Its a-camping I will go

Its that time of year....Faire Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe I'm up at 6 am on a Saturday to basically drive 1.5 hrs to volunteer my time to clean a shop that does not belong to me. But hey, I get first look at all the goodies.
I'll be spending the night in the back of the truck-haven't done that in years.
Hopefully, the CMCU will be ready to roll in two weeks when we have to be there for opening cannon to a new season.
The best and worst part; we are working for 2 different vendors this year and will be clear across the park from each other.
And I'm hoping that I will spend WAY less money by being busy with customers all day. Besides, 4 Quarters (where I'll be) isn't near any of my favorite vendors-THIS is a very good thing.
I'm looking forward to seeing the park before any patrons are allowed in. A faire where only the vendors are wandering around is still 'magic'. Once the patrons arrive-its all business and people watching.
I'm taking the camera, so hopefully I'll have pics to share later.
Auf Wiedersien!

In the catagory of "Isn't that about right"

This house buying and moving thing has been one thing after another. I am sure there is more to come with only one day left till load up. First, I still have tons of stuff to pack and have run out of boxes. It took me two weeks to come up with the ones I had. It's going to be next to impossible to find more in this town in one day.
But then, to top things off with a cherry....I get up early this morning because too many things are going through my head. Decide to get on the laptop to distract myself and check the weather for tomorrow. What the hell????? Who is this Hermine and where did she come from? Apparently a tropical storm formed at the south tip of Texas last night and is supposed to rain like a mofo on us the day we are loading up!!!!!!!!! Yep, there it is....the big honking cherry on top of everything!  Personally I think the devil has enough to do playing with the liberals in gov't.....there is no reason to be picking on me!!!!!!

It's always something

I just got through filling out and printing off 3 change of address forms to turn in to the post office. Family, business, and father in law. Gonna have son fill his out so I don't screw it up. I have things set to start going to the new house on the 3rd of Sept. Son should be there by then....trying to get him ready to move on closing date to be there for anything we have to have done before we move...cable, phone, etc.
But there is always something that will screw up. I have a dear friend that is going to go to Saudi for a year to teach English with a mission group. She is set to leave next month. She has an account set up with an Arab mission group that we can support her with. So I waited till the house was finalized, then sent off a check with the new address listed. She was in tears sunday because the group she was registered with is disbanding and her account is going to be with another company.....so the first one is sending everyone's checks back! You know what that means? My return will be sent to the new house and I haven't even gotten the keys yet!!!! Grrrrrrrr!
Also, The Clueless One has changed his days off. Instead of coming home next week to pack, he will be coming home the week of the move. That means I had to email him the electric company application to sign and send back to me so I can fill it out and send it off. But first, I have to call my electric company today to see what the hold up is with our letter of recommendation to be sent with the application. It has been over a week and nothing has come in the mail yet. Geesh, they are only 20 miles away. It's not like it has to go around the world first. Or does it?
I also have to call about Home Warranty Insurance. ugh. You know, in all honesty, Clueless One is in charge of millions of dollars of equipment and men on the jobs he does, so is very busy and trying to complete jobs without having to spend more millions......but having to do the whole move thing by myself is driving me nuts!

It's genetic

Did I tell you that the oldest kid and his family went to Destin Florida for a week's vacation? From the pictures, it looks like they met her mom and stepdad there. They had a wonderful time....but family history will always win out.
First, they drove there from Oklahoma.....leaving Yazoo City, MS about a half an hour before it was nearly wiped off the map by a tornado. While in Florida, they stayed at a condo on the beach. They both managed to get their winter white skin burned to a crisp. Then they spotted this from the balcony.

Can you see it? Son said it was a good 9 foot. They did NOT tell the short one, knowing she would not even want to go down to the beach again, much less stick a toe in the water.
Then on the way home the next weekend, they hit all the tornadic storms in Arkansas....even believe they saw one. I am soooo happy they got home safely. I just got my soda bottle of beach sand from kid. He sent enough that I can make a nice small bottle of it with label to go with the others....and still have enough to stick my toe into beach sand. aaahhhhh.
Sadly, kid and family are now moving to Virginia. Oh well, on the bright side, I can do genealogical research there when I visit. I may even get to visit the Atlantic Ocean....never seen that one.

