784 channels and nothing's on

Here in the Stewart house, we have Digital Cable and Bell Express Vu Canadian Satellite TV. But I couldn't find a service that would put all of our listings together so that we'd know our full range of bad TV choices. So of course I made my own. If you ever wanted to know what's on it our house, it's one of these 784 choices. Unless we're watching ReplayTV. Or a DVD. Or playing XBOX360. Or watching something we bought on iTunes. Or asleep.

Holidays, planned and booked

For Thanksgiving this year, we're joining an expedition to Trout Lake, WA, headed by Dan and Tilly Rodina ... something about 12 adults, 3 children, and a dog sharing a 5-bedroom rental house for a long weekend.

And last night, we confirmed our Xmas plans -- Hawaii's Big Island, nine nights at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (warning: site plays cheesy music when it loads)

Actually, that's only unitl Xmas eve ... we'll actually spend most of Xmas in the air, flying home.

Finally

I got my Harley back today! It runs great!

You don't talk like that about Marty McFly!!!

Amazing ... Sickening ... By the way, who in the world is still listening to this fat, drug-addict, hypocrite blowhard?

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh today attacked actor Michael J. Fox for faking Parkinson's Disease in an attempt to garner support for stem cell research. "He is exaggerating the effects of the disease," Limbaugh told listeners today. "He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act."

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See ya, Deep End. I'm so over you

I've lost it for Lost. Today, I made up a little song in the car to the tune of "Message in a Bottle" and actually sent the lyrics to the Jay and Jack Podcast. With all apologies to Sting:

I'm just a LOST addict,
a fan of ABC, oh
Another Wednesday night,
glued to my TV, oh

More hiatus
than I thought there could be, oh
Give me new episodes
before I break my Tivo

I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42
I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42

I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
When Lost is in reruns

Months have passed since I saw John Locke
and Kate, Jack and Sawyer, but don't get me wrong
One day we'll be back together
Lost can rule your life,
the characters are that strong

I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42
I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42

I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
When Lost is in reruns

Tuned in this evening,
Don't believe what I saw
A brand new episode,
and Podcasts by the score
I know I'm not alone in loving this show,
Several million viewers a week,
trying to crack the code

I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42
I keep chanting
4 8 15 16 23 42

I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
I don't think I can get by
When Lost is in reruns

I'm not saying it's Laurel's fault ...

... but just last night, Laurel was suggesting that instead of going to our usual Xmas destination of Oahu, we instead venture to the Big Island's Kona area. Then today, only minutes after we had priced out some options, finding them excessively expensive, a 6.6 earthquake struck the area. Fortunately, so far they think no one died in the quakes, so we can't feel too bad about hoping that maybe the rates will go down a bit to attract tourists back ...

Tis the Season

For birthdays! Laurel's is this week -- she's getting a touring scooter (thus coming one step closer to her oft-stated goal of having a local bike, a commuter bike, and a touring bike ... although I think all three modes will be covered with just the two scooters).

Of course, my birthday is next month (Nov. 30), so you may want to check out my Harley Wish List or my Amazon Wish List. The Kuhns got an early start, sending me a portable battery charging system!

Other folks with birthdays in the next two months include Sadie Hale, Kelsey Vaughn, Tilly Rodina, and both Mum and Dad Stewart!

Dave fights law; law wins

This morning as I was commuting to work, I pulled around the long line of cars exiting at Microsoft's main campus so I could make the less-crowded left turn to the Lakewood campus where I work. I do this all the time, and it involves traveling for about 10 feet on the shoulder.

Today, however, three policemen were standing on the shoulder waiting for idiots like me. Even more embarrassing, I was on my Vespa.

So I got a ticket -- for $10 (although my insurance will probably go up more than that).

Totally worth it for the amount of time that riding on that shoulder has saved me over the years.

Oops: I just looked at the ticket again, and it is for $101, not $10 ... OK, that's a little less worth it.

Bike is in the shop

I achieved my "fixing my Harley" goal today -- I fixed it enough to get it into the shop on its own power. The shop being 20 miles away didn't help; the bike started to die again less than 5 miles from home. But I was able to get it running again and made it the rest of the way without incident. It only took the mechanic about 30 seconds to determine that the carburetor was shot. Waiting for replacement parts and for him to get to the bike will mean that I'll go at least another week and a half, if not more, without my hog! Oh well, at least when I get it back, it'll be in good riding condition.