Just another day for me. At work, it's raining, again! Hot as hell. Dark as night. I feel like I'm in FL in Aug, at midnight. Looks like my Spam Cook-Off is a bust? Sorry donkeys! I could rant on about O-rings, no, I'm not in the mood.
You know you are off to a bad start when you log on to AOL and instead of saying "WELCOME"' it says "GO AWAY, I'M BOARD"!
All the phone calls this morning are really dumb, like, "Good morning Andover Cycle." "Hi, do you sell bikes"? "You're calling a bike shop, right"?
"Yes". "Well, I guess we do". What is there something in the water that makes people say stupid stuff? I know, I'll go rent that fly fishing DVD that I have been dieing to watch, yeah-right! Have to go, time to cut my toe nails.

Morning, Jerry! We had 4 boomers go through here today and another one rumbling as I type. Very dark since I got up. My son is in Allentown, getting his cert. dives today and tomorrow. No rain there yet, but as long as no lightning, he will dive! I will go with him tomorrow, the weather supposed to be much better then. Then we can go celebrate his certification afterwards! Can't wait!.

Tried to go for my two mile walk this morning between the rain showers, and I made it till about 1/2 mile from home, then the sky opened up and jeez, did I get drenched! On the lighter side, I could have won a wet t-shirt contest! LOL! I sure got some looks from passing cars!

Hey Jerry, what's ya cooking for dinner tonight?

Hello Debbie and Jerry (and the lurkers). Jerry...I have a list of "amazing" test answers. One day when we are real board I will post them. They are pretty funny. I get some outrageous questions as well (like, "when did we fight Russia during the Civil War?").

Debbie...you must be excited for your son. I still have yet to dive during a storm. I so want to look up once and see the rain. I thought Becky and I would get the chance in Bonaire, but it rained like crazy just long enough to get geared up and to the water - then it stopped. LOL! Some day!

I'm baking banana bread again. I'm in a rut...Saturday morning, I need banana bread. I get to play with Bella today and am looking forward to it. She is very spoiled already and throws tantrums if you don't take her out to play or if you put her away too soon. It is a riot! She has the perfect personality for educational programs - which is such a relief. We respect the animal and if it does not like these programs, we don't take it. Bella can't seem to get enough attention.

Boom...if you are up, it does sound like termites to me. I got to study some colonies in Costa Rica and they have a maggot stage like you described. Plus, they really wouldn't care how "clean" your house was because they don't eat food crumbs etc, that would explain why they came back. I hope it was taken care of for you. Do keep us posted. Especially since I might be sleeping on your floor sometime soon.

Hi Tribs, Yes I am very excited for him. A very nice accomplishment for him and a real self confidence booster too!

Banana Bread, eh? I think I might make some today too, but I got this recipe that is for a banana choc. chip bread that I use tiny choc. chop morsels, sour cream and it is soooo good. Bananas too btw. LOL!

I think Boom posted somewhere that she got the little varmits out yesterday.

Good AM to you Debbie.
Congrads to your son.
Did anyone stop and offer you a ride?

No cooking tonight, going to a jazz club tonight.
Tomorrow I'll smoke some stakes, a few pork tenderloins, a chicken or two, and a rack of lamb.
I then vacuum pack and freeze. When we want a T-bone, I remove from the freezer, bring to room temp, pop into a hot oven until temp hits 125, remove and it's like I just BBQ it. Very cool!

Tribs, that Russia during the Civil War question, was it in 1968? I seem to have misplaced a few years back then. Who won?

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry...that would be the Bay of Pigs when Japan bombed Cuba and sent telegrams to Mexico stating that the US had attacked Cuba. (Yes...that showed up as a Bay of Pigs answer on an exam.)

Seriously though, I have had students write on my evaluations that I didn't know what I was doing because I tried teaching the class that the US and the Soviet Union were allies during WWII. Oh well....

I think your students are calling here today?

Hi guys,

Jeanine, imagine that when I came to the States in 1964 the kids at school would us if we had electricity, gum, how we travel, etc. And Rafa had the same or similar questions when he was in middle school. I guess people thought Costa Rica was a jungle.

Good Morning (again!) Rasta and I are back from our walk. I used Cynde's wet towel idea to cool her off and had a Duh moment of my own... I sell cooling pads & vests for dogs and I never thought of it for my own - Duh!!! This is the first year she really seems to be having a hard time cooling down after her walks though. She's loving that wet towel right now
I have to wait until 10am to rollerblade because my friend (who moved here from Phoenix) gets too cold if we go earlier... imagine that!!!!
It's all relative, folks!

Tribs - you won't have to sleep on the floor I'm setting up the cabana for Guy's brother - I'll post a picture later this week. It's quite a nice place to sleep in the summer - as long as the skunks don't visit

Jerry- don't you just HATE those slow days! It's so hard to get motivated and you know there are always things to be done. Bleh.

re: the Spam Cook Off - I have two recipes in mind but haven't actually cooked them (do I have to?)

Oh and Vira - when I lived in MD, I worked in a black-tie restaurant (just a block from the White House, very high-end). One of the waitresses was from Liverpool (yes, England) and you would not believe the remarks she got about her accent. So finally, one night she answered the "Where are you from?" question by saying she was from West Virginia The questioner was convinced and then asked her about growing up there - she made up one mess of a story!!!
When I moved to Santa Barbara, I took a month to drive across the US with her and another Liverpoolian (so I was the one with the accent). It was quite an adventure
People are so silly!

Hi All, Been raining off and on here all day, bit humid, but not as bad as last week. I just got a call from Brandon, he completed two dives this so far and one more to go today, then two tomorrow. It is raining there too now, but he is wet anyway, no biggie. He has done fine so far!

