tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30995952011-10-30T11:29:04.653-04:00just enough to keep you goingEric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.comBlogger9361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-7016881084781216252011-02-16T21:05:00.001-05:002011-02-16T21:05:57.690-05:00

I really should write something here...

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-15416285735943963822010-08-19T21:08:00.000-04:002010-08-19T21:08:02.171-04:00

The nine-year anniversary of this blog's birth came and went unnoticed. In fact, the last original thing I posted was from almost exactly a year ago. (A meme and a flash video that won't load anymore just don't count.)I used to post regularly. Of course, I also used to post at work before our company's draconian Internet policies went into effect. Added to that, I sit in front of a PC screen all

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-74557727195583288202009-10-11T10:08:00.004-04:002009-10-11T10:50:27.669-04:00

I saw this meme over at "gambrinous with griffonage" and thought, "why not?"What was your FIRST job?Does mowing my grandfather's lawn — and two others in his neighborhood — count? That, or doing inventory at my dad's work.What was your FIRST car?A 1971 Datsun 510, painted Corvette Red.Do you still talk to your FIRST love?If e-mail counts, yes.What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?Mead (a wine made

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-9369788306803854892009-08-22T09:08:00.002-04:002009-08-22T09:32:58.876-04:00

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at last weekend's Kathy Griffin performance here in Orlando. When I went to the Orlando Sentinel's site afterward, I noticed a photo album — and found the dangers of automated Web ad placement:Somehow, I doubt that the Kathy Griffin audience is going to Disney's Night of Joy. (Note your mileage may vary. When I went to grab the photo-album link again just now, I

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-19630272467044774472009-03-24T21:55:00.000-04:002009-03-24T22:00:29.726-04:00

I suppose, in the long run, I should be grateful.I used to watch only a couple of hours of TV a week: generally, my watching revolved around Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy, and that's about it. But moving in with Todd brought with it a full slate of shows that I now enjoy. Our regular schedule in the fall got up to nine hours a week of prime-time programming, plus specials like American

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-49966908953953079292009-02-18T21:31:00.001-05:002009-02-18T21:40:33.658-05:00

As someone who's been pretty involved in the local gay chorus — singer, Board member, committee chair — I've caught a few people by surprise by taking leave of the group as of late. It may be just for this concert … or maybe not.It's no secret that I love music — especially choral singing. It's been a life-long love affair for me, both in listening and in being a member of various singing groups.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-56449006970337755782009-01-28T20:21:00.002-05:002009-01-28T20:35:26.914-05:00

Sure ... why not.The rules are relatively simple: bold the items you’ve done; don’t bold items you haven’t done.1. Started your own blog.2. Slept under the stars.3. Played in a band.4. Visited Hawaii.5. Watched a meteor shower.6. Given more than you can afford to charity.7. Been to Disney World / Land.8. Climbed a mountain.9. Held a praying mantis.10. Sang a solo.11. Bungee jumped. (As Mike Says,

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-71389815772535750162009-01-20T19:58:00.002-05:002009-01-20T20:02:48.574-05:00

My company is one of those that recognizes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as an official holiday, so to me, it marks the end of the multi-holiday season. Thanksgiving (and the day after), Christmas, New Year's, and MLK all come in rapid succession. It's almost as if the four-day week were the norm, with a few longish five-day weeks interspersed.That illusion ends now, as those of you who don't get

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-85430213315590658032009-01-15T07:18:00.002-05:002009-01-15T07:21:57.989-05:00

Five days out from Inauguration Day, and I just heard the folks on the Today Show discussing a new poll: whether the President-elect has handled his transition well. Does that really matter? Is it really news?In any case, I figured that kind of question might wait until, I don't know, he actually is done with the transition and is President. Maybe that's just me.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-74658554249360705072009-01-07T20:26:00.002-05:002009-01-07T20:30:15.542-05:00

On my drive to work, the road skirts a couple of tornado magnets trailer parks. One manufactured home unit, I realized last week, has a somewhat unique holiday display. It's subtle … sort of. They have a set of the plastic, lit-from-within creche scene with Joseph, Mary and manger, surrounded — one might even say "guarded" — by …… a bunch of multi-colored, lit candy canes.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-53049511225009868962008-12-30T21:00:00.003-05:002008-12-30T21:08:22.342-05:00

Our dog, Maya, has no idea what hit her. We've been gushing over her and spoiling her (more than usual) for nearly a week.This, in and of itself, is ironic. I grew up afraid — no, terrified — of dogs. Not spurred on by any specific incident that I can recall. They were just potentially aggressive and unpredictable. But when I moved in with Todd, a dog came as part of the package. And she quickly

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-36771721616505805852008-12-23T19:13:00.002-05:002008-12-23T19:15:30.992-05:00

Now, I know there are exceptions to this (namely my home quadrant-of-the-country), but isn't icy, snowy weather with lots of airport delays the norm for Christmas week? I mean, seriously. I travelled for Christmas once — ONCE — and found the experience to be stressful. Whole movies have been based off this concept. So why, oh why, is it news that travelers are facing crowded airports, cranky

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-45665436953050042392008-12-22T20:32:00.002-05:002008-12-22T20:43:20.073-05:00

Well, OK, there is the fact that it's supposed to be high 70s — maybe even 80° — here on Christmas Day. And while I'd like it to feel a bit cooler (today's 60° was glorious!), I am in no way envious of the weather back home. But really, I'm thinking more of the "greening" of Christmas.The artificial tree is OK, I suppose. The real ones, while having the right texture and scent, are a bit much to

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-11737784763325773282008-12-08T23:04:00.002-05:002008-12-08T23:07:46.501-05:00

OK, so this video is old news, I know:BUT — and maybe this is old news to you — did you know they released a CD this year? (On iTunes: Straight No Chaser: Holiday Spirits.)All hail the glory of men's a capella holiday music.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-28992340701498514642008-11-21T08:13:00.002-05:002008-11-21T08:31:03.745-05:00

Mike did it, and I'm sitting here at the car dealer (thank goodness for free Wifi) killing time, so …When was the last time you cried? Probably a week ago. Grey's Anatomy has been doing that lately.Were you named after anyone? No.Why are you so fickle when it comes to women? Because I can be … I don't date them.What is your favorite lunchmeat? Turkey.Do you have kids? Not the human kind.If you

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-57352044692535994682008-11-12T07:54:00.002-05:002008-11-12T07:57:28.013-05:00

Google Flu Trends (via New York Times)(And now I'm wondering if I can hold out until the shots come to my office at the end of next week.)

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-86796060597463097072008-11-05T14:48:00.004-05:002008-11-05T14:54:17.406-05:00

I generally avoided election coverage last night, only switching over around 10 p.m. I could see no reason to watch wall-to-wall coverage starting two hours before the earliest poll closings. And while it was good to see Obama winning before I headed off to bed, any joy I might have felt was wiped out by the stomach-turning results on Florida's Amendment 2. And while our neighbors were outside

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-1464702644122994932008-11-04T08:41:00.001-05:002008-11-04T08:41:18.932-05:00

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-61075297352473867242008-10-25T09:56:00.003-04:002008-10-26T09:10:56.355-04:00

So the Powers That Be finally wised up and blocked all things "blogger" and "blogspot" at work. (Oddly, though, no such prohibitions on all things "wordpress." Yet.) Fine, since I wasn't really blogging at work (or, um, at home) that much.What I can do, though, is share Google Reader items. So there's a new gadget thingy over there on the left right side of my blog home page that has the last

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-78165633730827693512008-10-24T17:31:00.001-04:002008-10-24T17:31:16.636-04:00

... And it took longer to park than to get in. That's right: no line, no waiting. In fact, at least half the stations were empty. Makes me wonder if all the long-line media drama is just an Orlando thing?

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-80146676991775424062008-10-22T12:26:00.002-04:002008-10-22T12:35:05.549-04:00

From an Orlando Sentinel article, "Early voters crowd polls in Orlando area as registration swells":McCain officials say they're winning the absentee vote, with about 295,000 Republicans requesting absentee ballots statewide, compared with 199,000 Democrats.Question: If more Republicans than Democrats are requesting absentee ballots, which of the following is true?A) The Republican nominee is

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-24288923013805503992008-10-20T17:12:00.001-04:002008-10-20T17:12:49.126-04:00

It?s simple, really. Call my cell phone during the work day from a blocked number, and leave a prerecorded voicemail message telling me what a great candidate you are.Fortunately for you, I have no idea who you are. Your message auto-played before my greeting finished, so all I didn?t catch your name. All I got was how important my vote was to you.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-74766387248031081782008-10-12T20:30:00.003-04:002008-10-12T20:56:38.770-04:00

So, the place I once called my "reset button," the place I've written about numerous times, the place I saw going slowly into decline … that place is finally gone.And I really don't mind. Really. It was getting too sad, and honestly, our last visit as a month before The End.Of course, since I was so much a regular for so much of my life, many people I knew figured I'd be there celebrating/

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-52334512626134995772008-10-11T10:21:00.001-04:002008-10-11T10:22:59.496-04:00

For the record, until I moved into a dog (and cat) household, I thought I was a cat person. Maya has proven me SO wrong.(What, not a Husky?)

