catching up ...

• I've had an employee out sick for the week, which is one of the reasons I haven't been around, as I've had to cover parts of his shift on different days when I couldn't find someone to fill in.

• Looking forward to another three-day weekend, even though I'll be working for a wee bit on Monday. Yes, the time will be spent on productive areas -- sleeping, a little golf, leveling my character on World of Warcraft to 40 so she can gain a mount. Heh.

• Had lunch with a friend from high school on Friday. Haven't seen her since we were in college, though we've kept in touch sporadically over the years. She's back to visit her mom and bring her family -- hubby and three children -- to her island home. It was good to catch up with her, and we plan to hang out a bit more on Monday night, having some drinks and dinner before she leaves on Wednesday. And this time I get to meet the hubby. Oh, and if it's possible, she looks even better (hotter) than she did in high school ... there's no way you would guess that she's 37 AND has pushed out three rugrats. Time -- and pilates -- has treated her well.

• New Year's resolutions ... does anyone even make them anymore. That is, does anyone make them intending to actually follow through on them? Here, for the sake of making them, are mine:

> Lose a bit more weight ... and get some new clothes to go with the slimmer (relatively speaking) figure

> Move ... and not just to another apartment

> Get fully and properly kissed ... preferably by a woman, and a sexy one at that

> Try to start writing non-work stuff again

> Reach level 60 with at least one WOW character, if not two or three

> Expand my vocabulary

> Improve my golf game to the point where I regularly break 90

That's it. Happy New Year's Eve eve.

---

zoned all week ...

been too lazy and unmotivated to post anything for a while ...

but it was brought to my attention that I missed my early HNT from Guam, so here's a late one:

... when the flash is too bright and the face is too close

---

what sucks about Monday holidays ...

... is that Tuesdays feel like Mondays ... it's almost Thursday here but doesn't feel like it.

Hopefully on Saturday it will feel like a three-day weekend ... but somehow I doubt it.

Bleah.

---

hope your christmas was merry ...

Mine was pretty good. Had dinner and present opening with the godsons and their fam, my Christmas tradition since my mom left.

DZER's loot
• iPod Shuffle

• Nike golf bag

• Golf shirt

• Golf hat with magnetic ball marker brim

• Lots of DVDs — Magnificent Seven, Saving Private Ryan, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Blade Runner (director's cut), GoodFellas, Full Metal Jacket, Casino.

• Coconut creme pie

• Turkey and roast beef leftovers to take home.

---

it's beginning to ... yikes! it almost IS Christmas!

So I finished the final three bits of Christmas shopping done on Friday night, completing all presents to all people.

I've wrapped several already, and will do pretty much the rest of it tonight.

The morning of Christmas Eve (that doesn't sound right, does it?), in less than 11 hours, in fact, I will be out on the golf course with my pare' and godson, several hours earlier than normal. But my pare' needs to be free in the afternoon to fetch various cooking and other supplies for his wife, so I graciously will give up a few hours sleep.

I'm going to be the total winner with my godsons this Christmas. All their aunties and uncles always want to get them great things that the kids love, and I'm sure the boys will like the stuff they get.

But I still will win. Heh.

Godson 1, the older one who plays golf with me every week, is getting a junior-sized putter that's as close to Nino's as can be. In November, during a lunch break at the golf course, I asked him what he wanted for Christmas.

"Two-Ball Putter like Nino."

Not Power Rangers. Not a video game. But a golf club ... and one like mine.

*tear*

He's also getting a junior hybrid club, to boost his confidence in hitting from the fairway, some SpongeBob Squarepants golf balls, a new golf glove, and a golf ballcap with the magnetized brim that allows you to have your ball marker in easy reach. Like this:


As for godson 2, he's recently gotten totally into skateboarding. But his parents already had gotten his Christmas present, and after he asked for a board while at a skateboard shop at one of the malls, was told he'd have to wait for his birthday.

"But that will be WEEKS!" (Jan. 8, a week before mine).

So Nino hit the skateboard shop and had the experts there put together a sweet deck, the bottom of which is red, godson 2's fave color, as well as skulls on the wheels and trucks. SCORE!!

Their family (and thus mine) tradition is to open presents on Christmas Eve, just as it's turning midnight, so tomorrow night they get the goodies. I was tempted to give the putter to godson 1 tomorrow morning, so he could use it during golf, but his mom said no. So he'll have to wait a WHOLE week before he can use it. LOL

As for me, I've had a pretty good Christmas, even though I won't get the bulk of my presents till tomorrow. For example:

Yep, it's a cool-as-a-button (and weighing barely more) iPod Shuffle, which a friend/coworker got me. I was actually going to buy one after the holidays, as I don't really have the music needs, or library, to get one of the bigger, fancier ones.

That's my second fave present so far.

The first?

World of Warcraft, which My Favorite Person got me as an early present.

Speaking of which, my gnome chick warrior has monsters to kill!

---

worth the $4.50 ...

blinkety-blink-blink ... heh

an early Micronesian HNT ...

We had our in-office Christmas party today, which we held in conjunction with accounting and administration. Lots of great food ... I admit that I got stuff on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, lumpia shanghai, tasty ham eaten on split dinner rolls as mini sammiches, Chamorro-style potato salad and some stuffing, with a decadent devil's food cake for dessert.

Yummy most.

We also did our traditional newsroom gift exchange -- the max you can spend is $20. In an odd twist of fate, the guy who's name I pulled got me. I got him a book about why sports is important, featuring essays from all kinds of prominent people, and he got me a book that features the best of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff." But what's cool is the "bow" he used ... a handmade, traditional mwarmwar, which I then wore around all day.

So, as your special treat today, you get me in the mwarmwar ... and pretty much nothing else ...

Not only is it beautiful, but wonderfully fragrant as well ...

---

't'was six nights before christmas ...

This holiday meme was stolen -- with love and lust -- from Robyn.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate, hands down … not a big fan of egg nog.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa doesn’t wrap presents … he’s all about delivery.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Yes, please.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No … not a lot of mistletoe in the tropics.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
I think the question is do I ever bother to take them down … LOL

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Roast turkey … fuck I love it.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
My first real memory of Christmas is my dad making holiday wreaths out of these outdated computer cards … rolling then into cones then arranging them into the wreath shape, then painting them with spray paint.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Since I am distantly related to Santa Claus, I will neither confirm nor deny anything.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes … my godsons’ family tradition is to open presents Christmas Eve, so I do that over there.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
With lights and ornaments? Duh!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love the idea of snow.

12. Can you ice skate?
Sure … I learned on the pond next to the coconut trees.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yes … last year … Two-Ball Putter … I love that thing.

14. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Fudge. Hands down.

15. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I have fond memories of Midnight Mass … the carols and solemnity … but I’d have to say wrapping presents.

16. What tops your tree?
Angel.

17. Which do you prefer -- giving or receiving?
I love to give gifts.

18. What is your favorite Christmas song?
There are too many to choose from.

19. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
One or two or three … then that’s it!

---

this was my monday ...

mostly clear, mostly bright ... mid 80s

Jealous?

Heh.

---

how the sunday was spent ...

• Woke up just before 10 a.m.

• At golf course by 10:30 a.m.

• Golf with my pare' and godson for almost four hours. Played not so good but had fun.

• Takeout Double Whopper with Cheese for lunch.

• Gaming (World of Warcraft) for a few hours.

• Fell asleep watching TV.

• Woke up before midnight ... put laundry into bags to do Monday.

• Finished off last Christmas cards.

• Getting ready for more WOW.

