Are you ready to rawwk?!

We have co-winners of the Silver Squirrel Award, with my Route 66 pal Lulu knowing that the show was "Police Squad!" and the actor was Leslie Nielson. Tim knew the other part of the question, that the movies based on the show were the Naked Gun movies. Milwaukee Dan #2 also knew the show and actor, but weighed in after Lulu and Tim. Nicely done, folks, and I love it that so many of you share my enjoyment of pop culture trivia.

Can you believe "Police Squad!" ran for only six episodes? I really need to get that DVD collection, because it's still funny stuff. As Dan pointed out, the opening theme song is awesome. For those of us who remember the cop shows from the 60's and 70's (A Quinn Martin production!), "Police Squad!" was a hoot. Look up some clips on YouTube if you get a chance. I still find the movies funny, too, although it's odd to see O.J. Simpson playing in a rather sympathetic film role. He certainly does take a beating, though. Hmm, I don't think we have those movies, either. Must rectify that situation.

As for my "-pedia" entry yesterday, Darren, I totally forgot about Dickipedia, the Wiki of people who are dicks. A friend of mine sent that to me a while back, and it would have been a fine addition, as is it another genuinely funny one, well-written, and clever. (Thanks for the reminder, Darren!) I liked the entry on Michele Bachmann:

In addition to being a dick, Bachmann's track record has proven she is also a full-fledged nutjob. The type of person that makes you turn to your friend the moment she gets up to use the bathroom and mouth "She's craaaaaaazy," complete with hand motions and bug-eyes.

While Bachmann has always been a local dick, she didn't come onto the national dick scene until the 2008 election when she accused Barack Obama and many members of Congress of being "anti-American."

Like her pal Palin, Bachmann is deceptively attractive. While Palin is attractive in a "if she just put down that gun, took off those glasses, and started forming complete sentences" sort of way, Bachmann has the whole girl next door thing working for her. But only if you grew up next to an insane asylum.

So Saturday night was my sister Diana's Beatles Rock Band party. We figured we'd go and hang out a while, be spectators rather than players, not make a late night of it...screw that! Maybe it was the shot of Blavod black vodka courage I did before we started playing (Who knew there was such a thing as black vodka? Where does my sister find this stuff?), but I joined in singing backup pretty quickly, and I think Ken sat down on the very first song to play the drums. I eventually sang lead on some songs, and although I think I'm really a crummy singer, I did better than I expected, and even did okay on some of the harmonies! I tried drums once and really sucked, so that will take some practice. Man, I had no idea how much fun that would be. We didn't leave until after 2 AM, because we were all having so much fun. Oh, and I only took one picture, of Ken at the drums, because I was having too much fun playing. My brother-in-law took more, so I'll see if he'll send them to me.

Of course, this got Ken and I talking about getting a Wii. We had talked about it when we played it at our friends Kim and Steve's place, but decided not to spend the money. We were kind of thinking that way this time, too, but Ken came up with the brilliant idea of using American Express rewards points to get it, and has already ordered a Wii, a guitar, a sports pack, and the software for classic rock songs. I'll use the points that I have on my card to get some gift cards to use at the grocery store, then we'll order the rock band bundle (drums, guitar, and mike) and the original software from Amazon tonight. A little creative financing there, but it should let us order this stuff without spending anything except the points we earn through the credit cards. How cool is that?

I've never been much of a gamer, but Rock Band changes everything. I think I'll even take a cue from my pal Greg and tie a scarf on the mike stand, a la Steven Tyler. To paraphrase Stevie Ray Vaughn, if Nutwood's rockin', don't bother knockin'...come on in!

Dead parody sketch

[With thanks to Monty Python]

I continue to be amused at Conservapedia and its unintentionally hilarious entries. Did you know that the Nobel prize is an "often-politicized award that is criticized for increasing evidence of bias and possibly even corruption"? Also, did you know that "it has been ostensibly given for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature, and peace"? "Ostensibly?" Gee...last I knew, it was considered to be one of the highest honors in the world. Hmm, I wonder what changed? One of the things the entry mentions is that the award is never given to those who question evolution. That's because any scientist worth his or her salt knows that good science supports evolution! Gahhhh.

Although Conservapedia reads like a parody website to many of us, it isn't. However, there are some fun and notable such sites out there that use the same Wiki platform as Wikipedia, with user-generated content. I present to you some of those I found (along with some random excerpts), with a couple of them being non-parody sites...but like Conservapedia, they can also be unintentionally funny. I think what is even funnier is that there are some people that think these are real. As one article about parody websites observed, "You either know the facts to be able to laugh and enjoy these parody websites, or you have been duped and taken in by them." A friend on Facebook often posts articles from the Onion, and invariably one of his friends will write something like, "That's horrible!" or "How can anyone do such a thing?" Then he has to explain that it's from the Onion, it's not real, blah di blah blah. I get the impression that some people are just missing the satire gene, or have microscopic senses of humor.

Warning: Some of these sites contain a lot of foul language and are not for the fainthearted or for those at work who are playing on the Web rather than doing actual work.

First up is Encyclopedia Dramatica, with the motto "In lulz we trust." They focus especially on Internet culture, but include entries on current events and topics. I'm not easily offended, but there is really some nasty stuff here! Some is genuinely funny, but some is groan-worthy, as in, "Ohhh, did you really have to say that?" On their main page, they include a section called The Moar You Know, with tidbits like "Did you know...that you'll need at least two sticks of butter and two ounces of cream cheese for a Paula Deen recipe?"

Random page:

Twice is defined as once more than once and once less than thrice (also called "three times"). If you've done something twice you're either a big fan of it or just really stupid. Twice can also be used as an intensifier for threats, especially if you're an Internet tough guy: "Listen, asshole, if you cross me again I'll kill you - twice."

Bigipedia is not really an encyclopedia website, but a UK radio show based on a fictional website, a parody of Wikipedia. On the main page, there is a section titled the BigiMedic questionnaire, an automatic diagnosis hotline.

Just simply complete the questionnaire. Answer truthfully - if you lie we will know.

First question - Are you conscious?

Thank you. Are you -

• at home
• not at home
• at knifepoint
• half in and out of a car
• next to a war

Deletionpedia is actually legitimate. It is the repository for the things that get deleted from Wikipedia. I have to wonder...why would you want to read stuff that has been deemed irrelevant, boring, or untruthful? Just read Sarah Palin's book when it comes out! Hahaha! I couldn't resist.

