Muse & Amuse

Snow's Coming!

2009-12-19T01:14:00.002-05:00

Lots and lots of it too. Stay tuned and I will let you know how much we get. It is due to arrive around 6am this morning and leave around 6am Sunday.

We are also due to get another storm over Christmas. I cannot remember the last time it snowed for Christmas. I'm so excited. I hope those meteorologists aren't lying to me.

Christmas ~ Love It Or Leave It

2009-12-15T00:03:00.004-05:00

Here's one of the reasons there will be no Christmas tree in our house this year...again. See that one on the right with its back to you? The orange tabby? That's Punkin'. And the other one is Dakota. No idea who the teacher is. And Junior is probably sitting way in the back taking everything in too. He's the quiet one.

I really am thankful that I don't have to put a tree up because it was always one of my pet peeves. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love everything that goes with it too. I just don't like decorating the tree. Worse yet, I hate un-decorating the tree.

Instead we will have our wall tree again this year. It works just as well and the cats can't get at it. I also have a ceramic tree with lights that was given to me by my daughter last year as a gift. A very cherished gift. I lost mine in the basement flood October a year ago.

Let's see...am I ready for Christmas? Yes and no. I have all the gifts purchased but they aren't wrapped yet. I have all the makings for the cookies but they aren't baked yet. I do, however, have all the decorations throughout the house but the Christmas tree isn't up yet. I will get to that one day this week.

I plan on making that turkey that got pardoned for Thanksgiving because it was frozen solid when I checked on it two days prior to the holiday. I have already turned the mini fridge down temperature-wise. And if it tries to get out of getting cooked I have a ham ready and waiting. The ham is supposed to be for New Years Day though, so that damn turkey better be thawed, or else. Yeah, like that's gonna scare it.

Christmas is not the same since my parents are gone and the family no longer gathers around their table. My sister lives in California now, as does one of her daughters and family. I just got a family photo/Christmas card from the daughter today. She has two small children. I've never met them. Her sister and family live near Pittsburgh. There's no real reason for any of them to come back East. So in my mind all that's left is me. I have my husband and I have my daughter. And, oh boy, do I have my cats. I don't need any Christmas presents. My presents are my immediate family that surround me, cats included.

Punkin's Going To Be OK!

2009-12-10T01:00:00.002-05:00

Five weeks ago when Punkin' had a vet visit, the vet was quite concerned about his round belly plus the fact that it was not soft like it should be. She was also concerned that his weight was so low. He was 12 weeks old and only weighed 2 lbs. 2 oz. When I came home I immediately checked his symptoms out on the internet and was not happy with what I found. There is something cats can get called feline infectious peritonitis, FIP for short. There are no tests to determine if a cat has it and there is nothing that can be done for a cat if it does have it. Most don't get to see their 6 month birthday. Needless to say I was beside myself with anxiety. Five long weeks I had to wait till his next appointment which was on the 7th of this month.

He passed with flying colors. He weighed 3 lbs. 11 oz. He has his three month teeth. He is looking more like a cat than a kitten and the vet was very pleased with his progress. I asked her about the FIP thing...she said she was just concerned last time with his round belly and it was probably nothing more than gas. Nothing more than gas.I wanted to deck her right then and there. She has no idea what she put me through those five long weeks.

Punkin' got his final distemper shot (series of three) and was able to get this one via his nasal passage because he was finally big enough to get it that way. He also got his rabies shot, which is mandatory in our state even if a cat never goes outdoors. They say there is always a chance they can escape to the outside.

Here he is doing something he doesn't do enough of because he's just too busy getting into everybody else's business:
When Punkin' goes to the vet we put him in a soft-side carrier. Once he gets bigger and no longer fits in the soft-side I also have a larger Taxi carrier. When we brought him back from the vet five weeks ago, we set his carrier aside. It wasn't too long before his older brother, Junior, crawled into it and took a nap. As you can see, he filled it out quite nicely. He's a big boy.
Punkin's next appointment with the vet is when he gets neutered. They don't do that until he is 6 months old, so on February 1st he will lose his nuggets. And a lot of his aggressiveness. He thinks he is a ninja warrior when he stands on his hind legs, raises his front paws to the sky in spread eagle fashion and tries to scare his older sister. What a clown. I wouldn't want him any other way.

A Huge Sigh Of Relief

2009-12-05T19:00:00.001-05:00

I never thought I'd ever say this, but I am relieved the NASCAR season has finally come to an end. I watched the Sprint Cup banquet Friday night and when that ended, to me the season ended too.

On Thursday CHEX announced the winner of their Most Popular Driver Award. For the seventh consecutive year, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has earned that award. Winning the award has nothing to do with his driving skills, nothing to do with how well or how awful he did on the track, but it has everything to do with his personality and how he treats other people, especially his fans.

