I'm waiting until December 22nd to do my holiday shopping...

You Know You Use A Computer Too Much When...

Got Ghosts? I Do! I Think...

I have never been a big believer in the paranormal. I've always loved a good ghost story ever since I was a little kid, but I always thought there was a better chance of seeing an alien than a ghost.  A few years ago I had an experience that got me started into writing articles about hauntings.  After a few more personal encounters over the past few years in my own home,  I'm beginning to change my mind...   Read the full story>>

One of those moments I wish could get on video...

I was in the kitchen making a pie crust. My son was at the other end of the kitchen and threw something in the sink. I must have spilled some flour on the floor, because at the sound of something going into the sink, my cat came running into the kitchen right on cue to jump in the sink and lick whatever it was. However, when the cat planted it's back feet to jump up, it hit the flour. Instead of going up, the cat's hind legs went forward and it fell backwards on it's a**! LMAO!! If I could have captured that on video, it would have gone viral. 

 You just can't make this stuff up...

One of Those Songs that Brings Back Lots of Memories

The roof... the roof... the roof is on fire... we don't need no water let the m*****r f*****r burn...

"I just wanna keep him"... those are the words that got this dog's attention...

"I just wanna keep him"...  right to the heart.

I Don't Run Away from Things, I Run for ME!

Some say that people who are driven towards endurance sports to the extreme are running away from something. I disagree. When I do endurance sports and go extreme distances I am running FOR something... ME.

There is a great sense of accomplishment when finishing a long run, bike ride or hike.

I Don't Run Away from Things, I Run for ME!

Running Fast

I discovered today that I can run pretty fast... downhill...

Christmas Before Christmas

Downtown was bustling tonight... shops filled with customers... sidewalks filled... Nice night to be out and about...

As I was walking through town, hearing the Christmas music coming over the speakers in town, for a brief moment I actually got the Christmas spirit. Then I remembered it was only November... back to reality... :)

Downtown Lights

I have never been a big fan of seeing signs of Christmas months before Christmas is near.  It is especially annoying to see Christmas decorations out before Halloween.  It is ONE day people.  Just like any other holiday.  Get over it.

Did you ever have so many body sensations at the same time that you didn't know which one to act on first?

I saw frost on the ball field across the street so I decided to go out to take a few pics. Well me being me, an hour and a half and 130 pictures later, and after walking all over the neighborhood, I finally made it back inside. I hadn't had any coffee, food, asthma inhaler or anything yet. So I was freezing cold, had to take a whiz, was having serious hunger pangs, had a tight chest from being cold, and was craving coffee... Seriously wasn't quite sure what to do first. It is a very weird feeling!

 

What came first...  Coffee!

Cat's Eye

Cat's Eye

Making Pumpkin Pies - No Power Tools Required

Pie making...  Nothing beats homemade pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, but it has to have crust made from scratch.  Store bought pie shells just don't cut it.  So once a year, I embark on the adventure of baking pumpkin pies... 

It seems that sipping a glass of wine throughout the process always makes it so much more interesting. 

Pumpkin pie: One of these ingredients doesn't belong... and no it's not the drain cleaner :)

 I posted the picture above on Facebook asking which one of the ingredients doesn't belong and had to point out that it wasn't the drain cleaner which I forgot was on the table and one of my friends was asking exactly who this pie was for...  and somehow the beaters on the table for the mixer never got used.  Not sure what happened there.

Only I can make pie crust that resembles a small map of Ireland... Happens every time. It's a real pain in the a** though when I have to start moving provinces around...

Somehow every time I make pie crust, it resembles the shape of Ireland with all of the irregularities sticking out the sides...  usually in one place more than the other so I always end up cutting and pasting so to speak.

Fresh pumpkin pie... no power tools required... 

Even though it is a struggle, the end result is always worth it!  Nothing like warm pumpkin pie with whipped cream along with some hot coffee...  yum!

Nothing like warm pumpkin pie with whipped cream along with some hot coffee!

