The Weekend Wrap-up:
Friday: Umm.. Dang, I must be getting old... I can't remember what I did Friday night. All I can remember, I went out to get the board game, Cranium. Anxiously awaiting the next time I play games with the neighbor friends.
Saturday: Woke up at a time that should not exist... 3:30 am... I woke up to a weird dream and just could not go back to sleep. I had to wake up early anyways for a work related special event. Got there in Towson at 7am to help set-up. I was given the role as the "official" photographer. I have never been a photographer for a big event before. I guess I should feel honored, especially if I was given two disposable cameras (with an added bonus of a built in flash!) Gotta feel special. So pretty much the entire event revolved around kids so it was a lot of smiles and cutesy-smutesy stuff... so naturally I had to make some of the photos artsy-fartsy. Can't wait to see the photos. I was also assigned to be the "slave" to the event's biggest sponsor. That is perfectly alright with me... she was a very nice woman to work with. It was a pleasure to serve her.
Sunday: Was going to hang out with someone prior to the Super Bowl, but for whatever the reason may be, it didn't work out. Maybe next time. Ended up running a few errands and bought some hot apple cider at Borders. Watched the Super Bowl. I thought it was fairly dull game... I was hoping the Seahawks would come from behind to take the victory, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it. What I will have nightmares over is the Rolling Stones half-time show. Something just didn't strike me as right with that show. Maybe I am spoiled and used to a lot of lights and action and not a rock star old enough to be my grandfather. Or maybe it was the too small shirt that Jagger wore that didn't fare well with me. I dunno.
Today: Work just went by... found out a third site I work with was struck by some morons driving around on public property. Tire tracks and torn up grass everywhere. I am just glad they have not struck on my "pride and joy" site. Afterwards, decorated my Steelers fan neighbor's door gold and black as a surprise honor to her favorite team. Later, gave blood for the 40th (and 41st) time. Tonight was the first time I gave a double dosage instead of the regular pint. It certainly was an interesting experience. I got hooked up to a machine that separates the blood and gives me a refill as well. It kinda reminded me of the book (and in the movie) Catch-22... where the guy in the body cast had his bodily fluids recycled. It was a weird feeling. Half-way thru, as they start to pump you up with fluids you get to feel like you are drunk (light-headed and seeing pink elephants dancing around, that kind of feeling)... I thought there was no way I would make it out of the donor center alive, and if I did, then I would look like I have aged 50 years all shriveled up. But as quickly as wasabi can clear up those stuffed sinuses, I became "sober" again. The blood trickled out and all was fine. I made it to the canteen without passing out. If I did fall flat on my face, it would be a blood donation first for me. Now I can wear that purple badge of honor around my arm. I have to take it off in the shower in the morning because it helps with the most painful part of the whole experience... the pulling of the arm hairs and they don't use the band-aid types but the ace bandage type! Afterwards, I treated myself to a sushi dinner... expensive, but delicious! Afterwards, finally located and bought the book, "The Year of Yes".
Monday, February 06, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Laws of Nature
Laws of Nature #652: If thy wear new shoes, thy shall step on a wad of stray gum.
It is funny... on Monday I met with an administrator who called me to a meeting about people throwing away their gum outside which causes people step in it which leads to tracking the gum inside, naturally sticking to the hardwood floors. I should have knocked on wood when I had a chance! When I was walking around my office, I felt an abnormal lump on the bottom of my spankin' brand new, fresh out-of-the-box first day worn shoes. Of Course it had to be some blue gum stuck like a fly on flypaper! Does anyone have a CSI DNA testing kit? I want to track down that gum spitter. Gosh, I hate it when things get jinxed! Oh well, that's life!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Time to go to Vegas!
Today was a good day. Woke up and worked out for the third straight day. First two focused on cardiovascular, today had a short back and very brief bicep workout. At work, had a productive and happening day at the office. Although I was disgusted by the fact some idiot made doughnuts all over public fields with their vehicle. What were they thinking (oh I am sorry, they can't... the wizard forgot to give them a brain!)
After work, I bought myself two new pairs of shoes... long overdue. One new pair of sneakers and one pair of brown casual shoes. I needed the new sneakers because I have been feeling the impact on my feet as I have worn them out.
After my shoe shopping spree, I went to play games tonight with my neighbor friends. I was really looking forward to that... they are an interesting and well-traveled group. I guess two of them have to be if they are flight attendents! First we played Scrabble and then we played Spades. I tell ya, I am on a hot streak right now. Somehow, I won the game of Scrabble facing four intellegent people... then while playing spades my teammate and I came from behind after shaking off the rust and won by only a few points. I am going to check out plane schedule because I am going to Vegas... ok, maybe I will just watch the Vegas tv show.
After work, I bought myself two new pairs of shoes... long overdue. One new pair of sneakers and one pair of brown casual shoes. I needed the new sneakers because I have been feeling the impact on my feet as I have worn them out.
After my shoe shopping spree, I went to play games tonight with my neighbor friends. I was really looking forward to that... they are an interesting and well-traveled group. I guess two of them have to be if they are flight attendents! First we played Scrabble and then we played Spades. I tell ya, I am on a hot streak right now. Somehow, I won the game of Scrabble facing four intellegent people... then while playing spades my teammate and I came from behind after shaking off the rust and won by only a few points. I am going to check out plane schedule because I am going to Vegas... ok, maybe I will just watch the Vegas tv show.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Casey at the Bowling Alley
It was the story of the Mighty Casey at Bat in Mudville tonight,
The tale of the two teams, the tale of true plight.
The story of past versus present,
A chronicle not all pleasant.
Game one and game two,
We won that I knew.
The fight for game three,
Became as intense as thee.
My team of the past,
Pulled ahead too fast.
It was the bottom of the tenth frame,
Only six pins ahead in the game.
I rolled with all my might,
Then rewarded with a big strike.
The foes caught sight of my strike then sneered,
Then bowled a matching strike then cheered.
The mighty Gooberman grabbed his great blue ball,
With dreaming and hoping of a ten-pin fall.
The pins exploded,
But hopes were eroded.
Alone stood pin number nine,
That put us behind.
The foe bowled a strike,
And I took my hike.
A mere two pins,
Kept us from four wins.
