindness last week. The first day at the seminar when I came out after the seminar, a guy couldn't start his car. I had jumper cables so I started the car for him. Then Friday when I was doing my grocery shopping the elderly in front of me in line, looked at what I had put on the checkout stand ramp. She said "that reminds me I forgot to get bread." I gave her mine. Also last week I completed two J.A.. Jance Ali Reynolds books.
Entertainment Update. Annoying Michael V. won Top Chef. They had to do four dishes. First one was a dish that reminded them of their childhood. The reason for that dish? Top Chef brought in the mothers of the final contestants. The second dish they did was a dish they had to create from a mystery box of ingredients. For the third dish they could do anything they wanted. The last dish was a desert. I actually thought Bryan won the night but he finished second. Kevin was third. They must have given Michael the Top Chef title for what he has done all season instead of what he did final night. I have to admit, however, he was the most gracious he has been all season when they named him the winner. I loved seeing the mothers of the contestants. On The Amazing Race the young dating couple finished first and took home the million dollar prize. The annoying brothers finished second. My favorites, the interracial couple, finished third. It was an interesting that the Amazing Race finished in the city that Top Chef started, Las Vegas. The teams on the Amazing Race had to do among other things count out a million dollar in chips from a pile of different valued chips and then they had to scale down the side of the Mandalay Bay Casino. I'd have fun counting the million dollars in chips but no thank you going down the side of a casino that high!
There may or may not be a post tomorrow. The stress test is at 9 AM, meaning I have to leave her at 8:30. I also have to fix a peanut butter sandwich before I leave. For some reason they want you to eat something fatty during the test or while waiting for the test. My sister has given me strong orders that she is taking me. That I will not go alone. Bless her heart.
That is my Update. Now tell me yours. Update me on your life and your relatives. Also tell me if you would like to scale down about a thirty story casino or count a million dollar in chips. And tell me what was the favorite food dish that your Mom made for you when you were young. My Mom made a special Swiss steak and with chocolate chip cookies for desert. There was also ham and scalloped potatoes.
Your turn. The blog is now yours.
The week behind. Completed two day boring accounting seminar. Got my Christmas shopping done. A gift card for sister. A gift card for brother-in-law. Really nice sleepwear for Mom. The gift from heaven that I do every year for Mom. The Chanel #5 perfume, that a friend that writes like dad signs a card, and a neighbor brings over when Mom isn't home and sticks under the tree. Two acts of kindness last week. The first day at the seminar when I came out after the seminar, a guy couldn't start his car. I had jumper cables so I started the car for him. Then Friday when I was doing my grocery shopping the elderly in front of me in line, looked at what I had put on the checkout stand ramp. She said "that reminds me I forgot to get bread." I gave her mine. Also last week I completed two J.A.. Jance Ali Reynolds books.
Entertainment Update. Annoying Michael V. won Top Chef. They had to do four dishes. First one was a dish that reminded them of their childhood. The reason for that dish? Top Chef brought in the mothers of the final contestants. The second dish they did was a dish they had to create from a mystery box of ingredients. For the third dish they could do anything they wanted. The last dish was a desert. I actually thought Bryan won the night but he finished second. Kevin was third. They must have given Michael the Top Chef title for what he has done all season instead of what he did final night. I have to admit, however, he was the most gracious he has been all season when they named him the winner. I loved seeing the mothers of the contestants. On The Amazing Race the young dating couple finished first and took home the million dollar prize. The annoying brothers finished second. My favorites, the interracial couple, finished third. It was an interesting that the Amazing Race finished in the city that Top Chef started, Las Vegas. The teams on the Amazing Race had to do among other things count out a million dollar in chips from a pile of different valued chips and then they had to scale down the side of the Mandalay Bay Casino. I'd have fun counting the million dollars in chips but no thank you going down the side of a casino that high!
There may or may not be a post tomorrow. The stress test is at 9 AM, meaning I have to leave her at 8:30. I also have to fix a peanut butter sandwich before I leave. For some reason they want you to eat something fatty during the test or while waiting for the test. My sister has given me strong orders that she is taking me. That I will not go alone. Bless her heart.
That is my Update. Now tell me yours. Update me on your life and your relatives. Also tell me if you would like to scale down about a thirty story casino or count a million dollar in chips. And tell me what was the favorite food dish that your Mom made for you when you were young. My Mom made a special Swiss steak and with chocolate chip cookies for desert. There was also ham and scalloped potatoes.
Your turn. The blog is now yours.
Friday, December 11, 2009
AND THE WINNER IS!!
Wow was I ever impressed with your answers in the contest. I didn't change any of the answers, I stuck with the official answers because all questions had at least one right answer. The scores certainly made all the trivias of the day worthwhile to me because as a group we probably know more about women in history than any group!
AND THE WINNER IS:
Congratulations DR!
Here is the ranking:
FIRST PLACE AND $75
DR 820 POINTS
SECOND PLACE AND $50
PAT 795 POINTS - lost on the last question in the contest. The final bonus question did her in.
THIRD PLACE AND $25
Dona 750 POINTS.
Checks will go out Monday. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
THE ANSWERS ARE:
Ten point questions
1. Who is known by some to be the last female bank robber?
C. Pearl Hart
2. Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar?
A. Hattie McDaniel.
3. The answer to question 2 won the Oscar for what movie?
B. Gone With The Wind.
4. Who was the real life Normal Rae?
A. Crystal Lee Sutton.
5. Marry Surratt was suspected as being involved in what event in American History?
B. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
20 point questions.
6. Who was the first woman Secretary of State?
Madeline Albright.
7. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman elected to the U. S.
House of Representative.
Jeannette Rankin.
8. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman to run for president?
Victoria Woodhall
9. Who was the first woman doctor?
Dr. Eizabeth Blackwell
10. Who was the first woman allowed to practice in front of The United States
Suprmee Court?
Belva Ann Lockwood. Arabella Mansfield is considered to be the first
attorney but she wasn't allowed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
30 POINT QUESTIONS
11. The first woman admiral has a nickname that will remind you of a famous
hymn. Name the hymn.
Amazing Grace.
12. This first woman to break the sound barrier was born with a name different
than he one she had when she broke the sound barrier. Give me the two names,
fifteen points for each name.
Jackie Cochran-Bessie Lee Pittman
13. Who was the first "living woman author" to have her works published by the
Library of America.
Eudoera Welty. Flannery O'Conner was one of the guesses but she was the first
fiction writer not the first living woman to have her works published, her
works were published after death.
14. Who was the first woman appointed Poet Laureate by the Library Of Congress.
Mona Van Duyn. Here is a web site with the history of the position:
http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/poet_laureate.jsp
15. Who was the first woman to hold a full professorship at John Hopkins School of
Medicine.
Florence Sabin.
