One word descriptions... let's see if I can do this!

One word. No explanation.

1. Yourself: witty

2. Your partner: forgiving

3. Your hair: thinning

4. Your mother: bizarre

5. Your father: ambitious

6. Your favorite item: computer

7. Your dream last night: unmemorable

8. Your favorite drink: Soda

9. Your dream car: Operational

10. The room you are in: Living

11. Your ex: Slut

12. Your fear: Heights

13. What you want to be in 10 years: alive

14. Who you hung out with last night: Phil

15. What you're not: awake

16. Muffins: banananut

17: One of your wish list items: studio

18: Time: short

19. The last thing you did: shower

20. What you are wearing: clothing

21. Your favorite weather: hot

22. Your favorite book: sci-fi

23. The last thing you ate: eggs

24. Your life: changing

25. Your mood: calm

26. Your best friend: wife

27. What you're thinking about right now: music

28. Your car: awesome

29. What you are doing at the moment: typing

30. Your summer: relaxing

31. Your relationship status: married

32. What is on your TV: cartoons

33. What is the weather like: snowy

34. When was the last time you laughed: recently

I'm not sure who to tag.  I think all of my potential victims have already been tagged.  But, hopefully you enjoyed my one word answers.  That was pretty difficult.

+ruined

I should be celebrating, right now.  My dream job is just weeks away from being realized.  I'm meeting several new people that I will be working with, soon, and it feels like we've known each other our whole lives.  We all get along great.  Things are coming together.

So why have I been so moody, lately?  I've noticed that I'm a grump, for lack of better word.  Very easily annoyed.

Example - I was at a Super Store That I Really Can't Stand Shopping At But Was Forced To Go There Because I Had To Return An Item That Exploded Shortly After My Wife Bought It From Said Super Store.  While standing in line at Customer Service, the lady ahead of me started on a rant about the king-sized bedding she bought, but didn't like because it didn't fit her queen-sized bed.  She demanded a replacement that would fit her bed in the exact same print that she bought.  As it turns out, they didn't have any in stock.  This was unacceptable.  The MUST have it in stock, but are just hiding it from her... an obvious conspiracy.  After 15 minutes of a mix of butchered English and some sort of failed attempt at street slang, the lady demanded to see a manager.  Perhaps the manager could produce the desired bedding set.

As the lady waited for the mananger, I was allowed to return my broken product and exchange it for a product of equal value.  As my smooth transaction came to a close, I turned to the seething lady and said directly to her, "Would you get an education?  Please?" 

As I returned to Customer Service with the replacement product, I noticed the Under-Educated Street Slang Lady was gone.  With or without her bedding.  I smiled at the kind Customer Service Lady behind the counter and said, "I must commend you for your patience.  I would have flattened the bitch."  The sweet girl smiled and said, "Awww, it's easy."  I laughed and said, "Yeah... for some.  You do a great job."

I don't know why that lady set me off... whether it was her poor speaking skills, the fact that she was holding up the line with her demands for bedding, or what, but I literally felt like sticking my malfunctioned piece of merchandise where it would have to be surgically removed.

I need a tropical vacation.

+ruined

Remember about a year ago when I would post daily?  Once in awhile, I would even throw in an album review or two.  Here is a CD that is worth reviewing.

ARTIST:  Steve Burns
ALBUM:  Songs For Dustmites

Yeah... THAT Steve Burns.  Think:  Blue's Clues in its glory days.  Since Blue's Clues, rumors of Steve's demise have been circulating.  Rest assured, Steve is very much alive and he rocks.

Songs For Dustmites is a swirling journey through dimensions of distorted bass, soothing textures, and very thoughtful lyrics that center around love, science, and... oh yeah... being your hero. 

Mighty Little Man is a powerful song that grabs you by the throat, lets you relax, then grabs you with twice the intensity.  You might say it's a mighty little song.  This is a standout track!

What I Do On Saturday still remains a mystery, because he states that he'll never tell you what he does on Saturday.  It is a fun little tune, though... one that you can't help but nod your head along with.

Troposphere is yet another stand out track that features a shuffling drum beat, funky parts, and Steve's soft and melodic vocals... until the chorus, where Steve belts out a harmonized masterpiece.  The feel of this song takes you straight to the troposphere.

A Song For Dustmites is the crowning moment on the disc.  A song that starts out a beautifully written piano/vocal number slowly intensifies to an onslaught of drumming and effects... without losing its sensibility.

