Farewell, 2010

As I sit here on New Year's Eve, it's time to say goodbye to 2010. Before 2010 is gone, I need to thank 2010 for some things.

I need to thank you for teaching me the value of patience. For over twenty years at work, I waited and waited for the day that I would get a big promotion, and in the last few weeks of this year, it finally came through - I was promoted to department supervisor. Thank you for giving me patience and diligence. This past year was exceptionally hard, with all that we dealt with as a department. It was a hard year on all of us in our little cubicle, but I thank you for giving me patience. It finally paid off.

I need to thank you for giving me discipline this year. My classes in my Master's Degree program progressively got harder, and I thank you for showing me the power of discipline. I'm getting ready to start on my last class, and I'm very proud to say that after all classes so far, I've kept up my streak of straight A's. It wasn't easy; most nights I spent at the desk studying. But it's paid off.

I need to thank you for the health and happiness of my family. Mom and Dad are doing great, and I am so thankful to have them with me.

I need to thank you for showing me the awesome power of prayer. This summer and fall, many others and I prayed for little Brooklynn, and thanks to the power of the Lord, she is still with us and is doing just fine. As I told a friend back in the summer, the only thing the Lord cannot do is fail. And many many thanks for that fact.

I need to ask for a couple of things in the new year, too.

I need to ask for continued discipline and focus. This weekend I will start on my Master's Thesis, and I ask that you help keep me disciplined and focussed. I really need to ask for the ability to say "no" when friends start calling and wanting to go out. In nine short weeks it will all be over and I will be the proud owner of two Master's Degrees, so I just need to keep that goal in sight.

I need to ask you to be easy on my parents and friends. Don't be too hard on them. They made it through 2010 fairly unscathed, so please go light on them.

I need to ask you to help me as I start a new chapter in my life as the department supervisor. We're all not sure what you have in store for us next year, but I ask that you give me wisdom, understanding and more patience. And above all else, help me to never lose sight of the Golden Rule -- to treat others as I want to be treated.

Thank you again, 2010, for all that you taught us. And we look forward to what 2011 has in store.

Quote Of The Week

QThis edition of Quote Of The Week was said by yours truly, and I quote:

"Life is too short to play games unless there's Monopoly money involved."

Nuff said.

Wednesday Updates

It's been awhile since I've given any updates on little Brooklynn, so I wanted to fill you all in. As of her visit to the doctor yesterday for a check-up, she's just a few ounces away from being ten pounds - yep, she'll soon be in the double-digits. Other than just being small, her pediatrician said she's doing just fine. Her family wanted to once again thank everyone for their prayers for her.

TWIT would like to wish a very speedy recovery to two dear friends of our family, Marty and Howard. Our friend Marty had a pacemaker put in on Monday and is doing great. They only kept her one night in the hospital for observation. She said she'll be soon preparing for her annual trip to Florida for the winter. And our friend Howard has been in the hospital for a week with pneumonia and a collapsed lung, but is doing much better this week, and hopes to get sprung from the hospital soon.

That's What I Call A Smooth Ride

I've been trying to drive the BMW more than I have in the past few months, to keep it running, and I've noticed something very odd and interesting. I think there's a short in the driver's seat adjustment switches, because for the last few days I've driven the car it feels like I'm sitting in a massage chair. Yep, I can feel the driver's seat moving up, down, forward, backward and every other way it moves. I haven't tried to adjust it manually to stop it; I've just been enjoying the massage while I drive. And as long as I'm not hurting anything on the car, I just might not do anything and will just continue to enjoy the smooth ride.

Another One Bites The Dust

As I write this, I feel horrible. When I was clearing the dishes from the table and the pots and pans from the stove, I dropped and broke one of our beloved antique Club Aluminum pans. Clarification - the indestructible Club Aluminum pan didn't break; the heavy plastic handle did. I felt terrible. We'd had this set of pans for as long as I can remember. I was almost hysterical over breaking it and Mom was just "no big deal." Of course, the first thing I did was run to the computer and get on eBay and order a replacement handle for it, only to have Mom fuss at me for doing so. She said that she had a new Ove Glove that she got for Christmas and that would be just fine for the pan; she didn't need the handle. But I still felt bad and will still feel bad about it until the replacement handle arrives in the mail and I can get it screwed back on to the pan.

