Word [Ensign]

hov·el (n.)
1. A small, miserable dwelling.
2. An open, low shed.

Game [Ensign]

Vegas Seven is my new addiction. My parents brought this little evil gift back from their recent trip to Las Vegas. It's an electronic casino and FM radio. The radio is cool. But the dueces poker and blackjack keep me occupied from hours. And coming down from a session of play is taxing. It knocks your mind off the track of reality and it is hard to find your way back. Right now I am a member of the $40,000 club. My brother has one too and he's racked up an enormous amount of cash. When the two of us are playing at the same time with the mute buttons off it's like a real live casino in our apartment, sans the cocktail waitresses and cigar smoke. I don't mean to be a pusher, but everyone should have one of these to mindlessly pass the time.

Website [Ensign]

Everything Monkey at Monkey Day.

Song [Ensign]

1000 Miles Away by the Hoodoo Gurus from the 1991 album Kinky.

Here are the lyrics, but you really gotta hear it to be majorly pumped up by it. It is the perfect song to listen to while running or driving in your car on a nice day (window down of course). Another good song for that occasion is Mrs. Potter's Lullaby by the Counting Crows from This Desert Life (I'll go ahead and include those lyrics too, while I'm hear tracking down song lyrics and posting them).

1000 MILES AWAY
by the Hoodoo Gurus

Estimated time of arrival 9.30 a.m.
Been up before the sun and now I'm tired before I even begin.
(Now you're flying) I got so much work in front of me,
(Really flying) it stretches out far as the eye can see.
I can see.

Spend half my life in airports doing crosswords and attempting to sleep,
And when the bar is open then you'll often find me warming a seat.
(Now you're flying) I never find a place where I can stay
(Really flying) I'd rather be a thousand miles away.
Thousand miles away.

Working for yourself sometimes ain't all that it's cracked up to be.
It can be as lonely at the top as at the bottom of that corporate tree
(Now you're flying) I'm told I'm going places - who can say ?
(Really flying) I might arrive but I'll be gone the very next day.
I must be on my way
A thousand miles away.

Promised to myself someday I'd take the time and try to make sense
Out of all those opportunities I've lost from trying to sit on the fence
(Now you're flying) But right now I've got no time for yesterday
(Really flying) Yesterday's a thousand miles away.
A thousand miles away.

What was that that you were trying to say ?
I guess I was a thousand miles away.
Sing it again.


MRS. POTTER'S LULLABY
by Counting Crows

Well I woke up in mid-afternoon cause that's when it all hurts the most
I dream I never know anyone at the party and I'm always the host
If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts
You can never escape, you can only move south down the coast
Well, I am an idiot walking a tightrope of fortune and fame
I am an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame
If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame
And though I'll never forget your face,
sometimes I can't remember my name
Hey Mrs. Potter don't cry
Hey Mrs. Potter I know why but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me
Well, there's a piece of Maria in every song that I sing
And the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings
And there is always one last light to turn out and one last bell to ring
And the last one out of the circus has to lock up everything
Or the elephants will get out and forget to remember what you said
And the ghosts of the tilt-a-whirl will linger inside of your head
And the ferris wheel junkies will spin them forever instead
When I see you a blanket of stars covers me in bed
Hey Mrs. Potter don't go
Hey Mrs. Potter I don't know but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me
All the blue light reflections that color my mind when I sleep
And the lovesick rejections that accompany the company I keep
All the razor perceptions that cut just a little too deep
Hey I can bleed as well as anyone, but I need someone to help me sleep
So I throw my hand into the air and it swims in the beams
It's just a brief interruption of the swirling dust sparkle jet stream
Well, I know I don't know you and you're probably not what you seem
But I'd sure like to find out
So why don't you climb down off that movie screen
Hey Mrs. Potter don't turn
Hey Mrs. Potter I burn for you
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me
When the last king of Hollywood shatters his glass on the floor
and orders another
Well, I wonder what he did that for
That's when I know that I have to get out cause I have been there before
So I gave up my seat at the bar and I head for the door
We drove out to the desert just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars
We stand up at the Palace like it's the last of the great Pioneertown bars
We shout out these songs against the clang of electric guitars
You can see a million miles tonight
But you can't get very far
Hey Mrs. Potter I won't touch and
Hey Mrs. Potter it's not much but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me

Writing Passage [Ensign]

From Stephen King's Insomnia

>>
"...In reality they just keep coming back, turning in diminishing circles until they finally disappear. Except disappearing isn't really what they do; they dry up like mudpuddles in the sun." McGovern paused then added: "And most of them leave the same scummy residue behind."

"Jesus," Ralph said. "That is cynical."

McGovern shrugged. "Most retired teachers are cynical, Ralph. We see them come in so young and so strong, so convinced that it is going to be different for them, and we see them make their messes and paddle around in them, just as their parents and grandparents did."
>>

A cynical friend of mine was a high school teacher for a number of months. He could probably attest to this sentiment.