Oh, and ps.....who are all those people, why are they here, and how did they find us!!!! I'm gonna go hide in the cactus patches so they can't find me. ;-)

Love, da Otter

Forget Waterboarding-Give the terrorists this pattern

I faced a daunting task this morning. I had to frog back from row 90-something to row 27...again. This is the 5th time I have had to frog this sweater right front. There I was, heading into the home stretch and this morning (of all mornings) I held WIP front against FO front. OH S#*&! Decision time. At 6 am my brain is not completely up to speed and I couldn't figure out where I had gone wrong or how to fix it.
So I sat there with the finished and not-so-finished pieces laid across my lap, coffee in hand trying to decide whether I should frog the FOs and find another pattern. Yep, I was seriously contemplating frogging 2 years worth of work.
With the liberal application of caffeine to sleep/stress/frustration befuddled mind, I finally figured out where I went astray. Exactly what I had done wrong on the first half...again...but in a different way.
Have I said how much I now HATE this pattern.
Now it is a matter of pride. There is no way in Hades that I am going to admit defeat to some damned Limey pattern.

Otter: Okay, I just cannot believe you did it again. By now you should be able to do this pattern...correctly...in your sleep. Do NOT let that pattern win!!

Saturday Evening

Have you fallen for the media hype? Do you follow Al Gore's every word despite his gigantic carbon footprint? Then this isn't the place for you.
But....if you have kept your wits about you and realize serious scientists aren't jumping on the global warming bandwagon......then turn all your house and yard lights on saturday night at 8:30pm for an hour. Heck, turn on all the tv's and radios too. Your children have been brainwashed at school, so you may have to explain to them how they have been lied to. Personally, I am sick of hearing about how horrible humankind is. All the save the earth propaganda is started by people who want to wipe mankind off the earth. That blows me away. God gave the earth to man, not animals.
Okay, rant over.

Can I start singing now?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it....What?
Yep, snow, sleet...winter stuff. Right down here on the coast.
I learned a new meteorlogical tidbit yesterday. The last time we got significant snowfall down here was in the early 80s, the year this area got hit by a significant hurricane. It has something to do with the hurricane cooling the Gulf waters.
Well, guess what happened this year. See previous weather posts....
Now today..before the middle of December, they are predicting sleet and snow. The area just north of us is already seeing frozen stuff.
I just don't even want to get out and get on the road with the other commuters (not to mention the icy blast of air).
OMG....the weather map on the morning news is showing slow less than an hour west of me!
crap, I gotta go get bundled up and go play in the street.
Otter: You what???!!!! Let me get this right.....You live on the tropical side of the state, I live in a more temperate region of the same state......it snows west, north and east of me....I got maybe 2 tenths of an inch of desperately needed rain (if you discount the bee that was rehydrated in the rain gauge), and 24 degree temps......and you get snow on the tropical coast????!!! There is absolutely no justice whatsoever!

It has begun

It has begun

Went out at lunch for food and a pack of smokes. Took 1/2 hour to get the smokes. Everywhere people are crowding the streets, jamming up the gas stations, all these people with fear as their constant motivator.

Got a voice message from BigDog: Come home noooowwwww. The Zombies are everywhere. I need help with the reloading!

Yes, they are zombies, but instead of "Braaiiinnnsss". these are moaning something more like: "Gaaaasssss", "Waaattteeerrr", "Plywooooddddd".

Otter: I find it strangly fascinating that a cold front over me is sucking in the super low of the hurricane toward us. There must be some physics extended, mind sucking explaination for it.

Ya'll laid in plenty of water, pet food, and smokes for the event, didn't you?

Cubedog: I am letting BigDog "batten down the hatches". I figure he knows better than me how that's done.

