Late but not forgotten. Mostly.
Saw this on several trips around the innerwebz:
1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Eggnog. Rum or bourbon optional.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped. Not fancy, but you have to have a little mystery.
3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white?
White lights, gold ornaments, couple red items tossed in.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Smoked turkey
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Getting up early and just staring at the tree/gifts Christmas morning
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Not sure. Being the oldest meant that I had to play along for a few years extra
9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
Nope. Do not open till Christmas!!
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him?
Whatever I don’t eat first
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
It’s upstate NY. No need to love it or hate it, it’s going to come anyhow.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. I skated TONS on a frozen pond as a kid. Prefer hockey skates to figures skates. Those damn toe picks can kill a guy,
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Estes rocket model of a Mars Lander.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Family
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
I rarely, if ever eat dessert. Do cookies count?
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Baking and decorating cookies with the kids
17. What tops your tree?
An angel that isn’t self lit, so I stick lights up her butt to give her a little inner glow.
18. What do you prefer… giving or receiving?
Giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas carol?
TSO – Mad Russians Christmas.
20. Candy canes… yuck or yum?
Ew.
21. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Nope.
22. Favorite Christmas movie?
I generally avoid Christmas movies like the plague.
23. Do you have a nativity scene?
Two or three actually
24. What’s the most annoying thing about this time of year?
Besides stores putting Christmas stuff out before Halloween? The sheer commercialness that has crept into what should be a time of giving and reflecting.
Looks like we made national news this past week for all the wrong reasons. How about nut job that killed his sister, torched his house then started shooting at the firemen as they showed up Christmas Eve morning? Total of 7 houses burned, 2 firefighters killed, 2 others shot. They think they found what was left of this guys sister in his own burned out house. Thankfully he killed himself once police got there – saves the county the cost of a trial.
My outfit has an office in Newtown Ct – about a mile from the Sandy Hook school, so that hit close to home too. A guy I talk to frequently down there caught a huge break – his wife is a teacher at that school. That will rattle you right to your core.
‘Nuff bad stuff. New year coming, time to re-start. About time I got back on the sensible eating kick I was on a few years ago. I am NOT happy with my expanding waist land and it’s time to get fit again. Tour de Cure is in 6 months and I might be able to get into shape enough to crank out another 100 mile ride. Sure would be nice . . .
T-3 to Surgery
Day 2941
Stealing Sunday. Stolen, of course because I’m in a hurry. And building up a ton of anxiety.
46. What are your LEGAL initials? BKR. Go ahead, guess
47. Who’s the first B in your contacts? My aunt Barb
48. When was the last time you laughed really hard? Yesterday. Avery was pulling some of her really funny little tricks. That girl might be a comedian.
49. Your number 1 top friend walks out of your life, do you go after them? Nah – if they’re really your #1 friend they’ll realize it and come back. If they don’t, maybe you were wrong about them.
50. Explain your last awkward moment? Hernia check followed by a prostate exam last week. Didn’t even get a free dinner.
51. Are you afraid of the dark? Inside, no. Outside, in the woods, deep darkness can be quite unsettling.
52. Do you have good vision? 20/40 uncorrected, with a +1.5 for reading I think.
53. Have you ever tripped someone? I have 3 brothers. I’m sure someone tripped someone, sometime.
54. Have you ever slapped someone? I have 3 brothers . . .
55. Are you Irish? 2/5 English, 2/5 German and a fifth of Scotch. I guess that means no irish.
56. Do you use chap stick? Not often enough
57. Do you have any scars? Good Lord do I have scars. Hockey puck sized scar on my right shin from my little bout of cellulitis. My fingers & hands have over a dozen dings & dents from various little incidents. I have a scar on ly left forearm from a football cleat, a scar on my chin from taking on a ’65 Pontiac Bonneville bumper head first, one inside my left ear caused by the stem of my glasses perforating my exterior ear parts because a softball smashed my in the side of the head, a few scars are from chicken pox scabs too. I’m a little rough on my body. Scars happen.
Oh!! I’ll have a new one soon as a result of Thursdays surgery. Oh boy!
58. Is there someone you will never forgive? Nah. A grudge is like a hot potato, it only burns the person who holds it.
59. Are you dating the person you last held hands with? Dating? No.
60. Name the last person to text you? Jill
61. Would you marry someone 8 years older than you? At my age? Would they still be alive?
62. Can you go in public looking like you do? I do all the time. I don’t have to look at me.
63. Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a A? Anne.
64. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Lately I’m on the left. Leaves Cindy closer to the bathroom. Left on my own, I just try to use the whole damn thing.
65. What’s the first thing you’ll do on your wedding day? My NEXT wedding day? Probably get out of bed & pee.
66. Do you fall for people easily? No – I’m a suspicious s.o.b.
67. Has anyone put their arms around you in the past 5 days? Why yes. I got a hug last night.
68. Do you miss the way things used to be? Miss them like I want to go back to it? I just want to go back to before I tore my biceps tendon.
Surgery in T-3 days. I have ordered some drawstring waisted cargo pants, thinking I can manage a simple tying at the waist versus a button closure and a belt. I really hope I’m right. Have plans to get some Velcro closure sneakers and a pair of loafers tonight too.
Practiced driving with my right hand tucked into my belt. I can actually manage driving fine. Shaved this morning left handed. Not a great shave, but when you can’t use your other hand to help pull your skin a little tighter, it isn’t going to be great. An electric razor is not an option. I have tried several different designs over the years and they never do as well as a razor. So lefty it is.
I can button a shirt left hand only, but tucking it in is impossible. Also don’t know that a splint/cast/what ever I get will fit through the sleeves of my button down shirts. So I’m planning on a lot of polo shirts. Big neck openings, short sleeve, and if I have to adjust my older ones to accommodate a splint/cast/whatever, no biggie.
There is only ONE thing that I need to practice, and I think I’ll only get a few more chances before it’s too late. It’s a delicate subject that I’ve approached with Cindy. She, understandably wants nothing to do with it. I did NOT have time to install a bidet this weekend, so I HAVE to learn this function left handed. I never, ever anticipated this need until last week and now? It’s a necessity. Think I’ll stop at the gas station and get some of those diesel mitts to use as a back up plan.
Wednesday I get my call from the surgical center with my time slot. Hope I get an early one. I’d like to have as little time free as possible the day of. Funny – I’m not worried about the surgery itself, it’s the recovery that is causing my anxiety.
Sunday Stealing, 2 days late again
Day 2865
101. Name 4 things you always have with you.
When I leave the house? Keys, wallet, phone, clothes. At home? None of those are guaranteed.
102. How many SERIOUS exes do you have?
Define serious, engaged and then broke up? Had a two year affair with and decided to break it off? Ummm, 0 and 1.
103. What causes you to admire people
Above anything else, if they are true to themselves in spite of external pressures coupled with a healthy dose of compassion & honesty. (obviously, also in spite of any example I may set.)
104. Do you like sports?
Love to play all sorts of sports, don’t mind watching sports I have played. Sport is a valuable life tool.
105. Would you have sex after marriage? Why or why not?
Huh? After getting married, we damn well better be having sex. Hey – wait a minute . . .
If this is meant to ask would you have sex after ENDING a marriage, I would hope that it would actually improve . . .
106. What is your favorite male name?
I wanted to name one of our boys Isaac, but didn’t get my wish. Not even for a middle name.
107. Do animals go to Heaven?
You can’t go to a place that doesn’t exist.
108. Last time you had a great time with your dad?
LPGA tournament here in Rochester, 1993. That was the last time we really got to go anywhere. Dad and his four boys watching the ladies play golf. He was gone 5 months later.
109. What is your favorite hair style?
Long, wavy hair.
110. Do you like your name?
This matters how? But sure, I like my name. My full name (given, middle, surname) is unique at least in the US.
111. When was the last time that you quit your job?
Jan. 6, 2012. Left a contract position for my current job. Have since found out that all the contractors at my former employer have since all been let go. Whew!
112. When you wake up, what is the first thing you think?
What are the odds I might get a little this morning? (Answer – never very good. Vanishingly small in fact)
113. Have you ever pulled an all-niter?
Several times.
114. What is the perfect day for you?
It doesn’t follow an all nighter, that’s for sure. Get up, hit the gym, have a productive day at work, come home on time to a spouse that’s also had a good day and we spend the evening doing something interesting to both of us.
115. Last time you cleaned the bathroom?
That’s a Sunday morning job
116. Have you ever failed a grade? Why?
Never failed a grade.
117. Have you met anyone online?
Mmmmmm. Several. One was nearly the catalyst that helped end my marriage.
118. Have you ever smoked?
Yes, from ages 17 to 45, averaged a pack a day. Quit Aug. 22, 2004 @ 7pm. Been 2,865 days now (7 years, 10 months, 4 days)
119. Do you like celebrities?
Eh. I think they get paid too much for not contributing much to society. Same with pro athletes.
120. Do you like traveling?
Love it. Have trip #3 to New Orleans book for this October. Join us @ the Bourbon Orleans on Columbus Day. We’ll hit up the Jazz clubs on Frenchman St, or hangout at the Bayou Club right on Bourbon and take in a little Zydeco.
Busy as hell. Working 10 hour days, wrapping up projects around the house. Have a trip to PA and VA planned starting Thursday. Going to go watch the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs take on the Rochester Red Wings (fantabulous prizes to anyone that can name the sport & league) in beautiful downtown Allentown, then we’re off to Chincoteague island for a hand full of days with relatives.
Come back to a nephews wedding followed closely by a family reunion of sorts. I may be scarcer than normal for a week or so but I’ll get back and let y’all know about those Chincoteague ponies.
Sunday Stealing on a Monday because I’m too lazy to be on time
Day 2853
81. What’s your favorite action movie?
There are so many! “Braveheart” is up there, the original “Die Hard”, the most recent “Star Trek” was pretty good too.
83. Do you believe in lust at first sight?
Sure, but you can bet it isn’t always mutual.
84. Favorite type of venomous snake?
Which one lives furthest from me, the Black Momba, King Cobra, Coral? One of them.
85. Do you drink alcohol?
Ironically, I do. I am a beer snob, preferring craft brewed ales that satisfy after a pint or two and the occasional nip of bourbon.
87. What do you wear to feel sexy?
Imagination.
88. Do you like to learn?
All the time. Always looking for something new, or a new way to apply what I already know.
89. Have you ever been hit on by someone who really overestimated their attractiveness?
Constantly. I gotta beat them off with a stick.
90. Where did you last go on vacation?
Cancun, @ the Riu Caribe. Chincoteague Island up next.
