Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 25
January 16, 2014
CRIME BLOTTER
At last I can get back into my blog! For some reason, I got shut out. I thought maybe it was because I'd changed a password, but that wasn't it. I've heard of other people having trouble with Blogger, but I always thought Blogspot was different. Maybe they're the same company?
Anyway, this item in the local paper's crime blotter caught my eye: A woman reported her mailbox stolen. The $200 mailbox was in her yard.
Hmmm. Sounds suspicious to me. Like it was lurking in her yard. It probably deserved to be stolen.
Anyway, this item in the local paper's crime blotter caught my eye: A woman reported her mailbox stolen. The $200 mailbox was in her yard.
Hmmm. Sounds suspicious to me. Like it was lurking in her yard. It probably deserved to be stolen.
January 7, 2014
LOCAL CRIME SCENES
Figured it was time to talk about our local paper's crime column.
Over the weekend, we had a lot of people hitting other people for various/no reasons. Some of the hittees knew the hitters, some hitters were perfect strangers. Today's paper told about a woman being struck in the face by a man. He said she had no business being in his neighbor's house; she said she was invited. Another 'he said' 'she said' situation.
Sometimes they pull guns. Sometimes they threaten and sometimes they shoot. Yesterday an unidentified assailant shot at a car and left holes in it. No one was hurt, thank goodness.
Bikes have been taken from houses, and a lot of stores are catching shoplifters. Cosmetics, work boots, electronics, food, beer... You name it, someone wants it.
We also had someone reporting his flip flops were stolen off his porch.
Whoa! Flip flops? Who'd want to steal flip flops in this cold weather! It was 26 degrees by our outside thermometer this morning!
Makes me feel almost smart when I read about some of these criminals!
Over the weekend, we had a lot of people hitting other people for various/no reasons. Some of the hittees knew the hitters, some hitters were perfect strangers. Today's paper told about a woman being struck in the face by a man. He said she had no business being in his neighbor's house; she said she was invited. Another 'he said' 'she said' situation.
Sometimes they pull guns. Sometimes they threaten and sometimes they shoot. Yesterday an unidentified assailant shot at a car and left holes in it. No one was hurt, thank goodness.
Bikes have been taken from houses, and a lot of stores are catching shoplifters. Cosmetics, work boots, electronics, food, beer... You name it, someone wants it.
We also had someone reporting his flip flops were stolen off his porch.
Whoa! Flip flops? Who'd want to steal flip flops in this cold weather! It was 26 degrees by our outside thermometer this morning!
Makes me feel almost smart when I read about some of these criminals!
January 3, 2014
CATS
The cats had a good Christmas. Santa brought them a catnip scented scratch pad, but a relative gave them a bed! Okay, it was labeled as a dog bed, but it was still pretty plush. And it was big enough for two!
I draped an old towel over it for protection. (Cats, as some of you know, tend to throw up hairballs, undigested food, and other stuff.) So here they are, cuddled up in their new bed in front of the heater.
Oh, and that's one of my guys' photos they're staring at.
For a day starting off in the low thirties, it's been pretty good. We might actually get out and go get a hamburger or sandwick. Probably some bread and milk, too, since it's going to be cold again tonight.
Brrr. We may have to move further south.
I draped an old towel over it for protection. (Cats, as some of you know, tend to throw up hairballs, undigested food, and other stuff.) So here they are, cuddled up in their new bed in front of the heater.
Oh, and that's one of my guys' photos they're staring at.
For a day starting off in the low thirties, it's been pretty good. We might actually get out and go get a hamburger or sandwick. Probably some bread and milk, too, since it's going to be cold again tonight.
Brrr. We may have to move further south.
December 30, 2013
COMPANY NAMES
We have a lot of landscaping companies here on the island. Most flaunt names like "Island Landscaping" or "Coastal Landscapes" or "Island Designs" or something similar. Some try to add a little flair: "Island Scapes" or "Almighty Tree Service" or "Coastal Greenery." Some go a little further: "Grounds Keeper" or "Pine Straw Man" or "The Lawn Ranger."
But this morning I ran across a new one. "Guess Who?" Yep. That was the name.
I said, "I can see this dude doing our lawn and coming to get paid, saying something like: 'Guess Who's finished with your yard,' and me guessing, 'Island Design? Coastal Landscaping?"
I laughed pretty hard at my own joke.
My guy said, deadpan, "I'd say: 'Guess who's going to pay you.'"
Guess his scenario's a little funnier than mine.
But this morning I ran across a new one. "Guess Who?" Yep. That was the name.
I said, "I can see this dude doing our lawn and coming to get paid, saying something like: 'Guess Who's finished with your yard,' and me guessing, 'Island Design? Coastal Landscaping?"
I laughed pretty hard at my own joke.
My guy said, deadpan, "I'd say: 'Guess who's going to pay you.'"
Guess his scenario's a little funnier than mine.
December 27, 2013
CHRISTMAS CARD
This year, we sent out Christmas cards depicting the Pier Village all dressed up for the holidays. My guy took this one last Christmas and did some tweaking. It came out really nice.
Everyone has been commenting on it. I like it, too!
Everyone has been commenting on it. I like it, too!
