Quote Of The Month

"Don't be afraid of change.  You may lose out on something good, but you might gain something even better."

These are words that I needed to hear. 

Flashback Friday

I'm so excited about this that I almost can't stand it - I'm going to see Cher on Monday night.  Yep, THE Cher.  My seat is very close and I just can't wait.  But I'm in a quandry, just like I would have been back when I was in my early, early teens:  what to wear.

Back in the day when I was a kid, teenager, and even into my early 20's, I would plan what to wear to a concert weeks before the actual concert.  This would involve the trying on of many, many outfit combinations until I found the perfect outfit to wear. 

Flash forward to going to a concert today.  Most of the times, the concert is on a week night, and you've worked all day, and the only thing on your mind is comfort.  For one, like I said, you've worked all day and you're tired.  Also, you will probably have to park far away and walk goodness knows how many blocks to the arena.  So like I said, comfort is first and foremost these days.  The days of dressing to impress are long gone.  I just want to be able to get to a concert and enjoy it comfortably. 

In case you're wondering, my outfit for Monday night's Cher concert has already been determined:  my Cher Live At Caesar's Colleseum t-shirt, khaki shorts, and a very comfortable (key word of this post) pair of sandles.

Practice Makes Decent

I was talking with some of my friends out in the factory today, and they were all excited about the upcoming company picnic two weeks from tomorrow.  One of the guys, Big Greg, asked if I was going to get into the very popular cornhole tournament. I looked at him like he had three heads. Believe me when I tell you that there's only one sport that I am worse at when it comes to playing cornhole and that's bowling.  But I digress.  At first, I thought Big Greg was just joking, because he's seen me play before.  Then I realized he was serious.  He even said he'd talk to one of the guys in HR and ask if he would pair us up together for a team.  Heaven help us if that happens.

So tonight after supper, I went to the barn and dragged out the old cornhole boards and started practicing.  All I can say is at least I got some exercise throwing the corn bags and walking back and forth between the boards. 

Something You Don't See Every Day Update

When I got to work this morning, my coworkers and I were still laughing over yesterday's big Easter candy faux pas.  In fact, another coworker who didn't think it was funny said that we were being childish.  That made us laugh even more.

Something You Don't See Every Day

When I went to the lunchroom this morning to put my leftovers in the fridge, I noticed a big cardboard box on one of the lunchroom tables full of goodies.  The unspoken rule is that whenever you have something you want to share with your coworkers, you put it out on one of the lunchroom tables.  A few coworkers were in the lunchroom with me fixing their breakfast or getting coffee, and one coworker told me to look through the box to see what all was in there.  There was a case of the infamous Boy Scout microwave popcorn, a box of Girl Scout cookies, a box of Wheat Thins and a lot of leftover Easter candy.  As I was looking through the box, one item caught my eye. Yep, a Magnum condom .  That is most definitely something that you don't expect to see in a box of leftover cookies, crackers and Easter candy.  

All I can say is that must have been one hell of an Easter egg hunt.  

Happy Memorial Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy Memorial Day.  I hope that you all spent the day thinking about our military men and women that gave their lives for our freedom.  And I hope that you spent some time thinking about your friends and family that are no longer with us.

Today at The Compound, the 'Rents, The Cousin from Alabama and I spent time reminiscing about Grandma and Grandpa.  We had a great time re-telling some of our favorite memories of them.

While we're on the subject of memories, let's not forget to take time to make some new memories; years from now when we're dead and gone, chances are our friends and relatives will be sitting around the kitchen table talking about their memories of us.  Let's make sure they have some good, happy stories to tell.

Link Of The Week

As you already know, I love music.  And something you might know know - I love Mariah Carey.  I've loved her since she first came on the scene.  In fact, "Vision Of Love" was my shower-singing song for years.   But I digress.  Another thing you might know have known --  for a few years, Mariah Carey was in the Guiness Book of World Records for having the greatest vocal range for a female.  Like her or not, that ain't shabby.

Someone sent me a link to a cool site this week that has a chart showing the vocal ranges of musical artists popular today and going back in the day.  Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/20/top-artists-vocal-range_n_5357698.html and check it out. 

Security Tip Saturday

It's that time of year when people are out working in the yard - cutting grassing, pulling weeds, working in their flower or vegetable gardens.  And most of them go outside and don't think about the doors on the house being unlocked.  And most people get engrossed in their gardening and yard work that they don't pay attention to what's going on around them, and with their doors unlocked, anyone could just walk in and rob them or worse.  So when you are going to be outside for longer than a few minutes, please lock your door.

