Posts
MOVING DAY
-
Well, after dealing with Blogger's (extremely frustrating) shortcomings, as
well as the problematic and unavoidable reality that my main website was
built ...
10 years ago
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Blagojevich: Wow, he's really a dick.
No, seriously:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/30/illinois.senate/index.html
He picked a senator to replace Obama. What's worse? The guy appears to have *accepted*. Stinky.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/30/illinois.senate/index.html
He picked a senator to replace Obama. What's worse? The guy appears to have *accepted*. Stinky.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Short Attention Span Review: "Frost/Nixon"
I wouldn't say Frank Langella is spot-on as a body double for Richard Nixon, but he definitely pulls off the disgraced president's sullen pugnaciousness. Michael Sheen does a great job as David Frost, but I can't think of him as anyone other than Tony Blair because he has played the former British PM so many times.
Anyway, excellent movie. Now I want to see the play.
Anyway, excellent movie. Now I want to see the play.
The Weight Thing: Day 71
We had breakfast on Monday. A soft-boiled egg, soy sausage, cinnamon roll, orange juice, and some tea sweetened with sugar.
I had a large glass of Cheerwine (sugar/caffeine) while working on web stuff later.
For lunch, we cobbled together a meal out of leftovers - small burritos, pineapple au gratin, and rice. I drank root beer (sugar/caffeine) with lunch.
For dinner, Karen made ham sandwiches and tomato soup. I drank ginger ale with dinner. Homemade dessert: Apple and cheddar tarts. Yum!
I had a large glass of Cheerwine (sugar/caffeine) while working on web stuff later.
For lunch, we cobbled together a meal out of leftovers - small burritos, pineapple au gratin, and rice. I drank root beer (sugar/caffeine) with lunch.
For dinner, Karen made ham sandwiches and tomato soup. I drank ginger ale with dinner. Homemade dessert: Apple and cheddar tarts. Yum!
The Weight Thing: Day 70
We went to the crepes place for brunch on Sunday. I had an eggs benedict crepe and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). Not my favorite crepe ever. I'll stick with the chicken cordon bleu next time.
During the day, while I worked on web stuff and ran the Thul seminar, I had a couple of glasses of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Los Tres Magueyes. I had about half of the burrito I ordered, plus a couple of bites of a tamal (it wasn't very good). I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) and ice water.
Later, I had key lime pie for dessert at home.
During the day, while I worked on web stuff and ran the Thul seminar, I had a couple of glasses of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Los Tres Magueyes. I had about half of the burrito I ordered, plus a couple of bites of a tamal (it wasn't very good). I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) and ice water.
Later, I had key lime pie for dessert at home.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 69
No breakfast on Saturday.
For lunch, well, I had a Wendy's burger that I shared with Huck and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Later, I had a fried egg sandwich and sweet potato soup, with water to drink.
For dinner, we went to Mimi's Cafe. We had some buffalo shrimp. For my entree, I had chicken cordon bleu with mashed potatoes and vegetables. No dessert.
For lunch, well, I had a Wendy's burger that I shared with Huck and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Later, I had a fried egg sandwich and sweet potato soup, with water to drink.
For dinner, we went to Mimi's Cafe. We had some buffalo shrimp. For my entree, I had chicken cordon bleu with mashed potatoes and vegetables. No dessert.
The Weight Thing: Day 68
Let's see - no breakfast on Friday.
For lunch, we had ham and cheese sandwiches.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Carmen's. I had ropa vieja, red beans, yellow rice, plantains, and Jupina (sugar) to drink. We shared a piece of tres leche cake for dessert.
For lunch, we had ham and cheese sandwiches.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Carmen's. I had ropa vieja, red beans, yellow rice, plantains, and Jupina (sugar) to drink. We shared a piece of tres leche cake for dessert.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Isn't this nice to see?
In my household, polling is closer to 100 percent:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/26/bush.poll/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/26/bush.poll/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 67
On Christmas Day, we had cinnamon rolls and bacon for breakfast.
We didn't have lunch. We picked up Karen's mom around 2 p.m. An hour later, we had Christmas dinner, which included: Honey-Baked ham, pineapple casserole, cheese asparagus, sweet potato puree, and sweet potato tart. I drank water with the meal.
I had a few chocolates for dessert.
Passed out earlier than usual.
We didn't have lunch. We picked up Karen's mom around 2 p.m. An hour later, we had Christmas dinner, which included: Honey-Baked ham, pineapple casserole, cheese asparagus, sweet potato puree, and sweet potato tart. I drank water with the meal.
I had a few chocolates for dessert.
Passed out earlier than usual.
The Weight Thing: Day 66
Stress continued ramping up toward Christmas Day.
For breakfast on Wednesday, we had cranberry scones and bacon with orange juice and water.
We got so busy with Christmas preparations that we pretty much forgot about lunch.
For dinner, we had homemade enchiladas, refried beans, and rice. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) with the meal.
For dessert, homemade key lime pie.
For breakfast on Wednesday, we had cranberry scones and bacon with orange juice and water.
We got so busy with Christmas preparations that we pretty much forgot about lunch.
For dinner, we had homemade enchiladas, refried beans, and rice. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) with the meal.
For dessert, homemade key lime pie.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 65
No breakfast on Tuesday. Tuesday, due to stress, was totally off-the-diet.
I had peanut M&Ms (sugar) and Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) at the IMAX movie.
For lunch after the movie, I had fried shrimp with french fries and a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at Red Robin.
For dinner, I had pizza, chicken wings, and Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dessert, I had a slice of key lime pie.
I had peanut M&Ms (sugar) and Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) at the IMAX movie.
For lunch after the movie, I had fried shrimp with french fries and a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at Red Robin.
For dinner, I had pizza, chicken wings, and Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dessert, I had a slice of key lime pie.
An Irritating Day
So, Tuesday really pissed me off.
There's a line from Clerks: "I hate people but I love crowds. Isn't that ironic?"
I'm the opposite. I get along fine with people for the most part. However, when I'm thrown into crowds, I become surly.
On Tuesday, I got my fill of crowds after vowing that I wouldn't get into crowds much at all during this vacation.
First, we were late leaving for the IMAX theater to see The Polar Express. I'm particularly anal about getting to movie theaters early so I can make sure to get a decent seat.
The theater was in downtown Raleigh. So, of course, all the street parking was taken. We had to go to a parking garage about a block from the IMAX. The garage was pretty full. We ended up parked on Level 5.
We picked up our tickets with about 15 minutes to spare. Inside, I saw the line was already queued five rows deep. I needed a snack and some caffeine, decided that we weren't going to get a decent seat no matter what, so I got into line at the snack bar.
Unfortunately, I was in line behind three women ordering snacks for about six kids each. When I finally got to order, one of the women heard me getting Sour Patch Kids for Stefan and immediately slid back next to me to tell the clerk she needed one of those too or she'd "be in trouble." He handled her additional order while my credit card receipt sat in the printer waiting to get signed.
We were the next to last group in line to see this showing of The Polar Express. But as we came to the usher and prepared to give him our tickets, this couple with their elderly mom slid in front of us and handed THEIR tickets to the usher. The usher then had to spend a couple of minutes explaining that their tickets were dated for Tuesday, Dec. 30 and that, no, he couldn't honor them early because this show was sold out.
Finally, we get into the theater and, yes, the seats sucked. We were stuck in the neck-craning front row. Another couple wanted to move past us to get further down the row - one of them knocked over Karen's Diet Coke, which I bent over to rescue before it could go rolling off the edge and into fizzy oblivion. I got it, but managed to get a knee in the head by the passing man. "Goddammit," I muttered, settling back into my seat.
The movie was all right. Eventually, I convinced myself the seats weren't so bad. I forgot about the crowd and how much I hated being in it.
And then the movie ended.
We walked back to the parking garage. We rode the elevator up to Level 5. I took out my debit card so I would have it ready to give the attendant as we paid for parking. I drove down to street level. I was the first of the IMAX audience to get to the parking kiosk area. It was a three-lane affair. One lane came in. Two lanes went out. The middle lane appeared to be for cardholders only. The right lane, however, was currently blocked by an orange cone. There were two people inside the kiosk. Neither was telling us what the hell was going on. Meanwhile, the rest of the crowd from the IMAX movie was building up behind us in their cars. Karen suggested that maybe we should take the middle lane and she could pay through the passenger window. I hated doing it that way, but I also wanted to get out of there sometime the same day. So, I did it. I took initiative and moved into the middle lane, abandoning my spot at the head of the right lane. And THAT is when one of the clerks came out of the kiosk and said: "You have to pay in the right lane." They wouldn't take my money and clear us out. We had to go back to the end of the line.
When we finally made it back to the kiosk, I said to the guy: "Maybe you could work on a better way of communicating what's going on around here. Something better than an orange cone. Something like a sign that says 'Stay in this lane, we'll be with you as soon as possible.'"
His response: "Do you want a receipt?"
So, maybe now I'm starting to hate crowds AND people.
We followed this up with a trip to the Crossroads shopping center to pick up a Honey Baked Ham for Christmas. Naturally, the place was packed. We nearly got hit at least twice by SUVs zooming through the lot. Then we had to go through the line for about 20 minutes. And then traffic leaving the shopping center blocked me from going the way I wanted to go, forcing me to get on the frustrating loop that leads to I-40.
I wasn't fit for company by the time I dropped off Karen and Stefan at home, but I assured her none of my frustration was her fault. I still needed to go make my evening visit to the Jolley household to feed their cats. This put me back out in rush hour traffic on Chapel Hill Road and Maynard, but I felt myself decompressing a little once I got the feeding taken care of. I hung out with the cats for a bit.
When I got home, I still had an hour before the online seminar I'd planned for developing theme behind one of the races that players will have to choose from on the new OtherSpace game. I sent out emails to remind people about the seminar. And then I lost Internet. It came back about 30 minutes before the seminar. I logged on and told people we'd have the seminar in 30 minutes. And then I lost Internet again.
Karen called Time Warner Cable and learned that an outage in our area would be fixed within 90 minutes. So, after yelling from the rooftops that the seminar would happen on time at 7, I'd be a no-show.
She ordered pizza and wings, making the best of a bad situation. And she assured me that we'd still get the seminar done that night. She was right. The Internet was back up before 8 and I managed to run the seminar.
I was fairly frazzled, though. Sadly, I don't think I'm done with crowds at all, though.
There's a line from Clerks: "I hate people but I love crowds. Isn't that ironic?"
I'm the opposite. I get along fine with people for the most part. However, when I'm thrown into crowds, I become surly.
On Tuesday, I got my fill of crowds after vowing that I wouldn't get into crowds much at all during this vacation.
First, we were late leaving for the IMAX theater to see The Polar Express. I'm particularly anal about getting to movie theaters early so I can make sure to get a decent seat.
The theater was in downtown Raleigh. So, of course, all the street parking was taken. We had to go to a parking garage about a block from the IMAX. The garage was pretty full. We ended up parked on Level 5.
We picked up our tickets with about 15 minutes to spare. Inside, I saw the line was already queued five rows deep. I needed a snack and some caffeine, decided that we weren't going to get a decent seat no matter what, so I got into line at the snack bar.
Unfortunately, I was in line behind three women ordering snacks for about six kids each. When I finally got to order, one of the women heard me getting Sour Patch Kids for Stefan and immediately slid back next to me to tell the clerk she needed one of those too or she'd "be in trouble." He handled her additional order while my credit card receipt sat in the printer waiting to get signed.
We were the next to last group in line to see this showing of The Polar Express. But as we came to the usher and prepared to give him our tickets, this couple with their elderly mom slid in front of us and handed THEIR tickets to the usher. The usher then had to spend a couple of minutes explaining that their tickets were dated for Tuesday, Dec. 30 and that, no, he couldn't honor them early because this show was sold out.
Finally, we get into the theater and, yes, the seats sucked. We were stuck in the neck-craning front row. Another couple wanted to move past us to get further down the row - one of them knocked over Karen's Diet Coke, which I bent over to rescue before it could go rolling off the edge and into fizzy oblivion. I got it, but managed to get a knee in the head by the passing man. "Goddammit," I muttered, settling back into my seat.
The movie was all right. Eventually, I convinced myself the seats weren't so bad. I forgot about the crowd and how much I hated being in it.
And then the movie ended.
We walked back to the parking garage. We rode the elevator up to Level 5. I took out my debit card so I would have it ready to give the attendant as we paid for parking. I drove down to street level. I was the first of the IMAX audience to get to the parking kiosk area. It was a three-lane affair. One lane came in. Two lanes went out. The middle lane appeared to be for cardholders only. The right lane, however, was currently blocked by an orange cone. There were two people inside the kiosk. Neither was telling us what the hell was going on. Meanwhile, the rest of the crowd from the IMAX movie was building up behind us in their cars. Karen suggested that maybe we should take the middle lane and she could pay through the passenger window. I hated doing it that way, but I also wanted to get out of there sometime the same day. So, I did it. I took initiative and moved into the middle lane, abandoning my spot at the head of the right lane. And THAT is when one of the clerks came out of the kiosk and said: "You have to pay in the right lane." They wouldn't take my money and clear us out. We had to go back to the end of the line.
When we finally made it back to the kiosk, I said to the guy: "Maybe you could work on a better way of communicating what's going on around here. Something better than an orange cone. Something like a sign that says 'Stay in this lane, we'll be with you as soon as possible.'"
His response: "Do you want a receipt?"
So, maybe now I'm starting to hate crowds AND people.
