All the news that’s fit to type

Posted on August 4, 2005 by Solonor

You know it’s bad when a person who never reads your blog says, “Gee, when are you going to update your blog?”

When I’m damned good and ready! is my answer. So there.

Um. I guess that would be now.

First off, while I still haven’t seen any pictures of my own niece, there are some mighty cute ones over at Words for Snow. Congrats to Suzie and Tim!

No, Pepperkat has not gotten her driving permit, yet. She’s got an appointment for after school on Monday. (Did I tell you that Florida is one messed up state and that the kid started school again on August 1?)

Over at Stupid Evil Bastard, I saw where that lovable skeptic, James Randi, had made available the Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural online for free! While I’m not one to go overboard in saying there’s no such thing as forces beyond our understanding, I love it when a good scam artist gets busted.

Speaking of scam artists, Sherri at her Lists of Books tagged me for a book meme. My spouse would be better at this, since she’s one of those people that is always reading three books at once (keeping one in the bedroom, one in the living room, one in the car, etc., so she’s always got one handy). But here it is:

Number of books on shelf?
A hundred or so, scattered about the house on shelves, in boxes, on the floor, etc.
Last book purchased?
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Books I’m reading now?
The Glorious Cause, Jeff Shaara
How to Write Songs on Guitar, Rikky Rooksby
Last five books read?
1. 150 Most Banned Books (thanks, Sherri!)
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. The Know-It-All, A.J. Jacobs
4. The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore
5. Adams vs. Jefferson, John Ferling

And, in case you were wondering what kind of crap I’ve been working on, I finished writing about eight songs during my vacation last week. I’m still working on recording them. I don’t know why I picked the blues song first. Probably just because I wanted to show off my sloppy guitar playing. Ric the Schmuck should appreciate it, at least. (I thought about calling it just “Am Blues”… ‘cuz it’s in A-minor… get it? Bwahahaha! Shut up.)

3AM Blues

Right-click and save it. The link will disappear after a bit. Though it should be over there in the radio blog for a while.

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything, Tunes, Wouldya Lookit That! | 5 Comments

Pray for me

Posted on July 29, 2005 by Solonor

emdriver.jpg

We’re heading out to get Pepperkat’s learner’s permit today. *gulp*

UPDATE: Never mind. The branch of the DMV that does the testing is closed on Friday. (Pssst. Whoever actually prayed for that… I was only joking!)

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything | 3 Comments

They’re breeding like rabbits!

Posted on July 28, 2005 by Solonor

Yet another Norton has been let loose upon the unsuspecting mortals of planet Earth. Say hello to my little niece… Chyann Faith, born last night, 4lbs 7oz. I’m sure pictures will follow.

In other news, today was school schedule day. For some reason only known to God and the Florida school boards, our young ‘uns are back at the metriculation on Monday, August 1. So, the remaining high schooler, the new college freshman and I trudged up to Sanford to pick up Pepperkat’s schedule. While we were at it, we stopped into SCC and got Whiny all registered for classes, too. What with the cooking class the Mrs. will be taking in August, I feel all kindsa left out on the ole learnin’ front.

Good thing I already know everything, eh?

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything | 8 Comments

Speaking of humor…

Posted on July 27, 2005 by Solonor

We went to see a free preview of Stealth on Monday. It wasn’t awful, but definitely not my cuppa tea.

The real exciting part was outside the theater. There in its 50’s sci-fi glory was a poster for The Man with the Screaming Brain.

“Man with the Screaming Brain is a story of greed, betrayal and revenge in the former Eastern European block. William Cole, wealthy industrialist, goes looking for a tax shelter in the wrong part of the world and winds up the guinea pig for a mad scientist, having his brain merged with that of Yegor, a former KGD operative. The two couldn’t be more different, but they share one thing – both were killed by the same woman. William and Yegor form an unlikely partnership to track down their common nemesis. If I were pitching it in Hollywood, I’d say it’s The Out-of-Towners with a brain transplant.” – BCM

Yes! A Bruce Campbell movie! Not only that, but he is going to appear at the Fashion Square Mall Coliseum of Comics to sign his book Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way and to attend two screenings of the movie on August 16.

We are so there. Crowd or no crowd.

Posted in Wouldya Lookit That! | 2 Comments

Humor Test

Posted on July 26, 2005 by Solonor

On vacation this week, working on CD #2… that is when I’m not out watching the Space Shuttle take off or taking stupid quizzes about my taste in humor that I found at Les’ blog.

Continue reading →

Posted in Wouldya Lookit That! | 8 Comments

Tank you, boyss.

Posted on July 25, 2005 by Solonor

While I never thought the Lawrence Welk Show was wunnerful, wunnerful, it was part of my formative years (it was our “old people are making us watch this” show before Murder She Wrote and Matlock… Maaaaaaatlock…). So, it’s actually a little sad to hear that accordion player Myron Floren has died. He’s finally joined that big band in the sky.

And a one-a, and a two-a…

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything | 2 Comments

Glass half-full or empty?

Posted on July 22, 2005 by Solonor

For the optimists in the audience, there’s news that Microsoft announced its new operating system: Microsoft Windows Vista

For the rest of us: Every OS Sucks

Posted in Wouldya Lookit That! | 5 Comments

hit the navajo button guys

Posted on July 22, 2005 by Solonor

I’m rolling on the floor… excuse me… I mean ROTFL… at If World War Two had been an online Real Ttime Strategy game.

Good thing I watch the History Channel, though…

[ via Sgt. Grump ]

Posted in Strangeness | 2 Comments

A keyboard guitar…how quaint!

Posted on July 21, 2005 by Solonor

’tis a rare occasion when I get the chance to pack up the guitar and go sing with someone (other than the church choir). So, when Sherri suggested that we head over to her friend Pattie’s house and jam, I leapt at the chance. Other than an isolated Revolver reunion (5 years ago?) and church sing-a-longs, I haven’t sat around singing and playing with anyone other than my dad since the mid-80’s.

Of course, the combination of lack of human interaction and nervousness led to my looking like a worse spaz than usual. I dropped things. I stabbed Sherri with the guitar. I giggled too much. But, mainly, I was brain dead.

“So, what artists do you like,” Pattie asked.

“Um, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, the Beatles,” I stammered.

“So, play some!”

*crickets*

I couldn’t remember anything! I couldn’t come up with a song title to save my life. I couldn’t remember how to play “Early Morning Rain” or anything. And when they asked me to play one of my own songs, I couldn’t even remember their names! Just sad.

Fortunately, they were so patient and so talented that we had a great time anyway. We went through a bunch of song books and played a little of this and a little of that. The harmonies were great. They even let me sing some old country songs when my amnesia lifted. (Don’t worry, Sherri, your secret country roots are safe with me!)

It was such a blast that I hope to get a chance to do it again very, very soon.

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything, Tunes | 4 Comments

Scotty beamed up, at last

Posted on July 20, 2005 by Solonor

CNN.com – James Doohan, ‘Star Trek’s’ Scotty, dead – Jul 20, 2005

You knew it was going to happen eventually. He was, after all, the chief red shirt.

(I’m going to hell for that, but I’ll bet he’d laugh.)

Posted in Life, the Universe and Everything | 5 Comments