You wanted the best, you got the best...

[jasinine]

No Dumping...

Someone on horseback just trotted past my house. I live out in the country (although it's getting a little less "country-ish" year by year) and this is a relatively common thing. As it was going past I looked out the window and watched it take a huge horse dump as it went. Wonderful.

Having been around horses before(not counting gambling on them), I do know how large their "movements" are. Sure, it's in proportion to the size of the animal and all that but, damn, that's alot of crap.

When someone says "Aw, horseshit!" it better be about something really big. Or something majorly unbelievable, like say, finding out how much Derek Jeter gets paid. That would work fine. You know, going by the whole size to shit ratio. Now, take for instance a person discovering they were lied to about something insignificant. Just a little white lie. That comment wouldn't apply, would it?

"Ratshit!" maybe, sticking with the whole proportionality thing.

Just a thought.

 

[jasinine]

Like, whatever...

Okay, normally, I hate these personality quizzes. That fact doesn't stop me from taking them though This one was, to borrow a line from Isaac Hayes, right on.

<img src="http://images.quizilla.com/N/novemberhorse/1047168468_esktopseer.jpg" border="0" alt="HASH(0x8465a88)"><br>Seer
<br><br><a href="http://quizilla.com/users/novemberhorse/quizzes/The%20ULTIMATE%20personality%20test/"> <font size="-1">The ULTIMATE personality test</font></a><BR> <font size="-3">brought to you by <a href="http://quizilla.com">Quizilla</a></font>

Bravo.

Oh, one more thing and it's none of my business but, brown_eyed_girl, Mr October? Why do you get to talk to Reggie Jackson and the rest of us don't?

 

[jasinine]

Pointless ranting can be fun...

Today on way home from work I was following a guy in a red mini-van from Illinois. Judging by the speed he was going (sloooooow) and the way he was looking around you could tell he was lost. Poor guy. I don't know if being lost gives you the right to stop at a non-flashing red light and then go before it turns green though. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. :wishy:

I'm no travel junkie, I've basically stayed in the mid-west region of the country and of course the required trip to Florida and Disney. Toronto is nice in the summertime (pre-SARS.) I have been to Illinois once, where this chucklehead was from, and while I was there I caught a Blackhawk game in the old Chicago Stadium before they tore it down and moved into the cold, lifeless, building that has all of the personality that its name implies... the United Center. I remember that the 'Hawks beat St. Louis but not the score and I also remember meeting future hall-of-fame defensemen Chris Chelios at his bar across the street the next day after the game.

So what do all of these memories have to do with anything? I'm glad you asked... it seems I also remember that it was a law in Illinois that when a traffic light was red you were forced to stop. And of all things, you had to remain that way until the light changed to green! It can be so hard to get used to all the different rules each state has when you cross it's borders, especially in September!

So yeah, since I deemed it necessary to wait for the light to change, I would catch up to him shortly. Remember, he's driving sloooooooow. So we get to a crossroads. East/west (our direction) is allowed to move freely as it chooses with none of those pesky stop signs to impede it. North/south on the other hand, does have them. So what does the dipshit driving the van do? He stops dead right there. The other people, being as confused at this display of stupid driving as they were, decide to just plow ahead throwing all their knowledge of basic traffic law right out the window. Of course they did that whole "Let's everyone start to go at the same time!" routine and almost hit each other. Yay! Way to go people! Literally.

So what was this asswipe so preoccupied with? Maybe he was thinking about how he ran the red light and in looking for a way to correct his motorvehicle faux pas (ooh, french) simply decided to stop somewhere, anywhere really, to right the wrong. It's possible. Then again, maybe he was (and probably still is) just a lost dickweed who's own daytrip to an Ohio state park is more important to him than the safety of countless other people, me included.

I'll take the lost dickweed theory for $500, Alex.

 

[jasinine]

I don't get it...

It may be a few days (again) before another update... I hope you can deal with it okay

I have no idea why, but I've been in a real funk lately. And no, not a Bootsy Collins type of funk either. I mean I've been a little depressed. I'm not really even sure if you can call it that. I'd say more sad than anything because I'm not all "woe is me" and assorted shit like that. Things lately just strike me as being, well, sad. I swear, if these are the kind of mood swings you women get then I'm more than happy I'm a guy.

