We Scour the Web, so You Don't Have To!
On this Independance Day, I find it funny that we’re heading off on a motorcycle trip to Independence MO to visit the Harry S Truman Library and Museum. We’ll spend the weekend there and see the sights. I’ll try to post if I can.
I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday. Y’all be careful out there.
I received the book I ordered the other day. I had never ordered a used book before. It has a small black line about an inch long on the jacket back cover. I think that’s called a “remainder” mark, whatever that means. Other than that it’s in excellent condition.
I ordered it Sunday afternoon from one of Amazon.com’s independent vendors, Clemintine’s (listed through Amazon) and receiver it today (Wednesday) paying 6.95 for expedited shipping plus the $2.95 for the hardcover book.
I’m very satisfied with the purchases. Hopefully the book will be as good…. when I get time to read it.
I got up and headed for work about 5:45 this morning. Just as I was getting ready to leave I started sneezing. I sneezed all the way to work. Then at work I was sneezing. I sometimes have allergies, so I take a form of Zertec every morning as my doctor instructed. On ocassion I run into something that sets off my allergies. Sneezing, runny nose (very), watery eyes, the whole bit. So I take an antihistamine or two in addition to the generic Zyrtec. I did this as soon as I got to work. After about an hour the runny nose and all slowed down and I was able to function better. About noon, it all just started up again. So I took a couple more antihistamines.
Well driving home, for some reason I felt a tiny bump under my shirt. It was attached to my chest, just under my right nipple. It didn’t take long to figure out that it was probably a tick that had attached itself to my body. I couldn’t really see for sure as I was driving down the interstate. So, as soon as I got home I took a look at it in the mirror… and sure enough it was a tick. So I immediately Googled tick removal and found the proper way to remove a tick:
Remove a tick from your skin as soon as you notice it. Use fine-tipped tweezers to firmly grasp the tick very close to your skin. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from your skin. Then clean your skin with soap and warm water. Throw the dead tick away with your household trash.
Avoid crushing the tick’s body. Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Once the mouthparts are removed from the rest of the tick, it can no longer transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. If you accidentally crush the tick, clean your skin with soap and warm water or alcohol.
Don’t use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products to remove a tick.
I did just that. It came out in two pieces, but that’s his problem, not mine. It was a stubborn little thing.
I learned this about my tick:
- Are there white markings on the rear margin of the tick’s back OR a single white spot in the center of the back?
YES: This is the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) . These ticks are common in the midwest. They have long, narrow mouthparts (as in the illustration above) and their bodies are somewhat round in shape rather than oval-shaped like other ticks. Lone star ticks can transmit tularemia and other diseases including one similar to Lyme disease but milder.
I also learned this about ticks in general:
A tick needs a blood meal from a host in order to molt (progress to the next stage of its life cycle), and to reproduce (lay eggs). This feeding process continues for several days to a week until the tick is fully engorged with blood. It then releases its hold on the host, drops off, and subsequently molts or lays eggs.
I’m assuming my body was reacting to the tick by presenting the allegy symptoms. I already feel better now that that varmint is dead.
… from one of Amazon.com’s selling partners.
A oral history from the cast and crew about 30 years of Saturday Night Live.
The book lists for $40. Amazon sells it for $32 (new). Suposedly there are 242 different associate sellers that have copies from .01 cent on up. I found a seller who had a “very good” used copy for $2.95 plus shipping. They have a 99% positive sellers rating. I paid for expedited shipping, so all together it’s going to be under $10 and should be here in a couple of days.
I’ve never bought used before… and have always been skeptical. How can they sell a book for a penny? I know they probably make something on the shipping, but still…..
I’ll keep you posted.
![DSC07145 [640x480]](http://bitsandpieces.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/imagesdsc07145-20640x480-small.jpg)
Our group of walkers in the Susan G Komen Walk for the Cure today stop and pose in front of the White Palace restarant. It’s actual name is the White Knight. It was the film location for the 1990 movie, White Palace, starring Susan Sarandon and James Spader along with Jason Alexander and Kathy Bates. It is located at 18th and Olive in St. Louis.
James Spader plays Max, a 27 year old young widower who meets an older (40’s) greasy spoon waitress, Nora (Susan Sarandon), from the other side of the tracks and can’t believe he falls for her. Neither can his friends.
Before all this movie stuff, the place was part of a small chain called Super Sandwich Shops. For the movie it was transformed into the White Palace. The name comes from a novel (White Palace, by Glenn Savan, a St. Louis author). In the novel it is a White Castle. They couldn’t use White Castle in the film so they changed it to White Palace. After the filming they turned it back over to the owner but wouldn’t let him use the name White Palace, hence the White Knight name.
I’ve eaten there a couple of times. There are some movie posters and memorabilia inside.
P.S. It’s not a bad movie at all. I’d recommend it if you haven’t seen it. It was nominated for a Golden Globe, but I don’t think it won. One reviewer described it as “sexually energetic”. I agree. Not for kids.
Almost the entire film was filmed in St. Louis as you can see from the start of the film below. The clip includes the White Palace restaurant scene where Max meets Nora. (It comes at 5:18 into the clip)
As a side note, in the scene where Max confronts Nora about his missing burgers, the character who interrupts them is played by the author, Glen Savan.
Today was the 10th annual St. Louis Walk for the Cure in St. Louis. Organizers were expecting about 70,000 people for the walk/race. St. Louis consistently ranks among the top two or three cities in regards to turnout. They hope to raise over $3 million from this event.
![DSC07164 [640x480]](http://bitsandpieces.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/imagesdsc07164-20640x480.jpg)
This was the view as we neared the finish line of the 5K walk. At right is Union Station and straight ahead you can see the Gateway Arch. And, just below the arch you can see just some of the 70,000 walkers.
I messed with my digital cameras settings and took about 20 pictures tonight from my deck. These two are probably the best. This was about 9:15 tonight. (You can click to enlarge them a little.)
Looking east across the river into Illinois. Zoomed in all the way.
This one shows the moon’s reflection off the Mississippi River.
Me and my nephew’s daughter Brianna relaxing in the pool on Father’s Day. I’m not exactly sure what our politically correct relationship is, but I know she’s a cutie.
At a recent family gathering we were having a discussion of relativity. By relativity I mean … what’s the difference between a second cousin and a cousin once removed ? No one knew for sure, so we just decided that we’re all cousins.
I found a chart that explains it. At least I think it does. My brain isn’t working real well now, so I’ll assume it’s correct.
click to enlarge
More on all this relativity stuff