Food [Ensign]

The most bestest snack bar making company is Quaker. Mostly, they make cheaper-than-the-original-but-just-as-good-and-sometimes-better-ripoffs of other snack bar company's bar.

Some of Quaker's latest are the Quaker Chewy Trail Mix Bars. They're very much like Nature Valley's. But check out all the flavors that Quaker dabbles in.

There's also the new cruchy rip-off of Nature Valley's traditional Granola Bars, called Quaker Crunchy Granola Bars. They are very satisfying, a little smaller than NV's, but hey. I've heard they're amazing dipped in peanut butter.

And my new favorite snack bar for the time being is the Quaker Graham Cereal Bar. It's got a crispy graham trough filled with either strawberry or cherry filling, topped with crumbly stuff and then drizzled with a sweet frosting. Awesome.

You guys should really get into this stuff.

(I really like snack bars. I eat a lot of them and try to stay up on the newcomers and market trends.)

Word [Ensign]

foun·der
v. foun·dered, foun·der·ing, foun·ders
v. intr.
To sink below the surface of the water: The ship struck a reef and foundered.
To cave in; sink: The platform swayed and then foundered.
To fail utterly; collapse: a marriage that soon foundered.
To stumble, especially to stumble and go lame. Used of horses.
To become ill from overeating. Used of livestock.
To be afflicted with laminitis. Used of horses.

v. tr.
To cause to founder.

n.
See laminitis.

Usage Note: The verbs founder and flounder are often confused. Founder comes from a Latin word meaning “bottom” (as in foundation) and originally referred to knocking enemies down; it is now also used to mean “to fail utterly, collapse.” Flounder means “to move clumsily, thrash about,” and hence “to proceed in confusion.” If John is foundering in Chemistry 1, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through.

Food [Ensign]

PEANUT BUTTER BURRITO

I came across this very bizarre recipe in my peanut butter research. Soon I'll try it. The funniest is that the creator states: "This is pretty much all I ever eat."

Alcoholic Beverage [Ensign]

THE DONARITA

2 parts tequilla
1 part Roses lime juice
Couple dashes of margarita salt
Mix and strain with ice

Word [Ensign]

dec·a·dent (adj.)
1. Being in a state of decline or decay.
2. Marked by or providing unrestrained gratification; self-indulgent.

I find it interesting that something which is gratifying is also something of "decline or decay." It's like that saying, which I think exists, that is that which makes us happy kills us. Or something like that.

Food [Ensign]

There are several very related sandies or popkins that I am totally into right now.

PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA TOASTY
Heat up a skillet with some butter. Slice up a banana half-wise as if you were making a banana split. When the butter is ready and the skillet hot start frying up the banana. Meanwhile toast up some bread. Half way through the toasting smear peanut butter on both sides, then return to the toaster and resume the toast cycle. Mix all ingredients into a sandwhich and cut triangularily.

PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA GRILLED CHEESEY
This is awesome. I rate it a 9.45. In a microwavable safe bowl smush up a banana with peanut butter and honey. Then throw it in the micro for about 35 seconds and mix up into a tastey paste. In the meantime butter one side of a piece of bread and begin frying it in a skillet like you are making a grilled cheese sandwich. When it's pretty toasted add the peanut butter, banana, honey goo from the micro on top of the toasting slice. Do a one sided-butter on another piece of bread and place it over the goo and toasted slice in the skillet butter side up. Flip it and let the other side of the bread toast up. Eat. See if you rate it like me.

PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA, AND BACON ON CRUSTLESS WHITE
This one I have not had yet, but the ingredients have been procured. The recipe comes from a passage from Stephen King's Dark Tower VII from Jake's when of 1977. It is "...a peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich with the crusts cut off as only Greta Shaw knows how to cut them off."

For more try Elvis Presley's Grilled Peanut Butter
and Banana Sandwich.

Food [Ensign]

burger within a doughnut


Created at the 1st Annual Keith B. Smith Bachelor party in 2004, this Doughnut Burger is the brain child of Ben Holst, Steve Coen, and Damian Dunn. The results were sweet. No, really. They were sweet.

Product is currently pending some modifications before hitting your neighborhood IGA.

Inspiration Denied [Ensign]

English version of a letter written by a guy in France to the States #1

Dear Grandma,

I miss you. But guess what? No I didn’t send the cheese. I am moving to France. And I am learning French again. I forgot every thing I used to know. But this time I am going to take it seriously.

How is your baking coming along? You should open a restaurant. I’ve always said so. But I really like your tart. Especially with berries on top.

- Your Grandson, Claude

[Try "folding" this by translating into French using Google's language translator and then back into English.]

Music Playlist [Ensign]

apartment courtyard playlist #1
Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"

(I explain when I'm not so tired and delirious.)

Inspiration Denied [Ensign]

MCF - song translated into French #1

You can do this yourself for fun. Just find the lyrics to a song that you enjoy and see what it looks like in French. I suggest using Google's language translator. I always suggest Google. Because Hoorah for Google.

And if you really want a laugh, "fold" your Googley translated lyrics back into English and see how warped your song is now.

