In A Second

Oh goodie, we get to spend one more second this year with Fathers Time, Clark and Philbin. 2006 will come one second later.

Scientists are going to add a second to 2005 this year to make up for time lost due to Earth's rotation. It all seems a bit complex. This *leap second* will adjust the atomic clocks to be in sync with the heavens. Atomic time has been pulling ahead of astrotonomical time for the past 47 years. I just thought it was me getting older that made time go faster. Silly me!

Now, there is a concern of the *leap second* on cell phones, air traffic control and power grids being effected. It's almost like the big deal with Y2K all over again. We know how that effected our lives. Nothing. It's only a second. What harm can that do?

I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get my Elvis clock to add a second though. I guess, I'll have to hold his legs for a second.

So, what am I going to do with that extra second? Hmm.....let's see....opps, times up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

TiVo Alert

It seems that Jermaine Jackson is bragging to his pals that he has landed a $7 million 13 epoisode deal with *no network is fessin' up.* Aww.....reality TV a must see. 13 episodes about his whacked-out family, can't hardly wait. Like we haven't heard and seen enough.

Episodes will include according to the New York Daily News, footage of Michael Jackson riding on the way to his the court house to hear the verdict of his child molestation trial. Shows Michael rocking back and forth with a Bible open in his lap saying, *They tried to do with with Job, now, they are trying to do it with me. Why me?* The only good news about this show is that Janet and Randy have refused to submit themselves to the show.

Job? I don't recall the story of Job including child molestation. Have to check that out.

Be looking for time and place. yeah, riiiiight!

The Gift That Doesn't Keep On Giving

This was Shasta's first Christmas and I decided to get her a gift. I went to the local pet store and looked at tons of stuff. Do I get something for her to chew on like a pig snooter or a cow ear? How about something *healthy and low in fat* like some peppermint treats? Toys.....geez, there are so many to choose from. Ropes, flying disks, squeeky ones, grunters, and honkers. Just so much to look at. She loves peanut butter, maybe some peanut butter biscuits. Finally, it came down to a reindeer with long legs for pulling and a honking sound. She'll love it.

Christmas day, all excited. She gets her gift and carries it around all day. The legs are good for tug of war games. She's happy and I'm happy. Then, a leg comes off. She starts pulling out the *insides.* It's in the trash now.

Well, two days of fun. All that's left is a leg. Next time I'll get treats!

Let It Snow

Ok....since it's supposed to be 76 or 78 in Phoenix (depending on what channel you watch), the only snow that's going to be around for Christmas will be *man made.* And paper!! There is a cool site to go and get snowflake patterns and learn all about snow. Great kids site. http://www.papersnowflakes.com

So, if all the shopping is done, the toys and other gadgets put together and you just want something fun to do with or without the kids, check this out.

If you don't trust yourself with the sissors, let the kids do it!

Happy Snowflaking!! And Merry Christmas!!

Hmmmm......

I saw a couple of items in today's newspaper that had me scratching my head in wonderment.

First was an ad from Checker Auto Parts advertising an home theatre system with remote for $79.99. I'm thinking that a auto parts store would be the last, if ever, place I would expect to find this item. Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, or even Wal-Mart, but Checker Auto. How odd!!

Second item was about the silliest idea I've seen yet. Here is the article as it appeared in the paper.

Seeing the light about DUI risks Blinking red and blue lights in your beverage are better than in your rear-view mirror. That's the message from the Arizona DUI Task force and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. The agencies sent 40,000 blinking ice cubes to restaurants and bars across the state to remind patrons to not drink and drive this holiday season.

Ok....40,000 blinking ice cubes for the whole state. The chance of getting one of those cubes would be about the same as hitting the lottery. There are probably 40,000, well, maybe not that many, but close to it, restaurants and bars in the Phoenix area alone. I figure that in the Phoenix area maybe 10,000 to 20,000 may be sent to establishments, odds are slime of getting one. Who's going to pay attention to a blinking red and blue ice cube anyway? All ice cubes blink if you've had enough to drink!! Tax payers dollars at work I'm sure on this lame idea.

german chinese take out

My nephew who is in the army and his family are stationed in Germany and they ordered chinese take out and this is what they got.

Supposed to be sweet and sour chicken, chicken with red pepper and mushrooms, curry chicken, chicken chop suey and fried rice.

Looks yummy doesn't it? That big thing is a egg roll. It looks more like a burrito. Maybe that's why it says SIESTA on the box.

E-mailing into the future

Have you ever asked youself the question....."Gee, I wish I could e-mail myself now and have it sent like in the year 2010?" I know I've spent countless sleepless night worring over this question. Well, now you can. At http://www.futureme.org. It's easy and you don't have to set up an account if you don't want to. I guess the most important thing would be........am I still going to have this e-mail address at 2010?

