I wrote in a message to Steve the other day:
"i may not be the 'lamest story ever told,' but it's not for lack of trying."

He responded, "that's a good one."

I thought about it for a while, and agreed. I thought it's a shame I'm not even good at doing nothing.

It seems everyone is having an epiphany. Well I had one too; it happened yesterday. Rather than bore you with its nature, let me just say it happened on Route 40, and if it happened twenty minutes later than it did it might have occurred in front of Happy 40 Liquors. If all goes according to plan, in two years' time I'll be in a position to say these three things:
"I'm happy. I'm 40. I've got beer."

Bones' music theme for the next Friday Night Theme Party is "food & drink." I decided to provide the following in case the lads need that extra special addition to their compilations.

From The Six and Violence album, Lettuce Prey:

• Hamburger Hairdo (1.66mb mp3)
• Fascist Ice Cream (1.60mb mp3)

..and these Tull related jems from the same fellows:

• Sunshine Day Medley (4.87mb mp3)
• Nothing is Easy (4.51mb mp3)
• Bursting Bladder (1.89mb mp3) Ian plays flute on this track.

This weekend looks like it's going to be in the 60's. Perhaps I'll get something done. Unlikely.

The days preceding the holiday were spent hanging out with the usual suspects. The Red Bird helped me rid the house of Celebration Ale, and Rich took over Ellie's room for the duration. There was a vehicular back-up at the dump, but otherwise we faired pretty well. A fine time was had by all, and everyone cleared off before New Year's Eve, which I spent in bed, as usual. Yet another year without seeing the ball drop.

I fondly remember checking on the folks by the fire slab in the back yard. Bev and Rich were warming themselves near the flames, and Dennis was peeing behind a bush. I noticed the full moon rising behind a gray cloud bank over Melva's house. A pale circular glow suffused the area, and ragged wisps clearly deliniated an impressive mustachio, the moon appeared through a break and hung there like the eyeball of the All Mighty.

I cried aloud, "It's the Nati Boh guy! Look! It's the Nati Boh guy!"

"It's a blessing! A blessing from the Lord," the bush responded.

Dennis nevers misses a beat.

We are taking Ellie to Baltimore to see the lights on 34th St. tonight. Rich will be arriving from Duck. What passes for a New Year's celebration will occur in Cecil this weekend.

It is indeed a pale reflection of the book, but what little it has captured is quite impressive. If one desires some eye candy and a quick gloss over of the Fellowships' quest, than you could do worse than seeing the motion picture. Despite the inevitable truncations and minor plot deviations I was not horrified by this production, as was the case after viewing the Dune abominations.

All things considered I think they did a good job, but considering the gulf that separates it from Tolkien's masterpiece, what's the point? Do yourself a favor and read the book.

I have spent a lot of time discussing Tolkien since I heard about the films in production. I may spew some it up for general consumption....later.

They're going for over $40 bucks on Ebay. If I wasn't such a lazy s.o.b. I'd pick up a half dozen Yes albums at Best Buy and ream `em up some Ebay-loser's poop shoot. But I'm a lazy s.o.b.

Did some Xmas shopping last night. Talk about a fool and his money. I leave a trail of broken mobile homes in my wake when I'm rush shopping during this obligatory gift giving season.

I paused longingly in front of the Little Feat 4CD boxed set. The problem was it comes in one of those skinny books, like the definitive Police collection. I hate non-standard packaging. Give me a set like John Lennon's, a tiny box which contains four jewel boxes and a book the size of a CD. You can put the whole shootin' match right in there with your normal discs (if they're not moldy. Don't ask...) Cost may have been a factor, but I think I would have bought it if it wasn't in that bogus format.

Speaking of formats. What's with this idiotic DVD packaging. Who the hell thought of a bloated plastic monstrosity to hold DVDs? They are the size of CDs, why not put them in CD cases? Remember when CDs came in those long boxes, so they were as tall as LPs? Well, I imagine some wanker thinks we want our DVDs to slip neatly in next to our videos. F that! Mark my words, when DVDs start showing up in sensible packages we'll all curse those bogus cases they come in now.

Don't get me started on the changing face of multi-media! Vinyl was a standard for over 30 years. Who can keep up with what's going on now. Maybe I should burn everything I own and let the pretty colors entertain me. But I digress................................

"Can I help you?"

"I was wondering if you still had any of the bonus disc versions of the new Yes album, Magnification?"

"Let me check," ----- FIVE MINUTES ------ "I don't see any."

"Well do you have the album at all."

"What was it called?"

"Magnification!"

"I think there might be some here."

On Sunday I finally saw the 19th installment of the Bond saga, The World is Not Enough. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also finished the Planet of the Apes. It was not a great book, I wouldn't even call it a good book, but I'm glad I read it. It was interesting enough, and now I don't have to wonder any more how the movies compare. I actually prefer the original movie adaptations, especially the classic first installment, closely followed by Escape from the Planet of the Apes. I've had a lifetime to grow fond of them, and the book was new to me, so it was perhaps no surprise. I WAS surprised to see how many scenes from the book appeared throughout the movie saga, despite divergent story lines. The book is a bizarre combination of Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and there is even an element from the most recent incarnation.

Reliving the movie scenes as I read the book is of course the horrible prospect I envision for the Lord of the Rings. I could not read the apes book without thinking of Heston et al, even though the story was significantly different. The stinky residue of the cinema cannot be shaken.

I have high hopes, and am very curious to compare the story to the movie adaptations.

I also assisted Lori with the Xmas tree, which is now firmly enscounced in the new sun room. Imagine a tree at the compound, and we can still open the front door.

Having returned from the Elkton YMCA and following an obligatory trip to the hardware store, we performed a few household chores. Red relived passed glories by hooking up our ice maker and leveling the fridge. Together we plugged a hole in the porch and then prepared for a days drinking and burning.

Lori had a couple of piano thingys, then joined us. A successful goating was had by all.