What A Game

Pardon me for stealing the Angels catchphrase, but it’s true, it was one heck of a game!

After blowing a five run lead the Pirates finally scored three to end a nine-nine tie in the twelfth inning, only to try and blow that too.Grr! But, they hung on to win the game 12-11! Yay, Pirates!

Now, this is how to start the season, with a win, on the road :)

The coaches best have a long talk with the bullpen guys though, blowing a five run lead with your set-up man and closer is not a good sign!

But, a win is a win, no matter how ugly it looks while they are playing.

Sunday and Bowling

Got up in time today to watch all of the PBA on ESPN, a rarity for my lazy bones. I enjoyed it all,watching one of my all time favorite bowlers, Norm Duke, demolish the competition and take home the trophy and the cash :)
Duke has always been exciting to watch.He's a scrappy little guy full of emotions when he's bowling.He brings a lot of excitement to the game and when he wins, he shows it. Today when he made a critical tough spare to win he jumped way up in the air several times. He reminds me of a kid when he does that LOL

I hope all of you are enjoying the weekend!

Another Weekend

Another trip to our favorite store, Walmart :) As usual, the dog needs food.Silly dog!
If I had a car, I could buy the fifty pound bag, but, taking the bus, I buy the 18 pounder, which he seems to go through in a weeks time. He is a big dog! It's just to hard to walk the distance between the bus stop and home with too heavy a bag of dog food. My back just won't take that strain. And, I hate to see Shelly or the kid try to carry that bag.
It's okay though, as we all love to go to Walmart and look around at all the goodies :)

I hope whatever you are doing is fun. it's the weekend after all :)

Easter Sunday

All Care Animal

Almost Here!

Weather is very lovely today, all sunny and nice.Looks like Spring has finally sprung here in the desert. Good news for me because I am not a winter person at all!
What is almost here, you ask? Baseball season, of course :) I got to watch an Angels game last night, first televised game of the year. And today they take on the Dodgers and that game will be televised as well. Want to take a guess as to where I'll be this afternoon? LOL
Happy Saturday folks :)

I Love This Video!

Check out this video: Good Day



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Money, Money, Money!

I love it when people give me money! Go, check out this site and get ten bucks for yourself :)

All you have to do is read emails, click on the links, wait for the timer to tell you you've been credited. How simple can making money get?

Never Mess With Momma!

Tiger turns out to be mother of triplets

SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Keepers at the San Francisco Zoo did not realize a tigress was the mother of triplets for several days after she gave birth.

Leanne, a Sumatran tiger, gave birth March 6. At the time, keepers thought she had produced only one cub.

About two days later, one keeper began to suspect Leanne had had a multiple birth, The Oakland Tribune reported. Because the tigress had licked a monitor camera, keepers had limited ability to track what was going on and could not count the cubs until Leanne decided to get up for a drink of water.

Paul Garcia, a zoo spokesman, said that Leanne and her offspring will be left alone for a few days. Keepers, not wanting to mess with a 230-pound new mother, will wait until she is busy getting food and water before removing the cubs for an initial medical checkup.

The births are good news for the zoo, which has been under fire since a Siberian tiger escaped on Christmas Day. The tiger killed a teenage visitor and mauled his two friends before a police officer shot it dead.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

I Like This Idea!

Lawmakers advocate 'right to dry'
MONTPELIER, Vt. (UPI) -- Lawmakers in Connecticut and Vermont are pushing legislation that would allow everyone to hang out their laundry in public.

A similar bill that would overturn local ordinances or rules set by homeowners' associations failed to make it out of committee in New Hampshire, the Boston Globe reported. Backers of the "right-to-dry" bill say they will bring it up again in the next session.

While clothes lines have tended to be associated with urban tenements or rural poverty patches, advocates say that outdoor drying instead of using an electric dryer is environmentally friendly. Many people also like the fresh smell.

"People think it's silly, but what's silly is to worry so much about having to look at your neighbors' undies that you would prevent them from conserving energy," said Vermont state Sen. Dick McCormack, a sponsor of that state's law. "We're not making a big deal over clotheslines; we're making a big deal over global warming."




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Saint Patrick's Day

Today is the day for most folks to pretend to be Irish Catholics and wear the green. If you are one of them, have fun. Just remember, green beer will get you the same DUI as any other colored beer! So, if you drink, please do not drive :)
And please, don't pinch anyone wearing orange or black. That may be their color for this day!

how true!

Ever looked for the pot at the end of the rainbow? Wonder where that pot really is? It’s here:

Hope They Don't Let Him Near A Computer!