We finished with three wins and one loss. My scores for the night, 184, 193, 227… 604 series. Average going into tonight: 193. Average after tonight: 194
The tale of the two teams, the tale of true plight.
The story of past versus present,
A chronicle not all pleasant.
Game one and game two,
We won that I knew.
The fight for game three,
Became as intense as thee.
My team of the past,
Pulled ahead too fast.
It was the bottom of the tenth frame,
Only six pins ahead in the game.
I rolled with all my might,
Then rewarded with a big strike.
The foes caught sight of my strike then sneered,
Then bowled a matching strike then cheered.
The mighty Gooberman grabbed his great blue ball,
With dreaming and hoping of a ten-pin fall.
The pins exploded,
But hopes were eroded.
Alone stood pin number nine,
That put us behind.
The foe bowled a strike,
And I took my hike.
A mere two pins,
Kept us from four wins.
We finished with three wins and one loss. My scores for the night, 184, 193, 227… 604 series. Average going into tonight: 193. Average after tonight: 194
My Quote of the Day
Today was a good productive day. I have been writing some literature to give out to people to help educate them about some directives and policies. There was a lot of thought provoking discussion between my secretary an I about some of the points I put on the literature. I showed it to my boss for suggestions and she very much liked the direction I was going with it and wanted me to give it to her so she can take it to her supervisor. That felt good.
Later on a co-worker came by to ask for a ream of paper from out stock and my secretary told her yes before I could say anything. I have absolutely no problem with this, but I like to give her a hard time... just because I can, so I told her:
Later on a co-worker came by to ask for a ream of paper from out stock and my secretary told her yes before I could say anything. I have absolutely no problem with this, but I like to give her a hard time... just because I can, so I told her:
"Thanks, now I feel as important as a statue is to a pigeon."I thought that was appropriate and catchy. That is sometimes the nature of my job, no matter how good one may be at it... you are bound to get crapped on every now and then.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Ghost of Birthday Past
My "milestone" 30th birthday has come and gone. Typically I really don't like birthdays... they tend to be highly over-rated and end up just like any other day but with higher "expectations". I don't typically like birthdays because of the "getting older than dirt" factor, but the social stigmas attached to it. In other words, the importance the greeting card companies and the families/ friends place it. In a way, it is no different than Grandma asking "When are you going to get married?" or "When are you going to get that minivan to hurl around the 54345 children you have?" In the birthday case, people always ask, "What did you do the day the 20's was no longer?" Why don't you just ask "What did you do the day your hair turned gray, your back gave out, your memory turned to mush and the nursing homes are banging down your door with their walkers and battle-ram motorized scooter trying to recruit you?"
But what is age anyways? Why it is so important one becomes 21 before you can legally drink (not that it stops many people underage). Does a Maturity Fairy sprinkle some pixie dust on the person overnight and all the sudden they are responsible enough to drink? If that is the case, then the Maturity Fairy must be over 21 herself.... the Fairy must be drunk enough to allow people like me to sip a beer. Personally, I would prefer if they left a beer under my pillow the day I turned 21, but that was not the case... I think they left the open beer all over the middle of the room next to the stool I must have passed out on. Details are still a little be sketchy.
Anyways, yesterday for my birthday I celebrated at the office, at Happy Hour, then that continued at my friends apartment. It was a good time. I was actually surprised I enjoyed myself more than expected.
My boss, her secretary and my secretary bought lunch, gifts and dessert galore (Cake, cookies, brownies and breakfast muffins). It was a good feast. The bathroom scales can prove it! We definitely had leftovers after that, hey, I even had one of those muffins for breakfast this morning. The bathroom scales was missing in action the second I was looking for it. Suspicious! I got a few more candles to add to my collection. Is it possible to have enough candles? I don't think so. I also got a Punch Balloon. Similar to the one shown here... it was a bright orange one (if it had the smurfs on it, then I would have been estatic and might have burst like a balloon!)
Oooo, that is very bad news... I cannot wait till Monday when my coordinator comes to work, because there will be a war! Hey, what can I say? You gotta have fun. I am beginning to suspect that Maturity Fairy didn't visit me 9 years ago.
Anyways, after work, I took a nap (I woke up at 3am for no reason at all... couldn't sleep)... then went to Happy Hour with six others. It was a fun time. Again, there was a lot of food... not a dinner but different appetizers. My bathroom scales left me a letter saying that it has resigned and is looking for employment at the Ms America pageant now.
After happy hour, spent the rest of the evening, and several hours of the wee morning talking some more with them at their apartments downstairs, drinking rum and coke. They can be hilarious at times. So I went to bed at 2:30am only to wake up at 7:00am to go around to a few of my work-sites to open up and check my staff. So, I am a little bit tired right now. Probably should get some sleep now... maybe I will be lucky and the Maturity Fairy will leave a beer under my pillow this time!
But what is age anyways? Why it is so important one becomes 21 before you can legally drink (not that it stops many people underage). Does a Maturity Fairy sprinkle some pixie dust on the person overnight and all the sudden they are responsible enough to drink? If that is the case, then the Maturity Fairy must be over 21 herself.... the Fairy must be drunk enough to allow people like me to sip a beer. Personally, I would prefer if they left a beer under my pillow the day I turned 21, but that was not the case... I think they left the open beer all over the middle of the room next to the stool I must have passed out on. Details are still a little be sketchy.
Anyways, yesterday for my birthday I celebrated at the office, at Happy Hour, then that continued at my friends apartment. It was a good time. I was actually surprised I enjoyed myself more than expected.
My boss, her secretary and my secretary bought lunch, gifts and dessert galore (Cake, cookies, brownies and breakfast muffins). It was a good feast. The bathroom scales can prove it! We definitely had leftovers after that, hey, I even had one of those muffins for breakfast this morning. The bathroom scales was missing in action the second I was looking for it. Suspicious! I got a few more candles to add to my collection. Is it possible to have enough candles? I don't think so. I also got a Punch Balloon. Similar to the one shown here... it was a bright orange one (if it had the smurfs on it, then I would have been estatic and might have burst like a balloon!)
Oooo, that is very bad news... I cannot wait till Monday when my coordinator comes to work, because there will be a war! Hey, what can I say? You gotta have fun. I am beginning to suspect that Maturity Fairy didn't visit me 9 years ago.
Anyways, after work, I took a nap (I woke up at 3am for no reason at all... couldn't sleep)... then went to Happy Hour with six others. It was a fun time. Again, there was a lot of food... not a dinner but different appetizers. My bathroom scales left me a letter saying that it has resigned and is looking for employment at the Ms America pageant now.
After happy hour, spent the rest of the evening, and several hours of the wee morning talking some more with them at their apartments downstairs, drinking rum and coke. They can be hilarious at times. So I went to bed at 2:30am only to wake up at 7:00am to go around to a few of my work-sites to open up and check my staff. So, I am a little bit tired right now. Probably should get some sleep now... maybe I will be lucky and the Maturity Fairy will leave a beer under my pillow this time!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Pitiful
Bowling scores tonight... 160, 194, 169.... look out below, my average is crashing hard! Well, the highlight of tonight, in the second game, it was down to the last frame. I was the last bowler and we were down by 20. I got up and hit the home run... three strikes in a row to win the game by 10 pins. My team won 2 and lost 2... we really should have won the third game, but as a team, we were just pitiful that game. The first two we helped each other out and did some damage. Going into tonight, we were tied for 3rd with only two loses. Now we shall see where we land.
DOH! There was a huge rolling of thunder just now. It shook my apartment like a stampede of elephants. Guess that is a good sign for me to get off the computer.
DOH! There was a huge rolling of thunder just now. It shook my apartment like a stampede of elephants. Guess that is a good sign for me to get off the computer.
Eventful day
Monday was quite a busy day. Why is it that when one thing happens, everything happens? Not that it was a bad day at all. Here is a brief rundown:
- The past weekend was a big weekend for public property damage. Especially not-so-considerate individuals joy-ride around on nice, soft mushy grounds in wiley circles, Mother Nature toppling trees onto fences and people scruffing up surfaces. Well, it kept me busy at work.
- A fellow blogger contacted me about wanting to meet up sometime soon. Told her I would be delighted. I admit I am nervous (in a good way) but excited. I am looking forward to it.
- Went to my neighbor's to play some games... played jenga and trivia pursuit (the original... you know the one with Soviet Union for the all answers and some current events from the early 1980's.) Anyways, my neighbor down below and I ended up winning it all after a long battle, we should have been awarded the Purple Heart (1: which has which figure on it? see answers below) and a prize of getaway to 2: the state with the lowest highest elevation of 65 feet... wasn't always pretty, but it was a fun. We are probably going to try to get together regularly to play different games... we used to get together each week to play spades, but now 3) we evolved from this sub-human primate, which is drastically different from 4) the slug, which has its reproductive organs located where?
1) George Washington
2) Delaware
3) Chimpanzee
4) The head
Okay, those were some of the easier questions... I just remembered those compared with some of the more difficult ones.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
New World Record!
This morning I took down my Christmas Decorations! This is a new world record for me... normally I will not "get around to it" until June or July. Not only that, did a little tidying up around my apartment. So because of those things, my Sunday has been quite productive... and it is only 10am! My goal today is to go to the gym and have a good leg work-out (at least good in terms of using the cheap equipment that my apartment complex has), go out someplace to watch the football games (and get myself out to potentially meet someone), and possible call the girl.
On Friday I went to see King Kong. I have been wanting to see it for a long time. It was a good movie, but had so much potential to be a monster hit (sorry, again with the puns!) There are two things that stuck out; Jack Black and overdoing the action sequences just because they have the technology. Don't get me wrong, I really like Jack Black, but they needed a more "serious" person to play that role... There were a couple times I was watching it and Jack made his typical funny faces at the camera. This reminded me of a class clown trying to get attention when he has already commanded that attention. He has the potential to pull off a blockbuster hit but he did not rise to his full potential in this movie he was about 75% there. But that was not what really stood out to me... I might have been able to love the movie with Jack in it, if it weren't for the real flaw in the movie; the mentality, "more is better... more fighting, chasing and action makes the movies in Hollywood."
This flaw, in my opinion, made the non-essential scenes drag on. It reminded me of any product you see in the store that has some many bells and whistles on it that it just does not help the product, in fact it may hurt the product because it takes away from what it is supposed to be. The showing of the natives on Skull Island is important to the story, but to spend that much time, it can be overkill. Same is true for the Kong versus the dinosaurs... because the technology is there, they made it super long and they thought a longer and more intense battle would help portray the great lengths Kong would go for his "beautiful" lady. I thought it was an amazing sequence and I love to see all the action, but it too modern day Hollywood and became a bit too much. You see that in a lot of the movies now-a-days which causes the flops. I think that is what happened with the 3 newest Star wars. There were all these action sequences that were just there because they have the technology to do it and they think that most action equals more audience.
Okay, back to King Kong... I thought that movie had so much potential in it because it did capture the emotions between the ape and woman... they did an amazing job of capturing the body language and the facial features of a computer generated beast. I know that people felt that connection, their love and people even felt sorry for Kong when he was in the modern jungle of New York. That is the story of King Kong, not the overdone "Running of the Brontosaurus" or the fight dangling in the tree roots or the tribute to "Starship Troopers" bug squashing massacre.
That is my review.
On Friday I went to see King Kong. I have been wanting to see it for a long time. It was a good movie, but had so much potential to be a monster hit (sorry, again with the puns!) There are two things that stuck out; Jack Black and overdoing the action sequences just because they have the technology. Don't get me wrong, I really like Jack Black, but they needed a more "serious" person to play that role... There were a couple times I was watching it and Jack made his typical funny faces at the camera. This reminded me of a class clown trying to get attention when he has already commanded that attention. He has the potential to pull off a blockbuster hit but he did not rise to his full potential in this movie he was about 75% there. But that was not what really stood out to me... I might have been able to love the movie with Jack in it, if it weren't for the real flaw in the movie; the mentality, "more is better... more fighting, chasing and action makes the movies in Hollywood."
