As Of Today...

I am officially unemployed.

and
it
feels
GREAT!

"...and it was everything I thought it could be."

iPod Meme

Like Moxie, I have been exposed to many a meme, but I never posted one. Until now. This is the coolest one I've seen. So iPod meme (though I don't have an iPod, I do use iTunes...)

iPod (iTunes) Meme

Total:
7070 songs,
21.7 days,
28.62 GB (though I do have some duplicates)

Sort by Song Title
First: 'Round Midnight John Coltrane
Last: Zona Mona - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Sort by Artist
First: Love Among The Ruins - 10,000 Maniacs
Last: Tush - ZZ Top

Sort by Album
First: 'round About Midnigt - Miles Davis Quintet
Last: You've Come A Long Way Baby - Fat Boy Slim

Find "Sex" - How Many Songs Show Up?
37

Find "Death" - How Many Songs Show Up?
4

Find "Love" - How Many Songs Show Up?
246

Find "Peace" - How Many Songs Show Up?
38

Find "Rain" - How Many Songs Show Up?
84

Find "Sun" - How Many Songs Show Up?
68

First Ten Tracks on Shuffle:
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
Dogs Of War - Pink Floyd
Take It Up - World Party
Shameless - Po' Girl
Mr. Oysterhead - Oysterhead
Kalifornia - Fat Boy Slim
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing - Stevie Wonder
At The Wall - Dane Cook
Naima - John Coltrane
Planet of New Orleans - Dire Straits

Consider yourself tagged...

Hoooo-Boy!

a. I just siphoned off a glass of hard cider from the carboy. It will definitely improve with age, but it's a rip-snorter even in it's youth. You're all in big big trouble.

b. I'm retired. For a little while. Sorta. This is the longest period of time I haven't worked since I was in college (three weeks!).

c. Disposed of: three giant contractor bags. Three tubs of recyclable bottles. Four boxes of mixed paper. There are two big boxes of stuff going to goodwill.

d. I'm going to see Keller this weekend.

e. We can ill afford another Klendathu.

f. My house is a mess. Good thing I've got company coming over to keep me honest.

Twice in one week. Who woulda thunkit?

I've been meaning to post this graphic for quite some time. I've always been a fan of Tom Tomorrow's This Modern World. But I feel he's found the most succinct summation of our fearless leader I've ever seen.

And thanks to the miracle of cafepress, this graphic is now available on mugs, bumperstickers, and ladies underpants. Tom also posted a quick joke today that, while a groaner, still really made me laugh:

Just had a brief power outage. Couldn’t get any information on my little battery radio. So as I sat there in the dark, with absolutely no idea what was going on outside my front door, I thought to myself, “Wow–this is what it’s like to be a Bush voter.”

Ba doom boom.

I’ll be here all week. Tell your friends.

Next up, more tales of plants.

Meals to Die For. Literally.

Yeah, so I had intended to post about all kinds of stuff, and it just hasn't happened. But finally I find myself inspired. Calanctus and I went into DC last night for dinner at David Greggory RestauLounge. The reason?

Chef Greggory Hill's Aphrodisiac Bacon Dinner.

That's right, I said Aphrodisiac Bacon Dinner.

And everyone knows that bacon is my favorite spice, right? Well, it's a good thing I'm taking the cholesterol drugs nowadays. Peruse this 6-course menu:

Appetizers

Wrapped Shrimp w. Burger's Country Peppered Bacon (Missouri)

Bacon Tasting:

Gatton Farm Father's Hickory Smoked Bacon (Kentucky)

Petit Jean Trail Ozark Natural Hickory Smoked Bacon (Arkansas)

Legns and Cooter Semillon, '03 (SE Australia)

---------------------------------------------------------

Dinner

Caramelized Onion, Tomato and Carlton Dry Cured Bacon (Oregon) Tart

Clos Clare Riesling, 2004 (Clare Valley, Australia)

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Seared Salmon w/Gatton Farm Father's Hickory Smoked Bacon (Kentucky)

Valencian Rice and Salmon Roe

Legns and Cooter Sparkling Shiraz, NV (SE Australia)

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Scott's Hog Jowl Bacon (Kentucky) Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Roasted Potatoes and Cabbage

Marquis Philips Cabernet Sauvignon '04 (SE Australia)

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Summerfield Farm Cured Bacon (Virginia) and Braised Pork Belly

Smokey Spinach and Shiraz Glaze

Marquis Philips Sara's Blend '03 (SE Australia)

----------------------------------------------------------

Dessert

Roasted Pear and Edwards Brown Sugar Cured Bacon (Virginia) Cobbler

Lilly Pilly Noble Blend (Australia)

If anyone was wondering how to make a happy gimp, this is a pretty good start. All of the food was great, but the Tart and some of the wine pairings were the most interesting. Also, I had never had (or even heard of) a sparkling red wine before. Funky. They were also kind enough to send us each home with some swag, a catalogue featuring many delicious gourmet foods (and lots of bacon) as well as a pound of "artisinal" bacon for home consumption.

In the immortal words of Dr. Katz: "Let's never do that again. Tomorrow morning."

Okay. More posts will be forthcoming, possibly to include the topics of marines, the holidays (remember them?) and moving shenanigans. Also, you should all be thinking about which of my plants and or belongings you might choose to steal, as the opportunity will be coming along shortly...

mea culpa

i have been quiet

big things are afoot

many (most) of you are owed letters, cards, gifts, emails, and/or information

but things are still a bit hectic

soon, i tell you, soon

(you've heard that before)

from the land of digital camouflage...

-gimp