Picture This....

Hi there y'all...:)

Yup, it's almost a year since I posted last and for all those that did take a peek to see if anything new was added during my absence.....ha..ha..ha...guess what ??
You didn't miss much !!! Not that I had a 'quiet year', mind you , but I just didn't get the ambition to post it. So please hang in there for this one is cute !! BTW: Happy New Year !!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ! Well, that can be so or is it? Let the following be a testimony for a nay or yay;you decide !!

I had just come back from my Northern visit to cold snow country (Boston) for the Holidays (xmas and New Years )and I wasn't back to Florida for more than a day or two (temps in the 20's at nite)when this phenomenon took place. NO, no, not the weather! Not that that isn't an odd phenomenon in itself ! The story goes like this and I am sticking to it.......

I cleaned up the kitchen after dinner as my usual. Cleaning around the stainless steel sink and making sure nothing is inside the twin tubs and that the trim is clean of all marks and whatever ! From there I would go into the living room or computer room (office )and spend the remaining night there till bedtime. (approx.2am)
Nothing unusual there :)...lol....well...that's my routine and it went along just fine for about 3 days when suddenly out of the clear blue I see something 'strange' on the 'sink edge' that sends me hunting for a 'little jewish man, the mini yeti'!!! I must not be alone !!!!

What the heck am I talking about...lol...you say? Well, lucky me and lucky you I have a 'photo' to play 'CSI' from the 'crime scene'. Take a look at the photo..what do you see ?


That definitely looks like evidence of a Southern Florida packiderm that I loving tagged the 'mini yeti'...lol :). However, there is no other evidence or traces that would indicate one exists in this warm and protect enviorment I call my home. I mean, with the temps in the mid twenties for lows, I am not surprised that one of those 'mini yeties' would try to find a way in to keep warm. Heck don't we all do that? So, looking here and looking there, scrounging under this and sweeping under that;I have come up empty handed and totally clueless if indeed I have been visited. Just like the UFOs, Aliens and the misterious disappearing fishes, I am at a total loss ! Ugh !!
What is strange about this is that the 'print' feels like it was made with 'super glue' with the same kind of roughness and toughness to remove. But if it was super clue ..wouldn't that make it a 'sticky yeti' and how did it ever get on the sink edge without leaveing more tracks,if not getting 'stuck' ? hmmmmmm......:(

So there you have it kiddies. My tale of two thoughts! Is it a 'jewish yeti' or not ? You make the call and I'll quietly accept it but not without a 'watchful eye'; with the end results that could quite possiblily be my imagination! LOL :)..NOT !~!!

Till next time America....
Smile and be smiled upon...
SMUGS
Steve

The Big Bang....

Welcome y'all..!

Well, Microsoft did it to me...again !! Yup, I had a major system crash and have been offline for sometime. I tried 'everything' in the book to prevent a 'reformat' and 'clean install' with no luck. Nope, it wasn't a virus or trojan;not even infected e-mail. Even my 'restore disk' and 'restore points' didn't want to co-operate. I was up 'shits creek without a paddle' ! Let me give you a little 'heads up' and maybe you can prevent what took place with me !

In my infite wisdom, I usually keep my OS (windows) updated with the lattest 'updates,security patches and hotfixes' . Think I've been doing this for well over several decades on various pc's and usually without any real problems. Well, least not any that wasn't 'fixable' without reformatting. This time, I got caught.

Apparently during the updating, some critical and version specific files (dlls) didn't over-write the older ones and I ended up with improper file versions. Unfortunately the messed up files prevented the machine from loading the desktop and all would show was a 'blank screen' after the bios load ! Tuff shit Sherlock !!!
Not only did I wipe out years of personal information, saved chats and pictures that are totally irreplacable;I lost hard to find (if at all ) software(older free versions of the most productive software ever )that has been colected over the years and years of being a 'pack rat' ! Hmmm.....however there is a bright spot in this. I now have a much 'cleaner and leaner' machine without the stuff I just loaded to try out or didn't use very much ! That's the plus and a good one at that.

