The Grumpy Hound

Times, they are a changin'!

2011-07-29T09:01:00.003-04:00

Remember the big video wars of the 80's? Beta or VHS, then there were the 10" video discs followed by dvd's and now blu-ray. It was just a few years ago that I finally got around to updating all my VHS movies to DVD copies. My movie collection is extensive, in the hundreds, I am NOT converting them all to Blu-Ray, I can't afford to!! LOL
In the past several months every video rental store in town has closed. Most people get their movies streamed right to their tv, mailed directly to their home or pick one up at these vending machine things called RedBox. Of course BlockBuster Video had to get in on that action and came out with their own version.
What's going on with books........... or the lack of books. Book stores are closing!! Closing!! Are libraries next? I'm going to miss curling up with a paperback. The smell of the paper, whether it's brand new, crisp and crinkly or old and musty with tattered cover and yellowed pages. A book like that shows it was loved and read and reread and good enough to be passed on to friends and family. I just can't see myself curling up with a cuppa joe or a margartia on the beach with a rectangular hunk of plastic technology. It's just not the same.
Some people have their entire music collection on their I-pods or other similar electronic device. What happens if you lose it, or your computer gets a virus? I don't want my music collection floating around in cyber space? I want a hard copy, something tangible that I can hold in my hands, I can't hold a megabyte or a pixel. Speaking of music, when did all my favorite bands start playing elevator music?
Here's something to think about, bar codes. I remember a time before barcodes. Now there are new codes that are turning up in magazine and newspaper ads that you can scan with your cell phone!! Which brings me to another interesting topic, what about phones? OMG, have they changed or what!! It used to be a sign of prestige to have a pager, do they even make pagers anymore? There's really no need for a home phone anymore, I mean why would anyone pay for something that's attached to your wall, when you can take a nifty little device that fits in your pocket and has internet access. As for texting, I think it's stupid, totally and completely lame. If you have something to tell someone, you call them and tell them, leave a message if they don't answer or call them back later. But you see, I still send "thank you" notes and write actual letters to people, it's called corresponding and it's fast becoming a lost art.
About those newspapers and magazines I just mentioned, those will be going by the wayside soon enough and you won't have to worry about those new fancy pixel looking codes that your phone can scan, nope, because your kindle thingy is in color now and it has internet capabilities just like a small laptop. You'll be able to get your newspaper and magazines delivered to your kindle and the ads will be there and all you'll have to do is "click". The advertisers will know exactly which ads to send you because they monitor everything you click on, what books you read, what websites you visit. It's a little thing called demographics, and it's big business to help you spend money on the stuff they wanna sell you.
Scary stuff out there boys and girls.

Spaghetti Sauce & Toilet Paper

2010-07-19T23:23:00.004-04:00

There are 2 very different schools of thought concerning these two things. There's really only 2 ways to either of them. There's the right way and the wrong way of course. With spaghetti sauce it's either sweet or it's not and with T.P, it's either over or under. It all depends on where you were raised and by whom as to which side you're on.

Spaghetti Sauce. I'm talking about your classic red tomato sauce that most people in America consider spaghetti sauce. Not white sauce, like alfredo, or a butter sauce, yuck. No, I'm talking about good old American red pasta sauce. Back when I was a kid we made it from scratch and I think this is where the division started because there's one big secret to making spaghetti sauce from scratch. You DO NOT use sugar!! What? I swear, it's the truth. It seems that people put sugar in their spaghetti sauce to cover up the tartness and acidity of the tomatoes. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret that most mechanics know, baking soda neutralizes acid. So..... don't put sugar in your pasta sauce. Drop a teaspoon or so of baking soda in there and it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. You'll see a tell tale foam on top of your sauce so you know it's working. Some people get indigestion from homemade sauce, if you try this technique, you nip it in the bud because it's the acid in the tomatoes that's causing the problems!! There are generations of people out there that think red pasta sauce is supposed to be sickeningly sweet, I feel sorry for you cause you're really missing out on the way it's supposed to be. It's OK though, it's what you're used to and you don't know any beter ;)

Toilet Paper There's no secrets here, it's just one of those things. Do you take your TP from the top? Or reach under and grab it from the back? I've seen people nearly come to blows over this argument. I know that it was always a source of irritation in my family when I was growing up. In fact, there was a running joke that my father started. The Italian side of the family, that would be myself, my brother and him, did it the right way, which would be from the top; where as the Polish side of the family, being my sister and mother, did it the wrong way, from the back. It wasn't until years later that I found out mom wasn't Polish and that dad was just being a doofus. But it stuck and still to this day it irkes me if the TP roll is "wrong". I have even gone so far as to change the roll at work and hotels etc. Call it an OCD thing.

So what about you? Do you like your spaghetti sauce sweet or not? How about your TP? From the top or the back? Remember, no fights!!

Things I Learned Livin' in the South

2010-07-05T13:38:00.013-04:00

I've lived in southern Florida for most of life. I was born in Cleveland and lived there long enough to remember what it was like but I consider myself a "southerner". Don't mistake being "southern" with being a redneck, two totally different things and I'll save that for another post. I got the following list via e-mail from my dad and it pretty much sums up what being "southern" is all about. Enjoy.

