In preparation for the upcoming trip to Atlantic City, I decided to start getting my laptop computer prepared for the journey. I mistakenly thought that this would be a simple process that would take only a few minutes. I couldn't have been more wrong!
The first thing that needed doing was the installation of the software for my new camera. Because my laptop is rather old and has a mere 10 G of hard drive space, I decided that it would be best to uninstall the software for all of the older cameras first. After each uninstall the computer had to restart. ARRGH! That old machine still works like a dream, but it takes forever to restart! Of course, I had to restart after the installation of the new program too!
Yay! I can now download files from my new camera to my laptop. The new software is working perfectly, although it sucks scads of memory away frommy machine. You will all be able to see selected photos from the trip on the same day that I take them. Aren't you just so excited? I know that I am.
With that task completed, I decided to connect to the internet. Big mistake! Because my laptop had not been used online for quite a while, my firewall and virus scanner were both demanding updates. Downloading said updates took well over an hour on my dial-up connection, and guess what! The installation of said updates on each of the programs required a restart! Double ARRGH! I guess this was just the computer's way of telling me that it's angry that I don't use it often enough.
I'm still feeling rather frustrated by all of this, but at least I'm protected from viruses and hackers. Perhaps something pretty that I won't be seeing in Atlantic City will make me feel better...
Why, oh, why can't The Scorpions play in Atlantic City...?
|
Testing
Since blogger has decided to give us free image hosting for our blogs, I thought I'd give it a try. I've had this lovely picture of Matthias hanging around on my computer for quite a while.
|
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
I'm Wondering...
Very soon I shall be flitting off to The Borgata in Atlantic City to catch the final two shows of this leg of the Moody Blues summer tour, accompanied (of course) by a certain sister of mine! Having seen some of the pictures from the current tour that are being shared online, I'm starting to get really excited. Just look at John Lodge...
He's baring flesh! Lots of it! I wonder if the guys were hanging out with The Scorpions when they were in Germany. It looks like John was taking fashion advice from Matthias! Mmmmmm... I'm lovin' it!
Justin, on the other hand, continues to amaze me with his choice of shirts. I really thought that nothing could be more horrid than the pepto-pink western shirt. I couldn't be more wrong! Just look at the one he's been wearing lately...
EWWWWW! Thank heaven he's so pretty, 'cos that shirt would never make it on an ugly guy. And from the look on his face it seems that its ugliness even amazes Justin!
1. Name your three favorite songs by your favorite artist. (this means by the same artist) Only three?! I don't know if I can choose!
Of course, you all know that these songs are by The Scorpions!
1.Du Bist So Schmutzig Because it's their only hit song that is at least partially in their native language.
2.Don't Believe Her A song from that Crazy World CD that I don't yet have.
3.Blood Too Hot I just love the way that Klaus goes all orgasmic at the end of this song.
That's three, but there are so many more that I love...
2. Name your three favorite albums by the same artist. I LOVE THEM ALL! It's just not fair making me choose!!!
With that said, here are three of their albums that I just couldn't live without!
1. Unbreakable
This is their latest album. If you don't go out and buy it NOW, Lady Starlight shall cry.
2. Face The Heat
I picked this one up at a used CD store. I can't believe that someone was willing to part with it!
3. Crazy World
Although I still don't own a copy of this one, I have managed to collect most of the tracks that are on it. It's definitely a winner in my book.
3. Name three duet partners with whom you'd like to see your favorite artist perform. There are several tracks on the Moment Of Glory CD that feature guest vocalists singing with Klaus. None of these tracks sounded as good as the the original version of the songs. Klaus should have NO duet partners, with one notable exception. I will allow him to do a duet with ME!
10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)
1. Walking On The Edge - The Scorpions 2. Take This Job And Shove It - Johnny Paycheck 3. She Hangs Out - The Monkees 4. Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin 5. A B C - The Jackson 5 6. Down By The River - Neil Young 7. Make Me Smile - Chicago 8. Photograph - Def Leppard 9. Hotel California - The Eagles 10. Money Bought - Nickelback
I'll leave it to you to figure out how these songs describe a weekend of dog walking, working, shopping at The Waterfront and taking in a show at The Improv.
And now for the picture...
