the son of diggin'

look...

2008-07-11T13:35:00.006-06:00

it´s my abandoned blog! i know you all hate me for being the complete slob the last few months. really though...you haven´t missed much.

right now, we´re in mexico city until monday. we´ve been here since the 7th and have rented this house for a week. the mexican owner is in london teaching...russian literature of all things.

it´s not a bad place. this is the first time in 14 trips to mexico city that we´ve rented a house. usually, we´d stay in a hotel in the historic district for less than $50 a night. so paying $750 a week is definitely splurging. and why not spring for a house instead!

at first, we were totally enamored when we arrived...but the love for the place has diminished some. we´re happy to have the space...unbelievable cooking utensils...an espresso maker...a $2000 fridge...a beautiful library. the old wood in the house reminded us of our old house in denver...and so does the damn traffic!!!

the worst thing about the house is that it is on a super noisy one way street, just like 6th avenue, and doesn´t die down until after 9:00 PM. the roar of the 18-wheelers and the cacophony of blaring horns just about sets you on edge when you´re trying to relax.

so we´re basically staying in late to avoid the subway masses (7-10AM) and hanging out until 6PM, just before the evening commute starts. trust me, you have to time transportation accordingly in mexico city if you want to avoid the hectic bustle of a metropolitan area of 25 million inhabitants, especially when there are five million riders.

right now we´re in an internet cafe in zona rosa, the first tourist trap in mexico city. although the highbrow and hoity toity have moved on to neighborhoods such as condesa and polanco, there are still throngs of american and european tourists who lurk its streets. and it seems to be the new hangout for the young, uber cool mexican youth.

we´ll probably spend the rest of the day strolling along Avenida Reforma, a huge boulevard that could pass for a mexican Avenue des Champs-Élysées. in a few hours, we´ll head back to the flat and open some beer. what a tough day!

nearly...

2008-04-18T12:08:00.002-06:00

finished w/ everything. life in mabank is interesting. the weather is really beautiful right now...w/ temps in the 70s and 80s. of course, that will ALL change come summer - hot, sticky, and tornado ridden. to get anywhere, we have to drive to either gun barrel city or seven points. mabank has a few things but is pretty small.

going to dallas this afternoon to celebrate lois' birthday today. we're staying here and eating here tonight and there tomorrow.

gotta hit the shower and drop the dog off at lois' sister. hope you all have a great weekend!

the pic below is of the local high school, a couple miles from the house. if we get bored, we may consider subbing there ;)

just...

2008-03-28T17:00:00.002-06:00

checking in.

still haven't finished unpacking. it may take another week. however, some progress has been made...really!

don't have to deal w/ going to lois' sister's house and enduring the dial-up anymore. we're up and running with the DVR too. i still need to try and sit down to watch King of Kong while it's on PPV. at least if we're going to cancel netflixx, we should catch some movies. the worst thing about small towns is lack of movie options. we're relegated to seeing one of four (usually bad mainstream) movies at the theater in seven points...about fifteen minutes away. sure, the tix are cheaper ($5-$6.50), but for what? shutter and drillbit taylor? i don't think so.

we've also opted for new office furniture (i.e., desk and file cabinet). last week, we took a road trip to athens, tx, (where the nearest office depot is located). there, we got this and this. so the last couple of days have been spent building 'em. office looks nice though.

sorry to keep it so short but we're off to dinner w/ some of lois' family at one of two chinese restaurants in town. hope it's not as foul as the first mexican restaurant they took us to...

so torturous...

2008-03-08T19:46:00.002-07:00

i simply cannot wait until tuesday, when we get DSL and Dish. we've been staying at lois' sister's house for a few days now...and they're cursed w/ dial up.

well, our move took a little longer than anticipated. originally, we had planned to leave town by 1:00 PM last saturday.

no luck.

you see, the 26' truck that we had rented fit the contents of our house beautifully. unfortunately, we still had 60-70 MORE boxes, a china cabinet, fans, and two bookcases...crammed into a 10'x10' storage unit.

soooo...we had to rent a 17' u-haul as well. luckily, we still had five people for four vehicles.

and instead of leaving at 1:00...it turned into leaving at 3:30. oh well. so we just make a huge push on sunday.

ha!

initially, we wanted to make it to either hays or salina, KS the first night. that way, it would be another 8-10 hours the next day. well, we made it as far as stratton, which is roughly 30 miles from the colorado/kansas border.

so we spend another night...

double ha!

on sunday morning, we got on the road at 7:45, wanting to beat the snow that was bearing down on denver's metropolitan area...a mere 140 miles away. just 15 miles down the road, near burlington, the truck has acceleration problems. seems that the truck simply does not want to go. mebbe it's a fuel filter problem. so we call penske and have the thing changed in goodland.

while we're waiting in goodland, lois' nephew, roger, and i are sent ahead. if there are additional problems, at least roger and i can get a vehicle and u-haul back to texas. for that first day, we're pretty much 100 miles ahead of the other three.

after some really blinding rain, roger and i make it into the north wichita best western...not a bad place. a couple hours later, lois, her sister, and brother-in-law, get in...w/ the same truck problem. seems that nothing has been resolved. sooo...

on monday morning, roger and i head out again while the other three wait five more hours to get the truck fixed. this time, the diagnosed problem is a faulty supercharger (turbo). basically, roger and i haul ass because we hear that worse inclement weather was headed for the oklahoma/texas areas...and roger is expected back at work on tuesday.

fortunately (for roger and myself) we get to roger's house at three in the afternoon, just whizzing through some snow flurries and rain between southern oklahoma and northern texas. we hear from the others that penske is going to pick up the tab for another night's stay/meals while they're on the road. and by 5:00 the rain is coming down in sheets, lasting well into the night.

on tuesday, the other three roll into town about 11:00, having endured some harrowing snow in the arbuckle mountains...in oklahoma. i guess there is such a thing as oklahoma mts. ;)

so the move was an ordeal...but still a pretty lucky situation. by tuesday night, more snow had hit northern texas and brought most traffic to a standstill. in fact, some places got walloped w/ nine(!) inches of snow. most texans freak at the sight of one inch, just think what nine did for them...

and that's the pictureless (i'm not gonna post any w/ dial-up!!!) version of our move.

as for the unpacking, i never realized how much fun packing is because we are now totally overwhelmed w/ too much stuff in a too small of a house. we really took our oak built-ins for granted. it's a shame that we loaded two trucks full of stuff, drove them 900 miles...just to have a garage sale.

triple fuckin' ha!

methinks that enough dishes for 40 placesettings, dozens of stemware, and probably six dozen mugs is a wee bit too much for two people and a dog. the boxes of dishes are multplying as i type...groan! so with phone/internet/satellite bundle coming on tuesday...the washer/dryer/fridge coming on thursday...we may be set up by sophie's b-day, which is april 1st.

appropriate for us moving fools, eh? hope you all have a great sunday and don't forget to lose that precious hour of sleep!

leenks...

2008-02-24T23:56:00.006-07:00

i know the move is in a mere six days but if you weren't able to see pics of the new house, here's a cached link and one of the soon-to-be old house...this one is of a virtual tour that has much more content than the old listing (which was only up a couple weeks).

wowwowwow

did anyone catch the oscars? we missed the first half because we were at dinner at this place, which still has the town's best hummus and pita, hands down. we've been eating there for probably 14-15 years. in fact, the first or second time i ever ate there was with this guy and our friend, Duc. man, time flies...

sigh...how i'm going to miss their phenomenal food and dismal service ;) oh well, since we're going to be coming back twice a year (march & september) minimum, we're already compiling a list of restaurants we can't live without.

anyway, back to the oscars. i'm really glad that no country for old men won four (best picture/director/supporting actor[Javier Bardem]/adapted screenplay) of the eight awards for which it was nominated. have you all seen it? those coen siblings have finally topped fargo with this masterpiece. here's the trailer:

i'm especially happy for javier bardem though. he was just plain sensational as the crazed executioner, anton chigurh. although bardem had already scored 18 other best supporting actor awards over the past year for his portrayal of an icy killer w/ the world's worst haircut, the golden statue finally makes him a top tier actor...he's really gonna start raking it in now ;)

i just saw on his imdb profile that he's in pre-production for Killing Pablo, which totally intrigues me. why? well, i've always been interested in the iconic Pablo Escobar, the slain chief of Colombia's notorious Medellín cocaine cartel. this man was very much public enemy #1 to the u.s. war on drugs from the 80's until 1993, when he was killed while evading capture. what's most interesting about Escobar is the fact that he was hailed as a hero/savior by the poor of Medellín at the same time the U.S. gov't deemed him as murderous scum. the guy w/ the bad comb over was a civic philanthropist who built numerous soccer stadiums, churches, and homes in the poorest Colombian slums. of course, all the jobs he provided were drug related and basically provided him w/ a good measure of protection.

another thing that intrigues me about the upcoming movie (2009 perhaps) is that makeup will have to work quite hard to make Javier Bardem look like Pablo Escobar. how are you gonna go from this to this? it ain't gonna be easy ;)

Of course, if they could make him look like this, it might just be a piece of cake. There's a great story behind the haircut. In researching Anton Chigurh's hair style for the movie, the Coen Brothers used a photo of a brothel patron taken in 1979 as a model. Immediately after getting the haircut, Bardem looked in the mirror and exclaimed, "Oh no...now I won't get laid for the next two months."

ha!

a story...

2008-02-19T15:01:00.003-07:00

from china.

yes, i know...SURELY YOU JEST! after keeping you all in the dark about my two week odyssey in southern china, i've finally decided to blog a little more about it.

today, you're going to hear about how much FUN it is to cash traveler's checks in china. now, i'm not sure if it's a fiasco in large, metropolitan areas like beijing or shanghai, but expect lines and drama if you're ever in the central Bank of China location in taishan.

banks open at about 9:00...quite normal. chinese banks are open spaces with endless marble...a little opulence. there are long queues for transactions...just like banks anywhere. sometimes if you're in a bank, you may witness shouting matches and near fights.

coool...

we found out that cashing traveler's checks is quite a process. i know in latin america, sometimes there are special lines/windows for this exact transaction. usually it's a bit of a pain because you need to have your passport and there are limited hours; many don't cash traveler's checks after noon. so you have to be prepared and time it well.

in china, though, you have to basically go to the customer service line (which was a freestanding kiosk in this branch) . we waited about 30 min. to get our checks signed and processed before they sent us to another line. in china, there are three types of transaction lines: deposits, withdrawals, and bill payment. traveler's checks fall in the bill payment line.

and of the three lines, the withdrawal line is always the longest. i think there were at least 45 people constantly waiting to take money out. the bill paying line, meanwhile, averaged about 15 people the entire time we were there. and the deposits? well, no one makes those...

what makes the least sense is that there were probably four or five deposit lines and only one of the other two kinds. yep...we're talking ripe for drama.

the two extra hours we were in the bill payment line, we witnessed some major yelling in the withdrawal line. the first fight was over preferential treatment (like getting your friends to the head of the line) by a teller and the second squabble was two ladies yelling at another because her transaction was taking so long.

in our line, we watched two men nearly duke it out over putting an elderly lady at the head of the line while she waited for her son to cash his traveler's checks. personal space is not a priority if you're in a chinese bank.

what's really odd is that the security guards did nothing while this was going on. aggressive perpetrators weren't escorted outside nor even chided. they basically told them to calm down, which only escalated the meltdown.

i so wish i had a secret camera to record all of this. of course, i'm sure that'd mean a broken camera or physical harm...

we lucked out though. after nearly 2.5 hours of waiting, we were able to cash traveler's checks for two people. another fifteen minutes and we would have been screwed...chinese banks take two hours for lunch!

so if you're ever in need of money in china, repeat after me: "A-T-M"

it's something i've sworn by over the past seventeen years of traveling latin america. why i thought it'd be troublesome to have in china is beyond me.

then again...i wouldn't have this story now, would i?

life...

2008-02-19T14:45:00.002-07:00

is unfair ;)

american airlines is running a fare special from denver to honolulu...for $292!!! i know these seats will probably sell out ridiculously fast because that's about half the regular price. anyway, it's one stop through dallas. what's unfair about it is that there's no sale from dallas to honolulu. even if we were to take the identical flight from dallas (i.e., the second leg after denver-dallas), the price is jacked up to $907!!!

ya see what i mean? so i guess we'll have to drive up from texas, visit everyone, and THEN go to hawaii...

new...

2008-02-19T13:29:00.004-07:00

contacts! i went to the optometrist today to see if i was still a candidate for soft toric contacts. since my uveitis diagnosis in 2005, i hadn't worn them and was frankly too scared to ask. after 18 years of wearing them, i did miss them.

well, last year, my ophthalmologist said that i could probably go back to wearing them on occasion, like maybe once a week. so i finally got the courage up to seek out a new pair today. they're the purevision toric contacts made by bausch & lomb. i have a trial pair until next monday, when i go for the follow-up exam. if everything is okay, they'll order six pairs and even mail them to texas if they don't arrive in time.

yay!

a serious...

