CntrySigns

My First Community Board Meeting

2009-10-14T22:56:00.002-04:00

Usually I go to my local civic and property owners meeting but I figured I should branch out and also attend my community board meeting. If you've never been to one, its where your neighbors share things they feel need to change in the community and events going on that may be of interest to you.

These meeting are very important and I plan on attending as often as I can and ask that you do the same.

But I do have 1 complaint.

If you're going to a community board meeting, plan to stay as long as you can. Not just until you have said your piece and then leave. It was very rude and in my eyes shows that you only care about yourself and not the rest of the community. Why should I care about helping you.

Glendale garbage is getting out of hand

2009-09-15T12:19:00.003-04:00

I am so sick of garbage problems. It seems that my neighborhood is always getting dumped on.

First off, the corner garbage cans. Residence of Glendale are putting in bags of household garbage which fills them up fast. People keep putting garbage in and as it over flows the garbage blows down the street. Which means when sanitation inspectors come by they give tickets up and down the block. What a scam. I clean up 2-3 times a day and its never enough.

2nd, the city trees. People decide that either the green bags for water or the dirt are perfect places to dump their garbage. I always try to notice and pick it up but come on, who raised you??

3rd, NYC hired a contractor to clean out the weeds where the trees are that they planted. These people came by and did a great job, but then left the bag of weeds behind. Since it wasn't my pick up day Sanitation wanted to give me a ticket. Luckily my neighbor saw him out front and called me. I ran out and luckily was able to talk my way out of ticket. The Sanitation inspector was very nice about it and suggested that I call 311. So I did but I doubt anything will come of it.

The Snow Leopard is charging...

2009-08-25T17:49:00.005-04:00

As you may have heard Snow Leopard is coming, so I thought I would share with all of you where I get my mac help from in Podcast form. This is not all of the good ones but these are my goto ones in no particular order.

Typical Mac User - http://www.typicalmacuser.com

Mac OSKen - http://macosken.com/

The Mac Review Cast - http://www.surfbits.com/

The NosillaCast - http://www.podfeet.com

The Mac RoundTable - http://www.macroundtable.com/

Macbreak Weekly - www.leoville.com

Now just make sure when you go to upgrade that you check your software. I try so many odd programs I hear about this is a quick way to see if they will work with Snow Leopard, which is intel only.

Click on:

your Apple in the upper left corner of your screen
About this Mac
More info
scroll down Contents to applications

The Column all the way to the right is Kind. That will tell you if the software will run in an intel only environment or if you have to install rosetta. Check the companies web site, maybe they have or are working on an update.

Feel free to leave additional tips in the comments.

Love these totally looks like entries....

2009-05-03T19:22:00.003-04:00

see more Celeb Look-A-Likes

I Love Gossomer!

I think there is also one showing Chloe Obrian (24) looks totally like Yeoman Rand (Star Trek) but I can't find the file. Here are some pictures.

Plans for the kittens....

2009-04-22T10:27:00.003-04:00

Since the kittens will be coming home soon I've been looking at ways to document their progress. But since my camera and video cam are pretty old I've been looking at upgrading. Of course that will cost money so I can't say it will happen very soon. But I did find out Scott Bourne is having a contest for a bunch of things that would help in my quest. Go on over to his site http://www.photofocus.com and see how you can enter yourself and keep your fingers crossed for me.

I've been looking at the little flip mino video cameras. If anyone has one let me know your thoughts.

Also once they are home I won't be blogging too much more about them here. I got turned onto mycatspace.com it just as ugly as the real myspace but I figured it would be a better place to update friend about them without boring my friend and family that can't understand my love of cats

Not a replacement....

2009-04-18T21:43:00.004-04:00

My husband & I can not be without a little critter in our lives. We miss Osiris so much. But we now have a plan. A friend of ours is a foster parent to cats all the time. Today we went over his house. No one can ever replace Osiris but there is no reason we can't love another cat or two. :) Here is a picture of Dinner Time. One of the Calico's fell asleep on my lap - I can't tell from the back but that's Molly and the Gray and White Kitty in the center of them all is the little boy that picked Frank. They are all so cute its hard to choose but it really wasn't our choice. :) As soon as they are big enough and had their surgeries we will have a happy home again.

R.I.P Osiris...

2009-03-28T20:22:00.004-04:00

Today we needed to make the hardest decision in any pet owners life. To put our beloved cat to sleep. We adopted him about 10yrs ago after his last owner abandoned him. The vet estimated he was about 16 or 17 years old. We will never know for sure.

As soon as he came into our life he became the king of the house. He slept on us, he tried to steal our food, but we loved him and he loved us back. Being a siamese he talked to us and purred so loud he could wake you from the next room.

