Batshitcrazy

...I-1069, which "would require the Washington State Seal to depict a tapeworm attached to a taxpayer's intestine, encircled by the words: Committed to sucking the life blood out of each and every taxpayer."

Pissed at Lawmakers in Olympia, Washington Residents File a Record Number of Initiatives

Words To Live By

If you have a dunk mug
so much the better.

Happy Father's Day

Original Photo Credit: Dad

Thinking Geeky

More info here.

Personal Use

Snapped a couple quick pics this morning and hauled my camera to work (which is where I do my best Avoidance) so that I could post them here and - screech - turns out my at-work computer isn't equipped with goofing off devices! What's this?? No USB, no card reader!

Guess I'll have to do this the old fashioned way. I'll have to drag my netbook to work. (You don't think I'd interrupt my goofing off time to goof off, do you?)

Hardly

What do Aprill 19, May 14, May 16, May 17, May 19, and June 12 have in common? These are unique to the Seattle area as they are the only dates in 2010 that have seen temperatures in excess of 70 degrees. Seriously. Five days. That's it. Right now it's 55 degrees and I'm wearing a scarf.

Already in June, we've had 2.32 inches of rain - which is half the average for January, people. My wall calendar tells me it's Summer. The regionally adjusted Seattle calendar, however, says it's still Winter.

Just to top it off, days are now getting shorter. What happened!? How can they be getting shorter already? We haven't even started to warm up!

Thinking about trading in the boat for a submarine.

Disturbing

From Q13 Fox News (link):

This may seem like a far-fetched scenario, but the leading cause of flood-related deaths in Washington state and country is people who drown in their cars.

In their cars!

Lot's of water, here in Washington. This video shows you what to do if you find yourself in that situation:


I think I need one of those window-breaking devices!

Tsk Tsk

We wouldn't want inappropriate brakes, now would we? I, for one, would not. Espcially, if the brakes were on a hospital stretcher. You can't tell from the picture but that's where I found this sign on a recent visit to the hospital.

Bad, brakes!

Have you notice I'm posting more often? That's because I'm back at Avoiding Work.

Wake Up!

Image found here.

Sailing Away

Got out on the boat Saturday and stayed until late Sunday night. While floating with some friends, someone got the bright idea of powering up the netbook and logging into YouTube for some karaoke. (Someone said that was my idea, but I'm denying it.)

Someone else had portable speakers to attach to the netbook and before you knew it, there were four screeching voices carried on the wind trailing behind our boat. I'm afraid we were not well received, as there followed a rapid exodus from the Bay as one boat after another pulled anchor and left. Some simply moved away and reset their anchors elsewhere. Farther away. Yes, we are that bad.

There is a possibility they moved because they were concerned for their safety. While we were straining to reach the high notes as performed by ABBA in Dancing Queen, it turns out that our anchor had lost its hold and our small flotilla (of two) was adrift in moderately high winds. We figured this out long before we came close to anyone else and reset both our anchors which later became tangled and was the source of much consternation as we tried to call it a night.

We sang until the netbook batteries gave up the ghost. (Speaking of which, what do ghosts drink? Spirits. Ba DA dum.) We opened another bottle of wine, fired up the generator and sang some more - until there were no other boaters left in the Bay to entertain.

Maybe we need more practice.

Simple Economics

Hello?

The State of Washington has passed a new law prohibiting cell phone use while driving. Specifically, texting is out under all circumstances.

However, there are several exceptions to the no-talking-on-the-phone part of the law. My favorites are these: You can answer a phone, dial a phone, and talk on the phone so long as you don't hold it to your ear. Plus, if you wear a hearing aid, go ahead and hold it right up to your head and drive, old man. If I can dial a phone and hold it in one hand, what difference does it make if it's next to my head or not?

Personally, I think it's a good idea to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while you're driving. So I think a better law would include prohibitions against reading books, eating, shaving, or applying makeup while driving. Although having sex while driving isn't prohibited, embracing is.

So go ahead, have sex, take photos of yourselves doing it, have a snack, and get dressed on your way to work. Just don't sext me or call me to tell me about it. I'm really not that interested anyway.

You can be pulled over and ticketed for holding a phone to your ear or for texting, however this information is not made available to your insurance company or your employer.

Yet.

FAQ's here.

The currently amended law, here.

Don't Laugh

I love to laugh. I like to sing, too. I think they may use the same muscles. Not sure about that but I feel good when I do them.

I used to have a boss - a long, long time ago - who didn't like to smile or laugh because she was worried about the wrinkles that would create. I say, if you have to have wrinkles, those are the best kind.

Except after Spa Day. Whenever I laugh after a Spa Day, my husband tells me to stop that because I'll ruin my expensive facial!

Laughter, facial, laughter, facial. Could be a lot worse.

Spa Day

If you're keeping score at home, this happens every four weeks - like clockwork.

Getting a facial is like going to the orthodontist - in a way. You have to go periodically to get the screws tightened, right? Smooths everything out. Look, no wrinkles.

Frankenstein might have had those screws for just that purpose. He didn't have wrinkles, did he? And what about that complexion? Blemish free. That green? Probably just an avocado scrub....

I also figure that with what I spend on skincare I will ultimately save on embalming. Don't need good skin then, do I? Might as well get it now.

Anyway, that's what I'm telling my husband when he sees the checkbook.

He's Baaaack

The Two-Foot Hurricane is a whirling dervish once more. Solid foods today, more liquids, smiles, and play, play, play. All around, good day.

Glad he's back.

Sprung

It's been a long week. Already. And it's only Monday.

Actually, this week is just blending in with the last one. Last week was Grandma duty. Great fun, but exhausting, especially when the duty's charge is sick. A two-year old with a runny nose, then a cough and a fever, two visits to the doctor, x-rays, blood tests, a trip to the emergency room, and a two-night stay in the hospital.

Little One was sprung last night. He was so happy to be outside after being sequestered in isolation. So happy to breath outdoor air, to run, and to see our unmasked faces. He's home now, sleeping.

He had: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which lead to pneumonia, neutropenia, and hypoxemia (low blood oxygen). Most of this is not very serious in an otherwise healthy person. But the Little One was eleven weeks premature which places him at high-risk for respiratory issues.

He should be on the mend now, but he's still highly contagious so I'm back on Grandma duty since daycare is out of the question. I'm wearing a medical face mask when I'm in close proximity to keep us both healthy. He has a prescription, which seems to be working.

He had very good care at the hospital. But we're all happy he's home.

Goodbye, Rocky

Rocky was my brother's dog. For 13 years. Probably the most important relationship in each other's lives. They loved each other, took care of each other, and were there for each other through the course of ups and downs where life naturally leads.

But life's journey always ends and even in that, they were together.

He was named for the Rocky Mountains, aside which he lived with his owner. Sometimes in small apartments. Sometimes on properties with lots of land where Rocky could roam and play, and take care of his people and animal friends. He watched over horses and took naps with the barn cat.

They hiked and fished and travelled as far as Boston.

His absence leaves an aching hole in my brother's heart. Rocky had a good life and my brother's life was enriched by it.

Rocky will be missed.

Sick Munchkin

The Little One got admitted to the hospital yesterday for pneumonia. Pretty rough day for him. X-rays, blood tests, nose draining, and and I.V. Sad, little boy. But such a trooper.

He'll be okay, I'm sure. But they need to keep him for a couple of days until all the results are back. Low white blood count (probably viral and bacterial infection at this point) and low blood oxygenation.

We were at the hospital last night for about six hours: from ER to room admittance. (This, after we attended doctor appointments yesterday and the day before, X-ray and blood tests on Thursday.) Mom spent the night there and we were back at 8am sharp this morning. Took a break for some errands and food, and to let others visit. We'll go back this afternoon.

He has a monitor on his toe, three monitors on his chest an belly, and an I.V and he's handling it pretty well for a little guy. We brought him his toys and lots of love to help him through it.

He should be released tomorrow. All should be well. Mom and Dad are doing fine.