R.I.P.

May 15, 2006 - Jan 29, 2008

A Storm Is Brewing

I will be closing A Daily Dose Of... shortly, and killing off Pezda. I have a plan for something completely different, and if I can pull it off, should be pretty cool. However, I've been spending alot less time with the computer lately (is it obvious?) and my new incarnation will likely be fairly time consuming. So perhaps you are stuck with me for a while yet.

You see, I'm not a very good writer. I have ideas for posts all the time, but they are usually just jumbled fragments by the time I get to the computer. So, I am attempting to eliminate the writing aspect of blogging. "How's that?" you ask. Wait and see, wait and see.

As I See It

By now you’ve heard. Heath Ledger is dead. I’m neither a big fan of his nor am I a detractor. I have enjoyed some of his work, and I was really looking forward to seeing him as the Joker. However, I’m not really writing this post about Mr. Ledger, sad though his demise may be.

No, I am writing because I am absolutely dismayed at the alacrity with which his death was brought to our attention. [Wife #1] received a news update from CNN before she left work at 5 pm. His body was discovered shortly after 3 pm. In less than two hours from the time his body was found naked on the floor to global news. Think on this a moment.

House maid sees the body and starts screaming. Runs out of the suite still screaming. Paramedics and police are called. Less than ten minutes later the ambulance arrives, police on their heels. The police do a quick survey of the scene; the body is placed on a gurney and taken to the ambulance, where the paparazzi are waiting! Facts are checked, story sent.

Did you know that Iraq was recently attacked by Turkey, or that life was found on Mars? How about that we are on the verge of an enormous recession? Or that President Bush is an imbecile? OK, most of you knew the last one, but my point is that there are serious issues which are underreported or simply ignored, while news like this is stuffed down our gullets.

Quotes From the 5 Year Old

"Santa must be nocturnal."

and a brief conversation I had with him that went something like this,

[Son #1] - "What's one less than infinity?"

Me - "Um, infinity minus one." I ventured

[Son #1] - "How many zeros does that have?"

Me - Rubbing my eyes "<sigh>"

Any advice on how to answer this in such a way that a 5 year old (albeit a precocious one) would understand?

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me. One year ago today I had my colon removed. The operation is known as an Ileoanal Pouch Procedure (details below). My procedure lasted for 7+ hours, I was unconscious for nearly 10 hours. I woke briefly in the post op recovery room to my wife (I think my mother was there too) telling me they didn't find any cancer , the best possible news.


The only time I used the morphine drip they gave me was during the worst night of my life. Not the night of my surgery, but the following night. The pain and pressure in my abdomen was intense. My new plumbing wasn't functioning yet and there was a gas buildup that had me feeling like the Hindenburg. Then I started to hiccough.

Oh sweet baby Jebus. I hiccoughed on and off (mostly on) for 14 hours.


This is how I felt. I have seriously never been so miserable. I hiccoughed so much I ruptured a stitch or something and bled all over the bed. I finally started passing gas and the hiccoughs stopped. I was a long time recovering (though pretty quick compared to others who've gone through this). Luckily my surgery was done laparoscopicaly, which means a few small scars instead of a sternum to pubis scar. I'm still not sure how they remove a colon using a minimally invasive technique, but I'm happy with the results.

The following (and the picture above) was taken from the Johns Hopkins site:

The restorative proctocolectomy (Ileoanal Pouch Procedure) involves removal of the entire colon and most of or the entire rectum. The end of the small intestine (ileum) is attached to the very distal rectum with the creation of an ileal pouch. With this operation, either a small portion of rectal mucosa can be left intact or the remainder of the rectal lining can be stripped. In this way, continence can be maintained and yet all or nearly all of the at-risk large intestinal lining can be removed. The ileal pouch provides a reservoir for fecal storage. Typically, the operation is performed in two stages. In the first stage a temporary ileostomy is created. After a period of time the ileostomy is removed to direct the intestinal stream during the healing of the ileoanal pouch. Alternatively some medical centers favor a single-stage procedure where no temporary ileostomy is used.