91. Dallas (as in J.R. & Bobby) returns this week. What film or TV series would you loved to be resurrected?
Deep Space Nine
92. Explain your karma beliefs.
Really – there is no Karma. We just choose to believe that things that happen to us are caused by good or bad things we did in our past. Kind of a narcissistic point of view, isn’t it?
93. When do you think that you have a hard life?
I haven’t had a hard life. I don’t have as much as some, I have more comforts than others. I have had some trying days and suffered through some unfortunate circumstances. But no matter how bad I think I had it, I have never gone a day without a meal and I have never suffered abuse.
94. Favorite comic strip?
Far Side
95. Have you ever broken a heart?
Oh sure. Back during my dalliance, there was a time when I thought ending my marriage and running off with this other gal was just days away. Then I was shone the light and ended it all – with many tears and a lot of Kleenex.
96. Should pot be legalized?
Yup. Legalize it, tax it, treat it like alcohol.
97. Have you ever gone skinny dipping with someone that you shouldn’t have?
See # 95. I’m sure there was skinny dipping involved during the affair.
98. What do you do when you’re down?
Once I realize it, I find something to do to re-charge myself. Might be taking a little nap, might be doing a week of harder workouts.
99. Last time you were really angry?
When I got let go from my previous job. At first I was angry at them, then I was angry at me. Now? I do the safety testing on the products I used to design. How’s that for Karma?
100. What is your favorite flavor in general?
It’s a toss-up between the toasty nutty smoky spiciness of a good gumbo (like the one I make) or plain & simple vanilla.
Had a wonderful Fathers Day weekend. Got in a round of golf with Eric and his father in law at a new found gem of a course almost exactly half way between our homes. Already making plans to play there again next year, this time with Zach in tow.
Made plans to golf next Saturday with Zach as he was out of town at a wedding this weekend. Did talk to him Sunday when they got home – heard little Avery going completely bonkers in her jumper thingy. She really loves that thing.
Sunday I drained our 4000+ gallon pond, scooped out as many fish as I could (20+, only lost 4) and cleaned out 4 years of accumulated leaves, plant media, algae and fish poo. Then? I got to re-fill it. Managed to get the pumps back up & running and the fish back in by 6pm, but good golly, I am hurting today. The pond looks 100% better and really, when it’s pushing 90 degrees outside, what better job is there than playing in ones pond?
During golf Sunday, Eric’s FIL, John, gave me a very helpful tip for golf. I’d been having some issues with hooking the ball. Used to be with only one or two clubs (my hybrids) at first, then it migrated to me driver & 3-wood and has lately affected everything down to my 9 iron in varying degrees. Turns out it may have been my right wrist rolling over through contact, imparting a wee bit of bowling ball curve on my golf ball. He suggested I roll my right hand over so I’m seeing more of the knuckle on my index finger and less of the inner portion of the base of my thumb. Feels weird as hell, but I’m hitting everything straight now. Can’t wait to hit the course Wednesday.
$h!t You Didn’t Need to Know
Day 2847
Stolen fair & square from a blog I recently ran across – “The Other Side of Infidelity”.
Q: Kissed someone on your friends list? Which list, and kissed what or where?
Q: Been arrested? In Tacoma for drinking a beer in a city park.
Q: Held a snake? Caught garter snakes for fun as a kid.
Q: Been suspended from school? Nope
Q: Sang karaoke? Never have, never will.
Q: Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t do? I’m a parent – all those things my parents did/said that I said I would avoid? FAIL!!
Q: Laughed until you started crying? Yes, but not recently. Got to fix that.
Q: Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Being from/in upstate NY in the snowbelt? I’ve caught snowflakes in places the sun don’t shine.
Q: Kissed in the rain? Actually, no. Might have to fix that too.
Q: Sang in the shower? Daily. But not karaoke.
Q: Sat on a roof top? Many times. Did it as a kid to watch the local air show. We lived a mile south of the main runway, usually got a pretty good free show. Have also had the pleasure of re-doing several roofs and cleaning out my gutters. Not fun, but I did get to sit.
Q: Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Never.
Q: Broken a bone? Two – fourth metacarpal on my left hand (football injury) and the last bone in the middle finger of my right hand (baseball injury) No big bones though.
Q: Shaved your head? No – it’s too damn big. People tell me I’d look really odd bald.
Q: Played a prank on someone? On occasion
Q: Shot a gun? Rifle, pistol, shotgun, bb-gun
Q: Donated Blood? I’m over 3 gallons. Have to wait till January though. Seems going to Mexico disqualifies you for a year.
LAST PERSON…
1. You hung out with? My wife I guess. Golf partner before that.
2. You texted? My son.
3. You were in a car with? Gotta be the wife
4. Went to the movies with? Again – the wife
5. Person you went to shop with? OK, this is getting old
6. You talked on the phone? A client who can’t be named
7. Made you laugh? Bruce, my golf opponent Wednesday night who also happened to get a hole-in-one!! That was awesome.
8. You hugged? I said this was getting old, so I’m switching this one up to my mom.
IN THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE YOU…
1. Sang? In the shower, but NOT karaoke.
2. Listened to music? certainly
3. Danced Crazy? I do not dance.
4. Cried? No. American Males do not cry. (BS – I know, but that’s how we’re brought up)
FIRSTS …..
1.Who was your first prom (or homecoming) date? Jackie C. We still talk from time to time.
2. Who was your first roommate? Besides my brother? 5 other guys in Basic training
3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time? Tango
screwdriver mix
4. What was your first job? Gofer in a mom-n-pop store
5. What was your first car? 1975 Buick Century
6. When did you go to your first funeral and viewing? That I clearly remember – my paternal grandfather’s in 1967
7. Who was your first grade teacher? Mrs. McMannis. That was a lifetime ago.
8. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? From NYC to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Go big or go home.
9. When you snuck out of your house for the first time? Didn’t. But I did take off from the tree house we were supposed to be sleeping in one night. Who knew my parents would make the ½ mile hike and check on us?
10. Who was your first best friend? Ken. We’re in the same bowling league after all these years
11. Who was your first Best Friend in high school? Still Ken
12. Where was your first sleepover? At my aunt & uncles when one of my brothers was born
13. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? Wife, therapist or boss. Depends.
14. Who’s wedding were you in the first time you were a Bridesmaid or groomsman? Wife’s best friend. Wife was the brides maid, I was an usher.
15. What is the first thing you did when you got up this morning? After peeing, I made coffee. Priorities people. Plus, pouring water in to the coffeemaker with a full bladder? Torture.
16. First time you tied your shoe laces? Wasn’t in kindergarten yet, but we lived in the house in the country, so I was maybe 4? It was summer time, for sure.
17. Are you Facebook friends with your first crush? Sadly no. I don’t think her husband would tolerate it well
18. Who was the first person you met from the blogosphere? Her blog is no longer active, but it was the little dynamo behind Serenaville. To answer the unasked question, no – we didn’t.
19. What was the first music album that you bought? Beach Boys 20/20, unless the 1975 New York All State Choir concert counts. Yes, I sung on (in?) that one.
20. Who was your first celebrity crush? First? Jeeze, I’ll have to cop to Eve Plumb. If you can remember who that is (NO GOOGLING!!) I will send you a fantabulous prize. I will also confess that she is (barely) older than me.
There. Wasn’t that a bunch of $h!t you didn’t need to know?
Stealing a Sunday
Day 2843
Went to see Lady Antebellum last (Sunday) night along with Thompson Square and Darius Rucker . For some reason I originally thought the show was on a Saturday. It’s unfortunate that it turned out to be on a Sunday because Saturday nights weather was better (the kids had lawn seats) and Sunday is a school night. The concert venue was 40 miles from home, there were at least 15,000 people there and traffic leaving was a zoo. Finally got home at 1am with a 6am wake up call coming. Ugh.
On the plus side? Great show. Highly recommended, and I’m not really a country fan.
Because of the late night, this is what I have for you on my lunch hour today:
Stealing Sunday
1. Have you ever peed your pants as an adult?
I have a dangling participle, working zippers and abundant trees. I’d have to TRY to Pee my pants.
2. Who do you have a celebrity crush on now?
Oh man, this changes every few months. Lately? No one really.
3. Would you date someone you met online?
Been there, done that.
4. Do you wear underwear always?
Nah
5. Do you hate yourself at times?
What I’ve done? Sure, but hate my self as a person? No.
7. Do you like dirty movies?
If this means mainstream porn – I can take it or leave it. Usually leave it.
8. Could you believe Josha Ledet was voted off Idol?
Who got voted off what?
9. When was the last time that you bought a car?
August 2009
10. Have you ever been camping?
Dozens of times
11. How many times a day do you go on facebook?
Too many. Damn Battleship Pirates.
12. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
Alice in Wonderland? Snow White & the Huntsman is next provided it gets decent reviews.
13. Have you ever worried that you’d cut off a limb?
That I HAVE – no. That I could? Definitely. If you’re not aware of that when operating a chainsaw, you MIGHT take off a foot very easily.
14. Where did you get your last email from?
Client worried about his risk management. RM is a tough task.
15. Favorite website?
No clear cut winner.
16. Are you down with ghetto?
Oh sure – that and Ebonics.
17. Will the world end in fire or ice?
Ultimately it will end as it passes the event horizon of the nearest black hole. We should throw a party!
18. Do you believe in the afterlife?
As worm food, yes.
19. Would you be upset if facebook stopped working?
No – I might get more stuff done.
20. How did you start your blog? As a journal about quitting smoking.
This is day 2843 smoke free (see the top line on this page? That’s what it’s for. 7 years, 9 months, 12 days and counting)
21. Have you felt that life is like being on a roller coaster?
Always. Good thing I like ‘em!
22. Favorite year so far?
The last year has been pretty good.
23. Do you consider yourself religious?
Nope. I can’t buy faith in the face of scientific proof.
24. How do you dress to impress?
I dress for comfort in attire appropriate for the occasion. Every now & then that involves nothing at all!!
25. Have you ever been to Connecticut?
Three times- all family related trips.
26. Do you eat sushi?
I love sushi. I hate chopsticks.
27. Would you smoke pot providing there was no risk or driving involved?
Any time I smoked pot it felt like my IQ dropped about 40 points. My world shrinks and I tend to stay inside my head. Not a big fan of that any more.
28. What do you think of Idol Winner Phillip Phillips??
Who won what?
29. Do you believe that animals have souls?
No – but I do believe they have every right to live and not be pestered by us. Unless they’re deer that I’m hunting.
30. Who did you last talk to?
Share, if you dare. Co-worker, “Buddy”
31. What is one thing that always annoys you?
Anyone in front of me in a car not going the speed limit, not using their turn signals or braking for no reason at all. Like the idiots in front of me last night on the way home from the concert. Braking down to 35mph in a bend in the road when the speed limit is 55 and the cars in front of you just motored right along? Wish I had headlight mounted machine guns. Then when I passed the twit, they turn their high beams on. It was really annoying until I put them way behind me. To sum up – if you’re a bad driver, get off my road.
