still haven't finished watching that 'Allo 'Allo third season yet. just haven't found the time...too bad the dvd is already a few days overdue. ah well, what's another quarter...
an early resolution: For 2006, we're gonna exhaust our vhs/dvd options at the library before we rent again. may as well find some stuff for free. and then we can do netflix...
got a few vhs tapes - at least you can renew those - such as 'Sophie's Choice' and 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'. also got a couple travel tapes of the Burma Road and Panamerican Highway.
guess we won't get out until our phoenix trip.
lois was surprised, to say the least. i'm glad she's not the snooping type when it comes to presents ;)
anyway, we'll be in phoenix from the 6th to the 9th. not only were the fares cheapo ($118 each), i also got a last minute hotel/car rental package for $278; we'll be staying at a Crowne Plaza in NW Phoenix. although it's about ten miles from downtown, the cost is about the same as staying in the central Econolodge and still having to worry about transportation.
$258 each for air/hotel/car is pretty good if you ask me. you can't even do that in Vegas...
so, i've just been reading up some on phoenix and its attractions. i figure we'll spend some time at the Heard Museum, long considered to be one of the finest Native American museums in the nation...maybe we'll frolic amongst the (20,000+) cacti and desert plants at the Desert Botanical Gardens...and drive out to Taliesin West (in Scottsdale), which serves as both the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and winter campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. tours are a bit steep there - $18 to $45 - but who cares?! this is a chance to see some work of one of the 20th century's most hailed architects up close.
one small disappointment though. we won't be able to visit with lois' friends, Brian and Peggy, while we're there. noooo...they're gonna be in Hawaii. ah well.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
reelin'...
so bad i can hardly spell. good thing thomson edumakation of australia is there to support me...
just got back from a couple hours at some friends who live two doors down - Bob and Sabrina. they're one of the older neighbors on this block. i think they moved in three years after (1989)...
anyway, they had a little impromptu gathering for xmas...mainly people who live on the block, one co-worker, and someone's brother and his partner.
a lot of fun...
ya see, bobby is in the rock field. although i find the stuff in the rocks, he's the geologist. i just know some basics...
of course, his MA in Geology is sitting idle...as he's a Certified Financial Planner. it's somewhat strange to hear him talk about 529 Plans that are tax write offs and then segue into fossilized beetles and dinosaur teeth. i wonder if i'm off the wall like that when it comes to talking about past civilizations...
it was a great gathering though. even if lois and i are somewhat reserved around strangers, we were able to hang out with the kids (must be from being outcasts ;) and talk a bit with Kim, who works with Sabrina.
food was great. pepperoni pizza...double chocolate chip cookies, assorted nuts, serrano ham, brie, salami, pepperocinis, and seasoned sheep milk cheese (less strong than goats). and lotsa red wine(mainly and even a little Pale Ale (very hoppy and flowery...just the way i like it).
of course, after some good imbibing, lois pretty much goes to sleep...as evident by her instantaneous snore and wheeze once she hits the pillow.
i, on the other hand, am tempted to go back over with a bottle of Bodega Norton Malbec (a great Argentine wine that's slightly jammy and not dry like a cabernet).
then the guilt would settle in...
ah well, we can always have them over for some wine and beer too...
what the hell am i typing for?!? there are things to watch...i need to return the third season of 'Allo, 'Allo tomorrow. only five more episodes left...
seeya
just got back from a couple hours at some friends who live two doors down - Bob and Sabrina. they're one of the older neighbors on this block. i think they moved in three years after (1989)...
anyway, they had a little impromptu gathering for xmas...mainly people who live on the block, one co-worker, and someone's brother and his partner.
a lot of fun...
ya see, bobby is in the rock field. although i find the stuff in the rocks, he's the geologist. i just know some basics...
of course, his MA in Geology is sitting idle...as he's a Certified Financial Planner. it's somewhat strange to hear him talk about 529 Plans that are tax write offs and then segue into fossilized beetles and dinosaur teeth. i wonder if i'm off the wall like that when it comes to talking about past civilizations...
