We had to break the news to my step son yesterday that one of his new fish has vanished from the tank. He got mad and blamed it on the three original fish. He said it had to have been them who killed the new guy. We talked him down from his wrath, telling him that we don't know what happened and that whatever it was it's not something to get mad about. They are just fish and they just do what fish do, that's all. After a few minutes he relaxed and was all right again.
At bed time I took a look at the tank and saw five fish. I thought I'd be nice to them and throw another tiny pinch of food in. I opened the top, dropped in some flakes, closed the top, and watched...
and I swear the yellow glow fish that I know I had seen seconds before was gone.
I almost shit a brick. I swear it had been right there, and then when I looked again? Nothing. Gone. I left the room without mentioning it to my step son. If we lost another one just a couple of hours after telling him about the first one he'd be a wreck.
Fortunately when I went back in this morning to turn off the tank's light (he can't reach it) the yellow glow fish was in sight again. That was the moment that I realized...
The fish are messing with my head.
I bet the green glow fish is still in there. Hiding. I bet when they hear footsteps outside of the room he burrows under the fake rocks at the bottom of the tank and waits for me to leave before coming out again. Either that or he's hiding in the little cave thingie.
It's bad enough that our cat is clearly plotting to kill me, but now I find that we have a smart ass fish who's trying to convince me that I'm losing my mind.
Thanks a ton, pets.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Quick All Star Rant
Did anyone watch the MLB All Star Game last night?
Neither did I.
I checked the score once. The American League was losing to the National League in the 5th inning. That was all the caring I could spare. It doesn't matter what the league does to try and manufacture importance the game is just boring. It used to be a showcase for the best players in each league to play against each other. Now it is a showcase for disgustingly rich people to get some face time on network television during prime time. I really can't see it as anything beyond that.
All of the major sports all star games have become the same thing. Gimmicks. Top players routinely don't show up. Baseball, Hockey, and Basketball have events that don't have anything to do with the game itself that have become more of a draw than the actual draw (I have never paid a single second worth of attention to the NFL Pro Bowl so I don't know if they have a skills showcase of some kind or not).
Why do these events exist? So the leagues' major corporate sponsors can schmooze. That's it. They have nothing to do with the sports themselves, little to nothing to do with the players, apart from when the corporate sponsors schmooze them, and apart from the aforementioned camera time they really don't have anything to give the fans either. In fact, the only people who benefit from these events are the players who are not chosen to participate. They get a couple of days off from work out of it.
Hooray, major league baseballs' best players can hit home runs in batting practice. Hooray, the best players in the NBA can slam dunk and hit 3 point shots. Hooray, the best players in the NHL can shoot straight and hard and skate fast. Yippee. No shit, Sherlock.
Can we get back to games that mean something now?
Thanks.
Neither did I.
I checked the score once. The American League was losing to the National League in the 5th inning. That was all the caring I could spare. It doesn't matter what the league does to try and manufacture importance the game is just boring. It used to be a showcase for the best players in each league to play against each other. Now it is a showcase for disgustingly rich people to get some face time on network television during prime time. I really can't see it as anything beyond that.
All of the major sports all star games have become the same thing. Gimmicks. Top players routinely don't show up. Baseball, Hockey, and Basketball have events that don't have anything to do with the game itself that have become more of a draw than the actual draw (I have never paid a single second worth of attention to the NFL Pro Bowl so I don't know if they have a skills showcase of some kind or not).
Why do these events exist? So the leagues' major corporate sponsors can schmooze. That's it. They have nothing to do with the sports themselves, little to nothing to do with the players, apart from when the corporate sponsors schmooze them, and apart from the aforementioned camera time they really don't have anything to give the fans either. In fact, the only people who benefit from these events are the players who are not chosen to participate. They get a couple of days off from work out of it.
Hooray, major league baseballs' best players can hit home runs in batting practice. Hooray, the best players in the NBA can slam dunk and hit 3 point shots. Hooray, the best players in the NHL can shoot straight and hard and skate fast. Yippee. No shit, Sherlock.
Can we get back to games that mean something now?
Thanks.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Is it Time to Go Yet?
Seven years ago today I was hired. I'm still here. Seven years is the longest I've stuck to anything in my entire adult life. I went to two colleges and got a mini degree and a real degree over the course of seven years. Work is now tied with school.
How does this anniversary make me feel?
It makes me want next months vacation to get here RIGHT NOW! RIGHT NOW! We're going to San Diego. We're going to Disney Land. We're going to Southern California during the summer. We're going to swim in the Pacific ocean like it's nobody's business. We're going to ride Splash Mountain like we just don't care.