32. Do you believe in a higher being?
No – told you I’m not a big fan of pot anymore.
33. Have you ever fallen in love with a neighbor?
Love? No. Seriously lust after? Yup. Growing up the neighbor girls all had great bods.
34. Any plans for this weekend?
Re-wire all my outdoor stereo speakers, drain & clean the pond.
35. Would you like to rule your country, if you could?
Sure – if I could have absolute power for about a year. First thing to go would be PACS and those super PACS.
36. Do you like watching films about the nature of animals?
Love ‘em.
37. What’s the difference between lust and/or lust?
I’ll assume you meant love and lust. Lust is below the waist, love is above the shoulders.
38. Do you have a soul?
See religious beliefs and the afterlilfe. Or, NO.
39. One best friend or many good friends?
Yes.
40. Do you believe in spontaneous combustion?
Spontaneous human combustion? No. Spontaneous combustion of hay & straw that’s been baled & put up too soon? Yes. Spontaneous combustion of horse/cow manure that’s been bulldozed into huge piles instead of widely scattered in a field? Absolutely. Ask how I know!! (It all goes back to bacteria, really!)
Back to work.
Sunday Stolen
Day 2829
1. Have you ever peed your pants as an adult?
Nope. Always been able to find a tree to pee on.
2. Who do you have a celebrity crush on now?
Completely inappropriate, but Sarah Shahi just turns my crank.
3. Would you date someone you met online?
Would and did. Go back & read about Ms. CL
4. Do you wear underwear always?
No. Sometimes I go without, but never at work.
5. Do you hate yourself at times?
Hate? No. I can admit that I’ve done some dumb things (#3 for example), but I couldn’t hate me.
7. Do you like dirty movies?
Sure. Can’t say I’ve watched one end to end in a couple of decades though.
8. Could you believe Josha Ledet was voted off Idol?
Sure I could believe it. Of course, I never watch, so I don’t really care either.
9. When was the last time that you bought a car?
August 2009
10. Have you ever been camping?
As a kid, with the Army and dozens of times with my own family.
11. How many times a day do you go on facebook?
Once or twice.
12. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
Ummmmm – I’m not really sure. Alice in Wonderland?
13. Have you ever worried that you’d cut off a limb? At least do severe damage?
Sure. I have a chainsaw and I’m not afraid to use it. Matter of fact I have 29 Douglas Firs to cut down this summer. Need wood?
14. Where did you get your last email from?
Work colleague. Boring (to you) technical stuff.
15. Favorite website?
Oh, there are so many to choose from . . .
16. Are you down with ghetto?
Probably not. What’s the implication?
17. Will the world end in fire or ice?
Think it through – ultimately ice, although that brief period of the sun going nova will be pretty warm.
18. Do you believe in the afterlife?
Not especially. I think much of that life after death stuff is invented by/believed in people who are afraid to accept their mortality. Not saying I’ve fully come to grips with it, but where is the evidence that there is anything there? I take very, very, very little on faith.
19. Would you be upset if facebook stopped working?
Not really.
20. How did you start your blog?
Started as a way to track the crazies when I quit smoking in 2004. Then it morphed into a way to track the crazies while my spouse tried to lose herself in a bottle (or a hundred) of Canadian Club. Now? I just can’t stop.
As I was pasting this here, it occurred to me there was no #6. Anyone want to ask a question for #6? You can ask anything, I reserve the right to not answer.
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Wednesday Hodge Podge
Day 2558
Something new to try out to keep my head in the game here . . .
It’s time for Joyce’s Wednesday Hodgepodge! Interesting questions this week. They’re not too deep but a lot of fun!
You know the drill…post the answers on your own blog, link up on Joyce‘s page and make new bloggy friends by perusing the links on her post.
Here we go…
1. What is something that bothers you if it’s not done perfectly?
Wrapping up extension cords or lengths of rope. Gotta be in a neat coil – no figure 8’s allowed. Makes it easier to unroll them next time you use them.
Also – dishwasher loading. Don’t put stuff in so it takes up the most space possible!
Yes, I am a wee bit anal.
2. Do you think a sixth sense exists? Explain.
It can’t be coincidence ALL the time. I do believe in some sort of ‘gut’ feeling. Whether people ferret it out from other external clues or it’s just a hunch, it’s right too often to ignore.
3. Do you say your goodbyes slowly, quickly, or not at all?
Sloooooowwwwly. It’s a curse famous trait from my mother’s mother’s side. Trying to work on it.
4. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being hot, hot, hot, what level of spice do you like in your food? What’s your favorite spicy dish?
I like my food to be at about a 12. In a restaurant, I’ll take the cover off the crushed red pepper shaker and shake some onto my pizza or pasta. I can drink Franks Red Hot by the glass (but why bother? It’s not hot at all.) Jalapenos are mild. What I really like are my homegrown, mesquite smoked habaneros. A tablespoon or two in a bow of chili is just about right. Wanna try some? Send me your address, I’ll mail you a sample. DO NOT sniff them – you will regret it.
5. What is one of your all-time favorite commercial jingles?
Where’s the beef!?!
Oh, wait, that’s not a jingle. How about “Plop plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!”
6. Plane, train, boat, or auto…what is your preferred means of travel?
I don’t mind traveling by car if I’m driving (you’re too slow and hang out behind things that block my view) but I like the immediacy of plane travel. Wake up on a February morning where it’s 10 degrees & snowing, by lunch time you can be sipping a Hurricane and enjoying a bowl of gumbo (wearing shorts!!) at Pat O’Briens in Nola. What’s not to like?
7. What is something you take for granted?
Used to be my job . . .
8. My Random Thought
Squirrel!
Yes, I saw UP! What a great movie. I even got a little teary (ok – more than a little) in all the right spots.
Oh – on that TUV interview from last week – won’t know more for 2 – 3 weeks. Unfortunate because I’ll have tons of free time in just under two weeks now . . .
One odd event happened on our trip to Carlisle last week. It was early in the trip – we were maybe on the road for 40 minutes or so – when my phone rang. Now, in my truck, the phone is Bluetooth linked to the stereo (Ford Synch). So when the phone rings it interrupts what ever music was playing (bluetoothed in from my phone no less) and rings EXTREMELY shrilly, scaring the shit out of you. Assuming you have managed to maintain control of the vehicle, you can hit a button on the steering wheel to answer the phone.
Anyhow. Phone rang, Cindy might have peed a little, I steered us back into the right lane after recovering from the initial shock. On the phone was a dude from a recruiting agency that had gotten hold of an old, old resume of mine that was posted on Monster about 10 – 12 years ago. How it had my current cell phone number on it I’ll never know, but the email address was an ancient one. I told the guy he had an ancient resume, but I was still very interested in finding new employment. We did a bit of a phone interview right there on the spot (well, we covered 10 – 12 miles of I-390) and was to email me his contact info so I could forward him a current resume complete with references.
Nice thing abut this smart phone stuff was that I was able confirm receipt of that email about 5 minutes after we terminated the call. (Trust issue with recruiters? Why would you think that?) And no – getting an email on the phone doesn’t set off any klaxons or sirens in the truck. Thank heavens! And thanks to modern technology I was able to receive an important call when say 10 – 12 years ago (there are those numbers again!) I would have missed that opportunity. Or not. Talking on your cell phone wasn’t illegal in New York back then. (I was legal because I had a hands free set up. Thank you Ford!)
Got a call from another recruiter yesterday, but I don’t have high hopes for this particular job. They were looking for experience with very specific CAD packages. While I can use (am using? Was using?) CAD for everything this job entailed, I am using a couple of different programs. Nor much of a learning curve, but employers want you to hit the ground running. The other downside to this job? 45 minute drive in good weather. In the winter, when the lake squalls hit, it might be 2 hours. Wouldn’t want to do that for the next 15 years. Plus? It’s too far to ride my bike regularly.
I must be off. I hear a golf course calling my name . . .
Me, A to Z
Day 2536
Meme stealing time
Shamelessly stolen from m who stole it from the charming Aurore who also swiped it. This will at least get me blogging when I’d otherwise be working on the bathroom or thinking about biking. (Or heaven forbid, work!)
A – Age: 52 2/3
B – Bed size: Queen
C – Chore you hate: Dusting. I’m doing drywall. Know how much dust that makes?
D – Dad’s name: Walt
E – Essential start your day item: Coffee
F – Favorite color: Something auburny
G – Gold or Silver: Gold
H – Height: Was 6’ 1/2” at my peak. Closer to 5’11 ½ these days
I – Instruments you play(ed): Trombone. Could putz around on the baritone
J – Job title: Soon to be “Former Product Development Engineer”
K – Kids: 2
L – Living arrangements: Married, working on the happily part.
M – Mom’s name: Nancy
N – Nicknames: Bri, Reuben (from the kids)
O – Overnight hospital stay other than births: 1 – the one that made the lovely sharkbite scar on my right shin. That was one big owie!
P – Pet Peeve: Shitty, ignorant, slow drivers.
R – Right or left handed: I’m a rightie except when it comes to hockey.
S – Siblings: 3 brothers, all younger (51, 48, 43)
T – Time you wake up: 6:30 AM, no alarm.
U- Underwear: Usually. Learned it’s best to go commando when going for longer bike rides. No seams or hems to chafe tender areas. Weird, but it works.
V – Vegetable you dislike: Sweet Bell peppers. If it isn’t at LEAST as warm as a jalapeno, I don’t want to bother with it. Brussels Sprouts? Love ‘em. Lima beans? Bring ‘em on. Cucumbers and melons? Best used as archery targets.
W – Ways you run late: trying to fit in just one more thing before leaving
X – X-rays you’ve had: finger, hand, chest, right shin, right ankle, right foot (those right side shots were all separate incidents). X-rays I’ve shot? Dozens & dozens. All sorts of phantoms (fake body parts), circuit boards, disk drives, perf stock (great for image analysis), I’ll put anything on a plate to have something in the image for analysis.
Y – Yummy food you make: GUMBO!
Z – Zoo favorite: My cousins – the monkeys.
Since this thing has been stolen umpteen times over, feel free to steal it for yourself. Just let me know so I can go check you out.
Stealing a Tuesday Meme
Day 2493
Yeah, I know. Long time no see. Work and home projects are kicking my ass. Making progress on most fronts. Here’s a meme I saw & stole:
1. The smallest bone in the human body is about the size of a grain of rice. What is it?
For reals, it’s a bone in the ear, but I can not recall it’s actual name. I’d google it, but that ain’t the point here now, is it?
