State Of The Union (Revised)
Bernie and I are out on the patio, the moon low in the sky.
“Did you know the moon stabilizes the earth’s axis?” Bernie says.
I did not. And there are lots of other things about that question I don’t get either; I don’t even know where to start.
“It’s actually possible that without the moon things on earth could have been so chaotic that life wouldn’t have evolved.”
So nice to listen to Bernie at times likes this, the words flowing gently by. He sips his bourbon. I chew on a flip-flop.
“The president says it’s our Sputnik moment. So why aren’t we going to the moon? Or to Mars? Don’t humans need adventure to be their full selves?”
Not sure about humans, but I sure need adventure, and lots. I bark at the moon. When do we start?
Here’s to brighter days for Macy’s Mom.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 8:32 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.
8:48 am on January 26th, 2011
Sorry Bernie but I think we have more essential things to spend money on rather than going to the moon.
Good morning all.
Macy’s mom: I hope you feel better today.
8:48 am on January 26th, 2011
So nice for them to mention Macy’s Mom. We are all cheering for her during this traumatic time.
We like Obama’s speech, and thought he handled the Tucson tragedy well.
8:58 am on January 26th, 2011
Dear Macy’s Mom – Maybe you are allergic to something at the box and now your head won’t hurt anymore. This Kat thinks your wicked bad humor will get you through, along with the Plunderers’ support and I’m sorry you were treated badly.
Healing thoughts to Melanie today and Bee tomorrow. Take care, Everybody.
9:16 am on January 26th, 2011
Moon schmoon…..everyone knows that its because of KATS that things work on earth!
And who the heck is this Sputnik guy that we should spend so much money on him?
10:02 am on January 26th, 2011
Editor!…”The president says it’s out Sputnik moment.”…heh! … That word evolved always sticks in my craw too… grunt!…Without the moon we’d all be toast. Speaking of which, I’m hungry. I wonder what she left in my bowl this morning…snort!
10:24 am on January 26th, 2011
Ha, ha “I chew on a flip flop.” Oh Chet. I wonder if Bernie will notice or even care. -3 this morning 🙂
10:38 am on January 26th, 2011
Liz: Here’s an article from the Guardian about an Australian art show at the British Museum.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jan/26/australian-season-british-museum-london
10:47 am on January 26th, 2011
Macy’sMom, we’re so sorry about the job loss. It feels so bad to not be wanted and if this was unjustified, it hurts even more. Never think u have no one to talk to…you have family here. Cat hugs and purrs to help u feel better. Hug on Macy and her babies. Mom finds animal contact very comforting in stressful times.
G&BB (and their Mom)
11:45 am on January 26th, 2011
Wolfie!… Great prayer last night for MinPin’s gal….snort!…They say the economy is improving so I bet it won’t take long for her to find a really good job….snorkel!…In the meantime she should enjoy her free time and take up quilling or something fun….heh!
CHarris!…My friend was introduced to LOTR in 10th grade by her infamously grouchy English teacher….snuff!…She says the only time she ever saw him happy was when he was telling the class about Hobbits…snort!
12:04 pm on January 26th, 2011
I wonder how Melanie is doing at the doctor.
12:12 pm on January 26th, 2011
Melanie!…She’s probably in a lot of pain because she had to drive herself there…sniff!…So no pain meds. Poor Melanie…snuffle!
12:16 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hi Rio – don’t worry. Melanie’s nephew was going to drive her to the doctor today. Just hoping she gets a good report and the doc tells her to SIT DOWN AND TAKE IT EASY!
(Can you tell we worry just a little about her?)
12:35 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tupper!… How is Zoe taking all this?…sniff!…I’m hoping she is not stressing out over everyone again…snort!
12:40 pm on January 26th, 2011
Well, she does try to stay calm, but she worries so much about her family. Its hard.
12:40 pm on January 26th, 2011
Sorry for not posting yestereday, but mom and dad had to fly to New Orleans just for the day to attend a funeral of a college friend of theirs who died unexpectedly. He was one of the friends who had come to the Christmas Party and they were very sad. I stayed home with grandpa and then my Aunt Julie came over in the evening to be with me too, but neither she nor grandpa turned on the computer for me, so I didn’t even see Spence’s reference to me until this morning. I think it was that pretentiousness thing that got his attention; my dad can be rather colorful in his language at times. I definitely think that Spence should go though; Santa Fe is a really neat town, pretentiousness notwithstanding. But if for any reason he can’t, then definitely SiberH should attend in his stead.
