So funny!

I just saw this on Pineapple Girl's site and declared Eminent Domain, so that I may have it as well. It made me teary eyed.

It was called the sloganator and allowed you to custom make a poster for the Bush Presidential 2004 campaign. You can no longer custom make the poster but It uses drop down menus now because, well, you'll see...

Back in the saddle again

First off, let me say I gotta brand new toy. And I'm using it right now! What is it? Well, let me describe it as gift from the magical world of voice recognition software! Yes, ladies and gentlemen this entry as you see it before you now is untouched by human hand. I am no longer burdened by having to type. In fact, I just may never type again! Ha ha.
OK OK, let's get back to business. Saw Shrek 2 and was, as I expected, quite pleased with it. Like the original it used shotgun type humor, in other words, there were so many jokes you had to laugh at something. There were many inside jokes and Antonio Banderas stole the movie.

On the DVD rental front we took a look at Miracle with Kurt Russell (who was amazing) and let me tell you, a Disney movie about the 1980 Olympic hockey team, well, now there’s your entertainment! Although there were plenty of scenes with the hockey players, the focus of the movie was Kurt Russell’s character, Herb Brooks, the real-life coach of the team. It was actually pretty amazing how as they went to Lake Placid for the Olympic Games that you can feel the energy of the 1980 Olympics, but in reality no other events were shown except for a scene or two in the Olympic Village.

We got out to see Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Many many big laughs. Most of which do not show up in the commercials you see on TV for the movie, which in itself is a miracle. I can’t really talk about the movie because I don’t want to spoil any of it or give anything away. A lot of good laugh out loud funny jokes and sight gags. Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller never cease to please. Go out and see it, go, go now, dammit I said go!

…And still running. The shins are much better going up and down stairs. I don’t feel like 132 years old any more. I do manage 10K a day. I know there are many of you out there who are saying how you can’t run every day! Well, if you’re like me, the term running is actually rather subjective. I mean, it starts to fall into a gray area where you can speculate, ‘Is he really running?…Is it actually just walking? Mostly. Well friends, as I have an incredibly low threshold of pain, scaling back to a leisurely walk if sweat breaks, I don’t find any real serious danger in 10k a day. Rest assured the running part is coming along though. Who knows? Perhaps will come the day when the entire 10k is actually run! Oh man, I just made myself laugh. But let’s not get crazy. Okay okay, I do break one, a sweat that is. It’s really the mental part for me more than anything else. The route gets shorter as I can picture it mentally. And as the running comes, the process becomes how long does it take to do the 10k?

To Pam and Zoot, yes, I be back, and thanks for keeping after me to write. Migod! Has it really been two weeks? I have been enormously busy (although never so busy that I would miss taking a potshot at someone else’s blog, heh, heh).

My daughter is in a girl’s choir that took a trip to Boston this past weekend to sing at Trinity Church located in Boston. Religion aside, what an amazing church! It is so beautiful and the acoustics were awesome. The girls went up on Friday to rehearse and sightsee before they sang Sunday Service. We were giving a ride back to CT to two other choir girls, so when the three of them got in the van they were kinda grousing about not having that much time to shop on Saturday, like only about an hour or so. So we said, ‘Hey, were here, we’ll go shopping’. We did lunch and shopping in Quincy Market and Fanueil Hall, and this is for the men in the audience, “I outlasted them”. Three teenage girls who wanted to go shopping. Ha. I said, “We can stay longer if you want,” “no, that’s OK, we’re ready to go.” Ha! They were no match.

Ah, ya’know I’m ready to go, too.

The mike is now off.

What I said was....No, really here it is out loud!

Thanks to Zoot you can treat your ears as well as the eyes!

I'm pretty sure this will pass into the archives of fad-dom after this post.

A Quickie

...am still running.

We saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban last weekend and I enjoyed it. I've said before I'm not a fan of the book series because I'm just not a fantasy book kinda guy, but when it comes to movies, I'm there.

I was impressed with the new director's (Alfonso Cuarón)ability to keep the look and feel of the series going (although somewhat darker). It doesn't always happen (in fact it's pretty rare) when someone new takes the helm, no names mentioned (Joel Schumacher/Batman).

For me the guest appearances are the best thing. I loved Emma Thompson (actually I have ever since she was Nanny G on Cheer's, I can still here Woody calling out,"It's Nanny G, It's Nanny G!") and it was great to see Gary Oldman in a different way.