I won't go into the gory details but his health has been going down hill and the vet felt that any of the possibilities would be life ending and he would be in pain. It was a hard decision, but we put in to sleep rather than have him suffer any more. He will be in our hearts forever.

My predictions for tonights BSG...

2009-03-20T15:12:00.002-04:00

OK so I'll admit, I was wrong. I thought Gaita was going to be the final 5th Cylon. But thats not gonna stop me from saying my piece about other things...

1. I think Starbuck and Baltar are half bro/sis AND they are Hybrids. They either share a cylon mom or dad. I'm thinking dad because of the music connection. That is why Baltar has a 6 in his head and why Starbuck is re-incarnated.

2. My other thought is that all of the people are either half or full cylons. Which would explain how they share dreams and how Baltar is in 6's head.

I guess we will find out tonight and no mater what happens we won't be happy.

I felt like an Alien....

2009-02-01T16:50:00.003-05:00

Until Friday, I thought I had the 3d glasses I needed for the Super Bowl commercials and for Chuck. But oh no... these are new glasses. They tell me they have them at your local grocery or drug store, so out I trek husband in tow. We tried the little places first, but they didn't even know what I was talking about. Then we headed out to some bigger stores. CVS - fail, Met Food - fail, Seven-11 - fail. Most people looked at me like I had 2 heads. They had no clue what I was talking about. I can see now why there will be so many people without TV when the digital TV switch happens. We finally found some at Stop & Shop. But that was after trekking all over town for 3 hours. They really didn't do a very good job of promoting it.

What I miss from my Palm TX....

2009-01-17T11:30:00.004-05:00

What I miss from my Palm TX that I really hope I can get on my ipod Touch (here in referred to as the iTouch, which really should have been its name but thats a different post for another day)

Games:
- Alchemy - You had to place a piece on a board kind of like uno. You had to match the color or symbol. It was easy in the beginning but when 2 pieces had to connect it got hard fast.
- Cake Mania - Build cakes to take care of customers and make money.
- Bounce Out - move balls around to have 3 so they would bounce out of the board.
- Candy Train - A train is chugging along a track, you need to move it around the board to pick up the next cars. When you get the caboose you then have to maneuver it to the station.
- NoMess - each round puts 3 random characters on a board. You need to move them so you get 5 in a row for them to disappear.
- Plant Tycoon - Making different plants to find 4 magical plants. Similar to the Fish Tycoon that is on the iTouch but I like Plant Tycoon better
- ShapeShifter - Carnaval setting where you have to drag pieces on to a moving board. The goal is to fill in the whole board before time runs out.
- Tot's & Togs - you are running a clothing store. You need to lay out the store and buy clothing that will or won't sell.

One thing I will miss is that my apps were listed alphabetically on the palm. Also it had wifi, bluetooth and IR.

So - iTouch owners. Please post here any games you found similar to the ones above that I should try. Below is a list of what I use most on my iTouch now.

- AppSnipper - Tells you the apps on sale and all the new apps in the iTunes app store. It also will follow a program you ask it to watch and lets you know when the price is where you want it.

- Units - convert any measurements - So far this is the best one I've found, but I know there are a lot

- ShopShop - Shopping list program - still not everything I want but it will do. I guess my dream app would be one that let me have a closet and a fridge and let me list what's in it. Then lets me add items from there into my shopping list. When its checked off the list it goes back where it came from. Why do I want this, well, sometimes I'll see something new in the store and not remember if I have what goes with it at home or not.

- 1Password - Need I say more, this program has saved my but more than once.

- Mancala - move your marbles around the board until yours are all done getting the most in your pile.

- Topple - an odd take on tetris

- Gemlogic - I tried the Free version and loved it so much I bought it. It's like bejeweled but as you advance you get more rows and columns making it harder. You can also switch gems anywhere on the board.

- TikiTowers - Build a tower, let the monkeys go. If they survive your tower you move on.

- Newsstand - So far the best rss reader I've found. I use google reader to collect all my feeds so using the google app works too but Newsstand gives you more options on what you want to do with a feed.

- Tweetie - Twitter app (duh) :)

I of course have tons of other apps but these are my must haves. Put some of your must have in the comments.

New = Organize...

2008-12-28T21:14:00.003-05:00

New = Organize.. or at least it does in my world. I've been this way since I was a kid. New School year with new books meant organizing my subjects, homework, assignments etc. But then that would fade and I'd be back to the disorganized mess by December. I guess someone in history was like me because they created New Years Resolutions. So every new year we all try to change things, or in my case re-organize things in hopes it will continue threw the year. Heres hope. :)

But at least today I feel like I accomplished something. With my husbands help that is. I've been bugging him for shelves in my kitchen for years. Finally today I guess he couldn't take it any more and I got my shelves. Nice wide shelves, just out of the way of my ever so little counter space but close enough to grab from when I need to. The shelves now hold my blender, coffee maker, toaster, cutting board and phone. My counter space now holds nothing, zero, zilch. Its clean! I can grab an appliance and use it and then put it back on the shelf. I know, its silly. But I feel like I have a new kitchen, so... time to organize.. :)

What Reindeer Are you

2008-12-08T22:16:00.001-05:00

Which of Santa's Reindeer are you?

