Thursday, June 1, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Update on our Friends
We talked to our friends who are dealing with stage 3 breast cancer last weekend.
After much research, talking to a lot of people, meditating and praying on the subject, they have chosen to go with the surgery / chemotherapy / radiation route. I feel that one of the most important things in choosing a method of treatment, is to be comfortable with it. I'm happy that they did take all options into consideration, though.
She'll be going under the knife this Thursday to have her breast and lymph nodes removed, so if you can spare a thought or prayer, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
After much research, talking to a lot of people, meditating and praying on the subject, they have chosen to go with the surgery / chemotherapy / radiation route. I feel that one of the most important things in choosing a method of treatment, is to be comfortable with it. I'm happy that they did take all options into consideration, though.
She'll be going under the knife this Thursday to have her breast and lymph nodes removed, so if you can spare a thought or prayer, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
An Award For Tess
"Tess" being short for Countess
I forgot to properly and publicy credit and thank Countess for introducing me to Matthew Good's music...
So Tess, even though this award bears a striking resemblance to the "Emmy" award for excellence in television broadcasting, it's actually an "O-yeah" award for excellence in blog content.
Though the inscription on the award is somewhat illegible in the picture, it reads: "To Countess - A Hot-lookin' Canadian Woman who runs a kickass blog and has good taste in friends and music... May you treasure this award always!"
(I hope this was worth the wait).... ;)
I forgot to properly and publicy credit and thank Countess for introducing me to Matthew Good's music...
So Tess, even though this award bears a striking resemblance to the "Emmy" award for excellence in television broadcasting, it's actually an "O-yeah" award for excellence in blog content.
Though the inscription on the award is somewhat illegible in the picture, it reads: "To Countess - A Hot-lookin' Canadian Woman who runs a kickass blog and has good taste in friends and music... May you treasure this award always!"
(I hope this was worth the wait).... ;)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
What would You do?
Earlier this year, my supervisor's brother-in-law was diagnosed as having esophageal cancer. When considering different treatments, I piped up and told my supervisor about a clinic that my doctor refers all of his cancer patients to.
Over the years, my doctor has sent over 300 patients to a specialty clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. A lot of these patients had pretty grim prognoses. Out of those three hundred plus people, only one ever died. Almost all of the others made full and amazing recoveries. That's a pretty good track record, I think.
The brother-in-law chose the route of traditional medicine... surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
He had over half of his esophagus removed, and his stomach relocated into his upper chest cavity, near the shoulder (I can't even imagine how wierd that must be). After about six weeks of recovering from the surgery, and following his regiment of radiation and chemo, they discover a tumor on his spine.
The doctor surgically removes most of the tumor on his spine, saying that things looked pretty good down there. That was a week ago.
This morning came the grim news that the cancer has spread to his lungs and his liver. This man does not have long to live...
He's roughly 35 years old, and has five children, one of them a newborn.
And now...
We found out last weekend that one of our best friends has stage 3 breast cancer, five months into her pregnancy. In talking with her husband, I pleaded "Please, just look into this clinic in Mexico... just at least give it some consideration..."
What they choose to do remains to be seen...
My question to you is: What would you do in this situation?
Is the idea of holistic health so far outside of people's rational thinking, that even with a better than 99% success rate, it is turned down in favor of a known path of pain and sickness?
Just wondering out loud...
Over the years, my doctor has sent over 300 patients to a specialty clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. A lot of these patients had pretty grim prognoses. Out of those three hundred plus people, only one ever died. Almost all of the others made full and amazing recoveries. That's a pretty good track record, I think.
The brother-in-law chose the route of traditional medicine... surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
He had over half of his esophagus removed, and his stomach relocated into his upper chest cavity, near the shoulder (I can't even imagine how wierd that must be). After about six weeks of recovering from the surgery, and following his regiment of radiation and chemo, they discover a tumor on his spine.
The doctor surgically removes most of the tumor on his spine, saying that things looked pretty good down there. That was a week ago.
This morning came the grim news that the cancer has spread to his lungs and his liver. This man does not have long to live...
He's roughly 35 years old, and has five children, one of them a newborn.
And now...
We found out last weekend that one of our best friends has stage 3 breast cancer, five months into her pregnancy. In talking with her husband, I pleaded "Please, just look into this clinic in Mexico... just at least give it some consideration..."
What they choose to do remains to be seen...
My question to you is: What would you do in this situation?
Is the idea of holistic health so far outside of people's rational thinking, that even with a better than 99% success rate, it is turned down in favor of a known path of pain and sickness?
Just wondering out loud...
Conversation With A 2 Year Old...
Life's most precious moments often start out like this...
(sound of crying from the girls' room upstairs)
Me: What's the matter?
2-yr Old: Olivia tol me to way down
Me: Welllll, it is bedtime... you really should lay down and try to go to sleep.
2-yr Old: But I need a dwink, Daddy!
We go downstairs and fill up a cup of water for her, which she drinks about two swallows from
Me: Okay, let's go to bed...
2-yr Old: I need thtuffy-nose medicine...
Me: (groan) All right... pouring some allergy medicine for her. Drink it up. While she is drinking up her medicine, I pull out the box of band-aids and proceed to clean up many of the cuts and scratches I had gotten from fixing the garage door earlier that evening
Me: Where is the Neosporin?! I ransack the medicine cabinet, while my daughter opens the box of band-aids and unwraps a bunch of them for me. I find the ointment, but end up sticking the first band-aid together and tearing it...
2-yr Old: Oh, tartar sauce...
I get all of the band-aids put into place...
Me: Okay, you really need to go to bed now...
2-yr Old: I need to go potty!
Me: (groan) Okay...
She goes potty...
Me: Okay, Sweetie... let's go to bed!
2-yr Old: I need bwush my teef!
She brushes her teeth
Me: Okay... NOW let's go to bed...
2-yr Old: I need go check on Mommy...
