Memorial Day Parade

We had a great time!!

Single Son and I had decided to ride together to the village. He had to work during the parade, so off I went on my own to wander Downtown and get some pictures for the hour until the parade began. I hadn't made it out of the Department's outdoor picnic area when I ran into ...

The Village Idiot.

Literally. Only, at the time I didn't know who she was. And of course, none of the cops warned me! Grrrrrrr. She was an experience that's for sure. And no matter how I tried to lose her it wasn't going to happen. She even invited me over for a meal and a drink. Hello? No thanks!!

Why do I seem to be a magnet for these people? In school with all the PITAs I attract ... and now the Village Idiot. Geesh!

Finally Single Son had a chance to fill me in on who she is. He's arrested her numerous times for different things. Yet she still tries to flirt with all the cops in town. They all try to avoid her whenever possible. Yeah, thanks guys for the heads-up on that one.

The time for the parade to start was drawing near ... the Village Idiot took off to "change into something patriotic" (camo mini mini-skirt and a brown low cut tank top - yup ... patriotic) ... so I took the chance to make a break for it. I found a nice little spot right across from the Village Offices (and Police Station). There was an alley there should I need to duck from her! And I did, twice!

And then the Parade started ...

It was definitely a small parade, but a very nice one. The crowds along the streets were very enthusiastic. As soon as the lead car with two of Lake Orion's oldest Vets passed, up went a cheer through Downtown.

The Lake Orion Dragons Marching Band - among the top ten of the best marching bands in Michigan - played "God Bless America". Vintage cars, the American Legion, local softball teams and the local Girl Scout and Brownie Troops completed the participants of the Parade.

After the parade, cutting through an alley to get back to the Police Department to meet up with Single Son I once again had the misfortune of meeting up with the Village Idiot. I only had to endure her for a few minutes - a cute cop had come out of the station and she took off after him. I'm sure I heard her ask "are you married"? I didn't hear anything after that, I made a break for the safety of the inside of the station!

We left shortly after that. Headed up to the folks house for a short visit.

I have photos of the parade in my photo albums. Take a peek.

Hoping ya'll had a safe and Happy Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Parade 2009

Village of Lake Orion Memorial Day Parade.

Meet Sable ...

Meet Sable ... my new *love* ...
And love it is - at first sight!!

She's a 2002 Mercury Sable,
less than 80,000 miles.
Lots of extras.
And mine!!

Now to figure *her* out!
She's got almost all of the bells and buzzers,
things I've never had in a vehicle before.
Things I'm still trying to figure out.

Best of all, everything works!!
It'll be nice to know how much gas *she* has in her belly.
She has no dents or bruises,
And she's a little sassy, too.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

Or as many thoughts as I can get it today. And I'm pretty sure these will all be random thoughts ... it's just been that kind of a week.

1) So ... I didn't make it in time to shoot photos of the annual Flower Fest. Not entirely my fault. I was told that the show wasn't ending until 6 PM ... when I got there at 5 PM they were already packing up the displays! Damn!! Had I been there earlier (which was my sole intention but my car had other plans) then I'd have been fine. Yup, stupid Grand Am decided it wasn't going to cooperate with me on Sunday.

2) Yes, I still have the Grand Am. I haven't been able to pick up the new car yet. I'm hoping that everyone's schedules cooperate this week and I can get the Mercury. Please, please!! I want ... need ... that car!

3) As soon as I get the new car I'm planning a much needed mini-trip to Port Huron. The Grand Am won't let me make the 65 or so mile trip. Just a little beyond our comfort zone, literally. And by our, I mean me and the car!! Heck, the short trip to the Village for the Flower Fest (that I missed) was a nerve-wracking experience.

4) So, the next event to photograph is coming up next Monday. The Memorial Day parade. I'll be there bright and early. I won't be missing this event. Really!! Although, I have to admit they weren't upset I missed the Flower Fest ... there was a lady there who had taken pictures on Saturday that had offered to send her prints over to the station. Whew!!

