Back to front…..

My BIL’s Dad died on Sunday from Cancer of the Pancreas…. Maybe the worst form of cancer. He went quietly in sleep.  A nice Irishman, he always had a smile and a friendly handshake.  He is already missed.  The funeral is tomorrow and I feel as if I need to say something, even though we weren’t all that close.

Still shampooing, vacuuming and cleaning for the party on Saturday.  Today I shampooed couches!!  WTH???  I can’t wait until Sunday!  Luckily we have the gardeners coming here early Saturday and a friend coming early to do the windows.

Today the GE guy showed up.  Nice guy!

He called and said he would be here in 15 minutes but showed up an hour later!! Nice!!!  lol

So the guy, Bruce, looked at it and said it was not repairable. 

He had one of those ‘ToughBook’ laptops by Panasonic and it was pretty cool!!  All touch-screen!  Anyhow he sent in the documentation and he said we WOULD get our money back.  When he saw who we bought it from he said ‘Whoa!! We have had nightmare complaints from customers about them!’.  He said next time go to Home Depot!

I’m sorry I haven’t been around to comment but I hope you understand that this week has been very busy.  Please forgive me and I’ll catch up next week!

Take care!!!

I didn’t think that pics of me shampooing the carpets would be very interesting but the next few days  might be.  My MIL is turning 75 on Saturday and the party is HERE!!  My backyard looks like crap but to the rescue come my gardeners!!  I gave them a list of 10 difficult jobs and as usual, he refused any extra pay.  Well, he WILL get extra!  As for me, besides the carpet shampooing which continues tomorrow, I  also have windows!!  Any volunteers??  I thought not!! lol!!  But that’s OK!

The worst part of today was when Bonnie escaped and I had to chase her on foot for over a mile.  She kept crossing the street and almost got hit by cars and a tractor (???) 6 times.  As usual, it ended when she got tired and walked in the front door!  By then I was beat!!!  That Darned Dog!!

I’m playing this Rascal Flatts song yet again because I love it and the video and because it hit #1 one the charts!!  It was Great in concert!!  These guys have really good stage presence!!

I hope you are happy and having a GREAT week!!

Besides it being Monday, today was a BAD day!!  Then I received this from a friend!

Don't take that bad day out on someone you know, take it out
on someone you DON'T know.

Now get this.  I was sitting at my desk, when I remembered
a phone call I had to make.  I found the number and dialed it.
A man answered saying, "Hello?"
I politely said, "This is Fred Hanifin and could I please speak
to Robin Carter?"

Suddenly the phone was slammed down on me!  I couldn't
believe that anyone could be that rude.  I tracked down Robin's
correct number and called her.  She had transposed the last
two digits incorrectly.

After I hung up with Robin, I spotted the wrong number still lying
there on my desk.  I decided to call it again.  When the same
person once more answered, I yelled "You're an asshole!"
and hung up.

Next to his phone number I wrote the word "asshole," and put it
in my desk drawer.  Every couple of weeks, when I was paying
bills, or had a really bad day, I'd call him up. He'd answer, and
I'd yell, "You're an asshole!"

It would always cheer me up.  Later in the year the Telephone
Company introduced caIler ID.  This was a real setback for me;
I would have to stop calling the asshole.
Then one day I had an idea.  I dialed his number and when I
heard his voice, "Hello?"  I made up a name. "Hi.  I'm with the
Telephone Company and I'm just calling to see if you'd be
interested in our caller ID program?"
"No!" he shouted and slammed the phone down.

I called him back and said, "That's because you're an asshole!"

An old lady at the shopping center really took her time pulling
out of a parking space.  I didn't think she was ever going to leave.
Finally, her car began to move and she started to very slowly back
out of the slot.  I backed up a little more to give her plenty of room.
"Great", I thought, "she's finally leaving."

All of a sudden this black BMW comes flying up the parking aisle
in the wrong direction and pulls into her space.   I hit the horn and
started yelling, "You can't do that. I was here first!"
The guy climbed out of his BMW completely ignoring me. He
walked toward the shopping center as if I didn't even exist.
I thought to myself, "This guy's another asshole; there sure are
a lot of assholes in this world."

Then, I noticed he had a "For Sale" sign in the back window of
his car. I wrote down the phone number and hunted for another
place to park.

