Quigs’ Corner

In spite of all the turmoil and bad things going on in the world, I think I’m a pretty lucky person.  Mr Q and I are in good health, despite the fact we need to lose [significant amounts of] weight.  Our family is in good health, and still speaks to us (most of the time), we’re gainfully employed (at least for now), and we live in a nice home and area.  

Those that know me have heard me frequently refer to where I live as ‘Stepford’ for all the rules and cookie-cutter homes, yards, vehicles and children.  Regardless, it’s still a nice place to live, raise your kids and feel safe. 

Over the weekend, I was walking the big black furry one early in the morning, and captured this picture on my phone.  We frequently see hot air balloons early in the mornings or in the evenings this time of year.  The winds are calm and the weather is cool enough for them to fly.  The unmistakable ‘whoosh’ of the propane catches our attention every time, and everyone that is outside stops and watches…it’s a bit of wonder and magic in this crazy world we live in.   

The Dow dropped almost 800 points today.  I’ve lost more money in my 401k this year than I and my employer have put in since January.  Warren Buffet invested billions into Goldman Sachs, hoping his move would inspire others to invest in the US.  I don’t think WB’s money will do it.  The House voted down the ‘bailout’ - I wonder if this was about not doing what W would like - in other words, purely partisan politics?  I hope that is not the motivation.  Market advisors are telling people that stocks are on sale…buy!  What to do?  I don’t know, but I do know that a lot of people will be losing things, like their homes, if something doesn’t get sorted out soon.  I’m not sure Americans today are willing, or equipped, to economize to the extent that may be needed while we get outta this mess.  Oh, to be a CEO with a golden parachute - like Nero laughing while Rome was on fire.  

Last weekend, we took Midnight to the Operation Kindness event at Hawaiian Falls.  What a great way to spend the last weekend of the summer splashing around the pools with your dog.  Normally, she will not go into our pool; I think she’s fearful of not being able to touch bottom (much like me).  At the water park, she was able to enter the pools like a lake or the beach - gradually.  And she had a BLAST!  

She was one of several hundred dogs, and I have to say how impressed I was with the decorum of the animals and their humans.  I didn’t see any dog fights, just good natured playing….Midnight managed to lose her ball a few times to some dogs faster than she, but the dogs’ humans were kind enough to give it back to her.  It was fun to see them all just playing and running and swimming.  Ahhh, to be young again. 

I’m glad we were able to participate and help the local no-kill shelter.  The big black one was very tired the rest of the day and didn’t perk up again til Sunday.  Poor thing!   

  
A very soggy Midnight                       Some of the dogs and their humans

 On the other animal front, Buzz the cat continues to fulfill his feline duties and makes sure he sleeps or walks on every flat surface in the house at least once a month.  He’s in a different place nearly every time I look for him.  In this picture, he’s looking deceivingly cute in a chair in the family room.  I want his job.

It’s that time again - Texas State Fair season!   The fair started today, will end sometime in October.  I don’t plan on going this year, unless some miracle occurs and I’m able to score tix to the UT/OU game. Then, maybe I’ll get a chance to try this year’s favorite fried treat - Chicken Fried Bacon! 

You’re probably asking what is THAT about?!  Well, it seems that the State Fair has this obsession - yes I’ll call it an obsession, because there is a contest about this - for the ‘official’ fried food at the fair.  To give you an idea of the competition, some of the contenders this year were Fried Jelly Bellys, Fried Banana Split (how messy must THAT be?), Fried Grilled Cheese and Fried S’mores. In our trips to the fair since we’ve been here in TX, we’ve tried fried twinkies, fried dough (though here they call ‘em Funnel Cakes), fried pickles, fried oreos…but Fried BACON!?  How much FAT can we Americans actually eat?  

Now, the fairgrounds are really, really big and you sure can burn off alot of calories walking the acres an acres of the fair - through the crafts buildings, where you’ll see the most amazing quilts ever, through the automotive building, where car manufacturers try to entice you to buy one of their vehicles, down the midway where there are more carny games and cheesy prizes than I’ve ever seen in my life, around the stockyards and barns where I have YET to see an animal on my visits, through the rides - again more than I’ve ever seen, well I think you get the picture - this thing is ginormous (that word just flipped the spell checker out).  I still don’t understand WHY we need to fry everything, and especially something like bacon that is already not the best thing for you to ingest.  So, I’m not sure that fried bacon is on my list of must haves, but I’m sure I’ll find something….I think there are only a couple of hundred food vendors there.  I’m sure that there is SOMETHING to eat. 

I have a sort of love/hate feeling about this time of year.  The weather here in N. Dallas has been picture perfect - dry air with cool nights and warm days - early fall weather.  This means that winter is right around the corner, which I definitely have a hate relationship with.  I guess all I can do it enjoy the weather while I can, ‘cuz soon enough, I’ll be getting my woolies out!  Which are probably not as wooly as the ones my family and friends in New England will need!  

On another note, the news from Galveston and other Gulf coast areas is not getting much better, with more people dead, and the situation not really improving on the island.  Experts on TV are calling it a sanitation and health hazard, which makes sense since there is no water, electricity or sewer service.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to leave your home, or not know what state your home is in for weeks.  I feel bad for them, as I’ve said before.  I dug up this photo from better times; I took it on my last trip to the island when we attended the christening ceremony of the USS Texas.  

Uploaded with plasq’s Skitch!

Much like Pres. Bush, a fellow blogger of mine likes to use nicknames for her friends/family/victims of her musings.  I think this is a good idea and I will be joining her in this name-changing to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent. 

So, look for me to be working on nicknames for those I include in my blogs.  If you’re one of those mentioned, you’ll know, or just ask me!   

A few ramblings…

On my most recent trip to NH, I learned that one should count the days one will be gone and then make sure that they packed enough of their medications to last the entire trip.  Apparently, I didn’t count so well, and was one day short.  Oops!

Dinner can be ice cream  - I  know this because this is what Ma, The Dog and I had for dinner my last night in NH.  

I was able to avoid Gustav in TX and Hanna in NH, though couldn’t get away from Ike.  That thing was HUGE!  We ended up with some rain and wind and nothing more here.  I feel badly for the residents of Galveston - many of the places that were on television I’ve been to, and can’t believe the devastation.  I hope the casuality count is low, in spite of those that decided not to leave.  Not what I would have done!  

The Pats are on TV here in Dallas - we get to watch them win!  I hope that Brady recovers soon, but they’re playing well today in spite of losing him.   

Mr Q and I went to Arlington last week to see the Red Sox v. Rangers.  It seems that we got obstructed view seats which was a huge surprise to me as this wasn’t noted on line or on the tickets….their ticket supervisor was kind enough to change our seats to something that we could see the entire field and we enjoyed a good game.   

Next week, we are going to Operation Kindness‘ Dog Day Afternoon.  It’s a fund raiser for the no-kill shelter north of Dallas.  We’ll do a walk and then spend time at Hawaiian Falls, a water park.  We’ll see if Midnight will actually get wet.  So far, she’s refused to get into our pool.  What kind of lab is she?!