being completely fed up with the crapass service we were getting from Cingular, we finally got around to switching service today...after much mulling and discussion, we switched to Sprint...of course we took advantage of being able to move our existing numbers, which is nice because notifying everyone of a new number would have sucked...we also took advantage of the deal for new customers, and two of our three phones are the new picture phones...amazingly, our numbers were switched and working in less than three hours...spent several hours learning how to play with the new phone, and moving all my numbers into it...of course i have been taking pictures of anything and everything, just because i can...so far have only kept one picture, of our dog, which is now the phone's screensaver...i'm sure i will be snapping plenty of pics worth keeping over the days to come, or at least i hope so...i love having new toys :)
well last night's speech added yet one more reason why Bush should not be in the white house...the man can not even pronounce the word nuclear...4 times in his speech he pronounced it as nucular, a common error, but not one that should be made by our president...wasn't having Quayle as veep bad enough...there is simply no excuse for a man in his position to mispronounce simple words like nulear...i would have to assume that his speech writers spell it correctly, and you would think that a man with an ivy league degree should speak the language correctly...evidently graduating from a prestigious school does not require that you understand how to speak english correctly, even if it is your native language...what a shame
wonder of wonders, i have actually had a fairly productive day...my g/f and i decided that we needed to quit procrastinating our various projects, and get some of the grunt work done, before it is too late...while we are both creative and enthusiastic about starting new things, or working on stuff we enjoy, we both have the typical add problem with finishing things, especially when it requires grinding tedious work...between us we must have 8 or nine partially complete web sites...this of course is very bad when both our primary business sites are in that bunch...so i sat down and wrote out what i need to do to complete, or bring up to date my primary sites...we then worked out a game plan for her to get her web design site closer to completion, and then i spent a couple of hours writing content for it...she is now chugging away at fixing the half complete pages, and building the most important pages, her portfolio, and the forms for potential customers to request work, etc...meanwhile i finally got off my ass and captured screenshots of my sites for the gallery and uploaded them...next, i need to finish fixing the fucked up internal links for visual angst, and then redo the former rants section, which will now be the angst-du-jour.net index page, and stuff like that...then i must finish the wickdarts design site, i hope...maybe we will actually finish our own sites so that we can bring in some business from someone other than family or friends.
i read earlier this week that three men decided to go streaking at their local Denny's...they had decided it would be a good idea to leave their car running so that they could make a quick exit afterwards...turns out this was not a good plan...while running through the restraunt clad only in shoes and hats, a glance out the window showed them someone stealing their car...plan for a qhuick escape foiled by unfortunate circumstance, they decided to hide between a couple of parked cars...this in 20 degree weather...luckily, or maybe not so luckily, a cop arrived shortly and collected them...what fun they must have had at the police station sorting it all out...it probably would have been a better idea to leave a friend in the car, but then again it would have been hard for said friend to pass up such a great opportunity to make them run a bit to catch a ride once leaving the Denny's...i know that is exactly the kind of prank i would gleefully play on any friends silly enough to want to streak Denny's.
had a really nice talk with my daughter on the phone tonight...i had been worried about her, because things have been tough for her the last few months...her marriage fell apart, and she was struggling to pay her bills, and didn't know where she wanted to go with her life, and so on...well she has finally shaken off all the pain and uncertainty, and is getting things back together...for the first time in several months she sounded happy and is feeling beeter on all fronts...which of course makes me feel happy, because it is really difficult for me to be happy when someone i love is unhappy...if misery loves company, the flip side is that happiness seems to be infectious, and spreads quickly....maybe this year will really be better than the last few...i had started to believe that a new year was just the smae old year recycled, but maybe a new year can bring change for good...we shall see...meanwhile things are definately better for now.
i have come to the realization over the pasrt week or so, that if i want to have any realistic expectation of making a living selling my art, i need a new printer...while we have a kickass printer, a hp cp1700d, it is not up to handling the requirements of the job for printing art and photography...it can't do true photo quality at 8 x 10 and larger, and worse yet, can't handle 13 x 19, let alone 13 x 44, use rolls of paper, and many other things...after looking around, i concluded i need an epson stylus photo 2200, and a good supply of paper...unfortunately i don't even have the $600 to $700 for the printer, or even a spare $200 or so for paper...i figure the only quick and painless solution is for me to hope that one of my loyal readers has a spare laying around that they would like to let me have, or better yet, feels like buying me one...so if any of you are desparately trying to think of how to spend all the excess money you have laying around, i suggest you use it to help out an aspiring artist, me.
so i was intrigued by this Wow, this fucking Quiz Was Actually Right, and was curious to see if it would work for me...so i went and took the quiz, and sure enough according to them, i am definately a man...nice to have their affirmation of that....some things the gender test has learned:
Men prefer falling over drowning to death.
Women really hate the word "moist".
Women are more likely to realize that clams
are alive (88%) than men (only 85%).
wow...i have reached 200 entries in my blog...exciting as hell, isn't it...yes, this entry counts, even though it is totally pointless, gratuitous, and lame...i had to mark this momentous occasion somehow...why not do so by resorting to patting myself on the back in here...ok, enough of this, hopefully i will have something worthwhile to write here soon.
my girlfriend, who is a huge Johnny Depp fan, found this site a couple of weeks ago...it's a quiz to determine which Johnny Depp character you are most like (i said she was a big fan)...her result was Sam from Benny and Joon, which is one of my favorite movies...his physical comedy in it was pretty amazing, and i always loved her take on the california raisins...so, if you ever wondered which Johnny Depp character you are most like, go take the quiz and find out.
well i have added some new photos, and done more tinkering with my gallery...i have added a new album called Fall Colors in the Still Photography album...the new album contains, yes, you guessed it correctly, pictures taken during fall, and focused on all the nifty colors the trees turn around here...the album has six new photographs, and also has several old favorites moved into this album from the Color Photos album.
i have also added three new photos to the Cloudscapes album...i really love Small Moon, which was taken on one of those rare days when the moon was very visible beofre the sun had set...i was lucky to capture it framed by clouds, which were colored by the setting sun.
i hope everyone will go take a look, and will enjoy them as much as i do....comments are extremely welcome.
i was rumaging through my old emails and found this one that a friend had sent me years ago...i have no doubt that many of you have seen this before...no the less, i laughed my ass off re-reading it, and i'm guessing that many of you will too...those who have never read this should get a good laugh as well.
Real Life Cybersex
Budlight21: Hello, Elsie_29, What do you look like?
Elsie_29: I am wearing a red silk blouse and a miniskirt and high heels. My
measurements are 36-24-36. I work out every day. I'm toned and perfect. What
do you look like?
Budlight21: I'm 6'3" and about 250 pounds. I wear glasses and I have on a
pair of blue sweatpants I just bought at Walmart. I am also wearing a T-shirt
with a few spots of barbecue sauce on it from dinner - it smells a little
funny.
Elsie_29: I want you. Would you like to screw me?
Budlight21: OK.
Elsie_29: We're in my bedroom. There's soft music playing on the stereo and
candles on my dresser and night table. I'm looking up into your eyes,
smiling. My hand works its way down to your crotch and begins to fondle your
huge, swelling bulge.
Budlight21: I'm gulping. I'm beginning to sweat.
Elsie_29: I'm pulling up your shirt and kissing your chest.
Budlight21: Now I'm unbuttoning your blouse. My hands are trembling.
Elsie_29: I'm moaning softly.
Budlight21: I'm taking hold of your blouse and sliding it off slowly.
Elsie_29: I'm throwing my head back in pleasure. The cool silk slides off my
warm skin. I'm rubbing your bulge faster, pulling and rubbing.
Budlight21: My hand suddenly jerks spastically and I accidently rip a hole in
your blouse. I'm sorry.
Elsie_29: That's OK, it wasn't really too expensive.
Budlight21: I'll pay for it.
Elsie_29: Don't worry about it. I'm wearing a lacy black bra. My soft breasts
are rising and falling, rising and falling, as I breathe harder and harder.
Budlight_21: I'm fumbling with the clasp on your bra. I think it's stuck. Do
you have any scissors?
