Monday

This morning on my way out to work this morning, I captured these two on the fence feeding on the grasses.

Sunday

The day has been rather uneventful. I did get to sleep in late this morning. After which I spent the remaining portion of the morning cleaning up the kitchen and doing laundry. Walt & I watched a couple of movies to round out the early afternoon.

While I was out with Carla this afternoon, I took the camera with me. I caught this little bird in the birch tree just outside our apartment. It was totally by chance that I actually got it in the frame. The sun was at my back and I wasn't able to see the bird in the camera display.

This evening he headed off to a picnic with Patrick. I've hung out here at home. Just before 8:30 p.m. the wind kicked up and the skies opened up and poured out a deluge on us. Then the thunder started. Carla, of course, has curled up right next to me. The chicken. Hope Walter was inside and is staying dry.

The storm is progressing along. The thunder is rattling the sliding door windows; and the lightning is still producing a spectacular light show. Well on the bright side - the plants are getting a good watering.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

ORDERING A PIZZA IN 2010 ...
A little exaggerated, but not all that far-fetched given the powers of technology and information access.

Want to know how to order a pizza in 2010? Click the link below.

http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

Saturday

We started off the day with a trip out to Midas for their blood drive. That turned out to be a bust. The appointment that I scheduled for us at 8 a.m. this morning, wasn't on their books at all when we arrived. Nothing like getting up early on one of the few days that we have to sleep late.

Walter got all dressed up to cook this afternoon. He sure looks sharp in his 'uniform'. He has the menu planned all out and has been prepping in spurts to coincide with his timetable.

I watched a couple of movies this morning. Then after working around the house just a bit, Walter put in the movie 10,000 BC. It has been an interesting movies so far.

Our dinner was lovely. Walter did a fantastic job, and it plated up beautifully. We had filet migon, skewed shrimp (marinated in a roasted red pepper sauce), sauteed green beans, stuffed mushrooms, and mashed red potatoes. We even whipped up a baatch of peanut butter roll right after dinner for dessert.

Roz, Courtney, Keisha, and Viney all immensely enjoyed the meal. We had a terrific time and a great time visiting with one another. Courtney is off in mid-July to an intensive dance program in Maine before starting college in the fall.

Finally Friday

Welcome to the weekend. It was a busy day as is the norm.

After work I headed over to Regency Square to do some shopping. I stopped off first at Lane Bryant - they had bras buy 2 get 2 free. That's a deal that is hard to pass up. I did find one shirt there but that was all. There several other pieces but the looked so much better on the hanger. I tried Sears, not my usual stop, since I was right next door and the stop paid off. I was able to pick up a couple of pair of nice pants and a sundress. But the BIGGEST find was shoes that are fantastically lightweight AND comfortable.

After I got home this evening, I was messing around with a couple of photos and created this neat animation. This is the officer I normally see in the evenings directing traffic on the way home. I took the photos that created this a couple of days ago on my way home. It was just sheer luck that the two photos merged together so well. Nothing like see the county's finest each evening holding up traffic.

Walter's out this evening with Patrick having some fun. We're both scheduled to give blood in the morning.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Maxine's Marvelous Views
I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. What a beauty of a bird feeder it is, as I filled it lovingly with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.

But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table everywhere!

Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.

And others birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore. So I took down the
bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like it used to be.... quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let's see.

Our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, and free
education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.

Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor; your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English.

Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to 'press one' to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than 'Old Glory' are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder. If you agree, pass it on; if not, continue cleaning up the poop.

Thursday

It was a bit warm around here today, the upper 90's.

I slipped out at the end of work, and headed out to King Louie's to get my hair cut. Stuart did an excellent job as usual. I even planned ahead and scheduled my next visit before I left.

The evening was finished off working - the boss was hosting a teleconference. It did go well, even though we did throw in a twist to the usual production. It was a lucky thing that the teleconference ended on time. Right at 9:55 p.m. the power at the apartment flicked on and off on three separate occassions.

The first go round knocked out Walter's computer (and of course he had been playing a game for about 2 hours) and the microwave. He only had time to holler about it when it flicked out again, with only time left to get his computer shut down. The power flicked off and back on for the third time. In the end it knocked out the microwave, Walter's alarm clock in his room, the stero in the living.

