kangarau
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Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in the "kangarau" journal:[<< Previous 10 entries]
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09:50 pm
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Saratoga
So, this past weekend, I had my first multi-day tourney win in forever, got Gibsonized for the first and, I'm sure, only time, and also finally went back over 1600, to a new peak of 1637.
I played the 5-game Early Bird, and lost 2d place to Ross by a lousy 18 spread points but still gained 14 rating points. Had dinner at Duo, a Japanese restaurant, where I misadded and managed to over-tip by about 50 bucks.
That night the Main Event started well, with 3 wins, but then I transposed tiles in ANTISERA (among other mistakes) to lose the first game on Saturday. Still ended the day in first though. Lipie wasn't playing, but came to visit just so he could drag us all to Dinosaur BBQ (about 30 minutes away).
Saturday night, I was not able to sleep at all; not one wink, so I was a bit worried when morning came around. At the start of the day on Sunday, with 5 games to play, Dave and I were tied at 9-2, so even though I had a much higher spread, it wouldn't have mattered if I lost. Sam Southard was going to play Dave in the first round so I told her I'd treat for Mexican if she beat him. She did, and then Dave and Dean tied the next round while I lost to Sal. I made a few game-losing mistakes that I don't think I would have had I not been so tired, Still in first, but barely. Then, in Round 14, Dave lost while I got this gift:
It was a game in which I didn't have to think at all, other than playing more conservatively than I would have otherwise. Poor Paul.
Then, Sam and I played, and I won by bingoing late with ESErINE, drawing the last 4 tiles (EOTV). She held EHLOPR?. With about 3 minutes left, she let the clock run down before trying ROLPHEd. EPHORaL - which she said she didn't know - didn't play, and even if it had, it would not have been enough. Sam still got 4th place though she was seeded 15th.
Even in losing the last game to Connie - who emptied the bag but managed to draw the blanks as the very last two tiles - I finished a game and a half and 1220 spread points ahead of Dave Engelhardt.
The surprise in Div. 1 was Larry besting Joel. He played Seth for first while Stefan played Joel for second. When Stefan referred to Joel as "Second-Place Sherman," Joel replied with a loud FUUUUUUUCK you!
As for my bingoes, nothing exciting or particularly stylish:
Mine: (36) TEARIEST, IDOLIZE, RESIDING, HETAIRA, APERIES, THUNDER, OUTEATS, GLOSSAL, URINATES, BARITES, RENDERED, DOCKSIDE, BIMETAL, DOOLEES (challenged), PIMENTO, TATTIES (challenged), BANGLES, NEUROSAL, REWAKING (challenged), STEADIES, FLAUNTED, STREAMS, RETINES, RILIEVOS (not challenged even though it was an out-bingo), CHALONE, LITTERS, RESITING, REVERING, MEDALIST, SNATCHED, OUTLINES, MURIATE, JOTTERS, DERANGES, SUNDIAL, ESERINE.
Theirs: (21) GENOMES, PHONEMES, UNCOILS, COAXERS, FROTTAGE, SURFEIT, VITAMIN, MARLIEST, REALISE, TOADIES, PREPLANT, TAUNTERS, LANTERN, GENTLER, HOTLINE, FORTIES, FAILINGS, BUSTIERS, MANIHOTS, SONNIES, GENTILES.
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02:41 am
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Five Things. . .
It's been a l-o-n-g time since I posted here, but this seemed like an easy one to do:
Five things I did for the first time:
1. Played Angry Birds. . .and Angry Birds Rio and Angry Birds Seasons.
2. Disposed of a bloody, vile, disemboweled mouse carcass by myself (while S was away for a week.)
3. Killed a mouse (a different one than victim above); blunt-force trauma with a size 7 New Balance sneaker.
4. Yelped. The head chef of DaBa did not appreciate my one-star review. His run-on reply: “Thanks for the star. We are working very hard at DABA to make sure all of our guests have a great time. So we are thrilled that you would grace us with your star, it was nice to read your other posts, you know, to see what sort of other food you "like" again, thanks for the star.”
