Deb's Daze(d and Confused) Showing 951-1,000 of 1,219

[Ken, Moderator]

Well there's frozen and there's frozen. You need to be under zero for a couple of weeks for a freeze to begin to set roots into the ground. A few days of freezing doesn't really cut it. The frozen ground is superficial, on the surface only.

Anyway, with a deep freeze over weeks and the temp staying below freezing (or not much above), your snow will make itself comfortable and hang around a bit.

[Ruth]

What I love about the occasional rare snow in Southern California, is the way it brings everybody out. Neighbors you haven't seen or spoken to in years are milling around the street, laughing and talking. I'll bet it's that way around your house now, Debbie.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Anew day and another day at home! School closed....roads treacherous....no such thing as grit trucks here...or snow ploughs! No one is outside here Ruth...too cold and too slippery underfoot....

[Ken, Moderator]

Aren't the kids outside?

We can lend you some Boston snowplows and salt-throwers. They're collecting August dust at the moment.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Hahaha! We have never had need for such so they just don't exist! And kids were keeping warm (in my neighbourhood anywasy....snowed all morning but rain began this arvo and everything is melting, dripping and great thuds as snow unloads from roofs and trees....exciting!

[Ken, Moderator]

Just be happy you're not getting an ice storm. These "New England Specials" happen when the temp is above freezing in the upper atmosphere and below freezing among us mortals. The rain comes down and freezes, making the entire world an encased chandelier. Gorgeous as hell, especially when the sun comes out and the world glitters the next day, but it brings even us to a standstill and the power outages can go for days. If you have tropical fish, you don't like to see an ice storm approach.

[Linda]

How wonderful. You can send some my way (Ohio)

[Ken, Moderator]

Tropical fish? Is there a shortage in Ohio?

[Ruth]

Of course there is. Ohio's not exactly the tropics, you know.

[Ken, Moderator]

Duh... ("A, O, Way to go, O-hi-o!")

[Linda]

I meant send some snow my way. I love snow.

[Carol]

Linda wrote: "I meant send some snow my way. I love snow."

They can't read your mind. I knew you meant snow because I was born in Ohio. Hahahahaha

[Ken, Moderator]

I'll ship parcel post in December.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

It's the holidays!!!!!

[Ken, Moderator]

Um... it is? Looks like plain ole October to me.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Yes Gabi....2 luvverly weeks.....normally just beginning last term at this time, but bloody world cup rugby has seriously upset everything!! Can't wait til it is all over. You know it has descended to the ridiculous when Dan Carter's groin injury knocks NZ's most serious oil spill disaster off the radar!

[Ken, Moderator]

Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting your vacation system is so much more balanced than ours. We get a week at Christmas, a week in February, a week in April, and seven weeks in the thank-God-for-formerly-agrarian-systems summer.

[Ken, Moderator]

Well, a lot of schools use "quarters" (four terms), but my school uses "trimesters" (three terms). They're also called marking periods.

Anyway, they come running by most any name.

[Ruth]

Just heard about the oil spill this morning, Debbie. Is that anywhere near you?

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

It's in the Bay of Plenty Ruth.....about 6 hours drive north of here. It is a very popular place in summer and this could really upset the local economy. The response has been absolutely snail-paced.....the ship ran on to the reef on Wed last week and they only started pumping out the fuel last night! Penguins have been washing up on the surf beaches covered in oil, and now that Carter's groin injury is old hat, the media is baying for blood on the slowness of the response. Our noble PM is diverting attention by looking for blame...."well-known reef, broad daylight blahblahblah" etc.......
We moved to a 4 term year in 1997 NE....it is bliss.....10 weeks on and 2 off with a 6 week summer break.

[Ken, Moderator]

Campaigning for...? Work in NZ? Work in Finland?

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Campaign for a 4-term year....in these days of short learning bytes and attention spans, it suits the kids better too!

[Ken, Moderator]

My wish is for a 4-day work week, with each day being longer to make up the hours lost on Day 5 (also known as "Friday"). I'd gladly work from 7:30-4 for four days a week.

