Your phrase of the day: Peppermint nightmare

I am an odd duck.  I woke up this morning and got the sudden and inescapable urge to write a short story.  Don't know how well it's gonna turn out, but I can't help but want to write it anyways.  Since the workday is beyond slow, I've practically got half of it done already.  the big difficulty for me in writing it is dialogue.  I always seem to know exactly what I want to write, except for when it comes to dialogue spoken between characters.  Since that's almost all of what the first half of the story is, it's kinda difficult to jot down.

In other news, it appears I'll be spending new years eve doing nothing but simulated sci-fi violence with some friends all day.  The way it's meant to be done.

completely missed the mistletoe (thank goodness)

Okay, okay.  Christmas is over.  I get it.  But hey, it still aint new years yet, and it seems the only time I get Christmas songs stuck in my head is after everyone stops playing them, so I still feel justified in this one.  That, and I totally missed one of my musical posts before the holiday, just let me get away with it, okay?

Unknown benefactor

I forgot to post on here that a while back there was a small present left anonymously for me on my desk at work when I came back from the holiday break.

Kind of an interesting anomaly to see a random coin from the UAE on my desk.  I still don't know who left it, or how it came to be here, but despite the fact that I'm certainly nowhere near being a coin collector, its an interesting enough object and circumstance that I may just hang on to this one.  Heck, with the way the economy the way it is, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's worth more than an American dollar.

and the flip side

Speaking of foreign things, I swear I can hear one of those awful European sirens outside along with someone speaking something over a megaphone.  Makes me feel like I'm wandering around in Shadow of Chernobyl again, or something like that.

yeah, that's totally what it felt like

Yet, there's more

Larry Corriea is another one of my (relatively local) heroes.  The guy certainly puts much better words to paper than I do, though I guess that kinda comes with being a best selling author.  So, I highly recommend going over to his place and take the time to read a lengthy post about the recent hot topic in the news.  I was also surprised to find out that he was one of the people behind Fuzzy Bunny Movie Guns, one of the coolest guns stores I have ever seen in the state.

In a completely unrelated topic, I forgot to mention that when the family came up, they also brang the dog as well.  If you aren't familiar with Breda, she loves water.   I mean she LOVES it.  her idea of a fun treat is to chew on ice cubes, seriously.  So, when the family brought her up here and she had her first encounters with snow, she looked like the combination of a cat on catnip and a kid at Disneyland for the first time, while hopped up on guarana rips.  Obviously this provided a good amount of entertainment.

Of course, she's named after another favorite person of ours, who has taken a more leisurely presence on the interwebs as of late.

More Christmasy than you

Saw this on Christmas Eve in the avenues.  No one will ever be more prepped for Christmas than this man.  Nobody!

Kinda of a blurry pic, I know.

So yeah, Christmas was a whole boatload of fun and games.  I always find myself doing enough stuff during the holidays that my tradition always seems to be completely disregarding any attempts at blogging until after the holidays.  We now return to your regularly scheduled programming. 

More wiki-walkabouts

Another thing I end up wasting a bunch of time on, is reading up on all sorts of articles about various unsolved cases on Wikipedia (the only good way I can get my fix after the passing of Robert Stack).  This is the best time of year to do it too, since it gets dark and cold outside so early in the day.  So, tuck yourself in, turn this music on, set it on repeat, and read up on some interesting stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isdal_woman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Shud_Case
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dodecahedron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_McCormick%27s_encrypted_notes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Twelve_Hawks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Aim_6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjaman_Kyle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ourang_Medan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jester - so far, I can really respect this guy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie_Murders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salish_Sea_human_foot_discoveries

So yeah, enjoy all the creepiness, nightmares or unsettling feelings that may develop after reading.  Good night!

Full of win

The greatest quote I have heard in some time was inexplicably found on the usually ho-hum website of cracked.com:

"The F-14 was retired from Navy service in 2006 because the Navy apparently thought that recruitment was too high and they needed to become less cool."

Hilarious.  Yet at the same time, not outside the realm of plausibility either, when you consider that the Super Hornet that replaced it is not only more expensive, it's slower, less fuel efficient, carries less weaponry, has a shorter range, and looks nowhere near as cool as this:



VFAs suck, VFs rule.  Simple as that.

Totally thinking I'm changing my desktop backgrond at work to this.  Nope, wait.  just found one that has a bit more Christmas flair to it:

Merry Christmas!



Things I don't understand

Hooray!  It's just what everyone wanted!  Another rant with barely any point.  Perhaps this is just another one of my idiotic thoughts, but this is something that honestly drives me freaking nuts every time I hear the phrase/label uttered.

A while back I stumbled upon a few feminist/female issues bloggers whose goal was to (supposedly) help women feel better about their looks and accept their bodies as being beautiful.  That being said, why the hell do these very same people insist on calling models who are women that don't look like starving 13 year old boys with visible rib-cages, "plus-size models"?  If your goal is to help women get past all these labels society is pressing on them, and to devalue the strict (and borderline unhealthy) definition of what 'beauty' is to the mainstream, then why the flying fudgesicle of crap are you still making a concerted effort to differentiate between a 'plus-size model' and a 'model'?

Call me crazy, but I don't see why you have to call the people in that profession anything other than a model. You're simply hurting your own cause, by subconsciously subverting your goal (and giving in to the currently slanted standard).  It reinforces in the minds of those who read you that these people should still be differentiated somehow, that there should be a different standard for them.  I just find that more than a bit faulty and counter-productive.  Thoughts?

more mouthy nonsense

So, earlier I was lamenting to a friend (who happens to be a redhead) that the woman of my recent unrequited affections is already engaged, and how it kinda stung even after knowing for a while that I had no real chance with her.  I also mentioned that the likelihood of me finding another tall redhead to focus my attentions on is extremely unlikely. 

Previously unaware of my preference, she stopped me and said, "Wait, is that why you hang out with me?  Because I've got red hair?"
"No." I reply, "You're simply a fun person, who's also a joy to talk to."
"But do I remind you of her or something?"
That's when I busted up laughing so hard that I nearly started crying. "Oh my GOSH no!  Oh man, not even a little bit!  What kind of idiot do you think I am!?"

I found it incredibly humorous, but I don't think she saw it as overly so.  I mean, just because I like redheads doesn't mean that's what I rule all my interactions or interests by.  Though, I betcha a million bucks I'd have a crush on Brigid, if I met her.  I mean, seriously.   She's like Christina Hendricks, a fighter pilot, crime scene investigator, and master chef all rolled into one. Wow.....just....wow.



Hero envy?  Naaahhhh...

So yeah, my big fat mouth.   Possibly the #1 reason I can't land a cute girl.   Well, that and it's just not very often at all that I hold affections for anybody, really.  On the bright side, I should be more thankful for the awesome things that I DO have.  Like, at least I still have my awesome job (thank goodness for that!), a good shotgun, a Jericho, and really awesome friends who are willing to hang out, even after I emotionally sting them.  Promise I'll get better at that one.

Pro-tip of the day

When someone who knows about Star Trek, tells you that you would make a fantastic Klingon, they apparently don't have the highest opinion of you.  Not necessarily a very low one, but definitely not the highest.  Found that one out the hard way.

In other news, I'm especially looking forward to Christmas this year, as I actually managed to get gifts for all the people I care for, and the family will be coming up to visit my end of the state.  So yay.

I have no birthday

So thank goodness I really like Christmas.  Yup, I'm actually getting into the swing of things this year, so I'm keeping the trend of posting Christmas music for my weekly tunes.  There are plenty of versions of this song, I still can't find my favorite, but this one is quite good, and has a picture of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) Christmas moment of the last century.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day — St Peter's Choir

This is odd

Being the over-opinionated, bitter kinda guy that I am, I usually have something to say about....well....something, but today is nearly over and I still feel like a blank canvas.  It's been a little while since that's happened.  I may post something later, and I might not.  We'll see how the day goes, and hopefully I can conjure up something before the end of it.

Just shy of Angels 5

You know, I forgot to mention that  I made a stop by the Hill AFB museum again with a friend of mine a while back.  He hadn't been there in years and wanted to take his kids there.  I warned him just how much I'm into mil-air, and that if he took me there, I'd end up talking his ear off.  Lo and behold, I think we spent a full four and a half hours there with me flapping my gums the whole time before finally parting ways.  Told you.

