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Moving Along
Refried, that was a fantastic read. Recipes, family, drama, all of it. I can't say I'm shocked because I know you write very well but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Family can be weird. I am the black sheep in my family who live 3000 miles away from here (Maryland). I chose that distance for several reasons and have decided to never question that decision, let alone look back. However, as I get older and my family gets older (my mother's health has started its slow decline at around 60 years old, as is typical in my family), I have been very tempted to move back there to be around them. But I've found even visiting them is very difficult for me because we only argue and when we realize what we've been doing the entire time, there's no time left to enjoy ourselves because it's time for me to leave. I'm not sure I have the stamina and/or willpower to live like that again. But I have learned that our family, our blood-link would be a shame to let go to waste. This is something I struggle with constantly and don't know what to do about it. I miss them, I love them (even through all the B.S.) but my patience is razor thin. Anyway. I really enjoyed reading this, refried. Thanks for the recipes, too! If I weren't allergic to seafood, I'd try all of it... ha.— November 18, 2009 7:03 p.m.
Them Other Humans!
The issue with cloning, I think, has nothing to do with clones themselves but the people who do the cloning. In fact, it's more than just the "scientists," too, who are the issue. The issue is with humans and our inane need for more "things," clones or shoes or even drugs. It's as if we have a gene in our system that begs for more even though there's enough. I'd like to see cloning for scientific purposes, such as prosthetics, but I know that's not going to happen. It's going to get out of control and we're going to need Will Smith to save us all. As for me, I'll take Elle Macpherson from the mid-80s, please-and-thank-you. Ah, hormonal flashbacks from my teen years.— November 18, 2009 6:44 p.m.
It's Better To Burn Out Than It Is To Fade
Whenever I see his "work," I get a strong desire to have some Sleepy Time tea. You know the box, the one with a bear in pajamas with a cat on its lap in front of fire. If I have no Sleepy Time tea around while looking at Kinkade, I tend to find myself preferring eye gouging with a rusty spoon. The guy's stuff puts me to sleep and just has no substance to it. Am I some kind of art connoisseur? Not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I think most art is either crap or just something for the art-hags to churn over while they sip cheap wine and say things like, "Ah, yes" and "If I do say so myself...." That's not to say that I don't like art because there are some things out there that are fantastic and thought provoking pieces. But here's my big issue with art.... About 5 or so years ago I was at the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington D.C. and came across a canvas painted in white. No pictures, objects, not even a splatter of paint a la Pollack. Just plain white. The "security guard" came over and decided to give me a lesson on the piece (of crap) I was looking at. He had me move to the side of the painting and take in the textures and layers of paint on the canvas and how the light hit certain parts revealing different shades of the same color. I was with an ex-girlfriend and my mother and they lapped it up, loving every second of it. I didn't get it. I mean, it's white paint on a canvas and globbed on heavier in some parts more than others. How is that even art? My three nieces, all under the age of seven, can do the same thing if not better but you don't see their "art" hanging in a major museum. No, it's on my brother's fridge in his house. The "Study of White" I was looking at didn't even deserve to be on the wall of a walk-in freezer where I work. Hell, the veggies would be too colorful for it. While I appreciate art, I appreciate good art, art that grabs you immediately and shakes some sense into you. If I wanted to look at nothing on a canvas, I'd stare at a blank wall. This is why art and the art world confuses me. Admittedly, most of what I don't like is modern art because there are some fantastic painters "back in day." But art these days, much like contemporary classical music, is just stroking an ego that needs to be knocked down a peg or two due to its lack of substance, Kinkade included.— November 18, 2009 5:27 p.m.
Ill Postino & Kid Unemployed (The Choose Your Own Adventure Version)
Page 4: It's 6:34pm on a Tuesday. I haven't received mail in nearly a week, last Wednesday to be exact. I was supposed to get my unemployment check last Friday. I've positioned myself while looking for jobs on Craigslist so that I can see out the window in case the mailman comes. Since we're having a bit of a warm spell, I thought I'd bring him some water. With cyanide. I don't really have any cyanide handy, in case you're wondering. Besides, I'm no murderer. I just want my money. Wouldn't you? Sure, there's a lot of junk mail that comes along with everything but it doesn't matter. Again, I just want my money. During breaks from the job search, my mind constantly wanders to why I am getting no mail. Am I being watched by the FBI and they're monitoring my mail, opening it first before I get it? Or is it much less sinister and the accuracy of the term "snail mail" is directly on point? Whatever it is, something has to change. And if I really do want that unemployment check, it's obvious I have to make that happen myself. South Park's not getting any cheaper. *** To plan out a phone call to file a complaint, turn to page 9. To plan out a conversation with the mailman the next time he comes, turn to page 12.— November 17, 2009 8:53 p.m.
Ill Postino & Kid Unemployed (The Choose Your Own Adventure Version)
Basically, SD, I'm ranting about the fact that for some reason my mail service here sucks. Instead of just saying "My mail service here sucks," I thought I'd try to have a little fun and make an interactive story out of it. And yes, there is a small touch of boredom for motivation. I think you've been reading those serious posts too long... ha.— November 17, 2009 5:07 p.m.
Ill Postino & Kid Unemployed (The Choose Your Own Adventure Version)
Oh, right. That info might be helpful, hunh? Thanks Pete. Season 6 of Lost starts in January so I decided to start at the beginning and watch them again so it's all fresh.— November 17, 2009 4:07 p.m.
Ill Postino & Kid Unemployed (The Choose Your Own Adventure Version)
Quite honestly, Pete, I'm not sure how Pike came up with that one but, well, that's his brain-child. As for "Page 4," I will write that soon. Unfortunately Hulu is removing the first nine episodes of Season 5 at 2am tonight before they put on the remainder of that season and I'm at the last 2 episodes of Season 4. Therefore I have about 11 episodes to watch in a short period of time. I think it can be done, though. I'm a trooper. But yes, Pete was the first to make a request so I will put up Page 4 in the comments section soon. No use filling the blog site with my lunacy. I'll keep it to the post itself.— November 17, 2009 3:32 p.m.
The Periodic Chumming of the Waters of Commerce
Hmm. I wonder if they're hiring.— November 17, 2009 11:34 a.m.
Basically Little Dinosaurs
First, there's a fantastic hiking trail out by Julian. The park is called Santa Ysabel. It's a great place. Next time you're up in that area eating apple pie, swing over there and hike for an hour or two. Oh, and if you encounter mountain lions, here are two things I learned (and not from experience, just from reading the warnings): 1. Get very loud and if you have to, throw rocks to scare it away. The first time my ex-girlfriend and I went, we grabbed a plastic bag out of the car and gathered rocks as we hiked... ha. But we at least felt "safer." 2. This one really freaked me out the first time I read this warning: "Don't crouch down; the lion has seen you long before you saw it." Wait, what? And all along the trail what did we see? Mountain lion droppings. Yet we still went on hiking. Totally worth it, too. Fortunately we didn't encounter any kitties with large teeth but on another trip we encountered a rattle snake lying across the trail. That was fun. As for the rest of the post, I must admit that the ref actually really may be blind. I mean, he did say San Diego Craigslist and Dubai is, well, not San Diego. Though I bet some parts of the year the weather might be similar. And the cab drivers here, too. Anyway. I'm with CFish on this one. Bad judgment call on the ref's part. On a side note completely unrelated to the post itself, if you like hiking I suggest Palomar Mountain. I absolutely LOVE those trails and that park. It's one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been.— November 15, 2009 2:21 p.m.
Pause For Dramatic Effect
Clay Aiken? You mean the guy with 400 different haircuts? To quote a song, I've got muscles he doesn't even use.— November 13, 2009 11:57 p.m.