Sunday, February 10, 2013

Blizzard 2013 Connecticut Style





120 comments:

Carol said...

Great pics Coreen. Kitty is thinking that she is glad she has a warm home, with a back up generator.

Be careful walking outside, no slipping. Hurts me just thinking about that.

jan said...

Stunning pictures Coreen. The one of kitty looking out at the snow is priceless. Thank you for braving all of that to get some new pics to post here. Yes, do be careful when you are out in it.

Coreen said...

Amazed how well the town cleaned our road...& believe it or not it was pleasant when I walked out to the main road...

Measured along the way out & its
for the most part 18"...

Cassie was looking out at the birds who were trying to eat on the snow...notice the snow on the holly, I knocked it off today with a mop from the kitchen window...

My house & the 3 neighbors houses...only one drivewas was not plowed out when I walked to the corner, where the stop sign is...looking south on Route 59, state maintained road, they did a great job too...almost dry!...

When I walked to the end of the street there was a guy country skiing in the meadow across the road...he said he was at the open space meadow recently given to the town, & did 2 miles around there, he & his wife/girlfriend who was also skiing down the side of the road had their car parked on our road...they were from Redding...

and when I walked back in the driveway more melting I pushed the slush off to the side...you can see
how much there is behind me standing near the yellow markers at the back of my driveway...

jan said...

Reminds me of when I lived in Montana. I had cross country skis and would ski out my back door often.

Coreen said...

It's deceiving that my town is so
well cleaned up, because I am getting updates from my friends & several of them still have not had the roads plowed once & because of that, their driveways can not be plowed...& tommorow it is calling for rain, possibly freezing rain...

there is 2-3 feet snow everywhere & it is just too much for the towns to get done in a day, so far a couple of the neighboring towns already cancelled school for Mon/Tuesday...

jan said...

Coreen, I was looking back at previous post and comments. I overlooked (before) your question about Arkansas and what the "natural" state means. I had to ask John because it is his state. He said he things it is because of some of the parks and rivers. I think I will google it.

jan said...

Coreen, here is one answer from Google. "Arkansas changed its nickname to The Natural State from Land of Opportunity in 1995 to promote tourism. It refers to all of the state's mountains, forests, lakes, streams and wildlife." There are no large cities in Arkansas. It is a state of small and medium sized towns. Little Rock is less than 100,000 people.

jan said...

oops, looked up population of Little Rock and it is almost 200,000. My bad. The metropolitan statistical area is over 800,000 which includes Little Rock, North Little Rock and other small towns close to LR and NLR. Somehow, it does not seem that large to me.

jan said...

I never think of Arkansas as being mountainous but Google says mountains cover half of Arkansas.

jan said...

I have a funny story. John said when he was in high school in Fort Smith, AR, his teacher, Miss Nora Brown, once had her students write essays for Lion Oil Company who gave cash prizes for the best essay. The essay was to address the question, "Why is Arkansas the Land of Opportunity?" John said he wrote that because Arkansas was so underdeveloped there were many opportunities to do things to improve the state. John did not win.

Carol said...

I loved Arkansas Jan and it was because it was so rural. Big sis lived up there for a spell. She lived in Little Rock and we could drive five minutes in any directions and be in the wilderness. She was always up for an adventure.

I visited her often. We hiked Petit Jean State Park many times. I did my first white water river float trip on the Buffalo river. I didn't know anything about canoeing white water but read a book about it on our way up there. No one was paying any attention to me. They were singing..Sky Rockets at Night, Afternoon Delight. It showed too. I had to lead that group of duffuses. That was an experience. I think I wrote about that one, the one where the buzzards followed us down the river. They could even tell that we might end up being a good meal at some point. The three other people I went with were practicing atheist at that time. I think that was cool back then. More than one time on that trip I thought that God may take them and leave me all alone in that river. I did some serious praying. I do think that my praying saved our lives.

That same week, we did a pack camping trip in the Caney Creek back country, southwest Ark. because the Buffalo was too high to canoe at the time. It was my first pack camping trip also. We equipped ourselves on the way to the area. I had a lot of firsts in Arkansas.

jan said...

I need to get up off my butt and do something else

Coreen said...

Couch potato...expanding your tv viewing...are you going to wear out netflix...never watched breaking bad, but '24', a big hit for several years...surprised you never heard of it...

