SIDEBAR #56 - Travis Alexander forum

[ILikeToBendPages]

1967 - Retired harness racehorse Native Dancer died after stomach surgery in Philadelphia.



[video=youtu;fPXfWpmMb1o]http://youtu.be/fPXfWpmMb1o[/video]

 

[neesaki]

LOL that tall bottle plain white label that say vanilla extract. I still have mine from our last trip to Mexico in 1987. And once you use real vanilla it's hard to go back to Adam's extract. I know you can make your own with vanilla beans and rum.

Hey, BPages, yours is almost as old as mine, LOL. :skip:

 

[zoey]

LOL that tall bottle plain white label that say vanilla extract. I still have mine from our last trip to Mexico in 1987. And once you use real vanilla it's hard to go back to Adam's extract. I know you can make your own with vanilla beans and rum.

I thought vanilla beans and vodka---not that I'd make any

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

Still dealing with a headache from this morning's commute.

My 6.5 mile crawl came to a halt when I finally turned the last corner and saw that my destination was blocked by police blockades. That was AFTER spending almost 2 HOURS behind the wheel.

Turns out, it started shortly after midnight when a transsexual woman, having a mental episode of sorts, barricaded herself in an office building downtown. She had a gun and by some accounts, shots were fired.

At least nine square blocks were closed off. There I was, sitting in my car, inching along, only to find that just before I finally reached my destination, I was prevented from doing so.

At that point, I was on the verge of having a mental episode of my own. I'm surprised that the screaming going on in my mind wasn't audible for miles around.

For those of you unfamiliar with L'Enfant's grand design, downtown DC is a grid of mostly one-way streets, so it's not like you can just double back and find another way.

I finally gave up and started back home, which took another 1.5 hours. Bottom line is that now I have to work an additional day this week for not showing up today.

Does anyone else have to deal with this sort of thing? I mean, I didn't call in sick, and I didn't fake not being able to get to work. I did my best to get there. The streets were CLOSED.

http://wtop.com/dc/2015/11/barricade-situation-blocks-downtown-d-c-streets/

Not sure what her problem was, but it reminded me of an incident several years ago where a guy decided to attempt suicide by jumping off the Woodrow Wilson Bridge during rush-hour, causing major traffic jams.

http://wtop.com/dc/2015/11/barricade-situation-blocks-downtown-d-c-streets/

I was at work at the time and remember all of us listening to the news accounts about it on the radio. The frustrated commuters started getting out of their cars, chanting, "Jump, Jump!"

When it was eventually resolved and his name was released, we found out he used to work with our employer. Many people openly stated how nobody liked him anyway. Such a sad commentary.

SO, after this terribly long, frustrating and fruitless day, I am left with some ethical and moral issues that I'm still grappling with, even now:

1) Yes, I live in an urban area, and as ISIS stated just today, DC is a target for future (imminent) attacks. So, I can't really blame DC police for being hyper-vigilant. However, she was just one person, with one gun. (I also have a feeling the transsexual aspect played a role in her meltdown.) I think it became clear relatively early on that this was not a terrorist attack, yet they effectively shut down ALL of downtown. On a Monday morning. How can civilized life and regular commerce go on when every hiccup is treated as a threat to National Security and our very way of life?

2) (And this is just MOO) Mental health issues are out of control. How do people wind up this way? Where are the people who love them and care about them? Where are their families, friends and support systems? Society is utterly failing them.

3) Again, yes, I live in an urban area, and I hate it more and more every day. Any suggestions for relocation? I'm so ready to move.

End of story. Thanks all for letting me get this out of my system. Just writing out my thoughts has helped clear my mind...

Oh come here, you need a hug oxoxox. I hate bad days too.
[video=youtu;D5L5i7ARdAY]http://youtu.be/D5L5i7ARdAY[/video]

 

[Zuri]

GGG, maybe you can get an app on your phone that lets you know the traffic patterns/snarls before you have to leave? Did everyone else get into work? That would be a bummer. What is considered rush hour in DC?

 

[GigiG]

GGG, maybe you can get an app on your phone that lets you know the traffic patterns/snarls before you have to leave? Did everyone else get into work? That would be a bummer. What is considered rush hour in DC?

