Happy 2006!

I just want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year. I've been busy today setting up my old PC for my sister, so I'm going to relax the rest of the evening.

Incidentally, today is the third anniversary of my moving this blog to this domain. While I started this blog on 5/5/2002, I moved to this URL on 12/31/2002.

Happy New Year!

Zeta!

Unbelievable! It's far out in the Atlantic and will probably stay there, but still, it's downright freaky that a tropical storm would form right as 2005 is coming to a close. Weather blogger Jeff Masters will be posting more on this later.

Entry 1000

Yes, this is the 1000th entry I've posted to this blog. And the first entry posted from my new PC. I'm still getting everything copied over and installed, which is why I've been so busy. I love my new PC...it's what they call a gaming system, even though I'm not really into games. I just wanted a fast computer with lots of disk space so that I could convert the family movies to DVD format. I had gotten a wireless keyboard and mouse for it, but I had a lot of trouble with them. They kept losing the connection and I couldn't get it back without shutting down the PC and turning it on again. I tried various things, including uninstalling and reinstalling the devices and drivers, but nothing solved the problem. I decided I didn't need the aggravation, so I returned them and exchanged them for a regular (optical) mouse and keyboard. After that, I was finally able to get comfortable with the new PC.

Anyway, I'll be back soon with the Seven Things Meme that Bill tagged me with and a little review of the Narnia movie, which was wonderful. Also, my Christmas turned out really great. I hope everyone else had a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

May His blessings be upon you.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." -- Luke 2:11

Checking in...

I know, I know...I haven't been around much this month. Sorry about that. Here's a summary of what's been going on with me, both good and bad:

• I'm getting a new PC soon! I'm really excited...it's being built for me now by the same local company that built my current PC. My current PC is five years old and it still works great, but I needed to upgrade. I decided it would be better to get a new PC and pass my current one over to my sister (who really needs a reliable home PC) than to basically rebuild my current one. One thing I want to do is get all of the family home movies transferred to DVD. They were transferred from film to videotape a few years ago. I don't currently have a DVD burner, and I will need more power and disk space to do this as well. Anyway, I've been working on backing everything up on a couple of pocket drives I have (with additional backups on CDs and Zip disks). After I get everything moved to the new PC, I will reformat the old one, reinstall Windows XP fresh and set it up for my sister.

• I've been trying to train my dog Betty and get her to be less wild and more obedient. When we first got her, she was very obedient. But now, she's like a teenager trying to test her boundaries. I've been taking her to training classes once a week. The 'possum she killed last week was the last straw, so I got a very large crate for her to stay in on evenings when she is not staying in the house. The crate is on the screened-in back porch. This is to keep her from digging and getting into other kinds of mischief. We also keep her in it when we leave the house. (We don't think she should be left alone in the house. There's no telling what she'd do.) Aside from the mischief she gets into, she is a sweet and lovable dog. She just needs some training -- I don't think she ever had any.
• The soapmaking hobby has really been fun and encouraging. The church craft fair sold seven of the bars I donated for $5 each. (I didn't price them, the ladies running the craft fair did. I was very flattered by the price.) I have given bars to family, friends and coworkers as gifts. My sister also gave some as gifts. I have gotten a lot of unsolicited complements on the soap and so has my sister. I will post sometime soon about the different types of soap I've made in addition to the holiday soaps. My next project for January: Bubble bath bars similar to the kind Lush makes. I found a recipe online on how to make them -- I just need to order the supplies.
• I've mentioned that I feel like crap all the time. Well, the reason for that is that I've been in a lot of pain lately. Mainly it's in my lower back, hips and legs (especially the knees). And I have a bad knee to begin with. The doctor wants me to get an x-ray done on my spine. Strangely enough, I have actually felt better the past couple of days. I was actually able to get out of bed without using a cane the past couple of mornings. I've started to take glucosamine again, but I didn't think it worked that fast. In spite of the pain I've been in, I've been trying to be more active...like taking my dog for walks (I'm trying to train her to walk on a leash properly).
• I decided to "start all over" with Weight Watchers. I asked them if I could get a new card and just start again, with the 10% goal and all. I feel that would be more encouraging than looking at it like I'm trying to re-lose weight I've gained back. They are allowing me to do that, so that's great. I don't think I'll make any real progress until after the holidays, though.

