Ahhh yes, Christmas.  Used to be a time when we’d be excited for like, an entire month long, and get up at 4AM to wake up our siblings and see whether Santa had come bearing good tidings and all that.

What’s happened since?

Seems like people everywhere are just … just … cynical and sort of unhappy with the stress it all brings.

Now, before I say more about that, yes … there are definitely tons of great things still going on, lots of peeps happy and whistling and enjoying the true spirit of the holiday.  I see it every day, I do.  I admire the folks who go about this season with nothing but optimism in their voices, with smiles on their faces, and with unrelenting good cheer.  It’s truly awesome to see that.

Maybe it’s just me getting older (33 is a magical number, they say), but there just doesn’t seem to be as much delight in the Christmas air.  Are people really that stressed out by it all?  Your comments are welcome!

Onto other topics.  W pointed out in my previous post that a “Bucket List” is really something you do when you’re about to “kick the bucket,” per se, so I suppose I should re-word that.  I don’t plan on keeling over anytime soon.  I mean, I have like, 3 more semesters of nursing school to finish first!  So perhaps it’s more like a “Christmas Break To-Do List.”  But then that might imply that I have to do these things, which I really don’t.  Oh, I dunno, call it what you will.

And lastly, another thing — I went over to one of the nursing buildings yesterday to have a look at the final exams and see what I got wrong.  While I was there, I got to stop in to another professor’s office and see the feedback the other students had given us on our group presentation on Genetic Counseling.  I have to say, I wasn’t too surprised at the feedback — both positive and negative.  All of the things I worried about as potentially negative were represented by some of the students’ feedback.  And probably with good enough reason.

I have to stop beating myself up over mistakes I make, and here is a prime example.  I worried about some of these things prior to the presentation, but decided to go ahead with them, and got a bit of negative feedback.  So there it is.  Gotta live with the decision, and be okay with that.  It wasn’t anything that really nagged terribly at my conscience, so at least I have that to fall back on.  Most of the feedback was entirely positive, and that made me feel good for myself and for our group.  And we got a great grade on the presentation.  But the perception others have of me will always nag at me somewhere deep inside.  I don’t want to ever disappoint my classmates or friends.

So gotta work on that.

In March 2008 Samsung Electronics has announced a mobile phone and voice telecommunications carriers, the launch of Samsung G400 camera phone, the latest mobile dual-screen mobile phone. The Samsung G400 camera phone has the look and experience of Samsung Soul exclusive product with only outstanding foreign and graphical user interface design identity.

The Samsung G400 is integrated with the latest imaging technology, which is a 5 megapixelCamera. The phone is equipped with advanced features like digital cameras automatic face detection, image stabilizer and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR). Users can quickly access the Internet through the 7.2 Mbps High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) browser and share images and enjoy video taken with the phone. Users can also use video calling via HSDPA networks with the help of an additional camera. Samsung G400 camera functions include enjoying a 5-megapixel camera, autofocus, 4x digital zoom, FaceThe detection, WDR optimizer, image stabilizer.

The Samsung G400 camera phone also offers a new type of graphical user interfaces (GUI), the three different options for the user provides. GUI with skins that users can modify the user interface depending on their personal choices. Skins can customize the display, such as background images, fonts and colors and with multiple choices. Users also have an alternative vision of wallpaper, analog clock, digital clock and calendar onexternal monitor. Another is adjacent to all these features are the signature for SMS / MMS and alarm or duty on the external display, which can be viewed directly.

The Samsung G400 has an internal 2.22 "TFT LCD display, in addition to that there is a 2.22" external full touch screen and display. With the help of the large external touch screen can display the user can easily use all the multimedia features without opening the folder and its feedback is given ifUser uses full touch screen. Operations normal phone can be used with the internal display and all the multimedia features that is included in FM radio, camera, music and photo-album display full touch from outside.

I don’t remember how old I was. Maybe I was in grade 2nd or 3rd. But I know I was too young to do most things on my own without the help of my parents. Back in Riyadh, me and my family used to go to the American Embassy for Mass. There weren’t any churches in Saudi Arabia, so we had to go to the embassy since that is the only place in Saudi Arabia where no one can catch us practicing our religion.

As usual one day me and my family went for mass. Everything went on smoothly. The choir sang well. The priest gave a wonderful speech that I found boring (maybe I was too young to understand) and my parents found the speech very interesting. I saw everyone taking the host and took a sip of the wine from the cup (In US, the people gets the host from the priest and another person holds a cup with wine. All those who wants to have the host with wine can take a sip from the cup and this practice is not there in India).

“The mass has ended. You may all go in peace”. These were the last words spoken by the priest and then I guess I never wanted to go for a mass in an American Embassy or anything that relates to the Americans for just one reason.

I’m going to tell you what that reason is if you promise to keep my age or height or whatever it is in your mind before I tell you my reason. I mentioned before that I was too young to do most things on my own. So I was just a little boy and I need my mother by my side at all times.

Well, here goes…….

The American way

As soon as the mass ended I wanted to go to the rest room badly. That’s not a problem isn’t it? It’s a nature of a human being to dispose of whatever their eaten.  There’s a rest room in every home, in every work place and it was easy to find the rest room.

HAAAAAAA!!! The best part of the American restrooms is that, they are so shinny, neat and don’t stink like our Indian restrooms and it’s air conditioned. I took all my time and my mother from the other side of the door was screaming at me to come out.

