So, I checked in mycall's blog and discovered a meme. It's been a while since I posted one, so here it be.
Does someone love you?
Yes, indeed. That's the grease that keeps my wheels turning.
Do you know anyone named Dave?
I do.
Ever kissed anyone with the name starting with a J?
I did. A few times.
Has anyone ever mistaken you for a family member?
My father many, many times.
What colour are the walls of your parent's bedroom?
Huh? Off white, I think.
Do you think that hair extensions look skanky?
There's one girl at work that looks dynamite in them. Not my thing really, but some people can pull it off
Are you named after a grandparent?
Nope, for a saint who is no longer a saint.
Say you were given a drug test right now. Would you pass or fail?
I keep talking about quitting my job to work at Home Depot. They wouldn't hire me.
Are you taller than 5'6"?
By 3 inches..
Do you know anyone in jail/prison?
Not that I'm aware of. But that's just because they haven't been caught.
Ever see a dead body?
Hundreds of them.
Do you like the colour green?
I do.
What is your best friend's Dad's name?
Bill.
How old are you?
34.
Who was the last person to send you a text message?
KG when we were playing with our new phones.
Ever drove into the ghetto to buy drugs?
I used to work in Bridgeport, CT. So yes.
Last restaurant you went to?
China Pearl, which used to be International Buffet. I usually wouldn't suggest International Buffet, but this one was attached to a Chinese supermarket and had really good food.
What is the weather like today?
Foggy morning breaking up into midday sun. In the high sixties.
Last voice mail you received?
A clinician with a problem which I ignored.
What did you do yesterday?
Woke up, went to work, got in trouble, picked up Belly from daycare, went home, had dinner, watched the last installment of The War, cruised Fark, went to bed.
What's the first thing you would do with five million dollars?
I really don't know. I'd probably buy something foolish. Because I could.
What nationalities are you?
Heinz 57.
How many hours did you sleep for last night?
5
Any upcoming concerts you want to attend?
I'd love to see the Zepp reunion.
Who's the last person that you felt was stalking you?
My ex wife.
What jewellery are you wearing?
My wedding ring. That's it.
If all of your friends were going on a road trip, would you?
Depends on where they were going.
How much money do you have?
Not nearly enough
Do you swear at your parents?
If they ask for it.
Is your phone right beside you?
yes, I'm on call tonight.
Have you cried today?
I had to pretend to cry to entertain TKJr..
Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now?
Probably not. That's not a bad thing.
Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?
Never!
What is the colour of your bedsheets?
Beige.
Have you ever crawled through a window?
Many times.
Are you photogenic?
I guess.
What's your star sign?
Aquarius.
Where do you spend most of your money?
Home repairs.
What was the last thing you did?
Scratched my balls.
Do you have a tattoo?
Three. You want details? A tribal dragon on my right shoulder, Kokopelli on my left arm, and a bluebird on my right arm with Belly's name.
Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings?
I have kids.
Is there a secret you've never told any of your friends?
Possibly.
Have you ever told someone you loved them but didn't mean it?
Nope.
Have you ever changed your clothes while in a vehicle?
On occasion.
What are you doing in 2008?
Sleeping, hopefully.
What is your ring tone?
The Imperial March
What were you doing at 2am last night?
Drooling into my pillow.
Are your parents married/divorced/separated?
Divorced, remarried, divorced again, remarried.
What are you doing tonight?
Catching up on Curb Your Enthusiasm, smoking butts and typing out a meme.
What are you doing tomorrow?
Same shit.
Who did you last message on Myspace?
An old friend from high school.
What's your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?
Why the hell not?
Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but never do?
Not really.
What did you dress up as for your first Halloween?
The Lone Ranger.
Favourite Disney movie?
Cars
What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?
"Cyberspace"
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Who the fuck are you?
KG dropped off two rolls of pictures at CVS. When I popped the CDs in to upload the pictures, one was not my children.
Looks like someone had a good time in Vegas.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Fireside Thoughts
My week long sabbatical has come to an end. I'm not usually one to take a vacation purely for shits and giggles, but this one was needed.
Work has been tiresome and grating for far too long. I've been in a rut and squeezed too tight. I needed a week off to clear my head. It seems to have done some good.
I bought some new clothes and tended to some of the many chores here that needed doing. There are still too many left to name, but I feel like I've made some progress.
TKJr survived his first week of preschool, and actually seems to be enjoying it. We took him to Edaville yesterday for the Day Out With Thomas. Both kids enjoyed it.
I fucked up my back pretty good on Friday digging out the front yard. It's on the mend now.
Although not entirely rested, I feel refreshed. My head is screwed on more or less straight, and I'm ready to dive back into this thing called life.
Work has been tiresome and grating for far too long. I've been in a rut and squeezed too tight. I needed a week off to clear my head. It seems to have done some good.
I bought some new clothes and tended to some of the many chores here that needed doing. There are still too many left to name, but I feel like I've made some progress.
TKJr survived his first week of preschool, and actually seems to be enjoying it. We took him to Edaville yesterday for the Day Out With Thomas. Both kids enjoyed it.
I fucked up my back pretty good on Friday digging out the front yard. It's on the mend now.
Although not entirely rested, I feel refreshed. My head is screwed on more or less straight, and I'm ready to dive back into this thing called life.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The difference between cats and dogs
It's quite simple really, so please forgive the gross generalization.
Men do dumb shit as much as they can get away with.
Women do what's necessary, and then have some fun.
So guys, be mindful of your priorities, and don't begrudge a woman her down time.
Ladies, keep and eye on those boys, and don't begrudge yourself your down time.
Men do dumb shit as much as they can get away with.
Women do what's necessary, and then have some fun.
So guys, be mindful of your priorities, and don't begrudge a woman her down time.
Ladies, keep and eye on those boys, and don't begrudge yourself your down time.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Not Enough Undead
I'm a little disappointed in myself. i just searched through my post tags for zombie entries, and found only three.
Considering I have more than a passing interest in the subject, this was a bit of a surprise.
Oddly enough, what spurred this was the fact that if you do a google search for "warm-blooded animals," my blog comes up with a post about defending the apartment we lived in in Weymouth. Strange.
We've since moved. Although I am proud to be a home owner, I am sorry to report that our current domicile would have to be abandoned in the event of an outbreak. There is no reasonable way to defend this house. It's one story, with three front doors. The basement level has a glass slider and a large front window. I've got lots of wood, but it's too risky. Flight is the only option.
So I'm reworking my plan.
On an interesting side note, I was revisiting the Bridgewater Triangle last night. If you follow the link and check out the map, you'll note that the top of the triangle is in Abington. Further examination shows that the exact point of the triangle falls on the intersections of Route 18 and Route 123.
That's pretty much where we live.
Considering I have more than a passing interest in the subject, this was a bit of a surprise.
Oddly enough, what spurred this was the fact that if you do a google search for "warm-blooded animals," my blog comes up with a post about defending the apartment we lived in in Weymouth. Strange.
We've since moved. Although I am proud to be a home owner, I am sorry to report that our current domicile would have to be abandoned in the event of an outbreak. There is no reasonable way to defend this house. It's one story, with three front doors. The basement level has a glass slider and a large front window. I've got lots of wood, but it's too risky. Flight is the only option.
So I'm reworking my plan.
On an interesting side note, I was revisiting the Bridgewater Triangle last night. If you follow the link and check out the map, you'll note that the top of the triangle is in Abington. Further examination shows that the exact point of the triangle falls on the intersections of Route 18 and Route 123.
That's pretty much where we live.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Best Fan Film. Ever.
My cousin Mat is back from boot camp . He's a private 2nd Class, United States Army, now. He's a good kid, and still a kid at heart even at 21. My aunt and uncle had a cookout, and Mat assured there was a huge inflatable bouncing house (shaped like a purple dragon).
TKJr spent the entire day in there, jumping to his content. Let me tell you, his content is HUGE. He requested that I join him several times. I reluctantly agreed. At one point, I had 4 little kids shooting me and blasting me with Force powers to knock me over so they could pig pile me.
It turns out Star Wars is popular with the youngins. I didn't bring it up, nor was I wearing a SW T shirt today. I was pleasantly surprised, and delighted to join in and try to convince them that the Jedi are the bad guys.
Had I know, I would have brought my armor.
At any rate, TKJr had a blast, and wore himself out jumping all day. Isabel entertained herself with my cousins' 2 cats and dog. She loves puppies.
Last night I watched Rob Zombie's Halloween. I was a tad closed minded going in, I must admit. Some movies can stand a remake. Some, however, are damn near perfect the first time around and don't need to be retold. Halloween was perfect. It stands the test of time. It's unsettling and frightening in it's simplicity. The Shape: Heartless, remorseless, relentless. A blank face with no eyes that just did not stop.
His origin was disturbing because of it's simplicity. Just the notion that some generic middle class suburban family could produce a sociopath of such monstrous proportion out of thin air was scary. That one night he unleashed his demon, and then quietly brooded for fifteen years before unleashing it again.
Zombie went in a different direction. He lowered the tax bracket of the Myers family, and spent the first third of the movie humanizing Michael. You get to know the boy. You begin to feel for him a bit, though you're shown pretty damn quick what a monster he already is.
Rob then quickly blows through the rest of the movie, dispensing with most of, if not all, the character development of the original. Sadly, he also dispenses with everything that made the original scary. There's no fear to be had here, just the thrill of watching a madman go to work.
Not that that is without it's charms. I'm just saying.
What am I saying? I didn't dislike it. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It was engaging, well executed, and I liked it. Most importantly, it didn't shit on the original. Zombie took his favorite movie and put his own stamp on it. I'm cool with that.
TKJr spent the entire day in there, jumping to his content. Let me tell you, his content is HUGE. He requested that I join him several times. I reluctantly agreed. At one point, I had 4 little kids shooting me and blasting me with Force powers to knock me over so they could pig pile me.
It turns out Star Wars is popular with the youngins. I didn't bring it up, nor was I wearing a SW T shirt today. I was pleasantly surprised, and delighted to join in and try to convince them that the Jedi are the bad guys.
Had I know, I would have brought my armor.
At any rate, TKJr had a blast, and wore himself out jumping all day. Isabel entertained herself with my cousins' 2 cats and dog. She loves puppies.
Last night I watched Rob Zombie's Halloween. I was a tad closed minded going in, I must admit. Some movies can stand a remake. Some, however, are damn near perfect the first time around and don't need to be retold. Halloween was perfect. It stands the test of time. It's unsettling and frightening in it's simplicity. The Shape: Heartless, remorseless, relentless. A blank face with no eyes that just did not stop.
His origin was disturbing because of it's simplicity. Just the notion that some generic middle class suburban family could produce a sociopath of such monstrous proportion out of thin air was scary. That one night he unleashed his demon, and then quietly brooded for fifteen years before unleashing it again.
Zombie went in a different direction. He lowered the tax bracket of the Myers family, and spent the first third of the movie humanizing Michael. You get to know the boy. You begin to feel for him a bit, though you're shown pretty damn quick what a monster he already is.
Rob then quickly blows through the rest of the movie, dispensing with most of, if not all, the character development of the original. Sadly, he also dispenses with everything that made the original scary. There's no fear to be had here, just the thrill of watching a madman go to work.
Not that that is without it's charms. I'm just saying.