Starting in February of 2009 at the Daytona 500, the season for Dale Jr. didn't get much better as it went along. Each week I would watch the race with great anticipation thinking that was the week he would do well, or hope of all hope he would win the race. Little did I know how bad 2009 would turn out to be.

I don't know, maybe it's that Dale Jr. is old school and the CoT car is such new technology. The marriage just isn't there yet. He's had two years of nothing but major struggles with it and I am sure other drivers did too. It's just that we don't hear about the others so much due to the fact that Dale Jr. is a major player and everything he does is magnified ten fold and then some.

When he first started driving he did it not only to try and please his father, but also because he felt it was so much fun to race. Somewhere along the line that fun turned sour. Somewhere along the line, Dale Jr. became very popular. And the weight on his shoulders grew to great proportions. Now it has become a job. It's no longer the fun it once had been because there are so many factors in the equation...sponsors want to see their name running up front, not bringing up the rear or falling out of the race altogether. Corporate big business wants results. I can't blame them. But it kind of takes all the fun out of racing, not only for the driver but also for the fan.

So once again with great anticipation, I am looking forward to Daytona 2010 and I am hoping for a much better season for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Please.

I Will Not Be There

2009-12-04T00:15:00.002-05:00

The President will be in my neighborhood today. So close I could spit on him...but I won't go there. I question the fact that he is flitting all over the world when he should be doing his job in the White House.

I would love to go as a protester but I don't want to have to mess with all that traffic. Besides, my husband would never think of doing that in the first place. Instead, we will head in the opposite direction and do some shopping. I want to be as far away from him as possible.

Look, nobody said I have to like the guy. I am neither Democrat nor Republican, or anything else for that matter. I am, however, an American citizen and I don't like the direction this country is being taken. I don't like what he and his cohorts are doing to the seniors of this country either. Or what they plan on doing to them in the future. Trying to phase them out as if they don't exist. Trimming huge benefits from Medicare. Taking other things away from them.

They seem to want to have younger people following them. Sort of like the pied piper. The young ones and their impressionable minds so they can mold them to their liking.

And those of you who disagree with me, ask yourself if anything has really changed since he took office. We are way deeper in debt, more people are out of jobs than ever, and now more soldiers will be sent overseas. So where's the change we were promised?

Someone (a psychiatrist) told me once that he is one of the biggest narcissists they have seen. I believe that person. But no one can convince his followers of that. Others tell me to wait, give him a chance, after all look what he stepped into. Well, it seems to me we still have the same old, same old.

I wasn't going to publish this because I know there are a lot of people out there that believe in what he is doing or think he will do. But you ask the elderly of this country what they think and I am sure the majority will agree with me. I know both my parents are turning over in their graves already.

Come talk to me at the end of his term. Don't argue with me now. Let's give him that chance. After all, everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, but remember also, anyone given enough rope will hang themselves sooner or later.

Toilet Diver

2009-12-01T00:08:00.002-05:00

He looks innocent enough, doesn't he? He is now 16 weeks old. You'd swear he was high on something the way he bounces off the walls. All day long.

Anyone who has cats in the house usually keeps the toilet lid down so they don't drink the water. We've done that from day one and never had a problem. Until recently, that is.

Punkin' is always looking for a handout. He can hear me drop some kibble in a dish a mile away and be there faster than you can blink an eye. We should have named him Roadrunner or Speedy Gonzalez. He doesn't want to miss a trick, or any type of food being handed out. First of all, he can't handle regular kibble or regular wet food because his system is still too sensitive, so we have to be very careful not to let any of that where he can get it.

So one morning, there I am on my way to do my business with the throne. No sooner had I picked up the lid there was a splash and I see this little three pound thing flailing around in the water...and just that fast it was gone.

I realized it was Punkin' and he jumped into the toilet as if he were on a trampoline. He was expecting the lid to be down so he could then jump up onto the vanity to see if any food was up there. And all he got was a surprise. A very wet surprise.

He jumped out as fast as he had jumped in and ran as fast as his little legs would take him. I stood there taking in what had just happened and had a very good laugh. And then I got a towel and dried him off. Never a dull moment with him around.

I hope he learned his lesson: look before you leap.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T00:05:00.001-05:00

I must apologize because I lied about making the last big turkey for Thanksgiving. That one got pardoned...for now. Don't blame me though, it wasn't my fault.

Six days before the big day my husband took the small fridge to the basement and turned it on. After it was cold we put the 20 lb. turkey into it. Two days prior to the big day I decided I had better check on it to see how far the thawing process was coming along. Imagine my surprise, and dismay, when I touched it only to find it rock hard. I guess my husband should not have set it to MAX. Who knew. It's such a tiny fridge and that turkey barely fit into it.