Random page:

Freddie's Master Plan, real name Gulliver Martin, is a London based solo rock artist who was also one of the founding members of the Mental Melons and Ruptured Duck in the 90's. Deleted because Band is unsigned, according to their Myspace page; no evidence of notability.

Ouch, man!

Uncyclopedia bills itself as the content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. I find this one genuinely funny and well-written, with some pages containing warnings that "this entry may be Overly British" or "this entry may contain factual material." Many contain bogus Oscar Wilde quotes. The entry on "People" wonders if you may have arrived there accidentally.

People

Whoops! Maybe you were looking for Assholes?

Whoops! Maybe you were looking for Soylent Green?

Random page:

Bacon fat is fat derived from bacon. During World War II, the Allied forces discovered that it carried unparalleled incendiary properties, and successfully deployed it to undermine the German V2 rocket program.

To obtain and conserve the precious commodity, a major propaganda campaign was undertaken within Allied countries and airdropped into enemy territory, such that fear of the substance would reduce the need for its actual use.

Stupidedia pretty much says what it is, with its logo stating that it's the encyclopedia without sense.

Random page:

Gorillas (latein: Jelena) sind gelatinöse Lebewesen, die im Regenwald leben und wie die Schimpansen ihre eigenen Kinder fressen. Ihre Existenz ist allerdings bis heute umstritten.

Oh, did I forget to mention that it's in German?

The Devil's Wiki is not about stripping down to the Devil's Pajamas (i.e., your birthday suit) and dancing around a bonfire while someone strikes you about the torso with a live chicken. I'm sorry, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the Devil's Wiki. (That was some vivid imagery running through my mind for a moment there.) This site is intended to be an update of Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, and some of you may remember that I'm a big Ambrose Bierce fan. Mark Twain was witty and cutting; Ambrose Bierce could flay you alive with his words. Ambrose Bierce was a human ginsu knife. This site has potential, but is poorly written and has very few entries. I hope it gets expanded.

Not-so-random page, with apologies to my conservative friends:

Conservatism is a term used to describe the practice of ignoring newly discovered reason and logic. The term has become synonymous with factors such as white superiority, military power and corporate greed. It is used as a political platform as a means of false promises.

To counteract the Devil's Wiki, we have Christopedia. This one isn't a parody, but like Conservapedia, has its humorous moments. For example, the writeup of Barack Obama includes this:

Obama is the first mulatto, and first person having ties to a known terrorist, to win enough support for the presidential nomination of any major American political party, and to be elected President of the United States. As winner of the U.S. presidential election of November 4, 2008, Obama was sworn in as America's first Affirmative Action President on January 20, 2009 in a lavish inaugural ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Although it is claimed that Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii this has been widely disputed.

Mulatto? Who even uses that word anymore? "Affirmative Action" President? That's not all that funny...that's actually pretty offensive. And since when was an inauguration not a lavish event? Of course, they had to throw in some birther lunacy for good measure. No random pages here--they were all pretty boring, except for the ones written by hackers. Like the one on the Holy Ghost. The entry merely says, "BOO!"

The liberal response to Conservapedia? Liberapedia, of course! This site is half-satire, half-serious, and half-snark. [grin]

Random page, with a nice dig at Son of Schlafly:

Freedom means choosing for yourself what you do do long as you don’t do harm. Freedom means people in power can’t stop you from doing reasonable things. Freedom means living in a Democracy where you can do your bit to choose your rulers. Freedom means the state protects you from bullies. Bullies can be men who say they are men of God and think you should be punished for your sins. When the men of God do harm nobody punishes them in the United States. Bullies can mean bosses who give you hardly any pay and make you work in bad conditions for long hours. Bullies can mean other types of people as well.

Freedom means you can do edits you think are right on a Wiki that suits you. Liberals are free here. Conservatives can perhaps be free on other websites. Nobody except Andrew Schlafly is free on Conservapedia.

I kind of like Illogicopedia; it appeals to the surrealist in me. However, a little goes a long way. They say their site is "The nonsensical encyclopedia that anyone can mess up. Proudly making posts vaguely more interesting and longer than Twitter since some time in the past." Some entries are complete nonsense, but the funniest ones make a little sense in a very silly way.

"Randumb" page:

Slightly Depressed Rainbows are very rare but a sight to see.

Unlike a regular rainbow which has the colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet; a slightly depressed rainbow has the colors Black, Blood Red, Pale Blue, Faded Yellow, Dark Turquoise, Gray, and Light Brown. Unlike a fully depressed rainbow, which is all black, a slightly depressed rainbow is a little bit happier. A regular rainbow uses the acronym ROYGBIV, a slightly depressed one uses the acronym BRBPBFYDTGLB which has been deemed a pronounceable acronym by the National Acronym Association. Speech expert Mark Stewart says it should be pronounced Brebpebfuhyeedtiggleba. If you see a slightly depressed rainbow, give him a cookie, he won't be as depressed anymore.

The Encyclopedia of Stupid claims to be about "All things stupid. May include this website." Each entry begins with "[whatever] is stupid."

Random page (this really made me laugh):

Scientology is stupid.

Scientology is a cult invented by noted science fiction hack Elron Hubbard. In a drunken bet with fellow hack Arthur C. Clarke, Hubbard boasted that he could create a religion based on science fiction characters and get most of Hollywood to join it and give it money. Clarke took the bet and the rest is history.

Clarke was reportedly incensed at Hubbard's success and made a side bet with Hubbard that there was no way he could get an A-list celebrity Scientologist to kidnap and brainwash a young starlet half his age and subsequently get him to go on Oprah and dance on a couch. Hubbard took the bet, and although he died before he could witness the outcome of their challenge, in 1984 Tom Cruise succeeded in bringing it to a finale.

Last, but not least, there is Wickerpedia. Yes, a Wiki devoted to wicker. There is currently only one entry, on...you know...wicker, but since Wickerpedia's launch in 2001, they've been working on 604,099 articles. Fun facts from the main page...

Did you know that American statesman John Milledge named Athens, Georgia, the city surrounding the University of Georgia, after Athens, Greece, the city where wicker was first used to make tables?

On this date in 1937, Camille Chautemps became Prime Minister of France in the second Popular Front ministry. Wicker was declared the national building material.

