Skrambled Ramblings: October 2005

Bunson and Beaker

T-Rex

A Goat in Market Square

Happy Halloween!

I hope all of you were out egging houses, saran-wrapping vehichles, and toilet-papering houses like I was. (Kidding, of course.) Went downtown for the annual Halloween parade. I'm just going to post a few of my favorite pics.

Shark in Wave? (see previous post)

I was just looking at the previous picture that I posted, and I thought I saw a shark in the wave. Am I hallucinating?

Doh!

391st Post in 365 Days

As I sit writing this, the legs of my pants are still wet with salty ocean water, and the unique fragrance of beaches, salt marshes, and woods still clings to my clothes and skin. Today being Daylight Savings Time, I took advantage of the extra hour and the beautiful weather and headed out to Odiorne.

The weather on each of the last few weekends has been rainy and crappy, so I had to get out to snag some pictures (sunlight is crucial for good, full-color pictures, of course), and to try to catch a fish at the Jetty. Through a combination of inland flooding and tidal surge from the hurricanes, the tide was especially high. The normally easy-to-access jetty had waves washing over it, and at certain points I was straddling boulders with waves crashing over me, just to get to the next dry section.

Certain rocks were dry and seemed safe, so I stood and watched the rip-curling-seven-foot waves crashing on the breakers in the distance, but I knew that the water would be heading straight for the jetty I stood upon. I meditated, prayed, became one with the universe, and did whatever other unnameable spiritual things I seem to ascribe to. I started to worry that I might be swallowed up by one of these waves. I saw the awesome power of the Ocean (and the Earth) and was afraid, but another unseen force gave me strength, and guided me, and gave me Courage. For a short time, all the crises of my life faded, and I submitted myself to the Will of the Universe. . .

I didn't end up fishing at all, since the jetty was too dangerous, but I did catch some great pictures. I will be posting pics on Re-Inventing the Wheel throughout the day, as time allows (first pic may not appear for a few hours), and stopping by to visit some blogfriends. I have a lot of catching up to do.

PS--Crap, I just realized that I missed my own blog birthday. Perhaps I'll create a post and back-date it to display on my birthday.

PPS--I just witnessed the absurdity of Blogger's spell-check. It doesn't even have the word "blog" in its dictionary.

-From 1984, Chapter One

The Ministry of Love was the really frightening one. There were no windows in it at all. Winston had never been inside the Ministry of Love, nor within half a kilometre of it. It was a place impossible to enter except on official business, and then only by penetrating through a maze of barbed-wire entanglements, steel doors, and hidden machine-gun nests. Even the streets leading up to its outer barriers were roamed by gorilla-faced guards in black uniforms, armed with jointed truncheons.

It's been a while since I've read 1984, but the previous post brought it back to my mind. I read and saw this particular paragraph in a different context than was intended (or perhaps, not, I don't really know). It could be that he meant these lines to be as (anti-) erotic as they are.

Bah ha ha ha!!!!

Oh man, it is ever so hard not to look at a train-wreck--or rather, a train going off the rails. The first sitting White House official to come under indictment in over 130 years, Good Old Scooter, could be looking at 30 years behind bars. This is only the begining, my friends.

From the Bloomberg article: Bush said Libby "sacrificed much'' in service to the country.

I thought to myself, "Ummm...yeah. . .like his integrity, his dignity, his sense of honor and decency, his loyalty to America. . ."

The Bush Junta has repeatedly demonstrated that they'll go to any means, however low and cruel, to attain and hold on to power. But this story is about much more than a vindictive (and treasonous) leak of an undercover agent's identity. This goes to the heart of the Bush Junta's argument for invading Iraq.

Ambassador Joe Wilson, the wife of the exposed agent, was becoming an increasingly vocal critic of the Bushies claims of weapons of mass destruction, so they took care of him mafia-style, in the shamelessly corrupt and deceptive ways they do everything.

By doing this sort of thing, they can control the headlines. They changed the headline from "Is the Adminstration Lying About Iraq WMD's?", to "Critic of Administration is married to a CIA Agent". The year is 1984 my friends, and this administration's version of "Freedom" truly is Slavery.

At any rate, I need to stop ranting. G'night all, and please enjoy the lovely trainwreck. Feel free to rubber-neck.

What Were the Reasons Again?

