I Got What I Wanted

Well, I had wanted snow. And I got it. And now, again this morning, I got it again. Though after the last bout, not as sure I want it. Accuweather failed me, didn't really suggest we'd have much. But I already shoveled an inch or so off of the driveway, sidewalk and street in front of my house. (Steep hill, doesn't get plowed, dangerous, jerks on sleds out at all hours cursing and being loud despite the sledding park half a block away.) Am trying an experiment this time... after I shoveled the driveway, I laid down two tarps. Doesn't come close to covering the entire driveway, but if it works, will keep the area closest to the garage clear of snow and compact ice.. just shovel off the top layer and then peel back the tarp. If it doesn't work, it will freeze, become brittle, break and I'll be left with lots of pieces of blue tarp to pick out of my lawn this spring. Which my HOA will hate since we're not supposed to have tarps visible covering anything.

My new cube has a window and it's on the second floor so I can see the tops of trees right outside my window. They look very cool covered in snow, but I didn't bring my camera, so can't snap a shot.

Not a Resolution

I currently weigh 190.5. I think this must be my natural weight as no matter what I eat or do, I always end up back here.

But, it's 30.5 pounds more than I want to weigh. So, by the end of this year, I will see 160 on the scale.

I've had different schemes in the past and they've all failed. Too complicated, not visible enough, not fun, not sustainable. I've tried to learn from those failures. We'll see if this time I have the winning method. If so, I'll share what it was. If not, I'll keep it to myself and like all past schemes, it will die a quiet death.

Obligatory Year End

As always, the end of the year look back.  Frankly, there's not a lot to look back on.  Complaints about the mother-in-law was a theme as frustration at this or that and the perpetual lack of sleep.  If I added Twitter or Facebook statuses to the mix, there'd probably be a higher focus on coffee.  I started the year off well, but that sort of failed as well.  I haven't decided if I want to have any goals for next year or not, or if so, how to track them in a way that I won't fail at.  Maybe I need to take over the laundry room - there's some cabinets I can tape goals to (it's the checking off of things that I like) and since I'm the one that does the laundry and attends to the cats, it would be in front of me daily.  Anyhow, without further ado, 12 posts from the last year - a year without a lot of interesting posts.

Jan. 8 -- Too Early
I did not want to get up this morning.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/01/too-early.html

Feb. 29 -- WT?
Yesterday was probably one of the top 5 worst days of my professional career life.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

March 1 -- Crappy Dad
I didn't even say good morning to my daughter this morning.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/03/crappy-dad.html

April 30 -- Free Ideas
Ok, here's some free ideas I thought of today.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-ideas.html

May 12 -- Welcome, Ben
Photo
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/05/multimedia-message_13.html

June 6 -- Solution to the ANWR Debate
So, it seems to me that as long as there is oil under ANWR, there will be people who want to drill for it and roads and pipes and infrastructure to support existing drilling. So, it seems like the easiest way to end the entire debate is to just go ahead and drill.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/06/solution-to-anwr-debate.html

July 5 -- Domesticated
For I don't know how long now, I've enjoyed vacuuming.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/07/domesticated.html

Aug. 18 -- Legitimate Post
If feels like ages since I've just posted something, anything, that was about what's going on in my life.  Something that wasn't a forward or a joke or a video, but something about me.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/08/legitimate-post.html

Sept. 9 -- Leftover Fusion Chopped Salad
A recipe.  Didn't post much in September.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/09/leftover-fusion-chopped-salad.html

Oct. 10 -- Simple Math
What do you get when you shovel-up a pile of dog poo and dump it on top of another pile of dog poo?
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/10/simple-math.html

Nov. 26 -- New Face
Is it racist of me to think (or hope) that because Barack Obama is black that more focus will be made towards the African continent in the next four years?
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-face.html

Dec. 1 -- Day 312
Tomorrow will be day 1,013 that we've lived in this house.  It will also be day 312 that my mother-in-law has not lived in the house.
http://tvjames.blogspot.com/2008/12/day-312.html

Baked French Toast

I searched for "French Toast allrecipes.com" on Google because I know my wife uses this site a lot. 

I found this recipe and plunged in, not realizing until partway through that I should have read the instructions fully before beginning and learned that I lacked: half-and-half, overnight, 40 minutes, the ability to cook.

I plunged on, anyhow, made all the first set of ingredients, poured them into a shallow glass pan.  Then, I put the butter in a pyrex and microwaved it until boiling.  Then added the other two ingredients and mixed until quite syrupy.  I poured into the pan as well, but it immediately sank to the bottom. 

So, used a fork to mix the ingredients between wiping each piece of toast in the mixture and then putting into a greased frying pan.

The end result was really good, it was like french toast with the syrup cooked right in.

Snow Despair

I've been in a bit of a funk today.  We've been mostly snowed in for the past few days.  I got out last night and was able to do some Christmas shopping for Lori, but I'm probably only 2/3 done.  I don't know if I'll be able to get the rest done before Christmas, but I guess I get a second chance as we're celebrating a second Christmas a few days after for family who skipped the snow for sunny Mexico.

I've been trying to figure out the funk.  I have a list... Obama... FOCA... the cancellation of Eli Stone, My Own Worst Enemy and Pushing Daisies... the economy... our need to refigure out the remainder of our home purchase... some things at work that have been more challenging that I know how to handle... I don't know.  No real good decent or real reason.  Maybe the lack of caffine all day.  Maybe the really crappy sleep last night.  I don't know. 

I feel like I need a pick-me-up.  But I think that's something I need to come up with on my own. 

Day 312

Tomorrow will be day 1,013 that we've lived in this house.  It will also be day 312 that my mother-in-law has not lived in the house.  There was a blow-out on Thursday and the line, crossed so long ago, became a straw that broke.  She would be out of this house by the end of this weekend, no matter what.  And she is.  This will be the first time that the four of us will be living together - alone - ever, since she's been here the whole time Ben's been with us, living in what was to be his nursery.   A weight has been lifted.

Stupid Politicians

Republican or Democrat, I hate them all.  I do not want to see the stupid Congressional Response to Automakers' Problems act get passed.  Riddled with problems and pork and derided by both sides of the aisle.  Please, please sink it.