So. Right. I have some interesting news, but you only get to know it if you read the ENTIRE post.
Tonight will be the "longest night of the year". Granted, it will have the same number of hours, but it will be dark for more of those hours than it was last night, or will tomorrow night.
This is the holiday that Constantine co-opted when he was working out how to make Xtianity palatable for the masses, in order to convert said masses to Xtianity which he (a pagan, btw) had decided was the best religion going for mind-controlling the aforementioned masses.
Saturnalia.
The world outside is grey and gloomy and rainy. It's not all that cold (relatively speaking), but it is dreary. Still and all, it could be worse. We've had relatively little sn*w this year, thus far (knock formica desk-top) - and because of this, the balloon guy at the car dealership looks really stupid. He's supposed to be a snow man. From the waist-up.
Unfortunately, the black belt on the bottom of the balloon, combined with the only-one-snowball-before-the-head bit, makes it look like a seasonally correct LIGHTBULB standing in the green grass.
(PHOTO UNAVAILABLE)
Saw Dr. Nick last nite. He confirmed my diagnosis of food poisoning from last weekend. He even guessed what food it was that caused it!
Burned my pointer-finger on my left hand taking pizza out of the oven. Was trying to slide it onto a serving-tray and put my finger on the super-hot rack by mistake. I now have a rack-sized smooth spot on my pointy finger which does not hurt or itch, but is somehow annoying.
(PHOTO ALSO UNAVAILABLE)
I got my Dad a backscratcher for Xmas. He claims the folks at the assisted living stole his.
The man has a nice big-screen TV. He has a nice stereo setup. He has a nice computer setup. He has a coin collection, and a few other things that are quite nice.
They stole his backscratcher. right. *sigh*
The really sad bit for me is that he didn't get the joke when I asked him if he had looked on the roof for it. *sigh*
I found some purpley twinkle fairy lights. I am using them as decorations. I have twined them all through the baby lime-tree. It looks quite festive. I am NOT putting up that ratty old fake tree anymore!
Ok. enough with the suspense....
(scroll down)
My daughter is pregnant! I'm gonna be a Grandma next Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Progress on Quilting and stuff
So, I took the week off after Thanksgiving (we got Thurs and Fri both off, so it was 11 days in a row with no work!)
Part of my plan was to rest up and give my back and ankles a rest, but also to do a lot of little things around the house (and maybe a big one or two) and catch up on my quilting which has been disgustingly ignored for lo these many months.
My only excuse has been - well - depression, mostly. I get all going on something, I set goals, I make lists, I do well for a day or two - and then something gets me down and I crawl back into my shell, and my computer and my bed and leave the world to its own devices, which is ok except that then the chores and the goals get all backed up, which depresses me more, which... well... endless cycle, eh?
The current quilt on the frame is about 75 inches square, and has 625 smaller items, each of which needs to be quilted separately. (I guess maybe "needs" is relative, but I WANT to have them each quilted separately, so in my mind, it "needs".)
As of about an hour ago, I managed to finally (FINALLY!!) finish square number 325 and roll the quilt back to the center, as I started in the middle and worked my way to one side. It's just a scooch over 1/2 way done. It embarasses me how long this is taking, because this is a quilt I promised to someone else, and the only other one that's taken even near as long is the one for my daughter - but that one is gone (lost, long story, don't ask) , and now I have to re-work another one and I'm having mental reservations about the pattern/fabrics I've chosen for hers and ... *sigh*.
But tonite I'm not going to be thinking about all that. I'm really, really happy because I wanted to do this during my 11-day weekend "stay-cation", and I did. I have a few more things on my list that should be finish-able tomorrow. No, I didn't finish everything I'd like to have gotten done, but that was unreasonable, and what I DID get done feels good.
Tonite, I am a person who got things done, and that feels good!
Part of my plan was to rest up and give my back and ankles a rest, but also to do a lot of little things around the house (and maybe a big one or two) and catch up on my quilting which has been disgustingly ignored for lo these many months.
My only excuse has been - well - depression, mostly. I get all going on something, I set goals, I make lists, I do well for a day or two - and then something gets me down and I crawl back into my shell, and my computer and my bed and leave the world to its own devices, which is ok except that then the chores and the goals get all backed up, which depresses me more, which... well... endless cycle, eh?
The current quilt on the frame is about 75 inches square, and has 625 smaller items, each of which needs to be quilted separately. (I guess maybe "needs" is relative, but I WANT to have them each quilted separately, so in my mind, it "needs".)
As of about an hour ago, I managed to finally (FINALLY!!) finish square number 325 and roll the quilt back to the center, as I started in the middle and worked my way to one side. It's just a scooch over 1/2 way done. It embarasses me how long this is taking, because this is a quilt I promised to someone else, and the only other one that's taken even near as long is the one for my daughter - but that one is gone (lost, long story, don't ask) , and now I have to re-work another one and I'm having mental reservations about the pattern/fabrics I've chosen for hers and ... *sigh*.
But tonite I'm not going to be thinking about all that. I'm really, really happy because I wanted to do this during my 11-day weekend "stay-cation", and I did. I have a few more things on my list that should be finish-able tomorrow. No, I didn't finish everything I'd like to have gotten done, but that was unreasonable, and what I DID get done feels good.
Tonite, I am a person who got things done, and that feels good!
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
I'm gonna "Occupy"
Unfortunately, I can't afford to take time off work or get arrested - so I'm going to Occupy my livingroom. Yes, that is cynical, and no, I really do not mean it, but despite my wholehearted support of these protestors, I can't join them. For a lot of reasons, financial, health and other.
But I do understand their message, even though it isn't being stated flat out and easily understood. I know their hearts are in the right place, in spite of all the negative publicity they're getting. They're not just "dirty fucking hippies" - and they're not looking for a free handout, which the 1% and their media lapdogs claim.
I wish I could explain this, explain it better and get the right words. I can't. But I do GET it. And I know that at least 1 person will come here and try to make out that he knows better and that the Baggers know better. And all I can say is - I know you aren't part of the 1% yourself, and that really is a shame that you can't see it. Hopefully this will work and benefit you and your family - but I know you won't get it.
I suspect you probably worry because they rail against "corporate" America, and your Dad owns a business and is probably incorporated - even though I doubt that he makes (after tax deductions) more than a million dollars a year - and probably would only see a modest increase in his federal taxes. It isn't corporations themselves. It's the inordinate amount of influence that a very few very large corporations have over the members of Congress and the President - and all of the candidates of BOTH parties.
************************************************************************************
Did the trick-or-treat thing last nite. Gave away a bag of tootsie pops and a bag of miniature boxes of Dots. I fell in love with a little baby dressed up like a ladybug in a polar-fleece costume with little black dots on her face. There was one little moslem princess (Mom had on hijab) who didnt want the lollypop, she wanted the Dots - and was ever-so polite in asking for them.
It was fun. I even threw a few lollypops to Dads who were waiting at the end of the sidewalk.
************************************************************************************
I need some vacation time, though. I really do.
I need a recharge.
But I do understand their message, even though it isn't being stated flat out and easily understood. I know their hearts are in the right place, in spite of all the negative publicity they're getting. They're not just "dirty fucking hippies" - and they're not looking for a free handout, which the 1% and their media lapdogs claim.
I wish I could explain this, explain it better and get the right words. I can't. But I do GET it. And I know that at least 1 person will come here and try to make out that he knows better and that the Baggers know better. And all I can say is - I know you aren't part of the 1% yourself, and that really is a shame that you can't see it. Hopefully this will work and benefit you and your family - but I know you won't get it.
I suspect you probably worry because they rail against "corporate" America, and your Dad owns a business and is probably incorporated - even though I doubt that he makes (after tax deductions) more than a million dollars a year - and probably would only see a modest increase in his federal taxes. It isn't corporations themselves. It's the inordinate amount of influence that a very few very large corporations have over the members of Congress and the President - and all of the candidates of BOTH parties.
************************************************************************************
Did the trick-or-treat thing last nite. Gave away a bag of tootsie pops and a bag of miniature boxes of Dots. I fell in love with a little baby dressed up like a ladybug in a polar-fleece costume with little black dots on her face. There was one little moslem princess (Mom had on hijab) who didnt want the lollypop, she wanted the Dots - and was ever-so polite in asking for them.
It was fun. I even threw a few lollypops to Dads who were waiting at the end of the sidewalk.
************************************************************************************
I need some vacation time, though. I really do.
I need a recharge.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Big Balloons and other interesting things
I see some pretty interesting (to me, who is easily amused) things on my commute to/from work. Now that the Hideously Mis-Named Elgin O'Hare Expressway (Which goes to neither Elgin, nor O'Hare) is my route du jour, since Lake Street is all fardleschnockered up, I get to see things like this:
You see that? Are they only just NOW cleaning up from the mess they made making the Blues Brothers movie???? This is the 3rd time I've seen this. Either this trucker is hauling the same 3 Chitown Police Cars around in circles thru the suburban expressways, or .... maybe it DID take them this long to clean up after the movie. I guess they might could have been ones left inside that abandoned mall they used...
