It's been quite the hectic hump day for me. Last night "the estranged one" announced that our property taxes had to be paid today, and he didn't have the money. I was all for paying them a bit late, despite a 10% penalty, but he would have none of that. "The penalty is nearly a hundred bucks!" he screamed at me. I tried to explain to him that it was MY money, so it really shouldn't matter to him, but he just didn't understand. And so it was that I had to dip into my meager savings once again. There is now nearly nothing left. Buying Christmas gifts this year is going to be a real challenge. I was hoping to use a few hundred from my savings to buy gifts, but the taxes used up too much of them for me to do that. I guess that I'll just have to hone my bargain hunting skills.
To make matters worse, my savings is stored in a rather small credit union. Their hours are quite short. I had to call them from my cell phone while I was at work and ask them to leave the check at the window of the post office where they are located for me to pick up since I could not get there before they closed. After picking up the check, I had to rush to the bank to cash it before it closed. The line was nearly out the door! ARRGH!
The check eventually got cashed and the taxes were paid, but what did I get in return?
He (The Estranged One) told me that I am beautiful. But then I guess that I am, compared to that skank he was messing with last year.
He loves the new coat that I bought on Sunday. What?! Him appreciating something that I spent precious money on... How can this be?
He sprang for a large pizza. Forgive me if I'm not impressed!
I'm really needing some Hump Day Hunks to bring me true joy...
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
A Moment Of Silence, Please
From the time that they first appeared on the music scene when I was a child, I have always loved The Beatles. At the tender age of three, I had a tremendous crush on Ringo!
As I grew into adulthood, I learned to love George Harrison. His faith, kindness, quick wit, and good looks won my heart.
On this day in 2001, George lost his battle with cancer. The world lost a great man and musician. I still have difficulty listening to his music without crying. I miss him so much...
In closing, I'd like to offer you all one of his very best songs, What Is Life. This song not only displays his incredible musical ability, it also offers us a peek at his deep abiding faith.
George Harrison (1943 - 2001)
I pray that you have found peace with your lord, Krishna.
A rose from the gardens at The Palace of Gold, a Krishna shrine in West Virginia.
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Monday, November 28, 2005
Monday Musings
Just some random thoughts on a typical manic Monday...
It really sucks to find out that someone has passed away by seeing a piece of mail that is addressed to her estate. This happened to me again today. I shouldn't be so upset by it. She was quite ill, and had been in a home for a while. Still I kept hoping that she would get well enough to come back home someday. It was not to be. She was a lovely lady and I will miss her. I had myself a good cry when I got to her mailbox today. At least I can console myself with the fact that she has rejoined her dear husband in heaven.
Something a bit more cheerful now. Lost car keys are easily replaced. YAY! All that I had to do was present my owners card at a local Chevy dealership and they made me two brand spanking new keys that work like a dream. I can flush that horrid spare key that barely works now...
Well, maybe that's not such a good idea. The toilet is already having issues. (You really don't want to know!)
I wonder if they'll let me rent a U-Haul to carry the extra mail that I'm going to have tomorrow. The high school and one of the businesses on my route have both been closed and not taking delivery since last Wednesday. They've literally got boxes upon boxes of mail waiting to be delivered tomorrow!
Why is it that all of my frantic walking about the city of Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon did not leave me with sore feet? Instead my back and shoulders ache. It must be stress related...
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)
When you consider today's frustrating events, you know that I am going to need LOTS of Scorpions music to soothe my soul...
1. Always Somewhere 2. Is There Anybody There? 3. Edge Of Time 4. White Dove 5. Wind Of Change (Acoustica version) 6. Catch Your Train 7. Du Bist So Schmutzig 8. Freshly Squeezed 9. Wild Child 10. Soul Behind The Face
Of course, all of these songs are by The Scorpions. They can be found on the albums Lovedive, Live Bites, Acoustica, Eye II Eye and Pure Instinct.
I feel much better now!
And now for the picture...
It's Christmastime at Station Square!
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What Happens When...?
You get to your car that is parked in a paid lot at Station Square in Pittsburgh, some twenty-five miles from home and discover that your car keys have gone missing. All of the car doors are locked. You may or may not have a spare key inside. If the spare key is inside, you know that it is one that doesn't work well. Your AAA membership card has been missing for months. Your owner's card is in your other wallet at home...
