Sales to Die For

You've heard about the employee who got trampled to death by shoppers? People have lost their minds. Or else their minds are terribly difficient to begin with.

I want to point my finger of blame somewhere. First, it goes to human stupidity and greed. "Gotta run into the store to get to the best sale first. Can't let Suzie Q over there get ahead of me!!" Second, it goes to the store management for possible set-up. Having only four TVs listed at a "killer price" (sorry) in a well populated community is not a wise decision. (that was just a made up example, BTW.) Not unless you work out a method of distribution that will keep the crowd at bay. But the biggest finger of blame goes to the media. TV News in particular. They hype this holiday rush to spend money all out of proportions and (bleep) people believe it.

I feel so badly for the family of the employee. How hard it must be to think your loved one died because people were running to spend their money and wouldn't stop for anything. This makes even less sense than Xtreme Sports.

I Wonder if the "News" Will Report on This?

This is worrisome....

Reporting from Washington -- Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President Bush this week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on Defense Department computers that may have originated in Russia -- an incursion that posed unusual concern among commanders and raised potential implications for national security.

Defense officials would not describe the extent of damage inflicted on military networks. But they said that the attack struck hard at networks within U.S. Central Command, the headquarters that oversees U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and affected computers in combat zones. The attack also penetrated at least one highly protected classified network.

The full article from The Los Angles Times can be found here.

This is or could be a biggy, something very serious, something a bit unnerving. To someone who is not familiar with the possible fallout from a cyber infection, it might not seem like much. (I'm thinking McCain, here.) It could be BIG.

The article leaves a sense of unknown.... what was the extent of harm and are we protected from it happening again. If a virus got in, was it able to send info out or do internal harm. I just didn't get a feeling of "don't worry, all has been taken care of." Not an ounce of feeling.

I Forgot To Take Pictures

It was a very nice Thanksgiving and I did, indeed, come home with some leftovers. In fact, the cranberry sauce is calling me now.

We were a bit late so folks ate right away. It was good to catch up with everyone. And my three granddaughters are growing up too fast. 10, 12, and 15 yrs old. The 15 yr old has turned into a glamorous young lady with some smarts. The 10 and 12 yr olds are your typical 10 and 12 year olds, but not for long. Sniffle. "Stay young... stay young for as long as you can!!" (That's me yelling into the wind.)

Daughter #2's family has gotten a small black dog. I think it would be called a lap dog. Shuzshit something. Anyway, its just a little cutie, but too excitable for me. The little freak wouldn't stop licking my toes. But its still cute. I think they called it Bo.

We played a couple of rounds of Boggle (not to be confused with BIG BOGGLE) with six people playing. Needless to say, everyone was crossing off words, because one of us would have it. It was fun.

Its going to be time for that first turkey sandwich soon. Just a little longer.

Thanksgiving Day

 Well, its here. The start of the holiday season, the first holiday. Thanksgiving Day. If I could just get into football....

I hope everyone has a very pleasant day without too much stress. After all, if it doesn't work out this time, you can try it again next year. And the year after that. So don't worry, be happy. And don't throw that at me! I mean it!!

The family unit has shrunk a lot with family moving out of state. We have reduced our members from around 30 (if in-laws show up) to 10. It makes it easier to sit down at the table, but it is also a lot quieter. At least I think it will be quieter. We'll see.

We are getting together at daughter #2 home around 2pm. Perhaps I'll be back home by 6pm clutching a plate of leftovers.(Is it leftovers or left overs?) The downside is that the movie, a holiday tradition, Miracle on 34th Street comes on tv at 2pm. Sigh. Maybe its on the internet somewhere and I can watch it later. I've already watched Its a Wonderful Life. I think I've seen that movie close to 30 times. I can remember in grade school that they would show this movie at lunch time in 15 minute increments during the course of a week. It wasn't very interesting since you could only see a small portion at a time.
Actually, I don't really watch it. Its just on in the background... but its my tradition.

I've finally reached the age where I don't have to bring anything for dinner, too. YaHoo. I've been waiting for it.

Once again, I hope ya'll have a nice Thanksgiving.

Grateful for the small things of life....

Like fiber!

Heads Up

 

There hasn't been much to talk about lately. I'm out of coffee so must trudge to the store as soon as I upload this entry. The sooner I leave, the sooner it will be done. Push. Push. Must push myself to go out into the world. I guess it indicates just how much I would like a cup of coffee, doesn't it.

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA!! The Job

Model in Watercolor

Traveling Goddess shared some photos on her blog of the workshop she recently attended. A few of us decided to use the photo of the model to see what we could butcher.

Here's (below) a quick sketch I did in a spiral notebook to see how it went, and it went fairly easily.

 

Below is the pencil sketch done on the watercolor paper.

 

Below is the painted model... no background.

 

My final version. I had to make myself stop before I screwed it up completely.

 

I almost screwed it up completely but made myself walk away from it.

OMG You've Got to Check Out These Cakes!

Oh my gosh... You've got to go check out these cakes!! Did I say that already? Whatev... Old Man Lincoln has posted some pictures that first appeared in his Draw magazine in 1985. Go here.

(I know some of you are already regular readers of his blog, but I wanted to point it out to the others.)

Friday Night

 
I think I'm learning the difference between quality and cheap paint through personal experience. No 'flowing' pigment with this one.

Living in a Police State

I heard a local news story that had my mouth open. I couldn't find the story on the web so I can't show authenticity, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

In our state capitol city apparently the police will arrest you if your house is dirty. WTF? Two women have come forth and talked about it because it is so ridiculous. There may be more out there who are too embarrassed to step forward.

