Category: Uncategorized

This is not the weblog entry I sat down to write . . . but the rain is so cool right now, I just needed to mark this moment.
Earlier today, while I waited for Anne, I sat in my car and looked up at the clouds through my sun roof. It was the coolest thing to see these huge, cheerful, fluffy white clouds moving one way while dark, brooding, grey clouds behind them moved the other way. Occasionally, they’d cross each other at just the right moment, and a little blue sky would peek out.
Right now, an incredibly angry (for Pasadena) thunderstorm is raging over the mountains. It’s just recently begun falling over our house, and each thunderclap is accompanied by —
Holy fuck. Thunder so loud the whole house just shook. It was concussive, like someone was launching artillery shells. Riley raced under the table, and Ferris just looked up at the window, head cocked to one side like, “What was that?”
Anyway, each time there’s a thunderclap (except the most recent, too big, I guess) a murder of crows that hangs out in the tree behind our house takes to the air, and circles around for a moment before they return. They are black spots against the greenish-grey sky.
The last time they took flight, I watched them swirl around the sky above my house, and I wondered, wistfully . . .
Why the hell didn’t I clean out my gutters when I had the chance?
WOAH!
Okay, that blast of thunder was bigger than the one before, and it’s still rolling across the sky while I type this.
And the power just went out. Good thing I’m composing this on my iBook!
Hold on. I gotta light some candles. It’s totally dark in my house.
Okay, the only candles I have are those smelly ones from Yankee Candle Company, so the house, while adequately lit, is this nauseating melange of Cotton, Pumpkin Pie, Cool Citrus and Basil, Midnight Rain (whatever the hell that is) and Ocean Breezes.
Yuck. Maybe I’ll just sit in the dark.

I have often thought that if those who start wars had to fight in them, we’d live in a much more peaceful world.
Today, I honor everyone who has served, or is currently serving in the armed forces. Thank you for your sacrifice.

At long last, R2D2 has taken his rightful place next to HAL 9000 and Mars Pathfinder in the Robot Hall of Fame.

The jury cited R2’s “ambling, lackadaisical manner,” his “spontaneity, affability, and loyalty,” and observed “R2-D2 is crucial is [sic] assisting Luke Skywalker in a rescue mission to free the Princess from the Death Star. The little droid navigates the complex computer system to provide the rescuers with timely assistance and status updates.”

Anne and I spent a wonderful couple of days away, and enjoyed simply being Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton.
Thank you to everyone who shared such kind comments with us. I showed them to Anne, and we were both very touched your kindness.
Some highlights from our getaway:

• Playing Putt Putt golf together, like we do every year. Winner got a foot massage (that was me, for those of you keeping score at home. First time in four years I’ve won!)
• Walking down the pier, marveling at the beautiful clouds the whole way, then running back to the street when they opened up on us as soon as we got to the very end.
• Sleeping with the window open so we could hear the rain.
• Breakfast in bed two days in a row.
• Guinness and darts at the pub yesterday afternoon.
• Driving down PCH to Malibu to meet my family for brunch today.
• Loving each other’s company

Before we left, I did an interview with Something Awful for a Teen Magazine parody that Frolixo put up on Saturday. I can’t figure out how to link directly to SA stories, so you’ll have to scroll down to Saturday the 8th to read more of this:Thanks to Max, who gave up the link in the comments.
additional note: I guess there’s a Matrix spoiler around that interview, and more than a few people have seen the spoiler and freaked out. Sorry for not mentioning that when I originally posted this link. If you haven’t seen Matrix III yet, you prolly shouldn’t follow that link.

Exclusive Interview with Teen Heartthrob Wil Wheaton!
We were lucky enough to nab one of the hottest young stars of today for a one on one interview. Wil Wheaton has starred in a variety of movies like “Stand By Me”, and TV shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Recently has was involved in a scandal involving the accidental death of three prostitutes at his posh LA condo, but thankfully has been cleared of all charges. As we sat down for the interview, Wil seemed ill at ease, yet sipping on his rum and coke, and downing a few horse tranquilizers calmed him down. His towering bodyguards removed my belt and took my pencils away, a normal precaution against an assassination attempt against Wil.
SA: So Wil, let’s get started. First off, what’s your favorite color?
Wil:The color of money! Wait. That’s “what movie did Tom Cruise most recently ruin.” Sorry about that. My favorite color is something like the color of drying blood on the face of the ignorant in the moonlight, the silver rays reflecting off the crimson puddles. Oh, and before you look at it, it helps to huff a bunch of ether.
SA: Interesting. What’s your favorite food?
Wil: Until you’ve eaten tapioca off the firm flat belly of a whore in Thailand, you haven’t lived.

I told Frolixo that I was going to be a real profane bastard in the interview, and he totally got on board with that idea. It’s not for the faint of heart (or my mom), but I think it’s pretty goddamn funny.

When I was younger, I saw this movie. I think it was “Singles,” but I could be mistaken. In that movie, these people are trying so hard to find each other and fall in love, and someone says, “You’re the first thing I think of in the morning, and the last thing I think of before I go to sleep.”
Anne and I had been dating for about three weeks when she became that person to me.
Eight years later, she’s still the first person I think of in the morning, and the last person I think of before I fall asleep at night. I can’t imagine my life without her.
Anne, the only thing better than falling in love with you is being in love with you.
Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Wheaton. I love you to the moon and back 59 times.