May Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?

Why would we want to forget our own acquaintances? And have them never brought to mind?

I should look that up. I was thinking about the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne," because it seems like it'd be just the opposite. You want to remember your friends and loved ones.

There are a few old acquaintances I'd like to forget, but I won't list them here.

It's Happy New Year night, New Year's Eve. So may you forget whomever you want to forget, and remember the others!

Driving On Snow And Ice

Tires are meant to drive on clear roads with plenty of good traction. They don't know what to do when it's ice and snow. But if there's good tread, of course it's better.

I was driving in some of this yesterday and I could feel the car doing some shimmying back and forth on it, slipping and catching itself, as there's patches of clear pavement mixed in with the slick.

A lot of thoughts go through my mind in these situations. Such as, Keep a clear focus. But then, Stop thinking about keeping a clear focus and just have one by nature. Too much thinking can distract your mind from what it's supposed to be doing.

There's a whole series of things your feet have to be doing. Letting up off the gas at particular times, pressing it at other times. Your eyes have to be looking far ahead and anticipating. It's a constant struggle.

The big thing that helped me get through the plodding pace (at times) was a recent viewing of the movie "Doctor Zhivago." I looked at the snowy fields and thought about Zhivago trudging across one, with icicles on his mustache. And the people traveling from Russia by walking hundreds of miles in the snow. At least I didn't have to do that! Suddenly 35 mph looked pretty good!

Your One Shot At Life

So you get your one shot at life, and the best you can do with it, if you're 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is to try and blow up a plane full of other people.

A nasty choice on his part. A waste of potential.

The Stores Closed

There's nothing that I really need. Anyway, it's not a good night to be out, with all the snow.

Still, on holidays, when almost everything is closed, it feels like there's something wrong. It's nice that all those people have the day off, of course. Even so, it's reassuring to know that stores are open just in case.

The 2010 Fruitgum Company

In the '60s we had the 1910 Fruitgum Company, doing some great bubblegum classics. Now that we're coming around to '10 again, it's time for a reunion, as the 2010 Fruitgum Company!

I wonder if they thought of that.

Summer Sausage And The Fixins'

Guess what I've been eating the last few days, which is a weird thing to eat: Blue Cheese.

I've bought blue cheese before and didn't always get far with it. But I got some for a Christmas party the other day and was spreading it on crackers and enjoying it. So I went and got another one. It comes in triangles, the brand I buy, which is Maytag Blue Cheese.

I was offering some to someone at the party, but I was very upfront about it, informing her that the blue stuff is mold. Of course at that point she didn't want any. But I think it's good mold, not bad. Like good bacteria.

Some of that, and the crackers, and some summer sausage, and other cheese, and a few jalapenos, makes for a very nice snack while sitting around. I didn't actually have any dinner, just a plate of this stuff.

P.S. Maytag Blue Cheese comes in triangles at the grocery store. Online, it looks like it comes in circles. Circles, triangles. A square would be nice too.

Needed: A Debit Card Hood

I hate the openness of the debit card swipers at the store. It seems like it wouldn't take a very creative swindle artist to figure out what your number is just by standing there and observing you. Or observing you from an angle.

They need some kind of hood you can put over yourself and the machine. Or a booth that you step in or that descends from the ceiling to encase you, so you can type your number in private. I think they could get creative. Some kind of heat shield that wiggles up the air right next to you, like you see near campfires, so that no one can get a clear shot of what's going on on the touchpad.

But my paranoia is such that I already know they could just have a thing hooked up to it to yield the numbers all day and then they'd pick it up at night. Or have it beaming the numbers from there to the parking lot.

I like using debit cards instead of checks for many obvious reasons. But I wish I understood a little more about the situation surrounding the security of doing so.

Christmas Stuff On Sale

I was going by some stores tonight, and I see all the Christmas stuff is on sale.

It's going, going, gone ... at least in value, when the big day hits. It's a double edged sword when it comes to holidays where they stock a lot of merchandise. Someone somewhere (one would assume) is losing a little money. But I don't know.

