Piggy Bank

MY PIGGY BANK AFTER VISITING THE GAS PUMP

I always thought we were lucky to have such reasonable gas prices compared to New Zealand.
Even though our gas prices are rising rapidly, we are still better off than back in good old N ZED.
Owning a scooter is starting to sound good. Hmmmm, let's see, what color should I choose?

Busy Day

I have spent most of today painting the main bedroom. Several days ago I took a "before" picture so that when the room is finished I can post the "before and after" pictures, I am getting close to having the job finished.
It crossed my mind to do a little more painting tonight, but, I have just finished a plate of tortilla chips and salsa, and a large glass of wine. Standing on a ladder right now would not be a good idea!
Amazing how one glass of wine can go to ones head.

Not Embarrassed

Table set with three rows of pins for the "fun shoot"

Mr. Completely "smokin" a few pins

Table set with pins and shotgun casings

Pegi

I am happy to report I left the shoot with my head held high, somehow I managed to find that special gut feeling of confidence and aggression towards the pins that seemed to be lacking the last few shoots. I came in second overall after shooting against Jim, then Rainey, and finally against Al who was in top form, he really "toasted" me.

We finished the pin shoot early, so decided to have a fun shoot. The first table was set up with five full size pins just balanced on the back of the table, then a row of five pin tops in the middle, then three pin tops in the front. The object was to shoot all the pin tops off with out knocking any of the full size pins off the table, if you did knock any of the full size pins over or off the table you were done shooting.The full size pins were shot off the table once all the pin tops had been shot off the table. We also had to stay behind the shooting station table, we could move to the right or left so long as our outside leg did not pass the edge of the table.

Mr. Completely managed to clear all the pins off the table, you should have heard the "yahoo" he was still feeling the sting of defeat from the first pin shoot of the day. I managed to get seven pins off the table before knocking one of the full size pins over thereby ending my turn.

Then Al decided to get even more creative by placing spent shotgun cases between the full size pins on the back of the table and pin tops in the middle and front row. I was thinking to myself, now here is a challenge. the shotgun shell casings are dark red and blend with the berm in back of the table, how the heck am I going to see those?

Darned if I know how I did it but I managed to get all pins and shell casings off the table with just one round remaining in the clip. Oh, I forgot to mention we could only have twenty rounds to get the job done. It was my turn to "Yahoo"

The last picture is Pegi showing just one of her creative stances. Pegi was doing very well on this table but missed her target a couple of times meaning she was just one round short to get all the pins and casings off the table, this placed her second behind me.

We all had a fun filled day.

PIN SHOOT TODAY

Wow! they get smaller every time I look

Today, Mr. Completely and I are off to a pin shoot. Lately I have not been as accurate as I would have wished and have come to the conclusion that I really need to go have my eyes checked and get new eye glasses. I came across a receipt for my last eye exam and new glasses, that was four years ago, no wonder things are getting a little hazy.
So, there may, or may not be, a report on how I shoot today , depending on my level of embarrassment.

BAD FOOD KILLS

I was interested to read this story in The Manawatu Standard,the local newspaper from Palmerston North, New Zealand, about the consequences of eating bad food. I also ate a pie and a doughnut, on occasion, for lunch when attending school, and loved every bite. Things have not changed much over the years.

LOCAL NEWS STORY

Bad food kills 30% of us:
25 August 2005
By HELEN HARVEY

Food and poor diet is the cause of about 30 percent of deaths each year, Green MP Sue Kedgley told a meeting in Palmerston North last night.

That is more than alcohol, violence, cigarette smoking or road deaths combined. More than 60 people crammed into the meeting room at the Palmerston North library to hear Ms Kedgley talk about the need for a food revolution.

If the Greens go into coalition with Labour after the election, food and nutrition will be on their list of policies, she said.

She churned out facts and figures at an alarming rate - some complicated, some well known and others downright scary.

"A child eating a pie, chips, a cookie and a fizzy drink for lunch would consume 10 teaspoons of fat and 20 teaspoons of sugar."

A Moro bar contains two teaspoons of fat and 10 teaspoons of sugar, the average pie 6.5 teaspoons of fat, a bottle of Coke - the biggest seller at the supermarket - contains about 17 teaspoons of sugar, and a serving of french fries seven teaspoons of fat.

Food should be one of the greatest contributors to good health, but a raft of experts are warning that food is becoming one of the greatest contributors towards ill health, Ms Kedgley said.

What people eat has changed more in the past 40 years than the previous 40,000 of human history.

"The so called affluent diet of today has twice the amount of saturated fat, a third of the former daily fibre intake, vastly more sugar, salt, flour, and carbohydrates and a reduced intake of nutrients," she said.