At that very instant, I didn't know if I should sh*t or go blind. Panic set in. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Not really, but it could have the way I felt.

Since my discovery was late at night, it left me with one day to decide what I was going to do. We still had some shopping to do and I thought maybe I could find something in replacement, hopefully. I didn't want a huge turkey, just a turkey breast, if I could find one.

My husband suggested we visit Jaindl's Turkey Farm, a stone's throw away from us. We did. They had turkey breasts. We bought one. And we lived happily ever after.

The Last Big Turkey

2009-11-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

This Thanksgiving will be the last year I will be making a turkey weighing at least 20 pounds or more. Next year it will probably be just a turkey breast, maybe one of those brine ones I saw at one of the stores we visit.

Every year as far back as I can remember (and that's not too long), I have had a huge turkey never less than 20 pounds. Why was that you ask? Because the grocery store where we shopped ran promotions each year and if you spent enough money weeks before Thanksgiving most of the years you got a free turkey. Sometimes they just offered them at a ridiculously low price. So we would get one and throw it in the freezer.

Last year I had two in the freezer by the time Thanksgiving rolled around. I made one then and this year I am making the other one. It's time to call it quits. I don't mind making a big bird because I always make them in an oven bag. It keeps the oven fairly clean, the bird is very moist, and it only takes three hours. I think the hardest part is getting the wrapper off and the parts out of the body cavities. I make my husband do that. I really don't like sticking my hand up some bird's butt. Or it's neck for that matter.

It has been just the two of us for the last bunch of years and I still make a full meal but on a smaller scale. Stuffing, candied yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, the usual. This year I will be making the green bean casserole with the fried onion rings for the first time. For dessert I have a pumpkin cheesecake that I made and is in the fridge waiting to be devoured. And don't forget the whipped topping for that baby.

After we are done eating, the fun begins. I strip the carcass of all the meat. White meat in one bowl, dark meat in another. (I guess I had better make sure that all the cats are well fed at that point, especially Punkin'. He's quite the scavenger.) The white meat is used for sandwiches both hot and cold. I take the dark meat and any leftover white meat not used for sandwiches and make a barbecue. And I freeze it because by that time we are so sick of eating turkey and that barbecue tastes so much better months later.

So here's to you and yours...have a great Thanksgiving Day and don't forget what the day is really all about. Give thanks!

HI!

2009-11-20T01:02:00.001-05:00

Just Think About It...

2009-11-18T17:15:00.002-05:00

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

-Abraham Lincoln

Edited: It has come to my attention that this list was not said by Abraham Lincoln but rather by a man named William J. H. Boetcker. Sorry if I misled anyone.

OK, I Have A Complaint

2009-11-14T00:44:00.001-05:00

And it's about cell phone usage while driving.

How many of you out there are guilty of using a cell phone while driving? Whether it's talking, texting, playing games or whatever else one can do with a cell phone, I would like to know why it's so dang important that people have to do that. Why do they even want to put someone else's life in jeopardy, not to mention their own? I value my life. I don't want to be caught up in a wreck like this:

Or worse yet, this:

And I apologize for the language on this sign but I would love to shove it into every person's face that uses a cell phone while sharing the same street with me.

There is absolutely no excuse to be talking while driving. No excuse to be texting either. Or playing games. Or Twitter. I have seen a woman on the phone while smoking a cigarette. She was using her knees to drive. She had a baby in the car with her. What the hell is up with that? Don't these people value their lives...or their children's lives? Are people that stupid that they don't know the consequences of such behavior? Obviously they are stupid, because more and more people are doing it every day.

Sometimes I let them know I am displeased with their behavior, and the look on some of their faces is priceless. They act like they have every right to do what they are doing. The problem is, a lot of them are doing it in cars so small they don't stand a chance if they hit something bigger. I feel sort of safe in our F-150 pickup truck, but not safe enough because I still want to throttle every person I see talking while driving.

(I am now stepping down from my soapbox and pushing it under my desk. Carry on.)

Unbelievable

2009-11-10T01:24:00.000-05:00

In today's mail I received a post card from a weekly news magazine stating that I had overpaid my subscription when I recently renewed it. I paid exactly what was on the renewal slip.

Because of said overpayment the magazine people are extending my subscription by one issue. Or, they said, I could get a refund for the overpayment if that's what I preferred. I think for $.01 I will go with the extra issue.

Yes, you certainly did read that right: one penny overpayment gets me a free issue. Maybe I should do that every time I renew.

********************************************

On another subject, I recently wrote about my teams letting me down. Sunday wasn't any better. The Giants lost their fourth game in a row. Dale Jr. was having a great race and I thought for once he was going to be able to pull off a top five finish, or at the very least a top ten finish. I should have known better. Toward the end he was told he would be five laps short on fuel, so his crew chief called him in with seven laps to go for a splash and go. He got the splash but not the go...the car stalled and by the time he got it started and got back out on the track, he was three laps down. He finished somewhere around 25th.

