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So as it turns out...

For those of us (including me) who might have thought that I was immortal, the jury is back on the subject. It turns out that I am not quite as immortal as some might have thought.

Along with being diabetic (which should have been clue #1 when I was diagnosed 7 years ago), I apparently have high cholesterol. My doctor prescribed Lipitor to me today and wants me to be on it for at least the next six months.

So far today I have mentioned it to a few people, none of whom seem to feel like this is anywhere near as big a deal as I think it is. Is this because so many Americans have high cholesterol that we are numb to this by now, or because they just don't care whether I solidify into one giant block of lipids and collapse onto the floor? I would like to think that it is because it is far too common.

Before today, I had to stop eating things like Twinkies due to my diabetes. Now I get to widen the restrictions to include things like Deep Fried Twinkies too.

Vacation Begins

Finally, finally it finally begins! After months and months of waiting we are finally starting our vacation. Last night Tara and Trevor picked me up in Newark after a long trip back (many delays) from Atlanta. I had a great time working with Tracey traveling through the southeastern US last week, but being with Trev and Tara is mo' better.

Today and tomorrow we will be hanging out in Manalapan with Tara's family just chilling out and doing some laundry. Since we won't be able to be around for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Tara's family is actually having an impromptu Turkey day this afternoon so that we can all participate.

Tomorrow evening we will be heading up to Nutley, so that we can join my family for a 35th Anniversary celebration for my parents. It should be fun, and a chance for everyone to dress up and hang out.

Then Monday morning arrives! By 9 AM on Monday morning, we will be in the Magic Kingdom playing and goofing around. More details on that later, well...much later....as in after we come back. We don't plan on being online or communicating with the outside world much at all.

See you all next week!

Happy Your Mom Month!

The "Your Mom" cookie we sent to Clay.

Hooters comes to town...

Oh Boy. South Burlington's newest hot-spot.

It is always a plus if your meal comes from an establishment with it's own softcore porn mag.

Arizona Critters

Um, I don't know what biologists in Arizona classify them as, but Scorpions ain't insects. They are actually arthropods and below that fall within the Arachnid family.

Oh, and spiders aren't insects either, in case you have been living in a cave and don't know what arachnids are. I think the lack of moisture in the air out there is drying out their brains. :)

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season for the age-old question... "what do you guys want for Christmas?"

... the answer?

Look here:

Tara's Amazon.com wish list
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/VEZG1NPJ9RK1

Dave's Amazon.com wish list
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/1KC5BEV7RXG2

Trevor's Amazon.com wish list
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/1OL7RUQVIG280

Mind the Gap

Melissa recently went to see the Grand Canyon on vacation. She and Paul found this picture while going through her trip photo's and thought that this would be something I would find amusing. They were right.

"Most who die have gone beyond walls or rails."

The question I have for them is this:

"How do the rest of the people who die while at the Grand Canyon usually bite the dust?"

Heh. Dust. It's a desert, get it? Ok, I am going to go amuse myself over here.

Where do you rank?

Last night was our den meeting and Trevor really enjoyed making his family tree poster. He insisted on cutting out family pictures in the order of how much he liked each family member. So let's just say I have the scoop on who Trevor loves best.

Disappointingly, I found that I am pretty far down the list...

Time for Coffee

I had some extra time this morning, so I asked to have my wake-up call take place at 8 instead of 6 like the last few days. It didn't matter though, because by 6:30 I was awake. The fifteen story building next to my hotel is covered in mirrored glass, and the sun was being directed right into my room.

When the sun isn't shining into the glass, you can actually see all of the people moving around the building. Little ants going about their work. Marching back and forth. Copy room, coffee, desk, bathroom. Last night I looked out my window at nine o'clock only to see a small group of them clustered around a tiny conference room table still working. I laughed at them and their unending march and then sat back down to continue working on the report I had left to look out the window.

This week I am in Toronto, last week it was DC, and in another week it will be Vermont, Raleigh, Atlanta, New Jersey. It doesn't really matter though. It's all the same. Green carpets, brown furniture, off-white walls and burgundy splashed into everything else. It's all the same.

Tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion and mouthwash line the sink in the hopes of offering me some reprieve, some semblance of my home away from home. I would imagine that most of us bring our own though. If you are going to be away from home and traveling for more than a day or so, you want to have your brands, your smells.

If the hotel really wanted to make me feel at home, they might interview me before I come here and ask what it is that I like. That would make me feel more at home. But they don't, so instead it is all the same. My room is the same as his room, and her room. It is the same as the last room I had, and it will be the same as the next one that I have.

In that sense, by coming to a hotel you are almost freezing time around you. Nothing changes, it all stays the same. If anything does change, the little worker bees come in while you are out and put it back in its place. It is almost like I am being held captive by a group that is trying desperately to keep me from realizing that I am a prisoner. "What, no no sir. Nothing is different. It's all the same. Yes sir, right away sir."

Wake.

Shower.

Iron.

Dress.

Coffee.

Breakfast.

Work.

Work.

Work.

Time for coffee.

A Million Little Pieces

I don't usually keep up with the books that Oprah recommends anymore, but this one got such heartfelt praise from "O" and her staff that I finished watching the episode and drove directly to Barnes & Noble to buy the book.

The writing style is quintessential minimalism—nothing is over-described and repetition is a staple of the narrative. I like this style anyway, my favorite author, Chuck Palahniuk, teaches minimalist writing online.

The story is gripping and gritty. No one who has read this book has wanted to put it down. Dave said he was on an airplane with his hand pressed to his mouth in horror at some of the passages. It's the true story of James Frey, a man who was consumed by his addictions to drugs and alcohol, and found himself a broken and battered man in rehab.

It's not your typical "addict sees the light" tale. There's no cheating and nothing feels false. It's out in paperback, so grab a copy and share it with a few friends. Heads up for graphic (painful to read) scenes and a generous helping of profanity.

Trevor Link

Trevor never tires of correcting people who think he's Robin Hood or Peter Pan.

He's actually Link, from the Legend of Zelda. I think he's closest to Link from Windwaker, but we mixed versions—he even has a real ocarina.

See the resemblance?