it was a great gathering though. even if lois and i are somewhat reserved around strangers, we were able to hang out with the kids (must be from being outcasts ;) and talk a bit with Kim, who works with Sabrina.
food was great. pepperoni pizza...double chocolate chip cookies, assorted nuts, serrano ham, brie, salami, pepperocinis, and seasoned sheep milk cheese (less strong than goats). and lotsa red wine(mainly and even a little Pale Ale (very hoppy and flowery...just the way i like it).
of course, after some good imbibing, lois pretty much goes to sleep...as evident by her instantaneous snore and wheeze once she hits the pillow.
i, on the other hand, am tempted to go back over with a bottle of Bodega Norton Malbec (a great Argentine wine that's slightly jammy and not dry like a cabernet).
then the guilt would settle in...
ah well, we can always have them over for some wine and beer too...
what the hell am i typing for?!? there are things to watch...i need to return the third season of 'Allo, 'Allo tomorrow. only five more episodes left...
seeya
i don't think so...
i was reading a sports article on Yahoo Singapore when a banner caught my eye. it seems that Thomson Education has a really lively banner that states, "Interest-free instalments (sic)" and "Enrol (sic) now!!!"
i'm not a PhD, but i always thought that those two words had two "els" (so to speak). i guess they can always enrol the bad spelers...
goofs
i'm not a PhD, but i always thought that those two words had two "els" (so to speak). i guess they can always enrol the bad spelers...
goofs
blog cleanin'
i should be wrapping some little presents now, before lois gets home.
BUT
i have a few minutes. besides, i've been busily changing a couple things on this hulking, literary mass.
as you can see, i've eliminated four cities from the pixie. i doubt anyone (but me) cares about the weather in thailand, new zealand, or selected cities in mexico. i'll have to think of a couple new ones...mebbe something near San Rafael, Argentina.
huh?
yeah. san rafael is a small town that our friends, Arn and Helena, moved to in september. i recall mentioning their domestic living upheaval in a couple posts in june. basically, they're two people who wanted to retire at a reasonable age and be able to enjoy it. a couple years ago, they had been researching faraway places such as Panamá and New Zealand, but checked this little Mendoza Valley - a wine growing region of Chile/Argentina - hamlet and decided that was it.
they recently sent us an email, entailing some of the goings on. the weather, has been in the 80's for four weeks now and they're in the middle of apricot harvesting. they talk of watching the fireflies hovering over the peach orchard while they bask in the starry summer night.
i hate them so
we're greedily planning a trip to see them perhaps in november...that'd be nice. i think i could even blog from there!
BUT
i have a few minutes. besides, i've been busily changing a couple things on this hulking, literary mass.
as you can see, i've eliminated four cities from the pixie. i doubt anyone (but me) cares about the weather in thailand, new zealand, or selected cities in mexico. i'll have to think of a couple new ones...mebbe something near San Rafael, Argentina.
huh?
yeah. san rafael is a small town that our friends, Arn and Helena, moved to in september. i recall mentioning their domestic living upheaval in a couple posts in june. basically, they're two people who wanted to retire at a reasonable age and be able to enjoy it. a couple years ago, they had been researching faraway places such as Panamá and New Zealand, but checked this little Mendoza Valley - a wine growing region of Chile/Argentina - hamlet and decided that was it.
they recently sent us an email, entailing some of the goings on. the weather, has been in the 80's for four weeks now and they're in the middle of apricot harvesting. they talk of watching the fireflies hovering over the peach orchard while they bask in the starry summer night.
i hate them so
we're greedily planning a trip to see them perhaps in november...that'd be nice. i think i could even blog from there!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
pixie...
changed one of the weather pixie cities for a bit. i've dropped Villahermosa in favor for Phoenix, since we're gonna go for three days on the 6th. besides, it's a good way for me to check on the conditions ;)
argh, even though i got the tix, i haven't booked a room. the accomodation selection in the greater phoenix area is vast. do we stay downtown...where it is a ghost town at night. do we stay closer to the airport...where the choices are cheap but w/ limited transportation. or do we rent a car and stay in a suburb...like Tempe, Mesa, or Scottsdale?