We followed this up with a trip to the Crossroads shopping center to pick up a Honey Baked Ham for Christmas. Naturally, the place was packed. We nearly got hit at least twice by SUVs zooming through the lot. Then we had to go through the line for about 20 minutes. And then traffic leaving the shopping center blocked me from going the way I wanted to go, forcing me to get on the frustrating loop that leads to I-40.
I wasn't fit for company by the time I dropped off Karen and Stefan at home, but I assured her none of my frustration was her fault. I still needed to go make my evening visit to the Jolley household to feed their cats. This put me back out in rush hour traffic on Chapel Hill Road and Maynard, but I felt myself decompressing a little once I got the feeding taken care of. I hung out with the cats for a bit.
When I got home, I still had an hour before the online seminar I'd planned for developing theme behind one of the races that players will have to choose from on the new OtherSpace game. I sent out emails to remind people about the seminar. And then I lost Internet. It came back about 30 minutes before the seminar. I logged on and told people we'd have the seminar in 30 minutes. And then I lost Internet again.
Karen called Time Warner Cable and learned that an outage in our area would be fixed within 90 minutes. So, after yelling from the rooftops that the seminar would happen on time at 7, I'd be a no-show.
She ordered pizza and wings, making the best of a bad situation. And she assured me that we'd still get the seminar done that night. She was right. The Internet was back up before 8 and I managed to run the seminar.
I was fairly frazzled, though. Sadly, I don't think I'm done with crowds at all, though.
Leech & Order!
So, I woke up this morning from a rather odd dream.
I was one of the cops on the original Law & Order TV show. We were investigating a woman's death. She had died from an overdose of South American amphetamine beans. Our investigation took us to a Studio 54-like night club run by an actor who looked a lot like Jimmy Fallon. The floor was littered with bright green bean husks and small black leeches (some of them quite plump). It turns out, people would come to the night club to get high on the beans and then used the leeches to bleed out impurities from their system. Jimmy Fallon manager was dealing the beans and leeches.
As we were leaving the club, I discovered a leech latched onto my stomach. I tugged at it, but without much grace. The body popped off, but the head was still hooked in. Blurgh. But I got clever! I picked up another leech, attached it to the head of the other one, and it started sucking enthusiastically. This caused the head of the first leech to release and both fell off.
Then I woke up.
I was one of the cops on the original Law & Order TV show. We were investigating a woman's death. She had died from an overdose of South American amphetamine beans. Our investigation took us to a Studio 54-like night club run by an actor who looked a lot like Jimmy Fallon. The floor was littered with bright green bean husks and small black leeches (some of them quite plump). It turns out, people would come to the night club to get high on the beans and then used the leeches to bleed out impurities from their system. Jimmy Fallon manager was dealing the beans and leeches.
As we were leaving the club, I discovered a leech latched onto my stomach. I tugged at it, but without much grace. The body popped off, but the head was still hooked in. Blurgh. But I got clever! I picked up another leech, attached it to the head of the other one, and it started sucking enthusiastically. This caused the head of the first leech to release and both fell off.
Then I woke up.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Short Attention Span Review: "The Polar Express" IMAX
The story's good, the visuals are pretty amazing - especially in IMAX - but it's still a little creepy that the characters look SO realistic. And did Tom Hanks REALLY need to play all the adult male characters? And why did there seem to be such a dearth of female elves in the North Pole? And, really, Aerosmith in elf form? DOES THE WORLD REALLY NEED THAT?!
The Weight Thing: Day 64
No breakfast on Monday. Slept in a little, then went to take care of the cats at Dan's and Marie's house.
For lunch, we had leftover ham and cheese sandwiches with French onion soup. I had Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) to drink.
For dinner, we had black bean soup. Another Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dessert, I had a slice of homemade key lime pie. Yum!
For lunch, we had leftover ham and cheese sandwiches with French onion soup. I had Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) to drink.
For dinner, we had black bean soup. Another Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dessert, I had a slice of homemade key lime pie. Yum!
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 63
No breakfast on Sunday. Late lunch! We gave Wild Wings another chance. It disappointed again. I had some buffalo chicken nuggets (because I hate using the same blue rag over and over again for wiping my fingers with normal wings) and a couple of loaded potato skins with a root beer (sugar).
For dinner, Karen made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with French onion soup. I had an apple and some delicious goat cheese for dessert. Drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) with the meal.
For dinner, Karen made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with French onion soup. I had an apple and some delicious goat cheese for dessert. Drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) with the meal.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 62
No breakfast on Saturday. Slept in a bit. Then it was off to get the Christmas tree over at Southpoint in Durham.
On the way home, we stopped at Smokey's BBQ for lunch. I had the pulled pork with baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and hush puppies, with a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Mostly, I ate the pork.
For dinner, Karen made a mix of chili and macaroni. I drank Diet Dr Pepper (caffeine).
For dessert, I had an apple and some yogurt.
On the way home, we stopped at Smokey's BBQ for lunch. I had the pulled pork with baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and hush puppies, with a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Mostly, I ate the pork.
For dinner, Karen made a mix of chili and macaroni. I drank Diet Dr Pepper (caffeine).
For dessert, I had an apple and some yogurt.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 61
Friday was a better-than-usual diet day for me, actually.
Karen started me off with a homemade muffin with ham, egg, and cheese, and a thermos full of hot tea.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie at the Tangerine Cafe. I had a mildly spicy Thai seafood dish with shrimp, scallops, and calamari. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I had a tortilla-bound cheesecake slice. YUM!
After Stefan's Raleigh Boychoir concert downtown, we had dinner at Bonefish Grill. I had grouper with goat cheese, potatoes au gratin, mixed vegetables, and a side of asparagus. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
Of note: I dressed a little fancier than usual for the concert. The brown button-up shirt I wore used to be suitable only as a "wear this open over a T-shirt" sort of thing. It's still somewhat tight, but wearable now. The pants, which wouldn't snap closed because of my belly, snapped shut just fine. Progress!
Karen started me off with a homemade muffin with ham, egg, and cheese, and a thermos full of hot tea.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie at the Tangerine Cafe. I had a mildly spicy Thai seafood dish with shrimp, scallops, and calamari. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I had a tortilla-bound cheesecake slice. YUM!
After Stefan's Raleigh Boychoir concert downtown, we had dinner at Bonefish Grill. I had grouper with goat cheese, potatoes au gratin, mixed vegetables, and a side of asparagus. I drank Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
Of note: I dressed a little fancier than usual for the concert. The brown button-up shirt I wore used to be suitable only as a "wear this open over a T-shirt" sort of thing. It's still somewhat tight, but wearable now. The pants, which wouldn't snap closed because of my belly, snapped shut just fine. Progress!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Go, Al, go!
Al Franken appears to be closer to winning the Minnesota Senate seat.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/19/minnesota.senate.race/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/19/minnesota.senate.race/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 60
Thursday wasn't a good day.
No breakfast. I skipped lunch, although I had a couple of Reese's Cups. No caffeine at work, though. Just water.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Abbey Road. I had the George burger, which has bacon and cheese, and a side salad, with a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
Later, I had a banana.
No breakfast. I skipped lunch, although I had a couple of Reese's Cups. No caffeine at work, though. Just water.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Abbey Road. I had the George burger, which has bacon and cheese, and a side salad, with a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
Later, I had a banana.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 59
No breakfast on Wednesday.
For lunch, I had a Wendy's single hamburger and a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) while working on bugs.
For dinner, Karen and I took Stefan to Carmen's. I had the ropa vieja with yellow rice, red beans, fried plantains, and an Ironbeer. I gave in and had half a piece of tres leche cake. DAMN...good stuff. Had an apple later too.
For lunch, I had a Wendy's single hamburger and a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) while working on bugs.
For dinner, Karen and I took Stefan to Carmen's. I had the ropa vieja with yellow rice, red beans, fried plantains, and an Ironbeer. I gave in and had half a piece of tres leche cake. DAMN...good stuff. Had an apple later too.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hitler wants cake!
Everyone knows pie is better.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6559357
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6559357
The Weight Thing: Day 58
No breakfast on Tuesday.
For lunch, I sat at my desk and ate a chicken sandwich with a bowl of chili and some sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) and a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while I worked.
After Stefan's concert, we went to dinner at the Shiny Diner. I had a Texas Tumbleweed Cheesesteak sandwich with home fries and a Dr Pepper. For dessert: Cherry pie a la mode.
For lunch, I sat at my desk and ate a chicken sandwich with a bowl of chili and some sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) and a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while I worked.
After Stefan's concert, we went to dinner at the Shiny Diner. I had a Texas Tumbleweed Cheesesteak sandwich with home fries and a Dr Pepper. For dessert: Cherry pie a la mode.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Short Attention Span Reviews: "Heroes" 12/16
Soooo...
Yeah. This episode had a lot of potential, but then it just turned stupid - sort of like Peter Petrelli.
The effects of adrenalin should DIMINISH over time, not get worse.
What happened to all the not-Puppeteer guys who were running around Primatech? Loose ends much?
Tracy managed to use her Ice Queen trick on Fear Guy, but totally forgets about it when faced with the awesome might of powerless Hiro?
The only saving grace: President Worf and the promise of a new storyline that might actually be decent come February.
Yeah. This episode had a lot of potential, but then it just turned stupid - sort of like Peter Petrelli.
The effects of adrenalin should DIMINISH over time, not get worse.
What happened to all the not-Puppeteer guys who were running around Primatech? Loose ends much?
Tracy managed to use her Ice Queen trick on Fear Guy, but totally forgets about it when faced with the awesome might of powerless Hiro?
The only saving grace: President Worf and the promise of a new storyline that might actually be decent come February.
The Weight Thing: Day 57
I didn't have breakfast on Monday.
For lunch, I went to Carmen's with Dan and Marie and had a Cuban sandwich with fried plantains and a glass of Jupina. I stoically resisted the tres leche.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, Karen made chili and cheese biscuits. I had Diet Dr Pepper to drink (caffeine).
An apple for dessert.
For lunch, I went to Carmen's with Dan and Marie and had a Cuban sandwich with fried plantains and a glass of Jupina. I stoically resisted the tres leche.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, Karen made chili and cheese biscuits. I had Diet Dr Pepper to drink (caffeine).
An apple for dessert.
Monday, December 15, 2008
They'll take a bullet, but will they take a shoe?
President George W. Bush had to duck a ballistic shoe attack on Monday:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/bush.afghanistan/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/bush.afghanistan/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 56
Got up late, but had a dim sum brunch with Dan, Marie, Mike, and Annie at Neo-China. I had a pork bun, one chicken foot, a butter bun, a couple of dumplings, and some cold spicy chicken. Drank a couple of Cokes (caffeine/sugar).
For dinner, Karen made French onion soup with toasted bread and cheese and a side salad. I drank water with the meal. For dessert, I had apple pie a la mode. Yum!
For dinner, Karen made French onion soup with toasted bread and cheese and a side salad. I drank water with the meal. For dessert, I had apple pie a la mode. Yum!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 55
Slept in and got to working on chores around the house after waking up.
Had brunch in our own dining room, which included some bran cereal, toast, orange juice, and hot tea (caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Carmen's for Cuban food. I had ropa vieja with yellow rice and black beans and plantains. To drink, I had a couple of cans of Jupina, a pineapple creme soda (sugar). For dessert, I tried the chocolate layer cake.
No snacks later!
Had brunch in our own dining room, which included some bran cereal, toast, orange juice, and hot tea (caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Carmen's for Cuban food. I had ropa vieja with yellow rice and black beans and plantains. To drink, I had a couple of cans of Jupina, a pineapple creme soda (sugar). For dessert, I tried the chocolate layer cake.
No snacks later!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 54
No breakfast on Friday.
Skipped lunch to write a short story.
Attended the company Christmas party and had: Four mini egg rolls, tuna salad on a small pastry shell, and a brownie, with a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) to drink.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Nikos Taverna in Morrisville. We started with a flambeed cheese appetizer. Then I had a lamb shank with pasta and vegetables, with ginger ale and ice water. For dessert, I had a slice of red velvet cake and a cup of unsweetened hot tea (caffeine).
Skipped lunch to write a short story.
Attended the company Christmas party and had: Four mini egg rolls, tuna salad on a small pastry shell, and a brownie, with a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) to drink.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Nikos Taverna in Morrisville. We started with a flambeed cheese appetizer. Then I had a lamb shank with pasta and vegetables, with ginger ale and ice water. For dessert, I had a slice of red velvet cake and a cup of unsweetened hot tea (caffeine).
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 53
No breakfast on Thursday.
For lunch, though, Karen and I joined Dan and Marie for lunch at Abbey Road. I had the Paul burger, which is a fist-sized patty covered with melted bleu cheese crumbles, and cheese fries, with a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar). This was apparently my day to be bad on the diet.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, Karen made baked eggs with bread on the side. I had a glass of water to drink.
For dessert, I had an apple.
I was tempted to have some leftover chicken wings around 11 p.m. but resisted successfully.
For lunch, though, Karen and I joined Dan and Marie for lunch at Abbey Road. I had the Paul burger, which is a fist-sized patty covered with melted bleu cheese crumbles, and cheese fries, with a Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar). This was apparently my day to be bad on the diet.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, Karen made baked eggs with bread on the side. I had a glass of water to drink.
For dessert, I had an apple.
I was tempted to have some leftover chicken wings around 11 p.m. but resisted successfully.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 52
I didn't have breakfast on Wednesday. I was lucky to make it to work on time (for me - I was still earlier than many).
For lunch, I had a Wendy's hamburger and chili at my desk, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) while doing database work.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Outback. I had some kookaburra wings, a half rack of baby back ribs, a Caesar salad, and a sweet potato.
No dessert (unless we count the black cherry creme soda I had later at home).
For lunch, I had a Wendy's hamburger and chili at my desk, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) while doing database work.
For dinner, Karen and I went to Outback. I had some kookaburra wings, a half rack of baby back ribs, a Caesar salad, and a sweet potato.
No dessert (unless we count the black cherry creme soda I had later at home).
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
It's over - officially!
Today in the mail I received a copy of the final order, issued on Dec. 4 in a Florida court, that dissolves my 16-year marriage to Joy. She gets her name back. I'm freed of any and all potential obligations - and a big weight is lifted off of me because there's no more uncertainty, no more ambiguity, no more wondering if it's really over or not.
Closure.
Glad to have it.
Closure.
Glad to have it.
The Weight Thing: Day 51
Skipped breakfast on Tuesday.
For lunch, joined Dan and Marie at Bosphorus. I had a gyro platter with Turkish hot tea.
For dinner, Karen made pork tenderloin with stuffing and Cajun-spiced sweet potatoes. I drank a black cherry creme soda with dinner. I had an apple for dessert.
For lunch, joined Dan and Marie at Bosphorus. I had a gyro platter with Turkish hot tea.
For dinner, Karen made pork tenderloin with stuffing and Cajun-spiced sweet potatoes. I drank a black cherry creme soda with dinner. I had an apple for dessert.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Google's been reading my mind again...
Seems like they're working on some interesting developments in the way of web-based application integration. What does this mean to me? Well, let's just say it could allow a MUSH to run in a browser. YAY!
http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/12/native-client-technology-for-running.html
http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/12/native-client-technology-for-running.html
Illinois governor busted on federal corruption charges
He tried to sell Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat AND attempted to strong-arm the Chicago Tribune into firing editors he didn't like. Apparently, he forgot it's the 21st Century and the era of the 24-hour news cycle.
So long, shark bait:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html
So long, shark bait:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html
Atari acquires Cryptic
I can't decide if this is good or bad yet - but my Spidey Sense suggests it might not be a great thing for Cryptic:
http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/12/09/atari-buys-cryptic-studios/
http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/12/09/atari-buys-cryptic-studios/
Short Attention Span Review: "Heroes" 12/8
Okay, I'm back on board with Heroes (for now) thanks to last night's episode.
Sylar wins the night with:
“Cake?” *DOOR SLAMS BEHIND THREE HAPLESS OFFICE WORKERS WHO WALKED INTO A CRIME SCENE*
Sylar wins the night with:
“Cake?” *DOOR SLAMS BEHIND THREE HAPLESS OFFICE WORKERS WHO WALKED INTO A CRIME SCENE*
The Weight Thing: Day 50
No breakfast on Monday.
For lunch, I had a chicken sandwich, chili, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from Wendy's.
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) while doing database work.
For dinner, Karen made chicken queso soup, pepperjack rolls, and salad. I drank water with dinner.
I wasn't done, though. I had wings from Woody's. I ate a few of those during the Bucs-Panthers football game and washed them down with a black cherry creme soda (sugar).
I had an apple for dessert.
For lunch, I had a chicken sandwich, chili, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from Wendy's.
I had a Coke (caffeine/sugar) while doing database work.
For dinner, Karen made chicken queso soup, pepperjack rolls, and salad. I drank water with dinner.
I wasn't done, though. I had wings from Woody's. I ate a few of those during the Bucs-Panthers football game and washed them down with a black cherry creme soda (sugar).
I had an apple for dessert.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 49
I wasn't as sick on Sunday, but I wasn't 100 percent yet. I slept in.
By the time I got up, it was time for brunch at Brig's. I had a French toast combo with scrambled eggs, bacon, a small amount of home fried potatoes, and unsweetened hot tea (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a tuna melt sandwich, tomato soup, hot cider, and water. For dessert, we had pineapple upside down cake. Yum!
By the time I got up, it was time for brunch at Brig's. I had a French toast combo with scrambled eggs, bacon, a small amount of home fried potatoes, and unsweetened hot tea (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a tuna melt sandwich, tomato soup, hot cider, and water. For dessert, we had pineapple upside down cake. Yum!
The Weight Thing: Day 48
I spent the day being sick. However, that doesn't mean I didn't eat.
For lunch, I had some egg drop soup and hot tea in bed.
For dinner, I had Brunswick stew and a brown bread muffin with hot tea (on the couch, while watching college football).
For lunch, I had some egg drop soup and hot tea in bed.
For dinner, I had Brunswick stew and a brown bread muffin with hot tea (on the couch, while watching college football).
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 47
I didn't have breakfast. Maybe that was part of the problem.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie for lunch at Cool Runnings, the Jamaican restaurant in Cary. The food, as usual, was fantastic. I had jerk pork, plantains, and a pineapple creme soda. Although their bread pudding is awesome, I passed because the servings are HUGE.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, I took Karen and Stefan to Pei-Wei. This isn't a great idea on a Friday night. Especially a COLD Friday night, when none of the outside seating is in use. People were packed in. We had to wait about 15 minutes to place our order. I had hot and sour soup, a couple of crab wontons, Thai dynamite shrimp with white rice, and sweet tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dessert, I had a hot chocolate from Starbuck's.
By the time I went to bed, though, I felt pretty sick - stuffy headed, sore throat, achy. Feels like a cold or flu. Whee.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie for lunch at Cool Runnings, the Jamaican restaurant in Cary. The food, as usual, was fantastic. I had jerk pork, plantains, and a pineapple creme soda. Although their bread pudding is awesome, I passed because the servings are HUGE.
I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) at work.
For dinner, I took Karen and Stefan to Pei-Wei. This isn't a great idea on a Friday night. Especially a COLD Friday night, when none of the outside seating is in use. People were packed in. We had to wait about 15 minutes to place our order. I had hot and sour soup, a couple of crab wontons, Thai dynamite shrimp with white rice, and sweet tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dessert, I had a hot chocolate from Starbuck's.
By the time I went to bed, though, I felt pretty sick - stuffy headed, sore throat, achy. Feels like a cold or flu. Whee.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 46
For breakfast on Thursday, I had hot chocolate and banana bread.
I picked up Karen at the airport during lunch. This was problematic from a parking perspective, thanks to my lack of familiarity with the airport's garage. So, this blew my window of opportunity to have lunch with Karen, because I had to be back at work for a meeting at 1. I did have lunch, though, at the conference table at work: Chicken sandwich, chili, and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Carrabba's. I had Chicken Bryan, broccoli, salad, and some fried zucchini with unsweetened hot tea (caffeine), a Coke (caffeine/sugar), and some ice water. NOTE: I think Carrabba's must be in some kind of financial trouble. The menus are now just one sheet and the goat cheese on my chicken tasted cheap and bland. Not a good sign!
I had an apple at home for dessert.
I picked up Karen at the airport during lunch. This was problematic from a parking perspective, thanks to my lack of familiarity with the airport's garage. So, this blew my window of opportunity to have lunch with Karen, because I had to be back at work for a meeting at 1. I did have lunch, though, at the conference table at work: Chicken sandwich, chili, and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we went to Carrabba's. I had Chicken Bryan, broccoli, salad, and some fried zucchini with unsweetened hot tea (caffeine), a Coke (caffeine/sugar), and some ice water. NOTE: I think Carrabba's must be in some kind of financial trouble. The menus are now just one sheet and the goat cheese on my chicken tasted cheap and bland. Not a good sign!
I had an apple at home for dessert.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 45
I woke up later than I would have liked on Wednesday, so no breakfast.
For lunch, I went with Dan and Marie to Sushi Thai and had shrimp spicy basil with rice, miso soup, a tempura banana, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
I had a couple of Cokes (sugar/caffeine) during my work meetings.
For dinner, I had a Wendy's burger with chili and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I had an apple.
For lunch, I went with Dan and Marie to Sushi Thai and had shrimp spicy basil with rice, miso soup, a tempura banana, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
I had a couple of Cokes (sugar/caffeine) during my work meetings.
For dinner, I had a Wendy's burger with chili and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I had an apple.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 44
I had a breakfast sandwich from Wendy's and a cup of sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) in the morning. The combo came with a muffin. I didn't eat the muffin.
For lunch, I went to Panera with Dan and Marie for a turkey sandwich and an apple, with sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dinner, I had leftover pizza and root beer.
For lunch, I went to Panera with Dan and Marie for a turkey sandwich and an apple, with sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dinner, I had leftover pizza and root beer.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Obama team member plays WoW
I don't know whether to be amused or terrified:
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/50070
"We've got a crisis in Tehran! Get a statement ready!"
"Sure, just as soon as I finish this daily quest."
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/50070
"We've got a crisis in Tehran! Get a statement ready!"
"Sure, just as soon as I finish this daily quest."
Short Attention Span Review: "Heroes" 12/1
I've about hit rock-bottom with this show, despite wanting to like it a lot.
I hated the pointless chase to the grocery store, the fact that none of the employees or customers seemed to notice (or, if they noticed, REACT to) the bleeding person in the middle of the aisle, and that the stockroom in back was conveniently unoccupied during business hours. That was just lazy storytelling.
I hated the Seth Green/Breckin Meyer choragos nonsense.
I couldn't care less about the South American Petrelli subplot.
I wish they had let Claire die.
I'm glad they killed off Elle.
I hated the pointless chase to the grocery store, the fact that none of the employees or customers seemed to notice (or, if they noticed, REACT to) the bleeding person in the middle of the aisle, and that the stockroom in back was conveniently unoccupied during business hours. That was just lazy storytelling.
I hated the Seth Green/Breckin Meyer choragos nonsense.
I couldn't care less about the South American Petrelli subplot.
I wish they had let Claire die.
I'm glad they killed off Elle.
The Weight Thing: Day 43
Breakfast was hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin on Monday.
I went to lunch at Sushi Thai with Dan and Marie. I had miso soup, spicy basil beef and white rice, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a few slices of pizza, a couple of breadsticks, and an apple.
I went to lunch at Sushi Thai with Dan and Marie. I had miso soup, spicy basil beef and white rice, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a few slices of pizza, a couple of breadsticks, and an apple.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Short Attention Span Review: "Atonement"
I watched the first ten minutes and decided I lacked the stamina for the full slog, even to get to the inspired "tracking shot" that got so much attention when the movie came out. It just didn't engage me at all.
Worst. Pirates. EVER!
Can't even catch a lumbering cruise liner:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/01/pirates.cruise.ship/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/01/pirates.cruise.ship/index.html
Thanks for the heads-up!
CNN reports today that we've been in a recession since December 2007.
Apparently, this is news to them.
The rising gas prices, collapsing housing market, jumping unemployment numbers, and shaky financial institutions clued me in much earlier.
Apparently, this is news to them.
The rising gas prices, collapsing housing market, jumping unemployment numbers, and shaky financial institutions clued me in much earlier.
The Weight Thing: Day 42
Karen has departed for an assignment in Tennessee. So, I'm on my own for food!
For lunch on Sunday I had leftover chicken wings and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). For dinner, I had a couple of turkey sandwiches with mayonnaise and mustard, and a black cherry creme soda to drink.
Had some apples, cheese, and yogurt for snacking.
For lunch on Sunday I had leftover chicken wings and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). For dinner, I had a couple of turkey sandwiches with mayonnaise and mustard, and a black cherry creme soda to drink.
Had some apples, cheese, and yogurt for snacking.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 41
Another day for sleeping in. Got up late, did some chores around the house, and then we grabbed lunch at a new place: Wild Wings, over near Brier Creek. First, we had baked potato soup. It's worth commenting further on the soup: I never ate paste in kindergarten, but if I had, this would have been the sensation. Once I poured some of my ice water into the soup and stirred it, the texture got a little less creepy. Still, I didn't finish it.
We had a sampler platter of various types of wings - teriyaki, barbecue, mustard, chipotle, and their standard medium wings. They were all pretty good, although the chipotle didn't have much oomf to it.
I also had a Mr. Pibb (caffeine/sugar) to drink with the wings.
We took the leftovers home.
Later, after picking up the new TV, I had an apple and some cheese with a black cherry creme soda for dinner.
We had a sampler platter of various types of wings - teriyaki, barbecue, mustard, chipotle, and their standard medium wings. They were all pretty good, although the chipotle didn't have much oomf to it.
I also had a Mr. Pibb (caffeine/sugar) to drink with the wings.
We took the leftovers home.
Later, after picking up the new TV, I had an apple and some cheese with a black cherry creme soda for dinner.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 40
Slept in. Had lunch with Karen at Red Robin. Lunch included: Bacon cheeseburger, salad with honey mustard dressing, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). No fries, no dessert.
For dinner, Karen made turkey sandwiches with chutney, with sweet potatoes on the side. I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) to drink with it. For dessert, we had apple/pear pie.
For dinner, Karen made turkey sandwiches with chutney, with sweet potatoes on the side. I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine) to drink with it. For dessert, we had apple/pear pie.
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 39
Well, on the day of the year I felt most likely to blow my dieting efforts completely out of the water, I didn't do so bad.
For breakfast, Karen made me a cranberry scone with hot tea (caffeine).