Stay safe and secure

Flashback Friday

When I was little (meaning, kindegarten through 3rd or 4th grade) there was an afternoon ritual at The Compound.  My Grandpa and I would walk about a quarter of a mile down the road to our neighborhood market (aka The Little Store) and he would buy me a can of Chocola.  We'd walk back home, and I would drag my little rocking chair over in front of the TV and after Grandma's soap operas were over, I would watch two hours of Presto the Clown while drinking my Chocola.

In my earlier years, the cartoons would often be interrupted with news reports from a strange sounding place called Viet Nam.  A few years later would be interruptions from more news reports about something strange called Watergate.  But one thing I could always count on:  my Grandpa walking with me to the Little Store to get a Chocola. 

Looking back, it was a pretty sweet deal - both of us got in a half mile of walking, we got to spend time together, and I got a Chocola.

Something You Don't See Every Day

I was stuck in the usual morning traffic jam on the way to work this morning, and I happen to glance over at the car in the lane next to me.  It was a younger woman, probably in her 40's, and she was knitting.  Yes, knitting.  She was knitting as she drove along.  I thought that maybe she just picked up the yarn and needles and was knitting while stopped in traffic, but as the light changed and we moved along I noticed her driving and knitting at the same time.  That is most definitely something that you don't see every day.

Oh Say Can You See?

Oh say can you see?  No, I can't. 

When I woke up this morning, I awoke to the worst allergy day I've had all spring.  My eyes were just a mess.  I started (key word) to put in my right contact lens but the instant that it touched my eye, it felt as if a brick was in my eye.  I quickly put it back in the case and reached for my glasses.  My bifocal glasses.

Let me tell you that I was thrilled that a cop wasn't behind me on the drive to work because they surely would have pulled me over for DUI because I was having a hard time focussing.

And when I got to work, it was even worse, trying to read, write, and see what was on the computer monitor screens. 

I'm just happy that I made it through the day. 

The Best Steak Evah! Update

If you were within ear shot today of anyone from my company that attended the President's Banquet last night at our National Sales Meeting, you were sure to hear about the now famous Best Steak Evah.  We went on about it all day long [to the annoyance of some].

I'm waiting for a call back from the manager of the English Grille, the very nice restaurant at the Brown Hotel, and I am going to ask him if they serve the same steaks in the restaurant as they do for catered meals.  If he says yes, I'm probably going to be filing for bankruptcy in the future from a few too many trips to the English Grille. 

As always, I'll keep you posted.

The Best Steak Evah!!!

I am tickled to report that tonight, I had the best steak evah!! Yep, the best steak ever in my 51 years.  It was a filet, and cooked perfectly medium rare, and it was so tender I was able to cut it with my fork.  I give major props to the chefs and cooking staff at the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville for preparing such an awesome steak.  We had the awesome steaks at our company's National Sales Meeting, which celebrated our 75th year in business.  And everyone at my table agreed that it was the best and most tender steak they've ever eaten. 

Hats off to the Brown Hotel's catering staff. 

App Of The Week

I've mentioned before how I am a lister - I make lists.  I've made lists ever since I was in elementary school and could write.  I've sat through enough Sunday morning sermons and college classes to know that most preachers and teachers like lists, too, because they usually have at least 3 main points for their sermon or lesson.   One list that I use over and over is a packing list for a trip.  I have one list for just a night or two away, and I have another master list for a longer trip.  I'm not that OCD when I pack for a trip - it's just that I want to make sure I come back home with the same things I packed, so a list helps me make sure I didn't leave something in the hotel room.

I've got an awesome app that I use for reusable lists like packing - it's called reList.  You can make your own lists, and they also have some already made.  Unfortunately right now it's only available through iOS but they hope to have it for Android soon. 

File Under: WTF?

I just returned from a trip to WalMart to get new ink cartridges for my Lexmark printer.  Beleive me when I tell you I was blown away.  The combo pack of black and white and color ink cartridges was $52.  On the aisle next to the cartridges was a HP printer on sale for $59.  All I could think was WTF?    It's as if they don't want you to buy the refill ink cartridges, and instead just want you to throw away the old printer and buy a new one because it's just as cheap.  Go figure.

Flashback Friday

TWIT would like to report that on this day back in 1977, Heart released their "Little Queen" album. 

Yep, that's quite a few years ago.  But the album is still as badass as it was back in the day. 

Rock on, Ann and Nancy.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. 

As I type this, it's just now 5:30 EST, so there's plenty of time left today for everyone to celebrate by getting some chocolate chip cookies.  It can be in cookie form, ice cream form, cheesecake form, cake form, or any form.  Just get some chocolate chip cookies today.

