I was talking to my mum in the UK earlier this afternoon. She told me some things that literally boggled my mind and left me gobsmacked (that's 'speechless' for those not familiar with Brit-speak). For instance, she said that you'd be hard pressed to find a Christmas card that had a religious scene on the front of it. No Nativity scenes, no three wise men, no shepherds watching their flocks, no angels. Nothing that mentions the reason for the season. When the Round Table (...
When I lived in South Dakota we had a fair amount of politicians come to the base to do a 'grab and grin' session and make a speech or two. The annual Air Show also drew a fair number of dignitaries and VIP's. Because I was the French-English translator with the base translator bank, I had occasion to go to one such Air Show (with a Hungarian politician. We didn't have a Hungarian translator and his second language was French, so I got called to trail around with him for the day a...
Until Sunday, I had 2 methods of making coffee in my home: instant and a carafe-less pot. I'd been using the instant because my pot had developed a leak, but I was yearning for the taste of real brewed coffee. Whilst browsing the BX on Sunday I came across a French press for a very reasonable amount. For the folks who don't know what I'm talking about, a French press looks like this: You put the cround coffee in the bottom of the jug then fill it with not-quite-boi...
I'm blacklisted from a certain wanna-be politician's blog. Again. The last time was because I suggested that he might want to let CPS into his home to see that everything is as it should be rather than risk losing his family to make a statement. He took offence to that and went off saying how my husband was fighting to protect the constitution yet I was sullying it here at home. So what did I do to get blacklisted this time? I merely affirmed another bloggers assertion th...
I sent out an email this afternoon asking some Joe Users for their mailing addresses so I can send them Christmas cards this year. Good idea, right? I thought so until I realized that there are some people here who I'd like to send a card to but I don't have their email address. So, I'm writing this article instead. I'd like it very much if all of the JU regulars could send me a mailing address so I can send them a Christmas card. If any of you are uncomforta...
I think that has to be one of my favorite 'Wings' songs, with 'Mull Of Kyntire' coming a close second. I like Paul Mcartney and I LOVED his wife Linda. She was so...gentle. I got from her that peaceful, serene feeling that I've talked about in the near past. I'm said that Heather Mills has turned on him, but I have to say that I did see it coming. She's made a living off of losing her leg - if it weren't for that, she'd have been a nobody along with the rest of us.&...
Once again, the rain has started to fall and my mood has turned to grey. I don't want to go out, I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't want to shower or clean or even get out of bed. I don't want to do much of anything - even knitting has lost some of it's appeal. I haven't returned anyone's emails in ages, I just haven't felt like it. I haven't called anyone, and I've avoided answering the phone. I've hidden in the house when people have rung the doorbell and I'...
Link One of St Clair County's newly appointed Circuit Court Judges was busted for DUI on Sunday afternoon....and sitting beside him in the passenger seat with an open can of beer in his lap was none other than the County Chief Justice! Patrick Young and Jan V Fiss were coming back from a St Louis Ram's ball game when they got into an accident with another vehicle. When the police got there, they found Harris to have 'a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath' and to be ...
As I outlined in my last article, the St Louis area where I live saw the worst ice storm in 25 years last Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power to their homes and businesses. Today, a WEEK after the storm, 4000 people STILL have no power. In addition, 6000 people lost power last night. I think it is OUTRAGEOUS that some people don't have power yet. This past summer (late July) a series of thunderstorms came through the area and some Ameren customers lost po...
Last Thursday night the St Louis area had the worst ice storm in 25 years. Overnight Thursday hundreds of thousands of people's power supply was interrupted....and today, 5 days after the storm, 240,000 people in the St Louis greater metropolitan area alone are STILL without power. The local news has been reporting deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. One person had a gasoline powered generator in their home and was overcome by the carbon monoxide fumes - a...
I know that you're probably saying 'yes, Dharma, we know there was an ice storm and everything is covered in ice' but indulge me a little here. I've never experienced an ice storm before. Snow, yes. Blizzards, yes. Being snowed in the house and having to dig my way out, yes. Ice storm, no. So, here are some more photos of everything ice-covered - and I have to tell you that getting them this afternoon was really creepy. All the trees were creaking, you see....
When I said there was ice everywhere, this is what I meant: In the less than 3 minutes it took me to get these shots, my face was numb with the cold. Yeah, I'm not going anywhere today....
Having lived in South Dakota for 9 years, I'm used to snow. So when people started running around like headless chickens yesterday at the prospect of a winter storm, I chuckled to myself and went about my business feeling somewhat superior. The winter storm rolled in alright, but we didn't get snow. We got ice. About 1/2 an inch of ice. Covering EVERYTHING. The tree in my front yard couldn't handle the weight of the ice and dropped a bough across the street. Ther...
Grace is just about full-grown now... Her first day: Bonding with the pack: She loves getting her belly rubbed: Owning a boxer has been a totally different experience than any of the dawgs I've owned before. For one, they have very unique behaviours, like 'beaning'. When they're happy, the curve themselves around into a 'c' or a kidney bean shape. Someone saw her doing this and asked us if she had something wrong with her leg. When we e...
I've had a sick kid at home for the past 2 days. Jake started coughing Saturday and kept us all awake Sunday and last night with his hacking. He's on a prescription cough medicine that's got codeine in it to supress his cough reflex, but it aint workin'. Tonight I'm giving him (under medical advice, now - don't be thinking that I'm drugging my child up all willy nilly) some diphenhydramine (that's Benadryl, in case you were wondering) so he - and WE - can get some sleep.&n...