A couple of days later, I'm sitting at my  desk. I had just gotten
off the phone after calling 823-4863 and yelling, "You're an asshole!"
(It's really easy since I have his number on speed dial now.)
I noticed the phone number of the guy with the black BMW there
on my desk and thought I'd better call this guy, too.  After a couple
rings, someone answered the phone and said, "Hello."
I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?"
"Yes, it is."
"Can you tell me where I can see it?"
"Yes, I live at 1802 West 34th street.  It's a yellow house and the car's
parked right out front."
I said,  "What's your name?"
"My name is Don Hansen."
"When's a good time to catch you, Don?"
"I'm home in the evenings."
"Listen, Don, can I tell you something?"
"Sure..."
"Don, you're an asshole!"  And I slammed the phone down.

Then, I added Don Hansen's number to my speed dialer. I must
say, for a while things seemed to be going much better for me.
Now, when I had a problem I had two assholes to call.
Then, after several months of calling the assholes and hanging
up on them, it just wasn't as enjoyable as it used to be.  I gave
the problem some serious thought and came up with this solution:

First, I had my phone speed dial asshole #1.
A man answered nicely, "Hello?"
I yelled, "You're an asshole!" but I didn't hang up.
The asshole said, "Are you still there?"
I said,  "Yeah."
He said, "Stop calling me."
I said, "Make me, asshole."
He said, "What's your name, pal?"
So I told him, "Don Hansen."
He said, "Where do you live?"
"1802 West 34th Street. It's a yellow house and my black
BMW's parked out front."
"I'm coming over right now, Don.  You'd better start saying
your prayers."
"Yeah, like  I'm really scared, asshole!" and I hung up.

Then I called asshole #2.
Don Hansen answered, "Hello?"
I said, "Hello, asshole."
He said, "If I ever find out who you are..."
"You'll what?"
"I'll kick your ass."
"Well, here's your chance.  I'm coming over right now,
asshole." And I hung up.

Then I picked up the phone and called the police.  I told them
I was on my way to 1802 West 34th Street and that I was going
to kill my gay lover as soon as I got there.  Another quick call to
Channel 13 about the gang war going on down on West 34th St.
After that I climbed into my car and headed over to 34th Street
to watch the whole thing.  Glorious satisfaction!

Watching two assholes kicking the crap out of each other in
front of 6 squad cars, a police helicopter and a news crew was
one of the greatest experiences of my life!

Now you know what to do if you have a really bad day.

I feel better now!!!  Have a Great week!

My version and one of my faves! 

A few handfuls of crumbled Tortilla chips, ground beef or turkey browned with taco seasoning added, refried beans, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced green chiles, sliced ripe olives, salsa, sour cream and cilantro!  That’s it!  Easy.  And yes, I ate the whole thing!  Well… my share!

Try it sometime.  Great for Summer!!  Hope Yall are having a GREAT weekend!

I phoned GE today to speak with a supervisor and got the same woman I got yesterday.  No supervisor available today, yet again.  So she phoned the service company that came out here.  After sticking his head inside and saying there was nothing he could do, he SAID that he called GE.  But guess what?  There was no documentation of his service and GE said I rejected him at the front door!!!  Someone is lying!!

That’s: GENERAL ELECTRIC, P O Box 31250, Louisville, KY, 40232

So they gave me two options:

1.  They will issue me a $50 ‘Goodwill’ coupon even though we paid $120 for it.

2.  They will send out an actual GE tech to ‘Document’ this mess!

I told her that if I heard the word “document” one more time, I would come through the phone line.

So I chose option #2.  A technician will be out NEXT THURSDAY to ‘document’!  No microwave for 2 weeks sucks!!  I have in the trunk of my car bow because it stinks!!!

I also told ‘Sheila’:

1. You need to get rid of that service company

2. I wish I had saved that black potato cause I would have sent to you!

3. If our house had burned down you would be looking at a huge lawsuit!

All she kept saying was “We’re SO Sorry!!”  Oh Yeah??  Prove it!

That’s: GENERAL ELECTRIC, P O Bos 31250, Louisville, KY, 40232

Sorry for the rant!!  Weekend soon!!  Have a GREAT Friday!!!

I received yet another ‘nasty-gram’ from our town telling me that now Bonnie and Baxter needed a Rabies booster.  Having just gone through this with Buzz, I checked with my Vet and it turned out that their shots expired TWO WEEKS before their licenses would.  Grrrrrr!!  So off to the Vet we go.  Always a circus with these two!!  First is getting the leashes on and getting in the car.  Then it me trying to squeeze my way in!

