Okay, it's been a couple days since the collapse and I'm ready to make a statement. Once made, however, we'll not speak of this for the foreseeable future.
The use of the "B" word is now forbidden to be spoken here at the ole homestead! It's much too early and the wounds are far from healed. It's gonna take a loooooooong time. 40+ years of being a Bruins fan without experiencing a championship and downtown Boston parade is frustrating at best.
Just so we're all on the same page, the "B" word refers to the Boston Bruins. Our New England NHL team that has been and is still VERY frustrating to watch and root for, especially after this past seasons inconsistent play during the regular season and the history making post-season collapse they allowed.
Note: I have made the decision that all of the Boston Bruins clothing I own will be going into storage indefinitely. NO hats, t-shirt, sweatshirts. etc. shall be worn by yours truly, including the coffee mug I use for my morning coffee - all put away for now, alas...
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Testing 1, 2, 3
We had our chickens tested for Salmonella Pullorum and Avian Influenza the other morning.
It's a free test provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The inspector arrived, put on a fresh pair of white disposable coveralls, hat, booties and rubber gloves and off we went. This was all done in the driveway. I can only imagine what the neighbors and passer-bys were thinking, especially in this day and age. Some vehicles will tell you who they are when their sitting in a driveway, i.e. plumbers, electricians, etc, but this dude was in an unmarked Chevy Impala. Even if you spotted the Mass. state license plate you'd still have no clue why someone would be dressed like he was - too funny.
Rules state that I am responsible for catching the birds, so I'd catch one and hand off to the inspector to have a throat culture/swab performed, a blood sample drawn and a identifying band applied to the birds left leg. Of course with the small number of birds we have this didn't take long and the girls were pretty good too.
The samples will be sent to and analyzed at the University of Connecticut. We should receive the results in the USPS in approximately a week. Just airing on the side of caution and want to make sure they're safe since we've been handing out eggs to family and friends.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Things that end with 'tor'
A teacher asks her class to name things that end with 'tor' that eat things.
The first little boy says, "Alligator."
"Very good, that's a big word."
The second little girl says, "Predator."
Yes, that's another big word. Well done."
Then little Johnny puts up his hand and says, "Vibrator."
After nearly falling off her chair, the teacher says, "That is a big word too, but I don't think we can count it because it doesn't eat anything."
"Well my mum has one and she says it eats batteries like there's no tomorrow!"
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Past Posting Updates
I thought it would be nice to provide you all with updates to some of my more recent posting, as I'm sure you've all been chomping at the bit to know...
"Whitey" Update:
Whitey remained on premise with us for a full week before being relocated. He behaved during his stay but more importantly during his transfer and release! He happily made his way out of the trap, checked out the area and scampered off. Hopefully we took him far enough away that he won't be back.
"Freeze / Frost Occurrence Data - Potatoes" Update:
Our Yukon Gold and Red Norland seed potatoes have been removed from the refrigerator and placed in a warm window. They'll be ready to plant outside in about a week.
"Spring Gardening Itch" Update:
Our tomato results are appalling. If you recall we planted a total of 100 tomato seeds approximately 6 weeks ago. Well, of the 100 only about 30 sprouted of which we have about 12 remaining. Of the 12 only 4 have grown their second set of leaves - the plants are tiny, tiny - pathetic. They're just about to receive their walking papers to be relocated to the compost bin. Lesson learned - waste of time and royal pain in the ass to start seeds in doors unless you're equipped to do such things, which we're NOT. Local nursery here I come!
"Colored Easter Egg Egg, Our First" Update:
Only one of the two Americana pullets I bought last fall lays blue eggs. The other is laying a whitish colored egg - she's defective. However, on a positive note we're getting on average one blue egg a day now, bringing our daily egg total anywhere from 4 to 7 eggs a day now. Gonna need to up my cholesterol meds real soon. I sure would hate to be relegated to Eggbeaters...
"Chain Link Kennel" Update:
The pair of Muscovy ducks have been sold. Although, we carried and cared for them throughout the winter they had to go. Ducks are messy and stinky critters, which I new but under estimated. The latter wasn't too bad during the cold winter months, however, with the arrival of Spring and warmer weather this was changing. We decided to air on the side of caution and find them another home before becoming a BIG, stinky problem.
"Whitey" Update:
Whitey remained on premise with us for a full week before being relocated. He behaved during his stay but more importantly during his transfer and release! He happily made his way out of the trap, checked out the area and scampered off. Hopefully we took him far enough away that he won't be back.
"Freeze / Frost Occurrence Data - Potatoes" Update:
Our Yukon Gold and Red Norland seed potatoes have been removed from the refrigerator and placed in a warm window. They'll be ready to plant outside in about a week.
"Spring Gardening Itch" Update:
Our tomato results are appalling. If you recall we planted a total of 100 tomato seeds approximately 6 weeks ago. Well, of the 100 only about 30 sprouted of which we have about 12 remaining. Of the 12 only 4 have grown their second set of leaves - the plants are tiny, tiny - pathetic. They're just about to receive their walking papers to be relocated to the compost bin. Lesson learned - waste of time and royal pain in the ass to start seeds in doors unless you're equipped to do such things, which we're NOT. Local nursery here I come!
"Colored Easter Egg Egg, Our First" Update:
Only one of the two Americana pullets I bought last fall lays blue eggs. The other is laying a whitish colored egg - she's defective. However, on a positive note we're getting on average one blue egg a day now, bringing our daily egg total anywhere from 4 to 7 eggs a day now. Gonna need to up my cholesterol meds real soon. I sure would hate to be relegated to Eggbeaters...
"Chain Link Kennel" Update:
The pair of Muscovy ducks have been sold. Although, we carried and cared for them throughout the winter they had to go. Ducks are messy and stinky critters, which I new but under estimated. The latter wasn't too bad during the cold winter months, however, with the arrival of Spring and warmer weather this was changing. We decided to air on the side of caution and find them another home before becoming a BIG, stinky problem.
Oh My Ach'n Back
The wild critters, i.e. wild rabbits and slugs (insects), have almost no place to hide now. The new raspberries plants can sprout and grow without competing with weeds, flowers, rocks and other obstacles.
I'm hoping this all means a bumper crop of delicious raspberries this year, as well as years to come - mmm mmm good!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The "Egg Beater"
Here is a picture of my new (new to me) commuter vehicle!
2003 Toyota Corolla LE Sedan
28mpg City - 36mpg Hwy
*******
*******
Bought Saturday 4/17.
Picked up ready to roll Monday 4/19.
First trip to and from work Wednesday 4/21.
Priceless!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Today's Commute Experience
Today's morning commute to work -
Once I made it to the highway I set the cruise control at 68MPH, turned up the radio and settled in for my 70+ minute commute to the office.
At 6:45AM, for some reason, there was an unusually high amount of traffic on Rt. 495, especially since it's April vacation for the grade schoolers here in New England. The traffic also included more 18-wheeler type trucks than I'm used to navigating through. Okay, so the ride was gonna be a little more stressful than I'm used to; I turned up the radio.
At one point I moved into the high speed passing lane to do just that, pass. There was a string of trucks all queued up and taking over the middle travel lane - they're forbidden to drive in the high speed passing lane, and there's just too many vehicles making there way onto the highway via the on ramps, so the big trucks are better off staying in the middle lane; I get that, I do but still hate em.
Anyway, even though I'm now in the high speed passing lane, I'm NOT going to punch the accelerator, why? So, like the little engine that could I was making progress at passing the big rigs. When, low and behold, what to my wandering eyes should appear but some banana eating douche bag in a big gas guzzler, half SUV half pick up type thingy-ma-bob, riding my rear bumper! C'mon dude, where the "F" do you want me to go? Can't you see I'm stuck here and riding my ass is NOT going to help matters? You can get as close as you want, still not gonna move over - I can't!
