|
Post by pegasus on Aug 24, 2012 6:54:31 GMT -7
Good morning everyone. What can I say? Another great summer day, warmer than the pst few days, expecting a record high, but grand for all the various summer activities.
A word about Lance Armstrong's refusal to fight allegations of drug use anymore. I don't blame him. He's been fighting these allegations for 10 years. He has never once failed a drug test out of the 500+ ones he has taken. For all his years of professional cycling, he was randomly tested all over the world at all times of the day or night. If we can't believe in the testing process, then why have it. As for eye witnesses. Some aren't credible. Some may be mistaken. Maybe he took B-12 shots or some cancer-preventing drug, or something else that was acceptable. How many times have we been told that two or more people can witness the same thing and all come up with different versions of what happened? But drug tests are not subject to different versions of the same thing. So until someone comes up with a ositive test, I'll believe in Lance Armstrong.
Good and true blue iris
TGIF everyone!
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Aug 26, 2012 5:53:09 GMT -7
Good morning everyone. It's going to be another warm sunner day, like most of this summer. So we can enjoy our Sunday with what ever is our particular idea of outdoor fun.
Today the US Open tennis tournament begins. Unfortuantely, it still isn't likely to be won by an American, so I guess I'll root for Andy Murray to take the title for his first grand slam. Now that he is the Olympic champion, I hope he can break through finally. On the women's side, I'll root for Serena. If Venus was capable any more, I'd root for her but her illness, if not her age, has done her in. On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution became part of the law of the land. The right for women to vote was first proposed in 1848 and it took 72 years before women were granted full citizen's rights. Incidentally, 55 years after black men. As I've said before, sexism has taken longer to be "outlawed" than racism. So every year since 1971 the president has issued a proclamation naming August 26th Women's Equality Day.
Harlow gold bearded iris
I hope your Sunday is nice and sunny!!
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Aug 28, 2012 8:50:45 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. We had a couple of heavy rain showers yesterday and today the temps are back in the middle 70s, but still a decent day for most outdoor activities. Also a day for saving electricity by not needing the a/c!! Day 2 of the US Open. Nothing unexpected has happened yet. I'm sure that somewhere along the way it will, once we get through all of the first round.
The weatherman is saying that Isaac will be of hurricane force when it strikes New Oryleans (tomorrow on the anniversary of Katrina). I hope that all the repairs to the levees, pumping stations, etc. are ready, because they aren't evacuatin anything within the levee system, but are ordering evacuation of the surrounding areas. Anyone watcing the Republican Convention? Personally, I can't think of anything more calculated to put me to sleep in a NY minute.
Hot spice bearded iris
I hope you all have a tantalizing Tuesday.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Aug 30, 2012 7:59:09 GMT -7
Good morning everyone. It got chilly last night but temps are rising into the mid-80s today with no rain in sight for another lovely summer day.
Day 4 of the US Open and so far the only major surprise is Kim Clyster's loss. Unfortunately, except playing in the mixed doubles, it was her final professional tennis appearance. She is retiring at the end of the US Open to become a full-time wife and mother. At her news confeence after her loss she received a standing ovation from the NY/tennis press. Everyone is sorry to see her go.
Do you think we could persuade the government to change election day to the 2nd Tuesday in September? AND GET ALL THE POLITICIANS OUT OF OUR HAIR!!!! I'm sick of all of them.
Sparkle Get well fast.
Hot wheels bearded iris
Have a tremendous Thursday everyone.
Good evening my UK friends. I've been having some problems today and so I'm running late. Good evening my UK friends. I've been having some problems today and so I'm running out of time. It got chilly here last night but temps have risen into the mid-80s today with no rain in sight, unlike our southern states where Hurricane Isaac has wreaked havoc. The Gulf Coast states had been suffering from a drought, but the multiple inches of rain deposited by Isaac isn't exactly what they were wishing for!! Pod- -I hope your daughter can get some help with her disability. But at lest now you know what it is and can learn how to live with it.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 1, 2012 8:08:54 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. I hate to say it but I'm getting tired of saying it's another nice summer day. I'm sure there aren't that many left. But the sun is shining, the sky is blue and I've got the windows open to the fresh air. Day 6 of the US Open. #20 ranked Andy Roddick beat Australian teenager Bernard Tomic (6-3, 6-4, 6-0) to reach round 3 of the Open. So he'll be playing at least one more time - #59 ranked Fabio Fognini of Italy. Considering the sound of the crowd last night in Arthur Ashe stadium, along with all the camera flashes, I think they would love to see him win that match too.
