My Holiday Weekend

I hope everyone enjoyed their long Thanksgiving weekend (if you were so lucky).  We had my wife's family over for dinner, my wife planned this so I could watch the early game (I'm so lucky!).  The Packers moved to 11-0 with a win against Detroit, and her family had a good meal and conversation.  Things always seem to happen, though, like say you'll bring dinner rolls but instead bring a loaf of bread and a huge unplanned-for-let-me-get-a-folding-table-to-hold-extra-stuff crock pot with swedish meatballs.  Same type of thing every time.  No worries, I'm starting to get used to it - what else am I going to do?  My wife had a wonderful meal prepared for everybody as usual, but thankfully all had left after a couple hours.  I had the last piece of pumpkin pie last night but turkey will find its way into a few meals very soon.

On Friday there was some work to do.  I cleaned up the leaves in the yard for what should be the last time, and also got plastic up on the bedroom windows.  That's about it.  Kate, well, she never stops.  She's always cleaning or cooking or doing laundry, always something.  I try to do my part around here, but in reality she does much more, especially since my string of surgeries this past year plus.  (Speaking of, I may have a torn meniscus in my right knee.  I'll know more a fortnight into the new year, the earliest appointment available.) That evening some friends stopped by for drinks and snacks.  It was a nice evening and I enjoyed myself.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing some serious resting and relaxing, and maybe fighting off a bit of a cold.  I'm still winning - wish me luck!  It was a nice few days to spend at home and try to recharge the batteries a bit.  Today I went into work early so I could leave early for my yearly physical, twice rescheduled due to surgeries.  I'm basically fine and fit, just got some needed oil for the rusty spots is all. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Ahhh, my first four day break from work since I've been back after surgery. Technically I shouldn't miss any workdays until after the new year, when I get a little of my time back, or else I get my wrist slapped. Still, it should not be a problem unless I get incredibly sick, but I did get my flu shot a few weeks back. All this means is I will not be travelling for any holidays this year. I believe I stated that earlier, but if not then here it is in plain language for all to see. Last year I did travel and boy did I have a day. Nothing seemed to go well for me and I was mad at the world for it. Not the best way to have a holiday. No, now I must drone on with work and use my time away wisely, which I see as rest and recuperation and not fighting crowds, driving for hours, and smiling and nodding while I hope to not miss the game that's on. Selfish? Maybe, but I've always hated the hype of the holidays and the guilt trips to gather and gift.

While I hate travelling, we will be hosting a bit here at the house. Some of Kate's family will be here (after the Packer game) for a nice Thanksgiving meal and tomorrow evening we will be having some friends over for drinks and socializing. Other than that, we have several things to get done around the house in this time, our time.  So I guess after all this you could say that I am thankful that even with the bustle of the holiday I will have some free time in the next 4 days.

I hope you enjoy your holiday as you see fit! Go Packers!

I'm Boring

Today's Pearls Before Swine cartoon.  I thought it was cute.

I Signed, You Should Too

A neighbor came around a bit ago with the petition to recall Governor Scott Walker and one for his deputy governor.  This neighbor is very much involved in the community and is a block captain among other things.  I don't discuss politics much, I usually don't have enough faith that my opinion is an informed enough one to assert myself in conversations, but I will say that these new republicans scare me.  I just don't like where things are headed.  Not at all.

On a related note, I came across one of those political graph sites the other day.  I've come across it before, or something similar, but never saved the results.  So after taking the 6 page questionnaire, here is where I stand at this moment in time:

It looks much as I remembered and generally how I feel.  Comparisons with some world figures are below.  Where do you stand?  Visit the Political Compass Test and see.

11-11-11 Veterans Day

via

Minnesota As Packer Country

Well, whaddaya know?  They hate us as much as we hate them.  The big difference is that, in my adult lifetime anyway, Wisconsin usually wins - whatever the sport.  I found this over on ESPN's NFC North Blog, a bit of his commentary is below.



The video embedded in this post has been making the rounds in Minnesota for about a week.

