147 - Natures Colors

First of all, Happy Birthday to my brother Bruce.. a Halloween baby!

 

Thursday, upon coming home from work, I looked into my back yard and saw some beautiful colors. At right, is a gorgeous splash of orange, yellow and green. The colors in the fall are so beautiful in New England, I somehow wonder if people way in the South even know what they're missing.

 

On the left, is the Japanese Maple tree in our front yard, resplendent in it's bright crimson red. It's a gorgeous tree, and when we moved in about 8 years ago, it was very small.

It's been a long week, and Thursday night we had my MIL and daughter over for dinner, and she's feeling a lot better. We're all waiting for a doctors appointment that's on next Thursday to tell us what's next. Hopefully, she'll get a clean bill of health and be relieved at the thought of being done with her medical problems.

This weekend, I'm having a few friends over to watch UCONN play West Virginia in football on TV. We'll have some munchies, eat some great wings and have a few beers. All in all, a nice Saturday.

29 More days till Vacation!!! Our friends in Alabama that we're cruising with and us are planning what we'll be doing at each port, and it sounds like we'll have a great time. This seems to be a time now with the economy the way it is, to vacation as prices on cruises and other vacations are very inexpensive!

And here's a funny to start your weekend:

Bubba Gets Smart

Bubba was Alabama's star lineman. He was great at football, but not at academics. The principal was letting it slide until one day he decided that Bubba's grades HAD to be better. They decided to make him take a test. It was only one math problem. Everyone wanted to support Bubba out in the stands, so they held the test in the middle of the football stadium, so everyone could see. His math teacher went out to the center of the field with Bubba. It was test time. The teacher said, ''Ok, Bubba. What is six plus three?''

Bubba sat and thought. Then he said, ''nine,'' confidently.

But out in the stands, everyone was yelling, ''Aw, c'mon. Give him another chance!''

Have a wonderful weekend!

146 - Thank You All

As I write this,it's Tuesday evening and my MIL just went home. She's feeling a lot better, she's been eating well, so we won't be worried tonight. We'll both check in on her tomorrow a few times.

Again, thank you all for the kind thoughts, words and prayers.

You know, I woke up this morning to a leak in our waterbed! I had to take a half day off of work to fix it. Thank goodness I have a friend that sells waterbeds and he had a patch kit handy! Luckily it was a teeny tiny hole, and not much water leaked out.

I wanted to post something uplifting, so check this out. If you ever wonder if there's good left in the world... read this article.

Believe it or not, we may get a bit of snow overnight tonight! That's how quickly Fall has swooped in and Winter seems to be fast on it's heels.

I had won a contest on the Holties House blog (see link at left) and I just got in the prize. 4 DVD's all about Australia!! I can't wait to watch them! Thanks Peter!

I don't know if I've shown this before, but please, it's a wonderful video and watch it to the end. It made me tear up, and I hope you like it as much as me.

And now, something to make you smile:

Respectfully Cheating

Jack and Betty are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

"Betty, I was wondering -- have you ever cheated on me?"

"Oh Jack, why would you ask such a question now? You don't want to ask that question..."

"Yes, Betty, I really want to know. Please."

"Well, all right. Yes, 3 times."

"Three? When were they?"

"Well, Jack, remember when you were 35 years old and you really wanted to start the business on your own and no bank would give you a loan? Remember how one day the bank president himself came over to the house and signed the loan papers, no questions asked?"

"Oh, Betty, you did that for me! I respect you even more than ever, that you would do such a thing for me! So, when was number 2?"

"Well, Jack, remember when you had that last heart attack and you were needing that very tricky operation, and no surgeon would touch you? Remember how Dr. DeBakey came all the way up here, to do the surgery himself, and then you were in good shape again?"

"I can't believe it! Betty, I love that you should do such a thing for me, to save my life! I couldn't have a more wonderful wife. To do such a thing, you must really love me darling. I couldn't be more moved. When was number 3?"

"Well, Jack, remember a few years ago, when you really wanted to be president of the golf club and you were 17 votes short?"

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

145 - MIL Update

Well, my MIL came through the surgery well, then spent the night at my house. It looks like they got it all, but we won't know how serious the cancer is until it's tested. It could be a week before we know.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

ps, I fixed the first picture from yesterday so you can now make it bigger.

144 - Pumpkin Chunkin

First of all, thank you all for the kind thoughts and prayers for my MIL. Monday I take a half day off of work to be there for my wife and her.

Now, Pumpkin Chunkin is a sport that's been around for quite a while, and the object is to throw a pumpkin as far as possible with a man made device, normally a Trebuchet.