Once I was done I looked for a hose pipe. Ok… That’s not there. I looked for a bucket… Ok… that too wasn’t there. I looked for a bloody tap….. What the… Where is the… O my God…. How the hell was I going to wash? There was this fear in me as if I was sitting on a time bomb that was going to blow up any minute. Which bloody restroom that doesn’t have a hose pipe or a bucket or at least a tap? I started to scream for my mother. She got so scared and came running to the door and asked what happened? I told her the reason. I not sure if I heard it properly but I think my mother was laughing with her hands covering her mouth. She said she will get a bucket and a mug for me.

GOD bless mothers

I was inside a room that was the size of a telephone booth and it looked like hours since she finally showed up. She got a bucket with water and a mug. I was so happy to see a bucket with water inside it.

I was so glad once I opened the door and got out. I kept repeating these words, “Thank you ma. You saved me”.

The little believer

Once inside the car I asked my mother,” Where did you get the bucket from”.

She said this as a joke and I believed her,” I ran to the Indian embassy and asked the ambassador for a bucket of water and he gave it to me”.

The Indian Embassy is like almost 45 minutes to reach from the American Embassy if I am to go by car. I think after five years or so I still remembered this unfortunate incident and I asked my mom did you actually go to the Indian embassy and asked the ambassador for a bucket of water.

She just laughed and laughed…

Merry Christmas BUCKETheads!! It’s the old-time country Christmas special, as Corey and Lou settle by the fireplace with eggnog in hand and Christmas sweaters adorned. They look back at the best Christmas specials and Christmas movies of all time, while bringing you tons of podsafe Christmas music for your holiday driving enjoyment.  206-337-9910 is the BUCKET “pail mail” line, call us today! (Direct Link to MP3, Recorded Dec. 19, 2009)

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts

CHRISTMAS NEWSLINE
The big northeast blizzard of 2009 in full effect
Mrs. Claus prevented from marching in parade next to Santa
Real trees “greener” than fake trees
12 Days of Christmas costs $87,402

SKYMALL ITEM OF THE SEASON
Aculife Therapist Deluxe ($150)

POPCORN BUCKET
25 Best Christmas Movies of all time (MovieFone)
25 Best Christmas Songs of all time (MusicRadar)
9 fattiest Christmas Creations (from Thisiswhyyourefat.com)

CHRISTMAS PODSAFE SONGS FEATURED:
“The Podsafe Christmas Song” by Jonathan Coulton (link)
“Not So Silent Night” by Charlie Crowe (Music Alley)
“White Christmas will be Blue” by Beatrice Ericsson (Music Alley)
“Oh Holy Night” by Allison Crowe (Music Alley)
“Re-Gifting for the Holidays” by The Alice Project (Music Alley)
“Jingle Bells” by Natalie Brown (link)
“Merry xXxMas” by Tailhook Echo (Music Alley)
“Walk a Thousand Miles” by Matthew Ebel (Music Alley)

INSTRUMENTALS / BACKGROUNDS
“Little Drummer Dude” and “Joy Bounce” by Charlie Crowe (Music Alley)
“Linus and Lucy” by J.E.L.L.i. (Music Alley)
“Let it Snow” by Bit Shifter – by The 8BitPeoples (link)
(check out PodsafeChristmas.com for the best in podsafe music this holiday season)

REGULARLY FEATURED MUSIC and MEDIA:

“SkyMall item of the week” theme: “Planning for the Routine” by Leaving Richmond (Music Alley profile)

The new BUCKET Remix theme composed and performed by The Geoff Smith. Old theme too!

All podsafe artists/music are courtesy of IODA Promonet and Music Alley, or are registered with Creative Commons.

SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC!!
Know of a great podsafe/indy artist we should feature? Let us know at BUCKETRemix(at)gmail.com!

Subscribe now to BUCKET on iTunes

BUCKET is hosted on Mevio

Follow BUCKET on Twitter

E-mail: BUCKETRemix@gmail.com

E-mail Corey : BUCKETCorey@gmail.com

E-Mail Lou: BUCKETLou@gmail.com

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

I’d walked that same path more than a thousand times, yet on that one, crisp Saturday morning I noticed a weathered bronze plaque mounted on a small cement slab level with the grass. About 4 feet off the path, the plaque had obviously been there for quite a long time but had heretofore escaped my notice. This new-found distraction was worth taking a moment to absorb.

Like I did on that one Saturday morning, today we’re stopping along the path to admire something that’s been there for quite some time. We’re taking time to notice…

Recently my boss recommended a very interesting book, “How Full is Your Bucket,” by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton. The ideas in this text are not new–we’ve been on this path a thousand times before–but the presentation is compelling. For example, Stephen Covey speaks of a very similar idea with his concept of the Emotional Bank Account. I was touched by the book such that I felt it was appropriate to “interrupt” the current series of blog posts about impromptu speaking to get this “on virtual paper” while it’s on my mind.

The bucket metaphor is a good one. The premise is that we all have a bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel good. Not so when our bucket is empty. The idea is to figuratively ladle water into other people’s buckets through positive interactions with them (doing what Covey would call, “making deposits in the Emotional Bank Account”). A kind word. A specific praise. Purposely catching people doing the right thing and praising them for it. (Oh! There’s “The One-Minute Manager!” I told you these ideas are not new!)

A proverb in the scriptures that I hold dear tells us that the tongue has the power of life and death. I’ve taken it as a lifetime challenge to speak life into the people around me.

