myrgthful

I have nilo to thank for this meme.

Rules:
Anyone who looks at this entry has to post this meme and their current wallpaper at their LiveJournal. [Er, no, you don't have to. You know how I feel about free will.]

Explain in five sentences why you're using that wallpaper!

Don't change your wallpaper before doing this! The point is to see what you had on! And a few more !!!. Just because!!!!!!

And here is my entry:


Why did I have this on my desktop? Need you ask? It's an awesome image. Something which could really be occurring, elsewhere in our galaxy! Sometimes, there is grandeur in the sheer power of some things in our universe.

p.s. -- I have found a TON of fascinating images in the archive at the Astronomy Picture of the Day website.

So, I'm cleaning house in the middle of the night.

Why? Because it's the best time is when kids and pregnant women aren't underfoot, or around to inhale the noxious vapors. (Or, to be there when I run into a spider... there really seem to be a lot of those, this year) Admittedly, I'll be less attentive as a Father and Husband, sleeping some of this off during the daytime. Which, I feel really bad about, but this is a temporary inconvenience for the Greater Good.

So I've got my iPod, my Crocs (Most Comfortable Shoes on the Planet), and a huge supply of paper towels, trash bags and medical-grade gloves. And, I've got my thoughts. They range from the profoundly spiritual to the selfishly mundane. ( Random thoughts while cleaning at oh-dark-thirty )

- Some parting music recommendations, as I return to my cleaning duties:

So, the water heater went out. I have no idea why... it was barely put in, two years ago. We're supposedly getting gas, because I can turn the heater (air-heater) on, and get heat. Trying to start the Pilot is just not working - no spark.

I never realized how much I took hot water for granted, before this. I remember cold swimming pools (50 degrees or so) at scout camp, when I was a boy, but I don't remember it being this un-fun. Maybe that's because I'm a slightly more crusty adult, 23 years later?

As I type this, I'm building up the courage to go soap up, and then jump into a frigid cascade of death. Yesterday, when I did it, I couldn't help bursting into high-pitched bouts of insane laughter. You know it's not good when you start feeling "warm" again...

I'm going to have to call my Landlord. Problem is, the house is a mess. With BethAnne being so huge, and ready to pop, she's not been able to do much housework lately. And I -- I work four intense 12-hour nights a week, and so I lack both the energy and the desire for such things once I return home. In other words, much of our house just isn't as clean as I'd like it to be, and I'll be damned if I have the Landlord come when it looks like this!

So, we suffer, until I clean up a little bit more. I think I'll be cleaning very, very quickly.

Life is funny. ;-)

New iMac. My first new rig in about seven years. (If you don't count my Xbox 360) And HOLY... FREAKING... HELL... it's got a TWENTY-FOUR INCH SCREEN!

Almost a new Baby... Pipes is eight months, one week pregnant. In fact, she went to her baby shower this morning whilst I hit my pillow between shifts. That situation has been going pretty good for the most part, although there have been a couple of scares along the way.

Life's been busy being... life. But it's been good. And, for some reason, it's harder to post when you're busy living better times. It seems like angst and blogging go together like peanut butter 'n jelly. I always start missing this stuff though, y'know. I just feel more sane and centered, after laying little chunks of my life down "on paper". Perhaps this is why so many great leaders tell us we ought to keep journals?

In fact, Pipes just now contacted me from the baby shower, after I began typing this, and told me one of her legs is larger than the other (with edema), which could be a sign of a blood clot. We're going to get it checked out, just in case. (This makes scare #3, after a respiratory episode, and some preterm labor, in previous months)

I told myself I wasn't going to be one of those "first time parents" who calls the doctor every week for something. Especially, because I'm a nurse. But in this case, I know what that kind of symptomology can mean. And, when it comes to your own Loved Ones, it's really hard to step back and take an "objective and professional" approach.

Argh. Drama. I guess it never stops coming into one's life. Not if you're still living. =)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

I am thankful for:

• My wonderful wife, PIpes. She has renewed my faith in Love, and she has become so much in the last couple of years. My true Companion and Best Friend.


• Shade, my baby girl, whom I have a much better relationship with now, thanks to Pipes.


• Sunshine, my oldest daughter, who is Daddy's Girl.


• This nation -- the USA -- for what its originating ideals mean. Although, I worry that it is losing its way.


• The brave men and women of the Armed Forces.


