You see this button? Click it whenever you want to show appreciation for my random prattlings (usually about nothing...hey, somebody's gotta cover it since Jerry Seinfeld doesn't have his own show anymore) or just have a few cents/bucks to blow.

Also, if you have five-ten seconds to spare, please head over to my sister blog and/or Dieci: The Ron Francis Project, and click on all of the pretty ads scattered around those places.

OR, whenever you have the time and/or money, please check out the goodies being offered at my Boutique of Madness...which is promoting my sister blog, which essentially has the same stuff you read here. :D

Served.

Well, I wouldn't call what the state of my posting here is getting ready to be a "hiatus"...more like it will be somewhat defunct, other than the occasional prattling about something important happening in my life.

Fear not, though, I will be keeping this account to view and respond to my friends' LJs AND for the sake of my Friends List in general, since I find that to be a fantastic source of news about my interests and hobbies AND weird and/or funny facts, trivia, and/or info for my ever-growing mind.

My reason for this revelation is simple: Maintaining two journals/blogs/whatever about practically the same stuff is a pain. ESPECIALLY when one blog, specifically my Blogspot one in this instance, is read by a whole lot more people than this here place. Also, I find myself liking Blogspot more for not being as limited with designs and all, being able to manually save drafts of your posts, and not having a limit on the links you can feature beside of your blog posts. Not to mention that Blogspot doesn't make you pay a $30 fee to keep the design to your liking...at least not yet, anyway.

So that said, I cannot stress enough how much I want for some, if not most of you on my Friends list to please, PLEASE add this feed to your Friends List.  Not only will you be able to keep up with what's going on with me in general, but you will also get my takes on all that's Canes, Penguins, hockey, geekdom, etcetera. And I know there's quite a few of you who have missed my Canes posts here...it's all there people, trust me.

See ya at my Spot...and here too whenever I make my Friends List rounds.

But I've been quite busy lately...

Thursday and Friday: Got my hair done at the salon and did a special Clinique spa and makeover at the nearby mall, respectively.

Saturday: Had a Subway lunch that could not be beat and did some hiking over at Pipestem State Park.

Sunday: Did some cleaning tasks that were much needed to be done.

Tuesday: Took my dog and cat to the vet and then did my weightbearing exercise for the week, thanks to Mountaineer Lanes' 99 cent rate every Tuesday. Also installed my new stereo...more on that when I get a chance to write about more.

Today: Helped my mom out with Curves' Bring A Friend day, and got to take in the Curves experience. I actually enjoyed it...but at thirty dollars a month (not including the sign-up fee!!), I think my stationary bike, walking/hiking, and bowling are sufficient enough. Also did some grocery shopping.

This weekend: Got company coming, and have to get ready for them...also get to look forward to playing bartender.

On the Canes fandom front...I got to see a little bit of Coach Laviolette trying his mouth at being an analyst in the VS. studio tonight. I was lucky enough to view the time of the night when he was feeling more comfortable and confident...according to some Score Boarders, he started out being a bit nervous. Overall, he was doing a great job for his first time...though, it was a little odd seeing Lavs singing the praises of the Sluggies... o_O Of course, guess it's kind of hard to not do that, considering how they wiped the Rangers tonight...

As not only someone who hates seeing stuff like this happen, but also someone not real far from Blacksburg...Oh. My. God.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the victims and their familes, AND all of the students and teachers at VPI. Cannot say enough what a heinous and gruesome tragedy this is...and how horrible that it had to happen in a nice town and region.

I read at either an UNC or Virginia Tech MB (been board hopping all over about this situation) that the rumor is that the gunman was hunting down an ex-girlfriend, and he got a lot of the dorm girls to line up, execution style, and tortured/taunted and shot them. Whether or not that is true, Hell is simply not good enough for that bastard.

*imitates a certain Shakespearian actor wannabe brought to you by Starburst*

Japanese food! Japanese food! I'm a crazy geek who loves Japanese food!

JAPANESE FOOD! JAPANESE FOOD! I'M A CRAZY GEEK WHO LOVES JAPANESE FOOD!!!*

THAT, my friends, totally sums up how I feel after a meal at Kimono. Yes, I got to eat at Kimono tonight, and it RAWKED my socks.

It was so freakin' good that I'm left thinking "Kanki? What Kanki?". Really and seriously...Kimono was not just better than Kanki, it completely obliterated it. Just let me name thy ways it did/does so...

- They offer HOT GREEN TEA. Yes, HOT GREEN TEA. The closest thing to tea Kanki ever offered, at least when my family and I were frequenters there, was the standard fare iced tea.

- Kimono's menu's variety is phenomenal...from the top of my head, the meats are: Steak (which looked to be Ribeye), Filet Mignon, Chicken, Shrimp, Scallops, and Salmon. Yes, SALMON. I know Kanki never had Salmon (just the boring trinity of steak, chicken, and shrimp), and I cannot recall Teppenyaki and Benihana in Orlando, FL ever having Salmon. As a matter of fact, one of those places is the only other Japanese eatery I know of that serves/ed Scallops.
 
In addition to the meat, you can not only get it prepared in the standard tempura and hibachi styles, but also teriyaki (done on the hibachi)!!

- The food is just SO. FREAKIN'. MUCH. BETTER. THAN. KANKI. PERIOD. As I was eating my more-than-just-scrumptious Filet Mignon, Scallops, and Fried Rice (along with two shrimp, courtesy of the chef being generous), it dawned on me that the said food is not as "greasy" like Kanki's now seemed to be. One thing I noticed is that they don't used globs upon globs of butter at Kimono like they do/did at Kanki...leading me to believe that just because it may be up Paula Deen's alley doesn't mean it will actually make for better food.

So overall...I think I am in love with Kimono, to the point that it just might be my most favorite restaurant in the Bluefield/Princeton area, even more-so than Macado's. It far surpassed my expectations. And who da thunk that little old Princeton, WV would get such a dynamite restaurant?! Incredible.

You know that saying about the best things in life are free? Well, for those of you who make gaming practically their life, it don't get better than free online RPGs...such as Adventure Quest and DragonFable. I'll probably end up paying the $20 fee somewhere down the road (I already like the AQ game enough that I am willing to do that), but for now, I find the free portion fine...I'm up to Level 20 and STILL have a ways to go to be battle-ready and off on the missions they provide. I love a challenge...

* - Thank goodness everything cannot be put into four syllables...advertising/marketing is already going to hell enough as it is. o_O    

May you get plenty of chocolate and sunshine*!! Whoo-hoo!! :D

Oh, and let's not forget bunnies...lots and lots and lots of them. Afterall, what is Bunny Day without bunnies? 

* - Downright lucky to have sunshine today here in beautiful downtown VA/WV. It's been snowing here a good chunk of this weekend! o_O

Edit as of 9:50 PM: And as the holiday winds down...a little something for those of you who aren't chocolate aficionados.

I hate when I go through a phrase of not feeling like writing much...especially when I've been in a good mood for the most part lately. Oh well...maybe this will get my fingers a'tappin' on the keys again...

- I got to eat at THE MOST AWESOME PLACE this past Saturday...The Log House in Wytheville, VA. It reminded me a lot of a restaurant outside of Chapel Hill, NC called The Farmhouse. BUT, I think The Log House is better. As much as I liked The Farmhouse and their steak and cheese spread and crackers, The Log House MURDERS them on the variety/menu front. In addition to the usual steak, seafood, salads, and desserts, The Log House menu features sandwiches, Italian, and Southwestern dishes. As a matter of fact, I had the Black Bean Quesadillas for lunch...and they were FANTASTIC. The quesadillas were as tightly wrapped as could be in the tortillas, with a nice amount of hot and spicy in the flavor. And not to mention how I had the best damn Kentucky Derby Pie that I've ever had for dessert, along with a great cup of coffee.

Another way that The Log House KILLS The Farmhouse is that TLH has a really nifty gift shop, which is located in the back of the building, where there is a garden. There, I found and got three neat Greco-Roman column decorations...which go nicely with a Tuscan wine bottle nightlight I got from a friend of my mom's not too long ago.

- Speaking of eateries...someone or something has finally answered my silent cries of "A Japanese Restaurant...MY KINGDOM FOR A JAPANESE RESTAURANT!!". Not too long ago, such an establishment called "Kimono" opened up in nearby Princeton, WV. And much to my further delight, Kimono is a hibachi restaurant JUST LIKE KANKI (in Raleigh, for you non-NCers)!! I'll so need to try Kimono ASAP...most likely on a weeknight, since I heard that the waits during the weekends can be up to four hours long!! O_O

If Kimono somehow ends up not being good, something I highly doubt with those four hour waits, there's another option in Fujiyama in Beckley, about thirty to forty-five minutes away.

- Between Wild Hogs somehow doing so well at the movies to the concept of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? actually being allowed on television, I highly fear for the state of good taste in this world.

