Thursday, July 27, 2006

Creature of habit

Why do I always use the same restroom stall at work?

And when I walk for exercise, I always follow the same route in the neighborhood or always go counter-clockwise on the track in the park. At the gym I head for the same treadmill (even though they are all the same).

I drive to work the same way every day. I meet Becky for bagels every Friday morning.

Rut? What rut?

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Better than the "real" media

I recommend Live from an Israeli Bunker "a live blog from an Israeli bunker via laptop and wifi. Provides a unique and unprecedented insight into the rapidly escalating situation in the middle east. Experience the events thru the eyes of the people who live them, and perhaps get an idea of how it's really like over here. This is much more human and accurate then the major news channels."

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

The pampered cat

When I got home from work yesterday I noticed that Moe, the cat, seemed drunk. She was walking with an unsteady gait, as if she could not control her back legs.

Moe is 17 years old. And she doesn't drink alcohol. Something was definitely wrong.

The vet said he thinks she had "a small stroke." Her eyes were unevenly dilated and she wobbled. "This," he said, "is not unusual for a cat this age (80 in human years)."

So we took her home and fed her scrambled eggs. Tonight she gets tuna. I wish we'd spoiled her more.

Danger! Danger!

This sign was posted near the fountains at Waterfront Park to discourage swimming.

The news story published in yesterday's Courier Journal explains the reasoning behind the sign:

The water in the fountain pools is, like all water, made of two-thirds hydrogen atoms and one-third oxygen atoms.

And as any chemistry student can tell you, there is no health threat from coming into contact with H20.

David Karem, the Waterfront Development Corp.'s executive director, had the signs made to try to keep people out of the water after health officials raised concerns about bacteria in the fountains last year.

However, tests this year show the fountains meeting swimming pool standards.

Karem said he was counting on a lack of understanding about water's chemical makeup, and he thought that suggesting a link to one of the world's most dangerous weapons -- the hydrogen bomb -- might keep them from jumping in.

"I thought that with the word … maybe people would not go there," he said.

Monday, July 17, 2006

This chair makes me happy

Here's my new desk chair at home.


According to the product literature, this chair "is ergonomic in design for maximum comfort. Induces proper blood circulation and the durable rubber spring support allows optimum ventilation."

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Reading avalanche

These books are stacked up, waiting to be read or waiting to fall:

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

New kitchen floor or flat screen TV?


I lust. I drool. The very name ... Sony ... makes my pants pound. But I have so many questions about flat screen televisions. Jeremy at Best Buy answered these for me:

Q. Where do the wires go when you mount a flat screen TV to the wall?
A. They drill holes in your wall and fish the wires down and out to connect to your cable box and other stuff. For an extra $500 (!) they will install your TV for you. For $100 they will come to your house first to see if hiding the wires inside the wall of your house will work. Then they'll deduct the $100 from the installation fee.

Q. What are the best brands?
A. (Duh.) Sony is #1. Then Toshiba. There's not much difference in price but Toshiba goes on sale more often.

Q. What is the most popular size?
A. They sell a lot of 32-inch models but 26-inch is a close second. The price difference between the sizes is about $400. The bigger models work better in bigger rooms.

Q. How much? (I know, if you've gotta ask ... you can't afford it.)
A. Between $1,300 and $2,000. Then there's the installation ($500), and the mounting bracket (another $80 to $200, depending on what you choose).

Q. Will they get cheaper?
A. Don't count on it.

Q. Should we get one?
A. Do YOU have one? What would you recommend?

Saturday, July 8, 2006

The one about how the movie was sold out


Like everyone else on the planet, I wanted to see how Johnny Depp took Capt. Jack Sparrow to new heights (depths?) in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

Aaarrgghhh mateys, it was not to be so.

Every screen within driving distance of my house was sold out until after 10 p.m. last night.

Yes, I know, if I'd planned ahead I could have purchased tickets online (this internet thing has really caught on) and saved myself some disappointment. But, dear readers, your beloved Dott loves the spontaneous and she couldn't be bothered. [Sigh]

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Love them cowboys


I've spent the last week or two watching cowboys on TV.

First, there was the new TV movie "Broken Trail" with Robert Duvall. It was okay but nothing compared to "Lonesome Dove," the fabulous mini-series with Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. "Lonesome Dove" is one of my favorites of all time along with the classic "Little Big Man" and cheesy-but-wonderful "Dances With Wolves."

The Hallmark Channel, understanding how Duvall-in-a-Stetson draws viewers, decided to broadcast all eight hours of "Lonesome Dove" last weekend. My DVR has never been so happy.

I still haven't caught up on some episodes I missed of DeadfuckingWood on HBO, which isn't about cowboys so much but fits loosely in the genre. All except the fucking cussing.