And your little ghost pickle on a stick, too!

I've gotten several new familiars in KoL lately, and I'm having trouble naming them. In the Kingdom of Loathing, you're allowed pets (much like the wizarding world uses animals) to join you in your journey and quests.

These little animals, machines, inanimate objects and sometimes foods are quite helpful to you as you're wandering on your merry little way.

Familiars can heal your wounds, find you meat (the Kingdom's currency), locate objects, scare, wound and de-level your opponents and give you stat points.

You can gain familiars several different ways: as an award for a quest, build them out of parts you find, buy them in the mall with meat or use real money (that's $$ in the real world) to buy Mr. A's that you can exchange for special multi-talented familiars that are released each month--or you can simply find them while adventuring.

Right now I have three unamed familiars, and I have a general personal rule that I don't adventure with my familiars if they don't have names.

My other familiars have such perfect names ... and I'm just drawing a blank.

So here's who I need to name and their haikus. Comment if you have any ideas, IM or email so these little guys can hold their heads up high in the Familiar-Grow Terrarium.

Origami Towel Crane
know where your towel is?
here in your terrarium
you hoopy frood, you

Ghost Pickle on a Stick
Salty, translucent
floats above, its only need
to lay dill smack down.

Scary Death Orb

shiny ball of death
cuts, slices, eviscerates
who? it's not picky

Hic Hic Hic

I have the hiccups. I hate having the hiccups.

My hiccups come when I eat potatos or meat too fast, or drink something the wrong way. Or, like right now, for no reason at all.

I can never get rid of my hiccups--the most effective method I've found is just to shut my mouth and ride them out ... for however long it takes.

Having the hiccups is something that gets people talking ... "have you ever tried a spoonful of sugar? That always works for me," they say.

Pinch your nose and drink water ... take gulps of air ... drink tons of water ... drink water upside-down ...

I used to say nothing works and politely listened, which never satisfies people. Now I try their little suggestions--because I have nothing to lose. But like I said, I have yet to find my miracle cure.

So I'll just sit here ... hic, hic, hic

Vacation

I was reading through my first posts and realized that I did more "daily" on the spot blogs. I tend to enjoy them the most. Sometimes it's hard to think and write and come up with a post that's well written with a good subject. While it's something I do still strive for, it limits how much I post.

So here we go!

This week I took off work. It's my first week of vacation since Spring Break 2005. I'm not doing anything spectacular, but it's still nice to sleep in, watch some television, and just have the freedom to do what I want and not think about reaching a million dollar goal or worrying about deadlines.

And how do I start my week of vacation? I'm woken up by a phone call at 6:43 a.m. Please note my usual wake up time during work is 6:45. Yeah, not so happy.

Since Thanksgiving is this week, I'm helping get the house ready. Mom's family comes over so there's about 40 people over. (It's usually 60, but some aren't coming this year).

We're listening to Rent as we clean, so that's nice. Poor mom though, she has to listen to me sing.

Yesterday the CDs I ordered on Friday came in the mail. I was so excited to get it, listen to it, look at the liner notes. I love listening to a cd for the first time. Hearing the composition, harmonies, melodies, lyrics ... all the different beats and instruments. So far so good. Mark is the lead on each song and there's one featuring a duet with Mark and a woman (I need to investigate this a little more).

I fell completely in love with Blink182's last cd when I listened to it the first time. Most CDs I have to listen to them a couple of times to really like them. There aren't many instances where I love it the first time around--only Rent and Let Love In from the Goo Goo Dolls.

I did have an urge to listen to it ... which I'm doing right now ... so that's only a good sign.

I saw on PBS yesterday that snakes can climb trees (you know, slither up). That has me completely creeped out ... I always banked on in case of an apocolpyse or nightmare-ish snake situation I would climb a tree or hit high ground ... now all those plans are out the window.

182 ... +44 ... hike, hike!

About a month ago I went to Yahoo! Music Videos for some tunes to work to (I had hit my quota of ESPN Radio and music on file).

There was a small picture of a group of four people. I couldn't make out who was in it--but I swore one guy was Mark Hoppus of Blink182. So I clicked on it, and my video player loaded with "When Your Heart Stops Beating." Again, low quality, I couldn't get a close look at any one--it *sounded* like Mark. He played a guitar like Mark (very distinctive stance) and the mohawked tattooed drummer looked like Travis Barker.

So I searched +44. I think I pulled up a bio from wiki. And there they were: Mark & Travis sans Tom. I read further ... Blink182 had been inactive and disbanded since February 2005. What an in-touch fan I am!

I've been a fan since Enema of State--and have purchased every album since then--loving the self-titled one released in 2003.

I was just thinking to myself that three years was a long time to not have a new Blink album.

Now once I get something in my head I need more information, and it stays in my head until this bizarre fascination is satisfied.

And here's what I found ... some of it prolific:

Random article: Mark says they hit a time in their lives that need family time, time away from the road. They have wives, children that they don't see, lives they aren't living.

Yahoo! Interview: Mark says, we've hit our apex ... there's no where to go but down.

Yahoo! Interview: Tom says, I love these guys, I'm close to guys. Mark's my brother--we've grown up together. We'll always be friends.

Hmm.

Now I read that Tom left the band (I take offense that one article referred to him as frontman--pshaw!). He has his own group: Angels and Airwaves.

Mark and Travis have played with other bands, have done other projects: TV, clothing, skate gear, etc. etc.

In articles and various interviews the guys reflect that the "general public" and critics still view them as a joke band, singing about humping, making naked videos.

Yeah there's the off color humor and way out there lines ... but then there's songs that their generation relates to. Bands like Blink182 have brought the outcast skaters into the mainstream--and let us picket fence kids feel a little of the rebellion and connect to the music and make it our own.

Their music was for the teens who didn't worship Britney, Christina or Jessica. They mocked bubble gum pop and gave the rest of us an outlet.

Well ... nonetheless, I bought +44's CD and I'm anxiously waiting for it to get here!

How I'm doing so far ...

NFL Predictions: (Made at the beginning of the Season)

Week 1: 11-5
Week 2: 6-8
Week 3: 9-5
Week 4: 10-4
Week 5: 9-5
Week 6: 6-7
Week 7: 6-7
Week 8: 6-7 *** October really beat me up
Week 9: 6-8

Steelers, Bengals, Dolphins are losing and I thought they would win.

Saints and Chargers are winning where I said they would lose. (Yay for Drew, Hisss for Phillip Rivers)

Packer Post – Installment 48

Five-Week Review

October 2: Packers at Eagles

The Packers defense kept points off the board in the first half, but let QB-Donovan McNabb run all over them—literally—in the second half. Against this above average, but not spectacular team, Packers lost on the national stage.

* First Quarter: 3-0 ~ Packers *
* Second Quarter: 9-7 ~ Eagles *
* Third Quarter: 9-24 ~ Eagles *
* Fourth Quarter: 9-31 ~ Eagles *

October: 8: Rams at Packers

Against the threat of a high-powered Rams offense, when coming from behind would be a constant pressure, the Packers started the game with a mistake.

RB-Vernand Morency fumbled on the 31 in the opening drive.

QB-Marc Bulger connected to WR-Tory Holt for a touchdown.

Packers get a break with a holding penalty downfield. RB-Noah Herron scored the Packers first rushing touchdown of the year and made his first Lambeau Leap.

* First Quarter: 7-7 ~ Tie *

The Packers defense leads the league with the most 20+ yard plays lost. Bulger throws an incomplete pass on a 3rd and 11.

Favre hit WR-Greg Jennings for 38-yard completion. A personal foul on a facemask pushes them closer to the end zone.

LB-Will Witherspoon drops an interception and Favre is sacked on the next play leading to a K-Dave Rayner field goal. Rams draw two penalties and LB-AJ Hawk nearly intercepts a Bulger pass, forcing a 3rd and 15.

The next Rams drive, Bulger hit former Packer RB-Tony Fisher on a 3rd and 22, which sets up his three-yard touchdown pass to WR-Kevin Curtis.

WR-Koren Robinson pulls in 27 yards on the Packers drive setting up 33-yard Rayner field goal.

* Second Quarter: 13-14 ~ Rams *

Only score in the third quarter is Rams K-Jeff Wilkens field goal.

* Third Quarter: 13-17 ~ Rams *

Two more Rams field goals inch up the score. Rams offense looks off with several penalties and two Packer sacks.

In a comeback effort, Favre connects with Jennings for a 46-yard touchdown. Favre and the offense try to put together a scoring drive again, but are unable to capitalize.

