8.29.2003
Cold Beer and Wine To Go
That's what the sign said outside the Dufferin Pub, and since it was almost 11:00 P.M. and this represented our last chance to get alcohol for the hotel room, Colleen and I took advantage of the opportunity. My God, it was like a couple of white people walking into a black club - there were gay men everywhere. And all eyes were on us; the sound of a needle scratching across a record would not have seemed out of place. "This is a gay bar," I whispered to Colleen, displaying my mastery of the obvious. While standing at the bar, (after the very friendly bartender waited on us) I noticed the rainbow-like array of balloons covering the entire ceiling. Then there were the glass-front, built-in display cases lining one wall, containing replicas of the Crown Jewels. There were quite a few TVs going, and everyone who wasn't watching us was watching them. "They're watching 'Queer as Folk'," Colleen whispered back to me. Of course they were.
That's what the sign said outside the Dufferin Pub, and since it was almost 11:00 P.M. and this represented our last chance to get alcohol for the hotel room, Colleen and I took advantage of the opportunity. My God, it was like a couple of white people walking into a black club - there were gay men everywhere. And all eyes were on us; the sound of a needle scratching across a record would not have seemed out of place. "This is a gay bar," I whispered to Colleen, displaying my mastery of the obvious. While standing at the bar, (after the very friendly bartender waited on us) I noticed the rainbow-like array of balloons covering the entire ceiling. Then there were the glass-front, built-in display cases lining one wall, containing replicas of the Crown Jewels. There were quite a few TVs going, and everyone who wasn't watching us was watching them. "They're watching 'Queer as Folk'," Colleen whispered back to me. Of course they were.
1.21 Jigowatts!!
I received the all-time bestest spam message ever here at work yesterday:
Hello,
I'm a time traveler stuck here in 2003.
Upon arriving here my dimensional warp generator stopped working. I trusted a company here by the name of LLC Lasers to repair my Generation 3 52 4350A watch unit, and they fled on me. Since nobody in this timeline seems to be able to deliver what I need (safely here to me), I will have to build a simple time travel circuit to get where I need myself. While it might be hard to find parts in this time to build anything decent, I need easy to follow schematics from the future to build one which is safe and accurate that will not disrupt the time space continuum with both forward and backward capability accounting for temporal location settings (X, Y, Z, n), which can be built out of (readily available) parts here in 2003. Please email me any plans you have. I will pay good money for anything you send me I can use. Or if you have a dimensional warp generator available, and are 100% certain you have a (safe secure) means of delivering it to me please also reply with a secure way to contact you.
I wonder if he knows that a flux capacitor will do the same thing for less money?
I received the all-time bestest spam message ever here at work yesterday:
Hello,
I'm a time traveler stuck here in 2003.
Upon arriving here my dimensional warp generator stopped working. I trusted a company here by the name of LLC Lasers to repair my Generation 3 52 4350A watch unit, and they fled on me. Since nobody in this timeline seems to be able to deliver what I need (safely here to me), I will have to build a simple time travel circuit to get where I need myself. While it might be hard to find parts in this time to build anything decent, I need easy to follow schematics from the future to build one which is safe and accurate that will not disrupt the time space continuum with both forward and backward capability accounting for temporal location settings (X, Y, Z, n), which can be built out of (readily available) parts here in 2003. Please email me any plans you have. I will pay good money for anything you send me I can use. Or if you have a dimensional warp generator available, and are 100% certain you have a (safe secure) means of delivering it to me please also reply with a secure way to contact you.
I wonder if he knows that a flux capacitor will do the same thing for less money?
8.27.2003
8.26.2003
We gots the preciousss.
I was going to recap my trip tonight, but that will have to wait - I managed to scrape up enough cash (after my account was cleared out by the wallet-snatcher) to buy a widescreen copy of The Two Towers DVD today. And such a deal it was! Only $14.02 at Wal-Mart!
So, I'll be watching that instead of blogging. 'Til tomorrow...
I was going to recap my trip tonight, but that will have to wait - I managed to scrape up enough cash (after my account was cleared out by the wallet-snatcher) to buy a widescreen copy of The Two Towers DVD today. And such a deal it was! Only $14.02 at Wal-Mart!
So, I'll be watching that instead of blogging. 'Til tomorrow...
Here I Am
I've been home for a few days. Sorry about that, but I needed to decompress a bit from the trip. I can't really do it justice, posting here from work on my lunch hour, so I'll try to do a recap later on tonight. We had a wonderful time, great weather, a few mishaps, lunch with WBD and I had my wallet stolen. More later...
I've been home for a few days. Sorry about that, but I needed to decompress a bit from the trip. I can't really do it justice, posting here from work on my lunch hour, so I'll try to do a recap later on tonight. We had a wonderful time, great weather, a few mishaps, lunch with WBD and I had my wallet stolen. More later...
8.15.2003
And in the darkness
So where were you when the lights went out? I'm afraid I don't have any interesting stories to tell about my experience during the singlest largest power outage ever in the U.S. I was at work when at about 4:15 the lights sort of "sputtered" out, once, twice, third time was the charm. We stood around for a couple of hours before finally accepting that the power wasn't going to come back on any time soon.
The Big Wrinkle for me - I was supposed to fly out this morning to Vancouver, with a layover in Toronto. Uh-uh. Flight was cancelled. So, I spent an hour on the phone in the dark with an agent from Travelocity who was very helpful and got me booked on a flight tomorrow. I'm disappointed that I'm not there right now, when I should be, but hey, whatcha gonna do?
The lights came on some time during the wee hours of the morning. I got up at 6:30, threw something on and went into the office to get the computers up and running. All systems were go (except for our T1, which was down due to unrelated trouble with the line) and I was out of there as soon as I could be. Tried to nap today but couldn't, so I sat out and got a sunburn and then did some cleaning.
I'll be gone all next week, coming home on Saturday the 23rd. Have a wonderful week - eip, we will miss you! I know that there will be at least one laptop in our group, so maybe I'll be able to post here and there. Til next week!
So where were you when the lights went out? I'm afraid I don't have any interesting stories to tell about my experience during the singlest largest power outage ever in the U.S. I was at work when at about 4:15 the lights sort of "sputtered" out, once, twice, third time was the charm. We stood around for a couple of hours before finally accepting that the power wasn't going to come back on any time soon.
The Big Wrinkle for me - I was supposed to fly out this morning to Vancouver, with a layover in Toronto. Uh-uh. Flight was cancelled. So, I spent an hour on the phone in the dark with an agent from Travelocity who was very helpful and got me booked on a flight tomorrow. I'm disappointed that I'm not there right now, when I should be, but hey, whatcha gonna do?
The lights came on some time during the wee hours of the morning. I got up at 6:30, threw something on and went into the office to get the computers up and running. All systems were go (except for our T1, which was down due to unrelated trouble with the line) and I was out of there as soon as I could be. Tried to nap today but couldn't, so I sat out and got a sunburn and then did some cleaning.
I'll be gone all next week, coming home on Saturday the 23rd. Have a wonderful week - eip, we will miss you! I know that there will be at least one laptop in our group, so maybe I'll be able to post here and there. Til next week!
8.14.2003
8.13.2003
Christmas-themed condoms.
Dick the Halls with... Or maybe, Santa Claus is comin' to town...? Think about it.
Dick the Halls with... Or maybe, Santa Claus is comin' to town...? Think about it.
We were talking about the California governor race this weekend, and Sheila stated that a televised debate between Arnold, Gary Coleman and Gallagher would be the first political debate she would actually watch. We then mused that the first 5 rows of the audience would have to wear rain ponchos for the inevitable watermelon-smashing contest. We predicted that although Gallagher has countless years of experience in watermelon-smashing, Arnold would win purely based on his form, since he could use Gary Coleman as a human sledgehammer.
Discovery of millionaire's double life stuns family, friends. I saw a report on this on the TV, but can't remember where. Talk about a story that was absolutely made for television!
8.12.2003
Wedding Highlights
We stayed at the Mermaid's Purse Farm B&B & Gallery in Prospect Harbor, which turned out to be right down the road from the reception. They just started taking customers this month, so the place is very unfinished, but our room was huge (a double bed and a twin and a sitting area) and lovely, and the bathroom across the hall was also huge and brand new. The owners were very friendly, breakfast was yummy, they had cute dogs and I hung out in the living room smoking and chatting with them on Sunday night (no new guests until Friday, so we could smoke inside). I would definitely recommend them to someone else.
The weather - spitting rain, which was actually a very heavy fog, was forecast for the entire weekend. Winter Harbor (next town over, where the church was) postponed the lobster boat races scheduled for Saturday, due to anticipated fog. Guess what? The sun came out at around 11 AM, stayed out until it set and the fog returned right after the reception ended, at about 9:30. Perfect.
Colleen looked gorgeous. All the men wore kilts. They had a bagpiper outside the church. (beautiful, rustic catholic chapel in the woods). They played the "Peanuts" music as they walked out of the church.
Do not ever invite our family to your wedding, unless you want a bunch of giant, dancing fools to completely take over your reception. Oh my God, what a bunch of hams.
I drank copious amounts of Harp, more than I have in a long time, and no hangover! Really! I'm still amazed.
Ate way too much, putting on a couple of pounds, I think. Bad, bad.
Took 4 rolls of film. Can't afford to get them developed until after I get back from the next trip.
We stayed at the Mermaid's Purse Farm B&B & Gallery in Prospect Harbor, which turned out to be right down the road from the reception. They just started taking customers this month, so the place is very unfinished, but our room was huge (a double bed and a twin and a sitting area) and lovely, and the bathroom across the hall was also huge and brand new. The owners were very friendly, breakfast was yummy, they had cute dogs and I hung out in the living room smoking and chatting with them on Sunday night (no new guests until Friday, so we could smoke inside). I would definitely recommend them to someone else.
The weather - spitting rain, which was actually a very heavy fog, was forecast for the entire weekend. Winter Harbor (next town over, where the church was) postponed the lobster boat races scheduled for Saturday, due to anticipated fog. Guess what? The sun came out at around 11 AM, stayed out until it set and the fog returned right after the reception ended, at about 9:30. Perfect.
Colleen looked gorgeous. All the men wore kilts. They had a bagpiper outside the church. (beautiful, rustic catholic chapel in the woods). They played the "Peanuts" music as they walked out of the church.
Do not ever invite our family to your wedding, unless you want a bunch of giant, dancing fools to completely take over your reception. Oh my God, what a bunch of hams.
I drank copious amounts of Harp, more than I have in a long time, and no hangover! Really! I'm still amazed.
Ate way too much, putting on a couple of pounds, I think. Bad, bad.
Took 4 rolls of film. Can't afford to get them developed until after I get back from the next trip.
8.07.2003
8.06.2003
Clooney Can't Figure Out Why He's Lauded for Looks. Um, I'm willing to explain it to him, if that's okay...
Actually, this little article just makes him all the more appealing to me.
Actually, this little article just makes him all the more appealing to me.
8.05.2003
8.01.2003
I've posted a recent, encouraging message from the folks at SaveFarscape, which you can find on my Farscape News page.
So, yeah, vacation.
We left on Saturday morning at 4:00 on the nosey. I was really disorganized in my preparation this year, and having to pack Mommy as well did not help matters. (especially since she doesn't just bring herself and her clothes - there's the fan, the small TV, the basket of food, the boxes of craft supplies, Petie, his bed, his food, etc.) I wound up having to pack the back of my truck on Friday night, racing against the dark (with the dark winning). But, I got it done, and we were off. On board: Me and Petie in my truck and Sheila, Mommy and Marty in Sheila's car, leaving from Seymour; and Mary and the kids leaving from their home in Rhode Island.
The week went by much too quickly, like they all do. The weather was pretty crummy, with a few rainy days and a stubborn fog that clung to shore, but we made the most of the nice days we had and played a lot of Yahtzee on the others. And watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang about 6 times, a newfound favorite of the kids, in spite of the wretched Child Catcher.
