Right, so it's a lame excuse, but it's essentially true. I have the ability to sprinkle my pithy wisdoms to the Facebook community (ok, my 50-some friends) in compact little packets, and it kind of fills the same urge to connect that I was getting through this medium. But, NO MORE! There will be discipline, and word counts, and blog angst!
Well, enough about my lengthy absence. Everyone knows that I have a precocious toddler, an interesting life-situation vis-a-vis Jill's illness, and serious demands at work, but I know plenty of people who manage to do a lot more than file a fracking blog update a few times a week, so I'm done with excuses. Let's get right to it.
I bought some pants the other day. Jeans. So last week, it was New Jeans Week. I tried to stretch it out, wearing the same pair for two days (but not consecutively!) so I had new denim happening for all five days of the work week. It's pretty nice when they're new, since jeans are completely pre-shrunk these days. Instead of breaking in your jeans like you used to do, they actually feel good the first few times you wear them. That, combined with the visceral sense of power that comes with wearing newly acquired goods, makes those first times in public particularly exciting. Were you looking at my ass? Of COURSE, you were. And I have to say, my ass is pretty comfortable (new boxer briefs, too).
Some douchey entrepreneur is posting anonymous ads on some of the comments pages here. I try to delete these as they happen. Sometimes, they are on really old posts, and I find myself scanning through a few months worth of posts. This is part of why I missed writing; I had so much fun reading it again and reading all of the back and forth with you guys. I also realized that I disagree with former me on many points to do with my amateur music analysis. So if you ever come across any of those earlier posts, just think of it as how I felt then. I'm way more sophisticated now.
The other major reason why I came back to these old pixels is that Jonathan Woodard was surprised to learn that I was not much for cats. I realized that my branding was slipping, and I needed to get back before my entire online identity slipped into some sort of brown, averaged, everyperson. Listen: I kind of don't always like cats. OK, Jon?
Showing posts with label blog angst. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog angst. Show all posts
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Under the weather
Jill had her most recent operation on Jan. 16. While I was passing the time in the waiting room, I began to get a bit of scratchiness in my throat. I had developed a runny nose by that evening, and the whole mess quickly moved to my chest within two days. Or so I thought. I had what I thought was bronchitis. Most bronchitis is viral, so I waited it out for a few weeks. These weeks, spent largely at work or at the hospital (Jill came home too soon and had to go back for a few more days), were filled with the sound of my rattly lungs and very productive cough. Three weeks after contracting this "ick", I saw a doctor. She said that my lungs were clear, and diagnosed me with rhinovirus, the common cold. She said that it would gradually get better over the next two weeks on its own.
Three weeks later, I had had it (along with my coworkers and friends). The cough had gotten only marginally better, and I was spiking 100-102F fevers on consecutive nights. I went back in and was diagnosed with rhinosinusitis. Basically, my nasal passages were so swollen that everything was going down the back side, causing me to cough. I got high dose amoxicillin, an inhaler, and was advised to take Sudafed. That was Wednesday. I stayed home most of Wednesday and all of Thursday. I went to work Friday, but stayed mostly off my feet. There was somewhat less coughing yesterday, but today feels like a week ago. Perhaps I shouldn't have taken E to the zoo this morning.
Anyway, blah. This has sapped a lot of my energy. I hope that the RN who saw me gambled correctly on amoxicillin. I'm going to be pissed if I have to go back in for a Z-Pak, which is what I expected.
And now....Pictures!!!
The ubiquitous "Uh oh!"
Right before heading out to the zoo
No caption necessary
Three weeks later, I had had it (along with my coworkers and friends). The cough had gotten only marginally better, and I was spiking 100-102F fevers on consecutive nights. I went back in and was diagnosed with rhinosinusitis. Basically, my nasal passages were so swollen that everything was going down the back side, causing me to cough. I got high dose amoxicillin, an inhaler, and was advised to take Sudafed. That was Wednesday. I stayed home most of Wednesday and all of Thursday. I went to work Friday, but stayed mostly off my feet. There was somewhat less coughing yesterday, but today feels like a week ago. Perhaps I shouldn't have taken E to the zoo this morning.
