The Epitome of Laziness

The other day I thought Crash and Burn needed more exercise.  One of the problems I have with them when they play is that they spend a lot of time stalking a toy and I don't have the patience to hold or move a toy for them.  While I was picking up some food for them, I saw a toy could be used automatically.  All it needed was some batteries and I could set the timer for it to move for up to two hours.

Of course, the day I brought it home they practically ignored it, but today I caught Crash playing with it.  I turned it on and watched her.  Of course, I also had to take a video of her playing.  This is how she gets her exercise.

I had trouble downloading the video, but you can follow this link and see it.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsyAz9zaqMY

ENJOY!

Blame President Truman

That's where it started.  About 6 years ago when I took my cross-country drive, I found myself in Missouri, Independence to be exact.  I thought to myself, since I'm so close, I should visit President Truman's library.  That started my obsession/interest in presidential homes and libraries.

So far, I've only visited two others - the Kennedy Library in Massachusetts and Sagamore Hill, the home of Teddy Roosevelt.  They have been interesting trips and I've learned a few things.

In the next few weeks I hope to visit Gettysburg and the Eisenhower Farm.  That will make four homes or libraries.  I'm trying to  put a few days together to visit Hyde Park, the home of FDR.

When I was in high school, I visited Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.  I really can't count that since I was very young at the time and didn't fully appreciate the history.

I've got to get a list of nearby presidential homes in the east so I can make a good historical road trip.  Maybe next year I'll plan a trip to California for the Reagan and Nixon Libraries and then to Texas for three libraries - LBJ and the two presidents Bush.

Does anyone out there know of any other presidential homes or libraries?

Cats

This is something only a cat lover/owner would understand.

To begin, last year because of my back problems, I treated myself to a sleep number bed.  It's been very good, I can now sleep without pain.  Getting up is another thing.  But I digress.

One day, a few weeks ago, I felt my bed getting softer and I heard the clicking that happens when you let out the air.  After I got up and loosened all those tight joints I moved my bed and checked all the connections.  Everything was in place, I couldn't find anything wrong.  So I just readjusted my numbers and went about my day.

This morning I woke up to the sound of my bed getting firmer.  This time, I was more observant.  There was Crash sitting on the remote.  Apparently this remote is very sensitive.  I always keep it control side down on my end table since many years ago another cat, Midnight, used to turn the TV on in the middle of the night by walking/sitting on the remote.

I guess if I want to sleep undisturbed I'll have to put the remote in the drawer at night.  I can't ban the cats from my bedroom because they would want in at 3:00 am and would cry and scratch the door until I let them in.

They're not too spoiled.

Supreme Court Ruling

I'm still trying to make sense of yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare.  According to the chief justice, what makes this law constitutional is the fact that the mandate is a tax.  How can that be?  The president, himself, said that this was not a tax and he's always been straight with us.  Hasn't he?

So, the mandate is a tax.  Will middle class people making under $250,000 a year who choose not to have insurance pay a tax.  Won't this increase taxes on the middle class?  I thought the middle class wouldn't see their taxes increase.  Even if they have insurance, their taxes will increase in the form of small "nuisance" taxes like the tax on tanning beds, the tax on over the counter medicines, etc.  I guess the Affordable Care Act (the real name of Obamacare) isn't so affordable after all.

Obama has a problem.  In order for his Affordable Care Act to be deemed constitutional, taxes have to be raised on everyone, even those making under $250,000.  If he accepts this ruling, he breaks his campaign promise regarding taxes, if he doesn't then the last 2 1/2 years have been wasted.

How's that working out for all you Obama supporters out there?

The War on Fat

I recently heard about a man who lost custody of his two young sons because in the eyes of the judge, he was too fat to be a good parent.  In the past year, this man had lost 150 pounds and now weighs 360 pounds.  That is fat, but he is in the process of losing weight.  Instead of letting this father have his children while he loses more weight, they will be put up for adoption.  The mother isn't in the picture.

Every day we hear about another assault on the overweight or obese.  I actually heard one commentator who was discussing possible vice presidential candidates say that Governor Christie is not fit to be vice president because he's too fat.  That was the only reason.  I don't want him to run for vice president, because I want him to stay in New Jersey where he's doing a great job.

Mayor Bloomberg of New York City is trying to ban the sale of sweetened drinks that are larger than 16 oz.  That's the latest thing he has tried to ban.  Previously he has come out against too much salt, trans fats, etc.  But, he wants to eliminate the criminality of carrying a small amount of marijuana.

Schools have stopped having fundraising cake sales while at the same time there are vending machines that have sweetened snacks.

What will they ban next?  Whole milk?  Beef? 

I hope the War on Fat will be as successful as the War on Drugs.

A Day of Surprises

Today I took the QVC Studio Tour with a friend from my community and two of her friends.  It was a fun day.

At lunch, we started talking about jobs and I mentioned that my company had been taken over by CNA.  That rang a bell with one of the women.  She said that I must have worked for Continental.  I said yes in the reinsurance department.  It seems that her husband also worked for Continental and also in reinsurance.  The name was familiar, but I couldn't place him.

Later on, we were talking about the neighborhoods where we grew up.  We grew up just miles apart.  That might not sound too strange, but we both live in New Jersey now and grew up in Queens New York.

After the tour, we went to the QVC Outlet Store, which I never knew they had.  While I was looking around, I saw a pair of winter white slacks which I have been looking for.  There was only one pair and it was in my size.  Of course I grabbed it up.  The price tag said $38.79 or something like that.  When I was at the register, the woman gave me the price and it sounded like $8.59.  I just thought I misheard her until I checked my receipt.  I was shocked.  The pants were 75% off and the final price was $8.59.  What a bargain!  That just made my day.

It was a wonderful day - good friends, new friends and a bargain.  You couldn't ask for anything more.

Self Control & Baking

I'm so proud of myself.

I love to bake.  There's nothing better than taking those ingredients, mixing them together then putting them into the oven and after about 1/2 hour or so smelling the delicious cake or cookie that you've made.

Today I had an craving for brownies.  I cheated and used a mix and added chocolate chips.  They were wonderful.  Now here's why I'm so proud.

Usually when I bake, I take small pieces whenever I pass by the kitchen.  Before I know it, the cake or whatever is gone and I've eaten it all, probably in a day or two.  Tonight, after I had two brownies, I packed them in small plastic bags, two to a bag.  Then I did a really mature thing.  I put them in the freezer.

Now I have brownies whenever I want and I can't overdo it.  It's the grown-up thing to do.