I've Moved!

I am integrating my blog into my website, so please visit me at JennGrover.com

We Interrupt This Broadcast...

NE Hurricane Could Cripple Economy, Experts Say Direct Hit On NYC Could Cost $200B — And Is Not Unlikely - CBS News: Now, taking a break from the Mideast War between Israel and Hezbollah to discuss the weather, here is meteorologist wannabe, Jenn Grover. Boy, is it HOT! The mercury topped 100 degrees here in the Steel City today and the humidity seems to not be lagging far behind the mercury. We had a couple of fast and furious thunderstorms yesterday. In one storm, more than 2 inches of rain fell within a half of an hour. The rain is helping to keep the grass and flowers from burning up, so I am grateful for these wet spells. Now on to more interesting weather news. Although the Atlantic hurricane season has seemed relatively quiet thus far, it is to soon to count out 2006 as a memorable storm season, especially on the East Coast. "A major northeast hurricane is nearly three times more likely this year thanks to favorable weather conditions, including the position of the Bermuda High. Last year it pushed storms southwest. Now it's set to steer hurricanes up the East Coast. 'Northern hurricanes move two to three times faster than southern hurricanes, so they're gonna be here much sooner,' Coastal Geologist Nicholas Coch told Miller. 'So a hurricane that is off the coast of Charleston will be here in eight hours. That fast.' " So, should one of these storms whisk up the coast, be prepared: my video camera and I will be bustling eastward to bring you firsthand storm coverage from the coastal town of Toms River, NJ. Now, back to our regular scheduled programming.

Mideast Crisis

I have been at a loss for what to think or say about the Mideast "crisis". It is not because I am unclear as to how I view Israel's role, it is because I have concluded that this war is not rocket science, warranting careful analysis. Instead, it is merely another chapter in the story of the attack of Israel as a nation. The agenda is not disguised. Quite simply, the agenda of Hezbollah is to destroy Israel and the agenda of Israel is to destroy Hezbollah. Nobody even argues that both Syria and Iran back Hezbollah. Therefore, there is really not much left to tear apart. I believe that is why news coverage has been a bit dull. I do not go so far as to necessarily agree with Newt Gingrich's assertion that it is the 58th year of WW III, however, Mr. Gingrich's point is well taken. Furthermore, as was the case for many points of the Cold War, we could be on the eve of WW III. So, instead of analyzing this war to pieces, I will simply try to simply clarify the facts as I see them.

1. Hezbollah has been launching rocket attacks into northern Israel for months.
2. The Lebanese government failed to rid them selves of a terrorist army which is about one third the size of the Lebanese army, therefore failing to fulfill a UN resolution (not that I think too much of the UN, mind you).
3. Hezbollah kidnapped 2 Israeli soldiers and killed eight others.
4. Hezbollah was not anticipating such a strong show of force from the Israelis.
5. Hezbollah's arsenal is that of an army, requiring training by an army (Iran).
6. Al Quaeda has now vowed to "not stay silent" and seeks the domination of Islam from the Mideast to Spain.
7. Israel has been clear that it will use all necessary means to destroy Hezbollah.
8. Many Arab states have condemned the actions of Hezbollah.
9. John Kerry claims the war would not have happened if had been president.
10. The world has called upon the US to provide leadership in the "peace" process.

Now, the following should not to be confused with analysis, just a few opinions on the situation:

1. Americans who got a free ride out of the war zone have no right to complain about the speed in which they were evacuated. Those people chose to place themselves in a volatile region.
2. I think Iran and Syria are using this as a way to position the West and Israel against Arab states.
3. I think John Kerry is nuts. What fool would have the audacity to claim his leadership could have prevented war in a region that has been at war for centuries?
4. I think former President Clinton would have handled the situation much like President Bush is handling it.
5. Why is it that the world can demand our intervention? They weren't happy with our intervention in Iraq, so let's let the French and Germans take a stab at it!
6. I think Syria will provoke Israel into striking them, thus opening the door for Iranian involvement.
7. I think the war will be a boost for Republicans in mid-terms.
8. I think the war will change our economy in ways we can't even think of today.
9. I think the war will invite more terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
10. I don't think President Bush cares about his approval ratings any more and will make better decisions as a result.

Tickled Pink?

Pretty in pink...Peptobysmal Pink..Tickled pink? Which will best describe me when the painting of the spare bedroom is over? Today I applied the 2 base coats of semi-gloss. The next part is a 2 day process. I need to mark off the room sections and apply the glaze and then perform the faux technique to every other section. The second day I fill in the blank sections. Then on the third day I pint the trim. I have yet to obtain and cut window trim. That may not happen before Friday (When William and Bethany arrive.) I might eventually paint the furniture in that room However, I am starting to tire of my summer projects, so I 'll finish what I have going first. By the way, the ceiling (which required spackling and stain locker) turned out much better than I anticipated. Let me take the opportunity to plug the Wagner Power Roller Quick Touch. I am not a painter. I am not good and therefore I do not enjoy it. However, the Power Roller has helped me in one of my better paint jobs yet. It also makes short business of painting a room.

Where Have I Been?