Anyway, blah. This has sapped a lot of my energy. I hope that the RN who saw me gambled correctly on amoxicillin. I'm going to be pissed if I have to go back in for a Z-Pak, which is what I expected.
And now....Pictures!!!
The ubiquitous "Uh oh!"
Right before heading out to the zoo
No caption necessary
Friday, January 9, 2009
Christmas 2008 in Pictures
Man, I need to clean up around here. The same tired songs have been on that list for months, the same molding picture has been occupying the prime spot up there since October, and I don’t even go to many of those “links” I’ve posted anymore. I would call it a resolution, but my resolution has been to be more productive at work, which is why this is being posted from my desk at work.
Anyhoo, I do have some planned “articles” for the near future, but let’s just keep it simple for now: pictures from Christmas and from my super-sweet 40th galaganza.
Elaine moves up on the totem pole
I prepare to get blurry on my birthday
Sweeeeet!
Ripping paper=fun
Anyhoo, I do have some planned “articles” for the near future, but let’s just keep it simple for now: pictures from Christmas and from my super-sweet 40th galaganza.
Elaine moves up on the totem pole
I prepare to get blurry on my birthday
Sweeeeet!
Ripping paper=fun
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Life of Late
Wow, I haven't posted for a whole week! That's gotta be some kind of record.
It's dark at 5:30PM, now. That feels weird. It's been rather balmy lately, but I believe that's going to change soon. The legendary November rains should be kicking in any time now.
It's been interesting starting a new project in the lab. I'm enjoying it, so far. My lab mates are an interesting bunch, and the lab dynamic is very different than in my last lab. Everyone here is in his own orbit around the basic theme of the lab, with very little overlap or crossed paths. As a result, the environment is collegial, but not as collaborative. I'm not saying that cross-pollination of projects cannot occur, but the healthy space between projects is definitely by design, and fosters a DIY attitude. I'm pretty happy about my early experiences, since I had some apprehension about going back into the lab. We all went out for beers last Friday, and it turns out that you can order German beer by the liter quite close to where I work. Interesting...
In other news, some stuff happened, I drank some beer (nothing new), played some games (new titles: Terakh and Wealth of Nations), got out for a few runs, and read a whole bunch of science. I got sciences coming out the ying yang, y'all!
It's dark at 5:30PM, now. That feels weird. It's been rather balmy lately, but I believe that's going to change soon. The legendary November rains should be kicking in any time now.
It's been interesting starting a new project in the lab. I'm enjoying it, so far. My lab mates are an interesting bunch, and the lab dynamic is very different than in my last lab. Everyone here is in his own orbit around the basic theme of the lab, with very little overlap or crossed paths. As a result, the environment is collegial, but not as collaborative. I'm not saying that cross-pollination of projects cannot occur, but the healthy space between projects is definitely by design, and fosters a DIY attitude. I'm pretty happy about my early experiences, since I had some apprehension about going back into the lab. We all went out for beers last Friday, and it turns out that you can order German beer by the liter quite close to where I work. Interesting...
In other news, some stuff happened, I drank some beer (nothing new), played some games (new titles: Terakh and Wealth of Nations), got out for a few runs, and read a whole bunch of science. I got sciences coming out the ying yang, y'all!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Hi there
OK, so this is me basically pledging my regular support of this site by enacting a posting guarantee. I'm sure that you realize that this is more for me than for you. So, beginning here, I will post an entry at least five times per week. At least three of them will be good, so no more than two will be weak-ass posts like this one, which counts toward next week's quota. Clear? Good. This is the last you'll hear of it.
I'm getting Jill's sister and her family a board game for Christmas, but I haven't yet figured out which one. They like Ticket to Ride - Europe, Ra, Blokus, and Lost Cities, and Gwen has played Power Grid and Puerto Rico and liked them, too. I'd like to get them something that their kids can eventually play with them (they're 11 and 6, I think). Suggestions?
I'm getting Jill's sister and her family a board game for Christmas, but I haven't yet figured out which one. They like Ticket to Ride - Europe, Ra, Blokus, and Lost Cities, and Gwen has played Power Grid and Puerto Rico and liked them, too. I'd like to get them something that their kids can eventually play with them (they're 11 and 6, I think). Suggestions?