5) So, now that all the hype of the new Star Trek movie has died down, our lives have returned to their normal pace. In other words, pretty boring. But I'm liking it.

6) Still working on getting all my information plugged back into my family tree program. Geesh, what a lot of work!! And to think I could have saved myself so much aggravation if I'd have backed my files up. I know ... dummy me!! I know better!

7) My enhanced driver's license came today. Just a hair over two weeks since I applied for it. Not bad!! A passport would have taken so much longer, that's for sure. I can honestly say I like the picture on this license. That hasn't happened in decades!! But the best thing is I can now get into Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas by "land or water" without having to possess a passport. Well, Canada anyway. I don't see any trips to Mexico or the Bahama's in my future. LOL.

8) These kittens are nuts!! OMG!! Shimera, the momma cat, won't eat out of her dish, but will rip a hole in the 18 pound cat food bag and eat it out of the bag. Can we say picky kitty? Finicky. Then yesterday I found one of the kittens actually sleeping in the bag of cat food! One of the other kittens loves to sleep in Married Son's old smelly work boots. The third prefers to sleep in a box I left out for them to play in. I still haven't come up with a good name for the kitten I'm keeping. But I have the feeling it'll either be Star Trek related or a name that has to do with one of her personality quirks. And yes, it's a girl. I finally remembered to check! LOL!

9) I really need to get off my behind and clean out the Grand Am. Get it ready for DIL to take possession of it this week. Of course, she's got some things she left in it ... so I'll just leave that crap in there for her to worry about. A winter jacket ... some of Grandson's clothes ... a pair of shoes. It'll be so nice once she has her own car and doesn't need to borrow (or trash) mine!!

10) Absolutely nothing else to *report*. Like I said, things have returned to normal. Dull. Boring. Just the way I like it!! No drama!! Yay!!

Baby Squirrel makes it up the giant wall!

Friday Stuff ...

Been a few days since I've blogged. LOL.

I've decided to let Peanut go to the adoptive family instead of the one we haven't yet named. Peanut has proved to be much better with small children. The adoptive fur-parents have a toddler. So, it's only natural to give them the kitten that gets along well with small children.

The other kitten, the one I'm keeping instead has not been officially named. We'd been calling him shit-head, but that name has to go. I started calling him "Tribble" (from the TOS episode called "The Trouble With Tribbles") ... as much for my love of Star Trek as the fact he's a fluffy hairball. And he's trouble!! He loves to climb up my body as I'm standing at the stove. Oh, he's picky. If I'm making a sandwich he doesn't care. But the minute I start frying fish he's all over me. And I have fish at least three times a week!! He'll sit on my shoulder until I actually give him a sample. He also love to wait for me to pass and pounce. At least I think it's a him, it never dawned on me to look to see what *it* is until just now! Ah well, either way, we're keeping him ... her ... whatever it proves to be.

Back when my computer crashed a few weeks ago I lost all my information. And I mean all of it. I've spent the last day plugging my genealogy information back into my Family Tree Maker program. OMG!! I forgot how much information I had gathered in the two decades I'd been researching the family tree. No lying, LOL, there's got to be two thousand names of ancestors (starting with Grandson) in my notebooks. It'll take me a week at the rate I'm going to get the basic information recorded. It'll take months to plug in all those dates I have to fill in!

I've been offered a very part time job. Seems Single Son's department needs a photographer for the events they have planned this year. Starting this weekend with a Flower Show ... and ending with the Christmas Parade this winter. Cool!! I'm there for most events anyway, why not photograph it for the village? Pay isn't great, but that's not what I'm doing it for!! I'm doing it 'cause they said "purty please". Besides, my best photos will be on the department's website.

