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Miniature Knitting Challenge

A little stump  amigurumi

Bev’s Journeyings  knitting & crocheting

fabric envelope

felt fortune cookies

fish dishcloth

little sheep egg cosy

Hate is actually too strong a word to use for the feelings I’ve had towards Home Depot, but I’ve had no reason to not have an active dislike for them.  The attitude at Home Depot should be that of wanting to assist the customer by providing expertise and knowledge of what is needed to complete the DIY project.  With that type of caring and attitude, these employees would produce happy customers, thereby, ensuring the person’s return to purchase all the goodies needed for all future projects.  I’ve been less than enchanted by the general attitude and ineptitude that I encountered since purchasing my money pit last summer. 

I told you about my little bathroom geyser last week. This is the rest of the story.  Handyman Joe picked up the vanity and drop in sink and counter top on Friday and put it in on Monday.  He hit a snag not too far into the job.  My faucets wouldn’t work with the sink.  It was either return the counter top/sink and exchange it or buy new faucets.  New faucets sounded easier than the exchange, so I went for the faucets while Joe kept on with the job.  It was a little enough problem considering that every job the money pit has needed so far turned into more of a problem than initially thought.  We were sure the floor under the old cabinet was ready to cave in or something.  The floor was in good shape, so needing faucets was no big deal.  Except that when I asked the guys in the bathroom goodies department last week, they said, “Don’t worry.  Your faucets will fit.” 

I could either whine and get upset or go in and pitch a hissy fit.  If you don’t know what that is, ask your grandmother.  She’ll know.  She’s probably pitched a few in her life.  What I chose to do was go to the service counter, explain the situation and ask if they could put it on the 12 month, no interest plan with my purchases from last week.  The qualifier for that plan is to purchase something $299 or more and put it on your Home Depot card.  Now I want nice faucets since I plan to be looking at these things the rest of my life, but $299?  Get real. Besides, they were for my bathroom and not Consumer Man’s.  Don’t say anything.  I already used up most of my day’s allotment of nice at Home Depot.  But nice faucets don’t mean I’m about to pay anything near $299. 

Dawn and Debra in the service department came through for me.  They called the credit card people, explained that I had been misinformed when I made last week’s purchase and now needed to purchase additional supplies.  Now I have an amount below $299 and so far above $100 that I don’t want to think about it added to my 12 month, no interest charge from last week.  I’m busy trying to dig myself out of debt and the money pit is trying to suck me farther into it.  That’s why I won’t charge anything without the no interest clause.  And I pay it off well ahead of time so that nothing odd happens at the end of the time frame.  It’s worked so far with all the things I’ve had to buy from Home Depot and for the central air conditioner. 

This story has a moral.  Be nice and ask politely.  Sometimes it helps, but it never hurts to try.

Home Depot, I don’t hate you anymore, but I’m still not in love with you.  I surely do like you a lot more though.

I was transferred from the ship that took me to Grenada every week, but the island kept calling me back.  I finally signed off my ship for a work break and spent a week in St. George.  Getting there was a bit of a struggle.  We started on our flight to Grenada via San Juan and hit turbulence.  We had to turn around and return to Miami.  That didn’t mean we were going to get off that plane any time soon.  What we didn’t know at the time was that there was also some kind of problem with the plane.  We spent what felt like forever circling the airport to use up fuel.  Now that was unnerving.  If we needed to use up fuel, that must mean there was a possibility of a crash landing.  Finally, we landed and without the crash routine.  We were told to come back to the airport the next morning and we would be put on another flight. 

They didn’t know just how persistant a sea person with only a week’s shore leave can be when plans to relax on a beautiful island are delayed.  When I asked why couldn’t I be put on another flight the same day, I was told that all the flights to Grenada went through San Juan.  Give me a break.  I asked if every single flight from everywhere in the world had to go through San Juan to get to Grenada.   The lady admitted that not all flights went through San Juan.  Just theirs. After much persuading and telling the airline personnel that I had to be in Grenada as soon as possible because I had an important meeting to attend, they did the ultimate in sacrifice and put me on a competitor’s flight.  It would take me to Trinidad and they would put me up for the night and feed me.  Then I would fly out of Trinidad at six the next morning.  All right!  Of course, my luggage was going to visit San Juan before meeting me in St. George, but I had my toiletries, clean under wear, my word processor and a book in my carry on bag, so what else did I need for a few days?  And yes, I really did have an important meeting the next day.  I was meeting Susie Sunshine and Betty Beach for a session on relaxation techniques. 

