Snowprints

One year ago on TTaT: The tree is still standing...
Technorati tags: dusting of snow, footprints in snow

Pretty much it

[Just click on the image to see it larger or visit it directly on xkcd.]

I've actually been trying to get to bed earlier though. :)

Have a merry merry everybody, and don't forget NORAD's tracking Santa, so you can follow Santa's progress around the world. They've integrated it with Google Maps this year. Or you can call NORAD toll free at 1 (877) Hi NORAD or 1 (877) 446-6723 for an update on Santa's location.

One year ago on TTaT: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Technorati tags: NORAD Santa Tracker, xkcd comic

Rebel icicle

When I noticed that my bent icicle was tapering up instead of down yesterday, I figured I'd better go ahead and shoot it even though the light wasn't ideal. My instincts proved right as it had fallen off before I got up this morning. There's no sun today anyway, just rain.

I chalk up it's unusual formation to a good bit of wind.


One year ago on TTaT: It's that time of year again..., I'm dreaming of a...
Technorati tags: icicle formation, outdoor xmas lights

Bowties: not so tough

Turns out tying a bowtie is very much like tying your shoes, except with wider fabric that has oddly shaped ends.


Snoopy's bowtie for his tuxedo was missing, so I bought some ribbon. Now tying a bowtie that small and cutting it to the precise length needed is a bit challenging. The tie is a little hard to see in the photo as I opted for white tie formal and its ends don't flare out since the ribbon was all one width, but I think it turned out pretty well. I just have to keep myself from fiddling with it anymore in the pursuit of perfection.

(On another note, it figures I'd start to get my blog mojo back just as everyone's unplugging for the holidays. And on another note: Joyeux Noel, Elisabeth, lover of Peanuts!)

Technorati tags: bowties, tying bowties, Snoopy, Snoopy in formal wear, white tie tuxedo

A new favorite

In the realm of ever more inclusive strings of holiday greetings, I just encountered my favorite amidst the list at Mind Hacks.

A joyous non-theist winter holiday to you too!

One year ago on TTaT: I hate my printer
Technorati tags: holiday greetings, non-theist winter holiday, political correctness

This is what happens...

...when you rip out a tag with your bare hands instead of using scissors or a seam ripper:
Seeing as it's not a shirt I wear out anyway, it was quite satisfying to tear out that neck scratcher.

Laundry care tag, consider yourself on notice.

One year ago on TTaT: I thought I only had 2 left, Solstice time
Technorati tags: shirt tags, removing tags

Having a brother

(Another element of the Off-Season Vacation.)

"What's that stand for?" Mom asked. She was sitting in the living room of the condo while my brother and I leaned against the counter in the kitchen opposite her.

My brother's eyes were searching the ceiling for the proper sequence of words, so I answered, "Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game."

Not to be outdone, my brother added, "Well, anyone who's been playing them since the beginning just calls them MUDs for Multi-User Dungeon."

"Oh," Mom said, quickly losing interest.

"Besides, MUD is more fun to say," he continued.

"Oh, I don't know," I said, "Mmm morp-ga is kinda fun to say."

"Yeah, I guess so," he shrugged, walking back to his laptop to continue playing his sci-fi space MMORPG.

"What's that one called again?"

Without looking back, he said, "Eve."

"Hmm, I haven't heard of that one." Not surprising with my minimal acquaintance with MMORPGs. "Hey, did you know they're making one based on Firefly?"

He looked over his shoulder at me and said, "Eve already has everything you could want in a space-based MUD, there's no need for another."

"Oh."

"They'll probably base it on Eve's code," he added snidely.

"I was just making conversation."

***

My brother delights in keeping the intellectual high ground whether it's deserved or not when it comes to me. His modus operandi is to grin and contradict whatever I've just said to get on my nerves. I had become used to letting him ramble as an expert on any topic, but this contradiction business was a new torture.

Only 2 days into our week of vacation together, this same contradictory exchange occurred for the twelfth time as we were all heading to the elevator to go to dinner.

I'd had enough and said, "You're really annoying."

He laughed and said, "You're my sister. I'm supposed to be."

"It makes me not want to see you."

Everyone else was talking as well so it was unnoticed by them, but it actually shut him up as we stepped into the elevator.

SAME DAY, LATER

As much as my brother drives me crazy, when I interrupted him and his wife cozily reading books on their balcony, he readily got up to help me with the flat screen TV. I could get the TV stereo on, but the picture wouldn't change channels. I'd found the input but not how to change the setting up or down from where it was. Once he'd gotten it and had shown me what he'd done, I imitated his 4 year old daughter and sing-songed, "Thank you, Daddy!"

He laughed pretty hard at that. I like making my family laugh.

The next day, he offered to open my ginger ale bottle when he saw I was having trouble with it.* What can I say? He's my brother.


*I don't know what Schweppes does, but their caps are damn hard to twist off. Give me some Canada Dry!

One year ago on TTaT: Looking for cheer?
Technorati tags: brothers and sisters, sibling relationships, MMORPG, MUD