35 YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS

Well, as close as one gets anyway. Of course marriage has it's ups and downs, but we've done quite well, Phyl And I, especially considering that people never thought we'd make it. We knew better, but the proposal on our second date may have thrown people for a loop. Ah well, but here we are 36 years later, slightly more decrepit; but we still manage to have fun. And while our love may not be as intense as it once was, I believe it's probably stronger.

 So happy anniversary to us, and maybe we can squeeze in another 35 years...

JUMPER...THE BOOK (AND THE MOVIE)

By Steven Gould: I believe this is the first novel published by this author(whoever he may be). the original edition was published in 1992. Republished now that's it's become "a major motion picture" it would be interesting to see what a re-written version(post 9-11) would turn out. Anyway, an interesting story of a teenager who discovers his power of teleportation(thanks to his abusive father), but only to places he's been or can visualize in detail. While the story itself(terrorists,government agents,etc)is nothing new, the psychological and especially the personal interactions are something more than you might normally expect from this sort of novel (marketed as a 'movie tie-in' right on the spine of the book).

So, all in all, a good fast read, with some food for thought - what would YOU do given the choices David has to make? Personally, I would have gone for the bank also...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And now for something completely different...and that would be the movie. Actually read this book quite a while ago, and in the interim had a chance to watch the movie. Probably a mistake, it usually is when I read a book & watch a movie. And when I say completely different, I mean pretty much different. Other than the name of the movie, the name of the main character, and the power to jump, there's not a lot in common betwen the book & the movie.(And of course, the movie comes off the worse.) I'm not going to give away the 'plot', but I will say one of the disappointing bits was the movie had more than one jumper, which was part of what made the book work well; being the only person with an ability like teleportation is a lot different than being one of a few or many.

So if you haven't read the book or seen the movie, do one or the other - not both. And I would recomment the book over the movie.

BEER NUMBER 632

And a perfect name for it, since it's a barleywine style with 11% alcohol!! Coming as the 3rd beer of the night, it ended up the last beer of the night.

So I found this place in Brandon, FL - Old Chicago Pasta & Pizza - Home of 110 beers...yes that's 110 beers, about 30 on draught, which is where I found this delectable beer. And you get to sign up for the " World Beer Tour" with your name on the plaque when you drink all 110 of them. Funny thing is though, I've probably had close to 75 of their beers previous to finding the place, now I'll have to drink them just to get my name on the plaque!

Hey, it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it...

VASE OR FACE?

I'll tell you, this cartoon series 'Dinette Set' is way too funny!!! And you really have to pay attention to the backgrounds, t-shirts, etc. to make it even funnier. Check it out, the link is embedded in today's blog title.

Heathcliff says check it out!!

DOUBLE VISION

Oh, wait, not the album below, but the reason I've been fairly absent recently...
Actually Phyllis has had double vision more like the picture below...

So for the last 2 weeks we've been going back and forth to Tampa to see the eye specialist for her eye operations, which basically consisted of surgically lifting her lower eyelids to cover her tear ducts. Which operation has a really long and meaningless name (at least to us laymen). But hopefully once the shiners go away Phyl's vision will go back to normal.

But now that's all taken care of (except the beating to death of the wallet) I should be able to get back to my semi-regular irregularity...

(...sounds like a bowel problem doesn't it??)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

...To Me!!

Still alive and well; never too old to rock and roll!

A 'TRAVELING' BOOK

Travels by Michael Crichton: And now for something different(for the author); a non-fiction book. Not really a travelogue, however, though he does travel. A lot of the book covers autobiographical material as we learn of his educational experiences and why he didn't become a practicing Doctor. (Why do Drs 'practice' anyway?) Some of the travels are psychic in nature as he learns about spoon bending, auras, and the like.

An interesting book, but perhaps misleadingly titled.

COINCIDENCE?

eWEEK Magazine reports that in 2008 sales of laptops outpaced sales of desktop computers for the first time ever...

They also report that it is estimated that 12,000 laptops are lost or stolen in U.S. airports every week...yes that's 12,000 every week!!!

coincidence?...Hmmmmm....

POINTS TO PONDER

1) Big Brother is probably the company you work for.

2) If napkins are for your mouth, and sanitary napkins are not; then are we wiping our mouths with unsanitary napkins? And why?

3) If you are polyorchid then you have more than 2 testicles. That's gotta be uncomfortable in tight pants!

4) Pepper...the gateway spice...

5) In life, is having options optional or a requirement?

6) And finally...There's no ignorance like ignorance of one's ignorance.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Obama: 'I Screwed Up'

Three words from the new president that you never heard from President Bush: "I screwed up." So said Barack Obama in reference to his handling of Tom Daschle's appointment in a series of interviews yesterday. "I'm here on television saying I screwed up. And that's part of the era of responsibility, is not never making mistakes, it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you don't repeat them and that's what we intend to do," he said on NBC. He told CNN, "Look, ultimately, I campaigned on changing Washington and bottom-up politics. And I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes."

(w/thanks to The Daily Beast)

Nice to hear someone admit they're wrong for a change, thanks Mr President.