Gibson waking up from a nap on Thanksgiving. No turkey for you...


Ok, this was bugging me - Radio.
There are 3 or 4 kinds of radio now. Ok regular AM and FM radio - boring except for NPR and one or two other things. I like Bob and Tom in the morning, but they don't play in my area, I'm lucky if I get them off the Toledo station.
Internet radio - you can listen to almost anything you want, depending on if you can find it. There are probably 20 to 50 providers of something and always NPR and the archives, which can be even better than what is on right now.
XM satellite or Sirus radio - Tried listening to that yesterday while working on the ceiling. XM is now on our DirecTV satellite - it used to just be whatever DirecTV did, now they make it easier on themselves and play someone else's play list.
But here is the kicker - I put it on 80's music figuring I would enjoy myself. I listen to the Best of the 80's on Yahoo radio. HUGE DIFFERENCE.
XM plays whatever Crappy 80's song they can dig up, at least Yahoo tries to make a distinction between something that came out in the 80's and something that hit a chart. Tom puts up with what I listen too a lot, but dang Even I didn't want to listen to the XM radio anymore.

We were working on the basement ceiling, yes, I know
- OH MY GOD.
This is what it is supposed to look like.




This is what most of the ceiling still looks like.






Yup, still got a ton of work to do.
Have to shorten all the metal pieces, because with the drywall you lost a 1/4 in at least and everything else .
Well, at least you can walk down the stairs and the ceiling is done all the way to the far wall in front of the book shelves.
Did I say I hate ceiling tiles? Well, I do.

Budweiser Dot Com

Ok, I got an email from family/friends that is of the new Budweiser Clydesdale Commercials for the winter season.
I was trying to find a way to put it into the blog.
But as Budweiser says, that would be irresponsible. Arg Because they want you to be over 21 to get into their website.
Anyway, here is the link - Budweiser to go see the 3 commercials.
Hit the button for the Entertainment section and The TV Commercials are listed on the bottom all the way at the left.
There are a couple other commercials, but as you know - we could care less unless the horses are in the shot. Oh yeah, I have seen info on the Superbowl commercial. Lets just say that our little Donkey friend is back.
OH, the Snowball Fight commercial won a Hugo Award - or was on their list. Hit a few websites before I decided that I had to hit the Budweiser site. (Just as a warning - I do not drink Budweiser- don't bother getting it as a gift.) LOL

The Weekend is over already?

Yes, we saw Harry Potter along with everyone else who considers themselves even a little bit nerdy. It was a rather packed theater on Friday night - 7:30 show. Yes, I know, if we had gone later it would have certainly had a few less children. But, now that everyone goes to our movie theater I doubt it would have mattered either way.

Yes, I must speak on that. The Emagine Novi theater.
It opened in 2002 and we started going there after the theater over by Costco started having really terrible sound, and the AMC 20 was always packed.
There were almost no people at any of the showings. Even when a couple of restaurants opened in the same area. Basically it was ok until the day they opened Lucky's Restaurant and gaming center. It has a bar and games and draws lots of people. You thought I was going to say Hooters, nah - it brought a lot more people but not that many. (Interesting link, you may find funny.)

So now, you can't just wander in and get a good seat anymore. You have to plan, like going to the AMC 20. That sucks. I guess we could get tickets on Fandango or something but come on, that takes the fun out of just going to the movies... Oh well.

Now, I won't say that I don't like Lucky's. Because I do like the place. I have had a good time there more than once. But, I guess I miss having the movie theater all to ourselves.
Now, Homework, eww.

Can you tell I got distracted today.....

