Monday, February 28, 2005

Superhero Poll Results

Here are the results from the first series of Superhero voting. The new Poll includes the top 3 from each Poll box plus the next runner up of all the boxes, which ended up being Elektra. Now we'll get to the bottom of this most important issue! (Honorable mention for Thor. Madley wrote that one in. There was also 1 vote for Isis by Meritt written in.)

Who is your favorite Superhero?

Selection Votes
Isis 0% 0
Firestar 6% 1
Wonder Woman 31% 5
Elektra 13% 2
Jem 0% 0
Buffy The Vampire Slayer 25% 4
The Scarlet Witch 0% 0
Lady Death 0% 0
Witchblade 0% 0
Laura Croft 25% 4

16 votes total

Who is your favorite Superhero?

Selection Votes
Spiderman 21% 3
Superman 14% 2
Daredevil 0% 0
The Hulk 0% 0
The Punisher 29% 4
Iron Fist 14% 2
Captain America 7% 1
Aquaman 7% 1
The Sub-Mariner 0% 0
The Green Lantern 7% 1

14 votes total

Who is your favorite Superhero?

Selection Votes
Batman 13% 2
Blade 7% 1
The Shadow 0% 0
The Ninja Turtles 7% 1
Conan the Barbarian 0% 0
Iron Man 0% 0
The Fantastic Four 7% 1
The X-Men (too mant to list) 40% 6
Angel 27% 4
The Vision 0% 0

15 votes total

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Oscar Night Quick Notes

Ok, Desperate Housewives isn't on tonight because of the Oscars??? An awards show is on and no Eva Longoria fix tonight. That's just wrong! It's just a useless awards show. How annoying.

Damn, is Halle Berry really that beautiful? She's amazing! I just turned to the Housewives channel and there is some kind of pre-Oscar show on. I guess Halle is a pretty good person to see when you are flipping channels. Duh! I believe I'll have to watch this a little.....

Drew Barrymore has red hair now. YB likes!

Cate Blanchett is one of my favorite actresses ever. She is so classy.

Scarlett Johansson is like a real live elf. I mean that in a positive way. She looks so waiflike or something. Almost like she isn't quite real.

Samuel L. Jackson is so cool! Love that guy.

So is Morgan Freeman. I think they said he's nominated for something. Whatever it is, I hope he wins.

Penelope Cruz is a babe. It's even greater that she isn't standing there with that bum Tom Cruise.

Mike Myers' mini interview was quite... boring.

I wonder what it's like to be in that heavy spotlight? I'd like to try it, just once, to see if I could take it.

I also wonder, where is Sandy?

Chris Rock again? He's great, but this stuff isn't. Gotta wonder.

Well, 10 minutes is about all I can take. It's been fun.....

Where Everybody Knows Your Name.....

When I got into Starbuck's this morning, the Manager said hello like always and had already put my order into the register. Then she indicated my two Lattes were sitting on the counter and were ready to go. I laughed when she said she saw me driving across the parking lot and went ahead and made them. I was surprised a little, but I guess I shouldn't be. I do go there every weekend, and sometimes during the week when I'm early in the morning and have time to stop. It just surprised me.

It reminded me of some of the bars I once frequented. There were several that all I had to do was walk in and my beer would be ready and waiting. I always liked that kind of thing. Makes you feel good somehow. One place in particular that I went every Thursday directly after work would have my beer and my California Salad dinner waiting when I got in. It was a Thursday ritual with me and they got used to me showing up at the same time every week. I went there for happy hour, something for dinner and usually would read a book while eating and talking with the bartender, who ended up becoming a friend. After the big crowds would start coming in, I'd leave.

I guess this shows that I am a creature of routine. I think a lot of people have little routines they keep to. It's a comfort of a sort. Rituals and routines are a way to gauge how much time you have available in the day. You know how long it will take you to get ready for going out, how long dinner will take to get over with, yada yada yada. Probably everyone has a few and sometimes they don't realize it until they get altered. Then comes the frustration when your routine gets screwed up by someone interfering. If you alter it, it's OK, but if someone else screws it up, look out. That could be the start of a bad day coming.

I guess I like that the coffee shop knows me that well. It's nice to go where everybody knows your name.....

I wonder about the 'glad you came' part sometimes.....

Friday, February 25, 2005

A Quiz From.... Almost Everyone

I got this from Grace, but I've seen it many places since. I guess I'm behind.


1) WHAT ARE YOUR RANDOM 10 SONGS?

i'm not really sure what this question means... but here goes:

Bruce Springsteen: The River
Gin Blossoms: Found Out About You
Frank Sinatra: New York New York (Go Yanks!)
William Ackerman: Conferring With The Moon
Nirvana: In Bloom
Rush: Time Stand Still
U2: New Years Day
Led Zepplin: Heartbreaker
Blondie: Picture This
Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime

2) WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MUSIC ON YOUR COMPUTER

1 CD. A friends first recording

3) THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?

Frank Sinatra, Fly Me To The Moon.

4) WRITE DOWN 5 SONGS YOU LISTEN TO A LOT OR MEAN A LOT TO YOU

U2: Van Dieman's Land
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
Lana Spence: Don't Wanna Lose You
Child's Play: Wind
Tori Amos: Silent All These Years

***************************************

1) WHAT IS THE GEEKIEST PART OF YOUR BOOK COLLECTION?

A book called "Famous American Speeches".

2) WHAT DID YOU DO ON VALENTINE'S DAY?

Suffered with the flu, both of us.

3) WHAT DID YOU GET ON VALENTINE'S DAY?

More medicine.

4) WHAT IS YOUR SECRET GUARANTEED WEEPING MOVIE?

It's a Wonderful Life.

5) IF YOU COULD HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

Nothing.

6) DO YOU HAVE A COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL FEAR?

I cannot go to bed unless I check to make triple sure every door is locked. I always worry about someone breaking in at night. I have a weapon within arms reach of the bed at all times.

7) WHAT IS THE LITTLE PHYSICAL HABIT THAT GIVES AWAY YOUR INSECURE MOMENTS?

I actually stop talking.

8) DO YOU KNOW ANYONE FAMOUS?

Only Mel. (She's Mega.)

9) WHAT DO YOU CARRY WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES?

Listerene breath strips.

10) WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT BEING A KID?

Ignorance of just how screwed up the world really is.

11) WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG YOU WERE LISTENING TO?

The Pretenders: Middle of the Road

12) HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A PLAY?

Yes. Some home made thing in 5th grade.

13) HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

I fall in love a lot. I also fall out of love just as much. :)

14) DO YOU LIKE YOURSELF AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF?

Absolutely. I'm my second best friend.

15) DO TRANSIENT, HOMELESS, OR STARVING PEOPLE SOMETIMES ANNOY YOU?

Yes.

16) WHICH MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY?

Viola. I gave it up after 1 year in lieu of learning the guitar, which I have only been marginally successful at doing.

17) FAVORITE FABRIC?

100% cotton. (I like satin sheets too.)

18) WHAT'S ONE LANGUAGE YOU WANT TO LEARN?

Gaelic.

19) WHAT DO YOU ORDER AT A BAR?

Pepsi. Long ago I'd have ordered a Beefeater and tonic with a slice of lime. Or a Molson Golden.

20) HAVE YOU EVER PIERCED YOUR BODY PARTS?

