I'm Fearless.
I'm Sting's "Englishman In New York".
I'm Gonzo the great. I'm Yellow?
I'm 60% Zeus, 60% Aphrodite, and 40% Poseidon.
I am Mercury.
I'm a Carnation, a rutabaga, a birch tree.
I'm Happy. I am good.
I'm Ash, Shop smart, Shop S'Mart!
I'm Spiderman
I am Science Fiction.
I'm Somewhat Nerdy
I'm 24 years old.
I'm a Freaky Kisser.
And I'm a Butterfinger.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
TOP FIVE
Norm over at The Only Constant Is Change had a post (Infectious Melodies ) yesterday that started my mind spinning again. I get songs stuck in my melon all the time. Most recently was Avril Lavine's Girlfriend. Yes it's so well embedded that I catch myself singing "Hey, Hey, You, You, I could be your girlfriend." Around the house it's not so bad but I've done it during weekend drill with the Oregon National Guard. Yeah....I'm doing something and I look up to see all my Army buddies looking at me with a "WTF" look on their faces.
Now here is the thing. I like Avril Lavine. She sings fun songs. I like that. Plus she is extremely boinkable. With all that said here it is....
My top 5 Avril Lavine songs.
#5
Girlfriend
This song is funny. The reason it is number 5 is that the repetitive hook always grabs me and doesn't let go for a week. From Avril's third album, "The Best Damn Thing" (2007) "Girlfriend" is Lavine's biggest hit in the United States, where it reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Wikipedia has this:
The music video is Number one on Youtube.
#4
My Happy Ending
Not sure why I like this song but I do. I think it's because I like her voice. She's not the same thing you hear from other chick bands. (Yes she is similar to Alanis Morissette.)
From Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin (2004). While only peaking at number 9 "My Happy Ending" is Avril's third most successful single.
#3
Iris
A cover/duet of The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", performed with The Goo Goo Dolls lead singer and lyricist John Rzeznik at the Fashion Rocks concert in 2004. My favorite Song by The Goo Goo Dolls sung by my favorite, to much mascara wearing, pop waif.
#2
Sk8er Boi
The first song I heard By Avril Lavine. It is also the first song of hers that wormed its way into my head and stuck. Leaving me singing or humming the chorus for weeks. I wish I could find a better version rather than this live one. "Sk8ter Boi" is the second single from the 2002 album Let Go, released on 4 June 2002 in the United States.
#1
Complicated
The first single from 2002's album Let Go. "Complicated" hit number two on Billboard Hot 100. Spent 16 consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and 13 weeks in the Top Five. "Complicated" also ranked at number 197 in Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" (beaten by MC Hammer's 1990 song "U Can't Touch This" but thankfully beating out The Bayside Boys remix of Los Del Rio's "Macarena")
I really like the main melody. The lyrics are good, and the chorus is catchy.
Now it had to be my number one due to the Weird Al Cover "A Complicated Song", because you know its a great song when Weird Al Covers it. (Well except for James Blunt's Your Beautiful. The cover is great but the original was WAY overplayed.)
As one of my favorite Radio Talk DJ's on 970am out of Portland, OR....
Don't let the bastards grind ya down
Rao
Now here is the thing. I like Avril Lavine. She sings fun songs. I like that. Plus she is extremely boinkable. With all that said here it is....
My top 5 Avril Lavine songs.
#5
Girlfriend
This song is funny. The reason it is number 5 is that the repetitive hook always grabs me and doesn't let go for a week. From Avril's third album, "The Best Damn Thing" (2007) "Girlfriend" is Lavine's biggest hit in the United States, where it reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Wikipedia has this:
Because of digital download sales in excess of 122,000, the song debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, the highest debut of her career. Afterwards it became Lavigne's first song to reach number one on the Hot 100, in the issue dated May 5, 2007; her previous highest peak on the chart was with 2002's "Complicated", which reached number two. It remained in the top ten for eighteen weeks, and has since been downloaded over 2.6 million times.
