Not Much Really Compares To Her

 

Sinead O'Connor, "Your Green Jacket"

From her last album.  She'll mainly be remembered for her early work but the talent was always there.

R.I.P. Sinead O'Connor.  It'll be hard to explain to younger folks how she was trashed and humiliated for telling the truth.

Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer is really two movies -- one about building the atomic bomb, the other about the political fallout from building it.  At three hours, it's still way too long and both the beginning and ending drag.

That middle sweet-spot is something though.

Nolan also really stumbles by using a "black and white" effect.  Problem is, he uses it for both flash-backs and, very liberally, for flash-forwards.  It's weird.

Cillian Murphy is great, but Robert Downey Jr. as the bad guy is really given a lot more to do which is also surprising.

It's not quite a failure, but definitely not a success either.

Go Home Mandu, You're Drunk

Lots of stuff going on.  The summer job is great -- I'm counseling young folks on their own summer jobs and enjoying it a lot.  Some announcements and such coming soon too.

Wow, Maryland summer is hot.

Alas

Orioles seem to have used up all their rocket-sauce.

Summertime Rolls

I finally got to start my summer job and it's going well.  I really like my boss and hell, they even gave me an iPhone (for the rest of said summer).

Blogging might be light until September and the beginning of the "real" dispatching job.  We're weighing some new options for taking care of my Dad, hale and hearty at 94.

It's getting hot.  Boo.

My, My Slow Descent Into Cat-Blogging It Went

 

Mandu and Chingu, on watch for criminals and treats.

"nor devotional salve on his chin!"

"He took Cugel to a pleasant chamber on the ground floor, furnished with couch, commode, rug and lamp.  On one wall hung a tapestry woven in purple and black; on another was a representation of a peculiarly ugly baby which seemed trapped or compressed in a transparent globe.  The room suited Cugel; he announced as much to the innkeeper and returned to the pergola, where now the merrymakers were commencing to disperse.  The girl Zhiaml Vrax yet remained and she welcomed Cugel with a warmth which undid the last vestige of his caution.  After another goblet of wine; he leaned close to her ear.  'Perhaps I am over-prompt; perhaps I overindulge my vanity; perhaps I contravene the normal decorum of the village -- but is there reason why we should not repair to my chamber, and there amuse ourselves?'

'None whatever,' the girl said.  'I am unwed and until this time may conduct myself as I wish, for this is our custom.'

'Excellent,' said Cugel.  'Do you care to precede me, or walk discreetly to the rear?'

'We shall go together; there is no need for furtiveness!'

Together they went to the chamber and performed a number of erotic exercises, after which Cugel collapsed into a sleep of utter exhaustion, for his day had been taxing.

During the middle hours he awoke to find Zhiaml Vraz departed from the chamber, a fact which in his drowsiness caused him no distress and he once more returned to sleep.

The sound of the door angrily flung ajar aroused him; he sat up on the couch to find the sun not yet arisen, and a deputation led by the elder regarding him with horror and disgust.

The elder pointed a long quivering finger through he gloom.  'I thought to detect heretical opinion; now the fact is known!  Notice: he sleeps with neither head-covering nor devotional salve on his chin.  The girl Zhiaml Vraz reports that at no time in their congress did the villain call out for the approval of Yelisea!'

'Heresy beyond a doubt!' declared the others of the deputation."

-- Jack Vance, The Dying Earth

41-24

I keep meaning to write a medium-ish piece on how the Orioles are for real this year (hitting good, pitching better) but I know once I do they'll collapse.

Hell, even this kind of bullshit non-post is tempting fate.

Meanwhile, I start my summer counseling job in a week, then the "real" job in September.

Princess Mandu

 

I have an online psych exam for the real job this coming Thursday.  I think I'll just let Mandu take it for me.

Furry Personalities

 

Chingu (tuxedo cat): bold, adventurous, reckless

Mandu (cream and tabby cat): skittish, curious, takes her time

These guys are eight months old now, each.  Adopting them made my life better.

Update on the Updates

I have a pretty good job lined up for September, when I'll begin paid training.

Thing is, that's a long time to go without a paycheck.

So I've been applying for summer jobs as well, which is kind of annoying considering I did the work to get "a real job" for the fall.

Anyhow, I've had some good interviews for the part-time stuff.  Meanwhile, I'm going through some incredibly thorough background and medical checks for my first government job ever.

It's a process.  My Dad keeps asking me why I'm not working yet, and he kind of has a point.  I keep visiting him before or after these interviews, after telling him I got the job I really wanted, and he's understandably confused.

Anyhow, I should have something short-term lined up next week.

The best part of having a job is not having to look for a new one.

My cats are my personality, basically.