BBS Archives | January 23 - December 12, 2007

January 23 - December 12, 2007 | Return to the Index |

Tiki: Wed Dec 12, 07 at 11:44:01 PM (EST) - Hmmmmmmmm....

Time to purge this page into the archives!

akageorge: Mon Oct 22, 07 at 11:22:17 PM (EDT) - Wildfires

Is everyone all right? I'm watching news coverage of the fires, and they look awfully close to some of my friends.

RTE: Mon Oct 8, 07 at 12:21:34 PM (EDT) - Readers on Drugs

Thought I'd post this link to the OC Register's Best Of Orange County link. I don't wanna brag, but I need to. When (or if) you get to the page, scroll to the last entry. http://www.ocregister.com/best/entertainment/page10_livemusic/

RTE: Mon Oct 8, 07 at 12:14:34 PM (EDT) - Larry

Dude. You're disabled ?!?!?!?

Tiki: Fri Oct 5, 07 at 12:23:24 AM (EDT) -

RIP Lisa Crawford Moore...

akageorge: Tue Oct 2, 07 at 01:29:48 AM (EDT) - Musings

Wow, Lar. That was cool. (My eyes are whirling in their sockets, though, since for some reason I couldn't enlarge the type on this 'puter!) Thanks.

Hey, Jon -- guess who I just got back in contact with? (see Topic) -- Josh!

He's married, living in Richmond, VA, and working at Colonial Williamsburg. His wedding (the second, "uncivil" ceremony, for friends) had a pirate theme. Guess he's still the same Josh.

kyle: Thu Sep 20, 07 at 01:22:06 AM (EDT) - hmm

howdy folks

Buddaj: Tue Sep 4, 07 at 09:36:02 PM (EDT) - Dr. Larry Singer

Thank You for your inspiration. Give my best to Tea.

I do miss you guys!

Dr. Larry Singer: Sun Sep 2, 07 at 12:23:50 AM (EDT) - 19 years..and STILL ticking!!

Well..I know i've been absent..but I wrote this and sent it to some friends, and since I don't have many of your e-dresses (funny...for the guy that maintained the original YELLOW pages), i'll just paste it here:

Dear friend(s): Well…here we go again. You probably got one of these missives two years ago, unless I just made your acquaintance since then. I didn’t really want to do this so soon, as it would probably sound like a broken record. This year, however, represents a landmark. Recently, I was thinking about things and did the number crunching and counted on all my fingers and toes and realized…on Sept. 1 it will be/is/was (choose your tense depending on which day you read this) 19 years and 1 day since the accident that has defined my life. In case you need me to hold your hand on where I’m going with this…I have lived longer as a disabled person than as an able bodied person (since I was 19 then).

I thought about all the aspects of my life that this has impacted. In 2002, I don’t know how, but I missed this landmark – at that time, I had driven longer with modified equipment than driving before my accident. I have been in a relationship (with my soulmate) longer than any relationship I had before the accident. I have had more higher education than before the accident. I have been to 10 times (maybe even more) as many concerts after the accident than before (that “10 times as many” is probably in just 1 year!)

What does this mean?? This means that while it was thought on that fateful day that my life was over…and then when I finally “came to” that I would have a very muted, if nonexistent, quality of life…I not only have been living life to the fullest, but my quality of life has been meeting and exceeding that of someone with an exemplary quality of life.

In that time, I’ve learned a lot…about me…about life. I’ve learned that I’m tenacious, persistent, intuitive, emotionally strong, and adaptable. I know who I am and I know where (approximately) I’m going. I may not know where I’ll be working or what I’ll be doing, but I do know what will make me happy, and I do have direction and place my energy towards that. What I’ve learned about life is that that those are some of the qualities that can help one have a happy and contented existence.

• I’ve also learned that life is short – enjoy it now! If you base today’s actions on an uncertain and unknown distant future…you may miss what there is in the present to enjoy.

•I’ve also learned that the MOST important opinion of you is…yours. People can be critical, judgmental, and look at you through their “stereotyposcope”. They’ll look at you and think based on their perception, they’ll know “who” you are… and their internal computer will process what schema you fit in to and all those qualities will be attributed to you whether true or not. It is therefore why you should not fixate and obsess on what others will think of you or what others are thinking of you. What do YOU think of YOU? Let that be your guiding light to get you through your day. And HELP others understand your uniqueness. INFORM them. EDUCATE them. That’s the ONLY way that stereotypes will break down. Every day people look at me and see the chair and the curled fingers and the hooked hands, and I see their brains finding the schema marked “disabled person”. I therefore feel it my duty to skew their schema and present a new characteristic. I’ll hand them my card and they’ll see “Dr. Larry Singer” and I’ll see their eyes bug out. And then they’ll see me struggling trying to do something and I’ll sense them on the brink of wanting to reach out and help me…cause that’s “what you do” with disabled people. But then they see me capably doing what I do…and that changes their whole perception. All it takes is 5 minutes for the interaction…but the effects last a lifetime.