One thing that is very clear from my readings on this subject: Our objective is not to get other people to fill our buckets. In none of the books I’ve read does the author even hint that we ought to be in this for ourselves. No. They consistently and correctly point us to filling other people’s buckets. As we Speak Up in our daily interactions at work or at home we ought to be looking for ways that we can genuinely and sincerely ladle encouragement into other people’s buckets. A quote from the book says it well:

Whether we have a long conversation with a friend or simply place an order at a restaurant, every interaction makes a difference. The results of our encounters are rarely neutral; they are almost always positive or negative. And although we take these interactions for granted, they accumulate and profoundly affect our lives.

Speak Up and Speak Life.

With the official beginning of winter just a stone’s throw a way, Corey and Lou hunker down with a delicious snack or eight. Also, Tiger Woods scores again, Skymall tries to help you hibernate, The Super Bowl loses its status as the choice of a new generation and much, much more. Call
us at 206-337-9910. (Direct Link to MP3, Recorded Dec. 17, 2009)

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

NEWSWIRE
Would you be angry after a 35-year prison stay you didn’t deserve? Not if you’re James Bain!
Domino’s stops avoiding the Noid, changes pizza recipe
The “McNuggetini” gets the BUCKET seal of approval

SKYMALL ITEM OF THE WEEK
The Tranquil Sounds Oxygen Bar ($299.99)

TEXTUAL HEALING
Big Louie Smooth gets ready for the holiday break with great musings from America’s future leaders (TextsfromLastNight.com)

SPORTS CORNER
NFL Star Chris Henry passes away
TigerMania Update: Woods named AP Athlete of the Decade – British bookies bid on Tiger’s fortunes – Is it making your wife paranoid?
What happens when Fantasy Football turns into a nightmare?

KANYE WEST MEMORIAL LOU-SER OF THE WEEK:
Arizona schoolteacher Mary Segall, who loves her students…and boobies, too!

POPCORN BUCKET
Will “Avatar” be the next big thing or the next big flop?
The Golden Globe nominees are announced…does anyone care?
Pepsi pulls out of the Super Bowl

PRIMATE UPDATE
Kung-fu Monkey Trainer … the teacher has become the student

PODSAFE SONG OF THE WEEK:
“Merry Christmas Angel” by Vittoria Conn (Music Alley)
(check out PodsafeChristmas.com for the best in podsafe music this holiday season)

REGULARLY FEATURED MUSIC and MEDIA:

“Textual Healing with Big Louie Smooth” theme: “Instrumental R&B” by Christopher Wright (Music Alley profile)

“SkyMall item of the week” theme: “Planning for the Routine” by Leaving Richmond (Music Alley profile)

Sports Corner Theme: “Dodging Buses” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

Primate Update Theme: “Meltdown Man” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

The new BUCKET Remix theme composed and performed by The Geoff Smith. Old theme too!

All podsafe artists/music are courtesy of IODA Promonet and Music Alley.

SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC!!
Know of a great podsafe/indy artist we should feature? Let us know at BUCKETRemix(at)gmail.com!

• Subscribe now to BUCKET on iTunes
• BUCKET is hosted on Mevio
  
• E-mail: BUCKETRemix@gmail.com
• E-mail Corey : BUCKETCorey@gmail.com
• E-Mail Lou: BUCKETLou@gmail.com

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

   On a normal day, six miles is the distance I like. Today is a day for helpful people and travel, for metal, for keeping things moving. It is also a six day by virtue of  the sum one plus five. This is arbitrary: this is part of how I organize.

   The creek is high and full at 6:30 a.m. The barest hint of dawn’s early light strikes the flowing water, looking gray. Orange and yellow reflected light from the houses and street lights bounces off the surface edges.  The creek is so high and full it looks like a river. A cloudy day looms ahead.

   Some mist, just five fellow travellers: three runners and two walkers and I. One heron flies up from the bank at the eight marker. Thoughts about work intrude as I think about the season, observe the tree trunks and the condensed vapor. On my way to the park, a box truck rode in front of my car. The eidetic memory of its rear doors provides the basis of today’s puzzle. Plus a bucket. Value in relationships. A fireplace makes a nice focal point.

    Ashes, ashes we all fall down.

…goes to the well.

One  day the bottom will drop out.

Especially if the well is full of cement.

It’s the early hours of Sunday morning and I’m in that half dreaming, half awake state, not sure of the time. What I do know is that I need a pee. Five minutes ago I was in a big old chateau, with a musty old four poster bed, surrounded by subfusc tapestries. For some unknown reason I needed to use the wood and iron bucket in the far corner of the room but as I stand there ready to do the business I notice somebody tending their lawns across the way and all of a sudden I am too shy to piss. That’s a good job really because it was at that precise moment that I awoke. Had I not then I may well have turned the giant airbed we were borrowing into a large but slightly shallow swimming pool.

So here comes that twilight era dilemma when one wakes needing an urgent pee – not wanting to wake anyone else from their slumber but wondering how long one can lie there slipping in and out of consciousness and bladder bloat. The second thing that keeps me lying there in obvious discomfort is the fact that I’m still really very knackered and shouldn’t be conscious at all. So I slumber on, listening to the snores and breathing of fellow slumberers.

In October 1872, Guibert, successor to Georges Darboy, Archbishop of Paris, executed by the Communards and made a martyr for the resurgent Catholic Church, climbed the Butte Montmartre and was reported to have had a vision, as clouds dispersed over the panorama: “It is here, it is here where the martyrs are, it is here that the Sacred Heart must reign so that it can beckon all to come”.