40 POINT QUESTIONS
16. I took the photograph that was titled The Migrant Mother, Who Am I?
Dorthea Lange
17. My name is Margaret Brent, how many of the original colonies am I given credit
for founding.
Two
18. I am a woman given credit for helping to develop the bottling system at Coca
Cola, Who Am I?
Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans/
19. My name is Mary Edwards Walker what medal was I the first woman to win?
Medal of Honor.
20. My name is Juliet Gordon Low. Ten points for each of the following answers:
A. I had two nicknames, ten points for each nickname.
Little Ship. Daisy.
B. What organization am I given credit for founding.
Girl Scouts.
C. What handicap did I have.
Limited Hearing.
50 POINTS EACH.
21. I am sometimes referred to as the Japanese Schindler. I saved many lives during
World War II. The owner of The Dahn Report called me a true hero because I did
what I did not for fame or fortune but because it was the right thing to do.
He also shed a tear when he read my bio. Who Am I?
Chiune Sugihara
22. I am a handsome but small dude that acted in numerous movies but not as well
known as the most decorated soldier of World War II. Who Am I?
Audie Murphy.
23. I was the first woman to own, operate and edit a news vehicle for women.
Don't tell me my name instead tell me what article of women's clothing my name
is associated with.
Bloomers.
24. I was Ernest Hemmingway's third wife. For twenty-five points each tell me my
name and my occupation.
Margaret Gellhorn, Journalist.
25. You get twenty-five points if you can tell me the president that appointed the
first woman cabinet member and another twenty five points if you can tell me
the name of the woman.
The first *cabinet* member was Frances Perkins appointed by FDR.
BONUS QUESTION:
On The Dahn Report a link was supplied to video of the employees of a hospital doing a dance to bring awareness to breast cancer. 25 points each.
A. Name the hospital.
Providence St. Vincent
B. Name the dance.
The Pink Glove Dance.
C. Tell me within one million views how many times the video has been viewed on You
Tube. Only the official hospital You Tube video counts. There are several other
videos on You Tube of the dance so just go with the one that has the most views.
Three to six millions views would be considered correct.
D. Who sings the song that the employees are dancing to?
Jay Sean. The song is Down.
AND THE WINNER IS:
Congratulations DR!
Here is the ranking:
FIRST PLACE AND $75
DR 820 POINTS
SECOND PLACE AND $50
PAT 795 POINTS - lost on the last question in the contest. The final bonus question did her in.
THIRD PLACE AND $25
Dona 750 POINTS.
Checks will go out Monday. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
THE ANSWERS ARE:
Ten point questions
1. Who is known by some to be the last female bank robber?
C. Pearl Hart
2. Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar?
A. Hattie McDaniel.
3. The answer to question 2 won the Oscar for what movie?
B. Gone With The Wind.
4. Who was the real life Normal Rae?
A. Crystal Lee Sutton.
5. Marry Surratt was suspected as being involved in what event in American History?
B. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
20 point questions.
6. Who was the first woman Secretary of State?
Madeline Albright.
7. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman elected to the U. S.
House of Representative.
Jeannette Rankin.
8. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman to run for president?
Victoria Woodhall
9. Who was the first woman doctor?
Dr. Eizabeth Blackwell
10. Who was the first woman allowed to practice in front of The United States
Suprmee Court?
Belva Ann Lockwood. Arabella Mansfield is considered to be the first
attorney but she wasn't allowed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
30 POINT QUESTIONS
11. The first woman admiral has a nickname that will remind you of a famous
hymn. Name the hymn.
Amazing Grace.
12. This first woman to break the sound barrier was born with a name different
than he one she had when she broke the sound barrier. Give me the two names,
fifteen points for each name.
Jackie Cochran-Bessie Lee Pittman
13. Who was the first "living woman author" to have her works published by the
Library of America.
Eudoera Welty. Flannery O'Conner was one of the guesses but she was the first
fiction writer not the first living woman to have her works published, her
works were published after death.
14. Who was the first woman appointed Poet Laureate by the Library Of Congress.
Mona Van Duyn. Here is a web site with the history of the position:
http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/poet_laureate.jsp
15. Who was the first woman to hold a full professorship at John Hopkins School of
Medicine.
Florence Sabin.
40 POINT QUESTIONS
16. I took the photograph that was titled The Migrant Mother, Who Am I?
Dorthea Lange
17. My name is Margaret Brent, how many of the original colonies am I given credit
for founding.
Two
18. I am a woman given credit for helping to develop the bottling system at Coca
Cola, Who Am I?
Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans/
19. My name is Mary Edwards Walker what medal was I the first woman to win?
Medal of Honor.
20. My name is Juliet Gordon Low. Ten points for each of the following answers:
A. I had two nicknames, ten points for each nickname.
Little Ship. Daisy.
B. What organization am I given credit for founding.
Girl Scouts.
C. What handicap did I have.
Limited Hearing.
50 POINTS EACH.
21. I am sometimes referred to as the Japanese Schindler. I saved many lives during
World War II. The owner of The Dahn Report called me a true hero because I did
what I did not for fame or fortune but because it was the right thing to do.
He also shed a tear when he read my bio. Who Am I?
Chiune Sugihara
22. I am a handsome but small dude that acted in numerous movies but not as well
known as the most decorated soldier of World War II. Who Am I?
Audie Murphy.
23. I was the first woman to own, operate and edit a news vehicle for women.
Don't tell me my name instead tell me what article of women's clothing my name
is associated with.
Bloomers.
24. I was Ernest Hemmingway's third wife. For twenty-five points each tell me my
name and my occupation.
Margaret Gellhorn, Journalist.
25. You get twenty-five points if you can tell me the president that appointed the
first woman cabinet member and another twenty five points if you can tell me
the name of the woman.
The first *cabinet* member was Frances Perkins appointed by FDR.
BONUS QUESTION:
On The Dahn Report a link was supplied to video of the employees of a hospital doing a dance to bring awareness to breast cancer. 25 points each.
A. Name the hospital.
Providence St. Vincent
B. Name the dance.
The Pink Glove Dance.
C. Tell me within one million views how many times the video has been viewed on You
Tube. Only the official hospital You Tube video counts. There are several other
videos on You Tube of the dance so just go with the one that has the most views.
Three to six millions views would be considered correct.
D. Who sings the song that the employees are dancing to?
Jay Sean. The song is Down.
Doomsday & Christmas Shopping
One of my favorite columnists and writer is Craig Wilson who among other things writes a column for the USA Today. He writes with the style and humor that I dream of writing with. I loved his take on Christmas Shopping, the end of the world, and must have toys. Enjoy the column here:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/finalword/2009-12-09-final09_ST_N.htm
As you know after reading his column there is more than one source that says the world is ending in 2012. Given that information, he asks, would you change your shopping habits? According to him you can go one of two directions. The first, is why waste your money on Christmas gifts since we are all going to be dead soon anyhow. The second, is since we are all going to be dead soon why not go after everything you always wanted so you could die happy.
