"A Merry New York City Christmas" by Rob Thomas & Sidewalk Angels Link

Rob Thomas "A New York City Christmas" - Video

The Sidewalk Angels foundation.com


Call on your angels
Come down to the city
Crowd around the big tree
All you strangers who know me

Bring your compassion
Your understanding
Lord, how we need it
On this New York City Christmas 

Yeah I'm sending you a merry New York Christmas
and a prayer for peace on earth within our time
Hear the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them, now more than ever 

So call on your angels
You're beaten and broken
It's time that we mended
So they don't fade with the season

Let our mercy be the gifts we lay
From Brooklyn and to Broadway
Celebrate each and every day
of this New York City Christmas 

Yeah I'm sending you a merry New York Christmas
and a prayer for peace on earth within our time
Hear the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them, now more than ever
Merry New York Christmas 

Call on your angels
Come down to the city
Let's Crowd around the big tree
All you strangers you know me
Bring your compassion
Bring your forgiveness
Lord how we need it
On this New York City Christmas 

Yeah, I'm sending you a Merry New York Christmas
And a prayer for peace on Earth
It's not too late
Yeah the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them
Merry Christmas
Yes, a New York City Christmas

My Run

With a little help from my friend Lainey I have been able to make a pretty good estimate of the distance I've been running and it comes out to about .83 miles. I must admit I thought it was closer to a mile but I don't really mind. I can just loop in a a little more as I go and it's very scenic. Between my diet, this run, swimming two to four times a day and my employer paid gym membership I should be able to enhance and maintain my overall condition pretty well.
Those are tennis courts on the left and two baseball diamonds.

And We Have a Winner!

This is really big news (well, for a geek like me anyway.)

Recently I saw through Twitter that the Science Channel was having a contest.
I entered and had to describe how I would terraform a planet and how I would colonize the galaxy.
Those who know me know that these are among my favorite topics to ramble on about, but the contest (like most of my friends) had a 100 word limit and, as you might guess, that did pose a challenge for me.
Nevertheless after editing down my original 300 word answer I sent it in and, along with a lot of other people, I won.
It means a chance to be on the show "Sci-Fi Science" and meet the host the esteemed Dr. Kaku himself.
I am a big fan and often listen to "Exploration", his Wednesday show on NPR, as well as watching his many appearances on my favorite Science shows. I would welcome a chance to talk about his take on any number of topics. Gina is also invited and, if she isn't working, is coming with me.
The only minor down side is that it's filming this Thursday night so I will not be around for the usual festivities.
On the plus side they want us to wear our full Star Fleet uniforms and, of course, we will!

"Synthohol" Version 1

Scientists discover booze that won't give you a hangover - Holy Kaw!
Like to have a few cocktails with friends, but dread the next-morning-hangover? You’re in luck. According to a new Korean study, scientists have successfully developed a booze formula that’ll get you silly while eliminating the drawbacks.


Sounds like Party Time to me.

"Mad Season" - Rob Thomas

I feel stupid - but I know it wont last for long

I’ve been guessing - I coulda been guessin’ wrong

You don’t know me now

I kinda thought that you should somehow

Does that whole mad season got ya down

I feel stupid but its something that comes and goes

I’ve been changin’ - think its funny how now one knows

We don’t talk about - the little things that we do without

When that whole mad season comes around

So why ya gotta stand there

Looking like the answer now

It seems to me - you’d come around

I need you now

Do you think you can cope

You figured me out – I’m lost and I’m hopeless

Bleeding and broken - though I’ve never spoken

I come undone - in this mad season

I feel stupid - but I think I been catching on

I feel ugly - but I know I still turn you on

You seem colder now, torn apart, angry, turned around

Will that whole mad season knock you down

So are you gonna stand there

Are you gonna help me out

You need to be together now - I need you now

Do you think you can cope

You figured me out - I’m lost and I’m hopeless

Bleeding and broken - though I’ve never spoken

I come undone - in this mad season

Now I’m cryin’ - isn’t that what you want

I’m tryin’ to live my life on my own

But I wont

At times - I do believe I am strong

So someone tell me why, why, why

Do I, I, I feel stupid

And I came undone

And I came undone

I need you now

Do you think you can cope

You figured me out - I’m lost and I’m hopeless

Bleeding and broken - though I’ve never spoken

I need you now

Do you think you can cope

You figured me out - I’m a child and I’m hopeless

Bleeding and broken - though I’ve never spoken

I come undone - in this mad season

In this mad season

There’s been a mad season

Been a mad season

____________________________________

 . . . yeah . . .

Everything is OK Montage

Notes on a Staycation

"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." - Peter Gibbons, Office Space.

As many of you know I took this past week off. Invariably when you come back everyone ends up asking you about it. Where did you go? What did you do?
The short answers are ‘nowhere’ and ‘as little as possible’ but these don’t really answer the question so let me tell you in some detail. I am not a wealthy person but setting aside time like this made me feel like I was. Taking time off like this, to me, was the height of luxury.
I spent my time sitting quietly and enjoying the weather when it was nice (which was most of the time). I reflected on my life, on all the things I’ve done and speculated on what I might like to do later. I swam, tanned, napped and drank beer a lot. I had friends over, enjoyed some excellent meals and didn’t worry about my diet at all. I played really lousy tennis until my limbs ached and then went back in the pool. I went to a museum with a friend and explored a lot of Star Trek stuff. I spent long hours under the stars, in front of the fire, talking about futurism, ethics, language, poetry and music. I watched movies and laughed at the bad ones and enjoyed the good ones. I listened to a lot of music both old and new. I caught up on sleep and with people I had lost contact with. I reinforced some old bridges and built some new ones with the people in my life who were around. I enjoyed a long, deliberate sense of not needing to be reliable, punctual or responsible for a while.
Now maybe sometimes you have to jump on a plane and travel half way around the planet to ‘get away from it all’ to do all this, but this time I stayed right where I was and let it come to me.