Who knew? Reminds me of a show in the early 80's, an all-too-brief run of a satire of police shows. The main character is walking down a dark street in the city, in what looks to be a rather seedy part of town, and walks by a "24-hour wicker store." A Silver Squirrel Award to anyone who can tell me the name of the show, and the movie franchise (three movies) based on it, as well as the silver-haired actor who played in both the TV series and the movies.

This entry was meant just for fun, but there is a deeper message here. Just because you read it on Teh Interwebs doesn't mean it's true. You know the saying "If it seems to good to be true, it probably is?" When it comes to forwarded emails or some websites, if the story seems beyond belief, outlandish, or deliberately outrageous, it's probably either false or meant to be funny. If you can't pick up on that, the joke is on you.

Tidying up

Some loose ends, that is.

I'm sure everyone has heard by now that Patrick Swayze died yesterday. Last night was movie tribute night, so Ken got to choose between "Road House" and "Dirty Dancing." He picked the former, naturally, which just so happens to be one of my all-time favorite cheesy movies! I try to watch it at least once a year, and I last watched it in February when Ken was on a business trip. You can find my Road House entry from then via the link. I have to add a few more lines to some of the wonderfully bad ones I mentioned back then.

Calling me sir is like putting an elevator in an outhouse.

Pain don't hurt.

You're too stupid to have a good time.

That gal has got entirely too many brains to have an ass like that.

I see you found my trophy room, Dalton. The only thing that's missing...is your ass.

This toilet is worse than the one we worked in Dayton.

Good times! It is deliciously bad, and incredibly fun. Thanks, Patrick. You had a good run, and you'll be missed.

~~~~~

Before I forget, I owe my friend Milwaukee Dan #1 a Silver Squirrel Award! He knew that the song that has a tiny voice saying "eat!" was “Martian Boogie” by The Brownsville Station. Cousin Shane also knew this (no surprise there, because I remember we really liked that song when we were in high school), but Dan rang in first with a message on Facebook. Congrats, Dan, and do with the Squirrel what you will!

~~~~~

Speaking of Cousin Shane, we were emailing last night, and he had some interesting information for me. He works for the Post Office, so he's my source whenever I have questions about...you know, mailing stuff. Recycling came up, and he wrote this:

What people don't realize is that when it comes to "bulk business mail" (what most people call "junk mail"), if you write on it "return to sender" or anything similar, it doesn't matter. That mail just ends up in the recycling bin. It does not go back to the sender and they do not honor requests to remove from mailing lists or anything like that.