You might be wondering why there has been a recent dive in my postings. Well, I guess blogging might be more of a "Winter Sport" for me. I have been busy working on summer projects. Among those projects are:

• Rewiring outlets and installing GFCI receptacles
• Gardening (mulch, weeding)
• Installing a new house number
• Stripping a door (will stain and varnish when the air is dryer)
• Ripping out carpet from basement steps and attic steps
• Repairing a broken air conditioner (unclogging drain pipe)
• Repairing water damage (drywall work and painting)
• Repainting the spare bedroom ( did the ceiling today- 2 coats, I hope to do the walls tomorrow with a Ralph Lauren faux painting in a canvas style) This included removing the trim from around the windows - the trim was yucky

I plan on ripping out the carpet in the basement and attic, but that may wait until the winter. The attic has hardwood that can be finished. I am thinking of putting a "spreadstone" surface in the basement over the concrete sub floor.

Desensitized to Nuclear Threat?

FOXNews.com - North Korea Vows 'Annihilating' Nuclear Strike if United States Attacks Pre-Emptively - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum As late as the 1980's any threat of a nuclear assault would have dominated the headlines of news agency worldwide and sent a fierce, sobering chill down the spine of every American. Today, North Korea threatened to retaliate with an "annihilating" nuclear strike if the U.S. makes the first move in what has turned out to be a throw back cold war era stale mate. Why is it that Americans no longer seem to fear a nuclear war? Do we believe that rogue states like North Korea and Iran do not truly have the capability to hit the U.S.? Is it because Americans feel that terrorists dirty bombs are a much more realistic threat? Or, perhaps it has to do with geography. During the most anxious days of the Cold War, our enemies were storing their warheads next door, in a tiny little island just 90 miles south of Florida. These backyard threats were close enough to strike the nation's capital and most densely populated Eastern seaboard cities, whereas North Korea is not a threat to these areas. Whatever the reason, Americans, or at least the American press, is more consumed with the high price of gas at the pump than they are the overt aggressive threat of a nuclear attack by our present day "Axis of Evil". It seems as though Americans feel that the threat that existed during the Cold War fell with the former Soviet regime.

Too Much to Keep Up With

There is way too much weather for me to keep up with. Interestingly enough I am familiar with the areas in central NY and North Central PA that are under water (I grew up in that general area). I noticed that the Tioga Lake area was maxed out in the PA Grand Canyon area. That spells potential trouble for Pittsburgh. This area drains into the Allegheny River, the river that flows right in front of PNC Park (Home to this year's MLB All-Star Game). I found that channel 18 (NBC) in Elmira had the best video coverage in the area. http://www.wetmtv.com/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=2275@video.wetmtv.com,2274@video.wetmtv.com,2273@video.wetmtv.com,2272@video.wetmtv.com,2271@video.wetmtv.com,2270@video.wetmtv.com,2267@video.wetmtv.com&navCatId=5&2=2

Treo 700w Review

Most of my friends will have zero interest in this review, but imagine there are a couple of geeks out there like me who will be at least mildly interested. I had been hoping my HP iPAQ Pocket PC would last until next year, when I planned on upgrading to a Smartphone (combination PDA/cell phone). I was happy that Palm had created a Treo (I have been pronouncing it Tray-o, but have been corrected repeatedly, it's trio) that was Windows based. Well the Treo 700w arrived in the last year. I knew a couple of people who had one and they seemed pleased with its performance. I will pause for a moment to lament the horrible performance given to me by my iPaq. Not only was the device unstable, but the customer support at HP was awful. After less than 2 full years, my iPAQ began a slow and painful death about 2 weeks ago. I was fortunate to have my data backed up on my PC. As sad as I was to move my purchase up by about a year, I am happy to say goodbye to the iPaq. Before the iPaq, I owned 2 Handspring Visors and was very pleased with their performance, but really wanted a Windows OS and the benefit of the Windows utilities and programs. Just before my iPaq died, the Motorola Q entered the scene. It was intriguing. It looks like a decent device but there 3 primary strikes against it. First, it is wider in size (although I believe that it boasts a slightly larger screen, but not by much). Secondly, no touchscreen. I took a week to sample how often I used the touchscreen on my iPaq. I realized that I used it all of the time. The lack of a touchscreen turned out to be the deciding factor. Lastly, I thought it was too thin. I know Motoral has enjoyed the success of the Razr because it so thin, but I just didn't care for it. As clumsy as I am, I need something to hang onto. What I like about the Treo 700W. First, I love Windows Mobile 5. The interface is great, the functionality is awesome. I love the voice commands. I can say "open Calendar" and it opens the application. I love the Wireless Sync support by VZ Wireless. I loved that it came with a charged battery. When was the last time you took an electronics device out of the box and the first step was not, "Make sure device has been fully charged before setup"? The device itself was a breeze to set up. Everything was clearly marked and very simple. Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the battery was more robust than I had anticipated. There are a few things that could use improvement. First, there really isn't a lot of improvement of how the device manages its ROM in terms of having several application running at once. Secondly, there were basically no instructions for Wireless Sync. However, a very nice gentleman from Verizon Wireless support walked me through the process.

What's Left but Global Warming?

