Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Monday Watercooler

0 helpful
107 replies

by now left tr

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Good Weekend??

107 replies

by jim_p

Didn't do much apart from watch some of the Macgyver Season 1 series that I bought the DVD set a week ago, then painted my stock car in preparation for the upcoming racing season.
Managed to wash and wax my own car too. :)

Kind Regards,
Jim.

Edited: Typo.

by ben "iron" damper

Mine was good. Spent too much money as usual but it was all good. Scored some new music equipment for cheap on EBay as well.

by tig2

Both days. ICK!

Next weekend, the same, only longer. Hopefully not as hot.

I will be glad to have weekends back again- I can do 5 miles in the morning and still have time to do things that I want/need to do.

by jdclyde

about 3am before the sun could come out and roast your buns!

Heat advisories everywhere! NO strenuous activites!

My lawn will wait for the heat to break. ;\

by tig2

And I am running out of time before the event- no breaks.

Actually a good thing- the walk will go on regardless of the heat index. It was good to have the opportunity to train for extreme heat. Don't want to have to manage to it on the event, mind you.

We aren't allowed to hit the trail until first release at 6:00 a.m. so walking at 3:00 a.m. was a no-no too. We HAVE gotten out at 6:00 a couple of times.

Poor lawn. So neglected! :)

by wingedmonkey

I was oncall from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. I can never really settle down and enjoy myself while waiting for the pager to go off. Most calls I can handle remotely, but when my connection is down or its something critical like Fetal Monitors, I have to be able to drive in. That means limiting my activities to hanging around the house and no enjoyment of frosty cool alcoholic beverages.
But come next weekend,, time to party!!!

Oh I did get in 14 hours on World of Warcraft Monday. I can't even bend or type with my right pointer finger today.

by Member 25348569

Working Saturday. Mmmmmmm, overtime.

Went down to the coast for a spot of boating. My mate Ian and and I have a small - 6.5m - speedboat moored in Brighton Marina. So there was me and Ian, his wife and kids, glorious sunshine, lifejackets on, gassed up and out we go into 5ft-6ft waves turn round and straight back in again.

Spent the afternoon lying around in the Marina, watching everyone else go out and straight back, drinking beer, fishing and getting sunburnt. Went for a Chinese meal, ?112 for three adults and two kids! Pigs, the lot of us...

by jdclyde

I haven't had a Chinese meal since yesterday.... (Monday)

I guess the time before that would have been....Sunday? Yeah, that was it.

Mondays was better because I was on the road so work picks up the check! :D

by dmambo

The watercooler isn't for mundane "Did ya have a nice weekend?" questions. It's an opportunity to start something totally off the wall and MISCELLANEOUS.

Something like: "Did you ever get stuck between two really hefty people on an airplane and have them both start eating something stinky even before the plane takes off? With current security regulations, what method is best for killing these folks?"

Now THAT's a watercooler starter! :D

by jdclyde

The EX must have had a hot date, because she DUMPED the boys on my with little warning Sat morning instead of Sunday night. :D

Spent the weekend at the skateboard park. What a time. ;\

Sorry, no fat sticky people for me to talk about! :0

by wingedmonkey

Well,
I'm fat, seriously don't get me started.
Everyday I wake up and say, "I need to eat right and exercise today." As I go to bed, I wonder if I really needed that extra pounder burrito from the Taco Joint and if drinking a 6 pack of Michelob Ultra qualified as exercise.

Sticky?
After my half hearted attempt to throw a football with the kids in Rainforest heat and humidity, I was pretty darn sticky.

by jdclyde

That is all my reference is about.

And lifting weights, even 12 oz at a time, counts as exersise. Matter of fact, the more reps you do, the better it is for you! :D

by tig2

We're ALL fat. Let's face it, we are mostly over thirty, many over forty, some admit more. I don't know about y'all but I personally am aging like a bad beach party movie. Nothing on my body is where God originally put it.

Over it. So over it.

And JD had it wrong- Mambo specifically mentioned fat, STINKY people. Not sticky...

by jamesrl

I started off Saturday in a good mood. I had seen an ad on the internet for alloy rims and snow tires for my van. I needed new tires before winter and these were supposed to be 75% tread left. They were advertised as 16 inch for both.

