The Owl's New Digs

Please give Hedwig a warm welcome to blogger!

There's still lots to learn about this new tool (same old medium, different way of working in it). I wonder what we'll make of it?

My new blog

Come and see my new blog! Lots of fun!

Hedwig the Wise Owl

Go See X2!

I've just flown back to my perch from seeing X2 and Captain, you've got to see this movie! No waiting! No spoilers here, natch, but from the whangdangdest slide-you-right-in opening -- even the initial title is something to see -- to the astounding denouement, and all the way in between, this one's got you in such a way that you can't even wiggle in your seat! It's written for fans of the Xmen -- that's the point, I think -- and it's super, enough so for even those who haven't caught on yet to become fans.


We knew there was a great cast -- and it outdoes itself! We knew there was a fine director who's dedicated to the story and the ideas behind it. But check the production designs (those colors, those textures!) and check the photography! Of course there are great effects -- but what are effects, no matter how virtuosic (and these are!) without a strong story well told to hold them up? Action, action, action, with everyone getting a share, and lots of alliances being made, unmade, made differently... Wow!


And I definitely want the soundtrack.


Hedwig the Wise Owl

I've now added a Creative Commons license to this site. Consider yourself informed.

X-Men to be Visited

I am planning to go see X-Men 2 later today -- hoping to get in before the daily crowd gets well-established at the multiplex. I've re-viewed the original X-Men movie, and read an interesting piece on the BBC site. I've tried to steer clear of outright reviews -- the BBC piece features interviews with the players, director, and others who helped make the film. I'm really looking forward to this. I'm a huge X-men fan!


Hedwig the Wise Owl

More Dreams

The other night I had a dream that doesn't quiet classify as reoccuring. It's the subject, not the content.

In these dreams, I wake up and find that I've travelled a few years back in time and retain all of my memories of what is now the future. This time for no reason I could think of, it was back to 1997. Before I'd traveled back to the late sixties - childhood.

What do they mean? Why do I dream of this? To have a memory of future events could give me power, riches, second chances. But it's also clear that it would be frustrating. Who would believe me? Do I know enough about events to actually profit from them? And would I really want to live through parts of my life again?

Strangeness, but not as bad as the one where I'm back in high school and suddenly remember I haven't attended a class in months, it's time for a big test, and I can't remember where the classroom or locker is.

Doubt, uncertainty, concern about the future? Not that I'm aware of. Probably random firing of the neurons that trigger off the little stories in my mind.

"Christ, what and imagination I've got!"

No More Smoothies

I used to claim I had an iron stomach. I could eat anything, and nothing bothered me. Not any more. Even taking Nexium for a condition I didn't know I had (what the hell is "Barrett's Esophagus."?) - hell, I didn't think I had acid reflux - just belched a bit.

And last night Kathleen was working on a paper for school, up late, and asked me to make her a smoothie. Of course, I can't make just a little, so I had one, too.

My smoothie recipe - In a blender, add the following ingredients:

• 2 cups ice cubes
  
• 2 pealed bananas
  
• The juice of one orange
  
• 2 scoops protein powder
  
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
  
• 2 tablespoons honey
  
• To the top of ingredients with sparkling or seltzer water

Blend till smooth. Last night I also added a cup of strawberries, and to my glass, a healthy dose of rum.

Actually, it's better without the strawberries.

It sat on my stomach all night and I'm still feeling it this morning. Couldn't have been the hot Italian sausage I had for supper last night.

Over the Hump

Over the hump. Thursday's have such a nice momentum to them. Decisions get made, progress is evident, dragons are slain (only to resurrect on the following Monday, but I'll take the reprieve).

I've been rereading the excellent Aubrey/Maturin books of Patrick O'Brian, starting with Master and Commander.


You'll have to forgive me if my writing and speech take on a decidedly antiquated flair. I'm just now wrapping up "Desolation Island", which is one of my favorites.

My first reading of these books, some time ago, was spread out over years, finishing finally just after the good Mr. O'Brian's passing. This time it's all 21 as a single book. Marvelous, exciting, intriguing, insightful, and oh so funny! If you haven't read them, do so immediately. Lose not a minute!

And I call myself a writer!

And I call myself a writer!

Kurt Vonnegut at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut.

A Clean Desk

I've heard it said that a clean desk is a sign of an ordered mind.

Fortunately, I'm not posting pictures of mine. Both my desk at home
and at work are stacked high. When I've finished writing this, I'll
clean off my office desk.

Actually, it's part of my work strategy. If something sits on my desk
for a month, then it didn't really need doing,

I can, however, describe what my desk looks like, when
clean:

• The desk is an IKEA imitation teak - it's "L" shaped. I
  sit with my back to the window, facing the door (it provides me some
  privacy - I have having to worry about people looking over my shoulder
  and dislike being surprised. Fortunately, my office is at the end of
  the line and no one just "passes by".
  
• To my left is my work space, currently filled with papers,
  magazines, printouts, etc. That's what needs organizing/cleaning.
  
