MY SIMPLE LIFE

You know your life can't be too exciting when you think it's a big thing for getting all 1000 achievement points on a game.  A game in which it is fairly easy to get all 1000 points.  Ah well, that's my life.

I finally saw 30 Days of Night.  I loved it.  It really has that classic dark vampire feel.  Somewhat of a Salem's Lot vibe to it.  It has none of that superhero/action hero vampire stuff to it.  It didn't seem cheesy at all to me.  And these vampires really played it smart in the movie.  If you miss some evil vampire action, watch this movie.

I played the lottery last week.  I figured if I was going to dream about winning it, I might as well play it every once in awhile.  I got one number correct!  That's a start.  There were so many different kinds of lottery games in there I actually had to ask the lady for help.  That's sad. 

This might be one of those short and sweet posts.  Nothing noteworthy is going on (except what was already noted).  So I'll see you soon.

THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND THERE'S BAD NEWS (As a disclaimer, some politics are brought up in this post.  For some reason I'm breaking my own rule about avoiding the topic.)

• THE GOOD NEWS: It looks like Bill Clinton is not going to be coming back to the area.  That's good.
• THE BAD NEWS: Apparently Hillary is coming in the next week.  But, I am hearing she will likely be just outside of the city limits, which is better.
• I GUESS: The one good thing about the Republican race being over before we have a chance to vote in this area is that they aren't too worried about campaigning here.  So we don't have to deal with them coming around.

A thought...  I have broken an ancient taboo and brought up politics to a number of people I know.  I have never tried to sway or effect their choices.  I have just been curious as to which way they might be leaning.  Several people have told me they are voting for Obama.  When I asked them why they said (or strongly implied) it was because he was black.  I feel it would be very wrong to not vote for someone based on the fact that that person was black.  On the other hand, is it any better to vote for someone based on that reason.  In other words, race should not be the issue at all.  Qualifications should be the issue.  What that person is going to do for the country and whether you agree with it.  I'm not implying that everyone voting for Obama is doing so because of his race.  But there are some who are doing so only because of his race.  I don't consider myself naive...But maybe I am.  I think I had the benefit of being raised in a largley military community where I was exposed to different races and cultures from day one.  I know not everyone has had that benefit.  But as a result, I prefer to see a person for how they represent themselves (through actions, behavior, etc...) and not for their race.  That being said, the same goes for voting for Hillary because she's a woman.  If you have other reasons, fine...  But if the sole reason for voting is because it would be historic to have a woman as President...then that is the wrong reason.  I think it's no better than not voting for Obama because he is black or not voting for Hillary because she's a woman.  I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I when to the bone and joint specialist.  He decided since my dislocations were six years apart that we would not need a MRI or surgery at this time.  He also noticed that my left quadricep had already atrophied some from favoring that leg.  So he gave some low-impact quad exercises to do every day, a prescription for some anti-inflammatory meds, and instructions to return in a month.  It does feel better.  But I don't know if that's due to staying off it for a week.  I guess it's time to buy a rascal motorized scooter 

I've managed to avoid working while people were campaigning for the Presidential election in my city.  We've had Bill Clinton, Obama's wife, and Obama himself.  Now there is word that Bill Clinton is possibly returning on Sunday.  And I will be working.  Prepare for a busy day.

I'm playing the Lost video game on Xbox 360.  It's alright.  I think as a fan of the show it is enjoyable.  But as a standalone game it is mediocre.  The coolest thing about it is that it is broken up into about six episodes and each is structured like a television episode.  And opening sequence then the Lost title screen.  Each part ends with a cliffhanger and the Lost logo.  Then the next one starts with "previously on Lost" and a rundown of what happened before.  That also happens every time you start up a saved game.  It's cool.

No MRI yet.  The ER told me you could just walk-in and get one with the referral they gave me.  Turns out...you need an appointment.  Luckily I called them before I drove there.  My MRI is tomorrow now. The knee seems to be feeling better.  But I have been babying it a lot more, so it's hard to say whether it is just because I haven't exerted it lately.

