nextstepz

The light outside today is very pastel and diffused-- nice!

I think we're all almost recovered from Thanksgiving week. Sheesh, what a blur. We all staggered around a little bit, and finally narrowed down the malaise to mild jet lag. The dogs are clingy and tired after a week of boarding. If possible, they're even stinkier than usual 8-O Bathing them is such an ordeal, though. It's easiest to just peel off the clothes and get in the tub with them. Think I could sell that video? Aaaahhhahahahaha! Ehhh, no.

The long-term project fell by the wayside a bit, but back to work. Exercise today and tomorrow is going to have to be in the form of generalized running around, though. I just want to feel like I did the year I turned 40! OMG, that was so great. Heh heh heh... no comment (naughty grin).

Yay for the kid's grades being so good! He's got high B's in all three academics, pushing A's!

Have spent far too much time over the last two weeks (the ones spent at home, anyway) monkeying with the kid's computer, trying to get a browser-- ANY browser-- operable. He downloaded Norton, which, according to a lot of comments I've seen on diagnostic message boards, many computer gurus opine to be garbage, and it promptly devoured something (the registry is the prime suspect) and will not connect for love or money. I've thrown in the towel, and am headed to MicroCenter this very day to replace the thing. He's got a bells-and-whistles computer at his dad's, so a garden-variety model will be fine.

Random A: My favorite blog, Paris Breakfast, has some absolutely gorgeous photos of the Russian Tea Room! Look at her 11/24 entry: http://www.parisbreakfast.com/

Random B: Last week at the Fontana bar at the Bellagio, we had a really yummy drink called a limonito, which was their tweaked version of a mojito... it was Bacardi Limon with a splash of fresh-squeezed lemon juice and cranberry juice, served in a martini glass rimmed with ultrafine sugar. Dangerously good. Mojitos are also evilly delicious, mmmmm...

Random C: Indecision over Sandra Lee on Food Network. I can't decide if she gets on my nerves, or if I would walk over hot coals to wake up in the morning looking like that. Dang. I think those are real, and she's annoyingly California thin. Real ones should be somewhat low-slung and European-looking, like Princess Diana's and Sophia Loren's. They should not be up around one's collarbone. Classic cleavage should leave room for jewelry and occasional appreciative ogles.

Random D: This is giving me the serious seafood joneses: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_pa/episode/0,1976,FOOD_10234_45161,00.html

Random E: On the flight back, I decided what SkyMall catalog is. It is the Sears Christmas toy catalog for grown-ups. I could grow to love those noise-reduction headphones. Also, XM radio is pretty swell, and the folks on AirTran flight crews are cool. Had a great, funny, blabby pilot on the flight out. A bit of learned-it-the-hard-way for any young, hetero, female readers: Type A Men are like Great Danes: a whole lot of trouble to actually live with, but real charming in small doses.

Posted by nextstepz at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

well, we made it (barely) thru the vegas trip. let's just say the town isn't a good choice for really conservative old people. the DH's face is LOTS better but his ribs still hurt. the scrape on his right cheekbone was so deep that his crow's feet are gone on that side now. i told him if he wanted cosmetic surgery that bad, there were easier ways of going about getting some... feeling better, though. it's easy to get down with some people around. ugh.

the dogs got bored in the house while we were gone, and somehow managed to get the kid's 2005 Macy's Parade shako plume and completely murdered it. it looks like a henhouse exploded in his room. haven't cleaned it up yet; we keep just going in to admire the total devastation.

the camp went really well this weekend. it seemed like all the people who know what they're looking/listening to were pleasantly surprised with who and what they had. the kids all seemed to have a great time and all the vets were so happy to see each other. i hope 2007 will be a turning point year; man, is it time.

i think all 50,000,000,000 leaves fell in our yard from all those trees while we were gone. it's like a black hole of manual labor out there. great to have so much good organic stuff for the plants, though.

first, to de-feather, then, to de-leaf.

Posted by nextstepz at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

why in the world did i think this trip would turn out any differently than it would, going with the two most uptight, miserable, passive-aggressive, out-of-touch people in the known universe. they drive me up the wall.

if anybody whose mom is dead would like to have mine for the holidays, leave a comment. i got one who makes me wanna run away from home and change my name.

what's it like to have a mom who likes you?

dh feels like crap and now i do, too. life has sucked the joy out of me for almost a year now.

