We got a little antsy on Sunday, so we took a drive into deep East Little Rock.
Windmill blade plant in LR Port:

Piles of crushed metal. Piles kill!:

LR National Cemetary:



So, KMHD has taken up drawing! I'm pleased to post them here for you:

I hope to post more here soon & often.

L O N G D A Y I I

It gets dark so early now!  This photo was taken in the car yesterday evening.  I was passenger.  It looks like a portrait painting at times:


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We woke up at a reasonable hour despite staying up so late last night. We decided to go Heifer International's ranch in Perryville, Arkansas -- an hour's drive west of here. When we arrived, the retired elderly docents gave a brief oral bio and then made us watch a video. When it was over, we got a tour of the lay of the land by minivan. We didn't get to see too many animals up close, it was bitter cold & most animals were inaccessible anyway. We had a great time & would like to return when the weather is nicer.

I startled this llama with flash. It actually glared at me & gave me stink eye, never getting too close again.

These adorable turkeys followed close. They make a pleasant clucking noise. I hope they aren't for Thxgiving!

This one got very close.

Water buffalo! What girth! I bet I could punch him in the side & he wouldn't even be bothered.

Leaving:

When we got home, we called Collin and inquired about his supper plans.  It was decided that we'd go to Damgoode -- we met at his home, visited & then had pizza on the outdoor patio.  It was heated with outdoor lamps.  Zach H. met us, too.  We got to see TC!  It's been too long.  He seems to be doing well.

With Collin:

My tiredness is catching up with me now.  Me & ATM have been making our house a home listening to records and arranging things.  We like it here. 

L O N G D A Y

Nooooooo, suicide kitty!

Waiting in the car.

I got one haircut!  It won't look like this again, so here's the documentation:


White Water Tavern:









Eclipse Glasses & sadly my best shot of them.  Too far!

I have to tell you my dream from last night. It stems from a conversation I had w/ mum, KMHD & ATM. We were talking about how tacky & wrong Christian missionaries are. I mean, they go to third world countries, wag their bags of rice in hungry starving people's faces and tell them that they may have a bowl, but only after they listen to their wonderful tale of Christ. What bullshit. The worst part about it is how "fulfilled" & proud they feel doing this. God's work. OMG, no.

Anyway, in my dream, we (like all of us, me & my friends) were "fun" missionaries. We went to any third world country and introduced them to games like dodgeball & kickball. We also brought with us a sunglasses vendor so we could give our new "friends" some knock-off shades. We weren't gonna stuff our beliefs down their throats, man, we were just gonna show those people how to have a good time! Why so sad, you know? At one point in my dream, a little malnourished boy came up to me and handed me an iPod. He said that he finished listening to all of the songs on this one, can he have another?

Nice, huh? I can be such a jerk dreamer. I woke up completely hating the dream version of us.

Eclipse Glasses
at White Water Tavern
14 Nov 2008
at that regular show time
$5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm making headway @ work, getting caught up. I hope to start off 2009 in top form, personally & professionally. I'm a big fan of odd-numbers and am almost superstitious about it. I believe odd-numbered years are luckier than the even ones, although this has been an exceptional even-numbered year.

Last night, I texted John Pugh a happy belated birthday & he responded, "Sweetnesss. See you in feb." Cryptic, yet clear as day! You's people who don't live here anymore, you need to take a cue from this John and COME HOME. For a good proper visit, at least.

Speaking of John Pugh, ATM gets to review Free Blood's album for the AR Times. Hopefully, we'll get a copy of it? Up until recently, it was only available in the UK, which is total rub.

Multi-media blog!

I'm having zero luck posting my Sonic Youth (in Fayetteville!) videos here.  I can't even get them uploaded to YT!  I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  I am open to suggestion.  I'm tellin' ya, you really want to see these videos.  Bull In The Heather and Drunken Butterfly!

In the meantime, here's Wilson Pickett.  Now you can listen to music while you read how my day went and what I ate.  Ha ha.

Hairdresser On Fire

I'm sitting here fuming because my bullshit hairdresser cancelled on me.  It's my day off, man!  My window for getting a haircut is very small, so it may be another six months before I actually do it.  I did reschedule for Friday, but we'll see.  

I did get some food work done today and that's pretty good!  

Cooking colour (yeah, with the added "u", because it's fancy):

Since I had a bit of time on my hands, I made waffle sandwiches for lunch.  Scrambled eggs w/ cream cheese, bacon & rosemary potatoes.  Hot damn!

I made homemade whipped topping.  So easy & so much better than that store-bought crap.  

Pie-baking, pie-watching:

Happy ending:

Mum is coming over tomorrow eve to celebrate the Obama victory, which is why I made pie.  Do ya'll know how easy it is to make pie?  Simple.  It makes you feel like you're a wizard, like you did something pretty complex & magical.  I wonder what it feels like to make bread.

Renegade, Renaissance, Radiance & Rosebud

I skipped breakfast this morning, so all I can think about is food. Because I'm so hungry, I'm getting wild ideas. How about...waffle sandwiches? Pile on eggs, cheese, potatoes & other ingredients...OM NOM NOM NOM NOM! I think I may have to experiment.

