We're a gabby bunch today - getting cranked up for the weekend? Or is it the utter boredom of sitting behind a desk (or lab bench) that's luring you out to Bonaire Talk?

Looks like someone left a sausage out front for Jake and Linda. Mmm-mmm good.

Rusty - for me its a diversion - working on something that is driving me nuts and no fun.

Revelle is a calico - your Dad has a great looking cat!!!

Cynde - you got it backwards - BC acts like she is 2 and Rev lays around and grumbles all day long. All she does is lay on the front porch or front yard in the sun - doesn't want to move or be touched!!! She did get a little active the other day and caught a mouse - which she brought in the house alive!!!!

Bob and I had an interesting night last night. it finally got cool enough to get to sleep a little earlier than we have this past MUGGY week. There was a nice breeze coming in the two bedroom windows and we kicked the two boxers off to one side and stretched out.



UGH! Wet bed. A puddle about the size of a Domino's 16" pizza took up the bottom left side of the waterbed. Of course the steenkin' dogs were lying on the dry side - hogging the pillows - looking innocent.



I can't blame them - when I finally found the hole in the mattress it was a pinprick. They're claws would have shredded the bed - so it must have been an *Act of God* as the insurance companies explain away anything they don't want to reimburse you for.



Plenty of patch kits in the drawer but every one of the tubes of goop was dried up. Then I thought of silicone aquarium sealant. We always have it around and it worked GREAT a couple years ago when I got a hole chewed in my pond liner. So I'll let you know how it goes after 24 hours. It seemed to fasten the patch on perfectly. (It's also handy for gluing rocks together in garden ponds.)

Wow, Rusty... Not fun a leaking waterbed. We had that also, once. Now we have a new matras. Always inconvenient when wanting to sleep..

I'll have to do some homework, peep in later.

PS, almost forgot
Dan, with your retirement

Rusty - sorry about the water bed leaking!!! We have a waterbed for 15 years and never a leak!!! Now that I say that - I will go home to a big puddle on the floor.

Good luck with the patch!!!

Congratu;ations Dan I'm very envious.

Rusty had a waterbed since 1973, same bed, on my third mattress. They do spring leaks and generally the patch works fine. Once they start spring leaks thats normally an indication of time for a new mattress. I just brought a new mattress, liner and heater for $180. So it's relativily cheap to replace.

NO LEAKS! I've had a waterbed continuously since I was fifteen - thirty years! Yikes. Seems like every three or four years the corner seams let go and there's no patching that!



We had one CAT-astrophe but the dogs have never caused a leak. It's a pain to drain and replace but I never want to go back to a regular mattress. The waterbed is cool in summer and warm in winter.

Cecil - go take a picture of something. My eyes need something new to look at.

Here's something that the waterbed guy SWEARS he's never heard of. We have never put the little bottle of blue goo into the mattress. I figure what the heck do I care whether there is algae growing in the warm water. It's not like the mattress is transparent and is buried under sheets and comforters most of the time. The last two premium quality mattresses - don't laugh now - POPPED when Bob rolled over on them.

This isn't just a little tear - we're talking he put his elbow under his pillow and started to turn over with his weight on it and *kerblooey*. The mattress ripped about a foot and he was half in the bag. LOL Water ran everywhere! Like a wading pool - up over the sides.

When we took the bag into the dealer they said they'd never heard of anyone going thru the bag like that.

Here it is the middle of the night and we are swimming in stanky algae-ridden water. (So that's why you use the blue stuff!) The area under the pillows was weird - not soft like the rest of the bed - but stiff. It had little dimples in it and this was the spot where Bob went thru.

Further - we replaced the mattress and figured that it was a manufacturing defect. Two years later it happened again. Same place - under the pillows - same dimples.

We are now using the blue stuff - the dealer said it will keep the mattress soft and supple. He intimated the lack of the water conditioner killed the plastic mattress.

I have another theory. You?

Hiya Rusty. Finally made an appointment for next Thursday. Whilst out with Trev I noticed I cannot read the number plates in front. Gonna definitely go for the varies which darken in the sun. I will be so good to be able to see again. Annie B.

Rusty, you better wear a when you go to bed tonight. Hope the patch holds out. LOL. Annie B.

I'm grateful that you didn't mention DIETS! LOL

Rusty - what a story!!! I put that goo in and then forget about it - though I think you are supposed to do it every 3 years or so - can't remember.

Annie B. - I had Lasek done last May and have been loving life ever since. I had been wearing contacts/glasses for 35 years. Blind as a bat - but now I can see perfectly!!! And I do not have to put anything in my eyes except artificial tears to make sure they do not dry out.

Rusty, Here is a pretty butterfly picture - can you tell I downloaded some pictures last night!!