Sunday in our city , we had our Pumpkin Chunkin contest, and to the right is a look at some of the competitors. They were throwing pumpkins hundreds of feet, to the amazement of many onlookers.

There is even a World Championship of Punkin Chunkin (note spelling differences), and rules and regulations. It's amazing to watch them work.

At left, I caught one just launching! The furthest one I saw went over 250 feet! And that's tossing a pumpkin that was bigger than a basketball.

Consider how much it must have weighed.

It was a gorgeous day, so after this, we had lunch and the wife and I took a nice long ride in the Vette. You could see, there a lot of motorcycles out, nice cars, and other corvettes trying to get in their last day or so of riding, all the while knowing that winter is coming. Most likely, next week I'll be putting my baby away for the winter.

Now, for a funny to end off with from my friend Mike H:

'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.
Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.
After months of careful research, MALE &FEMALE Procedures have been developed

Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.

     *******************************
MALE PROCEDURE:
     1. Drive up to the cash machine.
     2. Put down your car window.
     3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
     4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
     5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
     6. Put window up.
     7. Drive off.
     *******************************
FEMALE PROCEDURE:
     1. Drive up to cash machine.
     2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
     3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
     4 Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
     5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
     6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
     7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance
        from the car.
     8. Insert card.
     9 Re-insert card the right way.
     10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back
         page.
     11. Enter PIN.
     12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
     13. Enter amount of cash required.
     14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
     15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
     16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
     17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.
     18. Re-check makeup.
     19. Drive forward 2 feet.
     20. Reverse back to cash machine.
     21. Retrieve card.
     22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!
     23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
     24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
     25. Redial person on cell phone.
     26.  Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
     27.  Release Parking Brake.

Have a wonderful Monday all...

143 - Friday at Last

Well, it's nice to know michelle is at least reading my blog. Thank you ole friend.

My MIL went today for some small tests before being admitted Monday for her surgery. It should be out-patient, so after an hour or two recuperating, she should go right home. I'll be taking a half day off Monday to help out.

My wife's been taking it good so far, but inside I know she's ready to come unglued. I'm trying to be there and support her and her mom as much as possible.

A little more about the wine tasting party we co-hosted last weekend.

It was held at a nice cottage that the other co-host (John) owned in Niantic, CT, right on the shore of Long Island Sound. We had hoped for warm enough weather to be able to do a lot of the party outdoors, but Mother Nature had other plans. It was very cool out, with at least a 25-30 mph wind. We had about 18 people, and everyone brought some kind of dish, be it an appetizer, side dish to our main course, or dessert.

For the wine tasting part, and considering this was an Oktoberfest party, we decided to stray from the normal German white wines, and tried to find a suitable German red wine. We found Turning Leaf Pinot Noir (they import the wine from Germany but they're an American company) from 2 different regions of Germany. The Baden region and the Pfalz region. We wanted to see if people could tell the differences in the wine, as they tasted quite a bit the same, but there were subtle differences. We had also gotten a "Rausch" beer to taste, and it was very very smoky in flavor.

For a main course, I made Roast Pork Loin with Braised Cabbage and Apples. If you want the recipe, just ask me. The meal turned out excellent, the wine tasting went smoothly, and everyone had fun. That's all we can ask for. We got many compliments from the head of the wine group for the great tasting, and for some handouts I made about Pinot Noir wines, the two exact wines we tried, and the smoke beer.

This weekend, I have some shopping to do for work clothes, and other than that I think I'm just going to relax a bit.

Here's a good video for you all to check out: Ron Howard on the Election

I'll leave you with a little funny:

A farmer was in a bar drinking and looking all depressed.

His friend asked him why he was looking depressed and he replied, "Some things you just can't explain. This morning I was outside milking. As soon as the bucket was fill the cow kicked it down with his left foot so I tied up his left to a pole.

I began to fill up the bucket again and he kicked it down with his right foot, so I tied his right to a pole too.

As soon as I finished milkin'' him again he knocked down the bucket with his with his tail and I took off my belt and tied up his tail with my belt.

As I was tying up his tail, my pants dropped down, then my wife came out and well, trust me, some things you just can't explain!

Have a wonderful weekend....

142 - Wordless Wednesday - Fall Colors

 

(Click on picture to 'embiggen')

(Mother in law Update, she had her doctors appt yesterday, and there's two small spots they are going to remove next Monday... more as I find out. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.)

141 - Tired

Well, my mother in law is due to hear from her doctor either tomorrow or Tuesday. I'll let you all know what happens.