My mother-in-law got a new puppy, shown below:

The puppy is a shitzu named Heidi.  She's pretty amusing.  She climbed up my chest and started running circles around me head, licking me as she did so.  I took a photo of that craziness with me phone, but the piece of crap won't send to my email anymore.  Anyway, the pup is cute.  And, as seems to happen for unknown reasons, the puppy seems to like me more than is usual.  And what is up with puppy breath?  All puppies have the same breath, and it really doesn't stink.  Can someone explain that to me?

I'm kind of proud of myself.  Now, before I get into this, keep in mind I have never owned a house of my own.  I've always lived in barracks or apartments, or rented a room from someone else.  So I have no handyman skills or experience.  But yesterday I fixed the toilet.  Yep.  It had a constant flush, and it wasn't the chain length.  The flapper-whozzit needed to be replaced.  I did it.  Yes, it was simple I know.  But you're talking to the guy who was extremely proud when he changed out his own heater core in his last vehicle.

Well, now following in Bill Clinton's (the first lady hopeful) footsteps, Obama's wife was in town campaigning.  She talked about some sort of bar that keeps getting raised so people can't make it in the world.  Regular folks can't make it.  She used herself and Obama as an example of people the bar is effecting.  ???  Isn't she a well paid attorney and he's a senator?  What the hell is she talking about?  And now word is that Obama himself will be in town on Thursday.  Once again, I'm glad I'm not working.  It'll likely be a crazy day.  I'm sure the ice queen herself, Hillary, will also be in town eventually.

Hey, do any of you get the Mojo channel on cable or satellite?  It's a pure HD channel with some very cool shows on it.  My favorite is Three Sheets. The host, Zane Lamprey, travels around the world and samples the local beer and spirits. Yes, there have been other shows with that premise. What I like about this one is Zane doesn't pretend he's doing it as some refined scholar of drink. He's out there meeting the locals and having fun. There is even a drinking game built into the show. What's really cool is that it shows him the morning after, which usually involves a hangover. He then tracks down the local hangover cure. I don't know, I love the show.

E.R. WOES

You may recall that I dislocated my kneecap sometime last month.  I took a week off and besides some discomfort for a bit I did fine.  But the last week my knee had been painful and it felt unstable.  I took my but to the ER today when I felt like it was about to dislocate again.  They X-Rayed my knee and said there is some fluid build up and they want me to go to a bone & joint specialist on Monday morning for a MRI.  In the meantime, they want me to keep my weight off of it as much as possible.  The doc wanted to write me a pain prescription, but I turned him down.  It doesn't hurt that bad.  He then told me I need to go home, recline, watch ESPN and drink a cold one.  Now there's a prescription I can handle...minus the ESPN.  There is a possibility surgery may be required.  I don't know how likely that is yet.  But I just want to go back to trusting in the integrity of my own limbs.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

I spoke to my good buddy, Bobby...We're looking at planning a get together in 2009 of the old military buddies.  That should be cool.  There could possibly be folks I haven't seen in more than a decade.  It's still in the planning stages and may take place in Destin.  Other possibilities are New Jersey, here in Texas, maybe Chicago.  We'll see.

Did anyone see Lost this past week?  Or this season even?  Interesting things are going on indeed.  Unfortunately we can't discuss them here.  I'd hate to spoil it for everyone else.  Ooooh!  And there's a Lost game coming out for the Xbox 360 next week!  It'll probably only be good to fans of the show, since it follows the format of an episode, complete with flashbacks.  I'm excited.

Okay, as usual I had all kinds of thoughts on other things I wanted to talk about.  I guess four or five hours in the ER will wipe your mind and make you a drooling idiot...well, me anyway.  Later.

Sorry folks...I haven't been posting much.  I have been on occasionally to keep up with other blogs.  I have just felt a little indifferent about posting lately.  I don't know why.  I really haven't spent much time on the computer at all.  It might just be other toys right now.  The Xbox 360?  Maybe the new HD package I subscribed to through my cable?  Or that in conjunction with the digital video recorder (DVR)?  I guess that's it.  And I've been feeling a little introverted for a little while now...a little pensive.  I'm not sure why though. 

