Going to Manchester United vs. Wigan. Other than that I don't know.

Oooooh. Lucky you! C'mon Man U!!!

There's your problem, see. The two are mutually exclusive activities. totally incompatible. Like trying to rub your tummy, pat your head and not look silly.

You're high. I love listening to "A Love Supreme" while winding down. :)

Jazz is the work of teh debbil.

Nothing is more relaxing than a bit of Miles Davis and a spliff :P

I'm getting ready for a long day of redneck fun! The Tractor Races are today!! Woooooo! :D

about to waterproof the playstructure before taking kids to soccer games etc. besst is off paintballing.

Probably painting and trying to score weed. Same thing every Saturday. : /

Absolutely nothing, evidently.

Typhoon came through today. Power's been out all day; not sure if it;ll stay on for more than a few minutes even now. Tomorrow, more of the same.

They Might Be Giants- Tomorrow! Toooommooorroowww!!!!!
Woo-hoooo!
Yes, I am old and crusty.....so what?

Oh!

HM asked me who I would see - anywhere in the world - if money was no option. My first choice were Crowded House (which lead to my Christmas present - we're seeing them 11 December at the Royal Albert Hall - when I said it the date hadn't been announced, the tour was sold out)

After that I said I would go back in time and see Carter USM (British band of the late 80s) Fat n Frantic (Christian skiffle group of the mid 80s, from when I still believed, but a wonderful live act) and They Might Be Giants.

To cut a long story short - I envy you!

But I am going HOME to london and that makes me happy. I am forgiven my row with HM who is very reasonable even when I'm not, and I see my babbas.

I'm your only friend I'm not your only friend but I'm a little glowing friend....

Last night, I was asleep by 9:30-ish, and today, we had a yard sale that earned several hundred bucks (collecting crap pays off!). Later tonight, we're meeting up with some out-of-town friends at our favorite bar--and if we don't overdo it too much, we might have some brunch tomorrow. Very iffy on that last part, considering our crowd. :beer:

Sounds fun blue:)

I just got back from seeing Ross Noble in Manchester. He was so funny. There were about eight of us in the end, going over, and we went for a meal and a drink first. Good fun.

Yesterday (Saturday) I went and bought Halo 3 so I'll play that during the week this week. Had a little look at it at about midnight last night, but I was too tired to concentrate. Spent most of the day yesterday doing stuff for the kids. Cleaned the pool. Cooked a sausage sizzle for my boys and their friends for lunch. Last night I went out for a light dinner and a few cocktails with one of my cousins. That was great. We have hardly seen each other this year, so I was happy.

Woke up this morning and the kids slept in till about 10am, so I've been playing around on here in between doing a bit of light housework that doesn't make too much noise.

Later today I think I might go for a swim since the pool is all sparkly.

Well, didn't I just give a loooong pause! That's what I get for not reading this thread all the time!

Our first night went as opening nights often do -- plenty of cast butterflies, nobody talking much about it, but ventral butterflies often translate into a good show because of the emotional energy. Attendance at the second performance was -- only one word for it: bad. We think it was a statistical blip, though perhaps Oxnard isn't famous for live theater so much as some of the artier towns around Ventura County. East county, Simi, Thousand Oaks -- are more known for theatah.

This weekend, the middle of the run, the cast was more relaxed and there was a more playful feel about the shows, I thought. It's a comedy, and we're starting to get slightly mischievous with some of our lines. This is mildly flustering the director, who like many many directors, is necessarily a control freak. This one's very hands-on, all the time. She's also an acting teacher and damned good at it, on the evidence: half the cast is elementary-school age and the bulk of these is third grade and under. In one case, well under. But she mostly doesn't have any lines, just looks cute, made up as a diminutive skunk, one of Rabbit's Friends-and-Relations. But the director is very good at getting the kids to stay focused without losing her temper -- though keeping the shrimps focused all through the show is another matter altogether.

So the older cast members divide their time between being "uncle" if not daddy or mommy (both cases are true) and "setting a good example." We find it advisable to beware of tails. Kanga and Roo costumes have huge ones.

We get autograph sessions after each show, and of course I'm signing myself "W O L."

being in plays is SO FUN! Hope you're having a great time UG!