* Fourth Quarter: 20-23 ~ Rams *

October 22: Packers at Dolphins

Packers sack QB-Joey Harrington opening drive and they go three and out.

DE-Jason Taylor strips Favre and Harrington logs a touchdown pass.

* First Quarters: 0-7 ~ Dolphins *

Rayner makes a field goal at the end of the half. He worked hard for it because he actually kicked the ball three times. The first one was called back because of a Dolphin penalty, pushing him closer to the uprights. He made another one, then the Packers penalty backed them up and then made the final field goal from the original distance.

* Second Quarter: 6-7 ~ Dolphins *

Packers worst pass defense in the league allows a 40-yard catch from WR-Marty Booker. Woodson turns the table, intercepting a Harrington pass and took it 23 yards for the touchdown.

Jennings leaves the field for an X-Ray on a twisted ankle. Favre take it for the first down and then throws the ball to WR-Donald Driver between two defenders for the touchdown. Driver reaches 5,000 career yards receiving.

The next Packers drive RB-Ahman Green breaks a run for 70 yards and a touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 20-13 ~ Packers *

Barnett misses a tackle and the Dolphins take the ball 44 yards, leading to a touchdown. They go for the two-point conversion, and it’s good, Harrington to Booker.

Packers answer that score with a tipped pass to Martin for a touchdown.

Dolphins K-Olindo Mare misses a field goal—hitting the upright.

* Fourth Quarter: 34-24 ~ Packers *

October: 29: Cardinals at Packers

Rookie WR-Greg Jennings not playing.

Cardinal go three and out on their first possession. Packers go for a fake field goal, but Ryan can’t connect for a first down. Cardinals get ball on their own 30, but can’t do anything with it.

A pass interference call put the Packers in striking range and Favre hit TE-David Martin for the touchdown.

CB-Charles Woodson hyper-extends his knee, but returns to the game.

* First Quarter: 7-0 ~ Packers *

Driver makes a 13-yard catch on a slant route. Green scores his 50th career touchdown. Packers defense sends a three-man rush of Woodson, LB-Nick Barnett and DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Barnett gets the sack for a loss of eight.

Packers establish the run with the Green-Morency tandem. Morency has a big gain off a Driver block and Green scores another touchdown.

Rookie QB-Matt Leinert is stopped on the quarterback sneak in the redzone, but Cardinals score on the back of RB-Edgerrin James on fourth and goal.

* Second Quarter: 21-7 ~ Packers *

On a Packers 4th and 5, the defense is called for encroachment—making a fourth and inches and Green rushes in for 10 yards.

* Third Quarter: 28-14 ~ Packers *

Pass interference on the Cardinals in the end zone puts the ball on the one-yard line. Favre scrambles in for his first rushing touchdown since 2001 and his first ever Lambeau Leap.

* Fourth Quarter: 31-14 ~ Packers *

November 5: Packers at Bills

Kick returner Terrance McGee takes the opening kickoff for 59 yards.

Kampman tied for first in the NFL for most sacks with 8 ½ and AJ Hawk leads the team with tackles.

QB-JP Lossman completes a nine-yard pass to TE-Robert Royal for a first down. RB-Willis McGahee rushes for nine yards. Kampman pressures Lossman forcing an incomplete pass. McGahee is hurt and leaves the game. Bills K-Ryan Lindell make a 28-yard field goal.

WR-Greg Jennings is back, but RB-Vernand Morency isn’t playing. Favre throws a pass to TE-David Martin good for a first down. Bills LB-Aaron Schobel pressures Favre into a shovel pass to WR-Donald Lee.

It’s a defensive quarter with each team punting twice.

* First Quarter: 0-3 ~ Bills *

Favre throws an interception on the eight-yard line and LB-London Fletcher takes it for a touchdown.

Packers are driving downfield and the Bills recover a fumbled snap by C-Scott Wells on the Packer 45. Bills offense can’t get anything going and punt.

Packers punt on the next drive, but respond with a 19-yard pass to Martin. After a sack, Favre throws to Jennings, who makes the catch between two defenders. The possession is challenged and upheld but luck swings back into the favor of the Bills when Wells misses the snap count again and the snap is fumbled and recovered by the Bills in the red zone.

* Second Quarter: 0-10 ~ Bills *

Green rushes for 25 yards, but they eventually have to punt. Their next drive starting on their own 35, was the best field position of the day. Favre hits Driver for 22 yards and again on a 3rd and goal for a touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 7-10 ~ Bills *

Packers K-Dave Rayner ties the game with a field goal.