The funny thing is that unlike most days, today I watched the local news. They were telling people who needed to get to that part of DC to leave EARLY. (Like that would have helped!) The streets weren't fully opened until something like 4:30pm (!?), tho some were opened earlier, Just to be clear, ANY street closure downtown mean gridlock. And no, most people I work with didn't make it in today, but most don't drive.

My co-worker, who usually gets into work by 7am, also turned around and went home. (Remember, this event lasted about 18 hours).

AM Rush hour in DC is roughly 6:30am - 10am. I used to dodge it by going in extra early, but since my cohort gets in by 7am, I can't start work any earlier than 9am. I am expected to do work that comes in later in the day.

I know, Boohoo for me.

It's just so strange that after 9/11 and snowmageddon, employer's still feel the need to be punitive about things out of the control of the ordinary folks in their employ.

The mental illness thing still leaves me reeling. Okay, so I lost half a day of my life due to someone's mental illness. I can deal with that. Why can't my employer? I know I'm asking too much there... but mental illness that rises to the level of shutting down a whole city is (pardon the pun): just crazy.

I think I've stated this before, but when the plane hit the Pentagon, I had friends who were commuting on I-95N towards WDC. They SAW the impact. Shortly thereafter, all roads into DC were closed. To cut to the chase, those people were charged with taking a Vacation Day. WTF. I just don't understand...

 

[GigiG]

Oh come here, you need a hug oxoxox. I hate bad days too.
[video=youtu;D5L5i7ARdAY]http://youtu.be/D5L5i7ARdAY[/video]

thanks! I needed that!

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

I thought vanilla beans and vodka---not that I'd make any

It can be vodka, rum or alcohol of your choice. You can also use different vanilla beans. It takes about eight weeks to make. One cup of booze, and



1 cup Vodka 70 Proof/35% Alcohol (or you can also use Bourbon, Rum or Brandy; any brand/quality)


7 vanilla beans (try different types of beans) slit down the middle, you can cut them in to smaller sizes to fit in your bottle.


A pretty bottle with a pretty top or stopper and eight weeks later you have a nice gift to give to friends.

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

1992 - Eric Lawes, while using a metal detector to search for a friend’s lost hammer near Hoxne, Suffolk, England, discovers the Hoxne Hoard, the largest hoard of Roman silver and gold ever found in Britain, and the largest collection of 4th and 5th century coins found anywhere within the bounds of the former Roman Empire


[video=youtu;d5lehO88m88]http://youtu.be/d5lehO88m88[/video]

 

[Spellbound]

For our GigiG :grouphug:

I don't think I could ever deal with the traffic woes you have to put up with, Gigi. Your employer should take those closings into consideration..,., for your employer :trout:

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

More one hit wonders.

[video=youtu;pw2sbCX8Lug]http://youtu.be/pw2sbCX8Lug[/video]

 

[coffeejunkie]

 

[coffeejunkie]

Prayers for Niner and Hubby :hug:

 

[coffeejunkie]

DH and SIL found these two bucks out by the Canal in a ditch. Looks like they were fighting over a doe and their horns locked together. Sadly, they were dead They called the DNR and they were hauled away. DNR Officer said that you don't see this very often.

 

[Hatfield]

DH and SIL found these two bucks out by the Canal in a ditch. Looks like they were fighting over a doe and their horns locked together. Sadly, they were dead They called the DNR and they were hauled away. DNR Officer said that you don't see this very often.
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Wow. That is so sad. I have heard of this happening but never saw pictures. I also have heard of bucks getting their horns stuck in between a split tree. Like a forked tree where the trunk splits and the deer got wedged in between it and died at the tree. Its when they rub the felt off the horns after the horns are grown.

Its a terrible way to go but it is nature I suppose.

To remind people what is going on with the bucks is this is natures way for "Survival of the Fittest" which means that the most dominant buck gets the right to breed with the does and its natures way to breed stronger deer so the species stays strong and multiplies with good genes.

A lot of other species of animals do the same thing with fighting over the females. I have seen TV footage where the females are usually close by and they know what is happening during the fighting and they will gladly go with the winner of the fight.

Its quite amazing when you think about it.