Around the area where I work there are a lot of big advertising balloon creatures lately. There is a big (naked) orange gorilla by the used-car lot, there is a gigantic hamster in tennies and a black t-shirt that says "Hamstar" on it, and then there is this:
Is he not adorable???What I like best is the sandals and white-painted toenails. The t-shirt and shades are cute, but those feet just crack me up!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Dear Teabaggers - FUCK OFF AND DIE
So they CHEERED - CHEERED the thought that a poor man who needed healthcare should be turned away and left to die.
Sick. Demented. I hope every last fucking one of them has their job outsourced, their homes repo'ed, their insurance cancelled and their children fall deathly ill.
YES I MEAN IT.
FUCK YOU, Republicans!!!!!
Sick. Demented. I hope every last fucking one of them has their job outsourced, their homes repo'ed, their insurance cancelled and their children fall deathly ill.
YES I MEAN IT.
FUCK YOU, Republicans!!!!!
Friday, September 09, 2011
Advertising Overkills
The first one I remember was the dancing silhouette people. They danced in ads for everything. They were cute at first, but then when everyone started doing it, I got annoyed quite quickly and decided to never click-thru on any of them, much less purchase anything they were touting.
Then the repeating (looping) GIFS - some of people dancing, others just of idiots acting like.. idiots - something mobile to draw the eye. Drew my eye, indeed. Drew it right to the spot - where I did NOT click-thru, nor did I do business with any of the companies using it.
The next one I recall was "Obama Wants You To....". Yeah. Right. Like Democrats are stupid enough to fall for such a blatantly STUPID marketing scam. Dear Repukelicans - we're smarter than that. We see through your silly attempt to scam us. Die in a fire. KTHKSBYE
Now it seems they've moved on to "ONE WEIRD TRICK". In many cases it appears that the "ONE WEIRD TRICK" is to have a really well-endowed chest and to stand provocatively in scanty undergarments in front of a camera. There's ONE WEIRD TRICK to lose weight, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of belly fat, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of wrinkles, ONE WEIRD TRICK to lower your car insurance rate, ONE WEIRD TRICK to enlarge your.... thingy.
What I want is ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of all the WEIRD TRICKS.
On the car radio, there is one professional voice-over guy who does ads for small companies for WCPT. Most of his rap isn't bad, but at the end of EVERY. SINGLE. AD. he repeats the telephone number 3 times, the first one as if it were a question, the second as if it were the answer to the question, and the third time as if it were the answer again. One time he upped the ante and went for FOUR boring repetitions. Good thing I don't have any sharp objects in my car.
Dear Voiceover Dude: STFU. KTHKSDIEINAFIRE
Then the repeating (looping) GIFS - some of people dancing, others just of idiots acting like.. idiots - something mobile to draw the eye. Drew my eye, indeed. Drew it right to the spot - where I did NOT click-thru, nor did I do business with any of the companies using it.
The next one I recall was "Obama Wants You To....". Yeah. Right. Like Democrats are stupid enough to fall for such a blatantly STUPID marketing scam. Dear Repukelicans - we're smarter than that. We see through your silly attempt to scam us. Die in a fire. KTHKSBYE
Now it seems they've moved on to "ONE WEIRD TRICK". In many cases it appears that the "ONE WEIRD TRICK" is to have a really well-endowed chest and to stand provocatively in scanty undergarments in front of a camera. There's ONE WEIRD TRICK to lose weight, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of belly fat, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of wrinkles, ONE WEIRD TRICK to lower your car insurance rate, ONE WEIRD TRICK to enlarge your.... thingy.
What I want is ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of all the WEIRD TRICKS.
On the car radio, there is one professional voice-over guy who does ads for small companies for WCPT. Most of his rap isn't bad, but at the end of EVERY. SINGLE. AD. he repeats the telephone number 3 times, the first one as if it were a question, the second as if it were the answer to the question, and the third time as if it were the answer again. One time he upped the ante and went for FOUR boring repetitions. Good thing I don't have any sharp objects in my car.
Dear Voiceover Dude: STFU. KTHKSDIEINAFIRE
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Gnats???
Gnats or fruit-flys. I don't care which, I want them OUT of my kitchen, pronto. I got a "FRUIT FLY TRAP" thingy (pardon my caps-lock) - and it has helped some, but not enough and I really just want to bomb the kitchen with DDT and malathion (sp?) and kill them all TO DEATH in one swell foop.
Problem with that is that a) you can't buy that kind of anti-insect spray anymore, and b) I'd have to take Kili for a long (4 to 6 hour) car ride and she HATES car rides.
This is particularly annoying, as I really want to make stuffed peppers for dinner, but I don't want to have to fight the miniature vermin for my peppers. Grrrr.
Oh, woe is me....
Problem with that is that a) you can't buy that kind of anti-insect spray anymore, and b) I'd have to take Kili for a long (4 to 6 hour) car ride and she HATES car rides.
This is particularly annoying, as I really want to make stuffed peppers for dinner, but I don't want to have to fight the miniature vermin for my peppers. Grrrr.
Oh, woe is me....
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Garden... Um... Down-date?
Aubergines:
Houston, we have Eggplant. In fact, we have Aubergine multiplicity! They are, however, about the size of golf balls at the moment. I lie. One is the size of a golf ball, the rest are like... marbles. HOWEVER - there is still another month or 2 or so of growing-ish weather, so maybe I will actually get one or two of them. A success, and a learning experience in one.
Peas:
The pea plants were toast by the time I got back from Florida in July, but they are really really cool-weather plants, and I did get a meal and a bunch of snackables off of it, so it is a qualified success. I will grow the same kind again next year, but I will plant them even EARLIER, and I will plant them a bit differently - a rectangular "window box" pot instead of a big round one.
Tomato:
I will never. Ever. Ever. Buy this variety of tomato again. I have one teeny tiny tomato on the plant. That is all it has made after all the watering and care - and then it had the AUDACITY to tip over in the windstorm a few weeks ago and the weight of the plant and the solidity of the tomato cage severed the main stem on my summer squash plant, thus killing any chance for summer squashes. BAD tomato! Bad, BAD tomato! I will get Sweet100 and Patio for next year.
Summer Squash:
See above with regard to squashicidal tomato plants.
Cucmber:
Forget it. Too much work for too little payback. I can get them cheap enough at the grocery market.
Lettuce:
Will try this again next year with some slight adjustments. Learning experience, and fair-to-middlin' results.
Spinach:
Not planted yet. Will probably try the lettuce-box method for the over-wintering.
Basil:
Not only not dead, but rather impressively growing strong. I will bring it inside for the winter and see if I can winter it over.
Banananana Peppers:
They're not as big as the ones in the market, but they are yum, and did well. I will do again next year.
Sweet Bell Peppers:
Meh. I finally got a few, but they are too small to stuff and I just think I'm better off spending my time/energy on something that gives a better return.
Beans:
I never grew beans here at this house before. I am going to either give up on "organic" gardening for them, or forget beans. Mexican Bean Beetles. The "organic" pesticide solution fried the leaves and blossoms and left me with nothing but sad-looking, naked tendrils wrapped around the trellis. Not Good. 'nuff said.
Houston, we have Eggplant. In fact, we have Aubergine multiplicity! They are, however, about the size of golf balls at the moment. I lie. One is the size of a golf ball, the rest are like... marbles. HOWEVER - there is still another month or 2 or so of growing-ish weather, so maybe I will actually get one or two of them. A success, and a learning experience in one.
Peas:
The pea plants were toast by the time I got back from Florida in July, but they are really really cool-weather plants, and I did get a meal and a bunch of snackables off of it, so it is a qualified success. I will grow the same kind again next year, but I will plant them even EARLIER, and I will plant them a bit differently - a rectangular "window box" pot instead of a big round one.
Tomato:
I will never. Ever. Ever. Buy this variety of tomato again. I have one teeny tiny tomato on the plant. That is all it has made after all the watering and care - and then it had the AUDACITY to tip over in the windstorm a few weeks ago and the weight of the plant and the solidity of the tomato cage severed the main stem on my summer squash plant, thus killing any chance for summer squashes. BAD tomato! Bad, BAD tomato! I will get Sweet100 and Patio for next year.
Summer Squash:
See above with regard to squashicidal tomato plants.
Cucmber:
Forget it. Too much work for too little payback. I can get them cheap enough at the grocery market.
Lettuce:
Will try this again next year with some slight adjustments. Learning experience, and fair-to-middlin' results.
Spinach:
Not planted yet. Will probably try the lettuce-box method for the over-wintering.
Basil:
Not only not dead, but rather impressively growing strong. I will bring it inside for the winter and see if I can winter it over.
Banananana Peppers:
They're not as big as the ones in the market, but they are yum, and did well. I will do again next year.
Sweet Bell Peppers:
Meh. I finally got a few, but they are too small to stuff and I just think I'm better off spending my time/energy on something that gives a better return.