A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.
There are 5,000 types of snakes, and 4,998 of them live in the South.
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in the South, plus a couple no one's seen before.
If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.
Onced and Twiced are words.
It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!
Jaw-P? means Did y'all go to the bathroom?
People actually grow and eat okra.
Fixinto is one word. It means I'm preparing to do that.
Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.
Backwards 'n forwards means I know everything about you.
The word jeet is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH em.
No, Jew? is a common response to the question, Did you bring any beer?
You measure distance in minutes.
You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.
You know what a DAWG is.
You carry jumper cables in your car - for your OWN car.
You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tonys, Tabasco and ketchup.
The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports and motor sports, and gossip.
You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit a bit warm.
You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime known as goin' Wal-Martin or off to Wally World.
You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.
Fried catfish is the other white meat.
We don't need no dang Driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive dag-nabbit.

Independence Day

2010-07-04T18:07:00.007-04:00

Today we celebrate our Independence!!
The legal seperation of our original 13 colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain. We actually "declared" our independence on July 2nd, however, Congress had to get in there and muck about. It took Congress another 2 days to revise and finally approve the Declaration of Independence, making it official on July 4th. There are still some debates as to when it was signed, historians believe that it was signed on August 2nd, nearly a month later. No one knows for sure, but sign it they did and Free we are!!! So grab a hotdog or a burger, a nice chilly beverage, watch a parade and some fireworks and above all else........... be grateful that you live in America. If you don't like it here, that's ok, being free means that you're free to LEAVE at any time. So don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Long Live LOST

2010-06-30T22:15:00.008-04:00

Well, it's over!! Six years and a writer's strike later and it's all over. No more waiting all summer long to find out what happened, or worse, having to wait until January or February. No more counting down the day to the beginning of the next season. I'd like to say that there are no more questions, that all our questions got answered but that would be a lie. For the most part, the biggest and most imprtant questions got answered. There were far to many little things that had to be left to the imagination, something that alot of viewers forgot about.

I watched LOST alomost from the beginning. My dear brother-in-law got me hooked after the first couple episodes. While my best friend ensured that I continue watch, often times calling me after an episode to dicuss the show in depth. We all watched religiously since then, never missing a show, ok fine, sometimes I had to tape it. My point being is that while we all watched the entire series. While we may have been watching the same show it's very odd how the three of us came away from it with a completely different perspective. He doesn't get it, I do and she still has a million questions.

I think there are 3 catagories of people who watched LOST. There are people like him, who just watched the show and enjoyed it for what it was. There are people like me, I watched the show but I also got into all the background stories and the symbology and the history of the Island. And then there are people like my best friend. She watched the show too and she got into the whole Island stuff, but she also read all the blogs and visited the websites etc. So you have the casual viewer, the avid watcher and the fanatic (love you girl, you know who you are). I'm the only one that still doesn't have questions. Ha ha.

There were a few things that bugged me about the show, little things they did that weren't possible. The biggest would be the whole blowing up the submarine while you're on it and escaping. First of all, the sub was in a lagoon!! But supposedly they "dove" right away, how is this possible? They would have to get pretty far out before they would even be able to think about diving, at least past the breakwater. Yet somehow, they're diving in a lagoon. Ok, so we get past that. Now it blows up, well it doesn't actually blow up, but a big ol' hole gets blown in the side. Yet, somehow, despite all the water rushing in and the ensuing chaos, a few people make it out. Pretty damn amazing!! And oh, yeah, they make it to shore, to be as deep as we were lead to believe they would have one hell of a swim to shore and yet they made it. An intersting note here, because it happened several times on the show, you can't swim in a pair of jeans. Go ahead, try it? Once they're wet, they weigh about 40 pounds, that's gonna wear you out in about 2 minutes. And yet, somehow on LOST, people are able to swim great distances wearing jeans, sometimes even with backpacks full of C-4.

You can't knit pick about these things, because like I said to my beloved brother-in-law, it's TV, it's not real!!! The writers have to be allowed a certain amount of "artistic license" in able to tell their story. I'm not going to knit pick. What I am going to do is rewatch all 6 seasons again, and again. There has never been a show as groundbreaking as LOST and there won't be another for a long time to come. In a way, I'm glad it's over, this is what the writers wanted. If the execs had their way they would have made the writers stretch it out forever until the viewers were so sick of filler episodes like Nikki & Palo, that eventually the ratings would fail. If that had been the case it may have ended abruptly leaving us no closing. Goodbye LOST, you will be missed.

2009-10-09T23:46:00.004-04:00

~Magickal Graphics~

Rainbow Bridge

2008-11-11T22:33:00.003-05:00

A short time after this picture was taken I had to make the gut wrenching decision to let my little girl go. She had a mass in her belly that was causing her a great deal of pain and discomfort. There were other factors that led to the decision but none that made it any easier. I thought that I had plenty of time left with her, time to do the little things that always get put off for another day. Now those opportunities have passed and I'm left with regret the sadness of stories unfinished.

