Nov 10, 2009
Holy cow it’s getting dark so early. Another mild day in the burg, but my trip to the garage a few minutes ago sure let me know that it’s cooling off. Highs in the low 60s for the next few days and I’m simply too scared to look at what comes after that.
Just a few short weeks ago, the leaves were beautiful! The photo on the right was taken on October 23rd and is now nothing but a memory suspended in an image just for you. Depressingly, we’ve pretty much got to face the hard cruel fact that winter is just around the corner. In southern Indiana, that’s a mixed bag and we simply never know what we are going to get. I personally like the first snow of the year, but absolutely HATE the day after day of dreary, cold shit that winter brings.
I keep telling the house guests that where you live is nothing more than geography. While that may be true — geographically, I’m not where I want to be. How about you? And where would you go if you could pick up and move someplace else with all your family and friends?
Nov 9, 2009
I have this thing where I simply don’t remember details. My brain is so full of stuff that I have to remember, I think the trivial things have all been pushed out. Having said that, I don’t remember ever eating cereal when I was a kid. My brother liked Frosted Flakes (I think it was the whole Tony the Tiger thing), but if it was an obsession with him, I think I’d remember at least that much.
Growing up in a grocery store, McKain’s Market, my brother and I pretty much took home anything we wanted to eat, so it wasn’t that cereal was expensive and not purchased — I just didn’t care much about it. I remember thinking that’s what the kids ate for breakfast who didn’t have a parent that would actually fix “food”. Spending a great deal of time with my Nanny, I picked bacon and eggs or pancakes over a bowl of crispy crap with milk, since she always COOKED three meals a day for my Grandfather anyway.
Within the past couple of months, I’ve developed this obsession with cereal! Fruity Pebbles is my favorite hands-down. Isn’t it amazing that a cereal first sold in 1971 with Fred Flintstone marketing can still be a top seller when he and Barney have surely been dead a long time now? What’s even crazier is that the animated series stopped running on ABC in 1966 and we’re still buying it, as Fred’s still marketing it, over four decades later. But that’s not the best part! The first two series were sponsored by Winston cigarettes, and Fred and Wilma advertised them during the closing credits. Holy cow!
So where is Bedrock anyway? It’s gotta be warm as none of the characters are ever seen with clothing that covers their arms or legs. I think I want to go there! How about it all you cereal fans out there — do you agree that Fruity Pebbles rock, or do you have a different favorite?
Nov 8, 2009
I had someone last night tell me that they liked my hair better when I had it highlighted — like MAJOR highlighted. So I look in the mirror and am like ‘ugh’. I really don’t know how I like it best. So I’ve decided to get input here and from my friends. I will have no one to blame but y’all.
🙂
Below the arrow is the color now — pretty much the color I was born with, (notice I didn’t say it’s my natural color because what’s natural now isn’t an option). The other lighter colors are in the photo above too, so we’re clear before you choose.
Simple choice — keep or color?
Nov 7, 2009
Living in a home with a septic tank, we try to be careful what gets put down sinks, toilets and tubs. Still, it’s not like when you live in town and have certain services provided for you. There are things ya gotta do.
Our fine state recommends having your septic tank pumped every 3-4 years. I was a tad behind on that — it had been around 15, and a good portion of that time the home was a rental property. This past week the sewer started slowing down when the rest of us were still operating at full speed. At 9:15 PM on Wednesday night, I called plumber, Andy Dorsey, who promised to come early the following morning — I didn’t know who to call or what to do. Andy was awesome! He checked everything out and even dug to uncover the tank to get ready for the honey wagon. Don’t know what a honey wagon is? Lemme share…
Less than an hour later, the Plank family arrive and in about 45 minutes all was right with the world. They were incredible actually. One horrible problem and two totally awesome customer experiences. I figure if people in the poop business can figure out what their customers REALLY want — AND provide it in a way that surpasses expectations, any business can! No excuses anymore!
The yard was back-filled, a load of laundry was ready for the dryer, the dishes were done and I was out of the shower and ready for the couch — all before noon!
Nov 4, 2009
Have you ever noticed that people are much better at putting up with things that happen to them, than they are at living with the consequences of a bad choice?
It’s so much easier to blame bad luck or the economy for problems with money or for your dead end job, than it is to admit that YOU chose to live too ‘high on the hog’ when the future looked bright — or that YOU chose to jack around and not complete college to obtain a degree that would’ve allowed you to work someplace else. Who wants to claim responsibility when it’s so much easier to blame things that are simply out of our control?
I’ve absolutely made my share of bad choices. I still make some pretty hideous ones. I own those choices — therefore, I must also own the consequences that accompany them. Life is a struggle. Isn’t it?
My Mother was fond of saying, “you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” Growing up, I translated that to, “Shelley, you are so screwed.” As I’ve grown older (and hopefully a little wiser), I understand it to mean that when we make choices, we then are responsible for the consequences and responsibilities that those choices bring. I’m not sure how that concept didn’t make it to the next generation…
Just a few short weeks ago, the leaves were beautiful! The photo on the right was taken on October 23rd and is now nothing but a memory suspended in an image just for you. Depressingly, we’ve pretty much got to face the hard cruel fact that winter is just around the corner. In southern Indiana, that’s a mixed bag and we simply never know what we are going to get. I personally like the first snow of the year, but absolutely HATE the day after day of dreary, cold shit that winter brings. 
Growing up in a grocery store, McKain’s Market, my brother and I pretty much took home anything we wanted to eat, so it wasn’t that cereal was expensive and not purchased — I just didn’t care much about it. I remember thinking that’s what the kids ate for breakfast who didn’t have a parent that would actually fix “food”. Spending a great deal of time with my Nanny, I picked bacon and eggs or pancakes over a bowl of crispy crap with milk, since she always COOKED three meals a day for my Grandfather anyway. 
Within the past couple of months, I’ve developed this obsession with cereal! Fruity Pebbles is my favorite hands-down. Isn’t it amazing that a cereal first sold in 1971 with Fred Flintstone marketing can still be a top seller when he and Barney have surely been dead a long time now? What’s even crazier is that the animated series stopped running on ABC in 1966 and we’re still buying it, as Fred’s still marketing it, over four decades later. But that’s not the best part! The first two series were sponsored by Winston cigarettes, and Fred and Wilma advertised them during the closing credits. Holy cow! 
