Was fun! A gay cruise with 3,000 gay men, 200 lesbians, and a huge ship. What could be better?
Lots of shows to see and things to do. My absolute favorite show was the Kinsey Sicks drag shop quartet. Their voices were clear, pure and in perfect harmony. I was enthralled! Did not get to see much of Cashetta due to conflicts but did get to play a game of bingo with her. A new pianist, Khris made his debut and I predict he will become a regular, or at least I hope so.
Leslie Jordan was there again, and his show was good. Lots of good entertainment and laughs though it did skew a lot towards insider baseball. It was fun but to be honest his first show was fabulous fun and couldn't be matched again.
Seemed to be a few Raleigh boys on this ship,which was cool. Knew several of them beforehand and one in particular. There will be lots to chat about when they tell people the things I was wearing. I did several of the parties in theme, like the Yo Ho! pirates party, and the Dark Side and the Heart On. Got rave reviews for my surfer boy in the Baywatch t-dance. There were a couple of things I took that didn't get worn, but that just leaves them for the next cruise!
The ship itself was very nice, even if it did have way too few and much randomly located bathrooms. The crew and service improved and they learned how to keep a bunch of gay men entertained, no small feat that for sure! The drinks package was pretty damn good, practically unlimited liquor, Damn! My only complaint was fixing coffee and ending up with a handful of trash that then had to be separated into paper/plastic. Seriously, fix a coffee, and end up holding drippy creamer containers plus a wet stir stick and the paper it was wrapped in, and then lift by hand the trash lid. Cluster f*ck!
We visited St Maarten, San Juan and a private Cay island in the Bahamas. They were fun, got to hold and feed stingrays, plus see some big sea turtles. The rain forest in Puerto Rico was cool too. The next cruise however I'll be reserving my excursions the moment they become available! The zipline, catamaran, and jet skis excursions were all filled before I could reserve a spot of my own.
The final evening sat on the back pool bar deck, only about 3 of us
there chilling on our final eve. At one point the calm was interupted
with a female coming on deck, but then she appologized for disturbing
and joined her entourage as they chattered off the to side. It turns
out it was Ana Gasteyer relaxing too. Meanwhile a pleasant guitarist
played a few solo sets for us all. Nice ending.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday, November 02, 2013
Chromecast
I've finally started to use the new Chromecast as a new channel on my entertainment system. It's been an easy and fun time, all from the laptop. Just bring up a movie on Netflix, and tell it to stream to the TV. It's programmed into the remote to change all the channels at the touch of a button on the HarmonyOne and then it's off to the movies!
It's cheap at $35, has travel potential (with caveats) and integrates into your digital life if you're google connected...
It's cheap at $35, has travel potential (with caveats) and integrates into your digital life if you're google connected...
Sunday, July 21, 2013
BBQ Sauce
I have some pulled pork that needs a bbq sauce, so I googled for it. Started out by looking for the vinegar based kind from around here, but I think the pork needs to be cooked in it, and the pork I had is already done and shredded.
Thats when I discovered that a major alternative to the classic tomato based sauce is mustard based. I looked at this recipe and did a little jig when I scanned the dozen ingredients that I had every single one, including the more rare white peppercorns. Woo hoo!
It turned into a fabulously thick sauce and tangy for days. This is exactly the kind of bbq I loved, and now I know how it's made! Life is great sometimes.
BBQ Mustard based Sauce
Simmer all except soy, butter and smoke for 30 minutes, then add the rest and simmer for 10 minutes more. I used a non-stick pan and would scrape the thickened dark on the sides down into the sauce, stirring frequently.
Thats when I discovered that a major alternative to the classic tomato based sauce is mustard based. I looked at this recipe and did a little jig when I scanned the dozen ingredients that I had every single one, including the more rare white peppercorns. Woo hoo!
It turned into a fabulously thick sauce and tangy for days. This is exactly the kind of bbq I loved, and now I know how it's made! Life is great sometimes.
BBQ Mustard based Sauce
| -1 cup prepared yellow mustard -1/2 cup sugar -1/4 cup light brown sugar -3/4 cup cider vinegar -1/4 cup water -2 tablespoons chili powder |
-1 teaspoon black pepper -1 teaspoon white pepper -1/4 teaspoon cayenne -1/2 teaspoon soy sauce -2 tablespoons butter -1 tablespoon liquid smoke (hickory flavoring) |
Simmer all except soy, butter and smoke for 30 minutes, then add the rest and simmer for 10 minutes more. I used a non-stick pan and would scrape the thickened dark on the sides down into the sauce, stirring frequently.
