Frustrations, I Has Em

I'm so sick of everything. I need to get away from everyone and everything. I'm sick of home. I'm sick of summer. I'm sick of the heat.

Everyone else gets to forget things for a time. I'm stuck with mine 24/7.

I have a million things started around the house and none are finished. It seems like the only thing I get done is the laundry. I need to get away. I need to forget how rotten my life is...and how I'm getting no help from anyone.

I'm not allowed to cry because that might upset people but I have such a backlog of tears that I just might explode.

And I'm still floored by a rather unusual person offering to be a designated driver so I can get good and toasted. The mind boggles at how I always manage to attract the most ....erm...inappropriate people to me at times like this.

Better Late Than Never

Dad is home and doing better.

I'm home and feeling exhausted.

Had a strange offer from someone while he was in the hospital...

Leaving me to wonder why the most unusual men seem to show interest in me.

Oye and vey....I'm so tired.

Top 5 On Friday

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 songs that always make you feel better.

Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams

John Lodge - Street Cafe

Elvis Costello - Man Out Of Time


Gordon Lightfoot - Alberta Bound

Short Update

Dad is back in the hospital again. Shortness of breath and low blood count. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

I may be a bit scarce in the next day or two, because I will be at the hospital with him. He's going to need 2 units of blood.

Oye...

Scary times...scary times

Something Healthy? That Might Taste Good?

Ok, I've been trying to find things that taste good but don't pack on the pounds, because these days I'm a little more rounded than I want to be.

I blame stress and my love for food. (All kinds of food)

I found a recipe for a Pineapple Smoothie that looks nummy.

1 cup skim milk


4 oz canned pineapple tidbits in juice

1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA)

Handful of ice

Place milk, canned pineapple in blender, add of ice, and whip for 1 minute. Transfer to glass and stir in flaxseed oil.

I'm not sure how I feel about the flaxseed oil, but hey it might be worth a try. Anyone out there brave enough to try this before me?

Responsibility

Not using the 20% coupon from Barnes and Noble is responsible. I did this. I'm sad about it, but I don't trust the economy right now and I need all the extra money I've got.

It is a shame our government on both sides isn't as responsible.

I never wanted this to be a politically motivated blog, but lately that's all that's on my mind and I get angrier by the minute, not just at Congress but at the idiots that live in this country that don't realize what's happening here and who really is to blame.

The Repugnants seem to think its ok to only extend the debt ceiling for 6 more months...you know so they can make Obama look bad, which is also why there are huge cuts to Social Security and Medicare in their plan. Basically if you aren't a rich old person, that party says drop dead you aren't needed. Your life and service to this country is over if we have to give you a dime.

Funny Canada has had issues with their social programs but they have things straightened out. If social security is taken away there is no way that small businesses can really succeed. How many small business owners can really afford pensions etc for employees that aren't family.

I'm truly afraid of what is going to happen in the coming weeks. I can't believe more people aren't angry and shouting at the rooftops. This game these politicians are playing is Russian Roulette and there are millions that will be affected by it. What of the truly infirm that are in nursing homes whose SS pays for their care. What of them when the SS check is withheld? What of people on medications that cost a mint who can't pay for the pills that keep them going?

Our gov't should be hanging their heads in shame at the chaos they are causing. And its funny but when you think of it...the terrorists have won, because it was 9/11 and the wars that those events started that really brought us to this point.

Rant ended for now.

When In Doubt..Let The LOLCats In

Found this GIF @ I Can Haz Cheezburger! Uh...I probably shouldn't give any of my cats ideas, because they are all naturally intelligent...


see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Farewell Amy

By now most people know that singer Amy Winehouse has passed away. Most are assuming overdose, as she battled addictions most of her short 27 years.

I'm totally baffled by how many people can be so cruel about this young woman's passing. Sure it was something that those of us that follow music figured would happen someday...how sad that that someday came so soon.

I wasn't a huge fan of Amy's music, but I recognized in her a good voice and I can understand why she had so many fans on both sides of the pond.

It is terrible when a life is cut short like this. 27 is not enough time to have experienced life, even with all the fame and fortune she had.

I hope wherever her soul has flown too that she's found the peace she couldn't find on this earth

I'm So Angry Right Now

~ Nephew whining about one class that he may not get an "A" in next semester.

~ Sister's dog getting out and me having to drive to their house and search the neighborhood to find her. I did find her. Got no thanks except for a Coconut Mocha Frapp from Starbucks that I extorted from her in repayment.

~ Everyone getting to fucking go somewhere for "much needed vacations." Fuck you all. I need a vacation but I ain't gettin' one...and I'm pretty damn cranky about it.

~ We won't discuss my paycheck situation for the week, cos it ain't pretty.

