Yes, tomorrow is a landmark in my life.  45 years ago from tomorrow, my mom was white knuckling some unfortunate nurse's or doctor's hand while she gave birth.  To me.  

Do me a favor.  If you are on Facebook and happen to be my Facebook friend, you can wish me a happy birthday if you like, but you don't have to.  In fact I prefer that instead, the next time you see me at a game convention, we have a nice chat or play a game or have a beer together or whatever.  Wishing me a Happy Birthday just puts too much damn pressure on me tomorrow. 

My wife's last day at her job of fifteen years was Friday.  Last week, while she was hugging every person she has ever worked with or for, she fretted about what to get me for my birthday.  I half-heartedly suggested we go to Citi-Field and watch a Mets game.  She said, "yeah, let's do that.  It is your birthday after all."  For days, I worried about how she would be, where we should sit, etc.  What if she freaked out because of the crowds?  She hates crowds.  Where should we sit?  I don't want her (or me) to get hit by a foul ball.  Well, we could sit in the outfield; at least we wouldn't have to worry about a Met hitting a home run...wait, I digress...

After all that worrying, I finally told Lin my partner of 21 years and wife of 18 she REALLY didn't have to get me anything.  Whe had enough on her plate lately worrying about her job prospects, our cat's 5,000 paw procedure, my student loan, blah blah blah.  We decided to froego presents this year until Christmas.  Honestly, her company is gift enough.
 
I share a birthday with another Fat: tie tomorrow.  I know he and his wife have been through a lot last year.  I think about those two a lot.  Have good days, Al.  And Shellie Rose.  Not just tomorrow.  And if you happen to have a shitty day tomorrow, feel free to make it up the next day. I can't speak for Engineer Al, but for me, I don't want the added pressure of "having a good day" tomorrw when I have to go to work tomorrow anyways.  A gift of no pressure to have a good day is present enough.

I try VERY hard not to talk politics.  However, when someone shoves an opinion in my face, I'm hard pressed not to say something.

The other day, I was working an assembly line, and a very polished older Asian lady told me she wanted to show me a picture on her Iphone.  I figured it was a picture of her kid or something, so I said OK.  Besides, our line had stopped working (a rather common occurrence in our line of work at the USPS.)

The lady clerk (we'll call her Judy for the sake of the rest of the story) shows me a picture of her at an anti-gay marriage rally.  I bristle, and try to drop the subject.  I mean, am I REALLY going to change THIS lady's mind?  Judy continues to press me, and I finally relent.

"If I was a kid, all I would want is for my parents to love me unconditionally no matter what.  Who better to understand why not to judge a child than someone who has been judged before as two gay people in love have been."

Judy goes straight into the "if gay marriage is allowed, then what would stop pedophilia and bestiality" argument.  Right there, I knew my words would not reach her, because of the inane nature of that argument.  Slippery slope, one thing has nothing to do with the other.

THEN Judy hits home:  "the only reason for marriage is to have children.  if gay marriage is allowed, where will the children come from?"  HOLY CRAP.

My reply was: 1)  Aren't there too many abandoned and neglected children in the world of heterosexual parents already?  and 2)  My wife and I have been married for 18 years and together since 1992.  SInce we have not had children, has all our time together been for nothing?  Judy stops in her tracks and shuts up immediately.

I have had blinders and earplugs on for too long I think.  My philosophy is to live and let live, and to try and allow people to have their own beliefs.  I actually feel bad that in the name of "live and let live" and the policy of "don't talk about politics in the workplace" have I kept silent about the issue.    AT that moment I was ashamed for people, but proud that my wife and I have found our own path and lived our lives to the fullest without butting into people's business since we met in 1992.

Yes, yet one more spoiler type thread.  The effects were fantastic, some of the scenes will be etched in my memory for a long time.  However, there is one thing NO ONE has mentioned as of yet.  Do NOT watch this movie IF  (and I'll leave some space for those who REALLY don't want to be warned):

Gratuitous breast cleavage and naked Scottish bums in a Disney movie! IN 3-D!

BEHOLD the GOLDEN TURD. Considered crap by most gamers. It is golden to one.

A gloden turd is a game that is very highly regarded by one person playing. This is amplified by  the negative reactions the other players at the table have towards the game. True golden turds (or GTs) have a few things going for them: 1) The fan of the GT has over the top love for it. 2) Other players of the GT do so just because of the fan's passion for the game. It is fun for a while, but can turn ugly if the game runs too long. 3) Over time, players work to end the game. 4) Typically the GT fan wins, but no one really keeps score. I have only seen this phenomena possibly once before Trashfest South. American Megafauna isn't so much a horrible game, but Dan Raspler loves the game so much, he is known to some as "Megafauna Dan". He can play for hours at a time solo, and does so with impassioned expressions and reactions much like Jeff Corwin. The TRUE Golden Turd?