Happy New Year To All

Including the 250 or so people who seem to be searching for this post from last year.

Disappointing isn't it... you go to all that work to find a little post and then it's not even worth the trouble. 

Anyhow, to all who drop by... A Very Happy 2008 to you.  May next year be better in every way.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 05:40 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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A Pretty End To The Year

This morning we woke up to a beautiful covering of snow.  Enough to make everything pretty.  It's a nice way to end the year.

We have snow covered bushes


trees


more bushes


and more trees.


Lovely.

Posted by: Teresa in Life Stuff at 10:34 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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On Edge

Nothing is more calculated to set my teeth on edge than the following...

- shopping for walking shoes
- shopping for parts to any type of appliance

I did both today and I feel like screaming. Got some new "running" shoes which are quite simply weird looking but in one of those usual ironic twists of fate - actually fit my feet.  (can I get new feet somewhere?) It only took 4 stores plus a bunch of waiting at one to see if there was anyone serving customers (apparently not - I left).

Then we were looking for a vacuum cleaner belt.  The one on our old vac broke the other night.  Simple - right?  Oh not so much. 

As I suspected, a ten year old vac is not on anyone's radar... including the store that sells it - thank you Sears.  So, even if you have the information like it's "this" type and "this" model... no one can help.  You get the perplexed look along with the "sorry we need a part number - it might be on the bottom of the vac... blah blah blah...".  Don't get me wrong, the man was very nice.  He simply had no way to figure out what part we should buy.

What irks me is that the store doesn't have any means of looking up simple parts like a vacuum belt in this instance. Without the customer having to jump through multiple hoops.  You should be able to walk in, with the type and model number and be able to find it.  Rather like printers.  If you have the make and model, the store has a book of what type ink cartridges you need.  The store doesn't make you go home and pull out a cartridge to find the number of the ink cartridge itself.    

I KNEW that would happen.   I guess the idea is to buy a new vac when the belt breaks - kinda like buying a new car because the ashtrays are full. 

I've already looked online after digging out the manual.  I can find the actual part number on all the little vacuum sites, but not on the Sears site - they changed their numbering system and they have no equivalents listed  - gotta love that. 

Therefore, one of the small sites will get my little bit of business.  It's not much in this case but annoying me will get the rest of my business moved to other stores too.

Time for a glass of wine and some football.

Posted by: Teresa in Ummmmm at 04:36 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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Regular Season - Over

Congratulations New England Patriots!

16-0 

On to the playoffs.

BTW - if Eli Manning had just a couple more players with the talent of the Patriots... he would've won this game - he played better than I've ever seen him play before. 

All in all - I think the playoffs will be disappointing after this game. (I might be wrong about that - but it was an excellent game)

Posted by: Teresa in Sports at 11:32 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Sometimes It Pays To Be Nice

Cranky customer leaves $50,000, car to waitress

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - For nearly seven years, Melina Salazar did her best to put on a smile and tend to the every need of her most loyal and cantankerous customer.

She made sure his food was as hot as he wanted, even if it meant he burned his mouth. And she smiled through his demands and curses.

Good for her! Too often the good people of the world just get walked over and forgotten.   But every once in a while...

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 11:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Next Airline Ban - Lithium Batteries in Checked Luggage!

Alert!!!

I ran across this at Slashdot today:

"The U.S. Transportation and Security Administration has issued new rules limiting travel with lithium batteries. As of January 1, no spare lithium batteries are allowed in checked luggage. Batteries carried in the cabin are subject to limitations on per-battery and total lithium content, and spare batteries must have the terminals covered. If you're returning home from the holidays with new toys, be sure to check out the new restrictions before you pack."

If you will be flying anytime soon and you take extra batteries with you - check it out before you go.

Posted by: Teresa in Current Affairs at 07:21 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Yet Again...

Let me reiterate - there is someone who is finding his life so very dull he must spend all his time making blog rounds and posting stupid comments under other people's names.  I can't imagine a more dull and boring pastime - honestly it's mind numbing just trying to type out a post about it. 

The comments I've seen (I haven't seen them all) with my name attached have been fairly innocuous to date.  There was a comment posted here - which I have deleted - that was left under Joanie's name. 