I guess all I have to say is thank you, Post Office, for recycling, even when others won’t...from someone who recycles even her grocery lists and price tags on clothing. It all adds up, and our actions do have an impact.

~~~~~

I made a trip to the library today to pick up the next book on our book club list, The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow. I haven't finished Angle of Repose yet (still loving it), but I'm getting close. One thing I've started doing when I request that a book be transferred to our branch is to look for the oldest edition available. This latest one is from 1953. I'm not sure why I enjoy these older books so much; most newer editions have some sort of Foreword about the book or author. Maybe that's one of the reasons I prefer the older editions. I enjoy reading them as someone from that time might have read them, before the books were recognized as literary classics. I try to not read much about the book before going into it, so that I don't have any preconceived notions about it. I don't mind reading that stuff after I've read the book, but I kind of enjoy going into it blind. I also think I just enjoy the smell and look of older books, and knowing that many hands have held it and turned its pages before me. Sometimes I wonder what they thought of the book.

I always stop at the Books For Sale section on the way into the library, and I got three great bargains today! A 1951 edition of the Wise Garden Encyclopedia (bought mainly because of its age), a huge native plant reference book called Botanica North America, and just for fun, I Am America (And So Can You) by Stephen Colbert. I think the guy is hilarious, and this book should be a fun read. Three books...three bucks. You can't beat that with a stick, and I dare you to try!

But here is the absolute best part of my visit to the library, and this totally made my day. As I was getting out of my car, I saw a large bird flying toward the parking lot, and it landed on one of the light poles. It some sort of raptor! As I watched him (I don’t know if it was male or female, but I’m calling it ‘him’), he flew down to the shrubs by a nearby house, and grabbed something off of the ground. He turned around to face me, and it was some sort of rodent. The bird tore into the thing, and it was gone in two bites. WHOA! He flew back up to the top of the light pole, and just sat there for a while. I got a really good look at him, and I probably looked like an idiot standing there in the parking lot gaping at this bird! At first I was thinking that he might be a peregrine falcon. They're rare, but we have a nesting pair, Zephyr and Guinevere, who live in downtown South Bend, and they have chicks every year. I looked in a Sibley's in the library, but looked further in my books when I got home, and I'm pretty sure it was an osprey. They hang out near water, and maybe the library's small ponds are enough for them. He had more of a striped head like an osprey, rather than the "helmet" that a peregrine has, and his chest was mostly white with little speckling.

It was the coolest thing. I told the woman behind the counter that I thought I saw a peregrine, and I think I'll send an email and say that I believe that it was an osprey instead. Oh, if only I'd had my camera! He was maybe 20 feet away from me, munching on Rodent Tartar. A very handsome bird--I think raptors are amazing! When I left the library, I was still so excited about it that I had to force myself to concentrate on driving! Have I mentioned that I'm easily amused?

A day shared with others

First of all, the Silver Squirrel Award has multiple winners! The reference I mentioned was "paranoia will destroy ya." Dannelle sent me a video of a band called the Assembly doing a song with that title. Now, that's not what I was referencing, but that is obviously a correct answer, so Dannelle gets her second Silver Squirrel! Dannelle also made me that awesome tag. How cool--and appropriate--is that?! Thanks, Dannelle! Dawn of Carpe Diem weighed in next with the song "Paranoia" by the Kinks. That's not the name of the song, but Dawn gets a Silver Squirrel for knowing that it was the Kinks. Never let it be said that I am unwilling to compromise! Finally, we have Cousin Shane saying that the song is "Destroyer" by the Kinks, off of the "Give the People What They Want" album. Shane gets a Silver Squirrel for knowing the completely correct answer. Some say that the lyrics go "Paranoia, the destroyer," but I've always heard it as "Paranoia will destroy ya." If Ray Davies is reading this, feel free to weigh in, Ray! [grin]

Many of you have seen, via either Ken's blog or Facebook, that today is my birthday. Alaina, Joy, and Miss Ginger also posted entries on their blogs wishing me a happy one. (I hope I didn't forget anyone!) I want to thank everyone who sent their good wishes--it really touched me. I also got several cards from family and friends, one mentioning Cindy Brady (So funny...thank you, my friend!), and one from Shane that made me laugh so hard...it says "If you're not going to snort, why even laugh?" He knows me so well...I have, on rare occasion, been known to snort when I laugh. I won't lie and say that I snorted when I read it, but I did laugh really hard!

I thank you all very, very much. {{hugs}}

Ken and I don't do birthday gifts--we'd rather spend the money on things fun for both of us, so I said that the Alice Cooper concert could be my birthday gift--but we popped over to Granite City Brewery this afternoon for some appetizers and cool amber beverages. Thanks, Honey! (He also got me a little carton of Sangria, and a big chocolate bar. Is it any wonder I’m crazy about the guy?)

I've enjoyed my day and the kind thoughts of others, but I have to mention two things that will always stick with me. This morning, we watched Senator Kennedy's funeral Mass, and it was very moving to see the tributes given by family and friends. Ted, Jr.'s remarks were especially touching, as were President Obama's. If you don't like the guy's politics, I don't really care, but at least respect the man for serving his country for decades. He helped many people in his lifetime, and in learning more about the man rather than the legislator, it seems that he was a friend to many and the rock of his family. He made plenty of mistakes in his life, but I believe he faced them and did his best to atone for them in his latter years. Rest in peace, Senator, and thank you.

I will also never forget that it was on my birthday that Katrina hit New Orleans. I remember sitting out on the deck on that hot summer day (unlike today's cool weather), talking with my Mom, who had called to wish me happy birthday. We even talked about the hurricane, and at that time, it looked like New Orleans was weathering it well and everything was going to be okay. It wasn't until the following day that the levees were breached, and the true nightmare began. Here we are four years later, and things still aren't back to normal in New Orleans for many people, and probably never will be again.

I'm grateful for the thoughtfulness and kindness shown me today; I hope everyone will take a moment to remember Senator Kennedy and his family, and all those in New Orleans who are still struggling to find their way.

People are strange

That's no news flash, I know, but I was exchanging emails with a friend this morning, writing about some behavior she's experienced in others. I wrote that I really don't understand the sort of mentality that wants to constantly stir up trouble, and I guess I never want to understand it. It made me think of the Doors song.

People are strange when you're a stranger

Faces look ugly when you're alone

Women seem wicked when you're unwanted

Streets are uneven when you're down

When you're strange

Faces come out of the rain

When you're strange

No one remembers your name

When you're strange

When you're strange

When you're strange

I've always loved that particular song, because I think it reflects a certain state of mind very well. I've found that most behaviors and feelings feed off of themselves. I know that if I'm feeling a little blue, everything I experience seems to add to that feeling, until I can consciously snap myself out of it. (I'm fortunate in that regard...not everyone can do that, and I know that has to be so hard and so frustrating.) If I'm in a bad mood, little things that normally wouldn't bother me can seem irritating. When you're in a group of people, it seems like the negativity is magnified and increases exponentially. At work, there were times when someone would complain about something, and the next thing you knew, everyone was in an uproar! My friend Jillian and I used to tease people about being a Negative Nancy, and that would often get them to laughing and break the "spell." Believe me, there were plenty of times that I was in a foul mood at work, or angry about something, but for the most part, I tried to just keep to myself and lick my wounds until I was able to crawl out of my little hole. Haha!

I suppose it's connected to what I've written about some people seeming to thrive on drama...and if there isn't any handy at the moment, they'll stir up a little something in their big black cauldron. Not everyone does it out of sheer spite, although I've known those who do; sometimes it's just a matter of life not being exciting for them unless they have something to fret and stew over. I really don't get it, because I'm happiest when my life is drama-free. I don't find it enjoyable to be around people like that, and if you call them on it, they can get really defensive, and often lash out at you. [shrugs] Whatevah.

I would think it would make for a difficult and unhappy life to have such a distorted view of reality, one in which everyone is out to get you (paranoia will destroy ya...a Silver Squirrel to anyone who gets that reference!), every little thing is perceived as a slight against you, and you believe that the sole existence of the rest of the world is merely to focus itself on you, glorious you. If you can't get the attention in good ways, you use any means necessary to get it, and the collateral damage to those around you matters nothing. I'm not a big Dr. Phil fan, but in this case, he's right: It ain't ABOUT you!

Call me idealistic, or naive (just don't call me late for dinner!), but rather than being a stranger traveling the world and seeing everything and everyone as strange or wicked or maybe just as "other," I prefer to be what Mark calls a "friend on the back roads of life." (He got it from a Stephen King novel, and I've grown to love the phrase, too.) It certainly makes me happy when I can brighten someone's day instead of making them say, "Jeez, what a high-toned bitch," or having to leave a job or a school or even a relationship because somehow everyone seems to end up disliking me. Hmmm. Life is much more fun the former way; there's a world of difference between the excitement of a life made enjoyable by the many wonderful things out there, and the excitement of a life made interesting by volatility and the needless creation of drama.

Now here's the Lizard King to sing us out, and Mr. Morrison, you may be long gone, but you're still as fine as frog's hair....

This just in: Launch scrubbed!

Wait...that's not right....

Lunch scrubbed!

It was pouring down rain this morning, so I called my mother-in-law and we agreed to go to lunch one day next week. She seemed fine with that, so I don't think she wanted to head out in such rain, either! It would have been a pain to mess with umbrellas, and getting in and out of the Mustang might take her a little bit, so one or both of us probably would have ended up soaked! It's stopped for the moment, but still very gloomy and overcast, and I expect more rain this afternoon. We're supposed to have some nice days next week, and I think we'll both enjoy it more when it's a pretty, sunny day.

I have another line from Angle of Repose for you:

Salt is added to dried rose petals with the perfume and spices, when we stored them away in covered jars, the summers of our past.

I loved that so much I wrote it down in my little reader's journal and also shared it on Facebook. Isn't that one of the loveliest things you've ever read? And so perfect for that end-of-summer feeling. I think I'm really going to like this book (despite the fact that it's a monster) because it's some of the best writing of the books on the list that we've read so far, in my personal opinion. I read lines like that one and just say, "Wow."

A big congratulations to Dannelle of MadMotherMema for correctly--and quickly--noting that my line about my new red Keds, "The angels wanna wear my red shoes" was a reference to the Elvis Costello song "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes." Dannelle gets the Silver Squirrel Award! Thanks for reading and playing along, Dannelle!

Now off to that book, if I plan on getting through it before the end of the year...! Perhaps more later.

Hodgepodge Lodge

I really like the word "hodgepodge," and that's what today's entry will be.

Even if you totally disagreed with his politics, I hope everyone today is joining me in sending Senator Ted Kennedy's family our condolences. I grew to respect the man for his convictions and for his many years of service to this country. It makes me very sad that he won't be around to see a health care reform bill, no matter what form it eventually takes, passed. I haven't had the news on at all today because I know it's a lot of sadness about the Senator's death.

