Jim

Store Closings: Linens 'n Things (500), FootLocker (140), Anne Taylor (117), Zales (100), Office Depot (150), J.C. Penney, Sprint Nextel (125), Macy's (9), Hollywood Videos (920), Pep Boys (33), Wilsons Leather (158), Pacific Sunwear (153)
Bankruptcy Filings: Sharper Image (90), Levitz (76*) , KB Toys, Bombay (364*), CompUsa (103*), Charming Shoppes (150), Ethan Allen (12)

Twasn't me that hath dribbled out such trite information.
I would rather be smitten, beaten with palm frawns, and yes, even flogged with wet towels whilst showering in cold water.
Ahhhh.....To be older. Isn't it GREAT!!!
We're down to our last few programs at work.
The halls are empty. The cubicals are bare.
Our emails are checked, hoping none will be there.
This is indeed, the season to be WAH.
We're a foot deep in snow on this 21 degree day, and it takes 20 minutes to deice the windshield.
Becky's smacking down a Philly Cheese Steak, while deciding to watch "Benji the Hunter" or "Beverly Hills Cop".
Me, I'm trying to figure out what to do with my self. I'm getting cabin fever.
I just checked out how much it would cost to fly and stay in New York for 5 days and 4 nights, during New Years.
Believe-it-or-not, it would cost $1,700 for two people. The hotel is across from Madison Square Gardens. hmmm.

I was playing with our adopted chipmunk the other day.
I wondered if it played, so, I did the play stance that dogs like.
I got on all fours, kept my head up, crouched in a ready to launch posture, and put my arms straight out on the floor.
I know, when I do this with dogs, they go nuts. They wiggle their back legs, then run and jump around when I move.
To my surprise, the chipmunk wiggled his backs legs...just like a dog!!!
I wondered how it could be that a chipmunk, so far removed from a dog, could inherit the same behavior.
About then, I realized what I was doing. I was crouched like a cat does when he's stalking his pray.
At this point, I wondered if anyone else had put that together...that playing was a form of teaching self defense to young animals.
I googled it. Other's had come up with the same conclusion, with additional observations, EG - A young giraffe jumping all over the place, a horse doing the same.
I realized, while playing is regarded as fun, its intent is to teach us how to survive. Its another one of those silent voices we hear throughout our lives.
Even insects play.
I wondered if all animals sleep.
As it turns out, most do. Even some trees have been found to sleep. Of course, some might argue that all trees sleep though the winter.
Then again, since we can't find a trees control center, it would be hard to do an MRI on them to prove it.
Now this is a horrible realization about death (kind of)
After watching a slew of CSI shows, I wondered why, after we die, our bodies go into rigor. I wondered why we smell horrible.
And I realized something. Our bodies are preparing themselves to be devoured. The smell, while repugnant to people, is attractive to scavengers.
Our bodies are set to be recycled upon death.
While these thoughts may be considered negative, and even repulsive to many, they do point themselves to an amazing and beautiful truth.
All life on this planet, and probably the universe, is related. The fact almost every animal has two eyes, two kidneys and one liver is no accident.
We are simular in more ways than not. We are related.
And the fact that that little chipmunk plays like a dog, makes me think that defense stategies are passed down to all animals through silent voices.
Many of those silent voices could only come from the memory of animals just moments away from their death.
What I'm saying is, our memories live on past our lives.
Its possible our silent voices (instincts) were passed to us through the animals we have eaten.
Of course, many people would prefer not to think at all about these things and would simply say its God's will.
To those people I say, cool, if not thinking is what works for your truth, then fine. It really makes no difference what we think.
What really matters is, all the lives past and present on this planet are important, and that we go on sending messages long after our lives are over.
Some thought, way back in time, taught the chipmunks and dogs of the world to play.

It snowed powder all weekend long.
We watched about 50 cars stop on the road below our apartment. They seemed to be stuck in the street.
They may have been playing it safe while waiting for a salt truck. These roads were soooo slick,
Several of the people left their cars and walked up to their apartments, waiting for help to arrive.
That seemed odd to me. You never see something like that in California
I took the truck out to do some sliding!
I thought it was fun, but then again, I wasn't worried about losing control.
Ya just gotta love 4 wheel drive with anti-lock breaks in weather like this.
Pix-2-come. I left my camera in the truck.

