Thursday, December 21, 2006

MSG costs extra

Another nugget of joy from picturesque Desert Hot Springs:

I have not braved this particular establishment yet, and I doubt I ever will.

• Posted by Brian at 8:34 PM
• Comments (2)
• Category: Funny

Sunday, December 17, 2006

"Is that where that goes?"

If I hear this phrase at home, I know for a fact that whatever "that" is, I've left it in the wrong place.

I've recently accumulated a lot of new knowledge: dirty socks don't go on the floor, empty plates don't go on the chair and kittens don't go in the bathtub.

I remember the first time this question was posed to me. I answered, "Yes, that is where that goes." Big mistake, and one I will not repeat.

Whenever this question is asked, an immediate answer and subsequent correction is required. However, I'm never given any other information to solve the dilemma. Once the question is asked, say about the phone's current location on the dryer in the garage, I quickly deduce that, indeed, that's NOT where the phone goes. But where does the phone go?

And every time I think I've learned where everything goes, I'm always surprised by something new. For example, soda cans are not to be left on the bathroom sink, and scissors are not to be stored in the area of the couch where Deborah sits.

Each day brings an exciting new fact for me to learn! I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

• Posted by Brian at 2:18 PM
• Comments (4)
• Category: Friends/Family

Friday, December 15, 2006

Skipping Christmas

While I'm not nearly as bitter on the subject as my good friend Marty, I am pretty much punting Christmas this year.

It's not because I hate the holidays or feel all Grinchy or am a Communist, Satan-worshipping, anti-American freedom-hater leading the War Against Christmas. Nope, I just don't have the time and energy for it this year.

• When Debz and I left South Carolina, we got rid of our old beat-up Christmas tree. We've yet to buy another, be it real or fake.

• For the second year in a row, I won't be making it back to Rockford. Yeah, I'll see my dad and sister for a weekend in February, but I won't see my mom's extended family. I miss them.

• Gift-buying this year has felt like a chore. I've not put any creativity into it. People are getting a book, a DVD or a gift card. Again, it's the lack of time and energy thing. Plus, since I'm not going home, I won't get the pleasure of seeing anyone open my presents. So it feels like a hollow gesture.

• Debz's family will be in Palm Springs the week of Christmas, and that'll be good. But since I now work from 6:30 a.m. to approximately 6:30 p.m., that doesn't leave much time for reminiscin' and socializin'.

So yeah, Christmas, nothing personal, but I'm taking a pass this year. I'll try to make it up next year.

• Posted by Brian at 7:16 PM
• Comments (5)
• Category: Random

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Hello City

Probably the coolest thing about Palm Springs is that its western border ends at the foot of Mt. San Jacinto. However, when hiking the mountain, it's difficult to fool yourself into thinking you're in the middle of nowhere.

Still, given that Palm Springs has an elevation of less than 500 feet above sea level, and Mt. San Jacinto tops out at 10,834 feet, it's hard to complain about that view being in our backyard.

We've also decided to do one hike per weekend. We figure we have to in order to be in shape for the hiking we'll do on our honeymoon in New Zealand. We bought a Lonely Planet guide to NZ today, so that pretty much obligates us to go.

• Posted by Brian at 7:23 PM
• Comments (4)
• Category: Travel

Saturday, December 2, 2006

East Coast vs. West Coast

The differences are slight, but they keep adding up.

Witness:

"Saturday Night Live" is not actually shown live. If it were, it would air at 8:30 PST. In fact, it airs tape-delayed at 11:30, and by the time I hear "Live from New York, it's Saturday night," it's 2:30 a.m. in the Big Apple, and the musical guest has already puked on Lorne Michaels' perfectly creased khakis at the after-show party.

The one thing that hasn't changed: at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday nights, I'm in my boxers eating M&Ms and watching a show (with the exception of Weekend Update) that's way past its prime.

• Posted by Brian at 11:56 PM
• Comments (1)
• Category: Random