November 2006 Archives

Mi Mama has given Flounder and I TiVo for Christmas. And yes, in classic La style, the box arrived today and is currently recording TV shows, way before Christmas. So sue me ok? Usually in my family, especially for Mi Mama, Christmas is the time for lying. I mean she typically she will do almost anything to keep our Christmas gifts a secret. She would bob, weave, deceive and lie if needed. Not so this year. Like so many other things that have changed this year, the way we give gifts has shifted.

I am happy to know that we will still be doing stockings this year. I thought that the stocking would soft of fade away quietly, the way Easter baskets and toothfairy payoffs did. I guess we all love them too much to let that tradition die.

Quote of the Day:
TV is chewing gum for the eyes.
Frank Lloyd Wright

I just accidentally dropped three coins in one of the toilets of our 5 stall bathroom at the office! Even after flushing, they are just sitting there in the bottom of the bowl all shiny. What should I do?
I see 3 options...

A) Do nothing (this is what I favor)
B) Call maintenence and report the coins like someone else did it
C) Go fish them out myself (EWWW!)

What do you think?

When we adpoted Josie, we had no idea we haad picked up the deluxe model. Sure, she had her moments, like when she was in heat, when we thought we might have thought we picked up a sub-par cat, but not so. Our cat has a special feature. She is self-brushing! I discovered this fantastic talent when after brushing her one day the cat brush feel on the floor. My little glutton-for-grooming cuddled right up against that the brush on the floor and started rubbing her face and neck against it. Oh, how she purred!

Now I just leave the brush on the floor for her brushing pleasure.

Cat site of the Day:
Review: Juvenile felis catus

Quote of the Day:
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see”
Mark Twain

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!

A Charlie Brown Christmas is on tonight! ABC at 8 PM. I plan on sittling down with my Christmas list and starting to write cards while I enjoy the Christmas goodness.

I am also excited that the first mystery arch wraps up tonight on Veronica Mars! CW at 9 pm incase anyone cares.

Is it just me, or did Mircosoft just do something really right here?

Check out Ms. Dewey. She's a very pretty girl, you kind you don't bring home to Mama.

Quote of the Day:
"Oh, was that a pity search? How Sweet!"
Ms. Dewey

I am very pleased with myself this evening. With just a few hours work I have pieces together the top of a runner and added the batting and backing. All I need to do finish the quilting and the table runner I plan on giving my Mother-in-Law for Christmas will be done! Make her off the list. I'm so happy!

Mi Mama has really turned our holiday plans upsidedown this year. Not only will her new Beau most likely be spending the Holiday with us, but also some extended family. In the past Christmas morning has been a much smaller more intimate event. I am not upset about it, I just need a little time to adjust. Everytime I start to think I am capable of being spontaneous, I am reminded that going with the flow really isn't my nature.

Quote of the Day:
"Cause, "Cake or death?" That's a pretty easy question. Anyone could answer that.
"Cake or death?"
"Eh, cake please."
"Very well! Give him cake!"
"Oh, thanks very much. It's very nice."
"You! Cake or death?"
"Uh, cake for me, too, please."
"Very well! Give him cake, too! We're gonna run out of cake at this rate. You! Cake or death?"
"Uh, death, please. No, cake! Cake! Cake, sorry. Sorry..."
"You said death first, uh-uh, death first!"
"Well, I meant cake!"
"Oh, all right. You're lucky I'm Church of England!" Cake or death?"”
Eddie Izzard

I am happy to say that I have caught the spirit! I picked it up was somewhere between doing 60% of my Christmas shopping online yesterday (love those online Black Friday Deals!) and visiting the 11th Annual Winter Light show in our local park.

Filled with the Spirit, Flounder and I spent today walking the historic sections of Ellicott City and Frederick today. The weather was beautiful, the company was fantastic and we had a wonderful day.

And just like that, I feel totally in control and am anticipating a delightful holiday season. What a difference a day makes!

Quote of the Day:
It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.
Babe Ruth

Why, Why Mr. BA, Mrs. PNB and Ms. Ennui, WHY? Why have you switched to Blogger Beta? Not only can't I read your postings with my RSS reader, I can't leave comments from my Mac. Help! Any suggestions?