Beans:
I never grew beans here at this house before. I am going to either give up on "organic" gardening for them, or forget beans. Mexican Bean Beetles. The "organic" pesticide solution fried the leaves and blossoms and left me with nothing but sad-looking, naked tendrils wrapped around the trellis. Not Good. 'nuff said.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Blatantly Stolen Comments:
WRT the current scare tactics from NRA auto-dialers looking for contributions and saying that President Obama, the "Lib'ruls", Secretary Clinton, and possibly little green men from Mars are trying to overturn the 2nd ammendment:
The U.S. government as currently constituted probably couldn't agree on the wording of a National Be Nice to Kittens and Puppies Resolution, and they're all going to get together to repeal one-tenth of the Bill of Rights!
************************************************************************************
I just like this one. I soooooo want it to be true. I wish it were true. Wishes and wants and $5 will get you a triple venti vanilla latte at Starbucks, however:
I should have figured it out sooner.
It's the shampoo I use in the shower.
When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed very clearly on the shampoo label it reads, "FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY."
I have gotten rid of the shampoo and I am going to start using Dawn dish detergent.
...Its label reads, "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE." Problem solved!
Geez! It sure pays to read the label!
The U.S. government as currently constituted probably couldn't agree on the wording of a National Be Nice to Kittens and Puppies Resolution, and they're all going to get together to repeal one-tenth of the Bill of Rights!
************************************************************************************
I just like this one. I soooooo want it to be true. I wish it were true. Wishes and wants and $5 will get you a triple venti vanilla latte at Starbucks, however:
I should have figured it out sooner.
It's the shampoo I use in the shower.
When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed very clearly on the shampoo label it reads, "FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY."
I have gotten rid of the shampoo and I am going to start using Dawn dish detergent.
...Its label reads, "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE." Problem solved!
Geez! It sure pays to read the label!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Garden Update
Lettuce:
The lettuces are not actually making the "heads" as advertised. It is ok, I am getting a lot of nice leaves, I pick a few and put them on sandwiches - but I think I'm going to have to cut the stuff down and just make one salad from what is there, because I don't think it will survive my absence. That is ok. This is one of those "things I did wrong" things, but I'm learning and hopefully next year I'll have more success.
Peas:
Sugar Snap. That is all you need. Sugar snap peas. They make peas. They make edible pods. You can pick the damn things right off the vine and give them a little wash and just eat them like a carrot -but they taste NOTHING like carrots, they are sweet and crunchy and totally YUM. I will plant at least twice as many seeds next time.
Beans:
Some of the beans runners have reached the top of the trellis. There are lots and lots of tiny purpley/lavender flower buds on them. I also have 2 actual beans. One is about 4" long, the other is about 1-1/2" long. However, if the flower buds are any indication, I will have more than plenty of beans in a few weeks. This I count as a huge success.
Peppers:
The standard sweet green peppers are not doing all that well. I have a few very small ones, and I'm thinking maybe I should pick them now and use them in an omelet or a pepper & egg sandwich, and see if that eggs on the plant to doing some more growing and blossoming.
The "banana pepper" is growing like gangbusters. The stems are about 2-1/2 feet tall, and they're making baby peppers. They are SO cute! Squeeeeeeee cute. I picked one that was about 5" long and had stopped growing any bigger, I will cut it up and put it in that salad that I'll make from the lettuces. I would certainly grow these again if they turn out to be tasty and all.
Basil Plant:
Still not dead.
Squash:
This is a straight-neck yellow summer squash plant. The plant is doing quite well, it is making a lot of "male" blossoms, I am hoping for "female" ones in the next couple of weeks. Not quite as thirsty as the tomato, and growing in the same pot with the cucumber - but looking quite dapper and healthy.
Cucumber:
Ok, this is SUPPOSED to be a "bush" cucumber that you can grow in a pot, but the darn thing is sending runners out all over the place. I keep having to nudge them around so that they don't take off and invade the neighbor's yard. Lots of blossoms, no baby pickles yet. Still, seems to be doing well.
Eggplant:
Since I moved this into the sunniest part of the deck, it has just done wonderful. The plants grow slowly, but each and every one of them (there are 4 in the bucket) has a small lavender colored flower bud on it. Crossing my fingers that this is good.
Tomato plant:
The World's Thirstiest Tomato Plant is thriving - but although there are a lot of flower buds, none of them are opening up. And I can't do that paintbrush thing that TFWY said to do, because I can't see any flowers to play "bee" with.
Other than that, and the fact that it seems to suck up water like a wet-vac, it's the most vigorous-looking tomato plant I've ever grown. I think next year I'll plant a different variety, however.
Photos will follow sometime when I can rememember to take some.
The lettuces are not actually making the "heads" as advertised. It is ok, I am getting a lot of nice leaves, I pick a few and put them on sandwiches - but I think I'm going to have to cut the stuff down and just make one salad from what is there, because I don't think it will survive my absence. That is ok. This is one of those "things I did wrong" things, but I'm learning and hopefully next year I'll have more success.
Peas:
Sugar Snap. That is all you need. Sugar snap peas. They make peas. They make edible pods. You can pick the damn things right off the vine and give them a little wash and just eat them like a carrot -but they taste NOTHING like carrots, they are sweet and crunchy and totally YUM. I will plant at least twice as many seeds next time.
Beans:
Some of the beans runners have reached the top of the trellis. There are lots and lots of tiny purpley/lavender flower buds on them. I also have 2 actual beans. One is about 4" long, the other is about 1-1/2" long. However, if the flower buds are any indication, I will have more than plenty of beans in a few weeks. This I count as a huge success.
Peppers:
The standard sweet green peppers are not doing all that well. I have a few very small ones, and I'm thinking maybe I should pick them now and use them in an omelet or a pepper & egg sandwich, and see if that eggs on the plant to doing some more growing and blossoming.
The "banana pepper" is growing like gangbusters. The stems are about 2-1/2 feet tall, and they're making baby peppers. They are SO cute! Squeeeeeeee cute. I picked one that was about 5" long and had stopped growing any bigger, I will cut it up and put it in that salad that I'll make from the lettuces. I would certainly grow these again if they turn out to be tasty and all.
Basil Plant:
Still not dead.
Squash:
This is a straight-neck yellow summer squash plant. The plant is doing quite well, it is making a lot of "male" blossoms, I am hoping for "female" ones in the next couple of weeks. Not quite as thirsty as the tomato, and growing in the same pot with the cucumber - but looking quite dapper and healthy.
Cucumber:
Ok, this is SUPPOSED to be a "bush" cucumber that you can grow in a pot, but the darn thing is sending runners out all over the place. I keep having to nudge them around so that they don't take off and invade the neighbor's yard. Lots of blossoms, no baby pickles yet. Still, seems to be doing well.
Eggplant:
Since I moved this into the sunniest part of the deck, it has just done wonderful. The plants grow slowly, but each and every one of them (there are 4 in the bucket) has a small lavender colored flower bud on it. Crossing my fingers that this is good.
Tomato plant:
The World's Thirstiest Tomato Plant is thriving - but although there are a lot of flower buds, none of them are opening up. And I can't do that paintbrush thing that TFWY said to do, because I can't see any flowers to play "bee" with.
Other than that, and the fact that it seems to suck up water like a wet-vac, it's the most vigorous-looking tomato plant I've ever grown. I think next year I'll plant a different variety, however.
Photos will follow sometime when I can rememember to take some.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Books
So I had to get a new power cord for my lappy because I LOST the old one (don't ask) - and it was only a few $ at Amazon, so I also got a few books.
2 books on container gardening.
Good news: I have done a number of things "right" without knowing any better.
Bad news: I have done a lot of things "wrong" without knowing better. I know better now, next year should be interestinger. <-(is SO a word!)
Also got Keith Richards' "Life". Will bring that along on the drive to Florida for "put your brain to sleep so you can sleep" and entertainment. Since I'm driving, I can bring a number of books. This is good.
2 books on container gardening.
Good news: I have done a number of things "right" without knowing any better.
Bad news: I have done a lot of things "wrong" without knowing better. I know better now, next year should be interestinger. <-(is SO a word!)
Also got Keith Richards' "Life". Will bring that along on the drive to Florida for "put your brain to sleep so you can sleep" and entertainment. Since I'm driving, I can bring a number of books. This is good.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The final count
Ok, I'm done buying plants for the garden. If the stuff makes it, great. If not... learning experience.
Over the weekend I went out and got 4 more plants.
1) Straight-neck yellow squash. I like these sliced thin and saute'd with a little butter and a spritz of lemon juice.
2) Bush cucumber. Supposed to do well in containers. We shall see.
3) "Black Beauty" eggplant (aubergine). The one I got earlier was not the typical (pardon my french) uterus-shaped ones, but round. While the idea of great purple softballs is amusing, I am not certain I will like them, so these new ones will be more "normal" - presuming I can grow them. Again, we shall see.
