I'm recently dealing with new things as you long time readers will already know...like teens (well not exactly but long story) anyway back to the point. Thing 1 now has a boyfriend. By all accounts he is a very good kid from a good family.
No disagreement with me there. No problems. He is terrified of me, so much so that he actually called Thing 1 last night while I was in the yard with a cigotch and asked her what he should do. Whether he should come in or not and how to get past me.
That is the power of fear and something that will keep me from being a grandparent for a few more years.
Let me 'splain, she is fifteen he is sixteen. Now those of you who actually know me know I'm a easy going, affable, and a reasonable person, willing to help anyone in need at any time....unless you hurt someone I know and care for. I'll be a different person then and I don't like that. It makes me sick inside.
With every fiber of my being I'll take care of my loved ones well being as anyone who is a real man would. I'm not unique in this way or at least I'd hope I'm not if not below average in this department.
To a sixteen year old (reportedly a good kid) I hope I'm the most terrifying thing he has ever encountered.
One time I was called upon at one of my Northern Brother's wedding to give a message to my Northern Brother's sister's boyfriend (stick with me here) who seemed like a good kid. We shared a hotel room and I had brought my .357 with me...said good kid entered the room while I was cleaning my .357 Colt King Cobra. Magnificent weapon by the way. Stainless steel, six inch barrel, custom grips. I miss that weapon.
Anyway back to the point, good kid enters hotel room (I knew about when he was going to return and was waiting on him) he said he felt that Northern Sister didn't really think that Northern Parents liked him that much. Calmly I said, "I don't think they do. Might be a good idea to think about other people." To a twenty year old it might have seemed funny, to a young teen it was terrifying.
Turns out he had turned into a loser and would have been a horrible choice for Northern Sister. Northern Sister deserved much better and has since gone onto great things!
I doubt if this sixteen year old would turn into that but I do remember what I was like at sixteen, and fifteen. I wouldn't have gotten along with me now. I wasn't who I am now, immature, impulsive...well not such a stretch but I wouldn't have liked me now.
The Date informed me last night during my unwinding cigotch (which consisted of a Glenrothes 16 year old and a Oliva Serie V (my last one) that sixteen year old felt horrible that I didn't like him or talk to him. Honestly I want him to think I'm the Wrath of God and that the law itself might be his only relief if he should lay an unwanted hand on Thing 1. That kind of fear prevents bad situations later on.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hi Ho
It's off to work I go. As you followers will know I was off Tuesday for a medical test. I had prepared a half day's of work in the shop for Tuesday on Monday. As you long time readers will also guess the work was awaiting me on Wednesday.
Such is the way of life at my work. Not complaining though, well maybe a little but but I'm still in the "just happy to be getting paid" thinking mode right now. That makes me complain a lot less when I put it into context.
I really don't mind then, my job isn't ditch digging after all. I get a fair compensation and my bosses are good to me. It is coming up on Fantasy Football season and that makes things much better as well!
We had a full league of twelve teams, one dropped out as Skate predicted but he predicted he would only play one season before dropping. That's alright, we are looking for number twelve. If we have to play with eleven we can and just draft a dummy team and find an owner next season to take the team over.
All is good though! Well The Date had a mishap with the pool last night, she tumbled over the side injuring her shin and scraped up her other knee. This morning it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It hit really hard but it doesn't appear to be as badly bruised as I thought. We kept it elevated and iced down last night. She can walk on it though it just hurts.
Such is the way of life at my work. Not complaining though, well maybe a little but but I'm still in the "just happy to be getting paid" thinking mode right now. That makes me complain a lot less when I put it into context.
I really don't mind then, my job isn't ditch digging after all. I get a fair compensation and my bosses are good to me. It is coming up on Fantasy Football season and that makes things much better as well!
We had a full league of twelve teams, one dropped out as Skate predicted but he predicted he would only play one season before dropping. That's alright, we are looking for number twelve. If we have to play with eleven we can and just draft a dummy team and find an owner next season to take the team over.
All is good though! Well The Date had a mishap with the pool last night, she tumbled over the side injuring her shin and scraped up her other knee. This morning it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It hit really hard but it doesn't appear to be as badly bruised as I thought. We kept it elevated and iced down last night. She can walk on it though it just hurts.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Name Of The Rose
I finished it last night. Just a hair over six hundred pages but it was very difficult. The Name of the Rose, a fourteenth century mystery that takes place in an abbey. A medieval monk, William of Baskerville with his young apprentice Adso were brought in to solve an unexplained death. William is more or less the Sherlock Holmes of his day, a former inquisitor with an insatiable appetite for the truth and an intellect to match.
Over the next seven days several deaths occur while William and Adso hunt the killer. The book is steeped in arcane theological debates, Latin phrases with no interpretation, and a confusing cast of characters. Well maybe not confusing as it took me over six months to read this novel. I do admit to laying the book down for weeks at a time and not reading it.
Yes you'll likely recall a movie of the same title and premise however it was VERY dumbed down for viewers, the novel couldn't possibly translate into screen material easily and retain the complexity of the mystery.
Les Miserables was once the toughest book I'd tackled, the sheer size and layers of story made it a book where you really had to pay attention to what was happening, Rose was by far tougher and half the size.
It was just how tedious the context could be and how difficult it made it for you the reader to gain that context that made it hard to read. I'm fairly certain making it through this book raises your IQ points by about five. I'm glad I made it through but now it is onto easier reading for a while!
