If it does them I'm the most ethical eater ever even if I refuse to eat tofu.
From Medium Large, a brilliant comic from the writer of Sally Forth:
I think we have the perfect all-inclusive holiday hymn that some UUs have been on a quest to find. The fact that it comes from a non-UU source increases its perfection.This week I walked, ran and biked 31.33 miles, burned 2264.4 calories and weigh 145.1 pounds.
Monday - walked Loki 2.04 miles in 34:28
Tuesday - ran 3.86 miles in 38:44
Wednesday - biked 9.11 miles in 38:56
Thursday - ran 3.39 miles in 35:00
Friday - biked 6.58 miles in 30:23
Saturday - ran 6.35 miles in 65:00
Push ups:
Monday - Max 21, 81 total
Wednesday - Max 21, 96 total
Friday - Max 23 - 115 total
Maybe Pig needs to attend a faith development class at his local UU church. Butterboy would melt quickly in the sun but he would make the world smell and taste better.
Grand Avenue and Flight Deck feature grandmothers behaving badly.
Who can resist the siren call of the internets. I make web pages and I cannot resist. The great blessing of the Internet: it looks like work.
Its call is really powerful because I'm in a different office filling in for a co-worker. Fortunately, I memorized all my favorite URLs and passwords. I can access others via links to ones that I know.
The situation with the co-worker has caused me to reconsider my health care plan. That and other incidents. Getting a diagnosis is bit of a Herculean task. My problem is relatively minor and irritating, a rash that appears on my arms and legs from time to time, but my co-worker's is quite serious and it took a long time to get the diagnosis.
Health care plan enrollment occurs in July and we get the literature in May. This will give us time to look at how we actually use medical services and see if there is an option that would better suit our needs.
I hope the election of Barack Obama will put to rest McCain's proposal to tax health benefits as income. With my health benefits added to income I end up in a higher tax bracket.
Considering the large amount that me and my employer pay for health insurance for me and Walter (about $10,000 per year combined) I think I deserve more than 15 minutes of my doctor's time and a test to see what the hell this rash really is. After paying $50, twice, plus time for stronger hydro cortisone cream, I wonder what the hell all that money that comes out of my paycheck and my employer pays, pays for?
I wonder if my family doctor just kind of lazy or overworked. A few years ago, I did receive some testing for something by a substitute doctor, it turned out to be nothing serious but now there is a good baseline for my heart in my medical records. My regular doctor said he would not have preformed the tests based on my description of my symptoms. This really concerned me after reading about how heart attacks behave differently in women and that younger women in particular have trouble convincing doctors to run the tests or consider a heart attack.
I guess I should be grateful for what I have but screw that attitude - crap is crap regardless of what others don't have.
Someone drew a comic about our last fishing trip. Except we did not drink all that beer.
Loki gets mostly dry dog food and table scraps. He made children happy on our walk last night until an adult got scared and shooed the children away. Look, lady, if he was going to maul your children he would have done it before you shooed them away.
No, Royboy, it is not the universe, just Pluto, still irritated about the demotion.This week I ran, biked, rowed and walked 12.46 miles, burned 1068.5 calories and weigh 145.1 pounds.
Monday: bike - 3.56 miles in 16:21
Tuesday: ran - 3.43 miles in 36:21
Wednesday: rowed - 1.28 miles in 10:00
Thursday: ran - 3.44 miles in 35:50
Friday: walked Loki .75 miles in 14:43
Push ups:
Monday - max 16
Wednesday - max 18
Friday - max 22
Sunday exertion test: 26 push ups
This means I do column 3 for weeks 3 and 4 in the 100 push ups program.
I need to do at least 13.58 miles of activity per week in the next six weeks in order to meet my yearly goal of 1,000 miles.
A cartoon drawn using CorelDraw. Now I need some dialogue or a caption.
My self-esteem has been a bit high lately so I need to be brought down a notch. Therefore, I am holding a caption contest. No one will respond and I will be reminded how few people actually read this blog.
The "winning" caption will receive credit when this cartoon is uploaded to aperfectworld.org and if they are willing to send a mailing address, a random item from my house. Seriously, I will pack an item from my home into a box or envelope and mail it to the winner. I will ship to addresses outside the United States. The item will weigh less than a pound and be of uncertain use and value. I can guarantee that it will have some dust on it, which I will leave on as a bonus.
I put quotation marks around winning because no one will respond.
Yes, this is blatant comment whoring.
The contest closes whenever this entry no longer appears on the first page or if I think of something funny for the above cartoon.
I sometimes entertain fantasies about drawing realistically. I'm sure my skills would improve with practice. A book recently hit the shelves that has two of my drawings in it: http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2008/adamsrattlesnake.htm. One of the drawings is quite realistic and the other combines realistic with cartoony.
I find I can draw more freely in a cartoon style. I get too caught up in getting it right and end up feeling frustrated. I do envy those who can draw realistically.
I can draw a reasonable facsimile of something that I am looking at, although the perspective can get a little weird.
I've been experimenting with a simpler cartoon style. Those cartoons should go up in a couple of weeks.
In comics, great writing can overcome bad art. Look at XCKD or Wellington Grey - both stick figure comics.
Radio MASH has updated parts of its website: http://www.brazosradio.com/mash/
Toy or Cash/Check donations can be made in person at the MASH compound at Post Oak Mall December 4th through December 8th, 2008. You can also donate money online at the Radio MASH website.
Check out some photos that Walter took from past Radio MASH: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22287142@N02/sets/72157603749330149/
You can see me get bigger as the pictures go back in time.
I'm not sure how the economy will affect things this year. A kid has not gone without during the years I've been involved.
If I had an appointment time available on the day and time you asked me about I would have mentioned it.
If one more student puts a questioning inflection at the end of a declarative statement, I will respond, "Are you certain?"
If an advisor tells you that you need to do something calling me will not change that. You still need to do the thing the advisor told you to do.
If I have a time slot available I will mention it. I have no reason to withhold time slots.
Enunciate.
Ladies, turn down the high pitches. It hurts my ears.
Pay attention.
A free Mary Worth icon for your use. Right click and save it, then post it anytime you need to make a point. Use Mary's icy blue shadow visage to make your point.
[sarcasm] Ooh! I can crop an image! I'm so cool! [/sarcasm]
This week I ran, rowed, biked and walked 16.25 miles, burned 1463.8 calories and weigh 144.3 pounds.
Monday: rowed 1.27 miles in 10:00
Tuesday: ran 3.17 miles in 29:45
Wednesday: biked 3.35 miles in 15:00
Thursday: ran 4.14 miles in 40:25
Friday: walked 1.22 miles in 21:27
Saturday: Impact Animal Foundation 5K in 28:30
100 push ups program - maximum number of push ups completed without stopping:
Monday - 10
Wednesday - 15
Friday - 18
To paraphrase the great John Wayne:
I voted for him, he will be my president and I hope he does a good job.
White people love their apologies. I apologize for the Texas A&M chapter of the Young Conservatives and Ashley Todd.
How could I not include this cartoon in today's blog? Change the hair color to blonde and it would be a decent cartoon likeness.Blame me, I voted.
Walter and I voted this morning. The line was a bit long; it was very short if your last name began with Gu - Z. This was for voter verification, once to the machine things went very quickly.
I joked with Walter that I still love him even though marrying him put me in the first part of the alphabet and into this long line.
I found the number of people having to think a while about where their last name fell in alphabetical order a bit disturbing. Maybe it was the early hour (7:30 am).
I would think Texas of all states would not have trouble with dual last names.
For some reason my maiden name ended up on the roll even though it was not like that for the primary. I just had to fill out a form and circle the error.
I was tempted to use my cell phone to take a picture of the screen before I cast my ballot but cell phones are not allowed. Both parties in Brazos County are pushing for machines with a paper trail.
A pundit on MSNBC actually said something interesting: Texas, because of its Hispanic population, has the potential to become a swing state in future national elections and that would be a nightmare for the Republican Party. 34 electoral votes in play. Take that Ohio and Pennsylvania! I'm not sure if I want this pundit's prediction to come to pass. Living in a solid color state has spared me most of the campaign ad ugliness.
Tomorrow, I vote. For November 5th, I've declared a personal news black out. I will want to know who won but I have no desire to listen to or read post-election analysis.
I will laugh if the apocalypse fails to show up. Hopefully, people will remember the day that the apocalypse failed to show up and no longer take those who predicted its coming seriously.
This week I walked or ran 20.15 miles, burned 2364.8 calories and weigh 144.9 pounds.
Sunday: CROP Walk
Monday: Walked Loki 2.67 miles in 46:49
Tuesday: Ran 3.42 miles in 33:59
Wednesday: .39 mile on the elliptical machine
Thursday: Ran 3.43 miles in 33:33
Saturday: Ran 6.33 miles in 1:05:00
Next week I start my 100 push up program.
Tom Wilson probably found this hilarious. I have committed the same sin, inflicting a cartoon on the public that only I found funny. What is speaking, the toaster or the toast?
In honor of my 1,500th post - a funny Marmaduke.
Walter and I had the same sort of thing happen at our wedding reception. Some guy danced with everyone but he was not part of my family, Walter's family nor one of our friends. Just some guy. I did 15 push ups using proper form for my initial test. I get to use column 3 in the first week of the 100 push ups program.
Walter came across this website:
one hundred push ups
He was working on it for a while but I think other things have come along. I decided that I will try it myself. I will do my initial test tonight. Maybe I can convince him to resume the challenge.
If anyone wants to join me, visit the website above to read about the program. Impress your friends and family at holiday gatherings with your feats of strength.
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Brazos Valley participated in CROP Walk today. See if you can find the minister in this photo.
Compare this photo with the list from Stuff White People Like and see how many you can check off.
Numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 27, 34, 35, 39, 42, 47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 76, 77, 83, 84, 88, 99, 108, and 109 apply to me. Not all of it is based on the photo, of course.
A very exhausted Loki after the walk. That is water on the pavement. The tongue is 3 inches wide at this point. He can fit the whole thing in his mouth occasionally.
A Saint Bernard named Suki. She and Loki played a little but mostly sprawled out on the concrete together.
The church raised over $1,700. I managed to raise $70 of that. I did not pursue sponsors as vigorously as I did last year. Walter participated for the first time in many years. I need to get a t-shirt and a hat made that has Walter's picture on it for events like this. That way he can be in the group photo even though he is taking the picture.
More pictures from the Bryan/College Station CROP Walk can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22287142@N02/sets/72157608394510096/
This week I ran and biked 34.21 miles, burned 2807.5 calories and weigh 147.3 pounds.
Sunday: Harbor Half Marathon - 13.1 miles in 2:24:57
Tuesday: bike 4.48 miles in 20:00; ran 1.84 miles in 20:00
Wednesday: ran 3.42 miles in 35:00
Thursday: bike 7.73 miles in 35:00
Friday: ran 3.40 miles in 33:58
I will attempt to run a sub 30:00 5k at the Impact Animal Foundation 5K on Nov. 8. More details about the race: http://www.woodstocktexas.org/index.php?funrun2008
I have maintained the required pace (for 5 miles) during a tempo run while training for the Harbor Half and on the treadmill. I am confident that I can do this in a race now that I have a feel for the pace I need to run.
Finished!
Racing down the home stretch.
I don't know why my left wrist behaves that way while running.
Racing toward the finish line.
Over halfway there. Beer, here I come!
Catch me if you can!
Maybe they can.
Approaching the halfway point and pleasantly surprised to find Walter taking photos. He snuck around some traffic cones to get here. There goes that left wrist again.
I'm getting the hang of this running thing. 
Besides, forcing people to open up and meddling in their lives is my job, says Mary Worth.
A bit of useful advice:
While waiting for someone to answer your phone call, stop talking.
Let's play identify what's on that plate!
Maybe Drew seems distant and non-forthcoming because he followed your advice, Mary, and ended up doing work he was not called to do. Did you ever think of that, Mary? Probably not.
Both Dr. Coreys are unhappy but Mary cannot see that.
Thanks Karen Moy for reminding me why I hate Mary Worth - not the comic - the person.
Place in Female 35 - 39: 19 (out of 31)
Bib Number: 34
1st Half: 1:14:27.2
2nd Half: 1:10:29.8
Gun Time: 2:25:29.5
Chip Time: 2:24:57.0
Pace: 11:04
Overall Place: 196 (out of 253)
Overall by Sex: 92
I move into a new age group in late February.
Walter took 400 photos. They can be found on Flickr.com at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22287142@N02/sets/72157608186452366/
He will make additions in the coming weeks.
I started the tracking a minute before crossing the start and continued tracking a minute after crossing the finish. On the flat sections I easily maintained a 11:00 min/mile or less. The official results are not posted yet. Activity
 Pace (min/mile)  Splits
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Now, we know where Mary Worth goes during her absences from her comic strip. She works her speed checking shift in Ziggy.
I might have to try that.
Send the son-in-law's mother up the ladder. Ed Crankshaft at his finest. Wonder what threats he used to get her up that ladder?
Did Grant Wood have any idea that his painting would become one of the most parodied?
Just one?
You go Andrew! Let your flag fly!
As for Barney Google, I could not find the answer on the interwebs but the interwebs came to me and provided an answer. I need to try this for other trivial questions.
I did a trial run on Saturday to prepare for my race this weekend. I ran 13.24 miles in 2:26:49. I maintained an average pace of 11'06 min/mile or 5.4 mph. That pace was not too difficult to maintain. I set my BIMActive pace monitor to 11'36 min/ mile. I will keep that setting for the actual race. I might push a bit harder on the second half of the race depending on how I feel and the conditions but unless it is unusually hot and humid then I should finish in under 2 and a 1/2 hours quite easily.
The hard part will be the trip to and from Corpus Christi.
I've spent too much time on Saturdays watching back to back episodes of Nanny 911 on CMT.
What I have learned from Nanny 911:
All this is easy for me to say, I'm not a parent and I own a dog that I allow to behave less than perfectly.
I've not seen an episode with the blonde nanny in action. I wonder what her special abilities are?
I like It's Me or the Dog. I've not watched any of the episodes filmed in the United States.
Victoria Stillwell's dog training power comes from the big red belt she wears on almost every episode.
Okay, I like watching train wrecks but only of the self-made middle class sort.
When Loki relaxes the tip of his tongue sticks out of his mouth. When we replace the floor covering we will take a picture of Loki with us to insure that we pick something that contrasts with his coloring.
Economic crisis? Wake me when you have something to eat or want to pet me.
Beware of dog, you might trip over him.
Poke Mary in the eyes!
Mix those metaphors ladies!
At least I was able to stay awake for the duration of the Vice-Presidential debate. My first thought afterwards: "Boy, Sarah Palin is loud."
Using silliness as a diversion from nonsense. No that is not the punchline. One of my cartoon writing techniques is to play with a cliche or very old joke. I've been having fun with the fly in the soup joke.
Standard joke:
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
The backstroke.
Variations:
Waiter, what's this fly doing on my soup bowl?
He's the lifeguard.
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
That's stew not soup.
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
Oh my, that's the wrong fly! Let me take your soup back to the kitchen and make sure you get the right fly.
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
A lousy remake of an old joke.
Waiter, what's this black fly doing in my chardonnay?
Being ironic.
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
Someone shrunk Michael Phelps!
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
That's no fly, that is my wife!
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
Recon.
Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
That's a cockroach.
Waiter, what's this soup doing in my fly?
Anything to add?
Boy, Mary Worth is quite spry for a woman her age. When I am her age I hope to be able to move that fast in the middle of a sentence.
Moy no longer cares about the writing, Giella no longer cares about the art, soon the coloring person will stop caring and then the comic will become real interesting.
90% of mothers would make the same mistake, the other 10% would be at the party.
Amen, Joe, amen.
Speaking on nonsense, Walter and I will watch the debate tonight. Netflix said that the Muppet Show Season One: Disc One should arrive today. I hope so.
Word of the financial crisis reaches the Lazarus compound. Evidently, he owns a television.
Hey, who put this coffin in the middle of the forest? Better move along, Mary and Toby, before the glacier in the second panel runs over you.
Mary Worth fans anticipate a nice display of pompous douche-baggery from Ian when Toby finally tells. Like many times before, Karen Moy will fail to deliver the goods. Yet, we keep reading.