I gave you a challenge in the last e-mail…here’s this year’s challenge. If you’re a person with a disability, a person of color, a person with a unique sexual orientation, or any of the many other “person of/person with” categories….take 5 minutes each day to change someone’s view about you and “your kind”. That’s 365 people a year affected, and to the best of my approximation, with the number of people that will see this letter - 91,250 people affected each year. And because I am a thorough scientist, I’d have to throw in a margin of error of about 5% (which are going to be those friends of mine that say “that’s a stupid game, Larry”), so we’re looking at roughly 86,687 ½ people (alright…the for the ½ we gotta take in to account that there might be one guy with no arms and legs) that will have a stereotype that they have rigorously held on to erased. I met some guy the other day at a store and he had some extra money he needed to spend on his transaction. He went over to the refrigerator, grabbed a bunch of sodas, and handed them to people. His only request from everyone? “Have an EFFECT on someone today.” (alright…I do my whole years’ quota of “effect” in one fell swoop). But back to the point of this…it’s not what “they” think of you that matters…it’s what YOU think of YOU

• I’ve learned technology is our friend…it’s not to be taken for granted. Some of you who are the OG, the “inner circle”, the ones who have been with me from the start, may remember my first mass mailing as a quad. It was a simple little 50 to 75 word letter I wrote while I was in the hospital. What was unique about this letter was that it was the FIRST communication I had with the outside world (save for phone calls and hospital visits) on a mass scale. [side note: I actually heard that a signed copy of this letter with COA went for $107.01 on ebay…THANKS friend! (you know who you are!)] How did I write that letter? Well, I had very little use of my arms, but enough movement to move them around while hooked up to a cable pulley and counterbalancing machine (I called it the “Pinocchio”) with my hands wrapped up with typing sticks. Therapy was an hour long and I used the whole hour to hunt and peck at the keyboard on the electric typewriter (for a 75-80 wpm typist, this was tedious). At $180 per hour for therapy, this was probably the most expensive letter written, on a cost per word basis. But, the most important fact is…I did it. Then it took about 70 envelopes with accompanying stamps, with 2 people (probably my parents) getting stomach aches from the stamp/envelope glue combo, to send it out to family and friends. Nowadays, I sit at my computer, no Pinoccchio machine as I have enough strength – but I still have the typing sticks, write one of these letters out, make changes on the fly, spell check it, add new stuff, change other stuff, remove unwanted stuff, drag all my friends in the BCC: and hit “Send”. Within SECONDS….you read it, you may reply, my home phone might ring with well-wishers (some with tears welling in their eyes), while I’m out (maybe having coffee) my cell phone might ring with other well-wishers (hey..let’s have some fun…first call I get when I am drinking coffee gets a prize! Your chances are pretty good…bonus points if you’re on Verizon), some of you may choose to hit “Forward:” and send it off to your e-mail friends (which would really throw off my estimation above)…and that happens instantly (by all means…please…if you have friends, family, co-workers who know me, please share this, pin it up to the staff bulletin board, etc…).

My point? Things have come a long way in 19 years (and one day). Technological advances have given us a much different world today than we had then….and THEN we thought we were technologically advanced. So…if your web access is down, satellite TV not working, e-mail on the blitz, DVD player bugging, car giving you problems, etc., etc…just chill. You went without that technology for so long…a little while longer isn’t going to hurt.

I’ve learned a LOT about “car problems” this year. Most of you know, but some of you don’t…this March 31 I was involved in another accident…this time as a driver. While the ’88 accident was life-altering, this accident was, fortunately, just lifestyle-changing. No more can I just go places on the fly. Basically, there’s a lot of planning that needs to take place when I want to go out, and there‘s a lots of buses being waited for and a lot of wear on the tread of my tires….essentially what life was like my first 10 years as a quad. Since March 31, much of my life has been consumed with resolving the fallout from the accident. Hopefully, life will get back to “normal” soon.

•Be good to people. Leave a good impression. You don’t know where, or when, or under what circumstances you will see this person again. ESPECIALLY when you are unique like me. People come up to me and could remember what I ordered at their restaurant 5 years ago (that’s why I have to leave big tips)! You really have no idea when you will encounter this person again, and under what circumstances, so be on your best behavior!

“So what about me, Larry? All you’re doing is talking about yourself…what about me?”, you’re probably thinking to yourself. Well, if it’s not obvious…this isn’t all about me. Some is for you, dear friend(s). I lived the life, I took the chances, I reaped the benefits, I suffered the consequences…I learned. Therefore you can use my experience and, by association, learn from that. I’ve pointed out some of the “lessons” above. Others, you could pretty much extrapolate from what you know about me.

It has been suggested to me to write a book to share my experience (not very likely); I could give talks and seminars (less unlikely, but not entirely doubtful); I think mostly I’ll just continue going around on a daily basis and touching people (though I hear in most states that can get you 5 to 7 years…they DO have a DSM-IV diagnosis for it!) In closing, and thanks to technology, I’ll pose the same challenge I did the last e-mail…both to reiterate to the people that saw it, to allow the new people (my email list has probably DOUBLED!) to see it, and to nudge those of you who saw it last time, but “couldn’t find the time”:

I ask just one simple thing of you. 15 seconds of your time (well…in addition to the 10 minutes you took to read this). Use that 15 seconds to think of how precious your life is and how glad you are to be alive….and what is good about your life (alright….that last thing might take more than 15 seconds, so do the Cliff’s Notes version). Why 15 seconds?? Because that is the amount of time (I estimate) that transpired in the accident which altered my life (and nearly ended it). If I can take that time to alter my life….YOU can take that time to do something that may potentially improve yours.

Love/Sincerely/Later/Yours Truly (pick your appropriate salutation);
Larry Singer, PsyD

P.S. If you’ve gotten this far and you say to yourself “Who the heck is ‘Larry Singer, PsyD’?”, you can refresh your memory at: http://www.larrysinger.com

And also see all the cool idols I’ve had the chance to meet: http://homepage.mac.com/lsinger9404/PhotoAlbum33.html
(side note: The Lou Reed picture got me in the pages of Blender Magazine this month)

Judi: Thu Aug 30, 07 at 10:35:38 AM (EDT) - YaY! Good news!

