Something In The Air
Bernie rubs his forehead. Humans do that sometimes. Are they trying to rub out what’s going on in there? What a thought! Hope I never have it again, and I probably won’t.
“Maybe I jumped in with my World Series bet a bit hastily, big guy,” Bernie says. He glances at the paper. “Bobby Jenks, Red Sox reliever, says, ‘I just flat-out stunk tonight.'”
I take a quick sniff, pick up nothing you could call actual stink, but Bobby Jenks sounds like an interesting dude.
“Wonder if I can get another bet in,” Bernie says, “kind of hedging the first one. Maybe Rangers over Phillies in the Series.”
He picks up the phone. I start panting, no particular reason.
Welcome Sadie, Mt. Evans hikers (when does the road close?), Biddie, Annie, and of course Macy the Min-Pin.
This entry was posted on Saturday, April 16th, 2011 at 8:43 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8:50 am on April 16th, 2011
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie – stop with the gambling!
9:05 am on April 16th, 2011
Sorry I couldn’t get back on yesterday. Barb, I read Started Early Took My Dog and really loved it, read it flat out in a couple of days. I was going to look into other books she’s written to see if they were as good, i’ll look up Rio’s recommended one. I loved the dog in it!
Also yes, the movie you mentioned was Rabbit Proof Fence, a very interesting (true) story. There were many, many children removed from aboriginal parents and communities for decades, a truly terrible policy. It’s embarrassing to write about – they’re called the stolen generations, and the social cost to indigenous communities was vast and ongoing. Awful. The government officially apologised for it in 2008.
Indeed, T&G, you are right, Australians can’t be sanctimonious about racism.
9:07 am on April 16th, 2011
Bernie, PLEASE, will you ever learn?
Good Morning to ALL:
Rio: I hope you and your friend had the best of birthdays…Melanie’s cake was awesome! BTW, is your friend feeling better?
The bike trip yesterday was great! The Professor, his sister, and I rode the Heritage Trail in Orange County. The weather was perfect—low 50’s, and sunny. We did a 15 mile round trip, starting off in Goshen and ending up in Chester. The Professor and I have not been on bikes in a dog’s age, so we were not able to complete the whole ride, which ends in Monroe, NY. My sister-in-law on the other hand is quite the bike rider. She lives in France, and her and her husband do a lot of biking. She probably could have kept riding until NYC.
Saw lots of furry critters, birds, and a SNAKE. The bugs took the opportunity to gnaw on me a bit. For some reason, they find me most tasty.
Today is the trip to NYC to see RAIN, and to do some sock shopping! 🙂
STAFF: I will think of you while I decide what kind of socks to buy. I could really spend lots of money in there, but I don’t think the Professor would be too happy about that. I’ll let you know what I come home with.
9:23 am on April 16th, 2011
Hi Rose, enjoy NYC! Was it a big snake?
9:26 am on April 16th, 2011
First of all, thank you Staff, for the posts last night. Very interesting. We here have had unusual eggs, both bigger and smaller than normal and even very elongated, but nothing like that one in the article. Surprised the hen survived. That would be like having a 20 pound baby!
Also,wish Fatty Kitty would pop in some time to say hello. We miss him.
Liz, thank you for your information. When we watched that movie, Rabbit Proof Fence, we were shocked and appalled that that had happened. I think the English authorities at the time thought they were “improving” the lives of those children, but how awful. Hopefully, we have more respect for other cultures today, but do we?
Rose, have fun today, in the Big Apple!
We have no comment on the baseball post, but Bernie, keep your money, or better yet, put it in a Roth IRA!
9:30 am on April 16th, 2011
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie. Haven’t you figured out anything yet. Forget the Phillies. This is going to be the year of the Rockies! Woo, wooo, woooo! Wookie
9:35 am on April 16th, 2011
Hi Liz:
More like a medium-small snake. I would have been too scared to stop and look at a big snake. But its skin had a very lovely pattern.
9:36 am on April 16th, 2011
Actually I think their intentions were more sinister – but let’s hope some of it was well meant…maybe…
There’s another good film, Ten Canoes, the first (i think still the only) Australian film in indigenous language, about a time before european settlement – it’s great, if you get the chance to see it.
9:39 am on April 16th, 2011
I’m looking forward to a fun time, even though the weather will be most uncooperative.
9:40 am on April 16th, 2011
Rubbing forehead. Bernie is giving me a headache.
Good morning Chet and everyone.
9:52 am on April 16th, 2011
Rose: What a wonderful description of your bike ride. Thank you. And…riding a bike in France….one can dream….
Barb: Is a Roth IRA only for people before they retire or could money from a pension plan do well in a Roth?
9:58 am on April 16th, 2011
Good morning, all.
Rose, I would love to hear a little more about you. I know that you have privacy concerns regarding the www, so please be general.
And I love the socks!
10:06 am on April 16th, 2011
Hi B:
My sister-in-law has been busting on the Prof and I for several years to come to France, but I’m the one who is resisting. I don’t think the French are very fond of Americans. However, I would love to see The Mona Lisa up close.
10:13 am on April 16th, 2011
Rose, France is so fabulous! At least you’d be with someone who speaks French if you’re with your sister in law, which would help – they don’t like anyone who doesn’t at least try the language, and fair enough. The food! The art! The patisserie!!!
10:50 am on April 16th, 2011
I’m bookmarking the sox. They are going to be stocking stuffers!
Rose, have a wonderful time in NYC! Glad the bike ride went well. Are you sore?
Morning everyone.
Two Eagle pics. Snowing there.
