Archive for July, 2006
Weather Update
I don’t know why Florida gets a bad rap for being hot. I just checked some of my Favorite Cities (and some of my not so Favorites) and we are all within 2 or 3 degrees of each other. Except Challis, Idaho.
Austin…92 – 50% humidity
San Antonio… 90 – 49%
Flanders…89 – 49%
Allentown…88 – 55%
Brandon…. 91 – 50%
Challis, ID… 67 – 27%
TV
You’ve got to love that moment when someone admits to watching a TV show that you watch, but you are too embarrassed to admit.
Pfizer names Kindler to replace McKinnell – U.S. Business – MSNBC.com
Here’s the Pfizer story. Wall Street seems to approve – Pfizer stock opened this morning up about fifty cents.
Pfizer names Kindler to replace McKinnell – U.S. Business – MSNBC.com
Goodmorning, everyone
A quick scan of the news didn’t turn up anything worth mentioning. The middle east has kind of taken Iraq off the headlines for a while.
I did see that Pfizer has chosen its next President.
And the heat wave continues across the country.
See, kind of a boring news day.
It was an average weekend. We went to an outdoor concert Friday night which was fun until the rain came. We ran errands around town on Saturday and mowed the grass on Sunday. We spent a total of about 5 hours in the pool Sat. and Sunday.
Goodmorning, everyone
A quick scan of the news didn’t turn up anything worth mentioning. The middle east has kind of taken Iraq off the headlines for a while.
I did see that Pfizer has chosen its next President.
And the heat wave continues across the country.
See, kind of a boring news day.
It was an average weekend. We went to an outdoor concert Friday night which was fun until the rain came. We ran errands around town on Saturday and mowed the grass on Sunday. We spent a total of about 5 hours in the pool Sat. and Sunday.
Business: Don’t let your babies grow up to be …
Business: Don’t let your babies grow up to be …
Harris Poll ranks the 23 Most and Least Prestigious Jobs.
The Most Prestigious:
1. Firefighter
2. Doctor
3. Nurse
The Least Prestigious
23. Real Estate Agent
22. Stock Brocker
21. Business Executive
St. Petersburg Times Online
Professor invents sticker that tells if fruit is ripe.
SCIFI.COM | Who Wants To Be A Superhero?
I saw this on the Today Show this morning, looks kind of entertaining.
SCIFI.COM | Who Wants To Be A Superhero?
Over our Rice Krispies, however, we couldn’t help but wonder what Matt Lauer is thinking as he interviews some Super Hero wannabees. After you’ve interviewed presidents and world leaders, isn’t this an interview Al Roker should be doing alone? What has happened to this guys career? Katie has been gone two months and Matt is talking to men in tights.
Coco Loco
Maybe it’s just me, but shouldn’t Andrea Yates have been found guilty by reason of insanity?
Hurricanes
Just found on the NOAA website that Florida has been hit by 62 hurricanes in the last 100 years – 10 of which hit during August, 28 in September.
Man dies after riding Busch Gardens roller coaster in Tampa – Newsday.com
I have a couple of things to add to my list of reasons why Florida Isn’t Safe To Visit… so let’s recap…
1. Gators (both kinds…think about it)
2. Sharks
3. Hurricanes
4. Mosquitoes
5. Killer Roller Coasters… Man dies after riding Busch Gardens roller coaster in Tampa – Newsday.com
Gator attack described as boy recovers – Newsday.com
It’s a wonder anyone visits this State. You must think this is nothing but a redneck, garage selling swamp with hurricanes. Between the sharks, storms, mosquitoes and gator attacks – it really ISN’T SAFE TO VISIT.
Gator attack described as boy recovers – Newsday.com
It’s a wonder anyone visits this State. You must think this is nothing but a redneck, garage selling swamp with hurricanes. Between the sharks, storms and gator attacks – it really ISN’T SAFE TO VISIT.
Beer-swilling pigs land pub in hot water – Animal Peculiarity – MSNBC.com
I like this story. It has elements that I like…BBQ pork and Australian beer. Which reminds me of Foster’s and cool summer evening sitting along the Alafia River with my good friend Jim. I can still see Jim ripping off his shirt and swinging on the rope swing into the cool water, executing a perfect dive into the deep part of the Alafia. I miss Jim. He was tragically killed by a herd of wild, drunk pigs.
Beer-swilling pigs land pub in hot water – Animal Peculiarity – MSNBC.com
Summer Reading List
Can anyone find the title of the book The President is reading? I’m pretty sure it’s a book on the Civil War and Diane is pretty sure she read about it in a People Magazine in an interview with Laura Bush. Surely one of you gets People Magazine.
Lightning
Pool guy came and gave me the estimate. I might have to change Lily’s Picture of the Day and Video Vault to a pay-per-view service.
Lightning
Add garage door opener to the list of fried electronics. Pool guy is coming this morning at 9:15a.
Sports
Why are Americans so good at the Tour de France? We’ve won something like 10 out of the last 20.
Lightning Update
It’s been 17 hours since the lightning strike. We fortunately realized the socket that the outside freezer was plugged into blew, so we’ve run an extension cord to that. Diane has no power in the bathroom still, so extension cords are needed to blow dry her hair. I’ve got the pool running by going around the computerized control panel, so I can at least run the pool manually. Still no alarm system or sprinkler system. I think the small refrigerator on the porch is history as is the small TV on the porch and the pump that runs the turtle’s tank.
Lightning
Well, we got by lightning this afternoon. We were mowing the grass and had to quit because of a storm that was starting to drop some lightning bolts. About 5 minutes after we came inside the pool equipment on the north side of the house got hit. It sounded like a truck hit the house – everything shook. I have a case of shot glasses hanging on the wall and we thought it was coming off the wall. The pool equipment is all burned up and not working. My printer is gone and several outlets are out. The alarm system to the house is not working and our street light is out.
In Diane’s words “We have Air Conditioning and TV, we’re fine”
Just a thought…
Make sure your shoes aren’t untied before you walk into a public restroom.
Inventions
You know, I’ve decided the shirt pocket is a pretty cool feature. I know – we’ve got to give credit to the first cave man who decided some cloth fashioned over his arms and back was practical and hip. But whoever added the pocket was a genius. The shirt pocket was added long before you could slip a cell phone or camera into it. I’ll bet it was invented before fountain pens were made that could leak onto the shirt. (I’m not counting the old feather style fountain pens. Of course, I can picture our Founding Fathers walking around with a quill in their pocket.)
Just my thought for the day. When you think of something that goes unappreciated, you should give credit where credit is due. And today, I’m glad we have pockets on shirts.
Hurricane
The Tropics are still kind of quiet. The Hurricane Center says a strong High Pressure system and strong low level winds are preventing the development we normally see this time of year. Very nice weather this coming weekend – highs about 90, lows in the low 70’s. Pool water is about 85 degrees.
Lily
Sometimes, these things happen and I don’t remember to put them in Lily’s Journal. So I’ll put them here where I can update a little more regularly until I can put them in the journal later. So I apologize for any duplicates.
This morning, I think Lilyann Josephine Belcher, the First was particularly hungry. She woke up early and was clammoring for food as soon as we came into the kitchen to start breakfast. I finally had things ready and told her to go get in her seat, at which time she started screaming to Mom that breakfast was ready. Loud. “MOMMMM, BREAKFAST IS READY!!!! MOMMM!!!!” I guess Mom wasn’t moving fast enough and Lily said to me “Mom’s not coming, didn’t hear me”.
Dinosaurs
Did I just hear right? A Paleontologist on my local news just said that the Brontosaurus never existed. He said it was a scientific mistake made when the head of one dinosaur was put on the body of another dinosaur and thought to be a new species.
Anyone who can offer any support of this will be appreciated.
If there were no Brontosaurus, what did Fred Flinstone eat?
HBNS: Studies Show Only Modest Benefits of Flu Shots Among Older Adults
Will you get your flu shot?
HBNS: Studies Show Only Modest Benefits of Flu Shots Among Older Adults
That Ref Is Not A Pirate; He’s Just Blind.
