For those of you following along at home: Despite the *major* interruption in routine, failure to keep up with whatever sorry exercise regimen I've cobbled together so far in a place where neither I nor my host knows what streets are safe to walk at night, and an almost complete lack of control over what was on the menu while on vacation, I ( Read more... )

I am, as is usually the case when I have to deal with large bureaucracies that span multiple organizations with disparate goals, appalled at the sheer bloody-minded stupidity of front-line customer service drones. Not meaning to impugn the people themselves (at least not all of them), just their training. If an incoming call doesn't fit into one ( Read more... )

Another belated update, on the way off to bed...

( travel plans )

One week and counting. Five pounds and (hopefully) counting. Go me.

( A reaction to a discussion from earlier today on ourika's journal. )

A friend had organized a gathering last night to see the Old Faithful of the meteor world, the Perseids. It was to be at a house waaaaaay far away from even the city I live in, which has extremely strict light-regulation ordinances to begin with (not interfering with the observations at Kitt Peak, Mt. Graham, and Mt. Hopkins being a priority). I ( Read more... )

I was invited to a wedding where the reception will be held at a bee-yoo-tee-ful restored building complete with fancy ballroom. We were encouraged to come "dressed to the nines," to complement the decor, and just have fun getting dressed up. I mean, how often do you actually get to wear a ball gown or white tux with tails (unless you're a ( Read more... )

This past Friday I went to see Weird Al in concert. Wow. Just wow. The man's still got it ( Read more... )

I've got an incomplete childhood memory that's being annoyingly persistent. OK, think back to when the opposite sex had cooties. There's a song, that I now know is to the tune of "The Old Grey Mare," with intentional gross-out lyrics. I occasionally get it stuck in my head and it runs 'round and 'round in a little rut (including right now, ( Read more... )

aposiopesis: A particular form of ellipsis, where someone breaks off in the middle of a sentence (either as an acting/literary technique or describing someone's speech), basically interrupting her/himself. It usually conveys the subtext that the speaker is unable or unwilling to continue, because s/he's gotten sidetracked, is overcome with ( Read more... )

io and kyrademon are on their way back, and they come bearing Glayva. :-) Ohboyohboyohboy! For those lucky folks who have the experience of tasting Glayva for the first time still ahead of them, it's a blend of single-malt Scotch whiskies, some spices, and a touch of honey and citrus. I got a tiny taste of the stuff from a friend who'd visited the UK and ( Read more... )