10:51 am on April 16th, 2011
Then the eagle shook and got the lens wet.
Dan says they are having a bad hair day.
I love the eaglet peeking out.
11:00 am on April 16th, 2011
Bee, The Roth IRA probably would not be something for you, semi-retired with a pension plan.
Basically a Roth and a Traditional IRA are both vehicles for putting $$ away for retirement. Only difference is that a Traditional allows you to subtract the contribution from current income. Roth, one cannot deduct from current income, but then at retirement you will see the big difference. Traditional, all $$ withdrawn is taxable, Roth NONE is taxable. So, all the $$ you put in, plus all the growth, is TAX FREE. Great plan, especially for younger people. There are limits to how much you can put in each year. If you contribute to a SEP or Simple, you can still do a Roth.
You can pick what you want to invest in with either plan – conservative CDs from a bank, low to high risk mutual finds, annuities, or a combo. With younger people, I would recommend more high risk mutuals, as they have a lot of time for money to compound. Earlier you start, the better. As long as you have earned income, you can make contributions. That is probably TMI, but once I get going, I like to blab on about investments.
11:16 am on April 16th, 2011
Rose: I rented an apartment in Paris once and enjoyed the people tremendously. I had heard the same thing but it isn’t at all true. So…..go to France!
11:20 am on April 16th, 2011
Rose: The Mona Lisa “up close” can be difficult. Many people have the same desire! I remember just before walking into the gallery at the Louvre that holds the painting (behind a glass casement by way) feeling heat radiate out into the hallway from the people standing in front of her. But it’s worth it!
11:22 am on April 16th, 2011
Rose: Liz is right. As long as you try speaking the language they will like you.
11:28 am on April 16th, 2011
Barb: Thank you so much. I’ve heard of Roth but never really understood it before your explanation. I have a pension through TIAA-CREF. I’ve been pondering whether to take their monthly annuity plan after I retire or to take it all out and reinvest. It makes me feel slightly insecure.
11:32 am on April 16th, 2011
Melanie, We just watched the eaglecam for a few minutes, and one of the parents brought a live fish, wich the other one then started feeding to the 3 little ones. It was stilll flopping around. Now there are 2 fish on the side of the nest.
11:32 am on April 16th, 2011
Sox!…heh!snort!… They seem to have a lot of Stinkers on that team this year…snort!….Take for instance, Dice-K. I’m sure the Sox would love for anyone to take him far far away….cough!
Socks!… You guys out there buying mismatched socks, just don’t pick up any Red ones. It’s not the year to be wearing red socks…heh! snorkel!
Today!….Is going to be a busy day. She has to make up for being sick practically all week long…snort!…You should see the kitchen! What a nightmare ….wheeze!….Luckily(?), her mother is coming over to help her clean this place up. I’ll stay out of the way and lick my baseball toys and think of Bernie throwing his money away on the Rangers….heh!
11:33 am on April 16th, 2011
Melanie: I sort of like the hairdo. Must be the hippie in me.
11:44 am on April 16th, 2011
Bee, I don’t know what to tell you about rolling you money somewhere else. It depends on how secure you think your money is, and whether you have “all your eggs in one basket”. If you are concerned, maybe you could talk to a trusted financial advisor. Just make sure it isn’t someone who just wants to make some commission. If you do take it out, you should be ok from the tax stand point, as long as you roll it over into another retirement account. If you annuitize it, are you guaranteed a set amount for a certain number of years? If you are given a choice, don’t go with “life only” as your option, go with a period certain, like 20 years for example.
11:45 am on April 16th, 2011
This is a talented Jack Russell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=P9Fyey4D5hg
11:54 am on April 16th, 2011
Barb: Luckily I’m more diversified that the pension. Their annuity plan is guaranteed for life. I think the catch is that after death, even if there is still money in the plan, it is absorbed by the company.(That’s probably what you mean by going with a period certain.) I’ll look into it more before deciding. I hate dealing with money. Of course, it would be worse with none!
12:00 pm on April 16th, 2011
Good Morning All.
Melanie: The mama eagle looks so cold, but she is keeping the little ones snug and warm.
Hi, Lix! That book sounds good. I will try to find it. Watched “Rabbit Proof Fence” a few years ago. These stories of oppression are always very sad.
Wolfie: Have a safe trip back to CA! Glad to hear you got your windshield fixed prior to leaving here. Sorry the weather wasn’t better for you and your friends, but seems this years weather patterns have been unusual all over.
12:01 pm on April 16th, 2011
The Red Sox were also some famous sports writers, whose name escapes me now, pick to make it to the World Series. He probably wasn’t stupid enough to bet money on them, though.
In the National League, it is going to be the Rockies all the way!!! Woo Woo
The Rangers have to make it through this loooong stretch without Josh Hamiliton.
Rio, I’ll watch the crowd behind the announcers during tonight’s baseball game. I looked for your friend’s friend, Bill, last night but I don’t think he was there.
12:06 pm on April 16th, 2011
SiberH!…Nope, he was not in his seat last night…heh! ….I was looking for the old fart too….sniff! …He’ll be there tonight unless he’s traveling. I may have to have someone get on facebookie and find out….snorkel!
12:18 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bee, I am sure no one else is interested in this so will make it short. When I used to work with annuities, we had 4 different options:
Life only – gives you the most per month but stops at your death. There is no beneficiary, and company keeps money at your death (even if you get 1 payment and then die).
10, 20 or 30 year certain, you get xx dollars for the period you pick, and if you die, your beni gets balance left. Usually 20 year worked out well for most people.
If your only option is Life Only, then you are right, company gets anything not distributed at your death.
