Three Hours To 2006!

It is 3 hours to New Years and Needles, Jennifer and I are relaxing with coversation after Needles pizza wraps in pepperoni and sausage. For appetizers we had mozzarella cheese sticks and jalapeno poppers. For desert we had a platter of various candy assortments and for a salty snack needles made muchy crunchy ranch oyster crackers. Needles to say we are in no danger of starving before 2006 gets here. Jennifer just completed a large bag for felting. Check Needlefingers or Jennifers site for pics later. The bag is currently in washer and in the process of felting so the ladies are eager to see what the finished project will look like and what the final measurements will be.
With every passing second that tick by is one second less left in 2005. Like I said in my previous post....GOOD RIDDANCE 2005! I just hope that 2006 will be a lot better. If the world came to an end it might just squeak out worse than 2005 and late 2004. I think we are due for a "Good Year" I just think we will have to wait until after 2009 for a "Good Year" due to "W" but I'm not going to get political right now. I hope every one has a great new year.

I Love This Commercial.

Click link to watch. Commercial
Trust me very entertaining.

When Did I Fall Off The Train?

I suspect along time ago. If you want to know what I am referring to, it is the fact that I am no longer cool......Maybe I never was....I think this epiphany hit he while watching MTV and actually watching music videos and not see the some what mindless programming they show most of the time. I noticed that every band had at least one person in it that had bed head hair.....I think and Jenny from the blog has mentioned that it's supposed to be edgy. If this is what it takes to be cool and "Hip" these days than I have officially fallen off the train. I was cool before it's time, like in the 80's when I would get up just in time to get dressed and run out to the bus to school, comb and brush be damned. Now people buy products to put in their hair to get the "look", when I used to spend hours trying to brush and comb my cow licked fro into submission. Now I just buzz cut it and I don't have to mess with it. I refer to fashion as a train ride because I feel that fashion and style is kind like a ride. The longer the ride on the train the more you have to pay to be on the fashion train with updating wardrobes and new accessories and eventually everyone falls off unknowingly, or just decides to get off, or is pushed from the train because of certain circumstances beyond their control. Some times the landing is painless and the person may not know they are even off the train for awhile but other incidences maybe violent and harsh. My experience was more like the unknowingly sort of thing. Maybe I am too frugal to be cool and edgy or maybe I just don't think I could get away with it at age 32. Maybe I will adopt this bed head look and let my hair grow out from the buzz cut that it's in right now and when I get up I will just throw on some clothes and go to work. Comb, brush and hair products be damned. Maybe one day I will board the train again but I doubt it. I think I will start my own product and with the logic of todays style and edginess it will be a big hit and I will be a gazillionaire.It seems as logical as the Bed Head thing. Comes in Mornin, Onion and Garlic Breath.

My Fault.....

Well since Needles made the comment about the cat I guess I should tell my side of the story anyway....Last night about 2 am I had to get up and go to the bathroom and when I came through the French doors, that we keep closed to keep a fuzzy person out of our bedroom, and I saw the outline of a Fuzzy cat jumping from the back of the couch.
First of all I might need to make more information known. I was off of work when we adopted this bundle of fuzz and while I was off work I thought I could train the cat to stay off our new furniture and all was well until recently since I went back to work Fuzzy has taken to getting on the end table and back of the couch. Ok now back to the previous story...Last night after I caught Fuzzy jumping off the back of the couch I thought if I put some packing tape sticky side up on the back of the couch it might keep him off.......Well it kinda worked...When Needle got up this morning Fuzzy had a 2 and a half foot section of tape stuck in his fuzzy tail. She attempted to remove it but Fuzzy would have nothing of it. Any body movement that suggested a hint of removing the tape was responded to by running behind the recliners. This evening we finally cornered him and was able to remove the tape with little hair loss. He doesn't seem too traumatized after the situation. I just hope he has learned a lesson but I doubt it. I feel he has been on his best behavior this week since Needles has been home this week on Xmas vacation. I wonder what we are in for next week. He acts so innocent but you can see in his eyes he knows he is doing wrong and don't care. I think he has forgiven me but I wonder if he is just playing it cool until he can exact his revenge. I wouldn't give a plug nickel for him but wouldn't sell him for a million bucks.... Is this crazy?

Picture above is Fuzzy Face with a bad case of Tape Tail.....He's gonna kill me.

Come On Friday!

The picture was taken a Needles Mom's house on Xmas day.

Well the Xmas tree is down. The ornaments are all tucked away in their boxes and it's now time to gear up for New Years and my second 3 day weekend. I know its Thursday but I wish it was Friday and I didn't have to go to work tomorrow. The people at my work have been passing around a sore throat over that last couple days and I have it now. It started yesterday evening with a little scratchy feeling then last night it turned into full blown sore. Then today it seemed to get better but now my sinuses seem raw and the scratchy throat returned with a cough. I think with the pending surgery on Needlefingers mom I will stay home this weekend and not venture down to see her....To be on the safe side. I don't want her to get any of this crap and possible delay her surgery. Needles and I have been visiting every evening after work this week with my parents. They came up Xmas day and are to return too soon to the promise land Saturday. I think we are going to treat them to the Trace Inn tomorrow night. I will get my BBQ ribs....YUM! Hope Friday goes quick.

Wireless Broadband.....JOY!

Needlefingers and I broke down and are now surfing the internet in wireless broadband excitement. Its amazin how much faster and less frustrating than dial up. Plus we aren't tying up our phone line like before. The guy came today around 4pm and installed the antenna and ethernet line into the house. Then another gentlemen came into install the wireless router and software. I am know untethered and will enjoy surfing the web this summer out on the porch or patio. Isn't technology cool.

Good Riddance 2005!

