Typical, Sadly

The trading season is over and, as usual, my Pirates have traded like there is no tomorrow :(
I can only hope and pray that I live long enough to see this "future" that management has been building towards for the past 17 years LOL

Good-Bye, Jack

This morning's news was not pleasant. Jack Wilson has been traded to the Seattle Mariners. We got four minor leaguers and one veteran shortstop to replace him. Whoopee! Why change one shortstop for another? Makes so little sense to me.
Seattle also got Ian Snell, a halfway decent pitcher who was not happy in Pittsburgh and preferred to play in Triple A than in the major leagues. I wish Seattle lots of luck with this guy LOL
So, now that Jack is gone, I suppose it's only a matter of time before his best friend Freddy Sanchez is also dealt away :(
I know the season is barely a little more than half over but it is time for all Pirates fans to say what we always seem to be saying...
Oh well, there's always next year!

Stupid management. When will they pull their heads out of their rear ends? WHEN???

I hate this time of year

It is baseball trading season and I really do hate it. Every day I go, with trepidation, to the MLB website. Every day I hope that I will not find stupid news about how my favorite team has traded away another good player for some minor league players as we "build for the future".
Who cares about the future? I want a team that can stay together for an entire season and do their darndest to win their division! I want things NOW, not next year or five years down the road. NOW! *sigh*
Being a baseball fan can be tough when you have idiots in the front office that have been building for the future for the past 17 years and still haven't gotten it right :(

A survey for Facebook

Here are the rules - post this list on your profile (in Notes) replacing my answers with yours.
Tag at least 25 people, including me.I'm not tagging. Do it if you want to :)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My mother, sort of. My first name is her maiden name

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
A couple days ago, with laughter.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Of course.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
ham

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
yes. 5 lovely stepchildren

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hell, no!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Every chance I get!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
no.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
not on your life. Or mine LOL

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Raisin Bran

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Of course, I'm not that lazy

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
None. I rarely eat ice cream

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their face

15. RED OR PINK?
pink

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
my back. It always hurts :(
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My mother

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
if they want to
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
brown pajama pants and tan slippers
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Nothing

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
purple
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
coffee in the morning
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Shelly
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yep :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Bowling and baseball
27. HAIR COLOR?
Gray. Used to be dark brown

28. EYE COLOR?
hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no, glasses

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Spaghetti
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING?
Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Wild Hogs

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
none I am bare chested

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Don't know

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Don't know that either

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Book? What's a book?
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
the mouse. DUH!
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing. On computer too much
42. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Shelly's snoring .

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Wouldn't you love to know! *wink*.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
I don't know.
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
We met online at a site called LiveJournal.

Take the money and run!

GREENACRES, Fla. (AP) - Authorities caught a Lake Worth man running down the street with a stolen cash register. Greenacres police reported that a 32-year-old man entered a restaurant Thursday afternoon and asked for change for a $10 bill. When the cashier asked to see the bill, the man reportedly began screaming, "I want change!"

Police said the man then grabbed about $40 from a tip box, picked up the cash register containing nearly $300 and ran out.

The officers who arrested the suspect after a short chase had just come from reviewing surveillance footage at a nearby connivence store, where lottery tickets had been stolen a day earlier. By chance, the officers identified the man as the thief from the footage.

The man was being held on $21,000 bail for multiple charges.

---

Information from: The Palm Beach Post, http://www.pbpost.com

Get One Without Leaving Home

Times are tough all over the country. People are getting downsized or companies are just giving up and closing their entire operations. This leaves too many people out there searching for a new job. I hope that you are not one of these unlucky souls, as good jobs are difficult to find and keep.
If you are in a job, that's great. But, are you thinking about the future in this job? What is going to happen to you if, suddenly, that job is no longer there? Will you be able to easily find another? Perhaps it is time to invest in yourself and a brighter future.
It's time to get a decent degree to help yourself should you find yourself in an ever changing job market. But, you say you are too busy? Too many other things to do besides go to school and sit behind that desk? I have the solution for you, get one without leaving home!
You can attain an Online master degree from an Accredited University that has been ranked ranked number 3 in the West by US News and World Report and is ranked one of the nations best universities by The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine. Won't that look impressive on your resume!
And, since you are getting this degree while at home, the classes are very flexible so that they fit around your busy schedule. So, as you can see, you have no excuse not to further your education.
So, why wait? The future can be scary, but not with the right education. And, even if your company is not planning on downsizing or closing its doors, you can always better yourself with a new degree.
So, quit procrastinating. Check out the Gonzaga University online master’s degrees by clicking the link above. And, if you need any more information you can always give them a call at 1-866-295-3105 and an Admissions Advisor can assist you.