Me: I see what you're doing... you're just trying to stay up, aren't you?
2-yr Old: (smiling sweetly) Can I stay up?
(sound of crying from the girls' room upstairs)
Me: What's the matter?
2-yr Old: Olivia tol me to way down
Me: Welllll, it is bedtime... you really should lay down and try to go to sleep.
2-yr Old: But I need a dwink, Daddy!
We go downstairs and fill up a cup of water for her, which she drinks about two swallows from
Me: Okay, let's go to bed...
2-yr Old: I need thtuffy-nose medicine...
Me: (groan) All right... pouring some allergy medicine for her. Drink it up. While she is drinking up her medicine, I pull out the box of band-aids and proceed to clean up many of the cuts and scratches I had gotten from fixing the garage door earlier that evening
Me: Where is the Neosporin?! I ransack the medicine cabinet, while my daughter opens the box of band-aids and unwraps a bunch of them for me. I find the ointment, but end up sticking the first band-aid together and tearing it...
2-yr Old: Oh, tartar sauce...
I get all of the band-aids put into place...
Me: Okay, you really need to go to bed now...
2-yr Old: I need to go potty!
Me: (groan) Okay...
She goes potty...
Me: Okay, Sweetie... let's go to bed!
2-yr Old: I need bwush my teef!
She brushes her teeth
Me: Okay... NOW let's go to bed...
2-yr Old: I need go check on Mommy...
Me: I see what you're doing... you're just trying to stay up, aren't you?
2-yr Old: (smiling sweetly) Can I stay up?
Sunday, May 21, 2006
V.O.D. Strikes Again
How appropriate a nickname for yours truly:
I don't really know what to say.
Vortex of Death
It seems as though one of our best friends, currently residing in Phoenix, Arizona... currently 5 months pregnant... has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and has been given a 48% chance of survival by her doctors.I don't really know what to say.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Moving Down The Freeway Of Life
Over the past year, as I have traveled approximately 50 miles to work each morning, and then back home again, I have become pretty familiar with the route.
I know which places tend to bog down first with rush hour traffic, I know where the police usually like to sit and watch for speeders. I know where the accidents typically happen, and I know which lanes are best to be in at certain points of the road.
Example: About a mile before a certain freeway exit, it's a good idea to move from lane 1 or 2 over to lane 3, because invariably, lanes 1 and 2 get bogged down at that point. However, you're wise to move back into lane 1 just as you get to that exit, because traffic from the onramp will bog down lanes 3 and 4 almost immediately as you pass under the bridge.
I'm going to liken this freeway to my lifestyle... Lane number 1 (the far left lane) representing the left... or liberal... side of things. Lane number 4 (the far right lane) representing the right... or conservative... side of things.
I am a social moderate, who typically hangs out in lanes 2 & 3 Getting too far in either direction hasn't ever proved productive for me. The far right lane is usually clogged with the slow and cautious drivers, who could easily represent the slow and cautious people in society who impede progess and change. The far left lane is where the Mario Andretti wannabe's hang out, those in real life who are all about progress and change, but far less cautious than their slow-lane counterparts. While the rest of the freeway moves at a steady pace during rush hour, the left lane is characteristically "stop & go"... People who need to go faster, need to stop faster... and remain at a dead stop longer than any other lane.
And while many people think that it's the fast and progressive ones that the cause of most accidents and harm on the road, there is surprisingly a near-equal amount of responsibilty to be doled out to the slow drivers who impede the flow of traffic, exactly obeying the posted speed limit when the flow of traffic is much higher. And then there are those who weave in and out of lanes and ideaologies at a high rate of speed, recklessly affecting the journey of many others, and whose only thought is for themselves, and how they can get ahead of everyone else. These usually make the best politicians.
I am certainly all about compassion, and am quick to donate money (if I have it) to helping other people, whether it be in a third-world country, or parts of our own country where mother nature has wreaked a bit of havoc, or even the occasional down and out person standing on the side of the road with a cardboard sign. Third-world debt reduction? I'm all about that too... if done wisely. In these and many other ways, I identify with the fast-lane liberals.
There are ways that I align myself with the cautious slow-lane conservatives as well: I'm all about border security, especially when you have multiple reports of "OTM's" (Other than Mexicans) coming across the southern borders... especially when they're identified as being of Arabic descent. I mean, how many Mexican Arabs do we have that are dying to get into the "Great Satanic Nation" for good reasons? Anyone? Anyone?
Set the wayback machine for the infamous 11th of September, 2001. The terrorist acts that brought down two manhattan skyscrapers and destroyed a section of our military's central strategic center were perpetrated by people living inside the U.S. at the time. It's a lot easier to plan and execute acts of terrorism if you're on the inside, and can observe, and "case the joint", so to speak.
This is also where I'm fine with the government analyzing data from phone records and looking for patterns. Kingfisher threw out a scenario on a previous post where this data could possibly be used against you, and he has a valid point. However, if the government looking at phone records and identifying patterns ends up netting some terrorists and stopping some horrific acts, and saving lives, then - to me, at least - it's worth it. Especially if the lives saved includes a loved one.
And then there's the whole argument of "rights". Somehow, if you were to magically transport the country's founding fathers to any one of the several mosques in America where "firebrand" imams preach violence against the infidel, and openly support terrorist acts against America, I believe they would find it hard to label that simply as "free speech". Until just 30 to 40 years ago, this kind of behavior was labeled as "treason". I believe the right to privacy ends when it affects the safety and well-being of others. Consider this: If certain evidences pointed to a meth lab being just a few houses away, would you be more concerned about the safety of yourself and those around you, or the privacy of the guy living with the meth lab?
There is a lot of concern that the current administration of this nation isn't trustworthy; that their actions and intent are nothing but deceptive and nefarious at best. My response to that is: Maybe you're right. But then again, maybe you're not. There is such partisan bickering, such widespread slander, villification and defamation flooding through the political world that Jesus himself could be president, and you wouldn't know whether you could trust him or not. There is a point, though, when it comes down to "Do you put your trust in the hungry jaguars that are chasing you through the jungle, or the rickety-looking rope bridge that might get you across the chasm and to safety?"