Friday, March 08, 2013
The Story of Gayelette and the Winged Monkeys
‘That is a long story’ answered the King, with a laugh; ‘but as we have a long journey before us I will pass the time by telling you about it, if you wish.’
‘I shall be glad to hear it,’ [Dorothy] replied.
‘Once,’ began the leader, ‘we were a free people, living happily in the great forest, flying from tree to tree, eating nuts and fruit, and doing just as we pleased without calling anybody master. Perhaps some of us were rather too full of mischief at times, flying down to pull the tails of the animals that had no wings, chasing birds and throwing nuts at the people who walked in the forest. But we were careless and happy and full of fun, and enjoyed every minute of the day. This was many years ago, long before Oz came out of the clouds to rule over this land.
‘There lived here then, away at the North, a beautiful princess, who was also a powerful sorceress. All her magic was used to help the people, and she was never known to hurt anyone who was good. Her name was Gayelette, and she lived in a handsome palace built from great rocks of ruby. Everyone loved her, but her greatest sorrow was that she could find no one to love in return, since all the men were much too stupid and ugly to mate with one so beautiful and wise. At last, however, she found a boy who was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years. Gayelette made up her mind that when he grew to be a man she would make him her husband, so she took him to her ruby palace and used all her magic powers to make him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish. When he grew to manhood, Quelala, as he was called, was said to be the best and wisest man in all the land, while his manly beauty was so great that Gayelette loved him dearly, and hastened to make everything ready for the wedding.
‘My grandfather was at that time the King of the Winged Monkeys which lived in the forest near Gayelette’s palace, and the old fellow loved a joke better than a good dinner. One day, just before the wedding, my grandfather was flying out with his band when he saw Quelala walking beside the river. He was dressed in a rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet, and my grandfather thought he would see what he could do. At his word the band flew down and seized Quelala, carried him in their arms until they were over the middle of the river, and then dropped him into the water.
‘“Swim out, my fine fellow,” cried my grandfather, “and see if the water has spotted your clothes.” Quelala was much too wise not to swim, and he was not in the least spoiled by all his good fortune. He laughed, when he came to the top of the water, and swam in to shore. But when Gayelette came running out to him she found his silks and velvet all ruined by the river.
‘The princess was angry, and she knew, of course, who did it. She had all the Winged Monkeys brought before her, and she said at first that their wings should be tied and they should be treated as they had treated Quelala, and dropped in the river. But my grandfather pleaded hard, for he knew the Monkeys would drown in the river with their wings tied, and Quelala said a kind word for them also; so that Gayelette finally spared them, on condition that the Winged Monkeys should ever after do three times the bidding of the owner of the Golden Cap. This Cap had been made for a Wedding present to Quelala, and it is said to have cost the princess half her kingdom. Of course my grandfather and all the other Monkeys at once agreed to the condition, and that is how it happens that we are three times the slaves of the owner of the Golden Cap, whosoever he may be.’
‘And what became of them?’ asked Dorothy, who had been greatly interested in the story.
‘Quelala being the first owner of the Golden Cap,’ replied the Monkey, ‘he was the first to lay his wishes upon us. As his bride could not bear the sight of us, he called us all to him in the forest after he had married her and ordered us always to keep where she could never again set eyes on a Winged Monkey, which we were glad to do, for we were all afraid of her.
‘This was all we ever had to do until the Golden Cap fell into the hands of the Wicked Witch of the West, who made us enslave the Winkies, and afterwards drive Oz himself out of the land of the West. Now the Golden Cap is yours, and three times you have the right to lay your wishes upon us.’
As the Monkey King finished his story Dorothy looked down and saw the green, shining walls of the Emerald City before them. She wondered at the rapid flight of the Monkeys, but was glad the journey was over. The strange creatures set the travellers down carefully before the gate of the City, the King bowed low to Dorothy, and then flew swiftly away, followed by all his band.
‘Once,’ began the leader, ‘we were a free people, living happily in the great forest, flying from tree to tree, eating nuts and fruit, and doing just as we pleased without calling anybody master. Perhaps some of us were rather too full of mischief at times, flying down to pull the tails of the animals that had no wings, chasing birds and throwing nuts at the people who walked in the forest. But we were careless and happy and full of fun, and enjoyed every minute of the day. This was many years ago, long before Oz came out of the clouds to rule over this land.
