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anyway, I'm in slow mode this morning, drinking tea, need a shower, running late. It's going to be a long ass day I can tell. I'll be training the Company owner's 19 year old nephew for the next couple weeks, he's been forced by his mother to work in IT the whole summer with us, perhaps to learn a bit about the business, he talks an awful lot tho .. but maybe that's not such a bad thing, makes the time pass a bit more quickly.

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Laters :)

S10 C12 148

Ever drink so much Tea or Coffee you start to think about things way too much? Working that shift required me to have a bit more than normal and voila, at 3AM last night I emptied some of my most private thoughts into the blog. I'm reading it now and thinking, what the hell? I thought I only opened up to that degree when drinking. Evidently not. So just pass by it and continue on. I was glad to see my ex-wife also read it (and commented, although not addressing the subject .. she still made her presence known), the fact that she reads here now is beginning to inspire rather than upset me. Who thought something positive could come of that? Love ya *wink*.

(originally published Thursday October 20, 2005 5:20 PM)

Inspired by the very cool ScandinavianNova and partly because I am sitting here at work (2nd shift again tonight...ehk) here is a list of 52 totally unnecessary things to know about me....


1. I am a Gemini

2. I was adopted at birth (my birthfather is Persian)

3. I met found my birthparents at age 19.

4. My high school class included 106 kids, of which only 97 graduated.

5. My favorite colors are green and orange

6. My favorite number is 4

7. I have two cats, sisters someone gave me when they were 3 weeks old (they are now 4 1/2)

8. I was once married to a woman.

9. I have 2 children.

10. I have lived in Hampden County, Massachusetts since birth.

11. I have a great fear of Sharks, and have nightmares about them year round.

12. I once had a 10 minute conversation with Tori Amos about her Native American ancestry.

13. Gavin Rossdale once walked in front of my Hampton Beach, NH hotel window

14. I actually think Courtney Love has talent, apart from her other deficiencies.

15. While I do vote, I never voted for Bill Clinton.

16. The two most beautiful cities I have ever visited were Copenhagen, Denmark and Toronto, Ontario

17. I am an only grandchild on my dad's side.

18. My father passed away when I was 15 as the result of a cocaine overdose.

19. My father was an interior designer and left my mother when I was 4 for a man.

20. I have a step-sister.

21. I operate 3 Websites dedicated to genealogy.

22. The only vegetable I will not eat is Asparagus.

23. I really dislike Lobster, Scallops and crab.

24. I love all white fish..and can only handle Salmon occasionally.

25. my alltime favorite musical lyric is "you never know just how you look through other people's eyes" From Pepper by the Butthole Surfers

26. I have always had a strange fascination with Tracey Ullman.

27. I have always had a strange fascination with John Waters films.

28. I love Parker Posey, and have tried to see everything she's done.

29. I cant stand Jim Carey or Robin Williams.

30. I drive a 2005 Silver Nissan Altima.

31. I grew up with Horses, we always had at least 2.

32. My first horse was a Palomino named Tequila Sunrise, I was 8.

33. My first plane ride was at the age of 10 we flew from Hyannis to Nantucket.
My parents did this intentionally to prepare my step-sister and I for an upcoming trip to California.

34. I hate cheesy talk shows.

35. I think Johnny Depp is far more attractive than either Bradd Pitt or Tom Cruise.

36. I am listening to Something Vague (Bright Eyes) right at this moment.

37. I work in IT.

38. I was a History major on college.

39. My shoe size is 12.

40. I weigh 155 pounds and am 6' tall.

41. I can drive to Hartford CT in 20 minutes, and Albany, New York in 1 hour yet it takes 1 1/2 hours to get to Boston, my own state capital.

42. I've never been to New Orleans...though have always wanted to.

43. My Yahoo ID is MrZebra4444 after the Tori Amos song "Mr Zebra"

44. My eyes are very dark brown, so much so people comment on them regularly.

45. My favorite Manson song is Tourniquet.

46. I don't have any tattoos.

47. I have not had a drink since July 18th. *yikes*

48. I have been single since January 2003.

49. I have had two live-in relationships since my divorce, both lasting 3 years.

50. I love hot food, to the point where I break into a sweat.

51. I had braces from the ages 10-17.

52. I have a unibrow that I refuse to separate.

There..whew. That wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.
Eh...something different anyway. Would love to see others give that a go.

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CRANK CALL FRIDAY

I need to get back to doing this, lately I've been laxed. Today's selection is dedicated to Cesco, and it's one of his favorites (mine too). It is from Comedy Central's Crank Yankers, and features poor elderly Helen Higgins, who's insensitive son has trained her pet Parrot to shout out obscenities and call her very offensive names. Enjoy!

