... A Little Scarier

This just in from the "World Just Got a Little Scarier" file:

all about a new strain of Ebola

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2990582220071129?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

No offense, but I think the four strains we have are more than enough...

<old guy voice> I remember when there were only three strains of Ebola </old guy voice>

This is starting to feel like an iPod, with a new version coming out every year!

Thanksgiving

Just got done the T'day meal and I'm taking a moment to reflect on what the day means to me...

A couple of years ago, Thanksgiving was a very different day for me. I've always had plenty to be thankful for and have always been aware of the blessings in my life, but for a couple years, Thanksgiving was always a personal day... I didn't go have a big meal with a bunch of friends or family, instead, I'd have a turkey hoagie by myself and just enjoy the day that way.

Now I don't want the image of me eating a sandwich alone to seem like a sad thing. It was the opposite, it was enjoyable not having to rush around here or there. It was my day, and spent in a very personal, reflective way...

Now adays things are different. I'm engaged and most years T'day is about rushing here and there, and all the other hectic commitments that I guess make up a life. This year Patty and I didn't go home for the holiday, we stayed local, and did Thanksgiving just by ourselves... and it was wonderful.

The Rise and Fall of a Dessert

I read this article recently about the recent awardee (is that even a word?) of Guiness Book of World's Record holder for Most Expensive Dessert.

It was created by a NY restaurant called Serendipity 3, and the recipe includes edible gold and chocolate that retails for $2600 a pound (yes, you read that right... that's about five times the cost of my first car, and about 2 times the cost of my second car, btw).

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0753679220071107

but the real kicker to the story, is the follow up a week later:
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1531592620071115

Seems maybe they should have cut back on the cost of the dessert and spent a little for fumigation!

A Geek Out Moment

Wow... here's how much of a geek I am... I ran across the following article about the new Star Trek movie (set during the early days of Kirk, Spock, etc):

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071108/film_nm/startrek_dc

I was way too happy to hear that the Pike character was in the film, and I'm sure I'm not the only Star Trek geek to feel that way.

Now to show my true geek-ness... any chance they may mention Robert April?

Two Great Tastes...

Much like the life altering development of the Reese's peanut butter cup, as seen in this historical document:



(BTW, what is this woman doing walking around town with an open crock of peanut butter? Is it BYOP to the deviant sex party?)

Back to topic... I have found the next great pairing of two things I love... I present Apple (as in the computer, not the food group or the record company) and Lego (as in those wonderful plastic bricks for kids of all ages!):

http://www.switched.com/photos/apple-podbrix-toys/

Enjoy :)

Great Weekend with Old Friends

I moved down here to VA about 7 years ago (around Aug of 1999) and I saw it as a chance of starting a new kind of life, moving in to a career I had wanted to be in since high school, even though I earned a college degree in a totally different area. It was also a chance to explore my life in a different direction than it had been.

In many ways I'm glad I did it. I know I'm a different and better person for the experience. The one way that still makes me sad is the friends I left behind. I didn't think it would bother me as much as it did at first, and though I eventually got used to the change, it's never been something I completely accepted.

That's why I was glad to go up to Philly this past weekend and see some of those people that I was closest to and just hang out BSing, playing a game and just enjoying each other's company (at least I hope everyone was feeling the love).

I miss you guys every week, sometimes daily, but it's good to know that I can still come home from time to time.

A Poem

I don't write poetry as much as I used to (this was the first one I've written in a year and a half), but I was writing a journal (ok, diary) entry and I used a phrase that immediately inspired me to write this poem. The poem has a title, but it's much to personal for me, so on here, it's untitled.

If only everything was different
and you were still here with us
Would you have remained in the circle
Or drifted away like a lost ballon

Would you visit on weekends and
Call each other during the week
Or would it be a card, an email
And empty promises to keep in touch

Sadly I would take any outcome
The good, the bad, the bright or the dark
Whatever you'd chose to offer
If only everything was different