07-13 LED Flood Light Stand...

PVC Projects & Ideas...

I found some LED Flood Lights {200 Lumens} @ Lowe's for about $10...

So I decided I wanted to make a variable height stand for two of these lights...

I used 1/2" PVC...

The lights can easily be slipped in and out...

Here is the final product:

06-13 Solar Light Planters...

PVC Projects & Ideas...

I wanted to create some type of solar lighting in front of the house...

Dollar Tree had some brushed aluminum solar lights that would be perfect for the job...

So I designed and built two solar light planters...

I used 1/2" PVC Schedule 80 pipe...

The solar lights can easily be replaced...

Here's the final product:

Best Buy Haul...

Clearance Music DVD at Best Buy...

Elton John - The Red Piano [2 CDs/Blu-Ray] $4.99 MSRP $29.99
Elton John - Red Piano Live DVD + 2 CDs - DVD $4.99 MSRP $24.99
Rolling Stones: Biggest Bang - DVD $4.99 MSRP $29.99
Amazing Journey: Story Of The Who - DVD $1.99 MSRP $32.99
The Who -Amazing Journey Vinyl - CD $0.49 MSRP $13.99
Police Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires [CD & DVD] - DVD $4.99 MSRP $24.99
Poison: Live Raw & Uncut - CD DVD $1.99 MSRP $19.99
Rachel Fuller Presents In The Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends - CD & DVD $0.49 MSRP $16.99
Tom Petty - Runnin' Down A Dream - CD & DVD Box Set - DVD $4.99 MSRP $26.99
Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics - Live Down Under- DVD - $1.99
Mariah Carey - Adventures of Mimi 2 DVD Set - $1.99
Elton John - Dream Ticket DVD - $4.99
Norah Jones - Live From Austin Texas- DVD - $1.99
Three Days Grace: Live At The Palace - DVD - $1.99

There might be more Music DVDs on clearance so if you find anything good, please post them...

Thanks...

April 12, 1961...

April 12 was already a huge day in space history twenty years before the launch of the first shuttle mission. On that day in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left, on the way to the launch pad) became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. Newspapers like The Huntsville Times (right) trumpeted Gagarin's accomplishment.

Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space less than a month later.

Scientific cooperation with the Soviet Union dates back to the very beginnings of space flight. The first cooperative human space flight project between the United States and the Soviet Union took place in 1975. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was designed to test the compatibility of rendezvous and docking systems for American and Soviet spacecraft and to open the way for future joint manned flights.

Since 1993, the U.S. and Russia have worked together on a number of other space flight projects. The Space Shuttle began visiting the Russian Mir space station in 1994, and in 1995 Norm Thagard became the first U.S. astronaut to take up residency on Mir. Seven U.S. astronauts served with their Russian counterparts aboard the orbiting Mir laboratory from 1995 to 1998. The experience gained from the Mir cooperative effort, as well as lessons learned, paved the way for the International Space Station.

In-orbit construction on the Station began in November 1998, and it has been staffed non-stop with international crews since November 2000. The first Station crew, made up of U.S. commander Bill Shepherd and cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, was launched on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The crew returned to Earth on the Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2001.

Totie Fields...

A few days ago marked the 6 month "anniversary" of my Mother's passing...

The old saying about, "Time heals all wounds" is semi true in this case...

I still think of her at certain times and, even though I am a male and I am not supposed to cry, a tear or two will gather in the corner of my eyes...

I was searching Google for something and came across the name of Totie Fields...

My Mother really liked this woman and her sense of humor...

Her is the little bio I found:

Totie Fields, Comedian, Singer, Actress (1930-1978)
Totie Fields was born Sophie Feldman, daughter of a shopping center owner, on 7 May 1927 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She started singing as a child, making appearances on local radio stations by the time she was 4. She toured the Borscht Belt at 14 and before she reached 20 years, worked as a tumbler in Boston area strip clubs. Even then Sophie was breaking the glass ceiling: tumblers entertained guests as a master of ceremonies between acts and, at the time, were generally male. It was during this period that Sophie took her stage name - Totie being the way she pronounced her given name as a child.

Totie married George William Johnston, Jr. in 1950. Georgie (as he came to be known) was a fellow comic in Boston who, over time, worked solely with Totie as her musical director. They became the parents of two daughters—Jody was born in 1952 and Debbie was born in 1955. It was after her pregnancies that Totie began to gain weight. She tried dieting but nothing worked. The only way to lose weight, really, she concluded, is to have someone put you in a bed where you can't get to the refrigerator. Ever the optimist though, Totie decided to incorporate her size into her act. It was after making this decision that her celebrity and work increased twofold. In the early 60s, Ed Sullivan gave Totie her first national break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana in New York. She made multiple additional appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, topping out at almost 20!

Totie also made a name for herself on the talk show circuit during the 60s and 70s. There were multiple appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Mike Douglas Show Other notable appearances included Here's Lucy and a well-received dramatic role on Medical Center. The versatile Fields wrote a funny diet book entitled "I Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8 1/2 oz. Mashed Potato Diet (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1972).

Totie was diabetic and plagued with other health problems the last years of her life, having almost as many major medical procedures as television appearances. It has been rumored that some of these problems stem from plastic surgery. In April 1976, Totie's left leg was amputated above the knee when surgery to remove a blood clot failed. Even with that traumatic experience, Totie fitted herself with an artificial leg and returned to work saying, "I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me."

In June 1977, Totie starred in the Home Box Office special series Standing Room Only, beginning her show seated. She stood up, causing the cheering audience to stand with her. Said Fields: "I've waited all my life to say this... I weigh less than Elizabeth Taylor!" Totie was back and the audience was immediately at ease; if Totie could still laugh at herself, then it was all right to laugh with her. While still recovering from the amputation, Totie suffered two heart attacks. In October 1977, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her right breast was removed.

Nevertheless, Totie continued to perform and in 1978, the last year of her life, she was voted Entertainer of the Year and Female Comedy Star of the Year by the American Guild of Variety Artists. Totie was scheduled to appear at the Sahara Hotel when she suffered a fatal heart attack in her Las Vegas home on August 2, 1978; she was 51. 

  I can just see my Mother laughing now the way she used to...

Procrastination is my middle name...

I really thought I would try to keep this blog up to date but, like so many of my other projects, I don't follow through...

Not because I don't want to, but because I seem to have so many other "projects" that spring up and seem to take all of my time...

A very good song lyric for me would be from Joe Walsh when he said, "They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time."

I will try to keep this blog going now that Spring has sprung...

Confessions Of A Dollar Tree Junkie...

Okay, I admit it, I am a Dollar Tree junkie...

So yesterday, I went to a few local DT and found they got in a shipment of Natrol Vitamins and Supplements...

I picked up one of each of these:

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12070/Natrol---Choline--Inositol-500-mg-100-Capsules.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12171/Natrol---Pantothenic-Acid-500-mg-100-Capsules.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p8249/Natrol---Calcium-Citrate-Magnesium-250-Capsules.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12067/Natrol---Cholesterol-Redux-120-Tablets.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12091/Natrol---DMAE-100-Capsules.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12058/Natrol---Bromelain-Maximum-Strength-60-Capsules.html

http://www.nuvalife.com/p12061/Natrol---Calcium-Citrate-Chewable-Wafers-60-Wafers.html

Not bad...

CNN Article...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Johnson and Johnson unit DePuy Orthopaedics, already in hot water with government regulators, issued a global recall Thursday of two hip aid systems after finding that more people than expected suffered pain which required additional surgery.

DePuy, which has sold about 93,000 units of its ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, said recent data received by the company showed an increase in the number of people who have had a second hip replacement surgery, also called a "revision surgery."

Both products were discontinued late last year, the company said.

The company said the information showed that five years after implantation, approximately 12% of patients, or 1 in 8, who had received the ASR resurfacing device, and 13% of patients, or 1 in 8, who had received the ASR total hip replacement needed a second surgery.

Pain, swelling, problems walking are among the systems that patients complained about, the company said.

If those symptoms continue, it could lead to more significant complications, including loosening of the implant, fracture of the hip bone and dislocation of the implant, the company said.

DePuy said it will cover "reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for services," including additional surgery costs associated with the recall of ASR systems.
Already in hot water

Thursday's recall marks the second problem for the Johnson & Johnson unit in a week.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to DePuy for selling hip and other joint products without the agency's approval.

The FDA said the medical devices maker has been selling its TruMatch Personalized Solutions System, which makes artificial knee products, and the Corail Hip System without "market clearance" and in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.


The agency warned the company to immediately stop sales of the products until it comes into compliance with the agency's requirements.

Meanwhile, parent company Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, Fortune 500) itself has come under intense FDA scrutiny in the past year. Its drugmaking unit McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which makes well-known cold and pain drugs such as Tylenol and Benadryl, has received negative inspection reports and warning letters tied to manufacturing lapses at its U.S. factories.

In May, McNeil shut a plant in Fort Washington, Penn., after the company recalled millions of children's Tylenol and other over the counter drugs.

Regarding Thursday's recall, DePuy is advising patients who have received these hip systems to contact their surgeon for additional tests, including blood testing or imaging to evaluate how the implant is functioning.

The company said consumers can also contact its helpline at 888-627-2677 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, Monday through Saturday.

Hips Recalled...

DePuy ASR Hip Recall

The DePuy ASR (Articular Surface Replacement) Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement, created by DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, have been recalled by the company, following data showing that more people than expected experienced pain or side effects as a result of the hip implant devices.

Many patients have since required a second hip replacement surgery due to the issues associated with the hip devices, and hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against DePuy following the onset of serious side effects.

All recipients of the DePuy ASR Hip Implant are entitled to legal compensation for their current and future health issues. For additional information about your legal options, please call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.

Data revealed that five years following implantation of the ASR Hip System, 12 percent of patients who received the ASR resurfacing device, and 13 percent of those who received the ASR total hip replacement required a hip replacement surgery.

The product first became available in July 2003 and the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip replacement device has been implanted in more than 13,000 patients internationally since it was first approved.
Side Effects and Design Flaw

Prior to the recall, many reports noted flaws and side effects associated with the hip system, including:

    * Loose cups
    * Allergic reactions to metallic debris
    * Development of a pseudotumor (a soft tissue mass that forms as a result of toxic reactions to an excess of metal debris)

Additionally, many doctors believe that the cup of the DePuy ASR hip implant is too shallow. This design flaw can lead to improper implantation and other health complications.
Next Steps

If you received the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System or ASR Hip Resurfacing System, DePuy or Johnson & Johnson may have reached out to you and sent you paperwork regarding the recall of these devices. Patients may wish to speak with a lawyer about their legal options before seeing a doctor and signing any documents provided by the companies. Patients who sign documents from DePuy or Johnson & Johnson may be signing a waiver that may prevent them from receiving any additional compensation from the company, should medical complications arise in the future.

Though some compensation may be provided to patients from the companies following the recall of the ASR devices, the compensation may not fully cover the medical bills that may add up following hip replacement surgery. The compansation also does not cover many blood tests or diagnostic tests that may be required by a doctor to ensure a patient is healthy and to check for a serious condition assocaited with the devices known as  "metallosis." The financial assistance may not cover additional expenses or pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of earning capacity.

It is important for patients to speak with a lawyer about your options before signing paperwork provided by DePuy or Johnson & Johnson. If you wish to learn more about your legal rights, call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.

===

Not sure what to do at this point...

So many lawyers are just trying to make money from J&J deep pockets but I don't know which lawyer to use and what to do...

GRRR...

The Day Before Thanksgiving 2008...

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of the replacement of my first new hip...

What a freakin' difference!

In retrospect, I should have had it done many years ago...

Although this is not my xray, this is exactly what it looks like after both hips were replaced...

Only downside is, when flying, I always need to be pulled aside and I get the complete 'once over' by the TSA people...

"Thinkpoint Virus"

So yesterday I was just doing some of my usual web surfing {insert porn joke here} and all of a sudden, I get an AVG pop up alert telling me it found a "Trojan horse Downloader.Generic 10.AMRW" {see Pic #1} in one of my folders so I click the "move to virus vault" button and everything seems okay...

About 15 minutes later, I get another pop up {see Pic #2} and it looks like it is from "Microsoft Securities Essentials Alert" HOWEVER I never installed or ran the MSSE program so an immediate 'red flag' went off in my head and then I read the alert more carefully and noticed "to install the trial version of Thinkpoint" and more red flags went off in my head...

I also noticed that a "shortcut to Thinkpoint" icon was installed on my desktop...  {see Pic #3}

Hmmm...

So now I don't touch anything and use my iPhone/iPod device to Google 'thinkpoint virus' and, sure enough, I start reading about this bad boy virus and how to get rid of it...

I try to bring up 'task manager' and the virus just will NOT allow 'task manager' to run...

GRRR!

Okay, so I noticed I could get into the control panel so I just go to a restore point 3 days prior and click 'ok' and cross my fingers and hope...

PC rebooted perfectly!!!

I then ran CCleaner and it found nothing...

I then emptied the Recycle Bin and I ran 'Windows Defender', 'Ad-Aware', and 'MS Malicious Software Removal Tool' simultaneously and after 3 hours, nothing bad was found by any of them...

I then installed and ran Malwarebytes AntiMalware and after 45 minutes, it, too, found nothing...

I just ran an AVG full scan and it also found nothing so now I will erase all of my restore points and then create a new one...

Tomorrow, I will run all the programs again just to be on the safe side...

DAMN!!!

This was a headache I just didn't need...

Google 'thinkpoint virus' to find out more for your own peace of mind...

TGIF...

Well, another week almost finished!

Life certainly does have it's ups and downs...

Pet's Ten Commandments

 
PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

01.  My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
02.  Give me time to understand what you want of me.
03.  Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
04.  Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
05.  Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
06.  Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
07.  Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
08.  Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
09.  Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10.  On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Take a moment today to be thankful for your pets. Enjoy them and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller and a much less joyful experience without these wonderful creatures.

To Everyone That Loves Dogs... 

Beer...

Review of this beer...

Another review of this beer...

Trader Joe's sells this beer so I decided to try some...

I am NOT a big beer drinker but this is very yummy...

750ml is about the same size as two 12oz beers so one bottle is the perfect amount for the night...

Happy Birthday Mom...

Today would have been your 76th Birthday...

In a way, I am happy you get to again celebrate one of your Birthday's with Daddy and so many other people that you loved and loved you that are no longer alive...

Enjoy the day in Heaven...

RIP Mom...

Time Is Fleeting...

Tonight we set the clocks back an hour back to 'standard' time...

I think I will live dangerously and leave the clocks alone until tomorrow...

Two Months...

Yesterday was two months since my Mother's passing...

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing...

Post Birthday Blues...

Winter seems to be creeping into my daily life...

I am cold all the time making it more difficult to throw off the morning covers and, also, the days are becoming shorter...

However, on the bright side, there is only 4 more months of this freezing hell to look forward to...

Second Blog Post...

So this is my second post to my blog...

Maybe I will post a few nice pictures today...