I APOLOGIZE....

but I have had to place "word verification" back on the comments to this blog. Apparently some IDIOT has nothing better to do late at night, than leave comments on many posts at one time - in CHINESE!!! I'm sorry for the inconvenience. When I turned this machine on this morning their were 18 damn oriental comments - and I couldn't tell you if they were sales pitches, or from an admirer or plans for a nuclear warhead. Some people are just totally ignorant.

OK, that is off my humongous chest - on to other things. I found a recipe online for Outback's Alice Springs Chicken, and I am in puppy heaven. When I get a craving - that is all I desire. But at almost $14 a pop, not including the salad and drink, realistically I only get there maybe once a month.

This recipe is EXACTLY like the restaurant's. If anyone is interested, I will email the link. Thedaughter doesn't like the honey mustard sauce, but I could devour it on everything. The only downside, if you want it in a hurry, is the time to marinade the chicken. Other than that - it was a piece of cake chicken!!

I swear at my age, it certainly doesn't take much to make me happy. I can make one of my favorite meals now at a fraction of the retail price.

Tomorrow is the last day of June, and I would certainly hope that there are no more deaths of note. I think the past 5 weeks have been more than enough for the average bear. I am sick and tired of hearing about MJ. I remember when Elvis dies, I had ALL his albums and everyone and their mother wanted copies. I spent weeks playing them over and over to make people happy.

The immediacy of the news today is quite different than in 1977, but nevertheless, I think we have heard just about everything of MJ from womb to death. My instincts tell me that this will be a daily news item for months to come, with this one suing that one and so forth. Good grief.

BERNIE MADOFF - will die in prison. He was sentenced to the recommended 150 years today, which makes me totally elated. His wife Ruth supposedly broke her silence, to exclaim that she was saddened, because "this is not the man I have been married to all these years." Duh?!?! She knew exactly what he was doing and enjoyed the loot as much as he. She was in collusion with wiring money from accounts and sending her gems to Florida friends and relatives - I have NO sympathy for this bitch, and really get irate thinking she was allowed to keep $2.5 million. Our justice system stinks.

Have to get off here, a necessary email has to be sent to theson and I have been putting it off. Have a great evening and I shall return....later.....

CATURDAY...SCHMATURDAY...

Not being one to really "sleep in...I was awakened early this morning with psycho kitty Isis - staring me in the face and purring so loud the shutters shook. WTF is up with that.



This cat is not friendly to anyone except me and even that is always short lived. A few pets and tweaks behind the ears and she is ready to take my head off. Everytime thegrandson just walks by - she starts growling. The feline is now 12 years old and so not like the loving cats I have had in the past. I always had cats that would jump and sit on your lap, just to be close not necessarily for constant petting. Oh well, I'm stuck with the psycho cat rom hell till her time is up - and with my luck she will live to be 30.

Now, not that I want to get into any big discussion at the moment, but I just read that Ruth Madoff has ceded $80 million in assets, but gets to retain $2.5 million in cash. WTF is up with that. She was as greedy a bitch as her husband, and has no qualms about the damage done to those who were defrauded and close to homelessness. She was caught making huge (gigantic) wire transfers of money before the axe fell on poor Bernie! She was culpable of sending all the jewelry through the mail at Christmas time - albeit caught redhanded by the SEC and FBI. I need some excedrin - this makes my head hurt.


I shall just keep my blinders on for a few hours and not deal with the whole Madoff thing. Oh....and I'm sick of hearing about Michael Jackson also. When he was a child - he was adorable and had some great songs. After he became white and whacko - I was no longer impressed. Yes, it's sad that a life ended so young...but the same could be said of Farrah Fawcett. I truly don't need to hear all the sordid details rehashed over and over again, about his past history. Enough already!!!! There are more serious issues in the world that need out attention.

Needless to say, my attitude, not to mention thedaughter's is really ripe at the moment. We had to get "into it" with thegrandson's baseball coaches wife - and this is never pleasant. The sad part, this woman (same age as thedaughter) were softball rivals all thru school and still have a dislike for each other. this time, thegrandsons feelings were at stake and we had no choice but to call them on this issue. It's all now over and done and we are working on a cool down period. No blood was spilt although I was fearful at one point. Before thegrandson plays baseball next year, I will see that there are some changes made to how Junior Sports is operated, to avoid these arguments. Grrr...I hate to get my dander up at my age - but I can still hold my own!!!

Have a great weekend and will check back......later............

MADOFF'S ASS IS IN JAIL!!!!

At long last, there is some semblance of justice taking place. Bernie Maddoff pleaded guilty to 11 counts in Federal court this morning. The judge has ordered him to be held in jail till sentencing on June 16th. Woot! Woot!

Now I say - go after the wife and the $60+ million she has in assets. There is no way in the world, she can claim legitimacy to these assets - she DIDN'T WORK. C'mon - a guy who has the audacity to mail (USPS) millions of dollars worth of diamonds, to try and hold on to those assets - nope LIARS, LIARS!!

I truly understand and have empathy for those who have been robbed of their retirement funds and livelihoods - and to see Maddoff in jail, will never be enough solace for them. I don't have the answers, and all of that money will never be retrieved. But to know that he no longer can scam hard working people, to line his wallets and expensive tastes - has to help alleviate their moods a wee tad.

