Big Honkin' Grin

Drive-Bys

Post Title of the Day:

I Can See Clearly Now The Brain Is Gone

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Which, of course, prompted the Ear Worm of the Day:


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My love affair with William A. Jacobson continues with this little gem of truth:

Conspiracy theorists know no single political party or political philosophy.

Too right. By golly, I love a sensible man!
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If you live in the state of Illinois and have a parent of an age who may need a nursing home, or heading in that direction age-wise yourself, you need to know the following and do your homework now.

More than any other state, Illinois relies heavily on nursing homes to house mentally ill patients, including those who have committed crimes. But a Tribune investigation found that government, law enforcement and the industry have failed to adequately manage the resulting influx of younger residents who shuttle into nursing facilities from jail cells, shelters and psychiatric wards.

Mentally ill patients now constitute more than 15 percent of the state's total nursing home population of 92,225, government records show, and the number of residents convicted of serious felonies has increased to 3,000. Among them are 82 convicted murderers, 179 sex offenders and 185 armed robbers.

Yet the state's background checks on new residents are riddled with errors and omissions that understate their criminal records, the Tribune found, and homes with the most felons are among those with the lowest nursing staff levels.

The statistics are frightening and the failure to protect is staggering.

So how do you pick a decent nursing home in this state? Law Elderlaw is a great resource for issues pertaining to protecting the rights of Illinois' aging. And this dandy chart should be in your permanent links, as it shows ratings for nursing homes across the state. The Chicago Tribune also has a dandy link here where you can plug in the name of a specific nursing home, or an address or town and get information not reportable anywhere else.

I'm telling you, if you live in this state, you need this information.
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Giggle of the Day:


see more dog and puppy pictures

Stumbling upon this would do more trauma to TMBCITW than Godzilla, flying monkeys and the Wicked Witch of the West.
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Drive-Bys

Giggle of the Day, Part I:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures
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Giggle of the Day, Part II:

(334): I thought he was joking about bailing you out until I saw the picture of you and the sheep in the morning paper. Were those my boots you had on it

Wonder if that one's from Sammy to V-Man? It certainly sounds like something you'd hear when Jawja Blown-Eyed Blodgers get together!
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Ear Worm of the Day:



Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Sounds like a lefty band, huh?

(Found via Matt G. Fabulous!)

Quick Stop

Ear Worm of the Day:



Just try and keep your toes from tapping!

Say What?

A new study, published today in Psychology and Health, reveals that if you use your willpower to do one task, it depletes you of the willpower to do an entirely different task.

Well, if you choose to sit on your butt and do nothing, I suppose that's a great excuse. Try explaining that to your employer.

And tell it to this guy, who's just trying to make a buck and isn't lacking in willpower.

Willpower is a muscle, and, just like any other muscle, gets flabby when you don't exercise it and gets powerful when you do.

Isn't that where tea parties started? And how they've grown and multiplied?

Huh

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The Bus Driver is ALWAYS Right

Okay, frequently. Mostly. Sometimes. But this time, anyway.

I told you so. President Chicken Little is going to Copenhagen.

If he had time to haul his ass onto every network except Fox and onto Letterman FOR THE WHOLE SHOW, he had time to go to Copenhagen.

Was the president's late-breaking decision to travel prompted by any hint that his appearance in Copenhagen will help?

That's just disingenuous. He planned it all along.

He needs a win somewhere.

Oh, by the way; how's that health care legislation that was too important to walkd away from working out for you?

Drive-Bys

Epic lust:


Found here. Damn! I should really, really, really stay away from Etsy!
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Word of the Day:

Hypovehiculate

From Dictionary.com --
hy⋅po: noun, plural -pos, verb Informal.

–noun
1. a hypodermic syringe or injection.
2. a stimulus or boost.
–verb (used with object)
3. to administer a hypodermic injection to.
4. to stimulate by or as if by administering a hypodermic injection.
5. to increase, boost, or augment: to hypo the car's power by installing a bigger engine.

vehiculate

Ve*hic"u*late\, v. t. & i. To convey by means of a vehicle; to ride in a vehicle. --Carlyle.

Heh.
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Squick Out of the Day:

It feels smooth and silky, it’s semi soft and flexible, and it’s smell is like perfume to me.

