Although in fairness, there are things I do even less of than blogging, such as logging, flogging, clogging, bogging, hogging, jogging, slogging, and playing the home version of “Jeopardy” in my birthday suit. Okay, so that last one might be higher on the list, but not by much. Really.
ANYway, I had a few spare moments, so I thought I’d wander in and tell you ALL the interesting stories I’ve gathered up!
Sure wish I could remember some of them.
If only I’d had a way to write them down in an easily accessible manner, possibly using an electronic input/output data storage device. Or even a pencil and paper.
Well, let’s try it anyway.
I have a new clock. The old one—my pushpin clock that I’d made way back while I was in school—had to be stuck into a cork square (because my office walls are plaster over depleted uranium and can’t be pushpinned into) and then the cork in turn had to be stuck to the wall. The adhesive was such in name only, however, causing both clock and cork to come adrift and fall to the floor during the times I was absent of my office. Stupid “adhesive” squares. Anyway, the new one is from one of Martha Stewart’s very own Third World sweatshops, which I’m sure is tastefully decorated with found objects arranged in clever patterns that cause the workers to have calm healing energy and be at one with their simple and obviously superior low-carbon-footprint lifestyle. Or something. Anyway, I guess it’s been discontinued since I can’t find it on the Kmart (pronounced “kmart”) website. It has a satin aluminum frame with a convex lens and a black face with silver numberations, and thankfully it DOES keep time and DOESN’T fall off the wall.
That pushpin clock sure does have some good memories attached to it, though.
Oh well.
Let’s see—well, what about politics? Yet another election cycle seems destined to be frittered away with no one stepping up and challenging his or her competitors to a Texas steel cage death match. Why is this? Back in the olden days, this is what the Constitution called for in determining who’s fit to run the country, and yet here we are, acting like it doesn’t say that at all.
Science? Look, if those clamdigging scientist guys were really all that smart, instead of just killing Old Nasty for sport and telling a bunch of reporters, they would have gotten some hot blonde to crack it open with her high heels and made people pay to see it. As it is, they’ve just got an old dead clam.
Entertainment? Emily Deschanel in a Wonder Woman costume. I have heard that Bones is loosely based upon the life of a real forensic anthropologist, but no matter how loosely, I still find it highly unlikely that said anthropologist ever dressed up in such an outfit whilst simultaneously tracking down some deranged clown guy. And frankly, I do not care.
Local interest? Rush Propst. Of all that I’ve seen and heard the past few months, I can say one of the saddest things in this whole mess is that unlike Bear Bryant’s mother, Rush’s mother never seems to have told her son, “never wear your hat inside the house.” And he calls himself a role model.
Weather? Sure is nice outside. I think I’m going to go for a walk.
See y’all later!
Maybe that’s how he distinguished between families. One had the visor and one didn’t? not that I’ve seen anything about him having two families or anything because I know he was a real family type guy—got that from the MTV stuff.
Posted by: jim at October 31, 2007 01:48 PMMaybe he'll take up blogging.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 31, 2007 02:06 PMSo who in the Big O house is going to tick or treat tonight? I'm going to a party in costume, yes I'll be promoting my new book "How to Serve Man" by Alien Chef. I've even got a few Moron® project due... at least I want them done by 1st snow. Seeing I live up in NOLANorth that could be anytime now.
Posted by: Chef Tony at October 31, 2007 03:36 PMWell, I'm not sure. Boy doesn't have a costume, Middle Girl is of the age where she's not really of a mind to do such childish things, and Oldest wants to dress up, but not go anywhere, which leaves Tiny Terror as the only one really wanting to go door-knocking. It'll have to be quick, though--we've got Bible study at the normal time tonight, so we'll have to run home, get a bucket, run around the neighborhood, then jump in the van and head out by no later than 6:30.
At least it's nice here--bright and sunny and temps in the low 70s.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 31, 2007 04:06 PMHey, that WAS a great Bones episode. I never would have pictured Seeley Booth as a GEEK.
And what in the world is a "pushpin clock"? Did you have a ready-made movement that you simply put in some type of housing that you made? Just curious--can't quite picture that.
Hope all is well with everyone-both Possumclan and readers.
Posted by: Stan at October 31, 2007 08:22 PMAhhh, the pushpin clock. You're on the right track. Long ago, around 1984 or so, we got new drafting supply locker cabinets at our drafting tables. Each one was about six feet wide, six feet tall, and about a foot deep. There was an upper and lower compartment where students could store large presentation boards or other supplies. On the top was a nice two-tube fluorescent fixture (that had originally been hung from the ceiling of the studios), and then on each face of the cabinet was a nice big piece of fabric-covered cork where you could pin up drawings. They really were pretty danged clever.
ANYway, I wanted a clock, so I went down to Wal-Mart, and didn't see anything I liked, until I saw one of those cheap battery movements in the craft section. I got the idea just to use the movement, make myself some architecty-looking hands and glue them to the little brass ones supplied in the kit, and then use pushpins (of which we had a generous supply) as the hour markers.
It was a great hit with all who stumbled by, and followed me all through school, through the years at The Bad Place (including a change of office location), on through the past 12 years on 5th Floor, until it is now finally prevented from being easily mounted to the wall. I suppose I could spend more time on it, but it's really not quite worth all THAT much time.