I did have the two stage procedure up at the Cleveland Clinic, and with the exception of some dietary limitations, am doing great.

Everywhere A Pezda

How can so many people look like me? And yet none really do. Four separate pics of me and not a single celeb crossed over tween them.

I've been away from my computer for a while, so I missed this before, but thanks to Evil Genius I'm almost caught up. Speaking of EG, I took the liberty of running a few more pics of him...

MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">
MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">
MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">
MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">
MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">

MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">

Edith Stein! HA! Now that's funny.

Chicago Fun

Whew, what a trip it was! As you know by now many of your favorite bloggers got together in Chicago for a fun, and memorable night. I was afraid, at first, that my condition would prohibit my going, but I decided to chance it. I was running late (as usual) and was the last to show. Things were a little chaotic at first, what with Bubs shooting at me, and Grant hiding under the table shrieking, but Evil Genius was able to calm things down and assured everyone that I was no threat (provided no sudden moves were made). My colloquial contributions were non -existent, so I had to be content with glowering at people and occasionally smashing flatware to make a point. All in all a grand time was had by all. You can read accounts of the evening here and here. Oh, and the next blogger get together really should be during the day.

161 Years Ago Today

On this day in 1846 German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle discovered the planet Neptune at the Berlin Observatory.

Neptune, generally the eighth planet from the sun, was postulated by the French astronomer Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrier, who calculated the approximate location of the planet by studying gravity-induced disturbances in the motions of Uranus. On September 23, 1846, Le Verrier informed Galle of his findings, and the same night Galle and his assistant Heinrich Louis d'Arrest identified Neptune at their observatory in Berlin. Noting its movement relative to background stars over 24 hours confirmed that it was a planet.

The blue gas giant, which has a diameter four times that of Earth, was named for the Roman god of the sea. It has eight known moons, of which Triton is the largest, and a ring system containing three bright and two dim rings. It completes an orbit of the sun once every 165 years. In 1989, the U.S. planetary spacecraft Voyager 2 was the first human spacecraft to visit Neptune.

Fantasy Football

I have started a fantasy football league at ESPN. It's free, and low maintenence. I have set an automated draft date, so you don't even have to know anything about the players. Who wants in? Anybody?

Just email me (see my profile), and I will send you an invitation. C'mon, it'll be diverting.

Adopt An Actor

I’m a little behind the times, but I feel I can still do my share. Many bloggers have already opened their homes to needy actors through Splotchy’s Adopt an Actor program, and now I, Pezda, will do the same. I believe there is just enough space in my unfinished basement to set up a cot, and a space heater for Wallace Shawn.


Wallace Shawn has had a fairly prolific career as a character actor, as well as a playwright, but didn’t start his acting career until he was 36 years old. Born in New York city Wallace was educated at Harvard and Oxford, and was well into his career as a teacher when he decided to pursue the life of a thespian.


Over the years he has portrayed many quirky characters in a wide variety of films, and television. He has performed small, but excellent, parts in several Woody Allen films; Manhattan (his film debut), Radio Days, Shadows and Fog, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Melinda and Melinda. He had several reoccurring TV roles, including the Huxtible’s neighbor on The Cosby Show, and the Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.


He has also lent his voice to a considerable and ever growing list of animated projects, including (but not limited to), Toy Story (1995) (and Toy Story 2), The Incredibles (2004), Chicken Little (2005) and Happily N'Ever After (2007)


But for me the career of Wallace Shawn can be summed up in just one word: Inconceivable! He was brilliant as the villain Vizzini in the Princess Bride, which remains one of my favorite movies.


So welcome to the Pezda household Wallace. Here you’ll get all the Veggie-Booty and Diet Fresca you can stomach, just don’t touch my cereal.

Covers, Pt 2 (of 3)

It's been a while, but I did promise more mix covers, I'm not sure why, It's a pain in the ass getting the layout to behave in blogger. Enjoy.



I threw this mix together for my brother who was driving from Pennsylvania to Arizona, and passing through Columbus on the way. All of the songs have some automotive tie. The cover photos were both swiped from the net. It was a rush job.










This cover was done for My mother-in-law, Nancy (note song#1). She appreciates being introduced to "new" music, and I am happy to oblige.

I really like this cover and have been tempted to reuse it for myself. As you will see later, I have been known to do this. Nancy has the only print copy of this, so it would be a new cover for everyone.












Another mix for [Wife#1]'s cousins. I agonized over which picture to use. I had narrowed the selection to six great photos, but this one kinda screams, "Road to Nowhere". I had to remove a few objects from the picture to convey the sense of loneliness I was looking for.

OK, so this is one of the reused covers I mentioned. Initially it was a mix that I made for my nephew, who is into some of the worst crap out today. It was entirely rap, but I tried to broaden his horizons by using socially conscious artists, and artists who fuse musical styles, rather than just the thugs he normally listens to. Of course, I threw in some Beastie Boys as well.

The title was a subtle jab, but I'm not sure he got it. I took the photo in my kitchen, and as usual applied a few Photoshop touches. Well, I really liked the results, so I swiped the cover for myself and made a new mix (distributed to select friends and family). I really should print myself a copy.

OK, that's all for now. Next up: Covers covers.

Simpsons Pezda

In my recent interview post I portrayed myself with a Simpsons Pezda icon. Here is the ghastly tale of it's creation.

Evil Genius emailed me a sketch he made on the back of an envelope. It was great, but needed a little something. So I took the sketch out back, worked it over with a hammer, nails, hose clamp and adze. Applied a fresh coat of paint. Realized I forgot to prime it. After applying the primer, was able to paint. The results were pleasing to the eye, but then my new iconic masterpiece was eaten by locust. I had to begin again. I thought I'd try some of that new fangled technolodigy.

I took the sketch an "inked" and "colored" it using my favorite program ever, Macromedia's Flash. Flash isn't the best graphics program available, but I've grown used to it and choose it over actual graphics programs. The following is version 3.0 of my icon, which I may use as my avatar for a while.

Dale Visits

My seventh favorite Canadian stopped by recently for a friendly visit. He came well prepared with a list of questions, and I, as usual, had nothing to say. So, two weeks later I have finally come up with responses to his fun, but challenging, questions:


I really enjoyed the post you did of the great cover art you put together with your CD mixes. If you could pick a few songs to set the tone for your blog when people first click on you, what would they be?





Egad, that’s tough. I really don’t have a unifying theme here, so I’d most likely have a rotating selection of meaningless songs: Matthew Sweet – Ultrasuede, They Might Be Giants – Purple Toupee, The Avalanches – Frontier Psychiatrist, The Thrills – What Ever Happened to Corey Haim? The Stone Roses – Tightrope, Gomez – Bring It On, Devo – Through Being Cool, David Bowie – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), The Cure – Like Cockatoos, and others.

Stay tuned for more cover art.

You once invited an international incident by advocating the release of feral dogs, wolves and bobcats to control the Canada Goose immigration problem. I believe this may have led to Bob Barker leaving The Price is Right to devote his time to fighting you. How does that make you feel?



The Bob Barker incident is an unfortunate side effect of this very messy problem. I speak out against the Canada Goose as a rower and an individual with autoimmune issues, not as an animal lover. The damned geese are everywhere. They get on our docks and crap and crap and crap some more. I am frequently barefoot or just socked when moving about on these docks and it’s difficult to avoid the copious amounts of crap. It’s truly amazing the variety of goose crap, there’s solid, liquid, liquid with chunks, and chunky liquid (a subtle, but important difference). It’s freaking nasty, and I’ve dreamed up (though not implemented) several schemes, which would violate international law, to eliminate them.



You seem to be sustained by great inner strength, cheesecake and the love of your family through some difficult health issues and surgeries which is a wonderful thing. The photos you posted of your abdominal scars however do look suspiciously like bullet holes. Are you in actuality 50 Cent? Follow up question: At Christmas, will you be decking the halls with bowels of holly?



Other than the holes in our bellies (he has a few more than I do however) and the fact that we were both dropped by Columbia Records, 50 Cent and I have nothing in common. My “inner strength” is simply the understanding that I have to deal with my health, and move on. Some people can’t do this. They whine and complain. They ask, “Why me?” Or they pray for the strength to continue. Bullshit. Either you have the strength or not. Either you do what you need to do, or you fail. In my case failure equates to death, so I do what I need to do. I don’t dwell (much), I take my meds, I exercise, I eat reasonably, and I love my family. It’s really very easy.

As for the follow up; They wouldn’t let me keep it.



Like most of us, you have addictions, among others food, brain teasers, and breakfast cereals. I'm not one to judge but I didn't see any Lucky Charms in the photo of your cupboard? Are you racist or something?




I am peaceable toward, and tolerant of, all breakfast cereal mascots. In fact, my whole family enjoys Lucky Charms; It’s one of the few cereals we all agree upon. It’s almost as though they are magically delicious or something.

Having said this, if you are particularly observant you will notice that on the bottom shelf, far-right, is a box of Berry Lucky Charms.



I notice that you have Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card as one of your favourite books in your profile. A film version is in pre-production and is to be directed by Wolfgang Peterson but there's no word on whether anyone's been cast yet. Who could see doing the title role justice? (I haven't read Ender's Game but did read Speaker For The Dead because the concept fascinated me.)



This is a tough question, the title character, Ender, is only six in this book. He is gifted beyond the scope of normal human giftedness, and relatively serious. He is sent away to a military academy which is training soldiers in the hopes that one of them might lead us to salvation against an overwhelming alien opponent.

It’s not a tale of a happy childhood. The producers of this film are certain to cast an older child (10-12 year old is my guess) to fill the role. As we have seen previously young kids are just too cute to do justice to serious roles. I think Haley Joel Osment would have been a good choice seven years ago, but now I have no idea. If they wait a year or two, I could have [Son #1] ready for the part.

Thanks to Dale for the inquisition. If you aren’t already a devotee of his, check him out. It’s good Canadian stuff, and tariff free!

Before and After

Before (who you calling scruffy?)

Every year beginning in April I begin growing a goatee. I keep it until the day I return from the "big event". Which, for our rowing club, is Masters Nationals. A four day competition held each year in various locations around the country . This year was Oakridge, Tennessee. More on that later.

I refer to my annual facial hair as my competition goatee (CG from here on). I have no real or sensible reason for growing the CG, I did it once a few years ago and it stuck. Last year i did not grow one as I did not row.

The thing about the CG, [Wife #1] hates it. It's pokey, and rough, and she counts the days until it comes off. Me? I kinda like it. I tug on it absentmindedly when reading, or stroke it sinisterly when deep in though. I find myself tugging on my phantom goatee for days after it's been shorn.

This year I decided to let my wife take the clippers to it when we got home. I was sad to see it go, but more so because it marks the end of the sprint race season than the actual loss of hair. I think it was a cathartic moment for her, and she was in a great mood the rest of the night. Hmm, maybe I should forget about the CG next year. We'll see about that.

As for the regatta itself, it went well. I came home with a gold, two silver, and a bronze medal, out of a total of five events I entered. It was damn hot, but the water was cool and the venue beautiful. We won the Men's 8 (though the competition was slim), and got a nifty trophy with that as well. And as tradition dictates, got to throw our coxswain in the water.

The family came with me, and on the two days where I didn't race until the afternoon we did fun stuff together. We went to the Knoxville Zoo, which is a real nice zoo with lots of shade (I did mention the heat right?), a science center, a children's museum. So, despite the heat, we had a great time. I got to vacation

with my family and row, which is great when it works out.

After

The Problem With PEZ

I used to be a PEZ collector.

I say "used to" because, despite my boxes full of PEZ dispensers, I no longer actively collect PEZ. I stopped a while back primarily due to the glut of new PEZ hitting the market. PEZ are now released for every Disney/Pixar film before the film itself is actually released. Popular toy lines and NASCAR get their own dispensers. As well as anyone else who wants one. PEZ has sold out.