WCLZ bought by Saga Communications

August 30, 2007

Portland radio station WCLZ (98.9 FM) is being purchased by Saga Communications, and company officials say they will keep the station's eclectic adult alternative music format.

Saga, based in Michigan, entered into an agreement to buy the station from a trust and could take over by the end of the year, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission, said Sam Bush, Saga's chief financial officer.

Saga already owns seven stations in Portland, including the mainstream contemporary music station WMGX (93.1 FM), country station WPOR (101.9 FM) and WYNZ (100.9 FM), which plays mostly hits of the 1960s and 1970s.

WCLZ plays contemporary music that is not heard on Top 40 stations, and focuses on local music as well. Bush said he could not guarantee Saga would make no changes to the station, but said the format would remain basically the same.

akageorge: Fri Aug 17, 07 at 02:53:05 AM (EDT) - Summer's flying

Tiki -- I, too, performed the sacrifice of locks, third time. Felt way short, but I really like the new style. It sure was a lot cooler at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, which I worked as usual in July. That's my big vacation every year.

Tree didn't show up this year with Ani, tho -- our headliner was Arlo. He lives just a short drive over the state line. Classic festival story of the year: We had our first-ever computerized login of artist merchandise (spreadsheet built by one of my campmates, who does that for a living) and it worked great ... on everyone's stuff except Arlo's. 15 boxes came in, and the program somehow doubled the inventory, so after we counted out, we paid him $20,000 ... should have been $2,000. Fortunately, programmer caught the error that night, got hold of Killer (Arlo's manager) and stopped the check.

Try screwing up like that with Black Sabbath ... or even Ani!

My garden grows, but nothing like Tiki's. Lots of green tomatoes, good-sized basil, teeny baby watermelons (still furry), small zucchini, a few perennial herbs, about 7 carrots, some 6" tall lima bean plants, and a thousand or so baby leeks that all popped up from the ones I let go to seed last year.

No rattlesnakes in the Bay yet this year -- some just outside, where they're doing logging, though. A nasty family of raccoons keeps invading my window feeder. I open the window a crack and blast them with bathroom spray. They scoot.

Tiki: Fri Aug 3, 07 at 08:08:35 PM (EDT) - Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Hahaha, well I finally stepped up to the plate and gave every inch of hair I had to Locks of Love. I had been saying for years that I was going to do it. Who knew my hair was so curly short.... Goodness, I look like a dork! Oh Well, a good cause!

Harold: You get into any car you want and just drive off?

Maude: Not every car. I like a variety...always looking for the new experience.

Harold: Maybe. Nevertheless, I think you're upsetting people. I don't know if that's right.

Maude: Well if some people get upset because they feel they have a hold on things, I'm merely acting as a general reminder: Here today, gone tomorrow -- don't get attached to things.

Collector: Wed Aug 1, 07 at 08:11:43 PM (EDT) - Still kicking

Well, well, well (that's a deep subject). I still remember how to find this crew. I see some familiar handles but at a greatly reduced frequency of posting. Not perhaps as infrequent as I have been (once every two years). Judi: Nice gardening. I was reading an interesting article about people in urban areas using their front yards as gardens and how some neighbors were unhappy. Anything that reduces our dependence on foreign manual labor shoudl be encouraged. RTE: Still playing in the neighborhood eh? Cool. Funny you were just menotioning the ol Yellers and here's OG popping in randomly. Life update: I'm working as a trainer for a west LA law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Still drinking at the Scarlet Lady Saloon on Sepulveda and playing golf. Dart game has gone to hell. Quit smoking in February. Visited Alaska last year and the wife just got back from Machu Pichu. Other than that, not much new. Unless you count the emergence of an 18 year old daughter from my past... She's 21 now and wants to come visit LA. We'll see. We're still getting to know each other. Stay happy everyone and say hello to any other ol Yellers. Go Red Sox and Patriots.

Judi: Tue Jul 31, 07 at 01:36:06 PM (EDT) - more

wasn't sure I remembered how to add an image so just posted one to start so as not to anger the pooch. more!

"When you see a beautiful flower garden, try to meet the owner. Beautiful gardens are often tended by the nicest and most interesting people"

Judi: Tue Jul 31, 07 at 01:31:52 PM (EDT) - gardens

first picking today.

RTE: Sat Jul 28, 07 at 11:50:49 AM (EDT) - In General

I just woke up and felt the need to check in. Prolly cuz I had a dream about Andi Brown ! If Jones is out there, ask her to E me, please. Sorry you miss So Cal, Jon. Matt J returns. Mary walks barefoot all year round ?!?!?!? Judi's radio station went MEXICAN !?!?!? Me ? Doing lotsa solo gigs and trio acoustic stuff. Staying out of trouble. So Jon, how many of the 'Ol Yellars can you still get in touch with ? I just heard from David Reilly the other day. He's living in Kiwi Land and doing fine. I'll be back a bit later.

Tiki: Tue Jul 17, 07 at 08:29:42 PM (EDT) - Woot Woot - Tomato's any one?

Hmmmm,
Maybe a 12' X 12' was a bit too small? Only lost 4 plants. Still learning what works in LA and what does not. One thing I learned is, these plants grow 3 times the size i am used to in SoCal.

A few updated photos. Note: the tall Sunflower is my height.

Tiki: Fri Jun 15, 07 at 09:41:07 PM (EDT) - Odds n' Sods

Sorry to hear that Judi.