Let's reminisce a bit today. When you were young or when your children were young do you remember any must haves at Christmas time? I was over being young before the Cabbage Patch doll. That is the first time I remember frenzies with people standing in line fighting each other to get a "must have" before the prices went up. We always had nice holidays. But I don't remember "must haves." It was, "it would be nice to get that Fort Apache set," but there wasn't really a line at the stores fighting each other. Sometimes our Christmases were all about giving and not receiving. We gave time, made gifts vs. buying them, and sometimes donated what we received to those worse off then we were. Oh we still got gifts and they were good enough ones to make us happy but the focus was sharing. I remember those as the best holidays.
Here are the questions of the day. Since the world is ending in 2012, what direction are you heading? Since we are all going to be dead soon are you going the route of not buying gifts? Or is this the chance to go the other direction and to ask for things you have always wanted and are you going to be sure that those on your list get everything they want? I am in the middle. I am going to shop like always. The gift from heaven for Mom. A nice gift from me for Mom, Sister, and Brother-in-law. A family gift for the draw under the tree at the family get together. Men buy men gifts, women buy women gifts. And I am just going to ask for love and good health.
I would also be interested in the must haves when you were young and the must haves when your children were young that required you to stand in line so your little ones knew that Santa cared.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/finalword/2009-12-09-final09_ST_N.htm
As you know after reading his column there is more than one source that says the world is ending in 2012. Given that information, he asks, would you change your shopping habits? According to him you can go one of two directions. The first, is why waste your money on Christmas gifts since we are all going to be dead soon anyhow. The second, is since we are all going to be dead soon why not go after everything you always wanted so you could die happy.
Let's reminisce a bit today. When you were young or when your children were young do you remember any must haves at Christmas time? I was over being young before the Cabbage Patch doll. That is the first time I remember frenzies with people standing in line fighting each other to get a "must have" before the prices went up. We always had nice holidays. But I don't remember "must haves." It was, "it would be nice to get that Fort Apache set," but there wasn't really a line at the stores fighting each other. Sometimes our Christmases were all about giving and not receiving. We gave time, made gifts vs. buying them, and sometimes donated what we received to those worse off then we were. Oh we still got gifts and they were good enough ones to make us happy but the focus was sharing. I remember those as the best holidays.
Here are the questions of the day. Since the world is ending in 2012, what direction are you heading? Since we are all going to be dead soon are you going the route of not buying gifts? Or is this the chance to go the other direction and to ask for things you have always wanted and are you going to be sure that those on your list get everything they want? I am in the middle. I am going to shop like always. The gift from heaven for Mom. A nice gift from me for Mom, Sister, and Brother-in-law. A family gift for the draw under the tree at the family get together. Men buy men gifts, women buy women gifts. And I am just going to ask for love and good health.
I would also be interested in the must haves when you were young and the must haves when your children were young that required you to stand in line so your little ones knew that Santa cared.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Whopper Of A Lawsuit
Probably one for Ripley's Believe It Or Not:
http://www.switched.com/2009/12/09/woman-sues-burger-king-for-texts-about-shakes-and-whoppers/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.switched.com%2F2009%2F12%2F09%2Fwoman-sues-burger-king-for-texts-about-shakes-and-whoppers%2F
While this lawsuit doesn't suprise me it does bother me more than a bit. It seems like a waste of valuable court room time. I would definitely come out with a different opinion if the lady hadn't willingly given Burger King her cell phone number. If the text messages were sent by a robo call method to a bank of phone numbers and were constant I'd be all for the lawsuit. As an added note Oregon just recently banned Robo calls, are they allowed in your state? For those that don't no, robo calls are computer generated calls sent to a mass of phone numbers and are often sent several times a week to the same phone number. Before the robo calls were banned in Oregon we were getting a lot of "your auto warranty is about to expire calls" that were a scam and also multiple calls from Jane from Verizon that were so often and so annoying that they almost lead me to cancel my Verizon accounts.
What do you think about the famous Burger King Lawsuit? If it went to court and you were on the jury would you award the lady a cool five million? Would you award her anything? And what do you think of robo calls, should they be legal or banned?
I would award the lady two free Whoppers, that's it. And I think robo calls should be banned in every state and country in the world.
http://www.switched.com/2009/12/09/woman-sues-burger-king-for-texts-about-shakes-and-whoppers/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.switched.com%2F2009%2F12%2F09%2Fwoman-sues-burger-king-for-texts-about-shakes-and-whoppers%2F
While this lawsuit doesn't suprise me it does bother me more than a bit. It seems like a waste of valuable court room time. I would definitely come out with a different opinion if the lady hadn't willingly given Burger King her cell phone number. If the text messages were sent by a robo call method to a bank of phone numbers and were constant I'd be all for the lawsuit. As an added note Oregon just recently banned Robo calls, are they allowed in your state? For those that don't no, robo calls are computer generated calls sent to a mass of phone numbers and are often sent several times a week to the same phone number. Before the robo calls were banned in Oregon we were getting a lot of "your auto warranty is about to expire calls" that were a scam and also multiple calls from Jane from Verizon that were so often and so annoying that they almost lead me to cancel my Verizon accounts.
What do you think about the famous Burger King Lawsuit? If it went to court and you were on the jury would you award the lady a cool five million? Would you award her anything? And what do you think of robo calls, should they be legal or banned?
I would award the lady two free Whoppers, that's it. And I think robo calls should be banned in every state and country in the world.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Who Are You? Welcome to Gangland!
First the good story:
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Adopted-Siblings-Reunited-After-80-Years/V7EI2bm7g0-ekRRKumS8uQ.cspx
To say I am happy the two day seminar is over would be an understatement. The time just drags on. Now the next day I need to get past is next Monday and the stress test.
I did get to see a couple of old friends. Larry, a long time friend, was one of the speakers. John, a fellow CPA who used to have an office in the same building that I did, created an uncomfortable situation for. Before the seminar John came up and shook my hand and said hi. I didn't remember him. Didn't have a clue who he was. He went on in to the class room and I went to my seat. For the next hour I tried to remember who this dude was that said hi. I even snuck out of the class room and went to the attendance roster to see if any name on it would spur the memory bank. Nope. Then at the morning break while I was outside stretching he came up to me again and for some reason all the bells and whistles went off and I remembered him! Then we had a really nice chat about the old times. He, one of the CPAs that bought my business the first time, and I became friends when I first opened up my office. I checked around for other CPAs in my office building and surrounding areas. Then I went around and introduced myself to them. First I went up to John's office on the third floor of the office building housing my office. Then I walked over to the industrial park next door where Bill's (the one that eventually bought my practice) office was. I basically told them not to worry that I wasn't out to steal their clients and that since we were geographically close to each other it would be nice if we became friends instead of enemies. We did become friends too. All three of us. Now the question is, what would you do if you were at an all day event and someone came up to you and acted like he was your best friend and you didn't have a clue who he was? Would you ask them who they were? Sorry, I don't remember you and you are? Would you avoid them until the day ended? I am really curious.
