What A Slacker!

I Want It Wednesday: More Time

Add comment December 17th, 2008

I need more time in the day. I just cannot seem to get anything done these days. I with the holidays coming fast my time seems to be even shorter.

And god forbid I want to take a little time out for myself. It just is not going to happen.

I don’t even want to think about the fact that I don’t even have time to do my xmas shopping. I have yet to buy a single present for anyone yet!

Help!

The InHumane Society

Add comment November 20th, 2008

A few weeks ago I helped raise money for the Berks Humane Society by participating in their Walk-tober fest. I personally was able to raise $105 (not bad since I had only decided to do the walk the week before the event).

However, I am now having second thoughts. Other than all of their fundraising events I am not sure exactly what the Humane Society’s function is in Berks County any longer. Last year we found a stray (actually lost) cat on our back porch and took him down to the Humane Society, which is only a few blocks from us and an excellent location for anyone in the city to take an animal. They called us the next day to say they had found the owners, who wished to give me a reward. I asked them to just donate the reward to the Berks Humane Society (they must have as I was then added to every animal group looking for money’s mailing lists).

So what makes me question them now? My best friend (who went to the walk with me and works with a dog rescue herself) saved a little dog the other day who was abandoned by his owner who moved to Texas a few weeks ago (some people should not be allowed to have pets or kids). This little Chihuahua was left on his own living in the streets off scraps for at least two weeks. They were finally able to get him, crate him, feed him and take him to the Humane Society who turned them away!

They refused to help this poor little guy get healthy and find a loving home! My friend had to drive miles out of the city to take this scared little doggy to the Animal Rescue League simply because of some stupid bureaucratic crap about some contract (I don’t remember if it was a city contract or county - something makes me think it was county as they told my friend they no longer take in strays found in Berks County). Can you believe that? They no longer take in strays from Berks County? Contract or no contract I think it is the duty of an animal support group to do whatever they can for the strays and lost animals found in the city where they are located. Maybe that is why they really need all this money so they can move out of Reading leaving us to become over run with stray dogs and feral cats. And here I thought the Berks County Humane Society was a good, caring organization, guess I was wrong.

Stupid PA Laws

Add comment October 17th, 2008

Apparently Pennsylvania is trying to pass a new law that will have truckers up in arms and I am right there with them. The new laws say that no large vehicle will be able to sit and idle for more than five minutes at a time. WTF? Running the engine is the only way for them to cool or heat their cabs (you know their homes). And what about traffic? Will they be fined for sitting in traffic?

This is just one more stupid law on the PA books. We can put that one right next to the headlights on while driving in a work zone (I have never seen anyone stopped for that one) and the new no smoking laws that businesses are ignoring or circumventing any way.

Getting My Undies in a Bunch

Add comment October 14th, 2008

The following is a complaint about the current state of my underwear. No it is not old and ratty look rather the opposite as I just bought them. I always buy Hanes underwear, Hanes hi-cut briefs to be exact. (I know TMI.) Over the past few years I have only bought their sporty briefs. They were super comfy and had a nice big waistband. This time when I went to buy new undies I can no longer find them not anywhere. Disappointed I assumed their regular hi-cut briefs will be the same as they have always been just the narrower waist band. Wrong they are now these no-rise hi-cuts.

I never had any kind of problem with their old style under garments. I purchased the same size I have been purchasing for the last 15 years (even though their size chart says I should get the next size up). But in the past the big baggy under parts would ride up. If I bought the size smaller all was fine with a nice
snug fit.

Now they are too tight in the legs and the waist sits lower. Don’t even get me started on their comfort soft line! The comfort soft are even worse in the legs and sit further down on my butt. If I wanted bikini briefs I would have bought them! They advertise those as having the most comfortable waistband ever. Funny thing is it is nowhere near your waist making them the most uncomfortable underpants ever. I really feel I’ll take them up on their guarantee and send all these uncomfortable undies back to them and letting them know I will never be buying Hanes again.

Now to start looking for alternatives to the new and very much unimproved Hanes. First up will be fruit of the loom. Here’s hoping they still know how to make a woman’s hi-cut brief. Bye-bye Hanes.

Stop PA Puppy Mills

Add comment October 13th, 2008

You may have seen Pennsylvania on the national news (I am pretty sure Dateline, Oprah or one of the other big news magazine shows did an expose on our dirty little secret - puppy mills). PA along with other states with large Amish populations have a great number of them running a new cash crop. That crop would be dogs. Now mind you it is not only the Amish who are making a quick buck on breeding dogs, but they are the most prominent in my area. Just driving down a one-mile stretch of road to my parent’s house I pass three such puppy mills. These poor puppies are expected to be someone’s pet but they are not properly cared for, are not healthy, not socialized and are just like any other crop to these people.

Please do not buy your next dog from a pet store or off a farm. Inspect the breeder carefully, do your research and visit the pups as they develop with their mother. If you do you’ll get a happier and much healthier animal for your family.