I really need to get some Elsie's Attic inventory up on eBay. The problem has been deciding what line of merchandise I want to carry. My wholesaler has such a wide selection (3000+ items) that it's been interesting to narrow it down to a hundred or so. I'm thinking candles, incense, oils, burners, candle holders, water fountains ... relaxation and meditation items. A few lighthouse, dolphins and fantasy (dragons) items will round out the collection.

Ah well ... that's my Friday. Hope ya'll have a good day and a great weekend!!

My Mother's Day email ...

Mom,

I know I can be a pain in the butt sometimes.  I can be snippy, grumpy, and sometimes might even seem unappreciative of you...  I'm not the easiest person to live with, I know.  I know I'm not the richest person in the world right now either.  I couldn't even really afford a card at Meijer for crying out loud.

I want you to know that I love you so much, and am so lucky to have a mom like you!  You've always been there when I needed you, and you've always been so supportive of me.  Thank you for everything that you've done for me! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Love,
(Single Son)

Happy Mother's Day!

Star Trek (2009)

OMG!!!! What an awesome movie!!

I won't say anything about the movie itself so I don't ruin the plot for anyone. All I'll say is that ya'll just have to go see it. It's a must see for Trekkies. Sci-fi buffs will enjoy it, too ... as will non-Trekkies. On our way out of the theatre we heard quite a few "WOW!! That was great. I could get into Star Trek after this"!

I give it ...
   
as those two movie dudes say.

I went with two friends from the USS Sinclair (our Star Trek club) to see it. I'm so glad that LD pre-purchased our tickets. The IMAX show was sold out by the time we got to the theatre. I'd strongly suggest you pre-purchase your tickets, too. Especially if you're going to see it in IMAX.

Afterwards we stopped at Burger King for our Star Trek glasses and fun meal toys. Yes, I had a fun meal, just to get my Star Trek toy!!

Rainy Saturday

Bet ya'll will be glad when I've seen to new Star Trek movie and tone it down on my blog a bit.

But before I do, here's more Trek stuff you're gonna have to tolerate.

You know Single Son was contacted by the radio station last night to do the movie review. He'd never reviewed a movie before. At least not "formally". So .... I helped him do a little research last night on how to do a proper movie review so he was well prepared for this morning's phone call. He said the call went great, that he was very well prepared for it. It was a *live* broadcast, no room for errors. At least not for my son, who strives for perfection. Especially in front of the television cameras or radio microphones.

I wasn't *allowed* to listen to it, as he did give a spoiler or two ... and I didn't want the experience to be ruined for me. He did say he added a spoiler disclaimer to the beginning of the broadcast. LOL. I wonder how many listeners turned off their radio so as to not have it spoiled for them, too. That wouldn't have made the radio station too happy, I'm sure.

He'll give me the link to the website once it's posted. Should take a few days before it's up. By then I'll have seen the movie and it'll be *safe* for me to listen.

Aren't ya'll glad I'm not a Super-Trekkie like Single Son is? He eats, breathes and sleeps Star Trek. Me ... I go in spurts depending on what's going on in the Trek Universe.

And today's a big day for me. LOL. We've followed all the gossip, hype and excitement from the time they first started talking about the movie a few years back.

I've got the Shuttle all fueled up. Just waiting for the clock to show me it's time to go.

Hope your Saturday is a great one!!

Front Page News!!

Yup, we made the paper. Front page, no less! How cool is that?
Okay, so I'm not going to go thru the article and change names to protect the guilty. But I'll leave it up to you to figure out who's who (shouldn't be too hard, really). And check out on the bottom, the FYI - that's OUR fan club!!

The Oakland Press (theoaklandpress.com), Serving Oakland County

Entertainment
Fans make ‘Trek’ to movie theaters

Friday, May 8, 2009

By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press

Joe Sare planned to leave his volunteer post at the “Star Trek” exhibit in Detroit on Thursday to see the new movie.

“I’ve always had the personality of a leader so I want to see how they portray Spock and Kirk,” said the Waterford Township resident, referring to the most famous of the characters from the original 1960s TV show. “I’m really excited.”