While I'm at it...the marketing geek in moi cannot help but also bring up...

The Burger King "Spongebob No-Pants" Ad - Who the HELL greenlighted this idea?! I honestly don't know what kills me more...the highly squicksome ad itself, or the fact that it's actually being shown during children's shows and such!! That said, believe it or not, I am not a prude...but at the same time, I just don't think a man's bubbly neither regions would make anyone crave chicken tenders. Then again, what do I know since I am not one of Madison Avenue's finest...

The Checkers/Rallys "Rap Cat" - OK...I'll admit that I chuckled at this the first time I ever saw it during the Canes @ Tampa Bay game on TV not long ago. But after further delving, I can understand why one or two posters at Television Without Pity are ripping on the Cat. Bags for your cat to wear* AND the stuffed karaoke performer getting ITS OWN MUSIC VIDEO (AND POSSIBLY ALBUM TOO)?! And I thought the BK King getting his own X-Box 360 video games was going a bit far... o_O

- Last, but certainly not least...I've gotten an IMVU account. This will be the closest I'll ever come to having something similar to MySpace. What drew me to IMVU is the fact that the chat software acts a lot like a RPG video game...right down to creating your own characters and giving them their own weapons and powers AND their own lair of sorts.

Here's my character/avatar's page...feel free to add me back as a Buddy if you have an IMVU account or decide you want one.

* - For that video's commentors' information...it's not about people not having a sense of humor about "Rap Cat", it's the fact that dressing cats in fast food doggy bags to look like a pathetic gimmick *is* a stupid idea. Get over yourselves.

And no doubt that they don't use anti-bacterial Kleenex too...

AWWWWWWW!!

Frasier and Niles Crane *must* be on the Vienna city council...

I could see this being the plot for an episode of a Britcom of some kind...

I honestly would not be surprised at this not being the first time such a thing has happened.

If only there was a way that "SHE SAID YES!!" could have been projected...

I'm surprised that this does not happen more often throughout Europe... 

I'm very glad to know that it was ducks that were hatched and not boiling hot ectoplasm... 

Looks like Thurston Howell III is not quite alone in his infamous bedtime habit.

Of course there are no pictures accompanying this article!! Also, I wonder if he is wanting the money to take a little trip to Scotty's birthplace...

Oh? And, apart from being only affordable by those who make a ridiculous amount of money, how are these shoes any different from other alligator/snake leather products?!

Personally, I think the sheep took a day trip to a Serta Mattress store...

So...it's alright to say the word in the play's title, BUT NOT IN THE PLAY ITSELF?! Okaaaaay... That's like saying you cannot return sand to the beach...oh, wait. 

Some people have watched WAY TOO MUCH Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Talk about having no respect for the dead...  

There *had* to be a rock or something uber-hard in that "snowball"...

This is just as bad as those "drive-thru" Easter plays you sometimes hear/read about...to quote Jay Leno, JUST HOW LAZY are we getting anyway? 

Those kids probably don't realize that they are taking part in a piece of history...

Those "prominent bottoms" no doubt came from eating so much roast duck and mango salsa... 

Well, OF COURSE there is gonna be some confusion when you mess with people's heads about what they are paying for milk!! Geez, gas prices are bad enough already...

Who knew school lunch could actually be so freakin' delicious?! Can we be jealous of these kids?  

May the luck of the Irish be with you lads and laddies, the Canes, the Heels, your Bracketvilles, and/or regarding how many Irish Car Bombs you can down. ;)

- First off, why I've been busy the last week or so...I am getting back into bowling. :) As I mentioned in my Wii Bowling posts, I used to bowl quite regularly and did anywhere from one to two leagues until about four years ago. Why I quit, I really don't know thinking back on it, and I am now finally realizing what a mistake that has been with my *really* having to get back into some kind of semi-frequent exercise routine.
 
I first bowled after four years this past Thursday, where my very first game back was a 203. O_O Don't know how I did that, 'cause my approach was crap from having to reteach it to myself, and my arm *almost* forgot how a 14 lb. ball feels. Bowled again today, and while I didn't fetch any scores worth mentioning, I do feel like I am pretty darn close to getting my approach back...which is not bad, considering that I made my right leg hurt from standing up too straight in my approach during some warm-up frames. Just got to work on my ball release...particularly trying to recall the one that worked best for me in my 165-75 average days.