I got to the guys house, and the snows were definately less than 50% tread left, so I bought just the nice rims, and then sought retaillers to buy new tires. I went to three places before I found what I wanted. My jaw dropped however when the installer came in and informed me my choice of tire would not fit on my just purchased rims. The rims were not 16 inch but 15. I laready had 15s but had wanted 16s. Bummer. I considered going back, but instead, I just bought 15 inch tires.

I then had some inexpensive car speakers to be installed. I went to a place I had been to with my previous vehicle, but they were no longer there. But I saw nearby another place, and since its a simple install, I went in. I needed door speakers installed - I could do them myself but didn't have the special connectors and couldn't find my soldering gun. I also have a newish car and wanted a pro taking my doors apart and reassembling them.

You can guess what happened. I picked up my vam cranked up the sound and went home. After finding the door light cover NOT installed I looked at the door light area(there is a retaining screw there for the door). It was broken, and the cover wouldn't snap in anymore.I looked around at the screw holes and discovered they hadn't replaced the screws and that the edging when one of the screws went was missing broken off.

I went back to the place steaming mad. The owners son brought the installer out to look at the van and he said "it was like that when I worked on it". I lost it. I said bu11sh!t several times. The owner came out to inspect it, and the owners son went away with the installer. The owners son came back to tell me that the installer fessed up and they found the missing broken piece. The owner said to give him 15 minutes and he would glue it all back.

I went for a walk, visiting a couple of small businesses nearby before returning.

My door is now frankensteined. Its not like I am planning to sell it and I am not really that vain, but I spent good money and hope it will last a long time. The owner apologised and said the installer was afraid of me. I told him that I wouldnt have been so mad if I had just been told the truth.

I went home, turned the AC up high and relaxed. I know these problems aren't huge in the rgand scheme of things, but its really annoying and I lost some faith in the honesty of strangers after two bad transactions in one day. I will think twice before buying off the net or visiting an unknown shop and trusting them with my van.

James

by jdclyde

A long time ago I learned not to take anything for granted, and trust is only given out when earned.

I am always suspect of people, some see this as a flaw on my part. I see it as "assume the worst, and when it doesn't happen, you are pleasently surprised". It helps me to head off a lot of potential problems because I look at the worst FIRST, and then make sure it is worth continuing.

I learned my lesson from having my windows installed on my house. A real eye opener. Never have work done by someone that contacts you. You would call a local person so you can go around and see examples of their work.

by dmambo

They banned smoking on airplanes, but onion bagels are OK??? Figure that one out.

by Member 25348569

I was completely gobsmacked to find out that banning smoking on long-haul flights has made air travel [b]less[/b] healthy!

Now there's no need to remove smoke, the airlines change the cabin air less frequently which leads to more chance of cross-infection and increased CO2 levels which leads, in turn, to more air rage incidents and, generally, just a lower grade experience all round. It all saves a couple of dollarpounds for the shareholders.

by wingedmonkey

Well okay then,,,
I can perspire to a state of gluey stickiness, but thanks to my Industrial Grade, apply it with a paintroller deoderant, I'm fresher then a brand new air deoderizer hanging off the rear view mirror.

by wingedmonkey

Well does the distance training and marathons help?
From reading your posts, I have had two thoughts:
1: You must be in some great shape,
2: I really need to get motivated. I have even been inspired to buy a new pair of shoes and am breaking them in.
I don't think I'll be making 26 miles anytime soon, I want to start out small, an hour of walking every other day and work my way up.
Losing my train of thought,,
Thank you for posting about your training, I look forward to reading about your continuing adventures.

by tig2

But let's face it- I'm 43. I have a 43 year old body. It's aged/aging.

The value of endurance training is that it builds endurance. I am swiftly losing the "lard a$$" look so popular with folks living in a cube farm. Cross training to build endurance and protect against injury also helps- no one will thin out by JUST walking- although it helps a lot.

At this point, given the event and the requirements of the event, training is my life. That will stop after the event is over but I will continue to walk "maintenance" miles through the year. I don't want to go through the pain of ramping up again so maintenance will become a part of life.

Motivation. Hmmm. I don't know what I can say that will be motivating. This event and the underlying goals of the event are all the motivation I need to pull on the walking clothes and do it. I am also motivated by all of the people here who have started walking for fitness. It is good to know that there is a community of people that understand my sock habit.

There are some really great walking sites that can help you with a programme that will work for you. I followed (sort of) the 24 week plan published by the 3 Day (www.the3day.org). Where I changed it was to start a couple of weeks earlier. I felt that I needed the additional ramp up but have been accused by my team mates as being a "Walk Nazi". I adhere pretty carefully to the recommended minimum mileage and prefer to go farther than not far enough.

