New Year's Eve Nerd Alert!

Before concentrating too hard on ringing in 2009 this evening, I plan to take advantage of 2008's leap second to follow the instructions of Space.com's Robert Roy Britt (ha ha - his name is Rob Roy) to find me some planets!

Parts of Speech

Why is it that "drunk" is both an adjective and a noun, but "sick" is not? Because it would be convenient to tell my biographer, "My husband was a good man, but he could be a mean and whiny sick."

Christmas Eve Tomatoes

Homegrown - outside - December - Houston

Anytime the Moment Is Right

Overheard at the Walgreen's pharmacy drive thru:

"Yes, my name is Don [last name]. I need to pick up a prescription refill for Cialis."

Note, Cialis is not for everyone (ask your doctor if you're healthy enough for sex), but if you also drive a pickup truck it may give you the added self-condifence you need to shamelessly proclaim your ED to the pharmacist, the young woman in the drive thru stall next to you, and pretty much everyone in the Walgreen's and Central Bank parking lots.

w00t!

Restaurant Review: Cedar Creek

This afternoon we decided to lunch at the newest restau/bar offering from the owners of Onion Creek and Dry Creek - Cedar Creek. Currently it is undergoing a "soft opening," so there will likely be an evolution.

The parking is fabulous compared to the other two of the Creek cafes, as are the deck space and overall seating capacity. The beer selection is almost identical to that of Onion Creek - lots of good draft options, including microbrews. The decor was what delighted me though. The tables and chairs must have been from a warehouse storing tables and chairs from now-defunct restaurants and VFW halls and Masons' lodges from the 70s. My favorite table was the one from Monterey House mexican restaurants (closed in the mid-1980s after being purchased by ShowBiz Pizza Place, though there is apparently still one left in Beaumont.) The table was a brown plastic laminate four top with red rectangles bearing the Monterey House logo at each corner, making a set of perma-placemats for its diners. Awesome.

Monterey House, along with Ninfa's on Navigation, was the Tex-Mex restaurant of my early childhood. Reportedly at two years old I would order my own dinner ("Tacos al Carbon, please!") at Ninfa's. So the other decorating treasure, spotted on Cedar Creek's walls, was the giant portrait of Mama Ninfa Laurenzo that beamed down at me while I ate. Sadly, the food there is a far cry from even the franchisified Ninfa's fare.

We should stop ordering jalapeno poppers at restaurants. All jalapeno poppers come from the same place - Sysco - and they are always served too hot-out-of-the-fryer. They never taste good. We need to stop setting ourselves up for hot pepper disappointment.

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. The meat was fine. The sauce was fine. The bread was nasty. I think bread either needs to be Sunbeam/Wonderbread super-processed or else really lovingly hand-kneading and baked. When restaurants try for something in between, it pretty much always tastes like cardboard.

We usually don't complain about the service at restaurants, but the busboy was bringing the second round of drinks. Like I said - I'm hoping for better things as the opening, um, hardens.

FreeCell

I just played a couple of games of FreeCell for old times' sake. Wow. I can't believe that actually used to be more interesting than doing my job.

The Immaculate Conception: A Primer I Thought I Didn't Really Need

Some very wise Catholic friends of mine this evening instructed me that while I, as a pagan (Protestant) misunderstood the Immaculate Conception to have to do with Christ's conception (my DH muttered something about Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and, I'm sure, being struck by lightning), the actual event had to do with St. Anne's conception of the Virgin Mary and the Virgin's living without Original Sin. Despite considering myself a very well-instructed Christian, I must admit, in the words of Johnny Carson, that I did not know that.

Litter Kwitter

We have decided to embark on a litter-free house experiment with the help of the Litter Kwitter cat toilet training system. It even comes with a Multi Kat Kit in case one of your cats isn't quite as adaptable as the other. I am certain our cats fit that description.

Mega Disappointed

08-11-13-45-50 MB 22 did not win $116.9 M on Tuesday night.

Graph Jam Funny

Tools in Space

I enjoyed this post on chron.com about a potentially visible IFO (identified flying object?) in tonight's sky.

Tis the Season

Should there be any "unfortunate accidents" at our house this winter, be sure someone investigates the cats.

You Know You're Unemployed When...

...your Junk Mail folder fascinates you.

I keep getting an email with the subject "Cheating House Wife." I'm too chicken to open it to find out if it's from one or suggesting that I am one.

Also, Michael Vincent has "Found [me] a New Job" every day for the last three months. I think maybe he knew I was getting laid off before I did.

Does This Box Make Me Look Fat?

New Favorite T-Shirt Slogan

"Guns don't kill people. People from Texas kill people."

What Is a Travesty?

My local CBS affiliate has decided to replace this:

(Awesome!)

With this:

(You have GOT to be kidding me.)

Thank You, Captain Obvious

U.S. Recession Now Official

Spammers, Not Grammars

The one of the many adware modules on the Facebook Home page just returned an ad banner challenging me to an IQ quiz because, "Someone thinks your dumb." :|