Merry Christmas 2014*

We were with my wife's family earlier tonight for a small get-together.  Not everybody could make it then so we're having them over tomorrow for a Christmas lunch and exchange a few small gifts.  It's nice with the in-laws, gatherings are much shorter than the marathon holidays I endured growing up.  I hope you are all spending your time doing what you want and with whom you want this Christmas.  Happy Holidays!

Now, I remember when this video came out a couple years ago, 2010, then I came across it again tonight as I was looking for something to post.  I probably didn't post it then* because of the peta affiliation.  I don't always agree with their message or method, but I can still have fun with the video.  It's better than a sharp stick candy cane in the eye!

Udo Dirkschneider... teamed up with the band Evil Disposition (staff members of EMP, Europe's biggest music and merchandise mail order company) to record "Jingle Balls" and all proceeds of the single will be donated to PETA...


*Edit: I did post this, I guess I should have checked first.  Oh well, it's done now.  Repost!

87 Days...

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Christmas Is Cancelled

Well, postponed anyway.

 

We were supposed to be in Dubuque this weekend but worries of an impending snowstorm has put that off until a future date.  The snow started about 2 in the morning, according to a neighbor, and seems to have finished shortly after I finished clearing the sidewalks for 4 houses and our driveway and bits of two others.  It's easy easier when the snow thrower is running, and it started up on the first try about a week ago.  Just guessing, but it looks like anywhere from 5 to 8 inches, depending on where you're standing.  The forecast is still calling for light snow for the rest of the day, then after a short break overnight, more light snow all day tomorrow.  Thankfully it is a light work week due to the holiday but unfortunately Monday is one of the work days.

Inside, the kitties were oblivious to the cold and snow outside, just lounging on the bed in the sunlight.  It must be nice...
These pics were just taken.  Have a holly jolly one!

Now flickr is being a pain in my ass and not letting me post pictures like normal, instead forcing an embed of all my photos!  Flickr must be owned by fu--ing google too.  I'm really getting annoyed at this spit.;.@*)(^($#&@#^+ *

*fixed

Google Blackmail

This has been driving me up the wall, and I know that I'm not the only one.  Godammem.



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How British Are You?

I read or have read several British blogs - partly because I've always had an admiration for that part of the world, the culture and the history, and partly because that's just how it turned out naturally.  (Cheers to the prolific Diamond Geezer.)  So when I saw this quiz I thought 'what the heck?'  It's a silly little questionnaire, but it was fun... and it saw right through me.

I answered honestly, but you can tell how it is stereotypical and silly, but it is only Buzzfeed.


Take the 'How British Are You' quiz here and tell me how you did in the comments.. -or not, all you non-commenters!  That's right, I said it!

Friday the 13th Ramblings

I don't know about you, but I celebrated the 13th by leaving work early because I was feeling sick.  I felt fine early this morning, and after a little nap I'm feeling okay now.  I hope it was nothing.

The holidays are upon us, despite how I feel about them.  We got a late start shopping this year but got it done, thanks to Amazon.  Now gifts just have to arrive in time to get wrapped then carted off to relatives houses.  We generally only buy presents for nieces and nephews and a few select friends.  We're also taking a friend out for his birthday this weekend.  We have new windows to pay off this year so for sure this will be about it. 

More snow is headed this way tonight and tomorrow morning.  Sigh.  It happens every year but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  Well, I can't think of anything else and my wife will be home shortly.

Here, enjoy some kitties!

Home Schweet Home

Yes, this is my home.  Madison, in the heart of Dane County, Wisconsin.  While I had A LOT of fun drinking in my youth, I uh, well, I still drink quite a bit.  These days it is more regularly than excessively, though.  At my age it takes too long to recover after a 'binge.'

Latest Listening Pleasure 14... In This Moment*

I've been debating myself as to whether In This Moment would be my next LLP post or not.  Then I thought of my Paramore LLP post and what shite that full album turned out to be (for my tastes, anyway).  In This Moment doesn't have much more of a history as a band, but they do have heavier songs and have turned my head and perked my ears lately.  Actually, I may remember hearing the song 'Blood' on local hard rock radio sometime in the past year.  If so, it was purely incidental.  I am not a regular radio listener and haven't been in a very long time.  What gets played on the local hard rock radio station these days doesn't interest or influence me significantly.  The internet is where I find all my new sounds these days, the possibilities are so much greater and global than just what some corporate controlled program director thinks we should all like.  Most times I find something very very new, like the last LLP - Hyrax, and sometimes I'm a little late to the party, this album 'Blood' was released in August of 2012.

In This Moment's current stage show does make me think of 'pop metal.'  I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to see Britney Spears or a similar pop diva do something like this live.  Then again, maybe they do now, I don't pay attention.  They use the latest fad of 'mini-stages-on-the-big-stage' thing like I know Zombie and Manson do now (WASP has been standing on equipment crates since the early eighties), and dreadlocks and skulls are everywhere.  I do like the singer and her voice on most of the songs on the album.  But I also can't help but find myself thinking if this is what Christina Aguilera would be if she were more metal.  All in all, very good performances - if a bit dramatic at times - on the album.   Just my two cents, though.

I don't know if you know what I mean, or if  I  you even care.  It caught my attention, maybe it will catch yours.  I like In This Moment right now and have been enjoying listening to their 2012 album 'Blood' enough lately to make it officially my Latest Listening Pleasure.

And no, it did not hit me like a wrecking ball, but sometimes it strangely - and somewhat uncomfortably - reminds me of one.  Give 'em a listen for yourself!

In This Moment - Blood


In This Moment - Whore (Live, just two nights ago!)



*Update 11/30. 11:37 pm. I saw the below posted today on Blabbermouth.  It confirms that I had heard of them before, among other things.  I am not aware of any release date yet.

IN THIS MOMENT professionally filmed its May 21 concert in Madison, Wisconsin for the group's first-ever live DVD.  IN THIS MOMENT has partnered up with longtime supporter, radio station WJJO, as part of their Mayday Maylay concert series. The band had a bunch of surprises in store for this show, including rarely played songs from their catalog and an all-new stage show created specifically for this concert.

Previous LLP Posts...
LLP 1 - Pain
LLP 2 - Nightwish
LLP 3 - Die Antwoord
LLP 4 - Pain part 2
LLP 5 - Andrew Bird
LLP 6 - Nightwish part 2
LLP 7 - Paramore
LLP 8 - Newsted
LLP 9 - U.D.O.
LLP 10 - Nightwish Imaginaerum Movie
LLP 11 - Kiss
LLP 12 - Rick Springfield
LLP 13 - Hyrax

Wabbits and a Wazy Homeowner

I know I have noticed more rabbits each of the past few years, but what the hell?  We got our first snow cover early this week and in just a couple days it seems that there was some kind of Bunny Hop in the back yard.  Seriously, how many can there really be?

I wanted to take a picture but I didn't want to get caught and have to explain myself - but I swear there are bunny tracks on my neighbor's garage roof!

Speaking of roofs, I have not cleaned the leaves out of the gutters yet.  I don't think they're as filled as they have been in the past thanks to some very windy stretches, yet it has still been foremost in my mind.  But something always seemed to come up.  First it was that all the leaves weren't down yet.  (Our big ole silver maple seems to hold its leaves longer than the other nearby trees.)  Then, this day coming up should be good - and it rains - or snows.  Only fifteen minutes of daylight when we get home from work.  Oops, too much drink during the football game.  I can't today, my back is killing me....  You name it.  Now it appears time to do it, if it is to get done at all before spring.  We have a couple relatively good days ahead, and it shall get done.  The house is the priority, the porch gutters may wait until spring if necessary, but there is no heat on the porch therefore no melting out there.

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

All pics via Jonco over at B&P!