Apologies

I sincerely apologize for missing two days of posting this week, faithful readers.  There's been some crazy stuff going on at The Compound and at work, and my mind has been focussed on other things.  The 'Rents are fine (other than going stir crazy from not being able to get out to check on the garden because of all of the rain) and work is . . . well, work. 

Thank you again, faithful readers, for sticking with me and TWIT through the years.  I wouldn't be worth blogging if I didn't have faithful readers like you who are in deed faithful readers.  You rock.

Farmtown Update

We had a pretty big monsoon move through Thursday night, again Friday night and again on Saturday; this just a few days after the 'Rents got all of the garden planted.  It's still way too muddy to get back and check and see if they will need to replant.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I've got some produce at stake this season -- some lettuce and cabbage.  Dad and I decided this past winter that we were going to make some saurkraut with our own cabbage. We've never made it before, so this will be an interesting experience I'm sure.

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Game On, Homes

Today, the Old Man and I got down to bidness.  He walked a mile with my Sweet Mother today, and I walked a mile after work.  We're back to eating more fresh veggies and fruits, and baked, grilled or broiled fish and meat (pork, beef, etc).  We've gotten lax but we're back in bidness. 

We stocked up on the dollar pineapples at our Krogers and wish they would have the sale go on all summer long, but we know they won't.  I got a couple last night, and the 'Rents got two more today.  I'll stop on the way to work tomorrow morning and get a few more, just because.

I'm just happy that I have a big office building to walk through when it's hot outside instead of walking around our gravel walking track.  Tomorrow I plan to talk to one of our engineers at work who is hip on the CAD drawings, and have him figure out the mileage around the office. 

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Happy Mothers Day

On Flashback Friday, I mentioned about Nanaw's Roses, and today on Mothers Day, I am proud to post a picture of one of Nanaw's Roses in bloom.

Ever since this rose bush has been fully grown, it has always had blooms on Mother's Day.  Always.  On Friday when I came home from work, I was bummed because it looked like for the first year we would not have a rose in bloom.  But as always, the Lord is in control and lo and behold, we had this bloom appear this morning.

That having been said, I wish a very happy Mothers Day to all of my faithful readers.  I hope that you were able to spend time with the special women in your lives - mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, neices and women that are family but not related by geneology. 

Last but certainly not least, I wish a Happy Mothers Day to my sweet Mother Minnie.  You rock.  That's about all I can say.

Overheard At The Store

I was running errands this morning, and was at our local shopping center getting ready to enter into one of our favorite stores, "Everything's A Deal".  In front of the store, a local church was having a huge bake sale to raise money for a mission trip for their youth group.  Let me state right now that there were signs everywhere, and there were also baked goods of all sorts filling up three tables. 

A woman walked up to the bake sale, and after about thirty seconds of looking at the tables full of baked goods, said "What are y'all selling?" 

Hand to heaven.

Flashback Friday

Here's the family story behind our big rose bush.  Our neighbor's, Ed and Alice, were like a second set of grandparents to me. Their house was my second home when I was little.  Alice's mother, who we all called Nanaw, would come up from Glasgow (Kentucky, not Scotland) every few months to visit, and I loved her to pieces.  One spring, she brought a piece of a rose bush she had in her yard, and Ed and Alice were able to grow a bush from it.  A few years later, they gave a piece to us, and Grandpa and Grandma nursed it and were able to get our own bush started from it.  Ed, Alice, and Nanaw are all gone now, as are Grandpa and Grandma, but I see them all every time I look at Nanaw's rose bush. 

Historically, this rose bush would be in full bloom every Mother's Day.  Well, this year, it's not happening.  With the horrid, crazy winter we had, we think it affected the rose bush because there's not a bloom to be found this weekend.  But we have faith that it will be in full bloom soon.  

Welcome!!

TWIT would like to welcome a few new faithful readers.  I won't single them out, but you know who you are.  Thank you for taking the time each day to read TWIT. 

It's been a while since I've gotten any special requests, so let me take this opportunity to ask you all to send me a note if there's a topic you'd like me to discuss on here.  I'm all about special requests from my faithful readers. 

And let me also take this time to thank all of my faithful readers for being, well, faithful readers.  You all rock.  I have the best blog readers in all of blogdom.

Farmtown 2014 Update

The 'Rents wanted me to report that tomatoes have been planted.  We're using a top-secret method this year, and are expecting another bumper crop like last year.They also planted some green bell peppers.  In years past, our peppers have been sweet and not gassy, if you know what I mean.

Tomorrow, the 'Rents will be planting some cabbage and leaf lettuce. Later on in the summer, the Old Man and I are going to make some sauerkraut using Grandma's recipe.  I can hardly wait.  