We don’t ask much of referees in our sports: They should be fair, they should try to avoid taking away from the action on the field, they should, in a pinch, be able to prance around a bit. And, not to be a stickler, it would be nice if they had two working eyes.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr agrees with us, apparently, getting a Big Ten referee fired after reporting to the league that he has only one eye. The referee, James Filson, lost his right eye in an accident in 2000, and he didn’t tell his bosses about it. According to him, the reviews of his performance were actually better than they were before he lost his eye, which seems curious.
Filson is suing the Big Ten for his job back and pay lost, saying it’s an unwarranted firing because he was doing just fine as a ref. In response, the league is standing just to the right of him.
Barbaro
Just read an article that said well wishers were sending treats to the horse while he recovers. Last week alone, he received 400 roses, 300 apples and 150 pounds of carrots.
Barbaro’s chance of survival is ‘long shot’ – Sports – MSNBC.com
Barbaro’s chance of survival is ‘long shot’ – Sports – MSNBC.com
Just a late afternoon update to our day of depressing news. This one for all you horse racing fans out there.
Lily
Lily found Diane’s stash of Tic Tacs – one of Lily’s personal favorites, too – the orange ones. She also managed to open the tiny plastic case and dump the entire contents into her hand. About this time, Diane saw what had happened and told Lily that she could have ONE. As Diane approached her to enforce the single TicTac ruling, Lily proceeded to cram her handful of Tic Tacs into her mouth as fast as she could with reckess abandon. Like she was starving or something.
Today’s newspaper
Wow, today’s paper is just a downer. The first story that brings you down is a feature on a homeless couple filled with photos of their 5 and 8 year old little girls. That one is a killer. Let’s see, there is the story of the Tampa soldier killed in Afghanistan who leaves behind a 5 month old son he knew for only 4 weeks. We also have a 60 year old robbed at an ATM at 2:30 in the morning. He was on his way to work. Sixty years old and he has to work at that hour. I’ve got to quit reading the paper and stick to the comics and crossword.
Barbaro ‘facing tough odds’ for survival – Sports – MSNBC.com
Barbaro ‘facing tough odds’ for survival – Sports – MSNBC.com
I don’t know about you, but my local media has yet to cover this story. They also failed to cover the other 1000 race horses put down last year due to injuries suffered on the track.
Why is it so hard to stick to a diet?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13805666/site/newsweek/
That’s one set of reasons. My top 10 diet killers…
5. Sourcream and Cheddar Lay’s Potato Chips
4. 16oz bottle of a microbrewed Root Beer… 300 calories!
3. Chicago Pizza’s Super Supreme with everything.
2. Starbuck’s Triple Venti Caramel Macchiato. (can I have an AMEN?!)
1. Icecream Drumsticks with peanut/chocolate topping (Lily calls them Dumb Sticks – probably because you’d be Dumb to keep them in your freezer)
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley and her FOURTH husband are getting a divorce (they apparently had some disagreements over the thermostat in their house). Fourth husband. She has three kids from three different fathers.
Pacific island named as Happiest Place
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13825022/
You know why they are the happiest place? Because they aren’t living with the current “Thermostat Jihad” going on in my house right now.
Bad shot
HOLLY HILL – An injured bird has confounded rescue workers for days by staying on the move despite a 2-foot arrow stuck through its body.
The young white ibis first was seen Thursday night. It was shot with a dull arrow, which appears to have missed vital organs and muscle but remains lodged in the bird.
“I have captured hundreds of birds,” said Bob Hunt, a volunteer with the Bird Rescue Center in New Smyrna Beach. “You would think this would be one of the easier ones.”
It hasn’t.
Hunt and partner Marilyn Camp spent hours Monday chasing the bird from tree to tree. They threw fish on the ground to lure it down and tossed twigs to rattle it off a perch. The bird simply would climb to a higher branch or flutter away as they advanced.
“We thought we would wear the little bird out,” Camp said. “He has worn us out.”
Workers from the Marine Science Center and Holly Hill police also tried to no avail to rescue the ibis. Volunteers were trying again Tuesday.
Florida becoming More Safe to Visit
Florida’s crime index fell for the 14th straight year and hit a 35 year low. All Tampa counties showed a decrease in crime. Hillsborough County crimes were down 11.2%.