Ho-hum.

I don't want to continue posting on this because really it's incredibly fatiguing. But I do want to warn you - if you receive a comment, purportedly from me and it contains weird references to alcohol (tequila appears to be his drink of choice) or even makes weirdly veiled comments of about things like lingerie... especially when they are not in context with the post ( Harvey is my blog father, so some of that does happen), it is very likely not from me at all. 

This pathetic soul has posted these comments from a dial in line in Florida.  Now it's coming from Comcast Business... it doesn't take much effort to change the ISP this person is using.  So, it looks like he is trying to get around the blocks that some bloggers have put up to keep him out.  Guess it was keeping him awake... all that commenting, only to find your ISP is banned... well, something would have to keep him awake with such eye-glazing commentary as he has left so far.

If you have a question about whether or not a comment was left by me - drop me an email and ask.  I will let you know as quickly as possible. 

In the meantime, I won't be posting about this again.  I don't have much in the way of readers and I'd hate to have them stop clicking over here because the content has gotten too dull for words. 

Posted by: Teresa in Ho-Hum at 06:47 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The Iceman Cometh

We've been alternating between light rain and light sleet today. The temp has been hovering a little above 32 degrees (that's Fahrenheit for those in other countries) so the ground is a bit slushy and the water is freezing on bushes,



lamp posts,
 


trees,



among other things.  Later in the day I went out to the store for a couple of needed items - roads were fine.  But it's basically been a pretty dull day here.  Too bad I have no interest in ice skating.

Posted by: Teresa in Weather at 04:33 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Follow the Money

The NFL (in case you aren't a football fan and didn't know) has set up its own network, called.... the NFL Network (catchy name isn't it).  Since its inception, they have been fighting with cable companies to carry their product without extra charge, even though they charge nearly the highest fee to these companies for broadcast rights. 

The cable companies dug in their little toes and said "NO!  Ain't gonna happen."  Even Comcast, who carried the NFL network as a regular channel last year, has moved it to the Premium tier this year. 

The NFL in its infinite wisdom figured they could set up their own little football fiefdom... with the games available to only a very very small percentage of viewers. (they should ask the NHL how that worked out for them...) They thought people would go out of their way to clamor for the product... apparently they were wrong.  Shocking isn't it. 

Their broadcasts have been royally panned by the sports talking heads here in town and no one seems to be breaking down the doors of the cable companies to "make" them show the games on regular television.  Most people - even football fans - just shrug and figure they'll miss that game this week. 

Then the Patriots winning season put them in a quandary.  Do they stick to their guns and only broadcast on NFL Network... or do they give in and show it on nationally broadcasting channels.  It's a tough one.

The last few weeks there has been a hue and cry over the fact that only a very tiny number of people (directly in the Boston area) would be able to see the Patriots - Giants football game on a regular tv broadcast.  The game that will decide if the Patriots remain undefeated for the season or if the Giants will take them out and be THE team to have beaten them.  The real problem is this... the Patriots are The New England Patriots - not the Boston Patriots.  Their fan base for the most part runs from Maine through Connecticut and out to Vermont.   The  local telecast was only going to be for the small Boston market - not the entire fan based market which encompasses the New England area...  How's that again?   Pretty stupid if you ask me. 

Personally I figure most of the country could care less, but the NFL has finally figured out that they can really milk this one...

Pats-Giants to be first three-network simulcast game in NFL history

Wow!

But the league announced Wednesday that the NFL Network feed will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from politicians in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.

I don't believe the "politicians" bit... it's all about the money - it's always all about the money.  First you have fans who are very likely letting the NFL know in no uncertain terms that this network garbage they have going on is going to drive them off to other sports - there are plenty available.  Then the BIG inducement... advertising... How much money do they stand to make on this simulcast?  The dollars are HUGE. 

So let's quit pretending that John Kerry's little hissy fit had anything to do with them broadcasting the game to one and all.  With something this large - 3 networks... each with advertisers... you do the math and then convince me that Kerry's threat of "legislation" even made a dent.

Right - I don't think so either.  I'll watch the game... I wonder who will be doing play-by-play.  Hmmmm...