The average person's pace is approximately 3 MPH. If you are walking for an hour, that is close to the distance you will achieve. That is a great place to start. I walk Tu,Th, Sa, and Su. Monday is always a rest day and We, Fr are for cross training. You have a family so you may be looking at two options- get them to walk with you (best) or walk Sa OR Su. You don't want to lose time with your family.

If you are walking at a 3 MPH pace, only increase by 20 additional minutes at a time (1 mile).

As with any other planned change in fitness, you should consult with your MD before you begin. It is also good to baseline your blood pressure. It will show your improvement as you go.

Come the weekend, I will post my usual "how I spent my weekend". 20 miles on Saturday, 8 on Sunday. This is the last milestone I have to reach before the event. Wish me luck!

by dmambo

My kids (and I) are fans of the Harry Potter books. Their author has said that one of the "major" characters will be killed off in the 7th and final book of the series. Who do you think it'll be?

My 14 year-old thinks that Hagrid is the goner. She's pretty perceptive, and since he's the father figure for Harry, she may be right. However, I think that it'll be Harry himself so that there won't be any pressure for Rowling to carry on with the series.

I once heard a story on the radio that there's a lot of Christian symbolism in the books. Any thoughts on that? The radio commentator was reacting to people who felt that the wizardry in the book was Satanic.

by maecuff

I started reading the series after my older son nagged me to read the first one, and have been a fan since.

I think your daughter is right, I think one of them will be Hagrid, because the theme that has gone on throughout the series, Harry has had to face his obstacles alone. I think that's why Dumbledore got offed in the last book. And who is left (adult wise?) Hagrid. I guess Lupin might fall in that category, also. My guess, it's gonna be Hagrid and Snape. Which is a bummer, because Snape is one of my favorite characters.

by jdclyde

I had originally thought Snape might be one of them, but I think he has become too big of a focus to snuff him out so quickly. Not to mention, as seen in the last book, Harry is no match for him yet.

Ron is toast though.

What about Ginny? Major target there, now.

by jdclyde

[i]"JKR is quoted saying:
"The final chapter is hidden away, although it's now changed very slightly. One character got a reprieve. But I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die," she said. "A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil here. They don't target extras do they? They go for the main characters."[/i]

I think Ron is toast. Also some talk about Luna. I could see Hagrid getting it, but being part giant, he would be much harder to kill off. This was shown in the Half-blood book where he was hexed multiple times with little to no affect. :D

I see Snape getting it too.

Yes, I have read all of the books at least three times. Something I started when my boys were about six months was reading to them every night and this was true up until school got out last spring where they don't really have a bed time.

They still like me to read, and suspect we will start back up when school starts next month.

The movies, while cool effects, don't make sence if you didn't read the books.

-----------------------------------

Satanic. They are not pushing THAT kind of witch craft, and there is more POSITIVE about the books than there is negative. I grew up reading fantasy adventures, yet never joined a cult or cast a spell on anyone. I WOULD like to get a voodoo doll of the EX though...... ]:)

by maecuff

who believes (because her pastor says so) that Harry Potter is evil and that I shouldn't let Joey read them. I asked her, Have you seen the Wizard of Oz? Did you watch I Dream of Jeanne or Bewitched? She said yes. I asked what the difference was? Same theme. She still contends that there is a difference, but can't explain why.

I am of the opinion that if a child reads, it doesn't matter much (within reason, of course) what the subject matter is, as long as they are reading.

by dmambo

I'm thinking that there's a little conspiracy going on between Albus and Severus. It would be a somewhat fitting ending if Snape is now a mole, but ends up dying in the end. Kind of as penance for past sins of being in league with He Who Must Not Be Named before the series started.

I've only read the books once each, so I might be a little shady on some of the details compared to you guys.

My bets on future corpses: Hagrid, Snape, Minister Fudge and/or some new or minor character in a tragic way. Perhaps Hermione's parents or someone like that. No main character kids will die. Harry ends up as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

by dmambo

Do you think she's a one-hit-wonder? After the success of the Potter books, can she shift gears and be successful?

If her next book moves out of the wizardry theme to, say, an epic about a one-armed sea captain and her obsessive pursuit of an orange octopus, will she be able to maintain her audience or find a new one?