What am I saying? I didn't dislike it. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It was engaging, well executed, and I liked it. Most importantly, it didn't shit on the original. Zombie took his favorite movie and put his own stamp on it. I'm cool with that.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
What the fuck was that?
So, it's just a little before 10 on a Thursday night. KG and I are hanging out in the office with the door open, enjoying a quiet evening. Suddenly there is a screech of tires and a horrific crunching boom right in our driveway.
I'm glad I wasn't carrying a turd. It might have squeezed out.
I rushed out the door in time to see a dark SUV tearing up the street with a blown tire. Pieces of hubcap and rearview mirror were all over our driveway and the street. There's a good chunk missing out of the telephone pole at the end of our driveway.
This asswipe was apparently bombing down our street on the wrong side of the road.
I called the cops, who just showed up. It appears the driver crashed in Whitman and is under arrest for DUI. The officer collected some evidence from my driveway, and went on his way.
Excitement she wrote!
I'm glad I wasn't carrying a turd. It might have squeezed out.
I rushed out the door in time to see a dark SUV tearing up the street with a blown tire. Pieces of hubcap and rearview mirror were all over our driveway and the street. There's a good chunk missing out of the telephone pole at the end of our driveway.
This asswipe was apparently bombing down our street on the wrong side of the road.
I called the cops, who just showed up. It appears the driver crashed in Whitman and is under arrest for DUI. The officer collected some evidence from my driveway, and went on his way.
Excitement she wrote!
A new addition to the family.
No, KG is not pregnant.
However, my father has remarried (third time's a charm?).
Here's a pic of all of us from a couple of weekends ago when they came to visit.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity
Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I believe the slogan was "G.I. Joe, Real American Hero."
Stephen Sommers can nibble the poo pills off my hairy, sweaty ass. Mother fucker.
The only childhood toy that cam close to rivaling my Star Wars obsession was GI Joe. Fact is, Joe pretty much eclipsed my SW craze. The Hasbro line went into high gear between Empire and Jedi. After Jedi came out, I got a few figures, but no playsets or vehicles. On the other hand, I had tons of GI Joes. I even had the damn base. I loved those guys.
The cartoon was the standard 80's shit, but the comic book truly rocked.
When I first heard rumblings of a movie, I didn't hold out much hope for something good. But this shit is just retarded. Seriously.
Why do we always need to update things? A Joe movie based on the comic book would be cool. If you're looking to reignite the franchise, go with the nostalgia. Bring to flesh and blood what we loved as children.
If you have to update, make it relevant, OK. You could pull that off with a little imagination.
But Sommer's vision: Festering shit heaps.
For the love of all that is PVC, someone give me a live action GI Joe TV show. Do the comics, man. You want to update it, fine. Snake Eyes lost his face in Iraq. Cobra is a domestic terrorist organization using the distraction of the War on Terror to destabilize the US. The GI Joe unit is culled from our current military ranks, misfit weapons geniuses and computer hackers, etc, who don't fit in well, but are the best in the military.
IT COULD WORK!
Stephen Sommers can nibble the poo pills off my hairy, sweaty ass. Mother fucker.
The only childhood toy that cam close to rivaling my Star Wars obsession was GI Joe. Fact is, Joe pretty much eclipsed my SW craze. The Hasbro line went into high gear between Empire and Jedi. After Jedi came out, I got a few figures, but no playsets or vehicles. On the other hand, I had tons of GI Joes. I even had the damn base. I loved those guys.
The cartoon was the standard 80's shit, but the comic book truly rocked.
When I first heard rumblings of a movie, I didn't hold out much hope for something good. But this shit is just retarded. Seriously.
Why do we always need to update things? A Joe movie based on the comic book would be cool. If you're looking to reignite the franchise, go with the nostalgia. Bring to flesh and blood what we loved as children.
If you have to update, make it relevant, OK. You could pull that off with a little imagination.
But Sommer's vision: Festering shit heaps.
For the love of all that is PVC, someone give me a live action GI Joe TV show. Do the comics, man. You want to update it, fine. Snake Eyes lost his face in Iraq. Cobra is a domestic terrorist organization using the distraction of the War on Terror to destabilize the US. The GI Joe unit is culled from our current military ranks, misfit weapons geniuses and computer hackers, etc, who don't fit in well, but are the best in the military.
IT COULD WORK!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Home Improvement
I'm almost afraid to say it, but this place is finally starting to shape up. Last weekend I installed storm doors on the front of the house. KG's mother and her boyfriend came up during the week and replaced all the rotting boards on the deck and power washed 10+ years of scum off of it. It looks almost new. Today they replaced the patio slider. Not only does it actually slide now, but it has a screen. No more bugs in the house!
This weekend they're coming up again and we'll start replacing all the windows.
The backyard looks pretty good. We acquired a wooden swing set and a kiddie pool. The fence has been repaired, and we have new wooden steps covering up the busted brick ones.
Once we get the windows done, the only major thing left is the roof. Then we can start with all the updating and cosmetics.
Our little home feels more like a home every day.
This weekend they're coming up again and we'll start replacing all the windows.
The backyard looks pretty good. We acquired a wooden swing set and a kiddie pool. The fence has been repaired, and we have new wooden steps covering up the busted brick ones.
Once we get the windows done, the only major thing left is the roof. Then we can start with all the updating and cosmetics.
Our little home feels more like a home every day.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Zen and the art of slack
Story time, kids. I was recently reminded of all the fun I used to have when I worked at Sears, so I thought I'd share a tale or two.
I was 17 when I worked at the Sears Auto Center. I was a stockroom clerk. I stocked tires, exhaust systems and car batteries. I worked the night shift, the shop manager was a drunk, the mechanics were drunks and loons, and my coworkers were fellow high school slackers.
One of my favorite activities at work was to pour lighter fluid down the exhaust pipes. We had a whole slew of them hanging on huge metal racks. One of my cohorts would climb the rolling ladder, dump the lighter fluid down the pipe and then step back as I held a lighter to the bottom end. The lighter fluid would ignite with a loud "whooping" sound, and shoot out 2 or 3 feet from each end. We stopped doing this one night when one of the other clerks lit the pipe too soon and the guy on the ladder got a tad singed.
Another past time was having dolly races up and down the aisles of tires. I drove smack into the shins of the shop manager one time. He stared at me, walked back into his office, and remained there for the rest of the shift.
We got pretty good at racing pallet jacks down the ramp out back. Rolling people down the same ramp after ringing them in snow tires would good for a laugh as well.
Sometimes we'd use the compression hoses to fire objects around the shop. Soda bottles, tire valves. Those valves hurt like hell when they nailed you.
When we weren't stocking shelves or fucking around, we swept out the bays at the end of the night. When the mechanic using that bay was done for the night, we'd put up the lift and clean.
One night I was leaning on the counter to the stockroom, absently watching my coworker Dana clean the bays. He was a tad slow. A really nice kid and actually quite bright. But his mind moved in low gear, and he was often not quite with us. He was holding down the lever to one of the lifts, staring off in space. He thought he was raising the lift in the bay he was standing in. He wasn't. It was for the lift next to it. Which had a car parked in it. At an angle. Not lined up on the lift.
It took a moment or two for me to register the car beginning to rise on one side. It had a fairly serious list by the time I started screaming Dana's name. By the time he looked up at me, smiled and waved, the car was about 3 feet off the ground on one side and rising fast. I started waving and pointing frantically, and other people in the shop started noticing and piping in. Dana finally turned and looked just as the car toppled over on to it's side, making a horrible crunching sound as the roof crumpled between the lifts.
True story.
There was one mechanic who did an oil change and forgot to refill the oil. The owner of the car realized his mistake about a mile or so from the garage when his engine seized. Sears was kind enough to retain this mechanic, asking only that he pay for and install a new engine for the customer.
They did, however, excuse him from work when he did it again a week later.
Another guy was filling a tire he had just changed. The tire lay flat on this machine while he used a compressor to fill it. He was having a rather animate chat with the guy in the bay next to him, leaning one arm on the tire as he talked. After a while, the tire exploded off of the machine and flew through the air fast enough to leave an imprint on the ceiling. The guy's arm was broken in 4 places.
I dressed a mannequin in one of my work uniforms and placed it in the trash compacter. As one of my coworkers held in the button to compact the trash, I let out a scream, threw some fake blood around and hid. He stopped the compacter, came running in, and screamed like a little girl.
Good times.
The best, though, was when I opted to take a work study my senior year of high school. My shift was 5-9, and they weren't going to pay me to work any more than that. I got out of school at noon, and was supposed to go to work. My manager was cool, and would fill out the time slips and sign the papers. I had to be at work, but I wasn't going to get paid.
It just so happened that the stock room for the garage abutted the stock room for hardware, appliances and sporting goods. I appropriated some cardboard stove and fridge boxes, and created a fort. From the aisle, it appeared to be a stack of appliances. In reality, there was a fairly large open space, as I had cut out the back of several of the boxes. I grabbed a sleeping bag, some cushions and a radio, and made myself a camp. I usually spent the hours between 12 and 5 napping away to some Zeppelin.
I got an A in work study that year.
I was 17 when I worked at the Sears Auto Center. I was a stockroom clerk. I stocked tires, exhaust systems and car batteries. I worked the night shift, the shop manager was a drunk, the mechanics were drunks and loons, and my coworkers were fellow high school slackers.
One of my favorite activities at work was to pour lighter fluid down the exhaust pipes. We had a whole slew of them hanging on huge metal racks. One of my cohorts would climb the rolling ladder, dump the lighter fluid down the pipe and then step back as I held a lighter to the bottom end. The lighter fluid would ignite with a loud "whooping" sound, and shoot out 2 or 3 feet from each end. We stopped doing this one night when one of the other clerks lit the pipe too soon and the guy on the ladder got a tad singed.
Another past time was having dolly races up and down the aisles of tires. I drove smack into the shins of the shop manager one time. He stared at me, walked back into his office, and remained there for the rest of the shift.
We got pretty good at racing pallet jacks down the ramp out back. Rolling people down the same ramp after ringing them in snow tires would good for a laugh as well.
Sometimes we'd use the compression hoses to fire objects around the shop. Soda bottles, tire valves. Those valves hurt like hell when they nailed you.
When we weren't stocking shelves or fucking around, we swept out the bays at the end of the night. When the mechanic using that bay was done for the night, we'd put up the lift and clean.
One night I was leaning on the counter to the stockroom, absently watching my coworker Dana clean the bays. He was a tad slow. A really nice kid and actually quite bright. But his mind moved in low gear, and he was often not quite with us. He was holding down the lever to one of the lifts, staring off in space. He thought he was raising the lift in the bay he was standing in. He wasn't. It was for the lift next to it. Which had a car parked in it. At an angle. Not lined up on the lift.
It took a moment or two for me to register the car beginning to rise on one side. It had a fairly serious list by the time I started screaming Dana's name. By the time he looked up at me, smiled and waved, the car was about 3 feet off the ground on one side and rising fast. I started waving and pointing frantically, and other people in the shop started noticing and piping in. Dana finally turned and looked just as the car toppled over on to it's side, making a horrible crunching sound as the roof crumpled between the lifts.
True story.
There was one mechanic who did an oil change and forgot to refill the oil. The owner of the car realized his mistake about a mile or so from the garage when his engine seized. Sears was kind enough to retain this mechanic, asking only that he pay for and install a new engine for the customer.
They did, however, excuse him from work when he did it again a week later.
