Me and the fam ventured to Dallas for the State Fair of Texas. The weather was absolutely perfect – not too hot, not too cold (a meteorological McDLT). Sunshine. A light breeze. Foooood. Family fun.
Here's a brief wrapup:
... I'm goofing off!
We're going to the State Fair of Texas on Monday. I'll be thinking of each and every one of you while I'm pigging out on fair food and soaking up the fair sights and sounds.
Here's a wrapup of my weekend:
1. This first item isn't about me. It's about a fellow blogger – The Nord. He and his wife successfully added Nordspawn 2.0 on Sunday. From the pictures, he is absolutely adorable. The Nord may not have time to update his blog much, but stop by and say "congratulations" to the dad-e.
2. Chinese food. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Been a while, my sodium-filled (mostly MSG-free) delight. Oh yes. Like a mistress, only better. And I got to share you with the wife.
3. Pottery Barn. Normally we rebel against mass-marketed stuff for our house, preferring genuine antiques over stuff everybody has (ever see that episode of "Friends" with the apothecary tables?). But the Petite Filet had a gift certificate to spend, so we got a new alarm clock (that looks like an old alarm clock) and a pillow (that looks like a new pillow in an old way).
4. Byoooootiful weather. Forgot I was in Texas (har!) it was so nice. Felt like San Francisco without all the hills, ocean breeze and well San Francisconess that is unique to that California region. Even Curly Girl would approve. Monday promises the same batch of lovely for our jaunt to the fair.
That's about it (isn't that enough?) for now. I'll be around while on my vacation to keep you away from whatever work you should be doing. For at least a few minutes in your day. Thanks for stopping by! I'll be visiting you at your Internet homes real soon.
TTFN (Wait! Did I just write that? No! Sure wish computers had delete keys).
See ya.
Sometimes I think getting ready to take a vacation is more work than simply working 52 weeks a year. When you are important (or rather, nobody else can or wants to do your job), you've got to tie up your loose ends before you take a week off.
So I had to go into the office Saturday and rebuild three pages of my current project. Among other things, of course. A few observations:
Hello, my name is T-bone and I'm a recovering news junkie.
Back in the day, I would read at the news sections of two or three major newspapers every day, with a scan of whatever smaller paper was local to me. I watched the news. I subscribed to a weekly news-analysis magazine as well as Columbia Journalism Review. I was a card-carrying proactive member of the Society of Professional Journalists. I loved to read the op-ed pages on politics. I'd watch a few of the Sunday morning interview shows. I breathed CNN.
Part of it was being a journalism major/political science minor in college, then eventually a part of the "news media," (although only at small, medium and semi-large papers) that made me want to remain in the know. Had the Internet been as ubiquitously powerful and available as it is now, that would have been part of my news-gathering routine also.
But my priorities shifted at some point. I don't consume nearly as much information as I used to. And you know what?
I’m taking some vacation next week, at least a day of which will be spent at the State Fair of Texas. The event, the largest state fair in the country (everything’s bigger here blah blah blah), opens tomorrow for its annual three-week run.
“Big Tex” is the patron saint of the fair. He’s a big statue-like thing erected *heh heh* each year to welcome visitors to his party. I think he used to be a Santa Claus, but is now festooned in cowboy attire. He also “talks,” but his jaw is so unwieldy that it’s kinda slow. For the uninitiated, he usually begins announcements with “Howdy folks” ... or more like “How ... dee ... folks!” Great fun. Big Tex’s greatest job is as landmark, but he also magically makes all calories consumed at the fair not count.
This will be the Cutlet’s first trip to the fair. I’ve been several times – with parents, high school friends, college friends and once a few years ago with the Petite Filet. We vowed never to return until we had a child. Well, here we go. Time to make some memories.
Here are the Top 10 things to do at the State Fair of Texas, according to me:
The advantage (?) of not being able to read Blogspot blogs during the day is that it frees my mind to come up with more random things to post here.