When does it get better?

Been Having A Bad Week

2009-11-06T01:20:00.002-05:00

Back and hip pain that is unbelievable have kept me at bay for most of the week. It is getting better every day and I have an appointment with the chiropractor again next Wednesday. I can pretty much deal with this pain...it is the pain of my sports heroes that I cannot deal with.

My NY Giants have lost their last three games after winning their first five games. What the hell is up with that? Come on, Eli, get your sh*t together.

I am not a big Phillies fan but I would have preferred them to win the World Series rather than those oh-so-smug damn Yankees.

I have no idea what happened to my NY Mets either. Their first half of the season was very good and then everything just seemed to go into the toilet and stayed there.

There is no need for me to even talk about Dale Jr. these days ~ his entire year has tanked. I can only hope that next year will be much better.

So with all this happening and not much good going on in my sports world, any wonder my body has reacted the way it did. Hey, I have to blame it on something, don't I?

I do have some good news, however. Our wind turbine is really churning away and doing its job. Our electric bill for this month has dropped from $173 to $104. Last year at this time it was $225. Gotta love that.

And little Punkin' is doing great. He had his second series of shots this week and weighed in at 2 lb. 2 oz. at the vet. He is still underweight for his age but like I keep reminding the vet, his momma was tiny too. He'll do just fine.

And my last piece of good news concerns sports. Penn State has lost only one game this season so they have given me something to cheer about. Let's hear it for Penn State. Yay!

I Am Not Ready For This

2009-11-01T01:44:00.000-04:00

Now that I have reset all my clocks and the darkness takes over earlier than I would like it to, I also have to think about this crap coming to visit over the next five months.

Light snow like this isn't so bad, I can deal with this:

Heavier snow like this I'm still not too sure about:

It's when things like this happen that really irritate me. This happens every year, guaranteed. It is caused by our wonderful snowplow people employed by the state because this is a state road. And every year we have to call them to come out and fix our yard. Our yard keeps getting shorter every year; next thing you know it will be up to our porch.

So, yeah, I am not ready for no stinkin' snow. Just the thought of it makes me ill. I don't know why either because I don't have to go out in it or get rid of it. I could contradict myself here and say that once it starts falling it's not so bad, but I guess I really don't like the dampness that comes with it. And those days when the wind is howling makes me want to pack up and leave for warmer climes. But that will never happen. I'm not destined to move away from my safe haven. This is my home and it has been for the past 23 years. I can't see myself living anywhere else.

Well, that's just the biggest lie I ever told. Of course I can see myself living elsewhere. Just not in this country. There is a little country calling my name pretty much on a weekly basis. Maybe more than that. But I will never answer the call. Now if someone came to me and said they had a house waiting for me in that particular country and that everything that needed to be done here was all wrapped up in a tidy little bow, then I would ask when does the plane leave? And I would join my husband and three cats and be on my way lickety split.

Hmmmmmm...did I just hear someone ask what country? Thought so. That would be Scotland. There are a lot of other countries I would probably have no problem living in, but my ancestors on my mother's side seem to be calling me.

Proud To Be A Celt on Halloween

2009-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Halloween has become one of the biggest holidays in America.

Halloween is an annual fun-filled celebration, but it didn't start out that way. The history of Halloween dates back 2,000 years to the superstitious Celts, who lived in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Their calendar year began on November 1st, so October 31st was their New Year's Eve.

The Celts believed that on this night ghosts, goblins and witches came back to earth and wandered through the villages and countryside trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Because the Celts were frightened - even terrified - they tried to "blend in" with the spirits by dressing up in ghoulish costumes so they would be taken for fellow spirits. The frightened villagers also placed gifts of fruit and nuts on their doorsteps to appease the spirits and prevent them from entering their homes.

When the Romans conquered the Celts, some Roman and Celtic traditions were combined. For Romans, November 1st was an important holy day called All Hallows Day (or All Saints Day). Eventually, October 31st became All Hallows E'en (evening), which is known to us as Halloween.

As European cultures meshed in a new America, we developed our own Halloween traditions over the years. Parties for adults and children became the norm, and they focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Between 1920 and 1950, the tradition of trick-or-treating was revived. Over the years, several animals became closely associated with this American holiday season (including the eerie howl of the werewolf).

Cats - You rarely see a Halloween witch without a black cat. The Halloween black cat is always in a fear-provoking position, with back arched, fur on end and eyes glittering. For thousands of years, black cats have been regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural powers, associated with witches and death. It was believed that witches could change into cats; in fact, they could make that change nine times. Some people believed that cats were the spirits of the dead. The cat's pupils - narrow slits in the daytime, but luminous globes at night - linked him to the moon and emphasized his ability to see into the future.

