The Black Tower of DOOM

Escape From Kenosha

2009-07-06T04:22:49Z

I had a simple mission today. I was to leave the house at 1:00 to arrive at my sisters house at 1:30 in order to proceed with her to a baby shower. I left my house at 1:11 because I am horrifically unpunctual. Someone was making a delicious egg and vegetable monstrosity in the oven and I desired eggs.

Things went as planned until I got roughly 13 blocks away from my house. Then I ran into a blockade. Because I am apparently a moron I failed to consider the date. I had assumed that a sensible town would not have its Fourth of July parade on July Fifth.

So, I turned towards the lake which in retrospect was a poor decision. I thought perhaps the parade was across town in a manner perpendicular to the fashion it was actually going. It was then I ran into the most amazing wall of traffic. It was bumper to bumper with barely enough room on the narrow streets by the lake.

There were clowns. There were people on foot. There were people on bikes. There were Cops blocking stuff off wherever I went. Finally, in a fit of rage, I called my sister while trying to move away from the lake. It was now around 1:45. I explained to her the sorry tale. She told me not to worry and gave me the advice that I should head towards the interstate for surely they can not parade upon I-94.

I finally got East of all the parade nonsense but traffic was still oddly backed up. I was crawling along the first clear road from the parade when I got stopped at a Y shaped intersection to let a series of Motorcycles with flags on the handlebars go past. They were followed by about 15 Shriners in their tiny cars and funny hats just driving along on the regular road Perhaps they were cuing up. By that point I could just laugh. When I got through that final intersection I called my sister again. She laughed.

I did not get to her house until about 2:05.

No one at the shower really cared that we were about a half hour late, fortunately. It was a very awesome casual affair.

The moral of this story is, I hate parades.

Concert and random crap cuz I never post anymore

2009-05-31T07:03:51Z

I saw the Decemberists last night at the Riverside in Milwaukee. I heard O Valencia ages ago but it never struck up enough interest for me to follow up on them. A few weeks a go a friend of mine inadvertantly turned me onto them and now they are all I can listen to.

They played the entire Hazards of Love and then did a bout another hours worth of stuff from older albums, including a truly excellent cover of Crazy on You featuring Becky Stark and Shara Worden. I love the Riverside. Anywhere you go you can see well, even up on the balcony. I only found out they were playing the day before and the show was sold out. Yet, sometimes birthday magic happens when you call the box office on the morning of the show.

I turned 31 today. Therefore I got a bunch of delightful loot, including using a gift card to pick up 3 Decemberists albums. Yay. Other then that not much is new. I think I am enjoying my forced unpaid vacation day twice a month far more then I should. If I remain employed there at the end of this economic downturn... I will be sad to see them go.

Lastly, I met with the surgeon this week. No surgery required on ye olde galbladder. YAY.

Necrons

2008-10-12T23:18:49Z

I started assembling the Necron army today for Warhammer 40K. I was at this process for about four hours and for my trouble I did manage to almost fully assemble 12 guys. I just need to prime them before I can put the magical green portion onto their guns and finish fully assembling them. Beyond that I was able to chop about 12 more guys off of the sprews for assemblage at a later date. Excitement!

I have had these Necrons since about May but never had a good method from removing them from the sprews. We bought a nice clipper from the crazy hobby store that's going out of business in town. I also purchased the Codex for the Witch hunters so that I might eventually get me some Sisters of Battle.

Gogol Bordello at Turner Hall

2008-06-16T17:27:00Z

I had the pleasure of seeing Gogol Bordello perform at Turner Hall in Milwaukee this past Wednesday. My dad introduced me to the band a few years ago when the Underdog World Strike album was new.

My dad has wanted to see them ever since then. Unfortunately, they were in town last year but his buddy could not go and I was too sick to go with him. This time, however, we had advanced warning and he picked up tickets for us to see them.

I managed to get off of work early that day and we met up at his house, talked to mom for a while and then headed out. We got up there pretty early and had enough time to go get drinks at Buck Bradley's. I had my new favorite drink, a Bloody Mary, which came with a beer chaser. Rar. I'm a cheep drunk so that's about all I required for alcohol.

We made the mistake of waiting to go in, figuring we'd just be standing around. With as early as we got there, had we known they had them, we might have gotten a table. They actually have tables all around the balcony and some on the sides of the floor. Still we had fun sitting in the car, blasting Gogol and people watching. There was a good mix of interesting looking people including a ton of Milwaukee Hipster types. It was a higher concentration of chunky black glasses and mutton chop sideburns then I had ever seen. I kept teasing my dad that he would be the only old dude there, but as it happened there were a few other old dudes, in addition to a few small children. I do not know who brings children to such shows, but so be it.

The venue it self was a place I would definitely see a show at again. It was the kind of typical beat up old concert hall one tends to find around here, though the bathrooms were right off the ballroom and looked recently renovated and very clean. It was small enough that no matter where one was they would have a good view of the band.

The opening act was called Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. They turned out to be pretty fun. Sort of an alt-country thing with a couple multi-instrumentalists. They did a pretty awesome version of the Weight by the Band.

Things got pretty crazy when Gogol Bordello took the stage. They are a very high energy band of mostly immigrants who do Gypsy Punk music. They were better live then on the albums, which is always fairly impressive. It was sort of like seeing a party on the stage as there was a lot of dancing and musical microphones between the lead singer, violinist and accordionist.

The lead singer, Eugene Hutz, has a great stage presence - in addition to a fabulous pointy mustache. Towards the end of the show he put a fire bucket on his microphone and used it as a drum. It was good stuff. The bongo playing rapper at one point had a Luchador mask on while he was running around the stage.

One of the more interesting things about the band is that they have two Asian dancers/percussionists/back-up singers/screamers who appear on stage only for part of the show, but always with spangly bizarre circus type outfits. In this concert they had three separate outfits, and once appeared with cymbals and a marching band drum. It really lends to the carnival atmosphere of the concert.

My dad and I agreed that we would definitely see them again the next time they were in the area.

That is all to report for now.

Current Events

2008-05-24T18:14:36Z

Greetings to anyone that still actually reads this journal.

Things have been rather interesting of late. I Discovered last month that I have some mild diabetes going on. It's the kind where you just take a pill. It can be gotten rid of by weight loss. Thus, I have embarked on a program to actually make myself a healthier person.

I now work out 1/2 hour a day at least five times a week. Usually I walk, but when it is raining I ride a stationary bike and lift free weights. I also am doing the diabetic diet of nothing white. No sugar, no potatoes, no white bread, etc. It's working out pretty well and over all I do not feel like I am missing much. All in all, I'm eating many more vegetables and a greatly reduced amount fried foods. As of last week, which was one month into my program, I have lost 15 lbs.

Friday the 30th is my 30th birthday. In celebration of this, myself and the husband are going to Chicago for two days to spend time at the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. We have a reservation for one of those Brazilian Steakhouses called Brazzaz. IT was recommended by a co worker.

This week the roommate and I went to see the one night showing of the Death Note live-action movie. The voice actors from the anime version did the dubbing. We were entertained. It contained the most dramatic potato chip eating scene I have ever seen in a movie.

Takenouchi cat is recovered from his urinary tract issues. However, he developed a bad ear infection about a month and a half ago and since that time he has seem rather off. The ear infection is gone but he has various motor and coordination issues that my vet seems unable to diagnose. Over all, he seems like he is getting along alright, just once and a while he gets stumbly.

Lastly, in preparation for my impending mid life crisis I went out and did something a bit dramatic. I have never in my life colored my hair. It's always been long and one length. It's still fairly long and one length, but now it bears big red stripes. RAWR. Suck it, lost youth! See below.

Over all things are going well and have been getting better. Better health has led to a better mood for me and I'm emerging from a bit of a slump. Talk to you all later.

Furry Boots!

2007-12-29T21:43:43Z

Takenouchi is improving every day. I think he's going to be fine from here on out. He still hates getting his medicine twice a day. It gets harder to give to him the longer it goes on. Nonetheless, he's peeing pretty normally and I think the irritation is going down. He's playing and running about like he used to. Words can't describe how relieved I am that he's doing better.

Here's a picture of his little shaved legs. He looks like he has furry boots.

Home Again

2007-12-26T01:45:44Z

Takenouchi is once more home after his ordeal. We're keeping our fingers crossed that this time he does not reblock. At present, he is sleeping sprawled all over the second tier of my three tier desk above my monitor. He seems like he's doing alright.

Here's a pic of him I took in September...

Where is Takenouchi?

2007-12-24T18:42:18Z

Freddie the cat is very distraught of late. Unfortunately, Greybis is sort of the most boring of all of them. He doesn't engage nearly as often or as vigerously in the super chase games that Freddie likes to play. Thus, Freddie seems to be keenly feeling the loss of his Brother Takenouchi. He's the most vocal of the cats on a daily basis. Since Takenouchi has been gone, I frequently hear him meowing all over the house. Normally he only meows to a person when he wants their attention. I think he might actually be searching for Take, as though we were hiding him here and he just didn't know where. For a few hours yesterday, he seemed convinced that Take was hiding in my roomates Media Room.