Donder

Like Donder you are sensible and a good leader. You know the right things to do at the right time and have people's respect

Find out which of Santa's Reindeer you are at Quizopolis.com

Maybe my christmas card this year :)

2008-11-18T09:37:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I know its been awhile....

2008-10-26T21:19:00.003-04:00

I know, I know, its been while. Well, I've been busy. Making baby shower gifts and submitting grant proposals for a non-profit I volunteer for. But today I felt like letting off a bit of steam.
The steam is from my new neighbors. My family has been in this house for 50+ years. But now these new neighbors have moved in and have decided to make the block miserable. Yet I seem to be the only one annoyed by it. First, instead of picking up the leaves on their sidewalk like they are suppose to do, they take out a leaf blower and blow them down the block. My dad and I go out and ask him what the heck he was doing and he acted like an ass and told us to call the cops. I wish I could, but of course, we didn't, because we're pushovers. We're too afraid of a brick through our window so we just keep picking them up. Now today I put my garbage out, then went back inside to get more and come out just in time to see him walking past my door and another bag in front of my house. His house has a huge pile already so I guess he felt he should spread some of it out. Not sure why this is making me so angry but it is. But now that I've blogged, I feel better.
Steam released....

Vote for Chelsey Larkin!

2008-09-10T12:05:00.002-04:00

Please go to http://web.icenetwork.com/index.jsp
Then click on the 4th picture of the people in red shirts
Then click on vote for your favorite skater
Then please vote from my friend's grand daughter Chelsey Larkin.

Thanks!!

Building of World Trade Center

2008-09-09T15:24:00.002-04:00

My sister is coming to visit so my husband and I have been cleaning out some old old boxes that we have been putting off for a good 10 years. Well in a box I found some pictures of my Dads and this one he took from a ferry when they were building the world trade center.

Frank & Michelle's Special Dance

2008-09-04T17:52:00.000-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Rainbow over Glendale

2008-08-12T22:02:00.003-04:00

Walking to Stop & Shop today there was a big rainstorm. Well just as I got to Woodhaven Blvd and Union Tpke I saw this beautiful rainbow. More pictures are on my flickr sight. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cntrysigns

Mac haters....

2008-07-17T09:34:00.003-04:00

I almost feel like there are a bunch of Mac haters in the audio book field. My grandma listens to a lot of audio books and the ones she wants are not always the new best sellers that the library has in the branch. So I go to different places online, including the library. The library allows you to borrow for free audio books to listen to. Grandma can use my shuffle with no problem but I can't put them on my mac in order to give them to her. The software they use is Overdrive. This is the message I get as a Mac user.

"Why can't I transfer WMA Digital Audiobook titles directly to my iPod, or use these files on my Mac?

WMA Digital Audiobook titles, provided by OverDrive, Inc., use DRM protection technology from Microsoft Corporation. Unfortunately the iPod and Mac do not currently support DRM-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files.

OverDrive, along with hundreds of online digital media providers, is hopeful that Apple and Microsoft can reach an agreement that would enable support for Microsoft-based DRM-protected materials on the iPod and Mac."

Well my first questions is why are they using WMA? They are completely blocking out thousands of people. For what reason? Shouldn't the library be using something a little more open? Then today I'm on Borders and they are offering a free book. But guess what? Can't use it because I haven't paid my few hundred dollar Microsoft Premium cost. I know I can put windows on my Mac but I don't want to. Apple has been so good about their products working on a windows machine. But Microsoft just doesn't! ::pout::

AVN Award show...

2008-06-25T00:57:00.003-04:00

OK... The other night I was setting the DVR to tape Weeds and Diary of a Call Girl. Well I noticed after it that Bull Shit was gonna talk about Porn and then the AVN awards were gonna come on. Hubby and I have never seen an Adult Entertainment award show so I taped that too.

Where to begin... Well usually when you see an award show you see the actors out of character. They don't look exactly like the character they play on screen, they look like real people. Well dressed and decked out people but real people. The name called is not the character they played name, its the actors real name. Well, on the AVN awards, everyone there is still in character. It was the oddest thing. People were kissing and grabbing each other in the room like they were taping a porn and not an award show. It just didn't seem like an award show at all. Oh, except for the acceptance speeches. The people would come up and thank their directors, AVN, the audience etc but some of course added that they thanked all the cocks or dicks that helped them get there. It just seemed so fake and over the top. I was very dissapointed. I didn't take it seriously.

