Burn Notice

The finale was a few weeks ago but I just got around to watching the last 3 episodes today.  This was the end of 7 seasons.  I don't normally start watching a show until it's been on for a year or so because the networks have taken to cancelling them after a week or so.  Luckily, USA is better in letting their audience develop a friendship with their shows.  I did not watch the first 2 seasons when they happened but with the help of Netflix I got to watch them in about a week.  Then I got into the routine of recording and watching every year.  I got to know Michael, Fiona, Sam, Maddie and Jessie over the years and even though I am not sure their world is real (or at least I hope not!) their adventures were exciting & I enjoyed every minute. I especially loved Sharon Gless as Maddie, Michael's mom.  I remember her as Christine Cagney and her Maddie is so full of layers and I'll bet she showed these kids a thing or two about everything!

The ending left it open for a spinoff for Sam and Jesse and USA if you are in, I'm in.  And I do so hope Michael and Fi do live happy ever after in a land of plenty of C3 and Yogurt!!

Thanks for the fun ride.  I'm going to miss you all.

Les Miserables in Graham

Back in June, my friend Deb and I headed to Graham, Texas to see our friend Jimmy sing Jean Valjean in the Graham Community Theater  production of my favorite musical Les Miserables.  Graham is Jimmy's hometown.  He came to Tech and met Deb and I met him through her.  He is a tenor with the Lyric Opera in Chicago among other accomplishments.  He was the only professional singer who performed with several really talented and moderately talented local performers and they did a good job.  It is an ambitious production if you are not familiar...it is mostly sung start to finish.   The stage was at the Graham High School auditorium an it was a very nice facility.  All in all, everyone involved had a lot to be proud of.

Along the road in Megargal, TX we saw a really pretty church and I had to stop and take a few pictures.

I had to laugh at their sign.  7 AM.  Seriously?

We also saw some buffalo in a field and I tried to take their picture too but they were not very cooperative.

And then it was on to the show:

I was too slow on the draw with my camera.  By the time I realized I could take a picture it was too late.  

And here is Jimmy.  And Cosette and Marius.
This photo was taken by Jimmy's friend Randy Black and I'm using it with his generous permission.

And on the way home, we had to laugh at the "Guthrie Bypass".  Guthrie is a town with about 50 people in it and TXDOT built a bypass around it because they have a lot of truck traffic go through and I think there was a curve that was a little dangerous.  We pulled off to see if the old rock service station that had been there forever was still there.  It isn't.  There was a time it was the only place to stop over a long road from Vernon to Dickens.  Now there is basically nowhere to stop.  Not progress.  Anyway, at the overpass, TXDOT put brands on the wall and they look pretty cool:

6666 brand in the middle.  Largest ranch in King County.

Pitchfork in the middle.  Also in King County and Dickens County

Don't know K or JT but I liked the placement

We had a nice little road trip!!  

A few random thoughts.

1.  I really like the Marsha Sharp Freeway but why oh why would they build a brand new freeway with only 2 lanes each way?  If you are going to inconvenience an entire city for 5 years, build 3 lanes.

2. Speaking of that freeway, I wish the drivers who aren't getting off at whatever exit would get in the other lane so those of us that need off at whatever exit can get off there.

3.  I've tried to eat yogurt over the years but have decided I just don't like it much.

4.  I love my new job but loved my old schedule better.  Don't like working til 5pm.  And liked being at work at 730 to avoid traffic.  See thought 1 & 2.

5.  Kliff Kingsbury is adorably cute.  I am excited about Texas Tech football again.

6.  Why does a girl bring her chocolate lab to college with her, then make him live in a 700 sq ft and a 8x8 patio?  She takes him out to do his business and right back up the stairs.  She leave him and another dog on the patio all day...in the heat, in the rain.  She doesn't exercise him.  The other dog barks all the time when he's out.  Her dog just looks sad.

7.  I know tv is big business but afternoon games at the first of September in the south are cruel.  They showed the thermometer today at the Baylor game...it was about 2 pm and it was 117 degrees on the field.
No one should have to play in that heat.

8.  I love the school colors of Stephen F Austin University.  Purple and white.

9.  No one has a prettier symbol of a university than the horse at Texas Tech.

Fast Food~~Not sure what it hurts most: Butt or Blood Pressure

I am not really a big fast food person.  My standby place to eat when I'm too tired to make a decision is a west Texas place called Taco Villa.  I think they started in Odessa and they have a few stores between Odessa and Lubbock and they are familiar and comforting.  And I eat at Scholtzkys some because I walk out the back door and cross the alley from my office and I'm there. And I love Chic Fil A and there is one in my neighborhood that I've been to one time since I've lived here.    I have always, for some reason, liked Egg McMuffins so occasionally I will stop at McDonalds in the morning but actually find the rest of their food disgusting.  Which brings me to my rant, which is not about food but fast food employees.

