Burn, Baby, Burn

The San Joaquin Valley Air District announced that Christmas Day is a no-burn day in the valley air basin portion of Kern County.  We were reckless criminals. 

Merry Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas

When someone wishes you a Merry Christmas, don’t be a merryandrew.  Simply acknowledge the well wishes as they are intended.

Merry Christmas.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It doesn’t pay to be a turkey.

Women’s Health?

I’ve just had all of my annual check ups in spite of the U.S Preventative Services Task Force new recommendations.  Where’s the outrage from women?  Maybe it’s out there & I’m missing it.  It seems there is more outrage that Sarah Palin is on a book tour than the reduction in health awareness for women.

Isn’t it interesting that the reductions came in a double whammy to women’s health care rather than to the prescriptions for men to get that little blue pill?

One way or another, it seems women are getting the shaft.

PS … Thanks to the 59 Democrats and one especially huge worm by the name of Joe Lieberman, the entire country just got hosed.

C

came over today.  She’s pretty interesting.  Educated.  Traveled.  Athletic.  Versatile.  She worked the summer in Alaska then traveled to Italy and Spain just “because”.  She wants a good camera.  She wants my camera.  She wanted to play with my camera. 

Here’s what she did:

 

I think C needs to break down and get herself a camera.

Trash! You Ain’t Nuthin’ But Trash!

Jim Costa is a Democrat that is supposed be representing the Central San Joaquin Valley of California.  He voted for HR3962.

Mr. Costa will be joining the 10.2% unemployed shortly.

What a Great Dog.

If there are no dogs when I die, I know I’ve gone to Hell.

Cerberus

March 27, 2002 – November 2, 2009

 

"Beau"

by Jimmy Stewart

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn't come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.
He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story's long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house--
I guess I'm the first to retire.
And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I'd give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare
And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I'd feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,
I'll always love a dog named Beau.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This is the very best time of year.  The weather is cool.  The colors are vibrant.  The clothes are comfortable.  The nights are longer.  It’s time to hibernate.

Happy Halloween!

Saturday Morning Walk

We took the dog for a walk out around Lake Ming this morning.  As we were finishing our walk, I spotted something very unusual in the brush. Check it out.  Deer!  There were 2.  I was so surprised that I was lucky to even snap this.  Wish I would have had my long lens.

There was a mama and baby.  This is the baby.  They were on the south side of the Kern River and took off heading toward the canyon. 

I’ve never seen deer this low before.  Very cool.

Culinary Weakness

Recently, the very popular Pioneer Woman dedicated a portion of her blog to collect what her readers’ culinary weaknesses are.  My weakness is popcorn (& fruit chewy gummy candy, bread, ice cream, butter, Ruffles, salsa, etc.).  From those comments she selected a couple and awarded them a food processer.  I didn’t win.  No big deal.  I have a new food processer.  Here’s the interesting part.

One of her readers is mad about statistics and provided the results of the poll.  This was interesting; but I like to see my statistics rather than read them.  I took the information and made a quick graph.  Now I feel like playing Trivial Pursuit.

20/20

Yesterday I took my mother-in-law to the eye doctor for a check up. Her eyesight is hideous. We spent the day running errands and enjoyed a Basque lunch. She enjoyed a glass of wine. And another. And another. And another.

At the end of the day we both agreed that even though her eyesight is hideous our hindsight is, in fact, 20/20.

Troll

This image was found online.  Thanks to whomever image I’m borrowing.

Someone called me a troll.  That reminded me of the pink haired troll I had as a child.  (My brother’s troll had orange hair.)  Thinking of my pink haired troll reminded me that October is breast cancer awareness month.  That reminded me that it’s time to go get my boobs squashed.

I suppose I should thank that someone for calling me a troll.  But I won’t.

OUCH

MAYBELLINE: Go. Away. Go back to Bakersfield.com where you can snicker and fret without retribution about the “illegal aliens” and the babies they have out of wedlock (gasp!). Over there, you and the other like-minded trolls can stew together in the toxic cauldron of your smallness.

I was stung. Ouch. And I thought this person represented tolerance to all. Wow, I was so wrong. I may be sparse in the number of words I leave as comments; but they must really be potent. This blogger always goes off on me for leaving only a few words. This blogger sees much more power in my comment than was intended. This blogger is guilty of what I'm being accused of ---as being with my "other like-minded trolls". My opinion is that someone like this is tolerant...tolerant of those that are like-minded.

Sheesh!

Friendship

Strange what some consider friends.  Most would rate a mere acquaintance as a friend so they have a basket load.  Relatives are a whole different beast.

A friend to me is someone that knows me, has common interests, and can be counted on.  With that definition, I believe I have two friends.  How many friends do you truly have?

For even further confirmation regarding friendship, I consulted the I Love Lucy Guide to Life.  Enjoy.

Don’t be a bit of flotsam in the Sea of Life.

Duvall You Are Out!

Another one bites the dust.  California Assemblyman, Mike Duvall [R], from Orange County is out. Family values.  Indeed.  This worm is as low as the economy crawling under the border fence.