For more information please visit united against puppy mills. org or the Humane Society’s website. If you are in PA please contact your senator to make sure that House Bill 2525 gets past passed. My Senator Mike O’ Pake voted yes on the dog legislation according to the letter I received from his office in response to my email. So please take a minute out of your day to write an email, make a phone call or mail a letter (yes snail mail still works in this country and is some times more affective than electronic mail - yeah, the e stands for electronic). And get your own ribbon to support the cause.

Puppy mill update - the Pennsylvania state senate has passed the House Bill 2525 on October 8, 2008 by a vote of 49 to 1. I just got a letter from my Senato,r Mike O’ Pake, informing me of success. He voted in the affirmative (that is yes). I wonder who the idiot that voted no was? Or even better what their reason was for voting in the negative?

As Sen. O’ Pake’s letter states, “These dogs will receive the proper and humane treatment that they deserve.” This is a good victory for pet lovers and will certainly help in the senators bid for re-election next month.

Bitching About Soy In Every Thing

Add comment October 6th, 2008

Trying to live a soy free life is proving harder than one would think. Soy is one of the nine top recognized allergens. So why is it being used in everything? We stopped peanuts in schools and California makes laws against restaurants using Trans fats, but no one seems to care that we are basically causing an epidemic of food allergies by subjecting everyone to repeated ingesting of a top allergen. We need food manufactures to find an alternative to putting soy-based ingredients in all their products.

Valuable Lesson Learned

Add comment October 3rd, 2008

No one really wants to know what you are feeling or thinking. They only want good news and good reports. So even if you are only telling the truth or say how you are feeling at the time don’t do it. Stop and think before you say or do anything.

Who cares if you are tired of wearing a mask, keep it on. I have found that there are basically four different versions of myself. The real one that usually needs to be locked up, the me for work and family, the me my friends get to see (closest one to the real me) and the me strangers get to see. So while the real me wants to be seen and struggles to do just that I must do everything in my power to keep it safely locked away along with all of my true feelings and thoughts. While my true feelings sometimes come to the surface they always get me in trouble. So from now on I am keeping my mouth shut (that includes my pen to some degree as well).

I need to dust off all those masks and keep reminding myself that I am not allowed to have any feelings, everyone else’s feelings come first even if I must lie to keep them all happy that is what must be done.

So my advice to you all is keep it all bottled up inside let it out at your own risk. But it is all up to you. Release your feelings and risk screwing up your relationships or your job. Keep your feelings in and risk mental and physical illness. Which is worse? I opt for the easy way out slowly killing myself by keeping it all in causing stress, high blood pressure, ulcers, headaches and a constant feeling of nausea. But even to telling you of my physical ailments is breaking my own role (but it is a new rule for me as I usually strive for honesty in every thing I do so it will take me a while to get used to lying all the time).

Since everyone in the known universe is basically sick and tired of me, I have to do something or just curl up and die. I have already started by lying every time someone asks how I am doing. The real answer is a lengthy diatribe about my health since the accident and the slow progress of my recovery or my recent issues with my increasingly worsening allergies or this headache I have had to endure for over four weeks or my blood pressure being high or the ulcer I have because of stress in my life or the depression I am fighting because of everything in my life. But above all else never ever talk about your financial worries no one cares that you can’ t even fill your gas tank let alone that you have medical bills out the wazoo, the only answer people want to hear when they ask “how are you” is fine do not elaborate. Anything beyond fine is too much information. Wish me luck.

Worst Week is Worst Series

Add comment September 22nd, 2008

Worst Week was the worst series premiere so far. I think it just might keep that title too. It was actually painful to watch. It was very predictable and not in the least bit funny. The characters weren’t the least bit interesting or compelling. At least CBS thought ahead and stuck this at the end of a good line up instead of in the middle of it. Otherwise it would have ruined my TV viewing for the evening. As it was I switched over to ABC with 15 minutes left in the episode to sit through the end of Dancing With The Stars (another pointless TV series, but one that is still better than Worst Week) so I was ready for the Boston Legal season premiere. I hope that Worst Week gets yank soon and they stick something better at the end of the Monday comedy line because that show was anything but funny.

First Day Out After No Smoking Goes Into Effect

Add comment September 14th, 2008

We went out to eat for the first time since the new PA ban on smoking went into effect. I have to say it was great walking through the front of the California Bar and Grill without having to deal with all those smokers in the restaurant. It really did make our eating experience so much more pleasant.

Biggest problem I can see with this new ban is that people hover by the door smoking instead of being polite and moving a little further off. So while we were lucky not to have encountered these people on the way in our exit from the restaurant wasn’t as lucky. Upon opening the door to leave we were hit by a cloud of smoke, which of course we had to walk through to leave the building.

Why couldn’t this law have been no smoking period and include not within 50 feet of public doorways?

