E-Mail of the Day

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."

She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything that you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."

The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Republican."

"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you're going. You've risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect ME to solve your problem. You're in EXACTLY the same position you were in before we met, but somehow now, it's MY fault!

The Mode Returns

One of my all-time favorite bands put on one hell of a show tonight, proving that they are not slowing down a bit - rather, it seems that they are picking up their pace. The songs from the new album sounded great, and they treated the long time fans with two encores featuring "Enjoy the Silence", "Somebody", and "Just Can't Get Enough". The opening band, The Bravery, was heavy on the synthesizers, but talented nonetheless. The show proved to be every bit as good as their last tour for Exciter (even if Dave Gahan has a bit of the Bono syndrome - he was heavy on the Jesus arms tonight).

Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn!!!!

Say it ain't so...

Greek Fest

I was able to take in the food at the annual Greek Festival this weekend. In case you missed it, the food was fabulous, when you could get it. They run out quick, so my advice if you plan to attend next year: go early. Don't wait until Sunday.

A New Day

Will miracles never cease? The heat wave is finally over, and all my relatives still have their homes. Not all intact mind you, but they all still stand. As evidenced from the picture above, there are very few trees left in my grandmother's yard, since most of them landed on her house. Thankfully, she, my mom, my stepdad, my brother and his wife were all here with me "hunkering down" for the storm. I was one of the (insert adjective here) ones who decided to stay in Houston and ride it out, avoiding getting caught sitting on the freeway for countless hours in 100 degree heat with no food, bathroom, water, or gas.

We are all now one big happy family in my not-so-large accomodations until they can restore power and allow the SE Texas residents back into their homes. My place is also currently home to 2 cats and 3 dogs. I am happy to have them here, and I'm so glad they didn't stay there during the storm. We are the lucky ones, however - they know their situation is temporary, and there will be insurance money to replace the holes in their ceilings, and for the most part, almost all their belongings were spared, not scattered to the winds or looted by soulless people. It is an eye-opener to experience the previous hurricane through those who aren't as lucky. Take a look: Operation Eden

Hurricane Rita Drinking Game

Most of my family is from the Beaumont area, so I can afford to joke about it. They all made it through okay, though we don't know how everyone's homes fared. I guess we'll see when they can all return home. Until then, we are having fun watching the footage and laughing at the anchormen.

Take a sip when:
1. Anyone loses a hat while standing in 50+ mph winds.
2. Anyone loses the feed and cuts to someone who has no idea they are on TV.
3. Anyone finds someone toothless to interview about "riding out the storm"

Take a big gulp when:
1. Anyone says "hunker down"
2. Anyone says "this place is like a ghost town"
3. Geraldo Rivera finally shows up on Fox News

We are all drunk now. Happy hurricaning!

Modern Day Atlantis

It puts things into perspective when you are going through a rough period in your own life and then something like Hurricane Katrina happens right in your own area - you become less focused on your own problems, and grateful for what you do have. It is heart-wrenching to see what has happened to these people, and I'm living with it every day because most of them have come here to my city. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who have been affected by this tragedy, and I'm so glad to live in a city so full of people who are willing to go above and beyond to help others in need.

Ziggy's Sunday Brunch - not so nice

I will NOT be sampling the fare of Ziggy's "Healthy" Grill again. Whether this was the fault of new management, new cook, or a combination of the two, our experience on Sunday was not a pleasant one, and might have been ugly if we'd have stayed any longer. We had a party of about ten people, seated ourselves and then ordered our food at the counter after all our party arrived. Although we all ordered at about the same time, the three people who had salads and/or sandwiches got their food in about 20 minutes. I got my burger after waiting 40 minutes, and the rest of the group had to wait over an hour for their burgers. We tried to laugh it off and enjoy ourselves, but we also wanted the management to know about the inconvenience, so we reported it to our waiter and asked what he could do to remedy the situation. He gave us a list of excuses, the topmost one being that they have a new cook, and the best he can do is to tell him to hurry. This is when the agitation began. After a few more complaints, we asked to speak to the manager, at which we were told that the whiny little dude who was supposed to be our waiter was also the manager. He then proceeded to argue with our group and tell us he was putting his ass on the line for us. Wha???? Anyway, the scene began to get ugly as some of our group began demanding free desserts, and then refusing to eat them after the whiny pseudo-manager brought them out. (I was not about to eat one for fear of what was being done to them in the kitchen - nor did I ask for one.) Finally, the scene turned into an all-out argument, at which I could no longer hold my tongue, and I told the whiny dude rather loudly that he was only making it worse with his piss-poor attitude. At which I excused myself and left with a rather unsettled stomach. Final summary - too much trouble for cold food. I can eat healthy at home.

