Gonna give ya barley, spinach 'n tomaters

Kathy and I went down to Roanoke last night to drop her Prius off for its regular maintenance. Not a bad trip overall, especially since I was riding with her. Not too good for her, though, as it appears that we are writing off our formerly favorite Mexican restaurant in Roanoke permanently. It just wasn't very good.

OK, about tomatoes. This is the time of year when people's gardens are reaching full fruition, and as a result, they find that they have a surplus of produce. Thus begins the annual "pawning off of the veggies". Last Saturday, one of our neighbors brought over a passel of tomatoes and cucumbers for us; we ended up using them at the party. Then yesterday, my co-worker Marsha brought me a box full of tomatoes of various sizes and degrees of freshness, saying "take what you want". I ended up taking most of them; I figure I can use them in sauce or something soon. :)

I've heard rumblings from others here at work that they may bring more produce of their own soon. If I'm not careful, the Kath and I will be up to our necks in home-grown from now until November. Not saying it's a bad thing, but there may be some payback next year if I can get a garden patch tilled. That's all I'm sayin'.

Harold! That was your last date!!

What a weekend! We had our local "celebrate-our-wedding-please-dear-God-somebody-show-up" party this past Saturday, and we had about 10 people show up. Not all at the same time, mind you, but they were there. The beef barbecue I cooked turned out reasonably well, but it could have been better, if I had had a double-burner grill to work with. This won't be the last party we have, either. We got a scatload of entertaining implements for our wedding, and by Gar, we're a-gonna use 'em!

After the guests left, it was movie night at the McGuires'. First we tried to get through Y Tu Mama Tambien (see previous post), but didn't quite make it. Not because it was boring; let's just say we had to take a break.

After our break, we switched over to another film: Harold and Maude. Fantastic movie, in case you haven't seen it. Thing is, I can't imagine a movie like this being made today. Either a studio executive would dismiss the whole May-late December romance aspect entirely, or he would make sure it was American Pie-ized to the point where it would turn out to be a joke of the lady playing the character of Maude. Thankfully the story is given space to develop, so that you can actually believe a 20-year old man could really fall in love with an 80-year old woman.

We rounded up our movie viewing this weekend with Phenomenon. Not a bad movie, but a bit coying in parts. I will admit, however, to crying WARNING! SPOILER ALERT! when John Travolta's character dies in the arms of the woman he loves. That's the way I want to go.

Next time: tomatoes, squash pie, and Ah-nold.

Hey, Balance THIS fairly!

In case you haven't noticed, I've changed the subtitle of my blog to "My life, fair and balanced". The reason is that Fox News has decided to sue Al Franken over the title of his new book, which utilizes the words "Fair and balanced"

Fox News claims it trademarked the phrase back in 1995, and that Franken's use of it would create confusion and sully the phrase that FN has worked so hard to claim as its own.

While I believe they'd have a point if Al were starting a news network with that phrase as some sort of trademark, the book in itself is a satire of these ridiculous screeds by the likes of Ann Coulter and Michael Savage which lambaste the left in this country, as well as Fox News itself.

Al himself has dismissed the suit as frivelous, and the publicity has sent advanced orders of his book to #1 on the Amazon charts. In the meantime I am joining many of my fellow bloggers in changing myself to a "Fair and balanced" blog. If Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes want to come after me, I'm right here. They can get my outdated computer AND my busted-up stereo if they win the lawsuit.

In the immortal words of the Only President We Got: "Bring them on." Doinks!

Friday Five, Clint One

Yep, it's that time of the week again:

1. How much time do you spend online each day?
About 1 1/2 hours a day. (stop laughing, Kathy! :P)

2. What is your browser homepage set to?
My Yahoo at home, the News-Gazette home page at work.

3. Do you use any instant messaging programs? If so, which one(s)?
I use Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger. I've also used AIM and ICQ, but not recently.

4. Where was your first webpage located?
At http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/3096.

5. How long have you had your current website?
See above site. As far as I'm concerned it is my current website, and I've had it for five years (as of next month). I haven't updated it in a while, though. Maybe I should. Maybe I should!

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As I noted earlier, I rented The Hours earlier this week, and Kathy and I finally got around to watching it the other night. Nicole Kidman did a very nice job as Virginia Woolf in the movie, but I think if anyone should have won an Oscar for her performance in the film, it should have been Julieanne Moore.

On the whole, the movie was kind of a downer, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It was poignant and deep, but I sure didn't feel like singing for joy when the end credits rolled.

Last night, we watched Y Tu Mama Tambien, or at least the first part of it. We were too tired to make it all the way through. One thing about it, though. If you rent or buy the unrated version, be prepared for a bit of a jolt at the beginning.

Having heard virtually nothing about the movie, I popped our copy in the DVD and prepared to watch. The opening credits rolled, and the title of the movie has barely faded from the screen when the first shot of the movie showed a young couple doing the nasty in flagrante. I don't mean in the Hollywoodized "sheet-barely-covering-the-NC17-spots-with-slow-thrusting" sex style. I'm talking bare asses in the air, banging the s&!t out of each other, almost porno kind of sex. It may have been after midnight when I started watching this, but needless to say that first shot grabbed my attention. Yikes!

I may write more later. Have fun, kiddies!

Thursdays... I never could get the hang of Thursdays

First of all, to all the Xanga bloggers out there, welcome back!

Saw on the news that there are now 135 confirmed candidates for governor in California. Add Father Guido Sarducci (aka Don Novello) and professional self-promoter Angelyne to the mix for Gov. Also on the ballot will be Michael Jackson and Richard Simmons, but not the ones you think. In the meantime Ahnold is getting hit on all sides; the liberals don't like him because he's a Republican, and the conservatives don't like him because he's too socially liberal. I'm just glad I live in Virginia, where the state GOP chairman recently had to resign because he wiretapped the state Democratic Party offices.

Oh, and for fans of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (and you know who you are!), there's a tribute CD coming out in October. Should be pretty damn cool!

Change is gonna come...

I've redone the links to the right. I updated most of those whose blogs led to dead links, and added a few new ones to the party. Hope you like.

Oops! A couple of the links weren't working. Fixed 'em!

Blogs, memes and stuff

I have set up a blog for myself and Kathy to share couple news with everyone. It's right here! a better design will come; oh, it WILL come! :)
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Since This-or-That is on hiatus, I am putting the Friday Five up here today, since I missed it last Friday. Hope you don't mind:

1. What's the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country?
That would be Boone, NC this past weekend. Before that it was Helen GA (my sister's wedding), and New Orleans for our honeymoon!

2. What's the most bizarre/unusual thing that's ever happened to you while traveling?
Hmmm, trying to think of something bizarre that happened. I guess it would be when I passed out drunk and nekkid in a hotel room in Gainesville, GA.

3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go?
Well, here's my five-within-The Five:
1) Ireland
2) Tahiti
3) Japan
4) Italy
5) Cuba

4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car?
Having recently traveled by train, I have to say that that is my favorite way to travel. However, since I've never flown before, that opinion is a bit skewed.

5. What's the next place on your list to visit?
San Antonio, TX, home of my wifey's dad and stepmom. Thanksgiving. Yee-haw!
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I've rented The Hours. Hopefully I can give a report on it next time.

California Über Alles

The birthday was okay, being a prime number and all. I got my first "Husband" birthday card, which caused me to cry. If you're married, hopefully you understand.

It looks like the race to become governor of California should the voters recall Gray Davis (a strong possibility) is going to be a wild one. Over 300 people have nominating papers, and if only 10 percent of them actually file, the ballot'll be more confusing than stereo instructions. Among the currently viable candidates are:

*Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine, and the candiidate running as "The smut-peddler who cares." He also recently organized a "Day of Prayer" to ask God for the death of Bill O'Reilly. Apparently it worked about as well as Pat Robertson's Operation Kill-the-liberal-justices-oops-I-mean-Operation-Supreme-Court-Freedom-yeah-that's-the-ticket!

*Gary Coleman, the former child star and occasional guest on "Where are they Now?" specials. You know this candidacy can only work if he brings in Danny Bonaduce as a running mate.

*Gallagher, the infamous murderer of thousands of innocent watermelons, and prop comic who paved the way for Carrot Top. This alone should be reason enough to not vote for him.

Other candidates with far less visibility, but no less entertainment value, can be found listed in this report. Gubernatorial thongs; why didn't I think of that?
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Finally, this one's for O especially. They're baaack!

If I only get one birthday present this year...

by God, it better not be THIS!

What next?

It's my birthday

hooray

Leavin' Louisiana in the broad daylight

The week since the return from our honeymoon hasd been hectic, to say the least. Busy at work, busy (and a mess) at home, plus we are traveling to Helen GA this weekend to attend my sister's wedding (which I only found out about two weeks ago; GRRRRR!). And, This-or-That is on hiatus.

In its stead, I present:

The Top Ten Things I Learned on My Honeymoon

1. A train is a cool as hell way to travel, but if you get a sleeper car, make sure your travel buddy doesn't eat any foods that even remotely cause gas at least 48 hours before the trip.

2. If you're planning on staying in the French Quarter on a trip to Nawlins, pack some earplugs. That is, unless you don't plan on sleeping or are one of the 3 people on Earth who can sleep with rented Harleys roaring by your hotel room every 7 minutes and 38 seconds (trust me, I timed it).

3. The muffuletta is THE greatest sandwich on Earth. and the best place in the world to get a muffuletta is at Central Grocery.

4. If your goal is to get as drunk as possible on Bourbon Street, then a Hand Grenade from any of a number of to-go vendors is the way to go.

5. Pat O'Brien's is not as jockish as its name might imply. However, their world-famous Hurricanes are definitely made for two people to consume.

6. Don't wander into St. Louis Cemetary #1 unescorted, day OR night. And for God's sake, don't mention the fact that the Superdome is built on top of an old cemetary.

7. There is nothing like being serenaded by a gay waiter at a burger joint at midnight in the French Quarter while you're on your honeymoon.

8. Rasta Superman rules the night.

9. A Branson t-shirt will not get you beaten up if you wear it in New Orleans. Bring an overshort with you, though, just in case.

10. Sex shops in the Big Easy? Surprisingly underwhelming.

Oooh, pretty!

The link of the day:

You can make flowers grow with the help of your mouse and some clouds!

Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement

That dweam within a dweam (I love the Impressive Clergyman!)

As you can tell from this post, Kathy and I tied the knot this past Saturday. It was an incredibly beautiful ceremony. Throughout the years, I have dreamed of what my wedding would be like: the bride, the guests, the location, the cake. Many times throughout the day Saturday, I found myself looking at the assembled ceremony and thinking: "This is it, this is the wedding I've always wanted." And to tell the truth, there is very little that I would have changed about the wedding, save for having a few key people there. :)

The trip to New Orleans was great as well. This was the first time (not counting Tweetsie) that I ever traveled by rail, and for those that have never done it, I highly recommend it if you have the time. We traveled first class, got free meals and bedding, and for less than it would have taken to fly. Of course, we also found time to cuddle and coo as honeymooners are wont to do.

So far, New Orleans has been all I thought it would be. So many sights sounds and tastes to absorb, and I've a feeling when we leave Saturday, we won't have scratched the surface.

At one point, I looked at Kathy and told her that I had never thought I could possibly love her more than I did before the wedding, but I was wrong. Since then, my love for this woman has only grown exponentially. I just look forward to the next 50-60 years with her. I'll write in more detail later, when I'm not buying Internet time by the minute. See ya!

Three days was the morning

Okay, unless I find an internet connection ready and willing for me in Boone or New Orleans, this'll be my last post until the 28th, so I'd better make it a good one.

We are set to go to Boone this evening after we both get off work. No one else has dropped out yet; emphasis on YET! Mom and Dad had a present all set for us to pick up from Best Buy (a TV, we think), but after they gave them a bunch of grief about picking it up, they changed their minds and got us something else.

The last day before my 12 day vacation has been SLOOOOOOWWW! I feel like the clock is just crawling towards the 5:00 mark. Of course it'll be here before I know it, but still I feel just a bit drowsy.

I'm getting married!!! WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!

This That and da udder Ting!

Yeppers it's Tuesday, and you know what that means...

1. Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck?
The wabbit, though I felt sorry for Daffy sometimes (especially when he was pitted against Speedy Gonzales)
2. Tom or Jerry?
Tom all the way!
3. Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?
Donald. I used to dream of satrting the "Donald Duck Club" when I was a kid.
4. Rocky & Bullwinkle or Boris & Natasha?
Rocky and Bullwinkle
5. Road Runner or Wile E. Coyote?
Wile E. Coyote... Superrrrrrrrrrrr-Geeeenius!
6. Sylvester or Tweety?
Sylvester. Hmmm, I'm sensing a trend here.
7. Popeye or Bluto?
Popeye!
8. South Park or The Simpsons?
Ack! Why must I make these choices? Why couldn't it be South Park vs. Spongebob? Ummm... both!
9. Jetsons or Flintstones?
The Jetsons. I want a flying car.
10. And finally, the eternal question asked by all good Scooby-Doo fans: Velma or Daphne?
Yikers! Ummm, Velma. Brainy chicks get me.