Your Birthdate: July 3

You are more than a big ball of energy - you are a big ball of hyper.You are always on the go, but you don't have a type a personality.Instead of channeling your energy into work, you instead go for fun and adventure.Witty and verbal, you can have an interesting conversation with anyone. Your strength: Your larger than life imagination Your weakness: You tend to be pretty scattered Your power color: Lime Your power symbol: Lightening bolt Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

(I think I fixed it)

MAGICAL TREVOR

This post is only to make Tom happy.
We have tormented a few people with this, but Tom wants the WHOLE world to share.
So without further Ado.
Magical Trevor

Well, Mike joins the fun

It seems my brother has learned to use the internet for something other than ____.
Fill in the blank at your own leisure.
Mike has made his own blog and golly, it is pretty funny.
The HOMER odyssey is funny and I will probably be back for that on a regular basis.
So, either click in the side bar, or right here
to see The Bad Fisherman.

So I took the test......

Yes, I took the Nerd Test......
I am certainly a nerd. :~)

Pure Nerd 56 % Nerd, 43% Geek, 13% Dork

For The Record: A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia. A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one. A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions. You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd. The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful. Congratulations!

It's a cold captain

ARG..
Yes, I have a cold. How do I know I have a cold?
The yellow snot - that would be it......

Now lets see, who should we blame it on...?
Tom, nope he isn't sick.
Paul, he is sick, but I only saw him yesterday. We talked on the phone, but I don't think that counts.
Naarah- well she is always sick, or getting over being sick. Yes, I should blame Naarah. Although I saw her last Monday, and just now am I getting sick.
Hmm, I could blame - Mom, Michael or his girl friend, I saw all of them on Saturday - and I did have a major headache while I was there.

Or I could just blame it on the weather and be done with it.


Tom wants me to visit him for lunch. I guess that means I have to go get dressed for being in Public. He is working on this side of town today.
Later.
Tam

Oh how sad, Nothing better to do than Blog.

It seems this is becoming my daily ritual. Read everyone else's Blog and then come back and put stuff up on Mine.
You have to go see Naarah's for the link to the Upside down Christmas trees. People will do anything they see in a dang store.
You have to read Carrie's blog for a new word in my world. "Chunter" I have to go look that on up.

Yesterday I went to sort of an interview. Hurray you say....
Well that depends. Am I going to change my world again? Especially have the thousands of dollars spent on becoming a teacher.
The interview - what for you ask - Real Estate Agent.
Ok, you ask - WHY? Well, if you know me - I hit the open houses all around me and always check out the condo's that have been going up. Oh yeah, funny, the agent who helped Tom buy this house now works at the office I went too. They asked how my own experiences had gone and I was talking about how nice our agent was and BAM, the lady said, "Oh, she works here now."
WHY NOT? Have to take a class and pay money. Have at least $100 to $200 a month in payouts to use all the computers and stuff. Have to knock on doors and work weekends. (ok, done weekends before, but knocking on doors - I quit Avon rather than do that.)

The question becomes, do I want to try every job in the world? I have done Fast Food, I have done retail as an associate and a Manager. I have working in Public Access Television, and even some advertising while I was there. I'm a teacher and a substitute teacher. AND Sort of, but not really a horse trainer and farm kid.

I guess I should go bug the people at PBS, now that they are down the street and around the corner.

Tom says take a couple more classes in Winter semester and try to get finished with my masters. Oh fun. No, really it is a good idea. When else am I going to have this kind of time other than over the summer.

Alright, off I go to pick up my employee file.
later

Tammy Needs:

Ok, I finally did it.
I typed in on Google - Tammy Needs.
And this is the garbage I got back.

1. Tammy Needs To Know is a performance installation that incorporates autobiographical text, original music and audience interaction. (ok so I'm going to perform in public?)

2.Tammy Needs to Find showtimes, cast and crew listings, reviews, and more for Broadway and OffBroadway shows.

3. Tammy needs (in the UK) Comprehensive and up-to-date guide to What's On in the UK, including live music, clubs, cinema, comedy and theatre.

4. Tammy needs: a new home. (Why? What's wrong with the one I have?) Tammy needs:a group in Spokane. (I do? I've never been to Spokane. ...