Elsie_29: I take your hand and kiss it softly. I'm reaching back and undoing
the clasp. The bra slides off my body. The air caresses my breasts. My
nipples are erect for you.
Budlight21: How did you do that? I'm picking up the bra and inspecting the
clasp.
Elsie_29: I'm arching my back. Oh, baby. I just want to feel your tongue all
over me.
Budlight21: I'm dropping the bra. Now I'm licking your, you know, breasts.
They're neat!
Elsie_29: I'm running my fingers through your hair. Now I'm nibbling your ear.
Budlight21: I suddenly sneeze. Your breasts are covered with spit.
Elsie_29: What?
Budlight21: I'm so sorry. Really.
Elsie_29: I'm wiping your spit off my breasts with the remains of my blouse.
Budlight21: I'm taking the sopping wet blouse from you. I drop it with a
curse.
Elsie_29: OK. I'm pulling your sweatpants down and rubbing your hard tool.
Budlight21: I'm screaming like a woman. Your hands are cold! Yeeee!
Elsie_29: I'm pulling up my miniskirt. Take off my panties.
Budlight21: I'm pulling off your panties. My tongue is going all over, in and
out, nibbling on your ... umm ... wait a minute.
Elsie_29: What's the matter?
Budlight21: I've got a pubic hair caught in my throat. I'm choking.
Elsie_29: Are you OK?
Budlight21: I'm having a coughing fit. I'm turning all red.
Elsie_29: Can I help?
Budlight21: I'm running to the kitchen, choking wildly. I'm fumbling through
the cabinets, looking for a cup. Where do you keep your cups?
Elsie_29: In the cabinet to the right of the sink.
Budlight21: I'm drinking a cup of water. There, that's better.
Elsie_29: Come back to me, lover.
Budlight21: I'm washing the cup now.
Elsie_29: I'm on the bed, aching for you.
Budlight21: I'm drying the cup. Now I'm putting it back in the cabinet. And
now I'm walking back to the bedroom. Wait, it's dark. I'm lost. Where's the
bedroom?
Elsie_29: Last door on the left at the end of the hall.
Budlight21: I found it.
Elsie_29: I'm tugging off your pants. I'm moaning. I want you so badly.
Budlight21: Me, too.
Elsie_29: Your pants are off. I kiss you passionately - our naked bodies
pressing against each other.
Budlight21: Your face is pushing my glasses into my face. It hurts.
Elsie_29: Why don't you take off your glasses?
Budlight21: OK, but I can't see very well without them. I place the glasses
on the night table.
Elsie_29: I'm bending over the bed. Give it to me, baby!
Budlight21: I have to pee. I'm fumbling my way blindly across the room and
toward the bathroom.
Elsie_29: Hurry back, lover.
Budlight21: I find the bathroom. It's dark. I'm feeling around for the
toilet. I lift the lid.
Elsie_29: I'm waiting eagerly for your return.
Budlight21: I'm done going. I'm feeling around for the flush handle, but I
can't find it. Uh-oh!
Elsie_29: What's the matter now?
Budlight21: I've realized that I've peed into your laundry hamper. Sorry
again. I'm walking back to the bedroom now, blindly feeling my way.
Elsie_29: Mmm, yes. Come on.
Budlight21: OK, now I'm going to put my ... you know ... thing ... in your
... you know ... woman's thing.
Elsie_29: Yes! Do it, baby! Do it!
Budlight21: I'm touching your smooth butt. It feels so nice. I kiss your
neck. Umm, I'm having a little trouble here.
Elsie_29: I'm moving my ass back and forth, moaning. I can't stand it another
second! Slide it in! Screw me now!
Budlight21: I'm flaccid.
Elsie_29: What?
Budlight21: I'm limp. I can't sustain an erection.
Elsie_29: I'm standing up and turning around, an incredulous look on my face.
Budlight21: I'm shrugging with a sad look on my face, my weiner all floppy.
I'm going to get my glasses and see what's wrong.
Elsie_29: No, never mind. I'm getting dressed. I'm putting on my underwear.