Left ear.

21) DO YOU HAVE TATTOOS?

Nope.

22) DO YOU DRIVE A STICK?

Yes.

23) FAVORITE TRAIT OF THE OPPOSITE SEX

Pretty eyes, good sense of humor. (This one isn't fair. There are many.)

24) MOST FRIVOLOUS PURCHASE?

My new PC. I didn't really need it. I just really wanted it.

25) WHAT ARE YOU BEST AT COOKING?

SpaghettiOs.

26) WOULD YOU EVER GO OUT DRESSSED LIKE THE OPPOSITE SEX?

No.

27) WHAT'S ONE CAR YOU WILL NEVER BUY?

Any Chrysler product. I once said I'd never buy Japanese cars, but I have one now. I do regret it and I'll never do it again.

28) WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

Everything... just about. (Bummed your answer Grace.)

29) IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Pay off the bills. Help the family. Disappear.

30) DO YOU CRY IN FRONT OF YOUR FRIENDS?

I have... it's been a long time.

31) WHAT'S ONE THING YOU LIKE TO DO ALONE?

Masturbate. (The universal answer.) Blogging too.

32) ARE YOU A GIVER OR A TAKER?

An equal balance.

33) WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Last Wednesday. You heard the audioblog of my pre-grocery shopping crying.

34) HOW MANY DRINKS BEFORE YOU'RE TIPSY/SLEEPY?

About 100, since they are all Pepsi.

There you have it. Another quiz thingy bites the dust.

Blogger Blocker

Ok, I haven't been able to do any serious blogging today because Peachy has been using my computer a lot for work. So everyone go over to Peachy's blog and give her crap for making me do real work and keeping me from wasting company time & money enjoying myself.

Sheesh! Where are her priorities?

Maybe Oliver Had It Right

I'm referring to Oliver from the show 'Green Acres'. Lately I've noticed more and more how different life in the city must be from the burbs or the country. Just by the limited time I spend in and going through parts of Baltimore, I can see where life has got to be vastly different.

The first thing you notice going through this city is all the strange items laying everywhere. There is furniture on the sidewalks. There is a big truck tire lying on the corner of a main thoroughfare that has been there for a couple of weeks. There are trash receptacles everywhere, but they are rarely filled and the ground around them has piles of trash. There are even garbage bags tied up and leaning on small dumpsters that have the lids opened and it's obvious that they are empty. ??? I guess it's not cool for city people to throw the bags into the dumpster; they just have to get them to it.

It's OK for the stuff to cover the sidewalks though. I've figured out why no one moves those things out of the way. People don't use the sidewalks anyway. They just walk in the street. Even when we are driving by, they don't step out of the way. They just keep walking along and we have to follow them until we can get around. Or, if they are heading toward us, we have to stop so we don't hit them until they move aside. Then we get the evil eye for having the nerve to drive on the street they were using as a sidewalk. Maybe we should drive on the sidewalks? This is no exaggeration. It happens every day.

The drivers are the same way. They just stop and have conversations for hours, not at all interested in who is waiting behind them. Or they park in the street and come back whenever. Or they just stop and block traffic by deciding to do a U turn or a 3 point turn without warning. (It would seem that city cars aren't equipped with turn signals either.)

Along those lines (sort of) the city people I've had more than 2 conversations with do act differently than I'm used to. They seem to believe they are owed pretty much everything and they shouldn't have to work too hard for anything. The ones I've worked with certainly have this attitude. It's nearly impossible to get them to do anything productive without being there to look over their shoulder to make sure they do it.

I've also noticed that there are many, many restaurants around everywhere. People in this city like to go out to eat. That's not a bad thing. I love going out for lunch or dinner. I'm just amazed that the folks I've talked to here seem to do this as a general rule and staying home to cook isn't the norm. That's got to be expensive.

Another thing is, at least in this neighborhood, there is a church on every other block Churches everywhere you go. But the murder rate is out of control. The murder rate in this city is 5 times higher per capita than New York City and 3 times higher than Los Angeles. I heard these stats on the radio recently and I guess I wasn't really surprised. You have quite the dichotomy here. All the churches and all the killers. Maybe the killers feel bad and need the churches for confessing before they go back out and do it again? Seems strange to me.

The bottom line for me is, this is an OK place to visit, but I could never even consider living here. It's too foreign a lifestyle to me. I don't know if these things are common to all big cities or just this one, but for me, they can keep the place.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

A Life Less Valuable?

Well I guess I survived the trip to the grocery store last night. Actually, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Nicci and I both just wanted out of there so we didn't waste time 'shopping'. I'm all better now, thanks.

My friend Kris came into the office this morning and asked an interesting question. She asked, "At what age did my life become less valuable?" She was referring to how the schools and universities closed today 'just in case' the snow got too bad. But most places don't. Most employers don't care when the weather gets too crappy for travel. They just care that you show up.

I thought it was an interesting question because, as adults it seems like our well being is less of a consideration the older we get. Yeah, yeah, I know that supposedly the older we get, the wiser we get, which means we should be better able to judge for ourselves what's safe and what's not. But that isn't true for everyone. (Yeah, you know I'm talking about you!) So I guess we are moving toward being expendable as we get older. Weird thoughts, eh?

It's been a busy morning, so I'm just now getting a chance to catch up with the blog world. I hope to see more audioblogging out there. It is kinda fun to do. But be forewarned, it's pretty addicting.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

this is an audio post - click to play

More Deep Dark Secrets Revealed

Bummed this from Jody a while ago. I had it in Drafts and almost forgot about it, but here it is! (I know, you're all aquiver with anticipation.)


1. What time do you get up? Between 4:30 & 4:45 A.M.

2. If you could eat lunch with one person, who would it be? Living or dead? Living- Sandra Bullock, because I just want to meet her once. Dead- Claude Monet, because I'd like to know how to see things like he did.

3. Gold or silver? Silver. Definitely. White Gold is tolerable.

4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Van Helsing. Nope, I don't go much. I have no one who likes to.

5. What is your favorite TV show? Baseball Tonight. I really do like Battlestar Galactica and Desperate Housewives too, but they don't compare to the Baseball crew.

6. What do you have for breakfast? Today, A Smuckers peanut butter and jelly (grape) sandwich.

7. Who would you hate to be stuck in a room with? Michael Jackson

8. What/who inspires you? The Yankees. Blues music. Anyone truely selfless. (I'd like to be like that.)

9. What is your middle name? Preston

10. Beach, city, or country? Beach. I'd like to live on the beach.

11. Favorite ice cream? Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip. Almost all of them. No chocolate.

12. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn? Butter and salt- or whatever that oily yellow stuff is that they use at the “cinema”. So, butter flavored oily stuff & salt. (Same as Jody.)

13. Favorite color? Yankee blue. Otherwise, orange & yellow.

14. What kind of car do you drive? BMW or Toyota XRS, depending on what day it is.

15. What characteristic do you despise? Quite a few actually, but I think arrogance mostly.

16. Favorite flower? Daisy. It's a very happy flower.

17. If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would you go? Ireland. (Again, same as Jody.)

18. What color is your bathroom? Which one?

19. Where would you retire to? Someplace warm all year round with a beach right outside my back door.

20. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.