For lunch, Dan and Marie hosted a Thanksgiving feast. I had ham, green bean casserole, corn bread, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, potatoes au gratin, one Coke Zero (caffeine), and a Stewart's Root Beer (sugar). For dessert: A slice of delicious pumpkin pie.
For dinner, Karen made Brunswick stew and corn muffins. I drank a Coke (caffeine/sugar) with it. For dessert: Chocolate pudding.
I got the munchies later and almost ate another meal around 1 a.m., but I fended it off and got some sleep instead.
For breakfast, Karen made me a cranberry scone with hot tea (caffeine).
For lunch, Dan and Marie hosted a Thanksgiving feast. I had ham, green bean casserole, corn bread, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, potatoes au gratin, one Coke Zero (caffeine), and a Stewart's Root Beer (sugar). For dessert: A slice of delicious pumpkin pie.
For dinner, Karen made Brunswick stew and corn muffins. I drank a Coke (caffeine/sugar) with it. For dessert: Chocolate pudding.
I got the munchies later and almost ate another meal around 1 a.m., but I fended it off and got some sleep instead.
Short Attention Span Review: "27 Dresses"
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Someone said that. But they never watched this movie. I'm pretty sure I've permanently lost a corner off my man card for seeing it. Maybe the only way I can make up for it is to watch The Wedding Crashers five or six more times.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 38
No breakfast on Wednesday.
For lunch, we picked up Smithfield's barbecue pork with potato salad, hush puppies, and cole slaw. I didn't eat many of the hush puppies or much of the potato salad. None of the cole slaw. I had sweet tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dinner, Karen made baked eggs, tomato soup, and bread. I drank Coke (caffeine/sugar) with dinner.
No dessert!
For lunch, we picked up Smithfield's barbecue pork with potato salad, hush puppies, and cole slaw. I didn't eat many of the hush puppies or much of the potato salad. None of the cole slaw. I had sweet tea (caffeine/sugar).
For dinner, Karen made baked eggs, tomato soup, and bread. I drank Coke (caffeine/sugar) with dinner.
No dessert!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Short Attention Span Review: "The Shield" Series Finale
Well, the death toll wasn't as high as I had expected! I won't post any spoilers here, but I will say: It felt like a satisfying end to me. Lots of twists and turns, bringing together all the plot threads that have been hanging out there for the past few seasons. I'm going to miss this show.
DING: Original WoW character hits 70. Finally!
The first character I ever made on World of Warcraft back in 2004 was a night elf hunter named Zanthafir.
I recently shifted him over to the Steamwheedle Cartel server to help Dan level up his Death Knight. This vacation week I scored two accomplishments for Zanthafir. First, I managed to tame an elite devilsaur from Un'goro Crater, now named Blamezilla. Second, I hit Level 70. (That's the level cap established about two years ago, but now that has been changed to 80 with the coming of the Lich King expansion.)
Woo!
The Weight Thing: Day 37
Didn't have breakfast.
For lunch, I met Dan and Marie over at the Chinese buffet. I had unsweetened iced tea (caffeine) with the meal, which included various types of chicken, some fruit, and some dumplings. Oh, all right, I also had half a cookie. (It wasn't very good.)
For dinner, Karen and I went to Mimi's. I had pot roast with mashed potatoes and a salad with honey mustard dressing. To drink: Unsweetened iced tea (caffeine). For dessert, we shared a small bread pudding.
For lunch, I met Dan and Marie over at the Chinese buffet. I had unsweetened iced tea (caffeine) with the meal, which included various types of chicken, some fruit, and some dumplings. Oh, all right, I also had half a cookie. (It wasn't very good.)
For dinner, Karen and I went to Mimi's. I had pot roast with mashed potatoes and a salad with honey mustard dressing. To drink: Unsweetened iced tea (caffeine). For dessert, we shared a small bread pudding.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Comorro Preview!
The starting grid for Comorro Station is now open for visitors on OtherSpace. The status is still OOC - the door is CSP from the OOC area - but you can start getting a feel for what the environment will be like come January.
jointhesaga.com 1790
jointhesaga.com 1790
The Weight Thing: Day 36
For breakfast, I had an extra hour or two of sleep.
For lunch, I had leftovers from Maggiano's - beef and pasta. Yum! With a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, took Karen and Stefan to Ruby Tuesday's, where I had steak and crab cakes with a salad and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine). We had some spinach artichoke dip and chips for an appetizer.
Stopped at Starbuck's for hot chocolate and a muffin for dessert.
For lunch, I had leftovers from Maggiano's - beef and pasta. Yum! With a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, took Karen and Stefan to Ruby Tuesday's, where I had steak and crab cakes with a salad and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine). We had some spinach artichoke dip and chips for an appetizer.
Stopped at Starbuck's for hot chocolate and a muffin for dessert.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 35
We slept in, but got up in time for brunch at Brig's.
I had the half order of French toast with scrambled eggs, home fries, and hot chocolate.
Later, we had dinner at Los Tres Magueyes. I ate taquitos, some chips and salsa, and a Mr. Pibb.
As usual, I had an apple at home for dessert!
I had the half order of French toast with scrambled eggs, home fries, and hot chocolate.
Later, we had dinner at Los Tres Magueyes. I ate taquitos, some chips and salsa, and a Mr. Pibb.
As usual, I had an apple at home for dessert!
Short Attention Span Review: "24: Redemption"
A two-hour 24 nugget that's meant to set the stage and tide us over until the seventh season of the show kicks off in January. So far, all I've got to say is: I liked this much better when it was called Blood Diamond. Also: The minute or so of previews from Season 7 were more exciting than the whole two hours of this raspy monstrosity.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Special WoW Achievement Day!
Log on to World of Warcraft today and you'll get a special "Feat of Strength" achievement for the MMO's fourth anniversary - and a pet baby polar bear.
The Weight Thing: Day 34
I slept in. No breakfast. I really didn't have much for lunch, either, aside from a mix of beans, corn, and salsa (along with Coke - sugar and caffeine).
I saved most of my daily calories for dinner at Maggiano's, where I had a little calamari, some fried zucchini, a bit of spinach salad, chicken saltimbucco, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). And, yes, there was dessert: Apple crostada with vanilla ice cream.
No snacks with the movie, though!
I saved most of my daily calories for dinner at Maggiano's, where I had a little calamari, some fried zucchini, a bit of spinach salad, chicken saltimbucco, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine). And, yes, there was dessert: Apple crostada with vanilla ice cream.
No snacks with the movie, though!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Short Attention Span Review: "Bolt"
It's "The Truman Show" meets "Incredible Journey." Although it's definitely a movie for dog lovers, the hamster steals the show. So do the pigeons.
Something to tinker with...
I picked up a copy of Neverwinter Nights 2 Gold (complete with Mask of the Betrayer) last night at Best Buy. Mostly, I got it so I could play with the Aurora Toolset. I'd like to visualize a few things I'm trying to build in the next week or so. This'll help!
Time to mobilize the KISS army!
They've been snubbed by the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and Gene Simmons ain't happy:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081121/music_nm/us_kiss
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081121/music_nm/us_kiss
They're not stuffed animals, damn it!
Memo to idiots:
Just because they look cute doesn't mean they want to cuddle with you!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/panda.bites.man.china.ap/index.html
Just because they look cute doesn't mean they want to cuddle with you!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/panda.bites.man.china.ap/index.html
Another Indonesian earthquake
No tsunami warning yet, but:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/indonesia.earthquake.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/indonesia.earthquake.ap/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 33
No breakfast.
For lunch, I went with Dan, Marie, and Josh to Pei-Wei. I had hot and sour soup, Mongolian beef, and sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
At work, I had an actual Coke (sugar/caffeine) to get me through the last day before vacation.
For dinner, I celebrated the beginning of vacation at Red Robin with Karen and Stefan. I had a cheeseburger with fries and a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
One apple for dessert after I got home.
For lunch, I went with Dan, Marie, and Josh to Pei-Wei. I had hot and sour soup, Mongolian beef, and sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
At work, I had an actual Coke (sugar/caffeine) to get me through the last day before vacation.
For dinner, I celebrated the beginning of vacation at Red Robin with Karen and Stefan. I had a cheeseburger with fries and a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
One apple for dessert after I got home.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Can she NEVER be president now? Great!
I just don't have the words:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0r7TJUTn1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0r7TJUTn1c
The Weight Thing: Day 32
No breakfast.
Before lunch, I had a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I went with Dan, Marie, and Mike to the Hibernian for another cheeseburger and mashed potatoes. I had unsweetened iced tea. And then I had chocolate cake for dessert. DON'T JUDGE ME!
After lunch, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had ziti al forno at Biaggi's with unsweetened iced tea.
Had an apple at home for dessert.
The heel inserts feel pretty good. I'll try breaking them in tonight with a walk around the complex, weather permitting.
Before lunch, I had a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I went with Dan, Marie, and Mike to the Hibernian for another cheeseburger and mashed potatoes. I had unsweetened iced tea. And then I had chocolate cake for dessert. DON'T JUDGE ME!
After lunch, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had ziti al forno at Biaggi's with unsweetened iced tea.
Had an apple at home for dessert.
The heel inserts feel pretty good. I'll try breaking them in tonight with a walk around the complex, weather permitting.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Alas, NaNoWriMo...
I got off to a promising start that quickly got derailed by real-life, developments on my games, work, and the arrival of the Lich King expansion.
Maybe next year.
Maybe next year.
The Weight Thing: Day 31
Yesterday, I actually woke up early enough for breakfast. Karen made me a muffin with egg and ham.
At work, I had a Diet Coke (caffeine) with my lunch of corn chowder and apple slices. A bit later, I had black cherry yogurt. And then I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we had pork chops, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes. For dessert, we had ginger bread with vanilla ice cream.
Also: I picked up some special gel inserts for the heels of my shoes. We'll see how that works for walking!
At work, I had a Diet Coke (caffeine) with my lunch of corn chowder and apple slices. A bit later, I had black cherry yogurt. And then I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, we had pork chops, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes. For dessert, we had ginger bread with vanilla ice cream.
Also: I picked up some special gel inserts for the heels of my shoes. We'll see how that works for walking!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
DEAR MOM! SEND MONEY! TO MY MANSION!
The next time I try to get money from my folks, I'll drive up in a Porsche. Nothing says poverty like blatant luxury. Just ask the Big Three automakers!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/19/autos.ceo.jets/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/19/autos.ceo.jets/index.html
Daschle for HHS
Looks like Tom Daschle will be Barack Obama's head of Health and Human Services!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/19/transition.wrap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/19/transition.wrap/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 30
Didn't have breakfast. Got to work, had a Diet Coke (caffeine).
For lunch, I ate with Dan and Marie at the Hibernian. The food's great, but, damn, the service is slow. I had a cheeseburger with mashed potatoes and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
Had another Diet Coke (caffeine) after lunch.
For dinner, Karen made tuna, spaghetti, and an awesome garlic bread. I drank black cherry creme soda. For dessert, we had berry crunch. I had a brownie on the side. Sue me.
For lunch, I ate with Dan and Marie at the Hibernian. The food's great, but, damn, the service is slow. I had a cheeseburger with mashed potatoes and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
Had another Diet Coke (caffeine) after lunch.
For dinner, Karen made tuna, spaghetti, and an awesome garlic bread. I drank black cherry creme soda. For dessert, we had berry crunch. I had a brownie on the side. Sue me.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 29
Didn't have breakfast. I barely made it out the door to get to work by 9 a.m. This isn't my optimal situation.
For lunch, I went with Dan and Marie to the Chinese buffet up by the Food Lion. It's awesome. I didn't misbehave too much. I had a couple of dumplings, some General Tso's chicken, yellow rice and vegetables, a small slice of apple pie, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
I had a Diet Coke (caffeine) while at my desk, planning the new sprint.
For dinner, Karen made corn chowder with corn bread. I drank black cherry creme soda with it. For dessert, we had chocolate pudding with whipped cream. Some time later, I had an apple.
For lunch, I went with Dan and Marie to the Chinese buffet up by the Food Lion. It's awesome. I didn't misbehave too much. I had a couple of dumplings, some General Tso's chicken, yellow rice and vegetables, a small slice of apple pie, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
I had a Diet Coke (caffeine) while at my desk, planning the new sprint.
For dinner, Karen made corn chowder with corn bread. I drank black cherry creme soda with it. For dessert, we had chocolate pudding with whipped cream. Some time later, I had an apple.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Star Trek trailer causes concern
Man, I really want to be optimistic about the new Star Trek movie, but I caught the full trailer before Quantum of Solace and...there's a scene straight out of Top Gun with Kirk riding a motorcycle up to the site where they're (yes, it's true) building the Enterprise. On Earth. On the ground.
It's not just Trek geekiness to say this is hugely impractical and unlikely to work. How are they going to get that damned thing off the ground? The Enterprise was built in an orbiting drydock for a reason!
It's not just Trek geekiness to say this is hugely impractical and unlikely to work. How are they going to get that damned thing off the ground? The Enterprise was built in an orbiting drydock for a reason!
Dancing in the flames
I expected people to get angry about my decision to end both OtherSpace: The Farthest Star and OtherSpace: Millennium in favor of creating one new OtherSpace game set in the Hiverspace realm in the 27th Century.
The Venting Spleen on our forums has seen a spike in activity as people get the anger off their chests. I’m not going to name names. I’m not going to belittle the opinions. If people didn’t care, I wouldn’t bother keeping the games alive. The passion is good. But I do want to address some of the issues that are coming up.
You’re burned out! Leave the games alone and play a character for a while.
It’s really not about being burned out. I’ve wanted very much to play these games and to be active in their management again, but my real-life game development job hasn’t left me with much time or energy in the past two years. As a result, I’ve become increasingly disconnected from the game worlds. I want to be able to reconnect. I want to become so immersed in their development that I can, with confidence, resume promoting them with the same enthusiasm as I did back in 1998.
On the new OS, however, I’ll be spending most of my time playing Genkhun, the Lotorian bar owner on Comorro Station.
Step back and let other people run the games!
I’ve done that, with mixed results. In the end, though, I handle the server payments, the web address payments, and the marketing. I’ve had more help with the marketing recently – thanks, Danger! – but a result of her work has been the decision that we need to stop spreading ourselves too thin. It’s great to have a small empire of roleplaying games, but when two of them are similarly-themed space opera games, one’s a medieval-style fantasy game, and the other’s an afterlife fantasy game, we’re hitting people with too much to choose from. The result? Our ads might bring a lot of people to look, but few stick around because it’s easier not to make a choice.
In the end, *I* need to run these games. Call me a megalomaniac, but there you go. I need to have a personal investment in the projects or they might as well not be online at all.
Everything I’ve done on (OS:TFS/OS:M) is for nothing!
Not true. If you’ve developed an organization on OS:M, for example, I’d be open to having that organization make the shift over to the new OtherSpace. Character equipment? It’d be nice for characters from both games to keep their stuff. Hiverspace isn’t a technological backwater. They’ll have cybernetics and other cool gadgets.
The real trick will be finding a happy medium for +sheets of characters making the move from TFS and M to the new OS. It’s too early to know for sure how that will work out, but I can tell you that we will do everything we can to make this transition as painless as possible on both sides.
If your goal on TFS or M was to become god emperor of Mars then, yes, I’ve shattered your ambitions with this choice. However, in the new OS, we’ll have lots of undiscovered worlds that you can settle and claim as your own. So, maybe that’ll take some of the pain away.
This is just some harebrained scheme and we’ll switch to something new in nine months.
Nope. In nine months, if we’re not flying high with a new OtherSpace, I’ll probably just close everything down. No reboot, no new theme, no nothing. Last one out, turn off the lights.
You’re pitching a slow-motion temper tantrum.
I’m as coldly logical about this as I think I’ve ever been. My temper’s got nothing to do with it. Seriously. If I didn’t choose to close both of the current OS games, I would have chosen to close ONE of them.
Closing both and starting fresh in Hiverspace accomplishes two things, one of which is a selfish desire to get past some of my personal issues stemming from the divorce. The other: I’m not playing favorites with either existing OS game, so nobody can point fingers at TFS and say I saved it because I hate Millennium, or say I chose Millennium to survive because TFS did it all wrong.
People need to remember that I’d be making somebody mad no matter what, because it had been made clear that we lacked the playerbase and staffers to manage four games, so I had to get rid of at least two, preferably three, to make our marketing and production efforts more effective.
As painful as the decision was, I’m actually happier with people mad at me in two camps. I learned in my journalism career that if both sides are angry, you’re probably doing the job right.
I appreciate the support I’ve had from folks behind the scenes, and I thank all the players who are using this as an opportunity to let their current characters grow in a new universe – and to make new characters to help build this strange Hiverspace realm.
The Venting Spleen on our forums has seen a spike in activity as people get the anger off their chests. I’m not going to name names. I’m not going to belittle the opinions. If people didn’t care, I wouldn’t bother keeping the games alive. The passion is good. But I do want to address some of the issues that are coming up.
You’re burned out! Leave the games alone and play a character for a while.
It’s really not about being burned out. I’ve wanted very much to play these games and to be active in their management again, but my real-life game development job hasn’t left me with much time or energy in the past two years. As a result, I’ve become increasingly disconnected from the game worlds. I want to be able to reconnect. I want to become so immersed in their development that I can, with confidence, resume promoting them with the same enthusiasm as I did back in 1998.
On the new OS, however, I’ll be spending most of my time playing Genkhun, the Lotorian bar owner on Comorro Station.
Step back and let other people run the games!
I’ve done that, with mixed results. In the end, though, I handle the server payments, the web address payments, and the marketing. I’ve had more help with the marketing recently – thanks, Danger! – but a result of her work has been the decision that we need to stop spreading ourselves too thin. It’s great to have a small empire of roleplaying games, but when two of them are similarly-themed space opera games, one’s a medieval-style fantasy game, and the other’s an afterlife fantasy game, we’re hitting people with too much to choose from. The result? Our ads might bring a lot of people to look, but few stick around because it’s easier not to make a choice.
In the end, *I* need to run these games. Call me a megalomaniac, but there you go. I need to have a personal investment in the projects or they might as well not be online at all.
Everything I’ve done on (OS:TFS/OS:M) is for nothing!
Not true. If you’ve developed an organization on OS:M, for example, I’d be open to having that organization make the shift over to the new OtherSpace. Character equipment? It’d be nice for characters from both games to keep their stuff. Hiverspace isn’t a technological backwater. They’ll have cybernetics and other cool gadgets.
The real trick will be finding a happy medium for +sheets of characters making the move from TFS and M to the new OS. It’s too early to know for sure how that will work out, but I can tell you that we will do everything we can to make this transition as painless as possible on both sides.
If your goal on TFS or M was to become god emperor of Mars then, yes, I’ve shattered your ambitions with this choice. However, in the new OS, we’ll have lots of undiscovered worlds that you can settle and claim as your own. So, maybe that’ll take some of the pain away.
This is just some harebrained scheme and we’ll switch to something new in nine months.
Nope. In nine months, if we’re not flying high with a new OtherSpace, I’ll probably just close everything down. No reboot, no new theme, no nothing. Last one out, turn off the lights.
You’re pitching a slow-motion temper tantrum.
I’m as coldly logical about this as I think I’ve ever been. My temper’s got nothing to do with it. Seriously. If I didn’t choose to close both of the current OS games, I would have chosen to close ONE of them.
Closing both and starting fresh in Hiverspace accomplishes two things, one of which is a selfish desire to get past some of my personal issues stemming from the divorce. The other: I’m not playing favorites with either existing OS game, so nobody can point fingers at TFS and say I saved it because I hate Millennium, or say I chose Millennium to survive because TFS did it all wrong.
People need to remember that I’d be making somebody mad no matter what, because it had been made clear that we lacked the playerbase and staffers to manage four games, so I had to get rid of at least two, preferably three, to make our marketing and production efforts more effective.
As painful as the decision was, I’m actually happier with people mad at me in two camps. I learned in my journalism career that if both sides are angry, you’re probably doing the job right.
I appreciate the support I’ve had from folks behind the scenes, and I thank all the players who are using this as an opportunity to let their current characters grow in a new universe – and to make new characters to help build this strange Hiverspace realm.
The Weight Thing: Day 28
Slept in. Had brunch at Brig's. I have no regrets! I had a French toast combo with scrambled eggs, home fries, a glass of unsweetened iced tea and iced water.
For dinner, Karen made lamb chops, eggplant, and a casserole with beans, tomatoes, and artichokes. I had black cherry creme soda with dinner. For dessert, we had a berry crunch.
While watching True Blood, I had an apple. Yum!
For dinner, Karen made lamb chops, eggplant, and a casserole with beans, tomatoes, and artichokes. I had black cherry creme soda with dinner. For dessert, we had a berry crunch.
While watching True Blood, I had an apple. Yum!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tsunami Warning
If you're in Indonesia...watch out!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/16/indonesia.earthquake/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/16/indonesia.earthquake/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 27
Slept in. Went to Mimi's for lunch. I had unsweetened iced tea (caffeine) with meat loaf stroganoff, a cup of chicken gumbo, and a couple of pieces of bread (one of them carrot raisin bread).
For dinner, Karen made tuna melts and tomato soup. I had organic black cherry creme soda (sugar) with the meal. It was tasty!
One apple for dessert.
For dinner, Karen made tuna melts and tomato soup. I had organic black cherry creme soda (sugar) with the meal. It was tasty!
One apple for dessert.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
So long, OtherSpace...
Sort of. I announced today that both OtherSpace: The Farthest Star and OtherSpace: Millennium will shut down at the end of the year.
I'm replacing them both with a new OtherSpace set in the realm of Hiverspace circa 2650. Reaction has been mixed so far, as I expected. Some people are sad to see the old universes go, but they seem excited by the prospect of playing new alien races and exploring the new realm.
It's been a good run of more than ten years, but it is now time to really shake things up if I plan to stay involved and keep active in the games.
In 2009, we'll be down to one OtherSpace game and Necromundus. Much easier to manage.
I'm replacing them both with a new OtherSpace set in the realm of Hiverspace circa 2650. Reaction has been mixed so far, as I expected. Some people are sad to see the old universes go, but they seem excited by the prospect of playing new alien races and exploring the new realm.
It's been a good run of more than ten years, but it is now time to really shake things up if I plan to stay involved and keep active in the games.
In 2009, we'll be down to one OtherSpace game and Necromundus. Much easier to manage.
The Weight Thing: Day 26
I got up on time for work, but skipped breakfast.
After I mailed off the divorce paperwork, I grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich, fruit bowl and Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar) from Chick-Fil-A.
I had a Diet Coke at my desk.
Then I took Karen to the Rex Urgent Care so they could treat her for sinusitis. After that, we grabbed an early dinner at Red Robin. I had a pork sandwich, side salad, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
For dessert, I had a hot chocolate from Starbuck's.
After I mailed off the divorce paperwork, I grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich, fruit bowl and Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar) from Chick-Fil-A.
I had a Diet Coke at my desk.
Then I took Karen to the Rex Urgent Care so they could treat her for sinusitis. After that, we grabbed an early dinner at Red Robin. I had a pork sandwich, side salad, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
For dessert, I had a hot chocolate from Starbuck's.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Nebraska: It's not day camp!
Nebraska's really glad everyone realizes it exists, but would like it noted that they don't want America's castaway kids.
Thanks!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/14/nebraska.safe.haven/index.html
Thanks!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/14/nebraska.safe.haven/index.html
Short Attention Span Review: "Quantum of Solace"
A quantum is about all that remains of the herky-jerky Bourne adventure camera style after the latest James Bond outing. It's better than most Bond movies, but suffers from treating the superspy like a 3D version of Frogger. ENOUGH ALREADY. Let's see more of Felix and M next time. Can they hop from building to building?
All over but the gaveling
I took the divorce papers to the bank so I could get the signatures notarized.
After that, I drove to the Morrisville post office and express-mailed the papers to Joy. She should get them by 3 p.m tomorrow.
Once she gets the papers, she'll need to submit them to the court and get the official divorce decree from the judge. Then we'll both be clear of this.
After that, I drove to the Morrisville post office and express-mailed the papers to Joy. She should get them by 3 p.m tomorrow.
Once she gets the papers, she'll need to submit them to the court and get the official divorce decree from the judge. Then we'll both be clear of this.
The Weight Thing: Day 25
I really need to start getting up earlier, but I didn't on Thursday. No breakfast.
For lunch, Dan and I went to Pei Wei. I had Mongolian beef, brown rice, and a sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
During the day at work, I had one Coke (caffeine/sugar) and a Diet Coke (caffeine).
For dinner, Karen, Stefan, and I went to Red Robin. I had a bacon cheddar cheeseburger with a side salad, sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) and iced water.
For dessert, I had an apple.
It was raining, so no walking. My heel feels much better, so I should be back on course to conditioning myself again.
For lunch, Dan and I went to Pei Wei. I had Mongolian beef, brown rice, and a sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar).
During the day at work, I had one Coke (caffeine/sugar) and a Diet Coke (caffeine).
For dinner, Karen, Stefan, and I went to Red Robin. I had a bacon cheddar cheeseburger with a side salad, sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) and iced water.
For dessert, I had an apple.
It was raining, so no walking. My heel feels much better, so I should be back on course to conditioning myself again.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Turns out...
...She didn't send it via FedEx. The envelope came via USPS and has been sitting in my P.O. box for five days. (I only get down to the office once or twice a week to check my mail there.)
Anyway, I've got it now. She helpfully tabbed the areas I need to sign. A few of the pages require a notary, so that's fun right there. But all she's asking for is her name back, and I think that's fair enough.
I'll get it taken care of in the morning.
Anyway, I've got it now. She helpfully tabbed the areas I need to sign. A few of the pages require a notary, so that's fun right there. But all she's asking for is her name back, and I think that's fair enough.
I'll get it taken care of in the morning.
The Weight Thing, Day 24
Woke up Wednesday with a migraine. Went back to sleep. Didn't get up again until lunchtime.
For lunch, I had a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich, chili, and a large Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
During some Wiki work, I had a Diet Coke (caffeine)
For dinner, we went to Carino's. I had a couple of baked stuff mushrooms, a Caesar salad, and lasagna (kinda bland). No dessert. I drank a Coke (sugar/caffeine) and iced water.
For lunch, I had a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich, chili, and a large Dr Pepper (caffeine/sugar).
During some Wiki work, I had a Diet Coke (caffeine)
For dinner, we went to Carino's. I had a couple of baked stuff mushrooms, a Caesar salad, and lasagna (kinda bland). No dessert. I drank a Coke (sugar/caffeine) and iced water.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Winter is coming!
