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10月29日 Rest in Peace, AmadeusAmadeus is our "middle child." The 2nd of our 3 animals.
About 9 months ago, we noticed her losing lots of weight. We took her to the vet and learned that her kidneys were failing. She is only 6 years old. This is something that happens to older kitties. The vet said that her kidneys would not get better, however, we should be able to stabilize them.
When we moved, she gained her weight back and seemed to go right back to her happy self.
About 2 weeks ago, she got thin again. Took her back to the vet. Her kidneys were getting worse. In fact, they had gotten so bad, that the vet said there was really nothing that we could do for her. We should just try to keep her comfortable.
In a rediculously fast amount of time, Amadeus deteriorated. She got thin, she wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, and she eventually lost all energy. She had to be carried around the house as she could no longer move herself from one place to the next. And, she could no longer hold her bladder.
Amadeus died today while we were at work. I sincerly feel like she waited for us to leave. I stayed home to be with her on Friday, and we were near her the entire weekend. We had people over Saturday night, but still, we didn't leave Amadeus alone for more than 30 minutes. When I arrived home from work, today...she was dead.
Amadeus was a fantastic kitty. One of the best. Possibly the friendliest cat I have ever known. She loved to be petted by everyone. She would purr so loudly when she was touched. She would look at you and you could tell she was smiling. She would nuzzle in your lap as you read, she would sleep on the bed on my wife's pillow, and she would greet us at the door when we got home. She will be missed terribly.
We love Amadeus, very very much. And, I am sure she knew it. She loved us right back. Even towards the end, when I know she was hurting, we would pet her. And, dispite her pain, dispite probably knowing the end was near, she would purr. She would purr like everything was okay, as long as she and her people were together.
We'll miss you, baby kitty.
10月28日 BS...he wants more money.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2003980348_webarod28.html UPDATE - This is a better article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/sports/D8SIVJNG1.html A-Rod has decided to opt out of his record breaking contract and become a free agent.
Alex Rodriguez makes me sad. I mean, I believe he is an all natural talent. No juice required...he's just really good at Baseball (except in the playoffs).
So...why does he need to be such a douche? Let's look at all the ways he is a douche.
1) The announcement is made during the World Series. This is something that should be announced AFTER the World Series.
2) He is opting out of his record 10 year, $252 million contract early.
3) The reason for this, says his butt munch agent (and one of the guys who screwed up baseball), is that Alex was uncertain whether Rivera, Posada, or Pettite would be coming back to the Yankees.
Actually...the quote in the Times is, ""Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do," Boras said. "He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were going."
So...let me get this straight, Scott...A-Rod didn't want to make and decisions until he knew what those three were going to do...so, he decided to opt out before he knew what they were going to do? That makes no sense.
All you have to say is, "Alex thinks he can make closer to $30 million a year, so he opted out of the contract cause he's a greedy MFer.
Sometimes...I really hate baseball. A-Rod is one of the people who makes me hate it. Barry Bonds is another, but for a totally different reason. Why do these freakin' entertainers think they are worth the more than a small nation?
And...the Red Sox just swept the Rockies to win the World Series. Bummer, dude.
10月25日 Dino is Running again!So...Dino Rossi announced today that he is once again running for Governor.
In case you forgot (I didn't), Dino won the Governors election twice in 2004. But, Christine Gregoire won the 3rd time, by like 2 votes.
Now...I am not one to say we should vote for Dino because I think he really won the first time (Seriously...don't you guys remember that whole election and the mess taht was King County and the partisans that were Ron Sims and Dean Logan counting the votes that continued to mysteriously appear while other votes were thrown out for various reasons).
I don't have a huge amount to say here, yet. Nor a lot of time to type it. I just read this news. But...I am excited. Hopefully, people will see how much higher our taxes are since Gregoire took office. Let's not forget how much more powerful the teachers union has become. Let's not forget that traffic still blows.
Go Dino!
10月22日 Jason's Stage Review - SpamalotSo...I saw Spamalot last night. Wanna know what I thought?
I'm not sure I really know what I thought. For those that don't know...Spamalot is the Musical Version of Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail. In my opinion, possibly the funniest movie of all time. If you're any kind of man, you should be able to recite most of this movie my memory.
But...what did I think of the play? I can't decide...I found some parts hilarious. I found some parts boring. I got annoyed because the actors didn't do the scenes EXACTLY like they did them in the movie. Now, what kind of actor would take any part that is just immitation? That is a crappy expectation on my part. However the "Your mother was a hampster and your father smelt of elderberries" line just was not nearly as good as it was when John Cleese did it.