Something about hearing the local thoughts that makes radio great. I have now stopped listening to Indie. The more I listened, the more I missed SoCal. Bad enough that I miss it sooo much. So I now listen to the local FM Country Rock Station (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Buddy), and the local Hard Rock Station in the car. At home I listen to XM's Deep Cuts. I get this via my TV Dish.

Baldwin County is in a Major Drought. This would be great if there were tons of kidney shaped swimming pools around! :) But not good for my fish pond. The pond is 5 feet low. Not good. So hahaha, I have this rain dance thing. Thank goodness for owning a long garden hose.

I need a Bug Zapper Light! I need 2!

Well, I have still not registered to vote here. I must do it. But in Alabama they demand photo ID. Outstanding! So I need to haul my rear to the County seat. Hey Cali... Take my rear end off the voter's roll. Yea right. To date, 2 different divisions of the California DMV has suspended our tag registration. Hello idiots. I have told them time and time again, that we no longer live in the state. Wow, we now must pay late charges. hahahaha. Morons!

I leave you with this thought:

So, my painting short's are in the washing machine. So I take off my new shorts and start painting part of my front porch's railing in my boxer shorts. The front yard. Not thinking about it much, til I grab a Bush beer. For some reason, Jeff Foxworthy jumped into my head.

Judi : Wed Jun 6, 07 at 12:26:38 PM (EDT) - another one bites the dust

Drats! The only radio station I listen to, the only AAA station in Maine.

Parent company plans to sell Portland radio station WCLZ
Portland radio station WCLZ (98.9 FM), known for its blend of music and commitment to local artists, will be sold this year, according to a posting on the station's Web site.
Portland radio station WCLZ (98.9 FM), known for its blend of music and commitment to local artists, will be sold this year, according to a posting on the station's Web site.
WCLZ's parent company, Citadel Broadcasting, is buying the ABC Radio chain. Federal Communications Commission limits on the number of stations one company can own requires that Citadel sell some stations.
Once the ABC purchase is final, WCLZ would be put in a trust for six months or until it is sold, according to the announcement. During that time, the station would be run by its current staff and play the same music it has played in the past.
The announcement went on to say that it is "our hope" that any new owner of WCLZ would keep the current format.
No one at Citadel's Portland office could be reached for comment Tuesday.
Citadel would also sell WCYI (93.9 FM), but that station is a simulcast of WCYY (94.3 FM) and WCYY would continue to be owned and run by Citadel.
WCLZ's format of contemporary rock, blues, folk, and world music was changed to more of a Top 40 format by Citadel in 1999, but was later changed back, partly because of listener response.

jakbeni: Fri May 25, 07 at 06:10:10 PM (EDT) - Stickin my foot in my mouth

I was wrong. HR 2060 does the oppostite of what i was saying and attempts to reverese the 33 cent per listener per song roaylty. For a more official source, go to savenetradio.org

jakbeni: Fri May 25, 07 at 06:07:04 PM (EDT) - Sticking my foot in my mouth

Reading the text about HR 2060, I was wrong. This legislation seeks to reverse the royalty tax. For more details, got to Save Net Radio

jakbeni: Fri May 25, 07 at 05:53:40 PM (EDT) - H.R. 2060 Update - The Silence net radio bill

In know, the real name of the bill is "The Internet Radio Equality Act", but I am convinced the silence net radio bill is more appropriate.

The corporate crooks that want to silence internet radio now have over 100 sponsors (see my below post on **BREAKING NEWS***). Here is a link to show who is in their court, H.R. 2060, Silence internet radio bill sonsors . once again, the website on where you can go to help save internet radio is Save Net Radio.

Tiki: Thu May 24, 07 at 02:12:30 AM (EDT) - My new Mockingbird

OK... anyone want to take this bird off my hand?

It was cute the first few days... Now I know every bird call there is around here. The sucker will not give up, and he likes the tree next to my bedroom. Check the time stamp... grrrrr. Hey Mr. bird, I am trying to sleep here!

akageorge: Sat May 19, 07 at 03:08:21 AM (EDT) - Mostly spring

We had a couple of frost warnings this week, but it only got down to about 40 here, so I guess it is spring, after all. Tiki, you're way ahead of me -- I have one 4-foot row of peas in, and they're three weeks old and two inches tall! But my daffodils and tulips have been going gangbusters, and the apple trees (real and ornamental) are clouds of white and pink. Judi, you don't have any rattlesnakes in Maine? Wow! My mom freaks out because I go barefoot year-round, instead of wearing knee-high boots in my yard. I do keep the lawn mowed short, though. Have only seen two rattlers in the village in my ten years here.

That hit me recently -- I've been back in NY almost ten years. I only lived in CA for 7-1/2. How is that possible? Somebody moved the clock when I wasn't looking.

Tiki: Thu May 17, 07 at 10:23:06 PM (EDT) - MattJ

Yowzer!

MattJ: Wed May 16, 07 at 03:37:53 AM (EDT) - wow

Didn't know this place existed. Saw the format and all the familiar names and it just about brought tears to my eyes. If anyone remembers, I was a Yellow Room regular, known primarily as a folkie, though the truth is I like rockin' singer-songwriters -- mostly women -- just as much. On the folkie front, the great Tish Hinojosa is at McCabe's Sunday.

Tiki: Tue May 15, 07 at 10:36:14 PM (EDT) - jakbeni

Hard to say.

Now that I am in lower Alabama, Indie 103.1 is my conection back home. I know for a fact that there are folks hitting them up via www. Me, for example... Love Joe Escalente.

