dhwe news you can use

Episode 666, or FRIDAY THE 13th!

2009-11-13T11:58:00.002-05:00

Muahahahaha! Post 666! on Friday the 13th! What does that mean!?

Nothing. Muahahahuh?

Seriously.

2009-11-12T23:21:00.001-05:00

Why wouldn't you want to have lunch with Tim Gunn?

A Farewell to Fang

2009-11-11T19:36:00.001-05:00

Halloween over!!!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Decay had set in, so it was time for Fang to go to the trash. But not before a portrait on the hood of the Subaru.

Last night...

2009-11-10T22:13:00.000-05:00

...I dreamt I was accused of having flat cheekbones.

Dalmnation!

2009-11-09T22:35:00.001-05:00

Dalmnation!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

(alternate title, "Wagon the dogs")

Wow...

2009-11-08T23:15:00.001-05:00

...this must be what it's like having a ghostwriter. I was all set to post something about the weekend, but here it is, all summed up for me already.

NaNoWriMo

2009-11-07T23:57:00.002-05:00

is hard, yo. It's hard to devote hours per day to it when I already have hours devoted to interneting, napping, and cats who demand attention.

It's all "points for effort" though, right?

I Got Religion?

2009-11-06T23:26:00.003-05:00

Well, musically that is...just returned from a show featuring Eilen Jewell and her opening act/backing band, The Sacred Shakers.

The Sacred Shakers are primarily roots Americana gospel, or something like that, ranging from covers of the more religious sounds of George Jones and Elvis to the Rev. Gary Davis and the Louvin Brothers. Great stuff if you're a fan of that gospel sound, or even the rockabilly/classic-alt-country/soul genres.

Eilen Jewell is a little more variety of covers as well as her fantastic original songs, which, to her credit, sound like they came from the same songbook as her inspirations. I picked up a CD of the Shakers and an LP of Eilen's latest work. The band even stuck around to meet'n'greet and sign merch! I had forgotten how much fun it is to meet the band and get stuff signed, especially after such a great show.

Check them out if you are a fan of, um, MUSIC.

Teddy goes home.

2009-11-05T22:43:00.002-05:00

Teddy has been staying with our friend Margery for the last few weeks, but tomorrow he is going to his new home, up in MA! Hooray! His adoptive parents will be able to give him plenty of love and attention, and he will return the favor. He is the sweetest cat we have ever had anything to do with, and he deserved so much to be rescued.

SUCCESS!

Regretsy.com

2009-11-04T22:28:00.000-05:00

It can be mean, but it sure is funny.

http://www.regretsy.com/

A pie is born.

2009-11-03T23:28:00.002-05:00

I was looking for a pumpkin pie recipe, and noticed that while they all contain pumpkin and various spices, there is quite a range of egg and dairy contents, including of course the none range. I ended up using a recently printed recipe from New York Magazine, which requests both eggs and dairy, but uses brown sugar instead of white sugar. I also threw in ginger, nutmeg and cloves instead of just cinnamon. We'll see how it turns out.

Anyone got a killer pumpkin pie recipe? Anyone substituted interesting things for eggs or dairy ingredients?

Happy Dia de los Muertos (Dos)

2009-11-02T22:09:00.002-05:00

It's day two of Dia de los Muertos celebrations, another day to remember those who have gone before us but are not forgotten, as for better or worse, one day is not enough for most people.

It is also day two of NaNoWriMo 2009. Are you writing? What's your word count? If you answered "yes" to the first question and "who cares!" to the second, then you're my kind of NoWri-er. This is my first year attempting to do anything and while I've had ideas in the past, I hope to get some stuff out of my system whether or not anyone ever reads it. It's a good routine to get into, writing everyday, as I slowly admit that I should be developing a more daily routine to my life. Makes it easier to get things done.

Gotta go write mo no.

Dia de los Muertos

2009-11-01T22:48:00.002-05:00

Whether celebrated today or everyday in some way, I think this is should be an important holiday for everyone. Personally, I remember friends and relatives that have died in little ways all the time, as I am reminded of things they enjoyed, or shared moments and events. I occasionally have dreams where I am having conversations with people I have known that have died. But to have a specific day not to just somberly remember but to fondly remember and enjoy the memories of those that have died is a great tradition that should be encouraged. It helps the living and keeps the dead alive in our hearts and minds.

Happy, and I do mean HAPPY Dia de los Muertos!

Episode 653, or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

2009-10-31T22:53:00.004-04:00

Happy Halloween!

MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! What's got crazy fangs and is terrifying? Besides that pumpkin?! That's right...A SHARK!

Ok, maybe not my particular shark costume. Actually looks kind of cuddly with those cardboard fangs now that I see it from the outside, but the kids liked it, especially one chubby little Spiderman™ who came to our door and exclaimed "YOU'RE A SHARK!", all excited-style. We gave out all our candy once again, so I consider this another Halloween success. AND (!) this makes 31 daily posts in a row for one whole MO of BLOPO. Tomorrow starts NaNoWriMo, which I may or may not be taking part in, I haven't decided yet. Have to sleep on it. With an extra hour to think about it.

HAPPY FALL BACK!

P.S. If you want jack-o-lantern lighting tips involving no open flames (gale-force winds, anyone?) just let me know.

Happy All Hallows' Even Eve!

2009-10-30T22:28:00.002-04:00

I have no grand plans for Halloween, but if the weather holds we should have children in the neighborhood and the dispensing of candy is what it's all about, right? I do have a costume idea that has percolated in the last 72 hours or so, but I'm not sure I can pull it together tomorrow. We'll see, and if I do, you'll see...

Something Scarry for Halloween

2009-10-29T22:35:00.002-04:00

hangin' with Lowly, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Look, it's me and Lowly Worm hangin' in his Apple Car!

Golly I love Richard Scarry.

Reconnect

2009-10-28T23:48:00.002-04:00

Tonight I had dinner with someone I've known since I was, um, 6 years old. Since 1979. Someone I've known for 30 years. The guy pictured with me above, who is this guy, actually. I'm not a name dropper (and the chances you know his name anyway are slim, unless you are into nerdcore and/or a rabid NPR listener) I just think it's cool that we have had sporadic run-ins and infrequent emails over the past, um, 18 years or so since high school, but then ACTUALLY ended up living about 30 miles away from each other, about 1,200 miles away from where we first met. And had dinner. At this place. Names were dropped all over that place, and a fine time was had by all.

What's your Frantasy?

2009-10-27T23:36:00.001-04:00

What's your Frantasy?, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

That is a frantastic license plate.

Must be fall...

2009-10-26T23:28:00.001-04:00

The leaves in the trees are on fire...

...and the leaves on the ground are frozen.

Halloween Trial Run

2009-10-25T23:02:00.002-04:00

Had a little party to attend this evening, so I pulled together The Farmer™. I think it worked, so it'll probably work next weekend.

Val had different inspiration for her costume...

...our little friend Stella!

Soda Pop

2009-10-24T23:29:00.002-04:00

A strange institution in CT, and perhaps New England, seems to be small regional soda producers. Today we visited Avery's Beverages of New Britain.

Avery's celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2004, according to the banner outside the building, and from the looks of the operation, little has changed since their humble beginnings.

Soda flavors are available in new or old bottles, and you can purchase mix-and-match singles, six-packs, or cases. We even scored a half-case price, which was slightly cheaper than the price of two six-packs.

There are a few other Connecticut specific bottlers, but I'll have to report on them as I check them out. For now, Always Ask For Avery's.

Confession

2009-10-23T23:06:00.001-04:00

OOPS, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Forgive me Nintendo...it has been 184 days since my last Wii Fit session.

Project

2009-10-22T23:14:00.001-04:00

BUCKLES! I love watching Project Runway, but I do occasionally get distracted.

Haven't kicked the tires yet...

2009-10-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

...but here's a new "adventure" search engine to try out.

http://www.goby.com/

for finding events in an area near you!

For some reason...

2009-10-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

...on October 1, 2009, someone or someweb or somebot posted a non-referencing link to this photo of mine on flickr.

It had 95 views that day for some reason. I took the picture in April of 2007, in honor of Senator Ted Stevens and his amazing internet speech against net neutrality where he insisted that the internet is "not a big truck" but it is a "series of tubes."

There was even a techno remix of highlights from his speech. Ah, that never gets old.

Anyway, mysterious non-links to my flickr images are mysterious...