The Parrot

(click to play, right-click to save)

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Laters :)

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SO yea, thanks to my friend Kalvin I downloaded and tried out Skype for the very first time. I mean I'd heard of it before (obviously.. I listen to waay too many podcasts) but I guess never really thought about trying it out for myself. Had a decent chat today even. Now for the next step, a Persian Podcast .. how much fun does THAT sound? Ok well don't get too exited, nothing is definite yet.

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So that is today's casualty of my working 2nd shift, I had way too much time on my hands and a new toy to play with so I completely forgot to post. There is a first. Something more substantial tomorrow.

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Work last night was quickly over and today is my last night on this nightmare shift. I actually got to chat later when I got home to a really cool fellow blogger from an unamed Southern State of Grey Haired fame (hint hint), who I have been reading and exchanging comments with for a while now. We have some important things in common and someday it would be cool to meet. You know who you are there buddy :) It's 2:12 now and I have to leave in 20 minutes, haven't showered or made my less than exiting lunch (looks like another salad event).

I swore it said "Red Wine Vinaigrette" ... who thinks of these flavors?? ehk

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Laters :)

S5 C11 146

Introducing Great-Grandmother Maria Giuseppa Marciano, born April 17, 1889 Carini, Provincia di Palermo, Sicily daughter of Antonino & Francesca Angela (Marciano) Marciano. Yup, both her parents were Marciano's, 2nd cousins in fact, and to make it worse, Giuseppa married her OWN first cousin (her father & his mother were full siblings), my Great-Grandfather Antonino. It's no wonder their children were born without deformities!

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It is the 1651 Church marriage record for Carlo Marciano to a Greek bride named Mattea Norcia "from Plane Grecorum or The Plane of the Greeks". I used this document to study further into this woman and discovered her parents arrived from Albania approximately 30 years earlier where they belonged to a large Greek Colony. Fascinating stuff when you see it all right before you. As another interesting point, and because of the intermarriages within my family, I descend from Mattea Norcia a total of 9 times in 4<> different lines.

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(Christian Bale, The Machinist, he just couldn't sleep)

The effects of no sleep & multiple meals

Ok so I discovered something this week. If you get little sleep, and eat every couple hours, your body/metabolism kicks into overdrive and you lose weight. The thing is I don't need to lose weight, but it still happened. I mean I was chowing all day and night long, an insatiable hunger came over me for some reason. I even had like 2 candy bars! Yet when I woke up this morning I felt emaciated and starving, and when I stepped on the scale I realized I am down to 147 at 6', thats like 5 pounds in the last 3 days. Yikes...! I guess they weren't kidding when they said keeping the metabolism active with small meals throughout the day works, should you desire to lose. I mean I haven't Walked or crunched now since Saturday (not feeling motivated with these weird hours) so my physical activity has been very much reduced. Baffling..

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Thanks everyone for their suggestions on where to get an in-house Washer/Dryer, I will have one soon no matter what the cost. That Laundromat shit is a nightmare, I don't know how people deal with it on a regular basis (can you tell it's the first time ever I have had too?) Think about that before you move into a condo or apartment which requires you to wash your clothes in such a place. Yea I mean taking things to family/friends sounds easy enough, but in the end it's a royal pain in the ass, try it and you will see what I mean.

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So anyway two more days of this shift. Then its a 4 day weekend... :)

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Laters :)

S4 C12 147

Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanoff

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Yes Anastasia

(click above to play, right click to save)

lyrics

I know what you want the magpies have come
if you know me so well then tell me which hand i use

make them go
make it go

saw her there in a restaurant
poppy don't go
i know your mother is a good one
but poppy don't go
i'll take you home
show me the things i've been missin
show me the ways i forgot to be speaking
show me the ways to get back to the garden
show me the ways to get around the get around
show me the ways to button up buttons
that have forgotten they're buttons
well we can't have that
forgetting that

girls girls what have we done to ourselves
driving on the vine
over clothes lines
but officer i saw the sign
thought i'd been through this in 1919
counting the tears of ten thousand men
and gathered them all
but my feet are slipping
there's something we left on the windowsill
there's something we left yes

we'll see how brave you are
we'll see how fast you'll be running
we'll see how brave you are
yes, Anastasia
and all your dollies have friends

thought she deserved no less than she'd give
well happy birthday
her blood's on my hands
it's kind of a shame cause i did like that dress
it's funny the things that you find in the rain
the things that you find
in the mall and in the date mines
in the knots still in her hair
on the bus i'm on my way down
all the girls seem to be there

come along now little darlin'
come along now with me
come along now little darlin'
we'll see how brave you are

(Much thanks to Audrey over at Hereinmyhead.com for the interview and lyrics)

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Laters :)

S3 C12 149

Today would mark the 63rd birthday of my father if he had survived. I never got up early enough (I'm on 2nd shift this week) to get over to the cemetery, as I usually do, maybe tomorrow. He was my adopted father, which I mention only to differentiate him from my bio-father who I have posted about recently. I was adopted at birth (well placed at 2 months actually) and for the first 20 years of my life he was the only father I knew.

This is the last photo I have of my father, taken about a year before he passed away. Notice the family Crest I made him hold (even then I was into family history and genealogy). I had received that Polaroid camera for Christmas the previous year, and went around photographing anyone would would let me. He was just 39 in that photo, yet looked easily in his 50's, alcohol and drug abuse, incessant bouts with dieting and weight gain. I have taken great examples from his failures, most importantly hardly letting a weekend pass without seeing my children, having never touched a drug (apart from smoking, which I have tried maybe 4 times) and maintaining a healthy diet and weight consistently for the past 10 years. He taught me so many things even in death. I love you dad, wherever you are.

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Well I am working 2nd shift tonight thru Thursday covering a vacation. Of all the shifts this is my least favorite. I worked these hours during my entire marriage and hated every minute of it. You get home at 11:30 , stay up till maybe 1AM then sleep till 11, eat something, and go back in for 2. You have no life whatsoever. Oh well, I do get an hourly differential so that's something in any case.

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I went out last night, for the 1st time in maybe 6 months (and it had been a year before that). I actually had 2 beers but am not upset about that, at least it wasn't vodka and I nursed them for most of the night hardly catching a buz. I had a blast, hung out with some friends, met a couple new ones caught up on stuff and laughed tons. I forgot how much fun a night out can be.

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Laters :)

S1 C10 150

and then my favorite addition..

these things are spicy & delicious, I break pieces off and eat with.

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My mother always throws in my face that I take the time and effort to eat healthy meals and exercise, yet I continue to smoke cigarettes.. I guess she has a point. I wonder why that I can be so disciplined in those areas yet fail miserably when I try to quit smoking??

(My birthfather, his grandfather, and sister April 20,1956)

(Veronica Odorisio Ginosa, daughter Assunta & son Alessandro, 1885)

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My birthfather came into my life soon after I found my biological mother. The story is outlined on my sidebar under "My Adoption". I was very fortunate that his mother cared little for older photographs and by the time she passed away in 2000 she had given me nearly every picture and document she had dating older than 20 years. I especially like this one of her son, my birthfather taken just a couple years before I was conceived.

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He married after separating from my birthmother, and had three children with his new wife. I was very fortunate to have known them for a period of time while we were close in the early 1990's. The four subsequently moved south later on and although I saw them once at our grandmother's funeral in November of 2000 we no longer remain in contact, I don't even have their address and phone number any longer. Here is a photo from one of the holidays we spent together.

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From left, me, my girlfriend (and subsequent wife), my half-sister,, sister-in-law, older half brother and in front younger half-brother. I have many pictures of them, but this is my most favorite of all.

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I have only discovered this past Sunday that my birthmother is moving from her Apartment in Springfield to (unbelievably) the Apartments directly across the street from my Condo building. I can see her parking lot from my front door. This should be interesting in terms of our future relationship, which has dwindled to nothing in the past 10 years. I am not so sure what to make of it yet, time will tell.

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I've completed day two of smokelessness! This will be the last mention in any post, I will continue to denote the number below in the code thingy at the end. It's been a stressful nightmare so far, but I am keeping busy and have stopped drinking tea or coffee and immediately involve myself in a chore or project when I get home. I've also been trying to stay away from the PC as that was the time I MOST enjoyed smoking. Ok enough of that I am starting to crave one right now...

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Answers to yesterday's Four truths and a lie...

1. I am a registered Republican -- TRUE (don't get the wrong idea)

I registered to vote for the first time in 1992 and at that time my candidate of choice was good old Daddy George Bush. Do I need to go on? In any case I haven't voted Republican since that election and now that I am in a new town and need to re-register this will finally be "fixed".

2. I was once nearly kidnapped by Libyan terrorists -- TRUE (although Terrorists may not be exactly the correct word in this case)

When I was turned 20, my Gram paid for a months trip to Europe for my then girlfriend and I. My girlfriend had to back out after pressure from her parents and I went alone. I flew in and out of Zurich, Switzerland and kept much of my luggage stored there in the hotel which I would spend my first two and last two nights in.

On one trip west to Geneva, where I was to catch this super fast train to Paris (called the TGV) I met this Libyan student who convinced me that I must not miss sightseeing in Geneva (which I had originally chose to skip visiting for any length of time). I explained I had no hotel reservations (it was later in the evening) and he said he had some sort of connection at a hotel called The Geneve Cornavin. Being young and naive and alone (not to mention thrilled to find an English speaking person) I agreed. We took a taxi to the hotel after arriving and he took care of everything, even paid for my room. Now why in the hell wasn't I suspicious already?? He stayed there as well (in another room naturally) DESPITE having an apartment close by. He also rang up my room three times during the night to "make sure I was ok".

The next day he took me briefly around the city, and then to "visit his father" who was staying at The Hotel Intercontinental not far from The United Nations Building. His father was a high ranking official in the Libyan government (or so he claimed), and I was brought upstairs to meet him. He seemed very irritated and angry, but then again I had no idea what they were saying to each other. We left the hotel and proceeded to visit a friend of Louai's named Mohammad Khashoggi (who I later discovered was the son of this super-rich arms merchant who has currently has been tied to two of the 911 pilots not to mention Osama Bin Laden himself!). I remember the building he lived in was guarded by these frightening looking security men and we had to go through three doors before we reached his apartment. Once again I have no idea what they were talking about, but the kid (he was my age) seemed very friendly and hospitable.

After that we returned to The Hotel Intercontinental once again, and by this time I was starting to get nervous, we hadn't seen a single site and it was already lunch time. He brought me outside to this patio where they served lunch and ordered something for me to eat, disappearing to go back upstairs and speak to his father. I barely ate. He came back down and sat with me for about a half hour and then disappeared again, asking me to wait for him in the lobby this time. All I remember was that there were all of these Arab diplomats coming in and out of the lobby and my blood pressure was starting to rise. He came back down and said he needed to wait a bit longer for his father, never explaining exactly what this was all about. I had already made up my mind to get the hell out of there at his next exit.

When he left me yet again, I quietly grabbed my Gap travel bag, walked out the front door and boarded a bus (which was covered with my Eurail Pass) and headed to the train station. I couldn't get to Paris fast enough. Obviously I never contacted or heard from him again. I truly believe that I avoided something, this guy was getting kind of creepy toward the end and well, the Khashoggi connection has recently cemented my fears. I don't know if many of you remember but back in the late 80's early 90's Libya was very much our enemy and it's leader Muammar Khadafi a complete lunatic. Here I was hanging out with the son of one of his ministers!!! I was such an idiot.

3. I have had sex (any definition) once in the past two years. TRUE

I guess since my breakup in '03 I have pretty much avoided Bars and well the online thing is not so appealing either. I just haven't been interested in even dating until maybe the last 6 months, and the two people I did try to date grew boring quickly and I stopped answering their calls. Thank god there are other ways to relieve frustration not involving another warm body. :)

4. I once worked as a volunteer for a Mormon Church. TRUE

Shortly before finding my birthparents I began visiting our local LDS Family History Center in Bloomfield, CT. As some of you know the amazing genealogical resources of the Mormon Church are by far the largest in the world. I was in my late teens, had a car and impressed the Library's director so much she asked me to become a volunteer. I worked every other Saturday from 9-3 helping patrons utilize the library's microfilm catalog and ordering from Salt Lake. In time my duties included teaching classes on Italian and French-Canadian genealogy as well. I was there right up until my divorce, when I could no longer work weekends due to the fact that I now had my sons on the weekends (visitation). Once in a while I still go down there and they always ask when I will start volunteering again. Maybe some day.

5. I saw Nirvana at Springfield, MA in November of 1993. FALSE

While Nirvana did play The Springfield Civic Center in November of 1993, sadly I was not in attendance. I guess that is pretty much all I can say on this one. I wasn't there.

So... Scott, Daniel & Rob you were right! Good job!

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Laters :)

S88 C0 150

yeap I made it through day one, I feel pretty good about it considering how slow yesterday was at work. We received 3 calls the whole day. It was rainy, and cold and boring and my boss and I hardly spoke (as a result of the other day, go figure). Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Tori Tuesday....

Persian Toricast #1

(click on the image or link above, or right click to save)

In honor of this theme day I made the first Persian Toricast. It has very little spoken word and lots of Tori (nearly 40 minutes) blended into what I think is a beautiful medley of some of my favorites. If you walk, run, or drive to Podcasts and have not been exposed to her lyrical genius and breathtaking voice, have a listen, you will not regret it. I plan on making a few of these as time permits, but of course not every week. Enjoy!

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Laters :)

S87 C0 150

made sure you were always well fed...

insisted you drank plenty of Milk..

and had fun pets to play with...

didn't let you get into anything dangerous..

brought you fun places like the beach...

gave you neat props to play pretend with...

never forgot to change your diaper...

always had a nack for dressing you up in NEAT outifits..

and if you were lucky enough,

they started all over again with your kids..

because after all they were kids once too...

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I am also reminded of my grandfather (Nono), who was an old Sicilian and kept the memory of his mother alive right up until his death. As a matter of fact the last time I saw him, semi-comatose in a hospital bed, cancer ridden and struggling for his last breath, he was talking to her. Unbelievably he was telling her "No Ma, I'm not ready yet". Tears swelled up in my eyes as I stood there watching from across the room in complete disbelief. I suppose it was his mother there, at his most important time of need, helping him through that last journey. Some may say it is ridiculous to believe such things, but then again they were not there. He was talking to her and not 2 hours later was gone. In honor of my old Nonna (his mother) and also my grandfather, I am uploading the song that reminded him most of her, and one which could always make the tough old guy cry like a baby.. It's by Connie Francis and is called...

MAMA

(click above to play, it's sad yet beautiful)

lyrics (the English part)

When the evening shadows fall
and the lovely day is through
Then with longing I recall
the years I spent with you

Mama, I miss the days
when you were near to guide me
Mama, those happy days
when you were here beside me

Safe in the glow of your love
Sent from the heavens above
Nothing can ever replace
The warmth of your tender embrace

Oh, Mama, until the day
that we're together once more
I'll live in these memories
Until the day that we're together once more

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I hope you all have a great Mother's Day whether it is spending the day with her, or fondly remembering special memories spent with her no matter where she is now.

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Laters :)

S85 C12 151

(Anderson, Gloria & Carter about 1983)

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It is a descendency chart from "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt to both my grandmother (Claire Arnett) and Anderson. As you can see by the caption on the bottom they are exact 4th cousins, despite the age difference. That is due to Gloria's age (43) when Anderson was born and as well her father Reggie's age (44) when she came into the world. You can read more about Gram's 3rd Great Grandfather The Commodore by clicking on his name above. He was a fascinating man for sure, and whose likeness stands in front of Grand Central Station in NYC.

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Laters :)

S83 C13 152

My boss is an asshole. He's been a miserable prick since the day he arrived (I've been there about 3 years longer than he has). I remember the first day we met him, the asshole was in a mood already, and he didn't even have the job yet. It hasn't been any better since. His moto (although I have never heard him actually use this term) is "Shoot first, deal with the casualties later". I mean this guy makes fellow women coworkers cry, and if they aren't crying when they leave his office, thoughts of hatchets, guns and knives are surely on their minds. I thought I would outline exactly what it is about this jerk (and he's called worse on a regular basis) that I find offensive and grating.

1. He is just.plain.rude No other way to say it really, call him, expect to be belittled, accused of poor work performance and well anything that will send you out of his office as quickly as possible.

2. He is the weakest administrator I have ever served under. He pacifys his staff momentarily and will tell them whatever they need to hear (essentially) to once again, get them out of his office. I overlap shifts, so I have seen him in action when one person has a gripe against another. He basically tells each what they want to hear, instead of being objective and solving the mess.

3. He prays on the weak and introverted, well like myself. (I'll get into that in a second) If you aren't the type to give it right back to him, then he will walk all over you. However, if you are cute, female and under lets say 40 (he is in his late 50's) then he will charm you to death, smiling, speaking softly, catering to your every needs (within reason) let's not even go into the flirting, but then again there is nothing politically correct about the behavior in my office.

I remember one time I had a calendar a friend made for me with my old high school picture in the center as a sort of joke, which I had hanging up. He saw it and asked loudly and sarcastically:

"Why do you have a picture of a Guy on your calendar?"

or the time a co-worker took a day off to bring her son somewhere and I mentioned that he had given me a hard time about about taking my own son for a psychological evaluation...

"Well, she's a woman, they are closer to their children, you know how it is..."

ANYWAY... one of his trademarks is while in a bad mood (more often than not) if he sees or hears something which might serve to worsen his mood... he flies off the handle.

"I'm going to fire him tomorrow"
"Heads will roll"
"Somebody is going to lose their job over this"

well evidently something went wrong after I went home at 4pm Monday. I was the convenient brunt of his anger. Evidently he has witnessed me using the internet more than he would like.

NEWS FLASH-- I work in technical support, we are pretty much there to take problem calls, which range drastically in severity. Some days are very hectic, some are nearly eventless, but no matter what type of day it is we need to be there ready and able. In between, to preserve our sanity we have the Internet, all of us surf frequently when there is nothing pressing to do.

Well today I was called into my direct superiors office (My boss didn't even deliver this directly) and handed a written warning.

"Internet abuse" was the main reason supplied. My crime? having the closest and most visible desk to his evidently. Everyone around me is online constantly, but it is my desk that he frequents the most because of the nature of my work and naturally if I have a site up, he only views my screen when he comes out of his office.

ugh.. I need to get my resume together, I can only take so much more of his shit.

end.of.rant

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I guess I feel a little better, for now anyway. I was so aggravated tonight I neither walked nor crunched, ate pizza and watched TV. I feel like I've morphed into a couch potato, but stress can do this shit to you I suppose. Here's hoping tomorrow will get me out of this funk I am in.

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So I guess I've been wallowing all night and have had Fevers and Mirrors playing on repeat for a while. It's funny how I use music to saturate myself with energy sometimes, not always positive, and with Conor it's kind of double negative saturation. I have been a follower for about 5 years now and actually was able to catch them at The Calvin in Northampton 3 years ago. Bright Eyes is an instant adoration or repulsion with people. I am drawn to lyrics, I can't appreciate a song if it is lyrically weak. This probably explains my disdain for most of what is popular mainstream crap these days and my love for lets say.. Tori Amos or System of a Down. Yea they have something in common imagine that! Sonically as different as you can possibly imagine, yet both with a message twisted and interwoven into their lyrics. Anyway.. here is a sample track from my favorite Bright Eyes release and pretty appropriate given my mood tonight..

(click title below or pic above to listen)

"Sunrise, Sunset"

Bright Eyes

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Laters :(

S82 C13 152

Great-Great Grandfather Theodore Wyrwas, born 31 March 1849 Olesie, Dobrzyca, Poznan State, Germany son of Mateusz Wyrwas & Susanna Okupniczak. He emigrated to The United States in 1878, leaving Hamburg, Germany and arriving New York City. Within a year he traveled north to Springfield, Massachusetts where he appears in the 1880 City Directory for the first time. He married Springfield 3 March 1880 to Lucy L. Mercier , who he met through her father Edouard only 6 months before. The couple had 9 children before Theodore mysteriously disappeared in 1896. There was a rumor in the family that Lucy (who was quite unstable toward the end of her life) poisoned him and her family disposed of the body somehow, but this is pure speculation. Another rumor was that he removed south to Bridgeport, CT, changed his name and remarried, producing more children. While this is more likely, I have never been able to find someone who fits in the Connecticut State Library. I will keep looking and perhaps someday the mystery can be solved.

Panic! at the Disco

Check these guys out. Months ago my younger son accidentally downloaded a clip and burned it for us to listen while driving somewhere. (They actually sound at first listen quite like Fall Out Boy, explaining why the file was mislabled) Woah .. for a such a young group of guys they are amazingly talented. I am serious, freaking brilliant!! The lead singer Brandon is sooo going places. His passion, energy level, and dramatic grace are collectively quite impressive.

I've uploaded a clip to my server... their biggest hit so far, check it out you will not be disappointed, these guys are going to be even bigger methinks. Old news maybe, but many of my friends still haven't heard of them, hell nobody I know has.

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(click on the title below to listen)

I write sins not Tragedies...

(from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out)

Oh, well imagine; as I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor,
and I can't help but to hear, no I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words:
"What a beautiful wedding!", "What a beautiful wedding!" says a bridesmaid to a waiter.
"And yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore."

I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of...

Well in fact, well I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved
Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne
Oh! Well in fact, well I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved
Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne, pour the champagne

I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.

Again...

I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.

Again...

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Laters :)

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Lillian Gertrud Asplund

(1906-2006)

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Tori Tuesday #2

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I guess of all Tori's albums, I have bonded most with Pele (Boys for Pele, 1996). It was the latest out when I discovered her in the summer of 1997. My first listens were actually not (in natural form) from the album and rather 1st a dance mix of Professional Widow by Armand Van Helden, and then soon after the rather interesting (and my absolute favorite) version off of her Hey Jupiter EP entitled the "Merry Widow Version". While some of you may have heard the former, I will spare linking Merry Widow as it well, is a hard listen if you are not a Tori fanatic (and even then, many in that group detest it).

My most recent Ex (of 2) and I would have Pele on repeat random most of the time when we were listening to Tori, and for the first couple years of our relationship it was playing on random repeat while we slept (he liked to sleep to music, which was a new thing for me but I soon became addicted to it). We also had one particular track we would play if we were drinking, and I can't hear it now without instantly thinking of the old Vodka/Pepsi days. Since today is day 80 of my sobriety.. here is that song:

Caught a lite sneeze

caught a lite sneeze
caught a lite breeze
caught a lightweight lightningseed
boys on my left side
boys on my right side
boys in the middle
and you're not here
i need a big loan
from the girl zone

building
tumbling down
didn't know our love was so small
couldn't stand at all
mr. st. john just bring your son

the spire is hot
and my cells can't feed
and you still got that belle
dragging your foots
i'm hiding it well sister ernestine
but i still got that belle
dragging my foots

right on time you get closer
and closer
called my name
but there's no way in
use that fame
rent your wife and kids today
maybe she will
maybe she will caught a lite sneeze
dreamed a little dream
made my own pretty hate machine
boys on my left side

boys on my right side
boys in the middle
and you're not here
boys in their dresses
and you're not here
i need a big loan
from the girl zone

and here is an amazing video of her performance of the song on Saturday Night Live, January 20th, 1996. I've uploaded it to my server, click on the photo to play, or right click to save.