My vanilla wafer martini in a souvenier glass from The Improv. Mmmmm...tasty!
|
Sunday, June 26, 2005
You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
Well, maybe not, but I did learn a few things this weekend. Some of these things are about life in general others are all about ME!
1. A * free * show at the Improv will cost you about $35! A two item minimum assures this. Making one of them a dinner entreé will get you into the show earlier and get you into the best seats in the house, but who can stop at just dinner and a drink when they serve desserts like this one?
2. The clearance rack at Kaufmanns is a very dangerous thing. Even when I'm broke, I can't pass by it without buying something. I wonder how many times I can change clothes on that weekend trip to Atlantic City...
3. Murphy's Law is an absolute! As soon as the temperatures here soared into the 90s, my ceiling fan died!
4. Always back up your favorite CDs on your hard drive. You never know whem something might happen to one of them...
5. Even the Monongahela River can look pretty given the right circumstances.
Wow! That's a lotof knowledge for one weekend!
|
Saturday, June 25, 2005
A To Z
I've spent much of my free time today ripping music for my two current mixed CD projects. In the process, I discovered some real treasures that I had forgotten that I had. One was found on Tesla's Five Man Acoustical Jam. I'm not fond of a lot of Beatles covers, but their cover of We Can Work It Out is excellent! I also uncovered Eric Clapton's cover of the Elvis Presley classic, Hound Dog. I don't know how I forgot about that one! That's two more for the Covers mix which still needs several more songs before it is full.
The Hair Metal A to Z mix is proving to be quite a challenge as as well. I'm trying to get a good variety of artists on the CD. So far I have selected songs by The Scorpions, Def Leppard, Guns 'N Roses, KISS, Ace Frehley, Gorky Park, Winger, L. A. Guns, Wild Horses, Poison, and Slaughter. I'm going to have to forgo putting Skid Row on it because I discovered that someone had spilled something on my CD (rendering it unplayable) and quietly slipped it back into its case. WAHHHH!!! No Eighteen And Life on my Hair Metal Mix.
The main problem with this A - Z mix is that certain letters have an abundance of usable songs, while for others it is damned near impossible to find just one song. I have no clue as to what I am going to use for X and Q! At least I have The Scorpions' (The) Zoo for Z!
Oh, well, I'll think of something. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to post a comment. Alas, some of my problem lies in the fact that many of my metal albums from the 80s were purchased on vinyl or cassette. How could I have possibly known back then that I'd be wanting to do this now?
Top 5 songs of summer or songs that remind you of summer
For me there is no band whose music says summer quite as well as that of The Beach Boys!
Awwww! Weren't they just so cute back in the day!
Keeping this in mind, here is my list:
1. Surfin' U. S. A. 2. California Girls 3. Kocamo (sp?) 4. Fun, Fun, Fun 5. Help Me Rhonda
These songs are all by The Beach Boys, of course, although the David Lee Roth version of #2 will do in a pinch!
|
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Words Of Wisdom
Every once in a while someone imparts on me words of such profound truth, such vast wisdom, that I feel the need to share them so that you all might benefit from them.
The other day, while discussing my situation with "the estranged one" with my friend, Kim, she bestowed upon me these profound words...
"If it has tires
or testicles
it's TROUBLE!"
Pay close attention to these words my female friends, for they are very true!
|
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
On My Second "Day Off"
When I first discovered that I was able to get a day off work every other week, I was excited. I had visions of sleeping late and spending time doing nothing in particular, maybe writing some more to my many much neglected stories or just spending some quality time with my NeoPets... Alas, this was not to be. Two weeks ago, Mike planned a wonderful shopping excursion for my very first day off. I got some nice things that day (even if I did end up giving away the brand new cell phone), but I was looking forward to doing absolutely nothing of any significance today. I should have known better...
My plans (or lack thereof) began to come unravelled on Sunday with the sudden reappearence of "the estranged one." After weeks, perhaps even months of completely avoiding me, suddenly he wants to be with me. He shows up again on Monday, deciding to make plans for a family outing on my day off, dinner and a movie for me and the boys, his treat! Believe me, that is really out of character for him. That man never pays for anything, unless it has to do with hunting or bowling or playing pool. Even when we were together, paying for family outings was always MY responsibility. Who was I to pass on this golden opportunity? I agreed to his plan.