My only disapointment and I know this is because the movies, I'm told, are true to the books, is that characters we've seen before, fall by the wayside. Snape (Alan Rickman) is a terrific character and actor playing him, but he's little more than a walk-on. bummer.

But, hey you can't have everything. Very entertaining.

Is that regular sweat, or am I just stroking out?

This particular entry is dedicated to Pam. Why? Well in the complimentary comments section of her blog I quoted the catch phrase on her site "Shut Up and Run". Thinking it unfair to impart such invaluable wisdom without backing it up, I decided today to resume running (to others it looks like walking at this point of the training). I stopped this effort over a year ago for various lame reasons that seemed justifiable at the time. I was also watching the other night Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt in What Women Want, and there is a scene in the movie about trying to put together an ad campaign for the women's sports division at Nike. There is a point where they're discussing how running is a time to clear your mind, get your thoughts together, yada, yada, and that's so true. Honestly though, an MP3 player on the open road doesn't hurt as I can quickly bore myself...but, I digress.

I did 6 miles (that's 10K for our friends to the North). At about the 1.5 point I was trying to figure who would be getting what in my estate, so on, so forth. But they'll have to wait until tomorrow because even though I hurt (though not like childbirth or anything), I LIVE! I did determine also I have to do this in the mornings. And a final thought. The chucklehead who came up with the 'no pain, no gain' slogan was an A*&%$hole.

Mystic River

There are movies that I know are probably going to be great but I'll never see them because I just don't have the right feeling about watching it. I know that sounds odd, but the huge danger of watching movies in the comfort of your own home is the ADD will kick in and you momentarily become bored, pause it, and lose momentum to keep watching it or any other of an infite number of scenarios where you just wind up not watching it.

I thought Mystic River was going to be that way because I knewe Clint Eastwood directing, the big name actors, yada yada... And as it turned out I thought 'well done' And to be honest, if it is mentioned anywhere, by anyone theat a movie has a downer ending - I'm outta there. Butr again I thought - Eastwood

Movie had a terriffic look, superior acting all around, except Kevin Bacon, and not to take anything away from him, I enjoy all his work, especially Tremors, but it was like he was in another movie.

Don't worry about spoilers here. I never do spoilers. That being said the movie is very unhappy throuh the end.

Please stop me before I quiz again!

Like a cake (this one is from Beth)


LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Rick.
-- Birth date: Just before my teeth appeared.
-- Birthplace: The Nutmeg State
-- Current Location: Same
-- Eye Color: Blue
-- Hair Color: Not what it used to be, but it’s all there
-- Height: 6'3"
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Leo

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: Irish,Scot (there appears to be some scandal with a French Canadian)
-- The shoes you wore today: Man Shoes
-- Your weakness: Yeah, sheah, like I’m gonna tell you..
-- Your fears: Fear Itself.
-- Your perfect pizza: Noting that all pizza is perfect/ White pizza w/garlic basil, and tomato
--Goal you'd like to achieve: I keep them all small so there is constant achievement.

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on AIM: “…What?”
-- Your first waking thoughts: "Don’t wake up."
-- Your best physical feature: Size. I’m as big as a 6’3” tree
-- Your most missed memory: When my children were small and for them I made the sun rise and fall.

LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Diet Pepsi Twist
-- McDonald's or Burger King: Wendy’s
-- Single or group dates: either/or
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Nestea
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Stop & Shop vanilla
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee (like there’s a choice)

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: I’ve tried, but I just can’t get the hang of it.
-- Cuss: What an insult to think I would do such a thing. Hey! Ya know what, Fuck You and everybody who looks like you
-- Sing: God told me personally, “Never Sing”
-- Take a shower everyday: As soon as everyday is Saturday. (kidding, I’m such a kidder)
-- Do you think you've been in love: Yes.
-- Want to go to college: College and I never seemed to agree on that.
-- Liked high school: All Guy Catholic High School. You figure it out.
-- Want to get married: too late.
-- Believe in yourself: Yes
-- Get motion sickness: No
-- Think you're attractive: Average.
-- Think you're a health freak: Oh no, no, n-no, n-no, no.
-- Get along with your parent(s): Yes
-- Like thunderstorms: Yes
-- Play an instrument: Piano. It should be noted all compositions I play sound faintly like Greensleeves