(Tori Amos, Caught a lite sneeze, Saturday Night Live 1/20/1996)

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A very special thank you to Audrey over at Hereinmyhead for the lyrics, and screen captures from the Caught a lite Sneeze music video photo at the top of this post.

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Laters :)

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- and -

I'm partial to anything with Jon Heder (he cracks me up to no end) but the final decision (as always) will be theirs. Each film has its good and bad points, and well, I can't decide. We talked about it last week (and chose Scary Movie 4 instead, which sucked in every way possible). Anyway..I overslept, this is it for now, more later (hopefully).

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Ok My rant of the day... this realy aggrivates me

"THINLY SLICED"

WHY oh why is it every time I go to the Deli (Saturday's usually) and order a pound of Turkey Breast does the old lady behind the counter assume I mean to have it sliced into a pile of fused together slop. I remember my mother as a kid always telling the deli attendant (and me if I should be running the errand) to make sure it is THINLY SLICED. Well today I said nothing about the thickness to her, I merely said that I wanted a pound of BB Turkey Breast (on sale evidently by the sign) the choice of thickness was hers. WTF...so what I ended up with was THIS??

Please someone enlighten me as to what I am supposed to do with this heap of poultry meat? Just reach in grab a glob and smush it into my wrap? I mean I just spent $6.00 on a pound of this stuff and I open the bag clueless as to how I get it out. You can't possibly seperate one "slice" from the other without it breaking off and staying close to the mush from wence it came. What is wrong with people (and my mother) that they would insist on having deli meats cut to this transparent thickness?

Anyone know?

Ok I feel better now,

rant.over

But still, must remember to say something first next time.

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Laters :)

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• Passed ONLY from mother to child during fertilization (fathers do not contribute)
• They are REPLICATED and almost never mutate for perhaps thousands of years.

(The marriage of Antonino Longo to Blandonia Maurici, 30 March 1572)

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Now for fun I decided I would try and find the farthest back Maternal line ancestor for my two sons (obviously through their mother and her mother and her mother etc.) and WHAT did I discover?? They descend directly in the matrilineal line from THIS notorious woman:

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Gillette Banne (born 1632 died 1672) who, with her 2nd husband Jacques Bertault were hanged on June 9th, 1672 at Quebec City, Nouvelle France (modern day Quebec) for the brutal murder of their son in law Latouche. Apparently Gillette first tried to poison him, when that didn't work her husband stabbed him with a pitchfork, but their young victim still stood strong, yet sadly in the end was no match for a crude shovel to the head. The couple then proceeded to dismember his body and dump it in pieces into the St. Lawrence River. Gillette gave a full confession against her husband and the two were found guilty (naturally), tied to a Giant Wheel (old French Medieval tradition) and suffocated by pulling the ropes around their neck tight. When they were found to be breathing no longer, the magistrate ordered the wheel spun breaking all four of their limbs before the bodies were removed and buried. Apparently in older times this would have been enacted while they were alive, but you see The French had grown civilized by 1672. It still amazes me that the mtDNA of this woman resides in every cell of not only my ex-wife, but my two sons. They fortunately will not pass it on to their children :) (should you care to read more on Gillette, here is a detailed PDF summary of her life, fascinating stuff)

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Y'all go out and have a Margherita for me ok? I thought in celebration of this special day I would upload a clip from a Mexican group which I have been listening to since I can remember (when the mood strikes) they are Trio Los Panchos and this is one of my favorites....

La Malageña

(right-click open in new window to play, right-click to save)

lyrics:

Que bonitos ojos tienes
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Debajo de esas dos cejas
Que bonitos ojos tienes.
Ellos me quieren mirar
Pero si tu no los dejas,
Pero si tu no los dejas
Ni siquiera parpadear.
Malagena salerosa,
Besar tus labios quisiera,
A tus labios quisiera
Malagena salerosa,
Y decirte, nina hermosa;
Eres linda y hechicera,
Eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.
Y decir de nina hermosa
Eres linda y hechicera,
Eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.

