No Giant Midway at Three Rivers...

All I can say is WOW. On Saturday as I passed the Coliseum to go meet my parents out off state street for lunch I noticed an ere sight for this time of year. The parking lot was empty. Every year for as long as I can remember I have made one trip during Three Rivers Festival to the "Giant Midway" for rides for my niece and nephew, or back in the day myself, and an elephant ear. I liked going there a lot better than going down town. I have wandered downtown for Three Rivers periodically but not often. This year though there will be no trip to the Coliseum for Three Rivers. Without giving a reason the people who do it pulled out at last minute literally. They were scheduled until Tuesday of last week to be there on Wednesday for their usual set up. I'm thinking it's the economy and the fact that I don't really think Three Rivers got that much attention last year. If memory serves wasn't there some type of shooting too? Either way I think it's sad to see this tradition gone on some level. On other levels it's not life shattering and there are other things to do, but for me it was just another of life changes that seem or appear to be coming in droves these days.

Foolish Pride Be Damned!

Some of my fondest memories have nothing to do with human pride. As I was walking the other day (Joe, no eye rolls please) I happened to hear a conversation one of the disc jockey's was having regarding how people have gotten to where they have no pride and have no shame in accepting a hand out. He went on to talk about how people were going out of their way to get their children on the free lunch program and to get a government check. He took his time reminiscing about days gone by when people were not proud of needing government assistance and seem to feel it's a good thing. I don't personally think it's a good thing to want to sponge off the government and I know that this man has probably known his share of people who don't need assistance yet they are taking advantage of the system and they are even lying to do it. I know I personally have witnessed people using food stamp cards and then getting into BMW's. I also worked with a woman who was making more money than me and she was getting a HUD house. So I can see how some people can become cynical. I also do believe that we are raising a generation that doesn't want to work. Yet I am not as cynical as that radio DJ and I believe that people who have worked hard and tried and are having hard times due to hardships that were unforeseen or out of their control should not have to hang their heads in shame. I personally don't feel there is any shame in asking for help if you need it. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone was willing to lend everyone else a helping hand? Either way I recall many times growing up when my family had to take advantage of government aide. It had nothing to do with my dad not being proud or not wanting to support his family. He would get laid off or lose his job for whatever reason and we would have to go on food stamps and get government cheese. It never lasted long because my dad was a go getter, still is, and he would go out and get work at whatever he needed to do to get us through. My dad has always been very good at managing money and my mother was always at home for us whenever we needed her because of it. My brother and I had a wonderful family to grow up in. So with mom making our house a home for my dad, brother and I all the financial worries fell on my dad. Out of this came wonderful memories though. How one might ask? Simply by our not being geared towards things and more towards time spent together, some of it routine. One routine we had was going to the Salvation Army almost every Saturday. I loved that store. We didn't always go in search of anything in particular, just to look around and shop. For my brother and I that meant a toy or a book or some treasure of our own that we might find. Yes we grew up on mostly second hand clothing. It didn't kill either one of us. Every fall we would get a few new clothes from Sears for school, but other than that it was second hand clothes either from the Salvation Army or from my grandmother Lula going to a similar version down south called the Exchange. So I understand how some can get upset with all the people walking around with their hands reached out; yet if they are reaching out of necessity not facilitated by their own laziness I see no shame in it. So to that I would say foolish pride be damned. I would also hope that each and everyone of you could know half the joy of living life not geared towards thing, but rather to living life and knowing the joys of loving time spent with family just sitting and talking. For now I have that luxury too. I get to sit usually at least once a week in my parents living room or in the back yard with them and remember times gone by. Life is precious and short. A lesson many learned only momentarily this week as they said goodbye to Michael Jackson. So foolish pride be damned.

What A Crock!

As I posted on face book today a statement about "Wondering how one goes about losing a crock pot." I was met with two comments that added to my amusement. One asked me why I would want to and the other asked me if it just disappeared from where it usually is. Hum good questions. I didn't want to lose a crock pot, I was in the process of trying to find mine for the carry in at work. I never gave it a thought that it might not be where it normally is. It normally sits on the top of the hutch in the kitchen. The hutch is taller than me so yes I would have to look up to see it, but it's been where I have kept it for years and it has never once failed to be there until today. One would say I was floored and stunned when I reached up to get it and it just wasn't sitting there. I looked through all the kitchen cabinets, in the stove, in the over flow cabinet and not one sign of it anywhere. When was the last time I remember using it you might ask? Well, I made chili and took it to a friends house. I'm quiet certain I left with it and from there is a mystery. So I ran to WalMart's and bought the crock pot you see in the picture and rushed it home to wash it and clean it for use. Then grabbed the hot dogs for the carry in that will go in it and ran out the door to head to work. If that crock pot is sitting in it's usual place when I go home tonight I guess we'll just have to sit down and have a talk. Of course I'll be in the mental hospital, but none the less I'm sure it will show up eventually. Sigh, what a crock.

Not An Ordinary Chocolate.

