Thursday Updates

As I type this, my head is ready to split open like a ripe melon after the day I had at work. 

I am getting ready to drink a couple (or more)  shots of tequila and then get settled down for a hopefully good night's sleep.  The remnants of Hurricane Harvey are knocking on Louisville's door and we're in for a deluge tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.  But all in all, we cannot complain one bit, compared to the destruction that our friends in Texas and Louisiana are enduring. 

I'm Ashamed

I'm mega ashamed of a lot of people from Louisville and Kentucky on Facebook today.  I've seen a lot of posts from people saying how pissed off they are that 3-4 inches of rain is in the forecast for Louisville for the next few days.  Well, boo friggin' hoo.  

All I will say is everyone that posted something like that on FB, or even thought of it, should stop and thank the Lord that all we are expected to get in Louisville is a few inches of rain on a holiday weekend.  We could have five feet of water covering our part of the city like most of the southern part of Texas is having right now.  Take a minute and thank the Lord for your blessings, and while you have His attention, ask His blessings and care upon all of the people in Texas and Louisiana.  

Tuesday Updates

As of 6:00 tonight, we haven't gotten an egg today.  But that's ok.  The Girls are still young - only four and a half months old.  So there's still plenty of time for them to start laying.  I'm still happy with us getting 4 eggs in 4 days.  It's a start.

One Of The Best Mondays Ever

Today was one of the best Mondays ever.  Let me count the ways.

1. I took a vacation day and was happily not in the office. 
2. One of The Girls gave us egg #4 today.
3. I got a cool pair of rain boots that I'd been wanting for a while.
4. The Lord answered a prayer that I'd been praying about for almost three years.  In doing this, He taught me patience, endurance, and to keep the faith. 
5. The Old Man got an excellent report from his cardiologist today on his yearly check-up.  His EKG came out great, and the doctor told him to come back in a year and a half.
6. I could go on, but it would just seem like I was bragging. 

Another Eggciting Day

I couldn't wait till we got home from church today go to out and check in the nesting boxes to see if we got another egg today.  And lo and behold, we did.  We are three for three. 

Our first guess is that it's the same hen, since the eggs have been in the same box.  

We measured with a tape measure this afternoon, and today's egg is a bit bigger than yesterday's.  So they are going in the right direction.

As always, stay tuned.

Another Eggciting Day

I'm very eggcited to report that we got another egg today.  Of course, we have no way of knowing if this egg came from the hen that laid yesterday's egg.  But we'll take what we can get.  I don't think I've been as excited as I was this morning when I went out to check the nesting boxes and found another egg.  I guess it's a chicken thing - you wouldn't understand.

Another Cray Cray Thursday

I apologize for not posting yesterday, faithful readers.  It was another Cray Cray Thursday.  And it was darned near as crazy as last Thursday.  I'm beginning to see a pattern here.  Maybe I should just drop Thursdays out of my week.  

An Eggciting Day

What an eggciting day this is -- we got our first egg from one of The Girls.  

When I got home from work, The Old Man said that he thought we'd be getting an egg soon, because he heard one of The Girls cackling earlier this afternoon.  While I was taking my Friday Afternoon Nap, he and my Sweet Mother went out to check and lo and behold, they found our first egg.  We are very impressed, and not at all biased, because the Girl that laid the egg laid it in the nesting box.  

Stay tuned. 

Public Service Announcement

To the McD's that I frequent on my way to work:

You are on the verge of losing a very good customer, but you probably don't care, just like you didn't care about me and my order when I stopped this morning on the way to work.  

I ordered an Egg McMuffin and a large Orangeade slushie.  I paid at the first window, and you all already had my Egg McMuffin ready in just the few seconds it took me to drive from the first window to the pick-up window.  But then you told me to pull up and wait for my slushie.  I did.  And I waited 12 minutes and didn't get my slushie.  I pulled into a parking space and walked in.  The manager was at the counter and asked if she could help me.  I told her she sure could by getting my slushie that I had been waiting 12 minutes for.  She said that they were out of the orange syrup and would not be getting any more, as the slushie promotion was coming to an end.  She asked if I wanted another flavor instead.  I told her not really, but would take fruit punch because I was in a hurry.

Please ask your employees at the drive-thru window to let the customers know if they are out of something instead of making them wait and wait and wait.  

The next time I want an Egg McMuffin, I will most likely drive a few minutes out of my way to visit another McD's.  But then again, you probably don't care. 

Yours truly, 
Puddin

Re-Entry Day

Today was Re-Entry after my mini-vacation.  

I an going on record and will say that it wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating.  I lost a lot of sleep last night needlessly, anticipating about things that might happen today.   And I am hoping to regain that sleep tonight. 

Eclipse Wrap-Up

I'm not ashamed to admit I was very disappointed in the much hyped total eclipse of the sun this afternoon.   We rushed back from our trip up north to Lafayette, IN to be back at The Compound in time for the peak of the eclipse.  We wanted to see if the chickens went inside to roost if it got dark enough.  It was not dark enough.

You could definitely tell a difference, though, when we walked into the house.  The family room and dining room was a lot darker than usual at 2:30 in the afternoon.  And outside, the shadows were bigger, but other than that, you couldn't see much of a difference to the naked eye.

The 'Rents and I took turns using our NASA approved eclipse viewing glasses and we all agreed it was very cool to see just a small sliver of the sun.  

I hope all of the thousands and thousands of people that travelled far to see it weren't as disappointed as I was.

Overheard

Conversation between my cousin and her five year old granddaughter.  And I quote:

Girl: "I want to drink wine."

Grandmother: "You're only five. You can't drink wine."

Girl: "I'll drink bourbon."

I love this girl.

New Product Review

Imagine my excitement when I heard that two of my favorite things in the world were joining forces:  Reese Cups and Krispy Kreme Donuts.  For a limited time, you can get a Reese Cup peanut butter filled donut.  I couldn't wait to try one, but alas, I had to wait because when I went to KK's a week ago, they were out of them.  But we got some Friday morning and believe me when I tell you, it was worth the wait.  The creamy filling isn't too peanut-buttery; it was just right. 

Krispy Kreme's Reese Cup Donut most definitely gets two thumbs up from TWIT and gets the TWIT Seal of Approval.  

Cray Cray Thursday

From about 5:00 until a few minutes ago, it's been like Hurricane Katrina here at The Compound.   I've never seen nor driven through such rain as was coming down this afternoon.  I hope that everyone driving around was safe.

This Day In History

It's hard to believe that on this day 40 years ago, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, died.   I remember the day well, not just because Elvis died, but because it was a day when I thought the 'Rents were going to have to take me to the hospital on the eve of our summer vacation to Florida. 

Mom was in the bathroom cleaning (she didn't want to leave a dirty house while we were gone) and she had the radio on.  I was also in the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bathtub thinking I was having a wicked case of appendicitis.  My stomach had never hurt as bad as it did that afternoon. While sitting there in pain, the report came on the radio that Elvis had died.  I remember my Sweet Mother dropping a can of cleaner she had been holding, because she was so shocked. Not 30 seconds later, Gram yelled the news from the family room.  

It turns out it wasn't appendicitis, and our trip to Florida went on as scheduled.  Back then I had no sense of direction or geography, and I asked The Old Man if we could stop in Memphis on our way to Florida.  He said no, because that would be almost a day's drive out of our way.  But we did make a pitstop in Nashville on the way down.  I remember buying a newspaper at every gas station we stopped at on the way down to keep in my archives.  And yes, I still have those newspapers down in the basement. 

Happy National Relaxation Day

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very happy national Relaxation Day!  I'm going to celebrate by relaxing this evening at a double-header Bats game at beautiful Slugger Field.  

I hope you, faithful readers, will have some time to celebrate this holiday today by relaxing and doing nothing.  

Happy Birthday, Girls

  I'd like to wish my Girls a very happy birthday.  Today they are 18 weeks old.  Compared to human years, it's as big of a deal as a teenager turning 21.   18 weeks is the "magic number" for when you can expect the pullets (aka hens) to start laying.  Today, The Old Man took the cardboard off of the opening to the nesting boxes, and put fresh shavings in the nesting boxes, along with fake eggs.  Don't laugh; the experts say to put fake eggs in the nesting boxes to teach them that is where they go to lay their eggs.  

As you can see from this latest picture, they seem to love their new play pen.  They especially like to jump up on the roosting bar when one of us is out there so they can look us in the eye.  

As always, stay tuned for updates on the forthcoming eggs. 