~~~~~

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle "Politics is Hard!" Bachmann recently appeared on a radio show, and asked listeners to "pray, fast, believe, trust the Lord, but also act." She went on to praise Sarah Palin for talking about (nonexistent) death panels, saying "These are true!" She stated "We all need to consider that in God's timing that he may have allowed us, as members of Congress, to be in the position that we're in just for this specific issue right now." So now God has endorsed her position in Congress, eh? Michelle? That voice you're hearing in your head isn't God. It's your own delusions of grandeur, your belief that you have been sanctified by God, and it's whatever little lunatic is living in your head that causes you to say such nonsensical things. You might want to try to ignore it before it tells you do something really weird. Like read a book or something.

~~~~~

Hey, did you hear about the town hall meeting in Virginia with Congressman Jim Moran and Howard Dean? Yeah, a circus broke out! Someone yelled "God save America!" Then someone yelled back "Shut up!" Then another one yelled "God save the Constitution!" and someone responded with "Shut up, you pig!"

A 17-year-old girl in attendance said that it was "better than Springer." After the meeting she and her friends said that they felt discouraged by the lack of tolerance and talk of death panels from people at the meeting who were older than them. The 17-year-old said, "I thought our generation was supposed to be the stupid one."

You know what? I think I've changed my mind on all this stuff. No, not health care reform, but the behavior of some of these people at the town hall meetings, and the loony yammering of people like Bachmann, Palin, et al. I think they should go for it. Really let loose and shout all they want, continue to spout off about things that they've heard from their favorite Faux News talking head, keep repeating all the talking points from whatever disembodied voice wafts its way over the airwaves. Keep going, folks! Keep yelling about how you want government out of your lives. It's getting downright entertaining, and it illustrates perfectly your mentality. The shriller your cries, the loonier you look, and for those of us who do want to see reform happen and are interested in being a part of the process by engaging in actual discussions and attempts to learn more about it, it's becoming increasingly easy to be dismissive of you.

Oh, I'll admit...it's kind of embarrassing to see you act that way and know that people around the world are seeing this and thinking that we all are like that. But I think the voice of reason will eventually prevail, and then you can go back to whatever you normally do when you're not red-faced with rage, with veins popping out on your forehead, talking about how Obama's gonna kill your granny and then he's gonna take away your guns. Or maybe he's gonna kill your granny...with your own gun! *gasp* (That's a nice twist...feel free to use that one.)

So keep it up, folks! Just make sure that no one gets hurt in the process, okay?

~~~~~

I picked up my next book club book at the library yesterday, and about had a thrombo. A Bend in the River clocked in at about 280 pages...Angle of Repose is a cool 569. ACK! It's tiny print, too. This one might need a renewal. It does look very interesting, and I like the scholarly tone of the book and of the narrator.

The truth about my son is that despite his good nature, his intelligence, his extensive education, and his bulldozer energy, he is as blunt as a kick in the shins. He is peremptory even with a doorbell button. His thumb never inquires whether one is within, and then waits to see. It pushes, and ten seconds later pushes again, and one second after that goes down on the button and stays there. That's the way he summoned me this noon.

Isn't that great? Don't you immediately have a grasp of the character of the narrator's son? A good guy, a smart guy, but terribly impatient. I really think I'll like this one, but it will be a matter of getting through it. (She wrote, as she continued to write a blog entry, rather than reading.) I think only one other person in the book club has read it (Better crack the whip, Jillian! Haha!), and that was one of the people from out-of-state who joined our online forum. We've exchanged a couple of emails about it already, so it will be interesting to get her thoughts as I plow through it.

~~~~~

I love Kohl's. I got a pair of red Keds yesterday that normally cost $45...for $9! How could I pass those up? I couldn't. I didn't have a red pair, either. The angels wanna wear my red shoes. A Silver Squirrel award to anyone who gets that reference!

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Lunch with my mother-in-law tomorrow! We're going to try a place I haven't tried before, La Esperanza. She loves Mexican food, but her husband doesn't, so I figured she'd like that. She's taking me out, so says it was my choice, but I wanted to pick a place that she would enjoy, too. I'm sure we'll have plenty to "dish" about. She cracks me up...you think I tell it like it is...?!

~~~~~

I got an invitation today from my excellent brother-in-law, Tom, to go to a Cubs game in a couple of weeks with him and my sisters. My God, man, do you realize what you are doing?! Tom did his time as a Marine in Vietnam, so I suppose he's equipped to spend the day with the three of us. Wish him luck. He's a brave man. Of course, you have to be, to be a Cubs fan. Haha!

Thursday Roundup

Yes, it's another roundup. I just have too many odds and ends to tie up the past couple of days!

R.I.P. Les Paul. Without you, the music that I love so much would not exist.

Dan of The Wisdom of a Distracted Mind gets one of the Silver Squirrel awards for knowing that the no brown rats in the Alice Cooper python's bowl of rats was in reference to Van Halen's infamous tour rider, in which they specified that in their backstage bowls of M&M's, there were to be no brown ones. Ahhh, spoiled rock stars! Don't you just want to smack 'em? A few others had the correct answer, but Dan was the first.

Still no winner on the question about the TV miniseries. A couple of people did give the correct answer, but one admitted that she Googled it, and the other admitted that he saw her answer. (Both get an Honorable Mention for their honesty.) In light of that, I am throwing out that question, and the Silver Squirrel will ride again another day. The correct answer was "The Stand," the TV miniseries based on Stephen King's book of the same name. I don't think the critics liked it much, but I enjoyed it. I just wish it could have been gorier. They're doing a theater remake of "It," so I wish they'd do one of "The Stand." I'd love to see what they could do with it in a theatrical remake.