After a mile or two of this rump riding I HIT the brakes hard. Two things I'm certain happened immediately after that - one, the banana this jerk-off was eating got jammed down his throat as he reacted and hit his brakes. Second, that he shit himself, if even just a little bit! Yup, I woke his sorry ass up. He backed off immediately at that point. You see it was a matter of will and I was NOT moving for that pencil-neck-geek, I was determined to stay right where I was. He'd need to wait till the opportunity presented itself to him so he could GO AROUND ME, which is exactly what happened and off he went. At that point, I signaled and moved into the middle travel lane.
What an ass-hat! I was hoping to see him on the side of the highway in some ditch but no such luck. Just glad he had to sit in his soiled panties all day :-))
**NOTE: I'm NOT advocating violence, nor am I condoning this type of behaviour. Actually, pretty dumb especially at 70MPH but very satisfying just the same.
Once I made it to the highway I set the cruise control at 68MPH, turned up the radio and settled in for my 70+ minute commute to the office.
At 6:45AM, for some reason, there was an unusually high amount of traffic on Rt. 495, especially since it's April vacation for the grade schoolers here in New England. The traffic also included more 18-wheeler type trucks than I'm used to navigating through. Okay, so the ride was gonna be a little more stressful than I'm used to; I turned up the radio.
At one point I moved into the high speed passing lane to do just that, pass. There was a string of trucks all queued up and taking over the middle travel lane - they're forbidden to drive in the high speed passing lane, and there's just too many vehicles making there way onto the highway via the on ramps, so the big trucks are better off staying in the middle lane; I get that, I do but still hate em.
Anyway, even though I'm now in the high speed passing lane, I'm NOT going to punch the accelerator, why? So, like the little engine that could I was making progress at passing the big rigs. When, low and behold, what to my wandering eyes should appear but some banana eating douche bag in a big gas guzzler, half SUV half pick up type thingy-ma-bob, riding my rear bumper! C'mon dude, where the "F" do you want me to go? Can't you see I'm stuck here and riding my ass is NOT going to help matters? You can get as close as you want, still not gonna move over - I can't!
After a mile or two of this rump riding I HIT the brakes hard. Two things I'm certain happened immediately after that - one, the banana this jerk-off was eating got jammed down his throat as he reacted and hit his brakes. Second, that he shit himself, if even just a little bit! Yup, I woke his sorry ass up. He backed off immediately at that point. You see it was a matter of will and I was NOT moving for that pencil-neck-geek, I was determined to stay right where I was. He'd need to wait till the opportunity presented itself to him so he could GO AROUND ME, which is exactly what happened and off he went. At that point, I signaled and moved into the middle travel lane.
What an ass-hat! I was hoping to see him on the side of the highway in some ditch but no such luck. Just glad he had to sit in his soiled panties all day :-))
**NOTE: I'm NOT advocating violence, nor am I condoning this type of behaviour. Actually, pretty dumb especially at 70MPH but very satisfying just the same.
"Whitey"
Nope, I'm not referring to James "Whitey" Bulger, the reputed mobster who's on the lamb, and also on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
I'm referring to monsieur skunk, pictured above, who's attraction and love of peanut butter has landed him in his current dilemma. I don't believe that white skunks are rare these days but certainly unusual and quite attractive.
I'm sure this dude has some counterparts, or partners in crime if you will, still on the loose but that'll come to an end soon enough.
You see these foraging critters have been doing a terrible number on our lawn - holes dug everywhere in search of one of their favorite morsels! They're after grubs, which apparently we have a lot of and have been raising unbeknown to us. Now, some might argue, get rid of the grubs and your skunk problem goes away. Although, this is true the damage they're causing now needs to be addressed now before they ruin the entire lawn, so we don't have the luxury of waiting until the grub solution kicks in.
