YouTube Sunday!!

These first two just make me happy.




And because I can only handle so much happiness, I was hoping that these were real. (I kid, of course!)


My name is Bond, Mikell Bond


My cats do something similar. Usually, when they do, there are spontanious eruptions of hair balls afterwards, though.


Remember when Jesse Metcalf was young, dumb, and full of... on Passions?


I remember when this song came out. My 6th grade teacher said we couldn't listen to it during a class party, but didn't say why. Now I think I know.

Someone stayed out a bit late last night...

I met TheHusband for our typical Friday-After-Work-Beer at Studz yesterday. We discuss our day, discuss what we will do (if anything) over the weekend, catch up with Dan, like our neighbors and other things going on (including rude statements made to him via text message from someone not 15 feet away...) the previous night... etc.

So, it's going on 7:30, and I'm ready to go, as usual. I have big plans you know... today's episode of AMC on Soapnet at 8:00, then over to the SciFi channel at 9:00 for Stargate Atlantis (I don't know much about this show, but I have been in love with Joe Flanigan since I first saw him on Sisters, oh so many years ago), and tapped off the night with Battlestar Galactica.

Now, as I'm leaving, TheHusband says he's going to finish his beer, stop at the store (I told him we needed milk), and basically be right behind me.

As 11:15 rolled around, and I was turning off most of the lights in the house and getting into the bed, he still hadn't made it home. Eh.. he's a big boy.

I did hear him come home sometime in the night, but I didn't look at a clock.

It is now almost 10:00 on Saturday morning. He is still asleep. And, can someone tell me when Studz started placing those annoying wrist bands on their customer's after they've paid the cover charge?

I'll have to ask Daniel about that.

I didn't get to mention this...

...last night. But there was a theme going on yesterday.

1. The first thing TheHusband said to me was "Happy Birthday", followed by, "Welcome to the Club". He is 46.

2. When my boss found out that is was my birthday, he said "Welcome the Club". He is 43.

3. On my way to lunch with co-workers (NOT paid for by me), my brother called from the Left Coast, to wish me a Happy Birthday. Oh, and to "Welcome me to the Club". He is (also) 46.

After work today, I was talking with Dan at Studz (who, BTW turned 41 just a few days ago and I never, EVER, let him forget it...) and mentioned all of this to him. I asked him please to explain to me what he deal was.

He said that he would, as soon as he was told. He said that first, he must master the handshake, and he could then sponser me as a member.

I hate being on the outside.

Thanks for the well wishes...

... all of you.

TheHusband met me at Studz, with roses in hand.

The significance is that he's only done this one other time before. In 13 birthdays. He said he wanted to send 'em to me at work, but waited too long, and they couldn't guarantee delivery by today (THAT's the husband I am used too...)

We spent a bit over two hours at Studz, waiting to see if anyone showed up, in vain I might add. Which is okay, I waited too long to invite anyone, so I wasn't too disappointed.

Then we went to the restaurant, Wazzabi in Winter Park. Sushi and steak restaurant.

It's a new restaurant, only has been open for three or four weeks. We enjoyed it. We sat out side until it started to sprinkle. They rolled out a couple of awnings, so we stayed out for a bit more. Then, the Heavens opened up, so we were quickly moved inside. This was all happening as our main course arrived. We had a great waitress - I taught her a few phrases in Japanese.

It was a bit pricey, so don't go on a budget. But, if you want to impress a first date or spend a special night out with someone you love, go and enjoy.

Oh. And the Palmagranite martinis? Delicious, even if they ARE $10 bucks a pop.

I had four.
--
Also: I got two Birthday cards today. One from TheHusband as he gave me the above mentioned roses, and the other one from my 80-some-odd year-old Grandmother.

She still buys cards like I am a 12 year old child.

She kills me and doesn't even know it.

Today... I am old.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.


I don't think I'll get anything for my birthday like I did last year, but it's okay.

Here's a picture of me. Er.. well... "us". Having the picture taken was probably the last thing my mother had to do to convince my father to visit the doctor and have a little "snip snip". After all, I was supposed to be the last child they had. (I am the blonde at the top [about three years old])

Then that silly Red-Headed-Girl showed up (lower left in the picture).

And if she weren't my favorite sister, I'd hate her ass.
---
Still - looking for people to meet me this afternoon, after work. Any takers?

Someone's birthday is tomorrow...