12:34 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio: I am chuffed you had a great day yesterday. The Rockies gave you a shutout. They are on a straight upwards climb right now.
I looked at the baseball standings. The Rockies are more than 300 percentage points ahead of the next best in their division, the Giants. The Detroit Tigers are holding their own, barely, with 7 wins and 7 losses and the Twins are not in the cellar – they are in the hole that holds the sump pump that’s in the cellar.
Barb and Maggie: You’dof been proud. I just organized a couple seminars for our pension plan people to come up and explain how it works. Now everyone thinks I’m an expert. I find it very interesting.
12:44 pm on April 16th, 2011
Oh, Bee and Dawson, The options I was talking about are for annuities. Usually with a pension plan, you have options of straight 100 monthly payment, or a reduced amount if you are wanting spousal benefit in case of your death. I had an insurance client who chose 100% company pension benefit for himself (against my recommendation), then he promptly died and left his wife almost penniless. She was pissed at him till her death!
Dawson, We are proud of you!
12:56 pm on April 16th, 2011
Chuffed! I used that word without knowing exactly what it meant. Then I looked it up. Duh. I thought it meant “really happy” but it means “really happy with oneself” So…I am “chuffed” about the pension seminars but really happy that Rio had a fantastic birthday.
12:57 pm on April 16th, 2011
Barb & Maggie: We are interested! Only wish we had had your advise prior to retiring early & taking reduced benefits. But we always worried about the solvency of the plan at the time, with so many companies being bought and sold. Actually, would be okay now if not for the dreaded credit card debt.
B: Hope you enjoyed “The Deadly Hollows” on your new tv!
1:06 pm on April 16th, 2011
2:30 pm We are putting in “The Deadly Hollows”. Wish we had some popcorn.
Cold here today, but at least it isn’t snowing. The Pack aren’t even interested in going outside.
Tomorrow is supposed to be better. Thank dog.
1:11 pm on April 16th, 2011
Sad to say: Canada also had a policy of taking aboriginal children away from their parents to be raised in “residential schools” where they were not allowed to learn their traditional way of life or speak their own language. Many were abused and a high percentage died. A shameful part of our history.
1:20 pm on April 16th, 2011
It’s cold but sunny here. My arthritis is acting up so I will try a long walk and a hot bath. Sort of worked yesterday.
Rose: I love bike riding. So exhilarating. Have fun in NY.
1:47 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hello all. Chet, we think Bernie betting against the Phillies in the Series is a wonderful idea….he usually loses those bets right?
Barb, thanks for the good info on Roth IRA. Mom works for a financial firm but she is a computer person so she really doesn’t quite get the financial part. You said Roth is better for younger folks…how young? Is it too late for her to change her regular 401K to Roth?
B: That Jack Russell sure is talented, but we think he would be a bad example to set. Our people will start thinking that the rest of us are lazy.
Its raining cats and dogs here (altho we have never actually seen either the cats or the dogs coming down so we don’t really understand that saying).
1:49 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hi Everyone – well, hell week is (supposedly) officially over. Co-worker should be back next week, and no more double shifts. We’ll see.
Liz and Dawson- trust us – the USA is no slouch when it comes to horrific kidnappings and forced removal of children. A dear friend of ours is a survivor of the boarding school system. While we have heard him chatting with a friend who went to the same school, and laughing about some of their antics, we also know that the scars run deep.
We have seen some of the damage done to family lines, and language and traditions by the so called “improvement” of the Indian children. The stories of what happened are too tragic and heart rending for this blog, but they do merit learning about. We only wish the the American education system would be honest about the First People of this land. Most kids (and hence the adults they grow into) don’t know the difference between Cherokee and Navaho – which is akin to not knowing that France and Poland are two separate counties with different languages, history, customs etc.
But the difference between the USA and Canada and Australia? Your countries have both offered apologies for the misguided actions of history. This country still tries to deny that there was any harm done.
Ok – getting off the soapbox now……
1:49 pm on April 16th, 2011
Now that we are getting used to the writing in Kate Atkinson’s book we are liking it. Some terms are easy to figure out, for example, rucksack instead of backpack. Some are a little harder – “gormless”, never heard before. Also “Polo short of a packet” and my personal favorite “meerkatted to attention”. Can’t you just visualize the little meerkat popping out of its hole?
1:58 pm on April 16th, 2011
T & G, Barb has recently made some contributions to St.Joseph’s Indian School in S.D. Is that a bad thing? We thought kids went there because they had a problem home life and the school was helping them. Is this school something you have heard of, and is it really benefiting the children?
2:05 pm on April 16th, 2011
Barb and Maggie – the schools that send out the solicitations for funds are generally not very well run as far as their distribution of those monies. Kind of like the Jerry Lewis Telethon thingie where only a miniscule amount actually goes to MD research, with the rest going to “administrative costs”.
We are often asked about the veracity of these schools and other foundations. Our solution, having looked into them all is to support the American Indian College Fund, or Cultural Survival, both of whom rate very high in Charity Navigator and Star (non-profit watchdog agencies)
2:21 pm on April 16th, 2011
Oley, Anyone regardless of age, can make contributions to a Roth, as long as they have earned income. Even if you are a child, if you have earned income you can start one. And what a great idea, with the magic of compound interest!
If you have a company 401K, the employer probably matches up to a point -3%,4% or even 6%of your annual income. Always max out your match if you can, because that is free money. If your company has a tradional 401K, then your contributions are tax deductible from your current income. You could also do a Roth IRA on the side, and make personal contributions to that in addition to your 401. Usually, financial planners will tell you to 1. max out your 401 match, then 2. max out your Roth, then 3. go back and add more to your 401 (if you can afford all that in any given year).