Monday, September 22, 2008
My dog ate my blog
So, yeah, I've been too busy for you lately. These are my reasons for neglecting you, my peoples:
-Job search: I've had some networking interviews that have led to some pretty sound advice. I'm on the verge of my third wave of resume submissions. As it happens, the biotech industry is in a bit of a squeeze lately, with plenty of jobs on the process end of things, but not a lot of movement in the basic research side. Post docs don't pay as well, but provide an opportunity to expand my skillset/resume. I'm thinking that something is going to happen soon.
-Computer death: I'm typing this in Safe Mode, which is the only way that my computer will currently start. This has put a bit of a damper on my job searching. I'm working on (1) installing updated drivers, (2)troubleshooting hardware, and, if all else fails, (3) attempting to reinstall Windows XP. In the meantime, we're looking for my next computer.
-Netflix: We finally got hooked on Netflix, so we've been on a nightly kick of watcing LOST season 3. It's pretty fun television, especially blowing through 3-4 episodes per night. Cheesy dialogue, X-Files-like push/pull of revelation and obfuscation, some decent acting (and some gloriously crappy acting), and the imminent threat of death hanging over the most annoying character. This season focuses more on the Others' leader, Ben, and a new love-to-hate, convincingly scary female character, Juliette. Yay, LOST!
-Post-convention burnout: I watched both political conventions and then got into big internet fights on the Religion, Sex, Politics forum at Boardgamegeek. So all of my brilliant commentary went there instead of here. Then I realized that the more I posted, the more invested I became, and I started spending a lot more time thinking about these silly things than anyone really has a right to. It's not like anyone's mind is going to change, or anyone actually wins. So I banned myself from posting for a week, and regained some perspective. IT'S OK if McCain/Palin wins. What difference will it make? Palin is going to come back at the top of the ticket in 2012, perhaps with Bobby Jindal. Then, we will simply declare GAME OVER, and move out of the country.
Spending more time with Jill and Elaine: Jill's had some recent bad news about her blood markers. There's been an upward trend, after a long, steady decrease into the "undetectable" range. This, combined with some abdominal pain, has had us a bit more worried of late. Plus, she's had a cold, and then bronchitis, so she has had difficulty recovering from the chemo cycles. This means a longer period of time where I essentially get no help from her on the Elaine front. I think that, lately, Jill's illness has been hitting me a little harder. Obviously, she's one of the two most important people in my life, and I can't imagine not having her with me, but also...I really want Elaine to grow up with her mother around, and vice versa. (For those of you who are way out of town, I really wish you could meet Elaine right now, at this point in her life. She's just the best little kid. She's funny, strong, and affectionate, and you can see her imagination really going to work now. Come visit!) Anyways, when Jill is feeling better, like over the past few days, I tend to spend a lot more time with her when Elaine is sleeping.
The lesson, as always, is don't hate a playa. Hate the game. I miss you, too.
-Job search: I've had some networking interviews that have led to some pretty sound advice. I'm on the verge of my third wave of resume submissions. As it happens, the biotech industry is in a bit of a squeeze lately, with plenty of jobs on the process end of things, but not a lot of movement in the basic research side. Post docs don't pay as well, but provide an opportunity to expand my skillset/resume. I'm thinking that something is going to happen soon.
-Computer death: I'm typing this in Safe Mode, which is the only way that my computer will currently start. This has put a bit of a damper on my job searching. I'm working on (1) installing updated drivers, (2)troubleshooting hardware, and, if all else fails, (3) attempting to reinstall Windows XP. In the meantime, we're looking for my next computer.
-Netflix: We finally got hooked on Netflix, so we've been on a nightly kick of watcing LOST season 3. It's pretty fun television, especially blowing through 3-4 episodes per night. Cheesy dialogue, X-Files-like push/pull of revelation and obfuscation, some decent acting (and some gloriously crappy acting), and the imminent threat of death hanging over the most annoying character. This season focuses more on the Others' leader, Ben, and a new love-to-hate, convincingly scary female character, Juliette. Yay, LOST!
-Post-convention burnout: I watched both political conventions and then got into big internet fights on the Religion, Sex, Politics forum at Boardgamegeek. So all of my brilliant commentary went there instead of here. Then I realized that the more I posted, the more invested I became, and I started spending a lot more time thinking about these silly things than anyone really has a right to. It's not like anyone's mind is going to change, or anyone actually wins. So I banned myself from posting for a week, and regained some perspective. IT'S OK if McCain/Palin wins. What difference will it make? Palin is going to come back at the top of the ticket in 2012, perhaps with Bobby Jindal. Then, we will simply declare GAME OVER, and move out of the country.
Spending more time with Jill and Elaine: Jill's had some recent bad news about her blood markers. There's been an upward trend, after a long, steady decrease into the "undetectable" range. This, combined with some abdominal pain, has had us a bit more worried of late. Plus, she's had a cold, and then bronchitis, so she has had difficulty recovering from the chemo cycles. This means a longer period of time where I essentially get no help from her on the Elaine front. I think that, lately, Jill's illness has been hitting me a little harder. Obviously, she's one of the two most important people in my life, and I can't imagine not having her with me, but also...I really want Elaine to grow up with her mother around, and vice versa. (For those of you who are way out of town, I really wish you could meet Elaine right now, at this point in her life. She's just the best little kid. She's funny, strong, and affectionate, and you can see her imagination really going to work now. Come visit!) Anyways, when Jill is feeling better, like over the past few days, I tend to spend a lot more time with her when Elaine is sleeping.
The lesson, as always, is don't hate a playa. Hate the game. I miss you, too.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Feeling better
It felt good to get out the anger the other night. Might have seemed tame to you, but I erased a lot before I settled on the final text. Since then, I found some leftover hope under the couch cushions (this is where I sleep--I'm too wiggly for post-op Jill), and some determination to make some plans and keep them. As soon as she's better from surgery, we're going birding up near Vancouver. Maybe I can find a cheap backpack to throw E into, or maybe we'll just let someone babysit.
To make up for my melodrama the other day, here's some silliness (Phillipe is always good for cheering you up)...
It's too big for the window, so click on it to read it all.
To make up for my melodrama the other day, here's some silliness (Phillipe is always good for cheering you up)...
It's too big for the window, so click on it to read it all.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Just Flotsam
Like a father to a child, scattering toys and candy out in a dazzling array in the hopes of a distraction-free televised sporting event (I give you...Parenting!), I offer you these less-than-filling leavings:
A link! It's a Yelp! review. This place is about three blocks from my house. It's a monolithic white building with a little "reading room" in front.
Here's more info on their religion.
An observation! Here in the Pacific NW, there are almost no shrimp. Anything larger than cocktail shrimp (or Calabash, as we called them in SC) are called prawns. Growing up in Michigan, I had always thought prawns were something like crayfish, and would only be found in bayou country or something. Then, restaurants in Ann Arbor of a certain class (the class that puts an elegant "24" next to the blue cheese-topped, rosemary buttered Kobe sirloin; not "$24", never "$23.95") began to feature dishes with prawns. This subtle change made these cheap, fleshy, aquatic bugs seem like something that you hunt at great personal risk. I think this trend in nomenclature is referred to as Manhattanization. However, the universality of this local usage leads me to believe that it is long-standing and genuine. I had Curry Prawns from the Thai delivery place tonight.
A cute picture!
A link! It's a Yelp! review. This place is about three blocks from my house. It's a monolithic white building with a little "reading room" in front.
Here's more info on their religion.
An observation! Here in the Pacific NW, there are almost no shrimp. Anything larger than cocktail shrimp (or Calabash, as we called them in SC) are called prawns. Growing up in Michigan, I had always thought prawns were something like crayfish, and would only be found in bayou country or something. Then, restaurants in Ann Arbor of a certain class (the class that puts an elegant "24" next to the blue cheese-topped, rosemary buttered Kobe sirloin; not "$24", never "$23.95") began to feature dishes with prawns. This subtle change made these cheap, fleshy, aquatic bugs seem like something that you hunt at great personal risk. I think this trend in nomenclature is referred to as Manhattanization. However, the universality of this local usage leads me to believe that it is long-standing and genuine. I had Curry Prawns from the Thai delivery place tonight.
