Month: February 2007 (Page 2 of 2)

“Thoughts and prayers are with you Leo…” was a puzzling email to receive Friday night, so I responded sarcastically with, “Why? Is my blog exhibiting some crisis vibe?” A few minutes later the fun ended when I read, “Haven’t you written about your Dad and that he lives in the Villages in Fla????” A quick scan of the news was frightening… A powerful tornado had ripped the early morning tranquility of the adult playground, destroying property and inflicting the ultimate early retirement on some 20 young and old victims. “All circuits are busy. Please try your call again later,” heightened my anxiety, but on the 4th or 5th try, Caroline, my step-mother answered and assured me they were OK. “It went right over us.” Dad was working when I called, but he called me the next day to fill me in. Dad saying, “It sounded like a train,” recalled the DBT’s “Tornadoes,” and I recoiled at what their experience must have been like, but only for a second as he added, “I slept through it.”

NP- “World of Hurt” – Smokin live version by the Drive By Truckers

“Do you take an aspirin every day,” my mother asked. “You have to take one every day.” She had just told the sad story of a 43 year old neighbor who died last week of a massive heart attack. I assured Mom I do take a 81mg “enteric” aspirin and a multivitamin daily. Overall my health is good (insert mental health joke here…), but I’ve got to crank up the exercise regime soon.

Speaking of cranking, you know that noise a washing machine makes when you’re setting it to “Regular,” “Heavy” or “Permanent Press?” Well, actually it’s the older top-loading versions that make that distinct noise, so when mine went silent last Saturday I had to act fast to avoid a Laundromat encounter. “Joe” arrived punctually at 8:00am this past Friday morning and perfectly leveled my sweet new “Energy Star” GE front loading washing machine. I couldn’t have been more excited to do laundry. It doesn’t rock, but man, it rolls! My preliminary testing shows it:

• operates nearly silently
• uses very little water per wash
• spins out almost all water at 950RPM
• is just really cool to stare into

A full load of sheets and pillowcases was so dry post-spin, they took only 15 minutes in the dryer! I’m very happy with all the energy savings this bad boy provides. Sadly however, my excitement has officially sud-sided and the activity is relegated back to being “just laundry.”

Imagine if you will, this playing live continuously in your dwelling. Yes, the “distant chromatic rumblings of a double bass, gradually coalescing into the droning march for the shark, offset by dissonant seventh chords.”1. Exactly. Well, the lovely and talented Jessica taught her brother Kyle to play those deep strings on his new Yamaha keyboard. It’s a very cool unit and has been added to the home repertoire to allow the young maestro to create…

Any regular visitor to this corner of the Internet knows Kyle loves music and singing. Gladly, I captured his holiday performance, but the JVC Everio HDD recorder I purchased for the occasion fell far short on video quality and is now probably on eBay after a return to Best Buy for a $75 “restocking fee.” Hey, twenty five bucks a minute for that moment in time was well worth it…

Ok, just one more product plug… I recently received my W2 and other tax-related documents. For the past several years, I’ve used TurboTax to prepare my taxes. How do you do your taxes?

1. Copyright 2000 by Andrew Drannon

This just makes me want to buy a 55” HDTV and charge everyone I know a penny in a symbolic defiance against the en-ef-el and their insatiable and petty financial gluttony. I’m no fan of churches, but hey, if they’re showing the Super Bowl® on a 108” HD plasma, I believe, baby!

Whatever. Here’s why “Da Bears” will win:

The Chicago Defense – Much attention toward the end of the year focused on the adventures of Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. Nobody should forget the Chicago “D” had 40 sacks, forced 27 fumbles and snatched 24 interceptions this season.

Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson – They will run on the Colts and keep Peyton Manning off the field.

Destiny – This can’t be good for the indoor team.

Update Sunday 11:51am…I almost forgot…
The Letdown – The Colts knocked a Giant Elvis of an albatross off their neck exactly two weeks ago… There will be an emotional letdown today.

Why the Colts could win:

The Bears aren’t that good – They had a weak-ass schedule including six games in their pathetic division.

Still, neither are the Colts…

Bears 25 – Indy 24