SandyU’s Neighborhood

................and lunch, and supper, and snack.  What?  I don't want it to go to waste!

Tagged by typinginboldprint.

The rules:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment on their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to come back and read your blog for the whole story

I forget what I've already shared with people so I apologize in advance if you've already heard some of this. 

1. I have never taken any type of illegal drug or substance.

2. I've only been drunk once. (I'm a fast learner that hangovers are not fun)!

3. I'm allergic to metal so can't wear most jewelry, just the real stuff ;)

4. I don't have armpit hair, nor does my mom. Jealous?

5. I've had asthma since I was 3 and my lung collapsed.

6. I was a 1st chair percussionist for 4 years.

7. I'm terrified of praying aloud in a group because I'm really bad at it.

8. I've never been in a tanning booth (not do I plan to).

I tag Amy Sue, Gndsgang, leppardfreak aka Leann, Marie, SandyU, sixweasels, Steve Betz, and Tamzen. 

ruins in Sichuan Province

Death toll: 21,500 confirmed.

Recent activity: Powerful aftershocks at 11:34 PM local time (11:34 Am EST) magnitude 5.1; 1:25 PM EST, magnitude 5.5, both of which triggered more landslides and building collapses.

Update on the reach of orginial earthquake at 7.9 on May 12: It was felt in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand.

I can not find news on the dam at Zippingpu yet. The Chinese gov't claims it "plugged the cracks", but I do not feel comfortable about a claim such as that.

After on left, 2006 on right. Images by Taiwan National Space Organisation

A set of imagery from 2006 and the present in Sichuan Province. The strikingly brown areas in the current image are places devastated by the earthquake (showing bare earth from landslides, etc). This set of images is from the Space and Major Disasters organisation that was given to the Chinese government to assist with the disaster. To form this org, countries teamed up, starting in 2000, where they share their satellite imagery for disasters. Members include China National Space Admin, Indian Space Research Org, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NOAA, NASA, and Argentine Space Agency.

What are your top five break-up songs?
Submitted by gt.

1. " Hard Habit to Break" - Chicago
2. "Love Will Lead You Back" - Taylor Dayne
3. "Look Away" - Chicago
4. "All Out of Love" - Air Supply
5. "Right Here Waiting" - Richard Marx

May 15, 2008 10:30 AM EST

Confirmed death toll: 19,509

Projected death toll: 50,000

Est. people still buried: ~ 30,000

Also affected: Taiwan

Amount of people estimated to be affected (loss of loved ones, homeless, damage to homes, workplaces, loss of power, injuries, lack of access to water and food): ~ 10 million

Other problems:

• Sichuan Province is home to many dams, and they are damaged by the quake. One dam, the Zipingpu Dam which was recently contructed among very high criticism including that of seismologists and geologists, about its being erected in a quake zone near a faultline, has suffered four inch cracks as well as landslides. This dam stands 500 feet in height and is about 35 miles from the epicentre of the quake. There are an estimated 400 dams with damage from the quake.
• Minyuang is home to several nuclear weapons facilities which have been damaged, reported by the the China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation on its website, but it does not report if there are any leaks or descriptions of the damage.
• Massive mud and landslides have blocked 2 rivers from continuing on their course in Qingchuan County. A huge lake has formed from the backed-up water. They have made an appeal for geologists to develop a rescue plan to assist in resolving this before further disaster strikes.

Celebrities donating: NBA star Yao Ming, proposed over a quarter of a million dollars of personal funds for aide.

Foreigners present at time of the quake: a group of American and British tourists on a WWF trip to observe giant pandas, all were safe and airlifted out today. The pandas at the breeding centre in Wolong were reported safe.

How to help: http://www.interaction.org/china

Plastic Bag Counter The number of bags being used in a year:
http://www.reusablebags.com/action.php

Botox is not a cosmetic.

Chrysler is not refueling America by promising $2.99 gas for 3 years* after purchasing one of their big arse gas guzzling new cars.

Horseshyte

Maybelline's XL Lip Plumper will not make my lips look 30% plumper. The only thing that will do that is an allergic reaction.

Wal-Mart does not give a flying ____ about the environment. **

Super-Dooper-Wal-Mart

Buying a Pur water filter will not help the planet. It just means you're paranoid.

Using Clorox disinfecting wipes in my kitchen will not make my family healthier, unless I am raising chickens in said room.

Using a beauty cream by Estee Lauder will not make me look as if I had a good night's sleep when I had a bad night's sleep.

* Using a special card, program participants pay $2.99 per gallon for a maximum number of gallons (which varies depending on model) of unleaded gas or diesel fuel in each of the next 3 years. So no matter what the price at the pump says, you'll never have to pay more than $2.99/gallon.To qualify for the program, you must purchase or lease an eligible Chrysler vehicle from May 7 through June 2, 2008 and have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit card or check card. The gallon allotment calculation used to determine three years of gas at $2.99 per gallon is as follows: 12,000 miles driven per year multiplied by 3 years, divided by the vehicle's adjusted combined EPA City/Highway average miles per gallon (MPG) (average MPG calculated via average of all body models MPG within each nameplate). Please refer to attached matrix to view individual nameplate average MPG blah blah blah...

** You’re invited to play the SpongeBob Eco-Adventure game at www.BigGreenHelp.com, sponsored by Wal-Mart. Help SpongeBob and Patrick save Bikini Bottom from an undersea avalanche of un-recycled trash—and the dreaded dirty bubbles! Enter the code “walmart” to unlock extra levels and for exclusive game content.

Ray & my dad got a little fishing in yesterday.  They only caught one but it was the biggest one Ray's ever caught.

Ray & walleye

Less Than Great Things:

1. It was another cold (mid-40's), cloudy, miserable spring day like most of them have been.  I'm ready for spring to truly arrive!
2. DH is out of town so I have to sleep in that giant bed alone tonight.
3. My eyes are really itchy from allergies and I'm out of drops.  Hopefully, I won't rub them out of their sockets.
4. Jace now has the cough.  Started the steroid and praying it doesn't turn into croup.

Great Things:

1. Since DH took the day off, he got up and took the kids to school and I got to sleep in.  Such a sweetie!
2. My friend, Gndsgang, joined Vox.
3. Tastefully Simple finally came out with Sweet Pepper Jalapeno Jam again!  Pour it over some cream cheese and use as a dip with Wheat Thins.  Since DH is gone, it's what I had for supper!
   

   DSCN4765
4. That DH & my dad are opening the lake cabin for the summer and enjoying some male-only fishing time.  Ten     days and counting until we'll all be there! 
5. Having some wonderful, if not too short, time with MIL. 

My good friend and neighbor IRL has just started a blog here on Vox.  Please visit Gndsgang and make her feel welcome.  You may remember seeing her as my "old" partner.

Grannies Kristi & Heather