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-19079184455441760132008-09-30T07:28:00.000-04:002008-09-30T07:29:37.375-04:00

Spotted on my trip to Seattle earlier this month.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-51537940541671842772008-08-23T07:43:00.002-04:002008-08-23T07:45:09.911-04:00

Received Monday, while prepping for the then-unknown of Fay:There appear to be many clouds; but they quickly pass.I don't think I've ever had a fortune-cookie fortune that, when taken literally, was so completely wrong.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-4190583239643284922008-08-17T09:33:00.003-04:002008-08-17T09:38:13.516-04:00

I stumbled across this comment over at the National Hurricane Center's page this morning:(From Tropical Storm Fay Forecast Discussion #7, 5:00 a.m. EDT Aug. 17)THE CENTER OF FAY IS TOO CLOSE TO THE COAST OF CUBA TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT...SO THERE ARE NO DIRECT MEASUREMENTS OF CENTRAL PRESSURE OR PRECISE POSITIONING OF THE SURFACE CENTER. (Sorry, they write

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-11966605476408307892008-08-11T17:30:00.003-04:002008-08-11T17:32:24.326-04:00

OK, so maybe I shouldn't be checking my home e-mail (or blogging) from work. And the electrons are trying to tell me so, in no uncertain terms.First, it was the less-than-reliable-as-of-late MobileMe (a.k.a. .Mac), which went south today sometime after lunch.And, just when I was pondering how Gmail never has these kinds of problems, I'm greeted with:Temporary Error (502)We’re sorry, but your

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-57855066728356456852008-07-23T13:06:00.002-04:002008-07-23T13:16:16.235-04:00

Last week, we were in Miami for GALA Festival 8. GALA Choruses is the association of gay and lesbian choirs, and every four years they host a week-long conference of sorts. The last Festival was in 2004 — just before I joined the OGC — in Montreal. With this year's event just down the Turnpike, it was a given that I absolutely had to go.This Festival hosted just shy of 5,000 delegates from 140

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-89732032662639893372008-07-02T11:56:00.002-04:002008-07-02T12:00:37.859-04:00

Is there nothing good on network TV in the summer because no one is watching?Or is no one watching because there's nothing good on summer TV?(In our household, it's the latter. We'd be watching TV on the same schedule as any other season if there was anything worth watching. Our lives don't change just because someone else's kids are out of school. Thank goodness we finally got a DVR, so we can

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-33304636559387237402008-06-25T10:32:00.001-04:002008-06-25T10:32:15.771-04:00

Sitting at Orlando airport waiting for a flight to New York City -- a business trip. It's (believe it or not) my first time to the city.Unfortunately, I'll have almost no time to sightsee around my conference. I'll be back home Friday night. And I'm missing my hubby's birthday (today). Sigh.At least he's promised a proper trip in the future -- he's from there -- so I'll get the true insider's

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-63260342507182619962008-06-19T10:06:00.001-04:002008-06-19T10:08:52.429-04:00

This morning's "Duh! Headline Award" goes to OrlandoSentinel.com:Traffic slow in parts of Central FloridaI think the only more obvious headline would have been along the lines of "Sun rises once again".

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-64180522290514557752008-05-16T12:55:00.002-04:002008-05-16T13:06:44.846-04:00

In September, I moved to a new home. Last month, I moved to a new job. Both are south of US 192, even if only slightly. The grocery store, my gym, my doctor, my dentist, my optometrist … all to the south of the highway.Really, except for once-a-week Chorus rehearsals (which are way, way north in downtown Orlando), I almost have no reason to cross to the north side of the highway in the day-to-day

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-966968345752267872008-05-13T15:32:00.002-04:002008-05-13T16:03:17.363-04:00

Last Wednesday, I found that I'd already received, via direct deposit, W's latest gift to the people: an "extra" tax refund under the so-called Economic Stimulus Act.This morning I opened yesterday's mail, and found a letter from the IRS, dated yesterday (how'd they do that?), letting me know I should receive my rebate by last Friday. Love how they spent money on printing and postage to tell me

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-52018067161663735032008-05-06T07:19:00.003-04:002008-05-06T07:20:36.117-04:00

Oh, geez. I just realized that I wrote this back in March, but posted it to a hidden blog I use to test layout changes. No wonder no one noticed.Just in time to save me from complete blogging obscurity, Mike provides a fun meme. (Yes, I know it's from last week two months ago, which is, of course, an eternity in Net Time).Use the first letter of your middle name to answer each of the following.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-8787801795694216242008-05-06T07:13:00.002-04:002008-05-06T07:16:52.648-04:00

Been busy at work lately — in fact, started a new job (same employer) about a week after that last post — and I find that when I get home, I'd rather just curl up on the couch with the BF than hit the keyboard.That, and the public wifi in our building doesn't reach my desk, so I can't blog at work on my own computer like I used to.So, still around. More into reading than commenting, and more into

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-26505668719555758922008-04-09T10:59:00.003-04:002008-04-09T11:02:15.118-04:00

As CB and Mike pointed out, my blog formatting vanished this week. See, I was looking at my email program and thought, "I really don't use that email address anymore. I should just delete it." So I did.… ignoring all the warnings it would delete the associated web space. No worries.Except that's where I was storing images and the CSS file (web formatting) for this blog. Crap.So, you may find a

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-5662535375711646252008-04-08T09:01:00.000-04:002008-12-13T01:34:39.008-05:00

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-35396349518071040332008-03-26T15:03:00.004-04:002008-03-26T15:26:54.330-04:00

I giggle a little at the opening of the song "I Can't Do It Alone" from Chicago. The MC opens the song by speaking, "Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Velma Kelly in an act … of desperation."This line comes to mind today, as I learn via varying sources that the group En Vogue will be playing both Parliament House during Gay Days … and Epcot during this fall's Food & Wine Festival.Thoughts this brings to

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-77859713178314081492008-02-29T15:18:00.000-05:002008-02-29T15:18:54.918-05:00

I may have alluded to here once or more than I use a Mac. One feature I use of the Dock — a combination of application switcher and launching system in Mac OS X — is the ability to drag URLs for later use. If I don't want to permanently bookmark something, or if I want to mark a song or album in iTunes to look at later, I just drag it to the dock, and I get this little "@" icon to click on later

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-68682928937690697912008-02-22T16:16:00.002-05:002008-02-22T16:31:56.331-05:00

Last fall, I replaced my phone with a brand-spankin' new Motorola Q 9m. And I really enjoy it. As much as I'm in my car, it's great to have my email, the web and some music with me wherever I go. Plus — bonus — it syncs with Windows at work, so I was able to dump the Palm III crutch. With a little extra software at home, I can use the phone to sync between work PC and home Mac. One life, one

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-31454128422982539302008-02-06T13:39:00.001-05:002008-02-06T13:51:33.093-05:00

Over at the local paper today, two references in one article that caught my eye:"Just the thought of frozen Thin Mints, ice cream and a splash or two of Kahlua spinning in the blender makes me want to do the happy dance." Me, too.Later in the article, "chili and cocoa" are listed among the top flavor pairings for 2008. This makes me happy, as I've been trying — with my limited culinary knowledge

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-29288663212465427102008-01-25T15:38:00.000-05:002008-01-25T16:25:07.298-05:00

Yesterday, I had lunch with this former blogger, this blogger, and this used-to-blog-for-free-but-now-gets-paid blogger. These people (along with someone whose domain has expired) might be considered my blogparents -- and all but one have stopped blogging. (Actually, I thought "Empty" had been discontinued, as well, until I went to go test the link. Oops. He'd posted more recently than I. Until

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-73836175801794188662008-01-15T14:59:00.000-05:002008-01-15T15:00:21.375-05:00

That's how much today's new product announcements would cost if I bought what I want out of them. Ugh.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-85769890840377435272008-01-02T10:56:00.000-05:002008-01-02T10:56:41.942-05:00

I may have to nominate my neighbor's yard: TackyChristmasYards.com.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-87215950746537006782007-12-18T08:59:00.000-05:002007-12-18T09:10:16.452-05:00

So, over the weekend, we get this story about people at a Starbucks drive-through paying for the drink of the person behind them, in a "pay it forward" manner, all day. This isn't the first time I've heard this kind of story (I think I even saw it printed on a Starbucks cup once), and a barista friend said that this kind of thing happens more often than not.What was unique, though, was that the

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-51263947083781868972007-12-14T09:16:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:36:10.037-05:00

Yes, it's been a month. And yes, I'm still here. I just haven't been inspired to write lately — and I've been too busy to, at that. I think tomorrow is the first day in a month where I have no plans to do anything. And I'm looking forward to it like you wouldn't believe. (Heck, I desperately wanted to play hooky today to get the laziness started off right — but my sense of duty and

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-77403797659366307272007-11-15T13:52:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:55:42.535-05:00

OK, I know I'm contradicting myself, but in honor of what's apparently the biggest thing to hit Orlando in 36 years:… and my all-time favorite web-distributed commercial:

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-32673025984621109312007-11-08T08:19:00.000-05:002008-12-13T01:34:39.351-05:00

Today's guilty pleasure: the seasonal return of the Eggnog Latte. Yum!

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-70462513130162480362007-11-05T19:35:00.000-05:002008-12-13T01:34:39.536-05:00

...I'm getting excited. Not camp-out-for-days in line excited, but still.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-53431743723726704412007-11-05T11:09:00.000-05:002007-11-05T14:01:53.694-05:00

Yeah, I'm still alive, and actually doing well. I just find that keeping up appearances online takes a lot more effort than I'm inspired to deliver, as of late.It's not just here at Blogger, either. I have languishing accounts at LiveJournal, MySpace and Facebook — all inspired by the invitations of friends. I try dropping in now and again to see what's new, but inevitably, by the time I do, I

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-2804948668144001742007-10-03T08:52:00.000-04:002007-10-03T08:53:52.298-04:00

The first 13 years of my life — Act I if you will — I lived in Southern Oregon and went through the basics of growing up.Act II began with my family temporarily moving to Seattle, expanding my view of the world. Over the next ten years, I did a lot of growing up, learning and establishing myself as an individual. I went to high school and college, got my own apartment for the first time, found a

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-7583858089882428402007-09-28T16:17:00.000-04:002007-09-28T16:40:32.236-04:00

The day's almost over, but I'm here:… and get this: work sent me. There was some really good work-related content here, but also fascinating to watch the whole day unfold from the casual-blogger side, too.General observations: lots of people my age or younger — and a few really socially-awkward-looking older-than-me guys who strike me as "early days of developing" types. Lots more women than I'd

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-21530189508742059142007-09-11T21:27:00.000-04:002007-09-11T21:39:00.274-04:00

At work, we're in the middle of a team reorganization … that leaves me between the projects i've had and know, and even bigger projects yet to be assigned. (Right now it sounds like twice the work for the same pay.)In the Chorus, we're between our extra summer show and our holiday show, with the local pride festivities and a fundraiser thrown in there for good measure … which leaves me in the

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-55782630476368412212007-08-27T21:02:00.000-04:002007-08-27T21:09:11.997-04:00

So this was the latest survey-meme I saw going 'round (thanks Chris and Joe), and I thought, "oh, sure, what the heck." And while it was fun, I have to say … never has one of these been quite so far off base for me. More emotional than logical? Punk Rocker? Athiest? EXTROVERTED? What kind of mood was I in when I did this? Oh, well, read and enjoy: The Everything Test There are many different

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-70054210249470326002007-08-24T13:33:00.000-04:002007-08-24T13:40:42.108-04:00

I have what may be a blasphemous revelation to make.I'm over YouTube.I don't know if that's me being terribly uncool, or if it puts me on the avant-garde cutting edge. It has nothing to do with the recent addition of ads, either (I know I'm not THAT cool). It just seems to have become too ubiquitous, what with it being connected with a CNN debate, and prominent placement on both the Apple TV and

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-41814307429496334542007-08-16T14:51:00.000-04:002007-08-16T14:54:41.925-04:00

As you may know, I sing with the Orlando Gay Chorus. I don't usually push our concerts here, but we're working on something really special for this upcoming weekend, and I'd be remiss not to say something about it.The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida (in Maitland, associated with the Jewish Community Center) is currently hosting a touring exhibit put on by the National

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-75580214229460300732007-08-15T14:50:00.000-04:002007-08-15T14:55:37.826-04:00

This arrived yesterday and is in heavy-listening rotation today:In case you can't read the little yellow tag on the picture: I bought the Canadian Cast recording … starring Donny Osmond.I also bought the Broadway Jekyll & Hyde, which is the other item in rotation today. I'm loving them both. But it's the Joseph that I realized may be my most tragically gay purchase in months.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-36331185167662429482007-08-02T21:31:00.000-04:002007-08-02T21:34:59.408-04:00

I failed to mention that I, too, was one of the many up in the middle of the night on a recent Saturday, reading the words of a favorite English author. Only I was reading her stuff. I was reading from Lynne Truss' Talk to the Hand, a glorious little tome from the author of my favorite grammar reference, Eats, Shoots & Leaves. This time, instead of taking on misuse of the comma, she challenges

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-54279751406611302212007-07-23T20:04:00.000-04:002007-07-23T20:07:13.895-04:00

Here's just a few of the photos I'm sorting through:

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-54455622652859952452007-07-21T23:33:00.000-04:002007-07-21T23:37:20.000-04:00

Last night, I went to see Hairspray with friends. It was all I could do to NOT sing along. I nearly shrieked when I saw John Waters' cameo … but missed Ricki Lake's — only poetic since she originated the Tracy Turnblad role back in the 80s.My (inadvertently) themed weekend continued this morning with my first-ever day-trip to the Sawmill Campground, home to … a lake named Ricki. Go figure.Then,

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-87793958773533053162007-07-17T21:25:00.001-04:002007-07-17T21:45:17.964-04:00

Back in town, back at work and trying to (in my "spare" time) sort through the 250 pictures I took.Speaking of numbers:6 days(All in the car with my folks)5 nights(2 in a 2-story suite with my folks, the other 3 I had my own room)2 of those days also spent with 2 great aunts and a great uncle, ranging high-60 to high-70 years oldOver 3800 air milesNearly 1400 road miles3 National ParksMore on all

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-69311820325652602372007-07-08T12:05:00.000-04:002007-07-08T12:08:51.240-04:00

Tomorrow begins my road-trip vacation with the 'rents through SW Colorado. I fly into (and out of) Salt Lake City; they're already en route from S Oregon. Trying to figure out what to pack, I checked out old reliable weather.gov. Wow. Guess which day we're up in the mountains:Tomorrow day: High 101°Tomorrow night: Low 65°Tuesday day: High 100°, driving to a high of 65°!Tuesday night: Low 48°

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-3784898285570905242007-07-04T08:24:00.000-04:002007-07-04T08:26:06.156-04:00

A stop-motion version of a song from Wicked? Featuring She-Ra?!?I'm so there.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-69679543919541780532007-07-03T16:23:00.000-04:002007-07-03T16:29:44.248-04:00

The news has come to me through email (home AND work), via TXT message and by phone call: The Full Moon Saloon is no more. Apparently closed after business Sunday night, and cleaned out yesterday. Nothing in the local news yet, but such is the speed of modern communications, and the general lack of concern over this hole-in-the-wall bar … which was one of my happy places 'round here.Still waiting

