right at the bridge -- literally right at the bridge...you could actually see it touching the bridge...amazing 
So it being 2:30 am it seems like the right time to get a little post in. Oatmeal cookies fresh out of the oven are sitting on the stovetop. The children are tucked snug in their beds - all Atwater because they are going to go see Aquamarine tomorrow. Acacia is just beside herself with excitement...I don't know. Mermaids, teenage girls, an outing. She is all gaspy and thrilled and it is hilarious. Hope the movie isn't as awful as it looks like it will be. She will, or rather she is, today, 16. 16. My daughter is 16. Good lord.
I am a month and some days away from 40. 40. I am almost 40. Good lord.
What in the world is going on? How did this happen. I don't feel like the almost 40 year old father of a 16 year old. Although I suppose I do, since that is how I feel and that is what I am and there you are. Well enough about that for now. I am sure I shall return to this trope again in the weeks to come. 16. 40. *sigh*
Stayed home from work today as I woke up feeling very badly. Headachey and ultra-tired and no, not 40, just sick. shaddup. Feeling better now, but not looking forward to the marathon of meetings tomorrow. T2s (transition to site), Site and infrastructure, whatever other meeting I have had added or haven't remembered. I know there are several. Thank goodness someone came to their senses and moved the Science olympiad from our campus -- pure folly to think we would be ale to count on any of the construction being done in time for anything to happen. I don't know why anyone even pretends to believe the dates that get thrown out, they haven't a single one and they haven't even been close. Oh well, I am sure we will hear more interesting tales of interesting scheduling tomorrow. What a farce. Spent the day in bed and got absolutely nothing done. Except for the South park characters you see below. Those are fun.
Ordered the little beasts pizza tonight. Caved in to the pressure and ordered them that repulsive looking cheesy-bites pizza from Pizza Hut. Happy to report that it is exactly as vile as it looks and as I thought it would be. The children hated it. Jeshamon apologized for not believing me that it would be awful. He promises to believe me next time. You and I know he will not keep that promise. The headstrong little chip off the block will have to have it proven to him via his own experience. He will not be swayed by my fatherly ways. When will they ever learn? I should be heeded. Work, Home, Life, Art-- Heed me. Fail to heed me at your peril. That is all I am saying. And yes, Edson/Thinh/Bobby/Jeshamon I am talking to you. I feel like Cassandra.
No new news on the Gabe Edwards front. He is still on investigative leave (whatever the heck that is supposed to mean). The guy copied his parking pass--how much investigation does that take? I wish people would stop trying to COA and just admit they overreacted and let it go. Good grief. Rich is still fighting to bring him back, I believe, and EVIL HR (I know, redundant that) is fighting to get him gone. Muttbert, the evil HR Director cannot retire fast enough for me. Maybe we will get someone in who will do something other than bitch, moan, complain, whine, delay, and otherwise denigrate the employees. Although we will be getting an HR director so perhaps that is asking to much. Anyway, here's hoping for a positive outcome on this one.
Didn't get a chance to watch anything - -and I don't even know who got bounced on Idol yet. So don't tell me. I will find out. I have a bad feeling though -- so that probably means Sway is out. Which makes me sad. Maybe there will be a wildcard chance for him. Or maybe voters came to their senses and David and Taylor are out. Or not. Probably Kinnik (who I forgot before and who I actually love, so yeah, she is probably gone). Alright anyway. Enough of all that.
Curving outwards.
Apparently a frog found its eternal resting place in the fresh concrete -- later as the body disintegrated we were left with the awesome Frog Hole in the sidewalk. Love it.
What is this curious indentation in the concrete walkway at UC Merced?
Asian Movie of the day -
R-point. Korean Army horror (no not the horror of being in the Korean army, although I am sure that must suck. Mandatory army time. Every male. All of them. All go. Have to. I don't know if they have any "dont' ask, don't tell" bullshit over there--my guess is they just pretend that it doesn't exist at all so there is no reason to worry about it. But honestly, how completely altered would the national character of every man be if we ALL had to do mandatory army time--not just those guys who are ultra-patriotic, or like shop class, or like GI Joe and stuff, but ALL of us? Good grief what a frickin nightmare. It is outside of my ability to actually fully comprehend. I can't even begine to imagine the ridiculous level of counseling and altered states this service must create in this society. Was watching a different movie [Ditto, liked it, will write about it later] and it was set [partially] at a university and there was this scene where the girls are checking out this bulletin board that had the pictures of the "returning" students on it and they were all guys and I was very confused until I figured out that they were returning back to school from their mandatory two year military service. The concept just rattled me. So between freshman and sophomore years all the guys just go away for two years and throwback guys from two years ago return and take their place and have all of this stuff they have to work out from being in the freakin army for two years but here they picking up where they left off and how completely strange would that be? But anyway, what was I parenthetically yakkin about? Oh yeah. So no this movie isn't about the horror of the Korean Army). A horror movie that involves soldiers and peripherally does have, yes, a ghost with long black hair, but no not in the Juon, Wig, Voice, Memento Mori, insert asian horror movie title here way. Unsettling, very well shot, interesting movie. I liked it. A 300 degree curve. (that is my new movie and everything else rating system -- my own little "two-thumbs up" scheme -- awesome would be a 360 degree curve (ie a circle) craptacular would be a 0 degree curve (a line). Examples -- 360 degrees? Ping Pong (not the game the movie). 0 degrees? Adam Sandler.
So yeah -- get that movie. It is a keeper.
TV- American Idol -- love it. Hate the contestants mostly. The show is crack.
HATE: Taylor, Kellie, Taylor, Gedeon, Taylor, David, Taylor, Kevin (keebler), Taylor, Bucky, Taylor. Oh and Taylor.
Whatever: Melissa, Ace, the peterbrady lookin one who I can't remember his name (will?), Heather,
Like: Chris, Lisa, Elliot,
Like a lot but not love: Paris (was loving her but I think her obnoxious showboating celebrating when she was safe was, well, obnoxious)
Love: Mandisa, Sway (shutup), Katherine.
I am missing some there but they don't count because I don't remember them. I am missing three. I don't know, and I can't be bothered right now to look them up. So the other three, whoever they are? They go in the Whatever category.
Love this show and all of its cheesy goodness.
Watching: Fell asleep on Running on Karma -- only because I was dead dog tired and not because it isn't worthwhile. Bobby Bliatout also gave me "love is a many stupid thing" with the usual cast of Hong Kong Actor suspects in it -- could be good could be bad. crap shoot. I will report later. Hooked on "winter sonata" I am through episode 6 and have to wait for cinflix to send out the next episodes. Cliffhanger with some boards falling and someone might be crushed. Awesome. This is like Phoenix in its completely frustrating clueless idiot heroine-girl and their not talking things out selves. Happy with it.
Waiting to get into my DVD player: The Hidden Blade, A queer Story, Blue Gate Crossing, Chingu, Other films whose names escape me.
Potential Asian Movies of the day : Perhaps Love, Formula 17, Binyip, Marathon, others.
Listening to: Imogen Heap, Heather Headley, Kelly Clarkson, Raul Midion, Billy Porter.
curving out.