Maybe it's ill to talk about the dead and dyeing but 2005 is coming to an end and all I can say is Good Riddance. With everything that has happened this year in the world, it seemed like a whole lot more bad things happened than good. I hope this isn't a trend. With the tsunami aftermath and hurricanes and bird flu and huge job losses and "W" reinauguration and earthquakes and London bombings and the death of the Pope and well you get the idea. Maybe they are the only things that stick out in my memory. This maybe because bad things seems to be the only things the News covers. This is why I don't watch the News much these days. There is something to be said for being in the know and updated about current events but it just too damned depressing to hear bad news day after day after day. We did have some good things like a half ass successful trip by the Space Shuttle Columbia to the International Space Station.....But that's about it. Over all I think 2005 left us in the red.

That Was A Quick 3 Days....

Well it's Monday night and I gotta go back to work tomorrow. Unlike some people I know... I am tired and glad these next couple weeks will be shortened by the Holidays and the weekends will be lengthened by a measly 24 hours. Now that Xmas is over it is time to get back to the same ole grind......I have to go back to work to go on a diet and loose these extra pounds I have packed on over the last few days.

On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day...

This is Christmas Kitty 2005 (Gabby) No trip to Needles Mom's house would be complete with out aggravating her with a picture. Notice she is at her favorite spot. The food bowl.

Well another Xmas has come and is about gone. We spent last night at Needles Mom's and I got up around 8:00am. Yes, I was holding up Xmas. A soon as I got up we sorted the gifts and Needlefingers opened hers first. She received all sorts of sheepy type items and I received several nice gifts. At around noon the Uncle's rolled in and the feast commenced. I made a damn pig of myself. I ate enough turkey to put down an elephant. As we sat around the table done with our food and was chatting of goings on in the world of present and past, I kept nibbling little bits of turkey picked of during the casual conversation. After a couple hours of this enough was enough....I told Needles that after I finished the little bit of turkey I had just pulled off, to not let me eat any more. That if I reached for the turkey again to punch me right in the face and knock my @ss right out of the chair. I did get up after finishing the little tid bit of turkey and walked away from the table to avoid the temptation. Shortly thereafter we packed up our things to head North and have Xmas with my family. We started Xmas part 2 at 5:00pm. My belly was still somewhat full of turkey but did you think that would stop me. Oooh Hail Naw.... I dove into the chili and cheese sandwiches like I hadn't eaten in a week. I quickly noticed the inability to breath properly. Short shallow breathes was the way to go as my abdomen was distended in holiday contentment.....Well in would have been contentment if it hadn't been so painful. After about 30 or so minutes of pain the food finally settled and I began to feel better as wave after wave of sleepiness hit. I fought through them and continued to finish off the peanut butter pie dessert. Yum! After that we removed ourselves to the living room to open gifts and visit with one another. After that we returned home to put our gifts away and set back and rub our stomachs until time to go to bed. That time is quickly approaching and Needles is already sacked out in the recliner. I hope every one had a nice Xmas. I know I ate too much but what else is new.

2005 gifts recieved

1. camo shirt
2. Jeep sweatshirt
3. 2 M*A*S*H t-shirts
4. Drimmel tool
5. peanuts
6. chocolates
7. Star Wars Trilogy on DVD
8. OCC stein
9. staple gun w/staples
   
10. shoes
11. loungy pants

This is a kind of abbreviated list. I got more stuff but just can't think of it right now. I must have been a good boy this year. ;)

Start The 3 Day Weekend.

Today was a nice day other than the fact that we were slow all day EXCEPT for the hour we scheduled our Department Xmas party. I think I agree with Cynicals previous post title of DAMN YOU MURPHY! We were getting everything out and ready for our party after a very slow morning of not much of anything and the BLAMO! Three patients came from one of the clinics and had multiple exams ordered. If they would have been there an hour earlier no problems but of course they show up at almost noon. To add inconvenience to the equation they were in an accident some three weeks ago and suddenly decide to get checked out today of all days. OH! Did I mention they were from Florida.....Florida! What the heck. I think there was a conspiracy to ruin our Xmas party because as it went we had to do it in shifts instead of every one being able to eat and visit and exchange gifts. My boss got me microwave popcorn, a coffee mug with hot chocolate mixes, an ornament and 6 free movie rentals. We still ate too much and had a nice time but thanks to you Murphy and patients that think they need to put off there medical care until its 3 weeks later and over 1000 miles from home. Maybe I am abit inconsiderate but Murphy if I ever meet you I will punch you in the throat and kick you in the head! Of course after we cleared them out and our party was all but over we had nothing else for the rest of the day. FIGURES! Now that I am home and have had the time to relax and enjoy the evening I am less bitter but still disguised at what happened. I am now ready to begin my 3 days weekend. This will be my first paid holiday since starting the new job. Needlefingers and her Mom returned from Indy and the cardiologist appointment. They were very pleased with the Doctor and how he took time to explain what will happen and why and what to expect after her upcoming heart surgery. Unlike the Doctor at Deaconess that hasn't dictated a report on a exam that was done 2 months ago. If that's the way they run there hospital I am glad Needles Mom is going to Indy. Tomorrow we are going to Needles Mom's house to stay Xmas eve night and will be back Xmas evening for my family's get together Sunday. Just a couple more days and this Xmas thing will be over......

Maybe I am more cynical than Cynical but the picture is what I imagine is the brain size of the 3 patients that came in at noon today. I am awful......

Thursday went quick.

