Monday, March 27, 2006
Quote of the Day
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
- Galileo Galilei
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
More Meme
Lifted from Paul and Gretchen.
Chapter 1:
Your Intials: Real name? ABS. I thank goodness my parents didn't make my middle name begin with an S.
Middle name: Benjamin
Sex: guy
Date of birth: 6/19
Current location: Earth
Height: 5'9"
Hair length: long enough
Hair color: Brown with red highlights. My dad tried 3 times to have a redhead, and I was the closest result that wasn't helped along with a bottle of dye.
Piercings: None that were intentional.
Chapter 2: Background
Do you live with your parents? no.
Do you get along with your parents?: yes
Are you parents married/separated/divorced?: married and very much in love
Do you have any siblings? two younger sisters
What pets do you have? none in this apartment, but at my parents' house there's a cat that's emotionally mine.
Chapter 3: My Fav.
City: Baltimore, if only because of the Inner Harbor
Ice Cream flavor: vanilla, but variety is good.
Season: fall. good camping weather
Shampoo/conditioner: whatever's cheapest - my hair is very forgiving.
Old nickelodeon show: Mr. Wizard. I apparently knew more than many of the kids he had on his show.
Color: Forest Green, Navy Blue, earth tones.
Cheesy pick-up line: "So, come here often?" (I only use this one on Kelli. She has yet to hit me hard enough to make me stop using it.)
Chapter 4: Do You
Sing in the shower? sometimes, but the walls here are rather thin so not so much.
Write memos on your hand?: only if I have no paper
Call people back?: Call? Um, I'll be right back....
Have your driver's license?: ::checks:: Whew! Yes.
Believe in love?: For many years now, yes.
Sleep on a certain side of the bed?: When Kelli's home, yes. On the rare occasions when we're not together, I hog the whole bed.
Think you're attractive?: Eh, sorta ... but I wouldn't date me.
Wear glasses or contacts?: glasses
Have any weird pet peeves?: yes. I hate when people don't finish their
Chapter 5: Have you ever
Broken a bone?: arm, near the wrist
Had stitches?: upper inner leg, when I fell on a rusty pipe
Punched someone in the face? No, but I've been punched a few times.
Skipped school?: One or two college classes, but I always made up the work.
Taken painkillers?: I try not to, even when doctors prescribe them, but yes I have in the past.
Gone SCUBA diving?: nope
Been stung by a jellyfish: nope
Been stung by a bee?: No, but I once stirred up a yellow jacket hive by hitting it with a weedwacker. Two other people got stung when they tried to get those things off of me.
Thrown up in a restaurant?: nope
Written a letter to Santa Claus?: used to make collage letters with pictures of the toys I wanted
Had detention?: In elementary school I rarely did my homework. That was apparently worth several detentions.
Been sent to the principal's office?: oh, yeah.
Been called a Hoe?: No, nor have I been called any other garden implements. Having taught high school for four years I've been called a lot worse, though.
Met someone famous?: Neil Armstrong. He signed my hall pass. :)
Chapter 6: Random
One thing that hurts your feelings?: When people I care about don't care about themselves.
Do you prefer blonde hair or brown hair?: Brown, but hair color isn't one of my top concerns.
Chapter 7: Love
Are you single or taken: very much taken
Do you believe in love at first sight?: I believe that others believe in it, but I don't think it's love until you KNOW the person.
Ever been in love?: Yes, currently.
Last person to tell you they love you?: Kelli
Ever had your heart broken?:yes
Ever broken a heart?: doubt it.
Last time your heart was broken?: YEARS ago.
Best love song?: First & the Last, by Clann Zú. (It's a free download off their site.)
Chapter 8: Last
Last thing you ate?: Chick Fill-A chicken nugget
Last thing you said?: "One of the questions asks what's the last thing I said. Now I'm going to be silent until I answer that question." (Said to Kelli, when describing this meme.)
Last song you listened to?: Bring Me To Life, by Evanescence.
Last person who called you?: Kelli
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Meme Time
Stolen from my sister.
1. What does your LJ name mean?
It's a combination of two fictional characters I created years ago. Blake Ambrose and Marwood Emrys were polar opposites. In reality most of us are somewhere in between.
2. What does your LJ head line mean?
Divine Aesthetics are what I look for when I hunt for things to photograph: Subjects that look so nice, they have to be Heaven sent.
3. Elaborate on your default photo:
A while back I tried making a webcomic. I couldn't stay interested, but I got some icon fodder out of it. As for the text ... I saw it on a t-shirt and thought it was hilarious. If you don't get the joke, I won't explain it.
4. What's your current relationship status?
Very, very happy. Going on 5 years.
5. What exactly are you wearing right now?
Brown sweater, green cargo pants, leather shoes.
6. What is your current problem?
Financial, just like the rest of the U.S. if you listen to the news.
7. What do you love most?
God, family, and friends. Beyond that, my job and really cool art.
8. What makes you most happy?
Time alone with loved ones, long walks through the woods with my camera. (I need to do more of those.)
9. Are you musically talented?
Sometimes I can sing a song perfectly. Other times I'm glad I'm alone in the car. I also used to be able to beat on a drum, but I haven't done that for years. More recently I've played around with Apple's GarageBand program.
10. If you could go back in time, and change something, what would it be?
We would have never spent a year in our "apartment from Hell."
12. Ever have a near death experience?
If I did, I was too young to remember.
13. Name an obvious quality you have?
Sarcasm. It's a family trait.
14. What's the name of the song that's stuck in your head right now?
Ultimate Showdown. (Damn you, Paul!)
15. Who will copy and paste this first?
Maybe Kelli. She was asking about this while I was filling it out.