(Special thanks to PetPlace.com for parts of this post)

It's Finally Gone

2009-10-23T00:00:00.001-04:00

Back in the day when we were young and carefree, we used to have an 18x33 above-ground pool. It was a source of relaxation after a hard day at work for the both of us. It's upkeep wasn't that bad either. As with all things in life there came the time when we no longer wanted a pool. Also, finding a source of water to fill it was becoming harder and harder. We used to get it from one of the local fire companies but they discontinued that practice. So we discontinued the pool

After we drained the water from it for the final time, it sat like this for a couple years:

See that path in the photo above? That's a cat path. I never knew cats did that. Actually there are three paths like that in our back yard. Funny little creatures.

At one point the weeds were ten times worse than what you see in that picture. The cats figured out that by climbing the ladder they could go inside and with the sand in there, it became one big bathroom for them. We did not deter them from doing that as I'd rather have them go there than other places.

And then one day D decided to take the pool down. Since it was all extruded aluminum we cashed in on it, giving us a nice little profit.
This is what that area looks like today, waiting for topsoil and some grass seed.
Yes, that's our wind turbine to the right. It's spinning like crazy these days because we are officially into the windy season. That should last till next June or July when things calm down again and there will be leaves on the trees. Leaves create a barrier for the wind depending on which way it is blowing. I have come to love the wind very much because as long as that turbine is turning, it is generating electricity for us. (See an earlier post on that story.)

Another Summer Project 2009

2009-10-19T00:15:00.000-04:00

When we first moved into this house the area behind it in the first photo below had evergreen yews planted along the back. That was in 1986. Those yews grew over the years and we didn't trim them. Eventually they got too big, especially the one that was in the middle. Rather than trim them, we decided to remove them and do something with that corner. Those yews were not easy to remove. We had to yank the one out with a chain and our F-150 truck. Yeah, that middle one.

D decided he was going to make his own concrete pad in that area. He brought several loads of stone in for the base. And then he had his knee operation. And that area became neglected for the next several years. Every summer weeds grew up through the stones. Mostly thistle weeds. It became a jungle for each new crop of kittens every year.
To the left is where our garage is and to the right is my kitchen window. The addition to the extreme right is the family room that the former owners added on. Hopefully next spring we will paint the cellar doors. The T-1-11 on the family room needs painting again also.
One of the guys who installed our wind turbine does landscaping. We chose him to do the concrete pad. We already had enough stone for the base, so that cut our costs a bit.
This looks so much better.
A few weeks ago we purchased these arborvitae. D suggested we get enough to go all the way over to the deck leaving an opening to get through. But that's not why I wanted the trees there in the first place. We are planning on moving the shelters for the cats from our deck to this pad and all I need is those few trees to shield the shelters from the neighbors' view.
That area looks so much cleaner and neater now that it is all finished. All we have to do is find a suitable shelter big enough for the outside cats to use. Once that is done we can pressure wash our deck and stain or paint it. It is in dire need of whatever we decide to do with it. It has been pushed off far too long and it looks like it might not get done until next spring. And that can't come soon enough for me for many reasons. I HATE WINTER! But you all knew that, didn't you?

Heeeer's Punkin'!

2009-10-13T18:50:00.000-04:00

Loving the heck out of his new catnip toy.

Ummmmm...a little privacy please. (7-1/2 weeks old)

He has been banned from doing this. This is Dakota's cat kibble. He chokes on kitten kibble and is not allowed to eat any kibble till he gets bigger. I wondered where he went and this is where I found him.

He has grown since we took him in when he was 5 weeks old and had a nasty parasite. It took awhile to get rid of it, but it is finally gone and he has progressed since then.

The last four weeks were quite hectic where he was concerned and at one point his prognosis didn't look good at all. I was scared he wouldn't make it and there were a couple mornings I didn't want to get out of bed because I didn't know what I would find. But then a miracle happened about a week ago and he is now a happy, healthy, and very spunky little kitten.

Got Wind? We Do

2009-10-08T00:05:00.003-04:00

We can't remember exactly when it was that we decided to purchase a wind turbine. It wasn't until we received payment from insurance for the basement fiasco a year ago that a windmill became more of a reality for us. Our neighbor had just become a dealer of the Skystream 3.7 for residential and small businesses and that made it easier too.

By next year our electric company will be removing all caps and electricity is said to increase by 40%, maybe less, maybe more...they aren't sure yet. That's nothing new. We have an all-electric home so what we are facing is very scary. Who wants to put out more money for something that is already beyond belief?