• My computer and monitor sit in the corner of the L. It's a
  relatively new Mac G4 - dual 1 ghz processors, 1 GIG RAM, Two 80 GIG
  HD, and Superdrive (burn DVD or CD, play both). It's connected to an
  older 21" Sony CRT monitor. I have a set of cheap speakers connected
  to it, but rarely use them.
  
• On top of the computer stands metal, windup Bender (the robot from
  the animated Futurama), complete with cigar and bottle of "Old Fortran"
  malt liquor.
  
• With Bender is a metal (pewter?) model of the NX-01 Enterprise with
  talking base - last year's Hallmark ornament.
  
• Also a small analog clock with Apple logo.
  
• To the right of the Mac is my Palm IIIc and cradle
  
• Moving on to the right, a leather pen caddy from Levenger. It
  holds business cards, 3X5, a Levenger stubby mechanical pencil with
  blue, black, and red colored leads. Three replacement Palm styli. A
  translucent green fountain pen, a black roting fountain pen, filled
  with red ink, and a matching mechanical pencil. Also a red gel pen I
  use for most editing, a brightly colored and interestingly shaped pen I
  picked up at a trade show from replaytv.com, and a throttle pen -
  combination pen/stylus. That take up all the spaces, so next to the
  caddy is another combination pen/stylus from Avery.
  
• Moving On, my phone and headset - I use the headset for most
  situations. It's a Superpro from Hello Direct. The phone is from
  Ameritech.
  
• Next to the phone is my black Swingline stapler.
  
• By it is a read squish brain sent to me from MacHome magazine.
  
• Then we have a desktop zen rock garden and candle, half consumed
  (burned, used?).
  
• Finally is a lucite frame with 5X7 photos of Kathleen and Jennifer.
  Kathleen's is a scan and made her hair red - she says she likes the
  photo.
  
• I typically drop my sun glasses (an ancient pair of Vuarnets I won
  is a drawing at a windsurfing demonstration - there's a hint of another
  life for you), keys, and eyeglass case - used only for computer work
  and reading - my vision beyond the reach of my arms is excellent.

So, organizing and cleaning we go!

Ebay inspired trouble

So, today I received my latest (and what must be my last for a bit)
movie poster. This one was a copy of "The Empire Strikes Back" from the
Star Wars saga, signed by Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher,
David Prouse (the body of Darth Vader), and Anthony Daniels (the man
inside C3PO).

Must stop buying posters.

Of course now, and this is Diane's fault, I have the idea of collecting
a great deal of classic movie stars, from the studio era, publicity
photos - 8X10 black and white. Replicas/copies are fine, signed not
required or desired.

Hmm.

Blogging By Email

I'm testing the new powers (sounds more interesting than "features",
doesn't it?) that have been endowed upon me by upgrading to BloggerPro.

That means that all I have to do is send email to my super-secret email
address and it's automatically published to my friendly little blog.
That's much nicer and easier than firing up the browser and editing.

Hope it works.

BTW - I've also implemented email notification, so if you want to
receive email when I update this blog, write to me at cptnrandy@mac.com.

Lots O running around today to do. I have to run to the south end of town to pick up CDs, then rush back to stuff them into special sleeves, if they're in from the printer (as promised). And I have to run out to pick up Kathleen from school at 2:30.

My life as a chauffeur.

Monday's are back to normal now. All fall and up through mid April I took Kathleen to rehearse from 7-9 p.m. with the Youth Philharmonic of Central Ohio (YPCO). Tuesdays Diane took Jennifer to Dublin to skate team practice (now over for the year) and I'd take Kathleen to her bass lesson at 8:30 - that too is canceled for tonight. Wednesdays are Girl Scouts, or more specifically, "Juniors" at 6:30 - 8 first and third Wed. of the month. One of us would take Kathleen to her skate lesson at OSU rink at 8 p.m.. Thursday is piano lesson for both at 6 to 7:30. Friday night is supposedly free. Saturday mornings, now also over, is skate practice at Easton for both from 8:45 to 10. Sunday Jennifer has a skate lesson at OSU at 4 and Kathleen at 9:30 p.m. (I really hate that one).

Yikes.

Modern life for families. One wants to provide children with opportunities, but not drive them mad. All of these activities are things they want to d do. And I get a few minutes to read.

Monday, Monday.

My nephew brought a friend over to use the theater Saturday afternoon. They watched "Catch Me If You Can". They were very excited about the setup and praised how excellent everything was.

Later that night, we sat down to watch the same movie (really fun, BTW), when I discovered I had set the video incorrectly for them - they watched the entire movie squashed into 16:9 when it should have been 1.81:1. Ack.

One of the things I've considered for this publication is to try and consolidate all of the various parts of myself. Actually, I'm not sure that's possible or advisable. No Man Knows My History. Or perhaps, no one can.

Not that I'm claiming to be a humbug. I just wonder if self knowledge is or can be complete without external verification.