2:37 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio: I sent you a birthday wish late last night, but wanted to make sure you knew I was thinking about you.
I’ve only had a chance to skim the blog this week, but love the idea of a Plunderer cook book. We have an oven now, not something that I could claim for about five years, and I’m toying with the idea of learning how to cook. What better way than from the Plunderers?
2:40 pm on April 16th, 2011
Thanks T & G, we will take a look at those. Cultural Survival sounds particularly interesting.
Now back to some reading. Too windy to go outside for more than a minute, winds just about knock you over today.
2:45 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bella – are you sure you want cooking lessons from Siber??? After all, his recipe for Siberian chicken started out with “first you grab a chicken by the neck”.
Just sayin…
2:54 pm on April 16th, 2011
Deadly Hallows was very good. (Note: Hollow…empty from Old English holh–hole. Hallow…sanctified from Old English halgian–holy.)
2:58 pm on April 16th, 2011
Barb and Magggie – Cultural Survival IS a great organization with proven track results. Check ’em out at
http://www.culturalsurvival.org
If you go there and click on the “bazaars” thumbnail it will take you to a page of pics and info about their art shows. And if you look on the upper right corner of the montage, and see a really handsome guy with a microphone talking to the people….that’s our Dad. (Mama doesn’t like to have her pic taken)
3:01 pm on April 16th, 2011
Barb: Mom thinks she can convert her 401k to Roth-like or something…thats what we aren’t sure if she should do.
Siber: We love the way you do chicken and we will be glad to partake with you. We eat our meat raw and “grabbed by the neck” all the time. yummm awoooo
3:06 pm on April 16th, 2011
Basil & Sage: You make a good point, yet on the trail we eat out of plastic bags or dine on food in bar form, so our standards are lower than most.
Perhaps the first lesson of cooking is: Be wary of the recipe that begins “first, you grab the chicken by the neck.” This rule of thumb could also apply to other fowl and small or large land animals.
3:13 pm on April 16th, 2011
Cook Book! …I don’t know if we have enough time to throw a decent book together and actually make money selling it to strangers….snort! ….There is the possibility of creating something for friends, family and ourselves…sniff!…The cook books might end up being great Christmas presents….sneeze!…I’ve not heard too many comments from others regarding this yet….snort!
Brainstorm!… I’m hoping others will start thinking about ways to raise money for Snowhook also. I know we can all continue to send in individual donations as often as possible….snort!… Although, I think it would be great if there were something we could come up with where everyone could contribute their time and or talents that would be a money making machine…heh! ….Do you think we could just build a money-making machine? Wookie, any thoughts? Anyone?,,,,wheeze!
3:22 pm on April 16th, 2011
B & S we checked it out and will go back and read more in detail. Your dad is indeed handsome, although we hoped if we clicked we could make the pic bigger, but that didn’t work. Thank you for the link, and we will study more later.
Oley, Possibly what your mom is talking about is a Roth 401K. Some emloyeres offer both a Roth401K and a Traditional 401K.
Generally, when you move funds from a trad. to a roth account, you have to pay taxes on the transfered $$. So depending on her age, tax bracket, value of the account, how much time she has for the $$ to grow, etc., it may or may not be a good idea. Can she just freeze the existing account and start a new one that is a Roth? Do you have a plan admin. or advisor that can look at your individual circumstances and give you a recommendation? Also, I think you can convert to a Roth over time, and not have to take the tax hit all at once.
BBL after reading and nappy.
3:23 pm on April 16th, 2011
Well, if the Howlers and I weren’t so far away from one another, we could charge kids a fortune to pull them around in a little red wagon. All money earned would go to Snowhook.
3:24 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio – here’s an idea. We turn lose Siber and the Oley Howlers in a flack of chickens. There would be lots of “buck, buck, bucks”
giggle
3:26 pm on April 16th, 2011
There would be Siberian Chicken for everyone.
3:28 pm on April 16th, 2011
I wasn’t thinking of fund raising when I wrote my earlier post, rather at some point the husband and I should start to eat like grown-ups.
3:30 pm on April 16th, 2011
Siber: We can’t find any kids that will trust us to pull them in a wagon. They are suspect of our ability to move forward rather than the circles that Whitey tried to do. Maybe you can be lead, and we will back you up?
B&S: Our big brothers got loose in a chicken yard once. once.
3:33 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bella – you put booties on doggies and go play in the snow with a sled…..who cares about being grownups??
3:46 pm on April 16th, 2011
Idea!….Here is another fund raising idea I have rolling around in my pug head….grunt!…A Silent Auction….sniff!…..Roughly outlined below:
1. Plunderers will use their unique individual talents to create things that can be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
2. These creations can consist of Art Work of any sort, Quilts, Books, Self Portraits, Paw Prints, Toenail Clippings, Recipes, Personal Items – whatever he or she deems saleable in an auction.
3. A low minimum price will be put on each entry.
4. All entries must be photographed in a way as to show off their unique qualities. Sharp photos are a must!
5. All entries will be Numbered.
6. Entries will be displayed on Snowhooks blog. Maybe a link from facebookie to the blog also.
7. A time limit will have to be set. A week, a month?
8.Bidders will send an email with the amount of their bid and the item number they are bidding for.
9. The Keeper of The Bids (the email account) will post an update on the Items and their Highest bid so far on Snowhooks’ blog each day or as quickly as the bids come in.
10. After the designated time frame, the winners will send their money to Snowhook who will then contact the Owner of the Auctioned Item and give them the relevant mailing information to them. The owner/creator of the item will then be responsible for sending the auctioned item to the Winner.