We were so sorry about what happened to Macy’s mom. The thoughts expressed last night were so good that there isn’t much to add, except to always remember that when one door closes, another one opens. That was actually from the Temple Grandin movie on HBO. So Macy’s mom, just keep your eyes out for the opening door and take it. Actually makes me think of that great Yogi Berra quote as well, about if you come to a fork in the road, take it. Good ole Yogi.
Oh, and Rio, my dad finished The Fan while spending six hours on a plane yesterday. All he can say is wow! – -what a book, what an ending. He totally agrees with your friend, once you get going in the book, you just can’t put it down.
Wookie
12:46 pm on January 26th, 2011
Did anyone know that Cary Grant’s real name was Archie Leach?
12:49 pm on January 26th, 2011
I howl at the full moon, Chet…does my soul good. Most dogs are always up for an adventure, I am. That is one of mom’s favorite thing about Huskies.
Thanks for mentioning Macy’s mom.
Wolfie, Great prayer last night.
Macy’s mom has the support of all of us, and she is in our thoughts.
I hope the doctor tells Melanie that her knee is healing like it should. I’m relieved she is going today.
12:50 pm on January 26th, 2011
Macy, please let your mom know that we are all thinking of her, here at the Big Brown House. Everyone has said the same things we thought of, so tell her to take a deep breath and let it out.
12:54 pm on January 26th, 2011
Doc report: Knee is good. He’s very impressed with the things he took out of my knee. (rolling eyes here) and feels that it is not something I’m going to have to go through again. Since my knee joint doesn’t hurt, he figures the arthritis that is there is not that bad.
Muscles are a different story. Have to do PT, lots of walking when they say I can. Since I have been using the cane for so long the muscles have deteriorated. This will get better. He says I can swim. Snicker. As if there is anything close, besides the river, that I could swim in. AND the river is completely snowed and iced in.
So good news, just more waiting.
Hoping that Feb. 3 (I think that’s when the Year of the Rabbit takes over) comes sooner than later for all of us.
12:55 pm on January 26th, 2011
BTW, Chet,
I can’t drink, and I haven’t thought of chewing on a flip flop. Maybe I’ll try that!
Going to listen to the speech later today.
12:57 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hope everyone is doing ok. We are shutting down for now. Barb is going in to work at the not-so-nice place.
She is reading Shoot The Moon, by Billie Letts, and she says it is really hard to put down. She thinks most of the plunderers would like it. BBL
1:02 pm on January 26th, 2011
Mom agrees with Bernie that humans need adventure. There really isn’t much adventure left here on earth unless you want to follow in the footsteps of great explorers. All the mountains have been climbed, so to speak.
1:05 pm on January 26th, 2011
Yesss!!! Melanie got a good report. Muscles can be strengthened.
1:11 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wookie!… Tell your Ma and Pa that it makes me very sad to hear about their good friend…sniff!…The fact that it was very unexpected makes it all the worse…sob!…I hope they are holding up okay, and please give them each a big sloppy lick from me….snorkel!…Here’s to Feb. 3rd coming very quickly for us all..sniffle!
1:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
Stover!… I did know that Cary Grant’s real name was dorky…heh!…But I had forgotten what it actually was…snort!
1:22 pm on January 26th, 2011
Movie!…Speaking of Cary Grant, the original An Affair To Remember is On Demand in the Free Movies category…snort!….We will be watching that soon because it is one of our favorites….sneeze!
2:08 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wookie: Sympathies sent in your loss of a old-time friend.
Melanie: Hoorah for the good report from your doctor. I like the “lots of walking when they say I can” part. Here’s hoping Zoe is managing to keep the stress below tsunami levels and that Dan is getting better and better every day. Remember there is a wedding coming up and we want everyone up and dancing by then.
MacyMinPin: I liked Wookie’s advice via Yogi Berra: “If there’s a fork in the road, take it.” Another saying to tell your mom is “blessing in disguise”. That is what I think this may be.
B.Stover: I like your new avatar. It is good to have some company in the 2 legged category. And 2 handed as I can plainly see.
Chet: Are we having a “sputnik moment”? I don’t know what that is, but I have always liked the word sputnik.
2:28 pm on January 26th, 2011
Sputnik…when the Russians sent up a space ship thereby starting the race to space between them and us. I was young but I remember it. Obama used the term in his speech.