Here's a little background on the Skystream 3.7:

It provides 40-90% of energy needs for a home or small business. Any extra energy is automatically fed into the electric meter causing it to spin backward, and ours has done this on very windy days. The towers start at 33 ft. and it depends on how high you need it to be in order to catch the wind. The turbine produces usable energy with as little as 8 mph winds and can withstand speeds up to 140 mph. It is supposed to pay for itself within 7 years, which is something we weren't too concerned about because we wanted the here and now of it and weren't concerned with the up-front outlay. There is a federal credit of 30% but it can only be gotten by filing for it (either $4000 or $4500 is the limit) and you only get back the amount of tax you owe. It's not a refund, just a credit toward income taxes owed. Bummer, I know...I thought it was a refund myself. Pennsylvania is working on another 15% credit which was supposed to be finalized by June or July 1st and I was told it has just been passed. Heck, they haven't even settled on their budget which was due July 1st. One year it was Christmas before they finalized the state budget, so I can't expect them to move quickly on a tax credit.

Once we got our permit from the township and our neighbor ordered the necessary pieces, we sat back and anxiously awaited its arrival. An electrician came out and checked to see if we were equipped to handle the installation and we were OK. We were given an install date of May 27th unless it rained that day. We didn't have rain but it was a very cloudy and dismal day. Two workers took about 4 hours from start to finish and by noon we were in business. My excitement was building. It took until the following afternoon to see it in action simply because there wasn't enough wind until then. Let me tell you...that was one beautiful sight watching those blades turn with the wind. The turbine itself also turns, not just the blades.

Another inspection by the electrician the following day and everything was complete.

Here is where we decided was the best place for it, right where that stake is: They brought the equipment in and already my excitement could not be contained:

The hole was dug for the base along with the trench where the wires in conduit were laid. The base was then dropped into the hole, staked, and stabilized so cement could be poured into the hole. The concrete had to cure at least 4 weeks.
Let me tell you, those 4 weeks were pure agony. It was like a little kid waiting for Christmas.
A month later and our baby arrived:

It doesn't look like much from this angle, but once they started hoisting it upright it was an amazing sight.

Almost there: Voila! All done.
I am guessing that it will take a full year before we can really compare and see changes in our bills. We are and always have been on a budget amount, meaning we pay the same thing every month no matter how much electricity we use. When we use more than what we paid for, the overage is added onto our bills at the end of the year spread out over a few months.

By April and May of this year we were back to our normal budget amount. Remember, the turbine started spinning May 28th. Our bills for June and July dropped by $20 and by August it dropped another $14. We just received our bill for September and it is the same as last month, which we knew a month ago as projected by the electric company. Our budget amount for next month, however, will also stay the same regardless of the fact that we are ahead and not behind. That's a good thing.

At this time last year before we had the turbine our budget amount was behind $75.00, another year it was behind $115. This year for the same time period it was only behind $6.60 and as of now we are ahead by $56.35. So we won't be playing catch up this year. That amount is actually a credit in our account. That's such a good feeling. We are actually using more electricity and paying less. And that's all we could hope for.

He Used To Call Me Six Eyes

2009-10-03T01:15:00.000-04:00

My vision has never been good. When I was younger and the sun was out I would close my right eye because it was very sensitive to bright light. But back then they just referred to it as lazy eye. What happened eventually is that I lost the vision in that eye to the extent of things being very blurry. Within the past few years, however, that eye has gotten stronger and things aren't half as blurry as they used to be.

Needless to say, I must wear corrective lenses. Being fairly vain, I always wore contacts while I worked. When I ran out of the last prescription I delayed going to get my eyes examined. People...you have absolutely no idea what I used to go through to get a decent prescription so I could see. A lot of it was guessing. The doctor would say read the first line on the chart and I would say what chart? I have astigmatism and amblyopia. I hated having to get my eyes examined for a new prescription and, yes, it changed every single time.

Well, recently I decided to face up to my old nemesis and called the place I had been going to for many years. Only to find out they don't take my insurance. So I had to find a new place that did take it. I made an appointment and finally the day arrived so off I went with a not-so-good feeling. The exam didn't take long and I was truly amazed at how well the doctor just zipped through and yet was so thorough. All I could think was, where have you been all my life? He made it so painless.

I ordered a pair of glasses and chose the frames I wanted and we also discussed what type contacts I wanted. I thought I would try the multifocal lenses like I used to wear when I worked. I took the trial pair home and wore them twice (once to go grocery shopping) and couldn't read close up plus the distance was just a little blurry. I was kind of devastated as I had hoped they would work for me like they did before. I had to face the fact that they didn't. Keep in mind that I paid for everything at the first appointment because I was told most insurances require that.

