Meet my new best friend: Candroid!

Candroid flossing his teeth with the annoying benders, his arch-enemies:


Candroid in time-out:

Candroid is frustrated, or happy, or in rage. I cannot really tell.

And now, he's lookin sexy!
The tree topper this year is.....CANDROID! And he's looking rather anti-christ-like.

Ahhh, this makes me remember the good old days, oh, wait, I still spend my days in the library.

Interestingly enough, the kids at PCC are much better at being polite, quiet and good fellow students. THE BLACK LIST: WE'RE IN A VERY DARK PLACE, EATING POPCORN.: "DISOBEDIENCE OF LIBRARY ETIQUTTE: Spending your Sunday at the law school library is bad enough. But when you are trying to revise your painfully mediocre final paper on Scalia's method of statutory interpretation for that useless jurisprudence class, and these annoying bastards sitting around you in the computer area keep cheerfully gabbing to each other in stage whispers, that makes it much, much worse. The signs posted on the walls say, 'Thank you for being quiet and not talking.' Could this be any CLEARER? And yeah, girl with the i-pod on, bopping your head to the beat as you type ... it's not cute. Could you be a little more self-aware? Please? Oh. Looky here. All 54 of my footnotes are formatted incorrectly. Fantastic. To you readers out there in Black Table land, let me preemptive strike it now: Don't think I deserve this because I will be making $125K when I graduate. Mama is going into children's advocacy work. I'll be lucky if I find a job that pays $35K. Please save your scorn for these budding lawyer snatches around me. Because in a mere three years or less, they will own all of us. D -- michaela wittenberg"

Bad-ass Brass Knuckle Implants [modblog.bmezine.com]

Bad-ass Brass Knuckle Implants [modblog.bmezine.com]: "I cut my arm off while listening to a really scene band that only played once in the basement of my really scene friend Bob's house. I have their 7 ' and it makes me cry. Actually it's the missing arm that is making me cry. However, I did just get 5,003 scene points. I'm going to turn them in for a really rare printing of Death cab for Cutie where they accidentally stamped the records with good music."

Santa Claus was listening!

Activist Judge Cancels Christmas

YEAY! Everyone, it's true, all is cancelled. I love our judicial system. YEAY!

The war on Christmas, if you haven't heard

BBC NEWS | Americas | Lines drawn in battle over Christmas: "'We just wanted to encourage Christians to have the courage to say 'merry Christmas' instead of 'happy holidays',' she says.
'We had no idea that it would tap into a national frustration.
'People are tired of being told not to celebrate Christmas, they are tired of the ACLU. This is just parents saying they want to preserve Christ in Christmas.' "

That's clever and new. And convenient, since I've recently decided to join the infidel side in the "war." But I have some pretty good company in Jon Stewart. See the Secular Central video.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Minutemen take fight to US capital

BBC NEWS | Americas | Minutemen take fight to US capital: "These guys aren't doing it legally, so why should the guys that are doing it illegally be put at the head of the line?"

Wow

I had no idea this picture even existed. My disbelief is rooted in the fact that Fife, indoors, with a bunch of screaming children and in a place that must reek of pepperoni... well it doesn't seem like he would be just sitting there. I'm assuming his former owners used a lot of those doggie sedatives on him.

Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog

Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog is one of the most lovely websites I've found in ages. Thanks boingboing.

A few things

1. My dentist is still hot. Sadly S made an appointment a month and a half early for my cleaning. Not so bad, except what I needed was an appointment for a filling. Now the appointment is set for December 22. The day that the in-laws are likely to be arriving. Can't have a better excuse than pain for going to bed early. It was also bad because I have a couple of horrible zits on my chin. Not my prettiest today. My entire mouth will have to be numbed because of the location of my cavities. We'll see if this dentist is a good dentist by how much pain meds he gives me.

2. Trying something a little new. It's mostly for Steve and I to see our photos more than we normally would, but I guess others can enjoy it too. I took the Flickr random photo generator that you see at the bottom of this page, and made it bigger and more numerous. Then I gave it its own blog. If I ever get my website up and running, this will definitely be included as a page.
Have you seen the world's largest burl? I climbed it. We found it by accident, and I'm so glad that we did.

3. Um, I'm not off to a very good start at studying. Yesterday was up late and done studying early due to book club. Today was interrupted by the dentist appointment. Tomorrow is back at it, up early and off to PCC all day. I have to make sure that studying is the priority and this doesn't happen again. This week I have Saturday to catch up because Steve is working all day, then company party that night. Sunday will be spent cross-country skiing and looking for a Christmas tree (because there is so much snow, the only way to get a Douglas Fir is to go backcountry on its ass).

4. Have I mentioned that I dislike Christmas? I would really like to figure out a way to avoid the holiday completely. I understand the using it as an excuse to get the family together, but I would much prefer that the family make a new holiday, say the third weekend in January. That way, Christmas weekend can be spent like Thanksgiving, stress-free and in my pajamas. Instead, the in-laws are likely flying in and all the trauma that I've suffered every Christmas since my birth will be revisited upon me. Great. Thanks Jesus.