Fan falls at Yankee Stadium

No matter what kind of day I've had, it's good that I can always count on others to make me feel like less of a moron...

Whoopee cushion makes international news

It's pretty bad when they have us jumping so much that a common joke prop can make an international incident.

Sorry I haven't been posting lately - life is dealing me a bad hand right now.

LOTR Exhibit

Went to the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science this weekend - very cool stuff. The exhibit is full of actual drawings by the artists who worked on the films, as well as authentic costumes, props, miniatures, and much more. There are several videos by the cast and crew to elaborate at each station along the way, and a few interactive stations that show you how the movie magic was done. A few of the coolest points: one of the actual One Rings used in the movie, the costumes of the main actors (including Galadriel's white dress and Sauron's armor from the first movie), and the life-size model of the dead Boromir in the Elven boat.

Congrats Lance!!!

Supreme Court Nom Roberts... what the ???

I never know who the hell these guys are until they are nominated and I have to spend most of the next day reading all I can about them. So far, I'm not impressed. It's pretty bad when the best thing I can say about him is that he's Julia Roberts' brother - yeh, you heard me right. And I'm not even that much of a fan...

Don't Mess with a Texas Man's Truck

You might just end up on the evening news. I love the commentary:

"Why didn't you stop?" we asked him.

"I didn't want to," was his response.

Ah, to be blissfully ignorant...

Boycotting Reality TV

Okay, I'm not the biggest fan of reality TV - I've never seen an episode of Survivor, Average Joe, The Bachelor, etc. etc. etc. I will admit that I've been hooked on a few of them, but never the contest shows where people just get ridiculous in their underhandedness, or where the main purpose seems to be to make the contestants (and the audience for that matter) puke - a la Fear Factor. Now here comes Bravo who, in my opinion, has the some of the best reality TV shows up to this point, well.. except that debacle they call Being Bobby Brown. Bravo is taking the low road that the major networks have tread oh so many times and making a CONTEST show featuring many of the worst reality TV personalities that just won't give up on those 15 minutes of fame. Why can't these morons just go back into obscurity??? Why must we be subjected to yet another mindless competition between people who have obviously given up their minds to science and possibly their souls to... well, it's either the devil or CBS. Please, for all our sakes, even if you are mildly curious, don't tune in to Battle of the Network Reality Stars... and make this world a nicer place to live.

Potter Crazy

Call me obsessive, but I started reading my new Harry Potter book Saturday evening, and didn't stop until I finished it yesterday around 5pm. Well, I did stop to eat... but now I'm SO bummed that it'll be another two years before the final book is released. And of course I can't talk to anyone about the book because no one else has read it yet - it's driving me nuts!

And right before lunch, too...

Man, why can't Britney just give it a rest already? Does she really think people are going to be lined up to see this???

What's in a Name?

Slender, delicate, soldier??? No wonder I'm confused... apparently my name is a contradiction in terms.

And here is what Googlism thinks of me... Googlism on Adina

Ever driven through Adina, TX? Take a picture and send it to me.

I'm also a cosmetic company, a line of jewelry, and a finite element analysis system. Who knew?

Morning News

Why are we all so concerned with Brad Pitt's case of viral meningitis when there are so many other more newsworthy items to chew on? Like drunk men picking fights with grizzly bears... SO much more interesting!!

Selling my Car...

Know anyone that's interested? Send them this link.

Um, Gross...

Watch where you're driving - flying corpses!

And what's up with this? Astroworld makes Citysearch's top ten theme parks? Guess they must be easy to impress, or they like gang fights.

Rainbow

The city has been awash the last few days - but the sun broke through enough yesterday for one of these.

