but do you remember

that post, that meme, from a few weeks back where I said that I think in quotes. . . . every time I have looked at that picture this morning, I have heard the line from a Meatloaf song, "I can still see her rising up from the backseat just like an angel rising up from a tomb."

Weird.

like Daniel Craig

Myspace is such an oddity to me. I get friend requests from Jasmine, Kama, even Nevaeh (read that backwords), and they crack me up. But one of the funnest things is to get a friend request from someone I haven't seen or talked to in years, or months or whatever. . . then I lurk around on their page, looking at all their friends, and following all the branches around to see who I see, who I knew or know. . . and that led me to this guy. His myspace was a friend of a friend, but many years ago, he and I were friends. Or at least very good pals. He was "a good guy" and fun and friendly, and his sister was best friends with one of my best friends. Back in those high school and college days, I saw him regularly in the small town way, here there and yonder. But I haven't though of him in years. He's married to the last gal i knew of, so it's lasted a long time, and has a beautiful daughter. I spent as much time on his myspace this morning as I did on the friend who originally messaged me.

This picture of him reminds me of Daniel Craig. Yes, yes, I know it's all so very gay to be looking at beach photo's of a former friend of mine, and if it's possible to be rude, then it may be rude to post one on my blog. It's not like he'll ever see it, or I've said anything defamatory (is that how it's spelled?) But this picture just reminded me a whole lot of the publicity photo from the James Bond movie of Daniel Craig walking up on the beach.

Little Black Dress

I try to be butch, I really do. But sometimes. . . . . sometimes I just want to be Patrick Swayze in Too Wong Foo, sometimes I just want to do drag, sometimes I want to be invited to a party and be able to say "I'll wear my little black dress" and mean it.

Some years ago, I worked for a lady named Beverly. Quite pretty and blonde and successfully pulled off an affair with a man from the corporate office that, rumor had it, garnered her quite the windfall when it was all said and done. Before all this and all that, we both went to a wedding in a private home. Arriving early, a member of the family who had come on short notice said she just didn't have the appropriate outfit to wear. Beverly went to her car, popped the trunk and pulled out a little black dress. She was my hero.

another Boston Legal quote

If you ever do anything to hurt Denny or this firm, I will see to it that you are hunted down legally and literally until you are penniles and left to troll airport bars looking for drunken pilots nearing retirement age. - Shirley Schmidt to character played by Joanna Cassiday.

Fayette

In Fayette County on the edge of Memphis is a town, and in that town is a neighborhood, and in that neighborhood is . . . . a whole lotta Christmas lights. A whole lotta Christmas lights.

On my way past the neighborhood the other night, I noticed, and who could not, all the lights and I turned in. I turned in and drove through the neighborhood. I was amazed, in awe, flabbergasted.

It was as though they had a contest, but forgot to lay down rules - or perhaps had many prizes - the most lights; the most blow molds; the classiest; the tackyest; the most sheer voltage. I want to grow up and live in that neighborhood for at least one month in December.

The picture attached is just not enough to show the sheer display power of this one house, or the neighborhood as a whole. It is absolutely fan-tab-u-lous.

Macy's - Goldsmith's

I had absolutely the best customer service experience on the phone today with Macy's, and I'm going to tell you: A wonderful couple that call me their grandson gave me a gift card in September . . . oh, more than a few years ago. I sort of forgot it, tucked it away and just thought "Next time I go to Macy's . . . " but I just don't go there often. So yesterday when I went with friends, oh the surprise to learn that my card, which was valid for 2 years, had been expired for over a year. Yeah, that means I've had the card over 3 years.

Just me - nobody kept me from the store. Nobody told me not to read the line on the back. I did it all by myself. So this morning I called their toll free number and a very nice guy named Mark asked what he could and I told him that I had a card that had expired and I asked what could I do to unexpire it.

He asked me the numbers on the back of the card, which I read to him. He said the card would be good for 30 days "Do you think 30 days will be . . . " he asked and I said I intended to use it quickly. That was it. No telling me their policy, or practice or anything else. No admonishing me or asking me if I read the card. He just told me it worked. And then he told me the balance, which is exactly the amount my grandparents told me they had put on the card.

Yeah for Macy's.

General Blog

My Fella and I (meaning - me) decided we will do our gift exchange on NYE. I knew this past weekend would be full up with his family (and it was) and I really wanted/want our exchange to be "ours." Call me a sentimental ol' fool. So our plan is to exchange on NYE (so it's still in 2007) then go out to a party to which we were invited, before sleeping in and making ourselves a holiday meal on January 1. I don't really care what the meal is, so long as we go through the steps to make it. We've been invited to a Dead Pool Party at 4pm on January 1, which gives us plenty of time to "be us" before we go. He kind of hates all my invitations, but I keep telling him it's no different than me having to spend all my weekends at his house with his family. He can suck it up.

My Fag Hag (she prefers Fag Hag to Fruit Fly, as she is a traditionalist) is in town, and one of our other best friends arrives this afternoon about 1:30. The Hag, also known as "Red" just got her hairuh-did at her other Fag's place, and will be swinging by the airport to pick up the rest of our gang for a fun filled afternoon of shopping that will culminate in a drink fest tonight at our favorite Mexican joint. Thank goodness I live now within walking distance.

BLACK MAN! (sung like Bernice Clifton/Alice Ghostley in Designing Women) is coming to my house. He asked "Can we all ride together?" and like Red said, "There ain't a waif one in our bunch." Both people on the plane, Red, Black Man and myself are all . . . uh, not petite. So it'll be a two car afternoon.

The Beautiful One, whom I mentioned in a post around Thanksgiving, is back in town and I got to see him at lunch on Christmas Eve. I was sansa phone at the time and couldn't sneak a pic of him. I am so hoping he comes with his uncle tonight for a margarita. But his uncle is probably going to spare him all the drama that comes along with us, for fear that any of the str8 females or gay males would inevitably say something flattering-yet-crass-and-rude. But man, (sigh and deep breath) he is gorgeous.

I'm looking forward to the afternoon with old friends. I'm glad I took the day off.

Happy Wednesday to you.

ACLU

Mamaw has a hearing aid. Not that she was wearing it tonight, but she showed it to me. She had been wearing it, until she got a call from Germany and it started making noises or something. So she walked around with it in it's little case showing it to people.

So I'm taking Mamaw home and trying to point out Christmas lights on the way, and she can't hear me. So in response to "Pretty lights" she tells me that

"the LCU or something like that"

"The ACLU?"

"Yes, the ACLU is ruining the country. They want to close down the Boy Scouts."

Hell, Mamaw could be right, what do I know? I'd guess the story has more to do with the ACLU inquiring about the Boy Scouts being funded by taxes or something, but I don't really know. . . . and it's not like Mamaw is going to hear my response anyway. . .

She did hear me say "Why?" and replied, "Because they won't let the weirdos in."
Well that pretty much sums it up. No way to argue with that statement.

OTASCO

When I was born, my parents had moved from Illinois to my hometown, and lived in a rental house on the North end of Cherry Street. For years, the house stood still, then finally lost it's battle to time and a city park. I remember driving by it once, with no recollection of my earliest years there, and someone had painted a mural on the front of it. It was a scene with tall grass and flowers.

I don't know how long we lived there, but I'm pretty certain that it wasn't too long, because I vaguely remember living in the second house, in the same neighborhood as the third. The second one was, as well I believe, a rental, but the third house Daddy bought. I think I can remember walking from the second house up the street to the third house. And I think it was in the third house that we welcomed home my baby brother, 3 years younger than me.

But when Mom & Dad moved from Illinois, it was on the advice of an uncle who had come to town to manage a local car dealership. "They say" back then, it was a big deal to manage a car dealership and my great uncle called his nephew, and said, "Move here. They have an opening for a radio dispatcher with the police and I can get you the job." And that was the beginning of well over 20 years Dad spent with the police department in my hometown.

But well before the 20 years, still in that first or maybe second house, was a family of three.

My Mom told me a Christmas story today, it was very short, she told me in less than two minutes. It was a story about a first Christmas, before the brother. So far removed, it almost seemed like other people, another family. But it wasn't. It was us. I don't think I'm going to blog it. Right now, it seems too private. But I will say that it could make a son remember that he loves his father. It was a perfect Christmas memory for my mom. And I'm very glad she shared it with me.

Blue Cheese Biscuits

He is an ex, and one, to loosely quote some old country song "I thought was the world, when the world was small." Truly I still believe, the core of him is a good person. It's just unfortunately covered up with a lot of depression and a lot of pharmaceutical drugs trying to help him with his depression. I can recall two really good memories, and about four months worth of me playing "Tammy Wynette standing by my man." Ugh.

But anyway, one of the two recipes I took away from the relationship is something he referred to reverently as "my mother's blue cheese biscuits." Sometimes I almost feel bad "taking" the recipe. But it has become my best recipe to take to a party if I can get there while they are still warm. At one friend's party every year, I just make them at her house. Sometimes I call just before arrival to preheat the oven.

They are blue cheesy, pull apart, yummy good. Takes about 10 minutes to prepare them and then about 11 or 12 to bake 'em.

Noodle recently tried a variation with . . . . I think provolone and mozzarella and a handful of Italian seasonings. She reports they were super yummy.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

also known as "with tip, $60 for 2 burgers, 2 things of chicken strips and 4 drinks."

It was clean and the waitress was friendly, and I had the free will to walk out after one look at the menu, realizing it was horribly over priced. But I thought I'd give them a try and see just how gourmet-gourmet-is.

It isn't. The french fries "bottomless basket of steak fries" are standard issue Sysco fries. The burger was good, but really no better than some fast food joints. The chicken strips, affectionatelly called something rediculous like 'cluck and fries', looked and tasted like standard issue Sysco breaded chicken strips.

Really, two tea's, two cokes, 2 burgers and 2 chicken strips and we were well into 50 bucks and still needing to leave a tip. I should have left, but I wanted to try it. My bad.

I've got a treasure. . . .

he said as I handed him a tissue and told him to quit picking his nose. But that's a boy for you, regardless of the age. A second later he said "eewww that's a big ol' nugget."

That would be Noodle's son, Spyder. Tonight I hung out with (babysat) what is collectively called 'the urchins.' It was a very nice night for all of us. They were very well behaved, and we did some things I thought they thought they would enjoy - like our choice for dinner and getting Spyder some batteries for his new toy.

When I said "You know my rules" they both held hands in the parking lot. I do not deviate from that rule, oft telling them "If one of you gets smushed, Mom & Dad will be SO annoyed with me!" When we went in Fazoli's for supper, I told them both to stay in the booth until I got back (they are frequent visitors to the place and very uncomfortable there. I, however, am acutely aware that the other people are strangers to us). And lo, when I returned with our order, they were right where I had left them. They both ate their meals without so much as one single "Eat." When young Sass asked for "dessert or something" I couldn't resist the temptation and offered choices like pickles, liver, etc. and she countered by saying she wanted something that rhymed with "gooky." Subtle, that one.