4) A square pot with a square trellisy thing with a large-scale sweet green pepper plant. I really do hope this does well. Even if it does not, the pot is cute.
So that's it. Make it or break it. The container garden has:
1 pot of peas - doing exceptionally well. Making pea-flowers. Good.
1 pot of pole beans - the leaves look a little wrinkly, but they are climbing up the trellis nicely, and although they are a few weeks behind the peas, I think they will do ok as well.
1 box of lettuce - doing good. The leaves are getting bigger, and I've actually nipped off a few and put them on sandwiches. Not enough for a decent salad yet, but I will certainly do this again!
1 pot of 3 tomato plants. They seem to be doing ok. A few flower buds are coming on, although I'm not sure they will make baby tomatoes just yet. This planter needs a LOT of water.
2 pots of peppers. Banana peppers in one, big sweet green peppers in the other. They look awesomely healthy, but I've been fooled by peppers before. We'll see.
1 pathetic little pot of basil. And yet... it isn't dead.
1 pot with 2 kinds of eggplants (aubergines). Fingers crossed.
1 pot with a "bush" cucumber. Again with the finger crossing.
1 pot with a straight-neck squash plant. Crossing toes, as I've run out of fingers.
Over the weekend I went out and got 4 more plants.
1) Straight-neck yellow squash. I like these sliced thin and saute'd with a little butter and a spritz of lemon juice.
2) Bush cucumber. Supposed to do well in containers. We shall see.
3) "Black Beauty" eggplant (aubergine). The one I got earlier was not the typical (pardon my french) uterus-shaped ones, but round. While the idea of great purple softballs is amusing, I am not certain I will like them, so these new ones will be more "normal" - presuming I can grow them. Again, we shall see.
4) A square pot with a square trellisy thing with a large-scale sweet green pepper plant. I really do hope this does well. Even if it does not, the pot is cute.
So that's it. Make it or break it. The container garden has:
1 pot of peas - doing exceptionally well. Making pea-flowers. Good.
1 pot of pole beans - the leaves look a little wrinkly, but they are climbing up the trellis nicely, and although they are a few weeks behind the peas, I think they will do ok as well.
1 box of lettuce - doing good. The leaves are getting bigger, and I've actually nipped off a few and put them on sandwiches. Not enough for a decent salad yet, but I will certainly do this again!
1 pot of 3 tomato plants. They seem to be doing ok. A few flower buds are coming on, although I'm not sure they will make baby tomatoes just yet. This planter needs a LOT of water.
2 pots of peppers. Banana peppers in one, big sweet green peppers in the other. They look awesomely healthy, but I've been fooled by peppers before. We'll see.
1 pathetic little pot of basil. And yet... it isn't dead.
1 pot with 2 kinds of eggplants (aubergines). Fingers crossed.
1 pot with a "bush" cucumber. Again with the finger crossing.
1 pot with a straight-neck squash plant. Crossing toes, as I've run out of fingers.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Garden Update
Just 2 photos, but taken this morning.
First off, the lettuces, which are doing pretty well, considering the trauma from the monsoons and lack of sufficient drainage (and resulting mudslide when I tried to pour out some of the overflowing excess water).
And the peas and beans. The peas have gone past the top of their teepee - I think I may have to put more green wire/tape from the teepee up to the top of the fence to give them room to stretchhhhhhh.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
My Weekend with Mr. T
I spent the memorial day weekend hosting a little fuzzy visitor from the UK - he wasn't really big, but he has a big job. He is travelling around the world, raising money for worthy charities. Right now his charity is the helicopter ambulance guys - the ones who go to really bad emergencies and take folks to the hospital fast so that they (hopefully) don't die.
His name is Mr. Tonsilpus, and he has his own website and Facebook and everything.
I volunteered to show him around my part of the world (Chicago and suburbs), and he showed up at my office on Friday night, ready and raring to go. Unfortunately I still had some paperwork to work through, so he gave me a hand with that before we got to go home for the evening. Here he is, checking out my baby Lime Tree in the livingroom.
Equally unfortunate, the Monsoon Monster was still pouring torrential rain on my area, so we really didn't get to do much but sit around the house and play with Kili the cat. Kili gave him the once-over, then ignored him.
Saturday dawned rainy and wet and nasty. Again we were thwarted from any outdoor activity, which was a bummer. I decided to give Mr. T a guided tour of my sewing/crafting area (formerly my daughter's bedroom).
He seemed really interested in my quilting, and it occurred to me that he might enjoy having a little quilt of his own to travel with, since it can get kind of cold overnight in those post offices all around the world.
We picked out some nice fabrics and I put together a "T-sized" quilt for him. (I really, really screwed up with the binding. I'm not used to working with such small pieces, and the corners just would NOT lay flat for me. It's embarassing, but time was at a premium and after the 4th rip&redo I gave up on perfection.) He supervised.
Sunday was again cold and rainy and impossible. In fact, at one point I heard a noise outside that sounded like a train in my front yard. There wasn't a visible tornado, and the sirens never did go off, but it scared me some for sure! Later in the day I thought Mr. T should have at least the opportunity to go outside for a LITTLE, so we grabbed an umbrella and went out for pizza for lunch. (How much more "Chicago" than that can ya get?)
Deep Dish Stuffed Pizza from Giordanos. Mr. T perused the specials menu, but we ended up with a spinach & mushroom stuffed pizza.
Our nice waitperson let me take his picture with her (and the pizza!)
Sunday night we watched a couple of movies - one of them was the Blues Brothers (original), a Chicago classic.
Monday morning dawned bright and sunny. After a nice breakfast and a stroll through my little container garden, where Mr. T inspected my pea plants, we drove into the city of Chicago proper to see the sights.
From where I live, the easiest way to the downtown area is via the Eisenhower Expressway, which turns into the Congress Expressway when you get into the downtown area (right before it stops being an espressway and turns into Congress Parkway) The expressway, all 8 lanes of it at this point, goes underneath the old Post Office building. The building appears to be deserted - many windows are smashed out. Sad. I was always so impressed by this building as a child.
Mr. T said he'd like to see some of the places where they shot the movie we'd watched, so we went down to Wells St., under the "L" tracks.
Then we went over to Daley Center Plaza. Yes, that is the building where the Bluesmobile ran through the plate glass window. There were some kids playing in the fountains and we stayed a bit to watch them.
Mr. T also got his photo taken in front of the Picasso statue-sculpture-thingy.
Directly across the street was a place we remembered well from the night before - the place where the "Bluesmobile" met it's end - directly in front of the County building. Of course, we HAD to get a photo there!
We tried to find Wrigley Field, but the traffic was just wretched. So instead we took a short drive past Buckingham Fountain, which was on and working (but blocked by traffic!).
and then North up Michigan Avenue
And then a cruise through Lincoln Park and past the zoo - couldn't stop, no place to park! On a bright shiney warm day like this, when everyone who isn't a retail worker has the day off, it's hard to navigate through the fun places to go/see!
So as night began to crowd in, we headed back home for a nice little barbecue in the back yard (Mr. T stayed indoors where smoke and FIRE couldn't get at him!) and then the next day back into his Tyvek travelling sack and off to his next destination!
Bye bye, little fuzzball - it was fun!
His name is Mr. Tonsilpus, and he has his own website and Facebook and everything.
I volunteered to show him around my part of the world (Chicago and suburbs), and he showed up at my office on Friday night, ready and raring to go. Unfortunately I still had some paperwork to work through, so he gave me a hand with that before we got to go home for the evening. Here he is, checking out my baby Lime Tree in the livingroom.
Equally unfortunate, the Monsoon Monster was still pouring torrential rain on my area, so we really didn't get to do much but sit around the house and play with Kili the cat. Kili gave him the once-over, then ignored him.
Saturday dawned rainy and wet and nasty. Again we were thwarted from any outdoor activity, which was a bummer. I decided to give Mr. T a guided tour of my sewing/crafting area (formerly my daughter's bedroom).
He seemed really interested in my quilting, and it occurred to me that he might enjoy having a little quilt of his own to travel with, since it can get kind of cold overnight in those post offices all around the world.
We picked out some nice fabrics and I put together a "T-sized" quilt for him. (I really, really screwed up with the binding. I'm not used to working with such small pieces, and the corners just would NOT lay flat for me. It's embarassing, but time was at a premium and after the 4th rip&redo I gave up on perfection.) He supervised.
Sunday was again cold and rainy and impossible. In fact, at one point I heard a noise outside that sounded like a train in my front yard. There wasn't a visible tornado, and the sirens never did go off, but it scared me some for sure! Later in the day I thought Mr. T should have at least the opportunity to go outside for a LITTLE, so we grabbed an umbrella and went out for pizza for lunch. (How much more "Chicago" than that can ya get?)
Deep Dish Stuffed Pizza from Giordanos. Mr. T perused the specials menu, but we ended up with a spinach & mushroom stuffed pizza.
Our nice waitperson let me take his picture with her (and the pizza!)
Sunday night we watched a couple of movies - one of them was the Blues Brothers (original), a Chicago classic.
Monday morning dawned bright and sunny. After a nice breakfast and a stroll through my little container garden, where Mr. T inspected my pea plants, we drove into the city of Chicago proper to see the sights.
From where I live, the easiest way to the downtown area is via the Eisenhower Expressway, which turns into the Congress Expressway when you get into the downtown area (right before it stops being an espressway and turns into Congress Parkway) The expressway, all 8 lanes of it at this point, goes underneath the old Post Office building. The building appears to be deserted - many windows are smashed out. Sad. I was always so impressed by this building as a child.
Mr. T said he'd like to see some of the places where they shot the movie we'd watched, so we went down to Wells St., under the "L" tracks.
Then we went over to Daley Center Plaza. Yes, that is the building where the Bluesmobile ran through the plate glass window. There were some kids playing in the fountains and we stayed a bit to watch them.
Mr. T also got his photo taken in front of the Picasso statue-sculpture-thingy.
Directly across the street was a place we remembered well from the night before - the place where the "Bluesmobile" met it's end - directly in front of the County building. Of course, we HAD to get a photo there!
We tried to find Wrigley Field, but the traffic was just wretched. So instead we took a short drive past Buckingham Fountain, which was on and working (but blocked by traffic!).
and then North up Michigan Avenue
And then a cruise through Lincoln Park and past the zoo - couldn't stop, no place to park! On a bright shiney warm day like this, when everyone who isn't a retail worker has the day off, it's hard to navigate through the fun places to go/see!
So as night began to crowd in, we headed back home for a nice little barbecue in the back yard (Mr. T stayed indoors where smoke and FIRE couldn't get at him!) and then the next day back into his Tyvek travelling sack and off to his next destination!
Bye bye, little fuzzball - it was fun!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sew-servations
A lot of places have been pushing the "You're Fired" meme wrt Donnie's pretend presidency candidacy. Face it people - nobody in his/her right mind would ever HIRE a temperamental, thin-skinned, foolish, poorly attired, hairline deficient bozo like Donnie. "You're Not Hired" would be far more apropos.
The Shrub family is quietly trying to sneak Jeb past the general population's Early Bush Warning System. Be aware, Shrubs, I will fight tooth, nail and knee-to-the-scrotum to keep Jebbie out of the Oval office. Or the round, square, octagonal or parallelogram offices.
A little extra warmth certainly does do some amazing things to lettuces and peas. Squash and beans, not so much. Although I am kind of wondering if the Evil Grey Cat from Hell might not have done some digging in the beans and squash. Either that or Mr. Nibbles, the squirrel. If it is Mr. Nibbles, I won't mind as much. EGCfH, however is fat enough and does not need to eat my beans and squaches.
I am going to take a few days off work this weekend to do more gardening and spring cleaning. I am also going to take a couple photos of grandma's chair and see if I can get a quote from an upholstry place on how much to make it "like new, except pink".
The Shrub family is quietly trying to sneak Jeb past the general population's Early Bush Warning System. Be aware, Shrubs, I will fight tooth, nail and knee-to-the-scrotum to keep Jebbie out of the Oval office. Or the round, square, octagonal or parallelogram offices.
A little extra warmth certainly does do some amazing things to lettuces and peas. Squash and beans, not so much. Although I am kind of wondering if the Evil Grey Cat from Hell might not have done some digging in the beans and squash. Either that or Mr. Nibbles, the squirrel. If it is Mr. Nibbles, I won't mind as much. EGCfH, however is fat enough and does not need to eat my beans and squaches.
I am going to take a few days off work this weekend to do more gardening and spring cleaning. I am also going to take a couple photos of grandma's chair and see if I can get a quote from an upholstry place on how much to make it "like new, except pink".
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Clutching my pearls
Actually, replacing my clutch. *sigh* There is a reason why the Little Blue Neon was being bad. Finally the clutch has gone. As, apparently, so shall my tax refund. Expensive car repair. However, 11 year old car, the clutch was original equipment, so I can't say it went too soon.
Not too happy about it, but it COULD have been worse, so I'll deal. The car will run again come tomorrow nite - but I'm having to impose on Co-Worker "D" again, which I hate.
Just for Croila - photos from the gardening project:
This first one is a very "before" photo, showing the ravages of winter on the former perennial flowers-only garden part. On the right side you can just manage to see the "Octopus" tentacles growing up and to the right out of the frame. All the pots are now out and the last-year foliage trash has been ripped out.
Now, of pure interest value - here is the blue Pot O'Dirt - in which there ARE pea seeds unsprouted as yet:
Here is my make-shift "cold frame" for my lettuces. It is actually just a clear plastic box with a white lid on top of my air conditioner compressor - but it seems to be working:
And to prove it is working - here is a photo of my baby lettuces:
Obviously, this is only "exciting" to me - but it is progress, and all progress is good, even if some of it is slow. I can't wait to see how the lettuces do. I hope they do well. I need a shot of "good" after the word on the Little Blue Neon. *sigh*
Oh - btw - Dear White Castle Advertising Agency Guys:
The term "Sliders"? The one you are bragging about selling in your recent advertisements? Umm, guys? That's NOT a compliment. The original usage for "Sliders" was that they slid right through your digestive system - coming out as fast or faster than they went in.
It's a "bad thing". Just FYI and all.
Not too happy about it, but it COULD have been worse, so I'll deal. The car will run again come tomorrow nite - but I'm having to impose on Co-Worker "D" again, which I hate.
Just for Croila - photos from the gardening project:
This first one is a very "before" photo, showing the ravages of winter on the former perennial flowers-only garden part. On the right side you can just manage to see the "Octopus" tentacles growing up and to the right out of the frame. All the pots are now out and the last-year foliage trash has been ripped out.
Now, of pure interest value - here is the blue Pot O'Dirt - in which there ARE pea seeds unsprouted as yet:
Here is my make-shift "cold frame" for my lettuces. It is actually just a clear plastic box with a white lid on top of my air conditioner compressor - but it seems to be working:
And to prove it is working - here is a photo of my baby lettuces:
Obviously, this is only "exciting" to me - but it is progress, and all progress is good, even if some of it is slow. I can't wait to see how the lettuces do. I hope they do well. I need a shot of "good" after the word on the Little Blue Neon. *sigh*
Oh - btw - Dear White Castle Advertising Agency Guys:
The term "Sliders"? The one you are bragging about selling in your recent advertisements? Umm, guys? That's NOT a compliment. The original usage for "Sliders" was that they slid right through your digestive system - coming out as fast or faster than they went in.
It's a "bad thing". Just FYI and all.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
I have seen the Enemy
Damn grey cat. And me without a bb gun...
It was prowling around the back yards this morning as I drove off for work. No longer a small grey cat - it has grown huge and fat. I suspect that it WAS the thing that was crapping in my plant pots. Grrrrrrrrrr.
It is supposed to get down around 32 F tonite, so I will have to find something to cover up the pots for the peas and the beans. The squash seeds are deep enough and in the mud, so even if it does frost, they should be OK. I can just put the lid back onto the lettuces box.
I am thinking of making a stick teepee for the peas pot if they look to be too leggy and vine-y once they get going strong. I have a few old sticks, and if I put them into the pot and tie them together at the top with baling twine, it should work.
So I did some more work on the Quilt that Shall Not Be Named (Yet) although it actually does have a name, just can't put it here in case a certain happy scottish medical type decides to read a bit. I don't know what is slowing me down so much. I've gotten energy back in other venues - just not this yet. Things that make me go hmmmmm.
hmmmmm
Sunflower seeds are yummy, but for some reason sunflowers themselves kind of gross me out. Something about the seeds in the flower in the circles and bees and guts and gore and yes, I know that is rambling and makes no sense, but neither does my gross-out from sunflowers, so there, neener neener neener. I get grossed out in a similar way by some automotive grille-work. Dunno why.
Nope. Not gonna plant sunflowers.
It was prowling around the back yards this morning as I drove off for work. No longer a small grey cat - it has grown huge and fat. I suspect that it WAS the thing that was crapping in my plant pots. Grrrrrrrrrr.
It is supposed to get down around 32 F tonite, so I will have to find something to cover up the pots for the peas and the beans. The squash seeds are deep enough and in the mud, so even if it does frost, they should be OK. I can just put the lid back onto the lettuces box.
I am thinking of making a stick teepee for the peas pot if they look to be too leggy and vine-y once they get going strong. I have a few old sticks, and if I put them into the pot and tie them together at the top with baling twine, it should work.
So I did some more work on the Quilt that Shall Not Be Named (Yet) although it actually does have a name, just can't put it here in case a certain happy scottish medical type decides to read a bit. I don't know what is slowing me down so much. I've gotten energy back in other venues - just not this yet. Things that make me go hmmmmm.
hmmmmm
Sunflower seeds are yummy, but for some reason sunflowers themselves kind of gross me out. Something about the seeds in the flower in the circles and bees and guts and gore and yes, I know that is rambling and makes no sense, but neither does my gross-out from sunflowers, so there, neener neener neener. I get grossed out in a similar way by some automotive grille-work. Dunno why.
Nope. Not gonna plant sunflowers.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Very Interesting
The Chinese are said to have a saying - "May you live in interesting times".
It is not a blessing, it is said. This last week has been interesting in, I think, the spirit of that saying.
Someone killed my baby wind-chimes. I had them hanging on a hook in the back - a hook that lives in the dirt, and doesn't attach to ANYthing. The sound they made was so small, so tiny, you really couldn't hear it unless you were RIGHT on top of it. But someone took a scissors and slashed them off their base. I found them laying in the dirt below the hook. Asshats.
Did you know that Osama Bin Dead-as-a-doorknob was 1 year younger than me? How very interesting.
I find this especially interesting because I do know a lot of people my age who are fairly religious - and I don't know that there is any one of them who would perpetrate the kind of stuff that the Dead Beard and his buddies did.
I do somewhat wonder what the Saudi royal family is thinking right around now. It is my understanding that Bin Dead-for-a-day-now-starting-to-stink is related to all those dish-rag heads. (Yes, Kal, I know it's a bit racist - but I haven't any sympathy for the Saudis, nor the Talibans, nor, for that matter, anyone anywhere who would kill others for being gay or female or non-arab.)
I wonder if GWB didn't bother to do a lot of trying to track Dead Osama down because it would have caused repercussions at family dinners with the Royal Saudis. Them being all butt-buddies with the Bushies and all.
Pictures on Yahoo of New Yawkers dancing with flags in the streets like a bunch of ... Palestinians. Seriously, folks, aren't we supposed to be BETTER than them? Let's get back to our British roots and do the minimalist bit, eh? Stiff upper lip, dry humor, minimize the maximum, maximize the minimum and all?
9/12/01 - 1/20/09: 7 1/2 years, noting.
1/20/09 - 5/1/11: 2 1/2 years - Mission Accomplished.
No aircraft carrier. No flight suit prancing. Just quietly, calmly, "Justice has been done".
I planted beans and squashes seeds this weekend. The beans are in the pot with the trellis, they are supposed to climb. The squashes are in the dirt near the hook where the dearly departed windchimes were. I hope I get some squashes this year!
The octopus is out of the garden, yet still in the yard, as I don't have a special bag and sticker for yard waste to throw it out in. *sigh*. I may just have to buy one this year.
I also bought about a flat-worth of small plants - 2 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of sweet peppers, 4 eggplants (aubergines), some dill, some marigolds, some cucumbers that allegedly do ok in pots, and some Gerber daisies. Oh and a big plant of basil. Gonna try and make my own spaghetti sauce one of these days.
It is not a blessing, it is said. This last week has been interesting in, I think, the spirit of that saying.
Someone killed my baby wind-chimes. I had them hanging on a hook in the back - a hook that lives in the dirt, and doesn't attach to ANYthing. The sound they made was so small, so tiny, you really couldn't hear it unless you were RIGHT on top of it. But someone took a scissors and slashed them off their base. I found them laying in the dirt below the hook. Asshats.
Did you know that Osama Bin Dead-as-a-doorknob was 1 year younger than me? How very interesting.
I find this especially interesting because I do know a lot of people my age who are fairly religious - and I don't know that there is any one of them who would perpetrate the kind of stuff that the Dead Beard and his buddies did.
I do somewhat wonder what the Saudi royal family is thinking right around now. It is my understanding that Bin Dead-for-a-day-now-starting-to-stink is related to all those dish-rag heads. (Yes, Kal, I know it's a bit racist - but I haven't any sympathy for the Saudis, nor the Talibans, nor, for that matter, anyone anywhere who would kill others for being gay or female or non-arab.)
I wonder if GWB didn't bother to do a lot of trying to track Dead Osama down because it would have caused repercussions at family dinners with the Royal Saudis. Them being all butt-buddies with the Bushies and all.
Pictures on Yahoo of New Yawkers dancing with flags in the streets like a bunch of ... Palestinians. Seriously, folks, aren't we supposed to be BETTER than them? Let's get back to our British roots and do the minimalist bit, eh? Stiff upper lip, dry humor, minimize the maximum, maximize the minimum and all?
9/12/01 - 1/20/09: 7 1/2 years, noting.
1/20/09 - 5/1/11: 2 1/2 years - Mission Accomplished.
No aircraft carrier. No flight suit prancing. Just quietly, calmly, "Justice has been done".
I planted beans and squashes seeds this weekend. The beans are in the pot with the trellis, they are supposed to climb. The squashes are in the dirt near the hook where the dearly departed windchimes were. I hope I get some squashes this year!
The octopus is out of the garden, yet still in the yard, as I don't have a special bag and sticker for yard waste to throw it out in. *sigh*. I may just have to buy one this year.
I also bought about a flat-worth of small plants - 2 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of sweet peppers, 4 eggplants (aubergines), some dill, some marigolds, some cucumbers that allegedly do ok in pots, and some Gerber daisies. Oh and a big plant of basil. Gonna try and make my own spaghetti sauce one of these days.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Off to the Garden Center
Without question, I am def. going to try and grow an eggplant (aubergine?) this year. I think I'll also try another tomato plant, but this time I WILL interplant dill and marigolds in the pot to try and keep the hornworms at bay.
Today the Octopus in the garden dies. It is a wild rosebush that I think got in there from the root stock of a pretty rosebush that I had back there years ago but it died. Every few years the root stock tries to grow again, and last year I let it go out of A) curiosity and B) pure laziness. I already hacked off one "arm" of it, today the rest goes.
My lettuces are up, albeit just as little 2-leaf sprouts - but I'm going to assume that bodes well for more leaves eventually. The peas are ... I think a cat is using the pot they are in for a litterbox, which if I find out it is the little grey cat who shredded my screens, I am going to be ... very angry.
I'm going to plant the beans today. Probably put the squash seeds into the garden as well.
It is bright and sunny, and I can see all the trees in the neighborhood really leafing out, so I'm going to take a 6-day bet and figure that the danger of frost damage is mostly gone. The tender plants - tomato and eggplant and whatever else I am moved to purchase will stay indoors for another week or so - I'm not quite THAT ready to bet that Mother Nature won't go postal on me!
I wonder how many of those red-states that have had the severe weather and wildfires are going to apply for federal aid? *wonders*
Today the Octopus in the garden dies. It is a wild rosebush that I think got in there from the root stock of a pretty rosebush that I had back there years ago but it died. Every few years the root stock tries to grow again, and last year I let it go out of A) curiosity and B) pure laziness. I already hacked off one "arm" of it, today the rest goes.
My lettuces are up, albeit just as little 2-leaf sprouts - but I'm going to assume that bodes well for more leaves eventually. The peas are ... I think a cat is using the pot they are in for a litterbox, which if I find out it is the little grey cat who shredded my screens, I am going to be ... very angry.
I'm going to plant the beans today. Probably put the squash seeds into the garden as well.
It is bright and sunny, and I can see all the trees in the neighborhood really leafing out, so I'm going to take a 6-day bet and figure that the danger of frost damage is mostly gone. The tender plants - tomato and eggplant and whatever else I am moved to purchase will stay indoors for another week or so - I'm not quite THAT ready to bet that Mother Nature won't go postal on me!
I wonder how many of those red-states that have had the severe weather and wildfires are going to apply for federal aid? *wonders*
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Eating the yard
I'm just not succeeding with perennial flowers. Some of them do ok, but most of them are just annoying me, so I'm going to back off of that concept and do something else. Something else being veggies again.
Last nite I emptied a bag of potting soil into a clear plasticy box and sprinkled lettuce seeds on it. Then I added some water and put the cover on to protect it from frost. It is sitting on top of the air conditioner compressor. Hopefully it will make lettuces, since the variety I chose is called "Pixie" and makes small heads of lettuce, which amuses me.
I've started clearing some of the pots and stuff out of the "ground garden" where the perennials "live". The daffodils are doing great and the red lilies are coming up strong, as are the iris. Not sure about the astilbe or those little pruple/blue flowers and I think the bleeding hearts are dead.
I can't decide whether to try and grow a tomato plant again or not. I've had such ROTTEN luck with them the last few times that I'm tempted to just go try and grow peppers and forget the tomatoes. Interestingly, I did better with tomatoes at my Mom and Dad's old house where the black walnut trees were my only nemesis than I've done here with no trees to speak of.
Yes, Croila, I will put in photos - just not yet. A picture of a blue pot full of dirt is not really very interesting, IMNSHO.
Last nite I emptied a bag of potting soil into a clear plasticy box and sprinkled lettuce seeds on it. Then I added some water and put the cover on to protect it from frost. It is sitting on top of the air conditioner compressor. Hopefully it will make lettuces, since the variety I chose is called "Pixie" and makes small heads of lettuce, which amuses me.