I wouldn't have thought that. Its amazing the things I get into these days.

CelebrityObservations

Why do I have to 'Press 1 for English?'
Every American
When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep,
Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.'
Author Unknown
If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
'Take two aspirin' and 'Keep away from children.'
Author Unknown
'Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that.
It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.'
Drew Carey
'The problem with the designated driver program, it's not desirable ,
But if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it.
At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house.'
Jeff Foxworthy
'If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will save the Infant's' life without considering if the bases are loaded.'
Dave Barry
'Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and We should treat it like one.
If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice.
And the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.'
Bob Ettinger
'My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took Her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach anything!''
Paula Poundstone
'A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men.
I just want to say to the Authors of that study: 'Duh.'
Conan O'Brien
'Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??
I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my Gosh.... I could be eating a slow learner.'
Lynda Montgomery
'I think that's how Chicago got started was a bunch of people in New York said,
'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just I sn't cold enough. Let's go west.''
Richard Jeni
'If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the Impersonators would be dead.'
Johnny Carson
'Sometimes I think WAR is God's way of teaching us geography.'
Paul Rodriguez
'My parents didn't want to move to Florida , but they turned sixty and that's the law.'
Jerry Seinfeld
'Remember in elementary school, you were told
'In case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest.'
What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?'
Warren Hutcherson
'Bigamy is having one wife or husband too many.
Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde
'Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a Member of Congress..
Did I just repeat myself.'
Mark Twain
'Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student.
At least they can find Afghanistan '
A. Whitney Brown
'You can say any foolish thing to a dog, And the dog will give you a look that says,
'My Gosh, you're right! I never would've thought of that!''
Dave Barry
Do you know why they call it 'PMS'?
Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken.
Unknown, presumed deceased
'Everybody's got to believe in something.
I believe I'll have another beer.'
W. C. Fields

Whether with you, or as we roam; the gypsies leave you, to make new homes.
We know your voice, we know your face; we know your town, we've seen your place.
We leave our marks each place we go; on starlit beaches, in melting snow.
We never stay too long. Our homes are shelved. Each place we leave, we leave ourselves.
And Holidays are odd at best. We dine with strangers. We laugh and jest.
The cold world of contracting, that's where we are. Whats in between, lies in the stars.

To all of the people we know and love in Las Vegas, Orlando, Seattle, Louisville, Toledo, San Diego, and Pittsburgh
Happy Holidays!!! We love and miss you.

I want you to know, I didn't choose this way of life. It chose me.

Hey Rodney!!! It's great to hear from you!
Any time sounds like a good time to get together. You pick the date and we'll come.

The sun is melting that snow

The Cracker Barrel Restaurant

Pittsburgh, from Mt Washington

Black Friday Shoppers at 8pm

Monday was a bad day
- I woke up late
- I was late for a meeting that I'd organized
- I forgot to submit my timesheet
- I got a hateful email from a potential friend
Maybe it wasn't such a bad day.
- I got to sleep in and had wonderful dreams.
- I don't like meetings. Being forgetful is bliss.
- A friend forgot his timesheet too
- I only lost a potential friend
I guess anything can be positive

It's been hard lately, giving you the love and attention you need.
Its dark outside when I leave, and its dark when I come home.
Add to that, the twenty degree weather and its the cold season,
and there's just not much left of me by 6pm.
Its supposed to snow 1 inch today, and 4 inches this weekend,
but I'm glad for the timing. At least I won't be knocking it off the truck windows this morning at 7am.
Life in Pittsburgh is a little rougher than I'd imagined. I thought it would be more like Louisville.
I keep thinking of Peter, living in the Lake Michigan area. He must be missing Louisville badly.
Rod and his family are having weather like us.
Then again, I think about Florida, Vegas and San Diego. Those guys are having great weather.
Of course, life would be perfect here if we could telecommute !!!

The snow flurried early this morning. I think it is the most wonderful sight!