monday meh, mehta edition

Some kind of crud has caught up with me, and I wish I could just stay in behd. Bronchitis, maybe. Alas, I have two meetings today, and a new graduate assistant starting. Maybe after a scorching cup of tea I'll feel a bit better...

I also don't have much stomach for current events.

Funky Friday, Sloopy Saturday...

It's Friday.
It's the last Friday of the month.
As a certain 'nother blogger might say, "'Nuf said."

Wienerdog Wednesday, Renaissance edition

Vitruvian Wienerdog from Terry Pond:

"The proportions of the Dachshund figure seem mathematically implausible, with an incongruously long torso region and short arms and legs. Surprisingly fine-boned and even graceful shins, while the haunch is rounded and even meaty (seen more in some specimens than others). A fifth appendage, the "tail" often moves of its own accord.

Travel on all four legs is preferred mode of locomotion as subject has a tendency to topple whilst walking upright. In males parts seems perilously low for travel up stairs and other inclines, especially in particularly portly specimens.

The elongated face of the Dachshund ends in a wet, leathery snout, which is often engaged in inquisitive activity, while the tongue is companionaly close at hand, also wet but not as leathery.

Eyes are deeply expressive and effective at communication, which is fortunate as assorted yaps, barks and whines would otherwise indicate rather primitive language skills."

monday meh

Animeh.

Is it still January?

Funky Friday, better late than never edition

Some songs are timeless, and bring back memories of good times & places.
Some fashions ... not so much.

Happy weekend!

Wienerdog Wednesday

Great slide show from the Life archives. It seems clear now that early experience living with dachsuhunds gave Marlon Brando the inspiration for his Godfather role -- because who can refuse a wienerdog?

Even though the weather here returned to "seasonably yech" after a relatively warm & sunny weekend, even though intellikid has gone back to Boston, even though the economy continues to suck and the political climate is still crazier than my great-aunt Helen, I'm determined not to get in a January funk.

And I'm determined to eventually have something of interest to write about in this space.

In the meantime, I've got homework to do.

monday meh, countdown edition

"only" 62 days of winter left...

Funky Friday

I got mine workin' ... how 'bout you?

Wienerdog Wednesday

By artist Rachel Caldwell
(via Recovering Lazyholic)

This explains so much... and yes, you had to be there.

monday meh, no comment edition

I've posted this before, but it seems fitting...again.

funky friday, 1 out of 2 ain't bad edition

I've always liked Doc's version of this song best. If you haven't made any New Year's resolutions yet, resolve to catch Doc at a live performance -- soon! He'll be 88 this year & you never know when he might take a notion to retire.

Introducing: Weinerdog Wednesday!

Because the content of my blog hasn't deterioriated enough, I've decided to add this new feature, Weinerdog Wednesday. Something to fill the silliness gap between Monday Meh and Funky Friday. Today's featured weinerdog is my own Scooter Pie. Actually she's intellikid's pooch, but since I pay for the kibble & vet bills, I claim part ownership.

Scooter Pie is an 11 year old longhaired miniature dachshund. In spite of her long tenure with us, she hasn't got us completely trained, but she nevertheless seems to have aspirations that we will bow to her every bow-wow, particularly when we are doing interesting things in the kitchen.

Happy Weinerdog Wednesday!

(Half) full of it

During last night's commute home, I heard a report on the radio that revealed the results from some survey or other (unfortunately I can't find the story on NPR's Web site) claiming that France is the most pessimistic country, while Nigeria claims the No. 1 spot on the optimisim scale. The purported reasoning behind this is that, even now, emerging countries are experiencing economic growth, while developed countries are sunk in the despair of the global recession's aftereffects. In other words, some folks have nowhere to go but up, while others who are seemingly doing ok are nevertheless struggling to simply maintain their standard of living, whether it means giving up daily lattes, eating beans and rice more often, or -- horror of horrors -- having to buy off-the-rack.

In spite of the French blood I've inherited from my paternal grand- grandmère, I believe I am an optimistic individual. But I'm realistic, too. The cup is half full, but it might be half-full of cyanide -- you have to be cautious about these things. What really forces me to be optimistic, though, is being a parent. I remember holding my freshly hatched kid while watching the first Gulf war unfold and despairing over bringing an innocent into this effed-up world. So I worked at making her world a happy one, to the extent possible.

Intellikid had an advantage in that she didn't have a concept of "the way things used to be" for a frame of reference. So many of the (depressed) adults I have known are pining for something that was, having convinced themselves that they'll never be happy because things will never be the same. I've generally been able to believe -- or fool myself into believing -- that change can mean that things will get better. I'm willng to redefine what it means to be happy; I may no longer have the disposable income to visit the massage therapist twice a month, but I still have the luxury of time to read, and pathetic though it may seem to some, that makes me happy!

So, like the fellow in the cartoon above, I am feeling a bit optimistic about 2011, but with nothing more stimulating than a good strong cup of coffee to fortify my positive outlook, I know that there will probably be some trying times. Things could get worse. But I'm thinking of my life as more of a roller-coaster ride than a long downward slide.

(Image Source: someecards)

Monday Meh

Woman with Three Hairs Surrounded by Birds in the Night byJoan Miró

It may be a bit difficult to see the meh in this work.
It's also a bit difficult to see myself going back to work after a 2 week holiday.
Meh.

Here we go again

Happy New Year, all! 2010 may just go down in my memory as the fastest-moving year ever -- is anyone else having trouble believing that we've made another trip around old Sol already? I commented at PENolan's place that I hadn't gotten a 2011 calendar yet and so was living under the delusion that another year hadn't really gone by. Today, however, I have to pay bills, so I'll need to remember to write the new year on my checks....

Just because I've been in a state of chronological denial doesn't mean I haven't been a tad retrospective these past several days. It didn't take long, though, because 2010 may also be my laziest year ever. But oh, I had plans. And my toenails were always painted.

Well, luckily none of my projects had expiration dates, so in that regard the passage of time is of little consequence. I did, however, do some really important things, like reconnect with a number of old friends as well as grow some new friendships. And not just because I want help getting my other projects done --- but if any of you happen to have carpentry skills....