Though the above is not an exhaustive list of tracks, each song can certainly stand on its own.  Steve Burns has proven himself as a multi-dimensional artist with endless talent.  Songs For Dustmites is definitely an adult album (maybe too downtempo to hold a child's interest).  If you like alt-rock in the realm of Radiohead or The Flaming Lips, then you MUST pick this up.

5 out of 5

+ruined

So, what exactly started the feud between my wife and her family?  We're not sure, but it probably started back when my wife was one year old.  My wife's mother was 15 years old when she had her... not quite ready to be a mother.  The lure of having a life was too strong to resist, so her mother abandoned her and left her with a friend.  After a few weeks, the friend forced her mother to take her back. 

Eventually, her mother married Steve - the guy you dear readers know as the "F'er In Law".  Their marriage lasted for several years, but ended suddenly when my wife caught her mother in a bar with another man.  Shortly after that, her mother drove off to be with that other man, never to return.  This deeply scarred everybody in the family, needless to say.

Her mother's new marriage didn't last long, because her wandering ways continued and she moved in with yet another man.  During her mother's travels, her mother somehow contracted hepatitus C which is an easily contracted disease. 

My wife, now with a family of her own, wanted to protect our peaceful household by denying her mother access back into her life.  The denial was for several reasons - her mother has a history of leaving her at the worst times, and we didn't want her drama around our children.  Simple as that.

My wife's grandparents more or less disowned us for her decision. 

Repeated attempts to heal the divide between her and her other family members were received coldly, even after my wife decided to try another relationship with her mother.  They DEMANDED an apology before any other word would be exchanged.  My wife had nothing to apologize for.  It wasn't her decision to be abandoned time and time again.

Just now, my wife got off the phone with her grandfather.  Just now, they decided that they should put the past behind - at least long enough for my wife to pay her last respects to her grandmother. 

Maybe this is the catalyst needed to finally repair the family?

+ruined

My wife's grandmother passed away, last night, after a long battle with breast cancer.  Some of my long time readers may remember me writing about this woman... this very, very stubborn woman.

Her death hit my wife particularly hard, surprisingly.  Part of the reason being that she is overcome with a feeling of guilt.  Guilt, because of the ongoing feud that ended unresolved.  I reminded my wife that she did everything she could to end the feud.  She called to offer an olive branch, but her grandfather turned her away saying that her grandmother did not need "that kind of stress, right now".

Even though the family feud was left unfinished and hard feelings unresolved, we wish that she rests in peace and that her soul finds the eternal rest she was looking forward to.

+ruined

The Dems are now firmly in control, which makes me - a guy who tends to swing barely right of center - cring.  But, I see an opportunity for hope in this.

I call on all members of our government - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party... what have you - to work together and get the job DONE.  Not half way.  Not with a pissing party to see who can outdo who... GOVERN US!  We voted you guys and gals into office for leadership.  So, be leaders.  Work together.  Bring this nation back into its glory days.

+ruined

I've been tagged by LadyG.  It presented me with a challenge to present to you, my dear readers, 5 things that you didn't know about me.  That's going to be hard to do...  But, here we go.

1. I took Leigh (Nash) Bingham from Sixpense None The Richer out on a pizza date.  I doubt she remembers it, though.  Her boyfriend at the time, Jason Martin (Starflyer 59) wasn't pleased.
2. I have a stain on my front teeth that was caused by my mother's negligence.  She told me those flouride pills I consumed were candy.  So, I took the whole bottle, perminantly staining my teeth.
3. I peed in the corner of my fifth grade classroom, because my teacher wouldn't excuse me to use the restroom.  So, out of spite, I left a yellow gift for him in the corner.
4. I have an unexplained fear of going completely bald.
5. I can fart on command.

There you have it, folks.  My talents, skills, and otherwise undiscovered aspects of my life.  Enjoy.

I hereby tag the following unlucky victims:  goins007, pastordave, kurtmaddox, fairmoon, and just because of his fear of being tagged... raggedtiger! :)

+ruined

Hmmm... 2007 is off to an interesting start (other than the food poisoning). 

Like just about everybody else on planet Earth, I have a Myspace account for my musical project.  While exploring MySpace, I ran across the musical page of none other than Steve Burns.  For those who don't know who that is, it's Steve from Blue's Clues.  He is now doing alternative rock music... pretty darn good stuff, too.

Anyway, I wrote to Steve to let him know that I appreciate his music and count him as an inspiration.  He actually wrote back!  Gasp! 

That goes to show that not ALL celebrities are stuck up snobs that are too busy for the everyday guy.  Thanks Steve!  I'm going to keep listening.

By the way... my kids weren't impressed and I don't expect you to be, either. ;)

+ruined