Trop's most excellent Halloween

We had so much fun this year for Halloween. In years past, we've partied with folks from the college and always thought it was a lot fun.

We didn't know what we were missing until this year. Friends that we've gotten to know through our cafe invited us to their party. OMG it was fun.

King Tut was our host, and here I am taunting him with my whip. The man was a shameless flirt who kept stealing my whip and fondling my wife's breasts.

We love this guy and his wife, but we're a little nervous they might be swingers: swingers who want to swing with us. Seriously.

[Is this an "occupational hazard" of being a lesbian that I'm just now discovering?]

For the record, Court and I aren't swingers. Though to be honest, we might reconsider if it meant spending quality time alone with Tut's wife. She's HOT.

We met a lot of new people, including a few French couples who are in East Jesus for a year (their French company's US headquarters are here, and Tut is an engineer at the company). They taught us a really fun game they call Wolf. It's actually called Werewolves Of Millers Hollow.

I hate games, yet I thoroughly enjoyed this one. That's probably because Wolf requires no skill. I suck at games of skill. Anyway, if you like games, especially social/group games, you will like this one. I'm sure of it. Here's a version that you can play with a regular deck of cards.

Overheard @ Trop's

Finally, some breathing room

I've really dropped the ball on blogging. I've sucked at following everyone's blogs too.

It's been an intense consulting cycle. In fact, it was so stressful that one of the people I work with is currently on a 30-day medical leave-of-absence. She completely buckled under the pressure.

I had my moments, but managed to pull through.

At the beginning of the cycle I decided to completely overhaul the deliverable. I made a lot of changes that our clients really like and will save me a lot of time. But like any upgrade, there were some kinks and bugs along the way. That didn't help stress levels.

And then we had some unusual challenges too.

We're through the worst of it. And now I just have to cross my fingers and hope the wrecked economy doesn't render everything I've done useless. The credit crunch is squeezing families hard. I'm in the predicting business, and it's hard to predict anything with any certainty these days.

The good news is, I automated so many tasks that project completion time has gone from 160 hours to about 40 hours. Doing the math, that's like getting a $60 per hour raise (I get paid by the project, not by the hour).

Score one for slackers like me.

Those of you savvy enough to do the math backwards and guesstimate my annual income, well, good for you. If your calculations are correct you'll find that I'm not getting rich doing this. I'm not even breaking even with my community college salary just yet. But I could get rich doing this. And that excites me. I may want a simple life, but I'm not opposed to getting rich either. I will have earned it.

Nevertheless, I am my own brand of slacker. Just in time for spring, I'm not having to be at the computer so much. I won't have any income for the next month or two, but that's just fine by me. I'm ready to relax, read books, volunteer (Meals on Wheels needs drivers), and start working on those buff arms I promised myself on NYE.

So while the R&R will be very good for me, it's not going to be especially good for blogging. I'll Tweet every now and again.

Tip of the day

This won't be confused for one of Weese's tips.


HOW TO CLEAN A TOILET

Put both lids of the toilet up. Then add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.

The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a power-wash and rinse.

Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.

Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

HAT TIP

How to entertain a fried brain

My secret

Court LOVES to read Post Secret every week. This week as she was reading it, she accused me of sending in this postcard.

This reminds me of someone

The 8 Phases of Dating















Hat Tip

R E A L L Y slow on the uptake

All this talk of squirrel and I'm just now giggling at this:


I once lived in a place called Squirrel Hill.

Meet Lizzy

Sign Sign everywhere a sign

H/T: TheMishMash.