One and one half.

That is the number of work days left between me and Vacation. Tomorrow Needles and I have dental appointments and then I have to come home a mow our lawn to get ready for our trip. I have been anxiously awaiting this moment for a few months now and I have to say I am ready to go, not physically but mentally. The last few days I have keeping an eye on the weather at our Vacation spot and over the last couple of days my worst fear has now become reality. They are calling for rain every day we are in Springfield. In a way I am disappointed in the weather but in away I am hoping to get a little down time. I just wish we could get a couple of nice days in there. Just goes to show that maybe after 12 years without a Vacation, we just aren't supposed to go on Vacation.

Old Setter's Day Entertainment

Part of the Wabash Cannon Ball.

Old Settler's Days 2008 Pictures

WOW!

No not World of Warcraft Rudy keep your +27 enchanted warrior britches on. I can't believe we went a whole 24 hours without a aftershock. Maybe this region is settling down and not becoming the Mid West California. That's good because I don't care to live next to all those movie stars. Too much drama with their drugs, who's partying with who and the decision to wear panties today or not. Today we are going to go to Old Settlers Days and I will try to get a few pics to post later. Have a good Sunday.

HAPPY B DAY!

Happy Birthday Baylee!

Now thats a sandwich!

Today while I was at lunch talking with my good buddy Greg we had an aftershock. I estimated that it was a round a 3. After about 30 minutes the USGS updated their site and said it was a 4.2 but then down graded it to a 3.7. I wonder if we are just setting into a trend and going to have these for awhile. FYI 7 days to vacation!

VA-CA-TION All I ever wanted.

Tomorrow it will be 1 week until we leave for vacation. I am so excited I have chewed all my toe nails down to the nub. Just kidding, but I am excited. To quote Cynical "Eeeee!"

I lub the Go-Gos.

Human Footprint

This is an estimate of what each average American consumes in a 77 year life time.

5 bulls

6 hogs

1,423 chickens

19,826 eggs

20,000 potatos

4,376 loaves not slices of bread (not including hotdog and hamburger buns)

5,500 hotdogs

12,100 hamburgers

14,500 candybars

1,000 pounds of sugar

5,000 bananas

12,800 oranges

44,300 cans of soda

28,433 showers (700,000 gallons of water.)

156 toothbrushes

389 tubes of toothpaste

656 bar of soap

198 shampoo bottles

272 stcks of deoderant

1.2 million gallons of water for things other than showers

500,000 gallons of sewage

We will each generate 46 tons of trash.

Something to think about.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day and I have to admit, I didn't even know it until I went to Google and noticed the change in their logo. Because of my selfish and uncaring human oversight I thought that I would make the ultimate sacrifice for Earth Day. My sacrifice was that when Needles and I went to the Dairy Dee and they asked me if I needed any napkins to wipe the ice cream off of my face, I declined and instead decided to use my tongue. I know you might say that this kind of sacrifice is too much and that how can a human go to such lengths but I have to admit I feel like a better person for it. Some people say that I am a person that gives of myself a little too much. What can I say, it's all for a good cause.

PS. 10 days til Happy Time!

Illinois Earthquake video

This video was taken at Bridgeport, IL. at Blue Star EMS.

This was the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that happened 4/18/2008 @ 4:37 am.

Last nights/this mornings 4.0 tremor awoke us. We must be getting used to them because the following conversation ensued.

Needles: Wonder how big that one was?

Ramblin: I don't know......snore.

PS. 11 days til Vacation!

Earthquakes and outboard motors.

If it isn't a 5.2 magnitude earthquake to wake us out of a dead sleep it's the neighbors brother with his pontoon boat reeving up the outboard motor. It's not like we don't have enough idiots around here making noise that they have to bring others in that don't even live here to shatter a moment of peace and quiet. I swear the people around here have no consideration for anyone around them. So if you want to work on your hot rod truck at 3 in the morning, or run up and down the block multiple times day and night and see how fast and loud you can get before you have to hit the breaks and make the corner, just move to Sumner, IL. you will fit right in with the rednecks around here.

Making a list. Checking it twice.

Here is the original earthquake and aftershock details we have had so far. I myself have only felt 5 or 6 of them. We are located 19 miles North of the epicenter.
UPDATED 4-25-2008



