1/31/2005

This one’s for Cliff

From A Small Victory……

sparta at 12:13 pm

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1/30/2005

Ago-ny…Aaaaagoooony

It’s official. I have my first head cold in a loooong time. I hate colds. I really do. I mean the flu is bad, but the flu hits you “BAM” and then in a couple of days - although you feel like you’ve been run over by Michael Moore - you get over it. A cold, however, can linger on for days and days and days. UGH. And of course, AJ is going to be out of town this week, and of course the boys will be making my life more nutso than usual because of it. I think need some Calgon. I think I need one of these:

Could one of you kind souls out there send me one? That and a gallon size jug of NyQuil. Which flavor? Um, red please.

sparta at 1:05 pm

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1/26/2005

Living with John, Earthdate 1390

So, last night I am trying to shuffle our youngest off to bed. We go through a nearly Monty Python-esque exchange of yes’s and no’s, until the following:

Me: Yes, John, you need to get your sleep.
John: No, I don’t need sleep any more.

What does that mean? That he’s somehow evolved himself past the rest of humanity and no longer requires sleep? Not that I’d put that past him. Our conversation continues:

Me: (trying not to laugh) Yes, you do, John.
John: I probably don’t.
Me: You need your rest, and you need to snuggle with Puppy.
John: I could snuggle with Puppy downstairs, and I don’t need rest ever again.

AUGH! I did manage to get him up to bed, and Andrew and I read the necessary stories and received our hugs and kisses. But you know, he didn’t go to sleep for a long time - I caught him upstairs later reading a book. Where did he get that book on quantum physics, I wonder?

sparta at 9:29 am

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1/20/2005

And Allison thinks she has problems…

Wow - getting a license in Japan is apparently more a test of nerves than anything else. Read this man’s accounting.

sparta at 9:57 pm

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Can I get an Amen!

Last night AJ and I went over to the CompUSA because he had to pick up some little Bluetooth doo-dad. While he went in search of someone to assist him (our first sweep through the store yielded no doo-dad, you see) - oh, and to be fair it was like 30 minutes til closing, so I expect they were all off prepping for close - I wandered over to the Apple section, because - well, who wouldn’t? I pulled up GarageBand - hey, it let me start a new song - hey, it’s letting me add tracks - hey, it let me save it! So, I was tinkering with that while AJ found his doo-dad. Doo-dad in hand, he appeared at my elbow…chuckling. He tinkered with some of the settings a bit - we listened to it a couple of times - and then he put my song in loop mode. (he-he) As we were wandering toward the check-out, he turns to me and says, “You know, you’re turning into a Mac evangelist.” “Who me?” I answered. “Yes, you know if anyone had walked up while you were there, you would have started plugging all the great features of an Apple and telling them how it’s better than a Windows box.” I tried to feign innocence. He wouldn’t let me. “You know you would’ve.” Okay, okay, I have to admit it - he had me pegged. I would’ve. But for those of us who have used or currently use Apple computers - why wouldn’t I? How can a die-hard - or better than amateur - Apple user NOT praise this equipment? Well, I should be fair - Apples do have their quirks that can annoy you…see Bruce’s posts about Apple issues - he doesn’t speak for everyone, but it will illustrate my point…but over all when you tally up the pros and cons - Apple wins HANDS DOWN over Windows. But some will scream “They’re so much more expensive.” Well, that’s changing, too, isn’t it? With the basic Mac mini, adding the monitor, mouse, and keyboard, you’re only going to be out about $650-700. If you already have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, you’re only out $500. As with any new system, adding software jacks your cost up, so I’m not counting that. So, if you want to say that a new Windows XP notebook costs less than an Apple notebook, sure out of the gate you’re right, a brand new 17-inch Powerbook costs $400 more than a top end 17-inch Windows XP notebook BUT after comparing two of them, I noticed several points:

So, yeah, that XP laptop is $400 less initially, but after lock-ups, blue-screens, upgrades (some forced, I might add), lack of –cool– software (I mean, Quicken? come on), driver problems, hardware issues, and bizarre platform issues - how much are you really out? A lot more than $400 worth.

I’ll admit it - I’m Mrs. Bobcat, and I switched over a year ago. And I guess you could say I’ve joined the Cult of Mac…although I’d have to say I’m more of a recruiter than a priestess at this point, but hey - a girl’s gotta have goals.

sparta at 11:21 am

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1/19/2005

Phillip’s orchestra concert

It was fantastic. Well, okay, that’s mommy-speak - but really, I was very proud of my son last night. He was so … well, he looked older. The best part, in a way, was when he got up with another boy to announce the next song they were going to play. The young man was flubbing over some of the words, and Phillip in a moment of exasperation, rolled his eyes dramatically while looking skyward. The audience giggled and chuckled, and some comments fluttered around. It was so neat. Here this audience was, giggling at my son who was intentially being humorous. He looked so handsome up there on stage with his shirt and tie. And he did an excellent job playing the violin, too. :-)

We took some footage, and a couple of pics, too, I think. If I can, I will post something here later.

In other news, John wrote his name on the white board today. Okay, I wrote it first, and then he copied it - but he wrote the copy –all by himself!– We’re doomed….in a good way…but doomed none-the-less.

I’m sure there’s more to report, but I tired so, forming words can’t easily anymore do. Tomorrow maybe more.

sparta at 11:25 pm

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1/11/2005

Sick of winter (and a Knee Report)

Okay, that’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m done. Stop the ride, I want off. Open the door, I’m outta here. 19 inches of snow at my sister’s, “white out” conditions when we went to pick up my step-daughter, ice storms where all our relatives and a lot of our friends live, 8 inches of snow here, then threats of ice, then sub-zero temps, high winds…. AUGH ….it makes you want to pack up as much of your stuff as you can fit into all your vehicles and a trailer and bust your butt - Hunter S. Thompson style - cross country to anywhere warm. I had issues living in California, but I might be willing to let bygones-be-bygones if it meant being able to step outside my door without being afriad of being frozen, blown away, or coated in snow. Maybe bears are the smart ones. They have a big feast - party - and then go take a long nap. They never have to put up with all this crappy weather.

Some of this stems from the injury. I am slightly afraid of falling, I have to admit, because it’s taken me nearly 5 months to make as much progress as I have, and I sure as hell don’t want -anything- setting me back…not even one day. My PT received a new prescription from my doctor, so she is not letting me go. I will still be seeing her for a few weeks. How many weeks - or how many times a week, I don’t know yet. I am both happy and bummed. Making time to be at therapy 3x a week is a pain - but I have seen so much improvement from working with her, that well, I guess I’ll have to be a good girl, huh? The rest of it stems from the fact that I didn’t move away from the midwest because I liked winter weather. In fact, if I never saw snow again, I’d be just fine, thank you.

Well, that’s all I have for now; if you need me, I’ll be in my cave. Don’t mind the bears.

sparta at 5:12 pm

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1/8/2005

Date Night (Review of The Aviator)

So, I actually got to go on a date with my hubby! It was great! We went to see The Aviator, and then went to early dinner at On The Border. I have to say that Leonardo DiCaprio did an excellent job playing Howard Hughes. He may actually turn out to be one of those actors whose movies I watch just to see how he’s going to pull off his character. Gary Oldman is one of those - so is Johnny Depp. Brad Pitt is similar.

Anyway, back to The Aviator. DiCaprio plays Howard Hughes. Scorsese directed. Some reviewers said the script was awkward, but I didn’t think so. I have to admit that the actors portraying various famous and not-so-famous characters did a pretty darn good job - one in particular was the actress playing Katherine Hepburn, Cate Blanchett. I think DiCaprio did a good job of portraying Hughes struggle with himself and his eccentricities.

We’re giving The Aviator 8.5 out of 10 bananas.

sparta at 9:39 pm

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1/6/2005

The Knee Report, Volume Something

So, it looks as though I might be taking a break from PT. My therapist says she might let me work on my own for a month and see how things go. I am not sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, it would be nice not to have to go to the sessions 3x a week - and yet, on the other, it’s helped me improve a lot. I guess we’ll have to see what the doctor tells her.

sparta at 5:39 pm

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My altercation at the McD’s

So, Allison and I decided to go and get some McD’s before going to see a friend of mine. As we’re slowing down to turn into the parking lot, this jerk in a black truck is flying toward us (on his side) through the slush and stuff left in the lot. The McD’s is on the frontage area of a strip mall - he wasn’t in the parking lot, but following the “street” that runs along front of the parking lot…no, not next to the building - at the other side. ANYway … As he’s coming toward us, I say to Allison - while looking forward at him to make sure he’s no danger - “Some people really ought to slow down. You can still slide in slush.” Well, he goes past, and I turn in and get in line for the drive-thru. The next thing I see is that he had stopped and backed up to turn in next to me. He rolled down his window - so I rolled down mine.

He said, in a hostile way, “I’m sorry, I missed that - what were you mouthing?” Zeke there thought he was really intimidating in his big black truck and “hunting” apparel. So, as sweetly as possible, I said, “I was just telling my daughter here that even though the streets are mostly wet, they are still slushy in places and that people should slow down. Not everyone has a four-wheel drive, and even then there’s…” He scowled at me, and indicating the truck, retorted, “Well, this here’s a four-wheel drive, so there’s no problem. It’s fine.” I just smiled back and said, “Okay, fine, I got it - you’re the man; nothing ever happens to you. Got it.” His scowl deepened, and he drove away.

After Allison and I were finished laughing, we decided to park and have her run in for the food - the line was too long. What an idiot. I, of course, thought of 100 other things I could’ve said, but he was so shocked, I think, that I wasn’t intimidated by his - ehem - manliness? - that it was worth it just to take him down a notch.

What a jerk. People such as this guy cause accidents because of their overconfidence in their almighty four-wheel drive. After all:

There are also some situations in which four-wheel drive provides no advantage over two-wheel drive. Most notably, four-wheel-drive systems won’t help you stop on slippery surfaces. It’s all up to the brakes and the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

But I guess ol’ Zeke there wouldn’t know that, that wasn’t covered in the coloring book.

sparta at 5:33 pm

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1/3/2005

Howdy there, 2005

Some bloggers have been doing recaps of their blogs. For some, I think that’s cool, for my own - I’d almost rather not. But hey, join a trend - follow a trend.

This year:

I became my son’s Pack Committee Chair
I started Tae Kwon Do
We saw a high school kid do an excellent Evil Monkey impression
Johnathan amazed me
Phillip amazed me
Andrew’s dad became ill and passed away
Andrew had kidney stones
I BROKE MY KNEE - AUGH!
Our friend Chuck was killed in a motorcycle wreck
Then I had a pulmonary embolism - very SCARY
Spammers hit me and hit me and hit me - bleech
I created some music with Garage Band
I also discovered that there’s only 3 degrees of separation between me and Kevin Bacon - SCARY
We saw Quizno Cup Guy
I WAS A NANOWRIMO WINNER!!!!
My 35th birthday came around
And my hometown got 19 inches of snow - a few years’ worth in a couple of days

And that was 2004 for me. On the whole - not the best of years. I have high hopes for 2005, though - it ends in 5 - and 5 is my lucky number.

sparta at 11:52 pm

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