Woo, 59 of these little RNF posts, and a ton more in the basic “Random Neuron Firings” category. Why do I number some, but not others? Quien sabe. I’m mental.

For those who might not know, my RNFs are comprised basically of general, off-the-top-of-my-head observations. You know, kind of like the posts I write every day and fail to assign a number to…

Anyway. Set, go.

Random Neuron Firings

1. Wow, such anger. What a hothead. Is this guy who you want for the leader of the free world? One poorly-timed joke by a visiting Beijing diplomat, and *kABLam* — there goes China.
2. Mavis’s surgery went well. I’m glad she’s home, resting. I spoke with her on the phone last night, and she sounds a bit better.
3. Latest addition to the Dinner Theatre song list: “Me Ol’ Bamboo” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Remember that movie? Awesome. I would have liked to see the Broadway show, but it didn’t last long.
4. Speaking of old stuff…remember My Friend Flicka? Sure you do, fellow crusty ones. My grandpa Johnson, whose parents were from Sweden, told me one day as it came on the TV at his house, “You know, flicka means ‘girl’ in Swedish.” I have never forgotten that fact — or that day, back in what — 1965-66, when it was in reruns? Isn’t it funny how seemingly small memories stick with you in a big way?
5. Remy had a good day with the Thriller while I was at school yesterday. They bonded, played, took a ride in the car to the vet (the doc says he’s 100% healthy, with a beautiful coat and markings, and likely around two years old), and spent some time talking to one another. While Remy stayed pretty close to Mommy for the evening, I was told that he went downstairs to the office earlier in the day, without having to be coaxed down with treats or taken on the leash. Good boy, Remington!
6. Just found out last night that Boardwalk Empire is in its last season. Whaaa? Mad Men is on the way out, too. Breaking Bad (the best show in the history of TV drama, ever, hands down) is already gone. Sheesh. Watch — next it’ll be Downton Abbey, Ray Donovan, The Newsroom, Homeland, Dracula…all my favorites. Cripes, what’s next? 60 Minutes?
7. It’s hilarious to watch Remy play with his Skineez toy. He has the reindeer. I wasn’t sure he’d play with it at all, but it’s his favorite. Nasty looking things, but apparently, dogs love them because they resemble rodents. Niiiiiiice.
8. I hate the first day back to school after a long vacation, and this vacation was extra-long. Yesterday wasn’t too bad, though. I think everyone might have been more “OK” with going back than they let on. Still, I’d be lying if I said I’m not thrilled when quittin’ time rolls around.

And that is all for this morning, my fiends. Hey, it’s Finkday — the weekend’s almost here! I hope I can get some major visiting in over the next 48 hours (Mavis, Kay, the As, then the Js). Then it’s off to the Dinner Theatre rehearsal schedule. Yippy! Here’s hoping that you have some fun plans for the weekend, too.

FO

Since yesterday? Several flavors.

Yesterday morning was not so good, as you might have noticed. Frustration — mixed with annoyance clouded by apprehension complicated by restless feelings of inaction — dug in its claws, and no amount of espresso or positive self talk seemed to ameliorate things. It mades us unhappy. And we forgots the taste of bread, the sound of trees, the softness of the wind…

OK. Not quite that Smeagoliciously dramatic. But you get the idea. I was a big ol’ slab of negative, and I don’t like that. Fortunately, yesterday proved to be quite productive and relaxing: a combination I rarely score on the same day. And with my extra, unexpected snow day today, I plan to make the best of this particular 24 hours.

Remy is s-l-o-w-l-y warming up to the Thriller. I think that once I clear out and go back to school, the two of them will have some much-needed bonding time. Since we brought him home and the nasty weather started, I don’t think I’ve been out of the house once. Pup has all but abandoned running to hide underneath the living room coffee table; now we just need to get him to not run and hide underneath my desk. Again, I think not having me actually sitting at the desk will help.

The work on the WordPress theme is finally done, thanks to my buddy Sunny. Some minor changes in font, font size/readability and comments will hopefully make RtB more visitor-friendly. You can also now click on the header image to return to the homepage, and all comment counts are “clicky,” so you no longer have to click on a post title in order to see or post replies. These were all code issues that would have taken me hours and hours to search out and fix on my own, and if you are at all familiar with the WordPress support community, you know that a person could get lost for weeks in the forums. So yay, another reason to show some teeth this morning.

Mavis is scheduled for some surgery this afternoon, which is another reason I’m glad to have the day off. I can go visit afterwards, and hopefully take her home if they spring her same-day. Happy, um…whatever day it is.

Fink (like her Australian Shepherd, needing a job to do)

1. The pipes in my house survived last night (-14 F/-39 wind chill), with the exception of one place: my bathroom, of course.
2. Try to say/do something nice, and what do people do? I guess some folks are just trained by example (their mamas? who knows) to pick things apart and find a negative in absolutely everything, no matter how positive the initial action. Yes, that’s a vague statement and I hate those, but there you go. Do what you hate to see others do. Sheesh.
3. Remy is trying to adjust, and it’s getting better every day. He’s trying. But sometimes, the whole thing’s trying, especially since we’re housebound and can’t get out for a walk or anything. Poor puppy. His paws freeze as soon as he gets outside.
4. I need to get out this house. How people can stay home and work is beyond me. Too much monotony — or I have too  little self-discipline. Likely B. Sucky, regardless. Bring on the 55-hour work/rehearsal weeks, followed by choir tour, followed by concert season, followed by graduation. I’m ready.
5. Timing just bites in general, you know?
6. The next person who says, posts or tweets, “Welp, so much for global warming!”…I swear…
7. I’m up for a trip to anywhere. (If my car will start, that is.)

There we go. Much better. Need to have at it? That’s why God made the comment section. And speekina…you’ll notice that my theme has undergone *some* improvements with regard to how certain code is displayed. I’m working with a nice guy who’s a WordPress genius (he’s in Bangladesh, of all places, so communication is “off,” with him being 11 hours ahead), so progress is a bit slower than normal. Therefore, all is not fixed yet, but the Fink (and my friend Sunny from Bangladesh) is on the case.

More coffee might make me happier. I doubt it, but I’ll give it a go. Cripes!

…the dreaded, evil alarm clock has been set for tomorrow morning, and Christmas break is over. Wow. Know how much work I got done for school over the last two weeks? Next to none. But — part of my new year’s resolution from 2012 was to spend less time at school; to leave work at work. I think I’ve managed to continue that promise into 2014, so thumbs up.

Either that, or I’m just incredibly, unforgivably lazy. Ha.

Time was, I’d stress and worry so much over not getting enough done over a holiday break, it would effectively ruin the last few days of each vacation. How dumb is that? So, the work can wait. It can wait. Does it sound like I’m still trying to convince myself? I probably am, but hey, whatever gets you through the night, right? It’s all right. It’s all right.

He likes his bed

Obligatory Remington Update: He’s fearing the Thriller a tiny bit less. A tiny. When he uses the clicker and the training treats, Remy will come to him quicker — still in a herding crouch (like this, except with his head closer to the floor), but he’ll do it. This morning, however, when he went to feed him breakfast, Pup cowered under my desk and wouldn’t come out, even for clicker treats. He lay there, petrified, licking his chops for the meal he obviously wanted, but couldn’t pull the trigger to go eat, as long as the Thriller was in the kitchen. So, a step forward and two back, but still…progress.

The level of sheer terror in this poor animal breaks our hearts.

However, he’s acclimated himself seemingly 100% to his physical surroundings, so tonight, he and I will move upstairs to the 3rd floor master bedroom. I’ve been staying in the guest room with him these past two nights because it’s a smaller space, and if I needed to get him outside quick, there are 13 fewer steps to navigate. It *appears* (knock wood) that we are going to have no housebreaking problems. We have not crated him, and he’s basically had the run of the second floor hallway. Treading lightly here, but no problems so far.

Today’s test will be guests. Seamus and the gang are stopping by to visit, so we’ll see how much time it takes him to come out from his safe space to greet more men and children. Haha. Remy, Remy…what a ding dong.

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