IT's sort of cute, but sort of depressing.

We all miss Takenouchi very terribly. The good news is, he might be home tonight or tomorrow. They got the blockage out again, but there is no guarantee that he won't block up again. Should that happen he will be getting a special surgery that should permanantly fix the problem. We're hoping after they unblock him this time we can just get him on the new diet and that will be that. We'll see...

Because I'm being sappy and sentimental, here's my favorite picture of Takenouchi from his first weekend home as a kitten.

Gah

2007-12-23T06:45:53Z

Takenouchi got another obstruction and was rushed to the ER again tonight by me. Had to leave him. He'll be there through Christmas. Goddamnit. My poor baby. I loves him so much and I'm so sad he has to be away again and in pain.

mandaann @ 2007-12-22T16:16:00

2007-12-22T22:21:23Z

Takenouchi is home now. He has special food to control the crystal problem and we have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't get any more obstructions. The poor fellow has a little shaved band around his arm where they had his IV in and a little shaved spot on his neck. He seems happy to be home and there were no issues with him upsetting the other cats by smelling like the Vet's office. They seemed happy to have him back. He ran around a while and looked at stuff, ate some canned food, and is presently asleep on the couch on top of the husbands legs.

I missed him so bad! It's great having him back. I hope this is the end of his troubles.

Takenouchi

2007-12-20T08:31:56Z

Takenouchi went to the kitty ER tonight because he was having trouble peeing. He had a blockage in his urinary tract. They have him cathetered now, but they still need to keep him a while. I'll know more in the morning.

Do you folks like coffee? Real coffee? From the hills of COLUMBIA?

2007-09-27T04:52:11Z

I don't know what it says about me that the only heavy metal album I've ever bought is by a fictional band...

Either way, this album rocks so hard. It's the most brutal thing ever.

Shakespeare's draft of Aliens

2007-08-19T23:52:31Z

I found this in the forums of FARK.com:

"Being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful gun in the world, had you the strength of twenty men it would dispatch you straight." anon

ALIENS by (tekmo)
INT. ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER

ON VASQUEZ wired and intense.

VASQUEZ
I have a kind of alacrity in sinking. If we can't blow the fark out of them...why not roll some canisters of CN-20 down there; nerve-gas the whole nest, this thing of darkness?

HUDSON
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you poison us do we not die? Let's just bug out and call it even, okay?

RIPLEY (to Vasquez)
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie. There are more things in heaven and earth, Vasquez, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. How do we know it'll affect their biochemistry? I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. Tis the course best assured.

BURKE
Now hold on a second. Tis madness to consider.

RIPLEY
Indeed, tis madness inconsidered, and you sir, inconsiderate and mad!

Burke senses the challenge in her tone and backpedals flawlessly into conciliatory mode.

BURKE
The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Besides, this physical installation had a substantial dollar value attached to it...

RIPLEY (interrupting)
They can bill me.

HUDSON
Oh, I am fortunes fool! Maybe you haven’t been keeping up on current events, but we just got out asses kicked, pal!

Ripley faces Burke squarely and she’s not pleased.

RIPLEY
Look, Burke those colonists were done to death by slanderous tongue. And we has an agreement.

Burke moves in, lowering his voice. He takes her aside from the others.

BURKE (hardening)
Frailty, thy name is woman!

RIPLEY
O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! I believe Corporal Hicks has authority here.

BURKE
Corporal Hicks!?

RIPLEY
This operation is under military jurisdiction and Hicks is next in chain of command, Right?

HICKS
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!

Burke starts to lose it and it’s not a pretty sight.

BURKE
Look, this is a multimillion dollar operation he can’t make that kind of decision. The fault, dear Ripley, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings! (Glances at Hicks) No offense.

HICKS (coolly)
None taken.

(Into mike) Ferro, are ye copying? Prep for dust-off. What's gone and what's past help should be past grief.
(To Burke) I think well take off and nuke the site from orbit. Tis the course best assured.

For Justmel

2007-05-22T03:11:03Z

My First LOLCAT

2007-05-22T02:30:47Z

Concerned New Yorker Seeks Knowledge About Zombies

2007-05-10T03:35:43Z

The following questions were sent to me by a friend in Manhattan. If you have any zombie related wisdom to pass along, please do so. Thanks!

View Poll: Zombie Questionnaire

Like Snake Plissken, I have successfully escaped from New York

2007-04-26T05:11:07Z

I did enough touristy stuff to be happy. I went to the top of the Empire State buidling, I saw Central Park, I saw Times Square, walked the fashion district and went to the Museum of Natural history. Mostly, I liked the food.

My flight in was awesomely easy. So, naturally, my flight home was hideously terrible. I was supposed to depart at 1:30. It didn't actually happen until about 6:30. Then it was turbulent as hell and the whole plane smelled of gasoline for the first hour and a half.

Nonetheless, I got home, alive.

I'll post more when I'm not tired.

Work Skipping + NIN = EXCITEMENT

2007-04-04T20:57:52Z

I had some errands to run and wasn't feeling hot so I asked my boss if I could take off a couple hours early and make up the time tomorrow. He didn't care, because he's the awesome.

I got in my car just in time to hear Electra of Q101 (Chicago's 'Alternative' Station) play the ENTIRE Nine Inch Nails Year Zero Album - and two weeks early to boot. I wound up sitting in the driveway for a half hour because I didn't want to miss anything by running inside.

All I can say is... YAY. YAY YAY YAY YAY.

Fabulous Secret Powers

2007-02-24T02:21:17Z



"Fabulous Secret Powers" on Google Video
Adam, the fancy young prince gifted with He-Man's abilities, shares his burden with the world the only way he knows how...with a glamorous, high-energy dance number.

My Six Degrees Badge

2007-01-25T04:57:26Z

Kevin Bacon decided to use the Six Degrees cliche to encourage people to donate to charity. I have made my own 'celebrity' badge.

http://www.networkforgood.org/pca/PersonalCharityBadge.aspx?pcaid=101387

I have become ultra cat woman...

2007-01-04T01:08:22Z

I freeking love my cats. I didn't think it was possible to dote and want to spend all my time with goofy little furballs. I talk about my cats more then many people I know talk about their kids. I'm a little distraught about it, but not enough to stop.

It's nice to come home and not be alone or to fall asleep and wake up with three fuzzmasters laying on you. I find myself /nearly/ incapable of being angry with them. They're too cute.

The funny thing is I was never much of an animal person at all before, or so I'd thought. I've gone from apathetic to rabid kitty-lover.

More Pics

2006-11-23T06:55:42Z

Here are more pics of my kitties. YAY.

http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q277/mandaanntown/Kitties/

I have to say that having them has been amazingly fun. They are really awesome creatures with a variety of personalities and intelligences. Take likes to dive behind the washer. Freddie likes to run up the Husband's back. Mecha likes to attack Take at EVERY possible opportunity, regardless of how much it gets his ass kicked later. He's also very deft at punching Take in the eye with his back feet when Take is biting his stomach. Good times.

Kitten Time!

2006-11-06T06:54:08Z

On Saturday we left the house about noon. We had a nice lunch and headed over to PETCO to look at kittens from a local shelter organization. This organization apparently doesn't have a physical building, but fosters kittens and cats out until they're adopted. Petco does not sell pets but lets the Shelter run adoptions there on Saturdays and Sundays.

We arrived and pretty quickly settled on a sweet, playful kitten that they called Nacho. An annoying volunteer girl suggested we get two. I was all for that. Then she told us if we were going to get two we should get two from the same litter and that Nacho had brothers that were not present. Then she suggested we get all three. To which the husband said "OK!" I argued a bit. I wasn't sure I wanted to take on all three... but really can you separate one brother from the other two? IT seemed to cruel to me so I relented.

We had to wait there about an hour and a half for the other two to be brought from the Shelter owners house. They were totally sweet as well. So much money in kitty supplies and three kitties later, we walked out the door and went home with our new babies.

So far they seem really well socialized in spite of being dumpster found kitties. They use the litter box like pros. They have healthy appetites and drink well. The smaller two (the black and gray) were a little shy on Saturday but by today they had totally warmed up to us. They are all playful. I imagine they will be quite a handful but so so worth it! We renamed them Takenouchi, Mechazawa, and Freddie. Here they are.

http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q277/mandaanntown/Kitties/

Kitten TIME

2006-11-04T00:11:58Z

Tomorrow I get to go pick out a kitten. YAY.

I am so smart! S-M-R-T!

2006-11-04T00:10:46Z

You paid attention during 91% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
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