The pictures I saw (and I missed a couple) showed a house that had not been cleaned, but it was not filthy and discusting as the police stated. And if they came across a house that was so dirty they felt the children were in harms way, then they should call in Children's Services... not handcuff the parents and haul them off to jail and send the children off to someone else's house. And if there weren't any children involved, then the police should report it to the city's nuisance department and let them deal with it. What the hell are police doing arresting people who don't keep a clean house?

What the hell is going on in the United States?

If you are wondering what brought the police to the woman's house it was because they supposedly thought it was a drug house. The woman was at work and a friend who was at the house called her and she apparently gave permission for the police to search her home.... she knew she didn't have any drugs in it so she cooperated and said they could search it. According to the American Civil Liberties Union that was the wrong thing to do. NEVER GIVE POLICE AUTHORIZATION TO SEARCH YOU OR YOUR HOME WITHOUT A SEARCH WARRENT. NEVER GIVE UP YOUR PERSONAL RIGHTS!!

On another police subject... for a couple of years the city police here were killing people right and left. Seriously, they would be killing people and no action would be taken. (Stupid people on the grand jury must think police do not lie. There are exceptions enough to keep our hopes up, but the only difference between a police officer on the beat and a thug is a badge.) Ever since our current female police chief came on board, the killings have stopped, thank goodness.

Just remember, no matter how innocent you are, never give up your rights to the so called authorities.

What's Warm and Wet?

 No... its not that! What is warm and wet is our weather. It was 60 degrees this morning at 7am and its been raining for the last four days or so. Its raining so much today it feels like we could pick it up like a cloak and wear it. We would be fully covered.

I wanted to pass along some info that I got in my email. This holiday season you may want to rethink giving gift certificates. Don't Do It! Businesses are closing right and left. If they are not closing altogether, they are closing down outlets so who knows if there will be any in the area. Its sad. So many people out of work, out of their foreclosed homes, and out of time.

The auto makers are looking for 'bailout' money. I think one of them already got some but its gone now. They had to use it to simply continue with day to day activity. That is not a good sign. Now they need more. If we do not have enough people working and if we can not get credit unless we are rated A+++++ we are not going to be buying cars. If people aren't buying cars then how will another lump sum of money keep them afloat?

I heard American Express has become a bank. They wanted some bailout money, too. It doesn't seem right to me.

I wish we didn't have to wait until January for a leader.

Blah

 
 Blue Monday. Blue Month. Blah Mood. I'm not sure if my mood just is, or was caused by the shift in times, or because of the rainy weather. Maybe its the state of my pocket. Its empty. (Not to worry though... I have everything I need and I only have a couple of days to go and the eagle will be flying again.)

I'm watching the boys this afternoon. 'Mom' has to go in early for a meeting (works swing shift) and boyfriend is working (days) so there's a few hours to be covered. I'm just not feeling the energizer bunny. Of course, the last time I felt the bunny it was probably 10 yrs ago or so. They're good boys. It just requires constant movement.

I better go pick up things I don't want them touching. Things like lighters, sharp objects, white paper, paints, etc. Sigh. I think I should also cook something for them. Whenever they come over the first place Darius checks out is the refrigerator. Everything I have requires cooking.

CED Day 6 (posted late)

 

Sigh. Now if I can just get one more done, I will be back on schedule. Wish me luck, although I'm not sure that is strong enough.

CED Day 5 (posted late)

 

(In this case the model had a long face so the long face is on purpose.)

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

President Elect Obama just held his first press conference. That's what a leader looks like. Unfortunately, he also looks like he's aged 10 yrs and its only been three days. And he hasn't even been sworn in yet. Today was his first time of sitting in on a daily security briefing and I couldn't help wonder if he heard things that made his stomach churn. (I also wonder if McCain is, under it all, feeling relieved that he wasn't elected.)

For the Pencil Pushers

Here's a basic web site that contains pencil sketches of nursing home patients. I got the link from Sandy's Everyday Art site. Just wanted to highlight it.

What's up with this, anyway?

Lines. Lines around the block. Lines of voters around two blocks. Is this the 21st century or 1500 ad?

We sent people to the moon in the 60s. We have instant access via cell phone. We can talk to people on the other side of the world in a second, via the internet. Yet we have voting machines that don't work. We have people standing in lines for four, six, eight hours just to cast their vote. What's wrong with this picture?

CED Day 4

 
This should have been a 'snap' but it wasn't. The mark was missed, but the drawing got done before midnight. Oh... and by the way, have you heard? We have a new president. Go Team.

The Fork in the Road

We stand in that one day from which history will take the next step. Will it be to the left of the fork or to the right? Many people are holding their breath. At the end of the day half of our citizens will be celebrating and the other half will be muttering "... to hell in a handbasket."

I will be glad when I can exhale.

(Exhaling!! Whew!! Big Grin.)

CED Day 3

 

 

 

I'm rushing to beat the clock... to get something uploaded for the day. For the Creative Every Day project. Just doodles today. And again, I must apologize for the sucky pictures. (sucky's a word, right?)

CED Day 2

 

Halloween PJs

The Halloween costumes are now pajamas.

 

 

 

Darius was a transformer and Vyron was some kind of superhero with lots of muscles.

I'll need to work on my CED for today after the boys leave. I'm just not sure of when that will happen. I figured calling 'mom' at 4am was too early, but 9am is looking better. However, I know she is getting a last chance to sleep in herself. She's a night person anyway. (Don't talk to her before 2pm.) I'll try to hold out until then.

CED Day 1

 

After the Party.

(Sorry, I can't seem to get a picture that is not blurry.)