‘There lived here then, away at the North, a beautiful princess, who was also a powerful sorceress. All her magic was used to help the people, and she was never known to hurt anyone who was good. Her name was Gayelette, and she lived in a handsome palace built from great rocks of ruby. Everyone loved her, but her greatest sorrow was that she could find no one to love in return, since all the men were much too stupid and ugly to mate with one so beautiful and wise. At last, however, she found a boy who was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years. Gayelette made up her mind that when he grew to be a man she would make him her husband, so she took him to her ruby palace and used all her magic powers to make him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish. When he grew to manhood, Quelala, as he was called, was said to be the best and wisest man in all the land, while his manly beauty was so great that Gayelette loved him dearly, and hastened to make everything ready for the wedding.
‘My grandfather was at that time the King of the Winged Monkeys which lived in the forest near Gayelette’s palace, and the old fellow loved a joke better than a good dinner. One day, just before the wedding, my grandfather was flying out with his band when he saw Quelala walking beside the river. He was dressed in a rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet, and my grandfather thought he would see what he could do. At his word the band flew down and seized Quelala, carried him in their arms until they were over the middle of the river, and then dropped him into the water.
‘“Swim out, my fine fellow,” cried my grandfather, “and see if the water has spotted your clothes.” Quelala was much too wise not to swim, and he was not in the least spoiled by all his good fortune. He laughed, when he came to the top of the water, and swam in to shore. But when Gayelette came running out to him she found his silks and velvet all ruined by the river.
‘The princess was angry, and she knew, of course, who did it. She had all the Winged Monkeys brought before her, and she said at first that their wings should be tied and they should be treated as they had treated Quelala, and dropped in the river. But my grandfather pleaded hard, for he knew the Monkeys would drown in the river with their wings tied, and Quelala said a kind word for them also; so that Gayelette finally spared them, on condition that the Winged Monkeys should ever after do three times the bidding of the owner of the Golden Cap. This Cap had been made for a Wedding present to Quelala, and it is said to have cost the princess half her kingdom. Of course my grandfather and all the other Monkeys at once agreed to the condition, and that is how it happens that we are three times the slaves of the owner of the Golden Cap, whosoever he may be.’
‘And what became of them?’ asked Dorothy, who had been greatly interested in the story.
‘Quelala being the first owner of the Golden Cap,’ replied the Monkey, ‘he was the first to lay his wishes upon us. As his bride could not bear the sight of us, he called us all to him in the forest after he had married her and ordered us always to keep where she could never again set eyes on a Winged Monkey, which we were glad to do, for we were all afraid of her.
‘This was all we ever had to do until the Golden Cap fell into the hands of the Wicked Witch of the West, who made us enslave the Winkies, and afterwards drive Oz himself out of the land of the West. Now the Golden Cap is yours, and three times you have the right to lay your wishes upon us.’
As the Monkey King finished his story Dorothy looked down and saw the green, shining walls of the Emerald City before them. She wondered at the rapid flight of the Monkeys, but was glad the journey was over. The strange creatures set the travellers down carefully before the gate of the City, the King bowed low to Dorothy, and then flew swiftly away, followed by all his band.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Evolution
One of the primary purposes of science fiction literature is to afford the opportunity to speculate about various "what if" situations, or to propose an idea in a more-or-less real world situation. In honor of that I give you this idea, and see if it works its way into a storyline.
The other day I was in a conversation and the subject came up about gmo foods. What he said was something of labeling foods that are of gmo origin. And I had to ask, please define what you mean by genetically modified. For instance, common corn that we eat today and feed to our livestock is a genetic manipulation of grasses to produce bigger seeds. Way back in Aztek times, they discovered one day that crossing this grass stalk with this other one produced a seed that was edible and life sustaining (code words for nutritious). Over decades and centuries man produced bigger and better corn, some as recently as just last week.
In the early periods of this experimentation there were lots of bad crops, it was inevitable to the whole trial and error discovery method. But as time went on the corn got better. Today it has become a mainstay food source for much of the world population. And we have become very adept at trial and error, just as we have gotten better at most everything else of human origin.
But more recently, or maybe all through time for all things new, there are people who worry about the new variety of corn. These naysayers say that the new stuff is bad for you. Studies are produced that show that some people react badly to some things. Some react so badly that they die.
But what if the question isn't how we produce 100% safe corn, but instead how the human race evolved to survive on the corn that humans invented. That would include the concept of those humans who did not survive on the corn dying out and those genes died out with them. Those conditions would make for a more solid and durable human race.
The problem of course are the luddites, those that are fearful of change. Sometimes they need to be neutralized, and even laughed at if need be. And that is where a good writer of speculative fiction might lay the drama for the story. The conflict. If I had the imagination I would try to tackle this idea.
