Entertainment | Piss and Moan

Bah Humbug!

Posted on December 25, 2019 by backuphill

I don’t want to get up. I’m a Toys-R-Us kid…and Toys-R-Us really isn’t even a thing any more.

It’s too early and there are no toys under the tree for me.

There is no snow. This isn’t Christmas without snow.

Why is everyone making so much noise? I am trying to sleep in here.

Do we have any real food? I am tired of eating Christmas cookies and fudge for every meal and snack.

Put up the decorations…and tomorrow take them down. What a waste of time!

It’s a good thing Costco already has exercise equipment for sale. I can remind myself of what I should be doing, but won’t be.

Finally, the mall Christmas soundtrack can leave repeat and be given a rest. Three months of Christmas music is enough.

Got a “bah-humbug” phrase or statement to add? Share it in the comments.

400

Posted on December 24, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com

That’s a pretty round number.

This post right here, this one, makes 400.

Hard to believe I have 400 posts, Pissing and Moaning about all kinds of things. I guess I have a lot to complain about. Maybe I really am Scrooge. Maybe I really am the Grinch. Maybe I live “Bah Humbug” every day of the year.

Maybe not.

All I know is that 400 posts ago I had a lot to say. I have Pissed and Moaned a lot of it out. But I am not done. Maybe I’ll just take a pause from it over the next two days.

Maybe not.

In the mirror

Posted on December 13, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Drigo Diniz on Pexels.com

Every stand in front of the mirror and wonder, “What happened?”

I mean, this is starting to become a regular occurrence for me. So, I wonder if others have a similar experience any time they are in front of a mirror.

I am not a good judge of myself, at least when it comes to appearance. I’ll say that right off the top. I am hard on myself. But, to be honest, I haven’t ever though that I fall in the “attractive” category. “OK” at best, but probably mostly “Fair” would be safe.

Anyway, the bathroom is becoming my enemy. Well, any place that has a mirror, but mostly the bathroom. Or, you could probably include any picture of me. Those suck too, but that’s a whole other story.

So, morning and night starts and ends in the bathroom for me. I have to “put in my eyes,” as I like to say it, in the morning and “take out my eyes” at night. Blind as a bat…but that too is a post for another day.

I watch my body change. I watch my face change. I watch what “used to be” become my “new normal” and I just wonder, “What the hell happened?” My face could scare small children (and likely does…though it doesn’t crack the mirror so maybe it isn’t that bad…) and my body could be used as a boat anchor, only I probably would still float too well. Aches appear from nowhere. Creaks and pops from the joints that used to be flexible and nimble. Bumps, lines, and spots appear on my face as though I am trying to win a topographical map contest. I stare at it and it stares back. Only the gaze that comes back is different than the one previously.

Age. Is. Unkind. It can’t be denied and it can’t be avoided. I guess there is some control over how it happens and how gracefully you can handle it, but in the end the end still comes.

Some days though, I can’t help but dislike what I see.

Viewing issues

Posted on December 11, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“Want to watch a show?”

“Sure.”

“Let me see what I can find.”

Anyone who travels outside of the US have any issues viewing television or movies on your preferred viewing platform?

When I was in Canada a few weeks ago I was going to try to catch up on a TV show that I watch when I went to Hulu and couldn’t get it to play my shows. I could get to the screen to launch the show, but as soon as you get to the page that typically has the episodes listed it didn’t display any episodes. Was this an issue with Hulu? Was it because it was a TV show?

I didn’t have any issues with Netflix or Disney+, just Hulu (and I didn’t try Amazon Prime).

It just seemed very weird to me as I would have thought that I would be able to access the content no matter where I was in the world. Maybe I was wrong.

What say you, oh world of wise tech folks and blogging friends?

Dear Readers

Posted on November 28, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

My Dear Readers,

As I pause a moment to give thanks for all that I have been given (I have not visited my computer this morning), I have to remember you.

It is because of you that we have created a little community where I have a voice to complain about things in my life, life in general, things in your lives, society, people, culture, smart and stupid people, and the list goes on…etc., etc., etc.

Essentially, you have allowed me to be your voice and in turn it has given me a voice too. I can’t always express the way I feel or think to the people who occupy my everyday life, so this has been an outlet for my frustration (and dare I say, anger?)

Some of what we talk about around here is for real and some of it is just for fun. Either way, it gives me something new to do each day in the hopes of entertaining you…or giving you something to ponder…or maybe giving you a silent fist bump knowing someone out there feels a little like you do.

So, I humbly say thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

With gratitude,

The Chief Grump

Get off

Posted on November 15, 2019 by backuphill

bird s eye view photography of road in the middle of desert

Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery on Pexels.com

“Get off me!”

Every hear anyone yell that at someone?

Of course you have! You may have even yelled it yourself.

