Fin and Con's Night Out

Marilyn went to her office party tonight, so Connor and I had a night out of our own. We started off with dinner at Katz's Deli and followed up with a visit to Barnes & Noble. I picked up a biography of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Connor was happy to get a chance to peruse the manga and play some video games at the Game Stop store that connects to Barnes & Noble. We got the chance to talk about out the trip to Memphis we have planned for next month while we shared a hamburger. Con is excited about seeing his cousin Steve and about getting to sit in a hot tub outside - that will be a new experience for him. I told him that we would see if Carrah (his pen-pal/crush) could come to visit while we are there and he grinned from ear to ear, then blushed. We also got a chance to talk about his birthday and he is counting the days, literally - seven days and he can hardly wait. The birthday beans were spilled, so he now knows that we are taking him to Magic Island, but he keeps telling us he doesn't believe we are really taking him there. Goofy kid. It seems like I enjoy him more with each passing year. I hope he can say the same about me.

The Bureau : The Secret History of the FBI

I finished reading The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI by Ronald Kessler recently and found it both facinating and disturbing. Kessler recounts the history of the FBI from beginning to the anthrax attacks that took place after 9/11. The early history of the FBI is fairly well known to anyone who watches the History Channel, but the author includes testimony of former and current FBI personnel, which helps add to the authenticity of Kessler's claims. He addresses everything from the rumor that J. Edgar Hoover was a cross-dressing homosexual to his manipulation of members of congress and presidents through the use of scandalous information he compiled about them in his secret files. Kessler also exposes the arrogance of the directors who followed Hoover and their mismanagement of the FBI and misappropriation of bureau funds. He seems to have a bone to pick with each of the FBI Directors, with the exception of the current director, Robert S. Mueller. Overall, I would recommend The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI because it provides insight into how the FBI works and why it works the way it does. Considering the FBI is one of the most powerful agencies in the world, we should all know more about its history and its future.

The Good Neighbor

Regarder en soi-meme by Verene Quadranti


Today my crazy neighbor lady brought the plant I gave her to my door. She banged on my door and ran back and forth between her apartment, my door, and the parking lot - presumably trying to figure out why my car was outside, but I was not coming to the door.

With my keys in my hand and my purse on my shoulder, I finally relented and opened the door. Talking a mile a minute, she shoved the plant at me and started telling me that I was right - the plant perked up and was looking good, but "sometimes the leaves fall off and just lay in the dirt. Why is that happening? Oh, also, could you give me a pot of Mother-in-Law Tongue?" I told her, "Yes, but not now, I am going to pick up my nephew." Before I could get out of the gate, she called me back again and said, "Sometime soon, I want you to come over for dinner. I'll order pizza or something." Without a pause I said, "I would prefer not to." I let the words hang in the air between us. She looked a little embarrassed and stammered, "Oh, O.K., I'll try not to take that personally." I told her with a perfectly straight face, "It's not personal, and it's not about you. I am friendly with my neighbors, but I am not close to my neighbors. I am a private person." She seemed like she was having difficulty processing what I had said, but she also turned around and walked back into her apartment, which helped me to deal with the fact that I had just been very rude to a neighbor. The truth of it is, I still write and call some of my neighbors who moved away years ago. One my best friends in the world was once a neighbor of mine. It is personal - I cannot deal with her. I feel rotten about it, but I would feel worse if I fostered a friendship with someone who stresses me out more than I can possibly express.

So, I processed my guilt over my incredible rudeness by writing a poem.

The Good Neighbor

I am a good neighbor.
If you need a cup of sugar or an egg,
I will gladly help you out.

When the TV belonging to the old lady
who lived downstairs blew up,
I took up a collection and bought her a new one.

When she was too weak to pick up her
case of Ensure, I toted it from the store to her door -
week after week.

When the single mom was caught with illegal cable
I loaned her the money to have it
turned on legally.

When Allison came to town and
the floodwaters rose, I woke everyone up,
and loaned strangers my phone.

Even while the floodwaters
were lapping at our door, I worked on
the plumbing for the old lady next door.

When my sickly neighbor fell down
and could not get up, I called 9-1-1,
because it’s the neighborly thing to do.

For two years and counting, I have collected one neighbor’s mail,
Delivering it to her, because she’s in a nursing home
and cannot let go of the dream of living again on her own.

