Friday, July 6, 2012

Week 7... Random Thoughts

Greetings:

This week, I don't necessarily have a specific story in mind, so I thought I would simply share some random thoughts...  just some things that have crossed my mind in the last few days while I had entirely too much free time.

I can't let this week go by without mentioning the passing earlier this week of American TV Icon, Andy Griffith.  What a tremendous childhood memory for most of us growing up at the time, family time for sure.  Andy, Aunt Bee, Opie, Barney, Helen Crump, Howard, Floyd the Barber, Thelma Lou, Gomer & Goober, and yes, Otis, the town drunk.  RIP Andy...

So, how much is too much???

While sitting in front of my lap-top this week, online of course, exploring this and that, it occurred to me...  how crazy is it that most of us who am I kidding?  all of us have become so "hooked" to the internet?  Pretty much, a typical day/night in our household, besides cooking and sleeping, revolves around the internet.  In our house, Donna & I have two Lap-Top Computers, one of which I am constantly on, and a Desk Top Computer that Donna is on quite a bit.  Now, as we each sit in front of our computers, just 6 feet from one another usually checking out the latest on Facebook, we have our Smart Phones sitting right there, never more than an arms length away, waiting to produce the latest text or picture from whomever talking on the phone is so 5 minutes ago.  
Well, I saw this & could not resist showing it...

And at some point, Donna will say, "let's see what's on the DVR."  Now, she has a spot on the couch and I have my chair that I use and each has a small end table...  and on those end tables are our his & hers Kindle Fire's so we can obviously "stay in touch" while we are away from the computer.  Seriously???  
And then...  we sit right there and turn on our Smart TV, yeah, the one we use to listen to Pandora, and that comes with a remote that has a "keyboard" on the backside of it.  And after we sit down, one or both of us will say/think, "Oh man, I left my phone over there.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr."  Remember the old Ma-Bell phone that used to "hang" on the wall way over there and your TV that came without a remote?  I'm just sayin'...  

Donna & I went out for a late night dinner a few days ago.  We walked into this particular restaurant and sat down at our table and immediately started looking at the pie menu prior to our dinner menu...  what does that say?  The waitress came over and took our drinks order and we asked to start off with an appetizer.  Now, half way through the appetizer that included chips, we asked our waitress for a "to go" box for our appetizer because we still had to order our meal and pie.  She asked if we wanted more chips too...  and well, of course we did.  Now, pretty much half way or so through her dinner, Donna asked our waitress for another "to go" box because she was getting full, but had to leave room for pie.  So, I looked at my plate of half eaten food I never leave food on my plate and said, "I want pie too."  Well, after a couple of minutes, I had the waitress come over and I asked her for a "to go" box for my left over food.  Now, how bad is it when your waitress has to ask you if you need a 2nd carry out bag to fit all your take home food in (including that extra "bag" of chips)???  And there are only two of us at the table.  And then, here comes our pie.  And yes, we finished that!!!  Go figure.  As we got up to leave, I could not help but mention to Donna, "I don't think we have ever left a restaurant with this much food.  Ahhhhh, but the next day, there was no cooking involved whatsoever.

I cannot remember the last time I rode a bicycle.  It has probably been at least 30 to 35 years, maybe more.  Lately, I have had the itch to get a bicycle and start riding again.  And then...  I started looking online at bikes.  Holy smokes, I don't even know where to start.  If you have been out of the "bike business" for any length of time, it's a whole new world out there.  It's probably worse than buying a new car.  Your options are seemingly unlimited.  Online, it's confusing.  Go to the bike store and confusing compounds!!! 
It's all so much just a blur...

Remember when you just walked into a store and picked out a cool looking bike for around $69 and you were done?  Now...  your list to choose from includes:  Mountain, BMX, Comfort, Cruiser, or Hybrid.  26 inch or 29 inch.  Fat tires or skinny tires.  Various seats...  and then, there are the Accessories for crying out loud.  It's enough to make you want to take a "Spanish Pause" and go have a libation and sort it all out.   

How about this...  Is this you (or am I just weird)?  When I shower, I want the water as hot as I can stand it.  Even on the hottest of days.  For me, while in the shower, hot water feels absolutely amazing.  And when I've been in long enough for the hot to fade, I am so turning that handle a little more to the left.  I want more hot water and nothing to do with cool water.  But, when I'm done and dried off, that's when I'm thinking, "Is the bedroom fan on?  What's the thermostat set on?"  I'm completely over all that hot water now and want some cool air and I want it now.  "It's hot in here."