 

Procrastination Pays Off, Kinda

I'm glad that I procrastinated and didn't buy any lottery tickets for Friday night's Mega Millions.  Someone had all numbers and will win the $393 million prize.  If the winner takes the lump sum of $247 million, they will end up paying about $100 million in taxes.  Why, $147 million is hardly enough to live on.  I sure am glad I saved my money.  Said no lottery player ever. 

All Hail King Puck

KILLORGLIN, Ireland, Aug 10 (Reuters) - For a few days this week a goat will be king of a small town in Ireland's rural south west.

Billed as one of Ireland's oldest festivals, the Puck Fair sees locals in the town of Killorglin pluck a wild mountain goat from its habitat and crown him 'King Puck' for the duration of the event.

This year's king was paraded through the town on Thursday, where he was crowned by the Queen of Puck - an honor bestowed on a local schoolgirl. He appeared relaxed, if occasionally bemused, during his coronation.

"I've seen it for the last 11 years so it's nothing new but when I first moved here from England I thought it was strange," festival-goer Ben Henry, 25, of Killarney told Reuters.

"I heard a fella today saying he's been coming to Puck for 57 years so that says a lot!" he added.

The festival will feature music, street performers and a horse fair.

The origins of the event are unclear, though there are many local theories from a harvest festival to tales of a lone goat fleeing Oliver Cromwell's troops into the village.

Organizers say historical references to the festival date back to the early 17th century.

As for King Puck, organizers say he is to be treated royally during his brief reign with a diet of ash tree branches, water and cabbage to sustain him until he returns to his mountain home following his dethronement ceremony.

Organizers expect to welcome more than 100,000 visitors during the festival which runs until Aug. 12.

This Little Chicken Got Loose

In addition to yesterday's overturned semi hauling pigs that got loose incident, there was an additional animal-related wreck.  I don't know what interstate it was, but somewhere close to downtown Louisville, another semi hauling chicken parts was overturned.  It was a bad day for edible animals in Louisville.  

This Little Piggy Got Loose On I-65

This morning during the peak of rush hour traffic, a semi loaded with pigs overturned on one of the busiest areas in all of Louisville.  Here's a live action shot of some of the pigs being loose on I-65.  

You can't photo-shop something this interesting, faithful readers. 

FYI - the big rig was headed to the Swift pork processing plant just a few miles away.  

Tuesday, Tuesday

It's been a crazy day today, and I am a major bundle of emotions, but on the positive side, Cousin Wayne drove up from the country today and brought us a half bushel each of sweet corn and tomatoes.  I don't even need to tell you how happy that made us. The 'Rents spent the afternoon shucking and freezing the corn, and tomorrow they will work up the tomatoes.  And he said he'd be back in a month or so with more corn.  Cousin Wayne rocks.

More Great Ohio Valley Weather

The high today at The Compound was only 79 degrees.  You might find it hard to believe, but I had the windows down on the old Ranger on the way home from work today and didn't even turn the a/c on.  It's supposed to be in the low 80's the rest of the week, too.  I hope this doesn't mean we'll go straight to the upper 90's next week.  But we'll just enjoy the nice unusually cool August temps as long as we can. 

Rainy Days And Sundays Don't Always Get Me Down

As always, the weather has been crazy here in the Ohio Valley for the last week and a half.  But nobody is complaining.  During this period, we've had temperatures that barely made it above 80, and down in the 60's at night.  This week's forecast is calling for much of the same.  But like I said, nobody's complaining.

It was like a fall day today.  The high was in the upper 70's and we had a good steady rain here at The Compound most of the afternoon.  But like I said, nobody's complaining.  The grass everywhere you look was a nice shade of light brown, so we needed the rain.  And the sound of the rain made for some good napping here at The Compound.  But like I said, nobody's complaining. 

Interesting Lunchtime At Work

Let me preface by saying that the same people eat at the same table during early lunch in my office.  The group includes me, my childhood friend SDF,  a young guy that works for me, a guy in Engineering who is just about six weeks away from retirement, and a guy that in charge of tooling and machining.  Sometimes a product line manager from the 2nd floor eats with us, but he wasn't a part of this group today.   SDF and I were just discussing how today's lunch was one of the most interesting lunches we've had in ages.  Here's a list of reasons why:

1.     Our continued fascination with our new vending machine system, aka Vending Canteen.   Everyone at my table has bought something at least once this week, whether we really wanted it or not, just to use the cool check-out system.