This flaw, in my opinion, made the non-essential scenes drag on. It reminded me of any product you see in the store that has some many bells and whistles on it that it just does not help the product, in fact it may hurt the product because it takes away from what it is supposed to be. The showing of the natives on Skull Island is important to the story, but to spend that much time, it can be overkill. Same is true for the Kong versus the dinosaurs... because the technology is there, they made it super long and they thought a longer and more intense battle would help portray the great lengths Kong would go for his "beautiful" lady. I thought it was an amazing sequence and I love to see all the action, but it too modern day Hollywood and became a bit too much. You see that in a lot of the movies now-a-days which causes the flops. I think that is what happened with the 3 newest Star wars. There were all these action sequences that were just there because they have the technology to do it and they think that most action equals more audience.
Okay, back to King Kong... I thought that movie had so much potential in it because it did capture the emotions between the ape and woman... they did an amazing job of capturing the body language and the facial features of a computer generated beast. I know that people felt that connection, their love and people even felt sorry for Kong when he was in the modern jungle of New York. That is the story of King Kong, not the overdone "Running of the Brontosaurus" or the fight dangling in the tree roots or the tribute to "Starship Troopers" bug squashing massacre.
That is my review.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Technical assistance please! (updated)
Help! I created a header for my blog, but I am not sure how to put in the template. Can anyone help this poor little soul? Also, what do you think... look half-way decent?
The savior has been found... now I must worship: d.challener roe for his technical genius. All hail,Roe, for solving my temporary woe!
The savior has been found... now I must worship: d.challener roe for his technical genius. All hail,Roe, for solving my temporary woe!
The potential is there
It was a good day. After a long, productive day at work, I went to my neighbor's to play cards... one didn't show so we just hung out and talked about those taboo topics you would get the fuzzy eye-ball look if you talk to your parents about... you know, sex, religion, sex, bloody horror movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, shaving dogs... you know stuff normal stuff like that. Anyways, my neighbor down below has a friend who went to Kings Dominion with a group of us... she was a very attractive, intelligent (meaning a reading level above the 3rd grade/ actually she is studying for her CPA exam), funny Russian girl who I got along with like peas and carrots (okay, I was having a Forrest Gump flashback, SUE ME!) Anyways, this girl and I shared a lot of strong chemistry even though I was doing my best to her that each of the roller coasters we rode happens to be defective. For example, it is a little known fact that there are a lot of bats inside the Valcano... so there have been some unfortunate times where people on the rides would collide with some poor bats as they take off, so she should be warned. I thought I did a good job of convincing her, too, I even kept a very straight face! Okay, I can be evil at times, SUE ME! Moving right along here... my neighbor gave me her number after it appears she is not interested in him. I don't know why... I mean he is a very decent, intelligent and humorous guy. Well, I have her number now... the ball is in my court. So I guess I need to gather the rest of my balls to give her a call and ask her out. So it is a good day.
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, blog, internet billboard and any accompanying documents, whether printed on toilet paper or wrapping paper, are to be considered confidential and privileged (don't you feel special?). The information (or mindless drivel) is intended only for use of the recipient(s) named above (umm... I mean for your ears; or fingers if printed in Braille or puffy letters). Please immediately notify the sender (AKA gooberman) if you have received this blog posting in error. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this webpage transmission is strictly prohibited. Aww, what the hell, copy it, distribute it all you want, just don't literally SUE ME as I instructed you to do so. Talk to my lawyers at 1-800-BITE-ME if you do decide a lawsuit is the best course of action.
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, blog, internet billboard and any accompanying documents, whether printed on toilet paper or wrapping paper, are to be considered confidential and privileged (don't you feel special?). The information (or mindless drivel) is intended only for use of the recipient(s) named above (umm... I mean for your ears; or fingers if printed in Braille or puffy letters). Please immediately notify the sender (AKA gooberman) if you have received this blog posting in error. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this webpage transmission is strictly prohibited. Aww, what the hell, copy it, distribute it all you want, just don't literally SUE ME as I instructed you to do so. Talk to my lawyers at 1-800-BITE-ME if you do decide a lawsuit is the best course of action.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
In good company
Okay, maybe I am naive... maybe I am just a gullible, but I like to "buy" into the take-home messages of the movies I watch. For example, I just watched "In Good Company" starring Topher Grace (Carter), Scarlett Johansson and Dennis Quaid... I could relate to the young new boss, Carter. Myself, I am a supervisor to people who are twice my age and those who have traditionally occupied my position are typically more aged than I am. Even my very first full-time job I managed over 100 people (some still in high school, some retired physicians, some right smack in between)... not bad for someone fresh out of college. The take-home message in the movie was to do something that you love and not to grow up too fast. I think I may have grown up too fast. The job needed someone who is professional and mature while doing business as a manager/ supervisor with a lot of responsibility, so that is what I did. Just as in the movie, the responsibility and challenges that associated with the position often come at the expense of the relationship/ social life. He was all work, so his social life faltered. He tried to get to know his employees to hang out with them, but his employees wanted to distant themselves from their "boss" or perhaps he was trying too hard. That is what is on my mind at this moment. That is what I am going to bed thinking about. That is what will be on the back of my mind when I go to the executive board meeting tomorrow with some community leaders.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Brain Freeze
Bowling tonight was a team effort... we won 3 out of 4. Since last week was the start of the second half of the season, the wins and losses start over at 0 and 0. So after this week we are now 6 wins and 2 losses... not bad. We are moving on up. Tonight was another see-saw night... bowled 205, 147, 185. Average going into tonight was a falling 195.
-----
-I was shocked to see MSNBC/ Newsweek post my comments about the book they featured the other day. I guess I need to read the book now... after I finish the book I am currently engrossed in. I was even pondering the possibility of..potentially... thinking about the considering of the idea asking if any of the female readers of my blog may be interested in going out to grab a bite or something. It would be a big risk, but hey, it worked for the author of that book, why wouldn't it work for me? Carpe Diem!
The Cat Who Thinks He is a Dog: Part II
-After going home to my parents over the weekend, I unraveled some additional proof my cat is truly a dog.
A:) He was playing with the two dog's slobber-covered green frog toy. The toy was designed (and thoroughly tested) for dogs. The two dogs even played fetch with it not even 15 mins prior to my cat chewing on it and rolling around with it. I know what you are thinking, I must have put catnip on it... WRONG!