Yesterday marked the 2,000th official death of a U.S. soldier. See this story. Who knows what the real number is, or the number of maimed or wounded or permantly, mentally scarred, or the number of innocent Iraqis, or the number who will continue to die for decades of civil strife--if the world lasts for that much longer.

A few members of my family served in the military, and I have a lot of respect for our brothers and sisters who continue to die for a really big lie. They are good men and women who do their job, which means following orders. It is the job of We, the People, to hold our leaders to account for this mess they created. We failed to do so in the last election, but there is still hope. They may end up sinking their own ship.

While we musn't forget all the other people that died, let us pause for a moment to remember the 2,000 American soldiers, most of whom were fighting for a cause they believed in.

Do you know what 2,000 human beings looks like? Allow me to demonstrate:

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New Quote

I've changed the quote again in my profile. It's not that I'm a huge fan of Carrey. I think he's okay, but this particular interview with him was amazing. Truly inspirational.

Perhaps I'll write up an original profile description one of these days, but I kind of like doing it this way. We shall have to see.

It's raining again today, so I may be stuck indoors. I'll return later with something or other.

Jarhead

I just saw a preview for the movie, "Jarhead", starring Jamie Foxx, and I had to comment quickly. Maybe it'll be a good movie, but I'm quite bothered by the "Jesus Walks" song by Kanye West playing in all the previews. It sort of goes along with the whole crusade or holy war theme of the war in Iraq and the War on Terr-urr.

To anyone in the Muslim world who sees this preview, or this movie, please allow me, the Skrambled One, to assure you that most Americans do not see ourselves as a Christian nation waging a crusade against Moslems. Most of us have read the Davinci Code and are no longer seeking the holy grail.

Here is some recommended reading (found via Buzzflash). It appears that the administrations ship is sinking. . .

"How Did I Get Here?"

Life has been somewhat crazy of late, so I've had little time to write for pleasure, rather than the pain induced by strictly writing marketing materials for the last couple of weeks. I think the results are pretty good though. If so, I'll have much more work in dealing with responses to what I wrote, but at least I won't be bored.

I've decided to dedicate Re-Inventing the Wheel to posting photos, as I'm growing concerned that Skrambled Ramblings is turning into a photoblog. I need to dedicate Skrambled to thoughts and words and tales of random adventures--and, oh yes, and incessant ranting. Nothing beats a good rant, and I'm sure I'll have one coming to this page soon. My point is, a picture can be worth a thousand words, but too many can be detrimental.

I need another creative outlet in order to preserve Skrambled for what it was designed for--releasing some positive or negative energy through words and (some) pictures and quotes and thoughts and dreams and tales of random adventures. I think the new page will help keep me focused on writing, and things will work out better this way. I'll still post photos here, but only the ones I like the most.

In recent days I've been going through a weird transitional phase in my life, in many good ways, but also in many mind-blowingly stressful ways. I rocked the boat a little at work last week, so I think they've had their RADAR on me. I've been working extra hard, and I think everything is cool now. I love the job, and life is good, but they're both really fucking hard sometimes.

On a positive note, I am officially declaring that I am no longer under the spell of any woman. I know this to be true, because I have become permanently disillusioned, irreparably so, by the one who last fucked up my world. She knows who she is, and perhaps she knows of the hundreds of times that she has hurt or disappointed me as a friend. I'm no angel, but I try to be a good friend, especially when it's their birthday or they're in an urgent time of need.

She can't spare thirty seconds of her busy life (she is, after all, the center of the universe), to check out my blog, so she probably won't see this for a while. But she probably will see it at some point. For my own sake, for memory's sake, I'm going repeat what I said to her. I hope she doesn't get too pissed: "(insert her name), I just want you to know that I am over you. I'm just trying very hard not to go beyond that and get to the point where I don't like you as a person anymore."

We've maintained our friendship all this time, but things have just gotten to the point that she doesn't respect me, and criticizes, and treats me like shit. I've taken enough abuse, and our relationship as friends is only going to deteriorate if things don't change. I feel awake now, and aware, and it feels really good. That's all I'm saying 'bout that.

If you've read for this long (if anyone still comes by here, at any rate), congratulations! I kind of started to go off on a few tangents there. Once again, a reminder, please stop by Re-Inventing the Wheel. I may be updating that more frequently than this page, but only with pictures. And by the way, I'm coming up on my first Blog Birthday, which is kind of cool. At any rate, I'm off to bed soon.