Too funny

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/08/07/one-nation-under-a-new-obama-salute.html
this is a classic example of state art produced under Mussilini and Franco

"While Everything Burns"

today: Back to Blog Topic.
We had an interesting weekend around here. Not that I'd know without consulting the local news...I've been pouting.
Here goes:
Local fire department gets called out to an inferno. A plant nursury is burning and the fire is being fueled by bags of fertilizer. They run around the neighborhood evacuating people-fighting said fire-no injuries, but damage includes melted cars-it was that hot.
While the FD is trying to fight blaze above, another call comes in; apartment fire within a couple miles. No injuries-total property loss.
While FD is fighting both fires above, yet another call comes in; apartment fire within a couple miles of first fire.
So I have 2 questions: What was someone trying to either cover up or detract attention from?
And why did the news girl sound so bummed while reporting there were no injuries?

More later....you just can't make this shit up!

And Now a Message from the Office of Tourism

I would just like to know where its written that people cannot be honest about the place that they live? What cosmic law states that everyone MUST be an "ambassador" for their town?
Why is it verboten to discuss this city honestly, warts and all?
This is the 5th largest city is the US. We have the 3rd largest port in the nation. There are loads of opportunities. The economy of this area is 'boss'. The shopping, as you know, is phenomenal and I think even that might be an understatement.
There is TONS of stuff to do; beach, rainforest, aquarium, water parks, IMAX, historic battlegrounds, funerary museum, NASA, indoor rock climbing, ballooning, hang gliding, hockey, curling (yep), and now Quidditch. We have world class concerts; rock, classical, alternative.
We get international traveling museum shows. Heck, where else can you stumble onto a performance of Polynesian dancers in a gas station parking lot when on you way to Lowes?
Our avante-garde ninja knitters "Knitta Please" even made it to the May issue of the UK mag KNITTING. I mean, how cool is that?
Now for a reality check.
First there's the gangs. All kinds of gangs. And with the gangs comes the drive-by shootings, drive-up executions(even in fast-food drive-thrus), running gun battles on the hiways, flesh peddling(even minors/sex slaves), drug running, gun running, terrorist training.
We have 'Coyote' "holding houses" where the human smugglers hold their cargo as prisoners for more money.
We have home invasions where the invaders are wearing body armor.
We have cop killers and killer cops.
We have city employees embezzling from the public budget and corporations embezzling from their employees. And ISDs competing on who can build the most ostentatious 'sports complexes' with public money.
Our house appraisals are out of control which means the school taxes are astronomical. And the city council pats themselves on the back for a "1/2 cent tax cut".
On top of that, the city has pulled an interesting coup. Most of the county falls under the city ETJ(extraterritorial jurisdiction). This means that any decision the council and mayor make, effects all those areas, but the mayor and council are only elected by those living INSIDE the city limits...not the ETJ. This amounts to taxation without representation.
Hello? Does anyone remember 1776?
ur public transit is a joke and a mayor that thinks he's solved the public transit problem. We have a central business district that the busses serve and business districts all over town that the city ignores.
So why can't people just be up front about the reality of living large? Why is it necessary to bury their heads in the sand? Are these the same people that believe America has no enemies or that we should just talk to our enemies and they will stop hating us?
I can understand denial as a coping mechanism-used it myself plenty. But people! Denial about the reality of this city can get you killed! Funny thing is...I bet not one of these deniers leaves their house or car unlocked.
And if this is Disneyworld with traffic, why are 'gated communities' so popular?
I'm so befuddled..I'm going to go take a nap now.

just wait for it

I plan on off-gassing here is the near future...like tomorrow or later tonight. I badly need to formulate my thoughts before I turn this into an R rated blog.....cuz I got some stuff to get off ...my ...chest.

EVER?

Ever had one of "those" months? How 'bout one of "those" weeks?
So I'm due to leave Friday morning. All 'syched and everthing. Got my week planned.
Tues.: get tooth implanted and rest cleaned.
Wed.: chiropractor-gotta be loose for the road.
Thurs.: knit group-gotta stay up with my 'peeps'. Pack.
Fri.: breakfast with BigDog and off I go!
But Nooooooooo......now I have to wait til after 11...maybe noon. I have to go to GP now.
I think I've got Thrush......................again! And I haven't had an antibiotic in-well, I can't even remember how long. Guess its been 2-3 months?
Crap! what do I gotta do to get rid of this stuff once and for all?
Grrrrrrrrr-I am really getting tired of these "every doc under the friggin sun" weeks. Could turn into a "month" thing, cuz I'm sure GP is going to want me to go to at least 1 maybe 2 specialists
Otter: I am tellin' ya.....ya need to move to the boonies. I asked my doc yesterday evening if I needed to get a shot. Nope, as long as the green snot was only in the morning and clear the rest of the day then I am okay. If I needed one, then I would just call them up, they would have me come right in, drop my drawers, and be on my happy way. Sometimes boonieliving is sweet.
I was hoping you would get here in time to visit a new store we have downtown. Rats! I don't know what all she has in the store, but do know there are local artists featured.....not crapcrafters.

Wild weekend in the City

I would just like to begin by saying: if you're a fan of Carlos Mencia-you get it....if not, I don't care.......
It was a wild weekend here. I'm glad we stayed home and played 'domesticas'.
The body count by this morning was 13 dead-most of those were homicides.
Other Scoreboards: Houses 2
Cars 0
But the best story by far, the one that gets my 1st ever Carlos Mencia Commemorative Award for Stupidity goes to.........(drumroll)
The young woman who was racing down a suburban street, lost control of her car, ran into a closed garage door , the 2 vehicles on the other side of it, then the fence and tree beside the garage. Both she and her passenger failed the field sobriety test. She was protesting her innocence all the way to central booking, saying "she hadn't done anything wrong."
Dumb, drunk chick-we salute you...
All together now-you know the cheer>>>>>>>>>>>>Dee,Da,Deeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The close runner-up has to be the guy who had to be rescued from his flaming pick-up by a passing tow-truck driver. The dude had lost control on the freeway, took out 4 trees before coming to a flaming stop. He blames the whole thing on what? Restless Leg Syndrome!
Yes Ladies and Gents.....
the gene pool may be large here....but its very, very shallow.
Otter: gee.....I didn't know I could use RLS as an excuse! I will file that one away...good for giving any officer a chuckle.
You make Podunk BFE look like paradise on a stick (or is that in the sticks). As far as I know, the biggest thing so far this year was the murder, which I haven't heard has been solved.....need to do my nosey poking around to find out. Hmm...sounds like a good reason to email my BFF, she knows everything that goes on around here.
In the "It's All Good" catagory; The other half went back to work this morning. Two more weeks of the sweet life. I only have to spend three days with him next time he is home, then I am off to the beach! WooHoo! Not that I don't like his company, just that....well....The Clueless One, ya know?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Ok, so I get up every morning and turn on the local news. Mind you this is not because I'm a news junkie. I like to know what the weather is going to do that day....and how many stupid people torched their houses overnight(average of 3 per night).
I get very frustrated with our local-yokels trying to relate every flippin national story back to local news. If a kid gets shot in a school in Saschetchawan(sp?), the local talking heads will end the story with a reference back to one of our (many) local school shootings. If a tree grows in Brooklyn, they will remind us that a tree grew here also...albeit 25 years ago, but what the heck, we have had our own tree problems(see what an "international city" we are?)!
This morning....this came up: Officials: Suspect killed, tried to eat girlfriend
they didn't even try.....
Otter: OMG.....I don't EVEN want the news at 10. Can you see me shudder? I have nothing more to add.
Cubedog: In TYLER of all places!

A note from IT

Have I ever told you how much I hate computers? Well, actually I hate the volutile combo of Bigdog and computers. I hate being the IT dept. that has to fix the tech when he has used and abused it.
I told him last night (after a 3 hr fight w/21st c. tech) that I was going to get him 2 sticks to rub together and 2 cans on a string. I finally threw in the proverbial towel and decided that the computer didn't really need sound-to hell with vid games (yes, I DID check the "mute all" box, and no, that waasn't the problem).
This afternoon I decided to check whether I'd gotten an answer from the manufacturer, Yes, but they got the part wrong;therefore, no answer that was pertinent.
On a whim, I hooked up the built in speakers....still no sound. Grrrrr. I ,for some reason, I opened up the "volume control". I pushed one lever-"Wave". Voila! sound! Now reconnect the 5.1 surround sound...WOOHOOO!
I ran outside and got Bigdog. I am now a genius and don't have to do another damned thing today-well, until I have to cook dinner.
I love being regarded as a genius.....for pushing a lever.
Otter: Ahhh...but then there is that moment when you become the hero and it all almost......almost becomes worth it. Been there, done that, honestly don't care for it myself.

The Heart of Darkness

AKA: The Sit N Knit Holiday Gift Exchange
The rules were simple enough. Rummage ones stash. Find yarn that needed a new home. Enclose an appropriate pattern for said yarn. Simple, right?
Well, I shoulda sat this one out. Really. 18 bags on the table, 18 chances to get something just lovely, odds; 18:1 for disaster. Thursday was my lucky night. Shoulda bought a lotto ticket on the way home.
Eighteen hopeful faces sitting around clutching their little numbers that indicated the draw order. Everyone noisely harrassing the current recipient in a malenge of good-will and comradery.
Seventeen sock knitters.....
Yes, I, the lone non-sock knitter stood to make my choice, smilingly enduring (and enjoying) the ribbing of others. Which to choose, which shiney bag would be enhancing my stash-ahhhh, that one, no that one, no.....ok, just close your eyes and grab, good....now return to seat tightly clutching the slippery, glossy homage to the pionsetta.
Return to good-natured ribbing of others. 16,17,18....Yeah!
Madness ensues with everyone digging and squealing at once. What do I got, what do I got.....
That's right.....sock yarn. It is a lovely variegated called "Strawberry Patch". And a sock pattern. O crap.....be gracious, make a joke, do something quick...that must be the giver staring intently at you. Of all things I coulda said, "Wow, stands to reason-since I'm the only person here who doesn't knit socks!" was probably the most powerfully stupid thing I've said in at least a couple of weeks. I could have laid odds on what happened next. There was the sock knitter's chorus of , "Oh, its easy.""Oh, you can do it.""You'll love it."
Yes, these are exactly the same phrases used by crack-heads to get others to do crack....
I've never told anyone, but secretly I didn't WANT to knit socks. With all those wonderful sweaters, etc. out there waiting to be created in my limited 'stick' time, I just didn't WANT all that time to be eaten by socks.....
I cast on my first sock this morning.......

News of the weird

Good Morning.
I was all prepared to write a post about our local news stretching for relevance, but then, my day began to unfold.
Remember the hell-hole I used to work in? In the "unsavory" side of town? Remember when I left? They released me because I had a "bad attitude"?
Heh,heh.....
I get a call this morning. I don't recognize the voice, but the caller ID says "J_________".
Then the voice tells me, "Remember me? I've been trying to track you down. I worked in ____ dept. I got promoted and needed a _____ and I immediately thought of you."
ME :"oh, really"
HIM:"Yeah, I talked to T_____ , he's the dept.head now, and told him we would probably have to "pay" for you because of your skill and experience."
ME:"oh, really" By this time I'm biting my lip to keep from openly laughing in his "face".
HIM:"Oh yeah, he said 'fine, we can probably get her whatever she needs'."
ME: "oh REAL-LY. Have you checked with HR to see if I'm even eligible for re-hire?"
HIM:"No....but would you be interested?"
I politely turned him down, of course. It would, afterall, be a step backwards careerwise. But I left him with the parting thought: "Now if D____'s job comes available-give me a call."
I am soooo certain they would not "get me what I need" to walk back in there. They couldn't afford my therapy bills! Woulda been nice if I had thought to give him a $$number before I turned him down.
Ahhhh-I can't tell you how long I've fantasized about that call and then it finally came and all I could do was.....laugh, hard.
O......M......G!!!!!!! I am so floored. Are you sure you weren't having a nice fantasy dream on some pain meds? I mean......THAT just doesn't happen. But there is one question.......does your head still fit through the door?
I repeat......O....M....G!

Color me scared

This situation just popped up on my radar screen. Course this was reported on Nov 21st, but what can I say, I was preoccupied: (I've blocked out names and places to protect MY anonymity, but this was a true, local news report)

XXXXXX COUNTY, Texas --
Xxxxxxx police started testing unmanned aircraft and the event was shrouded in
secrecy, but it was captured on tape by Local # Investigates.
Neighbors in rural Xxxxxx County said they thought a top-secret military venture was under way among the farmland and ranches, some 70 miles northwest of Xxxxxxx. XXXX Local # Investigates had four hidden cameras aimed at a row of mysterious black trucks. Satellite dishes and a swirling radar added to the neighbors' suspense.
Then, cameras were rolling as an unmanned aircraft was launched into the sky
and operated by remote control.

You know the type-like the US Military is using in Iraq and Afganistan.

Xxxxxxx police cars were surrounding the land with a roadblock in place to check each of the dignitaries arriving for the invitation-only event. The invitation spelled out, "NO MEDIA ALLOWED." XXX Chief [H. H.] attended, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and dozens of officers from various police agencies in the Xxxxxxx area. Few of the guests would comment as they left the test site.

All a little "Conspiracy Theory" for ya? Well, there's more:

News Chopper # had a Local # Investigates team following the aircraft for more than one hour as it circled overhead. Its wings spanned 10 feet and it circled at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Operators from a private firm called Insitu, Inc. manned remote controls from inside the fleet of black trucks as the guests watched a live feed from the high-powered camera aboard the 40-pound aircraft.

Apparently this was all supposed to be 'hush-hush':

"I wasn't ready to publicize this," Executive Assistant Police Chief [M.M.]said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local # Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.
"We still haven't even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media," [M] said. "But since, obviously, the media found out about it(read;o crap-we've been made), then I don't see any reason why just not go forward with what we have so far."

Oh really? Do tell.....Ms. [M.M.] (Emphasis added)

[M] told reporters the unmanned aircraft would be used for "mobility" or traffic issues, evacuations during storms, homeland security, search and rescue, and also "tactical." She admitted that could include covert police actions and she said she was not ruling out someday using the drones for writing traffic tickets.
A large number of the officers at the test site were assigned to the department's ticket-writing Radar Task Force. Capt. [T.R.] insisted they were only there to provide "site security," even though XXXX cameras spotted those officers heavily participating in the test flight.

Y'know, I thought we had laws in this country about this sorta thing...you know the ones...the ones that are supposed to protect the citizens against a police state. Oh yeah, ITS CALLED THE CONSTITUTION!

Wait for it....

XXX leaders said they would address privacy and unlawful search questions later.

riiiiiggghhhhttt...apparently at some point AFTER they set themselves above the FEDERAL GOVT:

Xxxxxxx police contacted XXXX from the test site, claiming the entire airspace was restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police even threatened action from the FAA if the Local # helicopter remained in the area. However, XXXX reported it had already checked with the FAA on numerous occasions and found no flight restrictions around the site, a point conceded by [M].

I really think OUR local yokels need a good swift kick in the arse.

Hello from Insanity

Ok, so we went out to the country for 4 days to shake the city stink off. I've been back for 2 days....24 hours. In that time we have had 2 elder-living high rise fires, one apartment complex fire, 2 business fires, 2 highway shutdowns, 2 evil people jailed, and one murder-suicide. Ahhhh-home sweet home.
Hello, this is the "eastern prairie-dog". I live in a large metropolis. Ok, so that is an understatement. My commute is typically 45 min to an hour....each way and I only have to go 27 miles. I work in a medium sized company and have a "line manager" position. The comic strip 'Dilbert' perfectly describes my work environment. I spend most of my life in a cubicle and popping up to look over a cubicle wall is called "prairie-dogging". A room of cubicles is called a 'prairie-dog town'. My constant companion is stress-which accounts for much of my outlook on life ('Happy Bunny' is my absolute favorite snarky character).
When western p-dog talks about different lifestyles, she ain't kidding. Hopefully this will become VERY clear as we go along. Thanks for stopping in for a visit.
Hey, western p-dog, I have absolutely no comeback for your traffic block. Kinda had the ole 'head-down, butt-up' thing going on today. I have two HUGE projects due to the city this week. Yeah, I just love the oh-so-reasonable expectations of some people. Did I tell you how much I loved hearing from your big kid today? Its been so long since I thought of myself as related to anyone in the next generation....hmmmm,weird.
I hope I get better at writing humor as we go along.