B:) My cat responds to commands. Okay, there are a lot of cats that will come if you call their names... but do they actually sit when you say "Sit?" My panther does! I was not too convinced when I first noticed his superior brain-power, so I had to test it out. After all, I know his pose of choice is the sitting position. So the experiment began... Experiment #1: Would he sit upon command while enticed by one of his favorite treats? After letting him stretch against my leg (and at the same time using my leg as a scratching post), he reached for a Savoury Salmon Flavour Whiskas Temptations. The command was spoken. The panther sat! He passed! Experiment #2, Would he sit upon command while on a moderately rocking recliner chair? This would require a great level of concentration and attention. With a treat in hand, the chair was rocking at about 30 rocks per minute... The panther was asked to jump on the arm of the chair, he agreed... the "Sit" was commanded. His claws dug into the chair's arms and he planted his butt on the chair. He passed with flying colors.
I love my brilliant cat!
-----
-I was shocked to see MSNBC/ Newsweek post my comments about the book they featured the other day. I guess I need to read the book now... after I finish the book I am currently engrossed in. I was even pondering the possibility of..potentially... thinking about the considering of the idea asking if any of the female readers of my blog may be interested in going out to grab a bite or something. It would be a big risk, but hey, it worked for the author of that book, why wouldn't it work for me? Carpe Diem!
The Cat Who Thinks He is a Dog: Part II
-After going home to my parents over the weekend, I unraveled some additional proof my cat is truly a dog.
A:) He was playing with the two dog's slobber-covered green frog toy. The toy was designed (and thoroughly tested) for dogs. The two dogs even played fetch with it not even 15 mins prior to my cat chewing on it and rolling around with it. I know what you are thinking, I must have put catnip on it... WRONG!
B:) My cat responds to commands. Okay, there are a lot of cats that will come if you call their names... but do they actually sit when you say "Sit?" My panther does! I was not too convinced when I first noticed his superior brain-power, so I had to test it out. After all, I know his pose of choice is the sitting position. So the experiment began... Experiment #1: Would he sit upon command while enticed by one of his favorite treats? After letting him stretch against my leg (and at the same time using my leg as a scratching post), he reached for a Savoury Salmon Flavour Whiskas Temptations. The command was spoken. The panther sat! He passed! Experiment #2, Would he sit upon command while on a moderately rocking recliner chair? This would require a great level of concentration and attention. With a treat in hand, the chair was rocking at about 30 rocks per minute... The panther was asked to jump on the arm of the chair, he agreed... the "Sit" was commanded. His claws dug into the chair's arms and he planted his butt on the chair. He passed with flying colors.
I love my brilliant cat!
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Intrigued
Today has been an intriguing day online. I followed one of those links in the Best of Blogs to Michele's Blog. She started this addictive chain-mail... DOH!... I mean blogger game. There are currently over 1400 comments on her blog due to this... here is the game:
Pretty simple, eh?
Okay, I am still a newbie in the blogger community, so this may have been around since the days of the cavemen, but it was an adventure for me. It reminded me of a blog version of "Random acts of kindness". The messages that were posted on different bloggers comment boxes were generally positive and out of kindness. Some made me feel good about myself...okay, it does not always take a lot to please this goober. But it did exposed myself to other people's blogs... those I probably would not have ventured to see otherwise... not because I am picky, but because there are so many out there.
During the game, it also made me think about an article I read about a book I should read. The Year of Yes as it was talked about in this article. According to the article, the author spent an entire year accepting dates from anyone who showed interest. She went out on 150 dates with people included a homeless man, several non-English speakers, 10 taxi drivers, two lesbians and a mime. It made me realize, even though I may be picky (and I have a fear of being rejected, let alone being shy) I need to "test the waters" to see what I really like. Okay, I have not yet read the book, so I don't know all the horror stories or the pyscho killers now potentially stalking her, but the idea is sound. In fact, my own mother made that suggestion to me a few years ago. I guess it cannot hurt to broaden my horizons.
How to play:
* Leave a comment here that says hello.
* Now, go visit the person who commented above you and say "Hello, Michele sent me."
Pretty simple, eh?
Okay, I am still a newbie in the blogger community, so this may have been around since the days of the cavemen, but it was an adventure for me. It reminded me of a blog version of "Random acts of kindness". The messages that were posted on different bloggers comment boxes were generally positive and out of kindness. Some made me feel good about myself...okay, it does not always take a lot to please this goober. But it did exposed myself to other people's blogs... those I probably would not have ventured to see otherwise... not because I am picky, but because there are so many out there.
During the game, it also made me think about an article I read about a book I should read. The Year of Yes as it was talked about in this article. According to the article, the author spent an entire year accepting dates from anyone who showed interest. She went out on 150 dates with people included a homeless man, several non-English speakers, 10 taxi drivers, two lesbians and a mime. It made me realize, even though I may be picky (and I have a fear of being rejected, let alone being shy) I need to "test the waters" to see what I really like. Okay, I have not yet read the book, so I don't know all the horror stories or the pyscho killers now potentially stalking her, but the idea is sound. In fact, my own mother made that suggestion to me a few years ago. I guess it cannot hurt to broaden my horizons.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Changing times
Today I was in my office and I heard a fire truck coming down the road... it turned into a nursing home across the street. As I saw the firetruck pull into the parking lot, there was a white pickup truck that just stopped in front of the building... the driver put his truck in park just the firetruck was in his rear view mirror. He took his foot off the break as the bright yellow fire lane curb reflected off the side of his truck and the bumper of the stopped fire truck behind him. He was parked along the bright-enough-to-be-seen-in-space yellow fire lane curb filled with no parking and stopping signs. The driver looked back at the truck, which still had its blaring sirens and blinding lights on... what did the driver do? Did he pull out of the way so the fire truck can do its honorable duty? Did the driver pull into the nearest parking space not 20 feet away to make room for the truck? Did the driver say, "Eureka, there is an emergency truck behind me that needs to be exactly where I am parked right now to save someone's poor old grandma?" NO... he got out of his truck non-chalantly as if the truck didn't exist. I am open-minded and I know there could have been a number of reasons why he didn't acknowledge that mammoth, shiny, strobe-light blinking, piercing sirens playing the mambo on the ear-drum emergency vehicle. But come-on, show some respect! The guy waltzed around the back of his truck as the enormous, monstrous lunchbox of metal was stopped not even 15 feet away trying to get this gentleman's attention. A fireman within that NOISY, BLINKY hunk of metal told that guy to move the truck. Which he finally did. I am sorry, but what the heck was that guy thinking?