There’s a joke to be made here about boners of wives/girlfriends ex-lovers but far be it from me to stoop to such a crass level.
2. How fast is a sneeze?
Never as fast as you want. Don’t some of them take forever to actually happen? Others just do the stealth blitz attack and you’re wiping ‘fluids’ off your desk before you even knew what hit you.
3. What percentage of the human body is water?
Before Happy hour, isn’t it about 75% ? Thursday night, Cindy was 74% water, 1% alcohol, 25% drunker than I wanted to deal with. Friday night, well – not one of my better nights.
4. True or False: A human’s thumb is as long as his or her nose.
Might be close. Don’t have a mirror handy and I don’t dare try an internal measurement.
5. What should you do if you are bitten by a snake?
If it’s a garter snake, catch it, skin it, cook it & eat it like a sausage. If it’s a rattler or copperhead there’s only one thing to do. Bend over as far as you can and keep bending over far enough until you can kiss your ass good-bye.
6. It is a fact that humans get an entirely new skeleton every 12 years. What do we get every six years?
Eight years older? Free colonoscopy from the IRS? New skin?
7. Happiness is directly related to the size of your _________________.
Heart. Enough said.
8. If there are 9,000 taste buds on your tongue, how many hairs are on your head right now?
Not enough. There are fewer hairs than there were yesterday. That is a sad thing.
I’m also wondering how hairy Cindy’s tongue was feeling after Thursday night.
9. I believe that the size of the needle is directly related to the mood of the nurse. However, sometimes it’s necessary to get shots. If you could be vaccinated against anything in the world, what would it be?
Hard not to be bitter here, but I think I’d like to be vaccinated against doing anything I might regret later. Coming in a close second would be protection against resentment.
Weekend recap:
Over-indulged Friday evening, paid for it Saturday. All the women folk of the clan (& extended clan) were over in Syracuse for Eric & Kelly’s wedding shower. Theoretically that left me home alone for the day to work on the bathroom project. I was making fine progress right up until Zach showed up with his dog, Ollie, and his FIL, Greg.
Ollie did the absolute cutest little peeking into the bathroom deal. He’s pretty comfortable in our house, so when Zach arrived he opened the door and turned Ollie loose. I’m thinking Zach sent him upstairs where he must have come into the bedroom. Hearing me putzing around in the bathroom, he had to come over and check things out. All I saw was Ollie poking his nose around the bathroom door with his big puppydog eyes asking the question “You’re happy to see me, right?”
Once I called him he came bounding over practically knocking me over in his exuberance. He is NOT the cute little puppy he was 9 months ago. He’s up to around 60 or 70 pounds of playful, happy, people loving chocolate lab.
Anyhow. Greg brought over some cable I needed, we ran a little bit of wiring and discussed options for further wiring. Greg does house electric jobs on the side so he’s a great resource for where to get materials and strategies for getting the most wiring out of the least materials.
After that initial burst, we all ran out of gas, so we sat out on the back porch and shot the breeze for the rest of the day. I got in a few more shorts bursts of activity, but for the most part, Saturday was a rest day.
Sunday being Fathers Day kinda forced me to make some deals. Zach called earlier in the week asking where we were going to get tee times. Knowing I needed to spend some quality time in the bathroom (not doing THAT!) I took a rain check, planning an outing for the next time Eric was in town too. That should be 3 weeks or so.
With the rain check in place, I spent the day wrapping up the wiring and actually started drywall in the bathroom. Ought to be mudding this weekend, then it’ll be time to start wrapping up the shower. I DO have pictures of the (snails pace) progress and will put together a little album before too long.
I haven’t touched my bike since the Tour de Cure. One of the reasons is that my left quad had been really sore – the result of cramps that crept in the last 10 miles or so. By Friday though the old quad was feeling pretty good – so I gave it a couple of extra days. Plus, my more tender areas have been suffering through some odd tingling sensations not unlike what one feels when an arm or leg falls asleep. I’m sure it was the result of a pinched nerve because now it’s back to normal. It felt pretty odd, but no where near as odd as that time I had an epidural. (Whole ‘nother story, maybe for another day.)
Anyhow. I’m thinking of sneaking out of work in like 5.3 minutes, driving home and riding the old ass buster to the Y and taking in a spin class. It’s Monday, Lori is the instructor and I really can’t stand her music or exercise technique, but I need to ride and the seats on the Y’s spin bikes are the most comfortable things around. I’m willing to suffer through some Lady Gagger some of the other shit Lori plays just to get in a bona fide sweat – unless I can find someone willing to try out some highly aerobic horizontal gymnastics for an hour or so. That ain’t bloody likely.
In the Mood…
Day 2480
(I borrowed this from Chapter Two who originally borrowed it from the Friday 5 meme)
1. What puts you in a creative mood?
Usually a deadline or desperation. Barring those, just dropping all preconceptions of what can or can’t be done.
2. What puts you in a silly mood?
I’m a funny guy inside. But unless I know & trust the people I’m around, the fun stuff gets held inside.
3. What puts you in a contemplative mood?
Trying to plot out the best course for my future.
4. What puts you in a competitive mood?
Participating in anything where a score is kept. Football, gin rummy, darts . . . That includes keeping track of my own biking times on my regular routes.
5. If you consider yourself a talkative person, what puts you in a quiet mood? If you consider yourself a quiet person, what puts you in a talkative mood?
I consider myself talkative. What’ll shut me up is pressure whether it be from external sources (the need to perform) or internal (suppressing anger). Especially anger. I don’t trust myself to be polite when I’m pissed, and I don’t like the reaction I expect to get in return. Clamming up is often the best way to avoid that reaction.
6. What can a person do that will instantly put you in a sexy mood?
Blow in my ear? Not a fair question for a guy. Except for extreme anger, there isn’t much that will keep me from accepting sekshual advances. (Except if you’re drunk.) Not that anything in particular puts me in a sexy mood, it’s just that well, why not? I have no problem separating sex & love.
Bonus: What song puts you in a sexy mood? If possible post a link to the song so that we can listen to it.
We have a local band called “The Mambo Kings”. (Nothing at all to do with the Antonio Banderas movie) They play Latin style salsa, rumba, mambo. Very sensuous music, almost NO lyrics (their version of “Oye como va” has one word – “Uuh”. If you know hte song, you know where it is. If that stuff doesn’t get your libido tweaked you might want to see your local EMT to jump start your heart.
Try Blue Rondo
A question for the gallery: Does not complaining about a situation imply tacit approval?
Cop Out
Day 2475
- ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? Spider bite, Old Forge, NY campground. Left me a hockey puck sized divot on my right shin.
- WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR BEDROOM? Small LCD TV, bunch of oil paintings Cindy’s mom did back in the day.
- WHAT DOES YOUR MOBILE PHONE LOOK LIKE? Crackberry Storm. For now.
- WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? Classic Rock, Zydeco, some country, absolutely no hip hop, rap or top 40 pop.
- DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? 6:45 am, Dec. 18, 19xx
- WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? That job in Boston installing remote internet connected glucose monitors for $90K a year.
- WHO DO YOU MISS? My dad.
- IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU OR HAS A CRUSH ON YOU? Well, there’s the spousal unit. Then the old FWB too.
- WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU KISSED? The spousal unit.
- WHAT’S YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Keith
- THE BEST TV SHOW EVER CREATED? M.A.S.H., All in the Family
- THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO? Manufacturing engineer acrsoo the aisle from me.
- DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? No, I used to work in the dark. Kodak, ya know. Films, dark rooms . . .
- THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? No idea
- WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME? Cologne – Aramis. Perfume – Opium
- WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? Auburn hair, green eyes. (Hmmmm, I married a blue eyed blond . . .)
- WOULD YOU RATHER BE SMART OR FUNNY? If I were smart, I might figure out the funny. But then there’s Sheldon Cooper . . .
- COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS? Coffee
- WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Sausage, pepperoni, black olives and jalapeno’s. Chicken wing pizza isn’t bad either
- IF YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? P.F. Gumbo.
- WHO IS THE LAST PERSON WHO MADE YOU MAD? Business manager of my employer. Entirely too conservative.
- DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE? I am not a multi-linguist.
- WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU? Life
- DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE? Yes
- ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? No, but I can usually bend over and get my knuckles on the ground when trying to do those pesky toe touches.
- FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Levi, LLBean
- WHAT’S YOUR DREAM CAR? 77 Monte Carlo with a few tweaks.
- WHAT COLOR IS IT? Auburn
- WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF EXERCISE? Love for it to be highly aerobic sex, but I’m having to settle for bike riding.
- WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? I did it knowing I was leaving. Can’t put limits on love.
- WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? With words AND actions.
- WRITE A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED? 47.
- BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? Auburns
- WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN? Spouses cell
- WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? Bad, rude, inconsiderate and/or ignorant drivers.
- HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY? WHERE DID YOU GO? WHAT PLACE DID YOU LIKE BEST? Yes –most recently Mexico. Canada lots of times (I live 65 miles from the border fer chrissakes), western Europe one time.
- FRIES/CHIPS, RICE, OR BEANS? Red beans & rice. Then stay back 500 feet.
- FIRST JOB? Mom-n-Pop grocery store. I was the shelf stocker/gofer
- EVER PRANK CALLED SOMEONE? Nope.
- WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS? Looking up product safety certificates.
- IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’m far from perfect, but I can’t see artificially ‘fixing’ any of my character builders.
- WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS MEME? Blog fodder
- WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? Athletic ability for someone my age and apparent body type. Sense of humor.
- WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL? I have a home brew set up. I’d become a boot-legger.
- WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? Is this a family blog?
- HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? Two was enough. Waiting on the grand kiddies.
- WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? An actor.
- DO YOU WISH ON STARS? For real?
- WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVORITE? Middle finger. So expressive.
- WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? PB & honey on rye.
- DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It’s pretty good compared to a lot that I see.
- WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT Left over smoked ribs.
- ANY BAD HABITS? Drive too fast, procrastinate, probably spend to much time ‘connected’.
- WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF? I am not embarrassed by what I listen to.
- IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely.
- HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL? Can’t tell you.
- DO LOOKS MATTER? To a degree. Some folks just can’t quite turn your crank.
- YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER? I’m like a pressure cooker with a very high setting. Working on that . . .
- WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? If I were to have one, either down in New Orleans or up near Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor)
- DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY? Once.
- WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? My mind.
- HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR MOBILE PHONE? Gobs
- DO YOU USE SARCASM? With pinpoint accuracy.
- DO YOU KNOW ANYONE FAMOUS? Yes
- HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT? Before they were called mosh pits, yes. Stood on the floor at a Ted Nugent concert in 1979. I think I was violated.
- WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A PLACE TO LIVE? Someplace that feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere but has easy access to urban niceties.
- WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? Bry, nothing else fit for a family publication
- HOW MANY HATS DO YOU OWN? WHAT’S YOUR HAT SIZE? A dozen? All baseball caps or winter style pullovers. For helmets & the like (or firemens dress hats) my size is something like 7 5/8.
- DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Depends on the shoes.
- WERE YOU UPSET ABOUT STEVE IRWIN DYING? Not especially.
- WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Perry’s Perfect Churn Panda Paws. It’s a lighter version of their original Panda Paws.
- ARE YOU LAZY? Laziness is the mother of invention.
- WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT THE MOMENT? Still hooked on “Enter Sandman”, “Mr. Brownstone” and “Funk No. 49” Anyone name all three artists without using the Google?
- WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND? Tough one. Probably Rush.
- HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE? Zero.
- DO YOU WANT TO GO ANYWHERE SPECIAL THIS YEAR? To my new job.
- WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The ringing in my ears.
- LAST THING YOU ATE? Half a calzone.
- LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Glenn Ball. Circuit board layout house program manager.
- WHATS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT YOURSELF IN THE MORNING? Man my bladder is full!
- FAVORITE THOUGHT PROVOKING SONG? “Time for me to Fly”
- FAVORITE TWO THINGS TO HATE? Bad drivers, Corporate bureauracy.
- FAVORITE DRINK? Skim milk
- FAVORITE ZODIAC SIGN? I’m a Sagittarius, but couldn’t say I have a fave.
- SPORTS YOU LIKE TO WATCH? Hockey, football, golf, college b-ball. Baseball & pro b-ball are kinda dull.
- WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR? Brown
- EYE COLOR? Hazely brown green mix
- DO YOU WEAR GLASSES? Bifocals even
- SIBLINGS? 3 bro’s
- FAVORITE MONTH(s)? October. Hunting season, leaves are changing, it isn’t stupidly hot.
- DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? Yum.
- LAST THING YOU WATCHED? Recorded episode of Deadliest Catch.
- FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Tomorrow
- ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? Usually. Being married is a detractor too.
- SUMMER OR WINTER? NOT winter.
- KISSES OR HUGS? Yes.
- RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE-NIGHT STANDS? Right now a one night stand would take that pressure cooker down a notch or three.
- WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CELEBRITY? None of them.
- WHO IS THE LEAST LIKELY TO ASK YOU ON A DATE? 7 billion choices . . .
- BOOKS YOU’D LIKE TO SEE TURNED INTO A FILM? The 10 books that comprise “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever”
54 Silly questions
Day 2460
Because I’m sitting here at work and just can’t bring myself to actually get anything done besides search the on-line classifieds for job postings, I thought I’d torment you with this list o’questions.
Before the silly questions, 1 sad note. This is week 4 of my golf league. We’ve been cancelled again tonight for the third time. Too much *&@#$* water on the course. We’re sad to not be playing, the golf course operators are even more sad. We pay for xx weeks in advance. Our league end date keeps getting pushed out so the course operator is losing non-league revenue from the post-season golfers because he has to honor our contract.
With no further ado, the list:
Which song did you last listen to?
Current ear worm is Rusted Roots “On My Way”
What’s the last thing you ate that was red?
A piece of tomato in todays soup @ lunch time. If that doesn’t count, then it has to be an apple for lunch Tuesday. Had that after the bag of red grapes and the sweet peppers in my enchilada.
Have you ever questioned your sexuality?
Lately, considering the lengthy drought that’s happening, yeah. I’m wondering if I’m a eunuch. Oh, wait. They’ve had something surgically removed, haven’t they? So do you still qualify if it just falls off?
Have you ever lost a best friend after a fight?
I may. That dust up isn’t settled yet.
Have you ever washed an iPod or mp3 player in the washing machine?
I washed a thumb drive. It’s the one I still use to archive all my blog & job app stuff. My old mp3 player succumbed to sweat. Gross, I know.
Have you ever screamed / yelled angrily at a teacher?
I pulled rank on a lab TA once. It was at night school at RIT. The TA, 15 – 20 years my junior was being porky and coming up with some really BS requirements for a lab. I told him to zip his lips. In the real world conciseness counts and all the flowery BS he was asking us to do was a waste of precious time and he wouldn’t be seeing it from me. I got an A on that lab. (Our entire class also griped that we spent twice the time on lab homework as lecture homework, but the lab was worth only 1 credit and the lecture 3. We asked for a balance in either work load or credits. Guess how that turned out?)
Have you ever acted like you understood something when you didn’t?
Only inconsequential stuff, usually just to get the other person to shut up.
Have you ever pretended to be older than what you are?
Only when I was too young to buy beer.
Have you ever cried because you were turned down?
No, but I do have an inordinately acute fear of rejection.
Have you ever had a pregnancy scare?
Why yes. I even paid for an abortion when I was a young lad of 21.
Have you ever pretended to like someone when you didn’t?
No. I just do a shitty job of pretending to tolerate them. They usually get the idea.
Have you ever stolen money from one of your parents?
Money, no. Cigarettes, yes.
When did you last see a movie in theaters?
Alice in Wonderland? The tail end of Avatar’s run? Back around then. Sad, I know.
When was the last time you baked / cooked something?
Monday night. NY strips and grilled asparagus. My pee still stinks, but it’s sooooo good.
When was the last time you danced like a crazy person?
Kids wedding, 6/6/09
When was the last time you just wanted to be invisible?
Monday night at spin class. When I had Foot in Mouth disease.
When was the last time you got a gift you absolutely hated?
I was a kid, maybe 8 or 10. My Mom’s extended family had a Christmas gathering at the Grange Hall in Phelps, NY. There was a sort of pot luck gift exchange. I ended up with a roll of toilet paper that had jokes printed on the individual squares. It was apparently brought by some distant Canadian relatives that thought they were supposed to bring gag gifts. Never saw them again. The TP ended up being used precisely how it should.
When was the last time you had to sleep with a nightlight?
Never used one.
When was the last time you were under some serious stress?
Besides now? This impending job loss has got me pretty tweaked.
When was the last time you watched your favorite movie?
I don’t really have a favorite movie and I tend to not watch any movie over & over. What’s the point when the ending isn’t even a surprise?
When was the last time you downloaded a song?
Been a while. Still had Limewire on the home laptop before the drive crashed. Is Limewire still semi-legitimate?
What would you say is your favorite hobby?
My favorite one would be hunting & fishing. The one I see to do the most is remodeling projects.
What is your favorite thing to do when you hang out with friends?
Golf, bowl, play volleyball – almost any sort of physical activity followed by a cold beer.
What would you rather do: shower or bath?
Shower. With a friend.
What do the majority of people think of you?
Friendly, bright, humorous, eternal optimist, decent athlete, procrastinates like a mofo but still dependable.
What is the color if your cell phone, if you have one?
Black. So trendy.
Would you ever donate money to charity?
I do all the time. Want to sponsor me in the Tour de Cure? Hit my TdC button up there on the right side bar. Even $5 helps in the fight against diabetes.
Would you ever dump the person you’re with for someone cuter?
More sober maybe. But I’m over ‘cute’. Is she a good kisser?
Would you ever disown one of your relatives?
No. Limit contact, yes. Declare & uphold boundaries, yes. Deny their existence? Couldn’t do that.
Would you ever cheat on someone if they cheated on you?
If cheating on me consists of drowning your sorrows in a bottle of booze 5 nights a week for 12 years, then yes, I’ve got that one covered. Next time I’ll make a clean break. Cheating really bugged the hell out of me. The sex was great, the guilt was greater.
Would you ever consider becoming a teacher?
Love to.
Would you ever give a hitch-hiker a ride somewhere?
Depends on what she looks like.
Would you ever try to quit one of your addictions?
7:00 PM 8/22/2004I quit smoking. (2,460 days ago, but who’s counting?) (See the number at the top of every post?)
Would you ever die your hair purple?
I’m having enough trouble keeping it on my head. Why add to its stress?
Would you ever try being with a member of the same sex?
Been there, done that, didn’t get a membership card.
Would you ever kill yourself to save someone else?
One of my kids I would, provided it wasn’t because they did something stupid. And by kill myself, I’m not talking putting a bullet in my head. I’m talking stepping in harms way to push them to safety.
Would you ever spend $100 for the best tasting hamburger in the world?
Nope. I’ve heard of some more expensive than that though.
Would you ever consider becoming a nun?
Not a chance. I think my dangling participle excludes me from the club.
Would you rather chew gum off the ground or kill a squirrel?
Kill a squirrel. Check.
Would you rather have a turtle or a frog for a pet?
Had 6 tadpoles. Their propulsion system doesn’t have the poop to stay out of the pond filter. Killed ‘em before their legs were big enough to harvest. Oops.
Would you rather dye your hair green or blue?
See my answer to Purple hair.
Would you rather text or talk on the phone?
Talking on the phone omits enough nuances as it is. Texting can be too damn literal. Omfg, lol. (By the way, if you ever get a text from me, it will NOT contain any of that text speak shit. I refuse.)
Would you rather spend a day with Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus?
Really? How about someone my age?
Would you rather learn to play piano or guitar?
Guitar. It’s easier to carry.
Would you rather have a stomach-ache or headache?
I have more experience with headaches. My stomach is partially cast iron and can tolerate heavy doses of habaneros.
Would you rather be overly interesting or overly dull?
Interesting.
Ever told someone that your fake jewelery was really real?
Jewelry? I don’t even wear a watch.
Did you ever watch The Adventures of Alex Mack?
Who?
Who has the worst public restrooms?
Asia
Would you eat cat food for $500?
Canned or dry?
Who is the last person you smelled?
Sadly, Cindy’s fruity booze breath last night.
Name a song that got overplayed really fast.
I tend to listen to Classic Rock stations. 15 – 40 year old songs are kind of hard to over play. There’s SO MANY of them. HOWEVER – we do have a local station that thinks every other song has to be either Zepplin, The Beatles or The Stones. That gets old fast.
Do you shop at Payless?
Nope.
When’s the last time you had a popsicle?
It’s been years.
I Got the Muse in Me
Day 2454
I’m a day late and several dollars short, but I have to get this week Microfiction Muse in. Heck, Diane is even using one of my pictures! So, without further ado, I give you:
“Kid, we gotta get out of here. You see that wall of water coming down the river? Grab your dog and let’s go!”
It helps knowing that picture was taken on either Royal St. or Bourbon St. in the French Quarter of New Orleans. We’re trying to plan a trip back down there this October with one of my brothers, but it depend heavily on how things go down there with the current flooding situation and with how my whole job situation turns out.