5. Tammy needs more opportunities to be creative. (I can handle that one)

6. Tammy needs all information by January 5th, 2003 in order to post it on the website. (I'd like to know which website though.)

7. Tammy needs a fan blowing on her constantly. Tammy needs a new brain. Tammy needs to put the fork down and take care of herself ... (getting a little pushy)

8. Lois Weaver's solo performance installation What Tammy Needs to Know was presentedat Dixon Place in February 2004. (It seems that I am actually a musical or something.)

9. Tammy needs constant care. You can feed her, put her to sleep, play music, play cards, teach her, give her medical care, punish her, and clean her area. ... ( I must be a pet- down farther I saw it again and I think I'm a virtual fish)

10. Tammy should not marry him until she finds out. I know Tammy needs to find outmore about him. Why don't Jonathan tell Tammy him and Ava are married. ... (I am also on a soap opera.)(eww and bad grammar)

I guess I have a fairly interesting life. I also work in real estate, I'm in charge of posting things on web sites and promotions. The musical or play thing really interests me, they keep mentioning that I need to get tickets to my own show ( What Tammy Needs to Know).

It was as horrible as I thought. Hope you found it at least a little entertaining.
Later

Halloween

Sorry, Naarah
I claimed that I had put stuff up on my own blog about Halloween candy and in actuality I had put comments on everyone else's blogs on the topic, sooooo - it's not here.

Halloween candy - Tom bought big bars this year. We have to compete with the neighbors across the street. Long ago and far away I posted about their Christmas decorations and they were named "Rainbow F-in Randolph" in honor of "Kill Smoochie". They decorated the big tree out front in 10 different colors of lights wrapped up the trunk. They have younger girls.
Lets see if I can find a picture....
Nope, sorry - from the 2 mega pixel camera or a 35 mm pic. So, I'll have to scan it when I find the hard copy.

OK - so the whole point of that.
The people across the street spend a lot of money on holidays. Including Halloween and all the kids want to hit their house for candy, because of all the giant blow up spiders and crap in their yard.
Those kids who did come to our door got the big bars and Tom was so excited to hear them walk away going OOOHHH. I was also the only person to identify a child as a Bionical and he seemed rather impressed.

What else is going on...
I have seen the new buildings that Tom wanders out the door to supposedly go to work everyday now. Nice looking place, they were putting in a new sidewalk so that they can stay out of the street when going from one building to the other.
The funny thing is that most of you know what he is doing but to post it here would be bad - he is really in the Research and development with Chrysler now and well, the new car has not been announced. OPPs. They have a ban on picture cell phones in the testing area he goes to at the big Chrysler plant over there off 75.

Hopefully we will get Tom's Jeep back today. I'm tired of being without a car to drive. Yes he stole the Grand Marquis and left me stranded at home. I have to call someone to see if they will pick me up now for a lunch.
later
Tam

There were 2 pairs of Wood Ducks. Between Naarrah and I there are some really nice shots. I guess you'll have to see if she posted any. TLWF 2005  

I thought the placement was actually pretty good. She was like a foot from me. TLWF 2005 

The Wood Ducks were gorgeous. TLWF 2005 

Naarah and Rob stole me on Monday and we went to Parameter's cider mill to have some food (apple and caremel) and take pictures of ducks. I am very jelous of Naarah's camera. TLWF 2005 

Fall

Ok, so the colors were pretty nice this year.
If you haven't looked outside today, the wind took almost everything away yesterday. I haven't looked outside, but I was in it yesterday. We finally buttoned up the house. Found the storm windows for the basement and put in the big glass door on the front.
You would not believe the difference that door makes. I want a new front door, but I am terrified to ruin the seal of the storm/screen door and figure they would just tear it up if I put in a new door.
Everquest 2 will be a year old on Wednesday, are you ready for the fun. I will get a new title on the front of my main character, as I have played all year- "The Loyal". LOL Actually the bad news is, that our guilds on my server SUCK big time. We have like 50 guilds with an average of 10 players per guild. Or else it seems that way because I NEVER see anyone in my guilds (2) and also never see more than one or two people with the same guild name on.
We all need to De-guild and start again, but wait you lose all your points. CRAP I guess I'll have to do that again.
Oh well, that idea blew.
Need a fax machine today, hmm. Guess I'll get Rob and Narrah to stop at UPS store, they are kidnapping me to a cider mill. Ok, I have cider, but the donuts sound good.
later
Tam

