Am I being courageous or just plain cranky?

"Courage is the human virtue that counts most — courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That's all any of us have." – Robert Frost

About Robert Frost
Robert Frost, the influential American poet known for his rural settings, uncluttered language, and meditative themes, wrote the poems, "A Road Not Taken" and "Mending Walls," among many others. He was born in San Francisco in 1874 and moved to Massachusetts at age 11. He ran a farm for ten years, selling it to move to England and become a full-time poet. After achieving his goal, he moved back to New Hampshire. His ambition was to write "a few poems it will be hard to get rid of." He died in 1963.

Thanks to Daily Inspiration's Quote of the Day for this!
(I'll insert the subscription link as soon as I can figure it out.)

All-righty, then!

I'm in a conundrum today, trying to decipher (and put into action) my best course of action for a number of interesting but highly annoying circumstances that have literally invaded my otherwise pleasant every-day existence. No matter which option I ultimately choose I will need a good deal of courage to carry it out - because every one of them involves entering unknown territory!

Today's categories include:

My Writing:
Articles, feature articles, and essays: I need to refrain from editorializing, just now. See, my attitude is tainted by my mood, rather than by well thought-out opinions. So many things are jumbled up in my personal life - not all in a bad way, mind you, but in ways that require time and attention - causing sleep-deprivation and stress.

The Novel: Things couldn't be better just now I've had a major breakthrough in understanding how to manage a plot point that's been giving me fits for a long time; how to write it effectively and integrate it into the story seamlessly. This is huge for me as it's been a hindrance to the book's completion.

My relationships with several other authors, some of whom I love, adore, and admire; and some of whom I don't even like, need changing and revising. Categorizing, if you will. Ugh! Additionally, one of the writers' websites I frequent seems to be going through something. Not in any of my groups, but the overall site is suddenly developing a sort of undertow... I can't quite put my finger on it, but I can say, most emphatically, I don't like it.

My Family:
Who is this smart-mouthed, teenage, know-it-all? And how long is she planning to stay? I'm just asking.

My own adolescence revisited?
Okay, I admit it. I have a crush on someone. It's been a long time, and I'd forgotten how much fun it is... Do I tell myself I'm acting like a schoolgirl and being ridiculous, or do I enjoy the ride and flirt my middle-aged heart out?


Always end on an up-note, right?

Later,
Carol

» Paul Surprises Ringo for Finale (Video) » The Fest for Beatles Fans

» Paul Surprises Ringo for Finale (Video) » The Fest for Beatles Fans

OH! What a night! Yeehaw!

Pearls of Wisdom from Sir Francis of Hoboken

"Critics don't bother me because if I do badly, I know I'm bad before they even write it. And if I'm good, I know I'm good. I know best about myself, so a critic doesn't anger me" - Frank Sinatra

Morford does it again!

I love this guy! And I love the way he writes! I wanna hang wit him!

Do your self a favor and go read this article, if not for the logic and sense it makes, then for his way of saying all the logic and sense it makes!

Here's a taste:

"Sweet Jesus in minimalist design heaven, the iPad. No mouse, no extra cables, no mandatory hookups, no startup times, installation DVDs, RAM guides, accelerators, system folders, font drivers, extensions, launch daemons, Kerberos plug-ins, jpg helpers or compression schemes, no diphthong upslingers pongo hurling goober kerfuffling flipblasters.

Just a devastatingly simple, utterly gorgeous sheet of glass and aluminum that does almost everything your average computer user needs it to do, with a couple finger taps and a happy sigh, sans roughly 500 of the usual steps, clicks, guides, installations, file extensions and so on. It's understandable at a glance, intuitive as candy, enjoyable as a porn star in summertime. You know, just like the Mac has always been, except not really.

Using the iPad is obvious in that "well now this makes perfect sense" sort of way. Use it for five minutes and you'll have what's known as the Apple Epiphany, that thought that says, "Holy hell, why can't every user experience/consumer product be like this?" -- Mark Morford, SFGate Comumnist.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2010%2F07%2F07%2Fnotes070710.DTL

Introducing Compatibility View - IEBlog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Introducing Compatibility View - IEBlog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

OK, if the other video didn't work, how about this one?

Louis Armstrong - Danny Kaye

How about this to put a smile on the face!




Thanks to "Rockinhillbillies" in YouTube

CA$H REVIEW: BREAKING HOLLYWOOD RULES | jacksonville.com

CA$H REVIEW: BREAKING HOLLYWOOD RULES | jacksonville.com

A is for Audi!

OK.

So yesterday I took my car (2004 Audi A4 Cabriolet) in for the long awaited service it was to have.

I've had to reschedule the appointment four times for various reasons, mostly revolving around snow-storms and loaner unavailability. No problem, really. Although I did worry that driving it might damage it more... and one thing I surely did not want to have to deal with was another in-transit breakdown.

I needn't have worried, though. I made it into service with no problem and decided since I was there, I'd stroll around the showroom before leaving to do my errands with the nifty little A4 they'd given me as a loaner.