Wookie: Sorry about your friend.
Melanie: Good news and good work!
2:51 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wookie, Please tell your folks that we are sorry about the loss of their friend. That is sad, but we are glad the friend was there for Christmas.
Ahhh, The 1960s were NASA’s finest decade.
2:59 pm on January 26th, 2011
Mom remembers Sputnik because she is old now, but her father got her a subscription to Scientific American when she was young. Mom used to build pretend bombs made out of old lamp parts in the basement workshop. I know, I know, but back then a little girl building bombs was considered funny. The Scientific American got her interested in all the space stuff so that was probably a good thing.
3:03 pm on January 26th, 2011
Sputnik!… It was the first Earth-orbiting satellite (ask Wookie about satellites) and while the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the Space Age, which SiberH is referring to…heh!
3:06 pm on January 26th, 2011
I think that is cool, Mollypop. My human family has always been interested in all that space stuff.
3:11 pm on January 26th, 2011
Molly!…Ask your smart gal there to help you figure out why our miniature you-know-what’s do not work….grunt!
3:28 pm on January 26th, 2011
Don’t get my dad going on satellites or he will bore you to death. Yes, Sputnik was the start of the space age, and that along with the Russians beating us to have a man in orbit (Yuri Gagarin) was the wakeup call that started the space race and ended with Apollo 11 landing on the moon in the summer of 1969. In that regard, there is a terrific movie about that, from the perpsective of Australia (I bet LizF knows the movie well), where the tv signals were received from the mission at an earth station in the middle of a sheep paddock in Parks, Australia, and then relayed via satellite (oops!-there we go) around the world. The movie is called The Dish, and it is one of our all-time favorite movies (a great 1960s sountrack too). Wookie the space cadet
3:37 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio – Mom thinks that when I hit the keyboard after B.’s violent sneeze that something bad happened with the cameras. Also, the sneeze woke up the snoring Melanie who whacked the console with her cane.
I need to get paws-on to debug this.
3:43 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wookie, thant you for all that space info up above. Also, very sad to hear about your mom and dad’s friend.
Melanie, good news about the knee, sounds like a lot of rehab in your future. Barb’s S-I-L from N.C. does that rehab stuff as a career, so we can send her over if you want.
How are things going for Bee? Is tomorrow the test day?
3:51 pm on January 26th, 2011
I think tomorrow is B’s bronchoscopy. I hope they just look, not snip, but do whatever they have to do to make her better.
3:52 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wookie!… My friend says she wrote a story about the summer of 1969 and the moon landing….snort!…Her college English teacher said he wished he had written it and he read it aloud to the class… snort!…She was so embarrassed she could hardly breathe …snort!
Molly!… That’s what I was afraid of, the paws on thing. …grunt!… You will have to debug the software in person, so to speak…..wheeze!
3:54 pm on January 26th, 2011
hmm Does your friend still have the story, Rio?
4:04 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio: I would love to hear that story by your friend.
4:11 pm on January 26th, 2011
Yikes!… gulp!…She would K-I-L-L me a thousand times if I dug out her old moon story….grunt!
4:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
Come on, Rio, we all want to hear the story!
4:21 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio – I’d really like to hear the moon story. Could you sneak it when your friend is not looking?
4:21 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hallo, everyone.
Melanie, I’m glad you got a good report. One good thing is that muscle has memory, and that strength and flexiblity will come back. I promise.
Bee, I’ll be glad when you get this test over with. I just wish this process could go a little faster. How are you feeling, anyway?
Macy, I hope your mom is feeling more chipper today. We are going nuts trying to figure out what real name of the big yellow box is. Any hints? Because I don’t think I need to shop there, whereever there is, any longer.
Rio, I would love to hear that story also!
Wooks, sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.
4:23 pm on January 26th, 2011
I love it when Bernie talks to Chet, when it’s just the two of them, and when the moon is low in the sky.
4:26 pm on January 26th, 2011
Riö: DIG!!
Wöökie, the Space Cadet: Give some kisses and licks to your mom and dad. I remember going outside when Sputnik went over our area. Weird feelings for a young’un. When my guys were young, I woke them up and took them out to a freezing beach so they could see one of the shuttles go over. They were not greatly impressed then, but certainly remember it now.
Hi Dawson! Yes, I’m listening to the doc and then to the PT person. Tired of this stuff. Willing to make it better. Need to get OUT OF THE HOUSE!