5. Sang at an open-mike night.
Five things I did that I never want to do again:
1. Come home from two days away to see a disgusting dead mouse on the kitchen floor.
2. Dispose of said bloody, vile, disemboweled mouse carcass.
3. Play Angry Birds or Rio or Seasons for more than ten hours a day.
4. Open a closed suitcase to see a beady-eyed mouse looking up at me! (I screamed till I lost my voice)
5. Get pulverized by an 11-year-old child, albeit an adorable one. Five things I didn't do that I wanted to do:
1. Couch to 1K. Modest goals are best.
2. Use our elliptical more than once every 8 or 9 months.
3. Break 1700 for the first time.
4. Learn to play guitar.
5. [Yawn, at myself] For at least the 15th year in a row: lose weight!
Five things I acquired:
1. iPhone (and how did I ever live without it?!)
2. Keurig single-serving coffee maker.
3. [Sigh]. More body mass.
4. A Chanel handbag (Mom’s doing).
5. A few more nearly identical black sweaters.
Five favorite TV shows (real time and DVD):
1. Jeopardy! Especially after Jason’s run.
2. Top Chef. Now I see what all the fuss is about.
3. So You Think You Can Dance – if I fast-forward past the judges’ insipid comments
4. Chopped – though I hate to see the contestants sweat or bleed all over the food.
5. The X-Factor.
Five things I want to do in 2012:
1. Zyzzyva. When the phone app is complete – finally. Hallelujah - thank you, MT!!
2. Reduce! Both spending (by 60%) and avoirdupois (by at least 28%).
3. Plan a special 80th birthday party for my dad.
4. Jeopardy! Got a tough act to follow, but I will be taking the online test for the first time.
5. Travel to Thailand.
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03:49 am
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Computer/Email Help
Anyone know how I go about restoring my yahoo account? I can no longer sign in to access it.
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05:35 am
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Call me a hopeless romantic - and just when I was about to finally sleep
I will "borrow" Joey B's words to me, but this time directed at Lipie: Not that you're a loo-loo or loo-ree or anything, BUT, you won the lottery when you got engaged to Linley - no, the friggin' multi-state POWERBALL. Again, not that you were exactly a lonely loo-loo. . .
I loved her at hello (and sorry; not a fan of that sappy film), and I KNEW she was the perfect woman for you. And I didn't even notice her looks. She became beautiful to me when I saw how kind and considerate and genuine she is. Then I thought,God, he'd better not FUCK this up!!! The ONLY thing that concerned me was her age - though she WAS legal (you would NOT be needing my legal services, in other words), and the fact that you used to, um enjoy chasing skirts - or letting an occasional ho or skirt chase you (in at least one case). Am I saying you were a HO? No, not exactly. Well, YES, I AM. Of course I am. Pleez. In fact, I do recall having called you a . . .what was that term. . .oh yeah, a MHO. But pre-Linley, of course.
Anyway, since I MUST go to sleep - and thanks a lot for telling me to take a glance a FB when I got home pooped from a late night out - I will cut to the chase. The news that you will both soon be man and wife (and get used to saying those words, guys) makes me ecstatic and erases all the horrors related to Arnold, MD and the suspension. Kudos. I could NOT be happier if I had actually won the Powerball. Truly. Money means nothing; true love, everything.
And if I am not invited to the wedding as the flower oldsquaw, I will disown you! Or just cry my eyes out. Unless you elope - then, ok. No, Shelley and I will plan the engagement party/RauHaus, okay. Good. Done. Yes, I am considerate thoughtful bossy.
Oh! And the coolest thing? And NOT a coincidence, I now realize. Today, I finally felt well enough to go on a mall date with Spouse. He had to do some convincin'. I had too much to do. Didn't feel up to it. Too tired, you go by yourself, I have to clean and do chores, yada, yada, blah, blah, whatever.