For even more fun, REPEAT. Keep "folding" until you can't decifer a damn thing.

par LES ANGUILLES

est allé vers le bas par le vieux tribunal le trébuchement par les rues a dû sortir de la maison a dû employer mes pieds et vous ne pouvez pas penser beaucoup à moi maintenant mais je pense si fichu beaucoup de vous ne prenez

aucun nickel en bois quand vous vendez votre âme que un diable d'un moment vous attend quand de la partie vous plus d'êtes

sur votre propre camion de détritus montant la cueillette de route vers le haut du détritus montant à un meilleur endroit espérant nous ne nous brisons pas pensant comment les choses se sont avérées le would've de I n'ont jamais deviné qu'il de cette façon ne prennent

aucun nickel en bois quand vous vendez votre âme un diable d'un moment vous attend quand de la partie vous plus d'êtes

sur le votre propres maintenant l'excédent de la partie je suis tout seul

Reference Source [Ensign]

Get your hands (mains) on The Firefly French-English Visual Dictionary. You won't be disappointed. Even if you don't want to learn French, it's one hell of a refence book for looking up English things. There's all sorts sections and things that you can look up. You'll find everything from different types of berries that you didn't even know existed to a whole two page spread devoted to describing different types of noodles.

You'll be amazed at the things in this dictionary. They describe parts of an egg. We all know of the yolk, but what about the chalaza, which is the actual part that anchors the yolk in the center of the egg. There are really detailed names of various sports paraphenalia. And even body parts. It's crazy, detailed, and fun. And there's pictures. Really good detailed pictures. I've learned so much already and I'm even picking up a little French along the way.

The Firefly French-English Visual Dictionary

Blog [Ensign]

Congrats to Corporal's sis for such a cute and entertaining blog. Maybe it's b/c she's a little sis. Maybe it's cause I know that like my younger sibs she too gets the $20. Maybe I just like hearing the daily Garden Ridge saga. But there's some really good stuff going on here.

Reference Source [Ensign]

Dictionary.com

There's not much else to report. When you are confused in the realm of semantics go here. There is also a link to Thesaurus.com, which is equally as useful.

Kitchen Item [Ensign]

Chafing Dishes

Chafing dishes can hold anything from casseroles to doughnuts and even croissants if you like that sort of thing. But the best thing that they can hold, and very often do, is the make-your-own-taco-party. Bliss from a chafing dish.

Inspiration Denied [Ensign]

MCF - dowel rod


I believe I need say no more.

But I will so we're all on the same page >>

dow·el /n./
1. A usually round pin that fits tightly into a corresponding hole to fasten or align two adjacent pieces.
2. A piece of wood driven into a wall to act as an anchor for nails.

rod /n./
1. A thin straight piece or bar of material, such as metal or wood, often having a particular function or use, as:
a. A fishing rod.
b. A piston rod.
c. An often expandable horizontal bar, especially of metal, used to suspend household items such as curtains or towels.
d. A leveling rod.
e. A lightning rod.
f. A divining rod.
g. A measuring stick.
2. A shoot or stem cut from or growing as part of a woody plant.
3. A stick or bundle of sticks or switches used to give punishment by whipping.
Punishment; correction.
4. A scepter, staff, or wand symbolizing power or authority.
5. Power or dominion, especially of a tyrannical nature: “under the rod of a cruel slavery” (John Henry Newman).
6. Abbr. rd
a.A linear measure equal to 5.5 yards or 16.5 feet (5.03 meters). Also called pole2.
b.The square of this measure, equal to 30.25 square yards or 272.25 square feet (25.30 square meters). See table at measurement.
7. Bible. A line of family descent; a branch of a tribe.
8. Anatomy. Any of various rod-shaped cells in the retina that respond to dim light.
9. Microbiology. An elongated bacterium; a bacillus.
10. Slang. A pistol or revolver.
11. A portion of the undercarriage of a train, especially the drawbar under a freight car. Often used in the plural: ride the rods.

Video Stream [Ensign]

Yeah, there's a new cool streamer I've been visiting. I feel like an adulterer. The streamer is from Damien Rice's web site. He has a new cool album out. Some of the songs were featured in the film 'Closer'. The streams are from a live show in London and some others that I haven't gotten to yet.

So link up! Enjoy.

Damien Rice live streamer >>

Video Stream [Ensign]

Give a whirl to the very sweet video streamer presenting They Might Be Giants' new "Here Come the ABCs" CD and DVD project. It has multiple video clips from the DVD, and is in itself quite a nice piece of entertainment.

[SLIGHTLY ADAPTED FROM A NOTE FROM FLANSY HIMSELF]

<<HCtABCs streamer here>>

CD [Ensign]

My current favorite CD is A Man Called E by Mark Oliver Everett. The CD was released in '92 before Mr. E created the Eels. I love the Eels. There music rocks and on April 26 there going to be doing it again with BLINKING LIGHTS AND OTHER REVELATIONS. You can preview tracks from the Eels website.