just wait, it's coming! dddragon presents: Is Anything Truly Random?

Friday, June 30, 2006

Water

Woo Hoo, we can use the water from the faucets again!!

This morning I drove by the nearby BonTon department store and saw that the far end of the parking lot was being used by a couple of dozen pontoon boats that were moved because of the rising waters on the Susquehanna. This is what a pontoon boat looks like, in case you've never seen one:

They're often used as "party" boats during holidays. When there are fireworks shot from City Island, there are dozens out on the Susquehanna River - it would be the best place to watch from.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Too Much Water

I took this photo on Wednesday afternoon -















And this photo not quite 24 hours later. On the far shore of the river you can normally see about 12 steps that form the bank of the river along Harrisburg.















This island is City Island, with Harrisburg beyond it. The photo below was taken from the Market Street Bridge, which crosses over City Island. What you see is one of the two parking lots, now under water. Flood stage is 17 feet, this is about 20 feet. They were predicting 25 feet at Harrisburg.















The Senators' baseball field, which is on the Island, did not end up under water, as the river here did not crest as high as predicted. Most of the Island is under water, as are all the other islands in this section of the Susquehanna. BTW, if you've been watching MSNBC news, the anchors have been mispronouncing the name of the river - it's not Sus CUE hanna, but Sus QuA hanna.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Just the Pix, Ma'am

I'm on my way out to get more paper plates and bowls. And bleach to wash things in, since the faucet water still ain't useable. In the meantime, here are some photos that I took:















Ground Zero, as you might recognize. It looks very much the same as it has since the area was cleaned up. I think that construction on the memorial might start soon.















The streets between the Towers' footprints and the river are eerily quiet. The street on the far side of this "void" is where the traffic picks up again. Also, the other side is where there is a more official viewing point, with plaques and so forth.




















This is also where you'll see the black-outfitted police, with flak jackets, machine guns and dogs. I wasn't expecting this.

I got to meet the awesome Still Life. WOW. What a woman. She's an inspiration. I visited for more than an hour and a half and the time just flew. I know that I could have spent hours more chatting with her. We'll have to have a Pez Family-Still Life gathering again sometime.

We went to the Musuem of Natural History, which is a good museum. If you ever go to it, make sure that you go by subway. The station at 81st Street is neat - and make sure that you see both levels. The tile walls make it obvious where you're going.

Well, now Blogger isn't letting me upload any more photos, so I'll save that for another time. Besides, I still need to go to the store.

later, y'all!

This Just In . . .

Chatham is today's Guest Blogger over at Waking Ambrose. Go check him out!

I have downloaded my photos from NYC and will post soon. I promise.

REALLY I do.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Back from NYC

Good trip, but now I need a vacation to recover.

I'll post more later, after my nap.

btw, we're in the part of the country that's getting too much rain. Came home to a water boil advisory because the water treatment plants are underwater or can't handle the volume or something.

So, we have to either boil water or buy lots of bottled water. Try it sometime - any water that you need to consume (ice, brushing teeth, drinking or cooking) can't be just out of the tap. I had NO IDEA how much water it takes to do anything until now. And we have to do this until Thursday, according to the most recent news.

later, dudes

Friday, June 23, 2006

Old Photo Weekend:
Suddenly, New York

This summer is pretty booked - not every day, but enough days here and there that it messes up our chances for a family vacation. We'll have to pay closer attention to this next year and plan better.

The Girls will be going to a Girl Scout/Girl Guide World Center in Mexico for two weeks, starting July 3. Weekely Band rehearsals start next Monday night. Trombone, trumpet and piano lessons (and we still didn't arrange for some guitar lessons for Bookworm yet). Band camp July 31-August 4 (six + hours a day). Need to sign the girls up for driver's ed. I'm teaching at a kid's art camp, and working my part-time job.

So, when Nod got a couple of bonuses at work and I saw a small window of opportunity, we decided to GO! We're leaving for NYC after my art class this morning, and will return Monday afternoon in time for band. Hoping to see Still Life!


This photo is not so very old: it was taken on Father's Day, June 2001. It's my twin daughters on one of the Twin Towers. Nod had read on the offical TT website that on Father's Day, any dad that brought a tie to donate to some cause would get to go up to the top for free. When we got there, the employees didn't know anything about it (we were the first to show up with a tie). But a manager said, let him up, good grief! So, much later on, we wondered what happened to that tie, did anyone else bring a tie, and was it still there 80 days later when the towers were attacked.

Thanks to mom for watching after The Boys while we're gone.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Boob Tube Toons


Puppytoes over at CentralSnark got me thinking about the shows that I watched as a kid, especially the cartoons.

At Toon Tracker, you can find alot of those old cartoons - my favorites are from the 1960's: Hercules, Speed Racer, 8th Man, Gigantor, Top Cat, Fantastic 3, Prince Planet, Astro Boy, Marine Boy, Kimba the White Lion, and more.

Some I had completely forgotten about, like Fearless Fly.

Make sure that you take a look at the RealAudio page of theme songs for these shows.


The Mighty HerculesGigantorFelix the Cat

Monday, June 19, 2006

Too Much to Say, Bleah

There's been plenty to say over the last few weeks, but I haven't said most of it. Going thru a tired faze. Problems sleeping have cropped up again (I should keep a diary and see if there's a pattern). Took time off work to teach art classes to kids at the local art center. Argh. Too wide of an age range (this week it's 8 to 15). Bored teens, antsy&whiney younger kids. Don't follow direction, class progress all over the place. Why am I doing this? Too many projects started and not finished around the house. Keeping an eye on Chatham. I took him to the Vet to be weighed - thank goodness he's gained half a pound (he was 10.1 pounds last November, 8.8 in March, but back up to 9.2 now. He got to ride in his new "booster seat" that I got him for his birthday. Started to "hydrate" him last night, Nod saw a bug coming thru the hose (how the HECK did it get in there? probably sterilized along with the fluid in the bag, but YUCK!). Had to get a new bag of fluid this morning. Nod and the Girls are in Baltimore today - it started to rain here, hope it isn't there. They'll be bringing me back Cheesecake Factory cheesecake (but it makes me want to call Schwartz's ... for my own self!!). The Girls will be leaving for Mexico on July 3; had them do a pre-pack so that they can figure out what we need to get. Ordered Nod a "Soul Patrol" T-shirt from DonkeyT's.com, too long to get here, then I realized that the website didn't have a phone number, they weren't answering emails, finally threatened to file a grievance with PayPal, FINALLY heard back from them, they said that they've been having email problems (email came from a different ISP) and well I can certainly relate to that. The T was for Father's Day, had to just tell Nod about it, and it arrived today anyway. Eli from DonkeyT's rushed another one out, what do you want to bet that a second shipment will arrive tomorrow? The water is off on our street - a work crew has the street torn up a few houses down, plus they're flushing a fire hydrant. No water for the house, but a flood going down the street.

Well, is that enough rambling for one sitting?

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Old Photo Weekend

Well, naturally after three hours of snow on the TV and going to the library to use the internet, I come home to find the connection is back. So, here is this weekend's old photo:



That's me with baby AP3.


Today I'm reading a stack of photography club newsletters for the Photographic Society of America's International Bulletin Contest. I've won Honorable Mention and Second Place in the Small Club category in the past, so I guess they thought I should take a turn at judging. So far I've read two from English photo Councils (district organization made up of local clubs), two California Councils, and just finished one from Malta (this one has some great photos in it).

Then for a couple of hours tonight I'll be at the Cat Olympics.

Curse Comcast

Well, maybe that's too strong. Anyway, I am frustrated because our cable (TV and PC) connection is down. I'm at the library checking emails. So, no old photo to post at the moment.

I'm supposed to be helping Chatham as Announcer at the Cat Olympics, which starts tonight. He's supposed to be announcing two events, and Salem is participating in two events. (check his blog if you'd like.)

(yeah, I know ... don't even say it.)

So, if Comcast doesn't fix it later, I might be calling TLP to ask if I can use her PC.

(strange world that I live in, eh?)

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Chatham is 19

Today Chatham is 19 years old.

He wasn't too happy to pose for this photo.
Can you tell?

(. . . and yes, I photoshopped his eyes in the top photo. They were scary-red.)

We brought Chatham home when he was 8 weeks old. He's not as fast or limber as he used to be, but he's still the smartest cat I've ever known. He sure knows how to get us to do what he wants us to do!

And, naturally, he has his own blog.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Boycott Kanab, Utah

My husband was reading the newspaper, when he started to read (with a voice full of disbelief) a column by Arthur Frommer, who writes the Budget Traveler. Here is the text:

When Nelson Mandela was entering the third decade of his imprisonment, and cruel apartheid was the policy of his oppressors, I refused to travel to the Union of South Africa.
With millions of others, I supported a travel boycott of that nation, and was proud to have played even a minor role in bringing about the remarkable change of South African policy that eventually ensued.

I currently support a travel boycott of Myanmar, the former Burma, whose brutal military dictators have kept the duly elected president of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for many years.

I will not write about travel to Burma, or go there myself, and am convinced that the widespread condemnation of Burma's military regime is the main reason Aung San Suu Kyi is still alive.

In a world of such monstrous examples of inhumanity, it might seem petty to urge a travel boycott of the little town of Kanab, Utah, but if we don't do the right thing in the face of small injustices, then how can we claim to lead ethical lives?

The City Council of Kanab, Utah, a town that lives off the tourism of Americans passing through to visit Bryce, Zion and Grand canyons, recently took deliberate steps to announce, in effect, that homosexual Americans are not entitled to be treated like all Americans, are not to live their lives free of discrimination or prejudice, are not to enjoy the basic human rights of which the Founding Fathers spoke when they declared "that all men are created equal."

