Bailing Out of the Vellum

*sigh* I didn't want to do it but I stopped reading Vellum midway. It's the ultimate offense you can ever do to a book, and I've only ever done it a handful of times. But it's been more than two weeks since I started reading Vellum and I'm lost and uninterested in the story. I guess it's just not for me. Well, to be honest, I just couldn't keep up with the multiple story lines, different realities, and flashbacks. It's just too much for my feeble mind. Might be a good movie though :P

But every book deserves a good home. So I'm putting Vellum up for adoption. If you're interested, you can read about the book here. But don't bother if think you'll get it for half the price, I've offended the book once, I won't do it again :P

So after that experience, I'm gonna have to go back to one of the heavy hitters. Next on deck is Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice.

Thanksblogging

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends in the west :)

Happy 2nd Month of Blogging to me :)

Nothing really to say except I want! Shortest blog post yet. Just didn't want the week to go by without updating it :P

A Bit Of A Hiccup

The missus and I were driving around last weekend running some errands when they played "5 years" by Sugar Hiccup on the radio. I haven't heard the song in a while. I think it's been more than ten years since the song was released. But I do remember that made an impression on me when I first heard it. Since then it invokes a lot of imagery in my mind when I hear it. It's very haunting. I thought I should capture those images by writing them down. Just like the song, I tried to keep it abstract:



Sublime anguish, forlornness, ever present, ominous, and looming. To forget, she immerses herself in the mundane. Keep busy and distracted, that is the routine. But once in awhile a glimpse of other people's lives wakes a memory; a moment in her own life, of that life, of what used to be. The memory triggers another. Happy though they may be, they now overwhelm her, and sadden her. "He will never be back", a chant that echoes in her mind during these moments. It abates the surge of memories, plunging her back into despondency. He didn't leave willingly, it was not his choice, not within his power to avert. He was taken. He would never have left her of his own accord.

What I like best about the song is that it is mostly formless and raw, you can mold it so that it fits your experience.

On a lighter note, I wanted to record a momentous event. My credit card has a zero balance: I've paid everything up! I'm so happy I could cry! I wanted to record this event for posterity's sake. Show my future children that it is possible, that it can be done. Let it be known that on this day, November 16, 2006, I am debt free! That is, just until the bills come in a week or two :P

But since I used up all my money paying off the credit card, here is the Christmas shopping list this year:

1. Mom - Pot Holder
2. Dad - Neck Tie
3. Brothers - Socks
4. Wife - Chocolates, with a hug and a kiss to make it extra sweet
5. Everyone Else - Christmas Cards
*please note that all items in this list are prefixed with "cheap". It was removed for brevity.

I remember this list. I think I had it when I was back in college.

Cause We're Sly

As if not hearing them when they're pretending isn't annoying enough, somebody invents this. And the researchers have pictures of a demonstration here, just so you can see how 'cool' they are. Great. Can you imagine being in a train with a guy wearing 'em?

So they've started promoting the Rocky Balboa movie that is coming out Dec. 22, 2006 in the US. Wow. The original Rocky movie came out in 1976. Imagine that, Rocky VI. Stallone's not done though. They've already started work on Rambo IV: The Serpent's Eye and it is scheduled to come out next year. So all the old movie series is coming back I guess. This after Terminator 3 and the Star Wars prequels came out in recent years. How about Police Academy 7? You never know.

For those who hate making excuses (pun, yes), there's a new service out there that will make them for you: The Alibi Network. Here's Top 3 of my favorite services:

Having a Discreet Affair?
We invent, create and provide customized alibis and excuses for attached adults involved in discreet relationships.

Rescue Call Services
The phone call from us to communicate any information you desire or to help you escape any situations such as dull meetings, bad dates or other unnecessary commitments that need to be cut short or cancelled.

Virtual Employment
Are you embarrassed to be unemployed? Do you have a critical life situation that requires you to have a job? Would you like to create an impression that you have your dream job? With your own virtual office, executive assistant and business cards?

You know, if you need help lying to your wife, you might not be smart enough to have an affair. Oops, just in case the missus is reading this, let me re-phrase that: You shouldn't be having an affair in the first place. That is a bad bad thing. You shouldn't even be thinking or looking at other women. In fact, all the women in the world were taken by aliens when you got married, except your wife. Oh yeah, and you should never lie to your wife. I myself have never done it, because I love her very much and not because I fear physical and mental punishment. Clear? Right. Glad we got that straightened out.