Today went very quick. We had a Semi vs. Semi come in and we were busy. Soooo busy no one in our department got lunch. I did however get to leave a little after 3pm so I stopped off at Wally World to do a little last minute goody shopping for Needlefingers. I also got to stop off at a friends house to visit and catch up on goings on. I wished him a Happy Holidays and finally made it home around 6pm. With lots to do at home and Needles Mom staying with us tonight because of her appointment tomorrow at Indianapolis. Tonight I did a load of laundry (socks) and also made a Holy Cow cake for our carry in tomorrow at work. If you don't know what a Holy Cow cake is let me describe it . Chocolate cake in 13"x9"cake pan with holes poked in it with a straw every couple inches. After that you mix 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping and drizzle over cake while warm out of the oven. Crush up 2 Butterfinger candy bars and sprinkle over the top. (Freeze candybars before crushing) Then mix Cool Whip topping and Philly Cream Cheese and spread over the top of the cake and finish off with 2 more crushed Butterfinger bars sprinkled over the top. There you have it Holy Cow cake. Enjoy and try not to drift off into a sugar coma afterward. It is very rich......
Fun thing happened tonight with Fuzzy Face... Since he likes to be nosy and investigate guests shoes and other belongings. While Needles and I were in the kitchen fixing the cake we heard an awful noise and looked over just in time to see Fuzzy barreling under the kitchen table with Needles mom's purse strap wrapped around his neck and the purse bouncing up and down behind him. If the legs of the table hadn't knocked the purse off of him I am sure he would be miles from here. He ran through 3 rooms with the purse chasing him. We laughed after we found out what exactly happened. Short bus......With out a doubt. Or a unsuccessful pick pocket with his recent criminal activity. We will be keeping a eye on our purses and wallets.

Notice the traumatized body position of Tugger after his frightening ordeal. We think he is a boneless cat with some of the positions he seems to like to lay around.

Happy Holidays, Go to Hell Bill...

It is Wednesday and it started off slowly with plenty of time to do what ever needed done but by 3:00 pm, the time I am supposed to leave, the fit hit the shan. ER ramped up and we were busy. I had to stay over almost 2 hours. Oh Well just a couple more days and I will have a 3 day weekend. Needlefingers, Jenny and Ragged had plans to meet in E'ville and make a day of it. Needlefingers is there to get the results and tests for her mothers appointment with the Cardiologist Friday in Indy. She hasn't made it home yet so I am guessing they are still at it. I don't envy them goin to Evansville 4 days before Xmas......I bet it's nuts down there. I can't wait to get Xmas over with. Happy Holidays everyone, Bill O'Rielly be damned......;)

Tuesday Movie Night...

Needlefingers brought home some movies tonight for us to watch. We watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Creepy for a dramatized supposed true story. We also watched The Island.....It was OK the special effects were well done the story line was good with a lot of action. The 3rd movie will have to wait til tomorrow, it's Must Love Dogs. I know it's a movie that seems to appeal to the female of the species but I am hopeful that I will be entertained. Well it after 11pm and I need to go to bed. Good night.... Sleep tight.....Don't let the Demons Bite...

He Strikes Again...

It was a cold December evening. The grass was crisp under foot and the breath bellowed out of mouths much like chimney tops. The time was 3:47pm and I had just arrived home from work to find this in the floor. I know the site is gruesome. Divert you eyes a crime has been committed. It appears this poor soul fell from a great high of about 3 1/2 Ft of so by the position of the body. It appears as though the assailant has various curved weapons used to subdue his victim while he kicked the stuffins out of it. After the ornament coroner arrived to pronounce the body, I removed it to the ornament examiner to make sure the criminal didn't return to continue his sick entertainment. Oh yes! I say entertainment because you can tell this is the work of a professional and he gained pleasure in the molestation of this ornament. With 5 more days til Xmas I hope that we don't find any more victims. It is scaring to sleep under the same roof with a ornament molester. Wish us luck.
Note to self......It tough to draw chalk outlines on carpet.....

Another Sunday Evening.

It is Sunday evening again and Jenny from the Blog is visiting. We are seeing around and having intelligent and not so intelligent conversations, we don't take life too serious around here. I think I have gotten Jennifer addicted to the rice crispy treats by Little Debbie. We got the super sized ones as the regular sized ones are for amateur's. The evening started out with homemade veggie soup with garlic biscuits followed by rice crispy treats. Then for the after dinner treat flavored coffee. Now they are discussing pop corn. Needlefingers finished up a project for her co worker. Might have to check out her site over the next couple days to see the before and after shots. We are now just setting around and enjoying Holly on the XM radio. It's always good for an infusion of holiday spirit. Happy Holidays!

Take time to taste the snow flakes.......Hee Hee!

Walker Texas DUMBASS!

As you can see old "W" has been up to some tricks.....Honesty???? That's unusual coming from this administration. Unfortunately he is now being honest on how he has weaseled our freedoms away from us in the name of protecting us. By his theory the more freedoms his administration takes away from us the safer we are. It seem that "W" authorized the NSA ( National Security Agency) to eavesdrop in on all over seas phone calls. I'm sure the soldiers over there feel safe in the fact that there phone calls home to their love ones were monitored, recorded and probably transcribed and put their record of service. Maybe I am blowing this abit out of proportion but I wouldn't put it past this administration. Imagine soldiers who rock the boat or voice the opinion about the war on their phone calls home might be suddenly relocated to an area of higher risk.....After all if the soldier doesn't make it home he can't spread the truth about what this war was started for in the first place. To make the president and everyone around him richer and to get rid of daddies "little" screw up. I just wonder with the sudden honesty from the republicans that it is a attempt to mop up some of "W's" mess to make plans and give the next republican candidate a chance at the White House. I guess they are making an attempt at it at the expense of making "W" look like a dumbass.......Weeellll it looks like they are a little late in that respect.

Xmas Tree Molester!

DOINK ! DOINK!

Just like on Law and Order.

Here is the guilty one.


















MUG SHOT: frontal and profile
Height : knee high
Weight : 10 pounds
Eye color: hazel
Hair color: tiger stripped
Race: Mainecoon
Name : Rum Tug Tugger, AKA: Tugger, AKA: Fuzzy,AKA: Fuzzy Face,AKA: Fuzzy Butt,AKA: Mister Kitty,AKA: Moonke Cat,AKA: Mister Fuzzums,AKA: Beeker Cat. (No wonder he doesn't know his name.)

CAUTION: This kitty is armed and dangerous. (Hasn't been declawed)

His MO is looking cuddlely and cute to lure you into his clutches then molests your Xmas tree while you aren't home.