Posted by nextstepz at 3:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

I wouldn't say the slots have exactly been what'd be called generous. Feh. Boy, comfy shoes and an inclination toward really long walks are a definite plus in this town. It is SO huge. Had a fabulous time last night at the Fontana bar veranda at Bellagio, where there is the BEST view of that incredible water show and some tasty beverages (the latter of which were tres helpful to the DH's aching ribcage). We checked out the Wynn, which is beyond gorgeous, and did some more window shopping at the Forum Shoppes at Caesar's. Tonight we're going to take the 'rents to gawp at Bellagio and (hopefully) the light show on Fremont Street... we found the architect's model of the completed addition to the Venetian, which will effectively dwarf the existing two towers and make it the biggest resort in the world with 7K rooms. It is just SO gigantic already.

The DH has been enjoying the hot tubs at the hotel, which seem to be helping a lot.

Just found these little news-nuggets at Wonkette... very creepy! What has he *done*? http://www.wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php

Posted by nextstepz at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Lucki-er, that is. The DH fell (we are too YOUNG for #&%*ing falling down, but whatever) and damn near hurt himself really badly. He has skateboarder-face, although nothing that looks like it'll scar, but is in a lot of pain in his ribcage. He doesn't imbibe as much as me, so is having to rely on ibuprofen for pain relief. I wish he had some darvo-whatsit. He really feels terrible and there's nothing I can do to help except tend the scraped bits with neosporin and put some cover-up on the bruises, and he has some doozies of the latter. He won't try scotch, heh heh. I have GOT to get that boy back in condition. If only he'd stop resisting...

We're in LV with the 'rents, who are completely overwhelmed by the size of things and how far it is to walk anywhere. They're basically bible-belt smalltown folks, and the whole idea of throwing caution to the wind is basically from another planet to them. Last I heard, they'd eaten every meal at Denny's... and are enjoying the nickel slots. And no cocktails. Woohoo. I wish my dad would go to the traditional Bally's Jubilee show with the sparkly dancers and all that stuff, but mom is weird about that. It's just boobs, y'know? Museums are full of 'em. I don't know what the big deal is. He'd enjoy going to an old-school kind of show like that. They're going to "Mamma Mia" tonight... I love Vegas. It's so fun. My real life is so dratted responsible and bleah, and I just love expensive window-shopping and bright lights and slot machines, if only for a little while.

The DH has gone to the hottub to see if it'll help. Maybe I'll join him. Always funny to wear a swimsuit and jewelry, hahahaha! The swimsuit I brought has more "structure" in it than the Brooklyn Bridge. It puts the girls back up where they by-god belong. I can't breathe well in it, but sacrifices must be made.

So I talked to the kid, and he's gotten some kind of gastro virus, bleah. Poor thing. I hope he's better. He called late last night for a dose of soft-spoken momma on the phone. I cooed obligingly, and he seemed to feel better.

The longterm project is going like wow...l'm down a size already. Woot.

Posted by nextstepz at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

Yes, Virginia, there really *are* do-overs once in a while in this sweet, sweet life.

It was pure, absolute joy.

The kids pulled an absolutely hair-raising performance out of their hip pockets for us Friday night: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1098924272345288701

Over 33,000 views of these photos since Sunday night: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/555510640qJaLZF">

Posted by nextstepz at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

Life is like varrrroooooom lately.

The kid was off at quarter to four this morning for the band's trip to Indy. I watched him pack, in less than 15 minutes, last night and was impressed. Last summer's drum corps experience was a quantum leap for his organizational skills. He just turned in a very respectable research paper, his first paper ever, in fact. He really put his shoulder to the proverbial grindstone and put some work into it. I observed and offered a few suggestions on beefing up the content, but didn't write it. (The rubric included instructions for using the Chicago format, which I have decided is dorky and blah, but whatever.) Indy:marching band as World Series:baseball, so we've got our fingers crossed. I hope it all goes well.

We went over to watch rehearsal the other night, and I saw someone who looked remarkably like the Ex. Asked the kid about it, since my long-range vision can be iffy at times, and he asked, "Why would my dad be here?" I didn't know what to say and said nothing. Why, indeed, and that's so sad. He misses so much.