Steve Jones is OK, I guess. Really do not have time for him anymore... So it goes.

jakbeni: Mon May 14, 07 at 02:43:34 AM (EDT) - In addition

I have to wonder what the futher of indie is if this new royalty rates take effect. A large portion of their audience is on the internet and their arbitron ratings are horrible for FM listnership. Take a look for yourself LA arbitron ratings

jakbeni: Mon May 14, 07 at 02:34:18 AM (EDT) - Save Net Radio

People are urged to contact their congressman in our effort to save internet radio. Here is where you can go to inquire about who to contact and what to say. savenetradio.org

tiki: Sun May 13, 07 at 11:11:07 PM (EDT) - that should read

Photo from when I put my plants in. Weeks ago.

Still staking and caging it. Stuff is growing.

New photo of my soon to be jungle to follow.

Tiki: Sun May 13, 07 at 10:55:08 PM (EDT) - My Garden...

A week ago.

Stakes and what not in place...

Bell or Mason?

RTE: Mon Apr 30, 07 at 04:18:14 PM (EDT) - May I ?

I hope all of you Repulicans out there now realize that electing a mentally retarded person just because he's conservative (or supposed to be), doesn't work. 6 years of Bush and what do have ? Corruption. A lost war in Iraq that never should've happened. A lost war that should've been won in Afghanistan. And now, looks like amnesty for illegal immigrants.

A word to Democratic candidates about amnesty: If Bush supports it, it's a MAJOR mistake.

A potential solution: unity08.com

RTE: Mon Apr 30, 07 at 04:10:23 PM (EDT) - Judi

Sorry to hear about your dad. Losing a parent can be pretty rough.

jakbeni: Fri Apr 27, 07 at 01:48:51 AM (EDT) - **BREAKING NEWS***

Got this potentially horrible news flash from the the folks at the Radio and Internet Newsletter (RAIN)

**BREAKING NEWS***

Eleventh-hour legislation proposed to save Internet radio from almost certain demise came into being today.

The Internet Radio Equality Act, sponsored by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and currently with eight cosponsors, was just introduced on the House floor.

Among other provisions, the bill vacates the CRB, removes the 'willing buyer/willing seller' standard, and establishes a satellite radio-like royalty of 7.5% of revenues or .33 cents per listener hour.

The rates are "interim" for the 2006-2010 period -- after that, they will need to be decided again, this time based on the same standard used for satellite radio.

Read full details of the bill, including a link to a .pdf of the bill's full text, in today's new issue of RAIN, available now at http://www.kurthanson.com.

Sincerely,
Daniel McSwain
Assistant Editor
RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter

P.S. Comments? Questions? Let us know: feedback@kurthanson.com

Judi : Tue Apr 24, 07 at 12:27:55 PM (EDT) - spring

I think spring finally has arrived here. Last week we had snow, hurricane winds, floods and now today will be the last day I will have snow in my yard and the temps are in the 70's.

We can't even think of planting flowers or vegetables until after last frost, usualy Memorial day. It has been interesting reading about your pond and critters in your area.

Raised garden beds and a chicken wire fence seems to so far keep the deer and groundhogs out of my garden. No bad snakes in our entire state, but the spring peepers have started up, the spring songbirds have arrived, the squirrels, and chipmunks are frisky and I have begun waging war against the squash bugs, called "Stink bugs" that are a real nuisance sneaking in around windows, siding, house trim. They don't damage things or bite but I hate them with a firey passion. Maybe I need a "house turtle" to eat them.

Tiki: Mon Apr 23, 07 at 09:10:03 PM (EDT) - I hate snakes

And yes we got a few of these:

Cottonmouth's or maybe they are water moccasin's

Not that I plan on getting close to be exact. 4 of them have already got my heart racing.

Tiki: Mon Apr 23, 07 at 08:47:59 PM (EDT) - Judi

Started off with a 12X12X12X12 fenced off area. Using 3 feet tall utility fence / posts. I plan on expanding this 3 times next year. As this is my first year, and did not have the funds for raised beds or tiller, went with the pick and shovel method. So far I have 4 Tomatoes and 4 Peppers in there. I need to get a soil tester kit to make sure I no what is what. But I can say that I am on good soil. Caught off gaurd, so I hope I pull it off being my rookie season. Have not mulched yet. Would love to get some more plants into the area, but we shall see.

I think I am going to buy a few of those 8 foot posts and try that Florida weave thought. Or maybe some rebar. Not so sure yet. I think I found a good trick to keep the deer off them, we shall see. I will take some pictures very soon.

We have a very short vegetable growing season here, end of July brings insane heat, bugs, disease, etc. The season came way to quick for me, but I hope to get a compost bin in the making one of these days.

Have you ever visited this place? GardenWeb Forums

Tiki: Mon Apr 23, 07 at 08:20:40 PM (EDT) - KD

Well, now I am not so sure. Yes he was maybe to big for a 1/4 acre pond. All I know is the information, I was given by the folks who have been managing this land (including my pond) for years. They said he had to go. Now this is all they knew. Might eat my new grass carp that would arrive in 2 days.

Well, a hundred dollars worth of fish! These are the guys who are going to clean my pond scum. You would have thought that I would have bounced onto that WWW thingie just to make sure. But I did not. So the dead was done. I will not go into the details, but a bit of me died inside, when that moment came.

Only then did I find out that having a Pond Slider in your pool was a blessing, trained, they only eat the dead and weak fish. They are part of you eco-system. They are in fact pond sweepers. They also eat pond scum.

I had in fact screwed up. I just did not want to come of as a know it all to these folks. I now am paying for this. Never again.

2 days ago, God gave me a new Turtle. I do not deserve him. His name is Bob. Yes I named him. He is very small. He is going to be spoiled. It is great to say I have a turtle in my back yard again. He has found a happy home.

KD: Tue Apr 17, 07 at 07:49:07 PM (EDT) - Bad turtle?

Why does the turtle have to go? Does it create disturbances because it is in its teens, and mutant, and perhaps ninja?

Tiki: Thu Apr 5, 07 at 11:08:18 PM (EDT) - Life on the Farm

My List of Critters That hang out in my backyard:

Deer
Wild Turkeys (Gobler and Hens)
Bunny (quite a few)
Dillos
Horse (Buck)
Catfish and Brim (in My Pond)
Cranes and Ducks (Quack)
Snakes and a Turtle (turtle has to go)
Red Robins, Finches, lotsa Birds
Owls, Hawks, etc...

KD: Wed Mar 28, 07 at 10:13:44 PM (EDT) -

Judi--Please let me offer my condolences as well. My dad had a bit of a heart scare mid-winter, but with new stent (2nd) in place, he's close to back to normal.

Tiki: Wed Mar 14, 07 at 09:06:47 PM (EDT) - Pond Skimming update

So this morning we are watching this turtle make his way into our pound. I walk over to watch it slip into our pond. Walking back to the house, I almost pee'd my pants.. A Snake slithered past me like a race car, right into the pond. Today, I decided not to jump into the pond to pull the floating weeds.

Tiki: Tue Mar 13, 07 at 11:16:18 PM (EDT) - Lower Alabama Odds n Ends

Well Lower Alabama Spring has sprung. Putting my Tomatoes out on the 15th. They have to grow fast as our window (before the heat and rain) is very quick. Have poppies all around.

We have this Bumble Bee that thinks he owns our back deck. Always chasing the other bees and Mud Dauber Wasps away. Every now and than he bounces right up to me, I mean with-in inches. Used to freak me out, but I guess if he wanted to sting me he would have weeks ago. It almost seems like he is telling me he is doing his watch bee job and looking for approval. Call me krazy.

Those yellow bug lights they sell... Not worth a darn. At least not down here.

Having a BIG (I mean BIG) Cat Fish pond is great. That is until the weeds and sunlight create this neon green algae stuff. I am learning all about managing it. But the one thing that has to happen before I put in good bacteria and stuff, is I have to skim out the neon green stuff. Spent 3 hours today and did not make much of a mark. Tomorrow I jump in to pull the floating weeds, and more of this stuff. Fun, fun, fun.

The armadillos are starting to make me PO'd, but I still can not zap the cool little rats.

akageorge: Mon Mar 12, 07 at 09:41:17 PM (EDT) - tea

But I figured he might use it as a prop ...

jakbeni: Mon Mar 12, 07 at 02:12:27 AM (EDT) - Music seen the last couple of weeks

Last weekend on Saturday, seen Delta Nove at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach. Always a hat prog rock group.

The following Sunday, went to Thousand Oaks to see the Tex Beneke Orchestra Perform a tribute to Glenn Miller and big band vocalists. Of all the tributes I seen for 1940's music. this one topped the cake, hearing old songs like "Does Eat Oats" and "A Tisket, A Tasket" along with Glenn Miller classices such as "Chattanoga Choo Choo" which, buy the way, was the first ever million copy selling recding released. They had various guests vocalist, such as the 94 year old who did a couple of songs, including "Old man time...Sure is mean...The meanest man you'll ever see." This guy could barely walk anymore, used a cain, and needed help to get on and off stage, but he has been doing live performances since 1941 and he received a standing ovation from the crowd. One of the better known vocalists appearing was Jane Russel. Very pretty lady when she was younger, She is now old, gray, and wrinkled. When she got on stage, she said, "I know what You're thinking....She doesn't quite look the way she use to.... Well I got news for you...Neither do you." I liked that line. Without a doubt, this is a show that stuck in my head for most the week.

Yesturday, went to Cerritos Center to see Jesus Christ Superstar. This was a fun show to see. However, I got to see what one of my old dorm mates back in college complained about. My friend Lin was an Evangelical christian (but a cool guy none-the-less). His complaint is that Jesus Christ Superstar portrayed Jesus as a cry baby. And we also agreed that if a movie protrayed Jesus the way he really was, that a lot of people would reject it. Good point.

tea4u (aka Mrs. Dr.): Sun Mar 11, 07 at 02:50:33 PM (EDT) - Err, ummm...akageorge

Dr. Larry doesn't play the guitar ;)

Tiki: Thu Mar 8, 07 at 11:52:32 PM (EST) - akageorge

Got that package today...

Thank You so very much.

akageorge: Thu Mar 8, 07 at 09:54:45 PM (EST) - long time out

Tiki, I sent off that package for your housewarming at last. You should have it by now.

Judi -- my condolences. I know it's been a rough few years. I hope things go well for mom and you all get some rest.

More sad stuff: My uncle, who was a bully and a bigot, but took good care of my aunt since she had a stroke in her 40s, went into the hospital a week before Valentine's Day, thinking he had the flu. Turned out it was cancer in several organs. His daughters made it home from Utah on Tuesday, a few hours before he died. I am amazed at how he accepted it and went gracefully into death. I could not do the same. Rage, rage ...

Sad and funny at once: Eric Lowen, of Lowen & Navarro, is still apparently doing some shows (including one -- already sold out -- at McCabe's tomorrow night). Eric was diagnosed with ALS in March 2004 and last I saw him, in July, was in a wheelchair. Well, he and Dan Navarro posed for the new Naked Folk calendar. Ever seen a man wearing nothing but a hat, a guitar and a wheelchair? (aka tea excepted!)