Kisses!

Quote of the Day:
(From Dirty Jobs)
Bob the Hog Farmer: Don't get discouraged.
Mike Roe: I'll get discouraged later, right now I am just demoralized.

Yesterday was a whirl of friends, family and turkey. Flounder and I had not one but two turkey meals yesterrday. First lunch with the Storybook family, and then dinner with Mi Mama, Micah and Co. Despite 2 grumpy grandmas, we managed to have delightful time. What I didn't have time for was reflecting on what I am thankful for this year. So hear goes!

*Flounder! I really couldn't ask for a better partner.
*The Internet. Thanks the to magic of the web, I have been able to do half of my Christmas shopping between last night and this morning.
*Becoming a bit more Brave. I have done a handful of scary things lately and came through it unscathed.
*Family. I am very happy to have married into a family that while different from my own, have melded pretty seamlessly. How lucky am I?
*Having more than enough. So many people don't have their basic needs met. I realize how fortunate I am.
*Support. Everything is easier when you are surrounded by enthusiastic supporters.

I am also grateful for three more days away from work. I think I feel some quilting coming on.

Quote of the Day:
“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
James Arthur Baldwin

Why is it that cats Love fish, but hate water?

Quote of the Day:
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
Buddha

Back in 2001-2002 I was in a very uncertain place in my life. I was laid off and although I was able to find a new job pretty quickly, my confidence was shaken. That was when I found Steve. Steve was understanding. He was thoughtful. He loved his dog and damn, he knew how to find those clues.

Steve and I would get together every Saturday morning (After Little Bill) and together he, his curiously sentient friends and I would get together and solved manufactured mysteries. Blue, his not surprisingly blue dog would lead the clue finding charge. The show set a very reasuring routine for me. I realize it is a bit strange that at 23 I enjoyed programing designed for the pre-K crowd, but what can I say? I loved Steve. He spoke with slightly hushed calming tones. He was so confident that I always had the right answer. Steve had faith in me, and I loved him for it.

But all good things come to an end. Steve decided it was time to "go to school" and leave his friends and trusty dog in the hands of his bouncy cousin Joe. I took an instant dislike to this Joe character. He wanted to play different games. He was a little noisy and expected to be BFF from the word go. I quickly had enough and drowned my sorrows in pancakes, mouning the loss of a fictional friend who helped me through a tough time.

Steve you will always be special to me. Thanks for the memories.

Quote for the Day:
Yeah, you know, I'm having a great time out there. It's a lot like talking to yourself at the bottom of the swimming pool.
Steve Burns

What do I want for Christmas?

the Transtrap
Gingher Fabric Scissors
Pinking Shears
Quilters Template Plastic
Leather Gloves
Ella Placesettings
Glosswear for Lips, Black Honey
White Sports Socks
Black Dress Socks
TiVo!
Home to Big Stone Gap: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke

And now for the long shot:
Coach SOHO Leather Small Flap, Mahogany

Quote of the Day:
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Martin Luther King Jr.

OK I admit it. This entry is a total cop out.

I love...Puffs To Go
I hate...that thin liquid that comes out of the mustard bottle before the mustard
I love...Onion Tater Tots
I hate...that stupid safari vest Flounder wears around the house
I love...Ellicott City antique shops
I hate...Stinky liter
I love...Port Cheese
I hate...Professional Wrestling

Quote of the Day:
I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.
Zsa Zsa Gabor

Last night Flounder and I went to go see Casino Royale, the latest James Bond film. Haven't seen any of the Pierce Brosnan 007 films and the Bond film I have seen most recently was Goldfinger, so I didn't exactly know what I was in for.

*BEWARE Spoiler Starts here. If you don't want to know what happens in this movie, stop here. I take no responsibility. Seriously.*

Things I liked:
* Daniel Craig. BIG thumbs up. He a smooth, flawed and rough around the edges. More Clive Owen in The Inside Man than Pierce Brosnan in the Thomas Crown affair. Except more athletic. And with bluer eyes (I really think DC has taken the "Bluest Eyes On The Planet" award away from Paul Newman. Could that be?) and a better suit. Speaking of the suit, the man can really fill on out...hmmm...ok I am focusing. Yeah, I liked the new Bond.