Snort!… I myself would bid for Wookies bow tie!…heh! …Is it doable? What do you guys think…wheeze!…Just an idea remember….sniff!
3:50 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bella: To me the first rule of cooking is, don’t be afraid to experiment. Another is, cook to your own tastes. Bon appetit as Julia Child would say.
3:53 pm on April 16th, 2011
Melanie and Bear got me started on this: Interestingly, “hallow” in American English is a verb and not a noun. J.K. Rowling uses it as a noun. In British English, however, it is both verb and noun although it hasn’t been used as a noun since 1500, according to the OED. We have derived “halloween” (All Hallows Eve) from it. Fun!!
3:58 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio: The auction is a very interesting idea. It’s doable if Bella and Snowhook want to include it in their blog I think.
I could auction poetry or short stories or photos….don’t know how many buyers there would be…..
4:05 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio – Wow – you put a lot of thought and effort into this! Mama says we’re in for the auction idea….but it is going to be a LOT of work for the Keeper of the Bids. Has Snowhook said they would be up for this?
We would love to be rich so we could just send tons of money to Snowhook, but we can absolutely support them with an auction item.
4:09 pm on April 16th, 2011
TupnGilly!….It’s just an IDEA!…snort!….Still in Idea form. Nothing official. An idea to ponder and see if it is even possible…grunt!
4:25 pm on April 16th, 2011
Ponder away O Plundering Pug.
Plot and plan – then particularize.
4:29 pm on April 16th, 2011
I want Hermione’s purse.
Haven’t finished yet. Taking an intermission. Interesting IDEA Riö. More later.
4:48 pm on April 16th, 2011
We Plunderers have our ups and downs, but when commit to something, we are all in. I like the idea of Rio’s silent auction. I’m not exactly sure what Rio has in mind, but maybe we can do something like eBay. Show a picture of the item, and have a cut off time for the bids. If the items were donated, there really wouldn’t be much in the way of costs. Th artists can each ship their own stuff, and all proceeds could go to Snowhook.
Pondering……
4:52 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rose,
I’m coming in late, but I go along with B. and say go for the trip to Paris. I have been there several times and have never felt that the French dislike us. They do get tired of Americans who approach them with, “Hey do you speak English?” But they react 100% differently if you approach them with, “Bonjour _________, do you speak English?” Insert Monsieur or Madame in the blank. The Bonjour with out a title can appear rude to many of the French people who generally are very courteous. That lets them know that you know that French does exist as a language. I think all you need are a few magic words: Bonjour (always with Monsieur or Madame), s’il vous plait (please), merci (thank you) and possibly au revoir. It nevers hurts to use the monsieur or madame with these words either. Go and love it.
I came on to send my first update on my trip. It has been wonderful. The drive was long and inspite of the fact that I do have my license as you all know, I wasn’t allowed to take the wheel. Instead I became a back seat driver as you will see in the attached photo. The temps are in the high 80s and low 90s, but there has always been a nice cooling breeze. We stick to the coasts and my dad doesn’t tolerate hot, hot, hot so he retreats to an airconditioned location frequently. Talking to folks at home makes me want to stay. It’s May 16th and the temperature in Bradford has stayed in the mid 40s and is has been raining for a couple of days. I hope that by the time I go home next week, spring will be happening there. I’ll check in again in a day or two.
4:53 pm on April 16th, 2011
And of course, we are all curious as to what PSQA has up his sleeve with the New York / patch ideas!
4:54 pm on April 16th, 2011
After the stress of the drive, I did manage to relax and get a good night’s rest after I had a nice glass of wine with my dinner.
4:59 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hi All – I’m back from Cousin Sammie’s house.
We read Rabbit Proof Fence but didn’t know this sort of thing was done so much. Awful.
B. – Stick with TIAA-Cref. Mom started one when she managed the software department at the University of Buffalo. Then at other jobs she had Vanguard and something else, can’t remember. TIAA-Cref is well-managed and it beat out her other plans by a lot. They have retirement advisors who can reorganize your investments within the plan as your needs change. Just go to their web site and set up an appointment – it’s all free.
5:00 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bella: No great cooks in this pack either. You are all so talented in many different ways. Pondering on what we can contribute to this venture…
Liz: We just heard about a 5 pointer Down Under. Hope it was not near you. Let us know when you can – your day being our night.
Barb: Very interesting about the Roth IRA. When I first wanted to start one in 1997, even the expert in the bank wasn’t fully informed. It is good to know we can still invest as long as there is earned income. We cashed out our 401K which, by the way, I don’t recommend doing, B.
Fund Raising: Anything you all decide is fine with us.
5:17 pm on April 16th, 2011
Mr.Tibbs!….Something tells me you and Wookie would get along just fine!…heh! ….He likes to curl up to a nice bottle of wine every now and again….snort!
5:30 pm on April 16th, 2011
Thanks Mollypop and Bear. I’ve been in TIAA-CREF for over 20 years and they have always been helpful.
Good to hear from you Tyb. Love the pictures.
5:37 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hi, Everybody. My picture is being moderated on Friends of Chet. Mom forgot the caption. It’s me, Bluecat, crossed eyes and all.
We’ve been away from a computer and we’re playing catchup with Chet and Bee’s blog. It’s been an interesting few days, yes?
Take care. Catch you later, ‘gators.
5:40 pm on April 16th, 2011
As an after-thought I should add that high wage earners cannot put money into a Roth IRA. I think it phases out at around $120,000 for an individual and around $175,000 for a couple.