A cute picture!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Remember me?
Gah. I'm having a lot of trouble finding the time for this lately, in case you couldn't tell.
Here's a promise for a Fresh New Post on Wednesday...
Will I explain how I'm the world's worst Puerto Rico player?
Will there be discussion of the one, true Seattle cuisine??
Will I shamelessly pimp the local radio station yet again???
Might I brag about our homebrew, my daughter, or our BRAND NEW COUCH????
Could there be room for discussion of the best LPs of this year (in the world of English-speaking rock/indie/electronic/pop)?????!
Crows!!!???????!
***************
I'll probably get to some of that...
Here's a promise for a Fresh New Post on Wednesday...
Will I explain how I'm the world's worst Puerto Rico player?
Will there be discussion of the one, true Seattle cuisine??
Will I shamelessly pimp the local radio station yet again???
Might I brag about our homebrew, my daughter, or our BRAND NEW COUCH????
Could there be room for discussion of the best LPs of this year (in the world of English-speaking rock/indie/electronic/pop)?????!
Crows!!!???????!
***************
I'll probably get to some of that...
Monday, March 10, 2008
MIA
Man. 11 days underground, yo. It's been pretty busy lately.
I'm trying to finally get some work done on the paper so I can send a draft to my previous boss. Seems like any time I spend on the computer should be spent that way. Plus, Elaine has become a little Tasmanian Devil (the cartoon kind), which makes the whole process go much more slowly. I mean, she's completely nuts. This is the "getting whapped in the face and/or kicked in the sternum or worse" stage. She's not coordinated enough to walk (Lord, help us all), but she has this surplus of energy that must somehow be burned off. So when you offer her a ride on your arm from A to B, she inflicts several hit points of damage along the way. At least she's good-natured about it.
Hopefully, the rate of posting will start to go up soon. I'll at least update the sidebars this week, and there will be a bit of boardgame content in the next day or two.
I have made no secret of my stat tracker software on this site, and I bring this up because I'd like to share with you the Google search terms that lead the most total strangers to this site:
Kennebunkport Wheat Ale
17
(I didn't much care for this Trader Joe's brand beer, but just mentioning it probably will result in 20 hits by month's end.)
"IKEA" or "Crate and Barrel"
35
(I should have seen this one coming)
stroopwafels
5
(You know, those syrup-soaked cookies...)
Band X
9
(Usually the lesser known bands, like Kingsbury Manx and Japancakes, that I mentioned in passing in an old music post)
cutie snuggle song
10!
(Some variation of those words was used by a few people from Poland, which took them to a post about Elaine and a link to my web album. Some of them came back, so I hope they found something interesting. No idea what song they were looking for.)
petes
1
(Most generic search)
hoegaarden grand cru clone recipe papazian
2
(Most specific search)
I hate working at Crate and Barrel
1
(I don't think that I was very helpful to this person)
I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get any really bizarre hits, but I'll keep an eye out.
I'm trying to finally get some work done on the paper so I can send a draft to my previous boss. Seems like any time I spend on the computer should be spent that way. Plus, Elaine has become a little Tasmanian Devil (the cartoon kind), which makes the whole process go much more slowly. I mean, she's completely nuts. This is the "getting whapped in the face and/or kicked in the sternum or worse" stage. She's not coordinated enough to walk (Lord, help us all), but she has this surplus of energy that must somehow be burned off. So when you offer her a ride on your arm from A to B, she inflicts several hit points of damage along the way. At least she's good-natured about it.
Hopefully, the rate of posting will start to go up soon. I'll at least update the sidebars this week, and there will be a bit of boardgame content in the next day or two.
I have made no secret of my stat tracker software on this site, and I bring this up because I'd like to share with you the Google search terms that lead the most total strangers to this site:
Kennebunkport Wheat Ale
17
(I didn't much care for this Trader Joe's brand beer, but just mentioning it probably will result in 20 hits by month's end.)
"IKEA" or "Crate and Barrel"
35
(I should have seen this one coming)
stroopwafels
5
(You know, those syrup-soaked cookies...)