• God, and all that He does for me and my loved ones. Much as I understand why some people would expect a higher-order being to not trouble Himself with us, I can see His hand in my life, repeatedly.


• Jesus Christ, Whose sacrifice I perhaps am only beginning to grasp.


• My Job, even though I feel like I want to go insane sometimes.


• Our health.


• My Brother and his family.


• My Sister and hers.


• My two sisters whom, although they are not in this life, I feel they have tried to be near my family during special occasions.


• My parents who, although not perfect, taught me many things.


• My extended family.


• My friends... and that includes all of you here on LiveJournal. And, those of you who aren't, like my "Other Brother", Rudy and his family. (CAKE, BRUTHA!!!)


• The pregnancy which Pipes and I just discovered... even though we were on birth control. This definitely isn't the easiest time for this to happen, but this child will be loved. And, almost as importantly, this child will be.

I must work tonight... holidays don't make a dent in a medical schedule, but I will still be keeping the holiday in my heart, and thinking upon all that I love and honor.

Supporters of Obama:

Okay, you guys won. Have a little humor about it and WATCH THIS VIDEO. ;-)

I think seeing the Republican Party getting the living hell comedically-slapped out of them in front of the world-public is one of the best things which could have happened to them.

I really do feel that way.

Frankly, would the Democratic Party be where it is today, if it hadn't had to take a long, hard look at itself (and maybe take some risks, like supporting Obama) after 2000 and 2004? With the 2008 election, they've had both the Executive and Legislative branches tied up in a bow and handed to them, just in time for Christmas.

This isn't based upon any vengeful desire against the GOP. I just think a little humility, now and then, is a good thing.

I may have my own political anxieties about our current political situation (or rather, the one which starts on January 20th), given that I'm a sort of Conservative-Libertarian, but I had different (but just as strong) political anxieties about the Shrub too. Given that, a little "change" now and then can be a refreshing thing.

Since last night I have felt possessed of the most odd -- no, creepy! -- feeling that, perhaps, President-Elect Obama will be assassinated at some point. Perhaps some of it has to do with the general perception of him as a "Black Kennedy", or the curious mix of Kennedy and MLK, Jr. (and their preceding assassinations), which he may represent to some people. Certainly, there is the fact that Obama is (historically defined, despite promises to reach across the aisle) an extremist, and may draw the ire of some of the more freakish factions of our nation. I also seem to remember a statistic that about every fourth President has been assassinated... although, the chain was broken by Reagan, who survived the attempt on his own life.

(Obama would be the fourth President after Reagan: Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama...)

That isn't to say that there haven't been attempts on previous Presidents' lives. Saddam Hussein tried to kill Bush, Sr. (The one who preceded Bill Clinton) after his Presidency. There were at least two or three individuals who opened up on the White House with an automatic rifle during Clinton's Presidency... and one individual who flew his private plane into the White House, itself. (Clinton wasn't home at the time, and the reinforced walls of the Presidential palace resisted the impact just fine) But actual death... I remember hearing it was every fourth President. (Until Reagan) Does anyone care to correct that information?

Thoughts? I know this isn't the most comfortable topic to bring up. And I am NOT advocating that this occur. I just... worry.

Congratulations to President-Elect Obama, and to all who supported him in this election. It would be very hard for me to not feel some sense of hope, as it oozes from the pores of so many of my friends and family. I do have to give it to Barack Obama: the man can speak. The man can inspire. And, if it were not for my concerns about his choices as a leader, I would be fully celebrating as much as you are. This is truly an historic election.

As it is, I am happy that we have the opportunity to at least try something new after eight years of Bush. I did not feel that McCain offered that. I did feel that, perhaps, Palin offered that, with her own history of having challenged and overcome the entrenched powers of both parties in her own state. I will be watching her political career more closely from now on. I expect she will likely run for President in 2012 or 2016. (And I think that, if Hillary tries again, she will find she no longer has the support to do so.)

I also hope that the election of a black man will finally help to oust another entrenched philosophy, carried by many Americans: that this country is somehow designed to keep anyone of color from succeeding. It is time to throw race and gender out of politics and get down to something more important. We have other problems to solve, and quickly, before they bring this great nation down any further.

I'll give the man his fair shake. We all owe him that. Even those who are bitter over McCain's loss in this election. Come January 20th, I will throw my support behind Obama, as MY new President. And I will expect him to discharge the duties of his office more responsibly than his predecessors from both parties.