Jack Bauer (great character) is a counterterrorist agent played by kiefer sutherland...the 24 is the catch, all of season's episodes take place in 24 hours in his efforts to well get the bad guys...political assassinations, nuclear, biolgical terror...and Jack (really my kinda hero) pretty sure you wouldn't like him...does whatever it takes to take down the bad guys...

Carol said...

I'd heard of it Coreen. I think that maybe Ivy's family watched it. Doesn't really sound like my cup of tea. I like mysteries though and murder investigation shows. I'm not sure if I would like Breaking Bad either.

Carol said...

Been watching that House of Cards. It's really good. I pop up and down to cook and do other stuff. The rain came through but we lucked out with any bad weather. It went a little north of here.

Coreen said...

Thanks for the followup Jan...Honestly, I know little about the states that form the middle of the country...have traveled up & down the east coast often, but always through states that border the ocean,so its interesting to hear your stories of OK, ARK, NM,
TX

Always wanted to visit 'graceland' though those who have seen it say likely it would be disappointing...& didn't realize it was at the border between TN & ARK until you posted the 'natural sign'...

jan said...

Coreen, John and I went to Graceland, Memphis when we first met. It was a little disappointing. It is not a mansion, just a little above ordinary house. He went in for red and black decor.

jan said...

Neat story about Arkansas Carol. The Arkansas Episcopal camp is in the Petit Jean mountains. We have spent many a night there. There is a bluff that drops off in the Episcopal camp and one night one of john's priest friend's wife either fell off or jumped off to her her death. Pretty sad. It is beautiful up there. On our first date, John and I hiked the Pinnacle Mountain just outside Little Rock. It is not a big mountain. John and I love all the wilderness area in Arkansas too.

jan said...

Arkansas is one of my favorite states. I remember a friend from UT came and visited me in Ark. She had grown up in Minnesota and lived in Vermont. I took her for a trip through the Ozark mountains of Ar. She was surprised. She had always thought of the middle states as all plains.

jan said...

I have rafted the Buffalo River. It is a beautiful river.

Carol said...

Sure she wasn't pushed Jan?? I watch a lot of true crime and a number of them involve ministers offing their wives. Now you watch out for John. Tell him that if you fall off a cliff, I'm coming to investigate.

jan said...

There are also some minister's wives who have done this and I remind John about these too.

Do you remember the minister's wife in Kentucky who shot her husband. I think it was Kentucky. When they had her story on TV, John kiddingly told me not to watch it.

John says she was pretty depressed. The wife was a good friend of John's first wife, who told John that from what the wife had told her, the priest was pretty hard to live with.

I think a lot of clergy/ministers are hard to live with.

jan said...

Priests are sort of like doctors in that they think they are pretty special. A wife's job is to let him know he puts his pants on just like everyone else.

Carol said...

I guess they can get into their position of power and influence. From what you've told us of John, it doesn't sound like he's do that or that you would put up with it.

Carol said...

We were thinking the same thing at the same time.

Carol said...

It's just that the last person who I would suspect of murrrder is a minister.

Unknown said...

I'm beat tonight, but wanted to stop in long enough to tell you what beautiful pictures you posted, Coreen.

Things really do looked cleaned up in your area compared to what I've read about the other area involved int the news. I think it said 5 deaths in Conn.

Glad you weren't in the middle of the worst of it and that you got good people around you keeping things cleaned up.

Unknown said...

I did catch up on the posts, and Carol.. I was going to say that no bad weather ever got here... then I so you didn't have any either. It did rain for a while and was overcast. I'm looking forward to seeing some sun peeking through soon. I think it said it's going to be 39 on Wed. nite, but then comes back up the day after. We'll see.

Unknown said...

Jan, You sure have had some problems with your poor skin lately. First the bad reaction to Golightly (is that the right word?), then the itching and now the scalp.

Hope it's all under control soon (I guess it's only your scalp now?).

Unknown said...

... and Jan, I followed that trial a while back very closely where the woman shot her preacher husband in the head while he was sleeping. I was so surprised to hear that Johns first wife knew her.

You know she's out of jail (the last I heard) and she got custody of her kids back from the fathers parents. She served a very short sentence, and managed to make herself appear to be a very innocent person who killed a husband who had abused her for years.

Don't know if it's true, but the jury believed it.

Unknown said...

Season 3 of DA was 3 DVDs, but the first 2 DVDs had 3 episodes, and the last one only had 2. It confused me temporarily, but I guess one was a lot longer... although I didn't notice that it was (probably because I was enjoying it so much).

As I said before, I wasn't at all happy when it finished.

Season 4 doesn't come out for about a year. That bothered me too.

jan said...