3.7 2008/04/25 12:31:00pm 8 km ( 5 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL (Felt)
2.6 2008/04/24 6:44:24am 7 km ( 5 mi) N of Bellmont, IL
2.1 2008/04/22 8:32:34pm 9 km ( 6 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL
1.6 2008/04/22 08:01:00 8 km ( 5 mi) N of Bellmont, IL
2.2 2008/04/21 02:58:46am 8 km ( 5 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL
4.0 2008/04/21 12:38:29am 12 km ( 7 mi) NW of Mount Carmel, IL (Felt)
2.3 2008/04/20 5:34:26am 6 km ( 4 mi) N of Bellmont, IL
2.8 2008/04/20 12:02:41am 5 km ( 3 mi) WNW of Mount Carmel, IL (Felt)
2.8 2008/04/19 11:55:17am 6 km ( 4 mi) N of Bellmont, IL
1.7 2008/04/19 7:45:38am 7 km ( 5 mi) N of Bellmont, IL
1.3 2008/04/19 4:46:44am 8 km ( 5 mi) WNW of Mount Carmel, IL
2.7 2008/04/18 11:05:53am 6 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL
4.6 2008/04/18 10:14:16am 11 km ( 7 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL (Felt)
2.6 2008/04/18 6:55:57am 9 km ( 6 mi) NW of Mount Carmel, IL
2.2 2008/04/18 5:46:24am 7 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Bellmont, I
3.4 2008/04/18 5:36:33am 9 km ( 6 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL (Felt)
2.5 2008/04/18 5:15:31am 9 km ( 5 mi) NW of Mount Carmel, IL
2.5 2008/04/18 5:03:59am 5 km ( 3 mi) NW of Mount Carmel, IL
2.6 2008/04/18 4:59:31am 6 km ( 4 mi) NNW of Mount Carmel, IL (Felt)
5.2 2008/04/18 4:37:00am 7 km ( 5 mi) NNE of Bellmont, IL (Felt)

Money, money, money, mon-ah.....(high pitched) Mon-ah!

Doing our part to stimulate the economy, today Needles and I went to the big city to do some shopping and to eat out. We started out at Quiznos and had brunch since we skipped breakfast. We both had small toasted sub to be faithful to our diet and off we went to Big Lots to see what goodies they had. We saw a kitty condo there a few weeks ago and since the kitties are going to be left alone on Vacation we thought we would give them a treat. We didn't find the condo so we left there empty handed. We then ventured ventured to two grocery stores to get things we needed and then stopped off at Wally World for more Pre Vacation shopping. Needles ended up getting a couple of shirts and a couple pair of capris. I picked up a couple more shirts and we got a few things to keep in the car for our trip. Things like cleaning wipes, spray on sun block and a first aid kit just in case. I grabbed a travel toothbrush holder since I have been needing one for years. We also picked up a Super Scratcher for the fuzzy folks since we couldn't find the kitty condo. We put the cat nip on it in front of the cats like the instructions on the box told us to and they both began to rub and love all over it. Tugger went away to let Copper have his way with it. Neither of them has put the first claw in it but it has been chewed on, slept on and drooled on by Copper. The local small Wally World has really cut back on the items they have on hand since they are getting close to the change over into the new Super Wally World. There were several empty shelves and it seems like part of the store isn't as well lite as it used to be, almost like they are saying don't bother replacing the light bulbs that go out since there going to knock down this building in a few weeks anyway. We still have a couple of items on our menu but I think for the most part we are ready to go. Have a great weekend everyone.

PS. Tugger has now moved out from behind the washer. He has taken up residence under the table in the corner. He still isn't back to himself but we are taking it day by day. He is very skittish and spazzy at any noise that is a bit loud.

Nothing like an earthquake to start your day.

This morning about 4:36 am I was awaken by the windows in the bedroom shaking. At first I was confused as to what might be causing this but only for about a second as the real shaking started and I could feel the bed shifting back and forth. This lasted for about another 4 to 6 seconds until Needles became aware that we were having an earthquake and awoke with a start. I took a few seconds to try to calm Needles and inform her we were having an earthquake. After we road out the quake in the bed we decided to get up and check things. First thing we noticed was there wasn't a cat to be seen. After a quick search of all the usual places we Needles discovered Tugger behind the washer and I found Copper in the pantry. A couple of pictures were knocked off of the book shelf and a picture in the kitchen had fallen and the glass had broken but hadn't come out of the frame. We were startled but otherwise fine. Needles checked the interwebs and found out some more information. The epicenter was about 6 miles East of West Salem, Illinois and the magnitude at the time was registered at 5.4 only to be revised to 5.2. We had another aftershock about 2 minutes after the initial quake and the again 20 minutes and an hour later. We didn't feel another aftershock until about 10:20 when the 4.5 magnitude aftershock hit that lasted a reported 6 to 7 seconds. The epicenter was stated at 7 miles North East of West Salem, Illinois. When I returned home from work I noticed another picture was in the floor and a few items was a little out of place but otherwise non the worse for wear. I also noticed that only Copper was in the living room nestled under the table in the corner. I went on the search for Tugger only to find him where we left him this morning, still behind the washer. He currently resides there so if you have mail for him just send it Rum Tum Tugger (behind the washer) Sumner, Il. 62466 and we will make sure he gets it. Hope we all have a nice still weekend.

Tugger in his hiding place. S'cuse the lint, it's camouflage.

PS. We had 3 earthquake related injuries come through ER today. One child ran for Mom and Dad's room in the middle of the shaking and injured his foot. Another child bailed out of the top bunk of a bunk bed during the earthquake and a women had a "heavy eagle" fall on her foot. Yep and eagle. I am assuming it was a sculpture of an eagle.