What am I doing in this picture? Be creative! You get extra points for correctly guessing exactly where it was taken. Anyone, anyone?
If you do – not that you would – wonder to yourself, "Why hasn't T-bone commented on my blog today?" The answer is: I can't.
My employer's server blocks all Blogspot sites, apparently starting today. Guess I'll be doing more work from now on, not that it's a bad thing. Just won't be spreading my comment love as often as I have. Don't cry for me, Blogging Tina.
Have a nice day.
Nothing earth-shattering for a Wednesday. Casa del T-Bone has been invaded by General Malaise and his troops Sgt. Sneezy, Capt. Coughsalot and Lt. Lotsasnot during Battle of the Fall Allergies 2003. So keep that in mind while reading, if you will.
Several Internet Giants feature content on their home pages that, at best, is suitable for the pages of Maxim or Cosmo. At worst, it's not worth the paper that it's not printed on. The articles I'm talking about give generalized and certainly lame advice on buying a home, buying a car, finances, etiquette or love.
I click on an article every now and then to get a good laugh. Yesterday's topic of choice was flirting ... specifically trying to teach men how to tell if a woman is interested in him.
Here's the article's 10 points in brief (with my possible explanations in parentheses):
The author of this site solicited links to original short stories here. I supplied a link to one of my previously posted short stories. Thanks to the Yeti for the link. The following here is a new one that is more or less a work in progress.
[fiction by Texas T-Bone]
“This can’t be it,” she said, gingerly using her hands to frame her face against the dusty glass. “It looks like this place hasn’t been open in years.” She turned toward him, scowling. “Check the address again.”
He pulled the folded piece of paper from his coat pocket, carefully fumbling with it until he could read the address. He glanced at the address above the door. He turned toward the corner and eyed the street sign. “This is it.” He shrugged and put the paper back inside his coat.
“Well, I don’t think it is.” She stormed over to the door and pushed. The door opened, and a bell attached to it clanged loudly. Once inside, she let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Her pupils started to dilate as an old, balding man emerged from the darkness. “Whoa!” She fell backward into her fiance, who was now just inside the door.
Late-night talk show host David Letterman is going to become a first-time father sometime in December. Here's some advice for him, in the form of a Top Ten List:
It is a beautiful day today, so after I finish typing this, me and the Cutlet are headed to the back yard to soak up some Saturday sun.
It's about 10 a.m. Texas time right now, and here's my day so far by the numbers:
Isn't it weird to think that every breath you've ever taken in your life, every step, every motion, every fall, every defeat, every victory, every second, minute, hour, day, week, year, decade of your life has led you to this very moment?
I haven’t done a Comments Roundup since moving to this address, so I figured it was time. Listed below are 10 comments I left on other blogs the past few weeks.
There were many comments to choose from – some funnier, some more thoughtful and some that made no sense removed from the context of the blog posts that inspired them. Not that the following ones make any sense, either. For whatever reason, I picked these. Read them again for the first time, won’t you?
This time I have included links to the blogs on which the comments first appeared:
Four hours from now (it's about 3:35 p.m. Texas Time as I type this), my family will touch down on the tarmac at Love Field inside their great brown/orange southbound Southwest bird. Here's the reunion by the numbers:
Alternatively: The Poo-poo Police.
We've lived in our neighborhood for more than three years. Our house is, admittedly, not the finest example of a homestead in the world – yet, we have great pride in it and the surrounding area. That means when I walk my dog, I don't let her dump on my neighbors' yards. Well, not since I grew a conscience about it anyway. But I digress ...
The Petite Filet collects baskets. Fortunately, we have found uses for most of them. Hers is not a "look at how many baskets I have" hobby, but it's more of a "I need a basket the Cutlet will fit in" endeavor. Admittedly, I "own" one – it's shaped like a little boat – that is home to my watch, ring and keys at night.