WOOHOO! George R.R. Martin posted in his blog that the pilot for a Game of Thrones series has been green-lit for HBO. Hot frickin' damn!
http://grrm.livejournal.com/58155.html
http://grrm.livejournal.com/58155.html
Palin says she'd work in Obama's administration
And I say, sure: Let's make her the ambassador to Wassilla, Alaska, where she can keep an eye on those pesky Russians and Canadians for us.
The Weight Thing: Day 23
Slept in a little again on Tuesday, so didn't have breakfast.
For lunch, I went to Sushi Thai with Dan and Marie. I bought Dan's lunch because I lost a bet. When I looked at the menu, I was sure I'd be ordering steak teriyaki and miso soup with a Coke. Apparently, I ordered chicken teriyaki. When the waiter came back to refill, he asked, "Diet Coke?" I said, "No, no, Coke." He took the glass and left. A waitress returned with the glass, refilled. I took a drink. It was Diet Coke.
Someone's trying to tell me something. I didn't have a tempura banana.
I did have a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) later at work.
For dinner, I had cornbread pie (with beans and onions), apple cider cole slaw, and fruit punch (sugar). For dessert, I had an apple.
For lunch, I went to Sushi Thai with Dan and Marie. I bought Dan's lunch because I lost a bet. When I looked at the menu, I was sure I'd be ordering steak teriyaki and miso soup with a Coke. Apparently, I ordered chicken teriyaki. When the waiter came back to refill, he asked, "Diet Coke?" I said, "No, no, Coke." He took the glass and left. A waitress returned with the glass, refilled. I took a drink. It was Diet Coke.
Someone's trying to tell me something. I didn't have a tempura banana.
I did have a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) later at work.
For dinner, I had cornbread pie (with beans and onions), apple cider cole slaw, and fruit punch (sugar). For dessert, I had an apple.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Ground control to Lord British
He's back from space and off to greener pastures?
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21052
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21052
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 22
Missed breakfast again. This isn't a good trend.
For lunch, I had a chicken sandwich, chili, and sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine) from Wendy's.
I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while working on the Wiki.
After work, I had an apple. Then Karen, Stefan, and I went to Los Tres for dinner. I had the Enchiladas Rancheras, some chips and salsa, Mr. Pibb (caffeine and sugar), and iced water.
We went to Barnes & Noble after dinner. Then we stopped by Starbuck's on the way home. I had a salted caramel hot chocolate (sugar) and some banana nut bread. My dessert. There you go.
For lunch, I had a chicken sandwich, chili, and sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine) from Wendy's.
I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while working on the Wiki.
After work, I had an apple. Then Karen, Stefan, and I went to Los Tres for dinner. I had the Enchiladas Rancheras, some chips and salsa, Mr. Pibb (caffeine and sugar), and iced water.
We went to Barnes & Noble after dinner. Then we stopped by Starbuck's on the way home. I had a salted caramel hot chocolate (sugar) and some banana nut bread. My dessert. There you go.
The Weight Thing: Day 21
Slept in. No breakfast.
For brunch, we went to Mimi's. I had a Caesar salad, Mediterranean chicken fettucini, a few of Stefan's fried pickle chips, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, I had leftovers from brunch and a big glass of water.
Walked Huck around the apartment complex.
For brunch, we went to Mimi's. I had a Caesar salad, Mediterranean chicken fettucini, a few of Stefan's fried pickle chips, and a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, I had leftovers from brunch and a big glass of water.
Walked Huck around the apartment complex.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Weight Thing: An Overview So Far
Twenty days ago, after finding out I couldn't fit in the front of the Hulk rollercoaster at Islands of Adventure, I decided to lose weight.
To that end, I stopped eating french fries and most other fried foods. I drastically reduced my intake of sugary drinks. And I started walking more.
I won't use a scale, because that's not what I'm measuring for. I care about getting the gut smaller. I don't need a scale for that.
Here's what I can say after twenty days: The gut IS smaller. Overall, I feel better and more energetic. I've got things stressing me out and on a couple of occasions during this first period I've had some backsliding because of that. But, generally, I think I've adapted all right to this new lifestyle.
Things I need to do better:
* Keep good snacks at work and at home more often. (Yogurt, fruit, etc.)
* Stretch before walking to prevent tendon issues.
* More tea, less soda (even diet).
To that end, I stopped eating french fries and most other fried foods. I drastically reduced my intake of sugary drinks. And I started walking more.
I won't use a scale, because that's not what I'm measuring for. I care about getting the gut smaller. I don't need a scale for that.
Here's what I can say after twenty days: The gut IS smaller. Overall, I feel better and more energetic. I've got things stressing me out and on a couple of occasions during this first period I've had some backsliding because of that. But, generally, I think I've adapted all right to this new lifestyle.
Things I need to do better:
* Keep good snacks at work and at home more often. (Yogurt, fruit, etc.)
* Stretch before walking to prevent tendon issues.
* More tea, less soda (even diet).
The Weight Thing: Day 20
Yesterday, I slept in until about 10 and didn't have breakfast. Instead, I had a double hamburger with cheese, chili, and a large Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine) from Wendy's.
I went to work.
When I got home, I didn't eat again. I waited until Karen got home from Charleston and then we all went to dinner at Domo Sushi. I had miso soup, salmon teriyaki, a couple of fried dumplings, unsweetened hot tea, and several sushi rolls (including a Filly Roll with cream cheese and avocado).
Later, while watching Iron Man on Blu-Ray, I sliced up an apple to munch on.
I went to work.
When I got home, I didn't eat again. I waited until Karen got home from Charleston and then we all went to dinner at Domo Sushi. I had miso soup, salmon teriyaki, a couple of fried dumplings, unsweetened hot tea, and several sushi rolls (including a Filly Roll with cream cheese and avocado).
Later, while watching Iron Man on Blu-Ray, I sliced up an apple to munch on.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
LOST returns in January!
ABC has set the official air date of the two-hour premiere of LOST's fifth season. It'll be on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 9 p.m. Eastern. Yay for the old Wednesday time slot!
Something a little scary
I was listening to CSPAN yesterday when a McCain voter called in to say the following things:
* Our founding fathers only intended for white people to govern the United States.
* Now that an African-American has won, we've entered some kind of political Bermuda Triangle where bad things might happen.
First of all, while I don't disagree that the founding fathers probably didn't envision the country being run by anyone but white men, they DID write that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. So, suck it up, supremacists.
Second, I have to wonder just what the hell this guy thinks is going to happen now that Barack Obama has become President-Elect or after he officially takes office in January? Does he think Obama is going to declare it's payback time and make an executive order to enslave all white people?
For heaven's sake, folks, get a grip. Obama got elected by a broad spectrum of people, including a lot of caucasians, and it's the height of paranoia and hysteria to start panicking about this sort of thing.
* Our founding fathers only intended for white people to govern the United States.
* Now that an African-American has won, we've entered some kind of political Bermuda Triangle where bad things might happen.
First of all, while I don't disagree that the founding fathers probably didn't envision the country being run by anyone but white men, they DID write that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. So, suck it up, supremacists.
Second, I have to wonder just what the hell this guy thinks is going to happen now that Barack Obama has become President-Elect or after he officially takes office in January? Does he think Obama is going to declare it's payback time and make an executive order to enslave all white people?
For heaven's sake, folks, get a grip. Obama got elected by a broad spectrum of people, including a lot of caucasians, and it's the height of paranoia and hysteria to start panicking about this sort of thing.
Taking action...
So, I got tired of waiting.
I talked it over with Karen and she recommended that I call Joy's parents and urge them to get her moving on the divorce paperwork.
I hadn't talked to them for more than a year, since they helped her move out of our apartment. We always used to get along all right, even when I argued with her father over politics - he's been a pretty solid George W. Bush supporter, unlike me. But it's pretty humiliating having to call after what they'd been a party to last year.
Still, someone has to get the ball rolling and, as usual, it's me.
I tracked down her father's number in Palm Bay and called yesterday morning. When he answered, I said hello and asked how he was doing. Then I asked to talk to Joy. If she was there, I thought I would go ahead and ask her directly.
Turns out, she wasn't there. She had left without her folks knowing, which isn't a big surprise. She was always pretty good at quietly disappearing.
I left a message: It's been three weeks since I sent the information. Where's my FedEx package and my life?
I talked it over with Karen and she recommended that I call Joy's parents and urge them to get her moving on the divorce paperwork.
I hadn't talked to them for more than a year, since they helped her move out of our apartment. We always used to get along all right, even when I argued with her father over politics - he's been a pretty solid George W. Bush supporter, unlike me. But it's pretty humiliating having to call after what they'd been a party to last year.
Still, someone has to get the ball rolling and, as usual, it's me.
I tracked down her father's number in Palm Bay and called yesterday morning. When he answered, I said hello and asked how he was doing. Then I asked to talk to Joy. If she was there, I thought I would go ahead and ask her directly.
Turns out, she wasn't there. She had left without her folks knowing, which isn't a big surprise. She was always pretty good at quietly disappearing.
I left a message: It's been three weeks since I sent the information. Where's my FedEx package and my life?
The Weight Thing: Day 19
For breakfast yesterday, I had an Egg McMuffin and hot chocolate from McDonald's.
For lunch, I had a double cheeseburger, chili, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from Wendy's.
At work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while I playtested the game.
For dinner, I had two pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from KFC.
For lunch, I had a double cheeseburger, chili, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from Wendy's.
At work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) while I playtested the game.
For dinner, I had two pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar) from KFC.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Inauguration Day Off!
I've scheduled a long weekend that includes Jan. 20 so that I can (hopefully) watch the inauguration of Barack Obama in person in Washington, D.C. It's only a four-hour drive!
All the hotels are booked already, of course, but we may have some other alternatives.
All the hotels are booked already, of course, but we may have some other alternatives.
The Weight Thing: Day 18
For breakfast yesterday, I had a pumpkin spice latte and a blueberry muffin.
For lunch, I had leftover pizza.
At work, I drank one regular Pepsi (sugar/caffeine) and one Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a Wendy's double cheeseburger, a bowl of chili, and a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I had leftover pizza.
At work, I drank one regular Pepsi (sugar/caffeine) and one Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a Wendy's double cheeseburger, a bowl of chili, and a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine).
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 17
I didn't have breakfast.
For lunch, I went to the Hibernian for a blackened pork chop, cinnamon apples, and mashed potatoes with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I braved a slice of chocolate cake.
I drank a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) at work.
For dinner, I had a couple of slices of pizza from Papa John's and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Also had some black cherry yogurt.
No walking - heel still hurts. Blargh.
For lunch, I went to the Hibernian for a blackened pork chop, cinnamon apples, and mashed potatoes with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine). For dessert, I braved a slice of chocolate cake.
I drank a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) at work.
For dinner, I had a couple of slices of pizza from Papa John's and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). Also had some black cherry yogurt.
No walking - heel still hurts. Blargh.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 16
For breakfast, I had hot apple and cinnamon oatmeal.
Had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) at work.
For lunch, ate leftover meatball stroganoff with Pepsi (caffeine/sugar). Also had some black cherry yogurt.
For dinner, Karen made pork chops and parsnips. I drank Coke Zero (caffeine).
No walking due to rain and, get this, some kind of injury to my left heel. Feels like a tendon problem. Blurgh.
Had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) at work.
For lunch, ate leftover meatball stroganoff with Pepsi (caffeine/sugar). Also had some black cherry yogurt.
For dinner, Karen made pork chops and parsnips. I drank Coke Zero (caffeine).
No walking due to rain and, get this, some kind of injury to my left heel. Feels like a tendon problem. Blurgh.
Obama - hooray!
I haven't felt this good in about eight years.
Watching some of the reactions of avid Republicans, I can't help but take some solace and sympathy in the fact that I know how they feel. No one likes to lose, especially to someone they think is going to take the country in the wrong direction.
I'm optimistic, though, that the election of Barack Obama heralds the arrival of new opportunities for America.
Watching some of the reactions of avid Republicans, I can't help but take some solace and sympathy in the fact that I know how they feel. No one likes to lose, especially to someone they think is going to take the country in the wrong direction.
I'm optimistic, though, that the election of Barack Obama heralds the arrival of new opportunities for America.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Still waiting...
It has now been more than two weeks since I sent Joy the information she needed for the divorce. I haven't even had confirmation that she received it, let alone a FedEx package with papers for me to sign.
I hate loose ends. I just want it done.
I hate loose ends. I just want it done.
The Weight Thing: Day 15
I didn’t have breakfast.
Went to Sushi Thai for lunch with Dan and Marie. I had teriyaki steak and miso soup, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffine). For dessert, I had a tempura banana with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
At work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, Karen made meatball stroganoff with salad. I drank Coke Zero (caffeine).
No walk last night: It was raining.
However, I did have a brush with temptation. I drove the trash to the compactor, decided to go pick up some toilet paper from the CVS, and thought (although I wasn't even hungry) that I could really use a Wendy's single with cheese and an order of fries.
I got a bottle of fruit punch from the CVS. I resisted the urge to go to Wendy's. I'm proud of my self-control there.
Went to Sushi Thai for lunch with Dan and Marie. I had teriyaki steak and miso soup, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffine). For dessert, I had a tempura banana with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
At work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, Karen made meatball stroganoff with salad. I drank Coke Zero (caffeine).
No walk last night: It was raining.
However, I did have a brush with temptation. I drove the trash to the compactor, decided to go pick up some toilet paper from the CVS, and thought (although I wasn't even hungry) that I could really use a Wendy's single with cheese and an order of fries.
