Remember, remember, the fifth of November, the gunpowder, treason, and plot.....

Given the title of this post, you'd prolly think that I'm watching V for Vendetta while I blog this, but you'd be wrong.....

I'm actually watching Episode 5 of Firefly, 'Safe.'

I don't know if any of you ever watched it, or the movie Serenity, and I know I've prolly talked about it before, but you really should give it a look....

But, I digress....

This is what I came here to share with you:

Hmmmmm

Buenos con queso,

T.

HOW hot did you say it was yesterday?

Now, this isn't actually from yesterday, it was more like a couple weeks ago, but's it's impressive, nonetheless...

I know I've talked about the weather here, and how crazy it is, and I've even talked about this area being a 'mountain desert.' but I don't know if I've shown you what the desert heat can do.

I mean, I've shown you snow, lightning, wildfires, but through it all, there's the heat.

This poor soul was left in my Technical Advisor's automobile.

I present for your viewing pleasure, Hot Pez: 

Poor Walleye.....or whatever the fuck his name is.....

Anyhow, as Paris would say, 'That's Hot."
Yes, I know that 'hot' shouldn't be capatialized, but I'll bet she thinks it does....

I'm just sayin'.

Buenos con queso,

T.



The most epic shopping list ever?

Quite possibly.

I know it's been forever since I've posted, but I've gotten really tired of explaining/making up excuses for  why I haven't been posting, so I'm not going to do it.

There have been some changes since last I posted (duh) which include, but are not limited to:  getting a car, organizing my room (somewhat), a new cash windfall, and some good Samaritan work.

The car, if you care, is a 1982 Toyota Celica.

It looks something like this, although, not quite as new: 

 The color scheme is even basically the same.

Pops found out that he's entitled to (and getting) around 500 bux a month from the clerks union (which he didnt think he qualified for), which is nice, and will help greatly with the day to day/month to month money woes that we all face....well, that pops and I face, anyhow.

Not sure that his money will help any of you, but.....

I'm not really going to touch on my room, as I'm sure none of you care if my room's a mess or not (except perhaps for you mom), so on to the good samaritanism....

I mentioned, however briefly, that we moved.  It was nothing major, just out of a condo to an apartment.  I mean, it is closer to work, and the rent is 50 bux cheaper, and we don't have to pay utilities (except for cable/inet/phone of course) but basically, just new digs.

Upon moving in, like all good Americans, we closed ourselves in, and did our level best not to get to know our neighbors.

Well, except for James, my long-time friend, and tech advisor (apt 49) and a High School buddy, Bruce (apt 63), both of whom actually live in the same complex.

So, flash forward a few months, and one day, we notice our next-door neighbor (right hand side), whom I've since learned is named Simon, on the ground, struggling to get back on his feet.

I'm not sure exactly what happened, but he fell, either getting into, or out of his car.

Now, mind you, up to this point, the only thing I knew about him was that he was old (ive since found out hes 84), and Chinese.  His wife Anna, is 90.  Well, as a result of his fall, and for how long, I'm not sure, but he was giving a 'no driving' prohibition.

Being the nice guy that I am, I offered.  I've taken him tothe doc's a couple times, and to the store a few times, and he's gotten to the point now where he trusts me.  He'll give me money, the keys to his car, and a list.

I mean, he still checks the receipts/change when I come back with his goods, but that's just a cultural thing.

Now, as you might imagine, his lists are all written in spidery old-man printing.  The other day, however, there was something else that caught my eye:

It's right there, at the top of the list.  See where he asks for Kikkoman soy sauce?  And then there's a Chinese character there?

If you look closely, you'll see that it's the same as the one above.

Now, say what you will, but I think that makes this the most epic shopping list ever!!

Buenos con queso,

T.

Why have a pause button if you're not going to use a pause button?

I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here, and really, why would I, but I'm Hell on wheels with a remote.
Ever since the first time I got my hands on one, in the dim dark past, I've been in love.

I remember the pre-remote days, as some of you may. The days when 'cable' meant that you had twelve channels from which to choose!! Can you imagine? Not just 2, 4, and 8, with that 'riot snow' on ever channel in between? Rabbit ears? Yeah, I remember those as well. The clunky, tough to turn dial? When I was the remote control?

Yeah, it's all there for me, so you may begin to understand my love affair with the remote.

A device that lets you change the channel without getting up? Or turn the t.v. volume up or down?

My GOD!! Are you freaking serious? Even with a minuscule 12 channels to choose from, this made things so much easier. Now, with the Oh, I don't know 1000 or so that the right price can bring into the house, it's almost a necessity.

Like most things, I like my remotes to have a myriad of buttons. There are a couple (mentioned previously) that get a lot of use, namely the 'last channel' and 'mute' buttons. I use those like they're going out of style, and the mute button almost gets worn out. Even if remotes only had channel up, channel down, volume + and -, and mute, I'd still be in love.

These days, however, they're much more advanced. I guess that I should mention that as I blog this (from my coffee table since you asked) there are four remotes within easy reach. they are, in order of proximity, tv, cd player, digital media player, and home theatre.

With the exception of the audio device (silver) these remotes share some basic buttons: The volume, of course, and channel buttons, of course, but also something I like to call the four-way:

This one (my home theatre remote) also has some added buttons, but it's the four-way that we're on. Used primarily for menu navigation, it's a wonder of convenience up, down, left, right....all moves are a variation on these 4 directions, even in 3 dimensional space. The middle button, or 'go button' as I like to call it, confirms choice.

There's another group of buttons that most, if not all, 'player' devices share. I don't have a bitchin' name for it, but it's the play/pause section:

This one, (also my home theatre) also has some other options. The main ones, play, pause, and the others are totally awesome. I use them with such regularity, that's it's a good thing that the buttons have the markings imprinted into them, because a mere paint job world wear off in no time.

Getting up to get a drink? Pause button. Miss a bit of dialog, or didn't see something clearly? Rewind. Suicide note, or boobies/other nudity? Pause again. Something that you really like? Awesome special effect (like the gravediggers head exploding in bones), or the 'human claymore' at the beginning of Swordfish, or again, boobies/other nudity? Frame advance, to see everything in it's explosive/bloody/sexy goodness.
I can't express my level of love for these handy little devices.

What about you? Do you love/use your remotes like I do?

Weigh in.

Buenos con queso,

T.

He would have been 45 today.....

I miss you, buddy.

Buenos con queso,

T.