Now I'm putting on my wet, nasty blouse.
Budlight21: No, wait! Now I'm squinting, trying to find the night table. I'm
feeling along the dresser, knocking over cans of hair spray, picture frames
and your candles.
Elsie_29: I'm buttoning my blouse. Now I'm putting on my shoes.
Budlight21: I've found my glasses. I'm putting them on. My God! One of your
candles fell on the curtain. The curtain is on fire! I'm pointing at it, a
shocked look on my face.
Elsie_29: Go to hell. I'm logging off, you loser!
Budlight21: Now the carpet is on fire! Oh noooo!
seems the privacy theft elves are hard at work again...the latest assault on our privacy comes via TSa...the now want to do background checks on all air travellers to make us all safe...their idea is to put all your travel inof into a database, and then verify your identity, itinerary and run a background check...once these things have been done, travelers would be sorted into three color coded categories...those who have no criminal record, and whos info matches up would be green, and could travel...those who have a record of any type, or who have paid cash, or other danger signs, would be yellow, and would be questioned, or is that interigated before being allowed to travel...those flagged as known terrorists, high risk, etc, would be detained...as if real terrorists couldn't get past that with no problems...seems the ones who will fall afoul of this plan are those who have made a mistake sometime in the past, paid their dues, and foolishly assumed that their debt to society was paid...oh and those who happen to be unlucky enough to fall victim to some computer glitch...enough already...quit taking our privacy away from us...we don't want or need this kind of protection...or at least those of us who think do not.
my girlfriend built a small web site with an attached gallery for my brother and his wife, so that they could put pics of my new niece up for everyone to see...she is very cute...if anyone would like to see go to their web site and go to the gallery, or just enter the gallery directly.
if any of you are wondering why their gallery looks so different from mine, it's because my g/f installed the latest version of gallery for them...i will be upgrading my gallery to this version in the next few days...should be pretty cool, as this version allows for ratings for the images and some other nifty stuff...will let ya all know when it is done.
the mars rover is sending back some kick ass images...i'm blown away by how cool they are so far and suggest you all go take a look...check out the Mars Rover Mission Site to see the latest images, and to get information on the mission itself...it's always worthwhile to go check out the rest of jpl's site and see what new and cool things they have there.
another site worth visiting for really amazing pictures is the Hubblesite Gallery, which has images collected from the Hubble Telescope...definately worth a visit.
just finish a new photomanipulation and uploaded it into my gallery..it's called Purple Haze ...feels great to be in a creative mode again...anyway, i hope you check it out, and like it.
seems that there may be benefits to smoking...contrary to past info, it turns out that nicotine, the reasons us smokers keep smoking, is not all bad...studies show that smokers are less likely to get alzheimers, and parkinsons...seems that nicotine can also lessen the impact of clinical depression...i knew there was a good reason i started smoking...anything that help lessen depression is a good thing in my life, and as my grandmother has severe alzheimers, and getting that scares the shit out of me, lessening the odds of getting it also make me happy...my grandmother never smoked, not that i think that's why she got it, but but i would take dying of cancer anyday over slowly losing my mind...maybe i should start chewing nicotine gum to boost my daily intake more...heh...have to think that one over.
took a few tries, but nasa finally had another successful mars landing...it was so cool that everything worked right, and now we get the chance to do some serious exploration of our neighbor...this is the sort of news that makes my day...as i firmly believe that we need to to be putting more effort and money into space, success like this offers the best chance for more it to happen...the knowledge we will reap from this trip is a bargain at the price, and like so many before, will probably reap side benfits to daily life...after all the space program has advanced medical science, and given us 100s of technological improvements like freeze drying food, and satellite tv.
well i have finally shaken off the holiday blahs, and am feeling like writing again...get to make my first post of the year upbeat...as of 10am december 30, i am an uncle...my brother and his wife had a baby girl, leah, and now i have a niece...didn't think that would ever happen, as my sister and her husband have no kids, and he didn't know if they were going to or not...i'll be spending a couple of weeks in late february in ny visitng them, and can't wait to see her in person...life is good