SNOW!

Right now as I look out the window it is snowing. The lovely, cold white specks of crystallized frozen water is falling from the sky. It is slowly gathering in a fine dusting on the grass, pavement and vehicles. Ice is starting to form.

The flakes are twisting and turning as they fall to the ground.
more...

Posted by: Contagion at 12:34 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 *snicker, snicker*

Posted by: oddybobo at November 16, 2005 11:13 AM (6Gm0j)

2 Yay, you!

Unfortunately, where I live in NC, all the cold weather comes in from the west and northwest, so it has ZERO moisture in it. Hence, we hardly ever get snow, but we get the cold. I ask you, what fun is cold without snow?

The next couple days that weather you've got is headed our way. It's supposed to be in the 20s -- but there's 0% chance of anything even remotely resembling precipitation. I don't get the watch anyone slip on ice.

Posted by: Ogre at November 16, 2005 11:17 AM (/k+l4)

3 See...THIS is why we are friends. We balance each other out.

I'm sitting in my house, with one blanket over my legs another around my shoulders just trying to warm up from being outside.

I'll get used to it. It'll all be better in, oh about 6 months!! ;-)

Posted by: Tammi at November 16, 2005 08:29 PM (7Mb5L)

4 I don't know what I am going to do with this 78 degree weather we are having. Geeze. Guess I need to take the kids out to play some more. ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at November 17, 2005 10:33 AM (2+gaO)

5 Wow! Contagion waxes poetic!

i'm afraid. ;-)

Posted by: Wes at November 19, 2005 12:52 AM (XKQLY)

6 And then I read "the rest of the story" (flakes = minions = flakes).....

*playing at home* :-P

Posted by: Wes at November 19, 2005 01:00 AM (XKQLY)

7 *biffs VW with snowball*

Posted by: Harvey at November 19, 2005 11:31 AM (ubhj8)

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I abhor when people talk about others behind their backs. IÂ’m not completely innocent of this myself, and I generally donÂ’t like myself for a while after IÂ’ve done it. I try my hardest to say only things about a person that I would and do say to their face. Through various experiences in my life IÂ’ve learned that when ever you talk about someone behind their back, it always gets back to the person.

The only thing that makes it worse is when “friends” talk about other “friends” behind their backs. Is that person really your friend if you are talking about them behind their back? What if it was your friend talking about you? Those people really, truly are not your friend.

How about if you are sitting in a room and other people are talking about a mutual friend, do you join in or not? Do you tell the person what was said or do you try to forget about it? Usually, I sit there and try not to say anything or just try to ignore the conversation. (TV comes in handy at these points) After the conversation, the next time I see my friend I don’t tell them what was said. Why? Because it can be hurtful. At this point in time, I’m thinking of changing my policy. I’m thinking that as a friend I should tell that person that someone is gossiping about them. Currently I believe the person should know what kind of “friends” they have.

I’m sure most of you have figured out what the origin of this post is. You would be correct; I found out that some “friends” have been talking about me behind my back. Right now, I don’t have all the details, but enough to know that it isn’t pleasant. Now I’m torn. I’ve known these people for quite a few years and counted them as some very close friends. What they are talking about is just absolutely asinine, and in one case an incorrect interpretation of events. I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do about it, but I have some ideas.

The one IÂ’m leaning toward is just to sever the friendships and go on with life. ItÂ’ll suck loosing some friends, but I can make more. Technically, I think IÂ’m over my quota of the amount of friends I can socialize with anywayÂ… IÂ’m shy and not much of a people person anyway. Part of me doesnÂ’t want to loose these friendships, but another part says this has been going on for a while and itÂ’s not going to stop. After everything, can it ever truly be repaired, will I ever trust these people again? Many of the people IÂ’m talking about read this blog both regularly and intermediately. If this post hits a little close to home, then it probably applies to you. The next time I see you after I decided what I'm going to do, IÂ’ll return the knife that is sticking in my back.

All I can think of right now is one of my favorite toasts: HereÂ’s to you, hereÂ’s to me. Friends forever we shall be. But if once we disagree, Fuck you and hereÂ’s to me.

But IÂ’m curious, if you where in my shoes, what would you do? IÂ’m not saying IÂ’ll follow your advice, but IÂ’m curious to see if maybe IÂ’m over reacting.

Posted by: Contagion at 12:53 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 I'm not one for giving advice in this kind of situation. I generally blow up, throw out some creative Fuck YOU!'s and push ALL the buttons before walking out, leaving a vast wasteland of devastation behind me.