So, that's what's been going on. Posting may be sporadic for a while, especially with my switching to a new PC.

What I Want for Christmas

Peace.

No, I don't mean "Peace on Earth", although it would be nice and all, if unrealistic. I just mean peace in my life.

Christmas should be pleasant and happy. It never is for me. I just quit trying this year to make it so. Last year, I tried so hard and it was a complete catastrophic flaming, bloody train-wreck. This year I just grudgingly put up the tree, even though I feel like crap all the time these days, and I ordered some nice presents online. (Online shopping rocks, BTW. No crowds, no parking problems, no driving around in the horrendous traffic.) I truly enjoy giving presents.

Another thing -- family dinners are highly overrated. If I had a choice, I'd just opt out, but of course I can't.

There was more I was going to say on this but I decided to spike it. I think I'll just stop here and end with this: While presents are nice, and while I could use a really good therapeutic massage, the main thing I want for Christmas is peace for myself and for my family.

But that may be just as unrealistic as "Peace on Earth"...

And now for something completely different...

I have put some Christmas music on the Radio Blog. Enjoy!

(Yes, this was originally an afterthought in the "I've Got Nothing" post, but I decided to move it to its own post. I thought I needed to lighten things up a bit around here.)

Tookie's Victims

I ranted in the previous post about how the anti-death-penalty people seem to forget about the victims. Well, I just happened to read this post by Discoshaman with a link that will remind you of what he did to earn his execution. WARNING! Very graphic and upsetting images: Tookie's Victims.

I've Got Nothing

Sorry, I just don't have much to say. Or when I do have something to say, I'm too busy or tired to say it. I've posted a few comments here and elsewhere, but that's it. I'm so behind on my blog reading that I don't know much about what's going on, other than that they are going to execute that Tookie guy really soon. They've even got Joan Baez singing for him! It's all so predictable. I saw a picture somewhere else (Drudge, perhaps) of some dried up old hippie woman holding a sign saying, "Have a [heart] Arnold". Why do these people cry buckets of tears and light candles for murderers but have no regard for the victims and their families? They make me sick.

Anyway, I'm just surprised that they are actually going to execute someone in California. I certainly hope that Tookie's repentance is real and wasn't just a ploy to weasel out of his death sentence. If his repentance isn't real, well, enjoy Hell, Tookie.

Incidentally, my dog Betty just killed another 'possum in the backyard tonight. That makes, I think, three so far since I got her. Gross...I just wish the stupid creatures would quit wandering into my yard.

Kidnapped "Peace" Activists in Iraq

I went off on a tangent commenting on my capital punishment post. The tangent has to do with this story.

I have just a couple of things to add. First, if these guys are really peace activists and pacifists, it seems to me they should be evenhanded in the way they condemn violence and war. But they aren't. This is why I put "peace" in scare-quotes and why I think this is simply an anti-American outfit trying to pass itself off as being a peace group.

Second, I have to say an "amen" to this post by Steve H.:

Why didn't they protest Hussein's millions of atrocities, which were committed openly and as a matter of policy? Why are minor American sins worth protesting, when huge, egregious, Hitler-scale Iraqi sins don't even justify a press conference?

Answer: because peace isn't what these people are about. They're about shitting on the USA.

I pray that no American soldier lifts a finger to help them. Our brave fighting men and women have no business risking their precious blood for America-hating attention whores who undermine the troops who offer their lives to protect their right to whine and obstruct.

You say you're a peacemaker? Fine. Make peace with your captors. Show us how diplomacy works with these people. This is your defining moment. Talk your captors into setting you free, and make fools of everyone who supports our troops and our President.