Harbor Islands

Ahhh. . .

The Edge

The View from Atop Cadillac Mountain, Acadia

A House in the Distance

--Taken at Boothbay Harbor, en route to Bar Harbor

The Hump

Rest In Peace

Thank You Mr. Mather

Road Trip

"Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Such diverse habitats create striking scenery and make the park a haven for wildlife and plants.

Entwined with the natural diversity of Acadia is the story of people. Evidence suggests native people first lived here at least 5,000 years ago. Subsequent centuries brought explorers from far lands, settlers of European descent, and, arising directly from the beauty of the landscape, tourism and preservation."----abstract from this website.

It was an unfulfilled goal of mine to get to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Maine, this past summer (it's about four hours away, which makes it a tough day-trip). Today I finally got there on my first real test-drive of the new car, and despite the clouds, the scenery absolutely blew my mind.

I have work-related stuff I need to get to, so no time for writing. I'm going to start posting pics as time allows. I have many.

Raging Sea with Surfer

Adrift

Rough Seas

It's rainy and crappy out, as it's been for a week, but I tried to get outside to get some pics. I wanted to go for a long drive in my new car, but the weather just sucks.

"The Sky is Crying"

--taken at gorge on Kancamagus Highway, Oct. 1st, 2005.

“I feel like a sailor—no, a fisherman—washed upon the shore. I still sleep for five hours at a time, work for twelve hours, then nap for four hours, and then fret or work for three hours and 59.999999 minutes—and the cycle continues. . What sort of life is this?.”—Unknown (circa 1910)

Que Sera, Sera. . .

Wow, what a crazy week. It really, really sucks to be car-less (unless you live in NYC or another cool city, of course). I'll be picking up the car in the morning, and driving all day. It's been raining every single day since my car died, perhaps an omen. . .

I remember saying in a comment to either Livewire or Jennsee&Mysfit that, for me, things tend to become increasingly frantic as the moon waxes, and that the best and worst things tend happen right around the full moon (which is on Monday). What follows is the denouement, positive or negative. The moon controls the tides, so why wouldn't it have an effect on humans, who are 75% water in composition? At any rate, it sucks to have your car die in the middle of nowhere, 75 miles from home.

I've had a lot of other problems to deal with this week, work- and finanacial-related, but I won't delve too deeply into those items. Both were resolved, above and beyond my expectations.

So, life is hard, but it is Good, god damn it. I was pushed to the breaking point this week, but I didn't snap. To go along with the cliched title, I'll close with this: "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

**Oh yes, one more thing. I've donated my dead Camry to MARE, INC. I was going to try to sell some of the new parts, but it just isn't worth the trouble to me. I hope the car goes to good use with this charity.

My Sexy New Bitch

I'll be picking up this sexy little machine tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I have been car-less for three days, and bumming rides. No time to post, my ride to work should be here soon. More to come this weekend.

Alas, to be Buried Again

Sure, it can survive 40 inches of snow, but a little heat?!

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"

I mentioned in a recent post that my recently deceased car was baby blue, but that I got the car from my parents and hated the color, but loved the car. At any rate, these Bob Dylan lyrics are dedicated to the memory of my wonderful, baby blue Camry.

You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last.
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast.
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun,
Crying like a fire in the sun.
Look out the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense.
Take what you have gathered from coincidence.
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.
This sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home.
All your reindeer armies, are all going home.
The lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor.
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you.
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore.
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

They've Still Got It!

--Taken on camera phone. U2 stage as seen from our lovely seats in the last row of the upper upper level behind the stage. We actually loved our seats though. The sound was good and we were right above the band. Bono spent most of the night running around the outer circle. The show was awesome.

BREAKING NEWSALL PENDING TALES HAVE BEEN PRE-EMPTED**

So, yesterday was one of the worst days I've ever had. I wish I could say it was the worst, but I've been through Hell (Mordor, even) before. I could go on a long rant, but I'll try to tell the short version of the story.