So my advice for driving on the freeway of life: Drive a little bit in every lane. The more you drive the road, the more you'll develop a feel for how it flows, how the traffic moves around you. You'll discover which points clog up quickly, and which points open up to endless vistas of beautiful scenery. Drive a little in each lane, and get to know what traffic is like for other drivers... see the road from behind their windshield a few times. Be a little bit liberal and progressive, be a little bit cautious and conservative, and spend some time in between. Variety is the spice of life, and as the good book says "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven"
I know which places tend to bog down first with rush hour traffic, I know where the police usually like to sit and watch for speeders. I know where the accidents typically happen, and I know which lanes are best to be in at certain points of the road.
Example: About a mile before a certain freeway exit, it's a good idea to move from lane 1 or 2 over to lane 3, because invariably, lanes 1 and 2 get bogged down at that point. However, you're wise to move back into lane 1 just as you get to that exit, because traffic from the onramp will bog down lanes 3 and 4 almost immediately as you pass under the bridge.
I'm going to liken this freeway to my lifestyle... Lane number 1 (the far left lane) representing the left... or liberal... side of things. Lane number 4 (the far right lane) representing the right... or conservative... side of things.
I am a social moderate, who typically hangs out in lanes 2 & 3 Getting too far in either direction hasn't ever proved productive for me. The far right lane is usually clogged with the slow and cautious drivers, who could easily represent the slow and cautious people in society who impede progess and change. The far left lane is where the Mario Andretti wannabe's hang out, those in real life who are all about progress and change, but far less cautious than their slow-lane counterparts. While the rest of the freeway moves at a steady pace during rush hour, the left lane is characteristically "stop & go"... People who need to go faster, need to stop faster... and remain at a dead stop longer than any other lane.
And while many people think that it's the fast and progressive ones that the cause of most accidents and harm on the road, there is surprisingly a near-equal amount of responsibilty to be doled out to the slow drivers who impede the flow of traffic, exactly obeying the posted speed limit when the flow of traffic is much higher. And then there are those who weave in and out of lanes and ideaologies at a high rate of speed, recklessly affecting the journey of many others, and whose only thought is for themselves, and how they can get ahead of everyone else. These usually make the best politicians.
I am certainly all about compassion, and am quick to donate money (if I have it) to helping other people, whether it be in a third-world country, or parts of our own country where mother nature has wreaked a bit of havoc, or even the occasional down and out person standing on the side of the road with a cardboard sign. Third-world debt reduction? I'm all about that too... if done wisely. In these and many other ways, I identify with the fast-lane liberals.
There are ways that I align myself with the cautious slow-lane conservatives as well: I'm all about border security, especially when you have multiple reports of "OTM's" (Other than Mexicans) coming across the southern borders... especially when they're identified as being of Arabic descent. I mean, how many Mexican Arabs do we have that are dying to get into the "Great Satanic Nation" for good reasons? Anyone? Anyone?
Set the wayback machine for the infamous 11th of September, 2001. The terrorist acts that brought down two manhattan skyscrapers and destroyed a section of our military's central strategic center were perpetrated by people living inside the U.S. at the time. It's a lot easier to plan and execute acts of terrorism if you're on the inside, and can observe, and "case the joint", so to speak.
This is also where I'm fine with the government analyzing data from phone records and looking for patterns. Kingfisher threw out a scenario on a previous post where this data could possibly be used against you, and he has a valid point. However, if the government looking at phone records and identifying patterns ends up netting some terrorists and stopping some horrific acts, and saving lives, then - to me, at least - it's worth it. Especially if the lives saved includes a loved one.
And then there's the whole argument of "rights". Somehow, if you were to magically transport the country's founding fathers to any one of the several mosques in America where "firebrand" imams preach violence against the infidel, and openly support terrorist acts against America, I believe they would find it hard to label that simply as "free speech". Until just 30 to 40 years ago, this kind of behavior was labeled as "treason". I believe the right to privacy ends when it affects the safety and well-being of others. Consider this: If certain evidences pointed to a meth lab being just a few houses away, would you be more concerned about the safety of yourself and those around you, or the privacy of the guy living with the meth lab?
There is a lot of concern that the current administration of this nation isn't trustworthy; that their actions and intent are nothing but deceptive and nefarious at best. My response to that is: Maybe you're right. But then again, maybe you're not. There is such partisan bickering, such widespread slander, villification and defamation flooding through the political world that Jesus himself could be president, and you wouldn't know whether you could trust him or not. There is a point, though, when it comes down to "Do you put your trust in the hungry jaguars that are chasing you through the jungle, or the rickety-looking rope bridge that might get you across the chasm and to safety?"
So my advice for driving on the freeway of life: Drive a little bit in every lane. The more you drive the road, the more you'll develop a feel for how it flows, how the traffic moves around you. You'll discover which points clog up quickly, and which points open up to endless vistas of beautiful scenery. Drive a little in each lane, and get to know what traffic is like for other drivers... see the road from behind their windshield a few times. Be a little bit liberal and progressive, be a little bit cautious and conservative, and spend some time in between. Variety is the spice of life, and as the good book says "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven"
Friday, May 12, 2006
A Few Awards...
A corny cornucopia of awards to hand out...
Has anyone here seen the TV show Numbers? They use mathematic equations to reveal patterns in calling, especially international calls. If consistent patterns of communication show up between suspected terrorists and people living within the US, then those people are investigated a little more closely.
Unless you're calling the Middle East on a regular basis, and talking for quite a while, I certainly wouldn't worry about the government collecting this data from the phone companies. You don't cripple the guard dog who watches over you...
That's all for now... maybe more later.
