For those interested, I've started a new blog. I welcome contributions, ideas, suggestions, comments, let me have it!

My New Blog

Sorry, AK I'm sure the flight home for the Nittany Lions football team will not be fun. Iowa Hawkeyes beat formerly unbeaten Penn State 24-23 in a surprising upset in College Football.

From the AP: Penn State is perfect no more, its hopes for giving coach Joe Paterno another national title given a sharp and surprising kick by Iowa. Daniel Murray hit a 31-yard field goal with a second left and Iowa rallied to stun the third-ranked Nittany Lions 24-23, likely dashing Penn State's hopes for a spot in the BCS national title game. The Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth are the Nittany Lions' main goals now. Paterno's third national title is a long shot. For Iowa, it was the Hawkeyes' first win over a top five team since 1990, when they beat Illinois 54-28.

If I had a son, and still lived in Iowa, I'd want him to have this for his bedroom. Heck, I'd put it in my own bedroom!

Does anybody out there have any memory of the reason given for the establishment of the Department of Energy during the Carter Administration?

Anybody? Anything? No? (Some of you may remember back that far. Me, I was 8 years old in '77, so I can't say I remember it.)

Didn't think so.

Bottom line ... we've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember.

Ready?

It was very simple, and at the time everybody thought it very appropriate. The Department of Energy was instituted 8-04-77 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. (Actually that was the Federal Energy Office that was supposed to do that by 1980, but when Carter became President, he decided to put everything energy related under one Cabinet agency. This includes nuclear, oil, coal, etc.)

Hey, pretty efficient, huh?

And now it's 2008, 31 years later, and the budget for this necessary department is at $24.2 billion per year, they have 16,000 federal employees, and approximately 100,000 contract employees and look at the job they have done!

Ah yes, good ole bureaucracy. And now we are going to turn the banking system over to them?

God Help us.

Below are some various pictures I've taken in the past week or so. This first one is a tree that turns red like this every Autumn. It's so beautiful, I look forward to it every year. As you can see, some of the trees are bare, some are barely changing, and some are in full color. Autumn definitely seems to like doing things in stages around here.

Next are the trees to the left off my balcony. As you can see, some trees are bare, one has changed to yellow, and the big one in the background has hardly started to change.


This is some type of berry tree that also turns a lovely orange every Autumn. It is wide enough to drape across parts of three parking spaces. When Autumn comes, and those berries start falling, those are three spaces I will not park my car. I learned the hard way the mess those berries leave on your hood.

These are some trees at work, that just last week, maybe Thursday or Friday were still very green. By Monday, when I came back to work, the tops had started to change, it was that fast. If the sun comes out tomorrow (I feel like Annie) I'll try to grab a picture of what they look like now. The hard part is getting the right angle with the sun.

Here's more of the trees at work. As you can see, the ones overhanging the drive to the parking garage are still green, but the one in the center is starting to change. Again, this was taken last week, and now the leaves have started to fall off.

I don't know if this is the same kind of Pampas Grass that Punkn blogged about, but it looked similar enough for me to take a picture. What do you think, Punkn?

And last but not least, I saw this while filling my tank with gas last Sunday. A dead WTF (Whistling TrackFoot) Alien, left on the side of the lot, not even being given a decent burial. I suspect foul play because the blinking orange eye is missing, along with the feet. Who would commit such a heinous crime?

This squirrel must be a Republican, lol

Power Outage

Favorite mosquito or least annoying mosquito?

Happy Birthday Intenseguy!

Two of your most favorite things in the world, just for you! Some orange sugar-free jello, and a squirrel to share it with. Don't let the squirrel and his OCHA friends eat all the jello before we get there for the party!

I added a poll to the right, for those Americans that read my blog. The choices are in alphabetical order, so no one can complain about the order. I would have put this up earlier, but I just thought of it. Your answers are anonymous, so I won't know how each of you voted. I'm just curious to see what the results are.

For those Americans that read this, don't forget to go vote tomorrow!

Check out this link for a musical tribute to all our Campaignin' Friends. Make sure you have your speakers turned on. It's cute and it's non-partisan.

Wow! An award, for me! Thanks Iggy, author and Superior Scribbler in his own right, over at IntenseGuy for awarding this to me. He has a way of making some of the most ordinary things sound interesting and funny.


*Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

*Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

*Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

*Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.


I was able to successfully take care of all the rules except for the first one. Five bloggers? Hmmm, I know Iggy's not available. Tori isn't either. Neither is Jess, Marmite, Wife 'O Riley, AK, Lainie, punkn via Sugar Bush. So that leaves........YOU!

Instead of trying to pick five bloggers, I nominate this to all the other readers of my blog who haven't already been nominated: LadyStyx, Karla, punkn not via Sugar Bush, and anyone else that I'm forgetting, because I know there's someone.

You can post the award on your blog, you can forward it if you know of other bloggers that are deserving and haven't won yet. Or you can just say thanks and ignore it. I won't mind, honest!

When I started blogging, I wasn't sure what I would write about. Believe me, my life just isn't that interesting! After closing my first blog and starting over with a new one, I have found that it is actually quite enjoyable. I can post crazy stuff, silly stuff, political stuff (even though not everyone might agree with my positions), lots of pictures, whatever I want. I can make it as personal or as light-hearted as I want it to be. Thank you to all my readers for their support, I do this for all of us.

One new blogger that I just recently started lurking at, is Dorkys Ramos. She's a great blogger that I just recently discovered via comments left for Iggy. She blogs at Dry As Toast. Her first blog I read was about trying to navigate the Philly subway system to get to the parade for the World Champion Phillies. Now, being a Chicago Cubs fan, I can honestly say I wish it had been the Cubs winning the Series instead of the Phillies. But at least it was the NL team that won. So, congratulations to the Phillies and to all Philly phans. From what I've read on her blog, I'll have to stop lurking and post some comments to let her know she has a new reader.

If Barack Hussein Obama gets elected President of the United States:

Tori, this is a picture of the cover of The New Yorker magazine. It has Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on the cover, standing the Oval Office of The White House. Barack is in full Muslim dress, and Michelle is in camouflage with an AK-47 on her back. In the fireplace is the US Flag, being burned, and above the fireplace is a picture of Osama bin Laden.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN McCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

SARAH PALIN: The chicken had to cross the road because he was not able to find a bridge. Alaskans do not build bridges to nowhere. If he wanted a bridge, he'd have to build it himself.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either against us or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Happy Halloween!

This morning on the way to work, I encountered a traffic jam on the interstate. As I pulled up to a stop behind the car in front of me, I was ever so gently bumped from behind by an SUV. Imagining the worst (my rear bumper half hanging off), I signaled and moved over three lanes to the right, to the shoulder, so I could inspect the damage. The lady driving the SUV pulled up behind me and sat there, like she was waiting for something. I called my boss to tell him what happened and that I would be a little late for work.

I carefully got out of my car, trying not to get hit by zooming cars and trucks exiting off to another interstate. The lady joined me behind my car, to look at the expected damage. To my shock and surprise and glee, my car didn't have a scratch, it didn't have a dent, it didn't have anything. I looked at this lady that had tried and failed to hurt my car, and decided showing some kindness was in order. We exchanged information, and each went on our way.

Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago?

Body count: In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago; 221 killed in Iraq.

Senators Barack Obama & Dick Durbin
U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.
Governor Rod Blogojevich
State House Leader Mike Madigan
Attorney General Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike)
Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of former Mayor Richard J. Daley)

Our leadership in Illinois...all Democrats.

Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago.

Of course, they're all blaming each other. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!

State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country. Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look 'em up if you want). Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . And he's gonna "fix" Washington politics for us!

Back on August 19, IntenseGuy posted THIS, which featured an Indian statue and a train. The following day, I received an email of the following:

Olson Rug Company was established in 1874. The manufacturing mill was located in Chicago at Diversey Ave. and Pulaski. During the war era, when raw material was scarce, people would send in their old wool rugs, rags, clothing, etc. and Olson Rug would turn them into beautiful area rugs. The first picture is a distance shot of the waterfall with the rocks surrounding it next to a couple city buildings and lots of grass.

The family owned business was "the place" to buy rugs for many years. This is a close up of the waterfall, where you can see the plants and rocks on the different levels on each side of the waterfall and a bridge crossing it.