That is not the first time I have seen people recklessly disregarding emergency situations for selfish reasons. I encountered another discombobulating incident a few years ago, when I was supervising a weight room. As I stroll back to 1999, when the fire alarm goes off, the lights went off as well (except for the emergency lights, which is only one light in a large room cramped room with no windows). My job was to get people out of the building quickly as possible without anyone getting hurt then get myself out of the building for my own safety. So what happens? Some not-so-bright guys insisted to finish their workout! I mean come on, I know you want to feel the burn, but that is not the kind of burn you want to feel! After studying kinesiological sciences I know that one workout is not going to make or break a physique. I know that missing a set will not magically turn you into a competitor of the World's Strongest Man Competition. In fact, I am willing to bet the odds are in their favor if they get the heck out of the building. They continued to do another set of benching and squatting in the dark hoping that they had the right amount of weight one each side of the bar and hoping they could see whether or not they are going to smack each other with the 225 lbs worth of weight on their shoulders.... can anyone explain this to me? Okay, I will give them credit for not smelling smoke so it was most likely (and it was) a false alarm, but what if there was some other reason for the alarm to go off?
Can anyone explain this to me??
That is not the first time I have seen people recklessly disregarding emergency situations for selfish reasons. I encountered another discombobulating incident a few years ago, when I was supervising a weight room. As I stroll back to 1999, when the fire alarm goes off, the lights went off as well (except for the emergency lights, which is only one light in a large room cramped room with no windows). My job was to get people out of the building quickly as possible without anyone getting hurt then get myself out of the building for my own safety. So what happens? Some not-so-bright guys insisted to finish their workout! I mean come on, I know you want to feel the burn, but that is not the kind of burn you want to feel! After studying kinesiological sciences I know that one workout is not going to make or break a physique. I know that missing a set will not magically turn you into a competitor of the World's Strongest Man Competition. In fact, I am willing to bet the odds are in their favor if they get the heck out of the building. They continued to do another set of benching and squatting in the dark hoping that they had the right amount of weight one each side of the bar and hoping they could see whether or not they are going to smack each other with the 225 lbs worth of weight on their shoulders.... can anyone explain this to me? Okay, I will give them credit for not smelling smoke so it was most likely (and it was) a false alarm, but what if there was some other reason for the alarm to go off?
Can anyone explain this to me??
Friday, January 13, 2006
Why my cat is a dog in disguise
I adore my cat... he is unique, he is a neat and he thinks he is a dog. Maybe it is because I have wanted my own dog and deep down inside he wanted to please me. Or maybe he is just a transex...I mean transanimal. But that is our little secret.... I don't want him to appear on Jerry Springer. Jerry can easily has fun with him, especially if he has been neutered, so he is actually not a "he" nor is he a "she". Anyways, I am going to keep him a secret... I have been trying to raise him as a pacifist so I don't want any potential for a fight between him and that pregnant teenage prostitute who is love with their girlfriend's boyfriend's third cousin's gay cross-dressing three-legged Egyptian Minx. That is what I would call a catfight. Okay, that is beside the point. Here are several reasons I believe he is a dog in a cat's disguise:
· He plays fetch. No I am not talking about me throwing it and he watches me like the moron I am to retrieve it... I mean, he actually plays fetch. I throw a toy, he chases it and comes back and drops it waiting for me to throw it again! It is not fluke, he will do it till the cows come home!
· He plays hide and seek. Okay, that might actually be more above and beyond a dog's brain-power, so maybe he is actually a very hairy baby... or perhaps a very miniature bigfoot in disguise. But he will play that game with me. I would hide as he sits there and counts to...umm... never figured how high he counts... but after I am in my hiding spot, he would look for me. He would meow this weirdest noise as he tries to lure me out of my spot... but noooo, I am too smart for that. I want to play hide and seek, not Marco Polo!
· He likes to dig. You know how a dog wants to bury his bone... well, my cat wants to bury his food too, when he is done... not only that, he wants to bury his crap, his reflection in the mirror. I never could figure out why he tries to bury the mirror... he would jump up on top of the bathroom sink, get on his back paws to stretch up to the mirror and scratch at it. Perhaps, he is just curious to why I look in the mirror all the time. Before you even think about thinking about why I do it myself, I shave! Gosh, some people have the trashiest imagination. Anyways, I would get out of the shower and he would wait for me at the sink... as I put on the shaving cream (on me, not him!) he would be fascinated with the mirror and scratch at it. Weird!
· He is a peeping tom. Just like dogs, where they will stick their noses in the most awkward of places, he does that too. Just like he did for the 43525435432 time this morning, he was spying on me in the shower! I am okay with that... as a good "parent" should be, I will support him for whatever he prefers. But I will say, that hot female cat in the apartment below me will be disappointed. So he is a curious cat peeping on my pee-pee in the shower.
· He waits for me by the door when I leave and when I come home. Umm... I feel so special to have someone to greet me at the door. He has the intuition to know when I am getting ready to leave; he would go by the door and sit there... I know what you are thinking, he is indeed pulling that guilt trip on me... looking at me with his sad green eyes and make me late for work each day! He must know my footsteps because he always knows it is me when I open the door...otherwise he is under the bed enjoying his dog days of the summ...winter.
· He likes road trips. Okay, I think he is getting tired of the road trips now, but I always take him to my parent's house when I go do my laundry... oops... I mean when I go home to see them. He would sit on my lap and look out the window; sometimes he would jump to the back seat and ask in this ever so soft annoying voice..."Meuuuuuew? Meeuuuuew?" For those of you who have not studied the language... that translate to: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
· He scares the hell outta big dogs and partners up with medium sized dogs. Ok, my parents have two dogs, both the same breed but two different sizes… the medium sized dog is the eldest and gets along well with my cat… hey, she even gives my cat a kiss when he walks in…. the larger dog is terrified of my cat. I mean she cowards behind my dad and searches on MapQuest for the longest route to avoid my cat. I gotta tell you, I am awfully proud of my cat *wipes the tear out of my eye* for dispelling the myth: Go pick on someone your own size… he refuses to and picks on someone twice his size.
