What can make a fully-grown man squee like a little girl*? I know, baby red pandas can!
The red pandas are the gray fuzzy ones at the beginning.
This interlude of adorableness was brought to you by Mr B, the National Zoo, and the letter squee!
* There is no proof that any audible squeeing occurred in Mr B's office today.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Abandoned projects
One of the unfortunate side effects of having an affinity for the Shiny! is that no matter how much enthusiasm I have for acquiring a new skill, sometimes it just doesn't work out. Best case is the light dawns before I spend hundreds of dollars on equipment/books/lessons and I escape with a little ego bruising. Worst case is I find out after some or all of those expenditures, like I did with running and weaving and patisserie and... well, let's draw the curtain there, OK?
Fortunately, fiction writing seems to have fallen into the Best Case category. I bought some books, but otherwise it has cost me only time and mental energy. Although it is with some bruising of the ego to admit that I've had to step away from it for awhile, mainly because I suck at it.
How bad do I suck? Well, let's just say a Bulwer-Lytton entry isn't out of the question.
What? You've never heard of Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton, the man who penned possibly the worst opening line in literature? The one that begins It was a dark and stormy night and continues well beyond reason? You must visit the site forthwith and rectify that grievous oversight. Scroll down to read the history of the contest, and click here to read the 2009 winners.
OK, maybe my stuff isn't quite that bad. I think I'm feeling a little better now.
Fortunately, fiction writing seems to have fallen into the Best Case category. I bought some books, but otherwise it has cost me only time and mental energy. Although it is with some bruising of the ego to admit that I've had to step away from it for awhile, mainly because I suck at it.
How bad do I suck? Well, let's just say a Bulwer-Lytton entry isn't out of the question.
What? You've never heard of Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton, the man who penned possibly the worst opening line in literature? The one that begins It was a dark and stormy night and continues well beyond reason? You must visit the site forthwith and rectify that grievous oversight. Scroll down to read the history of the contest, and click here to read the 2009 winners.
OK, maybe my stuff isn't quite that bad. I think I'm feeling a little better now.
Monday, July 13, 2009
One word at a time
This falls squarely in the category of Who Knew?
You know those reCaptcha things you see on web sites? Where you have to type two words to validate whatever it is that needs validating? Annoying, aren't they?
Did you know they actually serve a purpose other than to piss you off?
One of the words is a plain old 'are you a human' test, as one would expect. But the other word is a piece of scanned text from a document that OCR software was unable to recognize. By taking a stab at it, you're helping to digitize old books, newspaper articles, and the like.
Serious! Check it out here, and by the way, that reCaptcha box at the top of that page is live, so digitize some words while you're there, wouldya? I can't do it all myself, you know.
You know those reCaptcha things you see on web sites? Where you have to type two words to validate whatever it is that needs validating? Annoying, aren't they?
Did you know they actually serve a purpose other than to piss you off?
One of the words is a plain old 'are you a human' test, as one would expect. But the other word is a piece of scanned text from a document that OCR software was unable to recognize. By taking a stab at it, you're helping to digitize old books, newspaper articles, and the like.
Serious! Check it out here, and by the way, that reCaptcha box at the top of that page is live, so digitize some words while you're there, wouldya? I can't do it all myself, you know.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn
We all know Fridays Rock! But do we all remember when disco met rap? Gather 'round, children, and bear witness to this crucial moment in rap history.
I've probably mentioned this before, but I still dance like that....
I've probably mentioned this before, but I still dance like that....
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
I am unfamiliar with your Earth ways
Last weekend included a trip to the Portland Saturday Market where much jocularity was had at the Spoonman stall.
We love the Spoonman. We have this clock in our kitchen.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Engagement: Week 3
I admit it: I'm getting caught up in the whole wedding thing. We're not doing anything big or fancy; in fact, Young Son was crushed to learn there will be neither tuxedos nor limousines involved*. But even though we'll be lucky to round up a dozen guests, I'm kinda getting into it, and I can place a goodly portion of the blame for that squarely on the Offbeat Bride.
Where was this site when I got married the first time? Oh yeah, Al Gore hadn't invented the interwebs yet and Ariel, the proprietress, was probably still wearing feetsy jammies.
I doubt our wedding will qualify as truly offbeat -- there will be nary a tattoo nor skull in sight -- but the site's message of 'it's your thing, do whatcha wanna do' is sitting real pretty with me.
Although I have to admit it's real hard to read about super cool things like View-Master invitations and not suffer a little misson creep....
* Kudos to the Ex for setting the bar on that one.
Where was this site when I got married the first time? Oh yeah, Al Gore hadn't invented the interwebs yet and Ariel, the proprietress, was probably still wearing feetsy jammies.
I doubt our wedding will qualify as truly offbeat -- there will be nary a tattoo nor skull in sight -- but the site's message of 'it's your thing, do whatcha wanna do' is sitting real pretty with me.
Although I have to admit it's real hard to read about super cool things like View-Master invitations and not suffer a little misson creep....
* Kudos to the Ex for setting the bar on that one.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Adventures in transportation
Have you ever had one of those mornings? You know, the ones where you wake up as usual, make coffee as usual, sit down at the laptop to check your email and calendar as usual, only to discover that you were supposed to drop off your car at the shop last night for an appointment that morning? And the appointment was scheduled two weeks ago because the shop is pretty busy, and your guy is already at work an hour away, and you have approximately forty minutes to get to work, which is thirty minutes away?
Yeah, me too. Hate those.
After wasting a few minutes venting my distress by flapping my arms and shrieking, I pulled up the regional transportation website and was thrilled to learn that there was a bus stop right next to the repair shop where I could catch an express bus to the mall, followed in short order by a bus to the transfer center right across the street from work. If the stars were aligned just so, I would only be 15 minutes late.
I grabbed my crap and bolted out the door. I had twelve minutes to make it to the repair shop, throw my key at the front desk, and find the bus stop.
Ladies and germs, it worked! I found the stop and waited less than two minutes for the bus. I even had $2.00 in cash money to pay the fare! The second bus pulled in to the mall five minutes after I disembarked the first. And I was, OK, twenty minutes late for work.
I have PT this afternoon, and you'd think that would be a problem, but the BESTEST part is that the bus that stops at the repair shop also stops at the Naval Hospital. After my scheduled pummeling, I can walk over to pick up my car if it's ready or Mr. B can come get me.
I tell you, I'll take lucky over smart every single time. I should buy a lottery ticket.
Yeah, me too. Hate those.
After wasting a few minutes venting my distress by flapping my arms and shrieking, I pulled up the regional transportation website and was thrilled to learn that there was a bus stop right next to the repair shop where I could catch an express bus to the mall, followed in short order by a bus to the transfer center right across the street from work. If the stars were aligned just so, I would only be 15 minutes late.
I grabbed my crap and bolted out the door. I had twelve minutes to make it to the repair shop, throw my key at the front desk, and find the bus stop.
Ladies and germs, it worked! I found the stop and waited less than two minutes for the bus. I even had $2.00 in cash money to pay the fare! The second bus pulled in to the mall five minutes after I disembarked the first. And I was, OK, twenty minutes late for work.
I have PT this afternoon, and you'd think that would be a problem, but the BESTEST part is that the bus that stops at the repair shop also stops at the Naval Hospital. After my scheduled pummeling, I can walk over to pick up my car if it's ready or Mr. B can come get me.
I tell you, I'll take lucky over smart every single time. I should buy a lottery ticket.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Traditions
I'm headed out of town with Young Son and Mr B, but I would be remiss if I did not do everything in my power to ensure you were in the proper frame of mind for the holiday.
My originalscam plan was to re-post my First Annual Traditional Independence Day Post from 2008. However, THE MAN has deleted my favorite clip from YouTube; the one where Will Smith is dragging the alien's sorry ass across the desert and bitching.
Fuckers.
