really nice weekend

Friday:
Cut out of work a little early to have a couple beers with my boss and a coworker. Had a nice evening at home including playing DDO with J2 and by myself late into the night.

Saturday:
Still feeling phlegm ridden, but got up around 10am. Took all the metal and plastic recycling to the drop off. Changed the oil in my car filling it with Mobil 1 0W-20. Recommending such a light weight oil is another result of the CAFE standards. Visited J's best friend JQ to advise her about her television wiring issues. JQ was looking hot as usual and it was a little uncomfortable when her dour husband came home just as I was about to leave. Nevertheless, my command of AV technology proved very helpful to mistress JQ. Then I went to the store, taking J2 with me, before dinner. J and I enjoyed a couple shows before she turned in early leaving me to a little more DDO.

Sunday:
J pleasantly wakened me around 10am before she left for church with J2. I took G with me to church, brought J2 and G home with me. Made eggs and toast for myself for lunch. Went for a jog in perfect weather despite the morning throat and nose phlegm. Took a shower, grilled brats for dinner. Played DDO with the kids, had a beer or two.

No big events, just enjoying my mundane life for once. Hope everyone else was able to enjoy this beautiful weekend as much as I have.

V takes a shot at Obama

J and I watched the premiere of the new V series last night. Having grown up with the original, we had to check out this version. Especially since the featured character in the promos is played by Morena Baccarin whom we had last seen as the alluring "companion" on Firefly.

My favorite part of the show was when Anna was being interviewed by the V's chosen reporter. Before the interview she told him that he could not ask any questions that would show the Vs in a negative light and then during the interview offered up universal health care.

Check this article from the Chicago Tribune for more on the parallels between the V invasion and Obama.

Billy, McRib is back!

I share Billy's lament that we haven't had McRib around here in a while. Fret no longer! I saw two signs on my way from Mapleton to Bartonville this afternoon.

human race

I participated this afternoon in the Nike Human Race 10K. I enjoyed many things about this event.

• It was long enough to bother with. So many races around here are only 5 kilometers. I cannot get up any motivation for such a short race.
• Started at 4:30 pm. I am not a morning person, thus not a fan of the typical early morning race start times.
• Great weather! Sunny and almost 60 ºF at the start. Such a nice change from the preceding days.
• Free pizza and beer after the run.
• Awesome t-shirt. Best race t-shirt I've gotten.
  
• Several hotties in tight, ass-hugging running pants!!
  

a confession

I am philosophically and politically opposed to smoking bans, but I have to admit that I have been enjoying going to bars that are not filled with smoke. Last night we went to the Jukebox comedy club and saw Mike Armstrong. He was quite funny and J and I had a really good time. It was the kind of low ceiling, poorly ventilated place that would have been far less enjoyable were it filled with smoke.

insensitivity?

My wife's pregnant sister went to the hospital because of low blood pressure and a high heart rate.

I don't care.

Why not?

The knee-jerk answer is because I am a cold, uncaring asshole.

A deeper analysis might reveal that I refuse to get emotional or upset or bothered about things that have not actually happened yet. She went to the hospital. So what? Is she bleeding to death? Did she lose the baby? No. Then so what? I am not going to expend any emotional energy on what might happen or what this could mean. If something bad actually happens, I will deal with it then. Until then, this kind of thing just doesn't get a rise out of me. I view this aspect of my psyche as a deep rooted optimism, a "don't borrow trouble" mentality, rather than coldness or insensitivity.

Obama money

Ignore, if you can, for a couple minutes that this is from Rush Limbaugh's show. I couldn't find the audio direct from WJR in Detroit where it originated. Listen to the ignoramuses clamoring for "Obama money" without the slightest understanding of where the money comes from.



Transcripts here and here.

Other stories about this event here and here.

cold beer

It was rather chilly when my father-in-law and I attended Roctobeerfest on Saturday afternoon. Despite the cold weather, after several beer samples, our normally cool relationship thawed just a little bit. There would have been a lot more to look at had the weather been better. The Sexy X-ies were all bundled up. If they hold this event again next year, I will bring a notebook and pen and post my reviews of the brews I try. I didn't have the foresight to do so this year.

government is as government does

There are private schools competing against government schools in the same way that Obama talks about government health insurance competing against private. Sure, I can spend money on a private school but only AFTER I have been forced, at the point of a gun, to pay for government schools through taxes. Government health care will be the same. It will be forcibly funded, and only after the government takes "its fair share" will people be able to spend money on private health insurance. The result, as in education, will be that relatively few will be able to afford private health insurance. Everyone else will be relegated to the de facto government monopoly system. The result in health care/insurance will mirror the tragedy that is government education.

trying not to wallow

My birthday and New Year's are often depressing times for me. They tend to make one review one's life. Inevitably, when I do so, I see nothing but missed opportunities, performance below expectations and failure. These negative reflections have been increasingly accompanied by a creeping sense of mortality in the last few years. Oh well. Another year down the tubes, another year closer to the end. Or the beginning, depending on one's beliefs.

exercise report

Jogging: not so much. Haven't done so in two weeks. I am anxious to try out the new Nike+ iPod sensor that I got for my birthday.

Body Pump: yes, two days a week quite consistently. In addition to building muscle and burning calories, it provides opportunities to check out hotties.

Liver: I have done a good job of getting myself ready for the in-laws' visit this weekend. It is not difficult during Oktoberfest season.

If the weather is good Saturday, we will likely be attending the Roctobeerfest on the Peoria riverfront.

October is here

October is a good month: I was born, Columbus reached the New World, my second son was born, Halloween, and I get to break out the fall clothes that have been taunting me from my closet and dresser for months. You'd think I was a chick with that last reason!

it is clear to me

If there was a Whole Foods in Peoria, I would totally shop there. Not because I am into all the organic food stuff, but because the CEO is on the right track regarding health insurance.