Next subject is South Central Los Angeles, now called South Los Angeles. In the forties it was basically the only place in the Los Angeles area that African-Americans could live. That was until restrictive covenants were banned in 1948's Shelley v. Kraemer Supreme Court Ruling. In the late 70's South Central LA, mostly Compton, became the originator of gangs. Crips and Bloods got their start there. A lot of you will remember the area from the Rodney King riots of 1992. What am I talking about the area now? Because I read a story in this morning's Oregonian about tours that are going to start of the area in January. L.A. Gangland Tours. The link below is to when the story first came out in the LA Times, written by Scott Gold. According to both articles the tour will cost sixty-five bucks. They are planning to have dance offs voted on by the tourists. They have scrapped the idea of having the tourists shot by water pistols and then given a t-shirt reading "I was shot in South Central." All the money from the tours will be funneled back into the area for redevelopment.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-southla-tours5-2009dec05,0,6167426.story
What do you think of a tour of the most violent area of a city? Where the most poverty is? Would you take the tour? I really can't answer the first two questions but I definitely would take the tour just out of curiosity.
Hope this is a great day for all. Congratulations to Dona who was the first one to send an entry in on the contest!
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Adopted-Siblings-Reunited-After-80-Years/V7EI2bm7g0-ekRRKumS8uQ.cspx
To say I am happy the two day seminar is over would be an understatement. The time just drags on. Now the next day I need to get past is next Monday and the stress test.
I did get to see a couple of old friends. Larry, a long time friend, was one of the speakers. John, a fellow CPA who used to have an office in the same building that I did, created an uncomfortable situation for. Before the seminar John came up and shook my hand and said hi. I didn't remember him. Didn't have a clue who he was. He went on in to the class room and I went to my seat. For the next hour I tried to remember who this dude was that said hi. I even snuck out of the class room and went to the attendance roster to see if any name on it would spur the memory bank. Nope. Then at the morning break while I was outside stretching he came up to me again and for some reason all the bells and whistles went off and I remembered him! Then we had a really nice chat about the old times. He, one of the CPAs that bought my business the first time, and I became friends when I first opened up my office. I checked around for other CPAs in my office building and surrounding areas. Then I went around and introduced myself to them. First I went up to John's office on the third floor of the office building housing my office. Then I walked over to the industrial park next door where Bill's (the one that eventually bought my practice) office was. I basically told them not to worry that I wasn't out to steal their clients and that since we were geographically close to each other it would be nice if we became friends instead of enemies. We did become friends too. All three of us. Now the question is, what would you do if you were at an all day event and someone came up to you and acted like he was your best friend and you didn't have a clue who he was? Would you ask them who they were? Sorry, I don't remember you and you are? Would you avoid them until the day ended? I am really curious.
Next subject is South Central Los Angeles, now called South Los Angeles. In the forties it was basically the only place in the Los Angeles area that African-Americans could live. That was until restrictive covenants were banned in 1948's Shelley v. Kraemer Supreme Court Ruling. In the late 70's South Central LA, mostly Compton, became the originator of gangs. Crips and Bloods got their start there. A lot of you will remember the area from the Rodney King riots of 1992. What am I talking about the area now? Because I read a story in this morning's Oregonian about tours that are going to start of the area in January. L.A. Gangland Tours. The link below is to when the story first came out in the LA Times, written by Scott Gold. According to both articles the tour will cost sixty-five bucks. They are planning to have dance offs voted on by the tourists. They have scrapped the idea of having the tourists shot by water pistols and then given a t-shirt reading "I was shot in South Central." All the money from the tours will be funneled back into the area for redevelopment.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-southla-tours5-2009dec05,0,6167426.story
What do you think of a tour of the most violent area of a city? Where the most poverty is? Would you take the tour? I really can't answer the first two questions but I definitely would take the tour just out of curiosity.
Hope this is a great day for all. Congratulations to Dona who was the first one to send an entry in on the contest!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
THE FIRST ANNUAL THE DAHN REPORT CHRISTMAS CONTEST STARTS NOW!
The first annual The Dahn Report Christmas Contest begins right now!
First prize will be a seventy-five dollar gift card of your choice. Second prize will be a fifty dollar gift card of your choice. Third prize will be a twenty-five dollar gift charge of your choice. If two entries tie for any of the prizes there will be a coin flip to determine the winner. If more than two entries tie for any of the prizes all of the names will be placed in a hat and the winner will be drawn from the hat, first name drawn given the lowest prize, and the last name drawn give the highest prize. The contest ENDS AT 9 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. Point values are assigned to each question with the most total points winning the contest. ANYONE CAN ENTER. ANSWERS POSTED ON THE BLOG WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED AND THE PERSON POSTING THE ANSWERS IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THE BLOG WILL BE DISQUALIFED FROM THE CONTEST, YOU MUST SEND ALL CONTEST ENTRIES AND ANSWERS TO ME BY EMAIL AT WILLIAMJDAHN@AOL.COM NO LATER THAN 9 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. Winners will be announced sometime on December 14, 2009 and may be announced earlier
ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. YOU WILL NOT BE TOLD OF HOW WELL YOU DID UNTIL THE CONTEST ENDS!
DECISIONS OF THE JUDGE, YOURS TRULY, ARE FINAL.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! HERE GOES:
Ten point questions
1. Who is known by some to be the last female bank robber?
A. Pearl Buck
B. Pearl Harbor
C. Pearl Hart
D. Pearl Tombstone.
2. Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar?
A. Hattie McDaniel.
B. Hallie Berry
C. Denzel Washington.
D. Will Smith.
3. The answer to question 2 won the Oscar for what movie?
A. The Titanic.
B. Gone With The Wind.
C. Looking For Mr. Goodbar.
D. Inherit The Wind.
4. Who was the real life Normal Rae?
A. Crystal Lee Sutton.
B. Norma Jeane Baker
C. Marion Morrison
D. Arabella Mansfield.
5. Marry Surratt was suspected as being involved in what event in American History?
A. Man's first landing on the moon.
B. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
C. Custer's Last Stand.
D. The Salem Witch Trials.
20 point questions.
6. Who was the first woman Secretary of State?
7. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman elected to the House of
Representative.
8. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman to run for president?
9. Who was the first woman doctor?
10. Who was the first woman allowed to practice in front of The United States
Suprmee Court?
30 POINT QUESTIONS
11. The first woman admiral has a nickname that will remind you of a famous
hymn. Name the hymn.