Breaking News Latest News And Media Current News - FOXNews.com The economy is healthy, over 500 WMD's were found in Iraq (another buried story), and another terrorist plot was foiled. What do the Dems have left to criticize the Republicans for except "global warming", that favorite liberal baby, substantiated by creative science. The mid-terms ought to be very interesting. The two emerging Democratic themes are "the Republican culture of corruption" and "global warming". Most would agree that they don't hold a candle to the war on terror that we are winning and a robust economy. Let's hope Americans are smart enough to figure out that high gas prices don't equate a sluggish economy. After all, if the economy were not fairly healthy, Americans couldn't afford those prices at the pumps!

TIME.com: Exclusive Book Excerpt: How an Al-Qaeda Cell Planned a Poison-gas Attack on the N.Y. Subway -- Page 1

TIME.com: Exclusive Book Excerpt: How an Al-Qaeda Cell Planned a Poison-gas Attack on the N.Y. Subway -- Page 1 This is one of those stories Americans need to know about, yet it was buried in weekend stories and didn't make much of a headline.

'Wonderful Life' is most inspiring movie - Jun 15, 2006

CNN.com - 'Wonderful Life' is most inspiring movie - Jun 15, 2006 Why is it that Americans all love George Bailey? Is it because he is an underdog? Is it because he is a Robin Hood of sorts, helping the poor? Is it is his loyalty? Or, is it because we all believe we are George Bailey? Whatever the reason(s), America loves George Bailey has surged in popularity since it copyright expired in the 1980's.

Have a Drink

I found myself particularly parched today so imagine my refreshment when I read the following from Spurgeon:

“We have great demands, but Christ has great supplies.  Between here and heaven, we may have greater wants than we have yet known.  But all along the journey, every resting place is ready; provisions are laid up, good cheer is stored, and nothing has been overlooked.  The commissary of the Eternal is absolutely perfect.

Do you sometimes feel so thirsty for grace that you could drink the Jordan dry?  More than a river could hold is given to you, so drink abundantly, for Christ has prepared a bottomless sea of grace to fill you with all the fullness of God.  Do not be frugal Do not doubt you Savior.  Do not limit the Holy One of Israel.  Be great in your experience of His all-sufficiency  Be great in your praises of His bounty, and in heaven you will pour great treasures of gratitude at His feet.”

I can only pray to be granted the faith to believe this.

Alberto Expected to Become a Hurricane

TBO.com Tampa Bay Florida Weather Center: Hurricane Alberto is the first tropical depression of the year, first tropical storm of the year, and within the hour is expected to now become the first hurricane of the year. It is unusually early for the Atlantic to see a hurricane, nearly a month earlier than last year. Alberto has exceed early expectations in what started out as a poorly organized storm and has steadily gained strength. Alberto also seems to be following a more northerly track and is expected to make landfall at the bend in the peninsula, travelling landward to Georgia.

Wild and Crazy Hair!

It is not just a bad hair day it is his hair everyday! We are all getting a kick out of William’s CRAZY hair. At first, I called him Baby Einstein (because of his exceptional intelligence and wild hair. However, I am now starting to see that he looks more like Beaker. What do you think? (For more looks at this handsome devil, visit Chuck’s website)

Hola Alberto!

Welcome to the real start of the Atlantic Hurricane season. Alberto became a tropical storm this A.M. Alberto is not likely to grow into a powerful storm but is to cut a swath through Florida late Monday before reentering the Atlantic on Tuesday. The Sunshine State riddled with wildfires this year, is welcoming the rains already produced by this storm system. The current model shows the storm’s eye making landfall just south of the Tampa Bay area. Floods watches are currently in effect with four to eight inches of rain expected to fall with this storm system. Visit Accuweather’s Hurricane Center for updates.

Is the Terror Network as Connected as We Think?

Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria postulated that perhaps the Bush administration was making a grave error in it's inclusion of all terrorist activity in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). He likened the administration's approach to the U.S.'s view of Communism in the 1950's, to the networking of Al Qaeda asserting that perhaps some incidents in Somalia and Afghanistan were more isolated rather than planned through a terror network. I think Zakaria raises a valid question. Not to discount Al Qaeda's threat, but isn't it possible that a significant degree of networking has been paralyzed through the GWOT and now we are seeing more of the effect of isolated incidents carried out by fundamentalist Islamistattempting to perpetuate the vision of terror leaders who have either been terminated or been disconnected by the GWOT? Not being privy to the intelligence that the administration receives regularly (and not desiring to be privy, either) I will not submit that Zakaria is right in his view, but will submit that his question is one worth considering.

Why am I a Weather Freak?

We all know 1 person (If you know me and Suzie, you know 2!) that has an unexplainable fascination with weather. Sometimes it is repressed but peaks out in the form with frequent viewing of the Weather Channel, having some type of weather device in the system tray of his or her PC, or just simply always being able to spout off the 5 day forecast. I am not sure why I am a weather freak, but I come from a line of them. My tiny little 4'10" Grammy Grover was the first weather freak I knew. She could tell wonderful stories about Hurricanes Hazel and Agnes. She knew how to be prepared for nearly any emergency. As a little girl, I was so excited to receive a tiny little oil lamp from her that could be used in a power outage. Though it is damaged, I still have the lamp. My dad was the second weather freak I knew. He knew the forecast for all of the areas where his children lived. I remember when we moved into our new house, he ceased the advantage of a the remnants of a tropical storm, and was found out in the elements seeding our new lawn. As a volunteer fireman and former first responder, he also was quick to help in weather emergencies. During his last political campaign a letter to the editor of the editor was written commending my dad for being out in the road after a storm, directing people away form an area that had suffered a flash flood. My brother Scott also is a weather enthusiast. When he took a job downstate NY, he brought one of his walkie talkies with him because it had a weather band. So, although my fascination with weather is unexplainable and odd to people who are not into the weather, at least you can it is natural for me to have become a weather freak. So bear with me if you see me tune to the Weather Channel or my posts seem enthralled with storm action.