As you can see, from the cold hard facts presented to you today, he is a dream come true to this dog-lover trapped in an apartment with too unpredictable a schedule to have a dog. I tell ya, I am awfully proud of my lil panther!
· He plays fetch. No I am not talking about me throwing it and he watches me like the moron I am to retrieve it... I mean, he actually plays fetch. I throw a toy, he chases it and comes back and drops it waiting for me to throw it again! It is not fluke, he will do it till the cows come home!
· He plays hide and seek. Okay, that might actually be more above and beyond a dog's brain-power, so maybe he is actually a very hairy baby... or perhaps a very miniature bigfoot in disguise. But he will play that game with me. I would hide as he sits there and counts to...umm... never figured how high he counts... but after I am in my hiding spot, he would look for me. He would meow this weirdest noise as he tries to lure me out of my spot... but noooo, I am too smart for that. I want to play hide and seek, not Marco Polo!
· He likes to dig. You know how a dog wants to bury his bone... well, my cat wants to bury his food too, when he is done... not only that, he wants to bury his crap, his reflection in the mirror. I never could figure out why he tries to bury the mirror... he would jump up on top of the bathroom sink, get on his back paws to stretch up to the mirror and scratch at it. Perhaps, he is just curious to why I look in the mirror all the time. Before you even think about thinking about why I do it myself, I shave! Gosh, some people have the trashiest imagination. Anyways, I would get out of the shower and he would wait for me at the sink... as I put on the shaving cream (on me, not him!) he would be fascinated with the mirror and scratch at it. Weird!
· He is a peeping tom. Just like dogs, where they will stick their noses in the most awkward of places, he does that too. Just like he did for the 43525435432 time this morning, he was spying on me in the shower! I am okay with that... as a good "parent" should be, I will support him for whatever he prefers. But I will say, that hot female cat in the apartment below me will be disappointed. So he is a curious cat peeping on my pee-pee in the shower.
· He waits for me by the door when I leave and when I come home. Umm... I feel so special to have someone to greet me at the door. He has the intuition to know when I am getting ready to leave; he would go by the door and sit there... I know what you are thinking, he is indeed pulling that guilt trip on me... looking at me with his sad green eyes and make me late for work each day! He must know my footsteps because he always knows it is me when I open the door...otherwise he is under the bed enjoying his dog days of the summ...winter.
· He likes road trips. Okay, I think he is getting tired of the road trips now, but I always take him to my parent's house when I go do my laundry... oops... I mean when I go home to see them. He would sit on my lap and look out the window; sometimes he would jump to the back seat and ask in this ever so soft annoying voice..."Meuuuuuew? Meeuuuuew?" For those of you who have not studied the language... that translate to: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
· He scares the hell outta big dogs and partners up with medium sized dogs. Ok, my parents have two dogs, both the same breed but two different sizes… the medium sized dog is the eldest and gets along well with my cat… hey, she even gives my cat a kiss when he walks in…. the larger dog is terrified of my cat. I mean she cowards behind my dad and searches on MapQuest for the longest route to avoid my cat. I gotta tell you, I am awfully proud of my cat *wipes the tear out of my eye* for dispelling the myth: Go pick on someone your own size… he refuses to and picks on someone twice his size.
As you can see, from the cold hard facts presented to you today, he is a dream come true to this dog-lover trapped in an apartment with too unpredictable a schedule to have a dog. I tell ya, I am awfully proud of my lil panther!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Productivity
Alright, I was determined, no matter what side of the bed I woke up, to be productive today. For the most part it was... as productive as trimming my fingernails with play-dough scissors... okay, it was more productive than that... I did to talk to some people and gave them some answered they didn't want to hear... but deal with it not everyone can get their way.
I got some terrible news that one of the best people I work with is stepping down from a major program. She has been very responsive and a pleasure to work with... plus she always called me "sweetie" when I talked with her. She was the program's liasion to my office... she has social skills and understands to relate with people, unlike some others. Since the program is one of the major ones, also a program with a history of more turmoil than Baltimore City Police's "Flex Squad", I am worried about having to deal with someone new. The fact that she stepped down because a "mutiny", does little to quell my fear. It is not my choice nor do I have a say in who the replacement will be. The program is filled with overly-passionately people in it who do not look at the whole picture... they tend to focus on the immediate surroundings not the whole picture. Being over-passionate is not always a bad thing, but when it gets out of hand, rules are broken and the point to be a good role model for the kids and people in the community is forgotten, then I have a huge problem with it. Think Mike Tyson determined to have a piece of candy and the only candy around is in a baby's hand. The parent would be more worried about finding a good plastic surgeon to repair the the bite marks on the baby than anything else. Ok, not the best analogy.
The council meeting tonight was long... but productive. Some people would not see it as a good meeting, but I did. I tend to look at the bigger picture, that picture is the issues and the concerns that have been arising lately are forcing the council to rethink their ways... becoming more active and more responsible for what they set out to do. The issues help educate them to become better at what they do. Hopefully, more would see what is happening and get more involved. New fresh blood would be a positive thing in this council. So all in all, it was a productive day.
I got some terrible news that one of the best people I work with is stepping down from a major program. She has been very responsive and a pleasure to work with... plus she always called me "sweetie" when I talked with her. She was the program's liasion to my office... she has social skills and understands to relate with people, unlike some others. Since the program is one of the major ones, also a program with a history of more turmoil than Baltimore City Police's "Flex Squad", I am worried about having to deal with someone new. The fact that she stepped down because a "mutiny", does little to quell my fear. It is not my choice nor do I have a say in who the replacement will be. The program is filled with overly-passionately people in it who do not look at the whole picture... they tend to focus on the immediate surroundings not the whole picture. Being over-passionate is not always a bad thing, but when it gets out of hand, rules are broken and the point to be a good role model for the kids and people in the community is forgotten, then I have a huge problem with it. Think Mike Tyson determined to have a piece of candy and the only candy around is in a baby's hand. The parent would be more worried about finding a good plastic surgeon to repair the the bite marks on the baby than anything else. Ok, not the best analogy.
The council meeting tonight was long... but productive. Some people would not see it as a good meeting, but I did. I tend to look at the bigger picture, that picture is the issues and the concerns that have been arising lately are forcing the council to rethink their ways... becoming more active and more responsible for what they set out to do. The issues help educate them to become better at what they do. Hopefully, more would see what is happening and get more involved. New fresh blood would be a positive thing in this council. So all in all, it was a productive day.
Gotta have fun
Today's theme was "gotta have fun". At work, my Office Assistant's (OA) daughter dropped by. When that happens, you can kiss productivity goodbye. My OA alone and I can have the oddest and most off the wall conversations, but when the DOA (Daughter of OA) you can expect nothing serious to come out of it. The two of them together is enough to make Andrew Dice Clay jealous. It was a lot of laughs, especially at the expense of each other.
Since it is (*looking at the clock*)...eh...was... Tuesday, it was also bowling night for me. I was simply pathetic up there. Even my best game was below my 197 average. It was probably the worst night of bowling since "Punky Brewster" was considered my hero. I ended up bowling a 195, 162, 147... for a total of 504. Despite the choking and the despicable scores, my team won three out of four... and most important, we had fun. I was in a wacky mood and talkative, I was able to enjoy the sport I have grown to make part of my life once a week for the past decade (on and off). I didn't take the ball's fear of knocking the pins down seriously. I even resisted the incredible urge to get the bumpers put up in the gutters to see how many times I can get the ball to bounce from one gutter to the next to even beat the scores I bowled tonight. It was fun tonight to kid around with my teammates and opponents for the goobers we are... even my teammate, Mr Whine-whine-whine-with-crackers-and-cheese was a bit more pleasant because of that little three letter "F" word. You gotta have fun. I just wish I could have that fun-loving feeling more often. I sometimes just cannot help myself from taking my life so seriously. Gotta go to bed, I have a council meeting tomorrow night... never the most fun-thing for me.
Since it is (*looking at the clock*)...eh...was... Tuesday, it was also bowling night for me. I was simply pathetic up there. Even my best game was below my 197 average. It was probably the worst night of bowling since "Punky Brewster" was considered my hero. I ended up bowling a 195, 162, 147... for a total of 504. Despite the choking and the despicable scores, my team won three out of four... and most important, we had fun. I was in a wacky mood and talkative, I was able to enjoy the sport I have grown to make part of my life once a week for the past decade (on and off). I didn't take the ball's fear of knocking the pins down seriously. I even resisted the incredible urge to get the bumpers put up in the gutters to see how many times I can get the ball to bounce from one gutter to the next to even beat the scores I bowled tonight. It was fun tonight to kid around with my teammates and opponents for the goobers we are... even my teammate, Mr Whine-whine-whine-with-crackers-and-cheese was a bit more pleasant because of that little three letter "F" word. You gotta have fun. I just wish I could have that fun-loving feeling more often. I sometimes just cannot help myself from taking my life so seriously. Gotta go to bed, I have a council meeting tomorrow night... never the most fun-thing for me.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
*No clever title here* but comments welcome.
As I read other blogs posted today... I ponder the direction I want to take with my relatively new addiction. Today there has been a lot of "controversy" about Lurking and de-lurking... whatever that revolution may be. As far as I am concerned, the only Lurk or Lurge (or however it is said) I want to be concerned with is the one from the Adam's Family. You know that big ol' quiet guy who looks up the the superior linguist skills of the apes in a zoo.
Yes, I admit I very much welcome comments from the peanut gallery and I will share my peanut shells with others. Yes, I like attention as much as the next person. Yes, it would be nice to be able to make a friend or two or three or four or fifty by means of blogging (especially since my social life is DOA. Yes, I would love to be able to be able to keep a pair of gloves for longer than a month without losing one. Yes, I would like to own a pair of sunglasses longer than it takes for 99% of NewYears Revolutionist to jump off the bandwagon. But the point is, it is what it is. Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't. *Gawd, what is it lately with my nuts?* I want to write about my thoughts and feelings... the mood I am in mainly dictates the kind of blog I will write. I hope it will be entertaining enough to put a smile on someone else's face or even mine down the road if I re-read it. I would hope that I can put a positive spin to the content to help me feel more optimistic about my life. I would want it to be reflective of who I am and what I like and what is going on with me. I like to make a difference in someone else's lives (no matter how so insignificant that difference may be), something I don't feel I have been doing as much (and as often)lately. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside like a old moldy piece of fruit... ok, bad example. I tend to feel better about myself and more comfortable about myself when I feel like I have helped someone else or put a smile on another's face, as corny as it may sound. Something as simple as saying hi to a stranger walking down the street.... but that is as far as I go, the wizard has not given me courage to go beyond that yellow brick road. Blogs have been an avenue for me to convey my thoughts when I have not been able to do in person, behind the mask of gooberman. I put my blog on "Blogtimore, Hon" so I can get someone to read it, that is what it is designed to do, get your blog exposed to a larger population. That is my two cents.
Yes, I admit I very much welcome comments from the peanut gallery and I will share my peanut shells with others. Yes, I like attention as much as the next person. Yes, it would be nice to be able to make a friend or two or three or four or fifty by means of blogging (especially since my social life is DOA. Yes, I would love to be able to be able to keep a pair of gloves for longer than a month without losing one. Yes, I would like to own a pair of sunglasses longer than it takes for 99% of NewYears Revolutionist to jump off the bandwagon. But the point is, it is what it is. Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't. *Gawd, what is it lately with my nuts?* I want to write about my thoughts and feelings... the mood I am in mainly dictates the kind of blog I will write. I hope it will be entertaining enough to put a smile on someone else's face or even mine down the road if I re-read it. I would hope that I can put a positive spin to the content to help me feel more optimistic about my life. I would want it to be reflective of who I am and what I like and what is going on with me. I like to make a difference in someone else's lives (no matter how so insignificant that difference may be), something I don't feel I have been doing as much (and as often)lately. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside like a old moldy piece of fruit... ok, bad example. I tend to feel better about myself and more comfortable about myself when I feel like I have helped someone else or put a smile on another's face, as corny as it may sound. Something as simple as saying hi to a stranger walking down the street.... but that is as far as I go, the wizard has not given me courage to go beyond that yellow brick road. Blogs have been an avenue for me to convey my thoughts when I have not been able to do in person, behind the mask of gooberman. I put my blog on "Blogtimore, Hon" so I can get someone to read it, that is what it is designed to do, get your blog exposed to a larger population. That is my two cents.
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