Fun article about Bram's favorite subject ..

Bram's favorite subject is, by the way, HURRICANES. He's all about the hurricane plan. We sort of have one. It's fungible. It's developing. I want wireless weatherproof webcams on the outside so we can see (and broadcast, of course) the incoming weather when the windows are all boarded up.

This guy is writing about the Atlantic hurricane season, which started yesterday.

As if to announce today's June 1 date, Tropical Storm Barry just formed--unexpectedly--in the Gulf, and may now be intensifying over the infamous warm Loop Current. Neither Jeff Masters nor the official forecasters think Barry is going to become a hurricane before reaching Florida, however. The National Hurricane Center puts the storm's intensity at 40 knots, though Masters thinks it's stronger than that.

Masters also makes this interesting observation:

The hurricane season of 2007 is in second place for the earliest year that the second named storm occurred. The record is held by 1887, when the second named storm formed on May 17. Third place is held by 1934, when the second storm of the year formed on June 4. The second storm of 1934 was also the worst June hurricane on record. It hit Central America as a Category 1 hurricane, dropping up to 25 inches of rain on Honduras, triggering landslides that killed 3,000 people.

There is no relationship between high activity early in hurricane season and high activity during the main August-October peak of the season. For example, the 1934 hurricane season turned out to be an ordinary season with 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and no intense hurricanes.

I'm not surprised to hear that there's no relationship here....but at the same time, I also remember last year, when Atlantic storms really struggled to form and develop. This year, by contrast, they're popping up suddenly where we don't expect them. I don't know....something feels different about the way the atmosphere-ocean system is behaving this time around.

That's all I'll say at this point.

MEANWHILE: After a weakening phase, Tropical Storm Barbara is back and may soon hit Mexico. The question is how strong this one can get before landfall. It's over warm water with low shear....

And finally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center is now tracking a storm in a place where I have not seen one appear since I became a hurricane junkie: The Arabian Sea. I'll be keeping an eye on that one as well....

Because I love to bitch ... about shitty service

I picked up my car from David Taylor on Thursday, where it had overnighted. As was predictable, they sent me the email "were you satisfied" inquiry today.

Well, they asked:

"Were all of your service concerns corrected on this service visit?"

Wiring harness appears to be on order (this was not explained to me, but could be on order from my review of the invoice.) Foglamps were not repaired, perhaps because of this issue.

I had requested that the sunroof be adjusted, but the service writer and the invoice were quite specific that they could find nothing wrong with it.

"Based on this service visit, overall, how satisfied are you with David Taylor Cadillac Buick GMC Pontiac?"

Well, I paid $270 and was without the car for two days for an oil change, a fuel filter and a bottle of fuel conditioner in the gas tank. Nothing else was done.

As I drove up the beltway after paying for my car, the wind whistled merrily across the back of the sunroof, pushing out any thoughts of returning phone calls until I closed the sunroof shade.

That night, as I was driving through Memorial to pick up my best girlfriend for her birthday dinner, the stereo speakers on the left side of the car began to cause the interior trim to buzz loudly enough that the XM announcer's words were blurred.

But, I can see how no problem could be found.

So, I'm perturbed that I spent $270 on a service that could have been accomplished for $80. I'm pretty good at dumping a can of gas treatment in the thank, you see, and the going price for an oil change is about $25.

Have you noticed how hopped up most people are about illegal immigration?

Personally, I've never understood it - these people come here, live a low-level existence, work for pay we wouldn't accept doing jobs we wouldn't do (oh, by the way, by "we," I mean WHITE people, not brown people.) They do not, contrary to popular belief, clog our emergency rooms with unpaid medical requests, and they definitely do not take Social Security or other public benefits. Yes, some of them get drunk and shoot at people, and some are robbers, and some are murderers - in case you missed it, they're not the ONLY ones doing this. In fact, they're in the minority.

Hey, I made a funny!

Today, the Wall Street Journal did something VERY funny - they called a spade a spade! Except, it wasn't a spade spade, it was a KKK white bigotry spade thing:

"The fact is their (conservatives) objection is fundamentally cultural, but they can't say that. It's the biggest unspoken truth at the center of this debate. They can't talk about it."

"The real lie of this is that they make the whole debate about illegal immigration. They don't want them here legally."

"(Conservatives) want to make their (illegal aliens) lives so miserable that they'll just leave."

"They claim to like legal immigration... as long as its from eastern Europe."

"There's a real divide between the members of Congress, the Republicans, who realize that they are in deep trouble if they go into the election again as the anti immigration party."

"The Republicans will be a permanent minority by 2007."

How about THEM apples? If you shoot off about how the WSJ is a liberal commie pinko newspaper, I'm going to take you out behind the woodshed and make you spend the summer learning what the facts are.

George Bush loves gay people

This was quite the article from Daily Kos which I'm going to reproduce here, because it's something that needs to be seen and contemplated, not just passed over.

Here's the article:

Last week, with little fanfare, George W. Bush announced the nomination of Joseph Holsinger to become the Surgeon General of the United States. Said Bush:

As America's chief health educator, he will be charged with providing the best scientific information available on how Americans can make smart choices that improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury.

And speaking of choices, Holsinger and his wife:

...founded Hope Springs Community Church in a warehouse at 1109 Versailles Road. Calhoun called it a socially diverse congregation with a "very vital recovery ministry." It serves the homeless and those with addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex; and it has a Spanish-language Hispanic congregation with its own pastor. [...]

Hope Springs also ministers to people who no longer wish to be gay or lesbian, Calhoun said.

"We see that as an issue not of orientation but of lifestyle," he said. "We have people who seek to walk out of that lifestyle."

And as a member of the United Methodist Judicial Council, Holsinger:

...supported a pastor who would not permit an openly gay man to join the church...(The church's bishops voted later to allow the gay man to become a member.)

But rest assured, according to his supporters, this potential Surgeon General for all Americans won't "be driven by ideology."

I feel SO much better!

This really gives me a reason to be nasty to the evil Republican woman down the street.

George Bush loves gay people

This was quite the article from Daily Kos which I'm going to reproduce here, because it's something that needs to be seen and contemplated, not just passed over.

Here's the article:

Last week, with little fanfare, George W. Bush announced the nomination of Joseph Holsinger to become the Surgeon General of the United States. Said Bush:

As America's chief health educator, he will be charged with providing the best scientific information available on how Americans can make smart choices that improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury.

And speaking of choices, Holsinger and his wife:

...founded Hope Springs Community Church in a warehouse at 1109 Versailles Road. Calhoun called it a socially diverse congregation with a "very vital recovery ministry." It serves the homeless and those with addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex; and it has a Spanish-language Hispanic congregation with its own pastor. [...]

Hope Springs also ministers to people who no longer wish to be gay or lesbian, Calhoun said.

"We see that as an issue not of orientation but of lifestyle," he said. "We have people who seek to walk out of that lifestyle."

And as a member of the United Methodist Judicial Council, Holsinger:

...supported a pastor who would not permit an openly gay man to join the church...(The church's bishops voted later to allow the gay man to become a member.)

But rest assured, according to his supporters, this potential Surgeon General for all Americans won't "be driven by ideology."

I feel SO much better!

This really gives me a reason to be nasty to the evil Republican woman down the street.

First morning on the bus

I was so tired this morning for reasons I don't know. About 0750, I was thinking "there's no way I'm going to make the 7:55 bus... when's the next one?" Turns out the LAST one is at 8:20,but the trip time is shorter than the rest by nearly 15 minutes. So, I hustled my butt out the door to the bus stop, and you could have set your watch by the bus' arrival. There are very few people on the bus here - but it's not a commuter bus, it's a city bus, bumpy and relatively loud. However, it's pretty self-righteous to feel like I'm not blowing hydrocarbons out my personal 275 horsepower tailpipe. Plus, I'll arrive at the office with all of my blogging and reading completed.

Had a long conversation with Bram's mom last night about diabetes (she's a diabetic educator...) I learned a few things, some of which were disturbing to my self-rationalizaing beliefs. It does seem that exercise is a huge difference .. and that food intake is everything. Blah. Time to tackle that issue, I guess.

Obviously, this laptop screen must be cleaned for optimal use during these commutes.

Today, I'm going to start working on practicing what I advise others to do. That's all I'm going to say about that. I'm all excited about saving money on my wireless phone account (as of yesterday) and on the cable bill. There was one other account I was planning on saving money on - the goal is to reduce fixed expenses by $400 a month. I'm about halfway there so far.

Tonight, Nicole and I are going out for her birthday, and I'm trying to cook up the best arrangement for her to feel princess-like. I am still gelling on that ...

Had the house to myself again last night, which was pleasant. I watched (sort of) two episodes of "24 Season Three," and read a bunch of "best of Craigslist" postings, three of which had me laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face, and struggling to breathe.

People can be quite creative. It seems that their greatest creativity is in the area of bathroom humor. Interesting.

Just had to move to the back of the bus to make way for a woman in a wheelchair. Interesting. A bit louder back here, but I'm sitting higher, and no one is going to bother me at all. Hell, I have another ten miles to go here on the bus, so what difference does that make?

This is a really great way to go, I think.

Still can't find my tuxedo shoes. They're just gone, gone, gone. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find great looking tuxedo shoes in a size 13 that fit me? Crap.

I have to go get measured for a tux for this thing on the 22nd, too. I may just skip the whole idea of a date. There isn't anyone that I'd like to take that would go, I don't think. I may be able to strong arm Tom into being my date, we'll see. He's resistant.

I had fun last night at the real estate broker function - mostly in throwing people under the bus .. "oh, you didn't come to OUR big anniversary party because you were feeling overworked, but all this heavy rain isn't a decent excuse for people not coming to your broker happy hour when you gave everyone fewer than 24 hours' notice? "

Un-huh.

You should have seen the expressions on their faces when I said "well, we offered to give you your company website and hosting for free. But, you thought you could do better than that."

Of course, they were blank faced .. "free?" "Yes, free." "How did we miss that?" "Focusing on the other mortgage companies that you invited, I should guess."

"We'd love free!" "I'm sure you would. Perhaps one of your MORE preferred mortgage lenders will help you with that."

John was there as a foil to my directness. "Oh, we'll take care of you." Says I "IF you stop jacking us around on the mortgage lender sponsor thing."

I need a bus pass. Who is this crazy queen wearing a black suit, black shit and a white tie? Am I in a time machine, instead of a bus?

I need to email my client that has the attic insulation (which I covet.) He's being all slippery again, now that there is a need on my part. Figures.

Oh, by the by - the bus suddenly headed for the freeway, and dropped me off less than 150 feet from the office door TWO MINUTES EARLY.

You want to read some truly amazing shit?

I mean TRULY. AMAZING. SHIT.

There's a pun in there - a prize to the first person who figures it out.

Guest lodgings and 30,000 miles

Put away a few things in the guest room this morning (and took down the broken Jesus picture,) and here's how it looked with sunlight streaming in today..







The boy from Abilene was heard from last night. I'm publishing the details in the private blog - if you're not a reader and you want to be, just ask me (and, depending on our relationship, I may let you.) I was quite harsh. Bram hooted with laughter.

Scarlett is in the shop today and tomorrow for the 30,000 mile service, repairing the foglamps and their associated wiring harness, the sunroof (again,) and the stereo speakers which are buzzing. I think she'll be ready near the end of the day tomorrow.

Riding the bus home today for the FIRST time!

Humor for this Wednesday morning that feels like Tuesday:

A very gentle Texas lady was driving across a high
bridge in Texas one day. As she neared the top of the
bridge, she noticed a young man fixin' to jump.

She stopped her car, rolled down the window and
said, "Please don't jump, think of your dear mother
and father."

He replied, "Mom and Dad are both dead; I'm going to
jump".

She said, "Well, think of your wife and children."

He replied, "I'm not married and I don't have any
kids"

She said, "Well, think of the Alamo ."

He replied, "What's the Alamo ?"

She replied, "Well, bless your heart, just go ahead
and jump, you dumb assed Yankee."

I'm cleaning up my "to do" list today, and going home to pull weeds and trans-plants that can be put into pots and successfully populate the courtyard. Bram's on the ambulance tonight, which means that I can look forward to a peaceful evening of that, taking out the trash, and watching my newly arrived disc of "25 - Season Three."

Talked to my dad last night for a good long time, he actually seemed to be interested in what's going on with the church. And, I had several calls last night from the Phoenix minister who I have already written to tell "only with a mediator, please."

Okay, time to line out the tasks to be accomplished and off we go!!

Funny how tired I'm feeling today. Bleh. We're waiting for more rain.

O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

Mark Twain

Sometimes it's just the little things....

Here are some pictures of Matticia magic:

First is a picture of the amazo-cool shoe holders from IKEA at $2.99 each:



Then, two pictures of the picture lamps that Matticia hung for me in the bedroom - the flash kind of destroys how cool it looks in there. The indirect light and shadows are AMAZING. Now, I have to pick out DIFFERENT colors for in here... but it makes me very happy.





Then, three pictures of the kitchen post-hockey puck lamps. First, the before picture of the crappy five buck over sink fixture...



Then, two pictures - one over the sink showing the lamps (hidden above) with the hanging bread board, and the other of the coffee cannister which is in the "before" picture.





My new bedroom ceiling fan makes all of the difference in how well I sleep, it seems. It's silent, it moves more air than a Category II hurricane, and I sleep very soundly with it running. The packaging for the various things that I have had to save are all neatly organized in the attic. The Christmas stuff, same story. My bedroom closet is MUCHO organized, with the shoes in these very cool IKEA hanging things, all of the stuff to be eBayed organized in one area, the stuff to be scanned and scrapbooked in another, all of the clothing in another ..

The train curio is now lighted, with more and cooler stuff displayed therein, my bedroom artwork is lighted, the deco bar is re-lighted, and the kitchen - oh, my goodness - just a hundred dollars and some Matticiamatic talent and it's transformed. There are now six hockey puck lamps illuminating the sink and the counter area, which a.) look WAY cool, b.) provide twenty times the illumination, and c.) make the whole counter area look awesome. With the vent hood lamp on, the kitchen has more than enough light, and it's so amazing. The dishwasher no longer leaks waste water into the under counter area (total cost - $6.00.) The water coming out of the faucet is clean, fresh and filtered to 2 microns. The water coming out of the refrigerator - the same. The cool bread board that came from my mom is hanging over the sink, out of the way and balancing a picture on the other side.

Wow. All that, a trip to the office to fire off some missives at the ministers who vex me, two big naps, a huge load of trash to the trash, and all these new tschotkes in the living room. Wow. Oh, and the lovely lace curtain over the guest room window, the new bedding therein, lamps (if we can crack the non-standard socket code issue,) and pictures on the walls in there.

Simply amazing. And, the pool party last night was a whole lot of fun. David always has outstanding music mixes, and Bram, Matticia and I basically sat in the kitchen chowing down, sucking down cocktails, yapping about all kinds of stuff and listening to the music.

Tonight's movie selection - the original "Fun With Dick and Jane," in honor of Jane Fonda being so fabulous still at 70 or thereabouts, and in honor of time gone by with the passing of Charles Nelson Riley.