Called my dad today to see how he was doing. Not so good, he says. I asked what's the problem. It appears that when he had minor surgery last week to put a splint in his leg (hardening of the arteries), that went well, but when they pulled the captheter (sp) out, he got a hemoglomin and that was bad enough, but a few days after surgery he got this bump by the surgerical site. He went for a follow-up visit yesterday (a week later) and he finds out he now has an anorism(sp) there and he had to get a sonogram, x-rays and is waiting to hear from the doctor now. He has to have that removed cause it can burst. Jeez, a simple procedure he had has caused a lot of problems. I just hope it doesn't burst before they can remove it. He will be eighty this August. Never a dull moment around here.

Jerry, sounds good! I wish I had a smoker! Been thinking about it, saw one for sale the other day on my way to work... Great idea of cooking ahead like that. Almost have me sold now!

Boom, just the recipes, how to present the dish and what wine to serve.

(Message edited by bonaire9 on July 22, 2006)

it is a happy saturdayfor me ... last night my husband and son gave me a belated mother's day gift -- a new lap top computer :-)

Happy mothers Day Denise!

Debbie good luck to your Dad !! it is so scarey to see our parents go through health issues like these!

Debbie, I hope your father will be ok. 80 years old how lucky to have him.

Denise, Happy Mother's Day - nice gift!!

Debbie, we're pulling for Dad!

Thanks everyone! I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it will turn out o.k. for him. Been walking around with that anorism for a week already!

Denise: Now, that gift was worth waiting for!
I sent you an email earlier this week, did you get it?

Debbie I got it and have not replied yet ... sorry. I am not sure and Teddy and I are considering. Do not hold it for us and whatever we do we'll let you kow. Thank you . . . I am working off my old computer and my new, as I set things up. I need to go out and get a router. Adding all my favorites to the lap top now .. BT went first :-)

Jerry,
Since Paul now has to exercise and has bad knees started msm but heard it takes a month to work decided a bicycle would be good for exercise because here in pinellas county it is pretty cool they have bike trails that cover the whole county and that would be a good way to exercise. So I am asking your most expert advice what is a good bike to get ? Debbie I will keep you father in my prayers and add him to our church prayer list.
Tribs when we were on bonaire last year there a was a kitten in bushes and we fed her while there because we were staying at belmar so we named her Bella and our little Bella was still there when we came this year and was staying in the bushes by our unit and fed her again and Martin the divemaster there has been taking care of her for us feeding her and even got her fixed.

I need a tad more info about Paul.
You can email me if you want to keep it between us.

Well, just got a call from my dad. His doctor called him and it was good news! It turns out that the sonogram and x-rays showed no anorism as the doctor had thought that huge bump on his leg was, it is a hemoglomin, still not good, but he just has to take it easy and stay off his feet. He has been running around to church, doing errands and too much walking. So, relief! Just thought I would tell everyone. I was really worried thinking he was walking around with an anorism, now, I can relax a little and concentrate on something else. Thanks for everyone's prayers and good thoughts. It worked.

Good news Debbie.
Now please start to enjoy your weekend.

Hey Hey!! I have to say it is HOT here today and sticky - feels like summer
Rollerblading was short & sweet 45 mins.
Then we went to Costco and spent far too much $$ I always spend too much while trying to save! I've got all the meat & bottles of booze for our company - tri tips, pork roast, chicken, vodka, gin, margarita mix, rum.... watch out
Now to work on my Spam recipes

Debbie- so glad to hear that about your dad - hard part now will be to keep him quiet, eh?
Denise - congrats on the new laptop - I'm still getting mine together. I need to spend some time with Dell Tech Support I'm afraid
Christine - glad to hear that you & Paul are looking at bikes - such a great way to exercise and enjoy your surroundings.

Christine...A kitty named Bella. How sweet! And how nice of Martin to be taking care of her when you are not there. Now...you just have to go more often so that you can spend time with Bella.

Great news Debbie!

What a gift Denise! I really need a new lap top. Mine is old, weighs a ton, and does not have wifi.

Jerry...I'm truly sorry that my students bothered you today. I will chastise them on Tuesday and give them what for since they didn't spend their weekend studying.

Vira...I'm soooooo sorry. It is amazing what people don't know about other countries. I teach an intro to PoliSci and also the upper division comparative politics and I try so hard to include lots of cultural factoids and many photographs. The myths, stereotypes, and just plain misperceptions break my heart.

Boom...ok now you are making it real tempting. A cabana and all of that food and beverages....I wonder what time the next plane is?

OK...did I miss any one?

Late check in tonight

Glad everyone is ok & even better than expected.
Debbie - will be thinking of your Dad & glad to hear he's ok. And a big congrats to Brandon. Looking forward to some pic's
Christine - what a great way to exercise & get to see the countryside at the same time. Glad to hear Paul is doing better.
Denise - nice Mothers Day present - worth the wait
Tara - does sound like termites - you still going to have it checked out? Those little buggers are very sneaky.
Elvira - how is Rafa?
Jeanine - I'll be looking for "amazing test answers" one of these uneventful days!
Have a wonderful night everyone
See you in the AM

Good new Debbie - glad to hear it wasn't what you thought it was and that it will get better.

Judy,
Rafa is doing great just very busy with his work and lots of training. Two more years in PR and hoping they'll be back to Atlanta. No wedding date yet but I am thinking it will be sometime next year. Thanks for asking.

well, I went and got the wireless router and wireless mouse, now everything is working - but I had a problem when installing the set up disc for the router, never got past step, 8 yet it is working. I need to figure out how to get a pw on to my wireless network ... I'll get there :-) Meanwhile I can get to BT just fine on either computer so all is well !