Hamming Cheese...

I know fantastical isn't a word. I first coined it when I was talking about the author Dean Koontz. I forget the book title but I enjoyed his character development and his writing style but then at the end, I just thought it was too fantastic to be true. Fantastic as 'based on or existing only in fantasy; unreal'. But fantastic didn't seem to instill that too unbelievable feel that I had of the ending, I didn't want fantastic to be confused with 'wonderful or superb; remarkable', so I said fantastical. Too science fictional type stuff.

But maybe that's just me, so sue me.

Unless your Mr. Koontz, then I loved everything and please don't sue me.

I read another book of his which had similar characters, the main character even had a dog just like the other main character. I thought I was reading the same book.

The first book was "Seize the Night", now that I remember. I forget the second book.
.....

The second book was "Midnight", now that I checked Amazon.

....

I found the pens I like, again. I've been using the same type of pen for the past eleven years. I was having trouble finding them but I found them over the weekend while doing something else.

So now I'm happy.

....

This morning I got this message in an email

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."


All profound, cutesy and stuff right?

So later I sent this reply:

"So, are you saying I have no balls?"

....well, I thought I was funny.

....

Did I mention Dick Blick dot com.

I got my stuff on Saturday, all of it save one item. The packing slip says I got it, the way I count things I did not.

I ordered two pairs of hinges, I got one box with two hinges which, if you are keeping score, equals one pair. I called on Saturday and I was told their system was down. I told them I could call Monday. I called Monday and explained the problem. I said possibly that there was some confusion that the hinges are sold in pairs and not as individual items. I was told that another pair would be shipped today.

Right as rain.

....

I had this urge today to threaten "to ham someone's cheese", as in "I gonna ham your cheese!" (said while shaking my fist in the air). I don't know what that is all about.

I don't even think it's all that threatening.

Sounds rather helpful/generous/tasty.

"You're gonna ham my cheese? Oh, thank you."

I don't think I'm getting enough sleep.

....Maybe I'm not getting enough ham and cheese.