Bills get the ball back and have some help advancing it with 20 yards of penalties from the defense. S-Marquand Manuel is injured and leaves the game, but it’s veteran CB-Al Harris who’s burned by the 43-yard play for a touchdown.

The Bills defense creates points for their team by intercepting Favre in the end zone, giving their quarterback the ball on the 21. RB-Anthony Thomas scores a touchdown with three minutes left.

The final nail was Barnett’s personal foul, which runs 27 seconds off the clock, ending the game.

* Fourth Quarter: 10-24 ~ Bills *

NFL News

Robert Ferguson placed on IR—Ferguson makes the statement that the Packers don’t want him anymore.

“Vick said he would love to play with the Colts offense. Yeah, so would his receivers—they would love to play with Peyton Manning.” ~Shannon Sharpe, CBS Pre-Game show

Big Ben leaves the game, suffering his second concussion since June, and plays in the next week’s Steelers loss.

Seahawks QB-Matt Hasselbeck is out for four weeks with knee injury.

“Adam Vinetari would have tackled him,” Chris Collinsworth, referring to the touchdown run back from an Indianapolis kick off when K=Martin Gramatica (Vineteri’s backup) couldn’t tackle the runner.

On Collinsworth segway to post game press coverage of a Cowboys game, “And now we’ll go to TO telling us how good he is.” --Looks like NBC has better writing than FOX Sports.

“I don’t know where the ball is because the camera guys aren’t following it—this is not a FOX game by the way.” Color guy on a FOX Game break for the Ravens-Bengals game.

Quarterbacks losing their starting role:
Dolphins: Daunte Culpepper (injury) to Joey Harrington
Cardinals: Warner to Rookie Matt Leinert
Titans: Kerry Collins to Rookie Vince Young
Cowboys: Drew Bledsoe to Rookie Tony Romo

Play of the Week: Cowboys K-Mike Vanderjagt’s field goal is blocked and recovered by the Redskins with seconds left in the game. The Redskins kicker, who had missed a field goal earlier in the day, and had made only two in the season made a 47-yard field goal, winning the game.

Terrell Owens draws a 15-yard penalty for celebrating in the end zone by taking a nap—which was a reference to reports earlier in the week that he fell asleep in a meeting. Later in the game, he dropped a sure touchdown pass 72 yards out.

Bears lose to the Dolphins 31-13, which ends their run at an undefeated season. Though die hards think this means they’ll go to the Super Bowl, because that’s how the 1985 season played out.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

A guy once asked me why women always get their hair cut really short after they got married. The first answer that popped into my mind is they're growing it out for that tradional (and hopefully) glamorous spectacular updo. And for the most part, I think that probably is the case. Kerry got her hair cut after her wedding and another friend is growing it out ... waiting for her guy to pop the question.

But it also occured to me this week that women hack it all off after they're married because they don't need to seek out and impress anyone. Yes, after marriage people still want to look nice, etc. for their mate. But they've already landed them. Just as the guy starts letting his nasty little habits come back into day to day life ... women do the same.

I had long hair all my life--except for that horrible haircut my sister gave me--and the number one reason I wouldn't consider cutting it for the longest time, is because I didn't want to look like a boy. Then as I got older and sick of my long, heavy hair I considered cutting it more seriously. The fear of not being as attractive or as femine kept my hair long.

One former boyfriend made some comment while playing with my hair and I said that chopping it all of was one of my life goals. He looked at me like I grew a second head and said that he certainly hoped I wouldn't do that. Women should have long hair. My thoughts: Well F#ck You Then. (Okay, so I knew it probably wasn't going to work out with him)

Now, with my short hair that's not weighing me down, but is frickin' cold in the winter--I feel happy, as cute as I was with long hair ... and I hope that guys don't look at me and think ugh...if only she had long hair (and yes, I know they probably aren't focusing on my hair first, but this is my current issue of semi-discontent)

Someone mentioned that I should grow my hair long again, find a boyfriend.

Is short hair boy repellent? What about Jenna Elfman? She was hot--and tall, okay that's probably a bad example. Oh well, I'm keeping my short hair until I get sick of it.

Burning cherry tree
Ev'ry blossom is aflame
Uh, here come the cops.