So! As you all know, I'm still the actin' chair for the Providence Anime Conference (or PAC) in Providence, RI from Oct. 3-5 of this calendar year. As you may also know, our panel submission form is up. If you are 1) over 21 or will be over 21 on or before October 3, 2008, 2) have the desire to hang out in a crowd of older nerds and weeaboos, 3) like to have an AWESOME TIME, then you should sign up to attend because you might have a reasonably good time in a fancy-pants convention center and a fancy-pants hotel in the erudite city of Providence, home of coffee milk, clam cakes, and neighbor to Pawtucket, city of Hasbro. Now, I ask of you, why should you want to miss out on that? One bit of programming that I can clue you in about is that yours truly plans to host an absolutely ludicrous panel that will show you what wines pair best with what anime. It is going to be one hour of ridiculousness, lush bouquets, and hints of cinnamon and witch hazel with clips of various shows. Ridiculous!!!

Anyhow, because I know you are wondering, "Why, Mara, how can I register and/or then submit a panel request of my very own?" look no further:
http://www.providenceanime.com

Spread the word: PAC is, uh... in the sack? Back in black? On the rack? I don't know...

I am watching Guyver 2 on HBO. David Hayter, you're so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute. This was not as awful a movie as I'd feared.

Also, he has a quality ass.

Also, the Guyver's apartment looks like what I imagine Solid Snake's apartment would look like.

Look, guys! Registration for the Providence Anime Convention, aka PAC, aka the 21+ con, aka the con of which I am vice chair, is open online!
https://registration.providenceanime.com/

$65 for the first 250 who register, $70 for attendees 251-1000, $75 thereafter.

We're going to start posting all kinds of neat goo in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.

http://kotaku.com/365815/mit-celebrates-ssbb-release

Oh, MIT, you do me proud.

I called my dad looking for the number of the accountant we use, and while he was looking for the number for me, I heard him drop a couple f-bombs in the background. It cracks me up. Even though my father's always tried to take care to clean up his language in front of my sister and me, we both still have wicked pottymouths. Hee!

P.S. - I WANNA DOGGIIIEEEEEEEEE

He and his students came up with a neat new chip design that can run on body heat.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/02/efficient_chips

Most importantly, of course, Yogesh (dude on far left in photo) is wearing a vest with the logo that I designed. Yay!

Now that I'm married, I don't have much use for them, but they're fun to look at and have some really great and creative ideas. Anyone want them? I'll send them to ya in one of those flat-rate boxes from the post orifice. Let me know. Otherwise, I'm going to take them to the recycling depot.

Are you ready, kids?
Doo dah doo doo
Now slap your hands!
Spread those wings!
Doo dah doo doo!
Feather your bangs!
Shake your buns!
Thant's nice!
Now think abut your dad!
What's your dad like?
I wanna meet that dad!
DOO DAH DOO DOO!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Now slap your face!
Slap your friend!
Get sexy, kids!
Doo dah doo doo!
Stinks in here!
Smells like meat!
Rotten meat!
Kids, why wold you bring that rotten meat in here of all places?
Kids, you stupid motherfuckers! What the hell's wrong with you kids?

In a move reminiscent of the Great Hives Saga of Summer 2005, I have an all-new case of the shingles on my lower back. Fabulous! Another seven days of antivirals for me and more time working from home. Or not. Fuck this, I'm going back to work anyhow.

We're a happy family
We're a happy family
We're a happy family
ME MOM AND DADDY

Siting here in Queens
Eating refried beans
We're in all the magazines
Gulpin' down thorazines

We ain't got no friends
Our troubles never end
No Christmas cards to send
Daddy likes men

Daddy's telling lies
Baby's eating flies
Mommy's on pills
Baby's got the chills

I'm friends with the President
I'm friends with the Pope
We're all making a fortune
Selling Daddy's dope

Say it ain't so, Big D!
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-getting-out/

Why'd you do it, Heath Ledger? What the hell happened?

edit: And how the hell did I miss Brad Renfro's death last week?!?!?! Man, I had a little crush on him for a while as a younger person. This is awful!

Does anyone remember the vegetarian tacos that they used to serve at Chili's? I don't think they've been on the menu for years, but they were really delicious. What did they have... I remember they had fresh sliced button mushrooms, pico de gallo, sesame seeds, alfalfa sprouts, guacamole, shredded cheese, but I can't remember what else. I don't think they had black beans, pretty sure they also had shredded lettuce, too. They were served in soft flour tortillas. They were really good because it was pretty much just a taco with fresh vegetables. I had hoped the internet would assist me in finding out their componentry, but alas, no such luck. Does anyone remember them?

Is anyone else getting 403 Forbidden errors when trying to access various content on the Den of Angels forum? I am. It only seems to happen in the morning and when I'm at work. If I reload several times or reload after expiring cookies, sometimes I can get in, but then once I'm logged in and trying to view something, I get 403ed again. It's really bizarre. Is this unique to me? Is this happening to you, too? Let's discuss.

I guess I'm not totally over being sick yet. I had a burst of energy this morning, but now it's down to "low power, please recharge." Also, the right side of my stomach is numb. Too bad it's a horrible place for a tattoo because now would be the time to take care of that. Must send an e-mail to my neurologist about this at some point.

Got up, went to Roche Brothers, bought a ton of groceries. Gen, Sarah, and Val are coming over this evening and I had plans to make a grand feast. I prepared the cheese for the fancy cheese ball and the shrimp for shrimp cocktail (with tasty seasoning) and then felt like boiled crap, so I'm taking a break. Going to pare down the scalloped potatoes that I was going to make to garlic-mashed with lemon and thyme in the interests of not keeling over. The creamed spinach will be sauteed w/shallot instead. I need to empty the dishwasher and reload it, but dang back is killing me. After taking a little break, I got the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded, plus I washed a couple of pots that have been in queue for, er, a few days, plus I washed the table, stove, and countertops, plus threw bleach in the toilet. The floors need to be sweeped, but our broom is MIA. I'm taking another break until 3, then I'll start blanching vegetables (green beans, broccoli, gorgeous golden cauliflower, and lovely young carrots) for crudite and make up the dip. I wish Christian didn't have to leave early and come back so late for First Night stuff (he's going to be there representing Anime Boston) because I could've used his help a bit more. ;_; I can do it, though, if I take it easy.

My goal for 2008 is to be tougher. Stronger, better, faster than before.

Aside from a craaazy stomach virus, I also gots the shingles and I have photos to prove it, oh yes I do!

Wikipedia explains it all!

Once again, this convinces me that I am the queen of ailments that won't kill you, but sure are annoying/irritating as all get-go. My immune system so crazy!

Edit: don't make the mistake that I did by looking at the links to pictures of herpes zoster from Wikipedia. It's truly upsetting. If there was a barf emoticon to use, I'd use it. Here, this is the best I can do. :O=============

WARNING: If you haven't had the chicken pox yet, you don't want to get near me for a few weeks while these fuckers are active. You are at risk.

I guess it wasn't the caviar after all. My mother and brother-in-law also got sick yesterday. My niece had already been sick for a couple of days. I've stopped puking/pooping, but my head hurts and my chest feels incredibly tight. Not pleasant. Still, I gotta go shower up and head to work. I live! I still hate food. I want to have some applesauce.

However will this factor into my New Year's plans with Val, Sarah, and Gen??? Do you guys like bread, rice, applesauce, and toast? Har, har.

So far, I have celebrated by throwing up bad caviar.