I hear my kids, who are huge fans, saying that the time has come to close Potter, and they're glad the next book will be the last. If she's going to move on, I think she's got to aim at an adult following.

Myself, if I had her money, I'd buy a house on Martha's Vineyard and a REALLY nice set of golf clubs.

by maecuff

probably that the castle she bought is rather nice. :)

I think she has such a skill at building compelling characters that she should be able to have continued success. I know I'd read what ever she does next..if anything.

by jdclyde

I would bet her next effort will be ghost written, like King did for a while.

The publishers will know who wrote them, so they will get put out, but the public will not have the pre-concieved notions about the book.

by wingedmonkey

A huge part of my enjoyment was reading and learning about the world she created. Chocolate Frogs, Bernie Botz Beans, Quiditch, the Ministry of Magic, Dementors,those things and many more were really cool things that the kids and I had a lot of fun talking about.
So I would hope she keeps her world alive and continues to build on it while introducing new characters that aren't involved with the current cast and fighting HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED.

by jdclyde

We never did find out about his hand. What caused it? Could it have been part of a plan to keep him from dying to get Severus back in deep?

We know he didn't use a Horicrux because it requires killing someone else to make them.

How about the way Black "died"? If there is a doorway you can go into, how is it not a doorway you can go back through?

And yes, I do see Malfoy changing teams when the chips are down. Seeing that real evil isn't all it was cracked up to be, and real evil has no loyalty. It was an eye opener for the tough talking kid that found he didn't have the stomach for it.

Half-blood prince's book. All part of the grand plan to bring Harry along quicker and better than the rest to prepare him. Given to him on purpose, allowed to keep on purpose. The question is, how many were in on it?

The BIG question is, we don't even know for sure if Harry is the child that He-who-must-not-be-named was prophosized about. Expect big things from Longbottom in this next book.

by maecuff

I think that since Snape is in such a bind now, that he will be killed in retaliation for Dumbledore's death but will be redeemed after he dies.

Could be Ginny, but I don't think it will be any of the kids. I just don't want to wait 10 more years to find out. Have you read when the next one will be out?

Edited to add: And it better not be Fred or George. That would seriously bum me out. I love Fred and George.

Am I taking this too seriously? :)

by jamesrl

My wife goes to a church that borders on evangelical - some members are, some aren't and much depends on the pastor of the time.

There are some there who feel the same way. My wife responds that Narnia and Lord of the Rings make no mention of Christ and have witches and beings of magical power both good and evil. Both were written by Christians, and in the case of Narnia, by one of the truly great theologians of our time. A big fan in my office is a muslim - I told him of the biblical themes and Christian basis for Narnia, and he still wants me to loan him the books.

I do monitor what the kids read, but any kind of fantasy (except sexual fantasy S&M, extreme gore) is good for the developing mind.

James

James

by jdclyde

Just like video games, it should be based around something positive.

I do not allow anything that in ANY way glamorizes the current scumbag lifestyle of the "gangstas" and such. Grand Theft Auto will NEVER come into my home, nor any games along that theme. My boys know this, and they know WHY the rule is there.

And yes, show with magic have been around for a long time, and never had the same response. Sadly the simpletons that are against the Potter books have never read them to even know what the hubbub is all about.

I think it was intentionally started to get people to protest to get free publicity because I have never heard a single intellegent arguement to support how this is any different from Bewitched or playing D&D.

by maecuff

this reminds me of a discussion I had with one of my employees. She said that JK Rowling shouldn't kill off Harry, because she might need to write about him later if she needs money. I told her that I had read (and I don't know if this is true or not) but I had read that she was worth over a billion dollars.

My employee's reply? So? She still might need more money later. I tried to explain the absolute enormity of a billion dollars, but really, got no where.

by maecuff

I DID say within reason. Of course I wouldn't let my little one read anything that glorifies violence or graphic in inappropriate ways..

by Member 25348569

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I bought the first book as a present for my Goddaughter but read it first to check it out. I generally have each volume on amazon pre-order and have the DVDs and have seen all of the films in the cinema (Godddaughter and me and her own weight in popcorn).

I'm equally sad - if not more so. I [b]love[/b] the movies as I'm probably a lot more familiar with the actors that you guys and I do consider it exceptionally well cast - Alan Rickman being an inspired choice.

The "Dumbledore is not dead" site - http://www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com/ (well named!) and there are others. I don't say that I agree with it, though.