And TheHusband and I are going out tomorrow to celebrate (forget about our latest scuffle, it doesn't mean anything in the long run).

Anyone wanna join us? We are starting at Studz after work (read: 5:00 EST) after that - reservations at a new Japanese restaurant.

I am looking forward to a Palmagranit Martini.

Has anyone noticed?

Local news shows have begun using Google Earth, instead of their crappy maps. I've noticed over the last week or so, all of my local channels are using it in traffic reporting, weather reports, and even in "breaking" news, where they really, really, REALLY want you to know exactly where they are reporting from.

I'm sorry I didn't find this for you yesterday...

... but thankful that someone did.

You'll need speakers, but because of that, it is NSFW.

Thanks, Chris.

A word to the wise...

If you are going to spend the afternoon drinking, and at one point call someone "The Devil" among other comments while they are cooking your dinner, simply because the TV in the kitchen is loud, there are two things you should do next:

1) admit that you might have an issue with drinking (too much); and
2) apologize

Not necessarily in that order.

Until then, you should not be surprised when nothing else is said to you, that your emails and phone calls go unanswered.

Some people were taught to say nothing, rather than say the wrong thing.

I am one of those people.

Rent-Tube Sunday

The DVD comes out in a few days, so I thought I'd spend a few minutes showing you these.

The Trailer, in another country. I'm not sure which.



He REALLY liked the first song. Me too. I think I want to take him home with me.



Lesbians in training (not that there is anything wrong with that). I think they are in Texas.



You have to put up with an interview by Katie Couric for the first half, but it's my favorite song, and makes me cry. Every time.



Yeah. I think Jonathan Larson would approve. Hell, he would have coreagraphed it:


I like Joey FatOne Fatone. But somehow, I don't see this:



"Try the Mike"...



What I would sing to TheHusband. If I were black. And a woman. And Lesbian. Whatever.



The song I'd be singing to TheHusband if I were a Drag Queen. Not that there is anything wrong with that.




The song I'd be singing without TheHusband:



If this scene is deleted, I'll ask for my money back.



One of the best songs: Part 1


Part 2:


And finally, this. I can't tell you how much I cried during the viewing of this video.

Commercials: Have they gone too far?

It's a question I ask.

First: commercials on Radio.
Then: Commercials on TV.

Then: Commercials at the movie theater.
And: Commercials on Purchased for Home Viewing DVDs and VHS tapes.

Haven't they gone too far? I mean really. And if that weren't bad enough... I wrote a check today, annotated it into my ledger, and then ripped it off the pad only to find this:

Yesterday's poor service...

... morphs into today's bad Customer Service.

I received a call from TheHusband today. The flowers were delivered at his place of work today at approximately 0815 hours with no explanation.

By 1600 (that's Four P.M. for you civilians), there was still no call to me from the flower shop regarding the lateness of the delivery. So I called.

I spent 15 minutes on the phone with some silly girl who has no idea how to handle someone whose order was wrong. First she tells me that "the flower shop that it was sent to..." delivered it at five minutes after five last night, and it was too late. The flower shop said they had "too many deliveries..."

Uhm... first lie. TheHusband didn't leave the office until after 5:15, and the Owner didn't leave until after 7:00. Toot's. It's a flower shop, and it's Valentines day. If they need more help, tell them to hire more people, or don't use them anymore.

So I addressed the other issue. The one where I made two phone calls last night and no one from when I ordered the flowers from had called me to explain, make amends, or (in the least!) apologize.

She said: "My manager is not here, and what would you like me to do?"

I said: "Simply put. I want to know why when I received my receipt it didn't say that the order might be farmed out to another florist (since I chose you as a "local florist" to begin with), I want to know why when I called to find out why my order had not been delivered, I got an answering service in Oregon (Oregon for the gods sake!!!), and why they were unable to find out where my order was. I want to know why, when the answering service said they would give you a message, twice I might add, that no one has called me and it's been almost 24 hours.

Her answer: "I don't think you need to be disrespectful to me", and proceeded to hang up the phone.
--
Here is a comparison picture of what I received versus what I ordered. Although TheHusband loves them, they are not the same.

Yes, the choice of flowers is right, but there are differences. The actual vase (though lovely) is taller and skinnier than in the example shown. Also, there are twice as many flowers in the example, than what actually showed up.

