December, 2005 Archives

So I'm out shopping, just like every December 24th, and it wasn't that bad. The worst part is the traffic in the parking lots. I was almost sure that fist fights were about to break out in the Toys R Us lot. The best part is seeing the look on people's faces when they get to the bend in the check out line and see that it actually extends all the way down to the back of the store. I stood in two of those, at Borders and Best Buy, and neither took more than 10 minutes. It was much worse trying to back out of my parking spot! Well, Em's almost done with the trifle and I still have wrapping to do. Merry Christmas to all, I hope it's safe and joyful.
So I just rediscovered my Flickr account, which I apparently uploaded one picture to in September 2004 and then never used again (meanwhile Flickr's just been blowin' up, all web2.0 stylee). Anyway, this isn't about Flickr. If anything, it's about how nice it is that Google's Picasa will make you a nice little web gallery for you. So here you go, 26 pictures of one of the weirdest nights I've had in a long time. (Yeah, it was from this night) And in case you're wondering about the ninja thing, don't ask. Also, don't critique my stance, as my sensei has already admonished me.

We Gots Pictures

So you're like, a wicked popular guy, everyone loves you, you have lots of friends, and you've got a sweet website where you put up pictures. Then, you get in a fight with one of your friends, 'cuz he said some mean stuff and wouldn't let you order for him at that fancy restaurant. Whatcha gonna do? If you said "run any pictures of that jerk (and his kids!) through some photoshop filters and post them back up on your (Senatorial) MySpace with a, oh man, really funny 'disclaimer'", then you're right! Now, there was never much chance that I'd draw the line to Laffey's name under "US Senator," so I'm going to pretend stuff like this could lose my vote, but come on. You're embarrassing us, Mr. Mayor! What happened to the staid statesmanship of our legislature's upper house? The current president of the Senate tells a member to perform the anatomically impossible. Oklahoma elects a guy who ran on a platform of opposing phantom lesbianism rampant in Oklahoman high school bathrooms (but hey, that's OK, so it's not really that surprising). Now Laffey is running so that "the smallest state can have the biggest mouth strongest voice in Washington." If it was Laffey for US Rep, then I could see it. You get to go crazy there. You could even vaguely threaten members of the judicial branch! Representative Laffey, that would be fun. Jimmy Langevin doesn't seem like much of a partier. Anyway, you can check out the picture gallery here. Poor taste? Merely thuggish? Stalinesque? We report, you decide.
So as you can probably imagine, I am very popular and lead an incredibly exciting life. That's part of the reason I don't blog much (the other part, in case you were wondering, is because I am busy waging war on X-mas). Part of this exciting existance is the occasional party invite, one of which I received today and will reprint in its unabridged, unedited, un-made-upedness below:
Today - Snow & Smiles ====== Edufication The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe. ========= The 17th will be an adventure, and an official round of everyone's favorite game Brownie points Points will be accumulated, prizes awarded, people amused and confused 17th SuperHero Masquerade PajammaBall ============================== 4 Brownie Bakery is open, serving Brownies & Pasta - Fresh Pasta & Fresh Sauce in the Bakery 4:30 Sundown - Begining of the 5 day Solstice celebration - Sunset hits our equivalent of StoneHendge & begin the BBQ - Laboratory 5:15 Launch the Brownie Blimp - A real flying blimp, leading a tour of the house - House Tours also @ 7pm & 10:15 5:45 1000 Balloons -- Send your message to the world aboard our helium delivery vehicles - Court 7:30 Dance lessons begin on the Upper Level, Bring your own favorite Dance tunes 8-12 Basement-A-palooza - Bring your licks & tricks, Live music & Keg Beer 9 Screenings of NASA work - Family Room 10 Dancing Resumes in Family Room Games begin in the Dining Hall 12AM Midnight Snack - Kettle Korn & Puppet Show - Family Room/Ocean - prep in Ocean & Laboratory - After the show, the Ocean becomes the puppet party - bring or make here your puppet 1AM Open Raucus Dancing - Upper Level 3AM Dancing Cooldown - Upper Level 4+ Loft Attitude or Subbasement Chill --- Clean sweep of house === Please review, comment and suggest ideas for the 17th This Friday we shall collect preliminary guest lists - send email addresses The Friday Communicay will include an opportunity for Bonus points Radio Stations ========== Radio Communication Stations shall in place at the following locations
  Home                       Levels
Location      Priority      Covered
Entrance                1               -1
DJ                         2               3+
Laboratory             3               2
Secure Lead           4              float
Guest Lists ============ All Guests must be on guest list - please submit yours early, so Party Point Cards can be PREpared send guest names to Ben as you gather them (First & Last names, or First & Email) there is no preset guest limit First Time Guests - White Cards Return Friends - Yellow Cards Extended Family - Green Cards House Members - Pink Cards Cards are used to keep track of Brownie points At the exit, cards are collected for tabulation Awards are pronounced on the 18th Point levels will be reviewed and Dinner invites issued accordingly Only those with Pink Cards are able to make exceptions @ the door - If you were sent this email directly, you will have a Pink Card Unlisted Persons: If a friend of your, not on the list, shows up. They will be asked to call your phone, hopefully you will pick up and radio to the entrance your acceptance and responsibility of this guest. Otherwise, they may be disallowed entrance, or allowed to enter the basement @ the Door's discretion. These Unlisted persons, will be issued a White card & must remain in the Entry Area until enough points are accumulated to raise to Yellow White cards are not to enter the Subbasement until after Midnight