Thank Ghu, the week is over

Holy crap, what a week.

Overtime every day but today. Long-ass runs with material stacked on my bed. I went to the Central Valley twice, and dealt with a contractor in Concord I would happily drown in his own concrete. Every little thing conspired to slow me down. Needless to say, I was very pleased when da Boss let me loose early today.

I'm still giddy over the election, especially now that Democrats control both houses of Congress. Watching Bush "welcome" Nancy Pelosi to the White House was like watching a 12 year old at his first dance class. The words were right, but the body English was unmistakable.

Speaking of which, I so need this.

I've given up on NaNoWrMo. Never got started.

I'm beginning to look at getting a laptop. My basic need is something with wireless router. I am not what you would call a high-end user. Any suggestions? Anyone have an old machine they'd be willing to give up cheap?

Some big local news.. the 49ers have announced that they are sick of dancing with San Francisco over a new stadium, and are planning on moving to Santa Clara. Much as I have great memories of the 'Stick, I think its time. Candlestick (I refuse to call it anything else) is ancient, falling apart, and even a brand new stadium on the site will still be in one of the worst neighborhoods in the City. The parcel offered for the new stadium down here has great access to public transit and freeways, is close to other attractions (the Santa Clara Convention Center, home to Baycon starting in 2008, and Paramount's Great America

San Jose is the 10th largest city in America, and for a long time it has seemed that the majority of the Faithful at games have been from the South Bay. So the move is only natural. The team is planning on keeping the name "San Francisco 49ers"; which isn't that odd. Santa Clara County is one of the nine counties that make up the Bay Area, and there is a precedent for teams named for one city actually playing in another.

Veteran's Day

Tommy

Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!


Thanks to all my fellow vets.

Friday Fiver is just jamming..

Tell us your favorite songs / types of music for...

1. Getting in the mood to party: My style of partying is a bit different, so I prefer some of the Grateful Dead's more up-tempo stuff. Cumberland Blues or Deal come to mind.

2. When you're depressed: Marillion's The Thieving Magpie. Not just emo rock, but angsty British emo rock live!

3. When you're in lust: Not really applicable to me.

4. Exercising: Metal, particularly Judas Priest. Anything with a good, driving rhythm. Heavy Duty, Deal With The Devil, Motley Crue's Shout at the Devil

5. Driving / riding in the car: Anything by Bill Kirchen, the King of Dieselbilly. Since I drive a truck for a living, the songs resonate with what I'm doing. I tend to put a mixture of styles on my iPod for work.. metal, rock, some country, folk, filk, comedy.