Last night he shows up to finalise the plans. We check movie theaters for showtimes online and decide to catch an early afternoon showing of Madagascar and have an early dinner. Plans made, but does he leave? Hell, no! He sticks around to watch a movie on Cinemax with Mike and me. Every ten minutes or so, he checks to see if Mike has fallen asleep. Thank God for the boy's insomnia! When I say that man suddeny wants to be with me, I mean it in the biblical sense, and I don't think I can handle that. The slut has obviously dumped him...
Dinner and the movie were nice. We dropped him off at his Mom's afterward (further evidence that Disgusting Darla is done for). I wonder what he is up to. What does he want from me? This sudden change in his personality scares me...
The Scorpions!!! C'mon you saw that one coming, didn't you?
Def Leppard
Duran Duran
List 3 one hit wonders from this decade 99 Luftballons (99 Red Balloons) - Nena Pick your favorite language! The song was written in German and translated to English by someone named McKlea. Now my German vocabulary isn't that great, but I DO know that song title doesn't say anything about RED balloons....
The Theme from The Greatest American Hero - Joey Scarbury
Hot Rod Hearts - Robbie Dupree
List 3 movie soundtracks from this decade
Disney produced some of the best movie soundtracks in this decade such as:
Ten songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (Oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)
1. Someone To Touch - The Scorpions Playing in the car on the way to the mall.
2. Material Girl - Madonna Because this material girl bought herself still more clothes.
3. Minstrel Song - The Moody Blues Playing in the car on the way to Wheeling. Tee hee! It got stuck in Andrea's head!
4. Take It Easy - The Eagles Playing in the casino
5. You Got Lucky - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers I finally won some money at the slots!
6. Shiny Happy People - R. E. M. The tequila sunrise that I had to celebrate my winning made me feel shiny and happy!
7. Slow Ride - Foghat In honor of the traffic jam we hit on the way home from Wheeling
8. Oh Father - Madonna Because Sunday was Father's Day
9. T-Bone - Neil Young Because I took "the estranged one" to Steak and Shake for dinner
10. Strange Times - The Moody Blues Because Sunday was a very strange day...
And now for the picture...
Because Sunday was father's Day, I give you this picture of the father of my children with our oldest son on his graduation day last year.
|
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Happy Father's Day
Warm wishes go out to all of you daddies out there, especially these three...
Today was a strange day for me. After vowing that I absolutely would not take "the estranged one" out for dinner or anything else today, he suddenly appears unexpectedly. What else could I do? He IS the father of my children...
So, I took him out. He didn't complain about how I was driving. He didn't complain about the food. And that's not the weirdest part either!
Obviously someone's eyesight has improved. Someone finally noticed that there is a lot less of me around these days. Someone was helping me with the laundry, and planning to do some yard work. But wait! It gets weirder...
Someone was all over me every time that watching eyes were turned! Thank heaven for watching eyes. If not for those watching eyes, there would have been some hot action between the sheets...
I really don't need that. Not with him. I know that it is absolutely impossible for things to ever work out between us. But a part of me kept telling me that he IS still my husband and he's got all of the necessary equipment. It was pretty damned good between us, once upon a time. Thank heaven I came to my senses before I allowed my hormones to let me do something stupid. I mean, Ewwww! I've seen the trailer trash tramp that he had taken up with. In short, I know where he's been. I wonder if "Disgusting Darla" dumped him after our chance meeting at the grocery store...
Perhaps it is time for me to start plotting my revenge.
|
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Another Saturday Night
Damn, I'm feeling good. Maybe it's because the slot machines at Wheeling Island finally decided to give me back more than I put in. Not a lot more, mind you, only fifteen or twenty dollars more, but at least I came out ahead! Can I hear a "Woot!" out there?
It could also be because I purchased still more new clothing for the upcoming Atlantic city trip. Tonight's finds were care of Dots, my ultimate favorite clothing store. Bought were one sparkly halter top in shades of blue and tan (somebody remind me to by a convertible strap bra, please), a hot pink scoop neck cap sleeve sweater, and my very first skort. I never would have dreamed of wearing these items last year. Oh, it feels good to be able to wear things like these again. Just to be sure they looked OK, I tried them on for Mike. Believe me, if they looked bad a loud "EWWWW!" would have burst forth from him before he could stop it. My son is a real bitch. Gets it from his mom, I guess. Thankfully, no EWWWs were heard.