16 days and counting.

I can't wait!

Waiting

I am not sure what, but I feel like I am waiting for something. The thing is I am not sure what it might be. I know we are slowly but steadily marching toward some technology changes at work but Vacation will be here before you know it. Like I said I feel like I am waiting for something? Hmmm, Maybe it is the Summer and all the things that go along with it. The time spent outside in the sun, setting in the yard in lawn chairs, mowing the lawn and camping. Maybe with the lot of bad luck we have been having I am waiting for the other shoe to drop...I hope not. I think we have earned a bit of good karma for awhile. I guess that is all I have to say for now... No wait. Yep, I 'm done:)

19

19 days til Vacation.

Home All Alone.

This morning the gals headed north to fiber land and to ooo and aah over yarn, fiber and fiber bearing animals. It looks like the gals are going to have come crappy weather for the weekend but I hope they have fun. They should return late tomorrow night but until then I have the house all to myself. Have a great weekend.

Sweeny Todd

A delightfully dark musical. I do believe it is the best musical I have ever seen. I am not a big fan of musicals but I think that I like Tim Burton's work along with the people who are actors trying to sing. Oh, and there's a drop or two of blood thrown in. The ending has a twist that twists again. I loved it.

Vacation toys

Today I received a new toy. It is a camcorder that is about the size of a 8 track tape that will record up to 2 hour of video in high definition. I am planning on taking it with us on our vacation so Cynical and Ragged you better polish up your acting skill cause your gonna be in the movies. The camcorder is also a 8 mega pixel camera. If you just do photos it will hold over 1600 photos. Think that just might get us. Can you imagine watching that in a slide show. At 3 seconds per image it would take you 80 minutes. Dats alot of pichur takin. I think Needles might take it with her to Greencastle to get a few pans of the booths.

Mom and Dad are up this week and it has been good to spend some time with them. I think my diet is going to backslide a few pounds until they leave though. Have a good evening.

Happy Birthday Needles!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart. I love you very much.

Supper brought to you by the Dairy Dee.

Today after work I stopped off at the Dairy Dee in L'ville to pick up a couple of pounds of smoked pulled pork for supper and what ever is left we can have for leftovers tomorrow. After waiting in line for almost 10 min. I finally got the food and was on my way home. When I pulled out of the parking lot an older driver pulled out in front of me and decided to drive as slow as physically possible up to the stop light. The light changed red just was he pulled out of the lane I was in. Just then a black truck with lights pulled into the intersection. I thought whats going on as I couldn't see the WIDE LOAD sign at the angle I was to the truck. As I looked to my distant right I see 2 halves of a house being trucked toward the intersection. I thought to myself crap if that old guy would have been just 5 mph faster I would have been ahead of all this. Of course the trucks go by at 5 miles an hour and me being in the left turn lane already, I was committed to pull out behind them. I had to follow them for 4 miles until they finally turned off making a turn at the intersection in B'port taking 5 minutes. So my usually 10 minute trip home today with my stop for supper and other delays ended up taking me 45 minutes. I wonder why they decided to move this thing in the middle of the day when a lot of people are getting off of work. I bet they had traffic backed up from B'port to L'ville.

This evening Needles and I made our first Dairy Dee dessert run for the year. I got a large hot fudge shake and she got a small oreo tundra. YUM!

Tomorrow my parents are coming up to make funeral arrangements for my great aunt. I was hoping for a Sat. burial but it looks like its going to be Fri. so I will have to take off of work. I am to be a pallbearer in the funeral. I know we are supposed to get a lot of rain tomorrow and into Friday morning but I hope it moves out of the area by the time of the burial.

I have just been a very pessimistic mood lately. I wonder if it is because of the run of bad luck.

30 days

30 days until Vacation.

The Hits Just Keep On A Comin.

If this is the way things go when you plan a vacation then I think I can wait another 12 years for the next.

1. My co worker backs into a lady's car.
2. We get rear ended in E'ville.
3. Cynicals car gets backed into.
4. Needles Uncle passed out and totalled his truck last night.
5. Today was notified that my great aunt that fell and broke her hip 3 weeks ago died this morning.

All this added on to my previous list from a week or so ago has made it a trying last few weeks. 2008 isn't getting off to a very good start and we are just 3 months into it.

Getting into shape.

Needles and I have made a effort to try to eat better and lose a little weight in the hopes that we might feel better. I have been somewhat successful in dropping a few pounds but Needles says that with women its a different story. I have lost approx 22 pounds since the first of the year and I can honestly say I do feel better. I can at least bend over and tie my shoe without feeling winded from having my air cut off by my belly. Today I made the ultimate leap a bought a set of scales. Do you know what I did just as soon as I got them out of the package?.......I weighed the cats of course. Tugger is a whopping 12.4 pounds. They say the average weight of an adult cat is 10 to 15 pounds. Copper has a bit of an issue however. He's a big boy. An 18.6 pound big boy. Even if we don't weigh ourselves regular at least we will have fun weighing the cats.