Random Thoughts

[johnfoyle]

My Grand Aunt Lilly died today. A Nun in Perth, Australia , she was 94 and was the last of my maternal grandfather's siblings ( 16 in all ; few survived early childhood). None of my paternal grandparents are alive so I now have just one generation of family behind me. It's the kind of thing that makes me notice the passing of time and realise there is so much left to be done.

[verbal gymnastics]

Sorry to hear that John.

Sad occasions always make you reflect upon the past and your own mortality.

As you know, we now have a little one and it makes me think about her future. I was watching Family Guy where Brian has his son Dylan and becomes the sort of protective parent I hope I never become

[verbal gymnastics]

These spam filtering systems are great - why it's highlighted that there are many women who have seen my picture on that website and want to meet up with me. Should I arrange something?

Also I can buy a degree. I think that's just what I need in my life to enhance my future career prospects.

And if anyone wants to buy replica watches, I can get anything you like.

[RedShoes]

verbal - nothing will beat the spam I got yesterday. It seems a new trend is to have a fake headline in the subject line -often oddly sexual- and some random link in the body... Things like "Troops want larger jackhammers" or "JFK memoirs reveal affair."

Yesterday's took the cake...

John Mccain "I Promise To Invade Your Vaginas."

[migdd]

verbal - nothing will beat the spam I got yesterday. It seems a new trend is to have a fake headline in the subject line -often oddly sexual- and some random link in the body... Things like "Troops want larger jackhammers" or "JFK memoirs reveal affair."

Yesterday's took the cake...

John Mccain "I Promise To Invade Your Vaginas."

Now that's a scary thought!!! But somehow kind of unlikely for Mr. McCain! Must have been a link to a website selling the next generation of mega-viagra.

[verbal gymnastics]

verbal - nothing will beat the spam I got yesterday. It seems a new trend is to have a fake headline in the subject line -often oddly sexual- and some random link in the body... Things like "Troops want larger jackhammers" or "JFK memoirs reveal affair."

Yesterday's took the cake...

John Mccain "I Promise To Invade Your Vaginas."

Indeed. It would have been more impressive if it had read something like "I promise to f*** your Bush"...

[Who Shot Sam?]

Gonna be taking the kids up to Niagara Falls for a few days the week before Labor Day. Anyone been recently and have any suggestions about where to go besides the usual attractions - Maid of the Mist, etc.? Blue/Red? You guys aren't far away.

[Mr. Average]

What does this mean?

From Barack's autobiography "Dreams From My Father", where he is citing the impact that Malcom X's autobiography had on him. He said that this particular passage "spoke to him." One line in particular "stayed with me," he says. "He spoke of a wish he'd once had, the wish that the white blood that ran through him, there by an act of violence, might somehow be expunged."

I am reading the book to be sure that I understand the context, as I can't believe that he would be inspired by such an incendiary statement made by the revolutionary Malcom X. I will update, but if anyone would like to add their view I certainly would be interested in hearing it, given 20 years in Rev Wrights congregation. I dunno, I think this is kind of important to understand before I pull the lever and cast my vote.

And no, my vote is not decided. Not by a long shot.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Is that so incendiary? I'm sure if I had blood in me that was brought about by violence, I would be able to relate strongly to such a statement. To me it seems obvious, expected, logical.

[BlueChair]

Gonna be taking the kids up to Niagara Falls for a few days the week before Labor Day. Anyone been recently and have any suggestions about where to go besides the usual attractions - Maid of the Mist, etc.? Blue/Red? You guys aren't far away.

Believe it or not, I've only been to Niagara Falls a few times. There isn't a whole lot going on besides the falls themselves, but Marineland is a lot of fun for kids. Pretty similar to Sea World... maybe not quite as big. There's also apparently a relatively new butterfly conservatory that's supposed to be good. There's a casino there (Casino Niagara), but since you'll be with kids I doubt that'll be a destination.

If you're up for a little bit of a drive (about 25 mins), Niagara-on-the-Lake is a really nice, quaint little town. That's where most of Ontario's wineries are. Some of them are actually quite good.

[Who Shot Sam?]