Chloe, John did not know the minister in Kentucky. I was talking about a fried of his whose wife died in Arkansas. It was out at Petit Jean Mountains. The Episcopal camp overlooked the area and there was a bluff in the camp that had a steep dropoff and one night, the priest's wife either fell off, jumped off or was pushed off. This was before I knoew John - was actually during his first marriage and John's wife was a friend of the woman who died. John says the investigation ruled it an accident.

jan said...

I too followed the trial of the woman who shot her minister husband in Kentucky. He was abusive.

Do you all remember the minister in Dallas whose wife was strangled, but did not die. She was in a nursing home for years. He was a minister in the methodist church in a high end area of Dallas. I moved there shortly after that happened and everyone thought he did it. I don't think he was convicted of it, but it was very suspicious. I think It was 1986 or 1987.

Carol said...

"John says the investigation ruled it an accident." Jan, did you ask John how long did it take for that minister to find a new wife or lover? How about..was there a nice life insurance policy involved? Did he have any feelings about the incident?

jan said...

John says it was several years, as far as he knows. He did marry again. John does not know if there was a life ins policy. He has never talked with him about it.

"the story was that she had had some wine, she went to this one cabin and then left, and then accidently fell off."
" This happened at night. John thinks she jumped.

John says they were not together that night - that she was at one party and he was at another.

I asked John what kind of guy he was.. "He was very opinionated" "His dad was also a priest in the diocese, and he was a force in the diocese."

John says they had 3 children, about the age of Johns kids - so at that time they were in high school.

Interestingly, He was the priest at that time in the same church that John was a priest when he and his wife broke up. Long story!

Coreen said...

Watched Downton Abbey tonite...enjoyed it, seemed to develop the relationships more than what I had seen so far...

Maggie Smith has by far the best lines & delivery...her deadpan delivery of the barbs is superb...
loved this one 'happily it was not
needed' in reply to Matthew's mother's comment...that's all I'll say since I don't want to step on
your watching...

Carol said...

I was watching the DVR recording of DA because I came in a few minutes late. Something was acting up, not sure if it was the channel or the DVR. I think it is the DVR. That means I might have to get a new one, no charge but I will lose everything I have recorded on it. Dang it.

I hope I didn't miss anything important. It was a busy little plot tonight. Almost too busy but it all ended well, if I can remember it all. Will wait to make any further comments until everyone has seen it

It was kinda neat to see everyone wearing winter white out at the Cricket match. They did have to have an assortment of matching clothes back then.

Carol said...

Yep Coreen, the Dowager always gets the good lines.

Carol said...

Speaking of their clothes, they even have to paint in their nice stuff.

Carol said...

Wish you had been watching all along Coreen. You missed some good stuff.

They said that next week is the finale. Rats.

Carol said...

From looking at an episode guide on Wiki, we did see two episodes tonight.

Coreen said...

Have seen enough to get the gist of the storyline Carol...

Yes, At the end of tonite's episode they said that next week is the finale....but you said
you read wiki so you may know there is also a 90 minute 'christmas special' that actually ends the season...did you read all the episode summaries?...if so, you will know why Chloe said after she watched the entire season, she wasn't happy...if you didn't read it, I strongly suggest you don't!....

My other observation...are they ever going to let Edith find a guy she gets to keep!...

Outside the relationships that were shown being forged tonite, I still really liked the episodes with Shirley the best...she should have been in more...she & maggie
played so well together...

jan said...

I just finished watching DA tonight. I think the staff had a good night too. I love the costumes.

I too would like to see Edith get a man she can call her own. I did not erase our taped episode. I want to watch it again.

Coreen, glad you are watching it too. I get so excited on Sunday, waiting for it to start. That is just plain sad, isn't it?

jan said...

Please don't tell what happens. I want to see it.

Carol said...

No Coreen, I didn't look ahead but we all have heard who isn't going to be there next season so we all have a hint that we aren't going to be happy about that. Maybe if these shows had more episodes involved and paid more these actors wouldn't be looking to do other things.

Carol said...

Well, Edith does have another guy interested in her. I think he's also a little older and has a flaw or two. Edith does get the flawed ones. Been there, done that. Some of us only get offered the factory seconds. It's that or nada. This guy just so happens to already have a wife but in an institution.

And interesting about the young relative who wanted to be out partying with the married guy. I didn't didn't realize they had all the same sins back in those days and they seemed to be just as much fun then.

Carol said...