4:27 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wolfie: It is so good to hear that muscles have memory. But…I think some of mine have alzheimer’s. Is that possible?
4:30 pm on January 26th, 2011
Naw!…The story isn’t even in our house, it is over at her mother’s in the basement with her old school stuff…heh!…There is no way I can get to it without both of them seeing me….grunt!
4:37 pm on January 26th, 2011
Dawson: Snicker
4:56 pm on January 26th, 2011
Thanks Sam, Wolfie and B&M.
Yes, the bscope is tomorrow. I have to be at the hospital at 8:30 in the morning for an x-ray before the procedure which is set for 9. A friend of mine from school (she’s retired now) is going to pick me up, stay there with me and then bring me back. I won’t be able to check in here until I get back home.
5:03 pm on January 26th, 2011
Good luck, Bee!
Wolfie, Macy always referred to work as the “big orange box”, which we assume would be a store with the initials H.D. Yesterday she called it the big yellow box, which was confusing. We thought maybe she was calling them yellow because they were chicken —- for firing her. Maybe she will give us another clue.
5:31 pm on January 26th, 2011
Stover, Best of luck tomorrow. If you feel like it when you get back home, check in with us please. You know how we are…we worry.
Wolfie, We aren’t shopping at the big orange box anymore either out of loyalty to Macy’s mom. We will shop next door at their competition that starts with an L. Besides that, dogs can go into the L store with their humans.
5:33 pm on January 26th, 2011
B, thanks for the guardian story, very interesting. And best of luck tomorrow. I too knew that Cary Grant’s real name was Archie leach: did you know that’s also the name of John Cleese’s character in A Fish Called Wanda?
Wookie, nice space cadet work and movie reviewing! The Dish is great, although it perpetrates a lie about where those pictures of the moon landing came from – they actually came from Honeysuckle Creek, just outside Canberra. (That didn’t sit so well for the movie so they fudged it over, natch).
Mollypop – bombs out of ‘lamb parts’?????
5:37 pm on January 26th, 2011
Liz – Lamp parts! Oh dear, ha ha.
5:38 pm on January 26th, 2011
B. – We don’t care if you are groggy, we just want to hear that you’re okay.
5:41 pm on January 26th, 2011
Stover!… What will they do to you tomorrow during this
TortureTest?…snort!5:46 pm on January 26th, 2011
I think i need new glasses! Phew. I was picturing bits of lamb everywhere…
5:48 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio: They put the scope down my nose into my lungs to see what’s up. They may take tissue for a biopsy. If there is mucus they may be able to drain it. They said the procedure takes one half hour and that I’ll be there a total of two and a half to three hours. I’ll be glad when it’s over. And I will check in here when I get back Mollypop and SH.
Liz: It’s been so long since I saw Fish Called Wanda that I don’t remember any of it.
5:52 pm on January 26th, 2011
Liz – Baaaa baaaa!
5:56 pm on January 26th, 2011
Ha! I thought that was a big curve-ball from the usual animal loving crowd in here.
It’s a good film, but took me a long time to like it coz i saw it on a not-so-good date! Kevin Kline is particularly good, and Michael Palin (Kevin plays the evil but stupid Otto, pretending to be the brother of Wanda but really having an affair with her. They’re both part of a gang of jewel thieves. Archie is their defence lawyer, who Wanda seduces).
6:03 pm on January 26th, 2011
Stover!…That sounds horrible!…snort!…Will they put you to sleep before they shoot that thing down your nose…ugh!
6:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio: They numb the nose first and then put me in “conscious sedation.” The doctor said I’d be awake but wouldn’t remember anything. I told her that I hoped I wouldn’t say anything that I’d regret.
6:43 pm on January 26th, 2011
B.Stover: If those docs give you any trouble, just call on Chet and Bernie!
6:44 pm on January 26th, 2011
B.
Want to wish you the best of luck with the test tomorrow. We’ll be thinking of you and sending good vibes your way.
I’m wondering if my dad is the only one old enough to remember that Sputnik means
“fellow traveler” or satellite. He says he owes his whole teaching career to Sputnik.