Posted by: Teresa in Sports at 05:49 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Oscar Peterson

I heard tonight he has passed away at the age of 82.  He was remarkably gifted and I will always regret that I never had a chance to see him perform live.  We are left with his recordings.  My favorite is A Summer Night in Munich, for some reason it just captures me every time I hear it.

Here is a small sample of his genius.



While your music is heard, you will never be forgotten.

Posted by: Teresa in Music at 12:00 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Oh Goodie

Looks like some nasty spammer is going around leaving comments in other people's names.  *sigh*.

Joanie has a post about it. Apparently I'm one of the people who is being spoofed.  How fun... and gives others such a wonderful impression at Christmas time.

So, if you receive a weird comment from me, you may want to check where it's coming from... otherwise you could email and ask me what the hell I'm thinking. 

Just what we need, someone going around leaving stupid ass comments in other people's names.  Merry Christmas. *sigh*

Thanks to Erica for letting me know.

Posted by: Teresa in Ho-Hum at 04:06 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Merry Christmas and All That

Darling daughter is in town,  so things have been a bit busy here. 

Of course her plane was late getting in.  Therefore, her first night in town, we took her out to dinner.

Once she found out how ridiculously low the sales tax is here, she had to go shopping.  In the morning we were off to the local DSW and Mall.  The good part was, we weren't trying to find a particular gift, so even though we were out with all the last minute shoppers, it wasn't a problem at all.  Anyhow, she has 2 new pairs of shoes and a couple new shirts.  She's thrilled. 

Then we watched some football, had dinner, drank wine. All in all a good day.  Now if it's clear in the morning, we'll be off to Boston for the day.  I wonder how my husband will feel about Newbury Street... that is if it stops raining. 

I'm going to try and make it around my blogroll over the next 2 days, but just in case I don't, I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 12:47 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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Banned no more

Now there are peeps who won't need to travel to have a sip.

Although I prefer the "wearing of the green" to the "drinking of the green".

I'm just sayin'...

Posted by: Teresa in Food and Drink at 01:29 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Is Today Over Yet?

I didn't think so. 

Posted by: Teresa in Ummmmm at 05:15 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I Was Right! Who Knew!

First my prediction which is here.

Then there is the confirmation which is here.

I tell you people,  it's unsettling to have ESP like this. Really.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 07:03 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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A Blogger Merry Christmas for the Troops

Matty O'Blackfive and Uncle Jimbo put together a video of clips from bloggers wishing the troops a Merry Christmas. I don't have a video camera so I'm not there... *sigh*  But a bunch of my favorite bloggers are - and lookin' good! 



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the troops who are away from home.  Stay safe.

Posted by: Teresa in Military at 06:44 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Physics IS Phun

At 71, Physics Professor Is a Web Star

I've been meaning to get to MIT and go through their OpenCourseWare.  After reading this - think I'll make more time.

In his lectures at ocw.mit.edu, Professor Lewin beats a student with cat fur to demonstrate electrostatics. Wearing shorts, sandals with socks and a pith helmet — nerd safari garb — he fires a cannon loaded with a golf ball at a stuffed monkey wearing a bulletproof vest to demonstrate the trajectories of objects in free fall.

He rides a fire-extinguisher-propelled tricycle across his classroom to show how a rocket lifts off.

I love it when someone figures out how to make science fun.  Maybe if we get enough younger kids watching these classes, they'll be more interested in science in school. 

Now I have to go download...

Hat tip Instapundit.

Posted by: Teresa in Science at 01:10 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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What's Blogging Without the Occasional Meme

So I was tagged twice, by Pam and again by Erica with this...



Pam has the colors and what they mean - I'm leaving them off because this will already be a long post, but this is the explanation:

Mrs. Who wrote: “I read their blogs because whether they are simply taking care of family or working to make others’ lives better, they do it with grace and dignity despite any roadblocks along the way.”

Not sure about the grace and dignity bit... but thank you ladies.  As nearly everyone has been tagged on this one, I will give you just a few more ladies who I think blog it beautifully... Sissy, Jill, and Maggie.  I'm not tagging precisely, just awarding. 