Forgive me if I sound like a cranky bitch..but hey, I am a cranky bitch.

Top 5 On Friday

Top  5 songs of summer songs you associate with the summer months, heat etc 

1. Zac Brown Band - Toes 
2. Keith Urban - Long Hot Summer
3. Cyndi Lauper - My First Night Without You
4. Rob Thomas - Smooth
5.The Moody Blues - Long Summer Days

It's Hot..I'm Cranky...It's Time For: Things That Annoy

~ The Accu-weather app on my phone just shows a thermomater exploding today. It isn't nice when the computer app is being snarky about 100 degree heat.

~ The government: Perhaps I should refer these asshats to my debt management program? Take away their credit cards! Someone said they should hand cuff them to the parking meters in D.C. today because it is going to be mother humping hot in D.C. and take away their water....and see how long it takes them to hammer out a deal. Cruel and unusual punishment? Yes, would it get 'er done? I bet it would!

~ My sister and her youngest son on vacation. I've had to help her oldest son take care of her animals while she was away. Have I mentioned that if you have a small zoo, you have no business being away from home for 4 days? Grrrrr.

~ The traffic alert sign that says: Char/Monessen Bridge Closed. Really? It's closed? Last I checked, it wasn't even THERE!!!!

~ Charleroi for not being able to bring a REAL grocery store into town. Save-A-Lot is great but the produce isn't always good and there's no Deli.

~ Giant Eagle...sure you give us fuel perks but could you ever put lunch meat on sale? Pretty please? I have to drive 10 miles just to get chipped ham on sale!! Oh and cheese too...plz thank you.

~ To the cable networks...Can you please re-air some of the summer shows since it is too freaking out to sit in my living room? GAH...I almost miss winter...

Happy Hour

This isn't your usual Happy Hour Special

An Open Letter To Congress

Dear Asshats,

You may think it is fun to try to force a collapse of our economy by not doing something to raise the debt ceiling or HEAVEN FORBID raise the taxes on the wealthy, but you seem to forget something. You forget all the poor people that will be hurting when their Social Security checks don't come in.

What of the elderly who's rent comes from the SS check? Or those in nursing homes? All because you can't work something out?

Cut your damn pay. Pay for your own health insurance. Those presidential coins, stop making them. The budget, don't print so many on paper, when no one, including yourselves, reads it. All those crazy pork projects..toss them out the door.

I'm not saying all spending should be cut. But the focus needs to be on THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. We need infrastructure...better education...which will lead to JOBS! We need advances in medicine.

WHAT WE DON'T NEED are politicians out to make a buck at the expense of the disappearing middle class and the ever growing lower classes.

Every elected official in Washington needs to know the feeling of unemployment, because not a one of them deserves  their job.

Now gets some work done and stop acting like a bunch of whining children! You have a country to run.

Sincerely,

A concerned citizen

For The Love Of Via

I love good coffee. I really love good iced coffee. When I didn't drink coffee my dad made his so strong that it would literally jump from the pot into the cup. That's the kind of coffee that makes good iced coffee.

Flash foward to the present. We make half caff coffee now. And it is so weak that it is barely worth drinking.

Now I like coffee.

But I don't like the coffee at home.

So I just spent  $5.95 for 5 packets of instant Starbucks coffee.

It was my treat to myself for the crappy way I've been feeling lately. I don't frequent Starbucks all that often but when you bought the VIA you also got a free cup of joe of your choosing..so Yay!

As I've said before...it is the little things in life that amuse me.

I'm So Behind I'm Ahead Of Myself!

This has been another one of those weekends. I long for the time off, but when I get it, nothing gets done. I could go on and on about why..but really it is a combination of life interrupting and some really f-ing selfish family members.

It doesn't help matters that it feels like its 100 degrees in some parts of my house. The new AC helps downstairs but only one room upstairs gets really cool. It is a shame that room isn't the one with my computer!

This video is the only thing that has brought me any joy in the last few days. (And I've been sharing it everywhere I can)

I'm Sick Of It

I'm totally sick of everyone in my family taking me for granted.

Everyone can go off on vacations and go places...because Andrea is going to be home to take care of mom and dad.

Andrea never gets to go further than 30 minutes from our house..and usually not for more than 2-3 hours.

I'm getting  pretty damn sick of it.

I do all the grocery shopping now and the cooking. I cook for mom dad myself and my nephew as well as my sister.

Oh and we dog sit for them!!!

All I want is to go to Ohio for one stinking lousy day...you want to bet no one will be around for me?

Top 5 On Friday

From Music Memoirs




Top 5 things you'd like to see change in the Music Industry
 
1.  I'd like to see those AR guys and gals stop relying on American Idol and similar shows for their next best thing! Do they even bother going into the clubs anymore to find TALENT? I'm sick of hearing a bunch of wannabes singing other people's songs. I'm sick of people just looking for singers and not songwriters!
 