After we get to the vet’s office it’s getting them out of the car and into the office.  Very nice waiting room.

They even met some new friends!

After their shots I got my Vet to pose!!  He’s GREAT and takes a good picture!

So we are home now and in our usual positions…. Me on the computer, Baxter flopped on the floor napping…

And Bonnie guarding the window!

All is well!!!

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Well not ALL!!  I called GE today about the burned out microwave.  I explained the problem and ‘Sheila’ was SOO SORRY, but needed to transfer me to her supervisor.  I wait for five minutes and…… dial tone!  So I call back again…. well actually 5 times and get the same thing each time.  On the last call I was told that the supervisor had left for the day so I have to call back tomorrow!!  That’s GENERAL ELECTRIC, P O Box 32150, Louisville KY, 40232!!  lol!

Here are a few pics of it:

Keep in mind that we bought this thing less than a month ago!

Note the serial number thingy melted off!!  I should have saved the potato and mailed it to them.  That would be to GENERAL ELECTRIC, P O Bos 31250, Louisville, KY, 40232!

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Hope you are all having a great week!  I’ll be around later to comment.

First of all, thanks those of you who have already posted photos of your ‘rides’!  I have loved them All!  I’m sure that there more coming.  Dana?  Very inventive and Grandma’s many Blessings? I loved your‘TWO’ cars!  Thanks also to GreatGranny….. Beautiful ride!!  Keep ‘em coming!

I’ve been trying to stir things up in the old neighborhood but so far, not much luck.  This the best I could do.  My neighbors trying to stay cool.  It was 102F for the second day in a row but 65F by Friday.

If it’s 102 in mid-April, I don’t wanna see July and August!

Oh!!  Remember that huge Maple tree that likes to deposit HUGE leaves into only MY yard?  It’s Backkkk!!!

And bigger than ever!  AAARRRGHHHH!!!!!!!!

Even though it was HOT here yesterday (102F!!!) my crazy dogs insisted on sitting outside by the front gate.

Eventually, Bonnie wasn’t quite sure about that…

But Baxter loved it!!

Our temps yesterday broke records that have stood since 1958!  Death Valley was only 2 degrees higher.  However today it’s much cooler….. Only 90!  Tomorrow 80 and by Friday, 65!  Anyhow, I went outside this morning and saw these strange looking clouds.

Rather strange and in the East.  Almost looks as if a plane ran through them but they were VERY high!!

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My Hockey team, the Anaheim Ducks, resume their playoff run tonight against the San Jose Sharks.  Now, the Sharks had the best record in the league this year while the Duck managed to squeak in by the skin of their teeth.  But the ducks won the first 2 games at San Jose and play them here tonight.  I was hoping to watch the game on TV……. But??  Has anyone heard of a cable station called Versus?  Does anyone receive it??  I understand that only 500,000 households in the U S have it.  What was the NHL thinking??  Anyhow, I will be forced to listen to the game on the radio!!  Listening to hockey on the radio is like listening to 3 hours of mistakes!!  lol!  And unless you know hockey, forget it.

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Lastly, my wife bought a new microwave a month ago.  Really Hi-Tech and nice.  But two problems.  After I measured the enclosure where it was to go about nine times, she chose one way too small (which could be corrected).  But the second problem…..  I decided to nuke a potato the other night and saw that it had a ‘Baked Potato’ button!  Cool!!  So I poke holes in it, place it on a napkin and hit the button.  After a few minutes I hear “DING”, then a few minutes later I hear “DING” “DING” and it shuts off.  I check the potato.  Not done, but close.  So I do it again.  “DING”, “DING” “DING”. So I decide to finish grilling and let it sit.  When I walk back inside, the house is full of smoke!!  It never shut off!

The repair guy just left and told me he couldn’t fix it, DUH!!, And I would have to contact GE.  Oh yeah, one more small problem!  The serial number and model numbers are burned off.  I have a feeling we’re screwed!!

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I’ve been trying for 2 weeks to play my favorite song from Rascal Flatts’ new CD on my space but just can’t obtain a good copy that will play, but I will!!  In the meantime, here is an excellent song of theirs. 

Rambling and boring post today but I hope you enjoy the photos and the song.  I also hope you are having a good week!

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again. The 3rd annual ‘Pimp Your Ride Week’!!  Last year there was a great turnout so I’m hoping for the same for 2009.  It’s very easy.  Simply take a picture(s) of your vehicle(s) and preferably post them in a photo album but anywhere on your space is fine. 