I've been collecting pocket knives since I was 7, a hobby inherited from my dad. After promptly losing that first knife, I've amassed quite an assortment of cheap ones, expensive ones, limited-edition ones and others that hold family sentimental value. Few could be considered weapons, although most could be used in some capacity for pain. I prefer to use them for good, though, when I use them at all.
Nearly a quarter of my collection are knives others have lost. It's a good thing men don't carry handbags, because we'd be losing them every five minutes. Then my collection would take a wrong turn and start including items from Dooney & Bourke and Coach. I'll stick to little blades, thank you.
I haven't purchased any new knives in years, and really, I don't think I need any more. I may even jettison the ones that don't mean anything to pare down and add value to the overall assortment.
What do you collect? How did you get started? Why is your collection important to you?
Side note: As a blogger, I also collect comments. Most of the ones I get here are quite thoughtful, often putting my original posts to shame. Since moving to this site on Aug. 12, I've gotten more than 600 comments (even a few from myself). Wow! That surprised me. The number would be even larger with the addition of my old Squawkbox comments (lost in the ether) and the Haloscan comments I used last at the old digs. Thanks for reading. Know that anything you say here is usually read closely, savored and enjoyed – as are the things you post on your own blogs. Have a great day!
Hey, today for the first time ever I met two local bloggers. I was supposed to have lunch with them, but an unfortunate incident involving the police threw off our schedule. However, the two lovely ladies stopped by my office to say howdy. There is a photo as evidence that I'll share as soon as someone e-mails it to me. They seem really nice in person, and, I hope they don't mind me saying this – they are totally hot. Patti's kids – of which I met two – are absolutely adorable as well. The next step is getting all our families together for some kind of fun-filled swoiree.
This was the first time I'd met people who I knew were bloggers. There are so many of them around Dallas/Fort Worth that you'd think we'd bump into each other more often. However, most of them live in Dallas and I don't get out much. So, DFW Bloggers out there, if you're ever in Cow Town, let me know. We can meet up and stick our feet in the Water Garden, play a guessing game to determine just WHAT that is floating in the Trinity River, watch the longhorns get driven down the street at the Stockyards and then grab margaritas at Joe T's. Or whatever.
Even after you get married, and sometimes especially, there are times when you might consider what marriage really means. What’s it all about? Did I marry the right person? Will I always have to take out the garbage? These are questions I ask myself, not only at the rare times me and the Filet argue. It’s an intriguing institution, hooking up with one person for what you hope is the rest of your life.
Hidden among my ramblings are some questions about marriage. Feel free to answer none, one, two, three or all four of them.
T-bone: "You've got to go see it. It's one of the most beautiful ones I've seen in a long time. Do you have shoes on? Oh here, take mine."
The Petite Filet walks outside through the garage, wearing my shoes. I scooped up the Cutlet and followed her. "Wow! Look at all the colors. The purples and oranges! It's amazing what God can create."
T: "I know you're not dressed for it, wearing your jammies and all, but you've got to see it from the street. There are trees in the way."
She stood at the end of our driveway. "Wow!" ...
Singer Johnny Cash (aka The Man in Black) died. I wonder if the music greeting him in Heaven – or wherever he went – was something along the lines of "A Boy Named Sue" or some other standby of his.
Comedic actor John Ritter has died as well. I wonder if the music greeting him in Heaven – or wherever he went – went something like: "Come and knock on our door ... we've been waiting for you ..."
Sorry if you find either one of those tasteless. Being able to laugh in the face of death is how I deal with grief. Both men contributed in their own ways to our society. They will be missed.
Sweet Jezebel, the absolutely hottest and sexiest blogger living in South Dakota, asked the Question of a Lifetime on her site this week: At what point do you settle?
She rightly says the question can be applied to myriad facets of life: finding a mate, jobs, your lawn, physical fitness and many more.
Question: At what point do you settle?
T-Bone’s Answer: Never.
