Chalk up another one...

Another anniversary. How 'bout that?

We did nothing special today, though we did throw around the idea of going to Durango after closing the store, maybe to watch a movie or go out to eat. But by the time we got home, hunger overcame us and before we knew it, we'd snarfed down the rest of the borshcht, I had some of the mashed yams and eggplant with mushrooms, Galina polished off the dark chocolate with tea, and we decided not to go anywhere.

To make a Sunday excursion possible, I am translating as much as I can of the rest of the document due Monday. I'd still be at it, except that Word decided to do one of its "Oops... something bad happened so we'll just stop what we're doing, lose all your unsaved data, and start again. Click on OK" maneuvers. For a moment, I got a bad feeling about it, since I didn't remember the last time I saved my work before Word decided to give up the ghost. After rebooting, it was clear I only lost a paragraph or two. I'll not complain.

* * *I bought a book with the intriguing title The One-Minute Millionaire while traveling through airports on my way back home earlier this month, but didn't get a chance to crack it open for real until last night. The organization of the book is a bit quirky, with the left-hand pages oriented toward left-brain types, and the right-hand pages aimed at right-brainers.

(How so very "left brain," no?)

Anyway, I decided to "take it easy" yesterday evening and read the right-hand pages. I was quickly caught up in the book and it was after midnight by the time I came up for air. The basic story presented on the right-hand pages is that of a widowed mother whose children have been legally taken from her by her unscrupulous in-laws. (The authors dig a deep and very believable hole for her.) In the course of a meeting between her and the in-laws, she ends up goading the father-in-law to agree to give up custody of the kids if she can demonstrate that she's made a million dollars in twelve months; if she fails, she promises to go away forever. The father-in-law agrees, but shortens the time to 90 days, and our heroine takes up the challenge.

The story is basically a parable regarding the application of the principles set forth on the left-hand pages, which I have not gotten to yet. While it may take somewhat of a stretch to believe the events in the story, I got the feeling that deep down underneath, there may just be something to what the authors are trying to say.

* * *I come to find out that there is an RSS XML file generated for posts by paid LJers. Now, what to do with that information?

Cheers...

A week late... a dollar short.

While doing a little pre-sleep surfing, I ran across the following:

A Seasonal Greeting just for you, (insert name(s) here)!

From (me/us) ("the wishor") to you ("hereinafter called the wishee") Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all... and a financially successful, year 2003, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee

By accepting this greeting you are bound by these terms that:

• This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal.
  
• This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wishor are acknowledged.
  
• This greeting implies no promise by the wishor to actually implement any of the wishes.
  
• This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishor.
  
• This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.
  
• The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor
  
• Any references in this greeting to “God“, “Little Baby Jesus“, "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "Our Saviour", or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged.

Warmest Personal Regards

I just may get this printed for next year. :^)

Cheers...