There were some good ones last year including buses, taxis, roller skates and even ice skates and surfboards.  It’s always fun and we get to know each other better! Kinda like ‘Computer Surroundings Week’!

So to start things off, I’ll go first.  The red Explorer is mine, that brown thing (Ford Taurus) is my wife’s ‘work car’ and the white Nissan 350Z is her ‘play’ car.  So c’mon y’all and play along!  Oh yeah, tractors are OK too!  Whatever gets to where you’re gettin’ to!  So get busy folks!!

Have a Super weekend!!!

PS:  The baby Sparrows are all back in their nests and the wind has ceased!

Not sure what’s going on but I have hundreds of Sparrows that took nest in my Cypress trees.  They make enough noise to wake me up in the morning. I tried to take pics but they are too small and fast!!  So here is their ‘home’:

I was about to have them cut down to half of their size until I realized that there were so many birds living and nesting there with eggs hatching, so I called it off until later in the summer.

Well today, the winds whipped up and the Sparrows, including the young ‘uns, are being blown out of the trees. A cat’s dream come true!!  Not much I can do cause when I walk out there they go crazy.  The little ones are having a very difficult time but no choice but to let Mother Nature run her course.

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Speaking of the wind, I saw Baxter in the yard today and a big gust blew through. Well with those huge ears of his, I thought he was gonna be flying around the yard like Dumbo!!  Boy!!  Did he run in fast!!

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JOKE OF THE DAY!

Wouldn't we all love to do this just one time??

Letter Of Resignation

Mr. Baker,
As an employee of an institution of higher education, I have a few very basic expectations. Chief among these is that my direct superior shares an intellect that ranges above the common ground squirrel.

After your consistent and annoying harassment of myself, and my
co-workers during the commission of our duties, I can only surmise that you are one of the few true genetic wastes of our time.
Asking me, a network administrator, to explain every little nuance of everything I do each time you happen to stroll into my office is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of precious oxygen.

I was hired because I know about Unix, and you were apparently hired to provide amusement to myself and other employees, who watch you vainly attempt to understand the concept of "cut and paste" for the hundredth time.
You will never understand computers. Something as incredibly simple as binary still gives you too many options. You will also never understand why people hate you, but I am going to try and explain it to you, even though I am sure this will be just as effective as telling you what an
IP is.
Your shiny new iMac has more personality than you ever will. You walk around the building all day, shiftlessly looking for fault in others.You have a sharp-dressed, useless look about you that may have worked for your interview, but now that you actually have responsibility, you pawn it off on overworked staff, hoping their talent will cover for your glaring ineptitude.
In a world of managerial evolution, you are the blue-green algae that everyone else eats and laughs at.
Managers like you are a sad proof of the Dilbert principle.
Seeing as this situation is unlikely to change without you getting a full frontal lobotomy, I am forced to tender my resignation, however I have a few parting points.

 
1. When someone calls you in reference to employment, it is illegal to give me a bad recommendation. The most you can say to hurt me is "I prefer not to comment." I will have friends who I will have randomly call you over the next couple of years to keep you honest, because I know you would be unable to do it on your own.

 
2. I have all the passwords to every account on the system, and I know every password you have used for the last five years. If you decide to get cute, I am going to publish your "favorites list", which I conveniently saved when you made me "back up" your useless files. I believe that terms like "Lolita" are not usually viewed favorably by the administration.

3. When you borrowed the digital camera to "take pictures of your mothers b-day", you neglected to mention that you were going to take pictures of yourself in the mirror nude. Then you forgot to erase them like the techno-moron you really are. Suffice it to say I have never seen such odd acts with a ketchup bottle, but I assure you that those have been copied and kept in safe places pending the authoring of a glowing letter of recommendation. (Try to use a spell check please,I hate having to correct your damn mistakes.)

Thank you for your time, and I expect the letter of recommendation on my desk by 8:00 am tomorrow, not ONE minute later. One word of this to anybody and all of your little twisted repugnant obsessions will be open to the public. Never screw with your systems administrators, because they know what you do with all your free time.

 
Sincerely,
Ted Brewer

(An actual letter sent by a fed up U.S employee in Port Huncliff, New
England)

Have a Super Thursday!!!

The announcer for Phillies baseball since 1971 collapsed in the broadcast booth before yesterday’s game. He also was an announcer on radio broadcasts of NFL games. Seems as if all of my favorite sports figures are dying. But I beleive that Harry passes away in the one place he lover being the most… the broadcast booth at a Phillies game.