Wednesday

I got out for a few minutes at lunch time today. It was so nice outside, compared to the office. The day was fairly productive. This evening Walter & I headed out to do some grocery shopping for the dinner that he is preparing on Saturday. It hardly took us any time to get through the store. It was amazing when we asked about a particular cut of beef - they told us that they were out at the warehouse. Craziness....

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Thought For the Day: OPEC sells oil for $136.00 a barrel. OPEC nations buy U.S. grain at $7.00 a bushel. Solution: Sell grain for $136.00 a bushel. Can't buy it? Tough! Eat your oil! Ought to go well with a nice thick grilled filet of camel ass!!!

Midnight Feeding
"Grandma, when you and Grandpa had your first baby, did Grandpa ever handle the middle-of-the-night feeding?"

"No. I always did that."

"That must have been before you had women's liberation."

"No, it was before we had baby bottles."

When not to hypenate a name...
Actual couples, I copied the names from the wedding announcements attached to an email that I got last week. Some of these are just plain wrong. I sure hope that these folks take the advice and don't hypenate.

Looney-Warde
Best-Lay
Busch-Rash
Wang-Holder
Beaver-Wetter
Traylor-Hooker
Hardy-Harr
Wendt-Adaway
Filler-Quick
Dunnam-Favors
Drinkwine-Layer
Gowen-Geter
Weener-Whipple
Peters-Rising
Kuntz-Dick
Butts-McCracken
Aikin-Johnson
Bush-Graber
Wacker-Dailey
McDonald-Berger

Tuesday

Walt had a good visit with the doctor, there are still some questions, but we'll see what's going on and hopefully before too long he'll be better.

The Virginia Blood Service tracked me down today at work - there's a blood drive on Saturday morning at the Midas and they were scheduling appointments. So I got Walter & myself an early morning appointment, we'll be getting that free oil change for the effort as an added bonus.

This evening I'm working for a about an hour or so recording a teleconference for work.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Thought For the Day: “[T]he government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.” — James Madison

Don't laugh, you know you are related to these people somehow.
Odd Facts
Q. What occurs more often in December than any other month?
A. Conception.

Q. What distinguishes "60 Minutes" on CBS from every other TV show?
A. No theme song.

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace.

Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular?
A. Obsession

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to count until you found the letter "A"?
A. One thousand

Q. What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey

Q. There are more collect calls on what day of the year?
A. Father's Day

Q. What trivial fact about Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) is the most ironic?
A. He was allergic to carrots.

Q. What is an activity performed by 40% of all people at a party?
A. Snoop in your medicine cabinet

Monday

Another week is off and running, always so much to do and never seeming enough time to get it done. The stress level is beginning to get a little on the high side. I'm attempting to just leave it at the door when I start for home, but that is proving a bit easier said than done.

We had an interesting surprise this evening when we got home, there was some stuff in the hallway floor. Looks like someone came in and messed around with the cooling system, but we're really not sure. The maintenance records say that a carpenter was in today, but I've not a clue as to what they did.

Walter is going to the orthopedic in the morning for a second opinion. It will be interesting to see what they have to say.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Thought For the Day: “The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all citizens.” — Thomas Jefferson

The Art Thief--It's a Groaner!
A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.

After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.

However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.

When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied, 'Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings. I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh.'

See if you have De Gaulle not to at least smile & not groan...

I sent it to you because I figured I had nothing Toulouse.

Sunday

I got out early this morning and took Carla for a walk. While I was out I got a couple of "long distant" bird photos. The Cardinal was a long way away, a little fuzzy, but...


Walter & I finally got around to watching the Nicholas Cage movie National Treasure Book of Secrets this afternoon. I'd gotten it when we first moved - a month ago - but we've just now taken time out to watch. Turns out we should have watched it sometime ago. Very good movie - some similarities with the first, and of course the obvious jokes - but very good.

Mom came over for a visit this afternoon, we had a really nice visit. It has been a long time since she's been able to come over.

Walt cooked out on the grill this evening, as he started it began to drizzle slightly. It seems like every time lately he thinks about grilling, it begins to rain. Well, it was a very small precursor to what was to come this evening. It seems like it is coming down in buckets. Just in time to water all the plants.

Summer's Here

Summer has officially arrived. Let's just hope for more pleasant days than those that are horribly humid.

The evening was fantastic last night! We had a leisurely dinner at Carrabbas followed by a movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We even put in some time watching the clouds roll by with the top down on the convertible. Very nice...

