Monday, October 22, 2007

Phrases that sound dirty but are not

tethering the blimp
cleaning the dipstick
seeding the watermelon
unwrapping the package
shaping the wig
tapping the keg
marking the spot
spotting the bird
crunch and munch
updating my Facebook profile
voting for Kucinich
fluffing the pillows
plucking the turkey
getting your liver
adding the extra point
setting fire to the wood
hanging out at the corner
parking on the curb
priming the udder
fastening the snap
barking at the moon
double dipping
lassoing the moon
icing the cupcake
mastication
stretching the balloon

Friday, October 19, 2007

suchnone #353

Update on the update on my Dad: He will be going into a rehab center soon. He has been having semi-fainting spells when they get him up for rehab so he is not where he needed to be to be released from any type of care. The rehab center is just down the road so he will still be close by where he and my Mother live.

Just talked to him and told him he needs to eat his spinach.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

nonesuch #352

So, brief one today. I guess that is better than nothing at all which is par for the course these days.

My Father had hip replacement Tuesday morning of this week. He is still in the hospital but is doing well. He started rehab on the leg yesterday morning and that seems to be going well. He is slowly gaining strength and may come home this weekend.

I have been working on a post entitled "Phrases that sound dirty but are not"(with apologies to David Letterman. In the '80s he had a Top Ten List of the same name but I plan to have more than 10 when I make the post.) It is coming along. If anyone has any to suggest for the list, post in the comments section and I will add it to the list and give you credit.

Planning is almost done for my England trip. Just the little things like what pub on what night and will we repeat any but I do not think we will know for sure until we actually visit one. My father went 30 years ago and was telling me about Parson's Beer which was for the children to drink but it was some kind of soft drink, not beer. For my friends in England, do they still have such a drink?


Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Imagine




http://www.imaginepeace.com


Happy birthday John Lennon, wherever you are.

Monday, October 08, 2007

nonesuch #351

Thursday - Get up early to take car in for inspection sticker, oil change and to take a look at the fan blower. I am there about an hour and they come out and start going down a list of things that have to be done or serious trouble could happen in the next 25,000 miles or less. Words like timing chain, cooling system replacement, main cooling fan not working, kitchen sink not working(ok that one just through in cause well I wanted to) ends up just about everything was touched, replaced and updated except the engine, breaks and clutch. Car will not be ready so I can go to work that afternoon/evening. Have several meetings that day so cannot be late. Have to get rental car. I will say that Enterprise car rental is awesome, at least the one in Greensboro. Great folks, quick service, not a bad car and for $30, a 24 hour rental, unlimited mileage. Anyway, would have to come back Friday to pick up my car. Looking at around $1000 parts and labor.

Friday - Again leave early in the morning. Arrive at Enterprise, turn car in, they take me to the car dealership. When I arrive they tell me the other cooling fan needs replacing so I say, go ahead. It will take an hour to finish. I do get to watch Saved By The Bell, Zach and Kelly's Vegas Wedding while waiting.
About an hour later, the car is ready and I see the total cost, little under $1300, most of my savings. Savings that I had been setting aside for 18 months, spent in less than 24 hours, savings for my trip to England. Needless to say I am bummed in the most major degree. What was I going to do? I had maybe $300 for 3 weeks in England. It could be done but I would be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, curries and red beans and rice the entire time with maybe a pint a week as a treat. I do that at my house. Yes, it would be in another country but not really how I had imagined the trip. We had already talked of cutting things before this but now it would be threadbare indeed.

Friday afternoon - I get a call from my Dad. He and my Mom had said they would be giving funds to help on my trip for my birthday and Christmas. They had said this well before my huge car repair bill. On the phone he said how much was the total car bill. That he would pay for that so I would not need to use my savings for my trip. I am right back where I was before. It was a very long 24-26 hours. Up and down indeed and not in the good way.

Saturday - Woke early, played lord of the rings online all day. College football served as background noise. Games are pretty much on for 12 hours.

Sunday - again, woke early, played lord of the rings online all day. NFL football served as background noise. Another 12 hours of football. Fell asleep during the night game.

My exciting life...

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

nonesuch #350

Got my reservations for the hotel/hostel I will be staying in London during my trip to England in December. I am excited about the place. It is in Hyde Park which I hear is nice and not far from Paddington Station so near the Tube so we can get around while in the city. Need to check into BritRail passes sometime soon. if anyone has any suggestions on what kind I should get, any information will be helpful. The BritRail website is a bit confusing and I want to get a pass or passes that will be the best for my trip and where I will be going and so on.

Not much going on these days.

My Dad will be having hip replacement surgery in 2 weeks. Think he is looking forward to it. He has been walking with much pain for years now. My Mom has mentioned she is ready for him to have it as well.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

nonesuch #349

No matter where you are
I can still hear you when you dream
You traveled very far
You traveled far, like a star
And you are
All of those yesterdays
Coming around
- Smashing Pumpkins

It was homecoming where I work this past weekend. I do tours of the campus for returning alumni and set up displays with yearbooks, newspapers and other items at the various class reunions. Having a direct connection to the time they were here can really open up the memories. It was my Father's 50th reunion and I went to the dinner they held. At the dinner, the members of his class went around and updated their classmates with what they had done the past 50 years. When my Dad spoke he said that he had one son, who wears a beard and most of you all already know him from the tours. Then he said

"And my wife and I do not have grandkids, yet" and smiled at me.

I just raised my hands and didn't know what to say. I think my Mom put him up to it.

No pressure there, noooo, none at all.


My friend Eoh is in England. Arrived there yesterday morning and has started unpacking. Her and her kitties had a good flight and she is beginning to unpack. She says she knows she made the right decision. I will see her and her fiance in December.

I had an old high school friend send a friend invite on myspace last night. At first I thought cool, but looking at his myspace page, I am not sure how much we will have in common now. Think I last talked to him in 1991 or 1992. Just not sure what to do. Is it even worth making the connection if you have a good feeling that you may have nothing to talk about at all? Any suggestions?