Geistbear Musing

Browns are going to the playoffs :-)

It's been a difficult year for JimmyT First he gets set to prison. Next he loses his congressional seat. Then he loses his reelection bid. Now, just in time to finish out the year the Government is trying to squeeze a $150k out of him. Yes, I couldn't let the year end without one more Traficant post.

Too funny for words. (Thanks Doc)

Review F'd Companies I have been an avid reader of fuckedcompany site for a while, I enjoy Pud's cynical style. So I was really looking forward to this book, it's good in that it continues in the same voice that made his website famous. The problem with the book is it is exactly like his website, in fact if you have been reading his site with any regularity you will learn little new out of it. Yes the chapters have been alittle more organized and it is more than the usual quick blurb, it's about a page a company, but otherwise it's the same thing as the website. I am not really complaining, I like Pud's site and don't mind supporting it by getting the book especially when it's a holiday gift , but it would have been nice to have fresh material. If you like the site support Pud and buy the book it's a fun and quick read, if you don't like pud well that's your problem.

Poetry Thursday I forgot to post my poem when I logged in last night, so it's a day late, but it's from Grrrrr: A Collection of poems About Bears . Totem In my dream the Great Bear stands, paws and head raised up in prayer- then falls soundlessly while those who gather to witness circle him in silence, slowed by awe. Who am I here- watcher of watchers, heart as blank as paper. Isis would weep, Inanna howl to heaven, Ereshkigal gnash her teeth to tear. I focus my film. Have I ordered his death- my Great Bear with his fur like fire over my frozen fingers, over my icy heart? - Mary H. Ber

Merry Christmas All is well in for the folks around Bear Droppings, we had a fun day I hope yours was as well. I got a lot of housestarting gifts for the new place. I missed out on a White Christmas by not being in the Northland, but soon enough. My father and I cooked the dinner, I made my orange glazed salmon, my father made a mushroom philodough appitizer and then an assortment of marinated peppers, mushrooms, olives, and other holiday goodies. happy holidays all.

RageBoy has another blog , damn, as if I didn't have too many on my blogroll anyways...check it out.

Snow in the Mountains I drove up to Sedona again Friday with another load of stuff noting on the way that the Christmas season was truly here. How did I know? On the drive between Phoenix and Sedona there is a scrub evergreen tree between the North and South bound lanes, you can see it shortly after the climb up the mountain just after Sunset Point. For as long as I can remember the tree gets decorated as an Xmas just after Thanksgiving by some unknown local. It's a very neat gift to the travelers who pass by on the 17 freeway. The tree is better than 10 feet tall so it stands out, especially when you pass by at night, no lights, but there usually use enough reflective material that it lights up well enough as you drive by. When I got to Sedona I was greeted by a nice dumpimg of snow and in typical fashion by the time we had finished with dinner the storm had blown through, it was enough to provide a nice scenic blanket, especially Saturday morning. The clouds even cleared out

" In your country club, your church and business, about 15 percent of the people are screwballs, lightweights and boobs - and you would not want those people un-represented in Congress. " - Alan Simpson My response, only 15%? (Thanks to Heard on the Hill )

Holiday Hints In case there is the odd friend out there who has not found my Amazon list or would like to get me something different, you might get me a membership for the year to EFF, Electronic Freedom Foundation . I'd appreciate it and it's something I keep intending, but never get around to doing. Yeah trolling for gifts, not really just tossing out ideas

Poetry Wednesday The Lockless Door It went many years, But at last came a knock, And I thought of the door With no lock to lock. I blew out the light, I tip-toed the floor, And raised both hands In prayer to the door. But the knock came again My window was wide; I climbed on the sill And descended outside. Back over the sill I bade a “Come in” To whoever the knock At the door may have been. So at a knock I emptied my cage To hide in the world And alter with age. - Robert Frost

Dr. Phil As regular readers may have noticed I am at my folk's house through the holidays until my cabin in the mountains is ready. Naturally I don't watch all the same shows they would choose to watch, Fear Factor is a good example. Anyways in the afternoons I notice my mother watches Dr. Phil, everytime I see the man I can't help but think of this , enjoy.

Nothing cute or interesting to report alot of time spent either in the details of the move, looks like I'll be moved in Sedona for New Years which will be a great way to start off the New Year. New Years will mean our traditional trip up the mountain to Flagstaff for dropping of the pinecone which is great fun. Otherwise I am trying to get work done I have a webcast announcement or two to get out this week and some other work on a database, trying to ensure that my employer is not wasting their money on this telecommuting thing, actually according to studies over work is not an uncommon issue for telecommuters, because they want to ensure their effort is real, but I am not a workacholic yet, well no worse than I ever have been . It snowed (correction: is snowing ) up in the mountains and since I would like to take another load up there before Christmas it looks like I'll get to play in the snow. Arizona snow is different that DC snow, it dumps the snow very quickly and t

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.50 1. So, what do you want for Christmas this year that you probably won't get? Win the lottery...I have already gotten everything I really needed for the year. A car to travel between Sedona and friends and family and a safe trip from DC. 2. What do you know you will be receiving for Christmas this year? Nope, I don't really worry about it, I'll find out soon enough. 3. If you had the means to do so, what presents would you get some of your fellow bloggers? Be specific, it's more fun that way! For Tom Cheng , a fully deployable bike airbag to protect him while on his mad feral journeys. For a certain Libertarian Indy Rock Chick one of AZ best indy bands on CD, in fact I was looking at an album of a band I listen to in college regularly while in Flagstaff the other day. For Lex , a membership to the Lambics of the month club. For Da Rapmaster season NBA tickets, private box or court side, depending on his taste. To Robert ,

Nice to be home It's been good to be home since yesterday afternoon. I have eaten at a few of my favorite places, had a beer at my favorite pub or two. It's fun to walk into a place and here the bartender exclaim Oh My God It's You . To which the owner looked up said "Hi, Tom" and went back to what he was doing. I have been taking a few pictures of the cabin and surronding area so DC folks and others will get to see what my new place looks like. I will be moving in in early January, which is better than previously I was expecting to move in at the end of the month. It will be good to get settled in, off to lunch. Take Care All.

Poetry Wednesday Distant clouds highlight the fading sun pink, orange, yellow hues stream across the sky steady stream of tailights lead down the highway towards the setting sun, the valley lays out before me leading to the White Tanks on the horizon. Strange the places that we have known, To see them a new Not quite home, But close enough to taste it. Busy and yet calm, weird contradictions in my life, tomorrow I'll finally make it to Sedona and Flagstaff for a few days to take a load of my things, see friends and have a few meetings. In some ways I am very much back in Phoenix for all it means, for example I went to the gym with a buddy yesterday and drove 40 miles one way to get there. (Just wish it hadn't been rush hour) It's been nice to see family and friends, but it doesn't feel right or completely normal, but I figure that will truely hit me one day when I am driving in Sedona watching a sunset or looking at the red rocks while going to the ban

XP crashes and when it does, it goes hard, so much for the last hour of work *sigh*

Missy has pictures from the snow I missed in DC, typical I leave town and it snows, at least I didn't get it on the drive cross country which would have majorly sucked. Yes, I am online on the weekend, please surpress your shock regular readers, the joys of telecommuting, I have a project due Monday first thing, so I sit next to a window looking out on warm temps and blue skies, oh well. One thing for sure wireless will be manditory once I am in Sedona. I haven't posted a recipe in a while so here is something from Food TV , I made for lunch very tasty and if you don't have parsley it won't impact the dish that bad, I did substitute alittle cilantro since we had it around. Eggs in Sauce: Uova in Brodetto 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, coarsely chopped 1 whole sprig parsley, plus 1 sprig, chopped 1 clove garlic, smashed 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 1 (16-ounce) can tomatoes, chopped 3 leaves basil, finely chopped 6 eggs In a 10-

Justice Sometimes, fate has a sense of humor , albiet with a bit of help :-)

All of my things made it safely to AZ, well except for the granted little damaged thing or two, but it happens with every move. It's nice to have everything together again. Next week I'll start hauling it up to the mountains.

You ever have a great dream, with lots of cool things happening and you keep thinking to yourself, Wow these are great ideas for blog entries, I'll have to post them and then you realise it's a nightmare, because you have no paper, no pen, no computer, no way to record the events or your thoughts on them? Oh, er ummmm me neither...*chuckle*

Poetry Wednesday I made it under the wire, I spent a large chunk of the day checking email and working on a spreadsheet so today's was kinda nice at the end of the day to take the edge off, enjoy. Valley Song The Sunset swept To the valley’s west, you remember. The frost was on. A star burnt blue. We were warm, you remember, And counted the rings on a moon. The sunset swept To the valley’s west And was gone in a big dark door of stars. - Carl Sandburg

Finally got all my network issues resolved so I have spent the morning checking email and catching up on the current status of projects, fun no? Your right, it's not really oh well. Tomorrow the moving truck arrives with all my stuff and I get to start all that fun unpacking...well at least moving from one storage form to another.

Back to work today, well just as soon as I have my dailin information and ensure the computer is configured... What you thought I was retiring?

Why I Love Arizona (a humble response ) 1. Family 2. Friends 3. Mexican food 4. Fast backcountry roads with no traffic 5. Sedona and Flagstaff 6. Sunset 'noff said.