Release the Hounds! - First Tropical Depression of 2006 Forms

While June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, it is difficult to become to excited until the first sign of oceanic action. Well, it is here. The first tropical depression of 2006 has formed and has the potential of emerging into the first named storm of the year today (Alberto). With the Atlantic significantly colder now than last year at this time, it is unlikely that the depression will capture the necessary energy to form into a significant storm. Stay tuned for more exciting posts during hurricane season 2006.

Memorial Day at the Shore

I visited Chuck, Bethany, and of course, William this weekend along with Bethany's parents this weekend. We visited a lighthouse and climbed to the top, went to the beach, played mini-golf, and Chuck and I saw united 93. Visit Chuck's website for more pictures.

Human to Human Bird Flu Reported

Bloomberg.com: Asia Indonesian health officials are investigating seven human bird flu cases where the patients all seem to be linked to each other. It should be noted that this outbreak is still under investigation. However, if the human to human bird flu has evolved it is cause for alarm because of the anticipated inability of health officials to isolate the disease and the likelihood of disease mutation. Have you made preparations for a bird flu outbreak or other emergency by stocking up (at least moderately) with the necessities to support your family? If it isn't the bird flu, it isn't too far-fetched to imagine that any of us may experience at minimum brief power and water outages from this year's hurricane season. If you live along the cost (hint...hint to my brother on the NJ coast) are you prepared by obtaining supplies to shore up home such as plywood and duct tape? Click Here to read my post about personal preparedness and civic responsibility.

Do You Know the Tree?

Does anyone know what kind of tree this is? I really like it, but I don't like where it is and am wondering if I can move it.

Iran or Nazi Germany?

Print Story - canada.com network Iranian parliament passed a law that requires Jews and Christians to wear badges that identify them according their religion. I can't imagine why any Jewish person would want to live in Iran. I wonder what the Iranians will pull next.

A Couple of Reviews

I should have known better, but like a dog returning to his...well, you know the rest. In an attempt to plan my meals again, I picked up a Betty Crocker Slow Cooker Helper meal from the freezer department. I thought Chicken and Dumplings sounded good. In my mind I was anticipating something close to Cracker Barrel. What I got was something on the level of an old fashioned TV Dinner. It was awful. It would be useful, however, to those on a diet. You certainly would not be tempted to over-eat. Betty Crocker Slow cooker Helper is a definite no-go.

For you dog owners who desperately want to train your dog, or maybe you have a well-behaved dog, but you need a little more security when Rover is off leash, I recommend the Tri-tronics Sport Remote Training Collar. They used to be called shock collars, but the animal rights people have classified animals with people, so it is now more politically correct to call it a remote training collar. Although some people belong in the same category as animals, animals do not belong in the same category as people. Anyway, Buddy has been using the remote training collar for a few weeks now. It is AWESOME! I have rarely had to "shock" him and we can now enjoy time in the yard or park off-leash. (In case you wondered, it was always so embarrassing been seen with a collar around my neck and trotting next to my dog when he took me on walks.) The other night Buddy was in hot pursuit of a rabbit. It was his dream come true. With his ears flopping in the wind and his gait carrying him at full speed (it's actually the only time I have seen him in a dead run) I called for him to come (no shock needed) and he came bolting back to me immediately. Jenn and Buddy give the Tri-tronics remote training collar two thumbs and one tail up! Sunlight Gel dishwasher detergent: bad it globs together and does not do a good job cleaning dishes. L.L. Bean classic t-shirts: outstanding. One of the softest t-shirts I have ever worn. The stitching around the collar is a lot nicer than most t-shirts as well. It gives it a bit of a more feminine look.

Well, that is about it for this round of Consumer Corner. I will leave you with a household tip, courtesy of John Hunt of Toms River, NJ. Household Hint: To free a clogged drain pour the following ingredients down the clogged drain in this order:

1. 1 Cup of liquid laundry detergent
2. 1 cup of Clorox
3. 2 quarts of boiling water

It works pretty well!

Under the Weather

Yes, it continues to rain in Pittsburgh, but that is not why I am feeling under the weather. We are having the worst allergy season in more than a decade here in the 'burgh. So, bear with me during my slow down of posts.