I'm so disappointed.
--
And regardless, as I said, TheHusband loves them, and loves me for what really matters here... I tried. But, true to form, he got me nothing until today. There was a card in the refrigerator when I went in to grab a beer. It was signed:
"It wouldn't be me if it weren't late! ILY Me."

He isn't wrong.

Maybe I should have ordered this instead...

Any guesses on what it's used for?


-via Andy

Calm thoughts and a contortionist.

After my last post, I am about out of my mind. I've called back, wondering where my "return call" is from the shop. I learned that the answering service is in fucking Oregon.

Oregon.

Dude. I've been to Oregon. Nothing is in Oregon. It may as well me Afghanistan. (Apologies to Atari, I wanted an excuse to use that)

Only two things can calm me down.

This:

and this:

The first one is an image I stole from somewhere... can't remember where. The second picture is one of my cats. Oh to be a contortionist like he is.

I HATE Harry...

... and His Famous Flowers.

They can kiss my lily white (and oh-so-flat) ass.

Here's the email I received on January 24th:

Thank you for your order! Below is the information we received. Only a portion of your credit card number is shown for security purposes. We recommend that you print this receipt to keep for your records.

****** Net Ticket #8000XXXX ******

--------------- Recipient Information ---------------

Name: XXXX
Company: XXXXXX XXXXXXX
Address: #### XXXXXXXX Blvd
Apt or Suite: Suite 101
City,State,Zip: Winter Garden, FL 34###
Phone: (407) 654-####
Email: TheHusband(at)emailaddress(dot)com
Delivery Date: 02/14/2006

--------------- Sender Information ---------------

Name: Mikell
Address: MyBilling Address Drive
City,State,Zip: Orlando, FL 32XXX
Home Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX Work Phone: Ext:
Email: myaddress(dot)email(dot)com
Credit Card Number: 4X2X5 Expire: 01XX

--------------- Product Information ---------------

06-V2 FTD Sweethearts Bouquet: XX.99
Delivery Charge: 10.00
Sales Tax: X.25
Total: XX.24

--------------- Card Message ---------------

Has it been 13 of these already? Seems like yesterday.

ILY - Mikell

So, when TheHusband came home... EMPTY HANDED... I was a bit concerned. I called and got their order desk. Yes, an answering service.

I spoke with a young man of questionable English skills and then gave up. "Put a Supervisor on the phone, now" I said, before I have a coronary. I was placed back on hold until a young lady came on the phone.

I asked where my order was and why it hadn't been delivered. She said she didn't know, and that they entire staff was out of the store making deliveries. I asked if my order was placed three weeks ago and had to be delivered to Winter Garden, why wouldn't it have been delivered earlier than say 6:00 p.m., since it was obviously an office complex.

Again, she didn't know, and could only take my name, the name of the recipient, the order number, and my home phone number so that someone could call me when they arrive back to the store.

It's more than an hour later, and I have yet to get a phone call back. TheHusband has thanked me anyway... but I am still livid.

Tom Cruise Likes Dick

Well, according to Good As You, anyway.

He's probably right. That and more.

YouTube Sunday!!

This might only last one week. We'll see.

Let's get it started with Jesus, since it is Sunday.




These guys have figured out how films are created in Hollywood.



This one is well filmed, edited, and damned funny. It's a bit long, but well worth it.



Ever had an occasion to have this song sung to you? I have.



After having seen that last clip... about a million times, someone learned the song and proceeded to live in denial. All on film, of course.



I would suggest a few of them take the following test:

Dreams and nightmares

I wrote this this morning, but hit the "Save as Draft" button instead of "Publish".
------
I've mentioned before that I do not normally remember my dreams.

Today is no exception, but it was particularly disturbing. My sister was in a group of people kidnapped and held hostage in the airport of her nearest big city on the other side of the country (from me). At one point, all were let go me her and another person. I was told that it was because she refused the kidnapper's demands that she use the word "simple" in a sentence.

I woke up wondering if a) it were really true and; b) If it were a premenition.

I think the Sustiva is still getting to me, over a year later.

But it's working so well for...

Mike Rogers.

This statement about sums it up.

I count no less than four or five posts on the subject at hand (at his site), and yet nothing. What a pompous blowhard.

Who knew? MTV

And episode of "True Life" airing right now.

I've never seen this show before, but I think I love it.

I would have never aired in the early days of MTV when I was watching daily.
--
UPDATE: Uhm... Cooper is gay. He just hasn't realized it yet.

File this under...

... Gay Gay Gay.

The music wouldn't make the Grammy's, I'd guess.

Grammy Awards

Not watching. Don't care. Don't even listen to the music.

And can't stand Kanye West.

Is that wrong?

If you haven't seen the cartoons...

...I referred to in the post below, here they are.

Close up shots here.

Freaks.

Yeah, I'd be upset too...

...over a cartoon. Or two. Or ten. Whatever.

Still not enough for this.

Doctor Visit... February 2006

A short one.

It was kinda weird. I never went to his office. I met the nurse (new one again, but I liked her) then I met with our teams pharmacist (which was odd) and the doctor came in her office to meet with me and her at the same time.

First? Scores:
B/P: 126/69 - Actually, it was lower, but I made her do it again, as I didn't believer her.
Weight: 158 - I hate that scale.
Viral Load: 120-Low, but higher than detectable where it was the last two or three times.
T-Cells: 202- Whooooo Hoooooo! Up over 200, which is what I've been hoping for the last year. They've changed the rules about this (so it seems), and I won't be taken off the bactrim until I have scores over 200 for six months. That will be nice.
Percentage: 12 - up a point.

My blood sugar was high, again. They were concerned about this until I reminded them that it was a NON-fasting lab, so it was okay for me to have sugar in my coffee the morning of my labs.

My liver enzymes were high again, but nothing to worry about.

Surprising notes: I was non-detectable for Hepatitis B. They said that people don't normally convert from positive to negative, as I have, whatever that means. I, honestly, don't know the difference between Hepatitis A, B, C, or Z.

I suppose I should.

--
I told them I've been having headaches. A lot. Sometimes three major headaches a day. Normally I take Tylenol, which isn't an issue, but no one should take 3000 mg of Tylenol per day. I have been.

I thought they'd tell me that my BP has been high again, give me a prescription for it, and that would take care of the headaches. It usually does. Unfortunately (did I just say that?), my BP was normal. This means there is another reason, they just don't know what it is.

So they gave me a script for Tramadol 50mg, no more than twice a day, and I am to let them know if the headaches get any worse or the medicine doesn't do the trick.

So far, I've taken one, and it has not done the trick. Now might be the time to get my eyes checked, since it's been about 2-1/2 years. Duh. Why didn't I think of that first?

Oh!

And "Go" Seattle.

(No, I'm not watching the game, but I'm sure my siblings are.)
---
UPDATE- Pittsburg won. Good for them, but it would have been nicer if Seattle had. After all, expansion team, first time there, etc...

Regardless, I'm still not watching. They've been running a "Charmed" merathon on TNT. I've been glued to the TV all day.

Sunday Chores...

... are done. I've made dinner and earlier today, I made two lamb chop lunches for later this week.

I've solved the mystery of the socks that disappear in the dryer, and that never happens anymore. But here is one I don't understand:

I take off my clothes at the end of the workday and put them in the hamper. On Sundays, I wash them, dry them, and fold/hang them up, placing them into the correct closet. Here's what I can't figure out:

When I take off my T-shirt at the end of the day, I always make sure that I turn it right side out (as well as my socks). Every week, on laundry day, I'd get frustrated as to why I'd have to turn each and every one of them back right side out when I pulled them out of the dryer. So I devised a plan.

For two weeks, I would ensure that my T-shirt was wrong way out as I dropped it into the hamper. Believe me, it pained me to do so.

Did it work? In a word? No.

I give up. Anyone know a way to solve this mystery?

I went to my local video store...

... and I think I was channeling this post while I was there.

I wouldn't make a very good critic. I like movies that make me think. I enjoy movies for the movie itself and the story it tells. I don't pick apart an actor's performance (unless it's really bad) and I almost never notice the lighting (unless I'm supposed to). It's a movie. 1.5 to 3.5 hours of escape-ism. That's all.

Anyway, I got this movie and this movie.

Collin in his homo-character-acting goodness. I enjoyed them both.

For TheHusband, I got "The Aviator". That movie was long long long. But still, we both enjoyed it.

Certainly better than watching Saturday Night Live. And from what I read, we didn't miss much.

If you haven't been clicking on the blogs listed to the right-->

... then you are missing something.

Example 1: Micah

First This post.

And then the follow up.

Please. Someone. Get me a tissue. I'm all verklempt.

Just a thought...

One good point followed by a laugh out loud. Go. There. Read.

I used to watch him on this show.

But somehow, I missed this clip: