Friday, March 31, 2023

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! 


Listen I used their opening single a few weeks back, so you know this had to be coming:  Depeche Mode: Memento Mori

The band - what is left of it - were correct in selecting "Ghosts Again" as their pre-release song. Without a doubt, it's the best song on the disk.  The lead song on the disk, "My Cosmos is Mine" is a huge misstep in terms of track sequencing. It doesn't make you want to listen to the song - or album - all the way through. 

I like DM - always have. It's not to say they haven't laid a few stinkers before. Over 40-odd years and 15 studio releases, they can't all be winners, right? And it's not to say that Memento Mori is a stinker. No one is truly benefiting from a review where I've only had a week to listen to the music. But I'm pretty good at first impressions. To be clear, judging them, not making them. 

Depeche Mode hasn't really broken new ground with this disk, and in a way, it should. Now down to a duo, they had the chance to mess things up - literally. Maybe, mix things up. But they don't. Not much. Not enough. 

In a way, they're on new territory, maybe the instinct was to play it safe. And they do. 

I do not believe it is coincidence that what grabbed me as the highlights ("Ghosts Again",  "Caroline's Monkey", "Don't Say You Love Me" and "Favourite Stranger") were co-written with Richard Butler, from the Psychedelic Furs (who had a pretty good release - their first in 37 years - last year). 

Martin Gore sings lead on one track, and while not unlistenable, I don't always make it through, Dave Gahan only has co-writing credits on two tracks - one of them being pretty good, "Before I Drown". 

Unless Wikipedia is wrong, Gore doesn't play any instruments on this disk. Gahan almost never (if ever) does anyway. The guy who produced has all music credit that are not strings. It's quite a departure, as Gore was kind of the multi-instrumentalist of the group. 

As you'd expect, after Andy Fletcher's unexpected death, there are a lot of themes of grief and death that run throughout the album. 

Mori is fine, but it's not a classic. It's never going to grow into that either. 


On a side note: Depeche Mode is touring with this disk, and slated for a stop in Cleveland. At the big basketball arena. 

This interests me in many ways. I've never seen them live. And 710 asked - rhetorically - who would go to the show. It's a good question. Would there be anyone under 50?  And if so, did they just bring their parents or grandparents to see the band? 

I honestly don't know what kind of crowd this would bring. Or what kind of audience they have. They were staples in gay bars, but those aren't as prevalent as when I was "young" - and that exposure they had in those venues is 30+ years ago. I am tempted to go, but we have a while. I just don't want all the handicapped seating to get filled up before I decide. 

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Reverse Psychology

Honestly, the Democrats are just stupid as fuck. And I should know - I'm one of them. 

Gun control has not worked. They can't even get it up for a vote, let alone pass diddly squat. Fuck, they're not even smart enough to have a good debate where they're not shut down. 

Naturally, you're debating with someone who is even a bigger idiot, so that's never gonna work in the first place.  

Logic and statistics mean nothing. NOTHING. 

So stop. 

I'm going to give them the key - right here, right now. 

Tell the GOP motherfuckers it is required for every household to have an AR-15 or larger weapon. Call for a mandate on those weapons. Required to have. Must have. No exceptions. 

The GOP will ban weapons that very day, just so the Dems don't get their way. 

Plain and simple. 

If a Democrat said the sky was blue, there'd be legislation stating it is illegal to say "blue" when describing the sky.  

It's very simple:  make every day Opposite Day. 

Reverse psychology. 

They're gonna do whatever the Dems don't want to, so change the narrative. Say you DO want to do something even though we don't, and the GOP will try to fuck us over doing the exact other thing.  Honestly, it will like a decade before anyone catches on. 


You're welcome!



Song by: Debbie Gibson*



*no, I don't own it and never heard it. But I didn't own a song with that title, so I looked it up on the iTunes. 

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Cooking with Blobby

Yet another noodle dish. And I still have one more to try. 

I can jump ahead to the review on this one: P. U. 

Ok, maybe not that bad, but it was hard to pass up a recipe called Sesame-Brown Butter Udon Noodles.  