guess i should decide in a few days, eh? you know, before i forget about it in the holiday mix.
speaking of holiday mix, it seems that we have some old friends visiting again.
rodentia.
yep. i heard some scritching/scratching around this morning at one o'clock. it sounded like annie pacing around, like she needed to go outside.
no dog on the floor though. she was fast asleep on her throne.
after some more scritching, i figured it out. meester black mousie hustled across the floor and got all cozy underneath the dresser.
sigh. still have six glue traps...put four down...one stuck and frantic mouse on a trap this morning. we deliberately keep their opening underneath the dishwasher unblocked. we were gonna plug it up when a friend of lois' said, "why bother? it'd just eat through it."
true.
so even though they have a surefire entry/exit, it's a surefire place to catch 'em too. we'll see how many we'll come up this time. i think we got a couple a day for a week earlier this year.
nothing like an eighty year-old house with openings only known by critters...
well, all i know is that they ain't gettin' ANY of the yummy blueberry scones i made this morning. maybe that's because there's only two left heh. hey now, lois took four to work ;)
got a busy day today? not me. may as well finish some cards and actually get them out. that'll hafta wait until after the acupuncturist though.
it's only on tuesday when i'm holier than thou...
argh, even though i got the tix, i haven't booked a room. the accomodation selection in the greater phoenix area is vast. do we stay downtown...where it is a ghost town at night. do we stay closer to the airport...where the choices are cheap but w/ limited transportation. or do we rent a car and stay in a suburb...like Tempe, Mesa, or Scottsdale?
guess i should decide in a few days, eh? you know, before i forget about it in the holiday mix.
speaking of holiday mix, it seems that we have some old friends visiting again.
rodentia.
yep. i heard some scritching/scratching around this morning at one o'clock. it sounded like annie pacing around, like she needed to go outside.
no dog on the floor though. she was fast asleep on her throne.
after some more scritching, i figured it out. meester black mousie hustled across the floor and got all cozy underneath the dresser.
sigh. still have six glue traps...put four down...one stuck and frantic mouse on a trap this morning. we deliberately keep their opening underneath the dishwasher unblocked. we were gonna plug it up when a friend of lois' said, "why bother? it'd just eat through it."
true.
so even though they have a surefire entry/exit, it's a surefire place to catch 'em too. we'll see how many we'll come up this time. i think we got a couple a day for a week earlier this year.
nothing like an eighty year-old house with openings only known by critters...
well, all i know is that they ain't gettin' ANY of the yummy blueberry scones i made this morning. maybe that's because there's only two left heh. hey now, lois took four to work ;)
got a busy day today? not me. may as well finish some cards and actually get them out. that'll hafta wait until after the acupuncturist though.
it's only on tuesday when i'm holier than thou...
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
gettin' sleepy...
i hope i can make it through this post.
just been shoppin'. went monday night too for a couple things at Foley's (soon to be Macy's). surprisingly, there weren't that many people there that night. tonight, though, was another story. we didn't go there, but we did have to wiggle our way through their parking lot. funny how two days can be so different...
no, tonight we went to BedBath&Beyond for a really cute tea/coffee set for my sister-in-law. i was kinda at a loss for her present but i saw this and knew it was for her. also went on a mug mission. remember? lois' gifts for her co-workers this year are mugs, wine, or candles. so we picked up a couple more.
just around the corner lay Cost Plus...a great place for a wide selection of gifts, especially exotic prepared foods from all over the world. a wee bit pricy though.
nope. we settled on more mugs ;) and some blueberry scone mix. of course, we couldn't leave without some wine either...four bottles later heh.
oh yeah, i forgot to mention that we originally went to BedBath for a bathroom rug/toilet cover set. hah. they don't have sets. you wanna get the three pieces? it's gonna cost ya...like $50-$60 total. wtf?!? idontthinkso.