Here are the culprits, they felt the need to get me out of the basement. Probably a good idea, considering I really have no where to go now. Hope you have a great day. TLWF 2005 

Ok, it seems this is the best of the bunch. I swear we stood there for 15 minutes making this thing. It is all stuff from within 15 feet of the original plant. He went through several phases and it was getting dark enough I had to use the flash, which change the color a little. Yes, Tom and Paul the weirdness in my life never ends. Hope you like him. I guess the little guy needs a name, George? or Hubert? TLWF 2005 

just some nice coloring and sunlight streaking. TLWF 2005 

I took this one, nice day out it was on Sunday around 5 o'clock. TLWF 2005 

cool, sillouete (if i could spell) Paul took this on. 2005 

nice reflection and depth of field. THF 2005 

neat mushrooms on a tree. TLWF 2005 

Confusion abounds in my world

Ok, first the good news.
Tom did get a new job and he seems to be enjoying it. I can not get him to log on and say anything himself, So I have to do it for him.
The new office is like 15 miles away and no where near down town Detroit. No more horror hours driving through the Ghetto. (think Cartman singing Ghetto)
second.
They finally opened Beck road to the freeway and across the bridge. You can get to the other side now, where there is a coffee shop, staples, Kroger, Homedepot, and Outback Steakhouse. Hurray.

EDIT
Lets just say - if you read it - I lived it.
Not 2 minutes after I posted this blog last friday, everything changed in my life.
You'll know soon enough if you haven't heard.


Hope yours is going better.
BTW - Tom's birthday was yesterday. We wanted to have a party, but no one is cleaning and ummm I'm too tired.
Hope to see you soon.
Have a happy Halloween.

Gee, I think that's Tom, Yup it is 

That's a lot of green 

Paul T and Michele 

Ren Fest with Carrie 

Mascarade 

Paul Lautenschlager's new apartment building. We moved him in over the First weekend in October. That was way too hard. He is on the third floor of the building. His old building was on the third floor, needless to say I have a complaint about the staris.

What, What, What???

Hi, Can I be even more lost???? Or do I just feel that way?

The end of the quarter is next week and wow has my life been weird.
In the world of Tammy -

1. New Principal
2. New Dean of Students
3. Whole new Teacher Handbook with some crazy new rules
4. Same old troubled attitude in the building.
5. Homecoming got changed, but we are having something the week of the 17-22nd.

In the world of Tom-

Hmmm-

1. NEW JOB

I'll make him write later.

Tam

Ok I stink

Yeah, forgot the pictures, Been busy.
Get back to you soon.
Tam

AAAAHHHHHHHH.......

Hi,
Actually it's Friday - I'm a happy camper. Ok, so I have a ton of work to do this weekend, but I really don't care.
I was going to give the students a lot of homework, shame on me. I did not.
I gave a quiz today and handed out copies of their progress reports.
I promise to put up some pictures this weekend. I'll be at Paul's tomorrow packing boxes again. OH JOY.

Ren Fest- We had a great time.
Tom DRANK - yes he actually had some alcohol. The phrase of the day was, "I think my face is numb." We did a beer run (actually Hard Cider and some Mead) while waiting for the Washing Well Wenches show to start.
It was Michele's first trip (dating Paul Thoma) and we dressed the two of them up. Michele has been to a Ren fest before but never to ours in Michigan. We made her watch all the good shows. Wenches, Dead Bob and Whip BOY - oh yes, Whip boy. (drooool)
Anyway, we wandered around ALL day long, bought fun stuff and ate a good amount and even drank.
I got candles from our friend. I think his name is Robert. I really like the way they smell.
Oh yeah, HONEY - real Michigan honey. Very good.
I guess that's it for now.
Trying to finish a few grades and go home.
Tam
ps. Pictures to come.