Last seen baking his brain in front of the quartz heater.


This crime was committed by a sick ornament and tree molester. See how the beads were arranged in sort of shape or word like pattern.....Ok maybe not so much a word but I'm sure if he was literate the words would be. "Guess Who?" ....That's sick. Be on the look out for him. He might try to gain access to your house by acting like a homeless little kitty. We were dooped.


Just see the guilty look on his face and we now know he is a incurable tree molester. I think he needs therapy. We are hoping a life time of rubbins and belly scratchins will turn him away from his criminal ways. Wish us luck.

Finally Home.

We just got back from my works Xmas party. We ate at the Haub Steak House. The food was very good and it was nice to see some of the people I haven't seen in many years. I think the party ran a little long and should have ended about 30 minutes earlier because on of the bosses gave a inspirational feel good speech that ended up feeling more like a lecture. Could have done without that but other than that it was a nice evening. Fuzzy Face did molest the tree again today. The same area was molested but the ornament was still on the tree. I left the string of beads on the floor just as an experiment to see what it will be like tomorrow. I will keep you updated. It is getting late so I will have to cut this short. My eyes are getting blurry.

We received a Xmas card from a cousin and his wife today. The front of the card looked something like this. This is Gabby. She loves hat as you can tell by the look on her face.

Xmas Tree Fun.

Fuzzy must have a fetish with one area of the tree and one ornament in particular. Every evening, when I get home the same area of the Xmas tree is molested. Here is a picture to see if you can tell.
Arrow indicating the areas of major molestation. It is the same red ornament from yesterday. It must be his favorite so I will post a picture for Raggeds favorite ornament picture for Fuzzy Face.
It is a cheap plastic faceted ball. We decide to put these ornaments up instead of the glass ones. Looks like we made the right decision. Needles is off to a get together with her co workers so I am home alone and free to watch the bestest Xmas movie ever, A Christmas Story. I make note to watch it several times a year around this time. I have to watch it while Needles is out of the house as she doesn't like it. I can't imagine anyone NOT liking this wonderful movie that takes me back to the innocent time of my childhood when I didn't have to think about bills, work and worry about "W" (the next anti-Christ). The movie makes me think about Xmas when I was a kid and getting fun stuff like toys and not more practical gifts like sock or underwear. Ahhhhhh to the good ole days.

Another Day.

Just another day gone by. Not much going on in our neck of the woods. I will just post a picture.
I will say that Fuzzy has taken a facination with the beads on the tree. The lowest strand of beads and 1 red jeweled ornament was on the floor when I got home. Not bad.

A Night of Friends and Food.

Tonight Jenny from the Blog came over to eat and spend time with us. Needles and Jen discussed knitting projects and plans orders of yarn and bamboo needles. I just eat and fuzzy up the cat. I was however amazed that the tree was still standing this morning and even more so that it was still standing this evening when I got home from work. Needles was good to not look at the package on the porch this evening. It was a Xmas present for her and the return address would have gave away what was inside. She assured me she didn't peek. After confirming the contents of the package, I quickly wrapped it after I got home and crammed it under the tree. Jennifer was gracious enough to stop by Ophelia's Cup and pick up some coffee for us to brew and snack on sugar cookies. This has turned into a very relaxing evening of friends and food.

The ornament pictured is for Ragged as my favorite ornament. It is the Star Trek Klingon Bird of Prey ship. I think because the light on the front of it flashes and I like flashy lights. Eurk!

I Finally Got It Up!

No I'm not talking about that. Get your mind out of the gutter. Cynical's post inspired me to get our tree up. It's not real, but it's up. We didn't put it up last year because we had Fuzzy Face with us and was afraid he would knock off ornaments. Well I was partly right. He is afraid of the thing. So I guess I have to add this to my previous post. He has to go through the room the tree is in to get to his litter box and food. Lets just say he doesn't let the grass grow under his feet when he goes through the room. All the while keeping an eye out for the Xmas tree in case it decides to jump on him. Like I have said before he is short bus. Sometimes I think his bus is so short it doesn't have room for back wheels. Our Xmas tree is a amalgam of Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter and other various ornaments we have acquired over the last few years. I have been in this house 10 years and this is probably only the 3rd year I have put up a tree. It just seems like a lot of work to put up and down but this year I guess we had the energy. We had plans to put the tree up today but earlier it would have been easy to talk me out of it. Now that it is up I am glad and actually, it feel more like December and close to Xmas. Yesterday we wrapped up several gifts so we actually had some present to put under the tree. There's nothing more depressing than a tree without presents under it. Needlefingers baked some sugar cookies tonight so I am fat and sassy on cookies. I think I have managed to put away 6 or 7 and I am already thinking about going back for more. Today while putting up the tree we put on the XM radio and have been listening to Xmas songs from various artists and generations. Don't say we aren't doing the prep work to get us into the holiday spirit. I thought we were done shopping but after taking inventory today we managed to think of a couple things we need to get. Joy!


Fuzzy face finally came out of hiding. I didn't have the nerve to get out the vacuum cleaner to clean up the loose needles in the carpet. He's scared of it too.

Fuzzy Face's Top Fives.

The first top five is : Top Five Things Fuzzy Face Is Scared Of.

5: Trash Bags.
4: Pillows.
3: Strangers at the door.
2: Loud Noises.
And last but not least.
1: Baths by far baths.

The second is : Top Five Things Fuzzy Face Loves.

5: Looking out the windows.
4: Running in front of Needles and I just enough to trip us up.
3: Sharpening claws in the carpet when there is a perfectly good scratching post less than 3 ft away. Also ignoring a wicker table that he shredded after I reworked it to be used as a scratching post.
2: Needlefingers laptime.
1: Baking his brain by the heater.

Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

Small tan to brown spider not much larger than a quarter. (legs and all) doesn't spin a web as usual spiders do. Goes on the prowl for its prey.

I posted several pictures to the Brown Recluse website I mentioned and linked to a few posts ago but they didn't put all of the pictures up so I thought I would post them as a record of what I went through.

