Good flick. Nomination for best line:
Optimus Prime steps on a multilevel fountain in Sam Witwicky's yard, looks down and says, "Oops. My bad."
Saturday, July 21, 2007
I am a genius
I have just finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. No spoilers here, but let's just say I correctly predicted most of the major plot points.
Go me. :)
Go me. :)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Another photo from the 4th.
My friend Betsy says this looks like little winged fairies dancing in the sky. I think she's right.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Below/above the fold
Anybody out there that knows how to do the "fold" so often seen in blogs, please lemme know how. I want to post a few things that aren't work safe, but not till I know how.
Oh, and make the instructions user-proof, please? It's been literally years since I've made any attempt at knowing what I'm doing with HTML.
That, and I'm slightly drunk at the moment. :)
Oh, and make the instructions user-proof, please? It's been literally years since I've made any attempt at knowing what I'm doing with HTML.
That, and I'm slightly drunk at the moment. :)
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
I've been tagged....
Kate tagged me with this one....unfortunately, I don't know eight people to tag, so I'm going to have to sit that part out. Nevertheless, here's my contribution...
The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
1. Thing - I'm a diehard sci-fi/fantasy fan. Star Trek, Star Wars, Tolkein, Firefly, and a host of other shows, books, movies, etc, all hold a favorite place in my library.
2. Habit - I'm a creature of habit, to the point that my wife has teased me about obsessive-compulsive tendencies since we met. Case in point; I am utterly and completely worthless in the morning unless I get a shower (unless I'm camping, and usually I'll settle for a wash of some sort in the creek if I can get it).
3. Thing - I like gemstones (right, who doesn't?), but in my case I like actually digging them up. The engagement ring on my wife's hand hosts a .71 carat flawless Montana sapphire the color of an old pair of jeans that I mined and had cut myself.....actually, in point of fact, I also designed the setting and picked out the diamonds it's set with as well. :)
4. Habit - I can't stand being disconnected from my email. Not even for a day. Drives me crazy.
5. Thing - My current favorite medium and subject for photography is artistic nudes. The main reason I haven't posted any here yet is that I don't know yet how to do a "fold".
6. Habit - I prefer eating when I have a book to read; I think there are whole years of my childhood that I spent with my nose buried in a book, and I remember many occasions when I went to restaurants with my family and had a favorite novel along. I also often am doing several things at a time. For instance, at the moment, I'm chatting on IM with two people. writing this blog post, responding to an email from a model I want to work with, and watching Star Trek.
7. Thing - My preferred listening in music ranges from metal to classic - the laptop I'm writing this on has a library including Beethoven, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, and Bob Dylan.
8. Habit - I love to cook!
The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
1. Thing - I'm a diehard sci-fi/fantasy fan. Star Trek, Star Wars, Tolkein, Firefly, and a host of other shows, books, movies, etc, all hold a favorite place in my library.
2. Habit - I'm a creature of habit, to the point that my wife has teased me about obsessive-compulsive tendencies since we met. Case in point; I am utterly and completely worthless in the morning unless I get a shower (unless I'm camping, and usually I'll settle for a wash of some sort in the creek if I can get it).
3. Thing - I like gemstones (right, who doesn't?), but in my case I like actually digging them up. The engagement ring on my wife's hand hosts a .71 carat flawless Montana sapphire the color of an old pair of jeans that I mined and had cut myself.....actually, in point of fact, I also designed the setting and picked out the diamonds it's set with as well. :)
4. Habit - I can't stand being disconnected from my email. Not even for a day. Drives me crazy.
5. Thing - My current favorite medium and subject for photography is artistic nudes. The main reason I haven't posted any here yet is that I don't know yet how to do a "fold".
6. Habit - I prefer eating when I have a book to read; I think there are whole years of my childhood that I spent with my nose buried in a book, and I remember many occasions when I went to restaurants with my family and had a favorite novel along. I also often am doing several things at a time. For instance, at the moment, I'm chatting on IM with two people. writing this blog post, responding to an email from a model I want to work with, and watching Star Trek.
7. Thing - My preferred listening in music ranges from metal to classic - the laptop I'm writing this on has a library including Beethoven, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, and Bob Dylan.
8. Habit - I love to cook!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Returning after a short involuntary hiatus
Blogger seems to have gotten confused as to who I am; my account was either deleted or locked, or something; I haven't been able to get in here to post anything since Saturday. I was quite annoyed.
Fortunately, the folks at Google were able to sort it out handily, and bloggy goodness will now resume. :)
Fortunately, the folks at Google were able to sort it out handily, and bloggy goodness will now resume. :)
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Random cute cat picture
Okay, now that I got that last post out of my system, it's time for Cat Blogging!
Here's Snuggles again, this time all grown up. He always sleeps like that - Red says he's just like me that way, but I think she's lying.
Adventures in retail
I'm usually a pretty easy-going sort, and I do try to take into account that officious idiots are usually the way they are because of some bureaucratic ass somewhere issuing them directions to do whatever it is they do. I really do. I should also preface this by saying that everybody but the person I dealt with today was really quite helpful and pleasant.
That being said, Red and I went today to purchase some new items of clothing in the "professional attire" category, since she's in need of such things. We went into a retail outlet that will remain nameless (but which is located here). I was given the full monty there, and I'd like to express my appreciation today to Vicki, who went the extra mile for me today.
Retail outlets almost universally have dressing rooms of one sort or another. Usually, these are accompanied by chairs set about in various locations for accompanying members of the same party to sit whilst the person-who-wishes-to-purchase-things tries things on, comes out, checks the mirrors, gets the opinions of their party, and then repeats as necessary until the proper item is found. One would think, generally, that in a retail store selling to one gender only, that the chairs set out would be open to accompanying husbands. This, apparently, is not quite the case.
Red went into the dressing room with at least 5-6 items, and of course, it takes a while to try all of these things on, adjust them, and whatnot. I located the only remaining seat, a somewhat comfy plush fabric affair, and comfortably ensconced myself there, which happened to be both within eyeshot of the dressing room doors, but also right next to a table which had a number of signup things on it for one sale or another. I sat there, offering opinions on each item as it was presented and chiming in with the Male Viewpoint when I was asked from a couple of ladies who were trying on evening gowns. Nobody seemed discomfited in the least, at least until Vicki came trundling in.
"Sir...? Um, they really don't like men to be sitting here," she informed me. Obviously, this was intended to be impressed, and I was supposed to immediately be intimidated by Them.
"Ah. I see. I take it since you didn't say we that you don't share that opinion. Who, exactly, are they?" I replied, somewhat confused. (Somebody didn't want me sitting there, but it wasn't clear who....the government? Aliens? Beancounters from Area 51? Who, I ask you?)
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to move," she said, adroitly dodging my question.
"Okay. I'm sorry you have to do that, but go ahead." I replied, attempting to be sympathetic. She appeared confused.
"Well, it's just that the ladies using the changing rooms tend to feel somewhat intimidated by a man sitting out here," she hedged. I looked down at my terrifying 5'8", 160 lb self in sandals and shorts, and immediately began to feel better about myself. It's not every day somebody tells you that you're scary on a Saturday - at work, I get to be scary all the time, but on my weekend?
"Okay," I said pleasantly. "You see, there was only the one seat here when my wife and I walked in. I suppose we could put the several hundred dollars' worth of clothes she's currently trying on back, and take our money elsewhere. Will you be the one explaining that to your manager, or shall I?" I stood up and picked up the several bags of things and my wife's purse and began to walk out. She stopped me from getting far.
"Well, sir, you don't have to leave. Let me just find you another chair," and off she bustled, coming back in a moment with what turned out to be a fantastically uncomfortable folding metal chair, and setting it down less than ten feet from where I was currently seated. "There you go! How's that?" she said, attempting to be perky and patting the back of it several times. Rather than make a scene, since Red was currently between blouses (in the dressing room, of course - mind you, I couldn't actually see into a one of them without getting up and moving).
"Rather like being evicted, actually. I can only hope that your pay reflects your professionalism," I replied, and sat where I was requested to. She appeared pleased at the compliment and trundled off with an armful of some godawful green monstrosity to the next customer.
I said nothing to the management at the store, since Red's business requires a close working relationship with that establishment's business...complementary services and all that. I wasn't pleased, however, and if I were a woman, I certainly wouldn't be shopping there.
That being said, Red and I went today to purchase some new items of clothing in the "professional attire" category, since she's in need of such things. We went into a retail outlet that will remain nameless (but which is located here). I was given the full monty there, and I'd like to express my appreciation today to Vicki, who went the extra mile for me today.
Retail outlets almost universally have dressing rooms of one sort or another. Usually, these are accompanied by chairs set about in various locations for accompanying members of the same party to sit whilst the person-who-wishes-to-purchase-things tries things on, comes out, checks the mirrors, gets the opinions of their party, and then repeats as necessary until the proper item is found. One would think, generally, that in a retail store selling to one gender only, that the chairs set out would be open to accompanying husbands. This, apparently, is not quite the case.
Red went into the dressing room with at least 5-6 items, and of course, it takes a while to try all of these things on, adjust them, and whatnot. I located the only remaining seat, a somewhat comfy plush fabric affair, and comfortably ensconced myself there, which happened to be both within eyeshot of the dressing room doors, but also right next to a table which had a number of signup things on it for one sale or another. I sat there, offering opinions on each item as it was presented and chiming in with the Male Viewpoint when I was asked from a couple of ladies who were trying on evening gowns. Nobody seemed discomfited in the least, at least until Vicki came trundling in.
"Sir...? Um, they really don't like men to be sitting here," she informed me. Obviously, this was intended to be impressed, and I was supposed to immediately be intimidated by Them.
"Ah. I see. I take it since you didn't say we that you don't share that opinion. Who, exactly, are they?" I replied, somewhat confused. (Somebody didn't want me sitting there, but it wasn't clear who....the government? Aliens? Beancounters from Area 51? Who, I ask you?)
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to move," she said, adroitly dodging my question.
"Okay. I'm sorry you have to do that, but go ahead." I replied, attempting to be sympathetic. She appeared confused.
"Well, it's just that the ladies using the changing rooms tend to feel somewhat intimidated by a man sitting out here," she hedged. I looked down at my terrifying 5'8", 160 lb self in sandals and shorts, and immediately began to feel better about myself. It's not every day somebody tells you that you're scary on a Saturday - at work, I get to be scary all the time, but on my weekend?
"Okay," I said pleasantly. "You see, there was only the one seat here when my wife and I walked in. I suppose we could put the several hundred dollars' worth of clothes she's currently trying on back, and take our money elsewhere. Will you be the one explaining that to your manager, or shall I?" I stood up and picked up the several bags of things and my wife's purse and began to walk out. She stopped me from getting far.
"Well, sir, you don't have to leave. Let me just find you another chair," and off she bustled, coming back in a moment with what turned out to be a fantastically uncomfortable folding metal chair, and setting it down less than ten feet from where I was currently seated. "There you go! How's that?" she said, attempting to be perky and patting the back of it several times. Rather than make a scene, since Red was currently between blouses (in the dressing room, of course - mind you, I couldn't actually see into a one of them without getting up and moving).
"Rather like being evicted, actually. I can only hope that your pay reflects your professionalism," I replied, and sat where I was requested to. She appeared pleased at the compliment and trundled off with an armful of some godawful green monstrosity to the next customer.
I said nothing to the management at the store, since Red's business requires a close working relationship with that establishment's business...complementary services and all that. I wasn't pleased, however, and if I were a woman, I certainly wouldn't be shopping there.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Attention Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines....
Here's to you.
Just in case, you know, you needed a reminder of why you're where you are and what you're fighting for. Thank you for preserving our rights, our freedoms, and our cherished way of life.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Mmmmmmmmm ribs
There is nothing in this universe quite like my wife's recipe for ribs (originally that read "like my wife's ribs", but that reads entirely the wrong way), and I thought I'd share.
Take one large rack of pork or beef ribs. Remove silverskin from the back and wash. Pat dry, and put in a big pan with a dry rub:
Grill seasoning
Allspice
Ground black pepper
Salt
Seasoning salt
---proportions to taste, requires a bit of experimentation.
