Tuesday

Not much to say today. Maybe tomorrow.

Thought for the day

so quickly they start to add up

A second body pulled from the water. This time from the shore of Lake Michigan. The story can be found here.

History revisited

A WWII aircraft was brought to the surface Friday after 60 years at the bottom of Lake Michigan. (now that is really cool)
An SBD Dauntless dive bomber that was lost during training exercises over the lake during World War II was pulled out in Waukegan.
Inch by inch a piece of history emerged from a 60 year slumber in Lake Michigan, and veterans Chuck Downey and Grant Young didn't want to miss this moment.

Imagine being there when that piece of history was lifted out of its watery grave.
Full article can be read here. There is also a video that shows it being brought up and a little history.

cold wet Saturday

Well, it is officially spring. They pulled the first body out of the Fox River yesterday. (article can be found here) They never seem to jump in the winter, maybe they are afraid they will just break something, but still live. We have a couple of great bridges here for jumping off. In fact, one year a lady drove for hours, just to use the Leo Frigo Bridge. One well known story can be found here, involving Trooper Boldt. I am simply amazed the lengths desperate people will go (and they have to be desperate to want to do this) to end their lives. No matter how bad you think you have it, there is always someone worse off then you, living their life to the fullest of their ability. Don't waste the gift you were given. Life is too short already as it is.

and one more

quote to think on

(click to enlarge)

quiz

Your result for The Verbal Obscenity Test...

Mild-Mannered

You are 23% capable of making other people's ears hurt!

So, how'd you do?

I'm impressed, you've managed to get through life without having your use of the English language tarnished by foulness! No Courtney Love-style socialising for you. You're not inclined to burst into fits of verbal rage, and I'm guessing this makes you less likely to get punched by others. Which is awesome, since being beaten up is such a drag anyway. Just a helpful hint: swearing all the time is definitely a bit boring, but pulling one out every once in a while can pack a nice punch. Don't be afraid to use a little rough language on occasion, just to show that you mean business.

What occasion, I hear you ask? Well, some people find talking dirty arousing. Sometimes swearing can be helpful in looking tough when one of those hoodlum-types approaches you. Using some language on your boss may also be effective in stirring things up, but maybe that's just me. Either way, be careful, as getting your timing wrong can result in getting fired, or sleeping alone for the next month. Use your good judgement! Also, for the record, this is the category that I, the maker of this test, scored in (hard to believe, I know, since it's a test about swearing). So I personally support your choice to be careful in when you cuss!

Take The Verbal Obscenity Test at HelloQuizzy

lolcat

One for the guys

loldog

Giggles and hides.

Rights? What rights..........

You may have seen me complain on other blogs about our state not allowing concealed carry. We are one of only a couple states that don't allow it. We do however, have the right to carry out in the open. The following article is how you are treated is you choose to exercise that right.

As WISN 12 News was interviewing a West Allis man about his past arrest for carrying a gun in the open, police confronted him again Tuesday night -- one day after the state's attorney general ruled it's legal.
"I'm totally opposed to it. I do not think we need more guns on the streets," state Rep. Leon Young said. (who cares if he is opposed to it, it's perfectly legal here!)
Milwaukee's police chief said he'll go on telling his officers to take down anyone with a firearm despite Van Hollen's finding that people can carry guns openly if they do it peacefully. ( so if you are legally carrying a weapon in the open, expect to kiss the pavement, frequently)

rest of the article can be found here. You might also want to read the previous articles associated with that story.

email

A friend recently sent me this email, and I thought it was too cute not to share.


Due to the recession in 2009 the government will start deporting all the mentally-ill people to save money.
I started crying when I thought of you.
Run my little crazy friend, run!!!!


Well, what can I say??? Someone sent it to me, and darn it, I'm NOT going alone!!

Edgar Allan Poe quote

Spirits of the Dead

Be silent in that solitude

Which is not loneliness -- for then

The spirits of the dead who stood

In life before thee are again

In death around thee

lolcat

Winter weather advisory

We are currently under a winter weather advisory, until 10a.m. tomorrow. Last time I checked it was spring. Shouldn't that be a spring weather advisory????
They are calling for 2-4 inches of spring white chit (and I don't mean flower petals folks)
By Friday they are calling for 70 degrees. You just have to love Wisconsin. Snow one day, doors and windows open the next.

loldog

crickets

Today started as the rest of the work week had. The alarm went off at 4a.m. I got up, got dressed, got my lunch together and headed out the door at 4:50. The 40 minute drive to town was much like the other ones had been, me fighting to keep from falling asleep, trying to see only 4 lanes on the road. At several points during said trip I was seeing as many as 8 lanes, not an auspicious start to a Thursday.

