Happy birthday to my sweetie!

There's a billboard by the store that really bugs me. It's an advertisement for a particular branch of the military. I could say which one, but I hate to embarrass them in such a manner, because I really don't think they've thought this particular advertising campaign through. At least, I hope they haven't, because it's truly chilling to think that this was run by multiple people who all thought it was an excellent idea. There's a somewhat goth picture of a man. He appears to be strenuously getting to know an upright log in the biblical sense, but the scene is so dark I really can't tell for sure what he's supposed to be doing. I somewhat doubt that he's actually humping a log, as appears, but my point here is that it's a surprisingly hard-to-decipher picture to select for a drive-by ad campaign. Anyway, what disturbs me most about this board is the slogan. "Pain is just weakness leaving the body." Umm.. what? So if I hit you, I'm doing you a favor? And furthermore, if I rip off your arm and shove it down your throat, you're going to thank me for giving you superhuman strength? I mean, you said that if it hurts, it's a good thing, right? Argh. And also, run that expression by a medical professional. Argh. I really hate stupid people. And stupid signs. Especially when I have to look at them all day long.

Today is my snuggleshmoo's birthday. (Obnoxious, aren't I? I've sang to him a hundred times today, using a different endearment each time in place of his name, as we don't call each other by our names.) I had a chiropractor visit and massage (whee!) at 5, so I had to go do some last-minute shopping. He already has his real gift, as I believe I've mentioned, so I found a bunch of little bitty things that I knew he'd like. (For the curious.. a copy of Scientific American, Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice (which is kind of cheating because Anne Rice is sorta more my thing than his, but he does read them as well, and in this case, I borrowed that one from a friend, really hated it and so I would never have bought it for myself and he hasn't read it.) a can of Cheese puff ball things, a generic Jenga and a water gun.. he loves toys.) I wrapped them all, so he seemed very happy about it. Not as good of a gift as the sheep he gave me for my birthday, but nice enough, I think.

Ooooh! I wish I had my camera the other day! I saw this old, dirty, beat-up truck pull out of the gas station next door. I noticed it at first because it looked sooo stereotypical local hillbilly, particularly with the two shirtless men in the front. But the details would have been what made the picture. They were pulling a homemade box type of thing behind them. I have no clue what was in it, but it looked pretty well-worn, at least. And naturally, to complete the picture, there were two bleach-blonde teenaged girls riding in back, leaned up against the tailgate, no less. Oh, and did I mention the goat? Rofl. I can't wait to tell Ardis about it. (Ardis would be the guy who's currently hosting our mud. He loves my redneck neighbor stories.)

Our internet connection, after being mediocre for the last week or so, is now back to being shit. (Have I ever mentioned that I hate that word? And I particularly hate it when females say it, though I know I shouldn't. That's how pissy I am with Adelphia.) There was nothing at all last night, which meant that I had to postpone my Moveable Type installation which was already delayed several days for questions and clarifications and then a server configuration problem that had me feeling woefully inadequate but turned out to be completely their fault and not mine, which was a relief. And now we're online only in short bursts, so it's kinda hard to do anything unless one is very patient. I mean, why should we expect to have "always on high speed" internet service just because we're paying for it?*

*Note that this entry was supposed to be posted last night. Wonder why it wasn't?

Weekend!

Today was hugely busy and I'm extremely tired.. but the good news is that we have a nice three-day weekend. Unless we end up working on Saturday. Really don't wanna, but that's another story. Seems like a lot of people will be cooking this weekend, and a good deal of beans will be had by all. You know what's insane? We lowered the price of the beans $.20 per pound today. They've been at the previous price for a couple of weeks, and people were pretty much just paying it and moving on with life, even though it is admittedly quite high. (Produce is having a hard time in general this year.) Anyway. We lowered the price.. and more people complained about it today than before. Customers are dumb.

A physical therapist was in the store today, and my dad knew her and talked to her for a minute. She wasn't his home health therapist, but she came out once or twice.. or something like that. She said that it was always good to see people out and about much later to see them moving around so well. I guess I might not have mentioned, at least not recently, that my dad was in the same car wreck that killed my brother. He came very very close to dying as well, and it brought tears to my eyes when they were talking, suddenly feeling grateful that I still have a wonderful dad and remembering a few things suddenly from that year.. the feel of his foot on my arm when I did his physical therapy exercises in the afternoons, the smell of sterile gauzes and sickness, and the echo of a stranger's voice asking derisively how people get themselves into such a shape, as if anyone would choose such a thing. What a miserably unhappy time that was, and how lucky we all are just to be alive. Anyway, that was perilously close to depressing, so I'm moving on now. :)

We're apparently going to see some sort of Swedish singing group on Sunday. Apparently, it's a 50-voice Swedish youth choir from Hassleholm, in southern Sweden. They're on a three-week US tour and have agreed to include Lexington as part of it. This is all in the newsletter we received at the midsummer picnic that was stolen and then mailed to us by Jenny. :) The other Morehead member of the association called the other night to ask if we were attending. Magnus said that we weren't sure, which greatly surprised him. He called again tonight and Magnus said that yes, we were going. The response? "Oh, good. I have your tickets here." We need to go pick them up tomorrow.. laugh. Confident, wasn't he? :) I have no clue what kind of music, or what kind of event, for that matter, this will be, but I guess we'll see. It's at a church. I guess I should look for something ncie to wear.

I thought I might have something else to ramble about, but as it turns out, I'm too sleepy to imagine what it would be. Hiya to starlon, one of those funny mud-type people. Night night, folks.