? 24 hours after bite my left thigh started to itch severely. Small red area about the size of a mosquito bite.

2nd day red area about the size of a quarter. That night hands and feet itched. Severe rash on left foot. Water type small blisters under skin in between fingers.

3rd day tenderness at area of spider bite. Red area about the size of my palm. Itching less severe on feet and hands.

This was my left thigh 4 days after suspected Brown Recluse Bite. Trip to ER. Nov 27th
This was my left thigh 5 days after bite and after 24 hours on antibiotic. Was on my feet 91/2 hours at work. I do not recommend this. Warm compresses started. Nov. 28thThis picture was taken the 6th day post bite. Warm compresses and antibiotic therapy continued. Nov 29th

Picture taken Nov. 30th. Same treatment.
Left thigh . Dec 1st. Amazing change over 24 hours.
I talked with one of the Doctors at my work and he said I was very luck and must have had a strong immune system. He said there is a 50/50 chance at necrosis and ulceration. I hope to never go through this again.

Six days after I got bit, Needles bomb her Mom's house for spiders.

This is my left thigh Dec. 4th. Almost a complete recovery.


I hope that none of you have to go through this, and I was lucky, I only had a minor reaction.

Do Nuthin Weekend.

Thursday morning was cold....Very cold.....Too cold in the freakin house cold. I awoke in bed at 5:15 am shivering but didn't want to get out of bed. I thought the central heat will kick on in a bit. One hour later and still shivering in bed and no heat. I didn't want to get out of a semi warm bed but had to as it was time to go to work. When I got up I went straight to the thermostat........After my eyes gained the ability to focus I was shocked.........55 degrees in the house. Now that's colder than a well diggers butt. After flipping the switches on the thermostat I finally got it to kick on. Dust, spiderweb, who know why it didn't kick on but it seems to be working now.
This weekend was a free weekend for Needles and I. This has been the first weekend in who knows when, that we didn't have any plans and could do what ever when ever. Last night was Movies and BBQ ribs from the Trace Inn. We rented some very quirky movies as I guess we were in a quirky mood. The Rental list goes as follows. Life Aquatic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Lemony Snickets: A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Hitchhiker's Guild to the Galaxy. Yes we were in a quirky mood. The Life Aquatic with Bill Murray was disappointing. I felt as though I was waiting for the movie to get good and it never did. I question if this movie might appeal to people high on weed, that's the only people I can think of that might find it entertaining. Charlie was good and Johnny was quirky in his way but doesn't hold a candle to Gene Wilder in the original. Lemony was depressing as a whole with difficulty finding humor in a usually over the top Jim Carey character trying to kill little kids. The most enjoyable movie of the weekend was Hitchiker's, it was funny in a British dry sort of way. We laughed out loud several times with some of the off the wall humor. Needles talked with friends that read the books and they hated the movie.
Today we sat around and had plans to do nuthin.....Absolutely nuthin. That lasted until 10:30 am the we through on some clothes and headed out to the big city. I still had some Xmas shopping to do and wanted to knock it out so that I didn't have to think about it any more. Mission Accomplished. I still have to intercept a box coming to the house so that Needles doesn't see who its from and figure out what it is. Tonight we are slouchin around the house in our loungy pants and wondering what to watch on TV as there is nuthin on.

The picture is of snow covered bushes in front of the Trace Inn.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

Well....Its not really that bad. We are currently getting some snow and we have 3 - 4 inches of snow with a nice glaze of ice underneath. Today was the busiest day of the week so far. You would think with the bad weather that most people with a lick of sense in the head would stay home. Oh Hail No! I think they believe the weather is bad so I will go get my ankle X-rayed that's been hurting for 6 weeks. What the F#&K! Of course ER was busy and the walk in and scheduled patients had to wait but don't try to explain that to them. Most patients think they are the only ones needing something. I don't mind explaining why a patient has to wait because of an emergency but it is another thing when after you explain the situation to them that they are rude anyway. I wish in situations like that I could just say "If you don't like it then get the f*ck out!" But of course I am in the health care field and I have to be overly apologetic and kill them with kindness when inside I am enraged by their comment and would like to stomp a hole in there backside. I'm not bitter....Nooooo. My boss sent most of the help home today due to the white stuff. I couldn't resist getting the Jeep sideway when I was driving down the road in front of the house. It was nice to have a little fun after the days frustration.

The White Stuff.....It Is A Comin.

We are going to be under a winter storm warning tomorrow afternoon. They are having varying report of 1-3 or 3-6 inches of snow. Needles has already told her boss that she will not be in if there is bad snow. She has hated the snow every since a truck accident when we first started dating and she was coming to my house on New Years Eve night.

Needles made potato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches tonight while I tackled Xmas cards. I have most of them ready to send. We haven't got our tree up yet and I am hopeing to get that accomplished over the weekend. It's hard to believe that in just 18 days it will be Xmas. Just kinda sneeks up on ya. Maybe there will be enough snow left for the weekend to make a snow man. Keep warm everybody!

I was going to post a picture with this entry but blogger has made the decision for me and wont allow me. Thanks blogger for a great blog site.

White Tuesday....

Needles and I woke to a white Tuesday. This is the second snow of the season and I think I actually got a little giddy with the holiday spirit. I think my fellow co workers think I had knocked back a few before work or that I was on some sort of medication. I am normally more goofy in the morning because my brain hasn't fully booted up, but this morning I was even more so and the only reason I could find for this was the snow. The day went very smooth and we even had some time to stand around and talk about shopping for Xmas and other activities such as our Xmas party. As I came home I stopped off to pick up one of Needles gifts and while at my Brothers this evening I managed to order the rest of Needles Xmas gifts. All I know it I am done with her and on to find something for my mother. She is usually the last I buy for because I am clueless as to what to get her. I usually wait until Needles and I are out to make the final decision. I wish every day would go this smooth.

