(no subject)

Using my old iBook, left this time last year in my parents' care. The keys are much larger than those on my TiBook; "S" is right where I expect "A" to be. How exciting. Happy that my parents' DialMaine login & password hasn't changed since then, as it's still stored on my account on this machine.

It was a twitchy and sad Xmas here at the McIhouse, mostly due to o/~ soooomeone o/~ being off his meds. Oh well. I got a nice sweater.

(And, before I left, M gave me a teakettle, which is actually excellent. Insisted that this was as as much for her as for me, for no longer will she be tormented by the thought of my perversely heating tea-water in a saucepan, as she saw me doing on a previous visit.)

Currently wagering that I'll return to MA Saturday nite. Time in between shall be spent hanging out at Arcus and pursuing business in Bangor.

Kitty!

A happy kitty-cat post to counterbalance the previous one:

Shadow the Cat is more adorable every time I see her. I've told my mom to consider giving her to me before they consider having her declawed (which I know they are; this has been the fate of every cat they've ever lived with). Her personality is not quite like that of any cats I've known recently... she doesn't always like to be touched, and rarely wants to be held (and will often complain if you pick her up), but always wants to be where people are. She can always be found in whichever room has the most people, just out of reach of any of them. Very social!

Christmas Extended Edition (Mostly car talk.)

My dad got an idea for further gifting, and let me give him a ride to the Sam's Club in Augusta where he renewed his membership, and I (under said membership) bought four new all-weather tires that cost me about the same as my shoes. This is great; my tires are old (two are as old as the car, and one is possibly even older (bought it used)), and very slippy on disagreeable surfaces. I hope these new guys'll let me brake in snow/slush without sliding diagonally for 15 feet every time.

Now I have to decide what to do about the big ol' dent. I get the impression that it's largely an aesthetic issue, and now that the insurance company estimate has arrived -- it's more than $3,000, where I'd pay $1,000 myself, and then let State Farm have their way with my premium -- I'm wondering if maybe I should just fuggetabout it. I think that I'll go in for my annual state inspection after returning to MA, and if they say that it must be fixed first, I'll definitely bear the cost. Else... dunno yet.

SF29 movie list starting to be built

(SFNN is the 24-hour SF movie marathon that happens in the Boston area every Prez Day Weekend. The public-knowledge list of films starts to trickle out around Jan 1, but it seems to be a little early this year. This is quoted from a post by "LA CONNECTION" on the marathon's messageboard (http://sf.theboard.net).)

Here are the films Garen has announced:

28 Days Later
Alien: The Director's Cut
The Giant Claw - a brand new 35 MM print being struck just for us!
Godzilla vs MegaGuirus
Demonlover


Big fan of 28 DAYS LATER.
Didn't go see ALIEN DIRECTOR'S CUT because I hoped it would be here - yeah!
GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS - have a VCD of this one. One of the better recent 'zillas.
DEMONLOVER - Interesting French Director, could be a bit 'arthouse' for some,
and has some dark imagery -- not for kiddies
THE GIANT CLAW - this could rival ROBOT MONSTER & PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE for
sheer goofy bad Special Effects! And a new print to show the strings! Yee Haw -
get the laugh meter ready!!

I didn't see 28 Days Later but am really looking forward to seeing it with the thon crowd.
Never heard of THE GIANT CLAW but, come on... !!!THE GIANT CLAW!!!
Me has high hopes for the event this year. Am psyched.

Is this worth $3,000?

[Poll #225106]