Anyway, despite THE MAN's oppression, I am still going to celebrate the 4th by watching Independence Day, and I am still going to share a clip. Even if it's just the trailer.
So kick the tires and light the fires, y'all, and I'll be back on Monday.
My original
Fuckers.
Anyway, despite THE MAN's oppression, I am still going to celebrate the 4th by watching Independence Day, and I am still going to share a clip. Even if it's just the trailer.
So kick the tires and light the fires, y'all, and I'll be back on Monday.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Jump start
Many of us here in the US of A are taking tomorrow off for a long 4th of July weekend. Luckily, this year that includes me so I'm Rockin' this Friday prematurely.
Hey, don't laugh! It happens to everyone sometimes.
This tune has been getting some heavy airplay on my local station. Love it, love it, love it! I'm guessing you might, too.
In my completely uninformed and arbitrary opinion, a good song/group is one that hold up outside of the studio. Does this one? You tell me.
Oh yeah, how the girl feels! It's kind of like the best of the best from the eighties - almost has a Cheap Trick feeling to it. At first I though it was an oldie. Made me want to get myself up and shake it around a little. Sad thing is that I still feel like I can kick it, but am also well aware that at my age it tends to look kind of pathetic. Oh well.
BTW, is there anything sexier than guys rocking it on guitars? I'm just sayin'....
p.s. I might post something tomorrow before we head out of town, so feel free to check in if you're at loose ends.
Hey, don't laugh! It happens to everyone sometimes.
This tune has been getting some heavy airplay on my local station. Love it, love it, love it! I'm guessing you might, too.
In my completely uninformed and arbitrary opinion, a good song/group is one that hold up outside of the studio. Does this one? You tell me.
Oh yeah, how the girl feels! It's kind of like the best of the best from the eighties - almost has a Cheap Trick feeling to it. At first I though it was an oldie. Made me want to get myself up and shake it around a little. Sad thing is that I still feel like I can kick it, but am also well aware that at my age it tends to look kind of pathetic. Oh well.
BTW, is there anything sexier than guys rocking it on guitars? I'm just sayin'....
p.s. I might post something tomorrow before we head out of town, so feel free to check in if you're at loose ends.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
To be frank
OK, it really wasn't all that chaotic at work, but compared to the baseline level of activity around here, it was a madhouse so I can claim artistic license.
The couple that owns the business moved out-of state yesterday, taking the corporate portion of the company (their offices) and other assorted office furniture with them. Some of that furniture was in my office so it had to be excavated, and that generated a mound of ancient electronic equipment that had to be dealt with.
Then, the ISP change we've been trying to schedule for two months ago ended up being scheduled yesterday. BTW, thanks, Comcast. Impeccable timing, as usual.
But now the furor has passed, the offices are calm, and all is well, except for the half hour I just spent on the phone with an old guy who doesn't know how to navigate a directory tree in Windows or save an attachment from his email to his hard drive.
I wish I was making that up.
Worst part is, after all that, we were unsuccessful. He ended up cutting me off by mistake, then called back to tell me he was going to lunch and would call this afternoon. I can only wish my most fervent wishes that I am at lunch when he calls back.
The couple that owns the business moved out-of state yesterday, taking the corporate portion of the company (their offices) and other assorted office furniture with them. Some of that furniture was in my office so it had to be excavated, and that generated a mound of ancient electronic equipment that had to be dealt with.
Then, the ISP change we've been trying to schedule for two months ago ended up being scheduled yesterday. BTW, thanks, Comcast. Impeccable timing, as usual.
But now the furor has passed, the offices are calm, and all is well, except for the half hour I just spent on the phone with an old guy who doesn't know how to navigate a directory tree in Windows or save an attachment from his email to his hard drive.
I wish I was making that up.
Worst part is, after all that, we were unsuccessful. He ended up cutting me off by mistake, then called back to tell me he was going to lunch and would call this afternoon. I can only wish my most fervent wishes that I am at lunch when he calls back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
