Why look. It's time for the Thursday Threesome as always via The Back Porch.

“A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it."
~ Alfred Hitchcock


Onesome- The dinner: What's your favorite meal? Is it something you get out or can you get it at home?
These days, it seems to be Quizno’s sub. That’s what I made sure I got for my birthday. I also love pizza. And way back in the recesses of my mind, I remember liking a dish my mom used to make called enchilada stacks.

Twosome- the theatre Admission: What's your favourite movie and/or play and why?
Favorite Disney animated movie is Beauty and the Beast. I just love the story and the characters. Plus the animation is perfect to capture what the characters are feeling. I think it is the high point of traditional animation so far. (And I think someone will bring it back at some point.)
Plays, I’m going to have to go with Neil Simon’s Rumors. If you ever get a chance, see it. It’s hysterical.

Threesome- and the babysitter: We've all been left with a babysitter at one point or another. Did you have a favorite childhood babysitter? What made that person special?
I can’t remember that many babysitters I had as a kid. I can remember my brother’s but not mine. Therefore, no one really leaps to mind.

Yesterday may have been my birthday, but today was my day for getting things.

First off, I got my birthday present from my family today. They had ordered stuff from Christian Book Distributors. 4 CD's and a book! I feel like I hit the jackpot! I've listened to all the CD's, and I love them.

Not only that, but I got a used CD I'd ordered last week. In the early 90's, there was a popular Christian group called Acappella. Unfortunately, when I decided to get the three projects I really liked on CD, only two of them were available. I finally found someone selling the third CD for a reasonable price last week, so naturally, I snatched it up in a heartbeat. It was wonderful to listen to it again this afternoon. I'm thrilled to have it again.

Then, when I got home from work, I had Green Streak waiting for me. When I read Red Card last year and reviewed it, one of the authors got in contact with me. A few months ago, he asked if I wanted a free copy of the this second book to review. Free book of something I intended to buy anyway? You bet!

BTW, if anyone is looking for a great combo of mystery and sports story for kids to read, this series is it. Heck, the first book won the Agatha award last year for young adult mystery. Can't wait to read the sequel. This uncle/nephew writing team is great!

So, can anyone tell me why I get different screens when I log into blogger from work and home? There, I get a screen with and open window at the top and the last few posts underneath in case I want to edit. Here, I have to go to a different page to "manage posts" and I have to preview my posts before I can publish them. I don't have to do that at work. It is because I'm using an ancient edition of Internet Explorer? That's about the only thing I can think of, but even that makes no sense to me.

Of course, by searching to find a way to fix this, I did find out I can have blogger automatically bing for me when I publish. It's nice not to have to do it manually. Wonder how long I've been missing that. I also discovered I can now title my posts. Just need to figure out how to get that to work right.

I have got to call about my dryer. Just took two cycles to dry my clothes, and I'm just starting a second load. So much for going to bed early tonight.

Got up and ran this morning. My legs were killing me all day, but they're feeling better tonight. Of course, I had Del Taco (fast food) and ice cream tonight. I'm not going to loose and weight that way. And I really do want to loose some weight by this summer.

But right now, I have some clothes to hang up.

Happy birthday to me!!!

Today's been a good day. I've had lots of people wish me a happy birthday. My co-workers actually remembered, and I've got the left over cake to go home tonight for a little extra desert. Think I'll buy some ice cream on the way home. :) I've also gotten lots of birthday greetings at Zap's and Jix, plus a few e-mail birthday cards. And Jeff called from Idaho to wish me a happy birthday. Donald e-mailed, too. Tonight, I'll be talking to my family. And then probably doing my taxes. You see, that's to make up for what I didn't do yesterday.

Instead of doing something productive, I headed down to Santa Monica and played ultimate on the beach again. I almost didn't go because it's been windy here the last few days. But it was positively wonderful down there. Probably high 70's or low 80's. The faintest hint of a breeze. Absolutely perfect. I stayed until sun set and then came back home. I was tired when I got back, so I didn't do anything too critical.