The Bunker Hill Bogs Wildlife Recreation Area

The Bunker Hill Bogs Wildlife Recreation Area

Ummm, yeah, . . naming stuff is not our strong suit around here.
Still though, the park itself sounds nice. I haven't been on a hike in too long and I'm sure this is an easy walk.

Sneak Peek

I snuck this picture when she wasn't looking. This sums up how I spent the day. And yes I went in the pool. 

Gina's New Headshot

Photo by Chrispics Photography 

In my backyard . . . Right now.

Gina and I are home, safe and sound. 
I picked up some gourmet food at a local shop. 
I have the stereo, fire-pit and grill all going. 

"and everyone, who had a talent for it, lived happily ever after."
- Baron Munchausen

Sixth Sense TECH

Thanks to Pete for bringing this to my attention.

Looks like Ragnarök!!!

Here is a quick shot of the backyard. Needless to say I am working from home today. In fact, my company has decided to stay closed and have everyone work from home today. Hopefully all the work I've done over the past year making sure people can work from anywhere will pay off today. Meanwhile we are all set here at the house, except, that the milk, that I have plenty of here in the house, has gone off.
Oh well, black coffee and rice cakes for me. I went shopping for food yesterday so we are all set on everything else. The snow shovel and salt are by the door and we have a lit candle right next to a bunch of utility candles ready to go in the event that we lose power. We're just going to hunker down wait it out.

Update

I was really sick yesterday. I am still sick today, but nowhere near as bad. I spent most of the last 36 hours unconscious. Today I am back in the office but I’m running primarily on good intentions and will power. I don’t know why but, although I rarely get sick, it’s never just a mild head cold where I can just take a palliative and keep on going. It’s always got to knock me off of my feet completely. Gina was sick also but not as bad and today she is working again too. She has a 4:00PM call for something. I can’t remember what. She has been working pretty regularly so we’re scraping by. We’re both hoping that things really pick up for her this spring.

Haircut.

I just got a new Haircut.
It's a bit extreme.
Let's just say I am now really "Aerodynamic".
Start with "Bald" and work up from there.

I am ready for my Role in "A Few Good Men."

You want to see my haircut - YOU CAN"T HANDLE MY HAIRCUT!!!

Heh. The Captain is IN!

Today . . .

"Chasing the horizon, Racing with the sky, Dreaming like a madman, As the scenery flies by . . ."
- Original

Also . . . looking forward to Pizza night.
Gina is working again, on "Cupid".
That's a TV show I'm given to understand.

So much strange stuff going on it's hard to focus but remember;
George Bush is no longer President!!

That was for Patrick, who has taken to getting the attention of people in other cars, gesticulating to get them to roll down their windows and shouting it at them!
Patrick: "Hey! HEY! George Bush is not President ANYMORE!" and he speeds away.

. . .

Wife: "Honey, who was that man?"
Husband: "How the hell should I know? All I know is; I've got to scrape that damn McCain/Palin sticker off of the bumper."


Seriously though, a couple of points:

To the FOX News moron who said that because there was some missed cues over the actual oath, that Barack Obama might not actually be president, and that this could go to court, #*$% you, you #$!@$$# CENSORED CENSORED (Seriously, no one should read this!) CENSORED &*%% if you ever bothered to READ THE CONSTITUTION, IDIOT! Jesus Wept!
Plus, they did it again anyway, just for you.

Also, how many days do you think it will it take for Obama to do more good than the last guy did in eight years? Anyone?

Beer and relaxation.

I am doing nothing today. Just got out of bed, having an Anchor Steam Beer, leftovers, watching events in DC and relaxing. Do NOT disturb!!

Bad Day and some Notes

Rough day here at work today. Don't ask just do us both a favor and take my word for it.
Meanwhile though I wanted to talk about next Tuesday. I will not be going down to the inauguration, I will be staying home. I took the day off and will quietly celebrate with some champagne as I watch the whole process from afar. I generally like to avoid any events that involve huge crowds, armed security and cold weather. I really did want to go, but so does about half of the rest of the planet apparently, and I just don't see a way to make it work for myself.
On another topic I'm really looking forward to seeing some fresh BSG tonight. I need it after the day I've had. As I write this it's only 12:35 and I am already ready to go the hell home. Don't get me wrong I love my job and the people I work with are great, it's just been a really brutal day.

Back to work in the Kitchen

Well, I got the new tile floor down. I spent all day Saturday doing it. This morning I could barely get out of bed. My legs in particular are killing me. I can barely get up and down the stairs. I spent most of today sleeping, which is what always happens when I really over do it. Gina says it looks great though, so I guess it was worth it. Next up I need to grout the tile.

Looking forward

Here we are, just inside the doorway of 2009. I took a walk yesterday to try and wrap my head around that fact and to try and take stock of my life. I have to admit that I failed utterly in this attempt. I need to find time to regroup, look through some old records and try again. I feel a deep sense of being lost and increasingly out of control but I am unable to say exactly why I feel that way. I spent the holidays celebrating with friends and family and just generally have a grand time. Now, however, I’m feeling the need to take stock of things and decide on a strategy for the coming year.
Also, starting next week, I need to restart my work on the kitchen.
Gina has had just about enough of our kitchen free lifestyle.