I got a bottle of fruit punch from the CVS. I resisted the urge to go to Wendy's. I'm proud of my self-control there.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 14
This was a fairly mild day. The only exercise I got was walking Huck around the block and playing Rock Band 2.
NOTE: I enjoyed playing Dylan's "Tangled Up and Blue" on Medium. Ninety-eight percent! ROCK ON!
Anyway, food confessional:
Didn't have breakfast. Took Karen to Mimi's for lunch. I had hibachi-style salmon and grilled vegetables, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine). We shared a mousse ensemble. I really liked the lemon with berries best.
For dinner, I had a tuna melt sandwich with cheddar cheese and tomato soup, with a glass of Coke Zero.
NOTE: I enjoyed playing Dylan's "Tangled Up and Blue" on Medium. Ninety-eight percent! ROCK ON!
Anyway, food confessional:
Didn't have breakfast. Took Karen to Mimi's for lunch. I had hibachi-style salmon and grilled vegetables, with a sweet iced tea (sugar/caffeine). We shared a mousse ensemble. I really liked the lemon with berries best.
For dinner, I had a tuna melt sandwich with cheddar cheese and tomato soup, with a glass of Coke Zero.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 13
It felt like I was back on track yesterday. Mostly.
I didn't have breakfast because I slept in until about 10. Karen and I then went to Cedar Park Community Center for early voting in the election. That took a couple of hours.
Once we voted, we went to Brig's for brunch. I had a gyro with a side salad (raspberry vinagrette dressing) and a sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar). No dessert.
After lunch, we picked up Huck from the apartment and took him for a long walk in Umstead Park.
For dinner, Karen made lentil chili and biscuits. I drank a Coke Zero (caffeine) with it.
I didn't have breakfast because I slept in until about 10. Karen and I then went to Cedar Park Community Center for early voting in the election. That took a couple of hours.
Once we voted, we went to Brig's for brunch. I had a gyro with a side salad (raspberry vinagrette dressing) and a sweet iced tea (caffeine/sugar). No dessert.
After lunch, we picked up Huck from the apartment and took him for a long walk in Umstead Park.
For dinner, Karen made lentil chili and biscuits. I drank a Coke Zero (caffeine) with it.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Legend of the Seeker
It appears that this weekend is the American debut of a new television series called The Legend of the Seeker, based on Terry Goodkind's Richard Cypher/Sword of Truth novels. I caught the first 10 minutes at http://legendoftheseeker.com and it looked mostly harmless.
I VOTED!
How about you?
Karen and I stood for about two hours at Cedar Park Community Center in Morrisville so that we could vote in what may be the most important presidential election of our lives.
It's not my place to say how she voted, but it shouldn't come as much surprise that I went for Barack Obama.
I'm counting on a landslide, but we'll see what happens on Tuesday.
Karen and I stood for about two hours at Cedar Park Community Center in Morrisville so that we could vote in what may be the most important presidential election of our lives.
It's not my place to say how she voted, but it shouldn't come as much surprise that I went for Barack Obama.
I'm counting on a landslide, but we'll see what happens on Tuesday.
NaNoWriMo begins!
The month-long quest to write 50,000 words of a novel has begun!
I've already completed 700 words today. My goal is to hit at least 2,000 words a day between now and the end of November.
Become a writing buddy of mine by visiting: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/66824
I've already completed 700 words today. My goal is to hit at least 2,000 words a day between now and the end of November.
Become a writing buddy of mine by visiting: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/66824
The Weight Thing: Day 12
Here's how it all went down on Halloween:
First, I had to get up at OHMYGODEARLY A.M. to take Stefan over to his Dad's house for the ride to school. On the way home, I stopped at McDonald's for an Egg McMuffin and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
At work, I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, we went to Chili's, where I ordered a cheesesteak sandwich and a side salad. Normally, it comes with fries. I didn't want fries. So, it costs $1 extra not to fill my arteries with globs of grease. I figure it's a dollar well spent. However, they brought me a salad AND fries, as if to tell me that they wanted my money but still thought I should have a heart attack sooner rather than later.
I didn't eat any of the fries. I'm really proud of myself.
I didn't drink anything but water during lunch. I'd been dealing with a migraine all morning. Marie suggested water, water, and more water.
Back at work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) before the company Halloween party/costume contest. I did a lot of sweating for this, so I think I earned the small cup of blood orange gelato I ate during the party.
For dinner, I took Karen to Longhorn Steakhouse. We ordered boneless Buffalo wings for an appetizer. I had a ribeye steak, sweet potato, a side salad with dressing, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
No dessert.
First, I had to get up at OHMYGODEARLY A.M. to take Stefan over to his Dad's house for the ride to school. On the way home, I stopped at McDonald's for an Egg McMuffin and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
At work, I had a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, we went to Chili's, where I ordered a cheesesteak sandwich and a side salad. Normally, it comes with fries. I didn't want fries. So, it costs $1 extra not to fill my arteries with globs of grease. I figure it's a dollar well spent. However, they brought me a salad AND fries, as if to tell me that they wanted my money but still thought I should have a heart attack sooner rather than later.
I didn't eat any of the fries. I'm really proud of myself.
I didn't drink anything but water during lunch. I'd been dealing with a migraine all morning. Marie suggested water, water, and more water.
Back at work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) before the company Halloween party/costume contest. I did a lot of sweating for this, so I think I earned the small cup of blood orange gelato I ate during the party.
For dinner, I took Karen to Longhorn Steakhouse. We ordered boneless Buffalo wings for an appetizer. I had a ribeye steak, sweet potato, a side salad with dressing, and unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
No dessert.
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 11
I don't consider yesterday a shining example of dietary excellence.
I started off the day with a chai latte and a slice of banana nut bread from Starbuck's. For lunch, I had a sensible seared tuna steak with roasted potatoes and vegetables, with a Coke (sugar/caffeine) and two glasses of ice water. During the afternoon playtest, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, though, I had a chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread from the Teeter, a glass of Hawaiian Punch (sugar), some Doritos leftover from the trip to Disney (salt), and a couple of chocolate cupcakes (sugar).
And I didn't walk.
I woke up with a migraine, probably thanks to all the sugar after a relatively decent couple of weeks.
I must do better.
Stupid.
I started off the day with a chai latte and a slice of banana nut bread from Starbuck's. For lunch, I had a sensible seared tuna steak with roasted potatoes and vegetables, with a Coke (sugar/caffeine) and two glasses of ice water. During the afternoon playtest, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, though, I had a chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread from the Teeter, a glass of Hawaiian Punch (sugar), some Doritos leftover from the trip to Disney (salt), and a couple of chocolate cupcakes (sugar).
And I didn't walk.
I woke up with a migraine, probably thanks to all the sugar after a relatively decent couple of weeks.
I must do better.
Stupid.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 10
I was a little off the mark on Wednesday. No breakfast because I was running late, although I did take my vitamins.
For lunch, I had a Chick Fil-A sandwich and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
During the PvP test at work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a couple of slices of Hawaiian BBQ pizza from Papa John's, a couple of chicken wings, and a parmesan breadstick with some Hawaiian punch (sugar).
No dessert. Not a walking day.
For lunch, I had a Chick Fil-A sandwich and a Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
During the PvP test at work, I had a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a couple of slices of Hawaiian BBQ pizza from Papa John's, a couple of chicken wings, and a parmesan breadstick with some Hawaiian punch (sugar).
No dessert. Not a walking day.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 9
This morning, I had yogurt for breakfast.
For lunch, I had leftover chili with a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
I had a second Coke (sugar/caffeine). Not my best afternoon there.
For dinner, I had three slices of double pepperoni pizza and a Coke Zero (caffeine).
I took a short walk, because it's damned cold outside.
For lunch, I had leftover chili with a Coke (sugar/caffeine).
I had a second Coke (sugar/caffeine). Not my best afternoon there.
For dinner, I had three slices of double pepperoni pizza and a Coke Zero (caffeine).
I took a short walk, because it's damned cold outside.
The Weight Thing: Day 8
For breakfast, I had bran cereal with strawberries in it.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie at Domo Sushi - it's a new place down near the Harris Teeter with a conveyor belt that sends sushi around to the customers. I had chicken teriyaki with rice and hot tea while they had sushi.
I drank one Pepsi (sugar/caffeine) and one Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) during the day.
For dinner, Karen made salmon. I had that with water.
I didn't walk last night, but will do so tonight.
For lunch, I joined Dan and Marie at Domo Sushi - it's a new place down near the Harris Teeter with a conveyor belt that sends sushi around to the customers. I had chicken teriyaki with rice and hot tea while they had sushi.
I drank one Pepsi (sugar/caffeine) and one Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine) during the day.
For dinner, Karen made salmon. I had that with water.
I didn't walk last night, but will do so tonight.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Nice job, hatemongers...
And so it begins?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081027/ap_on_el_pr/skinhead_plot
This is what happens when you push an agenda that plays on hate and bigotry, John McCain.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081027/ap_on_el_pr/skinhead_plot
This is what happens when you push an agenda that plays on hate and bigotry, John McCain.
The Weight Thing: Day 7
Slept in, but we had brunch at Brig’s. I had a bacon cheeseburger with a house salad (oil and vinegar dressing) and a cup of hot caffeinated tea (lemon, no sugar). I also had about a third of an angel food cake/strawberries/vanilla ice cream dessert – shared the rest with Karen and Stefan.
After Brig’s, we stopped by the apartment to pick up Huckleberry and took him to the Greenway trail in Umstead Park. Walked for at least a couple of miles.
For dinner, I had a pulled pork dinner from Smithfield’s – I ate the pork, the potato salad, and a couple of fried hush puppies – with a large sweet iced tea.
After dinner, we had some homemade apple crisp. Delicious!
After Brig’s, we stopped by the apartment to pick up Huckleberry and took him to the Greenway trail in Umstead Park. Walked for at least a couple of miles.
For dinner, I had a pulled pork dinner from Smithfield’s – I ate the pork, the potato salad, and a couple of fried hush puppies – with a large sweet iced tea.
After dinner, we had some homemade apple crisp. Delicious!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Got $500 to spend?
Because this is pretty cool:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/25/zeppelin.tours.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/25/zeppelin.tours.ap/index.html
The Weight Thing: Day 6
I slept in on Saturday, so I didn't end up having any breakfast at all.
On the way to work, I picked up a hamburger (no cheese), side salad (rather than fries), and a large sweet tea (sugar/caffeine) from Wendy's.
While at work, I drank one Coke (sugar/caffeine).
After work, I walked two circuits around the apartment complex.
We ate dinner at Johnny Carino's. I had spicy chicken romano, a Caesar salad, a couple of stuffed mushrooms, hot tea with lemon (caffeine), and a small piece of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
On the way to work, I picked up a hamburger (no cheese), side salad (rather than fries), and a large sweet tea (sugar/caffeine) from Wendy's.
While at work, I drank one Coke (sugar/caffeine).
After work, I walked two circuits around the apartment complex.
We ate dinner at Johnny Carino's. I had spicy chicken romano, a Caesar salad, a couple of stuffed mushrooms, hot tea with lemon (caffeine), and a small piece of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Weight Thing: Day 5
So, yesterday:
Had a protein shake for breakfast.
Bought a 12-pack of Coke for the office. Drank one (sugar/caffeine).
Got lunch at the Hibernian. I ate Irish stew with unsweetened iced tea and some grain bread.
Drank a Diet Mountain Dew after lunch. Had a bowl of 2-percent yogurt with strawberry jam in it as a snack.
For dinner, we drove to Southpoint in Durham for California Pizza Kitchen. I had artichoke dip with nacho chips and about half a buffalo chicken pizza, with one cup of Earl Grey (caffeine) and a glass of Pepsi (sugar/caffeine).
My walking routine last night consisted of trekking through Southpoint's parking lot because I had to park way the hell out in the boonies. (And it was drizzling. Whee!)
Fell asleep watching Citizen Kane.
Had a protein shake for breakfast.
Bought a 12-pack of Coke for the office. Drank one (sugar/caffeine).
Got lunch at the Hibernian. I ate Irish stew with unsweetened iced tea and some grain bread.
Drank a Diet Mountain Dew after lunch. Had a bowl of 2-percent yogurt with strawberry jam in it as a snack.
For dinner, we drove to Southpoint in Durham for California Pizza Kitchen. I had artichoke dip with nacho chips and about half a buffalo chicken pizza, with one cup of Earl Grey (caffeine) and a glass of Pepsi (sugar/caffeine).
My walking routine last night consisted of trekking through Southpoint's parking lot because I had to park way the hell out in the boonies. (And it was drizzling. Whee!)
Fell asleep watching Citizen Kane.
Friday, October 24, 2008
New Star Trek pics
So, I've had my doubts about Star Trek - especially the casting of Karl Urban as McCoy. But, y'know, yeah, this is just a picture, but it kind of gives me some hope!
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20233788_5,00.html
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20233788_5,00.html
Restless Spouse Syndrome?
I couldn't get to sleep last night. I felt antsy and anxious. So, I got out of bed, logged on the computer, and ran around World of Warcraft to fill out more of my map for those exploration achievements. I was doing whatever I could not to think about whatever it was I was fidgeting about.
When I got bored with WoW, I started watching one of three episodes of Dexter that I'm trying to catch up on. I was 10 minutes into the episode when it clicked in my head. I knew what was bugging me: I hadn't heard from Joy since sending her my answers for the divorce filing on Monday. Not even a confirmation that she got the information.