I jokingly said to Jen recently that before we go to California we should all spend a day at the beach here. Maybe Old Orchard, or Hampton, or something. I figured, jokingly, that we could have a discussion with the kids where we compare and contrast the two biggest oceans on Earth.
Jen then came up with a really great idea that made me really want to get to the Atlantic before we fly out West to visit the Pacific. She said we should fill up a couple of water bottles with water from the Atlantic, and then pour that water into the Pacific, there bye mixing the two oceans. Isn't that a great idea? I think that's a great idea. I want to do it!
I want to go on vacation, damn it!
Seven years... I think I should be ready for retirement by now, don't you? Maybe we'll open up that ice cream shop in San Diego after all.
How does this anniversary make me feel?
It makes me want next months vacation to get here RIGHT NOW! RIGHT NOW! We're going to San Diego. We're going to Disney Land. We're going to Southern California during the summer. We're going to swim in the Pacific ocean like it's nobody's business. We're going to ride Splash Mountain like we just don't care.
I jokingly said to Jen recently that before we go to California we should all spend a day at the beach here. Maybe Old Orchard, or Hampton, or something. I figured, jokingly, that we could have a discussion with the kids where we compare and contrast the two biggest oceans on Earth.
Jen then came up with a really great idea that made me really want to get to the Atlantic before we fly out West to visit the Pacific. She said we should fill up a couple of water bottles with water from the Atlantic, and then pour that water into the Pacific, there bye mixing the two oceans. Isn't that a great idea? I think that's a great idea. I want to do it!
I want to go on vacation, damn it!
Seven years... I think I should be ready for retirement by now, don't you? Maybe we'll open up that ice cream shop in San Diego after all.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
What did I do on Saturday?
I cleaned the bejeezus out of the house. Living room, dining room, kitchen, mud room, all straightened up enough that I would not have been embarrassed for other people to see it. (see events of Sunday) Latter that evening we paid a visit to Larry and Nawal's house where I finally got a fully fledged wide smiling laugh out of their son. Peek-a-Boo is just all win. Sure we were playing it through a gate and he could see me the whole time, but it doesn't matter. The laughter coming from the little man was genuine and so very, very awesome.
What did I do on Sunday?
I got my hair cut, finally. No more shag carpet on this fat guy's head. Jen and I went together. I got hair chopped off. She had her hair done for real and she looks fantastic. Later we found ourselves sitting outside of Market Basket, about to go food shopping, and discussing what we wanted to buy. We decided on having a somewhat spur of the moment cookout. My parents said they could come. So did Larry and Nawal. We grilled up some burgers and steaks and potatoes (there were exactly enough of them) and Jen made some pasta salad, and we all hung out at our house pretty much marveling over how awesome Larry and Nawal's son is.
The in between time was spent with my beautiful wife, just enjoying her company, and enjoying our home, and relaxing and being happy. I love my wife like crazy, I really must say.
The only two negatives this weekend were:
A) it is over
B) what the hell happened to the green fish? Where the hell did it go?
I cleaned the bejeezus out of the house. Living room, dining room, kitchen, mud room, all straightened up enough that I would not have been embarrassed for other people to see it. (see events of Sunday) Latter that evening we paid a visit to Larry and Nawal's house where I finally got a fully fledged wide smiling laugh out of their son. Peek-a-Boo is just all win. Sure we were playing it through a gate and he could see me the whole time, but it doesn't matter. The laughter coming from the little man was genuine and so very, very awesome.
What did I do on Sunday?
I got my hair cut, finally. No more shag carpet on this fat guy's head. Jen and I went together. I got hair chopped off. She had her hair done for real and she looks fantastic. Later we found ourselves sitting outside of Market Basket, about to go food shopping, and discussing what we wanted to buy. We decided on having a somewhat spur of the moment cookout. My parents said they could come. So did Larry and Nawal. We grilled up some burgers and steaks and potatoes (there were exactly enough of them) and Jen made some pasta salad, and we all hung out at our house pretty much marveling over how awesome Larry and Nawal's son is.
The in between time was spent with my beautiful wife, just enjoying her company, and enjoying our home, and relaxing and being happy. I love my wife like crazy, I really must say.
The only two negatives this weekend were:
A) it is over
B) what the hell happened to the green fish? Where the hell did it go?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Thought
I had a thought...