But seriously, I think that if it's YOU being talked about (rather than hearing someone talk about a friend), you deserve some sort of confrontation. Even just asking "I heard that you said XYZ about me. Do you honestly believe that? If so why are you still friends with me, better yet, why didn't you ask me about it?" Or something like that, and let them try to talk their way out of the hole of their own making.

It sucks when your friends get drunk and talk shit about you just 'cause you couldn't make it to the party.

Posted by: caltechgirl at November 03, 2005 11:43 AM (/vgMZ)

2 Well hell, I'm mostly upset now that I wasn't included in the gossip circle
I dono about this one. I mean, even really close friends have opinions about different aspects of people - hell, I know damned well there are aspects of my personality that my friends find awkward but I like to think that they don't care and overlook crap like that. Everybody has their quirks.
But I think my reaction might depend on if the rumors were based on actual *concern* from that friend (aka regardless of if they have it right or not, they think there are things I'm doing that definately aren't in my best interests - but they weren't comfortable in talking to me about it directly), or if it's just spiteful shit.

Posted by: S at November 03, 2005 12:09 PM (sSJ79)

3 I don't have this problem. You see, I hate people. I don't care if they talk behind my back. Of course, that might be why I don't have any friends, but that's ok because I wouldn't like them anyway.

Posted by: Ogre at November 03, 2005 01:00 PM (/k+l4)

4 Hmm let's see...
I call you a dick, asshole, and sociopathic bastard...

Nope, I say that shit to your face all the time, I'm, clear..

Seriously though, I have a pretty clear idea of what (and who) you're talking about. I don't know what to tell you. I have a bad habit of talking shit behind people's back myself, but if it's the people I think you're referencing they take it to an art form.

Posted by: Graumagus at November 03, 2005 02:22 PM (98II9)

5 First I was going to ask where you heard it from... but after Grau's comment - I'm going to take it that the gossipy crap really did happen. (Had a friend once who was told that someone said XYZ about her... came to find out that - it was untrue - the person who told her was trying to start trouble... this was at her church - which made me laugh)

Anyhow - if it is as Grau says and you believe then you can do one of two things. Either ignore it and withdraw from contact as much as possible with these people. (I know passive as hell - but no harsh words are exchanged) Or you can confront them and tell them you know what's being said and you prefer not to have any dealings with them in the future. (who knows what this will get you) It really depends on how much you need to interact with them on a regular basis... I mean - if it's a work thing and you need for them to do stuff for you... they can really screw with your job if you are starkly confrontational.

But I would NOT continue on with a regular friendship with any of them. You will always wonder what they are saying about you behind your back. That is no way to live... far too stressful. (in that you'll constantly feel like punching them when you see them *grin*)

Good Luck!

Posted by: Teresa at November 03, 2005 04:05 PM (FZwDL)

6 Hey Herkimer - the more I think about it, the more I opt for punching! That and instead of handing their knife back to them, throw it at sensitive body parts . . . and if that doesn't work, wait till they fall asleep and do this: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/5235856/detail.html
Only, leave out the lover part, cause that is just gay!

Posted by: oddybobo at November 03, 2005 04:19 PM (6Gm0j)

7 I don't know you well, but I would have to say give it a little time. Once you let the rage and hurt sit a little, you may have a different perspective on it. If not, well I just don't know. Good luck.

Posted by: Sarah at November 03, 2005 04:31 PM (EBiKs)

8 Fuck them and here's to you.
Carry on my good man.

Posted by: spurs at November 03, 2005 04:37 PM (tdOZ4)

9 ALWAYS a tough situation...and one I've found myself in a couple of times. I have to be honest. I'm a confronter. I call them on it - be it business or personal. THEN..if it's personal I sever the friendship. I can't trust 'em...there is no friendship.

But that's just me.

I'm just damn sorry it happened to you.

Posted by: Tammi at November 03, 2005 06:49 PM (LU5am)

10 ... two words.. confront them... trashing someone behind their backs is just cowardly and wrong...

Posted by: Eric at November 04, 2005 08:08 AM (uHA2j)

11 I'm seconding Caltechgirl's advice.

Ask the person if what you heard about what they said is true.

Gives them a change to explain, clarify, apologize, or defend. After all, it's possible the rumors you're upset about are false or out of context.

On the other hand, this takes time, and your time is valuable. Avoiding them takes less of it.

