Dell -1, Apple 2
That's right, Dell LOST Points. See, Tony (my brother) and Jackie (his girlfriend) were talking about buy computers. Since i'm the resident geek, they asked me. tony wanted a laptop, Jackie wanted a desktop---there requirements were fairly simple. They wanted to play poker online, print pretty cards and use the internet without too many hassles. They had someone build them a PC. That didn't work to well. Not knowing anyone who could build a laptop, Tony and I went looking for computers.
We went to Microcenter, and after introducing him to a g4 powerbook, Tony couldn't stomach the other computers on display. He had looked at the Dell's and Gateways online--when their broken PC worked--but he decided that he preferred the powerbook. On nov 17, tony bought a Mac; he found a
mac-compatible poker site and he is finally happy with his choice of computer.
Jackie wanted a Dell. I went to the Dell site, and bought her a Dimension. I had a bitch of a time getting the forums to work with Safari's autofill function; but eventually, i got it to work. I received a Confimation letter, and it was to have arrived the same day as Tony's. Nov 21, i get an email from Dell saying there is a problem with my order. I reply to said email, correcting the problems. I receive no response. I call dell--I was on hold for 4 hours. They hung up on me once. In the end, they said "I guess your order just didn't go through." I asked them to give me reason to stick with Dell--like throw in MIcrosoft Office Pro, or a 20" monitor or discount my shipping--and they said they couldn't do that.
I told my brother of my problems. Jackie, who had used Tony's powerbook on the road, decided that she like OS X. All she wanted was a flat panel computer. Tony talked to her about Dell, and she said, "Then go Mac." A few minutes ago, she got herself a g5 iMac.
It really doesn't matter now, what happens the rest of the day; buying computers is so much fun. Buying computers with other people's more is a lot more fun. Sticking it to Dell is priceless.
I Cooked A Turkey
I need to learn my mom's recipe for bread stuffing...I think it came from my gramma. Then I need to get my grandpa's bread reciepe.
Let me list the things I can make:
Capri Salad--not that hard
Escargot--I know it's french.
Black Bean Soup--word for the wise, Astrava is Hot Sauce
Speghetti Carbonara--instant heart attack
Turkey--hell yeah
Irish Chocolate Cake--that means it has lots of Bailey's
in addition to more mundane dishes like
Bacon
Eggs
Pancakes
Waffles
and such and such.
I should also learn how to make Crepes.
----
At both of my parent's funeral masses, my pastor talked about a Table. The family room or Dining Room Table. At my Dad's funeral, the pastor talked about how everyone was welcome at the table, how much food was at the table. At my mom's funeral, he talked about how my mom was really in control of the table. Currently, I have the table in my house. Today I celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time where I was not at that very table.
Next year, anyone that is reading this is invited to my house for thanksgiving. I'll make the Turkey and a bunch of the fixin's. I just want to make sure that that Table gets a lot of use.
Happy Turkey Day, Bastards
Okay. It's Thanksgiving, and we all of things to be grateful for. Lately it's been hard to be grateful, especially considering that we buried my mom two months ago today. That doesn't make thanksgiving a fun holiday. Still, given all of my friends and family, I do have a lot to be grateful for.
really, I am just grateful for my friends and family.
Kevin is one of my best friends from college. I regret drifting away from him, but thank god for multiple chances.
Now, go and buy something from him. Tell him that fuzzy head marty sent you.
Unless you know Kevin already....then use your own damn nickname.
I am not playing Halo
K. I'm in Edmonton, and I have made an interesting discovery about myself....
Starbucks is my second favorite coffee house. Seriously. It isn't my favorite--I'm saving that distinction for a small indie coffee house that I have yet to find, but it sure betas the hell out of the local "second cup" coffee house. That's a canadian branded store. Let me tell you, it sucks.
I'm going to post more later, but I have a ton of work to catch up on...mostly booking a plane ticket to SEATTLE!
Send Food
I'm playing Halo 2
my x-box name is pogue.
