Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving Villain

Happy Thanksgiving! This one isn't done, but I'm posting it anyway. Maybe it's the holiday spirit, but I'm actually glad I never had time to work on it: I have a good job that keeps me busy, and having a family beats being lonely and prolific any day. A few other things that I'm grateful for:

- Growing up in the 80's. I don't think you can comprehend that there was a time in history when people thought He-man was cool without having experienced it yourself.

- My polarized sunglasses, and the endless entertainment they provide as I'm driving because I can tilt my head side to side and make the sky disappear.

- Flour. Think about how many cookies there wouldn't be without that stuff.

- Words like, "pronto," e.g. "Get me two cups of flour, pronto!"

- British TV dramas based on books from the 1800s. Either they're good because they're really good (even if you're embarrassed to admit it), like the A&E Pride and Prejudice, or they're good because they're really bad, like the one my wife and I just watched: "Doctor Lydgate!" "Rosamond! I was just. . .er, looking for Mr. Chaucerberry." "Oh. He's gone to market." "Oh. Er. . .good day." *weeping* "Rosamond, what on earth is wrong?" "I'm so very sad, Dr. Lydgate. Is there never to be anything between us?" (He sweeps her into his arms and kisses her.) "Oh Dr. Lydgate, I'm so very happy!"

- Which brings up the another important thing to be thankful for: British accents. Without British accents Monty Python would be a miserable failure, and you wouldn't hear nearly as many condescending remarks about how much better the British version of "The Office" is. Also, a large portion of the United States believes European politics are superior because, as we have learned from BBC dramas, the entirety of Europe speaks in an English accent.

- Also, dental floss.

- Except when it is wielded by those ladies (hygienists?) that do all the cleaning at dentists. Ow.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Trippy

I just took my family on a several-day trip to southern California, the beach, and Disneyland. It was fun, but best of all, it was cheap---3 tanks of gas (hybrid), free Disneyland (compliments of work), hotel=wife's brother's house, parking fees at beach or in L.A., and picnic meals or food provided by my sister-in-law. I honestly think the whole trip only cost us a couple hundred dollars.
Aside from ornery kids, the drive is always one of my favorite parts of a trip. I especially like looking at the constantly-changing scenery.
I think I saw this scene, only more beautiful, driving through southern Utah and Arizona in the morning (we started driving before dawn). I started this from memory the next day on my laptop, but I haven't had the time to finish it off like I want to. I want to post something before people decide to never come back here, though, so here it is.