We had our big wine dinner today, and I'm exhausted. It's been a long day, everything went real well, but it was a LOT of work.

I'm taking Monday off of work, so for now, this is going to be a short post (I'm surprised only one person commented on my last post).

Seeing as I'm so tired, I'm going to share one VERY funny video by Dave Chappelle titled "If Obama Wins"!

Click here and watch to the end please!

Have a wonderful Monday!

140 - No News Yet

Nope, she hasn't heard from the doctor yet, so we wait. I don't want to speculate, and I'd rather save my typing about it for when I have news.

Other than that, it's been a very busy week. My wife and I are working hard on getting ready for the Wine Tasting we're Co-Hosting down near the shore on Sunday. We're making a main dish called "Roast Pork Loin with Braised Apples and Cabbage". I hope it comes out as good as it sounds! We've got the wines all picked out and bought, Oktoberfest beers, and all kinds of snacks. It should be a good time.

44 Days till Vacation, and our friend Mike from Alabama that we're going with found a great place to go on the day we're in Honduras.

This is a great resort we're planning on visiting for some great swimming and snorkling.

It should be a great time.. I'm so looking forward to going on our cruise.

On to a funny before slipping out:

The Cabbie

A cabbie picks up a Nun. She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her.
She asks him why he is staring. He replies: 'I have a question to ask, but I don't want to offend you.'
She answers, ' My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive.'
'Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me.'
She responds, 'Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic.'
The cab driver is very excited and says, 'Yes, I'm single and Catholic!'
'OK' the nun says. 'Pull into the next alley.'
The nun fulfills his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.
But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.
'My dear child,' said the nun, 'Why are you crying?'
'Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess; I'm married and I'm Jewish.'
The nun says, 'That's OK. My name is Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween party.'

Have a great weekend all!

139 - Rough Week

I hope you'll all forgive me for no post on Monday, and a very short one tonight.

I had Monday off and my wife took her mom to the hospital for an MRI to see how much cancer she has, and the machine broke 75% into the scan. They hemmed and hawed, told her and my wife to go get lunch, they went back and the thing was still broken. My Mother In Law (MIL) was very upset, and they came back to our house for a bit with my MIL in tears.

Today, I called her at noon, and asked if she had a new appointment, and she said she tried to call the hospital MRI people and only got a machine. I told her to have her doctor call, and she did and the machine was still down. I asked if she wanted to go where I worked, and she said yes.

I called in some favors in the Radiology department where I work (UCONN Health Center) and got her in immediately. I picked up my wife and MIL and took her directly there. Turns out, the radiologist that was going to do her MRI calls bingo at one of the places she goes during the week. She was very comfortable with him, and it was done quickly.

She feels a lot better now, but we're still waiting for her doctor to talk to her.

So.... I'm sorry I've been MIA, and I may be again if there's problems.

Keep her in your good thoughts and prayers please, and thank you.

Dave

138 - Guys Night Out - Rough Week

Before I get to the title, I'd like to say thanks for all the guesses in Wednesday's post on the two pictures.

Mark said white balance, Bubbanem said Flash and no flash, which is really what I was looking for. Both are probably right, and thanks for playing! *S*

I had taken the bottom picture first, and forgot to turn off the flash, then I turned it off and took it again about 15 seconds later.

Mark had posted on his site about having a "guys night out". I've been having a "GNO" for quite some time now. Most of the time, I go with my friends Dave and/or Dan, and we normally do dinner and a movie. About 50% of the time, we go for wings and beers, the other times, Mexican food and Margarita's. No matter what, it's a good time to get out and talk "man talk". You know, sports, cars, sportscars, farting.. etc. Generally, there's a lot of laughing, and sometimes some significant insights on life discussed. Yeah, there's usually a lot of good-natured ribbing and pros/cons on the movie we see.

I feel that this GNO is very important, as I do for a Girls Night Out "GNO" for the wife when she wishes one. Sometimes, it's just good to get away and laugh. My wife is always welcome to go out with her friends and do as she pleases. I hope everyone is so lucky.

As to the rough week.
There's no easy way to put this, so here it is. My mother in law found out this week, that she has cancer. Both she, and my wife are very upset over this. Right now, it seems to be a small spot on her side, but she goes in for an MRI on Monday to see how big it actually is. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers please.

And now, to lighten the mood just a bit, a joke for your weekend:

This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.
He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said no and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.
George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."
Then he hung up.

Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"
George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

That's it for today, have a wonderful weekend all!