2008-02-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

been up since 6:45...and am on a killer caffeine high. since getting up, i've only had black tea...coffee...and pillsbury brownies. i am this close to an eye twitch...and that's in my good eye ;)

we're finally having a relaxing morning. last saturday, we had a total of 16 people who came to the open house...and two couples were interested. by sunday, we had an offer...which we countered w/ half the difference. and by monday night, the house went under contract with a young couple from fort collins. we're still stunned that our house would sell so quickly. in fact, we close at the end of the month and will be in texas by the 3rd or 4th...a full five weeks earlier than expected!

it was really promising to hear (after the open house) that the prospective buyers walked in and loved the house. the story is the couple (i'll call them BA) had been looking at houses in the wash park area all afternoon and decided to finally call it quits before heading to lunch at 3PM. as they drove down 6th, the wife saw the signs and begged her husband to stop at one more. at first, he commented that they probably couldn't afford it (right...an engineer and lawyer) but relented anyway.

well the second he walked in, he exclaimed, "This is the one!" and proceeded to wander around the house like a lost kid in a candy store. he even got the ladder out of the garage and climbed up into the attic...where he swooned about the size and potential of it. you see our attic is 1200 sq. ft. of space that just needs to be reinforced and finished. if they have the time and money to do it, BA could easily make the house 3600 sq. ft. and probably command $700-$800K down the road (mebbe in 10 years).

anyway, we've been keeping the house spotless (another factor in their loving it) and just riding it out. although i do have to admit that it has been hard to cook minimally, leave w/ the dog for hours at a time, and generally change my slobbish ways for the sake of the house...it's like you're living in a museum and can't touch anything.

today, we've got another busy day ahead. in a couple minutes, we're off to the box store to get plastic wrap and specialty sized boxes for frames and the huge mirror we have hanging over the fireplace. at 2:00, a plumber is coming over to scope the sewer (a good sign that the soon-to-be owners are serious and the contract won't fall through). and after that, bobby, a financial planner who lives two doors down (and has been a great friend for more than 15 years) is coming over to help us w/ our money stuff. guess we're not cooking again ;)

more later...have a great day!

madness...

2008-02-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

'ave you seen it? well, we are going crazy this morning. our listing agent is holding an open house from noon to 5:00 this afternoon. we've been doing nothing but cleaning all week...every morning...every night.

so far, we've had two showings and two previews to four other agents. right now, maximizing the wow factor in the house is our main objective. during the past two weeks, we've put four coats of this stuff on the floor. and even though it has been promoted on tv (as in "AS SEEN ON TV") it actually works! the green bottle is for rejuvenating the shine in your floor and the blue is a cleaner. both work marvelously and are available at king soopers for about $5.00.

whew...break's over...see ya!

wish...

2008-01-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

us luck. first showing of the house is in one hour. here's the link...but only two pictures. wtf?!? our agent took at least three dozen yesterday. i'll get more for ya soon.

at least it's a nice day for house hunting ;)

you know...

2008-01-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

this always seemed more of a 40's cleaning ad than a WWII (let's pull it together) poster. well, that's our motto today. we've just got a few more things to do before the house goes on the market and the first open house on super bowl sunday. should we have seven layer dip and wings out ;)

it is going to be difficult to live in such spartan confines. we're going to have to limit our cooking and either eat a lot of sammiches or go out often. i dunno. mebbe i should cook a couple days a week. i feel sorry for sophie; she is so confused. she can no longer have the run of the house. the entire basement is now off limits since we got the new carpet...the wood floors make her slip and slide...the dog is just plain frantic.

grouchy...

2008-01-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

it has been somewhat of a tough week for us. we've pretty much stuffed the storage unit to the gills. sure, we could cram six to eight more boxes in it, but if one box fell...that'd mean one or two flattened people to be found in the morning.

if anything, the only good thing about this craziness is that we're probably 60% packed. so once the house sells, it won't be such a task. we're just crossing our fingers that the italicizing works ;)

i guess the oddest thing about the whole house situation is the vast echo chambers that have been created by the removal of all floor coverings upstairs. the wood floor looks quite good but eating even in the breakfast nook is like a meal in the grand canyon...too strange.

oh well. i know the full moon is affecting things...service in restaurants has been subpar lately...drivers seem to be shittier...and i am a whole lot cranky. methinks it's time to catch a flick. right now, there are at least four movies i'd like to see.

which one is it gonna be? well, watch the trailer and find out ;) i read the book a couple years ago and am curious to see if what i envisioned is anything similar to what they put on screen ;) unfortunately, it's only at a few theaters in the metro area...and the last showing has already started (nearest to the house), so i guess we'll have to wait until the 9:30 show at this theater instead.

really...

2008-01-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

we're alright. just ask supergrass

i bet...

2008-01-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

you're wondering why i abandoned my blog over the past two months. as you know, i've been notorious for going three weeks at a time without posting anything...so two months might be a bit extreme...even for me.

well, the good news is i'm back with a few stories from my trip to china and even pics. the bad news is that lois and i have bought a house in texas and will hopefully move by mid-april (if the house sells in this depressed market).

the past two months have been hectic with packing, storing, and painting. so far, we've got about 50 boxes in storage and have given/thrown away many things including a love seat, piano, and entertainment center. the house that we've bought is roughly 600 sq. ft. smaller but with better use of space; a 2400 sq. ft. house built in 1921 is not as spacious as you think. we're still blown away with the cheaper cost of living in texas. we were able to get a house with 2 acres for half the price of ours, which is on a teeny lot (4460 sq. ft. - about a 1/10 of an acre). the best thing about the new house is that there are no stairs (which will be no impact on our knees) and the acreage, putting our nearest neighbor 200' away. we will NOT miss the near constant traffic of 6th avenue...especially the fools on their crotch rockets/hogs who zoom by during the summer nights. i have nothing against motorcycles, just the "enthusiasts" who want to whiz by at 100 mph and/or 120dB.

i think we're going to put the house on the market next week, so i'll try to have pictures and links by the end of the month. so if anyone is looking for a 1920's craftsman style bungalow and has $450K burning a hole in his/her pocket, let me know ;) at least it's $185K less than this house (whose price has dropped $65K) and no one was murdered and stuffed in the bathtub for a week. THAT'S gotta be a selling point heh.

don't have...

2007-11-03T04:18:00.001-06:00

that much time to post right now. i'm in a hong kong starbux style coffee joint. the drinks are good but expensive (about 50 cents more than in the U.S.). at least there's free internet and wi-fi...

china is NOT the place for internet cafes though. of course, i was in the middle of nowhere for the past 10 days ;) wow. seeing where mom was raised and even her old house was pretty astonishing. when we went to the village, there were people who even remembered her after 60 years!

the college reunion was such a great homecoming for her. i think about 25 people attended this year...and only three were women. we ate in the hotel every morning for dim sum and had dinner at a seafood restaurant next door or at a funky hole in the wall open air restaurant about a mile away, which specialized in rice hot pots. i guess goose and eel are the main meats if you've had enough chicken and fish...

yesterday, my sister and i came to hong kong for the last three days of the trip, while our mom and her friend are staying back in taishan for a couple more days before going to beijing.

argh. i gotta go. there's a fifteen minute limit while others are waiting. i guess i shouldn't have gone through and deleted the 150 new emails i've gotten in the past couple weeks.

before i go, here's a pic of the skyline outside of the coffee place.

just...

2007-10-18T07:41:00.000-06:00

four more days. we've been busily gathering things together and readying our documents for our trip to china. did you know a simple travel visa into china is now $110?!? up until august 1st, it was a mere $60. i think the price was nearly doubled for next summer's olympics. prior to the change, you had a thirty day limit w/ a ninety day window to use it. and you could only enter once. with the jacked up price, you now have six months (from the day it was issued) to use it...still w/ a thirty day limit but w/ multiple entry (only if you apply for multiple).

it is so convoluted

when we applied a couple weeks ago, a slight problem nearly sidetracked our trip. upon finding out that my mom was born and raised in china, the consulate immediately wanted mom to submit her chinese passport (so they could cancel it). thing is, when mom came over in 1948, she didn't need a passport to get into the united states. her entry was assured by my father, who was a u.s. citizen. when they got married in china, he brought her back...case closed.

so when we found out that her required, yet non-existent, chinese passport was an issue...we scrambled to find an alternative. apparently, for those passportless chinese immigrants of the late 40's, naturalization papers are the way to go. we ended up faxing her u.s. citizenship and chinese marriage license to the consulate, thereby soothing their suspicious concerns. now they can be rest assured that my mom has NO intentions of visiting china and spending her twilight years there. geez.

crappy...

2007-10-03T09:30:00.000-06:00

mood. i really don't feel like working today so maybe if i blog it'll improve my attitude...it can't hurt.

i see that i promised to blog about mike. hmmm. mike is a pima indian who has worked with me in field before. he's not classically trained but he has a good eye for detail and is always willing to help. he's about 6' tall, 200 lbs., has long, jet black hair (although some of it is graying), and likes his beer.

we have an inside joke regarding someone's keys. many years ago, we worked at a site that was not far from his friend's house. well, we were lucky enough for the guy to let us stay at his home while we were in field. it was downright palatial. a two-story mountain home with a wraparound porch, a great view of boulder, a sauna, and a 5-foot deep hot tub. man, it was heaven.

for the six weeks of the survey, i was keeper of the keys. just two dirty brass keys on a plastic green key chain. it was a welcome convenience because we wouldn't get up to his house until after he had left for work.

after a long hot (or rainy) day in field, we'd come home and kick back w/ some beer and work on some notes or just watch the day turn into night. that is, if we hadn't stopped in town for some pizza and beer ;) it was during this survey that i had gotten to know mike better. we had already known each other for about six or seven years, but only in a social (i.e., beer swilling) setting. sometimes after the other guys were asleep, we'd hang out in the living room, listening to music and just talking. he kinda reminded me of my older brother, sandy.

well, after the survey ended, i still had the keys in my possession. i think we were all supposed to go to dinner up in boulder but i had other work commitments...so i remained the holder of the keys. and since the guy lived up in the mountains, we never saw each other to coordinate the key return (yeah...that's a cop out but he seemed okay with it ;). i guess we both knew that if i wanted a soak in that killer hot tub w/ the awesome view, at least i didn't have to break in...

anyway, it was mike who was the "go-between" to return the keys. after all, it was his friend who owned the house and they hung out regularly. so the few times a year i'd see mike, he'd ask me if i had brought the keys. at first, it was a sincere, "damn, i forgot 'em." after a few times though, it became a running joke between us and ended up being, "keys?!? what keys?"

unfortunately, the running joke about the keys has run its course. last week, i got a very unexpected email from one of our mutual friends, saying that mike had died and that his memorial was in three days. i was more than stunned. although i had seen mike in the spring, i had no idea that he was sick. i was expecting to see him for some wings and beer in the fall...

this video is for mike. i hope every day is like saturday in the park for him. i heard that he suffered the last couple months and i just hope his last six words weren't, "Spencer, where are those DAMN keys?!?"

btw, we have a connection to this video. although it was made in the early 70's, mike and i ended up mapping the structure and property where the video is taking place...but 25 years later :)

China...

2007-10-01T07:51:00.000-06:00

remember when i was talking about wanting to go to china? well, in 20 days, that is what i'll be doing!!! my eldest sister, shirley, and i are accompanying our mom back to guangzhou for her 60th(!) high school reunion! unfortunately, we'll only be able to go for a couple weeks while mom is going to stay for another ten days. so we've got to make the most of the roughly ten days we have with her (since the reunion is a three-day affair).

it'll be an eye opener for all of us; we've never been and mom hasn't been back since january 1948 although she, dad, and shirley went to hong kong in 1961. open the below map and look for taishan in the bottom left hand corner, guangzhou near the top left, and hong kong near the bottom right corner. this is the area from which my parents came. my father was born and raised in a tai shan village while mom is from guangzhou (although she didn't go to school there) and hong kong will be our starting point. i have so much research to do...but that's a good thing ;)

from what my mom tells me, of the 140 or so in her graduating class, fewer than 30 are still alive. this is gonna be one emotional gathering...

gotta cram...

2007-09-30T09:27:00.000-06:00

one more post for september...a month that has been just plain wacky. i know you're dying for an update, right. if you must really know...

lois and i are doing much better. i abandoned my cane a couple weeks ago and although walking is slow going, at least i can go about business as usual. in fact, we're just to go out to a breakfast buffet...which wasn't possible three or four weeks ago ;)

i know it's a short post but i'm so hungreeee and i think the breakfast portion ends at 11:00, so more later...

here are three things that i'll post about (maybe even today):

China
Mike
Drive-Ins

while you're waiting though, go get a free rental movie at yer local McD's w/ some of these redboxx codes! it may be a couple of flicks before i get back to ya ;)

btw, happy birthday and anniversaries to a couple of loyal readers...they know who they are!!!

happy...

2007-09-21T11:57:00.000-06:00

friday. and happy birthday to my eldest brother, Stan, who lives in upstate new york. he's 59 today...wow. i can't believe it. also, my good friend, Barb, is turning 66 today. she's a retired english teacher who has been raising and showing horses for more than 50 years. you wouldn't believe the number of trophies and ribbons that lady has in her house...some of them are national champion awards, mostly half arabian horses.

i'm so glad it's friday. i had a dream on tuesday that somehow made me think it was already friday, so i guess i've had four tuesdays this week ;)

i know the autumnal equinox is tomorrow...i'm ready for fall but this late summer weather can stick around for another couple of months. i heard on tv that oldtimers (i.e., those who live in the mountains and are part farmers almanac) are saying that the changes occurring up in the high country are coming a month early and indicative of a harsh winter.

gre-eat...guess i'd better get the snow shoveling muscles ready. i just hope we have an unforgettable fall ;)

this is...

2007-09-05T18:09:00.000-06:00

shane. she dug w/ me in nevada...fifteen(!) years ago. i had been searching myspace for some past co-workers in field. she's a special ed teacher in pennsylvania now. isn't she cute? while i'm not the biggest fan of myspace as a blog, it is useful in re-establishing contact w/ past friends/acquaintances.

stolen memes...

2007-09-05T17:41:00.000-06:00

this one from cb...

1. Best friend in elementary school?
hmmm...i think i had a different one every year ;)

2. Best friend in junior high?
probably chris l.

3. In high school?
Robert N., who has dropped off the face of the earth...Armando C. and James S.

4. Where are they now?
chris lives in denver (haven't seen him in a couple years)...robert lives in california...armando lives in highlands ranch...and james is in tennessee

5. Memorable teachers?
Elementary school...Mr. Balistrere (5th grade) and Mrs. Adams (1st grade)
Junior high...Mrs. McNally (Spanish) and Mr. Toland (gym)
High school...Miss Arkin (English), Mr. Bisceglia (psych), and Miss Minnick (math)

6. Walk or ride the bus?
Walked to elementary and high...got a ride from junior high

7. After school activities?
none really...does hanging out at Figaro's Pizza count? killed that jukebox, played a lot of pool and Gauntlet

8. Hot lunch or brown bag it?
always hot lunch...i don't think i had a brown bag more than 5-6 times

9. Favorite school lunch?
almost anything...to this day, i still like cafeteria food...weird, huh?

10. Worst school lunch?
i don't recall.

11. Good at anything academic?
math, foreign languages, history...almost anything when i showed up ;)

12. Not so good?
i rarely got A's in music

holiday weekend...

2007-09-05T11:50:00.000-06:00

so how was yours? not much fanfare for us. we did go to the Harkins 18 to see this movie. lois has always been a ludlum fan.

we liked the movie. matt ddamon has really hit the jackpot w/ this serial hasn't he? i wonder how much he's made from the trio of movies...

anyway, the movie's pacing was quite good, never drawn out or boring. tons of action...brutal fight scenes...wild car chases...and interesting angles (close-ups and aerial shots). i can see why it cost $138 million to make it. so far it has made a $27 million profit (in the U.S.). we'll see how much it'll make in rentals in a few months.

the harkins is still a very new theatre. we went to a few movies there last summer after it opened. although the parking lot is huge, it's not that convenient for those who have to walk w/ a cane. granted, if you can find spots right in front of the theatre, you're good to go. of course, that's a rarity and you're subjected to a 50-100 yard walk from the west end parking lot.

popcorn, although a wee bit salty (gotta make sure those moviegoers buy large drinks ;), was fresh and had the right crunch. the large is a pretty good deal. for $5.50, you do get one free refill. i guess it's good if 3-4 moviegoers get there kinda early. you can munch on it and get the refill right before the movie starts...

as many theatres (nowadays), the harkins 18 has stadium seating. usually, we try to ascend the 10-12 steps to get a seat in the middle rows, but we were happy to just walk up the ramp and sit in the handicap accessible row. sure, our legs are steadily improving but we tend to forget our temporary limitations...i'm constantly reminded every day how much we take mobility for granted. so it's a life saver to take advantage of the "easy way" when needed.

we still have yet to see a flick on the cine capri screen, which is supposed to be the largest movie screen in colorado. i'm not sure if it's larger than the IMAX screens at the colorado center and DMNS, but i do know that it's 50 cents more to see something on the capri screen. i still kinda find it hard to believe that most tix for a movie are in the $9-$9.50 range now. geez, i am ALL for 50-cent tuesdays and matinees...

one good thing about the harkins is the proximity of eateries on both sides of the theater. as you exit on the left, there's a subway, coldstone creamery, qdoba, and heidi's deli. on the right, is a jambajuice and *$$. what more could you ask for ;) btw, we went to jamba and shared a small peach pleasure. how does one drink the 32 oz. power sized one anyway? talk about brain freeze hell...

she reeks...

2007-09-05T11:39:00.000-06:00

it's a really slow time right now at work so i may as well abuse my free time and blog, eh?

the "fragrant" lady in question is someone who stops by the office to drop off a check every month. very nice but REEKS of cigarette smoke. i'm kinda anti-smoke but (i'm) not mean about it...if you wanna smoke, that's cool. i just have a problem w/ the lingering odor of the people who smoke so much that they constantly smell like a massive ashtray. man, it just makes me picture the state of their lungs. wow.

thank god it's only once a month ;)

oh really?

2007-08-25T22:14:00.000-06:00

62% Geek

looks like i'm 5% less of a geek than J...guess that's a good thing ;) one thing though, J, how do i become a card carrying geek? i MUST know!!! is there some kind of exercise i can do to bolster my geekery? TELL ME!

humph

lois is already asleep. although she has been able to put weight on the knee for much of the three weeks following the surgery, it still takes a lot out of her. she'll take a shower...and'll have to lie down. she does some laundry...and has to lie down. she goes out and waters the flowers in front of the house...and has to (you get the picture). luckily, she has changed her mind about being back at work and decided to take the next couple weeks off on disability.

i don't blame her. although my leg break wasn't pretty, i wasn't back at work for nearly four weeks after the surgery. she, meanwhile, troops on back to work a mere eleven days after getting her left knee replaced.

however, i was able to endure the first week with just a smatter of discomfort. she, on the other hand, nearly succumbed to excruciating pain the entire time during the past two weeks. i'm just leery about pushing it. after all, i'd never broken a bone in my life and wasn't about to rush into anything.

you'll be happy to know that i spent a couple hours today on both feet, without any crutches. after nearly ten weeks of varying degrees of immobility, my left leg feels about 85% normal. sure, it's still a noticeable hobble, but i'm gaining more and more confidence (and hopefully strength) with each passing day. this whole ordeal has been such a patience building exercise...that i NEVER want to repeat ;) WATCH OUT WORLD! NO MORE GOOSESTEPPIN' FOR ME!!!

as gene wilder...

2007-08-24T09:43:00.000-06:00

would say:

i know i've been shitty about posting for nearly four weeks now. you know how you just get into those "I really don't feel like saying anything" funks...they hit me a few times a year. i always have something to say but not wanting to share it.

many things have transpired since my last post.

1) the leg is rapidly improving. i saw the surgeon on the 9th and he was quite satisfied w/ my progress. he told me that i could start putting more weight on the leg and eventually wean myself off the crutches. this week, i have finally started using just one crutch and actually put on BOTH shoes ;) it's a little scary because i get these crazy ideas in my head about falling down and messing it up even worse than the first time, but it's feeling good!

2) lois did get her left knee replaced on the 2nd and was in the hospital for four nights. initially, she was supposed to just be there for three but she developed complications...such as three blod clots in her lungs. yeah, not good. luckily, she had a nurse that was on top of things and had them diagnosed and treated quickly.

3) annie, our (nearly) 15 year-old silky terrier, had to be put down one day before lois was to be discharged. THAT was really tragic. poor thing. annie had already endured cataract surgery on both eyes in february...kidney problems in may...and during the last week of her life, she battled kidney and congestive heart failure. susie and i felt so bad that lois was away from her baby. we even slipped annie into her room to visit (what we thought would be) one last time on friday. it turned out that annie would see lois one more time on sunday, right before we took her to the vet's office, in a really serene garden area just off the physical therapy building at rose. lois spent about an hour holding, rocking, and talking to annie...sigh. we miss her terribly but are truly relieved that she's in a much better place now.

4) lois' sister, pauline, came up from texas to help us out w/ everything house-related for ten days. and was she a lifesaver! sure, we could have survived w/o her help, but it would have been a stress-filled and exhausting scene. people who are free of physical handicaps (temporary or permanent) never realize how lucky they have it. even though i have become quite of a daredevil in the transport chair, it's still a hassle to do many things in a non-handicap accessible house.

5) i've started a twice-weekly lunch w/ my mother. now that i'm getting around better, on tuesdays and thursdays after work, i pick her up and we head out somewhere, just so she can get out of the house during the week. sure, she's still perfectly able to drive and shop, visit, etc. but i know she feels pretty lonely. this week, we've gone to denny's for a MEGA-slam breakfast and to super star asian for their wonderful green beans stir-fried w/ homemade bacon!!! i think next week we're aiming for phô and either wendy's or kfc ;)

6) one more thing, what does donnny osmondd and his band of brothers have against my sanity anyway? during the end of july, just about the time i started to avoid my blog, i got this damn song stuck inside my head. how it even crept in there, i have NO idea. so i'm gonna blame the ol' toothy clan for my non-blogging. i just hope that coffee, liquor, and gelato will bring me out of the dark and back to consciousness again...

if...

2007-07-29T17:52:00.000-06:00

i lived in springfield, i'd look like this:

has anyone gone to see the movie yet? i think i'm gonna wait until the crowds die down and i'm a little more mobile ;) i could go for either of these drinks right now...especially a cherry squishee.

wha???

2007-07-28T19:33:00.001-06:00

sexual promiscuity and threat of disease?!? yeah, THAT'S something to be known for... definitely one of my favorite cuisines though.

You're Thailand!

Calmer and more staunchly independent than almost all those around you, you have a long history of rising above adversity. Recent adversity has led to questions about your sexual promiscuity and the threat of disease, but you still manage to attract a number of tourists and admirers. And despite any setbacks, you can really cook a good meal whenever it's called for. Good enough to make people cry.

Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

nuthin'...

2007-07-28T19:23:00.000-06:00

else to do but random quizzes.

You're The Great Gatsby!

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Having grown up in immense wealth and privilege, the world is truly at your doorstep. Instead of reveling in this life of luxury, however, you spend most of your time mooning over a failed romance. The object of your affection is all but
worthless--a frivolous liar--but it matters not to you. You can paint any image of the past you want and make it seem real. If you were a color of fishing boat light, you would be green.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

ri-ight. i WISH i would've grown up wealthy and privileged. nevertheless, compared to 90% of the rest of the world, i guess i did. oh well, at least it's a book i like ;)

similarities...

2007-07-27T17:20:00.000-06:00

it's gonna cost him $52 million and six years...

and he no longer will make $96,000 a year...

my raspberry torte spoonbender, meanwhile, cost $2.79...

guess we all got what we deserved...

among the three, guess who's going to have the better weekend! i truly thought i was until i saw the nutritional values on it. oh well, it'll be worth the pain ;)

the wait...

2007-07-26T22:10:00.001-06:00

is over but i don't think i'm ready yet. another weight has entered the picture though.

i've been back at work for a week now. and it hasn't been too bad. lois drives me up to the back door and even opens them for me...and the elevator is a cinch. however, getting in the office is kind of awkward since the door opens up to the left. it's a bit of a struggle to push the lever down and the door ajar while i'm jostling to gain position before it whacks my leg, wedges me into the jamb, or knocks me off the crutches.

talk about wide-eyed panic.

well, no more. as of today, i have been cleared to put some weight on the left leg. thing is, it kinda freaks me out. i've finally grown accustomed to the orthopedic boot (although i'm at wit's end), which is even comfortable now. just putting a little weight on it is strange, not because it has been 5 weeks...but because of the angle of the ankle. the way my leg is positioned in the boot makes for more of a goose step w/ a nutcracker flair. do you know what i mean? if i'm not careful, that added three pounds of momentum will send me RIGHT (or left?) into a wall.

guess it's better than two steps back...and it'll be awhile before i can jump to the left ;)

rebus...

2007-07-26T21:49:00.000-06:00

time.

what phrase do you come up w/ when these are put together?

i think you get this. got a pretty cool postcard from three gals who are in the last week of a month-long trip to china and japan. originally, these twentysomethings were looking for fares when they contacted me. unfortunately, i couldn't find available seats for their travel dates, so they ended up buying through someone else. however, they purchased their china visas through us...kind of a consolation prize, i guess.

anyway, they heard about my leg predicament when one of them came to pick up the visas and passports. and wouldn't ya know it, they were nice enough to send me a postcard :) makes me want to go to china more than ever!

what...

2007-07-23T07:21:00.000-06:00

a pleasant surprise! some terrific person (she knows who she is) sent me a get well card with this stuffed in it. awww...thanks! can't wait to use it :) meanwhile, make sure you all replace the word, music, with *$$ when you watch the video, 'k?

man...what crazy outfits! a fitting song though ;)

down...

2007-07-21T20:36:00.000-06:00

to watch this movie. gotta love fred astaire and cyd charisse (maybe it's those long legs). besides, they sing 'that's entertainment' in it ;) after a day of shopping and eatin', this is just about our speed. god, was it hot today or what? i sure wish it would rain...the monsoonal flow is already a week late and it looks like it won't swoop down for another. btw, here's a cute number from the movie...fred astaire, nanette fabray, and jack buchanan are triplets who would like to off one another ;)

wish me...

