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My Creepy Neighbor, Bill

Holy Crap!!! This dude was my next door neighbor in Congress Park for nearly three years. We mowed the lawn together. My sister even worked a few weekends with him laying sod for an other neighbor. I can say all the things you would normally say, like he was really quiet guy, tended to himself and on occassion would talk you ear off. My use of wood chips and a good part of my other BBQ methods came from this guy. My sister also worked with him indirectly in a more recent setting, at the Montclair Recreation Center, where he was working right before he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for RAPE! How scary.
I just sat there, looking at the television news saying, Shit!, that’s my neighbor Bill! What a small world. He had a cool little house up off Quebec by the Stapleton development. Wonder if its on the market? (snark!)

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Items From The Catalog

Perusing the Colorado Free University the other day, I came across this:

Beginning Drop Spindle
Spinning Your Own Wool

Spin your own yarn using a wooden drop spindle, the centuries old technique of spinning wool. You will learn to make single plies of yarn you can then use for weaving, knitting, or crocheting. Discussion will include the plying of wool and the preparation of the yarn for use in crafts. If you also want to learn the techniques of spinning dog hair, then start brushing your pups and bring the hair along to class. Included in the supply fee is a wooden drop spindle, a roving of clean wool, and instructions. Jane Wunder.
$54 Non-Member $49 Member
$25 materials fee payable in class
NORTHGLENN: 104th & I-25
1671E: One Sat., 10 am-4 pm 11/13

Let’s take a moment and digest this, shall we?
” . . . learn the techniques of spinning dog hair, then start brushing your pups and bring the hair along to class.” WTF? This is something people are interested in doing? This is something that a class is encouraging people to do?

“Here, Sage, I have knitted you a lovely sweater, made entirely of pet hair. Merry Christmas.”

This is a great way to lose friends.

Stay tuned. This catalog is gold.

Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. What is your lineage? Where are your ancestors from?
Mostly English, with Welsh, Irish and some German thrown in. And mostly American. My family has lived in this country since at least 1703 and if you track the matriarchal side, since about 1653 or so.

2. Of those countries, which would you most like to visit?
I got to live in Europe while in the Army, stationed in Germany and had the chance to visit England. Both are very cool places. I really want to go to Wales and to Ireland, however.

3. Which would you least like to visit? Why?
Well, Kentucky is the Nall homeland, as is Tennessee, with the Nall Valley. However we landed in Virginia and I really have no desire to visit there, except maybe to see the the beach and the ocean.

4. Do you do anything during the year to celebrate or recognizeyour heritage?
Saint Patrick’s day and Thanksgiving are both big holidays for me and I tend to overdue it on both days.

5. Who were the first ancestors to move to your present country(parents, grandparents, etc)?
Martin Nalle came to Virginia via England in 1703 (as a presumed indentured servant). He married Mary Aldin, whose family arrived in Virginia, I believe, to at least prior to 1649, also from England.

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Delay The Election?

This ought to make you mad. It won’t happen and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is just floating a trial baloon, the idea smacks of ugliness. Would Bush and Co really find a reason o “of national security” to postpone the election? I don’t think they can, as the Constitution spells out that the election are held by the states and there is no real National election persay, only a legislative addressing of the eletoral votes. I don’t think the President can suspend the electoral college, as it is also spelled out in the constitution, but looking at the courts ruling in 2000 that brought us Bush43, anything is possible, I suppose.

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Location, Location, Location

On my walk this morning (2.21 miles, thank you very much) there was this kid, strategically located on the Cherry Creek trail. He had a cooler of gatorade ($1.50) and bottled water ($1.00) to sell and was postioned at the bridge over the creek on South Cherry Creek drive, right across from Cook Park Recreation Center. He was doing a brisk business. Now why didn’t any of us think of that?

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New Chatability?

If you go here chat page ( http://majikwah.chatango.com). You should be able to talk with me at work, as long as I have the chat page up. If I am not there, you can still leave a comment or two. I haven’t actually tried it yet, but it seems cool enough. Technically it is for other things, like ebay auctions (contact the seller, RIGHT NOW!) or other must talk now web feature. But I am at work all day, on line all day and without a chat engine, so look me up.

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It’s Not English, It’s Engrish

I bought a battery and heaset off eBay form my cell phone. The seller included one of those real cheese cell phone antenna boosters that supposedly boost the signal strength of your phone (not likely) Below are the verbatim instructions.

1. Please make sure the area for pasting antenna or battery of the phone all fingers and dust must be cleaned, and it must be in dry condition.

2. Please be careful when peeling the antenna off with its stciker. Make sure the proper place when pasting because the antenna sticker is not reusable.

3. Please make sure “UPSIDE” is facing up, and put it neary by antenna or battery. After antenna and sticker has been pasted together, use the sticker papaer and press property.

4. This product can be used after making sure the antenna has been pasted completely and property.

If anyone can make sense of this, drop a note. I think I have an annenna booster permanently mounted to my scalp. I am not sure.

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FCC On Line

FCC chairman Michael Powell now has a “blog” or at least a sorta blog thing. Probably written and vetted by a huge staff and really just another way to distribute a press release, but kind of interesting nonetheles, if indeed it means the FCC is going to acknowledge the now old electronic frontier.

Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. Favorite cereal and why?
Traditionally? It is either Super Sugar Puffs or Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch. Currently it is a creamy fruity oatmeal concoction of my own devising. The recipe follows:
2/3 cup quick oats
1/3 cup quick oats
1 cup of mixed dried fruity (I use a combination of craisins and mixed fruit.
1 1/4 cup dried non fat milk.
In a blender or food processor, toss in 1/3 cup quick oats and pulverize. Add it to the remaining oatmeal.
Now toss the dried fruit into the blender or food processor and chop it into little pieces.
Combine it all and store in a resealable container (Rubbermaid tubs or Zip-Loc bags work great.)
To serve, take about 2/3 cup of the mix, add about 3/4 cup of boiling water and some artificial sweetener (I like the blue stuff)
Yummy, low cal, no fat, high fiber breakfast goodness. I usually make a big ol’ double batch and keep it at my desk at work.
Enjoy.

2. What is the best thing about summer?
Long days, decent traffic. Not driving to work in the snow.

3. Would you rather have a Slurpee or a milkshake?
Slurpee. Or if you have Sonic nearby, a Sonic Cream Slushee. A great combination of a Slurpee/milkshake. mmmm, mmmm, good.

4. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird. I could easily get up at 4 am to start my day, but roommate and most of the rest of the world will have none of it. I generally am in bed by 9 a.m.

5. Remember the scene with Molly Ringwald putting lipstick on by holding it in her cleavage?
“Name one really bizarre thing you know how to do. No matter how small.”

Making homemade instant oatmeal? I roast my own coffee from green coffee beans. I am the only person I know who does this, but coffee made at my house is so much better than anywhere else. I also have this odd ability to crack my knuckles by just taking my fingers outstretched and quickly making a fist. It is kind of cool and makes a fun snappy noise.