21. What did you do for your last birthday? Entertained my family at my house.

22. Where were you born? Waynesboro Pennsylvania

23. Favorite sport to watch? Duh!!! Baseball!!

24 Person you least expect to send this back to you? I suppose this isn't relevant...

25. Person you expect to send it back first? Or this...

26. What laundry detergent do you use? Whatever Nicci buys.

27. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi, Cherry Pepsi is the elixer of life!

28. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night. Love the dark.

29. What is your shoe size? 9

30. Do you have any pets? Yes, 2 cats & 3 birds

31. What is the title of the last book you read? Perfect I'm Not by David Wells.

There you have it. I hope we all learned something from this today. (I'm not sure how, but that sounded good.)

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Cool 80's Rock Quiz

Got this from Jarod.

I believe I saw this long ago on Karens Blog. (Am I right KB?)

Doesn't matter. I love the 80's!




Final Score: 98.45



This takes a while to do. Leave yourself time.
this is an audio post - click to play

What's Wrong Here?

I heard a news story this morning about a guy who is obsessed with collecting Air Jordan sneakers. He spends an average of $2000.00 per month on them. His bedroom is completely filled with them, only a trail to the bed isn't covered. The story went on to say that he will go without food and toilet paper to buy more Air Jordans. He even spent $2500.00 on a rare (???) pair off Ebay in lieu of getting his girlfriend a piece of jewelry that she wanted for Valentines Day.

Now, I've heard of collections of lots of different things before, but sneakers? New and used? Plus, how obsessed can you be? I gotta wonder why that girlfriend is still putting up with this too. "Sorry honey, I love you but I love this pair of Air Jordans more so your Valentines present will have to wait." Sheesh!

I think I'm going to list some stuff on Ebay just to see who will buy it. I have lots of old Fruit Of The Looms I could part with. I bet someone collects them. Some don't even have holes in them (yet). I have plenty of new and used Q-Tips. I wonder what I should start the bidding at? Perhaps I should start saving my empty tissue boxes? They have neat designs on them. Someone somewhere will want those!

I wonder what makes some people so obsessed with something that they lose all reason? I have a couple things I like to collect, but I usually end up forgetting about them at some point and eventually, after a few months, I'll think to see what's available somewhere. I can't see being so obsessed that I couldn't wipe my butt after going to the can! Something is definitely wrong here.

Monday, February 21, 2005

this is an audio post - click to play

Blogger Slacker

Yep, that's me today. A blogger slacker. I've been distracted my my new toys, the computer, printer and all the neat gadgets. The pc came with a DVD/CD reader/writer combo with "Lightscribe". Yeah, I know, wtf is that? Well, I never heard of it until yesterday. Those of you on the cutting edge of technology, bear with those of us who aren't. What it is is a DVD/CD burner that allows you to burn your music or movie on one side of the disk and then flip it over and burn any image or lettering or a combination of both on the other side. It's been fun to play with. I've burned some music cds and made labels and added pictures onto the opposite side. They come out great!

The printer is another story. I got a good one so I can print my pictures at home as good as the ones you get done at a photo place. It even has a slot to put the card from my digital camera right into the printer, view and edit and print the pics without even needing the pc. Too cool! Of course I always save my pictures and write them onto a cd, but I don't need to do that step first if I don't want to now.

So you see, I've been distracted today. I like my new toys. I did make a new audio message but my phone got screwed up, so I didn't get to post it. (Lost signal.) I plan on doing it over again soon. See, I'm not a total blogger slacker! Just a big slacking blogger slacker. ;)

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Never To Old To Learn

Hello blogland. I'm posting this from my brand new PC! This is exciting. My old PC was driving me nuts so I went to Best Buy and upgraded. I've been threatening to do this for about a year. It's taken me all day to purge the old one of personal stuff and set this one up, but it's been fun.

I had a strange experience yesterday that I haven't had the chance to talk about yet. I had to talk a woman into buying jewelry. Does that sound strange? I had to talk Nicci into getting something she really wanted.

We went shopping for my Mom's birthday, which is next Sunday. She's a jewelry junkie. When we got to the store, they were having an amazing sale. President's Day sale. We picked out something for my Mom and it was 50% off. Then they gave us an additional 10% and with a coupon that was in the local paper, we got another 15% off the final price. The coupon was a one day thing and we just happened to pick the right day.

Well, with those deals, we went ahead and got something Nicci's Mom had been wanting too. (Even though her birthday isn't until April.) Then Nicci saw a diamond pendant that she loved, but wouldn't get. She said she'd feel guilty. I had to talk her into it. Of course, I was paying, but it still took some work convincing her.

I guess I'm a typical guy who just expects that all women will suck up diamonds and stuff given the opportunity. Normally, I hate to stereotype anyone and I guess at that moment I was. You know, "Diamonds are a girls best friend" and all that. I found out that that stereotype isn't always true. Well, live and learn!

Forgive me ladies. I no longer believe that all women are jewelry junkies. Now if I could just stop believing the Tooth Fairy.....

New Polls Posted

OK, I've changed the Superhoro Poll(s). There were too many I missed and a question about greatest vs. favorite, so I altered the voting. Now we have three boxes to vote on and, as always, if there is one I've missed, write it in the comments sections. What we'll do is take the top three from each box (plus any write ins that get multiple votes) then put them into a new poll against each other next week.

KB, I didn't add Jeter on purpose. We'll do a Baseball poll after the Superheros get their moment in the sun.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Personal Revelations

I've had a couple conversations recently with blog friends (via e-mail) that have been basically about how my writing does not include 'real time' stuff about my life. Not much anyway. Also the subject of how I'm not real forthcoming about my home life has been mentioned. I don't necessarily keep these things out of the writing on purpose, but I am naturally very private about most things, especially friends and family. So I've decided to do a mini-list of personal stuff I've never revealed before to help satisfy some of the questions some people have about me. I'll try to be as open as possible.

1. You probably didn't know it but I'm the coolest guy around (this computer). Yep, there are no other guys as cool as me (using this computer) right now, so I'm easily the coolest.

2. I really like breathing. Yep, I've tried not to breathe before, but it kinda sucked, so I kept it up. Some habits are hard to break.

3. I'm still a virgin. It's true, don't laugh. When it comes to being with Sandra Bullock, I'm still a virgin. (Damn it!)

4. I am an excellent chef. I can make anything and do it reasonably well. I prefer the Banquet or Swanson recipes, but sometimes I'll branch out to Marie Callender's too.

5. I am still married. I'm not sure why, but I guess she has nowhere else to go or something. I ask, but I never get a real good answer. It's always some mushy stuff about love and all that girlie talk. Yuck!

6. I have lofty goals in life. Yep, I take them very seriously too. Just the other day I met the goal of getting to work within 10 minutes of my actual start time. Now that I've met that one, I can move on to the next one.....

7. I've never wanted kids, but I did inherit a stepson. No woman ever would guarantee me a daughter, so I didn't risk it. I did manage to get in a lot of practicing for making a baby though. You know, just in case someone actually could guarantee the daughter.

8. I'm an awesome musician. I can play like Eric Clapton one minute and Eddie Van Halen the next. Not actually all the way through any songs. Just a few licks along with the cds. It's a start!

