Right now, there is a big debate as to what we are going to call this year. Should it be 20 10 or 2010? The 20 10 folks point out that their version uses one less syllable than 2010. Plus, they claim that it follows with tradition. The 2010 folks point out that it sounds warmer and less mechanical.

Why not take it one step further and just call the year “10”. After all, “10” has that ring of perfection to it. Plus it is one less syllable shorter that 20 10.

I hope debates like these are not indicative of the decade to come.

A New York woman was injured in a bar the other night when a 150 pound moose head fell on her. She is suing but it is a wonder that it didn’t kill her.

I imagine that it made for an interesting insurance claim.

Journal 5/23/00

I was praying when I saw a wooden duck (Donald Duck). It was a profile. The profile turned and faced me. Then, it turned into the cartoon duck and went into a full rage. No noise, just the motions. I asked why he was so mad but I did not get a reply. Next I saw an alien all dressed in white lying on a bed next to a large electronic machine. The alien was wearing a long white robe and had a round globe on its head. Its hands were more like brown pincher’s. Its face was green and very irregular. It sat up and turned towards me.

San Francisco is reporting that hundreds of Sea Lions have disappeared from the bay. The population which is normally around 1,500 is now down to about 150.

Scientist are at a loss as to their sudden disappearance. But, then again, scientists are at a loss as to why there were so many Sea Lions in the first place. Some are speculating that the same schools of fish that attracted the Sea Lions to the bay have now moved out to sea and taken the Sea Lions with them.

Of course, when all of the dolphins disappeared in the science fiction series “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”, it was because the earth was going to be destroyed to make room for an intergalactic through way.

Maybe the Sea Lions know something that we don’t.

Erick Gates, the 47 year old guy from Myth Busters, died when he fell 30 feet through a sky light that he was working on. The article that I read showed a picture of the two famous guys from the show. Unfortunately, neither in the picture were Erick Gates.

I guess they didn’t have a picture of Erick Gates but they did have a really good picture of Adam and Jamie so they posted that instead. RIP Erick Gate who ever you are.

First it was a couple driving down the side of the mountain on a hiking trail. Then it was a woman driving into a river. Now, I read about a Nevada couple who got stranded for three days in the mountains of Oregon after driving down a logging road. What do all of these people have in common? GPS systems.

In all three of these events, the drivers made wrong turns. Why, because they were following the instructions from their GPSs.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that GPS systems are great. But, they are only as good as the person using them.

So, while technology can do wonderous things, it can’t replace common sense.

The other day, we received a very nice Christmas floral arrangement of roses and carnations. When the flowers faded, I decided that we could revive the arrangement by putting in new roses and carnations. So, I headed for a flower shop to buy some red carnations.

When I walked into the shop I was greeted by a young lady who asked if she could help me. She seemed way too happy, so I concluded that she must be seasonal help.

When I told her that I need 6 red carnations, she said that they were all out of red. But, she did say that they had some dark red carnations if I was interested. When I said that dark red would be fine, she smiled and headed for the cooler.

A few moments later, she emerged from the cooler with several bundles of carnations. She said that they were out of the dark red carnations and asked if red and white variegated would work. I told her that the variegated would be just fine. She smiled and said “K”!

She asked if I wanted them delivered. I told her “No”. Then she asked if I wanted them boxed. Again I told her “No”. Finally, she asked if I wanted them in a vase, to which I said “No, just wrap them up in some tissue paper.”

I could tell by the look on her face as she was wrapping them that she was confused. Since I didn’t want them boxed or in a vase, what was I going to do with them? So, finally she asked.

Knowing that I was not going to escape the questions until I provided an answer, I told her that I was going to eat them in a salad. Immediately, her face brightened and she seemed satisfied with my answer.

As I went out the door, she said “enjoy your flowers”!

Lowell really gets into the Christmas spirit. On one of the road side crosses marking the location of a recent traffic death, some one has hung a Santa’s hat.

To each their own I guess.

Journal 05/11/00

I saw something while praying. It was an African tribal shield off to the lower right of me. There was a voice behind the shield that called me a sinner. I told him that I was redeemed and it vanished. I never saw who was behind the shield.

Lowell is not known for being politically correct.  Prayer is allowed in the public school both by the students and the administration.  Because of this, it is no surprise that people around here say Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays.  So, in following the spirit of the community, Merry Christmas!