LAYER SIX: In the past months...
-- Drank alcohol: Oh lord Yes
-- Smoked: No
-- Done a drug: No
-- Made Out: This is the second quiz in as many days with this question. Who’s the fuckin’ clown coming up with these questions.
-- Gone on a date: no.
-- Gone to the mall?: Yes
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: No.
-- Eaten sushi: No.
-- Been on stage: No
-- Been dumped: No.
-- Gone skating: No.
-- Made homemade cookies: Yes
-- Dyed your hair: No
-- Stolen Anything: No

LAYER SEVEN: Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: No (thankfully).
-- If so, was it mixed company: Not applicable.
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Oh lord Yes.
-- Been caught "doing something": No
-- Been called a tease: No
-- Gotten beaten up: Yes. Once…and he’s dead now.
-- Shoplifted: No.
-- Changed who you were to fit in: Just the clothes part.
LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: I am married.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: Guess and Guess again
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: Planned by someone else with the honeymoon in DisneyWorld…wait! That’s what did happen
-- How do you want to die: After you
-- Where you want to go to college: I’ve already attended the school of hard knocks, my friend
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: Never gonna happen.
-- What country would you most like to visit: Austria

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: All together, or like a day? (kidding, I’m such a kidder)
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: 1.
-- Number of CDs that I own: 30-40.
-- Number of piercings: 0, none, nada
-- Number of tattoos: see above
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: Only a few times before “the incident”.
-- Number of scars on my body: A few.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: Four

This one is for the Gipper

I had to say something about Mr. Reagan, as I did like him, and thought he was a good president. I am not politically savvy in any kind of way, but I just feel compelled to something. I always thought he had a down home folksy charm while really doing things with a take charge attitude.

I had been in the airforce for a short time when he fired the Air Traffic Controllers. That put a burden on the training base that I was at because it was the base for controllers to be trained and it caused an influx of people that needed to be trained right away. Say what you will, I agree that they should have been fired. They struck illegally and as Commander and Chief he had to make that call, and chaos would have ensued if that had been let to pass. Very tough time for him.

I remember that moron Alexander Haig getting in front of the TV cameras after Reagan was shot and declaring, "I am in control". The man had no clue as to the chain of command. Numbskull.

I always laugh during the part of Back to the Future when Marty (in 1955)is trying to explain the future to Doc Brown: [reprinted from the IMDB]

[Dr. Emmet Brown is doubting Marty McFly's story about that he is from the future]
Dr. Emmett Brown: Then tell me, "future boy", who is president in the United States in 1985?
Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Emmett Brown: Ronald Reagan? The actor?
[chuckles in disbelief]
Dr. Emmett Brown: Who's Vice President? Jerry Lewis?
Marty McFly: What?
Dr. Emmett Brown: I suppose Jane Wyman is the first lady. And Jack Benny is secretary of the treasury. I've had enough practical jokes for one evening. Good night, future boy.

I always liked him and think he did a good job. I believe he deserved better at the end, but then so does everyone in that case.

President Reagan is the first president to lie in state since Lyndon Johnson in 1976.

On Friday there will be no trading on Wall Street as a gesture of respect for President Reagan. No trading on Wall Street is a BFD.

Goodnight Sheriff and thanks for protecting the town.

Hi, My Name is Rick and I've been a Quiz Addict for 3mos. Hi Rick!

A shameless ploy to generate comments (thank you very much). I'm doing this because it would have been wrong to answer on other sites and not draw a big red target on my chest.
(Obligatory Note: This is going around and I took it from someone else, who took it from someone else, etc.)

Answer the following questions in the comment box:
1. Who are you?
2. Have we ever met?
3. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
4. Describe me in one word.
5. What reminds you of me?
6. If you could give me anything, what would it be?
7. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
8. Are you going to put this on your weblog and see what I say about you?
9. What do you love like a fat kid loves cake?
10. What makes you come back here?

As promised

Zoot has handcrafted the most gorgeous map (y'all will weep when you see it) for moi, and I can't get it to upload on the server that it needs to spend it's days on. I will have it figured out soon and mount it here so that this present map (that I actually have no feelings either way about) will be sent packin'.

Thanks to Oliquig for this cool site. When I looked at the finished map, I thought, 'Damn, that's a lotta places.' Fond memories in 99% of them too. Like Alaska was amazing and beautiful. Picturebook pretty. I had really high hopes for Colorado, but it just never worked out on any occasion that I passed through. Oh well.

Yet Another InFamous Blogging Questionnaire

Stolen from someone else (as usual, Zoot) and this one appears to dig deep. Doesn’t bother Mr. Shallow, though. Ha.

1. Do you try to look hot when you go to the grocery store just in case someone recognizes you from your blog?

I want to but it means getting a fairly large group of wardrobe and makeup people together, so I just pretty much head out at midnight donning what I like to call a ‘laundry bag ensemble’.

2. Are the photos you post Photoshopped or otherwise altered?

I haven’t posted any photos yet. I’m pretty much on the fence about it. And have been really to lazy to do it. I also really don’t want to lose any of the readership.
3. Do you like it when creeps or dorks email you?
Absolutely! No such thing as dorks, and as for creeps, well, as I like to say, ‘You creeps can’t stay awake forever’. heh heh

4. Do you lie in your blog?

No but I’m open to pretty much any suggestions

5. Are you passive-aggressive in your blog?

I really don’t know. I speak my mind paying attention as best I can as to whom it might affect. I say enough retarded things so that it doesn’t look that way, but I really am concerned if it’s going to come across as mean-spirited.


6. Do you ever threaten to quit writing so people will tell you not to stop?

No, but that’s an excellent idea! Kinda like a soap opera star hanging out at the mall just to be recognized. Not pitiful, no, not at all.

7. Are you in therapy? If not, should you be? If so, is it helping?

No. I’m feeling much better now…why? What did you hear?

8. Do you delete mean comments? Do you fake nice ones?

No and No, but yet another excellent idea.

9. Have you ever rubbed one out while reading a blog? How about after?

I’m not really sure what this means. Is it ‘did you start to make a comment, then canceled it?’ Then it would be yes, as I like to think I’m mostly about comedy and if I’m thinking the joke isn’t going to work, then I won’t move forward. Actually, I wish that would happen more often because when I reread it later I’ll think, ‘I don’t even get it’.

10. If your readers knew you in person, would they like you more or like you less?

I figure that upon meeting me they would say, “You?” And really, how do you answer those one word questions.

11. Do you have a job?

Yes. A good one. Which kinda bugs me, because it allows me to do many things except strive to get a better job.

12. If someone offered you a decent salary to blog full-time without restrictions, would you do it?

(Pointing out the window) Oh, Oh!…What’s that? Oh, it’s a …Duh!

13. Which blogger do you want to meet in real life?

Wow. A seemingly simple question and yet…I have always lived by the rule, ‘Give someone a reason to want to talk to you’. With that in mind there are many folks I’d like to meet, but it’s all so different in a face to face where there isn’t time to craft witty things to say as one can (hopefully, anyway!) in a blog. I would love to go to JournalCon and meet the people that have commented on my blog because to me that would be something I would feel comfortable talking about. I think it is so awesome that really we’re all communicating through just reading and writing. I of course have to single out Zoot as a want to meet because she’s been a dedicated correspondent since the beginning.

14. Which bloggers have you made out with?

Before I answer this one let me check with my mirror. Hmmm, let’s see…middle-aged, married, two kids, mortgage. Ah yes, I guess I’d have to go with, “What is ZERO? On that one, Alex.”

15. Do you usually act like you have more money or less money than you really have?

I don’t think so. I don’t talk about money, really.

16. Does your family read your blog?

I don’t know. I don’t think so. I have to keep telling my wife what the URL is.

17. How old is your blog?

Going nay on three months now.

18. Do you get more than 1000 page views per day? Do you care?

1000! HA! Good one. Of course I care. I have so many super important things to say! My God, how does America even function without my daily words of affirmation!

19. Do you have another secret blog in which you write about being depressed, slutty, or a liar?

No, and that is the third excellent suggestion.

20. Have you ever given another blogger money for his/her writing?
No

21. Do you report the money you earn from your blog on your taxes?

I don’t earn anything from my blog.

22. Is blogging narcissistic?

Duh, again. If it isn’t about ME, then what’s the point. I’ve even got YOU reading ME, HA. That gives ME more power. HA!

23. Do you feel guilty when you don't post for a long time?

Yes, because I feel a tremendous loss of momentum in an almost geometric progression. I hit everyone on my ‘must read’ list at least twice to three times a day though.

24. Do you like John Mayer?

Yeah, sure. He’s no ‘Men Without Hats’, but then really, who is?
25. Do you have enemies?

I suppose so. Oh well…

26. Are you lonely?

I don’t believe so. It’s kind of a subjective question. Blogging provides a great deal of mental stimulation (for me anyway) interacting with so many people. On the flipside though, blogging is done alone at a keyboard usually under the cover of darkness.

27. Why bother?

Why Not?