Ghosts of Christmas Past.

Like many children in 1982, I spent countless hours staring at the above images in the Sears wish book and still more hours begging for them as presents, nay, offerings at my spoiled altar of pre-adolescentdom. The scary part is seeing how much these silly things cost and knowing that my great-grandmother (Gram) bought me almost ALL of them (except for the Wild West, Monster, and Castle sets in scan #1). I mean, sure, I was only eight years old, but still damn I was a spoiled little brat. I can only hope that Heather and I can instill more of a sense of moderation in our kids.

I was SUCH a rotten little shit as a kid and I'm glad my parents set me straight. Heck, it only took them 33 years. Compared with the century it took to build the Great Wall of China, that seems like progress to me. Seeing these images tonight really brought back a flood of memories and reminded me of how much I miss my Gram. She’s been gone now for almost a decade and I still miss her so much.

Wow, that was quite the self-loathing and depressing stroll down memory Lane, wasn't it?!

Nothing in particular.

Le Bear is asleep, the baby is asleep in her swing, and the wife is working on the annual Christmas tree here at the castle. All is well and I am one tired guy.

This week I:

1. Worked, a lot.
2. Pinched a nerve in my neck.
3. Bought some classic PS2 games.
4. Ate too stinking much.
5. Cleaned the castle.
6. Started to prep the house for Jer's arrival.
7. When to a union rally (I'm not in a union, I find them silly, but one supports one's family).
8. Saw myself on TV.
9. Read some old Star Wars novels by Timothy Zahn.
10. Burned stuff in the fireplace.

A busy week indeed. May the Lord bless me with another great week at work and with my family.


it's
not
the
way
i'm
meant
to
be
it's just the way the operation made me

Cue the theramin!

Happy Halloween one and all!

Got to tour my new workplace today. We open next week. I'm excited, but a few co-workers have already managed to really piss me off with their negative energy. I mean, damn, as if nursing isn't stressful enough, now I have to argue over when I work because two friends want to work together? Screw 'em says I. I can bend only so far before my penguin fu is unleashed in a mighty torrent of suck for my foes. Makes me wonder if I didn't agree too quickly to this transfer in the first place.

Time will tell. Bring on the candy.

I'm no Superman...

Gandalf W. Bush?

OK, this is much funnier than it should be. Apologies to all for the language.



If only there was a magic ring, sword, spell, hammer, or candle that could end this mess for the better.


And, yes, I know Gandalf was a good wizard, but I couldn't think of anything better.

It's 1:00am, we're in Columbus...

The Rush concert in Columbus was simply awesome. Much fun was had driving through miles of cornfield and Buckeye wilderness to reach our destination. The set list was as follows:

Set 1:
Limelight
Digital Man
Entre Nous
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl (Bob & Doug video intro)
Secret Touch
Circumstances
Between The Wheels
Dreamline

Intermission

Set 2:
Far Cry
Workin' Them Angels
Armor And Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Drum Solo
Hope
Summertime Blues
The Spirit Of Radio
Tom Sawyer (South Park video intro)

Encore:
One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ

After two stops at Wendy's, two detours (one due to a horrible car vs. pedestrian accident, the other a flipped semi), and a couple hundred miles on the Prius' odometer, we finally got home at 3:30am on Monday. The show featured new material more than any previous Rush show I've seen and the older stuff was great to see live. There's rumor of a KY show in April. If so, I'm there.

Hit it.

In brightest day, in blackest night...

It has been quite the whirlwind here at the Arctic Fortress. I failed to pass my boards, rescheduled my boards, and moved to a new job at my old job until I can get back to my old job. Confused yet? Me too! God has really blessed my family and I with this new job. Trust is good.

The baby shower is tomorrow (pack an umbrella, babies are heavy) and I spent all day today painting Baby Girl's nursery . It sucked like a thousand black holes humming an Oasis song. Needless to say, the evil blue enamel trim that was put up in the room in the late seventies had entrenched itself and had no desire to leave. Six coats of paint and primer later, it is finally gone. Whew!

And now, I think I'll go sleep the paint fumes off.

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil's might

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.....

Well, many things are afoot in the land o' penguins as of late.

• The new hatchling is scheduled to arrive in September (and there was much rejoicing). Time to paint a nursery methinks.
  
• The new (old) job is going very well despite having a learning curve that resembles a Möbius strip. I take my boards soon.
• The new singer for the band is working out nicely. Now we just need to teach her another hour's worth of odd-metered music (smoothed out on the r&b tip, with a pop appeal). I'll link to the band when we get our sites updated.

Well, the penguins tell me 'tis time to drive to West (by God) Virginia to visit the family for a few hours.

Turn and face the strange.

First Gandalf and now this...

Don Herbert, better known to the world as Mr. Wizard, lost his battle with cancer today. The childhood icons of my generation are getting old and passing on. It is sad really. Bob Ross, Fred Rogers, and, now, Mr. Wizard. I'll really lose it when Jule Huffman passes. He may have retired, but he'll always be Mr. Cartoon to me.

Isn't it odd what one finds nostalgic about childhood? Me thinks it is.

Take a deep breath.
Take another deep breath.
Take ANOTHER deep breath.
Hold it.
Hold it.
HOLD it.
Now wave like mad and say bye Cartooners!

New World Man

My new job starts today at my old job. Confusing? You should try filling out the paper work. Crazy stuff. The good news is that I get health benefits of my very own now. I feel special indeed.

In other news, gaze into the very face of evil!

Begin the Begin

I completed nursing school today. Time for the ol' career to start. The penguins say that the third time is indeed the charm (and this time I believe them).

Time to get the paperwork taken care of and get down to the interesting business of health care.

Film at eleven.

Also the new Rush album is awesome. 'Nuff said.




Like Martin Luther zen...

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

The wait is over and the dream penguins have returned to wreak havoc once again (Yes, I'm fully aware that it isn't May yet). Currently, the penguins and I are listening to The Decemberists' cover of Bjork's "Human Behaviour". I like it quite a bit. Very fun take on a song I remember fondly.
...

The Fortress is full of conflict right now. I graduate college (again...third time's a charm) in eight days and there are so many variables involved in my life right now it is simply staggering. All I can do at this juncture is place my faith in God that all will turn out as it should in His eyes. It should prove to be an interesting ride to be sure.

Until next time.

'cause the Bible tells me so...

Coming May 2007.