Nice things about small towns

• The nice part about living in a small town: When you don’t know what you’re doing someone else does.
• I can drive anywhere in less than 20 min. (as long as I’m not on the road between 5 and 6 p.m., rush HOUR, not hours) and can get to the grocery store and back in less than 15.
• I can leave my car and house unlocked and not worry.
• I can walk to the vet, nail salon, movie theater, bar, dry cleaner, and gamer’s haven (where Shane keeps threatening to join the D&D club).
• WalMart stock is full and not picked over.
• People are sincerely friendly and friends jump in to lend a helping hand anytime you need it.
• Friends live down the street, not 1 hour around the Beltway, or in a different state.
• The FedEx delivery and pickup guy is the same person and he knows me by name! He is always on schedule and arrives between 11 a.m. and noon CT.
• The mailman comes at the same time every day and also knows me by name.
• Better housing prices.
• Less stress.
• Trust.
• Clean air!

Don’t trust people who:

(Borrowed from David Murray’s list.)

• Attribute their every f-up to “a perfect storm.”
• Respond to criticism by saying they’ve been “thrown under the bus.” (What bus?)
• Describe their strategy (or their coffee or wine or anything else) as “robust.”
• Tell you, “I’m being perfectly transparent with you.”
• Tell you how “passionate” they are about branding, roofing tile or whatever else it is they’re selling.
• Say they want your feedback and thank you for your input.
• People who start something with: "As I'm sure you know..." If you're sure I know, then why do you feel the need to tell me again???
• People who say: "We need to make this a 'win-win' situation." Translation: "You need to do what I want even though it isn't what YOU want."
• People who respond to anything negative by saying "It's all good."
• People who remind you of a difficult time by responding “Good times, good times.”
• When someone tells you, "Leave me alone: I just don't have the bandwidth to handle that;"
• Responds with "That place would be a stretch target for me. Is there any low-hanging fruit closer?"

It might go something like this.

Hey Windi, I’d like to get your feedback. As I'm sure you know, so and so threw me under the bus. It really was a perfect storm that caused the problem. I’m being perfectly transparent with you and I’m passionate about making this a win-win situation. I know it’s all good, but I just don’t have the bandwidth to handle it. I think I have a robust strategy to get us through this but, this is a stretch target for me. Is there any low-hanging fruit closer?

Thank you for your input! Good times, good times.

If Sarah Palin is Qualified to be VP

If Sarah Palin is qualified for VP because "You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska ...", then I'm qualified to be a rocket scientist because I can see the moon from my house.

(Best quote of the day courtesy of my friend Pat!)

The weather outside is delightful

Summer Classes for Men at the Adult Learning Center

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED by Friday, August 17 2008
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1: How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2: The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3: Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4: Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5: Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink? Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

Class 6: Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other. Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7: Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming. Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8: Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health. Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9: Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10: Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks? Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11: Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife. Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12: How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion. Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13: How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14: The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used. Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

It's Pirate Day

Your pirate name is:
Captain Anne Kidd

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.

An old dog can't learn new tricks but a cat can

Zeus and Maia arrive in LFT today courtesy of Continental QuickPack. Bob, gracious, lovely, wonderful Bob, picked them up and brought them to the apartment. Shane reports they're doing well and Zeus is NOT crying non-stop this time. Yay!

On another note, the Fox 5 DC 10 p.m. news report that LFT flooded after hurricane IKE is NOT true. My guess is the footage they showed is from Lake Charles. Shane insists it is def. not from Lafayette. Guess I'll find out tomorrow when I fly there after work.

Palin baby name generator!

Sarah Palin has picked out an all-American set of names for her children. There's Track, Trig, Bristol, Willow, and Piper. Ever wonder what your name would be if Sarah Palin was your mother? Well now you can find out!

http://politsk.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah_13.html

I would be Axe Diesel Palin, Shane would be Mustache Warthog Palin. LOL!

Another Threat: IKE

I'm not there but Shane is. Mandatory evacuations in Lake Charles just 2 hours west of Lafayette. Shane is going to spend the weekend in NOLA with a client. I'm here in VA doing house stuff ....

34

I admit I'm 34. September 9 is my birthday. Thanks to EVERYONE who gave me good birthday wishes on Facebook, text msg, email and otherwise!!!! LOVE you all. It's the best. HOWEVER, my friend Brian has everyone beat. Brian is going to let Shane and I stay at his apartment in NYC for a WEEK in NYC around New Year 2009. That boy rocks the boat! Best birthday gift this year!

The Hanna Video

Sorry this took so long folks.

Storm Chaser

Two in two weeks. First it was Gustav, today is was Hanna. Video will be posted tomorrow. I keep having problems with my Internet connection!

Just in time for Hanna

Looks like I'll make it back to Virginia just in time for heavy rain from Tropical Storm Hanna.

Local news

Heavy rain and isolated tornadoes continue to affect the area. We've had curfew each night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and will be under a curfew again tonight. Meanwhile, utilities crews have restored 75-80 percent of power in Lafayette.

President Bush arrived in Baton Rouge (1 hour from here) this morning to survey the damage done by Hurricane Gustav and meet with Governor Bobby Jindal.

Meanwhile, the search in on for supplies in Lafayette. Residents swamped stores that were open Tuesday. Customers searched for necessities. Crowds were huge as people looked for generators, food and ice.

We're still fine, still have power, have the supplies we need, are working remotely, and have high hopes that I'll fly out tomorrow after work and before Hanna gets to Atlanta, where I'm scheduled to fly through.

Gustav has mostly passed

Gustav has gone through most of the area and we're safe. Still heavy rain expected today and we never did experience a power outage. Yay!

New video

Video

230

Here we are

At noon

We hear that we will get to feel both sides of the hurricane. We're on the "good" side now. We'll get to experience the southeast part later -- that's the "bad" side. So far, so good. Still have power and are just watching the local news for updates.

My flight

Morning photo

Our view this morning.

Morning check in

Some wind but no rain yet. It's coming but not here yet. Still need to check to see if my flight is leaving. My guess is that with winds like this there is no way ... Shane tells me if that flight is leaving, that I'm on it! ;-)

Signs along the way

No rain yet but we did pick up a black cat from the parking lot. Apollo seems happy with his new friend as they've been courting through the window screen for 3 weeks. Now they are just good playmates but we do need to get flea treatment ASAP.