16. Name someone with the same b-day as you:
Garfield the cat. Seriously. He's one year younger than me.
17. Have you ever vandalized someone's private property?
Only my own property, but I guess that doesn't count.
18. Have you ever been in a fight?
I've helped break up a few.
20. What's the first thing you notice about the OPPOSITE sex:
Her face.
21. What do you usually order from Starbucks/RITUALS?
No coffee for me, Dr's orders. Besides, why would I pay so much for so little coffee when I can't taste the difference between them and the powdered swill they serve at Wawa?
22. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
Does pulling out a hangnail count?
23. Say something totally random about yourself:
I'm in love with RSS feeds. Thanks to that little bit of code I can read over 100 blogs a day and still have time to procrastinate.
24. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
I've had students tell me I look like Jack Black. (Those kids were young enough that I was surprised they knew who he was.) In high school I also had kids tell me I looked like "That guy in the cab on Mtv." That was not a compliment.
26. Did you have braces?
No, thank goodness.
27. Are you comfortable with your height?
Yup. I'm happy when I'm taller than my students.
28. What is the most romantic thing someone has ever done for you?
Been there for me. I won't elaborate here.
29. Do you speak any other languages?
I speak just enough French to make people who don't speak French think I speak French.
31. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
I've walked PAST one....
32. What kind of magazines do you read?
I don't. Magazines cost money, and websites are free.
33. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes. Last time was when Kelli and I had just started dating. We were both in my brother-in-law's wedding party. Oddly enough, Kelli and I didn't use a limo. We're still married, but his wife cheated on him and they divorced.
34. Has anyone you were really close with passed away?
Yes.
35. Do you ever watch MTV?
When I was younger my parents wouldn't let me. When I got older and moved out they had stopped playing music on Mtv, so it wasn't as interesting. Now the only reason we have cable is because Kelli wants it and pays for it. I'll watch Mythbusters and a couple other shows, but otherwise the internet is my entertainment center.
36. What's something that really annoys you?
Educators who have forgotten why they chose their profession. Lucky for me the K-6 environment has fewer of those than the 9-12 scene.
37. Do you give random hugs and kisses?
To my wife, yes. Also, Kindergardeners will often give me random hugs. When five or more do so at the same time they can take most people down.
38. What's the latest you have ever stayed up?
Once a couple years ago I stayed up all night because Kelli was in the hospital. I just didn't feel like sleeping. That's also the only all nighter I ever pulled.
39. Have you ever been rushed into the emergency room?
Last year I sliced the tip of my thumb in half, right through the fingernail. At the hospital they superglued it together.
40. Would you ever marry a relative?
If you marry someone, then they're related to you. If you were related BEFORE you got hitched, then ... eeeeeeeeew.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
More Cuteness
Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda PandaBamboo! Bamboo!
Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda Panda ...
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Ask A Ninja.com
This has got to be the funniest video podcast I've seen. Ever. I've been subscribed to it for a while, and it continues to provide nonsensical humor in bite sized chunks.But don't just take my word for it, go check out all of their fabulous episodes.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Former President's Earwax Spoon On Display
Just when I think I have nothing to blog about, I go and see this in my RSS feed.Must be a slow news day.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Another Quiz
Another forward from Mom. This time I plead the 5th concerning my score.| World's easiest quiz. Passing requires only 4 correct answers....a measly 40%. 1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 2) Which country makes Panama hats? 3) From which animal do we get catgut? 4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? 5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? 6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific is named after what animal? 7) What was King George VI's first name? 8) What color is a purple finch? 9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? 10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? All done? Check your answers below! Scroll Down ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ 1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years 2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador 3) From which animal do we get catgut? Sheep and Horses 4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November 5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur 6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific is named after what animal? Dogs 7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert 8) What color is a purple finch? Crimson 9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand 10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange, of course. What do you mean you failed? Pass this on to all of your "brilliant" friends. |
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
WOW: the Text Adventure
I may not play World of Warcraft myself, but I still know enough about MMORPGs to find this article highly amusing.Tuesday, March 07, 2006
One Question IQ Test
My mother forwarded this to me, and I'm happy to say I passed.|
One-Question IQ Test Here's a one-question IQ Test to help you decide how you should spend the rest of your day...... There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now, if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself? Think about it first before scrolling down for the answer... He opens his mouth and says. "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses" If you got this wrong - please turn off your computer and call it a day. I've got mine shutting down right now. |
Monday, March 06, 2006
Misinformed
Today I took a sick day to go to a lab and have lots of tests done in
an attempt to see if I can give Kelli one of my kidneys.
Johns Hopkins sent the paperwork (including a list of tests that was more
alphabet soup than anything I could decipher) and a box with some test
tubes, and Kelli called up a local lab.
She was told that I did not need an appointment, but I should try to get there before 10 AM since one of the tests would take two hours.
She was told wrong.
I got there at 8:30 and, after waiting half an hour, was told:
- I needed an appointment because one of the tests was two hours long.
- Because they would have to send the blood to Johns Hopkins for processing their lab wouldn't get to do anything. That meant they wouldn't get paid. They don't draw blood for free.
- One of the tests requires a "24 hour urine sample" before the blood is drawn, so even if points 1 and 2 weren't problems they still wouldn't be able to do anything. I also had not received any containers for said urine sample.
I'm a bit ticked off right now, and I'm sure it's only made worse by the fact that the instructions I DID receive said I couldn't eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the tests.
I took a sick day.
That sick day cannot be made up.
My whole schedule is pushed back one day, and there's nothing I can do about it.
I think I'll play some violent video games to blow off some steam, then catch up on my paperwork. No sense in wasting the day completely.
