Friday, November 27, 2009

Telephone Custard Avoidance Workshops

*I have no idea if it's going to be busy at work today or not. I'm hoping not, but at the same time I'm just tired enough that a really slow evening could end up putting me right to sleep. Doing a turn in chemistry makes it easier to get through the night, but I'm gonna need other things to keep my brain in gear. And I'm betting that won't include my BB comp. So far, ED seems to be the one department putting on quite a show. I think I'd bet that Monday will be quite Hellish around here as well.

*Thanksgiving. Whoo frickety hoo. After dinner, the greatest form of entertainment was watching Zella in her bouncy chair. And even that got old after an hour. At least I got to see the Mythbusters episode about duct tape that I had missed.

*My right shoulder is messed up from my horrid posture when I use the computer at home, and my left wrist is sore from all the carving I've done in recent days. Makes rolling over at night just tons and tons of fun.

*Thinking I may need to take Jeweltiger up on her offer for this weekend.

*Can two items be considered a list? At the moment, that's what I have as far as gift requests go. I know that will not be acceptible to the MIL. The Pirate Queen also submitted a demand for a list. And Kat needs a list. So far, the only person I know of who hasn't expressed any need for such a thing is Shroom.

*OK, it is not fair that the spouse said I could go ahead and buy some more HeroScape stuff for myself, only to find other things that I wouldn't mind having on sale on the same website. Of course, I should be concentrating my efforts on E-Bay instead of where I was looking, but at least I found a few things. I want to try and find somewhere online that Games has their annual lists of the top 100 traditional games of the year. That's always been a good place to find some ideas to throw on my list(s).

*I went to a lot of effort to rearrange and lay out the basement in a presentable fashion at the requests of my spouse, only to have to undo most of it in order to fit the two air mattresses needed for the kids. File that one under 'Why Did I Bother?'

*Up at 4 AM the day after Thanksgiving? You betcha! Had to clean up the places where the guest dog had peed in the house! What a bargain!!

*I have to remember to call the contractor tomorrow and figure out the plan for getting started on the bathroom remodel. I'm thinking I just need him to drop off the truck so I have a place to put all the debris from the tear-out. Pinklady says she's going to help. Not sure how that's gonna go, but I got gloves and goggles for her just the same.

*Aside from the Kat incident early on Thursday, my behavior thus far has been deemed as 'acceptible' by the spouse.

*I think I am going to have to sharpen a set of chisels specifically for use in/on soft wood, like pine. Probably need a lower angle than the 30 degree pitch on my usual set. I have foud that the X-Acto knives work pretty well, provided you use more of a slicing action. They don't hold an edge for long, and since my talent for sharpening things has yet to reach any true skill level, I'm not sure if it's really any better than using a chisel. OK, that's not really true. It is better than using a chisel. There's very little crushing of the soft rings with the slicing action of the X-Acto knife. I just don't know how to sharpen things very well so it's rare for me to get consistently good edges.

*

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Beige Crab Parfaits

* Got up late this morning. Not that I really had anything of great importance to do, but it was odd considering how sunny it was outside. I suppose that's what Sunday mornings are good for, though. Just tunneling back down into the pile of warm blankets and drifting off to sleep for another half hour or so. Not real condusive to getting a lot done though. It was real condusive to cricking up my neck, though.

* OK, the real estate market continues to give us less than good news. Not only have the neighbors across the street already gotten an offer on their house (good for them), turns out the one down at the end of the block is going into foreclosure (bad for us).

* I'm pretty sure I would have like to have seen the boots.