Example:

Last week I saw the biggest, most impressive dragonfly near my garage door after work one afternoon. I mean this thing was big...prehistoric big. It was an awesome shade of blue, it had these huge green eyes. This was the largest and most impressive dragonfly I have ever seen in my 26 years of life. (Edited to point out how redundant that statement is...)

And it was going to die...

It was buzzing around in circles on the pavement because it was missing more than half of its wings on one side. Dragonflys are audible when flying anyway but this one, I'll bet this one sounded like a small helicopter. For this thing to get that huge it was probably damn near magical. Why I had to see it like that, I don't know. I mean, I know it's practically retarded to say this but, it was heartbreaking.

I hate to see anything injured and I feel bad when I hit a rabbit or even a bird with my car. Which, when thinking about it is weird, having grown up around the "hunting type" of people. Hunters, to me, are a strange bunch. I have nothing against it, and if it wasn't necessary to some degree then it wouldn't be controlled by whoever controls it. Federal government? I don't know, the point is... I lost whatever point I was trying to make. Oh, when I see a hunting show on T.V. and someone shoots a deer, they almost always make some comment like this; "Isn't he beautiful?" Well, yeah Geech, especially when he was, you know, alive!

Anyway, the poor dragonfly. I hated to see it buzzing about the driveway, so I picked it up and put him in the grass. I didn't forget about it and the next day it was still there, although nearly dead. I knew it wasn't going to make it to the end of the day again. Of course, it's not like I thought it was going to grow its wings back and fly away (I wished it could.) But I was really hoping it would at least be gone so I wouldn't see it again. No such luck, when I got home it had died, exactly where I put it the day before and exactly where it was that morning, it had never moved. Like I said, heartbreaking. Especially when you're in a crummy state of mind.

(As a side note, I didn't think it right for some piece of shit animal or something to find it and eat it. Like a five year old kid would do, I buried it in a little area where flowers are planted near the house out of respect. Yep, I'm so gay)

I can see the clouds lifting though, especially Sunday after seeing that new movie "Cabin Fever." I never laughed so much in a movie before. Sure, it had its scary (at least it was trying) moments but, this was a comedy, make no mistake. The gore factor was high, there was the required naked chick or two, and the story left more than a few things hanging. It really wasn't what I would call good, yet I want to see it again already.

What else can I say about it other than this: "PANCAKES!" If you saw it you'd know

My review? One line only ...

The funniest flesh eating virus movie I've seen this year!

And oh yeah... "DO NOT SIT NEXT TO DENNIS!"

 

[jasinine]

Def-Con 4

October 1st is my nephew's first birthday. Aside from thinking to myself how fast a year has flown by since we were anxiously awaiting his arrival it also dawned on me that I should get him something big, kinda cool, and ultimately useless.

What better than a huge Toy Story Buzz Lightyear stuffed doll? It's kinda cool, it's big (bigger than him!), and it's definitely useless. Mission accomplished, I'd say.

While looking for a huge Buzz (heh), I came across a Simpsons action figure of Dr. Stephen Hawking. You know, "that wheelchair guy." I couldn't resist, I bought it.

On the show, his wheelchair (like in real life) talked for him and it's voice always reminded me of the computer in that movie "Wargames."

"Would...you...like...to...play...a...game?"

"How about...Global Thermonuclear War."

Classic!

 

[jasinine]

Worst...quiz...ever!

Okay, since I'm drawn to Simpsons stuff like a bug to a zapper, I knew I was going to take this character quiz the minute I saw it today. I also suspected what the resulsts would be... my fears were confirmed

<font face="tahoma" size="4">I am <a href="http://www.imfanatic.com/simpsons/simpson_quiz.html">The Comic Book Guy</a>!<br>Which <a href="http://www.imfanatic.com/simpsons/simpson_quiz.html">Simpsons Character</a> are YOU?</font>

You are The Comic Book Guy!!
You're a geek, most likely with no friends. The few that you do associate with are surely losers too. You'd rather watch Star Trek than engage in social activity, which is why you'll die alone.