Another guy was filling a tire he had just changed. The tire lay flat on this machine while he used a compressor to fill it. He was having a rather animate chat with the guy in the bay next to him, leaning one arm on the tire as he talked. After a while, the tire exploded off of the machine and flew through the air fast enough to leave an imprint on the ceiling. The guy's arm was broken in 4 places.
I dressed a mannequin in one of my work uniforms and placed it in the trash compacter. As one of my coworkers held in the button to compact the trash, I let out a scream, threw some fake blood around and hid. He stopped the compacter, came running in, and screamed like a little girl.
Good times.
The best, though, was when I opted to take a work study my senior year of high school. My shift was 5-9, and they weren't going to pay me to work any more than that. I got out of school at noon, and was supposed to go to work. My manager was cool, and would fill out the time slips and sign the papers. I had to be at work, but I wasn't going to get paid.
It just so happened that the stock room for the garage abutted the stock room for hardware, appliances and sporting goods. I appropriated some cardboard stove and fridge boxes, and created a fort. From the aisle, it appeared to be a stack of appliances. In reality, there was a fairly large open space, as I had cut out the back of several of the boxes. I grabbed a sleeping bag, some cushions and a radio, and made myself a camp. I usually spent the hours between 12 and 5 napping away to some Zeppelin.
I got an A in work study that year.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Are you trying to kill my fucking kids?
Yet another massive recall of toys due to lead paint.
What the fuck? Seriously.
What the fuck? Seriously.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Death and .........
My, how things change when you become a home owner. Massachusetts has once again decided to hold it's allegedly economy spurring "Tax Free Weekend." That's right, folks. Anything you purchase ( excepting cars, tobacco products, meals and single items over $2,500) this weekend is tax free. You can keep the 5% sales tax. Buy or die!
In the past, I would have been tempted to drop some change on new CDs or DVDs. Maybe an electronic device or two. New toys for the kids. Or, more likely, I'd refrain from spending any extra money and stick with the usual slew of groceries, etc.
Today, I hit the Depot. Walked out with a 24ft extension ladder (for cleaning gutters and trimming trees), 2 aluminum storm doors, a gallon of exterior wood stain, a square, a level, a center punch, a hacksaw, and 2 reflective driveway markers.
I saved about $40, but the interest rate on the credit card will more than compensate for that.
Did I forget to say "woohoo?"
In the past, I would have been tempted to drop some change on new CDs or DVDs. Maybe an electronic device or two. New toys for the kids. Or, more likely, I'd refrain from spending any extra money and stick with the usual slew of groceries, etc.
Today, I hit the Depot. Walked out with a 24ft extension ladder (for cleaning gutters and trimming trees), 2 aluminum storm doors, a gallon of exterior wood stain, a square, a level, a center punch, a hacksaw, and 2 reflective driveway markers.
I saved about $40, but the interest rate on the credit card will more than compensate for that.
Did I forget to say "woohoo?"
Monday, August 06, 2007
WWJD?
Weymouth had it's first murder of 2007 yesterday. It seems Ryan Bois broke into a relatives house on Randall Street, rape and murdered his 6 year old cousin, and then stole the family's car with her naked, battered body in the back.
After a high speed chase through Quincy, this sick fucker was arrested.
In all seriousness, if you're a cop and you pull over a guy who has the naked, battered body of a six year old girl in the back seat, there's only one thing to do. Put a bullet in his mother fucking head.
End of story.
Not only am I a father of a little girl, we used to live just a couple of streets away. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if someone did this to my little girl, I would not stop until I had wrung every drop of life out of him.
There's no punishment that fits this crime. None.
After a high speed chase through Quincy, this sick fucker was arrested.
In all seriousness, if you're a cop and you pull over a guy who has the naked, battered body of a six year old girl in the back seat, there's only one thing to do. Put a bullet in his mother fucking head.
End of story.
Not only am I a father of a little girl, we used to live just a couple of streets away. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if someone did this to my little girl, I would not stop until I had wrung every drop of life out of him.
There's no punishment that fits this crime. None.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
100K
On Friday my odometer rolled over to 100,000 miles. I was directly in front of Collison Craft on Route 18 in Abington.
I half expected the car to pull a Blues Brothers and simply fall apart at that exact moment.
Alas, it did not.
So far, the weekend has managed to be both pleasurable and miserable. It's hot. Crazy, humid hot.
Friday night KG and I snuck off to my parent's house and went for a swim. That was a treat. Every now and then it's nice to get out of the house for no good reason. Today we had a birthday party for the boy. 4 years old now. He had a good time, and we only ended up with one extra kid running around for a while.
I half expected the car to pull a Blues Brothers and simply fall apart at that exact moment.
Alas, it did not.
So far, the weekend has managed to be both pleasurable and miserable. It's hot. Crazy, humid hot.
Friday night KG and I snuck off to my parent's house and went for a swim. That was a treat. Every now and then it's nice to get out of the house for no good reason. Today we had a birthday party for the boy. 4 years old now. He had a good time, and we only ended up with one extra kid running around for a while.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Cloverfield
I have to admit, I've gotten somewhat caught up in the buzz over 1-18-08.
I managed to find a piece (which I'm too lazy to re-find and link, my apologies to any stray googlers who ended up here.) which described shooting that was being done on Coney Island. The impression is that the movie is going to indeed be about a giant monster attacking New York City, only told from the perspective of a small group of friends with a camcorder. Told, in typical JJ style, in flashbacks. Mostly to the day before the attack.
I'm guessing that the movie will be primarily the flashbacks, broken up by the attack. It will probably end with us getting just the briefest glimpses of the monster, and no explanation as to what it is.
For the record, I think that would be about the coolest fucking thing ever.
I managed to find a piece (which I'm too lazy to re-find and link, my apologies to any stray googlers who ended up here.) which described shooting that was being done on Coney Island. The impression is that the movie is going to indeed be about a giant monster attacking New York City, only told from the perspective of a small group of friends with a camcorder. Told, in typical JJ style, in flashbacks. Mostly to the day before the attack.
I'm guessing that the movie will be primarily the flashbacks, broken up by the attack. It will probably end with us getting just the briefest glimpses of the monster, and no explanation as to what it is.
For the record, I think that would be about the coolest fucking thing ever.
What can you do with 130 minutes?
You could watch Conan the Barbarian.
You can learn that hypercarbia or mild hypothermia are ineffective in ATP recovery after ischemia.
You could watch The Perfect Storm.
You could take this picture.
You could melt a cube of frozen vinegar at room temperature.
Or, you could do what I did today and travel 10.1 miles from work to the kid's daycare.
As much as I miss the gang, that drive sucks my soul.
On the plus side, Pierce Brosnan is going to be narrating Thomas the Tank Engine next year, and the Yardbirds with Page and Beck will be touring.
Oh, and I got to hang out with the gang, and that was worth it.
You can learn that hypercarbia or mild hypothermia are ineffective in ATP recovery after ischemia.
You could watch The Perfect Storm.
You could take this picture.
You could melt a cube of frozen vinegar at room temperature.
Or, you could do what I did today and travel 10.1 miles from work to the kid's daycare.
As much as I miss the gang, that drive sucks my soul.
On the plus side, Pierce Brosnan is going to be narrating Thomas the Tank Engine next year, and the Yardbirds with Page and Beck will be touring.
Oh, and I got to hang out with the gang, and that was worth it.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Saturday Wrap-Up
It appears that the Island of Sodor is a bit, well... fey.
I wasn't expecting much from a stage show for toddlers, but I think it could have been better. At least TKJr enjoyed it.
We spent the better part of the day in downtown Boston. Jr. was well behaved, and it was a real treat. We had lunch with Names and wandered around the financial district. Both KG and I spent a lot of time there during our courtship, and it was interesting to see how much things have changed now that the Big Dig has been finished.
We stopped in at Newbury Comics and bought TKJr a $30 Transformer. I wasn't thrilled about the price tag, but he loves it. It's an old school (kind of) Autobot, Sun Streaker. He calls it Megatron.
It's a start.
It's 10PM, the kids are sleeping, and KG and I are hanging out listening to music. There appears to be something amiss with my iTunes, and it's bugging the shit out of me. Thankfully, I have 4,451 songs loaded, so we remain entertained.
Anyhow, that's all I got.
I wasn't expecting much from a stage show for toddlers, but I think it could have been better. At least TKJr enjoyed it.
We spent the better part of the day in downtown Boston. Jr. was well behaved, and it was a real treat. We had lunch with Names and wandered around the financial district. Both KG and I spent a lot of time there during our courtship, and it was interesting to see how much things have changed now that the Big Dig has been finished.
We stopped in at Newbury Comics and bought TKJr a $30 Transformer. I wasn't thrilled about the price tag, but he loves it. It's an old school (kind of) Autobot, Sun Streaker. He calls it Megatron.
It's a start.
It's 10PM, the kids are sleeping, and KG and I are hanging out listening to music. There appears to be something amiss with my iTunes, and it's bugging the shit out of me. Thankfully, I have 4,451 songs loaded, so we remain entertained.
Anyhow, that's all I got.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tulips on my organ
What a week.
Today I closed SW, all by myself. They haven't closed for the last few months, and usually when they do close it's a hectic mess that final day.
At 9:05 this morning I cleared the last error.
I did a happy dance, I received applause from the girls who have listened to me ranting for the last week. My bosses... absent.
Oh well. I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow. I think I deserve it. My plan was to spend a day lounging on the couch i my boxers watching movies. However, I need to buy and install a wall mounted safety gate, and my lawn needs attention. I'd gripe, but I pretty much spent he whole day today poking around on the internet.
So, happy weekend y'all. Here's a little something for your amusement:
Today I closed SW, all by myself. They haven't closed for the last few months, and usually when they do close it's a hectic mess that final day.
At 9:05 this morning I cleared the last error.
I did a happy dance, I received applause from the girls who have listened to me ranting for the last week. My bosses... absent.
Oh well. I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow. I think I deserve it. My plan was to spend a day lounging on the couch i my boxers watching movies. However, I need to buy and install a wall mounted safety gate, and my lawn needs attention. I'd gripe, but I pretty much spent he whole day today poking around on the internet.
So, happy weekend y'all. Here's a little something for your amusement:
Friday, July 06, 2007
Considered for dismissal
One of my favorite tasks at work has nothing to do with my actual job description or position. It's a little duty I inherited from the last man to hold my title, and he dragged it with him for years until he got a well deserved cushy job.
Submitting parking tickets for dismissal.
It's a real treat. I get a charge out of reading the clinician's excuses. I get a totally inappropriate amount of glee (Glee, mind you! Real glee!) out of handing back the appeals that were denied. I make a point to hand deliver those.
Incidentally, I happened to actually read the Official Government Liaison Affidavit I sign and hand in every month with the tickets. It appears, unbeknownst to be until just now, that I hold an official government title. I am my company's "Official Liaison with the Office of the Parking Clerk for the City of Boston."
Cool. I'm recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Official Liaison. My first step on the path to galactic domination, no doubt.
At any rate, I was kindly enough to take the appeals home with me this weekend so I can mail them out on Monday. The written, or essay, portion of the appeal is a real treat. For your dubious pleasure, in my official capacity, I share:
" I was visiting a patient who lived on Commonwealth Ave. I parked on Newbury St. Prior to leaving my car I double checked signs and the one sign I saw was 'No parking in snow emergency' and 'No parking on Tuesdays between 2&7.' I would appreciate if this parking ticket could be considered for dismissal."