Oh poor Thomas. Karma! You asked for it, you got it Tom boy. Only thing is when some bad guys get it, we all feel sorry for them. They cry and we want to rescue them. I did too. He was a royal shit, well not exactly royal, and it's interesting that it was his partner in crime who went after him. Good ole Ms O'Brien. Nobody likes her and she'll probably be around until the cows come home..or should I say sheep come home. I haven't heard tell they are going into the beef business yet.

Carol said...

Yes we felt sorry for Thomas. Raise your hand, or say aye, if you wanted old Thomas rescued? We all have known a few Thomas's in our lives. Me, too many. At my last job there was a Thomas there when I got there and she was still there when I left. Smiling, I'm sure. She was actually one of the only nurses that I started with who was still there when I left. She did also get some karma but funny thing, it didn't change her heart. Everyone who worked in medical had a knife in their backs with her name on it. The only way she could feel good about herself was to try to cut the legs off everyone else's chairs.

Dumb me, I kept turning the other cheek, rescued her a time or two just for her to go after me over and over. She developed a potentially life threatening illness and I thought..this ought to change her heart. Wrong.

Life is full of Thomases. I guess the lesson there is to learn to live with them. They are a test for the rest of us and we all like to do as well as possible on our tests, don't we?

Carol said...

And it seems that almost everyone in the house knew about Thomas even Lord Grantham. Now that was a surprise to learn. I don't even think people in this day and age are that intuitive or insightful. They had better gaydar than many gay people have now. You wouldn't think that homosexuality would be something that anyone would consider back then, much less suspect. And it was kinda sad that they had to make the gay guy, the bad guy.

Carol said...

I'm so glad that Branson is going to stay and run the farm. If things don't work out for Edith with her writing, we know she can drive a tractor.

Carol said...

Yesterday we had a 100 percent chance of rain and got nada. Today if was 50 percent and it's pouring cats and dogs out there right now. Hey, I'm flush with cats right now, thank you very much and they are highly resistant to taming. God keeps giving me challenges, I guess to make up for my not working. Didn't want me to get too bored.

Carol said...

Coreen, you can go back to see the other previous episodes. It's still interesting to see them even though you know how many things turned out. I started in the middle of the second season and worked both ways. Unless you get the DVDs, you will have lots of trouble finding those episodes online. Hey, I bet your local library will have them to check out for free even though they are not that big of an investment.

Carol said...

Read this on Huff Post:

"Pope Benedict XVI To Resign"

It says..developing story. Wow, what can that mean??? I didn't think that a Pope could resign.

Carol said...

Oh, did any of you catch that reference to Ponzi last night? You had to be listening carefully. Figures that Lord Grantham, when bitching about what Matthew wanted to do with the estate, suggested he wanted to invest in some guy named Ponzi's investment. They need to keep him away from any money.

If I'm not mistaken, that's probably where the phase Ponzi scheme came from.
Was it that old??

Just looked it up, thank you Google, and this is what I found.

"The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi,[2] who became notorious for using the technique in 1920."

Cool, huh?

Carol said...

There's probably a lot more that's worth commenting about but it was such a busy plot that I will have to ponder longer on it.

This series is soo much fun to ponder and I'm sooo glad that I changed and learned to watch and appreciate these shows. I'm still a tad picky.

Carol said...

Can't wait to hear your comments. Not only are they desired, they are required as part of your membership here. Place a smiley face here.

Carol said...

At least 3 outta 4 of us are going to be dealing with a rainy day today. Make yourself comfy on the couch. I'm wearing the padding off mine.

Carol said...

I had to chuckle when Lord Grantham was making fun of all the activity involved in the Catholic church service. I've said the exact same thing myself. I have very bony and sensitive knee caps. It's quite a penance to put pressure one them. Since they don't allow non-Catholics to go to communion, when I attended their services, I had to spend more time on them than the others in church. Usually there was a hymn sung during communion so I could screech my pain out doing that.

I also always resented the Catholic church for being so unhospital with their communion. It don't think Jesus would have been pleased. Hospitality was very important back in those days. People depended on it for survival. If Jesus hadn't been crucified, I doubt he would have joined the Catholic church. I'm fairly sure of that.

When you're a Catholic, you are well into paying for your sins.

Carol said...

Yes, I know Jesus was a Jew but if he had church's that worshiped him, he may have joined one of them.

Carol said...

Jan, if you want permission to take the next two days off, it's OK. In Swamp territory, we observe the Mardi Gras holiday which is today and tomorrow. I will write you an excuse. We might get away with it since I'm still a NP.

