Friday, May 15, 2009

No Helicopters Were Harmed In The Making Of This Post

I never did find out anything more about the noises that woke me up the other day. Perhaps it wasn't a broken helicopter at all, but my neighbor with his window open and snoring REALLY REALLY loud. *sigh*

Which doesnt' explain the yellow police tape, but maybe someone was doing a Tony Orlando and Dawn tribute show in the middle of the expressway. It could happen.

Some good things.

A guy I've been fighting with over the phone at work sent an e-mail yesterday to my boss - admitting he was WRONG. I love being right. I really, REALLY do.

Managed to get 4 bags full of clutter out of the house this week. Made enough of a dent in the mess for me to feel pretty good about it. SOOOOO much more to do, but my back limits the amount I can get done at any one time.

I will say, however, that this is the longest sustained "positive energy and resolve" mental period I've had in years and years. If this is what I can expect from menopause, and if I can get my back to cooperate, I may someday have my dream living area makeover completed. I am determined to start with new bedroom draperies. I'm tired of the deep burgundy curtains and the dark floral swags. I think I want to go with something pastel turquoise and seafoam green. Lighter. Cooler. More user-friendly.

I found the local "progressive" talk radio station here. It has shows from Air America, as well as some local programming. While I do NOT agree with absolutely everything they say, I don't feel as if they want to tar and feather and deport anyone who disagrees (although they may poke some pointy sticks at them), and much of their "agenda" are things with which I agree, having had MORE than enough Faux Noise thrown at me over the years, this feels just lovely.

I know that last sentance is a grammatical mess - and I don't give a rat's ass.

Not so good things:

The Fat Kitty, Mindi, has gouged my arm in at least 8 places. I am a wonderland of cat-scratch scars. No wonder the nurse at my Dr.'s office keeps asking me if I am afraid of anyone I'm living with.

"Yes, I'm terrified of my cat..."

Right. Might be good for a laugh.

I broke yet another of my pretty blue and white Corelle dishes. You can't buy them retail anymore - unless you go to one of the used-china shopping sites online, and they want a FORTUNE for just one piece. I could buy a whole NEW set of Corelle for what they want for just one cup and saucer. As my 30-year-old dishware is slowly getting destroyed, I'm thinking that perhaps along with the new curtains I'll have to get some new dishware.

Maybe I'll count it as a "reward" for myself if I ever get the bottom level of the house completely "decluttered". It's actually a "reward" that I'd consider giving some thought (and effort!) toward achieving.

Maybe periwinkle and seafoam, instead of pale turquoise....

I feel a quilt pattern coming on... AEGH!!!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Helicopter Update

No news on the news.

Which is a good thing, one supposes.

However!! On my way home from work last nite, driving down the HIDEOUSLY mis-named Elgin-O'Hare Expressway which goes to neither Elgin, nor O'Hare, there was an ominously Helicopter-sized area with Yellow Police Tape fluttering all around it in the median (tape wound around 4 of 6 light standards).

No rubble, however.

Which is a good thing, one again supposes.

You would have THOUGHT that if a helicopter had to land in the median and there were police and yellow tape that they would have put it on the news, though...

Stay tuned for more updates and further developments as they become available.

Don't I sound Newsy?? *giggle*

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Many things

So first thing this morning I am awakened by a rather scarey sound - a helicopter flying low enough for me to hear the flub-flub-flub of the rotors - but then a coughing engine sound - then silence - then flub-flub-flub again, cough, silence... 5 or 6 times.

I kept waiting for the CRASH with fear - I really did NOT want a helicopter to crash in my yard. (911 - Hello, police? There is a helicopter in my front yard. I think you might want to come investigate...)It then stopped. No idea what it was all about. Traffic was a mess this morning, but no mention of wayward helicopters on the radio or internet news, so hopefully it was just noises and no problem.

Heh - that phone call would have probably woken up the dispatcher like the time I called because an SUV had overturned and crashed into a tree outside my parents' house in the middle of the night.

On my way to work there is a place that sells/rents/somethinglikethat heavy earth-moving equipment. Bulldozers and skiploaders and backhoes and fronthoes and stuff like that. BIG flashing mobile sign there this morning "RED TAG SALE".

Like.. HUH???

They have red-tag sales for earthmovers??? Since when??? WHO BUYS THEM??? "Yes, Jane, I brought home a surprise for you - a BULLDOZER!! Happy Mother's Day!!"

Supposed to get up to 70F today. This will be nice. I opened up the window a bit to give Lime Tree a little more light and air. He's doing very well, starting to fluff out a bit and not be quite so stringy looking.

Cats are still doing well. Mindi is having a bit more trouble with what I suspect is arthritis - but she keeps on plugging on, so we take it day by day. Should probably get her back to the vet again soon, perhaps as soon as money gets a little less strained.

Was an article in one of the "ladies magazines" - the ones with 20 diets in screaming letters on the front cover - and 20,000 recipies for cakes and pies and cookies inside - about diet benefits of lentils. I have not, to my knowledge, ever eaten a lentil. The pictures of them in the recipies in the magazine looked a lot like rabbit turds. I'm kind of leery of eating anything that looks like rabbit poo.

It's about time to do some wardrobe upgrades. Many of my shirts and sweaters have gone past their "use by" date - stained, worn, ripped, etc. I hate buying clothes. But I guess I'll have to bite the bullet some. 2 of my favorite sweaters and about 3 or 4 of my usual work shirts need replacing.

Ok - back to work.