Spot the Critters #2 - Answers

The answers to the "Spot the critters #2".  2 squirrels, and you get bonus points if you spotted the black and white cat in the top of the tree (orange circle)...  I wasn't the only one watching the squirrels :)

Key to Spot the Critters #2

View the original picture

Spot the Critters #2

See if you can spot all the critters in this picture.  This one has some potential bonus points. It may be helpful to save the file and open it with something you can magnify it with.  The pics can be a bit grainy sometimes.  The link below will take you to the answers.

Spot the critters #2

 View the answer key

Petition Against Petitions to Secede From the United States

In the wake of the recent U. S. Presidential Election, there has been a flare up of people starting petitions for their state to secede from the United States.  One is circulating in my home state of Pennsylvania.

Seriously people?

There is no way in hell I would sign this, but everyone has their rights.  However, after Pennsylvania succeeds in becoming it's own Nation, and after I move out, I want the inhabitants to tell me:

Where are you going to go for help when a natural disaster hits (No more FEMA). 

Where are you going to go to get student aid for your kids going to college (no more FAFSA or Sallie Mae).

How are you going to send a letter without paying a fortune (No more Federal Post Office).

When you get old and can't afford medical care, who is going to pay for it (No more Medicare OR Medicaid).

When you retire, what are you going to live off of (No more Social Security).

...and who is going to defend you when you get attacked (No more U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard or Coast Guard).

I'll volunteer a name for your new country, "United Idiots of Pennsylvania".

And when you realize what you lost and move into my State, I'm going to petition to have you thrown out.  Because you don't support the United States of America.

SO DON’T SIGN SOMETHING UNLESS YOU FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT AND MEAN IT!

The United States is the great country it is today because of the structure that it has had since it's birth. DON'T MESS WIT IT!

Please share if you believe in the United States of America.

Spot the Critters #1 - Answers

Actual locations of the critters. some you can clearly see, others are grey blurrs because they were moving. There was one in the corner of the fence which you can hardly make out in this pic so I won't count it, but you get a double score if you found that one.  So there are 4 squirrels. However, I know it was there because I saw it when I took the pic. 

There are a few other squirrels that didn't quite make it into the pic shown where the red arrows are. So there were eight total in that tiny little yard foraging for nuts.

Here is the answer key to Spot the Critters #1

View the original puzzle picture

Spot the Critters #1

See if you can spot all the critters in this picture.  It may be helpful to save the file and open it with something you can magnify it with.  The pics can be a bit grainy sometimes.  The link below will take you to the answers.

Spot the critters #1.  Se how many critters you can find in this picture.

View the answer key

Why We Lose Friends on Social Media During a Presidential Election or Otherwise

Sometimes in the wake of a major political election such as the recent U.S. Presidential election, one may find they are with fewer friends on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, than they had before.  Why is this?  Why do people take something so personal?  

Politics on Social Media

  Well simply put, it IS personal.  Party affiliation can be so deeply engrained in people that it becomes part of their persona, part of what makes them,  them.  It is what defines them.  When someone makes a derogatory comment or post a derogatory picture of someone in a party that they are deeply connected to, it is like a personal insult.  Kind of like you are making fun of their name, because it is part of who they are.  It is not like making fun of someone's favorite sports team, because political affiliation goes much broader and deeper into their personality and way of life.  People would be more willing to turn against their own sports team than their party affiliation, especially if they were raised that way.

It is difficult for people to get away from this mind set because that is how they are raised as a child.  The majority of the people out there vote like their parents do and rarely change.  It becomes part of them.  So when they see someone post something derogatory against a candidate of their choosing, they instantly feel anger.  The first instinct is to post something derogatory in response.  Then the battle begins.  There are some things that are just better left off of social media that are personal such as political preference.  