2007-07-19T07:48:00.000-06:00

luck. i'm actually going back to work today. it's kinda funny...the first three weeks of recuperation, i was going stark mad. the idleness was driving me bonkers. however, this past week was good...i was getting into lying around, puttering around in the transport chair, and goofing around in general.

and now i have to go back to this...such bliss...ugh. i wish my workspace looked this comfortable. i mean, check out that 70's stereo in the top left corner...bet i could dig out some old 8-tracks to play on that baby ;)

i hope...

2007-07-16T17:45:00.000-06:00

you're not eating right now because i've finally downloaded some pics. don't say i didn't warn ya!

this is a pic taken a few days after the surgery. i love reading the sunday paper...but without the lower left leg adornment. so this is what it feels like to recuperate from a double break and totally detached ligaments. hmmm...where's my worst enemy? i've got some wishes!

got a visitor. sophie's only nice because i save scraps of meat off my plate to help fill her belly, which could double as a sausage casing. she's returning a favor; i spent a week w/ her on the loveseat when she first entered this home, all skinny and coughing. now i'm the pathetic one ;)

the area right beneath my kneecap to my toes is a technicolor bruise. this is the side of the ankle that had to have the ligaments reattached. the pain was pretty sharp for a couple days, but it has been a non-issue for a couple weeks now. next step is to remove the tape covering the stitches...ewww!

of course, this is the star of the show. you get a good idea of how long the plate is and its six screws. the pain has hovered between 2-3 for awhile. i'm just wondering when it's all gonna resemble a leg again so i can hassle everyone at the airport.

nothing like a side-by-side comparison! this is what the leg looks like after a long (and liberating) warm shower. i know i probably shouldn't have kept my leg down for so long but do you know how much dead skin came off? i had to scrub the sole three times...flake-o-rama!

kinda...

2007-07-14T17:16:00.000-06:00

grouchy right now. went to get a haircut/lunch/groceries this afternoon. nothing bad happened, it was just being out for three hours and not elevating the leg much during that time.

glad to get the haircut though. had i waited another week, i would've woefully found out that my stylist was on a short vacation to visit w/ her daughter, who will have a week off from the naval base in monterey bay, CA. so it was good timing to go in today. as usual, she cut my hair short and tried to convince me to spike up my hair a bit w/ her pomade. yeah, everyone else thinks it's cute only because the 'do is not on THEIR heads...it only makes me look like skeezix.

had lunch at silver mine subs. we were armed w/ a BOGO lunch coupon. so for $8.83 (plus tip), we got a two medium subs, two bags o' chips, and two bladder bursting drinks. oh yeah, we shared a cripple creek and a dodge city. while silver mine doesn't have the best sammiches, a lunch for two for less than $11 is certainly a good deal. i should also mention that they are open 'til 3 AM AND deliver...subway don't do dat!

of course, the real excitement was to come at the store! now, what could be so exciting about grocery shopping, when many people would rather have their eyeballs plucked out... well, for one, i LOVE going to the grocery store. even in my state, hitting almost every aisle is nearly blissful for me. before CubFoods hightailed it out of colorado, i used to frequent one after midnight and wander their aisles aimlessly for a good hour; their stuff was just so different than our ho-hum kingsoopersafewayalbertson's.

really though, it wasn't the fact that i was going to the grocery store for the first time in a month. nope. the REAL reason for my unbridled excitement was to operate one of the terribly beat up electric shopping carts! you know, the ones that putter along at a snail's pace but back up at 50 mph! that makes for some super scary maneuvering, especially around the deli counter and the produce aisles...it's like bowling for shoppers. unfortunately, i wasn't able to unleash my 'driving' skills upon any massive pyramidal soup displays.

damn ;)

i did, though, almost take out a display of candy when i saw these. i know they're still readily available in many establishments...but it's like seeing something for the first time in many moons. it was fitting that the display was called 'remember when.' all the candy in there reminded me of my '70s childhood...boston beans, beemans gum, salt water taffy, lemonheads, chuckles, circus peanuts, black cows, bit o honey, and necco wafer candy (one of my faves...must be the anthrax-like substance dusted on the thin wafers).

have boot...

2007-07-07T15:38:00.000-06:00

will travel.

well, the follow-up appointment on thursday was full of good news. the x-rays looked very promising...the plate is settling in perfectly and i'm out of the cast. unfortunately, they put me in an orthopedic boot similar to this one.

and is it heavy...

i've got another appointment with the surgeon this thursday so he can have a look at it; a physician assistant saw me for the first post-op. hopefully, the doc can give me a window regarding when i can go back to work. although it'd be nice to get six weeks off, i don't think i could stand it. i'm thinking that a month will just about have me in tears...i'm running out of things to do ;)

meanwhile, on this hot day, i'm blogging, reading the paper, watching tv, and finishing up this netflixx selection.

i so want some gelato...but not while the CC arts festival is going on. talk about mayhem. you know, it had been losing money the last 5-10 years. i wonder if it's going to make a profit this year. i kinda hope it dies...i think it has lost its luster and usefulness. fifteen years ago it was cool...now it's lame and needs to be shot.

time...

2007-07-05T08:03:00.001-06:00

to get back to bed. although i was quite masochistic in sitting up for a few hours and visiting w/ friends earlier this week, my limit is still about 90 minutes before my lower back starts talking to me.

this afternoon, i'm going in for my post-op exam. i really hope it's all good news. every time i accidentally whacked the foot...and saw stars in 'nearby' andromeda...i'd play out worst case scenarios in my head. foolish but oh-so-real. anyway, i'll probably have an update after 4PM.

meanwhile, here's something i stole from a myspacefriend...it's kind of amusing:

These are the winning entries of the 2006 Washington Post's Mensa Invitational, which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supplying a new definition.

The 2006 winners are:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying or building a house, rendering the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize that it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes and it's a serious bummer.

13. Decafalon: (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

14. Glibido: All talk and no action.

15. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

16. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.

And the winners are:

1. Coffee, (n.) the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, (adj.) appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, (v.) to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade, (v.) to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-Nilly, (adj.) impotent.

6. Negligent, (adj.) absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

7. Lymph, (v.) to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle, (n.) olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence, (n.) emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash, (n.) a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle, (n.) a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude, (n.) the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon, (n.) a Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster, (n.) a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism, (n.) the belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Circumvent, (n.) an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

de...

2007-07-04T12:45:00.000-06:00

throned!

every 4th of july, i try to keep you all abreast of the 'world famous' hot dog eating contest held at Coney Island. and for the past six years, takeru kobayashi, THE human eatin' machine, has obliterated the competition. well, this year, a new champ has emerged. some skinny american guy, joey chestnut, outdistanced the king by three dogs.

the score? 66-63. yep, that's dogs and buns...in TWELVE minutes! mr. chestnut was cramming a hot dog down at a rate of one per 10.9 seconds! IN-sane!

is it me or does it look like they're really struggling to keep 'em down?

general...

2007-07-04T07:47:00.000-06:00

fatigue. he's the six star (general) who oversees your goingoutofyermind crazedapeshit cabinfever whenyou're stuckinbed foreighteen hoursaday.

the last couple days, i've had visitors while lois was at work. on monday, my friend, barb, for whom i've played on various teams over the past ten years, came by to drop off some travel guidebooks from the library which she works. lessee here...we've got sumpin' from south america:

and two selections from asia:

it was really good to catch up w/ her :) she brought lunch from this place...a new chain of fast mediterranean/greek...and this sublime beverage, one of my favorite mexican beers. she even brought a get well card signed by a few people whom i really dig (pun intended).

and yesterday, an old high school friend, james, came by w/ his wife and two kids to hang out w/ immobile me ;) although they live in the memphis area, they try to come out to denver to visit every year or so. we ordered delivery from this restaurant. it's just down the street...great prices...super quick delivery...and pretty decent food.

ugh...i think i'm gonna hafta cut this posting a little short. my tailbone has been killing me from all the company. you know how you try to stick it out and change positions...even if you should be back in bed, elevating and icing...and quietly letting the brain turn into mush in front of the tv.

i was thrilled to have the company of great people...i just wish it were in different circumstances ;)

happy 4th!

Lady Godiva

2007-07-02T11:45:00.000-06:00

...was a freedom rider
She didn't care if the whole world looked.
Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her
She was a sister who really cooked.

Isadora was the first bra burner
And you're glad she showed up. (Oh yeah)
And when the country was falling apart
Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.

what am i watching on netflixx now?

yep...good ol' maude. and just as any good norman lear-produced '70s sitcom (e.g., all in the family, good times, one day at a time, sanford and son, and mary hartman, mary hartman), the issues tackled on this series were pretty controversial in content for comedy serials back then. whether it was race, women's rights, politics, or the general mental makeup of our changing society, the abovementioned shows were pioneers in addressing things that were previously considered taboo in american television.

and maude findlay was a wise-cracking, fiercely independent feminist (and activist) who often made heckling men cower. even as a kid, i was fascinated by her caustic one-liners. plus, ya gotta love those early '70s outfits ;)

wow...

2007-07-01T14:54:00.000-06:00

this movie just came in from netflixx...talk about a thrill ride!

i don't like nascar/daytona/indy500 racing...but i've always liked top fuel dragster (guess i only have a 5 second attention span).

anyway, this documentary is one of the finest i've ever seen. it's about the baja 1000, a wild road race from Ensenada (MX) to La Paz (MX). this 1000 mile torture fest is undertaken by something like 27 classes of vehicles (from motorcycles to trophy trucks to dune buggies to non-modified pre-1982 volkswagen beetles). usually, teams are comprised of 2-4 riders/drivers...but there's one rider, mouse mccoy, who opts to ride the entire race by himself on his supercross bike...talk about sheer madness!

i know some people will surely bring up the fact that the tourdefrance is usually more than twice the baja 1000's distance...but those guys get three weeks to do it on their expensive bikes. the entrants to this race are allowed...a measly 32 hours to finish!

you know, even if you're not a motocross/off-roading fan (which i'm not), this is still a very worthwhile documentary. the filmmakers used 55 cameras and multiple helicopters to shoot 250 hours worth of footage. in condensing it, they worked 18-20 hour days for six months straight to get it whittled down to its 97-minute incarnation. maybe one of these days, i'll get to witness this spectacle. don't worry, j, we'll go to the tour too...even if it takes us 10+ years, we're gonna go!

just a...

2007-06-29T16:30:00.000-06:00

short post. i'm a half hour behind for my painkiller dosage. although the pain has greatly diminished over the past two days, it still hurts on both ankle sides. the sharp pain is still enough to keep me in bed for 18-20 hours a day.

well, meester vicodin is no longer my best friend. after three doses in twelve hours, with not enough food, i figured it would be better to just go the route of omitting any narcotics from my system; i just can't process it quickly enough.

and after barfing up extremely acrid tea and strawberry banana yogurt, i vowed to stick to just maximum dosages of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. who cares if i can't sleep...i just can't handle the nausea/listlessness/out of control. and for someone who has slept through two small earthquakes in peru, sleep is rarely a problem for me ;)

hope your weekend starts off well!

btw...

2007-06-28T08:04:00.000-06:00

here's my orthopedic surgeon. all i can say is that he's a god :) soooo...if any of you out there need a top notch ortho specialist, you should consider the orthopedic associates...and yes, this is a plug. they're going to perform a left knee replacement for lois on the 2nd of august...which is about the time i may be able to start putting weight on the left leg. we are going to be such a housebound mess ;)

major...

2007-06-28T07:32:00.000-06:00

killer throb invading the leg right now. after having it propped on two blankets and two pillows throughout the night, i made the grave mistake of actually trying to stand while i urinated. blood? circulation? lest i forget...

more like pull out all yer hair and beat forehead on sink...it so fucking kills!!!

of course, in my pic posting delirium, i was looking for an empty pee jug online. instead, i came across this bizarre site. pics of bodily fluids and feces would easily change my blog rating to 'R' dontchathink?

while i'm pondering the procedures necessary to make my blog an 'adults only', i am convinced the heavy doses of norco (which i have discontinued using) have finally been flushed through my system. it's time for meester vico to do his thing.

i was in such a haze yesterday. all day, there seemed to be a massive heartburn pit located right below the sternum. the double doses of narcotics were definitely blocking hunger pangs. it was so surreal to take a swallow of water and have it splash into a nearly empty stomach; you know you should eat but can't get yourself to do it. i was so listless...

until the metal plate started throbbing some. it was as if my body were trying to reject it, like an incompatible transplanted organ. you know, i don't get how people like to joke about taking painkillers, making the experience so euphoric. i just become a really hungry, grouchy fuck...who blogs way more than usual. i guess that's one side effect she wishes i had all the time

perhaps...

2007-06-28T07:29:00.001-06:00

i don't use enough expletives or discuss controversial subjects...this is my rating though (how come J had an 'R' rating when all he talks about is politics, atheism, and sci-fi?).

Mingle² - Online Dating

fed up...

