My Addled Brain

So, I’m feeling pretty pimp right now. Santa was good to me - I got one of these, one of these, but most importantly…one of these. Finally, I can clear off the fifty gigs of porn of my computer once and for all. Did I say porn? I meant important scientific documents. Sorry.

More importantly than all that, however… for the first time in… well… ever… I’m happy with the gifts I gave this year. The only gift certificates I gave were to those who either specifically requested it (Spoiled Brat) or those who nobody could figure out. Everybody else, I’m happy to say, got Da Motts.

The day itself was its usual hectic mess. The usual three stops this year - Buell’s, dad’s, and the Cuffe’s. Lots of driving, lots of food, and lots of need for sleep by the end of the day. Usually I have to squeeze in mom’s house, but we did our gift exchange the night before at MCG’s, wherein I got a bunch of great kitchen stuff.

Yes, I’m spoiled.

From Robby and myself - well ok, from myself, since Robby’s been sulking in the closet for the last month (seems he’s all bent out of shape about Fox cancelling Firefly) - we here at the Brain wish you a safe and wonderful Christmas.

* What do you know about it? That show had everything! A real Melrose Place for the geek set! *

Gee, and I thought Ed was the Melrose Place of the geek set. Silly me.

Now Playing: Dandy Warhols - Come Down

No, I do not regret giving MCG photo access. Yet.

We lost another good one this weekend. London Calling is by far one of my favorite albums, and considering General Joe was still young at 50 when he died…just a terrible loss.

Congratulations to Michelle (former) Thresher and David (current) Taylor, who finally tied the knot Saturday. She looked…well, spectacular doesn’t even begin to describe. The best of luck to them both. They would have gotten a nicer gift from me…but certain people who shall go nameless but got married at this ceremony didn’t let me know where they registered.

Went to see the Lightning play this week. The game itself was a total downer, but this was made up for by the pimp seats John and I had, courtesy of Mr. Brogan. We sat in the XO club, where the seats are leather and the beer, wine, and enormous buffet are all free. And I’m not talking about Golden Corral buffet crap either - mountains of sushi, broiled trout, chicken fajitas, freshly made pizza, peppered beef sliced before your eyes…well, I could go on. Suffice it to say that I have never felt like more of a high roller in my life.

And speaking of John, I attended his bachelor party Saturday night after I left the aforementioned wedding - and had a great time. We went to the dog track, which I fully expected to be on par, quality and attendee wise, with the finest bus stations in the nation. But I’ll be damned, they keep a pretty nice place there. Not to mention the drinks are cheap, and they also have other things to do there as well if track betting is not your thing. But it certainly seems to be mine - I won fifty-five bucks, and I should have won another 80, but I screwed up my box quinela bet. I’d go back again; not on any sort of regular basis, but that’s a hell of a lot of fun for a night out with the guys.

The week for seeing friends continues - I ran into Jefe while doing my shopping earlier this week. He was at the Town Center (kinda sad when you declare a mall the “Town Center” - remember when the “Town Center” used to be called “Downtown”?) with his new squeeze (well, new to me, anyway), Melissa. Hope you enjoy those waffles, Jeff.

The brain is a year old as of December 4th. You can see how much I treasure this site and the things I have accomplished with it by the fact that this announcement comes nearly a month late. Truth be told, I am actually rather proud of what I’ve done with the place, taking it from it’s humble beginnings to a full featured weblog that can whine with the best of ‘em. Thanks to the five or six of you who keep reading, and the three of you who post comments - couldn’t do it without you.

Now Playing: Barenaked Ladies - Maybe You Should Drive

Now featuring 41% content. Well, I was impressed, anyway.

Big, bad ass site news - the long awaited pictures from DragonCon 2002 (they’re only, what, five months late?) have been posted to the site in our totally redesigned Out of Focus, using the latest technology that I could find for free on the web. And as an extra special bonus, I will be allowing MCG the ability to add his photos to the site as he deems fit - so be warned, in a few months, all you’re going to see is an near-endless stream of Emily doing the things that babies do, all of which are designed to render us incapable of speech as we “awwwwwwww” all over them. Most of the other pics have been moved here as well - those that have not will be in the next few days.

I’ve never fallen asleep while watching a Bucs game before - but this time I came damn close. MCG actually DID fall asleep, which is unheard of for him.

The Christmas party as Ron’s was actually quite a bit of fun, even with the endless parade of children threatening to collapse the house at any given moment - those that weren’t lamenting how lame the party was, anyway. Amazing - ten years ago, I would have found that kind of party lame as well - amazing what happens to your sensibilities when places like Ybor turn annoying.

I have to say, this might be the greatest christmas idea ever. Who doesn’t love those old wire model stop motion holiday specials, especially ones that have the screwed up family sensibility of the fifties and sixties? You think they’d even consider making a family special with a toy gun (albeit a squirt gun) as a supporting character? Not to mention the biggest, baddest character in all of christmas television: Yukon Cornelius. Oh yeah.

I sawThe Two Towers Tuesday night, making the pilgrimage to the geek equivalent of Promise Keepers, only with women as members (all three of them, mind you), and without having to make silly pledges that any basic human being would respect without such an organization’s existence. It was a 12:01 showing, and with all the previews, I didn’t get home until almost 4am. But that’s ok, it was well worth it, and had an unexpected bonus. I got interviewed on the news by a reporter dressed as Arwen, while waiting in line for my loan application on a popcorn and small Cherry Coke to go through. As a result everyone in the Tampa Bay area now knows that I am, in fact, a big honking loser. Here it is, reviewed for your convenience.

Gollum is unreal.
Jaw-dropping battles. I hope
that they make a third.

Could it be any crappier out? I mean, honestly, I think I saw the sun for about an hour yesterday, the first time since Saturday. I mean, it’s supposed to be either clear and cold, or clear and warm - this is Florida in winter, after all - not Florida in late spring.

Personally, I think that God is upset at Jennifer for attempting to threaten myself and MCG. Do you really think I’m afraid of anyone who’s ever attended a Catholic private school? Please. Go do something worthwhile, like ask daddy for a new car because it’s soooooooooooo much cooler than the one he bought new for you six months ago.

The holidays are approching fast - too fast. I have barely started my shopping. And considering my deluge of weddings begins next weekend, I have to get crap for those people too. Memo to anyone thinking about planning a wedding around the holidays: have you lost your mind? No, seriously. The holidays suck enough as it is with everything we all have to do to get ready. To throw in the sheer insanity of a wedding on top of it? You brave, foolish souls. Be damn glad I like you.

Big Christmas party tomorrow at palatial Dean manor. Should be fraught with the hijinx that only a gaggle of small children in a confined space can bring. I’m taking pictures, mostly to use as blackmail against the co-workers that will undoubtedly embarass themselves after drinking Ron’s rum.

Today’s nuggets of joy shall be very football-centric today. You are warned.

What a freaking game. That elusive complete game has arrived with a four touchdown punctuation mark for my beloved Buc-os, who could actually do no wrong, despite another atrocious outing by the referees, who apparently couldn’t see Simeon Rice get held on practically every single down. So much for the game of Vick’s career - unless that career involves eating grass. Yet there are some who are not happy. Granted, those people are whiny Atlanta columnists, but still. Mr. Hummer should remember, when calling out the Bucs for the “aping of the Falcons’ ‘pass-the-magic’ schtick”, that there probably wouldn’t have been nearly as much taunting if their coaching staff hadn’t let their players shoot their mouths (and eventually, their feet) off. And finally, my thoughts to the media, who seemed to think only one person was playing in RayJay Sunday.

Boy, did that feel good.

The holidays are upon us, and, once again, I have become the hardest person to shop for of anyone my friends and family know. It’s not personal, I really can’t figure out what I want this year. I’m such an indecisive weasel sometimes. But I already know what I’m getting for everyone else this year - the gift that keeps on giving. To whom, I have no idea.

Last Friday, Spoiled Brat had a date. While this might not be an amazing event in and of itself, the fact that MCG and I know this probably strikes terror into her heart. She has sworn to us that we would never meet anybody she ever dates, because she knows we’ll try to run them off. And she’s right. Far as we’re concerned, she can save dating for after graduate school - if she’s lucky. So, to this end, I think she’ll find that we pay a lot more unexpected visits to the Padre from here on out…just to keep her on her toes.

I’m trying really hard to not be bitter this week, but there’s not a whole lot that can be done. I mean, bad enough that we lost a bad one in Tallahassee (one which I slept through most of the second half - I was tired anyway, and our lackluster performance didn’t help me at all), but my boys had to get tossed in New Orleans, beating themselves with turnovers (and a terrible call on an incomplete pass that should have been a fumble). Kinda glad I didn’t take that ticket that Andy offered me for Saturday.

The 60th anniversary, on the other hand, was a success. I wasn’t too excited about Thanksgiving at a country club, but I suppose if I ever have a marriage that lasts 60 years (if I get started right now, I could have it when I’m 89!), I get to eat whereever I damn well please too. Having said that, the food there was pretty good - all the usual favorites, plus a few hoity-toity items to remind you that, by eating there, you were better than everyone else.

I got there at the same time as Grandma and Grandpa (read:thirty minutes early), and chatted with them for a bit. At one point, Grandpa left our private room (yes, a private room at a country club - not only were we better than everyone outside, we were also better than most everyone inside.) to await everyone else in the lobby. As he walked off, Grandma turned and watched him go, and she had the most amazing look in her eyes - like someone just in love, thinking how lucky she was to be with him. Such fondness, especially after 60 years, is absolutely astounding to me. I should have it so good.

Also stopped by my uncle’s house to visit with them and the Padre clan. I had fun over there as well, which means I’m either losing my mind, or beginning to enjoy just having conversations with people about random topics, something I swore I would never, ever do when I was younger and more bitterer. Ah, youth. My cousins look well - Matt’s taking a semester off after getting rejected from UF’s architecture school (hmm…sounds familiar somehow…), and Maggie is probably beating off men with a rather large and painful stick in her first year at college - she’s gorgeous, much to the chagrin of her father, I’m sure.

Also also stopped at MKAW’s folks house as well - I got to fix a computer (what holiday would be complete without me fixing someone’s computer?), play Cranium, and watch Pootie Tang. My brother wasn’t too fond of it, but I thought it was Sepatown.

Haikus are good for you. Die Another Day.

Silly action for
silly action fans. But damn
that Halle Berry.