-Cited for parking in a loading zone
"I was visiting a patient and because of complications it took more than 2 hours to visit. It was 10:18am not PM."
-Time of violation 1:10PM
"I went to see patient who needed immediate service. I parked where there was a meter. When I came back I had a ticket. The street cleaning sign was twisted."
-It wasn't twisted when she parked there?
"While during the performance of my duties, I was doing a home visit to do a dressing changed that require being done at the same time each day. Due to the urgent nature of my visit I was forced to park where I did after driving around for 20 minutes looking for a spot so I could deliver nursing care to the patient."
-Read that first sentence three times fast. I dare you.
"I was ordered by MD to see a patient s/p laminectomy w/ increased pain. No other parking available in the area."
-Confuse the clerk with jargon. I'm impressed.
"I had parked to do a mandatory patient visit, deposited $.50 into the meter. Upon my return, I found I had been ticketed. I had prominently displayed my {name withheld} sign in the dashboard."
-The sign was in the glove box?
"I work for the {name withheld} as a physical therapist. It was of utmost importance that on 6/22/07 I visit my patient. There was an emergency situation that could have caused a fall for an elderly patient, and/or potential for injury. Please excuse it was an emergency."
-Cited for blocking a handicap ramp. Note the irony.
"Urgent Occupational Therapy visit per MD order to address safety in patient's home after recent return home from hospital. No visitor parking available."
-Note: She was ticketed at 11:53PM
Submitting parking tickets for dismissal.
It's a real treat. I get a charge out of reading the clinician's excuses. I get a totally inappropriate amount of glee (Glee, mind you! Real glee!) out of handing back the appeals that were denied. I make a point to hand deliver those.
Incidentally, I happened to actually read the Official Government Liaison Affidavit I sign and hand in every month with the tickets. It appears, unbeknownst to be until just now, that I hold an official government title. I am my company's "Official Liaison with the Office of the Parking Clerk for the City of Boston."
Cool. I'm recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Official Liaison. My first step on the path to galactic domination, no doubt.
At any rate, I was kindly enough to take the appeals home with me this weekend so I can mail them out on Monday. The written, or essay, portion of the appeal is a real treat. For your dubious pleasure, in my official capacity, I share:
" I was visiting a patient who lived on Commonwealth Ave. I parked on Newbury St. Prior to leaving my car I double checked signs and the one sign I saw was 'No parking in snow emergency' and 'No parking on Tuesdays between 2&7.' I would appreciate if this parking ticket could be considered for dismissal."
-Cited for parking in a loading zone
"I was visiting a patient and because of complications it took more than 2 hours to visit. It was 10:18am not PM."
-Time of violation 1:10PM
"I went to see patient who needed immediate service. I parked where there was a meter. When I came back I had a ticket. The street cleaning sign was twisted."
-It wasn't twisted when she parked there?
"While during the performance of my duties, I was doing a home visit to do a dressing changed that require being done at the same time each day. Due to the urgent nature of my visit I was forced to park where I did after driving around for 20 minutes looking for a spot so I could deliver nursing care to the patient."
-Read that first sentence three times fast. I dare you.
"I was ordered by MD to see a patient s/p laminectomy w/ increased pain. No other parking available in the area."
-Confuse the clerk with jargon. I'm impressed.
"I had parked to do a mandatory patient visit, deposited $.50 into the meter. Upon my return, I found I had been ticketed. I had prominently displayed my {name withheld} sign in the dashboard."
-The sign was in the glove box?
"I work for the {name withheld} as a physical therapist. It was of utmost importance that on 6/22/07 I visit my patient. There was an emergency situation that could have caused a fall for an elderly patient, and/or potential for injury. Please excuse it was an emergency."
-Cited for blocking a handicap ramp. Note the irony.
"Urgent Occupational Therapy visit per MD order to address safety in patient's home after recent return home from hospital. No visitor parking available."
-Note: She was ticketed at 11:53PM
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
For all my niggas & bitches
Oh, a few hundred years ago a bunch of drunken blue bloods left the bars, gathered arms and told the King to go fuck himself.
Tonight, I'll pour a forty of Sam Adams on the curb in honor of y'all. If only one of you was around today to see the crazy shit we gave ourselves with your new found freedom.
Tonight, for the first time, KG and I are hanging out in our new place, creating a vibe and relaxing. Music is on, the beer is flowing, the babes sleeping. Life is good.
So, I wish those special few who have wandered into my life a very happy fourth. Let loose, enjoy, be safe. And tell you neighbors it's finally OK to blow their damn fingers off.
Tonight, I'll pour a forty of Sam Adams on the curb in honor of y'all. If only one of you was around today to see the crazy shit we gave ourselves with your new found freedom.
Tonight, for the first time, KG and I are hanging out in our new place, creating a vibe and relaxing. Music is on, the beer is flowing, the babes sleeping. Life is good.
So, I wish those special few who have wandered into my life a very happy fourth. Let loose, enjoy, be safe. And tell you neighbors it's finally OK to blow their damn fingers off.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Artfully Chilling
Now that I have myself a rec room, I figured it was high time to acquire a mini fridge to keep my beer cold and handy. After several weeks of trolling craigslist I finally came across one I liked. 4.3 cubic feet of chilly storage, and it's a functioning piece of art!
-Fridge, Acrylic on refrigerator 2001
Thank you, Andrea. I'll be making good use of this tonight.
-Fridge, Acrylic on refrigerator 2001Thank you, Andrea. I'll be making good use of this tonight.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
TK-8103 on Weymouth After Dark
At long last, excerpts from TK-8103's legendary appearance on Weymouth Community cable.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Speaking of Hulk cock
That line came out in a lunchtime conversation today at work. I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that today was the first time in the history of civilization that that particular sentence was uttered.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Evaluate me!
It was five months late this year, but I finally got my annual eval at work. MC uses some sort of software program for her professional ecvals, and it always cracks me up to read it.
So, for both your reading pleasure and for the simple fact that I love to blow my own horn, here are some excerpts:
Verbal Communication: Outstanding
Chris is very articulate and persuasive, choosing the best style to suit his audience. He has presented at meetings, both clinical and clerical. When listening, he comprehends quickly, pays close attention and probes for clarification and additional information if needed. He is poised before groups, a skilled facilitator, and contributes significantly to the effectiveness of meetings. Chris also uses humor to deliver his message and provides some education along the way!
Written Communication: Exceeds
Chris continues to send written materials that communicate what is needed or "heads up" info. His communication is usually good and effective. Again, he specifically lists all actions that need to be taken to resolve an issue. Chris expertly edits his work for a clean product. Based on feedback from the receivers of Chris' messages, he needs to adjust his writing style to fit the audience he is addressing. Chris needs to balance the delivery of his written communications and how it will be received for total effectiveness.
There's three more pages of that bullshit, but I've grown bored with typing it out. The bit about adjusting my writing style really cracks me up. Some shithead took offense because I suggested something needed to be done as soon as possible. God forbid.
At any rate, I'm great.
So, for both your reading pleasure and for the simple fact that I love to blow my own horn, here are some excerpts:
Verbal Communication: Outstanding
Chris is very articulate and persuasive, choosing the best style to suit his audience. He has presented at meetings, both clinical and clerical. When listening, he comprehends quickly, pays close attention and probes for clarification and additional information if needed. He is poised before groups, a skilled facilitator, and contributes significantly to the effectiveness of meetings. Chris also uses humor to deliver his message and provides some education along the way!
Written Communication: Exceeds
Chris continues to send written materials that communicate what is needed or "heads up" info. His communication is usually good and effective. Again, he specifically lists all actions that need to be taken to resolve an issue. Chris expertly edits his work for a clean product. Based on feedback from the receivers of Chris' messages, he needs to adjust his writing style to fit the audience he is addressing. Chris needs to balance the delivery of his written communications and how it will be received for total effectiveness.
There's three more pages of that bullshit, but I've grown bored with typing it out. The bit about adjusting my writing style really cracks me up. Some shithead took offense because I suggested something needed to be done as soon as possible. God forbid.
At any rate, I'm great.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Royale with Cheese
I'm a sucker for packaging. I'll admit it.
The other day KG and I were picking up a few odds and ends at Wal*Mart when I noticed an odd looking bag of Doritos. It was black, and labeled simply X13D. A mystery flavor. So, of course I bought it.
Well, let me tell you. The good folks at Frito Lay better keep this one on the market. Damn things taste just like a McDonald's cheeseburger. Cheese, beef, ketchup and mustard. It was good.
Every now and then I get me a hankering for a cheeseburger from McD's, and I always regret it later when I get the McHangover. Not any more. These chips scratch that itch.
I won't allow myself hope just yet, lest they go the way of Pitch Black.
The other day KG and I were picking up a few odds and ends at Wal*Mart when I noticed an odd looking bag of Doritos. It was black, and labeled simply X13D. A mystery flavor. So, of course I bought it.
Well, let me tell you. The good folks at Frito Lay better keep this one on the market. Damn things taste just like a McDonald's cheeseburger. Cheese, beef, ketchup and mustard. It was good.
Every now and then I get me a hankering for a cheeseburger from McD's, and I always regret it later when I get the McHangover. Not any more. These chips scratch that itch.
I won't allow myself hope just yet, lest they go the way of Pitch Black.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I have arrived
I own a fucking lawn mower! 190cc 6.50 ft-lbs gross torque.
Huh? At any rate, it cuts grass.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
TTFN
Tomorrow our cable gets disconnected here at casa de shit, so I'm signing off for a bit. The good folks at Comcast will be at the house tomorrow to connect us there, but it'll be a bit before I reassemble the computer and have time to blog.
So, y'all be good until then.
So, y'all be good until then.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
A Day Long Remembered
30 years ago a man took his four year old son to the theater to see a new movie called Star Wars.
It would not make a significant impression on that child's young mind. That child would not grow to be a man and in turn pass on an obsession. I swear.
May the Force be with you. Always
It would not make a significant impression on that child's young mind. That child would not grow to be a man and in turn pass on an obsession. I swear.
May the Force be with you. Always
Your Score: True Neutral
60% Good, 46% Chaotic
Plane of Existence: The Outlands, "Plane of Concordant Opposition". Description: The plane between all other outer planes.
Examples of True Neutrals (Ethically Neutral, Morally Neutral)
Red XIII, "Nanaki" (FFVII)
Vincent Valentine (FFVII)
Cid Highwind (FFVII)
Mr. Spock
Linus Torvalds
Dr. Strangelove
Scott Evil
Batman
The Punisher
Switzerland
Canada
Not actively for or against anything. Has his or her own reasons for doing everything. Usually difficult to understand.
Will keep their word if in their best interest
May attack an unarmed foe
May use poison
May help those in need
May work with others
Indifferent to higher authority
Indifferent to organizations
True Neutral "Pure Neutral"
"Balancer"
Some neutral [people] commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They are of the true neutral alignment as described in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
A true neutral [person] sees good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. He advocates the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run.
Some true neutral [people] actively support balance in the world, and seek to avoid having any one side, law or chaos, good or evil, become too powerful over them or anyone else, and will work against whichever side is the most powerful. They tend to side with the underdog in any situation, and are often opportunistic in their actions.
True neutral is committed to the avoidance of extremes, and is non-judgemental.
