I had a great meal at St. Louis Bread Company (Panera Bread) tonight. I usually always have a good meal there, but tonight's was just awesome! Creamy tomato soup, a Smokehouse Turkey sandwich, a whole grain baguette and a glass of Dr Pepper. Every item just tasted great to me.

Ever since the recent "upgrade" to Office 2007, my PC at work has been really slow. That was a couple months ago. Yesterday, I finally got frustrated enough to complain. I asked for more RAM to be installed, and gave them my machine specifications.

Well, they decided to give me a new PC. It's as fast as my old one from before the "upgrade." Woo Hoo! Funny how the specs for this new machine make it sound like it should be over twice as fast as my old one, but with the new bloated software it's only as responsive as my old one was with the old software. It's all a scam.

But I'm happy because I have a PC that works again.

But think how you're helping the economy, Glatt.

The Church of the Whale Penis is still the number one website on Google when searching for "whale penis." Having said that, this car goes way over the top when it comes to whale penis.

The red and orange trees, the blue sky. Nice.

Good to see you in this thread Bri! We had some of that yesterday - nice innit?

I just realized yesterday was my one year anniversary at this job. Wow, time's fun when you're having flies (I probably just said that somewhere else.)

The funny thing is I'm still doing consulting work at my old job. Who woulda thunk, some 7 years ago, that I'd have found my "calling"?

Having said that, I'm ready for blizzards to get days off work.

:) yeah, sweetie, it IS nice. We're gonna have another stunner today. YAY!

Kids' late start day. One hour later to sleep in. Was nice.

All caught up on the baking. I have muffins, bread, and waffles covered for at least a week and a half.

Oh, and I got to the grocery story in time to grab a bunch of their "reduced for quick sale" prepped fruit. It seems to be store policy to mark down everything that didn't sell the day before, even if it's perfectly good for another several days. I got a gigantic bowl of watermelon, all cut up and seeded, for 99 cents!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


It works either way :D

Just celebrated my 16th wedding anniversary.

congrats, Crimson Ghost! that's wonderful.

Ripley's cheer squad won second place in their competition today. They cheer at their last game tonight and if they win it's off to the championships.

They won! Actually, after the lightening delay, in the pouring rain, the other team gave up in the 3rd qtr. They were only down 26-0... (5th shut out game, the Raiders are amazing!)

beautiful kids cap'in. Look at that smile.

congratulations crimson. That is something to be proud of.

yay jinx. Your pride is contagious.

Thanks, Bri and sky.
Yeah, I think I'll keep her.
Mainly because I'm getting too old to deal with someone else's bullshit.
(Just got smacked for that.)

Congrats, jinx.

I need any extra thoughts/prayers/positive energy that you can spare. Interview tomorrow downtown at 10am. This could be a good job.

You got it Syc! Good luck

Sending positive job vibes your way Syc. You're a good man!

I am deliriously happy today that I am no longer a Chiefs season ticket holder.

Run in there and nail it man!

Sick'em, Sycamore!

Grandad's diahoerra has finally dried up!
Got the last load of washing today and there were a couple of suspect spots, but nothing more.
All washed and ironed and ready for Mum to come home.
Also next to nothing to clean up in his bathroom - just the usual old man misses.

AND he asked me to buy a sandwich today. Sounds minor (and I have to walk a mile to town and back - tcha!) but it means a lot. M&S salmon & cucumber in case you're wondering.

Mum was convinced it was caused by an overdose of laxatives - in fact he admitted that to her - but as the days went on I was worried that was a coincidence and in fact he had a real illness.

Now I know it really was what Mum thought and I can be quietly cross at all the washing, ironing and cleaning I've done. Except, really, I'm just so glad he didn't get properly ill on my watch :)

Have you hidden the laxatives?

Yes, but you don't want to know where.

We've hidden this family's laxatives in the chocolate souffle....

Let's see if they notice....

He has to take prescribed ones every day. They are a bit like fibre drinks and come in sachets. If he only takes one it keeps his old bowels moving. However for people with "impacted stools" (according to the packet) you can take up to eight a day. Grandad suspects he has a problem if he hasn't been for a while, and starts taking them willy-nilly. Silly old fool - he eats like a bird, except less worms - and can't expect to poo like a 60 year old who eats steak & eggs!

Anyway - he's fine now and it's all sorted.

Good news of the moment?
Mum & Dad get trick or treaters!
Yes!

Why is this so great?
Because I can wear my halloween costume and wig from last year, and make myself up. I'm not intending to scare them. I just really wanted to dress up, but the only places I could viably go were pubs or bars - too much money, too much temptation and not much fun alone.
Now I get to stay in the comfort of the 'rents home, in full make-up, nice and safe.

I even have all the right cosmetics (from last year) so no cash to splash.
I think I might try a skull face. Just for fun. Gotta see how complicated it is first. My pumpkin attempt reminded me I do not have a delicate touch. In some things.

Pictures will follow.

Just had a second piece of good news I wanted to share.

We've just confirmed our B&B for the January trip to Cardiff, when I'm going to see the great JB in pantomime, and Mum is just along for a weekend in Cardiff. Grandad has offered to pick up my hotel bill. Bloody hell. Where there's muck there's brass.

Sorry - I mean I am overwhelmed by this and so making jokes.
I have found us a great deal though. Mum wanted to stay at the Marriott, where they stayed before, but was offered £170 for the 2 nights, double only no twin, no breakfast. She tried a number of other hotels - all twin rooms fully booked. Blimey, second to last weekend in January, Cardiff hoteliers must be raking it in! Turns out there are quite a few things on over the weekend.