The "Knight of the Round Table" number was great. Just the right amount of funny mixed in with legitimate Broadway dancing. But...most of the main characters couldn't actually dance. They brought in the background knights to do all of this.
Also...toward the end, it got a bit boring. The Knights Who Say Ni were actually pretty lame. Plus...I don't think "Always look on the Brightside of Life" belonged in this show. Maybe I'm just a purist when it comes to my Monty Python.
The actor who played Aurther was not that impressive to me, at all. I thought his singing voice was weak and I felt like a lot of his lines were mumbled. The Lady of the Lake was Great...but, probably not as good as Sara Ramirez (now of Grey's Anatomy fame). The other knights were satisfactory. The guy who played Patsy gave the impression of overacting a bit. Now, honestly, he was probably one of the best actors, and a definite tripple threat (singing, dancing, and acting). But, in a show where everything else felt kinda blah, he came off poorly.
One thing I thought was great...at the end, when they actually found the Grail. At the cave, the find a mysterious message that says D1.01 or something. They're trying to figure it out, when they realize it's a seat number. The Holy Grail has been hiden under seat D1.01 in the theatre this whole time! They take the Grail from below the guys seat, bring him on stage and make this big hoopla over the guy from the audience. That was pretty funny. And...the snapped a poloroid for him to take home with him.
So...I'm glad I saw it. It was Best Musical at the Tonys, after all. But...I probably won't ever see it again. I'll stick to the movie.
Oh...and they had this kick ass "Killer Rabbit" bunny slippers that I was totally gonna buy. Until I saw they were $45. $45 for bunny slippers? What is that about?
10月21日 Dumbledore is GayIt's been a while since I've gotten to blog about Harry Potter stuff. Big news out of Harry Potter land from Friday is the sexuality of one of the most beloved Characters. Turns out Albus Dumbledore is gay.
I just want to say, I totally knew it! I mean, come on. He's always wearing those bright colors. And, what's with the twinkle that's always in his eyes?
When I read this early in the weekend, I expected to hear more people complaining about it. Of course, now all of the kids are going to want to run out and be gay. But, suprisingly, the crazies have been quiet.
Here's how I feel about it. I think this brings a lot more background into Dumbledore. Originally, I thought the friendship with Grindewald was kinda so-so. But, it wasn't just a friendship. It's entirely possible that they were lovers. Regardess, Dumbledore was certainly in love. And, imagine having to kick the crap out of the person you love. I mean, my wife knows what it's like, but I have a feeling it sucks (even though she's usually laughing while she does it).
Interesting new development. 10月19日 Bloggy Blog Blog Bloggy BlogSo...I told myself a while back that I wasn't going to let my blog fall by the wayside again (what exactly does falling by the wayside mean, anyway?) I could talk about the stupid Roads and Transit (RAT) tax. Or, I could talk about Al Gore and the sham that is the Nobel Peace Prize. Or...I could talk about how annoyed I am right this second because my milk is frozen. Yes...frozen. I have frozen milk.
But, I am not going to talk about any of those things (stupid frozen milk). I am going to talk about me!
I'm in a good place right now and I am going to talk about it. Yay Me!
Most of you may have heard the news of Bungie separating. I haven't been supporting them since January, so this didn't affect me much. In January, I helped out with College Recruiting bit and then I took over with the Casual Games group. After some shifting, I had a meeting with my bosses and I will be taking on a much bigger client group. I'm going from about 100 peeps (Bungie and then Casual Games) to about 450! Holy "you got what you asked for" Batman!
I am optimistically nervous about this new little adventure. I am nervous about working next to some really talented recruiters and being asked, for the first time, to perform at the same level. At the same time, I am excited about working next to some really talented recruiters and showing, for the first time, that I can perform at the same level.
 My mother is doing well (she recently had a cancerous tumor removed from her kidney).
I appear to have finally been withdrawn from extended family messes that were adding to my personal stress level.
And...I am finally getting a second guitar for Guitar Hero. Granted, I am buying Guitar Hero 3 to get it...but, who cares.
That's really about it. Work has picked up again, which is awesome. Doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging, but I haven't posted in a week, or something, so I had to get to it.
I have just finished a bowl of EasyMac! The wife says it's nasty...but, I want to cook up another. I loves me my macaroni and cheese.
Now...if only my milk would thaw out.
10月16日 Where's the goodbye?
10月8日 High Point and Danny Westneat OR Try Hanging out past darkSo...my neighbor, Jerry, pointed this article out to me.