This also got me thinking recently that I still haven't ever seen a Harrier II demo in the flesh.  You'd think that because I lived right next door to NAS Moffett (back when it was an NAS) for several years, I'd have at least seen one, but nope.  Since the fugly little F-35 seem to be coming on line quicker than I thought, I should really get that to happen sooner rather than later.  Maybe I'll see if I can make my way to the next airshow at NAS Fallon, or something. 

In the meantime, I need to stop visiting certain websites like this one, that does nothing but make me waste hours upon hours wishing that things like this could be my other vehicle:

Sexiest thing EVER.  Ooh!  It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!

 

Cure-all

Okay, freshly baked blueberry muffins and mint hot chocolate is the remedy for just about anything.  Placebo?  Possibly, but that's the effect I'm looking for anyways.  Even better is the fact that I was given a nice Christmas present this morning from J:

Nothing like a good pin-up calendar to make your year.  Though, I dunno if I'll be keeping this one at work, it being all 'NSFW' and all.  But enough blogging, I gotta get back to my breakfast and it's potentially tooth decaying embrace.

Yeah, this is all evidence to me being what you call "professionally single".



I knew I missed my chance, but still...

Effing mood swings.  It's been a really long time since I've sworn this much in one day.  Stupid, smegging, mother puss-bucket, friggin' dumb, damned engagement announcements!  What's next?  Rabies shots for the Easter Bunny?  Ugh, I need to go shooting again.  Like, right now.  I need to destroy something in a safe and legal manner before I get really frustrated.  I wish there were more farms around here, so I could just go jackrabbit hunting.  Then I'd get the satisfaction of killing something while being productive, and possibly get paid for it.

Man, today actually seemed like it would almost be good, too.  May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the nappy beard that is this day.  Where's a good Anthrax outbreak when you need one?  I swear everything just seems to piss me off today.

Update: 










Yeah, this is still pretty much how I feel.  On the bright side, at least I'm not Drew Barrymore.  Then I'd actually be screaming. 

s-words

Not two seconds into the day, and I'm already deciding to jump on T-bolt's meme of the day.  So, here goes:

I've had a pretty good number of pocketknives over the years, but this one seems to always come out on top.  I got it sometime in 2003; and I actually came across it by chance.  I was working at a hotel at the time, and it was left in the lost and found for over 90 days.  Every time I look at it, I feel bad for the person who lost it, because it has served me far better than any other folding knife I've ever purchased or owned (and that includes some well-respected brand names). 

I'll admit, I probably haven't taken overly good care of it, but this thing just keeps soldiering on.  I even made it a point to buy some jeweler's torx screwdrivers and a sharpener recently, just to make amends for all the years of 'domestic abuse' to the piece. 

As a side note, I was having a conversation with a friend earlier in the week about James Hetfield, and it went like this:

Friend:  I really like his voice.
Me:  Yeah, you don't hear many like it these days.  I wish my voice was like his.
Friend:  He sounds like...his voice is like a dragon's.
Me:  Holy crap.  That is by far the coolest description for a voice I have ever heard in my entire life!

sounds of soothing

Went to a singing recital at the community college last night.  Pretty good stuff.  I got to hear a beautiful young woman I know sing, along with some random people I don't know.  I really liked the event, but the only downside is when you hear someone who is obviously very skilled and talented, but insist on singing some crappy songs; feels really anticlimactic.  Thank goodness the person I went to see was just fantabulous in every way (that's totally a word now, btw).

One particularly nice treat was the final song of the night was a Christmas song that I haven't heard in ages, that is far too underplayed.  Then again, I'm not sure it's too well known either.  As much as I enjoyed hearing my friend sing, that song was the thing that made the night for me.  An especially nice treat.  So, since I (as usual) missed my (usual) musical post on Sunday, here ya go:

It's what I do

So we have a young member of our systems staff I've mentioned on here before.  He has this silly little tendency to wear shirts that are just barely a size too small.  This gets kind of annoying really fast, as that makes it painfully obvious that he's walking around with his freaking glass-cutters nearly poking everyone's eyes out.  We've tried mentioning this to him, but he thinks we're just razzing him for the sake of poking fun at him. 

Now, 'round this time of year, our company decides that they are willing to buy us some shirts with the company logo on them.  Everyone is supposed to pick a style of shirt, what color they want it in, along with what size they need.  As I was placing these orders, it was suggested to me that I secretly bump the shirt size of whatever our young comrade specifies to the next size up without telling him.  I couldn't resist it.  It totally happened.

So the shirts arrived not too long ago, and we had a chance to see him wearing his better fitting shirt, and he still hasn't said a word just yet.  The rest of us figured that he's still in a state of shock, and is just reeling from the fact that his nipples are no longer being chafed, and that he actually has room to breathe.  To him I say, "you're welcome."

unprepared

I remember getting my Samsung Galaxy S, thinking that I'd be using the camera a lot.  Turns out because I never actually use it as a phone, I never have it on me when I need it.  I'll always realize far too late that I left it at home or at work.  Which is really frustrating, because I'll find myself totally useless when I run into something I really want to take a picture of.  Like yesterday morning, when we had some epic fog.  I mean it was some seriously beautiful, rare, visibility under fifty feet type of fog.  I had the urge to snap a pic right then and there, but lo and behold, no camera in my pocket.  Drats.

Though, one thing I did have my camera to take a snapshot of was my terrible fortune I got from Panda Express the other day.  I swear, the idiot who writes these things totally has it out for me, or at least has the completely wrong idea about me.

I'm thinking this was meant for someone else.

I have a monster too

Funny that sometimes I become so lax in my reading of the awesome list of blogs that I follow, that I end up just skimming over some without truly reading some if it.  This is a habit I really need to break, as I find that whenever I am pondering something weighty, it seems someone had just made an awesome blog post about it, that explains it far better than I could. 

That being said, please take a moment to read this excellent post by Law Dog on his blog.  It totally sums up the subject I've been thinking about the past few days, and is worth a read regardless.  It kinda reminded me of a statement I heard about some pansy people being upset about a rise in justifiable homicides.  Sad to hear that they don't get the fact that it's justified, hence the name.  I firmly believe that force and violence is extremely effective at ending injustice, and is sometimes required.  I will never hold reservations at using lethal force to protect myself, or others I care about.  I've been told I'm "less conventionally moral" and that I hold a very different view from the common person, but this is something I view as perfectly logical, sensible, and necessary.

However, I didn't always think this way, I used to live in denial of the monster inside.  I used to think I was simply 'a good person' and that no such thing dwells within me.  It ended up going out of control and ruling me.  Like most things in life, living in ignorance/denial of something simply endangers yourself and others.  Owning up to it and being responsible with it, is key.

On a related note, I've also come to realize that I forgot to add a few people to the good 'ol blog roll over there on the left.  One in particular I feel like crap for forgetting to include is A Girl and Her Gun.  Lots of good insights and info, along with good reading.  I highly recommend.  So go read, be educated, and have fun.

 

and that was your vital information

The only downside to winter, for me at least, is that it gets dark very quickly.   Now that in itself wouldn't really be a problem if I didn't already have impaired vision, which I think may be the true culprit here.  But I just hate those moments in which I'm driving around, then out of the corner of my eye I catch some movement, and look over to see a freaking Jedi walking around on the sidewalk!  However, it is a short lived elation, for as I drive closer, I notice it's simply a hobo in a bath robe.  Crap.

Pin four pips on that collar

So, I've been getting into a new webcomic recently called Failure to Fire.  It seemed okay, but the thing that got me was the series of comics they had on Mosin Nagants.  I was genuinely laughing out loud for all of 'em, because everyone I know (that's into guns), whether they liked Mosins or not, has done this (including myself).  Go give 'em a look:

Mosin Nagant 1
Mosin Nagant 2
Mosin Nagant 3
Mosin Nagant 4
Mosin Nagant 5

Also, as an update to one of my previous posts, it appears that the Navy will officially be naming the next carrier of the Gerald R. Ford class carriers (CVN-80) the U.S.S. Enterprise.  Hallelujah!

and a dollar short

Metallica - Fade to Black