Vacation Approved !

My vacation was approved today, and I have booked my flight. We have not had a vacation (other than extended weekends for car shows) since 2002, so I can't wait. I really need the downtime to recharge.

Got a fantastic rate on Southwest Airlines. Now I've got to book the rest of the details like the car rental. We're going to Santa Fe, NM (again). I have to pick something new to do this time - but mostly, I just want to hang out, read, and rest up.

Short Cut from Hell

I took a shortcut this morning from the transmission shop. I left a full ten minutes before Jay, but it took me almost 35 minutes longer to get home! The expressway looked backed up, so I decided to take the city streets. I forgot several very important factors ....

1. Schools In Session
2. Rush Hour Traffic
3. Still many Major Streetlights out.

Oh well, it's just going to be one of those things that will take years and years to live down (like when I took out the mailbox pulling into my driveway). My shortcut will come up many times more I'm sure.

Power Up

It is so neat to see the city coming alive bit by bit.

Sunday we spent the day cleaning up debris from the front yard, and cutting up fallen trees. Jay spent the afternoon pushing water out of the warehouse. (It's never been so clean.) We sat at the Taco Bell for an hour Sunday because they had power (air conditioning), ice, and hot food. After Jay went to the warehouse, I hung out at Borders for the same reasons. No one else in the family has power yet.

This AM, we came home to power! The cats are weirded out because we haven't been home, and it's been hot and dark, but they will settle down soon. I'll be glad to be able to stay at home tonight in my own bed complete with my fur babies.

Home At Last

Well my day started at 4:30A (yes, that's right ... me ... up ... at 4AM, and I did not stay up all night). My flight out was 7AM, and I wanted to be sure I was there so that I didn't get bumped. Had about 20 minutes to make the connection in Dallas, but have finally made it home safe. I'm still without power at home, but all else is pretty much OK. I'm pretty tired, so I don't think I'll be cleaning up the yard today.

Will try to post from work over the next few days, and will post some pictures when my power is restored. I'm thinking maybe since everything was over, I should have stayed in Texas - at least I had cold air, a hot shower, and maid service. OK, maybe not - Yikes ... I've got to be careful what I wish for.

Katrina visits Miami

What a wild ride. After all of the projected paths leading to a hit at North Broward, Katrina comes ashore further south near Hollywood, then decided to continue on south to Miami. This was a very wet storm, so there is lots of flooding in the area.

I've talked to Jay, and he says the house and cats are fine. We've got no power (what else is new - every storm we loose power), but no damage to the house, and the huge ficus in the front stood strong. Lots of debris to clean up. Our neighbors did not fair as well. Several had fences come down, trees fallen on cars, and telephone poles in the area snapped like twigs. He said it is difficult driving because of no street lights, and because of debris all over the roads.

No major flooding in our area, but further south in Perrine and Homestead there are areas with a foot of water or more.

I've changed my flight back to Saturday AM which is the soonest I could get back, since the south Florida airports were closed. I see on the news that the storm is pummeling the lower keys now, so I expect they will have flooding as well.

I can't wait to get HOME!

Watching Katrina

Well, I'm in Texas for work, and Hurricane Katrina has decided that she has her eye set on South Florida. It rough being away, when you really need to be home helping protect the property. In reality, Jay will have everything under control, so I needn't worry. Just wish she would continue to head on a northernly path.

I am supposed to come home Friday, but I'm not so sure that's going to happen. We'll have to see what Katrina does.

Better Than Gathering Dust

I've been logged as a member at BookCrossing.com for awhile now, but I wanted to say I released my first book out into the wild today! I hope someone picks it up and logs on to report on it's travels. I'm going to release a couple of more next week because I will be traveling, and I think airports will be a good place to release some more.

If you want to find out more, visit the website for BookCrossing.com. The idea is, you log in a book, get an ID number for it, then write a journal. Than leave it somewhere or pass it on. If you leave it somewhere you go back and make release notes so other know where to find it, or it may be found randomly. When it's found, the person (hopefully) go's back to the website and makes a notation that they found it so you can see where it's travelled to. Sounds fun.

I keep you posted on how far my books travel.

My Melanie CD Came

I've already received my Melanie CD. It was in the mail (at work) today. I promptly started playing it on my computer, so anyone with an office nearby got subjected to it. It sounds as good as I remember it. I am loving it! I actually bought 2 more Melanie CD's at the same time, so I've got enough to listen to for now. Did I say how happy I was that I found these CD's?

Note To Self

Never start your day with a dentist appointment!

My day went from bad to worse as the day progressed. Started with a dentist appointment to replace two old fillings ($370.00). Tried to go to the scrapbooking store, but couldn't get a parking space (small strip mall and if you're not there when the store opens it's tough to park) so opted to go home. Took Monty for his shots at the vet, and Michael to recheck his ears ($88.00 this day's getting to be expensive). Put gas in the car ($36.31). Now it starts to rain - of course right before we were going to leave for the car cruise. So the day cost me close to $500.00 and I didn't get to buy anything fun.