Man, I don't even like Star Trek. At all...honestly.

 

[jasinine]

Aw, hell...

So it's around 2:30 at work today and I get a call from my mom. My dad has pneumonia and he's getting admitted to the hospital. Talk about a total concentration buster. Fuck!

He's been coughing alot for the past week or more and despite the insistance of my mom did not go see his doctor. This probably could have been avoided if he had. I know now that he'll be kept overnight just because of his weakened immune sytem the chemo treatments have left him with currently. If not for that, he'd be coming home.

I need something to bust me out of this shitty mental state I've been in for so long now.This wasn't it.

 

[jasinine]

Yeehaw!

My dad came home from the hospital yesterday...he's feeling 100 percent better.

 

[jasinine]

D.o.a.

The hard drive in my Mac just up and died on me last night. Yes, Macs do that... just fewer of them.

It started making this awful sound like a ping pong ball in a metal box being shaken around. First thought? "That's not good." And then nothing. I checked the time and declared it dead.

This morning it worked five or six minutes at a time, but big freaking deal.
Now I have to take it tomorrow and have it looked at and most likely have my hard drive backed up and transferred onto a new one.

Joy.

 

[jasinine]

D.o.a. part 2

I had time at work to read up a little bit on my computer problem. It turns out this hard drive failure is a common thing with this model of iMac, the iMac DV SE. I bought it in March of 2000. It was the first thing I bought when I first started working. Apparently many people who bought this model in the time frame of late '99 to early 2000 have had the exact problem. Normal, then noise, and then CRASH!

I'm still planning on taking it tomorrow to a local Mac specialist and I still think it sucks. I'd love a new comptuer if it comes to that but I don't want to buy a new one. I'm hoping just to replace the HD.

We'll soon see.

This post brought to you by my parents PC and the letter "I". It was also
made possible by a donation from the Chubb group. Stay tuned for
"NOVA: Beyond Uranus" Next on PBS...

 

[jasinine]

Damn the subject, full speed ahead!

Three updates in one day? It must be a new record for me.

How many people here ever say or oh, I don't know maybe e-mail what they're thinking and then wish they could rescind it? I've done it more than once, hell, I did it just yesterday before my computer died. Of course when I say things I regret they usually turn out to be things I truly meant...so the only hitch is that it's usually something that shouldn't be said to begin with. Not everything that crosses my mind needs to be stated. I need to remember that sometimes.

Maybe that should be my mantra :

"I will keep my thoughts to myself"

"I will keep my thoughts to myself"

"I will keep my thoughts to myself"

Well, I should have known. The third update wasn't necessary either.

 

[jasinine]

Arschficker down! Arschficker down!

I just saw that Roy (thank God it wasn't Siegfried! ) was mauled by one of his white tigers. While I know it is not neccesarily funny, I still had to chuckle. I think the saddest thing is that they will put the tiger down. I hope that isn't so. That's just not right.

Now, I'm no expert on tigers or large jungle cats in general but, I really don't think they participate in magic shows out in the wild. If I remember what I learned probably in kindergarten tigers are predators and can be downright vicious by instinct. I guess it's that whole survival thing.

Why would anyone assume that a tiger - white, pink, or otherwise- whether born in captivity or brought in from the wild would lose it's tiger characteristics is beyond me. And you know what happens when you assume, right? You make an ass out of u and me.

Either that or you get dragged off stage by a white tiger. Either or, really. And a hush fell over the room... scheisse!

Rather mean spirited wouldn't you say? I should be ashamed of myself...
but I'm not.

 

[jasinine]

Computers, E.T., and lessons learned...

Computer update...

I am in the process of transferring the files myself. The labor costs for the techs babysitting my computer (waiting for it to crash and restarting it every so often) and transferring files would be astronomical. Okay, maybe not astronomical but they're high. The labor cost, not the techs. Or so I think...

Anyway, I'm slowly transferring to disk only what I really nee/want. The rest, like the graphics software will have to be reloaded later. I can transfer stuff to my Superdisk drive (120 MB floppies, in case you weren't sure what those are) for about three minutes every hour or so before it dies again. I figure I'll be done with this by tomorrow night.

