The office Christmas party was fun – BHK came with me and together we won 2nd place in the “music, trivia, pictionary, and bingo combo” games. That equals a $100 gift card. Not bad at all… after work she and I went out to get coffee with our prize, and then picked up each other a present at the bookstore.
The food was good. The cheesecake was the clear winner for me, though the crab soup was nice as well. The bar was well-stocked, but I didn’t partake of any booze – diet pepsi is about my…
Tomorrow is the Christmas party at work. I wonder what the following week before vacation is going to be like? I suspect it’ll mostly be business as usual.
Got BHK David DeBoy’s Crabs for Christmas CD… gave it to her early… as a cd of christmas music on christmas day has a very limited shelf-life. (At least until next year) She was more than delighted – it really is pretty much “Our” holiday song, after all.
The other songs on the CD are pretty groovy, too. I was a little…
1217070540.jpg: xmas tree w train
Snow… where is my precious snow? None fell today… just wet ol’ rain.
I don’t mind… I like gray days just fine. All sunshine makes a desert, right?
Bulk of the day was spent doing holiday decorations and prep for my Mother and Wilton coming up for the holidays. I like that tree is all gussied up and has the train underneath. Officially Yuletide now.
Larry and Chris came over and we all slurped some veggie soup. BHK also made a Cheese ball and Chef Boyardee Pizza that was really quite good….
Snow… where is my precious snow? None fell today… just wet ol’ rain.
I don’t mind… I like gray days just fine. All sunshine makes a desert, right?
Bulk of the day was spent doing holiday decorations and prep for my Mother and Wilton coming up for the holidays. I like that tree is all gussied up and has the train underneath. Officially Yuletide now.
Larry and Chris came over and we all slurped some veggie soup. BHK also made a Cheese ball and Chef Boyardee Pizza that was really quite good….
Snow… where is my precious snow? None fell today… just wet ol’ rain.
I don’t mind… I like gray days just fine. All sunshine makes a desert, right?
Bulk of the day was spent doing holiday decorations and prep for my Mother and Wilton coming up for the holidays. I like that tree is all gussied up and has the train underneath. Officially Yuletide now.
Larry and Chris came over and we all slurped some veggie soup. BHK also made a Cheese ball and Chef Boyardee Pizza that was really quite good. The in-laws bugged out early, but we got a little Adam visit for an hour before bedtime. He found the pickle on the Christmas tree in about 3 minutes. I suspect Bugah will find it more rapidly.
The robot is now packing the moniker “Pickle”, at least as a nickname.
We played Wii for a bit – Mario brothers is older than Adam… and he’s going to College. That’s sort of frightening.
Christmas lights, Pye in a Wreath, Newt and the train, Pretzel Walruses, our two favorite new ornaments… robot and ship in a bottle.
Tannenbaum Express-cam will be set up online shortly… probably by midweek.
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1 year ago – more xmas lights… and travel video
2 years ago – 10 gigs on lj, mighty boosh, newton ashamed of Chinese food photoshopping, Hawaiian Christmas song, friday 5, survey
3 years ago – Pasta with Mel, Jill at work (she’s since quit), Making fiends 14, Great out of context line for Eric and Mona
4 years ago – food, thinking, 12 days
5 years ago – deep sleeps, gender benders, doodle cartoon
6 years ago – Modern ruins, Goethe, misc
7 years ago – Michael Peter’s Rules, dreams, cryptozoo, boat parade
Downright warm today at 61F. I really didn’t even need to wear a jacket today.
I like the word folderol.
I still have a little trouble understanding how Aflac or similar programs could be beneficial to me over and above my other health insurance… it doesn’t seem like it’s of much utility to my situation, but perhaps I’m mistaken. I don’t know it it’s me, or if the folks explaining it sort of missed my personal buttons. (Most of the talk sounded a bit like standard insurance…
Today seemed both brief and extended at the same time, somehow.
Took off early this morning to snag a few allergy shots, and then we swung by Maerten’s to check out plans for BHK’s ring. I was going to have it be a surprise, but when design considerations came up, I opted for her input… she’s the one that’ll be wearing it after all.
I wonder how many people buy an engagement ring for their spouse, 14 months after the wedding day?
We hashed out a few designs with Heather, and I think that the one that was finalized will be lovely. I’m looking forward to the CAD images sometime this week before the casting. If this one works out well, I think a Mexican Day of the Dead “skull ring” could be next on the list.