~ Cry. ~ Frantically retrace your steps through the city, eyes to the ground, hoping against hope that you will see your keys, until you no longer have any feeling in your legs. ~ Ask every employee you see in the Kaufmanns where you shopped if anyone has found your lost keys. ~ Retrieve the bag that you threw away from the trash can in front of the store. ~ Peer inside the trash can, hoping to find your keys inside, not caring that onlookers will think that you are insane. (At this point you are, anyway!) ~ Lose hope of finding the lost keys and have your sister call AAA to explain your predicament. (She has her card and she WAS driving.) ~ Wait impatiently for help to arrive. (Ooo... He's attractive) ~ Let AAA guy open the car door. ~ Frantically search for spare key and find it! ~ Cry and give the handsome AAA guy a hug for saving the day. ~ Go to Bucca di Beppo and consume alcoholic beverages with your meal to calm your frazzled nerves. (I reccommend the mocha martini.) ~ Go back to the car and try to start it with your spare key. ~ Have your sister try to start the car with the spare key. ~ Call "the estranged one" from your cell phone looking for advice on how to use that crummy spare key. Cry a lot and get an apology from him for calling you nasty names while you're at it. ~ Let your thirteen year old son try to start the car...
Vrrrrooom! Yay! We're on the way home!
~ Order replacement AAA card from their website as soon as you get there.
What a day!!!
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Saturday, November 26, 2005
It's That F***ing Time Of The Year
Yesterday was "Black Friday" as it is called by postal and retail workers everywhere. It marks the beginning of that most dreaded season of the year for us... CHRISTMAS!
The season opened with the usual bang for me. When I got to work yesterday morning, I was greeted by what appeared to be an impenetrable fortress of mail! Catalogs, sale ads, and all manners of seasonal mailings were stacked several feet high all around my work area. I wondered if I would ever get it all sorted and delivered. To make matters worse, the radio was on and playing dreadful Christmas music. ARRGH! Sea lion...erm...Celine Dion, you get my point. I thought that my head would explode! Somehow I made it through, and through the experience I learned that my MP3 player is going to be my constant companion at work during the ensuing holiday season.
Today was day one with my new companion. As soon as I could hear the *cough* joyous strains of Christmas melodies, I slapped on my headphones and was transported blissfully into Scorpionland! Scorpionland is my very happy place. Anyone who tries to contact me while I am there, including my boss and co-workers will find me In Trance, quite literally! (If you don't understand this reference, click the link and download the song)
Still, I suppose that I can't go through the holiday season without listening to any Christmas music, so I went off to WalMart and bought myself two delightful new CDs of Christmas snark! Rudy, The Redneck Reindeer and Humbug! Christmas Songs For The Scrooge In Your Life are now residing on my computer. What a hoot! If I've gotta do the Christmas music thing, I'm gonna do it my way! If you're all good little boys and girls, maybe I'll share some of them with you...
Damn! I think that I covered most of this territory in yesterday's post. I could rehash, but I think I'll give you five different things.
1. Websites that sell quality guitars for reasonable prices.
This six string (Klaus) was purchased from E-bay.
2. Stores that sell used CDs.
These are but two CDs that I purchased in such stores.
3. A new version of Windows Media Player that can rip tracks to high quality MP3s.
256 kps is my preferred bitrate, bringing the size of my music folder to a whopping 3.25 GB.
4. My MP3 Player
A great way to block out annoying conversations and bad music at work.
5. The Scorpions!
Oh, hell, they were on yesterday's list, but it just wouldn't be right if they weren't on this one as well!
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Thursday, November 24, 2005
The A B Cs Of Thankfulness
Lest I forget that Thanksgiving is about something more than making a piggie of myself, I have decided to compile this alphabetical list of things for which I would like to give thanks...
Andrea, my sister and my best friend.
Black Stratocaster
Curves, the place that helped me get my old body back!
Digital cameras that are so much nicer than the old film ones.
Elvis Costello, a man who gives great hugs!
Fender DG 16 twelve string guitars
Good friends to share my joys and sorrows.
Helpful youngest son, Michael.
Ice scraper to clear my icy windshield on cold winter mornings.
Jays! (Justin Hayward and John Lodge)
Klaus Meine!