I understand that you cannot help screaming at the voices in your head.
I understand that you have little in the way of social or coping skills, and
I understand that none of this is your fault.

Your presence is overwhelming and your need is all encompassing,
but nothing about you is stronger than my will to live in peace
without your drama.

I’ve tried my best to be friendly and helpful- to be a good neighbor
to all of my neighbors, because I enjoy it and it is the right way to live,
but you are insane – and I have to draw the line somewhere.

Jury Duty

Today I had jury duty, so I took my camera downtown to get some shots. Once again, I sat around for hours and did not get picked. I guess I should be careful what I wish for.













Metro Light Rail by Finijo
I parked my car close to Marilyn's office, then took the Metro light rail to the courthouse. I got my first ride on the train and I arrived on time, thanks to Marilyn's perfect directions.



















Deli by Finijo

I met Mike for lunch at the deli pictured above. The cheese ravioli tasted better than it looked.














Lunch by Finijo














Cenikor with GRB by Finijo
This is one of the views from Mike's training room. The building being wrecked is the old Cenikor building. Mike pointed out that they did not implode the building, they have just been hacking away at it. The red, white and blue building is the George R. Brown Convention Center and the tall, brown hotel (behind the crane) is where the attorney jumped out of the window a month or so ago. There are a thousand stories in the naked city...




















Beehive 1 by Finijo
I found that there are numerous fountains shaped like cones or hives downtown. They are a little bit startling just jutting up from the pavement the way they do, but I think I like them.














Beehive 2 by Finijo

The Rise of Uber House

My brother is building a house. Not just any house, but the kind of house that makes you hear the theme from 2001 a Space Odyssey as you walk up to it. He sat down with an architect and helped design exactly what he wants in his new home. From the pictures you can clearly see that what he wants is more space. No, not just more space... he wants more space and lots of windows. He wants more than that... more space, lots of windows and a large deck. There's something else... he wants more space, lots of windows, a large deck and a waterfall. That just about sums it up. Nicely done, Dave!

Bible Bumps

I want to apologize to everyone I ever told to hit their bumps with a Bible. While I still believe that the basic theory behind curing "Bible bumps" is soundly based in mountain folk remedy, I accept that whacking errant bumps with large books may be a poor substitute for so called "medical treatment." To recap: bumps should be tended by doctors and Bibles should be read, or used to prop open large doors - your choice.

Unrequited

Hesitation by Stephen Lamb

I checked my e-mail and found a letter that was either meant for someone else, or it is some kind of phishing/scamming thing. It was addressed to someone with the same first and last name as mine, but with a different middle initial. Also, I don't know anyone named Kurt, and I am not old enough to have been in a relationship with someone 30 years ago. I took out the identifying info, but here it is:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 01:11:30 -0800
Subject: Just some thought on our relationship

Dear Karen;

As you know I have spending a lot of time pondering this relationship that has developed between us.

I'm still trying to figure out where all these emotions came from and why I have such strong feelings for you especially after 30 years of being a part. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I might be able to explain it if I was all alone and I had a deep longing for some companionship or if I was trying to fill some big void in my life. But that's just not the case, I am happily married, it's not a perfect marriage but from what I have seen of others it's pretty damn good one. I actually feel very fortunate that I have a wife like Ann. I have two kids still at home and that certainly fills up your life. So its not like I'm out looking for someone to fill a void in my life.

I think most people want similar things out of a relationship:

Physical intimacy is probably the strongest attraction between two people. To be able to touch, feel the warmth of a kiss, and share the ecstasy of making love are overwhelming desires that bring two people together.

People also are looking for someone to build a life with. Someone that you can share simple day-to-day activities and to be there for those special moments. Someone you can come home to and be there when you need a hug. Someone to plan your future and have a family with.

I think we all need a sense of feeling needed and wanted. Having that sense of security from having some one that will be there by your side no matter how bad things might get.

(Those are some pretty profound thoughts coming from someone that spent so long running from relationships. Sometimes I read what I type to you and think "did I really say that" )

Then I look at our online relationship and it has none of that. All those things that draw two people in to a relationship are either completely missing or greatly diminished from what you experience in a face-to-face relationship. So why is this so compelling. What has drawn us together with such incredible force?

This has gone far beyond two old friends just catching up on old times. There is a deep bond between us that has survived to 30 years of separation. I've discovered feelings for you that I didn't know existed; I have a deep and ever lasting love for you. There are many time I want to be with you so bad that it hurts.

