back… we had juice and a little gab, but he had to take off to do laundry,a nd head back to his place. I should do mine, too.. but it’s a long weekend, and I desire lounge time. I’ll save it for Monday morning.

Woke up a little bit ago… brother called me up…we’re going to meet for breakfast at the grove in about a half hour. I should be back at the HQ by 12 or 12:30ish

and now, some scottobear lj poetry

Back from brother’s… had a nice long talk with him… aspirations and ideas. He thinks we should be actors or at least extras in the “Hollywood of the South”, down in Miami where they make all sorts of movies. I think being an extra could be fun… and being a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild might be entertaining in it’s own right. I wouldn’t mind seeing my brother as the guy with a pool cue in a beer commercial, or myself as “evil crony #4”, the first henchman to be blown away in the latest cheese-ball action flick. I’m confident in my brother’s ability to take whatever challenges are in store for him, and to face ’em head on…. and to emerge victorious. He comes from good stock, y’know. We went as far as hopping online and getting the number for a few local agencies that had high reviews… He’ll be giving them a ring tomorrow to find out more about how do do such things…good vibes for that. He deals well with rejection and foolish egos, so acting just might be a real thing for him.

We also played a few PS2 samplers, (so many neat games out there) and watched the extras CD for fight club. We talked a little bit about computer animation, country joe and the fish, cracked wise and miscellaneous stuff… watched the tail end of a Clint Eastwood movie over pizza and cookies. (Pizza was Homemade by Mike, Bro’s roommate… whom he calls Chupacabra as a term of friendship, unlike my more demonized Chupa at work.)

Walking around the front of his apartment, we saw what was first thought to be a cat, until it climbed a tree, and we got a better look at its profile and head. A little raccoon lives nearby! Ever vigilant with my digital camera, I grabbed 2 shots… one zoomed, one not so much so, but you can see the eye flash in both.

Tucking in to bed, now, to join my beloved in dreamland… her hopefully pleasant sleeps already in progress.
Near and far pics of the raccoon we saw

This type of stuff just rocks.

Wayyy back in the 80’s I used to play laser tag, and tabletop RPGS… now they are using combinations of digital compasses, inclinometers, GPS (satellite) tracking and pattern recognition technologies just to work out exactly where they are in the real world, then tell quake about it…. and computer monitored firepower, body armor, player tracking, and monsters to scale.

Too nifty, indeed.

Newt’s talking out the window at someone who has parked a boat-trailer in the yard.

And now, I head off to work, and then the bro’s… see you much later, dear journal.

obligatory newt pix

Woke up this morning with puffy eyes. Some stressful dreams, but no real details. Combative, muscle-tightening.

Took a brief walk, but really didn’t tarry too far. I’m going to have to walk the neighborhood soon and collect the numbers of the assorted places renting. Maybe early Saturday, before laundry.

One of the families that moved out still have 2 cars in my parking space. I’m not using it, and I said that they could use the space until I needed it… but I have no way of reaching them. Are these things abandoned? I think I’ll put a note on the cars and ask them to notify me within a week, or if I should deal with them as scrap.

Getting together with my brother tonight, for movies, video games, pizza and good conversation. Digging out my blockbuster card now. I haven’t really used it in a year or so. Work will be thick today, because it’s Friday, and half the department has taken the day off for the long weekend ahead, including Dale. Funny how all the people taking off are hourly, and all the salaried folks are staying.

I find myself wondering if Newt would learn to fish if I kept an aquarium. He won’t leave the sea monkeys alone unless there’s a very solid barrier.

I’ve heard that a Maryland metro train smells like goat drool. (Some routes to Miami by bus have a Romano Cheese / Foot smell, too)

I’m doing what I can to keep a positive mindset, I foresee a rough time this weekend, but it’ll be followed by good stuff.

What will the sci-fi geeks watch now that Buffy and X-files are gone? Isn’t Enterprise pretty much universally disliked?

I had a dream the other day where pus was saved from a large boil in a mason jar to drive off burglars. A gross kind of molotov cocktail. I think it’d be effective…if someone lobbed a jar of the stuff at me, I’d think twice about robbing the place. If I knew a jar of it was in the house, I’d pass it by. Maybe it’s time to make a sign there, too.

I’m going to do another minor gig for Women in Distress for Jenjen… just setting up client files and some general reporting. Not a big payer but Jen’s a friend, and it is a charity. 🙂

I want to word-associate with my beloved this weekend… it’s been a while since we did that last, and it’s always been fun.

and now, a moment of zen.

A single moon
Bright and clear
In an unclouded sky;
Yet still we stumble
In the world’s darkness.

– Ikkyu (1394-1481)

Two mail-goodies and now the complete “The Prisoner” TV series…Kevin got it for me at Costco last night, knowing full well that I’d be happy to pay the $80 for it. All 17 episodes on DVD (I had them previously as a 2nd generation VHS copy), with all sorts of spiffy extras. Anyone who knows my tastes in television knows that I think that Prisoner is probably one of the best things ever shown on the tube.

Of course, I think that all of the Planet of the Apes movies warrant many, many viewings, too… to the point of them having about a 20% chance of being background noise at my house whenever my VCS is running. Apes will be my next DVD acquisition, not in as much of a hurry, since I have ’em all on regular VHS.

During lunch hour today, I made a dash for the big & tall (do they have skinny dwarf stores?) store, to restock on gear that’s been wearing out… I treated myself to some new boxers (Superman, Spider-man the Movie, joe boxer smiley-face atoms, red plaid, and joe boxer big smiley face) a new khaki and a new blue pants. They were out of olive and forest green, so I’ll be back for those later. I’ll pick up maybe four new shirts next trip… the duty cycle on my current wardrobe can stand an injection of freshness. Maybe get some new birks, too, while I’m at it.

*note to self, pick up some soda for Friday night at the bro’s. Coke, Mt. Dew, and Pepsi.

By the way, If you want to make a backup of your journal on your own computer you can visit this URL: http://www.livejournal.com/export.bml Right now you must export it month-by-month.

Interesting… if I look at my friend’s list now, I can see all the deleted people.. they’ve got a line through ’em. kind of nifty… I need to clean that up. [edit – cleaned.]

fresca and goldfish crackers is the breakfast of champions.

I see a little doo-bee that’s having mountain dew and cheez-its… and another that’s having coke and oatmeal cookies….sakes! does nobody have a “normal breakfast” today?

I was compared to Travis Tritt again today…

This celestial object, with the scientific name MyCn18, looks like an eerie green eye staring out from two intersecting rings.

Watch out behind you, hunter! – An… interesting online game. Losing the first time made me crack up. Not safe for work.

Here’s a nifty case of isomorphism: researchers have taken to encoding genetic sequences into musical compositions.Now, here’s the trick — some research companies are considering copyrighting this same music as a way to protect their economic interests in the benefits derived from that research. Go download some and enjoy.

Big green guys with jewel-like eyes
come to get me in the middle of night
they’re gonna skin me, then eat me alive
I’m lost, I’m lost
find me

When I look all around
I can’t believe the things that I’ve found
Marshall, Will, and Holly can’t help me now
I’m living in the land of the lost

Enik is a good Sleestak
he can help me find my way back
maybe not
‘cuz he can’t keep his anger in check
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary

Dinosaurs are everywhere
the Lost City can be found over there
someday Uncle Jack will fall from the air
with the help of a parachute

Hanging out with a monkey-man
Pakuni know the lay of this land
over here’s a swamp right there quick sand
and
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary

I want to go home
far from this land unknown
I really don’t like
these things that I’ve been shown
maybe this pylon holds the key

Freak storms and endless streams
triceratops and poison weeds
weird mushrooms
that I’ve been forced to eat
seem to do strange things to me

Suspended from the roof of a cave
down below is surely my grave
the Sleestak God is calling my name
if I fall down
I’ll be his lunch

Chak-kah can’t talk very clear
I’ve gotta get myself outta here
surrounded by my childhood fears
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary
Sleestak are scary

didn’t have much time to scribble… only had to wait about a half hour, and I read for about 20 minutes.

boo-boo spine on left, ha-ha spine on right… can you see the difference?

I really like all the charts at the doc’s office.

Although I don’t often drink it, I craved coffee something fierce this morn, and acted on it. it was goooooood. hit the spot.

My blood pressure is back to normal! I’m usually 120/80, but both sides shot way way up when I was hurting… it peaked even higher, but this is how far it dropped from last visit.

ha! what a great CD from sholanda !

A swell custom cover design, and a playlist. “Songs to make me smile”.

The playlist –

1. wake up and live – bob marley
2. go shopping – bran van 3000 feat. eek a mouse
3. my ho drives a big red car – heater
4. bust a move – young mc
5. rainy day women – black crowes
6. little fishies – chainsaw kittens
7. revolution (in the summertime) – cosmic rough riders
8. my sisters and brothers – jerry garcia band
9. change (acoustic) – blind melon
10. rocky top – lorretta lynn
11. here comes your man – the pixies
12. love buzz – nirvana
13. shiny, happy people – r.e.m.
14. strange things – new tribe

Thank you!

Two years ago today was my first real entry into LJ. I registered on the 19th, but didn’t post anything for a few days… spent a little time getting familiar with the system, and wasn’t sure I’d use it, because at the time all that existed was a web-form entry.

I don’t know if I’d consider myself one of the “old-timers” here, but given the chaotic and transient nature of the net, I’ve done a pretty good job of posting regularly, averaging about three entries a day since I got going… maybe more. I try to post at least twice a day, once to reflect on the coming day or just morning blather and a walkies report, and the later one to discuss what the day has brought for good or ill.

I think I went through most of the growing cycles of LJ… building a friend’s list, learning new features as they became available. The occasional lj drama has crossed my path, but not so many as others that I’ve seen. I seem to be subject to suffering one fool, one rumor and one flame a year.. sometimes the same person, sometimes not. It takes no time to figure out how to close the storm shutters that front… respond to all comers with a polite face, give them an opportunity to retreat, and barring that, stick to your guns and keep a cool head. Justice has prevailed for me every time by following those rules, and the angry or cruel folks involved were made to look the fools. If that doesn’t work, and the aggressor is very persistent, LJ-abuse will be more than happy to deal with them, given a collected set of examples of TOS violation.

I’ve seen “vanity suicides” folks deleting out to get attention and wailing summons to return. I’ve seen petty squabbles, high-school cliques, out-and-out fraud, cruelty, passive-aggressive, actively nasty, and desperate posts… and I delight in being able to remove those folks from my sight with a press of a button. If only I could do that at the office! I’ve had people get angry with me for not reciprocating links… or for my unlinking after their journal turns in a direction I don’t care to follow… why should someone get upset about what I choose to read and not to read? Would they really prefer that folks link to them and then not read what they have to say, just for the vanity of saying “look how many folks are on my friend-of list”? My only guess is the word “friend”… powerful juju. Seriously? I think that I can count on one hand the number of people on LJ that I can call a friend in a traditional sense. “People I read” and “Readers” I feel is a more correct descriptor of how the friend’s list works. I do have warm feelings for most of the folks I regularly read, however.

I’ve not only seen but *been* a direct catalyst in causing people to delete their journal… either to vanish completely, or to rename themselves and start anew somewhere. I feel very little if any guilt over that, but I do wonder why folks post anything in a public forum with a comment feature, not expecting a reply that might not be 100% their own. If folks are asked for an opinion, or see it implied that they may offer it freely… well, it’s bound to happen, and nobody can agree on everything, and I try to voice my opinion in solid and firm, but gentle words… especially if it differs from that of whom I’m responding.

Best of all, I’ve read a select and wonderful few people that are true gems… folk that are shining examples of kindness, humor, intelligence, diversity, charity, and art. There are some really choice pieces of writing here and there, biographical and fictional (best for me when labeled as such), poetry, raw emotion, pictures, trials and victories. I return from reading my list happy if I get a smile or a sample of a person’s love for another. Snippets of life that I might not otherwise see. *That* is why I link to folks in livejournal. I read them even if they choose not to read what I have to say in return.

The reason I post what I do is a combination… I like to share with people… the wacky links are the most obvious side of that, but the biggest thing for me is to just write what comes to me, and if other folks dig it, that’s fine, but it’s mostly just to save a facet or two of what’s bouncing around in my head at the moment. Sure, I like having folks read what I’m writing about, and I really enjoy comments… but I think that I’d keep a journal even if nobody read it but me… just with fewer remote links. I like to go back in time now and then, see what I was thinking, where my life was, and see where it is now. I also like to flex my writing muscles… something that I need to get back into, once some of my other projects come to fruition.

I don’t really care how large my reader’s list is, though I do like to monitor how much it grows and shrinks. As of this writing, it’s swollen to well over 200 regular readers, and dwindled to under 75 at it’s lowest shrinkage point. Right now it’s about midway, maybe a little lower than usual. I have a few people that appear and disappear as they decide to add to or tighten up lists they read. I *do* like to see the menstrual hut community get more members and was delighted the day that it had more readers than I myself have… (it’s grown to about 4-5x the number of folks who read my own stuff now… and I’m proud.) The only thing that disappointsme about my list getting smaller is that posting polls now aren’t as satisfying as the once were. I like to see at least 20 or more replies to a posted question, just to get a good sampling. Flipside, I’d like to chop off the dozen people who’ve linked to me and then walked away from their journal, leaving a phantom connection behind… it’s like a sucker mark from a long-dead octopus on my bio page.

I wouldn’t mind my future kids looking through my journal, either, come to think of it. I know I’d enjoy reading what my father, mother and grandparents were feeling and thinking at my age, to compare against. Heck, I’ll even give the password to the journal in my will, if they show any interest in wanting to read the private-private stuff. I should download it to paper so that it’ll still exist even when I and LJ’s servers ultimately keel over. The animated gif’s won’t be as fun, and the links won’t work, but aside from that, it should be ok. Maybe burn a copy to CD, too. (who knows if folks will be able to read a CD in 20 years though? and all those dead links… ohy. I stuck a ‘bot seek me and refresh meta-tag, so hopefully the archivers will keep a backup of this stuff and those things I link to.)

The account I have is permanent, and I hope that LJ is around for a long time to come. Thus far, it’s been a good run.

Heard this one lately? “Movie x has broken all previous box office records on its opening weekend…” Chances are you’ve heard it for, well, just about every movie that’s come out in the past 5 years. But how do those new record numbers stand up when you adjust for inflation?

Good night, dear journal, but first, a moment of zen.

Sagehood has nothing
To do with governing others
But is a matter of ordering oneself.
Nobility has nothing
To do with power and rank,
But is a matter of self realization;
Attain self-realization,
And the whole world
Is found in the self.
Happiness has nothing
To do with wealth and status,
But is a matter of harmony.

– Lao-tze

The catgrass that I sneak-planted out on the side of the house is *huge*! I think it grows about five times faster than the rest of the lawn…now I just have to tell some kitties about it so they’ll have something to snack on.

On the topic of kitties… Newt has no idea how much damage I *could* do to him. I chase him around the house, and he turns and chases me back…he know’s I wouldn’t hurt him, so he’s allowed to be the fierce hunter, and take me down like a caveman and a mastadon.

I need to get up extra early tomorrow.. followup at the docs… hopefully I can get some sports-therapy out of my back being naughty the other day. Once I find a good light-table, I’ll take piccies of my MRI films and post them here.

supa-noot to the rescue!