I'm thinking it wouldn't have been bad (as bad?) with thin spaghetti. I think what it comes down to is: I don't like Udon noodles.  So, from the go, this wasn't really going to work for me - was it? 

I'm committed to the post though. I mean, I took pictures. And I needed a post. 

Let's get to it. 


INGREDIENTS Yield: 4 servings (it really didn't - 2 at best)

Salt 
14 to 16 ounces udon, preferably thick fresh, frozen or shelf-stable noodles 
1 pound baby spinach or coarsely chopped or torn mature spinach 
6 tablespoons unsalted butter 
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, plus more for serving 
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, plus more as needed 
Pinch of granulated sugar 
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, plus more for serving


PREPARATION 


Step 1 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions until just tender. 


Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then add the spinach and press to submerge. (It will continue cooking later.) Drain the noodles and spinach, shaking to get rid of any excess water. 



Step 2 Set the pot over medium heat. Add 5 tablespoons butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden-brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the black pepper and stir until fragrant. 



Add ¼ cup pasta water (oops, I forgot that), plus the noodles and spinach, soy sauce and sugar, and toss until the sauce is thickened and silky. Add pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce clings to the noodles. 

Step 3 Remove from heat, add the sesame seeds and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter until melted. Season to taste with more soy sauce and black pepper (if mild) and sugar (if too salty). 



Serve with more sesame seeds on top.


The flavours were fair. 710 thought it was salty, but save for the pasta water and soy, there was no other sodium in it. I finished mine, 710...........well, did not. 

It was an ok attempt, but it's not exactly cup of tea.............or noodles. 

Let's hope the next outing yields better results. 

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Weight of Love

Well......I made it. 

One year, back at the gym. 

What I didn't make was my weight goal. I mean, at least not yet. 

Yes, I've made strides.....here and there, but I'm not consistent in certain ways. 

Going to the gym?  Consistent. In 2023, I have not set foot in there nine times in 90-ish days. But, on six of those days, I was out with my running "friends".  

I rarely miss more than 2-3 times per month before that. Even on vacation, I find a way to work out. 

But this run thing has fucked things up too, in more than one way. 

Injuries for sure. That has thwarted my workout for sure. I spend the majority of my gym time lately doing nothing but stretching and cardio. My lifting portion has gone to the birds. I'm so focused on running - or getting back to it - that I only lift maybe once per week. 

I gotta change that. 

The other thwart has been running itself. I've been so hyper-focused on it, I don't leave room for core work, which I desperately need. As soon as I can conquer my injuries, I'll readjust. But it might be time for a trainer. 

I don't need this 2x / week thing that everyone seems to do. I need someone to map out for me a number of exercise routines that rotate to get me where I wanna go. Is that so much to ask? 

Perhaps it is. 

So my weight bounces back between 192-194 lately. So I'm down 14-16 lbs, depending on the day, or my sugar intake.  Without lifting, I'm not building muscle, which weighs more, but with not running at my previous level, I'm not burning as much either. 

I am really hopeing to change that. While getting to 185 might seem unobtainable, I'd be ok just breaking 190. Or at least I tell myself that. 



This was me at the 6 month mark. 


This is me yesterday. 


Don't worry, I stripped down - leg band and all - before hopping on the scale. It seemingly didn't matter that much. 

So, I'm keeping up - and keeping the membership. I'm invested in this, so, I'll keep plugging away to see what happens. 



Song by: the Black Keys

Monday, March 27, 2023

My Music Monday

It's March Sadness. 

I somewhat made fund of Dame Elton John last week.  And by "somewhat", I mean "totally". 

I stand by it. 

That said, until 1976, John was somewhat palatable. I had, and have, a number of those disks.  But with this double album of that same year, Blue Moves, I was less inclined to listen to his musuc, let alone buy. 

I have to believe it was the same time he broke ranks with his songwriting partner. Bernie Taupin might have been the more talented half of that duo, since the quality of songs went downhill. 

Still, of the four sides of Blue Moves, it had one hit song. Today's selection. But it's a good one. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word".  The song is well put together and it fits into this month's theme. 


Sunday, March 26, 2023

Hurts So Good

I suppose there are benefits to running, besides keeping the Physical Therapy industry afloat. 