I decided a carton of ice cream from Kroger would be less expensive for me and better for everyone (as in, we'll get more for our money). We let Sass pick and Spyder had right to veto. We ended up with cookie dough and it was pretty good. So we got to eat ice cream and watch Kim Possible's "Stitch in Time" while Spyder played with a toy set he got tonight as a Christmas present.

No good pictures of the night. But if you know what Spyder looks like, imagine him with that finger up his nose digging for gold. Boys will be boys.

I've spoken my piece and counted to three.

Netflix has been the greatest thing, and tonight I am watching O Brother Where Art Thou. I'm not sure what I thought it was, but I didn't think it would be near this good. The soundtrack is phenomenal, the humor nicely laid, and some of the guest spots finely woven in, with my favorite being Holly Hunter. I am just in love with her.

I should read Homer, on which this movie is (loosely, I bet) based. There are scenes that I would guess belonged to an ancient seer or prophet, and three sirens. Some of the rest of it, I'm having to guess at what the original writing might entail.

But I have enjoyed this movie.

Ventura

I passed one on the road today, maybe. But it's hard to tell at a glance. I tried to grab the cell phone and take a picture but the phone was full. It did not look like mine exactly, but it looked like a well cared for one.

1976 Pontiac Ventura, but I did not get keys to it until around 1986. Ours, as handed down to me, was a two door with an odd cream color. It was sold metal, not so much as a Landau top. Chrome bumpers that were metal made when metal was made. The light dimmer was on the floor - a nice piece of metal to push with the left foot. There was a transmission hump in the middle of the car that went under the bench seats, and those bench seats were stitched vinyl that was complimentary to the cream color of the metal.

They told me it had a 350, though I really didn't know what that meant. At least not compared to any other engine, since I had really only driven that car and my parents 4 door Oldsmobile 98. Both had engines that would carry the metal across pavement like a battleship across the sea.

I thought the design of the Ventura looked a lot like a Camaro or a Trans Am or some other sexy car. I saw few similar cars in my town, but the ones that I did see, and have seen, I always thought looked less sexy - that their grills and hoods didn't have the sleek shape of mine or their tail lights looked boxy and ugly compared to mine. As if, somehow, I had a great 10 year old Pontiac Ventura. I'm not sure that I even knew it was ten years old, though I knew it was not new. I remembered my dad buying it. I think I even remember going with him to the car lot. I remember, if it was 1976 I had to be about 7 or 8 years old, and I remember my mom piling covers and pillows into the two foot areas in the back seat - as separated by the transmission hump - and creating a horizontal area out that gave her two kids each a sleeping area for the long drive to our grandparents. One could sleep on the bench seat and one in the floor. Now, THAT was before the time of child restraint seats and laws.

I would grow up to receive the car sort of by default as I turned sixteen and started driving more and more. I guess if I thought about it, I could remember when we sold it. I think I remember it came to a point where it rolled through oil and smoke and we sold it for something else.

But I remember it. It was a great car.

(Mustin Mentell is in 2nd season of Boston Legal. Not my usual type, but a young cutie just the same. And in the last episode I watched tonight, sporting quite the tribal tattoo down his right arm.)

Weekend

Just a quick, short blog. It was a good weekend, a quick weekend. My Fella came without his brother and we had a good weekend. Yesterday, he did not even shower and leave the apt. until we went to a party at a friend's house at six. It was cold, overcast, rainy, yucky icky. I think it was the kind of afternoon he needed to inspire a strong nap and sleep off the last weeks of school.

Today we did some churchin and some shoppin and he finally headed home around 5.

No pics or anything this weekend. But it was a good time.

It all went to the dogs,

by the day of the week, it's today; by the date, it's tomorrow. One year since the damned racetrack let me go. That led to a "unfortunate period of under employment" that lasted six months.

I've been thinking about it some, looking back on that whole period. Wondering what I could have done, couldn't have done, was kept from doing, didn't fight hard enough to do, etc. I don't think I have any more answers than I did that day.

I do oddly enough look back on it and wonder about the people - usually I come out of any experience and at least have somebody that is adding to my life and enriching it in a very real way. That really didn't happen there. Don't get me wrong - there were some real nice people and I enjoyed working with them, and probably up to 3 of them I speak with occasionally (one of them today) - but no real good friend out of it.

Oh well, all in all, it wasn't a bad ride.

Did I tell you one of my best friends started working there this week? That's ironic and funny.

Just two drinks

was all it took tonight. How funny. I had a delish supper of their new vegetable mexican soup and six hot wings, flirted a bit with the bartender, ran into an old pal named Billy, walked home and passed out. Woke up at 1:30a.m. It's now 2a.m. and i've had a big glass of water and a big glass of orange juice.

How was your night?

Photos

The photo of the guy in a wife beater was just too funny to me - some bank is sponsoring an ice skating rink and there's a big freezing contraption to keep the ice cold, but it's warm enough to wear a wife beater t shirt.

That's me and Birthday Girl For The Day in the photo.

The day

turned out different than I had thought, but oh so nice - though hectic.

No time with my brother and his wife, though they called twice.

Noodle's mom was in town and I spent the whole afternoon with them shopping, until I ran home in time to go directly to church for a business meeting I wanted to sit in on and learn about, then off to dinner with my friends J&Bubbles.

I walked out of W-M without buying a thing I had picked up, the lines were just horrible. I've been arguing with myself about running back now that it's late, in hopes of lesser lines, because the stuff I picked up I really needed. Oh well.

My Fella finishes his finals tomorrow night, and none too soon if you ask me. He has been over stressed about all of his life in general, which I know is really just related to these classes and exams. This semester has been the hardest on him so far.

