Barnes & Noble

Ah ... getting a membership there has it's priveliges like:
Dear M.,
Why haven't you spent a ton of money with us recently? Here's a coupon good for 15% off A book. Here, great sales on books you and people you know won't read. Buy some over-priced CDs or DVDs.

This coupon expires in 5 days. You'll know, because we'll pester you until you use it. Buy from us now! The power of Barnes compells you! The power of Barnes compells you! [I'm supposed to stop leviatating in anger and drop down and sit at my computer and shop].

We'll mail you, email you, call your friends and have them invite you to Barnes and Noble. We will get your money. If nothing else, we'll take over one of your loans and get it that way.

Uh, people ... I'm just not buying right now. Is that okay?
No!

Buy, buy buy!!! If you don't spend money you don't have, the terrorists win.

ummm, I don't think so.

Scary sameness

Puppets. Do they look strangely similar? I liken it to either: identity preference or thematic ideas like Looker movie. All three are from CNN / HNN

Michele Mitchell

Erica Hill

Robin Meade

closing the chapter

Saying goodbye to Alejandra
10-year-old’s body will be flown to Mexico for funeral
By Amy Soper
asoper@news-sentinel.com
Sobs rose from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church as Emma Gutierrez leaned on the edge of the white casket where her daughter lay Monday morning.
For Gutierrez, it was her first close look at her daughter’s face since Alejandra disappeared Dec. 8. Today, Alejandra’s body is scheduled to be flown to Mexico, where a a funeral service will be held in her birth city of El Cuitzillo, Guanajuato.
Perhaps her mother was remembering seeing Alejandra walk west on Branning Avenue toward the bus stop at Calhoun Street. Perhaps she was remembering the playful screams her daughter made as she romped with younger children. Or perhaps she was remembering the 10-year-old’s dream to finish school and became a nurse or a teacher.
Alejandra’s dreams were cut short by tragedy. Police believe she was raped by Simon Rios and a juvenile before her strangled body was dumped in a Delaware County woods hours after her Dec. 8 abduction. Rios, who already is charged with killing his wife and three children Dec. 13, told authorities he and 17-year-old Juan Rosales abducted Alejandra in his van.
A funeral service for Rios’ wife, Ana Casas, and their three young daughters was held at St. Patrick’s more than a week ago. Whether Alejandra’s disappearance and death were connected to the slayings of Rios’ wife and children is still unknown.
For the Gutierrez’s neighbor, Donnie Foster, Alejandra’s abduction and death is a call to fight for change. The father of an 11-year-old girl, 9-year-old boy and 14-month-old girl, he is lobbying the school district to bring back use of code words. He said if someone tries to pick a child up and doesn’t know the code word, the child would know not to go with that person.
“We can’t see more children like that,” Foster said, pointing to Alejandra’s casket.
Friends, family and others shared their memories of “Alejandrita” and their sorrow as many showed their support for the Gutierrez family.
“I’m Hispanic and I know how close-knit the Hispanic community is,” said Elena Hess, who wiped tears from her eyes after paying her respects at the casket. “I felt it was my duty as a mother and a human being to come.”
Hess said she has a 3-year-old daughter and is saddened by the evil in the world.
Mimi Drewery doesn’t directly know the Gutierrez family, but her niece was a classmate of Alejandra’s.
“I don’t know them personally, but I know them from my heart,” Drewery said. “I belong to the Hispanic community, and she’s just like one of the family.”
Drewery said tragedies such as the recent deaths are unusual in the Hispanic community, which she admitted has its share of ups and downs. She said Alejandra’s death hit her niece hard.
“She knows (Alejandra’s) not coming back,” she said.
How you can help
Friends of the family have established a memorial fund to help pay for expenses connected with Alejandra Gutierrez’s funeral. Deposits can be made to the Alejandra Gutierrez Memorial Fund at any National City Bank branch in Indiana. The Gutierrez family will retain control of the money.
Express your condolences
To express your condolences, go to www.legacy.com/FortWayne, and click on Alejandra Gutierrez’s name.

Short day

My folks got a new fridge -- appliance 3 this year. It was not a good year for appliances.

I also went over to see Charlie and family. Ted was there and we talked a bit while Charlie was riding his new bike -- c/o Ted for Christmas. Apparently, he and Beth went in and dropped their collision coverage on their auto insurance. To their misfortune, 2 weeks later, a kid drove across many lanes and smashed into them, causing $2000 worth of damage. Thankfully, they were unhurt.
State Farm stated that since they didn't have collision coverage, they needed to pay 30% of the deductible -- $700 in their case. My advice, don't use State Farm Auto Insurance.

Mike's annual

Mike's party was a nice one this year. Sadly the gift that would have been entertaining was ... well, labeled wrong -- in that it was a box of controllers, but no game was included. Charlie was a bit put out. I showed him 3 Stooges, one of them anyway ... he appeared to like it.

Mike changed from his typical Peanuts Christmas special, to a mix of different material -- ending in Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

I did a shot this year, which I tend to avoid -- one shot of peppermint schnopps. Thankfully, Keith didn't pour many glasses of Jagger or something wicked like that.

The famous Tammy showed and spoke a while.
Lisa ... hold on to this ... fell asleep. I know, I know that's so unlike ... wait. That's typical.

Christmas funnies 2005

Jenny trips over chair -- uninjured, trying to reach phone call for Jessica. Winter Olympics are in February 2006, we have a good contender here.

A previously stomach-ill Angel still charges after gifts, opening 1 containing her dog bones and eats straight from the box ... throughout the day is foul-windish attic and basement. This caused some tension, as wherever she went -- the wind would surely follow.

Father, videographer extrodinaire, sets the camcorder on a chair during unwrapping, implying to me that it is on pause, but to no shock -- it was flimning its resting and odd angles.

Gary, Jenny's beau, came over to spend some time with us (sister's house). He's a nice kid -- I have high hopes for him. If I were to liken him to anyone facially, Mark Hamill -- younger years. He reported an odd presentation of a gift -- $400 in ones ... wadded up into a box. So to get the "million box, there are one million little boxes ... inside each of those boxes is a crisp, new one dollar bill" money, he had to unwadded it. He said he stopped at $200, then rested.

I can think of a nasty trick for my father, who is a prankster at times.
Traditions:

Father started a tradition of Santa leaving animal crackers (simple little boxes), wrapped in with the gifts. After decades of this, you are well capable of "sniffing them out". He asked for suggestions to better disguise them -- I suggested attaching balsom wood from a citrus crate onto them -- altering their shapes. Anyway -- I no longer eat them. So he has a new challenge: what to do about mine. What I remember them being:

flattened box: accidentally crushed by reindeer
emptied: Santa was especially hungry
opened: inside was a deformed cracker with a note detailing that it was a poo pile
this year: filled with something I do eat -- BBQ potato chips

I suppose that I will take with me all of these quirky, decades-old traditons and include them into the holidays.

Church happenings:
I attended candlelitght vigil, where near the closing candles are lit -- passing the flame to the next person. This is interesting only in the fact that I chose a snapped candle, but it worked just fine. My mother's was dim -- at best, so I tried to improve the flame. In doing so, the bottom holder fell under the seats. I got the flame better. Father handed his candle to Mum and went searching for the holder. All the while the pastor continued on his talk ... clink, clatter, clink ... he got it ... then it fell again (mind you that the lights were down) ... again retrieved ... (tra-la-la -- Captain Underpants is victorious and everything that is good and cottony is saved).

end of spam 2005

"New gimmick for them 04 inversedly"
'"amperemeter laceration"
"baldicoot roundsman"
"but chromosphere, Yves and implausible"
"Barn be wigwam, it's skiff"
"As take it enormously pronoun"
"Are borrow be realisable dyestuff"
"portend propagandist"

Judo

Often pits persons of nearly the same weight against each other. Sometimes one is larger, but his opponent uses the weight difference against him. So is true in our next story:

My sister who "might" outweigh her Christmas tree positioned herself well for the conflict, conceding that Tom didn't shift it like he said he was going to. She was going to do it. She readied herself for the ensuing battle, but didn't react fast enough the the tree's cat-like reflexes.

She lunged, it teetered, swaying away from her grasp, then inexplicably, it surrendered, falling prostrate, with her victorious over her fir adversary. Only the tinkling of ornaments reminded us of the once mighty Christmas tree and its once-notable power.

At least that's the way she told it ... I couldn't believe it was simply falling into it, breaking it nearly in half trying to move it. By the way: sister, 4' 11", <105 pounds, versus 7' tree weighed by metal and trinkets and slashing branch weapons.

What's that noise?

My father was using a leaf vac in the back yard. While using it, it started a high-pitched noise that made him believe it was the motor burning out. This was bad news as a few mechanical instruments this year bit the dust on the folks.

He turned off the vac to find the problem, yet the noise persisted. He turned around to find the neighbot dauschund painfully whining for attention, regardless of the wicked vac. Bailey would, I believe, crawl into your pocket as long as you pet and scratched him --- forever.

Talk about a silly, lovable, dependant animal. Sweet, cute, undoubtably a lapdog.

Fall 2005

Kick me here!

little known fact -- I have been stupid a long, long time.

My knee had some tension. I was hoping that a sharp shock to it would free it. I asked Lori to quickly kick my knee. She declined. After some pestering she kicked me

in the shin.

Needless to say it wasn't any better after that.

Throwing dogs off the tracks

Some time ago, I put some of my personal information on a couple of site for grant research -- specifically for lab equipment for entomological studies, but the sites were all, "pay up front for promised rendered". I don't think so. The luckiest move that I did was enter a name of MMMMMM, with funny spam results sounding like candy commercials.

MMMMM has jsut won
MMMMM what could you do with ...
MMMMM you're welcome ...

Laughing 'bout Salvation

Why laugh? Why not?

If you are saved -- accepting Christ in your heart -- being saved and living thereafter in the realm of God, why not laugh at life, in that it is a joyful thing.

In joyful times, laugh! It is not at the expense of others, but in the enjoyment of the moment. It's the gift you've chosen, given by God, salvation through Christ Lord. Go ahead and laugh! Rejoice!

melts

"... you're my best friend.", 4 year-old Charlie's statement to me. How else could I feel, but wonderful?!

I love you Charlie!




Merry Christmas!

upon being asked

I didn't recall if the concession stand at a bowling alley was open on Christmas. I remember having a job at the bowling alley for a while (high school), but never went there on Christmas. Other service jobs I had required work on holidays ... one almost every holiday. My great dislike of this and separation from family leads me to conclude:

Those who would have "family outings" to bowl on Christmas or to visit the theater on Christmas probably never once thought the of those who work there. Are they with their families? How often are they people entreated to something novel, special? Certain it owed to them, for in my experience, these workers get no "grand" extra for working. Though they might get time and a half -- I find that hardly compensation enough. They are penalized for having a menial job.

I don't shop, buy gas, or do many things that would force another to work on a holiday I would not work. Medical staff, invariably work on holidays. They too and any other stationed person should be entreated by those around, for they have little or no choice but to work.

Be a nice person, thank a service person, buy them a soda, hot cocoa or something. If you're making them work, respect that they often don't have a choice, whereas a person going to the movies VERY MUCH has a choice to not be there. Tip them, get them something nice. They are there away from family while you are there with yours. Do a nice thing -- do for them, as they are doing for you.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Duller image (dimmer switch stuck)

he-who-should-not-be-named may do a service to his family, in one regard, in effective ex-communicating himself, and furthering that error by severing everything that he-who-should-not-be-named has -- paid for by him too-patient family. I guess I got my wish, in that he would be removed from the family, to do it no more harm.

I bind you he-who-should-not-be-named, from harming yourself and harming others.
I bind you he-who-should-not-be-named, from harming yourself and harming others.
I bind you he-who-should-not-be-named, from harming yourself and harming others.
(sorry ... Craft, was in my head at the time)

May he-who-should-not-be-named find wrath to himself sometime, finding that he has done wrong and should make ammends for those wrongs. So far ... he-who-should-not-be-named doesn't accept blame -- so that is a long road. God be with him, as his heart is not with God or with others. He-who-should-not-be-named's so-far live-in is 13 years his senior, but neither one is bright or mature. She has two teens from a marriage that is only now in the process of separation and divorce, coupled with bankruptcy -- fun. As far as I have been informed, little time does she spend with these kids. It was also stated that -- big surprise -- she has "recently" broken free from meth. She's in a nursing program. It all sounds like a soap or Jerry Spinger, right?

I disavow kinship in anyway to he-who-should-not-be-named.

Sharper image

No, not the ionizer.

I have a growing understanding of Charlie, who in many cases/ways reminds me of me.

While I never had a great fondness of 3 Stooges, I thought that super-active Charlie might. He seemed to like them just fine, despite their 30s filmography. Well before he saw them, I worked with him on Stooge moves -- including hitting a fist, sending it up and around to hit one of us on the head. I also showed the single hand block to defend against eye-poking.

At one point in time, Chalie was mowing down on candy (chocolate), then becoming Flash (much like Daddy Day Care). I do so love the boy. I'll only be novel for a while, but I'll cherish it while I have it. He loves to climb, but doesn't have a tree in which he can get far.

Other parts of the sharper image are: Pop 'N' Fresh changes -- namely, no keyboardist -- infrequent venues ... I hope that changes! Tammy (last name unknown to me) spoke with others tonight. My last experience was that she spoke only with Mike. If you're offered a "meal in a bottle" turn it down!
"Brocolli casserole beer" was NOT pleasant. It was smooth -- its own true virtue. I wasn't interested in trying the noticably gut-churning salmon or the turkey & gravy beers.
Paula's choice to not really break my arm. Thanks, Paula!

Dave & JJ pointed out some stark rudenesses in some classic Christmas movies including the stop-motion child classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It's funny you don't pick up the signs when you're young.

If history means anything

I'm doomed!

For a span in my life I worked at a video store (can you remember Clerks), which "left me" not quite as rude as Randall, but equally cynical.

Interesting titles: Ebony Humpers (sequels also), Who Reamed Rosie Rabbit?, Girls of Ball Street

Interesting factoids: Caught From Behind (series with MANY sequels). Cost $9. Earned for the store (episode 4): $1100 +; top rented video at a local store one time, When Harry Ate Sally.

What does this tell you? Porn is not likely going to pass away in the night. It sells.
Also -- if you don't want to deal with it, take the advice I didn't heed right away, but was non-the-less sound: "If you don't like your job, quit."

Better to be happier and healthier than miserable and "richer".

Disturbing

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a very disturbing cartoon special or some of the Adult Swim's submissions to the "season". I don't fault Adult Swim for continuing to play already established series, but wouldn't it be nice to suggest to the contributors that while humor is great ... some ideas just aren't worth putting on film.

Do you want an example? I had not personally seen it, because a friend told me of this scene, Andy Warhol's Dracula: "You cannot fully appreciate life unless you _____ it in the spleen." While not a Christmas movie, it underscores that some work, really, well... shouldn't be voiced out loud, or put onto film.

My opinion of the series, Family Guy, is that it's somewhere between MTV's Beavis & Butthead (80s-90s) and Simpson's Halloween specials (which are neat, but graphic). It just goes for a broader audience, not trying to totally duplicate South Park's crudeness (trying to outdo itself each episode with new ideas). I have watched 7 episodes of South Park and I'm done with that. Family Guy, from the creator of Johnny Bravo (who proves that the objectification of women is just fine, airs on Cartoon Network), is not a show I'll watch again.

It's a shame that the shows that I prefer are on later ... Sealab 2021 & Harvey Birdman, more consistently humorous -- Since I work and am typically up and showered by 6:10 a.m., it makes no sense to try to watch them. I won't own a TIVO and am not consistently watching anything.

Come to think of it ... I don't know why I'm even typing thi

Ways to better spend money

Since we are spending around $35 million per day with our war with Iraq & Afghanistan ... can you imagine what we could do with that money if it were spent daily on education or health?

-- Note that when smaller amounts of money were requested, the response was that the US didn't have that money to spend. It would appear that was, inaccurate.

Things to ponder.

Winners of holiday contests

I believe that Keith and his family are the winners, or would be if there was a contest for greatest number of lights on a tree. This year, he stated that he put on 25-100 bulb strings on his tree. That's 2500 lights (at around 75' strands = 1500' of string). Way to go! That's on, I think, a 7.5' tree. If we use the formula of (1/3 r^2 h pi)*.2
I would use .2 being the usable area within the tree, as there are open spaces within any given tree -- artifical are more uniform spaces.
I believe we would have about 180' to string. That would be about one string used for every 7.2' of area or around one string for about every 3 branches (lower branches and upper branches being of different lengths, therefore the math doesn't dictate practicality. Check my math ... please!

Mike might win another contest: greatest amount spent on old ornament, c/o eBay, last year for the Enterprise. You'll have to write to him to find out the price and year -- I think '94 re-release ... I don't know.

One of my sisters might very well win the ludicrous stocking award -- around 50, which includes the twenty-one immediate family members including the dogs. The mantel looks like a line of red/green, no longer discernable as stockings, except the some half names are legible.

She also goes over board on cooking and snack foods. The YMCA should be my home thereafter, working off the pounds and pounds I ate then gained.