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-27526498147218058782007-06-30T19:55:00.000-04:002007-06-30T20:32:55.925-04:00

Finally, we had a chance to go over to St. Petersburg for their ever-growing Pride festival. It's supposedly grown into Florida's largest (though I'd dispute the 70,000-100,000 pre-event attendance estimates — perhaps they're including all attendees at various events throughout the month). We enjoyed ourselves, despite baking in the late-June Florida heat as we endured (and enjoyed) the

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-41808650489859042132007-06-18T14:38:00.000-04:002007-06-18T14:40:56.029-04:00

Setting the wayback machine… That vacation I took last month? Heavenly. Even though it was 18 hours door-to-door from our house to the hotel in Friday Harbor, WA, it was absolutely and completely worth it. I felt a weight lift when the car ferry sailed away, effectively stranding us on an island we were able to drive the perimeter of in less than five hours. Mountains, meadows, beaches and cliffs

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-45757403616351649952007-06-12T20:47:00.000-04:002007-06-12T20:56:20.654-04:00

Lots going on in the brain, but never the push to put fingers to keys. I'm still reading all the cool kids' blogs — just not always posting comments, even when I'm directly referenced. Sorry for the exhibition of poor blogging etiquette.I'll shake loose this mental logjam soon. Maybe even before our concert next Saturday.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-8095517637544930302007-06-05T20:38:00.000-04:002007-06-05T20:53:12.347-04:00

OK, don't ask how (supposedly) sweet-and-innocent me came across this, but … can someone tell me how I missed seeing these guys at the parks this weekend?The page as a whole has a little "Not Safe For Work" content, by the way. You've been warned. Link: Where dreams come true — and then some! .

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-62141389826725773662007-05-29T11:46:00.000-04:002007-05-29T12:00:40.025-04:00

That tearing sound you're hearing? Just the space-time continuum being rent asunder, as my old high school choir presents an all-Disney concert. (Wish I could drop in to hear it!) They'll be singing in the Lynn Sjolund Auditorium, which was named during my time there for a previous choral director — and the OGC will be doing a song by Paul Sjolund at our show next month. (From what I can tell,

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-62827461946114907282007-05-19T22:22:00.000-04:002007-05-19T22:25:46.179-04:00

A selection of vacation-y goodness in photographic form can be found here. Stories soon to come. For a preview of the pictures, though, try this little gadget:

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-24226222687056327172007-05-19T20:06:00.001-04:002007-05-19T20:11:14.070-04:00

In an article about rising gasoline costs, the local paper includes this phrase (emphasis mine): Concerns about gas shortages over the heavy summer driving season have also fueled speculation in wholesale gas and crude oil markets.An article about gas that has the word "fueled" in a non-fuel-related context? One wonders if the writer heard his own personal rimshot when he penned the line.In

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-14670375862178039202007-05-16T15:53:00.000-04:002007-05-16T16:03:36.486-04:00

And … we're back, from a week away in Seattle and surrounding environs. A relaxing time, to be sure. We also now have photographic evidence of Jorge's presence in the city. Preliminary evidence could have been, as Dewayne put it, an "elaborate elaborate ruse": keys to an apartment building and even an apartment, familiar decor in said apartment a rudimentary awareness of city geography, the

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-6395551009470371052007-05-07T11:23:00.000-04:002007-05-07T11:25:10.250-04:00

Doctor finds spiders in ear of Oregon boy with earacheMay I repeat: Ew.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-44727901947722861102007-05-05T21:28:00.000-04:002007-05-05T21:37:21.039-04:00

Scene: our Chorus retreat (rehearsals and socializing in a church-owned camp/retreat center on the edge of the national forest). Someone ran back to their cabin on a break, and came back to proclaim: "I got bitten by a Tigger!"On second take, he had stumbled combining "tick" and "chigger." At least if he said he'd been bitten by a "chick" we could've tracked down the culprit — the womenfolk being

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-89446865180921301042007-05-01T15:52:00.000-04:002007-05-01T16:25:15.598-04:00

It's posts like this that make me wish I had an editor. I was originally going to write this at the end of March, but life got in the way (as it has been known to do) … and the content that fit the title just kept rolling in.It feels a bit like, for the past few months, life in Orlando has been undergoing a death-by-a-thousand-paper-cuts kind of slow decline — lots of little things that have made

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-34958049911187800512007-04-27T12:31:00.000-04:002007-04-27T12:41:05.910-04:00

Hotel bill for the second night of the most recent "let's get away together" weekend: $200Airfare, deposit for one hotel and full prepayment for the other hotel, for our vacation and visit with Jorge: $1,400Deposit for the Bachelor Party 4 room and communal gathering space: $340Airfare to join Mom & Dad on the road-trip-ish thing in July: $380Spending time with friends and family:

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-40545241963478924692007-04-23T15:37:00.000-04:002007-04-23T16:02:34.935-04:00

