Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Odd Man Out

Hope everyone had a nice holiday.

It was ok on this end. Hot weather, bad t-storm (though a cool one) and then nice weather. In that order.

Between yoga and visits to the hospital (my mom is status quo, but still in the hospital) we did go to a Memorial Day cook-out.

The food was phenomenal. In theory, the company was too. Yet, I felt a little out of place.

I cannot quite put my finger on it. I knew almost everybody. Well, I did know everybody - or had at least met them in the past. Granted we knew the hosts better than anyone else in attendance, and I could not rely on them to keep us entertained, they were busy.

Oh, don't get me wrong, everyone was friendly, and while we've known the hosts for a decade, everyone else has known them for 2-3 decades. We were odd men out.

A lot of the afternoon talk centered around politics. That's fine. We are all like-minded in our political beliefs, not that I don't mind a good debate. And I'm ok with local politics. But these guys did a deep dive - talking about state districts all over Ohio. They knew the incumbents, the challengers or potential challengers of every small podunk area in Ohio.  All 88 counties. I'm not a dork (ok ok...that is up for debate), but when they get to that level, I have zero to add to the conversation.

Oddly - but probably not really - the most I had in common with were the 16 and 19 year old boys of two lesbians in attendance. They were actually extremely mature for their age - and very comfortable talking to people they don't know and they asked really good questions and were engaged in the conversations.

I wasn't like that at 16 or 19. Possibly not even at 26 or 29.

Maybe not even at 52.

I'm not complaining and we had a good time, it was just this type of event comes around every so often to show me how not in the 'in' crowd.

It's high school all over again.



Song by: Poco

Pic a Day in May - 31

Liberty


Lego Liberty Bell.

Actually, the mall had Lego Washington Monument, Supreme Court, Jefferson Memorial, Old North Church and Independence Hall.

Oh - and a Lego Store.




This is it for Pic a Day in May.  I will be honest, unlike other years, I don't feel I hit it out of the park on many pictures. Maybe it was my lack of traveling. I don't know. But I have 11 months to decide if I'll revisit this meme.

Monday, May 30, 2016

My Music Monday

This is the last of the car-themed month. Erik finished his last Friday.

Last week I said I wasn't going to use (another) Blondie song, because I do use a lot of their music. But they're good. Sue me.

It's car "themed". I'm not fudging the category, but I am being creative.

"Europa" is the opening track from their 1980 masterpiece (and I don't use that word lightly), Autoamerican.

Blondie has always been inventive, rarely sticking to a single style and they didn't with this disk. Or with this song. And it was bold - I thought - to open their album with a mostly instrumental track.

I know. You're going - "instrumental? how can that be car related??"

Well, I said "mostly". Though I can say there is no singing on the track. If you stay to the last 35 seconds of the song, you'll eventually know why.

It is possibly my favourite track on the album. Definitely top 3.

Even if there was no spoken word, the music to "Europa" itself is great. But I like the spoken word too.

No official video - but what are you gonna do?


Pic a Day in May - 30

Sweat



...as in, 'never let them see you....'   or Keith.



It was a really warm yoga class yesterday.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!


Going by the looks of the album cover, some of you might be thinking "he's already done this before". And in a way, I have.

Last October, New Order put out their first album of new music in a decade - Music Complete. Seven months they follow-up with an album of extended remixes with Complete Music.

Being that they're - for the most part - an "80's band" and I'm a homo, it's somewhere in the bylaws that I am required to buy this. Somewhere on the third floor I have an entire container of 12" dance remixes. It's quite sad.

I've enjoyed Music Complete, for the most part, so when they announced Complete Music, I automatically pre-ordered, but I always do with New Order, so I'm kind of their target audience.

If I had to encapsulate my review to a sound byte, it would be: "more extended than remixed".

When I hear a remix, I usually get a different vibe from the original release. With this album it is more of fuller versions of the songs, not so much different.  Though, that being said, some of the songs benefit from the longer mix. And some do have different elements, though don't change things up too too much.

I find the stronger cuts on Music Complete are still the stronger cuts on Complete Music. "Academic", "People on the High Line", "Unlearn this Hatred", "Singularity" (though it seems the U2  / War-era guitars are more prevalent).

