Triple Crown Disappoints Again...

Here's to Big Brown... The most recent in a string of 'almost got there' Triple Crown seekers. A combination of factors probably conspired to keep the big horse from finishing first, but to those super disappointed out there, it was only another race, so far he looks sound (good on his feet) and if there is anything else wrong, his jockey probably saved him from serious injury. He didnt force the horse to race when something was obviously wrong. The jockey did his job and the horse took a sick day. Life happens. Sure, I'd love to see a Triple Crown go all the way through, but watching a horse take a jewel is still pretty neat.

Bubble Bath..

I recently ran out of some bubble bath that my hubby got me, oh say about 4 years ago. It's kind of like this... Lavendar Vanilla Bubble Bath , what I got was from the store and in a different shaped bottle, but all the same smell and such. I'd used the other bottle VERY sparingly as it was pretty expensive I thought for bubble bath. It's not something I do very often, because I dont often have the time or the inclination to put that much effort into getting clean, but it's a nice treat. This stuff is also supposed to make you sleepy. So far it hasn't done much in that way, not any more than warm water would do, but it's nice anyway. I bought a new bottle while getting a gift card for my lil sis in law, who graduated from 8th grade. I thought a gift card to some smell good stuff would be just the ticket for going into high school.

Ponytail...

I can almost put my hair up in a ponytail now. Just the bottom is not quite long enough to make it all up in there. I should have it long enough to donate by the time of our arrival in November. I may grow it out after that, who knows? I really like how it is now, my face looks thinner and I look a little less boyish. Of course the pregnant belly helps too. Ha!

Life is Odd...

I read an article in Time Magazine the other day (they were sitting in the break room) about a man who took charge of his 'company' -- Morgan Stanley during the 9/11 attacks. I'll try and be brief, but you'll get the idea.

This guy had served in the military and ended up in his later years as a security 'guard' in the WTC. Having lived through the 70's, he did a study and found that the parking garages were a weak point for security and asked that the muckity mucks hire more security for the parking areas. They ignored him, it was too expensive, and what did he know anyway? A few years later, someone drove a van into the parking garage under the building and we all know what happened next.

With his company, his credibility increased tenfold. They listened to what he had to say. He told them to always run down the stairs (from the 78th floor) and never up, in fact, he did random 'fire drills' with them, getting them to go 2 stairs at a time for about 30 floors, just so they'd get used to evacuating quickly. He timed them and made them do it faster and faster until he was satisfied that they'd be able to evacuate should danger strike. Fast forward a few years.

The plane hit building 1. The announcement over the buildings' loudspeakers told everyone to remain calm and stay in their seats. This dude gets out his megaphone and tells them to ignore the announcement and to evacuate immediately. They were in building 2. His people made it down about 40 flights of stairs when the second plane hit. Right about where their offices were. While the building swayed, he sang songs from his childhood about staying calm, answered a phone call from his wife and told her to quit crying, that he was getting 'his' people out of there alive. When it was safe to keep going, that man led 250 visiting stockbrokers and almost 3,000 other employees to safety. He went back up and was last seen helping people evacuate on the 10th floor. Only 14 of his 'company' did not come out, including 4 security personnel and himself. The other 3,000 survived thanks to his quick thinking, preparedness and value of 'his' people over his own safety or wellbeing. None of his people 'went up' instead of down, saving their lives. The people who did met locked doors and tragedy. His planning and use of common sense and routine surprise safety drills made the difference that day.

We talk a lot about heroes. The ones who follow protocol and do what they are told. We hear less about heroes like this man, who ignore 'practiced' knowledge and do what is right, no matter what the men in the big suits say.

Even less about being prepared and practicing ways to 'get out' in an emergency, or what to do when disaster strikes. The tornadoes in Iowa, earthquakes in China, floods everywhere, seem to remind us that our time is not guaranteed. Mother nature is fickle. She goes where she wants and does what she will. We are just along for the crazy ride. Do you have a safety plan, an emergency kit, does your family know what to do in case of an emergency? Me either. But I sure do plan on putting one into practice. Very soon.

There you have it...

Come November we'll all be sick of hearing: John McCain and Barack Obama.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

insert cake here! please?!?

dog problems...

my brother (who has always gotten his way), and his wife got a little yappy dog. they dont leave it at home, instead, from 8 am saturday - 5 pm appx and 11 am sunday -5pm appx. they take it out to my parents house and let it have the run of their place.

my parents have 2 labradors who are kind and gentle to people and other animals (okay, they will chase rabbits and such, but that's a dog, right?) but this dog constantly growls and snaps and annoys, especially the alpha male dog and my folks are afraid that one day the alpha male is going to bite/hurt this little house dog. apparently he does react in some sort of way, my guess is by barking back at her (leave me alone witch).

my brother makes NO attempts to correct his dog for misbehaving, instead he corrects THEIR dogs. so since she constantly is doing that, now these dogs for 2 whole days on the weekend (their big time to run and play) are now having to be yelled at for HIS dog's bad behavior.

I sent my mom a long email this morning telling her that she needs to protect her property and her animals and tell him to keep his little yapper at home. they only live 10 minutes away and could easily give her a potty break if needed, but an adult dog shouldnt need one for that amount of time.

of course i told my mom that she was being taken advantage of on many levels, but i didnt want to see her animals hurt because he refused to take off his blinders (he doesnt know anything about animals) and see that his animal is causing all the trouble. he DOES take advantage of my folks on a lot of levels. i tried to keep that part more neutral, but it's true.

no matter what he's always right. and that doesnt quite seem fair to these 2 year old labradors who just want to run and play with their 'parents' on the weekend. what do you guys think about this?