Speaking of the job situation, I had a phone interview again last week. It turned out to be more of a coaching session with a recruiter looking to fill a position in a town 35-ish miles east of here. The position is for a job very similar to what I am doing now, just with different end products. The potential salary should be no worse than a lateral transfer and might include a little bump that would offset the additional commute costs. The 35 mile trip eliminates the possibility of biking to work though and it would also screw with bowling and golf. While those are priorities, I’d have to bite the bullet and make some changes.
I also applied for a biomed position at a hospital 4 miles east of where I work now. Don’t know the salary for that one, but I might be willing to take a little hit in pay to stay local. That application went in yesterday and I haven’t heard any feedback yet. Soon, I hope.
Lets see – biked to work Monday & got in a spin class. Biked in today and plan to do a spin class again tonight. If I count spin class as 20 miles, that’ll give me 2 40 mile days this week, plus what ever I can sneak in Saturday morning. Judging by the weather forecast, it might be spin class only. Maybe I’ll take Friday off again, bike in the morning and work on the bathroom in the afternoon. Hmmmm, I’m suddenly feeling a little sickly . . . .
I got a bit of an unsettling revelation last night, and it’s something I’ve suspected for a while. Cindy is hoping that I find a job in another city and we are forced to move. Seems that she’s looking at the potential move as a chance to start over in a place where we (she) has no history. Personally, it seems to me that she’s hoping to apply a geographic solution to a problem that is more internal in nature. A geographic solution won’t work if you take your problems, faults and/or issues with you. I don’t think moving for the sake of moving will solve anything. As a matter of fact, I think it will only serve to isolate us and force us to deal with the issues between us. Or not. Time will tell.
A meme is worth One Word
Day 2426
One Word answers ONLY……
1) Where is your cell phone? pocket (It’s on vibrate. CALL ME!!!)
2) Your hair? thinning
3) Your mother? Jehovah
4) Your father? missed
5) Your favorite thing? competition
6) Your dream last night? moving
7) Your favorite drink? Milk (or porter)
8) Your dream / goal? happiness
9) What room are you in? cubicle
10) Your hobby? biking
11) Your biggest fear? failure
12)Where were you last night? YMCA
13) Something that you’re not? Type A
14) Muffins? cornbread
15) Wish list item? job
16) Last thing you did? lunch
17) What are you wearing? polo
18) Friends? real
19) Your mood? frazzled
20) Drinking? Milk
21) Your car? truck
22) Something you’re not wearing? spandex
23) Your favorite home goods store? HD
24) Your Favorite Color? Auburn
25) Your favorite place to eat? home
26) Favorite place I would like to be right now? Nawlins
Man, some of those feel like they need explaining, like #3. My mom is a Jehovah’s Witness, not that she IS Jehovah. Cuz that would make me Jesus or something and we know THAT isn’t true!! Considering my strong agnosticism, her being in that cult of Jehoovers Witlesses can create some interesting situations.
#1 – seriously? I’ll pass out my number only if you PROMISE to not be a stalker.
#2 – hair – could have been graying, thinning, too damn long,
#10 – I only mentioned biking because I biked in to work this morning. 8.23 miles in 27:28. I had to dismount and move parts of a downed poplar tree off the canal path at one point. Does that make me a logger too?
#15 – Yeah, I’m wishing for a job. I have a phone interview tonight for a position as a Radiology Engineer in Pittsburgh, another one tomorrow for an SMT Manufacturing Engineer position in Harrisburg and a real live in person interview next week in a town about an hour away for another Manuf. Engr. position. Wish something closer would turn up. Maybe it will after I get all my practice interviews in.
#20 – Had milk for lunch. A nice glass of cold, cold, cold skim milk is my preferred drink at almost every meal. And I’m STILL deficient in vitamin D, even with drinking nearly 2 gallons of milk a week.
#22 – Check me out around 4:30 though. I’ll be sporting a lovely pair of spandex biking pants. They make my thighs look muscular. No – I’m not going to post a picture. But on 38 degree mornings they make a huge difference in comfort – like my quads don’t have hypothermia.
#25 – Eating at home is economical, cooking is somewhat of a hobby and oftentimes what is cooked at home is better nutritionally than a lot of restaurant fare. (Sodium & saturated fats – I’m looking at you!)
This phone interview tonight is going to be interesting. It’s going to be a test of wills too. Cindy is anxious about it and wants to do nothing but talk about it. I’m anxious about it and want to have no part in talking about it anymore. Cindy & I did talk about it, discussed potential questions, potential answers, potential concerns. I talked about it with Janine too covering much the same ground. Now, I want to retreat and review things in my head. Quietly. I will be glad to listen to new material, but I detest hashing the same shit over and over. Cindy loves to go over the same ground repeatedly. After the 85 repetition I’ll finally change my answer to see if she’s paying attention. Often? She’s not.
What else? Hmmph. Not much I guess. Might as well get back to this job I’m learning to dislike.
The Best Planned Lays . . .
Day 2425 The Best Planned Lays . . .
But first, Micro-fiction Muse #2, hosted & carried on by Diane (Trouble maker!!)
The inspiration:
No body treated his friends that way and got away with it. There was hell to be paid and the scum that hurt her was about to settle up.
Now go read this guys REAL story here. I’ll wait.
Amazing story, wasn’t it? What? You didn’t go read it? Do it. Now. It’s brief. Go. I’ll wait.
Now. Abut that title. That’s “best laid plans” you say? Ever hear of the Reverend Spooner? He was an actual preacher that had the unfortunate habit of randomly swapping the first syllables of words. Perhaps it was an early undiagnosed form of dyslexia. Anyhow, these little mixed up phrases came to be called “Spoonerisms. So you see, the ‘planned lays’ and ‘laid plans’ swap is an old literary tool used since at least the 1800’s. Even Grandpa on the old Hee Haw show used to use them. (Boy, is that dating me or what? Call BR-549)
Anyhow.
I had planned to ride my bike in to work today (Wednesday). Yesterday morning those plans got changed. I need to be in beautiful downtown Rochester this afternoon at 4pm to wrap up the paperwork for Bob’s estate. A whole year & 2 months after he passed away, we finally get his estate settled. I dragged my feet on some of it, the lawyers were tied up on other matters for some of it, but it all gets wrapped up this week.
And? Considering my pending job status, the question of whether or not I should take my commission has been answered. After taxes, this commission will buy me several things. A few months buffer on unemployment, moving expenses, or a new roof if I land a job here in town and we end up not moving. And that’s just my commission.
I have to admit, the prospect of moving anywhere, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas – where ever – is both exciting and dreadful. What upsets me most is the thought of having to give up the house & property I’ve put so much of myself into the past 18 years. It really makes me wonder about why we put so much time & effort and money into changing a place, knowing that it’s all temporary. Is it really that important?
Gotta get back on track here. So. Riding plans derailed by a lawyer’s appointment. Missing out on the riding sucks. Missing out on riding in the rain sucks a whole lot less. While I would have been pedaling this morning it poured. 48 degrees and pouring down rain is NOT conducive to good health for the rider or his bike. So I ought to thank the lawyer for talking me in off my bike today. But tomorrow? Fair game baby – time to ride.
I’m trying to get that phone interview for the Pittsburgh job set up for tonight or tomorrow night. Still haven’t heard back from the interviewer yet. I hesitate to call him lest he try to start the interview on the spot. I could wriggle out of it, but how would that look? I can easily see that EVERYTHING is a test in this situation. Hmmm. Maybe I SHOULD call anyhow? Tonight, after work, but before my declared ‘free time’. When I’m on the road maybe – I can even call legally by New York standards and show how well I wedge things into my schedule.
I need to steer my 1 on 1 sessions with Janine in a different direction. We’ve been focused on the job search lately. That’s been a worthwhile endeavor, but it isn’t servicing our primary aim – fixing the relationship. That is becoming increasingly complicated. There are at least 3 possible outcomes and an unlimited number of paths with which to get to these places. I’ve made the conscious decision to only act on what I know right now. There are soooo many ‘what if’s’ hanging out there that I could awfulize on them forever. But I am choosing to behave according to what I know to be true. I AM keeping an eye toward the future and what may be, but I’m not going to stop doing something now ‘in case we have to move’ 6 months from now. That will lead to paralysis.
How is it I can’t stay on track today? Need to steer counseling sessions back to relationship repair. Case in point – last nights continuation of the Tuesday night drunk. It’s up to 5 or 6 weeks running now. We do counseling Tuesday night. Cindy is done at 6 regardless and heads home. Depending on if we are in a doubles or singles session, at 6 I am either just arriving for my 1 on 1, or I might be leaving after a double, but in either case I have Al Anon in the next town over at 8pm. I look at that as my one night to have Chinese for dinner, so I go and enjoy myself.
Oops – gotta go run off to the lawyers and get this estate settled.
Microfiction Muse and More
Day 2417
There was a meme that ran a while back called Microfiction Monday. The originator of the meme has apparently been beamed out of cyberspace. <a href=http://dianeestrella.com/> Diane</a> is one of three people to pick it up and run with it. Here’s my swing at her first prompt:
The picture worth 1000 words, but limited to 140 characters:
My piece of micro (or pico) fiction:
Angie bought a new hat to wear for the races at Upson Downs. She hopes the Queen approves.
Yeah. Femto-fiction. (that’s 0.00000000000001) Only because I like the alliteration. Isn’t the gal in the picture just striking? That looked to me like a hat Queen Elizabeth might wear.
Know what kills me? Well, ok – it annoys the beejeebers out of me, but kills my laptop. There I was, sitting at work. I have a Linear Technology circuit simulator running some sims on an annoying little bug in one of my boards that may soon become a ‘feature’. I also have a corporate mail client/database/document archive up (Lotus Notes. Anyone else hate it?) I have a web browser up, kinda surfing some of the returns I’m getting back on job posting searhes. Probably have an instance of Word up, a calculator window (scientific mode please) and quite possible a file compare tool for one of my little tangent side jobs.
The simulator, which has been running fine most of the morning, apparently hits a little teensy snag and sends both processors into over drive. I can hear the laptops cooling fans come on. The calculations ease up, the fans turns off and disaster is averted. That time. Two more trips through simulation hell and my laptop shuts down. No warning, no nothing, just a black screen. Simulator worked so hard the laptop had a melt down.
I rebooted and dove right back in. Flipping simulator ran just fine.
Tempus fugit. It’s later now.
