Pavlovian

There's a development near a road I travel about once a week or so. The development is called Abby Trails. I can't help but start singing, "Happy Trails to you until we meet again," every time I drive by it.

Also, there's a Hudson Street in Capital City. I will usually start humming, "Oh, Mrs. Jones is the lady on Hudson Street. She sent her dog to bark at my brother and me. I gave her dog a big fat bone, and now he barks at Mrs. Jones, yeah... Mrs. Jones is the lady on Hudson Street."

Nouns. Ha!

Four Word Movie Review - Godzilla 2000

No need for plot.

Foto Phriday - Halloween Costume Edition

I'm an Elvish impersonator. Click to embiggen.



You ain't nothin' but a balrog, flyin' all the time.
You ain't nothin' but a balrog, flyin' all the time.
You're a thing of flame and darkness,
And you ain't no friend of mine!


Or...

Love Mithlond, o
Gil-galad,
Never let her go.

Not a Morning Person

On Thursday mornings, GPop has to get to work early. On the other days of the week, GPop doesn't leave until after Son gets on the bus, so there's some supervision of Son's morning routine - at least enough to make sure Son gets to school. On Thursdays, I take over that task.

This morning, Son's two-part alarm (6:05 = some dipwad radio Morning Zoo type cr@p; 6:10 = loud beeping) went off. Son shut off the beeping after about two beeps. I was already dressed and reclining on the bed, and GPop was getting on his shirt.

GPop: Morning, Son!

Son:

GPop: [Walking down the stairs] Be sure to make your bed before you go downstairs.

Son:

GPop: Love you too. Bye.

Son: [Trudges into bathroom without making eye contact]

From my bed, I can see down the hall. Son's bedroom door and the bathroom door are opposite each other in the hallway. There was a pause, then some pajamas flew across the hall. I heard some stomping, the clatter of a retainer falling into the cleaning device, and a shower curtain closing. I figured it was safe at this point to go downstairs.

Tip for Parents

An unsolicited stop at Wendy's to buy a Frosty can resolve a lot of parent-child tension.

Golden Oldies

I've spent some time lately reading some of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories about Sherlock Holmes. They're a nice diversion when in waiting situations, such as lunch or whatnot. My phone has an e-reader, and the books are public domain.

I've also been reading Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe stories. I'd have thought that the prose would be a bit hard to grasp, but except for a few differences in social mores and prices of things, the Nero Wolfe books are as accessible as anything written by Dan Brown.

I did notice, though, that "The Crooked Man," starring our hero, Sherlock Holmes, wasn't really one of Conan Doyle's best works. He must have had a tight deadline.

My Dad Says

We gave it a shot, but $#*! My Dad Says isn't going to cut it as one of the top ten sitcoms of all time. And life's too short to waste it on dreck.

I'm Leafing

It's funny how you can rake leaves, and then, when you're done, the trees laugh at you.

A-Maize-ing

We have been in two, count 'em, two corn mazes in the past two days. The first was a simple maze, but the second had a challenge where you had to find the textured panels hidden throughout the maze and do a rubbing on a paper with a crayon to show that you found them. All in all, it was pretty neat.

New Game Show

I've been playing a fun game most of today. It's called, "What's That Smell?" It appears to be tuna salad left out for a couple of days with a side of kimchi.

I left my desk, and I no longer smelled it, so it's not me.

Foto Phriday - Not Me

We've been told and reminded that today is "Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day." As you may have been able to tell from the number of sports-related posts on this blog, I'm not an especially avid sports fan. My answer to the question, "What's your favorite team?" is usually the Sweetwater All-Stars.

GPop works for a company that is closely affiliated with Midwest State University in Capital City. He has a couple of Official JerseysTM that he wears on days where there is some big university event going on. I borrowed on of these shirts to wear today.

After arriving, I discovered that I was on the distribution list for part of my greater department that lives on another floor. Nobody on my floor got the memo. Now I'm wearing this jersey all by myself. Sports drag is my least favorite kind. I feel like this.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

For the past couple of years, I've made our Christmas cards by drawing a picture on the computer and inserting our faces in various places. I'm working on the card now in THREE DEE!

In the Renaissance

Here is a picture of a hot dog sold at Ye Olde Renaissance Faire. This item is advertised as a half pound of "meat." I'm glad they weren't more specific, and I apologize for nightmares.

And Poker

I have been getting about eight to ten political e-mails each day for the past couple of months. Perhaps if I told the Dems I was voting TEA, and the GOP that I was voting Green, they'd all leave me alone.

Mondays

When your company continues operations over the weekend, and your team works through the weekend, Mondays aren't one day later than Friday. Didn't care much for this morning.

The Faire, Redux

Here is Son eating dessert at the Renaissance Fair.  Or, rather, Sonne eatinge desserte at thee Renaissance Faire.

Cleaning

We cleaned several "junk drawer" things today. Now we have about a dozen gift cards of unknown value and provenance. Time to go on a limited shopping spree.

Foto Phriday - Phlowers

My late maternal grandfather liked sunflowers. My grandmother does, too.

Since Grandpa died, GPop and I have planted sunflowers for Grandma each year. We plant some next to her garage and some by a decorative windmill in her yard, which she can see from the kitchen. Now that we're firmly in autumn, here's a nice picture of some summery sunflowers. Share and enjoy!

Fun Vampire

One of Mega Corporation One's stated corporate values is a commitment to employees having fun while on the job. Not the silly, care-free fun of the wild abandon of one's youth, but the measured and nuanced fun of shirts and ties.

I just heard two managers speaking in an elevator. They are people who were peers back when I was a manager, before the presto-change-o switcheroo from a while back. I believe them to be intelligent and caring gentlemen.

One of them said, "I explained 'fun' with regard to expectations and appropriate metrics."

I am glad I have the ability to control outbursts of laughter. That and the ability to read handwriting upside-down have served me well these last several years.

John and Sylvia

Why did the psychic cross the road?

To get to the Other Side.

Will He or Won't He

GPop and I visited a lawyer today to get our wills done. We had done this before, but we hadn't done a full update since Son joined our family. I know - we're delinquent. In any case, we managed to pick the funniest lawyer on this side of town. He's nothing like the corporate compliance lawyers I deal with. Their body of work tends to suck the fun out of them, even though outside of topical work meetings, they can be fun people.

We mentioned the day that we adopted Son, and mentioned the name of the magistrate that held the hearing. Mr. Lawyerman said, "I didn't know they let him do adoptions. He doesn't exactly exude a kid-friendly vibe. He's more of a CPA."

I replied, "Funny you should mention that. Son is writing a paper in English right now about that day. It's supposed to be descriptive, and he described the magistrate as 'cold and professional."

Mr. Lawyerman said, "I'd go with 'impartial and dispensing justice.'"

"I'll report your edits to Son."

Wash Out

The washing machine is dead. Alas.

Baby's Growing

Little RoBet was really talking up a storm today. We had a good time.

Liking the New Job

Even though I was up really late last night to monitor a software installation as part of my new job, I think I'm really enjoying it. What a concept!

Foto (sort of) Phriday - Satire Edition

Storm Chasing in a Honda Fit



Click to embiggen.

Dear copyright and trademark holders, I believe this is fair use for satire.

Found It!

I found the GPS unit. It was hiding.

Burn!

I picked up a glass candle jar last night and burned the cr@p out of my left index finger. Owie!

Not Quite What They Wanted

You may recall that while I loathe telemarketers, I do have a soft spot for survey takers. Last night, a woman named Jennifer, or perhaps Rashivani, called with a promise of not selling me anything if I would only answer a few questions about current politics.

GDad: Define a "few." Is it ten questions, or fifty?

Poller: It will take between five and seven minutes of your time.

GDad: That sounds fair. OK, GO!

Poller: I am on the clock. OK, are you or any members of your household employed by a newspaper, television station, political party, political polling firm, marketing research firm, or radio station?

GDad: No.

Poller: OK, Are you registered to vote at this address?

GDad: Yes.

Poller: OK, do you write a politically-themed blog or comment regularly on blogs that have a political theme?

GDad: Yes.

Poller: OK, that's all my questions. Thank you, and have a great night. *CLICK*

GDad; [pouting] Awwww....

Driving the Point Home

Son now has his temporary learner's permit for driving. He's been doing fairly well on the road, but variations on this particular maneuver are a little tricky for him. We're still working on it.


He did drive me over the river and through the woods on Sunday. Grandma was happy to see him.

A Bit Ironic

We appear to have lost another GPS unit. I have no idea how this happens.

Foto Saturday - Lid Face Again

Another peanut butter container lid with The Pattern. This time, the face looks a bit anxious. Maybe he's afraid of having his secret plan exposed.

Foto Phriday - "Religious" Icon Edition

This appears to be the Sitting Lasagna Monster, who is a distant cousin of His Noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster.