one, two, three, four

Whee, she returns! 

What have I been doing, you ask?  Well, the big fat majority of my waking time has been consumed with the following: 

1)      Work.  Work, work, work.  And more work. 

2)      Planning the vacation to here, here and here.

3)      Drinking beer and planning gatherings with these fine folks.

4)      Geocaching toward the Epic 92 Challenge (this will require another blog post, I’m sure.)

5)      Wasting copious amounts of time on these websites.

6)      Thinking of pithy and fun things with which to update my blog, but chickening out.

7)      Being indecisive over which new restaurants to try.

8)      Apartment hunting in these locations.

9)      Becoming a Netflix junkie.

10)   Getting back into the role of consummate rock snob. 

…what have y’all been doing, I wonder?

grumble, grumble

It’s been one of those mornings where I not only woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I woke up half an hour late with a backache to boot.  Grumble, grumble.

I went in to my usual Starbucks this morning, dodging a first class moron who nearly took off my door and desperately needs parking training, only to be greeted by a line 15 deep and a barista who didn’t know how to do iced coffee.  Grumble, grumble. 

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the newest NBA –D team, are going to be affiliated with none other than the Detroit Freaking Pistons.  Grumble, grumble. 

The only potential Presidential candidate that gets me excited in any way, shape or form says he’s “fallen out of love with politics”.  Grumble, grumble. 

I just got saddled with a massive project that will probably take me all day and then some.  So much for leaving early.  Grumble, grumble.

clean up in aisle nine

In the process of cleaning house ‘round these parts, I’ve updated my blogroll and made some additions.  Here’s a roundup of the new linkage:

My fellow Beer Geeks have been busy!  Chris started up a new blog called The Non-Profit Dad, Jim has come back from blogging hiatus with He Writes About Words, and Jason comes at the blogosphere with Circle and Squares.   (these, of course, in addition to Mike’s Ridehorsey and Renee’s Feed Me Drink Me.  I wonder if we’ll have time to update in between pints…

I also added a couple of sports-related blogs:  first up is Stampede Blue, the SB Nation blog that covers the Indianapolis Colts.  These guys know EVERYTHING about the Horseshoe, and have the team covered down to the tiniest detail.  Yeah, I know, you wouldn’t have guessed I’m a football fan, right?  (Just don’t tell the Indie Rock police). 

I’ve also added Charlie Weis Ate My Baby, a local sports collective blog full of the best kinds of snark (and way too much Yankees coverage for my taste, but I’ll let it slide!)

Speaking of  CWAMB, I have added frequent contributor Jason’s Xtra-Rant to the blogroll – not updated as frequently as I’d like (hint, hint!) but chock-full of miscellaneous techie, political and humorous stuff sure to keep you occupied for quite awhile. 

I’ve also updated my link to the old Shakespeare’s Sister, now Shakesville.  Fellow Hoosier Melissa’s group blog is an absolute must-read if you’re fed up with the current state of political affairs.   Plus, her Two-Minute Nostalgia Sublime postings will have you humming old jingles and cursing the advent of YouTube.

Finally, I’ve added some links in a new “noteworthy” section of the blogroll.  These don’t fit into any real category, just places I visit to get my daily fill of laughter, outrage, hope and help. 

If any of you have a link to a blog or site that you think I’d be interested in, send it my way!  And if you’re a Hoosier blogger and I don’t currently link to you, I’d be glad to do so.  Just let me know.

Discovery what?

File under: Reasons why I don’t live anywhere NEAR my hometown…

According to Shakesville (by way of Bilerico), Ligonier is going to be home to Indiana’s premier creationist science museum, Discovery Express. Yes, folks, that’s right– the sleepy little villa of racial disharmony up in Noble County that’s home to the annual Marshmallow Festival (fitting, eh?) is now cementing its reputation as a repository for idiocy under the guise of science. And to think, I used to live there!

My heart’s all aflutter with anticipation. Perhaps they’ll have a big diorama showing cavemen and dinosaurs living in harmony! I can’t wait to read about how plants are proof that there is a God. Will they give a discount for anyone arriving with an In God We Trust license plate? Maybe I can hold my secular humanist meetings in their spacious third floor conference room!

But seriously… the sheer enormity of the volume of ridiculousness is frightening. Are public school children going to be forced to take field trips to this place? Proselytizing to a captive audience, how lovely! It wouldn’t surprise me, seeing as how there are public school teachers involved in running this thing. Brian Shidler is the West Noble HS Band director and Kellie Shidler works with the color guard.

The other thing that disturbs me greatly is the apparent amount of community involvement and support for this place. It would be one thing if a couple of loonies were putting this out in the woods somewhere, but it’s listed on the front page of the Visitors Bureau website. It’s a good thing I no longer bank with (or work for) Lake City Bank. I’d be pulling my accounts if they’re financially supporting this sham, which it seems that they are.

Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s a great thing to teach science to kids, and wholeheartedly support innovative teaching methods and nature education. But to do it under a fraudulent umbrella of creationism is shameful, and it makes me embarrassed to admit that I’m from that neck of the woods. Discovery, indeed.

the triumphant return!

Wow, it’s been awhile, eh?  My employer blocked the site from work, plus I’ve been insanely busy with year-end job duties (hooray for working in the tax field), not to mention spending quality time with the fella… so posting has been light.  Lighter than light, try invisible.  No longer!  I’ve been unblocked! 

Now that I can get back on from work, expect posting to pick up.  Did you miss me? 

*crickets chirping*

a piecemeal post

Too little time, too much I want to talk about.  Here’s a sampling:

*RIP, Molly Ivins. Miss Molly, you were one of my favorites, and I’m sad I never got a chance to see you in person.  This is a moving tribute written by Molly’s editor. 

