Tech Support!
I don't know how I've become the defacto tech support guy on Alison's side of the family, but it's happened. I'll come home and Alison will say that Nina has pressed some buttons on the remote control and she can't get the Replaytv to come up anymore. I fix it easily by checking the obvious. Damian can't get his PS2 to work. It was because they'd plugged it's power into the back of a digital cable converter box and the converter box was off. They couldn't get the DVD to not cycle between dark and light every four seconds, and I bypassed using the VCR as a switchbox (it was the Macrovision encoding). Alison just now gave me a call about getting out DVD to work at home, and it was, of all things, click the little thingy on the system selector. But, to be fair, the DVD label thingy fell out. Which is rather unfortunate as it was a little plastic bit with DVD on it, and only one DVD plastic bit came with the thing.

A Bad Example For The Kids
What could I, and upstanding fellow in general, be doing that's a bad example for the kids? Camel filters in a hard pack. Yes, I'm having a cigarette or two a day. And as Alison read that last line she probably gritted her teeth and said "Two?"

See, when Alison met me, I smoked about a pack a day of Camel Filters, which was the best cigarettes on the US market at the time. Well, now Camel has all these great blends with even more Turkish tobacco. I am being wary not to get overly addicted, but, really, I've always liked smoking cigarettes.

I went through a cigar phase a few years ago. Eh, cigars, you can keep them. Feh. And they cost too much. But really, though some people think they stink, they actually smell really good. But, yeah, stinky cheap crap stinks. But the good or even mediocre stuff costs too much.

I have had exactly one really good cigar, and I actually like the cheapo Don Fano or those Mexican ones that taste like you're smoking potting soil. But some of the richest and best potting soil in the world. Obviously without the vermiculite.

But, yeah, I thougth I'd come clean on the cigs. This will be a phase just like any other thing I do. But I do want to try some Kamel Red, Camel Turkish Gold, and Camel Turkish Select. Well, unless one of those blends is one of the $7 a "pack" type. And they don't come in packs when they're the super expensive blends. They come in chrome cases. Ooh, neato.

Oh, but I'm off energy drinks. So, like, there's the upside.

Easter Toast
No, it's not as cold as it looks. She didn't want her jacket on.

- posted by Nick Postagulous @ 9:08 AM

 
Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes
At work, there used to be rumors about how I was going to be transferred from one building to another, have most of my duties taken away, and totally focus on doing one thing that I do, well, I try to keep up with, but actually, right now, I'm doing a half assed version of everything I used to do.

Now, no more are there rumors, but my boss asking me to make a list of all my duties, which I tried to do, but since I'm just a jack of all trades, it's hard. Basically, the last line should have been "Accomplishing impossible/random crap."

What's odd, is there has been no meeting telling me what is going on. In fact, once I gave the list to my boss, he started talking about it to another one of the management in front of me, but not with me. Hmm.

But, since people can get fired for blogging about work. I'll stop.

Oh, and my name is James Mackelroy. I work in Pheonix, AZ for Dunlop. My boss's name is Tootie McCheese and she is a polar bear. There are no Hardee's here, only Carl Jr. Radio stations start with K. I'm an eskimo. But we prefer to be called the Innui.

Better or Worse
Ok, it's no secret that I've been slowly breaking down into little imaginary particles over the last six months. The darkened skin under my eyes is starting to turn clear. I can take in 1.3 grams (GRAMS!) of caffeine and still fall straight asleep.

So, based on some aluminum foil hat wearing conspiracy theorists websites, I cut out diet drinks. But, I think being dehydrated all the time will bring you down also. And while that is supposed to be the experiment that I'm working on, so see if I can get better, I'm also drinking lots and lots of coffee and have even bought Prolab 200 mg caffeine pills.

I'm trying to sleep as much as possible, but I can't go to sleep before Nina does. And the only time that I have to do what I want is then, so, my Me-time each day might consist of me adding or subtracting a few songs from my MP3 player (which actually plays wmas these days) and then listening to it some as I fall asleep.

I think sunlight helps. Maybe I have SAD. That's Seasonal A-something Depression. Maybe Seasonal Aaah Depression. Because I'm craving lying in the backyard in the sun listening to music. Heck, I don't even care if the grass is pokey or a little overmoist. I don't care if a little bug crawls on me, as long as it doesn't get in my shirt or something or bite me.