The music video is Number one on Youtube.
#4
My Happy Ending
Not sure why I like this song but I do. I think it's because I like her voice. She's not the same thing you hear from other chick bands. (Yes she is similar to Alanis Morissette.)
From Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin (2004). While only peaking at number 9 "My Happy Ending" is Avril's third most successful single.
#3
Iris
A cover/duet of The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", performed with The Goo Goo Dolls lead singer and lyricist John Rzeznik at the Fashion Rocks concert in 2004. My favorite Song by The Goo Goo Dolls sung by my favorite, to much mascara wearing, pop waif.
#2
Sk8er Boi
The first song I heard By Avril Lavine. It is also the first song of hers that wormed its way into my head and stuck. Leaving me singing or humming the chorus for weeks. I wish I could find a better version rather than this live one. "Sk8ter Boi" is the second single from the 2002 album Let Go, released on 4 June 2002 in the United States.
#1
Complicated
The first single from 2002's album Let Go. "Complicated" hit number two on Billboard Hot 100. Spent 16 consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and 13 weeks in the Top Five. "Complicated" also ranked at number 197 in Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" (beaten by MC Hammer's 1990 song "U Can't Touch This" but thankfully beating out The Bayside Boys remix of Los Del Rio's "Macarena")
I really like the main melody. The lyrics are good, and the chorus is catchy.
Now it had to be my number one due to the Weird Al Cover "A Complicated Song", because you know its a great song when Weird Al Covers it. (Well except for James Blunt's Your Beautiful. The cover is great but the original was WAY overplayed.)
As one of my favorite Radio Talk DJ's on 970am out of Portland, OR....
Don't let the bastards grind ya down
Rao
Board? Nothing to do?
Have you already finished your daily blogging? Checked your E-mail? Cleaned out the fridge, scrubbed the toilets, or Ordered your fifth set of ShamWows? Maybe you have been feeling under the weather but you're tired of laying in bed. What should you do to burn up the next five minutes? What about the next hour?
Maybe you should visit your local library. When was the last time you were there? Hmmm? Well that burned up an hour so.
Now what? Well you could run around your house all nekkid with what ever dangly bits you have flappin around, or you could try your hand at some Origami. Don't know where to start? Well you could have checked out a book at the library while you were there. You didn't though so lets look on the web. Hmmm plenty of stuff there. While not traditionally origami this site has some neat "Print and Fold" stile projects that the kids may enjoy. (try the butterfly, it's pretty and FLYS)
Maybe your looking for a challenge. You have already mastered the easier forms. Your done with bunnies and butterflies. What about a flower? If your a guy your probably thinking WTF? Well it's easy to go out and buy a dozen roses and hand them to your girl. Then they sit in a vase and wilt over the next week, and finally get tossed out. Instead of doing all that spend some time and make them. Do it in secret while she's not around and surprise her. You may like the results. But you don't know how to make an origami rose or you have tried but have never been able to get that one fold just right. Check out YouTube. There are plenty of videos on Origami. Here's a really good Rose by AdamsSara You can use these as is or with a little work make some stems out of wire and floral tape. (I used old flimsy wire coat hangers for my wire. 2 stems per hanger.)
You don't need to go out and get fancy origami paper, if your just puttering around either. Try using some left over wrapping paper. Of course it won't look as perfect as some of the more costly double sided origami paper but it's just fine to practice with. Plus you can cut it what ever size you want. For example check this first of four videos out.
Don't want to read and you don't want to do any sissy folding of paper. Check out Instructables.com You may be able to find something on here that peaks your interest. You may not actually want to make anything but reading some of the instructions and seeing what others have done can be fun and takes up a lot of time.