We have started playing music quietly at night in the hopes of distracting a certain someone named Jen from the noisy snoring of a certain someone named Rob. The music of choice is The Beatles.
I was just wondering: if we listen to The Beatles at bedtime, will my pea-brain train itself to associate The Beatles with sleeping, and therefore will hearing John, Paul, George, and Ringo make me feel really tired on any non-bed time hearings?
Just wondering.
We have started playing music quietly at night in the hopes of distracting a certain someone named Jen from the noisy snoring of a certain someone named Rob. The music of choice is The Beatles.
I was just wondering: if we listen to The Beatles at bedtime, will my pea-brain train itself to associate The Beatles with sleeping, and therefore will hearing John, Paul, George, and Ringo make me feel really tired on any non-bed time hearings?
Just wondering.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Fish?
I'm positive there were six fish in the tank on Thursday night. 100% positive.
Why then are there only five now?
Where did the green one go?
My sister just called me. The Stanley Cup is making an appearance in Tewksbury and she and my sister in law are there to see it. The cops told her there were about 1000 people. Can you imagine how many more there would be if Joe Corvo had not been acquired?
The living room is presentable. Next stop is the kitchen.
One of our neighbors is playing crappy music at an extreme volume in their back yard. Time to break out the old PA system?
For the record, I'm touch typing on the iPad. So cool. So very cool.
Why then are there only five now?
Where did the green one go?
My sister just called me. The Stanley Cup is making an appearance in Tewksbury and she and my sister in law are there to see it. The cops told her there were about 1000 people. Can you imagine how many more there would be if Joe Corvo had not been acquired?
The living room is presentable. Next stop is the kitchen.
One of our neighbors is playing crappy music at an extreme volume in their back yard. Time to break out the old PA system?
For the record, I'm touch typing on the iPad. So cool. So very cool.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Google+
I'm on Google+!
I got an invite from a former co-worker and joined up. I immediately sent an invite to Jen so we're both on now!
Unfortunately, very few other people that we know are on with us. So it's going to be a little lame in the early days.
First impressions? The Stream is not a stream. Entries that have comments placed on them are moved to the top of the list. I think it should be in chronological order, but that's just me.
You can edit comments. Hey Facebook, this is what we call a "novel idea." Try it out, mmmmokay?
I haven't used very many of the other features because I don't have enough connections yet. I set up Circles for people from school and people from work, but most of the people I know will either end up under friends or family. Jen is magical, she shows up in both.
Plus is integrated with Buzz! Finally a reason to look at Buzz! Oh wait... no it isn't. Linking it to Buzz is probably reason enough to expect Plus to die a quick death.
Outside of that? My first impression is Twitter with your followers separated into groups. I can post something into my stream and have one group see it while all the others don't, or vice versa or whatever. This way I can put all of my family members into one circle and then swear my head off all day long and just exclude family from the conversation. See, Mom? I learned my lesson that time you washed my mouth out with soap for dropping Eff Bombs on the 1st grade playground.
I got an invite from a former co-worker and joined up. I immediately sent an invite to Jen so we're both on now!
Unfortunately, very few other people that we know are on with us. So it's going to be a little lame in the early days.
First impressions? The Stream is not a stream. Entries that have comments placed on them are moved to the top of the list. I think it should be in chronological order, but that's just me.
You can edit comments. Hey Facebook, this is what we call a "novel idea." Try it out, mmmmokay?
I haven't used very many of the other features because I don't have enough connections yet. I set up Circles for people from school and people from work, but most of the people I know will either end up under friends or family. Jen is magical, she shows up in both.
Plus is integrated with Buzz! Finally a reason to look at Buzz! Oh wait... no it isn't. Linking it to Buzz is probably reason enough to expect Plus to die a quick death.
Outside of that? My first impression is Twitter with your followers separated into groups. I can post something into my stream and have one group see it while all the others don't, or vice versa or whatever. This way I can put all of my family members into one circle and then swear my head off all day long and just exclude family from the conversation. See, Mom? I learned my lesson that time you washed my mouth out with soap for dropping Eff Bombs on the 1st grade playground.
Google Doesn't Love Me
What do I have to do, Google? What do I have to do to prove my love for you?
I use Gmail for my email.
I use Blogger for my bloggering.
I use Google Music.
I used to use Google Wave a whole lot, probably as much as anyone alive.
I even used Google Buzz for the three or four days it was available.
I use Google Talk (sometimes).
I use Google Latitude.
I use Google Maps constantly.
I use Google Calendar constantly.
I use the Google iPhone app all the time.
I use Google Picasa all the time.
I use Google Picasa online to host all of the mobile pictures on this page.
I use Google as the default search engine on every browser I use.
Why, then, oh why have you not sent me a Google+ invite?
Have I not proven my love for Google millions of times?
What must I do?
I don't suppose any of you kind people reading this would want to send a Google+ invite my way, would you? No, you wouldn't do that. I'm going to need Google to send me one directly, but they don't love me nearly as much as I love them.
Oh Google, why have you forsaken me?
I use Gmail for my email.
I use Blogger for my bloggering.
I use Google Music.
I used to use Google Wave a whole lot, probably as much as anyone alive.
I even used Google Buzz for the three or four days it was available.
I use Google Talk (sometimes).
I use Google Latitude.
I use Google Maps constantly.
I use Google Calendar constantly.
I use the Google iPhone app all the time.
I use Google Picasa all the time.
I use Google Picasa online to host all of the mobile pictures on this page.
I use Google as the default search engine on every browser I use.
Why, then, oh why have you not sent me a Google+ invite?
Have I not proven my love for Google millions of times?
What must I do?
I don't suppose any of you kind people reading this would want to send a Google+ invite my way, would you? No, you wouldn't do that. I'm going to need Google to send me one directly, but they don't love me nearly as much as I love them.
Oh Google, why have you forsaken me?
Weekend
So close... weekend... 8 hours to go... need the weekend... sad it's only a two day weekend, but not caring because I need the weekend... need two days off... need freedom for two days... need to not have to work for two days... need the weekend... need the weekend... 8 hours to the weekend... can't get here fast enough... hurry up, clock... weekend... weekend... weekend... weekend... weekend... weekend...
No Longer a Family Show
You gotta love Red Sox fans, don't you?
Really, you have to love anything that causes professional sports announcers to come completely unglued.
Really, you have to love anything that causes professional sports announcers to come completely unglued.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Greg the Bunny Plays Star Wars
I haven't posted any Greg the Bunny clips lately. Here's a great one.
Blank Again
I'm having another one of those nothing-to-say mornings. I am kinda tired. I didn't sleep much last night. The Netflix app on my iPad acted up and pissed me off quite a bit. It sorta messed with my night time routine. Generally Jen and I go to bed at the same time and "read" for a while. I put read in quotes because in recent weeks reading for me has entailed watching Battlestar Galactica on Netflix. Just prior to that reading for Jen meant watching Glee on Netflix. So you see, "reading" has a lose definition these days. Anyway, we try to make it so she goes to sleep first. If I fall asleep first my snoring keeps her awake, but when she falls asleep first her snoring does not keep me awake. We've also been experimenting with having music playing (The Beatles Mono Remasters box set on shuffle, although I might switch to the stereo box set tonight) quietly as sort of a white noise/snoring distraction. It's worked well so far.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Netflix flipping out a little threw me off. I ended up reading a little and then watching Battlestar Galactica. I finished season two last night. I like it... but not quite as much as I did in the first season.
What else is going on? This weekend the kids are with their Dad. I believe part of our plans should be to clean the hell out of our house. It's a mess. This is me motivating myself to clean the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, and our bedroom. It must be done. We also need to mow the lawn, but unfortunately our lawn mower broke when I tried to use it on Monday. The safety mechanism thing where you have to hold the bar closed in order to run the engine broke. The plastic piece that keeps the wire that connects the bar to the engine broke, so now there is no tension on it when you close the bar. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
Good news, the Red Sox won last night and the Yankees lost. We are now only half a game out of our rightful first place position.
I still want to post some of the weekend in NH pictures from this past weekend, but I haven't had a chance. Maybe sometime today I'll throw some up.
Until next time...
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Netflix flipping out a little threw me off. I ended up reading a little and then watching Battlestar Galactica. I finished season two last night. I like it... but not quite as much as I did in the first season.
What else is going on? This weekend the kids are with their Dad. I believe part of our plans should be to clean the hell out of our house. It's a mess. This is me motivating myself to clean the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, and our bedroom. It must be done. We also need to mow the lawn, but unfortunately our lawn mower broke when I tried to use it on Monday. The safety mechanism thing where you have to hold the bar closed in order to run the engine broke. The plastic piece that keeps the wire that connects the bar to the engine broke, so now there is no tension on it when you close the bar. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
Good news, the Red Sox won last night and the Yankees lost. We are now only half a game out of our rightful first place position.