The fine, but not stellar cuts, are still fine. You are hoping for the remix to make them more interesting - and for the most part that doesn't work, though "the Game" is great.

I really like the first two instrumental minutes of "Nothing But a Fool", I found it way more interesting than when the {pretty much} original vocals came into play.

And I'm still not finding any pleasure in "Stray Dog".  "Superheated" was much better in the original version - the seemingly slightly sped up version adds nothing.

When I think New Order and remix, I think of "Blue Monday" and "Bizarre Love Triangle".  From their original form to the alternative versions songs hat they became, it really transformed them. I didn't get that with most anything here.

The extended versions make some of songs seem more whole. And some of those intros are really great, but once you get to the vocals, little changes from the original album. With a little time and effort this could have been an incredible album.

Pic a Day in May - 29

Risk




a newer graphic that shows whether a patient is at risk falling.

Apparently my mother is one of those.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

She's Always In My Hair

It's a quick down and dirty animal posting today.


Sophie: not being amused. 

 Boomer - at my mother's last week, going chair to chair for love. And getting it. 

Pippa getting a brush out.  This much fur could come off her every single day. 




Song by: Prince

Pic a Day in May - 28

Shart



....coming your way soon

Friday, May 27, 2016

No Title

Sorry kids - another non-post post. Usually I don't do two of these a month, let alone in a week or so. I'm even too lazy to come up with a corresponding blog title.

The week has been long, but now we have a long weekend.

It's sad - it's my first day off since starting this job - six months and two weeks ago (but who's counting?). I've fallen back into horrible patterns of not using my paid time off. That has to change.

We considered a weekend getaway this week, but my mother kind of saw to that. I'm not blaming her or anything. She even suggested yesterday that we should go away, even though I never told it was a potential plan. She said she was fine and we didn't need to stay.

She looks better. She looks and sound stronger. Her white count is dropping, but not yet normal. Her O2 saturation is stable. Blood pressure is a little low. But she's being taken care of and that's what is important.

And no, I haven't talked to most of my sisters yet. Nor do I really plan on it. They're big girls - they can figure it out if they need or want to.   ....and you all got more of an update than I gave them.

Ok, it's 22:02 and I'm starting to doze off.


Pic a Day in May - 27

Caprese



Thursday, May 26, 2016

She's So Mean

My mother was admitted to the hospital last evening. While sitting in her room in the Emergency Department, the doctor somehow mentioned he was an only child.

Lucky bastard.

I might have even said I envied him. Aloud.

I'd say it takes an event like this to bring out the worst in my sisters, but the sun coming up over the east is an event to bring out the same traits.

They are just evil until you point out their assholishness and then they just become über-evil.

Mean Girls could learn a thing or two from some of my siblings.

And g-d fucking forbid you point their errors. Not a (or never a) "ooops, sorry".  Now, it was a "whatever", or just the refusal to respond at all.

I get that a parent's potential deteriorating health is stress inducing. And their bitchiness and snark might be more admirable if they actually put forth any initiative. Yet hours in the ED, and then up to her room, not one of the complainers showed.....or called.

They want the 4-1-1 (on their timeline!)........you know, as long as they don't have to put forth any effort except bitching about one of my other sisters - who did the yeoman's share of the coordination of care - but that's just part for the course.

And mind you, when my youngest sister's husband had a heart attack last year, and this one sister who was shat upon yesterday (though not to her face, because my little sister isn't just a bitch, she a coward too), reached out asking what she could do and for updates, my youngest never said 'boo'. Because 'thanks for asking' isn't in her fucking vocabulary.

My little sister doesn't see that communication is a two way street. It's her way or the highway. So, sayonara, wench.

When my dad died a few years back and his sister didn't show to the funeral, but his brother did (though they hadn't really seen each other in 30 years), I thought it was all quite sad.

Upon further reflection, I see it as all quite plausible....and even a preferred way of life.



On a related note: hopefully my mother is doing well. She has pneumonia and will be getting IV antibiotics for at least two days. Barring any complications, she should be back home by Saturday.



Song by: matchbox twenty

Pic a Day in May - 26

Mussels 


For get pulling them from a shell.....try hermetically sealed packaging.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think!


I suppose you can call them 'breast petals' as much as you want, they're nipple covers. Plain and simple.

Well, not so plain or simple, if left to the marketing geniuses behind this and similar products. Read any review - or product description - and the word 'nipple' never ever ever appears. So I guess the petals DO work.

One negative review came close - saying a band-aid would have worked better and that they "did nothing to hide the "turkey-done" effect of the air conditioned office."

Turkey-done. Made me laugh.

I guess 'deflowering' isn't just for vaginas anymore. Not you have to peel them off your boobies.

Pic a Day in May - 25

Post Teen Mutant Ninja Barista


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Planets of the Universe

Have you looked into the night sky yet?

I mean lately, like in the last two days?

You really should. Mars is very very visible to the nekkid eye. It is the closest it has been to earth in the last 11 years.  It's only a mere 47.2 million miles away. Had it been this close last October, it wouldn't have taken nearly as long to save Matt Damon. We could have shaved off a few weeks of that return flight.

Shortly after sundown, just look up to the south eastern sky.  No telescope needed. You see it easily. No squinting necessary - and yes, it is red. Well....reddish.

I'm not up at 01:00, but if I were, Mars is at its highest point in the sky.

And starting tonight, you should - well we - be able to see Jupiter too.  Not "the" Jupiter 2 - because that was the spaceship the Robinson Family and Dr. Zachary Smith were on. Allegedly, with binoculars you will be able to see Jupiter's four biggest moons.

I don't have binoculars, so I won't be seeing those.

But I will go out and look.

This is going off my astronomy post a week or so ago - but for no good reason, I just marveled at being able to look up and see Mars - from the yard, the drive or even the kitchen window. It was just there.

Now tonight, I'm going to find Jupiter.

Cool.



Song by: Fleetwood Mac

Pic a Day in May - 24

Launder



Monday, May 23, 2016

My Music Monday

Cars is the theme.

This week I'm actually going with a car. There are the obvious selections out there in songville: Cadillacs, Lincolns too, Mercuries and Subarus......and Thunderbirds.

You almost got Blondie's "T-Bird", but in the last few months I have done a lot of Blondie or Debbie Harry. So I'm going with Walter Egan's "Blonde in the T-Bird".    (oh yes, he still has a website.)

Don't fret that the video says "Blonde in "A" Blue T-Bird", as that is incorrect.

Let's be honest, if you know anything about Walter Egan at all, it's that you know his song "Magnet and Steel".  And let's be honest, if you know anything about that song, it's most likely only because Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks sing on that song.

Nicks sang background on almost every song on Egan's debut album, Fundamental Roll. On his second disk, she sings on half of them, including "Blonde in the Blue T-Bird".

I almost just put the audio in the post, because in its own way, it's not a bad song.

The video?  HORRENDOUS.

Keep in mind, it was 1978. Egan's hair? Atrocious. The satin jacket? Hilarious. The setting? A Midnight Special rip-off like show. The video film quality? Pathetic.

...and Stevie Nicks is actually the blonde in the Thunderbird.

She's also the female voice in the song, though in the video, some other chick is on stage. It's just not that chick's voice.


Pic a Day in May - 23

the Eternal Question



Sunday, May 22, 2016

Strip

Spencer Tunick is coming back to Cleveburgh.

Every news outlet is making it a big thing - when it really kind of is not.

Tunick is doing another nude installation here, this time during the GOP convention. I suppose it is supposed to be some kind of statement.

I suppose it could be some kind of statement, if he wasn't shooting near the end of the convention timeframe and if he wasn't doing it on private property with no viewing from the public's eye.

You see - if you're not familiar with Tunick's work, he usually does mass nude photos: Paris, Buffalo, New York, Cleveland, etc - and usually with thousands of participants.

Cleveland, back in 2004, set a record number of participants (2,754), including myself.

Last time, it was all walks of life - or at least gender. This time it's just girls. Real ones, apparently.

Last time, it was open call. You showed up, signed the release, dropped your drawers and you were in the pic. This time, the women have to submit a picture to Tunick and it will be limited to 100 women - allegedly of all shapes and sizes.

