Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Which Stars Wars Character Do I Get Along With





Take the Which Star Wars Character are you mostly likely to get it on with? quiz, by ProtocolDroid.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, April 29, 2002

Another thing about the Black Bull...

And another thing about my Black Bull experience on Saturday. They ran out of food! Really. I made arrangements to be there about 8pm. I woke up from my nap around 7:30pm. I was so hungry, I decided to leave a little early. (I hadn't eaten lunch in anticipation of a good supper.) I got there, and they gave me a menu. "I've checked off what we do have," said the waitress "as it's easier than telling you what we do have." They were out of the Chicken Alfredo, which is what I really wanted. So I settled for something called a Hanger Steak. (They say in their menu it's a cut of beef not easy to find. It was a lot like flank steak if you ask me.) At 8pm, Glen the bass player showed up. The waitress said, "Sorry, but the kitchens closed." He did the same as me: ate no lunch as to fill up at night. Part of the night's pay is based on a meal. Bummer. They were able to rustle him up a garden salad. So as I'm eating my steak, he's eating a salad!

It was very good--what there was available! (Oh, and they ran out of bread, too!)


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

What Kind of Geek are You?

In the Grand Scheme of Geekdom




I don't buy this one...


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Go-Go Boots and Single Men

I never really noticed it. I think Jim was the first one to bring it up. Here's the scenario. A bunch of guys go to a club. They hear the band for a set or two. Then they leave. Invariably, as soon as they leave, the hotties they've been watching all night will start to dance.

Last time, it happened at the Black Bull Restaurant. After Adam, Jim, Mike and Chris left, only Ron remained. Two girls, one good looking, and one, umm, blessed by nature's bounty, shall we say, started dancing. Of course, Ron's married. The single guys had already left. They left before the "good stuff" happened!

Well, it happened this week too. This time, though, only Mike showed. Immediately after he left (Literally. We were on a break. He left. We started. So did she!) this girl in go go boots and a short leather skirt starts dancing. This skirt was so short! (How short was it?) It was so short, if she put both hands in the air, her butt would be exposed. An man could she dance! All she needed was a brass pole! And the funny part of all this? Mike the single guy looking for love was not there to see it!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Saturday, April 27, 2002

John Henry

Sometimes, I get addicted to a particular tune. It happened a couple of weeks ago with Moody's Mood for Love. It's happening again. This time, it's that old American folk tune John Henry. I just can't stop singing it!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, April 26, 2002

For Mack

Look here Mack. Here's a drum kit like we were discussing on your calendar. Don't belive the malarky about it being "number one requested color for 5 years in a row." I don't think they were even made that many years. And a retail price of 8 grand? I doubt it.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, April 24, 2002

New Roof, and Macquarium

So I'm building a Macquarium. It's an aquarium built out of an old Mac. Ron from Random Abstract got these instructions to build it. Of course, that was after I rescued a Mac Plus from the Rockland Landfill. I've got the case all cut out, and the glass is undergoing its first gluing right now. Maybe by next week sometime I'll have fish in it.

Also this weekend, we're having a new roof put on the house. We got a healthy tax return, and one of the fathers for whom Sue babysits a child does roofing. We were quoted a price of about $1200 to do one side a year or two ago. This guy is going to do the whole thing, plus the ell above the kitchen, for $1800. And, he's going to do it in one weekend. And, he needs to do it this weekend, as he booked for the next month and a half. Drive by on Monday and see how it looks.


According to the prophecy of: bill [Link]

Quiz, Quiz, the musical fruit





Take the What High School
Stereotype Are You?
quiz, by Angel.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, April 19, 2002

Dish Draining 101

The Physics of Dish Rack, Dish Drainer, and Sink:

A dish, after it has been washed by hand, can be placed in a dish rack for the purposes of (but perhaps not limited to) drying. Said rack is generally placed on a Dish Drainer (or, herein called DD). The lip of the DD is then set OVER (please note this preposition) the lip of the sink. Thus, water from said dishes in said rack falls onto said DD and into said sink. If the DD is placed on the counter BEFORE (a different prepositon than before) the sink, then water will not run into the sink, but all over the counter!!! I know one adult male, and one professional cleaning woman ([stever martin hommage]Cleaning woman?! CLEANING WOMAN!!! [/] steve martin hommage) who have yet to figure out this bit of physics.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