While in Grenada I stayed at a guest house.  Like I said previously, I travel as a visitor rather than a tourist and, therefore, avoid tourist hotels and ex-pat enclaves when in other countries.  I had a tiny cottage of my own with a kitchen.  Heavenly!  A Jamaican friend had taught me years earlier to cook West Indian style and I was eager to have some “home cooking.”  There was a grocery only about half a mile down the hill, so I walked down for supplies every day or so and cooked up a storm.

I was used to Jamaican brown outs when you might lose power for a short while, so thought the same thing might happen in Grenada.  It doesn’t.  They had “water outs.”  I learned to take my shower first thing of a morning and then make sure the tea kettle and a water jug were filled. 

I spent a lot of time just relaxing, cooking and writing but still got out and about the island to enjoy it’s beauty.  I went on a party cruise one night and danced and then danced some more.  Have I told you that I love to dance?  One day my friend, George, drove me around the island on a tour.  Beaches, palm trees and even a rain forest.  Once while riding along, George all of a sudden stopped the car and we got out.  What was this all about?  A nutmeg.  Until then the only nutmeg I had seen was ground nutmeg.  Now we were parked under a nutmeg tree.  The nutmeg is very unique.  It’s actually two spices in one.  The nutmeg has mace wrapped around it in a lacy pattern.  Hey, George.  I still have that nutmeg.

The beauty of Grenada still pulls on my heart strings.  God willing, I will go back some day.

I just read about Wiki Wednesday on A Book Blogger’s Diary.  You can go there to see the rules which are very simple.  My Wiki Wednesday posting is a long one.  You can read even more at Wikipedia.  Here goes:

WPIG

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WPIG
City of license	Olean
Broadcast area	Olean/Jamestown, NY
Branding	The Big Pig 95.7
Slogan	Today’s Sizzlin’ Country
Frequency	95.7
First air date	1947 (current format began in 1989)
Format	Country music
Power	93,000 Watts
Callsign meaning	W PIG
Owner	Backyard Broadcasting
Website	http://www.wpig.com/

WPIG is an FM radio station located in Olean, New York. Branded as the “Big Pig,” “The Pig” or simply by its frequency and callsigns at times, the station operates at 95.7 MHz on the FM dial.

 History

The station originally signed on as WHDL-FM in 1947 and in its early years was affiliated, like most upstate New York FMs of the time, with WQXR in New York City. In Nov. 1989, the station switched formats to the rapidly burgeoning country music format and became “WPIG– The Big Pig 95.7, Today’s Sizzlin’ Country,” which is its current motto.

 Programming

Two programs have been on WPIG ever since its launch: the Morning Pigpen, the station’s morning show, and the Country Call-in Café, an all-request lunch hour (although both have changed hosts since their inception). WPIG relies heavily upon local content.

WPIG’s program director is Mark Thompson and the music director is Jesse Garon.

Weekday Schedule

 The Morning Pigpen

The Morning Pigpen is one of WPIG’s oldest programs and currently features Mark Thompson, Casey Hill, weather with Wayne Mahar and newsman Gary Nease. It airs weekdays from 6-9 a.m.

 Bethany

Bethany is the brand new host of the Midday Mayhem show. She previously was a part-time weekend jock since 2001 and served as a fill in during the week as needed. The show airs weekdays from 9am-noon.

 Country Call In Cafe

This all-request lunch hour, airing from noon to 1 p.m., usually plays a mix of parody songs, classic country, and new or upcoming music. Virtually none of the station’s regular playlist is used in this hour, and the station has been known to play everything from Hank Williams, Sr. to Hank Williams III. Comedy songs by artists such as Rodney Carrington and Cledus T. Judd have been prominently featured during the Cafe.

 Smitty

Mike “Smitty” Smith, in addition to hosting the Cafe, also hosts the 1-6 p.m. shift. Requests for more mainstream songs that are requested during the Country Call-in Cafe are usually played during the 1:00 hour as “leftovers,” while classics that they cannot fit into the regular show are postponed and played at the 3:00 hour, also as “leftovers.” In addition, Smith’s son, Ron, frequently makes appearances on the show, and the station is applying to the Guinness Book of World Records to have Ron Smith recognized as the world’s youngest disc jockey.

