Friday Pussy Blog: The Hot, Wet, and Hairy Edition

Sweet Pea is a complainer when it comes to the weather. Earlier this week he came out of the garage just screaming at me, as if I, a mere mortal, could somehow do something about the ice falling from the live oak trees. I am not God. I am not Mother Nature. I am simply konagod. I can brew coffee. That's it. Sorry, Sweet Pea.

Sorry, there probably won't be a Virtual Outhouse tonight. The advertising world has done a number on me this week. Maybe tomorrow, if I'm feeling creative. I am about two sheets to the wind going on four.

The Book of Many Faces

I enjoy Facebook a lot. When I initially signed on I had an infatuation with it which lasted several weeks and then died down. Then for a long while I was rather indifferent to it until recently when I realized how great it is as a closely-knit community forum. I especially like that I can get to know people a lot better -- people I consider friends but most of whom I've never actually met.

It's also an interesting study in human behavior, especially the rationale for friending someone. Or unfriending.

“If someone with more than 1,000 friends unfriends me, I get offended,” said Greg Atwan, an author of “The Facebook Book,” a satirical guide. “But if someone only has 100 friends, you understand they’re trying to limit it to their intimates.”

Mr. Atwan, a recent graduate of Harvard (where Facebook got its start), recommends culling your friend list once a year to remove total strangers and other hangers-on. Keeping your numbers down gives you more leeway to be selective about whom you approve in the first place, he said.

All of my friend requests recently have come from people I know personally, or know via blogging. Earlier I had a few from people I don't know at all. One of two are active in the local Austin music scene who apparently were friending anyone who appeared to have a taste for music. And there are a couple who did the same for anyone with a taste for blogging, even though I have no idea how they found me.... probably from my comments at large blogs.

I don't recall if I have ever unfriended anyone. Because I believe Facebook is not only a source of entertainment and keeping track of people you know, it's also a networking tool, and you never know when some obscure person in your list of friends might someday have a useful bit of advice, or share a piece of useful information, etc.

And yet, at the same time, I find myself somewhat annoyed when I see a "friend's" icon in my list and say to myself, "I don't have a clue why that person friended me."

Interestingly enough, there was a time when I really wanted my Facebook friends to be people I only knew through blogging, not people with whom I grew up, went to school, worked, or just met in life. Putting yourself "out there" on Facebook inevitably results in people finding you whether you want them or not. Once in awhile I get a request from someone I personally know or have known, and my gut instinct is to just start another Facebook page under the name konagod, and shut mine down completely! But I add them. Usually after an initial flurry of the inevitable hiya doin's, they drift on quietly, leaving behind an icon to mark their spot.

All of this is leading up to a very simple Question of the Day:

Have you ever unfriended anyone, and what was your rationale? And also if you just never accepted a friend request from someone for whatever reason.

100,000

What a special day for me! Thanks to all my visitors and especially the friends I've made via blogging. I was hoping to hit this threshold before the end of 2008, but my job situation hasn't exactly allowed me to whip out many traffic-inducing posts since July.

The only other thing I'll add is that I never expected to see this on my blog when I started it. I was amazed when I hit 10,000 just six months after cranking this thing up!

That is all. Back to work!

Fucking and Stinking

I hate this commercial and we've been seeing it a lot tonight. Hey, if stinking prevented fucking, none of us would be here.

Useless marketing ploy. Or as txrad put it far more eloquently than me, is it bad to "smell like a human?"

Fine, Let Toyota & Honda Conquer the World

Jeeez!

Right now, carmakers say they would be able to sell only their smallest, most fuel-efficient cars — models like the Toyota Prius, a hybrid whose sales have fallen sharply since gas prices began dropping last fall — because once-popular vehicles like pickup trucks made by Ford and G.M. are not efficient enough.

“I want clean air and clean water just like the next guy,” said Erich Merkle, an independent automotive analyst in Grand Rapids, Mich. “But in the real world, there would be consumer outrage with the fact that they’re limited to maybe two vehicles and there’s nothing there that would meet their family’s needs.”