Other men's winners Friday included defending champion Novak Djokovic, 2009 champion #7 Juan Martin del Potro (beat 20-year-old American Ryan Harrison) and 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt, who came back to beat Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4. On the women's side, #3 seed Maria Sharapova won 12 of the last 13 points to defeat NCAA runner-up Stanford senior & amateur Mallory Burdette 6-1, 6-1 and advance to the fourth round. Today 19-year-old Sloane Stephens plays in the 3rd round against #11 seeded Ana Ivanovic. For the American men, 32-year-old James Blake will play Canadian upstart Milos Raonic. Teenager Jack Sock will face #11 Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
For any NCAA football junkies out there, Notre Dame is beating Navy over in Ireland 40-10 in the 4th quarter. Well, the Republican convention is over. I didn't watch a moment of it. Now the Democrats get up to bat in Charlotte, N.C. next week. I don't plan to watch that either. An equal non-viewer, that's me!!
Jangles bearded iris
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Mystery Persons tonight at 5 p.m. EST, 10 p.m. UK time
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 2, 2012 18:05:46 GMT -7
Andy Roddick
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 4, 2012 8:04:28 GMT -7
Good afternooneveryone. It's definitely cooler and overcast, a reminder that summer is ending? A prelude to rain from Isaac? Who knows??? (or cares?). We had a grand family picnic yesterday down on the canal. We even were provided with some entertainment by the Hobart College rowing team who use the canal for practice. We watched their two 8-man sculls, two 4-man sculls and at least six 2-man sculls ros by several times. I love watching the eights and their synchromized rowing. The family kids are rapidly getting bigger. And definetely older. Shannon, the oldest girl is now a junior in college and has a serious boyfriend (marriage is being discussed). My DIL's younger bother (by her father's 3rd wife, she's by his first) married last year and they are now expecting. My one critique - please let my son do the BBQ ribs. One of the other men did them this year and I didn't like them. He parboils the ribs then grills them and not long enough to get rid of the fat!! I do not like pork fat!!
Day 8 and Venus and Serena have been beaten in women's doubles. Wimbledon champs & Olympic gold medalists looked like they wanted to be anywhere but at the US Open as they lost in straight sets to the #3 ranked team. of Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova (6-1, 6-4). The Williams sisters beat them in the semifinals at the Olympics are were going for their 14th Grand Slam doubles title.
On the other side, the Bryan brothers are still going strong in the men's doubles. Yesterday they beat Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-3 to advance into the quarterfinals. And there's another another American brothers team in the hunt also, Ryan and Christian Harrison. Unlike the Bryan broters, Ryan Harrison also plays men's singles but was eliminated in the 2nd round.
Today, five former champions, including the reigning men's and women's title holders, will be in action at the US Open, offering a tantalising look at the past, present and possible future of the Flushing Meadows honour roll. Andy Roddick will be playing Juan Martin del Potro from Argentina who won the 2009 US Open. Will this be the final one for Roddick? I hope not but if so, at least he'll go out against a top player.
Also up today are Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Australia's Samantha Stosur, the defending champins along with past champion, Maria Sharapova,
Let's elope bearded iris
Have a tasty Tuesday.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 6, 2012 8:21:33 GMT -7
Good morning everyone. Summer is definitely winding down. It is cooling with temps in the 70s. The weatherman said this a.m. that we'll have highs in the 60s next week. The leaves are falling early (due to lack of rain) and are brown. I hope that the fall colors aren't all destroyed. US Open. The tournament is back on track with only two holdover games today. Andy Roddick lost to Argentina's #7 Juan Martin Del Potro (6-7 (1), 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4)) and 2009 US Open champion as expected but so did #1 Roger Federer which has not. Shockingly, he lost in 4 sets to #6 Czech Tomas Berdych. Later, Djokovic, Murray, Ferrar all reached the quarterfinals. On the women's side, Serena rolled on. She was a little shaky at the start of her match against Ana Ivanovic but quickly returned to form (6-1, 6-3). Maria Sharapova had a much harder time with Italian Marion Bartoli (3-6, 6-3, 6-4). Sara Errani and Victoria Azarenko (#1 in the world) are the other two semifinalists.