I'm off shortly to get the nails done and a couple of other errands. Walt's downloading me some Grateful Dead music. This evening we are headed over to Roz's mother's place for a graduation party for Courtney. It promises to be a full filled evening.

I was able to get out and get the nails done - they came out terrifically. It was a very relaxing visit. I just love the massaging pedicure chairs, they are very very relaxing.

The party was pleasant with loads of people and food. Roz did a great job of getting it all together. It looked like everyone was there to encourage Courtney in her next steps after high school.

On the way home it began to rain. Just on and off and then continuous for a good while.

Friday

Off this evening for dinner & a movie. Right now, not sure where we're going or what movie we're going to see. BUT I do KNOW that we'll have a grand time.

Thursday

I had to go home during lunch today so that the maintenance department would come into the apartment. Even though they know about Carla they are so weird about coming in with her home. Oh well, while I was there I was able to take some really cute

Hump Day

Mid-week. So far, so good. Things at the office have been busy as usual. I'm looking forward to the weekend, it has possibilities...

This evening there was a beautiful sunset.

Tuesday

Back to work today after recouping yesterday from feeling YUCK.

Too bad that I didn't feel well enough to sit outside and enjoy the weather yesterday, and that today isn't Saturday. I could go for sitting outside on the porch listening to the birds and trying to take a few photos.

When I arrived home this evening, Miss Carla was outside laying in the grass. She looked so peaceful. But the grass is beginning to make her itchy. We've resorted to giving her benadryl again, as is the custom for this time year. Otherwise it's been a pretty good evening - more boxes have been emptied and things are beginning to get into shape. I was able to get everything into the kitchen cabinets this evening and the new doors look really great.

Walter and I were watching a show this evening on tech gadgets - there were a couple that I thought that were really neat. A pen sized scanner called a docupen. This thing could scan a document in 4 seconds flat, graphics and all. Then there was a virtual keyboard. This gadget projected a keyboard onto the desktop. Very neat!

A little extra that I got late this evening - A photo of the full moon. Carla had me outside a little late so I was able to get this one.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Thought For the Day: “In this era of big government, we sometimes forget that many of our proudest achievements as a nation came not through government, but through private citizens, individuals whose genius and generosity flourished in this climate of freedom.” — Ronald Reagan

Monday

Here we have arrived at Monday - I'm a little bit under the weather today. I'm not too sure as to what I got into but hopefully it will pass shortly. But I have been able to get a number of things done at home for work.

When I poked my head out the door this morning to let Carla out, I spied this little bird hanging out on the sidewalk.

I received a phone call from the apartment maintenance this morning to let me know that the new doors to the cabinets would be installed today. After talking to the guy that is in charge of it, he said that they'll paint the cabinet frames in my bathroom tomorrow. Now only to find out about the kitchen floor.

The cabinet guys got here around 4:30 p.m., just in time to keep me awake. I was so ready for a nap. So okay...the only trick to it was that they ended up being here until after 6:30 p.m.

Father's Day

I headed out this afternoon to visit with Dad. It was good to get out for a visit. It had been too long, since the last time I was out for a visit.

I put together a "Daddy Care Package" with all the essentials for a hunting expedition (Cokes, vienna sausages, potted meat, snack crackers, shotgun shells, beef jerky, and the absolute item -- toliet paper!).

We spent part of the time sitting out on the deck enjoying the afternoon. The birds were singing quite beautifully. I tried a couple of times to get photographs of several of the blue birds, but they tended to stay just out of reach. However, I was able to get this one of the resident rabbit that just was at the edge of the woods. He seemingly was just enjoying the warm afternoon sun. That was until he heard a noise from around the front of the house - at which he promptly retreated into the woods.

It seems that the air traffic pattern has changed over the last couple of years, and now Mom & Dad's house is in the flight path. This plane was coming in for a landing at the Richmond Airport. If you look 'really' close you can see the landing gear is already down as it is passing over their house.

I even gave Dean and ring to wish him a Happy Father's Day - I know that there was only one of the kids that would be speaking with him today. We may not get along, but he at least had earned a Happy Father's Day wish.

On the way home, I picked up some steaks and other fixings for dinner. Walter & Patrick were busy at the apartment when I arrived hooking up the various electronic equipment to a set of new speakers. The speakers sound wonderful. They guys did a great job of setting up everything.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

When God Made Fathers
by Erma Bombeck
When the good Lord was creating fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, "What kind of a father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping."