I'm off work tomorrow as it is Veteran's Day. I still don't know how to spend my day off! I'm not good at sleeping in, I don't want to spend the day doing sensible things like cleaning. Maybe I'll use tomorrow to make good on baking and food experimentation. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

And a haircut @ 3.

Big spender?

No, not me!  I want this necklace, but it would set me back $163, wtf.  

Amazing, no?  Well, since it ain't gonna happen, I'll take comfort in the purchase I made this morning.  I woke up just sick because I didn't own a waffle iron, so I went and bought one and made some damn waffles for brunch.  It was awesome!  ONLY REAL MAPLE SYRUP, please.

I know it's fire pit season & we're all sitting around one here & there, but last night's sit down was exceptional for me.  I was surrounded with people I've known for a long long time & people I've known for a long long long time.  Collin, Mark Lewis, Rett, Keiko, Jonathan Thompson, Shawn Miller, Andrew D'arezzo, James D'arezzo, Jeremy Brasher, Damian Thompson, Brittney McDonald & Sonja Schafer.  KMHD & ATM were there, too, of course.  Last night, it was a classic crisp cold autumn night.  I kept hearing people say outloud, "I have the best friends" or "I seriously love my friends".  I don't care if I come off as sentimental, it was a total lovefest.  Who knows when that particular lot will ever assemble again?  Much love goes out to each and every one of them.

Yesterday was pleasant.  We didn't do anything!  Well, we did go to Savers to see if we could find our ugly Xmas sweaters for the upcoming holiday.  Total success.  I'll save the photos for later, because, I know, it's too soon for Xmas!  Anyway, Collin comes over to hang for a bit while we wait for Jonathan to show.  Can I just interject that I've been hanging out with Collin a lot more lately and I love it?  I hope it continues.

Jonathan finally arrives with my birthday sweet potato pie in tow.  If you don't know already, JT has style -- he also had some heavy whipping cream to make homemade whipped cream!  We dragged out ye olde stand mixer & he made some fresh whipped topping right there.  Apparently the pie recipe calls for two shots of brandy.  Well, Jonathan informed that it has two shots of Remy Martin XO!  A high class, $15-per-shot sweet potato pie!  Oh, my my my my my my my my my!

Around the fire, me, JT & KMHD discussed pie, natch.  I think I may have invented a kind of pie that you are already familiar with:  chili frito pie.  The crust, though, will be made of crushed Frito Lays, very similar to a graham cracker crust.  Fill with chili, top with cheese -- and of course a dollop of sour cream.  If I remember correctly, KMHD offered to work on a prototype.  Can't wait!

I don't have too much lined up today, maybe some lite housekeeping and working on the now infamous third room.  You know, the little room that has all of my art supplies and whatnot, but is not being used properly?  It's still a wreck in there, but maybe I'll make some headway today.  This evening, ATM will be taking me out for my official birthday dinner.  I see crab cakes in my future!

Because I feel like making pie, I may make a sweet potato pie, because Mum is coming over on Wednesday to celebrate the Obama victory.  I don't know what that entails, but I'll make a pie.  And since I'm riding high on the sweet potato pie wave, that's what we're havin'.  With homemade whipped topping.

For your information

I finally got around to counting the change from the UNICEF fundraising -- we raised $28.61!  Not too shabby!  I'll match the funds and send them a check for $57.22!

Not!

Oh, you guys!  I may've cut back on the news (I still watch Keith & Rachel), but I still go to the Huff Po, et al. to get my rocks off!  Back to normalcy?  Not so fast.  Soon.  SOON.  In the meantime, this particular GYWO episode is HILARIOUS:

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

I actually know a "scared" McCain supporter.  Actually, I don't know if he's a McCain supporter, but he's defintely anti-Obama.  It's so wild what he believes will happen to him once Obama is sworn in as President!  Anyway, next time I see him, ha ha, I may have to tell him that he will have to start wearing a dashiki starting Jan. 20, 2009.

GOOD GRIEF

The return to normalcy.

Time to get back to living! No more being glued to the television or the internet or to Harper's reading political news! No more hand-wringing and sleepless nights! It's time to focus on my favorite pasttimes like reading (books), traveling, cooking & planning. I need to come up with a big project for me to do.

Speaking of planning, I've already got Thxgiving & Xmas plans underway. This year, Thxgiving will be @ KMHD's house. I will be making the meal, natch, and I will have the luxury of two ovens for my use. What I love about Thxgiving is the potluck we have the next evening with friends -- it's a potluck where you bring your leftovers. I have a chowder recipe that I make only once a year with leftover turkey and it is so so good.

Jonathan Thompson will be here tomorrow! Since he missed by birthday party last Saturday, he baked me a pie of my choice. I opted for sweet potato pie, it's been too long. It should make for an awesome hang out because JT is sweet!