It warns that the state will become new territory for the Green Bay Packers if the Vikings relocate amid continuing uncertainty about their stadium proposal. It's a stark and simple presentation, and it's one that conjures another reality: Minnesota actually was Packers territory before the Vikings landed in 1961.

Sloppy Snow And A New Toilet

As I write this we are getting our first significant snowfall of the season, it snowed a trace overnight last week so we got to miss out on the first.  We're expected to get about 1-2 inches, mostly wet and sloppy stuff that isn't expected to last, thankfully.  That's good because we haven't cleaned up the leaves or gutters outside yet.

Also, I came home from work early today to meet the plumber.  We are having a new toilet installed this afternoon.  The old one was from 1947, so our house must have been built in 1947 or 1948.  We only had a rough idea about how old the house was until we saw the date on the toilet.  64 years old!  Imagine all the, well, things that toilet has seen in that time, or don't, actually.  The new toilet is much more efficient, 1.6 gallons per flush, but has a capacity of 1000g, which I'm told is enough to take down a small cat, so it should be good for our needs.  It is a Gerber Avalanche toilet if you are curious enough to google it.  When he is done with the toilet he'll be looking at our water softener.  It has been acting a bit off lately so I want to get some tips on how to clean and maintain it or have him fix it, whatever is needed.  I always hated dealing with plumbing so I hope all my questions and problems are resolved very soon.  I'm not going to post any pics of this event, but I may update this later when all is finished.

Update a bit later:  All went well.  The new toilet fits the space very well and the water softener just needs a good cleaning out.  All in all, an ugly, sloppy day outside but a good day inside!  I think I'll make myself a drink now....

FreakAngels Has Ended

It happened a little while ago, but I had not pointed it out here yet.  I will miss it.  It is a web comic that I have read every Friday for, well, several years now - ever since it started out.  And I'm not normally a comic reader at all.  It was Tom Reynolds (of Random Acts Of Reality then and BrianKellet.net now) who pointed it out right at the beginning, so that was good timing to get in right at the start and I was hooked from the first.  It was also kind of neat to be there at the beginning, especially since I never got bored and kept with it all this time.  If your into this sort of thing then I recommend taking a look while it is still there.  I will leave the link on the right for at least a few more weeks until I can find out if there is a similar project coming up that I may also want to follow.

Farewell, FreakAngels.  Start reading from the beginning here.

Pic Dump 35

It's that time already!  Time to free space on my computer by dumping all the pics I've saved recently!  Straight from the internet and dumped into one nice coiled steaming pile place for you to enjoy.  Same as always - some may be NSFW, click for original size if different and lots more after the break!  Enjoy!

Oh Yeeaaah!     This is my brother.....really..    Hi Kevin!

As always many thanks to the fine sites on 'My Favorite Sites' list in the right column!

Happy Halloween 2011!

You see what I did here?  A gratuitous Halloween post today brings my post count this month to 7, the least I have ever posted in a month, now for 3 months running.  I've thought about maybe taking a break but I really don't want to, I just need more motivation and a sunnier outlook.  Until I feel I'm forcing it or posting becomes a chore, I shall continue....

My office is encouraging people to wear costumes today.  I plan to dress normally, but where I have my usual water bottles instead I will be sipping blue Gatorade out of a Windex bottle.  We'll see what kind of reactions I get!  I will post this automatically in the morning and maybe I'll edit it if I get a funny story I can share.

Update:  Overall it went over well, the Gatorade looked exactly like Windex in the spray bottle.  I got a lot of funny looks and comments.  Many people were shocked to see me drink 'Windex' and others knew right away it had to be something else.  Btw, no, I did not carve this pumpkin, it's just a picture I found on the internet.  Good luck with trick-or-treaters tonight!

Update #2: It's almost 8:00pm and we have turned out the light.  We had maybe 25 trick-or treaters.  The first group of the night looked like three brothers.  The first one was young enough, the second I thought was borderline.  I was surprised when the third stepped up (without a costume) and said boldly, "Trick or treat!"  I laughed, "No," I replied. "You have a beard - you're too old!"