Beth's Contradictory Brain

Dense

We've got a couple coming over for dinner and probably Wii games this evening, we've been emailing about snacks and such, then my dear Nerdstar comes up with this exchange:

the friend wrote: B likes nuts and I like anything that's
not bolted down.

I forwarded it to nerdstar.

nerdstar: What is bolted down?

me: "not bolted down" = not screwed down to something - or anything that's loose.

nerdstar: What kind of food is that?

at this point I'm laughing and shaking my head in disbelief...

me: are you being dense? it simply means ANY kind of food.... :-)

nerdstar: Yeah, dense.

as always, permission granted to blog this.

Wii-Tards

Nerdstar and I are total Wii-Tards. We got the Raving Rabbids game and it took over an hour just to get past the first 3 little games! So sad.

Christmas Recap

Our travels were nice and smooth, which you can never count on during winter and/or the holidays. The airport wasn't desolate Christmas day, but it wasn't too busy either. Christmas night we actually were wrapping gifts and getting things ready for the next day when The Kid got there. So our Christmas was actually the 26th. It was the usual open presents, eat and nap.

The next day I finally got my Whataburger - they were closed Christmas day. Then we went to Six Flags holiday in the park. It was mostly warm during the day, but really windy! I got to ride several roller coasters - which is always a good thing. The Kid is just big enough to ride a few of them, so that was cool. Plus there was funnel cake!

Sunday was sleeping in and then bowling, pool and air hockey. Nerdstar and I are much better at Wii bowling than actual bowling alley bowling! We had the gutter guards up for The Kid, so he totally beat us both games.

Monday was just hanging out until our evening flight. We decided to take a chance and park at the metro station (which at least used to have "no overnight parking" signs) because the cheap long term parking lot at the airport was full. I was fairly certain the car wouldn't be towed or anything, I'd had some coworkers say they'd parked there for trips. It all worked out and we spent a total of $16 bucks to get to the airport and park instead of $100. Nice!

While all of the above was fun, it was hard, as usual, to be at my parents' house. My brother can be a complete dickhead and yells too much sometimes. My mother has a complete inability to stop talking. And I'm just not close to my dad. They're all quite used to their disfunction, so I'm the odd man out. i wish I knew how to handle it better, but I don't. I finally fully realized that's why I'm never all excited about Christmas. I hope that changes in the future.

For now it's good to be back home. We always miss the pets and our nice comfy bed. I went and got Ramen from the pet resort - now he's crashed out on the floor. Little Man is crashed out by me on the sofa. And Silly as the bed all to herself. Life is good.

Home

We've made it back to DC safe and sound! It's always good to come home! The cats are very happy we're home, you know, because they'd actually emptied both food bowls. The dog will be picked up in the morning - another reason the cats are happy tonight, one more night without him!

After five days without much internet or news, I'm getting caught up, then it's soak time and bedtime! Words cannot do justice to how much we miss our comfy bed! I'll write more about the trip tomorrow.

Plans

Still waiting for our actual holidays to get started. Nerdstar had to work today, hoping she gets out of there soon. Then we get to take the dog to some overly fancy dog spa/hotel for his Christmas vacation. We're paying for him per night almost what we'd pay for a nice cheap hotel on some of our road trips. Then they have all sorts of extras that are almost amusing. No, I'm not feeling at all guilty for not buying him a cardio job, or tender loving cuddles, or a water work out. It's the ultimate in nickle and dimed.

We fly to Dallas tomorrow. I'm not expecting any weather hassles, it'll be in the 50s here and there tomorrow. I have to wrap the presents I had sent directly there by Amazon.

The Kid gets there the day after christmas, so things will really start then.

Mostly, i can't wait for some Whataburgers!!

Once again, Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Lonely

It's the weekend before Christmas and I'm home alone. Yep, feeling pretty lonely.

We've lived here for almost two years and we have one couple that we're kinda friends with, that's it. I really have to find a way to make some friends this coming year. I sometimes think maybe finding a church to go to would help. Back in my churchgoing days I had a lot of close friends. I lost those friends due to the gay thing, or the distance thing, or whatever thing. So I have mixed feelings about all of it. But in the eleven plus years since then, I haven't made too many other good friendships. Work friends that stay friends after jobs are rare, but cool.

It's been since before I met Nerdstar that I really had a close friend/confidant.

Blog friends are good - otherwise I wouldn't write this blog. But it's not the same as hanging out.

Sigh.

To My Dear Readers

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

While I don't think 2008 has been terrible for most of my readers, I know it's been unbelievably bad for lots of people. I'm probably more grateful than ever for good health for me and my loved ones, and for money in the bank.

And I believe with all my heart 2009 will be even more amazing than 2008 was bad.

So as we head into this last few days of shopping and preparing for Christmas, I do hope and pray yours is a happy one.

Grandpa Update

He's doing much better and they hope to let him go home in three or four days. He's 90 and I thank God this wasn't more serious. This is such a sucky time of year go get/be sick, but I think lots of people get sick due to all the stress.

Nerdstar and her sister and having a decent time shopping and doing the gradation stuff.

R U?

A movie addict!

While I did see a ton of these movies in the theater, I saw a lot of the older ones (say, before '75) on TCM - one of my favorite channels.