With another movie on the horizon maybe you want a Harry Potter style wand. Or just one to use for Halloween. Well a single piece of paper, some white glue, (or Mod Podge) a hot glue gun and some paint and you can make a really cool wand for your kids (or yourself. Come on you know you want one.) This instructables gives a very clear, step-by-step tutorial on exactly how to do it yourself.
Still Have a little time left? Collect all your junk mail up and send it back to them. You're really recycling it and it costs them not you. By returning THEIR junk (and maybe that candy bar wrapper you just finished with) back to them in THEIR postage pre-paid envelopes they have to pay about thirty nine cents per return. You win by not putting this junk into the local land fill. The post office wins because they get 39 cents.(The envelopes are not really pre-paid unless they get used) You should sanitize any of your personal information first though. This goes with any mail you eventually toss.
Hmmm. Now I have to go figure out what I'm going to do the rest of the day.
Maybe you should visit your local library. When was the last time you were there? Hmmm? Well that burned up an hour so.
Now what? Well you could run around your house all nekkid with what ever dangly bits you have flappin around, or you could try your hand at some Origami. Don't know where to start? Well you could have checked out a book at the library while you were there. You didn't though so lets look on the web. Hmmm plenty of stuff there. While not traditionally origami this site has some neat "Print and Fold" stile projects that the kids may enjoy. (try the butterfly, it's pretty and FLYS)
Maybe your looking for a challenge. You have already mastered the easier forms. Your done with bunnies and butterflies. What about a flower? If your a guy your probably thinking WTF? Well it's easy to go out and buy a dozen roses and hand them to your girl. Then they sit in a vase and wilt over the next week, and finally get tossed out. Instead of doing all that spend some time and make them. Do it in secret while she's not around and surprise her. You may like the results. But you don't know how to make an origami rose or you have tried but have never been able to get that one fold just right. Check out YouTube. There are plenty of videos on Origami. Here's a really good Rose by AdamsSara You can use these as is or with a little work make some stems out of wire and floral tape. (I used old flimsy wire coat hangers for my wire. 2 stems per hanger.)
You don't need to go out and get fancy origami paper, if your just puttering around either. Try using some left over wrapping paper. Of course it won't look as perfect as some of the more costly double sided origami paper but it's just fine to practice with. Plus you can cut it what ever size you want. For example check this first of four videos out.
Don't want to read and you don't want to do any sissy folding of paper. Check out Instructables.com You may be able to find something on here that peaks your interest. You may not actually want to make anything but reading some of the instructions and seeing what others have done can be fun and takes up a lot of time.
With another movie on the horizon maybe you want a Harry Potter style wand. Or just one to use for Halloween. Well a single piece of paper, some white glue, (or Mod Podge) a hot glue gun and some paint and you can make a really cool wand for your kids (or yourself. Come on you know you want one.) This instructables gives a very clear, step-by-step tutorial on exactly how to do it yourself.
Still Have a little time left? Collect all your junk mail up and send it back to them. You're really recycling it and it costs them not you. By returning THEIR junk (and maybe that candy bar wrapper you just finished with) back to them in THEIR postage pre-paid envelopes they have to pay about thirty nine cents per return. You win by not putting this junk into the local land fill. The post office wins because they get 39 cents.(The envelopes are not really pre-paid unless they get used) You should sanitize any of your personal information first though. This goes with any mail you eventually toss.
Hmmm. Now I have to go figure out what I'm going to do the rest of the day.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The most Kick Ass Book I have ever read.
I read World War Z during my last deployment and all I could think was "WOW!"
I wanted to do a review on here about it but I wanted to get that feeling again, so I reserved a copy at my library. (I gave the original copy to another soldier before I left Iraq)
After reading Word War Z for the second time I still have that "WOW!" sensation. There isn't a main character. Instead it's really a bunch of short stories describing multiple first person accounts of the Zombie apocalypse, yet all these stories are linked together by an interviewer in such a way as to give you the full story of the war. You really don't get to see the interviewer accept the occasional question that are asked to keep the stories going. Some of the characters you only "hear" from once while others you keep coming back to as the war unfolds.