When I went back the second time and told them I couldn't wear the multifocals, they gave me a trial pair of lenses from a company I never used before. But I took them and wore them a few days anyway. It was like a whole new world opened up for me. I had been struggling for three years with bad glasses and no contacts for the past year.

Where does the six eyes come from? My old glasses did not allow me to read close up, so I found a pair of reading glasses that I would wear over them so I could read. It worked for me but only at home for I did not dare to do that away from home. To be able to read when I was in public, I just removed my glasses and got up close and personal with whatever it was I wanted to read and it worked like a charm. I don't know which was worse though...reading that way or wearing two pair of glasses. My husband is the one who tagged me with the moniker of six eyes.

Getting back to my story about my appointment, I decided I didn't want the brand they gave me as a trial pair and asked for a different brand, one that I had been using a year ago. That meant a credit since they were a lot cheaper than the multifocal lenses. I wanted them to put the refund through on my check card. They reminded me of their policy of store credit only. Well, I got a little ticked off at that and mentioned it might be a long time till I needed to use the credit and that they could go belly up and there goes my money. I was told that would never happen. From a female clerk. I wondered if she had inside knowledge. Or perhaps she was sleeping with someone from corporate. Otherwise, how could she know? The best she could do was tell me she would call corporate and see what they say and call me back. I did not hold my breath because I don't normally win in situations like that..

She called. My $68 refund check is in the mail.

Short 'n' Sweet

2009-10-02T01:23:00.002-04:00

Not much to talk about now except for this darn cold weather we are having. It's supposed to get warmer though in a few days. I hate winter for the most part. I am not a cold weather type person.

Punkin' is coming along nicely. He will be 8 weeks old on Saturday and he also has another visit to the vet that day for vaccines and other shots. Better him than me.

This is just a short update to let you all know I am still alive and kicking (anyone I can) and once I get the next utility bill October 7th I will finalize my post for our wind turbine. (Hang in there Ralph, it's comin'; although I don't know what you are expecting but I will do my best.)

This 'n' That

2009-09-28T01:33:00.002-04:00

We have had rain off and on for the past two days. It is supposed to get warmer today and then they tell us we are in for it. I didn't stick around to find out what we are in for but I can surmise they mean colder weather. Something I abhor. Because it rained the past two days, we were not able to go to the Celtic Classic. Last year the little creek that runs through the grounds where the games are held overflowed and they had to be canceled. They lost a lot of revenue and this year they cut back on a lot of programs because of that. Maybe I'll get there next year.

My NY Giants are 3-0. People expect me to be an Eagles fan. Sorry. I wouldn't touch that team with a ten foot pole these days. I am not a fan of their coach, Andy Reid, their quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and I certainly am not a fan of that dog-killer Vick. He doesn't deserve the use of his full name. Neither do the others I listed.

I really do not understand some people on this Vick issue. They say he paid for his crime(s). But all they talk about is the money laundering, not the animal abuse. They seem to forget the real issue. So they walk around shouting nasty things to the protesters. I can only surmise that those people simply aren't animal lovers. I just wonder how they would feel had any of those dogs been one of their children...

Moving on:

I experienced something today that also happened a year ago when I turned my TV on to ABC to watch the pre-race show for the NASCAR race. And there were people in brightly colored clothing dancing in the streets to music not familiar to my ears. Ordinarily I have no problem with that. But how did that take precedence over the NASCAR programming? I have pondered long and hard over that question without coming up with an answer. That's Philadelphia for you. I am sure they received a lot of flak when they did the same thing last year, but I guess they just don't care. Other ABC affiliates ran the NASCAR show. Ours chose not to which is exactly what I mean when I say I do not want to have anything to do with Philadelphia. And that includes the Eagles.

My two three-year-old cats have accepted our new boarder, seven-week-old Punkin'. But try telling cats they are too big to play with such a little thing. I call Junior my gentle giant. When he taps Punkin' with a paw he doesn't realize that he can tap him into next week, so I have to supervise.

I think the first part of this week will be fairly calm with no appointments for us or the animals. Saturday Punkin' goes back to the vet for his vaccines. He finally had the last dose of medicine for his giardia problem. I had to give it to him twice a day for seven days. They say it tastes like battery acid. He balked every time I put that medicine dropper near his mouth.

And finally, the wind turbine was turning a lot today as it has been the past couple of days. That's a wonderful sight to see.

Help! I Need More Time

2009-09-25T18:27:00.002-04:00

These days I am tired, cranky, sleepy...need I go on? I get to bed around 1:30 am if I'm lucky, and I usually wake up around 7 am, sometimes earlier. But this is only temporary due to my Punkin'. Things will go back to normal as he gets older. He is one day shy of seven weeks old. And he is constantly learning new things.