2.     The recent (yesterday) realization that in the lunchroom out in the factory, their ice maker gives out cool (no pun intended) nugget ice, just like you can get in your Polar Pop or at Thorntons. 

3.     The soon-to-be-retiree from Engineering wearing a UofL t-shirt today on Casual Friday. Note: the email from HR specifically says “no t-shirts allowed unless on special occasions”, like when they let us wear our favorite college team t-shirt during the NCAA tournament.  He said repeatedly that he got an email saying he could wear them. 

4.     The soon-to-be-retiree from Engineering also putting mayonnaise on everything he eats.  The food that gave us the most conversation was the fact that he puts mayo on pork and beans. 

5.     The place that we rented the ice cream freezer from came back today to pick up the unopened big five-gallon cardboard buckets of ice cream that we didn’t use.  At last count, there were 15 unopened cartons.  Many questions were raised.  First of all, the ice cream place only sent one person to pick up the freezer and all of the leftover ice cream.  Why would they send only one person for a big job like this?  So a lady in HR had to recruit a couple of guys to help the ice cream man.  The biggest question was is the ice cream company going to resell the ice cream that we bought?

6.     A guy from the office cleaning company was here today to clean and wax the floor in the Literature department.  He took a break during our lunchtime and came into the lunchroom and immediately asked where the Coke machine was.  We told him that we now use the Vending Canteen system.  He picked up a bottle of iced tea out of the refrigerator case, and tried (key word) to buy it.  We told him that he could use money and not get any change back or he could use his debit card.  He put it back in the refrigerator case, left and then came back and tried (key word) to buy it again.  He got frustrated and said “I’ll just drink water.”  I told him he was welcome to use our water, tea bags and sugar and make himself some tea, free of charge.  

7.     The soon-to-be-retiree told us that he got something in the mail yesterday saying that when he retires, he will be getting $290 a month from his pension plan at a former place of employment.  He said he didn’t know anything about it. That’s almost three hundred bucks.  I’d sure as hell know if I was going to be getting almost three hundred bucks a month besides my current employer’s retirement pension. 

8.     The soon-to-be-retiree assuming that I automatically knew about a “good car repair shop” out where he lives, about a thirty-minute drive from The Compound. 

I can't make this stuff up. 

One The Most Exciting Things To Happen At Work

You could ask ten people in my office building what they thought was the most exciting thing to ever happen in the office, and I bet you anything at least nine of them will say "the new vending machines in the first floor lunchroom."

Actually, they aren't technically a vending machine.  As you can see from the picture, there is a section of shelves with various potato chips, crackers, candy bars and other snacks, and a good sized refrigerated case with all kinds of soft drinks, Monster energy drinks, PowerAde, bottled water, milk and Starbucks drinks.  In the refrigerator case are some shelves that contain sandwiches, wraps, salads, cheese, giant dill pickles and other snacks.  There are also shelves with soup, cereal, muffins, candy, little Pringles cans and other snacks.  But I digress.  As I said, it's not really a vending machine.  You pick out what you'd like to buy, and then you scan its bar code on the white and green machine on the right of the picture.  Then you can pay for it one of three ways -- you can set up an account and deposit cash into the machine and use a thumbprint scanner, you can use a debit or credit card, or you can use cash. But if you use cash, you don't get any change back.  And I forgot to mention one important detail about the new "Vending Canteen Market" - you can't see it in the picture but there are four cameras covering the area, in case someone gets the urge to get something without paying for it. 

By the week's end, the Vending Canteen Market still hadn't lost its fascination with us.  We bought things all week long even if we really didn't want them.

Thirsty Thursday

 

I'd like to go on record and say that my favorite bottle of wine evah is from Huber's, and it is their Sweet Marcella.  

You can't imagine how happy the 'Rents and I were when we found out we can get this at our local liquor stores, where previously we would have to travel a half an hour over to Floyds Knobs in Southern Indiana to Huber's Farm Winery to get the precious nectar.   Now we only have to travel a mile up the road to our local liquor store to get it. 

If you haven't tried it, please do.  It's a sweet red wine.  You won't be sorry.  

Huber's Sweet Marcella most definitely gets Two Thumbs Up from TWIT.

Even More Naked Ladies

Here's some more beautiful Naked Ladies.  While most everyone that planted a garden this year said theirs didn't do squat, the Naked Ladies sure have been flourishing this summer.  These beautiful blooms were at our neighbor's across the road.  Well done, Deb. 

More Naked Ladies