.: Randomness :.

[Ben Lahnger]

Hey E_E, that's the first time I've been welcomed back by a Manta Ray! That is just so wonderfully right! :-D

Thank you Sanctus and WolfMoon! It's good to be back!

The trip was thrilling, enlightening, moving, inspiring, humbling and taxing (12 flights in 18 days!) I am the local freaking expert on airplane passenger safety proceedures. BTW, the flight back from Amsterdam to Chicago (#10) had the roughest landing ... WHOOOMP! ... Must have some damn good tires on them there 747's. But the airline (KLM) was exemplary in it's service and attitude.

And the last flight (#12 of 12) from Minneapolis to Houston was the trouble flight. While I waited out my 4 hour layover in Minneapolis, two other flights got cancelled. My flight was a reschedule because my original layover location (Memphis) had an ice storm. I heard the intercom reports to the passengers of another outgoing Continental flight detail the following problems:

Announcement #1 - "for the passengers waiting for flight # ???? headed to Cleaveland, well, we're going to be delayed just a bit longer while our technicians back the plane up a bit on the tarmac and go through a runup. After that checks out, we'll bring the plane back in and get you on your way as soon as possible."

Announcement #2 - "Well, ladies and gentlemen, the plane has checked out okay, but we are unable to bring the plane back up to the jetway. So we are going to have our passengers walk out on the tarmac to board the plane. I hope you all have your winter coats with you as it's minus 13 below out there."

Announcement #3 - "Well, we're going to commence boarding very shortly. We just wanted to take a moment to inform you that we will not be pressurizing the cabin on this flight. Our flight plan has been adjusted to accomodate this so we will be flying at 9000 feet for the entire trip. Again, we will begin boarding shortly."

Now, I don't know about you, but at this point I would have been asking to be scheduled for another flight!

Then I heard that one of the jetways was broken. And when I got on my flight, it was like somebody put together all the bad kids from school into one plane, and they wouldn't behave. The poor flight attendant kept trying to read the safety instructions, but everyone kept talking and gesturing. I was half expecting spitwads to go flying. After several false starts, the attendant just read the insructions without regard to whether anyone was listening any more. Poor thing, I though she was gonna scream!

OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS:

One week ago I was enjoying dinner in a exotic restaurant looking out over a bay filled with waves crashing on volcanic rocks on the coastline of a tropical Spanish island, and today I am cashing my tax return check so I can get my stuff back out of the pawn shop. Life is like that. I'm not complaining ... just appreciating the irony.

I have not been employed since September. I was reading through all the randomness I missed while I was away, and I noticed a lot of comments about being at jobs that suck. I have felt the same way, so I am not complaining that you shouldn't bitch about the job you have if you feel it sucks. I just want you to know how badly I want a job to hate.

I moved to Texas 7 years ago and swore I would never shovel the snow out of another driveway for the rest of my days. Well, I lied. When we got back from overseas, and I spent a few days in Milwaukee staying at my Dad's house, it snowed in Wisconsin (as other folks here have detailed.) So I shoveled the driveway. Well, I wasn't going to leave it for my 72 year old Father to do!

It was the trip of a lifetime. It was good to see my Mom and Dad ... especially since time is marching on too fast these days. I will write more about the trip soon, but I want to close with this thought. I have a new philosophy of life:

Never Look A Gift Camel In The Ass!

[Ben Lahnger]

eyesofatragedy and Metatron, thank you! It's always good to hear one is missed and appreciated.

[Ben Lahnger]

I'm a little late to this party, but here's my virtual pet anyway:

[Ben Lahnger]

Yes it did ... nyah nyah!

(only after some fast editing ... whew!)

[Ben Lahnger]

Xng, I heart the new avatar!

[Ben Lahnger]

Well, I already knew that ... but you are always a cute and sexy babe!

[Ben Lahnger]

I definitely missed you, Xng. Any woman who can withstand the cold harshness that is winter in Wisconsin, and still look as hawt as you do holds a special place in my heart.

[Ben Lahnger]

I used to be able to run my debit card in the hole as much as $200. Of course, each debit that pushed the account into the negative resulted in a $30 overdraft fee. It only worked that way because I had direct deposit. I mismanaged that account very badly and they got a lot of fees out of me. I have a friend whose debit account allows her to overdraw the account by up to $500. Now that really is scary!

Not that I want you out it the cold a lot, but I bet your nose looks cute even when it's red ... maybe more so! :-D

[Ben Lahnger]

Okay, I gotta go cash that check. See ya all later.

After careful consideration I now fully believe that Chili Cheese Fritos are, in fact, a nectar of the Gods.

Eyes is sleepy.

Hence why Eyes is talking in the third person.

Eyes talks in the third person when sleepy.

Eyes needs a nap.

[Metatron]

Aw, you're so adorable!

[Metatron]

You're adorable too! And cute!

[Metatron]

Well, I do believe you are the first in the forum to hit "Peter Murphy" as a status, so you're pretty damn awesome in my eyes.

Actually Xng, I find you very cute. You have this smile that really lights up the room.

Me, I get cute a lot. Not that I don't appreciate but aside from ya'll I hardly ever hear the sexy or beautiful remarks.

You guys are the best.

*Hugs

[Tall One In Black]

I can't do cute either. Cute is for normal-sized or petite women. I can do silly, though.

In talking about Liv Tyler recently, my boyfriend made a comment about "how big she is." I wasn't sure how to take that since Liv is almost exactly the same size I am - height and weight. I like to think that the guy has just been around me so much that he's become immune to my size.

Yes - for example a man might say: "Damn that's a big bitch!"

If that's not complimentary I don't know what is

[Metatron]

Damn, Manimal's a big bitch!

After seeing that I keep thinking of Rob Snieder....

"That's a huge bitch!"

[Tall One In Black]

Originally Posted by Xnguela

When men say "big" it means something different from when women say it. And it's complimentary.

Elaborate?

It's probably complimentary because the only time a man would dare associate the word "big" with a physical attribute in her presence is if he's talking about her "big" tits. Unless of course her tits are obviously not big in which case it would not be considered complimantary.

As a man I am stupid. Because I am stupid I am incapable of noting the subtle nuances of when a dangerous word such as "big" is ok to use when discribing a woman's physical appearance. As such I avoid the word in its entirety and I encourage all men to do the same.

[Tall One In Black]

Originally Posted by Xnguela

With men, when is big NOT good? Seriously. Think about it. If a man says big, you know he's internalizing big=good.

I don't think men like big feet. Unless they're foot fetishists, of course. I'm pretty sure they don't like big hands ("man hands"). I doubt they like big noses. I think men like long legs, but not big legs, be it thunder thighs or heavily muscled biker's calves.

I'm really not seeing the big=good connection when it comes to men's opinions of women.

[edible_eye]

my wife's 5' 10". she's thin but she's a "big" girl.

i dig 'em big.

[edible_eye]

and let's face it - that's hot.

NOT WORK SAFE AND NOT FOR LITTLE ONES!

Turn your speaker on so you can hear it... there is more to the song. If you like the sampler, feel free to PM me so that I can get you the full version. Enjoy!


John Valby - If Only I Had A Dame Sampler