Your call.

Posted by: Harvey at November 05, 2005 02:59 PM (ubhj8)

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In the comments of my Halloween Questions post, Spurs asked me how I made a high school student piss himself. Since IÂ’m just a minor blog, and have six daily readers, and nine regulars, I feel the need to fulfill requests when they are asked of meÂ… depending on what they are.

I have three styles of scaring people that I prefer. The style I use most is what I call the “Creep and Leap”. This is when your “victim” knows you are there and can see you. Some people sit in chairs and pretend they are a scarecrow; I walk around trying to intimidate the mark first. You are “creeping” through the area and making them nervous. It’s easiest to read your mark using this method to see if you are getting to them at all. Once you feel the timing is right, you make your move or “Leap” at them. Some sudden movement and sound is usually enough to get them to jump, scream or both. This method tends to work best on the timid and females. Guys tend just to buck up and save face.

The next method is what I call the “Lurk and Lunge”. This is similar to the above creep and leap, except that you remain hidden (Inside a coffin, behind a door, etc), out of site so your mark has no idea that you are there. I lurk in the shadows or behind large objects like bushes and vehicles. When the person least expects it you lunge at them screaming like a madman. You can get a good scare using this tactic. The problem is that it’s hard to hand out candy AND do this.

The last method I use, which to me is the most difficult to get right, is the “Stalk and shock”. This is where after the person has turned their back on you, you just follow them, many times, they will be involved with talking to their friends or looking at what goody they were given. Then when they either turn around or you finally make a noise you can get them to jump right out of their skin. This works best if they are walking away from your house and feel “safe” from you. That is when you get the best reaction.

Now the incident at hand happened 2-3 years ago, so some of the details may be a little off.

For years, IÂ’ve decorated my front yard as a cemetery with realistic looking tombstones, fog machines, a life size realistic skeleton hanging from a poleaxe, a realistic zombie, severed heads, arms, hands, fog machines. I have a free flowing ghost that glows and moves about in my upstairs window, death on the back porch moving in a strobe light, various skulls, rats, bats, spiders, etc. I dress up as a demon lord of the Abyss, complete with a sub-professional form-fitting mask, demon hands that elongate my fingers and shoe covers that make my feat look skeletal. Every year I receive many compliments from people on how the house and I look. If I had, any pictures turn out this year IÂ’ll post some when I get them.

I roam around the graveyard, run the fog machine, hang out on our large front porch, hand out candy and scare the bejeebus out of people that are over the age of 10. I absolutely refuse intentionally to scare little kids; IÂ’ll take my mask off if they do get scared.

When I’m creeping about, I always look at people’s reactions to things to see if I can get a good scare out of them. Their screams in the night is like crack to an addict. I had just finished handing out candy to some kids when I see a group of four high schoolers coming towards my house, two boys and two girls. I figured the girls would be easy marks, as generally females scare easier… but scaring a guy is much more satisfying. It was too late for me to try to hide, so I pumped up the fog machine and engulfed the yard/porch in fog. As they came up the porch the girls were acting timid, but the boys were being were being “tough” and protecting the girls.

EhÂ… Fine. There is the next group. After I gave them their candy, (I give candy to anyone that shows up at my door in costume, I donÂ’t care if they are in their 50Â’s. If you took the time to put on a costume, then IÂ’ll give you candy. No costume, no candy.) I looked and saw no other groups where heading my way.

What the hell, the worst that will happen is I don’t get any reaction and waste my time. As the group left, girls side by side followed by guys side by side, I silently followed them down off my porch with my Trident (Plastic tip on a hoe handle to make it life size) and a severed arm. I’m quietly stalking behind the boys down my sidewalk to the street. I hear one boy say to the other how lame my display was. At that point, I’m half a step behind them.I thrust my trident with the severed arm impaled on it right between the boys into the middle of the group. In a raspy voice I loudly hissed, “This is what happened to the last person that ridiculed my domain”.

All four jumped and screamed. However, the boy that called the display lame must have had to go to the bathroom a while as a wet spot quickly formed in his groin region. SCORE!!!!! Not only did I get a four for one, but also I actually made a guy piss himself. I pointed towards his crotch and said, “Sorry about that” as I walked back to the porch to get ready for the next kids. I could hear the other guy and the girls make fun of him and rightly so. Being scared is one thing… pissing yourself is another.

Posted by: Contagion at 12:53 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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