Now comes the tricky part, the "skunk relocation" program. Keep your fingers crossed that Pepe here doesn't decide to give me, and the surrounding areas, a parting gift...
Thursday, April 15, 2010
When Flour is NOT a Flower
While attending a Marriage Weekend, Walter and his wife, Ann, listened to the instructor declare, "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He then addressed the men, "Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?"
Walter leaned over, touched Ann's arm gently, and whispered, "Gold Medal All-Purpose, isn't it?"
And thus began Walter's life of celibacy.
Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances.
He then addressed the men, "Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?"
Walter leaned over, touched Ann's arm gently, and whispered, "Gold Medal All-Purpose, isn't it?"
And thus began Walter's life of celibacy.
Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thank you sir may I have another
For those of you who do not realize -
"It’s time once again to pay the man -- the taxman, that is -- and many noncustodial parents have more reason than most taxpayers to dislike April 15. That’s because, according to the Internal Revenue Service, child support payments are NOT deductible expenses to the noncustodial payer. Nor does the IRS classify support payments as taxable income to the custodial parent who receives them."
"Thank you sir may I have another"
In the rated PG version of this saying - Chip (Kevin Bacon), while being paddled as part of his Omega initiation in the oh so famous movie Animal House, says "Thank you sir may I have another" after each spank.
Of course in the noncustodial parents scenario we're not being paddled if you know what I mean!
"It’s time once again to pay the man -- the taxman, that is -- and many noncustodial parents have more reason than most taxpayers to dislike April 15. That’s because, according to the Internal Revenue Service, child support payments are NOT deductible expenses to the noncustodial payer. Nor does the IRS classify support payments as taxable income to the custodial parent who receives them."
"Thank you sir may I have another"
In the rated PG version of this saying - Chip (Kevin Bacon), while being paddled as part of his Omega initiation in the oh so famous movie Animal House, says "Thank you sir may I have another" after each spank.
Of course in the noncustodial parents scenario we're not being paddled if you know what I mean!
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Not Handy At ALL!!
Came across this vehicle at the local playground the other day. Although I am only somewhat handy, I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that is NOT the proper way to fix a broken side view mirror, right!!
C'mon, anyone in the somewhat handy category, would know that the proper way to fix this side view mirror is with Duck Tape, daaaaaah!!
Monday, April 05, 2010
Freeze / Frost Occurrence Data - Potatoes
Trying to determine the recommended planting time for your climate? Looking to plant potatoes for example? Since it takes potatoes two to three weeks to emerge from the ground, the earliest you should plant seed potatoes is two weeks before your last anticipated freeze date of 28 degrees.
Click here - Freeze/Frost Data for the Freeze/Frost probability tables for your state.
FYI regarding potatoes since we're on the subject - Seed potatoes should be stored in the refrigerator. About a week before your planting-out date, bring the seeds out of the fridge and place in a bright warm window for about one week. This will help break the spuds dormancy and assure they will grow quickly when you put them in the cool ground.
Also note, buy certified disease-free seed potatoes. Planting potatoes from the market is a gamble. Besides the disease problem, potatoes, are often treated with chemicals to inhibit sprouting, so they may not grow well.
Grow your potatoes in soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Don't plant your potatoes where tomatoes or eggplant were grown the year before. These are in the same family as potatoes and can attract similar pests and problems.
We have two kinds of potatoes we'll be planting this year - Yukon Gold (my favorites) and Red Norland. Getting excited, can't wait!
Click here - Freeze/Frost Data for the Freeze/Frost probability tables for your state.
FYI regarding potatoes since we're on the subject - Seed potatoes should be stored in the refrigerator. About a week before your planting-out date, bring the seeds out of the fridge and place in a bright warm window for about one week. This will help break the spuds dormancy and assure they will grow quickly when you put them in the cool ground.
Also note, buy certified disease-free seed potatoes. Planting potatoes from the market is a gamble. Besides the disease problem, potatoes, are often treated with chemicals to inhibit sprouting, so they may not grow well.
