Eldest Daughter

I probably should post her picture, just to embarrass her, if nothing else, but my oldest daughter, Meredith, is graduating this spring from Eastern Illinois University (EIU).

I am excited. It took her five years because she did spend a couple of years in junior college then changed majors at EIU. Not a problem. I was (and still am) happy to fund her education. Now she is getting ready to move back home with her mother up in Northern Illinois. EIU is located in the center of Illinois in the small farm-town of Charelston.

So, now I must also make arrangements to fly out for an extended weekend to watch the ceremonies, take pictures, and then load up a Uhaul truck with her personal stuff and drive it over one hundred miles and unload it. Yeah, aren't Dad's great?

My biggest concern is that moving her bed into her current room took two adult males. Now that she has broken up with her boyfriend (am I telling too much?), I can only hope that she is strong enough to help me get it back down the small, winding staircase.

So, come early May, I will be very busy and very tired. I will probably be counting the hours until I get back to San Diego to get some rest.

Next is to plan some type of party for all our Illinois friends to celebrate the event.

CInema Fan speaks

I just posted a new review for a mediocre film.

Cinema Fan

I hope to add to that blog very soon.

Bad Night?

So, last night was x-box night. Yes, I am over 50 and playing video games, although it is getting harder to keep up with these younger guys.

Wednesdays has been x-box night for over a year now. My ex-door neighbors and some guys in the general vicinity decided to play on-line at least once a week. Wednesday night was agreed upon, and we have been shooting at each other ever since. I have kept this up, now that I live in Southern California, to keep in touch with my friends.

Last night was not so good for me. I was a little tired and had a bad reaction to a quesadilla that I ate for dinner. I got dizzy and very queasy, so I decided to lie down and let it pass. Next thing I know is that I am waking up and it is 11:30 at night. Damn.

This is even more disappointing because starting next week, my Wednesdays will be taken up with going to a Quality Certification course.

So, to my x-box buddies, I am sorry about dumping out on you last night, and maybe we can find another night to do this. No, I am not going to buy a 360 right away. Hey, as poorly as I play it would be a waste of money.

Canceled Flight

I had a very interesting, and long weekend.

Monday was presidents day (Feb 20), so it was a holiday for my company. I spent the time going back to Chicago to visit.

To maximize my time there, I was scheduled to take the United red-eye from San Diego to O'Hare. I will relate the story to you, as I heard it, because I found it most interesting.

It seems that a scheduler in Chicago (United's headquarters) decided that there were too many empty seats on the aircraft, so the aircraft was down-graded to a smaller plane. This meant that a different aircraft would be sent to the departure gate (no problem), and the appropriate flight crew needed to be gathered and sent out also.

Let me explain that I am hearing this part of the story from the gate agent in San Diego, as we are waiting to board the aircraft. The flight is scheduled to depart San Diego at 11 PM. San Diego airport closes at 12 midnight. We have a pilot and co-pilot, but no Flight Attendants. They are, apparently on their way from LAX, by van.

Keep in mind, at this point that it is a Friday night, it is a 3-day weekend for many people (not all), and it is raining. As I stood there listening to the conversation between the gate attendant and the co-pilot, I realized that there was a good chance that we were not going to get out of San Diego that night.

A couple of phone calls revealed that the remaining flight crew were at least 20 miles away, and it was already 11:30. At that point the gate attendant declared the flight cancelled. Needless to say, there were the usual grumbling and complaints as we all trudged back down to the ticket counter. I got my flight changed to Saturday morning via the phone and headed for home.

The next morning, I get to the airport, but my flight is not listed, nor does my name come up using the e-ticket machines. I am disappointed and now I must wait in line with the multitudes and find out what is going on. Fortunately, I am a frequent flier with United and I get to stand in the short line.

Yada, yada, yada, I get my boarding pass and soon I am back up at the same gate looking at (I am pretty sure) the same aircraft as last night. I am early to the gate, as is my practice. Soon, up walks a flight attendant who, after a short while, tells the tale from her point-of-view.

She was one of the three flight attendants that were called up yesterday afternoon. All three are stand-by employees out of Los Angeles, and were told to report to LAX by 8 PM. Then they were told to catch a van to go to San Diego.

Here is where the story gets interesting.

It turns out that the van driver had brought his wife with him, and the van only holds three passengers. From what the flight attendant could make out, the wife was leery of the husband's fidelity and insisted that she accompany him on the trip.

An argument ensued because none of the passengers would volunteer to sit between the two rear seats, without a seat belt, for the long drive.

The driver finally decided to take his wife home and return for the flight attendants. By the time he got back to LAX to begin the voyage South, it was about 9:30 PM. Everyone knew that they would not be in time, but they all pressed on with failing hopes.

Cest la Gar.

Back to work

So, now that things are picking up at work, I have a less time to contemplate what to write in my blog.

I have thought about relating my thoughts on politics, or religion, or other topical subjects, but there are many others out there who are doing a better job that I can at relating such ideas.

On the other hand, you may not know where those others post, and you do not know which ideas I share with those people. So, what the heck.

Happy Valentine's Day

To all who may visit, and all my friends, where ever you are...












And I mean that from the bottom of my heart!

Leading Man

FYI...

I found this a fair test. Although I was shooting for Cary Grant, I'll take the results.

Clark Gable You scored 33% Tough, 9% Roguish, 19% Friendly, and 38% Charming!

You're a helluva guy, a real split personality and a bit of an enigma. On the one hand, you're a man's man, tough talking and ready for anything. But on the other hand, you soften your rough and tumble core with a disarmingly smooth exterior, and you make the ladies swoon. You're equally admired by both men and women alike, drinking other men under the table all the while charming the socks off half a dozen lovelies. You're a commanding presence, and you know how to get what - and who - you want when you want it. You're drawn to women who, like you, are savvy enough to deal with the world on their own terms. You work well with spitfires. Leading ladies include Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow. No damsels in distress for you. Find out what kind of classic dame you'd make by taking the Classic Dames Test.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 55% on Tough You scored higher than 13% on Roguish You scored higher than 30% on Friendly You scored higher than 74% on Charming

Link: The Classic Leading Man Test written by gidgetgoes on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Hubba hubba

My Number

I am p Everyone loves pi _

what number are you?

this quiz by orsa

The Super (Stupor) Bowl

Unless you are a big fan of one of the teams, what are the reasons to watch the "Stupor Bowl?"

1. The commercials: yes, but NO ONE has been able to top the Apple commercial of 1978(?)!
2. The half-time show: yes, but no one has been able to top the Janet Jackson Boob of 2004!
3. The two best teams in the NFL fighting it out: yes but then only watch the fourth quarter. If it is a good, close game, you will still be a part of all the tension and be able to say you saw the best part. If it a blow-out, then you can shut it off and look elsewhere for entertainment.
4. Any other thoughts, cause that's all I got?

I watched another DVD (see cinemafan2.blogspot.com) until the 4th quarter, although I did catch most of the Rolling Stones at half-time (yawn).

The Aristocrats

I rented a DVD this weekend that was recommended by a friend. It is called "The Aristocrats." First of all, this is a non-rated (should be MA) DVD that will surely offend everyone, unless you have a great sense of humor.

"The Aristocrats" is apparently an old vaudeville joke that is only told (for the most part) among comics. As a joke it is fairly feeble, but the idea is not the punchline, as it is in the telling of the joke. This movie is a pseudo-documentary about the joke and how comedians of the last couple of generations tell the joke, learned about the joke, and analyze the joke.

Now, here is where we diverge from the comedy of the joke into the comedy of the telling of the joke. As we learn about the joke, and what makes the joke funny, we are drawn into the 'back room' banter about comedians and their darker side.

It really would not be proper for me to reveal the joke here, so I will not. Let me just say that some people tell a very disgusting version of the joke, and you can start to understand what "over the top" really means. On the other hand, some people go "way over the top" and the same joke becomes hilarious.

One of my favorite scenes is when the mime does the joke. I was almost on the floor.

There are also several variations of the same joke that show both the creativity of the person telling the joke and ability of an old joke to stay 'fresh'.

There are about twenty five (I did not keep count) different comedians interviewed during this documentary, from all generations: Phyllis Diller to Paul Reiser to Whoopi Goldberg and Gilbert Godfreid. I mention Gilbert, because there is footage of him doing the joke on a Comedy Central Roast.

Two things popped into my head while I was watching this funny movie: The old joke about people using numbers instead of jokes with the punch line, "it's how you tell it;" and how many other movies have such a repeating theme that does not get old?

I give this film 4 1/2 stars (out of five). It is the equivalent of comedic jazz. A theme, and all of its variations and personal styles, put together on film.

OK, if you do want to watch this movie, then stop reading here, because I AM going to reveal the joke for you! But trust me, you will be sorry (or maybe not) if you truly want to watch this movie.

Ready? All righty, but this will be a fairly watered-down version...

OK, so the man walks into a talent agent's office. He says, "I have a great act for you!"

"OK," says the agent, "Let me hear about it."

The man steps back and with gestures and a big smile starts to talk. "It is a family act. I come on stage with my wife and she starts to sing a beautiful melody while I start taking off my clothes. When I am fully nude, I start to sing the next part of the song and my wife strips down.

"When I have finished my verse to the song, my two children come on stage and start singing. My wife and I move to the center of the stage and take a dump in front of the kids, then proceed to take off their clothes."

"My wife and I begin to sing a duet while my two children also take a crap in the same location. As the music builds, our little dog comes in and he takes a dump. Then the whole family is singing in four-part harmony and in a crescendo of music we all dive into the pile of excrement, roll around in it, and finish the song."

The man has been acting out the parts in the office and jumps up with his hands in the air, "Ta daa!"

The agent is sitting there chewing on his cigar and asks, "So, ah, what is the name of your act?"

The man smiles and says, "The Aristocrats!"

I'll let you watch the DVD and see what others have done with this idea.