And in the weeks ahead, they will be planting the ritual zucchini, yellow squash, and egg plant.

As always, I will keep you posted. 

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

TWIT would like to wish everyone a happy Cinco de Mayo.  The 'Rents and I just got home from celebrating at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Pina Fiesta.  Once again, they treated us like VIPs.  

It's not too late to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, faithful readers, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to have tacos.  

We all love tacos, and we all make a mess while eating tacos.  Mainly, because we tilt our heads when we try to eat them, or because we make a mess when we try to fill them up.  On way to fill them up without a mess it to stick the inner tines on a fork in the end of a hard taco shell.  It will sit up straight while you fill it up. Here's a picture to show what I'm talking about. 

Another tip is to help keep the taco shells from cracking.  Line an oven-proof plate with a damp paper towel and top with up to six taco shells. Put the plate in the oven and bake the shells. The steam caused by the damp paper towel will make the shells more flexible as they cook—and they'll be less likely to break.

 

Post-Derby Wrap-Up

Derby 2014 is over, and things will be back to "normal" soon here in Louisville; although I've come to find out that "normal" is only a setting on the washing machine.  But I digress. This wasn't one of my more exciting Derbys, as Derbys go.  The celebrating started almost a month ago at the Taste of Derby Festival event, which I consider to be trick-or-treating for adults.  I really don't even think of it as an actual Derby Festival event.  We had a great time as usual, and I got to catch up with an old friend and visit with a new friend.  Then for me, it was a dry spell for Derby Festival activities until yesterday when the 'Rents and I watched the races and ate snacks all day.  The SF's (School Friends) and I didn't have our Great Steamboat Race day-long cookout like we usually do, mainly because none of us were into Derby this year.  

One thing about the Derby did have me excited, however.  A few weeks ago, the attendees to the star-studded Barnstable Brown Derby Eve party was announced, and my beloved Ann and Nancy Wilson were on the list.  You know by now how much I love these two, and how it is a life long dream to meet them.  Unless you're rich, it's almost impossible to get a ticket to this party, so that left me out.  And this year, the police were keeping people back from the entrance to the party, so it would have been useless for me to go there and wait for a glimpse of them as they arrived.  

When I got up yesterday morning, the first thing I did was scour the newspaper and internet for pictures from the party.  As I was looking online, one of the local news channels had a piece on the party.  I thought for sure they would show Ann and Nancy.  But no.  Hell no.  They had to show a local singer who was at the party merely because she was on last season of "The Voice."  The moment I saw the interview with her and heard her "and uh . . . and uh . . . " And of course, the news people had to interview pretty much the entire UofL basketball team.  I knew how Elvis felt when he wanted to get his gun and shoot the TV.  We watched Derby coverage all day long, and still no Ann and Nancy. 

This morning at church, I was talking with our off-duty officer, and he was telling me about how he was in charge of escorting and guarding Lucy Arnez yesterday.  I asked if he got to see Ann and Nancy and he confirmed that they were in deed there at Churchill Downs, but they were very low-key and didn't really want a lot of publicity.  He said that they were in one of the most prestigious areas of "Millionaire's Row", and that they came and left with little fanfare.  

It was still very cool when I think that two people I want to meet were just about 20 minutes away from The Compound.  But once again, I digress.  

 

Happy Derby

After weeks of celebrating, the day if is finally here - the first Saturday in May, Derby Day.

Today is one of the prettiest Derby Days we've had in years - it's about 70, sunny and windy but at least it's not raining or cold like most Derbys have been.

Don't ask me for any tips, because for the first time in decades, I haven't followed the horses and am clueless.  I don't even know if there's a gray horse running (note: my grandpa and grandma always would bet on the gray horses). 

It still fascinates me that all of this hoopla is happening just 20 minutes away from The Compound. 

Happy Derby

Happy Derby Eve

It's Derby Eve, and I'm very bummed.  My beloved Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart are in town this weekend, and tonight they will be in the Highlands, just 30 minutes away, at the prestigious Barnstable Brown party.  It saddens me because the majority of the people at that party tonight won't even know who they are.  What I would not give for the chance to get to meet them. 

Anyhoo, I hope everyone has a great and safe Derby Eve. As for me, I'm getting ready to get the tequila bottle out of the cabinet.  Happy Derby Eve.

Happy Cold Derby Latter Week

After the storms moved through two nights ago, the cold front moved in.  Here at The Compound we had the 'Rents refrained from turning the furnace back on and as I type this they are both bundled up in their recliners with their favorite blankets.  Sure, I admit that it is cool but as you know, I like it.

The forecast for Oaks day is more of the same - cool.  But here in the Ohio Valley, that can change quick. Stay tuned.