Wednesday, January 30, 2008

A Small Note...

Paperlilies has decided to temporarily slow down on the blogging so she might be able to Have A Life. She is part of this site and will occasionally post. (& Vlog) It's on the blogroll. In other news, my right hand is the color of eggplant and It's too weak to use. I'm using Arnica ointment and hoping. I arranged to do desk duty tomorrow so I can pay back a Mutual (don't ask) so wish me luck I'll need it.
That's My Answer- the Blog edition.

I usually check out a blog site called That's My Answer.Today, I'm posting a question that was here and you can check out the many answers there are:

QUESTION TO GO

What three things are on your desk right now that shouldn’t be?

Coffee Cup

Atomic Clock that I fixed to display EST

Bottle of Waterbed conditioner (from when I had a waterbed- anybody need one?)
Saying Goodbye to my baby-Totalled!

The guy at the body shop said that the car "would cost more to repair than it's worth" Yesterday. with my right still swollen & useless, I cleaned her out & said goodbye. I know it's a thing but I drove her off the lot new 7 years ago. I took care of her and she took care of me! I don't know what the future holds, but I will always remember my first new car!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Into every Life, a little Rain must fall. . .

I crashed my car yesterday into the rear of a woman who had stopped to turn just over a blind hill. She didn't signal, but that doesn't matter as a rear-end collision is always the fault of the person who hit. The front end of my beautiful car was destroyed. Thank God I was wearing my seatbelt & the airbags deployed. My right hand is swollen twice normal size and I can only type. No one was hurt as well. I have coverage but It will be a struggle nonetheless. Both of us have Allstate so at least this will be fairly easy. The next few days will be busy.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Clock.

I found the clock on the left by accident while looking up the American Watchmakers' Institute website for an interested party. If you click on it, you too can have a clock for your blog or site free! (if you want one) they have 600 different clocks. I might vary the clock-'cause I can! For those of you uninformed about clock-watch movements, this clock imitates a complication known as a tourbillon. It is usually used in high end watches & sometimes clocks.

Friday, January 25, 2008

R.I.P. Kris Likey's Dad

I link to several whose blogs are worth taking a look at. One of these is Kris Likey of "I'm not a girl yet not a wino" Her father passed away a couple of day ago so her recent posts are filled with the sadness most of us experience when we lose a Parent. She's a great blogger with wonderful turns of phrase. Even though I didn't know the Man, He raised a great kid!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A cup of Coffee.

Hey fellow Humans, Tis a Cautionary tale of what can happen when you deal with a Moron! I was working O.T. with this guy and at about 4am, he went for coffee. I gave him money & told him how I like mine. He called me from the shoppe and again asked me if I wanted a coffee. "Yes." "How do you want it?" " with one Splenda & Milk." "O.K."

What do you think he brought back?


A coffee cup with cold Milk and Splenda! of Course! "I asked you for Coffee!" I said. " I thought it was a little strange but I wanted to get you what you asked for." he said.

From Now On, I will go for Coffee or I will WRITE IT DOWN!!! I didn't think anyone that stupid could walk upright but I was Wrong!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Heath Ledger-R.I.P.

I like movies and I was saddened to hear that Heath was found dead in his Soho, NY apt. with drugs nearby. He had a Lot going for him! Great Looks, A Successful acting carer in front of him & lots of work to keep him occupied. That said, he must have had some serious inner deamons (daemons?) The one that most of us have Control over. I guess we will never know how great an actor he was going to be- he fooled those around him into thinking he was Happy.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

"ain't it good to know that you've got a Friend" -James Taylor

On this, my first day off, I'm going upstate to visit one of my oldest & dearest friends, Vicki. We met at a meeting for the 1982 Washington demo, had one date, and decided that we were much better friends then romantic partners. She is now married & raising the wonderful Alexa, a very Happy & Active 4 year old! That I still have many friends for 20-30 years is a real blessing! I don't know what the Future may hold but I am Grateful for the working of all my friends in my life. I wish all of you the Same!

How many Friends do You have? For how long? When's the last time you connected with your friends?

Friday, January 18, 2008

Nothing is Certain but Death & Taxes.

I got a bill in the mail yesterday from NY State saying that I owe them approx. $76.38 for my 2003 tax filing. I really hate this as I know I'd like to fight it but I also know it's not Worth it, either in time or money. I'd also like to know why my taxes for 2003 were looked at anyway. What do they think? The City rarely uses the proper withholding schedule in any case. I have adjusted to this by hiking my State tax by $5.00 a check because I HATE to owe the Government! They have NO sense of Humor & are Vindictive in the extreme!

Bad Joke of the Week: Where were French Fries first cooked in?
Answer: In Greece!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I Scored Tickets!

I checked out Gabriela Montero.com and looked at her upcoming schedule: She is playing a private school: Peddie in central "NJ next month & the Metropolitan Museum in March! Tickets for the school are only $20.! The Met is $50.! Assume that the better auditorium is the Met! The best thing was that I'm right up front for both! Yay!

I have a Question: I believe the school performance will be just Nicely Dressed i.e. Sport Coat, Slacks etc... Do you think I will need to rent a Tuxedo for the Met? Guys don't usually know about these things (Carson, aside) What do You think? Please Let Me Know.
Mechanics: a tale of two Cities.

Last Thursday, as I was driving to work, I noticed that when I stepped on my brake, the Parking brake light also came on. WTF? I took it to a local Repair shop for a look & the guy said that one of my rear brake cylinders was leaking,and I needed to replace it, the pads & drum. He didn't open the other drum (stuck) I asked him the cost of fixing the problem. Without batting an eyelash, he said: $750. I told him" thank you very much, but please close it back up as I have a mechanic friend who owes me a favor.