Now, I totally get the idea of {and I'm making assumptions on Tunick's vision} naked women and the GOP pretty much saying what they can and cannot do with those bodies.  Of course the irony is not lost on me that Tunick, a man, is picking women and, yes, at least for the installation, telling them what to do with their bodies.

It's doubtful he sees that irony.

Now if the artist wanted to make a statement, then thousands of women on the streets of Cleveland during the height of the convention makes sense. I totally get that with security, crowds and such that he would never ever ever get a permit to do his thing.

I think Tunick does some nice work and I don't doubt the images he takes will be nice, but I'm not making the GOP angle of it to be anything more than self-promotion and PR.

And for the record, of all the images taken back in 2004, this is the "official" shot.



The title image was all guys. Oh, most of them were uncomfortable about being with just guys. Too bad. And oy, was that grass cold! A lot worse than the cement in the official image.




Song by: Adam Ant

Pic a Day in May - 22

Starbucks



Thug Life: Denied !!!

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Cute as a Bug

Sophie is getting a turn to shine......along with others.


....the approach

....and the landing. After work snuggles for Blobby. 

Pippa watching over my niece. 


...and in our potential search for a new dog, a puppy has never ever been on the table. It'd be one thing if we were stay at home dads, but we are not. 

However, IF we were ever to get a puppy, Levi might have been the guy. 

Meredith sent us pics....and he is fucking adorable. So adorable that the shelter - in West Virginia - got 53 applications for him. 

I'm kind of surprised it was only 53. 





I don't think we would have even changed his name. 

And imagine Saturday posts with that face!!!!   Well.....he's not ours.  Sorry to say. Though we would have gone to WV to pick him up this weekend if he had still be available. 



Song by: Lyle Lovett

Pic a Day in May - 21

Dummy




Friday, May 20, 2016

Jesus Wrote a Blank Check

I give myself one of these every month or two - - nothing to write about.

It's been budgets at work...and finding funding for programs that need to be done, but no one wants to pay for.  So that's fun.

All work.  Nothing fun during the week.  Nothing in the news that is fun - because t(R)ump, Oklahoma abortions (or lack of thereof) and EgyptAir just aren't all that fun to write about.

So - that took you all of nine seconds to read.

I give you the rest of your day back.


Song by: Cake

Pic a Day in May - 20

Creep


Thursday, May 19, 2016

Don't Worry, We'll Be Watching You

We are finally through our backlog of television. We got to finish the Good Wife (the ending was unsatisfying to me....and really, in what world does Chris Noth have had three hit series?).

We pseudo-binge watched Girls. It was a good season, though little interaction between the four main characters.

So the question is, what's next?

By all accounts, we are to see the Night Manager. So, that's on the list. (oh funny story - 710's parents were looking for that before it was actually out, so what came up was a similarly named movie - which turned out to be male porn!)

But we started the second season of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

I know some folks don't like it, but we do. The first few episodes (so far) have had Interstellar and blimp references. You don't ask.....you just go along with it.

But Titus ran into a guy who came out to him. A construction worker who can't be out at work. He has to go to strip clubs with the guys and feels pressured to get a woman airbrushed onto this truck.


Oh, fuck that made me laugh.

And Amy Sedaris is at least in episode 3 - and was hilarious.

So we'll make it through season 2, and then onto Grace & Frankie.....and / or the Night Watchman. The show......not the porn.



Song by: Gotye

Pic a Day in May - 19

Three Little Words


Are there a worse three - - especially in a time of need?

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Claw Hammer

A few weeks ago now, I did what will most likely be my last CLAW.

Yes, I wrote the last few years about volunteering at this Cleveland pre-IML event. I don't do it for the men or leather, I do it because they raise and donate money to local gay and AIDS organizations. Last year alone, they cut a check to the Cleveland LGBTIQ-MNOP Center for $20,000.

That was just one of about 50 donations to other organizations, though the others were probably lesser value.

That's not chump change.

So, why give it up?  Well, I can't say it is my 'scene'. Most of the men are nice. Most of the men are actually harmless (I think). Some of the men are creepy. But the event is a lot of work.

I'm sure for the participants of the event it is fun. But like the last four years, I've never done a session, a dinner, a party or even had a beer. It's work. And g-d love the guys who make it happen, none of them do sessions either.  They run around coordinating a huge event making sure everything runs smoothly.   .....though I dare say that they participate in after hour activities.

The mornings are a sight to see - everyone dragging their sorry ass downstairs to do their volunteer shift after a very very late night. Except for the vendors - they're all bright-eyed, as this is big business for them. Booths and booths of stuff you'd almost never buy. Or, I wouldn't.

Ok. That's a lie. I bought a............t-shirt. I'll have to show it to you sometime. It's cute, but not sexual like most of them have something about Top, Bottom, Swallows.....you get the idea. Mine I can actually wear in public.

I get guys wanting to buy leather - and I did meet the two coolest lesbians selling kilts: Juju and Ginger. They played only Prince on their sound system, so that was fun. If you sang your favourite Prince song, they'd give you 10% off.

But $900 for a pair of boots?  Je think not.  A steampunk top hat?  Or an eye mask that had sharp pointy things sticking out of it, so you couldn't get within 6" of another human being without them needing a tetanus shot?  Where's the market for this?  AND they had to pack it and transport it to and fro.

This last year was just chaos. Freezing one day, boiling the next - and this was inside. The powers that be split the vendor mart and education sessions into two different hotels, which meant people had to take shuttles. The volunteer room (free food and drinks) was at one hotel, meaning the volunteers at the other hotel got squat.

And isn't it a little sad when you run out of XXL t-shirts first?  And isn't it super sad when the twink boys want XXS t-shirts and then pout when you tell them none were ever ordered and that even if there were, they could never fit into them anyways. Gurl, just turn on your heels and stomp away, cuz you know you want to.

Another reason to step away is that I'm no longer phased by anything that I see. That can't be a good sign. It's not that I agree with what I see (that stupid Pup faction), but now I just roll my eyes and move on. Or ignore. Or both.

I did however get to meet Judy Tenuta.


I know, right?  Yes, she's still around and loving the gays. Though I have to say, I have to believe she's ever so pissed that Kathy Griffin pretty much stole her gig with the homos. She is a wee thing with what I couldn't tell was a wig or not.

I got to talk to her a few times and took a picture for her and a guy in all latex. So......there's that. She asked me to. For anyone else who wanted their pic with her, I think she charged like $5, but all the money went to charity, so I can't be too put out. Though I secretly snapped this so not to pay....because I'm cheap. And I donated all my time. Anyway, she was personable and funny. She did a show for the 'boys' too, but as I said, I've never done a social thing at these events.

On the plus side - if you want to call it that - I got hit on. Which never happens, at least here. Four years in and I'm still an outsider to these folks. And that's ok.

Take the title image guy. He has a Stevie B quality to him, no?  Though I've never seen Stevie B in a union suit.  ....at least that I know of.  But this is a man who hit on me. I dare say he was out of my league, but I think that was the union suit talking. The next day in regular clothes, he was just a hirsute borderline Pillsbury Doughboy. I regret nothing. Though he could have been hitting on me (and everybody) as a sales tactic.  Yes, I'm that cynical.

Another man, WAY out of my league, hit on me too. Now, mind you, in my heart - and just my heart - I've lusted after this man for the last four years. He is on the CLAW board, and while I've done work for them these last four, I don't think he's ever looked my way, let alone knew my name.

Clearly, I was wrong.

Oh don't worry - it didn't go anywhere. I might have received a kiss, but that was enough. Actually, that he acknowledged my presence was enough.

Speaking of out of the league - a guy who volunteered in my area was telling me he was purposefully hitting on guys out of his league. He was amongst folks he didn't know and went for it. According to him, it worked 100% of the time. Every guy he hit on, he got lucky with them.

Suffice to say, he did not hit on me. I guess I was in - or below - his league.

Sobering....and a little sad.

Maybe that's why I might never go back.



Song by: Elton John

Pic a Day in May - 18

Barnabus


Is it just me, or could this be one of the Collins descendants?

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Sing

This last weekend - on a lovely Spring day that was all of 46 degrees "warm" ...and raining and hailing (though it would actually SNOW the following day) - we went to the movies.

It was 710's pick so he went with Sing Street (such an underdog the studio couldn't / wouldn't complete the website?).

We had seen one or two previews - - and honestly, it looked like a mixed bag.

I'm never a fan of bullying in all-boys schools, even as a side note. Don't ask me why, but it makes me uncomfortable. Perhaps it was being in an all-boys school and always the anticipation of being bullied or beat-up.....which never actually happened, but the fear was real.

Still it looked like a cross between a John Hughes coming of age film and the movie Once. That latter stands to reason, as John Carney, the writer / director of Once helmed writing and directing of Sing Street as well.

And even as Carney goes, in my book he was only batting .0500. I was not fond of his second movie - what I deemed a Once redux. Having Adam Levine in that cast isn't helping anyone's case either.

Sing Street was still charming, even though, yes, there were some Once similarities. Carney certainly has a thing for struggling singers / bands wanting to flee Ireland for London in hopes of making it big. I don't know his backstory, but I'd bet $100 he wanted to escape to England when he was a youth.

A short premise - though clearly I've told you some of it - set in the mid-80s, a bunch boys at said school start a band. There is home strife, so that adds into it, and molds the band too. But it really the bands of the time - Duran Duran, the Cure, Spandau Ballet, Joe Jackson - that help steer the music portion.

I like that the two main members of the band actually play and sing, so that works for me. The guitarist is eerily looking like John Cusack cicra 1984. But the songs are not bad, some of them are quite good. 80s-inspired for sure, but maybe not totally 80s.

The final song, as 710 mentioned after we walked out, was the weakest of the bunch. And it was. And it was written and performed by Adam Levine.  No shocker - to its inclusion or weakness. For a movie to be about the 80s, it should not include music by a man most likely wasn't born in the 80s. It didn't fit. And it was bad.

For a bunch of unknown actors, the group of kids pulls it off fairly well. Though the heart of the film - in my opinion - is the older brother of Conor (the main character). He has the soul of the film, regardless of whatever else is going on.  And he has the best lines.

I'm 90% sure I was the only person who laughed at this when he was discussing a guy who was dating another woman (as he was listening to Genesis):  "no woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins".

Preach!

If you're a stickler for details, you might notice that the timeline of songs don't actually match up to the movie year. But I'm guessing you're not all me.

It was - save the anticipation of being beat up at school - a light-hearted 90-100 minutes. Yes, as I'm finding with all Carney movies (all three of them) you kind of have to suspend disbelief, but at least it was easier to do this time than with his last one.





2016 Movie Count / Goal:  13 of 18


Song by: Annie Lennox

Pic a Day in May - 17

My Biggest Fan



Monday, May 16, 2016

My Music Monday

Erik has the theme of 'cars'.

I'm going with a car-based song, and not always a physical automobile one. That seems reasonable and still keeping with overall theme of the month.

When Erik suggested the genre, I automatically said 'yes', and then almost as quick thought of the first song....although I didn't use the song first.

I'm going with the Go-Go's 1981 song, "Skidmarks on my Heart" from their debut album Beauty and the Beat.

I played the fuck out of that album my freshmen year at college. So much so, that it takes me a lot to drop the needle laser bluetooth on most of the tracks. They're still great, but over 30+ years, I might have overdone it on songs like "How Much More" and "Lust to Love".

"Skidmarks" is one of the few band songs on which Belinda Carlisle would get cowriting credit.

The song is just overflowing with car references and word play. It fits the bill - and let's face it, you're not getting a lot of female artists, let alone all-female bands, writing about anything automotive.


the Go-Go's - "Skidmarks on my Heart"

Pic a Day in May - 16

Hearts


Sunday, May 15, 2016

Shelter

We are both ready and not ready for a new dog.

It's only been two months since "the incident", but we've chatted and the neighbors have been goading us to get a new friend.

I thought 710 might be opposed it all, but he's not. But timing is everything.

We still want to take a good week or week and a half vacation this summer. I'd hate to release a dog from captivity only to put them in a kennel for 10 days. Maybe the dog won't care, but I will.

Still, I troll the doggie websites. Mostly just where we got Sophie. Oddly, on Friday, 710 said, there are other places to look other than Rescue Village.

True.   ...but that was the last of that convo.

So yesterday, we were going to a movie (more on that in post early this upcoming week), and were way early for the movie, so we just drove down the end of the street the theater resided. Lo and behold, the last building was the county dog shelter.

We had no idea. I knew where the APL was, but that's even a different shelter.

We only had 20 minutes, but we went in.

I think like a lot of shelters anymore, at least 60% of the dogs are pit bulls or pit mixes. Those poor guys. I know a lot of them get a bad rap just by being the breed.

I know project, but some of those guys looked oh so sad. I wanted to take them all home - or most of them. But only one I went back and looked at twice.

Roo

Estimated to be 2 years old. But look at that face and those ears. She is so cute.

I know you're not supposed to put your fingers in the cage, but I did. I got licks. Not just from Roo, but all the dogs I did that too.  710 just shook his head waiting for me to get bitten.

Whether Roo is the right one or not, I'm still trying to figure this out. If we got a dog, I think we'd want to spend a week with her / him just trying to acclimate them. To get one on the weekend and then leave for work on Monday would kill my spirit.

Maybe there is no 'good' way.  We will see.


...and it appears that we haven't seen Caitlyn Jenner lately is that she is an Animagus


If she's locked up and in a shelter, she certainly can't make more bad "reality" television.




Song by: Lone Justice

Pic a Day in May - 15

Blue



While stepping back in time - and going in to a brick and mortar computer store that wasn't Apple - I had to use their facilities.

This was me drying my hand.  When the dryer is on, there is a blue light.

I'm not sure if it was all CSI-y and supposed to detect blood, semen or urine.......but I don't see any incriminating stains on my hand.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Saturday Sun

I kind of feel bad. While there has been no Petey Porn, there has been very little Sophie Smut.

Those who have asked, Sophie is mostly ok with no Petey pal. We find she likes to leave us, go in other rooms and howl and howl.  I'm not sure what it's about. You hear of lions roaring to find their Pride or to the the Pride find them.

I'm assuming this is something similar.

But.....I'll be better about Soph.


Oliver. I love him. Way more than he loves me. (story of my life!). 

I went up into his people's tree house. He didn't know what was going on, or how to come up. 

Pippa. My sister's daughter's cat. She came "home" for a visit.  My sister fed her on the counter. I should mention that she didn't offer her own daughter a snack. 

My sister really frickin' loves that cat. 

Oliver. Again. He's so handsome.  Riley is there too. I like her, but honestly, I can leave her too. 

.....and yes, one of the chosen one. 



Song by: Crowded House

Pic a Day in May - 14

Double 



Date night at Lopez.   Also I might have had two additional shots of tequila.

Friday, May 13, 2016

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 74th 12 of 12.

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Now it's just Erik (and sometimes Jim) and myself - that I know of. 

I still continue to do this, because of all my consistent post topics, I actually like this one the most.

05:45.  Upper half of my transformation awaiting when I get out of shower.

06:50.  I leave a bottle of green tea atop of 710's car most mornings. 
He'd forget it if left to his own devices. 

07:10.  (yes, 7:10!), I'm getting a black tea - unsweetened (I'm sweet enough), ice, no water.
Usually don't drink much caffeine, but knew I'd need it today.

07:25. Already at it. 
Email on right screen, charge-lag info on the left. 

10:00.  Checking out my soon-to-be brand-spankin' new bronchoscopy suite. 

11:45. Department of Medicine Administrator Meeting. 
Yes, it was as exciting as it sounded. And yes, lunch was provided. 

13:05.  Well that can't be right? 

14:00.  The second construction project (of 3).  Looking at blueprints of new space we will be occupying in July.

15:15.  Budget. 
It's not even mid-May and 2017 budget season has already started. Salaries are due May 26th!

17:35.  My soon to be new office.
I'm gettin' three winders!

18:45.  Doggies.
Let's call it what it is: Oliver is a top. BooBoo an aggressive bottom. And Riley just likes to watch.
(pssssst.  Hey Other Brett: Oliver is getting a baby sister in two weeks!!!)

 19:10.  Fail.
Our 10 year old grill might finally be dead. Last night was to be our first grilling of 2016.


...and now your Baker's Dozen.

21:33.  Semi Deja Vu.
Shirt / tie are all picked out for tomorrow.