Mary. They said I couldn't have Lasek, as my eyes are not stable. My eyesight changes every year at the moment. I think the distance vision is now on the way out. Annie B.

Mary you still using the tears. I'm going on 2 years since surgery. Only used the tears the first couple of months. Best thing I ever did for my self (Lasek surgery).

Rusty, so your eyes need something, how about something from the archivies. A possible purple thong sighting.

Rusty - here is some flowers in my garden - can you spot the hummingbird moth? This is one where he moved when I was taking then picture.

Cecil, my doc said that continued use of the tears will help keep the eyes from weakening in vision. It is just a habit - so not really notice if my eyes get dry or not. But it is the best thing I could have done!!!

I think that is a purple thong siting!!!!

I don't know what this one will be like, but here goes. Saw this one in Cyprus. His head was completely blue. He came up and looked at me through my mask at one point. Annie B

Is that Bluebeard, Annie?

I am not sure Rusty. But that is what I thought when first saw him.

I think these are the chub who were nibbling my ankles. My Id is not good when I am in panic mode under the water. LOL.

Cecil's gonna say Purple Thong again isn't he. LOL.

(Message edited by annette on August 14, 2003)

Everyone's been posting their 4-legged buddies, how about some finned buddies from this last weekend.

Sunfish


Small Mouth Bass


My favorite.


When are you going to feed me?


Your truly talking to the animals.

There's another bass by the other finger.

Mary - can't spot the hummingbird moth. LOL But the fritillary is a beautiful catch. We get a few but our most common backyard butterflies are swallowtails and black swallowtails. We do see the occasional monarch, too. They adore the butterfly bush.

Nice pics Cecil. We only used one of those cheap underwater cameras. Never done it before. Annie B.

Here's another school. The swell was quite strong, and I was afraid of the rocks. Scraped my toes three times. OUCH!!

Cecil - WOW! I love the sunfish family - and that red breasted is good enough to use for a field guide! You ever bring Cheez Whiz?

Cecil and Annie B - Cool pics!!!

Rusty - the moth is in the middle of the pic - behind a stalk - look for the black and gold together. The garden next to my front side walk has verbena gone wild -especially verbena on stick and the butterflies, bees and hummingbird moths are always swarming.

Mary. I can see the moth. Annie B.

Cecil...shorty? no gloves? just how warm IS that water??? Great pics Cecil and Annie Annie, I think that Darren should have taken a pic of the fishies nibbling at your ankles

My co-worker and I went out at lunch and we each bought beta fish to put on our desks...I need a name for mine. she has named hers "Wendy" I told her that they are males, but she doesn't care...Wendy it is...anyone got any unique suggestions???

Annie nice shots you've got the bug now. Diving/snorkeling are sports where the more scrapes, cuts, bruises and boo boos you have the better a time you had.

Rusty, not required plenty of fresh water mussels. There were places you could not see the bottom for the mussels.

Weird story of the day:
Man bites off woman's nose

Lake water Cynde, 72 degrees. I've taken colder showers (for good reason).

Cynde, how about Mimi. Every time you look at the fish think of the Richter family fortune and get a smile. You know I heard her referenced over on the D2D board, someone was telling a story about a very bad driver going diving and complaining. Someone else said it was Mimi, hmmmm.

Cynde, That is a strange story!!! Wonder what they were doing when he bit her nose off!?!?!

I am going home now - rough day again - but you guys helped keep me sane - THANKS. At least I do not have to go home and work - which is what I have been doing for the past 2 nights!!!

Goodnight everybody!!!!

Cynde funny story did you notice the ages. I reminded of Ben Franklin and older women, reference. Note rule #8 and reread your story. LOL.

Cynde. You should post a picture of your fish. It may help some of us think. Annie B.

This one is not so good. The fish is in the middle. I said it looked like a baby barracuda. LOL.

Cecil, no way am I naming the fish MEME...er...MIMI! When was the d2d reference made...recently? 72F? nice and warm Still hovering in the mid 60's here!

Annie, once I get him in his nice big bowl (with purple rocks) I will snap a pic and let the naming begin! The brown stuff is probably algae (supposed to be there) unless they have some sort of foreign invasion going on. We have a lot of that stuff growing on the stubstrate here Here is a pretty good article on the marine life in Cyprus:
Cyprus Marine Life

Mary, hope you have a good night...

I love search functions. Here you go, Click Here.

Oh, Annie, the california baracuda is only about 12 inches long as well...they are 4 feet or so in the Carribbean!

Thanks Cynde. Interesting article. Darren found some sand urchins, and Trev saw a skate. I did mention that there was one there that looked like a small parrot fish. Unfortunately the film had all been used up in the camera. BTW. Darren was my photographer. As it was his first time, I think he did quite a good job. Thanks Darren.

Now what the heck would make anyone think that I am not comfortable in the water. Annie B.

