Ahoy, ye scurvy bilge rats!!

Avast!! Captain Aye-Z here! If ye landlubbers ain't aware of it, today me and me crew, the ski-dogs, er, I mean SEA-dogs are celebratin!

Aye, Mateys, ye may be be too late for some fancy piratin' if ye be readin' this now. But next year, remember September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Arggh!

A week from now we'll be traversin' to the shores of North Caroliny to spend some time cavortin' around in Davy Jones' locker!

So whether ye be swabbin' the deck, or hoistin' the Jolly Roger, here be some videos to celebrate a bounty-filled weekend! Savvy?

The Price of.......

On Friday, I was on one of my favorite message boards.
Inevitably, the discussion turned to the price of gas. I don't know if this happened where you live, but on Friday, people were lining up at gas stations for gas. So here I was reading many posts about gas and lines and the prices.

And once in awhile, I would go to the live feed from a Houston news station on the hurricane. I was close to tears a number of times just thinking and watching the whole thing. It did not help that I had read a book once long ago about Isaac Cline, a meteorologist who tried to warn people about the Great Storm in 1900. He knew it was going to be bad, but no one seemed to listen. So many people died in that storm -- including Cline's wife. The rebuilding of Galveston was just fascinating, though.

Do you know what I couldn't stop thinking?!?!?! While everyone is complaining about the price of gas, there are thousands of people who don't know if they will have a home (or a job) to return to. It is a small inconvenience when you think about it that way. I was relieved that Hanna bypassed us. I have heard many stories about when Hugo came through here. I didn't want to experience that. I would hate to have to leave my home not knowing if it would be there when I returned.

I still remember

I know it shouldn't surprise me but I was sadly disappointed with the coverage of 9/11 this year. I mean, were still at war here--and we may actually be winning! So would it be too much to ask for a single primetime TV program made to honor our armed forces, police, fire and other civil servants? We could have a concert, or a mini-series, a "memories" type program or a "where are we now in the war?" special.

But no, instead we get the usual weekly dose of schlock--Big Brother, Ugly Betty, America's got Talent. (Sorry if you like those shows) It makes me mad that the networks think we're more interested in watching folks run from hurricanes or politicians ripping on each other than taking one day and honoring the living and the dead who have given their lives to acts of heroism.

I mean we have special programming commemorating July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think some small thing should be done on "Patriot Day--9/11". B and I went out to Micke-D's for lunch today and she asked me why the flags at the bank were at half-staff. The media is obvioulsy NOT getting certain messages out to everyone. (Though they seem obsessed with "change" and if a conservative woman could stand up to the Russians and Chinese) It's sad and more than a little disgusting.

B and I decided to go out tonight on our weekly date. I wore a polo shirt with American flags all over it. It may sound small and silly but it's what I can do to try and honor those who have fought for and preserved the freedom we enjoy in this country.

I appreciate it and I won't forget.

Happy Birthday IZ

Well, IZ is now six. Boy I'm getting old! I remember being six--I got a red two-wheeled bike (with a white banana seat) and we moved shortly after that to "dairy country" in NJ where I would live most of my preteen years in the mid to late 70's. I hope some day to utter those awful words to my grandkids "I remember when I was six...back in my day..." while the poor kid's eyes start to glaze over.

A few months ago, we'd go to Walmart or Target and IZ, who had rounded out his Pirates of the Caribbean figure collection withChristmas gift $ in January, would tell me he now wanted a Buzz. Now I assumed he wasn't talking about Starbucks, Mt. Dew (or worse) but instead had found one of my boxes of toys in the closet and had seen/played with the talking Buzz Lightyear I have. The skibums like to push all the "try me" buttons in the toy section, and IZ especially likes the noisy playthings.

However, after searching around in several stores, I discovered the current version of a talking Buzz was, well, kinda lame. They've added some LED "laser" lights but most of the buttons on his chest (which used to say different phrases) are now just dummy buttons that do nothing. I could picture IZ pushing them in vain frustration. The clincher, however, was hearing B say, "please don't get him a Buzz Lightyear, I hate him."

So, after combing through a few more stores, I hit the Wiggles jackpot with a guitar that plays their songs, CDs, a DVD and more. IZ loved the gifts--and the cake as you can see. Sorry, Buzz.