God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?"

And when God made a father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, "Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats."

Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders. "Do you realize you just made a father without a lap?" The angel chuckled.

God said, "A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?"

God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Banbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."

God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm authoritative voice, eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an after thought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a mother can?"

The angel said nothing more.

Saturday

The day has been fairly slow - I slept in till about 9:30 a.m. this morning. After sleeping very soundly all evening. Not too many nights that I sleep that well.

I've spending a good part of the day split between goofing off with Walter and working on the apartment. We've been watching a few movies. We even went out to Lowes to pick up a few of those minor supplies that we needed to hang pictures and such.

This evening he's out running around with Patrick and supposedly coming back home to do a little cooking out on the grill. If...it's not raining when he gets here.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Important Information on Lightbulbs from Congress

Friday

What an interesting day. I was waiting on Verizon to change over the office phone service today and was in absolute shock when it went off without a single hitch. They almost had to pick me up off the floor - I had fully expected to have a big mess on my hands.

This evening I had a great evening out watching The Bucket List and then a pleasant dip in the hot tub. The movie was great, I was expecting a great movie, but surprised at the way that it ended.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Forgiveness
Early in their marriage, my Dad did something really stupid. My Mom chewed him out for it. He apologized, they made up.

However, from time to time, my Mom mentioned what he had done. "Honey," my Dad finally said one day, "why do you keep bringing that up? I thought your policy was 'forgive and forget.'"

"It is," she said. "I just don't want you to forget what I've forgiven and forgotten."

Rain or Shine
It was raining quite hard as U.S. Marine trainees assembled outdoors for a briefing. On a blackboard, the lieutenant instructor had prepared a detailed drawing of the tactics he wanted practiced.

"Don't think we're going to call this off just because of a little rain," he said. Then he turned to the blackboard which had been washed clean.

For Those With Boys





And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like ...

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fa n as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'uh oh', it's already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject 'PB & J' sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Glenn Beck: Why gas is so expensive
June 12, 2008 - 13:08 ET

GLENN: You know, you might be asking yourself every time you go into a gas station, "Gee, why are gas prices so high. That's really weird." Now, Bob says there's enough oil, and there is enough oil. There's currently not enough oil for the demand but there's enough oil out there and if you want to know why there's not enough oil out on the market, let's just look back for a second.

Do you remember when Bill Clinton pulled the plug on leasing the outer continental shelf? Yeah. Me, either. I have a life. But it was back in 1998. Maybe, you know, maybe you weren't paying attention to what intern he was stooping and rolling around on the presidential carpet with. But you remember the argument back then. Clinton's affairs with fatties isn't affecting his job performance. He's still getting things done. And you're right. All of these areas were subject to a 1998 presidential withdrawal oh, that's so loaded a presidential withdrawal from leasing in 2012, okay? So in 1998 President Clinton said you can't lease anything here for oil until 2012, and there are just a few places here: Washington, the entire state; Oregon, the entire state; Northern California, Central California and Southern California. The eastern Gulf of Mexico except for a portion of land. The South Atlantic, the Mid Atlantic, the North Atlantic, all national marine sanctuaries. All of these are indefinite. The Olympic Coast, Cordell Bank, California, Monterey Bay, California, the Gulf of the Farallones, California, the Channel Islands of California; the Flower Bank Gardens Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida and the Florida Keys, Gray's Reef South and Atlantic, Monitor Mid Atlantic, Stellwagen Bank, North Atlantic. Gee, I wonder why prices are so high for gas. That's weird, isn't it? This isn't to excuse congress from their responsibility because they started their moratoriums back in 1982, stopping the leasing in 1982 of Central and Northern California. Then in 1984 it was Southern California. Then in 1990 the North Aleutian Basin in Alaska. Then in 1991 Washington, Oregon and the Florida Panhandle. Gee, I wonder why gas prices are so high. It's weird, isn't it? And this isn't to excuse the Republicans. The administration says they're for all of these things, with the exception of the Alaskan Aleutian Basin which hasn't been included in the ban since 2004. Gee, I wonder why gas prices are so high. But it's not like the outer continental shelf is important to our energy needs. That's what the Democrats yesterday said in a subcommittee when they killed going to the outer continental shelf. It's not that important, it's really not that much, we've got other things we can do. And actually with all of the bans, it still provides 30% of outline domestic oil production, which is more than we import from any other nation on the planet. Do you have that? The part that we have opened, it provides 30% of all domestic oil production, more than we import from any other nation.