Sometimes you have to have pretty thick skin to be able to ignore these things.  It is difficult to break away from a party if it is engrained in you, but one option is to become an (I)ndependent.  Once you start looking at different options as an independent, you may find that you may mix your voting and vote for some Republican and some Democratic candidates.  Maybe even a candidate from another party may make more sense based on their agenda.  Afterall, if you are affiliated with one party and a candidate in that party is sort of an a**hole, do you really want to vote for them?  Crossing party lines can sometimes produce a best lineup for a ballot.

Throughout my life, I have been registered different times as: Republican, Democrat, and Independent.  About 10 years ago before the Presidential campaign, I decided that I did not care for some of the candidates in both Democratic or Republican party, so I re-registered as an Independent.  I voted for a mix of all three.  I have remained so ever since then and vote for whoever makes the most sense at the time regardless of party affiliation.  When someone posts derogatory remarks on social media about any particular party or candidate, it is much easier for me to laugh it off or even make fun of them myself if they are humorous.  I don't really care to hear really nasty derogatory comments about anyone, however I have yet to unfriend someone because of making derogatory comments about a political candidate.

Religion on Social Media

Religion is another touchy area.  It is all fine a good that a person is proud of their religion, but when they start touting scriptures and such on social media, those who are not part of that religion, others who are not part of that may get annoyed.  And YES, there are people out there who have different religious beliefs than you may, and that is their right.  Some may consider it proselytizing (attempting to spread a religion), and unfriend or unfollow the person posting these things. This really gets hairy when people try to bring religion into a political campaign.  Separation of church and State happened a long time ago and for a good reason.

I personally believe it bits and pieces of many religions, they each have their purpose and it is what makes the world so dynamic.

Bottom Line...  Be Careful What You Post

So if you suddenly find your self with a lot fewer friends or followers on social media than you had before, take a look at what you posted.  If it has to do with religion or politics, that could be why.
 

Control My House Through My Phone?

You see all these ads now where they want you to sign up for services that allow you to control your home through your phone.  Turn on lights, control temperature, open doors, turn on your sprinkler system, etc.  I say when they come up with one that cooks my gosh darn dinner and have it ready when I get home...   I'm In!

Named a Storm After My Cat - Not Really, But the Name Fits!

The road I take to work everyday finally opened up today in the wake of Hurricane Sandy which hit over a week ago.   Now I learn that this new Nor'easter that is hitting us, they named it Athena. That is the name of my cat that is a complete b*tch...  Lovin' it! :)

 Video of Athena, the b*tch cat from Hell.  Notice how the other cats try to stay away from her...

Athena the b*tch cat guarding her favorite spot...  on or in a case of water...  really!

Cats Using Printers... Say What?

So I hear my printer turning on in the other room and I go to investigate. My cat turned it on and was laying behind it to get warm. wtf?

And that actually wasn't the first time I have ever heard the printer coming on, seemingly all by itself. I always thought it was my son or something. I was so surprised I didn't even think to get a picture. IF the cats want extra heat, they can pay the utility bill...  dammit!

 

Cats and Daylight Savings Time... They Don't Mix

My cats didn't agree with the time change this morning. I don't think their stomach's are set to daylight savings time...

Hurricane Sandy - Send Gasoline Tankers

During the dire situation on the East coast in the wake of Hurricane Sandy with no gasoline for generators to help provide heat, cook, and pump water this would be an excellent time for an oil company to step up. Instead of trying to raise prices to make a fortune, how about send in gasoline tankers equipped with standard pump nozzles to provide free gasoline for those in need and help get this mess straightened out. Share if you agree and make it PUBLIC!!!

 

Please copy and pass the word above on your social media.  If you use a picture based social media service, please use the picture below:

  There may be a temptation for people to re-sell it, but if they ration it somehow, they could work it out.  There is always a way...

Holiday Un-Decorating

After years of Holiday decorating and un-decorating, I believe that the ratio of decorating to un-decorating hours are roughly 1 to 3. At least it feels like it anyway...

The ratio of holiday decorating to un-decorating hours are roughly 1 to 3... at least it feels like it.