He said, Oh please, Pookums. And I said, okay, but just a short mall date. THEN - eight hours of our best mall date ever later, I found a gorgeous, purple silk Calvin Klein dress - in a size 8. (and CK cuts small). It's my dream dress I squealed! I MUST have it, I don't care how much it is!!! And it was dirt cheap, actually. Spouse, who always lets me get whatever I want, said, "but what wedding do we have coming up?" And I said, who CARES?!" I love that dress so much, I'll FIND a wedding. And he bought me my dream wedding-guest dress. Again, random? No, I don't think so. . . YAY!!!! Now, I must reduce stat! Size friggin' 8! Um, you wanted a LONG engagement, right?
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10:34 pm
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Ugh!!! Terror Kitty Problems
On a lighter note: I leave for two months and come home to:
1) A house that smells like a stinky litterbox,
2) A formerly lithe, svelte kitty who now weighs TWICE what she did when I left; so fat she waddles.
3) Spouse complains that he puts out his back trying to pick Noodle up. He asked what is the fattest Italian pasta called? We must re-name her. I'm still pondering. . .
4) Goyangee, former super fatty, is now malnourished and bony. Why?! Noodle - BFK - stole her food too.
5) I spent twelve hours throwing out all our rugs, scrubbing the floors of the kitchen and bathroom with bleach, disinfecting everything in site, vacuuming like a mad housewife for hours - and we still had to escape to a hotel! WHY? The kitties' litter box had not been cleaned for over TWO WEEKS. They panicked - even though they were given TONS of food - because they had no water at all, and a deplorably filthy litter box that I had to scrub clean with bleach! ALL because our handyman - who OWNS cats - was too lazy and stupid to take care of them! So the kitties relieved themselves all over the place, including our bathtub.
6) G - who used to not give me the time of day - now clings to me for dear life; she is THAT terrified of being alone (with crazy Noodle stealing her food) again. G will need a kitty shrink to get over severe separation anxiety.
7) Noodle - or shall we say, Rigatoni (?) - will need Kitty WW (Weight Watchers)
So, for now Noodle is on a strict high-protein diet. And Spouse is trying to train her to use our elliptical trainer. And the house STILL smells super stinky! But, it's okay, I'm suing my landlord for being a horrible slumlord - and we're moving soon! Yay!!!
Current Mood: exasperated
Current Music: ktties purring next to me
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08:11 pm
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Something for "tolarjev" to consider
Earlier tonight when I was getting my Italian lesson with Alberto, a middle-aged couple was checking in (both Alberto and the very easy-on-the-eyes Silvia, work at the reception desk on the late shift.
Well, the couple was telling Silvia - who frankly, didn't seem all that interested - that they'd just had HANDS DOWN one the the greatest days of their entire lives. I continued talking to Alberto, but I had to eavesdrop to find out what was SO good.
It turns out that they had gone on a guided, day-long kayaking trip: from Lido to Venice, and that it was incredible and exhilarating. The wife - who was quite plump and gray-haired - confided later to me that she thought she might not make it all the way back. Still, she said it was worth the little bit of physical pain. The much-younger-looking hubby then sat me down to show me the pictures he'd taken along the way.
SO, I will be going on a kayak for only the second time in my life. Can't do it right away, as I still feel sort of weak, but I emailed the company's owner and asked if he would take me in about 4 or days. I can't wait!!! I promise to take lots of pictures - and will post them when I get back.
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03:39 pm
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FYI - and very sad
Dear Cheyney Family, It is with sadness the we, the Cheyney Class of 1962, announce the passing of Delores Morris Arrington, which occurred Saturday morning, 3/13/2010. Delores in addition to being an active member of our class, was a member of the South Jersey Alumni Chapter of the Alumni Association and a Past Basileus of Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Please keep her family in prayer. The funeral for Delores Morris Arrington is: Friday, March 19th Viewing 9:00-11:00 a.m. Ivy Beyond the Wall & Funeral 11:00 a.m. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 5732 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139-2498 Condolences can be sent to: Mr. Russell Arrington and Family
2301 Beacon Hill Drive
Sicklerville, NJ 08081 With a deep and true devotion, The Class of Cheyney '62 | |
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09:17 pm
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Horribly Sad News re: Delores!
I just checked email for the first time in forever. Well, other than if a message was from Spouse.
Anyway, I saw the post about Delores Arrington's death - and I felt just sick about it. I mean, I recently saw her for the first time in several years. We ran into each other in the ladies' room. She said something like, "Hey, Terry, long time no see!" And I agreed. We exchanged some small talk, and that was that. Pleasant, friendly. I chuckled at the memory of the last game we'd played when she'd tried two different variations (misspellings) of JIAO. Two lost turns for her - yet she was good-natured and almost self-effacing.
She seemed perfectly healthy and vital, and I actually remember thinking, Hmm. She's probably in her sixties, and she has such beautiful skin; hardly any wrinkles at all. Then, thinking about Verna - who also looks AMAZING - I thought well, I guess it's the extra melanin (?) or whatever that keeps the skin relatively wrinkle-free. I'd hoped I'd look as good when I reached that age.
Ugh - still so hard to come to terms with it. It's the same way I felt about Rose.
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01:50 am
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Shutter Island!! Ooooooooooooooh, scary!!!!
We just got back from seeing the last screening. Best movie I've seen in years. Leo D was brilliant. He WILL finally win an Oscar for this, I predict. Mark Ruffalo and Michelle Williams - also excellent. The cinematography was evocative, moody, perfect. I predict it'll get 11 Oscar nominations, including for best film, screenplay, director, actor, 2 for supporting actors (Kinglsey, Ruffalo), 2 for supporting actresses (Williams, Mortimer). . . Grade: A-. Too bad we had to see it in a filthy, thuggo theater with no heat and popcorn littered all over the carpets, spilled soda everywhere. At one point I fell sound asleep for about five minutes - that's how rough the week's been, how severely sleep-deprived I am.
BUT I can't complain 'cause we're now back in our penthouse suite overlooking the gorgeous Inner Harbor - and I'm toasty after a nice bath, relaxing with a glass of red wine, comfy in my fluffy hotel bathrobe. It's so nice that we're trying to find a way to NOT ever go home.
So yes, life is good. :)
P.S. : [And possible SPOILER ALERT] Shutter Island's ending has a twist, at the very end, that ties everything together nicely, plausibly, BUT it's the scene in the lighthouse between Leo and Ben Kingsley's character that Scrabblers are going to love.
Again, an A-, perhaps even an A (if I had seen it in a non-thuggo, non-disgusting theater).
Current Mood: serene
Tags: leo, movies, oscar predictions
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08:31 am
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Questions re: BOSTON (in BALTIMORE, not Boston)
I have to finalize basics very soon. So here's your last chance for input before I make everything official - and post it on x-t and NASPA:
Please reply, and thanks in advance:
- 90% certain that it'll be 20 games, beginning either Friday late afternoon or night. Which is better for you, more games Friday ( afternoon start) or more on Saturday?
- June 4 weekend: is this a conflict for you - and therefore the only reason you will not come? If June 4th is no good for you, what about week-end of June 11th, even June 18th?
- No *cash* class prizes - period. Does/will this piss you off? Or do you [high-five!!!!] me?
- 3K or 4K for first place? I was thinking 3K in order to distribute the $ better among the top, say, 7 players. This is the one thing about my HO that I felt really awful about. (Yup, that's directed at you, Rod and Sammy.) :-)
- is on-site meal impt to you - if I can keep costs down?
- is coffee in a.m. impt (will have to come out of prize fund)
- what is the most you'd pay to be on-site for room, keeping in mind that I will again be charging a hefty commuter fee ($35.00) and that this is prime Baltimore real estate, right on the water?
- Most impt: How likely are you to attend?
- What is better entry fee: $150 or $125 - keeping in mind that the more $, the more places I'll pay out. Is $175 out of the question? For you, (and not influenced by what you think others might say/think).
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