it was early though. we knew we could make it to Mervyn's and their 40-75% off (closing) sale. we had about an hour to spare, since they close at ten.
humph. right.
we get there and they're already closed. argh... you'd think that Mervyn's would join everyone and their mother in extending their shopping hours for the holidays. after all, isn't a going out of business clearance typified by 'clearing' things out? btw, we looked in and the selection still looked pretty good...even if they are already trying to get rid of the racks and fixtures as well.
target is just next door, but i can't stand the glendale store. i grew up going to that location. it lost its shopping charm when they tore down the old one and made it a super target with too many aisles and not enough bargains. the parking is such a shitty nightmare too. the place is always packed. pee-ew. i much preferred going to Kmart when they were open 24 hours at xmastime or a wally world at 3 AM.
so just ten more days of shopping. just three or four more gifts...i think.
hey cindi, i saw some rudolph stuff at bedbath. mainly 8" abominable snowman and yukon cornelius figures. not sure how much they were though...
nightynight.
just been shoppin'. went monday night too for a couple things at Foley's (soon to be Macy's). surprisingly, there weren't that many people there that night. tonight, though, was another story. we didn't go there, but we did have to wiggle our way through their parking lot. funny how two days can be so different...
no, tonight we went to BedBath&Beyond for a really cute tea/coffee set for my sister-in-law. i was kinda at a loss for her present but i saw this and knew it was for her. also went on a mug mission. remember? lois' gifts for her co-workers this year are mugs, wine, or candles. so we picked up a couple more.
just around the corner lay Cost Plus...a great place for a wide selection of gifts, especially exotic prepared foods from all over the world. a wee bit pricy though.
nope. we settled on more mugs ;) and some blueberry scone mix. of course, we couldn't leave without some wine either...four bottles later heh.
oh yeah, i forgot to mention that we originally went to BedBath for a bathroom rug/toilet cover set. hah. they don't have sets. you wanna get the three pieces? it's gonna cost ya...like $50-$60 total. wtf?!? idontthinkso.
it was early though. we knew we could make it to Mervyn's and their 40-75% off (closing) sale. we had about an hour to spare, since they close at ten.
humph. right.
we get there and they're already closed. argh... you'd think that Mervyn's would join everyone and their mother in extending their shopping hours for the holidays. after all, isn't a going out of business clearance typified by 'clearing' things out? btw, we looked in and the selection still looked pretty good...even if they are already trying to get rid of the racks and fixtures as well.
target is just next door, but i can't stand the glendale store. i grew up going to that location. it lost its shopping charm when they tore down the old one and made it a super target with too many aisles and not enough bargains. the parking is such a shitty nightmare too. the place is always packed. pee-ew. i much preferred going to Kmart when they were open 24 hours at xmastime or a wally world at 3 AM.
so just ten more days of shopping. just three or four more gifts...i think.
hey cindi, i saw some rudolph stuff at bedbath. mainly 8" abominable snowman and yukon cornelius figures. not sure how much they were though...
nightynight.
Monday, December 12, 2005
he's a good kid...
but i hate the kid across the street. and he's only fifteen. yesterday, he told me that he and his mom were leaving for São Paulo this afternoon. i wish i could go too...Brazil would be something else.
i guess they're visiting an exchange student that stayed with them. funny thing is, i don't recall ever seeing another person going in or out of that house, other than the kid and his mom. they're cool people, but i find it strange that they had an invisible exchange student.
earlier this fall, i was talking to the mom when she mentioned something about two Peruvian geologists who had stayed with them for a couple months. she wished that i could've come over to reminisce Peru and slug some Pisco (Peruvian grape liquor) down with 'em. thing is, i certainly don't recall seeing them either. did they come home late? in the dark of night? is there a back entrance to the house that i'm not familiar?
on a street with 23 houses, three of which are non-caucasian occupied, you'd think that two Peruvian guys would be pretty noticeable. i think the lady across the street may be going a little cuckoo...
oh well. i'm glad that they're going to escape Denver's winter for three weeks on the glorious Brazilian beaches. i'm sure it's going to be their first jaunt out of the country too. it should be a great experience for them.