Over the next seven days several deaths occur while William and Adso hunt the killer. The book is steeped in arcane theological debates, Latin phrases with no interpretation, and a confusing cast of characters. Well maybe not confusing as it took me over six months to read this novel. I do admit to laying the book down for weeks at a time and not reading it.
Yes you'll likely recall a movie of the same title and premise however it was VERY dumbed down for viewers, the novel couldn't possibly translate into screen material easily and retain the complexity of the mystery.
Les Miserables was once the toughest book I'd tackled, the sheer size and layers of story made it a book where you really had to pay attention to what was happening, Rose was by far tougher and half the size.
It was just how tedious the context could be and how difficult it made it for you the reader to gain that context that made it hard to read. I'm fairly certain making it through this book raises your IQ points by about five. I'm glad I made it through but now it is onto easier reading for a while!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Loud Night
I drove home yesterday after work in what seemed to be hurricane like conditions. They lasted quite a while in fact. There was one point before I left work some coworkers and I looked out the big garage door in the front of our building and couldn't see across the street because of the swirling rain.
It was that bad. Normally you can see fairly well even in rain conditions but this time no. You could not see across the street. It was nuts.
Got home and it calmed down after about an hour. By nine o'clock it picked back up again and decided to stay all night. Well not the rain, that came and went but the lightning and thunder....yeah that stayed around.
It was noisy to say the least. I didn't get much sleep. I've got the day off because of a doctor's appointment today, just a check up to make sure the kidney stones are gone and my water drinking regime is working. No big deal. It'll likely be yearly from now on, it has been every six months.
Last night I obtained the twelfth fantasy football team for my dynasty league! Woohooo!
We will be holding the draft the day after my redraft league's draft. The first at Beersnob's house, the second at Skate's house. They were both kind enough to volunteer their domains for such an occasion! I can't wait until the twenty ninth and thirtieth of this month!
It was that bad. Normally you can see fairly well even in rain conditions but this time no. You could not see across the street. It was nuts.
Got home and it calmed down after about an hour. By nine o'clock it picked back up again and decided to stay all night. Well not the rain, that came and went but the lightning and thunder....yeah that stayed around.
It was noisy to say the least. I didn't get much sleep. I've got the day off because of a doctor's appointment today, just a check up to make sure the kidney stones are gone and my water drinking regime is working. No big deal. It'll likely be yearly from now on, it has been every six months.
Last night I obtained the twelfth fantasy football team for my dynasty league! Woohooo!
We will be holding the draft the day after my redraft league's draft. The first at Beersnob's house, the second at Skate's house. They were both kind enough to volunteer their domains for such an occasion! I can't wait until the twenty ninth and thirtieth of this month!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Pretty Good Weekend
The Date did a lot of house straightening, I did a lot of resting. The Things did what they do, one gardening things, the other going out with friends.
All in all it was good, not very productive for me but that is what a weekend is for for me. In my start up fantasy league I've got eleven teams so far, I will hear back today about the twelfth and last team if not then we will run with a dummy team.
I can't wait for this league! It will be a blast! This is going to be a keeper/dynasty league where you retain a certain amount of your players year after year. Sometimes you become attached to your players and want them the next season as you follow their career but in a redraft league you rarely get the same players.
This will be different and exciting! I'm shooting for the draft being on August 22 at noon!
All in all it was good, not very productive for me but that is what a weekend is for for me. In my start up fantasy league I've got eleven teams so far, I will hear back today about the twelfth and last team if not then we will run with a dummy team.
I can't wait for this league! It will be a blast! This is going to be a keeper/dynasty league where you retain a certain amount of your players year after year. Sometimes you become attached to your players and want them the next season as you follow their career but in a redraft league you rarely get the same players.
This will be different and exciting! I'm shooting for the draft being on August 22 at noon!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Public Outrage
I keep reading stories about the outrage at town hall meetings towards members of Congress at the prospect of turning our health care system into one that resembles Canada or the UK.
The Dems are saying that the outrage isn't genuine and it is orchestrated, the people keep saying that no one contacted them and that the representatives won't listen to them and plan on pushing the plan ahead anyway.
Effects on Private Coverage and the Uninsured
• 48 percent of privately insured Americans would transition out of private insurance. Of the
estimated 172.5 million people with private health insurance, there would be a decline of
83.4 million people with private coverage.
• 56 percent of Americans with employer-based coverage would lose their current insurance.
Of the estimated 158.1 million Americans with employer-based coverage, 88.1 million
people would be shifted out of their current employer-based plan.
• 80 percent of Americans in a health insurance exchange would end up in the public plan. Of
the estimated 129.6 million people who would obtain coverage through an exchange, 103.4
million people would be covered by the public plan.
• 34 percent of the uninsured in America would still lack coverage. Of the estimated 49.1
million people without health insurance, the legislation would only reduce the uninsured
by 32.6 million people, leaving 16.5 million people without coverage.
Effects on Physicians and Hospitals
• Physicians would see their payment levels decline by $31.7 billion as a consequence of the
new public plan. While physician net income may increase under the bill primarily due to
other Medicare changes, a public plan with Medicare-based payments would lower
reimbursements. Today, Medicare physician payments are, on average, 81 percent of
private payments.
• Hospitals could see their net annual income fall by $61.9 billion, which roughly eliminates
hospital total margins. This significant loss in hospital income is also overwhelmingly
attributable to the public plan using Medicare-based payments. Today, Medicare hospital
payments are, on average, 68 percent of private payments.
###
This is from a report from the Lewin Group, a health care management consulting firm.
You can read the entire report here and see how the goal is to put EVERYONE into the public option no matter how much you like your insurance policy now, a direct contradiction to what Obama is saying publicly.
Here is the problem people are having and it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure it all out. There is a limited amount of money allocated to the public health care option. No matter what that limit is, there is an eventual limit that will be reached. When it is reached people will have to go without essential tests, essential procedures, and essential appointments with doctors.
Now who goes to the doctors more than anyone else? The Seniors of our country. Do you really believe that this won't effect them? Exactly, of course it will effect them and not in a good way.
Alright here is the coup de grace on the congressional health care bill about why it is a bad deal. You don't have to believe me, you don't have to believe the report I site, you don't have to believe your neighbor being angry about it. Listen to congress! The people themselves who have written this monstrosity of a bill! They have exempted themselves from the bill!
They will have coverage they want for themselves while forcing you, me, and Joe Bob into a public option by year three of the program. So if the bill is such a great deal why not be first in line to sign up for it?
There are reforms needed, NO ONE disputes that. A government run take over is not the solution though. It will only destroy our system and reduce health care for all. Now knowing all of this, aren't you a little bit outraged too?
The Dems are saying that the outrage isn't genuine and it is orchestrated, the people keep saying that no one contacted them and that the representatives won't listen to them and plan on pushing the plan ahead anyway.
Effects on Private Coverage and the Uninsured
• 48 percent of privately insured Americans would transition out of private insurance. Of the
estimated 172.5 million people with private health insurance, there would be a decline of
83.4 million people with private coverage.
• 56 percent of Americans with employer-based coverage would lose their current insurance.
Of the estimated 158.1 million Americans with employer-based coverage, 88.1 million
people would be shifted out of their current employer-based plan.
• 80 percent of Americans in a health insurance exchange would end up in the public plan. Of
the estimated 129.6 million people who would obtain coverage through an exchange, 103.4
million people would be covered by the public plan.
• 34 percent of the uninsured in America would still lack coverage. Of the estimated 49.1
million people without health insurance, the legislation would only reduce the uninsured
by 32.6 million people, leaving 16.5 million people without coverage.
Effects on Physicians and Hospitals
• Physicians would see their payment levels decline by $31.7 billion as a consequence of the
new public plan. While physician net income may increase under the bill primarily due to
other Medicare changes, a public plan with Medicare-based payments would lower
reimbursements. Today, Medicare physician payments are, on average, 81 percent of
private payments.
• Hospitals could see their net annual income fall by $61.9 billion, which roughly eliminates
hospital total margins. This significant loss in hospital income is also overwhelmingly
attributable to the public plan using Medicare-based payments. Today, Medicare hospital
payments are, on average, 68 percent of private payments.
###
This is from a report from the Lewin Group, a health care management consulting firm.
You can read the entire report here and see how the goal is to put EVERYONE into the public option no matter how much you like your insurance policy now, a direct contradiction to what Obama is saying publicly.
Here is the problem people are having and it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure it all out. There is a limited amount of money allocated to the public health care option. No matter what that limit is, there is an eventual limit that will be reached. When it is reached people will have to go without essential tests, essential procedures, and essential appointments with doctors.
Now who goes to the doctors more than anyone else? The Seniors of our country. Do you really believe that this won't effect them? Exactly, of course it will effect them and not in a good way.
Alright here is the coup de grace on the congressional health care bill about why it is a bad deal. You don't have to believe me, you don't have to believe the report I site, you don't have to believe your neighbor being angry about it. Listen to congress! The people themselves who have written this monstrosity of a bill! They have exempted themselves from the bill!
They will have coverage they want for themselves while forcing you, me, and Joe Bob into a public option by year three of the program. So if the bill is such a great deal why not be first in line to sign up for it?
There are reforms needed, NO ONE disputes that. A government run take over is not the solution though. It will only destroy our system and reduce health care for all. Now knowing all of this, aren't you a little bit outraged too?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Cigotch
Had a cigotch night with Beersnob and The Date last night. It was pretty nice as we sat around and talked about many things. From Obama collecting information on people who disagree with the Houses's health care bill to great movies.
Good night! I had a La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro Robusto paired with Laphroaig scotch.
Feeling pretty good this morning. Got to sleep pretty late, well late for me but I'm good! The cats are fed and are roaming, the dog has gone out and came in to get fed, now he is out for a while.
It's a bright, sunny morning and getting hot already. It's going to be a good day!
Good night! I had a La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro Robusto paired with Laphroaig scotch.
Feeling pretty good this morning. Got to sleep pretty late, well late for me but I'm good! The cats are fed and are roaming, the dog has gone out and came in to get fed, now he is out for a while.
It's a bright, sunny morning and getting hot already. It's going to be a good day!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Pleasant Thursday Evening
We've got seven teams now for the Dynasty Fantasy Football League! Woohooo!!!!
I lowered the entry fee and weekly costs. They are approximately half of what my redraft league is. It's ok, picked up a big sports fan though and hopefully someone he knows! Beersnob has a friend that expressed some interest as well.
Ideally I want ten teams, twelve would be better but for now that is just really hard to find. Everyone is already in a league or they don't follow football. That's alright but I've played in four leagues at once before. I can follow multiple teams without a problem.
Yeah it is hard to have someone who has your player on one team and you are going against each other in another league, it is hard to know how to root for your player but you do it anyway. Winning is what you keep in mind as long as you accomplish that then everything is good!
