November 27, 2009
November 26, 2009
Let's Go Cowboys!
The game is fixin' to start!
...although that turkey looks more like a Redskin than a Cowboy.
That's all right; I sure hope Dallas isn't a turkey today.
November 25, 2009
Make Up Your Mind - Theory Of a DeadMan
I had heard of this band, but wasn't familiar with their music. I like 'em.
Best Side Dish EVER
You Are Mashed Potatoes |
 You are reliable and steady. People know that they can count on you each year at Thanksgiving, and you are never a disappointment. While you may seem simple, a lot of work goes in to who you are. You are a bit of an under-appreciated masterpiece. You are both decadent and indulgent, while still being accessible to the common thing. In some ways you are all things to all people. You get along well with other people, but you're also good all on you're own. The bottom line is that you're easy to love. |
If there's anything that's really annoying about having diabetes, it's having to nearly completely cut out potatoes from my diet. I've always loved them, particularly mashed. When corn is served along with the potato dish, I like to make a deep indention in my mound of mashed potatoes, then spoon the corn on top: "corn on a cloud".
Mashed potatoes, other than having an extraordinary amt. of carbs and fat - when prepared with real cream and gobs of butter as I like them - are a great dish. They're easy to digest, even easier to chew and are also the perfect missile for food fights. Like my "corn on a cloud" mentioned above, mashed potatoes are great for helping scoop up small vegetables like corn and peas...just put a dab of mashed on your fork, then roll it in the veggies.
(They'll stick like glue, which is what the texture is of mashed potatoes that have been beaten too long. Even "gluey" mashed potatoes are better than none, though.)
The only drawback I've found of the dish is re-heating in a microwave because other things on the plate being nuked get warm far sooner than do mashed potatoes. I never minded a large amt. of mashed potatoes being left over (which was rare around my family, thanks mostly to me); there are all sorts of dishes one can make from leftover m.p., such as other favorite potato dishes of mine... pancakes, potato salad and soup.
I haven't managed to cut mashed potatoes completely out of my diet, but I miss having the "real thing". Usually, when I get the craving so bad I dream about them, I will purchase a pkg. of instant and use only half at a time to satisfy my craving. It's not a bad substitute, but there's nothing that can match the real thing.
Sure have made myself hungry!
Free Betty Crocker Calendar
Sign up at the Betty Crocker site
NOTE: It's been a while since I originally signed up (I think it was for last year's calendar)and I can't recall what is required other than simply signing up and becoming a member of the site, but I get a weekly newsletter with some fantastic looking recipes each time. When I find one I like, I save it to my recipe box at the website, using folders for each sort of dish, i.e. desserts, main course, casseroles, etc.
Groom Cross in National Geographic
Looking through my Google Reader subscriptions earlier this morning, I saw an photo that looked familiar at the Damn Cool pics site (second from top). The article is about photo submissions to the annual National Geographic contest, but it took a bit of searching to find out more about that particular photo. Finally I found it at Boston.com.
Several times when I've been up extra-early because of booming thunder from an early morning thunderstorm, I've thought about going over to the Cross and get some similar shots (I would hope to be).
Vote for your favorite at the National Geographic website.
November 24, 2009
I'm Glad
I didn't invent this.
Amazon has this for sale: Laptop Steering Wheel Desk
Without giving it much cogent thought, this might seem to be useful:
Then, on second thought, I'm not sure I want to be doing something like this going down the road...and I darn sure don't want anyone else doing it.
What I found funny were some of the customer uploaded photos; here's a couple.
Are You Christmas or Thanksgiving?
You Are Thanksgiving |
 You don't need a lot to make you feel happy during the holidays. You already feel very blessed. It is easy for you to be thankful. You think the holidays are the perfect time to express your gratitude. You are definitely not a materialistic person. If anything, you feel like the holiday season has been infected with greed. An indulgent meal in a warm home surrounded by those close to you is more than enough. Anything extra is just whipped cream on your pumpkin pie. |
November 23, 2009
Hooverism
About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.