Cheapass of the Day Award
I pulled into a gas station just down the road from my office to buy a diet soda this morning, and saw a guy washing his entire car with the windshield squeegee.Strange Cosmic Fact of the Day Award
Remember the head-on double fatal accident I posted about? Since that time, two other head-on collisions have happened in the same location. The more recent accidents have left the drivers critically injured, but not dead. And the freeway, of course, was shut down each time, creating huge traffic congestion problems. You think that the highway patrol would put up a large sign or something that said "Don't crash here, dammit!"Obscure Fact About Me Award
Yes, In high school I was a band geek. I have photographic proof which I will insert into this post later tonight. I played the trumpet, and could play the sax, flute and drums a bit, too. Our school started a marching band the summer I graduated, and I played in it. We took "First in State" at the July 24th (state holiday) parade in Salt Lake. I'm currently in the slow and lengthy process of teaching myself piano.Much Ado About Nothing Award
This whole "furor" over the government and phone records. The anthill that is truly becoming a mountain. I mean, Hello, People! They're not recording phone calls... they couldn't give a damn less about Aunt Mabel's secret cake recipes, or your teenage daughter's extensive social life, your brother's illegal music downloading, the gossip about the neighbors, or the affair you've been having with the school crossing guard... What they are getting from the phone companies is data. Data that includes the date and time of the telephone call, the origin and destination of the call, as well as the length of the call.Has anyone here seen the TV show Numbers? They use mathematic equations to reveal patterns in calling, especially international calls. If consistent patterns of communication show up between suspected terrorists and people living within the US, then those people are investigated a little more closely.
Unless you're calling the Middle East on a regular basis, and talking for quite a while, I certainly wouldn't worry about the government collecting this data from the phone companies. You don't cripple the guard dog who watches over you...
This Musician Kicks Ass Award
I had heard about Matthew Good from Countess's site, but had never heard his music. I got a hold of his CD "Avalanche" two days ago, and listened.... Ah, I Love it! This guy is great! I'm listening to him right now...So Sad It's Funny Award
Ticket Sales to Mission Impossible III haven't been going as well as projected, and so friends of Tom Cruise from the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center in the Hollywood / Bel Air area have been pitchin' in to help their buddy out, by buying up literally hundreds of movie tickets apiece, and giving them away in an effort to boost box office numbers. I can't help but laugh. I'm sorry... *snort*That's all for now... maybe more later.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Audience Participation Requested
In an attempt to inject some levity and fun into a recently morose blog, I'm asking for a bit of participation here's
At the end of the day, I will go through the comments, and cut and paste the moments and quotes into the body of the post, for easier reading. Once your comments have been added to the post, they'll be deleted from the comments section.
I'll start off, and then the floor is yours...
Nilo The Shadow: Where you see the sailor falling off of the Empire State Building in the background, bouncing off the building as he goes.
Nilo The Holy Grail: Pretty much the whole damn movie.
Sleepless Mama Serenity:
Kaylee: It's going on a year I haven't had anything 'twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!
Captain Mal: ...God, I can't know that!
Jayne: I could stand to hear a little more.
Sleepless Mama Tortilla Soup:
Dad: As long as you live under my roof you'll obey my rules!
Maribel: Fine! That's fine! (pause) Because I'm moving in with Andy!
Dad: What?
Andy:(equally surprised) What?
Shelly National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: pretty much the whole movie, but specifically the cat electrocution and Chevy Chase's "When Santa comes down the chimney he's gonna find the happiest bunch of assholes this side of the loony bin" speech. My hubby and I make a date to watch that movie every Christmas - no kids allowed!
Shelly Sideways: The look on Paul Giamatti's face as he's crawling through the house to get Thomas Hayden Church's wallet and realizes what's going on in the bedroom.
Shelly Goldmember: The *entire* film. Hilarious.
Shelly Steel Magnolias: way too many great lines to count. "Thanks, Ouiser - nothing like a good piece of ass." "Here, hit her! You can print up shirts - I slapped Ouiser Boudreaux" "This is it, I have found it - I am in Hell." "I'm not crazy, M'Lynn - I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years." That is one of my all-time favorite movies.
Harry: It's not because it's New Year's Eve, and it's not because I'm lonely. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible.
Shelly The Order: There was a great line in a Heath Ledger film that I think was called The Order. "It's you and me until the wheels fall off." I like that sentiment.
Sleepless Mama The Patriot: The colonials who were retreating seeing the American flag go forward, then turning around and following it.
Shelly A Christmas Carol: The George C. Scott version is the *only* version. (He shared my birthday, btw.)
Sleepless Mama Radio: The whole movie. Seriously, I could only watch it one time, because I cried the whole. Way. Through.
Shelly Steel Magnolias: I never lose it until Sally Field's "I can run a marathon but my daughter can't" speech, but I've never made it through that scene without crying.
Shelly Pretty Woman: The line that always got me in this one was Hector Elizondo's "It must be difficult letting go of something so beautiful."
Sleepless Mama Lethal Weapon I-IV: Because I can't get enough of Mel Gibson kicking ass and taking names. Also, because Rene Russo gets to kick ass, and I think we need more female asskickers in Hollywood.
Sleepless Mama V For Vendetta: When Parliament is blown up, but also when the citizens gather and beat the living crap out of a Fingerman who shot a child. Pretty much all the civil disobedience. Power to the people! Bitches!
Sleepless Mama Blood In, Blood Out: Bound by Honor: One of the cholos being chased says, in this relaxed way, to his fellow cholos (in Spanish) "Tighten your balls."
Sleepless Mama Speed: The whole movie was one long car chase/gunfight.
Sleepless Mama The Royal Tenebaums: Pretty much the whole Luke-Wilson-is-in-love-with-his-sister-and-never-grew-out-of-it. But especially when they kiss. Excuse me, but ew.
Sleepless Mama The Matrix: Yeah, I know, it's passe now, but when it first came out, it blew my mind.