There are times I really enjoy it - and not always after the fact, but during. There is still a point in most runs where I ask myself, "what the fuck are you doing" or worse, telling myself "you can't do this".  

Yesterday was one of those days. 

We ran through the metro park in which I injured myself four weeks ago, extending my PT stay. At this point, I just have a standing appointment every Friday at 07:00. I might just keep it forever. 

I grew up in these metro parks. We take Shep there for hikes. But I see them very differently now. 

From where we start it's all hill.  Up, that is. The first two miles +.  Each time you round a bend, you just see more hill. And these are not gradual inclines. Oh, they are for your car, but not your calves or hamstrings. As physically challenging as it is, mentally - for me - it's worse. 

I have yet to avoid the psych out. 

Granted, I DO get up the hill. It's a slower grind for sure, and if I have to stop, it's usually at the top where there finally is some flat(ter) terrain. That's just to catch my breath, for 10-20 seconds and I'm off again. 

This last run was a timed one. 80 minutes. My physical the rapist and I are working me back up, so I turned around at the three mile mark, knowing I had three more to do just to get back. As six miles doesn't take me 80 minutes, I was the first one back.  Yay me!!!!  WINNER!

But I stuck around for the others. You know, the ones who don't really acknowledge my presence. That said, before the run, one of the coaches addressed me (by name!) and asked how the knee was doing and gave me some guidance. 

While I didn't get to know anyone, I did chat with a handful about running in general. Honestly, what I was waiting for was the sport massage therapist to set up.  That was benefit of running today - to get to utilize him for free.   Well, that and someone made muffins from peanut butter, whey protein and chocolate chips.  They were good, if not a little sticky. 

Anyhoo.......the guy in the pic and the very snug bicycle shorts (which doesn't seem right for running - and I know he ran) is Zach. Honestly, his looks were second on my thoughts about him. I was there for the 'massage'.   ....but he wasn't hard on the eyes, though I could have done without his two crucifix tatts. 

Now, let's be honest, there was not really going to be a full on massage - outside at 46 degrees with 20 mph winds, with people standing around watching. That said, in those very same woods at that very same park, at a much younger age, I did more than get a massage and in a lot colder temps.   ....and probably with people standing around watching. 

But this is 59 year old me, not 19 year old me. And by 19, I mean 17*.  Don't judge. When I go to my knees now, things creak and hurt. And it's usually for something I dropped and have to pick up. 

Zach axed questions, and was bummed to hear about two different bursa areas.  He found pressure points that while hurt, it - and say it with me - hurts so good. Like the PT and the PA, he too said my hamstrings were might taut. But he gave me some exercises to try, on top of what the PT has given me. 

I'm assuming they can do no harm. 

If I want him to hurt me more, I now have his card. But it'll cost me. 



WORTH IT!





*and by 17 I might mean 16. and by 'might' mean 'do'. 



Song by: John Mellencamp

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Talk to Me

The first pet post of Spring.  Not that you'd know it. 


I hope last Sunday's snow storm was THE last of the season. 

Watching. Always watching. 

Bugging Dad #1, as he was working from home. 

They're all cute, but I'm all about Tony here. 
He's got the white and black face. 

Bright Ideas. 
Shep's full of 'em. 


Trying something new. A new embedded video way. 

This is how Mr. Shep starts telling us we WILL be going for a walk  It's quite cute. 




Song by: Chris Isaacs 

Friday, March 24, 2023

My Eyes are T-Shirts

Never let it be said that I don't pay my debts.................eventually. 

I'm sure I still owe a few someones out there a few somethings. Probably cash. Or coke. 

Last week, I said Mike and I had not discussed any type of prize for The 12th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®   I believe he could have just basked in the glory by itself, but that wasn't really gonna do. 

During the broadcast - at least the part for which I stayed awake - I looked for a prize. And found one. Unfortunately, he found the item as well, which I hoped he would not. He just didn't know it would be the win from our contest. 

As you may remember, we had some good, albeit brief, fun with the Animated Short section. I went with the winner. Mike went with My Year of Dicks.......as I knew he would, as he is predictable that way. 