- Herbert Hoover
From our Quote of the Day feed in the right-hand column
Be Very Careful
When sending an email:
The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase “Regards” again.
via Miss Cellania
Be My Baby - The Ronettes
November 22, 2009
November 21, 2009
November 20, 2009
billingsgate
billingsgate \BIL-ingz-gayt; -git\ , noun;
1. Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language.
This would describe the Democratic Underground forum, the YouTube comments section or what is said during a typical Dallas Cowboys game.
November 19, 2009
Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Read more about the Gettysburg Address
A Partial View
Backdropped by the blackness of space, a partial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system pods and docking mechanism are featured in this image photographed by the STS-129 crew from an aft flight deck window.
Image Credit: NASA
November 18, 2009
November 17, 2009
Falling Down Fall
You Are Beer |
 You are a social organizer of sorts. Whether you're at Oktoberfest or watching the big game, you're always ready to crack open a beer with a few friends. You wouldn't say that fall is your favorite season. You tend to love all the seasons equally. You enjoy getting together with your friends for all sorts of occasions, and fall fun is no exception. Whether you're at a wild Halloween party, picking pumpkins, or going for a hayride ... you know how to have a blast during this time of the year. |
100 Most Common Words
Can you name the most commonly used words in the English language?
You have 12 minutes to guess after you click the button
I got 40 out of 100; that's not very good, especially after the rest of the answers were revealed and I had my "DUH" moment.
November 16, 2009
Awaiting the Mission
Awaiting the Mission
Space shuttle Atlantis is seen on Launch Pad 39a of the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 2:28p.m. EST on the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Fantastic wallpaper! Visit the site for larger sizes.
hoi polloi
hoi polloi \hoi-puh-LOI\ , noun;
1. The common people generally; the masses.
Origin: Hoi polloi is Greek for "the many."
That might make a great blog category/label. Heck, that might make a great name for a blog or even a nickname for a schizophrenic poster with self-esteem issues.
November 14, 2009
November 13, 2009
November 12, 2009
Superhero Sound
You Are "WHAP!" |
 You are cunning and wily. You would be the type of superhero who could launch a sneak attack on anyone at any time. You move like a cat. You're quiet, flexible, and seem to possess nine lives each time you get into trouble. Your enemies tend to underestimate you... if they even know you exist. You'd be the kind of superhero that lurks in the shadows. You're happy to clean up the streets a little with your own type of vigilante justice. You certainly don't want or need any credit. |
Online Barcode Generator
Online Barcode Generator
Unless you have something you need to barcode, the free service wouldn't be much use except as a novelty. Considering that I'm easily entertained....
You could make a small banner for your blog:
Or a cute email sig:
Or stir up the conspiracy nuts:
Online Barcode Generator
November 11, 2009
November 10, 2009
soporific
soporific \sop-uh-RIF-ik; soh-puh-\ , adjective;
1. Causing sleep; tending to cause sleep.
2. Of, relating to, or characterized by sleepiness or lethargy.
noun:1. A medicine, drug, plant, or other agent that has the quality of inducing sleep; a narcotic.
This blog's pretty much a soporific.
A sophomoric soporific, actually.
1928 Chevrolet Truck
Click any pic for larger view.
No, I wasn't leaning while taking the picture; the lot was sloping down towards the street.
It's in rough shape, but with some TLC it could look pretty sharp, I bet.
When I first saw it, it reminded me of The Walton's truck, but a bit of research told me that one was a Ford. (One site said it was a '31; another said it was a ' 28-'29 model)
The inside needs a lot of work, too.
Then again, there's not a lot to fix up!
Not sure how large the tank is, but it can't hold more than a few hundred gallons. I would be leery of filling it up because I imagine the old truck would collapse under the weight.
The tires are pretty much rotted rubber, but the wooden spokes would look really sharp if sanded, stained and sealed.
Not sure how easy it would be to get parts for it, especially for the old engine.
Seems to me that it would be worth more than 6 grand, especially if fixed up.
November 9, 2009
To Catch a Thief
A man got a job as a night watchman at a factory. There had been a lot of thefts by the workers on the night shift, and so every morning when the night shift workers passed through his gate it was his job to check their bags and pockets to make sure that nothing was being stolen.
Things were going along very well the first night on the job until a man pushing a wheelbarrow of newspaper came through his gate. Aha, he thought, that man thinks he can cover up what he is stealing with that newspaper. So he removed the paper only to find nothing. Still he felt that the man was acting strangely, so he questioned him about the paper.
“I get a little extra money from newspapers I recycle, so I go into the lunchroom and pick up all the ones people have thrown away.” The guard let him pass, but decided to keep a close eye on him. The next night it was the same, and the night after that. Week after week it went on. The same guy would push the wheelbarrow of newspapers past the guard’s checkpoint. The guard would always check and find nothing.
Then one night, about a year later, the guard reported for work only to find a message had been left for him telling him to report to his supervisor. He walked into the supervisor’s office and before he could say a word, the boss said, “You’re fired!”
“Fired?” he asked in total surprise. “Why? What did I do?”
“It was your job to make sure that no one stole anything from this plant and you have failed. So you’re fired.”
“Wait a minute, what do you mean failed. Nobody ever stole anything from this place while I was on guard.”
“Oh, really,” the boss answered. “Then how do you account for the fact that there are over 250 wheelbarrows missing?”
From Bits & Pieces
November 7, 2009
Summer Hangin' in There
Was warm Friday, too, but next week's temps will start to slide down.
I'm already ready for spring. Supposed to be a cold, wet winter.
EDIT: Meant to add that yesterday was a record 100yr high. Just a few minutes ago I overheard a conversation at a convenience store between two women:
"My goodness, it certainly was warm yesterday!" exclaimed one woman.
"Yes, a record high!" said the other. "That's from global warming!"
I wanted to butt in and ask what caused the high temp a hundred years ago.
Sheesh, that's just the weather in the Panhandle for ya. It snowed in Amarillo a week or so ago. Guess that's global warming, too.
November 5, 2009
My Brand
I got an email from Marlboro this morning, offering me some coupons and a free tshirt. I don't smoke Marlboros now and give away the coupons they send me, but I'm always up for anything free, especially a free tshirt.
The nifty thing about the free tshirt is that I could create a unique "brand" to print on it.
It's the "Flying 4Q".
November 4, 2009
Obama Weather
From the Weather Channel, an application to advise you as to how Obama would dress if in your city or town.
It's a little chilly here this a.m., so Obama would dress against the wind chill:
Not many people around here wear mufflers, and many around these parts would probably want him to wear it a "bit more snugly" around his neck.
It will be warmer tomorrow, so he would dress accordingly:
Gotta get me some of those cargo shorts.
Obama Weather
In Other Words
I would be an oxymoron.
You Would Be a Smart Celebrity |
 You're already very well read and curious about the world. So why would that change simply because you got famous? If anything, with more money to devote to traveling and charity, you would be even more worldly. Even though you may abhor most celebrity causes, you'd probably have a cause of your own if you were famous. You just care too much not to. You'd be a celebrity in the mold of Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. |
November 3, 2009
November 2, 2009
I Got a Really Dirty Look
From the checker at WalMart Saturday (Halloween) night.
Hey, I really DID run out of apples and razor blades!
November 1, 2009
Free Gong Button
Not so sure how useful this is unless you want to click the button a few times and then hum AC/DC's "Hell's Bells".
Free Gong Button
November Trivia Tournament Begins!
Congrats to Barb, who won October's tournament!
1. barb (73 points, 13 wins)
2. garazon (66 points, 3 wins)
3. ToTG (62 points, 8 wins)
4. candyfloss (44 points, 6 wins)
Play the ToTG Trivia game!