Cafe Adobe - bad night out

Normally I really enjoy Cafe Adobe, but my most recent trip (Thursday the 7th) left much to be desired. Our group was abnormally large (at least 30 people), and though we tried to warn them in advance, they not only insisted that they do not accept reservations, but they seemed very annoyed that we overran their bar area until they could find suitable seating for us. It took forever to get drinks at the bar - I know I waited at least 30 minutes for a freaking margarita. Then they closed the tab without telling anyone because they claimed our table was ready - a lie, I tell you... LIE!!! It was another 20 minutes before we were seated... all at one long table. We were given ONE waiter for the entire group, and the dude came by three times trying to take drink orders before we had to explain to him that WE WERE HUNGRY and wanted to order dinner, not drinks!! Naturally, one end of the table was served before the other, so people on the far ends were alternately getting served and getting up to leave all at the same time. Oh, and my food was cold when I got it. Top it off that the window was leaking rain water all over the floor, and it was an eventful dinner. Hint for big groups - go elsewhere!

Bloody Thursday: Worldwide Terrorism Today

The "Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" has claimed responsibility for the bombings in the London Underground today. The message released also threatens further attacks in Denmark and Italy. I realize England has been quite vocal about their support of the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Italy and Denmark? I'm at a loss. As long as I live, I will never understand how someone can believe acts like this will help them achieve greater status in the afterlife.

Blasts in London

Of course, they did not forget to include America in their thoughts today. The Taliban has claimed that they are holding the missing Navy SEAL, and plan to kill him soon and also release a video of the execution. I hope this war will achieve the results we want, but I have yet to see how it has done anyone any good so far. We are making already hostile people more hostile, wasting the lives of our soldiers, and putting the lives of the innocent in jeopardy. A conclusion needs to be reached before any more lives are lost.

Happy Post-Holiday

Hope no one got burned over the holiday - those fireworks can get out of hand! We had at least two fires here in town start from firework mishaps. Also, in honor of the troops, several hoodlams decided to stage their own war at Astroworld. What patriotism!

Hoodlams Brawl at Astroworld

Caught some of the Live 8 concert - really great performances, but what exactly is the point of having this huge concert without raising any actual money to fight hunger? Especially since the original raised a large sum for that very purpose... I guess it's more important to pay the already inflated egos of these performers instead of giving to a worthy cause. All the artists who performed there should follow the example of Pink Floyd. Not only did they put aside their differences to perform, but they are handing their profits over to charity.

Pink Floyd Gives Live 8 Proceeds to Charity

Oh, and just for grins, who knew things were so bad for Darth since the final installment is complete?

Darth Out of a Job

O'Connor Steps Down

So Justice O'Connor is stepping down, and all the names mentioned to replace her are of the male persuasion. Just what we need - more conservative white males deciding how our laws should be interpreted.

Goodbye to Sandra Day...

Are you making what you're worth?

Over at Presurfer, there are links to an IQ test based in England that corresponds what you make versus how smart you are. Just as I suspected, I am a genius, and I am not getting compensated for it.

There is also a link to a currency converter to determine what your pay would be in British pounds.

IQ vs. Pay - Are you being underpaid?

Happy Birthday MOM!!

I love you!

Jumping on the Cruise-wagon

I know this is being echoed all over the web, but I just couldn't resist adding my opinion to the mix about all this Tom Cruise hullabaloo. I've seen the Oprah antics, the empassioned declarations of love regarding his new bride-to-be, and I was over it... and then I saw the Matt Lauer interview, and my question is, who died and made this guy God? I won't even go into the fact that celebrities should not have free reign to comment on any subject they want, or the fact that this man who is spouting unfounded wisdom never finished high school. Tom, fire your sister and get your old publicist back before you do any more interviews!!

What struck me is that not once in the interview did he back up the accusations he was making. He kept insisting that Matt "did not know the history of psychiatry", as he did. This is classic cultist behavior - insisting that one is privy to great complicated wisdom, and that wisdom can only be obtained by joining said cult. I realize that dedicating your life to filmmaking can probably make one a bit delusional, but presuming to know more than generations of doctors who have truly dedicated their lives to exploring the science of the mind is going a bit far - even for him.

If you just can't get enough of the insanity, you can watch the whole interview on MSN:

Tom Cruise on Today Show

Brand New Blog

Although I've kept my .Xanga Blog page for some time now, I'm trying out this new Blog simply because Google is awesome, and I want to support it. Also, I like the features they provide, such as being able to post as many links as I want, etc. I may keep up the other page, but hopefully I can use this as my main site, and eventually do away with the others.

Update: New blog page is working out quite well, and I'm only using the Xanga site as a reviews page. I took out the link to the Geocities page, since I feel it is unnecessary. Thanks for keeping up with me.