"In the Teeth of the Evidence"

I'm depressed. I just started a new Dorothy L. Sayers book, In the Teeth of the Evidence. It's supposed to be a collection of short mysteries "of Lord Peter Wimsey." Instead, it's two short mysteries with Wimsey (about 30 pages), and a bunch of other stories around a character called Montague Egg. Who? Gimme Wimsey! Gimme Bunter, and Inspector Parker! I don't want no stinking Montague Egg!!! ARRGH!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thursday, April 18, 2002

Engrish

This page has some great examples of Engrish--you know, Japaneese style English. Hold on tight to your gut--some of this is wicked funny!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Make Yourself a Ninja!

Make yourself a ninja! Stolen from /usr/bin/girl, who stole it from someone else.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Crazy Dreams

I had this dream two nights ago; I won't bore you with all the details. Suffice it to say, it included my father and me, the staff of The Island Institute, a terroist organization, and a plan to off the entire Institute staff, as well as the staff of my catering business, by way of injections of insulin. Odd.

Last night, I drempt Julia was having an outrageous fit, howling and screaming. I awoke, and swore I could still hear it, faintly. I thought perhaps the next-door neighbors boy was having a tirade. He was not. I had to go downstairs to believe it so, however. I can make no conclusion as to what thesound actually was. The fan in my bedroom perhaps.




According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, April 16, 2002

Doug's Biscuits

I say the same thing everytime I answer the phone. "This is Bill, can I help you?" Three times in the last two days, the voice on the other end says "Hello, Doug."

Doug???

Made biscuits again. Actually, twice. Sunday's batch was horrific. I left out the oil. It's only a half cup in a whole batch, but it makes a huge difference. They were edible, but not really fluffy. Monday's biscuits were much better. Not my best work, but very good. Compared to Mom's, they were about a 7. Consistency is what I need to work on.

I'm doing some computer consulting for a local doctor. He just needs someone to keep him in step with technology. We met for the first time last night, and discussed iMacs, DVD players and burners, and digital cameras and camcorders. If he could convince his wife that he needed all this stuff, he'd buy it. He's just looking for an excuse for a digital camcorder. I told him about how much better the quality is over regular VHS, and he called his wife into the room. "Tell her what you just said. I want her to hear it from an expert. See honey, that's what I've been telling you."

She still wouldn't let him have it.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, April 15, 2002

For Ron

Note to Ron: Click here to get what you want. See, I am your friend.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tama Rosewood Piccolo

Here's a Tama Rosewood piccolo snare. $275, and it's the first day! That's too high. I can't imagine it will go much higher. They can be had for less.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

For Harvey

Dear Harvey:

Go to google.com, and look up northern kingdom maine. You're welcome. I love you, too.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Saturday, April 13, 2002

Lamb Baby!

Last night, Sue roasted a bonless lamb leg that she got on special. I found a little recipie over on FoodTV.com, and she slapped it together. Man, oh man! I could not stop singing the paraises of this lamb! It was soooo good, with some roasted potatoes! MMM!

Lamb was never a part of my growing up. My partents don't eat it. Probably because their parents didn't eat it. I was first introduced to it by Sue's brother Hound Dog. Hound Dog used to buy the shoulder chops. They were o.k., and useable in a lamb induced craving, but not the ultimate. Then, I had lamb at Pat Friedman's house. Her husband, a Jewish dentist, invited us (Sue and I) over to eat the Passover Cedar one year. (Pat and Sue and I were all English majors together.) That's when it really took of for me. It was a fantastic leg of lamb. (Also from this Passover meal came my interest in Newfoundlands. And, is it ok for me to say that Pat was a real looker of a blond? No, probably not.)

Then came lamb chops. Oh baby. I never get to eat those. Who could at $8-12 per pound? But sometimes, when I go out to dinner, if they're available, I get 'em. Man, I need to get some for the grill sometime. And when I do, I'll envite you over!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, April 12, 2002

The Tune

Click here to get Moody's Mood for Love.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Moody's Mood For Love

I've become enamored with this tune called Moody's Mood for Love. Eddie Jefferson wrote the lyrics, and James Moody played sax. This tune started a Jazz vocal style called "Vocalese." It's kind of a stream of conciousness lyric writing. A band by the name of King Pleasure made it famous in the early 50s. I can't get enough of this tune. I have downloaded 3 different versions of it, and King Pleasure's is the best I have so far. I'll put it up here for download in a little bit. In the meantime, here are the lyrics--which I'm trying to learn.

There I go, there I go, there I go
There I go..
Pretty baby, you are the soul who snaps my control
Such a funny thing but every time you?re near me
I never can behave
You give me a smile and then I?m wrapped up in your magic
There's music all around me, crazy music
Music that keeps calling me so very close to you
Turns me your slave
Come and do with me any little thing you want to
Anything baby, just let me get next to you
Am I insane or do I really see heaven in your eyes?
Bright as stars that shine up above you in the clear blue skies
How I worry about you
Just can't live my life without you
Baby come here, don't have no fear
Oh, is there a wonder why
I'm really feeling in the mood for love?
So tell me why stop to think
About this weather, my dear?
This little dream might fade away
There I go talking out of my head again, oh baby
Won't you come and put our two hearts together?
That would make me strong and brave
Oh when we are one, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
If there's a cloud up above us
Go on and let it rain
I'm sure our love together will endure a hurricane
Oh my baby
Won't you please let me love you
And give a relief from this awful misery?

What is all this talk about loving me, my sweet?
I am not afraid, not anymore, not like before
Can't you understand me?
Now baby, please pull yourself together, do it soon
My soul's on fire, come on and take me
I'll be what you make me, my darling, my sweet

Oh baby, you make me feel so good
Let me take you by the hand
Come let us visit out there
In that new promised land
Maybe there we can find
A good place to use a loving state of mind
I'm so tired of being without
And never knowing what love's about...
James Moody, you can come on in man
And you can blow now if you want to
We're through.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thursday, April 11, 2002

Tonight's sport:

So tonight, Sue and Julia were at a birthday party. I had my own party with the Thorens. Side one of The Ghost of Tom Joad, Fumbling Towards Ecsatcy, and August and Everything After. Oh, sweet vinyl. I need some more. I have a wicked craving for some good vinyl.

You know, all I really need is more time and more money.

Lucky for me, I have enough love.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Current Mood

But all I can do, is all I can do
And I keep on tryin'
And all I can be, is all I can be
And I keep on tryin'
But there's always a mountin' in front of me
Seems I'm always climbing, and falling, and climbing
But I keep on trying...

--Trace Adkins

Current Mood: Overwhelmed


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Which Monty Pyhton and the Holy Grail Charater are You?

Which Monty Pyhton and the Holy Grail Charater Are You?





which "monty python and the holy grail" character are you?

this quiz was made by colleen



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Which Children's Storybook Character are You?

Which Children's Storybook Character are You?





which children's storybook character are you?

this quiz was made by colleen



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, April 9, 2002

Biscuits, Flips, and the Goo-Goo Dolls

Biscuits. My Mom makes them. And she makes killer biscuits. None like 'em. Really. Ask anyone--they'll tell you. I decided several weeks ago to take the plunge. I'm not into baking. That's Sue's department. Give me a skillet. Baking is too rigid. You don't just go to the market, pick out some stuff that looks good, and throw it together. No, baking is more like science. But, I needed to know how to make biscuits. My first batch, Mom was with me. Fantastic. Of course, she was watching over me. I went home that night, and made my second batch. Didn't I just make these 6 hours before? You wouldn't know. They were edible, but not like Moms. Tonight I made batch #3. BINGO! Oh yeah, they were ggoooooddd! I am supposed to take them to work tomorrow. Instead, I ate 2. Tall, flakey, but soft. MMMM. I am now on my own short list of who makes good biscuits. How long I stay there is another story. This all may be a fluke.

Nestle Flips. Genova the Greasy Wop introduced me to them. First bite, I thought they were awful. And yet... I ate another. And another. I'm hooked! I don't know why: I don't like prezels all that much. But put chocolate on them, and Ba-Boom!

While watching the VH-1 "Behind The Music" on the Goo Goo Dolls, I noticed that lead singer Johnny Rzeznik says "You know?" like, every sentence, you know? In fact, he said it 3 times in one sentence!!! Check it out if it comes on. Once you notice he's doing it, it will drive you absolutely crazy.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

cool car

I like this car.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, April 8, 2002

Amazon Wish List

Oh, and here's my Amazon wish list. For those who asked :-)


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Live Journal

OK, you Live Journal running thugs. What's the deal. Real men run Grey Matter at least, maybe Moveable Type. Once you start running software on your own server, you won't go back to the Blogger style "you run it my way (i.e. limited features that don't run most times and posts that get eaten)" style of software. So make the switch. It's not hard. I installed mine with only minor help from JP. And, if I had a decent FTP program at the time, I wouldn't have needed any help. (I had to use telnet to chmod my cgi files--and let's face it, ain't many of us comfortable wid dat!)

Live Journal? Crap. Blogger? Just barely better. Maybe. Greymatter? Well, my friend, that rocks Neddick!


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Just an update

I wanna thank all the guys who cam and saw me at The Black Bull Friday night. It was really nice to have you all show. And crazy wild props to The Bagman for giving me some black and white wing-tips. My size, even.

And let me tell you, you need to be someone special to wear a Zoot Suit. The people who stopped and starred... But after they realized I was with the band, and not just some yahoo wearing a Zoot, they thought it was really cool. I had quite a few comments about how hip it really was. And it is hip. I'll get some pictures soon.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, April 5, 2002

Some kid's gonna get it!

So my wife, and her friend, and a bunch of kids went to the park today for a picnic. It just so happens that the local pre-school is taking a field trip to the same park. At the park is a little ship's wheel type thing where kids can pretend to drive. So the Flower of Loveliness, Julia Valentine, one of the sweetest most loveable kids on the planet is playing with the wheel. Some boy comes up to her and starts yelling at her to stop it! She, of course, being a 3-year old feminine cream puff (and I mean that in the sweetest of ways) starts to cry. My wife didn't see it, but Julia came up to her crying her eyes out.

So Sue is telling me this story on my lunch break. And my first thought, was, honestly, if I catch this kid, I'm gonna pound him. Sorry. That was my first reaction. No boy bullys my girl. Then of course I realize he's maybe 4, and I think the law kinda frowns on a 30 year old man beating up a kid. But by the same token, some of these same kids:
a) pushed around Sue's friend's little girl. She's even younger than Julia.
b) one boy told the teacher he needed to take a sh##. The teacher told him that he needed to go to the bathroom to do that. Note, she didn't say "Sh## is not a word that civilized people use," much less 4 year olds. I know no child has ever heard that at my house.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thursday, April 4, 2002

Respite, respite, and nepenthe...

I was working with a customer today whose username was "Nepenthe." That's not a word you hear much anymore. I recognized it from Poe.

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

I new it was some kind of drug. Dictionary.com yeilded this:
1. A drug mentioned in the Odyssey as a remedy for grief.
2. Something that induces forgetfulness of sorrow or eases pain.
Cool, huh. I think I have just invented a new Goth alter-ego: Absynthe Nepenthe.




According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, April 3, 2002

8:39

8:39pm, and everyone's asleep. 'Cept me. I'm watching "Anatomy of a Murder."


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Stuff

I am addicted to zoot suits. I'm just about done shopping now, though. Last night, I bought some maroon loafers with wing tips and tassles at Good Will. I also picked up another gold chain, and two ties. All I need now is the hat. Jim saw me in it last night at our jazz radio show on WRFR. I think he wants one now.

I'd like to be able to have an email sent to people whenever I write an update. Anyone got a cgi that will do this?

Finished our taxes 2 nights ago. We did aight. Enough to put a new roof on the house. Maybe a little extra. Maybe enough for that Blue Point Special I've been lusting over for a couple of years.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, April 1, 2002

Zoot Suit Done

Me mum hemmed the old suit, and pegged the legs for me. (Pegging is the act of cuffing them hem tightly, resulting in baggy thigh area, but very narrow ankle. See here.) I picked up a lentgth of chain from a local hardware store, and made my own double chain. I already had a smooth purple tie, and Dad gave me a pair of suspenders. Shoes? I got a decent set of black dress shoes at the Salvation Army for $.10. All I need now is a hat, and I'll be complete. I'll be wearing the suit at my gig this Friday at the Black Bull, so come see it.

Note to Susan: I still love you, even though you made me cry last night. :-)


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

 
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