Well, today, it is so busy I just want to yell it at life.

Seriously, Life, get off me.

I have enough stuff to do without you bothering me, which is why this post is so late today….

GET OFF ME!

Admission

Posted on November 1, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Anthony on Pexels.com

OK, I’ll admit it.

It’s hard for some to admit, because of their age, and likely it has also been hard for me too, but I have come to the realization that I jut have to admit it. I am 47, and coming up on 48 rather quickly and it is time for me to put it out there.

I like to play video games.

Well, let me rephrase that.

I like to play FPS (first person shooter) games.

Specifically, I really like the Call of Duty and Modern Warfare games. I have also played games in the Halo series (these were really what got me hooked), a few of the Ghost Recon series, and some in the Far Cry series. But, I would have to say my favorites out of all the games (at least of late) are Call of Duty:WWII, Call of Duty: Black OPs IIII, and now the new Modern Warfare.

Why? I don’t know really. I like the stories. I like the competition. I like the shooting and the challenges they pose. I like the temporary escape of being able to do something mindless for a while.

Am I a violent person? No. Do I know they aren’t real? Yes. Do they make me want to be violent? No. Do I know the difference between real and fantasy? Yes. Do I believe that it has desensitized me to violence? No.

Do I waste time doing it? Yes. Are there better things I probably could be doing? Yes. Do I care? No. I am able to balance my time and allot free time as necessary while still maintaining my responsibilities.

Am I very good at it? No. Am I competitive? Yes. Do I play competitively? No. I like the feeling of being able to improve and it is really a competition against myself and my own skills rather than other people, though I do play online with other live players.

Am I out of the ordinary? Maybe; but I have a feeling I am not.

What do you think? Am I alone in this enjoyment? Are there others of you out there that are “old” like me but still like to play video games? If so, what do you enjoy playing?

Irresponsible reporting

Posted on October 31, 2019 by backuphill

Fire Halloween

Of all the shots that could have been used in this package that showed up on Good Morning America yesterday, they choose this one? Real nice.

Anyone else notice what is in the picture above?

If you missed it the first time, I highlighted it. This still is from a video that was on the news yesterday morning. I am sure there were thousands of other shots they could have edited into this package, but they chose this one? Why?

Sensationalism. Pure and simple.

I don’t know if the skull is real or not. It probably isn’t. It could be a Halloween decoration. But, what if it isn’t? Maybe more to the point, what if there are actually people killed in these wildfires? How does that make a family who lost a loved one feel if they see something like this?

“Keeping it classy” is something the media has totally lost.

We can hope and wish they would do better, but until people stop watching it won’t change.

You can do better ABC, Good Morning America, and reporters.

No thanks

Posted on September 19, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Linda Eller-Shein on Pexels.com

I briefly considered a title of “Oh Hell No!”

This is just not OK.

There are some things in this life that should just be left alone. This movie happens to be one of them. Don’t even think about touching it!

News came out yesterday that talked of a remake, a reboot, a redo of The Princess Bride. Something about “famous people” or “big names” wanting to be a part of it. Obviously this is a ploy to add their names to the lore of the movie, to ride the coattails of a classic film that was perfect the first (AND ONLY) time.

I am not having it. It better not happen.

Cary Elwes’ response via Twitter was EPIC!! It expresses perfectly what nearly all fans of the movie are feeling.

Honestly, there can never be a remake of this. If there is, I hope it is boycotted to no end. I hope the studio that produces it takes a bath from cost overruns, production snafus, marketing blunders, etc., etc., etc. Seriously. I could wish nothing but ill-will on such a venture. If any endeavor should fail, it should be this one.

I feel that strongly about this classic movie.

“Hello. My name is ___________________. You messed the wrong movie. Prepare to die.”

Over/Under

Posted on September 18, 2019 by backuphill

If you are betting person, you probably think this is about something you do. It isn’t. I am not really a betting person, but I’ll take the Over on the fact that you likely have an opinion on today’s topic. Almost everyone does, they just might not like to admit it.

It goes a little like this…

You walk into the room. You really aren’t paying but you find a seat and go about your business. As you finish, you notice the toilet paper is wrong. Wrong, as in someone has put the roll in backwards. You try to ignore it but you just can’t. You have to try and switch it so it meets your preference. Over or Under.

I had to deal with this in my own house recently. Someone who doesn’t live here put the new roll of toilet paper into the dispenser the wrong way. I immediately had to fix it. I couldn’t even start the process by sitting down first.

Me? Well, I prefer Over. It is, after all, the only right way to do it.

How about you? Does the Over/Under bother you? Do you have a hard time resisting fixing it, even in someone else’s house?

**PSA: Parents, if you are teaching your children the Under, you are doing it wrong. Please don’t subject the rest of the public to your malfeasance. No one, especially your children, deserves that kind of abuse.