Egg Nog

2021-11-08 13:45
ehowton: (Default)
I love egg nog like a YP girl loves Pumpkin Spice. Like, I abhor fast-food emulsified palm-oil shakes, but when they offer "Egg Nog" shake I'm all over it. Egg Nog ice cream, egg nog flavored black tea, egg nog cereal, I'll put egg nog in everything I can from November through January. And with the unexpected commercialization of egg nog being an "Easter" release the last couple of years, dudebro has freaking risen! FIGHT ME!
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George Washington Howton

2006-07-04 22:00
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My grandfather was born George Washington Howton on the 4th of July. He was a cowboy through and through. Born in Pampa, Texas he served in the Army before what is generally assumed among family as a dishonerable discharge - we don't know because we never asked him, and he never talked about it. He was a cook in the Army and gave me this advice before leaving for Korea, "You can trade a pound of coffee for some poontang." Very disturbing news coming from my grandfather I don't mind admitting. Never without his Stetson, he always proclaimed that he'd drink a bottle of whiskey and eat a bullet if he ever got too old to enjoy life. Which is exactly what he did Christmas 1997.

Dreamed last night I was back in the Air Force. Lots of standing in line in this dream.

The entire family played "Escape from the Deathstar Action Figure Board Game" before the kids went outside to play with friends. Wife and I played a rousing game of "Star Wars Episode I Monopoly" yes, a gift from [livejournal.com profile] celtmanx. When we were poor and living in a one-bedroom apartment in Jersey, we always played "Star Wars Trilogy Monopoly" but Episode I is a very nice Deluxe Edition game. It's funny to watch my wife get frustrated. That is, until she made herself a Bali Trader and mellowed completely out...

Burned off my entire iTunes directory and reformatted that USB drive with Mac OSX's Extended Journaled filesystem. Since I've already cleaned up the ID3 tags, I'll be able to just re-import what I want in there for the time being. I really wonder if I'll need anything on there but soundtracks. Also found the 8-CD collection of Charmed for the wife. All eight season soundtracks. She's been wanting them, but I could only find one-off's at the store. This will be nice for her.

Then I drank some cocktails and watched Nanny McPhee, grilled up some din-din, and watched King Arthur (Clive Owen & Keira Knightley) and it was as good as celtmanx said it was. And, as an aside, I found it interesting that both movies contained actors from Gosford Park! (Kelly MacDonald in the former...)

Hope you all had a great 4th.




Update as of June 2006 -
Uncle Lonnie told me that George was given an honorable discharge and records were expunged. Pat varified this and said there was a small wallet size honorable discharge card he carried in his wallet. I have not found it yet. All the written articles make him sound guilty
but Lonnie was there when it happened. I just discovered this when I started work on the Howton scrapebook in May.

John (1852)
George (1882)
George (1917)
Brian (1943)
Eric (1969)
[my son] (2000)
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Believe The Hype!

2006-07-03 11:22
ehowton: (Default)

Search the search, where is justice?
Couldn't find so in God I trust this
Mind to, so strong and fruitful
Am what I am, black ain't as beautiful
Not political, but aware
Power load with a powerful stare
Never bow down to a mortal man
Here I stand at my own command!

Friday night the wife was in a really poor mood. What to do, what to do? Took her down the road while [livejournal.com profile] galinda822 watched the kids and picked up:

  • Rum

  • Vodka

  • HpnotiQ

  • Sloe Gin

  • Peach Brandy

  • Banana Liqueur

  • Southern Comfort

  • Presidente Mexican Brandy


She proceed to make us Bali Traders and her mood greatly increased. We spent Movie Night sitting in our neighbor's front lawn drinking and visiting until after 2200 when the (almost) unanimous decision was made to call it a night. I was surprisingly drunk as I had only had two mixed drinks, but exhausted from my day I managed to fall asleep sometime between laying down in my bed, and actually hitting the pillow.

