Ticking Bomb

It's the weekend after Thanksgiving, and that means Christmas is about to explode from these containers onto every surface in our house.

10 Years Later

White gold and diamond.

10 Years Ago

Gold and emerald.

Good Eats

A great lunch at J. Alexander's after ring shopping. That's supposed to be the window view of Centennial Park. Power poles should be outlawed.

It Takes A Village

The day started with a trip to Village Jewelers, and our streak continued. Thanksversary was awesome, Friday's play was excellent, and now this. Not only were they as nice and inviting as you could imagine, but we went in thinking it would take around a week or more to get a ring. Instead Mari and I both instantly fixed on one of the examples they set out for us to look at. It was perfect. It was under our budget. And they could have it ready by 4. Of course they could.

Elf This

A Friday night performance of The Santaland Diaries.

Outboxed

Apparently we both decided to be devious this year. I've been wanting an Xbox for a long time, and thought I had an outside chance of maybe getting one for Christmas. Does my wife know me or what? Better than any old diamond. Of course, speaking of Christmas, after an amazing blowout of an anniversary, we're probably going to be exchanging new socks.

The Rock

10 years ago we didn't have a lot of money. I was a college student and Mari had just started a new job having moved from Oregon to Arizona. So her ring was, let's say inexpensive. I promised then that in 10 years I would do something about that. I didn't forget. I've been planning this ever since. As we have joint everything there was no way I could do this without her knowing, so my folks became co-conspirators. It all came together perfectly. I got a loose stone, with a hook up from co-workers to have it set at Village Jewelers. I then convinced Mari the flowers were it, in a tight budget year. After our T-Day lunch I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me, again. There was a long, utterly stunned pause, then she burst into tears. It couldn't have gone any better. The picture is underwhelming. Curse you cell phone camera.

Happy Thanksversary

But there was more than turkey going on today, in fact the turkey part was just an appetizer. On this day 10 years ago, Mari and I got married. It started with roses, delivered of course to her work yesterday. (Hey after 10 years I know how this works.)

Thanksgiving

A small meal with our favorite sides. Just enough for two...and of course some leftovers for the best part; tomorrow's turkey sandwiches.

The Scene

PJ questions Serpas' Ah-thora-ty.

Spaced Out (Now)

The International Space Station as it is now. With units from the US, Russia, Japan and Canada and having housed Astronauts from all over the world. Built on a budget 3% the amount the US spends every year on weapons.

Spaced Out (10 Years Ago)

The space station turns 10. Starting out here in 1998 as two parts. The one on the right built in Russia, the one on the left in America. (Thanks to Matt for the link.)

Can It

Thanksgiving week begins.

Got It Covered

New winter gear.

Obligatory Cute Animal When There's Nothing Else To Post Post

Mystic snoozing.

Constitutional Closure

Finished The Summer of 1787. A great deal of interesting information in there, thought admittedly a little dry. They argued. A lot. About everything. Which leads to one of my favorite sections that really reminds you these figures of history were still just people. A collection of doodles, like this one from Pierce Butler, that various delegates made while bored with all the bickering.

The Scene

Holiday season stuff.

Creepy

The bar that tells me when I can go home.

Take It To The Curb

Curbside recycling has finally come to Hendersonville. You have to pay $15 a month for it, but so incredibly worth it.

Bondage

James is back. We both enjoyed it with only a few minor quibbles. Maybe not as good as the first in this reboot, but still a good flick. As a bonus they showed a sneak trailer of the new Trek movie. Me likey.

P.J. Away

Friend and intrepid reporter P.J. Tobia is at this moment on his way to Dubai. After two days spent there he will fly to Afghanistan, where he'll be embedded with the 101st Airborne for the next three weeks. Stay safe P.J. I wanted to get a snap of him before he left but I was too late, so here's his cube at the Sc3ne. For a real picture, reference my June 14th post "Aaay"

The Final Frontier

Tragically the space program gets very little press nowadays. So I was really happy to see that both CNN and MSNBC cut away from their broadcasting to do coverage of tonight's launch.

Fear Factor

I found this post on a tech blog interesting. It was about how people have always been wary of technology. These signs were put in the first homes light bulbs were installed in. If you can't read the small print it says "The use of Electricity for lighting is in no way harmful to health, nor does it affect the soundness of sleep."

The Scene

TSU's financial aid woes.

Catavan

A frisky Mango sneaks into the van when I try to get my bag. He's been dropping by a lot more often recently, we must be back on the A list of houses he visits.

Old News

Still on a history kick. Two things have become apparent. One history is an amazing thing that somehow either gets murdered in school, or we just aren't ready to appreciate it yet. Two, the fact that the USA exists built on countless 50-50 chances, last minute decisions, stubbornness in the face of division, and a dropped egg...when any one of those moments gone a different way would have completely changed everything, is pretty staggering.

More Headlines

Never gets old.

Leaf It To Nature

One of my favorite times of year.

More Fallout

More Fallout 3 art. Mainly to fill a post since I didn't have a pet handily available. And because it's an awesome game worthy of it's predecessors. So there.

Night Moves

With daylight savings my pleasant dusk dog strolls have become wandering around in the dark.

The Tennessean

Change has come to America.

The Scene

A really interesting interview with writer John Irving.

From Hope To Reality

The next president of the United States. Hell yes.

YES WE DID!

Obama, Obama, Obama!

I Hope

There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

- William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar)

Thank Ford

Finished Huxley's vision of the future from 1932. It raises the question is it better to be blissfully unaware, or painfully aware.

G.E.C.K.

Fallout takes place in a "'50s future" after a nuclear war, so many of the ruined billboards, scattered papers, etc have a '50s flare.

Pip-Boy 3000

Fallout is one of my all time favorite gaming series. The third installment just hit shelves, contained in a stylish metal lunch box complete with "Vault Boy" bobble head. Yes, I am a geek.