Eew. Just... Eew!
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Why do I love Mark A. Rayner? This is why.
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Cute of the Day (to balance out the squick):


see more dog and puppy pictures
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I'm outta here. After all those kids yesterday, I'm ready for a cocktail!

Quick Stop

Three quick giggles, which I needed after wrangling all those kids...

Inefficient Drinker

Brought to you compliments of the lovely Maeve.

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From my darling Donald Mills:

Tips for Seniors: How to Write a God Damned Effective Will

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And from the good folks at I Can Has Cheezburger?:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

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Thanks! I needed that...

At the Wheel

There are many reasons why I chose "Omnibus Driver" as my blog "handle," one of which is I'm a bit of a control freak.

Tonight as a favor to Brother Dear, I sat for eight, count 'em eight kids between the ages of three and nine and belonging to five different families so he could take Sainted SIL and a group of their friends out to celebrate her big 4-0 in style... and sans kids.





This was taken just before moms and dads came to pick 'em up.

Am I good or am I good?

(A huge tip of the cap to the folks at YMCA Camp MacLean for the training and experience I received there. I couldn't have done this without it!)

Quick Stop

Giggle of the Day, Canadian Style:



Nope. We'll never see that on U.S. television!

(A huge tip of the cap to Ken Levine. I fell off my chair laughing, dude!)

Dead End

So... the Buckaroo called. I suppose this is what he was hoping for:



Instead, he got this:



I hate to say it, but that felt GOOD.

Quick Stop

JihadGene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance!" This week's theme is Asian delicacies. I offer up Notorious MSG and Dim Sum Girl:



Shake it, y'all.

In The Headlights

Man, I sure wish Sheriff Tom Dart would consider running for governor of this state. He's the one politician (other than Matty O'Blackfive) who I could vote for with confidence.

In Memorium

Even though it was two years ago, I just learned of this yesterday. This one is for Woodsprite's DiamondsRfurever and Chanel -- beloved companions of my old friend.

Drive-Bys

Ear Worm of the Day:


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Is it any wonder little Milton has never learned to behave himself? His mama takes up for him every time, instead of telling him to man up and admit he did it to himself.

And, Ms. Rector? We don't want him back. He doesn't play well with others.
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Remember me telling you my buddy Barb's blog got hacked? Here's more on problems with hacked WordPress blogs and how to fix them. If you've got a WordPress blog, you might want to print this out and tuck it away, just in case...

P.S. -- I met Liz at BlogHer, and she totally rocks.
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Why do I love William A. Jacobson so?

The debate over the mandate is a debate we need to have. It goes to the very heart of who and what we are as a nation. If we can mandate health insurance under threat of taxation, then there is no limit to what else can be mandated under the threat of taxes.

See?
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Yup. I'm definitely holding out for WiMax... The very thought makes my little heart go pitty-pat.
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Elisson, one of the best of the bloggers in my personal sphere, has a request... and it won't cost you anything but a few clicks of your mouse. Just go there. Many thanks!
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Quote of the Day:

“Sorry, I just had visions of sugarplums dancing in my head…”

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Giggle of the Day:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures
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Drive-Bys

Just what we needed -- Bobby Rush drafting a bill for federal oversight of cemetaries before waiting to see what the State of Illinois legislature does.

This is a state issue, not a federal one. The last thing in the world we need right now is another layer of federal government interference and bureaucracy. Enough already!
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And the good folks in Washington wonder why we don't trust them with our healthcare?

Let us count the pork.

I know power brokers on both sides of the aisle are doing this.

Stop it. Just stop it. You people can't "fix" anything without larding on another layer of pork.
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Another reason why I'm disgusted by those in power in DC?

When it comes to greenhouse-gas emissions, Energy Secretary Steven Chu sees Americans as unruly teenagers and the Administration as the parent that will have to teach them a few lessons.

Yah huhn. That'll get my cooperation in a hurry.

I've got news for you, Bubba -- my parents did a fine job already. I don't need the nannying now.
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On the other hand, here's a mom who could clearly have used some parenting lessons, as she's done nothing but raise a big CRYBABY. And she's still making excuses for the idiot.
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It's a good thing I've tucked my credit card away for the day, as I could easily drop a small fortune there today:

1. If I could, I'd send my favorite witch a belated birthday present.
2. I'd find a place for this gorgeous desk in my own home.
3. I'd send this cool t-shirt to Grau and Contagion.

I'm telling you, ladies -- the Awesomer is not just for guys.
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Here's a really awesome bit of musical birdie coolness.
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Because I really needed something to smile about -- Bacon-Brown Sugar Coffee Cake. Yum! Sounds like a great combination of savory and sweet. [Link fixed. Sorry about that!]
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Cool Pool:


Smart Dog Can Shoot Pool - Watch more Crazy Pet Tricks

Familiar Crossroad

Wow. My karma lately seems to have a lot to do with people from my past and unresolved relationships. The Swoon -- that one's tabled for the moment. The best buddy of my youth -- that one's rekindled. Buckroo Bonsai -- gonna have to kick some butt and close that door for good.

And now? The best buddy of my re-singlehood -- the one who showed me Chicago, dragged me out to singles dances and talked me into running a personal ad. The one I shared theater tickets with. The one whose weekend home I spent a lot of time in. The one who I haven't talked to in over ten years.

We had a falling out some time ago, probably linked to the fact that both of us were dealing with personal and family issues simultaneously, and neither one of us was able to prop the other up at the time, as had been our previous pattern.

Somehow over time I lost her address and phone number. In the last year or two, I've googled her, but couldn't find a listing for her anywhere.

Recently I saw an article in the local paper that mentioned a former mutual friend of ours, and it had an email address for him. I sent him a note and told him I'd like to contact our friend. I asked him to forward on my phone number and email address, rather than asking for hers.

It's been a week or so since that happend and I hadn't heard anything, so I figured that was a road I wouldn't be going down again. Sad? Sure... but the only person you can control is yourself.

And then the phone rang today. I heard my friend's voice. We may never be as close as we once were, but that door is still open.

Caution Light

Well, that was interesting.

Just got off the phone with Buckaroo Bonsai, who I haven't spoken to in over three years. (You go searching through my archives. It's more energy than I'm willing to expend on the guy at this point.)

Yes, he called. (You don't think I would, do you?)

Here's the really hysterical part -- he said he was thinking of me because a really historic thing was happening tonight -- OBAMA is going to be on Letterman for the whole show!

Clearly he never listened to a damned thing I ever said, and he never reads this blog, or he'd know how little I cared about that.

Fortunately, I'm out of the house, and not in a place where I can or would hold a telephone conversation. The language wouldn't be pretty.

He's calling me on Saturday, and I'm going to firmly shut that door and put the deadbolt on. I left for good reasons, and I'm not going down that road again.

Oh, sure -- I want to know what in the world he's thinking... and then again, I don't. You don't pack up all your stuff and move out in less than 24 hours, start and settle into a new life, make new friends and move on, just to rip the scar off that old wound again.

Nope.

Healed. Got smarter. Moved on.

Grrrrrrrr!

Drive-Bys

Ear Worm of the Day:


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Blogthings!

Your Name is Yellow

Your name tells people that you are welcoming and cheerful. You are open to all the love in the world. You are a warm person who can't help but make others feel comforted. You are truly radiant. People see you as someone who has figured out the secrets to life. While that's not true, you do try to remain positive in the face of adversity. You are the sunshine in other people's lives. You make more of a difference than you realize.

What Color Is Your Name?

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

And...

You Are Curious and Questioning

You're the type of person who can sit all day and listen to someone's life story. You take a genuine interest in other people. You are a bit of a voyeur. The lives of others fascinate you. You give a first impression of being passive and simple. In truth, you are very active and analytical. You are an armchair psychologist. You find human interaction to be incredibly fascinating.

The Chair Test

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Because I know you missed them.
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Quote of the Day:

"The last few days became too much for me to tolerate," Hendry said. "I'm certainly not going to let our great fans become an excuse. I'm not going to tolerate not being able to answer questions from the media respectfully. Whether you feel like talking or not, it's part of all of our jobs.

"There's a right way to do it and a wrong way. I'm not going to allow disrespect to other people in that locker room and uniformed personnel, and I'm certainly not going to let a player, as was mentioned in the article today, (talk about) negativity of the organization."

What took you so freaking long, Jim??? He's been like this all damned season long!
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Giggle of the Day:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures