My favorite quotes from last night...

In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.
And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words.
For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.

Sarah Palin

What to do?

I often joke that hubby and I do not need to have children because we have employees. It's a bit like jumping in with multiple teenagers. They bicker, fight, plot, finagle, and get into trouble. The kind of situations that one would think their parents would step up to deal with, but our experience has been slightly different. Either the person's parents are a/ just relieved to have their kid out of the house and not their daily problem anymore, b/ too messed up with their own bag of hammers, c/ going through a divorce or major turmoil with a sibling, or (now) d/sick and preoccupied trying to get better/live their life.
We just hired a kid (nineteen) that was recommended by another employee. He is a very polite well spoken kid who is motivated and eager to learn and help. On his first day he was answering the phone without anyone asking him too kind of motivated.
But he had his mysteries. I even thought of doing a background check on him. The pieces didn't add up. He said his Mom was a nurse, and his dad a teacher- both retired. One would think that parents like that would want their recent high school graduate to go to college. He's a smart kid... Then he has no bank account?!? Told me he wasn't planning on getting one either. Weird. Then he has no car, but he lives one town further away from the store than we do (we're about 25 minutes). He said he was going to move closer, but then moved further away.
Today his ride to work fell through. Go figure, a nineteen year old kid's friend didn't come through with a ride... (Duh!) He called and left a message on the store's answering machine apologizing. Then he called Art about an hour after opening saying he tried really hard but couldn't get a ride and fell over himself apologizing and explaining. Art ended up going to get him. Partly because we needed the body to do what was on the schedule for today and partly to try to figure out his story and see if this was going to be the norm.
Meanwhile our crabbiest employee (kind of like Mikey- he hates everything and everyone) called and said that our next door neighbor was selling a car for a thousand bucks and we should help our newby kid buy it by loaning him the money. Then the employee who got him the job pulled us aside and asked us if we would finance the car for Newby. We asked him a bit about things like Newby's lack of bank account, etc. We found out his father has recently gotten very sick, and that changed newby's choices in life fast. He doesn't have much stability or support and needs help.
We have loaned an employee money once in our ten years. It was more financing of a stove actually and it was after he worked for us for three years. This kid has been with us two weeks. The employee who recommended him said he will co-sign on the loan and it is not a lot of money to us.
Still... I worry that all employees will assume they can use us for a bank. I worry that he won't be able to afford the insurance; Nineteen year old boy... I worry that he will crash it into a tree...
We have put ourselves out on a limb to help other young guys who needed help and the odds are not that great. They either didn't appreciate it, didn't follow through, and/or thought we were "out to get them".
But what if we did help. What if when no one else is consistent in his life we are? What if he needs someone to care that little bit extra? What if he can't do it any other way?
What to do???

Cool by the Pool!

We had a very restful Sunday. These days we need to leave NH to feel relaxed. Hubby had his cell phone on him but it doesn't work very well at his sisters ;) The whole family went down for a day of sun, food, and relaxation. I was up until 10:30 the night before finishing the Boston Cream Pie I made for Art's eldest sister's birthday. Why they call it a pie I will never know. It is CAKE! With goo in between the layers, and chocolate frosting on top. But whatever you call it- it was yummy!
Art's (middle) sister and her SO have just finished major renovation in their home changing the entire downstairs layout, and removing a deck replacing it with a stamped concrete patio. The stamped concrete was amazing! We were thinking of that for our screened porch/patio project and I think seeing it sealed the deal. It looked very well thought out and flowed nicely.
We ate many yummy things, and sat by the pool in the hot CT sun. The pool was a big hit, and Uncle Arthur was an even bigger hit. Here was one of the bigger games of the day, I'll call it Dump Uncle Arthur.


Other kid games included being thrown by UA, and a complicated game of tag where the person who was IT would have to stand on the diving board with their back turned (so they couldn't see everyone) then turn, jump in the water and tag someone swimming in the water before they got to the other side. Kids in the water would hold on to the edge (which was safe), but once you let go you had to swim across. If the IT person turned around and no one was unsafe they would have to move a step away. You could be IT for a very long time... but they didn't seem to mind. They did make sure everyone had a turn being IT, too...


The adults mostly dipped their toes in to cool off, or waded out a little bit. Dale made watermelontinis for everyone and bbq'd burgers, dogs, chicken galore, and steak! Ten or so pounds of clams kicked off the snacking.


Life is Good!

Sarah Palin

McCain has announced his VP. Sarah Palin, the conservative Alaskan governor. Known as a bit of a renegade, as many say McCain is. They are both unafraid of doing what needs to be done!
Great choice, I think. Word is she was chosen with great care and they managed her introduction very well. Renegade, woman, conservative, hard-working, called big oil to task, headed up largest natural gas project on record, 80% approval rating - Brilliant!
McCain is in it for the long haul. He has worked his way up; serving in the military then devoting his life to public office. There was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth, although he did marry well. Mostly he worked tirelessly, and intelligently. He is one of the most practical, down to earth candidates I have seen in a long time. Doesn't hurt that he has been an ardent and early supporter of biomass technologies as an alternative either... From what I have read of Sarah Palin she is also a hard worker who is not afraid to go against the grain to do the right thing! A little more prolific than I would hope but that doesn't really have much to do with Veeping, so...
The election will provide a first, regardless. A woman will be the first VP with the McCain/Palin ticket. Or the claim of first African American with the Democrats.