12. This first woman to break the sound barrier was born with a name different than
the one she had when she broke the sound barrier. Give me the two names. 15
points each.
13. Who was the first "living woman author" to have her works published by the
Library of America
14. Who was the first woman appointed Poet Laureate by the Library Of Congress
15. Who was the first woman to hold a full professorship at John Hopkins School of
Medicine.
40 POINT QUESTIONS
16. I took the photograph that was titled The Migrant Mother, Who Am I?
17. My name is Margaret Brent, how many of the original colonies am I given credit
for founding.
18. I am a woman given credit for helping to develop the bottling system at Coca
Cola, Who Am I?
19. My name is Mary Edwards Walker what medal was I the first woman to win?
20. My name is Juliet Gordon Low. Ten points for each of the following answers:
A. I had two nicknames, ten points for each nickname.
B. What organization am I given credit for founding.
C. What handicap did I have.
50 POINTS EACH.
21. I am sometimes referred to as the Japanese Schindler. I saved many lives during
World War II. The owner of The Dahn Report called me a true hero because I did
what I did not for fame or fortune but because it was the right thing to do.
He also shed a tear when he read my bio. Who Am I?
22. I am a handsome but small dude that acted in numerous movies but not as well
known as the most decorated soldier of World War II. Who Am 1?
23. I was the first woman to own, operate and edit a news vehicle for women.
Don't tell me my name instead tell me what article of women's clothing my name
is associated with.
24. I was Ernest Hemmingway's third wife. For twenty-five points each tell me my
name and my occupation.
25. You get twenty-five points if you can tell me the president that appointed the
first woman cabinet member and another twenty five points if you can tell me
the name of the woman.
BONUS QUESTION:
On The Dahn Report a link was supplied to video of the employees of a hospital doing a dance to bring awareness to breast cancer. 25 points each.
A. Name the hospital.
B. Name the dance.
C. Tell me within one million views how many times the video has been viewed on You
Tube. Only the official hospital You Tube video counts. There are several other
videos on You Tube of the dance so just go with the one that has the most views.
D. Who sings the song that the employees are dancing to?
First prize will be a seventy-five dollar gift card of your choice. Second prize will be a fifty dollar gift card of your choice. Third prize will be a twenty-five dollar gift charge of your choice. If two entries tie for any of the prizes there will be a coin flip to determine the winner. If more than two entries tie for any of the prizes all of the names will be placed in a hat and the winner will be drawn from the hat, first name drawn given the lowest prize, and the last name drawn give the highest prize. The contest ENDS AT 9 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. Point values are assigned to each question with the most total points winning the contest. ANYONE CAN ENTER. ANSWERS POSTED ON THE BLOG WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED AND THE PERSON POSTING THE ANSWERS IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THE BLOG WILL BE DISQUALIFED FROM THE CONTEST, YOU MUST SEND ALL CONTEST ENTRIES AND ANSWERS TO ME BY EMAIL AT WILLIAMJDAHN@AOL.COM NO LATER THAN 9 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. Winners will be announced sometime on December 14, 2009 and may be announced earlier
ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. YOU WILL NOT BE TOLD OF HOW WELL YOU DID UNTIL THE CONTEST ENDS!
DECISIONS OF THE JUDGE, YOURS TRULY, ARE FINAL.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! HERE GOES:
Ten point questions
1. Who is known by some to be the last female bank robber?
A. Pearl Buck
B. Pearl Harbor
C. Pearl Hart
D. Pearl Tombstone.
2. Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar?
A. Hattie McDaniel.
B. Hallie Berry
C. Denzel Washington.
D. Will Smith.
3. The answer to question 2 won the Oscar for what movie?
A. The Titanic.
B. Gone With The Wind.
C. Looking For Mr. Goodbar.
D. Inherit The Wind.
4. Who was the real life Normal Rae?
A. Crystal Lee Sutton.
B. Norma Jeane Baker
C. Marion Morrison
D. Arabella Mansfield.
5. Marry Surratt was suspected as being involved in what event in American History?
A. Man's first landing on the moon.
B. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
C. Custer's Last Stand.
D. The Salem Witch Trials.
20 point questions.
6. Who was the first woman Secretary of State?
7. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman elected to the House of
Representative.
8. According to The Dahn Report who was the first woman to run for president?
9. Who was the first woman doctor?
10. Who was the first woman allowed to practice in front of The United States
Suprmee Court?
30 POINT QUESTIONS
11. The first woman admiral has a nickname that will remind you of a famous
hymn. Name the hymn.
12. This first woman to break the sound barrier was born with a name different than
the one she had when she broke the sound barrier. Give me the two names. 15
points each.
13. Who was the first "living woman author" to have her works published by the
Library of America
14. Who was the first woman appointed Poet Laureate by the Library Of Congress
15. Who was the first woman to hold a full professorship at John Hopkins School of
Medicine.
40 POINT QUESTIONS
16. I took the photograph that was titled The Migrant Mother, Who Am I?
17. My name is Margaret Brent, how many of the original colonies am I given credit
for founding.
18. I am a woman given credit for helping to develop the bottling system at Coca
Cola, Who Am I?
19. My name is Mary Edwards Walker what medal was I the first woman to win?
20. My name is Juliet Gordon Low. Ten points for each of the following answers:
A. I had two nicknames, ten points for each nickname.
B. What organization am I given credit for founding.
C. What handicap did I have.
50 POINTS EACH.
21. I am sometimes referred to as the Japanese Schindler. I saved many lives during
World War II. The owner of The Dahn Report called me a true hero because I did
what I did not for fame or fortune but because it was the right thing to do.
He also shed a tear when he read my bio. Who Am I?
22. I am a handsome but small dude that acted in numerous movies but not as well
known as the most decorated soldier of World War II. Who Am 1?
23. I was the first woman to own, operate and edit a news vehicle for women.
Don't tell me my name instead tell me what article of women's clothing my name
is associated with.
24. I was Ernest Hemmingway's third wife. For twenty-five points each tell me my
name and my occupation.
25. You get twenty-five points if you can tell me the president that appointed the
first woman cabinet member and another twenty five points if you can tell me
the name of the woman.
BONUS QUESTION:
On The Dahn Report a link was supplied to video of the employees of a hospital doing a dance to bring awareness to breast cancer. 25 points each.
A. Name the hospital.
B. Name the dance.
C. Tell me within one million views how many times the video has been viewed on You
Tube. Only the official hospital You Tube video counts. There are several other
videos on You Tube of the dance so just go with the one that has the most views.
D. Who sings the song that the employees are dancing to?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Off To Snooze
Answers to yesterday's practice questions:
Who was the first Hispanic woman honored with a stamp? Frida Kahlo
Who was said to be the first Native American woman author? Christine Quintasket also known as Mourning Dove.
What state had the first woman governor? Wyoming.