Oh another Monday here we go

Hi,
Paul is here and trying to prepare for the insanity of the first day back in the classroom.
I am trying to ignore the fact that I have lesson plans to finish for the week.

I finished reading Of Mice and Men, thanking everyone for how short it is. I started reading The Joy Luck Club, in preparation of my first group book talk in class.
Yep I am back in school myself and trying not to lose my cool.

Not that I don't enjoy being in school, I just hope I don't drop the ball anywhere, and I have a big feeling that it is about the happen. Too much going on at once.
Although, You can ask Tom or Paul, I read almost 2 chapters in My new Text book for class and finished the first novel and tried to start my first paper. Sunday - not just for ignoring lesson plans anymore. Now- add personal homework to that list. I thought I did good today..

Back into the grind I go.
wish us luck.
LOL

I was wondering....

Hey -
Now, I know in Florida you can't turn around near the water ways without running into alligators or crocs, or whatever.
SO, what crossed my mind this morning while I was 1/2 awake waiting for the alarm to go off was - are there any predators of that nature in Louisiana or Mississippi????
I can sort of image that they might not want to go near New Orleans because the water is so disgusting and even animals have more sense than we do in those situations. But what about the other regions? I know a lot of the water has subsided back to the gulf, but what is left?

I know, couldn't I be thinking of something more constructive? I heard an interesting report on NPR about the Live Oaks in New Orleans and the surrounding area. They have a society and all the oaks have names. It seems unfortunate that many will not survive the water - mostly due to the polutions they are guessing. Of course I also heard the story about how New Orleans is sinking. Hmmm Not much of a surprise there.

Well, off to deal with the aftermath of the power going on and off in the school building yesterday. We have a meeting at 7:30. Oh there she goes on the P.A. Later
Tam

Darn, I have to work

Hi all,
It seems we had a little bit of a power outage at work. Ok, it was out almost all weekend. hee hee

So, "no work for you." Actually all the teachers stood out on Outer drive yesterday morning letting the parents know that we were closed. All we needed were some signs and we could have had a good picket going.

You ask, so what did you do with your day.....
I tried to read some for work, I thought about lesson plans and then had to take Paul to get a drug test. WOOT
Yup, they gave Paul an ok Salary. So, yesterday - I was out helping Paul find an apartment. We were all up and down Pontiac trail. If you have ever been down the stretch between Wixom and Walled Lake, there have to be 8 or more properties on the south side of the road alone. We stopped at I think 6 yesterday. I think Paul picked one out. Works for me.
Crazy man wants 3rd floor though. ewww.

I was beat by the time we got home. I was not dressed for the heat. oh well.
Have a fun day. Back to work. eww
Tam

It's that time again...

REN FEST
Mom, Mike and Ashley went to Ren Fest this weekend and boy do I have a picture for you...

The Famous Dead BOB Show. My mother was zombie number 3. Yes, the slinking fifi, who sticks her nose up at Zombie number 2.

Either way, they had a great day. Mike and Ashley took a bunch of pictures. I need to get the ones off Ashely's new little nikon camera.

HOLY SMOKES

Hurray, NORVELL Lives......

I was just thinking about Norvel at the Highland Games festival in Livionia a few weeks ago. I remember Norvel telling me that his father is all into the dressing up Scottish and stuff. I sort of Looked around for someone who looked like Norvel, but there were a lot of people there.

Please give me a call, or put your email in a comment and then I'll delete it when I get it.

Labor Day weekend.
Hmm, Gas costs too much so I'm thinking we aren't going anywhere.

Paul is still in Limbo on the job. Don't ask you don't want to know. The bad news there is that Paul has to work the stupid Labor Day weekend at Art Van, Hopefully his last.

Whoopee, school is so much fun.....
talk to you later
Tam

Had to turn it on.....

Well, I finally had to turn on "WORD Verification" for the comments section of my blog.
Considering that Naarah posted one lovely comment to my last post and then there were 7 more advertisements.
I noticed when I had logged onto blogger the other day that they had a note up about Word verification. It's just like when you order tickets to a concert online. Keeps the computers of the world from just hitting your blog.

It's Sunday. I need to do my lesson plans, and I don't feel like it.
Tom and I went bowling this morning, then saw "The Brother's Grimm" and had bad Wings at Buffalo's Wild Wings. Mild, is well lets just say, Vinager eee.

Hope you had a great weekend.
Tam

PROM

LOL
Yup - I'm looking forward to Prom. (ALREADY)

It seems that As the Seniors English teacher I am really the only one that has them all together in class. All their other classes are split with other students. So, they sort of asked me to be their sponsor.

Hey, works for me. So, I remember how much I enjoyed my Senior Prom. We had it on the Star of Detroit (oh so long ago) and I thought what better place to have prom than the new Detroit Princess. If you haven't seen the commercials or heard it on the radio, there it is on the website. I have been dying to go see it. Now I have an excuse.

I understand how our CEO of the School thinks. Trapping the students on a boat for a couple hours is something he would go for. They can not leave, they can not come late, they will be under control the whole time. Hard to hide booze getting on a boat. :~)

Hmm, gonna need Photographers.... Do I know any? But you need backgrounds or maybe not, they might have a pretty corner?

Anyway, yes, we talked about Prom today. Hope we can find a way to afford it.
later
Tam

Our First Year - Number 2

Our First Year - Number 2
Hey, just checking everyone's blogs. WOW, people have been updating.
I finally caught up on some blogs that Naarah has linked to on her blog. Rat boy is a Wee bit behind there laddie.
Carrie finally posted.
I also watched someone's black and white footage of their cat.
Ok, I found it really funny because they play some of the games that I used to play with our cats. The one labled Halloween reminds me of many days I was so very happy the cats were missing front claws.

IT IS FRIDAY!!!
Once again, I survived a week of school and feel like we got SOMETHING done. We really needed to get the students used to a schedule. The last two days I have asked them, "what do you do in Mrs. Frederick's class after the bell rings." Some of them were very clueless, but happily almost all of 4th hour got it right on the nose. (BTW - we do Journal entries and then do the Wordly Wise homework.)
I graded two hours worth of 3 paragraph essays today. I couldn't take it anymore and went blog hopping. My 2nd hour class has 29 students in it. That is a lot of horrible grammar to wade through.

I also thanks the lords of Freon. The weather has peaked at 80+ the last few days and today if I didn't have Air in the classroom, I may have done something drastic. Lets just say stuffy and a little bit rank in the hygeine area on someone.

Well, off to do the school blog.
Tam

How to delete a comment?

I can not seem to find the rules for how to delete a comment someone made.
If you know how, please let me know.

Hmm, was expounding on my time in school and you know what....
You don't care.
Overall they are being good. I have a few goofballs, but that is the extent of it.
I think the seniors are the toughest to teach, they know enough, but do not wish to do any work.
I am also beginning to think some of the classes are getting an ugly group of different people in them.
ok, that's enough- again.

What is going on for Labor day. Anyone have anything fun to tell me to go to? Maybe Ren Fest. It is that time of year again.
later
Tam

Week 2

oh, well I had a nice post and opps.
Stuck it on the other website and this dumb thing does not let you copy and paste from your posts.

Survived one week with the students.

I am wearing a skirt again. Someone please tell me the name of some really comfortable tights for ok legs and a big butt. I am going crazy. I swear the leg part is fine, then I am dying all day because I can't breath or the tights are trying to crawl down my leg because they are so tight.

And for the thought, don't wear any--- Not allowed.
Especially not with a skirt that comes to my knees. I sneak with the long ones, but it will not work with this one.