* Avoided the computer today, and only briefly sat in front of the TV. The end result? Even with getting up late, I got all of the shleves placed downstairs that I wanted to, and then managed to get the mucked up spots on the wall ready for a touch-up coat of paint. I have no idea where the chest with all the painting supplies is, though. I really hate seeing just how much I can get done when there isn't a couch or chair attached to my ass and a viewscreen in front of my face. Just hoping that I can carry that momentum over into tomorrow and end up getting a lot more stuff done. I did spend maybe 5-10 minutes on Facebook right before I went to work, but that was it as far as the computer goes. I do have lots of things I need to do on the computer, but Facebook isn't one of them. I still have untouched stacks of vinyl downstairs that need to be recorded and converted, and the inventory of my tiki colllection has come to a standstill. These are winter projects, and I need to get on them. Maybe do an alternating week schedule, or something like that? I know I'm going to have to relearn all the LP software since it's been so long since I used it last. With that new version of Windows that I loaded up, at least I have the same photo editing software that I've been using at work. That should be helpful in that project.

* I have to get my Chem comp done before Vass takes off this evening, and then I have one to do in BB.

* 2 or 3 of the horde of incoming relatives will be staying with us. Not sure for how many days, but I have been instructed to get the basement into a reasonable degree of organizedness so that the air mattress can be flopped down there. I'm hoping that won't really be a problem as far as time goes. There is a lot of dusting that needs to be done though.

* Why have the 3 Blondes been at the forefront of my mind lately??

* I don't know what the weather is supposed to be like tomorrow. Hopefully it will be nice enough that I can run the mower over the yard one last time and then run it dry for winter storage. Then there's the grocery store, the basement, the paperwork, the cleanup on the sliding door, etc, etc, etc. So much fun to be had I can barely contain myself. Just need to get that shit done so it's out of the way. Anyway, I'm sure I'll manage to work in some time to amuse myself.

* Looks like right after T-Day is when things are going to need to get going. I'll need to get all the holliday stuff out for Pinklady, and I also have to start demo in the bathroom (which reminds me that I have to call the contractor tomorrow). But, since I have no idea when relatives are actually coming and going, I'm not sure what the exact timeline is.

*Boy, that drill bit really sliced the hell out of my thumb.

*

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Plural Corded Monkeynuts

*Was sorry to hear today that Paris had died sometime in the night. My condolences to the Davis family.

*Only 2 days until the beginning of the holiday invasion. Must remember to be on my best, no, make that my least confrontational behavior. So, I just won't be talking a lot. Tends to work out better that way. I'd bring a book to read, but I'd get in trouble for that too. At least I'm going to be ten minutes from home instead of ten hours. And I do have actual work on the schedule, which will help remove me from situations where I'd be likely to do something stupid. Just need to find a nice quiet corner where I can just nod and smile at the appropriate times. Hey, that's just like going to a lab meeting...

*Thanks to Number One, I was aware of Anvil long before their recent re-emergence.

*I went to BB+B and bought a couple three packages of shelves, which I liked the looks of, and now I'm not sure if I want to use them. The actual shelves I like, stylistically speaking. From an engineering standpoint, I'm thinking they're not so hot. And since the purpose of these shelves would be to display the various tiki items I have collected over the years, the notion of shelves crashing randomly to the ground is not a good thing. I'm hoping that I can address this potential issue with the use of large numbers of toggle bolts. Otherwise, it all goes back to the store, and I will just stare blankly at the shelfless walls for another month or so.

* "In the Loop"-I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in longer than I can remember. Plus, I think the portrayal of the political system is accurate enough to be frightening if looked at realistically. Anyway, I almost hurt myself laughing, but it's a Blockbuster exclusive, so go rent it.

*It was good to be able to sit down with Kittyluv for a while on Friday and at least get partly caught up on what's been going on with her. But, she was right in saying that an hour fifteen just isn't enough time. Just have to see if some more time presents itself sometime in the near future.

*Just haven't had much of an appetite lately. Nothing even sounds good.

*My MIL has requested my Giftmas list. More than once. I have been put on official notice of this fact. More than once. At the moment, I am only slightly annoyed by that. You'd think, that since it was all gifts for me that it would be thrilling to generate this huge laundry list of things I want. But it's not. I don't like doing it. Usually, if there's something I want, and if I can afford it, I get it myself. Plus, I don't tend to have constantly maintained list of things I want. I was going to put various HS elements down on my list this year, but I was told to purchase those things myself, if I wanted them. That statement had the unfortunate effect of all but eliminating the partial list I had managed to assemble. So, I'm back to scrounging around for ideas, knowing full well that if I don't come up with a sizeable list of affordable and accessible items, I will be doomed to receive gift cards.