Eventually, however, necessity meant I had to make a break for it; but by now it had become a military exercise. Slip and slide out of the blow-up bed without sounding too much like you’re a giant balloon modeller practising their art at some ungodly hour. Follow this with slowly and gently easing the door handle so slickly that you imagine you should have been that ninja you always thought you would be when you grew up. Then you tip-toe across the wooden floor the way Grasshopper was taught to walk on rice paper in Kung Fu. Carefully closing the toilet door behind you before flicking on the light is an art only the best of us can master but deciding whether to flush or not is the final dilemma and one that kept me sitting there for slightly longer than normal – I am sitting by the way because I know that my pee has less distance to travel and is therefore less noisy and the rest of the household won’t begin dreaming that they’re visiting Niagra Falls. After a short delay I decide not to flush, which means instead, that one of our guests will rise to greet the colour of my pee first thing in the morning. But maybe they’ll appreciate the fact that I was so thoughtful so as to not wake them. Then again maybe they won’t realise it was me at all but think it was N and, as it’s her flat, she can do what the hell she wants.

By the way, my Eurostar carriage smells of Febreeze and fart.

Cat Litter usually comes in a paper bag or cardboard box which can then be recycled. The economy size, however, comes in a big, plastic bucket and while the convenience and cost savings of the larger size are nice, the bucket itself does not lend itself to curb side recycling.

Peel the labels off, however, and it simply becomes a white, plastic bucket with a lid and a handle. The lid fits tight and makes it a squirrel proof bird seed container, it doubles as a small garbage can in the tool shed and functions well as a sturdy bucket in the garden for hauling water, dirt, etc …

Okay… if a day has ups and downs… today was a roller coaster… mostly downhill…  some of it straight downhill…

Feeding the horses went fairly smoothly.  All of the horses got a blanket check and I couldn’t believe how thick the ice was on the one tub.  They did give me a scare because the big field had emptied their brand new (as in I just put it up yesterday) expensive heated water bucket and decided to knock it over and pull it out of the cord.  I about had a heart attack thinking I only got one use out of a over $50 bucket!!!  (This is the same bucket that I spent all day yesterday worrying about if I had used a heavy enough gauge extension cord and hoping I wouldn’t set anything on fire.  And whenever I worry about something like that… I smell the hot electrical smell everywhere- can you say paranoid!!!  I used to have John to tell me that my nose was dysfunctional and he had a fire sniffing nose… he could tell you what was burning during a fire!  So, I stressed all day yesterday… and checked the cord a zillion times.)  Luckily the bucket wasn’t damaged, cord wasn’t chewed.  I can’t decide which is a more destructive force… toddlers or horses.  In my experience, horses do more damage to expensive thing- like brand new expensive buckets and blankets (I want to cry when I look at the money I invested in shredded blankets), gates, etc.   But Nathaniel is like a tornado… he leaves behind a path of destruction and can create it in seconds!  Comparing pound for pound he has the horses beat by miles…

On that note… back to kiddo.  He was great when he first got up, but he did manage to end up with milk in his hair when he was supposed to be eating cereal.

I emptied the dishwasher and re-filled it with the dishes from the sink.  I was feeling quite accomplished and domesticated.  Kiddo was quietly eating in his high chair and not crawling in the dishwasher and playing with knives… score one for mommy!

Then I tried to fold laundry.  That went over like the Titanic… I got 3 shirts, one baby item, and a pair of socks folded and then Tornado Nathaniel came through and sent two shirts flying and I gave up…

My day went drastically downhill when I logged into Facebook.  I thought I’d log into John’s account because I do periodically.  I want to keep John’s FB account as it is.  I enjoy going back and looking at things that John wrote.  I want his FB account to be there when Nathaniel is old enough to understand.  I always loved how John expressed himself in words… he was just himself… black and white… told it like it was…

Well… I go to log in and get a message–

Account Inaccessible

This account is in a special memorial state. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit Facebook’s Help Center for further information: http://www.facebook.com/help.php

WHAT THE FRUITBAT???  I didn’t request for John’s FB page to have a “special memorial status.”  The widow’s bulletin board that I frequent, has made it very clear that you shouldn’t do that unless you want all of your spouse’s status updates, their info tab, and pretty much everything personal that they ever did on the account deleted.  Basically they said… DON’T DO IT… YOU’LL REGRET IT.  I knew that I didn’t want to do that.  So, I logged in every now and then just to keep the account active.

So, I’m sure whomever did it thought they had good intentions but what the %&#( happened to maybe asking me if I wanted to do it?  I am his wife.  I am the mother of his son.  Do you think perhaps it might have crossed somebody’s mind to ask me if I wanted to do it… rather than taking it upon themselves?  Apparently not.  So… to whomever did it… thanks for raping my husbands account and stealing his thoughts and writings from his wife and son… Thanks a lot… Happy Holidays…

Then, when I couldn’t get to the phone, Union Hospital had left a voice mail… regarding John’s account.  I thought ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? (okay, I added a few choice curse words in my thoughts)

• He died in their hospital- don’t you think they’d have that on record.
• I sent a death certificate & informed them that the estate was closed.
• I responded to one of their collections calls and left a voice mail saying that he’d passed away, the estate was closed, by law I’m not responsible, don’t return my call.

Just exactly what part of that do they not get????

Of course this is also the hospital that called a few weeks after John’s death asking for him to take part in a survey about his recent ER visit.  They also had done that to a friend of mine who lost his wife a few years ago.

I guess part of what pisses me off is a little attention to detail would just make my life so much easier.  Maybe it’s because where I work, I can investigate and research prior to making calls.  I use data that I’m given and find to help paint a picture or create a scenario.  Then if I have to, I make a call.

In all fairness, maybe Union Hospital’s collection staff don’t have the flexibility that is granted to me.  Maybe they’re calling blindly.  Maybe they have terrible computer systems.  Maybe they have staff that doesn’t enter things that are mailed to them or left on voice mail into the computer system.  Maybe they’re just not that bright.

Or maybe I’m too logical (or insert your choice of words for me).

Let’s take a look at the scenario-

1. Somebody who always pays bills on time & now doesn’t.  Hmmm… looks like a problem of some sort…
2. Somebody who’s information shows stage IV melanoma.  Hmmm… cancer… melanoma… stage IV… not a good prognosis.
3. Chart says deceased, July 21, 2009.  Hmmm… maybe they’re dead… Which at this point in time, I’d think maybe they’d stop making repeated collections calls for a $25.00 copay out of courtesy to the family.  But in all fairness there could have been an estate and medical bills are high on the list to be paid and I’m sure they need the $25.00 copay to keep the hospital in business.  Did I mention I’m a sarcastic smart ass, too?
4. Notes in the computer stating that the death certificate was received and the estate is closed.  I’m assuming that there are not notes because if their are then there is NO excuse for calling me.  So… ball drop (at least) number one…
   
5. Notes in the computer stating phone call returned and customer is deceased, estate closed, and do not call.  Again… I’m assuming that there are not notes because if there are then there is NO excuse for calling me.  So… ball drop (at least) number two…

I’ve been trying very hard not to get upset and not to get pissed.  But with that coupled with the Unum fiasco (they keep pulling money out of my account to pay premiums on a life insurance policy that they’ve paid out and then have the intelligence of a fruit fly and send me a check- (minus a month) to the Estate of John Smith– I haven’t even had the patience to call them back– they didn’t take the money out of the “Estate of” so what logic would they have to return the money to “Estate of”– they took they money out of  our account which is now MY money out of MY account… I’ve already called them TWICE.  How hard is it for a LIFE insurance company to stop pulling funds when somebody has passed away… it’s not rocket science)– oh and add in a kid who is either teething or going into his terrible twos early… I’m at my wits end…

So… I called Union Hospital back and let the poor lady have it.  She didn’t deserve it.  She was nice.  She was polite.  She extended her condolences.

I on the other hand was not very nice.  I even had a few choice curse words– I hope she didn’t take it personally.  I was upset with the situation, not with her.  She said something about that the computer systems didn’t link up and she didn’t have record that I had notified the hospital of John’s death.  I lacked tact and told her that maybe they’d better look into to some computer systems that linked up… it wasn’t my problem and to take care of it.  I told her I wasn’t really that surprised because this was coming from a hospital that called with an ER customer satisfaction survey after my husband died in their hospital.  That comment even received a gasp.  Of course, maybe if their hospital had a grief management group I wouldn’t have spazzed out on her…

That collection call ruined my day.  I hope I didn’t ruin hers.  I just get so irate when people can’t do their jobs.  I think a lot of it comes from working somewhere that has very high standards and quality checks in place.  It’s not rocket science.  Fill out the deceased report… no estate… clear the books.

I also get emotional because I hate to think of John’s credit getting trashed because we worked so hard to have and maintain excellent credit.  But I’m at no liability to pay his bill.  That $25.00 can be used for groceries, gas, child care, or put in his college account.  I also struggle somewhat because I don’t know what John would want me to do… he may want me to pay the bills because he received the care.  And we’re not talking about a lot of money, either- just co-pays.

I honestly can’t understand how the budget works out to spend the money to hire collectors to make multiple calls on co-pays… I got a collection call from Hopkins (actually they sold it to a collection agency) for a TEN dollar co-pay…  I could understand if it was a several thousand dollar bill. Part of me thinks… you greedy, bloodsucking, bastards… a $10.00 copay????  You’re going to call and bug a widow over a $10 copay????  You got the insurance money… I got a dead husband and a toddler to raise on my own and a farm to manage and pay for and am stressed beyond belief…

Sorry… I’ve had a hell of a day… I’m venting… I’m entitled to it…

During the collection call… Nathaniel started screaming… about what, I haven’t a clue.  I never could figure men out… and I really can’t figure out a small male who can’t communicate with words and is clearly upset about something.

Then Nathaniel stopped screaming… I still have no idea what his issue was.

I’m still trying to calm myself down.  Now, I’m upset that I talked to the lady that way.  It wasn’t her fault.  Hopefully, I don’t go to Hell for it.  While I’m hanging up the phone, kiddo managed to get the baby gate open and was running around upstairs before I realized what he’d done.  I about had a coronary right there as he was zooming towards the steps.  Luckily, he stopped.  I grabbed him and carried him safely downstairs.  The baby gate is going to get the fix that I know how to do… some baling twine and a double ended snap.  I can’t figure out if it’s broken or not adjusted correctly and my “fix it skills” end with being able to pull out a nail.. I can’t barely hammer a nail  straight…

Then kiddo is not happy with me because I won’t let him climb up the stairs and run around like a banshee.

Kiddo is progressively more unhappy about God only knows what.  I’m frustrated.  I’m beginning to think I have the parenting skills of a frog.

The mail today was comprised of Christmas cards.  I enjoy getting them and feel “loved,” but at the same time, it’s hard to see them addressed just to me or to Nathaniel and me.  It’s the little things that get to me sometimes… John’s missing.

I decide… we’re going to the dump.  I barely have enough trash or recycling to warrant a trip to the dump, but there is one bag of diapers and that is reason enough to go…   I also figure with kiddo strapped into the car seat he at least won’t be running around leaving a path of destruction.  I also figure… if he squawks, I can turn the radio up and tune him out…

So, we go to the dump.  No problems there.  Stinky diapers gone.

Then we stop by the cemetery.  I was hit with the unexpected.  Two ladder trucks and a flag.  John’s truck…  I had seen that a CFCRS life member had passed away, but I didn’t realize the funeral was today.  I mistakenly thought he had already been buried.  There was another funeral earlier this week.

I didn’t know if I should turn back or continue with my visit.  I didn’t want to disrupt anything.  I decided to proceed anyway.  Turns out they wouldn’t be doing the burial for at least another hour or so.  It was strange seeing the ladder trucks and the flag… I thought I’d end up sobbing, but it didn’t bring back a painful memory.  Instead, I smiled and told John, “your truck is here.”  It made me feel good that John is buried in a cemetery where in theory “his” ladder truck will return to and that it overlooks “his” town.

Another wreath is at John’s grave.  This one is from his Aunt Linda.  The two of them look so nice.  No need for me to add a third.  I’ve got tree duty.

Christmas this year just feels so empty.  Like John’s fight against cancer, I’m doing it for one reason- Nathaniel.

On my way out I had a brief chat with one of the firefighters.  It was nice.  I’m glad he recognized me… that would have been embarrassing if he hadn’t.    There are a lot of members that I don’t know and on top of it, John was TERRIBLE about introducing me.

I then decided that kiddo and I were driving to DE.  I wanted to get Nathaniel his Christmas Hess “truck, ” which this year happens to be two race cars and no truck… still not sure how that happens.  Anyway… story behind that is that every year for Christmas John’s parents always got him a Hess truck.  So, last year, I got Nathaniel his first Hess truck.

I want to make it a tradition for Nathaniel, like John’s parents did for him.  Although, I’m hoping Nathaniel will be a little more appreciative than John was for the last few years… John would be like… “I know what this is, I’m not even going to unwrap it.”  Yes, we have unwrapped Hess trucks in the basement.

I also wanted to get Nathaniel a little shaker that I thought he’d like.  I had seen it when we went to pick up John’s guitar that he never got to play.

On our way to DE, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Thankfully, this time the waitress didn’t ask if anybody else would be joining us.  Phew.  I don’t think  I could have taken it today.  Nathaniel had applesauce and mashed potatoes.  I had a house salad and Chicken and Rice.  That was one of John’s favorites and they only serve it on Saturdays.  I thought of John and missed him.  I also missed him as I was trying to keep an eye on kiddo and eat.  John and I did such a good job at sharing our time watching kiddo so we could both have an enjoyable dinner.  Sigh.  Overall, kiddo was good.  He wants to do everything himself… which sometimes is such a great idea for a yearling.  No milk in the hair this time.  A lady diagonally commented about how well behaved he was… funny because I wasn’t happy about how demanding he was being and he squawked several times and there was no need for it.

So… after our trip to DE, we had 2 Hess “trucks” (one to play with and one to save) and 1 shaker.  I love being able to buy presents for kiddo with him there.  It’s great to be able to preview presents with him and then not have him beg for them when we get home and not have him remember that we got them together.  Those days will soon be over, I’m sure.

Earlier in the day, I had made a phone call to a friend of John’s who had suggested Teething Tablets for the little Mr.  I had never seen such a thing, but several people said that they were great.  At this point… I could use something great… Nathaniel’s teething has been driving me crazy…   We picked them up at a local pharmacy and I hope they work!!!

When we got home, it was about dusk.  He wanted to wonder around.  I decided to bundle him up and let him “help” me feed the horses.  He pretty much enjoyed the experience.  There were several moments of momentary unhappiness of an unknown origin.

When I took Nathaniel inside, I noticed that he had dirt all over his face.  Poor kiddo must have landed on his cheek/mouth in the mud.  He never cried and I hadn’t noticed in the darkness.  I decided a bath was in order, so kiddo got cleaned, dressed, fed, and then sent to bed.

In all honestly, the last few weeks have been rough and I think the last time that I had a whole day that was really good and mostly stress free was last Friday when I went to Annapolis to deliver the ornaments to AFD and then went to see Ballyhoo afterward.

And that, ladies and gentleman… has been the long story of “How was your day?”  I don’t think I’ll get asked that question very often if I reply like I just did… oh well… tomorrow is another day… who knows what it will bring…

I saw this movie called “The bucket list”, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, a couple of days back. It was a really good movie and I was motivated to create a bucket list as well (i know its waaay too early for one but i did it anyway) so here goes:

1) Take my parents to Disney Land!
2) Try parachuting from a jet
3) Fire a Magnum at a firing range(a .357 S&W preferably )
4) Help animals in need
5) Inspire someone
6) Motivate a Stranger
7) Give a speech without stuttering
8 ) Sleep for more than 10 hours(when not on any medication)
9) Experience the awesomeness of Aikido personally
10) Learn to eat using chopsticks
11) Visit the Eiffel tower, The Grand Canyon and Mt. Rushmore
12) Visit Parikshith Kund
13) Go on a South African safari
14) Fund a kids education
15) catch a snake
16) Visit an orphanage
17) Publish a book
18) See a DNA through an electron microscope
19) Perform a proper SWOT analysis of myself
20) Visit Stewe Irwin’s croc zoo
21) visit Kerala
22) Drive a VW Beetle
23) To implement one of my business ideas and run it profitably (anyone wanna donate? )
24) Get a tattoo done
25) Learn Greek
26) Try bungee jumping

Oh and the most important one is finding the answers to the 2 questions asked in the movie. Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. The questions are:

a) Did you find joy? (i have so i guess 50% of the work is over )
b) Did you bring joy to anyone ? (This i have to research)

Dumb post rite But something told me to put it up :p will update this post from time to time!
Thats it for now, Chao!!