So, if you need to keep that grudge going and remember why, just email yourself year after year. No excuses!

E-E-E-I-I-I-I-A-H

Only when you look deep inside yourself will you find the ability to leap over foam covered with duct tape and hit the bag I hold in my hand, Grasshopper. Yes, Master!

Gosh....I hope she didn't hurt herself.

Burger King Kong

Is it just me or is more people creeped out over these Burger King commercials? The way he is always lurking around. It's like he's a stalker or something. Hovering over people in bed and even in bed with people. It's just creepy. Those yellow tights and puffy pants. That huge plasic face. Grimming that grin like he's up to no good. Big white fur collar. It's just not normal. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it. The way he looks at everyone. CREEPY!!!

Now with this new commercial, big as King Kong and being a *peeping tom.* This huge head looking through the window at the girl. Then he reaches in the window. I would scream if I was that girl. At least call 911.

It's just plain freaky!!!

How To Spend Quality Time With Your Loved Ones

Meet Shasta....the wonder dog

Since you might be reading about Shasta, I thought it only right that you should meet her. She is a 7 month old mini Australian shepherd. Her color is what they call tri-black. She weighs 17 pounds and stands *not too far off the ground.* She loves playing with all her toys. Shasta is very smart and learns things very quickly. She is cute, lovable and thinks everyone is her friend. The vet. thinks I should take her to *therapy school* so she can become a therapy dog and visit people in hospitals and nursing homes. I think that would be just another job for me, so for now she just has to do things around the house.

She really loves going for walks. While walking she picks up things. For example, one time we were out walking and she picked up a stick, she carried that until she came upon a pine cone, dropped the stick and picked up the pine cone. In the course of a 30 minute walk, she may pick up 6 or 7 items.

Shasta has a small agility course in the backyard. It took her no time to get the *game* down. I would like to start teaching her to doing *Frisbee* tricks.

She's a joy to have around. Now, you've met Shasta. She'll pop in now and again.

Is a Virgin on your Christmas list?

Seems like this is the case for some people this year. Items range from ashtrays, key chains, baseball caps to shower curtains, candles, ornaments, aprons, to kimono robes and belt buckles. Give your loved one a "Who's your Virgin?" T-shirt for $36 and accessories it with a $154 virgin ring.

The Virgin is Our Lady of Guadalupe. She has become the latest fad, a *pop icon.* She had been seen with Gwen Stepani and Britney Spears. Even on the soccer field, David Beckman wears her image on T-shirts. Not all is happy in *Virginland* though. Many Catholics and Catholic priests find this wave of popularity as irreverent. They say people are just cashing in on her popularity and they don't know who she is or what she stands for. Maybe if they knew her message of concern for the poor and the outcast they wouldn't be so quick to hear the ca-ching of the cash coming in or wear her image.

Today is an important day, not only in Mexico, but also here in the U.S. where the Latin influence is abundant. Today marks the day in 1531 that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at Tepeyac near Mexico City. She appeared to him, as the story goes, at dawn, speaking to him in his native Indian tongue and told him to build a church on the hill. She made the out of season roses bloom as proof that she really did appear to him. When Juan Diego unrolled his cloak before the bishop at Mexico City, the roses fell out, but her image remained on the cloak. The cloak can still be seen today. It resides in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. You can read more of her story at http://www.mexconnect.com.

Her image is a mixture of the native Indian beliefs and the Catholic religion of the Virgin Mary. She is the symbol of hope, liberation and compassion. Today, there will be Masses, mediations, and marichais.

So, if a Virgin is on your list, at least now you know alitlle about her.

Early bird gets...a lion and a witch in the wardrobe

Am I crazy or what? I got up at 6 AM on a Saturday morning to go to the Land of Narnia!

It all started a couple of weeks ago when my sister called me one night and asked if I wanted tickets to see the movie Narnia. Cost is $4.50 and showing on Dec. 10 at 8:30 . Cost great, time good, sure.....three, please. A few minutes later she calls back to tell me that it's at 8 not 8:30. Yep, go ahead and get me tickets. It wasn't until I paid and picked up the tickets that I learned it was 8 AM!! Guess what I had for breakfast? Popcorn and M&M's. YUM!!!!

As for the movie, it's pretty good. Not Lord of the Rings quality, but still good. Having read the book years ago, I didn't remember Santa, as in Jolly Ol' St Nick, being in the book. Well, here he was handing out Christmas gifts to three of the children. Weapons of all things. Santa is really a weapons dealer. I found this interesting. The beavers are the best thing in the movie. Seeing a beaver in a suit of armor was priceless.

Need to go take a nap.

OK.....I'm blogging

After much pondering and many sleepless nights, I've decided that maybe I should join the rest of the tech world and blog. Hopefully, now the blogging won't keep me pondering or have sleepless nights.