Cassie-b

Two Blue Jays

We were on our way out the door yesterday a little earlier than I usually feed the stray cat in our yard. Actually, I don’t know how much of a stray she is, she’s been in our yard about 5 years now.

Well, Mr. (the cat) wasn’t around, but I did scare a blue jay who was stealing cat food out of her nearly empty bowl. As soon as that jay flew away, his or her mate swooped down, and not only took a piece of cat food, but took two. Now I know why that silly cat eats so much!

Happy Birthday Jack - again

To all of you who wished me luck with locating my brother (2 posts below)so I could wish him a happy birthday, I thank you.

And to whoever it was that actually did locate him, extra special thanks. He sent me an email, and I wrote back to him with best wishes.

I love you bloggers!!!

We’ll be going to the Empress and Buzz’s for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday (Thanksgiving), and here is the information he gave us regarding the holiday dinner: url And I’m just certain we’ll have a wonderful time. We’re really looking forward to the dinner no matter what.

Please – all of you who stop by to say hello – please have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday Jack

My brother's birthday is November 26, and I wanted to at least send him an email birthday wish.

So, if you happen to see Jack in the next couple of days, tell him Sis says, "Happy Birthday".

Telephone Service

After all the hype – did any of you change your phone service yesterday?

We didn’t , but I think we are the only people left in the USA who don’t have cell phones.

I don’t like to talk on the telephone at all (work is too much talking), so why would I pay extra to be eternally available.

Meeting under the Tent

A couple of weeks ago thhe employees in our building went to a meeting under a tent on our business campus. This was an enormous tent, and very well designed, I would like to add.

Just before the actual meeting began, a rainstorm to beat all rainstorms began. The storm started shortly before the meeting, and was finished shortly after the meeting was over.

I think that many of the attendees spent a lot of time wondering about the actual design of the tent, because there was a LOT of water on that roof.

I spent a considerable amount of time (while trapped in this tent) wondering if the moon roof of my new car was closed and wondered if I would have to open the car door to let the water out. I reached a little farther into my mind and wondered if the car would start if it had become flooded.

All’s well that ends well. We all got out of the meeting dry, and my car roof was all closed up and everything was dry. And it was a good meeting, even if we did have to strain to hear the speakers on occasion.

Time Flies!!

In case you don’t know how little time there is between today and Christmas, click here

I just find that simply amazing. And a little scary

And lots of bloggers already have very cold snowy weather. We're a little behind that, in fact, according to the weather folks (who have proved to be occassionally believable) we're going to have absolutely balmy weather this weekend. Can't say I'm sorry.

Shame on cousin Judy

The “snow storm in Los Angeles” that I couldn’t find (see post below) was actually a hail storm.

What a difference it makes in your searching abilities when you have the right info.

Just kiddin' cousin Judy.

I could use some help

"Cousin Judy" from New Hampshire just called and said there was a 5-inch snow storm in Los Angeles yesterday.

Don's family lives in that area and he would like to see some pictures. My searching abilities seem to have failed me.

Can anyone help me find some pictures? Judy said that the newspapers were full of the "freak storm". This is all I could find:

"LOS ANGELES -- A freak storm pummeled parts of Southern California with up
>to five inches of rain and hail, forcing motorists to abandon swamped cars
>at the height of rush hour and leaving thousands of residents without power.

The Nutcracker

I guess the holiday season is officially started in our household. We went to see “The Nutcracker” yesterday. It was performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, and it was very good.

I guess it’s time to think about digging out the holiday CDs. I’m not sure I’m ready. Maybe I’d better concentrate on Thanksgiving first.

The Nutcracker It's Christmas at the Stahlbaum home. There' s a huge tree, and many guests arrive to celebrate with the family. Clara's godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, makes magical toys. He entertains the guests with two life-sized dolls that dance around the room. Then he gives gifts to the children, and gives Clara a very special gift of a nutcracker. Her brother, Fritz, is jealous, and grabs the nutcracker and it gets broken! Clara is very upset, so Herr Drosselmeyer repairs the doll before handing it back to her.
Soon after, all the guests leave and the children go to bed. Clara gets up in the night and goes downstairs to get her nutcracker from under the tree. She falls asleep there, and is transported into Christmas fantasy where her nutcracker has grown to the size of a human. When the Mouse King attacks, the Nutcracker Prince tries to valiantly defend young Clara, but is struck down in the battle. Clara in turn saves her Nutcracker Prince by throwing her shoe at the Mouse King and defeating him.
With the nasty Mouse King out of the way, Clara runs to the Nutcracker Prince. When she kisses him, he turns into a human! Then she and her Prince are whisked away through the Enchanted Forest, where they see dancing snowflakes and other wonders. Then they travel further to the Kingdom of the Sweets

Where do you fit - or is it a secret?