Band X
9
(Usually the lesser known bands, like Kingsbury Manx and Japancakes, that I mentioned in passing in an old music post)
cutie snuggle song
10!
(Some variation of those words was used by a few people from Poland, which took them to a post about Elaine and a link to my web album. Some of them came back, so I hope they found something interesting. No idea what song they were looking for.)
petes
1
(Most generic search)
hoegaarden grand cru clone recipe papazian
2
(Most specific search)
I hate working at Crate and Barrel
1
(I don't think that I was very helpful to this person)
I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get any really bizarre hits, but I'll keep an eye out.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The new look
I decided to join the ranks of the erudite and pretentious by having a hopelessly obscure moniker for my web log. Rather than use my imagination to assemble a phrase that had some bearing on my experience, I used a random phrase generator, repeatedly pressing "GENERATE" until something appropriately precious emerged. After that, it was simply a matter of spinning myself violently around until the nihilism took over in order to flesh out the facade.
I'm exhausted from these efforts, so I'm asking for your help in coming up with an appropriate image to murkily reside in the background. Look at the phrase. Listen to it. What is it saying to you? Cradle it in your slowly dying arms and love it. Then (quickly!) give me your mind-picture.
Less creepily, I was sick of the blog title, and I'm transitioning to something else. I'm leaning towards having fun with it in the interim, and I'm soliciting opinions, suggestions, etc.
(Edit: No one gave me their mind-picture. Dammit! So, I went with Lovecraft. Can't go wrong with good ol' H.P.)
(Edit II: Good ol' H.P. got old on me quick, so I punted. ALL THE GOOD BLOG TITLES ARE TAKEN.)
(Edit III: Still soliciting opinions, suggestions, but I'm obviously not expecting much from you bunch of deadbeats. That's right. I called your asses out.)
I'm exhausted from these efforts, so I'm asking for your help in coming up with an appropriate image to murkily reside in the background. Look at the phrase. Listen to it. What is it saying to you? Cradle it in your slowly dying arms and love it. Then (quickly!) give me your mind-picture.
Less creepily, I was sick of the blog title, and I'm transitioning to something else. I'm leaning towards having fun with it in the interim, and I'm soliciting opinions, suggestions, etc.
(Edit: No one gave me their mind-picture. Dammit! So, I went with Lovecraft. Can't go wrong with good ol' H.P.)
(Edit II: Good ol' H.P. got old on me quick, so I punted. ALL THE GOOD BLOG TITLES ARE TAKEN.)
(Edit III: Still soliciting opinions, suggestions, but I'm obviously not expecting much from you bunch of deadbeats. That's right. I called your asses out.)
Monday, January 14, 2008
(coughs politely behind hand)
Blech. Looks like Elaine and I are going to be virus buddies for the next few days. She looks like I feel most of the time, with her poor tired eyes and slack expression.
So this is a "See you in a few days!" post. I'm going to try to come back with an expository review of a single album that I really dig called "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel. I suck at finding non-obvious meaning below the surface of narrative -- I'm the guy who hears a song for 10 years before going, "Oh! THAT'S what that song is about!" -- so it will be a bit of a challenge, and I'll probably miss a lot. But I think that the album itself is such an achievement that I want to highlight it for those who haven't heard it, and I'll risk sounding like a right fool to do it.
So this is a "See you in a few days!" post. I'm going to try to come back with an expository review of a single album that I really dig called "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel. I suck at finding non-obvious meaning below the surface of narrative -- I'm the guy who hears a song for 10 years before going, "Oh! THAT'S what that song is about!" -- so it will be a bit of a challenge, and I'll probably miss a lot. But I think that the album itself is such an achievement that I want to highlight it for those who haven't heard it, and I'll risk sounding like a right fool to do it.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is a pretty good holiday, all around. Getting together with family, eating huge portions, football on TV...I can't think of many bad Thanksgivings. Thanksgiving is also the busiest bar night of the year, as college kids from out of town return home and go drinking with their high school buddies after dinner. I know that I used to do that.