This is bad for my personality, because I'm like a shark: I have to keep moving forward. I can't stand going in stupid circles or trying to swim backward or sitting in one place for very long.
Once I realized what was wrong and knew I couldn't settle the problem in the middle of the night by watching TV, I felt I could sleep.
And I did.
When I got bored with WoW, I started watching one of three episodes of Dexter that I'm trying to catch up on. I was 10 minutes into the episode when it clicked in my head. I knew what was bugging me: I hadn't heard from Joy since sending her my answers for the divorce filing on Monday. Not even a confirmation that she got the information.
This is bad for my personality, because I'm like a shark: I have to keep moving forward. I can't stand going in stupid circles or trying to swim backward or sitting in one place for very long.
Once I realized what was wrong and knew I couldn't settle the problem in the middle of the night by watching TV, I felt I could sleep.
And I did.
Heroes: Its Own Worst Enemy?
So, I've tried to get back into Heroes this season and it's just not clicking for me.
I don't buy Nathan's religious conversion.
I don't buy how stupid Hiro is acting.
I don't get how Linderman is alive/not alive/manipulating people.
I don't know why TPTB are already recycling superpowers (Isaac's future-via-painting, for example).
I don't like the new Not-Niki.
I can't buy Sylar-as-Petrelli-sibling OR HRG partner.
I hate the whole Mohinder-fly plot.
I'm not interested in the villains.
Season 1, I couldn't get enough of this show. Season 2 was a real struggle, thanks in large part to the writers strike. Now...I think it suffers from trying to continually be on the cutting edge, endeavoring to top itself, and mostly it's just leaping over sharks.
Sad.
I don't buy Nathan's religious conversion.
I don't buy how stupid Hiro is acting.
I don't get how Linderman is alive/not alive/manipulating people.
I don't know why TPTB are already recycling superpowers (Isaac's future-via-painting, for example).
I don't like the new Not-Niki.
I can't buy Sylar-as-Petrelli-sibling OR HRG partner.
I hate the whole Mohinder-fly plot.
I'm not interested in the villains.
Season 1, I couldn't get enough of this show. Season 2 was a real struggle, thanks in large part to the writers strike. Now...I think it suffers from trying to continually be on the cutting edge, endeavoring to top itself, and mostly it's just leaping over sharks.
Sad.
The Weight Thing: Day 4
On Thursday morning, Karen made me a wheat muffin with egg, cheddar cheese, and ham, with a cup of hot tea.
A while later, at work, I had a bottle of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I had leftover Brunswick stew, apple slices, and a Diet Dr Pepper (caffeine).
After lunch, I had a Pepsi (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, Karen made spaghetti with a side of asiago bread from Panera and a glass of water.
I only took a short walk tonight, with Huck. Feeling pretty restless and antsy, but not up to exerting myself, apparently.
A while later, at work, I had a bottle of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I had leftover Brunswick stew, apple slices, and a Diet Dr Pepper (caffeine).
After lunch, I had a Pepsi (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, Karen made spaghetti with a side of asiago bread from Panera and a glass of water.
I only took a short walk tonight, with Huck. Feeling pretty restless and antsy, but not up to exerting myself, apparently.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
It's trying to tell me something...
I had two dollars for the soda vending machine at work.
I'm swearing off Mountain Dew now, even the diet stuff, and it was time to do some playtesting on the game. I needed sugar and caffeine. So, I slid the bills into the electronic slot and ordered myself a bottle of Pepsi.
The drink, which costs $1.25, rolls down into the dispenser bin. The remaining change rattles down to the coin slot. The first quarter comes popping out at an arc and lands at my foot, as if flung there in disgust by the vending machine.
Don't judge me, I thought.
I'm swearing off Mountain Dew now, even the diet stuff, and it was time to do some playtesting on the game. I needed sugar and caffeine. So, I slid the bills into the electronic slot and ordered myself a bottle of Pepsi.
The drink, which costs $1.25, rolls down into the dispenser bin. The remaining change rattles down to the coin slot. The first quarter comes popping out at an arc and lands at my foot, as if flung there in disgust by the vending machine.
Don't judge me, I thought.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Rock Band 2!
Rock Band 2, one of the birthday presents from my folks, arrived today!
Yay for new tunes!
Yay for new tunes!
The Weight Thing: Day 3
For breakfast, I ate a mixed cereal with bran flakes, raisins, dates, pecans, raspberries, and strawberries. Cup of hot tea.
Ate lunch at the Stonewood Tavern. Tempura crab burger sandwich with a house salad instead of fries and a glass of unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
One Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, ate out at Cool Runnings. Had the jerk ribeye steak, pan-fried plantains, and oven-roasted garlic potatoes. Drank a pineapple soda (no caffeine) and a glass of iced water. One bite of Karen's bread pudding.
No walking tonight. I'm going on a 3-night-a-week walking schedule instead of pushing myself every single evening.
Ate lunch at the Stonewood Tavern. Tempura crab burger sandwich with a house salad instead of fries and a glass of unsweetened iced tea (caffeine).
One Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine).
For dinner, ate out at Cool Runnings. Had the jerk ribeye steak, pan-fried plantains, and oven-roasted garlic potatoes. Drank a pineapple soda (no caffeine) and a glass of iced water. One bite of Karen's bread pudding.
No walking tonight. I'm going on a 3-night-a-week walking schedule instead of pushing myself every single evening.
New Star Wars MMO!
So, it's official!
BioWare is developing Star Wars: The Old Republic as an MMO.
I could give up WoW for good if this new game proves to be as awesome as its potential suggests.
http://www.swtor.com/news/article/press-release-001
BioWare is developing Star Wars: The Old Republic as an MMO.
I could give up WoW for good if this new game proves to be as awesome as its potential suggests.
http://www.swtor.com/news/article/press-release-001
National Novel Writing month is coming...
...and I've officially re-upped my membership so that I can participate.
In the month of November, I'll write 50,000 words. The project I'm working on won't be based on any of the current Jointhesaga.com games - it'll be fiction set in the real world of the late 20th Century.
You should give it a try too! Everyone should try writing a novel at least once. I pulled this off back in 2004 and it resulted in Red-Eye Flight.
Check it out at http://nanowrimo.org
In the month of November, I'll write 50,000 words. The project I'm working on won't be based on any of the current Jointhesaga.com games - it'll be fiction set in the real world of the late 20th Century.
You should give it a try too! Everyone should try writing a novel at least once. I pulled this off back in 2004 and it resulted in Red-Eye Flight.
Check it out at http://nanowrimo.org
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Vote!
We've got two weeks until a new president is elected for the next four years.
The new president will either be an old guy who traded in maverick idealism for Bush coattails and a crazy Alaskan moose hunter, or a relatively untried young guy who's got a way with words and boatloads of charisma.
Personally, I'm voting to keep the moose hunter more than a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the land. We've had eight years of crazy VP Cheney. No need to extend that record of wackiness.
No matter who you're voting for, get to the polls on Nov. 4!
The new president will either be an old guy who traded in maverick idealism for Bush coattails and a crazy Alaskan moose hunter, or a relatively untried young guy who's got a way with words and boatloads of charisma.
Personally, I'm voting to keep the moose hunter more than a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the land. We've had eight years of crazy VP Cheney. No need to extend that record of wackiness.
No matter who you're voting for, get to the polls on Nov. 4!
Short Attention Span Review: Amazon's Kindle
Karen gave one of these to me for my birthday. It's fantastic. Basically, it's an electronic book reader with a wireless connection. I can order and download new content any time, and read it any time. I can also put my own content, such as PDFs and other documents, on the device. It's my current favorite toy.
The Weight Thing: Day 2
For breakfast, Karen made me a fried egg and cheddar cheese English muffin with hot tea.
Before lunch, I had one Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I had leftover chili and a bag of fresh apple slices, with a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine, no sugar).
For dinner, I had homemade Brunswick stew, a buttered roll, and a glass of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
After dinner, I walked about a mile in 20 minutes around the apartment complex. My right calf and the sole of my right foot felt sore afterward. I think I might want to get new walking shoes instead of my normal sneakers.
Before lunch, I had one Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine).
For lunch, I had leftover chili and a bag of fresh apple slices, with a Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine, no sugar).
For dinner, I had homemade Brunswick stew, a buttered roll, and a glass of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
After dinner, I walked about a mile in 20 minutes around the apartment complex. My right calf and the sole of my right foot felt sore afterward. I think I might want to get new walking shoes instead of my normal sneakers.
Short Attention Span Review: Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba
I caught this show at Downtown Disney during my week-long Florida vacation. Actually, it capped the week, as we started for North Carolina the next morning. We ended up seeing it on a fluke. We went to Downtown Disney for lunch at Bongo's, so I took a chance and asked the cashier in the box office if they had tickets for that night's show. They did! I'm glad we got the tickets - it was one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen. If you get a chance, catch it.
Necessary Questions
It's been nearly a year since Joy left, ending any chance of saving our marriage. In North Carolina, you've got to wait one year and a day after the official separation to file for divorce.
On Sunday, as we were coming back from vacation, Karen and I talked about how busy I was likely to be in November with court activity. It seemed obvious that I was going to have to take the initiative and file for divorce here, hoping somehow to get the papers to Joy in Florida.
Monday morning, though, I found an email from Joy in my in-box from the week I was on vacation. It seems that she has taken the initiative and started the proceedings via an online site. The email included a lot of probing finance-related questions that must be answered by both parties in an uncontested divorce.
So, I sent back the answers as quick as I could. I'm not fighting this split. I've fought all I care to for that relationship and now I'm past it. I'm very glad that she has taken the ball and run with it on this - saves me a load of work in November, to be quite honest, if all I have to do is sign papers for her.
It may just be a matter of days now before our marriage is really officially over.
On Sunday, as we were coming back from vacation, Karen and I talked about how busy I was likely to be in November with court activity. It seemed obvious that I was going to have to take the initiative and file for divorce here, hoping somehow to get the papers to Joy in Florida.
Monday morning, though, I found an email from Joy in my in-box from the week I was on vacation. It seems that she has taken the initiative and started the proceedings via an online site. The email included a lot of probing finance-related questions that must be answered by both parties in an uncontested divorce.
So, I sent back the answers as quick as I could. I'm not fighting this split. I've fought all I care to for that relationship and now I'm past it. I'm very glad that she has taken the ball and run with it on this - saves me a load of work in November, to be quite honest, if all I have to do is sign papers for her.
It may just be a matter of days now before our marriage is really officially over.
The Weight Thing: Day 1
Vacation's over! Time to get to work on myself.
Karen and I talked it over. Major things I'll cut right off the bat: Sugary drinks and French fries.
I'm not cutting the drinks cold turkey, but...
On Monday, Oct. 20, I had one 20 oz. Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine), a lunch of steak teriyaki and a tempura banana with a glass of unsweetened iced tea, and then, after lunch, one 20 oz. Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a bowl of chili with cheddar cheese and sour cream, plus a wedge of corn bread. Washed it down with a glass of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
Monday night, I walked for nearly a mile in about 20 minutes, averaging a little more than 3 mph.
Karen and I talked it over. Major things I'll cut right off the bat: Sugary drinks and French fries.
I'm not cutting the drinks cold turkey, but...
On Monday, Oct. 20, I had one 20 oz. Mountain Dew (sugar/caffeine), a lunch of steak teriyaki and a tempura banana with a glass of unsweetened iced tea, and then, after lunch, one 20 oz. Diet Mountain Dew (caffeine).
For dinner, I had a bowl of chili with cheddar cheese and sour cream, plus a wedge of corn bread. Washed it down with a glass of Dr Pepper (sugar/caffeine). No dessert.
Monday night, I walked for nearly a mile in about 20 minutes, averaging a little more than 3 mph.
Rude Awakening
So, there I was, in the midst of my awesome Disney/Universal Studios vacation. I had zoomed through the thinly populated queue for The Hulk so I could get in the very front row of the rollercoaster - just like I did last year.
I settled in, with Karen and Stefan on my right. Just one problem: I couldn't snap the restraint's buckle into place. An attendant came over to help, but failed to manage any better than I had.
"You'll have to get out and wait for the next car, and we'll seat you in Row Three," she said.
I'm not morbidly obese or anything, but I could definitely stand to lose - or shift - about 20-30 pounds from around my waist. The fact that I can't ride in the front of my favorite rollercoaster clinched it for me. It's time to take steps.
Therefore, among other things, I'll be tracking efforts to get into rollercoaster fighting form in this blog. No, I won't post anything related to pounds lost or gained. I really don't care about numbers. If I keep some of the weight as muscle, great! But I do want to keep track of what I'm eating and what I'm doing to keep in shape.
Stay tuned.
I settled in, with Karen and Stefan on my right. Just one problem: I couldn't snap the restraint's buckle into place. An attendant came over to help, but failed to manage any better than I had.
"You'll have to get out and wait for the next car, and we'll seat you in Row Three," she said.
I'm not morbidly obese or anything, but I could definitely stand to lose - or shift - about 20-30 pounds from around my waist. The fact that I can't ride in the front of my favorite rollercoaster clinched it for me. It's time to take steps.
Therefore, among other things, I'll be tracking efforts to get into rollercoaster fighting form in this blog. No, I won't post anything related to pounds lost or gained. I really don't care about numbers. If I keep some of the weight as muscle, great! But I do want to keep track of what I'm eating and what I'm doing to keep in shape.
Stay tuned.
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