I did want to go a bit lower, but I just couldn't sink.

So could it have been a barracuda then??

Ok, here is one pic of him. He seems to like hiding in the back of the bowl behind the plants...but you get the gist of what color he is...

OK who does not have electricity? Never mind you will not answer anyway. Kind-of like what do you call a dog with no legs?


.
.
.
Nothing he wouldn't come anyway.

On a releated note, fish name suggestion, Bob, which is the answer to the famous question; What do you call a guy with no arms and legs that likes to go swimming? Bob of course. And what color would Bob be in a few minutes, blue. Like the fish.

On that sick note, tonight's sunset.

Cecil. I wuz just gonna post that pic. You beat me to it. LOL

Cynde. That is a Siamese Fighting fish. Annie B.

Cynde. Sam, after the samurai fighters. Annie B.

It looks like it was the best one although the dive boat is nice also.

Do we know these people?

Cecil, I have to say nix on the Bob...I work with a bob...Annie, we call them "Beta" fish over here! Here are my thoughts so far:

TC (Tom Cruise)
Brando (Marlin Brando)
Jimmy (Jimmy Stewart)
Kelly (Gene Kelly and Harleyanna)

Hey. Just read on the other thread that parts of the USA and some of Canada are losing their electricity. People are trapped in tubes and elevators and everything. Scarey stuff. I think New York is out of power. No wonder Rusty disappeared. Annie B.

Cynde. Brando.

Annie, that is what I thought.

Power failure: I guess one of the powergrids got overloaded so there is power out in cities in a few states and Canada. CNN reported that they had power back on in some areas by 6:00PM. It doesn't look like Mass and the Eastern Seaboard were affected. Toledo and Detroit Michigan, Cleveland Ohio, Toronto, Ottawa, Albany and New York City.

Thankfully there have been no reports of looting...hopefully everyone will keep sane!

Cecil,

Cool pictures from the lake.

Back to the live news of the First Blackout of the 21st Century.

Here is a good link. The last power outage like this was in 1996. Happened in the summer and took power out from ORegon to Texas. Lasted 10 hours. It was due to overloaded circuits from the heat of the summer and folks using more power to cool their houses, etc.

Power Outages

Wonder if Rusty got cut off.

Annie, I don't think so. She is on the North East Seaboard, and that area wasn't affected (at least according to CNN news)

Ok, Rusty is in Mass, and I didn't read of any reports of power going off in Mass...she should at least check in with us so we know she is OK! Now I am wondering about Freddie and our New Jersey friends!

Cynde. I am wondering too. I hope they have plenty of candles. I really gotta go to sleep know. Matchsticks are holding my eyes open. I hope I will see everyone safe and sound tomorrow. Annie B.

I'm here - I'm bright and shiny. We did get nailed twice quickly with a power dropout. I was sitting here typing and looking at the webcams when the *new* AC and the lights went off then on then off then I flew around shutting down my PC, Bob's game PC and the AC and fan so that the returning power wouldn't cause a meltdown.



When I went downstairs to mention it to Bob he said that his work PC shut down and then rebooted - which is what this new worm does - so he figured his PC got infected. (His second work Win NT PC got torched yesterday when his IT people recommended a Windows patch for the security hole and it wiped out the operating system. That machine is on its way to Providence to be set up again. It happened to his coworkers' machines all over the country. I wouldn't want to be those IT guys.)



We were glad to hear that our loss was temporary - Canadian power kicked in right away to get us back on the grid.

Rusty, glad you are all still there! Thanks for checking in! I sure wouldn't want to be those IT guys...someone may be looking for a new job! That will be one expensive fix! Yikes! I hope Fredster didn't get hit! Well, I'm off to my Coast Guard Aux training class

Rusty. Glad you survived. I was a little worried there gal. All your friends have been a little frantic tonight. Annie B.

Cynde. I am now worrying about the Fredster too. . Good luck with your class. Me and boats just do not mix, if you know what I mean. (Europe} I am really going to bed. Annie B.

Call him Betta Midler!

I missed this earlier as I got knocked off a couple times then had to run Bob over and back to Firestone while he got some work done on his car.

This is strange - some steel wire (?) from a rear radial tire came loose while he was taking his dead PC to CT this morning - and there was a huge grinding noise but no loss of brakes or power. Was a good thing because the mechanic said the wire got wrapped around the ?calipers? and caused a lot of damage. Like a grand's worth. Jeez.

(You couldn't make this stuff up!)

On the positive side - the waterbed patch is holding up! LOL

Doh - forgot the pix:

Rusty,

So sorry that you had to run Bob over today......chuckle chuckle!

Haha, Gail! I do magic too! When I got home I turned into the driveway! LOL Want me to call you a cab? You're a cab! Just flew in from Europe. Boy, are my arms tired.