The council did this by passing a so-called natural-family resolution that had been circulated without success to more than 240 other Utah communities, every one of which refused to adopt legislation that was plainly intended to send a message of hatred to the homosexuals who are our fellow citizens.

The resolution was written by a professional lobbyist whose other causes include -- and I do not exaggerate his proposals in the slightest -- the abolition of the public school in America and the denial of Medicaid to persons living in poverty.

Without soliciting the viewpoints of their community members the City Council rubber-stamped a document that defined the only worthy family in Kanab to be a procreating man and stay-at-home woman "with a full quiver of children."

Excluded, in addition to homosexuals, are single mothers, adoptive parents, foster parents, childless couples, grandparents raising their grandchildren, persons who decide not to have children and other groupings of perfectly worthwhile Americans.

When the single female member of the City Council later attempted to rescind the resolution, she was outvoted by the five male members, who also rejected the pleas of other citizens not to make a hate city out of Kanab.

I have since received anguished letters from operators of businesses and other prominent residents of Kanab pointing out that they do not share the prejudiced viewpoints of the majority members of the City Council.

Numerous operators of stores and shops in Kanab have placed decals in their windows stating that "Everyone is welcome here" in order to show that they regard homosexuals as deserving of human rights. A group of business owners signed a petition that was sent to me, asking that I not advocate a travel boycott of Kanab and injure residents who had no part in the hate resolution.

All of them voice a determination to ultimately replace the City Council members who voted for the natural-family resolution.

But if the rest of us adopt a business-as-usual attitude toward Kanab, it is probable that the ire of Kanab's majority will subside and nothing will be done.

I, for one, will not travel to Kanab or stay in Kanab until this homophobic natural-family resolution is rescinded, and I urge all Americans to withdraw their own travel patronage until that happens.

Not everyone in Kanab is happy about the Resolution:
  • Here is an article about it by Kirk Johnson of the NY Times.

  • A letter from Kanab Boosters to Arthur Frommer. They aren't happy with the city council's actions and want to distance themselves from it.

  • Kanab's mayor has organized a "Celebration of the Family" as a counter demonstration against the "Natural Family Resolution".

  • An article about Kanab businesses displaying a sticker "Welcoming Everyone".
  • Saturday, June 10, 2006

    Old Photo Weekend


    I think we were still living in La Puente, CA, when this was taken, but I'm not sure. Now that mom is back online, maybe she'll tell us . . .

    Friday night Hootie and the Blowfish gave a free concert at the Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg. Naturally, we stayed away. LOL - the local paper had an article about how bad the traffic was expected to be, and the evening news had dire predictions, too. It rained really hard late in the afternoon and all the high school graduations were moved inside. Don't know how the concert went, and don't really care right now. (blah, so there. migraine makin' me cranky)

    Friday, June 09, 2006

    Blah

    Well, I've tried to post a few times this week, and Blogger was not being nice. Have had migraines on and off for a week now, having trouble sleeping because of it. At the moment it is raining heavily with lightening and thunder, so I probably shouldn't have the PC on, eh?

    oh, BTW, mom has bought a new computer, so she should be up and bloggin' soon.

    Wednesday, June 07, 2006

    Countering Insurance Companies

    My husband sent this email that he received through the Union Office at the Navy Depot here. I find it amazing that we have to have laws written to protect patients from insurance companies and to allow doctors to do what they feel is right for their patients.

    Mastectomy Hospital Bill in Congress
    If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there isa lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are tryingto make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women thechance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

    It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important ... please take the time!

    Also check out the link http://snowe.senate.gov/wsu04-29-05.htm

    Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislationfor all women.

    There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

    Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the website below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

    http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

    This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to yourfriends and family, and on behalf of all women.

    Saturday, June 03, 2006

    Old Photo Weekend


    This photo was taken in La Puente, California. I'm thinkin' that I'm about six and Actonbell is about two. (Mom?) The dog in the back is Cecil (named for Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, one of my favorite cartoons at that time). Cecil was the son of Cindy, my Aunt Mary and Cousins Tommy & Fletcher's dog. (A story about Fletcher, Cindy and her puppies is here.)

    When we moved into this house, the grass was about a foot tall. As the lawn mower soon discovered, the tall grass hid about 300 plastic toy soldiers, ranging in size from a couple of inches tall to one that was 12 inches tall. Needless to say, many did not come thru that first mowing unmaimed.

    Mom (TLP) has been working very hard the last two weeks on our church's Yard Sale. And her PC got fried, too, so she hasn't been around BlogLand very much. But the Yard Sale is done on June 3 (today) and maybe next week she can turn her attention to getting her PC troubles resolved.

    Thursday, June 01, 2006

    Rabbit Rabbit


    It's the first of the month again, time for another Rabbit Rabbit!
    Are you feeling energized for summer?