9 days without posting.
Very unlike me.
Unfortunately, work has sapped most of my energy and attention these days. I'm doing my level best to get a lot of things done before I take some time off between Christmas and New Years'.
Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere....I'm just....busy.
I looked back in my calendar and realized that I missed helping you celebrate a major personal holiday last week.
Forgive me, pal.
Kal tagged me for one of those "dig in your archive" posts.
Only one problem: my 22nd, 23rd, and 24th posts aren't long enough or content worthy for this little exercise.
What to do? Do I violate that sacred oath that binds me to obey the tag, the whole tag, and nothing but the tag? If I sin, is there a confessional?
Help a brother out, will ya?
Don't get me wrong. I like the B-52's just as much as the nexy guy. However, hearing those endless Ray Manzarek-like organ riffs and the choruses of "Rock Lobster" playing ad infinitum in my empty skull is enough to drive ya batty.
Every so often I pay attention to the song, then I'm reminiscing about the early 80's and mentally roller-skating at the local rink.
*sigh*
I'm sure, if I really applied myself like my parents and teachers told me, that I could do *way* better on this test. I...I...I just *know* I can.
But I sure wouldn't be married anymore if I did.
This is defined as self-inflicted death doing something monumentally dumb. Whether or not this leaves someone eligible for a Darwin is a matter of some debate.
I draw your attention to this article.
The mother of our late, lamented dearly departed has called for a ban on these "pen guns"
Right.
That's the equivalent of banning pharmaceuticals to prevent overdoses, or Mama Cass' family calling for a ban on roast beef to avoid senseless chokings.
Granted, this death is a tragedy for its sheer preventability and I do question the necessity of such firearms on the open market. There's a reason why any group using firearms spend so much time on safety precautions; to prevent dumb shit like this from happening.
If the NRA and their supporters want to enforce their somewhat misinterpreted rights (insofar as I understand them, and I'm not an expert) under the Second Amendment, let there be a campaign on safe handling instead.
Maybe that makes too much sense.
(I'm sure I'll piss someone off with this post, but....)
I'm not particularly interested in the miserable year that will occur, if DW's prediction (77) also holds true.
Its been a busy few days at the Stone/Shagwell household.
We got an early start on Thursday with a phone call from my father that his wife had died. She was diagnosed very early this year with a rather pervasive brain tumour. She had been suffering a variety of health problems which forced her retirement from GM. After a couple of years of treatment for related issues I guess they figured out this was the cause.
Anyway, she got a 12-18 month prognosis and didn't even last that long. So the funeral is Sunday.
I can't say I particularly want to go because my father and I aren't that close anymore and I certainly wasn't close with his wife (spouse #3). I think I can count on both hands the number of times I saw her over the course of his time with her. A sense of family obligation is overhwelming my relative ambivalence. (Pun intended).
(Yes, its a complicated relationship with much unpleasant history that may be the subject of a future blog.)
In other news, we have been working away on a few things DW has been demonstrating her considerable taping and plastering skills on the new drywall downstairs. (Reno #1). I took some time yesterday to do some woodworking, specifically, a very simple, yet functional cabinet for many of the add-ons for my drill press. I do love Shop Notes magazine for all those little ideas (Reno #2). Today was spent on things Christmas-y. Its in this sort of thing that DW and I agree to disagree. For me, holiday decorating, etc lost its allure many years ago. DW, while not so fussy about the holiday itself, loves the decorative/crafy aspect; particularly because of the Wondertwins. The pre-wired fiber-optic and lights-included Christmas tree was dragged up from the basement and installed. While one doesn't require a joint degree in Civil and Electrical engineering to assemble this thing, it doesn't necessarily hurt. However, the tree was set up and all the lights work. (Reno #3). Of course, one can't have a tree without all the remaining household decorations being put up. Down came the fall garland from the banister and up went the two piece pine garland. We dug through the various boxes to find numerous snowman-related decorations, along with stockings, wreaths candles......the list is almost endless. We even found a string of lights which come with a little controller that lets you change the blink pattern. This is one seriously long and high tech string of lights. We tested them out while laying the whole string on the floor, trading bulbs with a string we were going to dump off to DW's ex (along with all the other decorations we located and that he'll refuse to put up.) We put up the lights running from around an upper floor doorway, down the banister and around the main post at the bottom. But if anyone can tell me why (after extensive testing and troubleshooting) the strand controlling the blue bulbs refuses to work... *sigh* My contribution to the decorating was the can of spray snow which is now artfully applied to the front windows and the storm door. (Reno #4)
So that's the news and I...am.....outta here! (Thank you, Dennis Miller)