Abigail was a wonderful companion, willing to go anywhere and do anything. Always there with a smile and a willingness to put up with what ever I threw at her. I loved to come home from work, let her stand in my lap and tell her what my day was like. I would then ask her how her day went and she would surely let me know, Aaarrrooooo!! She was such a bad dog when I first rescued her but wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything. She brought smiles to the faces of everyone she met. One look at that goofy smile, soulfull eyes and droopy ears and you were hers.

She was a quirky dog but there were some things you could always count on with her and number one on that list would be her love of food. Her passion for kibble was the reason I found out about the mass in her tummy. I have no idea how long it was there, but by the time that it got to the point that she no longer wanted to eat or even show interest in food, it was to late.

Now my girl is at the Rainbow Bridge, where she can eat until she is content, lay in a sunbeam and sniff the wind. Snuggle with her cow and play in the grass. Roll in dead things and chase butterflies and lizards. Her friends are there, Mopsey, Bigman, Indy. And Rowdy is there too, he'll show her around the place I'm sure of it. She'll wait for me, to greet me with her usual enthusiasm and I'll have a cookie in my pocket for her.

Momma misses you Abigail!

DTV and Smoking

2008-08-20T15:43:00.007-04:00

Topic for the day: Digital TV and smoking. What do these have in common? Not much, but stick with me for a few minutes and you'll find out.
My story begins a few weeks ago.......... our lovely government has decided that TV stations need to broadcast their signals over the airwaves using digital signals instead of the old analog signals. Something about needing more signals or channels. I don't really understand it all myself, if you want more info go here https://www.dtv2009.gov/ If you have cable or satellite it doesn't affect you. However, if you don't, then you're in big trouble and will no longer receive any tv signals after February 2009 if your tv is over a few years old. Long story short, my tv is older and I don't have cable so I was going to be staring at a blank screen come this February.

I did what alot of people are doing, sending for the coupon from the government that helps you pay for the converter box which changes the signal your television receives from analog to digital. I got my new box a few weeks ago (thanks to my pals Lesley and her dad Jerry, love you guys *smooch*) and got it all hooked up after a quick side trip to Radio Shack for some cables. What you may not know, and I learned after a story on the local news station, was that DTV has got a whole lot going on and is a great improvement over the old analog signal. The picture is crystal clear, you get alot more channels and on screen program information like the title of the show, duration and what's on that channel for the next couple hours.

Each TV channel can have what I'll call sub-channels. So local station 9 has become 9.1 and 9.2. Got it? 9.1 is the regular station just like the old days but 9.2 is just the weather, it's like my own personal "Weather Channel" excepy only local. This is great because the way I look at it, unless you're travelling, who cares what the weather is in Idaho. Well, I found a new station that I particularly enjoy, it's 27.2 and it plays all the old shows from mostly the 60's & 70's. During the day it's alot of cops and medical shows like Dragnet, Adam 12, Emergency and late at night is Alfred Hitchcock and Night Gallery.

So what does this have to do with smoking? Well, watching those old I realized that everybody smoked back then and they smoked everywhere. They smoked on planes, they smoked in restaraunts, they smoked in the police station and in the hospital (although not in the ICU I assume) Smoke Smoke Smoke have a cigarette. No wonder I smoked. Everybody had an ashtray in their house even if they didn't smoke. June and Ward Cleaver had one, they didn't smoke. I remember when I was a kid, mom would come home from grocery shopping and it was my job to open the cartons of cigarettes and put them in this one special drawer in the kitchen which they fit perfectly. If I remember correctly it was a carton of Salems for mom and dad smoked Kools. Yuck, menthols are like smoking a stick of gum. Not only could you smoke inside a restaurant, there weren't even "smoking" sections. Can you imagine strolling through Wal-Mart and lighting up a ciggy-butt? Or smoking on a plane! On a PLANE, seriously!? I remember going to indoor concerts as a teenager and not only was it open seating but the smoke was so thick you could barely see the stage. Granted, not all of that was cigarette smoke but still, smoke none the less.

The whole anti- smoking thing is to the point now that some cities are trying to ban smoking in your own car!! I admit, I used to smoke but I quit a few years ago. And I can understand banning smoking in public places with the whole second hand smoke thing and all. BUT, and that's a big BUT, I would like to think that my own personal vehicle is an extension of my home being that it is a mobile "personal space". I should be able to smoke legal substances in it if I so choose. My space, my air, I'll do with it as I choose. Sometimes Big Brother gets a little to big for his britches and we must keep him in check because our civil liberties are already dwindling. The bigger our society becomes, the fewer freedoms we have.

It's amazing how things change over the years.................

That Pretty Much Covers Everyone!!

2008-08-01T03:55:00.008-04:00

Click on the picture for a larger view and read the signs. Some people lead a very sad exsistance.................they really don't get it do they?

Summer is Here and It's Hotter'n Heck!!

