Nasty Running in the Veins

Ahhh, the weekend it's finally here. As I sit here trying to think of something worthwhile to say I find myself drawing this huge blank. I think my brain realizes it's the weekend and is refusing to lend a hand.

Okay, here's somthing to think about. I often wonder what makes some people so ugly when they call their friendly customer service with a problem. I am beginning to think those people have nasty running through their veins and basically were put on this earth to make someone's day one they want to forget. Being in customer service, I get my fair share of the uglies everyday. Sometimes I find myself laughing when someone calls and blames me for their payment not being delivered on time; that's right it was my fault that you mailed it from California when it was due in Des Moines in two days and hell yes I forgot to put the check in the envelope......I tell you what, you need to watch out for those 80 yr old women who start in because you won't be able to tell them any different because they can't hear a word you are saying. So everyone remember, the customer service rep you speak to has feelings too, so ditch the uglies....yours and my day will be much better because of it.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Howdy howdy, hope all is well on this fricken cold night. Did I mention the low tonight is -9 without the wind chill? The only good thing about the cold weather is that it's here a couple of months and then poof, it's gone. I believe that's what keeps us going, knowing that the summer months will be here soon. The warm summer breezes, chasing that dreadful little white ball, and my favorite sounds of summer....the game of baseball, I can smell the hotdogs now. Personally, I prefer a bag of peanuts and an ice cold beer. Here's wishing the Cubs make it to the big show...one can only hope. If not, there's always next year.....wait, why am I already talking about next year?

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

I started back doing P90X...what an ass kicking workout, Kenpo today. Although it's a good workout, I don't think I am going to be the next Nikita. This is my 2nd attempt at P90X, first time injured myself (I might add stupidly) and then came the holidays so you know the rest. This time I hope to complete the full 90 days. Now I am not trying to become one buff chick I am 60 yrs. old for crying out loud. I just want to stay and feel young as long as I can. I do believe in this...you are as old as you feel. Right now I feel a whole lot younger than I am.

It was a fantastic day for all Chicago Bears fans of the world they beat the Seattle Seahawks 35-24 in a divisional playoff game. Next, the Green Bay Packers then it's off to the Superbowl. How abosofreakenlutely awsome would that be?? Then if the Chicago Cubs could do some of the same....WIN Not to worry I have faith in them. I will always have faith in the one of America's favorite teams. Growing up in Waukegan which is midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee you were either a Cub's fan or White Sox fan, I chose the Cubs. Back then the Cubs didn't have night games so I went to alot of Sox games, which in a way I am thankful for. I saw Roger Marris, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Nelly Fox, Ted Kluzuski just to mention a few. A Cub's fan I will always be, win or lose.

Here's hoping to finish P90X, without killing myself, and Cub's and Bear's victories a plenty.

Metrodome Roof Collapse Video From the Inside Metrodome

Photo compliments of Fox News

Mother Nature

I know I have said it before, but I am reaally going to give it the "old college try" and get back into blogging. Did ya miss me??

Well, it appears she is at it again. The upper midwest and the plains got hammered over the weekend and the forcast for Buffalo is another 2 ft of snow. Some places will have had 5 ft before December is even done with. Sure hope all those folks have their shopping done. If not, get the snowshoes out you're going to need them.

This year my shopping consisted of me sitting on my derier and letting my fingers do the walking. Even though it was as easy as pie I kind of felt like I have missed out on the whole "Christmas Shopping" thing. I remember growing up in Waukegan, Illinois in the 50's-60's and early on there were no malls to shelter you from the elements much less computers to help with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I also remember going shopping downtown walking in and out of stores no matter what the weather was. Kresges, Woolworth, Neisners....does that ring a bell my fellow Waukeganites. I always went into Sears and got a $1 worth of spanish peanuts and a piece of almond bark and munched away while tackling the crowds and enjoying the sounds of Christmas.

Yes, I said Christmas and will continue to say Christmas. I am not going to change just because it might offend someone. I have never said or will say anything about how people celebrate, to each their own.

I hope everyone has a wonderful "Christmas" and a prosperous New Year!

I would like you to meet my mother, Bonnie Faye Thomas Hayes. Unfortunately I do not have a more recent photo, we lost Bonnie in 1979, she was 47. All of us kids had a sigh of relief when 47 came and went. Happy Mother's Day mom and to all the mothers in the world, and I mean that in a good way.....
Other than trying to lose a little weight and get in shape not much going on. I broke down and bought the P90X workout, will keep you posted on the results. My brother has been doing it for nearly 2 months lost 20 lbs. I hear men lose it faster than women and I am curious if age has anything to do with it. Mark is 50 and I will be 60, we will see what we will see.
My good friend Renee's daughter, Rachael, Airforce, came home from Iraq unscathed and Val her aunt went there today to surprise everyone, including Rachael, when she gets off the plane. Happy Happy joy joy to them. Her next destination is Korea.
Having been through the flood of '93 in Des Moines I know what the people in Tennessee and other states are going through. All I know is someone really pissed off Mother Nature this year. Whoever is doing it, please stop.
Everyone be safe be strong and God Bless America and God Bless all of the service men and women for all you do.