9. I love people. All people. Well, maybe not the a-holes. Or the rotten politicians. Not the fanatics either. Probably not the stupid ones or the rude ones or the stuck-up ones or the criminals or the ugly ones either. I don't like mean people either. I really don't like the uber-nice people either or the ones who talk too much. I especially don't like the ones who don't like the Yankees, but that is a very small group. (Please don't chastise me for not liking the ugly ones. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder you know.)

10. I am a workout fanatic. I love being in shape. These days I can even walk up all three flights of stairs in my house and recover my breathing in less than 10 minutes. I'm a stud!

11. I'm an awesome writer. I've written several books that have been best sellers. Just the other day I wrote (again) a chapter of "Lord of the Rings". Maybe you've heard of it? Yep, I've written several parts of it before. My writing is most likely why you keep coming back to this blog.

12. I'm always serious. I never like to mislead anyone, so I try to be serious about everything all the time. I guess that can be a little dull at times, but it is the best way to be. Seriously.

Well, there you have it. Some personal revelations that I am very reticent to reveal, but for my blog friends, I will acquiesce. I'll be happy to answer any and all questions at another time, so feel free to ask away. I'm feeling very open today.

Thursday, February 17, 2005

The Gift Of Prophecy

I 'borrowed' this from Nina who 'stole' (her words) it from CL who probably invented it. (She didn't mention her source, so I assumed.)



I am going to die at 72. When are you? Click here to find out!

Lottery Dreaming

I was just thinking about what I would really do if I won the Lottery. I know everyone has dreams of winning and what they’d do, but I was thinking about what I would REALLY do, not pretending some fantasies. I’m not knocking those, they are fun too, like the one where I finally meet Sandy accidentally and….. wait, I got sidetracked…

What would I really do? First, 10% right to my church. That’s a rule. Next, besides the reality of paying off all my debts, I’d invest, at the minimum, half so that I wouldn’t ever have to worry about debts again. I’d also make sure my family was taken care of. My friends too. (The real friends. You know who you are.) After this, Nicci and I have agreed to split the rest for some fun.

But I’m not a materialistic person, so there really isn’t much stuff I’d go crazy to get. I’d like a house with a garage. That would be cool. We don’t have a garage right now. I’d be sure to find a 1963 Chevy Impala SS, probably convertible. Not all original because I would want to make some ‘modifications’. ;) I always wanted a true classic Fender Strat. Not junk. A 60’s original. Plus, I guess I’d finally be able to get Yankees season tickets. I’d get a real Marilyn Monroe autograph and a baseball autographed by Joe DiMaggio. I’d travel to a few places that I want to see, but there really aren’t many of those either. Ireland for sure, (maybe Ian would want to be a tour guide?) Greece and Italy. That’s all I can think of.

I’ve had those discussions with other people about what I’d do, like starting a business and stuff like that, but really, who would want that hassle when you don’t need to do it? I probably wouldn’t even quit my job. Why do that? They provide health insurance plus how sweet would it be to come to work knowing you don’t really have to? I like what I do, so that’s not a problem. Plus the paycheck would be like spending change. What a cool idea! I’d be real quiet about having won and just keep the same schedule, with more vacations thrown in, to be sure. But I wouldn’t worry about the politics at all. I could let the a-holes know they were a-holes. I could speak up anytime to anyone without worrying about the repercussions. I think I’d have a kick ass time with it. Of course until they decided to kick my ass out, but hey, I wouldn’t care anyway. No biggie.

Probably the only extravagance I’d blow a big chunk of dough on would be a traveling to meet my blog friends. I’d love to meet everyone on my blog roll at least once. Nicci has her ideas about what she’d blow some dough on and that’s cool too. Maybe a blog party would be mine. An all expenses paid, long weekend blowout somewhere cool, like Vegas or something. Of course, the Yankee crew would probably opt for VIP partying at Yankee Stadium. Hmm… that sounds sweet too!

Well, I guess it’s a morning for daydreaming. The odds are that I’ll be thinking the same things when I’m 99 years old. But it is fun to dream. Of course, when I’m that old I’ll probably be a dirty old man and my priorities will be different. I’ll probably want some sexy 65 year old babe to give me a massage or something then…..

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Blogger Again

I can post but not comment again. Just wanted my blog friends to know this. I've tried 6 different blogs but it just won't work.

BTW, Meritt, I totally agree with you. Anyone who goes into Iraq right now knows full well what could happen. Dumb asses. I hope your day gets better. It's unusual for you to have a start like that.

Bumming Things From Friends

I snatched this from Karen. Couldn't help myself. (Plus I still can't comment on her blog and it's making me crazy!)


"Oh, thanks NY Post":

On a sun-splashed green field of championship dreams, their refuge from the stench of steroid scandal, Neil Allen pitched, and Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada hit, and laughed, as if they were little boys whose only addiction is to the sweet smell of spring and the sound of bat on baseball. Captain Derek, back at shortstop, and dear old Tino, a familiar link to a dynastic past, stayed to field grounders.

"Can't you just close your eyes and be there with them?!? Ahhhhh."

Yeah, I can imagine them easily. Baseball season is less than 8 weeks away now and it seems like it's been forever. This just put me into a happy place this morning.



Got this part too:

"And I knew there was a reason I loved Derek Jeter":

"Yeah, there's more closet Red Sox fans now, everywhere we go you see Red Sock hats and people that used to have different hats have Red Sock hats on now, so ... Boston's in a good mood right now," Jeter said.

Funny how people suddenly become fans after a team has a good season. That's such a foreign idea to me. I don't get it. What's going to happen when they don't repeat? (They won't.) I'll bet there were some 'fans' that jumped ship after the Diamondbacks and the Angels came back to earth following their 1 season of glory. Bandwagoners suck.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Quiznos Has Dangerous Parking

I just had the strangest visit to Quiznos I’ve ever had. It had nothing to do with the store itself. Everything inside went well, including my luck at getting the pretty blonde who works there to make my salad. (She always adds extra chicken and fronts me extra dressing for no charge.) It was outside that the goofballs were running free.

Let me set this up… I had just pulled straight in when I parked. There was another parking area straight in front of me separated by a concrete barrier that was situated in the opposite direction. So out of my front window I was facing the drivers side door of a parked car. It just happened to be a new Magnum, just like CL was writing about today. It still had temporary tags on it. Both parking spots beside me were empty when I came out, but this was a soon to be an altered situation. **Imagine ominous sounding music here.**

I started my car, strapped in and got ready to go. As I look around I notice that from out of nowhere there is now a line of cars wanting to come into the parking area. An older woman in a Nissan comes in first and goes right by. I assumed she was parking closer to the store. Wrong. Once she disappeared from view another older woman pulls right behind me in some little red car and stops. I’m wondering what she’s doing when I notice 2 things out of the corner of my eye; 1. The first woman is now backing into the space to my left and she’s doing a sorry job of it and 2. a rather large woman is now getting into the Magnum in front of me. This large woman just came out of the tanning place, but she was very pale. Her skin was all red and blotchy like someone who never sees sun. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked…..

Now I look around to see the red car lady is backing into the spot to my right. I guess no one likes to pull straight in anymore? The woman on my left has started and stopped backing in twice and now has almost gotten into the space. Problem is her side of the car is about 2” from my car. She pauses, looks at how close she is and then looks at me. I just tilt my head and raise my eyebrows as if to say “Well, you’re in the space but now we’re both trapped for life.” The woman in the Magnum is now backing out of her space and the little red car has just backed into her space crooked and bumped her car into a tree alongside the space. At least if this situation doesn’t change I can escape my car out that side.