As reported else where, the AIDS Walk happened Saturday. I was there to sing (the national anthem and You'll Never Walk Alone) and walk with the Chorus team; I had the chance to spot a few co-workers in the team-from-work and had a walk-by sighting of the Bunch O' Bloggers. Of the Bunch, I had a moment to chat with .ALT>Mike, who had his own solution to a pulled-in-three-directions dilemma like

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-17133041727285389192007-04-18T11:18:00.000-04:002007-04-18T11:23:58.268-04:00

From yesterday's email: a promotional message from my wireless-phone provider, offering me a discount if I upgrade my phone (and extend my contract, naturally). From the header:From: {ADDRESS}Subject: Get $100 off any phoneDate: April 17, 2007 4:50:54 PM EDTAnd from the body of the message, in big, bold, reddish letters:Please respond by March 31st, 2007.My, how time flies.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-62126447065454376482007-04-16T16:03:00.000-04:002007-04-16T16:10:38.009-04:00

In the past two weeks, I went from no-travel-plans to having something booked (or in the works) every month:On the 4th, we decided on (and booked) another 3-day jaunt to Lauderdale over EasterLast week, we booked the airfare for this year's "real"vacation — to Seattle — next monthYesterday, I booked the Bachelor Party digs for this year's Gay Days experienceThis week, I'm tasked with figuring how

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-68765465214263848412007-04-09T10:07:00.000-04:002007-04-09T10:16:35.385-04:00

Brace yourselves. My voice — such as it is — has actually been heard on a podcast: The Jimmi & Dan Variety Cast. During the blogger dinner a few weeks back, Sorted called their voicemail line, and we all left our names (and, as I was prompted, the names of our blogs). They ended up playing it back at the start of a show. Note that I'm not on the latest edition — I held out until new material

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-53853912433033741952007-04-03T13:34:00.000-04:002007-04-03T13:35:24.177-04:00

This year's AIDS Walk Orlando seems to be getting more traction than I ever recall — at least among people I know. While my Chorus has been asked to sing the national anthem before, this year we've finally committed to having a team of walkers, as well. (It helps the Walk isn't the same weekend as our concert this time.) Then, the "Bunch O' Bloggers" got involved, thanks to ringleader MiKell. Now

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-43613816458548710122007-03-29T20:58:00.001-04:002007-03-29T20:58:57.916-04:00

I'm impressed.Amazing Fiddle Player - Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-61911067439945215772007-03-27T07:44:00.000-04:002007-03-27T07:51:28.862-04:00

I've gotten a chuckle out of the Meet The Robinsons trailer every time I see it — the flyby of a Space Mountain look-alike in the future, but in a theme park called "Todayland," and the downtown office building that looks suspiciously like a Disney-owned one in Celebration. Well, today the soundtrack album came online. Not only is the score by Danny Elfman, and the album feature songs from folks

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-11213553592361430842007-03-20T15:38:00.000-04:002007-03-20T15:52:06.960-04:00

In a daily summary of work-related newsworthy topics, I spotted this headline:Restaurant Chain Heading for Holy Land… and, given my industry and geographic location, mentally sorted to a certain local tourist attraction. After all, Disney serves McDonald's in its parks, and Universal has a Starbucks. So I just about choked when I saw the first phrase:"US restaurant chain Hooters …"HUH? I mean,

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-87526512989336067842007-03-16T22:18:00.000-04:002007-03-16T22:29:14.214-04:00

About a month ago, I wrote a post called "What If No One Noticed?".Take a look around the blogosphere this week, and you'll witness a lot of folks missing one blogger in particular, and sending him well wishes (myself included). It's really nice to realize that a whole community — from coast to coast — has noticed.

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-88010649438547416172007-03-15T21:08:00.000-04:002007-03-15T21:09:04.342-04:00

… of attending a blogger gathering:Arrive alone at a touristy restaurant before the core of the group, so you have to look up each time the door opens to see if anyone looks even vaguely familiar. Instantly gives the "loser" appearance to the other patrons.Sit in the verbal line of fire between MiKell and Sorted. Though it is admittedly an entertaining place to be.Sit between the two

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-21776150641858825252007-03-13T14:41:00.000-04:002007-03-13T14:48:53.934-04:00

Aside from feeding my sudoko addiction, the customizable Google homepage entertains me in unexpected ways. One of the gadgets is called "Interesting Items For You," and it is presumably connected to my search history (and other gadgets I've installed on the homepage). Right now, though, its top-10 list of "Recent top queries related to [my] searches" is almost completely out of whack:2. arnold

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-51152740649737218312007-03-09T10:47:00.000-05:002007-03-09T10:57:14.357-05:00

Part of why I received 111 email messages at work during my time off — an unusually high number for me — was that our IT finally got around to pushing software updates, and therefore corresponding meeting re-invites, to accomodate this year's revised start for daylight-saving time a.k.a "Y2K7." (This would be what has caused Cola Boy to work weekends, and almost MiKell, who called it BabyY2K.)