WHY???

I wish I knew more about the weather. Specifically about rain and humidity. For example, I'd really love to know why I have to suffer through a humid day when there is no rain or threat of rain.
It has been muggy here where I live for over a week now. Yesterday it finally rained. A long ways away from here!
I live in the desert, about an hour or so away from Los Angeles. It rained in Baker, California which is probably 100 miles away from me to the east and the north. Great for them to get some rain, but why must I suffer their humidity? It has been threatening to rain in the Baker area of the desert the whole time it has been humid here where I live.
As you may have guessed by now, I am not fond of humid weather. It is one of the reasons I live in the desert where the summers are hot and DRY! Humid weather is for places like the Pacific Northwest, or Hawaii or Florida. And, they are welcome to that weather.
Just leave me hot and dry...

Let's Go Rv-ing!

It is definitely summertime. I can tell because, as I have mentioned before, I am sweating. This may not seem like a big deal to most, but it is when I sweat as I am as skinny as a stick and I don't normally sweat unless it is very, very hot.
Now is the time that would be ideal for a trip in an RV to look for cooler climates and some fun. After all, isn't that what summers have always been for, to have some fun? No school, no work, just play!
So, there you are, got all your gear in the RV and you're all gassed up and ready to hit the road. But, where do you go? Perhaps it would help if you had an idea of where to find all the rv parks. Here is where the Good Sam Club can help.
Click on the link I just posted above and it will take you to a webpage where you can choose a state you'd like to visit with your RV. Once you click on the state, say Colorado for example. Always cool in Colorado, right? Got the mountains and the rivers and streams and all that, gotta be cooler than where you are. Click on Colorado and you will find that there are 37, count them, 37 Good Sam parks in this lovely state. Click on a place in Colorado that you'd like to visit and that page will tell you all the campgrounds that are there as well as whether pets are allowed, does it have internet access, things you may need to consider before making your way to that particular camp.
You'll find lots of great information by clicking the link above, including a way to save yourself some money while RV-ing by joining the Good Sam Club. Hey, who doesn't like to save money, especially since those savings could extend your vacation plans just a little further? I know I like to save money.
So, now you are ready! Get out there and visit someplace cooler, drier, friendlier than where you are at the moment.

In Search Of The Dollar

Seems like I spend more and more time every day looking for ways to make that extra dollar or two. In these tough times, it's hard not to.
In the past few days I have signed up for about six or seven new things, from PTC sites to spinning a wheel of cash to slot machines for cash. I know they may all sound silly, but, hey, money is money, right? And if they wish to give it away for a few minutes of my time, who am I to complain?
I will admit though that there are days when I stare at the computer screen and just don't give a hoot. I'd rather be goofing off on mylot or facebook or playing poker for fun. Who needs work, anyways? LOL
But, I do them just the same, day in, day out. Someday I will make lots of money but for now, I'll take it as it comes, even if it comes at two cents per ad :)

Why Harass Erin Andrews?

I've seen this lovely young lady doing her job on ESPN many times. She is as good as any of her male counterparts. Yes, she is a lot better looking than her male counterparts too, but why on earth would anyone want to do damage to this woman?? There are too many sick people out there who need lots of psychiatric treatment :(
Here is the story, as reported on Yahoo:

By Maggie Hendricks / Y! Sports Blogs

It's never been easy for female sports journalists. From Lisa Olson being sexually harassed while covering the New England Patriots to Suzy Kolber having to fend off the advances of a drunk Joe Namath on national television to MMA reporter Loretta Hunt being called an unacceptable name for women on camera by UFC president Dana White, women have had to overcome obstacles not faced by their male counterparts.

That doesn't even take into account that women on television are judged for not just what they know but what they look like. Most female sports journalists have dealt with these difficulties with aplomb. However, they were magnified considerably this week when ESPN reporter Erin Andrews became a victim of video voyeurism after someone shot video of her in a private moment through her hotel room peephole.

In conjunction with ESPN and her attorney, Andrews is working with authorities to catch the perpetrators of this heinous act, but the damage has been done. Her privacy has been invaded, and the video of her naked body is out there. Most Web sites have deleted the video under threat of legal action, but that can't undo the fact that it was shot and posted in the first place.