By the way, the Government estimates that the outer continental shelf, the one they said no to yesterday, has 76 billion barrels of oil in it that are recoverable and that's with today's technology. Let me put that into perspective. 76 billion barrels is enough to replace every single barrel of oil that we import from everywhere outside of North America for the next 34 years at our current pace. That's in the one place, one, that congress said we couldn't go into yesterday.

But what about the environment. This is from the Government again. This have been no spills over 1,000 barrels in 15 years of the outer continental shelf drilling. The National Academy of Sciences found that the offshore industry is among the safest industrial activities in the United States. Outer continental shelf operations are more than five times less likely to cause a spill than oil tankers who are importing oil. You listen to this next time one of these environmental pinheads talk to you about the risks of drilling. You remember these words. Imports present an environmental risk of spills 13 times greater than domestic production. Let me say it again. Imports present an environmental risk of spills 13 times greater than domestic production. And, natural seeps account for 150 to 175 times more oil in the ocean than outer continental shelf oil and gas operations. Natural seeps? Natural seeps? Now we know who the real polluter is, that evil wench mother nature. Yet it's the environmentalists who continue to dictate our energy policy. Gee, I wondering why gas prices are so high. It's weird, isn't it?

Obama yesterday said the price of gasoline isn't the problem. $4 a gallon for gasoline isn't the problem. The high price of oil is not the problem. The problem is it's just risen too quickly. Oh, okay. Now I want to vote for you. How fast has oil risen? Grab onto your seat. On 9/11 oil was $27 a barrel. Do you remember how everybody was freaking out after Katrina? "Oh, Katrina, that spike is going to kill us." Oil was $70 a barrel in that spike. We're now almost double that. And from the same government that tells us we don't need more oil, that we don't need to go in and drill in the outer continental shelf, we don't need to go in and get the shale, we don't need to go in to ANWR. We don't need any of this oil. We don't need to build nuclear power plants. We don't need to take our coal and turn it into oil. We don't need any more refineries. From that government, the same government, the Energy Information Administration in its annual energy outlook in 2005 projected that oil prices would reach as high as $52 a barrel in the year 2025. I'm sure those cap and trade estimates that John McCain and Barack Obama, I'm sure cap and trade that they are all in love with, those estimates from the EPA of only $1.50 per gallon increase, I'm sure those are totally accurate, just like the idea of paying $52 a barrel for oil in 2025 is.

By the way, in today's newsletter we're going to give you the highlights of this monologue and we're also giving you the name of the weasels in Washington yesterday that said no to the drilling in the outer continental shelf. We have the names. It was, what a surprise, it always amazes me how the Democrats and the Republicans are split evenly. All the Democrats see it one way. All the Republicans see it another way. Is there an honest soul in America that's actually serving in our capitol. Time to let them know. We'll give you the names on our free e mail newsletter today at GlennBeck.com.

By the way, you know, I can't get past the fact, there's a couple of things. The writings of Thomas Jefferson and the writings of James Madison, all of these things, they are so fresh today and we've been working on something with Fusion Magazine. Please, please, we worked on this issue of Fusion Magazine longer than we've ever worked on any other Fusion Magazine. We worked on this one for six months doing research on it. We've had the best professors, the best American historians in the country help us put this together. Compare the views of Barack Obama, John McCain with the views of Karl Marx and our founding fathers. On the issues of today. Find out how far we've drifted. Go to GlennBeck.com and sign up for Fusion Magazine. It's next month's issue of Fusion Magazine. It is totally devoid of opinion. This is just a voter's guide to see, where do you stand on the issues and where do our politicians stand.

Thursday Evening

I had an interesting evening. While I was taping a teleconference this evening Walter noted that there was a reoccuring question that kept being asked, "Just call Judy?" Well, about this point, Walter decided that I needed a t-shirt that reads "NO". His second observation was that those on the teleconference weren't necessarily paying attention as well as they should, because they repeatedly asked the same questions. How's that for an outsiders observation?

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

True Love

An elderly gent was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc.

The couple had been married almost 70 years and, clearly, they were still very much in love.

While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, 'I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names'

The old man hung his head. 'I have to tell you the truth,' he said, 'Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!'