We went, as usual, to the Bavarian House Inn in lovely Frankenmuth, Michigan. For those unfamiliar with Frankenmuth, it was settled by Germans way back in a previous century, and they never lost the old German swagger. Most restaurants in Frankenmuth are attended by lederhosen-clad wait staffery. The facade of the main streets is supposed to recollect a Disney version of a quaint Bavarian village.
When we sat down for dinner (I will digress here to explain that it is a buffet-style Thanksgiving feast, and my dad's side of my family has been coming here for years since it's centrally-located in Michigan) the waiter took our drink orders. I asked for a hefeweizen, and he looked at me strangely. So I slowly repeated, "He-fe-vite-zen". Again, the blank stare. The booze list only included wine, but I had ordered beer here in years past. Finally I tried, "Wheat beer? Hofbrauhaus?" That did it. With a look of relief, he asked, "Light or dark?". My eyes narrowed, and I dryly replied, "Light." He apologetically admitted that he didn't really know much German. I threw up on his shoes in tacit protest of his ignorance. A few minutes later, a bottle appeared in front of me with a label that read, "Hefeweizen". However, there was no yeast settled on the bottom of the beer ("mit hefe" = with yeast), and the glass was better suited to a Pilsener of inferior quality. Somehow, I made do. It's hard out there for a snob, y'all.
The major attractions at Frankenmuth are as follows:
1)the faux-Bavarian atmosphere,
2)Chicken dinners! (see the 500 billboards before you arrive at Frankenmuth. When I was a kid, if we ever drove within 25 miles of Frankenmuth, we would be pulled in by the chicken dinner tractor beam. Honestly? I've had better.)
3)Bronner's. Theres a gigantic store called Bronner's just outside of town that is "Christmastime 365 days a year!". I'm talking 10 acres of Christmas. Hey, now!
Thanks, Germany!
So, I'm having a bit of blogger guilt over the shameful neglect of the past week. I'll keep up the posting a little better for the next week or so, but then expect it to die altogether for a month as the Great Cross-Country Move takes place. I'll email all 4-5 of you when I'm back up and running.
We went, as usual, to the Bavarian House Inn in lovely Frankenmuth, Michigan. For those unfamiliar with Frankenmuth, it was settled by Germans way back in a previous century, and they never lost the old German swagger. Most restaurants in Frankenmuth are attended by lederhosen-clad wait staffery. The facade of the main streets is supposed to recollect a Disney version of a quaint Bavarian village.
When we sat down for dinner (I will digress here to explain that it is a buffet-style Thanksgiving feast, and my dad's side of my family has been coming here for years since it's centrally-located in Michigan) the waiter took our drink orders. I asked for a hefeweizen, and he looked at me strangely. So I slowly repeated, "He-fe-vite-zen". Again, the blank stare. The booze list only included wine, but I had ordered beer here in years past. Finally I tried, "Wheat beer? Hofbrauhaus?" That did it. With a look of relief, he asked, "Light or dark?". My eyes narrowed, and I dryly replied, "Light." He apologetically admitted that he didn't really know much German. I threw up on his shoes in tacit protest of his ignorance. A few minutes later, a bottle appeared in front of me with a label that read, "Hefeweizen". However, there was no yeast settled on the bottom of the beer ("mit hefe" = with yeast), and the glass was better suited to a Pilsener of inferior quality. Somehow, I made do. It's hard out there for a snob, y'all.
The major attractions at Frankenmuth are as follows:
1)the faux-Bavarian atmosphere,
2)Chicken dinners! (see the 500 billboards before you arrive at Frankenmuth. When I was a kid, if we ever drove within 25 miles of Frankenmuth, we would be pulled in by the chicken dinner tractor beam. Honestly? I've had better.)
3)Bronner's. Theres a gigantic store called Bronner's just outside of town that is "Christmastime 365 days a year!". I'm talking 10 acres of Christmas. Hey, now!
Thanks, Germany!
So, I'm having a bit of blogger guilt over the shameful neglect of the past week. I'll keep up the posting a little better for the next week or so, but then expect it to die altogether for a month as the Great Cross-Country Move takes place. I'll email all 4-5 of you when I'm back up and running.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
*crickets chirping*
...and a tumbleweed rolls past.
Sorry, no time, no time. And exhausted when there is time.