I took Thing 2 up to her school last night for an open house so she could find her classes. Gave her a lock for her locker and taught her how to use it, she was pretty happy to learn that skill. Then we headed home for Shark Week goodness!
I had a CI Legends Purple label last night while sitting outside. Not a bad cigar. It was pleasant all the way but really hit its sweet spot about an inch in. Nothing remarkable about it other than it was alright. While smoking that I was listening to Metallica's masterpiece Master of Puppets!
It is easy to forget how great that album was if you haven't heard it in a few years. They were solid, every single song was dead on! Battery, Master of Puppets, The Things That Should Not Be, Sanitarium....all you can say is wow! Amazing! It culminates in Orion the late Cliff Burton's swan song masterpiece and of course Damage Inc. which is arguably the most thrashingly brutal song on the whole album!
Great night!
I lowered the entry fee and weekly costs. They are approximately half of what my redraft league is. It's ok, picked up a big sports fan though and hopefully someone he knows! Beersnob has a friend that expressed some interest as well.
Ideally I want ten teams, twelve would be better but for now that is just really hard to find. Everyone is already in a league or they don't follow football. That's alright but I've played in four leagues at once before. I can follow multiple teams without a problem.
Yeah it is hard to have someone who has your player on one team and you are going against each other in another league, it is hard to know how to root for your player but you do it anyway. Winning is what you keep in mind as long as you accomplish that then everything is good!
I took Thing 2 up to her school last night for an open house so she could find her classes. Gave her a lock for her locker and taught her how to use it, she was pretty happy to learn that skill. Then we headed home for Shark Week goodness!
I had a CI Legends Purple label last night while sitting outside. Not a bad cigar. It was pleasant all the way but really hit its sweet spot about an inch in. Nothing remarkable about it other than it was alright. While smoking that I was listening to Metallica's masterpiece Master of Puppets!
It is easy to forget how great that album was if you haven't heard it in a few years. They were solid, every single song was dead on! Battery, Master of Puppets, The Things That Should Not Be, Sanitarium....all you can say is wow! Amazing! It culminates in Orion the late Cliff Burton's swan song masterpiece and of course Damage Inc. which is arguably the most thrashingly brutal song on the whole album!
Great night!
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Rainy Night
Even though yesterday's heat was interrupted by a flash storm last night was thundery and rainy. As I type this the thunder is rolling over an orange, pink and purple daybreak. It is quite the amazing spectacle.
It is cool out as you would expect, feels really nice. I already put the dog out for a few minutes after his nightly crating. The cats are fed and have gone off to nap somewhere.
It's quiet now. Only the sounds of thunder and a fan can be heard. Being Friday light and trash day on top of that it signals a weekend is near, within reach. Watched Ghost Hunters International last night. I was watching Shark Week but it was the Mythbusters episode where they were doing their first Shark Week special on Jaws. Seen it like half a dozen times already. So I turned it to SyFy (shakes head...) what were they thinking?
It is still irritating but I guess I'll live.
It is cool out as you would expect, feels really nice. I already put the dog out for a few minutes after his nightly crating. The cats are fed and have gone off to nap somewhere.
It's quiet now. Only the sounds of thunder and a fan can be heard. Being Friday light and trash day on top of that it signals a weekend is near, within reach. Watched Ghost Hunters International last night. I was watching Shark Week but it was the Mythbusters episode where they were doing their first Shark Week special on Jaws. Seen it like half a dozen times already. So I turned it to SyFy (shakes head...) what were they thinking?
It is still irritating but I guess I'll live.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Sometimes Life Is Good
So there I was sitting out in my yard with a cigar. It was hot out, well over ninety in the early evening.
I had ice water instead of scotch. Those of you who have known me for a long time know I was single for a long time and life was good then too. I was happy as I normally am but things are different now. This is a different kind of happy.
Maybe more of a complete happy? My skill for written description fails me at the moment to adequately describe it. I've got The Date and The Things around now...not to mention another kitteh and a goggie (those of you who know lolspeak will get it) there is constant noise of some kind. Talking, growling, hissing, laughing, lots of things.
I am pondering this as I'm watching Sid and Nancy on Ovation. They were happy, very unhealthy for each other but happy in a way only they would understand. Their drug fueled relationship is the stuff of punk legend. They were loud, abrasive, and somehow in constant pain that was only relieved when they were with each other and when they were with each other they caused each other more pain.
Such an odd dynamic, this movie intrigues me and the personal relationships it depicts. I've seen it maybe half a dozen times and can't turn it off. Its a two hour train wreck.
Fortunately The Date and The Things...and the pets are far healthier for me than Nancy was for Sid. Their relationship was destined from the start to end one way, everyone knew it, everyone around them knew it, I think everyone expected it to happen.
Even though they spiraled down to day to day living, looking for their next fix in between drinks they were together. In their own self induced chaos they found a bleak solace in each other.
Yeah sometimes life is good in its own incarnations of existence. In the immortal words of the philosopher John Anderson, "But I've got the mornin' sun, I've got the evenin' breeze. I got the woman that I love lyin' close to me. I've got a few good friends and all my bills are paid. I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made"
I had ice water instead of scotch. Those of you who have known me for a long time know I was single for a long time and life was good then too. I was happy as I normally am but things are different now. This is a different kind of happy.
Maybe more of a complete happy? My skill for written description fails me at the moment to adequately describe it. I've got The Date and The Things around now...not to mention another kitteh and a goggie (those of you who know lolspeak will get it) there is constant noise of some kind. Talking, growling, hissing, laughing, lots of things.