But hey, in our pander to me society I can't fault PEZ, Inc. for trying to grab a piece of the pie, and shove their product in our faces. It's big business as usual. But recently they have crossed the line. Gone way too far. Violated a long standing tradition in such a horrific way that I'm contemplating changing my moniker. Maybe I'll become The Blogger Formerly Known As Pezda (T.B.F.K.A.P.).


A little background info before we get to the offense. With the notable exception of two (maybe three) dispensers, PEZ "heads" have always been prominent fictional characters. Back in 1976 PEZ released a bi-centennial series of dispensers which included Betsy Ross, Daniel Boone, and Captain (thought to be Paul Revere), the only real people ever represented as PEZ.

There have been plenty of fantasy PEZ over the years, the most memorable being Elvis Pezly in the movie The Client, which was a prop manufactured by the movie makers. But as far as officially sanctioned PEZ go, it was just the three bi-centennial figures.

At least that was the story until recently. PEZ has issued limited edition collectible tins, which contain three dispensers each. The first was interestingly enough, Elvis Presley. Elvis is depicted at three stages in his career, but no really fat Elvis. I am a little bothered by this, but not much. I don't really consider Elvis to be a real person at this point.

The second tin issued is the sledgehammer that broke the camels back. PEZ has issued an Orange County Choppers tin, complete with a PEZ of Paul Sr, and his two meathead sons, Paul Jr, and Mikey. No, I am not shitting you. I can think of at least 7,428 people, off the top of my head, who should have been immortalized in PEZ before the Teutuls. Neil Armstrong, Martin Luthor King Jr, Einstein, Jimi Hendrix, Evel Knievel, Ben Franklin or any and all of the founding fathers, Gandhi, the Marquis de Sade, Isaac Asimov, Isaac Newton, hell even Isaac Hayes, to name but a few. No. This I cannot stand for (which is why I'm sitting). It is just one more example of the power of the allmighty dollar, and one more step toward the complete and total corruption of our societies moral values.

Think of the Kittens

In the wake of recent posts with kitten pictures (Evil Genius and GkL), I have decided to add one as well. A friend recently sent this to me and I had to share.

Funeral Fanfare

Doc (with not so subtle prompts from Evil Genius), has got me thinking about death again. Specifically what 12 songs would I have played at my funeral. 12 isn't a great number for me, but 13 is golden, so I picked 13.

I'm not particularly religious, so a lot of overtly spiritual songs(ala Swing Low Sweet Chariot) were omitted:


1. Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life – Eric Idle (start 'em off with a smile)
2. Devil May Care – Diana Krall
3. Why I Sing The Blues – B.B. King
4. Elizabeth My Dear – Stone Roses (short, simple song, whose message is clear...)
5. Here’s Where the Story Ends – The Sundays
6. At My Funeral – Crash Test Dummies
7. For The Dead – Gene
8. Sing Your Life – Morrissey (Live at KROQ)
9. If I Should Fall From Grace With God – The Pogues (a little Celtic punk to kick things up)
10. Pump It Up – Elvis Costello & the Attractions
11. Ana Ng – They Might Be Giants (possibly my all time favorite song)
12. Goodbye Goodbye – Oingo Boingo (those with good sense will leave at this point, otherwise...)
13. Wham - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (this song will be the trigger which animates my corpse causing it to tear into, and destroy the fools who remained at the open bar.)

Wanted: A Few Good Bloggers (With Good Taste)

I'd like to open up the Secret Recipe Blog to contributors. The Secret Recipe Blog is my secret blog, which is only accessible through a hidden link on this page (or if you happen to know the address). I'm looking for bloggers who have favorite recipes to share. I'm not looking for gourmet recipes that normal humans cannot hope to actually make. The SRB is about good, quick, and generally easy food. Most of my favorite recipes are deserts, but I feel bad about posting only deserts, so I haven't posted anything in a while.

Now if you do want to contribute let me know. Send me an email (check profile), and I'll hook you up. BUT, there is one condition. The SRB must remain a secret. So you have to place a hidden link on your blog and choose not to show it in your profile. If you are HTML inept I can email you instructions how to hide a link, it's really not hard. Who's in?