Dreams

For the last month or so I've been having dreams much more frequently than usual.

That's fine.

The dreams have all (at least all of the ones I'm able to remember) been good ones- some "great" ones- been about the same person.

My question is, why?

What should I read into this? Anything? Nothing?

Things I wonder about...

• Will another movie I want to see ever be released?
• When and under what circumstances should "cash value" trump "sentimental value?"
• How do you "unfriend" somebody in the real world?
  
• Does she still have the key? Has she ever thought about using it?
• What should I do with my IRS refund when I get it?
• Will I ever not be tired?
• As I get older, shouldn't my attention span be getting longer?

There's more, I'm sure of it, I just kind of lost my train of thought...

The Christmas Betting Line Results

Well, let's see how I did:

George Foreman Grill with removable plates.

I struck out on this one last year, but this year my mother has all but told me outright that she's going to get it for me, so: 100%

Winner- I've already used it twice since Christmas Day!

A subscription to Consumer Reports

I know, it's a nerdy thing to ask for...it's not expensive, somewhat practical, and easy to pawn off on somebody outside my immediate family, so: 50%.

Winner- I'll be waiting by the mailbox for the first issue to show up!

Western Mass Pioneers Season Tickets

This is one of those things I was planning to buy for myself, so I thought there was no harm in asking...just in case. Still, there a bit pricey, can't be ordered online, etc., so: 1%

Winner- I think. I didn't think I'd get it, and I didn't.

FIFA 2010 for PS3

Last year I was certain that I wasn't going to get the 2009 version, but my brother and sister in-law came through, so I'll count on that again: 75%

Loser- I was pretty confident that I'd get this, and I didn't.

New York by Eduard Rutherfurd

It's a book. People like to buy me books, so: 100%

Push- I didn't get it as a gift, but I used one of the Amazon gift cards I received to purchase it.

Socks

What?! Why pay for them myself? I asked for a specific brand in a specific color, they're cheap and easy to get, so: 100%

Winner- it's always nice when I don't have to spend my money on "necessities."

Printer Cartridges

Expensive. Boring. Didn't want to buy them myself if I didn't need to. I'm not expecting them unless my brother can find a "deal" on them, so 5%

Winner- I didn't think I'd get them, and I didn't.

IKEA Gift Card

I don't even know if they have gift cards at IKEA, so 1%

Loser- this is one that I'm happy to lose. Unfortunately it means a two hour drive to the nearest IKEA as they sell only a few of their products on line.

Well, there we are, maybe my best year yet. 5 wins, 1 push, and 2 losses.

Other cool stuff I received:

• A coffee table book of film noir posters.
• A new digital watch
• A DVD of Blackboard Jungle
• A $25 iTunes gift card
• My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black
• A subscription to Outside magazine
  

I think I'm in love...

Imelda May

• Looks like a pin-up girl? Check.

• Sings rockabilly and blues music? Check.

• Delightful Irish accent? Check.

Jeepers.

I may already have said this...

...but it's worth repeating:

I really can't stand Meryl Streep.

The Christmas Betting Line

Welcome to the Third Annual Christmas Betting Line Spectacular!

I've done "okay" with my prognostications the first two times, but this year could be a bit more difficult. While I did make a list for my mom- as she requires- it was also farmed out to my siblings and other family members who are far less predictable than my beloved mother. Still, I will do my best.

The only change this year is that I'm going to express the chances of receiving the gifts in question in terms of percentages.

George Foreman Grill with removable plates.

I struck out on this one last year, but this year my mother has all but told me outright that she's going to get it for me, so: 100%

A subscription to Consumer Reports

I know, it's a nerdy thing to ask for...it's not expensive, somewhat practical, and easy to pawn off on somebody outside my immediate family, so: 50%.

Western Mass Pioneers Season Tickets

This is one of those things I was planning to buy for myself, so I thought there wa no harm in asking...just in case. Still, there a bit pricey, can't be ordered online, etc., so: 1%

FIFA 2010 for PS3

Last year I was certain that I wasn't going to get the 2009 version, but my brother and sister in-law came through, so I'll count on that again: 75%

New York by Eduard Rutherfurd

It's a book. People like to buy me books, so: 100%

Socks

What?! Why pay for them myself? I asked for a specific brand in a specific color, they're cheap and easy to get, so: 100%

Printer Cartridges

Expensive. Boring. Didn't want to buy them myself if I didn't need to. I'm not expecting them unless my brother can find a "deal" on them, so 5%

IKEA Gift Card

I don't even know if they have gift cards at IKEA, so 1%

I'll be back after Christmas to let you know how I did this year.

2009: A Partial Reading List

Here are the books I read during the past year and those I should have wrapped up before 2010.

Done

• Death on the Cheap: The Lost B Movies of Film Noir by Arthur Lyons
• The Film Noir Reader: Volume 2 edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini
  
• Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unkown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist by Thomas Levenson
• The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps edited by Otto Penzler
• Fright by Cornell Woolrich
• The Dead Man's Brother by Roger Zelanzy
• The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake
• House Dick by E. Howard Hunt
• Casino Moon by Peter Blauner
• Fake I.D. by Jason Starr
• The Criminal by Jim Thompson
• The Getaway by Jim Thompson
  
• Roughneck by Jim Thompson
• The Nothing Man by Jim Thompson
  
• Passport to Peril by Robert B. Parker
• Stop This Man by Peter Rabe
• Losers Live Longer by Russell Atwood
• Honey in His Mouth by Lester Dent
• Quarry in the Middle by Max Allan Collins
• The Galton Case by Ross MacDonald
• The Blue Hammer by Ross MacDonald
• The Way Some People Die by Ross MacDonald
• The Ivory Grin by Ross MacDonald
• The Doomsters by Ross MacDonald
• The Barbarous Coast by Ross MacDonald
• The Instant Enemy by Ross Mac Donald
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
  
• The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
  
• The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
  
• Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
• The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss
• Drood by Dan Simmons
• The Professional by W.C. Heinz
• Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer by Chris Salewicz
• Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
• The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain
  

In progress or about to be:

• Europe by Norman Davies
• 2066 by Roberto Bolano
  
• The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco
• Black Angel by Cornell Woolrich
• The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Corpse Wore Pasties by Jonny Porkpie
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

That's not everything, but it's probably pretty close- there are probably a few from late 2008 on here and there are certainly some from this year that I've forgotten. Not a bad year overall.

Items of note

Every once in a while I need to clear the decks, so here we go!

• Is my right knee becoming arthritic? Could be.
• I need to start writing again.
• Today's mail brought an issue of Rolling Stone that reviews the best albums, songs, etc. of the decade- it was worse than I thought. Yeesh.
  
• I dawned on me today (yesterday?) that every woman I've ever dated has been smart- very smart, some even smarter than me! I've always assumed that this was a good thing, but give my, um, history, I'm beginning to have second thoughts.
• I need a vacation. A long, far away vacation. I'm going to be going to Florida again in the spring, and I'll have fun, but it won't be long enough and it's not far away enough.
  
• I've said it once and I'll say it again, I HATE being sick. I'm not saying there's anybody who actually likes it, but I feel like it highlights every negative facet of my personality, and that's not good for anyone.
• I'm still not a fan of poetry, but Walt Whitman is growing on me. Don't tell my dad, though, I can't bear to see the look of self-satisfaction that will affix itself to his face.
• After a couple of years of failure, I have once again been able to complete all of my Christmas shopping from the comfort of my couch and without having to talk to anyone.
• In addition to the one book I'm reading, I have a stack of four more waiting for me and another one on the way to me from Amazon. Sweet.

Well, there's actually more, but I've got things to do...

Another reason to watch Crime Story

Pam Grier.

Make with the sympathy!

I've had two days off (one being Thanksgiving) since November 10th.

I'm tired.