What trauma could be worse than others' Christmas trauma you ask? Well, my mother was a Jehovah's Witness. My step-father was Lutheran. He wanted a tree and a full on celebration in the snowy lands of Wisconsin (we lived in the South), she wouldn't have anything to do with it. I was torn each and every Christmas about whose side to choose. Not a nice thing to do to a kid. Though they seemed to enjoy that torture, making even better when they split for the final time, asking me which parent I wanted to go with. I found out 20 years later that my answer made no difference, so I hadn't needed to feel guilty for choosing my step-father (under duress, I might add). Are you wincing yet? Wait, there's more:

Then, as I became an adult, I dated someone that lived in another country. So, every Christmas for 8 years, I would fly overseas to celebrate with people whose language I could not understand. Just about the time that I started liking the holiday again, I decided to break up with this person, you guessed it, at Christmas. Now, I fight with my current significant other about whether the in-laws will visit. Last year they came and then on the 25th, I left for a week in WI. That seemed to work for me, except for the guilt trip I was awarded from that significant other. This year was supposed to be my year to choose the events surrounding Christmas. I tried, but like always, the dog or the in-laws or whatever deigned it necessary to take the choice out of my control. Now, as soon as the SO reads this, I'll get even more grief.

Anyone with a solution? And Crap, this is NOT a hypothetical, so be nice. I think I just need a way to get rid of the holiday. No more Christmas. Buddhism is an option and more viable than Judaism, but I'd prefer a way to entirely avoid the drama. Say, hospitalization.

5. I just did a spell-check of this entry, and the blogger dictionary does not include the word "blog." Brilliant.

Well, off for now. Happy holidays.

Hello folks

An update for everyone:

Saturday last: I CREAMED all at poker. We were playing no-limit Texas Hold'Em. Usually there are about 5-6 people at the table, but this week, was the hostess' birthday. There were 12 people playing, until I decimated every, single, last one of them. I normally dislike going to play poker, there is something creepy about it, besides the fact that I always lose, early, and a lot of money. This time however, was the magic one. A combination of wonderful luck in the form of great hands (straights, full houses, and three-of-a-kinds were plentiful), and finally understanding how to read people (especially after they became drunk). It was wonderful. Though I should likely have won earlier, the same cause of that mistake was the one that caught the straight that allowed me to win the whole shebang. Thanks Crap.

Sunday: hungover for a great part of the day, but up at noon to buy some cross-country ski boots (afforded by poker winnings and a generous discount by an employee that gave me the "former roommate" discount), and off to Mt. Hood for my first-ever skiing experience. It was wonderful. I really like it, though going downhill is a bit scary, I've learned a few things, and the snow was at least 4 feet deep, all powder. I'm so gonna say "Dude, I telemark" soon.

Monday: yeay, time to start studying for the bar again. I organized and then headed off to PCC's library for orientation. I found the library entrance (harder to find than you'd think), and got situated.

Tuesday: up with the Tater and off to PCC to study all day long. Well, at least until 4:00, when I headed home, to wait for a friend to pick me up and take me to a company Christmas party. Since I still was working for Multnomah County during this year, I went (I missed last year's party). It was fun. Everyone was very nice and entertaining and I was able to be a nerd and talk about ITAX and Measure 37 and prisoners escaping by tying sheets together (really). It was especially nice to know that everyone still remembered and liked me and were still willing to recommend me when I apply for jobs. Even better was the support. It has been long enough that it doesn't sting quite so much when I have to say that I didn't pass the bar and have to study for it again. It was still a bit embarrassing, but everyone was understanding and supportive and several admitted to having taken it twice too.

So, that's what's happened in the past few days. I'm off to relax and get ready for tomorrow.

Back on track

So, today, I'm done painting for V. I would like to do more, and I'm sure she'd like me to, but I have to start studying again for the bar exam. Sad but true.

Last night I went to Portland Organic Wrestling for the first time in ages. It was lots of fun. I need to get out my aggression other than on Steve. Last night the referee was a guy that is always a spoil-sport. So, I made it a point to get him as wet as possible with my Pabst. The strategy was to position myself so that he was behind one of the wrestlers, then look as though I was aiming at the wrestler, and overshoot. It was pretty funny until he became a crybaby, and dropped his glasses and wiped his eyes and acted like the beer hurt him. I think he shouldn't be the referee ever again. Or he will be wet again. And I didn't get in trouble at the Bar of the Gods this time. In fact, I actually had a pleasant and stress-less visit there.

The best part of the night though was getting our picture taken on the way home.

Today, then, I finished painting, and went and got more and thicker chains for the downspouts. I replaced a section in the front that needed it, but was missing one end piece that I'll get tomorrow. The chains are up, and look lovely, and since it is raining, I know they actually work too.

I spiffed up the front yard a bit, making a second rock wall, 2 stones high (about 8 inches) to serve as a border for a front garden space. It looks pretty nice. I also placed more flagstones in the front area to make it look a little more finished. I tried to take pictures, but it is now too dark outside.

So, this weekend, we might just go skiing, which I'm pretty excited about. For now, I need to eat a bit and shower, cuz tonight is date night! Yeay!

more rock wall pics

Here are a few more photos. Click here to see them all. We are not entirely done, nor will we be for a while. The long section still needs capstones, which will be set tonight. Then, we have some landscaping to do in the front of the wall, including plants and flagstones. Drive by...you'll be amazed that Steve and I did this with some consulting and finish work by Wetzel. And a shout out to Crap and Bird for helping us get started.

The new rock wall. Day 1.

Click on the photo to go to my Flickr account of the building of the rock of Tater.

Happy Thanksgiving all

A busy weekend in this house. We've taken the plunge and are building a rock wall. I have photos, but am currently too lazy to post them. Besides there is currently a break in the rain and as soon as we eat our cheddar hot dogs which are laced with mexi-velveeta and wrapped with pop-can croissants, we'll be back at lifting the 80+ lb rocks. They are heavy. What really sucks is that by the time people get back to town and are able to help, all the heaviest lifting will be done. Damn!

The bathroom project was finished last week. New toilet seat took about 5 minutes, and the new tub fixture took about 15 hours. I now am rather well-versed in the ways to plumb. Which is kinda too bad, because I would have liked to hire that hottie plumber I met at V's house. But finishing the project was a matter of pride to me, and when pride is an issue, I'm all about doing whatever I have to do to get the job done.

Turkey was last week, and we've purchased lots of snack food for this weekend, brie, bread, olives, prosuitto, and the above mentioned velveeta. A yummy food weekend. And the best part: no dinner stress.

Fan site for the world's largest cat

THE WWW FAN WEB PAGE FOR TUBCAT THE FATTEST KITTY EVA :D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you've ever been on a skateboard or

have ever played a Tony Hawk video game, watch this video of Rodney Mullen.

You think those moves are impossible in real life?

White Stripes video

Here's a video of White Stripes: The Denial Twist. They sure are clever.

hey hey, boo bops

I've found two gems today on the internet today:

1. Beck's video for "Hell, yes" has dancing robots. If you like robots too, look at robot zen.

2. www.phoneswarm.com, a website that posts the phone numbers of pay phones around the country. One calls and tries to get someone at the reststop to answer. Seems like a funny idea that might just take off. I enjoyed reading what they have so far.

So, life is simple in my household.

I'm looking for a real job, one in the field of law, or at least something to do with the millions of dollars that I've spent on higher, higher education. One with some security, some future and a decent salary. That's all. Oh, and I would like to work with intelligent, dedicated people that are fun and interesting.

I'm still debating taking the bar exam again. I would like to, but I'm not really sure if I can afford to. I have until Dec. 31 to get my application in, so I just need to determine what I really want to do. I guess it will depend on getting a job. Regardless, I'm going to seriously start studying for the bar on Dec. 1.

I just put a 22 lb. turkey into the oven. We'll be sick of turkey before Thanksgiving, but I'm not terribly sad about that. I love turkey and it's fixin's and can barely wait.

Here's something for my wishlist: Logitech® Wireless Headphones for iPod

I'm off for now, time to start making mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, etc. I think I'll never forget last year's Thanksgiving. It was the first time I hosted it, and all was from scratch. It was lovely, except I couldn't enjoy it properly because I was drunk on eggnog by the time we sat down. This year, I'll be drunk and have already enjoyed the bird with the proper relish.

I'm back

Today I woke up able to breathe. No fits of coughing or having a head so full of snot that I just wanted to go back to sleep. That cold was one of the worst.

And now back to the land of the living. I have to get Vanessa's house painted. I need to study for the bar exam. And I need to figure out a new hobby that gets me out of the house (other than drinking). It would also be nice to find a job (for now and for real). Back at it.

Not sure how much I'll be blogging in the days to come. I'm not into the computer so much, and I'm going to try and avoid it while studying for the bar. That way, perhaps I'll actually study for the bar this time. So, know that I'm likely well, stressed and wishing that I had just sucked it up the first time.

Ahrgh

I'm tired. I decided to try my hand in the land of the living today, and went to V's house to paint some trim. (doesn't that sound suggestive? Speaking of which, V had the hottest plumber that I have ever seen installing her waterheater today. Made me actually think of making one of those, "Oh hi, mr plumber, wanna check my pipes" pornos.).

Well, leaving the house wasn't such a good idea, because I'm now exhausted. I took daytime stuff that helped for the first hour, then I just got progressively worse. So, now I'm gonna take a bath and crawl back into bed, likely where I belong.