Harry Kalas, the longtime voice of baseball's Philadelphia Phillies who also had a familiar role as an announcer on NFL radio broadcasts and as the narrator of the league's action for NFL Films, died Monday. He was 73.
Kalas, who punctuated innumerable home runs with his "Outta here!" call, died at a Washington hospital after being found passed out in the broadcast booth just hours before a game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals.

"We lost our voice today," team President David Montgomery said. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization."
Kalas joined the Phillies in 1971. Before that, he was a member of the Houston Astros broadcast team from 1965 to 1970. In 2002, he received the Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions to the game and was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.
"Players come and go, but 'Outta here!' -- that's forever," said Scott Franzke, a Phillies radio broadcaster, of Kalas' trademark line.

Over the years, Kalas said he owed the line to Larry Bowa, the former great Phillies shortstop who is now a coach with the Dodgers.
In 1971, Kalas and Bowa stood at the batting cage during spring training watching batting practice. Greg Luzinski hit a long home run, and Bowa said: "That ball is outta here!"
According to Bowa, Kalas turned to him and said:
"That sounds pretty good."
"Until the day he died," Bowa told The Times, "He said, 'I want to thank you for that saying.' I said, 'Harry, you're the one that made it, with that voice of yours.' "
Vin Scully, the Dodgers' Hall of Fame announcer, interrupted his coverage of the team's home opener Monday against the San Francisco Giants to pay tribute to Kalas, whom he called "a great guy" and a "wonderful broadcaster."
Scully offered his sympathies not only to Kalas' family and the Phillies organization, but also "to the city of Philadelphia. They loved him and well they should have," Scully said.
Kalas lent his sonorous voice to everything from puppies to soup.
He broadcast NFL games for CBS Radio and Westwood One and was the narrator of the league's weekly highlights for NFL Films that for years have been a staple on the "Inside the NFL" program, which is now on Showtime after many years at HBO. At NFL Films, Kalas was the successor to another legendary voice, John Facenda.
"There was no act to Harry, no shtick, no clever-voiced cliches. He always gave us a steady blend of humor and honesty," Steve Sabol, the president of NFL Films, told The Times on Monday. "We always knew he would make the film better."
Kalas also was the voice for Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials and Animal Planet's annual tongue-in-cheek Super Bowl competitor, the Puppy Bowl.
Kalas joined the Phillies radio and TV broadcast team in 1971, replacing fan favorite Bill Campbell.
He wasn't immediately embraced by Phillies fans, despite being paired with Richie Ashburn, a player who was elected to the Hall of Fame and a longtime announcer. But Kalas evolved into a beloved sports figure in Philadelphia.
He and Ashburn grew into a popular team and shared the booth until Ashburn's death in 1997.
"Major League Baseball has lost one of the great voices of our generation," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Baseball announcers have a special bond with their audience, and Harry represented the best of baseball not only to the fans of the Phillies, but to fans everywhere."
Kalas was born March 26, 1936, in Naperville, Ill.
He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1959 with a degree in speech, radio and TV. He was drafted into the Army soon after he graduated.
In 1961, he became sports director at Hawaii radio station KGU and also broadcast games for the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League and for the University of Hawaii.
His home run call while working in the islands was: "Tell that ball, aloha!"
Kalas had surgery earlier this year for an undisclosed ailment that the team characterized as minor.
He looked somewhat drawn last week as the Phillies opened the season at home.
Survivors include his wife, Eileen, and three sons. His son Todd is a broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays.

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It was such great news to hear that Capt. Richard Phillips of the Maresk Alabama was rescued by Navy SEALs yesterday.  I temporarily stationed with a group of SEALs and believe me, those guys were very focused and VERY tough!

For Navy SEALs, grueling training pays off

The Navy SEALs who ended the pirate-hostage drama off Somalia with three deadly sniper shots began their training on a strip of the beach known as the Silver Strand.
Every aspiring SEAL must pass a grueling six-month regimen at the facility here. Attrition is high: Only a quarter to half make it. Those who do then undergo another six months of advanced training.

Given the elite nature of the SEALs, no one here was surprised at the success of the rescue mission, said Capt. Chris Lindsay, chief of staff to the Naval Special Warfare Command. "We have a lot of confidence in our operators," he said.
One way the SEALs -- named for their ability to operate at sea, in the air and on land -- winnow out each class is Hell Week, an exercise in which candidates are allowed only four hours of sleep over five days. As Lindsay spoke to reporters Monday, would-be SEALs in mid-Hell Week lugged heavy rubber boats over sand dunes and into the surf.
All SEALs are trained to be good shooters, but the best are selected for sniper training, Lindsay said. "Our guys train, prepare for years. They train for game day."