Episode 80: Eldrick & Elin’s Excellent Adventure

Corey and Lou catch a bad case of Tigermania…must be that damn global warming again. Also, Skymall slips into something a little more comfortable, Cash & Prizes take center stage and the Christmas spirit infects the BUCKET boys. Call us at 206-337-9910. (Direct Link to MP3, Recorded Dec. 9, 2009)

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

NEWSWIRE
Tigermania takes over BUCKET:
SNL Sketch Uproar
Rachel Uchitel’s Textual Healing
Would You Sponsor This Man?
In-Laws Steal the Spotlight
Wife leaving town, taking the kids to new Sweden home?

Recession gives McDonald’s a McHit in the McWallet (Stock price steady)

SKYMALL ITEM OF THE WEEK
The Cabin Cuddler ($24.99)

SPORTS CORNER
Who will take home the Heisman Trophy this weekend?
BCS Controversy: Did TCU and Boise State get screwed by being included?

KANYE WEST MEMORIAL LOU-SER OF THE WEEK:
Danny Cahill – Winner of the Biggest Loser, Season 8

POPCORN BUCKET
How the hell is Andy Samberg nominated for a Grammy Award?
Is CBS bringing back the Golden Age of the Game Show?

RAPSTERPIECE THEATER
Sir Louis Dee III is back to explain his exile: “Blame It On the Alcohol” by Jamie Foxx

PODSAFE SONG OF THE WEEK:
“The Greatest Xmas Song Ever Written” by American Heartbreak (Music Alley)
(check out PodsafeChristmas.com for the best in podsafe music this holiday season)

REGULARLY FEATURED MUSIC and MEDIA:

“SkyMall item of the week” theme: “Planning for the Routine” by Leaving Richmond (Music Alley profile)

Sports Corner Theme: “Dodging Buses” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

Primate Update Theme: “Meltdown Man” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

The new BUCKET Remix theme composed and performed by The Geoff Smith. Old theme too!

All podsafe artists/music are courtesy of IODA Promonet and Music Alley.

SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC!!
Know of a great podsafe/indy artist we should feature? Let us know at BUCKETRemix(at)gmail.com!

Subscribe now to BUCKET on iTunes

BUCKET is hosted on Mevio

Follow BUCKET on Twitter

E-mail: BUCKETRemix@gmail.com

E-mail Corey : BUCKETCorey@gmail.com

E-Mail Lou: BUCKETLou@gmail.com

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

bamboo plaited basket flower / plant pot and cover include weave bamboo basket pot , hanging basket pot cover, pot and cover, bamboo flower holder ,bamboo plaiting or Spun vase and tube bucket ornaments for flower, plant and nursery, etc.

Here is a useful link

http://www.chinabamboogarden.com/bamboo-pot-cover.asp

At least Jethro emptied the sand out before putting the bucket on his head

For more buckets on heads, see my first fur-child in a predicament.

1. Be bought.
2. Be a secret invisibility mechanism. If you can’t see them, they can’t see you.
3. Be used to make really big sandcastles.
4. Be filled with water and tadpoles. Excellent tadpole pond.
5. Become a soccer ball allowing people to say “Hey, I kicked the bucket last night but here I am!”
6. Be an emergency vomit receptacle for the morning after.
7. Be a famous piece of modern wall art.
8. Become a cereal bowl used for late night snacking.
9. Have a Kings of Leon song named after you.
10. Be used as a portable chair or stool.
11. Be a trap used catch mice, rats or other unwanted creatures.
12. Become a musical instrument by spreading some skin over top and voila! bucket = drum
13. Be used as a portable port-o-potty.
14. Be filled with slime and placed on top of a door waiting for an unsuspecting victim.
15. Inspire a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.

What would your bucket want to do?

Object: A young bucket with so much to do

Episode 79: Post-Thanksgiving Crash Diet

Corey and Lou crash the White House party crashers and crunch the climate change crisis numbers. Also, Skymall moves balls with its mind, The prodigal Iverson returns, Tiger hooks his drive, and Christmas is in full effect. Call us at 206-337-9910. (Direct Link to MP3, Recorded Dec. 2, 2009)

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

NEWSWIRE
Sahalis crash White House State Dinner, scandal ensues
A minute about Oprah and Meredith Baxter-Birney
“ClimateGate”: WTF is going on this?

SKYMALL ITEM OF THE WEEK
Telekinetic Obstacle Course ($99.95)

TEXTUAL HEALING
Big Louie Smooth (TextsfromLastNight.com)

SPORTS CORNER
Iverson un-retires, goes back home to Philadelphia and the 76ers
The BCS screws up college football once again this Sunday.
Tiger Woods is an excellent driver, but not on the road. – Apologizes for “sins” – $300M Divorce pre-nup!

KANYE WEST MEMORIAL LOU-SER OF THE WEEK:
Jaimee Grubbs, model, reality show contestant, homewrecker.

POPCORN BUCKET
DWTS Update: Linked dancers to return for Season 10
Favorite Christmas Specials

PRIMATE UPDATE
Puerto Ricans tired of escaped monkeys
“Birther” movement uses classic “See No Evil…” monkeys in Obama ad. Racist?