2008-08-01T02:40:00.004-04:00

The other day I had been running around, doing errands, visiting my sister and stuff like that. Abigail, my co-pilot, was with me, eager for any excuse to take a ride in the car! When we got back to the house about 4:00 pm., the hottest part of the day around these parts. I parked the van in the street, got out, opened the side door and started grabbing all my goodies to take into the house. So, here I am, baking in the sun, wrestling with the dog on her leash, my ever present oxygen tank, my purse, a couple bags of groceries and some papers and mail. Usually Abigail's pretty good about this sort of thing and kind of hangs out at the end of her leash, eager to get inside for her Good Girl Cookie! But she's not! She's pacing back and forth between myself and the van getting in my way. She's kind of in my blind spot, underneath all the stuff in my hands, so I take a step back and I'm just about ready to let loose with, "Get out of the way you dang dog!" when I realize what she's doing.
She was pacing back 'n forth in what little protection the van provided on the hot pavement. Poor little thing!! Hence the reason for my current blog entry. Sometimes, we forget that our furry friends are walking around barefooted. The pads on their feet DO NOT provide adequate protection from the blistering sun. Remember that the black top, pavement, tar, what ever you want to call it, is even hotter because its color (black) absorbs the heat. Even the lighter color of the cement which most sidewalks are made of, can be extremely hot during these summer months. I've noticed when walking Abigail during the summer, she tends to walk in the grass where as during the cooler months, she'll stick to the sidewalk. Momma didn't raise no fool!!
So, remember your little buddies tender feet and provide allowances, either walking in the grass or waiting until the sun has begun to go down. Kick your shoes off and stand there on the pavement for about 30 seconds or so and see if it's tolerable. A dogs love is unconditional and they are loyal to a fault, which means that they will burn the heck out of their feet if that means being with you. Hopefully, dear reader, you have enough brains for the both of you!! ;) Enjoy the summer............................. Oh yes, I almost forgot, I seriously hope that I don't have to remind you about leaving your buddy in a hot car during the summer, even for the briefest of moments, big No No !!

July 4th Sky Flowers

2008-07-05T01:47:00.006-04:00

It's the 4th of July!! Whoopee!! Today, we celebrate our Independence!!

I'm not going to rant or rave today, what's the point, no one listens anyway............... big "SIGH".......... I live in a semi small town and my apartment is in the old "downtown" area, which the city is fixing up real nice. The city is doing alot of things to unite the community and most of it centers around the area I live in. OK, picture this, if you walk 5 blocks South on my street you wind up in the heart of downtown and if you walk 5 blocks North, well then you're at the new Lake Front park which is VERY nice. Now, I'm not a big fan of parades but whenever this little hick town has a parade, it goes right down my street. Ordinarily, I wouldn't make any kind of effort to go to a parade but when the thing's in your front yard and all you have to do is walk out your front door...... well what the heck, twist my arm I say! I found out about the parade route the hard way, as I recall I was roused from a peaceful slumber by some high school band butchering Jingle Bells or something along those lines. Which brings me to the reason for my post.

Today was July 4th 2008, the 4th of July, the day we celebrate our Independence, Independence Day. Hot dogs, apple pie, BBQ, beer, drunken neighbors and fireworks! The fireworks, or sky flowers as I like to call them, are set off out over the lake from a barge. Do you remember how far I said I was from the lake? Of course you don't, it's 5 blocks dumb ass, pay attention, seriously!! Poor pathetic me, I didn't have anyone to share the holiday with, screw it!! I didn't feel like messing with all the idiots and trying to park anyway. Then I had an epiphany (a thought, like a light bulb coming on) I have a new handy dandy hadicapped parking thingy for the car. I can drive right down there, get a primo spot, sit right in the back of the van with the dog. Plus, I'll be right there at the car, in my primo spot and I can get out of there just as easily as I got in!! How cool is that? So anyway, here is the video of the last 5 minutes of the fireworks including the Grande Finale!!

In case you're wondering why I call them sky flowers in the title, go watch "Land of the Dead". Also, Abigail really is a good dog, she just hates it if something has my attention other than her. She was acting a little "needy" but she really is a very good little basset hound!!

Get a Job

2008-06-02T20:58:00.005-04:00

Ughh!! I hate looking for a job! It sucks, it's so degrading, demeaning and belittling. The job hunt itself is not the same anymore either. You used to just grab the Sunday paper or drive around town looking for "Help Wanted" signs. Now it's all done on the computer or the internet. Hell, you don't even get to talk to anyone at the store level anymore. Nor do you get the chance to make that ever important deal making or breaking first impression because most places have these little kiosk thingys over in the corner where you go and sit for half an hour and fill out an application on their computer. Gone are the days where you walk into a place and ask for the manager, shake hands with a human being, look them in the eye and say "Gimme a job man!" well, you get the idea. So, I'm off to create my on-line resume, trying not to lie through my teeth while stretching the truth just enough to be believable and hopefully grab someones attention while not tooting my own horn so much that I'll be the inside joke of some corporate human resource office for days to come. Wish me luck.

Spitting Image

2008-04-30T09:44:00.003-04:00

What is it with men and spitting? Spitting on the sidewalk, in the parking lot, out the car window, on the job, off the job and at home!! Spit, spit , spit!! Do men have more salivary glands than women? I don't think so, I could be wrong, but I seriously don't think so. The only thing more disgusting is the guy who chews dip and feels the need to carry around a little spitting cup with him. What is that all about, DISGUSTING, totally, seriously DISGUSTING!! And you have the nerve to ask us (women) to swallow.

