Saturday
On the whole, it’s been a decent day. Parts of it, however, have sucked. How much? Think:

  • Two dollar hooker
  • A golf ball
  • 50 feet of garden hose.

That should give you a decent idea. But, as I said: The day balanced out and things got better as the day came to a close.

I started the day helping set up some software on her computer. That went fairly well, although it seems as though there’s some sort of “disconnect” between the OS and the hardware. I’m not sure what the problem is, but I think that it could be connected to a possible issue with the hard drive not reading properly. Then, we headed to Big Kids’ Toys ‘R’ Us (colloquially referred to as “Home Depot”) to get dryer vent hose for her as-yet-unconnected dryer. Side trip to Dr. Volt’s, to pick up this week’s four-color goodies; this week I got there with more than five minutes to spare before they closed. Back to ‘s to install the vent hose… which – thanks to the inadequate clamps that came with the hose – was an exercise in itself.

Home. I got into an impromptu fight with the garage entry door. The knob refuses to turn more than 2/3 of its full rotation… and thus won’t fully disengage the bolt. In simple terms, this translates into: “The door will not open.” But, the astute reader will also discern the more subtle translation: “A trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s to purchase a new knob/lockset is in my immediate future.” Unfortunately, the timing of this… inconvenience… was ill: We were scheduled to go to dinner and a movie with EveryDave and Alyce. Trying unsuccessfully to at least temporarily fix the door soured my mood.

We had Chinese food at a place called David’s Kitchen. Small, out of the way restaurant. Good food. Very good food. I’ll be going back there. The theatre was across the street, so I offered to try and find a parking space. Kismet, in her fickle way, smiled broadly… and then thumbed her nose at me.

  • Rainy Saturday night in Utah.
  • Crowded parking lot.
  • People driving through said parking lot like they were doing pace laps at Indy.
  • Some of the aforementioned people driving in the near-dark with their lights turned off.
  • People jumping in front of you… because God forbid that you possibly find a parking spot before them.
  • …and an already-irritable me.

As far as “favorable combinations” go, this wasn’t even on the list. I spent nearly fifteen minutes circling the parking lot and the surrounding blocks looking for a spot. And with each passing minute, my ire and blood pressure rose. By the time I found a spot and got into the cineplex, I was rapidly approaching a level of anti-socialness that I rarely ever attain. I was so tense that while we were waiting for our theatre to open for seating, I went to stand outside, away from people.

We saw Mr. & Mrs. Smith. This movie did wonderful things for my mood. By the time it ended, I felt closer to “center” again. There was “something” in the movie that kept saying “This reminds you of another movie…”, but the epiphany didn’t come until the movie was almost over: It reminded me of True Lies. I give the Smiths a thumbs-up with a big okay.

Breakfast was a decent affair. There was a moderate turn-out. The people-watching was good, even though The Singles were absent for the second week in a row.

Stray Toasters

  • tagged me to do the “Six Favorite Songs” meme thingamabob. So, in no particular order, here they are:
    1. Chopin – Opus 66: Fantasie Impromptu
    2. About 98% of the music by Rush
    3. Ludacris – Either Act a Fool (from 2 Fast 2 Furious) or Stand Up
    4. Will Smith – Switch (…and to quote : Damn you, !)
    5. Madonna vs. Atomic Kitten – Don’t Tell Me/The Tide Is High (remix)
    6. Bob Dorough – Schoolhouse Rock! – Conjunction Junction

    The Chopin, Rush and Schoolhouse Rock! options are pretty static, but given the… “eclectic nature” of my musical tastes, the others are apt to change at any time. And, as far as tagging six other people to do this, I’ll pass. But, if someone wants to post their Top Six, feel free.

  • By way of Wired: Boards Get Brains, Chalk Vanishes
    I think that this is a great idea; I’m surprised that it took this long to come into being.

  • send me a link to this. I’m still not sure what to say about it.
  • : Hunter S. Thompson tribute beers with Steadman labels
  • This article is just reinforcing my desire to do this year’s Christmas lights with LEDs…
  • Law & Order‘s S. Epatha Merkerson was a guest on this week’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me.
  • By way of Slashdot: Russian Firm Pays to Infect PCs with Adware
  • Calling 2001’s Planet of the Apes remake “Marky Mark and the Monkey Bunch” still amuses me.
  • Cucumbers and reindeer.

Time now to see if I can find my way to the gates of The Dreaming.

Namaste.