Two Words
1. Mel
2. Showerhead
Yes. TheBoy knows. 
Ah, it's fun to reminisce.
 Leave a comment
|
 satisfied (very)
|
 Posted by MCoenen in Family and Friends |
 nothing right now |
 Permalink |
|
 's quiet |
ShitFuckGodDamnItCrap!
Tonight, halfway through The Dark Knight (rented), I noticed the sound coming out of my speakers was getting quieter. And quieter. And quieter. And, well, finally disappearing.
And something popped. Something else smelled like it was burning. And the speakers all emitted a really loud "bzzzzzz" sound.
Needless to say, the home theater system I had purchased about nine months ago (when I moved) blew. No power. No sound. And the DVD? Stuck.
So, after much cussing and the want to break things (which I did not — at this point), I unplugged the system. I unhooked the speakers (all 5 of them). I rerouted the cables to the cable box so I could at least have sound out of the television (which is sucky after having had surround sound for months), continue watching the telly, and continue to record programs on the DVR. I also dismantled the receiver so I could get the movie out to be returned tomorrow. (This would be the point at which I had to break stuff, as removing the movie from the built-in DVD player required the tearing of cables and snapping of plastic).
I ordered a new system from Best Buy and it should be ready for in-store pick-up near my office tomorrow. Yes, I got another lower-end system (I'm far from an audiophile), but it still put me back a few hundred dollars (Yes, I have the funds; I've gotten quite good at saving for various reasons).
Needless to say, I purchased a completely different brand of receiver. The fun part will be hooking it up tomorrow so everything works. It will happen, but it will take some time. I am a tad retarded (yes, I realize that term is far from politically correct) when it comes to electronics.
But TheBoy ™ will be here tomorrow night, and he's pretty good with that kind of stuff. After all, he can take apart and rebuild a car engine from scratch. How keen is that? (And it fulfills my mechanic fantasy, too. An added bonus.)
|
3 Comments
|
frustrated
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Rants and Politics |
nothing right now |
|
Permalink |
|
Jewel |
2009
Happy New Year's Eve!
This year? I'm dating a wonderful person. We have a lot in common, and I'm extremely happy when I'm with him. I've reconnected with many friends, and that makes me extremely happy, as well. And I will turn 38 in March. Not at all old, honestly (unless you're gay and shallow — and many are!). I feel young. I look good. And I'm happier than I've been in a long time. All of those make all the difference.
My resolutions?
Continue working out and lose those final ten pounds.
Watch the Food Network more than HGTV.
Keep doing 5 pull ups every time I enter my kitchen (even though my arms hurt like hell today).
Drink less beer (fattening and full of carbs) and more wine (yay!).
Move. Out of Des Moines.
And, most importantly, remember — ultimately — it's mostly about me. If I'm not happy and satisfied, nothing else matters. So, often, being selfish is a great thing. Not at the expense of others, mind you, but my well-being does come first. While it does hurt to smile (ha ha!), if I can't do it (smile), nothing else matters.
The end.
|
3 Comments
|
buzzed (hey! It IS New Year's)
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Life and Living |
nothing |
|
Permalink |
|
TV right now |
Happy (Almost) New Year
I worked a long day today; I got home around 7:30.
I still managed to do a load of laundry. Vacuum the entire apartment. And stop by the market to pick up necessities for tomorrow night and the following day.
"The boy" is coming over and staying the night. We're going to relax. Stay in. Eat pizza. (Yeah, it's gourmet frozen, but I do work a full day tomorrow. The last thing I want to do is spend all night cooking). Play games (cribbage, maybe). Watch the telly or a movie. Chat. Drink good beer (which he's bringing).
The next morning? I shall cook. Breakfast isn't hard, and it need not be gourmet to taste good. I'm just making scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese (melted in), whole wheat toast, fresh fruit (cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, strawberries), OJ (Simply Orange tastes great), and coffee (with the French press).
As for actual New Year's Day, who knows. A movie? Jaunting around town? The entire day is open. And I'm up for most anything. Just excited to have the day off and spend it with somebody other than my left hand!
|
Leave a comment
|
excited
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Family and Friends |
nothing right now |
|
Permalink |
|
TV is on |
Christmas Time is Here
Good music, on Christmas, is like reading a really good book while curled up on the couch under the afghan (that Mom made years ago). On a snowy night. With a good glass of wine.
|
5 Comments
|
happy
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Keen Things |
nothing right now |
|
Permalink |
|
Vince Guaraldi |
Happy Holidays
Okay. The comic is not mine; I'm far from artistic — at least in the drawing sense. It's from the website Slap Upside the Head — probably one of the funniest blogs I've read in a long time. (In fact, I added it to my bookmarks and plan to visit the site regularly). Mark (the artistic and gay Canadian guy who created the site) drew this in 2006; in 2008, I stumbled across it while Google-searching for a funny holiday greeting. No, I've not e-mailed him for permission (as it would be after the fact!), but I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due. And as this holiday greeting has turned into a not-so-well-camouflaged plug for his site, I have a feeling that shall suffice.
Happy Holidays!
May all of you (with few exceptions, but you can't like everybody! ) have a great and wonderful season full of family, fun, drink, and good times.
|
Leave a comment
|
happy
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Family and Friends |
In Awe (yes, still) |
|
Permalink |
|
nothing right now |
Food-ish Goodness
Okay. Today was a long day at work (mainly because my knee hurts), and the drive home took an eternity. (Why do so many people in Iowa not know how to drive on snow/ice? Christ... slow the fuck down!)
But, hey. In my mailbox? The premier issue of Food Network Magazine. Yes, I'm a "charter subscriber" and I received an excellent deal ($20 dollars) on a two-year subscription. I even sent a gift subscription to a friend for Christmas.
What an amazing magazine. First, I'm a fan of the Food Network in general... I have Ina Garten to thank for that. Second, the magazine has a great mix of recipes, gift ideas, kitchen tips/tricks, and information on many Food Network chefs and shows.
The variety of recipes (from easy and quick to difficult and time-consuming) is good, too. I was quite impressed with the "recipe index" located in the front of the magazine. All recipes are sorted categorically and include a thumbnail picture of the completed item along with the page number and title. An extremely easy way to locate a recipe, and something I've not seen in any other food-related magazine.
I have yet to read this issue in detail, but I have browsed/skimmed. Come on... a section on the best "box" wines? Amusing and informative, as I do keep a box in the fridge for daily use. A section on cool new kitchen tools? A plethora of easy and quick-to-fix recipes using easy to find ingredients?
Additionally, Ina Garten is back on the Food Network with a show to accompany her Back to Basics cookbook (which I already know I'm getting for Christmas). I am taping the show, just as I taped her original series, and enjoyed watching it when I got home from work.
Ina. A new magazine. And a good glass of (boxed) wine. What more could a boy want?
|
1 Comment
|
happy (and in pain)
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Food and Drink |
Food Network Magazine |
|
Permalink |
|
TV is on |
Kind of Torn...
My knee, anyway. Took the day off of work, as it has been bothering me since I fell Saturday night. I've torn cartilage in my left knee, and the only thing to do is be careful on it, ice it as much as I can, and take huge doses of ibuprofen (with food, mind you, or it will cause much gastrointestinal distress). So I've been laying down and sleeping off and on most of today, staying off of my leg, taking non-prescription ibuprofen (though 3-4 at a time, which is what you would get in a prescription strength dose, anyway), and keeping my knee iced so much it's numb.
I can go back to work tomorrow, thank the gods, I just have to be careful. Hurts mostly when I change positions (as in getting up when sitting down) and use stairs. The doc said if it's not better in two weeks, I will need an MRI scan. I'm crossing my fingers that something like that will not be necessary.
It sucks, though, as I do treadmill (I know it's not a verb) regularly. Now I'll have to settle for exercising and working-out that requires no use of my legs. Which is completely possible; the facility does have many weight machines, and I do own dumbbells and other various work-out tools.
Stupid me, I guess, for being the one that falls on the one small patch of ice on an otherwise clear sidewalk. Crimony.
(As an aside? It's friggin cold outside! And the forecasted weather for this week is quite crappy, folks).
|
Leave a comment
|
irritated
|
|
Posted by MCoenen in Life and Living |
In Awe (Scott Heim) |
|
Permalink |
|
it's quiet |
Beyond Understanding