My Car Tried to Die on Me Today

Add comment August 29th, 2008

Today started out very iffy, but it turned itself around (a little bit at least). I was on my way to work when my check engine light came on. My car is only three years old. It does have almost 93,000 miles on it due to my daily commute to work. My big fear is that it will die before I even get it paid off. Thank goodness the light came on close to where my parents live so when it started hesitating I was too scared at least I wasn’t on the turnpike! I borrowed my parent’s car and headed off to work secure in the knowledge that my dad would take care of finding out what was wrong with my car. I still don’t know.

But to add insult to injury (so to speak) the guy at the turnpike when I went to pay my toll was a bit of a jackass. I handed him my ticket and $20. His response was to stand there like a big idiot holding my twenty and telling me that the toll is only 75 cents. As if I did not know how much it was after driving this route for nearly five years. I looked back at him and just said, “I know. That is all I have (and it was too or I would have given him something else).” Was he that dense or just that lazy that he did not want to count out my change to me?

So I finally get to work and everything is business as usual. Nothing too taxing, which made me happy. Plus the added bonus of a free lunch. Even though I still don’t know what is up with my vehicle my day wasn’t a total pile o’ pooh.

While I was writing this my mom called they fixed my car and I can take theirs back tomorrow. It was the camshaft position sensor, whatever that is.

Real Life Mario Kart

Add comment August 24th, 2008

Mario Kart is one heck of hard game to find. I had to borrow a friend’s to see if I like it before resorting to ordering it online. I guess I might have to buy it, as it is pretty fun. Although I do suck at it guess I’ll get better with practice. I ran a few races then tried my hand at an online game or two. There’s nothing like getting your ass beat by people across North America (I chose regional because I did not want to be a world class loser just yet).

My ride home on Friday night was a little like real life Mario Kart. I’m driving along minding my own business when this jackass decides he has to come over in my lane. I lay on my horn and he keeps coming over. I don’t think he ever looked over or even used his side mirror at all. Finally, just before he hit me and/or forced me into the cement median he pulled back into his lane and looked at me like I’m to blame that he can’t drive. Sometimes I really can’t stand people.

Comcast Is Taking Me For A Ride

Add comment August 21st, 2008

Comcast is so ticking me off again. They splash advertisements all over the place trying to get you to sign up for their triple play program (TV, internet and phone) by enticing you with a free gift. Last month it was a Wii, the month before that a TV this month it is a years free DVR rental.

Well I finally broke down and did it. Guess what? You have to be a new customer. Not just a new customer to the triple play (which I am), but never having had an account with Comcast ever. I don’t think their fine print that flashes across the screen says that. All it says is new customer and I fit that bill as I NEVER, EVER had a triple play account. Oh, and to top it all off the price I was quoted is only good for a year. I wasn’t told it was special pricing. I was told that was the price (by the lady in the corporate office). Now I learn it will mostly likely double after my year is up! Sometimes I hate Comcast (okay so most of the time I hate them).

Are The Chinese Gymnasts Old Enough

10 comments August 12th, 2008

I really am not a big fan of sports and don’t watch the Olympics every night. I only catch bits and pieces when nothing else is on TV. But tonight we watched the very young Chinese girls do the uneven bars. I was amazed at how young these girls were. So much so that I had to actually look do a Google search for what the minimum age was for the girls gymnasts is. It is 16. There is no way those girls are 16. I would say 14 if I had to guess.

My search brought up a NY Times article that says there is or was a controversy about two of the girls ages. Apparently there were official Chinese gymnast websites that had listed both girls as 14, but the Chinese government saw fit to shut them down (don’t they know that once something is on the web it is there forever?) so know one could argue with the newly issued passports stating the girls are indeed 16 (but are they).

Deng Linlin just did her balance beam routine and right before she was wrapping her leg and smiled real big. That girl does not even have all her adult teeth yet and they are going to tell us she is sixteen? As my friend said, “she is just getting her big girl teeth”! (wish I could get a screen grab of that smile so you all could see it (heck she is even missing a tooth — it is probably under her pillow for the tooth fairy)). This is similar to the 1991 North Korean girl who also had official documents but her smile gave her away too.

So if these girls (sorry unlike the announcers I cannot call them women) are officially 16 will they be getting driver’s licenses soon? And will they need to remain two years older all their lives? That is going to hurt when they are 30 something.

Here’s a direct quote from the Yahoo sports writer…

“Maybe they can ask Deng Linlin to smile wide for the cameras.”

And here she is doing just that…

Now mind you, these little girls sure can work the gym floor and those uneven bars. Wow. Even being young they deserved the gold. My complaints about their age are not because they may have been cheating. It was because the girls just looked so dang young. And I do think the baby teeth in the above picture of Deng Linlin kind of proves it.  It is a shame that the Karolyis couple (who obviously are pro team USA) couldn’t have been less boisterous about there feelings (come on there is a time and a place and maybe global television wasn’t the place). Honestly I was getting tired of hearing Bela moaning about it.