A million tiny diamonds...

It's so ridiculously hot and humid...

Making this crazy bald guy sweat more than I've ever seen. The beads of sweat on his noggin look like a million tiny diamonds.

The BGW is ON!

Oh yeah. It's for real.

Pants too small

My brother's tux for the wedding. How bout those pants?


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Popcorn As Cereal

I made all this popcorn. And it was awesome. I like popcorn like chicks like chocolate. But if Wendy or the boys don't share, then I'm stuck with cups and cups of leftovers. And that stuff doesn't keep. It's always been a damn shame, in my eyes. Tossing out all that popcorn.

So I watched Good Eats and I learned something new. The next morning, put those pops in bowl and add some milk. Popcorn as breakfast cereal.

It was delicious. Thank you, Alton Brown.

House Painted

House is now painted a fresh coat of "cornerstone" by Behr. trim is bright white, doors and shutters a crisp black. My house looks new and clean. I am no longer ashamed to live there.

The Gathering Storm Cover Art

So... The Gathering Storm is scheduled for publication on November 3rd, 2009. I am excited. I have already written the ~$25 into my November budget. I will get a copy and read it non-stop, ignoring spouse and children (as my wife did with Twilight).

I've been checking up on the author's blog - and he's excellent at sharing. Thank you Mr. Sanderson. However his latest entry has me cynical all over again, though through no fault of his own. TOR (the publisher) has released the cover art. And it sucks. Oh dear lawd it is awful.

Too bad SNL is over this season. This should get it's own "Really?" with Seth Meyers. This cover deserves to be mocked. Is that a wormhole in the house? A secret tunnel to Narnia? I want to junkpunch the editor that approved this.

How can I convince other people to read this series, when all the coverart looks as if it was picked from a local junior high submission contest?

As to why we are saddled with Mr. Sweet and his interpretations...It's clear that TOR signed some deal with the artist and are as such contractually obligated to use him for the whole series. Because surely otherwise rational publishers would have sacked him long before now. Or maybe the decision makers are similarly out of touch.

Did you see the midget/hobbit on the Crossroads of Twilight cover? There are no fucking hobbits in Randland! Can ANYONE explain that one?

Miss Ann's Reporting 3

To: stinky rick, bobby, uptown jane, phil hammers, pocomoco, steve, johnboy, Mrs. MBRK, jesus, eleanor, takisha, reggie veggie, heather
Cc: El Jefe
Subj: 3 hrs and done.

My belly is distended, like a trailer park manager on his night off. I can feel my skin straining, and I may get a stretch mark.


Seriously I just spent nearly half the work day in pursuit of what the WSJ declared the best in the nation.

I highly recommend it. I also recommend you bring a friend (my coworker had to bail) a book and a s-load of patience.

Oh and next time I'm leaving work no later than 10:30. That or I'm bringing my own chair.

I just burped and it tasted like...happiness and onions.

Miss Ann's Reporting 2

To: stinky rick, bobby, uptown jane, phil hammers, pocomoco, steve, johnboy, Mrs. MBRK, jesus, eleanor, takisha, reggie veggie, heather
Cc: El Jefe
Subj: 2 hrs and now I'm in

My belly hurts I'm so hungry. I was warned to skip breakfast for this.

The lady next to warns that I risk Miss Ann's wrath if I get caught texting.

Its worth the risk to keep you apprised of my adventure.

It looks soooo tasty!

Savannah

Had a great weekend touring Savannah and taking some pics. Here are a few that I liked.

Lady & Sons

We ate at Lady & Sons. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. The place has plenty of hype, to be sure. And a waiting list a mile long. It was worth the experience ( I really love the photos of Paula Dean when young) but I wouldn't eat here regularly.

I've had the damnedest time with my large lens failing to focus on the right subject. Nevertheless, those out-of-focus photos can still be great.

Watching the Inauguration

Watching the inauguration at work. Quite the turnout here. It's like a party, only like a straight-edge party where only non-alcoholic beverages are served.

Received an awesome commemorative bottle. KO RMFO.

Here's a quick rating of the applause-o-meter:

10 Laura Bush, Mrs. Cheney et al

15 George HW Bush (a few "awwws" for his trouble walking)

35 Jimmy Carter

55 The Clintons

75 Shots of Bush's stuff being moved out of the WH

111 Obama

M

did i just

Did I just drop $200 per ticket to watch my jackets CHOKE in another bowl game?

holy crap

They scored quick. Real quick.

chick fil-a bowl baby

scored some sweet tix to watch my jackets tussle with LSU. Stay tuned for updates!

Big Top in Mabeltucky

My youngest looks like a circus side-show performer in this photo. Gotta love the little people.

miserable game

Watched gt blow it against UNC today. Is going to the ACC championship too much to ask?

Shoes or southern fried food?

Delicious, enormous hush puppies. Just what every growing boy needs.

Some of you will note that I am eating turkey, stuffing, corn, and hush puppies. According to the lunch lady, I have exceeded the prescribed "meat and two veg" meal combo design and so will have to pay a surcharge. Totally worth it. Others may say that I have strayed outside the lines of the acceptable traditional turkey meal combination.

Frak you all (including you lunch lady), I believe this to be a valid meal for several reasons.
1. Turkey loves company.
2. The hush puppies are huge, and deserve to be eaten.
3. Hush puppies are derived from corn products, and so can successfully counted along with the corn as one larger conglomerated serving of "corn". Note: this argument did not fly with the lunch lady. I forked out the extra $.95 anyway.
4. I am hungry. My belly screams for fried corn meal balls.
5. Those hush puppies are HUGE and DESERVE TO BE EATEN!


Editor's note: I paid for this meal later in the evening, but I had a good magazine to read while I waited for things to sort themselves out.

I {heart} robot

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Payroll Haikus

Direct Deposit
Want it in your account?
Form says, Wachovia please!
No, you get live check.

Social Security Taxes
From a foreign land?
Law says, exempt from FICA!
Tax you anyway.

You have no ties here?
Visa says, not a citizen?
Fund my medicare.

Annual bonus
Wishing for a pool?
A nice trip, new car, fast boat?
Payroll strikes again.

Overtime
Work late. Weekends too.
Helping your group meet its goals
Time card system FAIL.

Long hours, missed dinners.
Extra cash will reward you.
Whoops. System Error.