I still want to post some of the weekend in NH pictures from this past weekend, but I haven't had a chance. Maybe sometime today I'll throw some up.
Until next time...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Awesome
So my step son and I went to the pet store tonight and picked up three new fish. While we were out my step daughter and my lovely wife stayed home and watched a Barbara Streisand musical (the horror... the horror).
So when we got home my awesome step son asked if we could do something together. His suggestion? Listen to the Red Sox game on the radio. Oh happiness!!!!!
Can you see the new fish?
So when we got home my awesome step son asked if we could do something together. His suggestion? Listen to the Red Sox game on the radio. Oh happiness!!!!!
Can you see the new fish?
Wasn't I Just Here?
Back at work this morning after working 2nd shift last night. It's almost like working a double. I feel like I never left.
Hopefully today I won't have to spend any time listening to the fire alarms wailing. At least it broke up the evening, yesterday.
I have to say again how pissed off I am that the Bruins traded for Joe Corvo. I hate him more than any player in the league. He is scum. He is slime. He beat the shit out of a woman and all he got was a suspended sentence and a three game suspension from the LA Kings (his team at the time). I don't care how good he is, it boggles my mind that teams keep hiring him. It boggles my mind that the Bruins would even consider him, doubly so since the assault happened in Boston. He is going to be paid 2.5 million dollars this year as he returns to the scene of the crime. It's disgusting.
Anyway, now that the 4th of July weekend is over, and we had a great time, it is time to start focusing on the next adventure on the horizon... San Diego. Jen, the kids, and I are going for a week, next month. I can't wait. I seriously cannot wait. I have been looking forward to this for a long time, but trying not to spend a lot of energy thinking about it. Now though, with it quickly approaching it is going to start becoming an all consuming obsession. I can't wait!
So my parting thoughts are thus:
May your Wednesday be better than your Tuesday was.
May the Bruins wake up and trade that Corvo scumbag.
May the days between today and San Diego fly, but may the days in San Diego take their sweet time.
Hopefully today I won't have to spend any time listening to the fire alarms wailing. At least it broke up the evening, yesterday.
I have to say again how pissed off I am that the Bruins traded for Joe Corvo. I hate him more than any player in the league. He is scum. He is slime. He beat the shit out of a woman and all he got was a suspended sentence and a three game suspension from the LA Kings (his team at the time). I don't care how good he is, it boggles my mind that teams keep hiring him. It boggles my mind that the Bruins would even consider him, doubly so since the assault happened in Boston. He is going to be paid 2.5 million dollars this year as he returns to the scene of the crime. It's disgusting.
Anyway, now that the 4th of July weekend is over, and we had a great time, it is time to start focusing on the next adventure on the horizon... San Diego. Jen, the kids, and I are going for a week, next month. I can't wait. I seriously cannot wait. I have been looking forward to this for a long time, but trying not to spend a lot of energy thinking about it. Now though, with it quickly approaching it is going to start becoming an all consuming obsession. I can't wait!
So my parting thoughts are thus:
May your Wednesday be better than your Tuesday was.
May the Bruins wake up and trade that Corvo scumbag.
May the days between today and San Diego fly, but may the days in San Diego take their sweet time.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Way to Spoil that Stanley Cup, Bruins
The Bruins traded a 4th round pick to Carolina today for Joe Corvo.
Joe Corvo who, while playing for the Manchester Monarchs went out to dinner in Boston's Chinatown and beat the living shit out of a waitress. He punched her, then when she fell down he kicked her in the head.
He's going to make 2.5 million dollars playing for the Bruins next year instead of rotting in a jail cell. His punishment for violently assaulting a woman in public was a suspension, and following that he paid for his crime by earning millions upon millions of dollars playing in the NHL.
He is the lowest slime imaginable. I will never root for that piece of garbage. Never.
Joe Corvo who, while playing for the Manchester Monarchs went out to dinner in Boston's Chinatown and beat the living shit out of a waitress. He punched her, then when she fell down he kicked her in the head.
He's going to make 2.5 million dollars playing for the Bruins next year instead of rotting in a jail cell. His punishment for violently assaulting a woman in public was a suspension, and following that he paid for his crime by earning millions upon millions of dollars playing in the NHL.
He is the lowest slime imaginable. I will never root for that piece of garbage. Never.
Weekend Picture Preview
I don't have time to post a real picture recap of the weekend, but I do have time to throw up a couple of quickies.
Waterfall #1
Waterfall #2
30 second exposure of stars
Waterfall #1
Waterfall #2
30 second exposure of stars
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