Today's question. What will happen to me at the two day accounting seminar staring today in at the Holiday Inn South in the great city of Wilsonville, Oregon.
A. I might learn something.
B. I will be bored stiff and fall asleep.
C. I will read while some boring stiff in a monotone voice talks.
D. I will sneak out and go to movie and make sure I return in time to sign the attendance sheet.
E. I will go Christmas Shopping.
More than one answer may be correct. I think it is safe to say you can't post your answers on the blog in the comment section.
And you might tell me what you think about the Tiger Woods situation. First, I think he is a scumbag for cheating on his wife. He is without a doubt the main culprit in this situation. Second, I think is mistress is also a scumbag for going after a married man, keeping his voice mails, releasing them at just the right time where she can make the most money from them. The only innocent party in this is Tigar's wife. What do you think?
Who was the first Hispanic woman honored with a stamp? Frida Kahlo
Who was said to be the first Native American woman author? Christine Quintasket also known as Mourning Dove.
What state had the first woman governor? Wyoming.
Today's question. What will happen to me at the two day accounting seminar staring today in at the Holiday Inn South in the great city of Wilsonville, Oregon.
A. I might learn something.
B. I will be bored stiff and fall asleep.
C. I will read while some boring stiff in a monotone voice talks.
D. I will sneak out and go to movie and make sure I return in time to sign the attendance sheet.
E. I will go Christmas Shopping.
More than one answer may be correct. I think it is safe to say you can't post your answers on the blog in the comment section.
And you might tell me what you think about the Tiger Woods situation. First, I think he is a scumbag for cheating on his wife. He is without a doubt the main culprit in this situation. Second, I think is mistress is also a scumbag for going after a married man, keeping his voice mails, releasing them at just the right time where she can make the most money from them. The only innocent party in this is Tigar's wife. What do you think?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Update - The Week Behind, The Week Ahead.
The week behind, the week ahead:
Behind: Work project done. Letter re cousin reunion sent. Birthday dinner with family for brother-in-law. Mom to her primary care physician. Mom & I to heart doctor. Stress test scheduled. Leaf pickup started. Movie - Old Dogs (note: don't waste your time.) Two books read, one by Harlan Coban, one by J.A. Jance. Additional book bought by J.A. Jance to read during two day accounting seminar. Finished questions for blog contest. Re-started walking program as part of stress preparedness program.
Ahead: Today is breakfast with the boys and continuing leaf pickup. Also today prepare for cold spell. Monday and Tuesday is a two day accounting seminar. CPAs are required to have eighty hours of continuing education in a two year period. My two years are up June 30, 2010. Twenty-four hours in the books. Fifty-six hours to go, after Tuesday forty hours to go. Also on Monday and Tuesday, catch up on sleep but don't snore, it might annoy instructors. Lunch with Mom on Wednesday and taking her to close one bank account into another account. Purpose is to simplify her life. Thursday through Saturday start and finish Christmas Shopping.
Annoyance: Drawing names for Christmas when nobody follows it. Why waste the time?
Mom and sister worse offenders. Makes for pre-emptive Christmas shopping for me.
Entertainment Front. Amazing Race Finals tonight. Globetrotters sent packing last week. Interracial married couple is who I want to win. Annoying brothers will win. Maybe the dating couple will come in first, but I don't think the team in first place going into the finals has ever won The Amazing Race. An all male Top Chef final next Wednesday. Jennifer was sent home this week. She can cook for me anytime! I want Kevin to win. The annoying Michael V. will win. Maybe Michael's brother, Bryan, will sneak in there and steal the prize.
That is my update. Now give me yours.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Last ones before contest. There is a good chance there will no blog post on Monday due to walking before seminar and then the seminar. If there is a blog post it will be a brief one with no practice questions.
YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS:
Whose "Gaelic Symphony" was the symphony performed by a woman in the United States? Mrs. H.H.A. Beach's
Who was the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church?
Reverend Barbara C. Harris
Who was the first African-American Woman to become mayor of a major city in the United States? Small cities don't count.
Sharon Pratt Dix
TODAY'S PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Who was the first Hispanic woman honored with a stamp?
Who was said to be the first Native American woman author?
What state had the first woman governor?
Behind: Work project done. Letter re cousin reunion sent. Birthday dinner with family for brother-in-law. Mom to her primary care physician. Mom & I to heart doctor. Stress test scheduled. Leaf pickup started. Movie - Old Dogs (note: don't waste your time.) Two books read, one by Harlan Coban, one by J.A. Jance. Additional book bought by J.A. Jance to read during two day accounting seminar. Finished questions for blog contest. Re-started walking program as part of stress preparedness program.
Ahead: Today is breakfast with the boys and continuing leaf pickup. Also today prepare for cold spell. Monday and Tuesday is a two day accounting seminar. CPAs are required to have eighty hours of continuing education in a two year period. My two years are up June 30, 2010. Twenty-four hours in the books. Fifty-six hours to go, after Tuesday forty hours to go. Also on Monday and Tuesday, catch up on sleep but don't snore, it might annoy instructors. Lunch with Mom on Wednesday and taking her to close one bank account into another account. Purpose is to simplify her life. Thursday through Saturday start and finish Christmas Shopping.
Annoyance: Drawing names for Christmas when nobody follows it. Why waste the time?
Mom and sister worse offenders. Makes for pre-emptive Christmas shopping for me.
Entertainment Front. Amazing Race Finals tonight. Globetrotters sent packing last week. Interracial married couple is who I want to win. Annoying brothers will win. Maybe the dating couple will come in first, but I don't think the team in first place going into the finals has ever won The Amazing Race. An all male Top Chef final next Wednesday. Jennifer was sent home this week. She can cook for me anytime! I want Kevin to win. The annoying Michael V. will win. Maybe Michael's brother, Bryan, will sneak in there and steal the prize.
That is my update. Now give me yours.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Last ones before contest. There is a good chance there will no blog post on Monday due to walking before seminar and then the seminar. If there is a blog post it will be a brief one with no practice questions.
YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS:
Whose "Gaelic Symphony" was the symphony performed by a woman in the United States? Mrs. H.H.A. Beach's
Who was the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church?
Reverend Barbara C. Harris
Who was the first African-American Woman to become mayor of a major city in the United States? Small cities don't count.
Sharon Pratt Dix
TODAY'S PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Who was the first Hispanic woman honored with a stamp?
Who was said to be the first Native American woman author?
What state had the first woman governor?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Redemption
First contest business:
Yesterday's practice answers:
Although everyone guessed Anne Marrow Lindbergh as the first woman to get her glider pilot's license it was technically Maxine Dunlap. Lindbergh was the first woman to get a "first class" glider pilot license. If it came up in the contest both answers would be considered correct.
Althea Gibson was the first African-American to win a singles title at Wimbledon.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was the first Hispanic congressperson.