So now I’ve got one woman on my left who can’t park and is amazingly close to my car and another woman to my right who can’t park and is so far away from me that she is only half into and half out of her space, bumping into a tree that you really have to try hard to bump. With a heavy sigh I just look to the front hoping these women will figure out WTF they’re doing soon so I can leave. As I look ahead I notice that the front end of the Magnum is now getting dangerously close to the concrete barrier as the driver backs out. (I remember briefly wondering just why she is turning the wheel while backing out.) She is looking out of her passenger side and not watching how close the front of the car is to the barrier. I reach up to hit my horn to try to warn her just as she gives the car a quick hit on the gas, just enough to quickly bring the front of that new car into a grinding contact with the concrete. AND SHE DOESN’T STOP!. I hit my horn as she drags her front end about 3’ down the concrete and it sounds terrible! She hears my horn and stops quickly, looking at me like I’m a dope, and I see her mouthing the words “What’s your problem?” I just shake my head and point to her front end. She looks at it and begins to move again, but then notices what I was trying to point out and freaks! She pulls back into the spot and gets out to look, but I can’t get out to speak to her because the genius to my left still hasn’t finished trying to park. The woman to my right has managed to pull forward and back in again at a worse angle and her back wheel is now up into the grassy area and her bumper is again against the tree. I’m literally surrounded by nimrods and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. I just want to go home and have my salad.

Finally nimrod #1 (to the left) has finished her magnificent park job and left enough room to get out. She gets into her back seat to get something while I look over to see where nimrod #2 is and the dope lets her door lean against my car. I roll down my window and as loud as I can I clear my throat. She looks at me and when I nod down to her door hitting my car, she quickly grabs a bag out of her car and slams the door. As if she has any reason to be pissed at me. She then goes over to the tree-killer and begins to direct her so she finally can park straight. I should have known they were together. They stand back as I finally FINALLY! can get going. As I back out and begin to leave I see the big girl standing by her damaged new car talking, no wait, screaming into a cell phone and throwing her hands around like a crazy person.

As I leave the carnage wreaked on this poor unsuspecting parking area, I am again reminded that some people should not be allowed to drive around unsupervised. That tree did nothing to deserve the bumping and marking it got, but I think that concrete barrier will enjoy the new green color it inherited tonight. Sometimes even a small amount of re-decoration can be very fulfilling.

New Quiz Time

I found this on Lynn's blog. Can't resist them.






Your Seduction Style: The Charmer





You're a master at intimate conversation and verbal enticement.
You seduce with words, by getting people to open up to you.
By establishing this deep connection quickly, people feel under your power.
And then you've got them exactly where you want them!


Another Intrusive Thought

I had the coolest intrusive thought on the way to work this morning. I was approaching the end of the highway off ramp and I noticed this really big guy walking on the edge of the sidewalk like he was thinking about stepping off to cross the street. I say huge because he looked to be maybe 6'4" tall and he had to weigh 350 - 400 lbs. He was huge. I knew he wouldn't step off the sidewalk though because there was a huge puddle of water lying right next to the sidewalk where he was. The puddle was about 4' across and at least 10' long.

Immediately my brain told me to move slightly to the right and run through that puddle because the sheer size of it and the size of the guy and the speed I was traveling would have made for the ultimate hit and run body splash. It would have been the greatest in history! He would have been totally soaked. It would have been tremendous! As I got closer it took all my will not to hit that water.

Believe me it was a massive struggle, but I managed to spare the guy. I'm happy to say that, although the temptation almost got me, all I have to show for it is the mental image of the soaked giant looking on incredulously as I sped by, wondering what kind of a-hole would do something like that to a person. I guess I passed some kind of test this morning, but it wasn't easy.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Blogger Again!

OK, I've managed to leave one comment since this morning and now I can't even get the blogger to let me into a comment box. Including mine. I hit the 'Post a Comment' and it just goes right back to the comments. Anyone else having this problem?

Monday Stuff

What a quiet weekend I had. I was still feeling pretty bad. I hope this crud goes away soon. This morning I feel a bit better. I don't know what was wrong with blogger oner the weekend, but it rarely let me in to leave comments. That was frustrating. Anyway, I took the opportunity to be low-key and check out some movies I've been stockpiling. I got to see both "Kill Bill Volume #1 & #2", "Alien vs. Predator", "Pirates of the Carribean" and "Moulin Rouge".

I'm not able to do a great review like Grace does, but I will say I really liked all of them. The Kill Bill movies were awesome. Gotta love Tarantino. Alien vs. Predator was a whole lot better than I thought it might be. It was a good story with some great effects. Pirates I've actually seen before, but seeing it again isn't a let down. It's great.

Moulin Rouge was..... different. I actually stopped it after the first 30 minutes trying to decide if I wanted to finish watching it. All the references to modern music and to historic artists like Toulouse-Lautrec had me off balance. Plus Nicole Kidman in that role was hard to get used to. Her style reminded me of Marilyn Monroe in "The Prince and the Showgirl". Anyway, I went ahead and watched the remainder of the movie and I ended up glad that I did. I got used to all the extraneous stuff and found that I liked the movie in the end. One thing this movie proved is that Nicole is very versatile. I knew the story though. I was wondering if this is some kind of remake or maybe it's a book?

After the quiet weekend, it's Monday. There are fewer words spoken during the week that hold so much dread. Plus, to add to the Monday blahs, like a dope, I forgot to get the box of cheap Valentines that Peachy and I were going to send to everybody at work. What a bummer. So off we go into another week. Something to look forward to is shopping for more movies this coming weekend.

Geez, I'm already thinking about the coming weekend and it's only Monday morning. I believe this will be a long week.

Saturday, February 12, 2005

I Feel Like A Celebrity

Today I took my car in to the dealership again. It's the 8th visit for the same 'simple repair'. This time I got a bit of a different reception.

I walked in and the Assistant Manager called me over right away. (He should know me by now.) While we were checking in the car, the big cheese of the dealership and the big cheese of service came by and we talked for a while about everything that had been going on. Then the Master Mechanic for Toyota came by and asked me bunches of questions about what was happening with the car, when the noises coming from the new dash were loudest, that kind of stuff. He said it would help him to better diagnose the problems. I was there with all these honchos surrounding me and the other customers were looking at us like I was someone special.

I guess at this stage of this problem, I am. They are going to fix the car, gave me a new fully loaded Chrysler to drive (I'm not a Chrysler fan but this car is nice!), they are doing a free oil change and they've given me a certificate signed by the head guy for the 7500 mile service to be done free of charge.

I guess calling the owner of the dealership and letting him have it was a good idea! This must be what it's like to be a celebrity. All the attention from big wigs and free stuff. I kinda like it.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Thinking My Way Along, Singing A Song.....

You know what one of the absolute worst things about Winter is? It’s the fact that the toilet seat is always cold. No matter how warm your house is, that darn seat is real cold. The anticipation of sitting down on it is awful. Getting ready to lower your butt down onto that ice ring is one of the hardest few seconds life has to offer. Then when you hit bottom (literally), those chills that run through your whole body, Yikes! Curls my toes just thinking about it. Nope, during Winter, I hold it as looong as possible. Another thing guys, remember Seinfeld, the cold causes severe shrinkage. That’s what happens. I really don’t know how women get pregnant during winter months.