We were so afraid of the Russians beating us at anything that the push was on to emphasize languages in the schools, and my dad was chosen (they never told him whether they chose the best or the worst) for a National Language Institute grant and studied intensively with native speakers from dawn to dusk for an entire summer. They were told that the idea behind the program was based on the fact that most people remember only about 1/4 of what they learn when they are trained, and 1/4 of a kazillion is more that 1/4 of 20. They spent a kazillion hours using their languages that summer. When they weren’t in class, they were socializing with the profs, and they were forbidden to use any English during the 8 week course.
That was truly immersion.
6:47 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tyb – Is your test still scheduled for tomorrow? Have you been studying?
6:59 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tyb – i’d love to learn a language that way, just dive into the deep end.
B – Do you have some exciting secrets in your past that you’re worried you’ll blab about?
7:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
LizF: I was browsing today and came across a recipe for a cake to bring to Australian Day celebrations called “Lamingtons”. While I was looking at the ingredients, the man in the house came by and said, “I think I’ll make something today”. He is making something called “Girdle Busting Cake”. Lamingtons will have to wait.
7:24 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tyb – I meant to say Saturday for your test.
7:30 pm on January 26th, 2011
Liz: LOL! I was thinking I might start swearing at the doctors.
What test does Tyb have Saturday?
7:36 pm on January 26th, 2011
Dawson!…I have to ask, where is Fatty Kitty?…snort!….She hasn’t posted in ages and I’m starting to think her spirit has left the earth….grunt! …She was a funny little ghost and I do miss her, kind of…sniff!
Stover!… When she is sedated I can see her blurting out “The Plunderers will prevail against all odds!”….heh!…And then, “Mike Baker you are SOL!”…heh!
7:37 pm on January 26th, 2011
The test is scheduled for 2 PM Saturday. There really shouldn’t be any problem except for the fact that I’d rather lie down than sit. The trainer who taught the prep class said that most examiners don’t care as long as a dog stays in one place for the required time. I’m supposed to sit for 90 seconds, but I usually slide into a lie before the time is up. Then I’m supposed to lie down for 3 minutes which I used to stretch to 5 minutes in class. Can’t honestly say whether I was trying for a record or whether I’m lazy. All the other parts of the “routine” are a snap. I’m pretty laid back and don’t react when they bring another dog near me or when one of the people I don’t know comes to pet me or run a grooming brush down my back. It would be nice to pass the first time, but if I don’t, it won’t be the end of the world. I think my did will still love me.
7:38 pm on January 26th, 2011
HIM!…HIM! Fatty Kitty is a HIM…heh!..Sorry bout that Fatty Kitty…snort!
7:46 pm on January 26th, 2011
Good choice, you’d be very popular if you brought lamingtons to an Aust Day party, they are really nice and pretty easy. Actually the only time I made them was when my primary school had a lamington drive (fundraising) and lots of parents and many of us kids all helped out. Our cafe downstairs has big lamingtons, if I knew how to transfer i could take a photo on my phone and upload it. But…
Girdle busting cake!! That conjures up a few visions.
I thought B would suddenly admit “I knocked over a bank in ’52” and tell them where the rest of the money is stashed.
7:46 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tyb, Your dad will still love you.
7:48 pm on January 26th, 2011
Mr. Tibbs!… I could pass that test with flying collars….heh!….I can squat for ages because I usually fall asleep but wake up once I start snoring which is usually in about 90 seconds…sniff!…The lying down part would be a breeze as long as there was something warm and soft for me to lie on…grunt!
8:01 pm on January 26th, 2011
Riö, I think it’s the rest of the test that would give you problems!
B.Stover: Thank goodness I went back up and checked what you linked to . . . I thought LizF had put that link up, but the meds do something to my brain. (Don’t say a word, Riö!) That was a great article and I followed a link on that site to some photos of the exhibit they are putting up. Very good.
I like the Riö’s idea of what B. Stover will say. I also like LizF’s but think it would have to be a bit later than ’52.
Good luck TYB! Several of the Pack have their CGC. Ellie is the Therapy Dog though. She is wonderful. I think Frank is the next one to be tapped for that position. Once we get through all this health crap.
8:02 pm on January 26th, 2011
Well, I’m off to bed. Soon I’ll be able to stay up like a grownup.
8:04 pm on January 26th, 2011
Test!…What exactly is this test for again Mr. Tibbs?….grunt!…Everyone is taking tests, it’s just strange thats what it is…sniff!
8:07 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio: A Catty Librarian has been working non-stop and she does not leave her computer on when she is gone for Fatty Kitty to use. At least that’s my guess.