Yep, I'm feeling good. It could be the winnings. It could be the new clothes. Truthfully, I think it's probably the tequila...
The song that I have chosen for him is Moment Of Glory because it features backing vocals by a children's choir.
Klaus is father to one son, Christian.
2. Neil Young
The song that I have chosen for Neil is his beautiful cover of John Lennon's Imagine
Neil is father to two sons and one daughter, all "special needs" children.
3. George Harrison
The song that I have chosen for George is from his final album, Brainwashed. It features his son, Dhani, on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. The song is Run So Far.
4. Eric Clapton
Eric is father to many children by many different women. One thing is certain, he ain't gonna win a Father of the Year award, but he's still a musical daddy.
The song that I have chosen for him is one of my favorites, Badge. He had quite a bit of help from musical dad #3 on this song.
5. Justin Hayward
Justin is pictured here embarassing daughter Doremi by wearing such a ridiculous outfit!
The song that I have chosen for him is The Voice, just because I like it!
|
Thursday, June 16, 2005
I'm In A Mood For Killin'
After several weeks of operating quite efficiently without a postmaster (our office supervisor was left in charge), the brainiacs in Pittsburgh have remedied the situation. We now have a new OIC (translation: temporarily transplanted postmaster). Oh, joy!
His name is Matt, last name unknown. Why do they never tell us these things?! He seemed OK at first but the more that I get to know him, the less I like him. Why? Let's see...
There is the fact that even though he has been in our office for several days, he can't remember anyone's name! *GASP* This guy works for the freaking post office, in no less than a management position, and he he can't remember the names of less than twenty people!!! Grrrrrr! If you can't remember my name, hon, just call me Queen, OK?
Then there is the fact that he is a good thirteen years younger than me. He was still in high school when I was hired, and he's MY boss. There is something intrinsically wrong with that. It took me nine goddamned years just to get a full time position, but HE manages to become a postmaster in less than ten. Double Grrrrr!
But the real reason that I have come to dispise him is the object that he was showing off in the office today, a $600+ custom electric guitar in a velvet lined hardshell case, no less! When I saw it, I began to drool on the office floor. Guess what... He doesn't know how to fucking play it! He brought it in because he has his first lesson after work today! Rat bastard! Asshole! Whatever happened to learning to play on the $40 Sears acoustic special? That's what I did. Pompous jerk! Save the expensive custom guitars for people who know how to play them!
Excuse me. I'm having a bad case of guitar envy...
What I'd like to do is bash him over the head with it and keep it for myself. A rather unique way of "going postal," don't you think?
|
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Mix It Up
I need to make some mixed CDs, I am told. This is a new and challenging project for me. Probably the biggest part of the challenge is finding the music that I want for these mixes and getting it onto my hard drive. Downloding is out of the question. With my miserable, slow, dial-up connection, that takes at least twenty minutes per song. I just don't have that kind of time. So, I am forced to search through the music that I have on hand. It's quite a shame that so much of my collection is on vinyl. I lack the resources to transfer any of it to my computer.
For my first project, I have decided to make a collection of covers. The following list is what I have come up with so far (in no particular order).
Guns 'N Roses - Live And Let Die Cheap Trick - Don't Be Cruel Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff Gorky Park - My Generation Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love Ace Frehley - Hide Your Heart The Scorpions - I Can't Explain Peter Cetera - S. O. S. Michael Crawford - Memory Cheap Trick - Magical Mystery Tour Tesla - Signs The Moody Blues - A Winter's Tale Eric Clapton - Knock On Wood Neil Young - Imagine Clint Black - Desperado
As one might expect from me, this is a rather odd mix of styles and artists. This poses another challenge for me, how should I order the songs in this mix so as to not send listeners other than myself into a state of catatonic shock at each segway?! I'm looking to add about three more songs to the list to fill a CD. Perhaps their addition will be helpful to my dilemma.... Probably not. More likely they'll just make it worse!
I'm thinking that the project I plan to start after this one will be much simpler...
Hair Metal: A - Z!
|
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Ringgold Update
The teachers' strike in the Ringgold School District continues. The protesting parents and students have given up their picket. The police are no longer lurking around out there. I wish that at least the police were still there. The teachers are starting to get nasty! Today as I was exiting the grounds after delivering the high school's mail, I heard the cries of "SCAB!" coming forth from the multitudes of picketing teachers.