19 days to Xmas.

The picture is what I saw this morning as I walked out the front door leaving for work.

You can post but you can't visit.

I would like to read some of the posts of some of the blogs I visit on blogger but for some reason. I can post a blog entry but I can't get anyone from bloggers blog to come up. Whats up with that. I have tried for the last couple hours and no dice......SOOOOOOOooooo. I guess I will give up and chalk it up to.......What else do you expect from a free blog site.

Once bitten twice shy.

This is a website dedicated to Brown Recluse information and stories of people bitten. If you want to know more about this nasty little spider and my bite story click here.

Weekend Over...Back To The Grind.

Needles and I are back from the weekend of hunting and staying with her family. I didn't get a deer this year which is bumming me out abit but I am sure I'll survive. We got home this evening and it's back to the same ole grind tomorrow. Hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was way to short but they all are, aren't they.

What's with the snow already?

Yes my fellow bloggers, we had the first appreciable amount of snow fall on the ground this morning. Needles and I got up around 6:00am and I looked out side with sleep blurred eyes and at first thought it was a heavy frost.....A very heavy frost.....O.K. Now that my eyes were focusing correctly it is snow, not a measurable amount but more than a dusting. Today at work was freakishly slow. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the weather that kept the patients away but it was nice to have a slow relaxing day. I am hoping to get off work early tomorrow and climb up in my deer stand. They are calling for rain or possibly snow for the weekend. It will be nice to set in the stand and watch the snow fall.....The rain.....Not so much. Have a nice weekend and wish me luck on slaying Bambi.

Psychedelic Dreams

I'm not sure what's has caused it, but I think the medication is causing me to have weird dreams at night. First of all I couldn't tell you anything about any dream I may or may not have had in the last months or even years. I am not what you would call a lucid dreamer. I go to bed at night close my eyes, fall asleep, wake up and get up to face the day. If there is any dreaming going on, I don't remember it, and really don't remember any recent dreams, but since my spider bite and that I have been on Augmentin (a strong broad spectrum antibiotic) I have been having some whacked out dreams. Theses are not pleasant dreams either. I told Needles about one of them vaguely as if I did tell her all the details it would make her mad. No it wasn't a dream of another woman, or multiple women like most men might have but lets just say there were people in my dream torturing and killing small animals. I woke up at 4:00am pissed off until some form of conscience thought graced my brain and I realized it was just a dream, like Bobby getting killed off of Dallas. Yeah you remember that whole season that was just a dream, I was that kinda pissed. Last night wasn't so violent and gross but still if I told you what happened in my dream, I might be referred to get some psychiatric help. Where does this stuff come from. I am wanting to continue the antibiotic treatment but I am tired of the weird, crazy dreams. I think I might need something to stop the Happy Tree Friends dreams.

The picture above is of the Happy Tree Friends show that is shown on G4TV. It has some entertaining qualities but at least it isn't as realistic as my dreams.

Not So Crappy Tuesday.

Today was better but not by a whole lot. My leg was looking better this morning but this evening it has a brownish green tinge area about the size of my palm. It looks like the color of a resolving bruise. It didn't bother me as much today, but now that I am home, it is itching again. After work today I remembered that I forgot to take my antibiotic at lunch so I thought I would pull a Cynical and stop at the golden arches for a McRib. I haven't had one for years, and I wasn't sure how it would be. For one thing it took way too long to get it. I think they had to slaughter the kangaroo, but when I did get it, it was fresh and blazing hot. Of course I ate it while I drove home and burned my mouth on the searing hot sauce but I am not one for over dramatics but maybe if I smashed it in my lap it would have been worth a million or two. That's a joke on frivolous lawsuits. When I got home I had a couple of messages on the answering machine. One was Needles setting bored at work awaiting the start of her night class and the other was a lady I haven't talked to in a few years. She had called to offer me a job at a local imaging center. I had to turn her down as I like what I am doing at the moment but I thanked her for asking me. It would be about twice as much money but about 3 times as much headache as the job I have now. Money isn't everything.
Needles and I are perplexed by our Fuzzy friends recent playtime activity. He has recently been excavating poo out of his litter box onto the floor. This is not the strange thing. It looks like he has been playing with it. We have found the little brown Tootsie Rolls of fun several feet from the litter box. Again I think he is clearly short bus. We try to encourage good activities and not to reward bad habits but I am at a loss with this one. Maybe he is psychic and relating to me the only way he knows how, just how my week has gone so far. CRAPPY!

Crappy Monday.

I had a crappy day at work. We were very very busy and everyone needs to be seen ASAP after the holiday. It seemed like for every step forward I took two backward in getting anything none. The phone rang constantly all day interrupting any progress in getting things done. I was on my feet for 9 1/2 hours today going up and down the stairs about 20 times today and my feet are killing me. My spider bite is looking worse but it has started to itch like crazy which I think is a good thing. Usually that means it is healing and if it was going to ulcerate then I wouldn't be able to feel the surrounding tissue. Warm compresses tonight and will re evaluate tomorrow. I know I am not going to stay late tomorrow for work. If everything is done my 3 then good and if not too bad, my ass is going home. Needles made roast in the crock pot with noodles, potatoes and carrots. YUM! She has been a good little nurse, bringing me food, drink and warm compresses to keep me off my feet. I am hopeful that things will be better tomorrow but I doubt it.

Turkey Day Part 2 Is Over....

