Journal

weekend update 2002-06-18

Over the weekend, I painted the picket fence out in front of my house. I also finished painting first floor on the south side of the house and I put up a small wire garden fence and no parking signs in the backyard around the parking area, to prevent people from driving onto my lawn. I did that because I came home from Lowes Saturday morning and found an SUV parked on my lawn, and a moving truck on the parking area. Of course there was no where for me to park. The guy next door was moving out. Naturally, I flipped out, because, you know, that’s me. I flip out at stuff like that.
But anyway, I have to do some more replanting of grass (for the fourth time) to cover the spots where he drove on the lawn. Like I have time to do that with everything else I need to do. I’m just so tired of people not staying off my property. I don’t want to be a giant bitch, but what the hell else am I supposed to do? I can’t afford to put up a privacy fence yet. Should I just let people drive on my lawn, though? What’s the point of me planting grass if people are going to do this?

Continue Readingweekend update 2002-06-18

Maneki Neko and the Legend of “Goutokuji” Temple

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Tama the waving cat
Tama the waving cat
At the beginning of Edo period (17th century), there was a rundown temple in Setagaya, the western part of Tokyo. The priest of the temple kept a pet cat, named Tama, and he though he was very poor, he always was sure to feed Tama first.

One day, Naotaka Ii who was the lord of Hikone district (western part of Japan near Kyoto) was caught in a shower near the temple on his way home from hunting. While avoiding the rain under a big tree in front of the temple, Naotaka noticed that a cat was inviting him into the temple gate. And as soon as he left the tree tempted by the cat’s gesture, the tree was struck by lighting. Naotaka’s life was saved by the cat which was proved to be Tama.

By the incident, Naotaka became closer to the priest of the temple. The rundown temple was appointed to be the Ii’s family temple, and changed it’s name to Goutokuji. Goutokuji became prosperous. Tama saved Naotaka from lighting, and saved the temple from it’s poverty at the same time.

After it’s death, Tama was buried at Goutokuji’s cat cemetery with all due respect, and Maneki Neko was invented to honor Tama.

There are different kinds of Maneki Neko. One raises its left paw; the legend specifies that the one with its left paw up invited customers or people. The other raises its right paw; the legend specifies that the one with its right paw up invited money or good fortune.

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Happy Birthday to me

Birthday Alligator
Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday, dear me.
Happy Birthday to me.

Hershey Kiss
In case I hadn’t mentioned it, today is my birthday.

Yesterday, I had someone come up to me and say “I recognize you from somewhere.” And after we went through a big list of places (work, college, high school, friends, etc.) it turns out he recognized me from my appearance on the morning news with Dick Wolfsie. I’m like, famous. In Indianapolis, Indiana. I think I’ll stop combing my hair and become disaffected, like all the other celebrities.

(2014 update: I’ve since realized it isn’t that hard to get on the local news, or that impressive. But I should let 2002 me have my moments, shouldn’t I?)

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Webcam??

The webcam may be a very real possibility… it’s much easier and cheaper than I thought to rig one up. I foresee this being a lot of fun.

(2014 update: never got a webcam. Just venting frustration.)

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Backyard torn up again

I got home from work yesterday and discovered that, for the third time, someone had driven through my backyard and torn up the grass. I’m going to rig a webcam up to the back window of my house.

In other news, be sure to send this link to your younger brothers: University Of Toronto Study Analyzes Chances Of Homosexuality.
Summary: Roughly one in seven gay men may owe his sexual orientation to the fact he has older brothers, say University of Toronto researchers.

Incidentally, in an informal, unscientific poll I took moments ago, very few of my gay male friends have older brothers.

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Weekend Update 2002-05-28

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So, I should probably say something about Memorial Day weekend. I wouldn’t say it was the best weekend of my life. I did get to spend Saturday with my Mom and my niece Riley, which was very cool. We picked out a bunch of flowers for hanging pots and then put together the ones for mom’s house. I also bought a hummingbird feeder, and hostas and other groundcover plants for the flowerbeds around the trees in the backyard.

One of my neighbors is a pain in the ass, and the guy who owns the property next door is a giant asshole. But he’ll stick his own foot up his ass, eventually, so I don’t have to do it for him. But bad karma wishing on him. The girl who lives next door, Crystal, is cool, and so is Tonya, the chick who lives in the grey house two doors south.

Continue ReadingWeekend Update 2002-05-28

Brown Bobby Triangle Donut Machine

My grandmother makes donuts several times a year, only instead of being round, they’re in the shape of triangles. They are a family favorite that everyone looks forward to, and frosting and eating the donuts at Thanksgiving is a family tradition. You can also try this link https://ownashipleydonuts.com/qsr-industry for the best donuts.

She makes them with an old paraffin wax donut making machine named the “Brown Bobby Greaseless Donut Machine” that was created in Chicago years and years ago, and sold as restaurant equipment during the depression. Turns out the machine is rare and relatively desirable as cooking equipment goes. The donuts are really popular, and earned my grandmother an article in Iowa Farmer magazine. Here is the downloadable pdf file of that article.

Grandma and the "Brown Bobby" Donut Maker

UPDATE: It’s possible to find Brown Bobby machines on eBay, and my dad bought one a while back. They are quite expensive; you’ll be bidding somewhere around $400 at least.

Here’s an article with more of the history of the Brown Bobby Machine.

Brown Bobby Triangle Donuts

2008 UPDATE: While I appreciate all the interest in this page, I’m uncomfortable with the idea of people attempting to buy and sell their donut makers here on this page in the comments. Ebay is equipped for buying and selling; this page is not, and I’d hate to have any good-hearted person be taken in by potential scams.

If you have a Donut Maker to sell, please post it on an auction site. If you’re looking for one, please visit auction sites to purchase. Thanks. I’m deleting all comments that offer to sell or buy.

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Primary Elections, 2002

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Voted in the primary this morning for Julia Carson. Also, I voted for my neighbor Linda Perdue for precinct something or other.

And I bought the Globe tabloid because there’s an expos� in it about Winona Ryder having a hot lesbian sex romp with Brittany Murphy. They’re kissin’ in the street and everything. Woo hoo! I now have a brand-new fantasy.

There’s also a article about Drew Barrymore dirty dancing with a couple of girls in a club after the premiere of E.T. Sweet.

Continue ReadingPrimary Elections, 2002