The People's Republic of California

Do they make those in a bicycle jersey?

Finally got around to doing my taxes. Although Uncle Sam has given us a couple of extra days this year, I thought I might have better things to do on April 17th.

(You really should have clicked that link, it gets you free ice-cream).

Nico and I had the W-4s set up perfectly this year (or almost perfectly, we ended up owing $400 to the Feds). Unfortunately, both of us neglected to update the dreaded DE-4 (that's the California equivalent of the W-4 for you out of staters)...resulting in $3000 owed to the Proud State of California. I have got to find a better accountant.

Buy us beers, we're friends for life.

Alternative title was: "It's never winter here"

Except it was a very cold day sailing, so that title was not very appropriate. Except in an ironic sort of way, I suppose.


Nicole always looks huge in these photos (like she could crush the other occupants of the boat at will--do not anger Giant Nicole). She's actually quite svelte, but everybody else is always afraid to move off the benches...putting Nicole on the rail, at the front of the boat (and closest to the photographer). If I knew more about art, or photography...or physics, I would know what this was called. (perspective???) Also pictured are Janet, and Janet's friends Charles and Samantha. Charles bought us nachos and beer (please see title above), and Samantha quotes lines from Airplane, so they get another photo (beautiful Corona Del Mar coastline in the background).

It's always 5 o'clock somewhere.

(Alternative title was: And you people thought I was making this#@!& up.)


If I have any Prescription Solutions readers left, sorry about the video. Here's a still of the raised martini flag:


In retrospect, we really should have been drinking Coronas.


In entertainment news: Went to see Grindhouse last night. I can't remember the last movie I saw in the theater; it takes a lot to get me into a theater...like a new Quentin Tarantino movie. If you have not seen any Grindhouse press, it's supposed to be a re-creation of a cheesy double feature you may have seen in a 1970s theater (if you're old enough). Robert Rodriguez made the first movie, which was actually pretty good. Perhaps after 2 hours of sitting in one place, I was just unprepared for a Tarantino movie. Please read a professional's review somewhere else; I will just say: 1) Tarantino does not write dialouge for women very well (or maybe he does, but it felt too much like he was saying, "Hey, I can write for women, too." and 2) All 7 or 8 women in the movie sounded like Uma Thurman in either Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill (or Kill Bill 2). Get somebody to read this, if you don't know what I'm talking about: "I do believe Marsellus Wallace, my husband, your boss, told you to take me out and do whatever I want. I wanna dance, I wanna win. I want that trophy, so dance good."

So now I'm curious...for this movie, Tarantino can obviuosly just tell his actresses: "Read your lines like Mia Wallace..." But what did he tell Uma Thurman for Pulp Fiction? Does she talk like that all the time?

In other entertainment news, Snakes on a Plane came in the mail today. Without having seen the movie, I thought I would write a Snakes on a Plane Drinking Game. Here it is:

Snakes on a Plane Drinking Game

Take a drink when:

Somebody says: "Snakes on a plane" (Two drinks if it's Samuel L. Jackson)
Somebody gets bit by a snake (Two drinks if it's Samuel L. Jackson)
Any reference to a specific type of snake (Two drinks if it's a Black Mambo)
Finish your drink if: 1) Samuel L. Jackson says: "Snakes on a mother $#@%&*! plane" or 2) Samuel L. Jackson get's killed.

If you ask me, all Fridays are pretty good...

My official Ovations calendar says today is Good Friday. (The Ovations calendar never misses a holiday; today is alsoChakri Day--Chakri Day is actually listed first.)

I do not have any time to read a wiki today, but if memory serves, we are celebrating a crucifixion. Somebody please tell me why this is a happy occasion. I am usually only interested in drinking holidays (which rules out just about everything Jewish--we do not even drink on New Years.) Is anybody having a cool crucifixion party tonight? No such thing as a crucifixion party, you say? Full body suspension might very well be worse...

Yeah, people pay money for this. And you're afraid to get your belly button pierced?

It was too much tequila, or not quite enough.

People are always asking me for marathon training tips. I have to confess, I am not the best person to ask (I spent a full 3 weeks training for my second marathon). But this one thing I know: Sparks do not make for good running music...at least nothing the iPod felt like playing. For a couple of miles, everything that "shuffled" sounded like Bohemian Rhapsody...wow, I guess I'm not the first person to come to this conclusion:

”Simple Ballet” is opera-rock five years before Queen released “The Bohemian Rhapsody.” And, it’s seriously about as good as that song … and much weirder. (I do hope that I’m not committing blasphemy with such a statement!) It’s not really the finest song on this album, but it’s really quite delightful. The pompous cymbal keeps things classy. The piano is ever trusty in keeping the song moving, and an electric guitar keeps this song firmly within the genre of rock ‘n’ roll. Come on, you’ve got to at least check out this album so that you can show off to your friends that you found something that predates Queen. Seriously.

It is true, I have way too many CDs...and an obsolete iPod.

15 days till Jamaica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laughing at the sunrise, like he's been up all night.

Why would anyone want to start work at 6:00 AM?

I am too tired to remember...but I got here in less than 8 minutes.

Man, the sun doesn't come up for another half hour.

My apologies, that last post was not meant to be such a tease. Something has not happened yet, and even if it had: I have had no time to write about it.

In other news, I need better drugs. Keith Richard's father, he makes pure mescaline taste like ginger beer.

Something is about to happen.

Details to follow.

Fresno, no one goes to Fresno.

Evidently it's rainbow time in Fresno again. No, not that rainbow, this Rainbow. The one with all the weird alliterative names (like Gregarious Grizzlies, Pandering Pandas, Jumpin-Jesus Freaks). (I do believe the two organizations used to share a flag.)


It seems Tropical Heaven in 2007 is the theme for this year's assembly of the ole' clan. Wow, does this thing really go on for 4 days?

Some of you may have noticed, I am not a 12 year old girl; I have no ballroom dress; and hey, I was not even invited.

Therefore, I am now taking suggestions for things to do this weekend. Currently in consideration: running, bicycling, sailing, heavy drinking...that sounds like every weekend.

If you have a better suggestion, it must pass the official Rainbow test: It must be more fun than 12 year old girls walking around in ballroom dresses. (Dr. Laura does not approve of 12 year old girls walking around in ballroom dresses, either.) Also, the suggestion must in no way involve Service. This will be an anti-Service weekend.