The other day I was in a conversation and the subject came up about gmo foods. What he said was something of labeling foods that are of gmo origin. And I had to ask, please define what you mean by genetically modified. For instance, common corn that we eat today and feed to our livestock is a genetic manipulation of grasses to produce bigger seeds. Way back in Aztek times, they discovered one day that crossing this grass stalk with this other one produced a seed that was edible and life sustaining (code words for nutritious). Over decades and centuries man produced bigger and better corn, some as recently as just last week.
In the early periods of this experimentation there were lots of bad crops, it was inevitable to the whole trial and error discovery method. But as time went on the corn got better. Today it has become a mainstay food source for much of the world population. And we have become very adept at trial and error, just as we have gotten better at most everything else of human origin.
But more recently, or maybe all through time for all things new, there are people who worry about the new variety of corn. These naysayers say that the new stuff is bad for you. Studies are produced that show that some people react badly to some things. Some react so badly that they die.
But what if the question isn't how we produce 100% safe corn, but instead how the human race evolved to survive on the corn that humans invented. That would include the concept of those humans who did not survive on the corn dying out and those genes died out with them. Those conditions would make for a more solid and durable human race.
The problem of course are the luddites, those that are fearful of change. Sometimes they need to be neutralized, and even laughed at if need be. And that is where a good writer of speculative fiction might lay the drama for the story. The conflict. If I had the imagination I would try to tackle this idea.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
1600 Penn
Watching the series premiere of 1600 Penn on NBC. It looks like a show that was conceived when the network believed that Romney would win the election. Portray the president as a buffoon with stupid children. If they had reworked it to be a black family, we would have "The Jeffersons". Now that might have been funny! "Movin' on up, Wheezy!"
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
How to feel good...
Here is a perspective on the fiscal cliff they plan on plunging into... The people impacted will be working people who pay taxes. The old and forty-seven living off govt won't see a thing. Working people will see a hit day one in their paychecks automatically, but the others monthly checks will remain the same, because the cuts are generic to programs and not specific. The feds will just run a bigger deficit. Sometimes I wish I could use cognitive discord to feel good about what you voted for.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Lost my handgun...
...box. I lost the box my new handgun came in, and that bothers me because it is where the spare clip is located. Don't worry, I know exactly where the handgun itself is and the ammo too, just can't locate the box.
So it's off to WalMart to purchase a handgun case. Also purchase targets and more ammo so that I can visit the Eagle 1 firing range later this afternoon. I need lots of target practice based on the results on my last visit.
FWIW: this little facebook type post is on the blog because I have way too many fb "friends" who would go ballistic based on keywords "Gun," "Target Practice" and "WalMart". Just keeping peace in the community in more ways that one.
So it's off to WalMart to purchase a handgun case. Also purchase targets and more ammo so that I can visit the Eagle 1 firing range later this afternoon. I need lots of target practice based on the results on my last visit.
FWIW: this little facebook type post is on the blog because I have way too many fb "friends" who would go ballistic based on keywords "Gun," "Target Practice" and "WalMart". Just keeping peace in the community in more ways that one.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Leading
There is one side that refuses to allow entitlement cuts. We have the other side that refuses to allow tax increases. If we had a leader, he would lead to a solution. Instead all we get is a campaign to sock it to the "rich".
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Prez is not Cool
Let's face it, the president is not cool. C'mon, he still uses a Blackberry. He would move to Apple, except that Steve Jobs insulted him by making Barack personally call to make the appointment and then Jobs told him to cut out the crap. And Barry can't go to Android because they are just not cool, not at all, way too common for the enlightened. So his personal grudge against Jobs and his vanity wins out and he still uses a Blackberry.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Orange Rhubarb Nut Bread Recipe
The rhubarb is in season and this very tart plant is wonderful mixed with sweets. This Orange Rhubarb loaf recipe comes from Sonya Goergen thru Taste of Home magazine years ago. Just add a dab of butter warm or cold, it's a great treat.
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups a/p flour
- 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp gr. ginger
- 1/4 tsp gr. nutmeg
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 cup chopped rhubarb
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 2 tsp orange zest
Thursday, April 12, 2012
$30 Each
According to the data, the U.S spends $30 for every single living human being on the planet Earth. How in the hell can we be spending that much money! From wsj.com:
It is a new record. And not a pretty one.
The federal government says it spent $369.37 billion in the month of March alone, or about $1,190 per each American man, woman and child. Laid end-to-end as dollar bills, the mind-boggling sum would stretch about 1,435 times around the Earth.