I am pondering this as I'm watching Sid and Nancy on Ovation. They were happy, very unhealthy for each other but happy in a way only they would understand. Their drug fueled relationship is the stuff of punk legend. They were loud, abrasive, and somehow in constant pain that was only relieved when they were with each other and when they were with each other they caused each other more pain.
Such an odd dynamic, this movie intrigues me and the personal relationships it depicts. I've seen it maybe half a dozen times and can't turn it off. Its a two hour train wreck.
Fortunately The Date and The Things...and the pets are far healthier for me than Nancy was for Sid. Their relationship was destined from the start to end one way, everyone knew it, everyone around them knew it, I think everyone expected it to happen.
Even though they spiraled down to day to day living, looking for their next fix in between drinks they were together. In their own self induced chaos they found a bleak solace in each other.
Yeah sometimes life is good in its own incarnations of existence. In the immortal words of the philosopher John Anderson, "But I've got the mornin' sun, I've got the evenin' breeze. I got the woman that I love lyin' close to me. I've got a few good friends and all my bills are paid. I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made"
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
So I Should
Have spent the last evening searching for stories similar to Jorge Munoz however I didn't. It is Shark Week after all. I do believe I am going to attempt a similar project to Jorge Munoz's and cook meals for the hungry.
I believe that I can do this as a weekend project. Twenty to thirty meals per day, two days a week. Easy meals like grilled chicken breasts, rice, a vegetable. After seeing what that this man was essentially giving half of his life in dedication to the hungry it makes me want a few things a lot less. You might say frivolous things here and there that just don't matter.
Those things are my choice but sometimes people who wind up hungry don't have that choice to make. Yeah I know that there are a lot of people who have gotten by on the system and have made a lifestyle out of bad choices but being hungry is something we all have in common, some can just afford to fill our hunger with better food than others.
I am thinking that in about a month I can start this project, I'll keep everyone informed.
I believe that I can do this as a weekend project. Twenty to thirty meals per day, two days a week. Easy meals like grilled chicken breasts, rice, a vegetable. After seeing what that this man was essentially giving half of his life in dedication to the hungry it makes me want a few things a lot less. You might say frivolous things here and there that just don't matter.
Those things are my choice but sometimes people who wind up hungry don't have that choice to make. Yeah I know that there are a lot of people who have gotten by on the system and have made a lifestyle out of bad choices but being hungry is something we all have in common, some can just afford to fill our hunger with better food than others.
I am thinking that in about a month I can start this project, I'll keep everyone informed.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Shark Week Angel
Yesterday was spent watching Shark Week shows, fixing a weak breaker, washing uniforms, and eating:) Shark Week is a yearly ritual for me. Love the shows even though there are some repeats in there from year to year. A few years back it was really pathetic, there were about two new Shark Week shows and the rest were reruns.
Now Discovery has really put a lot more effort into the shows and it is much better! Last night's was a documentary about the 1916 shark attacks in New Jersey. Good story, great production. A nice kickoff to Shark Week!
Thing 2 is out of commission with a flu bug so we looked after her most of the day. She is doing better. The Date made some awesome cookies!
The weather was great, I had a CI legends black label cigar sitting outside with Zip. Mild, woodsy leather tastes with a hint of pepper and spice. Great first third, hit its stride in the second third, strong on the last third and a bit harsh. Overall a decent cigar but I doubt if I'd buy more.
There is better for the price out there. The CI legends yellow label is by far the best of the bunch. Its blended by Don Pepin Garcia, a very hot cigar maker now and has some quality and very sought after cigars. I'd buy any box of any of his cigars. They are that good!
Then in the evening I was just reading a few sites and came across Jorge Munoz. This man is an angel in the flesh. If I had one one thousandth of his drive I'd be a better person.
Here is the You Tube video I came across about this man among men.
This man deserves your support. In these tough times he is an inspiration that people are out there that can be good. People who will do things for their fellow man for no personal benefit and at great personal cost. I'm in awe of Mr. Munoz.
Now Discovery has really put a lot more effort into the shows and it is much better! Last night's was a documentary about the 1916 shark attacks in New Jersey. Good story, great production. A nice kickoff to Shark Week!
Thing 2 is out of commission with a flu bug so we looked after her most of the day. She is doing better. The Date made some awesome cookies!
The weather was great, I had a CI legends black label cigar sitting outside with Zip. Mild, woodsy leather tastes with a hint of pepper and spice. Great first third, hit its stride in the second third, strong on the last third and a bit harsh. Overall a decent cigar but I doubt if I'd buy more.
There is better for the price out there. The CI legends yellow label is by far the best of the bunch. Its blended by Don Pepin Garcia, a very hot cigar maker now and has some quality and very sought after cigars. I'd buy any box of any of his cigars. They are that good!
Then in the evening I was just reading a few sites and came across Jorge Munoz. This man is an angel in the flesh. If I had one one thousandth of his drive I'd be a better person.
Here is the You Tube video I came across about this man among men.
This man deserves your support. In these tough times he is an inspiration that people are out there that can be good. People who will do things for their fellow man for no personal benefit and at great personal cost. I'm in awe of Mr. Munoz.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Bar Warming Party
Yesterday a lot of things got accomplished. In the morning by brother, his friend and I got most of dad's place cleaned up. That is a big relief and something that had to get done. It isn't completely done yet but it is mostly done. Still it was a lot accomplished.