Shelly Frailty: There are several points in the movie where you can see what's coming, but it's shocking and you're not sure you want to see it. Truly disturbing movie.
Nilo Pitch Black: The woman getting torn in half by the bird creatures.
Sleepless Mama Wild Things: Pretty much all the sex parts. Also the part when Neve Campbell rips out her own teeth. My incisors hurt just thinking about it!
Shelly Payback: The entire movie. That thing sucked.
Shelly Carlito's Way: Al Pacino's love scene - great actor, but ick.
Movie Moments
I want you to list some of your favorite movie moments out, using either the categories below, or some of your own. List out as many or few as you want, using as many or few of the categories as you want.At the end of the day, I will go through the comments, and cut and paste the moments and quotes into the body of the post, for easier reading. Once your comments have been added to the post, they'll be deleted from the comments section.
- Favorite funny moments
- Favorite romantic moments
- Favorite awe-inspiring moments
- Favorite tear-jerking moments
- Favorite action moments
- Favorite "yeah! right on!" moments
- Favorite edge of your seat moments
- Favorite car chase / gunfight moments
- Favorite scary moments
- Favorite mind-bending moments
- Favorite "Damn, I wish I hadn't seen that" moments
I'll start off, and then the floor is yours...
Funny Moments
Nilo Nine Months: Where Hugh Grant and Tom Arnold are beating the hell out of "Arnie the Dinosaur" at the toy store.Nilo The Shadow: Where you see the sailor falling off of the Empire State Building in the background, bouncing off the building as he goes.
Nilo The Holy Grail: Pretty much the whole damn movie.
Sleepless Mama Serenity:
Kaylee: It's going on a year I haven't had anything 'twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!
Captain Mal: ...God, I can't know that!
Jayne: I could stand to hear a little more.
Sleepless Mama Tortilla Soup:
Dad: As long as you live under my roof you'll obey my rules!
Maribel: Fine! That's fine! (pause) Because I'm moving in with Andy!
Dad: What?
Andy:(equally surprised) What?
Shelly National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: pretty much the whole movie, but specifically the cat electrocution and Chevy Chase's "When Santa comes down the chimney he's gonna find the happiest bunch of assholes this side of the loony bin" speech. My hubby and I make a date to watch that movie every Christmas - no kids allowed!
Shelly Sideways: The look on Paul Giamatti's face as he's crawling through the house to get Thomas Hayden Church's wallet and realizes what's going on in the bedroom.
Shelly Goldmember: The *entire* film. Hilarious.
Shelly Steel Magnolias: way too many great lines to count. "Thanks, Ouiser - nothing like a good piece of ass." "Here, hit her! You can print up shirts - I slapped Ouiser Boudreaux" "This is it, I have found it - I am in Hell." "I'm not crazy, M'Lynn - I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years." That is one of my all-time favorite movies.
Romantic Moments
Sleepless Mama When Harry Met Sally:Harry: It's not because it's New Year's Eve, and it's not because I'm lonely. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible.
Shelly The Order: There was a great line in a Heath Ledger film that I think was called The Order. "It's you and me until the wheels fall off." I like that sentiment.
Awe-Inspiring Moments
Nilo Apollo 13: Launch sequence.Sleepless Mama The Patriot: The colonials who were retreating seeing the American flag go forward, then turning around and following it.
Shelly A Christmas Carol: The George C. Scott version is the *only* version. (He shared my birthday, btw.)
Tear-Jerking Moments
Nilo Charly: Where Charly's grandma removes her shoes from her feet as she approaches Charly's casket during the viewing.Sleepless Mama Radio: The whole movie. Seriously, I could only watch it one time, because I cried the whole. Way. Through.
Shelly Steel Magnolias: I never lose it until Sally Field's "I can run a marathon but my daughter can't" speech, but I've never made it through that scene without crying.
Shelly Pretty Woman: The line that always got me in this one was Hector Elizondo's "It must be difficult letting go of something so beautiful."
Action Moments
Sleepless Mama Serenity: River, kicking all that Reaver ass, all by herself.Sleepless Mama Lethal Weapon I-IV: Because I can't get enough of Mel Gibson kicking ass and taking names. Also, because Rene Russo gets to kick ass, and I think we need more female asskickers in Hollywood.
Yeah! Right On! Moments
Sleepless Mama Terms Of Endearment: Okay, so the mom is in the hospital, all in agony, dying of malignant breast cancer. The grandmother (Shirley MacLain) is telling her grandchildren about the things they'll be able to do when they come back to Houston(!) with her, and how they can do Cub Scouts, etc. The oldest son, age 10ish, who has been a complete and total ass to his mother throughout the movie, says something about his mother being too lazy to check out Cub Scouts. Shirley turns right around and slaps that boy. He starts giving her shit and she slaps him again! Now I certainly don't condone child abuse, and Shirley's character immediately apologizes and explains herself. But seriously, that kid had it coming. I'd expect to get slapped for talking trash about my mom when she's laid up in the hospital.Sleepless Mama V For Vendetta: When Parliament is blown up, but also when the citizens gather and beat the living crap out of a Fingerman who shot a child. Pretty much all the civil disobedience. Power to the people! Bitches!
Edge-of-your-seat Moments
Nilo Aliens: The whole freakin' movieSleepless Mama Blood In, Blood Out: Bound by Honor: One of the cholos being chased says, in this relaxed way, to his fellow cholos (in Spanish) "Tighten your balls."
Sleepless Mama Speed: The whole movie was one long car chase/gunfight.
Scary Moments
Nilo Jurassic Park: The raptor jumping at Laura Dern in the utility vault... The lady next to my friend screamed and slapped her hand down on his knee, making him jump and scream as well...Mind-Bending Moments
Nilo The Sixth Sense: The ending, of course.Sleepless Mama The Royal Tenebaums: Pretty much the whole Luke-Wilson-is-in-love-with-his-sister-and-never-grew-out-of-it. But especially when they kiss. Excuse me, but ew.