Paul came to interview at the school. Let's see how long it takes to get in touch with him.

Had a semi busy weekend.
later
Tam

Stupid tests

I know I'll get spam, but I gave them a rarely used email address - I scored 124 on an IQ test.
Not bad.
The older you get, it seems you might get a little wiser....

Off to find more stupid things to do on the internet.

Some pictures and SPAM

Ok, for those of you dying, there are some pictures.
OK - slightly angry at Blogger for losing the RANT part of this blog. It was in the middle- how did it do that???
Could they have decided to edit me - how that quickly - people put porn on their blogs and I get edited. I think it just all screwy.


But my main concern this morning is that I got a SPAM comment on my blog. I am trying to decide if I want to be mad, depressed, impressed or what?
MAD - how dare someone post a SPAM in a comment - get your career started call us today...
Depressed - How low can you go??? You have that much time to post comments on blogs, or someone is paying you to sit there and paste that comment on how many blogs a day. How much do you get paid for such a demeaning job.
Impressed - That someone other than friends have actually looked at my blog. LOL Sure, ok they probably were just passing through.. But - they could have looked at my rambling post and realized, cool a teacher with something to say... I doubt that.
WHAT? - You put all those feelings together and get what? I have posted and sort of kept up this blog for over a year. (Much better than some people I know.) I try to make it interesting with pictures, which is what most of you want to see.
So yeah, Spam on a blog. How sad......

OH YEAH - I ALMOST FORGOT......
I have to bad mouth a company..... (reinserted) Bluestarshows (Computer shows)

(shortened- for having to redo)
At the Novi Expo center this weekend Bluestarshows came in with computer stuff. If you know me, I have been buying and putting together computers for 7 years or so now and been going to that show for a long time.
WELL - IT SUCKED. It is now a crappy laptop and some printers and major bad software show. Oh yeah, don't forget the crappy gold jewerly and car audio shakers - boom machines. I went in looking for USB Floppy drives - hmm $12 to get in and you want $40 and only one place had them. I could walk across the street to Compusa and probably get one for that. WITHOUT THE $12 entrance fee. $5 for parking and $8 to get in.
I didn't mind paying to get in when I could buy something cheap, but walking out empty handed and mad at all the pricing on what little they had, STUPID.


I saw harddrives at the show for the same price as STAPLES 15 minutes earlier when I went to get stuff for school.

So now, I want my money back. I need to email the company and complain. That computer show used to be great. I understand the overstock and eBay and everyone else online has really cut into their business, but man I was really disappointed. I have gotten several computers and parts for myself there, and the following people computers or a lot of parts there, Tom , Paul L and Jane. It was where I enjoyed shopping. Now it is like a stupid flea market. I swear I saw more stuff at the Gibraltar Trade center shows and that only costs what $3 or $5 to get in.

That's my two cents.
OH, The kids start school Tomorrow. We are 15 teachers short..... Make of that what you will.

Tam

Hi forgot the river boat on the Mississippi, very nice. Yeah, the water was sort of blue, brown here. No where near as dark as what it will be a couple hundred miles south. 

slightly blurry - no tripod - picture of downtown Chicago from a point near the science Museum. forgive me for forgetting the name of the point. We visited Chris Bard in Chicago on the way home. Wonderful time to stop. 8-9 hours from Minnesota and then 4-5 more home on the morrow. 

Touching the Mississippi. I have driven over it 4 times now, and have finally touched it. We didn't fit in a paddleboat cruise. Forgot to schedule that in. 

BIG TREE, on the Mississippi River in a town called Lacrosse in Wisc. Stopped on the way home, Nice day. 

Nice kitty. I love 5 mega pixels and the ability to crop. He was about 30 - 50 ft below me. 

Minnesota Zoo, yes Camel rides. No, I did not go. Tom kept asking me if I wanted to. I'll pass thanks. The zoo was very interesting.