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-73064401303495909972007-03-08T10:32:00.000-05:002007-03-08T10:47:44.071-05:00

As Dewayne already elucidated, Our Jorge has moved on to the great Pacific Northwest.(As an aside, our most amorous gay Cuban has been sampling the local cuisine, including a highly-recommended drive-in burger joint. However, they apparently do not do custom orders, leading to a text message that there would be "NO Dick's 4 me" in Seattle. Given the source, one hopefully will forgive the prurient

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-58857373021047953072007-03-07T09:11:00.000-05:002007-03-07T15:11:08.281-05:00

In honor of my recent natal anniversary, we took off from the day-to-day for a little R & R. Things that transpired included:A jaunt to Tampa to see the musical Wicked, which I have been clamoring to see for years. I realized how badly I wanted to see it when I teared up a bit on the first notes of the overture. The show was played incredibly well … and I was pleased to find that I didn't know

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-38308957709659605202007-03-05T20:39:00.000-05:002007-03-09T10:59:50.213-05:00

Fun meme from Southern Expressions (a new find for me) and also spotted at Spider's and Sorted's among others … thought I'd give it a spin myself.20 years agoHow old were you? 16Where did you go to school? North Medford HighWhere did you work? I didn'tWhere did you live? My parents' house in MedfordWhere did you hang out? HomeDid you wear glasses? YesWho was your best friend? ShawnHow many

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-63894726489095425862007-02-27T16:54:00.000-05:002007-02-27T16:59:19.709-05:00

I realized today that for some reason, "2012" doesn't register in my brain as a year quite yet when I see it. It's a stretch to think about 2009, but at least I think "year" when I see that string of numbers. 2012, though …While I'm on it, I know we would have read "1984" as "nineteen eighty-four" but we read "2007" as "two-thousand seven." I'm guessing that by 2010 we'll shorthand it again as "

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-8260270770347917252007-02-17T21:28:00.000-05:002007-02-17T21:40:49.169-05:00

I'll try to say this in a non-spoiler way, in case you watch Grey's Anatomy (one of my two hours of must-see TV each week) but haven't seen this past week's episode. There was a theme that came up a couple of times: what if you went missing, and you had no one in your life to notice? No one but just those you encounter in everyday-to-day interactions — who could explain away you being gone until

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-82918462050082673552007-02-07T16:28:00.000-05:002007-02-07T16:33:00.175-05:00

Last Friday, after work, I had to run downtown on a Chorus errand. Amazingly, there was no traffic to speak of.Again, two days ago, on a Monday: headed downtown from work and barely tapped the brake pedal on my way to the Chorus office.Today, I prepare for yet another Chorus-related jaunt to the city center … and Traffic.com — not 100% accurate, but far, far better than the usually-wrong,

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-49142422839781041062007-02-03T20:05:00.000-05:002007-02-03T20:10:59.690-05:00

And, to wrap it up, one from Dewayne:ME. A-ZA. Available or Single? None of the above.B. Best friend? I don't think I could fairly choose a "best."C. Cake or pie? Um, I'm with Dewayne: "Yes, please." Though we differ on the pecan pie (ick).D. Drink of choice? Diet Coke. Or, Rum-and-Coke-with-lime.E. Essential item? Music — be it radio, CD or iPod.F. Favorite color? Blue.G. Gummi bears or worms?

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-64439069229839355612007-02-02T13:13:00.000-05:002007-02-02T13:27:42.783-05:00

Spotted at Spider's and MiKell's:Home theatre or movie theatre? -- Movie theater. Some films just need to be seen larger-than-life, and I haven't seen a home system manage that yet.Hardwood or wall-to-wall? -- Hardwood ... and lots of rugs for cold mornings.Pencil or ballpoint pen? -- Pen.Digital or analog? -- Analog clocks ... digital thermometers. Oh, and digital audio/video, but never digital

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-25613993241399078582007-01-31T11:17:00.000-05:002007-02-02T13:48:46.434-05:00

One of the Orlando Sentinel "blogs," Across The Pond: An American's guide for UK visitors, recently posted an article titled 'Don't drive on "The" 27 — Pu-lease!'. The gist is that here in Central Fla., we don't preface road references with the word "the" like Southern Californians do. (So, for example, someone in LA might call I-5 "the 5" while we call I-4 simply "I-4" — if not some unsavory

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-91872834327688438482007-01-30T21:03:00.000-05:002007-01-30T21:07:03.727-05:00

Spotted over at I Deal With It and Spider's Web: The Blog Cloud.Common source link: Southern Expressions; graphic provider: Snap Shirts

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099595.post-75821467660036938272007-01-29T21:27:00.000-05:002007-01-29T21:30:54.055-05:00

Feeling tired and uninspired, so maybe I'll check in with some memes floating about. First up, courtesy CTOCity:And here, I will disclaim: I was tired and distracted. I may have to go back one day soon and try to improve on that score. (Competitive? Me? GRIN.)

Eric Pattersonhttps://profiles.google.com/108193190564439739833noreply@blogger.com0