The long-term project is still going okay.

The next 48 hours will be a midlife memory gut-check, as this old broad attempts to commit about four minutes of color guard routine to memory. Actual moths and dust may come out of my ears during this process, but I'm looking forward to an enjoyable college band reunion weekend.

I narked out a whacko evangelical nutjob on a message board last night to the site admin and was glad to find the thread deleted this morning. Somebody made the regrettable mistake of starting a topic involving politics, and the nutjob responded with religious proselytizing and language derogatory to the gay community. Oh, no ma'am, we will not leave that alone. I've had gay family members and many, many gay friends, and am not going to stand by quietly while some idiot makes asinine comments about them. Rudeness is inexcusable, and so are jerks, the latter of which led me to bookmark this: http://bobsutton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/08/marges_asshole_.html

There truly are some people who could just care less about how many people hate them, and the best that we can all hope for is that they're not breeding.

Posted by nextstepz at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

Am sitting here watching the President's news conference.

Without actually being in the room with the guy, I can smell a man who's uncomfortable, stressed, and on the defensive, and I tell you what: the guy reeks of it. He's chattering a little too fast, he seems over-caffeinated, his responses to the press are anticipatory and tellingly accusatory ("you're trying to get me to..."), and finally, the pitch of his voice keeps grating up to a Texan whine.

Rumsfeld has stepped down, but W is replacing him with the former head of the CIA, and it sounds for all the world like the American President has closed his eyes, put his fingers in his ears, and decided he's going to pursue the impossible crap that is Iraq and go down fighting.

I keep seeing comments on the 'net that people can't believe how out of touch those guys are... have they never tried to convince a middle-aged guy of ONE damn thing he didn't think of himself? Find some middle-aged women and ask THEM...

Dr. James "Focus on the Family" Dobson says he's quitting Ted Haggard's "restoration team". Oh, for God's sake. Ted should just come out and get on with a new life, and Gayle should get a good divorce attorney and get as far from Colorado as she can. Those people are fooling themselves.

I am so excited that somebody else who has had a baby, shopped for swimsuits, put on pantyhose, colors her hair, and plucks her eyebrows is going to be the Speaker of the House! A woman Speaker of the House, and before I got to be an old woman! I hope she knows how many of us are watching her... c'mon, Nancy. Do it right.

PM edit: Great blog, and is that the cutest header photo ever, or what? http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/

Posted by nextstepz at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

In 100 hours, the top five oil companies will take in $4.3 billion in profits.
In 100 hours, $1.1 billion will be spent on the war in Iraq.
In 100 hours, the public debt will grow by $4.9 billion.
In 100 hours, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies will gain $2.6 billion in profits.
In 100 hours, the top CEOs will earn an average of $2 million each.
In 100 hours, a minimum wage worker working 8 hours a day will earn $171.67.

(compiled by Rep. Nancy Pelosi)

CNN ran a telling statistic last night. Even though everybody knows statistics can be manipulated to indicate practically anything, I thought this one was interesting: 73% of Americans polled described themselves as "angry" about at least of the major issues of this midterm election.

Guess we'll find out whether that was accurate data or not tonight.

In more prosaic news, the band, in the waning moments of what amounts to DCI Finals week for high school bands and a trip to Indianapolis this weekend, is out in the chilly mist polishing the show right now. People who've never done it absolutely don't get it, but there's something about shared suffering (ha) in the form of foul weather that has a bonding effect. The kid loves it, and that's all I care about.

He's been writing an absolutely jam-up research paper about the influence of the Medici on the Renaissance; it's been interesting to watch him put it all together.

Posted by nextstepz at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

It's always a curious sensation when you know you're watching history being made.

Pat Buchanan's article in the Nov. 20 issue of American Conservative: http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_11_20/feature.html

It'll be a relief to be done with this midterm election, though. It's incredible to me that there are still so many SUVs around here that still sport "W" and "Bush/Cheney 04" stickers, but given where we live, not that surprising, I guess.

(edit: Eep! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001311.html )

I've got about four minutes of colorguard work to learn this week. The entire notion of memorizing that much flag work after so many years is unnerving, but I worked on it for about half an hour over the weekend, and other than it being difficult to "mirror" the routine because the video was taken with the instructor facing the camera, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I refuse to go out there and "tick", heh...

