mochahochabeachside.com

... and better than ever...

Seriously, sorry for the down time, folks. I've moved servers twice, but I'm finally back.  Thanks to <a href="http://www.avehosting.com">avehosting.com</a>, my awesome new hosting provider. If you need web hosting (unlimited disk space and bandwidth, even), check 'em out.  They've also got amazing offers for dedicated servers and reseller accounts. Plus, I used to work with the owner, so I know he - and his team - are knowledgeable.

I'll post within the next few days with a nice long post detailing the past few months so we all get caught up, and then I hope to get to a regular routine of posting.  Until then, however, I'll leave you wondering just what a yowling cat, a small black dog, and a poorly installed ceiling fan have in common.

One year later..., originally uploaded by fyrehou.

New Page 1One year later, and I still think about Jaws every day. Sometimes I still hear the clink of his collar. ...and yes, i still have pics of him on my phone. He passed on 02/21/10, so I'm a few days late with this... But I'm sure you'll forgive me. (and yes, he's upside down. The big goof was hanging his head off the end of the bed) Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Spooky the cat models the latest in winter feline fashion..., originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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Never seen this before..., originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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The label of the HEB (a Texas-based grocery chain) brand "quench" (ala gatorade) drink lists not only calories, but under that they show "Contenido Energetico". Then they list it first in kilo-jules (kJ), then again in calories (or "kcal) which is what calories really are. So this has 238 kilo-jules of energy per serving. Never seen that before, it's only shown in Spanish on this bottle, but i think it's pretty freaking cool. You can barely make it out in the pic. My phone-cam isn't that good.

Sick as a dog, originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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Im not sure why dogs are said to be sick. Have you ever seen what a cat yacks up? Yeah. So thursday morning i lept up from the couch and headed for the b/r at warp speed. I took a tumble in the hallway and twisted my left ankle and bruised the underside of my stomach pretty bad. I then spent 2.5hrs on the pot.Yeah.There began two days of an illness i don't much remember. Thankfully. Not until my father woke me up by visiting at my request (with a bag of gatorade and some sprite and ginger ale), as well as his Christmas gifts for us, do i remember much of anything. I'm only just now getting back to food. The wife is cooking me some chicken broth and noodles.I'm having to be careful not to laugh as my stomach is still bruised. Fortunately i'm starting to feel like laughing, though. Dad got us a 32" Vizio LCD, so bedroom gets the l/r's old 28" CRT. Woot. Wife is happy. I'm happy. Now to get better so i can set it up.

Wheee!!!!!!, originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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I picked up a refil on my Norco (like extra strength vicodin), today. After not having taken it very much this past month (my pain protocol changed), my tolerance to it went way down for the first time since i was in the hospital the first time back in June of '09. When i got home my leg was bothering me badly, so i took two, my usual old dose, and then thought "it's really hurting..." and took a third. ...shortly after that, all i felt like doing was closing my eyes and floating away as the world went "whee-hee-hee!!" around me.It was a nice feeling.It also reminded me why it's a good idea to phase new and/or different meds in and out over time (to avoid addiction to any one). So that you can have an ahhh awww wheee moment too, here's a picture of our kitten Spooky, asleep on my chest.

Image via Wikipedia

Erasure has released a remix of "A Little Respect" called the HMI Redux. "In the wake of all the gay bullying and related suicides that have been reported in the US over the past several months, Erasure wanted to do something special to spread a message of tolerance and to raise money for an organisation that engages in the fight on a daily basis and, because it has become something of a gay rights anthem over the years, it seemed only fitting to release a brand new version of A Little Respect." (erasureinfo.com)

Personally, I think the new version of the song/video is awesome.  The video features individuals and students from around the area surrounding the Hetrick-Martin Institute (hence "HMI" Redux), the home of the Harvey Milk High School, and focuses on the respect and love of the LGBT community.  Personally, as a strong proponent of LGBTQ rights, I love this video, both for the message that the song brings with its anthem of respect, tolerance, and love, and for its videography... particularly the blacklight-driven scenes.

So, check it out, and enjoy "A Little Respect (HMI Redux)".

Be sure to check out some of Erasure's best work... The compilation albums (Total POP!, both the two and four disc sets), and the studio albums (I Say, I Say, I Say is my favorite of all time so far, but "Wonderland" is their first ever, and is truly excellent) that I list below are something everyone should have.  At the very least, anyone that so much as somewhat enjoys Erasure should have Total POP! in their repetoire.  I recommend the four disc set, which includes live performances, and a ton of rarities.  All below link to Amazon.com.

Total Pop! The First 40 Hits (2 CD Set)

Wonderland

Total Pop! Deluxe Box (3CD/1 DVD)

I Say I Say

How the fushigi was done. See the thumb, and the first finger hold?, originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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This is how it was done. See my thumb going back behind the ball? It's crooked at the knuckle so i'm getting leverage, plus it's hiding the thumb well. The first (index) finger is also in a particular position. Positioned so as to allow for the maximum of traction, yet still look as if the ball were floating. In other words, the finger doesn't obscure the clear acrylic area up top, so you see the metal ball and what appears to be clear space between the ball and my hand.Neat little thing, this Fushigi. Looks like it's going to be both a challenge and fun to learn. Plus just holding it and playing with it, even if I'm just rolling it around, etc, is relaxing. Not a bad buy for $20, as a christmas present to myself. It was between that and the $15.00 poker set in the aluminium case at wal-mart (hint hint), but I've wanted one of these, so.....

Another view of the fushigi, originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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Here's view two. Essentially the same, but without the flash.

The dog on the pillow..., originally uploaded by fyrehou.

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She's actually curled up on a pillow at my feet. Awww....