i hope they get severe sunburns...
i guess they're visiting an exchange student that stayed with them. funny thing is, i don't recall ever seeing another person going in or out of that house, other than the kid and his mom. they're cool people, but i find it strange that they had an invisible exchange student.
earlier this fall, i was talking to the mom when she mentioned something about two Peruvian geologists who had stayed with them for a couple months. she wished that i could've come over to reminisce Peru and slug some Pisco (Peruvian grape liquor) down with 'em. thing is, i certainly don't recall seeing them either. did they come home late? in the dark of night? is there a back entrance to the house that i'm not familiar?
on a street with 23 houses, three of which are non-caucasian occupied, you'd think that two Peruvian guys would be pretty noticeable. i think the lady across the street may be going a little cuckoo...
oh well. i'm glad that they're going to escape Denver's winter for three weeks on the glorious Brazilian beaches. i'm sure it's going to be their first jaunt out of the country too. it should be a great experience for them.
i hope they get severe sunburns...
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
our house...
in the middle of our street.
got that song stuck in my head. of course, i doubt that playing it ad nauseaum over the past couple hours has nothing to do with it...
so freakin' cold outside. glad i don't have to be in it. this kinda weather is good for holiday card writing. i have already written six cards...what progress! yeah...
no. instead of making good headway with the cards, i've been arranging my coupon organizer. did you know i have 308 coupons in there? i bet i'll only use 10-20% in the next few months. i just threw away 125 and have 95 that i just cut out over the past 2-3 weeks that have to be put in.
OCD really stands for obsessive coupon disorder...and i'm the poster child.
okay, i usually have just a couple hundred floating around in there...but i've been cutting out duplicates and even triples for some items. ya see, i've decided to buy some groceries for my oldest sister for xmas. weird? not really. she hates shopping and has had little time to do so this semester since she started dental hygienist school. i think she'll appreciate it. i mean, it's not like i'm gonna get her all condiments or frozen food...just a little bit of everything. btw, i'm getting her some music too. let's call her present a holiday survival kit, alrighty?
got that song stuck in my head. of course, i doubt that playing it ad nauseaum over the past couple hours has nothing to do with it...
so freakin' cold outside. glad i don't have to be in it. this kinda weather is good for holiday card writing. i have already written six cards...what progress! yeah...
no. instead of making good headway with the cards, i've been arranging my coupon organizer. did you know i have 308 coupons in there? i bet i'll only use 10-20% in the next few months. i just threw away 125 and have 95 that i just cut out over the past 2-3 weeks that have to be put in.
OCD really stands for obsessive coupon disorder...and i'm the poster child.
okay, i usually have just a couple hundred floating around in there...but i've been cutting out duplicates and even triples for some items. ya see, i've decided to buy some groceries for my oldest sister for xmas. weird? not really. she hates shopping and has had little time to do so this semester since she started dental hygienist school. i think she'll appreciate it. i mean, it's not like i'm gonna get her all condiments or frozen food...just a little bit of everything. btw, i'm getting her some music too. let's call her present a holiday survival kit, alrighty?
Friday, December 02, 2005
argh...
i almost hate the radio during this time of year. not only do many stations play holiday themed music, they start it in november. there just ain't no escapin' it. this morning, i've been tuned into the pseudo-jazz station (104.3) while i've been on the 'puter. right now, there's a horrid rendition of 'Come All Ye Faithful' with a cacophony of synthesizers and electronic crap.