We are finally home after the weekend of running around, visiting family and eating until our innie belly buttons turn into outties. Yes I ate that much! We left home around 3:30pm Friday afternoon and headed to the promise land of KY. We drove by a lot of the tornado damage just off the I64 bypass and South 41 by Ellis Park. It was terrible to see and I can only imagine what the people there went through during that frightening night. After a short stop to stretch our legs at the Hanson Outlet Mall we continued on our way to my parents arriving around 6:30pm. The first question out of my parents mouth was "How was your trip?" The second was "Are you hungry?" Of course we dove in to the leftovers and I stuffed myself into a nicely content lethargy of digestion. Then the next question......"Are you ready for dessert?" My response "Sure what do you got?" My mother then stated "We have lemon cake with sour cream frosting, marble cake with chocolate frosting or chocolate pie." Myself being one who can't decide I did the easiest thing to do in a situation like that. I said " I will take a piece of each." After chewing and swallowing the last bite of the dessert the pressure started to build on the old waist band so there was only one thing to do.....Unbutton the pants to relieve the pressure. I felt it was the only SAFE thing to do as the pressure behind the button on my pants was one that is it had popped off it could have killed or maimed someone. I had to go to bed around 9:30 pm because of my stomach was shutting down unnecessary organs like my brain to aid in the digestion of food. The next day my parents, Needles and I went to Hopkinsville to see what kind of bargains we could find. I didn't find much but Needles found 4 skeins of yarn normally $5 a skein for $.50 each. Needless to say she was thrilled with her bargain. When we return back to my parents Needles and I went to my Mecca.....Uncle Lee's a virtual cornucopia of hunting and other various items that every man should have. After our shopping we return to my parent home for more food and a visit to my Grandma's and another invitation to eat again. After we returned home I ended up going to bed around 11:00pm. My night was very restless as you will soon find out why. My feet itched and burned all night allowing only 3 hours of sleep all night. Sunday around 10:30am we headed North back towards home but first need to drop off some items purchased for Needles Uncles and of course we ate again. When we got home around 4:30pm I noticed my legs were very sensitive to the touch and low and behold we made a run to the Emergency Room for multiple brown recluse bites on my thighs. I had the idea that something was weird Thursday night that the insides of my thighs were itching severely and a small red area about the size of a quarter being there. Since I was in the wood deer hunting the weekend before I thought it could be poison ivy and decide to keep and eye on it. Friday after coming home from work I noticed the quarter size area had grown into about the size of the top of a soup can but wasn't as red. When we arrived at my parent my feet were itching severely and the bite areas stayed the same size. Sunday I noticed some increase sensitivity in the areas but quickly put it out of my mind. After the 3 hour trip home it was to the point that something was going to need to be done he red areas were turning dark. At the ER I have the usual once over by the nurse reporting that my blood pressure was very high at 140/110 and then the Doc came in to inspect the bite areas. After a CBC (blood work) to check for infection we were free to leave with a prescription for antibiotic and cream for my rashy feet. I am now home recovering from my spider bites and Thanksgiving weekend.

Turkey Day Part 1. Cold..Cold..Cold..Cold..Cold

Needles and I are back from her family, with bloated stomachs from eating too much and episodes of triptophan waves breaking over us inducing severe sleepiness followed by caffeine spikes of wakefulness from the several cups of coffee consumed while there. Bouncing back and forth is almost like watching a tennis match. The uncles and I went out to move a couple of the deer stands to improve our chances of gunning down Bambi next weekend. The wind was blowing like freight train and with temp around mid 30's today it was colder than a witches mammary gland. Afterwards is when the coffee drinking commenced to warm up from our outside adventure. Needle mothers TV antenna blew down in the storms and tornado warnings we had a week or so ago so with the antenna laying on the ground they could only get a couple channels so I thought in my typical McGuiver style if we could get it up off the ground we might pull in a few more channels. After we found an old section on TV tower we decided to strap it to a heavy metal cart that one of the uncles use and aunt viola the hillybilly mobile TV antenna was born. Needless to say the antenna looks pathetic being held together by duck tape until we get somewhere to get another and have a decent enough day to put it up, but for now they are able to pick up several channels. Tomorrow I have to work but after that we are packing up and heading South to the promise land and more Thanksgiving leftovers. Nothing better than turkey leftovers.

Turkey Times a Comin!

I am anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving to get here. I enjoy spending time with family and eating myself sick. I usually try to regulate my caloric intake but for the next 3 holidays (T'givin, X-mas and New Years) it's a free for all. Why yes I would like 3 (three) scoops of gravy on my mashed potatoes and YES I will have a full size piece of EVERY dessert that has been made for the holiday. Why thank you for pointing out that there is 3 (three) different types of potatoes on the table. (Potato salad, mashed potatoes and fried potatoes) I will have all 3 (three). When I am finished I will roll into the living room and lay comatose, slipping in and out of conscience while watching T.V. I can think of nothing better to do. I plan on gaining about 5-10 pounds over the next couple months and will keep my winter blubber until next summer when I usually loose some of it but usually a few pounds linger until the next go round. I think for X-mas I will as for larger pants. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Busy Monday..

I had a busy Monday and I am afraid that Tuesday is going to be busier. I had a nice weekend to think back on. I worked Friday morning wishing I was in a deer stand and while walking out to the garage I was going over and over in my head that it was O.K. to go to work and that all the deer are sleeping in and no one was getting a deer this early in the season. I was almost to the garage when I heard it......A distant sound of a gunshot. That didn't help the displeasure of going to work during deer season. I made it at work until 1:00pm then I had to leave, the deer stand was calling to me. Needles and I packed up what seemed like everything we had and headed south to the old homestead. Unfortunately I could have stayed at work and it would have been fine because I didn't see any deer that evening. Of course the stories from Needles Uncles and I am paraphrasing...." Man the deer were so thick this morning we had to beat them off with a stick. Had deer trying to crawl up into the deer stand with me." They decided to pass on the deer that morning because it was so early in the season. Only to regret there decision later. If the deer had walked by my stand I would have been thrilled to get a chance at one that early in the season. The second day the only deer I saw within range was when it was still dark and no chance of a shot. That evening was uneventful with just hearing cows in the neighboring field responding to my deer grunts. Sunday morning after hearing many shots in the distance and wishing I was seeing more deer, I heard a shot very close that made me jump in my seat. The shot sound came from the direction of one of the Uncles stands. Needles uncle had gotten a 8 point buck. I guessed it would have scored around 100 B&C points. I think he was happy to get it and know he will have meat to go into the freezer this winter. I am glad that he got one as he didn't get to hunt last season even after we set up his stand because of the fields were still being harvested. The last evening of the first season I sat in the stand of the uncle that had just taken a deer that morning and did have a little 6 point buck walk up on me at about 50 yards. I would have taken a shot but I had a branch in the way. If it was a small branch of about the diameter of my finger I might have tried a shot but this branch was a little smaller than a landscaping timber and difficult to aim around. I decided to let him walk and not chance a unethical shot. So I went through the first season without even shooting my gun. I had a good time setting around the kitchen table chatting with Needlefingers family while sipping coffee to warm up. I can't wait until next season and even if the outcome it the same as this one it is nice to visit and talk with the family.

