Friday, February 29, 2008

Living in oblivion

We haven't had a television in our house for nearly four years now. Our one TV died back in August of 2004, and I still haven't gotten around to replacing it.

The benefits of this lifestyle are many. In terms of sheer numbers, I figure that we've saved over $3000 so far by not having cable. I cannot calculate how much we've saved by not being compelled and manipulated into purchasing the latest, greatest, limited-edition gadgets and gizmos and goodies which flash across the flickering screen.

The downside, I suppose, it that I am oblivious to the latest, greatest, limited edition gadgets and gizmos and goodies which flash across the flickering screen.

Case in point: the Limited Edition Hershey's Kisses with Coconut Creme Filling.

There was a bag of these delectable goodies at the nurse's station when I arrived at work on Friday night. I sampled a few, declared them to be divine, briefly lamented the fact that I had been oblivious to their existance, and chalked this ignorance up to our TV-free lifestyle.

Last night, when I did some shopping at the Uber-Empire up the road, I searched high and low in the Easter Candy aisle to find those wonderful, Limited Edition concoctions. Alas, they were nowhere to be found.

When I came home, I used the Google, and learned that those Limited Edition goodies hit the shelf for a brief period in 2006.

No wonder my stomach felt wooshy the next day.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Have no fear, soldier!

Mickey Mouse is here to save the day!


It seems that the wise people at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have enlisted the Disney Institute to assist with their hellacious systemic F.U. attitude customer service difficulties.

All government and military staff members at WRAMC will "experience the business behind the magic" in day-long seminars given by trainers from the Disney Institute. Yes, there really is such a thing, and their pixie dust will be sprinkled all over WRAMC for the bargain price of $800,000.

Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentleman. Doesn't that make you all warm and fuzzy inside?

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Redpoll invasion!!





We have an astonishing number of redpolls visiting our feeders this winter. Their frenzied feeding can be rather messy, to the benefit of Monsieur le BunBun.

Now I've seen everything!

The topic of conversation over this morning's coffee was the Wedding Industrial Complex. Sigh.

My husband's little brother recently got engaged to a nice New Joysee Italian girl. The current proposed budget for these impeding nuptials is .. well, let's just say it's about twice as much as I plan to spend on my next vehicle. It's somewhere between ouch and bo-oy-oy-ng.

Over the course of the conversation, we lamented the sense of entitlement that seems to be pervasive in our culture these days, as evidenced by the hors-de-control bridal registries that we've been invited to peruse lately. I resent being manipulated into buying a $75 crockpot for some distant relation that I've met once.

On that note, I went to post to run a few errands. As I was breezing through the PX, I came across this ridiculous item.

An electric martini maker.

One hundred dollars for an electric martini maker.

Just how lazy does one have to be, to have a machine shake the vodka?

If it wasn't so early in the day, I'd feel compelled to make myself a martini with my own two hands, sip it slowly, and lament the conspicuous consumption of this age.

And if M&C put such a ridiculous item on their wedding registry, I will disown them at once!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Gratuitous butt shot



Monsieur le Bun Bun is fearless and audacious, chowing down at the base of the feeders all day and all night!

How do I love thee?



What can I say? We lived in Italy for a few years! How could I not express amore this way?

Noted, without further comment

A Veterans for America report slaps a label of inadequacy on the mental health services available at Fort Drum.

In other news, rain is wet.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Engaging and electrifying

This will be an awesome election.



Is it too much to dream for an Obama/Winfrey ticket?

Saturday, February 09, 2008

A sad cautionary tale

I have been plagued by asthma for about 13 years now. It's unpleasant, even scary at times, but it's mostly under control these days. I've been using Advair for several years, with great success. This preventative medicine, coupled with New York's strict laws restricting smoking in public spaces, have enabled me to be live a normal, healthy, wheeze-free life. Most days, I forget that I am asthmatic.

Such was not the case for a young woman in Michigan. She died from an acute asthma attack, which was triggered when she arrived for work as a waitress in a bar that was not smoke-free. This was the first reported immediate death due to second hand smoke.

The victim, it is reported, had suffered from asthma for a long time, but was not compliant with her treatment regimen. She did not have a rescue inhaler on hand when she succumbed to the fatal asthma attack.

This is so sad, and such an unnecessary tragedy. There are some good rescue inhalers available. There are also portable nebulizers which can easily fit inside a glovebox. I have this one.

Asthma is serious stuff, kiddos. Don't leave home without a rescue inhaler!

Fluffitude!


Monsieur le BunBun has declared the area under the bird feeders to be his.

Noted, without need for further comment

From the San Francisco Chronicle, earlier this week:

Veterans not entitled to mental health care, U.S. lawyers argue.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Memo

To: General Eric Schoomaker, Army Surgeon General
CC: All the other perfumed princes and princesses of Army MEDDAC system
Subject: Stop Lying

Last week, NPR ran a story which discussed the frustrations that soldiers who are going through the Medical Evaluation Board and/or Physical Evaluation Board are facing. Specifically, NPR asserted that Army officials at Fort Drum had forbidden the folks at the VA from helping soldiers with their paperwork.

The Army, unsurprisingly, issued a flat denial of these assertions.

NPR, may they be touched by the FSM's noodly appendage, has come across a four page oocument which substantiates their original claim.

So, to whom it may concern: I humbly ask that you stop lying, stop trying to cover your asses, get off said asses, and take care of your soldiers.