8:08 pm on January 26th, 2011
Melanie!…Good night Miss Melanie!…,sniff!…Don’t be running or gruff gruffling in your sleep like I do…heh!
8:11 pm on January 26th, 2011
Libraries!…Is this the busy season for Librarians?…snort!…What’s up with her working all the time… sniff!… She needs to check in here every now and then and turn that computer on for Fatty…grunt!…Otherwise she will be known as the mean and over-worked Librarian…sneeze!
8:15 pm on January 26th, 2011
Good night Melanie.
Good luck Tyb.
Melanie’s right. I wasn’t old enough to rob a bank in 1952…but the money would be useful.
8:16 pm on January 26th, 2011
Sorry, ’82! Good point.
8:25 pm on January 26th, 2011
Stover!…Goodnight! Don’t worry about that test tomorrow, I’m sure you will pass with flying collars…snorkel!…We will all be thinking of you my dear!…sluuurrrpp!
8:27 pm on January 26th, 2011
Oopps!…heh, Stover was just saying Goodnight to Melanie…sniff!…I think she is staying up for a while…chorkel!
8:35 pm on January 26th, 2011
I’m watching baseballs greatest collisions on the MLB Network. It is pretty brutal.
8:38 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hello darling plunderers. So sorry to hear about Macy’s mom and loss of your job. Please take the time to grieve. It is a painful loss and you are entitled to cry, sob, scream, rage, yell and otherwise let out all your feelings. Take a week and just allow yourself to feel the sorrow. Get it all out. Giving yourself permission and time to wallow about in the sadness can be the beginning of healing. After the week of sadness, then you have to stop. Draw the line in the sand and vow that you may feel sad over the loss of the past, but as of now you are moving forward. Begin the networking, job searching, appplications, etc. File that unemployment claim. As long as you weren’t discharged for a criminal offense, violence, drugs/alcohol, threats, stealing, etc., then you will be able to collect unemployment. Consider all your opportunities, including education or retraining, in addition to just finding another job. Take your time to really explore the various choices you will have. Don’t forget the choice to sit home, rest, breathe, and collect unemployment is a choice and a viable option for a relatively short term. Lots of the advice you’ve been given is true. What initially seems like a devastating loss can turn into an incredible opportunity that you never would have considered without going through the loss. You’re in my prayers.
8:41 pm on January 26th, 2011
Jasper is a wise little poodle.
8:45 pm on January 26th, 2011
Very well said Jasper.
And thank you Rio. I’m up for a bit yet.
8:45 pm on January 26th, 2011
Wow!….Who knew what knowledge lay in those strange green eyes….snort!…I want to take that advice and I’m still on the job….sniff!…My job is to protect my home and my friend through thick and thin…gruff!
8:45 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio – So B. is going to pass her test with flying collars? Dog collars?
8:54 pm on January 26th, 2011
Work story: Yesterday my boss and I took a State of Michigan car and drove to another location for a meeting. On the way back I was driving and stopped at the end of a highway exit ramp waiting for the traffic to clear when BUMP! A kid in a hooptie raggedy-ass pickup truck hit the back of the car! No injuries, the damage can be buffed out, but because it’s a state car, we had to make a police report and the kid got a ticket. I told my boss that I will never live it down that the very first time I drive a state car I get in an accident. All day today my coworkers have been teasing me about the bump, bump and run, that I should check my bumper cause it’s dragging, at my retirement party they’ll note that I will always be remembered as the only state employee who ever got in an accident the very first time they drove a state car. Fun times! I am keeping my sense of humor. Bump, bumpity, bump.
8:58 pm on January 26th, 2011
Kindle! It came today. Yipee!
8:59 pm on January 26th, 2011
At last Mama turned on the computer for us. She’s kind of mad at us, but we don’t understand why. They bought a big sectional sofa just for us a couple of years ago, and they have had a couple of problems that the dealer was happy to fix. But this time, one end was sagging, and the electric recliner was making the most awful noise. But the man said the “warranty was up”., whatever that meant. So, he came today and said he would fix the sagging end (Mama wonders if he works on people too). Then he took the sofa apart to fix that terrible sound. He came out from behind the sofa, and said, ” I think the electric recliner would work a lot better if this dog bone wasn’t wedged in the gears.” Hmmm. We think Sage stuck it there when we weren’t looking. So, the man will fix that cushion for free, but he charged Mama $40 to “fix” the grinding gear. Mama has been giving us dirty looks all day.