I'm going to take it back to the repair place Friday after work or Saturday morning again. Even though I'm pretty sure I could replace the hard drive, I'm going to have them do it. The iMac is so cramped in space and I have big hands. Not to mention the whole E.T. thing that would be bound to fuck with me yet again. Yeah, they can do it. I'm going to have them look at my dvd drive too, it's been acting up and I don't know if it's a separate problem or related to the hard disk meltdown.

Overall, I'm happy at this point about it. I guess because I really haven't lost anything and it was a painless lesson in backing things up. Except for the bill, but I can swing that without a problem. Plus, I'll put in an even bigger hard drive and most likely get an OS upgrade too.

It could have been worse, much worse.

 

[jasinine]

Updates and more!

-My dad is over his bout with pneumonia and is feeling much, much better. That should be the last hurdle on his way to getting back to a "normal" life.

-My computer is all backed up and I will be taking it to the shop as soon as I can because I get tired of this PC's antics and I want my Mac back.

-My nephew's birthday party was postponed 'til this Saturday because my dad got sick. Buzz Lightyear's stay here has finally come to an end I guess. I can't wait to see the mess my nephew makes with his birthday cake. I watched him down a plate of pancakes a week or so ago and while cute, it totally had me questioning whether or not I was hungry myself

-I bought a Bob Dylan cd a week or so ago just to get something different. I don't know much but I know this... For my money, "Hurricane" is the coolest song about racial injustice ever! Rock on!

Which brings me to tonight. On my way home from work I stopped at Meijer (huge store, they have pretty much everything) to buy some contact lens solution. Not to get off on a tangent because it's not important but, does this stuff really have to be over six bucks?!? I mean, damn. Anyway, I also bought the Barenaked Ladies video collection on dvd. Remember when their song "One Week" came out and everyone loved it? Well not me. I thought it was bad and got tired of it right quick. But then, at the prompting of a friend, I checked out their earlier stuff and loved it. I couldn't dismiss how talented these guys are musically, not to mention their sense of humor being right in line with my own. So now they're a favorite.

Even though I'm a little cloudy on it's true meaning I've been listening to this song alot lately:

"What a Good Boy" (and I got the lyrics off the 'net so if they're wrong, don't blame me, I didn't copy 'em down)

When I was born they looked at me and said
What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy
And when you were born they looked at you and said
What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl

We've got these chains that hang around our necks
People want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls we just look away

(chorus)
This name is the hairshirt I wear
And this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me
Be with me tonight
I know that it isn't right
But be with me tonight

I go to school, I write exams
If I pass, if I fail, if I drop out, does anyone give a damn?
And if they do, they'll soon forget
'Cause it won't take much for me to show that my life ain't over yet

I wake up scared, I wake up strange
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
And everything around me stays the same

(chorus)

I couldn't tell you that I was wrong
Chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song
I couldn't tell you that you were right
So instead I looked in the mirror watched tv laid awake all night

We've got these chains that hang around our necks
People want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls....

(chorus)

When I was born they looked at me and said
What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy
And when you were born they looked at you and said
What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey

Damn, posting song lyrics? Well, since I'm done with this post it's now officially (OFFICIALLY!) my most girlish post ever!

Now I'm going to go paint my toenails.

 

[jasinine]

Funny how? What, do I amuse you? How am I funny?

Courtesy of the Off Topic Forum...

DRY HUMOR: You love telling the joke that sneaks up<br>on you. You probably watched every episode of<br>Seinfeld, if you didn't you should have. You<br>like telling a joke that only half of the<br>people in the room understand. You probably<br>also enjoy british humor. When you tell a joke<br>people have to stop and check if it is really a<br>joke or not. Sometimes, you'll weave a long<br>elaborate lie and present it as truth, just to<br>see how much you can get away with before<br>people realize that it's all just a tall tale,<br>hahahahaha.
<br><br><font size="-1"><a href="http://quizilla.com/users/Archangelwoghd/quizzes/How%20funny%20are%20you%3F/">How funny are you?</a></font><BR> <font size="-3">brought to you by <a href="http://quizilla.com">Quizilla</a></font>


I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[jasinine]

"No time for love, Dr. Jones!"

I'm usually fairly current on what's coming out in the near future as far as books, movies, and music is concerned. Good or bad, this is the stuff that interests me and that I get excited about.

While browsing Amazon for a photography book I saw that a new book in Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series will be out Nov. 5! Now, I'm not really a huge fan of King's other books but this series is where it's at. To me, it ranks up there with "The Lord of the Rings." I've been in a serious reading withdrawl recently and nothing I've picked up really interested me so this is great news indeed.

I've never read many of "the classics", choosing instead lame-o "Star Wars" books and World War II history. In fact, I'm not sure how much the classics even interest me anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love to read, I've never let my library card lapse (because well, I don't think they do but, if they did I wouldn't.) For pure macho bullshit, I enjoy the "Rogue Warrior" series by Richard Marcinko, ex Navy SEAL. I used to read all those "Star Wars" books when I had my "Clerks" job. They were satisfying time wasters that could withstand interruptions all day long.

The last thing I read was a book by a member of the 101st Airborne recounting his time in WWII, specifically Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge. The amusing thing is that I read exactly half of the book last Spring while waiting for my car to be serviced. I had almost everything done at once, new tires, brakes, oil change... I was there a while. Unfortunately the book has sat on my dresser unfinished since that day. Hence, the reading withdrawl.

So yeah, book five of the "Dark Tower" comes out soon. The only bad thing is that it was years ago already that book four came out and years and years before that that I read the other three. I'm fairly certain that things will come back to me once I can start the new one though. Worst case, I 'll have to revisit the fourth book and I can think of worse things to do than that.

On a side note, the new "Barenaked Ladies" cd comes out next week as well as something I've been waiting for ever since I bought my player back in '97 (wow, that long already?) The "Indiana Jones" trilogy on dvd. With all this stuff coming out I'm going to be in geek heaven. And speaking of which...

 

[jasinine]

I came across this article while checking my hotmail account and I just had to laugh...



"Back when I was in high school, geeks were not highly regarded as potential boyfriend material. (Being one of them I am eminently qualified to attest to this.) Comic books, thick glasses, computers and chess club just don't match the selling potential of varsity jackets and cool cars. However, it's been noted that some geeks grow up to found software
conglomerates, and even those who don't tend to be more agreeable later in life than they were back in their teens.

Like everyone after high school, we mellow out, ditch the young-wizard glasses, and develop the social skills that seemed so sorely lacking when we were pimply youths. However, that doesn't mean that we've lost our geekhood — we just conceal it better. More importantly, since you've grown up since high school as well, that geekhood which was so unpleasant back then is kind of charming now — try it and you may be surprised. There's no longer any shame in dating a geek, and it can be well worth the effort. The only issue is that sometimes you may find it difficult to understand our peculiarities. While it's not necessary to know the difference between Sauron, Saruman and the Sarlaac to successfully date one of us, mastering the art of tolerance and bemused understanding will assure a long and fruitful relationship with your geek.

Geek care and feeding is easier than many think, because we are generally healthiest when left to our own devices. This doesn't mean we can't do things together; but we do thrive when given a little time to do our own thing. (This conveniently frees you from having to be part of it.) For example, let me wander off to the computer section while you're
browsing CDs at the store. And though I am betraying my people to share this, adhere to the strict "yes-no rule" of computer product purchases: If I come back clutching an object in a brightly colored box, let me buy it only if I didn't buy something last time we were shopping. We do tend to overextend our finances, especially on computer equipment — it changes so fast, and the stuff is just so neat — so it also might behoove you to check the price tag and confirm that I really need this item. (My interpretation of "need" at this point will be highly subjective, so ask the tough questions.) Remember that there's a good
chance I only want it because it's new. Geeks are suckers for new stuff.

We geeks are comfortable in herds, so keeping yours content requires that he have the opportunity to associate with his own kind now and then. Conveniently, this also solves the movie problem: Our taste for multiple viewings of certain films may not appeal to you, so let us go with our friends as often as we like. Since geeks generally like movies of all kinds (we just gravitate towards those with dragons or starships over others), you can feel free to choose whatever films you'll see as a couple without fear of whining. Try that with a football star.