Check this out...  For a couple of months, there has been a new Shell Gas Station under construction very close to where we live.  The Grand Opening will be any day now.  In the last few days, workers hung the name of the really nice Convenience Store just above the front door.  

Yo Dude...  Want some Gas???


Donna & I had to laugh just a bit at the new name, certainly a first that I am aware of:  "Gas Dude."  Seriously???  I actually use the word "dude" quite a bit, but I have never seen it used as the name of a thriving business.  Pretty funny.





Photos:  And then...  there's our Toby:

The "Tobester" in his little home... (when not in Donna's lap)

Recipe's:  I've got a dish for you this week that I have tried a couple of times and it is truly amazing.  From Recipe Girl, a meal to fire up your grill and enjoy Chili Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled Pineapple Salsa.  Serve with your favorite side dish.

Libations Anyone???This week, I am highlighting my "Go To" beverage of choice that has been my favorite for many years when we are not having Mexican food.  And that would be Jack Daniels and Diet Coke.  No Coke?  Enjoy Jack straight up...  yum!

Music:  This week, my Pandora has been set on the Red Hot Chili Peppers station and I have so thoroughly enjoyed their music as well as the "like" music that Pandora matches with them.  If you like a little cutting edge Alternative Rock, RHCP is worth a listen. 

Market Watch:  This week, Facebook is pretty much exactly where it stood one week ago at this time, closing Thursday at 31.47, still almost 7 points down.

The End:  As always, I would like to say Thank You for checking in on Slu's World and seeing "what's going on."  I'm really excited about next week's blog post.  It's going to be about an "Amazing" turnaround.  I hope you'll check it out. 

Be safe, be smart, and always smile...  It's "Happy Friday

adios 

14 comments:

  1. WEll Steve I just had to have a bike and I received one two years ago for Christmas a cruiser I guess you would call it I call it a bike like I had when growing up no gears no fancy frills just a bike guess where it is? Yeah in the back room waiting for me :)

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    1. Ha!!! sounds like the exact same type Donna has picked out at Wal Mart for $79... a "comfort" bike. AKA dust collector??? take care, slu

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  2. Slu, we have started splitting meals (like old people) because we think we will magically lose weight by doing that. We never split pie though...that would be just silly.
    Love, love, love hot water too. But, then I start freezing when I get in bed. Layers of blankets followed by a hot flash 30 minutes later(damn menopause).
    Would not try a bike at this point in my life. Would rather avoid hip replacement for at least another 10 years, but hey... go for it big boy! Keep blogging.
    Donna S.

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  3. PS: I am on my laptop with my headphones plugged into my Zune. Listening to Tito Puente. He goes great with margaritas!
    Jim is watching a movie on his PC - or maybe it is on a cloud - not sure where his actual head is!
    DS

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  4. Ha....rode a bike for first time in a while today. It was slow at work so I rode one of our illegal worker's bikes round the bowling ally parkn lot for a bit. Sun an ski sports got some bad ace bikes......$$$$$ though. Something was up with our hot water heater last week, I ended up taking what felt like ice cold shower......if was alot of screaming and dancing around..... not fun!!!!! Haha

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    1. ha!!! that's the thing i did not bring up: the cost of these new bikes is off the chart.

      cold water shower: i'm out!!!

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  5. Speaking of remotes, the kids were the remotes back in the old days. We stood at the tv and turned the channel until Dad found something he liked. Then we got to go out side and turn the antenna until we found that special game dad was looking for. Never minded doing it, would have done anything for my dad.

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    1. exactly Nana TK... well said. have a great weekend. slu

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  6. Hey Slu, You have turned into quite a "Techy" as we all age. The way I see it, you gotta keep up with today"s technology or it will pass you by very quickly. I miss the simplicity of the things that we took for granted back in the day. You could never misplace the phone, it was either on the wall or on a top surface of some sort. Bicycles were a lot less expensive and people on the average, were a lot more courteous and caring. It's been pretty hot up here in the Mid-Atlantic for the past week. We were without power from Friday night until Thursday afternoon, from the "Derecho" storm that hit last Friday night. Of course, we stayed with family until we had the power back. Try a cold beer in that "hot" shower, it makes the beer seem even colder, and it's very refreshing also. You take care, I'll take another cold shower! Norton

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    1. jeff... i hear ya!!! and maybe some day, i'll try the beer in the shower. ha!!! take care my friend.

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  7. Wow! your blog is something different. I like reading it. This time, it's Slu's World. I can imagine your next blogs might be, "Slu Just Wanna Have Fun" or 'Funny Slu'. Will be back Slu. Thanks for making me smile.

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