PODSAFE SONG OF THE WEEK:
“Christmastime Around The World” by Geoff Smith (Music Alley)
(check out PodsafeChristmas.com for the best in podsafe music this holiday season)

REGULARLY FEATURED MUSIC and MEDIA:

“Textual Healing with Big Louie Smooth” theme: “Instrumental R&B” by Christopher Wright (Music Alley profile)

“SkyMall item of the week” theme: “Planning for the Routine” by Leaving Richmond (Music Alley profile)

Sports Corner Theme: “Dodging Buses” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

Primate Update Theme: “Meltdown Man” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

The new BUCKET Remix theme composed and performed by The Geoff Smith. Old theme too!

All podsafe artists/music are courtesy of IODA Promonet and Music Alley.

SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC!!
Know of a great podsafe/indy artist we should feature? Let us know at BUCKETRemix(at)gmail.com!

Subscribe now to BUCKET on iTunes

BUCKET is hosted on Mevio

Follow BUCKET on Twitter

E-mail: BUCKETRemix@gmail.com

E-mail Corey : BUCKETCorey@gmail.com

E-Mail Lou: BUCKETLou@gmail.com

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

THE RIGHT MOVES

●  Dust from the top down.  When the dust falls, it wont dirty anything you’ve  already cleaned.

●  Apply stain remover from the edge to the center to avoid spreading the stain.

●  Work in a circular motion when using abrasive cleansers so any scratches are made less visible.

●  Spray cleaning fluid into a cloth or paper towel, then wipe onto the surface, especially when cleaning mirrors or windows with metal frames.

●  If you have to move furniture out of the way to clean around it, slip a towel under each leg to help slide it.

QUICK FIX

●  Tiny hole in a white wall?  Fill it with a dab of non-gel toothpaste or paper correction fluid.

●  Lightly spritz the dustpan with water before you sweep debris in, so dust won’t drift right back out,

●  To find lost small or hard-to-see objects dropped on the carpet, slip an old nylon stocking over the end of the vacuum hose and hold it in place with a rubber band.  The suction will pick up the missing item, but the stocking will prevent it from going into the vacuum.

CLEANING SMARTS

●  Keep everything together.  Gather all your cleaning equipment before you start and load it in a tray, an apron or a bucket.  You’ll save time searching fro supplies.

●  If it’s not dirty, don’t clean it.  don’t scrub the whole over if only the glass door has grease marks.  Spot-clean whenever possible.

●  Let the cleaning solution do the work.  Pretreat tough spots and let them soak:  It saves you elbow grease.

●  Use only as much cleaning product as you need.  Otherwise you’ll just waste time mopping up the excess. 

CREATE A MOOD

●  Light a scented candle for a few minutes, or spritz the place with your favorite room deodorizer.  Use lemon-or pin-scented cleaner when you dust so the room will have that just-cleaned smell.

●  Put a couple of dryer sheets or scented soap bars in the bottom of trouble spots like trash cans.

●  As a last resort, turn the lights down low and pull back the curtains slightly.  Everything looks better in mood lighting.  – Janet Sobesky

Northrop and Johnson

Corey and Lou battle the Black Friday crowds and take BUCKET on the road…all the way to the parking lot of Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum. With Slurpees in hand, they talk about Thanksgiving football, New Moon madness, the worst ever movie flops and more. (Direct MP3 link … Recorded Nov. 27, 2009)

206-337-9910 is the new BUCKET line number … call the show today, let us know your thoughts!

POPCORN BUCKET:

PODSAFE SONGS FEATURED:

“Sale of the Century” by The Soupbone Throne (Music Alley profile)

REGULARLY FEATURED MUSIC and MEDIA:

“Textual Healing with Big Louie Smooth” theme: “Instrumental R&B” by Christopher Wright (Music Alley profile)

“SkyMall item of the week” theme: “Planning for the Routine” by Leaving Richmond (Music Alley profile)

Sports Corner Theme: “Dodging Buses” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

Primate Update Theme: “Meltdown Man” by Derek K. Miller (Music Alley profile)

The new BUCKET Remix theme composed and performed by The Geoff Smith. Old theme too!

All podsafe artists/music are courtesy of IODA Promonet and Music Alley.

SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC!! Know of a great podsafe/indy artist we should feature? Let us know at BUCKETRemix(at)gmail.com!

• BUCKET hosted on Mevio
• Follow BUCKET on Twitter
• E-mail: BUCKETRemix@gmail.com
• E-mail Corey : BUCKETCorey@gmail.com
• E-Mail Lou: BUCKETLou@gmail.com

KEYWORDS: BUCKET, Lou, Corey, Stamford, Connecticut, Primate Update, monkeys, news, politics, sports, entertainment, movies, TV, podcast, podsafe, Skymall, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Thanksgiving, Long Island, Nassau Coliseum, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Cash4Gold, Alan Ralsky, Twilight, New Moon, Jay Leno, Bombs, Texts From Last Night.

an excavator bucket and a truck at exploration field

an excavator bucket and a truck at exploration field blue,bucket,bulldozer,digger,dipper,dozer,dredge,earth,earthmover,excavate,excavation,excavator,grader,ground,industrial,loader,machine,machinery,mining,mover,scoop,sky,transport,transportation,truck,vehicle,workplace,yellow

Grandma Ollie and the Slop Pail

Grandma Ollie always had a slop pail or bucket  by the side of her bed at  night.

I’m sure she grew up in this fashion, and she never put the slop bucket away even when she had a modern bathroom.  When I would stay with her at night, it was always by her side of the bed.  In the morning she would take it to the bathroom and empty it and clean it.  This is just a memory I thought I would share, and see if anyone else remembers the Slop Pails.

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Submitted by: Riva, friend’s house via Submit a Kludge!

Favorite Comment: Fixer ChronicWanderer says, “A sink of omission.”