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THE WEISS CHRONICLES
Chronological Account of the Weiss family with contextual remarks, some weather, sports and other news.
You can write to me at: mhw20854@yahoo.com
The people in the Weiss family are: Martin, Ann, Beth and George. I also sometimes write about other people or our pet.
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Digital camera records George
George placed a file in our harddrive that has him dropping something and saying "nothing to see here", which modeled a famous episode in his first year at college when he spilled a large container of Kool Aid type drink. Tonite G also disabled our firewall which had begun interfering with normal operations (our ISP tortured us into installing the firewall a few months ago during a computer virus pretend emergency).
Monday, December 29, 2003
Calls and the Bank
Beth, still at the Natl Kidney Foundation got a call from someone named Cruickshank (similar to Hermione's cat in the Harry Potter series).
George was cashing in some bonds at the bank (for part of the tuition for next semester). The bank asked for $8 as a service fee and then wanted $8 more when the number of bonds exceeded 24 (they were mostly $50 bonds). G told them that he didn't think he should have to pay another service charge just because the bank had incompetently written software. The bank teller said he had never had more than 24 bonds before and didn't know what to do and after a conference they agreed not to charge a second $8.
Sunday, December 28, 2003
2nd Time isn't the Charm - also a word about food
Beth gave blood for the second time today. The first time, about a year ago, she fainted. This time she made sure her diet had plenty of iron - even took multivitamin supplements. So after she gave blood, not only did she faint, she also through up. There won't be a 3rd time.
Today we finished two things from Friday night's evening meal. One was a chinese cabbage, onion, sunflower seeds and oil/vineger salad that Beth made that was very good. The other was some cactus that was on sale when I bought it; let's just say it wasn't worth the 65cents/lb.
Friday, December 26, 2003
Impossible Grocery Item and an Oprah comment
Today I was off work and Beth and Ann had given me a grocery list.
I read it and told Beth, "I don't think this item exists"
Beth (who knows that I dislike psychobabble) said, "Well, think of it as a challenge. If you don't challenge yourself, you won't grow as a person."
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Stopped by police
In am., A and M went to the Hebrew Home and did a bunch of hours of volunteer stuff. Late in the pm. G and M saw LoTR(3) today. 3.5 hour movie. Neither of us thought it was as good as LoTR(1). On the way home, M driving, was stopped by police who thought he was drunk (actually I was still a bit dippy from the long movie). When M got home, he told Beth who said, "Now I'm going to worry whenever you go out."
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Beth and George Stories
Today Beth completed an afghan that she had begun in about 2000. I held the material for the last three rows. She bought the yarn that was already alternate colored so she wouldn't have to change yarn balls. Without this efficiency it might have taken another 2 years. Beth is using a small amount of glitter now on her face, near the eyes and on her fingernails. I had previously said that I thought this look, which I attribute to Brittany Spears, is very cute.
Today George made two trips to Montgomery Mall and faced the parking and shopping crowd. He went to get a new set of eyeglass frames. The first time, they sold him an frame that had some costume jewelery in it so we thought it was glasses for girls. The second time, it was without the jewelery and cost $80 less.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Beer in the backyard
It was relatively warm today (50s) and I was home from work. I enjoyed part of the day having a beer and sitting in the backyard; this activity is normally done in the summer.
Sunday, December 21, 2003
Lots of eating
In the am, Ann and I went to a Bar Mitzvah (Hannukah - 3 aliyot) and they had a very nice luncheon. Then in the pm, Irwin and Cheryl were over and brought Chinese take out from Balt. (better than what is available here- we have only one kosher Chinese restaurant). Beth and Cheryl attempted to look for a dress for Beth on the internet. Harder than it looks because Beth's specifications, while seemingly reasonable, aren't what stores generally sell.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Parking a U of Md.
Today, I picked G up at College Park. I parked illegally, egregiously so after driving on grass and sidewalk. No ticket. This is a career highlight.
Friday, December 19, 2003
I'd like to give away my Cadillac Convertible; cards
Beth was working at the Kidney Foundation (a 6 week temp job). One one of the calls yesterday was from someone in the midwest who wanted to give the Kidney Foundation an 80s era Cadillac Convertible. A couple had bought it when they were married but it was no longer suitable because they had kids. Sigh.
at bridge today (during lunch) the first 5 hands had 2 all pass and 3 others where the final contract was 3clubs
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Rain and bus and car
All three local airports have now exceeded 60" of precip for the year. At our house, the grass stayed green all year and the azaleas never needed watering. With cold temperatures, flowers bloomed late and vegetables barely ripened at all.