While I was there I went by my mom's place and she was making fresh green beans and new potatoes in the crock pot. It smelled awesome so I decided to put a roast with that and so I went by the store and got some fresh green beans, new potatoes, and a nice roast.
Started cooking them last night after The Date and I got home from a bar warming party. A friend purchased a new home and it had a full bar downstairs. So everyone helped stock his bar. Great house! Almost all of the friends were there and that was a blast.
I found a rope with a clasp to be able to put Zip outside and let him stay outside. I used one of Ace's old ropes I had for him. Zip likes being able to stay out longer with no one to supervise him on a short leash.
All in all it was a great Saturday and looking forward to a better today! The roast is pretty much done and the house smells incredible, it is very nice outside, and best yet Shark Week starts on Discovery!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!!
While I was there I went by my mom's place and she was making fresh green beans and new potatoes in the crock pot. It smelled awesome so I decided to put a roast with that and so I went by the store and got some fresh green beans, new potatoes, and a nice roast.
Started cooking them last night after The Date and I got home from a bar warming party. A friend purchased a new home and it had a full bar downstairs. So everyone helped stock his bar. Great house! Almost all of the friends were there and that was a blast.
I found a rope with a clasp to be able to put Zip outside and let him stay outside. I used one of Ace's old ropes I had for him. Zip likes being able to stay out longer with no one to supervise him on a short leash.
All in all it was a great Saturday and looking forward to a better today! The roast is pretty much done and the house smells incredible, it is very nice outside, and best yet Shark Week starts on Discovery!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!!
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Great Friday!
Had a wonderful time yesterday. Got a ton of stuff done and had our own beer summit to discuss politics at a club. I figured that if the President can invite a cop and a racist and a Harvard professor to the white house then I can invite a few liberals, moderates, and conservatives to a bar.
It was a great success and we had some very interesting and productive discussions despite the major liberals failing to show up which were the cause of the dispute in the first place. No matter, we had a great time, enjoyed ourselves and came to some common ground in a productive and adult manner.
After that we went to Bdubs for trivia and wings:) Very fun of course!
Today, well not so much fun. I've got to go help my brother clean out my dad's place. Most of it is done but there is still a lot that needs to be done. Should take a couple of hours. Then I've got to go get a dog harness and chain for him so he can stay outside a little bit longer than when we have him on a leash.
Should be a good day other than this morning.
It was a great success and we had some very interesting and productive discussions despite the major liberals failing to show up which were the cause of the dispute in the first place. No matter, we had a great time, enjoyed ourselves and came to some common ground in a productive and adult manner.
After that we went to Bdubs for trivia and wings:) Very fun of course!
Today, well not so much fun. I've got to go help my brother clean out my dad's place. Most of it is done but there is still a lot that needs to be done. Should take a couple of hours. Then I've got to go get a dog harness and chain for him so he can stay outside a little bit longer than when we have him on a leash.
Should be a good day other than this morning.
Friday, July 31, 2009
A Lot To Do
I took today off because I've got a ton to do. A lot of the stuff I've been neglecting since I finished the show. I've just not had the money to do it all.
Well today I do! I love paydays! Ok here is my word of advice for everyone today: if you ever are or join a union and things lead to a strike situation you think very long and very hard about your decisions and prepare yourself for the consequences ahead of time. That is money and time that is lost and gone for good.
So today marks the day I'm officially back on track financially. Fortunately none of my bills got behind. The part time job helped a LOT. A lot of my coworkers who didn't have either the drive or the foresight are in trouble but getting out of it, me and The Date? We are good, just had to put off the stuff that was extras, things that weren't necessities.
Today I've got to get some ink for my printer, my truck tag, some light fixtures, take The Date to lunch, and make sure that my online bills got paid:) Doesn't sound like a lot but to me its been a goal for a few weeks now!
Tonight I'm also planning on going to Trey of Hearts for a drink around six. They usually have BBQ on Friday nights and I'll get some and take to The Date for supper:)
Well today I do! I love paydays! Ok here is my word of advice for everyone today: if you ever are or join a union and things lead to a strike situation you think very long and very hard about your decisions and prepare yourself for the consequences ahead of time. That is money and time that is lost and gone for good.
So today marks the day I'm officially back on track financially. Fortunately none of my bills got behind. The part time job helped a LOT. A lot of my coworkers who didn't have either the drive or the foresight are in trouble but getting out of it, me and The Date? We are good, just had to put off the stuff that was extras, things that weren't necessities.
Today I've got to get some ink for my printer, my truck tag, some light fixtures, take The Date to lunch, and make sure that my online bills got paid:) Doesn't sound like a lot but to me its been a goal for a few weeks now!
Tonight I'm also planning on going to Trey of Hearts for a drink around six. They usually have BBQ on Friday nights and I'll get some and take to The Date for supper:)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday!!!!
Woohoooo!!!! The week is officially winding down towards the weekend! I look forward to Thursdays because they are like Friday junior.
I don't dread each day of the week, it just makes the week drag by. I look forward with excitement that each day will hold something new and I'll find out something I never new before.
Last night The Date and I went to one of her friend's house and played Wii for a couple of hours. That was fun, first time I've ever played on a Wii system. It really took a little getting used to.
The bowling took me a few tries to even line up the ball on the lane. I did bowl almost a two hundred though, like 186. Archery was fun but really hard. Sword fighting was a lot of fun, boxing...well I had six knockouts I think. That game wore me out.
I don't dread each day of the week, it just makes the week drag by. I look forward with excitement that each day will hold something new and I'll find out something I never new before.