I'll be seriously hacked off if she kills of Harry or Ginny. After killing the most evil wizard that there has ever been, Harry will deserve to get his leg over!

by maecuff

is one of those guys that I secretly find extremely hot. (Please don't tell anyone.) I mean, he SHOULDN'T be hot, he doesn't meet any of my usual requirements for hotness, but something about him does it for me. And sadly, I find him doubly hot as Snape. That says something about me, but I don't think I want to know what it is.

I'll have to check that site out. It would have to be compelling for me to consider that he may not be dead, he SEEMED dead in the book, with the funeral and all.. I'm wondering if perhaps Sirius's brother Regulus is still alive. I'm sure he'll play into the last book somehow. Who else would have the RB initials mentioned in the last book?

I swear, I DO realize this is all make believe, but it's such a nice, cozy place to visit when I can't stand the real world anymore.

by wingedmonkey

I think the casting of Snaped matched the character from the book perfectly where you have the old, 1+1=3 potentiation effect.

The new Dumbledore, just doesn't do it for me. I realize its all in the directing, but the latest movie Dumbeldore seemed more so out of control and frantic. I didn't think Dumbledore was getting desperate in the books until the last two. I liked the older, more in charge one better. May the actor, I forget his name, Rest In Peace.

by oz_media

Won 7 of 8 exactors on Friday night, 6 of 8 win bets, 8 of 8 place bets, got hosed, bought rounds, ate dinner, partied with friends, was only down $10.00 the next morning.
:)

Yup , now there's a good Friday night.

by Member 25348569

She was worth about ?300m - $540m - in 2003 so that was a couple of books, a couple of films and a little merchandising ago. Yep, $1bn sounds pretty fair AND she's another book and three more movies before she's done with Harry. I think it's also likely that they will continue to sell for a little while after she's completed Harry Potter and the Enormous Fortune as well.

You do have some idiots working for you. I hope that their job skills are a [b]little[/b] better than their grasp of elementary finance.

I'm going to go to bed now and DREAM of a hundredth of JK's fortune.

Insert smiley icon :D

by maecuff

she writes good, solid code and does it quickly. Other than that, well..

She is 37 years old and saw an ocean for the first time last week. She asked me if she should wait until the afternoon to take her kids in the water, you know..wait for the water to warm up...

I just told her yes..best to wait until 3:00 or so.

by maecuff

think the two who die will be minor. I do, however, like the Harry as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

by dmambo

I think Hagrid, Snape and/or Fudge are locks for the big party in the sky. I believe there will be some additional person(s) at room temperature, someone innocent and particularly tragic.

by wingedmonkey

Now that he had that big soul searching moment, maybe he can do something tragically heroic in the last book to redeem his and his family's honor.

by wingedmonkey

Snape is by far my favorite character of all. Heck I don't even care if he did go back to the dark side for real. Who could blame him? He was tormented by Harry's dad back in the old school days. He worked for years to be the Dark Arts teacher, and was denied every year. He tried to maintain discipline in the school as appropriate. Yet everytime Harry was caught breaking rules, Harry's Rich-Jock, Jock status got him by with barely a ruler whack. That had to be frustrating to no extreme. Then everytime Snape looked at Harry, how many times did he think, "He should have been my son?" If only Lilly would have gone for the dependable, scholary Snape as opposed to her infatuation with Bad Boy James Potter.
That said, I think that Snape knowing Harry had his old book and the way he appeared to be coaching Harry on how to fight better with magic during their last battle instead of just killing him lends to the theory that Snape was going deep mole and that through some strange magical effect, Dumbledore is still alive, in essence somewhere.

by jamesrl

Probably as a result of his unrequited love for Harry's mom.

Snape's continued frustations with Harry are all around the idea that Harry is too reckless, doesn't study hard enough, and doesn't spend enough time taking the threats to Harry seriously. Snape wants Harry to be the serious student that Hermione is, so that he stands a chance of saving his life. I also suspect that Snape thinks Ron is a bad influence.

I'm also with those who think that Snape's killing of Dumbledore is a red herring, designed to put snape in deeper into the "trusted" members of the death eaters in order to know and thwart their plans. I don't want to guess whether Dumbledore is alive or not - I think for plot purposes, its probably better he isn't.

James

by jdclyde

It shows that if HE can get killed off, ANYONE can. Takes a lot of the predictability out of the series. Nothing is worse in a running story than to sit there and guess what the next thing will be accurately.