I Love you

Kurt

My gut instinct tells me that this message is too polished and too rehearsed to have so many spelling and grammar errors. I can't help picturing a prisoner sitting in his cell whiling away his long, lonely hours trying to work out all of the things he thinks a woman wants to hear, in an attempt to lure women who will be so impressed by his ardor, that she will want to get to know him on line. On the other hand, it could be totally legit, and there is some poor schlub out there trying to figure out why he didn't get a response after all the hard work he put into pouring his heart out. Either way, it is sad and a little creepy.

TRIO Gone!

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that one of my favorite channels, TRIO, started showing mystery and police shows at night. I thought it was more of TRIO's Brilliant But Cancelled Series, but it turns out that the channel no longer exists and has been replaced by Sleuth, a mystery channel. This is the message I found on the TRIO website:
They had really great programming, so I am glad they are going on to a new incarnation as a Web channel, but I will miss having the TV channel to fall back on when there is nothing but crap on TV.

As much as I already miss TRIO, I think Sleuth will be an interesting channel. Without even realizing it, I started watching Sleuth a couple of weeks ago when I noticed they were running old episodes of Miami Vice. It is really weird to see the fashion, hair and music of that era, having lived it. You find yourself smiling and cringing all at once. I guess it must be the same way our parents feel when they see reruns of Laugh In or That Girl. They have a full line-up of 80's action crime shows including: Simon & Simon, The Equalizer, The A-Team, and Knight Rider. The 90's line-up includes: Homicide; Life on the Streets, Deadline, EZ Streets, Karen Cisco, and LA Dragnet. I think they should hit up the 70's archives and show: MacMillan and Wife, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Kolchek: Night Stalker, Police Story, S.W.A.T., and maybe Baretta thrown in for good measure. Since the shows are coming from the "vaults of NBC Universal," most of these shows will probably never make it into the Sleuth line-up, but at least they are bringing back some of the great ones, like Homicide: Life on the Streets.

Pastry Daredevils

I usually hate commercials, so I flip channels during the commercial breaks, which leads me to the oddest/coolest things. Last week while flipping channels and I found something I've never seen before on The Food Network. A show called Challenge: Food Network Pastry Daredevils. OMG!!


Don't get me wrong, these are not sculptures you would want sitting in your living room - they would be incredibly tacky in that setting. As the centerpiece of a party though, they are stunning fantasy pieces. For me they bring to mind a 1920's Art Nouveau feel.

As if seeing the pastry chefs racing to beat the clock while creating their spun sugar masterpieces wasn't suspenseful enough, they are then required to carry these delicate sculptures up a small staircase, across a platform, then down another staircase.

The jostling the sculptures endure is enough to cause them to shatter without impact. It is wrenching to see the hard work lying in shards on the floor. The winner gets a check and the honor of being known as the best, and the audience gets the rare opportunity to see a work of art from inception to exhibition in less than an hour. Very cool show.

Art House Surprise

While driving down the street I saw a flash of color outside my side window. I circled back around and decided that I would have to go back and capture the image with my camera.
The once (and probably still) squalid 4-plex is now adorned with the vibrant paintings of an obviously starving artist longing for recognition. This set brings to mind the recent hurricanes that hit the gulf coast. One of the paintings is actually hung on the outside of the building.
It looks like the anonymous artist has set up his indoor/outdoor art gallery in the midst of the urban landscape. I love the contrast between the color vibrant color and the rotting building, like hope is alive.
Springing up in what looks like an abandoned building, the burst of color and form are quite stunning. This one is tucked around the side of the building.

A Meme By Any Other Name...

I was sent a meme by Stranger than Fiction, so I looked up the term "meme" to find out what it meant. From the memes that I've seen circulate in blogs, I thought it was called a "me-me." You know, cause they are all about the author, and they silently scream "ME! ME!" I was wrong. Here's one definition (there are many others):

meme: (pron. 'meem') A contagious idea that replicates like a virus, passed on from mind to mind. Memes function the same way genes and viruses do, propagating through communication networks and face-to-face contact between people. The root of the word "memetics," a field of study which postulates that the meme is the basic unit of cultural evolution. Examples of memes include melodies, icons, fashion statements and phrases.

Here's my meme:

Four jobs you've had in your life:
I’ve had so many it’s hard to choose, but I’ll go with antique restorer, waiter, litigation assistant, and counselor

Four movies you could watch over and over:
Blade Runner, Toy Soldier, Harold and Maude, and Clerks

Four places you've lived:
Texas, Virginia, Arkansas – that’s it.

Four TV shows you love to watch:
Nip/Tuck, Daily Show, Stargate (1 or Atlantis, it doesn’t matter), Mile High or Footballer’s Wives

Four places you've been on vacation:
Buffalo River, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orlando

Four websites you visit daily:
My own blog (narcissistic, but true), Ramblin’ Educat, A Life in Wales, and Yahoo News

Four of your favorite foods:
Tabouli, Beef Musmun, seafood gumbo, deviled eggs

Four places you'd rather be:
There are a lot of places I’d like to visit, but none where I would really rather be.

Four albums you can't live without:
Crowded House – Recurring Dream, Squeeze – Greatest Hits (or Singles 45 and Under), Don McLean – American Pie, and Nina Simone – any of her greatest hits albums.

Four vehicles I've owned:
78 Cutlass Supreme, 88 Buick Regal, Toyota Echo (I’ve only owned 3 cars)

Pop-Up Book of Nightmares - Well, duh!

My friend Amanda sent me a Christmas gift that I picked up at the post office yesterday. When I opened the package, I was surprised to find the Pop-Up Book of Nightmares. My first thought was, "How did she know I have been thinking about buying this book?" It turns out that I am an idiot. Somehow I missed that a "wish list" at Amazon.com is something that everyone can see. I have a habit of going to sites to look at what they have to offer and "window shopping." I put things in the shopping cart and then change my mind about buying, so I end up shopping carts and wish lists all over the net, never thinking that anyone but me would see them. It's neurotic in a way, but I have buyer's remorse before I buy. I have a little eccentricity, but at least I'm not a spendthrift.














After receiving the book and calling Amanda, I took a look at what I had on the Amazon wish list and realized that there were 14 children's books, twelve of which are pop-up books. I was embarrassed that I didn't have anything more cerebral on my wish list, until it occurred to me that I should be relieved that I hadn't filled it with weird sex books or serial killer tomes.

The Redwalls

I found a new band that I really like, The Redwalls. They look like Blondie ca. 1979 (minus Debbie Harry) and they sound a bit like The Beatles, Tom Petty and David Bowie, which is to say, they sound different than any other band out right now. I first heard The Redwalls singing "Thank You" on TRIO a few weeks ago, so we ordered the CD, de nova. It arrived today and Marilyn and I both think it's great. TRIO only plays a music video or two between shows, but the music videos they play are unique, so from my perspective, one video on TRIO is better than a week's worth of programming on MTV. Check out The Redwalls.

Morbid Curiosity

On the second day of the new year I have done nothing of note. Connor went to school this morning. I slept in until 11:00 AM. It is almost 4:00 PM and I am still in my pajamas surfing and blogging. A relaxing and admittedly misspent day. Marilyn was watching reruns of Roseanne this morning and I commented that I hadn't seen the actor that played Mark Healey in anything in a long time. So I went to the trusty Internet Movie Database (IMDB) to see what he was up to and found that he has been dead since 2002. Even though we really liked the show when it was on, and Marilyn still watches it religiously now that it is cancelled, neither of us caught the news that Glenn Quinn died of a drug overdose in 2002. Looking for more info, I stumbled upon a wicked little site, findadeath.com.

Outside of porn, this is just about the most voyeuristic site I can imagine. No good reason to visit beyond pure morbid curiosity. The deceased listed range from A-list celebrities to people who are famous because of circumstances connected with their deaths. There are details of the coroner's reports and people post little tidbits about the deceased they have heard or witnessed. I have been parked on this site perusing the directory entries since about 1:00 PM today. Sad, but true.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! It was 81 degrees today in Houston and a gorgeous, balmy day. Weird in January, but nice.














I took Connor to the Nature Discovery Center today because it was so beautiful and it seemed like a great way to start off the new year.



















The Nature Discovery Center was actually closed, but we got to walk through the park and check out the squirrels.















The dried leaves smelled like Autumn, but the weather was totally screaming Spring.















Connor loves the aviary, but he says it "smells funny." I reminded him that it smells like bird poo, and he said, "Oh, yeah."




















All in all, it was a wonderful laid back day, and a great start to the new year.