Rub it in & then allow to sit in the pan while the sauce is prepared in a large sauce pan:
1 bottle of Mr. Yoshida's Gourmet sauce
A couple splashes each of Yamasa soy sauce, worchestershire sauce
About 4-5 pieces of crystallized ginger, chopped fine
A handful of dried apricots, chopped fine
A small handful of dried cherries, chopped fine.
Let simmer until sauce has reduced to a thick consistency, and remove from heat.
Cook ribs over medium heat on the grill for about 30 minutes, and begin basting both sides at about 30 minute intervals. The ribs are done when the meat begins to pull away from the bone & is still soft & juicy; estimated time about 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make a total pig of myself.
Take one large rack of pork or beef ribs. Remove silverskin from the back and wash. Pat dry, and put in a big pan with a dry rub:
Grill seasoning
Allspice
Ground black pepper
Salt
Seasoning salt
---proportions to taste, requires a bit of experimentation.
Rub it in & then allow to sit in the pan while the sauce is prepared in a large sauce pan:
1 bottle of Mr. Yoshida's Gourmet sauce
A couple splashes each of Yamasa soy sauce, worchestershire sauce
About 4-5 pieces of crystallized ginger, chopped fine
A handful of dried apricots, chopped fine
A small handful of dried cherries, chopped fine.
Let simmer until sauce has reduced to a thick consistency, and remove from heat.
Cook ribs over medium heat on the grill for about 30 minutes, and begin basting both sides at about 30 minute intervals. The ribs are done when the meat begins to pull away from the bone & is still soft & juicy; estimated time about 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make a total pig of myself.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Overheard
"Man, I love fried mushrooms with grilled onions, garlic, and a little butter. It's almost as good as sex."
"So you're saying sex with me is like fried fungus?"
"Uh....I love you?"
"So you're saying sex with me is like fried fungus?"
"Uh....I love you?"
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Cautionary party notes
I suppose it's inevitable that at any party, particularly a beach-themed party, there would be a sizeable number of people that haven't quite internalized what the whole "dressing" thing is all about. Actually, that's probably true of any group of adults, but I digress.
One particular example from last night has managed to imprint itself upon my unwilling retinas, much like the afterimage you get if you look directly at the sun, only in a bad way. Now, I should preface this by saying that I'm willing to accept pretty much any bodily shape, being of the belief that it's what's inside that counts. If you're healthy, and usually even if you aren't, I'm okay with that - it's your body, you're the one that has to live with it, etc. There are some things, however, that just shouldn't be permitted in public, and this is one spectacular such example.
Desperately exhibitionistic attitude? Check
Obese? Check
Pasty I-sit-in-front-of-a-TV-all-day-eating-pork-rinds skin? Check
Poor sense of rhythm, and insistent on monopolizing the center of the dance floor? Check
Thoroughly inadequate, for even the most liberal definition of modesty, bikini, made of edible candy (that made a slow but steady disappearance as the night went by)? Check
It was horrific, much like seeing a wreck by the side of the road, where you don't want to look, can't stand to look, but can't help yourself, and spend the rest of your days wishing you hadn't.
That being said, it was a pretty fun party anyway.
Edit: yes, I know I said I'd bring pictures. Be thankful I didn't.
One particular example from last night has managed to imprint itself upon my unwilling retinas, much like the afterimage you get if you look directly at the sun, only in a bad way. Now, I should preface this by saying that I'm willing to accept pretty much any bodily shape, being of the belief that it's what's inside that counts. If you're healthy, and usually even if you aren't, I'm okay with that - it's your body, you're the one that has to live with it, etc. There are some things, however, that just shouldn't be permitted in public, and this is one spectacular such example.
Desperately exhibitionistic attitude? Check
Obese? Check
Pasty I-sit-in-front-of-a-TV-all-day-eating-pork-rinds skin? Check
Poor sense of rhythm, and insistent on monopolizing the center of the dance floor? Check
Thoroughly inadequate, for even the most liberal definition of modesty, bikini, made of edible candy (that made a slow but steady disappearance as the night went by)? Check
It was horrific, much like seeing a wreck by the side of the road, where you don't want to look, can't stand to look, but can't help yourself, and spend the rest of your days wishing you hadn't.
That being said, it was a pretty fun party anyway.
Edit: yes, I know I said I'd bring pictures. Be thankful I didn't.
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