So, I got a new phone. I love it! It makes me feel very important. I like that I can carry a calendar with me at all times now. I have four calendars: my work one, my personal one that I keep at work, one at home, and now my phone. I can't live w/o calendars! If I don't write it down, I will forget. In fact, I forgot that I had a lunch date with some paralegal yesterday. Oops! Anyway, the new phone is part of my *11 point program to get more organized.

Word on the street is that ATM's band Eclipse Glasses is playing WWT next Friday. That's what I hear and my source is pretty reliable. Heh.

Taken yesterday, these sugar skulls got left out in the rain. Sugar melts, honey!:


Songs of the day: Dead Kennedy's California Uber Alles & Holiday In Cambodia, Looking Glass's Brandy

*There is no 11 point program to get more organized, but there should be. Need that intern, man! I wonder if there is a kid in my neighborhood that likes being helpful and is sweet. Is that sick or what?

Here it is...

My delayed & more appropriate response.


Forgive me, I'm being cautious with my heart. Now I'm gonna go sob with joy.

Hurrah!!! What? Oh.

President Barack Obama!
Cries of jubilation!
Endless high-fives!
Big, worldly sigh of relief!

Blood, sweat, tears!

But, then I got to reading the results of our ballot initiatives. OUCH! I guess when the People don't really understand an issue they're voting on, their default vote is "yes", which makes no sense to me. Anyway, looking down the line of results, all initiatives were passed overwhelmingly. Yesterday, the majority of Arkansan voters allowed, or, have taken away the privilege of unmarried couples, single persons, or homosexuals to foster or adopt children. Also, now, we are allowed a lottery. Also, our state Legislature will now meet annually instead of bi-annually, which means these Legislators will spend more time here in the Capitol city & less time back home with their constituents. OOPS.

I'm sorry for being so somber, but this is serious! Well, what are your thoughts? Like Rachel Maddow, I think I need to be "talked down".

Here are photos from last night's Big Whoopeee!:




Muchos gracias to Heather & Zach for hosting the watch party at their lovely home.

You guys, my fifteen minutes of fame is comin'! I made these last night for my co-workers and other people @ the courthouse:


Judge Kilgore e-mailed Judge Brantley about them & she came down to our office to look at them. Well, I guess she liked them, she wanted a photo of them to give to Max (Brantley, of Arkansas Times fame) to post on THE blog. Shyeah! OK, so it's not up yet, I may be jumping the gun, but I don't care. I've tried to remain cool and calm about this election and I need to place this excitement SOMEWHERE.

In related news, Barack Obama definitely has the cupcake vote.

Halloween: Me & ATM, we got all dressed up, but had no where to go! Well, that's not entirely true, we could've gone to Vino's for the Great Halloween Cover Up show, but we opted to stay home to watch scary movies & hand out candy to the childrens. About 30 kids stopped by & they were great! We had a ninja that wanted to show off his moves & another kid was a landshark. I dressed in my kickboxing outfit & ATM wore a graduate's robe & hat, which, yes, is pretty damn lame/tame for the both of us, BUT, the kids were into it & I'm satisfied with that. Regrets: 1. Should've rented some classic scary movies, the networks failed us in that regard. 2. We missed seeing Rett & Keiko's costumes!  At least we saw Collin, HAW:

Birthday!: I had a wonderful birthday, ya'll! I got some jeans and I got a new iPod. I also had a most excellent birthday party. It was beautifully decorated, thanks to KMHD:


I liked the papel picado being all breezy and colorful:


The theme was Dia de Los Muertos, loosely. There was lots of cerveza & we had a nacho bar which people really didn't get into until we started getting crunk -- KMHD said we were totally "4th-mealin it'" -- HA! I overindulged in the drink and paid dearly for it yesterday, but thankfully, I had an extra hour to sleep it off. This photo is not flattering in any way, but it best represents me @ my birthday party. KMHD & Collin say I look like I'm on a cruise ship:

I'd like to thank everyone who brought a donation for UNICEF & everyone who wished me well on my 'dirty thirty'. And I'd like to thank Geoff for teaching me the god-awful term 'dirty thirty', good grief.

Election Night: ZOMG! It's finally here! We're gonna go to Zach & Heather's home to watch and just be surrounded by friends and loved ones. No matter what happens, there will be tears! And cupcakes. Because I'm making some tonight for the big event. Judge Kilgore told us to be in our Sunday best for this historic occasion, but he is "letting" (because I would've worn them anyway) me wear my red Converse. I'm on a positive high as of right now. I feel that if I keep good company (you, Rachel Maddow, et al.), then I'll be able to maintain my positivity.

ASIDES: Rett pointed out to me that I must be "feelin'" turning 30, you should've heard my party playlist. Fugazi, Unwound, Dead Kennedys. To be fair, I need these bands more now than ever! Judge Kilgore showed at work with a THAT ONE '08 button. He also got us cool Barack To The Future bumperstickers. I've got a cool (and very strange) boss! I'm addicted to using my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Seriously, I feel like I seek out recipes that require it's use. I'm glad to be getting back into kickboxing. We had a good work out tonight. Jon Thompson will be in town on Saturday! Since he missed my party, he baking me a pie, I asked for a sweet potato one. I have great friends.

More bday party photos: