Looping the Hen

The Heavier Side of Balance

When my life is good, as it has been for a very long time, I often forget that part of my philosophy is that along with ups, there have to be downs, otherwise it is impossible to appreciate the blessings we are given every day.

Of course, that doesn't mean I have to like it or take it quietly either.

We have a history of Alzheimer's on my father's side of the family (my grandmother had it). I received a call from my father yesterday, and he sounded more worried than I am used to from him, because he has been pretty healthy for years now, even though for almost a decade it was touch and go (with heart issues). He didn't say anything outright, but I could feel it hanging in the air.

For all his long years of health and heart problems (One reason I am turning into such a Health-Monster), he has always been an inspiration in keeping other people's spirits up in times of need or crisis. Both he and his wife regularly rescue both people and animals with equal acumen, and they have the kindest spirits I have ever met (along with my Mom). Still for some reason, they have been visited with every kind of tragedy over so many years I have lost count and I often think of them as Job's Kin. I know I have no hope of ever being able to fill his shoes because I would fold under 1/10th of what he has dealt with in his life. TBH, I had a hard enough time maintaining my composure on the phone and not breaking down like I was 11.

Still, no matter what happens and whether anything is wrong or not, I hope to be worthy of being my father's son by being the strength for the rest of his years (and I hope they number another 68 at least!) he has always been for me.

I know to this day my father and Anne-Marie pray for me every day, along with a hundred other people. For those so inclined, I hope you will take a moment and talk to God and ask him to look after my father and his wife, who have been truly good and loyal servants of His in ways most can't come close to approaching.

I love you Dad.

"You were at the top of the list..."

A compliment stated off-hand as fact has to be the most sincere form, and can take even my normally skeptical nature off-guard. So thank you ma'am; no matter what happens, I'll never forget it.

For my crew: I didn't make a mess with my food. I did the thing with the fork and it worked out pretty well. I mostly didn't talk with my mouth full. We both wore brown (hahahahaha, I rule!), and I don't think she was worrying about whether my shoes were brown or black. I didn't trip or otherwise make a random fool of myself (yay, me!). She says just as many random things as I do! And she digs Tori (sorry Bebop; and more on that in the next post!). It was also reassuring to hear that her friends put her through as much pre-date silliness as mine did (Actually, sounds like she had a couple more hoops to go through than I did!). To all of my friends: thank you for that and everything else, you're the bomb-bigidies and you always keep me laughing!

To Tammy's friends: I told her I wouldn't have had any problems with any of y'all showing up in the middle to make sure I wasn't an axe murderer. To be honest, I was kind of surprised you didn't until she told me she wouldn't tell anyone where we'd be.;)

More to come, but bed for now.

Feast or Famine

I must say that life has certainly gotten interesting in the last 45 days. I went from being dateless for 6 years to...well...not being dateless (even if a couple have been non-date dates). First, a former lover from the past showed up for a little while and that was definitely flattering and head-swelling, considering we had a pretty horrid breakup (meaning I was a major heel).

Next, I started crushing pretty hard on a beautiful Iranian girl that began to hang in our circle, and she went out with another one of the boys in the group a couple of times. Of course that was the one from about 4 posts down where I crashed and burned. (Honestly, it wasn't that bad, but I did get the "WCSBF" speech. The funny part is that she is the first person to ever say that to me that I like being friends with, so that is working out pretty well.)

Now, while that was going on I got a nice note from a girl on Match, which as those of you who have hung out here know has been terrible to me. On the day I actually signed on to cancel it, she winked at me, we traded a couple of emails, and are going out to dinner Thursday night. We talked for about an hour or so last night and she's a hoot. This is her Match profile. (And yes, I asked her if it was alright to blog about her.) She actually grew up in Plainfield, CT, where I lived when I was going to UConn and where my father grew up. Small world!

And she is the 2nd girl in a row with a small cute dog! I hope that is not a bad sign!

If the whole summer goes like this I'll be psyched!

Go me!

Put the white nails down.

If you can't quit smoking because it is the right thing to do for your health, it is the right thing to do for your family, and generally just the right thing to do...then quit for greed. Greenbacks. Kayle. Moolah.

I missed a milestone in my life earlier this week; they happen so often now, I didn't even notice (JK, I just forgot!). I quit smoking January 14, 2003. I was smoking a little over 3 packs a day, and averaging $10/day spent. If my calculations are right (and even if they're not right, they are close), I have been smoke-free for 1194 days.

That is $11,940. My mom told me that if I quit smoking, I should treat myself big time.

So I did.

I paid $11,900 for Luna Grace, and she's given me more in 6 months than 3582 packs of cigarettes over 3 years ever could. Even if you are only a 1 pack a day smoker, that sounds like a weeklong cruise to the Carribean after a year. After 1194 days you could have nearly the best PC money could buy and every worthwhile video game on the market to go with it. You could pay cash for a 53" flat panel LCD TV. You could buy your fiance over a 1 caret diamond ring.

And I for one think you should do it. Don't just put the money in the bank. Put the money in your pocket and buy something you really want. Because if you can put those white nails down permanently, you deserve it.

My Ideal Girlfriend, Take 1

Thanks to G-Max for turning me back on to the Dork Tower strip. I've been reading and laughing through some backlog and found this...even AKBar couldn't have done it better...:

So much for fate...;)

Pride goeth before the fall.

Some girls do...

I don't often pick up music on CD anymore (or even online), partially to protest the RIAA and their ridiculous stances and policies, as well as most music's ridiculous prices. More often I'll buy bargain bin or used CD's if something catches my fancy. Today, however, I just had to have a particular CD, mostly because I have a song stuck in my head.

Sawyer Brown has been one of my favorite country acts since I started listening to country music in 1999. His music is always good-natured, often spiritual, and sometimes downright funny. I've heard one particular song of his two or three times in the last week and it makes me grin from ear to ear every time I hear it, I think because it reminds me of me nowadays as I tool around in my baby and watch many of the well-groomed Mercedes SUV ladies refuse to even make eye contact.

I happened to be in luck, because the song I wanted was on a $7.99 greatest hits collection at Best Buy. (Picked up Leann Rimes's greatest hits also; BMG was always too stingy to give it to me free)

And thus, in honor of all the girls in the world who have ever dissed me, I give you 'Some Girls Do':

She turned up her nose as she walked by my cadillac From the corner of my eye I saw you and you laughed You were sittin' on the swing on your front porch Paintin' your nails like you were bored And you yelled "She was sure impressed with you"

Chorus:
Well I ain't first class
But I ain't white trash
I'm wild and a little crazy too
Some girls don't like boys like me
Aww but some girls do

I yelled and asked if you would like a ride
When we pulled out of your yard I balled a tire
You was laughing at me, I was doing James Dean
You was the prettiest girl I'd ever seen
When you rolled your eyes and twirled my pink fur dice

Chorus

Well good ole' boys don't get no breaks
And rich boys think they got what it takes
But there's someone for each of us they say

Chorus x2

I said some girls do
You know some girls do
Like boys like me
You know some girls do

Sawyer may be cute enough for the girls, but I'd rather drive around with Leann myself. And yes, I am feeling feeling very full of myself tonight.

A Bunny's Prayer

It's been a while since I've mentioned how much I love my life, simple as it is. Sunday evening is my favorite time of the week; all brilliant sunset of gold and crimson with a touch of bittersweet as I prepare myself for the six days ahead. It is also the time I reflect on the days behind me. It consists of 5 hours that are perfectly, peacefully mine. The laundry is done, the house is (reasonably) clean, my body is still warm from a few miles running in the park. The world may be spinning, but I don't know it. It is just me, Shakira, and the words on my monitor.

And the week behind is as good as it gets...nothing monumental happened; I didn't win the lottery or inherit a fortune or win an olympic medal. But still it was near perfect. I ran more than 10 miles (in a week) for the first time in 15 years, including a race where they fed me a Nutty Buddy and Pasta Alfredo afterward. I hung out and played poker with some great friends, and then played D&D with some other great friends. I even made a new one.

I got a raise. I lost a pound. I got my car waxed. I started on my tan. I finished a funny novel, watched a couple of movies, and discarded some junk that was cluttering up my life. I took a chance. I started helping my dad and step-mom with a project I should've helped them with 3 months ago. I conversed with a girl with hypnotic eyes and made some new goals that have me hopeful about tomorrow, and many tomorrows after that. I smiled. A lot. And did some laughing to.

It's not much, but I offer this up as my little Easter Prayer, and I thank God for His Son who rose today, and for every little thing that makes my life sublime and perfect.

I know many don't know it, and for all who don't, it doesn't take anything to have a wonderful life except believing you have a wonderful life, being thankful for every little thing, and doing one's best to ignore the snags. Start something. Take a chance. Kiss your husband or wife or significant other and thank them for being there every day. Try something new. Remember something old. Hug your mom if you can. Shed a tear, or a few, but not bitter ones. Live.

(And when all else fails, promise a spy you'll go skydiving with them.)

Crap, I'm nesting again...

Every few months I go through a phase of tossing out old junk (or Ebaying it, if it is good old junk) I've been living with for sometimes 20 years. It's pretty amazing I even have any junk left, but it seems to breed when confined to dark closets or dingy storage rooms. But now I've decided it's condo improvement time; and for those who know me know that is something I dread with an inhuman horror of the Lovecraftian variety. Still, one gets to a point where they just can't take it anymore!

I continue to curse the painter who screwed up my floors (Not that I would have forced even my old floors upon some random Eqyption Pharoah lying dead in his 3000 year old tomb), wishing upon him boils and sores! Well, no, I don't really wish upon him boils and sores, but he still makes me mad! Thus, I am on the Great Hardwood Floor Hunt to replace my kitchen and dining room laminate. I remember the last time I checked into them they run anywhere from $12-$30/square foot. (Although I'm hoping more toward the $12/foot range) I'm lucky that I don't actually have a lot of square footage there, maybe 250-300 or so.

It was either that or all the cabinets and countertop, but I'm not sure what goes into all that (nor am I certain of my taste), so I'll stick with something I can probably manage without gouging my eyes out in some Oedipul rage. (I will also probably get another two or three bookshelves so I can put out the rest of my books and knick-knacks.)

I sense many epic battles ahead with the forces of Lowe's, Home Depot, and Floors N' More. More later!

Khabeli Nadahreh (I hope that says: You are welcome!)

'Gotcha' was one of the best geek movies of the 80's and I know G-Max and I must have watched it 10 or 20 times when we were growing up. One of the best exchanges:

Jonathan: Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. It was in my backpack when I jumped into the moat.

Maria: You, uh, jumped into a moat?

Al: You jumped in a moat with my Nikon?

Jonathan: Yeah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I had to... I... it's kind of a long story.

Al: I've got all night.

Also good was: 'Jonathan: You're right, I'm on drugs. I'm a junkie, you know, I mainline, I freebase, I put cocaine on my cornflakes...'

And 'mamnoon' as well. Of course I don't know what the above says, I'm only hoping it says what I think it says.

Okay, off to my race! Bonne chance to me!

They really don't lie...

I notice on some of the Livejournal and Xanga pages, people have the 'what they are listening to' icons. I wish MovableType had those!

Anyhoo, I'm currently listening to the lovely Shakira, and Hips Don't Lie.

Also listening to the omnipresent Kelly Clarkson, one of the few singers whose music doesn't seem obnoxious to me after the 7th gajillionth listen.

And lastly, I had in Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell today, my vote for the #1 album of all time, because for some reason I am feeling vaguely like a 17-year old sneaking out of my mom's house. Maybe more on that later, but I doubt it.;) Sexiest song lyric ever (and the story of my life):

'You were licking your lips and your lipstick shined, and I was dying just to ask for a taste...'

The Gang!

I haven't put up any pics in a while, so here goes! All taken by WCB I think except for the first.

The Gang on our average poker night: Me, Bebop, AKBar, WCB, TG, Ron, April's Forehead, Thugly, Gribble, Brian and James.

Me just after the Frostbite 5k I hated so much:

AKBar and WaCBar (CCE!):

And Bebop! (She calls this flirting...):

Enjoy and hope I don't offend anyone!;)

You know your tastes in music have changed...

When you look in your rearview mirror and see the 11-year old in the car behind you singing the same song you are...

Yikes!

I came and everything was blank, eek! So I am typing this blah blah blah just so y'all know I am still here!

Not much going on other than surviving the tornadoes that wrecked the town where I work, playing lots of D&D and poker, and running like Frank Shorter (not!). More going on on the gaming side, sorry!

For anyone who wants to hang out with me, event registration for Gen Con Indianapolis opens May 1, and I am looking to go and play DDM and probably the Dreamblade release. It is from August 10-13; I've been to two prior Gen Con's, and it is always a good time. (Someone (a Magic player specifically) should remind me to tell my 1st Gen Con story over on the gaming side!)

Okay, tie-red, going to bed!

Lightning Storm 1, Cable Modem 0

FYI, my cable modem fried due to a lightning strike on my condo yesterday. I had a friend outside watching the storm and he almost got zapped! I think it was part of this storm system. I will not be able to respond to any of my home or hotmail emails until at least tomorrow afternoon.

Those who need to can write to me at my work email!

The Great Fool of China

Generally, when runners talk of the Wall, they tend to mean the distance in longer races where you would prefer to collapse and die (well, maybe not die), than continue to run. It is both a physical and mental barrier.

Although I think I am getting closer to being able to push through the physical barrier, the mental one killed me today. Statistically, the race was a success for me. I PR'd the Running of the Fools 5k in 24:25 or so (average 7:54 mile), a little above my goal of 24:48. I ran great the first two miles (15:08), both at 7:34, better than I could have hoped for. The problem was the last mile where I hit my wall.

This was almost the same type of course as a race I ran earlier in the season, the Frostbite 5k. Except this one was worse, and killed me mentally. It isn't that the course had any huge hills; it was the fact that there was no flat ground. The first 3/4 of a mile was a tiny up grade, but I could feel it. I always run my weekly course with a couple of big hills, so I thought I'd be fine. And then it kept going, up, down, up, down, up, down. I crossed the 2nd mile feeling ok physically, but my brain was already in retreat-mode.

I couldn't believe it but I actually ended up walking twice, for around 40 seconds total, and I did my third mile in near 9 minutes because of it. I regularly run 5+ miles now without walking, but my brain just gave up today.

The one silver lining is I felt that if the course had been even a little bit flat, I could have kept very near my first two mile pace. That would have been 23:30. And thus that will be my new goal!

I think I am doing well, as I really have only been running 1 day a week, with another 2 days on the elliptical and lifting weights. For the spring I am going to try to add another run to my schedule, one long run to match what I have been doing, and one speed or hill workout.

Next time I shall not hitteth the wall!

A Sweet Fondue

I hadn't really intended not to post anything this week, especially as I had my first two days off since December! They were ultra-relaxing, and I spent them cleaning, playing poker, gaming, helping an old friend, and in general being very happy.

Last night Bebop and Thugly took me out to The Melting Pot, a local favorite and winner of numerous Nashville dining awards (Most Romantic and Best Date Spot included!). All I can say is wow. Actually, I can say a bit more, but I didn't really know what I thought of fondue, other than the one fudge fondue my Mom made for my 6th grade French class (it was the best food there!). I'm not sure why, as two foods I could live on are cheese and chocolate!

We were served a four-course meal, starting with chedder fondue with bread, apples (surprisingly good for dipping!) and veggies. The 2nd course was a salad. I picked Mushroom more due to the lack of a Caesar than anything else. It was definitely not what I expected, however it was tres yummy. The mushrooms were fully half of the salad, with greens being the other half. They were thin cut, good consistency (normally my complaint about mushrooms), and came with a tart Italianesque dressing. I added fresh pepper and a sweet garlic and wine spice that I used for most of the meal.

Next was the main course, and we had picked the Mojo style (really called that!) for our dipping/cooking. To be honest, I didn't really know it was for cooking our food until after they brought out two pounds of raw meat, fish, and chicken! It was a luxuurious citronella/cajun combination that combined the sweet/spicy flavor that seemed to be the theme for the evening. I loved it, but I think we all agreed that by the time we were done we would have liked to try some different flavors.

The dessert fondue was exquisite and nearly caused some diabetic comas at the table. We chose a milk chocolate (at my urging) over some of the alternate choices. To dip we had brownies (yumm!), pound cake, bananas (blech!), strawberries, and two types of marshmellows, one covered in graham cracker bits and the other in chocolate.

The whole meal took a bit over two hours, and was worth every minute. I left stuffed, and I think my compatriots shared my opinion.

Best. Meal. Ever. 5 Stars, and one I will take my Mom to next time she is in town!