Their appearance is especially appropriate as profits from this year's calendar, by folk photog Jane Toohey, help folk musicians who don't have health insurance.

FOLK ALERT: Anyone with the slightest interest in folk or jazz or beautiful, funny women should be at McCabes this Sunday to see Susan Werner. Oh my. And another KSCA name, Willy Porter ("Be Here Now") is there Saturday. And RICHARD THOMPSON will be at the Malibu Performing Arts Center March 15. GO! GO! GO!

jakbeni: Sat Mar 3, 07 at 10:38:50 PM (EST) - The death of KMZT

In the light of the death of LA's last country format, KMZT recently changed from a classical for a country format. If I were a classical buff, I'd be rather bummed

jakbeni: Fri Mar 2, 07 at 05:10:02 PM (EST) - Judi

Sorry to hear about your dad. But hope it was quick even thoughb it is more of a shock that way. My mom is in the nursing home with dementia. Not much fun when you see your one of your parents go by inches. Personally, I'd rather be a goner than go by inches.

jakbeni: Fri Mar 2, 07 at 05:04:25 PM (EST) - Good to see the room is still alive

Can't blame Tiki for killing the old BBS. I hate spammers myself. First of all, think my penis is large enough and secondly i do not need to walk around with a hard on 24/7 (viagra spam). And i would certainly be an idiot to trust a stock pick recommended by a spammer. However, i am tempted to put together a fake protfolio of all the stocks sent to me by spammers just to track and see how much money I would be losing. But this is why I no longer use my first name in my posts and am glad I have an internet alias. This way, if I see Dear jakbeni, I know they are full of shit. What is sad is they now have gotten my work E-mail addy. That is weird since i never use the company E-mail for personal reasons.

Listening to Jonesy's jukebox right now. Always a treat listening to Steve. He as an ex-madam on today as a guest.

Anyway, still love seeing live music on my weekends. Tomorrow night, Delta Nove is playing at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach. Seen them for the first time on NYE when they shared the bill with Particle. That was an all night jam. Look forward to seeing them again. And Sunday, I'll be heading up to thousand Oaks to see a Glenn Miller tribute.

Mrs. Dr. (aka tea): Fri Mar 2, 07 at 02:50:29 PM (EST) - Just checking in

Judi, I just bopped in and read your news about your dad. For sure he's back to skipping and jumping with more energy and vitality than he's had in years. (and I think I saw him playing frisbee with Hawk!)

Tiki & Ms Diane: Thu Feb 22, 07 at 11:13:44 PM (EST) - Judi

Please accept our Condolences. I would like to think there is an after life.

And that my Dad is fishing right next to your Dad. I hope they are getting bite’s.

Judi : Mon Feb 19, 07 at 12:03:03 PM (EST) - My dad died

He died on Saturday evening, peacefully in his sleep around 7:30 PM. My mother and I had spent most of the day with him.

Judi : Sun Feb 11, 07 at 08:53:27 AM (EST) - music

Thanks for the good vibes! Only 2 years ago I was in Alabama visiting my good friend in Alexander City, she works at Russellands at lake Martin. I too was blown away by southern kindness, manners, food and even the scenery of the pecan groves was beautiful. I can't wait to go back and spend more time with her when this family disaster settles down. As for music, have you considered ordering from Amazon? I find the price is better than local stores and they have anything I ever wanted. And if you don't need the actual cd can't you download from iTunes and then make your own cd? I actually bought 2 cds myself yesterday for my husband for V-Day. One new, one used from Bullmoose, a local record store, a local country band, "Don Campbell Band". I dislike country music mostly but made the sacrifice for the husband.

Tiki: Sat Feb 10, 07 at 08:24:26 PM (EST) - a not so happy post

Well in my neck of the woods, the only place to buy CDs is WalMart. So I bounce up there to buy the last Johhny Cash CD. Think again. What the @%*?^$... Nothing No DefAmerica (well after a spell I found the first American Recordings CD) so either they were out of stock or I am going to have to buy my CDs on the bay. Heck even the Lynyrd Skynyrd selection was weak... ACK

Tiki: Sat Feb 10, 07 at 08:03:49 PM (EST) - Judi

Well here is happy post.

Me and Diane have been bouncing every Friday night with David + Sybil and Craig and Linda to a different restaurant for supper (once in Gulf Shores, Wolf Bay, next Loxley, etc...). Oh those folks are my Uncles and Aunts on Ms Diane’s side, but I am proud to claim them as mine.

So anywho, Diane has been in Cali this week (biz and such) so last night the family bounced over and grabbed me. We went North to Stockton, AL to the Stage Coach Cafe. They have this all you can eat seafood buffet (fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish, boiled shrimp, pan fried fish in butter, hush puppies), with beans, greens, slaw, pork ribs, baked potatoes etc... I ate 3 1/2 plates. All for only $15.00 and change.

Pretty much found out that I am related to most of Baldwin County.

Cafeteria type setting. As most of the best lower Alabama joints tend to be. And then the entertainment came on. They call themselves Blue Grass, but this was so roots country, I was floored. There was a guy playing a vintage stand up bass. The dumbro player came out between songs and told corny jokes. The main picker knew them strings, and the last but not least guitar player, did a mean slide. How could it get any better than this. Well it did. (no the jokes were still corny)

The band introduced this woman, sorry I did not get the name. A woman about 55. And she started to sing...