One morning last week, while on my way to work, I went through the drive thru and I heard the employee say "it's not wrapped in the right paper" but he handed me sack anyway.  So I pulled over in the lot and sure enough, it was the wrong thing.  I pulled back around where I had to wait in line again for them to replace it. It actually annoyed me enough that I put a complaint in on their website when I got to work.  4 calls form corporate, offering me a free meal which I declined.  I was not needing a free meal.  I just wanted someone to know that my valuable morning time was wasted.  They all assured me they would discuss with manager. Normally, I would have just not gone back.  But last Sunday morning, there was one person in line and I figured they could handle handing me a Diet Coke out the window.  But I was wrong.  I got to the window and paid and then had to pull up behind the only other car in the lot where I sat for 12 full minutes.  By the time I'd been there a couple I was boxed in or I would have left.  So at 12 minutes, I called the number I still had in my call log in my cell phone from the manager calling me last week and they were surprised there was someone else in line.  I saw a little head come out the window to look to find not just me 2nd but several cars behind me.  When I finally got to the window they said they did not realize someone else was in line.  I asked them to make me  fresh drink so I could see that no one spit in it.  I should have filed another complaint but whatever.  That particular store cannot be making a ton of $$ because I rarely see anyone there.  Someone needs to Undercover Boss that place.

And then on the way home earlier this week I stopped at Chicken Express and watched as people behind me went to the newly opened lane 2 and got their food before I did.  And again, I was boxed in.  Being trapped in a line is an annoying trend among fast food joints these days.

My bigger problem is the employees at these places.  No doubt they are uneducated.   They can't take an order, they can't count change.  In my experience they are also don't care about doing a quality job, they are rude to each other and their customers and they need constant supervision from some who has a stake in the store.  Sadly, they are probably graduates of our public school system where...well, I'm not sure what is stressed but it's not math, reading or problem solving.  And I guess in some of their minds minimum wage deserves minimum effort.  No pride in a job.  I know I'm generalizing but these are my experiences and they happen every time I eat fast food.   So I guess I need to stop...for my butt and my blood pressure.

House Pros and Cons

At the end of May, I was in a funk.  I knew I was not going back to school.  I'd had enough of cafeteria duty.  The principal, secretary and nurse was leaving and they weren't leaving me there alone.  I was making diddly money.  I was ready for a change.  I had thought maybe I'd move out of town.  Then the house sold.  I got an apartment.  And I thought I could live here for awhile.  I was wrong.

So now it's house time again.  And I don't know exactly what I want but I don't want much yard.  I want as little yard as possible.  So I've been looking at garden homes.  I've decided that a garden home is a smaller house than normal but $50,000 more.  Today I saw 2.  The first is in a great neighborhood and beautiful on the outside.  And butt ugly on the inside.  I don't know where they got the pictures but this house did not look like the pictures.  The second one was much better.  I really liked it.  But why?  Do I love it because I love it or because I hated the first one so much.  Because the apartment is such a poof fit?  There are definite pros and cons on the 2nd one.  

Pros:

Very well kept up house.  

Great pantry.

Very little yard.

Plantation shutters.

Huge bedrrooms

Huge master bath with separate shower

Good carpet

2 car, rear entry garage

$2500 less than ugly first one. 

Realtor thinks we can offer $5500 less than asking price. 

Pretty neighborhood

Gas logs. 

Great laundry room.

Cons:\

Across from Frenship football field.  Loud Friday nights.

Corner lot, side backs up to commercial property  for sale.  Potential dumpsters next door.  If sells to restaurant, potentially even smellier.

All inside needs paint.

Only 2 bedrooms.

All kitchen appliances need to be replaced.  Horrible dishwasher,  Stove with coils.  ICK!!

Gas in house but not sure if in kitchen.   Is in fireplace so may get lucky.

For now.

Bathing Suits

No, folks, it's not a pretty site but I don't care!!   I own one bathing suit and on some days, when I get home from work, I put it on and I go spend some time in my apartment pool.  Yesterday, I was anxious to jump in and it was closed for cleaning and chemical-ing.  Bummer!!   And it was cooler today so I did not go but I will go again and often!!  Here is my pool:

And today, I ordered 2 new bathing suits and less than 1/2 price!!   And they are pretty.  And I'm going to wear them!!  Ok, not on the weekend when all of the hard bodies are out but on the days after work.  And when I go on vacation, they are going with me.

First one, with black skirt bottom

2nd one, navy blue w/white

I found the pics on Google images and the other one said it was "fat chic'.  I've never been chic before.

I have suffered from poor body image all of my life and if you've seen me you'd know why.  Weight is now and always has been a problem.  I've fought it all of my life and I've had some victories (50lbs gone) but it is probably not a fight I'll ever win fully.  But yesterday I turned 56 years old and I have figured out in the last few years that what other people think is not something I can control.  But it is still hard with out with 20 year olds in bikinis at the pool. 

And I found this on Pinterest and it's true:

Blogging is dead. But I'm not going anywhere.

My posts have been sporadic at best lately with much going on but I am still here.  And according to Jenny the Bloggess (One of the best on the internet), Time Magazine  has declared blogging dead.  Apparently there are too many other medias that take attention and I can kind of agree with that.  I Facebook some.  I tweet, mostly about the Rangers or Real Housewives.  But guess what?  I cannot even think about or care about anything that anyone in NY or whatever big city Time is in  has to say even if they get paid a lot to say it.  Basically, no one really reads this blog anyway but I enjoy writing it and if I get really brilliant I can use FB or Twitter to direct someone this way.

So Good, Bad or Ugly, I'm still here.