Yeah, well, everything fell to krap yesterday.

Even with Seamus’s awesomely awesome snow vehicle, I didn’t get to drive to Sandusky for Bando’s show last night. For reasons too long to go into here, it was decided that I should not drive the hour north, but come home instead. Truth be told, I’m glad I did, as the fever and sore throat have now set in. Things seem to be going south at a rabbit’s pace. But hey — I made it home last night with no problems (4WD really is a dandy thing), and I hear Bando’s show was a hit, so all is well.

Thought I’d post some photos for BoomR and Paul, both of whom used to live here, but later chose warmer climates (BoomR is in TX; Paul in CA). Remember these days, guys?

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Fink, to the sofa with the electric blanket

You know the music from hearing it on a dozen commercials, but have you heard the entire piece? Very nice.

George Washington once wrote a list of 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. Many contain words to live by; others are just downright awesome:

#4 – In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.
#17 – Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play’d Withal.
#38 – In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physician if you be not Knowing therein.
#47 – Mock not nor Jest at any thing of importance, break no Jest that are Sharp Bitting and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasant, abstain from Laughing thereat yourself.
#90 – Being Set at meat, Scratch not, neither Spit, Cough, or blow your Nose, except there’s a Necessity for it.

You can read the entire list if you like. Definitely some funny (but completely sensible) stuff. How little things really change, eh?

Man I am late…I must fly, even though I’ve more to say. I’ve been shirking my RtB duties for the past day or two – I resolve to rectify that.

Going to Bando’s show tonight — I am now armed with a snow-worthy vehicle. (The Finkmobile is staying in for the night.) Bring on the snow!

FO

WHY is there even a Russian domain extension? (.ru)
Oh yeah. They need a dependable originating source for comment spam.

WHY can some people just not see what’s going on?

WHY are teenagers more stressed out than adults?

WHY isn’t everything easier? (I know…we’re building character here.)

WHY do I have total control over everything except that which I want to control the most?

There are your questions for the day. Discuss.

There was a fire at my school at 2 a.m. They almost canceled for today. *Almost*

I am pretty much knocked out. I did not know shopping for bedroom furniture could be so difficult — and expensive.

The Thriller and I invested in a new bedroom set, after learning our lesson from repeated backaches, courtesy our old mattress. Um…I guess I’ve been out of the loop for awhile. The prices are out of this world:

Mattress, box spring & frame: consummately expensive; approaching vulgar
Mattress cover: way more than it needs to be, given the fact it’s never seen
Sheets/pillow cases: I could almost buy a week’s worth of groceries for this price
Dual control electric blanket because it’s cold up on the 3rd floor: ridiculous
Comforter: it’s a blanket fuh cripesake, sheesh what a ripoff

(However….sleeping on a cloud: priceless)

And I’m talking Wally prices, people — not Pier One or Macy’s. Yipes. And now I’m shopping for the finishing touch. It’s a money pit, this furniture racket.

OK. Weigh in on which one you like. Doesn’t matter about the room décor; I think of myself as “eclectic,” which means I can defend any choice even though I have no interior decorating sense. Thumbs up.

Have a good Monday, all. I gotta go to work so I can pay for all this.

During coffee this morning, I checked out some top ten lists at Listverse. If their research is to be believed, some of the #1 choices were surprising. Did you know…

It’s true. I’m a longtime fan of Cecil Adams, the world’s smartest human, and he quotes some pretty impressive facts about hippos over at The Straight Dope.

The #1 Most Fascinating “Only Existing Photograph” award goes to Frederic Chopin. Cool. He was so afeared of being buried alive, he decreed that his heart be cut out after his death. His hands were also cast. Look how long his fingers were. YIKES

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#1 on the list of “Fascinating Facts that are Wrong”:  You can see the Great Wall of China from space. Funny how you just assume that such impressive-sounding declarations are true. I never disbelieved it. There seems to be a microscopic grain of truth to it, but as far as seeing the wall from space with the naked eye…nuh-uh.

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I’ve saved the most amazing for last. Have you ever heard of the Superb Lyrebird? I hadn’t. It can mimic everything it hears. Check out this vid. You’ll hear an incredibly convincing camera shutter, car alarm, and chain saw. Unbelievable.

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Welp…out of time. It’s Jon’s birthday feast tonight, and Mavis and I have some shopping/cooking to do. Requested menu: burgers on the grill, homemade mac and cheese, salad, and strawberry cake. Wahoo — get yer grub on, pard.

FO