---

the weekend ...

... is finally here.

But for me, it's already half over.

And you do know that Christmas is in like ... 8 days away, right?

---

save the dzer ... save the world ...

---

due to popular demand (3 people) ...

... the early HNT from Guam, delivered very late:
(click to see larger version)

every so studiously studying ...
... World of Warcraft strategy

---

waking up early ... kinda ...

Sometimes, like this morning, I set my alarm clock for about an hour earlier than I absolutely need to get up.

That way, when the alarm rings, I can ignore it. And ignore it. And ignore.

Then, after about an hour of dozing off and waking up and ignoring the alarm multiple times, I can lazily get out of bed and start my morning.

It makes me feel like I've indulged in even more than my usual laziness.

It feels good, in a lackadaisical and shiftless way.

Which means REAL good.

TAGGED
Well, the-wonderfully-lagging-in-reading-my-blog JMai tagged me with the six weird things meme, but since I've done it already, I will respond with the following six non-weird things about me:

1. I'm heterosexual.

2. I like reading books.

3. I have a cell phone.

4. I have a full-time job.

5. My parents never divorced ... hmm, that might be weird, in this day and age.

6. I'm an omnivore.

Heh.

---

what is up ...

... work is crazy because Christmas means more ads, which means more pages, which means more work.

... work is also crazy because we're transitioning in some new systems, workflows and ideologies, and I'm having to adapt as well as train employees in some new things (for some of them).

... I need to get off my ass and get a bunch of little things done. They don't seem like much, individually, but collectively they pile up like a bitch.

... took some time off from my usual World of Warcraft evening to play poker again ... at one point I was down $130, at another point I was up about $125 ... I finished even for the night. Not bad for 4 hours of poker plus a robust dinner and drinks (non-alcoholic) all night.

... can you believe that Christmas is just like 12 days away (about 11 for me). Yikes!!

---

when in doubt, meme ...

The following meme was stolen, with love, from Nat's pad o' cheese.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Fuck … I have to go to work today.

2. How much cash do you have on you?
About $400, not including change.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with “door?”
Abhor.

4. Favorite planet?
Earth is pretty nice … maybe Animal Planet as a close second.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
I delete my missed calls, so who the hell knows?

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
The one that it’s set to now.

7. What shirt are you wearing?
None.

8. Do you “label” yourself?
No, but I’ve trademarked myself.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
None.

10. Bright or dark room?
Dark, please.

11. Why is there always a missing question?
Is there?

12. What does your watch look like?
Like a titanium Bulova with gold highlights.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Playing World of Warcraft.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
I don’t get text messages, except from my provider, now and then.

15. Where is your nearest 7-Eleven?
Probably Hawaii … the last one here closed several months back.

16. What’s a word that you say a lot?
“A” and “the” -- I use those all the time. Something a bit more non-generic … “fuck.”

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
My mom.

18. Last furry thing you touched?
Bigfoot. He’s a part of our regular poker game.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Dayquil, cough drop, caffeine, vodka.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
None … it’s a digital world, baby.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
Age of technology.

22. Your worst enemy?
Myself.

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Underbelly of a gecko.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
Out loud? Probably, “Thanks” to the convenience store person.

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
A million … unless flying paid more.

26. Do you like someone?
Not many, actually.

27. The last song you listened to?
I really can’t remember …

28. What time of day were you born?
Early.

29. What’s your favorite number?
1967.

30. Where did you live in 1987?
The first half … here in Guam. The second half … Lincoln, Nebraska.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
Those with excessive amounts of money.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
I highly doubt it … LOL

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
At home … was flipping through channels and saw the first tower burning and was just stunned … not too long after, the second plane hit …

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Break them so they give me my money back.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
I have four already … No. 5 will be on one leg, No. 6 on the other … part of my plan to be identifiable by body parts in case I’m ever hacked to pieces. See, tattoos CAN be useful.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Chamorro.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Sure.

39. Are you touchy feely?
I’m touchy … heh.

40. What’s your life motto?
Shit happens … often.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Wallet, cell phone, watch.

42. What’s your favorite town/city?
Ironforge.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Iced tea.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
About a month back.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
Yes, but I don’t in order to support local small businesses … and I’m lazy.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
Kate Jackson is doing just fine, last I heard.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
Early 1900’s for sure … but some knowledge of mid 1800’s.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
Saturday night, Christmas party, slacks and a suit and tie.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
My head.

50. Have you been burned by love?
Has anyone NOT?

51. Do you have a crush on any bloggers?
Define “crush” … would I like to bang a few or 10? Sure!

52. Where would you like to live?
In a state of wealthiness.

ladi dadi, pdn christmas party ...

Party went pretty well, I think ... I was my usual funny, entertaining and charming emcee self. People had a good time.

Here's me early on in the evening ...



and here's me back at home after ...


more later, if I become so inclined ...

---

weekend of holiday spending ...

I ended up going to a poker game Friday night. I haven't been to a game in weeks -- partly to make sure I had enough cash for the holidays, partly because of my World of Warcraft addiction.

Lucky I went.

I turned a $60 buy-in to a net profit of $300.

300 bones.

3 bills.

3 benjamins.

I'm riatch, biatch!

heh.

---

christmas party ...

The annual company Christmas party is a bit early this year -- this Saturday, as a matter of fact.

Once again, for like the 5th year in a row, I will serve as emcee for the event.

Being a natural ham, I'm the perfect kind of guy for the gig. I'm also quite extemporaneous and locquacious, which is needed in a good emcee.

This also means I have to get a ton of stuff done over the next day and a half, as we set very early deadlines on the day of the party so as many employees as possible can attend. Remember, I work for a daily newspaper. There has to be a paper put out every day, and it has have actual news in it, so we can't shut down for a day, not even for the Christmas party ... heck, not even for Christmas.

So, I'm cutting back slightly on my World of Warcraft (heh) and giving up a little sleep over the next few days to get set.

And then the weekend will be pretty full for me too; I have to get some work projects finished up before Monday.

Hope you're not going to be as busy as me ... bleah.

---

wednesday there, but thursday here ...

... which means an early HNT from Guam ...

need a shoulder?



To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

bandwagon meme'ing ...

I've seen a couple of memes traveling around Bloggerville and, since World of Warcraft's servers are down for the next 12 hours, I thought I'd actually take some time to share my wonderful versions with you ... heh

6 WEIRD THINGS ABOUT DZER
• I like to dunk peanut butter sammiches into chicken noodle soup ... it's tasty. And my favorite sammich when I was a kid was peanut butter ... and yellow mustard.

• To make up for my physical deficiencies, as compared to others (i.e. huge and fat), I became a bit of an intellectual snob. OK, My Favorite Person would probably tell you that it's more than "a bit." I can't stand to be around people who are significantly less intelligent than I am, let alone those who are just plain stupid. I get haughty, smug, even a bit smarmy, not to mention patronizing and condescending. I've been working on it for a little while, but I still don't suffer fools well.

• I like to start Christmas shopping in July, August at the latest. I'm a bit behind this year, but not overly so.

• I'm both an anal-retentive and a slob. Deal with it.

• My fingernails and toenails are significantly smaller than most people's proportionally, from cuticle to tip. I don't know why, but my theory is that I'm at a higher evolutionary state. You see, there's no real use for fingernails and toenails, though it's nice to get a backscratch from some nice fingernails. Animals need talons and claws and the like, but we don't. Flimsy rationale? Perhaps. :P

• When I was in high school, I would eat a variety of live things for gas money -- bugs, geckos, etc. I'm not proud, but it's a part of me.