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I thought about reposting my entry about health care in its entirety, but I decided to just link to it. I wrote this back in January, and I still stand completely by the opinions I wrote of back then. Even the part about not wanting a national health care system. There are plenty of people who are happy with their health insurance. The concern is those who cannot afford it, and that's why I support a public option. (Key word there: OPTION.) Besides, the reality is that a bill with a national health care system would never get passed. Why push for something that has no chance of success? That's the pragmatic side of me.

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Thanks for the feedback on the suspicious Craigslist email. I think I was right to trust my instinct. The people who came to look at it last night bought it, so I took the ad down immediately. Now I don't have to worry about it.

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Sheeba caught another mouse last night. It seems that our basement has turned into freakin' Disney World, and there are meeces everywhere, but I guess that's to be expected out in the country. I'm glad Sheeba is such a good mouser, and he got lots of praise and treats for his efforts. Good boy!

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I got to see my folks today when they stopped by and gave us another loaf of raisin bread [grin] and dropped off a bag full of--get this--empty journals. There was a big sale at a store they stopped at a while back, and they went back and got me a bunch. I'm still trying to decide what to do with them. Stay tuned....

~~~~~

We got an email from our friend Kimberley, and it looks like her and Steve are on for Florida next year! Yippee! I'm already thinking about cookouts and taking them to our favorite places...they'll love the manatees! Especially Steve, because he's a science teacher and marine biologist who always takes his students on a field trip to the Monterey Aquarium. I will calm down about this pronto, since it's almost an entire year away. I was just really happy to hear that they can join us next year!

~~~~~

Tonight I'm channeling New Orleans as I serve muffulettas for dinner. I'm not sure what made me crave them, but my mouth is already watering, and we're a couple of hours away from dinner! Muffulettas are big sandwiches with ham, salami, cheese, and olive salad. I made the olive salad this afternoon by chopping up black and green olives and a jar of giardiniera. The ones I make can't compare to Central Grocery's, but they're still pretty tasty!

Wednesday Roundup

Hey there, dudes and dudettes, nothing big happening at Nutwood, so here are some odds and ends.

I went to the BMV this morning, my first time since they opened the new branch (consolidating a couple of smaller ones). My license expires this month, so it was time to renew. They were so nice and friendly, and I was out of there within 15 minutes, my new license with its crummy new picture safely tucked away in my wallet! They've also gone from a four-year expiration to a six-year. Sweet! I took my book along, but only got through a few pages while they printed out the new license. Indiana's Governor Mitch Daniels deserves a lot of credit for making the BMV a relatively painless experience these days. He's taken a lot of flak for a couple of the things he's done (leasing the Toll Road and having us go on Daylight Savings Time--jeez, what a cruel and horrible dictator!), but anyone who fixes the BMV is okay in my book. I voted for him, and guess what? He's a Republican! Personally, I think he's done a pretty good job.

It was also fun driving up there, because it's on one of the remaining brick streets in South Bend. The main roads have all been repaved, but several of the side streets are still brick, and I just love them. (I have a brick paver from one of the roads that ran by one of the Studebaker buildings.) The brick streets have a sort of nostalgic charm, and they sure seem to hold up well.

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You know my entry about the Alice Cooper show? I had an email from Milwaukee Dan #1 who said that he sent it along to a music critic. The guy read it and asked Dan to pass along to me that Alice is a big fan of Studebakers and even owns two. Very cool on two counts: a music critic actually read my entry, and Alice loves Studebakers!

Speaking of that entry, I found out that a UK fan site linked to it, so I've had visitors from all over the world stopping by. Again, very cool on two counts: someone found that entry and linked to it, resulting in lots of visits, and people still love Alice all around the world!

Ahhh, there's sort of an international feeling in the air at Nutwood...can you sense it? Almost an...I don't know what...je ne sais quoi.

~~~~~

There are still two Silver Squirrel awards pending, with no correct answers yet!

1. What TV miniseries used the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in the opening credits?

2. When I mentioned the python that Alice used to bring onstage, I wrote that maybe the snake was dropped because he was getting too demanding, specifying no brown rats in his bowl of rats backstage. What was I referencing there?

~~~~~

When I was at the store the other day, they had a big bin of cantaloupes, and they were INDIANA cantaloupes. I was on those babies like milk on cereal. I'll cop to a complete and utter (and probably illogical) bias here in my belief that Indiana cantaloupes are the best cantaloupes evah. They always seem to have a sweetness and flavor that I've never had elsewhere. I'm sure that part of it is that they aren't shipped from BFE, so are picked more at their peak. This one smells wonderful, and I'll be slicing it up this afternoon. It's a monster, too. [going off to measure] Eight inches in diameter, nine inches in length. [going out to weigh it] Seven pounds. I think next year, I'll try to grow some cantaloupe, although our soil back in the garden is more dark and rich rather than sandy (which cantaloupe like). I bet it will work just fine, though. (Yes, I know that the correct term for what is grown here is muskmelon. In these parts, we call ‘em cantaloupes.)

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We had a few large things left from the garage sale, including Ken's Mom's like-new stove, and yesterday I put them up on Craigslist. Holy mackerel! Within an hour of putting up the ads, I started getting phone calls. We sold three of the things yesterday, and I've gotten phone calls on the other items. Someone is coming to look at the stove this evening, and I'm fairly certain they'll buy it. (Ken's Mom will be so pleased!) I'll be glad when it's all gone, because this is way too many phone calls for me. I am not a phone person. I'm grateful, though, that there are people willing to buy these things and can get some use out of them, rather then sending them off to a landfill. It's a win-win situation, and I have to say that Craigslist is a fantastic service. We still have some electronic things to sell, and were planning on putting them on eBay, but I think we'll try Craigslist with those, too, and not worry about shipping them.

I got an email about the stove, and you guys tell me your opinion. This person is hearing-impaired so can only email with me. He lives in Houston, but has things arranged with a mover as soon as the money is in our hands. He wants to send a money order, and needs our name, address, and cell phone number. When he inquired via email this morning whether or not we still had the stove, I said yes, and someone is coming to look at it tonight and has made an offer. The Houston guy then sent me an email stating that he would be paying by money order, and listed the above as what he would need. I wrote back and said hold up there, Tex (okay, I didn't really write that), don't send anything, because someone is coming to look at it and they will get first right of refusal.