Upon his win, the next day I contacted Mike's much better half and requested a verification on his shirt size.  I won't divulge it here, as you know how people are about their body size. That's only between his WW coach or every carny on the East coast. ......or Carnie Wilson.....and him.  And me. 

I mean, had the Whale been nominated for Best Pic, just to fuck with him, I'd have gotten him the  XXXXXXXXXXXXL.  I mean, if they're not selling those then what is the point of My 600 lb Life (possibly my autobiography title) and shows like it? 

Ordering didn't go as planned. The site started off with the billing address..........and then it turns out, no shipping address They assume, if you bought it, you want it. 

You know what I didn't want?  To get the shirt and have to go to the fucking post office.............for Mike. Well, for anyone. It's just fun to get in that specific jab. The order, the site, nothing, had any contact information. I didn't even get a confirmation email that might have had the 4-1-1- on where I could reach out to someone. 

Luckily, they have a Twitter handle (which doesn't work for me, since I dumped Elon months back) and one for InstaGram. I reached out via the latter. 




First off, yay they're giving the profits to Texas reproductive rights. I'm going with the baby arm in the title image that maybe their film has something to do with a woman's body not being ruled by white men in government. 

Secondly......Secret Admirer situation !!!  Is it a 'situation'?  Is it 'secret'?   I suppose it could be a situation, but 'admirer' seems like a lot. And I mean, a LOT.  For some reason I upper-cased the F in 'friend'. Isn't that enough? 

Thirdly........I'm part of Team Dicks!   ....and unlike most teams, I didn't even get picked last for this one!! Heck, I might even be able to make team captain..............or at least 'ball boy'.     ......see what I did there??


Naturally, Mike knows this will be a post. Well he knows there IS a post. He can only guess at the content....to a degree. He asked me to be kind.  Actually, he said "If you can't be mind (not MY typo!), at least be funny". 




I promised the latter only. I think I did ok. 

I will await tales of his wearing it to the mall and to Sunday dinner at his mother's house. I'm guessing one more martini and he'll care less and less about where he wears it. 

My debt is paid, even though technically I didn't have one. He won. He deserved it. And unlike the Armie Hammer phone case, hopefully the shirt's creators won't turn into cannibals. 




Song by: Matt Berninger

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Anniversary

When I blogged about Spring and Indictments the other day (only one has happened so far, btw....) it wasn't until after hitting "publish" did I remember that March 20th equals by blogaversary. 

I started this thing back in 2003! I think last year I said I was 20. Or starting 20? I dunno. I'm old. Me me, and blog me. 

6,660 posts. Including this one.  18,501 comments. Not including the ones of praise you leave for me today. 

I kid. I kid. 

You can leave those anytime. It doesn't have to be today.   

I was gonna write other stuff, but then realized I said it in the vlog. One in which I did in one take - right or wrong. But probably mostly wrong. I find it best not to overthink these things. One and done. Much like a trick. 

We're (well, I am) already into three days of another year. Maybe this year, I'll make this thing interesting. 


.....but probably not. 





Song by: Duran Duran

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Site of the Month

Remember when I said if I had nothing I'd just post hot guys or videos? This is kind of that. But then I figured I could pair it with a Site of the Month to not reek of desperation. 

Instagram isn't the Site.........but Brendon Wharton's page is. 

For whatever reason, he popped up in my feed and he makes me smile, so, after the umpteenth time of his videos showing up, I just decided to follow him. 

Yes, he's got an incredible body - though a little too over done for my tastes.  Yes, he's got a handsome face. But honestly, it's his moves in the gym. 

He's got 'em. The moves, that is. Nothing overt, yet sometimes overt. I get they are 5-7 seconds long and edited together to make it seem more cohesive. I also love that seemingly no one else in the gym is paying attention to him or his moves.   .....save the dude, who I'm assuming is holding the camera. 

Brendon is fun to watch.  

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Spring is Here

*

Ahhhhhh Spring.  It's today. 

A time of rebirth and coming out of a cold, heartless season. 

And, if BLOTUS is correct, the day he's arrested / indicted. A different kind of rebirth. A different kind of cold and heartless times. 

For Fuck Sake - it's a probable indictment on hush money to Stormy Daniels. I mean, this is a man who has defrauded much bigger things - including his country - for the sake of attention. 

Unlike his probable lie regarding the January 6th insurrection where he claims he did not provoke or incite having rioters / felons / MAGA folks to overthrow the government, this time, he is asking / telling people to 'protect and take back our nation'. 

Fuck.  I hate repeats. 

But the word on the street is that his minions will surround Mar-A-Largo to stop any arrest or transport of the Whale (not the movie!).  Or as it's probably known as vigilantism. Maybe when they go to harm the law, they'll fatally injure the accused......except that would make him a martyr and I can't allow that. 

While Stormy Daniels / $130,000 hush money is piddly stuff - where he won't spend one minute of jail time, even for arraignment - I SO need this to happen. 

I need (not want) the arrest to happen in the middle of the fucking night. Hair not done. Make up not on. Girdle not on. Depends probably still on. 

I need that to the news cycle. I need it to be the image with which the country is left: the man behind the curtain. The charlatan. The version Melanoma had to see (read: fuck!) just to get her green card and alimony. 

Of course, tit for tat. Now favours are pouring in. That twat, McCarthy, is threatening the NY prosecutor with looking into seeing in any federal funds were used for x, y or z.  That is a dangerous game. Doubtful you want the DOJ snooping through your shit, Kev. 

Maybe this is a big Jenga analogy, and once this piece gets pulled, things will start to tumble. 

A boy can dream. 



Happy Spring 2023, all. 



*sorry - my rule of thumb (usually) is no pictures of that dirtbag. But this is an unedited AP image that i thought necessary to show. 



Song by: Carly Simon

Monday, March 20, 2023

My Music Monday

March Sadness is the theme. I just saw, maybe I could have called it March Sade-ness and just do Sade tunes. 

Today, I don't know it is a sad song, but it sounds sad. I mean, it's Sinéad O'Connor. And to top it off, it's Sinéad O'Connor covering a Dame Elton John song.  Yes, I feminized him.  Yes, it's homophobic, but I can live with it. 

As John goes, I can take or leave his song "Sacrifice". I had heard it, obviously (or maybe not?), but I had stopped buying his records around the time of the Brown Dirt Cowboy. 

O'Connor does an incredible (my opinion) of the song on a tribute album to John and Bernie Taupin called Two Rooms. Years before, O'Connor would take offense when people compared her first disk to Kate Bush, saying she had more in common with Elton John. I guess she went out of her way to prove that. 

She slightly slows down an already semi-slowish song and her very understated vocals make you lean in to hear them and take them in. I've listened to this version 100x (and I'm being conservative) than I've ever listented to the original. 


Sunday, March 19, 2023

Enjoy the Silence

I have run out of time to write anything.  Or even do the nonesense post. 

Saturday was a long and busy day.  I'll give you all your Sunday back.   Enjoy the day. 



Song by: Depeche Mode

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Jump Jump

I'll say it was an interesting week at work. Not necessarily in a good way. I have far too many quirky people reporting to me - but not good quirky.  Still, each night, I got to stop by daycare and retrieve Shep, so he was all about kisses and making me distracted. 

We are at Horseshoe "Lake". 
Big to-dos for the 'hood. The lake is man made (was?). The dam in failing. So the water is drained Too expensive to fix, but people have been protesting it going back to the natural setting you see behind Mr. Shep. 

Daycare's IG feed. 
I hope he's having fun. 

Annie & Rosie.  
Not related genetically or by adopted family, but they hang together at daycare. I have a feeling you do not want to fuck with these ladies. 

When Shep Met Linus. 
Just when you think you know all the 'hood dogs, along comes another one. They got along famously. Sometimes you're just not sure with Shep. 



I am very familiar with Shep's greeting when I come to get him. 
I am loving he got someone else in on the action. 


Song by: Debbie Harry

Friday, March 17, 2023

Cooking with Blobby

Another new dish. Another pasta related one, if one can consider ramen as 'pasta', though I suppose it is. 

It had me at the title: Spicy Sesame Noodles With Chicken and Peanuts.  What is not to like about most of those words? 