Looking forward to a good Monday.

Just pics

Sunday

My parents tell me that my brother and his wife are riding up this afternoon (probably to Noodle's town) to do some holiday shopping. Brother worked all night last night, first at his likker store job then his half-police/half-security job in the projects at home. He works for the projects housing authority, whoever they may be, pulling four hour shifts in the dark of night to help keep vagrancy down. So the plan is my parents already have their grandsons and granddogs, brother will sleep late and then they will drive up. I'll probably drive down and spend a little time with them. I hope not too long, I intend to attend a church meeting tonight at 6:30. But it will be nice to see them.

Our hope for a Wii is hopeless. I call stores every morning, Noodle calls stores every afternoon, Birthday Girl (for the day) has called stores over in Hot Springs. It's just not going to happen. Which has had me thinking for a while about Noodle's way of handling Santa (she coincidentally has a related post - but I haven't figured out how to do links yet). You see, nephew still "believes" so he believes Santa can bring him a Wii. The reality is Uncle Mike has asked friends all over the country to look for a Wii. OK, all over the country may be a stretch, but all over Hot Springs, Little Rock, Memphis, and Biloxi and a few other random towns. There is not a Wii to be found.

Well, I will continue to call, but I have advised nephew's parental units (my brother and his wife) that this probably isn't happening.

Oh well, it will be nice to see them, even if I only visit them while shopping for a little while.

Where there is a will, there is a way

or titled "6 hours round trip" . . . about a week ago, the little sister of Birthday Girl (for the day) sent me an email through myspace and invited me to her sister's surprise 40th birthday party. . . . at a Chinese buffet . . . . 3 hours from my home. . . . which would be six hours round trip to eat a Chinese buffet. . . . .
Alright, I considered it, waffled it, considered some more and argued with myself:
- I live alone with no dog, just so I can pick up and go when I want to
- I've been friends with her since about 1983 (with a "on hold" period of some few years as the result of a . . . . family schism and some serious misunderstandings - as I mentioned in a post a few months ago when I spoke about a cousin of mine)
- I really enjoy her husband and kids (as much as I can ever enjoy kids that aren't "mine.") Her husband and I graduated together from high school. While we were not friends, we were not un-friends. We would of recognized each other in the mall and spoken probably. But he always has a very genuine smile on his face when I see them - if they come to town and bring the kids to the zoo or something they usually call.
-It's a once in a lifetime event, 40 years old
-I didn't really have any plans anyway

Then I would waffle:
- Six hours round trip for a Chinese buffet? PLEASE. Come on, get serious.
- Have you SEEN the price of gas?
- I have bought a total of ONE present for Christmas. There is other stuff to do this weekend.

So I compromised with myself by making it a bigger weekend. I reached out to a friend of mine in Little Rock and spent the night with her and her husband and family. The husband grilled steaks and she made a tossed salad with a yummy balsamic vinegarette dressing and a hashbrown casserole, we drank red wine and sat up talking later than we should have.

In the morning, I rode another hour with mapquest directions and hoping and wishing there would still be a party. The younger sister had failed to check back in so my subsequent emails saying "I am coming" and "could you send me directions" and "is the party still on?" went unanswered. So I quite literally walked into the restaurant with no idea if there was still a party or not.

I knew I could not get to the husband without Birthday Girl knowing something was up, and I had sent some generic emails to a yahoo group we are both on, hoping for leading answers such as "What's everyone's plan for the weekend?" thinking Birthday Girl might respond that she was having lunch with her dad at her favorite place or something. But no such luck.

Anyway, I walked in and there was younger sister, if possible more beautiful than ever, tieing balloons onto chairs. I haven't seen her in probably . . . . geeze, I'd hate to know how many years. I had to tell her "With love honey, you need to check your emails more often if you invite someone to drive 3 hours to a party."

No harm, no foul. It was very nice to see her Mom & Dad again after so many years, and after the lunch, Birthday Girl's husband "gifted" us by taking the kids and letting us have the afternoon to ride around Hot Springs. We rode up into the mountain trail and through the city and just had a very nice afternoon together, before I began my trek back home.

- - There are some pics, but my little card reader isn't working. I need to pick up another one or wait til I get to work tomorrow and email them back to myself.

Querer es poder

That was the fortune on a cookie yesterday. I don't read or speak Spanish, but I thought the similarity to the word "queer" was just funny and ironic. I handed it over to Birthday Girl (for the day) and said, "Seem ironic?" She laughed. She took some high school Spanish so she knew what it meant.

Jim Brickman

I have tickets to Jim Brickman,

she said. I had no idea who Jim Brickman could be, except some sort of instrumentalist. But I'd already penciled her in for tonight. She called about four just as excited as she could be, we were going out for cocktails first, and she has passes to the backstage meet, then we were going out for a night cap after. I thought, "Oh my, better bathe."

Turned out to be a wonderful concert. He's also a hottie. And has two hotties on stage with him. From our seats, I could closely see the four performers. When the 21 year old fiddle player David Klinkenberg leaned the right way, his top button undone would show you just a peek at his chest - hairless, if you like that sort of thing. Beautiful. And a fabulous fiddle player. Richie McDonald, formerly of Lonestar fame, sang several songs known well by his voice, and a very talented songwriter named joined them all. She's written several songs made hits by others and has a very nice performance voice and presence herself. The concert was a nice mix of whatever his regular music is, holiday music, the fiddle player and the two singers.

I guess I am Jim Brickman's newest fan.

Oh, and David Klinkenberg's too.