Sponsors who need to have a NASCAR car....

2008-06-21T19:49:00.002-04:00

Watching NASCAR racing for as long as I have, I actually have a wish list for some sponsors and how the cars would look....

AVON - Hello Tomorrow black car with white lettering
Apple - Gray hood with the apple logo, remainder of car with leopard spots.
Del Sol - The car would change color in the sun.
Microsoft xBox - the steering wheel will look like the joystick

What would you like to see on a NASCAR??

Treat others the way you would like to be treated....

2008-06-04T09:36:00.003-04:00

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Is that too much to ask?? I guess so.

A garbage truck broke down a couple blocks away from my house this morning causing a bunch of ass hole drivers to lay on there horn when no one was moving. The horns got me dressed and out to go see what was going on. So I started telling drivers how to get around the problem. All that paid attention to me said thanks. But too many drivers were busy on their cells, honking their horns ignoring the women waving her arms at them. One of them I finally smacked his car and told him how to get around it and he practically knocked me over getting onto the sidewalk to go down the block I was sending traffic. What an ass! But thats not even what bothered me the worse. The toe truck trying to move the garbage truck said it would still be a while so I called the police to see if they could send a cop to help. The cop said they had "no one available for non emergency situations at this time." What? Bull shit!! So I continued to try. Down the block my neighbor was out front and ask what I was doing. When I told him he laughed at me! Laughed at me. The asshole said. "Who cares, if they're not smart enough to go around fuck'em". Well I could have punched him. I lost it. I asked him how he would feel if he was late and stuck and no one helped him and I walked away. The nerve! I don't even know what to say to stupidity like that. Its a basic concept...

Treat others the way you would like to be treated!

A night at the Theater....

2008-05-31T23:01:00.004-04:00

For the last few weekends, my husband and I have been at the movies. The Regal at Atlas Park to be exact. A piece of Florida away from Florida. But the place is very under staffed. Each weekend we see the opening blockbuster to have a good time. But it turns into stress. Stress that shouldn't happen when you're going to have fun. Going to the movies has become like going to the airport. You need to arrive 2 hours before the start just to make sure you get to sit together. The place is all staffed with kids who don't care or security that look like they would fall over like a feather.

For all the people that were there, there were only 3 people working the concession and when I finally got to order my Ice Tea was like water, I traded for coke and it tasted flat so I settled on lemonade that was way too sweet. We spend a lot of money for tickets and food and its really a disappointment. Do they just not understand crowd control? How many big movies have played there and you still can't handle it! Its just a shame. I am praying for the day when the DVD comes out the same day as the movie. I would be willing to pay more and be able to sit home and I don't think I'm alone.

Sex and the City was very good. I hope they don't do a sequel. I won't ruin anything but I was satisfied. I will say it was not a movie for little kids. There was a 10 year old behind us and everytime there was a nude scene the mother screamed, "cover your eyes!" WTF!?!?! There there was a baby that started crying and the mother had to take the child out. Come on! I'm really sick and tired of it. These parents should be reported for child abuse. They don't have good enough judgment to have a child.

It comes down to people not treating others the way they would like to be treated. They think nothing about inconveniencing others....

One picture of the craziness here. The rest are on flicker.

My Fairy Name...

2008-05-30T16:42:00.002-04:00

My Married name:

Your fairy is called Columbine Icetree

She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.

She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.

She is only seen when the first leaves fall from the trees.

She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers. She has icy blue butterfly wings.

Get your free fairy name here!

My Maiden name:

Your fairy is called Columbine Iceglitter

She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.

She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.

She is only seen in the light of a shooting star.

She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers. She has icy blue butterfly wings.

Get your free fairy name here!

The summer looks bleak....

2008-05-30T13:05:00.003-04:00

Summer is usually a busy time. But this one seems to be shaping up to be a bit bleak. :(

Some of my favorite podcasts are either closing completely or taking the summer off. The Cup Car Update has decided to stop production because they just don't have the time. The same goes for Winginit 3d another Far Point Media production. Though it does look like some new stuff might be coming out from Mike in the video realm so keep an ear out. Then Technorama decided to stop regular production. They still will be coming out with special shows now and then, but its just not the same. :( Also... Beyond Reality Radio with Jason and Grant from Ghost Hunters is taking some time off the radio show because of lack of time. SciFi channel is really burning them out with production schedules and traveling to promos.

Who's gonna be next?? :( Its even coming time for my shows to go on summer break. My daily dose of Ellen I will miss the most. It was what I watched at the end of the day as my chaser. Its a great way to clean out the crap of the day and go to sleep with happy thoughts. Ellen=Happy Thoughts. :) But I will have to wait until next season. :(