Unknown said...

"Yes, I know Jesus was a Jew but if he had church's that worshiped him, he may have joined one of them. "

Carol, you say the funniest things!

If Coreen's like me, she'll probably never go back and watch the beginning now that she's going to see how DA ends. I didn't even go back to watch season 1 again, even though I had forgotten so much when I started season 2. I weird like that though.... I rarely re watch anything, and if I do it has to be because it's really exceptional to me. But watching a whole season of something over would be so time consuming once you know how it's going to end.

I'm going to look at my DVD. I think there was something about Christmas on it but I assumed that the season had ended and didn't even check it out. Glad you mentioned it, Coreen.

Unknown said...

It probably shouldn't be surprising that the two trouble makers ended up making trouble for each other too.

Although what Lady Grantham's maid (is her name Sarah... much too nice a name for her) did was by far the worst thing anyone else in the series has ever done.

Thomas did end up being put in a very sympathetic position and I do feel sorry for him by the time the series ended. What happened goes right back at Lady Granham's maid once again. She ends up causing some very evil things to happen and I just don't see any redeeming characteristics in her.

Carol said...

Chloe, if you're a real DA fan and like how well this series was done, it would be worth going back to see how it all started. I started in the middle of season two and went back to one. I know many others who did also. You said that you did see season one already. It really depends on whether you really like the series or if you just want something to watch.

Many movies have prequels where you go back to the past. It's just an option and I bet that DVD is available at the library.

Unknown said...

It's overcast here, but the forecast says if we are going to have rain it'll be only until 9:30. We've had a light sprinkle throughout the night... at one point it came down pretty good, but not for long.

Carol said...

Knowing the past gives far more meaning to the present in this series.

Unknown said...

Jan, It sounds like John has had a very interesting life.

I was sympathetic for the Kentucky wife that shot her husband too. She was a very likable, naive and (as you said) had been badly abused. It's just that she could have made a different choice than shooting him in the head.

Still, I wasn't upset that her sentence was so light. I don't she's any threat to the world, and she really loved her kids. I'm fairly sure they're better off with her, although I've never followed up on the story.

I'm almost afraid to. Don't know why.

... and I can sympathize with 'his' parents and family too. It's a no win situation.

Unknown said...

I know you're right, Carol.

It's just me.
Once I've seen the end of something, I just have a thing of not 'usually' wanting to go back to the beginning.

It doesn't mean I don't agree with what you said though: "Knowing the past gives far more meaning to the present in this series".

Carol said...

It kinda looks like it will rain all day here and maybe tomorrow also. I didn't go to the camp because I didn't want to be out there for severe weather. The weather is far worse today. Maggie and I are jonesing to go out there.

I didn't mention it before because I was somewhat embarrased but Friday, I leaned over my dang arm rest in my truck to get something from the other side, and again popped a rib. The place where my ribs join by cartiledge are very fragile and any direct pressure on a rib at that area separates that area. I was really pissed since I was back to being at a pain level I could tolerate. Now I'm back to misery but I'm trying to keep it in stride. Nothing else I can do. I must keep that arm rest down. It happens at least every 6 months or so.

It's like God doesn't want me to do any housework. I thought I would have to hire someone to reload my kitchen at the camp but I managed to do it by myself. I did have my guys move my little convection oven back. I just took very many light loads to do it and there is still some left to do.

Now it's back to barely moving around at all. Good thing that I'm prepared to sleep sitting up because when this happens that's all I can do.

Unknown said...

"It really depends on whether you really like the series or if you just want something to watch."

I did see season 1, Carol. I just forgot things, but many of them came back as I watched the new season.

I already knew I liked it, but when I saw season 1, at the time, I didn't know it was going to continue for some reason. I was watching a lot of different things at the time and moved on and found other series and movies to watch.

I'm grateful you mentioned it or I would have missed so much. But I still went into season to having a good understanding of the characters and knowing who they were.

I shouldn't have spoken for Coreen anyway. I was just saying how I am.

Carol said...

Chloe, I'm pretty picky about what I enjoy watching for entertainment. It could also depend on the availability/use of anything that may enhance the entertainment value of what we watch. If I had a certain substance, one that has been in the news a lot lately, I might get a kick outta watching paint dry.

Unknown said...

"Now it's back to barely moving around at all."

Oh Carol, I'm so sorry to hear that. There's nothing worse than being in continual pain. I hope you feel well enough soon to be able to at least visit your camp.

Does it help to take something for the inflammation?

I'll have to check back. I've got to get Emma fed and off to schools soon.

Coreen said...

Not likely to go back & watch the entire series, not that invested in it...but I find it interesting to see what you each take from the shows...

Chloe, when I mentioned christmas
special, I did not intend to suggest there is more than what you already saw/know...but that
british series show the season finale at christmas...

pbs announced that the finale is next week, but the more I think about the storyline & previews, pbs may have chosen to break up the way british tv presented the season finale...







Carol said...

It won't stop me from going to the camp, just limit my housework out there for a while. I've broken ribs so many times that I can't count them all. It's miserable though and pisses me off.

I'm allergic to NSAIDS dang it. I'm eating my walnuts and other sources of omega 3, they are supposed to have some anti inflammatory qualities.

Carol said...

I found that people are either big DA fans or just interested because so many others are. I wasn't even in either group until I was stuck on the couch for a while. Once I got started, I moved into the big fan category. It was addictive for me. The story is well written and the acting is sooo good.

Carol said...

Chloe, your lucky not to be in the middle of all those globs of rain. You must live in a rain shadow. It doesn't look to let up here for a good while.

My rain gauge shows over 3 1/2 inches of rain. Now it might have had a half inch from a couple of days ago.

Carol said...

I heard that the Pope is stepping down because he doesn't feel like he can physically and psychologically do the job anymore. I have to respect that. That's unusual for almost all people in power these days but should set an example for many others! Finally the Catholic church does something we can all be proud of.

Carol said...

It took a lot of love and courage!

Coreen said...

Raining here too...a very cold rain, but not slippery where there is no snow pack...

its getting foggy, which is a really good thing...fog eats snow
& it will take a lot to get rid of this...going out the driveway theres a white wall on each side, I'm staying home today...since there are still many side streets
along the way not cleaned...

Carol said...

Then Happy Mardi Gras holiday to you Coreen. If you need a work excuse, I email one to you. LOL.

Still, be careful.

Carol said...

And I do know that you are your own boss lady. But sometimes they can be the hardest to please.

Carol said...

If you can get a pic of that snow eating fog, add it to your pics.

Coreen said...

Here's some further Downton thoughts...

Maggie/dowager 'empress'...a master manipulator...she certainly manages to get her way...think...Ethel, the great niece, & Branson, as well...

Matthew/Tom Branson...BFF...

Bates...post-prison...a standup guy...

Mrs. O'Brien...nasty vicious harpy...

Mrs. Huges/Mr. Carson...very honorable people...& loyal too...

Edith...most likable...has more of her mother's 'american' background..

Carol said...

Thanks for your comments Coreen. You get a satisfactory for your participation. No grades are assigned for this project.

Ms Huges is nicer, less judgmental than Carson. He can have a bad case of, his poop don't stink. It usually doesn't take him too long to snap out of it. We can credit Ms Huges for that. Do you think that maybe Carson has a thing for het?? I think so.

Edith is kinda stuck having to try to give her life meaning. She would rather be someone's wife

Carol said...

Coreen, by not seeing many of the previous episodes, you can't get the full flavor of what a dick Thomas has been and what a bitch Mary can be. It really would be worth checking them out if you can find them.

Carol said...

Big sis sent me an email that said she found on Netflix a movie called

"From Time to Time produced by Julian Fellowes and starring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, and
some of the others from D A. I enjoyed the movie and you might, too."

Carol said...

In case you are doing the couch potato thing today also, you might want to check out Katie C's show today. She's interviewing Ms Joe Paterno. I'll turn on my lie detector when I watch it.

Unknown said...

LOL, Carol.
You've 'always' got your lie detector on!

Thanks to you (and sis) for the Maggie Smith tip. She is so funny. The more I see her, the more I watch her.

Did you see her (on Netflix) in 'A room with a view'? It's older, but enjoyed it back when I watched it. There was a phase when I couldn't get enough of everything English. I've always Liked Maggie Smith, but now more than ever. She keeps grow on me the more I see her.

Unknown said...

I'm sitting in Chick'filet (a favorite hangout) waiting a while before I pick Emma up. I know she's going to want to come over here... when she has a really good day I bring her over to play for a short time.

Carol said...

I know why you bring her there Chloe, to get an excuse to get a Chick'filet. Everyone seems to love them except me. I'm not crazy about much of any fast foods. I do like Popeye's fried chicken. I like Chinese takee outee. Love a good hot and sour soup and beef and veggies if it has a lot of different veggies in it. I'm always a little worried about the meat. Not sure what it really is unless it's shrimp. Can't fake shrimp but wouldn't be happy if they catch it in their neck of the woods. I try to avoid as much as possible if it says made in or caught around China. I feel pretty sure that if it is, it's probably toxic.

Carol said...

Actually, I'm not sure I want to continue watching this Katie show. I realize that denial is one of the most powerful defense mechanisms. I don't think either Joe or his wife would ever be able to acknowledge being aware of anything.

Carol said...

What else would I expect?

Unknown said...

" I don't think either Joe or his wife would ever be able to acknowledge being aware of anything."

Ignorance really is bliss!

I mostly just like a coffee and bagel at Chick'filet in the morning, Carol.

I do like their Chicken salad sandwich... Emma likes them too, and it's about the only place she likes chicken (the nuggets are pure white meat), they have a good fruit cup she likes.

'Course I love their chocolate chip cookies (they only brought them out a few months ago) fresh out of the oven (best I've ever hot if you get them when they're first out). Good ice cream sundae (cheap), but I haven't been much into ice cream the last 6 months or so.

Emma is just happy to play. I'm often happy with just a diet coke or cup of coffee.

I like to be alone there in the morning (her school is just across the street) because it's so quiet and pleasant in there. I have a back booth where I can get on my computer, and there's nothing but some quiet, pleasant chatter by the people there.

It's just a pleasant place to be at the one we have. Most others are too crowded. This one is on the weekends and later in the day too.

jan said...

I worked all day today so am just now catching up on my reading here. I may have missed some stuff.

I think Tom Branson is becoming a more respected member of the family.

Edith is also much more likeable. I actually did not like her very much in 1st episodes.

I guess we each have our favorites.

I have always liked the housekeeper, Mrs. Hughes.

I admire Matthew's mother. She is one of my favorite characters. She is independent and tries to help out the downtrodden. She has raised a son who is competent, and ethical.

jan said...

I like the way she does not let the dowager countess run over her.

jan said...

Carol, sorry to hear you cracked another rib and are in pain. Take it easy.

jan said...

Chloe, sounds like you and Emma are real Chick filet fans. My granddaughter who has the 3 year old likes Chick filet too. I think it is because my Great GD loves the play area. That is real important when you have a little one. And having free wifi is a good thing.

I can remember having breakfast places that I loved. I used to love a restaurant that had good eggs and biscuits and grits, I like my eggs over medium and when I found a place that fixed them like I liked them, I went back over and over.

Now I love blueberry pancakes or eggs benedict and so have a favorite place for those.

Unknown said...

Carol?

Where art thou??

Unknown said...

Jan, Your last post is making me hungry! I'm waiting for Emma to finish Speech Therapy so I can take her to school and go eat something. (she eats breakfast earlier than me usually)

I like Mrs. Hughes too, Jan. Actually I find most of the characters very likable, and like the way the family makes 'everyone' part of the family. The staff knows their place, but they also know they're appreciated and even loved.

Unknown said...

.... it's hard to find loyalty like that.

I was thinking how nice it would be to have a 'little' staff to take care of everything for me. Housekeeping, laundry, etc.

Oh, well, one can dream.
.... actually, I'd probably miss the privacy and solitude (what little I have... but do require it on a fairly regular basis).

Carol said...

Chloe, I'd give up some privacy for a little staff right now. Yep, I would.

Happy Marti Gras.

I see there's 100% chance of rain here today. Dang, we don't need any. My gauge reads 5 inches from yesterday. There might have been 1/2 inch to start.

Carol said...

No one commented whether they thought that Carson might be in love with Ms Hughes. Remember when she has that cancer scare and he did everything to help her out. When he learned she was OK, he was in his room singing.

Carol said...

I finished watching all 13 episodes of House of Cards. I was wondering when the next series is due out. When I looked, I found that this series was just released on the first of this month. It's another addicting series. You have to have Netflix to get it.

Unknown said...

I think Carson and Mrs. Hughes are extremely fond of one another and share a very strong, affection admiration and appreciation of one another.

I don't think its ever going to become romantic though. Why change a relationship that already works so well.

Carol said...

When you think about it Chloe, Carson has to be readily available 24/7 to rally the troops if anything is needed. He wouldn't have time for a family. All of the servants have long days. Also, the servants do substitute pretty well for a family.

Carol said...

Carson and Ms Hughes do kinda serve as the mama and papa of the servants.