Not a follower, not a leader
An exceeder, sharp as a cleaver
Some are sinners, some are praisers
Me, Turbo-B, Heavenly hell-raiser
Two from the hip make some folks stagger
Straight to the heart like a 12-inch dagger
Motley, way of the world -
Gaze upon the Black Pearl!

Yesterday we picked up Carla and drove out to the bookstore where we got the newest Laurell K. Hamilton Vampire Hunter Series book, and I picked up JSA which as you all know I've been looking for. The most expensive movie to come out of South Korea and surprising local hit. I found the movie fascinating the first time I watched it, and cannot wait to view it again - apparently there's a second, more subtle storyline in there most viewers miss upon first viewing. We ate at Chevy's Tex-Mex on the way home. As always, it was fantastic. The best Tex-Mex we've found to date in St. Louis. I'm still waiting for them to build us a Chipotle!

The bigger the badder, bull!
In this game of life, knowledge rules
The one with the brain is the sole survior
What goods a tank with a stupid driver,
See? Don't be a dimwit - ignorant
Really a backwit
Where's the fitness?
This is legit, can I get a witness?

Out at Carla's dad's last night for fireworks and festivities. I chain-smoked cigars and met as many people as I could. It was eerily identical to Fourth of July with my wife's family. The show was spectacular! I'd not seen a private collection of so many fireworks in all my years. There was the one giant starburst that had a broken base, so they secured it to the ground and lit it. I wasn't standing nearly as close as everyone else when it exploded. The concussion nearly knocked me off my feet! They did a fantastic job with the fireworks and my son likened it to Disneyworld (though he's never been) and my daughter, upon watching a fountain exclaimed, "That makes me feel happy inside."

Not the oppressed, the oppressor
Don't make this one anything lesser
Racist? You don't wanna hear it
But if the shoe fits then wear it
Life is tough so we gotta be tougher
Be smart, to outbluff the bluffer
Feet to mind, to a wisdom beat
Absorb the knowledge I speak

Took the boys to Fudd's for lunch and ate too much, as is usual when I'm there. Sent the gang home at 1530 which allows me an hour and a half of absolute stillness and solitude. Except the wife wants me to move the couch we moved into the basement last month, back up. Brinkmeyer called and we're going to postpone the visit this time around, re-scheduling for the end of July. I hope it's not the 20th, cause that's when I'm flying to D.C. hopefully with time to catch up with yet another couple of Air Force buddies (who happen to be married to each other - Ewwww!) so I feel this month will be my busiest, yet!
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Water Buffalo Trace

2006-06-19 19:12
ehowton: (Default)
I think you sell yourself too short. Don't forget that you're also Fatass, the Destroyer.

That reminds me of a story.

The wife was gone for a week or so, visiting her parents in Wichita. Tony and I took a long, holiday weekend and drank quite a bit of Buffalo Trace (Not available in STL) while lounging in the pool.

After a considerable amount, my hefty friend thought he could run (in itself a feat), jump (this I'd never seen), and clear (unthinkable!) the pool. After much deliberation and consideration, I sat on his glasses and crushed them under my fat ass.

Then he made good on his claim:



To watch full-motion video of both of us fat asses jumping into the pool, visit the Water Buffalo Trace website!
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DTG