December 22, 2013
WEATHER
Doesn't seem like Christmas here on the island. We had a couple of cold snaps, but currently it's 73 degrees and a beautiful sunny day. That's supposed to change tomorrow. Rain and cooling off. Christmas Eve low will be (shudder) 38 while Christmas Day will be 50 for the high!
But it seems I have some bright spots in the yard. Thank you, former owner! Below is the Christmas cactus, blooming despite my attempts to kill it this summer.
And in a secluded corner is a poinsettia. Flowered all by itself without my doing a thing, thank goodness. I'm not known for my green thumb. I always thought you had to put them in a dark closet and mutter incantations to make them turn red. Guess not.
Here's a blossom close-up.
And here's the whole bush.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas!
But it seems I have some bright spots in the yard. Thank you, former owner! Below is the Christmas cactus, blooming despite my attempts to kill it this summer.
And in a secluded corner is a poinsettia. Flowered all by itself without my doing a thing, thank goodness. I'm not known for my green thumb. I always thought you had to put them in a dark closet and mutter incantations to make them turn red. Guess not.
Here's a blossom close-up.
And here's the whole bush.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas!
December 19, 2013
CATS
The cats are quite excited that Christmas is here. And they're being pretty good.
Our Christmas tree has been up since Thanksgiving and only one ornament's been displaced! In previous years we couldn't keep ornaments on the tree, period. Also, only one present's been hijacked (the boy cat thought a gift bag's tissue would make him a nice bed); in some years, we had to stash the presents in the closet instead of under the tree.
My best guess is they're behaving themselves because they're waiting for Santa. I think they've finally learned he brings good little cats gifts, while bad little cats get fussed at. We're still keeping an eye on them, though.
Here the girl cat is curled up to the boy cat, letting him snooze on her. See how angelic she looks?
Wait. Maybe she's choking him. His head's hanging kind of... Hmmm. Better go break it up!
Our Christmas tree has been up since Thanksgiving and only one ornament's been displaced! In previous years we couldn't keep ornaments on the tree, period. Also, only one present's been hijacked (the boy cat thought a gift bag's tissue would make him a nice bed); in some years, we had to stash the presents in the closet instead of under the tree.
My best guess is they're behaving themselves because they're waiting for Santa. I think they've finally learned he brings good little cats gifts, while bad little cats get fussed at. We're still keeping an eye on them, though.
Here the girl cat is curled up to the boy cat, letting him snooze on her. See how angelic she looks?
Wait. Maybe she's choking him. His head's hanging kind of... Hmmm. Better go break it up!
December 13, 2013
FOG
We walked down to the pier a couple of mornings ago. It was the first time we'd walked down there in a while. My guy's been a little under the weather and so we've been taking shorter walks. I'm glad he's feeling well enough to do our two-mile stint again!
The fog was unbelievable, but lovely, too. I took a couple of pix. This one shows the pier taken from the sidewalk. You can just see the end of it through the fog.
And this one is the Christmas tree at the pier park. You can see the palm trees behind but usually, you can see the Sidney Lanier Bridge in the distance behind them. Not this day!
The fog was unbelievable, but lovely, too. I took a couple of pix. This one shows the pier taken from the sidewalk. You can just see the end of it through the fog.
And this one is the Christmas tree at the pier park. You can see the palm trees behind but usually, you can see the Sidney Lanier Bridge in the distance behind them. Not this day!
December 9, 2013
COURTHOUSE PICTURE
I've put several pictures of old courthouses on my blog before, so I thought I'd add this one that we passed in our travels last week. I love the old buildings in so many of the Georgia counties. Their old clock towers must have seen a lot of history in their times. They were part of the inspiration for my Taxed To The Max mystery.
This one is the Fayette County courthouse that we passed in our travels last week.
This one is the Fayette County courthouse that we passed in our travels last week.
December 7, 2013
TRAVELS
We went north for a few days. Coming back, we got on I-75 to go through Atlanta (and I won't go on and on about how I hate hate hate going through Atlanta!) and found they had changed a lane to a toll lane. Oh, they're calling it an express lane, but you have to buy a Peach Pass to use it. We saw maybe two cars using it as we went on down, using the regular no-charge lanes.
I'm wondering how they're getting away with charging fees on a lane of a road a federal interstate highway. Or am I hopelessly provincial and out of touch with the times?
Here are some photos I took. Sorry they're fuzzy but we were driving.
The sign telling you it's coming up, with the fee on the right to the first and second road exits listed:
The sign on the right tells you when the express lane starts:
And here is the sign over the lane, saying Peach Pass ONLY:
There are more signs, naturally, threatening the usual stuff when cars without the Peach Pass use this 'special' lane.
Well, we taxpayers paid for the lane once. I don't think we'll be buying a Peach Pass anytime soon!
I'm wondering how they're getting away with charging fees on a lane of a road a federal interstate highway. Or am I hopelessly provincial and out of touch with the times?
Here are some photos I took. Sorry they're fuzzy but we were driving.
The sign telling you it's coming up, with the fee on the right to the first and second road exits listed:
The sign on the right tells you when the express lane starts:
And here is the sign over the lane, saying Peach Pass ONLY:
There are more signs, naturally, threatening the usual stuff when cars without the Peach Pass use this 'special' lane.
Well, we taxpayers paid for the lane once. I don't think we'll be buying a Peach Pass anytime soon!