News flash! I am not a big chocolate fan contrary to opinion that if you are female you must love chocolate. As a matter of fact I rarely eat the stuff and often left to my house you will find it long past the point of throwing out. I do all the time. Throw it out that is. I find it's turned white. There is one chocolate sin I have though. I love "PLAIN" M&M candies. Notice the plain. Sometimes I'll stray from my norm and get the peanut butter ones or the nuts, but only on rare occasions. So now they are attempting "Strawberried Peanut Butter M&M's". So I tried them. They are not bad, but if I were Mars candy I wouldn't be putting all my eggs in that basket. I have heard, but not seen yet, that there are coconut M&M's and you can bet once I find them I will definitely try them. So if you ever want to get on my good side you might throw me an occasional Hershey's Kiss, but to really sweeten the pot give me the not so ordinary, yet called plain, M&M's candies. It's sure to do the trick!

"In Touch Weekly" Magazine Gets it Right!

Let me first state I mean no disrespect to Michael Jackson by stating this, but "In Touch Weekly" appears to me to be the only magazine out there that got their weekly release correct. Of course this is only my opinion. After all both Michael and Farrah were huge in their own rights. They both died on the same day and after Michael died that day it's almost as if the press and people in general forgot that Farrah had lost her brave fight with cancer that same day. Then it seems that President Obama decided he'd send his respects to the Jackson family, I wonder if he did the same for Farrah's family. Why is it they take some stars and make such a big hoopla? I mean I am sorry the man is dead. I loved his "Thriller" album. I also hold him no ill will for his charges he's had against him. He was found innocent, who knows if he was or not. I think his life seemed extremely sad to me. With all his fame and money he didn't appear from outwards to be happy. Farrah on the other hand appeared to be happy except for not well. Then lets look at how they died. Farrah died fighting to live. Wanting to beat the beast of burden that ravaged her body. Michael's death is shrouded in mystery. Heart Attack either by lack of food or by medications. Who knows. Either way both deaths were a shock in their own right. Perhaps people saw it coming more with Farrah, especially after her recent self documentary. It bothered me though that once Michael died Farrah faded into the back ground. I never really cared that much for her as an actress. I did like her in "Small Sacrifices." Never liked her in Charlie's Angels. Liked the other two, but not her. She played a ditsy blond. Yeah that was a hard role. While looking at the multitude of magazines today though I noticed three stood out. "Star" for it's almost none-story on either of the celebrities dying. "People" for it's grandiose cover, which I think would have thrilled Michael and "In Touch Weekly" for giving equal billing on it's cover to both celebrities. Which one will probably sell the most copies? I'm betting "People"; however, if I were going to buy one I would want the one that commemorated the two of them and their special day that now binds them together. Yep, "In Touch Weekly" got it right if you ask me.

Mold is in No Way my Friend

So last week during my week off on my very first day of vacation I started taking a sinus infection. I got the fever and really sore and tender to the touch face with all the gross other things we'll just not mention at this time. I kept a headache pretty much the entire week. I still had a lot of fun on my vacation though with all the birthday festivities and such, but it took the wind out of my sail one might say. It left me a little on the lazy and not feeling up to going the extra mile side. I slept a lot more than I would have. I didn't get my spring cleaning done, although towards the end I got a good start on it. So today I was still not feeling the greatest and my breathing was really really off. It wasn't a good thing at all. I was sitting talking with my mom, I keep telling you all she's great, and she noticed my breathing and coughing and wheezing and being a mom she asked me if my allergies were acting up due to the high mold count. High mold? Sure enough upon checking the mold counts are extremely high today for this time of year. I checked the yard and mold is growing on the trees. I haven't really noticed this except in the spring or the fall before but my mother assures me it's normal during "Dog Days"? Anyway, I am highly allergic to the mold on trees and other types up to and including Penicillin. So I don't always take my Nasacort AQ, I usually save it to take only when absolutely have to. It's a steroid and unless I have to I don't use it. After speaking with mom I went home and used it though and just like that my breathing has improved a lot. Still not perfect but oh so much better. I always take Zyrtec daily. Nasacort with insurance though runs me $52 a bottle so I don't take it everyday. I find I really don't have to and my sinus don't dry out as badly if I don't anyway. When I need it though it's nice to know I have it around. So if you're like me and allergic to mold you might want to get that medication running through your body. Mold is in no way my friend.

Where A Kid Can Be A Kid

On Monday, my brother and I took my niece and nephew to Coventry movie cinemas to see "Monsters VS. Aliens". The children loved the movie and I'm afraid my brother has had to add that movie to the list of must buys to have at his house. After the movie the children needed to get out and run some after sitting a couple of hours so my brother and I took them over to Indian Trail Park. I had never been there before. I tell you it's the kind of place we only dreamed of when I was growing up and as I told my brother, "If you're a kid and can't find something to do here, then something is wrong with you." This park is located off Aboite Center Road. I took several pictures and I just thought I would share them with you. There also appear to be several bike or walking paths in this area. If you have children this is a must to check out. Enjoy the pictures.