The Navy has 2,600 SEALs; because of the secrecy that is part of their institutional culture, not much is known about their roles in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two have been awarded the Medal of Honor in those wars, both posthumous.
It is not known where the team that rescued Capt. Richard Phillips is based, although SEALs are assigned to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, the tiny island-nation in the Persian Gulf.
A couple of blocks down the beach, past the Hotel del Coronado, former SEALs were already analyzing the mission over beers at McP's Irish Pub & Grill, a favorite hangout owned by a former SEAL.
"It was a good show, a damn good show," said Bill, who identified himself as a former SEAL but spoke only on condition that his full name not be used.
The walls of McP's are covered with SEAL pictures, memorabilia and slogans like the one that is meant to describe their rigorous training:
"The only easy day was yesterday."
And on one wall is a poetic paean to SEAL snipers and their ability to strike without warning:
"Signals passed to set the stage
About surprise these men were sage."

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Still waiting for Rascal Flatts songs to be on my download site but here is a Really good one from their CD ‘Me And My Gang’!

Not sure what’s going on in my neighborhood but I hope the insanity picks up soon!!  Take care Yall!!

 Just four words but they mean so much.

This may be unpleasant to read but it is a reminder of what our Lord, Jesus Christ, endured for us.

I post this every year so some of you may have read it before….

 AND THEY CRUCIFIED HIM

A medical doctor provides a physical description:

The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly
thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire
feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy,
square wrought-iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly
he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to
pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The
cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward
against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail
is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim
is now crucified.

As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists,
excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to
explode in the brain -- the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on
the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching
torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again
he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves
between the bones of his feet.

As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them
deep relentless, and throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the
inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the
lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even
one small breath.

Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream,
and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push
himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps,
intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from
his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then
another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the
pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical
level. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish
blood into the tissues. The tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to
gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping
through his tissues.

Finally, he allows his body to die.

All this the Bible records with the simple words,
"and they crucified Him" (Mark 15:24).

-- Author Unknown

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, and remember the true meaning of Easter 

And I’m a little sick and tired about my dad going on and on about how cute Bonnie is!  Sure, she got that awful hair removed from her stupid little short ears but what about about mine??  My ears drag on the ground and he does nothing!  I feel like Dumbo!!  I could fly if I wasn’t so lazy!!!

And another thing….  What’s with Buzz??  Just because he is the biggest, he thinks he owns this place!  Heck!  When I crawl under him and start biting, he yelps and runs off like a little girl!  He’s always trying to steal MY toys! 

Well I fixed him!  Notice who’s in the Big bed!!  HAH!!!

Also, they both think they are sooo much cuter than me!  I might have short legs but I know how to do Cute!  Check this out!!

No!  Wait!!  That’s that stupid thing that Mom bought me.  Give me a break!!  It makes me wanna poop in her new shoes!

You want cute?  I can do cute!

At least cuter than that lug next to me!

Well peeps, as you can see, I GOTTA GO!!  As my dad would say, ‘Have a Great Weekend!’  What a Dork he is!!!

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Bob here…  I have GOT to change passwords!!   Anyhow, I received the new Rascal Flatts CD ay 8:00 AM on the day it came out so I’ll be playing a few of their songs this weekend and next week.  This one is already #6 on the top 30.  And as for what Baxter said, Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

One More Angel In Heaven

First off, I pray that all of my Southern friends are OK after that horrible storm system moved through Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and especially Tennessee today.  Much destruction and more death and injuries than I wanted to see.  A bus in a tree??  A car being thrown through a house??  Those storms will be moving through Georgia first and then the Carolinas.  I have friends there too.  Hold on and be safe!

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One last post about that Angel’s pitcher who was killed, and I’ll let it go.

At Least He Had a Day

Just one day, but one when he shared a baseball park with millionaire athletes and All-Stars and 43,283 total, standing atop pitcher's mound, taller than everyone else.

Nicholas James Adenhart took that much with him Thursday when he was taken from us, robbed most of all from his two families – the Adenharts and the Angels.

Six innings.

No runs.

Seven hits.

Not much and also everything.