2. Less crap albums please! Maybe if the AR people listened to my advice we wouldn't have albums that have only 3 good songs on them? They wonder why people aren't buying music? Well when the album is a dud with the exception of the singles....that could explain it. We want our money's worth dammit!
 
3. B-sides please! Ever thought of marketing digital singles like old 45s? For $1.29 I want a B-side! I mean it isn't as if US releases get bonus tracks or anything!!!
 
4. Stop with the Deluxe editions that are released a few months after an album comes out. Ah...so here are those bonus tracks and they come with a price tag too! It isn't fair to make fans pay twice for an album.
 
5. Give some promotion to established artists. It would be nice to see bands with some longevity get their new material out there in the public eye.

Feeling Twitchy

I can't watch the news anymore. I get too twitchy. Between those Ass Clowns in Congress, as Bilbo aptly calls them to the idiotic things that the average or not so average person does...I'm slowly losing what is left of my mind.

Did you know that somewhere in the US a parent had their children removed from their custody because they were obese?

That somewhere out there they are pushing to make Tony the Tiger as evil as Joe the Camel.

Oh and a restaurant in Monroeville has banned children under 6 from their restaurant! Newsflash, I know a few kids older than 6 that shouldn't be allowed in a nice restaurant!

Oye!

I truly can't believe the stuff I've been hearing.

Plus the talks about the Debt Ceiling...and seniors not getting their SS checks on time next month. That's freaking lovely. That's primarily what my parents live on!!!! They get 2 small pensions that don't add up to much and then SS.

I'd like to go to Washington and bang some heads together...take away their health insurance and gov't paid automobiles and expense accounts...and then see how they like things!!!!

ARGH!!!

Pass the beer!

I Need A Break...

I have a rule for Saturday.

If anyone wakes me at 6:30 a.m. I will personally choke them. Unless it is a certified 911 emergency.

I want to sleep.

I want to be left alone.

Some people in my family get to go on a 4 day vacation.

Picture me flipping them the bird.

I've spent the summer taking care of my parents. I've only had one day where I could go somewhere for more than 2 or 3 hours without feeling worry.

They get to go to Lancaster/Hershey for 4 days.

Pass me a beer please....cos this is starting to get to me.

Randomosity

~ Spent all day looking for a bill we thought we had lost, only to discover we didn't have one this month.

ARGH!!!!

~ I've read 1.5 books for the read-a-thon. I suck big time! However I have completed 3 out of 4 of the mini-challenges! So I feel like I've accomplished something! Woo hoo!

~ I'm about 7 hours behind on my TV...I still need to watch

2 episodes of Doctor Who (2 hours)
2 episodes of True Blood (2 hours)
1 episode of Torchwood (1 hour)
1 episode of Eureka (1 hour)
1 episode of Warehouse 13 (1 hour)

I wonder if I can catch up on the weekend? Probably not.

~ The panini @ The Panino Bistro in my little hamlet of Charleroi On Mon are to die for. I'm slowly becoming addicted to these things! Thank you Sandwich Nazi!

~ Smirnoff Ice Wild Grape is my new favorite drink.

Ssshhh I'm Reading

For the next 3 days I'm taking part in the Once Upon A Read A Thon. All of my updates will be over @ A Chick Who Reads

So I'm going to concentrate on my reading and maybe my to be read pile will shrink a bit in the next couple of days.

Wish me luck..and stop over to my book blog to see what I'm reading!

Farewell Old Friend

Tomorrow at 9 am the Charleroi/Monessen Bridge, that has stood for over 100 years will come crashing into the Monongahela River.

It was a one of a kind bridge, but even that couldn't save it from destruction.

I know that it is necessary to move ahead and forward, but from what I've seen, there won't be any bridge that they can build that will have the longevity of this one.

The Donora/Monessen Bridge has already undergone extensive repairs, and that bridge is less than 40 years old. That speaks poorly for the design and construction. But then again, maybe it is because we give projects to the lowest bidder rather than to someone that knows how to get a job done.

Farewell old bridge. I enjoyed the shimmy shimmy shakes you gave to my cars from your open grates. It always indicated when new tires were needed.

There will never be another bridge like you. May you float on to history......

I've Got A Bad Case Of The Lazies

Today is one of those days where I just can't seem to get motivated to do much of anything. I was on the elliptical at the YMCA and my eyes were going shut.

Yes, I was falling asleep on the elliptical!

I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to do that.

I can barely keep my eyes open now.. And it isn't as if I've done anything that strenuous today. I took my dad for blood work. I went to Triple B Farms and then grocery shopping.

Nothing out of the ordinary that would make me tired.

I just think I'm feeling lazy, because I just don't want to do anything. I want to curl up and hide and not do a damn thing.

I don't think Mt Laundry will appreciate that if I stay this way tomorrow. Especially as Mt Laundry is made up of a butt load of towels (oh how I hate towels).

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs or albums from the first half of 2011 I know I did the songs part a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd add it for anyone that missed it.

I'm going to do albums, since there have been some good ones this year. Nothing too stellar though in my eyes. I'm also going to cross many genres...as well as wonder a bit...why there isn't a Costello album here!!!

\

I'm Sad

We were planning on having Mexican take out tonight for supper, but when we called La Fiesta the phones had been disconnected.


So I ended up driving to Belle Vernon to Denny's to get our dinner.

Not what I wanted but I did enjoy the Cranberry Apple Chicken salad, especially with the Strawberry Dressing I bought last week at Triple B Farms.

I hate not having a Mexican place close by. That's my favorite type of food. Mmmm burritos....Mmmm mole...mmmm taquitos.

How am I going to survive?

I know there is a place opening in Belle Vernon soon, but I need my fix now!

I guess I'll be driving to Washington to Moe's more often.

RIP La Fiesta, you will be sorely missed.

I Need A Caffeine IV And Other Thoughts

~ I swear the days or rather the nights I feel like I have been sleeping well are the mornings that I can't seem to wake up. Espresso anyone? Make it a double!!

~ Can I just add my 2 cents to the Casey Anthony trial? Sweet jeebus...this is worse than freaking OJ!!!! Hell, I think that this woman is guiltier than OJ! And she'll get to walk! How did the DA take this to trial on nothing but circumstantial evidence? However it is proof that our justice system works as it is supposed to sometimes. Even though we all believe that she killed her child...and I imagine 99.9% of the people that know anything about this case feel like she did it...that reasonable doubt rears its ugly head. ARGH!!!!

~ I'm already sick of the 2012 election. I think all candidates should be thrown out. ALL OF THEM. I don't think Obama is doing a great job, but I think he's doing the best he can do in some cases with what he was left to work with. I can't fathom anyone truly wanting to vote for a Republican canidate. The scary words coming out of their mouths makes me twitch. Mind you the Dems do the same thing right now.

~ New Erasure CD in Oct!!!!!

~ Disorganization is my life these days. I can't get anything done. When I have time off there are other things to do and when normalcy (HA HA) returns I'm like a decapitated chicken. And I need to drop stuff off at Goodwill!!!

A Great Song

I love Kristin Chenoweth, she's so freaking cute. Her new song is called I Want Somebody (Bitch About). Yeah like Broadway turned country star Laura Bell Bundy, who I adore.

It is definitely worth a listen and the video is cute too.



It is great to see some fun pop music out there that isn't totally slutty or obnoxious. Yay for Cheno!

Eat At Moe's!

Move over Chipotle and Qudoba, there's a new burrito shack in town! Washington, PA has a Moe's Southwest Grille!

Can I just say Nom Nom Nom?

I've been to all three of the the slightly more upscale fast food digs and I think I like Moe's the best.

Why?

Well Moe's has a better selection...they have quesadillas, burritos, tacos, rice bowls, salads and fajitas. Plus they offer more options; like steak, chicken, pork or tofu.

I know I'm not the only one that would prefer this to Taco Bell. (And I'm not dissing the Bell, I love the Bell) The food is good, the service is great and you get chips and salsa with everything. The only thing that is an issue is...THERE'S ALWAYS A DAMN LINE!!!

But believe me, it is worth it!!!

The Thing That Annoys Me About July 4th

Fireworks are fun and pretty to look at, but they really get annoying from the last week of June through the 7th of July.

It is bad enough that the small towns in our area have their 4th of July celebrations on ...erm MY BIRTHDAY! but do the individuals also have to shoot off fireworks for two freaking weeks!

It gets old.

And it scares my damn pets...dogs and cats alike.

And it is a given that some idjit will blow off a body part because they don't know how to set off the fireworks properly.

That's always a favorite news headline during the Indepence Day holiday.

Personally I think the headlines should read "Stupid person taken out of the gene pool by bottle rocket"

Film at 11!

There is one thing that I really adore about this time of year!

Sweet corn!!!

I'll take corn on the cob over fireworks any day!

Birthday Recap

It was a fun day. Much food was consumed, presents were exchanged and good times were had.

 I bought scads of clearance books at Books-A-Million.

I got a few more Itso cubes to store them in.

I have lots of pictures and whatnot to share...just not now. I'm too tired.

I just want to curl up in my bed and snooze...OK and maybe read a little.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 Roadtrip Albums: