Late Friday "Catch the Gray Men When They Dive From the 14th Floor" Random 10+

After the Czar won Wed. night's beer re-creation of WWI (see previous entry), I had a reasonable night's sleep, and after a leisurly morning, Dragonet and I headed to Lawrence to have Thanksgiving at her Mom's. Sister Sally was there, as was our nephew Dan and his mother, Laurie (first wife of D's older brother). Much good food was consumed, bad football was desultorily watched (I shouldn't have whipped that Johnson* out, obviously), and we headed back with Dan in the back seat to take him to his car, which he had left in the outskirts of Westport the previous evening after a long night of partying (he said he got home at 6a). He knew which street the car was on, but no one was quite sure where that street fit into the matrix of the area. Eventually it was found, and we came back home. Once Rohanna returned from her family's festivities, she and I discussed the idea of going to see Bob Reeder at O'Dowd's in Zona Rosa, and getting into their early Black Friday activities. We looked at the options, and decided to stay home. A bit later, she said that there had been a live news remote from Zona Rosa, and people had started lining up at noon.

Ro and I decided instead to take part in the looting this morning, so we got up at 6a and made our way to Best Buy, where I acquired a 19" Acer LCD widescreen monitor, to replace my current CRT, which had developed a nasty habit of randomly dimming and brightening. Also picked up "Boo," the latest Was/Not Was album (their first in 20 years). Then we did a quick run through the soon to be defunct Circuit City to no great purpose, and followed that with a stop at The Olde Timey Barn of Pottery, or something like that. Ro got some carpet for her bedroom. At that point, it was still not yet 9a, and I suggested we run through Cargo Largo, which is a freight salvage place full of strange and entertaining items of all kinds, most at quite low prices. Since they were taking 20% off all purchases, Ro agreed. Multiple miscellaneous items later, we headed home, and after a brief rest, headed back out for lunch and more shopping.

The China Star Buffet at 95th & Metcalf was reasonablypriced, if a bit bland in its selections, but it was across the street from Microcenter. On the way there, Dragonet mentioned that she could use a monitor, as well, to help with her work. I pointed out that if we found a better deal for me, she could have the Acer. I got a new Kensington wireless keyboard and mouse combo, and Dragonet found a new headphone set with microphone. I went looking for Ro, and found her pointing to a Sceptre 24" lcd, which was on sale for less than half the list price. With tears in my eyes, I waved goodbye to the Acer and reluctantly accepted the larger monitor. We decided that was enough shopping, and returned home. A couple of hours of cleaning, rearranging and cable swapping (not a euphemism), I am looking at this huge display in wonder. The keyboard is going to take a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure I'll adapt. And now, selections in celebration of crossing the 14K plateau in tunes.


1) Recapturing, TrianguliZona

2) differentown_final (no idea who did this, .59 of weirdness)

3) Keep Your Distance, Richard Thompson

4) Dance To Your Daddy, Colin Meloy

5) We're Having All The Fun, Fun Boy Three

6) Popcorn, Sparky's Magic Piano

7) 3 Is Better Than 4, The Dials

8) Dr. Luther's Assistant, Elvis Costello & the Attractions (Live At Leicester 10-22-77)

9) She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, The Beatles [Abbey Road (Ebbets)]

10) Into the Sun, King Black Acid

And some seconds, for all the trytophans out there:

11) I Could Be Dreaming, Belle & Sebastian

12) Vegetarian Restaurant, Aberfeldy

13) Everybody Hurts, Amanda Palmer & Cormac Bride


Tomorrow is the Lobsterfestapaloozathon, with the added bonus of watching the KU-MU game while enduring Ralphie's heckling. Sunday is blessedly devoid of activity more strenuous than watching feetsball. Hope everyone had a good Turkey day, and may you all have a great weekend.


* Calvin, wide receiver for Detroit, of course. What did you think I meant?

Late Friday "Catch the Gray Men When They Dive From the 14th Floor" Random 10+

After the Czar won Wed. night's beer re-creation of WWI (see previous entry), I had a reasonable night's sleep, and after a leisurly morning, Dragonet and I headed to Lawrence to have Thanksgiving at her Mom's. Sister Sally was there, as was our nephew Dan and his mother, Laurie (first wife of D's older brother). Much good food was consumed, bad football was desultorily watched (I shouldn't have whipped that Johnson* out, obviously), and we headed back with Dan in the back seat to take him to his car, which he had left in the outskirts of Westport the previous evening after a long night of partying (he said he got home at 6a). He knew which street the car was on, but no one was quite sure where that street fit into the matrix of the area. Eventually it was found, and we came back home. Once Rohanna returned from her family's festivities, she and I discussed the idea of going to see Bob Reeder at O'Dowd's in Zona Rosa, and getting into their early Black Friday activities. We looked at the options, and decided to stay home. A bit later, she said that there had been a live news remote from Zona Rosa, and people had started lining up at noon.