Link Of The Week

I think the 'Rents and I are some of the few people that didn't get a gift card for Christmas this year. Just about every person I've talked to since Christmas Eve has gotten gift cards. And a couple of them complained about the stores and restaurants the gift cards were for. I found a site this week that will help them out. It's called the Plastic Jungle, and you can buy, sell or swap gift cards. You can trade your gift cards for cash (via check), PayPal funds, or an Amazon.com Gift Card, or if you're feeling generous you can donate them to charity. You can also buy gift cards at a pretty good discount. Check them out at http://www.plasticjungle.com.

Merry Christmas

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you all are enjoying the day with your loved ones.

We've grazed all morning long, and finished our Christmas dinner about an hour ago and now we're all three ready for a nice long winter's nap.

Merry Christmas!

File Under: WTF?

Mysterious creature found in Nelson County

Has a mythical creature made its way to Kentucky? Some people seem to think so, after a Nelson County man came across a creature with grayish, wrinkly skin and no fur.

Mark Cothren shot and killed an animal on Dec. 18 because he said he feared what it was, since he did not recognize it. He said the animal walked from the woods onto his front yard around 3 p.m. Cothren lives on Mount Carmel Church Road in Lebanon Junction.

"I was like: 'every animal has hair, especially this time of year!' What puzzled me is how something like that could survive through a winter with no hair," Cothren said.
"Everybody is getting very curious, you know. [The] phone is ringing off the hook. It's kind of a mystery right now," Cothren said.

Cothren described the creature as having large ears, whiskers, a long tail, and about the size of a house cat. He says many people have tried to guess what the animal may be. He said he's heard anything from raccoon to a dog to the legendary Chupacabra.

"Everybody is leaning kind of toward that - it's the Chupacabra! People have come up to me [saying] 'that's what the thing is 'cause I pulled it up on the Internet'" Cothren laughed.
Legend has it the Chupacabra - also known as the "Goat Sucker" - kills goats and sucks their blood. The fabled creature has supposedly been spotted in South America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, as well as Texas and Oklahoma.

"It's hard to judge what an animal is from just a photograph," said Sam Clites with the Louisville Zoo. Clites say he would have to see the animal in person to study it and determine its species. At first glance, he believed the animal could be a raccoon or a dog, but not a mythical creature.
"This is an animal that's native to our area, most likely that is suffering from some type disease," Clites said.

Clites says it isn't uncommon for an animal with a severe disease to lose fur and look unrecognizable. Cothren says he has spoken with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and is preserving the animal to hand over to them.

I just really don't know what to think about this. I agree with Mr. Cothren - it sure doesn't look like any raccoon or possum or even a coyote. And it sure doesn't look like the Chupacabra that Mulder and Scully found on an episode of the "X-Files" back in the day, either; that Chupacabra walked on it's hind legs like a person. And it was way bigger than this one.

Flashback Friday

When I was little, one of the things I could always count on getting for Christmas (besides new socks) was a Lifesavers Book. Sometimes I would get one at school when we would exchange gifts in our class; other times, there would be one in my stocking Christmas morning. Isn't it cool how Santa always knew to get me a Lifesavers Book when I didn't get one at school? Anyhoo, it's been years and years since I've gotten one, and I was sure that they didn't make them anymore until I saw them in the stores this holiday season.

With all of the electronic, computer and video stuff the kids get for Christmas these days, I guess they would think a Lifesavers Book was lame. My friends and I sure didn't. We loved the book. And in typical kid fashion, we would trade the rolls we didn't like. Butter Rum was always my favorite, and luckily for me, the friends that I traded with didn't like that flavor so I was always able to trade for their Buttered Rum Lifesavers. Nobody would give up everyone's favorite Wild Cherry, though.

Happy Birthday, Susan Lucci

TWIT would like to wish a very happy birthday to one of my favorite actresses, Susan Lucci. The awesome Ms. Lucci turns 64 today. And I will say she looks damned good for 64.