Home Alone

Nerdstar's grandpa got sick a couple of days ago, got a fever he couldn't shake and a wet cough. Her sister took him to the hospital and got him checked in. Nerdstar flew down today to go be with him and make sure he's ok. After losing grandma a couple of years ago, she's really afraid of losing grandpa, too. She was scheduled to go down to Houston this weekend anyway for her sister's graduation from culinary school.

Grandpa apparently has a bad respiratory infection, they're hoping the antitbiotics will help overnight.

Say a little prayer for them all.

Too Damn Cool

As I think you know, Nerdstar and I are both big fans of Anthony Bourdain. He exudes cool, and yet sometimes just a little self doubt. Not to mention he has Nerdstar's dream job - travel and eat!!

This is an article on his thoughts about music and travel. It's a great read!

Still Gayest Ever

We watched a few UFC bouts on Spike today. At the end of one of them this is what Joe had to say to recap the match:

"He mounted him and pounded him into submission."

A True Stake in This for Taxpayers

With the government using tax dollars - your money and mine - to bailout and buy companies, what I believe they should do is start issuing stock certificates from these companies to anyone who's paid taxes in the past two or three years. Then maybe taxpayers would pay more attention and demand some return on their money. And, the government wouldn't be able to squander any profits that might be gained from this fiasco.

Creepy, Yet Interesting

Visual Image Reconstruction from Human Brain Activity

This is the part that really interested me:

According to the researchers, further development of the technology may soon make it possible to view other people’s dreams while they sleep....

Actually, I'd be happy if you just recorded my dreams for me to watch when I'm awake.

Would you want to see your dreams, someone else's?

Yes

I've had this idea, of shooting paint balls onto the cars of bad drivers and then after so many hits they either can't drive for X amount of time or pay heavy fines, for years. Although I must admit these guys have put a lot more thought into it.

UPDATE: How funny, the writers and commenters on Throwing Things apparently don't read Vodka Pundit, yet they came up with this post today:

But, we mused, what if the law allowed everybody one non-injurious slap against everybody else?

There would be some rules. You can slap as many people as you want, but you get only one slap against any one person. That one slap would bear no legal repercussion, but the law wouldn't require that people allow themselves to be slapped -- businesses could impose no-slapping rules; people could employ bodyguards. Thus, you could be banned from US Airways or Best Buy for using your slap (and would be, until they had banned so many customers that they'd have to allow it) but you wouldn't be prosecuted. You'd never get close enough to Tom Cruise or Rod Blagojevich to take your shot. And just to keep this honest, I'm banning slaps-for-hire.

Read the whole thing and the comments... then tell me your slap list.

Bedlam Farm

This blog has become a complete must read for me. If you start here and just keep following the "more entries" at the bottom of each page, maybe it will bring a certain sense of peace to you that it does me. I love his photographs. And yes, I fell a little in love with his dog Lenore - the hound of love. He's written a lot lately about simplifying life and his farm. My life is pretty simple in most ways, but it's still nice to read his thoughts.

That About Sums It Up

The auto company bailouts.

New

A couple of new pics up over on my photo blog.

Great Video

Found over at another Beth's blog...

The Mom.

Work Update

When I took this job on a PRN, or as-needed, basis, I was cool with that. I was hoping to work three or four days a week at two or three different locations. Then I ended up doing five or six weeks working all week at the one location and thought, ok cool.

Then Wednesday afternoon the boss lady let me know that now that I am all "trained up" and due to some other moving around of personnel, they wouldn't need me the rest of this week. Next week most of the doctors are out for a conference, so it should be too slow to need me then, too.

It's been good to have yesterday and today off. I've had a lot of errands and house cleaning and stuff that needs to be done, and I hate having to spend all weekend doing those things instead of just being lazy!

Still, it feels kinda weird to be home instead of at work.

Some 100 Things Meme

Found over on a relatively new read for me, The Breda Fallacy.

Feel free to do this on your blog!!

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. (no, but I did pick up a hitchhiker a few times in college)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (both)
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (some of my ancestors on both sides were American Indians - and I've seen pretty much this whole country.)
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I'm pretty much there now, not that more wouldn't always be better.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock (wall) climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted drawn.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud. (doing wheel pottery, as well as outdoors mud)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. (even in the snow)
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (my Mom has some of mine)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (as in over the speed limit? of course!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House. (outside, not inside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life. (My first g/f had epilepsy and I had to do mouth to mouth on her once.)
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day. (more than once)

Oh Hell No.

I'm pretty sure I've got a wisdom tooth growing in. Ugh. I'm 40 years old. WTF?

When I was in 3rd grade, my dentist knew he was going to be putting braces on me, and apparently just couldn't wait. He said I had Cadillac teeth in a Volkswagen mouth - my teeth were too big. So he pulled six baby teeth and then four permanent teeth out of the bone. Not a fun day. Once all of that healed, I was in braces for almost two years and they tortured me monthly.

I hate going to the dentist. I've done it less than five times in the past ten or fifteen years.

I simply can't imagine having this new growth pulled out. Hell, it's way back in the back and they would have a hard time even fitting the necessary equipment in my mouth. I would want to be totally knocked out before they even did the first shot in my mouth. The last time I had my teeth cleaned they used that stuff that is rubbed on to make your gums numb - she swore it always worked and no one ever felt anything. I DID.

I just hate it.

So it just needs to stop growing, moving, whatever. RIGHT. NOW.