Laptop computer to take with me on my travels.
Matthias Jabs!
No One Like You video screen captures!
One cup coffee maker that brews the fluid of life directly into my mug.
Pure Instinct CD that I managed to purchase used.
Quiet time after Mike goes to sleep to clear my weary mind.
Rudolf Schenker!
Scorpions! Every last one of them, because I love all of them...
Travel chargers for my cell phone, because I always forget to charge it at home.
Used cars like my sweet little "Candace."
Vacations to Atlantic City!
Wheeling Island casino where I can gamble and stuff myself at the buffet without travelling too far from home.
X-tra day off work for the holiday this week.
Yearly mail counts to offer me hope that someday I'll get more than one day off each week.
Zzzzz... A good night's sleep every once in a while.
There you have it! Twenty-six things for which I give thanks. I bet you didn't think that I could do it!
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Wednesday, November 23, 2005
It's Hump Day
In honor of this great once weekly occasion, I will not bitch about computer programs that constantly demand updating. I will not complain about gift cards that should cover the cost of items that you want to buy online but don't because of tax and shipping. I will not whine about painfully slow dial-up connections. Instead I will just bask in the beauty of these Hump Day Hunks...
It seems that the meme has a Thanksgiving theme this week...
Name three songs containing the word or the idea of thanks or greatfulness.
I am going with the idea of thankfulness, and the songs are...
1. Can't Live Without You - The Scorpions Klaus is thanking the fans in his own special way with this one.
2. If Not For You - George Harrison One of George's many beautiful songs that give thanks to his Lord.
3. You're The Inspiration - Peter Cetera/Chicago If calling someone your inspiration isn't gratitude, I don't know what is!
These songs are available for your listening pleasure for the next seven days. Grab 'em while you can!
Name three artists you are thankful to have in your various collections.
1. The Scorpions
2. The Beatles
3. The Moody Blues
Name three albums you are thankful that you received from someone. (Yourself counts as a someone)
1. Live Bites - The Scorpions
Thanks to Andrea for giving me this one for Christmas last year.
2. Face The Heat - The Scorpions
Thanks to "the estranged one" for rescuing a second copy of this CD from a flea market for me in a rare moment of genuine generosity.
3. Brainwashed - George Harrison
Another Christmas gift from Andrea in the year of its release.
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Monday, November 21, 2005
The Birthday Gift
"The estranged one" made an appearance today. He brought me a birthday gift. How nice! It was only a day late, and this is what it was, a sappy birthday card with a twenty dollar bill inside.
I handed back the money and told him that I didn't want it. I also threw the sappy card into the garbage while he watched. Perhaps I was wrong, but this gift thoroughly disgusted me. Am I really supposed to believe that any of the sappy sentiments contained in that card were genuine coming from him? Pardon me, but I'm not that stupid. I'm dumb enough to hand back cash, but that's as far as my stupidity goes. A man who meant any of the sentiments in that card would have known that something as inexpensive as this little "pup in a cup" from the local Dollar Tree store would bring me greater pleasure than any amount of cash!
(The pup was given to me by my son, Mike.)
It's a crying shame that my 13 year-old son knows me better than my so-called husband!
Let's face it. The best gift he could give me for any occasion would be a friendly divorce. I wish that I could make him understand.
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It's that time of the week again!
1. I have little or no patience when it comes tostupid people. One of my favorite sayings is, "Stupid people shouldn't breathe!" Unfortunately, they continue to do so. Perhaps it should be, "Stupid people shouldn't breed!" They'd all die out eventually if they didn't.
2. I wish I could spend more timeplaying my guitars. Rudolf is my favorite!
3. The most productive thing I accomplished this past weekend wasgetting another year older. Forty-four, ARGH!
4. The most enjoyable thing I did this weekend wasgoing on a shopping, eating and photography expedition to Pittsburgh. This is where most of the eating was done...
Joe's Crab Shack... Eat here. Get crabs!
5. I've always wanted to learn how toplay slide guitar. Perhaps I can get this man to teach me...
6. If money wasn't an issue, I'd buya Gibson 76 Explorer. It's only $999 at Z Z Sounds!
Since I'm poor, perhaps some kind person will get me one for Christmas!
7. I blog becauseit's a great way to keep in touch with people the world over.