However, it is not only the composition of food that has changed. People's relationship with food has also changed.

"Anthropologists say our generation in the West is the first society where large numbers of people eat food alone - in front of the telly, in the street, at our desks and even in our cars."

In the future cars will be fitted with microwaves so people can heat up meals as they drive to and from work - while they are sitting in traffic jams, she said.

While the aim for many people is to buy cheap, processed food, there are a lot of hidden costs such as clogged arteries, obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental decay, topsoil that is exhausted by fertiliser use, rivers and lakes polluted by pesticides and cruel treatment of animals reared inside factory farms.

Transporting food around the world is another hidden cost, Ms Kedgley said. Marmite, made in New Zealand, contains sugar from Brazil, salt from Israel, wheat malto dextrum and caramel colour from the United States, iron from Sweden and vitamins from China and India.

Translation:
MP, Member of parliament
fizzy drink, soda
telly. television
Marmite,a spread for toast or bread.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Sarnie: sandwich

Two sammies short of a picnic: used to describe a person who is a "bit thick" or does not "have all their marbles"

Billy Graham

Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home.

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.

"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine.

Would you mind if I drove it for a while?"

The driver said, "No problem. Have at it."

Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway.

A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap.

The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure.

The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down he was surprised to see who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.

He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law but I also know that important people are given certain courtesies.

I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."

The supervisor asked, "Is it the governor?"

The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that."

The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the president."

The young trooper said, "Not, he's even more important than that."

The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?"

The young trooper said, "I think it's Jesus because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"


Thank you to my friend Joyce for this.

RECIPE--Barn Yard Barbecue Biscuits

Great snacks with beer, for the football season.

1 Can buttermilk biscuits
1 lb ground beef
1 T. cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
3 T. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese


Separate biscuits and flatten in circles. Press each biscuit into the bottom and up the sides of a greased muffin tin; set aside. In a skillet, brown ground beef and drain. mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and chili powder in small bowl. Add to meat and mix well. Put 1/4 cup of meat mixture into each biscuit lined muffin cup. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375F for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

FINALLY THE ANSWERS I NEEDED

This one is for Mr. Completely who is not too fond of certain vegetables.


HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO .. Cocoa beans ... another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets and remember:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - strawberries in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a ride!"

Thank you to my friend Val

NEW HEADER

Feast your eyes on my new HEADER , I think it is fantastic.
A huge thank you to Sulfuric Attitude for the very creative artwork, and to Mr. Completely for spending time last night installing it.
It really is way beyond cool, isn't it?

HARD AT WORK

Isn't it a shame that I have such difficult working conditions at the spa?

I am made to sit at my desk and admire the view of Saratoga Passage with Camano Island in the distance. Then around April - May the gray whales swim by, often feeding only about a few hundred yards from where I sit. Then there are seals, rabbits, squirrels, blue herons and bald eagles to watch, whew! I work so hard!
OK, so I do not work in a square cubicle without windows, and happy I am not, the whole scene is fantastic, makes the words "working atmosphere" take on a whole new meaning.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Dreaded lurgy: alternative name for the flu or a head cold: used as an excuse for not going to work, as in " I can't come in today because I have the dreaded lurgy"

I would love to use this excuse for staying home from work today, as I am
Stuffed: really tired.

MANURE

Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be
transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so
large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than
when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the
process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas.
As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could
(and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time
someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined
just what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term
"Ship High In Transit" on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high
enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold
would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T " , (Ship High In Transport) which has
come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I.

I had always thought it was a golf term.

They say we are never too old to learn.

Thanks to Joyce for sending me this HISTORY lesson.

Mr Completely's Postal Match

Mr Completely has started up a new postal match for hand guns.
You download a target, shoot it according to the rules, and email in your score.

Check it out here.

Recipe........"Diet soda Cake"

This is really is quite good for a low calorie low fat cake.And so simple to make.

Be Creative With Your Flavors

One box any cake mix (dry)
One 12 ounce can diet soda, any flavor
2 egg whites

Just mix these three ingredients together and bake in a 9x12 cake pan.

Variations:

Use fresh or a 16oz frozen bag of blueberries, or mixed frozen berries, one butter cream cake mix, one 12oz can diet Seven Up Wild berry Plus.
Pre Heat oven to 350F Then lightly spray pan with butter cooking spray.
Then layer ingredients. 1st layer berries, cake mix, diet soda, it's just like making what we used to call Dump Cake.
Bake for about 35 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve hot or cold.
Great with icecream.

Chocolate cake mix and diet root beer, and 2 beaten egg whites.

Chocolate fudge mix with pudding in the mix and 12oz diet Dr pepper, and few chopped nuts.

Free Beer

I like to keep updated with the local news from Palmerston north New Zealand where I was born and raised, so I check on the local news paper from time to time.
Imagine my surprise when I found this article.

MANAWATU STANDARD STORY

Free beer here 17 August 2005
"Have one on us" is the call from DB Breweries, which wants to shout all New Zealanders 18 or older a free beer today.

DB managing director Brian Blake said the company is proud to be celebrating its 75th birthday and wants to share this milestone.

"We've been part of New Zealand communities since 1930 and have a strong Kiwi heritage," Mr Blake said.

"Many Kiwis have grown with our brands - from the original Waitemata Sparkling Ale, to Export Gold and DB Draught. Having a national event like this is one way we can say thanks for more than seven decades of loyalty."

To claim their free beer, readers need to clip the coupon from P8 of today's paper and present it at a participating bar today. Not more than one voucher can be redeemed at a time.

Something actually FREE, and it happens to be what New Zealanders drink a lot of.
The bars are going to be full of people waving coupons. or not!

Whew! it's warm

I was too warm inside so I decided to take my camera outside and see what I could find.

All these wonderful plums are now out of reach for the bunnies now the new fence is finished, though we do pick some and toss them to our long eared friends.

The birds sure are getting their fair share of plums. You walk out of the front door and flocks of crows take to the air from the trees.

See how well my flowers are doing now the bunnies are fenced out. All I have to deal with now are the bugs eating on some of the plants.

As this is a new garden, I have discovered that some plants will have to be moved to a new location next season for them to do better, all a case of learning what conditions plants require to thrive and do their best.

This bunch of young starlings were enjoying a cool bath.

It is fun to watch their squabbles over who is to take his bath first, especially when they have splashed nearly all the water out of the bath leaving just a couple of inches.

The bird bath was filled three times today.

What A rush!

Besides all the fishing we did, shooting a mind blowing weapon was on the agenda.

This was a Crikey Dick!!! (see word of the week) moment for me.
( in all truth, it was more, than a crikey dick, moment for me)

for pictures and the full story go here

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Crikey dick: gosh! wow!

Home From Juneau

Home away from home

(click on pictures for enlarged view)

We spent 10 days staying in this wonderful cozy A frame house which is attached to the main house, on the left, by a covered breezeway.

Each day we made our own breakfast and lunch, but enjoyed evening meals with our friends Charlotte and Steve over in the main house.

One that did not get away

The weather for the first couple of days was a little wet, but that did not stop us from going fishing, What's a little rain? "liquid sunshine," right? When we came home our wet clothes went into the clothes dryer to be dried for the next days fishing.

The Chum salmon you see was a good size, around 15 lbs. It had, like all the salmon at spawning time, an ugly snout full of very sharp teeth. This salmon was released back into the water so he could finish the life cycle by spawning and creating the next generation.

Mr completely and I caught many salmon, which were all released as we were in Juneau a little later in the season than usual, so the fish were really past their best condition and not really worth bringing home to eat.

False Outer Point with Mendenhall glacier in back ground

Two days before we were to come home, we took a drive up to the old gold mine and explored the area.

On the way back, we decided to drive on past the house to False Outer Point to take some pictures. I took a picture or two, then we sat on the grass to enjoy the view, listen to the waves on the rocks below and the water cascading down the rocky bluff across the road behind us.

After a while we decided to head back to the house, so jumped into our "vanmobile" (Plymouth Voyager) turned the key, NOTHING HAPPENED!

After looking under the bonnet ( hood in American) and finding nothing obvious wrong,( but we thought the fuel pump had quit,) there was no choice but to walk back to the boat launch to find help.

Of all days to have to walk several miles , it was HOT ! up in the 80's. Anyhow, we did manage to get a ride back to the house from the boat launch.

The voyager was repaired the next day, it was the fuel pump.

Juneau Update

KeeWee asked my to add a short post for her. As you have noticed, blogging and pictures have been light while we are in Juneau. That is mostly because of very slow and limited internet access.

Posting will be back up to speed on Thursday, including some pictures......

.............................Mr. Completely

Juneau Alaska

Hi Folks, here we are enjoying our vacation. As per usual in Juneau, it is raining today, but that is not going to stop us getting out and exercising a few salmon.

Our first day here we drove out to a couple of places we know to view the salmon population, there are plenty of fish to exercise.

We will not be going into town, as there are four cruise ships in, that means a glut of tourists on the streets, I dislike crowded sidewalks.

Well that is all for now, we are off to FISH!.