This isn't something that can be torn apart into neat little categories. Each character brings a different view. A different emotion. I don't want to go into the details. I want you to go out and get this book and read it yourself.
I seriously can't recommend this book enough. Don't look it up on wikipedia and get an overview. Don't look up other reviews. Beg, borrow or steal this book and read it. (ok don't steal it. Get it from your local library if you must. Just make sure you check it out properly)
When your done reading it come back and we can have a chat about it.
Rao
Friday, January 23, 2009
Finding yourself
So I'm listening to the 970am live feed over the Internet (Between 11 and 3) and searching for old friends. Now with the Internet being what it is you would think with just a little bit of info you should be able to find anyone. There is still one of my old army buddies I have not been able to find. So thinking this I started to wonder how hard it would be to find info on myself.
I typed in my name. Hey Look there is my Facebook page...Wait. I don't have Facebook. Hmmm Of course there are other people out there with my name. Ok keep checking with just my name.....Hmmm ok. Wrapping my name in quotes I was able to find 2 links. One is something out of a newspaper release that the military issued detailing a public awards ceremony and the other I found funny because it was a site history that mentions something I did back in the early 90's.
My name wrapped in quotes and home town came up with a Classmates.com link.
Hmmm Guess I'm pretty hard to track down too. I know you can hire one of those web services to track someone but I'm not really interested in doing that. I guess I just found it interesting that here I was grumbling about not being able to find someone when it was difficult to find anything on myself. I have had a web presence for years I have just never used my real name. I have had 3 different "Names" I have used over the years so that is the main reason. I can find plenty when doing a search on those.
Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at stuff from a different direction. Oh well I'll still type in old friends when I get a chance. That is how I have found others in the past. Well that and MySpace.
Home
I typed in my name. Hey Look there is my Facebook page...Wait. I don't have Facebook. Hmmm Of course there are other people out there with my name. Ok keep checking with just my name.....Hmmm ok. Wrapping my name in quotes I was able to find 2 links. One is something out of a newspaper release that the military issued detailing a public awards ceremony and the other I found funny because it was a site history that mentions something I did back in the early 90's.
My name wrapped in quotes and home town came up with a Classmates.com link.
Hmmm Guess I'm pretty hard to track down too. I know you can hire one of those web services to track someone but I'm not really interested in doing that. I guess I just found it interesting that here I was grumbling about not being able to find someone when it was difficult to find anything on myself. I have had a web presence for years I have just never used my real name. I have had 3 different "Names" I have used over the years so that is the main reason. I can find plenty when doing a search on those.
Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at stuff from a different direction. Oh well I'll still type in old friends when I get a chance. That is how I have found others in the past. Well that and MySpace.
What's to do in Portland Oregon
I was watching Outlook Portland the other day and it got me thinking that I wish I lived a little closer to Portland. There is a lot of cool stuff that happens in and around the city that I miss because it is too far to drive to.
I have a rule you see. If the trip takes longer than the activity then I'm not going. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense I know but it's something I started using in the past when I was going back and forth on rather it was worth it to go someplace.
Some of the things that I would like to do, use to do, haven't done in a long time or just hits my geek button, but I just haven't gotten around to it are.......
OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
Regular Hours (through June 12, 2009) Tuesday—Sunday 9:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
I love this place. Just about everything is hands on. There is so much to see and do. Bring your wallet though, because every little thing will cost you. (Becoming a member can reduce costs if you plan on visiting more than once.)
If you haven't been yet but love rock you should really check out OMSI's Laser Light Shows.
I remember making the trip from St Helens once in 18 minutes when we decided to hit a midnight showing. I guess we shouldn't have waited till 11:35 to figure out what to do.