To all you "men" out there, suck it up, swallow and stop spitting on everything, you're like little puppy dogs pissing to mark your territory. Get over yourself and Quit the Spit!!

Don't Loose a Pet

2008-04-25T19:09:00.007-04:00

Recently, a friend of a friend of a friend's little doggie got lost. It's still to early to know for sure whether the pup will find it's way home but as a fellow animal lover my heart aches for this family whom I don't even know.

Which brings me to the reason for my latest post. Always , always, always have current tags on your pets collar and their collar needs to be on their neck, not hanging in the garage or on the kitchen counter. Even if you're not at home and your pet is seemingly safe and secure inside, he/she needs to wear their identification.

I had a friend whose dog was an escape artist, he could open doors and windows all by his lonesome. If it wasn't for his collar with current ID he would have been "Lost" on more than one occasion. Sometimes all it takes is a split second for a skittish dog to bolt from the sound of thunder, and when they run scared, they run and run and run!!

Abigail got out one day. Truth be told, she was a bad basset and got loose on several occasions. Two of those times we were very lucky and made a quick recovery because she was wearing her collar with current ID. There's no excuse, the most common one I hear is "they don't like to wear their collar"! Oh get over yourself, who's the boss here? You or the dog? Abigail's so used to her "clothes" that if you take it off she gets upset. Besides, it gives a place to hang some doggie *bling*.

Don't forget about micro-chipping. It's very commonplace now, not just for the arristrocratic pooch. Most pounds have chip readers and some microchip adoptees. Almost every vet's office has some sort of chip reader on hand. Then, for the truley adventurous, you can get your pooch tattooed!! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!! I believe that it's a simple id # of some sort on the inside/underside of the ear. Although, with a basset like mine, you could tattoo a damn novel on her ears.

Final thought....... the ID doesn't help if it's not current. You can get dog tags all over the place now. Most pet stores have those machines that will engrave you a new tag right on the spot. I LOVE these machines, I'm a procrastinator to the 9th degree. If I had to bring home a little piece of paper, fill it out, make out a check, mail it in and wait..... Hell, it'd never get done, Seriously, Never!! Those machines are great! Bing, bang boom, your done and out the door!!

So... no excuses!! Your pooch loves you, you love your pooch. Show him some love and get him tagged, tattooed or ID'd somehow and I hope that none of you ever have to go through the heartache of a "LOST DOG"

UPDATE!!! Zoey has been found!! Apparently she brought a few flea friends home with her but she is home and resting and her family can finally relax. Yeah for Zoey and Family!!

If you want to check out her Momma's site and hear the tale of Zoey then go here http://tnchick.com/

Dadisms or Stuff my Dad Taught Me

2008-03-20T09:39:00.015-04:00

* Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey!!
* With a can of WD-40, some Duct Tape and a few wire ties you can fix anything!
* In the unlikely event that you jump from an airplane and your parachute fails, the chances are still good that you'll survive but you'll most likely be a couple inches shorter.
* You can't count on an "If-Then" : If this happens Then I'll do that. Because when you plan on the IF happening, it never does and all your plans go to shit!
* Measure twice, cut once!
* Bubble Wrap makes a great Christmas present!
* Don't hide your stash in the glovebox of your '72 Duster because someone might try to be a nice guy and renew your vehicle registration and find it, you dumb ass! Don't hide it out back in the shed either, you never know when someone might decide that it's time to clean it out. Dumb Ass!!
* Do it right the first time or don't do it at all.
* The politically correct term would be "Afro Engineering" and you want to try to avoid doing it unless you're seriously stuck and then that Duct Tape and Wire Ties are gonna come in handy!
* One of the most beautifull sights in the world is a Snow-Bird heading North for the Summer with a New Yorker under each arm!! Seriously!
* Close only counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades!
* Don't complain, because anything is better than: A Jab in the Eye with a Sharp Stick! You don't like your christmas present? Better than a jab in the eye with a sharp stick! Job sucks? Better than a jab in the eye with a sharp stick. You get the idea.
* Oxymorons: Plastic Glass, Jumbo Shrimp, Military Intelligence.
* That ought to do it for now....... There will be more to come!!

Game Shows

2008-02-22T14:51:00.013-05:00

Game Shows, Wow!! There are alot of them out there and most of them are pretty stupid. I don't really watch game shows but there are two old favorites that are on right when I'm sitting down for dinner. It's hard to resist Alex, Pat and Vanna even if it's just for old times sake while I'm scarfing down some kibble! These two shows, as well as The Price Is Right, have really stood the test of time. The later of which is just not the same without Bob, sorry Drew.

While some things have changed others have stood the test of time. I remember the early days of Wheel of Fortune, when you could go shopping with the money you just won. There would be several different set-ups to choose from and each one had kind of a theme to it. It was interesting to see the sort of choices people would make, one person might pick the fine china while the next guy picks a pinball machine. Good ol' Vanna, still looking fine after all these years of turning them letters. She's got it easy now though, in the old days she used to actually have to turn those letters but now all she has to do is touch the screen and not fall down in those high heels.