I am looking forward to Halloween with huge anticipation. I have to admit -- while feeling nervous that some will consider it odd -- that I am as excited about the Halloween season (as it is now becoming, instead of the single day it once was) as I am about Christmastime. Especially, this year.

Last year was a bit of a let-down. I'm not blaming it on Pipes... but we were going through a bit of a health crisis with her last year, with these strange abdominal pains. They'd taken both her gallbladder and appendix out in mid-October, and the postop care (and restrictions on activity) simply made Halloween a more limited affair. No haunted houses or anything. That's okay... we had some fun anyway. And it was my privilege to take care of my sweetheart. I think it really helped to convince Pipes' family how much I cared about her.

But this year? Halloween is going to be much, much more fun. We're planning on hitting several haunted houses. Maybe, planning a murder-mystery dinner event for ourselves and some friends. (If you live in the area, and are reading this, you would be invited) We get the girls on Halloween this year, and we're excited to take them trick-or-treating. We've already purchased costumes for the family. I put together a playlist for Halloween (two actually... one for sound-effects, and one for holiday-appropriate music) before completely losing my mind on iTunes. I bought a strobe light and some UV lights to decorate the place with. And I've been beefing up my collection of Halloweenish movies in the past few months... I'm hoping to really update my list of Halloween movie recommendations this year, if I can make the time. Oh, and to add to the Halloween mood lately? I've been working the past six months at a place which some people consider to be haunted. *shrug* I've never seen anything, but some of the staff are reporting strange happenings in the basement lately.

*evil grin*

He is a funny character... or rather, his films are an interesting thing to me.

"The Sixth Sense" is a ghost story I love, and found very easy to get into. But then, I found that I didn't like many of his other films. At least... not at first.

With movies like "Unbreakable" and "The Village", I would initially walk away and feel they were a bit stupid. But then, to my surprise, when I would come back and watch them again, I would get much more into them. They would suddenly be alive to me, somehow. Communicate something that perhaps I had ignored... I think that anyone who is too "pop-saturated" might not be able to appreciate anything but the most flashy, sometimes gory, eye-candy. Perhaps that's it? Or perhaps I was somehow just better-drawn into the story in some other way.

I'm still waiting to have the same transformation of opinion for "Signs" and "Lady in the Water", but hey. I have time (and, in the latter case, Bryce Dallas Howard) to decide if I like them better. ;-)

Pipes got me an iPod, just a few days before our wedding. A nice, 80 gig Classic, with video and the whole shebang. It's inscribed on the back with the message, "I'm the Luckiest". (A reference to our song) She almost got me the iPod Touch, but those piddly little 16-gig devices just wouldn't have anything close to the capacity needed for my music. In fact, I have so much music that I had to enable "disk functionality" on my iPod, just to use some of its space for additional storage. (After filling up an external hard drive or two, and leaving some space for OS X to breathe)

Of course, what happens when a guy like me gets a new toy? No wait, I'll approach this another way. This is worse than just a new toy.

Who, here, is familiar with the story of that rat, where they electronically wired its feeder-bar to the pleasure-center of its brain? At first, it only pressed once or twice, and -- WOW! -- what a great result occurred! It wondered what would happen if it pressed the bar again. And again. And again and again. And then, before it knew it, the rat had foregone any sense of normal ratness to just KEEP/P/P PRES/S/S/ING/G/G THAT BAR/R/R!!! (After all, it's just one little press, right?)

That feeder bar is the [BUY] button on iTunes.

At least, for me it was. All of those well-remembered (and memory-associated) 80s songs. Even older classics. Material to feed my Halloween and Christmas playlists. New and interesting stuff keeps coming out every day, too. It's only a dollar a download, or ten dollars for a whole album, and that's how they get you. Millions of little bombs, filled with deadly, instant musical gratification, flown in right below the financial radar.

I finally regained my sanity in one sudden, reality-restoring, cold-sweat inducing, soul-jarring jolt, while reviewing my bank statement.

I normally don't let my inner beast get away like that, but music is obviously a weak-point for me. And it's not just music, it's audiobooks, podcasts (the one, usually-free item) and even movies. Stuff we can listen to during the many hours we spend in the car, shuttling Sunshine and Shade to school, dance classes and other destinations across the valley. Stuff I can use to feed my brain during the dead hours between midnight and four, while I'm at work on the night shift. (Instead of just pouring on more caffeine, at 170 calories per can of Mountain Dew)

Pipes has been very understanding. In fact, she's pleased that I like my new toy... but gave me a swat and told me not to ever let it happen again. And, in a way, that's the worst punishment of all in this situation: loving forgiveness. I almost wish she would get more outwardly angry at me. But she's being so understanding that she already knows I'm beating myself up pretty bad over it. I didn't quite put us in the poor-house, but we've had shuffle a few things around to make it work this month. I feel like a complete a**.