2006-06-18 22:32
ehowton: (Default)
060616_1730 Depart work, listen to BSG on the way home.
060616_1740 Wife meets me at the door with an ice cold Corona.
060616_1750 Order Chinese, change clothes.
060616_1830 Finish dinner.
060616_1900 Start Flightplan.
060616_2100 Start 4th installment of Revelations mini-series.
060616_2230 Bed.
060616_2300 Blissful sleep.
060617_0900 Wake.
060617_0930 Coffee, emails, blog, shower, dress, breakfast.
060617_1030 Depart house.
060617_1045 Arrive Carol House furniture store to peruse the selection.
060617_1150 Arrive Ruby Tuesday's. Order the ALL-U-CAN-EAT salad bar.
060617_1230 Home to pick up gift we forgot.
060617_1300 Arrive Brunswick Zone for neighbor kid's birthday-party.
060617_1301 Start drinking beer, Bud Select on draft.
060617_1430 Depart party.
060617_1500 Arrive Dillards at the Galleria...4th floor, furniture.
060617_1600 Arrive Lay-Z-Boy.
060617_1645 Arrive IHOP. Order the chicken-fried steak skillet.
060617_1730 Arrive Weekends Only.
060617_1800 Arrive Value City.
060617_1845 Arrive home.
060617_1950 Check emails, blog.
060617_2000 Start Goblet of Fire
060617_2100 Rid XP box of trojan.
060617_2200 Bed.
060617_2230 Blissful sleep.
060618_0830 Wake.
060618_0900 Coffee, emails, blog.
060618_0930 Shower, dress, breakfast, mow lawn.
060618_1050 Depart house.
060618_1115 Arrive Target.
060618_1215 Arrive Lone Star Steakhouse. Order dreadful steak nachos.
060618_1345 Arrive home, call Dad.
060618_1415 Watch Food Networks "Build a better burger" competition.
060618_1510 Update blog, scooby-snack, play Hot Wheels with children.
060618_1800 Finish Goblet of Fire.
060618_1830 Grill salmon, while smoking a cigar and drinking a Tecate.
060618_1930 Scan some pics of when I was in Germany for my buddy, then called him.
060618_2045 Added Google Chat to Adium using my gmail logon information - played Power Rangers with my son.
060618_2145 Read to both my children, then put them to bed.
060618_2230 Post. Bed.
( My arrogance )
( Baiting TheTheologian )
( Father's Day )


January 12, 1991 - I receive my first stripe, bringing me from the rank of Airman Basic to Airman at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas.

That's me on the left.
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Weekend Update

2006-06-10 15:29
ehowton: (Default)




Want to take the kids to see Cars this weekend. Don't know if I'll get a chance. I know the theater will be packed with screaming children, and that will make me angry. And that they'll tag-team me for restroom breaks. Still, I'd love to take them. We downloaded the HD trailers a couple of days ago and watched them over and over.

Once upon a time, during in Air Force days, my roommate had recently gotten married, and his wife's arrival was pending. She would need a car. He needed something cheap. I suggested - just for a test drive, just in case it wasn't as bad as we assumed it was - the Geo Metro. I'm in the back seat, my roommate is driving, and the salesman is in the passenger seat. As we're driving, I ask the gentleman, "What's that on the right front fender?"
He takes a look out the windshield, but doesn't see anything.
I point this time, "That thing protruding from the right fender, what is that?"
He moves and strains to see it, but cannot.
"That metal whip, secured in the fender," I say, "What is it?"
He sees it, and turns to me, confused and answers, "The antenna?"
"Yes!" I proclaim. "That's right!"
The salesman is now looking at me as if I might be retarded.
"What is that for?" I ask him.
Now, pretty much convinced I'm stupid, says very slowly, "The radio?"
"WHAT RADIO!?" I nearly scream, as the car is not equipped with one.
Nice. He didn't buy the car.

Loaded Windows Vista (the Longhorn replacement) on an X1 and will be playing with that all week. Our group test-upgraded to Office 2003 prior to the migration to our users, and I lost my office bar. Office 2003 doesn't have an office bar. I know a lot of people hate the office bar, and many don't use it. I rarely care what "other people" do, or do not do. I liked it. I used it daily. However, in a fantastic turn of events, the Microsoft knowledgebase article written concerning the absence of the office bar in Office 2003 running on XP, (and I quote:)

The Office Shortcut Bar is not available in Microsoft Office 2003. However, you can use the Start menu in Microsoft Windows XP to start an Office program or to open a file or a folder. Additionally, you can use the Quick Launch bar in Windows XP or in Microsoft Windows 2000 to start an Office program or to open a file or a folder.

I wish I could slap someone at Microsoft for releasing that ignorant "Summary." Do they think I'm stupid?

