Deliver Us From Evil

So I'm still wondering about this whole Bailout thing. And while I've wondered my 401k has lost $1200 at the start of last week, made about half of it up, and then continued to lose everyday after that. I was on pace to crack the $20,000 (cut that in almost half now) mark by the end of the year. Not that it matters, because I have a long time before I retire. But now it's at the point where I'm breaking even. That is take my contribution and my employer's match, over four years, and I haven't lost anything or gained either. And that in itself is depressing. No good deed go unpunished they say.

This seems to be the way for me in all things. Buy real estate they say... well only in certain areas and I didn't really do that (this is in the Upstate). Now it's the pigeon holing money away for retirement. You can't go wrong they say, good at first, but now it has turned rather sour. I put 10% of my paycheck toward it, maybe I need to do something else with that money.

I know, I know... wait it out. I just don't know if there will be any money to wait this out with. In other news, my spinach has sprouted, so at least that is some good news yeah? Dear Jesus, please help, hello... hello? Aw nuts.

The Puppet Lady

You ever look at somebody and think, maybe even say... out loud, "man that's got to be an easy job". I met somebody like that the other day. If you have kids and even if you don't or your kids are all grown up, you've probably met this person too.

I'm talking about Yostie, the puppet lady. I don't know whether I should be mad at her for doing something so stupid, and getting paid for it, or in awe because she is very lucky and basically "stepped in shit". I guess it really doesn't matter. And from what I hear, she's on the road a lot, so maybe she doesn't have such a great job, who knew, Yostie has such a following.

Anyway, you get on stage, act foolish, better yet get some other adult to act foolish, make a puppet out of everyday materials with kids, tell a story (that has nothing whatsoever to do with anything) and smile as you get paid.

That's Yostie. And that's what I pretty much tell myself every time a see her. How I wish I would be more like her, without much care, including people thinking I am a freak. Vanity is wasted on her.

Daddy in Charge

Well, sorta.

My wife the illustrious holder together of all things and the voice of calm, is going on some kind of school/business trip. She'll only be gone for one day, but as soon as she gets home she's off again for another day. So for those keeping up she'll be gone for 24 hours, go to bed and be gone for another 8 hours.

This is fine with me, I mean... I am a big boy, mostly. But my younger daughter, I don't know. She loves her mommy, which has become momma, we blame the Aristocats. If I can get though the morning (which by the time you read this I will have) I'll be home free. But mornings are tough, especially for non-morning people like me.

Once momma or wife or savior comes home for good, it will all be ok. Though at the end of the month, she and the little one are going up to Pennsylvania to see her folks. I can't go because I still have no vacation time, plus my other daughter has school. I think I can handle that much better. My older daughter and I have been through a lot together, though I doubt she'll even want to be hanging around me. You know teenagers.

Back to this particular trip, I have some flank steak marinating so dinner won't be too hard. We'll watch movies for the rest of the time. Going to sleep is hard, but I think she'll be ok. (she loves her momma) Besides doesn't this sort of thing build charater? Anyway, it's just for two days. Now I have to find some kind of training or school that I can go to. Like in Vegas or better yet the Bahamas.

Classic Film Friday: The Long Hot Summer

Ok so this is a tribute to Paul Newman. The man did a lot with charities and so forth. I think that is probably what the actor wants to be remembered for, but this about movies so here we go...


Paul Newman is Ben Quick who's reputation precedes him, he's a drifter and a bit of a con artist. Just recently being run out of one town as a barn burner he finds himself in another one. And this one has the name Varner all over it. So he goes and sees Mr. Varner, only he finds the younger Varner, Jody (Anthony Franciosa) and the girls who just happened to give him a lift Clara Varner (Joanne Woodward) and Eula Varner (Lee Remick). He wants a job and gets one.

Enter Will Varner (Orson Welles), who has been away at the hospital, getting well or having some kind of organ removed. He full of piss and vinegar. He sees a bit of Quick in himself, and the two fashion a contract of sorts.

I can't really say much more, but Ben Quick and Clara Varner are meant to be together. And I never thought of Angela Lansbury (Minnie Littlejohn, Will Varners mistress) as anything other Miss Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote).



There wasn't a trailer or anything but this will have to do.

A Veggy Garden... for the Fall

Ok so this is my own economic stimulus package as it were. Our tomatoes are long gone, the pepper plants made their last pepper a few weeks back, everything is overgrown and unkempt, basically the shine that was present in the spring had dulled over the summer and by the fall, had become an eyesore.


But with the 4 of us working about a whole day... Ok not really... 1 is too little, 1 is too stroke bound, this was a 2 person job. My 13-year-old still owed on her little vandalism escapade. So she got most of the weeds out of there (and paid off her debt in full). My wife did most of the fine tuning/actual planting. I did have a hand in the boarder (to hopefully prevent the grass from invading again) and some mulch, as well as bricks for the garbage can.


This is the first time that we have planted from seed. We always took some plants already started from the store. We know that as far as timing, we are late, but I'm hoping for global warming, or I can cover the plants with plastic. We have, in our little garden, some broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, spinach, and onions. I doubt that everything will take, as we have no skill or previous knowledge of farming. And it's going to be watered on the irrigation system, so perhaps some might get too much or not enough water.


But all things considered it at least looks better that it did, and so even if this garden fails we'll be that much more experienced when the spring rolls back around. Now we just wait and see.

Housekeeping

I've done a little cleanup here and there. If you are picking up my feed via RSS you won't notice anything, but if you are stuck on the intrawebs you'll see that some of the links are gone and more importantly that I've put the blog jam up in it's entirety and it goes by who posted last. I did not know that it did that, it was just a happy coincidence. Maybe it will encourage people to post more often, maybe not. I'm a quality over quantity kind of guy, so don't feel to obligated.

I've been debating whether or not to change anything, because I guess I'm a creature of habit. But so far everything looks good, so maybe I should have done it sooner. Always looking for more bloggers and I will add anything that seems worth it... Not change, just add. Anyway that's about it.

Feel free to try it out or tell me I'm an idiot or suggest improvements...

Where to go?