The Inexorable Slide

Well, Another Mystery Finally Solved

I'm sure this is one that's been burning in the minds of everyone, everywhere, but here now - finally, finally - is explained the meaning behind the three-eyed chimp mascot for DNA Productions (the animation company that does "Jimmie Neutron") who always says, "Hi, I'm Paul!" in the bumper after every episode.

View the entire clip.

I can now rest easier at night...

We Are The Champions - 2 for 3 so far

Of interest to noone but myself, I won both of the two fantasy football league championships I was playing for this weekend.

Tom Brady, QB for the NE Patriots, figured heavily in both wins. In my Public league, he was the final player on my team to play, and my opponent had New England running back Cory Dillon left to go. I was already ahead by about 20 points or so, so all I had to worry about was Dillon scoring 20+ more fantasy points than his QB in the same game - not much cause for concern, unless for some reason Brady went down early in the game and Dillon went wild afterward. Which didn't happen, and the Pats went on to beat the Jets in the final ABC Monday Night Football game 31-21.

But what was interesting was that in my other league championship, the one based on SEC teams, my team was done but my opponent had Tom Brady. I was up by about 25 points going into that final NFL game, so I had to hope Brady didn't score more than 25 fantasy points in the game (which is a combination of points awarded for TD passes thrown or run, plus a figure based on yards passing, with deductions for interceptions thrown in).

So I was pulling for Brady to do just well enough to fend off Dillon in one league, but not too good to make up the deficit in my SEC league. And he didn't, and I ended up winning both games and both league championships.

And next week, I'll be going for the trifecta as I'm in the finals of my local league, the one with my wife and family members and friends. I have 3 QB's to choose from to start, plus two others I could pick up as final week free agents and use: Mark Brunell (Redskins - injured, not sure if he'll play), Kyle Boller (Ravens - on a hot streak, but it's the Ravens...), Jim Sorgi (Colts - will sub most of the game for Peyton Manning), Jamie Martin (Rams - has been hot last couple weeks subbing for injured QB Mark Bulger) or Josh McCown (Cardinals - great receivers, but playing the Colts). You football geeks out there - who would you start?

The Letter from Santa

Back from Christmas vacation to outer Siberia - also known as West Tennessee. Actually this year it was more like outer Sahara, as temps that are normally around Christmas in the 30's and 40's climbed into the 60's and 70's so Santa broke out the shorts and suntan oil this year.

Christmas Eve and Day at home was a typical affair, although I must confess to getting a little tired of the Santa bit - at least, the part where I'm nervous to the point of paranoia that one of the kids is going to get up early and see Santa's already been there, before I've even gone to bed. Or they'll catch me sneaking into their room to leave a present under their little trees.

BrainyBoy's perfectly aware of the realities of the situation, we're fairly certain, but he's in that "let's play it up for the benefit of little sister, and just in case part of it is still real I'm not taking any chances." But the real test is from Tink. And she surely tested us this year....

A couple days before Christmas, she confided in me that she wanted to give Santa a present. She had a tiny, tiny kitten figurine that she was willing to leave in a small ceramic box, along with a note to Santa telling him that she wanted him to have it. Sincerity was written all over her face, and we could tell she truly wanted to give something back to Santa.

What to do? I didn't want to discourage her spirit of giving, nor did I want her to give up the little kitten - which she liked, itself. So Christmas Eve, she dutifully but the figurine in the little box, set it under her tree in her room and taped up the note next to it all.

That night when they were both asleep and Laura was prepping the presents downstairs, "Santa" wrote her a note. In as flowing a script as I could muster (which is difficult since I no longer write anything in cursive except my signature) I penned a heartfelt thank you from St. Nick, a couple of excuses that the kitten might break and she belonged with her momma (another, larger cat figurine). I also mentioned that the kitten needed a lot of love, just like she used to give to Little Bit. Then Santa told her what a wonderful little girl she was, and thanked her again.

Christmas morning they were up at 6am, after they'd been given strict instructions to play in their room until 7. No such luck, so we trudged out of bed to see what Santa brought. She was very excited and proud that Santa had written her a letter, but a little confused as to why. It was something out of her realm of possibilities. She's shown it and bragged about it to all her relatives in West Tennessee this week. I'll try to scan the letter sometime and show all of you.

Who needs the Polar Express when they have me?

UPDATE: Whip me with an reindeer's antler, cause I forgot to mention we had lunch on the way back from West Tennessee with Big Orange Michael at the Rainforest Cafe in Nashville. Read his account of the underwhelming service we had at this premiere (to us) restaurant attraction.

Suessian Christmas Wish

Thing One and Thing Two
Have a nice wish for you
This season and all through the year.
Peace, Love and Joy
To each girl and boy
And not too much wax in your ear!

May your holidays be filled with
childlike joy and wonder!
Merry Christmas
from the Inn of the Last Home
Barry, Laura, BrainyBoy v9.8 & Tink

Last Minute Shopping

Just got back from last minute stocking-shopping for Laura at Target and OfficeMax in the new Turkey Creek shopping center.

It was busy, parking was tight but it was one of the calmest and most pleasant Christmas Eve shopping experiences I've ever had. People were nice, calm...the check-out folks were friendly and wished us Merry Christmas. I was in and out in an hour.

I firmly believe that 90% of the holiday shopping horror stories we hear are myths.

New Images of Center of the Galaxy

Astronomers Use Laser To Take Clearest Images Of The Center Of The Milky Way

UCLA astronomers and colleagues have taken the first clear picture of the center of our Milky Way galaxy, including the area surrounding the supermassive black hole, using a new laser virtual star at the W.M. Keck observatory in Hawaii.

"Everything is much clearer now," said Andrea Ghez, UCLA professor of physics and astronomy, who headed the research team. "We used a laser to improve the telescope's vision -- a spectacular breakthrough that will help us understand the black hole's environment and physics. It's like getting Lasik surgery for the eyes, and will revolutionize what we can do in astronomy."

This is a great breakthrough in allowing us to peer more closely at our astronomical neighbors than ever before. Here's a sample:




Wait, hang on a second... Did you see that speck? Let me enlarge this section below...




Ok, that's the general area I think. Do you see it?




Hmm...still pretty fuzzy. Let's see if I can get this area right here...




...a little closer and more in focus..




Well, that's getting there. Wow, I think there's really something there in the heart of the galaxy near that giant black hole. Let's see if one more zoom will do the trick. It's right in this area here...




Wait, I think I can just make it out now!!!





Oh, man....they were right all along. How embarrassing...

We Are The Champions - Almost

Ok, taking a quiet moment to brag on myself.

I've played Fantasy Baseball and Football on Yahoo for 5 years now, and never before have I lasted so long in the tournaments.

I'm in three football leagues this fall. One with myself, Laura, my dad, my uncle, my brother and his girlfriend, and several others including some RTB'ers - well, I'm in the semifinals on that one. A win this week and I play in the championship game next week. Unfortunately, Laura came pretty close in her first year playing but didn't quite make it past this week's game. I was lucky to make it in the playoffs, finishing in 5th place but am working my way toward the title.

The second league is a public, anonymous league that you're placed in with 11 other randomly selected players. I finished the season in 1st place and we're playing our finals this week.

The final league is one I've been in for years now, representing the UT Vols with 11 other fans of the SEC teams, one apiece. I finished 3rd in the regular season, and am playing Alabama for the league championship this week as well.

Three leagues, two finals and one semifinal. What a year...

Random Observations and Findings

• Yahoo! has chosen its Top Sites of the Year. Some that I have seen (and used) are 43 Things (Make a list of 43 things you want to do before you die - here are the 25 I've picked so far), Regret the Error (errors in newspaper publications), and TVObscurities (er, obscure..um, TV events and shows).
  
  
• The Knoxville News Sentinel has posted online its East Tennessee Portfolio - a spectacular collection of photos taken throughout East Tennessee in the fall and winter.
  
  
• To be added to as the day goes on, so come back for more...
  

Cat Tails

He looked fairly pitiful, crawling around on the construction site next door. And something was wrong with his tail...

We'd been in our first house only about 4 months, and had first cat - a white blob of fur named Tas - was scoping out his new surroundings. Being that it was still a new subdivision, the house next door was still under construction. We noticed that every once in a while a black and white furball would prance around and about the beams and drywall, looking for handouts. It was getting cooler, and Halloween was around the corner so when I sat out on the porch carving the pumpkin, up he walked.

*Squeak, squeak*

(squeak, squeak?)

There was something apparently wrong with his little vocal cords, because that's all the meow he could muster. A glottal *garf*. And his tail stuck straight up in the air, all two inches or so of it. We set out some food and water for him, and he obliged us by eating and letting us examine him. Some accident or carniverous encounter had deprived this little kitten of most of his tail, so it stuck straight up like Alfalfa's personality.

As I said, it was nearing Halloween and, concerned about what sometimes happens to black cats around Halloween, we took him in. Tas was wary at first and kept his distance. A trip to the vet got him checked out, fixed, and a tentative determination made of his age, perhaps 6 months. Perhaps more, it was tough to tell because he appeared to be a runt.

We really had no desire for a second cat, the first being enough until we started talking children (a couple years down the road...) We asked around at church to see if anyone was interested in a new kitten, but nobody seemed interested. We had almost decided to give him to the shelter, when, well, he moved on in.

We tried to decide on names, some to fit Tas's moniker (The Dragonlance world, origin of "Inn of the Last Home") and others, but we kept coming back to "Little Bit" because he only had a little bit of a tail. And it stuck - eventually shortening to "LB".

Tas and LB became fast friends, brothers really as their estimated birthdates fell only a month apart or so. Through the years they would fight as only brothers could - LB raised up on his hindquarters, boxing at Tas while his blobbiness looked on disdainfully. Once Tas struck back and LB fell backwards...that was a sight.

They both took to babies and moves very well, adapting as only cats can. While Tas was usually the friendlier of the two, LB preferred to hide in the small corners of the house - under beds, behind dryers, in closets, and lately under Christmas Trees.

He took the occasional adventuresome jaunt outside the house, making a quick escape through the back door to the garage when someone left it open (usually me). Once a couple years ago, in our new house, he got into the garage and moved under the back steps. We had no idea where he'd gone until he finally had had enough of his new digs and pawed on the back door to let him back in.

One slight annoyance was his perpensity to lay on our bed at night. Now, when we're both sleeping that's fine. When we weren't...well, sometimes cats can get in the way. And in the way, and back in the way, and back again until he's tossed out indignantly into the hall and the door closed in his black-smudged face.

Perhaps the fact that he enjoyed coughing up hairballs and last night's dinner on the living room rug was payback for such episodes..

The only illness he or Tas ever had was a urinary tract infection about 5 years ago. Other than that they've both been the picture of perfect indoor cat health.

This last week, I'd noticed he hadn't come running when I fixed their right-before-bedtime meal. Tas would come, but LB would be noticably absent. I'd see him later in the bedroom, but thought little of it. Cats change eating habits at times.

Saturday morning as we were getting up, we noticed he was having trouble breathing. We also recalled he'd not been walking very well lately. In addition, his normal squeaking had little sound to it - mostly just a whisper. Never having cats before myself, I'm not familiar with feline maladies and it had been a while for my wife - we resolved to keep an eye on him and if he contined to have problems the next day, we'd visit the vet.

I picked him up and held him for a few moments, listening to his side to see if I could hear a labored breathing sound - I didn't. He scrambled out of my arms, never having been one to be held for long, and sprawled momentarily on the bathroom floor. Indignant, he mustered some strained meows and retreated to a corner of a closet.

After a day and evening of Saturday activities, the kids were taking baths and I realized I hadn't seen LB at his customary vantage point under the Christmas tree. I went in search of him to check, and looked underneath the back of our bed.

And that's where I found him.

He was laying on his side, his head on the floor. I knew instantly something was very wrong, as that was never a resting position he'd used before. I reached out to scratch him behind the ears, and felt the stiffness in his neck and front legs...

*sigh*

I sat there a moment, looking at the floor. I stood up slowly and went downstairs to tell Laura. We both came back up and she, having found her parent's cat in a similar state some years before, confirmed it.

I wrapped him in a towel, brought his body downstairs and put it in a box. We set the box out in the garage temporarily, and prepared to tell the kids.

Brainboy took the news with tears for a few minutes but was fine later, if pensive. I asked him if he wanted to see LB one last time and he agreed, warily. We went out to the garage, I opened the box and unwrapped part of the towel near the cat's head so we could see his fur and the side of his face. BrainyBoy looked grimly and nodded. He'd seen enough. I asked if he wanted to pet him one last time (through the towel) but he declined. He asked if we might get a new kitten sometime soon, and I said maybe - but we should probably not treat the cats as disposable...one dies, you get another... but honor his memory for a while by remember he was special and unique and not replaceable. I think he understood.