This is probably the most I've run at one time in weeks. And it was over the sand. Can we say sore today? But it was so completely worth it. I'd do it again in a heart beat if I could. Which I might. With Sunday evening service starting when we normally would start practice, I may play hooky from church the rest of the Sunday evenings this month and do it again. It's just too much fun and I really hardly ever have this chance.

Beside, one of my goals this year is to actually be tan, not just a farmer's tan. This seems like a great way to do just that. My other goal is to loose the extra weight I carry around so I'll look great while being tan. That doesn't seem to be happening, and it doesn't help that the fitness center is closed all week. :( Stupid spring break!


I saw this on a couple different web sites today and thought I'd have a go at it. Not that surprised at my ultimate outcome. I wonder if they have any outcomes where the man lives or the woman isn't widowed?


You are a Schoolmaster!
- A Snapshot of your life as it might have been in 1905

Education
You go to the local school in the village and then to Durham University. You're the first person in your family to go to university.

Career Prospects
Through a mixture of hard work and intelligence you do well in your work as a schoolmaster. You receive a pension but don't live to enjoy it as you're killed in the First World War.

Leisure Time
You enjoy inviting neighbours in for tea but you have your main meal (meat and vegetables) in the evening. You go to church regularly and are on the parochial Church Council, as well as being an active supporter of the local Conservative club. You go to theatre and musical concerts in the local market town when there is something worth seeing and you always buy the best seats.

Living Conditions
You live in a village and employ three domestic servants who live with you: a cook, a maid and a scullery maid. You believe that your wife has better things to do than household chores.

Marital Relations
You marry your wife when you're 25 – she is a friend of your family and goes to the local church.

World War One
At the outbreak of World War One you feel it's your duty to join the army as a non-commissioned officer. You rise quickly to the rank of company sergeant major. You're killed in the trenches at Ypres in 1917.

Word Association Time

Just a fly by post with this week's word association.

1. Dogma:: "Look, it's a dog, ma." (Did I claim I was in a serious mode?)
   
2. Spirit:: move you
   
3. Voodoo:: doll
   
4. Demon:: Angel
   
5. Digital:: camera
   
6. Ceremony:: graduation
   
7. Research:: center
   
8. Career:: job
   
9. Film:: movie
   

Why yes, I did leave one out. It had no business being on a PG rated blog, and since I try to keep it G rated, it's not showing up here.

Now there's something you don't see every day. I just got an e-mail attachment with a virus in it on my yahoo e-mail account. And the return address? My completely different hotmail account. What was I sending myself? And how did this amazing coincidence happen since I usually don't send e-mail back and forth between the two? Between my Master's account and one or the other, sure, but not between those two.

Weird. Definitely weird.

In other news, today I went to a book signing for Fudge Cupcake Murder, the newest Hannah Swenson murder by Joanne Fluke. had a wonderful time, even if I couldn't taste her cookies since they were a pecan cookie this time around. :( Still, I can't wait to start the book, which I will as soon as I finish the Zits collection I started reading last night.

You know, I haven't commented yet on the mess going on at Disney right now. And, as a shareholder, I do have a stake in this. That's right, I own exactly one share. :) And, I voted for the rest of the board except for Eisner. Yep, the guy who used to sing his praises voted to oust him. Or at least restrict him. Whatever the vote was actually for. (Board of director votes are weird, let me tell you.)

Yes, when Eisner first took over the company, he turned it around. And for that I will always be grateful. He did it by trying new things. He's now afraid to try new things. Heck, they're shutting down their traditional animation units because they think it doesn't sell any more. I've got a news flash for them. Their latest movies haven't been the blockbusters they were having 10 years ago because the films haven't been as good. They've certainly been entertaining (I've loved them), but they just aren't as good as they once were. And, when movie ticket prices skyrocket, parents are going to need a good movie to fork out the bucks to take their kids to. You bring in some new writers and you've got yourself a movie again.

Sadly, they will learn this after their first few computer animated movies have also failed. Letting Pixar go was a huge mistake because those guys tell a great story in style. And style is only part of the equastion.

So yeah, I want to see Eisner gone or at least fostering creative ideas to bring back what Disney should stand for. That's the way to turn the company around again.

Spring break starts at the college tomorrow. Can't believe the semester is already half over.

I got great news from the convention Wednesday night. Jeremiah, who graduated in May, is going to be back in town the week after during his Spring break. It'll be wonderful to see him again.

We finished up season 3 of Babylon 5 Wednesday night. Coupled with the ending of Enterprise, it was quite a cliffhanger night.

I am so ready to be home, it's not even funny. My mine is long gone, it case you hadn't noticed. :)

Worship went OK last night. The new to us songs we were trying to do were what tripped us up. If it weren't for those, we would have done much better.

I only have about 30 pages left in my book. For the most part, I've enjoyed A Farewell to Legs. It's been as funny as the first Aaron Tucker mystery was, For Whom the Minivan Rolls. I just love Aaron's sarcasim. I do have a couple complaints about it, however.

The murder victim is a conservative lobbiest in Washington. Nothing wrong with that. Except we are treated to horrible conservative characters. We aren't all that evil!!!!! Heck, I'd like to say that some of us aren't even evil. :) Of course, the liberal characters are fine, and the main characters narration makes it even worse. I've pretty much been able to ignor this and brush it aside, but it does bug me.

My much more series complaint is that the timeline is horrid. I thought the events took place over a couple weeks, but suddenly we find out it's been over a month! I can't see how I lost two weeks in there at all. And that's not to mention the little things, like the kids in school on Saturday and Sunday. The four day weekend that suddenly became a three day weekend. Not to mention his plans to interview some suspects on Saturday that suddenly turned into Sunday with no explanation. You can just ask Jennie, this is a huge pet peeve of mine. And it's simple to fix, a good edit is all it would have taken.

Still, I've enjoyed it and I can't wait to see how it ends tonight. Hopefully before the Just for Fun at the Duron's.

Morning. Time for this week's Thursday Threesome, brought to us by the night life and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Night: -- Nights can be difficult if you need something from somewhere: what time do the stores shut down where you are? I mean, if you needed something more than a loaf of bread, is there any hope late at night?
Stores shut down about 9 or 10 around here with the exception of Sunday, when it seems to be six. Even the grocery stores were shutting down at the time. Hopefully now that the employees are back at work they’ll stay opened longer.

Twosome: on the-- River? Hey, are there any rivers near you? ...or are you located out in the wilderness somewhere?
Is the desert close enough to wilderness? The closest river is the Kern, where we take the youth rafting every summer. Takes a couple hours to get there, too. Of course, the ocean is only about 45 minutes away, so that's much better.

Threesome: Town!-- If you could have any "Night on the Town" you wanted, what would you like to do? ...and would you like some company or would you go it alone?
Definitely love some company, but I’m pretty boring. Some bowling would suffice to make me happy. Although it would be fun to hit the tourist spots in Hollywood at some point. Probably do that during the day, however.

And, just in case you were wondering, I'm 41% snob. If you want to find out how snobby you are, go here.

Today seems like a good day for a random events in Mark's world post.

Today was Grpop's birthday. Still miss him.

Remember when I first talked about the grocery worker's going on strike? They finally went back to work yesterday. A mere five months later. I don't know what the final settlement was, but I know the grocery workers aren't completely happy cause they're talking about "Being glad to be earning money again." What's really interesting about this is that for the last few weeks, no one's been in front of the Albertson's I've been visiting. It's like they forgot to show up with their signs or something. But frankly, I'm just glad it's over.

Last semester, the billboard where I turn to go to work was an advertisement for "The Adult Zone," an adult book/gift store here in town. Naturally, all the students at this Christian college thought that was hillarious. But I just love the irony of this semester's billboard. Someone has paid to post a simple gospel message, including scripture references on the exact same billboard. Much more appropriate, but I find the change highly amuzing.

Anyone else scared by Kerry's promise to steal more of my money again? We dont' need to raise taxes, trust me. I have yet to see a "tax increase on the rich only," so I know I'll be it hard if they raise taxes at all. I like being able to spend my own money, thank you very much. Don't think it's the government's business to take it from. I don't work for them, I work for me.

Thanks in large part to Eric and Mary, I have more then enough questions for Donald's party. Did I do anything about getting in touch with Heather to get them answered? Of course not. But I feel so much better then I did last night at this time.

I got Avalon's new CD today. I'm really enjoying it.

Meanwhile, I've been waiting all day for my vote total at Amazon to turn over to 1900. I've missed 1700 and 1800 because I wasn't at the computer. Looks like I'll miss 1900, too. Hopefully, I can see 2000! You'll certainly hear about it when I pass that milestone in helpful votes.

Today's quiz, thanks, as always, to Aleta. (If it weren't for her, who would I have to steal quizzes from?)


Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.
"I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't
a poem."
You are a type A personality. You like bright
things, you don't call in sick to work, and you
have devastating opinions about art.


Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Scarily enough, I think this almost fits me. And the answers were rather random, too. :)

I'm so bad. I had little to do last night, so I was going to work on the ideas for Donald's "wedding eve party." And all I did was sit at my computer and play around. Heck, if I was going to be that unproductive, then I could have read or something.

But I did come up with a great idea that will work. And I talked it over with Stephen when he stopped by my office to drop some things off, and it went over well. What is it?

Now that would be telling, wouldn't it? Donald hasn't checked in for a while, but as soon as I post that, he'll look and all will be ruined. Which is why I haven't asked for any brainstorms here. Donald helping plan this or knowing what he's gotten himself into would kinda ruin most of what I want to do.

The wedding is only two and a half weeks away. Hard to believe it's coming so soon.

My brother asked me to be a grommsman in his wedding this weekend, so I'll be in two weddings this year.

I am running behind on quizzes, so I think I need to do one before I leave for the day. via Aleta:

p>


You're The Hobbit!

by J.R.R. Tolkien

All you wanted was a nice cup of tea when some haggard crazy old man
came into your life and told you it was time to do something with yourself. Now you're
all conflicted about whether to stick with your stay-at-home lifestyle or follow this
crazy person into the wild. While you're very short and a little furry, you seem to be
surrounded by an even greater quantity of short folks lately. Try not to lose your ring,
but keep its value in perspective!


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Which is funny considering I've read that one twice and couldn't get through the trilogy once. And I even chose concise. :)

It's been a long time since I posted something that wasn't just a new quiz here, hasn't it? Makes me feel like I should have something major and exciting to report. But I don't think I do.

After I tried to make a fool out of my self responding to LI Lisa on my own blog, does anyone beside me think I'm still a tad touchy after dealing with my message board fiend for so long. I'm guessing you'll now all help me stay as far from there as possible.

Even though it's so tempting to hop in and see how foamy he gets over stuff. But I know it would make my blood boil and I'd have to respond. And since half the regulars know I left and why I left, I guess I have no choice but to never return to avoid loosing face.

Who says pride is all bad? :)

I finally have tickets to see Reba filmed, but not going until the 23rd. I hope it's not the season finale, but I bet it is. Possibly series if Reba decides not to come back. I'll be majorly bummed since it's about the only sit-com I truly like on TV anymore.

It's still burning me up that the mayor of San Francisco is getting away with breaking the law and no one is saying a thing about it. I understand the reasons for civil disobedience, but when you are a public figure, you loose some of your privledges. Since you must uphold the law, you can't go around breaking any you don't like. That should be an automatically impeachable offense. As should lying under oath, but that's a different matter.

Saturday and Sunday were, once again, just lazy days around the condo. I have a list of stuff I need to get to, including taxes and Donald's wedding eve party planning, but I didn't get that far. Did get several other important things done, however.

Speaking of weddings, Jeff told me he plans to get married this summer. We'll see when he moves out in relation to when OtherSeth's timetable, however. I hope they match up.

Mom's started subtly campaigning to get me to come up for Easter. Dad knows I'm not, so hopefully I won't have to tell her no again to her face. If I weren't already going up 5 times this year with no promises of trips down here at all, I'd consider it. But this seems like enough trips to me, don't you think?

Well, if it comes down to complaining about my family, maybe I'll sign off.