Nor will it change what could be a ripple effect on women working on-camera in sports. Until now, most of the attention around Andrews has been harmless fun. She is attractive, friendly and knowledgeable about sports, which made her a magnet for attention. Blogs were smart enough to take advantage of that. Her nickname is "Erin Pageviews" because any mention of her is an automatic traffic boost.

That sort of attention wouldn't keep most women from working in sports. Sexual assault -- and, make no mistake, Andrews was assaulted -- will. Voyeurism isn't "boys will be boys," or realizing that men are ogling your (clothed) picture. Voyeurism is about taking safety and security from a victim in a place they should feel comfortable.

Now that Andrews is a victim of this crime, why would a woman want to follow her on camera? That's not the sort of thing that ESPN co-workers Chris Berman or Stuart Scott have to worry about.

It's crazy how much Andrews, and all female sports journo-types, get judged for what they look like, what they wear, even the food they eat, rather than simply the work they do. While that sort of scrutiny is unfair, it can be tolerated to a point. But for a woman to have her security and her dignity robbed from her because she is famous? That's unbearable, and might be too much for a young woman who dreams of working the sidelines to handle.

Losing Weight

I live in the California desert, and, since it is July, I am hot. Very, very hot. I am sweating like the proverbial pig as I sit here at my computer typing away and this is with the swamp cooler giving me cold air! I could easily lose weight just by sitting here and sweating the pounds away. But, most people are not that lucky, they have to work at getting rid of the excess weight on their bodies. But how?
Many people turn to exercise and diet to lose weight. Often, these things do not work and people get frustrated and go off their diets. How about simply taking a diet supplement to help you lose weight? They are easy to take and they don't consume a lot of time. How do you know which one is the right one for you though, that is the big question. And, I am going to help you answer that question.
A surefire method of finding which is the right weight losss supplements is to do an internet search, but then you have to sift through all the sites that have nothing to do with what you seek. A better method would be to click the link I have just posted here and enjoy the fruits of someone elses labor, they've done the search work for you. All you need to do is read the information and choose which supplement or supplements are best for you and you alone. Can't get any easier, can it?
So, don't just sit there staring at this page and daydreaming of a new you. Click the link above and be on your way to that new, slimmer, sexier you.

Things I wonder About

Why do cable companies, like Time-Warner, show ads on a cable channel asking viewers to sign up for cable? If we didn't already have cable, how could we see the ads??

Why are so many people confused by the President changing his mind on things he campaigned on? Don't politicians always say what will get elected and then do whatever they please afterwards?

Why is it that so many of us think of things to write about when we are always so far away from anything to write these brilliant ideas on?

Why are there now products that claim that, simply by drinking them a person will become smarter? Are we that stupid that we need to drink Smart Water or Neuro Bliss?

Will my now 18 year old ever learn to pick up her important things from the floor BEFORE the puppy chews on them? Really important things, like her state I.D. card LOL

The thing that really makes me wonder? Why so many people read this blog and never, ever comment. Why is that??

I Am Impressed

Recently a friend on mylot told me about this new pay to look at ads site called YouData. Because we are friends I didn't want to refuse her request to check it out, which I did. It looked okay, and I am not afraid of PTC sites although I wish more of them would actually pay the users, so I thought, what the heck, I signed up under my friend.
Now, on the site they say they will pay on Fridays. But, I figured they only meant that they would pay after a user has acquired some sort of amount, say ten dollars or more. That would be fair enough, I have one that pays after you've earned 25 dollars or more, but they pay at the end of a month not every week.
So, imagine my surprise when, this afternoon I received an email saying that YouData had paid me! I only have been there for a couple of days and only had made $1.30 but, they paid me!.
I was so happy I told my wife about it and then she went and signed up for the site. She filled out the information survey and clicked the ads they had for her today and has already made 84 cents. Not bad for such a short amount of time :)
So, if any of my readers are interested in this site that actually does what it says and pays, click here:
http://www.youdata.com/join/fwidman


It's real. They pay. You should check it out.