Had counseling tonight. Can’t seem to bust through this plateau. My own part in it is fostering poor communication. Rather than address it this weekend, we made it worse. Of course, one of the things contributing to making it worse is my unwillingness to initiate or continue a conversation with a person that is showing signs of having too much to drink three or more nights a week. Three of the other 4 nights she’s at an AA meeting. The dichotomy is confusing. Don’t want to end it, don’t want to keep living this way. Something’s gotta give.
Personality Quiz
Day 2398
Saw this on a private blog the other day (Hi G.G.) and thought that considering my current circumstances, a little insight into my inner workings might not hurt. I had a little trouble trying to decide whether to focus on work or home life. But after thinking about it for 1.8 micro-seconds (or the amount of time the quake in Japan shortened our day) (which is COMPLETELY separate from what was “lost” in Daylight Savings time), I realized that my work and home personas aren’t really all that different. So off I went.
Here are the results:
Master Archer
Brian, as the “Master Archer”, there is rarely a task you undertake without thoughtful planning and careful execution. You are even-tempered, competent, and hold high standards for yourself and others. With your level of diligence, steadiness, and talent for both creating and maintaining systems, you have the ability to rise to expert status. You tend to evaluate decisions slowly, based upon logic and facts, remaining sensitive to the needs of those around you. Using a rational and systematic approach, you like to do things right the first time and follow projects through to the end.
You excel at building solid relationships and maintaining a stable and peaceful environment. While generally reserved, you are most sociable in personal, low-pressure situations where you feel comfortable and connected to those around you. Once you form a bond with another person, you have no problem talking about personal subjects and extending trust. You will take the time to build solid relationships slowly, choosing your friends wisely.
Others experience you as organized, neighborly, and rationally minded. With a keen eye for detail, you may be quite creative or philosophical. You tend to avoid conflict and confrontation, and try to maintain positive and peaceful environments. You are likely a good listener and a stable friend, doing exemplary work, while diligently nourishing your relationships.
Food for Thought
Your communication style in general, especially in times of pressure or conflict, can be overly tolerant. Your need to maintain positive relationships, may lead you to undervalue your own needs, time, and personal goals. This can create additional stress in your life.
• You likely fear and avoid conflict, which may prevent you from setting appropriate boundaries and expressing your own needs and wants. If you don’t express your own needs, you may feel resentment. At times, you may need to make a concerted effort to stand your ground.
• You feel most comfortable when your world feels steady, stable, and orderly. This can lead to a resistance to change and a feeling of discomfort or loss of control in moments of change or chaos.
• Because you are able to multitask well, you often take on too much. Be aware of your limits and learn to delegate responsibility. Trusting others and seeking out their strengths may relieve a lot of pressure in your life. Sometimes it’s even okay to say no.
• You will take your time to gather all the information to make decisions. If you are unable to gather this information, you may struggle with decision-making. At times, you may have to push yourself to be more spontaneous or go with your “gut” instincts.
• You may show love, affection, and dedication through tasks, precision, and quality of work and want to be acknowledged for it as such. Likely, you also want to be shown love in a similar way that you show it. You may be frustrated around a more emotive style, as they will show and need to be shown love through affections and personal attention.
If you’re interested, I got it here . I did the free version. If you have a spare $25 lying around you can get the full blown version. Or you could donate that $25 to the Japanese Red Cross instead. I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
Now I have to show this to Cindy & see what she thinks. Maybe I’ll show Janine too and get her input. “Is this me?” For YOUR purposes, this IS me, except maybe for that 4th bullet in the ‘Food for Thought’ section. I’m more a ‘gather all the information you can and make the best decision based on what you know right now’ kinda guy. Make a choice, commit & go. If you need to adjust later on, feel free to do so, but don’t just sit there floundering.
Bullet number 5 is freakishly scary in it’s accuracy. That part about being frustrated around someone with a more emotive style? Oy! Ditto for having to talk something through 18,000 times before making a decision (see my rebuttal of bullet 4).
Also? There’s a position open locally for an installation team manager. It’s a project manager type position with revenue & inventory responsibilities. The job is with a competitor of my current firm, but it sounds like the installation projects aren’t for products that I am currently in competition with i.e. – no imaging devices. My personality profile seems to fit the job description, except for that whole procrastination part. I’ll be submitting an application anyhow. It’s entirely possible that the worst thing they can say is “when can you start?” A little stretch can be good.
Does the Master Archer part bode well for this fall’s hunting season? Hope so, I may need the protein source.
Monday Marauding?
Day 2374
Sunday Stealing: The Very Late Meme (Monday Marauding?)
Swiped this from Another Suburban Mom who properly credits it on her blog. Go see.
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
My white board, my patent, a cheesy gift clock from my employer, my coat (on it’s hanger) and my second monitor. (You didn’t care about the pile of circuit boards,
2. How do you style your hair?
Style? Parted on the left. More likely it just looks windblown.
3. What are you wearing now?
Cherry red camisole with matching thong & stocki . . .?? Oops. Hold on . . .
Black jeans, pale sagey green shirt with a black plaid pattern in it, comfy shoes. No – really.
4. What’s your occupation?
EE
5. What do you hear right now?
a soft 3kHz ringing in my left ear, a slightly ofter 3.3kHz ringing in my right ear, the fan of my laptop, muted office noise.
6. Who was the last person you hugged?
Pat, at an Al Anon meeting
7. What is/was for dinner?
Last night? Lamb burgers & a monster tossed salad. Tonight – Beef minestrone soup.
8. What did you do today?
@work now (lunch time silly), spin after work, packing my suitcase after that,
9. Dog person or cat person?
Dog. But I’m cool with cats – especially any cat that wants to hunt moles in my yard.
10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Inigo Montoya
11. What was the last thing that you bought?
A gallon of skim milk.
12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
On vacation? Alaska
Go and never come back? Bali
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully same place, same job, quite likely a grandparent.
14. Where’s your birthmark?
I don’t really have one. Have a few scattered freckle and some killer scars, but no map of Macedonia hidden on my back or anything.
15. What are you doing this weekend?
Last weekend? Errands, hot tub, errands, pay bills, snow blow driveway (again)
Next weekend? Roasting in the sun on Saturday, travel on Sunday
16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
Stephen R. Donaldson, “Fatal Revenant”. Have “Against All Things Ending” on deck. These are books 2 & 3 of “The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant”, which happen to be books 8 & 9 of a 10 book series. Book 10 is hopefully due in 2013. (The first 3 came out in 1977)
17. The last movie you’ve seen?
Red. It was very funny.
18. What are you doing tomorrow?
Getting up 3 hours before the ass-crack of dawn and heading to the airport (a 10 minute ride – maybe less at 4 effin thirty in the morning) and flying south. We’ll be in Philly by 6:45 and on our way to our final destination by 7:50. I plan to get a LOT of reading done.
Here’s the weather forecast for where we’re headed:
Gawd! That looks so boring! To think, I’m leaving 16 degrees, 20mph winds & lake effect snow squalls for that. What am I thinking?
Checked on cell phone coverage where we’re going. Dicey at best. May have to wait and post pics when we get back.
Sunday Stealing #78
Day 2353
Stole this from someone that stole it from someone else that was using it as part of a bigger list.
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF YOUR HOME COUNTRY?
Once to Europe, several times to Canada
35. WEAKNESSES?
Redheads, peanuts & peanut butter, white chocolate.
37. FIRST JOB?
Shelf stocker/gofer at a mom & pop grocery store
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Actually, no.
39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE?
Several. But with 7 billion people on the planet running into one that speaks the same language can be a challenge. . .
40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU DID STEALING?
Living my life vicariously through other peoples blogs.
41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?
Yes.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
Brains, D-I-Y skills, remodeling projects
43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?
Nope, probably shoulda though.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
It would be too late, but a new compound bow would be sweet.
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THEIR NAMES TO BE? (OR IF YOU HAVE KIDS, TELL US ABOUT THEM.)
I have two sons. Zach is married (to Jill) and is a civil engineer. Eric is engaged (to Kelly) and will be married July 23 and is a guard at a not so local jail.
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
An actor popular in the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s. Remember the dad on ‘Family Affair’? (Jody Foster’s first serious gig) (No, I wasn’t named after Jody Foster)
47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE SEX(ES) YOU’RE ATTRACTED TO?
The inability to make a decision and stick to it without having to talk the subject to death first.
The ability to ask a question to which they don’t REALLY want an honest answer.
Their ability to suck that answer out of you, then their getting mad at you for either;
a) – lying to them to save your ass, or
b) – telling them the truth to save your ass.
For the record, neither works.
48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LIKED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
Band (no, really) and the fact that the coach let me substitute gym class for any study hall I had when a class was scheduled. OR, June 28, 1977 (it was over)
49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
This morning it was Pert Plus for fine or dry hair.
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Generally. It’s pretty neat, especially for a guy.
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Depends on the previous nights’ dinner. (Dang it! Forgot to get something out to thaw!)
52. ANY BAD HABITS?
I’ll tell you later.
53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?
Not usually.
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Heck yeah, I’m a load of fun.
55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS?
As it turns out, that’s a difficult thing to pull off if you’re married. For singles, it may work, for married folk, it’s a mine field.
(Or – I did, my wife didn’t)
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Provided one is within the bounds of ‘normal’, no. What matters most is the heart, soul and mind of the person. If you’re 5’2” and 300 lbs, nothing matters.
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
Biking, running, taking a walk – some productive way to burn off energy and have a think.
58. WOULD YOU RATHER GAIN 58 POUNDS OR LOSE 58 POUNDS?
58 is a bit much to loose. Can I settle for 25?
59. WHAT’S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?
To enjoy the trip to the other side.
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
My imagination.
61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
10 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Anything else is just using them.
62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?
Oh God no. He hadn’t even been invented yet.
63. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
For answering silly assed questions? Me? Pffft.
64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?
Taters
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A LOVER?
Openness, stamina, willingness to try new things, spontaneity.
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Bri, Reuben (Eric put that one on me, now he and ALL his friends use it) Others are based on my surname, so they will have to be tortured out of me.
67. FAVORITE SUPER POWER?
It would have to be flying.
Still have that whole back story in the works. Work itself has been a mofo, hard to even steal lunch times to work on it. Ever hear of “feature creep”? My project has that. Pretty soon it’ll be able to do it’s own laundry.
Stolen Sunday Stealing
Day 2348
Isn’t that the idea? Except I’m going to have to call it Wednesday W Robbery.
1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
Bug bite. Cellulitis. Drug resistant bacteria. Oozing black spot on my shin. Debridement of a hockey puck sized hunk of flesh from my right shin. Grow granulation tissue. Skin graft. It’s purdy!
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM
Paint.
Seriously? A TV, some oil paintings the MIL did, a watercolor from a family friend, framed family pictures.
3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?
Snore & grind. Cindy hates the snoring, my dentist hates the grinding. I can’t really control either.