Up to this point it had been mostly minor characters that have been snuffed, and the heros (the true targets) always made it out alive.

I expect a major shake-up with the next, but don't see it being Harry doing down unless it really IS Longbottom that the prophesy was talking about after all.

by jdclyde

I came to terms with my dorkitis.

Comic books, sci-fi movies, video games, and even the "so stupid they are cool" cult classics. :D

Not sure if it is good or not, but my boys have already been infected.... Seems I am a contagious! :D

Oh, the humanity......

by jamesrl

One way or anotgher, Dumbledore sacrificed himself. or allowed himself to be killed, for the greater good, and for Harry. This parallels Harry's mother's sacrifice, something that gave Harry strength in the end - even power the Voldemort couldn't kill him.

It also adds other elements - Harry must grow up more now, he can't lean on Dumblefore's wisdom to guide him and watching eye to protect him. It makes the tension with Snape greater.

James

by maecuff

We have a bat in our freaking computer room. Would it be an abuse of my position to force one of my employees to go back there and fetch my cold water from the fridge? Because I'm sure as hell not going back there.

by dmambo

Either go thirsty or go get your own water. I'll tell you the same thing I tell my wife when she sees a spider. "It's more afraid of you than you are of it."

(But you should definitely be aware that bats can carry rabies)

by maecuff

force someone to fetch for me. But I WILL ask. :)

And I don't really care if it's afraid of me or not. They're creepy. And, from what I hear, they can turn you into a vampire and I don't think I could survive without being able to see my reflection at least occasionally..how would I know if I had my lipstick on right??

by tig2

They belong in the belfry.

Sheesh!

It is not an abuse of your position to find someone to get your water from teh fridge. Unless you threaten them with something.

Why is there a bat in your computer room? Oh, come on. It's a reasonable question.

Perhaps you can find someone to remove the bat entirely? That would be a positive solution- you would be able to get your own water when ever you want then.

I'm so helpful!

by maecuff

has direct access to manufacturing and distribution which is open to outside nearly 24 hours a day, so they get all manner of critters. I don't know how the bat got in..but it did. My network guy's office is in the computer room, he chased it out.

by tig2

When men come in handy for something?

Yes, I know- I will get SO toasted for that remark!

Glad to know you are no longer being plagued by a bat. Now you can get your water!

by old guy

I resemble that remark! At least we're handy...and, you didn't say we weren't good for anything. I can accept that. :)

by dmambo

I mean, I don't think that a wooden stake or silver bullet through your heart would do any damage at all. Plus, ol' Van Helsing would have to be an excellent marksman. ;)

by maecuff

Are you saying that I have a smaller than average heart? Are you saying that it is old and calloused and dried up from years of misuse? Why else wouldn't a stake pierce it? Is THAT what you're saying?

You better hope I don't become the undead, because you'll be the first person I come to 'visit'.

by dmambo

You, on the other hand....

Please accept my humble apologies....No, wait, no apologies....Damn, I'm screwed!

"In Whoville they say, (her) heart grew 3 sizes that day"

by Member 25348569

That's for werewolves.

Reminds me of an old comedy horror movie.

Hero advances with crucifix held before him.

"Oy vey! Have you got the wrong vampire!"

by x-marcap

Dracula! Dead and loving it by Mel Brooks.

Are ther others of note?

Steven Weber of WINGS fame is an accomplished comic, but is the straight man compared to Mel Brooks and Leslie Nielson.

Love Comedy, Hate horror shows. (Marines see enough real horror) Any suggestions?

by jdclyde

Well, not sure about everywhere else, but the last few daze in Michigan have been just a tad HOT.

Went to go swimming in my moms pool last night after work, but that was no relief as the water was 89F. When we got out, thing one and I took turns holding the hose over each others heads to cool ourselves down.

I even broke down and put my window unit in last night. After waking up the night before too hot to sleep and having to take a cold shower to cool off at 2:30 am, I figured it was time. Slept real good except for when the cat ran across me.

How are you getting through it all?

by tig2

And a total refusal to go outside. It was 100 with heat index over 100 this past weekend. We walked a total of 18 miles and learned the value of icy wet towels over the head and neck coolers. And dry wicking fibres.

I have to go out this afternoon. Loose clothing and natural fibres are the plan.

by dmambo

I can get my office to 50F if I want, but the house is a broiler. My daughter asked if she could come to work with me today. She suggested that we get a pool at work. I like that idea!

by jdclyde

And when that isn't enough, I have my fan!

Much cooler today, as it only got to about 89 F today I believe. Suppose to rain and then be low 80's high 70's for the rest of the week.

Grand news for me! Not only did the EX dump the boys off a day early this week without giving them much of a reason, but she is doing the same on Tuesday, but left it for me to tell them instead of telling them herself! Oh, this is working out nicely.

Side note, her house has pisspoor ventilation and almost no fans, so the boys are in NO rush to go back there! SWEET! :D Life is good. Hot, but good!

I like that pool at work Idea though.... ;\

by old guy

had a pool before they moved that we would swim in a lot. Now, remember, we're in the Memphis, TN area so it is plenty hot here. She used to buy two of the big block of ice from the ice company and plop them in the pool. She had to keep a closer check on the chemical levels but it sure made things better.

by jdclyde

although BLOCKS of ice are harder to come by than the cubes.

Figure between five and ten bags should get the desired results! If not, I can just use the ice and stuff the boys' swim suits with it! That will get their attention!

B-)

by dmambo

Last year the older couple across the street moved. They gave us a standing invitation to bring the kids over to swim anytime we wanted. If they were home, gone, sleeping, whatever. They didn't care, as long as a parent was there. If they were home, they would even pop a couple of beers and bring them out. It got to the point where the guy was buying beer I liked.

Unfortunately, the gentleman was diagnosed with lung cancer, moved to NC to be closer to his kids and he died last winter. A wonderful old dude!

The new neighbors don't even wave when we walk by.

by maecuff

Why would you say 'her' heart grew three times that day? Does that mean it NEEDED to grow??

I'm NICE, dammit!!!

by old guy

about the new neighbors. Maybe they just weren't raised to be that friendly with neighbors.

by dmambo

When you eventually move, will it be closer to ex, and therefore Things? Or are you letting that decision ride until it's more real?

by jdclyde

WHEN I move, the main concerns are keeping them in the same school district AND being able to get broadband. Need to have both or no deals. Boys are doing REALLY good in their current school, and they have already had enough major changes in their lives recently. Five years and they will be done and then I can move where ever I want.

House sales are horrible right now in Michigan. With such a big portion of our economy wrapped around the big auto makers, when they shut down plants anywhere in the state it is a big hit. We currently have the highest unemployement rate. It recently went down, but that is because our workforce has been moving away, not because they are back to work.

Rates are high too. Add that and over a thousand houses on the market in my area adds up to a bad time to sell.

It is just lucky for me that I don't HAVE to sell. I just HAVE to have it listed! :D So I live their until it sells, and she doesn't get a penny until it does sell. For equity division, it is based on the balance at the time of the divorce, not when the house sells, so everything I put into it now comes back to me. The longer it takes, the more I get back.

The only part of the housing industry that is booming is repos. Lots of those going on.

I offered for the EX to buy me out (snicker snicker) and would give her a place to stay but she couldn't finance a pack of gum right now. My house payment is about $250 less a month than the hole-in-the-wall she is renting right now. So I gave her the idea of getting her daddy involved. He buys houses, fixes them up, and then sells them for a profit. Said to have him buy it for her, and let him fix it and they could split the proceeds. What a shame, she has nine more months on her lease.... can you say "looooser"? I can. :D

The FUNNY part of this is, when we were getting ready to go to court I asked if I could live in the house for two years before it sells, and I would give her $100 a month towards her share of the equity. She said no, she wanted it sold now. So it looks like it will take that long ANYWAYS for it to sell, and I don't have to give her a friggen penny! B-)

But no, I will let where she lives influince where I live as she is a terminal renter and could move at anytime anyways. Besides, I don't WANT to be near her.

Had a showing last night, but there is still so much crap in that house it looks small and cramped. It really isn't showing well and I will NOT pay $50 a month for a storage unit just so she can get her money quicker. No worries here. As I told the boys, I have to make a best effort to make the house available to sell, but I can't make it sell.

by vanessaj

and really want to sell your house, may I suggest a Home Stager? They help to increase the value of the home and make it sell faster and usually for more money. I have seen them turn a couple of places into "must haves" in just a few days for very little money. I've been told that some people even raise the price of their home.

...you know, just when you feel that you are really ready to leave. :)

by old guy

check with the ice company in your town to see if they do the blocks.

Now, how old did you say Thing1 and Thing2 are? You know they're getting to the point that if they gang up on you they may start winning. My son is 18 now and the only reason he doens't win is because I cheat when we wrestle (wrassle) and he doens't know how to cheat. But, unfortunately, he's learning. :)

by jdclyde

was showing the boys long ago the tips and tricks of leverage and pressure points. :(

They are 14, and they have the had the ability to take me down for a while. They just can't KEEP me there as all I have to do is roll over and they can't move me. :D Being on the "not light" side of things does have it's advantages.

One on one they have a rough time of it, but that doesn't stop Thing One from giving it a shot on a regular basis. He has always been the more physical of the two. In another four to five years he may have better results. B-)

I even made the mistake of teaching them some of the more painful submission moves I used to win with back in high school. All legal, all painful, all fun to watch as long as your not the one getting them done to you. :^0

by tig2

Young Frankenstein. Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman. Wonderful!

I know there are others. That one comes immediately to mind.

by Member 25348569

A purely British genre which has parodies of just about everything. They were made over a period of twenty years with mostly the same cast. They are still being repeated today on cable TV. I'm joking, though - DO NOT WATCH ANY OF THEM unless, of course, you like Benny Hill in which case you'll love them.

My quote, though, comes from "The Fearless Vampire Killers" from 1967. The line was delivered by Alfie Bass, a well-known British Jewish actor.

As for improving your pereceptions of comedy, you will need to spend some money if you want to get into good Britcom - which is all I really know. Most of the best stuff is a few years old so can be got from Amazon. I'm tutoring jdclyde and boys in Blackadder and Red Dwarf before getting them into League of Gentlemen (which is bodering on the horrific).

Give me an example of what makes you laugh!

by tig2

Red Dwarf and Black Adder are staples.

I will still watch Thin Blue Line (okay, I like Rowan Atkinson. Johnny English had me in tears), Are You Being Served"- John Inman played the best "don't really know" ever. SNL tried the same device with a character called "Pat" that never held a flicker to Inman's flame. "As Time Goes By"- I have always enjoyed Dame Judi Dench. Geoffry Palmer is a wonderful straight man for her. Good Neighbours (as it was called in the US) was funny but light.

And yes, even Benny can get me still. He was my first exposure to British humour.

League of Gentlemen is not one I've seen... but will!

by jdclyde

"Dispair". The funny thing was, as soon as they went onto the other ship I recognised it! I had SOMETIME or another seen that episode and never knew what it was! How cool is that? :D

We going to go to Blackadder next. Is taking a while as we are making this something special, and we only watch them when the three of us can sit down and relax together and watch them. Has been a big hit with me and the boys! They are true geeks in the making! :D

Edited to add:

Yes, the boys are already asking me to ask you which other seasons are worth getting! B-) They are so cool!

by Member 25348569

All are worth getting up to and including Season Six. Some are a little different. One is more character-based comedy and is good but Two is better by far even though there is no Kryten yet. They got the hang of it - writers and actors. If you get any series, get Three. The final scene in "Backwards" makes me cry...laughing. "Polymorph" is one of the all-time great comedy half-hours! (You nearly got Three) Four is another classic (you nearly got Four) with "Camille" and the first appearance of "Ace". Five, you've seen! Six and it's the last with the two authors, Grant and Naylor. "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" is not to be missed.

Stop there. Please. Seven was awful and Eight was dire!

by x-marcap

What else is there. Is this a business opportunity. or has Scooby Do done it in?

by jdclyde

I will keep that in mind, next year.... :D

Thanks for the idea! :x

The hard part is the clutter. only have a 12x10 shed, no garage. This makes it hard to get stuff out of the house. Been giving away a lot of goodies lately though! People I know that don't have much and can use the hand means more to me than the tax credit from giving to GoodWill. Got a load of toys to take to the womans shelter this week.

by jdclyde

GREAT Christmas presents for myself! :D Have to watch for the next big special on Barns & Nobles, and Amazon. B-)

by tig2

I captured 90% of all 8 seasons (I heard there was a ninth- have no idea, too lazy to Google for it just now...) plus a few goodies from PBS back when I lived in WA. I have since taken them from VHS to DVD. I have a spare set.

PM for details- I need to label them yet...

by jamesrl

Going to have one of these myself just to clear out some of the clutter. Get a little money, save a lot of room - whats not to like.

James