Click this link to sign up. My MeFile ID, fwidman, in the "Referral Code" will tell them I sent you.

http://www.youdata.com/join/fwidman

Get Yourself Educated

Everyone knows that you need a good education to get ahead in life. But, often, Life gets in the way of our plans. Families, partners, work, they all take their toll on our time for schooling. Well, what if I tell you that you can get a great degree, an MBA, without leaving home for the daily grind of going to school? You'd be interested, right? Of course you would, and you should be. So, read on, my friend, read on!
Before you jump into online schooling there are some important things to consider, not the least of which is Accreditation. There are a lot of so-called schools that will grant you a degree, for the right price, that isn't worth the paper it's written on. The school I will tell you about is Accredited, and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition ranked The University of Scranton among the top 10 master's universities in the north, the survey's largest and most competitive region. Pretty impressive, huh?
So, if you are looking to really get ahead in Life then you must consider getting an MBA online. Online schooling allows you to work within your structure, so that it doesn't interfere with family or work. And, it is faster. Most online degrees of this type take three years to complete. this one can be completed in two, giving you an extra year to better yourself in the world.
You really owe it to yourself to check out this degree program and start on your way to a much better and brighter future. Why wait? Click on the link above and find out everything that you need to know about this program and start moving forward! And, if there is anything that isn't answered on the web pages, you can always call them at 1-866-373-9547 and find the answers.
Isn't it about time you stopped wishing for something better in Life and actually did something about it yourself? Make your dreams become reality!

Another Slam?

When you are a Pirates fan, you really need to have tough skin. Seems like the Pittsburgh Pirates are always the team to talk trash about. I reported a while ago about ESPN's coverage of things and they seem more than willing to continue their ways.
Today, while watching a show about the All Star baseball game, they were discussing the pros and cons of having the winner of this exhibition game get home field advantage for the World Series. One of the experts said that he wondered if a player like Freddie Sanchez of the Pirates was going to be in the dugout all excited about the National League winning so that they could have home field advantage.
Excuse me? Are you snidly implying that the Pirates are out of the race with half a season to go? True, we are in last place. True, we are 9 games behind the first place team. But, stranger things have happened in baseball. The Pirates could go on a winning streak and have a shot at the playoffs. Don't count out a team halfway through the season, unless, of course, you are the idiots in the front office who are busy thinking of who to trade away so that, at the end of the year they can wonder why we didn't do well but we sure are building "towards a brighter future".
Give me a break. If you must have maligned a team, why not the Washington Nationals, the worst team in both leagues!

Anybody Want Some Money?

Silly question, I know. Everybody wants money! Especially if it is free money, right? Right!
So, I am going to let you in on where to get some money. A friend on mylot turned me on to this site and I went and made just under a dollar in a few minutes of my time :) It's a site called YouData and the premise is very simple, they pay you to look at ads. We all look at ads everywhere on the net, they are unavoidable. So, why not get paid to look at them? I mean, since you have to look at the silly things anyways you may as well make it worth your time :)
All you have to do is sign up and fill out a survey about yourself and they will target ads that are specifically designed around you. They pay by PayPal and they pay every week with NO MINIMUM PAYOUT AMOUNT!.
So, what are you waiting for? Get paid to look at ads that are specifically designed for your wants and needs!
Here's the link: http://www.youdata.com/join/fwidman

If for some reason the link doesn't work, go here: http://www.youdata.com/join/ and then in the little box that asks, the referring person is fwidman.
Enjoy! And, I hope you make lots of money :)

Yard Sale

A friend of Shelly's is out in our yard having a yard sale. Even though it is early, she has had quite a few people stop by already :) I don't know if she has made any money or not, I am sitting here at the computer doing my daily work and drinking coffee trying my best to wake up LOL
It is going to be a very warm day here in the desert, might even hit in the high 100's so I guess that's why people are out and about so early, while it is still fairly cool.
Happy Weekend to all of you. Hope you have a great weekend as well as a safe one :)

The High Cost Of Living

My significant other is at the Social Works office this morning, trying her best to get some assistance. I am hoping that they will give her at least some food stamps, as living on my income from retirement does not leave a whole lot of money for food.
It would be nice if one of us could find a job but, where we live, jobs are few and the job seekers are many. I'm sure it is like that all over the country though, not just here.People do what they have to do to survive.
The one thing I am certain of though is that, no matter how tough things are, God will help us get through it :)

When You Need It

Millions, if not billions, of people watched the Memorial for Michael Jackson yesterday, mourning the death of a much loved celebrity. Death is never a pleasant thing to think about, yet we all realize that, sooner or later, Death will come for us as well.
Now is the time to be thinking, not so much about death, but about affordable life insurance. Unless you are incredibly wealthy, like Michael Jackson, you are going to be leaving your loved ones with an enormous debt when you go. Life insurance can help alleviate those debts leaving your loved ones to mourn your passing without the extra stress.
So, now that the effects of Michael's passing has sunk in and you are contemplating the fact that we are all mortal human beings, now is the time for you to seriously consider your options as far as insurance is concerned. Clicking the link above will take you to a place where you can learn about the different types of life insurance there is and what amount is best for you and your loved ones.
And, if you have questions that might not be answered on the website, there is a toll free phone number that you can call and someone will answer those questions for you. Call 1-800-823-4852 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).
Don't delay this important part of your life!

Social Networking Sites

I belong to several social networking sites, mainly because they are fun and a nice place to share ideas and thoughts with people all over the globe.
What ruins the true joy of such places is when a troll comes along and impersonates another user and tries their best to cause havoc. It's amazing how often they copy everything about the person they are imitating, including their profiles and pictures. You would think they would have better things to do with their time :(
What makes things even worse is when these trolls are reported over and over and over and the staff running the site does nothing. Maybe they enjoy having these trolls wreak havoc.
Rather silly, if you ask me :(

Wrong Game?

I love playing Texas Hold 'Em online. I can zip through 50 thousand dollars in nothing flat most days. I'm not a good poker player LOL
I watch the guys on television play poker and I have to wonder how they can stand it. They take too long to make up their minds, endlessly playing with their chips and staring at their opponents. Just play the game, already!
Most of these tournaments go on for days before the television ones are shown so I guess you really must be a patient person to put up with all that.
Besides the patience part, I'd go crazy in one of those tournaments. I never see those people drinking anything except bottled water (yuck) and I never see them smoking, even when they are playing in Vegas where smoking in the casino is allowed. I'd be a fish out of water without my coffee and cigarettes LOL
I guess I'll skip the limelight of television tournaments and just stick to playing online.

Fourth Of July

No matter what your plans are for this holiday, stay safe. There are too many accidents on a day like today, from simple burns from the grill to serious mishaps with fireworks.
Don't drink so much that you lose control of your mental faculties and/or your reflexes. Be extremely careful, especially if there are children around!
Celebrate Independence Day all you want, just make sure you are still around and in one piece on the Fifth of July :)

Let There Be Light

In my old house, it just seemed like there was never enough light in the room. There was no ceiling light in the living room at all which meant that I had to use lamps all over the place. Even that didn't seem like enough light to actually see well.
Too bad I didn't realize that I could get good quality discount lighting. I would have lit up my living room and made the whole house look much prettier at the same time!
Even something as simple as this would have done the trick:

Imagine being able to walk into your living room from outside at night, hitting the light switch and actually being able to see everything clearly and well lit. And, if you live in a very hot place like I do (the desert), you can even get a ceiling fan with lights so that you not only see things clearly you get a breeze as well.


The house I live in now has lots of lights in every room, including the closet, which is great for me. But, if I ever need to replace any of these fixtures, I won't be calling the landlord (who'd probably raise my rent). I will be going to the Light Outlet! Not only are the prices great, the shipping on orders over $75 is free.
So, if you need some light in your living space, or even just a ceiling fan to keep you cool, check out the selection over at Light Outlet by clicking on the link above.
Let there be light!

It's Tough To Be A Fan

yesterday, my favorite baseball team started their usual trading season. They traded away good players for minor leaguers that will, supposedly, help the Pirates in the future. That's the Pirate management yearly theme, building for the future.
The Pirates are in last place in their division, a whopping five games out of first place. Most teams wouldn't consider things all that bad, it's only five games. But the Pirates see it as the season is over, time to start the trading and building for "the future". I wish those foolish people that make these decisions would realize just how damned tired the fans are of hearing this BS about the future, a future that the fans see as never coming.
The season isn't even half over and already the front office has given up on the team and, worse, the fans. And yet they will continue to scratch their collective heads and wonder why the revenues are down at the end of the year.
Just once I wish someone in the front office would have the balls to tell other teams to take a hike, yes we are in last place but we're only five games back and we can still make a run for it so take your offer of minor league players and put it where the sun doesn't shine.
It's nice to have a dream, since I realize fully that as long as these people think baseball is purely a business and nothing else, this person with balls will never show up.
It's tough to be a fan, especially if you are a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.