Category Archives: Random Neuron Firings

Wild Weekend

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I gotta get in shape or somethin.

When people tell you that grandchildren wear them out — believe it. It’s the good kind of worn out, though. I guess I should say they keep me young. Or wishing I was.

I think back to when Seamus and Lars were little and I wonder how I pulled it off, day after day after day. Then I go, “Ahhh…you were 24. No wonder it was easier.” A quarter-century later — not so good. Still, we loved every minute of Jake this weekend. We went to the park, played in the back yard, read a gazillion books, played the piano, took a walk, grocery shopped, chased each other around, antagonized Rousseau, and played cars.

At 10 p.m., he rested.

I’m upset that my photos of the Thriller’s birthday bash didn’t turn out very well. My Storm and the red walls of my dining room didn’t play well together. Shoulda used the regular camera instead. Suffice it to say that it was a fabulous feed, and the birthday boy got lots of great gifts, not the least of which was getting to spend several hours with the family, which we don’t get to do nearly often enough. Thanks to all the RtB fiends who wished him a happy birthday, too. I think he’s finding that 58 isn’t so bad after all, which bodes well for the rest of us. (Except if you’re RD, in which case you’ve been there and done that. :-))

Fink (I make “old” jokes whilst I still may because time’s running) out.

RNF XXIV

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Random Neuron Firings

Nicotine, arsenic, tanning bed. How do you want to die?

Last night, I read about the latest report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which states that they have now upgraded tanning beds from “probably carcinogenic” to “carcinogenic” to humans. So I guess there really is a downside to lying under those lights. Or not. Mayhap most folks won’t mind eventually having Donna Versace skin (click at your own risk). This girl minds, which is why I never ever tan, indoors or out. I’ll take my Casper the Friendly Ghost-ish pall over melanoma any day. But hey, me no judge-y. It’s your thing; do what you wanna do. I can’t tell you who to sock it to…

Truthfully (and admittedly snarkily), I know a few people who would look down on smokers, but would never give up their tanning appointments. Still, I guess anything’ll kill you after awhile, so I really don’t view anyone as reprobate — unless you’re the front office staff of the Cleveland Indians, who, for the second straight year,  just traded away a Cy Young Award winner. But we shan’t go there today.

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This made me laugh. From the LA Times:

A comprehensive review of research comparing the nutritional content of food that was organically raised with food produced with the use of synthetic pesticides has found no significant differences between the two.”

Innat just the way? Spend all that extra money for organic food (its sales rake in an estimated $23 billion per year) just to find out it’s not healthier after all. However, the study is a *trifle* misleading, in that it doesn’t address the pesticide issue. Obviously, foods grown without chemicals are probably better for you than those grown with them, ja? Still, it bites that the pretty food isn’t any better for you nutritionally.

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We get Jake all day today. Fun! Tomorrow is the Thriller’s 58th birthday. I’d tell you what I’m getting him, but, you know, that would kind of give it away. Not that you’re dying to know or anything…

ANYWAY. Have a great Thursday.

Fink out (the door to pick up Jakey).

Feels like Monday

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…and I am full of hates. Yes, hates — not “hate” or “hatred.” Right, you get the point. Moving on.

arat2

  1. I hate having a headache in the morning; don’t you? What a lousy thing.
  2. I hate motorcycles with big fat ol’ loud crackly engines, whose drivers wait until they’re right in front of your house to open up the throttle and take off, bat-outta-Hades. It makes me mad. I want to chase them down and give them a piece of my mind. I just can’t spare one at the moment. *SigH*
  3. What is the opposite of empathy? Initially, I’d say apathy. Antipathy, even. But bottom line, what we’ve got here is a failure to walk in another’s shoes or imagine what it would be like to be in somebody else’s situation:  egocentrism. I hate that. If I ever come across [because acrost is NOT A WORD] that way to you, flog me for it.
  4. I hate it that, while watching the news during dinner last night, I saw two glaring spelling/usage errors; one in a commercial and the other in a weather forecast. Does no one care to proofread anymore? Are editors extinct? Don’t nobody give a rat nowaday? But just to prove I ain’t no grammar diva who thinks she’s perfect…
  5. I hate it that I’ve gone along all these decades thinking that the word “err” is pronounced “air.” (It actually rhymes with the word “fur.” To err is human, I suppose, but it brings up interesting prospects for the word “error.” Ur-ur?)
  6. I hate hospitals and stupid expensive tests.
  7. I hate it that my key/phone/receipt/shopping list/money/Chapstick/whatever is always, always, always in the other pocket.
  8. I hate that the summer has gone so fast (apologies to my nine-to-five fiends — I don’t expect you to feel sorry for me!).

But hey, why all the negative energy today? Let’s have us some good news as well.

Check out the dessert I had at the International Buffet inside Greektown Casino. A luscious, sugar-encrusted devil’s food mini-cupcake, filled with sweetened cream cheese and a cherry, and topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings:

Black Forest decadence. They were small, so I had to have two.

~

Then, when we got home, we couldn’t believe our eyes. My brother-in-law Ray had culled every single weed from every garden in my yard, front and back. Im ready for my fall bulb planting now. Is he great or what!?

So yeah. In spite of items 1-8, life is dandy indeed — even if it does feel like Monday.

FO

No 21st floor this time.

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Nope. Because we’re staying on the 23rd floor. Great – better’n last time. But the views really are wonderful, the food is delicious, and we had fun spending money last night.

We arrived in Detroit around 3 p.m., and partied until around 10. Fun! Here’s the pictorial:

What's this cool little building remind you of?

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Our hotel -- a visual anachronism to the surrounding area

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The Thriller actually talked about going to the game because the Tigers were playing the White Sox. Um, no.

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View of the casino from our room. All accessible by an elevated, covered walkway.

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So today, we eat (yay, it’s free) and see some other sights besides the ones in the casino. We may leave this afternoon for home, or tomorrow morning. It’s good to not have to decide.

Happy Monday!

Fink (and Thriller, hangin’) out.

How I Spent My Saturday II

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And it was a whoooole lot better than How I Spent My Saturday, Part I.

Yesterday, I abandoned all work, except for some minor cleaning that I put off till the last minute. Instead, I did what I wanted to do. It was a strange and wonderful experience. Could this be the purpose of summer weekends after all? Here is most of what I did with my Saturday, listed in random order.

Heard about the best toy everPlayed with a cute little bug

!

3. Updated some stuff on my Facebook profile, which had sat unattended and lonely for a long time.

4. The Thriller -- he's way too good to me

!

5. Met a friend at an area watering hole. Good times.

And now, it’s 6:48 and I have some things to take care of before Mavis & Ray come over at 11 to get the lowdown on Rousseau and taking care of the house for a couple of days. And at noon, it’s off to the Motor City for a little gambling, considerable eating, and a whole lotta relaxing.

Happy Sunday to all my fiends,

RF