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Laters :)

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The Chronicles of Chaos & Susies the boss have deemed this day each week.. Tori Tuesday and I decided to take part because I have been a mad follower since the summer of '97 when I first heard Professional Widow (Armand) in a club. Strangely it is a mix least like any of her other work, but after hearing it I needed to find more and afterward bought Little Earthquakes (her debut album) and then Boys for Pele (I didn't fall for UTP until much later). Within a year I had almost everything she had released to date and was right there at the music store when From the Choirgirl Hotel was released in '98. I was hooked. I've seen her now 11 times (which is nothing really, compared to the number of times her more rabid fans attend shows) and was able to meet her once.

It was at a small radio thing in November of 2002. My ex got us these exclusive tickets to a small mini-concert (30 people) at WTIC 96.5 FM in Hartford CT. Each couple were allowed 5 minutes with her, a photograph, and signing.

(Tori & my Ex Tyler, I edited myself out..ehk)

( The front of my Silent All These Years Japan Mini Disc)

(the interior, signed for me)

She was amazing, sweet, beautiful and while she spoke to us, nobody else in the room seemed to matter. I had put together something I researched on her native American ancestor Margaret Little (whom she talks about often in Interviews) and she was floored. Joel her bodyguard had to remind her twice there were more people to talk to and Tori even wanted photographs taken with her own camera. She went on and on how her mother had tried to get this information to no avail and that she too would be thrilled to see the smallish booklet I put together. She even asked us if there was something we wanted to hear that night (she had a show later that evening at The Oakdale in Wallingford, CT. which we had 3rd row tickets to).

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I'm running late again (what's up with that???) and need to answer a MEME I was tagged for on Sunday later when I get to work. But for now this is the only post I have time to get up.

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In Deep . . .

A meme by James, who tagged me:

If you could be any person in the world, who would you be, and why?

I wouldn't want to be anyone other than who I am. I wouldn't mind a better job or a little more money however.

Describe a place you remember from your childhood.

My Nonie's house, full of amazing cooking scents and her loving arms.

How did you meet your closest friend?

hm.. well over the internet I guess. Strange but true.

What is something you do well?

research, genealogy, creative writing .. i guess that's it.

What would have happened if you didn't leave the house this morning?

I would have cleaned my house, gone on my daily 4 mile walk early and probably sat online and revamped my sites & blog.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Iran, the homeland of my paternal ancestors. We are talking fantasy right?

What sets you apart from the crowd?

My ability to read people, to be able to see into their character right away.

What do you want to be remembered for?

Yikes, probably nothing of importance, but I'm not dead yet!

What is the nicest thing you have done for someone?

I've helped many people locate their biological children or parents through a volunteer organization I used to belong to called TRY (Today reunites Yesterday)

What is the greatest lesson you've learned so far in your life?

well..to quote Joni Mitchell :

"Something's lost yet something's gained, in living every day"

would you spend a found $20 bill?

I would make an effort to find the owner, provided that was possible.

What is your favorite day of the week?

Saturday, the 1st day I get to spend with my sons each week.

How old would you be if you didn't know your real age?

hm, some days 20 and others 80, it depends on where I am and what I'm doing.

Name some things you are thankful for.

My children, my mother, and my family.

What was your favorite childhood toy?

This incredible Hulk toy whose arms stretched and was made of this squishy rubbery material. I don't remember what it was called but I took that thing everywhere.

and.. I tag .. Chai & Sympathy -- Donnie -- Rich Brown & Kalvin

Now I tagged you guys because y'all are some of my favorite people and I would love to hear your answers to these interesting questions. And for anyone else who wants to do it..Please do! I'll be over to read it soon enough. I could easily have made this a huge list, but 4 seemed like a reasonable number to stop with.

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Laters :)

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WHY would anyone still use the cumbersome pc-freezing monster that is the America Online software? I understand that there are those people (like myself) who's introduction to Windows based Internet revolved around and required this monster back in like '94, and may (unlike me) be afraid to abandon this crap for raw surfing using a web browser and free chat software like Aim/Yahoo/MSN or better yet Trillian (which is a mess in my opinion and until the bugs are worked out I'll stick with the other three). Still, every time I hear someone actually turns on their PC, logs on to AOL and never leaves the "security" of that monstrosity I just am in shock. I mean sure, my mother is like 60 and since her internet surfing skills came late and as well the simplicity of AOL in terms of Keywords, pop up reminders and an easily managed mailbox naturally make her feel safe and secure. I can understand her refusal to abandon it even given her recent switch to DSL. But what about the younger people? Why on earth would you use AOL exclusively and go through the whole slow start up PC lock crap every time you power up?

Word of advice, dump AOL, start using AIM for your buddy list (or Trillian if you dare), start using a browser such as Internet Explorer and see how much easier and more quickly pages load and your pc moves WITHOUT That monster running in the background. Yes I realize this is a ridiculous issue to post about but I keep running across people who need to read this and it's frustrating!!

anyway....I am blogging from work, not a good idea.

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Laters :)

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