Sundry and various

Tomorrow I take the car (which at the moment can only turn right) in a cunningly planned foray through New Westminster; then I’ll drop it off at the krankenhaus and with any luck, I’ll have a plated, functioning, air-cared vehicle – my first in my whole life. My dad gave me a car once, but due to a miscommunication Paul registered it in his own name, which I didn’t actually think was legal and squawked about like a sad old hen at the time.  So, technically, this will be the first car ever that’s registered in my own name.  I’m 51, and I’m an idiot for buying a car, but when the thing you hate most about your job is not the job but the commute by bus, a car seems like a necessity.  Also, ROAD TRIPS.  Also WRECK BEACH.  Also, going to the Island to visit relllies, and not just my parents.  Yes, I’m going to put major miles on that puppy this summer.

My mother is still slowly working her way through the ancestral diaries.  Henry Wake was a fascinating critter, and I’ll be really happy when all of his diaries are where I can easily peruse them.

Keith is over, and as soon as he’s finished with a boss fight in Arkham Asylum, we’re going to watch Deadwood (me for the nth time) and then I’m going to cook him a pork chomp dinner.  Jeff’s on the Island.

I’ve put the new song in Songwriter.  So I actually did something creative this weekend.  John would be pleased.

Sad news, glad news, old news.

It is my sad duty to report that Lexi’s father in law passed away yesterday.  He was an interesting and accomplished person, and I feel for Rob’s loss.  As Lexi said, maybe it was expected, but it was still very sad.  He died with his children around him; that would be of some comfort to the mourners, I know, from personal experience.

The glad news is that Dave Dowker is launching his book at This Ain’t The Rosedale Library on May 7th, which is definitely cause for celebration.  What an intelligent bunch of friends I have.

The old news is jokes from North Korea.  Strangely, most of these are recycled from Russia in the 30’s.

I’m staying home from church today.

Saturday morning thotz

I don’t agree with everything this person says about swearing, but I remember reading somewhere that people who are freaked out about swearing are less egalitarian than people who aren’t.  Not particularly safe for work.

Believe me when I tell you this is cool. SFW.

Paul sent around an email yesterday announcing that a court date has been set for the woman who knocked John off his motorcycle.  It had been looking increasingly like nothing was going to happen, but the slow grinding wheels of justice are finally in motion.  May 27th nothing will likely happen except her entering a plea.  Paul will keep us all apprised.

I had a very productive day yesterday; I replaced the burner I covered in melted plastic; re-upped on the lease and gave the landlord six months worth of checks; did a load of laundry, worked on half a dozen songs with Paul and wheedled him into going to the first Tuesday at Jericho for the year in exchange for me working up Erica’s Song well enough to perform it, and man his guitar support is tasty as always), got plates and insurance for the car, cooked chicken schnitzel with quinoa salad for supper (Paul made the salad and insisted on sending me home with some, and it had so much garlic in it it practically triggered an altered state of consciousness); messed with the intonation on my mandolin now that it’s been repaired (sounds okay now); almost wrote a new tune and replaced my bank card which was compromised again if you can believe it (somebody tried to take $500 out of my account in Surrey three days ago and so the baloney alarm was triggered).

I of course find it screechingly funny that my bank knows I’d never take $500 out in Surrey.  Welcome to the Panopticon.

Jeff is likely off to Victoria and will likely be bringing back Andrew, so I have some ‘comfort of guests’ things to do today, not that I mind.  House guests are fun.  For three days, anyway.

Friday funnies, now with more added serious bits.

Excuse me, have you seen my lemur? Man cited for unsafe lemur-keeping in Clearwater Florida.  Scanged from Fark.

Innercity hopscotch. Scanged from Reddit.

NeilTyson from twitter sez – and I quote, “Stars in the universe far outnumber all sounds & words ever uttered by all humans who ever lived.”  Allegra sez – he never met the little girl I saw on the bus last light.  Never saw a talker like her, ever, period. People at the front of the bus were craning their necks to get a look at her.  Her mom is a saint.

Sex, misogyny still big sellers. A glimpse into the documentaries at the Vancouver Film Festival.

Russian 2014 Olympic organizers cannot scrape together a clue (link removed for safety). THEY’VE ALREADY thrown hundreds of people out of their homes to build facilities.

Viking bling found in Irish cave. Those folks got around.  No pics, which is irritating.

If you hate dandelions, you can always deep fry them and turn them into food.  Scanged from Amber’s twitterroll.

Also scanged from twitter, some of Casey’s singing prose about writing.

Check your media isolation index. From Slate.

Justice isn’t all that great in Canada, either.

Tragic, disgusting, and not for the faint of heart.

Something so amazing, so wonderful, so marvellous, so mood-lifting happened today that I can’t bring myself to speak of it.  A day I have waited on for 30 years has come to pass, and the most beautiful thing about this day is that it will be more.  I mean, more novelty and splendour await.  A sea to swim in, a sky to fall from.  No spoilers, please. Continue reading Justice isn’t all that great in Canada, either.

Mozart, moods and metal origami

I was a complete frackup this weekend.  I did manage to get some cleaning and laundry done, and I did cook some meals, so I didn’t entirely lay about and do nothing – but mostly I did, while feeling sorry for myself.

Saturday I bought work clothes for our dreaded new overlords have high standards in these things.  I even bought stuff that matched, which is just weird, and it was all solids or stripes, no tie dye. All of it makes me look older than my mother, buy which I mean that it’s all like polyester pantsuits.  Saturday night Jeff and I went to the opera.  It was a masterpiece but the chairs are BRUTAL at the Queen Elizabeth theater and the perfume was a-waftin’.  At half time, despite it being a superlative performance with amazing direction and one tight orchestra, we bailed.  If we could have watched it without being gassed by the fancy lookers in the audience, that would have been grand.  Jeff and I want to go back but we’re thinking a matinee.  The opera was Marriage of Figaro, and honestly, a better introduction to the opera isn’t possible.

Sunday, despite the fact Joy sent me a reminder email that I was supposed to do set up for church, I forgot and came to church late and Jason did all my work for me.  I did a penance afterwards which consisted of drying every last dish that had to be washed out for the annual congregational meeting.  I came home in full bore collapsing mode, I was so upset, and watched Talladega for a while.  Many crashes and a nailbiter finish.  I finally hauled myself up and tidied a bit.  After supper Paul and Keith came over.  I got all weepy and tragic on Paul, who very sensibly responded by hauling out the massage table and working me over until I quit whining, at which point he tucked me into bed (trust a dad to know how to do that right) and went home and then I slept for ten hours.  This is so much more sleep than I normally get that I am thrilled out of my mind.  I haven’t had any beer in the last two days, either.

And just to prove I haven’t stopped taking an interest in cool stuff.  …. metal origami.

Geektingle… geektingle. Yeah

When you meet somebody who gets DRM, you get the geek tingle.

Watched 9 with Jeff and Mike the other night.  Script laughably average, visuals STUNNING.  Definitely worth seeing once.

I got a migraine yesterday, but I walked up to the same coworker who administered oxygen to me previously and he gave me painkillers and I went back to my desk and finished my day.  I felt fine by the time I got home.  It was hormonally triggered. Dear body, I love you, but quit screwing up, please.  I know it is only a matter of weeks, maybe months, before the other side of my back blows out.  I can hardly lift my feet, and that is NOT a good sign.  So sore.  I am in pain every waking minute, and lord how it grinds on me.

Figaro Figaro Figaro.  Yup, going to the Marriage of Figaro tonight.  Very glad my first exposure to opera is Mozart.  Glad as well that the two principals are Canadian, so I’m supporting home grown talent.

I should phone Candace and find out if I have a rehearsal this weekend.

I need to pick out Three Things to Accomplish today and do them.  No big lists, just one small and accomplishable one.

I have disliked the Fraser Institute for a while now.

From their shideous performance in the movie “The Corporation” to their let’s have a free market until we destroy the earth attitude, I really don’t like their research or their path.  So here’s something to actually provide ammo for those who like me have problems with the Fraser Institute.  And something else – Half a Century of Fuzzy Math. Cousin Gerald, who by this forward demonstrates that he’s certainly able to tell what will get my attention, sent it along.