Want to just spend the day browsing arts and crafts? Then the Portland Saturday Market is for you. From it's beginning in 1973 the market has grown and prospered. Located under the Burnside Bridge and in Ankeny Park.
Over 21 and like beer? Try one of the local brewery tours. Widmeris a good start or go all out and take the Brew Bus A guided tour to 3-4 Portland Breweries. It is $40 per person, but you will be able to sample 15 - 25 fresh beers
Each Month Cort and Fatboy from 101.1 KUFO host a Midnight Movie.
Don't miss the next one on Friday, February 6th at 10pm, TRUE ROMANCE at McMenamins Bagdad Theatre on SE Hawthorne in PDX.
There have been many of these that I had missed and would like to of seen, but trying to get a sitter to stick around that late is difficult.
If your a Battlestar Galactica Fan and want to watch the final episodes with like minded people you can Join Cort and Fatboy at the Bagdad Theater, Fridays (Jan 23-Mar 10) each week for the final 9 episodes. Live at 10pm - Free
I would actually go to this even though I'm not a huge fan of the NEW series because of the people you find at events like this.
Need Something to do in February? How about hitting up the 32nd Portland International Film Festival?
Dates: Feb 5, 2009 - Feb 22, 2009
934 SW Salmon
Portland, Oregon
Local Phone: 503-221-1156
Each year the festival screens around 125 shorts, features, and documentaries from around the world. For full details visit the site above. The full schedule should be up by the end of today. Coraline the film adaption of Neil Richard Gaiman's novel of the same name. Is scheduled for day one. Oscar nominee screenings are also on the docket.
Want a good book? Check out Powell's Books This place fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. While there check out the "As heard on the Rick Emerson Show table." Actually that is just one of the 5 locations to choose from.
New to Oregon or just visiting and want to see the native flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest the try out The Forest Park Conservancy. Just minutes from downtown Portland Forest Park is a great place for runners, hikers and bicyclists.
I know it's a bit early but it's really never to early to start planning your Halloween costume(s)and activities. Maybe this year you should try sign up and participate in Portland's Zombie walk. October 26th is the official Zombie day and Zombie walks have become a pretty big event. It's not just a Portland thing though. Check out this site for groups near you.
If this isn't enough for you then check out. PDX Pipeline for up to date articles about what is happening in and around Portland
Home
I have a rule you see. If the trip takes longer than the activity then I'm not going. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense I know but it's something I started using in the past when I was going back and forth on rather it was worth it to go someplace.
Some of the things that I would like to do, use to do, haven't done in a long time or just hits my geek button, but I just haven't gotten around to it are.......
OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
Regular Hours (through June 12, 2009) Tuesday—Sunday 9:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
I love this place. Just about everything is hands on. There is so much to see and do. Bring your wallet though, because every little thing will cost you. (Becoming a member can reduce costs if you plan on visiting more than once.)
If you haven't been yet but love rock you should really check out OMSI's Laser Light Shows.
I remember making the trip from St Helens once in 18 minutes when we decided to hit a midnight showing. I guess we shouldn't have waited till 11:35 to figure out what to do.
Want to just spend the day browsing arts and crafts? Then the Portland Saturday Market is for you. From it's beginning in 1973 the market has grown and prospered. Located under the Burnside Bridge and in Ankeny Park.
Over 21 and like beer? Try one of the local brewery tours. Widmeris a good start or go all out and take the Brew Bus A guided tour to 3-4 Portland Breweries. It is $40 per person, but you will be able to sample 15 - 25 fresh beers
Each Month Cort and Fatboy from 101.1 KUFO host a Midnight Movie.
Don't miss the next one on Friday, February 6th at 10pm, TRUE ROMANCE at McMenamins Bagdad Theatre on SE Hawthorne in PDX.
There have been many of these that I had missed and would like to of seen, but trying to get a sitter to stick around that late is difficult.