SEATTLE (AP) - A man once described as one of the world's top e-mail spammers pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and failure to file a tax return.

Robert Alan Soloway, 29, was dubbed "the spam king" by prosecutors who said he used networks of compromised computers to send out millions upon millions of junk e-mails since 2003.

He was arrested last summer and charged in a 40-count indictment. He agreed to plead guilty to the three charges and the rest were dropped, including e-mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and numerous other counts of mail and wire fraud.

Prosecutors said Soloway made hundreds of thousands of dollars from his spamming business, Newport Internet Marketing Corp. When he's sentenced in June, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman will determine how much restitution he must pay.

The government already seized at least four of his bank accounts, and Soloway has agreed to take a polygraph test as to his remaining assets.

He could face up to 20 years in prison.

Comic

I don't know why, but I just found this comic to be very humorous. So, I post it here for your enjoyment or dismay, the choice is yours. The picture does not seem to show in its entirety, so please, click on the cartoon and it will take you to the whole picture. Someday I will figure out how to get an entire picture to show on this blog! ha ha ha

Studkickass.com

Thursday, Already?

Seems like the week has flown by here! I can't believe it is Thursday already. I am ready to head out to the bowling alley in a little while. I hope I can do as well as last week, although I'd be happier if I did not bowl a 104 game in the middle of the set. The 235 game was nice though :)
It is windy and cold again today. I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind. The past few days have been sunny and warm. Cray weather!
That's it from here. Hope you all are having a great day :)

How Spooky!

MUNICH, Germany (AP) - A woman was stopped at Munich airport after baggage control handlers found the skeleton of her brother sealed in a plastic bag in her luggage, police said Wednesday.

The 62-year-old woman and her 63-year-old friend, who both live in Italy, were hauled in by airport police Tuesday after a scan of the bag showed a human skull and other bones. The women were traveling to Italy from Brazil.

It turned out, however, that the woman was simply trying to fulfill the last wish of her brother - who died 11 years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil - to be buried in Italy.

The travelers produced the appropriate papers from Brazilian authorities for the unusual transport, and were allowed to carry on their way to Naples - bones and all.

Not much to write about today. It's a nice day outside, Spring is almost here. That means my cat is driving me crazy! He wants out only to want back in! Crazy cat! The picture is from one of his normal days, just lounging around on the bed :)
Have a great day, folks !

"reality" and Reality

While television has recently brought into the world such ghastly things as "reality" t.v. no matter what they produce it still doesn't quite meet up with Life's version of reality.

I got the call yesterday that no sibling ever wishes to receive. My neice called to tell me that my sister Virginia had passed away yesterday morning around 5 a.m. She had had some complications from surgery a couple of weeks ago and had managed to catch pneumonia. This, coupled with emphysema, was more than her poor old lungs could handle. She was on a breathing appuratus of some sort and it was keeping her alive, if you wish to call that living. As it was getting more and more the machine breathing and Ginny just there, the kids finally had to make the decision to pull the plug on the machine. Having been in that position myself in dealing with my mother, I can feel for them. It is not a decision that one takes lightly, I assure you of that!

All three of her kids were present, one reluctantly. He did not want to be there for that, and in some sense I do not blame him. But, all three were there and given the opportunity to say good-bye to their mother in their own way. Thankfully, all the family squabbles had been relieved in the time she was hospitalized and I have no doubt that the good-byes were pleasant and loving. And, tearful.

I am the sixth child of my mother. I am the only one of the six that was born sickly, having been born with bronchitus, a disease that is no big deal these days, but was a very big deal in 1950 when I arrived. How ironic it seems now that I am the only surviving child. I suppose, being the youngest, I should have expected to be the last, but I have to be honest and say the thought never crossed my mind. If Life were perfect, the youngest would always be the last to go. But, Life is not perfect. At least my life has not been perfect, and neither were the lives of my sisters and brothers.

I know that my siblings are all in a much better place, a place free from pain and suffering, which brings me comfort.May they all always rest in peace.

In thinking of my opening thought, I pray "reality" t.v. never tries to actually duplicate reality.

I shall cross-post this to my other blogs and journals. If you are a reader of more than one of my blogs/journals I apologize for the cross-posting. I do hope that you can understand my lack of desire to update these things with anything new and exciting today.

Page in the History Books

NORWICH, Conn. - 3/9/2008

Rhino Page figured after four missed opportunities, he had probably blown his chance of winning a title in his rookie.

