New Product Review

I bought a bag of Lays Wavy Greek Tzatziki tonight while I was getting in my steps at WalMart, and I have to say they are almost tasteless.  They taste just about the regular Wavy Lays. There is a very, very, very, very hint of cucumber.  But other than that, there are not any other tastes that I encountered.  And I've eaten almost a third of the bag. 

The Lays Wavy Lays Greek Tzatziki flavor gets the thumb's down from TWIT. 

Mystery Of The Universe

Why does a person sit in the smack-dab middle of a bench in a public place, instead of sitting on the end to allow someone else to sit down?

Flashback Friday

Today, I am flashing back to the 80's -- the days before we had our central a/c.  The a/c here at The Compound crapped out last night.  And with our maintenance agreement with the HVAC company that installed the unit way back in 1990, they can't get out here under free labor until Monday morning.  So till then, we are going to sweat it out. 

Back in the day, we slept great at night thanks to our big attic fan, and we didn't know any differently than we do today.  Sure, the attic fan will be a lot louder than the central a/c unit, but it will move some air and will hopefully help us sleep comfortably the next few nights.  We would open our bedroom windows at night, and then stick a shoe or something in the doorway to keep it open a couple of inches, and the attic fan would pull in a lot of air. 

I'm just thankful that this didn't happen in the last two weeks when the temps were in the mid- to upper-90's.  

It will be inconvenient, but we're tough and we'll make it. 

Off And Running!

As I type this, it's not a very happy atmosphere at The Compound tonight.  The old Lennox a/c unit is on its last leg.  We'd hoped that it would see us through another summer, but we're not so sure right now.  Today has been the "coolest" day in the past two weeks, and it's not all that cool here inside The Compound.  I'm blaming part of that on my dainly hot flash.  But the last time the a/c repairman came, he said that it was definitely on its last leg, but in our defense, the unit did have a lifetime warranty.  Unfortunately, they don't make this mode, but the manufacturer would honor the warranty and pro-rate it.  But they would only do it when the unit totally crapped out.  Which might be in the next few days. 

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Mystery Of The Universe

Today in TWIT, we start a recurring post titled "Mystery Of The Universe." 

Today's Mystery:

I can sit at my desk at work for two hours on end - not getting up from the seat once, and not getting one phone call.  Yet as soon as I get up from my seat, someone will call.  Why does that happen? 

Happy Life Day To Me

Another year has passed, and once again I am so thankful that I am able to celebrate Life Day today. 

In case you don't know, today is what I call Life Day. On this day in 1992, I was in a head-on wreck, and was almost killed. My right foot had to be rebuilt, but thanks to the Lord and my orthopedic surgeon, I'm fine. After the surgery, they thought that they would have to go back in and fuse my ankle, which meant I would have walked like Chester from "Gunsmoke" for the rest of my life. But the Lord had other plans. So on this day every year, I do something fun and awesome to celebrate Life Day. A few years ago, Diva Stacy  and I went to see Heart from the second row to celebrate. Last year, the 'Rents and I took a day trip. This year, I decided it's only fitting that I celebrate my Life Day by walking. More importantly, being thankful that I can walk with no pain or difficulty. Walking is something that we take for granted until we're not able to do it. So today as I get my steps in, I'm going to be happy and extra thankful.  I didn't even mind the heat as much today as I walked. 

Life Day Eve

I was really happy because Life Day Eve and the Annual Dainty Contest was on the same day.  But Mother Nature had other plans.  It started raining early afternoon, and to make a long story short, I sat in the old Blazer for over two hours in the steady rain, waiting for it to let up and let the Dainty Contest start.  They weren't selling beer yet; they weren't selling the Dainty Meal yet (bologna sandwich, bag of chips, and a giant dill pickle) and they weren't selling Kentucky Lottery tickets yet.  So I said to hell with it and left. 

By the time I got home, I got a text from a friend who was down there at the Dainy Contest, and they said that it had just started while a heavy drizzle was going on.  I was not in the mood to drive a half an hour back down to Schnitzleburg and attend.  Better luck next year.

Happy National Tequila Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy National Tequila Day.  

In order for tequila to be called tequila, it must be made in Jalisco, Mexico, (40 miles northwest of Guadalajara), but we can still celebrate it here in our great nation.  

