I've finally decided that it's time to stop worrying about making entries here.

I like Xanga for the networking/keeping-in-touch aspect, but that's about it.  I've cleaned out my Photobucket account, so that essentially means that every image I've ever posted here has been obliterated.  The text will remain, but most anything associated with a picture of some sort will be totally out-of-context and make no sense whatsoever.

I'm not leaving Xanga, and I'll still use it to keep up with the goings-on of those that are still here, but from here on out any updates on my life happenings will be posted at my deviantART gallery or here:

Thanks for the memories, mah frens.  Well, what few of you remain here, anyway.

So, my parents had some neighbors across the street who were working on an old victorian house.  The place was a real wreck when they bought it, so I'm not sure why they just didn't tear the place down and start from scratch.  But little by little they were working some miracles with it.

Well, I got an e-mail from my mother this morning.  She said she woke up to red light all over her living room, looked out the window, and saw that same victorian with flames shooting clear out the top.  To add insult to injury, the owners were never able to get insurance for the house, and had put another $50K into fixing it up.  The result?  An utter and complete loss.  Fortunately, they're vacationing in Florida right now, so nobody was injured in the fire.  They have a house down there which has been on the market for the last two years without a sale, so they at least have a place they can live in.  It's just too bad they can't be where they really want to be now.

I'm not sure how the fire happened happened yet.  I'm waiting to hear back from Mom, but if you have room in your hearts for complete strangers, please keep Greg, Tammy and Toby in your prayers.  They're really good people, and it's a damned shame that this had to happen to them. :(

So the birds turned out to be a big, fat scam.  Oh well!  The fact that my mother was making such a sudden decision was making me nervous, anyway.

This has been a stunning night.  Damn...

First of all, if you didn't watch the opening ceremonies for the '08 Olympics, you missed one hell of a show.  I don't care what your political stance is on the situation over there, you can't deny the fact that these people are stand-out performers.  Just look at these stinking gorgeous shots.

On top of that, I got a call from my mom saying that she and Dad are gonna drive out tomorrow to adopt a pair of Hyacinth Macaws.  Good lord, I thought she just wanted another bird Charlie's size or smaller.  Instead they're getting two enormous ones.  Exciting, but holy cow!  And I was nervous about the fact that I'd have to inherit one big loudmouth parrot.