Thursday, February 27, 2014

Cancelled, Again

Twice now I've tried to get up to Canada.  The first time we actually got two hours north of here, stayed overnight at my mother-in-law's house, and had to cancel because of a surprise snow between there and Canada.  Today, I had to cancel again because of a surprise snow/ice mix that's arriving on Monday, which is the day I was planning to drive back.

Its not that I need to get to Canada, but this is irritating!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Friday, February 14, 2014

On the Road

Snow will be falling tonight in the area where we live as well as at our destination. 

Tomorrow, snow will fall in the area that we're passing through on our way north.

We're really hoping we don't hit any.  Let alone, have to go back home and shovel out the driveway.  Again.

=================

Two interesting conversations today.

One, with a woman who lives in southern France. She's always a pleasure to talk with.  I joke that I would pay her to talk with me, and she laughs,  but, truthfully, I would. She's simply and totally a delight. She's coming to the US for a quick visit in August with her sister, and I am going to try really hard to meet up with her, just to say hi.

And the other, a French woman who speaks English fluently - with a strong British accent.  Somewhat disconcerting,  but an interesting conversation nonetheless.  All in English, though.  Next time, French!

Conference Calls

This is dead on accurate.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Losing

After Bill Clinton had a heart attack, he lost a lot of weight.  I read that this was not particularly difficult for him because he has a private chef who was skilled in making things taste good while being sensitive to the need to reduce calories and carbs. 

Why doesn't the world work like this for the rest of us?

For example, I'm reading one web site which says:

  • If you are trying to lose weight, look at the calories. Comparing products can be helpful to find those lower in calories per serving.
  • To cut risk of heart disease and stroke, look at saturated and trans fats. Look for products with the lowest amount of saturated and trans fats per serving.
  • For people with high blood pressure, look at the sodium. Look for foods with less sodium.
  • - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/carbohydrate-counting.html#sthash.3RECODJj.dpuf
     If you are trying to lose weight, look at the calories. Comparing products can be helpful to find those lower in calories per serving.
    To cut risk of heart disease and stroke, look at saturated and trans fats. Look for products with the lowest amount of saturated and trans fats per serving.
    For people with high blood pressure, look at the sodium. Look for foods with less sodium.


    Which is probably right, but leaves me thinking holy hell, so watch out for everything?  And I think of those people who say Eat only plants, and not too many of those. 

  • If you are trying to lose weight, look at the calories. Comparing products can be helpful to find those lower in calories per serving.
  • To cut risk of heart disease and stroke, look at saturated and trans fats. Look for products with the lowest amount of saturated and trans fats per serving.
  • For people with high blood pressure, look at the sodium. Look for foods with less sodium.
  • - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/carbohydrate-counting.html#sthash.o36oRc5s.dpuf
  • If you are trying to lose weight, look at the calories. Comparing products can be helpful to find those lower in calories per serving.
  • To cut risk of heart disease and stroke, look at saturated and trans fats. Look for products with the lowest amount of saturated and trans fats per serving.
  • For people with high blood pressure, look at the sodium. Look for foods with less sodium.
  • - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/carbohydrate-counting.html#sthash.o36oRc5s.dpuf

    Why I Had Only One Daughter

    Found here.

    Tuesday, February 11, 2014

    Alors...

    Got a call from the hotel in Ottawa that we booked for this weekend.  Turns out they drastically overbooked, but hey, theres this other hotel you can go to.  So I'm thinking what, the good places are booked but this place still has openings? How good can it be? And then I find out that another serious storm is heading our way, possibility of 5-8 inches (which, even if its only 3, will be significant.  All of which is leading me to think maybe this weekend wouldn't be a good time to go traipsing up to the frozen north....

    And then I mention to the woman who had planned to visit us, bringing her daughter along, that my wife was a little apprehensive, since neither of us had ever met her before, and she immediately says you're right, lets scrub this and do it only after we meet face to face.  Say, your next trip to Paris? Which is (only roughly) planned for next summer, when god-knows-what-else will come up....

    And my daughter tells me that there was a murder in Blacksburg, involving two former members of the Corps of Cadets.  Hoo, boy.  And, oh yeah, she still hasn't found out where I might be able to stay when I drive seven hours south of here so that she can hang with a friend who's getting married soon.  Well, Jessica said I could stay with her! Great, and me?  She's working on it.

    What. A. Day.

    Friday, February 07, 2014

    Observation

    It would be nice to have a grandchild, I think.

    FSR

    I am really, really tired of hearing the phrase For Security Reasons.......

    Thursday, February 06, 2014

    Wednesday, February 05, 2014

    Tuesday, February 04, 2014

    Oh...

    In doctors office for a blood test.

    "You can just put your jacket on that hook."
    "No, its okay, I'll lay it here on - "
    "Um, that's a motion activated faucet."
    "-the sink aw crap."

    Nurse thought it was quite funny.

    Monday, February 03, 2014

    Two Weeks

    Found here.



    La Neige

    It's nowhere like what I remember from when I was growing up, let alone the thunderingly high snow that would occasionally arrive when I lived in South Dakota -- once, I recall, I walked around outside the building on a Launch Control Facility, and the snow was so high over my head that I was suddenly glad that security guy had insisted that I take a radio, for all that I was, perhaps, twenty feet from the door -- but still:  it's whiting out.  Again.  Good news for kids who want the day off.  Bad news for kids who want to get out of school on time at the end of the year.

    Me, I'm sitting here drinking coffee and studying French.  Again. Because even though it looks like I won't be going to France in June -- it was a long shot -- and even though our friends arriving in August will be speaking English, pour la plupart - still, next year, we will be going back.  So I need to keep trying, however frustratingly slow my progress is.  Even if the French word that comes to mind most often is merde!

    Sunday, February 02, 2014

    Thoughts

    Found on KGB Report, here

    The President said we must stay vigilant against foreign threats...yet Justin Bieber remains a free man.
    -Bill Maher.


    Maybe if we all e-mail the Constitution to each other, the NSA will finally read it.

    Saturday, February 01, 2014