Liquor stores will be opening soon on this fine Sunday afternoon, so take a few minutes and go pick up a bottle.  I would recommend Patron silver or Milagro silver.  And please, whatever you do, DO NOT put lick salt off of your hand and suck on a lime wedge with it.  Sip the tequila, instead of shooting it.  And if you really want to drink tequila like they do in Mexico, make some sangrita and sip it along with your tequila.  


Here is my favorite sangrita recipe:
2 cups tomato juice
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
Hot sauce (to taste)
Salt and pepper.

Just mix it up, chill it and enjoy it with your tequila.

Public Service Announcement

TWIT would like to give a Public Service Announcement and endorse O Cools Homemade Ice Cream.  It's in a small part of a small strip mall next to the big car wash in PRP, and they have the best homemade ice cream we've ever had. 

I went there specifically to get the 'Rents and I some homemade peach ice cream.  Sure, it's more expensive than what you buy at the store, but it was a hundred times better.  It made my hour of walking today all worth it.  

We will definitely be repeat customers to O Cools.  And they definitely get the official Thumbs Up from TWIT.

Go Me!

For the first time since we started our Global Step Challenge at work on May 25, I am proud to say I reached my daily step goal while I was still at work.  This does not mean that I spent most of my work day just walking around. Au Contraire.  I was slammed from 5:45 until 4:30 today.  Thanks to being able to walk outside during my two breaks and half of my lunch, I reached my step goal about an hour before work was over.  Of course, I had two extra work hours today, too (I worked until 4:30 instead of getting off at my usual 2:30 on Fridays) but it is what it is, and I will take it.  Because I ain't making any promises tomorrow with the temps forecasted to the upper 90's.  Stay tuned.

Another Summer Weather Update

Everyone from the weatherazzi to the mayor today has got us all worked up over the heat wave.  They've all been issuing special statements to let everyone know that it's hot.  And that it's going to be hot for awhile.  And for everyone to stay inside in the a/c if possible and to drink plenty of water. Sorry, but is this some new concept that we need to be reminded of?  It's the middle of July, for goodness sake - it's summer and it's supposed to be hot.  

If you have to be reminded that it's summer and that you need to drink lots of water, then I feel sorry for you. You're in much, much worse shape than all of the Pokemon Go players that everyone is worked up over.

National Holiday Correction

TWIT would like to inform everyone that National Fried Chicken Day was not earlier this week, as may people posted about it on Facebook; it was July 6.  Please make a note of this on your calendar for 2017 - I know it's a day that you will want to celebrate.

But who really needs a declared national holiday to eat fried chicken?  If it were up to me, every day should be National Fried Chicken Day. 

Another Summer Weather Update

The storms finally quit and it's hot.  Very hot.  In fact, the weatherazzi is getting us all worked up over temps at 100 or more this weekend.

I wonder if we'll remember this in January or February?

Another Summer Weather Update

Today, we had not one, not two, but three storms during the day.  I think that's a record. 

I don't need to tell you that the 'Rents are over the daily storms, because it keeps them from getting out into the garden.  They are like caged tigers.

So please, Mother Nature, keep the rain away. 

Happy National Ice Cream Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy National Ice Cream Day.  

I know it's getting late in the evening but there is still time to celebrate.  You have a few hours to run to your freezer, grocery store, or local ice cream shop and get some ice cream.  

We just finished having some homemade vanilla ice cream here at The Compound.  And it sure was good.

Christmas In July

Tonight was "Christmas In July" night at Slugger Field for my beloved Louisville Bats baseball game.  The Bats wore red and green "ugly sweater" jerseys, Santa Clause was there, and they scored a lot of toys to help out Toys For Tots.  They also played a ton of Christmas music in the ballpark all night long.  I will say it was a bit strange to hear Michael Buble sing "White Christmas" as I was sitting my seat sweating in the 92 degree heat.

In keeping with the theme, I wore one of my infamous Christmas sweater vest t-shirts tonight and it was a hit, pun intended. 

The Bats won in extra innings, so that made for a great night of baseball. 

Weather Update

The 'Rents and I both discussed this tonight over supper, and we all three agree that for the last three weeks, we've had rain every day here at The Compound in some form; mostly in the form of afternoon storms.  This makes for some unhappy 'Rents who can't get out into the garden as much as they'd like because it's so damned muddy. 