I had to change this trend around before it continued through the whole weekend, so I was eyeballing the QVC TSV (Todays Special Value) and bought this great card making / scrapbooking kit. It came with an album, a brag book, a card storage system, and kits to make about 50 cards. (I was going to link to it here, but it's already off their site because it sold out) Great price too! Here's hoping tomorrow will be better.

BB6 - Kaysar Back

I can't believe that 82% of the votes went to vote Kaysar back in. That is so great. Let's see what this is going to stir up in the house. I hope they at least give him a chance and don't boot him off right away.

Melanie

I've been looking for a CD of the Melanie Candles In the Rain album for over a year now. This is an album I've had since 1970, and played and played and played all the time. I have finally found it, and placed the CD on order, so it won't be long now until I have one in my hot little hands. I found it at the ItsAboutMusic site, and you can play a portion of the songs from their site, or download. And to think I was getting ready to fork out close to $50.00 on ebay or Amazon.

Walked Again!

OK, I've stuck with it, and walked again tonight. Made it once around the block with a little less difficulty. Of course, I then had to get into the car and clock the route to determine just how long (short) of a walk it is. It turns out that it is 3/10's of a mile. So now, here's the plan ....

A. Continue walking once around the block for about another week.
B. Add a second time around for 2 - 3 weeks.
C. Add a third time around (which would be just under a mile) for several weeks.
D. Then increase my speed until I'm doing a 15 minute mile.

Yes, if you pop in hear and read, it sounds pathetic that I can barely make it 3/10's of a mile, but that's what NO exercise because you're sitting at a desk or computer will do to you. My faithful readers can keep me in check.

Out of Shape

and that's an understatement. Started walking yesterday. Started easy, just once around the block. Sheesh, I could barely make that (but I did). I guess it tired me out some, because I fell asleep on the couch. Now, I've got to keep it up. I haven't measured the distance, but the goal is to walk a couple of days a week, increasing the distance/speed to that of "normal". I am both, overweight, and not very physically fit, so this is the first small change in my lifestyle -- get moving! Because of my work schedule, I think I'll be walking Mon/Wed/Sat.

The Closer

is another show I like watching. It's on TNT Monday nights. Kyra Sedgwick plays the lead detective of a murder squad. Her quirkyness makes the show. It gives her a human quality - inability to find her way in LA, sloppy housekeeper, junk food lover, southern belle accent -- all lead to a character you like to watch what case she'll solve next -- sort of reminds me of how Peter Falk portrayed Columbo.

If you haven't had a chance to check it out, try to watch it once.

Also looks like some interesting shows coming up with the new season -- looks like E-Ring might be good, as well as Criminal Minds. Have to see the first episodes before I make up my mind about them.

Vote Now

Yes, it's true .... I'm a big fan of Big Brother 6.
Please help me bring Kaysar back into the house. Go Vote!

I could not believe that Howie put up James and Sara -- what was he thinking! This season has been really cut throat, and the tables have turned several times already. I'd love to see Kaysar brought back in just to stir things up a bit more.

I haven't picked who I'd like to see win it yet, I'm gonna wait till some more players go home first.

Vote for Kaysar!

(Yep, I'm always behind watching - but TiVo records it for me.)

Blogathon Finished

I'm definately going to participate next year! I'm a night owl anyway, so staying up won't be too hard. I think my problem will be not getting sidetracked so that I post every 30 minutes. I'm already thinking about what to do and am thinking along the lines of posting a layout or card with every post. Kindof like an all night crop. I had fun floating around to the different participant sites. Some posted pics of themselves as the night wore on. Some of the posts near the end were short an sweet -- but the important thing is that they accomplished something great, and raised money for a charity.

Rain Rain Go Away ...

The Cruise In tonight was rained out. We went of course (in the Astre), along with about 20 other diehards, but after about 45 minutes the rain came down. This is how it's been happening for most of July and now August. Hopefully this coming weekend will be clear for the next cruise in.

CKU Locations for 2006

Here they are ....
Found out on the 2Peas Board the locations for CKU next year ....

Boston
Atlanta
Houston
Chicago
Provo
San Jose

I think I'm going to be shooting for Atlanta - it's close enough for a road trip.

Blogathon This Weekend

I found out about this just a little too late to sign up to participate - but look out next year. This weekend, there's a blogathon for various charities. Visit the main site Blogathon From there you can click on view campaigns to see whih blogs are participating. Blogs will be collecting money for charity and will be posting on their blog every half hours starting Aug 6th at 9AM. It looks like it will be a lot of fun.

I know I'll be a participant in 2006!

We're Not Afraid

We're Not Afraid is a great website where people can speak out through pictures or essays against the acts of terror that have struck London, Madrid, New York and terrorism occuring in cities around the world each and every day.

Spend some time in the gallery, or even better send them one of you own pics.

I Just Knew It !

A friend of mine sent this article to me. It fits my world exactly! Enough said.

What's Your Blogging Personality? - Take the Quiz

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

OK ... I'm not sure how accurate this quiz is, but I do find that I revise and rewrite my posts quite a bit. Let me know what you come up with.