Sare isn’t alone in this particular universe.

Around the nation, thousands of fans of “Star Trek” and its many incarnations will pack theaters to see the new film, which debuts today.

The movie — which explores the lives of the original main characters when they were young — promises plenty of action. David Germain, Associate Press movie writer, wrote that “J.J. Abrams’ ‘Star Trek’ is the wildest makeover ever to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a future where humans have overcome their own squabbles and set out to make new enemies among the stars.”

Sare, a 29-year-old police officer in Lake Orion, was first introduced to the series by his parents.

“My dad was always a big ‘Star Trek’ fan,” said Sare, who started watching shows in the late 1980s.

“At family gatherings, we’d sit and watch ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation.’ ”

In high school, he joined a fan club based in Dearborn. His favorite characters were Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, and Data, an android played by Brent Spiner. In 2001, he and friends began their own “Star Trek” fan club called the USS Sinclair, named for the street where they met. Today, the 55-member group meets 10 times a year, said Sare, who is the group’s commanding officer.

Another “Star Trek” fan, Lisa McDonald of Waterford, plans to go to the new film on Saturday.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” said McDonald, who is also a member of the USS Sinclair group and a fan of the 1960s TV show. “I’ll be seeing it at an IMAX for the first time.”

Friends in the club call McDonald a “Ferengi” — aliens considered to be the galaxy's most successful entrepreneurs — because she is studying business at college. She isn’t shy about telling people she is a Trekkie.

“It opens a lot of conversations,” said McDonald, who admitted she is “nearing 50.”

“At college, the young kids ribbed me all semester. But nobody’s shunned me. It’s their loss if they don’t want to get to know the crazy Trekkie.”

Diane Frkan, a science fiction film reviewer who participates in the ConFusion convention in Troy each year, planned to see the new movie Thursday.

“I was a little resistant at first but I started hearing the buzz and it became more appealing,” said Frkan, a program coordinator.

“I hope it’s not just one big action flick, though. I want them to explore the characters’ backgrounds.”

Mike Lester, who runs the comic book and science fiction store Time Travelers in Berkley will be in the movie audience tonight.

“With all the high-tech movies out there — ‘Terminator Salvation,’ ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ — coming out or about to come out, the one I see with the greatest enthusiasm by far is ‘Star Trek.’ ”

Sare has been volunteering at the Detroit Science Center’s Star Trek exhibit monthly since it opened in February.

He wears the red uniform worn by command staff on “The Next Generation” series. If people have questions about the show or exhibits, he has answers.

“Any time you have a chance to talk about your favorite hobby is a lot of fun,” he said.

The allure, he said, is in the details.

“I like the technical aspects and the storylines,” he said. “They teach you lessons in life.”

FYI -- To learn more about the local “Star Trek” fan club, the USS Sinclair, visit www.usssinclair.org

URL: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/05/08/entertainment/doc4a03f66094c4c527495889.prt

© 2009 theoaklandpress.com, a Journal Register Property

************************
and then there's this video from the Detroit Free Press (sorry, can't embed it into my blog) ... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=videonetwork&videoID=1117521094

Thursday Thoughts ...

I had a ziploc bag with some left over pierogi and beer-cooked bratwurst in it. I was soooo looking forward to them for lunch today. Only ... The Gremlin has returned. The brats are there, but there's no sign the pierogi was ever in the bag. Single Son is getting ready for a night out (see below). I barged in while he's getting ready and hung the half empty bag in front of his face. "Officer, I'd like to report a grand larceny". Straight faced he said "Can you describe the missing pierogi, Ma'am". BUSTED!! I had said nothing about pierogi being missing!! Only the thief would have know about it! He knew he was busted but only snickered. I doubt he'll ever confess - or replace the missing pierogi either!

I talked to my mom today. "So what are you going to do about Alien" she asks. Do? What's there to do, the damage is done. For the first time since Mom found out she showed emotion - she cried. She told me about a journal I had supposedly written when the boys were young, about how sad and lonely I felt even though I was married (to the first husband). She said she cried when she read it. Funny, I don't remember writing a journal. I can't imagine writing something like that. It'd have been too risky, the ex could have found it. But I'm not going to argue with my mother. Anyway ... something like that would have been great reading material for Alien - IF indeed it really did exist.

Yay!! I get to pick my new car up early next week. That gives me part of the weekend to clean out the old car for DIL. I had thought about trashing it for her ... but decided not to be a witch like that. Tempting as it is.

Tomorrow is Grandson's 4th birthday. Man ... he's getting old!! He's going through this really annoying "Gramma watch this" and then "watch watch watch" ... or "Look, Gramma. Look! Look! Look!" Annoying as hell I tell ya!

So ... Single Son is going to the Detroit Science Center for tonight's opening of the new Star Trek movie in IMAX. A bunch of our chapter members are going as Exhibition volunteers for the double event (The Exhibition and IMAX). I passed the chance. Partly because I still don't have a uniform, but a lot had to do with the fact that the exhibit Single Son and I would have been guides for - well, I just don't know enough about that episode. He'll be better off on his own than having to have to help Mommy along. For you Trek fans, it's "The City On the Edge of Forever". The DSC has the time portal that transported McCoy to the 1930s. And that's all I know about it. Not enough to play Trek Guide.

I'll see the IMAX version of Star Trek on Saturday with a few friends from the *Bounty Station* ... the American and Canadian group I belong to. I'm geeked. It'll be my first IMAX movie. I hear once you go IMAX you never go back!

I'll miss Grandson's birthday party, though. It's on Saturday at the same time as the movie starts. I felt bad at first, until DIL reminded me that the place they're going to is really kid oriented (imagine a huge rodent serving pizza). I hate that place!! Not the rodent, I don't hate rodents. It's the screaming kids that I can't handle. Not with out earplugs and a serious amount of alcohol in me.

Okay ... last two super-geek things then I'll leave ya'll alone. Promise. LOL.

This is what the Star Trek bracelet *slash* flash drive looks like. I put my order form in the mail today. Should be about two months before I get it. Damn ... you'd think they'd be able to just put it in a transporter and transport it right over ...

The flash drive clips into the band and voila!! Instant Geek Jewelry!!

So while I was looking for the above image online I ran across this. Great ... something else I want!! LOL! At least this one is on a box of waffles. We know the Gremlin LOVES waffles!!

You realize I haven't been so freaking geeked about the goodies in cereal boxes (or send in the tokens promotions) since Fruity Pebbles offered a rubber-band powered Flint-Mobile back in the early 70s?

And don't get me started on Burger King's promotion!! Collectors glasses (four different ones, lol) and prizes in the Fun Meals! If you're like me and are either without a life or are a Trekkie check out this link from Burger King. It's a hoot!! http://www.whenkingonsattack.com/

K ... your faithful Trekkie Squirrel signing out ...

Yay Me!!

Yay me!! I survived another semester. Today's final exams were actually pretty easy. Government ... man I'm glad that last night I reread those chapters on Congress, The Presidency and The Courts. I pretty much aced the exam I'm thinking. And then later this evening was Accounting. It was the group presentation. We did pretty good, considering we had two weeks in which to totally reorganize our presentation. See, we lost two of our group members in the last few weeks. Teacher was happy with the way it came out. One of the students brought dinner for us all. Her folks own a Coney Island restaurant - she brought in chili dogs for all! Yum!!

The bookstore wouldn't buy back the government text. They say they have their limit already. Guess I list this one with half.com, too. Got a few more text books I want to dig out, too. See if I can dump 'em online.

So ... school's out for the summer. Have I mentioned I'm so ready for summer break? Even though I'm taking that ham radio course (and he assigned homework!! Grrrrr) I really don't need to pick up another text book until late August.