Once again, we just now finished with our daily rain storm.  And once again the 'Rents are griping because they can't get out into the garden. 

Ease up a bit, Mother Nature.

So Happy It's Thursday

You put the capital letters together in the post title and come up with how today was.  

My boss will be back in the office Monday after being away for two weeks, and that has us all nerved up.  Yesterday, my hives started to make a comeback in anticipation. 

Peace In The Valley is coming to an end, unfortunately.

Wednesday Updates

There's a lot going on right now here at The Compound.  There are decisions to be made, and the Old Man and I are in deep contemplation. 

It's not anything that's life-changing; just a financial decision to be made.

We'll get it all sorted out in the next few days and then things will be back to normal.

Wait -- "normal" is just a setting on a washing machine.

Trivia Update

I am sad to report that Team Divas didn't do so well at Monday Night Trivia.  We are in a bad losing slump and haven't won in weeks.  

We will be rallying, and hope to turn our luck around next Monday.

Monday, Monday

Today was a bad day.  But as I was leaving work this evening, I saw the neighborhood guy pushing two shopping carts, picking up his scrap metal.  So all in all, no matter how bad my job is, things aren't nearly as bad as they seem.

App Of The Week

My old LG Spectrum is dying a slow death; it takes at least one minute for a phone call to go through.  I'm getting ready to get another LG Spectrum cell phone - I ordered a refurbished-like-new from eBay, and when it gets here in the next day or two, I will take it to my local Verizon store and they will get it activated and get my data copied over.  In the meanwhile, I want to have a backup of my texts.  So I found an easy day to do this for Android phone users. The app is Backup Message & Call to Email.  Through the app you can backup and store your texts through your Gmail account.  I've tried it and it works flawlessly.  My texts are backed up, and when I get my new used phone, I can restore them.  This app definitely gets the Thumbs Up from TWIT.  

Security Tip Saturday

A friend of mine is getting ready to go on a two week trip, and part of his pre-trip preparation was putting together a list of important "just in case" phone numbers and other info for his wife while he is away. His wife and I talked about this, and we decided that this is something that everyone should have - not just for people left at home while a family member is away or for kids at home during the summer, but for everyone. We all don't think too clearly when an emergency or crisis occurs, and having a list like this would make things a lot easier. In addition to having these phone numbers stored on your cell phone, you should have a copy or two of them on paper to keep at your home and office.  Here's a list of numbers and other info that we all should have, just in case: 

Local fire department (for non-emergency)
Local police department (for non-emergency)
Water company
Power company
Sewer system provider
Poison control
All doctors used by all family members
Cable/Satellite provider
Internet provider
Tow truck company or road service company
Locksmith
Veterinarian
Animal hospital
Local animal control
Coworkers
Bosses
Church leaders (pastors, deacons)
Neighbors that you actually know
Lawn service provider
Pest control service
Financial planners/advisors
Auto repair shop/mechanic
Roofing company
Banks used by the entire family (with account numbers)
Security sytem provider
Contractor
Home appliance repair service (for stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer)
Heating/cooling service
Logins and passwords for banks, credit cards, etc

Flashback Friday

With all of the rain we've had in the past month, a coworker and I started talking yesterday about the little fold-up rain bonnets that our grandmothers used to have.  I immediately thought of one that Gram used to carry in her purse.  The plastic bonnet folded up and fit into a tiny plastic case that resembled a tiny little purse.  

I feel reasonably sure that if I looked hard enough in her dresser in the back bedroom, I'd probably find it. 

I Feel Like Scarlet

Tonight, I totally feel like Scarlet O'Hara from "Gone With The Wind" when she came back to her beloved home, Tara, after the Yankees had looted it.  Friends and family were coming at me from all directions, asking her opinion on "what do we do?"

I was trying to help with supper, and my phone was blowing up.  I stopped what I was doing and answered it, and it was a friend asking for friggin directions to somewhere.  I told them "Like you couldn't have Google Map'd that like just did?"  And then as soon as I hung up from getting them squared away, a neighbor was knocking on the door asking me about a neighborhood problem.  I told them that I didn't have the answer, and for them to figure it out. 

I'm gun shy now from answering my phone or the door. 

Who Stole My Package?

I ordered a three-pack of Minnie Mouse t-shirts to be delivered to one of the SF's great-grandchildren, Brook, who is 6, and who will be going to The Happiest Place On Earth, Walt Disney World, next week so she can see her beloved Minnie Mouse.  Unfortunately, someone decided to help themselves to the box from Amazon and took that baby's shirts.  Her grandma checked with everyone else in their apartment complex to see if they got it by mistake and [as we thought] nobody saw it.  

I got online as soon as I heard this info, and found a phone number for Amazon customer service and to my surprise, I got an actual live person on the first try.  They were only too happy to refund me the price of the order, and said that they didn't have any more sellers offering that deal.  Well, not to be outdone, I went online to Amazon.com and found another seller, for a dollar cheaper.  I ordered them and they arrived at The Compound today, two days later.  Brook's great-grandma will hand deliver these shirts to her when she goes there for a visit next week.  

Whoever took the package (and yes, I  know I am jumping to conclusions) I hope that the shirts will mean as much to whoever you give them to as they will to little Brook. 

Who Stole My Weave?

On my way to work this morning, I saw something that you normally don't see every day.  I was about mile from work and was stopped at a light, and I happened to look over to my left, and there in the middle of the median was someone's long weave.  Yep, someone lost their weave.  It all happened so quick that I didn't have time to dig in my purse and get my phone out to take a picture to prove it, but trust me - it was a long weave.  And I can't imagine how it ended up in the median on a busy street. 

Mother Nature's Fireworks

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy Fourth of July.  If you are anywhere near this part of the country, you're probably getting soaked right now.  It rained yesterday, stormed last night, and has been raining all morning, and rain is expected until tomorrow morning.  We had quite a bit of lightning last night and just saw some a few minutes ago, along with some loud thunder.  So Mother Nature is providing some unneeded fireworks for the holiday. 

They even cancelled the big Independence Day Festival downtown on the riverfront last night and evacuated the area before the storms hit.  And the big Thunder Over The Compound fireworks show has been postponed until later this week when we dry out. 

This weather is making me drowsy, so I think I might go lay down on the couch and watch some TV until I drift off into a nap. 

Spectaular Sunday

I am very, very happy to report that from the day we started our Global Step Challenge (GSC) at work until today, I have lost over 20 pounds in the past six weeks. At first I thought it was just 13 pounds, but I went online to the GSC website and checked my stats and sure enough, I'm down over 20 pounds.  And the only thing I've done different is walk 3-5 miles a day, every day faithfully, and have cut out fast food breakfasts and lunches.  Looking back, it was actually hardly much of an effort.  

Before we started the Global Step Challenge, I would laugh and bag on people that said they were walking out in their driveway or through their house at 11:00 at night just to meet their daily step goal.  Now, I am one of them.  I've gone to WalMart to get my steps in or have walked back and forth on our long driveway to reach my daily goal many a night. 

I was all into my bicycle 8 years ago, but the walking is a bit different to me.  I can't explain it; I am just going to embrace and keep on walking.  

That having been said, I think this is a very Spectacular Sunday.

Happy Long Weekend

The weather sure sucks for our long Fourth of July weekend - storms and tons of rain in the forecast for tomorrow and Monday.  But somehow, that doesn't bother me.  We have Thunder Over The Compound planned for sometime, but we don't really care if we have to postpone and move it to another day.  I am just happy to be off of work.  

I am also thrilled that the weather is awesome today for my Bats game tonight.  We could not ask for better weather for a ball game. 

All in all, the rest of the long holiday weekend might be a wash out with the rain and storms, but as long as we aren't working, it's all good.

Flashback Friday

Back in the day, we could get a pack of the awesome snake fireworks for ten cents a pack at the neighborhood store. Sparklers were also ten cents a pack, but for some reason, we all bought more of the snakes than sparklers.  This, of course, was to much dismay on behalf of my father and grandfather, because they were the ones that had to try (key word) to scrub the burn marks off of our nice concrete driveway.  

It took a year or two for me to figure out that I should get a piece of wood or a stone slab of some type to put the snakes on before I lit them.  Yeah, I guess I was a slow learner.