A Little Lesson in Diversity

CNN.com - Sen. Clinton apologizes to Chelsea for work comment - May 15, 2006 Remember when Hillary Clinton mocked the stay-at-home moms, who in her words, stayed home and baked cookies all day? Remember when Hillary Clinton shot a snipe a First Lady Laura Bush, questioning of the former librarian had ever held a real job? Now, Hillary Clinton, who appears to be gearing up for a run at the 2008 Presidency, has taken a pot shot at young people, by claiming that they believe that "work" is a four letter word and eliciting the rebuff of her own six figure salary earning daughter. What this trend of insults reveals is a classic lack of appreciation for diversity. In addressing the latter episode, behaviorists have documented the differences between generations for quite some time now. Starting with Generation X and proceeding with the generations that follow, an increasing trend of rejecting a workaholic mentality that abandons family life and other values like faith has emerged. Instead, grown children of unchurched families now occupy seats in places of worship and an increasing amount of younger women have rejected the feminist lie that a validated woman has to pursue a career outside of the home and have opted to enjoy the differences of their femininity by staying at home with their children. Position, status, money, and power do not entice the younger generations like they enticed the generation of Mrs. Clinton. The reasons for this rejection vary: growing up in broken homes absent, uninvolved parents, the emptiness of a life without values imparted through faith, just to name a few. Unfortunetely for liberal America, their heroine, Mrs. Clinton, has her ideals stuck in the feminist era of the 70's and has failed to represent the "progressive thinking" that has been by the touted by Democrats for years. This type of thinking demonstrates that liberals are to really as inclusive or tolerant as they would like us to believe. To read an interesting article about four generations at work, click here.

Heavy Rains Headed For Pittsburgh Area

kdka.com - Heavy Rains Headed For Pittsburgh Area I have felt like an episode from Sarah Plain and Tall waiting for rain. Many of you know that Pittsburgh is notorious for rain. As a matter of fact, we receive the second most cloud cover in the country, second to the Seattle area. Like the most of the Mid-Atlantic, it has been quite sometime since we have had substantial rainfall. To be honest, normally I would not be that concerned. The water table is not in a defecit situation and we are not conserving water yet. However, this Spring, I planted Grass and and some summer bulbs and flower seeds. For the last two weeks I have been diligently watering my plantings in what seemed to be a vain attempt. Overnight we got little rain and I had grass springing out of the ground to greet me this morning! Better yet, it is currently pouring down rain and rain is in the forecast for the next several days. It will be great allergy relief as well.

How to Bathe a Cat

How to Bathe a Cat - WikiHow

I don't hate cats. I like them, but I am allergic to them. I couldn't pass up this post. On my Google home page, I have a section that display top "How To's". Today's How-To section featured "How to bathe a Cat". Recalling my own horrific experiences as a child trying to bathe my own cat, I took a gander. They were as ridiculous as I had imagined. I will share a few of my personal favorite tips below, note my remarks in red.

Trim all nails before even attempting to wash a cat. It will reduce scratching. Notice that scratching is a forgone conclusion. If they prefer to only have two of their feet in the water, face them towards the back of the tub and let them stand on two feet. How would you know if they prefer 2 or 4 feet?

Talk quietly to your cat and keep a good grip on the neck or shoulders. Sometimes the cats will try to get out of the tub. Maybe affirmations like, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful." might work. If these affirmations consider an appointment with Dr. Leo Marvin. His groundbreaking new work, "Baby Steps to Cat Bathing" is already a best-seller in Uzbekistan.

Have two towels for drying ready. Drain the water from around the cat and press as much water out of the coat before you wrap in the towel. Rub gently with one towel. The first one will be pretty soaked. That's why you switch to the drier one and finish drying till damp. It helps if you warm the towels in the dryer first. I wish my towels were warmed when I get out of the shower.

Short-haired cats can finish drying themselves in the bathroom as long as they're away from drafts. For long-haired cats, you will have to use a comb and the hair dryer to finish drying. Long hairs will mat easily in wet fur and you have to comb them as they dry. Let me know how the hair dryer works out. I think again you may consider scratching a forgone conclusion.

Alternate Shower Techniques

Recognize that it may be helpful to wash your cat in a shower stall (if you have one with a door, not curtain). The cat is essentially trapped in the shower with out you having to hold on. Make sure the cat has good traction (a small towel in the bathtub will help if you have no rubber mat) or you will have a panic-stricken cat that is likely to seek safety in height by trying to climb you like a tree. Having a cat climb up me like a tree sounds especially appealing - sign me up.

Tips

Your cat has its own personality. While these are all good suggestions, be aware of your cat's reactions, and be prepared to adjust tactics accordingly. Translation: Cats are snobby and cannot stand being wet. However, since you have decided to bathe your cat, be prepared for the worst.

Brave souls may find it easier to put on old clothing and sit in the tub holding the cat (however the cat typically likes to be held) and letting someone else actually bathe the cat. You must be kidding.......

In order to reduce chances of getting scratched, you may decide to put your cat inside a mesh laundry bag before bathing her. Make sure that you are able to keep her head above water at all times--this is very traumatic for your cat, and will only serve to justify its fears about bathing. Use it only in urgent situations (i.e. cat covered in potentially toxic substance). This is my personal favorite. Just how exactly does one stuff dear kitty into a mesh bag?

Another idea that some have used, which is not so cruel as a little funny, is to attach small doll socks to their feet. This will not eliminate all of the potential scratching, but will help. Keep in mind that the socks make it difficult for the cat to walk, so remove them when the bath is over. This idea was inspired by the Clinton's. Did you ever wonder why their cat was named "Socks"?

Another useful idea is to put some tape around your cat's paws but not too tight! This will keep the cat focused on getting rid of what is on it's paws instead of scratching you, or even getting out of the water! This one seems a bit cruel. How would they like someone to affix tape to their arm and then rip it off?