Well, EXCUSE ME! I am not a fucking scab! I have told my supervisors multiple times that I do not believe that I should have to cross that picket line. Their replies have always been the same, something to the tune of "Tough shit, you have to." Do I like this? Not at all, but unlike the teachers, I do not have the option of going out on strike. I have to do as I am told. I like it as little as the teachers do, but I have no choice. I like it even less after today's incident, which I, of course, reported to my supervisor. His response, absolutely nada!
It seems to me that this sort of name calling is one step below physical violence. The post office management is always telling us that safety comes first. What a pack of lies! They are sending me and several other carriers into this potentially dangerous situation every day without batting an eyelash. I guess they won't get it until one of us gets physically harmed or one of the vehicles is vandalized...
|
Monday, June 13, 2005
Please list at least one anagram for the following words...
Ten songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (Oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)
This weekend was rather uneventful, so I bring you the first ten random songs that Media Payer decided to play for me on Sunday morning...
1. Gemini Dream - The Moody Blues 2. Feel Your Love - Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young 3. Skywriter - The Scorpions 4. One More Night - Phil Collins 5. Aleyah - The Scorpions 6. Let It Down - George Harrison 7. The Same Thrill - The Scorpions 8. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Michael Crawford 9. Tease Me Please Me - The Scorpions 10. In The Quiet Of Christmas Morning - The Moody Blues
From Michael Crawford to The Scorpions to a Christmas song! This is one of the weirdest mixes you'll ever see...
And now for the picture...
We discovered a new local Chinese buffet today. Its name...
The China Dragon!
|
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The Saga Of The 6010 (The Conclusion)
I do believe that I've had enough of that phone and its new technology. I don't need a color display screen. I don't need every IM service known to mankind. I don't need to make to do lists on my phone. I don't want to play downloadable games on it either. All I really want is my Wind Of Change ringtone...
I searched and searched. No one seems to have a Scorpions ringtone for that blasted Nokia 6010. So, guess what I did! I gave that creepy piece of new technology to Mike. He's the one who really wanted it anyway. I switched my SIM card back into my old 3390 and snapped on Mike's nearly mint condition faceplate. Praise the Lord! My ringtone is still there!
Mike is happy. I am happy. New technology be damned! I love my 3390.
""Computer games don't effect kids, I mean if Pac Man effected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music." ~ Marcus Brigstocke ~
1. What is your favorite board game? I love Trivial Persuit, but no one ever wants to play with me. Why? I guess it's because my mind is a storehouse of useless information. I nearly always win.
2. What type of games are your favorite? (ie, board, card, participatory, dice, word games) I prefer single player games. I'm a sore loser, and I know it!
3. How many games do you own, and if possible, list them. I don't really own any games that I can call my own. They all belong to my kids, but I have been known to borrow them when they get tired of them.
4. Do you enjoy computer or video games? Which one is your favorite? Only the old ones, the newer games are much to complicated for me. If I have to read a fifty page manual to figure out how to play, I generally lose interest in playing before I finish reading it. As for my all time favorite video game, it's Tetris. I could play for hours!
5. Describe a great childhood memory of an outside game. If I had one I would...
|
Saturday, June 11, 2005
On Chocolate Fountains...
Someone help me! I'm going through casino withdrawl! After spending the last two Saturday evenings at Wheeling Island, I feel like I should be there.
I miss the pretty island decór. I miss tossing nickels in the slot machines. I miss the Island Buffet, especially the chocolate fountains!
Speaking of chocolate, when I returned to work on Thursday I discovered that Randy had left me a gift, a package of assorted peanutbutter cups along with a note (on my notepaper, that's how I knew it was from Randy) that said, "Eat this. Have a nice day!" My first assumtion was that someone had left them for me in a mailbox and he was just passing them on, but there was something wrong with that theory. It was extremely hot on Wednesday. If that chocolate had been left in a mailbox, it would be misshapen from melting. The cups were in perfect condition! So, where did they come from?! I decided to ask Randy when I saw him at work today. This is what he had to say...
"I wanted to get you a chocolate fountain, but this is the best I could do."
Methinks that Randy likes me... I'm not quite certain how I feel about this. He is several years younger than me and married! But then, technically, so am I...
I guess I'll just wait to see what he does next...
It's Time For 