I'm also in process of getting a couple of new pieces of equipment...amazingly, not balls. My bowling balls, a Brunswick Fuze Detonator and Track Voodoo to be precise, are actually in pretty dang good shape, save the usual scratches. This past Thursday, it dawned on me that I needed a new roller bag (particularly with something allowing you to stand it up and therefore keep out of the way...that something being broken on my old bag) and shoes. Well, thanks to the wonders of eBay and Bowling.com, my new bag and shoes are to arrive later this week. And yes, my new bag is in (classic) Penguins/Steelers colors and my shoes Tar Heels colors somewhat (the metallic blue anyway...with the dark blue leaning towards the Maple Leafs...shhh, don't mention that D word here ;) ).

- Speaking of the Pens, can we have three cheers, a tiger, and a HELL YEAH for their staying in Pittsburgh?! While I'm a Canes fan at heart, I can't help but also have a place for the Penguins, easily my second most favorite NHL team, and they have been such for quite sometime. That said, I'm just freakin' glad that the 'Guins are staying in Steeltown...really could not imagine them in Kansas City, or anywhere else for that matter.        

Best friends for 20 years, eh? Hmmmmmm...

Can't be any worst than certain kinds of dog food available now.

*does her best Ernest from a certain scene in Ernest Goes To Camp* Ewwwwwwwwwww...

Here's one from the "Only In America" files...

Hey, if a gorilla can drink beer, then why not a duck too?*

Hopefully, they won't all sound like Mr. Feeney...

*hums Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast"

I cannot help but feel that women were the reason men had signed up and attended...

I hope Gary Bettman doesn't glean any ideas from this...

Just like Wikipedia edits, YouTube videos *really* aren't news...

No, he didn't know he was riding on the Marrakech Express...

"Rugged Island" sure sounds a lot better than "Craggy Island".

They weren't just drunk...they were MIND-BLAZINGLY DRUNK.

Sounds like a typical job by the BBC's House Invaders to me...they certainly have an appropriate name, anyway.

We just keep getting closer and closer to the age of Robocop, Terminator, etcetera...

Well, gee...could it be because they're *gasps* just kids?! What a concept!!**

Whether it contains alcohol or not, what the heck is Marmite? The foodie/gourmet-aholic in me admits to be ashamed of not knowing that...

Why didn't he just name his daughter Mercedes?

* - IIRC, it was something like 20 cans a day for the big guy... o_O

** - Really, the "little adults" mentality so many parents and teachers take with single digit aged kids now is rather appalling...IMnot-soHO.

A Happy Day to the Canes' own Director of Player Development. Too bad the Canes could not land a win against the Senators for an early gift. Because of that, I may or may not comment on the Canes' last two games in what has become, for the most part, my hockey blog.

It just so happens that the new home for my Francis collection site makes its grand debut today...whenever you get the chance, check out www.vivadieci.net. missfantastic.com is officially no more, thanks to being given the golden opportunity to leave Yahoo! for Network Solutions, AND a much better e-mail and website account.

Actually, I already knew that the lead singer of Iron Maiden is also an airline pilot. Yes, really, I did...reason number umpity-ump you don't want to face me at Trivial Pursuit.  

Ah...the power of cheese?

And is he somehow any relation to George Carlin?  

Bet they'd leave him alone if he possessed the ability to have his skull be aflame...

Could it be that his singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" all the bleeping time was what got him banned INSTEAD of his Mariah Carey fandom?  

Does that mean their anthem will be "Eye of the Tiger"?
 
For those completely tired of watching paint dry...now, you can watch cheese age! Whoo-hoo!!

Further proof that we are getting too "PC" for our own good...and even more.

I hope those at Television Without Pity who get annoyed with the gift-wrapped car ads (Lexus *really* coming to mind.) don't get wind of this.

I was wondering when Sir Bo of Rat would make the headlines again...

It should be illegal to make a kid do that much homework. Seriously. 

It's a mine...of PURE. GREEN!! (But seriously...what were they THINKING?!)*

Lends new meaning to the title of a certain Captain Beefheart album...**

Mmmmmmm...pizza.

Sometimes, the best news is what you seriously can't make up...or predict.

This reminds me of the Frasier episode where Frasier's dad, Martin, got forty extra bucks in addition to his $20 withdrawal from a teller machine... and that somehow evolved into an extra $10,000.

Uh...I thought the point of a "bed-in" was to be in bed all of the time until the protested event ended.   

Um...Hollywood has never been *that* accurate. I mean, seriously, did anybody really think Cleopatra and Marc Antony bore an uncanny resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton?! Not to mention Julius Caesar looking an awful lot like Rex Harrison!! Gimme a break!     