Ro and I decided instead to take part in the looting this morning, so we got up at 6a and made our way to Best Buy, where I acquired a 19" Acer LCD widescreen monitor, to replace my current CRT, which had developed a nasty habit of randomly dimming and brightening. Also picked up "Boo," the latest Was/Not Was album (their first in 20 years). Then we did a quick run through the soon to be defunct Circuit City to no great purpose, and followed that with a stop at The Olde Timey Barn of Pottery, or something like that. Ro got some carpet for her bedroom. At that point, it was still not yet 9a, and I suggested we run through Cargo Largo, which is a freight salvage place full of strange and entertaining items of all kinds, most at quite low prices. Since they were taking 20% off all purchases, Ro agreed. Multiple miscellaneous items later, we headed home, and after a brief rest, headed back out for lunch and more shopping.

The China Star Buffet at 95th & Metcalf was reasonablypriced, if a bit bland in its selections, but it was across the street from Microcenter. On the way there, Dragonet mentioned that she could use a monitor, as well, to help with her work. I pointed out that if we found a better deal for me, she could have the Acer. I got a new Kensington wireless keyboard and mouse combo, and Dragonet found a new headphone set with microphone. I went looking for Ro, and found her pointing to a Sceptre 24" lcd, which was on sale for less than half the list price. With tears in my eyes, I waved goodbye to the Acer and reluctantly accepted the larger monitor. We decided that was enough shopping, and returned home. A couple of hours of cleaning, rearranging and cable swapping (not a euphemism), I am looking at this huge display in wonder. The keyboard is going to take a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure I'll adapt. And now, selections in celebration of crossing the 14K plateau in tunes.


1) Recapturing, TrianguliZona

2) differentown_final (no idea who did this, .59 of weirdness)

3) Keep Your Distance, Richard Thompson

4) Dance To Your Daddy, Colin Meloy

5) We're Having All The Fun, Fun Boy Three

6) Popcorn, Sparky's Magic Piano

7) 3 Is Better Than 4, The Dials

8) Dr. Luther's Assistant, Elvis Costello & the Attractions (Live At Leicester 10-22-77)

9) She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, The Beatles [Abbey Road (Ebbets)]

10) Into the Sun, King Black Acid

And some seconds, for all the trytophans out there:

11) I Could Be Dreaming, Belle & Sebastian

12) Vegetarian Restaurant, Aberfeldy

13) Everybody Hurts, Amanda Palmer & Cormac Bride


Tomorrow is the Lobsterfestapaloozathon, with the added bonus of watching the KU-MU game while enduring Ralphie's heckling. Sunday is blessedly devoid of activity more strenuous than watching feetsball. Hope everyone had a good Turkey day, and may you all have a great weekend.


* Calvin, wide receiver for Detroit, of course. What did you think I meant?

Om nom nom

Dinner is Dragonet's apple pie with crumble topping, and several slices of "Hoop Aged" cheddar cheese which, according to the label is made from "RGBH Free Amish Milk." It's very tasty, and reminds how it's nice, while driving in the country, to occasionally see the herds of Amish women grazing in the fields, and reflect on the fact that they will, due to the Amish rejection of technology, be lovingly hand-milked to provide the main ingredient for fine products like this cheese.

And to go with this fine repast, a new beer. Ballast Point's Big Eye India Pale Ale is intensely-hopped, without being as powerful as some IPAs (they use only American Centennial hops, which may make the difference). Well rounded, excellent floral notes, with a nice crisp finish, it goes well with the pie and the cheese. I got it at Metcalf Discount Liquors at 91st and Metcalf this afternoon, along with several other beers I have not seen elsewhere in town. I'll have to try and get by there more often.

Oh, and totally off topic, my new monitor has both VGA and DVI capability, as does my video card. Is there a reason to use DVI, I ask my horde of fans and admirers? Pray, enlighten me.

Om nom nom

Dinner is Dragonet's apple pie with crumble topping, and several slices of "Hoop Aged" cheddar cheese which, according to the label is made from "RGBH Free Amish Milk." It's very tasty, and reminds how it's nice, while driving in the country, to occasionally see the herds of Amish women grazing in the fields, and reflect on the fact that they will, due to the Amish rejection of technology, be lovingly hand-milked to provide the main ingredient for fine products like this cheese.

And to go with this fine repast, a new beer. Ballast Point's Big Eye India Pale Ale is intensely-hopped, without being as powerful as some IPAs (they use only American Centennial hops, which may make the difference). Well rounded, excellent floral notes, with a nice crisp finish, it goes well with the pie and the cheese. I got it at Metcalf Discount Liquors at 91st and Metcalf this afternoon, along with several other beers I have not seen elsewhere in town. I'll have to try and get by there more often.

Oh, and totally off topic, my new monitor has both VGA and DVI capability, as does my video card. Is there a reason to use DVI, I ask my horde of fans and admirers? Pray, enlighten me.