Macy Min-Pin, you sassy little doggie – our family doesn’t ever go to an orange box anymore…they won’t honor their promised military discount anymore. But the friendly blue store does – all day every day on every single thing. AND they let me and Gilly come along. AND they have been wonderful in all our dealings with them. AND their headquarters just announced today that they will be hiring a lot more people in the near future since they are picking up a lot of new customers that got tired of orange treatment. Sounds like a window opening to us.
And Siber – when Daddy saw your comment about there was no place for adventure anymore, he said that obviously you have never been here for some of Mama’s recipe experiments.
Mama hit him.
9:11 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tyb, you’re going to pass that test no problems. You are SO calm and collected. I’ve seen dogs at the dog club doing that test – I was always really impressed (and jealous) because I could barely get Cricket to sit still for more than ten seconds, and if she did it wasn’t because I asked her to.
9:16 pm on January 26th, 2011
Tupper!… You are a breath of fresh air on this here blog!…heh!snort!heh!…I like how you blamed the Kat!…snort!…They are always guilty of something…heh!
Jasper!…It sounds like your gal is fitting right in with the State crowd…heh!…Keep em’ laughing!..snort!
9:21 pm on January 26th, 2011
T&G, Oh no, after reading your post, we will never shop at the orange box again. The way they treated macy’s mom is good reason enough and now we learn they are not honoring military discouts.
Say, why don’t you try blaming the sofa fiasco on the herbs.
Good luck on the test Tyb. I wish I could be there so they would give you a pass on the test just to get rid of me. I could make you look so good by comparison.
9:22 pm on January 26th, 2011
T&G, Try harder at putting the blame on the herbs.
9:25 pm on January 26th, 2011
OMG!… A 15 year old girl from Littleton, CO just got another shot at American Idol…heh!… My friend used to live there with Cassie the Butt Sniffing Dog, so she will be rooting for this little girl to go far…snort!
9:30 pm on January 26th, 2011
Siber – what herbs could you possibly be yarking about, you Kat in Wolf’s clothing???
9:32 pm on January 26th, 2011
You know, sometimes I have no idea what I’m yarking about.
9:33 pm on January 26th, 2011
Oh good grief..we are on the dark side.
9:38 pm on January 26th, 2011
CRAP!…snort!
9:42 pm on January 26th, 2011
Good night all.
9:58 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio,
The test is for the Canine Good Citizenship certificate. Once I get that, I can take the test to become a therapy dog. I already visit all the places that I would visit as an
official therapy dog, but it’s a good idea to have the certificate. I go to schools for reading groups and to nursing homes to cheer up the patients. There are some
p;aces that have invited me to make an appearance, but changed their minds when they learned that I don’t have the certificate. I think it has something to do with insurance as does everything else in life anymore it seems.
9:59 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hey y’all! I can’t believe that y’all are yakking so much that when I finally get a chance to join you, you’re already on the dark side!
Macy: I want to add my two cents and say I’m so sorry about what happened. Mom and Dad have a card thing for that blue place, so they rarely shop at the orange place. But I think that will be even rarer now!
And Mom says the first time she remembers hearing the line, “When God closes a door, He opens a window,” was when she was watching The Sound of Music.
10:03 pm on January 26th, 2011
Cousin Kirby! There you are. How’s life?
10:07 pm on January 26th, 2011
Life’s pretty good T&G. I just had some french fries, washed down with some popcorn. Doesn’t get much better than that! The only thing I’m lacking is some pizza crust. Dad’s planning to buy some pizzas for his basketball team after tomorrow night’s game, so if I can just get those boys to save me their crust….
10:12 pm on January 26th, 2011
Bee, You definitely have to say something to the docs about being SOL, and what was the other thing you were being teased about not knowing? Just in the last week or two? We might be able to get you in all kinds of trouble.
Still wondering what Macy’s Mom meant bo the big yellow box. And what is the blue store? Is that the one that starts with L?
10:12 pm on January 26th, 2011
So tired. So busy at the place. Glad Melanie is doing better. good luck B.
The Fatty Kitty is busy too. We have sent him a lot of new members lately. More than we wanted too.
Dawson I am sorry to hear that your muscles have Alzheimer’s. I think you should give them some vitamins.
I am off to bed. Another drive by posting.