*shiver*
speaking of shivering, we gotta get away. lois has been simply overworked since september and desperately needs a break before her fourth eye surgery in early january. i've been turning over a lot of ideas in my head for appropriate xmas gifts for her...even though it's a year-long train of thought.
one idea is a trip to phoenix. the weather would (hopefully) be warmer than here...i've never been there...and one of lois' best friends (Peggy) lives there. remember when we went to Vegas last year (after xmas)? it was the bash for Peggy's husband's 50th. i think it'd be good to go and visit them for a few days...to get lois' mind off the pre-surgery anxieties.
mebbe that and sumpin' else...hmmm.
even though i haven't written one damn holiday card, i have done some shopping for others, mainly in the form of cds. BMGmusic had a good deal going - buy one for $17.98, get the rest for $1.99. of course, as any BMG scam, the shipping was $2.79 each cd. ah well, i still got 15 CDs delivered to my door for $106...better than getting them through amazon or tower. sure, i could try to find them on eBay, but it still wouldn't be cost or time effective in the long run.
so...i guess a few people are getting music this year ;) lois' list of co-workers are mainly getting cups/mugs this year. bedbath&beyond has these really nice cup and saucer sets for $5, in six designs. really cute.
*shiver*
speaking of shivering, we gotta get away. lois has been simply overworked since september and desperately needs a break before her fourth eye surgery in early january. i've been turning over a lot of ideas in my head for appropriate xmas gifts for her...even though it's a year-long train of thought.
one idea is a trip to phoenix. the weather would (hopefully) be warmer than here...i've never been there...and one of lois' best friends (Peggy) lives there. remember when we went to Vegas last year (after xmas)? it was the bash for Peggy's husband's 50th. i think it'd be good to go and visit them for a few days...to get lois' mind off the pre-surgery anxieties.
mebbe that and sumpin' else...hmmm.
even though i haven't written one damn holiday card, i have done some shopping for others, mainly in the form of cds. BMGmusic had a good deal going - buy one for $17.98, get the rest for $1.99. of course, as any BMG scam, the shipping was $2.79 each cd. ah well, i still got 15 CDs delivered to my door for $106...better than getting them through amazon or tower. sure, i could try to find them on eBay, but it still wouldn't be cost or time effective in the long run.
so...i guess a few people are getting music this year ;) lois' list of co-workers are mainly getting cups/mugs this year. bedbath&beyond has these really nice cup and saucer sets for $5, in six designs. really cute.
december...
already?
wow, this year has gone by much too quickly. just three more weeks of shopping and xmas card sending...ugh.
the weather is supposed to be pretty nice today, so i guess i'll try and get out to do some errands. i need to go downtown to the oldies station to pick up my prize that i won last month. this time, it's a $50 gift certificate to La Hacienda restaurant in Littleton. kinda far for lois and me but, after all, it's free food. we'll be able to share it with some friends who live near the restaurant...
lois is having some guurls over tomorrow morning...and the house is a mess (in her words)...even though you can't tell. does anyone wanna come over and clean with us? just floors and vacuuming.
tell me, in this day and age, does anyone even send cards anymore? i think xmas is the only time i don't send e-cards. not sure how many i'm gonna send but i like to try to get them out three weeks before. and since the three week deadline is sunday, guess how many i've written?
ZERO
mebbe e-cards aren't such a bad idea ;) in my mind, they're WAY better than sending the generic holiday letter that summarizes the year and just gets the john hancock on the bottom.
double ugh. why bother. i hate insincere shit like that...
wow, this year has gone by much too quickly. just three more weeks of shopping and xmas card sending...ugh.
the weather is supposed to be pretty nice today, so i guess i'll try and get out to do some errands. i need to go downtown to the oldies station to pick up my prize that i won last month. this time, it's a $50 gift certificate to La Hacienda restaurant in Littleton. kinda far for lois and me but, after all, it's free food. we'll be able to share it with some friends who live near the restaurant...
lois is having some guurls over tomorrow morning...and the house is a mess (in her words)...even though you can't tell. does anyone wanna come over and clean with us? just floors and vacuuming.
tell me, in this day and age, does anyone even send cards anymore? i think xmas is the only time i don't send e-cards. not sure how many i'm gonna send but i like to try to get them out three weeks before. and since the three week deadline is sunday, guess how many i've written?
ZERO
mebbe e-cards aren't such a bad idea ;) in my mind, they're WAY better than sending the generic holiday letter that summarizes the year and just gets the john hancock on the bottom.
double ugh. why bother. i hate insincere shit like that...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
