a dog's life for me

As I reclined on the patio this morning enjoying the cooler temps and fresh air, as usual, the dogs were outside enjoying it too. Working on the crossword is relaxing to me, the world's problems temporarily disappear. Then I noticed the dogs. What can they worry about? Do they even worry? By this time of the day, they'd been fed & they've done their business. Roxy seemed content to stretch out on the grass, blinking in the bright sun, Bruster is still a pup and can't seem to sit still too long, finding bugs or other things in the grass for him to pounce on and sniff at. Buzz finds comfort in laying on the hard concrete in the sun, trying to ignore Bruster and another dog barking in the distance. He'd open one eye, squint into the sun, then go back to his peaceful place. Although I don't want to be a dog, I could take a lesson from them. Find ways to relax where ever I am. Stress Management. Just two words. Dog's Life, also two words. Maybe we aren't too far removed from our dogs (and some are spoiled). Think I'll go stretch out and bury my thoughts in a good book, another peaceful place of mine. Just thinking out loud.

Christmas gift orders

Some of you may know, I've taken on the family Christmas gift shopping responsibilities this year. I take this on with all seriousness afforded me and am humbled by the solemn opportunity. In lieu of waiting to see what's left at Walgreen's on Christmas Eve, I've done some scouting and pre-shopping. These are a few T-shirts that are available and within my budget. (man, there are some real weird ones out there, the first amendment proudly exposed!!) Family members wishing one, provide me your choice (one size fits all; the quality of these tees is that good). Non-family members are welcome to indicate those they feel my family would prefer.......... please reference them numerically, as #1, bottom right. #2, top center. # 3 'the blue one'. etc, etc, in this easy to follow pattern of identification. You get the picture?

Spanglish ~ a new language?

I see a new language has emerged with the Hispanics coming to America. One we take for granted now and hear almost daily: Spanglish. (For the record, NO, this isn't negative bashing about this influx of folks. For instance, according to National Public Radio: Some kids as young as 9 years old, traveling alone, can take up to a month to travel here from South American countries, facing numerous hazards - gangs, falling off trains and loosing limbs, being cut in half or decapitated, being kidnapped, robbed and other heinous crimes, dishonest Mexican local police taking money/items of value and then days of walking across deserts hoping they are getting helped and not left alone to finally die just south of the US border?) Just hoping for a better life. Any way..... Carol & I dined at a fine restaurant tonight before heading over to hang curtain rods for Andrea.
At El Pollo Loco chicken:
Me: I'd like the two piece meal, white meat, with slaw and mac n cheese as side dishes.
Clerk: Okay, You waan leg n tie or weeng and breas? waa side deeshes you wan?
Me: White meat. Wing and breast, mac and cheese and slaw for side dishes.
Clerk: Okay, you waan drank weeth thees?
Me: Just a water glass please.
Clerk: Okay, you waan eat here or waan to-go?
Me: Eat here.
Clerk: Nam?
Me: Ron
Clerk: Juan?
Me: R O N
As I write this I think of how hard it would be for me to learn another language at my age, especially. I haven't always considered the honest Hispanics who come here with nothing but dreams and faith to make a better life. They aren't always the ones hanging at day labor spots or seen in the news committing crimes. Maybe Marion Webster needs to write a Spanglish Dictionary. There's no doubt many words that could go in it. (PS one of my favorite foods is Mexican - so I guess I'm no racist. But, then again, I'm not fond of soul food. Hmmmm?)

Dealing with lesser intillegence

I came to work Friday morning with the below craigslist ad taped to my computer. The boss had found it, "Good job Ron!" This happens almost every time after we do a sting operation aimed at unlicensed, unscrupulous guys who buy tools and call themselves contractors. It doesn't last and nothing becomes of it. The idiot gets his venting out in print and feels vindicated, I suppose, warning other unlicensed wanna-be-contractors. They must not read, 'cause we keep having success at it. I never use my real name on initial contact...duh...not that stupid. At least this wasn't derogatory like the last one who aimed his verbal abuse at another co-worker. *To clarify things, I never said, "money is no object" and painting was not discussed. I know who did this. (he only got my real name when I contacted him after he emailed me a job bid on my clandestine gmail account) He's ignored my polite and professional to-the-point-this-is-how-it-is email explaining the state laws he's violated and had asked him to contact me. My real email inbox and telephone voice mail are both void of any communication from him. I already have him legally identified. He has no where to hide. No way to win this one in. Handymen are the worst offenders, touting & feigning experience and job skills they generally lack to sometimes a comical, if not dangerous, degree. This guy had advertised as an "experienced handyman" with the usual home repair/remodel trades listed and the disclaimer of "No Job Too Big." ________________________________________________

contractors sting operation (las vegas/nlv/henderson)
Date: 2009-08-20, 6:19PM PDTReply to: serv-fzhmv-1333968007@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

be careful if you get a call from a man named Ron Swift he is conducting a sting operation in las vegas/n las vegas/ henderson he is targeting all persons on craigslist he will call you for an estimate on painting, electrical be very careful, the adress he used is in nlv...... 2304 Lone Ridge ct beware he has 2 other men with him, and gives a story of money is no object. be careful
Location: las vegas/nlv/henderson
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
License info: Unlicensed

PostingID: 1333968007

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/sks/1333968007.html

The best of?

(Thurzdayz Thotz) Yes, I'm glad I don't live here, but I'm a little tired of seeing advertisements: "the best place to retire" "the best place to live" "the best home buys" "the best dog breed" "the best golf courses" "the best SUV's" "the best hamburger" "the best car rental" "the best beach cities" (Okay, I gotta drool about this one, Santa Cruz, CA, vote the best beach city to live in...) "the best road bikes" "the best flat-screen TV's" etc etc etc blah blah blah. I'd decided I need to quit drooling over these "bests" and make what I have the best for me, now, today in the present tense. I'm not facing the worst time in my life (hopefully, that was my Army basic training & Vietnam experiences.) I already know I have the best wife, the best kids, the best grand kids, the best job, the best SUV, the best flip flops, the best son in laws, the best blogger pals and now I'm best friends with numerous others now because of facebook. . . . . and none of us are living in a county plagued by famine, Talaban, war and lack of freedoms. I guess I already have the best of everything ~ even if I don't live here...

Mama Eggs - sunny side up

I got this picture off Jason's face book album page....some breakfast he ate, somewhere, sometime, somehow he was served these eggs...... I didn't know there is a difference ~ look closeley at the yolks :-)

Golf Day with Mark

This is the 18th hole at Sky Mountain, Hurricane, UT. I had to miss the homes on the left and the rough,out of bounds desert, on the right. Approx four hours earlier, we'd Tee'd off at 0648 hours and we weren't even the first out there! Not a Tiger-Woods-type-swing, not the best form, but it went straight down the middle, 225-235 yards... felt great to to end with my best drive of the day.
And, look at the gorgeous views (Carol and Linda need to come along some day, Carol could get some much better pictures with her super-camera) I'd love to live along here. . .our golf partner who joined us today, Von, does. He plays 3-4 days a week here, and at 76 years old plays very well. I think he was wearing his first pair of golf shoes. I guess retired physiology university professors can live this life :)

Here's my mentor, my coach-playing panther, my favorite bro-in-law Mark, on the same T shot.

Here we are, all done, ready for the club house to scarf down our free lunch, grilled bratwurst, before getting a bucket of balls for a little follow-up practice before leaving this paradise. I'm smiling in above picture only because, late in life, (not too late I hope) I've realized what I'd missed out on. Great to be out doors, healthy enough to enjoy it, no siren, barking dogs, police helicopters, smog, graffiti or low-life's. Now, as I blog on my lap-top, reclining in my lazy-boy pull out section of our sectional couch, my back a little achy, I realize how blessed I truly am; golf seems to be a catalyst for this feeling. I had been lead to believe golf was a worthless activity because of what I'd heard Dad say about this game: "I can't see the joy in spending money to hit and then chase a little ball around. . . " I love my dad. Too bad we couldn't have gotten out on a golf course, but then again, he did teach me how to fish & hunt, two very important aspects of life from his generation.