I got this announcement in my e-mail at work today - thought I'd share if anyone is interested:
The City of Buffalo is giving families free smoke detectors and batteries at various open houses across the Queen City. It is a first come, first served basis. (They recommend folks go early)
October 25th
Engine 2, 376 Virginia (and Elmwood)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 AM
Engine 28, 1170 Lovejoy (and Gold)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM
Engine 22, 1528 Broadway (and Wick)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM
November 1st
Engine 34, 2837 Main Street (and Mercer)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 PM
Engine 26, 703 Tonawanda (and Progressive)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM
Engine 4, 939 Abbott (and Hollywood)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM
Gardenmama's Journal
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10/23/2008 16:13 #46280
Free Smoke Detectors10/22/2008 19:01 #46254
Comic ReliefOK - time for a little comic relief - albeit twisted...
Next year's dancing with the stars duo to watch for:
Also, the chili I made last night - it turned out really good. I used cumin in it, which I've never done before, along with the other spices I usually use. I like it.
Next year's dancing with the stars duo to watch for:
Also, the chili I made last night - it turned out really good. I used cumin in it, which I've never done before, along with the other spices I usually use. I like it.
gardenmama - 10/22/08 20:34
From your mouth (keyboard) to Gods ears, James - Amen.
From your mouth (keyboard) to Gods ears, James - Amen.
james - 10/22/08 19:31
Too bad that pair is not to be. One will be running the world and the other will be shoveling snow in Alaska.
Too bad that pair is not to be. One will be running the world and the other will be shoveling snow in Alaska.
10/21/2008 22:56 #46240
Work, home, stuff, etc.My union at work is supposed to be in negotiations tomorrow a.m. with administration. Should be interesting to see how that goes. Would be really nice to get a raise - anything would be better than nothing at this point. The old contract was negotiated through 2003, so we’ve just been operating on that contract since then. I’m not generally a huge union fan but can see that they have their place and I will, of course, be glad if they happen to get me to where I’m at least just a little less behind. Unfortunately, the rules and rigidity often removes some of the opportunity for flexibility you might find in a non-union place.
Took my daughter to get her braces off today - she’s so excited. Her teeth look strangely large without them. Supposed I’ll get used to it again. And, wow, only four more payments to make. Dropped her off at school, went downtown to work, and, I swear, I actually saw a flake of snow while I was still in the parking lot - say it isn’t so... It sure got a whole heck of a lot colder.
Came home from work (late of course), made a big pot of chili (no beans) that we’ll have for dinner tomorrow. Turned up the heat a couple of degrees (all the way to 67); I just couldn’t seem to get the chill out of the air. It usually doesn’t bother me much but today it seems to be going right through me - bbbbuuuuurrrrr.
My mom stopped over, had a bandage on her pinky finger. Asked her what happened; she said she cut herself with some (garden) clippers and had to get 6 stitches - yikes! She makes me nuts sometimes, but I love her. This “sandwich generation†thing is kind of tough. Trying to keep track of your kids and your parents can be challenging. I sometimes think the parents are harder to handle than the kids. The parents tend to be much more unruly and stubborn.
Well, guess that was mostly my exciting day. I have an idea for a Halloween costume but don’t know if I can pull it off, or even if I’ll be able to attend the party. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
Took my daughter to get her braces off today - she’s so excited. Her teeth look strangely large without them. Supposed I’ll get used to it again. And, wow, only four more payments to make. Dropped her off at school, went downtown to work, and, I swear, I actually saw a flake of snow while I was still in the parking lot - say it isn’t so... It sure got a whole heck of a lot colder.
Came home from work (late of course), made a big pot of chili (no beans) that we’ll have for dinner tomorrow. Turned up the heat a couple of degrees (all the way to 67); I just couldn’t seem to get the chill out of the air. It usually doesn’t bother me much but today it seems to be going right through me - bbbbuuuuurrrrr.
My mom stopped over, had a bandage on her pinky finger. Asked her what happened; she said she cut herself with some (garden) clippers and had to get 6 stitches - yikes! She makes me nuts sometimes, but I love her. This “sandwich generation†thing is kind of tough. Trying to keep track of your kids and your parents can be challenging. I sometimes think the parents are harder to handle than the kids. The parents tend to be much more unruly and stubborn.
Well, guess that was mostly my exciting day. I have an idea for a Halloween costume but don’t know if I can pull it off, or even if I’ll be able to attend the party. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
10/20/2008 18:39 #46213
You can pick your friends......but you can’t pick your family.