It can be seen in this photo of my old office upstairs.
It's the little black square up toward the top of all the photos.
The maddening thing?
Several years later, I noticed several companies seem to have had the exact same idea, with this being the latest iteration that I've seen.
So, that's the story of the pushpin clock.
And the Possumclan is fine, and say thank you for asking!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 1, 2007 08:30 AMHmmm, I'd be worried about a Martha clock with an aluminum frame and convex lens. You may want to consider a tinfoil hat to counteract the mind-control rays emanating from the clock. Otherwise you may find yourself getting cable just to watch the Martha show as well as HGTV, subscribing to her magazine and getting on her e-mail list. Resistance is futile!
Chef Tony brought up an interesting thought about Moron Projects, and I'm curious to hear if you have taken any up lately. Lady Spud has me putting up about 70' worth of fence. She also bought some laminate flooring to go over a cement slab (former garage). It will be interesting to see how level the floor is once we take up the old carpet.
Finally, I hope you have a better handle on your "typical" schedule and could possibly have a blog session for one or two lunch breaks a week, if they let you eat at your desk. It could be like an electronic Possum Poster Pad (utilizing an electronic input/output data storage device), or somethin'.
Posted by: Marc V at November 1, 2007 09:40 AMThe only thing I don't like so much about the clock is the little "MSe" text-logo on the lower portion. It just irks me with its twee self-absorption and insufferability. I might have to take the thing apart and paste my own logo over it.
No new moron projects to date now that I've gotten the fence finished and the dog settled. Although The "I Am A Moron" Project does continue to require constant low-level attention. Went to the junkyard this past weekend to find myself a new seatbelt. The old one on the driver's side got to where it wouldn't retract, leaving me with a four-foot loop of uselessly dangling nylon strapping, which would be not a good thing in a collision at arresting the momentum of my considerable bulk before I became impaled on the steering wheel. So a new seatbelt was procured for the princely sum of 7 bucks and installed. Got it off another '86 model, but I was smart and used the passenger side belt. You figure it doesn't get nearly the use of the driver's side, or at least that's what I tell myself. It's in very good condition, and, in fact, looks almost new. Except for that 1985 manufacture date. Anyway, a little warm water and Woolite and some knuckle scraping, and now I have a nice snug cinch again.
As for the work schedule, I have found that typically there is no typical schedule. It's a feast or famine sort of thing--I'll get finished with something, not have something to move on to, get somewhat relaxed, and then something else comes walking in the door that requires attention. I'm still not into a rhythm yet, so the nonblogging will continue to be widely scattered. There's also the problem of what to say once I have a free minute or two. Obviously, I blame global warming for that.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 1, 2007 10:19 AMGee whiz, too bad you can't take out a retroactive patent on YOUR clock and then demand royalties from your imitators.
Posted by: Stan at November 1, 2007 10:25 AM::sigh:: Such is the story of my life.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 1, 2007 10:29 AMNot having anything to say never stopped you in the past. Geez, give a guy a promotion and all of a sudden he's too good for us great unwashed.
Glad you're alive, anyhow. What've you deep fried in the last six weeks?
Posted by: skinnydan at November 1, 2007 03:31 PMGood point, Dan! But it does seem as though my urge to prattle has been dampened with the change of scenery, so whereas before I could at least rely on quantity if not quality, now I can't even work up a decent-sized load of drivel. Even stupid junk apparently requires some level of effort, it seems.
As for being too good now, I assure you that my new lofty position has nothing to do with it. Stupid filthy peasant.
AS FOR DEEP FRYING, the closest thing I can think of is when I took the kids to the Trussville-Pell City football game several weeks ago and bought them a funnel cake. We go to church with one of the women who works the giant vat of hot oil, and since she knew us, she gave us a sample of a deep fried Oreo to go with the funnel cake. That really doesn't count, though, since I didn't get any of it, and didn't actually fry it myself.
See? Just EVERYTHING is all topsy-turvy.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 1, 2007 04:24 PMI wonder: is it even possible for a "deep-fried Oreo" to meet kosher requirements? Just curious.
Posted by: Stan at November 1, 2007 10:31 PMAbsolutely. Oreos have been kosher certified for more than 10 years now (and believe me, it was a big deal when it happened). Assuming your oil and any battering ingredients are likewise kosher certified, you can deep fry 'em kosher.
They're still lousy for your arteries, but that's not really the question, is it?
Posted by: skinnydan at November 2, 2007 08:06 AMNow if only we can finalize the details of the kosher corndog...
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 2, 2007 08:16 AMSkinnydan,
Thanks for that answer! I KNEW you'd know if anyone did. I guess regarding "kosher corndogs" that WOULD be possible if someone used Hebrew National hot dogs to make them.
Posted by: Stan at November 2, 2007 10:46 AMIt's not just the hotdog, Stan. Skinnydan and I have been working on this a very long time to come up with some way of creating a dairy-free cornbread batter so's we don't go touching our meats with our milks. Best thing we've come up with so far is to substitute soy milk. I think this recipe is probably a winner.
We've got the R&D boys down in the kitchen testing out the concept right now, and will probably have a test version available at the Beth Torah Fall Carnival and Rodeo.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 2, 2007 11:05 AM