So I've sworn off iTunes for a month or more. And then, I'm going to have an allowance in the budget we're working up for combining our finances. In fact, I'm excited at the prospect that we may be able to put some money away, and maybe save up for a couple of new purchases. Like a new computer, and an HDTV.

Of course, I was so filled with guilt and a sense of my own financial dishonor, that I begged Pipes to not mention it to anyone else... but here I am, confessing my utter stupidity to the rest of you. There's a scripture somewhere that says, if one is truly penitent, one will confess and forsake one's sins. Maybe that's
why I found this story flowing from my fingers onto the screen this morning. I don't know. It's a story that wants to be told.

I do know I'll be much more careful from now on.

At least, until we get that new computer.

Given McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (female) for his running mate, Obama's personal spokesman, Bill Burton, had this to say:

"Experience is being taken off the table considering you're putting someone within a heartbeat of the presidency with the thinnest foreign policy experience in history."

Wait a minute... Palin is just the Vice-Presidential candidate. Obama, who also has no foreign policy experience to speak of, is running for President. [Spock eyebrow ensues]

I think choosing Palin was a gutsy move... It means McCain is still in the game, and well-prepared to use many of the same tactics Hillary used vs. Obama, in addition to the standard Republican vs. Democrat rhetoric. I think it's regrettable that minority politics have had such a strong part in this election, but the reality is that Palin's plumbing, and Obama's skin, will swing votes simply for being a product of nearly-random DNA decisions.

[Standard disclaimer: I belong to neither party, but tend to be a sort of Conservative/Libertarian]



More posts to come later. Much has happened. I'm also going to see if I can scan in some photos, maybe.

Pipes and I got to see "The Dark Knight" last night on IMAX, with my brother and his wife.

We'd seen it once before, but the experience was simply better when projected on a screen the size of a building. Apparently, from what I'm told, this movie was filmed for IMAX, and then the top and bottom portions were cut off to fit in most "regular"(letterbox) theaters... much the same way that "pan and scan" movies cut off the left and right portions of a letterbox movie to fit them on an old-style TV screen.

Plus, my brother and I just don't spend that much time together anymore. That's a long story which I might go into later, but maybe things are looking up a bit for our relationship?

If you haven't seen the movie, it's definitely dark. Some people may not be able to enjoy it as I did. I don't want to spoil any of the numerous twists and turns for you, but I also want to say that I found this movie to be even better than "Batman Begins". It presented a real, moral debate, without necessarily moralizing. And without cheapening the story, IMHO.

And I have to say, Heath Ledger's performance makes Jack Nicholson's Joker look like... well, a joke. Something more worthy of the old '60s Batman series. He deserves every accolade. I'm not sure it was worth his life, however. And along those lines... rumor has it that a series of mishaps has continued to befall the cast and crew of "The Dark Knight".

Today we return to "normal" life. We both have work, and have to put our feet back on the ground after all of the fun and insanity of the last week or so. We've spent a lot of money the last week and a half, between the wedding's last-minute expenses, celebration and such. Now, we're talking marital budget, and how to save for a couple of things. (Like, a new computer, and a car to replace the clunker Pipes has been driving since we started dating) Things are settling down, for the most part. I'm going to try to both read and post more often.


Lost in Space
We stayed at the Anniversay Inn, in Logan, Sunday night. Pipes chose the "Lost in Space" room, in which the bathroom is a launch-capsule (or an airlock?), the ceiling has glowing stars and planets, and such. It could have been subtitled the "1981 Retro" room too, from some of the decorations, heh. It had one of those mirrors with the little lights going off into infinity? Yeah, I want one of those now. We liked the place so much, we think we're going to be going back a few more times. Logan is just enough out of the way that you can feel disconnected from the rest of your life, but it's also close enough that we don't have to worry about burning up too much gas, or about being too far away if anything should come up.