Sleepless Mama The Matrix: Yeah, I know, it's passe now, but when it first came out, it blew my mind.
Shelly Frailty: There are several points in the movie where you can see what's coming, but it's shocking and you're not sure you want to see it. Truly disturbing movie.
"Wish I Hadn't Seen That" Moments
Nilo The Crying Game: The "big surprise" scene.Nilo Pitch Black: The woman getting torn in half by the bird creatures.
Sleepless Mama Wild Things: Pretty much all the sex parts. Also the part when Neve Campbell rips out her own teeth. My incisors hurt just thinking about it!
Shelly Payback: The entire movie. That thing sucked.
Shelly Carlito's Way: Al Pacino's love scene - great actor, but ick.
Monday, May 8, 2006
"I'll take what's behind the blue tarp, Alex..."
Surprise! But not the kind you enjoy.
Last Saturday morning, some neighbors were taking a walk down one of the main roads in our area, and were passing by this house.
The yard used to be immaculate and gorgeous. We would comment on it whenever we'd take the dog out for a walk. But lately, the whole thing has gone to pot. Weeds growing out of control, and the whole place looks like it has just fallen into a general state of neglect.
Then there was the blue tarp over the garage door. It looked as if the door was broken, and that the blue tarp was the only way the owner could cover his garage. But the tarp stayed there... seemingly forever. If the neglected state of the yard didn't say "white trash", then certainly, the tarp did.
So, the neighbors who were out on a walk were getting pretty disgusted with this place, and were about ready to report the owner to the homeowner's association when the husband gets an idea.
"I'm gonna go peek under the tarp", says the husband.
"No you are not!, says the wife.
The husband walks up the driveway and peers behind the tarp, expecting perhaps to find several bales of marijuana, or maybe a meth lab. What he did find, however, will haunt him for quite a while.
The owner of the house was sitting in a chair in the garage. Dead. He had shot himself in the head.
The husband freaks out, calls the cops, and then calls another friend to wait there with him. So, a few minutes later when I drive by with all of my kids, half of the street is cordoned off, and four police cars are sitting in front of the house with their lights flashing.
The initial forensics report indicated that he has been dead for roughly a month. Dead. Sitting behind that tarp every time we walked by with the dog.
Apparently, the man had no family or friends in the area... no one to miss him when he died.
How completely tragic...
Last Saturday morning, some neighbors were taking a walk down one of the main roads in our area, and were passing by this house.
The yard used to be immaculate and gorgeous. We would comment on it whenever we'd take the dog out for a walk. But lately, the whole thing has gone to pot. Weeds growing out of control, and the whole place looks like it has just fallen into a general state of neglect.
Then there was the blue tarp over the garage door. It looked as if the door was broken, and that the blue tarp was the only way the owner could cover his garage. But the tarp stayed there... seemingly forever. If the neglected state of the yard didn't say "white trash", then certainly, the tarp did.
So, the neighbors who were out on a walk were getting pretty disgusted with this place, and were about ready to report the owner to the homeowner's association when the husband gets an idea.
"I'm gonna go peek under the tarp", says the husband.
"No you are not!, says the wife.
The husband walks up the driveway and peers behind the tarp, expecting perhaps to find several bales of marijuana, or maybe a meth lab. What he did find, however, will haunt him for quite a while.
The owner of the house was sitting in a chair in the garage. Dead. He had shot himself in the head.
The husband freaks out, calls the cops, and then calls another friend to wait there with him. So, a few minutes later when I drive by with all of my kids, half of the street is cordoned off, and four police cars are sitting in front of the house with their lights flashing.
The initial forensics report indicated that he has been dead for roughly a month. Dead. Sitting behind that tarp every time we walked by with the dog.
Apparently, the man had no family or friends in the area... no one to miss him when he died.
How completely tragic...
How to Dismantle an Atomic Blog*
First off, my apologies to anyone who had the expectation of reading anything new on this blog last week... It was a very, very busy week. It didn't help that I had to work on a project for EFH**, which in and of itself is highly stressful, and destroys any literary creativity that I might have.
That being said, let's review the steps for dismantling this atomic blog*:
- Finish unfinished business; namely the European Trip entry. I've asked my best friend three times now for any memories he might have from the trip, and so far I've gotten nothing back from him... So, I'll wing it.
- Archive all of my past entries into either html, pdf or Microsoft Word. I do want to have a record of this little venture, if only for myself...
- Say anything and everything that I need to say... Anything I need to get off my chest before I pull the plug. Some fun, some serious...
- Have even more fun with the masthead pics and Blogger settings that I haven't messed around with that much. It's like working in a nuclear* power plant, and always wanting to push that red button... well now, I get to.
- Send out invitations to the blog funeral. And yes, there will be a last will & testament... although I really don't have anything to bequeath. It'll be more like "last words."
I really thought it would be hard to leave this blogging thing all behind, but if last week was any indication of the future, I think I'll be doing alright. That, and I'm seriously considering applying for a new job that is a two year contract, and making 50% more than I am here. Plus amazing benefits. Big downside? Not having internet access throughout the day... I'm seriously weighing it; this could be a way to get into a larger house, save up a little money for school, and get that kickass camera I've been lusting after.
Have a very happy Monday, one and all!
*Any similarities between "atomic", "nuclear" and this blog are highly coincidental, and at best, fictional. This site is about as low-voltage as you can get.
**The Engineer From Hell
Monday, May 1, 2006
Monday Morning Double-Take
You might be re-thinkin' the whole pizza delivery thing after you follow this link:
This is just wrong on so many different levels...
This is a study in irony. She wasn't driving a '58 Plymouth Fury named "Christine" was she?
This is what people do when they have wayyyyyyyy too much time on their hands...
I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday; I've been in my office since 4:15am, and am looking forward to heading home around lunch time today! Cheers!
This is just wrong on so many different levels...