Here is the latest incite-to-riot bullshit that my (must be Fascist) uncle sent me that I’m sure he’s passing around to as many of the fringe idiots as he can. The subject line of his e-mail was: “We are what we read.†Are you effing kidding me? How unbelievably stupid can people actually be? Geez, does that mean if I read about Hitler and Nazi Germany, then I’m a Nazi? The logic somehow completely escapes me. What continues to totally blow my mind is that someone with any brain function can actually hop on this irresponsible, unreasonable, ridiculous notion as having even a modicum of validity. Perhaps it’s just that we’ve spent the last 8 years with a president whose literacy is so questionable, that some people don’t know how to act when they see an intelligent man who actually reads running for president. I keep wondering if maybe my grandmother dropped my uncle on his head when he was little - cause I can find no other reasonable explanation. Sadly, perhaps my new pet name for my uncle should be “uncle cracker†- what a world!
Here's the stupid e-mail message:
WHAT IS OBAMA READING? This should tell us what we need to know about this man's plan for America!!
He is reading 'The Post-American World' -- A Muslim's View. Please send this to those who think he walks on water and should be the next President of this Great Nation.
Here is the latest incite-to-riot bullshit that my (must be Fascist) uncle sent me that I’m sure he’s passing around to as many of the fringe idiots as he can. The subject line of his e-mail was: “We are what we read.†Are you effing kidding me? How unbelievably stupid can people actually be? Geez, does that mean if I read about Hitler and Nazi Germany, then I’m a Nazi? The logic somehow completely escapes me. What continues to totally blow my mind is that someone with any brain function can actually hop on this irresponsible, unreasonable, ridiculous notion as having even a modicum of validity. Perhaps it’s just that we’ve spent the last 8 years with a president whose literacy is so questionable, that some people don’t know how to act when they see an intelligent man who actually reads running for president. I keep wondering if maybe my grandmother dropped my uncle on his head when he was little - cause I can find no other reasonable explanation. Sadly, perhaps my new pet name for my uncle should be “uncle cracker†- what a world!
Here's the stupid e-mail message:
WHAT IS OBAMA READING? This should tell us what we need to know about this man's plan for America!!
He is reading 'The Post-American World' -- A Muslim's View. Please send this to those who think he walks on water and should be the next President of this Great Nation.
jason - 10/22/08 10:37
Hehe. (e:Heidi), our father is an atheist, anti-war, unionized Democratic partisan, but to my frustration he absolutely clams up and won't talk about this stuff, but he is my father and I have the same intense look on my face when I hear something that drives me nuts.
For some reason the RNC sent me a personlized, "autographed" photo of W a while back. To screw with Dad I framed it and put it on the wall. On his second visit after I put it up he had to vandalize it, writing "I am an Asshole" on the glass. Hahaha.
Yes, we come from a line of Democratics - the blue collar ones. They're totally puzzled. People make up their minds based on experience and personal choices. But we are not hard core right wingers, definitely due to our upbringing.
As far as Dad is concerned, even if he is a lib, he'll always be a far better Dad than I will ever be a son. It just kills me.
Hehe. (e:Heidi), our father is an atheist, anti-war, unionized Democratic partisan, but to my frustration he absolutely clams up and won't talk about this stuff, but he is my father and I have the same intense look on my face when I hear something that drives me nuts.
For some reason the RNC sent me a personlized, "autographed" photo of W a while back. To screw with Dad I framed it and put it on the wall. On his second visit after I put it up he had to vandalize it, writing "I am an Asshole" on the glass. Hahaha.
Yes, we come from a line of Democratics - the blue collar ones. They're totally puzzled. People make up their minds based on experience and personal choices. But we are not hard core right wingers, definitely due to our upbringing.
As far as Dad is concerned, even if he is a lib, he'll always be a far better Dad than I will ever be a son. It just kills me.
heidi - 10/22/08 10:04
(e:jason)... i didn't know that your dad is a leftie... seems to explain a lot about your (and (e:joshua)'s) attitudes :-)
(e:jason)... i didn't know that your dad is a leftie... seems to explain a lot about your (and (e:joshua)'s) attitudes :-)
tinypliny - 10/20/08 19:30
Hahaha.. this post made me laugh so much, especially your reflections about your granny. LOL
Hahaha.. this post made me laugh so much, especially your reflections about your granny. LOL
jason - 10/20/08 19:11
My father insists on sending me a bunch of left wing stuff. I think the latest was "Palintology" - I know how you feel.