There's a lot of people who buy Christmas stuff after Christmas, including my family. We got a nice white Christmas tree after Christmas last year, kept it in a box in the basement, and it looked great this year setting out.

One of the weirdest customs I've ever heard about Christmas is when someone goes out on Christmas Eve and buys a Christmas tree and puts it up. At that point, what's the use? It's no good in a couple days.

Word Of The Father

I love the lyrics of many of the Christmas songs. But I'm getting tired tonight and can't think of all the ones I like. But it's plenty of them! Like the lyrics of "What Child Is This?" or "O Little Town of Bethlehem." "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."

I love the lyrics of "O Come All Ye Faithful," for sure, especially the ones that say, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing."

Yes, Lord, we greet you,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to you be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

That's so beautiful, going along with the famous prologue to the Gospel of John, of course. You've got the Father ... then the expression of the Father in the Son of God. It really exalts one's thoughts to think such things. And with Christmas we have that opportunity. All the rest of the time, too, but it's very vivid when we hear the Christmas carols.

Andre Rieu -- The Vienna I Love

The video I'm referring to in this post is a VHS tape of a program called "The Vienna I Love -- Waltzes From My Heart," by Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra. It doesn't look like it's still available, but looking around, I notice there are lots of programs by Rieu on DVD. Wow, I wouldn't mind having the Christmas one.

But, alas, this VHS tape is the only one I have. And I just about gave it away to the thrift store yesterday to get it out of my way. It's been on my shelf for a few years and I never watched it. Then yesterday, cleaning my room, I was putting some stuff in a box for the thrift store and this was tossed over there. But then, just for some entertainment while I cleaned, I put it in the TV (which has a player) and it was very cool to see.

I guess I didn't know anything about Andre Rieu, just that he had something to do with music, since the tape's been around for a while. I hadn't really look at it that closely.

Anyway, it's quite wonderful. A bunch of waltzes, classical music. With a full orchestra, dressed up in really nice clothes and everything. And they had a packed house. Wherever it was, actually Vienna it looks like.

Andre plays the violin. I read somewhere that he plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin. I don't know if that's what he's playing in this concert, since I don't know my violins. It's definitely pretty and doesn't look over 300 years old.

As to the music, it's delightful stuff. Played with a lot of flair, with Andre right out front, standing the whole time. He's kind of like the conductor but he's not doing a lot of typical conducting. He must conduct while moving his bow on the violin. And maybe the players were used to his style.

On this tape there's a lot of humor, the introductions Andre makes to songs, plus some funny interplay of the musicians. He speaks in German throughout but there are subtitles in English.

This particular tape was copyright 1995.

In watching it, I'm up to the 11th selection, which is the "Emperor's Waltz." Johann Strauss wasn't the composer of everything on the tape, but several of the selections.

I wish I had the Christmas DVD ... but in a few days, after Christmas, I won't be wishing that anymore.

The short story here is that I'm glad I didn't give this tape to the thrift store. Because it's enjoyable and I would guess I'll watch it again someday!

(The DVD on the Amazon.com ad is a different program than what I wrote about. But it looks like it'd be something very similar.)

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Christmas is coming. Here's a beautiful picture. This was among my tiny collection of holy cards.

Did you happen to see the "Census" poster that someone made? It suggests that it's a good thing to take part in the census, because, according to the Bible, that's what brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus would be born.

I think it's a nice poster. But of course there are some folks up in arms over it. It seems like it had something to do with Hispanic ministers being opposed to it. One of them, I read, said it was "blasphemous" to use the name of Jesus or God for anything other than worshiping. That doesn't make a bit of sense, since we obviously would use these names in regard to discussing many things about religion and life. So that guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

But anyway, for Christmas we don't want disagreement and disagreeable people. We'll just forgive the guy for being ignorant, just like Jesus did from the Cross. The guy "knows not what he's doing."

That's a beautiful picture. I love the stars and things. I love Joseph's very rustic, monk-like haircut. He's handsome and Mary is beautiful. At first I thought Jesus was naked, but looking closer he's in a onesy. And about to get warmer with a nice cloth from His mother. So beautiful

No One Puts On Airs

In my family, no one puts on airs.

Everyone in my family is just a plain as plain can be when around other folks. As far as anyone can tell, we're no better than them. It's all one big happy mishmash of humanity, it would seem.

We're very regular. That'd be a good word for it. As right as rain, as regular as clockwork. You'd think, Wow, that brother or sister talks with some intelligence. And that's true. Most of them are highly educated, but when you're around them (us), you're stunned at how down to earth everyone is. Big smiles are offered all around. And pats on the back, without any apparent ulterior motive.

There's no airs, no flaunting of anything. To all appearances, and I'm proud to say this, we're just like anyone else, just like you, just like the average guy. No one can ever tell the difference.

Miscellaneous Absurdities

The ideas for these miscellaneous absurdities were found in a little notebook in my desk. It's my handwriting, so I'm assuming I thought these up:

• A person is described as "youngish," who then says, "I'm older than I look."
• Remember the "To Catch A Predator" show? The host catches Bigfoot somehow, but refuses to broadcast it because of "panic." He ensnares the monster when he's in a chat room mentioning how big his "feet" are.
• There's someone like storm chasers, but they're Energy Chasers, a team of "true believers" who hold to the theory that a town is a like a body, like "any system" is. They consider themselves like chiropractors of systems.
• There's a guy whose wife gets up and makes his newspapers into scrolls. He says, "I'm an old fashioned guy." Because of its size, she gets up extra early on Sunday.

The Super Pessimist

It's not the glass is half full.

It's not the glass is half empty.

It's "What glass?"

A Good Country Name?

Willie Nilly.

As in "His Greatest Hits" by Willie Nilly.

What if his nickname is Hillbilly? Willie "Hillbilly" Nilly.

On the same bill as Milli Vanilli.

A Color Aquarium

Having an aquarium is a beautiful thing. It's like having a color TV with fish in it.

I remember when I was a kid, we just had a black and white set. But things have changed since then.

The fish are more beautiful in color.

Animals Don't Care For Money

That's so true. If we see a quarter laying on the floor, we scoop it up.

I went through the kitchen a while ago and there was a quarter on the floor. It must've fallen through the hole in my pocket. I have a pretty good hole in my pants pocket. I was at a store today and I felt the embarrassing escape of about a dollar and a half in chance going down my leg. I tried to pull the pants leg in a little to keep them from clanging against the floor and rolling off in a dozen directions. Fortunately I was successful.

After that I kept my change in my coat pocket. But somehow, at some point, I must've had a quarter in my pocket later. Because I went through the kitchen and there it was on a throw rug.

The dog was sitting there in the area, of course not paying any attention to the money. She'd probably sniffed it -- I don't know -- to see if it was edible. But that would be about it.

It made me think. They simply don't know, they simply don't care for money!

The Cops' Favorite Rod Stewart Song

Every picture tells a story, doughnut?

My Windows 7 Computer

I'm loving my Windows 7 computer, a laptop. It's so fast. I've never had a fast computer and this one zips by. It has gargantuan memory compared to the old computers I've had all this time.

I have a computer at my office, extremely slow, and I use it too. Today I was using it, and there it was, grinding away, struggling to open Firefox (it also struggles to close Firefox) -- it struggles with everything. I got sick of waiting and pulled out my new computer. Even with the old one having a head start, the new one was better.

I like the indexing system a lot more than trying to find something on my previous Windows computers. I didn't realize that was there, so it was a pleasant thing to realize that I can now actually find something on the computer! Without having to go with Google Desktop.

A Snowy Day

We're already "In the Bleak Midwinter" and it's not even officially winter yet.

Snowy days and Tuesdays always get me down.

What do I care how much it may storm? I've got my gloves to keep me warm.

The Republicans Are As Dumb As A Box Of Rocks

The Republicans think they're pretty clever, blocking the people's business in Congress. I hope this cleverness earns them a place at the bottom of the heap in 2010. If not, who knows what other terrible ideas they'll have for the nation.

They certainly don't mean well, don't mean anything good for the nation's well being. It's all selfishness for them. The public good doesn't factor into their decisions. We saw it all through the Bush years -- it was corruption morning, noon, and night. And with the Obama years, the Republicans haven't changed, except now, of course, it's patriotic to dis the President. Big surprise there!

The health care reform issue, though, seems like a terrible issue for them to be blocking. This is something we all know we need. The insurance system in this country is criminal. And the Republicans are clearly on the side of the criminals. It polls over 60% favorable with the American people, and where do the Republicans find themselves? On the other side.

Let them rot. I am so sick of the Republican party I could spit.

Other People On The Road

Being on the road and on a long journey isn't that fun an experience for me. I'd rather hang around the house, get up and go to bed in the same place. There are of course times when you have to travel, but I prefer them to be few and far between.

I have some family on the road tonight, going from Tennessee to Kansas. Driving at night, at least to St. Louis. That's definitely no fun. I hope they make it OK, which I assume they will.

The Novelty's Just About Worn Off

It's day 2 of having my new computer. I messed with it most of the day, which turned out to be a mixture of good and bad, with lots of frustration.

I'm frustrated that more of my old software won't work on Windows 7. There seems to be something seriously wrong with not having this stuff backwards compatible. I'm used to doing lots of projects in particular ways, and now to have to change in my old age, it's not nice.

My scanner won't work, that's another thing. Things I do for my work, no good. I'll have to keep my XP computers forever, and if they ever threaten to die, I'll keep them on life support till long after they're brain dead. Some of this Microsoft stuff starts out brain dead, though, so it might not be that big a change.

There's a couple things that irk me. I thought maybe this computer would have the XP mode I heard about. But that's only for Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL, not Home. That was easy for me to say, right? But that's not how they tell you at Microsoft. You have to load a piece of software that tells you it's not compatible because you haven't changed the settings in your BIOS. So you go to all the trouble to make that change, then go back, and it tells you what they could've told you in the first place, that you don't have PROFESSIONAL, so what are you doing here?

The other irksome thing are all the Norton pop-ups and HP pop-ups about this, that, or the other. Yes, I know you're there. How about doing your job in the background and giving me a monthly summary?

I have a tension backache after today. Meaning it's time to quit. I'm just going to do a few blogs and then read for a while, then my usual tasks (dishes, etc.)

The Red Book

I ordered a copy of "The Red Book," the long-awaited and frequently forgotten (be me) book by C.G. Jung.

I heard a guy give part of a lecture on this subject -- the subject came up in the course of his remarks -- one time a few years ago. I made a mental note of it, because he said it was expected to be published in the next few years or so.

Then I've checked around a few times in the last few years to see what kind of progress they were making, or rather to see if it was published and available. It never was.

Now all of a sudden I hear it came out in September and I didn't know about it. So I just discovered it a few days ago, that it was published.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting it. I read some of the reviews and the big article on the NY Times site about it, and it sounds very interesting.

I'm hoping to make many breakthroughs of my own with this big book. Not that I don't make plenty already. I certainly do. See you in Heaven!

Looking For A Book

I was looking for a book that I have today. Oh, I hate looking for books.

The big problem is I don't have the room to put all my books in normal places in an orderly way. So they're stacked here there and everywhere, on various shelves, some upright, some on their sides, some double or triple-layered back, etc. It's a mess.

The thing is, My best books it seems like I could have them in one place and in a reasonable place at that. But this particular book -- what it was is irrelevant -- didn't seem to be anywhere. I checked and checked. I'm thinking, I think I know what it's spine looks like, etc.

So I'm in one room. I'm moving the bed, thinking maybe it was under there. Moving stacks, getting irritated.

Finally I narrowed in my sights -- sometimes I can look right at something and still not see it -- and I thought I saw it, then I did see it. There is was. I took it off the shelf and put it on my desk ... somewhere.

I do not ever want to have to look for that book again. Stay on the shelf close to where you belong!