So, sitting in the boardroom yesterday, I notice that my CEO is wearing a pink tie, with a pink shirt? I never would have done that. But he is a very distinguished, powerful man. Today - what the hell, I too show up with pink-on-pink. So far half a dozen people have mentioned to me, "Hey, the CEO wore pink and pink yesterday too..." The king looks like the piss-boy!



[livejournal.com profile] galinda822 came over for movie night, and the three of finally watched Office Space. I think I was the only one who enjoyed it, unfortunately. We followed that up with the first half of the mini-series Revelations, a galinda suggestion. It was quite good.

Took the kids to see Cars this morning. I expected the worst, and the wife even tried to talk me out of it. Boy was I surprised. I took a page out of the book of my dad and went to the first showing. There were maybe, 10 other people in there. I couldn't believe it. A nearly empty theater on a weekend opening show. Furthermore (and this really is hard to believe) neither of the children had to go to the bathroom for the duration of the full-two hour movie! And yes, it was good, on many different levels.
( mild spoilers here )

Was drinking my coffee this morning when my wife announces, "Oh, and your CD came in yesterday."
"WHAT! WHAT! WHAT? Hell woman, why didn't you mention this before?"
"I just remembered."
I snatched it out of her hands and ripped it into iTunes, read the liner notes, and made a copy for the car. I've been listening to it all day. it's very good, and as promised, a scan of Bear McCreary's autograph:




Drinking Pilsner Urquell...
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June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

2006-06-01 22:35
ehowton: (Default)
All over the meader and the hill!

Took the in-laws to see the Arch this evening. This marked the first time I've been under the arch, where they have a museum of the mid-west which is really well done, and various other displays and shops. And a beautiful carved stone mural which displays the arch prominently amongst other American monuments.



Buds're bustin' outa bushes

Walked through the old part of town, The Landing which hosts a fabulous Blues Festival each year. We attended one the weekend I proposed to my wife when we were here in '97. She wanted to eat dinner at the Brewery, and we found one, Morgan Street Brewery where I, in a surprising move, ordered a Golden Pilsner. It was fantastic. I had the grilled chicken & andouille sausage over penne pasta which was cajun spicy and delicious. It even filled me up - no small feat! I ended my meal with their Graham Cracker Porter, which was to die for. My father-in-law, a very difficult man to impress, was so thrilled with his steak, he thanked the entire waitstaff and the checkout girl. I'd never seen him so pleased. I think that alone made the entire outing worth it.

And the rompin' river pushes

It had stormed most of the day and was calm and cool by the time we hit the streets, a perfect evening to an otherwise hectic day. All this would not have been possible of course without the help of [livejournal.com profile] galinda822 who watched the children for us so we could enjoy this evening with my wife's folks. Thank you!

Ev'ry little wheel that wheels beside a mill!

Laclede's Landing, named for Pierre Laclede, St. Louis' French founder, is a vibrant entertainment district just north of the Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River. Once the hub of river trade where fur trappers rendezvoused, music now echoes off the Landing's cobblestone streets, and restaurants, music clubs and shops fill the former warehouses that once held tobacco, cotton and other products brought to St. Louis by steamboats. On the edge of the Landing, modern casinos recall a time when gambling boats plied the Mississippi.

If there's one place that conjures up images of St. Louis' river past, Laclede's Landing is it. Streets in the nine square block area of the Landing are the same as they were when Laclede laid them out in his original plan.

Here cobblestone thoroughfares harken back to the time when St. Louis was a center of river commerce and conjure images of traders selling their furs, tobacco and cotton arriving on steam boats and paddle wheelers taking on and discharging passengers. In fact, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Landing was a busy area of manufacturing and commerce.

Today the Landing's preserved historic brick and iron façade buildings house some of St. Louis' best restaurants, exciting music clubs, the country's longest running dinner theatre, the unique Dental Health Theatre and the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum. At the foot of the landing is the President Casino, St. Louis' only downtown casino.

As dusk overtook us, the city lit up and we concluded our evening with a walk down the riverside.



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