 Jesse Garon

Jesse Garon hosts from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Features heard on Garon’s Sizzlin’ Country Nights:

•  
  • 6:10-6:40 PM “Top 6 at 6” Daily countdown, based upon listener requests to the station.
  • 6-9 PM “Spotlight Artist” An artist is featured with several songs throughout the night scattered throughout the playlist. Also during this time period, requests are taken, but in contrast to the Country Call-in Cafe, the songs played during this request period are usually more mainstream hits.
  • 7:15 PM “Sizzle or Fizzle” A brand new song (never played before on the station) is played and callers vote on whether or not they like the song. Results announced at 7:50pm.
  • Wednesdays, 8-9 PM All new and upcoming music

Miscellaneous

• 12 M-6 AM After Midnitewith Blair Garner
• Weather is provided by Wayne Mahar of WSTM in Syracuse, New York and national news is provided by ABC News Radio.

 Weekend Programs

• Saturdays, 8-10 AM: Z-Max Racing Country from the Performance Racing Network
• Saturdays, 10 AM-3 PM: A live remote from one of the weekday hosts
• Saturdays, 7 PM-12 M: Country Gold Saturday Night from Westwood One
• Sundays, 6:45 AM Public affairs
• Sundays, 7-8 AM: Country Gospel Music Hour
• Sundays, 8-10 AM: The Country Oldies Showwith Steve Warren
• Sundays, 10 AM-12 N: NASCAR USA from the Motor Racing Network
• Sundays, 12 N-7 PM: Live sporting events

Interns and part-time weekend jocks (Nick Purcio [formerly known as morning host “Christopher Neggs”]and Chrissy) fill in during any open timeslots. The station only runs on autopilot on Sunday nights.

 Sports programming

• WPIG is the flagship station of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team.
• Buffalo Bills of the NFL
• NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

Special Programming

• On every August 16, Jesse Garon, whose name is borrowed from the name of Elvis Presley‘s twin brother, plays a tribute to Elvis to commemorate the anniversary of his death. The tribute can range from a few songs to a six-hour special; the full six hour special airs every five years, and has thus far aired on the 25th and 30th anniversary of Presley’s death.
• WPIG airs A WPIG Country Christmas, an automated selection of country-themed Christmas music, throughout Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

 Audience

WPIG’s 93,000 watts of power allows the station to boom its signal through Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Wyoming Counties in New York, as well as McKean and Potter Counties in Pennsylvania.

The station regularly registers by far the top Arbitronratings in the Olean market.

WPIG does not stream its programming on the Internet at this time.

It’s been months since I’ve read anything other than non-fiction.  I haven’t been feeling well lately and called off work this past weekend.  Saturday, no matter how much I struggled with it, I could get nothing more than the basic necessities of life accomplished.  I’ve had this book from the library long enough to renew it online twice, so decided to read a little of it.  This book was so good that I read it in it’s entirety.

It is written by Barbara Delinsky, a prolific author who writes about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.  She takes us into the lives of Dana and Hugh Clarke and the birth of their first child.  Baby Elizabeth is a surprise with African American features.  The book takes us through the subsequent effects of this on their marriage and their families as Dana and Hugh attempt to track down the secrets of their heritage.  As is so often true of life, nothing is quite as it seems.

You can go to Barbara’s website to watch a trailer of Family Tree.  Pick up a copy of this book and expect the unexpected.

We had an Independence Day party at the clubhouse in the community where I live.  I was one of the last ones to arrive.  I sat down, got situated and looked up to see my friend, Sue sitting across the table from me.  Well, not really, but if you know Sue, you would realize this lady was Sue’s twin.  Janet looks like Sue.  Face, hair, body build, mannerisms, attitude all belong to Sue.  How could I not like Janet from the get go?  There were a lot of ladies there who were dressed to party.  We’re talking makeup, hair, earrings, heels and red, white and blue outfits.  There was Janet in shorts and T shirt that said “Bite Me” and I in my carpi’s, Birk’s and hair with attitude, spiked with red and blue hair goo.  Janet even walks like Sue.  When we got up to go to the buffet table, it was almost like being back in the staff mess.

Pretty soon an old dude called Reno, wearing a  pony tail and baseball cap strolls up onto the stage and proceeds to try to be funny.  Janet and I didn’t actually roll our eyes, but the look was enough.  When he stopped talking and started singing, it was another story.  The man can sing.  Sue Janet had to leave early.  She had a yip at home waiting for her.  (That’s a small dog with a small bark.) I think she would have enjoyed the rest of the party.

When Reno just quit talking and kept singing, we had a great time dancing.  Memories of the crew parties.  During his break, he had some “cone” music on.  Electric Slide.  Hot, Hot, Hot.  I could just see all the passengers dancing around the dining room.  A polka – how did that get in there?  The Chicken Dance.  Fortunately, the old dude came back from his break before the Macarena had a chance to play.  Sue, it’s a good thing you weren’t there.  I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my dignified pose.  It’s too hard to be dignified when you’re snorting with laughter.  Eventually, YMCA hit the scene and I had visions of Ike’s band playing up in the lounge and all the time I spent up there enjoying the music and company of friends. 

Yes, this was an enjoyable party, remininscent of a lot of good times.  I even stayed until the last dance.  That last song, Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train, is the first song that ever made me want to learn how to line dance.

For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.  As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.  Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers. Fear God.  Honor the emperor.

I Peter 2:13-17

This is still a hot topic.  Sew, Mama, Sew!  put up a tutorial for the classic tote a few days ago.  More people are finding ways to make stylish bags for grocery shopping.  Have you given up the paper or plastic habit?  I’m trying, but find that I need to either add a few more bags or buy fewer groceries.  Every week I seem to come home with a few plastic bags in addition to the cloth ones I carry with me.  I’ve moved past the stage of forgetting to grab my bags as I leave on my errands.  I’ve decided I’m going to have to make some of those bags from plarn to use up some of the plastic ones I’m bringing home.   I keep finding more good patterns for the bags, so I’ll share.  Please feel free to share any you’ve found with us.

crocheted grocery bag

morsbag

Eco Bag  fully lined

grocery tote  sewn

produce bag  crocheted

I’ve really been having a major problem getting motivated to exercise regularly.  It’s the getting started that seems to be the problem for me.  Once I get going a few times it starts being more of a fun thing rather than work.  We have a nice little gym down at the clubhouse.  We have a nice pool down at the clubhouse.  This is becoming reminiscent of a song about down on the boardwalk.  Well, I haven’t been able to motivate myself into going down on the boardwalk or down to the clubhouse to exercise.  But I was down at the clubhouse today.  No, not to exercise.  I was down there to party.  And during the party is when I remembered just how much fun exercising can be if you hit on the right kind.

I love to dance.  I’ve spent a large part of my life dancing.  My dancing has spanned decades and styles.  It began with ballet, tap and acrobatic dance, proceeded to jitterbug, swing, the twist, mashed potato, the jerk, waltz, ballroom, then on to disco, reggae and socca.  I’ve danced my way from childhood through my adult years.  I’ve danced my way from small town mid-America to the Florida sun coast; from the northeast and up the Saint Lawrence seaway to Montreal; from Bermuda to the Bahamas; from Mexico to Helsinki; across the Atlantic and all around the Caribbean.  Did I tell you that I love to dance?

I learned to dance disco and reggae style in Cozumel, Mexico at Neptuno’s.  Ship crewmen danced at Neptuno’s until a fire put the club out of commission.  Then we found this little local disco called Scaramouch which turned into our hangout.  While Neptuno was busy rebuilding, Scaramouch was busy expanding to accommodate all of us.  Eventually they started opening up earlier than regular time for us and stayed open until we were too tired to dance anymore or had to hurry back to the ship before shore leave expired.  Since that was an overnight port for us, we danced anywhere from seven to ten hours.  Did I tell you that I love to dance?

I got hooked on reggae when I first started working on ships  in 1985.  I was able to find reggae anyplace I went.  All over my area of Florida, Vegas, a Yellowman concert in Charleston, an Eek a Mouse concert in Boston, a Third World concert in Norfolk, a reggae place in Helsinki.  I couldn’t get over how many Jamaicans moved from the warm Caribbean to Finland.  Did I tell you I love to dance?

How ironic.  Consumer Man doesn’t love to dance.  We’ve danced only one time in the fifteen years we’ve known each other.  That one time wasn’t one night out dancing.  That was exactly one dance.  I wonder if he even knows that I love to dance.

It took a party today to remind me and to have my light bulb moment.  I don’t have to go anywhere to exercise and I’m not stuck with calisthenics, Denise Austin, Hanoi Jane or Richard Simmons as my exercise partner.  All I need is music and me.  I have plenty of both.  I have hundreds of cassettes and CD’s.  I need to audition all of these and downsize a bit.  I might as well get started now.  I’m going to have fun and the exercise will just be a nice benefit.  I did learn one thing today.  Birks are great for walking, but not so good for dancing.  I had to kick off those babies and get barefoot so I could get into the moves.  I may not be crazy about exercise, but did I tell you that I love to dance?

Have you ever read the Declaration of Independence?  Do you really know what it says?  Please take time out from your busy day today to find out just what you are celebrating and just how far the three branches of our government have diverged from the beginnings of our country’s beginnings and the freedoms we were granted.

You can read more about the Declaration and it’s signers here.   This site gives you Thomas Jefferson’s account of the Declaration. Also, you can read the history of how we’ve celebrated our freedom here in the United States over the years.

Happy Independence Day!