Miss you guys
10:13 pm on January 26th, 2011
Mr Tibbs!… I could be a good therapy guy because everyone laughs at me when they see me and I like to be petted and scratched…heh!…The thing is I could never pass the good citizen test because I could give a damn about all that…heh! ….Oh, and I am not very ‘laid back’….sniff!…I get grumpy when I am tired and hungry and then I tend to ignore everyone…burp!
10:14 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hey Barb,
The book is in the mail.
Staff
10:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
Staff!….Why the hell is she so busy?…grunt!… Whats up with that business and drive by posting stuff?…sniff!… Did I miss something? …cough!…Where are Alice and AbbieTheKat?…snort!
10:19 pm on January 26th, 2011
B&M: Yep, the blue store starts with an L. And Mom and Dad get military discounts there all the time.
10:23 pm on January 26th, 2011
Can I name these stors for Barb?
10:23 pm on January 26th, 2011
Drive-Bye!…Are Alice and AbbieTheKat in the car while Staff is driving by posting at rapid speed off to her next more important thing to do?…snuffle!…What is happening with Kats in Kars?….snort!
10:40 pm on January 26th, 2011
Alice likes to drive in cars. However the computer does not stay on when I am at the busy place which is approaching it’s busiest time right now. So Alice and Abbie are incommunikato. Too bad.
Have YOU received your W2 yet???
10:44 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio, Staff has her winter job working at an accounting office (we think). It ends in the spring, then she goes back to N.D.
Staff, Thank you so much. We are looking forward to getting it. WE will be finished with Shoot the Mooon by then. As we said before, it is excellent.
10:44 pm on January 26th, 2011
Oh yeah. last post, really. Fargo is bracing for floods again. They have a 50% chance of having a flood as bad as either of the last two years.
Unless there is more snow.
Of course there will be no more snow!
(March is the snowiest month)
Pray for a sloooooow melt.
10:46 pm on January 26th, 2011
Staff: Mom just got hers today! But people have been coming into the library — where they don’t have tax forms, but they can print them for free, but they DON’T print the 500-page booklet to go with it! — and asking for their W-2 forms! Then Mom has to explain that the library can’t print their W-2 form because it has to come from their employer! You would think people would know that by now!!!
10:48 pm on January 26th, 2011
Hi Barb and Maggie – The orange box is where you could get a lot of things for your HOME if you took a train to the right DEPOT. The blue store is known for its HIGH quality, even if its name is the opposite of high. Lets see if that can pass moderation.
10:53 pm on January 26th, 2011
T&G: You devious little Corgis!
10:54 pm on January 26th, 2011
Very good T&G
I don’t think Alice likes water any better than I do.
11:02 pm on January 26th, 2011
Staff: That’s what Iowa looked like when my family went back last summer. It was sad because there was a car full of teenagers that tried to get through a flooded road, but the car ended up getting swept away and one of the boys drowned. I hope you’re careful when you and Alice and Abbie and Mr. Staff drive around!
11:03 pm on January 26th, 2011
Seriously!… Tupper & Gilly could be our Secret Decoding Agents…snort!…We may need those guys in the next ‘Paws On Mission’…grunt!
11:07 pm on January 26th, 2011
Thank you little Corgis. We were not sure the opposite of High had a blue and white interior, but we have shopped there.
Time to read a few minutes and then lights out. Night, all!
11:10 pm on January 26th, 2011
us too
Night All
11:13 pm on January 26th, 2011
Us three! Good night, y’all!
11:34 pm on January 26th, 2011
Open!…We here are still up watching the women’s match…heh!…She says for just a little while because of the not-so-busy place tomorrow…snort!…. Li Na vs Wozniacki…grunt!…Woz was the one who fabricated the story about the Kangaroo attacking her to the press…heh!…Girl after my own heart!…bless!
11:44 pm on January 26th, 2011
Rio dear – do you think the reason you could be a little grumpy is that you are sleep deprived? Go to bed and start dreaming up our next mission. We love to think of ourselves as the Mata Haris of the canime pack. Lets make Basil and Sage do the bomb defusing – we’ll see just how that goes for those two smart alecs with no opposible thumbs.
Good night friends – thanks for the laughs!
12:01 am on January 27th, 2011
Bed!…Yes, we are off to our beds…sniff!…The Open is still calling us to stay up and watch, but she has decided bed is best…gruff!… I agree entirely! I love my bed and I can’t wait to be in it and surrounded by all my baseball toys…..sigh!…Goodnight all!
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