All I Want For Christmas . . . Is To Rest

It's been a rough and busy few weeks, faithful readers. Hell, it's been a rough and busy year, with school and with everything that's gone on at work in the past year. I don't even want to try to add up all of the times that I've been to a store since Sunday night; I think the total would shock even the most diehard shopper. It's not just for Christmas presants for my family - a couple of years ago, the 'Rents and I decided we were not going to have a "capitalistic Christmas" and we scaled way back on our spending and gift giving. And we kept the same tradition this year; only I've been running around trying to get last minute special grocery items for a big salad that I want to make (and you know I don't cook) and things for a special project that me and the SF's do every Christmas in lieu of exchanging gifts. We buy things for two girls at the Maryhurst home/school for troubled teenage girls. Sure, I'm tired from running around but at the same time I'm thrilled that I have a job that gives me enough money to be able to buy some things so these two teenage girls that are living at the school will have a good Christmas. To me, that's what it's all about.

So getting back to me, all I really want for Christmas this year is to rest. Other than delivering the gifts to Maryhurst tomorrow night, that's the extent of my Christmas traveling until Sunday. I'm planning on staying in my pajamas all day on Christmas day, too. So be forwarned if you decide to stop in and visit.

Quote Of The Week

This was overheard last night at WalMart.

Background: a mother who appeared to be in her early 30's was telling this to her toddler child who was laying down on the floor of the store.

"Get your ass up off of the floor."

Vehicle Update

It's been awhile since I've had to put one of the vehicles in the shop, so I'm sure you've been missing the report$. Not to worry - I've got an update today. As I mentioned on Saturday, the Blazer's turn signals haven't been working since late last week. I took it on Thursday to a shop that a friend recommended that was able to look at it. Well, no luck. The shop specializes in brakes and exhaust systems and was going to look at it as a favor. But they said it was "too involved" for them. The next day at work, one of my coworkers pointed out the fact that I had the Blazer in the shop earlier this year to have the turn signals fixed. My old mind had forgotten about that. I called the shop that did that work (luckily it's about a mile from work) and sure enough they fixed it back in the spring. They said to bring it in today and they'd fix it again and wouldn't charge me. While I was being inconvenienced, I told them to change the oil and check the rest of the vital parts out for me, and to check out the 4WD, which hasn't worked in about a year.

They called this afternoon to say that the turn signals now worked, the oil had been changed, other filters had been changed, and that the only thing wrong with the 4WD was a switch. They said they'd have me back in business tomorrow afternoon. For the first time in ages, the total of repairs was well under our normal $400 cap -- only $203. You don't know how happy that made me.

All I can say is that mabe this weekend I'll get the chance to try out the 4WD switch if we get the big Christmas Eve snow like they're predicting. As always, I'll keep you posted.

Link Of The Week

A friend sent me a link to a very cool site this week - she's a big fan of Flashback Friday and thought I could get some ideas from the site. Well, the site is just too cool to flashback to just one or two things, so I felt compelled to share it in a link.

You know by now that I'm old school - I love all of the old school stuff from back in the day. The site is an online store where you can buy old school candy from the 50's on up to the olden days of the 90's. They even had the horrible Space Sticks - very chewy chocolate flavored candy. They tasted terrible but we still ate them because we thought the astronauts ate them. Buy some for yourself at http://www.hometownfavorites.com.

All Together Now

When I woke up this morning, the BMW wouldn't start, the Blazer had no turn signals, my iPod Touch wouldn't charge, and a friend had lost their cell phone. After a day of a combination of frustration, patience and diligence, we're down to only the Blazer still having no turn signals. But that will be taken care of on Monday. So almost everything has come together.

Flashback Friday

For the kids in school, today was the last day before the Christmas break. But the kids in Jefferson County have gotten two extra days, since they've had snow days the past two days.

I distinctly remember the last day before the Christmas break when I was in elementary school. The PTA room mothers would come to the classroom as soon as we had lunch and the party woudl start. We'd had cupcakes, cookies, potato chips, Coke - you name it, the room mothers would bring it. And it was all homemade stuff, too; a far cry from today where the parents have to bring store-bought stuff to school. And for the record, it was a CHRISTMAS party - it wasn't a politically correct "Winter Holiday Party".

In addition to the previously mentioned goodies, we would always get a big clear plastic stocking filled with cool Christmas ribbon candy and a candy cane shaped pen. Of course to me, that was the highlight of the day.

Winter Storm #3 Update #1

It might be getting hard to decipher the winter storm updates, but just in case you're confused, this is the first update about Winter Storm #3.

The snow and sleet is supposed to start shortly, with a total of 2 to 4 inches, and is supposedly to be followed by freezing rain, which is expected to total over a quarter of an inch. Believe me when I tell you as much as I love snow, I would be just fine with none of this crap to deal with tomorrow.

On a side note, this is finals week, and I'm in my deep-anxiety-attack mode until I get the big project completed and turned in. I woke up at 2:15 this morning in full-blown panic.

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Winter Storm #3

Winter storm warnings are already out for the area as we speak, and we're gearing up for Winter Storm #3. Starting tomorrow afternoon and ending hopefully Thursday afternoon, we're expected to have 2- 4 inches of snow and ice in the area. All I can think about is January 27, 2009 when we had the Mega Ice Storm Of The Century. I pray it's not nearly as bad.

At any rate, we're not taking any chances here at The Compound. The 'Rents went to the grocery this afternoon and got in everything we'll need to get us through Christmas. We've got the Christmas ham, stuff for Mom's awesome potato salad, and plenty of spinach so Mom can make her famous spinach dip. We have plenty of flour, sugar and other ingredients so Dad can start his Christmas baking. And we have plenty of sour cream; a staple at holidays. I'm getting ready to head out to get our lottery tickets and will stock up on other items for the holidays: plenty of Coke Zero, Bud Light, and Frito Scoops. As always, I'll keep you posted.

Winter Storm #2 Update

We ended up getting about an inch of snow last night, and what measley snow that fell was blown all around thanks to the small wind storm we had last night. Of course Jefferson County cancelled school today, but the roads were fine when I went to work this a.m. Cars were moving along just like normal. I guess the teachers and administrators felt they needed a day off.

Anyhoo, I'm disappointed, mainly in the weatherazzi who had me all ready for 2 to 4 inches of snow. The snowblower was full of gas and in the front of the garage, with the starter plugged in and ready to blow.

Never fear, because our third winter storm of the season is in the forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday morning. As always, I'll keep you posted.

Link Of The Week

It's hard to believe that when I type the Link Of The Week two weeks from today, Christmas will be over. I'm not trying to be a Scrooge or anything; I'm just reporting the facts. This means you have less then two weeks to still sing Christmas carols. In case you can't remember the words to some of the Christmas carols, TWIT can help you out. Visit http://www.carolingcorner.com and you can find the lyrics to over 250 Christmas carols. Now get to fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-ing.

Snow Storm Eve

Once again, the weatherazzi has whipped everyone into a frenzy about the big snow storm that is forecasted to start later tonight. At last check, we're "supposed" to get 2 to 4 inches of snow, with 35 mph winds causing (and I quote) "blizzard-like conditions". It's been pouring rain for the past few hours, and it's supposed to change over to snow early tomorrow morning. Actually, it would be bad enough with all of the rain freezing over tonight when the temperatures drop, but add snow and high winds causing the wind chill factor to be below zero, and you've got an interesting day ahead of us.

From reports I got this morning, milk and bread was flying off the shelves in the stores as fast as they could restock. One report form Meijers this morning said there was no milk to be found in the entire store.

As always, I'll keep you posted and will post pictures.

Flashback Friday

During lunch yesterday, my friend, coworker and faithful reader SH and I were reminiscing about our high school typing classes, and how we used the hell out of the typewriter eraser pencils with the brush at the other end. We both agreed that kids today in school would not have a clue what we were talking about. For starters, they wouldn't know what a typewriter was.