My father insists on sending me a bunch of left wing stuff. I think the latest was "Palintology" - I know how you feel.
metalpeter - 10/20/08 18:57
Well what he is saying is true for some people and not for others. Some people read all kinds of books and stories. But then you have history teachers and all the read about is history. Or you might have southerns who read about the civil war and do re-inactments. Stonners might only read about dragons and fantasy lands. George W. Bush reads the Bible and thinks that it is time for the Holy War and that maybe the world will end in his life time and he will have helped cause it (if you are Bill Maher at least). So there is some truth to and it is true for some people. But in the case of the picture it isn't true.
Well what he is saying is true for some people and not for others. Some people read all kinds of books and stories. But then you have history teachers and all the read about is history. Or you might have southerns who read about the civil war and do re-inactments. Stonners might only read about dragons and fantasy lands. George W. Bush reads the Bible and thinks that it is time for the Holy War and that maybe the world will end in his life time and he will have helped cause it (if you are Bill Maher at least). So there is some truth to and it is true for some people. But in the case of the picture it isn't true.
10/19/2008 22:26 #46203
A new car maybeI went and looked at a new (used) car this weekend. My car is close to the edge of non-stop trouble and I'm trying not to put any more money into what will likely become a money pit. My car is a 1999 Ford Taurus that has 130,000 miles on it. It was a FL car that had no rust and half that mileage when I bought it off e-bay for $3,000, 5 years ago. It has served me well but needs too much put into it at this point to keep it going.
Well, I test drove this little 2007 Ford Focus that I really kind of liked. It gets decent mileage at 26 mi. city and 32 hgwy - better than what I get now. My problem is I frequently shlep around a multitude of kids and/or junk and it's a pretty compact car. It is a hatchback with a fold down back seat, which could serve my purpose for junk shlepping (and would also be good for drive-in movies); but, my daughter and her friends would definitely be squishing in if there's a group. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Anyway, I really don't want to take on a car payment but it looks as if that's the direction in which I'm headed. My brother is going to check the car out for me when he goes to work on Tues. (he works for the dealership where I was looking) and let me know if he thinks it's a decent car. If so, he's going to talk to the used car sales manager to see what kind of a deal he can get me - Thank god. Good thing there's only 4 more payments to make on my daughter's braces - guess I'll likely be trading one insane monthly payment for a slightly more insane monthly payment. Oh, the joys!
It is kinda cute though - isn't it?
Well, I test drove this little 2007 Ford Focus that I really kind of liked. It gets decent mileage at 26 mi. city and 32 hgwy - better than what I get now. My problem is I frequently shlep around a multitude of kids and/or junk and it's a pretty compact car. It is a hatchback with a fold down back seat, which could serve my purpose for junk shlepping (and would also be good for drive-in movies); but, my daughter and her friends would definitely be squishing in if there's a group. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Anyway, I really don't want to take on a car payment but it looks as if that's the direction in which I'm headed. My brother is going to check the car out for me when he goes to work on Tues. (he works for the dealership where I was looking) and let me know if he thinks it's a decent car. If so, he's going to talk to the used car sales manager to see what kind of a deal he can get me - Thank god. Good thing there's only 4 more payments to make on my daughter's braces - guess I'll likely be trading one insane monthly payment for a slightly more insane monthly payment. Oh, the joys!
It is kinda cute though - isn't it?
libertad - 10/20/08 08:44
It is great that you have your brother to check it out for you and work out a deal. Goodluck!
It is great that you have your brother to check it out for you and work out a deal. Goodluck!
paul - 10/19/08 23:52
I am always ocncerned with the lack of a real trunk. We rented this type of car and it sketched me out to not have stuff locked away more securely.
I am always ocncerned with the lack of a real trunk. We rented this type of car and it sketched me out to not have stuff locked away more securely.
gardenmama - 10/19/08 23:19
Would that be in reference to me and the girls, or just as a general reflection of the look of the car?
Would that be in reference to me and the girls, or just as a general reflection of the look of the car?
mrmike - 10/19/08 23:12
can hardly wait to see all the clowns come out
can hardly wait to see all the clowns come out
Maybe I should change the batteries in my smoke detector...
Hey, thanks for the info, I need a new one. But I should probably just go buy one. I think I'd be an asshole picking one up for free if some poor family who really needs it can't get one.