You want to see "consumer outrage?" I'm outraged that these asswipes are getting billions in bailout money and don't seem to be willing to stretch an inch. These low fuel prices aren't going to hang around indefinitely. Eventually we'll be right back where we were in the summer of 2008. But whatever. I've completely lost my sympathy.

Just yesterday, another 75,000 people probably aren't going to buy a Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, or Prius. So, chew on that, Detroit.

Yeah, that's it.

I ain't fucking kiddin' aroudn with you.


That's it. That's fucking it.

48 Questions Meme

Via blueberry.

48 Questions:

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My Grandfather. Winfred.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When I knew my cat, Samantha, was hours away from dying.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I used to. Now I consider it painful to write. And type for that matter. But at least the typing is readable and consistent.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Meat is murder.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
None. I have cats.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
It would be a challenge. That other person would have to be persistent.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Moi? Never.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
I think I do, actually. As well as that thing in my abdomen.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Not now. I do it in the stock market.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
The ones with berries in them. But I don't buy cereal. I think it's a waste of money. Bake muffins instead...with berries.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
My shoes don't have strings. They just slip off my feet. My boots need to be untied.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Probably lemon, peach, or chocolate.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Hair, eyes.

15. RED OR PINK?
Pink

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Nose hair.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Probably my dad when I need something done around the house. Otherwise my grandmother when I need entertainment.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Why would I care?

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
navy blue shorts; birkenstocks.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Rachel Maddow. Soon to be music... maybe.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Yellow

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Coffee, roses, Indian cooking.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
I try to avoid the phone and erase all memory of any conversations.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I asked her to be my Facebook friend. Of course.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Only the Olympics.

27. HAIR COLOR?
It’s brown with a shock of Bonnie Raitt gray, but not in the same place.

28. EYE COLOR?
Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, unless it's raining and I need to be out in it for any length of time.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
South Indian.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Thought-provoking endings. Darjeeling Limited comes to mind.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
You expect me to remember? Might have been Woody Allen's Everything you Wanted to Know About Sex... just because I found the DVD on the floor one morning.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
yellowish.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses & hugs.. All good.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Toast or Tart. Wait.. respond to WHAT exactly?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
My mother.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I'm throwing them all out in the dumpster.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Not using one. But I have a Dell. I do have a CW Family Guy wrist pad I use.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Real estate shows.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
purring kitties.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Singapore.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Excel spreadsheets? I could be a stellar DJ if anyone would hire me for that.

46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Lake Village, Arkansas.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone who bothers.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
In a bar in San Diego.

Impressed? Go fetch.

Red-Headed Pecker of Wood

I haven't seen one of these in many years. He was working our oak tree over pretty good.

Does Butt Hole Road Lead to Penistone?

I'm not kidding; this is for real.

God I love England!

“It’s pronounced ‘PENNIS-tun,’ ” Fiona Moran, manager of the Old Vicarage Hotel in Penistone, said over the telephone, rather sharply. When forced to spell her address for outsiders, she uses misdirection, separating the tricky section into two blameless parts: “p-e-n” — pause — “i-s-t-o-n-e.”

Her Is Good

Sorry Toast.

Enjoy, Tracy.

Friday Pussy Blog: Retro Edition

From the vaults of November 2002, long before this blog was born.

txrad with our beloved and departed (to some extent) Jezebel, who came up in conversation last night.

Tart's doll-humping Maggie reminds me of her.

Dicks, Tofu & Silkworms

We were mesmerized tonight by a program on the Travel Channel by Andrew.

I would love to visit Vietnam. I love the look of the cities -- very Cuban but without the politics. But the food.... yum.

I may be gay, but the idea of making a meal out of testicles and penises does not entice me. Nor does a munch on scorpions or silkworms.

But since 9% of the population of the country is Buddhist, I'm quite sure there's vegetarian cuisine buried in there somewhere, with all of the other lovely herbs and spices which infuse that country.

Hanoi must rock. Sorry but in deference to Toast I shall not post any stupid music videos of Hanoi Rocks.

We're A Happy Family!

