This 'n' that

My year in review . . . well, qbear and I didn't do that much. We went down to Palm Springs three times, in April, in June, and in October, for long weekends in the sun. I flew to Houston in July for a family reunion, and met some marvelous folks there and in Dallas. Actually, met some pretty terrific folks all year long ... Rich and Chris from Chicago ... Bill and Joe from Boston ... Jay, here in town ... Russ and Laney in Santa Cruz ... and just in December alone, cthelarger, ultrabithorax and hercbear, among others. Also hung out more with our cool neighbors keanubear and bowlerbehrsf. We're still working at the same jobs, still living at the same place.

Best concert we saw: A Mighty Wind
Best seizing the moment: refinancing the house
Favorite TV shows: Survivor: Pearl Islands, Reno 911, Buffy, Changing Rooms, Harvey Birdman
Best holiday celebrations: July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve
Worst trend: Bush rises in polls as more Americans take stupid pills
Worst trip: Atlanta in January, on business. Got acid reflux and was miserable and tired for three days.
Sorry to see move away: Carlos and Eduardo, hercbear, D&V
Biggest hope for new year: America wakes up, comes to its senses
Smaller hopes: Fun trips to Polar Beek Weekend in January, Palm Springs in April, New York-Boston-Ptown in July. Continued employment. Water on roof dries up. We lose weight, and get in shape. We watch less TV and get out more, and spend more time with friends.
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My current PC desktop picture at work is Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, by James Whistler. It infuriated art critics when it was first unveiled in 1875 -- Whistler even sued one for libel and won a single farthing in damages, but the expenses of the trial bankrupted him. Now, the painting wouldn’t even be considered to be all that abstract or impressionistic, because it suggests a night sky filled with falling fireworks and stars in a fairly straightforward fashion. I find it lovely.
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I’ve belonged for years to the GymBears mailing list that furmuslbulk set up ages ago. No one ever posts anything to it. About once a month, though, Amazon.com sends commercial spam to it – “Remember – Time to Buy!” I keep opening the mailing list (when it comes), hoping that someone has written something new about gyms and bears and working out and muscles, but no, it’s always time to buy.

Boo hoo hoo

Thanks, irishbeard and bigreddee . . .

Identify yourself using the songs of one particular performer or group.

I pick Joy Division. Man, but those are depressing song titles!

1. Are you male or female? "I Remember Nothing"
2. Describe yourself: “Disorder,” "She’s Lost Control"
3. How do some people feel about you? "Atrocity Exhibition", “Dead Souls”
4. How do you feel about yourself? “Walked In Line,” “Isolation,” “You’re No Good For Me”
5. Describe your boyfriend: “A Means To An End,” “Atmosphere”
6. Where would you rather be? “Warsaw,” “Wilderness”
7. Describe what you want to be: “Leaders of Men,” “The Only Mistake”
8. Describe how you live: “Heart and Soul,” “Living In the Ice Age”
9. Describe how you love: “Love Will Tear us Apart,” “Transmission,” “No Love Lost”
10. Share a few words of wisdom: “Insight,” “Something Must Break”


Whew! I really need to clear the air. OK, now I’m switching to the Partridge Family!

1. Are you male or female? "How Can I Be Sure"
2. Describe yourself: “Daydreamer”
3. How do some people feel about you? "Friend and Lover”
4. How do you feel about yourself? “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat,” “I’ll Meet You Halfway”
5. Describe your boyfriend: “I Think I Love You”
6. Where would you rather be? “Point Me In The Direction of Albuquerque”
7. Describe what you want to be: “Brand New Me”
8. Describe how you live: “Singing My Song”
9. Describe how you love: “I Woke Up In Love This Morning,” “Twenty Four Hours A Day,” “I’m Here, You’re Here”
10. Share a few words of wisdom: “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted,” “C’mon, Get Happy!”