137 - Wordless (almost) Wednesday

 

What's the difference in these two pictures, taken seconds apart?

(Click on either picture to 'embiggen')

136 - I Need a Vacation...

Yeah, I go on vacation in 55 more days. That's 55 days too many!

Friday night, we had a great time at the Cruise Night in Torrington, met with a few friends, and went out and had a great dinner afterwards.

Here's a picture of one car all decked out for Halloween!

It was a fun time, but a long evening.

Saturday, my daughter and I got up early and ran some errands, went to see my mom, ran more errands and came home. Then just after lunch, the wife and I went to a ride up just over the border in Massachusetts to an Oktoberfest Beer tasting with over 100 beers to sample! (not to worry, I didn't have that much)

After coming home, I went out to our auto club's last cruise night of the season. It was a nice night that ended all too soon.

We were supposed to go to a car show Sunday, but I awoke with the rain falling gently, so I got back into bed and slept till 10:30am. Longer than I have in a LONG time!

And now, a funny for you:

A Florida couple, both well into their 80s, go to a sex therapist's office.

The doctor asks, "What can I do for you?"

The man says, "Will you watch us have sexual intercourse?"

The doctor raises both eyebrows, but he is so amazed that such an elderly couple is asking for sexual advice that he agrees.

When the couple finishes, the doctor says, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way you have intercourse." He thanks them for coming, he wishes them good luck, he charges them $50 and he says goodbye.

The next week, however, the couple returns and asks the sex therapist to watch again. The sex therapist is a bit puzzled, but agrees.

This happens several weeks in a row. The couple makes an appointment, has intercourse with no problems, pays the doctor, then leave.

Finally, after 5 or 6 weeks of this routine, the doctor says, "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Just what are you trying to find out?"

The old man says, "We're not trying to find out anything. She's married and we can't go to her house. I'm married and we can't go to my house. The Holiday Inn charges $98. The Hilton charges $139. We do it here for $50, and I get $43 back from Medicare...!

Have a wonderful Monday all!

135 - Another Busy Weekend.. Fall Style

Well, Friday night I'm going to a cruise night in Torrington, their last one of the season that is a Halloween special. People actually decorate their cars for the event and it's pretty interesting.

Saturday, the wife and I are going to a place called Table & Vine in Massachusetts, that sells wines, beers and specialty cheeses and other food. We're going to try some interesting beers for their Oktoberfest Beer Tastings, in hope of finding something good for the Wine Tasting we are co-hosting on October 19. Saturday night, our car club is having our last Cruise Night, with a "Best of the Best" trophy going to the best car that's won a plaque from us all season (we've had about 30 winners this season).

Sunday, there's another big car show in New Hartford, that's a benefit for the volunteer fire department in the area.

All in all.. a very busy weekend.

Lastly, a little joke for you to enjoy your weekend:

The Heart Of A Harley

A mechanic was removing a cylinder-he ad from the motor of a Harley
motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop.
The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come take a
look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage "Hey Doc,
want to take a look at this?"

The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was
working on the motorcycle.

The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and said, "So Doc,
look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any
damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like
new.

So how come I make $39,675 a year, a pretty small salary and you get the
really big bucks ($1,695,759) when you and I are doing basically the same
work?"

The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, the whispered to the
mechanic................................

"Try doing it with the engine running."

Have a great weekend all!

134 - The New Season has Begun!

The new TV season has begun, and all the shows the wife and I like are back full force! Let me tell you what we like (in no particular order).

Heroes. NBC's best show in ages. Rates a 10/10 for me.

House. We've watched it since day 1 and still love it.

Boston Legal. You gotta love Denny Crane (William Shatner) with his "Mad Cow".

Fringe. A new show on Fox that's outstanding in a kinda sci-fi way.

NCIS. Another we've watched since day one and we still enjoy.

Desperate Housewives. Used to be a lot better, getting pretty weird lately. Losing it's appeal for me.

Terminator, the Sarah Connors Chronicles. Another of my new faves. It's only in season 2, but it's a keeper.

Knight Rider. Ok, I do admit I watch it.

And one that's beginning on this Friday from the Sci-Fi channel, Sanctuary. I've seen a 30 minute clip from the 2 hour premier and it looks extremely good!

There's a few others we watch, but they're not big name shows.

What do you watch?

Lastly, I saw this on the news today, and I was incensed. Seems someone finally sued a bar over "Ladies Nights" where they get in for free, or get free drinks citing discrimination for men. Here's the article, you guess what happened (did I mention it was a female judge?)

Have a wonderful Hump-Day all!