Scoreboard

DEER 1 HUNTER 0

Hopefully I will have better luck second season.

Buck Fever.

Yes, I am a hunter.... I know a lot of people don't like to think that a person like me goes into the woods with a gun a blows away Bambi, but I do and I enjoy it. Does this make me a bad person? Maybe I shouldn't ask that question in a public forum like this but I know many people who think deer are cute and pretty until they wrinkle the finder on their vehicle and then they want them dead. There is a lot of farmers here in the mid-west and I am sure they appreciate that we are as South Park might say " thin out the numbers" to keep them from eatting away some of their profits. I think the reason I like hunting so much is because my father got me interested it at young age, and when I go hunting I feel like I am becoming more like him. He is the nicest, most respectable man I know and have always looked up to him. Another reason is that I enjoy the outdoors. Most of the time you are hunting it is just setting around and watching the sun breaking the horizon, the frost being turned into early morning fog by the suns horizontal beams streaking across the ground. At times while I have been in a deer stand, it wasn't hard to imagine that I was farther from the ground than my usual 15 feet or so due to the inability to see the ground. Hearing the sounds of the woods waking up for the morning is fresh and new each time. The rustle of leaves as the calm is broken by a morning breeze. Or the crash of the leaves as a squirrel begins its early morning forage for food. Crows cawing in the distance. The site of my warm breath billowing out as the sun peaks to see what this day may bring. Yes it is quite a rush to have a deer step into range for a shot but that is in some ways icing on a cake that is delicious without it. Why else would I keep coming back for seconds icing or not. I also enjoy hunting because it is a reminder of good times when my Father, Brother and I would go rabbit hunting on the weekends. That is probably the times that I cherish the most when I think back on my childhood. Still when we get together, we bring up good times we had and things that happened while on the hunt. Tomorrow is the first day of gun deer season and I am going to work, but I assure you my thoughts will be about hunting and setting in a deer stand. After work Needles and I are going to the hunting lodge of Needlefingers moms house and will be there for the weekend for the hunt. Wish me luck. Maybe I will have a hunting story to post next week.

Do the Humpty Hump, Do the Humpty Hump.

It is hump day and it went smoothly. Tomorrow my boss will be gone all day so I am expecting everything that can go wrong to do so. Even employees that have been there for years are looking to me and asking if we can make it through the day. I just give them my, it's gonna be alright, look and try not think much more about it. I'm not sure why the other employees are so stressed out about it.
I did finally get to talk with my mother today, my father was out deer hunting as I hope to be this weekend, but they are doing fine. Needlefingers mother had her T.V. antenna blown down. Otherwise we feel we made it through the storm without a scratch. I am thankful as I know others were not so lucky.

I think the picture is fitting as it is Wednesday which is hump day and also the face on Humpty is simular to the faces of my fellow co-workers that our boss will be gone tomorrow.

Rain in the Mornin, Rain in the Evenin, Storms at Supper Time.

Just 2 weeks ago I said " I am glad this year during deer season that the ground won't be muddy and soupy like it was last year." When will I learn to keep my mouth shut. I am not sure how much rain we got but we got a lot. Our back patio was under water for awhile and that only happens if we get around 3-4 inches. This morning at work we would take a moment to occasionally glance out the only window we can see outside from our department and see the drizzling, dreary rain falling on the cars in the parking lot. The day looked overcast most of the day and as noon arrived so did the storms. The sky turned black and the wind and rain picked up. Over the hospital intercom we heard. Mr. T in the building which is our signal for Tornado Warning for the county. As we made bad impressions of " I pity the fool!" to lighten the mood, we moved into the central hallway as to get away from exterior walls and windows. After standing in the hallway for about 30 minutes we were told that the warning was being extended another 30 minutes. After the time elapsed we returned to our department no worse for wear and ready to get back to work only to be told that another line of storms was on it's way from the west and would be arriving in about a hour or so. Of course after work I had to stop at Wally World to get my hunting license to so hunt deer next week.( Now in the mud.) I finished picking up a few items and began my trip home only to be diverted and detoured as the top of a powerpole had snapped in the wind and had fallen into the road. I'm not sure what exactly happened but did notice a pickup truck off the side of the road and the front end was up against a tree. As I was driving home the rain began to become heavier, the wind increased and the sky was dark green but the odd thing was that to the west the sky was blue and the sun was shining. A very surreal experience. Needles called as it was Tuesday and her late night of teaching a night class but after several of her students called to say they would be there and only 5 students showed up, she cancelled class and came home. I have attempted to call my parents in western Kentucky but I think the lines are down as I am getting a fast busy signal. I intend to try again shortly so will have to finish up. I hope that tomorrow bring us better weather and reports of no fatalities in this night of storms.

S.O.G. (Same Old Grind)

Back to work Monday. Today was not overly busy but steady enough to make it go by quickly. As rain moved into the area and the occasional glance outside at the overcast and rainy evening made me want to go home and curl up on the couch and watch a good movie.......Or take a nap. I can't decide but I am glad I am now home for the evening. Too tired from a shortage of sleep over the weekend so I will cut it short today. Have a good evening.

Picture was taken over the weekend while out seeing the sites with Cynical and Ragged