Instead, Page used the motivation of his worst week of the season last week to drive him to a 244-220 win over Jack Jurek in Sunday’s Go RVing Classic to cement what is the greatest rookie season in PBA history.

Page had already broken or tied six PBA records coming into Sunday, including making five championship rounds, all of which came after he had to qualify for the event through the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round. He had come up empty in his four previous championship rounds, however, finishing second twice, third once and fifth.

The 24-year-old missed the cut in the TQR of last week’s Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic, just the third time all season he didn’t advance to the Round of 64. He spent the following days practicing with his old coach who helped him with his physical game but also got him back on track mentally.

The practice paid off as Page defeated fellow left-hander Mike Scroggins, 245-235, in the semifinals to advance to his third title match of the season.

In the title match against Jurek, Page looked like he would cruise to the title after striking with his first five shots in the match. But a pocket 7-10 split and open in the sixth frame let Jurek back in the match. But the Tour veteran, who was looking for his first win since 1995, could not take advantage, suffering four consecutive nine-spares.

Jurek could have put pressure on Page in the 10th by striking out, but after a strike with his first shot he left the 3-4-6-7 meaning Page only needed a mark to win. The rookie finished it off in style by striking for the win.

“It feels so good. I didn’t expect by any means to make this many shows this season,” Page (Topeka, Kan.) said. “After my fourth show I thought, ‘Man, you missed out.’ Fortunately, I got to work on my game last week and after the week I had last week, that really motivated me. I know I’m not that kind of bowler and I was determined to never let that happen again.”

Page used some key strategy against Scroggins to get through to the title match, denying the five-time titlist a chance at his third win of the season.

“I came in with a really good game plan,” Page said. “I knew Scroggins could strike a lot from where he was playing so I tried to throw a dull ball and burn the lanes up and change where he was playing. Luckily it helped me also get the room I needed to shoot some big scores.”

Should he win the PBA Rookie of the Year award – which is a lock at this point – Page would become just the sixth Rookie of the Year to win a title in the 43 years the award has been handed out. He also moved into seventh in the PBA Player of the Year point standings with two events remaining.

Page’s win in the semifinal also came down to the final frame. Scroggins took the lead for the first time in the match with a strike in the seventh and after that point the two traded strikes and leads until the 10th frame. Page struck with his final six shots including all three in the 10th to force Scroggins to double. After a strike with his first shot, Scroggins got just eight pins to give Page the win.

Jurek advanced to the championship round with a 236-223 win over Mike Edwards. In a match-up between bowlers each looking for their first title since the early 1990s, Jurek took control with a four-bagger in frames four through seven and never looked back. After an eight-spare in the ninth, Edwards struck out in the 10th to force Jurek to mark and the Lackawanna, N.Y., native struck with his first ball for the victory.

Page, who had already wrapped up an exemption via the PBA World Point Rankings, earned $25,000 for his win. Jurek earned $13,000 for second while Edwards (Tulsa, Okla.) and Scroggins (Amarillo, Texas) took home $6,000 each for third and fourth, respectively.

The Denny’s PBA Tour takes a one-week hiatus before returning for the final two events of the season, starting with the GEICO Classic, March 19-23 at AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y. The live ESPN-televised finals take place Sunday, March 23 at 1 p.m. ET.


Denny’s PBA Tour
2008 Go RVing Classic
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center
Norwich, Conn.
Sunday, March 9

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos. Name, hometown Total/Games Money
1. Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan. 489 (2 games) $25,000
2. Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y. 456 (2 games) $13,000
3. Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. 223 (1 game) $6,000
4. Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas 235 (1 game) $6,000


SCORES – In the first match, Page def. Scroggins, 245-235; in the second match, Jurek def. Edwards, 236-223; and in the final, Page def. Jurek, 244-220.

This is Page’s first Denny’s PBA Tour title.

Catching Wild Pigs

I got this in an email and thought I'd pass it along, just for the heck of it. Since the people that were sending it out generally send me Republican garbage, I think it's safe to assume this is too. I have no idea who they are trying to bash though.

A chemistry professor in a large college that had some
exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in
the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who
kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The
student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been
shot while fighting communists in his native country who were
trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new
communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and
asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch
wild pigs?'

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch
line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs
by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the
ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the
free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a
fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming.

When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn
again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to
that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all
four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The
pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the
gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run
around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon
they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it
that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for
themselves, so they accept their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what
he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us
toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the
form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for
unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments
not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we


continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free
lunch! Also, a politician will never provide a service for you
cheaper than you can do it yourself.

Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government
'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in
America, you might want to send this on to your friends. If you
think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you
will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate
slams shut!


In this 'very important' election year, listen closely to
what the candidates are promising you -

Just maybe you will be able to tell who is about to slam
the gate on America.

'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is
big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

Gardening can be deadly for seniors

VICTORIA, British Columbia (UPI) -- Health officials in Canada's retirement haven of Victoria, British Columbia, are warning senior gardeners dirt can be deadly, as three deaths last year show.

Chief Medical Health Officer Richard Stanwick said three people over age 50 died of tetanus on Vancouver Island last year, and it's likely they acquired it from soil in their gardens, the Victoria Times Colonist reported.

"They were all people who haven't had a (tetanus) immunization in at least 10 years or longer," he said. "There's a lot of risk in the garden."

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is an infection found in manure and soil that thrives on damaged tissue, and makes its way into the body through even the tiniest of cuts, he said.

It can cause contraction of muscles, stiffness, spasms and death, but can easily be prevented with vaccinations at least every 10 years among adults, he said.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

To Bowl Or Not To Bowl?

It’s Thursday, also known around my house as Bowling Day. The big question of the day is can I bowl? I am not sure as I write this. But, I am going to the bowling center. The current plan is to go early, and while the early league is bowling, bowl a game and see what happens.

If my ribs don’t cause me to scream in pain, I will bowl at six o’clock as scheduled. If they do make me scream in pain, I will just pay the bowling fees I owe to the league and hang around and watch my teammates do their thing.

Either way, I will give the girls their night away from Franklin. Although I am sure they prefer to think of it as Franklin’s night away from the girls.

In other news, the blogging for pay things are going alright, I’ve got a few irons in the fire and, hopefully, will be doing some blog advertising here soon and making some extra cash. Never anything wrong with extra cash in one’s pocket :)

Smoking

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette!
Puff, puff, puff and if you puff yourself to death
Tell Saint Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette!

This was a popular country-western song when I was a kid. I woke up with it in my head this morning and so I thought I'd do a post about smoking. I have two bits of advice for you if you are a smoker:
First, if you are still young, or haven't had the habit long, QUIT! Not only is it good for your health, it is good for your wallet too! Cigarettes are expensive. Almost five dollars a pack here where I live. Look at all the money you'll save by giving them up :)

Second, if you are an old guy like me, having smoked for more years than are good for a body, here's a tip that may help you with that awful morning hacking we all do. When you retire for the evening, put a cough drop in your mouth and let it dissolve. Preferably a cough drop like Hall's vapor type. I notice that on the days I do this I hack and cough a lot less when I wake up the next day. Not sure why, but am thankful I found this out :)

How Odd

Yesterday, my wife called Verizon and made some changes to the phone services that we “buy” from them. Nothing major, just ridding ourselves of a couple of things we do not use, like call-waiting.

This afternoon, She remarked that the phone has been rather quiet. I agreed. Normally we get a number of silly calls, mostly trying to help me with a mortgage that we do not have (we rent).

I think them folks were just waiting for her to leave the house. Since she left to pick up the kid from school I have already had two calls that were junk calls.

I have no idea what they were. We do have caller I.D. and I do not pick up calls that are “blocked” or “unknown name”. I’m sure they left a message on the voice-mail telling me how I can save lots of money with something I do not own.

Happy Monday!

It's Monday again. The weekend is gone, time to get back to work for most folks. Not me, as I am retired, but I remember Mondays and back to work. Some things in Life are unforgettable :)
The weather, which was crummy all weekend is now back to normal. It actually looks quite pleasant outside, sunny and very little wind. Why couldn't it have been like that on the weekend when people want to go outside and enjoy themselves? Mother Nature has a warped sense of humor!
I am working, in the sense that I am busy updating my blogs and looking for ways to make some extra money. Most things I have looked into I shall have to wait for, as none of my blogs are old enough to qualify. But, I remain hopeful that someday soon, I will be able to make some income from them :)
Enjoy your week, whatever work it is that you do. And try to set aside some money for your old age. Open an IRA or see someone about a TSA. You'll be thankful when you retire!

Happy Weekend!

Hooray, it's the weekend :) And, I have money since it is the first of the month! Now, if only I didn't have those cracked ribs to keep me from going out LOL

The ribs are healing, I think. Slowly, very slowly. I will be happy if they are better by Thursday when I can go bowling again :)

In the meantime, I hope all of you have a great weekend :)