Grow your potatoes in soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Don't plant your potatoes where tomatoes or eggplant were grown the year before. These are in the same family as potatoes and can attract similar pests and problems.
We have two kinds of potatoes we'll be planting this year - Yukon Gold (my favorites) and Red Norland. Getting excited, can't wait!
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Pimp'd My Ride
I installed a fancy brush bar on the front of my lawn tractor yesterday. Cool right?! Be honest, you're jealous ain't you?! Now I can't be stopped if the lawn gets too high.
Lawn cutting #1 of the season has been completed...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Fun Fact
Fun Fact!
According to the Humane Society, there are 77.5 million dogs owned in the United States.
According to the Humane Society, there are 77.5 million dogs owned in the United States.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Springtime Gardening Itch
The gardens have been turned and are ready for planting once the weather warms. The winter rye that we planted in the fall is no more and has been mixed into the soil along with the compost I spread on top of the snow just a few short months ago.
I've also built and added a fourth 4'x8' raised bed yesterday. Not sure what I'll plant in it or if it'll even be ready for planting this year. I don't have too much soil to fill it with. I did, however, clean the animal pens and cages yesterday and added that "stuff" but that's really too rich for planting in now.
Since we got hit, and hit hard, last year with tomato blight I've decided to take a different approach this season. Instead of buying tomato plants from the local nursery Emilie and I planted 100 Burpee tomato seeds, of four different varieties, indoors one week ago today. We certainly do NOT need that many plants, just planted all the seeds in each packages. We'll see how successful we are and how many actually come up. I'll be happy with 50%. If this doesn't work then I'll fall back and punt and head to the nursery...
1 - Burpee Big Boy Hybrid (78 days)
2 - Burpee Delicious (77 days)
3 - Burpee Super Beefsteak (80 days)
4 - Burpee Summer Choice (73 days)
I've also built and added a fourth 4'x8' raised bed yesterday. Not sure what I'll plant in it or if it'll even be ready for planting this year. I don't have too much soil to fill it with. I did, however, clean the animal pens and cages yesterday and added that "stuff" but that's really too rich for planting in now.
Since we got hit, and hit hard, last year with tomato blight I've decided to take a different approach this season. Instead of buying tomato plants from the local nursery Emilie and I planted 100 Burpee tomato seeds, of four different varieties, indoors one week ago today. We certainly do NOT need that many plants, just planted all the seeds in each packages. We'll see how successful we are and how many actually come up. I'll be happy with 50%. If this doesn't work then I'll fall back and punt and head to the nursery...
1 - Burpee Big Boy Hybrid (78 days)
2 - Burpee Delicious (77 days)
3 - Burpee Super Beefsteak (80 days)
4 - Burpee Summer Choice (73 days)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
When Is A Hole A Door?!
So here it is a beautiful 60+ degree Saturday. The birds are singing, the sun is shinning, the cats have been tossed outside to enjoy the day and Emilie is outback playing.
Now the problem with tossing the cats outside is that they don't want to be there, so they're usually trying to sneak back in any chance they get. Well, back several years ago our dog thought it was okay and a good idea to take a tiny rip that was beginning in our sliding screen door and make it BIGGER. Yup, we'd catch her chewing and pulling on it - I guess she was prolly trying to tell us something. Well, the dog is long gone but the hole still exists and is about the size of a volleyball now or was - damn I curse the days that I am only somewhat handy, otherwise I would repair it, damn!
With the beautiful weather we opened up the french doors to let in some fresh air. Well, this poses a problem because now the cats use the hole in the screen as their little kitty door, uugh!
So, in an effort to prevent the cats from coming back in the house, I prop Emilie's placement against the hole and then use a pair of sneakers to secure it in place. OK, admittedly it's not the prettiest but it's a temporary solve - damn I wish I was handier.
Since Emilie loves to do the in and out thing, she is constantly opening and closing the screen door. You can now see another flaw in my temporary fix for the hole, opening and closing the door. The fix for this was to lock the screen door, hooray problem solved right?! Nope, now how is Emilie going to do her in and out thing with a locked door?! She was instructed to use the basement door but cmon she's only eight and wasn't about to walk ALL the way down the deck stairs, into the basement and then up ALL the stairs into the kitchen, nope.
She had something else in mind; a work around if you will. Can you guess what she did and what I heard, hmmmm?!? Like the dog who thought she had a good idea too, I hear the distinct ripping noise of screen (it does make a unique sound, really it does. If you don't believe me take out one of your window screens and tear a small piece and you'll see or rather hear what I'm referring to. You can always prompt something in front of the hole to "fix"). I jump up and come into the kitchen in time to see Emilie crawling through and half wedged in the screen hole. The ripping sound was of course her making the hole bigger so she could fit; it was simply too small for her to get through, AAAAAAHHH! So, I rolled up a newspaper and administered punishment as you would a dog - when in Rome right! I believe we've corrected her and this behavior. Now, if I was only handy enough to repair this hole properly, curses!
Now the problem with tossing the cats outside is that they don't want to be there, so they're usually trying to sneak back in any chance they get. Well, back several years ago our dog thought it was okay and a good idea to take a tiny rip that was beginning in our sliding screen door and make it BIGGER. Yup, we'd catch her chewing and pulling on it - I guess she was prolly trying to tell us something. Well, the dog is long gone but the hole still exists and is about the size of a volleyball now or was - damn I curse the days that I am only somewhat handy, otherwise I would repair it, damn!
With the beautiful weather we opened up the french doors to let in some fresh air. Well, this poses a problem because now the cats use the hole in the screen as their little kitty door, uugh!
So, in an effort to prevent the cats from coming back in the house, I prop Emilie's placement against the hole and then use a pair of sneakers to secure it in place. OK, admittedly it's not the prettiest but it's a temporary solve - damn I wish I was handier.
Since Emilie loves to do the in and out thing, she is constantly opening and closing the screen door. You can now see another flaw in my temporary fix for the hole, opening and closing the door. The fix for this was to lock the screen door, hooray problem solved right?! Nope, now how is Emilie going to do her in and out thing with a locked door?! She was instructed to use the basement door but cmon she's only eight and wasn't about to walk ALL the way down the deck stairs, into the basement and then up ALL the stairs into the kitchen, nope.
She had something else in mind; a work around if you will. Can you guess what she did and what I heard, hmmmm?!? Like the dog who thought she had a good idea too, I hear the distinct ripping noise of screen (it does make a unique sound, really it does. If you don't believe me take out one of your window screens and tear a small piece and you'll see or rather hear what I'm referring to. You can always prompt something in front of the hole to "fix"). I jump up and come into the kitchen in time to see Emilie crawling through and half wedged in the screen hole. The ripping sound was of course her making the hole bigger so she could fit; it was simply too small for her to get through, AAAAAAHHH! So, I rolled up a newspaper and administered punishment as you would a dog - when in Rome right! I believe we've corrected her and this behavior. Now, if I was only handy enough to repair this hole properly, curses!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Chimney Inspection?
Notice anything unusual atop the neighbors chimney, hmmm?
Yup, right on, it's a grey squirrel. Otherwise known as - varmint, nuisance and general pest, at least that's how I view them. They're no good; good for nothing and not very good swimmers either, hehehe!
Unlike the grey squirrel that for some strange reason fell or jumped or slipped down the chimney at my dads house and who eventually croaked in the fireplace (good thing there's a door on the fireplace), this one just poked around for a little while and then moved on.
Give it time, he'll be back and end up taking a similar plunge. However, the outcome will be different, as the neighbors do NOT have a door on their fireplace. The chase that will ensue will be similar to the John Candy (Chet Ripley) and Dan Aykroyd (Romain Craig) scene in the movie The Great Outdoors where they chase a bat around their cabin in an effort to catch.
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