Picture of the Day:

Actually it was a tossup between that picture and the one of Obama undoing a bit of Bush dirty work: signing the executive order to close Guantánamo! And this is what, the 2nd full day of his term?

But even as he reversed the most disputed counterterrorism policies of the Bush years, Mr. Obama postponed for at least six months difficult decisions on the details. He ordered a cabinet-level review of the most challenging questions his administration faces — what to do with dangerous prisoners who cannot be tried in American courts; whether some interrogation methods should remain secret to keep Al Qaeda from training to resist them; and how the United States can make sure prisoners transferred to other countries will not be tortured.

Granted it may take a year, and there are some logistics to work through, but at least he didn't wait six months to get moving on it.

I am pleased. So far, so good. Carry on, Mr. President.

Calling Joe the Plumber

It's one thing to drink too much in celebration of something. It's another thing to wake up and find a pile of laundry on the kitchen floor in front of the refridgerator and recall mopping up a major leak. And then it's quite another thing be ready to fill the coffee pot and realize that txrad must have shut the water off last night.

These are the rare times when you really wish you could just call the landlord.

All Hail To The Albino Transmutated

Updated 1/21: OK, so I may have tied one on last night during the inaugural celebration.

Ahhhh, Interesting.

txrad and I like to amuse each other at night. While I'm glorifying the virtues of Facebook, he's busy concocting some story about "remote viewing" which I'll admit I have experienced, as has has, during our afternoon naps.

But I was so distraught by the interruption of my point that I said, "tell it to Tart."

We've Got Big Balls

txrad and I don't understand this concept of inaugural balls. What torture for this couple under incredible pressure as it is. If they aren't careful, we'll be having another Obama on the way soon.

txrad was saying her dress was hideous and I thought he was talking about that yellow number she had on earlier today. I thought that was OK, not spectacular, but OK, and this one is OK as well. I guess I'm not a fashion queen. I'm not looking for Jackie O. I just want a first lady who will have a heart and do some good. Whatever she's wearing doesn't matter much to me.

This is a tad out of synch though. But if Barack would cut a sleeve off his jacket and shirt, and reveal a bit of those pecs, it might coalesce nicely.

A Great Burden Has Been Lifted

History has been made.

President Barack Hussein Obama

Vice President Joe Biden

And perhaps the icing on the cake.

Former President George W. Bush getting the hell out of Washington. Bye!

Oh my God...

Sweet!

So.... what's on the agenda today?

The Needle

One last thought...

It's Like Christmas Eve

And Santa Claus is coming tonight... not to give, but to take away. George W. Bush will be moving to Dallas (aaack!) and we will be living under a new administration after 8 years of pure hellish tyranny. I can hardly contain myself.

Back in 1984 in London, I bought one of these black sleeveless shirts which Bono wore. Mine had "U2" plastered across the back of it. Yes, I was a slave to marketing I suppose, even though I bought it in a counter cultural flea market, not a corporate chain. Not sure that makes a difference. It was still buying into something, elevating a mere human band to a level of adoration which I suspect did not benefit the band at all.

A few years earlier I'd driven from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Kansas City for a U2 concert before they were really big. It was in a venue known as the Uptown Theatre if I recall. And it was an old theatre. I walked in, and stood near the front of the stage until the band appeared. At one point I reached out to Bono and he grabbed my right arm at the elbow, and his sweaty slippery hand ran down the length of my arm to my fingertips.

I'm ready to get this show on the road. Enough with the honeymoon. Let's make some change happen. And if it doesn't, or if it's not the right kind of change, let's raise some hell.

The Dream Is Almost Reality

I know this MLK Day holds special significance for all of us because we are truly on the precipice of hope, change, and progress. We have a long way to go but just since November 4, 2008 we have taken one incredible step which was hard to fathom for most of us throughout our entire lives.

Tomorrow, Barack Hussein Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. I am still in awe. But it's definitely a happy and joyous awe.

"It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important."

Martin Luther King, Jr., Wall Street Journal, November 13, 1962.

RIP Bob May

Bob May has died. He was only 69.

That's astonishing to me considering I was transfixed by this contraption back in the 1960s. He would have been in his 20s back then.

