here's a long palendrome

Go hang a salami, i'm a lasagna hog

happy festivus

It freaks people out these days when you say "Merry Christmas". While I'm all for other people's rights and junk like that, I'm wondering why we're so afraid to say "Merry Christmas" to anyone anymore. I said it to the lady at the Tim's drivethru last week and I thought she was going to fall out of the window.

Come to think of it, rarely did I receive the politically correct "Happy Holidays" salutation. Perhaps everyone is so screwed up by the political correctness of everything that they've just decided that it's better not to say anything at all.

Happy Festivus!

i keep messin' with the title of my blog

I sincerely thought I was going to be sticking with macromcallister... but, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that the title was inaccurate, because after all, I'm constantly examining life in microscopic detail. And besides, micromcallister actually sounds like my name (michael mcallister for those who are left scratching your heads over that one, although no one except my Dad ever calls me Michael anymore).

To put a stop to the everchanging blog title / domain naming fiasco my faithful readership is going through, I think I need to make a formal committment to micromcallister... therefore, I hope to register it as a vanity domain name soon... after all, everyone has their own domain name, right?

manly men need not fret

Today, I did something that puts for some, will put into question my sexuality. While some already suspect that I'm a bit light in the loafers (not that there is anything wrong with that), I for one do not doubt my affection for the fairer sex. Be advised however, that after reading this, you may put my lifestyle choices into question.

(For those of you who are thinking the fairer sex is male, you would be incorrect.)

At the behest of my wife Martine, I took a trip to a local proprietor through who's doors I did not ever think I would step.

Wait for it.... (warning: please refrain from shrieking aloud or laughing uproariously if you in a work environment)... I have had my first ever manicure. I must state that this was an interesting, and surprisingly delightful experience. Every gentleman should be so fortunate to experience that portion of the manicure that witnesses the hand massage. I am quite fortunate that this isn't tantamount to cheating on one's wife, for I would be guilty as charged.

For those of you who know me well, you'll likely be aware that I bite my fingernails. A disgusting habit, one that I have had since grade school. The purpose of the manicure is to support my latest personal challenge - to stop biting my nails. Matthew is to turn five next week, and I've realized for a while now that he picks up on pretty much everything we do - from language to computer skills. So, I'm thinking that if he doesn't see me biting my nails, he may not start. He still may one day, but, he may not. And besides, if I no longer do it I demonstrate to him that even the weakest of minds can overcome such habits.

It's early days yet, so we'll see if I can stay the course, but I felt that the manicure would appeal to my fastidious nature, and that once applied, I would be adverse to disturbing the fine work of the esthetician. We shall see.

Dandy out.

back from st. lucia!

After a week of sunning it up in St. Lucia, Martine and I are back to life in the Great White North. Oddly, when we returned on Saturday night at 1.30 AM, there was virtually no snow to speak of. This matter was quickly rectified with a dump of 12 centimeters on Sunday evening. On the bright side, it did make things feel a bit more like Christmas, especially after coming from 30 degree weather at the resort.

There are many stories that I will relate regarding the trip, which will be published here soon. Highlights included long uninterrupted periods of sleep, sailing hobie cats, drinking, lounging by the pool, eating, playing nine holes of golf in oppressive humidity, sleeping some more, drinking by the pool, eating meals without having to prompt each other to "stop playing with your food and eat your dinner". You get the idea. We did miss the kids, no doubt, but we did resist the urge to call home during the week away.

Giving that we've missed a week of Christmas preparation, we're trying to figure out exactly when we can get a Christmas tree - we're off to Val d'Or this weekend, so that leaves us precious little time to go out to one of the tree farms to cut one down. Perhaps a Christmas Eve chop session would be in order. In the meantime, we still have do the traditional Christmas card mailing (despite the convenience of electronic communication we're still going old school with the snail mailers), wrap presents, fete Matthew's birthday at the glow in the dark miniputt joint, and find the time to distribute some paper bag candle thingies that I'm trying to start a street tradition with...

Good thing we're all relaxed from the vacation, because with out it, I may lost my mind by this point. If I haven't already.

Lates.