Of course, early on, I was bummed it wasn't sesame paste but oil. I have made sesame noodles (via paste), and it's been ok, but Ina made it a LOT of work. It got raves, but it was a LOT of work.  This one seemed less so, but it sounded good. 

Let's see if it was, shall we? 

INGREDIENTS 

Yield: 4 servings 

1½ tablespoons (!!!) red-pepper flakes 
1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 
1½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil, plus more as needed 
Kosher salt and black pepper 
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon neutral oil, like grapeseed or vegetable 
6 tablespoons roasted, salted peanuts, coarsely chopped 
Rind of ½ orange, peeled into 2- to 3-inch strips 
1 pound ground chicken 
10 to 12 ounces ramen or udon noodles, preferably fresh 
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives

PREPARATION 


Step 1 In a medium heatproof bowl, stir together the red-pepper flakes, soy sauce and sesame oil. Set next to the stovetop. 


Step 2 Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat, cook the ½ cup oil, peanuts and orange rind, shaking the pan occasionally, until the peanuts are golden and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. 



Immediately pour the contents of the skillet over the red-pepper mixture (be careful of splattering!) and set aside. 




Step 3 Meanwhile, in the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add the chicken and press it down with a wooden spoon into a thin layer. Season with salt and a generous amount of black pepper and cook, without stirring, occasionally pressing the layer of chicken down, until the bottom is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. 




Break the chicken up into small pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. 



Step 4 While the chicken cooks, cook the noodles according to package directions, until chewy but not soft. Drain and toss with a bit of sesame oil. 


Step 5 Remove and discard the orange rind from the chile oil. Off the heat, add enough chile oil to coat the chicken and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add the noodles and toss, adding more chile oil to fully coat the noodles and chicken. (If you don't use all of the chile oil, you can store it in the refrigerator for 2 weeks in an airtight container.) 



Top with chives and serve at once.


Verdict?   It was ok. 

1.5T of red pepper flakes, oddly didn't make it that spicy. The sesame oil didn't make it that peanuty - nor did the peanuts. 

It was fine, but not great. 

Oddly - or maybe not - the leftovers fared better.  Yes, before reheating I put a splash more soy and sesame over the noodles. It helped. 

I wouldn't say no to this one again, but it's not going into any kind of heavy rotation. 

Thursday, March 16, 2023

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!  



This is really a Shopping with Becky.  She sent it my way. 

I was skeptical this was real. Just because of the name: Dingle Bearies.   

But then you look and go, 'chocolate covered gummie bears'.  

ICK. 

There is clearly a website for them. And it looks like Wal*Mart sells them. Of course, they'd sell just about anything if it made them three cents. 

Still, the name, if not the product, speaks to every 12 year old boy. And every man who has never mentally progressed past the age of 12.....................which is every man, ever. 

In theory, we should all have boxes of these in our house.  Oh, not to eat. Never. But imaging people opening up the cupboards to see them. 

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

One

Let's drag out this post, like they drag out the Oscars. 

Can we first critique Mike's comments? 

I get he was in a different time zone when he wrote them, but it only got one laugh from me. Mind you, it was a big one. The thought of Dame Judi Dench saying "My Year of Dicks" almost made me snort.  

And for the umpteenth year in a row he signs in as "anonymous".  I suppose "Deep Throat" was taken - and maybe the name doesn't apply to him, you'd have to ask around - but the sad fact of the matter this: he doesn't remember his gmail or yahoo sign-in / password. 

I'd have to go back and check, but I do believe this year is the largest gap in our selections: 11.  I want to say the most before this has been 7-8.  Usually it hovers in the 4-5 category. Those were great, because if they did those earlier in the program, I could mathematically declare the winner and go to bed, reading for details, if necessary, the next day.  

More on that in a bit. 

The show: meh. Nothing horribly exciting or horribly bad, but I'm loving Kimmel who should just host yearly. And man did he slam the audience about Will Smith. The whole security thing and violence at the awards and then said, "or do what you did last year. Nothing Maybe give him a hug afterwards".  I believe 88% of the celebs didn't get that it was at their expanse. 

My other take a way.  Lady Gag Gag.  I know we are supposed to be for trans rights, but yikes.....this dude.....


That is one severe look. 

Of course, when (s)he performed, someone took sandpaper to her face to get the layers and layers of make-up off so she could look "real" for her absolutely shiteous song from Top Gun. Sorry - it was just awful. It made "Take My Breath Away" sound like a classic. I told Mike, if she won, I was scrapping the Oscars thing - totally not worth it, and a good reason never to actually see Top Gun.   .....and why did (s)he got a 3 minute talking intro?  No one else did.  

I gotta give it to Short Round - from the acceptance speeches I saw (true, I only made it to a little after 22:00 - or like 12 awards in) he was pretty fucking good. Those acting classes are finally paying off. 

And Julia Louis Dreyfus nailed it as usual and that was as a presenter. The whole crappy Disney ad, since they own ABC, was just a big fucking turd, as was the shameless introduction like it was an award for their new Little Mermaid. All of it a cheap and embarrassing tactic for ABC and Disney. 




But as the race between Blobby and Mike goes........and of course, I hate to say it...........Mike won.  

By one. 

But one more than myself. 

I did myself in with the Director selection. I got cock / wishful that it wouldn't be the Daniels. I lost that bet. I lost the race. 

While I didn't think I'd lose on 'Best Song', who the actual fuck thought RRR (or whomever they are) would win? And worse, who thought Mike would pick that?  It certainly didn't help matters. 

For most of the broadcast - for which I stayed awake - we were pretty much even. And honestly, there were 11 opportunities to bust a win / loss wide open.......yet it didn't happen. A margin of one. It could have been so much worse. For one, I could have stayed up for the entire show and texted with Mike the entire time. So, in a way, he REALLY won. 

As always, since my fuck up in year one, the accounting firm of Dewey, Cheatham & Howe has the official tabulation below. 


Best Picture - both won
Best Director - Mike wins
Best Actress - both won
Best Actor - both won
Best Supporting Actress - Mike wins
Best Supporting Actor - both won
Cinematography - Blobby wins
Editing - both won
Original Screenplay - both won
Adapted Screenplay - Blobby won
Production Design - both lost
International Feature - both won
Animated Feature - both won
Animated Short - both lost
Documentary Feature - Mike wins
Documentary Short - both lost
Live-Action Short - Blobby wins
Visual Effects - Blobby wins
Original Song - Mike wins
Original Score - Mike wins
Sound - both win
Makeup and Hairstyling - both lost
Costume Design - both lost


I'm guessing he never gets this far in the post where I remind folks to look at the title image. Honestly, I can't believe the man even talks to me.

Perhaps there will be 13th year of this nonsense.  




Song by: Three Dog Night

Monday, March 13, 2023

12 of 12

 So I'm doing my 155th 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. Erik is back and I think he's picking up 12 of 12 again. 

07:13.  Time change false alarm.  It turns out he didn't lead me downstairs to go out. He just rolled around and went to sleep. 

09:36. Gym Time.  PT exercises to strengthen the knee. 

09:45. Gym Time II.  More stretches for knee and hip. 
Or I'm channeling Ann Reinking.

10:13. And for good measure, I'm bringing back vintage 2018 wear!
Yes, I fucked up my knee, which is extending my time in PT. 


11:19. No. I'm not juggling.  Just post gym-snack. 

12:06.  Laundry.  Sunday 12 of 12s are mostly about chores. 

13:46. Sunday hike up at Lake Erie and the Solstice Steps. Grey, but not super cold. 


14:54.  Mocking me. 
I have a number of books on my bedside table. The top one is for the queer book club I joined. They meet to discuss it on Wednesday.  I'm only one-third done. It's not horrible, but it's not GRABBING me.  ....and I haven't been making time.  Wednesday is gonna suck. 


16:14. Weekly grocery run: completed. 

16:32.  Ran a report for a Monday meeting. A. it gives me more time in the morning to workout. B. to do it later would mean me doing it tipsy. 


17:32.  Drinking Zoom. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. 
Not waiting to drink - just for others to show up. 

20:04.  The 12th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®  begins.



Another month in the books. Maybe I'll do #156.