Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Bar Game For The Solitary Drinker



I don't really go to the bars that much. It's great that people don't smoke in them in Illinois any more, but I still don't like them. I don't really drink alcohol too much either (cakey chocolate treats are my primary vice), just the occasional beer now and then.

However, every once in a while I can go for a beer. I went out for a walk a few nights ago and decided to have a beer in the middle of it. There's a bar about a mile from my house, which makes it a nice halfway point (Irish Times, if you must know).

Anyways, the few times I have popped in for a midwalk beer, I have had a relatively good time. I've heard some nice music, struck up a conversation with someone sitting next to me, etc.

This last time I was relaxing for a few minutes at Irish Times. I was witness to a conversation where this girl would not stop talking. It was amazing to me that so many words could be strung together that say so little. I do know this:

A) She is moving
B) She's tough, and wouldn't ask a guy to help her move, unless there was a couch involved
C) She has a rainbow comforter
D) She has a lot of body pillows on her bed (whatever those are)

So, I focused my attention elsewhere, well, ANYWHERE but the rainbow comforter woman.

To pass the time, I looked at the bottles sitting behind the bar and reversed their names (in my head, though my lips *might* have been silently moving).

If you're a little bored at a bar, you may find yourself amused by this stupid little game.

Reversing the name can potentially change the contents of a bottle.

Example:

Chopin [vodka] turns into Nipohc. Hmm, sounds Japanese. A label of sake?

Red Stag reverses into the very satisfying Gats Der. I don't know what that is, but I would like a cup.

Unfortunately, not all liquors survive the reversal in a happy state.

I don't know that Yabmob Nigyrd is going to be on a shelf any time soon.


(Previously)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Sunset Clouds And A Partial Rainbow

Last Thursday was a strange mix of rain and sunshine.

I was outside playing with the kids in the front yard during the sunset, and it started raining. The clouds were big and colorful. I was hoping a rainbow would materialize (the kids had only seen one real life rainbow), and for about ten minutes we had one.

Yes, I took pictures!

CLOUDS








RAINBOW


Unconnected Tuesdays

Rain

Laser

Friday, August 21, 2009

Never... Give... Up...

Exercising on an elliptical next to mine, a tattooed man sings tunelessly along to whatever music his headphones are pumping into him.

He warbles the words "never give up", then immediately gets off the elliptical and walks away.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Peace Garden And The Butterfly

My mom is a retired art teacher.

She has been interested in gardening ever since I can remember.

For the last ten years, she has really thrown herself into her garden. What was once grass has been claimed by bushes, trees and flowers.

This picture doesn't do it justice, but here goes anyway:


I think her garden is essentially a living work of art that she is constantly nurturing. Whenever I walk through it, I get a feeling of peace.

I took the kids to Springfield to visit the folks this past weekend. I saw a butterfly flitting about one of the flowers, and got the urge to go take pictures of it.

Here they be! (click on any pic for a larger version)




Unconnected Tuesdays

Parachute

Toes

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Monday, August 3, 2009

Ball-peen Joe

Gary Sinise - Ball-peen Joe

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Happy Arrow-Time Day.

As you may know already, August 1st is Arrow-Time Day.

Please celebrate it with those closest to you.


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Name That Face: Round 2 Prizes

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UPDATE:

@dpressman gets the Pee Wee Herman watch!
@glitterlips24k gets the Giants & Toys DVD!
@wolfsothern gets The Portable Frank!
@artichoked gets the Big Boy bank!
@keithwade gets Samwise Gamgee!

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I thought I would get in front of Round 2 of my Twitter game Name That Face, and have the prizes all picked out before the round actually starts (on Monday, July 13th, by the way).

Just as in Round 1, the five highest point-earners will be awarded prizes.

The highest point-earner gets to choose a prize out of the five available. The next highest point-winner will choose from the four remaining prizes, etc. until the 5th place winner has to take the last remaining prize. Yes, the world is a cruel, cruel place.

Anyways, here are the prizes for Round 2, in no particular order of monetary value or coolness.

A Big Boy bank!



An action figure of the sexiest halfling this side of Rivendell, Samwise Gamgee!



The Portable Frank, a collection of stories from the wonderful Jim Woodring!



Giants And Toys, a very nifty Japanese movie from the 1950's about the cutthroat world of the candy business!



A Pee Wee Herman watch!



Thanks a lot for playing. I hope to see you Monday!