Later, we went to the local farm grocer, grabbed lunch and a broad assortment of candy-type stuff to put in X-mas stockings.
The chocolate drops intended for Larry were not destined to survive.
They were, however, delicious. He’ll get other candy, love it and never be the wiser. We’re not bad people.
The in-laws had a little trouble finding the train store, so we met with them for a little bit… Larry and I talked trains while BHK and Chris went to the kids bookstore and got a little treat or two for Em and maybe Bugah.
We parted company – BHK got a flash of brilliance – and we stopped and got the final piece of Chris’s prezzie…. not mentioned in case she’s reading this. (I don’t think she is, but better safe than sorry.)
Following that, we hit our favorite friendly neighborhood gaming store, Aardvark’s – got some goodies for Louise, Cathy and Dave. Added bonus, Mike gave us the Fluxx Party pack and a Larry the Zombie to go with our Looney Labs purchases. Score! I’ve been wanting a radioactive potato, and now we have two! (Larry {the card, not the father-in-law} is the zombie equivalent.)
I think we’ve got everyone covered for presents except for Adam and Matt. That shouldn’t be too traumatic.
I ran out of juice by the end of the day… not sure where all my energy went, unless it was the sugar blues post about 1000 chocolate drops.
1 year ago – huge number of Christmas lights pictures from Solomon’s Island and more. Snow!
2 years ago – monkey day, kong, slow lj, dsl issues, santa question
3 years ago – Mel & Scotto facts, Gorilla Girl, Monkey Day, Massive Frog eats 3-legged dog, Beatles Christmas Records, 7070, Santa hates damn contemporary, bullshit architecture!, I break Christmas bonuses to ADP
4 years ago – spelling poll, pandas, turtles, and a bed of fresh noodles
5 years ago – keywords, Newt likes Broccoli!, Lauderdale cams, bah on bush, gore and grover Cleveland, mh trim, J-lo nose picker, shoe-doodle
6 years ago – holiday shopping, good advice, winter depression folk
7 years ago – moment of RAW, Santa Claus – geek, holidays, donations
Maybe it’s time to go back to early-morning posts. We’ll see how writing on the train works for longer pieces.
Met one of the bigwigs at the company today… he’s got a computer background, too. I’m hoping that will mean expressing system needs will be simpler. I think that’s likely to be the case.
I am admittedly curious about what BHK is getting me for Christmas. She’s dropped a few hints, all of them cryptic. Just the way I like it. It’ll be fun to puzzle things out for the next couple…
The office Christmas party was fun – BHK came with me and together we won 2nd place in the “music, trivia, pictionary, and bingo combo” games. That equals a $100 gift card. Not bad at all… after work she and I went out to get coffee with our prize, and then picked up each other a present at the bookstore.
The food was good. The cheesecake was the clear winner for me, though the crab soup was nice as well. The bar was well-stocked, but I didn’t partake of any booze – diet pepsi is about my limit, especially in mixed company. BHK and I sat with Jim and his wife, Tom, Rip and Maggie. We made some assorted small talk – everything from adopting dogs to visiting nearby museums.
Pictionary went well… the center table did brilliantly.. speed was impressive at the solution for Polar Express. I guess some of the “Train on the Brain” paid off – they got it in 9 seconds. Our table got Mickey’s Christmas Carol in 24.
Word scramble we couldn’t work out was “fireplace”. Many of the rest were pretty easy, once you yanked the word snow out of them. snowshoes, snowmobile, etc.
We have about $45 left on the card for more Christmas “found money” funzies. That was surely a welcome addition to our coffers this year. We also got a Christmas Bonus, but that got piped right into savings.
Additional purchases: not as fun, but required for continued comfort – ordered 2 pairs of sneakers. I have to get some new dress shoes, too, as my black ones are beat and the brown ones will be on the way out, soon. A pity that crocs aren’t considered proper business attire. Or maybe it’s just as well… slippery slope and all.. don’t want folks coming to work in just thermal undies or some such comfort.
California Tortilla for dinner, and then back here to home…. discovered that my cell phone charger isn’t working consistently… I’ll have to hit Verizon and see if it’s the charger or the phone… I hope it’s the charger, because replacing phones has been a bit of a bugaboo this year.
1 year ago – shopped, ate, got fluxx
2 years ago – condo commandos, dooced, kong opens, misfits, bush on constitution, yahoo income, zombie cap
3 years ago – cravings, pondering atmospheres, vocabulary words, adp ROYALLY screws up, ocular chili, its a wonderful life by bunnies, Mexican tomb of DEATH
4 years ago – Saddam captured, collective nouns, feral children, pod thoughts, tic tacs, and chores done
5 years ago – Lottery-coworker thoughts, Deathrace 2000, my favorite Chang Tzu quote, witch cow, mistaken identity, haiku
6 years ago – pumpernickel, Newt on my long-lost chair, moment of weirdness, wacky news, what we did before toilet paper, coprolite
7 years ago – sickies, FIGHT! game, Rhyme-time
Tomorrow is the Christmas party at work. I wonder what the following week before vacation is going to be like? I suspect it’ll mostly be business as usual.
Got BHK David DeBoy‘s Crabs for Christmas CD… gave it to her early… as a cd of christmas music on christmas day has a very limited shelf-life. (At least until next year) She was more than delighted – it really is pretty much “Our” holiday song, after all.
The other songs on the CD are pretty groovy, too. I was a little worried it might be a lot of filler, but the tunes are a lot of fun – especially if you’re a Marylander.
Found out how to add everyone on my lj friends page to an rss reader directly... That’s pretty dang handy.
Also, drawings of Bears in Ill-fitting hats.
“By an overwhelming majority Metro board members approved today the largest increases in subway fares and parking fees in the agency’s history after months of contentious debate among directors…
“The board members essentially approved a plan offered in recent days by Maryland members that lessens the impact on suburban and long-distance riders. That plan followed a public hearing that drew more than 400 comments from riders, many of whom said that proposed fare and fee hikes were too high and not merited by metro’s unreliable service.”
1)Was 2007 a good year for you?
Pretty great! New Life in MD, Happily Married, New Job… looking good!
3) What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Dealing with the ignorance and foolishness of people who ought to know better.
4) Where were you when 2007 began?
Swimming in the Chesapeake Bay! Nice Brisk Beginning! (Rang out 2006 with Adam, in-laws, Louise, Tina, and BHK)
5) Who were you with?
BHK and the in-laws were on the coast.
6) Where will you be when 2007 ends?
probably enjoying the new year’s eve celebration at windward key.
7) Who will you be with when 2007 ends?
Likely with the in-laws and BHK..
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2007?
I don’t think I made any!
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2008?
Nope… just be good is my basic rule right now.
10) Did you fall in love in 2007?
More in love, yes!
11) If yes, with who?
BHK!
12) If yes, do they know?
I certainly hope so!
13) Are you still in love with them?
BY all means!
14) Do you regret it?
Not one whit!
15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2007?
Nope… I’ve been in this relationship since before 2007!
16) Did you make any new friends in 2007?
A few new acquaintances.
17) Who are your favourite new friends?
I like hanging out with Cyn, Cathy and Dave a lot… it’s a rare but fun treat. (cheating a little, I met ’em all in 2006)
18) What was your favourite month of 2007?
June was pretty good! new gig, things started to roll.
19) Did you travel outside of your country of residence in 2007?
Nope… I stuck to the USA
20) How many different states did you travel to in 2007?
Virginia, Washington DC (if that counts), Maryland – Thought about WV and PA, but we didn’t get to it.
21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2007?
Thankfully, no.
22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Sure… I miss my brother and father here and again.
23) What was your favourite movie that you saw in 2007?
Not sure… hot fuzz, maybe?
24) What was your favourite song from 2007?
Crabs for Christmas!
25) What was your favourite album from 2007?
albums? I listen to singles, mostly… see above as a default
26) How many concerts did you see in 2007?
hmm.. Loreena McKennitt, SNZ, Firecracker Jazz, the bluegrass fest… I’m not sure. More than 5, less than 10.
27) Did you have a favourite concert in 2007?
I suspect that firecracker was the most pleasant surprise, but Loreena McKennitt was the most nifty.
28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2007
Not really. I’d guess my usual amount. No hard liquor that I can recall, maybe 6 beers and 6 ciders across 12 months.
29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2007?
I used my inhaler a lot in the first part… no recreational drugs for me. asmanex seems to be alleviating the regular inhaler, too.
30) How many people did you sleep with in 2007?
Just my wife, if you’re talking euphemism for sex. if you just mean snoozed with, you can toss the kitties in the mix, too.
