Just Cancel It

Now trending:

LOLOL. And three cheers for that idea! I keep hoping a candidate with an iota of integrity on one side or the other will step up and say, "I got this," but I think we've run out of time.

Well, file this under "That Just Happened." I was sitting outside Friday afternoon, when I heard a horrific crash. Turns out a teenager (later charged with DUI) drove his car into a strip center business! Luckily, no one was hurt. Scary!

Friday 5 for October 14: Be of Good Cheer

1. What’s something non-political you’re rooting for nowadays?

Aggie Football! 'Tis the season!

2. What were the circumstances–and who was the recipient–the last time you were part of a standing ovation?

Last Friday night, at the end of the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert performance at Zach.

3. What’s a cheer you remember from high school or college?

Our favorite was: Ooh! Ahh! CC! Say it, say it, say it... Ohh! Ahh! CC!... 

(Clear Creek High)

4. What inanimate object in your residence deserves applause for its outstanding role in your life this past week?

My new utility room valance, a long time coming! It finishes the room.

5. When was the last time a group of people clapped for you?

After my presentation at our Berlin investigators' meeting last year.

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Hey Siri

Maroon 5's new song "Don't Wanna Know" was on the radio on my way home from the airport today. (Scott-n-Kirsten are on their way to Australia! I'm totally jealous!) I asked my personal assistant, Siri (...who happens to be Australian, ha!), "Hey Siri- Does Maroon 5 have a new album?"

He said, "Yes."

Smartassery. Alrighty then.

"What is Maroon 5's new album called?"

"Sugar: Deluxe Single."

"That was last year and 'Sugar' isn't an album."

"I'm sorry. I didn't understand that."

When Siri and I aren't on the same page, he should just say, "I'm sorry I didn't understand that, but I'd be happy to collect some George Clooney photos from the internet for your perusal, straightaway."

Then I don't have to contemplate trading him in for the British fellow.

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I Took a Pill to Show a Veechee I Was Cool?

But first... This is something called Oculus Touch. Evidently, it is a controller for the Oculus Rift VR system. I'm wondering exactly what kind of game this is for. Just... hmm.

Okay. So, Mike Posner's "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," was on the radio this morning and stuck in my head, so I was singing it. Lauren asked why I was singing that song, and I told her how much I like the lyrics (and that it also happened to be the last song on the radio, so you know that one sticks for hours). We talked about a few of the lyrics and she said she always thought the song was about doing drugs, so she didn't like it much, but now that she realized it's just the opposite, she likes it more now.

Here's a great article about the song, written by Mike himself, where he talks about the song's lyrics frequently being misunderstood on the first listen, in that very way. He wanted this to be a lyrics- driven song. "When Tony Maserati mixed my album I had him turn all of the lead vocals two to three decibels louder than he normally would. I wanted the lyrics on TOP of the music. I wanted to see if I could make people hear the lyrics on the first listen instead of the second or third."

I took a pill in Ibiza
To show Avicii I was cool...

Avicii is a Swedish DJ. Ahhh! I have always wondered who the heck he was trying to impress. A Fiji? A Veechee? What's a veechee anyway? Was it Spanish- a Vichi? Oy.

...I get along with old timers
'Cause my name's a reminder of a pop song people forgot...

It's good to know from my visiting several music message boards that I'm not the only one who spent time thinking about the name Mike Posner and what old pop song from the 60's or 70's includes the words "Mike" or "Posner" or something that sounds like them. It turns out, he's referring to his own song from 2010, "Cooler Than Me." He's not talking older people's music here. Well, at least a lot of us worked out our brains trying to figure out that tidbit! Ha!

Here is the original tune, which is not the one that was on the charts this summer...



I like that, too, for times when I feel like crying in my beer.

The popular radio version is actually a remix...



...You don't wanna be stuck up on that stage singing
All I know are sad songs, sad songs...

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Locker Room Conversations

I'm just not that upset about the Trump/BBush conversation. (Good work with the timing of the release of this ancient information, Dems! We're barely thinking about the Goldman Sachs speeches.) It is definitely jarring language, especially for a presidential candidate. Many women don't like to think guys ever talk like this, but the fact is- many of them do. Shame on any men out there who are calling these two out, if they have ever talked about trying to get a woman into bed, said a woman has "great legs" or is "hot as shit," or who have used the P word when discussing women with their male friends. Golly, that never happens, right? Give me a break.

And for all that is holy, it doesn't mean these men support rape, as has been declared in many rantings on the left. That's a very desperate stretch. This is not "rape-y" or "predatory" speech. Men have ogled and tried to get in the sack with women since the beginning of time, and most of them have at some point had crass, frat-boy conversations with their male brethren. It doesn't make them bad people. If you think it does, you may have to include many of your friends, brothers, sons and fathers in that group.

If Trump and/or Clinton were to withdraw from the race, as one can only hope, who would take their places? Would the VP nominees come in? Would the second place folks step up? Bernie vs. Cruz anyone? (I'd take Uncle Bernie at this point!)

Sunday Stealing: The Musical Perceptions Meme

1. Where did you grow up?
Houston

2. Where do you live now?
Austin

3. What do you think about religion?
Spirituality and religious beliefs are important. I tend to avoid churches, because so many are ruined by the human beings that run them. I also believe that religion is never an excuse for hate or violence.

4. When did you start using online social media?
I started using LiveJournal in April 2003.

5. What did you study to be?
a radiation protection engineer

6. How are you at this point of your career?
I'm a contract senior clinical data manager. Different path, but a good one!

7. Do you use your real name on a blog?
Yes, but not my full name.

8. Do people you work with read your blog?
A couple.

9. Are you on the job market?
No.

10. If you could go back in time to meet someone famous but now deceased, who would it be?

Prince

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Saturday

J.B. Smoove was on Harry (that's Harry Connick, Jr.'s new talk show) yesterday while I was starting one of our football snacks ( jalapeño and bacon deviled eggs- you know you want it). J.B. said his wife calls him her "husbo," because he is her husband and her boyfriend. They keep things fresh by going on dates, etc.

Similarly, I could call Jeff my "boyband!"

*crickets*

Last night, my boyband and I saw Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Zach. It was superfun! The singing and story are great. Costumes FANTASTIC. The choreography was lacking though. In many places, it was incredibly elementary, as if to accommodate the entire cast recovering from hip surgeries.

It's Tennessee Game Day! It will be a tough game between evenly matched teams, so we're sending all our positive vibes to Kyle Field. BTHO Tennessee!!


Saturday 9: My Life Would Suck Without You (2009)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This video begins with Ms. Clarkson on a swing. When you were young, did you prefer the swings or the slide?

Swinging is the best! You can go low and lazy, or really energetic and high. You can twist it around and around and then spin it. You can sit or stand on the seat. Slides are a one-trick pony, and frequently hot as all get out, burning your legs all the way down.

2) The first words are, "Guess this means you're sorry." Who is the last person to apologize to you?

Laura apologized that I had to take her to school the other morning when her car was at the shop, even though she didn't need to apologize at all. She even bought lunch, so I was thanking her!

3) One of Kelly's earliest show business jobs was as an extra on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. Do you believe in witches and warlocks?

Nope.

4) Mentioning witches and seeing Kelly with a lollipop reminds Sam ... She needs to pick up a 1 lb. bag of Dum Dums for Trick or Treaters. Have you done anything in preparation for Halloween? 

I'm going Kit Kat this year, I think. I have not done a thing in preparation yet.

5) Ms. Clarkson's advice to aspiring young singers is not to listen to advice. "Everyone gives you their 2¢ worth, but you have to follow your gut." Are you good at soliciting and following advice? Or do you tend to follow your gut?

I go with my gut, after carefully considering any trusted advice I've received.

6) The year this song was popular, 2009, saw two major newspapers go out of business. Both the Seattle Post Intelligencer and Rocky Mountain News published their last editions. Do you still read a paper copy of your local newspaper?