I don't know for certain, but something just seems fishy about it. Obviously, you know I would have no problem dealing with someone who is hearing-impaired, but that takes away the phone call option. I also don't care much for this out-of-state sale, and would much prefer that someone in the area were to pick any item up. And why on earth would they need our cell phone number? Something about it just sent up red flags, and I think there's some sort of scam there.

Just like the email I got about the TV we had for sale, saying that they know it sounds weird, but they want to give me a TV. Um...no thanks. We're selling one, remember? If something about it seems fishy, it's probably fishy.

~~~~~

Hope you're all having a lovely day! The humidity here has let up somewhat, and it's a gorgeous Nutwood day!

A rilly big shew

Okay, pictures are edited and videos are uploaded, so it's time to discuss last night's Blue Öyster Cult/Alice Cooper show!

After a bite to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings, we walked over to the venue, the Morris Center, just a block or so away. The Morris is a beautiful place, lovingly restored, and is consistently in the list of top venues in the country, based on ticket sales. My Dad remembers seeing Louis Armstrong there, I remember seeing rock shows when the ceiling was crumbling, and it's wonderful to go there now and see what a wonderful job they did on renovation and restoration. The Morris is a gem!

We got there about five minutes late, and the opening act, BÖC, had started right on time! We made our way to our seats, 11th row on the side. We scoped out some empty seats in the center, and when they weren't filled, we were able to move over and get even better seats. We gave our original seats to a couple who was sitting in different rows, so it worked out well for everyone. As I mentioned previously, I was never that much into BÖC, but they're excellent live. Buck Dharma was and is one of the best guitarists in rock, and he still sounds great. The highlights were of course "Burnin' For You," "Godzilla," and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." For the latter, they did the extended version with the guitar solo, which is much better than the radio edit version. (A Silver Squirrel award to anyone who knows which TV miniseries used that song to such great effect.)

I had to chuckle at the bass player. He had the whole 80's hair band thing goin' on, with the long hair, tight jeans, and he was a very active bass player, unlike most bass players, slappin' that bass like he was...well, never mind. He even did a bass solo. Does the world really still need bass solos? Turns out he used to play for Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, and Ozzy. I was never into any of them, so that explains why I found this bass player amusing. (Apologies to any fans of those bands out there, but they just weren't my cup o' tea.) Anyhoo, solid effort from BÖC, but I was there for Alice.

This tour is called the Theatre of Death Tour, and "theatre" is very apropos. Alice has never had the best voice in the rock biz, but he's always had the shock factor thing going for him, and the guy still puts on one helluva show. I owe Alice an apology, because I had assumed that he wouldn't do many of the props or gags like he used to...I figured he was an elderly statesman of rock doing a diplomatic tour, just doing straight up versions of his classic rock songs.

Well, smack me on the ass and call me Shirley, I couldn't have been more wrong. He pulled out all the stops and everything from his infamous shows made an appearance. The guillotine and Alice's severed head; the gallows and Alice being hanged; the naughty nurse with the huge hypodermic needle; the straight jacket; and the baby doll's head cut off with a sword. It was one of the coolest shows EVAH! The only thing missing from the "olden days" (haha) was the electric chair and the python. Maybe the snake became too demanding, stipulating that there were to be no brown rats in the bowl of rats backstage. (Another Silver Squirrel to anyone who gets that reference!)

Alice did all the usual suspects, including "School's Out" (a brief intro with it, then a raucous, full-version encore), "I'm Eighteen," "Be My Lover," "Under My Wheels," "Billion Dollar Babies" (that's when he cut the doll's head off), "Only Women Bleed," "Poison," and two of my favorites, "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Welcome to my Nightmare." He also did "Dirty Diamonds," "Go to Hell," "Guilty," "I Love the Dead," and "I Never Cry." I was surprised that he didn't do "Elected," but all the other awesome songs more than made up for it! I think I started losing my voice towards the end there, when everyone was singing along to "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Man, "School's Out" is still such a kickass song. I loved it when the whole crowd shouted "We can't even think of a word that rhymes!" The crowd was really into it, and we were on our feet the entire time. I don't know if it was a soldout show, but I think we gave Alice a very warm reception, and when he shouted "Thank you, South Bend!" he said it with a smile, and I think he meant it. (When he did "Under My Wheels," he sang, "Under my Studebaker wheels," which I thought was kinda cool!)

I am so glad I got to go, and it really was a fantastic show. For anyone who thinks Alice is irrelevant, I say "piss off!" (I seem to be saying that a lot lately!) He is a true original, and one of the pioneers of rock. There would be no White Zombie or Marilyn Manson or any other shock rockers without Alice. He was the first, and he's still awesome. I love you, Alice! By the way, everyone needs to remember that Alice is an entertainer. I remember hearing at church when I was a kid that Alice Cooper and other rock artists were Satanists, sending subliminal messages in their music. Pffttt. What a bunch of hooey. Alice (real name Vincent Furnier) is the son of a minister, owns a restaurant in Phoenix, says he's a Christian, and loves to golf. How many Satanists do you know who are avid golfers? The only thing that might make me think he's evil is that he has, in the past, said that Sarah Palin was a breath of fresh air. Now that is some scary stuff! [grin]

I also have to give credit to his band. Man, those guys were smokin' hot. They seemed to have two lead guitarists rather than lead and rhythm, and these two were just incredible. Great band, great show!

Here is a slideshow of pictures--a lot were fuzzy, but I got a couple that I really liked, especially the last one in the slideshow of Alice in his shiny suit and top hat--followed by a video of him doing “Welcome to my Nightmare" and "Cold Ethyl." It cracked me up the way he flung "Ethyl" around, and even tangoed with her. If you go to the video on my YouTube page, you can see other, shorter videos of the guillotine and the naughty nurse.

Rock on, people! You know I will!

Dads and The Guardian

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! If you're lucky enough to still have your Dad around, I hope you were able to tell him you love him. If not, I hope you were able to think good thoughts about the years you had together. I talked to my Dad to wish him Happy Father's Day, and also to wish him a happy birthday! He turned 86 today, and is one of the best men I know. I also gave Ken's stepdad a call to wish him a happy day. We are having them all over this Wednesday for a cookout, so I'll be busy in the next few days with getting things ready. One of the things I'm making is potato salad, so I'm sure we'll all have a good laugh about the Great Potato Salad Debate of 2009 (in which, if you recall, someone tried to get me to say that his wife's potato salad was the best I'd ever had). I think I'm being very brave in making potato salad! It will be fun for me and Ken to play host and hostess (with the mostest!) to our folks.