Check back Monday, won't you?
In case you aren't caught up on Neatorama, I thought this was pretty funny:
"Medical student Wes Pemberton was wearing shorts one day, when he noticed the strangest thing ever:
"I thought it was a hair from one of the girls in the car and it was attached. I’m just wondering ‘what is this long hair doing attached to my leg’," he said.
On his calf, surrounded by normal hair, was a hair that measures five inches long. It doesn’t have a name, but it’ll be famous.
"The world record is 4.88 inches. So I just kind of washed it, and tried to protect it. When I get in the shower, I condition it to make sure it stays nice and strong."
Wes thought that it was the neatest thing in the world. His wife, understandably, did not, so doubtlessly it’ll be gone soon.
Sorry, no time, no time. And exhausted when there is time.
Check back Monday, won't you?
In case you aren't caught up on Neatorama, I thought this was pretty funny:
"Medical student Wes Pemberton was wearing shorts one day, when he noticed the strangest thing ever:
"I thought it was a hair from one of the girls in the car and it was attached. I’m just wondering ‘what is this long hair doing attached to my leg’," he said.
On his calf, surrounded by normal hair, was a hair that measures five inches long. It doesn’t have a name, but it’ll be famous.
"The world record is 4.88 inches. So I just kind of washed it, and tried to protect it. When I get in the shower, I condition it to make sure it stays nice and strong."
Wes thought that it was the neatest thing in the world. His wife, understandably, did not, so doubtlessly it’ll be gone soon.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Slow week
Between this and that, I haven't been able to get much work done on the manuscript.
Hence, slow week. I might get something up tonight, I might not.
Probably the next thing is going to be a bit on the earliest recorded history of the Sumerians and Egyptians. Really. I'm reading a non-fiction book, and so now you get to see me wax sophomoric about how we're not really so different after all.
To whet your appetite, here's a link to the oldest known creation myth (it's called the Babylonian creation myth, but it substantively figures into pre-historic Sumer). Cast of characters include Marduk, the eventual creator, and Tiamat, his mother. Tiamat also represents chaos, war, and water (specifically the waters of the seas and oceans).
Hence, slow week. I might get something up tonight, I might not.
Probably the next thing is going to be a bit on the earliest recorded history of the Sumerians and Egyptians. Really. I'm reading a non-fiction book, and so now you get to see me wax sophomoric about how we're not really so different after all.
To whet your appetite, here's a link to the oldest known creation myth (it's called the Babylonian creation myth, but it substantively figures into pre-historic Sumer). Cast of characters include Marduk, the eventual creator, and Tiamat, his mother. Tiamat also represents chaos, war, and water (specifically the waters of the seas and oceans).
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Hiatus extended!
By popular request...Two more days! That's right, only two more days to get all of your hiatal goodness right here!
For your approval in the interim, I present the Home of the Future. Actually, what I mean to say is...
First, fire. Then, the wheel. Now, millenia of technological advances have converged to give us this radical new way of showering. (It starts about 45 seconds in.)
I dare you to claim that you don't want one.
Next week: A beer tasting of some sort, New (to me) music reviews: Folk and Singer-Songwriter, why I would have won that aborted game of History of the World, plus the usual political analysis, economic advice, and sports updates that you've come to trust.
See? I'm WORKING and UNSHOWERED over here. Oh, the humanity...
For your approval in the interim, I present the Home of the Future. Actually, what I mean to say is...
First, fire. Then, the wheel. Now, millenia of technological advances have converged to give us this radical new way of showering. (It starts about 45 seconds in.)
I dare you to claim that you don't want one.
Next week: A beer tasting of some sort, New (to me) music reviews: Folk and Singer-Songwriter, why I would have won that aborted game of History of the World, plus the usual political analysis, economic advice, and sports updates that you've come to trust.
See? I'm WORKING and UNSHOWERED over here. Oh, the humanity...
Sunday, September 9, 2007
5-day Hiatus
OK, bloggineers, I'm taking another hiatus to finish up the revisions on my thesis. In the interim, for your viewing pleasure, here's some highlights from another site, "Worst Album Covers of All Time".
Have a great week!
Have a great week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)