TESSA PICTURES!

Hand-made dress compliments of Quiver -o- Blessings ... MUCHO GRACIAS!

It's not like we haven't been taking any... we just have been too busy (and too tired) to post them.

The Truth Comes Out

Finally the man admits his intent:

‘My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.
I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.’

- Barack Obama

The First Step Is Admitting You Have A Problem

Last night I had to cover the data posting shift at my job, meaning that I had to wake up at 2 AM and log on to my work PC from home. So as not to wake up my wife I slept on the couch with an alarm clock waking me up at the appointed hour.

But apparently this precaution was unnecessary as my beloved was up watching the 3ABN network late into the night, only turning it off when she heard my alarm go off. I think it's time f or an intervention.

LEMON CURRY?

SiteMeter

I don't check my SiteMeter all that often but when I do it provides me with much more giddiness than is appropriate for an adult male. For example, why does it make me giggle that some Brooklyn police officer (or some hacker connecting over the New York City Police Department ISP) spent two minutes and three seconds on my post about monkey bars?

I've come to the realization that I must be a ghost.

I have this uncanny ability to walk through crowded post-church service hallways without anyone making eye contact or acknowledging my presence -doesn't matter if it's a narthex or a "fellowship hall", mainline Protestant or independent, member or visitor.

The other day I was talking to a co-worker in his office and within three minutes two different people came in and started talking to him as if I wasn't there.

And then today I get an e-mail invitation to a musical performance by a friend from college and another "multi-instrumentalist" musician he knows. Hmmmm.... a quick check of my e-mail confirms that I didn't imagine that a year ago I had originally been invited to join this friend and his friend in a musical combo to see what might develop. The only thing to be decided on was the date of our first practice and then nothing and more nothing until this e-mail.

So I guess the decision now is either to become a poltergeist or quietly fade into oblivion.

BOO!

UPDATE: I went for the poltergeist and wrote back, stating that I'm not owed an explanation but that I was curious as to what happened. The response is that this recent group happened very recently and spontaneously (they go to the same church) and that one of his covert goals was to get me to the gig to see if it might be something I'd be interested in. It would have been nice if he had sent me an e-mail with this info instead of including me on a blanket invitation but at least I now have the full story. The pity party has ended but I'm still a ghost... nearly all bass players are.

Formula for a Perfect Day

1. Wake Up
2. Shower
3. Feed and water cat
4. Put hose on climbing hydrangea to get a wee bit of water (wait for it)
5. Get bike from garage
6. Ride to work
7. Work for nine hours (eight plus an hour lunch pleasantly spend reading)
8. Ride bike back home
9. Notice that you forgot to turn off the hose and shout "AYE CARUMBA!"

Beware the Greyhound

Vince Weiguang Li, who immigrated to Canada from China in 2004, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old carnival worker Tim McLean. He has yet to enter a plea.

Thirty-seven passengers were aboard the Greyhound from Edmonton, Alberta, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, as it traveled at night along a desolate stretch of the TransCanada Highway about 12 miles from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Witnesses said Li attacked McLean unprovoked, stabbing him dozens of times.

As horrified passengers fled the bus, Li severed McLean's head, displaying it to some of the passengers outside the bus, witnesses said.

A police officer at the scene reported seeing the attacker hacking off pieces of the victim's body and eating them, according to a police report.

I wish I could say I was shocked but this kind of thing happens at my work all the time. Never fall asleep during a meeting right before lunch.

On Hold Part 2

I tried again... same stuff.

Listen for yourself... I guarantee you won't get through!

1-800-444-2001 Option 3

Also good is the fake investing talk show at Prophet Finance: 800-710-1819. Sometimes I call this JUST to be on hold.

On Hold

I'm currently on hold (4:34 and counting) with the hospital to ask about early or cash payment discounts. It's common to get a 10% discount and 10% of two grand is nothing to sneeze at. Just don't sneeze at the hospital 'cause they may admit you.

The great thing about this hold service is the music... flowing, gentle piano over a soothing string section... calming and tranquil except that it is jarringly interrupted every five to ten seconds with a reminder that you are in purgatory.

**flowing music... ah, nice...***
"AN OPERATOR WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY"
***lovely piano***
"THANK YOU FOR HOLDING"
***sweeping string section, it's a field of flowers***
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!"

So not only do you have to endure being on hold but you can't enjoy being lulled into a coma by the music.

It's now 7:15 in hold time and I'm being told the business hours (and I'm currently smack dab in the middle of those hours) and that I should leave a message for a call back. I did that THREE HOURS AGO and have year to hear back. Frustrating, Dupont Hospital... frustrating.