Tink was unbelieving at first, thinking I was joking. When I told her I wasn't joking, her face fell and she looked thoughtful. I went back downstairs to be with BrainyBoy and soon heard her with Laura, sobbing. I returned upstairs and found her bawling, unable to understand or cope with the brand new emotion of loss she was feeling. She eventually subsided and curled up in our bed to watch TV and go to sleep.

Sometime later, BrainyBoy went up and they hugged, brother and sister comforting each other in their first encounter with sorrow.

Yesterday afternoon I came home at lunchtime and dug a hole in the yard near the side of the house - outside the fence where Ramona the dog romps. I wrapped the box tightly with a trash bag and when they returned home we had a little memorial service and burial. Both kids were all right, though it was cold and dark. BrainyBoy helped me shovel dirt on the grave, and arrange stones around it. We still have to make a marker for him, perhaps this evening.

I told the kids that were were thankful to God that he brought LB in our lives for a while, and that he was happy, warm, well-fed and loved for the time he was here. And that we should love on Tas all the more.

I've never lost a pet before, so the emotions were new to me as well. I still find myself thinking about him, expecting to see a little black and white blur under my feet. Soon the newness will wear off and we'll get used to one cat and one dog.

But I'm glad the little squeaker came into our lives, because it was a fit to this growing family. We'll remember you, Bit. Hope you find the rest of your tail....:)

Goodbye, Buddy

Little Bit ("LB")

1993-2005

So Long, Leo, and Thanks For All the Cheese

'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58

"John Spencer, who played a dedicated politico on "The West Wing" who survived a serious illness to run for vice president, died of a heart attack Friday, his publicist said. Spencer, 58, died at a Los Angeles hospital, said publicist Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 next week."

This is a real kick in the teeth, as John played former Chief of Staff and current VP Candidate Leo McGarry with warmth, humor, and style. He's one of the main reasons I started watching The West Wing, as I remember enjoying him as Tommy Maloney on L.A. Law these many years ago.

I can't imagine what The West Wing will do without him. They wouldn't dare replace the actor because he's too high profile a character. If they write him out of the show before the presidential election (which will likely be at the end of the current season) I don't see how the Santos campaign can recover and win - and if that's the plan, for Santos to win, it will almost seem contrived if he does. I don't know. Whatever they do, I hope it's with class and respect for the character and he doesn't just become a plot point.

This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.

A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on

Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'


-- Leo McGarry, "Noel" episode of The West Wing

Thanks, John.

Special Christmas "Get Well Soon" Wish

My office-mate and partner-in-crime Hatamaran is out for a few weeks on medical leave.

I just wanted to wish her a get well soon and a speedy recovery, because, well, these Corporate Policies I have to post on our employee intranet are starting to pile up... ;)

Get Well Soooooooon, TP!

Friday's Feast

Feast Seventy-Four - Friday, December 16, 2005

Appetizer - What is a word that your family uses that would not be considered common?

"Maybeland", which is the name of a fictional land in the 1938 Christmas radio drama, "The Cinnamon Bear" that we've been listening to. It's a serial children's drama that was broadcast once a day for about 15 minute episodes, starting 11/29 and continuing right up to Christmas Eve. I'll do a post on it sometime.


Soup - What theme of calendar do you have on your wall this year?

All right, all right. I confess. The Vehicles of Star Wars. Hey, it looked cool and I thought, with the new movie coming out... *sigh*


Salad - Name 3 people you speak with on a daily basis.

My wife and my two kids. Other than them, I don't see the same people every single day.


Main Course - If you could put a new tattoo on someone you know - who would it be, what would the tattoo be of, and where would you put it on them?

Ok, first of all I loathe tattoos. Anywhere, and kind - I can't stand them. But if I had to pick one I'd have "GO VOLS" tattooed on Steve Spurrier's forehead.


Dessert - What is the last beverage you drank out of a glass bottle?

IBC Black Cherry soda, though it's been a month or two since I bought any. Hmm....

(This Feast contains questions from leftovers from an August 2004 meal.)

Labels: Friday's Feast

Murder Most Fowl

Woman's body discovered on ‘Sesame Street’ actor Carroll Spinney’s Connecticut property

"A man charged with kidnapping a jogger told investigators he accidentally hit her with his car and only tied her up because he was trying to hide the body, which was found in a shed owned by a “Sesame Street” performer, authorities said Wednesday.

Scott Deojay, 36, was arrested Tuesday and charged with kidnapping. He appeared in court briefly Wednesday and was ordered held on $500,000 bail.

Deojay is a handyman who had done work on the Woodstock property of Caroll Spinney, who plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the long-running children’s public television show "Sesame Street." Police said Spinney had nothing to do with the crime."

You Like Me! You Really, Really -- Well, Maybe..

You know I'm all tapped out creatively when I'm "memeing" (which is illegal in seven states...).

Copy and fill out the following blanks in the comments (or email)...

01] I _____ Barry.
02] Barry is _____.
03] If I were alone in a room with Barry, I would _____.
04] I think Barry should _____.
05] Barry needs _____.
06] I want to _____ Barry.
07] Someday Barry will ___.
08] Barry reminds me of _____.
09] Without Barry _____.
10] My memories of Barry are _____.
11] Barry can be _____.
12] The worst thing about Barry is _____.
13] The best thing about Barry is _____.
14] I am _____ with Barry.
15] One thing I would like to know about Barry is _____.
16] Barry should go and _____.
17] Barry _____ me.

Sevens

Tagged by Tish. Some of these I've answered before in previous memes. But who cares ;)

Seven things that attract me to a woman:

1. Smile
2. Sense of humor
3. Compassion
4. Intensity
5. Devotion
6. Quirkiness
7. Body

Seven Things to Do Before I Die:

1. Hang glide
2. Spend an extended period of time in the Caribbean
3. Visit Scotland/Ireland
4. See as many baseball stadiums as possible
5. Enjoy my kids' weddings and my grandkids
6. Accomplish something meaningful outside my family
7. Travel into space

Seven Things I Cannot Do:

1. Remember things
2. Get back to the gym
3. Control anything
4. Keep myself from getting extremely frustrated at #3
5. Stand the smell or taste of peanut butter
6. Be patient with people who waste time
7. Be all things to all people

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1. Great Caesar's Ghost!
2. Welcome, Foolish Mortals...
3. Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me
4. Of all the pitiful people in the world...you're the pitifulest.
5. Smile, darn ya, smile!
6. Is Star Trek on yet? (this one is getting increasingly superfluous)
7. I love you

Seven Books (or Book Series) I Love:

1. Dragonlance
2. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
3. Alan Gregory series, by Christopher White
4. The Burglar series, by Robert Bloch
5. Death on Demand series, by Carolyn G. Hart
6. Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling
7. Hardy Boys/Three Investigators

Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again:

1. Star Wars
2. Back to the Future
3. Jurassic Park
4. Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan
5. Contact
6. Mr. Holland's Opus
7. The Wizard of Oz

Seven People I Tag To Do Seven Sevens:

You, you, you, you, you...wait, not you--you--over there to the left (behind the plant), and you.


UPDATE: Heh. I found where I'd done this meme before recently (back in September - see #1 on "Things I Cannot Do" for why I'd forgotten). Check it out and see how it's interesting some things I answered the same, and some were way different...

GrandBlessed

I continue to be amazed sometimes at the volatility of family situations among people I know.

Every Tuesday morning I have breakfast with a group of guys from my church, and we talk about all kinds of things - our work, our lives, UT sports, religion, politics, our wives, our kids, etc. One in particular has an estrangement from his father, which is an open wound to him that refuses to heal. This friend is the one whose younger brother committed suicide a couple years ago, and left behind a pregnant wife. The baby is now pushing two, and my friend's dad (the boy's grandfather) refuses to have anything to do with his grandson or his daughter-in-law.

Another guy has a father who also refuses to have anything to do with a grandson - this grandchild is the son of the friend's brother, who died when he was only 21 or so. For 20+ years, this grandson has grown up only with his mom, but had grandparents who didn't want anything to do with him. Whether the boy was a painful reminder of the son the grandparents had lost, or if there was something else I don't know. The same friend's father-in-law has a set of grandkids that were the result of artificial insemination, and whose mom (their daughter) was disowned for deciding to live with another woman and have kids that way.

Convoluted and strange, huh?

For whatever sins the children may or may not have done, or continue doing, the horrible injustice these grandparents are doing to their grandkids can't be denied, and is in my mind much worse. As much as I try my best to understand, a certain "old school" mentality among people of that generation offers pride as some sort of twisted badge of honor, and much too many people wear it proudly.

Tomorrow night is the kids' Christmas musical at our church. Both mine and my wife's parents will be there, happily, proudly, to watch Tink and Brainyboy sing and perform. We'll all be going to my in-laws house Thursday night for chili after Brainyboy's recital, and we'll be visiting both houses at various times this holiday season where my kids can expect to be showered with love and affection from the grandparents.