Confounding the Missionaries
The LDS Missionaries came by a couple of nights ago, responding to an inquiry I dropped into the LDS church's website a week earlier. We've made an appointment to talk this coming Monday. We were having a pretty good conversation when Pipes walked outside, and got some wide smiles. It's become a point of amusement for us when people do the triple-glance between her and myself, seeing us together. ;-) I wonder if either of them -- for the briefest moment -- thought this might be one of those "missionary opportunities", where one meets a beautiful daughter on one's mission and converts her? (Or some other missionary fantasy?) I introduced her as my wife, and got a little bit of initial confusion, but they recovered well. I expected this. We'll see how things go, come Monday, heh. I think it'll help for them to see us in a domestic situation. Pipes and I just... fit.


I'll try to get and show some photos with you guys soon. =)

So I wish I could say the entire event went off without a hitch... but you know, something always has to happen to give me a story, right? It's almost too stupid and embarrassing to admit. ( Although, that's what blogs are for, right? )

One of my responsibilities for this upcoming wedding (two weeks!) is to come up with a playlist for the reception. At first, I didn't think I would have enough songs, and so I finally decided to venture onto iCrack iTunes.

Wow, this is great! I thought to myself, Each song is only $0.99! Several hundred songs later, I realized just how subtly addictive iTunes' approach is. Worse, now I'm craving an iPod. Something I've thus-far avoided purchasing, as much as I love music. I may have to give in, sometime after the wedding. ;-)

Following my musical binging session, I suddenly realized that I had at least thirteen hours' worth of music, and needed to whittle my playlist down into something more apropos for three hours. This is where you guys come in: I want your thoughts on which songs I should and shouldn't keep. (The ones currently "kept" are bolded in the below list) And if you think there's a good song I'm missing, please share that too.

We want people to enjoy themselves, to maybe dance, and not feel mired down in pure sweetness. (If you know what I mean) I've tried to toss in some fast, some slow, some new and old, for a better mix. Take a look at what you think: ( Huge playlist for the reception under the cut... )

The process of making our wedding playlist has been so fun that I've begun work on Halloween and Christmas playlists, as well as picking up numerous other songs for everyday use. (I have about nine hours' worth on each of those playlists now)

Like I said... addictive.

Please, give me your thoughts!

I was driving home from work yesterday, after dropping a coworker off, and just had to pull over to get this shot with my crappy Razr-cam.

Incidentally, I ended up taking it from the parking lot of East High School, where they filmed "High School Musical". (I don't like the movie enough to even watch it more than the trailer but trivia never hurts)

Well, I owe an apology to all of you who attend my blog... I've been so inattentive to posting in the past weeks. Like they say, the amount of one's posting about life can sometimes be inversely proportional to how busy one's life has become. I can only offer one excuse: I'm getting married on August 9th.

I took Pipes' parents to dinner about five weeks ago, and asked for their blessing. It wasn't the least awkward of situations, since we had been living together for a year by then, and her family is very strongly Mormon. However, they were very graceful in their support. If anything, they seemed impressed that I would approach the matter in so head-on a fashion. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of preparation, so that we can have the wedding before Pipes' brother leaves on a mission. (He is a very important person in her life, and will in fact be a groomsman at the wedding, taking the place which might otherwise have been occupied by her Maid of Honor.)

Random preparations: We have the rings picked out, with photos to come later if I can get some decent ones. We took photos with Sunshine and Shade at Memory Grove a few days ago. Tuxedos. Wedding dress. Yadda-yadda. The colors are deep orange (of the near burnt variety... some call the color "cognac"), gold and an emerald green. The motif for the wedding and reception will be Japanese, complete with kokeshi dolls on the tables, lanterns crossing from tree to tree, and other nice touches.

It'll be a garden ceremony and reception, at her parents' place. And yes, we'll be outdoors in the August heat. One boon will be that Pipes' parents' place is on the side of a mountain. Another is that it's not too far-removed from the Salt Lake. And third, they're having a waterfall put in where the ceremony is to be held. But still, I am acquiring one of these so that I can survive the heat intact, beneath my tuxedo.

So! I plan to provide more updates in the near future, now that I've adjusted to the dull roar of life's current tempo.

In the mean-time, if you would like an invitation then please comment with your real-life names and addresses below.... I've turned on screening, so that none of you (but yourselves, and myself) will be able to see each others' comments. And, if at all possible, please specify whether you'd like the invitation simply for fun, or because there is a chance you might actually be able to attend. My future Mother-in-Law is attempting to tally the body-count right now, and really wants me to get a solid list of friends who would like to come.

Thanks in advance, my friends! Please accept my apology for my dysjournaling. ;-)