Other Alignments and Tendencies (Tendenices are what you would more often sway towards; esp. for Neutrals):
0-39% Good, 0-39% Chaotic:Lawful-Evil
0-39% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: Neutral-Evil
0-39% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Evil
40-60% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Neutral
40-60% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Neutral
61-100% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Good
61-100% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: Neutral-Good
61-100% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Good
| Link: The Alignment Test written by xan81 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Exile on Bradlee Street
Lucky me. I get the spend the next two weeks working out of our Hyde Park office. Sure, it's closer to home. However, the commute is about the same due to the convoluted route I drive. The office is old, creeky, and full of vermin. The clinicians are so fucking needy I'm supposed to let the receptionist know when I get in so she can make an overhead announcement. Yesterday I was asked to work 7-3 instead of my usual 8-4.
That's not happening.
When my sentence is up, I'm off for two weeks. Vacation? No. Moving, unpacking, doing yard work? Yes.
Top all that off with the case of the shits I got from drinking Coors Light, and you can probably guess the color of my mood ring these days.
That's not happening.
When my sentence is up, I'm off for two weeks. Vacation? No. Moving, unpacking, doing yard work? Yes.
Top all that off with the case of the shits I got from drinking Coors Light, and you can probably guess the color of my mood ring these days.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Tom rocks
Sweet Jesus, my entire body aches. I feel like I've been through the wringer.
Spent all day Saturday clearing out the backyard and running a chipper. The chipper was something else. Talk about turning a mountain into a molehill. When we were done, the overwhelming piles of dead trees and branches had been reduced to a pile of pulp.
TW showed up and busted his ass. He hauled all the firewood up the hill and stacked it, helped me with the chipper and climbed a ladder to cut limbs away from the power lines.
We drank a few Silver Bullets, had a smoke, and talked for a while afterward. All in all, it was back breaking, dirty work. But it was good. As TW nicely summed it up, sometimes you need a break from stressing and thinking. It's good to just get your hands dirty and sweat that shit out of your system.
Spent all day Saturday clearing out the backyard and running a chipper. The chipper was something else. Talk about turning a mountain into a molehill. When we were done, the overwhelming piles of dead trees and branches had been reduced to a pile of pulp.
TW showed up and busted his ass. He hauled all the firewood up the hill and stacked it, helped me with the chipper and climbed a ladder to cut limbs away from the power lines.
We drank a few Silver Bullets, had a smoke, and talked for a while afterward. All in all, it was back breaking, dirty work. But it was good. As TW nicely summed it up, sometimes you need a break from stressing and thinking. It's good to just get your hands dirty and sweat that shit out of your system.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Thursday, May 03, 2007
ROI
So, I suppose I'm a tad overdue for a recap of my exciting weekend in Missouri.
It was what it was. The McKesson conference was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for more useful information on the functionality of 10.0. It seemed instead that most of the seminars were geared toward people who haven't made the leap yet. So nice to know we're on the vanguard.
It was interesting and informative to talk to other users. Most agencies are smaller than ours. I met a few people who worked for agencies with no IS department (?!?!).
What I did get out of my weekend in Springfield was the green apple splatters. I, that is to say we, did a lot of drinking. The nice part was I got to spend some time with senior management getting drunk, and I never paid for a single beer. All in all, I'd call that good.
I took the day off from work today to sort of oversee the contractor who is hooking our house up to the sewer. Nice guy. He's going to use his monster backhoe to cut me a path through the overgrown part of the yard.
I have a huge yard. Seriously. With some hard work, it'll be beautiful.
Anyway, I spent half the day pulling vines off the house and doing some clearing of my own. Took some measurements, puttered around my house. My house. I like the sound of that.
My good buddies at work gave KG and I a $100 gift card to Home Despot. I spent half of it this morning. Got myself a rake, some hedge clippers, lawn bags, and a big, mother fucking axe. I can't tell you how psyched I am to own a honkin axe.
This weekend is going to be spent performing some intense yard work. I'm kind of looking forward to it. The place will look a lot better with a little effort.
It was what it was. The McKesson conference was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for more useful information on the functionality of 10.0. It seemed instead that most of the seminars were geared toward people who haven't made the leap yet. So nice to know we're on the vanguard.
It was interesting and informative to talk to other users. Most agencies are smaller than ours. I met a few people who worked for agencies with no IS department (?!?!).
What I did get out of my weekend in Springfield was the green apple splatters. I, that is to say we, did a lot of drinking. The nice part was I got to spend some time with senior management getting drunk, and I never paid for a single beer. All in all, I'd call that good.
I took the day off from work today to sort of oversee the contractor who is hooking our house up to the sewer. Nice guy. He's going to use his monster backhoe to cut me a path through the overgrown part of the yard.
I have a huge yard. Seriously. With some hard work, it'll be beautiful.
Anyway, I spent half the day pulling vines off the house and doing some clearing of my own. Took some measurements, puttered around my house. My house. I like the sound of that.
My good buddies at work gave KG and I a $100 gift card to Home Despot. I spent half of it this morning. Got myself a rake, some hedge clippers, lawn bags, and a big, mother fucking axe. I can't tell you how psyched I am to own a honkin axe.
This weekend is going to be spent performing some intense yard work. I'm kind of looking forward to it. The place will look a lot better with a little effort.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
HHNUC
I'm sitting in my hotel room in lovely Springfield, MO. Recovering from a very full and very boring day. One seminar after another, all barely touching on things that matter to me.
This after a night of very heavy drinking. With people from work. Most of them directors or senior managers.
We're going out again shortly. First stop, Bass Pro Shop. Sort of the LL Bean of the Mid-West. I'm going to buy a cowboy hat. Then dinner, more drinking I'm sure.
I've heard some horrible stories. Stories too wicked and stomach turning to post here. Things that I should never repeat, let alone even think about ever again.
Hehehe.
This after a night of very heavy drinking. With people from work. Most of them directors or senior managers.
We're going out again shortly. First stop, Bass Pro Shop. Sort of the LL Bean of the Mid-West. I'm going to buy a cowboy hat. Then dinner, more drinking I'm sure.
I've heard some horrible stories. Stories too wicked and stomach turning to post here. Things that I should never repeat, let alone even think about ever again.
Hehehe.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
One of these days
It's been a long, tiring week. I'd normally be looking forward to it ending, but that's not the case this time around.
I have the day off tomorrow as KG and I are closing on the house. We have to get the kids to daycare, go to the bank for an assload of bank checks, do our final walk through, then drive down to Plymouth to close.
Saturday morning at 5:15AM my boss picks me up so we can drive to TF Green and then fly to Springfield, MO for 4 days.
I get back Tuesday, back to work the next day and then the crunch for closing starts again.
Woo freaking hoo
I have the day off tomorrow as KG and I are closing on the house. We have to get the kids to daycare, go to the bank for an assload of bank checks, do our final walk through, then drive down to Plymouth to close.
Saturday morning at 5:15AM my boss picks me up so we can drive to TF Green and then fly to Springfield, MO for 4 days.
I get back Tuesday, back to work the next day and then the crunch for closing starts again.
Woo freaking hoo
Monday, April 23, 2007
Elvis Presley and America
I had one of those moments today. The kind where a random song strikes a chord deep within your soul, awakening some old, dusty emotion.
Happenstance of an iPod shuffle brings to mind a girl I once loved. My first, and to date longest, love. High school sweethearts growing up together, growing apart together.
Things ended badly between us, and I spend my days rarely thinking about her. Even rarer are the moments I reflect on the actual love we shared, and the various emotions she stirred in me when things were new and healthy.
And suddenly, here in my ears was a song that remind me so much of her. I've never understood the lyrics, and I always preferred it that way. Somehow not understanding the words allowed a more intimate and emotional message to be conveyed.
On this radiant and warm spring day I allowed memory to wash over me. A tired smile played upon my lips, and I became wistful.
Heather, I hope you are well. I hope you are happy. I know I am. I may have been a wreck the last time you cared to know me, but I have changed much since then. In some ways, I have changed not at all.
Be that as it may, you helped to shape me. You were fundamental in making me the man I am today. I give thanks to you for that, and for the good times we had, the friends we shared. I will cherish those days always. As for the rest, I will retain the lessons I learned.
You know
Like no one told you how
But you know
Though the king that howls has howled
But you feel like sentimental
But you don't care
If I just share it in your heart
Happenstance of an iPod shuffle brings to mind a girl I once loved. My first, and to date longest, love. High school sweethearts growing up together, growing apart together.
Things ended badly between us, and I spend my days rarely thinking about her. Even rarer are the moments I reflect on the actual love we shared, and the various emotions she stirred in me when things were new and healthy.
And suddenly, here in my ears was a song that remind me so much of her. I've never understood the lyrics, and I always preferred it that way. Somehow not understanding the words allowed a more intimate and emotional message to be conveyed.
On this radiant and warm spring day I allowed memory to wash over me. A tired smile played upon my lips, and I became wistful.
Heather, I hope you are well. I hope you are happy. I know I am. I may have been a wreck the last time you cared to know me, but I have changed much since then. In some ways, I have changed not at all.
Be that as it may, you helped to shape me. You were fundamental in making me the man I am today. I give thanks to you for that, and for the good times we had, the friends we shared. I will cherish those days always. As for the rest, I will retain the lessons I learned.
You know
Like no one told you how
But you know
Though the king that howls has howled
But you feel like sentimental
But you don't care
If I just share it in your heart
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Random bits
The upstairs neighbors, whom I despise, took a walk through of our apartment yesterday. Seems they might be moving down here when we move out.
I'm sorely tempted to leave some unpleasant surprises for them. The only thing stopping me, sadly enough, is that the dick upstairs is a roofer, and I can probably get a decent price out of him to at least fix the leak in our new roof.
The whole family ventured out today for some shopping ahead of the deadly storm headed our way. I ended up with a 250GB external hard drive, my very own "Easy" button, and a $2 thermal undershirt. What fun we have.
Oh, I also got a fairly nasty cut on my right ring finger. We had a cheap plastic Chinese kid's chair. My mother in law sat on it this weekend and discovered it wasn't designed to hold a full sized adult. The damn thing shattered, and let me tell you, those pieces were razor sharp. I took it out to the trash, broke a piece off in my hands, and didn't notice the gash in my finger until i went to light a smoke and saw my hand was covered in blood.
Needless to say, we won't be replacing that.
Tomorrow is back to work. My cube mate is off for the week, so it's going to be another overwhelmingly, painful, soul sucking week.
Woohoo.
I'm sorely tempted to leave some unpleasant surprises for them. The only thing stopping me, sadly enough, is that the dick upstairs is a roofer, and I can probably get a decent price out of him to at least fix the leak in our new roof.
The whole family ventured out today for some shopping ahead of the deadly storm headed our way. I ended up with a 250GB external hard drive, my very own "Easy" button, and a $2 thermal undershirt. What fun we have.
Oh, I also got a fairly nasty cut on my right ring finger. We had a cheap plastic Chinese kid's chair. My mother in law sat on it this weekend and discovered it wasn't designed to hold a full sized adult. The damn thing shattered, and let me tell you, those pieces were razor sharp. I took it out to the trash, broke a piece off in my hands, and didn't notice the gash in my finger until i went to light a smoke and saw my hand was covered in blood.
Needless to say, we won't be replacing that.
Tomorrow is back to work. My cube mate is off for the week, so it's going to be another overwhelmingly, painful, soul sucking week.
Woohoo.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
TPS Reports
Fuck work.
Fuck Harvard Freedom and all those cock sucking sales reps who went out and coersed old people into dropping their Medicare coverage and signing up with H Freedom.
None of those old folks informed us, and now 4 months later Medicare starts denying payments. I can't even begin to go into the nightmarish amount of work this is causing me.
Fuck MC. I should be glad you're broken ass is back, but I'm not. Since you've offered to assist me with closing, how about being a real pal and get off my fucking back.
Fuck the Earth for this shitty weather. It's snowing out, and it's friggin April.
Fuck all stupid, small minded, lazy ass co-workers. You people get paid to do a job. Stop bitching and just do it.
That's all I got.
Fuck Harvard Freedom and all those cock sucking sales reps who went out and coersed old people into dropping their Medicare coverage and signing up with H Freedom.
None of those old folks informed us, and now 4 months later Medicare starts denying payments. I can't even begin to go into the nightmarish amount of work this is causing me.
Fuck MC. I should be glad you're broken ass is back, but I'm not. Since you've offered to assist me with closing, how about being a real pal and get off my fucking back.
Fuck the Earth for this shitty weather. It's snowing out, and it's friggin April.
Fuck all stupid, small minded, lazy ass co-workers. You people get paid to do a job. Stop bitching and just do it.
That's all I got.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Even my iPod hates me today
It's been a trying week. 11 hour day at work on Saturday, another 3 hours at work late Sunday night. Monday finds no relief... I have tons of paperwork to data enter as well as a massive error report to resolve. Couple that with needy clinicians freaked out over the updates and an instead boss who is wired way too tight and I'm ready to assplode.
This morning it was cold and rainy. More like November than April.
So, I'm driving to work, listening to my iPod. On shuffle. I have 1,029 songs on there. For some damn reason, every single song it picked for my ride in was a depression dirge or a discordant tune. I even started skipping songs, only to have the next one be equally down.
I gave up and dealt with it.
Now anyone who knows me can attest to my penchant for dark, discordant music. Or as KG affectionately refers to it, my "difficult" music. However, the thing I like about my iPod is he eclectic mix I've put on there. There's music straight across the spectrum, and usually a sinister Residents tune will be followed by some jaunty Moog. A brooding Nick Cave song chased by Dr. Dre dissing niggahs and hos.
But today, no change in mood. Nothing but darkness. And damn if the same thing didn't happen on the way home. I finally shut it off and tuned into NPR when Hank Williams came on, singing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."
This morning it was cold and rainy. More like November than April.
So, I'm driving to work, listening to my iPod. On shuffle. I have 1,029 songs on there. For some damn reason, every single song it picked for my ride in was a depression dirge or a discordant tune. I even started skipping songs, only to have the next one be equally down.
I gave up and dealt with it.
Now anyone who knows me can attest to my penchant for dark, discordant music. Or as KG affectionately refers to it, my "difficult" music. However, the thing I like about my iPod is he eclectic mix I've put on there. There's music straight across the spectrum, and usually a sinister Residents tune will be followed by some jaunty Moog. A brooding Nick Cave song chased by Dr. Dre dissing niggahs and hos.
But today, no change in mood. Nothing but darkness. And damn if the same thing didn't happen on the way home. I finally shut it off and tuned into NPR when Hank Williams came on, singing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."
Monday, April 02, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
WTF?
AKA: A Little Homophobia Never Hurt Anyone:
Corey Andrew had his profile and resume posted at Careerbuilder.com, and it caught the eye of Army recruiter Marcia Ramode, who contacted him. He wasn't interested in a position in the military, particularly because of the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.
When Andrew informed Ramode that he is gay, and believed that the DADT policy was wrong, the two engaged in a three-day email exchange that included statements by Ramode, in her official capacity as a recruiter, that boggle the mind. (Jersey Journal):
"GO BACK TO AFRICA AND DO YOUR GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE AND JUMP AROUND AND PRANCE AND RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HALF NAKED THERE."
– U.S. Army recruiter Sgt. Marcia Ramode, using her military email address to respond to Jersey City resident Corey Andrew, after Ramode learned Andrew was gay.
You can check out the whole article here.
As disgusting and reprehensible as I find this, I must say there is little in life I enjoy as much as watching an asshole go to great lengths proving just how bug an asshole he or she is.
Good job, Marcia. You are one giant rectum.
Corey Andrew had his profile and resume posted at Careerbuilder.com, and it caught the eye of Army recruiter Marcia Ramode, who contacted him. He wasn't interested in a position in the military, particularly because of the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.
When Andrew informed Ramode that he is gay, and believed that the DADT policy was wrong, the two engaged in a three-day email exchange that included statements by Ramode, in her official capacity as a recruiter, that boggle the mind. (Jersey Journal):
"GO BACK TO AFRICA AND DO YOUR GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE AND JUMP AROUND AND PRANCE AND RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HALF NAKED THERE."
– U.S. Army recruiter Sgt. Marcia Ramode, using her military email address to respond to Jersey City resident Corey Andrew, after Ramode learned Andrew was gay.
You can check out the whole article here.
As disgusting and reprehensible as I find this, I must say there is little in life I enjoy as much as watching an asshole go to great lengths proving just how bug an asshole he or she is.
Good job, Marcia. You are one giant rectum.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Holy dingle berries!
We just bought a house!
Of course, we still have a ways to go before this is all set in stone. Home inspection, etc. But, our offer has been accepted. Looks like we'll become homeowners in May.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Now with less spoilers!
My apologies to anyone out there who hadn't managed to get around to watching the most important episode of BSG ever before reading my last post. I'm an obsessive fan, so I presumed everyone else had watched it already.
What can I say, I just really, really miss Starbuck. She's hot.
So, in other news: Coming this May to a post office near you
Sweet, eh?
Oh, and KG and I put in an offer on a house in Abington. Life goes on hold until we find out how that goes.
That is all.
What can I say, I just really, really miss Starbuck. She's hot.
So, in other news: Coming this May to a post office near you
Sweet, eh?
Oh, and KG and I put in an offer on a house in Abington. Life goes on hold until we find out how that goes.
That is all.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
RIP Kara Thrace
Oh, Starbuck.
All I'm saying is you guys better wow the pants off me this season to make up for that!
Monday, March 05, 2007
It's been a while...
Things have been crazy busy over at casa de TK. KG and I are back on the house market. We fell in love with this insanely beautiful Victorian. The good news: priced at 60K below assessed. Bad news: it's located right in the anus of Brockton. Just about the worst part of town.
So, the search continues. We're looking into slightly better towns this weekends in hopes of finding something we can afford in a neighborhood that won't turn our kids into Glock toting whiggers.
Work, where I usually take the time to blog, has been nuts. My boss is out with a broken ass (technically a L1 fracture, which is not the ass, but L1 is nowhere near as fun to say as "broken ass"). She's been out going on 12 weeks. ML is acting instead, and her counterpart in SW is going to shit out a baby any day. So we're down from 4 people doing my job to 2. Not fun. I haven't farked in almost a week! Worse yet, I'm splitting my days between offices, which means I only get to hang with the posse 2 days a week.
Add to that the training for 10.1, closing and various clinician blunders and Medicare fuck ups and I'm busy, busy, busy.
Sigh. I need a beer.
So, the search continues. We're looking into slightly better towns this weekends in hopes of finding something we can afford in a neighborhood that won't turn our kids into Glock toting whiggers.
Work, where I usually take the time to blog, has been nuts. My boss is out with a broken ass (technically a L1 fracture, which is not the ass, but L1 is nowhere near as fun to say as "broken ass"). She's been out going on 12 weeks. ML is acting instead, and her counterpart in SW is going to shit out a baby any day. So we're down from 4 people doing my job to 2. Not fun. I haven't farked in almost a week! Worse yet, I'm splitting my days between offices, which means I only get to hang with the posse 2 days a week.
Add to that the training for 10.1, closing and various clinician blunders and Medicare fuck ups and I'm busy, busy, busy.
Sigh. I need a beer.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
It's been a while...
Well, let's see.
Since I last posted I have:
Turned another year older.
Still failed to quit smoking.
Started looking for a house again.
That's all.
Since I last posted I have:
Turned another year older.
Still failed to quit smoking.
Started looking for a house again.
That's all.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Ahh, another meme, complments of Mycalls:
Four things you may not have known about me! (but probably do if you're a regular reader of this blog)
A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. House keeper
2. Funeral Director
3. Gas Station Attendant
4. Video Store Clerk
B) Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Office Space
2. Star Wars
3. Dawn of the Dead
4. Airplane!
C) Four books I have loved:
1. Cat's Cradle- Kurt Vonnegut Jr
2. World War Z- Max Brooks
3. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay- Michael Chabon
4. And The Ass Saw the Angel- Nick Cave
D) Four places I have lived:
1. Ridgefield, CT
2. Weymouth, MA
3. Quincy, MA
4. Somerville, MA
E) Four TV shows I love:
1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Lost
3. The Office
4. Sesame Street
This last one's thanks to TKJr... he brings out the kid in me.
F) Four places I have been on vacation:
1. San Francisco
2. Las Vegas
3. York, Maine
4. Cleveland, OH
G) Four of my favorite foods are:
1. KG's homemade pizza. I force myself to save enough for lunch the next day.
2. KG's minestrone soup. More curative powers than chicken soup.
3. Tapioca pudding.
4. KG's Thanksgiving dinner. I married her for a reason.
H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Anywhere warm. I'm tired of feeling like Hedwig everytime I go out for a smoke.
2. Asleep.
3. In my own house.
4. I hear Amsterdam is fun.
I) Four friends I think will respond first:
1. Molius may, if the mood strikes him.
2. I'm cross posting, so perhaps a JSer or two?
3. Names? Names? Names?
4. Anyone else want to surprise me?
Four things you may not have known about me! (but probably do if you're a regular reader of this blog)
A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. House keeper
2. Funeral Director
3. Gas Station Attendant
4. Video Store Clerk
B) Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Office Space
2. Star Wars
3. Dawn of the Dead
4. Airplane!
C) Four books I have loved:
1. Cat's Cradle- Kurt Vonnegut Jr
2. World War Z- Max Brooks
3. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay- Michael Chabon
4. And The Ass Saw the Angel- Nick Cave
D) Four places I have lived:
1. Ridgefield, CT
2. Weymouth, MA
3. Quincy, MA
4. Somerville, MA
E) Four TV shows I love:
1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Lost
3. The Office
4. Sesame Street
This last one's thanks to TKJr... he brings out the kid in me.
F) Four places I have been on vacation:
1. San Francisco
2. Las Vegas
3. York, Maine
4. Cleveland, OH
G) Four of my favorite foods are:
1. KG's homemade pizza. I force myself to save enough for lunch the next day.
2. KG's minestrone soup. More curative powers than chicken soup.
3. Tapioca pudding.
4. KG's Thanksgiving dinner. I married her for a reason.
H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Anywhere warm. I'm tired of feeling like Hedwig everytime I go out for a smoke.
2. Asleep.
3. In my own house.
4. I hear Amsterdam is fun.
I) Four friends I think will respond first:
1. Molius may, if the mood strikes him.
2. I'm cross posting, so perhaps a JSer or two?
3. Names? Names? Names?
4. Anyone else want to surprise me?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Oh, the stupidity
At this point, I'm sure most people around the country have heard about the momentary insanity that gripped Boston yesterday.
I must say, I really enjoy a situation such as this that leaves everyone on all sides looking like assclowns.
Thankfully, I wasn't stuck in any of the traffic jams that resulted from road closures. I did, however, have to spend a good portion of my day monitoring events and communicating with management so we could keep our field staff aware of where they could and couldn't drive. A huge pain in the ass.
Stupid. That's all I got. Stupid marketing gimmick, stupid execution, stupid and overblown response. And, the award for biggest asshats of all goes to the media, especially FOX. You guys really are a bunch of numbnuts.
I must say, I really enjoy a situation such as this that leaves everyone on all sides looking like assclowns.
Thankfully, I wasn't stuck in any of the traffic jams that resulted from road closures. I did, however, have to spend a good portion of my day monitoring events and communicating with management so we could keep our field staff aware of where they could and couldn't drive. A huge pain in the ass.
Stupid. That's all I got. Stupid marketing gimmick, stupid execution, stupid and overblown response. And, the award for biggest asshats of all goes to the media, especially FOX. You guys really are a bunch of numbnuts.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
La noche del terror ciego
KG bought me the Book of the Dead: the Complete History of Zombie Cinema for Christmas. It's a good read, and one of the most comprehensive tomes I've come across.
I decided, though I doubt I'll stick with it, to try and watch every zombie movie available. No small task, for sure.
Anyhow, last night I watched the first installment in the Blind Monks series, La Noche Del Terror Ciego. It's a Spanish zombie film from 1971 about a sect of Templar monks who return from the dead to feast on the living.
Not so good. The zombie monks were actually pretty creepy. But the plot was spotty, the acting was subpar and it was short on gore or genuine scares. I'd also like to mention that technically, they weren't zombies. The monks discovered the secret to immortality. They were executed, and rise from their graves. So, either they are ghosts, or they're vampires. Not zombies.
Worth viewing if you're a hardcore horror/zombie fan, but if you're a casual viewer, I'd suggest giving this one a pass.
I decided, though I doubt I'll stick with it, to try and watch every zombie movie available. No small task, for sure.
Anyhow, last night I watched the first installment in the Blind Monks series, La Noche Del Terror Ciego. It's a Spanish zombie film from 1971 about a sect of Templar monks who return from the dead to feast on the living.
Not so good. The zombie monks were actually pretty creepy. But the plot was spotty, the acting was subpar and it was short on gore or genuine scares. I'd also like to mention that technically, they weren't zombies. The monks discovered the secret to immortality. They were executed, and rise from their graves. So, either they are ghosts, or they're vampires. Not zombies.
Worth viewing if you're a hardcore horror/zombie fan, but if you're a casual viewer, I'd suggest giving this one a pass.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Horror done right
I watched Descent the other night. I'm pleased to report that it was a satisfying film. You have 6 women spelunking in an unexplored cave. They get trapped and attacked by a bunch of mutant, Gollum like creatures.
I was pleased that someone could make a horror movie that starred 6 women and managed to avoid both gratuitous nudity and the stereotypical chick banter. These were fully realized women, they were tough and adventerous. It was a nice change. Add in the claustrophobic setting and some geniunely creepy creatures, and all in all you have a pretty decent movie.
I strongly suggest watching the original, unedited version. It has a different ending than the American release, and it's much better.
I was pleased that someone could make a horror movie that starred 6 women and managed to avoid both gratuitous nudity and the stereotypical chick banter. These were fully realized women, they were tough and adventerous. It was a nice change. Add in the claustrophobic setting and some geniunely creepy creatures, and all in all you have a pretty decent movie.
I strongly suggest watching the original, unedited version. It has a different ending than the American release, and it's much better.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
A Man Called Horse
So, last night I sat down and watched A Man Called Horse. My stepfather has been going on for years about how this was one of his favorite movies. The man has questionable taste, but I was intrigued.
All in all, not a bad movie. It's one of those early 70's revisionist films, depicted a more "realistic" side of Native Americans. The story itself is engaging, and Richard Harris is excellent. The scene where he takes the Sun Bow and is suspended by 2 hooks from his chest is harrowing. Over all, though, I thought the cinematography and editing was poor, and the direction lacked focus. Worth watching, for sure.
All in all, not a bad movie. It's one of those early 70's revisionist films, depicted a more "realistic" side of Native Americans. The story itself is engaging, and Richard Harris is excellent. The scene where he takes the Sun Bow and is suspended by 2 hooks from his chest is harrowing. Over all, though, I thought the cinematography and editing was poor, and the direction lacked focus. Worth watching, for sure.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
179/1000 BLU Vol 2
So, I decided I might as well attempt to do an occasional review of music, movies or books that I ingest. Partly as filler and time killer, partly because I'm always looking to infect new people wth my esoteric taste.
My latest acquisition is The Residents "Best Left Unspoken Volume 2." This is the second of 3 collections of instrumental songs from B sides, out takes and limited releases long out of print.
The first 6 tracks are from "High Horses", an EP of demented carousel music. I'm lucky enough to have the original EP, so this wasn't new to me. None the less, it's great stuff. Best listened to with a decent pair of headphones.
The other stand outs, in my opinion, are "Prelude for a Toddler" and "Bijou." Prelude was included on a previous compliation album, which I also have ( and incidently was my first Residents album), but I'm happy to hear it again. Creepy. "Bijou" is new to me. It's a strange and intersting track, and thankfully defies description.
Anyhow, it's a limited release, and only available from Ralph America. If you have any interest in The Residents, I'd suggest picking it up.
My latest acquisition is The Residents "Best Left Unspoken Volume 2." This is the second of 3 collections of instrumental songs from B sides, out takes and limited releases long out of print.
The first 6 tracks are from "High Horses", an EP of demented carousel music. I'm lucky enough to have the original EP, so this wasn't new to me. None the less, it's great stuff. Best listened to with a decent pair of headphones.
The other stand outs, in my opinion, are "Prelude for a Toddler" and "Bijou." Prelude was included on a previous compliation album, which I also have ( and incidently was my first Residents album), but I'm happy to hear it again. Creepy. "Bijou" is new to me. It's a strange and intersting track, and thankfully defies description.
Anyhow, it's a limited release, and only available from Ralph America. If you have any interest in The Residents, I'd suggest picking it up.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Swinging
So, looks like we've won the War On Terror, eh?
Here's the video proof if you doubt me (Be warned, it ain't pretty).
So, if I'm not mistaken, gas should now be under $1 a gallon, we can lower the Threat Level to green, our boys and girls in uniform can come home, and my babies can sleep safe and secure at night.
Right? Right?
Eh?
Here's the video proof if you doubt me (Be warned, it ain't pretty).
So, if I'm not mistaken, gas should now be under $1 a gallon, we can lower the Threat Level to green, our boys and girls in uniform can come home, and my babies can sleep safe and secure at night.
Right? Right?
Eh?
Obligatory Catch Up Post
It's been an insane, crazy, busy day at work and I'm just getting the chance to surf on line. It's been a while since I posted, and I do actually have a few things to report.
Just no time to do it right now.
So, suffice to say: The holidays were enjoyable. The kids are well. Work sucks. It's unseasonably warm.
More to come soon.
Just no time to do it right now.
So, suffice to say: The holidays were enjoyable. The kids are well. Work sucks. It's unseasonably warm.
More to come soon.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Year End Meme
Got this little meme from Love and Other Strange Drugs : Post the first sentence from the first post from every month of 2006. So, here goes nothing:
Jan: Plane crashes are something else.
Feb: Never, ever borrow someone else's video-game controller.
Mar: I live on a quiet side street.
Apr: KG and I received a nice surprise kick in the figurative balls today.
May: Not much happening over here worth reporting.
Jun: There's a bit of a disconnect between what is and what should be.
Jul: My little sister just turned 31.
Aug: Coolest freakin toy ever...
Sep: After looking at 30+ houses, I think we may finally be done.
Oct: Oh, I'm sure some day the boy will hate me for this.
Nov: I've said again and again that I've lost my ability to be outraged.
Dec: One of my favorite SNL bits ever...
Jan: Plane crashes are something else.
Feb: Never, ever borrow someone else's video-game controller.
Mar: I live on a quiet side street.
Apr: KG and I received a nice surprise kick in the figurative balls today.
May: Not much happening over here worth reporting.
Jun: There's a bit of a disconnect between what is and what should be.
Jul: My little sister just turned 31.
Aug: Coolest freakin toy ever...
Sep: After looking at 30+ houses, I think we may finally be done.
Oct: Oh, I'm sure some day the boy will hate me for this.
Nov: I've said again and again that I've lost my ability to be outraged.
Dec: One of my favorite SNL bits ever...
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Eat well, shit strong
Strange, I've lived 33 years and had never heard of this Christmas custom until today.
Next year should prove interesting in our household.
Next year should prove interesting in our household.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Weekend Recap
It was a busy one.
Saturday: Had an eye appointment in the morning, got contacts. In laws cam over in the afternoon, KG took Moe to the vet for a check up. My parents came over in the evening, KG and I headed to the People's Republic of Cambridge for a wine and cheese party hosted by Names and C. KG got really drunk, talked some shit on the way home, puked up all the wine when we got home and went to sleep. I passed out on the couch.
Sunday: KG had a mean hang over and was useless. We all went out and bought a Christmas tree. KG took the baby to the doctor's and ended up at the hospital for chest x-rays. No pneumonia, but she's on a nebulizer now. Every 4-6 hours. Fun.
We have a 4 day weekend coming up, and I'm looking forward to it.
That is all.
Saturday: Had an eye appointment in the morning, got contacts. In laws cam over in the afternoon, KG took Moe to the vet for a check up. My parents came over in the evening, KG and I headed to the People's Republic of Cambridge for a wine and cheese party hosted by Names and C. KG got really drunk, talked some shit on the way home, puked up all the wine when we got home and went to sleep. I passed out on the couch.
Sunday: KG had a mean hang over and was useless. We all went out and bought a Christmas tree. KG took the baby to the doctor's and ended up at the hospital for chest x-rays. No pneumonia, but she's on a nebulizer now. Every 4-6 hours. Fun.
We have a 4 day weekend coming up, and I'm looking forward to it.
That is all.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Farewell, Stewie
So, last night was kind of a bummer. We gave one of our cats away.
Stewie was a stray that KG adopted when we first started dating. That was 6 years ago. He's been my little buddy ever since.
Shortly after my son was born, we adopted another little stray, Moe. With the addition of another cat and a baby, Stewie started acting up. mostly spraying. He's been a problem cat since. He needs a lot of attention, and our house was getting a little full for him.
KG sent the following email to some people she works with:
Please help me find a new home for my cat, Stewie.
I adopted Stewie in 2000, when he was just a kitten. He loved cuddling and playing. He was always happy, and being the new baby, he was the center of attention.
As the years have passed, our family has increased by another adopted stray kitten and two human babies, and Stewie is not the happy kitty he used to be. He misses the games of bathtub hide and seek, bat the fuzzy mouse, and fishing for the feathery thing we used to play.
I feel bad that I cannot give Stewie the attention he wants and make him the happy, carefree kitty he used to be, but I barely have enough time in the day to give my son the attention he needs, let alone my cats.
If you or anyone you know would want a kitty to play with and love and give lots of attention to, please let me know.
Stewie is 6 years old now, and is all black. He is healthy and up-to-date with medical checkups and shots. He even had his teeth cleaned in April.
He would be happiest in a home where he was the only cat. If someone could make room for him in their home, I would provide a brand new litter box and food and water bowls.
Please forward this to anyone you can think of who might be interested.
Stewie is a very loving kitty who deserves the best home he can have.
Well, yesterday a girl she works with asked if she could take him. I stopped on the way home and bought a litter box and bowl. Around 8PM she came over and took Stewie with her.
I'm hoping he'll be happy in his new home. I'm glad to be down to 2 cats and not have spraying and urine problems anymore. But I still feel bad.
I'll miss you, little buddy.
Stewie was a stray that KG adopted when we first started dating. That was 6 years ago. He's been my little buddy ever since.
Shortly after my son was born, we adopted another little stray, Moe. With the addition of another cat and a baby, Stewie started acting up. mostly spraying. He's been a problem cat since. He needs a lot of attention, and our house was getting a little full for him.
KG sent the following email to some people she works with:
Please help me find a new home for my cat, Stewie.
I adopted Stewie in 2000, when he was just a kitten. He loved cuddling and playing. He was always happy, and being the new baby, he was the center of attention.
As the years have passed, our family has increased by another adopted stray kitten and two human babies, and Stewie is not the happy kitty he used to be. He misses the games of bathtub hide and seek, bat the fuzzy mouse, and fishing for the feathery thing we used to play.
I feel bad that I cannot give Stewie the attention he wants and make him the happy, carefree kitty he used to be, but I barely have enough time in the day to give my son the attention he needs, let alone my cats.
If you or anyone you know would want a kitty to play with and love and give lots of attention to, please let me know.
Stewie is 6 years old now, and is all black. He is healthy and up-to-date with medical checkups and shots. He even had his teeth cleaned in April.
He would be happiest in a home where he was the only cat. If someone could make room for him in their home, I would provide a brand new litter box and food and water bowls.
Please forward this to anyone you can think of who might be interested.
Stewie is a very loving kitty who deserves the best home he can have.
Well, yesterday a girl she works with asked if she could take him. I stopped on the way home and bought a litter box and bowl. Around 8PM she came over and took Stewie with her.
I'm hoping he'll be happy in his new home. I'm glad to be down to 2 cats and not have spraying and urine problems anymore. But I still feel bad.
I'll miss you, little buddy.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
It's a shame
From the newest album by The Residents, Tweedles:
Funnier than legless lepers singing "Born to Lose"
Funnier than Jesus crucified in high heel shoes
Funnier than Adolph Hitler butt fucked by baboons
Funnier than obese babies popping like balloons.
Funnier than masturbating midget residue
Funnier than the Pope's penis being barbequed
Is the goofy sense of humor that you never lose
Even though your drunken daddy loved you like a bruise."
Funnier than legless lepers singing "Born to Lose"
Funnier than Jesus crucified in high heel shoes
Funnier than Adolph Hitler butt fucked by baboons
Funnier than obese babies popping like balloons.
Funnier than masturbating midget residue
Funnier than the Pope's penis being barbequed
Is the goofy sense of humor that you never lose
Even though your drunken daddy loved you like a bruise."
Friday, November 24, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Stupid Hyperfocus
Finally, after 3 days, I'm done tagging all 329 posts on this damn blog. Here's a breakdown:
Asshole Neighbors (6) ( I thought there would be more of these)
Current Events (17) ( none of them current now)
Friction (2) (creative writing)
Fubar (18) (messed up shit from around the world)
Life. It's Bigger. (134) (my life, not surprising it's the highest number)
Lists (16) (memes, etc)
Misc (30) (mostly links)
Pics (40) (I thought this would be higher as well)
Prose (7) (more creative writing)
Rant (31) (again, I thought this would be higher)
Star Wars (37) (not surprising)
The Residents (8) (They deserve their own tag)
Trooping (14) (I don't get out much)
Video (7) (youtube)
Work (30) (sucks)
Zombies (2) (I need to talk more about this)
So, that was fun. Pointless, but entertaining.
Asshole Neighbors (6) ( I thought there would be more of these)
Current Events (17) ( none of them current now)
Friction (2) (creative writing)
Fubar (18) (messed up shit from around the world)
Life. It's Bigger. (134) (my life, not surprising it's the highest number)
Lists (16) (memes, etc)
Misc (30) (mostly links)
Pics (40) (I thought this would be higher as well)
Prose (7) (more creative writing)
Rant (31) (again, I thought this would be higher)
Star Wars (37) (not surprising)
The Residents (8) (They deserve their own tag)
Trooping (14) (I don't get out much)
Video (7) (youtube)
Work (30) (sucks)
Zombies (2) (I need to talk more about this)
So, that was fun. Pointless, but entertaining.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Stupid beta blogger
Well, to be fair it's really more of a "stupid user" situation.
I spent about 90% of my day at work adding tags to all my posts. I'm still not half done, and it's now 11PM and I'm friggin tired.
Stupid hyperfocus.
I spent about 90% of my day at work adding tags to all my posts. I'm still not half done, and it's now 11PM and I'm friggin tired.
Stupid hyperfocus.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Spaceship Yamato!
We're off to outer space
We're leaving Mother Earth
To save the human race
Our Star Blazers
Searching for a distant star
Heading off to Iscandar
Leaving all we love behind
Who knows what danger we'll find?
We must be strong and brave
Our home we've got to save
If we don't in just one year
Mother Earth will disappear
Fighting with the Gamilons
We won't stop until we've won
Then we'll return and when we arrive
The Earth will survive
With our Star Blazers
Thursday, November 16, 2006
OJ Simpson needs to die
I've said again and again that I've lost my ability to be outraged. I've grown world weary and jaded enough that I expect the worst. And then something like this come along. To quote:
"On November 30, her Regan Books is publishing a book OJ Simpson wrote with the working title "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened."
Fox said Simpson's book "hypothetically describes" how he would have committed the murders."
Open note to Mr. Simpson: Fuck you, you murdering scumbag. We all know you did it. You're guilty, and if you had any shred of moral decency in you, you'd stick the business end of a 9MM in your mouth and pull the trigger.
I can only hope you develop some form of inoperable cancer that kills you painfully and slowly. You are a sick, sad piece of shit and I spit on you.
Whew! It's nice to know I can still work up some anger.
"On November 30, her Regan Books is publishing a book OJ Simpson wrote with the working title "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened."
Fox said Simpson's book "hypothetically describes" how he would have committed the murders."
Open note to Mr. Simpson: Fuck you, you murdering scumbag. We all know you did it. You're guilty, and if you had any shred of moral decency in you, you'd stick the business end of a 9MM in your mouth and pull the trigger.
I can only hope you develop some form of inoperable cancer that kills you painfully and slowly. You are a sick, sad piece of shit and I spit on you.
Whew! It's nice to know I can still work up some anger.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Happy B-Day, RB!!
Best wishes to one hell of a pal. I wouldn't be sitting here re-posting this at 10PM from the comfort of my home if it wasn't for Raybee.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
I Object!
KG and I do our best to avoid exposing TKJr to commercials. His primary TV viewing has been PBS and Noggin. Good programs, commercial free.
Not long ago, we discovered PBS Kids Sprout. It's a cable channel, and features mostly PBS Kids programming. 24 hours a day.
When we first started watching it, it was mostly commercial free. Every now and then we'd see an ad for Gerber life insurance, or some cleaning product, or maybe a CD collection of 80's music. I didn't really object to that. I understood that Sprout, while carrying the PBS brand, is a cable station, and makes no claim to be commerical free. Plus, the rare ads were geared toward parents.
A few months ago, they fired the host of the evening program. She had apparently appeared in a 30 second short called "The Technical Virgin." I saw the video. She wasn't naked, she wasn't lewd. It was inappropriate for kids, yes, but my three year old does not know how to google.
It took months for Sprout to replace her. In the interm, they started sneaking in more and more commercials. I didn't get pissed. Chucky Cheese, they sponser PBS. Huggies Clean Team? Yes, we did have to go buy Clean team hand soap and wipes because our son had to have them. But at least it teaches him to clean himself.
Now, even with a new host, Sprout has moved on to all out commerical breaks. Last night I saw the ad that has pushed me over the edge. Meet "Itsy Bitsy Spider Man."
Not only is that straight out pandering of useless, overpriced crap to children, it also happens to be the stupidest damn thing I have ever seen. What's next, a Tickle Me Hulk?
Seriously, folks. Let's get something straight. Muppet Babies was a bad idea. Pooh babies was stupid. But baby superheroes? No.
Superheroes were not born super. With the exception of Superman (technically an alien made super by the sun's yellow rays), they were normal people until something happened to them either during puberty or in early adulthood. Are we now to believe that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider at daycare? That Bruce Banner was zapped by gamma rays in the nursery? That at 6 months, Bruce Wayne decided to avenge the murder of his parents? I think not.
To quote Cartman: "That's gay. Hella gay. Liberace gay."
Not long ago, we discovered PBS Kids Sprout. It's a cable channel, and features mostly PBS Kids programming. 24 hours a day.
When we first started watching it, it was mostly commercial free. Every now and then we'd see an ad for Gerber life insurance, or some cleaning product, or maybe a CD collection of 80's music. I didn't really object to that. I understood that Sprout, while carrying the PBS brand, is a cable station, and makes no claim to be commerical free. Plus, the rare ads were geared toward parents.
A few months ago, they fired the host of the evening program. She had apparently appeared in a 30 second short called "The Technical Virgin." I saw the video. She wasn't naked, she wasn't lewd. It was inappropriate for kids, yes, but my three year old does not know how to google.
It took months for Sprout to replace her. In the interm, they started sneaking in more and more commercials. I didn't get pissed. Chucky Cheese, they sponser PBS. Huggies Clean Team? Yes, we did have to go buy Clean team hand soap and wipes because our son had to have them. But at least it teaches him to clean himself.
Now, even with a new host, Sprout has moved on to all out commerical breaks. Last night I saw the ad that has pushed me over the edge. Meet "Itsy Bitsy Spider Man."
Not only is that straight out pandering of useless, overpriced crap to children, it also happens to be the stupidest damn thing I have ever seen. What's next, a Tickle Me Hulk?
Seriously, folks. Let's get something straight. Muppet Babies was a bad idea. Pooh babies was stupid. But baby superheroes? No.
Superheroes were not born super. With the exception of Superman (technically an alien made super by the sun's yellow rays), they were normal people until something happened to them either during puberty or in early adulthood. Are we now to believe that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider at daycare? That Bruce Banner was zapped by gamma rays in the nursery? That at 6 months, Bruce Wayne decided to avenge the murder of his parents? I think not.
To quote Cartman: "That's gay. Hella gay. Liberace gay."
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Oh, what a day
I almost forgot it was a holiday today. My first clue was the lack of traffic driving in.
Happy Chris Columbus Day to y'all. Y'all except for, of course, the ones who don't believe in Manifest Destiny. I don't imagine you'll be celebrating the raping and pillaging of your native lands.
Happy Chris Columbus Day to y'all. Y'all except for, of course, the ones who don't believe in Manifest Destiny. I don't imagine you'll be celebrating the raping and pillaging of your native lands.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
That's my boy!
Oh, I'm sure some day the boy will hate me for this. But right now, I get to laugh, and laugh and laugh...
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