Afterward, after Adenhart shut out the Oakland A's and helped his team to a 4-0 lead, he met with Mike Scioscia.

The Angels manager congratulated him for his effort, for his performance and for his arrival. The last words were the most important.

Adenhart, with a fourth career start decidedly more impressive than the first three, had made it as a major league ballplayer – had arrived – achieving the very thing that drove him most of his life.

Following the game, he shared the occasion with his father, Jim, with friends and with his agent, Scott Boras. He also was certain to share the encouraging words his manager had told him.

"He was elated," Boras said. "He felt like a major leaguer. To see the glow of a young man after he takes a huge step forward is special. It was a great day … and then midnight."

The police spokesman said it was 12:24 a.m. when the call came. A three-car crash in Fullerton.

Three young people would die, killed by another young person who, police confirmed, had consumed too much alcohol to be legally driving.

"Nick fought to get here," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "Once he got here, he had to fight to get back."

At least he had a day.

Just one day, but one more than so many others like Adenhart have the chance to experience.

On average, more than 35 people in this country die each day in alcohol-related car accidents. Few of these fatalities are followed by large news conferences or vigils outside stadiums or people calling into radio talk shows weeping.

So let's make that Adenhart's final pitch, his last contribution toward a victory. If your senses aren't shaken by a drunk driver killing a stranger, let's hope they're shattered by a drunk driver killing an Angel.

Worse, police said the accused in this case was a repeat offender, a man driving with a license suspended because of a previous violation.

And he's only 22. The same age Adenhart was until Thursday.

"We are all in shock," Reagins said. "The disbelief is prevalent. It's just so difficult to put into words how much Nick will be missed."

Words fail, but an image does not. About the time Angels officials were addressing the media at the stadium, Jim Adenhart was in the clubhouse four stories below, sitting silently at his son's locker.

While making his statement to reporters, Boras sobbed. The biggest, baddest, most hardened agent in baseball quivered in front of the same cameras that previously had captured only his steely glares.

Gulping for air, he muttered twice, "Great kid." Later, Boras was asked if he ever had experienced a comparable death among his clients.

"As you can tell, never," he said. "We're just emotionally unequipped. We're not very prepared."

At least he had a day.

Just one day, but one when he was able to stand inside stadium walls and still see the world expanding for him beyond those fences.

No one readies for the death of a healthy 22-year-old with a million tomorrows. Adenhart was supposed to be around here for some time, the rookie one of the Angels' most promising prospects.

He already had battled through major arm surgery and survived a 2008 season in which he struggled, briefly in the major leagues and then for a longer period in the minors.

"He was poised, disciplined," Reagins said. "Nothing fazed this kid. He dealt with the peaks and valleys of development. Last night, we saw one of his peaks."

Adenhart was the youngest player to participate in the game Wednesday. It was his first major league start since last May. He limited the A's to no runs by continually escaping danger.

Boras, in talking to Adenhart's dad, learned that the son had summoned the father from the family's Baltimore-area home beforehand.

"You better come here," Nick told Jim, according to Boras. "Something special is going to happen."

Outside an empty Angel Stadium on Thursday, fans gathered, placing flowers, candles and Rally Monkeys on the brick pitcher's mound near the park's main entrance. At the time the news conference ended, someone also had left a single baseball there.

For his career, Adenhart pitched the equivalent of two complete games for the Angels. One victory. No losses. Only everything still to come.

At least he had a day.

Just one day, but one that – sadly, we all know now – lasted the rest of his life.

Update: The drunk driver has not only been charged with felony DUI and felony Hit and Run but three counts of murder.  Throw away the key!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

This happened last night after the Angels game.  Very sad…

Angels rookie Adenhart killed in hit-and-run crash

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people were killed Thursday when a minivan ran a red light and struck their sports car.

Adenhart, 22, died after undergoing surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center spokesman John Murray said.

A fourth person remained hospitalized in critical condition.

The Angels confirmed Adenhart’s death in a statement and said no other members of the Angels organization were involved in the accident.

“The Angels family has suffered a tremendous loss today. We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nick’s family, friends’ loved ones and fans,” general manager Tony Reagins said.

The team said Adenhart was survived by his parents, Jim and Janet.

“He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people,” the family said in a statement issued through the team.

“The Angels were his extended family. Thanks to all of Nick’s loyal supporters and fans throughout his career. He will always be in everyone’s hearts forever.”