Meme by transference

I found this meme over at JelleyJules. I tend to lose my originality after I read other people's answers so I turned it loose to hubby. (snicker- snicker) Here is what we got...

You are in a mall when zombies attack. You have:
1. One weapon
2. One song blasting on the speakers
3. One famous person to fight along side you

1. One weapon- H- Zombies, huh? Well, you've got to go for the head. You could use a shot gun! Ohhh...not enough bullets. Better go with a chain saw. You'd have to be close up, but you wouldn't run out of ammo...
2. One song- H- You wouldn't really be able to hear it, what with the chain saw going... (pondering and getting a devious little grin)... I guess I'd have to go with something from Rob Zombie...
3.One famous person- H- Does it have to be a real person or a character? S- Whatever you want... H- Bruce Willis is pretty kick-ass. Or Rambo... S- You have to pick one. H- I'd have to pick Rambo, he has a higher body count.

NNnnooooooooooo!

I woke up to this...

I can't believe the leaves are already falling! Someone said we are right on schedule this year. Our trusty Farmer's Almanac says we will have a cold and early winter. Our local farmer's wife said that since she has so many acorns in her yard that it will be a warm winter. I know who I WANT to believe!!

Bad News- Good News

People's Choice winner for best Sci-Fi series has been cancelled. Not a surprise, but disappointing. Continuum proved success for the direct to DVD movie's after SG-1's demise. Perhaps we will have an Atlantis movie or two as well??

New Stargate Series Targeted For Summer 2009 Premiere
New York, NY - August 22, 2008 - SCI FI Channel and MGM Television Entertainment have reached an agreement to extend MGM's Stargate brand with a new series for the Channel. Production on the first season of Stargate Universe, a weekly series based on the popular Stargate franchise, will begin in early 2009, with the show targeted to premiere that Summer. Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, co-creators of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and who both currently serve as executive producers on Atlantis, will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series.

"SCI FI has enjoyed tremendous success with Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and we're proud to be the home of the new Stargate Universe," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming for SCI FI & Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. "Universe will continue the Stargate legacy of vibrant storylines and compelling adventures, but will re-invent the format in a whole new way."

"The Stargate franchise enjoys a loyal and substantial fan base that welcomes each new installment with fevered enthusiasm," said Charles Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Corporate Development for MGM. "We are delighted to be working again with Brad and Robert and look forward to seeing new adventures with the launch of Stargate Universe on SCI FI Channel next year. Stargate Universe will continue the longstanding relationship between MGM's stellar science fiction franchise and cable's premiere destination for all passionate science fiction fans."

Thomas Vitale, Senior Vice President Programming & Original Movies said, "Stargate Universe is a natural progression for the Stargate brand and for our network. Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have been key drivers for SCI FI and we are looking forward to seeing where this next chapter leads, as each new installment of the Stargate franchise further engages the SCI FI audience."

Wright and Cooper said: "In 'Universe,' we plan to keep those elements that have made the franchise a success, such as adventure and humour, while breaking new ground in the relationships between mostly young and desperate explorers, thrust together and far from home. Above all, we believe the Stargate itself remains an enduring icon with infinite potential as a jumping off point for telling stories."

After unlocking the mystery of the Stargate's ninth chevron, a team of explorers travels to an unmanned starship called the Destiny, launched by The Ancients at the height of their civilization as a grand experiment set in motion, but never completed.

What starts as a simple reconnaissance turns into a never ending mission, as the Stargate Universe crew discovers the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard the Destiny.

The crew will travel to the far reaches of the universe, connecting with each of the previously launched Stargates, thus fulfilling the Destiny's original mission. Challenges will arise though as the ship comes into range of Stargates placed centuries ahead of the Destiny and the crew is unable to control the ship's navigational schedule. If someone is left behind, there is no way to go back for them, adding to the drama of encountering new races, enemies and adventures.

Stargate Universe will debut as a two-hour movie event on SCI FI. Following its premiere, Universe will assume a regular hourly slot in Summer 2009.

Down Day

A new walk today through a con-com area. A little short but it did have this great root ball, a four leaf (mushroom) clover, and a pond at the end.

We continued on to climb T Mountain. It was once a ski area, but has been turned into a recreation area.
Great views of North Pack, and with the crystal clear view you could see all the way to Nashua!

Polar is getting older.
He stays with us now, and trails behind just a little by the end of the hike. You take the good with the bad, I guess...

He did have fun playing in our pond when we got back. He hasn't caught a frog yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time... In the mean time he is still a good swimmer :)
Blizzy was glad to see us back so she could go play outside!

After this we went off on an LLBean rug hunt for Art's folks. Struck out, but found a dress for $15, and went to Keene for dinner.