Today I was attacked by a common household spice. On lunch break I stopped a the local Indian supply shop to pick up some paprika that I thought would jazz up the chicken I was going to cook. In addition to the small red can of "Rajah" paprika I also picked up some somosas, potato cakes and a hot pepper thing. Chicken, fun Indian food, what could go wrong? Chicken in the pan, I was ready to add the "Rajah", I pulled the tab on the can and it instantaneously blew up like a paprika bomb. I was red powdered chest up. I guess this really isn't such a big deal but I never had a seasoning treat me so rudely. What trespass did I do to offend the paprika gods? After that excitement lunch was good but that hot pepper thing kicked my ass, I can't remember the last time I ate something so freakin hot, I couldn't even finish it.

If I were a work of art, I would be Piet Mondrian's Composition A. I am rigidly organised and regimented, although my cold and unapproachable exterior hides a clever way of thinking and a rebellious and innovative nature. A lot of people don't understand me, but I can still affect them on an emotional level. Which work of art would you be? The Art Test

I'm not so sure about the organised and cold part, but I could live with being this piece of art..

Really too nice for December 5th here, temp probably in the mid 70's all day long. No need for jackets just wear the t-shirts. Last year at this time I think we were freezing to death. This won't last long, and boy we will pay come Jan/Feb. Burr..I can feel it already.

Today a co-worker took me aside and said he wanted to talk in private about something before noon. It sounded somewhat ominous so I broke away as soon as I got a chance to see what was up. No one else around he walks to the back room and brings back a Tupperware container full of Kluski(Polish noodles). His mother had made the noodles for him this morning and he knew that I would react very favorable to getting some. I sneaked him some Golabki(Cabbage rolls) about a month ago, also mom made. Why the secrecy? We are probably the only ones who like this stuff and there isn't enough to go around anyway. So for now its a clandestine eastern European lunch club. That's right, the CEELC is closed to us cabbage kids or anyone else who can at least bring some kielbasa or Mrs T's Pierogies to the table.

You send the boy to college and he first wants to study engineering, fine, thats great. Two years later he switches to the theology dept instead, I don't care, I talked to the wife and whatever makes him happy. We don't see him for a semester and then we start getting crazy postcards from Pakistan. Next thing you know we see our boy on CNN fighting for the Taliban, kids these days, I don't understand he was such a nice quite boy----just my take on the 20 year old American fighting for the Taliban as seen on CNN. It just gets stranger and stranger.

The old lady grabbed tight to my jacket sleeve telling me she needed my help to cross because of her bad eyesight. She seemed to come out of nowhere. I told to hold on and we'll cross when it's safe. Being a busy street at noon downtown it took awhile, she turned to me and said, "your real patient..I wish I could be that patient". I just laughed real hard and she started to laugh too. Walking away I admired the Christmas circus theme windows of the large department store trying hard for good holiday sales.

Today is worlds AIDS awareness day think and link and I'm not really sure if anyone is really listening. The world has had so many problems it seems that most are forgotten about in the winds of time. I have no personal stories to tell but I know that each day thousands of people are lost to this condition. The resources available to mankind are formidable but the wisdom to use them are scarce. So many bright lights are lost to our sight, may peace be with them.

On a suggestion from a friend I spent tonight watching Junkyard Wars on the Learning Channel. Tonight happened to be the two hour Mega World Championship pitting three national teams in semi-serious mechanical competition. Team Raptor from the US was comprised of a group of Lockheed/Martin combat aircraft engineers from their sorta secret Skunk works. Team Bulldog was made up some British army engineers and team Bear seemed to be manned by some mechanically inclined Russians plus a rouge German. Each team had free reign to pick from a huge junkyard and 16 hours to create a vehicle that would win a straight up sand flats race, a rocky rough terrain race, and mile long water race. The Americans were able to pull off a solid victory with little drama( they had to paddle through much of the water race). The show was fairly amusing and I'd probably watch it again.

I really think the big headed blue alien Walkman commercials are brilliant and very funny.

It took two days but I think I've recovered from the Saturday night house warming party. Well attended by punk and metal boyz and grrlls and the rest of us less exciting folk. Furious billiards and pinball in the metal basement as much license was taken in the games of 8-ball. Hip hop first floor meant serious booze and food while dodging the darts masters. I continue my eating rampage that started last Thursday, there is no turning back. The allure of the T-angle bar battleship hoagie at 1:30 a.m. is undeniable. All through the night I watched the pocket Etch A Sketch make its rounds on both floors as the official toy of the evening. At about 2:30 I'm cornered by the man of the house for a few shots of JD, he's really gone. I don't drink but I go through with it for male bonding sake and at least it good whiskey. The carpool leaves at around 4:00 as we drag Dom from his Nintendo baseball game.

Tough going getting up after last nights thang...sleep friendly cool rainy weather doesn't help either..zombie lurch to the HOT sprinkly water chamber...feeling good. Grande Kenyan and cran muf to go as I rapidly advance to work. I think this will be a good day.

Surprise visit at work today by long ago acquaintance. Almost didn't recognize him because he looked like hell. Uncharacteristically long unkempt hair, loss of about 40 or so pounds, wild look in the eyes. Curiosity and concern made me ask if he wanted to step out for a quick coffee to yak to which he agreed. Moving from DC to the west coast two years ago for work apparently sucked the life out of him. As I sipped at my Grande Columbian blend I felt a few gears had broken off and some melded as he rambled on. It was not good to see someone who had it altogether seem so weird in a depressing way. Hopefully he'll be able to turn it around.
Playfully mocked by fellow co-workers for having real "stone fingers" on the keyboard. I never really noticed this before, because it never crossed my mind that I had weighty digital action. I guess I'm just not the delicate type..ho..ho.

Thanksgiving went off without a hitch at the folks house yesterday. Each year some element of the meal is suspect by mom who cooked it. This time the gravy was too runny and the stuffing not seasoned right. I thought the gravy and stuffing were fine and I told her so, that's usually how it goes. Asked Dad for a roll and he playfully tosses it across the table in violation of all table manners. We laugh because after all no one is around but us. After dinner I'm drafted into a game of NASCAR Monopoly by the racing fans of the family, four hours later I gain a taxing victory over my youngest nephew who bet heavily on the NASCAR equivalant of Boardwalk and Parkplace, the little guy had me sweating bullets each time I went around the board till he started to land more on my tracks(properties). Sometimes staying safely in Monopoly jail while collecting rentals is a good thing. Later, near perfect pumpkin pie with coffee makes it all worthwhile. Same nephew who went the distance in monopoly wants to play some two player UNO, which we do for a bit before he leaves. Traditional late night turkey snacking with Mom while Dad again defies leftover convention with a hard salami sandwich and a beer.

Coffee, muffin and the Times at the usual stop sitting at one corner. Behind me local tech suit and ties discuss the future of the city with big money numbers and words. Big money being offered for Bin Laden and the Afghan movie places are jamed. Unafiliated suit D shows up and is asked by suit A is he wants to meet the other players which I guess are suits B and C. They are pieces on a board that I don't care about. Off to work.

A much cooler temperature accompanied by a thick fog is tonights look here. I havn't seen a haze like this for awhile.. a little creepy. Speaking of creepy I saw David Lynch's new movie Mulholland Drive last night, I found myself laughing at alot at things that were just plain wrong. Preview of Brotherhood of Wolves looked awesome. The idea of werewolf intrigue in what looks like pre-revolutionary France could be a great movie. I believe it is a French production refitted for the American market. Sipping on Celestial Seasonings "Sleepytime" Herb Tea as I play on the net.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh mouth. Terms for the suspension of fighting between the Allies and Germany were signed at Marshal's Foch's headquarters, a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne,on November 11th, 1918. This Armistice concluded the "War the end all Wars".

On the way to get the second large coffee of the day my attention is drawn to a couple locked in a playful hong kong action duel. While so occupied I'm practically overrun by a quartet of well dressed, clean cut Mormon missionaries.

I must really like the Vandals because in the attempt to delete my "skrew" spelling invention I posted twice..fucking brilliant..and I can't seem to fix it..fuck it.
Took a trip to Kings with da boyz, something we have not done for awhile. The stares as we walk in are usually priceless. Good to see the war council of vets in the same place we left them a few months ago. Fun older waitress that keeps the coffee coming and convinces all of us to try the "Johan Moose Dropping" ice cream sundae. Disappointing people watching session tonight, Kings is usually crawling with archetypes. Downed our Moose Dropping and went home.