I've started clearing some of the pots and stuff out of the "ground garden" where the perennials "live". The daffodils are doing great and the red lilies are coming up strong, as are the iris. Not sure about the astilbe or those little pruple/blue flowers and I think the bleeding hearts are dead.
I can't decide whether to try and grow a tomato plant again or not. I've had such ROTTEN luck with them the last few times that I'm tempted to just go try and grow peppers and forget the tomatoes. Interestingly, I did better with tomatoes at my Mom and Dad's old house where the black walnut trees were my only nemesis than I've done here with no trees to speak of.
Yes, Croila, I will put in photos - just not yet. A picture of a blue pot full of dirt is not really very interesting, IMNSHO.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Dr. Stupid
Went to the new Dr. He is an idiot. Ok, maybe not an idiot - but never going to earn the "Miss Congeniality" award anywhere. The lack of common courtesy and mutual respect for a fellow professional (albeit in a different field) indicates a bad case of "Dr. God" syndrome. Ya know? I have enough stress and crap in my life without that. I have put in a call to my GP for an alternative referral, as I cannot/will not return to that guy.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
New Dr.
So I'm going to go see another doctor next Tuesday. An endocrinologist. As I told his nurse/receptionist, I am seriously suspicious that I am an endocrinological mess. Have been my whole life, I suspect. This particular visit has to do with the fact that I can NOT tolerate metformin, and I'm not going to take it if it continues with the same bad side-effect, and yet I am still apparently Type II Diabetic. There are other things, though. Things that I think may have bearing. I think I've needed to see one of these kinds of Dr. for many years.
Tuesday I'll find out, I suspect.
This should be interesting. If nothing else, I can try out my "My mother was never pregnant" line on the Dr. and see what kind of reaction I get.
Tuesday I'll find out, I suspect.
This should be interesting. If nothing else, I can try out my "My mother was never pregnant" line on the Dr. and see what kind of reaction I get.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thoughts
During my lifetime I've worked for 3 Japanese owned companies. One directly Japanese operated (I will NEVER do that again) and 2 that were owned by Japanese companies but run by Americans. I've met a lot of Japanese guys through these jobs (not so many women, but then, the Japanese have this thing about women....)
When I heard about the earthquake/tsunami, my thoughts went to all the people I'd worked with over the years. I never kept in touch - in many ways it would have been impossible to do so even if I'd thought of it. There's no way for me to go looking online or send an email to find out if everyone is ok.
But I find my thoughts going out to Mr. Matsumura, Kiyoshi, Sudo-san, Mr. Kinoshita, and so many others whom I worked for and with over those years. I hope they are all OK. I hope their families are ok. And I hope that the country (Japan) can get their shit together with regard to the nuclear reactors so that the population isn't all poisoned.
Because even if I had problems working with some of those guys, (that Japanese male thing about women...) I would never, ever, in my wildest nightmares want to see them or their families hurt by this triple-tragedy.
I cannot translate this to Japanese, because all the translators online use konji and my computer just makes that into boxes - but I wish for all of you - only good things forever. Be well, Japan.
When I heard about the earthquake/tsunami, my thoughts went to all the people I'd worked with over the years. I never kept in touch - in many ways it would have been impossible to do so even if I'd thought of it. There's no way for me to go looking online or send an email to find out if everyone is ok.
But I find my thoughts going out to Mr. Matsumura, Kiyoshi, Sudo-san, Mr. Kinoshita, and so many others whom I worked for and with over those years. I hope they are all OK. I hope their families are ok. And I hope that the country (Japan) can get their shit together with regard to the nuclear reactors so that the population isn't all poisoned.
Because even if I had problems working with some of those guys, (that Japanese male thing about women...) I would never, ever, in my wildest nightmares want to see them or their families hurt by this triple-tragedy.
I cannot translate this to Japanese, because all the translators online use konji and my computer just makes that into boxes - but I wish for all of you - only good things forever. Be well, Japan.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Ich Bin Ein French Fry.
So I go into the store to buy a few things and I see these totally awesome dark beet-red/burgundy sheets with 600 thread count and all, and I'm like YES!!! So I bought them.
Just put them on the bed a few nights ago.
They are not lovely and deep burgundy and matching my curtains AT ALL. They are red. Ketchup Red. Seriously, the exact same color as tomato ketchup.
So all night long, I am laying there, thinking I must be a french fry.
I am going to guess that the lighting in the store is maybe just a TAD different than sunlight/house lamp light.
Pass the salt, please.
Just put them on the bed a few nights ago.
They are not lovely and deep burgundy and matching my curtains AT ALL. They are red. Ketchup Red. Seriously, the exact same color as tomato ketchup.
So all night long, I am laying there, thinking I must be a french fry.
I am going to guess that the lighting in the store is maybe just a TAD different than sunlight/house lamp light.
Pass the salt, please.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Well, tickle me with a cheddar...
I'll be damned if our Cheezehead neighbors to the north (Wisconsin) haven't done gone and did what I said in my previous post. They're all out there peacefully telling their Republican Governor (in office for less than a month...) to stuff it where it don't shine and not give tax bonuses to his rich cronies and then try to balance his budget on the backs of the working folks.
I don't often agree with the Cheddarheads. Especially about Football. But - guys, this here Flatlander is 250% behind ya on this one. Say it loud. Say it proud. Say it so loud I can here it down here in Illinois. And change your damn State Constitution so you can tell someone like "Walker" to take a hike, without waiting for him to screw things up for a whole year first.
GO CHEESEHEADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Btw - Piston - if you're going to just post silly teabagger talking points, don't bother. The state had a 140 million dollar surplus in the budget before Walker took office. He gave tax breaks and credits to his cronies, and added 3.8 billion in pork for his corporate masters, which is why there's a problem NOW. Oh - btw, he also wants to get rid of the minimum wage and child labor laws. Sounds like Dickensian London instead of Madison Wisconsin in the 2000's.
I don't often agree with the Cheddarheads. Especially about Football. But - guys, this here Flatlander is 250% behind ya on this one. Say it loud. Say it proud. Say it so loud I can here it down here in Illinois. And change your damn State Constitution so you can tell someone like "Walker" to take a hike, without waiting for him to screw things up for a whole year first.
GO CHEESEHEADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Btw - Piston - if you're going to just post silly teabagger talking points, don't bother. The state had a 140 million dollar surplus in the budget before Walker took office. He gave tax breaks and credits to his cronies, and added 3.8 billion in pork for his corporate masters, which is why there's a problem NOW. Oh - btw, he also wants to get rid of the minimum wage and child labor laws. Sounds like Dickensian London instead of Madison Wisconsin in the 2000's.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Protest Like An Egyptian
I've been watching the whole Egyptian Revolution thing in the news and one thing really and truly impressed me. If this succeeds, if the military doesn't fuck things up (as military are prone to do), this has been a relatively bloodless revolution. The people have set their demands, and then (for the most part) peacefully gone about insisting that they be met.
Yes, there have been scattered bits of violence, but unless I've missed it, that was the exception, not the norm.
If only others in that part of the world would get the message "You CAN win without killing". "You CAN get what you want without murdering innocents"
Nobody in the square in Cairo strapped on a bomb and exploded themselves to get their way. Nobody packed a car full of exploding things and set it off in a crowded marketplace. Nobody flew any airplanes into anything.
(I like the shoe bit. I really do. I find it ever so wonderful. Waving shoes in protest, instead of signs. I really really love the shoe bit.)
Dear Muslims. Dear Dear Xtian Anti-Choice people. Please learn from this. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KILL PEOPLE - OFTEN PEOPLE UNRELATED TO YOUR GOALS - TO EFFECT CHANGE!!!
Yes, there have been scattered bits of violence, but unless I've missed it, that was the exception, not the norm.
If only others in that part of the world would get the message "You CAN win without killing". "You CAN get what you want without murdering innocents"
Nobody in the square in Cairo strapped on a bomb and exploded themselves to get their way. Nobody packed a car full of exploding things and set it off in a crowded marketplace. Nobody flew any airplanes into anything.
(I like the shoe bit. I really do. I find it ever so wonderful. Waving shoes in protest, instead of signs. I really really love the shoe bit.)
Dear Muslims. Dear Dear Xtian Anti-Choice people. Please learn from this. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KILL PEOPLE - OFTEN PEOPLE UNRELATED TO YOUR GOALS - TO EFFECT CHANGE!!!
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Oh Good Greif.
Carol Mosley-Braun is all up in arms about when the decision was made to shut down Lake Shore Drive. She's critical of the city's response.
Carol? You're not the Mayor yet. In fact, you probably won't be if Rahm gets on the ballot.
More importantly - no matter what you yammer on about - this blizzard is a blessing for all of you candidates. The blessing is that it did NOT happen on your watch. Dick Daley is on his way out. This cannot hurt him, because... well... he's not going to run for Mayor again. Unlike Mike Bilandic, the blizzard is not going to cost him an election. Smart cookie, that Dick Daley.