Posted by nextstepz at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

you know the rest.

The new project is going well, but requiring a lot of mental effort. Use it or lose it? Ha.

I feel so sorry for Gayle Haggard. I hope she gets a good attorney (what's a good attorney? one who makes sure the client is cared for both practically and emotionally) and has some good non-church (neutral, objective) friends to give her some emotional support. It's not like there are any blue ribbons to be earned by sticking with that guy. The sad truth is that other women, when you're going through a marital breakup, spook like a flock of birds, like your life chaos is communicable. I hope the media leaves them alone. Ted's the story. Don't ruin his wife.

We saw the word schadenfreude so many times online, we finally looked it up. I'm not sure any guilt is required for feeling relief/pleasure at the inevitable downfall of a group of people who've used and trodden on the backs of so many people in their greed for power. Sometimes those who've made their beds have to lie in them.

This afternoon has a nice autumn smell-- burning leaves, cool fresh air, and chai tea, with a soundtrack of snoring basset hounds. Last night, we walked the dogs after dark and could hear the announcer and the band all the way from the high school football game. When the kid gets home from band practice, he is bouncing and smiling, and smells like a combination of crisp air and that marvelous bandroom smell, of musty instrument cases, 350 backpacks, and boundless enthusiasm. If only I could slow this time down; it's going by so quickly.

Late edit: I just found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf7dn4VrYXs
This is just so swell. I used to have a Mary Chapin Carpenter CD, but haven't seen it in forever. Maybe it's just what's left of my Southernness, but I love all those girls for putting on sequins and lots of makeup and Doing Their Hair (nobody does their hair any more) for their audience.

Got it the hard way. Well, yeah. Every woman I know has had some hard times; some just do a good job not letting anybody know.

Posted by nextstepz at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

paris breakfasts

Posted by nextstepz at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

The band's not performing tonight due to senior night ceremonies, so we're going to give this game a pass. It's pretty cold, but I'm going to try to get in a mile & a half of walking. Yesterday's turnkey health moment got my attention :(

Cooked the Paul Prudhomme "Midtown Meatloaf" last night for the guys, and they were giddy as always. His Seasoned America cookbook is choice. Everything in it turns out tasty.

We did the early voting thing yesterday, and it's really a snap.

I wonder what the conservative scandal-du-jour will be. The Ted Haggard story hit my newsfeed about 7:00 last night, and I told the resident news junkie, "there's the big story tomorrow".

Politicians sure seem like an overly-libidinous lot, don't they?

Del.icio.us de.livers another fascinating site: http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/ The hybridized words are a little much, but most of the ideas seems pretty solid. Cool.

Later edit: The resident newsman was smack in the middle of a lurid Haggard-esque story all day today, and that one's still on the front burner on Marietta Street. This story's not funny at ALL because the guy was involved with minors, and is HIV-positive and wasn't telling anyone. His MySpace site is creepy. I can't believe his MySpace is still up.

And the Ted Haggard story definitely sprouted wings and flew. I'm losing the capacity, as a commentor on Wonkette said, to keep track of all the scandals flying around this year. http://www.wonkette.com is so fun, hee hee!

More cultural shift symptoms, every day.

Okay, am now on my third newsreader in as many days. Google, make way for Yahoo. RSS is just too useful...

Posted by nextstepz at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments

The weather around here is all over the charts. One day, shorts, the next day, thermal unders. Whoa.

Deleted Feedreader and subscribed to Google Reader; it seems like a beta version, but the interface is a little better.

Posted by nextstepz at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments

Have also updated the desktop to IE7, and added Feedreader v3.06 (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1027544364/1) to the laptop, which is running Windows 2000, although that doesn't support IE7, but that's no big deal, considering what an insane bargain the laptop was. IE7 is so much better than IE6, gosh. For the personal-growth file, I'd like to spend more time in Zaadz. Added this new template from http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com/ and a del.icio.us tagroll. The latter can be so addicting, especially the "recent" link. This template seems to have some hiccups as far as paragraph spacing, so I'll have to work on that.

Something is going to happen tomorrow that I've needed to do for a really long time. It will take some work, and I really don't know what to expect, but I'm committed to making it work.

Now reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It's blowing me away as much as The Sedona Method did.

Posted by nextstepz at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments