a moment for seriousness

Please, set aside a few hours, close the door, seat yourself, and clear your mind. Ready?

A thought occurred to me while driving this morning. And not a particularly new or original thought, I'm sure. But something that seemed profound in the bright warm winter morning sun, crossing the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge at 9 am. So John Irving, please feel free to take this idea, set it in New England, thrown in some high school wrestling and perhaps a bear, and fully explore it.

Life should not be measured in years or days or hours, but in moments and experiences. Right?

And with that, I continued driving like a maniac.

today we escape, we escape

From a cute email currently making the internet rounds.

Listen to this.

While staring at this:

people, we have gone too far

More evidence of the imminent downfall of man:

The Cult of Snuggie

Now you can stay warm while you get up to move that doomsday clock one minute closer to midnight! High five!

Folk(s), since we're on complete disclosure terms, I confess that every time I see this commercial come on, I cannot help but watch. It's uncomfortably, bordering on painfully, funny. Like watching Ricky Gervais, or walking around in moist underwear.

incredible spectacular phenomenon (redux)

Who let the monkeys out?

Damn, what do you know, it happened again.

Well, score one for the statisticians I suppose.

recording experiment 2

So today was a good music day. I got a little time to play around with Cubase summore, and while nothing earth-shattering was recorded, I did have a little fun with a semi-obscure Radiohead song. And that song would be True Love Waits.

And again, here is the real thing - featuring the much much better singing of ole Thom Yorke. It's a very sincere song, stripped down to Thom and guitar. A little dose of heartbreak.

I've tried to sing it in the higher octave, and dude it just ain't happening. I'll keep trying, but unless it miraculously comes together one day, I'll not be subjecting the world (ie you, my single solitary reader) to it.

(And PS: that grainy cell phone photo would be of tonight's moon. Which I thought looked kind of cool.)

2009, y'all

Happy New Year, everyone.

So, we've made it all the way to 2009. Can you believe that the '00s (the "oughts") are drawing to a close? I know we still have a year to go, but you know, almost there. And time is now passing faster than ever.

Hey, remember that Y2K thing? What was that about? First it was a disastrous world-wide meltdown thing, but then magically by Jan 1, 2000, it was completely innocuous. The worst it could do was to attach itself to several sports video game titles.

Anyway, so here we are, in a brand new year, and although I usually don't attach too much significance to occasions or dates or arbitrary marks on the calendar, I have to admit to feeling slightly melancholy this Jan 1. Why, I don't know; new years should mark a time for hope and optimism, right? 2008 ended with economic chaos, violence in several areas of the world such as the middle east and Afghanistan... oh, and crazy local weather. God I am so sick of snow and ice!

But that's all over with right? New leaf and all? We can, we should, only hope that things are going to get better now. In a week, the US of A will swear in a visible minority president, someone who has already inspired millions and, hopefully, will expand this inspiration even further.

We can and we should. Someone help me out, c'mon, positive thoughts for the new year.

And be safe out there everyone.

risotto

And speaking of traditions, and food, the two things that we do 'round here 'round now are tourtiere, which is the Quebecois pork pie, usually on the 24th, and mushroom risotto on the 25th, because this is my wife's favourite.

This year I also did a salad with beets and blue cheese. The wine (barely visible in the obligatory shot) was a Paul Jaboulet Les Terrases 06. This was followed by La Frenz's Montage 05.

And you must pronounce it "ri-SAW-to", like Gordon Ramsay. You must.

obligatory Xmas post

Merry Christmas everyone!

Okay, enough with the formalities. Holidays are for two things: ... oh, you thought I was going to say family, right? Ha. Well, actually, no. Maybe immediate family, like your spouse and your kid(s). I can give you that.

And hey, don't get me wrong, I don't mind family time at all. I actually like my in-laws. And, after 30-odd years, my own family isn't so bad either. I mean, I've finally gotten used to them. Sort of. But c'mon, let's be honest: what do you want to do with your days off? Yeah, I thought so.

You want quality time with your favourite person, who is you. Or possibly your spouse. Or your kids. Or Jack Daniels. Well, whoever it is, gather them around and pass some quality time together with movies. And what is better than Xmas for seasonal-themed movies?

Now, before we begin, let's just say no to "It's A Wonderful Life." Say What-Ever to "Miracle on 34th Street." And, do you seriously still like watching that weird stop-motion show with Rudolf and that suspect little elf with the oral fixation? Because dude, you're 30-something. WTF. C'mon!

No, there are two essential Xmas movies. These must be watched at some point during the holiday season. There is no excuse not to do so. If you don't, then your name is Ebenezer "Prince of Darkness" Grinch. (And you know what, that might be your name if you're watching that Rudolf special while simultaneously reading this.)

1. Scrooged, starring Bill Murray

Before Lost In Translation, Bill Murray did so have a dramatic career. And in my opinion, it started with Scrooged. His take on the Dickens "classic" (or so I hear), and it's a gooder. Funny, touching, great cast, it's got all you need for Xmas. Well, no explosions or gunplay, but almost everything. And when he has his epiphany at the end, I swear (and don't go telling anyone this, I'll deny it plus I'll beat you silly afterwards), every time it almost, almost, brings out a tear. Every time. Put a little love in your heart, y'all!


2. Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis.

This truly does have everything you need for Xmas, including Alan Rickman doing a turn as a wicked German terrorist (or "exceptional thief"). No tears, per se, oh unless you count the rendition of Let It Snow over the closing credits.

Dang, just a sec, there's something in my eye...







Oh yeah, the other thing is drinking.

Wait, three things: the other other thing is eating to excess.

Yup. Wouldn't be Xmas without.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

incredible spectacular phenomenon

Prepare yourself. This will never happen again at any point in time, ever. Unless, possibly, you happen to have access to 1000 monkeys to let loose on 1000 WinXP machines.

Okay, take a look on your left. The other day, I won 3 spider solitaires in a row! WTF, right? Crazy crazy stuff!

Oh, and my 14 month old daughter used the potty for the first time the other day.

But check it out, 3 wins in a row!

new, better words

I just came up with a new word, "polygamize". A friend (Lee, Get In blog linked on the left) was just talking about a list of things that indicate when someone has Given Up. Wait, here:

Fashion Choices that say "I've Given Up"

- Sweat pants in public
- Flip flops in public
- Cutting your own hair
- Outwear that looks like it's made from a down comforter
- Going commando cause you've run out of clean underwear.
- Giant nose hairs
- Crusty pants

I replied that where he saw sadness, I saw Opportunity. As in, if I ever find a girl who covers points 1 and 5, I'm gonna polygamize her.

See, you thought I was going to say points 5 and 7, but that just ain't right.

Is it?