*The Truth Behind Online Dating: This is a fascinating article about the “scientific” matchmaking process touted by eHarmony, Match.com, etc—sure to give Neil Clark Warren a well-deserved migraine.  Save your money and use OKCupid… not that I know anything about that.  Heh. 

*Emily and Christopher.  While browsing for reviews on a couple of local restaurants, I stumbled upon this site and was pretty impressed.  Non-pretentious, humorous and honest.  It’s good to know I’m not the only one that thinks El Sol de Tala sucks. Seriously, ew. 

*K-Fed goes South of the Border. I suppose once your fifteen minutes of fame are up, you need to find steady work. This works as well as anything, right? 

*Douche Cards.  I wish I would have had these when the oh-so-lovely Carmel housewife clipped my bumper in the parking lot the other night.  Maybe I should buy two packs, eh?    

*White Castle for Valentine’s Day.  I can’t think of anything more romantic!  

*Hoosier Valentine? The Naptown Roller Girls are in action tomorrow night against the Fort Wayne Derby Girls!  Come early to get a good seat and to beat the beer line.  Consider it a rehearsal for Super Bowl Sunday – all those people up in the Fort are Bears fans anyway, aren’t they?  (kidding!)

NES, NFL, it’s all the same

Best quote of the day: 

“I really was looking for No. 84. I hear he has like a 48-inch vertical. I wanted to make sure I was conscious of where he was,” Brackett said. “I didn’t want him jumping out of the gym and catching something like Tecmo Bowl, just all of a sudden going up and getting it.”

TECMO BOWL?  Marry me, Gary Brackett.  No, seriously.  We’ll sit around on our honeymoon and bust out Bubble Bobble and Skate or Die.  

all you need is an entourage

So you’ve eaten the last bit of leftover turkey, cleaned out all the peppermint Hershey Kisses from the candy bowl, and played with all your new holiday gadgets?   You’re looking for something fun to do with your time before work/school/life beckons again next week?  Let me give you a few ideas for the upcoming weekend.

Friday, December 29, come out to Locals Only for a Naptown Roller Girls benefit!  The gals are gearing up for their first bout on January 13, and they need your help to make sure it goes off without a hitch!  Find out more about the team, sign up to volunteer, watch rockers Devil to Pay, The Dockers and Her0, follow your favorite rollergirl in a game of full-contact musical chairs, and take advantage of Locals Only’s great food and excellent beer selection. (Might I recommend the vanilla porter?  It’s fantastic!)  Seriously, these ladies are near and dear to my heart, and while I’m not skating right now, I love each and every kickass lady on that team and can’t wait to be back with them soon.  So go show them some love, hard rockin’ roller derby style! 

Saturday, December 30, hometown rockers Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos will be tearing up the Irving Theater in an all-ages homecoming show.  You all know I adore the Irving (see here for some previous love), so it should come as no surprise that I am EXTREMELY excited for this show.  If you’ve never seen Margot and company live, this is your chance to catch them in a fairly intimate setting, among friends, at a venue that’s trying to do some genuinely excellent things for the Indianapolis music scene.   This is going to be one of the most-talked-about shows of the season, for sure.  The Irving is, as I said above, all-ages, so get your libations prior to (or after) the show. I’ll be hitting J. Clyde’s for a pre-Margot drink if anyone would like to join me. 

And finally… as if you need any more ideas for the debauchery-laced evening of sin and consumption that is New Year’s Eve, but might I suggest spending it at Big Car Gallery?  It’s not flashy or elegant, there’s no four-course buffet or pricey Chablis included, but you’ll get a night of eclectic music, quiet conversation, open dance floors, cheap drinks, interesting surroundings and hands-on art making opportunities… all for the low price of $12 each or $20 a couple.  The best part? The money will help Big Car stay open for business and exhibits in 2007.  The gallery has quickly become one of Indy’s best cultural destinations, making artistic and creative endeavors accessible to everyone.   Skip the half-hearted game of Trivial Pursuit, the tasteless cheese dip, and the bad 80’s cover bands this year.  You’ll be glad you did.

friday randomness

Not much time today, so I present the following: 

*In the grand saga of Stephen Colbert vs. The Decemberists, it looks as though Colbert emerged… um… victorious?  Check out this AP article (must have really been a slow news day!) and watch the video here.  I’m just in awe that they got Henry Effing Kissinger to come in on the joke.

*Congratulations to the illustrious Dodge of MOKB!  He’s (finally) a proud daddy.  Go over and send your well-wishes, and check out his music blog while you’re there… it’s one of the best around. 

*Apparently happiness is distracting!  I suppose this is true; after all, how many of us have immersed ourselves in working, drinking, or other activities to get our minds off of a breakup?  It could also explain why I’ve been having so much trouble getting things accomplished lately… 

*My friend lmb has a great follow-up to my ‘rules of engagement’ blog post.  Ah, the things you experience while working retail…   

*I’m fascinated with Google Zeitgeist – a complete composite of search terms for 2006.  It hurts my soul that “Paris Hilton” is in a number one spot on anything, let alone search engine hits. (h/t commonplacebook)   

*Torpor Indy talks about the elephant (or should I say, Wild Turkey) in the room this holiday season: the fact that liquor stores won’t be open on New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve this year.  Those days fall on Sundays, and  thanks to our nearly archaic Blue Laws, no alcohol sales allowed.  I realize there are more pressing things to worry about, but I do kind of shudder at the thought of ringing in the New Year at a bad party… sober.  Ew.

auld lang something-or-other

In keeping with trite blogger tradition, here’s a meme for 2006. See below for the sordid details…