Gonna be taking the kids up to Niagara Falls for a few days the week before Labor Day. Anyone been recently and have any suggestions about where to go besides the usual attractions - Maid of the Mist, etc.? Blue/Red? You guys aren't far away.

Believe it or not, I've only been to Niagara Falls a few times. There isn't a whole lot going on besides the falls themselves, but Marineland is a lot of fun for kids. Pretty similar to Sea World... maybe not quite as big. There's also apparently a relatively new butterfly conservatory that's supposed to be good. There's a casino there (Casino Niagara), but since you'll be with kids I doubt that'll be a destination.

If you're up for a little bit of a drive (about 25 mins), Niagara-on-the-Lake is a really nice, quaint little town. That's where most of Ontario's wineries are. Some of them are actually quite good.

Thanks. I think we can find enough stuff to keep ourselves occupied for a few days. I went once when I was about 13 and I remember going down in the Cave of the Winds with my dad. We didn't go on the Maid of the Mist, so that will be new. Hopefully being up there on weekdays rather than the weekend will make a difference. As long as our hotel has a swimming pool the kids will be happy. Will have to keep Marineland in mind. That's on the Canadian side, I assume?

[BlueChair]

Yep, Canadian side. Here's their website:
http://www.marinelandcanada.com/

[Who Shot Sam?]

Yep, Canadian side. Here's their website:
http://www.marinelandcanada.com/

Cool. Will keep that in mind. We'll be staying on the Canadian side.

[spooky girlfriend]

Having surgery today and I'm a little freaked out, but trying to laugh. Laughing gets me through most things. I guess at least I'll get some good drugs.

[BlueChair]

We'll be thinking about you, Spooky!

[migdd]

Hang in there, sg! I'll be sending lots of positive energy in your direction!

[RedShoes]

More positive vibes to Spooks!

[so lacklustre]

Best wishes spooky.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Hope it all goes OK - we're thinking of you!

[spooky girlfriend]

Surgery = bad.

Lortab = good.

[verbal gymnastics]

I had this horrible 24hr virus on Monday.

I was so wiped out. I was extremely ill at 4am and a few times after that. I couldn't get out of bed. I got up at gone 3pm because Mrs VG said I should, I went downstairs and that short journey sapped the life out of me and I had to go back to bed. I tried to get back up later, drank some water and ate a cracker later on, was sick again and went back to bed about 8pm.

I woke up at 7am but felt fine which was just as well as I had a meeting in London.

Not pleasant.

[mood swung]

This is no time to be sick. Or having surgery. It's summer!!! You're supposed to be having fun in the sun.


Feel better, peeps.

[spooky girlfriend]

I only found out I was having surgery Monday morning, so I got a big 16 hour notice. But if I had waited until the next available time it would have been after school started back, and I think you know how much harder that would have been, Moody. This was the better option.

I'm such a tough cookie for meds. They gave me something in my IV yesterday before surgery and told me I wouldn't remember a thing. I got up and walked around carrying my IV bag within a few minutes because my surgeon was running late. The nurses couldn't believe me. I have a big tolerance. The last thing I told them before surgery was to please make sure I was all the way down before they started.

[blooch]

You surely are Super Human.Youre not related to Lee Majors by any chance are you?
By the way ive been diagnosed as having sleep apnoea. A condition where you snore all night every night, where swear words come out of your wifes mouth that you never knew existed when she tells you to stop snoring and when you stop breathing in your sleep.
I had my results a couple of weeks ago and i stopped breathing 15 times per hour one time for 60 seconds and snored 275 times per hour.
I now have to wear this face mask attached to an air hose at night that opens up my airways.
So far i havent snored and havent stopped breathing, probably as i havent slept as the thing is so uncomfortable to wear.
The worst thing is i may have to wear it for life. My consultant said wear it every night for a year and lose 28lbs then go back and see him.
When i saw him a couple of weeks ago he asked me the least that i had weighed and i said 7lbs 3ozs when i was born.
He just looked at me. Then i left.

Anyway its just a minor blip in my life compared to what others go through so to everyone who is going through a rough time at the moment i send out a healing ray of light to you all and wish you a speedy recovery.

[Boy With A Problem]

Just seeing this now. Glad you're ok.