Scribblings

The long hot summer

Today was the last day of school. Already summer vacation is too long! The kids have been bickering in every combination possible. My ears are still ringing!
Is this what I have to look forward to? I'll go bonkers!

In the continuing saga of why I hate third party carriers: Dr. Farrell's secretary called TB to schedule some appointments for his upcoming surgery. During the conversation, she mentioned TB's insurance might turn down the claim because it's resulting from a work related incident. So now we have to go through all this rigamarole to make sure someone will pay for the surgery. If it's not Selective Insurance (the workman's comp insurer with TB's company) then it has to be Aetna and if it's neither of those, then the surgery isn't happening. What a PITA! So the secretary is going to get everything pre-approved so there are no unpleasant surprises.

Tuesday Newsday

SpaceShipOne, reached 328,491 feet, which is 408 feet (124 meters) above the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. In celebration of science in the news for once, my questions have to do with this news story. As usual, feel free to answer one, any or all of them.

1. What do you think of private spacecraft? Are they the way of the future or a waste of materials and fuel, or something else?

At first I wasn?t sure that I liked the idea of private citizens messing around in space. It seems as though space might get as cluttered as the bay does on a beautiful day. Who would have ?right of way?? What about drinking and flying? What about speeding? I don?t mean to sound flip about it. It just seemed that we might have some real problems there.

Yet, I also support the idea of private spacecraft. NASA?s budget has been cut so often and so much I can?t imagine how they?d ever be able to develop the technology to do what they need to in order to make civilian space travel possible.

2. What do you think of NASA? Are they still effective? Should they be doing more? Are they just a waste of materials and fuel? Should we be exploring space at all?

I absolutely believe that we should explore space. Part of it is the traditional pioneering spirit, just like the explorers felt when they began going into uninhabited land here in the U.S. The down side to this, of course, is that we tend to spoil what we explore with litter and with exploitation.

I think that NASA has a lot of great minds with a limit amount of funds to work with. Space is no longer a priority for our government. I don?t blame NASA for this. Whenever there are budget cuts, NASA is one of the first programs hit. I still have a lot of respect for them.

3. Is space the final frontier? Or should we be directing exploratory resources to the ocean bottom? Or somewhere else? Or perhaps exploration is done?

Exploration is never done. I have read that we know little to nothing about our ocean bottom. My concern about that is this: we keep exploiting our resources and they are almost depleted. There are ?dead zones? in the oceans already from pollution and over fishing. So here we are already disrupting an environment we haven?t explored thoroughly yet! I worry that exploration will bring about more damage to the ocean. Once our water is gone, we are totally screwed.

Wednesday Whatevers

1. Do you wear your seatbelt?

Always. It?s become such an ingrained habit I buckle up without even thinking about it

2. When do / did you graduate high school?

I graduated in 1973, in the Age of the Dinosaur
3. How often do you get mail?

Everyday

What?s On ? right now?

What's On your desktop Right Now?

There?s a picture of a mill overlooking a waterfall in West Virginia. I have a few icons on the desktop. I don?t remember which ones because I never use them.
On my actual desk top, I have a small overhead lamp, a couple of anniversary cards, an Irish Barbie still in the box, a family bear picture frame, two bears holding a pink heart that says ?Happy Anniversary? (from TB), a snow globe with cardinals (from Billy), a leprechaun figurine, a cat figurine, a candle (from Heidi), and my Precious Moments figurines (from TB and from Kristin)

Friday Fiver:

1. Have you ever traveled beyond the country that you were born in?

Not yet

2. How many different residences have you lived in since you were born? ... Which abode was the best?

Ok, let?s see ?

Cottage in Islip
House in Brentwood
Rowhouse in Baltimore
Another rowhouse in Baltimore
Rooming house in Baltimore
Apartment in Baltimore
Another apartment in Baltimore
Apartment in Laurel
Trailer home in Lothian
Cottage in Islip
Apartment in East Islip
Apartment in West Isli[
Apartment in Laurel
House in Columbia
Townhouse in Massapequa Park
House in south central NJ

WOW!

Which one was the best? I'd have to say Columbia, Md although I preferred living in NY. We were buying our home there and it was in such a great location: grocery store across the street, elementary school a couple of blocks down the street, middle school practically in our back yard and high school just up the street. Columbia is full of open space, offering lots of lovely parks and places for kids to play. It is a great setting for a family!

3. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

where ever it is, it needs to be very close to a beach

4. Name your preferred method of transportation:

Walk, if possible. Drive, if not

5. Jackie Chan: Hip or hype?

I understand he?s funny. I don?t think he?s hype. His movies seem pretty popular

Friday Foofah:

1. Favorite men's perfume / favorite women's perfume?

I?ve always liked musk scents

2. Favorite natural smell?

Roses

3. Most noxious odor known to mankind?

A decaying animal

4. Cinamon chewing gum - armpit odor or sweet goodness?

It?s okay

5. Deodorants and antiperspirants - civilized necessities or deadly chemical cocktails?

Necessities