In other news, former President Bill Clinton came to our little town today.  I'm glad I was off.  I'm sure it was a circus.  I had to go through eight years in the military with his poor leadership.  I'm glad I didn't have to endure any further hassle over him.  I sure hope his wife doesn't become President.  She just seems ruthless...almost evil.  She thinks she would make a good President due to all of her experience as the President's wife.  By that logic, I think instead of calling in sick the next time I can't work, I'll send my wife to work for me.  She's my wife...  That's enough experience to do my job.  You know I don't sound off on politics often.  I know I'm not going to sway anyone and all it really does is create arguments.  And I'll be clear about one thing: I have no problem with having a black or woman President, but it still has to be the right person for the job.  In fact, if Colin Powell had run for President when he had the chance, I would've been all over voting for him.  I just don't think Hillary is a good thing for this country.  I think Obama is a better choice over her.  But I don't think he's right for the job either.  Is McCain?  Well, I haven't decided yet.  I kind of liked Huckabee...I was even starting to like Romney.  I really liked Fred Thompson.  But I fear for the safety and security of this country if Clinton or Obama get elected...  I think I'll leave it at that.

On to lighter stuff.  I somehow missed the tv show Jericho when it first aired.  And then it got canceled.  And then there was a fan uproar.  So now they are airing a second season, which is shorter than usual.  I think 12 episodes.  Luckily, and more props to the Xbox for this, I can download episodes through Xbox Live.  And I love the show.  The gist, without spoilers, is that this town is somewhere in Kansas.  They observe a mushroom cloud and then lose all contact with the outside world.  And from there they have to figure out what's going on and keep the town going.  It's a great show.  It is very Alas Babylon.  It reminds me of a lot of the stuff that was coming out during the Cold War.  I highly recommend it.  I'm about seven our eight episodes into season one.  I think two episodes of season two have aired.

I think that is it for now.  I will try not to be away as long this time. 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

I hope everyone is going to enjoy Valentines Day.  I got Jana some flowers, a couple of shirts, and a steak dinner.  All in all, we spent a few bucks.  But it's worth it.  We also have one of our two marriage anniversaries coming up in April.  It's fun to tell people I've been married twice...to the same woman.

Wow!  Tomorrow will be my four year anniversary on Xanga!

I woke up this morning to a faint burning smell in the apartment.  I checked everything, but could find nothing burning, but the smell still lingered.  It wasn't until I sat down at my computer that I realized it was coming from this area.  It was stormy today, complete with thunder, so I must assume there was some lighting as well.  Oddly, my computer seems to be working fine.  It's dusty, so it might be coincidental that dust got somewhere hot and it burned off a little.  And it was running a little hot earlier, but now it has cooled down.  When I'm done here I'll shut it down for a bit.  I don't want to spend money on a new computer right now.

I took this week off.  The last day I worked was Sunday, and I'm back on Saturday.  Yes, that means this week we switched to our 2008 schedule.  Every year we have a shake-up.  Shifts and days off are picked by seniority.  I was shifted back a day this year.  Now I have Weds, Thurs, Fri off, instead of Thurs, Fri, Sat off.  It'll be tough to get used to.

I got up early yesterday morning to go to municipal court regarding an accident I worked.  Got in uniform, drove all the way downtown.  Only to find out the guy/gal had already paid the ticket and I wasn't needed.  They have a bad habit of not informing people they aren't needed ahead of time.  The prosecutor told me the witness in the accident had called also to say she was stuck in traffic, so apparently she was not notified either.

Well, I got all my vacation time for the year.  We have three trips in mind, all short.  We gotta go back to Florida for a week or so.  We want to visit my mom in New Mexico.  And we want to visit our friends in Shreveport.  Likely I will be taking some comp time also, earned from working overtime.  New Mexico we will probably fly to.  It's around a 12 hour drive, so that cuts into the vacation time.  Shreveport is only about four hours away and the friends are Wallaby and PropForward.  I saw them in England a couple years ago.  But Jana has never met them.

Other than that, my time off has been taken up by watching DVDs and playing on the XBox 360.  Good times, good times.

My brother-in-law and I went to see Cloverfield yesterday.  I expected it to be pretty good.  I think it turned out to be a lot better than I expected.  A lot of people have problems with the "shaky-cam" style of movie.  But I thought it really served to make the movie feel real.  I was pretty tense and basically had a holy-crap feeling throughout the movie.  I love horror.  But it rarely truly scares me or gets a major emotional reaction.  Usually just the cheap scare tactics will make me jump if I don't see them coming.  But generally there is no major overlying feeling.  But this movie had me tense for the duration.  Watch it, love it.