Spring, are you out there?

It's mid February and everyone here in Des Moines is SO ready for the changing of the seasons. It's been 60+ days in a row with 5 inches of snow or more on the ground. I would venture to say there is at least a foot on the ground and more to come. I fear it will be a long time before we see the colors of spring and when we do I also fear there will be flooding again. The melted snow has to go somewhere and as the saying goes, "shit rolls down hill". I am so ready for the boys of summer and baseball to begin. I am, at the present time, signed up for 3 fantasy teams. Every moring at the butt-crack of dawn I set my rosters for the games of the day and hope I have played the right guys. The Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Big Cubbies)1st game is April 8th and I will be there with bells on. Play Ball!!!! Hurry up Spring, I know you're out there somewhere! Abracadabra, poof.....nothing, still snow, I guess I better brush up on my magician skills.

I'm sure everyone toasted in the New Year in some form or another and am hoping you are not visiting "Hangover City". I have surprised myself by staying away. 2009 is gone and won't be missed. Here is hoping everyone has a great year and may it bring you good health, wealth and happiness. May all wars end and all our men and women come home safe. May the health care bill not be a bill. May Medicare not be altered, the menatally challenged and handicapped need it desperately so family members don't go broke taking care of them. May Mother Nature calm down a bit, less rain, snow, draught for everyone. May everyone keep an open mind and not be so cruel to people that may have different views and lifestyles. May the Cubs finally get to the "big dance" and get this ugly monkey off our backs. May Jay Cutler only throw 10interceptions, I would like none but it's Jay Cutler. Last but not least, may I win the lottery.

TidBits

Good day to all! For some reason I just can't get back to blogging on a regular basis, probably didn't have much to say. Here are a few tidbits of news. Did you know that 60-70% of all divorces filed are by women? That's a statistic I am sure most women wouldn't be proud of, but it does make you wonder what the reasons were behind their decisions. Kudos to all the GOOD men in the world, you are few and far between. Retailers knew that this year was going to be hard to remain in the black but the major storms that have ripped across the country has made it even harder. The West and South terential downpours, the Mid-section of the country experienced blizzard conditions with 10-20 inches of snow 2 weeks ago and the possibility of another 5-10 Wednesday before Christmas, and as we speak the Eastern seaboard and South are getting belted with a Noreaster producing 10-24+ inches. I must say Santa will have no problems getting where he needs to go.(whether it be by boat or sleigh) Here in Iowa we will definately experience a "White Christmas".(let's all sing) The Senate passed a major defense spending bill before returning to the health care issue. I know many of you think why aren't we taking care of people who are without healthcare first. Well, I for one am happy for the support going to the troops to help keep them out of harms way and protect this wonderful country which will allow us to be able to use the healthcare. To all the troops all over the world, thank-you!! As my good friend, Renee, always says to her daughter, Rachael who is serving in Iraq, "Be safe be strong". Now on a lighter note, everyone says alcohol makes you fat, (oh contrare) it makes you lean; against tables, chairs, floors, walls, and ugly people. Till we meet again....

To all, have the "Merriest Christmas & Happiest New Year"!

Hooray for the Iowa Hawkeyes going 8-0 for the first time in school history. Never mind that you about caused emergency room chaos with heart attacks. Although all Hawkeye fans are appreciative could you please be more kinder on our hearts?

Good morning everyone, hope all is well. Yesterday was Des Moines' "Race for the Cure". They were trying to break last year's attendance of 25,000 and they did by 800 participants, Kudos to all! Here's to everyone who has battled and won to those who have battled and lost. There is probably not one person on earth who hasn't known someone who has been sujected to this evil evil disease. Whether it be a loved one, a friend, a friend of a friend and so forth. It's time to use all resources to find a cure, enough is enough. How is it we can mutate things and develope weapons to destroy human life but we can't eliminate this evil wrong doing that is taking so many lives? I pray it's not big business preventing this from happening because of the almighty dollar. Let's see, find a cure lose money lose lives make money. I think everyone knows exactly what I am talking about.

What, Really?

Ok, my brother and I have tried to get on Amazing Race and as you see we were turned down. Then here comes along a couple of guys who not only won this leg of the race but one of them lost their passport. Really? Knowing that you have to have passports for travel, how could you lose it? Lose some socks or a toothbrush, not a passport. I am sure the Amazing Race producers got them home but maybe they should have left them stranded for a couple of days. Let them get a real taste and sights of Vietnam.

Well, winter is just around the corner and we in Des Moines got a taste of it this past Saturday. We received about 1 1/4 inches and I must say it was enough for us to start winterizing. The plastic came out and the North side windows of the house are done, I can already tell a difference. As most of my friends and family know I am a BIG fan of snow. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I awoke with snow on the ground. The snow broke a record for earliest snowfall of 1 inch, I believe the previuos record happened back in 1916 on October 20th. Stay tuned for further weather updates.
Oh, I apologize for the date on the picture, maybe one of these days I will figure out how the damn thing works.

Godspeed

Godspeed to all of our service men and women. Everyone has their opinion and quick to blame for the wars we are involved in and no one person is right or wrong, and no one person will bring an end to them. Let's all remember it is a collective effort for freedom, which we are all accustom to, and for all of us who have never experienced the other end of the spectrum.
Instead of everybody complaining whether we should or should not let's keep in our hearts, thoughts and prayers all those who serve this country and make it possible for all of us to live in the greatest country ever. Rachael, just remember each day over in Iraq/Afghanistan is one day closer to coming home. Hugs

Again, I have just been plain lazy and have not visited for a while. I am going to blame it on reality tv. Hell's Kitchen simply amazes me with Chef Ramsey and all the talking down to the contestants he does, and they take it. By far Survivor is my favorite. I actually have thought about tryng to get on that one. My brother and I tried to get on Amazing Race, to no avail. Come to think about it Mark has tried with several people, hmm maybe it's him.
Here in Iowa we are getting ready for the snow to start flying. I for one can't wait. I enjoy all the seasons with fall being my favorite and winter a close second. I guess you could say I am a "midwest" kind of gal. Time to start hunkerin down. This will be the first holiday season without my sister, Sue. We will miss you my friend.
Well, duty calls you know the old saying "another day another dollar. I really need to win the lottery.

Just a couple of hours before game time, and before it's all said and done someone will have bragging rights for year. I just hope there are no incidents from either side that mar the victory. GO HAWKS!!!

Well, I survived a mighty busy weekend and all I can say is I could have slept in today. But oh no, had to go to work. I almost wish there would have been absolutley nothing going on and just have a lazy lazy weekend. The weather has certainly been cool for summer. I hope that's not any inclination on what the winter has in store for us. Bring it on "mother nature" and "old man winter", I am ready for whatever you throw. I do so love this time of year and snow doesn't bother me a bit. Also looking forward to getting the iceskates out and tooling around the rink at Brenton Plaza. If you haven't yet, check it out,it's geared for one and all.(snacks, skate rentals, place to warm up) Lunch hour is about over so till next time. Have a terrific day!

I hope this Friday morning finds ye all good to go for the "long" weekend. Mine is going to be pretty busy. Friends are coming over tonight to veg around the firepit. I am ready for some good conversation, that is before the adult beverages kick in. Don't get me wrong, the alcohol induced conversations are good except they never have an ending. Too much jumping around. Then there is Val and Jeff, (my nephew who is now living with us)start dancing "The Cupid Shuffle", it's quite entertaining. Tomorrow night we are all going to go to a friend's and watch movies on their garage. Again, more conversation and I am sure more shuffling. Sunday, the next to last Iowa Cubshome game and an exchanging of vows of our close friends, Ann & Barney, from Arizona taking advantage of the laws in Iowa permitting Gay marriage. Monday, the last game of the season of our beloved Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs). Don't get me started on the Chi Cubs, that's a whole new story and it aint pretty.

Whew, I think I am done. Enjoy the weekend.....

Good morning to one and all, and what a lovely morning it is. Well, it's good if you don't have a chest cold. I got up all ready to hit the pavement and realized had little or no voice. Guess what? You guessed it, I stayed home another day. Certainly don't want to spread it around. Besides, everybody needs a mental health day every now and then.

Let's see, today would have been my sister Sue's and her husband Sammy's 3rd anniversary, this is his first without her. I will call him later and try to tell him it will get easier every day. I have experienced alot in my 58 yrs. but not the loss of a bestfriend/soul mate. Hang in there Sammy, it will get better.

On a lighter note,Sunday two very close friends of mine (Ann & Roseanne) will be exchanging vows. Originally from here and now residing in Arizona, have decided to take advantage of the new law in Iowa permitting Gay marriages. Kudos to them! My thoughts on the law is why doesn't everyone mind their own business and let people be happy without incident? The world is not going to come to an end because of it. I suppose if there weren't people in the world causing problems for others it would be a pretty boring place or would it?

Ok, till we meet again, everyone have great day and God Bless.