{Walter says she probably thinks her name is Honey, My Love, or Darling too!}

The Four Cats!
This funny came from a retired government employee!!!! Obviously they can laugh at themselves.
Four men were bragging about how smart their cats were .

The first man was an Engineer, the second man was an Accountant, the third man was a Chemist and the fourth man was a Government Employee.

To show off, the Engineer called his cat, 'T-square, do your stuff.'

T-square pranced over to the desk, took out some paper and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle. Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.

But the Accountant said his cat could do better.

He called his cat and said, 'Spreadsheet, do your stuff.'

Spreadsheet went out to the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal piles of 3 cookies ..........Everyone agreed that was good.

But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said 'Measure, do your stuff.'

Measure got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop into the glass.

Everyone agreed that was pretty good.

Then the three men turned to the Government Employee and said, 'What can your cat do?'

The Government Employee called his cat and said....'Coffee Break.....do your stuff.'

Coffee Break jumped to his feet...........

ate the cookies...............

drank the milk..............

sh*t on the paper....................

screwed the other three cats.....................

claimed he injured his back while doing so.................

filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions........

put in for Workers Compensation...............

and went home for the rest of the day on sick leave..............!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday

Philadelphia in the rearview mirror as we headed back home.
Passing by Washington, DC

Good Wednesday Morning from Philly

I woke up this morning to a lovely sunrise. The temperature is suppose to drop to a much more reasonable 88-degrees today, definitely much more tolerable than the 100 of the past couple of days.

We'll be packing up this morning so that we can leave for home right after the last session of the conference.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Bosses Night
At an annual Bosses Night dinner for Helena, Montana, lawyers, sponsored by legal secretaries, it was time to announce the Boss of the Year.

The master of ceremonies began: "First of all, our winner is a graduate of the University of Montana. So that already eliminates some of you as candidates. Our winner also is a partner in a downtown Helena law firm. That eliminates some more of you. Our nominee is honest, upright, dedicated..."

A voice from the audience cut in: "Well, there go the rest of us!"

Tuesday

It has been an extremely busy day. I'm headed to bed. Tomorrow is the trip back...Hmmm maybe be some rest for the weary or better yet a much better diversion for the weekend.

Monday Afternoon

The conference went full force today. I did slip out for a short time during our lunch break and took in a bit of the local historical sites. I was able to get a few shots of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Monday

Taken from the 11th floor of the Hampton Inn, Philadelphia, PA around 5:15 a.m.

Sunday

What a wonderful morning! I went out this morning for brunch at Cracker Barrel. Then just a laid back drive around and about. Very, very relaxing. I had a spectacular time. I was given a wonderful send off on my trip. Too bad I'll have to wait until Friday.

We departed the office this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. for Philadelphia. We all piled into the giant "marshmallow" and started off. We didn't experience any difficulties with traffic until we got near Fredericksburg. There were flash backs of California - stopped vehicles for no apparent reason. Once we made it through, we stopped some where in Maryland for dinner at a Ruby Tuesday's. The food was fine and the waiter was...oh well...different.

Kirsty & I are sharing a room on the 11th floor of the Hampton Inn here in downtown Philadelphia. It looks like we have a nice view of the area. Tomorrow 'll be here soon so it's about time to sign off for the night.

Saturday

Here we are on the last day of the conference. Things have been hustling along at a rapid pace allthewhile feeling like things are dragging along at a snail's pace.

I guess it could be because as soon as we finish up it will be time to commence packing up for our company trip to Philadelphia (leaving on Sunday afternoon). At the same time I should and probably will be actively working on getting more boxes unpacked from the move. I think I'm suffering from a bit of "Clutter Overload". Too many boxes and not enough order.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

The Clock
A man died and went to Heaven. As he stood in front of the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked, 'What are all those clocks?'

St. Peter answered, 'Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock move.'

'Oh,' said the man. Whose clock is that?'

'That's Mother Teresa's,' replied St. Peter. 'The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie.'

'Incredible,' said the man. 'And whose clock is that one?'

St. Peter responded, 'That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abraham told only two lies in his entire life.'

'Where's Hillary's clock?' asked! the man.

'Hillary's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan.'

Friday

The conference is going full force, as usual.

Walter has been home today dealing with the results of my ranting to the apartment management. So far, they have come in to measure for new cabinets/cabinet doors; preparing for some painting; replaced the washer & dryer; and done a few other minor repairs. I don't know how many other things that they are going to get done today.