I should hope now, that the investigation continues, as this one man COULD NOT have handled this alone. Possibly his sons and others were aiding him in this crime. Time will tell. At least he will not be sleeping in that $7 million dollar penthouse apartment - EVER AGAIN!!

One last note - a better system of checks and balances needs to be laid out - to ensure this never happens again!! I should hope this is high on the priority list for Wall Street.

Be back.....Later......

AND THEY WANT US TO PAY HIGHER POSTAGE....

Now I just wonder WHY the Postal Service is getting the ire of the public - from the purchase of a $1.2 million home?!?!?! This is not rocket science, given the economic situation of the country, and those corporate giants on bended knee begging for and getting government bailouts.

The USPS purchased this home from an employee so he could relocate. And now it appears that, knowing the downturn in the housing market, this house if re-sold, will be done so at a loss. Not a bad little hovel - 8,400 square feet with six bedrooms.

The USPS falls into the corporate strata, as it is technically considered a semi public corporation - with a government charter. This agency is also said NOT to be supported by taxpayer funds, but I find that to be a rhetorical statement.

If anyone has the answer here, I'd be glad to hear it - how can they validate upping postage, while offering executive perks such as this??? I know many who are employed through this agency, and they make a pretty penny in wages and benefits. Their employees are not hurting by any means. Considering the postal service is a necessary evil, they always manage to get everything that they desire.

I use very little postage, and hate the fact that I have to buy stamps at any time. I pay most of my bills online, which they (USPS) are constantly griping about. I have no complaints if the delivery days are cut to save them money - my delivery man (we are friends) says that will never happen, as they are a much needed service area. Right - trust me - we can adapt.

I can see if the USPS pays relocation costs, such as moving vans, housing searches, and minor inconveniences, but to purchase the homes - NOT. This is frivolous at best. Just another incident to get my "dander up."

***************************

I am also upset that Bernie Madoff's "wicked" portrait did not get ONE single bid, at the art auction at the Armory Show in Manhattan.

This is one scary "portrait." I have to ask myself - "who in their right mind would even consider buying a portrait of this thief." If I had inconsequential bucks to throw away, I might bid fifty cents - to have an effigy to burn when he is convicted. Oh, did I mention the "minimum" bid of $100,000?



I finally got to speak (and see) theson via Skype last night...this always makes me a very happy camper. I had to call him back, as I was trying to back out of a running program - and it froze up - causing me a lot of grief. But at least I got a good visual - I haven't talked to him in over a month (maybe longer). He makes me laugh, and raises my spirits, when I am in a funk...what more could a mother ask???


Have a good one all - I'm tired and going to head to bed really soon...chat..Later.....

Health Report and stuff......

OK - I went to the doctor today and he says my lungs sound good, but it will probably take about a month to totally clear up the pneumonia. Woohoo!! The throat closing problem he is ascribing to the prednisone. I should hope that gets out of my system soon, as it is a pain in the ass. Of course, I got the obligatory "you need to quit smoking", to which I replied, "I will get right on that!" **fingers crossed behind back! when he said he was going to do all the CAT scans while I was in the hospital, I was hesitant - and told him OK, but if there was ANY bad news, I didn't want to know! I'm funny that way. But he said they were perfect. Kewl! So, that means I have more time to gum up my lungs from nicotine right???? I am not an idiot by any means, and I do know the dangers, but quitting is so very hard. He said in jest, he would rather I have a 12 pack a day - and we then argued about the ramifications of weight issues with all choices. I won...still smoking!!!

I know I have said this so many times, but I have the greatest son in the world. I got an e-mail this morning for my e-tickets to fly to Boston on the 22nd (a week from tomorrow). I wasn't really going to go this year, as money is really tight, but out of the blue, he and my daughter have been collaborating on this surprise. I have gone there for many years, but for the past four years, I have always gone up for my birthday, and celebrate with my adoptive family - and there are two there with birthdays at the same time. So, they better be getting the apple martinis ready!! I will fly up on the 22nd and come home on the 27th - wonderful, I repeat, wonderful family and we always have a great time. Plus, I get to shop at the Christmas Tree stores - we don't have them here. It does not take a whole lot to make me happy.

On to other things....how about Bernie Madoff??? That fucker has to be paying off these judges. His ass should be behind bars until he is convicted and sent to "the big house." Crapola, you hold up a 7-11 and get away with $100, your ass is behind bars ASAP, do not pass go, do not collect $200. WTF....$50 billion seems not to be a big thing here. Especially when the asshole tried to mail over a million dollars worth of jewels to family members, and had checks made out for another $173 million. This entire thing boggles the mind. I guess the Feds have a few worries for his safety (hell, I'd let him run the gauntlet), and made him wear a bullet-proof vest to court today. If someone really wants him, they'll take the head shot! Boy, I'm in a mean mood at the moment it would seem.

I just have a very low tolerance from those who can "pay" there way out of scrapes. And the way the economy has turned, and I think of all the people this man has ripped off - even to the point of two suicides...my blood pressure definitely rises exponentially.

This is very short and sweet, as I am tired and heading to the bedroom, to laugh at the stupid American Idol wannabes. Please note, I never watch the show till maybe the last couple, but watching these preliminaries is hysterical.

We are getting the snow dumped as I type. We have about 4" and more coming, so I am going to crash and let Mother Nature have at it! Behave and see ya tomorrow.

Later...................