As gilgrim previously mentioned, I was “sick” on Friday.  What that means is that the wife and I had planned on taking the daughter to Disneyland…which we did.  What we hadn’t planned on, though, was that all three of us would ACTUALLY be sick on that day.  Call it perseverance, call it stubbornness, call it stupidity, we did, nevertheless, trek on down, as a family, to the Magic-type kingdom…

Sometime around the end of October the daughter got sick and has, as yet, never actually recovered.  She’s had 3 ear infections in the last 6 weeks, and Friday started up with the pink eye.  But we still went to Disneyland…

The wife and I have both been consistently sick for the last 3 weeks, though with finals and all, last week was particularly bad for me.  My semester ended about 9 pm on Thursday and I probably should have spend Friday in bed, but, you know…

I did go to the book mines on Saturday, which I probably shouldn’t have, and then Sunday morning exsulis, unnamed goon #3 (you know who you are!) and I laid down sod in my backyard.  The cold/wet/mud was probably less than optimal for my illness.

Yesterday I took the daughter to her doctor to confirm the pink eye, and stayed at home with her the rest of the day.  I probably shouldn’t be at work today, but what’re going to do?  I already have Friday scheduled off, so it’s not like this is going to be a long week…

I certainly can’t say that my wintery solstice was as bad as Gilgrim’s…I still have the thing where my eye is pink, but other than that it was a decent holiday by all accounts.

We got the kid what she is calling her “car.” Which is really a Power Wheels version of an ATV. It tops out at a robust 2 mph, which is still enough to throw her head back when she hits the throttle…

My haul, if you will, consisted of mostly DVD’s, which is always welcome, though I’ve yet to watch Bender’s Big Score, but tonight may change that…

Last year began a tradition wherein I make a mixed CD for the wife. Last year, actually, had two installments. The first I titled, “Music to Love By” because my wife is sappy, and the second was christened, simply “Let’s Rock” for that is what that CD does: IT ROCKS!

This year brought just one installment, appropriately titled “Music for a Hip Mom.” See if you do not agree:

01. Muse - Starlight
02. Feist - 1, 2, 3, 4
03. Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles
04. Interpol - Evil
05. Hot Hot Heat - Let Me In
06. Starsailor - Poor Misguided Fool
07. Modest Mouse - Fire It Up
08. Razorlight - Hold On
09. The Mooney Sukuzki - My Dear Persephone
10. Killers - Bling (Confessions of a King)
11. The Cribs - Mirror Kissers
12. Bloc Party - Blue Light
13. Stereophonics - Dakota
14. The Kooks - She Moves in Her Own Way
15. Spoon - The Underdog
16. Keane - Crystal Ball
17. The Shins - So Says I
18. Arcade Fire - (antichrist television blues)

Megalo Life has ended, as I’ve been talking about here on the Normality for a little bit. And just to retouch on the subject once more, if for no other reason than because the entire series and especially the readership was something very near and dear to my heart, I wanted to point out and say another heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been posting in the official comments for the series. At the current count, there are 5 full pages of comments, which means about 75 comments, 90+% of which are very endearing and lovely thanks, well wishes and pleads for the series to continue. So to everyone who’s taken the time out of their busy real-world lives to show their support for the series, to say thanks or merely to wish me, April, Salem and Wednesday well in the coming new adventures elsewhere, thank you very, very, very much.

For anyone who wants to check out the comments, or simply let me throw the final strip/episode in front of your eyes once more click here.

Otherwise, it is Monday, and that means more normal posts for old Normality Restored and all you Normalinauts out there in the digital wastes of the interwbez. I’m not sure but I expect that Kilian will be back to posting shortly bringing his own thoughts on life, love, lit and things geek-y or real life. In the meantime and especially for anyone who’s been wondering what will happen with the NR strip, fear not, we’re working on it. And not only are we working on it, it’s set to be something completely new and special. And by special we don’t mean ‘window licking’ special, but I suppose that you’ll have to wait and see and come to your own conclusions when we start rolling it out. But rest assured, we are actually working on it right this very instant, through the wondrous miracle of g-chat communication!

Hope all Normalinauts are well! What the heck did you guys do this weekend anyway?

–Aleister

Metal Fingers - Special Herbs 9 + 0

I was going to post something concerning last night’s New Hampshire primary which, in light of who won, makes the current nomination races even more interesting…

But I don’t really feel like talking (or, typing, I suppose) politics today, so instead I’m just going to do this…

Reading over c’s comments got me thinking about my musical tastes in general.

I’m finding that the older I get, the more diverse my taste in music becomes, which I’ve heard/read is something that usually goes the other way. Ten years ago I listened to almost nothing but punk…right now, as I type this, I’m wearing a Coldplay shirt that I got at show of their’s two years ago…if the teenaged me saw the me of today he’d definitely shake his head in disgust…

Maybe I’m less judgmental now. I’ve never been overly snobbish when it came to other entertainment. My taste in movies, for instance, isn’t really a taste at all since there is not any type of movie I don’t like. That’s not to say that some genre’s don’t produce an inordinate amount of crap. But even, say the romantic comedy, has its own examples of a well made film.

Historically, I’ve just been really picky when it comes to music. Maybe I still am, and I’ve just experienced a lot more of it now, so I realize that, yes there are gypsy bands that I enjoy. Well, with that in mind, here’s a smattering of random music in no particular order…