Oh, BTW, in case you haven't noticed, the Democrats are having their day, ending tonight with Obama's acceptance speech. And what's with this speeches by the wives? Are the political corridors and backrooms changing and opening more to listening to wome? Strangely, I haven't heard anything about Vice Pres. Biden!! Hmmmm, I wonder why? In honor of my friend Sparkle:
Amaryllis (Lat. Hippeastrum)
Have a thoroughly modern Thursday everyone.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 8, 2012 8:06:47 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. It's been raining off and on all morning, sometimes fairly heavily, but not dangerously so. I hope it improves - my son is taking a group on toor of the Rochester zoo today!! US Open: Yesterday we had the finals of the men's doubles, won for the 4th time by the American Bryan brothers (their 13th Grand Slam title tying then for the all-time record held by Aussie's Newcombe & Roche).
Then came the women's semi-final matches. First up was Maria Sharapova vs. Victoria Azarenko. Maria won the first set but lost the next two and so is out of the tournament and "Vicka" moves on to the finals tonight (8 p.m. EST). Her opponent? Need you ask? Serena Williams who defeated the little Italian #10 Sara Errani. 6-1, 6-2. Nut don't feel sorry for Sara. She and her doubles partner Roberta Vinci, seeded #1, will play for the US Open women's doubles title Sunday. So #1 Victoria Azarenka will face #4 Serena Williams in the women's singles final. Azarenka will be playing in her first US Open singles final while Williams will attempt to win her 4th US Open singles title (won 1999, 2002 and 2008). However, their match this evening has been postponed to sometime tomorrow.
This afternoon will be the men's semifinals: #3 Andy Murray facing #6 Tomas Berdych while #2 Novak Djokovic goes up against #4 David Ferrer. Unfortunately, the matches are being delayed by rain and are just getting underway now, an hour late - Murray vs Berdych are up first. Now on Sunday we'll have the Men's finals, the women's finals and the women's doubles final. Good luck. It's supposed to rain tomorrow also. All in all, today looks like a good one to curl up with a good book or take a nap and just let the hours go by.
Phaleanopsis of the orchid family from Sparkle's Daily Flowers I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Mystery Persons tonight at 5 p.m. EST, 10 p.m. UK time
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 10, 2012 8:53:07 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. It has certainly cooled down!! Last night I almost turned on the furnace and if tonight's forecast (near record low of 43F) is right, I'm going to have to. I am definitely not ready for this. US Open - it's day 15 and the last day with everything over except the men's finals: Andy Murray vs.Novak Djokovic. Yesterday afternoon, the women's final was played - Serena vs Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Serena won her 4th US Open singles title (15th Grand Slam title) but it took all three sets (6-2, 2-6, 7-5) and at one point she was down 3-5 in the final set. But champion that she is, she fought back and won.
So now it comes down to the men's final at 4 p.m. EST - Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray (Serbia vs. Scotland, defending champ vs. champ-wanna-be, #2 vs #3). Andy Murray is the best player in this generation to have never won a major tournament, but has come close losing in the final of four majors, losing 3 times to Roger Federer (including at Wimbledon this year & beat him for Olympic gold) and once to Novak Djokovic. Today is his 5th try for a Grand Slam title. I hope he gets it.
The Finger Lakes area is becomimg the alcoholic center for the northeast. We've long been producers of fine wines. And then someone started a microbrewery and that has spread like wildfire. I guess it was only inevitable - now we have our own distillery producing fine New York spirits - Finger Lakes Distilling. Like the wineries, microbreweries, it's open for tastings and sales all year round (except New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day).
Now we have an alcoholic beverage to fit anyone's taste. Just use them in moderation please!!
Dendrobium Orchid in memory of Sparkle - a flower of amazing adaptability found from the Himalayas to the deserts of Australia to the rain forests of southeast Asia.
Have a madcap Monday!!
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 12, 2012 8:23:57 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. What can I say. It's another fine late summer day. A perfect day for doing whatever you want outside or inside. So go for it!
US ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and three others, were killed in attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, protesting a poorly made controversial Prophet Muhammad video. The US Embassy in Cairo also was stormed.
And it is also a day for all Americans to stand together but Mitt Romney upped the criticism of Pres. Obama over it. He shows that partisan politics is more mportant than showing the world a unified USA in the face of these attacks. Shame on him. There is a time and place to attack the president but this isn't either. A California-based property developer and the idiot maker of the anti-Islamic film "Innocence of Muslims" who caused all this disaster has gone into hiding. Israeli-American writer and director Sam Bacile, 56, remained defiant, saying that he intended his film to be a political statement condemning the religion. "Islam is a cancer, period," the AP quoted him as repeatedly saying. I repeat - idiot!!
Strawflower (Lat. Helichrysum) in memeory of Sparkle
have a winsome Wednesday.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 14, 2012 7:24:27 GMT -7
Good morning everyone. Right now it's partly cloudy here with the sun trying to shine. It's cooled off and feels more like early autumn than late summer. Definitely cooling. So take advantage of the good weather while it's still here. I'm not ready for football yet. One thing/problem. The TV is becoming saturated with the game between the colleges and the NFL. So far this season, only Tuesday and Friday haven't had NFL games. I'd be careful if I were the NFL powers-that-be not to over saturat the public. One of the reasons for the NFL's popularity was its limited TV time. It made Sundays and then Monday night something special. Same with the colleges and Saturday. Now you can get a game almost any day of the week! As for all those protesters in the Middle East, most are young males with nohing better to do than cause trouble. I saw that in Lebanon they burned a KFC killing one person. In some places the German and British embassies have also been attacked? So wh'at the excuse for attacking those countries? The protesters are proving themselves to be as idiotic as the dunce who made the lousy video, who turns out to have a looooong rap sheet. Neither has any credibility.
White peonys in memory of Sparkle
TGIF everyone.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 16, 2012 10:25:14 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. It's definitely cooling but the days are still nice, but the nights are creeping ever closer to freezing. So we have to enjoy our time outside whle we still can.
Week 2 of the NFL - Giants vs Tam[a Bay, Bills vs. KC Chiefs and Jets vs. Steelers - We could be 3-0 or 0-3 of somewhere in between today here in New York. My son and I will be watching Buffalo first. They've just scored a rushing TD to go up 7-0. Today is the 392nd anniversary of the departure of the Pilgrims fro the New World from Plymouth, England. And, as they say, the rest is history.
sunflowers for Sparkle
Have a super Sunday everyone
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 18, 2012 10:30:01 GMT -7
Good afternoon everyone. It's been raining off and on all day and looks to continue that way. And the temps aren't getting ot of the 60s. Not one of my favorite days. There may be some justice left in the world of sleaze after all - "Court rules in favor of Kate over topless photos." The French court has ordered the photographer to hand over all topless photos and blocks further publicataion of the images. Good and I hope they stick the magazine with a hurtful penalty and not just a slap on the hand!! And while I'm talking headlines, how about this one - "American Airlines charging 'you-get-to-sit-with-your-kid' fee ($60)"? Talk about gouging the publlic in anyway you can.
Clematis for Sparkle. This flower belongs to the crowfoot family which counts about 300 different subspecies. The blossoms are always an eye candy.
Have a thumping good Tuesday everyone.
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Sept 20, 2012 7:10:33 GMT -7
Good morning my friends. Today it's sunny with bright blue skies but cool with temps in the 60s. Two more days to the equinox on the 22nd. I hope it's a wet one. Only a little over a week until the end of the baseball season. Then its the playoffs and World Series before the long dry spell of winter. Go Yankees!! And now it looks like the hockey season is in trouble. They've announced that the preseason games are cancelled because the owners have begun a lockout. Didn't they learn anything from four years ago when they wound up cancelling the whole season? Those owners are doing their best to destroy the fans interest in the NHL. My oldest grandson loves college so far. He's really enjoying his classes and seems to be settling in very nicely to college life. He's picked a great university with a high placement afterwards reputation.
Day Lily in remembrance of Sparkle. Day lilies (Lilien Lilium) belong to the Liliaceae family.They can appear in several different colors, mainly white, brown, red, orange, yellow.
Have a thrilling Thursday everyone.
|
|