4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
So varied. My go to stuff is up tempo classic rock from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. I do also take in Country, Zydeco, Blues, Jazz and a little Latin flavored stuff as well a the real classical stuff. Guess I just don’t do hip hop, rap crap, disco and that easy listening muzak kinda stuff.
5. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?
7:45 AM Dec. 18, 195something (old, like dirt)
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
To get myself back in the kind of shape I was in 3 years ago.
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
The kind of shape I was in 3 years ago. And my Dad.
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)?
I’m going to go all philosophical and say anything I possess is just a material thing that can be replaced or done without. My most prized thing is no doubt my family.
9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
Now? Probably 5’11 1/2”. This old age shit shrinks you. Damn gravity.
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
Nah.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
I used to work for Kodak, designing and building film processors. I’ve spent years in the dark, being productive.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
Besides me? (cuz I’m turning into a mamby pamby tear machine in my old age) I can’t say. I cried when my dad my MIL & FIL died, I cried when both kids were born – but who MADE me cry at those times? I’m a big tough American male, you can’t MAKE me cry, I cry when I want to dammit!
13. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
Someone making me cry.
Or learning that the Earth is abut to be destroyed to make room for some intergalactic worm hole highway.
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON PEOPLE YOU’RE ATTRACTED TO? I am partial to auburn haired, green eyed gals with freckles. No – I did NOT marry one.
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING?
I proposed at the Scotch & Sirloin in Brighton, NY in 1980.
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
Coffee, please.
17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, jalapenos & black olives.
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Gumbo
19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?
A nice, rusty brownish red. It’s found in Olympic Exterior paint and is called Burnt Auburn. It’s on our house shutters.
20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?
Ahhhh – no.
21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
The Camera Cindy got me as a wedding present. My first SLR & I still have it. (Unlike a certain SOMEONE who lost their wedding gift!!)
22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
Always. See #25
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
If I was I wouldn’t have to offer to do laundry to get a . . . oh . . . . nevermind.
24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
This must be a girl oriented question. I like Levi or LLBean
25. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY?
Lately? Sarah Shahi (yeah, I know, she’s like half my age, but she’s cuter than shit)
26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?
18 or so fishies freezing their fins off under the ice out in the back yard right now.
27. WHAT KIND IS IT?
Ummm – like a I mentioned – frozen fish sticks.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Not sure. I was foolish enough to get involved with a girl 4 months before I got out of the Army. We were young, naïve & horny. We both got over it, (my leaving) and we had a real good time right up until departure day. (Then I drove with 2 other girls from Ft. Lewis all the way to Denver. In 28 hours)
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED?
77 (guess why that’s significant)
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Red heads
32. FAVORITE QUOTE?
No matter where you go, there you are.
33. FAVORITE PLACE?
I have a particular fondness for New Orleans.
Product of Silence
Day 2344
This post inspired by Kristine over at Wait in the Van and is a
This versions prompt is “a letter you never intend send”
Heh. Off the top of my head I could do two three of them no sweat. Theoretically, one of them I’d never have to send because it’d be to me. Also theoretically, that might be the more interesting letter to post. Maybe I’ll do all three. Or not.
Here goes one of them.
Dear _ _ _ _,
You are fooled by your job. Your job allows you to appear to be grown up and mature. In reality you just tick items off a list, keeping up with the day to day requirements of the institution by which you are employed. You are fortunate there is a cycle to your job, anticipating things is so much simpler when you know what’s coming.
I find you to be emotionally immature. For now, you are placating a therapist and your friends at your meetings. They don’t understand the true nature of your immaturity, your failure to respond to situations in a mature, adult manner. You don’t see it because you think your reactions are perfectly acceptable.
I have trouble confiding in you because of these reactions. I tried testing the waters with a few innocuous observations. Your reactions, as expected, were overboard.
You’ve managed to fool people about your other little problem too – especially the therapist. She almost had ME convinced – but I resisted. Instead, I decided to sit back and wait. I work hard at not noticing every little detail when I get home like I had to do for so long. But it’s a learned habit, one that is harder to unlearn and may yet pay dividends in the future.
In the mean time I sit back and relax, waiting for the hammer to fall, because I am sure that one day you will slip too far and not be able to reel yourself back in. When that happens, you need to know two things:
A – I told you so.
B – This is why I took my commission for the estate settlement.
I will not tolerate another binge and I will not leave the house I have poured my blood, sweat and tears into. I wish you luck at either growing up, getting sober or finding a place to live.
You choose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t think Kristine was expecting anything quite so dark. Maybe next time around I can be a little (or a LOT) lighter.
Sunday Stealing
Day 2331 Sunday Stealing
I decided to do Sunday Stealing this week after seeing it at Maggies
Click here to join in on the alphabet Sunday Stealing
Cheers to all of us thieves!
A is for Age: Full deck – 52.
B is for Beer of choice: Lately, Ubu Ale from Lake Placid Brewery
C is for Career: Electronics Engineer
D is for favorite Drink: Milk
E is for Essential item you use everyday: There is no one thing I use every day except for maybe toilet paper.
F is for Favorite song at the moment: Always & forever, Enter Sandman, Metallica
G is for favorite Game: Euchre
H is for Home town: Rochester, NY
I is for Instruments you play: Used to play trombone. Anymore, all I play is an oscilloscope.
J is for favorite Juice: Cranberry-pomegranate
K is for Kids: 2 grown men
L is for Last kiss: Cindy, last night
M is for marriage: 29+ years
N is for full Name: Brian Keith and a surname (also 5 letters, ends in a vowel and is NOT Italian)
O is for Overnight hospital stays: 1, grudgingly. I should have stayed over night the week before, but I talked the doc out of it. Bad move on my part.
P is for phobias: nothing major
Q is for quote: No matter where you go, there you are.
R is for biggest Regret: Not finishing my Bachelors before even hitting the workforce.
S is for sports: It’s plural so Hockey, bowling, golf, volleyball & softball
T is for Time you wake up: 6:30 on weekdays, weekends are on an as-needed basis.
U is for color of underwear: gray today – but I had to check.
V is for Vegetable you love: butternut squash
W is for Worst Habit: since I quit smoking, it’s have to be swearing.
X is for X-rays you’ve had: left hand (broken bone), right hand (broken bone), right shin (cellulitis), dental out the wazoo. For work I have x-rayed bunches of things just for test subjects. (My favorite is a phantom image of a skull that looks like it has a huge screwdriver stabbing it.)
Y is for Yummy food you make: anything I make is yummy, but I’m partial to gumbo & ribs.
Z is for zodiac sign: Sagittarius
A little too exciting event occurred this weekend. Have to fill you in later.
Am I Naughty or Nice?
Day 2301
Have seen this floating around the bloggerverse, figure I’d give it a whirl . . .
Am I Naughty or Nice? Answer these questions to find out:
1. Had sex in a car older than a 1985 model?
How about a 1973 Pontiac Catalina, a 1978 Chevy Nova, a 1979 Chevy Van, a 2001 Doge Caravan and a 2010 Ford Escape. Those are the only ones I remember. For the record the ’79 Chevy was the best – nice ‘n roomy.
2. Played strip poker and lost?
Played strip Uno with a bunch of people – I think we all won that night, and played strip backgammon a bunch of times. Again, I can’t say there was a clear cut loser.
3. Name three celebrities you would like to bang the sh!tz out of.
Well I don’t know about bang the sh!tz out of, but here’s three ladies I find myself attracted to: Diane Lane, Cote de Pablo (Ziva on NCIS), and what the hell – Alexi Wasser (the gal in the York Peppermint Patty ad)
4. Ever gone commando?
Heh. Yep. Frequently.
5. Open relationship?
Tried the one sided open relationship. Doesn’t work too well.
6. You have been naughty, what is your punishment?
Probably will have ‘fun’ privileges suspended for a while.
7. Ticklish?
Why yes I am. So much so that I often lash out uncontrollably at whomever is tickling me. Not my fault if you get bruises!
8. Spit or swallow?
Uhhhhh – considering I am a hetero male, I think I’m on the giving end of this equation. However, I will admit to not being shy about kissing afterwards.
9. Is rear entry an option?
Never say never.
10. What would you do for a Klondike bar?
It’d take a helluva lot more than a Klondike Bar for #9 to happen!
11. Truth or Dare? (Truth have you ever been with more than 1 person in one day? or show a tasteful picture of cleavage/boobs or guys a boxer shot)
Seriously, in my one ended open relationship phase, I think I clocked in at 20 hours between people. Not in the same wakeful period, but like Friday night & Saturday afternoon.
12. BDSM?
Haven’t tried it, but can’t rule it out.
13. Does this picture make you horny or hungry?
The chicken looks under done. It’s amusing, but fails to whet either appetite.
14. You order a pizza…would you ever flash the delivery guy at the door?
Only by accident – like if he caught me hopping out of the hot tub or something. I’m not gonna get a lot of free pizza flashing my sausage to another guy . . .
15. Are you horny?
Right now? It’s lunch time at work. There I nothing here to get all worked up about. Ask me again tonight after a dip in the tub.
16. Leather or lace?
They both have their place.
17. Silk ties or hand cuffs?
Silk . . .
18. Thongs? Boy shorts? Grannie panties? lace?
Commando? Again, each has it’s strong points. Well, except the grannies.
19. Eyes open or closed?
I like to watch . . .
20. Romance or kink?
One can lead to the other, either direction. Who am I to deny?
And lastly…
21. Would you rather take a bath in chocolate pudding or drive around the town naked in your car?
The temps were in the teens the other day. Driving around in less than a parka may cause frostbite on the dangling participles. Lets dive into the chocolate.
How’d I turn out? Just a normal level of naughtiness, right?
Bowling Thursday night. Whew! What a struggle. The dude that oils the lanes must have been pissed at someone. While finding a line to the pocket was not difficult, carrying strikes was near impossible. Oddly, my first 3 shots were strikes, as were my last three, (The bowling gods are SUCH teasers!), but in the middle 32 frames there were very, very few strikes. There may have been as many splits as strikes (like 6 each), and that is NO way to post a good score. Consequently, I missed my average by 28 pins total. 39 games into the season, that will translate into a 28/39 of a pin drop in average.
Guess that’s what makes an average – little up, little down, little of everything. I just hope the down period is shallow & brief.
Gotta go see Mamma Mia Saturday night. At least we have good seats. If I have to put up with Abba music all night, I want to at least be able to be distracted by the actor’s facial expressions & costumes. I’m sure it’ll be a good show, just not my cup of tea. The things you do to promote harmony in a relationship!
Pics from New Orleans are uploaded, just have to caption them and provide a little reference for them. Soon, promise!