Jessica Simpson is going to be Daisy Duke. OK, I like the idea of seeing her in those short shorts, but the predominant thought in my brain is, that sure was a fast acting career. There is a great movie choice for your first time out. Playing a major league redneck. I just don’t see this movie being a great success, but that’s just me. The Dukes of Hazard, a cinematic masterpiece! Uh huh.

Ore Ida Tater Tots are still the yummiest! I had a pile of them tonight and once again I was reminded that they are not just kid stuff. Even though I do remember them being great ammo for food fights in Jr. High. ;)

While I was munching my Tater Tots, I started reading the Ketchup bottle. It had the name Lindsay Lohan on the front under larger writing that said “Burger-licious”. Now, everybody know that Heinz is the best ketchup and it is burger-licious but I was curious as to why a celebrity’s name was on the label. So I read the back label and this is what it said:

“*Limited Edition* For a limited time, some of your favorite stars are telling the world why they love the thick and rich taste of Heinz Ketchup. And Heinz is saying thank you by donating to the charities of their choice. *Collect All 4 Today *

First, I think that’s nice. @@ (That’s an eye roll I learned from Ropemonkey and Smashlee.) Now I have to ask, who would collect ketchup bottles? Plus, it’s Lindsey Lohan. It’s not like it’s someone who’s a huge star. But there it is, the “Limited Celebrity Edition” ketchup bottle for the discerning collector. It would be great if you could get some autographed by the celebrity who’s name is on the front. I can see it now, in 50 years the old guy bringing his ketchup bottles to the Antiques Road Show for an appraisal. How excited he will be as he tells the story of how he came to be in possession of ALL 4 BOTTLES! He’ll be happy he got those autographs way back when. There’s something to anticipate in your old age.

Well, that’s enough thinking for this evening. My brain needs to decompress. Too much thinking can be bad for you.

It's Still Christmas To Someone

As I was driving through my neighborhood this morning, I saw a house that still had Christmas lights on. They haven't taken them down yet and they still light them at night. I know it's hard to let go of the Christmas spirit, but these people are a little ridiculous.

I wanted to go back around to see if they still had a tree lit up too, but I didn't really find it that intriguing. Maybe I'm too Scrooge-like or something, but it's way past time to douse those lights people.

Maybe they are just going to leave them until next Christmas? That saves the headache of having to put them back up again.

Latest Poll Results

Here are the latest Poll results. Looks like the don't cares were the majority for the Superbowl. I can see that. The overall 'Reality Show' Poll winner was actually the 'Write Ins' which most just stated that they all suck. I agree with that. Funny how you see and hear so many things about reality TV sucking but they don't go away. Must be a lot of closet fans.

The new Poll is posted on the right sidebar. Something silly this time. :)



Who do you want to win the Superbowl?


Votes
New England 33% 8
Philadelphia 21% 5
Don't Care - Either One Is OK 13% 3
Don't Care - Football..... Ho Hum 33% 8

24 votes total



Which 'Reality Show' Sucks


Votes
Strange Love 12% 2
Rebel Billionaire 0% 0
Ashley Simpson 47% 8
Surreal Life 6% 1
Wife Swap 6% 1
My Sweet Sixteen 0% 0
Dog The Bounty Hunter 0% 0
The Bachelor and/or Bachelorette 0% 0
Queer Eye For Whichever..... 0% 0
Other: Write one in (There are too many to list) 29% 5

17 votes total

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models

I was flipping channels last night and came across this (reality?) show about Sports Illustrated looking for a new swimsuit model for this year. It was on one of the music, so called, channels. I don't remember which one.

What got me wasn't the babes. They were down to the final 3, so how can you go wrong? Can't! Anyway, when the magazine people were sitting around a table trying to decide which of the 3 to let go, they were arguing amongst themselves when a woman who had been quiet spoke up. She was an ex-SI model. (They even showed some graphic about her being in the SI Hall of Fame. ???) Well, as soon as she spoke up all the other people there talked over her and said stuff like "Well, you're just a model", and "You're not a photographer", and "You're not producing this issue." I was shocked. They just put her down without even taking her opinion seriously for a nano-second. I felt really bad for her.

I would think that someone who had been in the business for as long as she was would have some view worth listening to. Shows what I know.

She seemed to just take it too. I was hoping she would speak up and tell them just how arrogant and mean they were sounding, but she didn't. I wonder if super models are just used to the big cheeses treating them that way and they just take it? I wouldn't. They all deserved a smack in the head, in my humble opinion.

BTW, I saw the finale last night too and the model I was hoping to win did. Her name was Alicia something. She was hot plus the other one (Shannon something) just seemed too stuck-up, so I was glad she didn't win.

Why?

I would like to thank the 'Design Engineer' who helped make the remote entry key fob for my new car for being a dork. This thing has the alarm button located on the back directly in the center. Perfect spot for setting it off pretty much any time you pick the thing up. The alarm gets set off when I take the keys out of my pocket, when I put them into my pocket, when I'm opening the door after using it, if I drop the keys. It's a menace!!!

I'm quite sure my neighbors loved me (and you) this morning at 6:00 A.M. when the damn thing went off again, just because I put my keys into my opposite hand to open the car door. Yeah, thanks.

Design Engineer... pffftt!

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

I've Got Super-Germs

I can't believe I still feel this bad after over a week! I looked back to see when I posted the "Feelin Low" post and it's been a week. That happened after feeling bad for several days first. I maybe caught some super germ and it likes my insides. That's why I still feel like crap. It's inside there somewhere busily making a home for itself and all it's friends and relatives. I'm a germ condo complex. I'm not usually one to get sick, but this time, I can't get un-sick. My focus is bad an I can't concentrate at all. Weird.

I need some home remedies. My head, stomach, sinuses and skin hurt. Yep, even the skin. When I touch it I feel like it's sort of burning or tingling. Actually that's kind of neat, but I know it's not quite right. I refuse to go to a doctor, so if there are those who want to suggest that, thanks, but it ain't happening.

Anyway, I just felt like venting. Maybe I'll try some chicken soup. That is the cure for everything, right? Maybe Tequila? Maybe Taco Bell?

Welcome To Stupid Question Day

The first thing this morning when I got in to work, cgrl saw me and asked, "Oh, are you here?" Uhmm, nope. You just have a vivid imagination. (I think she was bummed that she and cg weren't alone anymore.)

This did make me laugh, so I decided to christen today as 'Stupid Question Day'. I'll be passing along the stupid questions and those of you who care to join in can ask me stupid questions. I'll answer them as best I can. ;)

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

G and Me and the Tunnel Of Love

Another Friday night and G and I had plans to go terrorize some poor drinking establishments again. I was supposed meet G at a tavern near work. Once I got there I saw he was sitting with a woman that had just started working in our department 2 days earlier. She was already a legend with us, even earning the title “Tunnel of Love”. She got that because she had told everybody at work at least 75 times about an operation she had had on her female parts to make her tighter and more pleasurable feeling. She claimed the doctors had built a tight tunnel down there and that it was not to be missed. This was her main topic of conversation. She also didn’t stop talking. It was as if she was on speed constantly. It was amazing.