2007-06-27T06:55:00.000-06:00

although i really should still be in bed, i just could not stand it anymore. got home at around 2:30 yesterday afternoon and had lain in bed since then.

sure, the pain is explosive at times, but i needed a change of scenery...even if it meant gritting my teeth and blogging.

the surgery went well. got there at 8:20 to check in. about 90 minutes later, i was prepped and in the OR. all i remember hearing was the time (9:55) when i moved from the gurney to the operating table and waking up at 11:45, when the nurse told me i should take a pain killer.

the anesthesiologist, dr. quinby, was awesome. very thorough and personable. he even gave me a patch for motion sickness; ever since i contracted labyrinthitis in 1996, i seem to get dizzy/nauseous more easily. it was so great to come out of the anesthesia without any side effects!

my surgeon, dr. mcelhinney, informed lois that it all went well, although it was more difficult than planned. apparently, the inside ligaments of my left ankle had to be completely reattached. it's a good prognosis though. the ligaments should regenerate and the plate and six screws will give me that added support. it's just a shame that i'm going to be setting off all security in airports from now on...look! it's the chinese terrorist w/ the leg of steel and a suitcase full of volleyballs.

RUN!

i should mention that the results are out. after a week of popping three different narcotic pain killers: percocet, vicodin, and (now) norco, i've settled on vicodin. percocet turns me into mr. hyde on a bad drug trip. and norco is like vicodin, but less effective w/ the pain relief; it has twice the narcotic ingredient but 35% less acetaminophen. so i've had to settle on the lesser of three evils. percocet works the best...i just wanna scratch everyone's eyes out (incl. myself) in my dizzy rage. vicodin doesn't make me crazy and dizzy...it just doesn't take the edge off as well as the big P. oh yeah, i forgot to mention that perc and norc dry you out worse than a strong antihistamine, effectively kill yer appetite, and give you the worst constipation. and i think norc makes me babble incessantly ;)

it's...

2007-06-26T07:47:00.001-06:00

gotta happen. let's just get it over with. see you soon.

he had...

2007-06-25T16:24:00.000-06:00

good english...but i could not freakin' hear him.

just got off the phone w/ this company, which is considered to be a fee happy and very mediocre credit card company. unfortunately, it's also a very large company that bought out the good credit card company (if there is such a thing) with which i had a large limit.

last month, i had spaced out making an online payment for this card, which is usually due the 28th of each month. and wouldn't you know it...the due date was memorial day. of course, in making my payment that friday, it meant (through their shoddy calendar) that my $3.50 balance wouldn't come through until tuesday...a day late.

sooo, i could either rush a payment for $15 or deal w/ the $35 late charge.

such great options...why don't you just break my other leg?!?

granted, i wasn't going to do either. instead, i called and asked them to waive the late fee since i've been such a good customer...who pays on time...and usually the balance amount. well, after straining to hear the guy (Edward), i found out at the end of the call that the 1-800 number that i had called, sent me to a call center based in a country w/ more than 7000 islands.

give up?

yes, people, the guy who was handling my account was in the philippines...a mere 7600 miles away.

i'm just glad i didn't have to speak tagalog...

meet...

2007-06-25T15:52:00.000-06:00

my new best friend. i hope he doesn't put me on a bad trip like meester perc (whom i mentioned in an earlier post). and as a new best friend, i'm praying that he does his damnedest in binding to those pesky opioid receptors in the brain and fool me into thinking that there's not an invisible ghost pounding the shit out of my lower left leg.

it's all set. no more food after midnight, so no worries about these guys. get to the surgical center at 8:30...get prepped...go nightynight and get cut at 10:00. supposedly, the procedure is supposed to take an hour, which i find hard to believe. i guess repairing two ligaments and cleaning up a broken bone for a plate and screws is easier than i thought. i'm just most worried about anesthesia because i've never gone under the knife...i'm sure i'll come out fine...i just don't want to be barfing my brains out when it all wears off.

ima...

2007-06-24T20:53:00.000-06:00

clean baby now. it was an ordeal to take a shower, but i feel so much better now. leave it to lois to teach me how to bathe while incapacitated; she mastered the art when she had to contend with a broken back or foot surgery (but not at the same time ;)

i'm not sure if i can do that more than a couple times a week...sponge baths are just fine with me. anyway, the kid in the stolen photo looks as happy as i feel...whew!

now...things would be a helluva lot better if i didn't jam my foot while wheeling to the computer desk. the dull throb is marching double time now.

so...

2007-06-23T23:21:00.000-06:00

on edge right now. i can tell you that percocet makes me a bundle of nerves. not only am i nauseous as hell but everything pisses me off. the narcotics intensify all the sounds and smells around me...and not in a cool psilocybe mushroom sort of way either.

i've done three things all day: lain in bed w/ a terrific head/stomach ache, watched the tube/movies, and attempted to eat while in a drug induced stupor.

i do not know if i can last two more days until the surgery. i am going completely apeshit. hopefully, i can get vicodin instead, which i don't recall reacting so adversely with my nervous system.

ugh

my nerves were never this bad, even when i was on 80mg of prednisone for my uveitis or lariam (which gives you insane nightmares) to guard against malaria while in bolivia. i AM so FUCKING grouchy!

well, my leg is screaming at me since i'm nearly three hours late with this dosage...wish me luck. i hope i don't have a psychotic PCP episode by morning, geez!

i lied...

2007-06-22T10:36:00.000-06:00

i'm gonna grit my teeth and blog a little more...imagine that! any freedom away from the bed is going to be welcome, even if the pain of sitting at the computer is making me a bit lightheaded ;)

ugh. the crutches have already made a sore spot under my arms. unfortunately, they're a half inch too short when i set them for 6'0" and too tall when they're at 6'1".

argh

luckily, the friends who received my dad's transport chair, brought it over last night. so i can slumber in it and prop my leg up while i blog. it's not heaven but at least i don't have to clunk around w/ the crutches...i just wonder how long it's gonna be before lois does a 'whatever happened to baby jane?' btw, rides are only a quarter ;)

goin' crazy...

2007-06-22T09:58:00.000-06:00

it has only been two days and i SO want to rip off the splint. i can feel the bone just thumping against the bandages. granted, i was happy to get the appointment for surgery in four short days but i don't know if i'm gonna make it.

must go back and lie in the cool bed in the guest room. the dvd player has this movie in it, waiting for me to hit 'play.' it has been many years since i saw it last. and lately, i had been itching to head to the pool hall. looks like it might be august or september before i can go again...sigh. oh well. mebbe i can invite someone over for a game of boggle...

it's funny how we totally take things for granted and get frustrated when those things aren't at our disposal. right now, i still have the urge to cook and help clear the dishes. i think over the course of four weeks, i will have a profound appreciation for mobility...i am so lucky that the crutches/transport chair are temporary.

leg's startin' to throb, so i'll catch ya later...

i am...

2007-06-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

already going bonkers. here's a little timeline of the pain and opiate ride of my injury:

8:00 (right after it happened)...bad
8:30 (on the way to the hospital)...downright unbearable.
9:15 (shot of synthetic morphine)...starting to dissipate.
10:00 (synth. finally kicks in)...feelin' good, but the floor seems far away
10:30 (they want to discharge me)...getting up on crutches makes things spin
11:00 (get an IV because my dinner made two unexpected visits)...just wanna sleep
1:00 (wanna send me out again)...oh yeah, how about me barfin three more times?
3:30 (ya gotta go but in a wheelchair)...car ride home, stop once for the cool air. get home, barf four more times in the garage.

we're just having a little bile fest in my blog...watch yer step

no more nausea, just a dull throbbing pain. do you see mr. percocet? he's laughing at me right now because he's holding out. that shot of synthetic morph (don't remember the name, only that it started w/ the letter 'd') worked its magic, even though the side effects sucked. i can't believe that the injection was only 2mg...it seemed like the nurse was pumping in a few tablespoons with that syringe.

just three more hours until i can pop another one...will someone come by w/ a rubber mallet? just tap me on the head every few minutes until i pass out, 'k? thanks

sometimes...

2007-06-21T17:52:00.000-06:00

these don't mix. i've been playing volleyball on a pretty competitive level for twenty years...and i've had assorted injuries such as torn rotator cuff, dislocated fingers, sprained toes, and a torn knee meniscus. in fact, the messed up knee put me out of commission for ten months this last time.

yesterday was my first day back on the court since last august. saw a bunch of friends, joked, and tried to get back into the swing (no pun intended) of things.

all it took was a half hour and a bad set. yep. i jacked another part of my body. luckily, it was not one of the abovementioned parts. unfortunately, it was much more severe than the above...combined.

a break...the fibula...in two places...surgery set for tuesday morning. btw, the x-ray is very similar to my situation.

sigh

things were looking up for me this spring/summer. after a tough couple years (uveitis, death of father), the good times seemed just around the corner. i was gonna work out a few times a week, get healthy; we were set to go to texas for a week and see lois' family. i was gonna treat cindi to some gelato in cherry creek.

well, all that is gonna have to be postponed for a month or two. the orthopedic surgeon said i'm going to need a plate and screws to secure the half dollar sized break just above the outside left ankle. after the surgery, i'm not supposed to put weight on it for four weeks...and then it's on to assorted casts and physical therapy. SO much fun. oh well, like i had any other plans this summer...so mebbbe i'll post a bit more and get some reading done...and watch a shitload of nettflix movies! just gimme more drugs!!!

happy...

2007-06-17T00:43:00.000-06:00

father's day, dad...still miss you...your laugh...and your gentle loving demeanor. i'll watch wimbledon this month for both of us. i hope you're up there in fine form, playing doubles in city park with ed chin, holding court until dusk.

this...

2007-06-17T00:41:00.001-06:00

is for cindi. i know she likes America...and this is one of my favorite songs of theirs. maybe watching this video will make her forget about her throbbing knee for at least four minutes ;)

once again...

2007-06-16T23:19:00.000-06:00

stuffed.

this whole weekend has turned into a gastronomic fete for me. tonight, we had reservations at this joint ;) not a very big place...on 17th avenue's restaurant row. the food was divine. we shared five small plates (tapas-like), had a few glasses of wine, and just about inhaled a couple desserts. the only bad thing was the coffee...not the quality...but the price.

excellent coffee

sticker shock though

FOUR AND A HALF FREAKIN' DOLLARS A CUP!

oh well. at least they mis-charged us for the glass of dessert wine, which should have been $12...not $10. so i guess that's like only paying $3.83 for the coffee.

if you'd like to check out the menu...go down the list (watch out for the food stains) and see that we ordered the cucumber carpaccio, heirloom tomato and house pulled mozzarella, provençal platter, cheese platter, and p.e.i. mussels. for dessert, it had to be the vanilla-fig crème brulee and chocolate torte (downright orgasmic).

eh-knee-weigh

we met our good friend, regina, whom we try to meet a few times a year for dinner. you know, three birthdays and another gathering.

tomorrow, regina is heading for guadalajara, mexico. this part of mexico is also called the bajío...it's the triangle just northwest of mexico city. it's known for a few things...agave plants (the main ingredient of tequila and mezcal)...the birthplace of the mexican revolution...and enclaves of ex-pats who have retired in san miguel de allende and ajijic (that's pronounced 'ah-hih-HEEK') for the cheaper living, art cliques, and mild climate.

of course, we're jealous...but always happy to talk about the country we've visited the most. we even talked her into going with us maybe next september (2008) for independence day; the night of september 15th (i know it's the 16th...but the real celebration is the night before...on the 16th there's a parade and everything is closed - oh joy) in mexico city is truly a spectacle that any mexicophile should experience...imagine being shoulder to shoulder with 200,000 people in this plaza, which is the size of FIVE football fields. sheer mayhem...but a very cool one at that ;)

does...

2007-06-15T21:49:00.000-06:00

this age make me look fat? 'cause that's what i am today.

sorry about not updating the police concert, etc. i've been really busy lately. last month, i started working part time as a travel agent for a company that usually specializes in trips to asia. the agency has been in business for a quarter century and is interested in broadening their regional scope. of course, that's where i come in. i hope to become their latin america specialist in the coming months. right now though, i'm still studying the worldspan system, which is a bit different than the apollo system i learned nearly ten years ago.

soo...that's why my posts have been either vague or devoid of real content.

as for the police concert, it was pretty great...not spectacular, but well worth the $24.50 i paid (considering the face value was $108). if you listen to the new playlist, it's most of the songs that they played...in order, even ;) sting's voice was almost as good as his physique. the guy has taken care of his body over the years. i hope i'm toned like that in eighteen years! and stewart copeland is a percussion GOD! he's the main reason i've wanted to see the band ever since the age of eleven. when he's behind the drum kit, he makes it seem so effortless.

here's the song list:

• Message in a Bottle

• Synchronicity II

• Don't Stand So Close to Me

• Voices Inside My Head/ When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around

• Spirits in the Material World

• Driven to Tears

• Walking on the Moon

• Truth Hits Everybody

• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

• Wrapped Around Your Finger

• The Bed's Too Big Without You

• Murder by Numbers

• De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

• Invisible Sun

• Walking in Your Footsteps

• Can't Stand Losing You

• Roxanne

• King of Pain

• So Lonely

• Every Breath You Take

• Next to You

you know, i'm just getting cheap in my old age. at first, i didn't want to pay the $50-$225 for a ticket...and then, i refused to buy a parking pass at the pepsicenter for $22.50.