I don't say this to be boastful or prideful, only that we are truly blessed and fortunate to have parents who care enough about their grandchildren to always want to be involved, to be part of their lives and to be that link to their heritage. I hope that Laura and I will be the same type of grandparents to our grandchildren someday - and I'm sure we will, because we continue to have great examples to follow.

Our Little Elves

Tink Elf

BrainyElf

The Great Teacup Riot of 2005

Visit Queen of Spain for her hilarious story of a deranged mom at Target.

"SHE TOOK THE PINK ONE! You did NOT just take the last pink one..."

"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?"

"I really wanted that pink one. There are blue ones..here" shoving a blue teacup set in my cart, "take a blue one and give me the pink one."

Baffled, I am staring blankly at a 30-something woman. She's with, what I assume, is her mother. They have two carts filled with toys.

I calmly take the blue teacup set out of my cart and set it on the shelf.

"No, thanks. I really want the pink one. Sorry. Maybe ask someone if they have more pink ones in the back."

At this point I start down to the end of the aisle. She follows me.

"That baby can't even have it. It says 2 and up. Don't you see it says 2 and up? Are you trying to hurt her? She'll get HURT if she plays with that."

"I'm sorry, what???"

Slowly, I'm starting to gather myself. This is been going on for so long now, that the fog of being confronted is lifting, and I'm gaining some composure.

"Did you just call me a bad mother? You don't even know me. And I'm really not giving you this pink teacup set now."

The best part is Queen never got really upset, never lost her temper, never started calling the crazy woman names (out loud) and never got in a shouting match. And her final act of defiance is classic.

Yes, there are crazy people out there these holidays - but you have to know how to deal with them....

Blogbert Update

Scott Adams has posted a few of his favorites in the mini-"finish-my-Dibert-cartoon" competition he held yesterday. Through some technical or administrative oversight, mine was not included among his favorites.

Losers. One glance will tell you my panels were way funnier than any of so-called pretenders, especially the one he actually submitted.

*sigh* True comedy is such an unappreciated art form...

Friday's Feast

Feast Seventy-Three - Friday, December 09, 2005

Appetizer - Name something you'll miss about 2005.

Getting to go out of town to several amusement parks first Busch Gardens with my wife and kids, then Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure with my college roommate I hadn't seen in 13 years. A great summer.


Salad - What is one thought that went through your mind today?

Only one day closer to the weekend, which will contain several holiday parties :)

Another thought, is the continuing head-beating-against-the-wall experience I keep having trying to extract information, graphics, photos and content from the marketing managers that I design websites for. I've been trying for 8 years now to get a regular pipeline of information flow from them to me, and still keep finding small print projects they create that should be on their hospitals' websites, but aren't. You can't win, you can't break even and you can't get out of the game...


Soup - On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how compassionate would you say you are?

I'd say about an 8, although I find it difficult to be compassionate to the homeless. It's a character fault I have that I've tried to work through.


Main Course - If you could invent something, what would it be?

Easy - a flux capacitor for my time travelling Delorean. After that a holodeck.


Dessert - Do you prefer salty snacks or sweet treats?

Give me a salty chip. And then give me another. Forget that, just give me the bag. Now.

Labels: Friday's Feast

Blogbert

Scott Adams has a blog and is running a mini-contest to finish an upcoming Dilbert cartoon. Here's the original:



...and my entry:

Who the Flu?

I'm going to get my flu shot in a few minutes, finally. Now everyone in our family will be up to speed.

I notice that compared to last year, this year (nationally) has been a piece of cake when it comes to flu activity.

I posted last December that as of 12/11/04 flu activity in the US was really gearing up:



If you recall there was a big shortage of vaccines and people were lining up in the rain and cold to get theirs.

Today, as of November 26 it's barely registering on the radar screens:



I don't know if it's better awareness, more people getting shots, kids getting misted or just luck of the draw. Whatever the reason, I hope it lasts.

He'll Leave the Light On For Us

Hussein Refuses to Attend Trial, So Judge Proceeds Without Him

"The trial of Saddam Hussein on crimes against humanity proceeded today without the former ruler, who made good on his threat on Tuesday to boycott the hearing, saying he had been mistreated by the 'unjust court.'"

After listening to two days of witnesses describing grisly tales of torture at the hands of Mr. Hussein's agents, the former dictator complained to the judge that he had not had a shower or been allowed to change clothing in three days. When the chief judge, Rizgar Muhammad Amin, refused his request for a delay, Mr. Hussein flew into a rage.

"I will not be in a court without justice," he said. "Go to hell, you and your agents of America!"

Sorry to be posting about Saddam twice in a row, but this just struck me as funny. I guess a defendant has the right to not attend his own trial, just as he has the right to be present and confront the witnesses against him. But the way these articles have been worded makes it sounds like he's decided to go play golf or something instead. Day off! Yay!

Oh, and Saddam - something tells me you'll be in hell long before the judge and his "American agents". Keep it warm for them, huh?

Saddam: 'I Am Not Afraid of Execution'

You will be.

You will be.

Diary of a Music Director - Part VIII - "Easy Street"

It's over. The final performance was Sunday afternoon, and none too soon.

The cast had a bad case of "Lastshowitis", in which some of the actors took advantage of the last performance to either use some of the bits they'd been saving, or just ham it up one last time. As a result some of the scenes became much more about them than the plot or the main characters. Ah well, it happens. It's a shame for the audience who pays just as much as any other performance and expects a controlled show, but most of the performers are amateurs, so what can you do. You get what you pay for :)

Speaking of audiences...one of my huge pet peeves in any crowd, whether it's a play, a movie, a church service, whatever. If you're in a situation where everyone is trying to listen to one source of sound, if you have a crying child or a misbehaving child...or even a babbling baby, take them out. Or better yet, don't bring them. There's nothing more distracting to performers or other audience members than to try and concentrate on what's going on when someone's little darling is raising the roof, crying for juice or just being a general nuisance. Now sometimes these things can happen - kids get cranky, upset, whatever. I know, I've been through that. But before it escalates, take them outside. Sure, you paid as much for a ticket as the other folks did but you have a responsibility to ensure your party doesn't disrupt the event. You temporarily forfeit the right to see that part of the show if your child is raising a fuss - they have to be removed until they're calmed down. And if your child is too young to come to the show anyway, find a sitter and leave him or her behind. It's that simple. Your right to bring your kids with you wherever you go ends when they affect other people's rights to enjoy the experience without distraction.

Ok, rant over. I have several church-related productions in the next couple weeks, then it's Christmas and New Years - typically those couple of weeks are fairly relaxed as we visit my wife's family out of town for a few days, then come home to a big New Year's Eve party at our house with some good friends.

Looks like "Easy Street" from here on out. :)

I don't have any upcoming theatre plans at the moment, but next time I do something I may do another Diary, if there's interest. What did you think about this particular series? Let me know...

Labels: Annie, Annie Diary

Pumped on Pachelbel

Had a great show last night - the audience was comparatively small, but pumped. The band fit back together quite nicely, after being off for several days. Well, they were - I wasn't. I and the rest of the cast did three mornings of school shows for the kiddies of Knox and Anderson county. Six slightly abbreviated performances over three mornings, and a full one last night.

But the crowd was enthusiastic and the cast picked up on it.

And coming home last night, on a bit of a high from the performance, I heard Pachelbel's Canon on the radio. Which, when done right, can inspire me to new heights. It's just a wonderful piece, I think it's probably the elevator music in heaven. That and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (well, before it was hijacked by every wedding in the last 15 years). And also Respighi's Pines of Rome.

What do you think the elevator music in Hell must be?

Friday's Feast

Feast Seventy-Two - Friday, December 02, 2005

Appetizer - When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?

I have tried to make sure all my interactions with other people are courteous - it's just something I was taught early on and have tried to adhere to all my life. For so many people, rudeness and lack of civility seem to be a badge of honor at time. Not for me - if you meet me on the street and I'm in the least bit rude to you, it's probably because you are a deer and just sideswiped my car.


Salad - If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?

Sitting in a theatre with a production in rehearsal behind me.


Soup - Describe your voice.

I'll link to one of my (few) podcasts so you can see for yourself. I have a tenor singing voice, although I try to speak in a slightly lower register. It's frustrating when I'm acting, though, because a lot of roles don't lend themselves to my particular voice.

It does come in really handy when I'm doing character voices for my kids, though ;)


Main Course - What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?

I'd love to hang glide, and I'd love to scuba dive.


Dessert - What was the last television show you watched?

The Today Show, this morning.

Labels: Friday's Feast