But it's warm today. I'll have the top down on the Miata on the way home. And tomorrow I have off since it's Good Friday. Saturday, Nina will have an easter egg hunt at my parents. Late sunday, more relatives on Alison's side of the family come into town. I'm so glad I have a small house since I'd feel so guilty not offering for them to stay at our place instead of a hotel, but they'd drive me totally insane.

Oh, Yeah, That Vacation
The beach was cold. The baby was scared of the big aquarium we went to. The indoor pool was cold enough to make her lips turn blue in 10 minutes. We came home two days early after the second day of rain. I collapsed Friday night and slept, only getting up for food, until Sunday afternoon. We're not taking another vacation until 2008.
- posted by Nick Postagulous @ 12:22 PM

 
No More Diet Drinks
I'm not going to be drinking diet drinks anymore. I've read they can make you depressed, fatigued, and other nondesirable stuff I occasionally have. But, it's hard to tell if the info is real, as it gets a little conspiracy theory-ish. Not only will diet drinks make me depressed and fatigued, but they'll also give me Gulf War Syndrome, put holes in the brains of my baby mice, and it's all Donald Rumsfeld's fault. Or Reagan, some sites blame Reagan.

Greased Up Muscle Men At My Work
I recently ran out of protein powder for breakfast and have switched to the only logical substitute, Loaded Breakfast Burritos from Hardee's (or Carl Jr if you're in the alternate dimension to this one) and McGriddles. But, I did need to order more before I become obese and have to buy new pants. Since I'm going on vacation next week, I didn't want to have it shipped to my house, so I'll have it shipped to my work.

After placing the order, which has already shipped, I remembered that DPS Nutrition keeps sending me catalogs with greased up muscle men on the front. Crap. That's exactly what I need showing up at work. I should have gotten it shipped here in TC's name.

Spirit Guide, If You Go For That Stuff
When I was changing the oil on Alison's car, and giving it 0w-40 Mobil 1, which is much much too good for that car, something neat happened. A hawk flew overhead.

And this hawk didn't just fly over. It was going in a straight line, then, when it was directly over me, only about 35 feet up, it circled me three times, looking down at me. I was looking up at it. Thank heavens I'm not some New Ager. Who knows what I'd think it would mean? But, it was very cool and he was a very pretty bird.

I'm wondering if he could smell the oil or something. Synthetic oil smells very oddly. But, yeah, I guess I'm a shaman now or something.
- posted by Nick Postagulous @ 11:46 AM

 
Droppin' Plates
I'm a relatively knowledgeable fellow. I'm hip, and while not def, I'm with it. Word up! Well, recently I got The Sickness by Disturbed. It's an album. A CD. I'm ok, mom, don't worry.

One of the songs on it is called Droppin' Plates. Now, hip and with it as I am, I got no clue what he's talking about. However, the lead singer of Disturbed is "droppin' plates." I think it's about revenge or respect or something. "I'm droppin' plates on your ass," he says.

I looked it up at Urban Dictionary, and there were no entries. Not for dropping plates or droppin' plates. I tried searching on "droppin' plates meaning" but unfortunately, the next song on the album is called Meaning of Life, and is about vigorous sex, actually. But it's messing up my search.

I've given up on finding out what Droppin' Plates means. But, Disturbed is droppin' plates on my ass, that's all I know.

I'm not sure if I'm hip anymore. Very un-def.

Update! Breaking Plates vs Smashing Plates! Woot!
From Theo's Greek Tavern, a New Zealand Greek Restaurant:

Plate breaking is one of those traditions that have become inextricably associated with the Greek concept of kefi (good humour and fun). Plates are sometimes broken on special occasions or celebrations (eg weddings) or any time when a group of friends enjoy the special mix of food, wine, good company, atmosphere and fun. In Greek society such plate breaking is a spontaneous act of joy, fun and good-naturedness and needs to be contrasted with the act of plate smashing - which is simply an act of violence.

Plate breaking is rarely done in Greece now, as it is considered more appropriate (and perhaps safer) to throw flower heads, which are sold on site. However, the tradition continues in many Greek establishments around the world.

Since opening in April 1997, Theo's has resisted the many repeated requests for plate breaking. We have done so because we have not been convinced over the ability of our local guests to differentiate between plate breaking as an act of spontaneous fun or plate smashing as an act of pre-meditated physical violence.

So, there you go. I still have no clue. But it must be noted that Disturbed is droppin' plates on my ass, and not throwin' plates at my ass. So, it's all good. Right?

Who knew they were Greek?
- posted by Nick Postagulous @ 12:33 PM