Adenhart, of Silver Spring, Md., was the Angels’ No. 3 starter. He threw six scoreless innings in Wednesday night’s loss to Oakland in his fourth major-league start and first of the season.

Adenhart and three other people were in a silver Mitsubishi that was struck shortly before 12:30 a.m. by a minivan that ran a red light and also hit another vehicle, police said.

The sports car struck a light pole, killing three people inside.

Police Lt. Craig Brower said the minivan driver fled the crash scene and was captured a short time later. The driver was arrested and booked for investigation of felony hit-and-run.

Adenhart, a right-hander, earned a spot in the starting rotation on an injury-plagued Angels staff by impressing manager Mike Scioscia late in spring training.

The pitcher made his major league debut May 1 of last year, also against Oakland. He made two other starts, getting his only decision in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 12. He was 37-28 in the minor leagues from 2005-08, including 9-13 last year at Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Minnesota Twins held moment of silence before their game against the Seattle Mariners. Also, there was to be a moment of silence before the start of the Texas Rangers’ home game against the Cleveland Indians.

Such a great kid and way too young to die.

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I pulled a real boner!!  The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sent me a registration renewal form way back in November. My registration was due to expire in February. When it came time to pay it I discovered that I had lost the form. I tried to pay online but I couldn’t because of a required code on the form.  Figuring that in February they would send me a new form, I waited, and waited, and waited.  What was I thinking?  I finally receive a new form in April.  I had been illegal for two months.  They added a nice little $98 late fee so I owed them $217.  So I go online to pay it but oops!!  I need to get a smog test first!  Another $60!  Consider it my bailout contribution.  I’m legal now but just glad I didn’t get pulled over or it would have cost even more!  I think that next time, I’ll be paying it early!!!

Now the smog test!  I HATE them!  It’s always some shabby little hole in the wall place that smells of oil, gasoline and, and I think, urine!!  I know these places are licensed by the State but every one I go to is run by a short Asian guy, missing half of his teeth and speaking very little English.  They even test your gas cap!!!  ????  So while I was waiting (40 Minutes!), I took advantage of their amenities.  A folding chair, under a torn umbrella with a copy of last Saturday’s L A Times.  A very pleasant afternoon.  For some reason, when they are finished, they always extend a greasy hand and want to shake.  I smile and wave.

So how was your Wednesday??  Today is MUCH better!  Next week I get to bring Bonnie and Baxter in for Rabies shots.  Always a circus!  My music should be back on Saturday!

Take care

• sweet pastry dough
• pie weights or raw rice for weighting shell
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese (about 8 ounces)
• 1/3 cup well-chilled heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups small strawberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 2 tablespoons sweet orange marmalade
• 2 tablespoons dark berry liqueur such as blueberry, blackberry, or cassis

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F.

On a floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out dough into an 11-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick) and fit into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Roll rolling pin over top of shell to trim dough flush with rim and with a fork prick bottom of shell all over. Chill shell 30 minutes, or until firm.

Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice. Bake shell in middle of oven 20 minutes and carefully remove foil and weights or rice. Bake shell until golden, about 10 minutes more, and cool completely in pan on a rack. Shell may be made 1 day ahead and kept in pan, loosely covered, at room temperature.

In a bowl with a whisk or an electric mixer beat together mascarpone, cream, and sugar until mixture holds stiff peaks. Spoon mixture into shell, spreading evenly.

Quarter strawberries and in a large bowl combine with remaining berries. In a small saucepan simmer marmalade and liqueur, stirring, until reduced to about 3 tablespoons and pour over berries. With a rubber spatula gently stir berries to coat evenly. Mound berries decoratively on mascarpone cream. Tart may be assembled 2 hours ahead and chilled. Bring tart to room temperature and remove side of pan before serving.

We passed on the sweet pastry dough and used one of those fold out pie crusts but any pre-made pie crust will work.  We also substituted honey for the liqueur.  It was SOOO good!!  Hope you will give it a shot!  Enjoy!

Tomorrow is the day that Rascal Flatts' new CD arrives in stores and I should receive my copy from Amazon on Wednesday.  They performed at the CMAs last night and I was a little disappointed with the acoustics but the program itself was really good.  Funny how the Oscars and Emmys always run overtime but the CMAs always end right on time.  Long-winded Hollywood types??  Of course, Reba did a great job as host!  Hostess? lol!!  Oh yeah, Rascal Flatts won 'Best Vocal Group'!

Anyhoot, hope you will give this recipe a try.  Have a wonderful week!