I called my Partners' brother, who does mechanic work on the side to support his Toy habit ( Fast Cars, A.C. & a backard shop that has Everything in it!) I've had work from him before & he's Good! However, he is in Staten Island, NY, about an Hour away by highway: "Drop it off and I'll have a look" I wanted to go to my Teachers' in PA to work with him so I dropped the car off, rented a car for the weekend in S.I. & left.

Cut to the Chase: he replaced both cylindars, Pads, Drums and Inner & Outer wheel Bearings. The price? $ 365! I returned the rental, paid the bill: ($200.) and was still over $100. cheaper than the guy near my house!

The Moral of this story: Unless the car is Undriveable, don't assume that any price you are given by a shop is right.

Do you have any tales of Woe with mechanics or your car? (if you have one)

BTW: Ladies, I Know that mechanics don't treat you the same as Men and many of you are unhappy. Check out Ask Patty

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Classical Music for Non-Classical Music Lovers

Until I figure out how to acquire Last FM or Pandora to appear on this site I'd like to direct your attention to Gabriela Montero, a Venezuelan piano virtuoso who re-interprets all kinds/ styles of classical music and is Very listenable! I picked up her CD yesterday and although I am not a big classical fan, I really like her stuff! Lively,Quick &Deft, in both technique & feel.She is on MySpace, YouTube and other places a young musician would post to so you can check her out and even download a few of her performances for free.

My next question I'd like to put out there is: Have you found an artist, group or style of music that you found you liked but don't normally listen to? I'm an eclectic listener of everything from Dance Trance/Electronic through Rock, Pop, Folk & Non Folk (Regina Specktor) and now some classical! Who'd a Thunk it?

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Where Do You Stand?

I woke up at (the Ungodly hour of) 4:30 I tossed & turned for a whole, trying to fall back asleep. I had to pee & got up & fired up the machine. I scrolled thru the blogs I like-most of which are listed in the blogroll and read an interesting post by Kris about how she used to enjoy writing but now feels forced, an effort. I don't have that problem, but then again, I'm not an artist with words & that's O.K.-most of us aren't. I do however recognize that there is a Creative Process and that isn't easy nor should it be-that is, unless you're a Genius! Most of the best writing I've seen was from folks who had struggled to perfect the idea, the setting, the development etc...

I have a Friend, Bill, who is an Investigative Journalist. He works very hard at his craft as you can tell by reading his stuff. I don't work nearly that hard (& most of us don't) writing whatever comes into my head or hand, for this blog. I also don't have anywhere near the number of readers. I would like to ask you a Question. You don't have to answer it but consider it & if you feel moved to, then by all means: In what areas of your life are you creative? Do you find it a struggle? A Joy? If you are an Artist or Writer, how do you approach your Craft?

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Today's Quote:

"In some parts of the World, people still Pray in the streets; in this country, we call them Pedestrians." -Gloria Potter
Mental Health Days-part 2

Crys left me a message where she sighed: I WANT A WEEK OF REST! Well, much like life it is not exactly what it is billed. I'm Doing Volunteer ambulance duty with the Corps I started with, fixing my mom's Rav4 for sale, Attending the funeral for Lt. Martinson, cleaning up and clearing out my apartment and work area, getting together with my long lost Friends, finding everyone who filed a Grievance with me to sign the settlement (we WON!) selling shift calendars, putting away the Christmas stuff, spending quality time with my special kitty, Going to Pennsylvania to work with an old friend for a day, and generally going nuts! It's just that I don't have to show up for work that's missing!

Sunday, January 06, 2008

AAAHHH! Mental Health Days!

I've taking this week off to relax and work around the house. I've been pushing myself to the limit & I've felt my Temper and Patience get shorter, my Sarcasm build & I needed a Break. I will attend the Funeral (see last post) on Tuesday with my old Partner Tim, 'cause that's how we roll. If anyone would like a box of stuff sent to them, let me know as I'll be cleaning out. I don't guarantee that you'll want it any more than I do! Perhaps less, but what is life without someone giving you a big box of Crap?

Saturday, January 05, 2008

First Line of Duty Death: 2008

Yesterday, Lt. John H. Martinson, a 14 year member of FDNY became the 1st line of duty death this year. He leaves behind a pregnant wife & child. No one expects to go to work & never come home again. Although we worked in different sections of the city (I didn't have the honour of knowing him), we worked for the same department, laughed at the same things and We will all miss him. "nuff said.

Friday, January 04, 2008

Wish List(s)

I have seen several folks posting up a wish list on their blog sites. I haven't (yet) as I have most of what I need and almost no one reads this site anyway. I don't have a problem with it 'tho. I have often received a gift that just left me cold or made me wonder "What were they thinking?" I think it's OK to show folks that you think they are Cool by choosing to get them a little something. Perhaps that sounds a little, I don't know-"booshie"? of me but that is the way I am with the folks I work and are friends with.

Now if you have an old Grandfather clock or an old Harley in pieces in a box or your garage... send me details!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Today is the first day I'm off in the new Year! HOORAY!!!

I'm working a Mutual with Luscious Lucy so I can attend tonight's union meeting and also spend the day with Ms. Meow. Alright, technically I have to pull a double shift on Sat. but having this day allows me to take care of several things at once & have a good time while doing it. I hope New Years' Eve was pleasant for you, mine was a tad busy ( No matter all the Hoopla about drinking & driving- drunks abound on New Years' & nearly always are getting into some sort of trouble.)

Started gathering information on my new project but it will be some time until it will start to make sense. Anyway, Gotta go get ready. Later...