If your a Battlestar Galactica Fan and want to watch the final episodes with like minded people you can Join Cort and Fatboy at the Bagdad Theater, Fridays (Jan 23-Mar 10) each week for the final 9 episodes. Live at 10pm - Free
I would actually go to this even though I'm not a huge fan of the NEW series because of the people you find at events like this.
Need Something to do in February? How about hitting up the 32nd Portland International Film Festival?
Dates: Feb 5, 2009 - Feb 22, 2009
934 SW Salmon
Portland, Oregon
Local Phone: 503-221-1156
Each year the festival screens around 125 shorts, features, and documentaries from around the world. For full details visit the site above. The full schedule should be up by the end of today. Coraline the film adaption of Neil Richard Gaiman's novel of the same name. Is scheduled for day one. Oscar nominee screenings are also on the docket.
Want a good book? Check out Powell's Books This place fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. While there check out the "As heard on the Rick Emerson Show table." Actually that is just one of the 5 locations to choose from.
New to Oregon or just visiting and want to see the native flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest the try out The Forest Park Conservancy. Just minutes from downtown Portland Forest Park is a great place for runners, hikers and bicyclists.
I know it's a bit early but it's really never to early to start planning your Halloween costume(s)and activities. Maybe this year you should try sign up and participate in Portland's Zombie walk. October 26th is the official Zombie day and Zombie walks have become a pretty big event. It's not just a Portland thing though. Check out this site for groups near you.
If this isn't enough for you then check out. PDX Pipeline for up to date articles about what is happening in and around Portland
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
WTF "inaugural day"
OK as of 12:09 pm (PST) and doing a search for Barack Inauguration Day (it's what popped up as I typed "Barak I") the first google link I got was:
Michelle Obama: her first outfit on Barack's inauguration day
From fox news. Really? I understand everyone thought that she would dress down because of the economy but that's what everyone want's to know? What Michelle is wearing? Not only was it the 1st link that came up it was also the subject of the 4th link from New York Daily news site.
Looking at Googles TOP Stories the third link is the LA Times story on what she was wearing. Really? Come on!!! So she is wearing a $1500, Isabel Toledo outfit. How much Do you think President Obama's suit cost? THE SAME, At least his day to day suits coast that much. He has a few of them. Some in grey and some in blue. What is really the big deal? They should dress nice. Both of them. Why not look the best that they can?
I actually feel sorry for most women who are married to powerful men out there. The male can own 7 suits and wear them the whole year and no one will say a thing. But it is expected of the wife to always have something new. Something in fashion. Something that says "Here I Am".
It is news as it is new... Mostly everything else has been covered in the past or the news organizations are waiting for new developments so they throw together a piece on what Ms. Obama is wearing.
Something else. H.W.Bush Was actually Booed by a large portion of the audience today as Members of the GOP were introduced prior to the Swearing in. Some were even singing " Hey! Hey! Goodbye." I little harsh but at least it was a non violent way for a mob to react to someone they find distasteful.
Something new that isn't total crap. http://www.whitehouse.gov/ updated almost as soon as Obama was sworn in. Check it out.
Home
Michelle Obama: her first outfit on Barack's inauguration day
From fox news. Really? I understand everyone thought that she would dress down because of the economy but that's what everyone want's to know? What Michelle is wearing? Not only was it the 1st link that came up it was also the subject of the 4th link from New York Daily news site.
Looking at Googles TOP Stories the third link is the LA Times story on what she was wearing. Really? Come on!!! So she is wearing a $1500, Isabel Toledo outfit. How much Do you think President Obama's suit cost? THE SAME, At least his day to day suits coast that much. He has a few of them. Some in grey and some in blue. What is really the big deal? They should dress nice. Both of them. Why not look the best that they can?
I actually feel sorry for most women who are married to powerful men out there. The male can own 7 suits and wear them the whole year and no one will say a thing. But it is expected of the wife to always have something new. Something in fashion. Something that says "Here I Am".