More important: To fund such lavish spending, the average Americans paid only $550 in taxes. Covering just half a month's spending with tax receipts is, of course, totally unsustainable. So it is a good thing that, unlike other high-deficit countries such as Spain, foreigners still seem happy to bankroll the U.S.
Spread across the 6.7 billion non-American residents of planet Earth, Uncle Sam's monthly revenue shortfall comes to a mere $30 a person. But the numbers quickly add up. During its entire history through the year 2000, the U.S. took on gross debt of $5.6 trillion. In little over a decade since then, it is set to add nearly twice that. By the government's own estimate, this year will end with a grand total of $14.7 trillion.
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page C12
A version of this article appeared April 12, 2012, on page C12 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Overheard.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Raleigh MaidPro Service is not Trustworthy
Seems that MaidPro in Raleigh is a poorly run division. They offered a GroupOn discount for a home cleaning, but then refuse to provide the service or even to allow for scheduling. When a purchaser of their GroupOn offer contacted them, he was told to call a "special" number to schedule those, but that number does not work, and return calls to the main number go unanswered and no call back.
Seems to me that if you sell a service, you should honor that sale. If not, it should be reported to the BBB, and have blog postings so people can evaluate them. Any company that plays ethics in this manner is not someone I would invite into my home when I am not there.
I've had maid services, been ripped off too, and that was from companies where I personally knew the franchise owners and trusted them completely. If the owners of MaidPro in Raleigh run a disreputable service, and practice avoidance of customer complaints, and do not honor their commitments, there is no way in hell I would ever trust them to enter my personal space.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Fire the Policy Makers
Totaling up the market movements in my accounts this morning I discovered that I lost more money in a single day yesterday than the entire principal that I've paid on the mortgage all year long! And I pay double the mortgage minimum every month.
It is time to fire the people making economic policy decisions. Start with Bernanke. Then it should be Timmy at Treasury. Every congressman at the fed and state level that proposes more tax increases and spending boondoggles. Cap it all off with firing the president for lack of leadership.
It sucks to be anything but a ward of the state any more. Is that the plan?
It is time to fire the people making economic policy decisions. Start with Bernanke. Then it should be Timmy at Treasury. Every congressman at the fed and state level that proposes more tax increases and spending boondoggles. Cap it all off with firing the president for lack of leadership.
It sucks to be anything but a ward of the state any more. Is that the plan?
Thursday, August 04, 2011
EnergyWise from Progress Energy
It got hot in the house today, and it's all because the power company turned off my air conditioner. When it started going over 88 I began to wonder if it was time to give them a call.
What happened is my A/C has a box on it that allows the power company to cycle it off when needed, and apparently today was a day they needed to manage their power generation a little more closely.
It's called EnergyWise and what it does is cycle the air conditioner up and down in 15 minute increments so that the total demand for power across the grid is lowered, and they don't have to fire up additional power plants or turbines or whatever to make more electricity. I get $25 a year back by allowing them to do that and so far it's worth it.
The cycling ends by 7 pm, so I just went out to dinner with friends. When I got home everything was nice and cool just the way I'm used to.
I also have the Time-Of-Use meter. Basically it records when power is used, so daytime power costs a lot more than evening and weekends. That just means running the dryer outside of peak daytime hours. That saves me $45 or so a year, and that more than paid for the dinner tonight at a nice cool restaurant.
My friend complimented me on working towards ecologically responsible use of resources. I laughed! It was more about saving money in so many ways with only minor inconveniences that it was worth it.
FWIW: I worked for Progress Energy for a grand total of 9 days and took a serious disliking to them after that. Learned a few things since then though.
What happened is my A/C has a box on it that allows the power company to cycle it off when needed, and apparently today was a day they needed to manage their power generation a little more closely.It's called EnergyWise and what it does is cycle the air conditioner up and down in 15 minute increments so that the total demand for power across the grid is lowered, and they don't have to fire up additional power plants or turbines or whatever to make more electricity. I get $25 a year back by allowing them to do that and so far it's worth it.
The cycling ends by 7 pm, so I just went out to dinner with friends. When I got home everything was nice and cool just the way I'm used to.
I also have the Time-Of-Use meter. Basically it records when power is used, so daytime power costs a lot more than evening and weekends. That just means running the dryer outside of peak daytime hours. That saves me $45 or so a year, and that more than paid for the dinner tonight at a nice cool restaurant.
My friend complimented me on working towards ecologically responsible use of resources. I laughed! It was more about saving money in so many ways with only minor inconveniences that it was worth it.
FWIW: I worked for Progress Energy for a grand total of 9 days and took a serious disliking to them after that. Learned a few things since then though.
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