Then there's Alex, Mr. Trebek. I give him credit just for pronouncing all those foreign words. He and the writers must have a meeting before every show where they go over the proper pronunciation of at least 100 words. I like to watch Jeopardy though because I'm a strong believer in learning something new everyday!! If I get one question right during the entire show then I'm on a roll but I always learn something new and totally useless.

Now for the real reason I started this entry 3 weeks ago. On every gameshow at some point you get the inevitable introduction to that day's contestants. Usually they mention some useless factoid about themselves like maybe they collect butterflies or something but always always always they mention their beautiful kids and wonderful spouse. Do any of these people ever have butt ugly kids or a druken louse for a spouse? Just once I'd like to hear the truth from these people, like "Yeah , Alex, I've got 2 kids, my oldest daughter's the class slut while her younger brother spends his time surfing the net for porn. My husband goes to court next week for his 3rd DUI and I can't hold a job because I'm hooked on cough medicine so I could really use the money!!" Oh yeah and for crying out loud people, stop clapping for yourselves, it's stupid and irritating and the wheel aint gonna spin any faster! Geesh!!

LOST

2008-02-01T10:26:00.000-05:00

OK, so I admit it, I'm a LOST fan. Note that I didn't say fanatic, I know some of them and they're pretty scary!. I just enjoy the show and the mystery surrounding it.

I wasn't always a fan. I guess I just didn't "get it" at first. Then my BFF started to "explain" things to me and pointed me to some of the web sites that explore all the secrets in the world of LOST. So now I'm hooked big time and the 8 month wait for season 4 to start had been torture until last nights sweet release!! Finally, new LOST, more mysteries and puzzles to wrap my little mind around. All summer long I had been wondering who was in the coffin, now all I want to know is who the heck was in Jacob's cabin! I know it was Jack's dad in the chair, thanks to my BFF for pointing out the white shoes, but whose eye was that? Locke? Patchy?

We, meaning myself and the rest of the LOST fans in the World, thought we had something to look forward too, 16 new episodes!! But then the writer's strike started and as of this writting is still going on. So what now, only 8 episodes and then a 10 month wait? What the F*CK!!

Kudos to the marketing fellas. They've done an excellent job at keeping people interested in the show. The cool commercials (gotta love that Sawyer commercial, yummy!), mega cool interactive stuff on the ABC network website, the collectibles like puzzles and "action" figures plus all the little stuff like mobisodes and the like that pique our interest, but is it enough? Am I still going to care if after watching only 8 episodes and possibly having to wait 10 months for more, am I going to give a rat's ass? I don't know, I hope so and I hope that these next 7 episodes are going to be just as awesome as last nights!! Whoopee!!

What's A Basset

2007-12-27T16:13:00.000-05:00

I'm handing over the posting duties to my Hound Dawg for awhile, so without further ado.......

Hi der everbody!! This poem came from my friend at Dogster, Huckleberry! He's a handsome hound!! His mom slave posted this in his diary and gave me permission to share it with you. Hope you enjoy it.

What Is a Basset Hound?

He looks so old to be so young, so sad to be so gay,
this Basset Hound with wrinkled brow is in my heart to stay.
With four short legs and happy tail and ears that drag the ground,
and crazy habit all his own of sleeping upside down!
Giving love in abundance, it's enough for me to share,
with all the neighbors on the block plus much, much more to spare!
His dress is quite peculiar I'm sure that you'd surmise,
He wears a very elegant coat, but that is twice his size!
And thrice usual size inside his chest is a heart that's made of gold,
God must've been in jovial mood when He made the Basset mold!
He's quite the clown by nature in looks and actions too,
He cheers you up when you are down and loves you when you're blue!
And when you're ready for a romp he's always there to play,
This funny guy with wrinkled brow IS in my heart to stay!

Hope you liked it, thanks to Hucks and his mum, love and smooches from Abigail!!

Cracker Jack Box

2007-12-19T14:38:00.000-05:00

I commute 25.5 miles to work one way, everyday, Monday through Friday. I certainly don't do it by choice, I go where the money is. But, sometimes I wonder if it's really worth it. Hmm, I mean Seriously, think about it for a minute. I drive all those extra miles, spend a ton of money on gas (don't even get me started on the price of gas, that's a whole other ball game there people) not to mention the tolls. Then we have to consider wear and tear on the car, more frequent oil changes, tires etc. Plus, I spend a half hour to 45 minutes in the morning and evening doing all that driving, how much is my time worth? It's no wonder that I see people doing things in their car that they should be doing in the privacy of their homes, they don't have any time left, it's all spent driving to and from a place we don't really want to be in the first place. So I ask you, is it worth it? Or am I spending all the extra money I'm making at a job I have to commute to, commuting to it?
I don't mind the commute, I really don't. What I mind, what really bugs me, puts that proverbial bee in my bonnet, is the way that some people drive. I mean Seriously, it's pretty freakin' scary out there!! Ok people, pay attention, do you see that space in front of me? The one between myself and the car in front of me, that's what's called a "safe stopping distance". You may remember what that is from when you took the test to get your drivers license. Basically, it's equal to 1 car length for every 10 miles an hour at which you are travelling. Weaving in and out of traffic to get around me and fill up that space has done absolutly nothing except make driving conditions more hazardous. We are all still doing the same speed except you're 20 feet closer to your destination, well la de fucking da for you!!
The funniest part is when we go to get off the turnpike, I have Sunpass!! Let's me zip right through the gate. You, Mr. Moron-Accident-Waiting -to -Happen do not. Ha haa ha. Guess what, I'm in front of you again. Besides, we both have to stop at the grocery store on the way home so what difference did it make?. I mean Seriously, where are you in such a rush to get too?
In closing, I'd like to leave you with a few unwritten road rules. Read 'em, do 'em!!
#1- The inside/left lane of the highway is for passing and people who speed. If you're out for a Sunday drive get your stupid, slow-poke ass in the right lane. That goes for big rigs to, you guys should know better.
#2- (a)As a general rule, if the street lights are on so should your head lights. Is it raining? Turn your fucking lights on you moron!!
(b) If it's raining really hard, like white out conditions and you feel the need to turn on your hazards as well as your headlights, then the only place you should be is on the side of the road. Because for people who are still driving, your hazards make it look like you actually are on the side of the road thus giving us a false sense of where the road actually is.
#3- Use your goddamn turn signals and turn them off when you're done, unless you plan on circling the earth in 80 days

Christmas From a Dogs Perspective

2007-12-12T09:01:00.000-05:00

My Grumpy Hound, Abigail, has her own page on Dogster, you can check it out by clicking on her link over there on the left hand side. For the uninitiated, Dogster is kind of like a MySpace/FaceBook for your furry friend. Anyway, we (that would be Abigail & I) regularly visit one of the message boards there called "Basset Hounds Rock" and that is where we found this poem posted. I found a few other interesting things of which I will share in the coming days but I don't want to give you a brain overload. Seriously! Enjoy!! ;)

Christmas From A Dogs Perspective
byShel Silverstein

Tonight's my first night as a watchdog,
And here it is, Christmas eve!
The children are sleepin' all cozy upstairs,
While I'm gaurding the Stockin's and Tree.
What's THAT now ... footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a c-a-t or a mouse?
Who's THIS down the chimney?
A thief with a beard and a big sack for robbin' the house?
I'm barkin'...I'm growlin'...I'm bitin' his butt,
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scared his strange horses, they leap in the air.
I've frightened the whole bunch away!
Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again,
The stockings are safe as can be
Won't the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow...
And see how I've gaurded the tree!

Christmas Time Is NOT the Right Time

2007-12-07T15:55:00.000-05:00

Christmas is here, it's that time of year again. Everyone is happy and joyful and they want nothing more than to spread the cheer. The smell, super soft feel and sight of a puppy under the tree could be just the ticket. What a big mistake that is!!
Some ridiculous figure like 90% of all dogs and puppies (we don't like furry things of the feline persuasion here, but the same thing goes for them) that are given as gifts are given up, dropped off at a shelter or "set free" within one year. These are sweet, innocent little lives that find themselves infinitely loved one minute and tossed to the wolves the next.
Puppies turn into dogs rather quickly. Puppies need alot more than a pretty collar. They need a lifetime commitment that can hopefully last into the teen years. They need food, water, playtime, walks, potty training, more potty training, vet visits, a roof over their heads, patience.
Before you get that furry thing for under the tree this year, make sure that the recipient is ready and willing to make that life-long commitment of responsibility and that they are financially able to take that furry friend in.
Remember, a reputable breeder WILL NOT breed for the Holiday season, they know better. On the other hand, there are plenty of puppy mill puppies out there. Their breeders don't care one way or the other, they just want your money!
Think twice and do the right thing!!! If you're absolutly dead set on getting a pooch, GO TO THE POUND, give a lonely heart a loving home, they NEVER forget!!
Happy Howl-i-days to all!! Remember these infamous words of wisdom from Bob Barker, " Have your pet Spayed or Neutered!"

Welcome Miss Maci!!

2007-11-25T20:09:00.000-05:00

Recently, my BFF and her boss both lost their beloved doggies within about a week of each other. They both had to face some very difficult decisions and my heart goes out to both of them and I am sure anyone who has lost a pet can relate.
On the bright side, The Boss Lady, has made an aquisition of the 4 legged variety and I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the beautiful Miss Maci into the fold. My BFF is estactic since she gets the opportunity to babysit. Playing the part of "bad aunt", hopping the poor thing up on sugar (treats and play time) and sending her home to Momma. Ahh the joys of puppyhood, how I miss the smell of sweet puppy breath!! Enjoy ladys!!

Oh my gosh, is she not he cutest little thing in the world? Well, not as cute as Abigail, but she's pretty darn cute!! Smooches and belly rubs to Miss Maci!!

Thanksgiving Day

2007-11-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year that you're supposed take stock in all the good stuff in your life, the stuff that you're thankful for. Hmmm..... I'm sure that the NATIVE Indians were ever so thankful that the Pilgrims brought with them all kinds of strange disease and cooties they'd never been exposed to which killed alot of them. And I'm equally sure that years later, the NATIVE Indians were estactic over the financial deals which WE offered them for their land. If there is a "race" of people that deserves to be pissed off at "America" it would be our NATIVE "American" Indians!
O.K. that's off my chest. Seriously though, it's time to count your blessings and say thanks. What am I thankful for...
1 : I'm thankful for my grumpy hound, who at this very moment is snoring away by my side. She gives me something to smile and laugh about everyday no matter how grumpy she is or I am.
2 : My Sister and her Husband. They are always there when I need them. Thanks for your support.
3 : Mom & Dad, because they're my mom & dad and they love me no matter what!
4 : I have a job, sure, I'd love to be independently wealthy, but that ain't gonna happen, so the next best thing would be having a job you enjoy. Let's face it, no one really WANTS to work, but if you have to, it's better if it's something you don't mind doing.
5 : My friends. I don't have alot of them, but it's not about quantity when it comes to friends, it's about quality! And I have the 2 very bestest BFF's (Best Friends Forever)in the whole world!
6 : I have what I need but not always what I want. That means I have food in the fridge, a roof over my head, gas in the car.
7 : Prozac, I figure this one's self explanatory
8 : I would say my health, but it hasn't been all that great the past few months. However, it could be a whole lot worse, so I'm thankful anyway that I'm this side of the daisies!!
9 : I live in the United States of America!! We may not be as free as we'd like to think, and we are bombarded with "propaganda" daily in the news. Most people just go about their business with blinders on, as long as they can fill their lives with stuff to make them happy and fulfill their immediate needs/desires they're blissfully happy to follow the herd. But, I just expressed myself in a way that in some countries I would be killed for. So I live in America with all it's faults and I'm proud and I'm glad and it's really not so bad after all is it.
10 : I'm sure that there are things I missed but I can come back to this later, thankfully, LOL

Happy Thanksgiving People

First Post/New Blog

2007-11-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

O.K. So I'm a few years late and as always, more than a few dollars short. I've been wanting to set up my own "blog" for awhile now. Of course, being the trend setter that I am (NOT!) I got right on it. I mean seriously people, you are checking out the Blog of a person who has only just recently set up her "page" or whatever you want to call it on Face Book. Not only that but I have also visited YouTube!! Whoo hoo (insert applause break here)!!
So, why am I here. Well, that's a good friggin' question, glad you asked. What do I plan to do while I'm here, another damn good question. I'm going to rant, I'm going to rave, I'm going to post pictures of my Grumpy Hound Dog Abigail. She's the reason for the title, although the whole show's not going to be about her. I mean seriously, she already thinks that the world and all the food contained within it and the surrounding universes revolve around her. All commoners must bow before the Great and Might Hound that is Abigail!! What freakin' ever!!
I'm also going to tell funny stories. I'm going to cuss, alot!! Although, I will try to "edit" the fucks, but expect ALOT of damns, shits and assholes but not necessarily in that order. I'm going to say "seriously" alot because I love Grey's Anatomy and I'm kind of "Dark & Twisty" too! Hmmm? What else, oh yeah, I'm going to tell you about my favorite web-sites, duh!! Dogster.com and TGIFHounds.com !! Yeah, I'm a dog person, I hate cats, get over it!! My first bitch; if you own a cat and you let it run loose in the neighborhood it deserves to be run over or trapped and you should have to pay a fine!! Keep your friggin' cat in the house or on a leash and for crying out loud get the damn things fixed!! People like you suck. There's nothing worse than coming out to get in your car in the morning to find cat footprints and fur encrusted in the dried love juices leftover from the previous nights love tryst on the hood of my car. My only hope being that your damn cat is curled up within my engine compartment so that when I start my car........well you get the picture.
I'm going to try to keep this blog on an even keel (that's a nautical term, are you impressed? If you want to know what it means you'll have to ask me) as far as positive vs. negative content. I'm not one of those super happy go lucky never has anything to complain about life is nothing but puppies, butterflies and rainbows type of person. I know that life really blows sometimes, believe me, I have been passed my share of lemons and don't you dare tell me to make friggin' lemonade. But, I'm also not one of those whiny complaining little piss ants that wouldn't have anything nice to say even if the world really was nuthin' but puppies, butterflies and rainbows! Seriously!!
I already had my first bitch, I'm now going to rave. Thank you to all of the responsible pet owners out there (even the ones that have cats) who have their animals spayed/neutered. It's healthier for them. It keeps the shelter populations down thereby also the number of animals put to sleep every year, hell everyday. The numbers are staggering, it would make you sick to your stomach. Which is good, because maybe you'll get off your lazy ass and do something about it. Every pet should be fixed unless you specifically plan on breeding it. Hell, while we're on the subject of things that need fixing, there are more than a few "humans" who should be fixed. You can start with every person that has ever appeared on the Jerry Springer show, shit, you may as well include the audience while we're at it!!
O.K. , I'm sorry, that rave turned into a rant. It'll probably happen ALOT, seriously!! LOL That's it for now, I think this post is way long enough already. I'll be adding more stuff later, keep checking. I'll close here with a few words from my favorite tiger (no, not Tony) TTFN (ta Ta For Now!!)