People say that you smell burning toast before you have a heart attack.
I think I'm having one every morning!
I have to change the setting on my toaster.
I think I'm having one every morning!
I have to change the setting on my toaster.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Scoop, Scrape, and Relocate
Shoveling snow is fun.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to do it for a living, or for more than an hour or so.
But I like grabbing the shovel, scooping up a big patch of snow, and relocating it.
Some people like to make a path and then slowly widen it one strip at a time.
Some people are messy shovelers: they leave odd chunks of snow here and there.
They probably do a bad job eating corn on the cob too!
I'm a borders person: I dig the outline of the area I want cleared, and then proceed to eliminate the snow within the border.
I like piling up snow too: I've got a few good miniature mountain ranges in my front yard now!
I'm not weird about it: I don't name my miniature mountains!
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to do it for a living, or for more than an hour or so.
But I like grabbing the shovel, scooping up a big patch of snow, and relocating it.
Some people like to make a path and then slowly widen it one strip at a time.
Some people are messy shovelers: they leave odd chunks of snow here and there.
They probably do a bad job eating corn on the cob too!
I'm a borders person: I dig the outline of the area I want cleared, and then proceed to eliminate the snow within the border.
I like piling up snow too: I've got a few good miniature mountain ranges in my front yard now!
I'm not weird about it: I don't name my miniature mountains!
Chili Con Carne!
A friend invited me over for dinner on Sunday night.
He's not big on cooking; his wife does most of it these days.
He made chili.
He used my mother's recipe.
He did a pretty good job of it!
We both hadn't eaten chili for years. It's still good, if you haven't had it for a while either.
It might not be a good idea to watch a long movie afterwards though.
People should probably go home after eating chili.
Just a little advice from experience.
When I was travelling in South America and learning a bit of Spanish, it took me a few months before I associated con carne with with meat!
Sometimes I'm a bit slow.
He's not big on cooking; his wife does most of it these days.
He made chili.
He used my mother's recipe.
He did a pretty good job of it!
We both hadn't eaten chili for years. It's still good, if you haven't had it for a while either.
It might not be a good idea to watch a long movie afterwards though.
People should probably go home after eating chili.
Just a little advice from experience.
When I was travelling in South America and learning a bit of Spanish, it took me a few months before I associated con carne with with meat!
Sometimes I'm a bit slow.
Attacked By The Kitchen Sink
I was just minding my own business washing dishes when all of a sudden something beneath the bubbly surface slice me.
I pulled my hand out to discover a nice little cut high up on my index finger.
It's strange that 90% of the time I get sliced in the same place.
I surprised myself by actually having bandaids available!
Returning to the sink I confirmed my suspicions on what had attacked me.
It was the usually offender: Mr. Drinking Glass.
I pulled my hand out to discover a nice little cut high up on my index finger.
It's strange that 90% of the time I get sliced in the same place.
I surprised myself by actually having bandaids available!
Returning to the sink I confirmed my suspicions on what had attacked me.
It was the usually offender: Mr. Drinking Glass.
Big Decisions
If I had to choose between watching paint dry or snow melting,
I'd pick watching snow melt.
Because watching paint dry is boring.
I'd pick watching snow melt.
Because watching paint dry is boring.
Alarms
The virus software alarm on my computer scares that crap out of me everytime it goes off!
It's a very annoying alarm with a voice saying," A virus has been detected."
If I had a house alarm, I'd want something like that.
It's a very annoying alarm with a voice saying," A virus has been detected."
If I had a house alarm, I'd want something like that.
Without a Trace
The road I lived on as a child has the same name as my family name.
My family had lived there a long time and most people thought the road had been named after us: it wasn't. The road's name came from another family (not related), who moved away before I was born.
I have 6 brothers and sisters.
We all grew up in the same town.
We played sports, took music lessons, did amateur theatre, took dancing classes, were in boy scouts/girl guides, got into trouble with the law, and worked part time/ full time jobs all over the town.
Our father was a doctor and delivered a good portion of the younger population.
We were a cornerstone of the community; everyone knew who we were.
Who lives there now?
No one.
None of us even live within 500 miles (800km) of the town.
The road is still there though!
My family had lived there a long time and most people thought the road had been named after us: it wasn't. The road's name came from another family (not related), who moved away before I was born.
I have 6 brothers and sisters.
We all grew up in the same town.
We played sports, took music lessons, did amateur theatre, took dancing classes, were in boy scouts/girl guides, got into trouble with the law, and worked part time/ full time jobs all over the town.
Our father was a doctor and delivered a good portion of the younger population.
We were a cornerstone of the community; everyone knew who we were.
Who lives there now?
No one.
None of us even live within 500 miles (800km) of the town.
The road is still there though!
Packaging
Most packaging is pretty standard:square packages (or at least squarish), jars, bottles, tubes, containers, cans, boxes, tins, tubs, buckets, ...
Nothing unusual.
But
those damn Toblerone chocolates all wrapped up in that fashionable, look at me, triangular shaped package.
I can't resist!
note: I buy a lot of coat hangers as well
Nothing unusual.
But
those damn Toblerone chocolates all wrapped up in that fashionable, look at me, triangular shaped package.
I can't resist!
note: I buy a lot of coat hangers as well
Black and Blue
When it comes to food, blue and black are not very appetizing colours.
Blue: unless you are a specific berry or a popsicle, I probably won't eat you.
Black: unless you are caviar or highly recommended by a friend, I probably won't eat you either.
Blue: unless you are a specific berry or a popsicle, I probably won't eat you.
Black: unless you are caviar or highly recommended by a friend, I probably won't eat you either.
Important Life Lessons
There are apparently no ants in Antarctica, Iceland, Greenland or Polynesia east of Tonga; nor are they found on a few remote islands in the Indian Ocean.
How many children are growing up without the pleasure of discovering the mystery of the magnifying glass/ant lesson?
How many children are growing up without the pleasure of discovering the mystery of the magnifying glass/ant lesson?
Pachinko
In Japan there are Pachinko Parlours.
People play machines that are part slot machine/part pinball.
It's a never ending supply of little metal balls bouncing around between 100's of tiny little metal pins to the back drop of catchy music.
If you are lucky, the balls drop into special holes giving you a few extra balls.
If enough balls fall into special holes, the slot machine part comes into play.
And if you are really lucky, you get bonus rounds with the chance to earn lots of little metal balls: buckets of them.
Big buckets of them!
If you are a winner, you can exchange your balls for electronic chips, which you can exchange for money.
The machines can gobble about $10 a minute, if you're not lucky.
I have a friend who says he has 3 jobs: one of them is playing Pachinko.
He is serious too!
I guess that is why he has the 2 other jobs.
His pachinko job doesn't pay very well.
People play machines that are part slot machine/part pinball.
It's a never ending supply of little metal balls bouncing around between 100's of tiny little metal pins to the back drop of catchy music.
If you are lucky, the balls drop into special holes giving you a few extra balls.
If enough balls fall into special holes, the slot machine part comes into play.
And if you are really lucky, you get bonus rounds with the chance to earn lots of little metal balls: buckets of them.
Big buckets of them!
If you are a winner, you can exchange your balls for electronic chips, which you can exchange for money.
The machines can gobble about $10 a minute, if you're not lucky.
I have a friend who says he has 3 jobs: one of them is playing Pachinko.
He is serious too!
I guess that is why he has the 2 other jobs.
His pachinko job doesn't pay very well.
Josie
I like the name Josie.
I don't know why! I just do.
The meaning doesn't appeal to me: God Will Add.
What's he going to add? a can of milk? a dash of arregano? a $50 gift certificate for being the 9th caller?
It's supposedly been in songs by Blink-182, Donovan, and Steely Dan. I haven't heard any of those.
I just know it from the line "Josie's on a vacation far away" in The Outfield song.
I liked Josie and the Pussycats! The Outlaw Josie Wales!
I liked Josie Cotton singing "Johnny are you queer" in the Valley Girl movie.
But if I had a child, who turned out to be a girl, I couldn't use the name.
My last name doesn't go with it.
I don't know why! I just do.
The meaning doesn't appeal to me: God Will Add.
What's he going to add? a can of milk? a dash of arregano? a $50 gift certificate for being the 9th caller?
It's supposedly been in songs by Blink-182, Donovan, and Steely Dan. I haven't heard any of those.
I just know it from the line "Josie's on a vacation far away" in The Outfield song.
I liked Josie and the Pussycats! The Outlaw Josie Wales!
I liked Josie Cotton singing "Johnny are you queer" in the Valley Girl movie.
But if I had a child, who turned out to be a girl, I couldn't use the name.
My last name doesn't go with it.
Eating
I eat by myself too much.
I eat dinner late as well: usually between 11pm and 1am.
I don't get home from work until late.
I have to watch myself when I eat with other people.
I've fallen into bad habits.
I'm out of practice.
I don't lick my knife or anything scandalous.
I just seem to eat fast.
It's a goal to accomplish: the finish line is the plate in the sink.
I know I have a habit of saying, "Mmmmm" while I eat as well.
I eat dinner late as well: usually between 11pm and 1am.
I don't get home from work until late.
I have to watch myself when I eat with other people.
I've fallen into bad habits.
I'm out of practice.
I don't lick my knife or anything scandalous.
I just seem to eat fast.
It's a goal to accomplish: the finish line is the plate in the sink.
I know I have a habit of saying, "Mmmmm" while I eat as well.
Let's Talk About The Weather
I love extreme weather.
I was deprived growing up on Vancouver Island. If you don't know where it is, you can google.
But no extreme weather there: unless you think severe cloudyness and drizzle qualify!
Living in Japan I experience extreme weather regularly: typhoons; extreme rain; and thunder and lightning.
I guess earthquakes don't count as weather, but we get them too!
I'm sure if I lived on a major fault line or on the coast I wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it.
I just have to remember not to wear my metal hat outside sometimes!
I was deprived growing up on Vancouver Island. If you don't know where it is, you can google.
But no extreme weather there: unless you think severe cloudyness and drizzle qualify!
Living in Japan I experience extreme weather regularly: typhoons; extreme rain; and thunder and lightning.
I guess earthquakes don't count as weather, but we get them too!
I'm sure if I lived on a major fault line or on the coast I wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it.
I just have to remember not to wear my metal hat outside sometimes!
The Man at 7-11 Knows
He knows when I've been drinking I want Nikuman (meat filled dumplings)!
He knows when I'm hungover I want hot canned coffee, seafood riceballs and chocolate milk!
He knows when I haven't visited the regular supermarket I buy milk!
He knows when I'm too lazy to make lunch I buy bento (lunchbox style lunches)!
He knows when I have a visitor I buy tea and strange food!
He knows when I have a chocolate binge underway, I buy snickers!
He knows too much!
He must be eliminated
He knows when I'm hungover I want hot canned coffee, seafood riceballs and chocolate milk!
He knows when I haven't visited the regular supermarket I buy milk!
He knows when I'm too lazy to make lunch I buy bento (lunchbox style lunches)!
He knows when I have a visitor I buy tea and strange food!
He knows when I have a chocolate binge underway, I buy snickers!
He knows too much!
He must be eliminated
Food Glorious Food!
I'm always amazed when I go travelling how many different fruits, vegetables, and dishes there are that I had no idea about before.
A trip to Brazil or Indonesia makes me really question the old apple/banana/orange dilemma that I usually have when buying fruit.
In a lot of countries I can not identify most of the vegetable, let alone figure out how they are used. In Japan I was shocked to find there was more than one kind of mushroom!!
You can't even find button mushrooms here!
Some countries claim to have a lot of different specialty dishes; but really they are only meat and potatoes served in different styles, or noodles that are a different shape.
But
some food in some countries makes me salivate, makes my nose work overtime, and makes me wish I were twins so I could eat twice as much.
A trip to Brazil or Indonesia makes me really question the old apple/banana/orange dilemma that I usually have when buying fruit.
In a lot of countries I can not identify most of the vegetable, let alone figure out how they are used. In Japan I was shocked to find there was more than one kind of mushroom!!
You can't even find button mushrooms here!
Some countries claim to have a lot of different specialty dishes; but really they are only meat and potatoes served in different styles, or noodles that are a different shape.
But
some food in some countries makes me salivate, makes my nose work overtime, and makes me wish I were twins so I could eat twice as much.
Malarkey
Why is it always A bunch of malarkey?
It's never
a pack of malarkey
a group of malarkey
a coven of malarkey
a chunk of malarkey
a thick slice of malarkey
an unruly crowd of malarkey
a mob of malarkey
a junta of malarkey
a triad of malarkey
a small gathering of malarkey
a congress of malarkey
a murder of malarkey
a pod of malarkey
a basket of malarkey
an assortment of malarkey
Always a bunch of malarkey
It's never
a pack of malarkey
a group of malarkey
a coven of malarkey
a chunk of malarkey
a thick slice of malarkey
an unruly crowd of malarkey
a mob of malarkey
a junta of malarkey
a triad of malarkey
a small gathering of malarkey
a congress of malarkey
a murder of malarkey
a pod of malarkey
a basket of malarkey
an assortment of malarkey
Always a bunch of malarkey
Wreaking Havoc
Wreaking: to inflict punishment, to take vengeance
Havoc: destruction, devastation, disorder
Together: wreaking havoc, to wreak havoc.
I have a theory why these words are always used together.
People were using them so infrequently, they decided to band together in the hope that they would be used more often.
It's a case of survival of the fittest in the word world.
Havoc: destruction, devastation, disorder
Together: wreaking havoc, to wreak havoc.
I have a theory why these words are always used together.
People were using them so infrequently, they decided to band together in the hope that they would be used more often.
It's a case of survival of the fittest in the word world.
Clock Work
My lunch break is between 2:30 and 4pm.
I always go home.
I eat lunch before I go to work at 1pm.
So, what do I do at home for 90 minutes?
I usually lie on my sofa and watch TV or take a nap.
Monday to Friday, on their way home from elementary school, about 200 kids walk by my place.
I see them; they see me.
They must think I'm an invalid or shut in.
The foreigner who's always lying on the sofa!
About a half dozen kids have started to wave to me as they pass.
And I wave back!
I always go home.
I eat lunch before I go to work at 1pm.
So, what do I do at home for 90 minutes?
I usually lie on my sofa and watch TV or take a nap.
Monday to Friday, on their way home from elementary school, about 200 kids walk by my place.
I see them; they see me.
They must think I'm an invalid or shut in.
The foreigner who's always lying on the sofa!
About a half dozen kids have started to wave to me as they pass.
And I wave back!
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