I was working on the boom line, so I knew I wouldn't be required to do a whole lot of thinking, thank gawd. We have 5 areas we rotate through on the line: blower, vacuum, shredder, hardware1 and hardware2. I started at the vacuum, then rotated to the blower area. Things seem to find be fine, other than being tired, the day was progressing quickly.

After lunch, I rotated over to the hardware1 area, my co-worker Kathy was on hardware2. This is where I started thinking I was losing my mind. I looked over at her and said "I hear crickets". She looked back at me, and promptly burst out laughing. (not a good sign)
I said "don't you hear those crickets?" She didn't hear anything. So for almost an hour I tried doing my job, hearing those annoying creatures chirping. (this is through mandatory hearing protection mind you)
When we rotated jobs again, I ended up at the shredder, next to my team leader for the day. I look at him and said, "you know, earlier I heard crickets." (at this point I was expecting another person laughing at me) He looked at me and said "yeah, the shredder chirps, but you can only hear it when you're on hardware."
Holyyyyy chit, here I thought I was really over the edge, into total exhaustion, mind shut down, auditory hallucinations tired, but I just have very good hearing it appears.

At 4:30p.m. I headed to my jeep, crawled in and set that sucker to automatic pilot.
(as I write this, I am extremely happy blogspot has spell check, as I'm sure it would not have been legible otherwise)
below is a picture of what we were making today.

the pup

Every night, right before bed, I take the puppy outside for one last time. We usually end up playing fetch with one of his favorite toys, the tennis ball. Tonight around 10:30, while playing, I realized just how keen his nose is becoming. He did not once lose that ball, even though I was tossing it into the shadows of the front yard. Once, I thought he had lost it, but after almost five solid minutes of nose to the ground searching, he came back with it in his mouth, tail wagging. I think he would make one heck of a narcotics dog, or search and rescue.

lolcat

(This should be mandatory on soooooooooo many people.)

work - rant

Back in December, we were told we wouldn't be getting a raise. Those of us who have been through a layoff were thrilled that's all it was. Those who have never been through one had a fit.
Last month the company I work for bought 2 more paper machines, so they would be less dependent on other companies for product. Once again a group of employees had a fit. They obviously do not grasp what is important.
So I have decided to list the perks this company gives us. And let you decide, if we truly have it good, during this economic disaster or not.

1. Health insurance (yes, it may be a high deductible plan, BUT the company puts $360/quarter in our health savings account) (includes a free yearly exam) $34/bi-weekly
2. dental insurance $17/bi-weekly
3. vision insurance (free pair of glasses every 2 years and free yearly eye exam) $7/bi-weekly
4. 80 hours paid vacation Plus 16 hours paid personal time off.
5. 401k company matched up to $750/year
6. $50 a year for safety glasses.
7. $100 a year for safety shoes.
8. $0.13 for every hour worked the year before, if you go the whole year without a work related injury. (my safety bonus was $360 after taxes. I worked a lot of OT ;) )
9. small monthly safety gift (value anywhere from $5-$20) if we go without a work related injury during the month.
10. Christmas party (dinner, drinks and gifts)
11. summer golf outing (lunch, drinks and prizes)
12. cookouts during warm months
13. assorted free paper products when available

Please keep in mind, this company employs approximately 120 people, and has not laid off one person.
Now, my question to you is this, am I right in thinking we have a great company, or do you agree with the "others" that they should have gotten a raise?

F-16's tracking stolen plane over Wisconsin

Two F-16 fighters were dispatched this afternoon to track a single-engine plane over Wisconsin that was believed stolen in Canada by a student pilot, authorities said.

The incident caused the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison to be evacuated as a precaution.

The rest of the story can be found here


Life is never boring here.

ooops

Looks like at this rate, they will have the whole darn body dug up soon.

(note to self, bury them deeper next time)

bone

This is a picture of the bone he is chewing on, with a tennis ball for size comparison.

snack

This is what happens when we get visitors.

Not much left of that one ;)

Edgar Allan Poe quote

The Raven:

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

The rest of the poem can be found here

lolcat

Weekend

It's officially the start of the weekend. I also have Monday off, so it is the start of a longgggg weekend. Hopefully I will have something to post about :D