For anyone who tried that 30 year old unopened bottle of Galliano at Grandma's place a couple o' years ago....

Just in case you were wondering...

Fresh Galliano sucks just as bad.

I had a wonderful weekend.

Saturday, Mom used my birthday as an excuse to get her two daughters together for a shopping trip.  Not that we minded!!!  :)  I got some good stuff, but mom and Katy bought some sexy shirts that I'm sure they'll have fun in!  ;)

Sunday was my birthday dinner/get-together at my folks' place. 
I watched Katy clean out her car.  And took pictures, but I won't embarrass her by posting them.  :)  She did find about $18 in change.  All coins.  And 3.5 pair of shoes.  And 22 books (the number of which I accurately predicted!).  Among other things.  
Okay, one picture.  This is before she got to the trunk.



Then I took some artsy fartsy photos of this spinning garden ornament that Ma has in one of her flower beds.



Mom and Joe did some cooking inside.  Mom and Katy had already put together my birthday pie (more on that later!).  Brother Erik cooked the steaks on the grill, with help and moral support from Joe and Nate, while Katy and Allison and I hung out on the porch. 

Dinner was delicious!  Ma made some amazing scalloped potatoes with gouda cheese.  Ma - the recipe needs to be shared!!!  

Once we were all full, we went up to the top of the hill and played with a 9mm Glock.  Well, "played" is entirely the wrong word - Dad and Nate are incredibly safety-conscious.  I'd never shot one before.  And while my aim did improve, I am not a good shot.  Also, the gun is, I think, a bit big for my hands.  But fun was had.  I got some interesting pictures.  I never did manage to capture the bullet leaving the gun, but I did manage a couple of times to get the shell exiting the chamber.



When it got time for Katy to leave - she had to get home because she had to work early the next day - we went back down to the house for dessert.  The dessert was special.  One of a kind.  First, we don't ususally have birthday cake.  See, my mom makes the best crust ever.  So we have birthday pie.  My request for this pie was that it have lots of crust.  Apparently, Ma got cold feet at the last minute and thought it wouldn't work.  Luckily, my sister was on hand to save the day and convince her to give it a go.  So, mom and Katy made three pie crusts.  And they made French silk filling.  And melted chocolate.  And got locally grown strawberries.  I made the whipped cream.  And Ma put it all together.  And, lo!, it was om nom nommy!! 



All in all, a relaxing pleasant day for pretty much everyone!

Edited to add: Amazon says it's a 'glitch.' 
Here's another take on the thing, with ethics!  :)

I pass this along because censorship is bad. 

From theferrett : "As far as I can tell, at some point last week Amazon quietly removed the sales ranks of "controversial" titles, making them a hell of a lot harder to find."

More info:

http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html

http://community.livejournal.com/meta_writer/11560.html

http://community.livejournal.com/meta_writer/11992.html

http://booksquare.com/open-letter-to-amazon-regarding-recent-policy-changes/

I Am A: True Neutral Human Druid/Ranger (2nd/2nd Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-9

Dexterity-10

Constitution-13

Intelligence-16

Wisdom-14

Charisma-12


Alignment:
True Neutral A true neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. He doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most true neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil after all, he would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, he's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way. Some true neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run. True neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion. However, true neutral can be a dangerous alignment because it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Primary Class:
Druids gain power not by ruling nature but by being at one with it. They hate the unnatural, including aberrations or undead, and destroy them where possible. Druids receive divine spells from nature, not the gods, and can gain an array of powers as they gain experience, including the ability to take the shapes of animals. The weapons and armor of a druid are restricted by their traditional oaths, not simply training. A druid's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast.


Secondary Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (20)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (19)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (20)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (19)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXX (7)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXX (3)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Chaos --- XXXXXXXXX (9)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Evil ---- XXXX (4)

Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Dwarf ---- XXXXXX (6)
Elf ------ XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Gnome ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Half-Orc - (0)

Class:
Barbarian - (0)
Bard ------ (-6)
Cleric ---- (-4)
Druid ----- XXXXXXXX (8)
Fighter --- (-2)
Monk ------ (-23)
Paladin --- (-29)
Ranger ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Rogue ----- (0)
Sorcerer -- XXXX (4)
Wizard ---- XX (2)

Our cat is NOT dead!!!   :)  Oh, Happy Day!!!

Let's back up a moment, shall we?

When we left for vacation, we let our inside/outside cat, Moe, out.  It was easier than arranging for someone to come feed him.  And I certainly wasn't giving keys to any of my neighbors.  We figured he'd be fine - he was an outside cat before we claimed him from the herd that lives in our cul-de-sac.  

But when we came home, there was no sign of our Moe.  None.  All the rest of the cats were around (and demanding food).  We were a little bummed, but we figured it might take a day or two for him to realize we were home.  That, or our across-the-street neighbor (who has expressed a proprietary interest in our cat) had cat-napped him and was keeping him in her house.  