HELLNO

we went out to eat...for thai food...at where else...and parked the car near the light rail stop at pearl/buchtel, where we boarded the train and paid $3 to get to the concert. this alternative was so much less stress than waiting in the car after the concert, fighting to leave the damn parking lot.

and tonight? no, no thai food on the menu...but this place. it's ten minutes from the house...all kinds of parking...excellent service...super cold beer...and sashimi to die for. of course, i know the majority of my readers don't eat the stuff but oh well. ya don't have to try it, just look at the pretty colors ;)

well, we're off to bed. i think happyfeet is in the player...life is good!

wotta guy...

2007-06-08T17:10:00.000-06:00

i am also considering buying a couple tix for this show in october. as the police show, these seats range from $57 to $202. well, there's someone on ebayy who wants to sell his two tix for a mere $270. a deal if they're the expensive seats. he even assures us of his integrity:

THIS IS FOR 2 TICKETS TO GENESIS, SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2007. SECTION 302, ROW 5, SEATS 3-4. THESE TICKETS ARE GOOD SEATS, PERFECT VIEW AND SOUND! I AM OPEN TO OFFERS?

I AM HONEST AND WOULD NEVER SCREW SOMEBODY OVER, PEOPLE WORK TO HARD FOR THERE (sic) MONEY. I WILL STAY WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY UNTIL THE TICKETS ARE IN YOUR HAND AND YOU ARE SATISFIED. THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEMS. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

you know, i'm only disappointed with his incorrect use of the possessive form of 'their.' after all, he's so honest to offer two $77 seats for $270!!! gee, buddy, are ya gonna donate the other $116 to my favorite charity then?

mother teresa would kick you in the balls...or cut 'em off w/ a dull spoon.

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY lalala

i'm gonna...

2007-06-08T16:46:00.000-06:00

do it. i was gonna go downtown to get a pair of tix but decided to check to see what was available through the tikketmaster website. of course, the only $50 and $90 seats that remained were behind the stage. and there's no way i would pony up $225 for a ticket...

hmmm.

on a whim, i thought i would check eBayy to see what tix were commanding. and i was surprised...there are actually some affordable tix that are in decent seats. i think i'll do a buy it now for two upper level seats for $49...which is a dollar less than one seat ;) and they're actually in the middle of the arena.

i may actually be able to see their faces!!! this concert has been 24 years in the making since i didn't get to see them at this place when tickets were a paltry $15 to see them in 1983!

how times have changed...

die...

2007-06-05T17:48:00.000-06:00

layted. yes, i went to the corneal specialist for my six-month check up for my uveitis. got the peepers dilated...and, as usual, the left eye does not look like the picture - it usually takes two drops for the iris to open up like that. as for my right eye, it's HUGE. i wish i knew some way to get the left eye's muscles to work correctly. after two years of this shit, i've gotten used to all the "maintenance" but i just want a little more relief...i'm tired of being on automatic.

news is pretty good regarding the eye. it has been quiet inside (i.e., no flare ups) but a wee bit of inflammation has me back on daily drops for at least four months. lucky for insurance...i don't know how people could afford these damn drops

a 15 ml. supply would probably last me six, maybe eight, months. i couldn't imagine having to buy it twice a year at that price!!! man, i'd only be seeing red from anger and crying. what sucks even more is that there's no generic equivalent. so...if we calculate it, 15 ml. is a mere half ounce. that means lotemaxx is roughly $4472 a pound...or $35781.48 A GALLON.

and i complain about filling up the car...

if i had the money...

2007-05-31T15:37:00.000-06:00

i'd go out and get some pinball machines. just a few ;) ya see, i grew up playing skeeball, pinball, and 80's video games at Celebrity Sports Center and watching movies at the Cooper theater, just down the street...did anyone else see Star Wars there in the summer of '77?

lately, i've been lurking in eBay, looking for cool pinball machines. just something to do.

recently, i came across one machine that i played quite alot in the late 70's...a very difficult machine called "Gorgar". i distinctly remember a slightly james earl jones-esque voice that would occasionally say "I AM GORGAR" or "GORGAR WILL EAT YOU" lol or sumpin' like that. it's not that i have fond memories of the voice...perhaps i was traumatized by it ;) mebbe it was the striking frazetta-like artwork (although not as good). i just always remember the redness of gorgar. who knows. maybe i just followed my brother, who probably played it because of the scantily clad female laid down at the altar in front of good ol' gorgie.

i'm just a sucker for cool artwork, bright colors, and flashing lights. it's all about sensory overload, eh? it's a good thing i don't drop acid...stay tuned though, i may blog about some other machines. btw, Gorgar was the first pinball machine with a voice...a whole seven word vocabulary...more than our prez!!!

give it away...

2007-05-30T00:52:00.000-06:00

been helping my mom go through decades of clothing/pics/reading material...a herculean task in itself. in the clothing department, not only do we have to sort through piles of worn out t-shirts/dated outfits/dozens of linens, but we're finally contending with dad's wardrobe. in a couple days, we've stuffed at least a dozen lawn/leaf trash bags.

kinda cool though. i've come across some concert t-shirts that i wore in high school (when i was 30 lbs. lighter ;) as well as a half dozen ties which were still tagged. i even fished out my baby blanket (receiving, not a linus dragger). so while she's simplifying, i'm compiling :)

the picture sifting has been a total boon. over the past couple years, i had recovered many pictures of my parents when they were courting and primary school pics of my brothers (i.e., the period between 1947 to 1958). well, in this last salvage project, i've found the family photos from 1962 to 1969 (just before i was born). i hate to squirrel away many of my findings, but i've already got a couple picture (storage) boxes that i'll arrange and fill. who knows, they may end up in mom's hot little hands at christmas...

as for the stacks of reading material, THAT is surely the monumental undertaking. for the past fifteen years, it seems that mom has started something, set it down, and started anew on a different reading path. i can somewhat relate though. i've got three bookcases of books, one of magazines, and three boxes of comics (>1000) BUT they're organized either alphabetically, chronologically, or by subject. still, i can't be too hard on mom because i'm a reflection of her in many ways. if i make it to 78 years old, NO ONE is gonna advise me about my reading materials; what should be kept or discarded!

mom...keep yer stuff, just don't burn the house down. love, spencer

a walk...

2007-05-27T23:57:00.000-06:00

decided to forgo the car and walked to dinner tonight. initially, we were planning on going to chipotleh for a couple of barbacoa burritos...until we passed by this place, which was a half block from our destination.

we had never eaten there before because the wait is usually too long...but a holiday weekend took care of that ;) we waited about 25 minutes but were awarded with a patio table in the cool may dusk. the stout concrete round tables on their raised patio are surrounded by heavy wood and metal chairs. it's slightly cramped but not enough to put a damper on yer evening.

service wasn't stellar but cheerful and adequate. we had a couple beers and a burger and waldorf salad. pretty tasty. during our meal, i had visions of the luscious gelato that's served at this place, a mere four blocks to the west. been going there for at least six or seven years. and when the weather warms up, we head on over and get our fill of flavors such as white peach champagne, tiramisu, amaretto, pear, pomegranate, passion fruit, and chocolate raspberry - sigh. tonight, i had euro (smaller than regular) scoops of banana, amaretto, and pomegranate. i think next time (like tomorrow), i'm gonna have dark chocolate, lavender, and cherry.

it really was a perfect night to take a walk. the weather wasn't chilly and the air was calm. during our walk between dinner and gelato, we vowed to leave the car at home on sundays and wander on down to cherry creek more or to the colorado blvd. eateries between 7th and 9th avenues. i think it's a promise we'll be able to keep w/o any difficulties! the strolls may be even more rewarding when gas tops $4 a gallon...

it's there...

2007-05-27T23:36:00.000-06:00

but in an awkward place. i'll have to figure out how to put my music playlist on the left side of my blog. still, at least it's there ;) some good songs...some you might not like...and some that will send you running heh.

stuffed...

2007-05-24T20:56:00.000-06:00

with food from our favorite restaurant. we had tiger cry, tom kha gai, and kow pad kra prow (w/ pork)...now go find those items on the menu ;) the owner, whom we've known for 12 years, came out and hooked us up with a wonderful 'just picked from the garden' salad - phenomenal. wash that down w/ a couple singha beers and you have a blogger that's too far gone to post.

we're gonna settle down with one of the two netflixx movies we got today. whichever is the shorter one will be the chosen one.

looks like the winner is maggie smith...her movie is 40 minutes shorter; we may just not doze off in our delirious satiety. hope you're having a great night :)

groan...

2007-05-22T01:58:00.000-06:00

my sister is graduating from dental hygiene school this friday. after two years of nearly barricading herself in her home, she'll be able to clean yer teeth and make some really good money. i think she'll be a fine hygienist. she had been a dental assistant for 25 years before she decided to go back to school. and she's got some really steady hands that can do detailed work; she was once a concert violinist who also was a phenomenal artist.

i'm not groaning over having teeth cleaned either. i haven't had a cavity in 5+ years. in fact, i just got 'em done about three weeks ago...

nope.

i'm groaning because of my niece. you remember, my sister's daughter who's coming in from florida for the graduation.

well, she apparently has made reservations at this place for a little graduation bash. not exactly one of my favorite places. the food is usually pretty lame and the service, atrocious. i've only been there a couple times in the last twenty years and neither meal is worth mentioning.

about the only things i like about the place are the hi-ball glasses that the italian sodas come in and the historic building in which it's located. i guess you go there for the ambience and "experience." after all, is it not the italian version of casa bonita...which, by the way, i have been able to avoid my entire life ;)

i just wish we could all go to the attivo just around the corner from my sister's house. who cares if it's in a strip mall next to a dingy 7-11...they've got killer pizza and pasta sauces. oh well, i guess as long as friday is unforgettable for my sister, that's all that matters.

maybe in my oldspaghettifactory rant, i'll have a couple extra italian sodas. yeah, i'll start off w/ cherry...segue into blackberry...and move on to orange afterwards. i wonder if those mysterious neon colored syrups would make technicolor pee?

now, THAT would be memorable...

have ya heard?

2007-05-20T21:17:00.000-06:00

this is one of the hottest tix in town. some of you have already been to the DCPA to see it. however, to those who haven't gone but want tix, you're now relegated to arriving 2.5 hours before curtain and putting your name in a lottery for a limited number of tickets ($25 each and a maximum of two)...which is probably what we'll do. if our luck of the draw is lousy, we may do this instead.

Celebrate the start of summer with a Memorial Day picnic and a performance of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. $30 will buy you a ticket to the show and a picnic supper from the Hot Ticket Cafe, DCTC's popular lobby food service.

Monday, May 28
Show begins at 6:30pm

Choose from:

Roast beef, Gouda cheese, horseradish mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato on ciabatti.

OR

Tarragon Chicken Salad with Apples and Walnuts served with artisan bread.

Meals include a salad of mixed greens, balsamic vinaigrette, chocolate chip cookie and chips.

it's quite a deal considering tickets and a picnic combo are usually $54-$61 each. so we may as well save at least $48 by taking advantage of this promotion...and the money saved will probably go towards a couple $90 seats for the second show of this group. god, how can anyone spring for the $225 tix?!?

would you...

2007-05-19T01:49:00.000-06:00

buy this house? it's located about four blocks from ours...i pass it almost every day. they're asking $700,000 for this 85 year-old brick bungalow...3 bed/2 bath...2300 square feet...2 car garage...and a lot that's twice the size of ours. looks like new windows...new wood floors and cabinets too. did i also mention the beautiful landscaping? talk about curb appeal. and there's a HOT TUB!!!

a charming home...maybe a bit overpriced...but would you consider it if money was no issue? after all, it's right along 7th avenue...wide parkway...mature trees...close to congress park/botanic gardens...an easy walk to cherry creek shopping center and just a few blocks from university hospital.

a prime location.

now, would you still buy it if i told you that the owner was murdered (shot in the head) and left in his bathtub? because that's exactly what happened last november.

any takers?

been so long...

2007-05-18T20:16:00.000-06:00

since i've had this. when we were at the store a couple days ago, i actually had butter pecan on my mind (thanks to my brother...who got me talking about ice cream). in searching for it, i came across a half gallon of this sweettartgoodness...on sale and i just couldn't pass it up ;) i bet it has been at least a decade since the last time it graced my tastebuds. anyone a fan of sherbets? lime? raspberry? orange? howabout that ol' standby...RAINBOW ;) and is it me or is it just impossible to not get anything sticky whenever you scoop sherbet? it always seems messier than ice cream or sorbet...

coming...

2007-05-18T17:54:00.000-06:00

to a town near you.

this is my great nephew, marlee. he and his mother (my niece, natalie) will be in town for a week starting wednesday. they're leaving their heavenly confines in hollywood beach, FL for my sister's graduation from dental hygiene school.

i cannot wait! is the kid a character or what :)

ya gotta...

2007-05-14T07:32:00.000-06:00

love it.

have you discovered project playlist? it's a stand alone music player that you can personalize by uploading up to 75 songs. once finished, you can insert it on yer blogpage or stream it to your computer. it's better than pandora and your local radio station, since you pick the songs and there's no commercial interruptions. you can find the link right underneath imbibe magazine of my blogroll...go try it out or check out my playlist i'm thinking about plopping it down on this page as soon as i can find a place to put it...

a plug...

2007-05-14T06:23:00.000-06:00

for my brother's choir, the musicians of st. clare. yesterday, i accompanied my mother to their concert at st. paul's lutheran, located downtown on 16th & grant.

for a small choir, they are phenomenal. i think i've mentioned them before a couple times in past posts but i just am always blown away by their talent. the group was originally formed as the John Paul II Youth Choral in 1993, when he was in denver for world youth day. after the choir took the st. clare moniker, they've gone to the vatican on a few occasions to sing for the pope. in fact, they were slated to sing at the pope's funeral but could not secure any hotel accomodations (it was such a crazy time), so they ended up performing a funeral mass in golden.

right now, there are between 25-30 members...my brother is one of the tenors. you should be able to pick him out easily from the pics since he's the only asian in the group ;) i think they're slated to go back to rome in october to perform verdi's requiem...sure would be nice to go with them ;) check out the pic of them standing in st. peter's square.

happy...

2007-05-13T03:48:00.000-06:00

mother's day to all those out there w/ rugrats. it's time for the hubby/SO to show appreciation in kind by giving you a day, er, week, off!

a couple weeks ago, ellenn degeneress was interviewing a lady who had submitted her favorite mother's day moment. i wish i could find the video snippet online but no one has had the foresight to post it...so you'll just have to read it instead. the following dialogue is the guest's recalling of her story:

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died. Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him...nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well, we have three kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick. LOVES IT. He constantly asked to use my chapstick and then would always lose it. So, one day, I finally showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to...but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was finished.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were rushing around, with everyone crying and carrying on, trying to get ready for church. My two boys were fighting over cereal box toy, while I was trying to nurse my little one and apply my make-up at the same time. Everything was a mess and everyone had long forgotten about that wonderful day to honor both me and motherhood.

We finally loaded the eldest and baby in the car and I went looking for Eli. I had searched everywhere before ending up in the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was very carefully applying my chapstick to Jack's...REAR END. Eli peered right into my eyes and said, "Chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.

Now, the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the first time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the HUNDREDTH...

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

so...if you share a house w/ young children and feline companions, it may be high time to spring clean yer lip balm collection!

pucker up!!!

retro...

2007-05-10T03:47:00.000-06:00

for a while. i've gone back to my old template. we'll see how long it lasts...

just out of curiosity, which do you prefer? i liked having the sidebar pics on the latest one, but i'm clueless when it comes to the widgets compared to html. eventually, i'll find a good compromise.

so it's back to zillow and denvergasprices with my weatherpixies.

mebbe i'll fiddle with the colors. the least i can do (while you're here) is offer you soothing hues in an acid-dropping experience ;) thanks to 3datelier.com for this freaky pic.

resurrected...

2007-05-07T23:05:00.000-06:00

for a little while. i actually have a monday movie! it's a pretty recent release starring the oscar winner for this movie, the ex-husband of this actress, and Romulus' (not related to Remus) daughter.

give up w/ the vague six degrees (well, three...)? i'm talking about Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, and Laura Linney. they're the main stars of 'Breach'...a thriller based on the true story of a longtime FBI agent, Robert Hanssen (Cooper), whose assistant (Phillippe) has been planted as a mole and sent to out him by Kate Burroughs (Linney), a senior official bent on catching Hanssen red-handed in the act of divulging (i.e., selling) yet more secrets to the russians; something he had been doing without detection for more than fifteen years.

a better than average thriller. not much action but the tension between the characters and the uncertainty of Phillippe's character, Eric O'Neill, kept the audience riveted (or at least interested). throughout the movie, you wonder if Hanssen will ultimately catch O'Neill rummaging through his personal belongings or if he will finally fall into the trap set for his demise...very cat and mouse. granted, the movie was by no means a hitchcockian masterpiece, but it was well worth the $1.75 ticket at the cheapies (even if the theater did kinda smell like overbuttered, mildewy popcorn). btw, since tomorrow is 50 cent (not the rapper) tuesday, you may want to head down to Tiffany Plaza 6 at 12:45pm | 3:00 | 5:10 | 7:15 | 9:20 for the show.

btw, here's a pic of the REAL Hanssen. he was paid $50,000 for his last drop (of documents). on february 18, 2001, he was arrested in the sting and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in may 2002. supposedly, he had been paid over $1.5 million in cash and diamonds in his fifteen years as a double agent. the state of colorado is significant in the life of this convicted spy because he is actually serving his sentence at the Supermax penitentiary, near Florence, CO.

look like a happy place? not especially since most of the inmates there spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement. they're constantly under video camera surveillance in a tiny and usually windowless cell. even the cell walls are soundproofed, as to deter any clandestine communication between inmates. sounds like SO much fun...

maybe you and me...

2007-05-06T03:45:00.000-06:00

were never meant to be. just maybe think of me once in a while. i'm at:

ever since i heard that the show was being released on dvd...i can't get the damn song out of my head!!! so i thought i would torment you guys heh

things are tough...

2007-05-06T03:36:00.000-06:00

in argentina. our friends who retired there are not having the best of harvests. seems that the rain has pretty much ruined any possibility of good grape prices...but they're sticking it out and learning to really go with the flow. that's promising. i hope they have a quiet fall/winter because we're going to wreck next year's, when we show up on their doorstep ;)

four things...

2007-05-06T02:48:00.000-06:00

we need to use soon. all are prizes that i've won within the past 6-8 months from the oldies station. match the photos to the prize...

$50 in food from this restaurant

a free night's stay at this hotel

two tix for this play (today is our last chance...we'll probably catch the matinee)

$50 card to this new spa, located downtown (i've actually relinquished it to lois...but not w/o a fight ;)

and just ten more days until i can win again...

three things...

2007-04-26T19:50:00.000-06:00

i've been into lately

the music of pizzicato five. although i don't have their entire discography, the few cds i do have make me happy...and even push me to blog! a miraculous group indeed. sure, the majority of the lyrics are in japanese but the beats and grooves are infectious. when you're listening to their music, you constantly hit the repeat button to dissect the numerous layers of melodies and sampling. of course, maybe that's just a testament of my ever present ocd ;)

the music of black sabbath. yep, i've been a fan of ozzyosbourne ever since my neighbor, john, and i would sit up in his room, playing 'war pigs' on his little fisher price turntable...a good 25-30 years ago. although his royal ozzness is past it (as evident in any of his live shows and reality show), you have to admit that the fearful foursome that he fronted (how's that for alliterative...now say that 3x fast;) in the 70's was sheer sludge brilliance. 'Paranoid' and 'Master of Reality' are simply two of the best (old school to be cliché) metal standards. besides, how could you ever pass up picking up these cool covers at the local record store circa 1971?

and if you were on drugs, these two later releases would only enhance the acid trips or dragon chasing experiences...sigh

the third thing is also something old and multi-colored. yes, it's the dreaded rubik's cube. recently, i was going through some old stuff and came upon it, stashed away in an ancient shoe box...along w/ pictures from my first trip to guatemala in 1991 and 50 empty film case canisters that i use for either quarters (in the car) or faunal/flora specimens (in field). that's a weird time capsule cache...

anyway, i had two cubes in there. an original one that i received for my 11th birthday from the above neighbor who played sabbath...and a knock off that i convinced my mother to buy for me a few months later. talk about beat up!!! the original one i nearly killed in trying to solve it. after who knows how many spins, it's still intact...just extremely difficult to manipulate. and only god knows how many times i dismantled it to reassemble in an easy cheat. eventually, i learned how to solve it within a few minutes...i honestly don't understand how those champs can do it in less than a minute! of course, after not picking one up in more than a decade, i've forgotten how to do it! i still remember how to get all the inside pieces, but i'm a couple turns wrong with the corners. argh...does anybody have a solution book? i'm just too old and impatient now to re-figure it out.

my head hurts...

two things...

2007-04-26T18:50:00.000-06:00

i'm over

cirquedu soleil. yes...i no longer have urges to subscribe to its site in order to procure seats before they go on sale to the 'general public'. i really could care less. it's nice to see their grand performances every time they roll through town and when i end up in vegas...but who wants to spend the wads of cash to see similar acrobatic themes/colorful outfits and to sit through some of the weirdest music on the face of this planet?

not me

so i've decided to sit out their upcoming performances this summer...assuming it won't be the 'best evah.' only then might i be coerced to get a couple tix...but it better be nearly orgasmic, dammit.

postsecret. bought the first book...even went to see the author speak last september and got his much coveted (right) autograph.

and yes, like a fool, i submitted my own secret. fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) mine was never used in any of his follow-ups to the wildly successful first volume. in a way, i was a little disappointed to not see my carefully crafted masterpiece...i spent nearly 20 minutes on it ;)

oh well, i guess if it had been used, he still would've owed me five minutes of fame.

mebbe someday i'll divulge my secret though...stay tuned.

because...

2007-04-20T01:33:00.000-06:00

this is a lot less disturbing than the virginiatech manifesto video clips:

now...

2007-04-16T22:53:00.000-06:00

this is something i find as being a little creepy. this partial pic is of a recently apprehended convict who was on the State of New York's most wanted list. i think he was violating his parole for attempted sodomy...

what's so creepy about this person is that i've known this sexually violent predator for more than twenty years. however, i had NO idea what he had been up to the last fifteen years until i did a name search on him.

geez.

DJ was really smart...he graduated third in his class...attended a top liberal arts college in the U.S. (that's a pic of his alma mater on the left)...worked hard...had a phenomenal sense of humor...but had a really domineering and crazy mother (J can attest to that).

it's just a really sad ending to the query, "Whatever Happened To..."

i guess i'm glad that he went to the slammer for an attempted crime and hope he doesn't go off the deep end someday and do something like today's virginiatech.

highly unlikely though.

why?

well, i heard the gunman in today's tragedy was a 6' asian american male...

oh great...that makes ME feel a whole lot better!

it ain't...

2007-04-16T22:34:00.000-06:00

eBayy. early this morning (before the horror show at Virginiatech), there was a news story on this site. its layout is like eBayy...but the items for sale are far from ordinary. it's called murderauction. apparently, there are people out there who lust over personal items of famous killers like manson/gacy/dahmer et al.

now, i've always wondered about the minds of murderers, just how they tick...even slightly fascinated about how they can just go from one person to another and not even think twice about what they've done; they go about their business unflinchingly for years without being caught.

people who just lose it and go on shooting sprees are certainly not lucid. yet, i think we can all somewhat relate to 'last straw' incidences, we just don't act on our impulses. as for mass murderers, they're definitely a different bunch. perhaps they're cold blooded and calculating...and definitely enigmatic.

but what about those the collectors? THAT is what troubles me the most! what are you expecting to gain from the items? were you hoping to CHANNEL some energies from the stuff?

too bizarre...

couldn't...

2007-04-01T02:35:00.000-06:00

fit one more posting in march, so who's gonna be the april fool and read this?

been on a ticket buying spree lately. friday, i went downtown to purchase tix to three events...sporting, theatre, and music...and all in record time.

my first stop was the pepsi center for a family four pack to the nuggets game this wednesday. although the seats are horrendous (just a few rows from the top...look for the pink mark in section 348), for $59, a family 4 pack consists of four admissions, four hot dogs, four sodas, and a $10 card at the ESPN Zone...a deal considering tickets even in the nosebleed areas are not $14.75 each.

the second stop was the paramount. yes, a couple days after the G3 show (w/ my niece), i found out that another of her favorite performers, regina spektor, will be there may 4th. of course, having already given her b-day present, my sister, susie, will spring for these...and this time, i ain't going (have you heard her "music"? :P)

and the last stop was the DCPA, where i got a couple tix for this show. it's at the teeny tramway theater, which is across the street from the main complex. i think it'll be an interesting show. it's one of two productions that is being undertaken by the national theatre conservatory. yes, denver actually has a conservatory, which offers an MFA in theatre training. i only know this weird fact because my friend, Sam Wood, got his MFA there about 15 years ago.

the theatre tix are a partial b-day present for lois. the show (4/19) begins at 8:00, which should leave us plenty of time to have dinner either here or here. i'm not sure which place yet - such intriguing menus though. surprisingly, neither place is downtown...but both are w/in a 10-minute drive. i may just have to flip a coin, eh?

i should...

2007-03-29T02:44:00.000-06:00

have upped the stakes.

met Cindi for breakfast at the nearby (and new) Egg & I. well, someone is always on my case when i get lazy about posting...which is understandable. i just have NOT felt like saying anything; i've been much more content with reading everyone else's updates.

well, she did mention that we played (seven) games of Boggle. and for a couple years, i've heard her declare what a good boggler she is. that's cool. i like to play it too...been playing for about 25 years, but only sporadically the last 5-10 years. i bet J remembers the bogglefests that chris and i used to have...

A CHALLENGE

while we're sittin' outside on one of the 'patio' tables, the manager came out and said that we could play inside. when we declined, he even offered us free coffee ;)

that's cute.

no...we couldn't be distracted. it was educator vs. bone digger...a competition for the ages.

after seven intense matches, a winner was declared. we may have to make this a monthly (weekly?) thing. what will be at stake? for starters, for every game i win, it'll give me a 'get out of blogging' card for a day. hmmm. i like that. had this rule applied on tuesday, it would have given me another week of slothness.

okay...you have three minutes to find as many words (four letters or more). ready...set...GO!

okay, pens down. how many did you get? i found 36 words. and i think there's at least 78...

we-eird...

2007-03-29T02:38:00.000-06:00

last september, i blogged about a little netflixx fiasco. well, yesterday, we got two front parts of the envelope that is supposed to have your movies. thing is, we weren't expecting any movies - the two at the top of our queue are already in the house.

kinda freaky...

like a banshee...

2007-03-25T01:23:00.000-06:00

THAT'S what my niece sounded like when satriani came out. it was like we dropped in on a beatles concert ;)

guess she liked her present. and boy, was she surprised!

picked her up at 6:00...took her downtown to "hang out on the mall"...stopped at the Sonic there...had a fantabulous banana pudding shake (it was 680 calories of sheer bliss)...and strolled back towards the paramount (she had NO idea).

when we reached the corner of 16th & Glenarm, i mentioned that i had to go back to the car to retrieve some eye drops...we hung a left and headed straight to the theatre...en route, i asked her to hold on to the tix (which i magically pulled out of my jacket pocket)...surprisingly, she didn't even look at them, instead pocketing them herself.

even while we were at the house, she mentioned that G3 was in town and some kid kept flaunting his tix in front of her that entire week...luckily, she's 15...and is somewhat oblivious to her surroundings...so when i told her to look at what i just handed her, the stunned and incredulous reaction was enough thanks :)

some of the things she said (in rapid succession):

omgomg...you can't be serious...omgomg...i havetocallmyfriendsarah...omgomg...i don't know if i should scream, cry, or jump on that group of people in front of us!!!!!!!!!

once we got in, we had about fifteen minutes to spare, so i told her to check out the shirts while i went to the bathroom. upon returning, i was introduced to the kid that had taunted her all week, his name was Jeff. he and his dad had just walked in the doors. guess he and my niece are having banner birthdays.

she ends up buying a large black t-shirt w/ the poster emblazoned on it...for $30. sheesh...and to think that i used to complain about $14 shirts when i was her age ;)

anyway, we found our seats (Orchestra Left, Row T, Seats 1 & 2) and took it all in. the paramount seems brighter and in better shape than the last time i was there (2003?). while we were settling in the new red velvet cushions, we saw Jeff, who was in the same section...but behind us and ten seats down! HAHA (but say it like Nelson would). guess you can rub it in HIS face tomorrow at school, eh?

the show started a little before 8:00. each artist played for about 50 minutes, culminating in a four song jam (w/ all three) for an encore. the concert didn't let out until midnight. it was the best $47 concert seat i've had in a long time.

speaking of concert costs, i am fed up w/ ticketmaster charges. i HATE having to pay an extra $10 in charges (for each ticket sometimes) when i can just go to the box office and skip those damn fees. granted, you gotta suck it up for red rocks shows (unless you live in morrison or golden), but if there's something at the paramount or pepsi center, i'm gonna drive down there and save $20...dammit!

now, does someone have an extra $225 for a seat for the Police (june 10th at pepsi)? i just looked at the $90 ones...and they're BEHIND the stage! ugh. mebbe i'll just spring for the $50 seats and bring a telescope.

sigh

nearly...

2007-03-20T14:46:00.000-06:00

abandoned.

yeah, i know i've pretty much disappeared over the last month or so. i'll try to catch up later tonight...promise ;)

weather is SO beautiful outside. i'm always worried when we're gonna get dumped on again because the longer it's nice, the worse it's gonna be once the high pressure system collapses...

going downtown in about a half hour. must pick up prize i won at the oldies station. this month, i won a couple tix to country dinner playhouse's production of Guys and Dolls. not my favorite musical (although i do own the dvd), but free dinner and a show are things i usually don't turn down.

after i collect the booty, i'm gonna head over to the paramount theatre for tix (that i actually have to pay for) to the upcoming G3 '07 show.

G who?

G3 is a trio of shredders...sometimes called guitar virtuosos...that is usually headlined by Joe Satriani. in the past, he has shared the stage with metal/prog. rock/blues guitarists such as steve vai, eric johnson, michael schenker, kenny wayne shepherd, and yngwie malmsteen. this year G3 will showcase the talents of John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert.

now, i've listened to all these musicians in the past, but have never wanted to catch one of the shows. however, i've got a soon-to-be sixteen year-old niece who plays guitar...and has blatantly declared that she would gladly have Satriani's babies.

to her, it was HE who is the creator of all guitar things ;)

so...guess i'll sneakily offer to pick her up for a night of bowling and eats. i'm not sure if she even knows they're gonna be in town...muwahaha.

just trying to rack up (world's coolest) uncle points...heh

hope you're all out enjoying this wonderful day!

secret...

2007-02-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

asian man (w/ apologies to johnnyrivers)

sinuous...

2007-02-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

is how the road is from orange walk to san ignacio. a beautiful drive though. you go from the savanna-like landscape in the north...full of sugar cane fields...to the lush foliage (w/ craggy peaks in the distance) along the western highway.

driving in belize is relatively stress-free. the majority of the population is situated in belize city...few belizeans have vehicles (who the hell can afford to spend $4.50 for a gallon of gas?!?). most of the manuevering is around potholes, creaky public buses, schoolkids, or

yep. it seems that sundays in belize are the prime time to hold road cycling events. either there's a pack of guys training or there's a procession of sirens/flashing lights, the cyclists, and their equipment/support entourage trailing them. TWICE we ran into race stages!

so...after taking nearly three hours of dodging multiple cyclists and traversing over speed bumps (before and after every village), we made it to our hotel on cahal pech hill.

since it was still morning, much too early to check in, we decided to head to belize's national archaeological treasure, Caracol. it's the largest Maya site in the country. during the seventh century, perhaps 50,000 people lived there. it is one of four MAJOR ceremonial centers in the maya world: Tikal (Guatemala), Calakmul (Mexico), and Copán (Honduras) are the other three.

back to the outrageously priced rental...to the turnoff for san antonio village...through mountain pine ridge...to douglas d'silva (aka, augustine) and to the site.

a mere 53 miles.

this is where pothole hell is defined. the road from san ignacio to caracol epitomizes dangerous driving. razor sharp rocks, extremely eroded limestone paths, narrow wooden bridges that cross wide rivers, and stunning views line this route. if you take 2.5 to 3 hours to make the trip, that's just about right. anyone who has made it to caracol in less than that allotted time was either extremely lucky or his corpse was later found along the road.

i kid you not. the ten miles between douglas d'silva and the paved road that leads into the site is most disastrous road i've seen since our 2001 trip to bolivia (from rurrenabaque to the pampas).

as you may have guessed...a happy razor-sharp rock welcomed us to western belize...on the abovementioned road. luckily, we had a military escort behind us.

military?!?

yes, there are two (9:00 & 11:30) daily military escorts from douglas d'silva on the way to caracol. apparently, there was a rash of armed robberies along this road a couple years ago. and now you can't go to caracol w/o military intervention. usually, they caravan behind the morning tours arriving from mountain pine ridge and san ignacio.

well, we didn't get there until 11:45. nevertheless, the bored soldiers were more than happy to escort us to the site. after all, when we arrived, they were just playing cards and sitting around.

'bout 30 minutes later, we hear a thumpthump. awww...shiiiiiit!

when i got out of the car, i was expecting a flattened tire. not this... as i said, we were extremely lucky because a HUGE, burly soldier by the name of Darren, helped us change the tire. now i know why the soldiers trail your vehicle. had they been ahead of us, we may still be on that road.

and Darren...THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU

when we arrived at the site, we bought the three guys a round of soft drinks and thanked them profusely. and just before we headed into the ruins, i dug out the new deck of cards that i brought for the trip and handed it to the big guy. sorry that there were no hardcore pics like their deck at the base, but at least they were new ;)

aggravating...

2007-02-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

we're in belize...got in yesterday at about 3:30. great weather. high 85 degrees. low around 70. of course, that's what it is year round.

it's a good time to be here. dry season starts in february and lasts until the end of may. temps are at their highest in april and the rain pours in october.

the title of the post is because of this damn computer. i'm blogging from the hotel's lobby and although the connection is super fast, there was some major spyware that i had to clean up and a super long disk cleanup wait; i wasted more than ten minutes of my time...

oh well. they only charge a couple bucks an hour. more than enough time to talk about something ;)

right now, we're in orange town...just thirty minutes south of the mexican border town of chetumal. it's a ramshackle town of about 16,000 people. typical caribbean feel about the place. tin roofs...dirt streets...wooden shacks.

people are very hospitable here though. this morning, when we set out in our outrageously overpriced rental car ($108/day), we stopped by a tiny fruit/vegetable stand called "Neggy's." as we bought drinks/snacks, we complained about missing our morning coffee; in most of belize, the coffee is instant (nescafe). i've always found it ironic that some of the world's best coffee (from mexico/guatemala/costa rica) is exported and they resort to instant.

anyway, upon hearing this, the señora offered to make us a couple cups before we headed out...very cool. so we drank our coffee and talked for a good half hour before we decided to get on the road...which is pothole hell.

whoops. looks like they're closing the lobby. arrgh...more aggravation. guess i'll try to find a place tomorrow, when we leave for western belize...san ignacio!

see ya!

an unexpected...

2007-02-14T23:40:00.001-07:00

valentine's day gift.

and it wasn't from lois. i just checked my email and nearly jumped out of my seat. one of the messages was from someone whom i haven't heard from in seventeen years. this person, who lives 5000 miles away, played volleyball with me in a couple leagues in 1988-89. she was one of three scandinavian gals who spent that year nannying for some wealthy families. apparently, she came across a meme that i posted in 2003 when she googled her name. i CANNOT believe she had the gumption to look for my email address and send me a note!

it was kind of awkward writing the reply though. i mean, where do you start after seventeen years? i'm still a bit freaked out about the whole thing because it was totally out of the blue. excuse the grin...but it really made my day.

surprised...

2007-02-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

to say the least.

lois and i went out for our valentine's dinner last night. we figured we'd beat the crowds and impending cold and snow by celebrating two days early.

what did we get each other? well, lois gave me a bag of belvedere chocolate truffles and a gift card. and i...redeemed some miles for two tix to belize. last month, i mentioned wanting to go there in late may. well, those plans have changed. two weeks after that blog posting, american airlines and citicards announced their quarterly reduced mileage destinations (i.e., go somewhere for 5000 miles less). and wouldn't you know it, there were latin american destinations. so...instead of having to redeem 60,000 miles for two award tix, it only took 50,000...and $30 extra for having to book them via phone. still, 10,000 miles or $30...definitely a no-brainer.

keeping the trip secret for the last ten days was nearly impossible. lois has been aching to go somewhere tropical since december. and the belize research i had been conducting online was so surreptitious, i was erasing the history on a daily basis. you'd think i was sneaking porn or sumpin'...

anyway, we're leaving next friday (23rd). i cannot wait to escape the cold and snow. i know we're finally having a typical winter (after many unseasonably warm and dry ones)...but i am just fed up. did you know that the average february high in belize is 80° and the low...71°?

wish we could stay 'til april ;)

no respect...

2007-02-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

is the catchphrase for monday's movie.

yes, people, we're talkin' Rodney Dangerfield...all bug eyed and sweaty browed. he filmed this flick between Caddyshackk and Backk to School. have you guessed it? if you answered, "What is Easy Money?" then alex trebek won't whack you across the forehead.

for some odd reason, i always liked this movie. i'm not sure if it was because of rodney's blue collar character (who stands to inherit $10 million if he can quit his vices for a year) or his excellent supporting cast (Joe Pesci, Candice Azzara, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Jones, and a teenage Jennifer Jason Leigh).

nah

i probably liked this movie because rodney's biting sarcastic humor (but not always in good taste) always appealed to the 13 year-old in me...not vulgar...not cruel...but said under your breath and effective enough to keep your sanity in check. sometimes dumb humor is good humor ;)

out with the old...

2007-02-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

(you know the rest)

for many years, i built a printed paper kingdom through multiple magazine subscriptions. volleyball...photography...archaeology...entertainment weekly...nat'l geo...tennis...caribbean islands...stereo review...consumer reports...budget travel...men's journal...all piled high.

i'm sure i had enough tinder to burn down the whole block. one little spark and we're all human bbq.

well, i've been good the last couple years and only kept up the last two in the above list. in fact, i'm even dropping frommer's budget travel in a couple months (although it would be nice to win february's prize for best travel story...a trip to malaysia and singapore!).

in my magazine downsizing glory...i tripped. i've just replaced budget travel w/ travel & leisure AND i've redeemed $30 of e-rewards for a two year subscription to this magazine.

so come on in and pick up a copy...just don't bend the cover back...that drives me crazy!