#&@%ing alarm clock!

Don't you hate it when you hit the snooze button a few times, then you finally get up, and as soon as you are in the shower and are completely covered in water, you hear your alarm clock go off again because you didn't turn the it off after the last time you hit "snooze", so you have to listen to your alarm beeping during your entire shower?

Me, too.

If you have an alarm clock of the feline variety, you may appreciate this cartoon short.

Forwards and Backwards

Do you get a lot of email forwards? Do you like them? I generally don't forward much of what crosses my Inbox. To be honest, most of the forwards are things I have seen a dozen times over several years, and most are of dubious accuracy. It doesn't take more than a minute or two to check the facts, if there is any doubt. Sure, I'll make an exception and forward if I see something that I am sure someone will like, but those are narrowly targeted and rare. I enjoy friends forwarding choice finds that they know I will like or get a laugh out of (because they understand what I find funny or interesting). But a lot of what I get I delete without opening. If it is not thought-provoking, and VETTED (preferably with verifiable sources quoted), or at least funny as hell, I don't want to waste my time.

So if you know my email address and are reading this: Please do NOT send me anything non-personal that is NOT (a)hilarious or deeply twisted, or (b)interesting, scientific or thought-provoking (must be true, not hysterical or circumstantial), or (c)something that you KNOW FOR A FACT that I am truly interested in, or (d)pictures of friends or family (bonus if they are doing something embarassing or funny). In particular, I am completely disinterested in receiving anything of a political nature that is shrill, distorted, unscientific, unsupported by verifiable facts (and I WILL check), not supported by coherent arguments, or just plain mean.

/rant

Sorry... cranky tonight.

Rivalry Games

At least I enjoyed the first half.

Happy Thanksgiving

'Tis the season for turkeys, naps, and football!

Off the Grid

I'm leaving today for the first of two short road trips this week. Not sure about internet access at the first place, so if you don't hear from me this week, it means they don't have it. I'm taking the notebook computer just in case...

If not, I'm also taking three books and about a month's worth of newspaper crossword puzzles I've saved up. I'm also planning to spend some time outside enjoying the fall scenery here in Georgia.

In other news, I'm in DAY 5 of a migraine. It switched sides today, so maybe it is almost finished torturing me. *sigh* Stress will find a way to get you every time.

I hope you all have a wonderful (and headache-free!) Thanksgiving holiday.

Out of the Woods

Big Daddy is on the mend. He had a scary weekend in ICU, and is still hospitalized, but he has been getting a little better every day. He should be able to transfer to a rehab facility soon and begin his long road to recovery and full use of his new-and-improved leg. Here is a BIG HUGE thank you to all of you who took the time to write encouraging comments. Your collective thoughts and wishes are appreciated!

Please hold...

Internet life, and most of real life is on hold at the moment. Big Daddy had his surgery on Thursday. Things didn't go as well as planned. He has been in ICU since Thursday night. Lots of my personal stuff is not getting done now. Just the stuff that PDM can take care of, which counts for a lot. I hope for things to get back to normal again soon.

A "Cross Quarter Day"

No, this isn't about "mad money". (Get it? *Ahem*) Today, November 7, is a cross quarter day -- exactly midway between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. So depending on whether your glass is half empty or half full, we are either "half way into fall" or "fall is half over". Take your pick.

And right on schedule, Atlanta is getting its first frost this week.

What a hassle...

In the spirit of Jim's Handy Visual Guides, I bring you this mini field guide to "hassels/hassles".


Hasselblad - a very fine camera, popular with photographers worldwide





David Hasselhoff - somewhat of a camera hog, inexplicably popular in Germany





Odd Hassel (yes that is his real name) - a Norwegian physical chemist, super duper popular with the 1969 Nobel Prize Committee





Plain, old-fashioned hassle - rush hour in Atlanta, popular with no one

Fat-Butted Friday Cat Blogging

A trick of perspective makes for an amusing photo. In reality, Moxy has normal proportions (including a rather skinny butt). She reminds me of a Kliban cat, especially in this picture.

In other news, I finally watched Slither, starring the young Nathan Fillion. Loved it! (Yes, LL, he is a mere child born in 1971.) It was campy and fun. Later this weekend I will be attempting to fix the horrible damage I caused by stripping 40+ yr old wallpaper (oh joy, can't wait), and we may even try to get some other stuff done. I'm still enjoying the goodies from the SciFi Straight Dope Halloween card and candy exchange. Oh yeah - I will enjoy that extra hour of sleep this weekend, even as I mourn the loss of evening daylight hours. At least I can rest easy knowing that twilight comes very late in Atlanta (even on standard time) compared to the time it occurred in Massachusetts, where I lived for 12+ years. That was harder to get used to than the cold or snow. Sunset at 4:20? WTF?

@#&%!

Worst game I've seen in years.

Thursday Night Lights

My beloved Yellow Jackets take on #11 Virginia Tech tonight in Atlanta under the glare of the Thursday night lights. If you stumble across ESPN while channel surfing tonight, you might catch a glimpse of me. OK, probably not, but I'll be there in my white and gold, hoping for the best. Georgia Tech's depth chart is riddled with injuries. I'm not optimistic about our chances... At least the tailgating will be fun.