We haven't gotten a paper since the Statesman kept throwing papers in our driveway after we requested a hold for vacation over a decade ago. Grr! We do receive and read the Community Impact paper though. Very informative.

7) In 2009, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that Facebook tried to buy Twitter, but was rebuffed. Which social media site do you spend the most time on?

And now Twitter is looking for buyers. Hmm. I spend the most time on Facebook.

8) In 2009, the Balmain Collection included a pair of jeans that retailed for $2,165. What's the most you would pay for denim pants?

$95

9) Random question: You buy a charity raffle ticket and tuck it into a friend's birthday card. Before you can give the card to her, the numbers are drawn and you realize the ticket is worth $500. Do you keep the ticket or give it to your friend, as planned?

Well, I should give it to her, but if I'm being honest and I haven't yet sealed the envelope (which I guess I didn't do, since I checked the number to see that it won) AND I didn't write a birthday message that mentioned the raffle ticket (which I would have), I would probably keep it and give her something else. Just saying.

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Scorpion Mom

I bought my first Christmas present this week! Am I winning? Anyone else have a Christmas gift ready to wrap? Hmm?

The following story is both gross and depressing. I think you all are the only ones who haven't heard it yet, so I don't want to leave you out! Apologies to my friends who have heard it and are most assuredly rolling their eyes that I'm still thinking about it.

There was a mama scorpion entering my garage last week. She had 7-8 babies on her back. They were tiny white circles, each one with two teensy pincers and a scorpion tail sticking out of it. Are they larvae? I don't even know. Let me Google now, since I've been talking about looking it up for several days.

So. Google (well, actually Arizona State University) says "When they are born, baby scorpions have a very soft outside shell, or exoskeleton. They crawl up onto their mother's back and ride there for 10 to 20 days until their exoskeleton gets stiff and hard. Then they crawl off and begin life on their own."

These babies had a very white, squishy center. They looked a bit like this, except even smaller, and goopier in their abdominal area:

(And whatever you do, don't Google Image Search "scorpion with babies on back," because that stuff will haunt your nightmares.)

Anyhoo... I was going to let her go on her merry way, other than I definitely didn't want them living in my garage, especially in my gardening gloves or some other awesome spot. I decided to hit her with the bug spray. We always use Raid Wasp Spray, but I didn't have any handy. I grabbed roach spray and let her have it.

She walked along normally for a few seconds. Just as I was cursing the roach spray for being the lamest killer of scorpions ever, she started running around, throwing her babies off her back! I was sure she was doing this because she was trying to save them (even though they probably died on contact), and instantly I felt awful! This poor mama scorpion was trying to let her babies have a chance to survive and all I could do was watch and consider what else I could have done to save them.

This is the point in the story where Jeff said, "Are you sure she wasn't just writhing around from the bug spray, randomly tossing the babies off?"

YES. Let's go with that.

But no, I'm pretty sure it was maternal instinct. It kinda rips your heart out, right?

I did notice that the ASU article also mentions that "sometimes when the mother scorpion cannot find enough insects, bugs, or grub worms to eat, she will eat her own babies."

So, there's that. I feel a little better.

Thanks ASU! 

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Kool as a Kukumber

Man, the weather is beauuuuuutiful today!! Glad I had time to get out here on the old patio for some blogging.

I bought a couple of Kylie Jenner nail polishes at Ulta yesterday. I tried Sinful Colors Kool as a Kukumber first, and it is supercute! Very light mint green.

It needs three coats to really cover, but I don't mind that for a really cool color. It's matte, which I've never tried before, and I wore it like that for a day, then decided I wanted to put a top coat on it and shine it up. I prefer it shiny, especially on my toes, but the matte look was fun and different.

I watched the debate, but I won't watch any more of them. They aren't going to change anyone's minds, especially mine, so it's far more irritating than informative to me. She is a sidestepper with her smug non-answers and diversions. Nothing new there. He is uninformed, easily rattled and goes right off the rails when cornered. Nothing new there.

There are so many qualified, brilliant people out there to run for President and we got these two. Very sad.

Ugh. Time for a...

!!! Dance Break !!!

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Aggies Win! Whoop!

Texas A&M 45
Arkansas 24

What a fun game to watch! And it didn't end in a tie, going into overtime like the past two meetings with the Razorbacks. Whew!!

Knight really settled into the game in the second half. As far as the Defense goes- Hail to The Chief! They have truly arrived at ultimate defense after only one year.

Sad to see the injuries to some of our elite players, but it looks like they aren't major, thank heavens.

Arkansas' QB Austin Allen was pretty amazing, I have to say. He took a pummeling from our defense just about every play, and still made spot on passes!


Sunday Stealing: The "Doing Questions Like It's 2003" Meme

Tell us about your pets. If you don’t have one, share why you don’t.

Kiptyn, our long-haired, orangish-tan, big-ass tabby cat, is named after Kiptyn Locke, from The Bachelor. (We liked Locke and his cat-like name.) We call him Kippy or Kipper a lot of the time. He tends to be somewhat surly, since he's part Maine Coon, but he can also be very cuddly in short spurts, unlike our previous Maine Coon mix, Ernie. He is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, nor the most graceful cat. As Jen would say, "Good thing he's pretty!" Heh.

Maya is our black cat. She's Kiptyn's sister from the same litter, but regular size, with short hair. She's named after Maya Angelou. She is absolutely the sweetest cat you'll ever encounter. Super smart, she tends to lead Kiptyn in learning new things. She's pretty social, but like her brother, can be easily frightened by loud noises or other surprises.

Name three things that are close to you.

iPad, scissors, credit card receipts

How was the weather for your summer?

Hot-n-humid. Par for the course in The ATX.

What was the last film you saw? Did you like it?

Dont' Think Twice. We liked it.

Tell us about the last trip that you took.

It was a short trip, but we spent a long weekend in San Antonio. Jeff, Lauren and I stayed in our first AirbBnB home, with a gorgeous pool. The house was in the hills outside the city. We mostly hung out, walked a trail, went to La Cantera, etc. Loved the pool though. 

Where do you buy groceries? Why?

HEB, because they have all the things we need at great prices.

Tell us something that you did today. Or will do if you haven’t had your morning coffee yet.

Visited a million-dollar model home for funzies.

Have you pulled an all-nighter?

Yep

Can you taste the difference between Pepsi & Coke?

Um, of course! They're totally different. Pepsi is sweeter and smoother and "filling." Coke is more carbonated and acidic and light. I prefer Coke.

Tell us about your siblings. How many and what do they do?

I have one half-brother, two years older than me. We didn't grow up together, but we were introduced when we were in our 20's. We have only spoken on the phone so far. He lives in Germany and I'm almost certain he is a computer programmer. Ack. I don't know exactly! Something computery.

What’s the oldest thing that you own?

My grandmother's English washstand, from when they lived in England in the 1950's.

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Japanese Peanuts

Every so often, I pick up something new at the grocery store for us to try. A few weeks ago it was Japanese peanuts. They are just peanuts with a crunchy coating. They are incredibly addictive. The texture is the addicting part, I think- reminiscent of a peanut M&M in texture, but without the sweetness. So, I looked them up last week, to see how they are made. That's when I found out they are from Mexico (whaaa?), not Japan. I'm probably the last Texan to know that.

Here is a fantastic article about them: Mexico: Land of the Japanese Peanut. I learned about Japanese immigration to Mexico during WWII and everything! Very interesting.

Their real name is cacahuates japonés.

Me: So peanuts are cacahuates in Spanish?
Lauren: Yes.
Me: Sounds more like poopnuts.

Right?!

*rimshot*

Today, Saturday 9 is using a song from Chess, a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, and lyrics by the great Tim Rice. We saw it a few years ago. Here's one of my favorite songs from Chess, with a fabulous big Broadway finish---



*wild applause*


Saturday 9: One Night in Bangkok (1984)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is from the play Chess. It's been said that the most successful players are fluid in their thinking. Do you consider yourself flexible or set in your ways?
Very flexible.