We managed to fit in a couple of hikes and picnics, along with a couple of trips to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We drove up Cadillac Mountain on Tuesday, the three sisters and the two kids. As we climbed, it became progressively foggier, to the point where we couldn't see the car in front of us. And the wind was roaring! I have never been up there when it was like that. Needless to say, we hopped out at the top, took a couple of pictures on the kids hanging on to each other for dear life in front of the non-existent view and then jumped right back in the truck for the somewhat frightening trip back down the mountain.
I took Zachary with me on Thursday night when I went to buy the lobsters for dinner. We were listening to an oldies station in the truck, and "Do You Believe In Magic?" was playing as I pulled into the parking lot. I stopped the car, and Zachary asked, "Can we stay in the car until the end of the song?" I said sure and we sat there and sang along until the end.
On Friday, our last day, the weather cleared up and as a result we crammed as much as we possibly could into that day. Our skiff was tied up at the dock in the cove and no one was going to be at the cabin during the week after us, so we had to row the skiff back inland to the boat access ramp and pull it up. It was early in the morning so the fog hadn't burned off yet. Sheila did her best to row the boat, but Sheila as it turns out is not the most coordinated person I know. We ended up sitting side by side in the middle of the boat, each with an oar and paddling like we were in canoe. We had a great laugh, and, as a bonus, a bald eagle flew overhead right as I looked up to the sky.
When the sun came out we went for hike along the shore trail and the kids did a great job for a 7 and a 3 1/2 year old. That night we had a (pitiful and quite smoky) bonfire on the rocky beach in front of the house, and the kids got to eat some s'mores and light some sparklers. And Mary and I got to have some beers.
We were all gone by 11 AM the next day. It never gets easier to leave there, even after all of these years.
We left on Saturday morning at 4:00 on the nosey. I was really disorganized in my preparation this year, and having to pack Mommy as well did not help matters. (especially since she doesn't just bring herself and her clothes - there's the fan, the small TV, the basket of food, the boxes of craft supplies, Petie, his bed, his food, etc.) I wound up having to pack the back of my truck on Friday night, racing against the dark (with the dark winning). But, I got it done, and we were off. On board: Me and Petie in my truck and Sheila, Mommy and Marty in Sheila's car, leaving from Seymour; and Mary and the kids leaving from their home in Rhode Island.
The week went by much too quickly, like they all do. The weather was pretty crummy, with a few rainy days and a stubborn fog that clung to shore, but we made the most of the nice days we had and played a lot of Yahtzee on the others. And watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang about 6 times, a newfound favorite of the kids, in spite of the wretched Child Catcher.
We managed to fit in a couple of hikes and picnics, along with a couple of trips to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We drove up Cadillac Mountain on Tuesday, the three sisters and the two kids. As we climbed, it became progressively foggier, to the point where we couldn't see the car in front of us. And the wind was roaring! I have never been up there when it was like that. Needless to say, we hopped out at the top, took a couple of pictures on the kids hanging on to each other for dear life in front of the non-existent view and then jumped right back in the truck for the somewhat frightening trip back down the mountain.
I took Zachary with me on Thursday night when I went to buy the lobsters for dinner. We were listening to an oldies station in the truck, and "Do You Believe In Magic?" was playing as I pulled into the parking lot. I stopped the car, and Zachary asked, "Can we stay in the car until the end of the song?" I said sure and we sat there and sang along until the end.
On Friday, our last day, the weather cleared up and as a result we crammed as much as we possibly could into that day. Our skiff was tied up at the dock in the cove and no one was going to be at the cabin during the week after us, so we had to row the skiff back inland to the boat access ramp and pull it up. It was early in the morning so the fog hadn't burned off yet. Sheila did her best to row the boat, but Sheila as it turns out is not the most coordinated person I know. We ended up sitting side by side in the middle of the boat, each with an oar and paddling like we were in canoe. We had a great laugh, and, as a bonus, a bald eagle flew overhead right as I looked up to the sky.
When the sun came out we went for hike along the shore trail and the kids did a great job for a 7 and a 3 1/2 year old. That night we had a (pitiful and quite smoky) bonfire on the rocky beach in front of the house, and the kids got to eat some s'mores and light some sparklers. And Mary and I got to have some beers.
We were all gone by 11 AM the next day. It never gets easier to leave there, even after all of these years.
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