The short explanation of why to never settle is that you’ll never have a chance for happiness if you feel cheated in some way. Rather, you can have everything your heart desires ... if you change your heart.
How do you do that? I don't have all the answers, but for me it came naturally from sticking to priorities and gaining perspective. Admittedly, those two things are easier to spell than to implement. It took experience, and that experience helped me decide what was important. My choices may appear to some to be compromises, but they don’t feel like that. Here’s a few reasons why:
There’s nothing I can say about the significance of today that has not been said, thought or implied by others.
God bless you.
1. Go wish Dr. D a Happy 40th Birthday today!
2. Visit Sweet Jezebel and consider her Question of a Lifetime.
3. See a new picture of the Cutlet.
Bonus Thing: Have a nice day!
OK, this is the last “song” about blogging for now. I think my favorite is yesterday's rendition of "You're So Vain v 2.0." After that, I'm not sure I can go on much longer. But here's one to end this run.
Song 5: Where’d You Go?
My apologies to Carly Simon.
Song 4: “You’re So Vain, v 2.0”
"Songs" 1 and 2 are posted below.
Song 3: “The Busted-Blog Blues”
My template is screwy
My comments don’t work
My site meter sits on zero
And I’m feelin’ like a jerk
I got the down and out, busted-blog blues ...
Song 2: “A Life Lived Online”
She’s getting tired of all the lonely nights
She pours her heart and soul into each word she writes
Her blog is almost enough to make your heart break
And it’s almost too much for one woman to take ...
I think an untapped keg of music possibility resides in this little neighborhood bar we like to call blogging. It’s about time an entire collection of blogging songs was made available to the Web-savvy public.
Well, if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the wrong place. I am neither musically nor technologically talented enough to provide you with the total package. (If it is music you seek, check out this guy’s Piano Week). No, all I can provide are “lyrics” that read more like poems, because you won’t hear the little melody I had in mind during the composition.
As well, please note that any “songs” that appear in this space are not written about any specific blogger, or even blogging in general. The one below, for example, is merely about one aspect of blogging – one that rarely rears its ugly head on any of the blogs I regularly read. It is certainly, I would hope you agree, not autobiographical. I remain your humble blogging buddy.
So, here we go:
Fall is already falling here in Texas.
It may be a bit premature to say that because down here we don't really have "seasons" in the traditional sense. Everyo once in a while we get freezing precipitation in April, and this past December it was warm enough for shorts for a few days.
Here are some things I've noticed in this changing season:
I caught part of the pregame music show before ABC's broadcast of the Redskins-Jets game last night. You know, the one that, if you watched even a few seconds of ABC's programming the past few weeks, was hyped beyond belief.
Here's five observations:
My birthday was excellent, thanks in part to those who wished me a happy one here. Of course, the bulk of my happiness was provided by offline friends, family and acquaintances. Here's why:
Well, it's my birthday, too, yeah!
Hey, I'm 30! The big 3-0. Bring it on! Yippee! Thanks to those who have already left well-wishes or sent me electronic birthday cards. Love 'em! Keep 'em coming. No, I'm not too proud to ask in my old age.
Now, because I know the real reason you've stopped by is to kill a little time, maybe smile a little, I offer these birthday haikus, from me to you:
At 85 years old, she still laughs the same way I remember. Wouldn't have mattered much had the sound been different. The ability to laugh at any age is a gift.
My grandmother – Mom Mom – has all but lost her short-term memory and a large chunk of her past.
She lives in an assisted-living facility (the politically corrected version of “old-folks’ home”). She carries her purse with her every place she goes. She wears her considerable age on the outside, but the inside is generally healthy. She has lost a few of her physical faculties. We think she doesn’t recognize my mom as her daughter, but does know her as someone she likes and trusts. The Petite Filet and I had to be re-introduced to her. She would gaze lovingly at the Cutlet, but repeatedly ask how old he was. But she can still laugh.