Over the course of the last week, we've called for Moe and looked for Moe repeatedly.  If I saw our neighbor, I was going to ask her about Moe - but she hasn't shown herself since we got back. 

And, then, Joe talked to her man yesterday.  He told Joe that Moe had been run over on the main road near our house the day before we'd gotten back home.  We were a sad couple last night.  Very sad.  

Joe cooked steak for dinner tonight.  And it was quite tasty.  Om nom nommy.  And so I went outside to feed the herd and treat them with scraps.  I had just finished tossing the scraps out and and had *just* dialed my sister on my cell when what to my wondering eyes should appear? 

MOE!  He sauntered up like he hadn't been missing for a week and a half.  I picked him up and heard my phone ringing and dumped my phone on the washing machine on the way in the house to show Joe who was going to be so stunned and excited and I must've hung up the phone somehow in all my excitement.  Katy called me back right away and I missed that call because I was too excited about our Moe being in our house and being very much NOT DEAD.  And then I called my sister and was all shrieky I'm sure.  :)

After looking him over, it's rather apparent that he hasn't been spending much time indoors while we were gone.  There's a scab on his shoulder and an odd bump on the tip of one ear.  And there was a big fat tick nestled at the base of his whiskers beside his nose.  He did not like the tick removal operation at all.  I think I got it all.  But we'll monitor it for a week or so to make sure I didn't leave any of the head in to get infected.

He is demanding cuddle time from Joe.  They like to sit on the couch together and watch TV.  It's incredibly cute.

Notable happenings since my last post (in reverse chronological order):

1. Went on vacation.  Went to visit Joe's folks in Jersey and Maryland.  And I got to see Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That was awesome+3!  Yesterday, Joe, Mom, Katy, and I made the trip to the Ikea in Charlotte.  You wouldn't know the economy is in the shitter by the number of people shopping at the Ikea.  But, we had fun.  Katy had never been to one.  Bought neat stuff. 
Today is my last day of vacation.  Tomorrow: work. 

2. Joe and I finally got our asses in gear and had our wills and health care power of attorney papers drawn up.  The plan is to go to the lawyer's office on Wednesday and sign them and have them notarized.  Heather, being as awesome as she is, gave us a POA gift - like for a wedding shower, only not.  (THANK YOU!)  :)  By Wednesday, if all goes according to plan, Joe and I will be as legal as we're ever gonna be!  :) 

3. Got a haircut.  Shorter than ever before.  It's cute.  :)

And, now, for fun links....

- 24 ridiculously expensive everyday items to blow your million dollar lottery winnings on.

- An incredible (and rare) picture of Saturn with four of its moons traversing its face (and you can see two of the moons' shadows).  Yay for the Hubble Telescope.

- Mom, this one's for you.  Timber Press has published a new book: Green Flowers by Alison Hoblyn.  I'm going to try to order it into the store to look at.  Do you want me to let you know when it's in so you can look at it, too?

 

Sad.  Paul Harvey died today. 

Comment to this post and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this to your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

Here's what chef_troy  gave me:

• Cage match: Douglas Adams vs. Spider Robinson. You may pit them against each other on whatever basis you wish - humor, writing skill, even chances of surviving an encounter with a grizzly bear - but you must support your answer. For the purposes of your answer, assume that Adams is alive.
• "Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and why? Justify your answer.
• Playing a word that you know to be invalid in a game of Scrabble - dishonesty/cheating, or legitimate playing strategy akin to bluffing in poker?
• Best Catwoman ever: Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Michelle Pfeiffer, or Halle Berry? Give evidence to support your answer.
• What distinguishes erotica from pornography?

( To see the answers, some of them perhaps surprising, click the cut link. )

...that it sucks when your manager assumes the worst of you.  And by 'you' I mean 'me.' 

Especially when, by now, he should know better than to think that I'd just walk away from two customers who are standing at the customer service desk. 

In reality, I was helping a third customer (the one who was there first) that my manager didn't see.  And apparently he also did not notice (conveniently didn't hear?) that before I walked away from the desk (with customer in tow), I had actually paged for more booksellers to the desk to help those other customers.  Also, I had interacted with those other customers - I acknowledged their existence and told them that I or another bookseller would be right up - so that they might have some more patience with us.

Yes, sir, as a matter of fact I was in the back room, but it wasn't to clock out like you seemed to assume.  The children's book my customer wanted?  Yeah, it was received today; therefore, still in the back in receiving.  I can give you the title if you want to check it's date of receipt. 

That made the last minute and a half of my shift a joy, let me tell you.  Also, I hate it that when I get pissed I cry.  Luckily, he didn't see any of that.  But one of my former co-workers did.  I'm afraid I was rather curt and rude when he asked me what was wrong.  I shall have to apologize later to him. 

Grr.  Argh.