Friday

Lucky me, I slid into a spot last night, with so few available, I gotta wonder if someone hadn't just left. If Noodle reads this - thanks for the invite - I had a fun time last night. I met Noodle, Skeeter, Sass & Spyder for some McAlister's, then Dollar Tree, then book store.

You know meme that Noodle did the other day, the four things, and she listed a shirt she wished she still had? It reminded me of a song by Mary Chapin Carpenter. "This shirt is old and faded, all the color washed away" and she sings about different things she has done in "this shirt." Judging from the time that seems to take place in the song, she hasn't gained an ounce since high school, but anyway, I've got this delightful birthday present over shirt - Tommy Hilfiger - flannel and blue with a denim collar. It's great for me because although I love the fashion of winter coats, I hate the bulk. And this is perfect for me. It's not faded and washed away, but I can add a memory to it now - it's long hanging tail hid from the world last night that the seat of my pants split wide open. I first heard the rip as I was getting in the car from supper, and by the time I got home they were wide-azz open. Too funny. And odd timing since I had just decided that both they and a pair of khaki's should go to the fishes and loaves closet at church to help keep someone warm this winter and I should upgrade pants for work. But those went into the garbage instead.

I'm going in a wee bit later today. The entire sales department is having a client holiday party tonight. I just talked with another sales manager and found out who slept with clients last year. But I'm happily dating someone, so I don't have that luxury. I asked for an exception to monogamy tonight "for the company" and I did not get it. Oh well.

Happy Friday to you!

Conversation

The conversation at the other job opportunity this morning conceptually went well, but really, it's just not enough to make me leave my current place. I've got a good job with a boss who is smokin' hot, she approves almost everything I ask for if I have good logic behind it, she gives me weekends off, and doesn't really mind if I'm late.

In addition, the reasons that I left that company 7 years ago still exist, and he discussed salary as "do-able." Not "I can make it worth it" or anything such.

I really would like to "return home" there - it's where I cut my teeth in the biz and there are some good people there. But I just don't think this is the right time.

Rant

The sign on my door/all the apartment doors says the parking lot will be off limits tomorrow afternoon through Friday morning. "You may" park on the North side of the building or on the street.

"You may . . . " Guess what, people already park on the North side and the North side only holds about 4 cars max anyway, so there are no incremental spaces there. "On the street" people already park, including myself sometimes. If it lines up right and people with shorter cars park close together, it's five maximum but closer to four average. So there's no incremental spaces there.

The other side of the street is no parking. I've got a ticket to prove it.

So exactly wherethafuck are we supposed to park.

There's absolutley no "We contacted the businesses adjacent to the building and you can park there after 5" or "We contacted the city and you can park on the opposite side this night." Basicly, they told us what we already know and people already do - that for 15 apartments, there are 9 maximum parking spaces available tomorrow night.

I am so unhappy with this management company. I understand their role is to manage the building for the owners, but you'd think there's be some amount of management on your behalf. I've had a damned hole in the bathroom ceiling for a month now waiting on them to fix the leak in the upstairs bathroom. I am just so unhappy with these people. I can foresee that come August I'll be looking for someplace to move to, because I just dislike these people so very much.

Television Quotes

I can not have an aid who will not look up, you will be forever walking into things. - Delenn

Understanding is not required, only obedience - Lenier

Maybe I needed you, maybe I just needed someone. And right now, for this one moment, I don't care. Don't send me away. Don't make me feel like a fool.

Sinclair: I just wish I could be more sure.

Garibaldi: Sure is for people with nothing on the line. You and me, we just get on with it.

Dr. Biggs: I'm waiting, for an apology.
Sinclair: You'd better check the temperature in hell first.

. . . . that a half truth is the worst kind of lie. Draal, as repeated by Delenn.

Oven and Netflix

After burning everything in the oven, I spent four bucks on an oven thermometer (pronounced thermo-meter in my head) and the oven is officially 100 degrees hotter than the dial. Well, there ya go.

NetFlix has been fabulous still, though My Fella took an instant dislike to "Team America: World Police" and started second guessing my sanity. That movie was put on pause about 15 minutes into it and I finished it the next day.

Disk 2 of season 1 of Babylon 5 is here today, so I'll probably watch that after I spend some time updating my resume.

I had a phone call yesterday asking to come and talk to someone about some "opportunities." At least, I hope it was plural on opportunity, because the one I found out about through networks and contacts isn't one I'd be interested in. But I have a very good feeling about it. I am very content at my current job - decent pay, great hours, and a boss who is a looker, even if she is a girl. But you gotta be open to opportunities. Not long to wait though, the meeting is tomorrow at 9 and they just called yesterday. So we'll see. We'll see.

Winter Wonderland Weekend

Mayori

Lunch at Mayori to celebrate John's birthday. I loved it. Indian, buffet. The roasted potatoes were super-delish. Loved the fried onion, and enjoyed the soupy chicken on top of rice. The apples sliced into slivers in a mango sauce were fun, and so were the things I thought were beets or beet-ish, but turned out to be bread like donut holes soaked in a deep red cinnamon sauce. Of course the company and friendship were great too!

Palm Court

The photo of a fountain in the rental Palm Court. I tried to get a photo of the whole fountain but it did not come out. I just thought it was oddly pretty.

Winter Wonderland

What a nice day and weekend. Very festive - christmassy. Last evening after supper, we rode through the lit park with the music piped through the radio. At ten dollars a car, it goes to a good cause, and is worth it. It's not particularly overly beautiful, but it is pretty in a very Christmas lights sort of way, the kind of thing you can do only once a year. Afterwards, we ran over to my friends Nance & Tom and had a few rounds of Jenga with them.