Much to my despair, I arrived home to the melodious sound of the carbon monoxide detector going off...ahhhh. Turned out that it was just a battery, but it took forever to deal with. Hopefully now the rest of the evening will be uneventful.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Thought For the Day: “When it’s time for action, the time for preparation is past.” – Suzanne

"Why do they call it a drop cloth when the paint usually drops where the cloth ISN'T?"

Three Thoughts
(1) Zero Gravity
When NASA started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil. Your taxes are due again--enjoy paying them.

(2) Our Constitution
'They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq . Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and well, we're not using it anymore.'

(3) Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse is that you can't post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment.

Lightning Driving

Two men were talking. One says to the other, "My wife drives like lightning."

His friend asked, "She drives fast?"

"No, she hits trees."

Dog Calls
Bernard, who is noted for his gracious manners, was awakened one morning at four forty four a.m. by his ringing telephone. . .

"Your dog's barking, and it's keeping me awake," said an angry voice.

Bernard thanked the caller and politely asked his name and number before hanging up.
The next morning at precisely four forty four a.m., Bernard called his neighbor back . . .

"Good morning, Mr. Williams.... Just called to say that I don't *have* a dog."


Health Benefits Of Being Overweight
A new report suggests that being overweight is not as harmful as is commonly believed, and actually confers some surprising benefits.

Being five to ten pounds overweight could protect people from ailments ranging from tuberculosis to Alzheimer's disease, research indicates. Those carrying 15 to 25 extra pounds are better able to recover from adverse conditions such as emphysema, pneumonia, and various injuries and infections, states the report.

Thirty to forty pounds of flab could help fend off breast, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, and colon cancer. And an extra fifty pounds on the scale may improve eyesight, reverse baldness, cure the common cold, and reduce global warming.

In general, the report concludes, overweight people are happier, more successful in business, smarter, and friendlier.

The study was funded by a research grant from McDonald's, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, Domino's Pizza, Starbucks, Haagen Dazs, Sara Lee, and Krispy Kreme.

Thursday

Our initial day was long....I ended up being involved with the various sessions until around 10:30 p.m.

On the way out of the hotel I was surprised to see a group of Confederate soldiers at the corner of 11th & Cary Streets. It seemed as if they had stepped out of the past - the funny thing was that they looked right at home here in the former capital of the Confederacy. The first couple of shots look like they are murky images from the past, once they crossed over to where I was I was able to get a clearer image. After speaking with them, I found out that they were in town to celebrate the anniversary of Jefferson Davis' birthday. I figure that they must be members of the Sons of Confederacy.




Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

Why We Have $4.00 a Gallon Gas

Sunday

Here we go working on finding the furniture underneath all the boxes. I've put a dent into the pile this morning. Things are beginning to come together. Hopefully it won't take long to get a full blown path through the apartment. As soon as I get the old scrapbooks out of the living room, I can get the computer desk put together and the dining room table cleared off.

Walter is going to be hooking up all the remaining electronics shortly. We're going to see if we can't get the living room computer set up as a printing hub. It will nice to be able to print at anytime without worrying about needing to hook up the printer to the laptop.

I've managed to get about half of the boxes emptied and at least put in the proper rooms where the contents is going to finally reside.

I had a great evening - I went out for a ride on a motorcycle. First time ever! We rode all the way to the Red Barn and Powhatan. What a great way to break up the moving monotony. It was a very fun adventure. It was amazing the way that you could feel the temperature change the further we got away from town. It was a dramatic difference. I'm glad that I took the ATV course with Walter a few years ago.

When I got back this evening I started to get to work on the laundry only to find out that the washer doesn't work. Grrrr.... The maintenance department says they will have the washer & dryer checked out tomorrow, and while they are at it they are going to check the freon (or whatever it is now) in the air conditioner unit.

Well the rain has finally hit us. It is really pouring down. I'm glad that we got the ride in earlier today. I'm sure that we'd have looked like drowned rats if we'd been out this evening.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

40 Detroiters

Saint Peter was manning the Pearly Gates when forty people from Detroit showed up.

Never having seen anyone from Detroit at heaven's door, Saint Peter said he would have to check with God.

After hearing the news, God instructed him to admit the ten most virtuous people from the group.

A few minutes later, Saint Peter returned to God breathless and said, "They're gone!"

"What? All of the Detroiters are gone?" asked God.

"No!" replied Saint Peter. "The Pearly Gates!"