Seriously, send food.
3 funerals and 2 Weddings
I've never seen
4 Weddings and a Funeral, but over the past 16 months or so, I've gotten to live in a contrary world. Unfortunately, I won't see even half of the money or fame that the actors of the aforementioned movie, but that's okay. I don't want their money or their fame.....
I visited my parent's grave today. I got to see a Lt. in the US Army thank my grandmother for the work my Grandfather did on a beach in Normandy 60 years ago. I told my grandfather not to cheat at cards with my dad too much, and I got to tell people that, "Anyone that thinks that my dad isn't sitting at the head of a table, Even God's table, just doesn't know my dad." I also got to support my grandmother, who is now free to mourn her son in law, daughter and husband all at once.
I did a reading today too. From the Book of Sirach--which my buddy Card Shark referred to as Siracha Peppers--which I will eventually write here. It's a wonderful bit of scripture that says, "hey, take care of the elderly."
I will not have to take care of elderly parents. Then again, on a day where all I want to do is talk to my mom or dad, I can't do that either. Some would call that a wash. I think I got the short end of the stick....
We had high hopes for 2004. First of all, it wasn't 2003. Then there were big weddings. Big announcements. New phases of adult hood. For a while it looked like the country might move to the Center, instead of to the Right. 2004, in retrospect, sucked. The bright shiny spots (Canuck, the two weddings) are shadowed by a lot of pain.
However, 2005 has potential. So does 2006. Therefore, I declare 2004 officially dead to me. It is time to move on.
Speaking of moving on, a few friends of mine and I are working on changing things in this country. If you wanna help, either post a comment or give me a shout. If you wanna ridicule and scoff--and using the word liberal as you would an epithet--then meet me by the bike rack at 3:00. I'll kick your ass, and your brother's ass too.
Not Entirely Unexpected
My grandfather passed away this morning.
No Phase 2
While I am not in shock, I'm too angry to do much. Fortunately, Alex stole my thunder in a previous post. We, as Liberals, need to organize. That is what I'm looking to do...
I am proud I voted for Kerry, and I am proud to call myself a liberal.
To Quote My Brother...
"Ohio is a Big Dick."
Let me explain. My brother and Herr Wagner decided to drive to Maryland. While driving through Ohio, they discovered it to be a big dick.
Considering what is going on right now, I agree.
Tomorrow, when phase 2 begins, I'll be a bit better. I promise.
GRRR
Close race my ass. This is crap. CRAP. Moral Values? MORAL VALUES? Sacrificing kids for oil..that's moral.
I am too nervous and upset to make a coherent statement..
I am dying
I am freaking out. I know that tonight is just the start of the election cycle, but good god damn, I am freaking out. At the very least, Obama won Illinois. Duh.
I will be posting lots.
I think I'm going to start drinking in a bit.
later
I came home to Vote
I seriously considered staying an extra few days (weeks) in Edmonton. I don't like Edmonton as much as Seattle, let alone Chicago, but I could adapt to living up there. I mean, eventually, I'd stop laughing at the accents...as they would get used to mine.
but I came home. In fact, I told Canuck that I am not leaving my country--my exasperating country--and that I need to vote. Illinois is a blue state, entirely because of Chicago. I also want to be a part of the Obama phenomenon...
But I am afraid for my country, my family and my friends. I think W is going to win. Hell, we probably won' t know for a long time.
Just as an aside, I just saw a commercial for the US Army. I guess the Army is hiring social workers now. I mean, they are hiring young, idealistic people who want to empower people. EMPOWERMENT DOES NOT COME FROM THE BARREL OF AN M-16!!
I am worried that more of our civil liberties will be sacrificed for a false sense of security. I am worried that my cousins will be drafted. I am worried about a lot of things. So i did what I try to do when I worry about things. I decided to come home and start fighting. I figure the first thing I'll do is vote. The rest of the day, I'll listen to NPR and work on my application to grad school. Community organizing and rabble rousing, here I come.
