Modern Lives

OK, I have since realized that my Tuesday News post was a bit premature since all the interesting things have happened in the past 24 hours. It's a Ghost! It's a Mutant Firefly! It's a . . . Glowing Pig? Scientists in Taiwan have successfully spliced the genes of a glowing jellyfish into the genes of a pig, which resulted in a pig that looks kinda green during the day, but glows at night. Traditionally, if your bacon was green--and especially if it glowed in the dark--that meant it was time to toss it in the garbage. However, these lime swines were what the scientists have been striving for so they can track their glowing DNA without slicing and dicing their little piggy cells. Unfortunately, as it goes with the dorky science-types, they didn't know that day-glo genes are just so totally '80's. Have Rubber Will Travel Legislators in a Colombia town in Central America are planning a law that would require every male over the age of 14 to carry a condom. It...

Sorry, Curiosity got the better of me. Take the quiz: Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Cast Member are you? (pics!) Monica You are a control freak who needs every thing to be perfect!! Don't worry though, your charm is amazing and your talents really stand out! Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!

Just in case you were wondering, no, I haven't completely abandoned my blog. A lot has happened since my last post (as many of you already know). New job, new house, new Timmy car--the last two of which has happened since about November 15th. Crazy, ain't it? So yeah, still loving the new job. Tim's new car is supersweet, and have I mentioned we bought a house? It, too, is quite nice. So in the spirit of old, I give you this week's quirky news items. Noklone oom-e? Foo khyou! A Korean scientist was shamed--deeply shamed--when it was discovered that the stem-cell research breakthroughs he had reported making last year was all a big fat lie. The cloned embryo was actually made the old-fashioned way with one of his interns. Former Pres. Clinton was quoted as saying, "At least all I ever did was lie about getting a b*****b!" Bush Still Clueless Need I say more? Mummy Dearest The mummified remains of a 61 year-old woman were found seated in a chair, watchin...

So here I am, the last day at my first job out of college. It's really a shame that I couldn't stay at this job, but too many circumstantial conflicts make it impossible for me to continue on here. It's another one of the cliched moments of bittersweetness. One chapter ends, another opens with hopes upon promises of a brighter future. So here's to Huge Print Press, my (as of 4:00 PM today) former employer who gave me a shot when no one else in 9 months of job-hunting would: Thank you. And here's to [the new company], my (as of 9:00 AM Monday, October 3rd) new employer, who wanted to hire me so badly that they actually went to a lot of trouble: Thank you. Technically, I guess I am officially unemployed again for the next two days, so what better way to celebrate than by pigging out and getting plastered. Cheers-Thanksalot!

OK, I know I complained about the blog videos in the past, but I got curious and clicked over to check out the website that hosts them . . . you know, to see what was there. Well, I came across the new Nine Inch Nails video for the song "Only." After watching it, I decided I had to share it with everyone because it reminded me of a music video from the '80s by Aha (sp.?). You know the one I'm talking about--unless you're too young to have seen it, let alone remember it.--it was "Take on Me." Obviously the music and sentiment share nothing in common, but the style and medium of the video have an interesting parallel. Both depict being trapped in an alternate plain of existence visible to and of physical reality, but seperated and sharply divided from it--the inner fantasy world juxtaposed and competing with reality. Anyway, enjoy! (Video No Longer Available) Cheers-Thanksalot!

(Photo NBC5i.com) Elsie, a St. Bernard puppy from Florida, proved a puppy's stomach can be as big as its eyes when she swallowed a serrated 13-inch knife . O. J. Simpson had no comment except to say, "I was at McDonald's and that puppy's too small for that knife." The knife was successfully removed by a vet and Elsie is now back to salivating over other fine cutlery, though she has been banned from the local House of Blades. Nesbitt , a 13 year old cat and resident of a West Bank home in New Orleans, was found napping peacefully in his usual spot under a chair on his back porch when his people returned home for the first time in the three weeks since Katrina ravaged their city. The eggs in their fridge had exploded, a tree was now part of one wall, facade was missing, an overhang sagged, and a gutter had collapsed, but none of it seemed to bother Nesbitt, whose greeting was a satisfied swish of his bushy tail, as if to say, "Suckers." Michael "Dro...

(photo CBS News/AP/NOAA) As if it weren't enough that Katrina destroyed all those thousands of New Orleanian homes, displacing a quarter-million people, Rita's got to come in and threaten to destroy many of those evacuee's new homes and shelters in Houston. Sheesh, enough with the major hurricanes already. We get it Nature, you are the supreme bitch ruling over all Earth with a might so powerful as to boil the very oceans themselves. Anyway, Houston is another town to which I have ties--I was born there, survived Hurricane Alicia in 1983 there, and lived there for several years as a child. Oh, and I loved its Natural History Musuem. Yes, Houston is not only the origins of me, it's also the origins of my geeky-nerdiness. Maybe that's why I still hold some affection for the dirty, overcrowded, polluted, crime-ridden megaopolis. Houston's a resilient place, so despite Rita's worst, I know it will survive and flourish together with its sister-in-disaster, New O...

Now for the News you've all been waiting for, but probably already know: I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!! That is all . . .

It's not THE big news promised below--I'm still waiting for clearance on that--but it is quite Big and happy. Yesterday, the Massechussetts legisture DEFEATED the state constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage. Read more about it here . Which brings me to today's THURSDAY SURVEY Targeting Gay - W e d d i n g s! If you had a same-sex wedding, where would you register, Target or Wal-Mart? I know, I know, like I even need to ask. Target, hands down. Cheers-Thanksalot!

Coming soon . . . stay tuned! Unless you've already heard, then it's actually old news to you, so don't spoil it for the other children in comments. Update is imminent. Cheers-Thanksalot!

You know you fucked up when one of your former family-friends starts in on you . Cheers-Thanksalot!

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come . . . --Prince Hamlet of Denmark, Hamlet by William Shakespeare I think maybe my mind is preoccupied with something lately. I've been having a lot of dreams about death the past few nights. Not violent or murderous dreams; I haven't killed anyone nor has anyone been "killed," per se. No, just dying. They've been emotionally intense dreams to say the least. Maybe it's just my mind's way of trying to deal with my grandmother's sudden death and all the death and destruction inundating us every night on the television since Katrina busted the levees and Potemkin-President Bush murdered all those thousands of people through his wonton and arrogant negligence. Hmm . . . Think I could be feeling some anger, too. Since I wrote Tuesday's post, I have to admit my optimism has jaded a bit. The red sun rising over the horizon of my morning drive now seems ...

Not writing much on this blog started out because I thought I'd run out of things to say. Then Life turned tragic and I didn't have the heart to write. Now, I think I am going to ease back into amusing, confusing, and sometimes infuriating my few readers. There is a wealth of things to bitch about--I suspect such will be the case so long as we have a Bush in the Oval Office--but I'm not going to bitch as much as I have in the past. I'll definitely still point out the sorry shit that goes on in the life politic; however, I realize I border on the whiney petulant pisant rather than the writer full of incredulous indignation. I don't know, maybe I've needed to whine. Offputting as it is to so many others, sometimes pissing and moaning is therapeutic to the Whiner, even if it is like so many Freddy Krueger claws on the blackboard to the Whinees. Don't worry, my little sheoples, I'm still angry and bitter at the world in general and most especially with the i...

Slowly, life goes on. I took down "In Memorium" because the loss is so personal and deep, I felt I had held out there for all to see for long enough. Thank you again for all the kind words, support, and condolences. Also, a BIG THANK YOU to Leeann's mom, Marty, for volunteering to help my family and me settle my grandmother's estate. An even BIGGER THANK YOU to Tim for giving me the love, strength, and fortitude to survive this and to handle what needed, and still needs, to be done. As full of pallid sorrow as I have been, it feels weird to laugh again and to forget, just for a moment, that she's really gone. Each day it grows a little easier, though it still haunts almost every waking minute. Maybe once I settle everything for her, my mind can rest and my heart can heal. I am extending my blogging hiatus for a few more days at least, after which, I plan to dive back in and write until my hands fall from my arms and scamper away. Cheers-Thanksalot.

Lida Marr Barrett Born in San Antonio on September 22, 1920, Lida Marr Boyd moved with her parents and sister to Anson where her father settled a ranch. She married Charles Barrett in 1940 and gave birth to Sassy Barrett on December 30, 1954. She attended college in Abilene and received her teaching certification in 1964. She taught elementary school for 40 years in Abilene, Hurst, and finally in Dallas. She retired at the end of the Spring 2005 term. She passed away in her sleep the morning of Saturday August 20. She was my grandmother. The only one I ever knew. When my mother left my father in 1984, my grandmother, "Dabaw," stepped in and helped my mother and I escape from a dangerous situation. Working not only as a teacher but for 15 years as a customer service rep at Wal-Mart on the weekends, she supported us through my mother's college education and later, supported me through my own. Without her help, love, and support, I would not be where I am today. She ...

Again, I saw this on Megan's Blog and had to try it out. I don't mean to brag, but . . . My IQ Is 140 Logical Intelligence is Genius Verbal Intelligence is Genius Mathematical Intelligence is Genius General Knowledge is Genius A Quick and Dirty IQ Test BTW, go check out Tim's Blog to see Sebastian's dietary progress since last November . . . the difference will blow your fragile little mind. Cheers-Thanksalot!

Ok, so I just saw Megan's post about her ideal car and took the little quiz for myself . . . James's Summer Ride is a Mustang Convertible You're out to experience the very best of summer. From the best beaches to the best tan, you want it all! What's Your Summer Ride? Who'dve guessed?? CHEERS-THANKSAWHOLELOT!

For every time the phone rings when you call after 11:00 PM . . . I SHALL KILL YOU!!! (Seriously, just don't)

I had to share this: How To Tell How Gay Your Gay Son Is I plan to be back on air again soon . . . Patience, my preciouses. Cheers-Thanksalot!

Taking a break from blogging for awhile. Nothing new to say, tired of bitching about the same old shit. Talk amongst yourselves.