CHRISTMAS SONGS I LOVE
• "Adeste Fidelis," aka "O Come All Ye Faithful." In Chamorro, it's "Fanmato Manhengge."

• "Jingle Bell Rock." There's just something about "Giddy up jingle horse."

• "All I Want for Christmas Is You," the version sung in "Love Actually."

• "The Christmas Song." Hello! Jack Frost is nipping at your nose!

• "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." You better know why!

• BONUS: "Feliz Navidad," "Baby It's Cold Outside," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "The First Noel," "Pretty Paper" ... and a ton of others. I LOVE Christmas music!

CHRISTMAS SONGS I HATE
• Any "funny" version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

• Any Alvin and the Chipmunks version of any Christmas song.

• "Last Christmas" by Wham! Fuck I hate that song.

• "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." That whistling is irritating.

• "I'm Getting Nuttin' for Christmas."

---

monday summed up ...

Took a short break from work to get my head shaved at my usual barber.

When he was done and I'd paid, I reached to one of the loops on my jeans to retrieve my keys, which I clip using a kind of carabiner clip. Not there. Not in my pockets. Not on the ground near the chair.

Fearing the worst, I go outside.

Yep, they're in the truck.

In the ignition.

With the engine still running.

Haven't locked my keys in my vehicle, let alone with it running, since like my senior year of high school, and it wasn't a big deal back then, because the trunk of my 1976 Pinto opened with a flathead screwdriver.

Luckily, I keep a spare key at the office, and my pare' brought it to me on his way home -- even more luckily, I caught him just before he was leaving for the day.

Then it was back to the office for more work.

At least my day ended well -- homemade spicy sloppy joe dinner, WOW ... though I stayed up way too late ... which I'll pay for in about ... 5 hours.

So ... how was YOUR Monday?

---

an update for the bombshell ...

I'm up way too late/early.

Weekend's over.

Played a lot of WOW, golf with the pare' and godson.

Wish I didn't have to be at work in less than 7 hours.

Hope the Bears win.

---

it's friday night ...

I'm not out.

I'm not partying.

I'm not relaxing and watching TV.

I'm not even playing World of Warcraft ... though I should be in a couple hours or less.

What am I doing with the start of my weekend?

Working.

Writing.

Editing.

I need to write two editorials, for Sunday and Monday, as well as a regular feature I do during Christmas season -- called "Jingle George" (cute, huh?). I have about 5 columns to read and edit, as well as about 7 letters to the editor.

Oh well ... this will free up several hours on my Saturday, which starts in an hour and a half, and then Sunday I'm already looking forward to playing golf with my pare', my godson, and my co-worker C.

Any big plans for your Friday night?

---

yowza ...

I'm generally not this far behind with my Christmas stuff.

• I have all my cards, but now can't find the two sheets of Christmas stamps I bought a few weeks ago. The room will be torn apart later tonight.

• I have about 5 presents taken care of, but still many to go.

• I think I'm set for wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, etc. But I have a hard time resisting adding to my voluminous cache of supplies.

• I put up my door decorations and little tree setup last night.

Hmm .. maybe I'm not as far behind as I think I am ... but am just worrying and stressing about it more than usual.

---

giving you head ...

You know you want it.

You crave it.

You want me to show you a peek of the head.

No; not a peek ...

... you want to see it all.

In its full, NAKED AND HARD glory.

Here it is ...

Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday!! ... that's one scarred skull, huh?

Got into a lot of fights when I was a kid ... and a little later.

Click on the pic to get a closer view ... check out the earlobes ... tufts of fuzzy hair ... I'm hoping I don't get to be that middle-aged man with the super hairy ears ... ugh!

To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

one-worded meme ...

A meme designed to be answered in one word, stolen from the ever-horny Madame X

Describe ...

1. Yourself: Huge

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): Non-existent

3. Your hair: Shaven

4. Your mother: Motherly

5. Your father: Remembered

6. Your favorite item: Putter

7. Your dream last night: Fragmented

8. Your favorite drink: Coffee

9. Your dream car: Bugati

10. The room you are in: Bedroom

11. Your ex: (CENSORED)

12. Your fear: Failure

13. What you want to be in 10 years? Wealthy

14. Who you hung out with last night? Nobody

15. What You're Not? Svelte

16. Muffins: Blueberry

17. One of your wish list items: G5

18. Time: Immaterial

19. The last thing you did: Shat

20. What you are wearing: Clothing

21. Your favorite weather: Cool

22. Your favorite book: Tolkien

23. The last thing you ate: Hotdog

24. Your life: Pedantic

25. Your mood: Ambivalent

26. Your best friend: Absent

27. What are you thinking about right now? Work

28. Your car (it's a truck): Old

29. What are you doing at the moment? Waiting

30. Your summer: Unmemorable

31. Your relationship status: Null

32. What is on your TV? Football

33. What is the weather like? Hot

34. When is the last time you laughed? Midnight

---

small little changes ...

• for the Christmas season, Devil DZER has been replaced by Santa DZER in my avatar.

• as a matter of cleaning things up a little bit and getting rid of old stuff, the sidebar links have been slimmed down.

• to correct broken links, the sidebar links have been updated.

• the white colors have been changed to slightly off-white.

---

bleah ...

Stunk it up on the golf course Sunday. I actually started off rather solid, for me, managing back-to-back bogeys. But then everything went south. I couldn't put anything consistent together and hit a LOT of bad shots.

I normally shoot in the low 90s at Admiral Nimitz Golf Course, and have shot in the high 80s several times. This time, I think I finished with a 105 or so. Ouch.

Oh well ... a bad day on the golf course beats a good day almost anywhere else.

---

Back to a full work week starting in about 8 hours or so. It was so relaxing and nice being off three straight days after the weekend, then working on Thanksgiving for just a few hours.

*sigh*

I need to hit a big lottery jackpot so I can not HAVE to work ever again. I'm very good at being shiftless and lazy.

---

I've been planning to get my Christmas shopping started each of the last three evenings, and instead have stayed home and watched TV, DVDs and, of course, played World of Warcraft. I have a cute little female gnome warrior who also is a blacksmith and I've been leveling her pretty steadily, not wanting to get my elf druid too far ahead of My Favorite Person's elf hunter while she's been road-tripping for the Thanksgiving holidays.

So, I'm still behind and will need to get started this week.

Oh ... and Christmas cards will be going out this week. If you've sent me your address, you should be getting one from me over the next several weeks, depending on where you live -- foreign destinations take a lot longer, I've found.

Hope your weekends were good!

---

mr. nice guy ...

So I'm putting together a story, complete with photos I took, of Onward Talofofo Golf Resort for the newspaper's sports section.

What I'm ultimately hoping for is to make a convincing case to get reimbursed for my round ... there's not much sweeter than free golf!

And, as usual, have a tee time tomorrow (Sunday) morning with my pare' and godson for Admiral Nimitz Golf Course ... just about 12 hours for now.

The godson is going to have a golfalicious Christmas from Nino -- a new putter, some golf balls, some tees, (ones like I use, which he likes), a golf hat or two, as well as some collared golf shirts ... and any child-friendly golf books that may be out there.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

30 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!
I'm starting to get more and more into the spirit of the holidays, which means I'm being an overtly nicer guy. What does that mean?

• Holding more doors open for people.

• Assisting frenetic moms or elderly people with their groceries/packages.

• Letting people into the flow of traffic.

• Smiling and saying, "Happy holidays."