31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
told bhk that I’d made a phone call that I didn’t.
32) What was the biggest lie you told in 2007?
see 31, above.
33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2007?
see 31, above.
34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2007?
well, telling a lie is pretty bad. I’ve been grumpy here and there.
35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2007?
I wouldn’t say so.
36) How much money did you spend in 2007?
Most of what we had… but we’re slowly rebuilding our bank.
Errr… what happened to question 37?
38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007?
again, 31.
39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2007 and change it, what would it be?
again, 31.
40) What are your plans for 2008?
Play fair and be nice… do a good job at home and at work. Be loving and kind.
1 year ago – Peter Boyle RIP, Grey Gardens, Holiday hubbub, new comic store, Tina’s wedding present to us,
2 years ago – sam and max, Atari 2600, favorite things
3 years ago – I discover that Romanian pop tune (OZONE – Dragoste din tei) before the weirdo kid cam sings it around the world, Oceans 11, pollo tropical makes me sick
4 years ago – the secret message, Bro & Danny visit, lizards in the tummy, truck surfing, riddle, some reference
5 years ago – nightmare, balloon hats, fudge and dinosaurs, Danny and I win a Tomato Recipe contest!
6 years ago – nice dreams, flesh eating robots, wacky day, SOP
7 years ago – coffee, hello kitty murders, village blacksmith, books to read, I get a Sigmund and the sea monsters tape!
It started with a foggy Monday morning. (sakes, that’s even weaker than “It was a dark and stormy night.”) Sleepy start, but a little nap on the train into work gave me a little jump start. Warmer lately… upper 40s, with very little wind.
Work progressed evenly, though there is plenty to do. The holiday cookie competition was launched in the break room – 4 entries this year. A white chocolate / cranberry drop, pecan bar with milk chocolate, an oatmeal-type square, and a rum ball sort of…
Downright warm today at 61F. I really didn’t even need to wear a jacket today.
I like the word folderol.
I still have a little trouble understanding how Aflac or similar programs could be beneficial to me over and above my other health insurance… it doesn’t seem like it’s of much utility to my situation, but perhaps I’m mistaken. I don’t know it it’s me, or if the folks explaining it sort of missed my personal buttons. (Most of the talk sounded a bit like standard insurance fear-mongering.) The whole medical / insurance system really gets my goat sometimes – there’s always a feel of a protection racket itching in the back of my skull.
Heard through the grapevine that my ex’s home went into foreclosure. I pity her, but I don’t know the whole situation. I hope that she and her family find a good place to crash and get cover… seems like a heck of a thing to happen at Christmas.
Thinking good thoughts about BHK today. She has been working very hard for quite some time on multiple difficult projects. Digging up old records is tough … the chain of information is full of weak links. I remember how annoying it was just to shift information between Comcast and Verizon – slip that same information between state and federal agencies, and it only adds to the mountain of paperwork, receipt of careless service and red tape.
I have the urge to map out my office building (at least the floor I’m on), our house in North Beach, and maybe some of WMATA in a fps engine like counterstrike or half-life, just to do it. Home wouldn’t be a huge undertaking, and I have the layout of the tower… but the subway might be tricky. Given the huge number of mods out there already, it wouldn’t surprise me if it already existed in some rippable form.
I wanted my own radio station when I was in High school… call letters WMBT – wombat radio.
After work, we visited the in-laws for a bit…. watched The Santa Clause. It’s sort of nice to have fun family nearby. Nobody else had seen the film, which was received well enough.
1 year ago – christin reviews eragon, my Xmas stocking, got a train to put under the tree. (Larry gave me some track extension this year!)
pictures taken – more xmas tree
2 years ago – pizza and narnia, santa poll, lenses, feliz navidad, cousin billy, clydee card, walkies pix
3 years ago – damned don’t dance, Mel’s Gramma, shopping, vote switch software, Hardee’s Monster thickburger, UFO theme popular, Gigantor
4 years ago – sleepyhead , mugger caught on lj audio, Epipelagic and Mesopelagic Animals, misc
5 years ago – Newt with his feet up, Froogle gets rolling, VB memos, given serious sam by msk
6 years ago – Linus Recounts the reason for Christmas, segway thoughts
7 years ago – Hell week day 2, the psychic, longfellow
axialtilt-big: via – slumbering.lungfish.com/?p=254
axialtilt: via – slumbering.lungfish.com/?p=254