*I still have 2 totally empty CO2 tanks in my garage that need to be returned to their respective companies so I can end my leases. That would only slightly decrease the amount of crap still piled in the garage. But at least Pinklady can get her car in, so all is well with the world.

* "Up"-I am amazed by what Pixar has accomplished in the area of computer animation. I liked Kevin a lot, and Dug was also pretty good. Bit too much sap in the story for my tastes, but the animation was freakin amazing, so I really enjoyed watching it.

*Another bright and sunny late fall day. Of course, I find myself back in a windowless basement, so it doesn't really matter what it's like outside.

*I'd like to say that I hate all the games on Facebook. I can't say that, though. Anyone can tell that I spend a great deal of time on those games. What I actually hate is the fact that I find them interesting enough to spend all that time on them. More accurately, I hate the fact that I don't find other things interesting enough to take their place. And those games are actually pretty damn boring. My prime addiction has no animations and beyond that is all text and numbers. Absolute waste of time. And yet I still play it. Maybe this admission will be enough to shame me into not wasting any more time on them. Especially since I still say I'm trying to start a game group.

*Brought a couple of cans of stain in from the garage today in the hopes of staining my two most recent carvings. I need to check and see when Tropical Tails is this coming year to see if I even have a chance at getting something big done for them. Then I need to blow up the computer and the TV so I stop wasting time on them.

* "The Maiden Heist"-Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, and William H Macy all in the same comedy?? And I've never heard of it?? WTF?? So, I rented it, and I was highly amused. The only down side was seeing just a bit too much of William H Macy's naked ass.

*If my timing of holidays is correct (based on the first appearances of Giftmas stuff relative to it's actual occurrence on the calendar), all I have to say is HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

*The first time I ever remember listening to Meat Loaf, I think I was sitting in the driveway at CT's on some random evening in that little tan econobox car she used to drive. It was probably on tape, and the song was 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light'. I doubt it had any more meaning at the time than being an amusing song, but, being Capt. Oblivious as I was then (and still am, mostly) I never found out. I still enjoy listening to that album every now and again, and if anything, it's increased in meaning over the years. The Pirate Queen managed to put quite a stamp on it for me as well. I am still amazed at the amount of piano used in making that album.

*

Monday, November 16, 2009

Obtuse Tofu Helmets

*Finally, something of some interest has occurred on Facebook! Got a rather interesting comment in response to a question I had posted on my 'Honesty Box' app. If the person who submitted it is who I think it is, well, let's just say I'm more intrigued than I was previously.

*I did something less than attentive at work last week. Now I just have to wait and see what the end judgement will be.

*So far, lunch on Friday with Kittyluv is a go. Be nice to find out what's been going on.

*It's fun knowing you have a package waiting for you at home. Thanks again, Cookie! (Or is that Kochy? Maybe Kochie?)

*I seem to be having a recurrence of dreams that I can actually remember. What that exactly means in the context of my fucked up brain chemistry, I don't know. Bluegirl was there the other night. College was the context last night. It's comforting to have something to remember, because it seems less like falling into total nothingness for eight hours. I just don't know if it's a good or a bad sign that I'm having/remembering them again.

*I should get a hold of Jeweltiger and see what she's up to. Still have yet to see her new place. Plus, I have that statue to give her. And that other thing as well....

*Off to the dentist for me this Thursday. Just time for a routine cleaning. I don't mind going, 'cause my hygenist's a real cutie, and thus far I haven't had any other dental problems to speak of. So, much like the other times I've been there, she'll scape the gunk off my teeth and tell me I need to floss a lot more and grind my teeth a lot less, and I will spend another 1/2 hour in a reclined position trying unsuccessfully to look down her scrub top.

*All seems to be quiet to the south. How go things in catland, Cromag? Costa Rica showing up on the horizon yet?

*Due to an unforeseen, yet fortunate, event, I now have Thanksgiving off. The entire Clan of the Northlands will be here, so it's not a 100% good thing, but it will make Pinklady a bit happier (I can but hope). Not to mention that I may actually be able to scare up a game of HS. Given, it may have to be with a CCG player that's 1/3 my age, but beggars can't be choosers.

*Should I try and have a poker night on Friday? Or, should I just slam my head in a door until the urge passes?

*

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Asparagus Coated Kneepads

*Late Sunday afternoon, and I still have a low-grade headache. Got another pot of coffee brewing and I'm hoping that and some Tylenol will make me feel more functional. Pinklady is still flat on her back with another high power UTI that has knocked her out of commission for the past 2 days. She's finally able to get some sleep, so that's what she's been doing for most of the day today. I'm debating as to whether or not I should get a hold of Big B and see if he wants to come by and do some gaming. I've almost finished the latest full-table HS map, and would like to try it out. But, I'm right on the bubble as far as being motivated to actually do it. In my brain I can comprehend that I need to be getting out and establishing more connections with people. I have to work on not being physically or socially isolated. I get that. I understand that. The logic and mechanics of that statement are undeniable. But when that gray curtain drops in my mind, I just want to crawl back in my bed and sleep. And that's a dreamless sleep. Nothing else is there. The world gets shut off and that's about it. I should call Big B and set something up for tonight. I should try and get a hold of Trotzkie. Will I? Doubtful. That energy just isn't there. I had the idea of hosting a poker night next week, but it just seems like a totally hopeless idea. I can't even seem to integrate myself into an online community.

*Tried the newly opened Little Ceasar's here in DeKalb. All I can say is that I would have loved it when I was in college, but since I'm not, I doubt I'll be eating anything from there again. Blech.

*The entire Clan of the Northlands will be invading starting a week from Monday.

*Still haven't made any gift lists.

*

Monday, November 9, 2009

Nudist Archangel Reflexes

*Our neighbors across the street are moving. Great. That will put yet another 'for sale' sign too close to my house. I can't understand why all these people gotta go and poke holes in my two year plan. Of course, it's not like we could have put our place on the market right now anyway. Just makes me wonder how long it will sit empty, since they've already closed the deal on their new place. Then the next question become who will be the next to leave. Probably be us, but since this news came out of the blue, you never can tell.

*For my day off, the most exciting thing I have lined up is a haircut. Or a trip to the grocery store. I'm not sure which of those rates higher on the Thrill-O-Meter.

*I wonder if I have any sandpaper finer than 220. I'm pretty sure that since I really have no use for such a thing it would be pretty implausible for me to have any.

*A momentary glimpse
While picking up the garbage
Of green polka dots

*The notion of having a calm, uneventful Monday at work is so totally implausible as to be downright laughable.

*"Tricky" by Run-DMC is stuck in my head. Must be that riff from "My Sharona" that's making it hang around.

*It's always good to have a pretty lady say 'I'm glad you're back'.

*

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Polarity Reversed Armadillo Nostrils

*Tuesday is my next day off. The contractor is coming in the morning, and after that we're going to select pictures so we can get them printed. I may go to the supermarket, too. All in all, a pretty average to boring agenda. Now, I just happened to find out that ZZ Top is playing a show in Milwaukee that day. Cool! What better thing to do on a day off than go see a show, right? Right! So, I go looking around for tickets. The show, it just so happens, is at the Four Winds Casino, which is run by a tribe whose name, out of respect, I won't even try to spell. That's a bonus, since it means there's got to be lodging nearby, if not right there at the casino itself. Even better, there are still tickets available! ......But they're in the balcony.....and they're $100 a pop. Crap. That just sucks. So, if, in theory, I were to go by myself, it would be $100 for the seat (plus all of Ticketmaster's charges), probably another $100 for gas, food, and tolls, and then maybe another $100 to get a room for the night. Add in the obligatory tour T-shirt and misc expenses, and all of the sudden I'm in the $400 range. And that's if I go solo (since ZZ Top Fans are few and far between these days). That really blows. I missed them when they were at HOB, because I think I was working. I didn't even bother to see how much that show would have run me. It looks like this may be the year without a concert for me. I mean, I really like their music, but $400??? Sorry, boys. Can't do it.

*Time to consider a different tack in my efforts to get a game group going.

*Many thanks to Scott for using some of his windfall to ship me a couple of old games! Thanks also for reminding me that we are still in middle of a game of chess. Now all I have to do is find the paper I had the game written down on....

*Sorry that Mr. ATL didn't work out for my LIP.

*Been feeling better now that I realized I was only taking a freaking half dose of my meds. Better, yes, but not quite there. I know if I go see Mike he'll tell me that we may need to consider upping my dosage, AGAIN. He already knows that I really dislike having to take it at all, and the thought of having to go up another level (the 4th increase in as many years) makes me ill. Not to mention the fact that it does seem that I now need to stay on it all year round. The only thing I can think is that I have literally fried my brain, and it is slowly running out of juice. What a wonderful thought. Senility is on the way! Whoopee! Eternal usage of chemical props to maintain minimal brain function. What a fucking joy that thought is. And the ceaseless holiday barrage has already started, too. I am not looking forward to this winter at all.....

*

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Distal Agnostic Flags

*Continuing in the trend of unusual weather patterns for the year, today is an unseasonably warm 70 degrees (F) outside, and very sunny. WTF? I know I shouldn't complain, but it really does seem that the weather is no longer conforming to any known set of rules.

*The empty house behind us had been listed as being sold for a month or more without anyone moving in, which we thought was odd. Then a week ago, we see a different sign in the yard: "For Lease". There seems to be a strangely high number of rental properties in the area as it is. Not multi-family dwellings, but rentals nonetheless. Does nothing to convince us that our property value is going to go up.

*Tore down Tarvis' Folly yesterday in order to clear the game table for something else. Don't know what yet. I have been toying with the idea of doing one different custom HeroScape map a month. I have also been resisting the temptation to add to my HS holdings. Partly because it's getting hard for me to store all the HS stuff I already have, and partly because my game collection as a whole is perched at a rather high % of unplayed games. So, I guess I'll try to keep the wallet locked until I can get some momentum going as far as a game group goes. But, if someone wants to know what they can get me as a gift, all bets are off.

*Leaves are still falling from the trees. Tomorrow will mark the 4th time this season that I have had to rake the yard. The only good part is that the leaves have been dry. Trying to rake piles of half-frozen, wet leaves is a task well beyond my ability to hate it properly. Maybe I'll get lucky and all the rest of the leaves will fall while I'm at work, and tomorrow will be the end of it.

*The last few things I need to clear out of the garage include a small forest of silk plants and a ping-pong table, which Sheri had to go and remind me isn't technically mine. I think there's an end table and some shelving too. By the time I handle all that, it will be too cold to work out there comfortably, so the reason for actually getting that stuff done becomes a moot point.

*Got the latest carving project down to the 150 pass. Been trying to think of what I could do for Tropical Tails this year, and the answer is pretty simple: nothing, unless I get up off of my ass and get busy.

*The contractor will be coming by Tuesday morning to go over the estimate he gave us for redoing the bathroom. Then we'll figure out when he can start and get the ball rolling on things. At least after that project we'll be in a position where there shouldn't be anything grossly lacking in the house should we decide to put it on the market.

*The tiki is lounge is within spitting distance of being complete, I think. Not to say that things won't change, but for now I like where things are headed. Another trip to IKEA is on the 'to do' list and then I'll be back to trying to get the collection cataloged and organized for display.

*Vacation's over. Back to the grind.

*Another sure way to tell that I have gotten old is that on a Saturday nights when I'm working, I no longer have the need or urge to bolt out the door an hour or more early to get to where the party is happening. Of course, I am also no longer aware of where the party is, either.

*Time for some new header art. I even know what I have in mind.

*

Monday, November 2, 2009

Monday Morning

Coffee, Windex, and bright, bright sunshine. Pretty nice way to start the day.