When you have more time, run a very shallow warm bath (only a cm deep or so to begin with). Pet the cat, and give it a treat if it is food orientated. Continue at this depth until the cat does not panic and try to escape. Repeat daily, until the cat treats it as part of a routine, gradually increasing the depth until it is accepting standing in 4-5 ins of water. As a final step, have someone else reassure the cat whilst you use your hand to gently make waves in the water. This can take a week, or months depending on the cat, but it is worth the perseverance to know that you can safely bathe your pet when necessary. Yes, now kitty can start scratching you as soon as she hears the faucet running....

If all else fails, take your cat to a professional pet groomer (i.e. PetSmart, PetCo) for their washing.

Some cats will do better in an empty tub (or sink) with water being poured on rather then being put into a tub with water already in it.

Start early in the cat's life. Train your new kitten once every few weeks by giving it a bath. When the cat is older there will be no problem giving it a bath.

Try using baby shampoo, it is safer than regular shampoo and if the cat splashes it will not burn their eyes. Also makes the coat nice and soft. This works with dogs also. I actually use the J & J Chamomile and Lavender Baby shampoo on Buddy - he smells wonderful. For a couple weeks after the bath he emanate the fragrance when I scratch his back. He is sort of like a "Scratch and Sniff" dog in that way.

Warnings Personally, it seems as though the warning should have been listed first.

Watch out for cat claws if you decide to bathe your cat. Wearing a thick, long-sleeved sweater is one way to avoid getting scratched badly while bathing your cat.

If you don't know how to properly hold a cat by the scruff, don't do it. Your cat may choke. Don't put shampoo on their head. It could get in their eyes.

Be aware that you shouldn't bathe him frequently, this technique is just in case your pet is really dirty. This seems to contradict the whole getting kitty used to the tub idea.

Although some cats may accept the bath without great complaints, they may get nervous or angry or too scared when you try to dry them. Be careful during this last phase, shut the door of the bathroom or the cat will run away all wet, keep it calm or it will urinate, creating a big mess. If you find your cat objects too much to a bath by hissing at you, and trying to escape, then forget the bath. If the scratching and climbing didn't already scare you away from bathing the cat, this should.

Rendell Moving to pull a Fast One

PA PowerPort Electioneering has shifted into high gear in Pennsylvania this spring. It started by Governor Ed Rendell (D - Philadelphia) naming May "Older Pennsylvanians Month". But, Rendell's slick political maneuvering as not ended with naming rights to months, but has encroached upon taxation. With plans to cash in on Pennsylvania's future slots and gaming industry, Rendell announced what he refers to as tax break for all Pennsylvania homeowners. However, with a closer look at the bill that Rendell is advocating it becomes apparent that those tax breaks are targeting PA's powerful voting constituency: senior citizens. Rendell explains the plan:

“This plan will assure that maximum relief goes to communities with the highest property taxes and least ability to pay those taxes. Gaming will likely bring in as much as $1 billion per year when fully phased in, and this money will allow us to provide the largest property tax cut in Pennsylvania history. “We are also reforming how school taxes are set. This bill ensures tax rates are fair and gives the voters a voice in large tax increases. In addition, it enables school districts to decrease their reliance on property taxes and shift to a fairer tax base – a local income tax.”

So who exactly has higher taxes and less income? The answer is simple: senior citizens. The plan allows for higher local income tax (up to 3%) to replace property taxes. Who does this hurt? Younger Pennsylvanians, recent college grads, perhaps even those returning from serving our country in the military. How does this hurt them? Higher wage taxes means less disposable income to direct towards investments in their future or purchasing a first home. Ed Rendell plans to invest my tax money in his reelection by courting PA's largest voting audience with tax relief and other niceties. Conversely, GOP gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann proposes true tax cut for all Pennsylvanians through fiscal responsibility and the curbing of spending and cutting taxes on business that create jobs in PA and thus make PA's economy more robust.

More Stories with Aunty Jenn

William has enjoyed "Hop on Pop" so much that I have posted two more stories to my website: "Ho-Hum" and "Curious George at the Beach". Ho-Hum is an out of print book recommended to me by a co-worker a few years ago. You cannot help but yawn as you listen and read. Any Curious George book is a winner for me, so I hope William will like him as well.

Vote for Willis

My friend Phil Kim's Band "Willis" has entered in a Battle of the Bands contest for this year's mega-Christian music festival, Creation, held in Mt. Union, PA. The band consists of members Phil Kim - vocals, Stephen Altrogge - guitar, David Altrogge - bass, and Erich Walls - drums. From what I hear, they have a large following in the 14 and under age group. Click here to vote for Willis. The top vote recipients have the opportunity to play at Creation.

2006 Hurricane Season

After last year's record setting Atlantic Hurricane season, it is now time to turn our attention towards the 2006 season. Monster category 5 cyclone Monica, which has been bearing down on Australia, reminded me we aren't far from more storm excitement. The meteorologists have ready been warning us to be prepared for a major northeast hurricane strike. Why is someone from as far inland as Pittsburgh care about hurricanes (aside from my normal fascination with weather)? I believe that Pittsburgh will likely see some major flooding from this year's season. Why? This year's dry winter followed by near drought conditions in the spring have set the stage for hard, dry soil unable to absorb rapid rainfall accumulation. This is a very similar situation to the 2004 flooding that occurred with the remnants of tropical storm Ivan. With Chuck and Bethany living just far enough inland, I plan to head to the coast if NJ is in the path of such a storm.