*****
Then I saw that Big Stupid Tommy tagged me with the Christmas Meme because he liked my snow pictures.

1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. Wrapping or gift bags?  Bags... I have no wrapping skilz at all.  I'm all thumbs when it comes to wrapping paper and ribbons.

2. Real or artificial tree? No tree again this year.  We had real ones years ago, but it scared us when they got so dry.  Then we went to artificial, but after losing 2 trees to basement flooding a few years ago, I gave up.  Now I have a table tree, but this year there isn't a table for me to use - so it's still in the box.  Maybe next year.

3. When do you put up the tree?  It's usually the week after Thanksgiving... whenever I can get my lazy self to make the effort.

4. When do you take the tree down?  Sometime after New Year's day... once again we have the lazy factor, but I don't like the tree up after New Year's day - it starts looking sad.

5. Do you like eggnog? ICK!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  I've tried to remember any one gift that I received - not a single one stands out.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, once again I have nowhere to put it, so it's still boxed this year.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  Like the "best gift" thing - I don't remember anything bad. 

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail... I'm hoping I can get them out this week.

10. Favorite Christmas movie? Ha!  The Desk Set with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. I'll throw in Bachelor Mother with Ginger Rogers and David Niven as my favorite New Years movie.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  As late as possible.  I just sent out a bunch of gift cards yesterday via 2 day delivery. 

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? This is more of a Thanksgiving question.  I guess pie.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only 2 times a year I usually make pie.

13. Clear lights or colored? Both, I'm an equal opportunity light person.

14. Favorite Christmas song? Hmmm... I'll just choose Oh Holy Night as I don't know if I have a favorite.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay Home - although for many years we traveled... I hated it.  If we had it to do over again - we should've stayed home at least every other year.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes. (what?... if you want me to actually write out the names - you should ask better questions)

17. Angel or star on the top of your tree?  Doesn't matter to me.  We have an angel, growing up we had a star.  Just don't leave the tree topper off when doing a tree that's all I ask.

18. Open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Eve - I am so not a morning person! 

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?  It's impossible to go to the store for mundane everyday things - everyone and their brother is out there getting in the way.  Go home and order online!!! Geeze!

20. What do you leave for Santa? Well, it used to be cookies and milk (chocolate chip cookies) but really I think Santa could use a nice nip of Maker's Mark.

21. Least favorite holiday song?  I know I have one - I just can't think of what the name is right now. This may be updated if I can remember it.

22. Do you decorate your tree with any specific theme or color? Good heavens - I'm decorating impaired... you think I can do a theme?  You must have me mixed up with someone else.

23. Favorite ornament?  I can't remember... I haven't had my tree up in like 5 years (since our last flood) I know there are some I like, but I don't remember my favorite.  Maybe next year.

Now I gotta tag seven people?  I think most everyone has done this meme.  All except for Erica - as she is a Jooette, she gets left off the link list... so I'll tag her.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 12:57 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Laughter IS The Best Medicine

Wherein the Wiseass Jooette says this

Nut #3: Who would probably blog about a conversation he had with a Carbon Emission, or dream up some dialogue between me and a matzoh ball, in which the talking kneidlach tells me I should embrace my “Jersey Envy,” fugghedaboud farookin’ Brooklyn, and move my built-too-low-to-the-ground ass to Lakewood, or Teaneck. Delusional old bastid.

And Hairboy responds thusly.

The Wiseass Jooette fires back immediately...

I may be laughing about this for the next month or so.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 09:08 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Let's Hear It For Global Warming

First we had this:

Pharmacy Roof Collapses

Fire officials said the roof collapsed because of the weight of the snow on it and because of the heavy rain that followed the recent snowstorms.

Then there was this:

Gas station canopy collapse caused by weekend weather

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A canopy covering a gas station crashed down under the weight of two winter storms.

Today there was this:

Classes Canceled After Cracks In Roof Supports Found

Officials blamed the damage at Gilmore Academy on heavy snow and an old building. The cracks were discovered Monday morning, and they are in the section of roof over the school's gymnasium and cafeteria.

Just think how many buildings the warmer weather will save.  Bring on that Global Warming!

Posted by: Teresa in Weather at 05:35 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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