During lunch we talked about how when we made a dreaded mistake on a typing assignment, the world might as well have come to and end, because it was a major accomplishment to erase the mistake without tearing a hole in the paper.

Thank goodness today we do most of our "typing" in Word and can delete and do-over with no repercussions at all. The kids today will never know the horror of using the typewriter eraser pencil and praying that you didn't make a hole in your paper.

Quote Of The Week

We're getting a new phone system at work, and on this new system, supervisors will have the capability to monitor phone calls and computer use. I don't need to tell you that this has caused quiet a stir among coworkers. My little department was discussing it today in depth, and after listening to my three employees express their concern and dislike for it, I quoted something a school friend said in class a few weeks ago. And I quote:

"If you don't have anything to hide, then why should it bother you?"

Something You Don't Hear Everyday

Background: Overheard by a worker at "Everything's A Deal" supposedly on her break, standing outside of the door to the store, talking on her cell phone.

"I can pick her up. I got my license back."

The Deep Freeze Continues

The deep freeze continues, and I'm proud to say that once again I wore my badass fur hat today. I wore it on my way home, and I was stopped at Rite-Aid by a fellow shopper who said he liked my winter hat. Well, that made me want to weat it all the more.

Monday Brrrrrrr

This morning was the coldest morning of the season so far - when I left for work it was 19 degrees and very windy. But I was warm and toasty in my heavy coat and my badass winter hat. I got it late last winter, and was only able to wear it a couple of times. But rest assured I wore it to and from work today. It was so soft on my head, and it was extremely warm. It matches my winter coat perfectly.

If you're in the market for a badass warm winter hat, I recommend one just like this one. Do a search for "aviator fur hat" and you'll find it. I hope you get one. You won't regret it; even if someone bags on you for wearing a hat, at least you'll be warm and they probably won't be.

Link Of The Week

I've mentioned in previous posts about how I love my coupons. As soon as we get home from church on Sunday mornings I get the scissors and the coupon sections from the Sunday paper and start cutting. I'm not militant or radical - I only cut out coupons for things that we would normally buy, and I'm not into trading coupons like kids trade baseball cards. I honestly don't have the patience and energy like the militant coupon people who will buy two grocery carts full of stuff and using a box full of coupons only pay $1.31 for everything.

I found a site a couple of weeks ago where a guy does just that - he buys tons and tons of stuff using tons and tons of coupons and only pays pennies for it all. Don't get me wrong - I love a good deal like the next person, but I don't have the time, energy or inclination to do what this guy and others do. He recently took a challenge to be able to buy enough food to fix a complete Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 6 for $1. Yes, $1. Read it for yourself at http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/. You'll be amazed at this guy. When you finish reading that, check out his "Eating well on $1 a day" challenge.

Another Disappointment

The weatherazzi had everyone all worked up yesterday about our first snow of the season. They were calling for one to three inches. Given how much I love snow, I was giddy with excitement. The city trucks were out in full force on Thursday brining all of the roads, too. So they were expecting something. They said the snow would start at about midnight last night, and for once they were dead on; it started snowing just as we were leaving the concert last night. It was a pretty ride home, seeing it snow in the night. By the time we pulled into The Compound, the ground was about half covered. I went to bed in anticipation of our first accumulating show of the season. Boy was I disappointed when I woke up. I didn't even wait to put in my contacts or put on my new glasses; I hopped out of bed and peeked through the mini-blinds. Even half blind I could still see some grass and leaves poking through the snow. I'd say we didn't even get half an inch. Oh well. There's always next week.

Report From The Concert

The Judds concert was awesome. I love the new Yum! Center.

Computer Update, Day 3

I'm very happy to report that the computer shop called me this morning and said that my computer was fixed and ready to go. It seems the problem was in the motherboard and not the video card. But since it was covered under warranty, the only thing it cost me was inconvenience. As soon as I got home, I connected everything back in and within a minute I was up and running.

Computer Problems, Day 2

I'm almost ashamed to report that as soon as I got home today, instinctively I walked to the back bedroom. Then I remembered the computer wasn't back there. I'm not going through withdrawals just yet; it's just hard to break a habit.