Today we headed out to lunch with friends John & Karen, it was a lunch to celebrate John's birthday. Since it was his birthday, it was his choice and he wanted to take us to his favorite Indian restaurant. My Fella was not overly impressed, but I enjoyed it very much. My two favorites were the roasted potatoes - very spicy - and the fried onion. I thought the onion was funny - when you consider how often "we" cook onions in batter and then to find them on an Indian buffet.

Afterwards, with a brief sojurn into Target, we headed to the Enchanted Forest. It's about an hour, maybe less, and is made up of the display that was in Goldsmith's 40 years ago. Really, you can walk through in probably 20 minutes, but it can take you back 20 years, and you just can't get that too many places for 5 bucks. We've got the best picture with Santa from there and very reasonable at $10 for one 5x7.

After a so-so dinner that I cooked in my brand new crockpot (thank you Noodle!), we headed out to the zoo for Zoo Lights. I had won free tickets earlier in the week but they were not at will-call. So we bought tickets and went on in and enjoyed the walk through the zoo. We passed on the picture with Santa, but fell prey to a group photo at the front entrance. $14 bucks for one photo and not particularly good. I think their photographers are on some kind of quota, just snapping photo's where ever they find you, without really thinking that for those outrageous prices they should have something pretty in the background(the $15 one was the absolute cheapest).

Anyway, I have some photo's I dropped off at the Walgreens tonight, and for some reason my digital camera thing isn't reading. But any-hoo - - some good news - - I was going to save up for a table set I found at Big Lots that I really like and think would fit good in this new apartment. It's $200 for the table, $100 for a set of two chairs. Guess what I found at Garden Ridge tonight - a very similar table and 4 chairs for $200 total. So some real nice guy named Michael confirmed that the display was the last one and no, they wouldn't mark it down, but I could buy it. Since it's already put together, that will save me from having to put it together and that's like a discount to me. lol. So in the morning we are going back in My Fella's truck to snag it up.

We came home and had hot chocolate and homemade pumpkin pie and now at about 10:20 we're all getting ready for bed.

Good day, good day. Busy from place to place but a very good day.

Four Things

Four first names of crushes I had

- Dana is the absolute earliest one I can remember.
- Jennifer. I sometimes dated her in college. I think I really loved her. Don't ask, I try not to think about it too much.
-Michelle
-Julia

OK, OK, I'll add four more, just for the fun of it:
- Daryl. Though he'd hate it if he ever knew
- Jeff. Though he'd hate it if he ever suspected
- Kedrin. Now there's a mixed up thought in my head. I wonder where he is now. I sometimes think I'll run into him in an art gallery by recognizing this one huge oil painting he was working on in his dorm room. It was a hand print. Seemed cool at the time.
-Johnny. He'd more than likely just shoot me. lol.
(Some of these I had to think hard about - I'm not sure I really knew they were crushes at the time. I think looking back, they probably were. But I didn't really know it.)

Four pieces of clothing I wish I still owned (or could fit into)
- a windbreaker that I bought at a fancy schmancy store with a gift certificate. I left it in my seat on a train bound for New Orleans. It was gone when I returned.
- a blazer that was given to me by the same people that gave me the above gift card. Absolutely beautiful, and probably from the same store. I had to ask my boss if I could keep it because it was above the value of accepted gifts. I never wore it enough, my version of not using the good china
-an overcoat/trenchcoat I bought in Maryland on a trip to see Noodle & Skeeter. I don't remember what happened to it but it seems like. . . . oh yes, one winter at the old apartment it was stolen out of my car. I'd like to think that somebody needed it who was cold and needed my Franklin Covey planner to keep up with the times and locations of the local soup kitchens
-a pull over that I had for years and years. An ex accidentally put a cigarette burn into it about 4 years ago. He somehow burned it even as he was breaking up with me. He dumped me, I put it on to leave, and there was a hole in the front pocket. I think I put it in a pile of homeless clothing, because if I wanted it, I wanted it without that odd memory and cigarette burn.

Four professions I secretly want to try
-preacher or school teacher or counselor (i just want to tell people how to live their lives)
-One of those guys on the side of the road with the tall stick things, waving at each other. They often look so hot in their white t-shirt and yellow vest, looking through their telescope thing.
-doctor
-casting director


Four musicians I most want to go to dinner with
-Prince
-ABBA
-Those 4 celtic singing women
-Trace Adkins, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith & Kenny Chesney (as a prelude to a 5some)

Four foods I'd rather throw than eat
- green peas
- english peas
- sweet peas
-leseur peas

Four things I like to sniff
-Fennel
-rosemary.
-Crown Royal
-Curve cologne for men (Yes, Brandy, I rememer that you lurk, and that is where it comes from - there is still some in the bottle you sent him to get. I sprayed some of it just the other day)

Thanks to Noodle for passing this one on (and please remember to bring me some of your mom's homemade cornbread dressing.)

Now I'm going to add four

Four favorite foods
- Mom's fried chicken tenders
- Noodle's mom's Cornbread dressing
- Homemade sweet tea - preferably my Mom's, Noodle's mom's, or Mamaw's.
- Hamburger helper

Four favorite movies
-Dogma
-Galaxy Quest
-The Matchmaker
-and what kind of self respecting gay boy would I be if I didn't say Auntie Mame

Four television guilty pleasures (I'm thinking more of re runs I can't pass by)
-Star Trek
-the Charmed Ones
-Law & Order SVU with Mariska Hargitay
-CSI with Marg Helgenberger

Four guilty pleasure websites
-woot
-Advice from Prudence on slate.com
-imdb.com
-wikipedia

Blog Shout

Just a little blog shout and happy Thanksgiving to Piper and Walt. I'm still lurking and reading your blogs.

Thanksgiving

The weather is overcast and icky outside, and it's about a quarter past 11 this morning. I had intended to sleep late, but woke around 8a.m. On principle, I stayed in bed til 9. Just because.

For probably the first time ever, I am staying home for Thanksgiving. Not going anywhere, and quite fine with it. I have places, had offers, etc. but decided to just stay here in town. My Mom & Dad accepted an invitation to go to his cousin's for lunch. He's a perfectly nice fella, but not really a friend of mine outside of the blood relation. And besides, I hardly know his wife and have never met his mother, ever, to the best of my knowledge.

So my Tuesday night television friends (our standing date for House & Boston Legal) and I decided to have a supper & drinks tonight. We're doing traditional-lite: turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, boxed stuffing instead of cornbread dressing, that kind of thing. As a plus, we are having cosmos. I just love vodka mixed with juice - what a perfect idea!

My Fella asked me to his house and I just politely side skirted the issue - the idea of spending Thanksgiving with 30 or so of his kin folk had absolutely no appeal to me.

So my plan for this day is to open up some of the windows here for light, dig out my Christmas decorations and put them up, and catch up on some television watching, I have a stack here to get to. Then late this afternoon I'll pop over to J&B's house with vodka in hand.

My sister-to-my-heart (or Noodle for those of you that read her blog) is going to bring me back some of her mom's dressing. I absolutely love her dressing. Her Mom called me yesterday to remind me to come over and I told her I wasn't going to make the drive and her first words were "What do you want me to send back?" Gawd the luck - one holiday, no trip home, and two mothers skipped on the guilt. Thankfully! Plus I'll still get her homemade cornbread dressing. To me, it's just a fabulous idea. You make a bread product, tear it up, add a bunch of vegetables chopped up into it, then cook it again! Just like bread pudding - you make a bread product, tear it up, add a bunch more milk and sugar, then cook it again!

Anyway, that's my day plan.

Oh, here's the weekend bonus: My Fella and his brother are coming and we are going to see the Enchanted Forest, we're going to see Zoo Lights, and then we're going to ride through a lit up park. I am so looking forward to it.

He did tell me last night that he just realized his class reunion is this weekend. He said he doesn't want to go, but I've given him the out, with a caveat. I won't be hurt or nothing, but he'd best get up here the next weekend for my winter wonderland weekend. But I have a feeling he'll come on here. He really didn't seem all that bothered about missing it. I skipped mine, went to Baton Rouge or somewhere instead.

Oh well. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Right now the Cherokee Nation's choir is on the parade. Absolutely beautiful.


OMG - I just saw a commercial and the American Gladiators are returning to NBC! That is SO cheesy and so fabulous at the same time!

Family

My nephews and ne-dogs.

King for a day. . . .

I listened to just a few minutes of George Stephawhatever's show yesterday morning with Fred Thompson. I got so annoyed at George, not that I'm a big fan of Fred or George, but George just wouldn't let up about terry schiavo and I thought fred's answer was pretty clear: basicly, i'm not a doctor, i did not have access to all the information, i would like to think that families would choose life but if they don't agree, then i support the individual state's law process and rules handling it.

and george was like "but autopsy showed she was brain dead"
and fred was like, "but we didn't know that - which is why i said i didn't have all the facts"
and george was like, "what are the states positions"
and fred was like, "I don't know all 50 states laws"

i finally just turned it off. what utter garbage we either have taken, or allowed, our country's political process and media outlets to become. it is all slanted, all biased, and there is no reason for a good man or woman to run for that office. and there is still a whole friggin' year of listening to them campaign and carry on.

if i were king for a day, i would put into law a one month maximum campaign. You can campaign in October. We vote in November. Anybody who campaigns before October has to work a week with Mike Rowe on "Dirty Jobs" on The Honey Wagon.

P.S. If I were king for a day, i'd also undo all the innocent by reason of insanity laws. I'd go with Guilty and Crazy - so your ass still goes to jail and you're not out on the streets. but innocent? no way.

What would you do, if you were king/queen for a day?

The Nina, replica

Statue

Quote, television

Denny Crane "I'm Denny Crane. Crane comes before Schmidt."
Shirley Schmidt "You refer of course to when we were intimate."

D.C. -You were Bush-bashing.
S.S.-I assure you I wasn't.
D.C.-You made war comments. When a liberal makes war comments, it's Bush-bashing. It's un-American.
S.S.-To criticize the president?
D.C.-While he's in office, yes.

D.C.-You left me, Shirely. Women don't leave Denny Crane. And for a secretary.
S.S.-It was the Secretary of Defense.
D.C.-Doesn't matter, I have an image.

Season 1

The old high school

The building has been empty since before I can remember. I'm past 38 years old and can't remember any use of it. In decades past, they said the city still owned the building and it was in use from time to time to store . . . . . whatever. But it looks now like it has fallen into such disrepair that it can't be used for anything. What a shame, it is such a beautiful building even now. Stately. Strong.

The grassy yard in front of it also looks stately, perhaps because of the square nature of the lay out. As I walked around the building for the first time in my 38 years, doubting that in all the time I lived in my hometown there was so much as one day that I did not pass it by, I impressed. I am not sure by what, but impressed. It is tall. Tall windows. Through the broken windows it appears the ceilings are high.

I have wished for a long time that someone, some unknown, unsaid someone would buy the building and refurb it. Offices. Apartments/condos. Just anyone, anything to make it majestic again. But like so many things in my hometown, where the economy has declined and business has left, it just continues to fall into disrepair.

But today it still looked majestic to me.