The last is an example of how the participants in the contest make the questions harder than they really are.
Today's practice questions
Whose "Gaelic Symphony" was the first symphony performed by a woman in the United States?
Who was the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church?
Who was the first African-American Woman to become mayor of a major city in the United States? Small cities don't count.
Do you believe in redemption? Let's play hypothetical here. You own a store. You are working the store alone. A man comes in to the store and tries to rob you with a baseball bat. You turn the tables on the robber, pull a gun out, put the man on his knees and hold a gun to his head. What do you do next?
A. Shoot.
B. Call the police.
C. As the man begs for his life, you give him forty dollars, a loaf of bread, and send him on his way.
Then you go happily about your business.
I know I wouldn't shoot the man. And I probably wouldn't give him money or send him on his way. I'd call the police. He would probably be convicted of attempted robbery and sent of to prison for three to five years. I'd brag to my friends about how I stopped a robbery and sent a scumbag to jail. I'm am curious about what you would do. Answer the question and then read the following story:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/he_kept_the_change_3mewgRcqMr311EPvag4sjL
The next question of the day is have you ever helped someone and then sometime later received a letter of appreciation? As part of a charity program that I was involved some years ago I took a third grade student shopping for shoes and socks, then we stopped for a sandwich at McDonalds. About a month later I received a thank you note that read among other things "I had never been to a restaurant more." The letter meant more than the act.
Yesterday's practice answers:
Although everyone guessed Anne Marrow Lindbergh as the first woman to get her glider pilot's license it was technically Maxine Dunlap. Lindbergh was the first woman to get a "first class" glider pilot license. If it came up in the contest both answers would be considered correct.
Althea Gibson was the first African-American to win a singles title at Wimbledon.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was the first Hispanic congressperson.
The last is an example of how the participants in the contest make the questions harder than they really are.
Today's practice questions
Whose "Gaelic Symphony" was the first symphony performed by a woman in the United States?
Who was the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church?
Who was the first African-American Woman to become mayor of a major city in the United States? Small cities don't count.
Do you believe in redemption? Let's play hypothetical here. You own a store. You are working the store alone. A man comes in to the store and tries to rob you with a baseball bat. You turn the tables on the robber, pull a gun out, put the man on his knees and hold a gun to his head. What do you do next?
A. Shoot.
B. Call the police.
C. As the man begs for his life, you give him forty dollars, a loaf of bread, and send him on his way.
Then you go happily about your business.
I know I wouldn't shoot the man. And I probably wouldn't give him money or send him on his way. I'd call the police. He would probably be convicted of attempted robbery and sent of to prison for three to five years. I'd brag to my friends about how I stopped a robbery and sent a scumbag to jail. I'm am curious about what you would do. Answer the question and then read the following story:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/he_kept_the_change_3mewgRcqMr311EPvag4sjL
The next question of the day is have you ever helped someone and then sometime later received a letter of appreciation? As part of a charity program that I was involved some years ago I took a third grade student shopping for shoes and socks, then we stopped for a sandwich at McDonalds. About a month later I received a thank you note that read among other things "I had never been to a restaurant more." The letter meant more than the act.
Friday, December 4, 2009
NEW CONTEST ANNOUNCED!
The Civil War was last night.The University of Oregon Ducks beat the Oregon State Beavers 37-33 and will represent the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2010. They will take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State. It was a great game but not as great as the story I am about to make you aware of. Sometimes it is about so much more than the game. Just a little Oregon Duck history, the University of Oregon has Disney's permission to use a Donald Duck look alike as their mascot. Sometimes that mascot will make people smile. Even a non-sports fan like Pat will like this story. I would strongly suggest a tissue or two while reading the before an after
Before the game:
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/sports/23702231-41/story.csp
What happened:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/12/civil_war_angel_at_autzen_as_a.html (Note: Chip Kelly is head coach of Oregon. This is his first year as head coach and he was coaching the biggest game of life last night. He still made time to make someone else smile.)
CHRISTMAS CONTEST ANNOUNCED!
I am proud to announce the first annual "The Dahn Report Christmas Challnge." First prize will be a seventy-five dollar gift card of your choice. Second prize will be a fifty dollar gift card of your choice. Third prize will be a twenty-five dollar gift card of your choice. If two tie for any of the prizes there will be a coin flip to determine the winner. If more than two tie for any of the prizes all of the names will be placed in a hat and the winner will be drawn from the hat, first name drawn will be given the lowest prize, and the last name drawn given the highest prize. The contest will BEGIN AT 7 AM PACFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 8, 2009 AND END AT 5 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 10, 2009. The contest will be twenty-five to thirty questions. While most of the questions will be based on the people in history we have learned about with the who am I questions there may very well be new people introduced in the contest. There may even be a red herring or two. There may be some bonus questions. Point values will be assigned to each question with the most points winning the contest. ANYONE CAN ENTER. ANSWERS POSTED ON THE BLOG WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED, YOU MUST SEND ALL CONTEST ENTRIES TO ME BY EMAIL AT WILLIAMJDAHN@AOL.COM NO LATER THAN 5 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 10, 2009. Winners will be announced sometime on December 12, 2009 and may be announced earlier. Get your game face on and try these practice questions:
Yesterdays answers:
Liza Redfield was the first woman to conduct an orchestra on Broadway. She leads a 24-piece orchestra in The Music Man
Ann Bancroft was the first woman to walk on the North Pole
Sally Jean Priesand was the first woman rabbi
Today's practice questions:
Who was the first woman to earn a glider pilot license?
Who was the first African-American tennis player to win a singles title at Wimbledon?
What first is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen famous for?
Are you ready for a contest?
Before the game:
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/sports/23702231-41/story.csp
What happened:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/12/civil_war_angel_at_autzen_as_a.html (Note: Chip Kelly is head coach of Oregon. This is his first year as head coach and he was coaching the biggest game of life last night. He still made time to make someone else smile.)
CHRISTMAS CONTEST ANNOUNCED!
I am proud to announce the first annual "The Dahn Report Christmas Challnge." First prize will be a seventy-five dollar gift card of your choice. Second prize will be a fifty dollar gift card of your choice. Third prize will be a twenty-five dollar gift card of your choice. If two tie for any of the prizes there will be a coin flip to determine the winner. If more than two tie for any of the prizes all of the names will be placed in a hat and the winner will be drawn from the hat, first name drawn will be given the lowest prize, and the last name drawn given the highest prize. The contest will BEGIN AT 7 AM PACFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 8, 2009 AND END AT 5 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 10, 2009. The contest will be twenty-five to thirty questions. While most of the questions will be based on the people in history we have learned about with the who am I questions there may very well be new people introduced in the contest. There may even be a red herring or two. There may be some bonus questions. Point values will be assigned to each question with the most points winning the contest. ANYONE CAN ENTER. ANSWERS POSTED ON THE BLOG WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED, YOU MUST SEND ALL CONTEST ENTRIES TO ME BY EMAIL AT WILLIAMJDAHN@AOL.COM NO LATER THAN 5 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ON DECEMBER 10, 2009. Winners will be announced sometime on December 12, 2009 and may be announced earlier. Get your game face on and try these practice questions:
Yesterdays answers:
Liza Redfield was the first woman to conduct an orchestra on Broadway. She leads a 24-piece orchestra in The Music Man
Ann Bancroft was the first woman to walk on the North Pole
Sally Jean Priesand was the first woman rabbi
Today's practice questions:
Who was the first woman to earn a glider pilot license?