Naturally I was not too happy to see her there. But since we weren’t staying, I didn’t panic. I got a brew and sat down and listened to TOL blabber on and on about her lovers and yada yada yada. Finally she went to the restroom and I asked G what was going on. He said she had overheard us planning where to meet and just followed him there. We both agreed that she was not coming along for the evening. When she came back, I left to get brews for the home stash and G was left to ditch her and meet me at his house. Yeah right.

Once I got to G’s house I saw that TOL’s car was there and his wasn’t. As I was walking in I remember thinking “Well, away we go!” I get inside the door and TOL immediately comes over to me and kisses my cheek, grabs a beer and grabs me ‘down there’. She was ‘just checking to see if I was ready’. WTF? Me, being me, I just blurt out, “OK, what’s going on? I don’t remember us deciding to have baggage with us tonight.” G just about chokes on his brew and starts to explain how TOL just broke down crying when he told her she wasn’t invited to go with us. Apparently it got pretty bad. Of course she interrupts him and tells her side, something about a fear of being alone or rejected. She also goes into this whole idea of how having sex is a natural thing and we could have sex tonight, even have a threesome and how we didn’t need to feel obligated to her after doing her and how her love tunnel has been surgically rebuilt to make it very pleasurable…..

At this point I’m ready to go so I get the two of them started and out the door. There is no way in hell I’m having a threesome with G and anybody. (If you haven’t read the past G stories, you should so you totally understand that.) I’m especially not doing anything with TOL. Who knows what STDs she’s carrying? So we get outside and she of course insists we use her car. It was a 300ZX Turbo and she was really proud of it, so we took her up on it. She had removed the T-tops and it was a warm evening, plus I got to drive it since G couldn’t drive a manual transmission. Too cool. Something positive. We cruise some back roads, music blaring, wind blowing through the car and cold brews in hand.

We arrive at one of G’s favorite spots, a biker bar out in the middle of no-where that once was some 1700’s farmhouse. The place is really cool. The bar is huge! A giant horse shoe shaped thing that takes up the whole first room in the building. We park ourselves on one side of the bar and order some drinks. Within minutes, TOL is talking louder than anyone else and going on and on about needing to ‘be balled’. G just looks over at me and rolls his eyes. I know he’s thinking the same thing as I am, just how the hell are we going to get out of this one? Well, TOL just helps us out pretty darn quick, I’ll tell ya!

She starts flirting across the bar with a biker dude who looks to be maybe 50. She does enough loud flirting that people in the bar start yelling at her to come across or shut up. So naturally, she goes across to Grampa Harley and plops right down on his lap. Once she’s gone, G and I start to plan how we’re going to escape. It turns out to be a moot point. After I take a restroom break, I come out to Gramps and TOL handing us the car keys and leaving to go to his place. They claim they know how to find us in the morning, so we should take the car. Weeellll, not being one to argue with good fortune, we went ahead and spent the whole night running the piss out of that little race car. Not to mention cruising to 3 other bars in absolutely no condition to be driving.

We found ourselves back at G’s place in the morning. I woke to a strange sound on the roof. Still trying to recover my senses I step outside into a downpour. Usually this is no big deal, but the T tops are still off the car. I try to get them on, even though the inside is already soaked, but I have no idea how. G can’t figure it out either. So we just sit them on top hoping that will slow down the soaking.

A few hours later, it’s sunny and warm and who should show up but TOL and Grampa Harley on his bike. We try to tell her about the wet seat problem but all she wants to talk about is how great getting balled last night was and how much she needed to be balled and how we should have balled her before leaving and etc, etc….. After all is said and done, she admits the tops are extremely difficult to put back on, but she doesn’t care. She’s taking the car and going back to Gramps’ place for some more boinking. She just wanted to come by and thank us for last night, get the car and disappear. OK by me.

Well, she was serious about disappearing. She never did show up for work again. Her live in boyfriend started calling a few days later asking where he could find her. Apparently she never did go home again. I guess Grampa Harley still had a lot of fire in his kitchen. As for all of us that knew TOL for those 2 to 2.5 days, it was a relief. I don’t think I could have listened to her operation story one more time without screaming.


PETA- People Eat Tasty Animals

I have to wonder if there is even one sane person with PETA. I heard they were screwing with Mercedes Benz about the use of leather for their seats. They mentioned the number of cowhides that it takes to get one car seat done. Big deal. That's what the cows are raised for. That and the steaks, burgers, tongue (yuck) and all the other things we raise them for. They are food. They are a resource for people to use. They are tasty.

These people get on my nerves. Now Mercedes has decided that they will be offering cloth seats and imitation leather as options on their cars. That's not a bad thing to do. It just bugs me that the nuts from PETA feel like it's some kind of victory for their cause. I don't mind anyone fighting for a cause. I just don't care for fanatics of any kind. They tend to go overboard. I think this is one of those issues where they are just being a-holes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an animal lover. I worked as an Animal Cruelty Officer for 5 years and I've seen what ignorant and cruel people can do to animals. I've also seen what nut-jobs like PETA and Greenpeace can do to the credibility of those of us who really were trying to make a difference. They make everything harder.

Face it, some animals are a commidity. People are omnivores. Plus I like my Reeboks and Nikes made from leather, not to mention my car seats. So shoot me. (Figuratively please.) I also love KFC. There something to drool over!

I believe that fanatics of any kind are unbalanced and dangerous. So to all you PETA goobs, screw you. I'm going to the Outback tonight just for spite. A big ol Filet Mignon will rid me of the bad taste this story put in my mouth. Yum!

Monday, February 07, 2005

Some People

Did you ever tell someone something simple and once they've heard your statement they ask about 8,743 questions until the simple thing is suddenly difficult? I just had a 20 minute conversation with someone who is supposed to be 'more knowledgeable' about our equpiment than me, but there are times when I have to wonder where his head is. I made a simple observation about something that wasn't working quite right. He had expressed his concern a few days ago about the same thing, thinking it might be going bad. When I verified that it was indeed going bad, he asked so many unusually stupid questions about it that I just got flustered. I wanted to scream, "Hey dope, you thought the same thing. I proved you were right. WTF is up with you now doubting it? The proof is right in front of you. Just shut up!"

Of course I didn't say that. I wanted to. What makes some people like this? I don't get it.

Morning Stuff

What a way to start the morning. I ruined my coffee this morning. (Meritt, you may not want to read this part.) Yep, I was all set. I made Starbuck's French Roast, freshly ground, freshly brewed. It smelled great. I added a little milk and a little sugar. Then I noticed there were little white things floating in the coffee. I knew right away what I had done. The milk must have been bad. We had a new jug, but I grabbed the older one (that I was supposed to get rid of yesterday) and it was definitely no good. At least not good enough. So my day started out without the morning coffee. Yeah, I know, how horrible! ;)

Oh, I forgot, the Patriots won the Superbowl last night. Ho Hum, just the 3rd time in 4 years. I'm glad they did, but I didn't win any money in the pool. That sucks!

The halftime show wasn't too bad. I wonder if CL checked it out? Paul McCartney did some Beatles stuff just for you Cindy. I hope you didn't miss it. I even thought it was OK, and you know, for me, that's saying something.

Nicci's sick today. I guess I gave her my germs. I'm still not feeling right. Not sleeping at all. Whatever this crud is, it stays with you a while. Blaaah.

Some of the Superbowl commercials were pretty good. The P. Diddy Pepsi one was my favorite. I think they are getting a bit less interesting these days. I almost forgot to watch them. I'm one of those channel surfers. When a commercial comes on, it's time to look around. Had to discipline myself not to do that last night. It was hard.

I'm slowly waking up now. The morning coffee at work is doing the trick. Sometimes it's fun to write jumbled thoughts when only half awake and come back later to read them. That's all this post is. I'm looking forward to checking it out later.

Anyway, it's Monday. Yay. Good morning.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Superbowl Highlights

I've already seen some Superbowl highlights. I turned on ESPN and the Patriots Cheerleaders were being featured. Sweet timing!

All this hype over a football game cracks me up. The pre-game stuff started early this morning and will keep going until the game starts @ 6:00 P.M. Can you say 'commercialism' boys and girls? It's not like it's an earth shattering, uber-important event, like the World Series. It's football. A mediocre diversion at best.

I do appreciate it being a winter time sport though. It helps when there is nothing to do outside except freeze to death.

The big story, is T.O. playing? Well, he should. How many times do you get a chance to win a championship, in any sport? He may permanently damage his ankle and not be able to play again, but why not? Go for it T.O.!

They keep talking about Emmit Smith retiring. Big deal. He was done a couple years ago. He just hung around long enough to get the rushing yards record. I don't blame him. He was great in his prime. I think it sucks when a great player sticks around too long. Good luck Emmit.

The owner of the Patriots just said his only mandate about personnel was he didn't want thugs or hoodlems. If they needed that type of person to win, he didn't want to be in the business. That's how all the teams should be. Players like Randy Moss would be out of football quick if they weren't allowed to be a-holes and get away with it. Good plan guys.

Why does Michael Irvin get so riled up every time he gets the chance to talk? Chill out dude!

Well, I'll be watching the game tonight. I do have a vested interest in it. Not that I'm a Patriots fan, which I have been since I was a kid, but that I could win some big bucks in the football pool. That's what I'm really looking forward to! Win or lose, I just want some pool money, damn it! (How's that for priorities? C'mon, it ain't Baseball!)

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Quiz Time Again

I got this from Meritt. I'm not sure about the 'Violent' score. Can't see that in me. Oh well.


The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
LevelScore
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)Very Low
Level 2 (Lustful)Extreme
Level 3 (Gluttonous)Very High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)Very High
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)Very High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)Very High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)High

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Hello (That's About It)

I've been trying to do a post all day but this particular day won't let me. It's been one of those days when the emotional roller coaster just won't stop. One moment it's an up day, suddenly it's down. Up again, down again. What a pain.

So I'm giving up. The subjects I had thought I wanted to talk about are all gone. Now I'm just posting a hello to anyone who stops by. I'm not interested in negative posts today, so I'll just say Hi, Hello, Aloha, Hola, Wassup! and all the other ways there is to say hi. Then I can keep from being a drag.

Pip, Pip, Cheerio and all that. Here's hoping my blog friends are faring well today.

Friday, February 04, 2005

A Vampire In Waiting

Once again this morning I noticed one of the big differences between myself and most of the people I know. I like the dark. OK, let's be honest, I love the dark. When I'm home, I never turn lights on. No matter where I am in the house, even in my basement 'Fortress of Solitude'. The only light down there comes from the computer screen or the TV when it's on.

Most of the people I know aren't that way. Nicci has lights on in every room she goes into. The brighter the better. I can't stand that. Especially in the mornings. I can sleep through almost any noise, through the cats jumping all over me, pretty much anything, but when Nicci turns on a light, I'm wide awake. I'm like one of those Gremlins when the lights come on, all squinty eyed yelling "Bright light! Bright light!" I even had to install a bigger more powerful light on the bedroom ceiling so she could have even more light in there. I never use it.

Even at work, I'm the one who turns out the lights in areas where I don't think they are needed, like the restroom in our building. The wall has these really cool old fashioned glass block type things in it that allow light through. You can't see through them, but the light comes through just fine. I don't see the need for electric lights in there. Also, if I'm the first one into the building in the mornings, I don't bother to turn on the lights. I like it shady and dark.

The only time I really appreciate bright light is when I'm driving. That's when you do need good lights. Our good car has the most awesome high-beams I've ever seen. It's fun to use those. When they are on, it looks like there are lasers shooting out of the front of the car. You can actually see strong light beams going ahead of you. I like thinking that as I'm driving, the lasers are cutting down everything in their path. Kind of like a cool James Bond weapon. They look that way.

Nope, I'm someone who prefers the dark. Always have felt more comfortable at night. Maybe I'm a Vampire in waiting? May be since every time I look toward the sun I start sneezing. Sometimes it just takes regular lighting to make me sneeze. I'm allergic to bright lights. Is that possible? I think I'll move to one of those places where the nights are really long. Well, then again, I hate the cold and I don't think any of those places are very warm. Maybe I'll just stick to hiding in the dark at home. Like a mushroom. Maybe I'm part mushroom?

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Laughing At Stinky

I've been struggling through this day in a depleted condition. It's been kinda tough. But someone was kind enough to give me a well appreciated laugh.

I was entering the restroom (yep, another potty story) a few minutes ago when I heard someone rip a really loud cheesy blaster. I just stopped dead wondering what I should do. I hadn't been seen yet because to get to the restroom you have to take a hard left turn through a locker room first and I hadn't turned the corner yet. After the loud fart had subsided the person let out a big "Ahhhhh". I started to laugh and then he let out another huge fart and another "Ahhhhh".

Needless to say I turned around to leave. I didn't think my stomach could take the stench. I was curious to see just who it was that was enjoying his stinker fest so much, but I opted for keeping my lunch down. Solid choice considering I couldn't do that yesterday.

I did appreciate the free entertainment though. Again, why is farting so funny?

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Feelin’ Mighty Low

YB is pretty sick today. I just wanted to post this quickly so no one feels slighted by my lack of attention. As Arnold would say, “I’ll be back!” (Assuming I don’t throw up a lung or a kidney or something before all this gets through my system.)

Happy day to all.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Leave Votes For Shows Not Listed On The Poll Here

If the Reality Show you hate the most isn't listed on the Poll, just leave a write-in vote here in the comments section. This worked before during the Classic Rock Poll.

Latest Poll Results

Here are the latest Poll results. Yeah, I've been slacking. This one went 2 weeks instead of one. I'm really glad to see that most people think the MTV Movie Awards are the most useless. Remember when MTV was actually a music channel? I wonder why so many awards shows have popped up? Their ratings aren't very good.

Anyway, there are 2 new polls on the right sidebar. It's Superbowl week, so that one is obligatory. The other is something I'm very curious about. Happy voting.



Latest Poll results:

Which of the awards shows is the most useless, annoying, boring, etc.....


Votes
Golden Globes 5% 1
Emmys 0% 0
Oscars (Academy Awards) 5% 1
MTV Music Awards 10% 2
MTV Movie Awards 35% 7
SAG Awards 0% 0
The Grammys 0% 0
American Music Awards 5% 1
Country Music Awards 20% 4
People's Choice Awards 20% 4

20 votes total
Results subject to error. Pollhost.com does not pre-screen the content of polls created by Pollhost customers.