It wasn't me

Sometimes I can look quite handsome, you might even say "princely". But make no mistake about it: I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Smith.

And what's up with the Grammy folks? 5 for the Chicks? Have you actually LISTENED to that stuff? I mean come ON! How political can this be? For a second I thought I was watching the CMAs or somethin'. What are these awards for again? Courage, or talent? I thought it was for talent. These are the Grammys people, not the Nobel Prize, or Carnegie Medal for Heroism. Let's get our priorities straight and recognize talents, not just gutsy nuts from Texas.

Record of the Year? Maybe. The nominee list wasn't that strong, and "You're Beautiful" wasn't really James Blunt's best effort.
Album of the Year? No way. I'm sorry, but the rest of the pack simply blew this one away. All the Chick's tracks were consistently nasal and droning. Gnarls showed a ton of creativity, the Peppers featured an amazing number of hits from it's two (not one, count 'em, TWO) disc set.

I just don't get why they continue to try to award things in the most outlandish way they can. And another thing: could someone please explain to me how Gnarls Barkley is now "alternative"? Wha?

I have a cold.

Slowly

My good friend's baby came home on the First of this month. It took almost two whole weeks, but he's finally home. That's just so good to hear.

His chemo developed a complication last week, his kidney function is down and they couldn't give him the more-potent half of the two drugs he's getting. Now it seems they are going to abandon that drug and change to a different one for his next treatment in two weeks- one that will require him to now be at the university hospital for three days of treatments rather than two. And because they scheduled him to start at 7am, he's gotta be gone for three nights, too. It's so sad to see this with the new baby at home- he would just rather be there.



On another front, big scare at home tonight. It's quite bitterly cold outside and wifey has been wanting a fire, as well as favorite son. After getting back from shoveling GF's drive, and also clearing out the present from the city plow truck at the end of mine, it was time to get back inside. Anywho- paper was wadded, kindling added, flue opened, starter torch seemed to start drawing just fine so the papers were lit.

Slowly, smoke starts rolling.

Doors close.

Smoke still rolling, fire starting to slowly grow.

Press on doors (as though there's some sort of weatherstripping there.....doh!)

Marvel at all the spots smoke is pouring out around closed doors. Thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthink THINK! Think about all that snow we've gotten and how much might be plugging the top of the chimney. Think about how many candles are gonna have to be lit to clear the thickening air throughout our house. Think how little that lone bathroom vent fan will do to help clear the air.

Marvel again at the condensation on the inside of the fireplace doors, the flames still surviving through all that smoke, the sound of a snow plug falling nearly two stories down our chimney, the agonizingly slow clearing of the air in the fireplace after a good draft starts......

It was well after halftime before all the windows were buttoned up tight. I think it was about two degrees outside at that time.