Coffee Break #28 - The cold, dark days

the verizon guy told me those chose towns for fios by blind folding someone and having them throw a dart at a map.

We have verizon FIOS for phone, computer & TV. got the TV last. They do like to sell you stuff, DH had to let them know that we didn't want HB & chimimax, but don't protest when you tell them. I think some of the trouble shooting calls are outsourced, but people who come & do repairs are very good.

Everyone wants to sell you more.

Anyone else wondering why there has been NO discussion whatsoever about the rise in the price of oil and gasoline??!! Oil is approaching the mid-80's and gasoline nearing $3.00 a gallon again. Crude oil rose around 80% in '09 and over 150% from its low last March! That's the fastest increase in that short period of time. All this in the middle of a crushing recession, with double - digit unemployment.

A few years back, when the economy was way better and unemployment in the 5% range, everyone was screaming bloody murder. I don't get it.

Well, now, nobody has a job to drive to and fewer have homes to heat :-)

So there are positive aspects of a down economy!

I think everybody's getting the idea that we are going to have to get used to high oil and gas prices. - whether we like it or not, with everything else that's going on sometimes it seems the least of our worries...

I'm not convinced of that.

I ,for one, am not happy about the increase. I think the companies just want $$ and don't care no one can afford it.

Everything but our wages is going up, though prices of homes and interest rates are going down.

I hate outsourcing. If we kept the jobs here, fewer people would be out of work.

Karen

I wonder if they pay health care insurance to a CS job that's outsourced to India...

This new show on Discovery looks cool:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/18/solving-history-with-olly-steeds-premieres-january-13-on-discovery/36710

Ii like the black western shirt w/ the 2 buttons, have to look for one of those! (lol!)

I try to keep an eye on fashion trends since I was in fashion for so long(not that I go out and buy all the current stuff mind you) but I try to keep up with it.

Tell me this doesn't look like a drapery tassle....come on!!!! All the rage with celebrities, was someone drunk and tied one around their waist...oh yeah that's a good look, matches the lamp shade on your head!!!!


Ok I'm done now.

Ha, ha!!!

Yup. That's a drapery tassle.

Victor, I noticed. Had to fill the oil tank today. OUCH!!!!

Oh yeah. Forgot to write about sister's babies. They're wonderful. Still smaller than I thought they'd be by now, but what do I know. One has down syndrome and the other was a preemie. Plus, my sister is a small person too. I'm bummed I didn't get any good shots of Lilya, the older one with DS. Here she is with her sister, Camile, the only shot I have with Lilya in it.

Oh yeah, Lilya's the one standing in that last shot.

Here's Camile working on her drawing skills.

What a cutie.

Thanks Jen. I can't post pics of my own cutie, I might as well do my sister's!

Why are you so upset, Jen? I think those tassels match Carol Burnetts curtain rod dress perfectly:-)

Welcome back Harper! Such cuties, it was probably hard to leave them.

Ha ha good one Jen!!
Harper they are adorable!!

This message was edited Jan 8, 2010 8:14 AM

Wow - beautiful eyes.

Yep - definitely a tassle, Jen. However, it can come in handy on a good date. ^_^

I don't know why im shocked you thought of that. ^_^

Beautiful girls Harper!

I haven't followed fashion for over 20 years. Looking at that tassle belt makes me glad!!

Anyone ever use one of these? Stick in the ground for 24 hours, then plug into your USB and it tells you what will grow in that area.Saw it on "This Old House" yesterday.

http://www.amazon.com/PlantSense-1000-EasyBloom-Plant-Sensor/dp/B001E5DF66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1262956043&sr=8-1

Thats cool!

$40 buys some nice plants instead!

But it might just end that "kill the plant 3X's" curse!!

I doubt it. Probably just measures water, pH and light.

Boy, your a bubble-buster this monring, aren't ya?

Randy bought that easy bloom thingie for me last year.. forgot to put it out last year.. but I stuck it in one of my house plants and it tells me when to water.. and it did give me recommendations on what types of plants grow well in that environment

Thanks for the link Jada!

Your welcome WC. I think it will help when I transplant all my wintersown seedlings this spring.

Hee hee - sorry, Celeste. I just think many of the techie things for gardening are a waste of money. And I like gadgets!

Heard from Al. He is fine. Surprisingly, he said he as gotten less snow than usual so far. I thought that entire area was getting whacked.

i think those plant sensor things would be helpful, and you are right victor that is about all they do, still to have a better idea of light and ph would be good - i still use the trial and error guestimate method - and after taking down all those maples last year coupled with the ice storm damage a lot changed - having said that i am buying a couple plants instead:)

This message was edited Jan 8, 2010 9:18 AM

that's good.. hope you told him we missed him!!!

that sensor does not measure the ph.. only drainage, temp, and light requirement

Then it's even less useful. Light requirement is pretty easy to figure out. Pouring a couple of pails of water tells you drainage and temperature is only temporary and can be done with your finger!