*Meaningful Bond Girls. The women in this film (even the poor short lived one) really had a purpose other than being a sexy body for 007 to fool around with. I really have no problem with all the sexy women in action films (let's face it, pretty is pretty) but I like it when the writers can find a reason for them to be there.

*Witty Repartee. Ok so some of the dialog was not great, but plenty of it was above par and almost all of it was better than what I have seen from Bond films in the past. Yay for boy/girl banter.

Things I didn't like:
*The opening title sequence. It was stupid and card themed and ugly and dumb. And stupid. Oh and Flounder didn't like that there were no cleverly stylized naked females displayed in anyway during the opening credits. It's not just me.

*The Big Bad cried blood. Uck!

*Apparently now african guns for hire practice free running (or parkour) and have the ankle/knee strength of Wolverine. I mean it, or a few minutes I was waiting for Bond to discover that the guy he was chasing really belongs in Men In Black or X-men.

*The film really deserved a R rating. Between the bruital deaths & naked troture, PG-13 really didn't cut it.

*All the people in the airplane hanger were digitally inserted and I could tell. Annoying.

I think there is more, but frankly I have been doing nothing but homework for several hours now and I can't think anymore.

Quote of the Day:
James Bond: "Vesper"? I do hope you gave your parents hell for that!

It is very possible that my friends and I aren't as funny as I think we are. Maybe. All I know is the group I spent the evening with last night made me laugh. A lot.

We were taking the opportunity to spend the evening with "Seamus" before he heads out to Iraq with the Navy later this week. Yoda, Maryment, Fliven, Ms. RBT, Ms. WAS, Mr. BA, Seamus and I enjoyed drinks, dinner and a movie.

We saw Stranger Than Fiction, which I believe everyone enjoyed. Fliven was even willing to see the film twice just to hang with his friends (unlike some others we know, Ahem). Despite having some beer spilled on me (no hard feelings Yoda!) and the lingering dry hacking cough I have been propagating, I had a really lovely evening. I only wish (as I often do) I had taken the time to write down a few of the choice funnies my friends were offering. I think I coughed as much as I laughed, but it was well worth it.

P.S.> Stay Safe S! And take lost of pictures.

P.S.S.> Whoo Hoo Fliven, Maryment and Yoda for doing the Walk fo the Homeless today. Good on ya!

Quote of the Day:
"On a scale of one to ten, what would you consider the likelihood that you might be assassinated?"
Dustin Hoffman, Stranger Than Fiction

I missed my Friday entry! Sh*t!

I will post a real entry once I have gotten some sleep.

I will always be a little in love with Mr. BA:

Mr. BA: On a train with SO MANY grab bars!!!

Me: All ovetr you head?

Mr. BA: 24 Vertical!

Me: Take pictures! Redline?

Mr. BA: Too late. Green.

Me: Next time

This little SMS dialog harkens back to my blog entry at the beginning of the month regarding the redesign of Metro's train cars. Seriously how cute is he?

Quote of the Day:
Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets and then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again.
Unknown, Marin County newspaper's TV listing for "The Wizard of Oz"

I want to use my entry today to endorse a program that Xerox is sponsoring called Let's Say Thanks.

"The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women." (from the website)

It costs you nothing, but could mean the world to someone far away, especially during the holidays!

Quote of the Day:
Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.
Cicero

The cups are red, the grocery store is selling stockings, but my Christmas list is blank. Nearly anyway -- does anyone else feel totally unprepared for Christmas? There is so much to do! I realize we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet but I feel like I usually have all of my gift ideas tallied and organized in a spreadsheet ready to go. Not this year. Maybe it's because 2006 has been such an unusual and busy annum? I mean, Flounder and I got hitched, Mi Mama sold her old house and bought a new one, Micah moved out on his own and is totally supporting himself for the first time, and the Storybook Father retired and the SBPs are living a life of retirement bliss. It's been a big year. What on earth do you buy these people?

Meanwhile Flounder and I are embarking on our first truely combined gift purchasing/giving exercise this year and I don't think he was prepared for the number of gifts I give and the amount of money I usually spend during the holidays. Oh, Dear. I think I feel some compromises coming on. Stupid Marriage! (I Kid! I kid cause I love!)

A little ray of hope is peeking through though. I realized yesterday that I had a ton of leave that I haven't used and will expire December 18th. You see I can only roll over 2 weeks worth of leave (for me it's combined sick and vaca) and the rest of my 3.5 week total either needs to be used or the time will be payed out in cash come February. It's not a bad setup, I am pretty lucky but I decided to use some of my time. Which means I have all of next week off! Whoo Hoo!

The question is, will I used the time wisely? Will I work on quilting and canning projects that have a Christmas deadline? Will I do a deep clean of the house in prep for December visitors? Will I organize my thought on our holiday plans? Or will I sit on the couch? Stay tuned Dear Reader, and watch what happens!

Quote of the Day:
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Confucius

* Who's line is it anyway
* The Holidays
* Coke Zero
* Fat Quarters
* Little Paws
* HungryGirl.com
* California by Rufus Wainwright
* Coral Pink
* Mackenzie Astin
* When people say "cheers" as a sign off

Quote of the Day:
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
Albert Einstein

As I mentioned earlier, I spent Friday and Saturday traveling via bus to 13 different quilt shops through out the MD/DC/NoVa area with Mrs. A. The trip was organized by Patches, a local quilt shop in Mt. Airey. Jackie was our "curise director" for the trip keeping all 34 of us on time and entertained. It was a lot of fun being the youngest (at 28) woman on the bus. I was also the resident newbie. It was really a pleasure to talk to some the these women, and check out the things thye bought and how they planned to use their materials. Fueled by creative drive and Gingerbread Lattes, I purchased enough drool-worthy material to complete at least 5 different projects. Here is a photo of my new stash:

In addition to collecting a stamp at each store (which Jackie took care of for the whole crew) we also had the opportunity to purchase a different block from each store. If you bought them all you would have all basic pieces to create a basket quilt designed Jinny Beyer, the first lady of modern quilting. Each of the shops completed their own version of the basket quilt. Here is a detail photo of what Capital Quilts created:

For my taste this design is a bit much but I decided to collect the pieces because the construction will be an interesting and challenging project once I hone my skills a bit. Also I liked the colors enough to think that it would make a good gift from someone with more traditional tastes. Plus, who am I to say no to Jinny Beyer? I got a chance to meet the Martha Stewart of quilting in the flesh in the on Saturday when we visited her "studio" in Great Falls. Now it is true that her work is really fabulous and I understand that she has done a lot to bring back quilting as a pastime, but there is a strange reverence with which people speak of her that is WAY over the top. Many treat her like the end all and be all of quilting and frankly it's a little silly.

I was also really pleased to learn about a special cause that Mrs. A participates in called Project Linus. It's an organization that collects quilts and other blankets for hospitalized and chronically ill children. People donate materials, hard work and complete blankets to the charity. Learning more reminded me of the handmade toy turtle I was given in the hospital when I had my tonsils removed at 5 years old. This is certainly something I wasnt to get involved with.

All in all a delightful way to spend two days.

Quote of the Day:
My first memory is of the brightness of light - light all around. I was sitting among pillows on a quilt on the ground - very large white pillows.
Georgia O'Keefe

I am saving my entry about the Quilter's Quest until tomorrow because I am too darned beat to do it justice this evening. However I would like to mnetion that I had my very first Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks of the season yesterday. It was heaven, just as the frist GL of each season always is.

It's noce to see some things never change.

Quote of the Day:
The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It's a choice you make - not just on your wedding day, but over and over again - and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife.
Barbara de Angelis

Today I took the day off. And I went on a Quest. A Quilting Quest. Infact the Quilter's Quest Shop Hop! Am I starting to make sense yet? No? Well, the general idea is this. 13 diffierent quiliting shops in the Baltimore/DC/NoVa area banded together to sponsor a special weekend. As a Shop Hopper my goal is to visit all the participating stores, collecting stamps in my "passport" at each store along the way. Upon turning in the "passport" at the last store I will be entered into a sweepstakes like none other (or something like that). I will be given a special tote bag and officially earn my stripes as a Quilt Dork.

Seriously though I decided to participate in this two day extravaganza 1) To spend time bonding with Red's Mom Mrs. A, who is my Quilting Sensei, 2) To learn more about the quilting resources in the area and discover which of these stores are worthy of my partonage.

So far it is has a lot of fun! Well as much fun as a Twenty-something can have on an 11 hour bus trip with 34, Forty and Fifty-something quilt enthusiasts. Which is a suprisingly large amount!

I will provide a full throttle re-cap (with pictures!) tomrrow when I return from QQ2.

Special Note: On this special day, thank you to all those who have served and died in service to the United States.

Quote of the Day:
“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”
Julia Cameron

I love This American Life. If you haven't listened before (and if so, shame one you) it is an NPR radio show hosted and produced by Ira Glass and tells quirky stories, portraits of events or goings on in peoples lives. There is always a theme, which changes from week to week. I really enjoy listening in the car, alone thinking about the real odd, wonderful and terrible things that happen to other people. I think the reason I most enjoy the show is because I can see myself as a contributer. I could totally tell a wacky story from my life which the listening public would enjoy. Come on, you know I am right.

Remember that 29 year old wannabe comic who I dated briefly when I was 18? The pothead I couldn't identify as such becauce I didn't know what pot smelled like?

And that one where I left my car running ALL DAY at the Metro while at work and attending a preview of American Beauty (where I talked to Kevin Spacey!) and returned to my car after 10:00 pm to find it still running! No overheating. No theft.

Don't forget that time Red and I convinced a lovestruck (with Red) rainbow-haired punk to drive us to Tennessee so I could meet the guy I had been flirting with over the internet?

So, I could totally be on the show. I love that show. I would fit right in.

*****************

Sidenote: I just wanted to mention, after spewing so much angst earlier this week, that I am really going to work on this issue, not just whine about it blog-style. I probably won't bring it up again here until I have made some progress or had a miraculous epiphany.

****************
Quote of the Day:
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings."
William Blake

I am really not very politically minded. I don't pay as much attention to the political scene as I should. Most of the time I leave that up to Flounder. However, the thing that has driven me crazy about the current administration is the over-blown sense of self assurance and arrogance. That said, I was pleasantly suprised by the tone of the Preident's press conference this afternoon. He actually sounded human and very nearly personable! Really he spoke kindly and respectfully of the opposition. I nearly died. Truly, he made me almost like him.

*The President assessment of the cummulative effect of yesterday's elections.

Quote of The Day:
Please see above. :)

Yesterday I wrote about phoning in my assignments and participation for my current english class. Maryment posted this comment: "Do I need to point out your pattern of behavior of starting things strongly and then throwing in the towel abruptly and whole-heartedly???"

Maryment has hit the nail on the head with this one. I have a few characteristics and behavior patterns that really holds me back. The biggest one I have been struggling with over the last year or so is my tendancy to enthusiastically start a project, program or plan -- shouting my intentions from the rooftops, and then shortly thereafter drop the whole thing like it never happend. I even outlined the problem in relation to my weight loss struggles back in August.

Remember this?
"I start a new program and it's effective, I start to lose, and then I start to fiddle. I add in foods I am not supposed to have, or change the portion size. Why must I futz with a good thing? Lather, rinse, repeat -- no matter which plan I am on I repeat the same behavior."

I haven't gotten anywhere with this issue since that entry. Oh, I have mused on it and made plans to change. But really the plans are half my problem. Years ago when Ms. WAS and I were room mates, she pointed out that I spent a lot of time planning, but not much time doing. "Yeah, so?" I thought at the time. "I like to plan, so sue me." But her point was valid. Creating a plan (or making a list) makes me good about myself. Just look at all the things I will accomplish! I even feel pretty good when I start a project, but soon the reality of what it will take to complete the project sets in and I quit. It's not always about avoiding work though -- sometimes I just get distracted, or don't use my time well. Regardless of how it happens I am often thrown off track and end up wondering what ever happened to my beautiful plan. And really the plans are good, just a bit ambitious. Small goals seem so unrewarding (small goal, small reward) that I usually set Big Goals! Lose 100 pounds before the year is out! Reorganize my entire house using this new book! Start cooking dinner every night! These big goals usually end up being unsustainable. I get that, I really do, but the truely discouraging part is the little goals seem pretty hard to manage as well.

Why is so hard to keep the sink empty? The clothes off the floor? My desk clear of clutter? OK, I'll tell you, its the constant maintinance. Just about every area of my life requires constant tending. I realize I am not the only one who has to manage their lives on a day to day basis. So what am I getting at? I guess that keeping a life together and trying to be a better person is hard, never ceasing work and I don't always want to deal with it. And lately I have wanted to deal even less than usual.

So it's back to the drawing board. I guess I need a strategy for conquring this stuff...maybe I will make a list.

Quote of the Day:
It used to be that you came out of school, and you got married - those who were going to get married. But my peers are getting married in their early 30s, so now there's like this extra 10 years of that angst.
Zach Braff

(I told you I would bring the Angst did I not?)

Ways you know I have been phoning in my English Class:

* I don't start my assignment until the day before class.
* I haven't ask Maryment to proofread any of my work.
* I do more doodling in class than note taking.
* I don't finish my assignments until 2 hours before class.
* I don't even pretend to do the reading.

Quote of the Day:
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
George Eliot

I will admit I don't always vote in local elections (sorry, Ms. RBT!) I do plan on voting on Tuesday primarily because I don't want to lose the right to complain about the government amongst my friends. Do you enjoy whining about the powers that be? Then you must vote too, or be shuned by thinking voters everywhere! Do it! I don't want to be the only on standing in line.

Need some help?

*Are you a Maryland voter unsure where you should cast your ballot? Thanks to UMBC, you can find your polling place here.

*If you live in MoCo and aren't sure who is running the current election, check out this non-partian voter guide.

*What? You're not registered to vote? Just do it.

Quote of the Day:
“Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: 'Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flounder and I have just returned home from seeing The Prestige in the theater. I loved this film, and not just because it is chocked full of pretty people (Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale *faints* and Scarlett Johanssen), but because it brings together the twists and turns of Momento with the costumed drama of Howard's End.

Although casting Christian Bale is always a good way to lure me to a film, I was super excited to see David Bowie (thankfully not in tights a la The Labyrinth) and Andy Serkis (of Gollum fame) as unexpected member of the cast. One thing that will have my mind turning for a few hours: there is a bit of film trickery involving (so as not to create a spoiler I will be fantastically vague here...) someone's face that is driving me nuts. I may have to call our resident graphics expert Yoda on this tomorrow.

I will allow the of my thoughts on this film to remain contained until after I have seen The Illusionist (which I hope will be soon).

Quote of The Day:
Magic lies in challenging what seems impossible.
Carol Moseley Braun

Between the bloggers participating in NaBloPoMo and novelists in NaNoWriMo, November is all about writing. I thought I would take this opportunity to give shoutouts to some of my favorite paper and ink authors. Check out their respective sites:

Adriana Trigiani
Jasper Fforde
SARK
Jennifer Weiner
Elizabeth Peabody
Audrey Niffenegger
Laurie R. King
Bill Bryson
Kurt Vonnegut
Susanna Clarke

Happy Reading!

Quote of the Day:
The world may be full of fourth-rate writers but it's also full of fourth-rate readers.
Stan Barstow

After dealing with far to many single occupant cars and calling the cops yesterday, I am happy to report that there was a state police officer monitoring the HOV lane today and I didn't see a single violator. It was a nice way to start the day.

I was in full Road Rage mode while traveling in to work this morning. I started out in a light pleasant mood until the idiots invaded the HOV lane.

*start flashback*
It was a highly typical Autumn morning commute -- the traffic was heavy but the weather was fetching. Holding Flounder's hand as he drove and I sipped my coffee, I watched the world go by thinking about that my work day might bring. Glancing around me I noticed a light blue Toyota Tercel bogeying from the far left to right of the HOV lane just before us. The driver seemed to be trying to look around the traffic while riding the bumper of the van in front of him. The long line of congested traffic snaked out as far as the eye could see. Then I noticed that this gentleman was the only individual in his vehicle. And I erupted, "Get out of the HOV lane ye Bastard!" I became very annoyed and fidgety knowing this swerving as*hat did not belong in our lane. Road rage began to set it.

A few minutes of cursing and staring passed before I noticed that the cream colored Audi behind me also on had one occupant! "You've got to be f'ing kidding me!" I shouted, "That's it! Where are the cops?", I was really riled now! Flounder remaining calm through it all suggested I could call them. Ah ha! Pulling out my Treo, I hit the speed dial button I previously programmed for the MoCo non-emergency number. A very nice operator answered and after hearing a brief summery of my complaint said 270 was managed by the State Police and he would transfer me, I was feeling better already. Then the next (also nice) operator answered I informed him that I had was sandwiched between two single occupant vehicles on 270 in the HOV. He asked something like, "Two cars each with only one occupant?" and I confirmed his statement before he said, "Thanks for letting us know, we will take care of it." After he rung off I quickly realized that a) I had just gotten the brush-off from the state police and b) there was ANOTHER single occupant car ahead of me (behind the Tercel, and another multi-occupant sedan) this time a dark green Miata.

I think I might have screamed that this point. Poor Flounder, I was spoiling for a fight! I managed to dial it down a little while using my eagle eyes to spy for police cars, hoping the offenders might get their comeuppance right under my nose. Sadly there was no vindication for me this morning.
*end flashback*

I rest assured this afternoon that Karma is as sure a thing as gravity, and there is a special place in Hell for HOV violators.

Quote of the Day:
I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect.
George Carlin

Back in late September I entered a rush hour Metro train at Shady Grove headed toward downtown. At first I was very disoriented by what I encountered. This was not the Metro train I can come to know and, er, tolerate. No! I stepped into Bizzaro World! Or maybe just a sample train setup to test the new configuration soon to be seen on the Green Line?

What? No Cross Bars?
Check out the circular confiuration of the overhead bars. This is the ceiling of the "vestibule" (if you will). Is this meant to discourage riders from standing in the middle of the entrance space? I don't know about you, but at 5"2', I can't readily reach those ceiling bars. What do the designers of this layout suggest I hold on to, I ask! There are still vertical bars running along the plexi dividing wall (between the door and the seats) but now there is only one wall and bar by each of the doors.

So They All Rolled Over and One Fell Out
Two interesting issues to note in the photo below. 1) The central bars that used to be located just in front of the "priority seating" are gone. Yes, this means there are even fewer bars to hold on to. 2) Your eyes aren't deceiving you, there are 5 people sitting in a row of 5 seats that run along the wall where priviously one would find the two "priority" seats and the first row of "normal" seats. I will say it is really quite uncomfortable being pressed up against a neighbor on both sides while sitting on this long bench seat.

In Over My Head
The overhead bar craziness contines as we look down the length of the train car. Note the zigzag action, the circular configuration near the doors and the ceiling to seat vertical bars halfway down the train. Also check out the ceiling mounted camera. I applaude the idea of more security on the trains, but I would be curious to know how the captured footage would be used. Monitored in real-time, watchable in real-time only in case of an emergency or maybe reviewed after an incident on the train?

But How Do You Really Feel About It?
I will admit that this layout did keep people away from the doors more efficiently then the old layout. Howeer I am concerned with what the short will hold onto when the train is really packed. Will I have to sweet talk my way over to a wall so as not to fly about the train when it gets underway? As of yet this train config, is not being implemented on the Red Line and for the time being I am grateful.

In Other Metro News
You can now download the Metro map to you iPod! Check it out here .

Quote Of The Day:
“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.