He is sleeping longer and when he does get up and he's not hungry he will clean his bunny's ears (stuffed rabbit), or he will clean himself till he gets tired and falls asleep again. That's a giant leap forward because when I first brought him inside, every time he woke up he cried and had to be fed. And that meant at least an hour out of his cage where I had to entertain him that entire hour or longer.

I only feed him when he cries. That is his way of communicating to me that he is hungry; otherwise I would be feeding him all the time and I don't want another huge cat like my Junior. That big boy weighs a lot and he's not obese, he is very muscular. He looks like a miniature silver panther.

I have been very lax in my postings. I do hope you all understand why. My housework is falling behind and I get as much done as I can while Punkin' is sleeping. I ran the vacuum cleaner for the first time since I have him and he wasn't liking it. He crawled to the back corner of his cage where he stayed as long as it was on. Afterward I had to reassure him it would not attack him. My other two run as soon as I turn it on. What a bunch of pussies.

The nice thing about Punkin' not crying as soon as he wakes up is that we can stay away longer when we go out. He has finally realized that he can be just as content inside his cage as he is outside of it. As long as he isn't hungry. I weighed him yesterday and he was exactly one pound. He weighed 11.5 oz. a few days after I brought him inside and was 12.5 oz. a few days later at the vet. They ascertained that he was 4-6 ounces under the norm for his age. I think he is catching up.

On another note...
We are going to the Celtic Classic Saturday providing it doesn't rain. If I do get there, I am taking my camera and hopefully I can post about that. I really hope the weather is on our side. I have Scottish blood in me and I have come to appreciate all things Scottish...and Irish...and Welsh. We couldn't go to the Renaissance Faire for the Scottish-Irish weekend because that was the same weekend we found Punkin' outside when he had become an orphan. So I really don't want to miss the Classic this weekend.

And yes I am still working on the wind turbine post...still collecting information on how it is saving us electricity. Our neighbor said when it was really windy one day a few weeks ago he walked over to the meter to see it turning backwards. That is excellent news for us.

Update On Punkin'

2009-09-21T14:47:00.002-04:00

All is well in the kitten kingdom. Punkin' had an appointment for today but I had to get him in earlier due to his diarrhea getting out of hand and me being a nervous Nellie. I have never raised a kitten before as mine were both 3 months old when we adopted them. With Punkin' I was afraid of dehydration, so I called and got him in last Saturday.

He had blood drawn for three tests and those were all negative. No fleas, either. Or ear mites. He goes back in two weeks to start his vaccine regimen. He'll be 8 weeks old by then. Right now he is 4-6 ounces under the norm. Doesn't sound like much, but in a kitten as small as he is, a few ounces make a big difference. He weighed 12.5 ounces at the vet on Saturday and was 11.5 oz. three days earlier when I weighed him.

His fecal sample was positive but not for the usual suspect (worms). There is a nasty parasite in his intestines causing all the ruckus in his tiny little body. So off of the worm medicine (he only had 2 doses) and onto the liquid medicine for giardia. And guess what? He hates it! Absolutely hates it. And I have 13 more doses to give him via the medicine dropper. The good thing is once that is all done, he will be rid of that pesky thing.

Other than that, he is doing great. He sleeps at least three hours, gets fed and burped, and then it's usually an hour of play time till he starts rubbing his little eyes with his front paws while lying on his back cradled in my hands and held to my chest. That is one of his favorite positions.

I hope to be able to get more pictures taken of him and will post them when I do.

With his schedule the way it is I have very little time for myself so that when I put him in his crate for his nap, I go into overdrive and try to get as much done as possible till I hear that tiny chirp of his telling me he wants out and he wants food. And then it starts all over again. Just like a human infant.

Hi, My Name Is Punkin'

2009-09-17T15:05:00.002-04:00

Am I not the cutest little thing you ever laid eyes on? My new mommy says having me is like having a new baby in the house. I don't know why she says that. Maybe it's because after I eat she has to burp me. Or when I make a mess I get a waterless bath and smell all fresh and stuff. Or, I know, it's probably because I am eating baby food mixed with kitten formula. Yeah, that's probably why.

I love running all around and exploring after my feeding. And I am a big boy now because I can eat my food right from my very own dish. And boy does it ever smell good right before I push my face into it. Mommy says I'm a little piggy sometimes when I eat.

Here I am with my big bro, Junior. Whenever I am put down on the floor to explore, he lays close by and keeps an eye on me. My big sister, Dakota, has been sort of keeping her distance. She doesn't know what to make of me yet, but she'll come around. I will charm her and have her wrapped around my little finger too. It's what we kittens do best.

I can't say too much right now because I am only 5-1/2 weeks old and I need all the rest I can get. Just doing this tuckered me out and I need another nap. But before I go, Mommy says I am going to the vet next Monday and I have no idea what that is. But I guess I will find out, and when I do I will let you know all about it.