Alongside the factory was the renowned Olson Memoria Park. Walter E. Olson built the 22 acre park in 1935. The project took nearly six months to complete. About 800 tons of stone and 800 yards of soil were used for its construction. This is of an opening somewhere in the waterfall, or possibly at the base, where water gently pours out into a retention pond.

Approximately 3500 perennials were used along with numerous species of junipers, spruces, pines, arbor-vitaes and annuals. This is a side view of the waterfall, you can see some of the lights used to illuminate the waterfall at night, and some of the plants around the pond at the bottom.

The park consisted of a stunning rock garden, duck pond, and 35 foot waterfall. This looks up at one of the levels in the rocks, where there are a couple deer statues.

Olson Park became a popular spot for family outings. During the first Sunday after its dedication, Olson Park attracted as many as 600 visitors per hour. Here we have an American Indian with his arms outstretched and a teepee or wigwam behind him. I do not know what Indian this is supposed to be.

In 1965, Olson Rug sold it's building to Marshall Field (now Macy's). In the 1970's the waterfall was turned off and the park dismantled to make room for a parking lot. This is a picture looking down on the waterfall from the top, with the pond below and the rock border around the pond, with flowers and plants.

Today, Olson Rug & Flooring is a Chicago based, 11 store chain who's main business is retail residential floor covering. The Olson Rug stores sell a wide variety of carpet, area rugs, hardwood flooring, laminate floors, ceramic tile and vinyl flooring. This ad is for turning your old rugs into new ones.

I just checked out their website, they list all this information that was in my email along with the last two pictures, of old ads they ran. Unfortunately, I don't know the year these ads ran. This last ad is also for sending in old rugs and carpets, where they would weave new ones, restore them, or you could buy Colonial Rag Rugs at low prices.

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions.

Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:

- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration

- Erotic lustfulness

- Loss of motor control

- Loss of clothing

- Loss of money

- Loss of virginity

- Attractions

- Table dancing

- Headache

- Dehydration

- Dry mouth

- And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

I don't normally post political emails, but this is one that I feel needs to be said. I know there are those out there that may read this who don't share the same ideas regarding our government that I have. All I ask is that you read the below text with an open mind and consider what this may mean for our country.


From Sunday's Televised 'Meet the Press' Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.

Obama Explains National Anthem Stance Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, General Bill Ginn USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Subtitle I, Part A, Chapter 3, Sec. 301...During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, stand and face it. (Upon looking up the actual code, it says nothing of "at the very least, stand and face it." It only says those not in uniform "should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.")

Senator Obama Live on Sunday states, "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides. There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.

We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts.

We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine. Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."

And the tagging continues...

I was tagged last week by Jess, and since a few others have subsequently been tagged and responded, I figured it was high time I did mine. Part of the reason I haven't done mine is I just don't know what some of my answers are. So, without further ado, here are my:

Top Four Wishes

1) That everyone makes enough money so they don't need to rely on the government for help.

2) That people would stop killing each other senselessly.

3) That people would be more conscious of their environment. Sometimes the little things can make a difference.

4) That people would be more polite to each other. It seems that today's society, in general has gotten more rude, and it's affecting our children. No one treats anyone with respect anymore.


Four Places I Want To Travel

1) I'd love to go back to Galapagos again. That was a once in a lifetime experience, to see animals living like they did hundreds of years ago, with minimal interference from man.

2) I'd love to travel through Europe. There is so much history there, not only in England, France, Italy and Spain. But in all the small Eastern European countries that are still fighting for their land and independence.

3) I want to do a Civil War battlefield tour. Reaching from Pennysylvania to Maryland to Virginia, down through the Carolinas, through Atlanta and across the deep south over to Texas.

4) I could stand visiting Hawaii for a few more weeks, months or years. No more snow, no more cold, just beautiful weather. Ok, so they can get Cyclones, and they have earthquakes...what do you expect for an island in the Pacific?


Four Careers I Want To Try

1) Wild Animal Rehabilitator
2) Race Car driver
3) Cartoonist
4) Own a winery


Four Things I Want God To Say At The Gates Of Heaven

1) So glad to see you, I've been expecting you.
2) Your parents, brother and Deena are waiting just inside for you.
3) I know it felt like you dealt with a lot down there, but it was for your own good.
4) I'm proud of you.