It is news as it is new... Mostly everything else has been covered in the past or the news organizations are waiting for new developments so they throw together a piece on what Ms. Obama is wearing.
Something else. H.W.Bush Was actually Booed by a large portion of the audience today as Members of the GOP were introduced prior to the Swearing in. Some were even singing " Hey! Hey! Goodbye." I little harsh but at least it was a non violent way for a mob to react to someone they find distasteful.
Something new that isn't total crap. http://www.whitehouse.gov/ updated almost as soon as Obama was sworn in. Check it out.
Friday, January 16, 2009
...so my daughter is reading Twilight
My 10 year old daughter is reading Twilight. We haven't seen the movie and I had not read the book before. After she went to bed last night I snagged it out of her bag and read it. I'm not sure what to think about it.
Twilight is not a book about Vampires it's a book about finding someones soul mate. Ok so the girl is 17 but acts older and the guy looks 17 but is a LOT older. Adding vampires into the mix just seemed to be a plot complication and a reason for the guy not following his natural desires and ripping the girls clothes off. The author takes liberties with the vampire mythos that left me saying "um...ok...I guess" One furthers the plot by allowing the characters to interact during normal hours and the other is just weird.
Bella's mom is thrown in there but she lacks any real depth. Her dad is just there so she has a place to stay. He's not really part of the story except as one of Bella's excuse mechanisms.
The he smells good, she smells really really good, he looks so gorgeous, she doesn't know how good she looks dialog is trite at times. There were holes in the story that I would have liked to see filled. Bella asks so many questions but never inquires more about James after the one question. The Cullens acceptance is a bit unbelievable.
That all being said Twilight was an enjoyable read. Boiled down it's just a story about how two people found each other extremely attractive, got to know each other, forgave each others flaws and fell in love.
I personally do not read romance novels but I see Twilight as one more than a "vampire" book. If you are a fan of the vamp genre or like romances or you are even a fan of the Buffy series check this book out. It's flawed but that doesn't mean it's not worth a read.
I guess I will have to check out the movie now.
Aero
Home
Twilight is not a book about Vampires it's a book about finding someones soul mate. Ok so the girl is 17 but acts older and the guy looks 17 but is a LOT older. Adding vampires into the mix just seemed to be a plot complication and a reason for the guy not following his natural desires and ripping the girls clothes off. The author takes liberties with the vampire mythos that left me saying "um...ok...I guess" One furthers the plot by allowing the characters to interact during normal hours and the other is just weird.
Bella's mom is thrown in there but she lacks any real depth. Her dad is just there so she has a place to stay. He's not really part of the story except as one of Bella's excuse mechanisms.
The he smells good, she smells really really good, he looks so gorgeous, she doesn't know how good she looks dialog is trite at times. There were holes in the story that I would have liked to see filled. Bella asks so many questions but never inquires more about James after the one question. The Cullens acceptance is a bit unbelievable.
That all being said Twilight was an enjoyable read. Boiled down it's just a story about how two people found each other extremely attractive, got to know each other, forgave each others flaws and fell in love.
I personally do not read romance novels but I see Twilight as one more than a "vampire" book. If you are a fan of the vamp genre or like romances or you are even a fan of the Buffy series check this book out. It's flawed but that doesn't mean it's not worth a read.
I guess I will have to check out the movie now.
Aero
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Kicking the Habit, Again
In 1993 I occasionally smoked a cigar or Swisher Sweet during military field maneuvers. Usually when every one was standing around BS'ing.
In 1994 I started smoking Marlboro "Red's" It was less than a month before I was up to a full pack a day. On the weekends it would jump to a pack and a half to two packs a day.
This continued till 2004, when cigarette prices continued to climb. I was at a local tobacco shop and decided to switch to a pipe. Now instead of 5 dollars a day for a pack of smokes it was about 5 bucks for a weeks worth of pipe tobacco. I had a brief return to cigarettes while I was deployed a second time to Iraq, but returned to the pipe when I returned.