Not that I don't think I'm not already a nice and decent guy, but at this time of the year I try to make a more concious effort at doing little things that make another person's life/day a little easier.

Not exactly random acts of kindness, but something along those lines.

Oh ... happy holidays!

---

four weeks ...

... left till Christmas.

Yikes.

• Who has their decorations up? Their tree bought?

• How far along is your Christmas shopping?

• How's your budget this year?

• Any travel plans?

As for me:

• Not me. Nope.

• Not very; way behind this year.

• Actually, pretty good.

• None; as usual.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

I'm actually getting rid of some things this week. A co-worker is buying two big bookcases, an old 13-inch TV/VCR combo and a big old chest, all for $10 each, or $40 total. It's not a lot, but it's not like she's well-off and it's not like the money is important; at least I'm getting a bunch of junk outta the apartment.

I will get rid of more this weekend -- the newsroom and the rest of the company holds an annual rummage sale, the profits of which go to a Christmas dinner and activity (usually movies) for a charity that helps out troubled teens. Last year I got rid of my old videos and a couple of video shelves. I have some other bookshelves and assorted stuff that I will clear out this year.

Will still try to hold an apartment sale later on to get rid of the rest of may assorted knick-knacks and junk ... unless I continue with procrastination majora ... heh.

---

happy turkey day, everyone ...

gobble, gobble

---

I hate that ...

... "do you wanna wanna switch to the new Blogger" message that pops up every freaking time I log in or make a post here.

Mostly because I can't switch.

Why?

Because I have a cool template that I got from somewhere and modified it so it's all spiffy and me, and Blogger doesn't like that and won't let me transfer it.

So it's likely I will be one of the last bloggers to switch from old to new ...

Oh, and that whole "tons new templates" promise is total bullshit ... I know because that's what I use for my SECRET blog!

Don't worry; I haven't updated that in forever either.

EARLY HNT FROM GUAM:

To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

less than 8 hours ...

... till I tee off on the revamped Talofofo Golf Resort, which has been closed for a year for renovations and changes and upgrades.

It's always been my favorite course on island, even though Mangilao Golf Resort is a little nicer, and I can't wait to see the changes, especially the new "signature hole."

But before I hit the links in several hours, I will leave you with a nice, clean shot of my balls ...




heh.

---

days to laze ...

I'm off for the next few days.

I'm going to try to do as much nothing as possible.

And then it's Thanksgiving.

Feasting galore. At least two big turkey meals -- one for lunch and one for dinner.

Maybe I'll even get off my ass and make some regular posts here.

---

asshole drivers ...

I live very close to my office -- a mere 5-minute drive away.

And yet, going from there to here for lunch, I encountered three asshole drivers.

• The guy on the main street who blocked my ability to turn left onto that street, even though the cars were stacked up in front of him at a red light. He wouldn't have lost his place in line or any time by leaving me space to turn. But he just HAD to creep up to the next car in front of him, to protect that 10 feet of space from someone cutting in from somewhere.

• The person turning left across the street from a parking lot, forcing me and the guy coming the other way to slam on our brakes because she couldn't wait the extra 15 seconds for us both to continue driving past ... and there were no drivers behind either of us. And she didn't even have the embarrassed courtesy to put up a hand to motion "sorry."

• The guy who cut across three lanes of traffic, from the far right to the center lane, passing right in front of me, causing me to slam on brakes yet again, because he was such an idiot that he didn't plan for the left turn anywhere in the previous half mile.

I fucking hate asshole drivers.

a thirst-quenching early HNT from Guam ...

glug ... glug ... glug ...

You know you're losing weight when the roll of back neck fat is noticeably smaller ... heh


To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

catching up ...

OK, since I haven't been around the blogosphere all that much lately, I know that I've missed out on a lot. I've visited most of the blogs I go to regularly, but haven't been able to totally catch up -- too many posts on too many blogs and not enough time ... well, plenty of time, just spent elsewhere ... LOL

So ... I'm going to continue with my laziness.

Please post a mini-update of your recent bloglife in the comments section.

Heh.

I am DZER and I approved this weak-ass post.

---

can't wait ...

Next week I will have several days off in a row ... probably Monday through Wednesday.

Then Thursday is Thanksgiving, and I plan to overindulge in all the rich, tasty, fatty, cholesterol-filled, gravy topped goodness. At least twice.

Crap. Now I'm hungry for copious amounts of gravy ... poured over pretty much anything. Got a little taste at lunch ... meatloaf and steamed rice topped with brown gravy ... *insert Homer Simpson gurgling happy food sounds here*

All I have to do is get through this week, which is already feeling like three weeks ... except Tuesday will feel like a half week ... and Wednesday, Wednesday it will feel like two days ... Thursday, though, will be like two weeks ...

---

weekend ...

• Worked a little.

• Gamed a lot.

• Played golf with godson, pare' and co-workers.

• Slept too little.

• Did hardly any chores.

• Didn't blog.

• Didn't look at blogs.

... and now it's Monday

---

chore-filled weekend

I've put them off long enough. Sometime over the weekend I will have to do a lot of chores.

• Laundry. I've stretched things out after continual procrastination, but I'm down to clothes that I can't really wear to work -- jeans with holes, sweats, t-shirts. I must have about 6 to 8 loads here. I'll do 4, probably on Saturday afternoon/early evening, then try to set another time later in the week.

• Dishes. I'm at the point where I almost want to just go out and buy a cheap new set of silverware and other things, rather than wash all the dishes. LOL ... how sad and bacheloresque is that?

• Grocery shopping. After a week of mostly fast food and takeout, I really need to restock the larder, including more fruit and salads and stuff, to make sure my weight and clothing sizes don't start going the other way.

• Clean the clubs. OK, this at least is a happy chore, because it means I'll be getting my golf clubs ready for a round on Sunday. Will be playing with S and my godson, but also two other co-workers, C and M. Should be a good time.

• Bathroom scrubbing. I did manage to clean the toilet earlier in the week, but I need to do the tub, shower and sink, and mop the floor.

• Sweeping. Need to get the old broom out and clean up ... and eventually mop, I suppose.

• Mail a package or two. Got some stuff that's been sitting here; got to get them packaged and shipped out.

• Start holiday stuff. Look for Christmas cards, fill my wrapping stock, make my list for shopping purposes.

Speaking of that, so far, I will be sending out an additional 4 Christmas cards to bloggers this year. There's still time if you want a holiday greeting card from Guam. Simply send me an e-mail with the snail mail address of your choice (work, home, p.o. box, etc.). There's still about 3-4 weeks left before I send them out, so I will post the occasional reminder.

---

holiday decadence ...

The treat I most associate with the Christmas holidays isn't candy canes. Nor is it sugarplums (whatever the hell they are) or gumdrops.

Nope.

It's fudge.

My mom always made fudge around the holidays ... it's a great winter treat because it keeps better in the cold. In fact, before refrigeration, it's about he only time you could make it, get it to set and stay unmelted for any length of time.

My mom's fudge rocks. I've had some that were as good, and loved those fudge places at the malls where you could see them make it on the big marble slabs, using modified snow shovels.

As your Early HNT from Guam treat (albeit late), here's me indulging in the first fudge of the season (store-bought gift from a friend, but you take what you can get).


To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

election, schmelection ... and sleeping issues ...

So on Election Day, my shift was radically different from normal — 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., to help coordinate and produce an election extra, since the counting is never done until the wee hours of the morning here. Idiots.