So, here I is, back again, almost as good as before, just a 'bit lighter' and maybe a bit wiser :)...lol ! So much for thinking 'shit can't happen to me'...:)....Well, I always knew it could, but thought since I am such a 'nut' about having the PC's 'cleaned' and in 'perfect shape'. I was ahead of the game or so I thought....guess not !!!!
So the 'lesson' here is....despite wanting to be up to date and current with the latest 'Microcrap' software....beware...shit can happen.

Ok..so I start from scratch and here I will be, again. Hopefully with new posts periodlcally keeping your 'funny bone or your curious factor' primed !!

Just a quick update on my fishies for those that read my last post! Mother fish delivered another 12 little ones on the 24th of Jan and is due on 2/23 to drop another batch ! That makes 21 little ones, so far with more on the way ! Soon, I'll have a 'megatropolis' all from a single fish..:)..lol ..and guess what?? ...No more 'visits' from 'aliens'.....:)...lol

Soooooo, till next time America....
Smile and be smiled upon...
Smugs,
Steve

PS: I went up to Microsoft Update to see what it would take to make the 'restore' current ...lol....guess what ???? There's only 132 'critical updates' required and 135 megs worth of worthless files. I think I'll reformulate my thinking for awhile and run the 'originals' without all that messed up 'crap',crappin up the machine !

And the Theory Is........

Hi there, (yup, the one or two of ya...lol :) )

First of all, hope you guys had a good New Year with hopes of things becoming more to your liking on the horizon for the year of 2009 ! I know I'm looking forward for things to be better. Afterall, how the heck can things get any worse ??? Well, except for this situation, things just have to be better :)...lol

Let me explain and I am sure you too will agree that this situation is horrible ! :)...lol ( yes, I'm laughing eventho it's not a funny (ha ha ) thing ! )
I've been raising tropical fish for many a decade (4 or more ),mostly 'fancy tail guppies', altho I've raised many of the other common tropicals as well. Along with many of the 'oddities' and not so common type spiecies and I've never run into a situation as I have had since being down here in Florida in the process of doing so. Over the past 6 yrs. I've 'grown and regrown' several tanks and bred hundreds of fish from purchasing usually only a couple at a time; usually male and female of the guppy species in order to raise 'offspring' and perpetuate the tank. It's not unusual for me to have hundreds of fish in the tank at any given time. Fish dying off for one reason or another is not an uncommon event and when that happens, I remove the 'bodies' as to not to pollute the tank that might cause a catastrophy of a total 'wipeout' due to whatever killed off the dead fish(s)!. I'm very faithful in making sure their 'water' and 'enviornment' is as natural and as perfect as can possibly be. With that being said, here comes my dilemma.( State of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavourable options )