P.S. I walked away with a brick. If someone does buy it and refurb it, I'll return the brick.

The old high school

9 11

This is a quick post, I'm about to go out the door. But I just stopped at the traveling 9 11 memorial, it is in Memphis today. (So is a replica of the Nina, but I haven't made it there.)

I am sure there is a website and stuff to look at about it. But I encourage you if it comes to your area, to go. It is in 3 parts - the first being photo murals, the second is an 8 1/2 minute movie with survivors, and the third an iron beam that can be signed. It is free, no charge to enter. There is a very polite request to make a donation but no hard sell.

It is very moving and worth going. Definitely.

Now, they tell me my nephew is waiting for me and he's about an hour and a half away, so I may have to miss my opportunity to see the Nina. Oh well, I lived 38 years, I can wait til it comes round again.

Dish

I wish I had a photo from tonight. It was such a nice time and was one of those nights where I begrudgingly went out, but am so glad I did. Heather and I had plans to celebrate her birthday last night but she had to cancel, and then had to work tonight. But she called around 8 and left a message and I just fretted over calling her back because I just wanted to sit at home. . . . but 20 minutes later I called her and 20 after that we were meeting in my old neighborhood for a drink and fancy-snacks (tapas menu). It's now 12:25 and I'm just getting home after being with her for 3 hours on the patio. She's such a lovely girl. Her ex-husband is a total hottie that I wanted bad way back when. Her last girlfriend was such a dyke. And all the stories in between are just great stories about finding her own way and learning who she is and all, and it's very refreshing in a way. She's quite pretty too.

My Fella told me not to blog about it. We had a "rip" last night, which is less than a fight. It was a stupid "rip" and it was over the phone so it's more stupid, and even more so because it was about church-god-the president-and the war yea, you know, those things that really don't affect our relationship in a day to day way. You know they say there is a war going on, but I still have a 9 to 5 job and a meeting on Monday with the V.P. to explain what I do - so fight with me over steak or chicken for supper. Anyway, I am just trying to focus on his visit this week. I know what movie we are going to watch, I have narrowed down to two things what we'll have for supper, and I am just looking forward to seeing him - even if he is WRONG about church-god and the president and the war.

Have a good weekend.

Cute, cute, cute

The cutest little lesbian works at a little shop around the way. Cute cute cute little tick of a girl. Anyway, I dropped off some film that has 1 or 2 shots from yesterday on it, and who knows what else. I decided to save 2 bucks and pick it up tomorrow - so there may be a decent photo or two for the blog tomorrow related to older posts - and she saw my t-shirt and had a fit thinking I'd been this year to Pride in Chicago. But I went two years ago with my bestest bud Chaz. I wouldn't of guessed she was one of us, seemed so adorably straight. By coincidence her girlfriend was walking up to drop off keys and she's that cute kind of skinny black with the real short curly hair and beautiful green eyes (or contacts, usually, if they are that bright).

I've been up and out to the post office, to drop off film and pick up a Sunday paper, and at Kroger for groceries, and now I'm gonna change into something else for a run to church.

Pretty, pretty day. K.C. stepped over and asked me to leave the top bolt undone and he'll tear into the heater today and he'll call them about the leak in the bathroom.

Good Sunday to you.

Quote, television

For the record, I hate sentiment. but until you got here, I was beginning to loathe this place. - Denny Crane. season 1, Boston Legal


I just like wearing women's clothes, sometimes. . . . . . it just feels right, sometimes. - Client
So basicly you're a sicko. - Denny Crane

Celtic Fest

At the invitation of Noodle, I was planning to attend a Celtic Festival today and had invited My Fella and Jamie. Noodle, Skeeter, and the whole gang had a change of plans due to kin folk needs, but My Fella and I decided to Braveheart it and go.

Tickets were $5 and parking was $1 and it was at an outdoor area behind the Casey Jones Village in Jackson, Tn. There is quite a large pop up metal building ampitheatre/stage at the bottom of a grassy knoll that rises gently to a flat area. So as you walk into the flat area, you are at the top with the tents/booths from clans and peddlers, then you begin your slow descent to watch the bands and performers. For the youth who may be easily bored, there is one of the rented bouncing things, and a pre existing playground that seemed up to date and nice - one of those "oneall" things where there is a slide connected to a swing connected to a wishbone, is connected to the hambone, etc.

Probably somewhere around 15 or 20 booths, maybe. Maybe less. Probably not more. Several of them were representatives of clans, and some others were peddling their tawdry wares in the form of a gargantuan collection of reproduction swords and knives and hatchets and what-not. The kind you see in those Sunday inserts "limited number" and what not, or the kind you see in one of those trading card stores. You know, all reproductions of some Xena or Conan movie. Really quite cool if you're into that, which you just may be if you attend something like this. Another booth had quite a lot of blankets in patterns reminiscent of plaids, and one had a lot of t shirts with celtic designs.

The music, performers, and entertainment on the stage was all top notch. Very top drawer. There was a great group of young girls doing Irish dance, they are in a troop from Memphis, there were different bands and Irish/Celtic music (modern and quite good) as well as some solo singers. If you like this kind of stuff, I can tell you the performers and entertainment are top drawer. If you like a boothy kind of place with a lot of stuff to pick over, you'll be through pretty quick.

I did, I will admit, think about forking over $70 for a pair of leather and chain mail gloves with wrist pieces. I tried one on and instantly became . . . . aroused . . . . how fabulous they would be . . . .

If I have any photos at all, there will be only one or two. The memory card for my camera was inadvertently left somewhere, and I tried to snap one or two with my cell phone. We'll see.



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