Who was the first African-American tennis player to win a singles title at Wimbledon?
What first is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen famous for?
Are you ready for a contest?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I'm Scared.
I haven't been totally honest with the folks here. I haven't really lied just kept quiet about some problems I have been having. To say I am scared stiff would be an understatement. I see a heart doctor this morning. Mom's six month apppointment is today so I piggy backed on her appointment. I have been under incredible stress for a number of years with different issues, caregiving, cancer scares, accidents, deaths in the family, and numerous changes. When I walk I sometimes get short of breath, which is new to me. My upper arms hurt a bit when I walk. Frequently when I test my blood pressure with one of those home testing machines I get the little irregular heartbeat sign. I am asking all your prayers and good thoughts and good vibes that they don't discover anything serious. Wish my some amazing luck that if they do something that it is curable with more exercise or lifestyle changes. Hope that I am just overreacting. It would certainly be appreciated by me. That is all I have for today.
Answeer to yesterday's practice questions:
Sarah Goode was the first African-American to receive a patent.
Edith Houghton was the first woman baseball scout.
The Italian-born Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first American saint.
Today's practice questions:
1. Who was the first womano conduct an orchestra on Broadway?
2. I share an actresses name but I didn't act when I was the first woman to walk on the North Pole. Who Am I?
3. What is Sally Jean Priesand famous for?
Answeer to yesterday's practice questions:
Sarah Goode was the first African-American to receive a patent.
Edith Houghton was the first woman baseball scout.
The Italian-born Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first American saint.
Today's practice questions:
1. Who was the first womano conduct an orchestra on Broadway?
2. I share an actresses name but I didn't act when I was the first woman to walk on the North Pole. Who Am I?
3. What is Sally Jean Priesand famous for?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
I'm Troubled Day
First, I really enjoyed the responses to yesterday's blog entry. I learned a little more about the ones that posted their responses. Second, the following is a link to what I would call a more interesting story than I would a good one:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-12-02-sphynx02_ST_N.htm
Did you survive Black Friday? How about Cyber Monday? Are you as troubled as I am by the latest phenomenon of having to put a name on every freaking day of the week? Where are we headed for anyhow?
Don't forget to get gas Tuesday, followed by join AAA Wednesday. Then don't let little things bother you Thursday followed by take your meds Saturday (we have to wait an extra day to take our meds because Friday is already named). Sunday is no doubt Saturated Sunday. That is the day we get nailed and overloaded with nothing but Christmas Specials, Christmas Movies, and Christmas Stories on television. If we head out to the malls to avoid all the hoopla we get to hear about somebody's silver balls. Or is that silver bells?
I really would prefer that the networks run the regular shows instead of overload us with the same thing year after year. I mean I am glad that someone has A Wonderful Life but do we have to hear about a hundred times a year for a hundred years? And just how many times can that annoying little Ralphie get his tongue frozen to a telephone pole anyhow? Shouldn't he have learned the first time? And just what parent in their right mind would buy a six year-old a gun for Christmas anyhow? And what about that singing Nun that escapes the Nazi's so she can marry a Plummer? Isn't it about time that she and her nine hundred future step children go peacefully in the night?
Give me my Flash Forward, Friday Night Lights, Top Chef and the regular programs that I watch. Then give me a new holiday movie for goodness sake.
I thought about naming tomorrow I'm Tired Of This Chit Thursday and then you all could tell me what your are tired of. However, go ahead and tell me what you are tired of today. It doesn't have to be holiday related. It can be that thoughtless person that shuts the door in your face as you are trying to push a wheelchair with your mom in it through it. It can be anything. This is the day to vent.
I will be announcing The Dahn Report First Annual Christmas Contest on Friday. When it will start. How much time you will have to answer. What it entails. What the prizes will be. Here are three practice questions.
Who was the first African-American woman to receive a patent?
A. Sarah E. Goode.
B. Mary Davenport-Engberg
C. Maxine Dunlep
B. Becky Sharp.
What is Edith Houghton famous for?
Who was canonized as the first American saint?
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-12-02-sphynx02_ST_N.htm
Did you survive Black Friday? How about Cyber Monday? Are you as troubled as I am by the latest phenomenon of having to put a name on every freaking day of the week? Where are we headed for anyhow?
Don't forget to get gas Tuesday, followed by join AAA Wednesday. Then don't let little things bother you Thursday followed by take your meds Saturday (we have to wait an extra day to take our meds because Friday is already named). Sunday is no doubt Saturated Sunday. That is the day we get nailed and overloaded with nothing but Christmas Specials, Christmas Movies, and Christmas Stories on television. If we head out to the malls to avoid all the hoopla we get to hear about somebody's silver balls. Or is that silver bells?
I really would prefer that the networks run the regular shows instead of overload us with the same thing year after year. I mean I am glad that someone has A Wonderful Life but do we have to hear about a hundred times a year for a hundred years? And just how many times can that annoying little Ralphie get his tongue frozen to a telephone pole anyhow? Shouldn't he have learned the first time? And just what parent in their right mind would buy a six year-old a gun for Christmas anyhow? And what about that singing Nun that escapes the Nazi's so she can marry a Plummer? Isn't it about time that she and her nine hundred future step children go peacefully in the night?
Give me my Flash Forward, Friday Night Lights, Top Chef and the regular programs that I watch. Then give me a new holiday movie for goodness sake.
I thought about naming tomorrow I'm Tired Of This Chit Thursday and then you all could tell me what your are tired of. However, go ahead and tell me what you are tired of today. It doesn't have to be holiday related. It can be that thoughtless person that shuts the door in your face as you are trying to push a wheelchair with your mom in it through it. It can be anything. This is the day to vent.
I will be announcing The Dahn Report First Annual Christmas Contest on Friday. When it will start. How much time you will have to answer. What it entails. What the prizes will be. Here are three practice questions.
Who was the first African-American woman to receive a patent?
A. Sarah E. Goode.
B. Mary Davenport-Engberg
C. Maxine Dunlep
B. Becky Sharp.
What is Edith Houghton famous for?
Who was canonized as the first American saint?
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