Rearranging the Living Room

Spring has sprung and the flowers have rose, Jenn has awaken from winter's repose!

I decided to try something different with my living room. It is something I have been contemplating for a few months. My TV was in the corner and I was not receiving the full benefit of my surround sound. I thought I will move my big red chair where the TV is, the futon can stay where it is, and I will move the TV where the big red chair is, on the wall against the stairs. Sounds good, right. This was all part of my grand scheme to fish the surround sound speaker wires through the walls (I bought a wall fisher) and eventually have a media center (I am looking at one from Ballard Design - Click here to see it - I am thinking of a rubbed black finish). It all sounds quite grand, right?

Wrong! The big red chair is too big for the corner. The radiator cuts off the space necessary. Of course, I discovered this after completely rerunning the wires and fishing them through the drop ceiling in the basement below! With no energy left to put things back, I decided to try alternatives and live with it for a while, until someone is around to help me change things. I would love some votes on your preferences!

CIA Officer Fired for Leaking Classified Info to Media - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

FOXNews.com - CIA Officer Fired for Leaking Classified Info to Media - Local News News Articles National News US News This is the first step in the right direction. Let's hope that criminal action is taken. Personally, I think it should be considered treason. We have to stop the leakage of classified information - it is dangerous and puts us all at risk.

Quick Easter Picks

Here are some pictures from my trip to Toms River for Easter. I spent the time Chuck, Bethany, William, Scott, Nina, Sam, Zach, and Hannah.

US Scareways from Filthadelphia

As Chuck drive me back to the Philadelphia airport on Sunday, it became apparent that we had travelled in the wrong direction, thus placing me in jeopardy. After an emergency call to Matt Duncan for directions, we decided, there was a decent chance that I would not make my flight. Then, in an ephanic moment, I remembered that I was travelling via US Scareways from Filthadelphia! There was a very good chance that my flight would not leave on time. I quickly pressed the US Scareways speed dial button on my cell phone and learned that indeed, my flight was delayed. My flight was scheduled to depart at 5:00 P.M. and now the anticipated time of departure was 5:54. This was only the beginning. After a speedy curbside check-in and an effortless pass through security, I checked the board. My flight was still late. I kept checking back to learn that my flight was to have many estimated times of departure: 5:54, 6:42, 6:54, 7:09, 7:14, and finally 7:24. Upon my return to Pittsburgh I waited close to half of an hour for my luggage in baggage claim, but at least my luggage made it.

To add insult to injury, I experienced countless encounters with rude Filthadelphia natives. One man kicked my luggage out of his way instead of giving me a moment to move it, the golf-cart drivers were out of control driving too fast and yelling and beeping at everyone in their path, another woman almost shoved me aside in a store to get back to a corner instead of saying, "Excuse me" and the women at the gate seemed irritated when I inquired as to the status of my flight. It was a classic experience at the Philadelphia International Airport, and not remotely surprising. With Chuck flying in and out of Philly now, we can only anticipate other, probably more inconvenient horror stories. They said my flight was delayed for maintenance from an earlier flight, however I have grown suspicious of this excuse. I get that reason for US Airways delays often. I think that really translates to mean that they are understaffed and I am on a flight with less people than other flights. My bet would be that too many people called off because it was a holiday, but it's just a guess.

Liberal Fairy Tale "Commander in Chef" in Jeopardy of Being Pulled

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2006� ABC's new drama, "Commander in Chief", is on the verge of being pulled according into a report from the Drudge Report. The show features a woman vice-president who finds herself in the oval office as a result of the death of the sitting president. The show lacks reality; the president's decisions always turn out for the best and almost every show ends with a warm fuzzy. The West Wing is much more realistic. The administration gets caught in scandals and not every decision turns into a boost for the president's approval rating. The commonality between the shows is, of course, their liberal agendas. "Commander and Chief" turned out to be a bust. Its failure has less to do with woman as president and more to do with poor writing. The jury s still out on ow Americans feel about a woman president, however given the significance Americans tend to attribute to security it is unlikely that we will see a woman president anytime soon.

Pittsburgh in Spring

Here is a shot at the flowers at Gateway Center facing PPG Place. Soon, it will be full of tulips, my favorite!

This Big Bunny is no Easter Bunny!

Bigs bunny: monster rabbit devours English veggie plots - Yahoo! News Look out Wallace and Grommet, look out Peter Cottontail, here comes Great Britain's own giant rabbit! This giant lagamorph has been reeking havoc on gardens in the UK much to everyone's chagrin. Officials have even posed armed guards at communal gardens!

Pleasant Surprise!

As I was cleaning out cupboards, preparing for the big kitchen project, I noticed a couple of chips on the paint on the trim of counter top that I am not replacing. It appeared as though there was stainless steel below the paint. I did a little investigation and it was stainless steel! With the help of my heat gun, a Pampered Chef food scraper (the little brown ones) and Barkeeper's Friend, I now have about half of the trim scraped and cleaned.

I chipped a little bit of one of the tiles (the counter top is tile) to see if there might be stainless below the tile, but alas, all I found was ugly pink and brown (Did I just say pink and brown) counter top that looked to be circa 1950.

Household tip: to remove the smell of onions or garlic from your hands rub them on something stainless steel like your sink. If you have another surface type, you may purchase a stainless steel bar for removing odors called "Rub Away" at Williams-Sonoma for $7.50.

Added Note: The stainless steel must be dry in order for this to work.

Stocking Up

Some time ago, I made a post about our civic duty as Americans to be prepared for emergencies. Well, I have finally followed through on beginning to stock up. I purchased some tuna, water, and other non-perishables this week. I still need to have more on hand, but it is a start. It may not be the Bird Flu, but it might be as simple as some strong seasonal storms that leaves me without power, and thus water, or perhaps a major power grid outage in the heat of summer, but I want to have some supplies on hand. With the commencement of hurricane season at hand, I hope that those in areas prone to disasters follow the same advice and don't wait for the government to bail them out. It simply is not the government's role to fill the gap of personal responsibility.

Download a Story

I have started recording stories for my nephew, William, so that he can remember me now that he lives in NJ. I am not a great story reader, especially with a camera, but I am hopeful he will gain some benefit from it. I will post them on my website so that Chuck can just download them. I started with one of my very favorite books, Hop on Pop. William seemed to enjoy the cadence of the rhyming in Dr. Seuss books.

Under Construction

I am trying to build my blog into my website, but that might take a while. Sorry for the inconvenience.

JennGrover.com is Online!

My new website JennGrover.com is up and running. Take a look!

They're gone

The Eric Grovers (Chuck, Bethany, and William) pulled out around 9:30 AM this morning, beginning their cross state trek to Toms River, NJ. After an evening of loading the truck by storm, the exhausted Grovers pulled into my home around 10:30 last night. William was totally wore out and in dire need of attention, so he spent he night with me. He rested OK (better than I did) and woke up his cheerful old self this morning. On Sunday, Chuck preached a good sermon at Providence. Click here to listen.

No Waldorf - Trip Cancelled

My trip to NY was cancelled. (Yeah!!)

Crazy Cat Terrorizes Connecticut Town

My Way News - Crazy Cat Terrorizes Connecticut Town This story is a funny one. Evidently, this cat, who is marked by erratic, aggressive behavior has been ordered to be confined to his home and his owner has failed to comply. It will be true fodder for those cat haters amongst us. I, for one, like cats, but am allergic to them.

Upcoming trip to NY

Waldorf=Astoria - Accommodations I will be travelling to NY this Friday (3/31) through Monday, April 10th for work. It appears as though I will have the opportunity to stay at the Waldorf Astoria. Isn't that a riot? My dog, Buddy, will be enjoying a vacation at a spa in the country at Grover's Roadside Rest, owned and operated by proprietor A. Scott Grover. His chief of staff, Nina Grover, gladly accepted Buddy's reservation and indicated that he would enjoy only the most comfortable of accommodations during his stay while his owner is roughing it in the Big Apple.

Suzie and Me

My friend Suzanne has more in common with me than any other person I have ever known. Here is a list of things we have in common. Feel free to add your own observations.

• We both are tall (she is taller)
• We both love chicken
• We both love the weather
• We both have an almost obsessive compulsive need to check our messages (phone and email)
• We both blog
• We like the same kinds of music
• We like the same clothes (Eddie Bauer)
• We lost a parent in the same year
• We like Hondas
• We enjoy visiting historical sites
• We are allergic to cats
• We like eating left-over strawberry wedding cake
• We are planners and organizers
• We both have over sized red chairs with floral patterns and olive green sofas with yellow as an accent color in our living rooms
• We both like folk art and shaker furniture

Major Hurricane to Strike U.S. Northeast in 2006?

AccuWeather - World Weather - International Local Weather Forecasts Well, spring has sprung, the grass has risen, I wonder where all the major storms are hidden? Just as last year's weather headline was the potential for a major hurricane to hit New Orleans, this year we are hearing about the threat to the northeast Atlantic U.S. coast. Now, I am not sure if this is just major hype, probability based on statistics, or if the meteorologists have collected data giving them a window into this years Atlantic hurricane season, but the prospects are truly invigorating. What especially makes the prospects exciting is having family on the coast where I can participate in a major storm event!! Imagine, me, connoisseur of natural disasters, sitting through a hurricane with the fam! Stay tuned as sever weather season approaches for highlights. Unfortunately for we snow lovers, this winter has been a dud. I am, however, extremely grateful for the saving on my heating bill. By the way, I am adding the show, "It Could Happen Tomorrow" to my list of weather favorites. It is on the Weather Channel every Sunday at 9:30 P.M. Shelley and Jason should be able to watch after the boys are in bed!

My China Has Arrived

In December a fair amount of the china that I collect was posted on eBay. However, who has extra money to spend in December on something frivolous like china? I noticed that nobody had placed a bid on the china with one day left. I emailed the seller and asked that if nobody bid on the lot she would be willing to hold it for me until March. She graciously responded that she would be delighted to do so. The listed price was quite a steal! The lot included:

• 11 Dinner Plates
• 9 cups and saucers
• 6 Bread plates
• 1 Very small plate