Also Oley, the Roth 401K just came into being around the time Barb retired form Insurance/Investments, so not as familiar with it. If you are high wage earners and cannot do an IRA, the Roth 401K would be a nice option for you. You can contribute more each year to a 401K than an IRA.
The auction sounds a lot like EBay, and would be fun to do. But I agree, not sure how involved the proceedures would be.
6:14 pm on April 16th, 2011
BluKat!… You are one amazing looking Kat!…heh!… I love your eyes! Do you see two of everything?…..wheeze!
Auction!….I’m still pondering through some of the details of course….snort! ….When I have a much better defined outline, I will post it and in the meantime maybe someone else will come up with an extremely fun and easy thing to do that everyone can get involved in….snorkel!
6:25 pm on April 16th, 2011
Just went outside to the garden to dig some Greek Oregano for Kelly. Put on tee shirt, sweatshirt, winter coat and gloves! Wind is blowing gale force. What month is this? Had to do it, because we are heading in to see the kids tomorrow for Lily’s birthday lunch. Taking all her b-day fun stuff, hope she likes it. She wanted to have a campout party today for her friends, but that got changed to a regular sleepover. Good idea!
Also hoping tomorrow is a better day for the weather.
Like your picture, Bluecat!
Rio, I think you have a good idea going there. Let us know details.
6:37 pm on April 16th, 2011
Wonderful Bluecat. Love your eyes.
Right now is sleeting outside. I have all the curtains shut. That way I can pretend it’s Spring.
MagPie, tell Barb she’s amazing. No wonder she knew about tin futures!
The movie was grand. Our computer is actually bigger than our TV’s and the sound is better. The actors have all grown up. Sigh. I guess they do that.
Hi TYB, glad the trip is fine.
But make sure only one glass of wine!
6:41 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hello Everyone:
I think you guys may have convinced me to do the France thing-maybe for the 25th anniversary (I have two years to think about this).
Melanie: I am really surprised that I don’t feel sore at all.
TYB: Thanks for the advice. Fortunately, my sister-in-law speaks fluent French, but if the Prof and I did venture out on our own, I will definitely keep your advice in mind. BTW: Love the pix!
NY was fun, and the show was great, even after the third time!
I did arrive home a little soggy, but with 5 pairs of socks…and Rio, none of them are red!
6:44 pm on April 16th, 2011
Cookbook idea. I do not have the brain to read this right now. Not sure when I’ll have time, but I figure we have time.
Here is a link on how to self publish to Kindle.
http://forums.kindledirectpublishing.com/kdpforums/index.jspa
7:08 pm on April 16th, 2011
Wolfie:
(Whispering in your ear)
Having just seen Rain, the Beatles tribute on Broadway, I am still in Beatles mode.
Where should I begin?
If you subtract 5 from the year the Beatles arrived in America, that will give you the year I was born. I was born in NYC, and with the exception of 5 years when I lived in NJ, I have always lived in NY.
I LOVE all animals! I once had a great cat, Kelly, but he passed away 24 years ago. I still miss him very much. The Prof and I would love to have a dog, but he is allergic to cats and dogs. He was pretty sick with asthma while Kelly lived with us.
I love to read, write fiction (although I haven’t written anything I’d want to brag about), music, and film. In fact, I minored in film when I was in college. Some people tell me I am a reasonably good artist.
So, that’s a little bit about me…
7:13 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rose!…I am extremely happy that none of your new socks are Red….heh! …Maybe next year or the year after or even a couple of years after that …snort!
7:17 pm on April 16th, 2011
I think the auction is a good idea too.
Dawson, I’m with you, I thought chuffed only meant ‘really happy’. You learn something every day…
BSD, thank you, the earthquake was way off up in Queensland (they’ve had a rough year! floods, cyclone, now this). Meanwhile they showed all your terrible tornadoes on the news this morning -they must be really terrifying.
That poor eagle is covered in snow! I never thought of that happening. How uncomfortable would that be! I hate the cold.
Rose, just one more harass about france, i rented an apartment for three weeks last september and it was THE best trip. Like B, i expected the parisians to be really rude but they weren’t at all, and it was so wonderful! did i mention the food?? The Mona Lisa is quite underwhelming in real life, IMHO, and like B says, behind glass and behind a crowd of people five-deep. And (*whispering*) i saw it in 1979 and it was much smaller so i think the real one is locked away….shhh….secret squirrel…
7:27 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rose: An artist! You must go to Paree and get your picture taken wearing a beret.
B.Stover: Nice link to the Jack Russell. Now I have to research the click method of training dogs.
Tupper and Gilly: Interesting site for the cultural survival org. Your dad does look very handsome.
Tyb: Thanks for checking in and sending the travel pictures.
Rio: I’m can give some recipes for the cookbook. I was thinking of something very low tech that could be simply printed with colored ink printer, stapled in the middle and sold to Friends of Chet (or anybody) for a nominal fee. The auction idea is worth looking at.
7:28 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rio: NEVER red socks for a Yankee fan!
Okay, so if I miss the Mona Lisa, I won’t be too disappointed?
7:32 pm on April 16th, 2011
Nope. But if you miss the Musee D’Orsay you’ll never forgive yourself!
And chocolate tarts – come on!!!
7:32 pm on April 16th, 2011
I haven’t seen Mona, but I have to say when I went to MOMA (snicker) seeing Starry Night was beyond any of my expectations!! I snuck up on it, and turned around and WHAM!
7:33 pm on April 16th, 2011
I like Dawson’s idea of a low tech idea for a cookbook, just for us to share as a group, rather than a money maker.
7:39 pm on April 16th, 2011
Got to have the chocolate tarts!
I would love to see Starry Night…
7:45 pm on April 16th, 2011
Publishing!….A cookbook for ourselves, friends and family is the conclusion I came to after researching “self publishing”. …grunt!….Like I said, they could be really nice Christmas gifts this year. Plus, maybe Rebecca will learn how to cook and bake…heh!…So the instructions on the recipes will have to be very detailed as if for a ‘beginner’…snorkel! …If we add photo’s of the guy who submits the recipe or the finished dish itself we would definitely need a color printer for that kind of thing…wheeze! …I’m thinking about way too many different things this afternoon….grunt!…My head is going to explode! ….yeep!
7:47 pm on April 16th, 2011
Also!…I meant to say I “concur with Dawson” on this cookbook idea. Which I love!…snort!
7:52 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hey T&G, i tried making your quinoa dish the other day. Since I’m not much of a cook and only had quinoa flakes, the result was a bit odd, but the dressing was really delicious. I’ll try it again. A cookbook could be very beneficial for the culinarily challenged.
Time for morning coffee. BBL.
7:57 pm on April 16th, 2011
Staff:
I thought of you while I was deciding which socks to buy in Little MissMatched. Too much temptation!
7:58 pm on April 16th, 2011
PS!….(the ‘beginner” part about recipe instructions is more for my friend than for Rebecca. I couldn’t write that when she was looking over my shoulder)…snort!
8:02 pm on April 16th, 2011
Liz, I just bought some quinoa the other day. Have to admit that I have never cooked it. Have done other grains like couscous, but not quinoa. They look a littl bit alike. I have printed the recipe and am anxious to try it.
8:04 pm on April 16th, 2011
Good Night All!
8:08 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rose – There are dogs that don’t bother people’s allergies – like ME! Poodles are different and maybe so with all of the other non-sheddings dogs too. My cousin Sam is a Maltese and she doesn’t bother her girl’s allergies a bit.
8:10 pm on April 16th, 2011
Rockies!….And Cubs at Coors Field right now!….Woooo!…I hope SiberH isn’t entertaining guests this evening….snort!….I hope he isn’t giving them tours of his holes out back after that great chicken supper…heh! …He should be in front of his TV watching the game with me right now dagnabit!…grunt!
8:16 pm on April 16th, 2011
Bluecat: Wonderful picture.
Rose: As Liz said, you have to go to the Musee d’Orsay…my favorite museum in Paris. And the food!!
8:22 pm on April 16th, 2011
Well, Barb says I am on her S**T List for some reason. She had this lovely little steak setting on the kitchen counter. What did she expect, it was sitting right there! I ran to my crate with it, so I didn’t have to swallow it whole. Now she says I need a little time out in the laundry room while she finds something else for dinner. BBL
8:24 pm on April 16th, 2011
Mollypop:
I met a really great bichon frise in Goshen yesterday, and I was told by her mom that they are good for people wih allergies as well. I’ll have to twist the Prof’s arm a lttle harder…
8:26 pm on April 16th, 2011
Nighty, night!
8:39 pm on April 16th, 2011
Sorry for not posting earlier, but we had a lot of rain and thunderstorms earlier, and I had to sit on mom’s foot to calm her down. We are definitely in on the silent auction — what a great idea. Mom says she will donate a quilt for the auction. Grandpa should be coming home from that rehab place on Monday, which is good because I have been seriously tummy deprived for the past few days. Wookie
8:45 pm on April 16th, 2011
I’m here watching the game, Rio. I made a deal with mom that I would be nice and polite to our guests as long as they did not interfere with my baseball games. I have been a little gentleman, maybe bored and aloof at times, but nice. Thank dog they don’t have any kids.
Score one for Maggie! You Go Girl!!!
8:47 pm on April 16th, 2011
That is great news, Wookie! Grandpa will be home soon!
8:53 pm on April 16th, 2011
Snowhook!… I did go back and read your birthday wish! Thank you very much, it means a lot to me….snort!…The Silent Auction idea is evolving in my pug-head. I want to come up with an “idea” that will make it as simple as possible for you because I know how terribly busy you are already….wheeze!
Questions!… Wolfie has given me a wonderful idea just by speculating and asking questions about the Silent Auction….snort!….So please, keep asking out loud because your question may be the solution to some hurdle in the whole thing…heh!
8:56 pm on April 16th, 2011
SiberH!…Yes! I’m so glad you are watching!….woooo! ….Game tied. Cubbies are fighting back tonight…heh! …This will be fun!
8:58 pm on April 16th, 2011
Wookie!…Wow!Wow!Wow!…A Quilt made by Debbie herself?…Holy cow, now I am getting just a little too excited about this idea…heh!snort!heh!
9:13 pm on April 16th, 2011
Ahhhh!….Stove is already thinking about things she could donate to the Auction!…snort!…I didn’t see this post at first. I went back to do a count of who is considering the idea…Woooo! ….This is really good news!…yes!
9:14 pm on April 16th, 2011
Sorry!…Stove = Stover, of course!
9:27 pm on April 16th, 2011
I could auction off a hot date with me…I’m just kidding
9:32 pm on April 16th, 2011
We have been away for a bit, so we are catching up.
BlueCat – we aren’t that fond of Kats(even our own) but Mama and our Kats think you are simply gorgeous.
Barb – our heads are spinning with all your knowledge of 401K and Roth and such. My goodness
When you try the quinoa – it is really a simple grain to cook. It looks kinda funny cuz it gets these little spiral tails on it, but as long as you rinse it before you cook it, and start it in cold water, its fine.