Y'know, "I did it 'cause I was drunk." could explain a lot of things...

* - Reference to my most favorite episode from the Elizabethan Era season of Blackadder.

** - Lick My Decals, for the Rock and Roll ignorant amongst any of you. ;P

Eden McCain You scored 37 Idealism, 66 Nonconformity, 33 Nerdiness

I think you really want a donut.Congratulations, you're Eden McCain! You've got a colorful past, and your persuasive abilities are second to none. In addition, you're a quick thinker with a solid amount of guts. Your best quality: The art of persuasion Your worst quality: A fondness for some stereotypically "bad" behavior

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Idealism You scored higher than 99% on Nonconformity You scored higher than 99% on Nerdiness

Link: The Heroes Personality Test written by freedomdegrees on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

*does her best L.L. Cool J* I'M BAD!!!

I'm a little amazed that my nerdiness wasn't any higher...but based on bumbletbw's results, that means I might have turned out to be Sylar. Eeeeeeep... O_O

A fair warning in advance to my male readers: The following is probably more of a ladies' kind of thing...but if you wanna chime in, it's all good.

After cruising around various Heroes forums and communities, I cannot help but ponder...

Am I the only one who does not find Sylar "hot"?

For those of you who do not watch Heroes, click here.

Apparently, the thug look is what *really* appeals to quite a few women (presumably). Yes, I think Sylar looks like a thug, as he should, considering he's a SADISTIC villain...that capitalized word being another turn-off, among other things.

As for real life, even out of character, I don't think Zachary Quinto is all that and a bag of chips...but, to quoteth Dennis Miller, that's just my opinion.

On that note, an almost belated Happy Valentine's Day. :D 

NORTH CAROLINA - 79
DOOK - 73

*does the Meposian Dance of Joy*

After thinking WAY TOO MUCH about the infamous Aqua Teen Hunger Force "bomb scare" this morning AND reading the various Adult Swim communities about it, I decided to share my two cents about the matter.

For those of you who have somehow not heard about the now infamous incident: Click here first.

And for those of you too lazy to click on the link: Someone in Boston found an electronic "device" that looked like Err, a literally 8-bit character from ATHF, giving the finger. Turns out that such "devices" were scattered all over the city AND nine other cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland (OR), Austin (TX), San Francisco, and Philadelphia) AND are as harmless as your pinky AND were a mere guerilla marketing ploy by Turner/Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Williams Street to get people to see their (more than likely horrible) ATHF movie coming to theatres in March. Two of the people hired by Turner to put out said "devices" have been arrested and are being held on bond.

Now for my two cents...and I warn you now that you are more than likely going to have to brace yourself...

While I do think they are going a bit far in arresting the people merely hired by Turner/Cartoon Network...for sure, I could not be the only one to have had the brains to see the "bomb scare" coming from a mile away.

Think about it, something a lot of people in the Adult Swim groups I read need to do: You place a lot of random electronics throughout a city, and NOT expect a bomb scare of some proportion whenever they're discovered, be it immediately OR two-three weeks like this instance? I'm sorry, but THAT is dumb, especially in this day and age.

Don't get me wrong, I was AND still am one of those who found the bomb scare involving the homage to the Super Mario Bros. question blocks a few years ago stupid. But, those boxes did not have anything involving electronics. They were just cardboard and holographic paper in most instances.

Now, to make something clear: Yes, I do think Boston and the government are overreacting. BUT, at the same time, I really am not at all surprised by the turn of events AND think that Turner/CN should have known better.

So, in the end, I don't know what scares me more: The fact that I seem to be the only one of the opinion that Turner/Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Williams Street did not think about every aspect of their campaign to realize that it *could* have been perceived the wrong way. OR, the fact that Aqua Teen Hunger Force has sucked since the folks at Williams Street decided to get rid of the Dr. Weird intros, and apparently, it has not dawned upon Turner/CN/AS/WS that they *really* need to quit beating what is getting to be a dead horse. But, because of this mess, you watch the movie that was(still is) being promoted become #1 at the box office when it's released. Afterall, as that saying goes..."There's no such thing as bad publicity."

* - If you don't get the title, it comes from a series of billboards advertising Cartoon Network that said "I Pooted." and "I Have A Meat Beard.", and were up over last summer in at least Greensboro, Atlanta, and Rhode Island. After seeing pictures of them in a couple of LJ communities and the UNC Tar Heels board I occasionally read, I finally saw the Greensboro one in person passing through on I-40 when going down for my great aunt's funeral.