A Cool Imagination

I tend to get bored driving back and forth to work each day. It's been the same trek for 8+ years. So I like to mix it up. Some days all I can think is to get home ... NOW. Those days are highway. Some days I have errands and those days I travel the roads to take me by my sidetrip destinations. And some days, like today, I am so exhausted from work that I want to get home, but the highway is jammed by a wreck and I end up wandering. I would rather keep making side street turns and keep moving, rather than stop for lights or traffic. It's as though I know that I am so beat that if I stop, I will end up dozing and drooling on the steering wheel. Not only is this not safe ... it's also not sanitary or attractive.

However, that is not the point of this little thought process. The point of this thought is the number of times I was told the temperature, as I made my way home. This summer it seems that more and more businesses are making it their ... well ... business, to let us know what the temperature is outside. I'm not sure why. Am I more prone to do my banking where they tell me not only the time but the temperature outside? Because of noticing the new electronic flashing sign telling me the temperature, will I be purchasing a new pool from a particular company? Getting a load of dirt? Eating a meal? What was once though of as a convenience, now becomes rather laughable.

In the space of one mile yesterday, I literally passed 5 signs telling me the temperature. Only two were the same. Since they were all in the triple digits, I didn't really care. All they really needed to do was put the words "It's Hot" and flash them and I would get the point.

Today was no exception. In my tired wanderings I found sign after sign telling me it was 100+ degrees. That is, until I came to this sign located at the side of the road. It was advertising a local store. It's sign read 78 degrees. I knew I was really tired, so I did a double take. Yep ... there it read, bold as brass in it's flashing red neon letters ... 78 degrees.

So, I did the only thing that seemed right. I pulled into the parking lot, parked right next to the sign and enjoyed the pocket of cool air.

Have I mentioned I have a powerful imagination?

Video PicSpam

This was originally a picspam type poem that I did for a blog on the TVGuide site. However, reading the thoughts and comments of my blogbuddies there, and at the request of one, in particular (Rap - this is for you), I took it out and made some adjustments, added some pics and changed the format a bit. I have yet to figure out how to add my own music and the music the site offers just isn't right. So, you'll have to have the music in your head. I don't think that will be a problem with most people. The song is pretty well known. Anyway, I decided to post it here, as well as over in my TVGuide spot. Hope you enjoy.

Supernatural: My Favorite Scenes

Peaceful Moments Once A Week

Saturday mornings are my favorite time of the week. They are a time that is so incredibly peaceful for me and I am loathe to ever give them up. It is only for something REALLY important or life threatening that I consider altering what has become one of the best times of the week for me.

I used to be a slug-a-bed. I admit it. I loved sleeping as late as possible on Saturdays, never realizing the moments I was missing. Even after I started getting up earlier due to the girlies, I didn't truly appreciate these moments.

(Ahem. It's a bit difficult to be a slug-a-bed when you have a couple of two year olds standing at your face at the side of the bed, poking you and declaring their hunger. But even then, after sleepily preparing the food of choice and properly setting the cartoons to where they were requested, I admit to becoming a slug-a-couch for a good portion of the morning. Well, a slug-a-couch with attachments. Somehow, said girlies always seemed to be on top of me as I resumed my snoozing.)

In the last couple of years, though, I have found that Saturday mornings have increasingly become "My Time". I continue to wake early, as I do during the week, but in an "on my own without the alarm", relaxing, non hurried, don't have to get dressed and out the door, type of way. Standing at my kitchen window, surveying the weather that God has chosen for the day, I make a little pot of tea and begin my day with my computer. I check in on family and friends, I wander over to my little Sanitarium in the TVGuide Blogosphere, make my rounds, and check in with friends there. After I have finished my tea, I might get started on a few basic household chores - depending on my mood and the condition I left the kitchen the previous Friday night. I might spend some time writing, particularly if a new idea has taken hold of my brain and transmitted itself to my fingers. Or, I might simply brew another little pot of tea and enjoy some time with one of the three or four books I always seem to have started.

In any event, Saturday mornings are now my time. While those girlies now enjoy being teenage and preteen slug-a-beds, I enjoy the peace of those hours. The quietness of the house without TV or music raging, when my heart can rejoice and my soul can rejuvenate. During this time, I find peace.

Words Say One Thing ... Actions Say Another

The Bickersons came to my house this evening. For those who don't know, this is the name I have for my twin girlies when they decide to indulge in sisterly, ahem ... shall we say ... "love and affection". Tonight's display of "love and affection" revolved around who's turn it was to change the movie in the DVD player. After listening and watching this exchange for a few minutes, I played the "Grown Up" card. (I'm allowed to do this. After all, I AM the grown up.) I took the remote, which happened to be on my desk with me at the time, changed the setting from DVD to Video and pushed play. I wasn't sure which one, but I was certain it was a Supernatural video in the machine. I was right. As "In My Time of Dying" (Season 2, Ep. 1 for those who ... *gasp* ... are unaware) begins to play, so begin the groans, the "oh no!"s and various other statements saying they would rather watch anything else. Ignoring The Bickersons, who are now showing a united front, I continue to allow the video to play.

Interestingly enough ... before the firey flash of the title card at the beginning ... both girls attention was caught and the episode continued with little comment and no complaint as the three of us watched those Winchester men and the journey of that particular episode.

They tease me for my passion, they make faces when I play my DVD's or videos, they insist they'd rather watch anything else ... yet when it is on the TV - they are captivated, watching, asking questions, interested in what is happening.

Yeah. Their words tell me one thing ... but I'm a grown up. I can read the actions.

Oh. And the Bickersons? Yeah, they've changed back into the sweet girlies I enjoy. For atleast the next five minutes.

Flavored Memories

Cherry Coke

Vanilla Dr. Pepper

Peach Tea

Raspberry Ginger Ale

Flavored drinks are all so popular right now. Everywhere you go you can have your choice of fruits and flavors added to anything you want. You can mix it up in a Big Gulp drink from the local gas station. Restaurants offer special teas and coffees. You want to be considered cool? Add a couple of flavors to anything you drink.

Who knew that mumblemumble years ago, my girlfriend, Beth and I were cool years before our time?

Every opportunity we had during those lazy summer days of high school, we could be found cruising the Sonic Drive Inn and sipping on our own mixture ... we called it a CVLS (Cherry Vanilla Lime Sprite) and it could only be had at the one drive inn located between our houses. The other one in town didn't have Sprite, it had Teem. And while the manager would argue that there was no difference - trust us ... there was. It wasn't on the menu. The menu didn't list flavor additions at that time. It was something we talked them into making especially for us. After the first few times, we didn't have to talk to hard ... unless we got a new employee. Then we would patiently talk them through it. Only a couple times did we have to get the manager to confirm our request was legit.

Tonight as I drove by the Sonic on my way home, I was looking at the kids enjoying the last days of summer before heading back to school. I watched them ... sharing and tasting the different flavors of their various drinks.

I remembered those CVLSs from those years long ago. So I pulled in and ordered one. Of course, I had to use the words and not the initials. The girl taking my order didn't bat an eye at the combination of flavors and the carhop that brought it to my window wasn't the least bit curious about my request. But that was alright.

Tonight as I drove home sipping the refreshing flavored drink, I enjoyed those memories from mumblemumble years ago. And smiled.

Too Clean

Last night as I was closing down the house and getting ready for bed, I got this sudden burst of energy and finished cleaning up the kitchen. Everything neat and tidy and all put away. No dishes in the sink, no dishes in the dish drainer, not even dishes in the dishwasher. Counters and sink freshly scrubbed, coffee pot shiny, range top and microwave glistening. The refrigerator cleaned out and the floor freshly mopped.

I went to bed feeling good. When I got up this morning and came to my kitchen to make my morning tea (decaf white blueberry - yum!), the sun was coming through the window and everything smelled and looked so nice. What a wonderful way to start the day!

This can't be a bad thing, right?

Problem is ... this evening, as I stood in my nice, shiny clean kitchen debating what would be good for dinner, everything I could think to fix involved getting pans dirty, using the utensils, making the glistening microwave and range top not so ... well, glistening.

What do you fix for dinner and keep the nice and shiny kitchen looking so pretty?

Yep ... you got it. Pay a visit to the local Subway.

Wardrobe Assistance, Please ...

Attention Supernatural Wardrobe Department:

Even though, technically, he is your boss, it might be nice if someone could please offer some assistance to The Kripke in coordinating his clothing and his personal appearances in front of large audiences.

CW 2007 Winter Press Tour



San Diego Comic Con 2007

I'm sure he has other shirts and t-shirts he could wear.

How sure?

Pretty sure.