Okay...I live in High Point. I am guessing that Ken Davis, who is quoted being a liberal butt nugget, and Mr. Westneat would consider my home to be one of the "luxury" ones. Although, while I really enjoy my house and feel it is well built, I would hardly call it luxury. I think my wife and I live on a pretty average Seattle income and our house is definitely below the average cost for a home in Seattle.
Anyway...Mr. Westneat and Mr. Davis appear to be pointing the finger at us "yuppies." Apparently, the recent hard feeling between the mixed cultures at High Point are our faults.
First...a quick background for those of you not familiar with my neighborhood. High Point used to be a bunch of concrete buildings (very nasty from what I understand) that were used as low income housing. I hear it was very much not a quality place to live. So, the City of Seattle and the Seattle Housing Authority tore it down and built up The High Point. The High Point is an environmentally friendly neighborhood complete with low income rental homes, condos and apartments, townhomes, and single family homes. Also, they are working on a large park and a small commercial area. A lot of us Yuppies bought into this neighborhood for a few reasons: 1) The homes are low energy, 2) It is a mixed race/culture neighborhood and a lot of us really like this idea, 3) The homes were affordable by Seattle standards (seriously...if the top price home is $609k, where do you call these luxury. Luxury neighborhoods start at $609 for the 2 bedroom rambler).
Admittedly, there are problems. Cop have been called. Owners are getting frustrated. I don't know where Mr. Davis lives (I can't find him in the High Point directory), but, my house is sandwiched between the low income houses both in front and behind me. I would first like to say, that I have met some great neighbors on both sides. However, this is also what I have had to put up with:
1) 2:00 on a Monday morning, blood curdling screams from across the street as a couple beats each other up.
2) 5:00 on a Tuesday morning as a couple crosses the street and begins swearing and throwing racial insults at each other directly in front of my house.
3) Large groups of kids riding their bikes in the ally behind my house at top speeds not bothering to look for people or cars, apparently because the man in the rental on the corner told them to
4) A woman behind my house who loudly shares with her friends that they need to "get rid of the white people."
5) Trash ALL OVER THE PLACE.
6) Garbage thrown in the back of my truck
7) A dirty diaper left on my back porch
8) My neighbors car was broken into
9) Let's not forget the house that was burned down on the 4th of July
10) People jumping my fence and running through my backyard to get away from the police
11) Kids tormenting and throwing things at my dog when he is in the backyard
12) Oh, I almost forgot the knife fight by the playground
13) Regular drug dealing
14) Loud swearing from all directions from people of all ages, including by 10 years old who play very hardcore tackle football in front of my house.
Look...I appreciate this experiment. I see the point behind it and I have respect for it. But...you have to understand, that there are $400k homes sandwiched between rental homes occupied by people living on a $25k/year income. That is going to cause some resentment. And, you know what, with few exceptions, it's not on the part of the homeowners. We knew what we were moving into. The renters, however, maybe didn't bargain to be living with us. I don't know. What I do know is that I get much more dirty looks than I give, I pick up much more garbage than I leave, and I do not appreciate being woken in the middle of the night by random kids knocking over my neighbor's garbage can.
Mr. Davis, before you start spewing about a "war on the poor," come stay at my house one night. Or, go talk to the Devland Homeowner who had her house egged. There isn't a war on the poor. We would complain about the same things if Bill Gates' kids were doing them.
Mr. Westneat, try spending more than a couple hours in High Point and try talking to more than one person before passing judgment.
Can this social experiment work? I don't know, I haven't decided. But, if it's going to, you can't point the finger at the homeowners. You'll just piss us off more because we don't feel like we're the ones causing the problems.
10月4日 Rush is just an idiotLook...there is no denying that Rush has been a pretty adamant troop supporter. But, that doesn't mean he's not an idiot.
He made a completely dumbass comment. Do I think he all of a sudden doesn't support the troops? No. However, I think he basically just confirmed that he is more supportive of troops who leave their opinions at the door and just follow orders. To call soldiers "phony" because they disagree with the president is irresponsible. They may disagree, but, unfortunately for them, the bullets don't stop coming. And, dispite the fact that these soldiers may be "phony" in Rush's eyes...the bullets aren't. They will kill a "phony" soldier who has been sent to Iraq by the President just as quickly as the will kill a real soldier.
Our troops don't give up their Liberties just because they join the military. Especially since so many of the troops over there are Guard and Reserves. They were supposed to be part time soldiers. A support function for the active duty folks. Now, the Guard and Reserves are the active duty folks. You can't expect them to be happy about this and then call them phony when they express their frustrations.
You know who the phony soldier is? Rush! Rush is a freakin' chickin hawk of the worst kind. Chris Matthews once called him a Patriot. Patrick Henry was a Patriot. Rush is a rich glutton who sits in his little chair at his "golden" microphone and spews crap that he read in the news wires from the smart people that came up with it before him. He doesn't have any ideas that are his own. If you don't believe me, just listen to his show. Wait for a caller to come on who expresses a well structured arguement. When those callers actually get through. It's only about 10 percent of them. 40% are people that agree with Rush. 40% are idiots that want to disagree but make horrible points. When the smart desentors get through, he stutters and stammers and changes the subject before hanging up on them.
Rush...I don't believe you disrespected "the troops. But, I do believe you disrespected an awful lot of them. And, for that...you should apologize. 10月2日 Train Tracks, Safeco Field, and Darwin's Lawhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003918104_trainaccident02m.html
Okay...so, apparently, a lady was recently hit by a train outside Safeco Field (where the Mariners play). Also, apparently, this is the 4th time this has happened. In those 4 times, there was 1 fatality.
For those of you not from around here, let me try to paint a little picture. You have a ball field. It is plopped right on a street. This street is a high source of pedestrian traffic. Cutting through this street are a set of train tracks. This is a high source of train traffic. On the street are a couple arms that lower to keep auto traffic from crossing the train tracks when a train is going by. Until earlier this year, there were not any arms to block the sidewalk when a train is going by. Still...when a train goes by, here is what happens:
The street arms lower, red lights flash, and a loud *DING, DING, DING, DING, DING, DING* annoys the crap out of me. Not to mention the fact that if you look left or right, you will see a train heading in your direction.
Now...this is in the city, so the train is moving slowly. I am not sure what the rule is exactly, but it can't be much more than 25 mph (the train that hit the woman was traveling at 18 mph). Seriously...if I wanted to jump onto the train, I probably could. I wouldn't even need a horse. My point here is that it doesn't take the train a split second to crash into you. You should see it coming.
So...apparently, after 3 train collisions with humans, the city put a couple arms over the sidewalk as well, just in case people aren't paying attention to the street arms, the red flashing lights, the DING, DING, DING, DING, DING, DING and the oncoming train.
But, apparently, even this isn't enough as some lady decided to ignore even the new sidewalk arms, steer her wheelchair around them, and try to beat the oncoming train.
Okay...the woman is in serious condition and I truly hope she recovers. I have some simpathy for her simply due to the wheelchair. It's gotta be hard to role over those tracks. But, still...if you see a train coming, go back and wait for it to pass.
Apparently, one of the other dudes who was hit is suing the city and the train company. He says he waited for the oncoming train and started walking when it passed only to be hit by another train traveling in the other direction. So, of course, it's the city's fault.
Here's an idea...wait until the arms go up, the lights stop flashing and the DING, DING, DING, DING, DING, DING, DING stops before walking across. It doesn't take a genius. Only a creature who is living with the benefits of millions of years of evolution.
I can honestly say that I have crossed that street many many times. I have never once been hit by a train. Hit up for money by homeless people, yes. Hit by a train, no. 10月1日 Playoffs...and, who I'm rooting for.The Mariners! Oh, wait...the Mariners had the biggest meltdown in baseball history after actually making us think they would snag at least the Wild Card after 3 losing seasons. "Maybe next year." So...I still love baseball, so I will be watching the playoffs. I'm lucky this year in that my "other" team made it...the Diamondbacks. I got a lot of flack in 2001 for supporting them after the M's were knocked out (even though that was clearly the year the Mariners should have won the World Series). People told me I was jumping on the bandwagon. Ummm...the Diamondbacks don't really have a bandwagon. Also, I would like to remind you that I am an Arizona native and was there during the inagural D-backs year...although, we weren't yet getting televised ballgames in LHC. Still a Suns fan, too. Anyway...as of now, I am cheering for the D-backs. If they are knocked out...here's the order: 1) D-backs (even though the new uniforms suck) 4) Padres/Rockies (hoping for the Pads here, because I like San Diego more than Denver) 5) Red Sox (only cause they're AL) 6) Phillies (only cause I don't want the Angels to win) 7) Angels (only cause they only team I hate more than a division rival is the Yankees) 8) Yankees (cause they're the Yankees and I hate them). However...per my rules of talking smack, I acknowledge that I have relinquished my right to smack talk on behalf of the Diamond backs as I have shifted allegence to the Mariners. So, there will be no smack talk from me this season...I am beginning to miss smack talking. Go MARINERS! |
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