I just got back from my friends place on a little lake in NEPA. About 50of us got together to raise his timber frame house. It is truly teh shit. I'll post pics if I get some emailed.

Tomorrow, I'll be getting my butt handed to me by old people with pointy metal sticks.

Just got done with the 6yo's birthday party. Castle-themed. 5-7:30. They made knight helmets -the pieces took a lot longer to cut out than I anticipated, so i didn't start decorating the cake until 7! was done at 7:15, though *phew* (thank goodness for the trend of putting themed toys onthe cakes instead of just icing them). 5 minutes to whip up some chocolate butter cream, dump it on, 4 plastic turrets, a knight, a horse, some swords, done. :D

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

Must post about the knight helmets in the parenting thread.

Good bike ride with my 5 year old boy. Seven miles. He's improving.

that's awesome. my nwely 6yo is about the only kid in his class who doesn't still use training wheels. He left them behind when he was 3 or 4.

I'm sure even just a few years ago, when my daughter was this age, most of her classmates did not still have training wheels. Have you noticed this at all?

Sad to say, the two reasons I hear most are "no time to teach them" and "too dangerous". What's the betting adult training wheels will soon be sold as the new busy modern person fitness must-have?

It was a beautiful day today, and he was the only kid I saw on a bike on those seven miles of bike paths. Lots of adults out though. Don't often see kids riding bikes around here. We don't even ride that much. We go for a ride once a month or so. When I was a kid, I lived on that bike.

But both kids are excited when we do go riding.

Sad that there aren't more... :(

When you were a kid, it was reasonably safe for you to jump on your bike and explore the world... conquer new frontiers. Now parents are more protective, more restrictive, of where their kids are, and what they are doing.

Getting ready to leave on a "road trip". Well, just going to Red Bank (chattanooga) for Football Playoffs. Hope we win. Anything is possible. I do, I do, I do believe in miracles.:)

Bruce, do you think it is less safe now than 20 or 40 years ago, or that there is just a higher perception of danger now?

Friday (tonight) Royal British Legion's poppy appeal night at the workingmen's club in my ward. Mmm...cheap beer, 1940s songs and red patterned carpet.

Saturday, am will be spent door-knocking with the MP and a couple of comrades. Afternoon and evening researching essays.

Sunday 9.30 am have to be at the Church in my ward for the remembrance day service. Afternoon and evening researching essays.

Tonight, beers with friends after work.
Tomorrow: nieces to the Bee Movie
Sunday: day at the 'rents per usual (and the home cookin' that goes with it)
Monday: off work for Veteran's Day.

Perhaps this should go under what's making you happy thread.

Sunday morning I'll be leaving for a work trip (that's two Sundays in a row), so Saturday I'll be taking down Halloween decorations and doing laundry. I'm spending most of next week in Couer d'Alene, Idaho.

Going to Ventura to get a tattoo this weekend.

of what? and where? be sure to take the 'before' picture in case you need to sue.

When I was off work earlier this week I was watching one of the "Judge" shows during the day (hey, no cable, no choices) and this guy was suing because the tattoo artist was supposed to put "Detroit's Own" and instead put "Detoit's Own." Be careful not to get one that reads "Moth" or "Lie Free Or Die."

That's why you should always do the rough draft in pencil.

It was on the guy's back, and I guess he didn't notice it when the dude showed him the design (stencil?) Man, I would be so mud!

Yea....I know someone who has "vegatarian" spelled on their wrist.

I also heard about this local tattoo artist who hid penises intentionally inside his designs. Apparently he goofed and the penises were prominent with someone he knew personally, and the girl had to go get them covered. Word spread and no one who knew about it went to him again.
Yea.....no one wants a large misplaced penis permanently inked on their body....go figure. It's tougher if you can't see it being done behind you. Holy shit! Is that a......? Is that A?!?
No reason not to go back and kick someone's butt for that one......
:)

I painted "Yove Your Mother" around a globe on jinx's favorite pair of jeans once. It looked awesome.

Watching football and cleaning the house.

Going to the Monday Night Football game!! Seahawks vs 49ers in Seattle Yeah!!

What a coincidence!

I'll be watching football too!

*In person*

*With our daughter!*

It's Father's Weekend at her school and she invited me to come over and hang out! I'M STOKED!!!!

Friday night, basketball against Eastern Washington. Saturday night, football against Stanford. Later sometime, The Doobie Brothers in concert. WooT11!!!

Refing Rugby match in the park:

http://p.vtourist.com/2147617-Savann...k-Savannah.jpg

Then off to a blues fest or the pub to watch world cup reruns.

That refereeing deal is pretty cool Merc. Some of our locals are trying to get a clinic to improve fencing directing locally. Good refs are almost priceless. btw this weekend I should be fencing epee. (this weapon requires almost no directing.) One of my blades looked pretty hinky at practice tonight, I hope I don't break my goodun.

Thanks; may you strike straight and true. :)

And I will try not to give out any of these! :redcard:

Here I am Refing a match at Kings College in England last Nov.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19.../IMG_23292.jpg

I was fencing epee many years ago, when in the middle of an intense exchange of blades the president nearly-screamed "HALT!!!" despite neither of us landing anything like a blow, and being fencing electric anyway.
She pointed out my blade to me ... about an inch had broken off the tip, leaving a sharp and quite dangerous edge that neither my opponent nor I had spotted. One good lunge and simultaneous counter-attack might have been interesting.
As you say, a good ref is priceless.

Funny thing is, the opponent was an unsporting jerk who I had last seen when he bullied me in high school, and is the only person who I've ever fenced that I wouldn't have been upset if I'd hurt.
FTR I lost 5-4, but our team won the Italian relay of which I was the first leg.


Merc, it looks like the scrum-half for the defending team is pushing your head down! :lol:

Cool story zen. It reminds you that they really are weapons.

We have cards in fencing as well usually for weapon problems but lil' Pete picked up a yellow for a corp-a-corp last weekend.

LOL! sure does, he was a scrapy little mouthy bastard.

I have since learned about the artery which runs from the rib cage, under the armpit, and down the arm (??humeral artery??). It can be severed by a cut just a few centimeters deep just beneath the armpit, and if severed, will retract inside the chest cavity and be impossible to clamp. Death in maybe 30 seconds. In prime target area. Hmmm.
I notice you say "directing". With us it was "presiding". Anything in this?




I believe you. Number nines; George Gregan. Check. :lol:
Maybe it's something to do with being the little guy who has to hang out with the huge forwards. Chihuahuas bark more than Great Danes.

I don't know, we always say directing. Were you on the East coast?

My coach told a story about taking his jacket off after a bout and his teammate going white and almost hitting the floor. His shirt was soaked with blood from a touch that went up his sleeve, but he never knew he was cut.

Australia.

This was more than 10 years ago.

I also remember a rule being introduced that all top level tournaments were to be presided in French. A minor factor amongst many (most not related to the sport) which caused me to stop doing it.

I recognized you right away, Merc!

nice thews!

I'm not sure about our top level tourneys but what I've seen has been mixed English / French. Jeff Bukanz said something about directing in French in his book. I think the idea was to increase number of available directors increase the available poolt of international directors. *shrug*

Just got back from an overnight stay/drum seminar at Subterra, the converted missile silo West of Topeka that I had posted about here before.

http://www.subterracastle.com

Fascinating place, people, discussions, drumming, history...and...um...other stuff. Pics later.

At the moment I'm sitting on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, in a hotel room in the Coeur d'Alene casino, south of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I flew in to Spokane, Washington, and was reminded on the drive over of BigV's pictures from another thread.

Dealing with teenage bullshit, apparently. One downside to having a much younger girlfriend.

Wow, BigV, are you the photographer there? Those pictures are amazing! Makes me want to take a vacation. LOL

Were those all taken in Washington state?

Once I hit 20, I decided I wouldn't date anyone who wasn't legal to drink. NOT because I was a drinker, just because there's way to much drama with that age group. The high school mentality tends to hang on for wayyyyyyy to long for my taste. ugh. :yelsick:

I also wanted to mention: I'll be spending the next four days in this casino, and my goal is to not gamble while I'm here.

It can get a little shitty. The nice thing about her is that she's reasonable and a short conversation fixes it up. It still happens, though.