Oh, stop tisking me. This is not a terrible thing. It's no secret that since this past October, I've been thinking this was the time (February) to purchase a new car.

So here I was considering switching from Audi to Toyota. (I'd had a Corolla back in the mid 80's and really loved that little roust-about! So why not give them a look-see.)

My friend Paul had recently purchased a Camry and is over-the-moon happy with it. Additionally, I'd become quite enamored, on several levels, with the Prius. And this may seem odd, but I also thought the Highlander might work for me. The last car I've been researching is the Nissan Altima. Audi wasn't even in the running, as far as I was concerned.

But then I got to thinking. For the past five years, I have enjoyed every minute in that car - with the breakdown exception. It is such a pleasure to handle. Their suspension package is unmatched for shear pleasure-of-driving satisfaction. Would I be this happy in any other car? I was starting to waver in my choices, but persisted in my research.

I had narrowed it down to the Altima, Highlander, and Prius - with a strong lean toward the Prius.

Then the Toyota-recall shocker. All the things I am learning about Toyota, now, as a company have blown me away. Their one-time track record of customer satisfaction excellence, has been missing for far longer than I realized. This was coming to light during my research, but the scope of their failure was so much broader than I had originally suspected. The question loomed: Do I want to do business with this company? No.

My parents had a saying for the type of thing that has plagued Toyota and brought about it's current struggles: They're too big for their britches! ...Sad, though; very sad.

So here I was meandering about the Audi showroom when I happened upon this shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxin', waxin' A5 convertible. Black on black with a dove gray interior.

I'm not sure but I think I heard it speak my name...

I circled it.

Circled it again.

Nah. To much money. Can't do it. No way. *big deep pitiful sigh*

Salesman asks, "Can I answer any questions you have today?" Hmmm... a closed ended question.
"Oh no. I was just looking. By the way, do you have any A4 convertibles coming in off a lease, say 2008's?"
"Come on over and have a seat, I'll check."

He had several. I didn't like any of them.

Memories of my days in the auto business kicked into high gear and were picking up speed.

Sha-ZOOM! I say to myself, It's February. I might be able to find a way to make this happen. What have I go t to lose? I'll either get it or I won't and either way, I'll be no worse off than I am now. Besides, I know myself; if I don't at least try to make this deal, it'll bother me forever.

"By the way," says I - with a flip of my chin in the car's direction, "what about that A5 over there. Tell me more about that one."

Long story, short...

I'm picking up the A5 tomorrow. My monthly out-lay will actually be less than I am paying for the five-year-old A4 I now have. My insurance will stay the same. I had enough equity in the older Audi to cover the down payment, and I'll have a brand new car with a new 50K mile warranty.

Damn!

This car is a thing of beauty, and so is the deal I was able to work out.

*SNAP*

If you're in New Jersey, and you want an Audi, give my uber fantastic salesman, John Oliver a call over at Mendham Audi and see what I'm talking about.


--
Disclaimer: neither I nor any family member of mine is employed by Audi or any auto dealership that sells Audis. My only interest in making this post is in relating a great experience I had as a customer.


"I am relatively convinced that in a past life I was Walter Mitty!" -- me

"I love historical fiction; it gives me the pleasant feeling of learning something while indulging my novel eating habit. Sort of like eating chocolate that has fiber." --Martha

"When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly." -- Richard Bach

There's GOLD over on YouTube

This show is at Kiel Opera House in St Louis June 65.
Carson hosted....
Carson had the Tonight Show.
The Rat Pack were playing Vegas.
This is supposed to be the ONLY time Carson sang in public.
Quincy Jones was conducting the Basie band, and he is visible in the background...

ENJOY!



YouTube Credit: Nd179

Fulfilling a 2010 resolution! The diet...

OK. My Nutrisystems food arrived yesterday, and I have officially started the program this morning.

I'll start by saying, thus far, the food is pretty darn good. With this I am pleased. Thus far.

However, upon opening the box last evening, I was somewhat confused. I am supposed to have received some sort of new confounded starter kit, but there was nothing inside the box labeled as such. I did receive some kind of powdered drink mixes, but they make no statements about being a special start up thing...

Further, I am disappointed in the "1 week of free meals" meals I received. Most of what they sent me has NOTHING to do with the foods I ordered and believe I would like and enjoy. I've got a ton of NUT infused foods I cannot eat, so that's a waste of time and money, along with more foods I have absolutely no interest in trying because their ingredients do not appeal to me.

Now, I have heard from several Nutrisystem alumni that Nutrisystem makes it a habit to "substitute" foods a lot. I don't want that. I want what I select. Anyone who reads this, please offer advice if you have it on how I can ensure I will receive what I order i.e. foods I like and enjoy. I want this to be a success for me, but now I feel some degree of concern that I may have made a mistake.

All that said, I am going forward. I have been enjoying my foods today and am hopeful that I can enjoy a reasonable portion of the foods I ordered. As for the foods I cannot or will not eat, well, something does need to be done about that... I'll keep you and everyone posted on my progress with straightening that out.

Cross posted to all my blogs.