He was a veteran actor and stuntman who had appeared in movies, TV shows and on the vaudeville stage when he was tapped by “Lost in Space” creator Irwin Allen to play the Robinson family’s loyal metal sidekick in the series that debuted in 1965.

“He always said he got the job because he fit in the robot suit,” said June Lockhart, who played family matriarch Maureen Robinson. “It was one of those wonderful Hollywood stories. He just happened to be on the studio lot when someone saw him and sent him to see Irwin Allen about the part. Allen said, ’If you can fit in the suit, you’ve got the job.”’

What Is Amazon Trying To Tell Me?

Click to Embiggen although this might not be considered appropriate by each and every employer in the country.

So other customers like me hook up an optical audio cable to the CD, put on some Herbie Hancock, and proceed fuck themselves two different ways?

And that's just page one of ten!

Cleaning House

Obviously I need to do more of it, and organizing. After we had the travertine tile installed, the door into the laundry room scraped against the tile until you pulled upward on the door while opening and closing it. That was starting to get on my last raw nerve so I went out and bought some sandpaper, took down the door and began sanding. I knew there was a sanding block around here someplace but I could not find it.

After getting the door back up, lo and behold it still was scraping. I took it down again, got out the hacksaw and quickly figured out that wasn't going to work for the very small amount of wood removal needed. I also found a little course round thingey which I attached to the drill, but all that managed to do was just buff the bottom of the door; it wasn't actually removing anything.

Finally I resorted to the sandpaper again, rubbing briskly until I could feel it heating up from friction. After 2 or 3 minutes I stopped and hung the door. I did not expect that I had removed enough to stop the door from scraping but I was successful!

Feeling pleased with myself I decided to tackle some cleaning of the cabinets in the laundry room. I was startled by what I found. In one cabinet was a shoebox and when I opened it I found two sanding blocks, a brick of wax, and some hotel bathroom products dating back to 1992. As I said, organization is key to finding things you need.

Two packages of shampoo from the 1992 Singapore trip, some soap and a shower cap from Loews New York around 1993. There were also three mini-sewing kits.

In the other cabinet I found pet medications for Samantha dating back to 1997 and a Folgers coffee can which contained some congealed ex-liquid substance completely unidentifiable. But it was starting to eat through the bottom of the can.

It really is a good idea to occasionally inspect the abode.

Jobs I Wouldn't Want

As much as I complain about my job and my workload, at least I'm not responsible for hoisting a jet out of the Hudson River. All 80 tons of it.

I am content to simply observe.

The engines could be 30 to 50 feet down, obscured in thick sediment. Conditions are so murky that police and fire department divers will have to feel about by hand.

The Virtual Outhouse Is Open!

Sad, but hardly surprising.

My most memorable purchase from Circuit City is our big-ass HDTV.

Friday Pussy Blog: Crowded Table Edition

Hanging out with Daddy while he reads the paper and enjoys his morning coffee.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

Exit interview coming up in 5..4..3..2..1...

I need to open me up a jumbo-sized can of Asshole-Be-Gone.

Cuckoo!

Mr. President, take your fear-mongering and senseless transparent propaganda and shove it, with great force, right up your fucking ass.

God bless.

Cream Isn't Vegan

Just between you and me, dear readers, I wish I could travel back in time and be stoned out of my fucking mind while watching this band right now, stuffing my mouth with cheese and weed. It's job related.

Wait. I already am. I meant seeing them LIVE!

I have a fetish for long hair, 70s moustaches, and fur hats.

Eric pays his dues.

Add this in... I don't need to be forgiven...

>

Wank Happens

Back when I was around 13 I had a big crush on Leif Garrett and a few other guys who used to adorn the covers of Tiger Beat -- usually having left their shirt somewhere. Donny Osmond was another regular and while I didn't mind looking at him, he didn't give me that special oompf.