Maggie (whispering) tee hee – hope the steak was really really good.
Liz – Mama isn’t sure what quinoa flakes are, but the dressing is just wonderful. She makes it to put on other stuff too.
Tyb – glad you checked in, and we hope you are having a wonderful trip.
Rose – good luck with that arm twisting thing. There are alot of anti-allergy alternatives in four leggeds.
next we have to convince Bee that she needs a puppy…
9:34 pm on April 16th, 2011
Siber – Natasha bids 4 billion kopecs for that date!
9:42 pm on April 16th, 2011
Quinoa flakes turn out like porridge – pretty nice actually, for breakfast, not so much for a salad.
Natasha, Cricket raises you – 4 billion and 1 kopecs.
9:45 pm on April 16th, 2011
MagPie! A whole steak! You got a whole steak! Wow. I’ll bet you were just as fast with that steak as you are with those ratties.
So what is Barb having for dinner?
9:48 pm on April 16th, 2011
4 billion and 101 kopecs….AND my best hat
10:04 pm on April 16th, 2011
Thank you, Ladies…I’m blushing.
10:04 pm on April 16th, 2011
Woooo!….I hope the real ‘Auction’ goes this way…snort!heh!…We all have something some others may treasure, just be thinking about what that might be….snort!…Like I said, I would bid on Wookies bow ties…chorkel!
10:15 pm on April 16th, 2011
Are you sure? i have a fluffy pink hat called Miss Frobisher, it is spectacular…once Frobisher is on the table you might be out of options…
10:24 pm on April 16th, 2011
4 billion von hundred and von kopecs, my best hat, AND a slightly vorn Spugnik!
10:26 pm on April 16th, 2011
Molly, It was just a small little steak, no bones or anything really good to chomp on. Much better than the frozen shrimp with shells on that I scored not too long ago!
And what is a kopec?
10:40 pm on April 16th, 2011
von hundred kopecs = von ruble
the price of the hat is vorth so much to be priceless
the price of the Spugnik….vell, ve are not so sure about that, but ve are villing to discuss it for a date vith Siber.
(eyes batting)
10:41 pm on April 16th, 2011
Hey! hey….sniff!…This bidding is starting to get close to home……sniff! …I’m not an object for you ladies to dither over…huffle!..yeep!
10:42 pm on April 16th, 2011
Maggie, you are my hero.
Mr. Husky I bid the US equivalent of 4 billion 105 kopecs, Natasha’s hat, Belle, and a lot of firewood that appeared in our yard yesterday.
10:44 pm on April 16th, 2011
I’m going to get extra shut eye tonight because when I wake up in the morning, I hope that I will find that this baseball game has been nothing more than a bad dream.
night all
10:48 pm on April 16th, 2011
Thank you Miss Macy…I’m just glad that none of you girls were hurt in that wind storm.
10:50 pm on April 16th, 2011
Macy! Do you dare to bid against Natasha???
Vhy vould you bid Belle? Is Belle not another female? Do you think Siber vould double date?
10:54 pm on April 16th, 2011
SiberH!…You are giving up before the end of the 8th?….snort!…I can’t believe it! Anything can happen you know, anything!…gruff! …I have very high hopes for this game, yes I do!…yark! yark!
11:17 pm on April 16th, 2011
I know! Yes indeed! I can offer private blurring lessons. Of course, we would have to have some type of disclaimer because Blurring is an art and not everyone can master it.
Private lessons should bring in some big bucks.
WWWWW
11:30 pm on April 16th, 2011
We are turning in now. Barb has a big travel day tomorrow, and I am very tired. Must have something to do with all that fresh meat I am trying to digest. Hee hee.
Happy bidding and sweet dreams!
11:40 pm on April 16th, 2011
Arrrgh!….The Cubbies SNAP the Rockies winning streak with an 8 – 3 win tonight!…grump!
Wolfie!…Sorry to break it to you pal, but no one is going to pay cold hard cash for an intangible…sniff! ….Think out of the Blurrrr…cough!
12:02 am on April 17th, 2011
Rockies!… They will bring it all back tomorrow. I love my team…snort!…She does too and tonight is just a little hiccup along the way to bigger things…things we can not yet name. It would be way too soon to even let our minds wander there…heh!…Just one game at a time, one game at a glorious time!…wheeze! ….Baseball season is the best time of the year!…Wooooo!cough!hack!sneeze!…Woooo!Wooooo!
12:40 am on April 17th, 2011
SiberH went to bed before the bidding stopped??
1:51 am on April 17th, 2011
Nastytasha, yes, I vill bid against you, and I am not giving Belle to Mr. Husky, but to The Cause. Your turn.
1:52 am on April 17th, 2011
Good uh, afternoon? Liz
1:53 am on April 17th, 2011
And I will bid 17 bags of Slim Jims for a blurring lesson.
9:51 pm on April 17th, 2011
Goodness Gracious I expected to get a lot of computer time this weekend and ended up trying to catch up tonight. What a lot has happened since Friday night.
Mr Staff has the stomach flu or something dreadfully like it. I can hear his stomach complaining across the room. Luckily he has stopped tossing his cookies. I told him to keep it to himself and so far he has.
I love the idea of the cookbook for us and have already thought of a little wall hanging of a snow family if we have an auction.
Jeez I just turn my back for one day and the whole blog starts off on a new road. That Rio never slows down. Either that or his friend.
Hope all the blog friends in the Carolina’s are OK. Sure sounded bad there.
I have to go do the &*%# dishes. Usually Mr.Staff does them but since he’s sick….darn it all.
Night everyone.
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