Robert Duvall (especially Gus McCrae) will always be “in”.  Justice would be swift.  Justice would be fair. Adios, Assemblyman.  And good riddance.

Van, You Are Out!

Van Jones got the boot.  He’s out.  Amazing.

No big deal.  I prefer Van Johnson. “I like New York in June.  How about you?”

1979

Is it really possible that it’s been thirty years since the Sacketts first graced our TV screens.  Mercy!  Sam and Tom together making a L’Amour movie.  Geez, I sure wish they would make more of those types of movies with clear cut good guys and bad guys (and extremely good looking guys! – MAMA!).

Men were men doing men-type stuff.  There was absolutely no question these guys are 100%, all American male.  Carumba!

Lunch Table

What 6 people (living or dead) would you have at your lunch table?  I’ve asked this question over the years and received a wide range of answers.  Some were very serious (Jesus Christ, Thomas Jefferson, Adam, etc.).  Some were silly.  I prefer silly.  A recent blogger I follow brought up the question but limited the guest list to 3 and it seemed as though the conversation would be waaaay too serious for me to enjoy.  Here’s who I would like at my lunch table today:

Groucho Marx- cracks me up.

Steve Allen – riot!

Bob Hope – right here!

Lucy – classic.

Red Skelton – God bless.

Tom Selleck – Mercy!

I prefer to laugh until the great food and drink squirts from my nose rather than be bogged down with serious conversation.

Who would you invite to lunch?  Share any details you like.

Scotland the Brave?

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was released from prison in Scotland for compassionate reasons.  He is terminal with prostate cancer.

What?!  These are not the Scots I know.  The Scots I know would not release a convicted terrorist that blew up 270 people.  The Scots I know would remove his cancerous prostate and boil it up in some haggis.  His head (removed prior to haggis feast) would adorn the end of a sharp stick and be paraded around the towns and villages to warn others of what they might expect should they attempt anything as barbarous.

The Scot that released this scum is named Kenny MacAskill.  He’s the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in Scotland.  I’m certain he would have no use for a kilt stool.

 

Here’s a gratuitous look at the Scots (or at least they act like Scots) I know and love.

  Brilliant!

  Ach, Laddy!

Oh, Rob.

Speechless.

Cheeky! 

Priceless.

Oildale

This is for Dalieans (past, present, and future). Special stuff going on at the Buck Owens' post office. That's the one on Minner - around the corner from the El Tejon, next to the funeral home. We even have a farmers' market every Tuesday (5-7) until September 15. It's just getting started; so it has a long way to go.

I'll be posting my thoughts on Scotland releasing the murderous Libyan terrorist later. I do have thoughts on the matter. Surprised? I didn't think so.

Royalty

This date celebrates the passing of someone recognized as “American royalty”.  What an influence this man had on this country.  He was adored by many.  Even though he had human flaws (weight, addiction, infidelity, etc.). He was regarded as the best at his game.  Today, he is still used as the standard to match. 

Oh sure, Elvis passed on this day; but the Sultan of Swat passed on this day in 1948.

Gottcha!

Someone Thinks I’m a Racist

Someone is wound up tight.

Someone needs to not be so tightly wound.

October 27, 1985

A work associate (Scott you know who you are.) and I have been having musical discussions recently.  This young man missed being exposed to early rock and roll.  Now, he’s making up for lost time.  I have always noticed that the guitar cords (about 45 seconds in) in Someday We’ll Be Together sound so similar to those that Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) plays at the “big dance” in Back to the Future.  You know.  Earth Angel.  Where Marty begins to see his family fade from a photo.  He even sees himself begin to fade until his parents finally kiss on the dance floor.

 

What was the name of the band that played at the “big dance”?

Forced Charity

I think when I’m out in the garden.  And I think I like to help others that aren’t able to help themselves.  I think I would like someone to be able to help me whenever I can’t help myself.  I think it’s good when we help each other.  I think it’s bad when others force me to be charitable in the form of social services (a.k.a. taxes).  I think most of those services are helpful.  I think most of those services are abused.  I think a lot more good could come from charity if those receiving were given the opportunity or shown how to better themselves so they could give rather than receive.  I think I thought of this when I saw the aphids sucking the life out of my pumpkin leaves.

On the underside of the pumpkin leaf and on the stems are aphids, aphid eggs, and ladybug larvae.

I think I’m tired of getting the life sucked out of me by others.  I think.

Don’t forget to vote.  Link is in the upper right side of this page.  Vote everyday through August 11.

Thanks.

Did You Vote Today?!

Vote today!

If you took the time to vote today, thank you.  If you don’t have time today, maybe you can vote tomorrow.  Voting ends on August 11.  You can vote everyday until then.

Now, what picture looks like it’s from the 1960s?  The 1st photo or this one?

You can tell me your choice in the comments AFTER you follow the link to vote.

In the famous words of Bartells and James Bartles and Jaymes, “We appreciate your support.”