I just recently, right before Christmas reset up a tank, again with a couple of pairs of guppies and two mini plecos ( minature (alge eaters and suckers) variations of the more larger and quickly growing spiecies) which will never grow more than a couple of inches in length and no more than 3/4 inches in girth. The water and tank is setup as usual and the fish are placed inside after being removed from its plastic bag from carrying them home from the fish store. So far, so good, huh ?..You with me ?
Well, I purchsed this one particular female guppie ( Tequila Sunrise ) because I thought she was prego despite the store clerk telling me she is not and it's impossible because she is young and they isolate the males from the females to prevent this event. Ok...hmmm..but I knew better with my years of experience;so guess what?? Low and behold on the 24th she delivered 9 babies of which are all doing well....thank you :)..lol ( she probably delivered 10 because they deliver in pairs, leaving me thinking one was eaten. Yes, they eat their young!)
Ok...I'm getting there...hang on ! Today, is the 9th of January being only a couple of weeks from setting up the tank and I'm experiencing a very odd thing.
About 4 days ago, I noticed I didn't see the smaller of the mini plecos around. Now that in iteself isn't such a shock for they often like to 'hide' in places that aren't so visible to the human eye. When I realized a day or so later that I just don't see it any longer, I went on a 'scavenger hunt' trying to locate 'my little sucker' ( no comments please ! ) Well, I turn the tank upside down and inside out. That 'thing' was no where to be found. No body, no evidence, not even a 'paper trail'.
The tank has very little area for the fish to 'hide' with only 4 items ( one hollowed out rock and log and two solid decorative 'rock-like items )and I'm using 'pebbles' vs 'sand' which pretty much eliminates any fish wanting to dig under the 'sand that isn't there'....lol. So whatever happens to the fish (going dead, slow breathing, or just gave up) should be fairly visible laying on the pebbles, or seen in one of the two hollowed out rocks, if they aren't 'floating'. Makes sense so far...huh ? lol
Ok, so now that you have a 'history' of this situation, let me bring you up to 'speed' as to why I am 'blogging' about this! Today, the 9th of January, I noticed that my 'larger' of the remaining pleco is not being 'visible' despite the fact I saw it last night. So, guess what kiddies, I tear apart the tank..again, looking in the hollowed rocks and log ...checking the 'pebble gravel' and scrounging around the solid rocks. Tore apart the water filler tube for the filter, even knowing the grill around the opening is just too darn small with its narrow slatted grill. Checked the filter reservoir and even scoured the bottom hoping to find some 'crumb trails' leading me to the whereabouts of the last and final pleco. Again, no luck. No traces, no residue, no remains and not a single shred of evidence that would suggest the plecos were ever in the tank. Gosh, give me a break, the tank is just about 'sealed' except for a small 1 inch by 3 inch area near the auto food feeder. Even if the plecos found the opening...why isn't it or they external to the tank ? Not on the rug (which would freeze the fish in place being wet and the dry rug would hold it like glue...lol.) They just 'dissappeared' ! lol :) ( nope,,,, guppies aren't aggressive carnivores,particularly to larger fish. Plus there would be some remaining evidence because not all parts of the fish are edible!!) Ok...so here goes the 'theory' or 'theories'...tell me what you think !!!
First theory is :.....My tank is in the 'Bermuda Triangle' and fish routinely misteriously dissappear without a trace. The more I populate it; the more the event will happen; starting with the larger fish and working it's way down to the smaller !
The Second theory is a bit more plausible, I think and I am relying on this one before I completely loose my mind ! My 'tank' and 'fish' are being 'visited' by UFO aliens and being 'abducted' for lab experiments basesd on the lower complexities of life since after doing it for so long on 'humans' and realizing that we don't have a f'n clue about how life works, they decided to look to a species that at least knows how to procreate within their social structure without any of the 'hang ups'...lol :)Now this one 'works' for me...how about you ?? lol

So, with my remaining 9 babies and two guppies, I am 'camping out' with camera in hand to put to rest once and for all...that 'aliens' do exist ! Once I gain a 'photo', I'll quick as a bunny, put it in my post for all to see.....:)

So there you have it....a fish not in the tank is a fish .....not in the tank!

Till next time America,
Smile and be smiled upon, God knows these damn fish are smiling at me ! lol

SMUGS,
Always,
Steve

A 'Special Lady '

Hi y'all ! ( ok....ok...lol....a few of ya! )

Well, it's that time of the year again;Christmas and New Years ! As I was growing up it apparently wasn't such a 'big deal'to me despite others making it so around me. Being Jewish, my family celebrated Chunukah ( not 'HON U KA', phonetically spoken, but said with more of a 'phlemy beginning' as if one is clearing a throat and the first syllable is said as a 'short U" not an 'O' and the second 'U' as a 'long U'. )Not that I wanted to give anyone a lessen on how to speak a 'foreign tongue', but this always 'irked' me some as so many would 'butcher' the 'yiddish' language'!(dialect, actually )
Ok, now that this is 'cleared up' and 'out of the way', let me continue with what I was saying......
Growing up as the only male child in a Jewish (orthodox to conservative/reformed) home, Chunukah was the main important holiday to exchange the wonderful 'gifts'and personal pleasantries( mostly toys and items that your 'folks' didn't purchase for you )that made this seasonal time so special other than one's birthday. According to 'tradition' and 'history' this period would last for 8 glorious days with the practice of 'exchanging' or 'giving' of gifts. How 'wonderful'...huh ?..lol :)
Well, ya....who wouldn't want that ?..lol ..hmmmm....I surely enjoyed it, but what I remember the most from it is probably what most wouldn't ! Sure, the family and friends coming over to our home or 'us' traveling to a families home to 'celebrate' such festive times was super, but I guess at that time being young and all, I didn't realize how one person would affect my life and influence me to this very day with the 'generosity' and 'caring' that such a 'holiday' afforded 'someone' to be so influencial that more than likely wouldn't have been. I, at the time thought that everyone had such a person like this in their lives;apparently not. The one that always gave you the very expensive, overly exhorbitant and overly large 'boxed' gift. No it wasn't 'Santa' or the 'Chunukah Fairy' but usually a very special person that thinks you are a 'special person' usually moreso than what your immediate family thought you were ! I would only call this person 'Aunt or Aunty' despite the fact in blood relations she was only a 2nd cousin.(mother's 1st)
Yes, I'm talking about my 'AUNT BEBE'!( pronuounced 'BEE BEE'as in 'B''B') She's the one that gave me the 'chemistry sets', the 'telescopes', the 'microscopes', the 'steel erector sets'and the 'electronics kits' and so,so much more! She actually,one can say, gave me my 'career and profession'! (one of them, anyhow) If it wasn't for her 'giving ways', I probably wouldnl't have been so 'good' with 'electronics' and the 'sciences' in general. I have no doubts that my 'logical thinking process' was 'honed' by her timely and challenging gifts. Guess, I owe her a lot !
So, as I grew thru life and made a life of my own with children, I tried to 'influence' for the 'good' for 'their'(children's) choices to be made within their 'cycle of living'. Unfortunately, as time went on and living in 'our society' became more difficult just to 'survive', the practice of 'giving' and 'getting' those 'unimaginable' gifts diminished greatly, as a general practice.
Now that my kids have kids and they practice a more 'Universally Thinking Process' regarding Chunukah, Christmas, and whatever else; I sorta wish that it could be 'I' that is that 'Aunt/Uncle or Grandpa' that will form a young person's career. (grandkids)
Perhaps, one day....I will ! So, this time of the year is 'special' to me, but not as one expects and it's that 'New Year' to make that 'effort' come to pass that one has so unselfishly 'given'in 'toy' that might just make a 'life'!
Boy, has time changed ! Things are so much not as they were, despite the efforts of elders of our society (like me ) constantly reminding us of 'how things were'!

Till next time America..
Smile and be Smiled Upon...
Happy Chunukah, Merry Christmas, and a Better New Year....

SMUGS,
Steve

The Ant in All of Us

Back again...Smile...it's not all that bad !!!


While traveling thru my usual uneventful days, I noticed something recently that as usual most will not take note of or even ponder about. Small and insignificant that it is, maybe, it is really something important to all of us or should be!

As most of you know, I live in Florida, where the insects reign supreme and I am a 'live and let live' kinda guy; so the 'bugs' and 'I', get along very 'co-existingly' !(is that a real word ???..lol ) ( actually, the 'bug' issue is no worse than any other place ) So…yes, this is a 'bug' story…lol :).

Just recently I re-grouted my master bedroom bathroom double wide shower tile floor, not because it needed it but because I had laid a new tile floor in the main bathroom and had some left over grouting and didn't want it to go to waste. As usual, both jobs came out terrific, leaving the master shower spotless. The other day, I took note of a very small, teeny, tiny, nearly invisible 'no see-um ant' (commonly called for a 'sugar ant' ) crawling in the far corner encompassing no more than 4 one inch tile squares in any direction; never exceeding it's imaginary 'boundaries' ,but repeating it's 'path' nearly identical on each pass; as if it was 'programmed'. It would crawl up the wall at the corner along the grouting joint only about as far high as it would travel on the ground and then turn around and repeat the process all over again. On occasions it would 'fall' from the wall, lay dazed for a few seconds and then repeat this process over and over again. I must have watched this 'little guy' for 'hmmmm' about 45 mins (simple minds for simple people…lol …no comments …please!...lol) just to see what it's 'goal' was. All within this time it never varied it's determination to 'complete' whatever it was 'set out to do'! I'm not even sure if I know where or how this 'little guy' even got there because the house is usually 'bug free' and they know the 'outside' is where they belong. (smart bugs in Florida….lol) Since, the tile was freshly grouted, cracks and holes which might enable them to surface from the cement slab below was totally eliminated. Needless to say, I left it be and went on with my daily 'busyness' and forgot about it. The following morning, I recalled the situation and glanced at the corner where my eye caught a little 'brown speck' laying motionless. Apparently, the 'little guy' never gave up till all if it's breath left him and it never accomplished it's goal.(find a way to get back to the nest…I presume!! ) This made me 'think' more so than my very 'busy mind' usually is.
I wondered how this behavior would be if applied to all of us. You know, doing a 'job' , no matter what, or how difficult it is, till it's completion! The phrase 'get the job done' comes to mind. I am aware, as most of us are, that that kind of 'tenacity' is lacking in our 'character' for the most of us. ( generally speaking….no hate mail please..lol :)) It used to be considered a wonderful 'character trait' back generations ago. Where did it go ?? Can it be re-instilled within those of us currently still breathing for our future generations to take note of or is it gone for good? Obviously, 'the little guy's tenacity and determination' killed it and I am not suggesting a mass suicide campaign via such a trait, but…….shouldn't we have some sort of 'drive' to 'accomplish' even on a 'personal level' ?
Some sort of 'out of the box' thinking, instead of being 'programmed' to do only what we think 'should be done' or even yet, minimumly what 'has to be done'? What ever happened to 'going the one step beyond' ?
Needless to say, I grabbed a single square of toilet paper and 'wiped up' the still remains of my 'little guy', wondering….. would any other 'ant' miss his 'strong will and determination' to aid in the larger cause of 'survival? Sadly to think….probably not!

So when you 'crunch' one of those 'little guys' ..just remember….perhaps they too can teach us something....if only one looks !

Till next time America…..Smile and be smiled upon….perhaps someone is watching !
Always
Smugs.
Steve

PS: Now where was my mind....lol ....meant to wish all a 'Happy Thanksgiving'...hope all is doing well. As far as what my plans are....I don't have a clue, but perhaps I'll spread some 'bread crumbs' in the backyard so all my 'little guys' can have a 'feast of their own' along with the squirrels, birds, snakes and the rest of nature! :).... It's the little things in life that are worth 'watching'..now isn't it ? :) lol .....SMUGS!!

A Trip To Nowhere

Hi All......

Well, it's been a while since I last said anything on this blog for several reasons. The first and foremost is due to why and how this society is heading towards disaster and how it has effected my personal life. The second is to be revealed within this posting. I'm also confident that any other reasons will probabaly be exposed before you get to the closing....lol :)

I've been a good 'doobie' by not commenting on the political scene and the 'crap' that both 'parties' and 'candidates' have been dishing out to the American public. I promise to continue in that vein and just comment on the fact that neither party nor canditates can resolve what they are all exuberantly expounding on. The reasons are simple and rather rudimentary physics. The best analogy to their situation and 'ours' would be a direct correlation to the weather and how a 'hurricane' is formed, strengthened and guided. Their 'cry' for 'change' is principally a direct response to the condition of our economics and the survival of our society as we know it presently, or as it 'once was';with all the big major players in the banking, finacial real estate and investing scene crashing into a pile of rubble all at once ! Total disaster seems imminent. However, let's get back to the weather...shall we ?

A brief lesson in weather.....

As in a 'major' Cat 4/5 hurricane, there is a well defined 'eye' with an aggressive 'eye wall' that swirls with all kinds of energy and forces (wind, rain,hail and tornadoes etc) around it's center core( the tranquil area) embracing as much area as it can. The larger the 'swirling' (circulation) the more intense and more dangerous it becomes. If the circulation becomes more intense eventually the center of the storm with it's eye wall ( a relatively small area compared to the rest of the storm ) starts to collasp onto itself and then sooner than later the eye disapears and the hurricane weakens till it can find the ingredients to once again gain strength and restart the process all over again. Land masses of course, just tear the thing into shreds and all is lost as it weakens into much of nothing. If you can accept that quick synopsis of a very dangerous situation then you have just understood how 'politics' works.

Generally speaking the American people and it's society has had it's Katrina and Ike along with all the other cyclonic activities over the decades, but with one exception to their actual counterparts. When the 'real deal' hurricane hits, disaster aid is rushed and gathered with the intent on helping those unfortunate individuals confronted by the rath of Mother Nature. Yes, some say those efforts are either slow in coming or do little to give the relief that is needed, but it's those efforts to 'correct, maintain, and stabilize' the catastrophy that matters and some good from it starves off eminent collasp of it's affected society!
Well, it seems as tho politics doesn't understand the term 'aid' and for every 'politcal hurricane' that has hit the American Society, it stands alone with the eventual conceivible collasp from just one too many. Our day is coming and if what has presently taken place, more is about to follow....things will become worse before better; but do take heed, if you can survive it will be a better time, just not now ! :(

What isn't understood by most is that we got that 'change' and no one saw it coming. The 'change' from good solid morals,values and treating our fellow neighbor as we would wanted to be treated ourselves. Big business lost the concept of 'loyalty' and 'fairness'. Washington forgot about it's forefather's beliefs and kept on 'swirling' into a 'Katrina' and 'Ike' laying in co-hoots with big oil and big business.

Anyhow, things are what they are and you and I have little say in the matter. Just grin and bear it! Now for the other thing....lol....I suppose I could say just about anything and probably won't get a single response. I don't think people want to get their opinions out there for cross examination.....pooh pooh !

Well, for now this is my latest post. Hope all is well with you and you get a chance to read my next one. :) lol

Thanks America,
Till next time,
Smugs,
Steve

Blame it on the Water

Hi all..

Hmmm...what I am about to say is rather sad, if one thinks about it. I am sure you all have encountered the same with-in one degree or anotherof it, but I must say for some reason I seem to have encoutered this condition more than usual in recent years. Perhaps its because I've gotten older and my perspectives on various things have changed or have become altered to the point that it makes me more aware of this situtation. I really don't know what it is in reality for a guy that is always seeking answers to questions most don't take the time to wonder about. I really can't put my finger on it and can only really pass it off to one conclusion.

What you say? So what is the situation ? Well, I'll explain in a minute and it's so quickly and easily assessed and addressed that I don't want to spoil the 'fun' of keeping you in suspense. Any guesses ? I'm sure you'll devulge much more than what I am thinking about...lol. I am sure you'd love to make a comment to your thoughts, so go right ahead, but I am willing to wager that most if not all of you will not hit upon the thought that I am thinking about. Oh, yes, it's very visible and rather prolific in our society. Actually, you maybe one of those that I am addressing the issue about! Awe, c'mon take a guess ! Who knows, you really might be the 'person of the hour'!

Ok, hmmmm...I'll make this short and sweet. The issue that I am addressing is ......
I have never in my life have run into more 'Aholes' in places of authority or positions of power and control than my entire life till fairly recently. Yes, seems like there is a general consensous of opinions that we all 'know' someone in that position that shouldn't be and we often wonder how in the hell they got there and then further wonder how in good God's creation do they remain. These are the people that have a dendency to 'ruin, meddle and otherwise f'up' someone's life, usually for the hell of it and their own individual need for 'power and control' to feel satisfied in an otherwise screwed up life that they need to mess up someone elses to feel 'whole'.Gosh, where do they come from....

So, not to mention any specifics, I say to those that don't fit this discription..DON'T DRINK THE WATER, for that has to be the only explanation for such a large and very disturbing phenomona. I've been around many over time, but really is the 'X' generation really all that 'f'up' ? ...I've only one conclusion.....if you aren't collecting Medicare, the answer is yes and thank God for those of us that know what that generation only can read about, time isn't all that far off for us to really find 'peace of mind' !

So till next time America,
I'm drinking Coke
Smile and be smiled upon....
Always,
Steve