She did not need to get up to the mic as her voiced carried. Goodness. This was sooo roots... I am at a loss of words here (so you know I was blown away) I wish you fans of this sort of music could have been there. I will be there many more times to come.

$15.00 for food, no cover charge, and this! I am in heaven!

Mrs. Dr. (aka tea): Thu Feb 8, 07 at 06:33:45 PM (EST) - Hey, I'm a decent sleuth!

Judi, I feel for you. In 2005 I buried both parents within 5 months. We weren't close for the last 10 years and I believed I had worked through so much garbage, but still, my brother and I are orphaned. Here's a hug.

Judi : Thu Feb 8, 07 at 02:59:41 PM (EST) - glad to see the board/bored back too

I'm in a bit of a slump right now, dad has only a few days left on this planet and I have to prepare him for his next journey and also prepare mom. The feeding tube is not working well and he can take nothing by mouth so it is just a matter of time. Please post lots of happy messages for me to read until I am once again in a spot where I feel well enough to rejoin the BBS crowd.

Tiki: Wed Feb 7, 07 at 09:23:49 PM (EST) - Hellow....

So I bought the Limited Edition Lynyrd Skynyrd 30th Anniversary Collection CD today for Diane's VD present. Seemed like the South thing to do.

Tiki: Sat Feb 3, 07 at 12:45:37 AM (EST) - RIP Molly Ivins

I do not recall agreeing with one thing you ever said.

But you fought the good fight. Godspeed Molly. Give God Hell!

Tiki: Mon Jan 29, 07 at 11:39:26 PM (EST) - RTE

<--- Edited February 2, 2007 --->

Here is the deal RTE

I may have in the past frowned, because I really did feel that the political thing destroyed the old Yellow Room. Things got a bit out of hand. But if you look at this room's rules, all I am saying is I do not like folks spouting off on who their boy/girl is going to be, and that "you must be an idiot, voting for (fill in the blank)" crap.

Political thoughts can be good. But I would rather see positive thoughts, possible solutions, rather the typical mud slinging carp we end up with these days. Just my 2 cents.

Maybe it is a combination of my blood pressure meds and my new location. We live in the sticks, AKA the woods. I no longer get that fired up. This is not Cali by a long shot. The power here is not Sacto, Not even Washington DC... but the County Seat. Here they are beholden to the local folks. They screw up, we vote them out. Even if they are related to 1/2 of the county. You know the Souf (yes SOUF)... ;)

Amazing place. I can walk into a WalMart (not the devil) and buy HamHocks and shotgun shells, and not even feel guilty about it. Hell everyone down here goes there. Poor folks, middle class, union boys. Low Prices! Jobs! To bad the idiots in Cali have no frickin clue on that concept. Oh well it no longer matters to me. I (a tax payer) have left. I no longer have to worry that I may be breaking the law, just because I own a shotgun.

The only things I miss are my friends (who will be leaving Cali very soon) and the Pacific Ocean. My heart aches not seeing that wonderful body of water every morning, but i am getting used to watching the deer run around my property, the dillos, Cranes, etc... and that sunset hitting the end of our property into the tree line.

So Fire away RTE... Tell me about The People's Republic of California and Politics!

RTE: Thu Jan 25, 07 at 03:11:54 PM (EST) - Hello Again !

Although I'm not as constant a poster as I once was, it's good to see the board back. It's nice to see the bored back, too.

Jon...too bad you frown on political discussions. There's so much to talk about. War. Peace. Politicians that would be accepted to compete in the Special Olympics.

Tiki: Wed Jan 24, 07 at 10:34:54 PM (EST) - Odds and Ends

Do not book mark this page, just yet...

The link on the site map is a javaSript trick, I may, or may not rename this file and have this file name send bots to HE double hockey sticks land. We shall see.

Not that I want to, but next step will be putting up a captchas. We will beat these spamBots. ;)

Tiki: Wed Jan 24, 07 at 10:08:52 PM (EST) - Judi

Hey Judy,

Well I should not complain knowing you are in 0 degree weather, but it has been in the 40s this week and this SoCal Boy is freezing his butt off. I guess that is OK, as I am not looking forward to crawling under the house to run Cat5, redo the phone lines, etc... I have to very soon, Diane tripped on my Cable and banged her head.

The good thing is, being this far in the woods, lotsa Bambi, dillos, rabbits, we are getting very clean DSL. Hitting 2400 Kbps (2.34 Mbps) as I post.

I do have to note. I love living in the woods.

Tiki: Wed Jan 24, 07 at 09:58:49 PM (EST) - akageorge

Oh my. Please accept my Condolences. Sounds like your friend enjoyed life to the fullest! Something we all should try to do.

akageorge: Wed Jan 24, 07 at 08:07:42 PM (EST) - I did too!

OK, Tiki actually told me how to find it. But it's good to be here, anyhow.

Not sure if anyone here remembers him, but Brendan, the friend with brain cancer that I flew out to Calif. to see in October, died Sunday in his sleep. RIP, my colorful friend.

Judi : Wed Jan 24, 07 at 04:10:25 PM (EST) - I found ya

I'm a good detective. I was worried when the "post your message" button disappeared. Hope you are enjoying your Sweet Home Alabama.

Tiki: Tue Jan 23, 07 at 06:56:44 PM (EST) - Hi Everyone!

Well I am Thankful that you have found the new location!

A quick recap: The SpamBots found our little room, soo I had to kill it. I can not allow that crap to live on my site. I did not think that any of you gave a durn, but a few folks asked me to get it back up. So we shall see if you will use it. If the spamBots find this, and no one cares, it dies. Sorry, but that is the way it must be.