2) Nigel Short, a real-life chess grandmaster, used to wear a t-shirt that said, "He who cares, wins." Do you always play to win? Or do you play board/card games or sports for the fun of it?
For the fun of it. I do my best to win, but if I don't win, it doesn't bother me.

3) The singer is in Bangkok for an important tournament. He maintains that he doesn't mind missing the sights and dismisses Bangkok is just another "crowded, polluted stinking town." Do you find big cities exciting? Or do you think of them as noisy and dirty?
Big cities are exciting! I just stay out of the dirty areas.

4) Air pollution has reached serious levels Bangkok. Do you suffer from allergies, asthma or another condition that could be aggravated by pollution?
I have seasonal allergies, mostly to molds.

5) To reduce traffic, commuters travel through Bangkok on ferries that make regularly scheduled trips up and down the Chao Phraya River. When was your last boat ride?
We had a work party on a boat on Lake Austin about a year ago.

6) Round trip airfare between ATL and BKK is $1750. If we gave you a travel voucher for that dollar amount, how would you spend it?
I would go to Puerto Rico for a week, then head to Rome for a couple of weeks. Round trip AUS to SJU to FCO.

7) The Holiday Inn Express in Bangkok has a McDonald's onsite. When you go somewhere new, do you find it comforting to be surrounded by what's familiar? Or would you prefer to try new things?
I prefer to try new things, although on about Day 6 in a foreign country, it can be fun to have a meal at a McDonald's. You can try the local specialty (in Germany they had banana shakes) or stick with your favorite menu item from home.

8) One of Bangkok's most popular restaurants is DID, which stands for Dine in Dark. The dining room at DID is 100% light free -- cell phones must be stored in the lobby to avoid distracting from the experience -- so customers eat their four course meal without seeing it. This heightens the diner's sense of taste and smell. When you prepare a meal, do you put a great deal of care into its presentation?
Nope. Sometimes I get everything on the plate and realize... it's Yellow Food Night! I do care about plating, but not to the extent that I add carved radish garnishes, or artistically distribute sauce from a squirt bottle.

9) Random question: Think about your last professionally prepared meal. Did you dine in, carry out, or have it delivered?
Dine in- I made ham and cheese quiche and served with watermelon cubes.

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Aggies Over Auburn! Whoop!

A&M 29
Auburn 16

What a game! This year we have a bunch of freshmen and unknowns and a new quarterback, but I think we looked solid on Saturday! The experienced guys looked great as usual. Knight looked good- better than the past two weeks. The newbies were showing their talents. It was especially exciting watching Trayveon run all the way down the field for a TD.

We should have made it into the end zone a couple more times than we did, being so close, but that's my only real complaint. Well and one more--- WHEW DOGGIE, it was a long game!

Gig 'em!

Jeff and I are working on our wills again this week. We have our second meeting with the lawyer on Wednesday. Holy crap, it's SO hard to pick people to take care of things when you're gone, when you have little families like ours. I do know though, that most of my friends with big families have the same issues choosing people from within their family!

My advice to you all, having done this Will Thing twice now, is to go forth and reproduce as much as possible, so you have the largest pool of family members available to put in charge of your finances, medical decisions, taking care of your children, etc. when you kick the bucket.

We have to select executors, beneficiaries, powers of attorney, etc. The planner side of me wants to have an infinite list of the order in which I want people to be assigned. The lawyer (unknowingly feeding my planner side) told us we can list as many backups as we want to, but I am limiting myself to just four people deep.

If I die, Person/Group A is selected. If they're unwilling/unable/dead, Person/Group B is chosen. If they are unwilling/unable/dead, Person/Group C is selected. If Person C is unwilling/unable/dead, Person/Group D is chosen. If Person D is unwilling/unable/dead... the State can just figure it out. Or my second-cousins-twice-removed can fight each other in court for it. Actually, in my will, Person D isn't a person at all, but a charity that I'm pretty sure will be around forever. That way, we just avoid any drama.

It gives me a headache thinking about it all. I can't WAIT to sign it and put it away again. Our last wills were done in 1996. I hope this one will last at least another 20 years!

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