Problem: Working parents would miss their sitters.

[Carol]

No! They could hire you for Friday Tutoring. hahaha

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Weeeeeee are the champions, my frieeeend.....and weeeee'll keep on fighting to the end........we are the champions WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!
Go the mighty Blacks!!!!
Ka mate, ka mate
Ka ora, ka ora
Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru
Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra
Upane, upane
Upane kaupane
Whiti te ra.
These words are translated as:


It is death, it is death
It is life, it is life
This is the hairy man
Who caused the sun to shine again for me
Up the ladder, up the ladder
Up to the top
The sun shines.

[Carol]

I take it your team is NO. ONE!!!! Congratulations to you and all the girls.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

The All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup (which we hosted here for the first time by the way)! A home team victory! All of NZ is rejoicing because (whether I like it or not) rugby is a religion here......

[Carol]

Oh I thought it was your girls, but that is great that your country won. Double congrats. I know it is exciting when your team wins. One year the Angels baseball team won the world series and we had a blast.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Yay Gabi....someone else who understands rugby madness!! I am by no means a fan of the game, but I am excited that so many Kiwis are excited!!

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Halloween.....time to go into hiding.....although a teaching friend tells me she has had no trick or treaters for 3 years now because she gave them packets of raisins and made them sing a song......must try that!

[Ken, Moderator]

Perhaps we should put a sign at the end of the driveway: "Featuring apples and raisins at the door! C'mon down!"

[Carol]

Debbie I thought you might get a kick out of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Ed5c...

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Hahahaha!! To that and the dancing hamster! If all ballerinas ate as much as that hamster they would never get up onto their toes!!!

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Hahahaha!! Love it!

[Carol]

LOL!!!! Great

[Joanne]

Great comments from the kids, Gabi. Thanks

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

I won a book giveaway!!!

[Ken, Moderator]

All together now: Yay Deb! (Title?)

[Ruth]

Huzzah! What book?

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

One by a Kiwi author....Isabella's Locket....looks like a good 'holiday read'.....just what I need after Moby Dick!

[[deleted user]]

That list is wonderful, Gabi!

22. If at first you don't succeed
- get new batteries.

This sounds like our house! Too many electronic gizmos, ya think?

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

School broke up 2 days ago....still waiting for heady freedom thing to kick in.....possibly delayed by Christmas looming! Got the tree up, started shopping, house slightly cleaner, lawns mowed!

[[deleted user]]

Morning/Afternoon Debbie. Lawns mowed ? and then I saw that you live in NZ. I have a friend in Australia who goes to an annual family picnic at the beach on Christmas morning. Do you have similar family traditions? (Santa Claus with a surfboard boggles my mind.)

[Ken, Moderator]

Angels we have heard on high...

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Heehee....this angel is definitely not high!! Hayes, my mother is of the traditional turkey and plum duff school of Christmas, even when it is 30 degrees outside! My sister and I rebelled for the last couple of Christmases and had BBQ at my place, but this year we are humouring mother again.....HELP!!

[[deleted user]]

We were in Florida [for Christmas] with family about 12 years ago and of course hadn't brought the right clothes. Had to go off and buy summer shorts and sneakers for the Beast (aged 2.5). I couldn't deal with Santa in Bermuda shorts, although the Nativity scene under the palm trees was a little more realistic.

And it was Cuban food for Christmas dinner and I loved every bite of it!

My sympathies to you and the turkey.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

No snow Gabi....too warm! But PLENTY of rain!

[Genine]

No snow here in Tahoe; local economy in the tank. Bah, humbug.

But ... lots of books, a warm house, fireplace, husband, dogs and cats .. s'alright!

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

Well it is meant to be summer here.....hrrumph! Bloody freezing and wetwetwet!

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

We had the most glorious perfect weather from the day before Xmas Eve, right through til the 28th....and it has been tipping down again ever since! Most of NZ's New Year Eve celebrations have had to be cancelled. I am staying home in the dry and warm! Happy New Year everyone (even if I am a few hours early).