If you live together, it's also helpful to grant your geek a little space to call his own. Here we will build our model airplanes, operate our ham radio, play our games, whatever — all in gleeful privacy. After a school career of constant abuse, we are rather unsurprisingly embarrassed by our geekdom, so letting us practice it in solitude is a very considerate
gesture. We'll appreciate it and you won't have to move all our miniatures off the kitchen table every time you want to eat.

Geeks are among the sweetest and most adoring of boyfriends, and the old prejudice of greasy-haired basement dwellers has long since fallen by the wayside. We can dress ourselves and perform routine grooming tasks, and as geeks move into the mainstream, we are becoming more sought after by savvy women. If you don't share some of your boyfriend's more esoteric hobbies, remember that they'll almost never interfere with all that you do share — so let him enjoy them."



So there you go ladies...the line for ME (and Star Wars: Episode III) starts here.

 

[jasinine]

Once again...

Two o'clock: Work - My phone rings...
"Hi , it's mom, dad's in the hospital again."
"Why?"
"He has a blood clot that goes from his groin to his ankle."
"Fuck"

(Okay, so I didn't say fuck over the phone to my mom. I've only uttered that word once in front of her and I felt lower than low when I did.)

Yep, he's back in the hospital once again. This is starting to be way too regular of an occurence. Can't things just get back to a pseudo-sense of normal? They weren't even in his room yet when she called so there wasn't really any sense in me going after work. Besides, he'd just insist that I go home and take it easy anyway because I worked all day. I love my dad for that, his style is so laid back. The doctors are getting him started on shots that will clear this thing up and he'll be home, quite possibly, by tomorrow. I hate to go by their presumptions though.

So, here I am again on my own. (That was NOT a "Whitesnake" reference, although I guess it turned out that way, didn't it?) Left with my thoughts on all of this. It's times like this that it's so glaringly clear about what I am missing in life. Someone to hold and talk to... Someone to tell me stuff will be alright so I can smile bravely and agree because of their sincerity and the warmness of their heart. But, I also tend to think things are the way they are for a reason, and if I were meant to have that person here then I would. After a shaky start I do think I'm adjusting to what's happened fairly well. I think my sense of humor (goofy as it may be) has helped alot. But damn, I've seen how things in life can change so suddenly now that I don't want to just let it go by.

I have pleasant stuff from the weekend to get to at some point but, I just had to get the above out of my system. At least a little bit anyway.

 

[jasinine]

Thank You, Thank You Very Much

Ever sit down to write an update and just come up with nothing?

Um, I just did.

But since you're here, ponder this...

Take one ripe Banana. Slice in half and slice the resulting halves in half lengthwise. Spread a generous amount of Peanut Butter (I prefer Jif) evenly on two (or just one, if you're a light eater. Sissy.) toasted pieces of Bread (any variety.) Layer your banana slices on your toasted and peanut buttered bread like a sandwich and there you go. A super fast breakfast packed with all kinds of healthy goodness. Don't go overboard with the peanut butter and choose a "light" bread and it's even healthier (Like I do.)

Why type this out? Why the hell not? Besides, I know the two or three of you who read my journal were just dying to know what I eat for breakfast.

If it was good enough for "The King" then it's good enough for me. Only he fried 'em. Of course, he's dead now too.

Elvis: Drugs and fried PB and 'nanner sammiches = Dead.

Me: No drugs and toasted PB and 'nanner sammiches = Alive.

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[jasinine]

"I know Kung-Fu"

I swear I'm such a tool. I just bought "The Matrix Reloaded" tonight after work. If you were to go back a page or so here you'd read that I totally disliked the movie when I saw it last summer in the theater. So why on God's green Earth would I ever buy it on disk now? I have no fuckin' idea. Idiocy maybe? I guess it had its moments but a few cool things within a two hour span does not make it a good movie overall. Will I watch it again? Yeah. Multiple times? Probably not. But hey, I own it! And shit explodes real good in Dolby Digital. I promised I'd hold off until they were all out and the deluxe mega box came out so I could get them all at once, but nooooo...

Like I said, I'm such a tool.