So I went back to the place I had a provisional booking with, Ty Rosa. Turns out they have an annexe, with two double rooms which share a bathroom/ shower. We can have both rooms, with a gourmet breakfast and the total is £129.80. It's not in the city centre, but Mum and I are great walkers and anyway it's a friendly, clean, personal service. It's a gay B&B, but hetero-friendly. I won't have to pretend Mum is my elderly lover. Then again, with my hair lavender I look like her sister anyway. Oh, wait. That would still be wrong.

I much prefer small and intimate than corporate giant. So I get to save Grandad money, not share a bed with Mum, get a yummy breakfast (seriously - look!), get local advice and get some exercise. And if they recommend a bar where I can sneak a drink and admire nice young ladies then I can cope with that too ;)

After that breakfast, walking will be tougher. :haha:

I think even Mum & I would shy away from the Gower Breakfast - laverbread (a mixture of seaweed and oatmeal, sliced and fried), poached egg and cockles. I mean I've had all separately, but together? For breakfast?

And back in the eighties there was a report that Welsh (men) drank more than any other part of the nation on their lunchbreak. For years I called a liquid lunch a Welsh lunch. And for those who don't get what I mean yet... You can get the next round in ;)

I wonder that the Welsh ever managed to fight us back.
No wonder these people can sing!

Anyway, turns out one of the annexe rooms is technically a bedsit. Or a studio as it is termed here. I don't know if those terms are prevalent outside the UK:
Coolio! So we can eat lunch and/ or dinner "at home" should we wish. And given Mum & I are usually penny pinching (oh, and greedy pigs), and are there for two nights, I can guarantee there will be at least one meal eaten chez nous. I mean, there's only so much laverbread a girl can eat.

I did not get that job...the first words out of the interviewer's mouth were, "I see that you have a Masters degree...why do you want to do contract work?"

But here's what I've decided to do...to try and start my own business. You can read about it here.

I am done with a big client project and have nothing else hanging over my head business-wise (which is fine while I'm in school, but when I'm done, not so much). School's almost done, I just have a couple exams and a mid-sized essay, none of which I really have to worry about for a few days. I'm FREE! Sort of. :)

Congrats, Syc. I think that's the way to go!

I WAS in a good mood.

I did a friend what I believe is now called a "solid."

My need to dispose of some durable medical equipment dovetailed very neatly with a friend's need to obtain those same items. What made it all the cooler was that the friend mentioned the need just in the context of wanting to vent about something, and I was able to say, "problem solved."

That's always cool Wolf.

Oh, and Syc: way to go mate. Good luck with that. I hope it takes off big time.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Oh, okay!

OMG Betty Crocker makes a fuckinawesome gluten-free brownie box mix, y'all. Best fake thing I've had in 7 months, by far.

You Rock Wolf!

Cats 101 is on!

huh. did you know there are only 123 registered Havana cats in the US? That's pretty durn rare

Well, they can only enter the United States if they make it to land. Cats generally don't like swimming, don't have opposable thumbs and aren't very good at building seaworthy boats out of rubber mice, bits of interesting string, and bells.

Ibram's natural appendage.

I saw that one episode too cloud.

I am not 'happy happy' about it but pleased to have decided to make handmade soap for Christmas. I'm thinking the natural bars with herb scents.

Not the little decorative ones in pastel. :headshake:greenface

I'll probably bake a lot as well. I probably won't make noodle angels but they are so cute as a craft. I'll stay busy and be putting much love in to economical gifts.

I passed this on to my friend with breast cancer who also can't eat gluten (without all sorts of dire consequenses, anyway). She had a box in but hadn't dared to try it yet, so she baked them this morning and they were indeed very good. Thanks from both of us. Some of the other gluten-free baking she's fed me has been ......interesting :lol:

Yeah, it's a crap shoot for sure. The Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies, for example... not so much. But the brownies, hot damn!

Some rather excellent beef-veggie-barley soup, if I do say so myself. And the boy agrees...

Hammersmith Odeon, London '75
by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

I dunno why it but it just feels good.

pretty much fuckin nothing, but if it changes, I'll let you know. Maybe Hector got a PB in the 100free at the meet tonight?

OK, he did. by 3 seconds. which is good. woot.

Way to go Hector!

I'm happy because my best friend is having an Ohio State/Iowa party this Saturday. I'm just now back at work today, after being sick for a week, so I hope to feel well enough to "get out amongst 'em" and enjoy some Ohio football with fun people.

My online Dominos delivery order tracker has just updated from 'we have received your order' to 'It's on the road'. Oh yeah.

Feed Me

Tom Monaghan's 'pro-life' activism insure that I will never buy another Domino's pizza again.

I still order by phone from Domino's because the local place doesn't deliver to our house. That is to say, the web site insists that we're not in the delivery area, so even though they will deliver (which apparently is at the discretion of the store manager), it can't be via web order.

Fucking Friday, women, live band and scotch. Not to mention it was payday yesterday.

I can't take any more Dominos. or Little Caesar's. Or $5ish pizza of any variety. Swim meets, pool parties and classroom parties have totally cured me of ever thinking it was a choice food option..

Oh sorry this is the happy thread, hope I'm not get you down.

Right up until another franchise opens in the area and is assigned your street. If he delivers into another store's area, he could lose his franchise license. But yes, if it's no man's land, it's the manager's call.

I took a preggy test today.

And? ...AND?????