Carol said...

I think it's important to highlight the names of idiots.

These senators voted against the violence against women act..which "authorizes $659 million over five years for VAWA programs. It also expands VAWA to include new protections for LGBT and Native American victims of domestic violence, to give more attention to sexual assault prevention and to help reduce a backlog in processing rape kits. Created in 1994, VAWA has helped to strengthen programs and services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Here they are:

"Senators who voted against the bill included Republicans John Barrasso (Wyo.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), John Boozman (Ark.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Cornyn (Texas), Ted Cruz (Texas), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Orrin Hatch (Utah), James Inhofe (Okla.), Mike Johanns (Neb.), Ron Johnson (Wisc.), Mike Lee (Utah), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Rand Paul (Ky.), Jim Risch (Idaho), Pat Roberts (Kansas), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Jeff Thune (N.D.) and Tim Scott (S.C.)."

What do these guys have against women and are the women in their states watching?

Carol said...

Check out this article:

"Downton Abbey': In Defense Of Lady Edith In Season 3"

At:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leigh-weingus/dowton-abbey-in-defense-of-lady-edith_b_2657917.html

The author says.."In case you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet, let me assure you: It's all about Edith. And perhaps it's time we all get to work on constructing arguments as to why we're "an Edith."

Coreen said...

Not a bad day today, sunny, about 43, no problem driving between the 2 towns...roads were clean, mostly dry, but the lanes are greatly reduced, with piles on the side...

stopped at the grocery store, the parking lot was like an obstacle
course...at least half the parking spaces are not piled 10-12' high with snow, some of the lanes only 1 car can pass...so the parking is greatly restricted, but the shoppers not...that was a trip, was glad to get out of there, had to wait for someone to pull out to get a space...but the store was on the way to being stocked...yesterday my friends said no milk,eggs, etc...but still no newspaper delivery, last paper I had was on Friday...funny my friend had one in her office I was shocked she picked it up at Stop & Shop (the grocery store I am describing)...

Coreen said...

Edith = ugly duckling for so long...now maybe she gets to shine...or transform into the swan...

Not sure I see the 3 sisters replacing the SATC women...loved that show & all 4 of the women...

Noticed that your piece quoted the dowage 'empress' again...another example of the master manipulator...


Coreen said...

Looks like the fugitive suspect/killer in CA has been isolated & in a shootout...

Sure hope he gets his wish he ranted about in his so-called 'manifesto'....

Carol said...

They have the cop killer x cop penned down.

Carol said...

I should have refreshed before I posted that.

Carol said...

I'm watching the Arias trial. They broke in to report that.

I made a grocery run also. I have everything I need but often it's at the wrong residence. I had no coffee here this morning but plenty at the camp. Yesterday afternoon I went shopping at the camp for food that I needed here but forgot to pick up some coffee. I hate it when I have no coffee in the morning.

Carol said...

What baffles me is that those Republicant men can vote against something as important as a violence against women act. One was the last vice presidential candidate and another is someone who is suppose to be up and coming in the party, Marco Rubio. Do they assume that women aren't paying attention? Are they right?

Carol said...

I've been watching the Arias trial. She's been on the stand for 4 days. She's either telling the truth, as she remembers it, or she deserves a academy award for her lying. Her boyfriend, who really wasn't, took advantage of her being crazy in love with him. He toyed with her and emotionally and sexually used/abused her. It certainly doesn't justify her killing him but he's dead just the same.

jan said...

Coreen, thanks for posting the link in Huffington Post about Lady Edith. Good article. I have watched from the 1st season and have been totally hooked. I felt sad for Edith because the writers, etc not only made her to appear the "plainer" sister, but everyone treated her that way too.

jan said...

In this 3rd season, even Edith's personality has changed. They have actually made her a prettier woman. She is dressing beautifully too.

Carol said...

What is the state of our union? Are you watching?

Carol said...

Inspiring speech!

Carol said...

I watched just a tad of Rubio's response but then changed the channel. Wouldn't give him the time of day, or night. I later pulled up a video where he was making that smacking sound you feel or hear when you run completely out of spit. He was scared/nervous. Pouring that adrenalin does turn off those spit glands. Some fun brought to you by your autonomic nervous system, the fight or flight part of it, triggered by fear. It turns off those spit glands because when your fighting or flighting, you don't want to be doing it while slinging drool. I got stuck teaching the nervous system in the pathophysiology class.

Why is he scared? Maybe he's afraid of one of a violent women he voted against today. He ought to be.