I made the mistake of not sleeping in to recharge from the weekend, in which I mostly went about 5 hours of sleep or so, thanks to my reawakened gaming addiction. I got up around my normal time, which is 9:30 a.m. So, as a result, I was a bit tired during most of the night/early morning, struggling through that need-sleep haze.

And, of course, things are botched, though no more so than normal, by the government, so the final counts aren't done until about 6 a.m., which meant we had to push our deadine back to 7 a.m. This, in turn, gives me that infamous second wind — all fired up by the stress of trying to get late comments from candidates and then putting that into story skeletons and then copy editing that, along with writing headlines, checking cutlines, getting late photos input, etc.

The deadline rush, as good print journalists anywhere will tell you, is a real high. You just shift into this concentration of focused news aggression, trying to hammer things out while still being accurate and producing compelling copy and design. And there's several people on this conjoined rush of news juice, alternately meshing to an uber unified journalist and yelling at each other.

And when you're done and the deadline is met and you're dead tired and sore and exhausted — your mind still is in that overdrive mode, and it's impossible to come down from that with any kind of quickness, let alone instantaneousness (don't think that's a real word ... sue me).

It's the first time I've been awake that early and seen the sunrise since the Primary Election, but at least that was on a Saturday and I had Sunday off. So four of us go to a nearby coffee shop/diner place for breakfast. We even have coffee with our various breakfast dishes (I had a grilled egg, ham and cheese sammich and a side of french toast).

By this time, it's closing in on 8 a.m. I head home, but I still can't sleep. I game a little until that heavy pressure of sleep finally breaks through the adrenaline-fueled deadline buzz and pushes my eyelids down. I go over to bed and, unusual for me, have sleep crash down almost immediately, a little after 9 a.m.

I'm up at 1:30 p.m. I should sleep another hour or so before I have to trundle into work, but I don't.

So tonight, I should be asleep nice and early, right ... once I leave here (I'm posting from the office)? I mean, after all I've only had about a total of 15 hours of sleep over the course of three days.

Well ... there is a poker game starting any minute in Barrigada. I might be able to get there before it fills up. Last week I hit it for close to $300 and haven't had to go to the ATM in about 8 days despite all of the expenses I've racked up ... and that's always a good thing, so maybe I'll head over there to try my luck.

Or I can try to get my Night Elf up to level 22 so he can wear the new class of armor, upgrade his quarterstaff and learn some new, fancy druid spells.

---

blog peer pressure meme ... heh

Stolen from the many blogs I've seen this on recently ...

1. Explain what ended your last relationship.
An existentialistic differing over worldviews and ethos … plus her ice habit and the act she didn’t love me.

2. When was the last time you shaved?
Does the last time I was shaven count? Saturday.

3. What were you doing at 8:00 am this morning?
Blissfully asleep.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Wishing to God that it was legal to physically strike employees, if they were proven idiots.

5. Are you any good at math?
Well, considering I can calculate the area underneath a curve … duh.

6. Your prom night?
Was pretty cool to start out with. My date was a hot junior, though just accompanying me as a friend, and, in a total surprise, the entire class of 1987 pretty much came together early and named me king. Ended sucky, when I went outside to smoke and ran into my date playing tonsil hockey with a good buddy of mine.

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
The story is that the origination of a Chamorro George is because of an English doctor, who was pretty much kicked out of England in the 1700s sometime, traveled the Pacific on a ship. Island natives across Micronesia, including Guam, were so grateful for him saving their lives from things they normally died from, that they offered up their women to him, who in turn had babies who were given his name. Supposedly I have distant relatives scattered throughout the region. Also, my dad always said one of my mom’s ancestors was famous … until he was hanged as a horse thief. Heh.

8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
No … I busted my ass in high school so my parents wouldn’t have to worry about my tuition and stuff, graduated as salutatorian, which meant a four-year scholarship that also provided an annual stipend of cash. Two years after that, I was chosen as a Truman Scholar, which meant more money for school-related costs.

9. Do you know the words to the song on your Myspace profile?
Fuck that place.

10. Last thing you received in the mail?
Bills.

11. How many different beverages have you had today?
Assam Black Tea, King Car Lemon Tea, Pepsi, coffee, orange juice … so five.

12. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machines?
I’ll call you and let you know.

13. Who did you lose your concert virginity to?
Joan Jett and the Black Hearts at Six Flags … followed shortly thereafter by ZZ Top and Night Ranger.

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
OK, that’s an idiotic question, even if I didn’t live on a tropical island.

15. What was the most painful dental procedure you’ve ever had?
When they installed my poison-filled tooth.

16. What is out your back door?
I live in an apartment and, thus, have no back door.

17. Any plans for Friday night?
If I did, like I would tell you so you could try to horn in? Seriously … writing editorials and playing World of Warcraft until I’m so tired I’m almost dozing off in front of the computer. Exciting, no?

18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
Heh-low!!! Huge shaven skull here, people!

oh ... and a teeny hat ... heh

19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
Yes … some office coworkers give the shittiest exchange gifts.

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Actually, I’ve been to four of them. So, hah!

21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
After I get out of the shower, I am the cleanest thing in my apartment. Therefore, the towel is clean, if not cleaner, after drying me off. Yes, I know this is a single man reaction, and also one used by those who hate laundry.

22. Some things you are excited about?
*in best De Niro voice* … I heard some tings!

23. What is your favorite flavor of Jell-O?
Orange, with carrot shavings suspended throughout.

24. Describe your key chains.
I’ll do better than that …

Top left: Key to lock on spare tire, mounted in truck bed. Top right: Mail key. Bottom left: Gas/convenience story scan thingy. Bottom middle: House key. Bottom right: Truck key.

25. There was no # 25. … So here’s mine: What’s your favorite politically incorrect term for a male homosexual?
Turd burglar. Cracks me up every time.

26. Where do you keep your change?
Balinese carved box: Pennies. Smaller Balinese carved box: Dimes and Nickels. Small bag that once held Crown Royal: Quarters.

27. What kind of winter coat do you own?
The coldest it gets here is 72° Fahrenheit. I have no winter anything.

28. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
Dark … it was held at night.

29. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
Cracked open.

30. Did you read this far?
No, I just made up random answers to the questions.

---

told ya ...

So lazy this weekend that I didn't even bother posting.

Up way too late (early) thanks to gaming with My Favorite Person so I'm off to bed for 4 hours of sleep before a crazy 3 days of election coverage.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend.

is it Tuesday yet?

I really need for Election Day to pass ... I'm soooo freaking tired of the political ads, and of the TV stations taking extra time for commercial breaks to stuff in more ads. The show that's supposed to end at 11 p.m. probably won't be over till after 11:30 p.m. ... thanks to 8-minute ad breaks.

The last week has been crazy, and it's going to get worse up through Tuesday.

I'm looking forward to the weekend ... gonna spend a lot of time wasting it doing as close to nothing as possible.

---

christmas card call out ....

Christmas is coming.

Fast.

Soon.

And I can't wait.

I love the Christmas season. I love shopping for or making gifts. I love wrapping presents. I love how people are more friendly, generally, during the season. I love the Christmas carols (one in particular ... heh). I love the tidings of the season. I love it all.

I also love sending out Christmas cards.

And, so, for the second straight year, I am offering to mail YOU a Christmas card from Guam. Yes, that's right, a real Christmas card from the tropics, with the Guam postmark and everything!

All you need to do is send me your snail mail address via e-mail -- sent to The DZER. If you want to use your blogger name, that's fine. If you want it sent to your work instead of home, or to a post office box, that's fine too. I promise you your information will be kept confidential and only be used for season's greetings.

Last year, several people took advantage of this, and I still have all of your e-mail addresses, so you don't have to worry about resending them to me ... unless you're worried I don't have it, then feel free to send it again.

And for those who want to send ME a Christmas card, my snail mail address is on the sidebar to the left. :)

Oh ... and in the case of da buttahliciousness and any of you other non-Christmas celebraters out there, I will send you a greeting card in the faith or non-faith of your choosing.

---

after work ... but with more work ahead

OK ... not much time to post now ... just got home. Even though it's early for me, I have to freshen up and head out for the big debate tonight.

But I did find time to shoot a quick photo of me ... and, for once, I'm wearing clothes. This is me, unbuttoned, after a day at the office.



To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

tuesday tidbits ...

... still a little sick, but on the upward swing, with lessened, though still annoying, symptoms.

... there is a big-time "come to Jesus" moment fast approaching.

... the sloppy joes were tasty-licious.

... tomorrow is the big gubernatorial debate. I'm not on the broadcast this time around, but will be helping out. It's gonna be a looooong day into evening.

... I hate it when game servers have their routine maintenance at the time I usually play.

... crap ... I just realized I missed "Heroes" while over at the godsons' for Halloween. *sigh*

... time for orange juice and then some hot tea.

---

sick ... and trivia answers ...

Started feeling a cold coming on Friday, but despite my best efforts -- hot soup, hot tea and cold medicine -- it started coming on strong Saturday and by Sunday it was totally kicking my ass. I was sick enough that I skipped golf.

Was sick enough still on Monday that I left early, after knocking out my section.

I hate these kinds of colds. Congestion, runny nose, cough, phlegm galore ... ugh. Could have slept forever Sunday into Monday, and likely will be asleep early (for me) again, unless I nap for a few hours, get up for a few hours, then sleep till the late a.m.

OK ... time for dinner. It's sloppy joe night ... you know what they say: Starve a fever, feed a cold.

Heh.

And I won't leave you hanging ... here are the answers to the trivia questions from Quiz Nite:

Category: High, Low, Long
(One local question here)
1. What place on land has the lowest elevation in the United States?
Death Valley
2. Name 3 of the 5 states in the 2000 Census that had the highest populations.
New York, California, Florida, Texas, Illinois
3. Name 3 of the 5 states in the 2000 Census that had the lowest populations.
Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming
4. What North American city has had the longest continual habitation by Europeans?
St. Augustine, Fla.
5. What is the name of the world's longest dog sled race?
Iditarod

Category: Words, Words, Words
1. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a line said by which character of Shakespeare?
Juliet
2. Name the type of fish caught by the "Old Man and the Sea."
Marlin
3. What famous American poet was once a West Point cadet?
Edgar Allan Poe
4. How many syllables in the second line of a haiku?
Seven
5. There are two terms that describe the repeated first sound of words. Name one of them; bonus points for both.
Assonace, alliteration
6. LASER is the acronym for what?
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Category: Music — Classic to Top 40
1. Who composed "The Four Seasons?"
Vivaldi
2. The Quarrymen included the nucleus of what well-known rock band?
The Beatles
3. Who sang the theme song to "The Dukes of Hazzard?" He was also the narrator.
Waylon Jennings
4. What artist has the current Top 40 hit "Sexyback?"
Justin Timberlake
5. Who wrote the lyrics for "Westside Story?"
Stephen Sondheim
6. According to Paul Simon, how many ways are there to leave your lover?
50

Category: Horror film
Correctly place the following films into the right decade: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s.

1. The Others
2000s
2. The Exorcist
1970s
3. Psycho
1960s
4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1950s
5. Misery
1990s
6. Aliens
1980s

Category: Sidekicks, political and otherwise
(There were two local questions here)

1. Andrew Johnson was the vice president of what U.S. president?
Abraham Lincoln
2. John Adams was the vice president of what U.S. president?
George Washington
3. Thomas Marshall was the vice president of what U.S. president?
Woodrow Wilson
4. Name one of the two vice presidents that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has had.
Teofisto T. Guingona or Noli De Castro

---

quiz nite ...

We didn't do too bad this time out — we finished fifth overall out of more than 50 teams thought we could have done better; a few simple mistakes and going against gut instinct cost us several points that would have put us up near the top.

I thought we were screwed because our scores were lower than the last two times, when we broke 30 points out of a possible 42 on both occasions. This time I think we finished with 26, so that tells you how much harder the questions were this time around.

Oh ... and I brought my camera but forgot to replace the batteries, so no pics.

Here are the questions I can provide — don't have the images for the photo round, and will leave out the Guam ones that most people won't know ... hell, most of us from Guam didn't know them.

Oh ... and spelling counts. Get the right answer and spell it wrong, and it's wrong.

Category: High, Low, Long
(One local question here)
1. What place on land has the lowest elevation in the United States?

2. Name 3 of the 5 states in the 2000 Census that had the highest populations.

3. Name 3 of the 5 states in the 2000 Census that had the lowest populations.

4. What North American city has had the longest continual habitation by Europeans?

5. What is the name of the world's longest dog sled race?

Category: Words, Words, Words
1. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a line said by which character of Shakespeare?

2. Name the type of fish caught by the "Old Man and the Sea."

3. What famous American poet was once a West Point cadet?

4. How many syllables in the second line of a haiku?

5. There are two terms that describe the repeated first sound of words. Name one of them; bonus points for both.

6. LASER is the acronym for what?

Category: Music — Classic to Top 40
1. Who composed "The Four Seasons?"

2. The Quarrymen included the nucleus of what well-known rock band?

3. Who sang the theme song to "The Dukes of Hazzard?" He was also the narrator.

4. What artist has the current Top 40 hit "Sexyback?"

5. Who wrote the lyrics for "Westside Story?"

6. According to Paul Simon, how many ways are there to leave your lover?

Category: Horror film
Correctly place the following films into the right decade: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s.

1. The Others

2. The Exorcist

3. Psycho

4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers

5. Misery

6. Aliens

Category: Sidekicks, political and otherwise
(There were two local questions here)

1. Andrew Johnson was the vice president of what U.S. president?

2. John Adams was the vice president of what U.S. president?

3. Thomas Marshall was the vice president of what U.S. president?

4. Name one of the two vice presidents that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has had.

---

nothing again ...

... this time it's because:

1. My company has a table at the Habitat for Humanity Quiz Nite. We won last year and were like 4th or 5th 6 months ago ... so wish me luck.

2. Have some weekend work I need to finish up when I get back home.

May post after all that ... including possible pics from the event.

---

too busy for anything substantial ...

... OK, so I've been playing WOW and am about to play more WOW.

Sue me.

:P

---

treat or treat ...

the early HNT from Guam ....

delicious cinammon caramel apple ... mmm ...

fun with candy corn ... creepy monster teeth

To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

---

one of those days ...

Had to be up early for a meeting that was scheduled for an hour and a half before the start of my normal workday ... that was the start of my day, and set the tone for the next of the better part of it. Drove back to the office, logged into my computer and then into another meeting, which of course dragged out longer than I wanted to.

After that was done, I got to go to lunch ... a lunch meeting with a bunch of lawyers and judges at some conference. Wasn't all that bad ... the food was free, though not all that good ... but did I mention it was free?

Finally, after that, I was finally able to get to work.

Lucky me, no?

Time to go ... the chicken soup is done, so I need to make the peanut butter sammiches to dunk into it.

Don't go "ew!" ... it's fucking tasty as all hell. Trust me ... try it.

---

update ...

• Is it just me, or is Blogger sucking even more ass than normal today.

• Haven't been around much, I know, mostly because I've been gaming, but also working a lot of extra shifts. The latter will end this week; the former ... who knows?

• As I can tell by the effusive outpourings wondering where I've been, what I'm up to ... I can tell I'm missed. Yeah ... that's the ticket.

• That's all you get. Shoo.

---

screenshot fun and frivolity ...

So World of Warcraft is celebrating Halloween with "Hallow's End." There are big jack-o-lanterns in towns, game NPC's giving away candy, and even some trick or treating.

My Favorite Person's character acquired a wand that bestows costumes on party members when the spell is cast. She took much delight in zapping me with it several times.

Here's my human transmuted into a little green gnomish character, who skipped instead of ran.

Here's me as a will o'the wisp ... a little fuzzy ball of energy.

Here's My Favorite Person, transmuted into a bat creature by the jolly inkeeper.

And, finally, here's the two of us dancing along the roadside. Her character has a macarena-sexy-hip-grind routine, while my guy has a funky-chicken-saturday-night-fever-disco set of moves.

OK ... back to gaming!!

---

Those kids these days ...

I recently read the following story on the news wires:

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Tag, you're out! Officials at an elementary school south of Boston have banned kids from playing tag, touch football and any other unsupervised chase game during recess for fear they'll get hurt and hold the school liable.

Recess is "a time when accidents can happen," said Willett Elementary School Principal Gaylene Heppe, who approved the ban.

OK ... what the fuck?

It was bad enough when schools started banning dodgeball, because they said it allowed the bigger, more athletic kids to not only pick on smaller, weaker children, but also to strike them.

But how much more are we going to coddle our children? Are we going to set the swings so they don't go to high, or the merry-go-round so it doesn't go too fast? Are we going to start making them wear pads and helmets before they can go to recess, or bundle them up in bubble wrap?

You know what the real problem is with kids today? The adults and parents -- most of whom probably got beaned by a few dodgeballs in their day.

Kids today miss out on so much because of new rules and regulations; they miss out on valuable learning experiences, which start teaching them what life is going to be like.

Now we have games in which no score is kept, so that everyone is a winner. Every team gets trophies at the end of the season, even if they never won a game. In some instances, grades aren't given out any more so some kids won't feel dumb. There have even been college students who have sued because they weren't happy with their C's.

Guess what folks. Sometimes, you lose. Sometimes, you're a loser. Sometimes, people, kids included, ARE dumb.

If you never lose as a child, how will you cope with that when you're an adult? If you're not graded on the quality of your work but rather on your effort, or just the fact that you tried, how are you ever going to be a productive member of the work force?

Companies could give a rat's ass if you try hard. They want you to try hard and get it right. Get it wrong enough times, or even once, and you're out of a job.

Life, as we all know -- some of us more than others -- is NOT fair. It's not easy. The world is not fair or fun or easy all the time; in fact, it's none of those things most of the time.

We're raising a generation of children who will be completely unable to cope with living in the real world -- managing a household budget, getting a job and keeping it, learning how to deal with problems and bad surprises, etc.

Now I'm not talking about going back to the days of children working in mines and sweatshops, or of getting smacked with yardsticks in schools. I don't advocate bullying or kids being excessively mean and nasty to those who are different.

But for God's sake ... banning TAG because it's dangerous?

Give me a fucking break.

We've got to let kids be kids ... and to have kid experiences. We have to let them live and learn.

---

miscellaneous miscellania ...

• I got an e-mail recently from my brother -- not the Savage brother, but my brother who is serving his country in the U.S. Air Force -- and it turns out that he's temporarily in Afghanistan. Yikes. He went from England to Qatar for another Middle East tour, but Qatar is nice and safe and well away from insurgents and IED's and all that shit. Af-fucking-ghani-fucking-stan is smack dab in the the middle of THE shit. Stay safe, bro.

• One of my favorite parts of October is the seasonal treats. Not the candy, per se; I mean, you can always get candy. But you can't always get the TYPES of candy. Like candy corn. Damn I love that stuff. It's tasty, plus you can make "monster teeth." Heh.

• Even better than candy corn? Caramel apples. Caramel apples rolled in chopped peanuts. Caramel chocolate apples. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck they're soooooooooo good. I got some as a present once -- four gourmet caramel apples with chocolate and other tasty decadent goodness on them. Yummy-most!

• Candy apples? Not so much.

• I just wish that election season would end. I freakin' hate all the political commercials. There should be a cap on how many minutes an hour can be used for campaign ads.

• Today was the first day the sun actually came out for any extended period of time in the last 2-1/2 weeks. Before that, all super grey and drizzling and rainy and nasty. What a waste of extended sunshine on a Friday. Why couldn't it have waited until Sunday, when I have a golf game scheduled with S and my godson?

• Tonight's dinner is pork roast and mashed taters. Mmm.

• Today's lunch was bacon cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry shake. Mmm.

• There are two TV sitcoms that I didn't really get into when they initially came out, but which I now really like watching, thanks to high rotation in syndication — "That '70s Show" and "Scrubs."

• Is it just me, or are most of the new shows on TV pretty much sucky? I like "Heroes." I like "Shark" OK, but mostly because I'm a James Woods Fan. Couldn't really get into "The Nine" the two times I tried watching it. "The Class" is mostly sucky. Am I missing out on some decent shows? I haven't seen "30 Rock" yet, and I LOVE Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin ... when the hell is that on?

• What's cool is all you have to do with a good show these days is wait for the end of the season and then a couple more months and the entire season is available on DVD.

• I understand that some women are hairier than others and some grow that little mustache and that nature won't change that ... but do those with the thicker, Sancho Panza style not notice how thick and dark it is? Or do they just not care? I think I notice this mostly because I'm jealous ... it takes me forever to grow anything that even closely resembles a 'stache.

• I got a lot of shit to read and edit tonight, and one thing to write. You'd think I'd be doing that right now, don't you? Instead of blogging? With plans to game a bit after finishing this post?

• I don't need a new bench grinder or compound miter saw, but they are on sale at the hardware store. I'm going to have to be extra disciplined when I go there tomorrow for my new handsaw.

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the rogaine worked!!

A little bit of late HNT from Guam ...

... hopefully it will ungoo (degoo?) some poeple out there who apparantly need to get ungooed (degooed?).

And no, I have no shame.

That hasn't been made clear to you yet?



To find out more about Half-Nekkid Thursday,
check out the link, baby:

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I meme, therefore I'm a memer

Because I got nothing else, here's the "Don't Lie" meme ... stolen from from snavylycious!

1. What kind of shirt are you wearing?
I don't wear shirts at home.

2. Would you kiss anyone on your blogroll?
I would probably try to and get slapped.

3. Do you have a "thing" for anyone on your blogroll?
I have all kinds of things.

4. How many people on your top friends do you know in real life?
All the ones who have been to Guam.

5. How many kids do you want to have?
What's the point? I'm not going to have any.

6. Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
I don't have a bad one with my mom. My dad's been dead for 10 years.

7. What name would you want besides the one you have?
I would like do be Grand Duke Amadeus Sherlock Snuffleupagus.

8. What did you do for your last birthday?
Ate cake.

9. What's your current ringtone on your phone?
low.mid

10. What do you think when you get meme's with missing questions?
I usually miss the missing questions ... thanks snavy for making up ones for the missing numbers!

11. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sitting here in front of my computer.

12.Where is the furthest place you've ever called to talk to someone?
Probably Paris, France.

13. Do you like having your hair pulled?
Not my pubes.

14. Name something you CANNOT wait to do?
Usually, it's peeing. When I have to pee, I HAVE to pee.

15. Last time you saw your dad?
In his casket, right before they closed the lid.

16. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life?
Being perpetually not-rich.

17. What is your favorite board game?
Scrabble.

18. Do you have a pimp name?
Nope. I have the names and numbers of several prostitutes ... on speed dial.

19. Have you ever talked to Tom (from MySpace)?
Fuck that guy.

20. What's the last thing you ate?
Custard pie and latiya.

21. Favorite month?
December.

22. Least favorite month?
August.

23. What's the last piece of clothing you borrowed from anyone?
I don't know anyone as fat as me from whom to borrow clothes.

24. Who's getting on your nerves right now?
Work people.

25. Most visited Web page?
My own blog. Sad, no?

26. Do you ever sleep in the nude?
Sure.

27. What is the strangest thing you have in your purse or wallet?
A card with the First Amendment on it that also contains language for protesting the closure of court proceedings.

28. Last person to make you sad?
Myself.

29. Would you help your best friend fight if he/she is losing?
Losing what? Weight? Money? A game to me?

30. Coke or Pepsi?
Is it OK to choose RC Cola?

31. Do you have a crush?
An Orange Crush?

32. Have you kissed or been kissed by anyone in the past week?
You could have asked "in the past several years" and the answer still would be "no."

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... and no ... no early HNT today ...

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how now, brown karabao ...

OK ... Mondays are slow ... I get that.

Here is my newest World of Warcraft character. He's big. He's bullish. He's a Tauren warrior with a big hammer. He is Karabao, named for Guam's version of the domesticated water buffalo.

His nostrils flare just like mine!

I know ... green gloves and green belt ... it's autumn! I need muted colors ;)

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• 75-question meme in the post below this. Find out more about the DZER.

• Post about Freddy Fender's death below that one. I can't believe that two people, so far, had no idea who Fender was. "Before the Last Teardrop Falls?" "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights?" Hell-oh!!

• Below that post, the details of my scrumptious Friday night dinner.

Not that anyone will bother to go past the top post, but all this is there, for the record.

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meme if you want to ...

OK ... weekend traffic is slow. I get that.

Here's a little meme stolen from Will's Trailer of Love. Feel free to re-steal it from me.

* -- wasn't on original list of questions, added by DZER.

1.The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?
Hah! This is a trick question ... the phone almost NEVER rings!

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Don't they pay someone to do that?

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
Sorry, what were you saying?

4. Do you take compliments well?
I guess I would have to get compliments to be able to discern if I take them well.

5. Are you an active person?
Mentally or physically?

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, do you survive?
For a little while ... till the bears eat me.

7. Do you like to ride horses?
Think I'd need a Clydesdale to support my weight ... and they don't have them here in Guam.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Went camping, but not to any camps.

9. What was your favorite game as a kid?
I was a great hider in hide-n-seek. Freeze tag was fun too. But I was a dodgeball and kickball GOD!!

10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married would you?
That's a mighty big if ... but fuck, yes!! ... if the person were a woman. No if he was a man.

11. Are you judgmental?
No ... and whoever came up with this question is a simpering fool and complete idiot.

12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?
I can't date anyone, period, apparently.

13. Do you like to pursue or be pursued?
By jackals? The paparazzi? Police? A crazed mob? It's all about the situation.

14. Use three words to describe yourself:
Tall. FAT. Asshole.

15. If you had to choose, would you rather be deaf or blind?
Can't chat or play computer games if I'm blind ... and I don't like listening to most people, so I'll go with deaf.

16. Are you continuing your education?
He who ceases to learn becomes president of the United States.

17. Do you know how to shoot a gun?
Umm ... take the safety off and pull the trigger?

18. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you tried to save?
My own life?

19. How often do you read books?
Often and voraciously.

20. Do you think more about the past, present or future?
They all suck, so it doesn't matter.

21. What is your favorite children's book?
"Where the Wild Things Are" ... or "Dick and Jane."

22. Have you kissed any of your MySpace friends?
I'm too fat and ugly to be allowed on MySpace ... I'm gonna check out ItSpace.

23. How tall are you?
A little over 6'4" ... but in most shoes/boots, I'm about 6'6"

24. Where is your ideal house located?
In my mind.

25. Boxers, briefs, thongs, panties, or grannies?
Commando.

26. Last person you talked to?
On the phone? In person? In either case, some idiot at work.

27. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Sure.

28. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
I think I've only been once, an it was back in the early 90s.

29. What are your keys on your key chain for?
Truck, house, post office box.

30. Where was the furthest place you traveled today?
From the office to the tax agency to finally pay off my 2005 taxes.

31. Where is your current pain at?
With the state of my life.

32. Do you like mustard?
Yes; all kinds.

33. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
I'd rather be sleeping.

34. Do you look like your mom or dad?
Neither ... except I have the George Family Nose.

35. How long does it take you in the shower?
To do what, exactly? Usually no more than 8.25 minutes.

36. Can you do a split?
Only banana.

37. What movie do you want to see right now?
"The Departed."

38. Do you put lotion on your dog or cats?
I have neither, but if I did, why the fuck would I?

39. What did you do for New Year's?
Day? Went to brunch. Eve? Sat home alone, unkissed, for like the billionth time.

40. Do you think "The Grudge" was scary?
A little eerie, but not scary, per se.

41. What was the cause of your last accident?
Karma.

*42. How much money do you have on you right now?
$6.25

43. What are you drinking?
King Car Lemon Tea (49 fl. oz.)

44. Was your mom a cheerleader?
Nope, but she made the uniforms for the cheerleaders.

45. What's the last letter of your middle name?
"L"

46. Who did you vote for on American Idol?
I don't watch that shit, let alone spend money to vote for one of the wannabes.

47. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Never enough.

48. Do you like Carebears?
Is there a Fuck-You Bear?

49. What do you buy at the movies?
A ticket to get in.

50. Do you know how to play poker?
All-in, bitch.

51. Do you wear your seat belt?
Sometimes.

52. What do you wear to sleep?
Shorts or sweats.

53. Anything big ever happen in your hometown?
Sure. What, you want details?

54. How many meals do you eat a day?
Usually two, with snack now and then.

55. Is your tongue pierced?
Nope.

56. Do you always read MySpace bulletins?
Seriously, who are these MySpace people?

*57. What's you favorite NFL team?
Da Bears!

58. Do you like funny or serious people better?
Funny.

59. Ever been to Vegas?
Only have driven past it.

60. Did you eat a cookie today?
No, Cookie Monster ate them all.

61. Do you use cuss words in other languages?
Chada i namu! Puta i namo! Merde! Chevato!

62. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads?
I don't download music.

63. Do you hate chocolate?
There are people who do?

64. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
We don't fight.

*65. Is anyone mad at or irritated with you right now?
Probably several, if not many.

*66. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? (apologies to those who don't celebrate Christmas)
Both.

*67. What's your favorite preparation for eggs?
Scrambled, dry.

68. If you could have any job (assuming you have the skills) what would it be?
NFL lineman ... or pro wrassler.

69. Are you easy to get along with?
Apparently not.

70. What is your favorite time of day?
Night.

71. Who was your best girlfriend/boyfriend?
Sooooooooo many to choose from. Guess it'd be no one.

72. Who do you hate?
Most living people ... and most dead people.

73. Would ever date your first love again?
Like I have the option?

74. Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?
DZER: Undated since 1997.

75. Current mood?
Fuck off.

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