After my got out of my government class today I called Mom to tell her about the one final exam. The call went great until Mom says "Alien's pregnant". Wow, did I call that one wrong ... Alien *did* tell her!! Guess Mom didn't mention it earlier because she needed to calm down. She's furious, disappointed in Alien (as we all are). The dreaded question was asked, too ... "tell me about this boy who knocked her up". Here we go. Gee, Mom ... he's a *fine example* of a human being. NOT ... and I gave her only a few examples. Just enough to let her know, but not too much to further upset her. I'm sure that'll all come out in time.

I belong to a few Star Trek Fan Organizations. I got this today in my in-box from one of the members. I thought it was a hoot. It's called "Ten Steps To Becoming A Trekkie"  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/specials/trekkie/
You know you're a Trekkie when you save all the links mentioned in the above presentation to your favorites folder!! The tenth page ... Step Nine ... that's the International Star Trek Fan Association I belong to. Pretty neat we're getting all this media attention!! And yes, I am guilty of ALL of the Ten Steps!

Oh, speaking of Trekkie, LOL, I decided to pass on the Kellogg's Star Trek T-shirt offer. The shirts don't go into extra large alien sizes (not to be confused with *Alien* with a capital A). Decided instead to go for the Star Trek flash drive - slash - wristband. What every Geek will be wearing this fall.

And as all my Trekkie friends are saying today ...
HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

Friday ...

Well let's see ...

Mom called me yesterday. We talked. She asked how the boys were, but not Alien. Remember she does know about the hassles of the past few months with Alien, but *not* the pregnant part. I had thought Alien told her, at least that's what Alien told me ... but I'm suspecting it was another lie out of Alien's mouth. At least based on Mom's composure during the call. When DIL got pregnant with Grandson Mom got all quivery in the voice and then the tears began. Family disgrace, disappointment, what about the kid ... all that stuff. She's not doing it now, which really makes me believe she doesn't know yet. I'm kinda figuring Alien lied to me in hopes that I'd ask Mom "so what do you think about Alien being pregnant?" That way I let the cat out of the bag so to speak. And I'm not gonna do it. No sirree. And we know why.

So, the conversation went pretty well with Mom. Aunt So-and-so isn't doing well, and Mom doesn't think she'll last the summer. Brother Deere pinched a nerve in his back and is off work. That's tough on Brother Deere, he's a major work-a-holic. The down time has to really be getting to him. And a whole lot more family gossip was said. Then Mom asks about school and how my finals were going.

Next thing I know, she's telling me she needs the title to my car (it's in her name, remember) ... that she's selling it! Um ... hello? What brought this on? Now how am I to get back and forth wherever? She says the car is ugly, that it's broken ... too much of a money pit and going to need more repairs. It's a bad car and has out lived it's usefulness.

Then she goes on to tell me something unrelated. I don't even remember what now. A few minutes later she goes back to the car conversation. Selling car ... too expensive ... need title. It wasn't until after I finally voiced "Mom, don't sell the car until at least after I'm done with the semester. I need to get to classes on Monday". It's only then she told me my Aunt Silly bought a new car and is giving me her old car!!

Whew!! And here I was about to freak. Figured even that maybe she *did* know about Alien and this was her way of saying she's upset. It was all a prank! Whew!!

I don't know much about the car. It's got half the miles my old car does ... 85,000. And all well maintained miles at that. I believe it's a Mercury Sable, but don't hold me to it. I think it's blue (at least if I remember right). LOL. Not sure when Aunt Silly takes delivery of her new car - a Ford Fusion. But as soon as she does I make the short drive to go get her old car.

Married Son is buying my old car from Mom. DIL needs a vehicle badly. It's better than the one she has now (which isn't saying much).

Other than that ... it's my last weekend before the end of the semester. Need to get that research project done and emailed to my group. It's on the business risks and opportunities of Google. Sounds thrilling, eh?