“Baby Boomers” This is the generation of Americans born between 1943-1960. Some of the major influences on this generation were: the increased role of television, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, Watergate and assassinations of major political figures (e.g., John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr.).

“Generation X” This is the generation of Americans born between 1960-1980. Some of the major influences on this generation were: the recession in the 1980’s and the subsequent white-collar lay-offs, the increased use of computers and the internet, the fall of many communist systems.

“Generation Y” This is the generation of Americans born between 1980-2000. Some of the major influences on this generation were: significant technological advances (internet, computers), school violence, multiculturalism, and terrorism.

LATE BREAKING ADD IN from TW Thanks TW

a little sub-category for our little group--The "Gap Group"--1958 to 1968. Said the influences were so different for this group that they didn't fall into the boomers or X. Major influences--inflation in the 70s, the gas crisis, beginning of widespread cable availability, hostage crisis in Iran, and the terrible fashions of the 70s which we are now having to see again.

Not to be wasteful.....

As I was going through my too-full vegetable bin, I discovered 2 large sweet potatoes that looked just a little sad. So, in my frugal manner, I went to the biggest cookbook in the world (internet) and looked for a yam/sweet potato soup. Found a couple, and tried this one:

Creamy Yam Soup
5 cups stock or water (I used chicken stock)
8 cups yams, peeled and chopped
2 large carrots, roughly chopped
2 large celery stalks, roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (I like a teaspoon or more)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Bring stock or water to a boil
Add all ingredients
Boil until all veggies are soft, approximately 30 minutes
Let cool slightly, place in a blender or food processor, a batch at a time
and blend until smooth.
Return to pot, keep warm on low heat for 15 minutes.

It was a little different, and quite good. I only made 1/2 a recipe, because I wasn't too sure it would be a hit.

Yea Team!!!!!

How 'Bout them Cowboys??

I've been waiting for a long time for another good season. This one shows promise!!

Cassie and the Bug (or a Visit to the Dentist)

If you would care to look down a couple of posts, you’ll see my dentist – bug entry. One of my favorite bloggers read it and wrote me an inspired poem. I’d like to share it with you.

Cassie & The Bug
by CJ

Teeth are getting cleaned
the bug is crawling along
Cassie looks up
and knows it's all wrong!

The bug falls down
on her bib of blue
it's swept away
wonder where to?

There in the corner
where darkness creeps in
sets the "BUG" just waiting
for the right moment again.

Thanks CJ

The unofficial "How often do you Blog" Poll

I like to aim for 4 or 5 times a week.

And I usually manage to do so

But I read other bloggers just about every day. And really enjoy it.

Surprise at the Dentist Office

Yesterday I went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. While I was sitting in the dentist chair, I spent considerable time looking at the ceiling (where else can you look). There is a big light fixture on the ceiling over the chair, and I could see some dead bugs, and one very active bug crawling around in this light fixture.

When my tooth cleaning was finished, and I was waiting for the dentist, something fell on me – right on the blue bib they wrap around your neck. The hygienist brushed the “something” away. I asked her what it was, and she said, “a bug". It was the bug that I had been watching in the light fixture. YUK.

I’m so glad it landed on that little blue bib. It could have been so much worse!

By the way, my teeth are clean and I have no cavities!!

Traumatic event – happy ending.

Our little cat, Gracie, who we adopted as a battered kitten about a year and a half ago (she lived under our sofa for 3 months), had a terrible adventure outside tonight. It’s kind of misty, and when I went out on the deck to feed the neighborhood stray, I neglected to close the door all the way when I came back into the house.

Gracie went outside. I found her quickly and she galloped for the door. Unfortunately, the screen door was closed and she couldn’t get in.

A little later, she started running from me for the front door, and it was closed. Then she knew there was no way back in.

Don finally found her about an hour later under a bush at the next door neighbors, but couldn’t get her to come in. I gave it a try and got her.

She was so scared. Full of leaves and twigs, and wet. Poor little kitty.

I got her into the house, and she’s busy recovering now.