On the other hand - you just sound whiney. Dorothy-Tillman-Whiney. Seriously - it's a blizzard. We got 2 ft. of sn*w at least. LSD was no doubt shut down as soon as the city folks knew it would be impossible to keep clear and passable. Give it a rest.
If you really want to be a help - go grab a shovel. I bet you have some neighbors who could use a bit of help.
Carol? You're not the Mayor yet. In fact, you probably won't be if Rahm gets on the ballot.
More importantly - no matter what you yammer on about - this blizzard is a blessing for all of you candidates. The blessing is that it did NOT happen on your watch. Dick Daley is on his way out. This cannot hurt him, because... well... he's not going to run for Mayor again. Unlike Mike Bilandic, the blizzard is not going to cost him an election. Smart cookie, that Dick Daley.
On the other hand - you just sound whiney. Dorothy-Tillman-Whiney. Seriously - it's a blizzard. We got 2 ft. of sn*w at least. LSD was no doubt shut down as soon as the city folks knew it would be impossible to keep clear and passable. Give it a rest.
If you really want to be a help - go grab a shovel. I bet you have some neighbors who could use a bit of help.
A Sn*w day
Wow. I haven't had a sn*w day since.... jeeezz.... 1979, I think. This was a hella good blizzard, as far as blizzards go.
I half-shoveled, half-waded through the sn*w in the front (the back is impassible) - and took a look at the white lump that used to be my car.
I have a feeling I will be having another sn*w day tomorrow.
*sigh*
I half-shoveled, half-waded through the sn*w in the front (the back is impassible) - and took a look at the white lump that used to be my car.
I have a feeling I will be having another sn*w day tomorrow.
*sigh*
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Atta President, President Obama!
Way to go, Mr. Commander in Chief - I was moved and impressed by your speech last night at the memorial in Arizona.
Very nice of you to remember that the day was for remembering the fallen - not a day to glorify yourself.
*applause*
Very nice of you to remember that the day was for remembering the fallen - not a day to glorify yourself.
*applause*
Monday, January 10, 2011
Faces of Murderers
This weekend, the beautiful little girl shown above was brutally murdered while trying to learn about the American system of government and meet with her congressional representative. A lone gunman has been arrested and charged with murdering other people who were around her at the time, and attempting to murder the Congresswoman who was meeting with her constituents.
Although that gunman may have pulled the trigger, I submit the following for your consideration.
In 1971 Charles Manson was sentenced to death (later changed to life in prison) for a crime he did not personally commit - the crime of murder.
Charles Manson was convicted of murdering people he never touched - except by his words, which inspired his followers to murder the LaBiancas and the people at Sharon Tate's house. Charlie didn't kill them, his minions did, but Charlie, as seen above, is still in jail, convicted of murder.
Using this as a guideline, I present the following photographs of other murderers, these who are NOT behind bars, but who have used words that inspired their followers to murder:
Darling of the "Tea Party", Sarah Palin managed to get herself a reprimand from John McCain's campaign for her inflamatory rhetoric which caused her followers to scream out things like "KILL HIM" (with reference to then-Candidate Obama) at her Sarah - in the court of Sewmouse Justice - you stand convicted of the premeditated murder of 9 year old Christina Green, U.S. District Judge John Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Dorothy Morris, Dorwin Stoddard, and Phyllis Schneck and the attempted murder of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Sharron Angle of Nevada. Not only guilty of misspelling the name Sharon, but of promoting "Second Amendment Remedies" for imagined first-amendment iniquities. One of Sarah Palin's heralded "Momma Grizzlys" - obviously a terrorist term if I've ever heard one - Sharron Angle, in the court of Sewmouse Justice you are found GUILTY of the premeditated murder of 9 year old Christina Green, U.S. District Judge John Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Dorothy Morris, Dorwin Stoddard, and Phyllis Schneck and the attempted murder of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.Now, not to beat a dead horse (although I don't know if it would do Trigger any harm if I were to beat on him) - I shall just post photos of some of the other people who murdered Christina Taylor Green and the others by their wanton use of violent rhetoric:
Rupert Murdoch - Murderer
Bill O'Reilly - Murderer 
Sean Hannity - Murderer
Rush Limbaugh - Murderer
Glenn Beck - Murderer 
Michelle Bachmann - Murderer
Ann Coulter - Murderer
Ok, Vincent Bugliosi - get in there, get active and get these murderers brought to justice.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
The Truth - it BURNS
So in my continuing attempt to understand the "Tea Party" mentality, I read some comments on a few articles about how things are "going to change" now that the Party of NO is in the majority in the federal House of Representatives.
One commenter gloated on how "Boehner will repeal Obamacare". Um..... how? Is this poor, deluded fool thinking that the Great Orange Man, Speaker Boehner, will wave his magic gavel and say "I REPEAL THEE" and it is undone?
Sorry, Snookiedimples - in order to repeal "Obamacare", the House will have to pass ANOTHER law repealing the previous law, and then it will also have to pass the Senate (unlikely), and then.. get this... President Obama would have to SIGN it - because there are no way, no how, enough votes for a veto override. And just exactly what chances do you think there are that President Obama would sign a bill that overrides the very legislation he has hitched his entire Presidential Legacy® upon?
Slim?
None?
*smirk*
One commenter gloated on how "Boehner will repeal Obamacare". Um..... how? Is this poor, deluded fool thinking that the Great Orange Man, Speaker Boehner, will wave his magic gavel and say "I REPEAL THEE" and it is undone?
Sorry, Snookiedimples - in order to repeal "Obamacare", the House will have to pass ANOTHER law repealing the previous law, and then it will also have to pass the Senate (unlikely), and then.. get this... President Obama would have to SIGN it - because there are no way, no how, enough votes for a veto override. And just exactly what chances do you think there are that President Obama would sign a bill that overrides the very legislation he has hitched his entire Presidential Legacy® upon?
Slim?
None?
*smirk*
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
The Sad Truth
I just got off the phone with one of my company's vendors - she was looking for money, as are everyone of us during the bleak days of winter, it seems.
Since I couldn't give her what she wanted, and I told her it up front, we had a little discussion about economic realities and chia-pets. (don't ask.)
After a bit, it became apparent from her comments that she followed the "Teabagger" philosophies of governance - she was blaming her high real-estate taxes on President Obama.
Although I pointed out several times that the FEDERAL government does not control our real estate taxation here in Illinois, she kept repeating how President Obama was supposed to be lowering our taxes but her tax rate had gone up.
She was also upset about the high sales-tax rate - another thing that is controlled by the local and state governments, not the Federal.
Which gets me to thinking, just how many of the folks who are disappointed in President Obama are just as clueless and uninformed as this woman? How many of them are expecting the Republican and Teabagger candidates to solve all of their taxation woes, and won't understand that there are taxes that are NOT controlled by the federal government?
We are not subject to just ONE level of government here. We have the Federal government, then we have the State government, the County government, and then our municipality (city, town, village, etc.) government. Each has rules. Each issues laws. Each taxes us.
Is it possible that THAT MANY PEOPLE do not understand this? Could it be that their concept of what the "Government" is taking from them is a combined taxation that is not under the control of the House of Reps or the Senate of the US - but instead taxes from their State or County government?
Do they not realize that a lot of these "entitlement programs" that they hate are not Federal? Do they know that their workplaces fund unemployment through FUTA and SUTA taxes, which are NOT taken from wages, but are levied on their employers?
Seriously, Lady-on-the-phone, President Obama has NOTHING - NOTHING AT ALL - to do with the price of our vehicle registration (license plates) fees!
Since I couldn't give her what she wanted, and I told her it up front, we had a little discussion about economic realities and chia-pets. (don't ask.)
After a bit, it became apparent from her comments that she followed the "Teabagger" philosophies of governance - she was blaming her high real-estate taxes on President Obama.
Although I pointed out several times that the FEDERAL government does not control our real estate taxation here in Illinois, she kept repeating how President Obama was supposed to be lowering our taxes but her tax rate had gone up.
She was also upset about the high sales-tax rate - another thing that is controlled by the local and state governments, not the Federal.
Which gets me to thinking, just how many of the folks who are disappointed in President Obama are just as clueless and uninformed as this woman? How many of them are expecting the Republican and Teabagger candidates to solve all of their taxation woes, and won't understand that there are taxes that are NOT controlled by the federal government?
We are not subject to just ONE level of government here. We have the Federal government, then we have the State government, the County government, and then our municipality (city, town, village, etc.) government. Each has rules. Each issues laws. Each taxes us.
Is it possible that THAT MANY PEOPLE do not understand this? Could it be that their concept of what the "Government" is taking from them is a combined taxation that is not under the control of the House of Reps or the Senate of the US - but instead taxes from their State or County government?
Do they not realize that a lot of these "entitlement programs" that they hate are not Federal? Do they know that their workplaces fund unemployment through FUTA and SUTA taxes, which are NOT taken from wages, but are levied on their employers?
Seriously, Lady-on-the-phone, President Obama has NOTHING - NOTHING AT ALL - to do with the price of our vehicle registration (license plates) fees!