This is a study in irony. She wasn't driving a '58 Plymouth Fury named "Christine" was she?
This is what people do when they have wayyyyyyyy too much time on their hands...
I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday; I've been in my office since 4:15am, and am looking forward to heading home around lunch time today! Cheers!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Oops! I Did It Again...
...Obviously.
It seems as though Britney Spears is again "in the family way".
Disgusting, really... She can barely take care of child one, and now has "Emergency Backup K-FED #2" on the way. And what kind of name is "K-FED", anyway? It reminds me of:get into Britney's pants rise to the top like a floatie in the sceptic tank, er, rise to heights that defy expectations...
I can't seem to say anything nice about them this morning... Man, I am gonna miss being able to be snarky, and having an audience of at least one and a half people to listen to me...
My Luck, Again...
How is it that birds always seem to know when you've washed your car? Is it wrong of me to hope that the Lexus from the car wash yesterday has met with a similar fate? A flock of incontinent seagulls, perhaps?
Numerology
I followed a link to a numerology site yesterday for a free reading. They take your full name and birthdate, and then send you back a description of your character traits within about twenty minutes. It was uncanny how many things they nailed right on the nose. Very uncanny.
Try It: www.123numerology.com
I thought I had more than that for today... but I don't. Have a spectacular weekend!!
It seems as though Britney Spears is again "in the family way".
Disgusting, really... She can barely take care of child one, and now has "Emergency Backup K-FED #2" on the way. And what kind of name is "K-FED", anyway? It reminds me of:
- A now-defunct record company (K-TEL)
- The Chrysler Car company (K-CAR)
- Dog food (ALPO)...(?)
I can't seem to say anything nice about them this morning... Man, I am gonna miss being able to be snarky, and having an audience of at least one and a half people to listen to me...
My Luck, Again...
How is it that birds always seem to know when you've washed your car? Is it wrong of me to hope that the Lexus from the car wash yesterday has met with a similar fate? A flock of incontinent seagulls, perhaps?
Numerology
I followed a link to a numerology site yesterday for a free reading. They take your full name and birthdate, and then send you back a description of your character traits within about twenty minutes. It was uncanny how many things they nailed right on the nose. Very uncanny.
Try It: www.123numerology.com
I thought I had more than that for today... but I don't. Have a spectacular weekend!!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Blah Blah...Blah-Blah-Blah...
Just your garden variety of odds & ends...
Today's Cryptoquote:
HB2M... HB2M... HB2.. Meeeeeeee HB2M!
Today's UNCryptoquote:
"Those are years under my belt? I thought they were inches and pounds..."
And Yet Another Example Of My Wonderful Luck:
I decided I'd run my car through the carwash down at the gas station this morning on my way to work. I had a free coupon, and the Blue Mouse was looking rather dirty. I pull up to the carwash entrance, and wouldn't you know it? The Lexus that had just barely pulled in had bought the Super-Duper-Ultra-Deluxe wash that takes about 15 minutes. I couldn't believe it! I halfway expected six guys to jump out of hidden compartments in the carwash and start hand-waxing their car down. I think mine took all of thirty seconds. I told myself I was economizing on water that way...
The Elephant In The Room
Many times throughout the course of this blog, I've ranted about things that are happening in the world that the media just chooses not to cover... and instead, we are bombarded about useless, trivial crap while our world is sinking further and further into... Oh hey, is that the Killers? Oh, I LOVE this song! Yeah!
And there you have it folks, I have A.D.D. ...... And dyslexia. *sigh*
Funeral Plans
I've been working on archiving my posts (starting at the very beginning) into pdf format. Once they're archived, I'll remove them from my site. You'll be able to tell that the end (of my blog, anyway) is near if there aren't any entries left.
Evening Plans
Any of you have any suggestions as to what to have for a birthday dinner?
Today's Cryptoquote:
HB2M... HB2M... HB2.. Meeeeeeee HB2M!
Today's UNCryptoquote:
"Those are years under my belt? I thought they were inches and pounds..."
And Yet Another Example Of My Wonderful Luck:
I decided I'd run my car through the carwash down at the gas station this morning on my way to work. I had a free coupon, and the Blue Mouse was looking rather dirty. I pull up to the carwash entrance, and wouldn't you know it? The Lexus that had just barely pulled in had bought the Super-Duper-Ultra-Deluxe wash that takes about 15 minutes. I couldn't believe it! I halfway expected six guys to jump out of hidden compartments in the carwash and start hand-waxing their car down. I think mine took all of thirty seconds. I told myself I was economizing on water that way...
The Elephant In The Room
Many times throughout the course of this blog, I've ranted about things that are happening in the world that the media just chooses not to cover... and instead, we are bombarded about useless, trivial crap while our world is sinking further and further into... Oh hey, is that the Killers? Oh, I LOVE this song! Yeah!
And there you have it folks, I have A.D.D. ...... And dyslexia. *sigh*
Funeral Plans
I've been working on archiving my posts (starting at the very beginning) into pdf format. Once they're archived, I'll remove them from my site. You'll be able to tell that the end (of my blog, anyway) is near if there aren't any entries left.
Evening Plans
Any of you have any suggestions as to what to have for a birthday dinner?
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Funeral Planning
I like the blue-suede lined casket in the background Must be the "Elvis" model.
I've thought long and hard about this. As much as I have enjoyed blogging, and have immensely enjoyed the friends I have made through my blog, it will soon be time to pull the plug on it.
I think I really put a finger on it the first time the other night when I told a friend "I've been heading in a direction that life didn't want me to go, and now it's yanking back on my leash... hard."
I really need to follow my feelings on this one. The thought of keeping the blog running just adds to the overwhelmingly huge pile of things that I need to get done, whereas closing it down and giving it a decent burial actually gives me a feeling of relief.
I don't really have a date picked out yet... It could be anywhere between now and the end of the summer. When I started, I set goals of
This death won't come completely unannounced... I'll give you fair warning.
More details to follow...
I've thought long and hard about this. As much as I have enjoyed blogging, and have immensely enjoyed the friends I have made through my blog, it will soon be time to pull the plug on it.
I think I really put a finger on it the first time the other night when I told a friend "I've been heading in a direction that life didn't want me to go, and now it's yanking back on my leash... hard."
I really need to follow my feelings on this one. The thought of keeping the blog running just adds to the overwhelmingly huge pile of things that I need to get done, whereas closing it down and giving it a decent burial actually gives me a feeling of relief.
I don't really have a date picked out yet... It could be anywhere between now and the end of the summer. When I started, I set goals of
- Making friends
- Posting at least 200 posts
- Getting at least 10,000 hits on the Stat-Counter.
This death won't come completely unannounced... I'll give you fair warning.
More details to follow...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
If I Had A Billion Dollars
A BNL Song comes of age...
As poor Dr. Evil found out, "One Meel-yun Dollars" just doesn't go as far as it used to. So, adjusting for inflation, societal excess, and several other nameless but undoubtedly important factors, I give you the billion dollar version: (And yes, I know that it doesn't really rhyme, but when you have a billion dollars you really don't give a rat's ass)
Well, I'd build me a house - Like a huge chateau or something
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
I'd build a bowling alley in my bathroom - y'know, just because I can
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a Maserati - or maybe a fleet of stretch Hummers
And if I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars
I'd build a golf course in our backyard
If I had a billion dollars
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I had a billion dollars
Maybe we could put like a little tiny lake in there somewhere
You know, we could stock it with swordfish, and alligators and pirhanna, and Shamu! Yes, Shamu... and he could jump out of the water and catch the golf ball in mid-air, and.. and then do a somersault back in the lake...
If I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a tropical island - with a T-Rex and some raptors
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a congressman - yep, like Randy "Duke" Cunningham
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you Mozart's skull - it's on display somewhere in a museum
And if I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
If I had a billion dollars
We'd build another one just outside our front door
If I had a billion dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
So we wouldn't... We'd eat "The ultimate PBJ" from Disneyland, and every time we wanted one, we'd fly there in a really cool helicopter, and..and.. land right in front of Space Mountain... yeah!
If I had a billion dollars - If I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a chocolate factory - but not with real oompah-loompah's, that's cruel
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a dog - but not a tiny one like Paris Hilton's
If I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a case of Twinkies - haven't you always wanted a Twinkie?
If I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars, if I had a billion dollars
If I had a billion dollars, if I had a billion dollars
If I had a billion dollars, I'd be targeted by the IRS.
Seriously, If I had a billion dollars...
Give me more suggestions on where to go, and what to see!
As poor Dr. Evil found out, "One Meel-yun Dollars" just doesn't go as far as it used to. So, adjusting for inflation, societal excess, and several other nameless but undoubtedly important factors, I give you the billion dollar version: (And yes, I know that it doesn't really rhyme, but when you have a billion dollars you really don't give a rat's ass)
If I Had A Billion Dollars
If I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollarsWell, I'd build me a house - Like a huge chateau or something
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
I'd build a bowling alley in my bathroom - y'know, just because I can
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a Maserati - or maybe a fleet of stretch Hummers
And if I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars
I'd build a golf course in our backyard
If I had a billion dollars
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I had a billion dollars
Maybe we could put like a little tiny lake in there somewhere
You know, we could stock it with swordfish, and alligators and pirhanna, and Shamu! Yes, Shamu... and he could jump out of the water and catch the golf ball in mid-air, and.. and then do a somersault back in the lake...
If I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a tropical island - with a T-Rex and some raptors
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a congressman - yep, like Randy "Duke" Cunningham
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you Mozart's skull - it's on display somewhere in a museum
And if I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
If I had a billion dollars
We'd build another one just outside our front door
If I had a billion dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
So we wouldn't... We'd eat "The ultimate PBJ" from Disneyland, and every time we wanted one, we'd fly there in a really cool helicopter, and..and.. land right in front of Space Mountain... yeah!
If I had a billion dollars - If I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a chocolate factory - but not with real oompah-loompah's, that's cruel
And if I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a dog - but not a tiny one like Paris Hilton's
If I had a billion dollars - if I had a billion dollars
Well, I'd buy you a case of Twinkies - haven't you always wanted a Twinkie?
If I had a billion dollars I'd buy your love
If I had a billion dollars, if I had a billion dollars
If I had a billion dollars, if I had a billion dollars
If I had a billion dollars, I'd be targeted by the IRS.
Seriously, If I had a billion dollars...
- I'd sponsor like a thousand kids in third world countries
- Quit Job. Screw the two week notice. Go out to lunch. A really good lunch. Go to a movie (Do you know how long it has been since I've seen a movie in a theater?) Hire a nanny with impeccable credentials, book a cruise with my wife to the Mexican Riviera. Buy her a brand-new minivan on the way home... fully loaded.
- Go furniture shopping... for some real good furniture. The kind that costs more money than I make in two months. Realize that furniture will not fit in our present house. Buy a new house. Spend two hours shopping in the sock emporium. (Why? Because I've never shopped for socks. Honest.) Have nothing but large, gooey pecan rolls for lunch. Buy a wave-runner.
- Buy a Nikon D-70 and D-200, along with a new laptop computer. Rent a convertible, turbocharged car and drive to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Just because.
- Visit art museums... buy some stuff for the new house. Take some cool pictures. Go to whatever concert is playing in town that night. Eat dinner at the Tres Hermanos just outside of town. Mmmmm... heavenly!
- Fly to Louisville, KY during Derby Days
- Drive through New England during the fall foliage season
- Go to Disneyworld for a few weeks
- Learn to fly a helicopter and a plane
- Visit the Big Apple
- Buy a ranch in Montana
- Watch a Space Shuttle Launch from Cape Canaveral
- See Hong Kong...
Give me more suggestions on where to go, and what to see!
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