Once I was home from school, a little sick, but not sick enough to keep me in bed and away from the magazine rack at the drug store. I finally decided I'd had enough of sneaking peeks while no one was looking. I gathered up several non-girlie magazines and mixed in a Tiger Beat and something else with the hope that the cashier would either not notice or assume I was buying them for the sister I didn't have. But I didn't care if it screamed "GAY GAY GAY," I had to have my own copy to gawk at in the privacy of my bedroom.

Although I don't remember specifically getting any extra pleasure, knowing me, I'm sure there was a good wank at some point.

Somewhere in the innertubes today I found these and had a good laugh.

I'm curious if someone still clings to that lock of Leif's hair and whether anyone really and truly ever perfected the art of being a "Super Teen" just like him. And what were those 25 ways? The mind boggles. FYI, he's not so lust-worthy these days.

Question of the Day:

Who was (or still is) your 70s crush?

Ahh, who could forget Farrah hair?

One Week Left

Bring it on.

First up on the agenda: Guantánamo. Close it.

Photo Obamiconned from the end of this post.

I'm Starting To Get There

Slowly. Softly.

Shiner Turns 100

I loved the 97, 98 and 99s. I spotted the 100 label at the Hooch Emporium today and can hardly wait to give this one a spin.

The "Commemorator."

Kirk Worship

The Virtual Outhouse Is Open!

I don't celebrate Christmas and even when I did, certain Christmas songs just annoyed me. I generally dislike most Christmas songs, particularly when used as marketing tools in stores to promote the joyous holiday spending spree which didn't go so well in 2008.

So imagine my frustration on January 9 when I still have a continuous string of Christmas hits stuck in my head. Today's offering is "Oh Tannenbaum" -- but the English version. Even worse because I understand the lyrics.

And here's reason #15 for never buying a secondhand wind instrument...

Friday Pussy Blog: Eyes Wide Shut Edition

Sissy

The Almighty Tot

Happy Friday! Rejoice!

Alabamarama

I really hate to bad-mouth any state on account of a significant number of idiots, bigots, racists, homophobes, what have you. It would be quite easy to bad-mouth all 50 states to one degree of another. But some do have a nastier reputation than others and unfortunately for Alabama, that state gets another demerit thanks to this selfish prick.

The prisoners in the Morgan County jail here were always hungry. The sheriff, meanwhile, was getting a little richer. Alabama law allowed it: the chief lawman could go light on prisoners’ meals and pocket the leftover change.

And that is just what the sheriff, Greg Bartlett, did, to the tune of $212,000 over the last three years, despite a state food allowance of only $1.75 per prisoner per day.

It's not as if the sheriff is underpaid; he is drawing a salary of $64,000.... in Decatur, Alabama. He's able to do quite well there I imagine.

And If God's Love Isn't?

RIP Ron Asheton

While we are on the subject of album art, I might as well add an obit to the mix. Ron Asheton, the guitarist for the Stooges, has died at age 60.

From my personal album collection... Ron Asheton, second from left. The first guy from left is his brother, Scott.

Police officers found his body after a friend alerted them that Mr. Asheton had not been seen for several days, said the Stooges’ publicist, Angelica Cob-Baehler. A coroner’s report from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s office was not yet available; Sgt. Brad Hill of the Ann Arbor police department said that foul play was not suspected.

Mr. Asheton, whose friendly if sardonic personality seemed the opposite of his loud and dirty guitar playing, lived in the house he had originally moved to with his family in 1963, and where the Stooges had their first basement rehearsals.

No Fun, track 1, side two of this album:

Recorded live in Austin during SXSW 2007 by some lucky fucker.

Album (F) Art

I love reading about something which causes me to have a flashback to the late 70s and early 80s music, and this article in today's New York Times certainly did it.

I miss big LP album art and how refreshing it was to read about a guy who designed a lot of it. Barney Bubbles did some great ones.

I never owned this album by the Damned although I have others of theirs. I have seen it though while in London around 1983-1984.

He also did the English version of the album by Elvis Costello & the Attractions called Armed Forces which was brilliant.

After reading the article I went scurrying to my LP collection to grab a few standouts just to see if the album artist was given credit, and who it might be.

No Bubbles here, but for this Wire LP, two of the guys in the band did it. And this is still wrapped in the original store shrink-wrap from 25+ years ago with price sticker.

No credit given on this XTC album, but it's one of my favorites as well.

How sad that the art of the big LP cover is now mostly lost. If you are interested in this kind of thing, be sure to read the article. I never remember seeing the Hawkwind LP mentioned, but damn... that was creative.

Sometimes it wasn't necessarily artistic, but creative nonetheless. Remember Alice Cooper's School's Out LP in the original release? The cover was an old wooden school desk and you could lift the top of the "desk" to reveal the vinyl LP inside, which incidentally was enclosed in a pair of (paper) panties. A girl's panties I assumed.

That didn't stop me from trying them on for size when I was around 13.

I Smell Shit

Perhaps, in retrospect, moving the cat litter box into the office about five feet from where I sit wasn't the best idea. It is the most inconspicuous place in the house for it... unless you work here. And it's a bigger problem if you are too busy at work to clean it regularly.

I Know What You Want To Know

Do we have any curious Germans in the audience?

These guys ripped off more punk bands (as well as the Rolling Stones) than I can count on 10 fingers. But I love them nonetheless.

Cat Sperm

We are watching a fascinating show on the National Geographic Channel about cat sperm which, upon entering the lioness, sits and waits for the eggs to be released, up to 36 hours later, and then they go after it.

Some of the sperm have multiple heads, some have two tails. Very few actually find an egg.

It reminds me of Wal-Mart shoppers on Black Friday.

I Am So Tired Of Knock-Offs

It runs in the family.

That dick on the wall caught my eye.

Home Sweet Home

I was just looking at my mortgage statement which reflected my January payment. A few years ago we refinanced from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage and I barely noticed a change in our monthly payment. We probably have about 8 or 9 years remaining on this mortgage which is not bad, especially considering what many people are struggling with these days.

I got out my calculator and did a quick check to see what it would take to get the house paid off even sooner. For an extra $600 per month we could have this house paid off in 2014. So I'm going to give this a shot. I have added that amount to my February payment and I'll do a catch-up payment to cover January. I want this to be a reality. We have no car payments or any other large required outlays each month other than living expenses. The cars can be driven until the wheels fall off.

In fact, if I pinch my pennies, send my income tax refunds to the mortgage company each year, as well as sending any dividend checks or other gifts received, I think I can do this sooner. My goal is December 2013. That's quite a hefty goal, but even if I fall short by 2 or 3 months, that's still just a few weeks and then we are mortgage free!

That's one way of giving yourself a raise.

Assuming I can recoup my stock losses at some point, even 3 or 4 years down the road, those can be sold off and paid on the mortgage as well. I could also eliminate my current 401k contributions if necessary and divert those to the mortgage. It's not like I'm gaining any ground there. Losing, actually. And what's the point of having money sitting in a savings account drawing 1% interest?

Now that's a New Year resolution I can get excited about.

First Time For Everything

I just got back from the liquor store where I purchased 3 bags of coffee. What makes this a first is that I didn't buy anything else. Just coffee. No beer and no booze.

My mother will be getting two of these bags as a gift for the new year. I am going to siphon off a few scoops from the Billy Goat Porter and Red House Roast. We usually drink the Chiapas which is exquisite.

I browsed around the store while waiting on the beans to be ground. Bottles of liquor didn't even look good to me after the festivities of the past couple of nights. However, I was intrigued by a bottle of wine called Nut House. It was $33 on sale from $40 and had a screw-off top. That would not bother me because I'm not a wine snob. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would never consider buying it for that reason.

When I left, after having all three bags ground, they thanked me for making their store smell so good.

Friday Pussy Blog: Meditation Edition

There were a number of loaf sightings today.

Year End Meme - Two Days Late

Whatever. When Toast nags I must be in meme compliance, even if my year in review seems rather bland.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Took my partner to the ER for brain scans.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never keep them. This marks year #3 of resolving to learn Spanish. And that reminds me, I haven't flossed in awhile.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I guess that would depend on the definition of close. I'm sure a few people I was in close proximity to at the supermarket or restaurants probably gave birth at some point.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I recall.