Yesterday's rain was also accompanied by the morning bus schedule being fowled up and I spent 40 minutes waiting for it (the bus not the schedule).
Picked up the car today. It was about $550 for the wheel and tire work - we weren't able to find used wheels. Fixing the bumper will be another $500. I actually question the bill and told the company they made a mistake and charged me too little for labor ($15). They agreed; the labor part was supposed to be about $60.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Interesting weekend
Beth was away at a Rabbi's house (not our Rabbi). Ann and I went to a long very sumptuous Sabbath lunch. We were one of 4 invited couples (there were the host couple and their grown children). I told one fairly famous lawyer what the Chebacca defense was. Then today Saddam was captured. An Iraqi blogger who lives in Baghdad said, "....The celebratory fire, and the smiles on everyones faces is reminisent of the victory scene at the end of Return of The Jedi, when the Death Star was destroyed signifying the end of the Empire. The scene here in Baghdad is truly one worthy of a John Williams soundtrack!..." Now remember that's an Iraqi using the same movie metaphor I would use. His blog is at: http://whosyourbaghdaddy.blog-city.com/read/393360.htm
The chewbacca defense is defined as any legal argument that is basically nonsense. The phrase originated in the animated TV series South Park, in the second season episode Chef Aid. It is explained at the site: http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbacca_Defense
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Earthquake [REALLY!!], Car Repair
Well we had an earthquake here today about 4:00pm. I felt the house vibrate a little then rest then a little vibration again. The quake originated about 2 miles below the ground and the epicenter was 30 miles west of Richmond, VA. The magnitude was 4.5.
The next day a list of east coast quakes was in the newspaper. This quake seems to have been the strongest in this area in more than 100 years. I felt the quake because I was on the 2nd floor of our house and sitting in a chair with a flexible back and the back moved a bit - there were two shocks about 10 seconds apart.
REPAIR
The wasn't fixed Monday. They couldn't get the used wheels (which cost about half what new wheels cost) and by the time they realized it I had already left the office. So I wasted an extra hour.
Today (Tuesday) I did a bunch of phoning around trying to get an aftermarket price on the wheels for the car. No luck after about 6 calls and interminable holding. When I googled Pep Boys (a nationwide parts store), the first two websites were placed by people ticked off by bad Pep Boys service.
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Weather, Car Repair and three dreams
Forecast for snow was pretty accurate. We got snow both Friday Dec 5 and Saturday Dec 6 in approximately the amount forecast (5"). Damascus, Md, only 12 miles away got about 3 times as much snow as we did.
The car wasn't repaired by my COB Friday (it was to have been repaired about 5pm, by which time sabbath had started). I have been on the phone with the Maryland Highway Dept. and I might get them to pay for the damage. I had surveyed the exit that Beth used and there was a broken wooden barrier in a place that it shouldn't have been. Probably running over that blew the tires.
Both Beth and I had dreams after supper Dec 5 (Dec 6, we read in Genesis about Jacob's dream with the ladder). Beth dreamed she got a recipe from a famous Rabbi in Israel. I dreamt that Kesher Israel (a synagogue that I've never prayed at) had built a racer to enter in the Indianapolis 500 (a race I've never gone to) and had put me in charge of hiring the pit crew. George informed us later than weekend that he had also had a dream after supper on Dec 5. In his dream, two rabbis he knows personally met with untimely death, one from a traffic accident.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Movie, Car Repair, Weather
Ann and M went to see "Master and Commander". Great Cinatography, acting by Russell Crowe. Incredible scene where doctor who had been shot helped his assistant operation on him.
The car repair place tried to get me to buy expensive tires. Both wheels/rims were damaged. This is going to cost about $500 + not counting the under bumper repair. Not fixed today. Should be ready tomorrow.
As Ann & M were leaving movie, sleet began. Forecast is for 2-4".
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Bad Week for Things
Two days ago, M replaced the pump/battery controller. It had cost $175 to replace the electronic unit. The problem had started when the controller had begun beeping for no reason. Within 15 minutes of being replaced it has started beeping again. The device requires a metal rod being inserted into the battery to test the water level. No battery made in the past 15 years has such an insertion valve. The company said to put the rod into the positive part of the battery but that didn't work. This will be a continuing story.
Today, Beth was on her way home from a job related test in Virginia. At the freeway exit 0.5 miles from our house, the two right tires blew out - something on the road. There may be rim damage also. The under- bumper also was damaged. We had the tower take the car to a tire store but they said they don't do rims. Arrg. We then had the tower take the car to the tower's home base. It was cold but not snowing or raining and I had gotten home early for a dental appointment so I could help Beth. Not very Murphy-like.
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