Tropical Storm....Alpha?

heh...they might think that they're starting over with the Greek alphabet, but they've named this one after my gramma.

Good grief. I've lived in Florida since 1959. That's a whole heck of a lot of depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes from category 1 through 5 and I've never seen a season like this one. And we still have what? five or six weeks left in the season.

And here's Willllllllmmmmaa! (Sorry, had another Flintstone's moment.)

I need a drink. And not a Hurricane!

Quote of the Month:

With hurricanes, tornado's, flooding and severe T-storms (and don't forget the fires in CA.) tearing up the country from one end to another, the quote of the month is:

Jay Leno: "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Good point!

From email

Saturday Trivia

What did/does the acronym U.N.C.L.E stand for?

If you know the answer, you either watch a lot of old TV shows or you're pretty old!

What did Silent Cal Coolidge like to wear around the Oval Office?

Who was the youngest president?

What is the second most traded commodity in the world?

Where did Arabic numbers originate?

Day Off

I took today off. I usually don't take Thursday off. When I take a day off, it's usually Monday or Friday to make a three-day weekend. I decided to take today off because of gas prices. Today is my husband's day at the doctor in Sarasota.

Now, I work in North Manatee county. You can literally throw a stone into Hillsborough County from where I work. Because we have only one vehicle right now, he takes me to work, goes to his appointment, does any Walmart shopping he needs to do (it's on his way home from the doctor) and goes home. He then comes to get me from work and takes me home. Those two trips to take me to work total 64 miles. So with gas prices the way they are, I decided to try an experiement and eliminate those miles on his doctor appointment days. I have more than enough vacation time, so that's not an issue. His next appointment is in three weeks and I might do this again.

It might not make any real difference money wise, but I feel that will give at least one extra day before I have to fill up again. Like I said, it's an experiment. We'll see whether it's worth it or not.

I kind of think it's worth it if only because I have an extra day off. It would, of course, be better if his appointment was on Friday, but his doctor has appointments at the Wound Center only on Thursday.

Some Random Thursday Thoughts

Shepard Smith: I turned on Fox News for the latest on Willllllllllmaaaaaa! Sorry, I had a Flintstone's moment there. Anyway, I had Fox on when Studio B came on. Now, I'm happily married, but that Shepard Smith! Does he have the greatest eyes or what?

Mom's still taking care of her kids: Speaking of Wilma. One of our guys at work commented that he heard that Manatee County hasn't had a direct hurricane hit in many years because a Seminole Indian chief sacrificed his daughter in order to remain hurricane free. This sacrifice supposedly happened in the 1850's. I know there hasn't been a direct hit in the 23 years I've lived here. Before that, I don't know.

Since 1994, I've been giving credit to my Mom for deflecting the hurricanes. My Dad began helping her when he passed away in 2001. Knowing my parents, they will do everything they can to keep hurricanes from coming where my brother and I live. In 1998, Hurricane Georges was aiming for Manatee County. Well, that was the week that I was getting married, so I wouldn't have put it past my Mom to have gotten all the angels together and had them flap their wings to turn the hurricane away at the last minute. Nothing was going to interfer with her daughter's wedding! Last year, Charlie was supposed to be headed toward the Manatee/Sarasota area and made a sudden turn in to Punta Gorda. This isn't to say Manatee County isn't effected by the storms, but we've only had minimal wind and rain from hurricanes since Mom passed away.

I know that my folks would never deliberately steer a hurricane to another city knowing that other people would be harmed in any way whatsoever. But if it cames to choosing between strangers and their own kids, there was no choice to be made. Mom and Dad always took care of their kids (and still do). Thanks Mom and Dad!

More thoughts on Wilma: Noaa has 3- and 5-day cones that show the possibilities of where Wilma will make landfall. Most of this is conjecture based on history, current weather conditions, and knowledge of what happens when fronts and troughs move in that might change the steering currents. What it all amounts to is an educated guess. Last year, nobody saw the move Charlie was going to make into Punta Gorda until the very last moment. Most of the time, the forecasters are good, and get it, if not right on the mark, pretty darn close. it's an inexact science at best, relying on conditions that can change at the drop of a hat. So, while it looks right now as if Wilma will be visiting Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, I would advise everyone on the Gulf Coast to keep an eye out and prepare to take appropriate action.

And after my post about my parents, what am I doing? Watching and preparing to hunker down. The car is gassed up. My Other Half got provisions at Walmart today that will take us through the weekend. If Wilma heads north, I'll be clearing the patio off and bringing what I can indoors We've done everything we need to do to prepare to this point.

Michael Jackson back in court? Apparently Santa Barbara County has summonsed MJ for jury duty. His lawyers have filled out deferment paperwork because MJ now lives in Bahrain. Our loss is Bahrain's....loss.

Dogs will do what dogs will do: I took Wyatt to PetSmart this afternoon. I usually put him in a cart so that I can get what I ned without bothering with him on a leash. Today, he was on the leash, but walking. I was looking at dog treats when I turned around and he had pooped right there in the center aisle, where everyone coming in or going out would see him. An associate went and got some paper towels and picked up for me. I sort of laughed and said, "I guess it's not the first time this has happened." Another associate passed by right then and they both agreed that it's happened more than once..today. Made me feel a little better, but I was still embarrassed.

"War and Peace"

"Whenever I tried to forget all about the past and focus on the future, I hear a story that brings the past right in front of my eyes. What happened was so brutal and hard to forget.

"We should make the world realize that, not to gain some pity or compassion, but to make sure that it will not happen again anywhere in the world.

"I can't keep the story in my heart, for I can't bear the pain all by myself and I wish the whole world could share it with me.

"This story is dedicated to all those who oppose what's happening in Iraq, that's to say; the Arab and Muslim world and the (peace activists) in the hope that it will make them pause for a while and reconsider their (noble stand).

"This is one example that may help them imagine the (peace) we lived in."

The rest of the story here.

Subject: What influences a woman in choosing a man

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For instance, if she is ovulating she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features.

However, if she is menstruating, or menopausal, she is more prone to be attracted to a man with scissors lodged in his temple and a bat jammed up his ass while he is on fire.

Further studies are pending.

Also found in email. Thank you, Maureen :D

Lawyers Should Never

ask a witness a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.

In a trial, in a small Southern town the prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grand-motherly, elderly woman to the stand.

He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

She responded, "Why, yes I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher.Yes, I know you."

The Lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?"

She again replied, "Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster too. He's lazy! , bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defense attorney almost died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench, and in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you bastards asks her if she knows me, I'll throw your sorry asses in jail"

Another email. Thanks, Mindy!

Dog Food for Thought

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.- Anonymous

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.- Will Rogers

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.- Ann Landers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.- Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than they love themselves.- Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.- Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return,dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.- M. Acklam

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.- Rita Rudner

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never bathed a dog.- Franklin P.

If your dog is fat, YOU aren't getting enough exercise.- Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can.That's almost $21.00 in dog money.- Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? We come back from a grocerystore with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we'rethe greatest hunters on earth!- Anne Tyler

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they do make our lives whole.- Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and thengiving Fido only two of them.- Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.- Unknown

Received in email. Thanks, Kathy!