I suppose humans to a much smaller extent sometimes exhibit this behavior when you hear about very pretty girls and actresses who hook up with "bad boys". Or when 2 guys fight over a girl in grade school. Maybe those small hints go back to caveman days when maybe this sort of thing was more common in Neanderthal days.

 

[Hatfield]

DH and SIL found these two bucks out by the Canal in a ditch. Looks like they were fighting over a doe and their horns locked together. Sadly, they were dead They called the DNR and they were hauled away. DNR Officer said that you don't see this very often.
View attachment 84478
View attachment 84479
View attachment 84480

These are such amazing pictures that you should have him send them into a major sports magazine like Field and Stream. I bet they would publish them and may even do an article interview with them. They should offer them an exclusive and try not to share them or authorize them to be copied until a major magazine offers them the exclusive.

 

[Hatfield]

The funny thing is that unlike most days, today I watched the local news. They were telling people who needed to get to that part of DC to leave EARLY. (Like that would have helped!) The streets weren't fully opened until something like 4:30pm (!?), tho some were opened earlier, Just to be clear, ANY street closure downtown mean gridlock. And no, most people I work with didn't make it in today, but most don't drive.

My co-worker, who usually gets into work by 7am, also turned around and went home. (Remember, this event lasted about 18 hours).

AM Rush hour in DC is roughly 6:30am - 10am. I used to dodge it by going in extra early, but since my cohort gets in by 7am, I can't start work any earlier than 9am. I am expected to do work that comes in later in the day.

I know, Boohoo for me.

It's just so strange that after 9/11 and snowmageddon, employer's still feel the need to be punitive about things out of the control of the ordinary folks in their employ.

The mental illness thing still leaves me reeling. Okay, so I lost half a day of my life due to someone's mental illness. I can deal with that. Why can't my employer? I know I'm asking too much there... but mental illness that rises to the level of shutting down a whole city is (pardon the pun): just crazy.

I think I've stated this before, but when the plane hit the Pentagon, I had friends who were commuting on I-95N towards WDC. They SAW the impact. Shortly thereafter, all roads into DC were closed. To cut to the chase, those people were charged with taking a Vacation Day. WTF. I just don't understand...

I so agree with you about how employers give pressure on their employees to show up for work when the roads are bad. Its terrible and more employers need to stop putting peoples lives in the backseat.

Especially during Snow and Ice days. My goodness our lives are on the line and employers still want people to risk their lives on really bad days. Its sad. I understand they want to open but they should make arrangements where people could be put up in hotel near the place or just let the volunteers who want to still drive come in.

They don't do near enough along these lines. People will risk their life and also risk wrecking their cars to come into work during ice and snow days because employer is not helping.

 

[Zuri]

I so agree with you about how employers give pressure on their employees to show up for work when the roads are bad. Its terrible and more employers need to stop putting peoples lives in the backseat.

Especially during Snow and Ice days. My goodness our lives are on the line and employers still want people to risk their lives on really bad days. Its sad. I understand they want to open but they should make arrangements where people could be put up in hotel near the place or just let the volunteers who want to still drive come in.

They don't do near enough along these lines. People will risk their life and also risk wrecking their cars to come into work during ice and snow days because employer is not helping.

When I worked as an RN, there were no excuses for not showing up for your shift. I have driven in a blizzard with chains on my back tires when I worked in Philadelphia, put my rear wheel drive car in a snow bank, slid sideways on ice with a 4WD Suburban, but managed to get to and from work because of the ramifications if I didn't.

We were allowed 4 "incidents" when we were precluded from working due to a family emergency or were sick. Hospitals are pretty strict and do not take kindly to staff not being there. The main drive to show up was not loyalty to the hospital, but to fellow RNs so they didn't have to work short.

 

[coffeejunkie]

These are such amazing pictures that you should have him send them into a major sports magazine like Field and Stream. I bet they would publish them and may even do an article interview with them. They should offer them an exclusive and try not to share them or authorize them to be copied until a major magazine offers them the exclusive.

My SIL already posted the pics on FB and the DNR took pics and posted them also. The pics have went viral...

 

[Zuri]

I was hoping Niner would have checked back in. I think we are all concerned for her and her DH and I so hope the bone scan was not too bad. Thoughts and prayers to both.