I have tried to quit smoking a couple times in the past. Once with the patch, but I broke out in hives around the application points after the third day. I have tried going "cold turkey". Lasted a weekend a half the last time. Tried welbutrin as well but no dice.
The cold winters here in Oregon nor the summer heat of Iraq could curtail the urge. Over the years I have built up a lot of triggers. Get up start a pot of coffee brewing and smoke. Eat breakfast get dressed and smoke. Grab coffee, get in the car to head to work and smoke. That's all in the first hour of the day. Then there is the 1030 smoke break, the two at lunch smoke break. the 2 o clock smoke, the smoke on the way home, after dinner, before watching TV, during commercials, before bed, and when I would get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. There is always a reason to smoke.
Tomorrow starts the end of all that. (Hopefully) (oops looking at the clock tells me it is already tomorrow. So in the morning it all ends) I went to the doctor and snagged a prescription for Chantix. Almost everyone I have talked to who has taken this has been able to toss away their lighters and breath mints.
I put away my zippo and am relying on a bic to light my pipe for the next few days. I have half a weeks worth of pipe tobacco and a months supply of Chantrix. Supposedly it semi bonds to the same receptors in your gray matter that nicotine does. This partially blocks the chemical craving and keeps the nicotine you do have in your system from bonding to those same receptors. I'm also told it usually gives you vivid nightmares or dreams. I'm hoping for the later since I haven't been able to remember any of my dreams since I busted up my melon in 95. In a few cases I have even heard of weight loss, not that this was a deciding factor but if it's true it's an extra bonus to keep at it.
I'll keep notes on how well this works and whatever side effects there are and throw out an update every once in a while.
Rao
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In 1994 I started smoking Marlboro "Red's" It was less than a month before I was up to a full pack a day. On the weekends it would jump to a pack and a half to two packs a day.
This continued till 2004, when cigarette prices continued to climb. I was at a local tobacco shop and decided to switch to a pipe. Now instead of 5 dollars a day for a pack of smokes it was about 5 bucks for a weeks worth of pipe tobacco. I had a brief return to cigarettes while I was deployed a second time to Iraq, but returned to the pipe when I returned.
I have tried to quit smoking a couple times in the past. Once with the patch, but I broke out in hives around the application points after the third day. I have tried going "cold turkey". Lasted a weekend a half the last time. Tried welbutrin as well but no dice.
The cold winters here in Oregon nor the summer heat of Iraq could curtail the urge. Over the years I have built up a lot of triggers. Get up start a pot of coffee brewing and smoke. Eat breakfast get dressed and smoke. Grab coffee, get in the car to head to work and smoke. That's all in the first hour of the day. Then there is the 1030 smoke break, the two at lunch smoke break. the 2 o clock smoke, the smoke on the way home, after dinner, before watching TV, during commercials, before bed, and when I would get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. There is always a reason to smoke.
Tomorrow starts the end of all that. (Hopefully) (oops looking at the clock tells me it is already tomorrow. So in the morning it all ends) I went to the doctor and snagged a prescription for Chantix. Almost everyone I have talked to who has taken this has been able to toss away their lighters and breath mints.
I put away my zippo and am relying on a bic to light my pipe for the next few days. I have half a weeks worth of pipe tobacco and a months supply of Chantrix. Supposedly it semi bonds to the same receptors in your gray matter that nicotine does. This partially blocks the chemical craving and keeps the nicotine you do have in your system from bonding to those same receptors. I'm also told it usually gives you vivid nightmares or dreams. I'm hoping for the later since I haven't been able to remember any of my dreams since I busted up my melon in 95. In a few cases I have even heard of weight loss, not that this was a deciding factor but if it's true it's an extra bonus to keep at it.
I'll keep notes on how well this works and whatever side effects there are and throw out an update every once in a while.
Rao
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