5. What places did you visit?
Arkansas in January. Aside from that I don't think I've left Travis County.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
The same job for an entire year.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Election day. Why ask why? It was a breath of fresh air after 8 years of choking on a political stench.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
I suppose finally achieving employment with a rate of pay which allows me to survive. That, and a few nifty spreadsheets.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being lazy and procrastinating on a number of things. And making a colossal mistake which resulted in my response to the first question.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No illness. Just some slight bruising here and there from stumbling into furniture, or sleeping on a bed of rocks.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Travertine flooring.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I celebrate any behavior really.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
All of those folks in and around the White House.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Home improvements: new roof, new windows, new paint, new floors. And some of it just simply evaporated in the market.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Casting my vote FOR Obama. And the floors.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Honestly I don't care if I am reminded of 2008. I am content to just let that one fade. "Old Enough" by the Raconteurs, if I must provide an answer.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Sadder, but I aim to get happy. And I'm not sure if it's sadness or just anxiety.
b) thinner or fatter?
No change.
c) richer or poorer?
Poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gardening and getting more done outside. The exercise alone would have been nice.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drinking. Precisely one night's worth. And blogging while intoxicated.

20. How did you spend Christmas this year?
Sitting here reading blogs and Facebook. That night we cooked.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Try 1990.

22. How was work?
Work didn't start until May and then I quit that job in July to return to a company where I worked from 2000-2003. And while I didn't expect to really enjoy it, it has been pleasantly surprising and I am definitely challenged. Lately it's been too stressful since November. I was working here when Bush took office and apparently I'll be working here when he leaves office with a huge gap in between.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Little People, Big World or Househunters. I love real estate shows.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
I don't remember. I was unemployed but I don't even remember going out to eat.

25. What was the best book you read?
What is a book?

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really don't think I had any great musical revelations in 2008. Nothing springs to mind.

27. What did you want and get?
A new digital camera and I have been thrilled with it.

28. What did you want and not get?
Loudspeakers for my hi-fi.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Darjeeling Limited. It's going in my classic favorites file which means I need to own a copy.

30. Did you make some new friends this year?
Just Facebook and blogging pals.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
What Toast said: Impeachment proceedings. That and some summer rains with a fantastic tomato crop.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
As few clothes as possible. I think I set a record this year for the least loads of laundry done.

33. What kept you sane?
Getting a job. And tequila sure takes the edge off that sometimes.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I really didn't pay too much attention this year. But I never tire of seeing Johnny Depp.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8 in California.

35a. What political issue stirred you the least?
All the ones I can't think of at the moment. High gas prices in the summer didn't have my panties in a knot.

36. Who did you miss?
George Carlin.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Didn't really meet anyone new, although I'm having a lot of fun with Tracy, Toast's wife, swapping farm animals with the Facebook MyFarm application!

38. Burn any bridges?
Been there, done that, but not in 2008, and those are mended now anyway.

39. Best new restaurant you went to?
Fire Bowl Cafe on Brodie Lane.

40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
When consuming vast quantities of alcohol it is wise to do so in the comfort of your own home or in a place where you are comfortable passing out and not feeling the need to drive home.

Mixing Alcohol With Electronic Gadgets

New Year's Day was rather odd for me. I was not in a great mood and everything in the house was begging to either be cleaned or thrown out and I did quite a bit of both. But not enough of either. Then as the evening settled in I started the official konagod New Year Festivities with some tequila and music. That's guaranteed to be an uncertain road.

When I went to the kitchen this morning it was still dark but I could see a faint light. Then I remembered we had two candles burning last night and apparently I had found a use for my quartz and other stones.

Yes, those are Tater Tot feet at the top.

What else did I do? I had to think for a few minutes and then remembered I called up Maurinsky on my cell phone while shitfaced. While that might not seem odd on the surface, it was the first live conversation we've ever had outside the realm of blogging. I'm sure that was a great first impression.

Thank God the holidays are over.

Fuck Me If I Care

This shit they post.

2009

Happy New Year!

Rio de Janeiro

Photo credit: Ricardo Moraes/Associated Press