My Dad also made sure to ask me to wish Ken a Happy Father's Day from him, and I know Ken will appreciate that. Although things may not be ideal on certain fronts at the moment, I'm quite confident that one day, the truth will out. It always does, and both Ken and I can be very patient. Creating tangled webs is a very pathetic way to live one's life, but there are some who seem to know no other way. You'd think that people would learn pretty quickly that such things always come back to bite you on the ass, but I guess there are some who are just too stubborn to ever figure that out. Anyhoo, I hope everyone had a fine day!

A Silver Squirrel Award to the lovely Sheria of The Examined Life, who was the first to comment on what I was referencing when I mentioned Bill and Mary Sue's twin girls, Amy and Beth, and I said that they're not little. Of course, that was a reference to Louisa May Alcott's book Little Women, which I read several times when I was in grade school. Nicely done, Sheria, and do with the Award what you will! Oh, and when I jokingly said that Amy and Beth aren't little, I meant height-wise. I'm sure they're at least 5'8", and they're incredible athletes--their high school won the state championship in girls' softball when they were seniors (I think that's right), and now that they're in college, they still stay involved in sports. Just a couple of lovely young ladies, and isn't that always a nice thing to see? I sure think so.

I've been trying to get caught up around the house and with blogs, so I still haven't gotten my pictures edited. Maybe I'll work on them a little bit tonight after dinner. Unfortunately, you couldn't take pictures within the exhibit, and there were many things I would have loved to have gotten a picture of. The highlight of the exhibit for me was a replica of the Guardian of Forever, which was in my favorite episode, "The City on the Edge of Forever." Of course, I had to walk through it, and as far as I know, no space-time anomalies have occurred. This is a picture I found online, and perhaps you recognize the Guardian and remember the episode.Because of turbulence on the Enterprise, Dr. McCoy accidentally injects himself with an extremely high dose of cordrazine, a stimulant used for emergency treatment of heart failure. This renders him a raging paranoiac, and he beams down to the planet to escape his "persecutors." When a rescue team goes after him, they find the Guardian but have no idea of its purpose or meaning. Bones leaps out from behind some rocks, runs from his shipmates, and leaps through the portal of the Guardian, which is activated...and Bones disappears. The Guardian then speaks to the rescue team and tells them that Bones has gone into the past and has apparently altered history. When Uhura tries to hail the ship, she finds that the Enterprise is no more. They are stranded on the planet with no hope of rescue, unless Kirk and Spock can go back into time and right what Bones has wronged.

Sorry this is getting so long, but I really do love this episode, and the disturbance of the space-time continuum is probably my favorite theme in science fiction! I'll try to pick things up, though.

Spock is able to narrow the window of what time McCoy went back to, and Kirk and Spock go back to Depression-era New York City. While awaiting Bones's arrival, Kirk is befriended by Edith Keeler (played by a young and non-bitchy Joan Collins), who runs a soup kitchen. She tells Kirk and Spock about a room in her apartment building, and they earn wages by doing handyman jobs and helping around the soup kitchen. While Spock works on jury-rigging a primitive computer in which he can find out specifics of Bones' arrival, Kirk and Edith become close, and it seems as if they might be falling in love. This is no quick space-bang for the notorious Lothario Capt. Kirk...he genuinely admires her and cares for her. Her ideas of a peaceful future seem strangely prescient of the Federation of Planets, and Kirk is captivated.

When Spock is finally able to slow down his tricorder readings enough to figure out when McCoy arrives in the area, he also finds out two versions of history. In one, Edith Keeler is killed in a hit-and-run car accident. In the other, she is not killed, founds a peace movement that becomes so strong and popular that it is able to delay the United States' entry into WWII, which leads to the Nazis developing the atomic bomb before the Allies, the Axis winning the war and world domination by fascist regimes, which in turn leads to the suppression of research and education and then to the hindrance of the space program so that space travel is not developed, and the Enterprise never exists!!! [deep breath] Still with me? Spock warns Jim that in order to save the future of the Federation, the Enterprise, and themselves, Edith Keeler must die; Jim informs him that he has, indeed, fallen in love with Edith.

In a nail-biting sequence of events, Bones turns up at the soup kitchen, missing Spock by mere seconds; Edith Keeler speaks with McCoy and helps him get over what appears to be a bender; as Kirk and Edith return home from a movie, she mentions "Dr. McCoy," and Kirk realizes that Bones is in their midst; as he runs across the street to tell Spock, Bones and Spock emerge from the soup kitchen, and they all embrace in joyous reunion; Edith begins to walk across the street to see what all the hubbub is about; a truck approaches, bearing down on Edith, and as Bones moves to run to save her, Kirk realizes what is happening--this is the moment of Edith's demise and he cannot let Bones save her--and Jim holds McCoy back as he looks away. We hear the screech of brakes and a thud. Bones asks Jim if he realizes what he's just done...he could have saved her! Jim can't speak, and Spock says, "He knows, Doctor. He knows."

The three return to the present via the Guardian, who intones that "all is as it was before." The Guardian invites them to go back into the past and experience other histories. Kirk says simply, "Let's get the hell out of here," and the team beams up to the Enterprise, leaving the planet and the Guardian alone in silence broken only by the sighing wind.

*sniff* Okay, yes, I got a little verklempt there. Shut up! It remains one of the most powerful and emotional episodes for me, and I love the disturbance of the space-time continuum theme. I believe it is also a cautionary tale about altering the past. Although it's easy to speculate about what might be different if we were to change some of our past decisions, I've always felt that was not only an exercise in futility, it is also a dangerous business. We can have no way of knowing how an alternate pathway might affect our current location or state of happiness. Things might be better...but they could also be considerably worse.

That is why I choose not to engage in "What if?" questions in my life. I don't necessarily believe that things happen for a reason, but I do believe that the decisions we have made are what have brought us to where we are, and made us who we are. If we aren't happy with that, then it's time to make another decision and move forward. Thinking about how you'd alter your past is counterproductive and not helpful. You can't go back, so why speculate about it?

That's one of the many lessons I've learned from "Star Trek."