In New Hampshire, you have to pass a vigorous inspection of your car in order to get an inspection sticker that allows you to have the vehicle on the road. I spent over $700 making repairs to my car this week, and then it died. Yesterday. Grrrrr.... If I hadn't spent all that money, I wouldn't be so annoyed, as the car just hit 200,000 miles, and I was ready for sudden death at any moment. I have to think that it's more than coincidence that the day after I pick my car up from the mechanic it dies, due to causes completely unrelated to work they did. I need to figure out if they caused it to die.

I was driving down to CT to visit the parents, and was on schedule to be there at noon. At around 10:00am, I was hungry and decided to get off an exit to go to a Dunkin' Donuts. My car stalled, and I saw that the temperature gauge on the dashboard was beyond the red zone. I stopped for a while at a gas station, let the engine cool off, and then added coolant and water.

Anyone who's ever opened the hood of a car has seen the note on the radiator cap that says: "Caution! Do Not Open When Engine is Hot". My friends, I urge you to heed this advice. After I got back on the highway, the car started to overheat again. I tried to get to the next exit, but I had to pull off to the side of the highway. I let the car cool down again, or so I thought.

I grabbed a tee-shirt (thank God), put it over the cap to the radiator and began to turn it. As I did so, steam began to rush out of the radiator. Sensing what was happening, I dove backwards, avoiding most of the spray from the 30-foot high volcanic eruption of rusty brown, boiling-hot anti-freeze. The image of that shit spraying out of my beloved car will forever be engrained in my brain.

I had it all over my clothes, but was lucky enough to avoid being burned by the toxic sludge. There was a pond of toxic brown coolant surrounding my car. I've heard that cats are attracted to anti-freeze/coolant, and often lap it up and die. See this story. I was thinking that there is probably a pile of dead animals--several deer, coyotes, bears, squirels, etc.--surrounding the area where my car was. I found it disturbingly amusing to think about.

So, I had AAA pick me up and bring me to the nearest, open repair shop. This happened on a Saturday, when most garages are closed, and on a "holiday" weekend when almost every garage is closed on Monday. Did I mention that it was pouring rain throughout this ordeal? They towed me to Acton Toyota, where I learned that my engine is FUBAR'D. They tell me the engine is dead.

I got a good deal on a rental, but I don't know what the fuck I'm going to do about getting a new car. I may not post again until I get this resolved, but who knows. As I told Hansy, I had to change my profile picture, as it reminded me too much of my now deceased automobile. Perhaps I shall return later to vent and cool off a little (pun intended). We'll see.

Evil One, R.I.P.

The Evil One has been deleted, due to the following discovery:

Either the guy who had the satan baby costume is a sick fucker, or someone hacked his site. At any rate, this dude is just too twisted for me. Satan is dead. Praise Jesus.

New Header

I seem to have lost my previous egg picture on the top. I think the site I was stealing the image from went down. I like the new one, but I'll eventually cook up some eggs of my own, take a picture, and use that for the header. I hope this one is good enough for my wonderful blogfriends.

Stranded

It's been a while since I've posted, and I have much to write about. However, I am currently stranded at a Toyota dealership in the middle of MA after my car overheated. It's a really cool dealership, with laptops available for customers to use (plug: Acton Toyota). This just about ruined my day. I'm waiting to see if I can get it fixed today, a Saturday when they close early, and on a holiday weekend. This really REALLY sucks.

Last night I saw comedian Lewis Black perform, and it was freaking awesome. More to come on this when I get home and can write more.

Also, I finally got to see U2 in concert on Monday night. It was seriously the best show I've ever been to. More on this later.

Okay, I'm off to the waiting room.

Ahhhhh. . .

Ahead of Schedule

Sorry Guys

I had to start using the "word verification" option for comments after a deluge of spamments. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Alas, the Old Man is No More

The Old Man BEFORE crumbling to the ground in May of 2003:

What it looks like now:

Cathedral Ledge

White Horse Ledge, Seen From Cathedral

Another View

View From Cathedral Ledge

Looking Down

What Are You Looking At?!

Locust on Granite State Granite

Life Is Good----Sometimes. . .

I just got back from my camping trip in the White Mountains. We didn't attempt to do a serious hike, such as the one I mentioned in the previous posts, but we drove around to several shorter nature trails where we could hike to scenic vistas.

I'm too tired to write, but I'm going to be throwing images up throughout the night. I'll start things of with a lovely insect photo. At first we thought he was a grasshopper, but now I'm thinking he's a locust.

Skrambled Ramblings

Monday, October 31, 2005