Last night The Date and I went to one of her friend's house and played Wii for a couple of hours. That was fun, first time I've ever played on a Wii system. It really took a little getting used to.
The bowling took me a few tries to even line up the ball on the lane. I did bowl almost a two hundred though, like 186. Archery was fun but really hard. Sword fighting was a lot of fun, boxing...well I had six knockouts I think. That game wore me out.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Things Are Getting Fixed
Last night the dryer got fixed. Turns out it wasn't the dryer at all but a breaker that went bad. A friend with a volt meter came over and we started testing things. What made it hard to catch was that the breaker didn't trip when it went bad, it just went bad. Fortunately there was a 220 in the box that wasn't being used for anything so we moved it down, hooked the wires to it and BAM! Everything worked perfectly again!
Next up was the printer. It ran out of ink, The Date got the cartridge refilled and it didn't like that at all. Mandingo said to reset the cartridge and it should work. Did that and it worked for a couple of test pages then nothing. I did some adjusting in the settings and still nothing. So this coming Friday I'll just purchase two new cartridges and it'll be all good.
Then I wrote an article for the magazine. A good primer for the rookie owner. I put ten tips in there to give anyone a solid start and point them on where to being putting their teams together. Hopefully Skate will write a follow up article for the issue after that and then we can alternate. Skate has a pretty analytical mind when it comes to this passion of mine.
Speaking of fantasy sports, in my cigar asylum league I've captured first place out of seventeen teams in fantasy NASCAR! I've been second for two thirds of the season now and when I'd have a good week and the first place driver would have a bad week, someone else would have a GREAT week and jump to first while I stayed at second. It sucked! Now I'm in a great position to maintain this points lead for a while and hopefully gain ground on the field. Winner should get around thirty five premium cigars!
Next up was the printer. It ran out of ink, The Date got the cartridge refilled and it didn't like that at all. Mandingo said to reset the cartridge and it should work. Did that and it worked for a couple of test pages then nothing. I did some adjusting in the settings and still nothing. So this coming Friday I'll just purchase two new cartridges and it'll be all good.
Then I wrote an article for the magazine. A good primer for the rookie owner. I put ten tips in there to give anyone a solid start and point them on where to being putting their teams together. Hopefully Skate will write a follow up article for the issue after that and then we can alternate. Skate has a pretty analytical mind when it comes to this passion of mine.
Speaking of fantasy sports, in my cigar asylum league I've captured first place out of seventeen teams in fantasy NASCAR! I've been second for two thirds of the season now and when I'd have a good week and the first place driver would have a bad week, someone else would have a GREAT week and jump to first while I stayed at second. It sucked! Now I'm in a great position to maintain this points lead for a while and hopefully gain ground on the field. Winner should get around thirty five premium cigars!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Nothing Much
Last night was the first night without a show in a handful of weeks. It was nice and sad. I had things to do anyway.
I came home after work and started to dismantle the dryer. It stopped yesterday morning and I figured there was lint trapped in the rollers. Alas no, that would be a simple fix. If I could find the thermal fuse it might be that but I can't and don't know where it is. Yeah I've researched online and still can't find it.
I've got a fix it all friend and he might give me a clue or two as to where to look tonight. No big deal, just inconvenient. I started to watch Torchwood and lost interest about as fast. I might have to give it another shot and stick it out since scifi is slowly disappearing from the American televisual landscape.
Have to take the dog out this morning. He is sitting in his crate and has been all night. He is quiet though. Sweet natured dog. I don't know how old he is but now I'm thinking he might be over one year old but under two.
The Date will have him checked out at the vet on her next paycheck. I get my next paycheck this Friday! Woohoooo!!!! First full full check in weeks! Even better than that is this one will have extra money since I paid most of my bills last check in a less than full payday. I have utilities coming out, satellite bill, and that's almost it! Woohoooo!
I came home after work and started to dismantle the dryer. It stopped yesterday morning and I figured there was lint trapped in the rollers. Alas no, that would be a simple fix. If I could find the thermal fuse it might be that but I can't and don't know where it is. Yeah I've researched online and still can't find it.
I've got a fix it all friend and he might give me a clue or two as to where to look tonight. No big deal, just inconvenient. I started to watch Torchwood and lost interest about as fast. I might have to give it another shot and stick it out since scifi is slowly disappearing from the American televisual landscape.
Have to take the dog out this morning. He is sitting in his crate and has been all night. He is quiet though. Sweet natured dog. I don't know how old he is but now I'm thinking he might be over one year old but under two.
The Date will have him checked out at the vet on her next paycheck. I get my next paycheck this Friday! Woohoooo!!!! First full full check in weeks! Even better than that is this one will have extra money since I paid most of my bills last check in a less than full payday. I have utilities coming out, satellite bill, and that's almost it! Woohoooo!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Vorvonic?
So there we were tearing down a set after nine weeks of work. Debate broke out on how to use a new vocabulary word when I whipped out Vorvonic! Go ahead and google that one! I dare ya!
Ok I admit I made it up. Its origin is from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, which ironically The Date asked me if I remembered the show yesterday and I found it on Hulu. She watched a couple of episodes and really enjoyed the show!
Anyway Vorvonic: The feeling you got when you were a kid and saw something really scary and now is just hokey as an adult! Yeah you can say "scared" but what fun is that when you have Vorvonic in your vocabulary?!?!
Let me 'splain. There was an episode of Buck Rogers that featured a Vorvon. The space age equivalent of Dracula. I believe the episode might have actually been called The Space Vampire but I could be wrong about that. So this Vorvon is really scary looking, well when you are a kid it was terrifying, now it would probably come off as campy or worse. Instead of using his misshapen teeth he would use his fingers and touch them to the victim's throat which as a kid was oddly sexual to me....or maybe that was just Erin Gray.
The Vorvon was simply AWESOME to me as a kid and now that I haven't thought of that episode in years and years I am thinking that Hulu might have it! Not really sure I want to watch it though and get that vorvonic feeling and be disappointed. Yeah I did it, I used it in a sentence, don't dare me to do it again!
This might come down to a coin flip on watching it or not. I really want to revisit my childhood memories but alas it would likely fail the test of time.
Ok I admit I made it up. Its origin is from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, which ironically The Date asked me if I remembered the show yesterday and I found it on Hulu. She watched a couple of episodes and really enjoyed the show!
Anyway Vorvonic: The feeling you got when you were a kid and saw something really scary and now is just hokey as an adult! Yeah you can say "scared" but what fun is that when you have Vorvonic in your vocabulary?!?!
Let me 'splain. There was an episode of Buck Rogers that featured a Vorvon. The space age equivalent of Dracula. I believe the episode might have actually been called The Space Vampire but I could be wrong about that. So this Vorvon is really scary looking, well when you are a kid it was terrifying, now it would probably come off as campy or worse. Instead of using his misshapen teeth he would use his fingers and touch them to the victim's throat which as a kid was oddly sexual to me....or maybe that was just Erin Gray.
The Vorvon was simply AWESOME to me as a kid and now that I haven't thought of that episode in years and years I am thinking that Hulu might have it! Not really sure I want to watch it though and get that vorvonic feeling and be disappointed. Yeah I did it, I used it in a sentence, don't dare me to do it again!
This might come down to a coin flip on watching it or not. I really want to revisit my childhood memories but alas it would likely fail the test of time.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Great Show
The show closed last night and there were tears and fond memories made. It was a ton of work and easily the most complex show I've been apart of to date as I've mentioned before.
The actors were great last night and added a little extra umph to the show, a little bit of added energy that made it fun for someone who has seen the show over twenty times to enjoy. I was happy and proud to be part of the show.
I was happy to have so many of my friends involved and new friends I've made because of this production. Everyone got along very well during the course of the show and everyone seemed sorry for it to be over with now.
So there is really nothing more to be said that hasn't been said before so I'll let it go now and keep the memories:)
The actors were great last night and added a little extra umph to the show, a little bit of added energy that made it fun for someone who has seen the show over twenty times to enjoy. I was happy and proud to be part of the show.
I was happy to have so many of my friends involved and new friends I've made because of this production. Everyone got along very well during the course of the show and everyone seemed sorry for it to be over with now.
So there is really nothing more to be said that hasn't been said before so I'll let it go now and keep the memories:)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Closing Night
This is the dog that The Date adopted last night. Sorry not from the SPCA but from behind a quick shop. She is calling him Zip so that'll be his name. What is weird is that this dog is so well mannered not to have belonged to someone.
The guy who worked at the quick shop said he had tried to find its owner but no one responded. Its a shame, they have missed out on a really nice dog. Zip is quiet, just wants to get in your lap and lay there, hasn't barked yet so I don't know if he is capable or not. All in all a very sweet dog. Next paycheck he is going to the vet and getting checked out.
The cats haven't really freaked yet, Howard though has hissed when Zip was trying to make friends with him. Won't be long before Howard is attacking him. Rocket has hidden under my chair, he doesn't like changes...LOL!
Last night's show was easily the best of the four we've done thus far. The crowd was into it, laughs were had in lines that hadn't produced laughs before. All in all it was the best of the bunch.
The cast party was fun but tonight's will be the grand finale!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pick Up Rehearsal
A good time was had by all. The cast hammed it up on a Shatneresque level and laughs were plenty. Tonight's show will be solid as well as tomorrow night's, then it's closing time.
Next week will start the show withdrawl. Happens every show. You work on something every night and then suddenly its gone. Yeah it happens. Even the shows I didn't enjoy doing as much it happened a little bit.
After I went to bed last night and I'm not sure what time a transformer went bad on our electric line. The neighborhood was out of power for a couple of hours. Oddly enough it gave me bizarre dreams about power outages and how people would live, think Amish. No power, live fine, well after the initial freak out everyone would have they would.
The Date's magazine is filling up with content faster than she can plan it. Not only that but advertising is ahead of the curve as well. It has been a wild ride and it is just starting. The magazine is a week into its shelf life now and going strong! I can't wait to see the next issue now!
Next week will start the show withdrawl. Happens every show. You work on something every night and then suddenly its gone. Yeah it happens. Even the shows I didn't enjoy doing as much it happened a little bit.
After I went to bed last night and I'm not sure what time a transformer went bad on our electric line. The neighborhood was out of power for a couple of hours. Oddly enough it gave me bizarre dreams about power outages and how people would live, think Amish. No power, live fine, well after the initial freak out everyone would have they would.
The Date's magazine is filling up with content faster than she can plan it. Not only that but advertising is ahead of the curve as well. It has been a wild ride and it is just starting. The magazine is a week into its shelf life now and going strong! I can't wait to see the next issue now!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Rehearsal Tonight
Our last rehearsal is set for tonight. It is the pickup rehearsal, to shake the rust off after three nights off. Then tomorrow night is the fourth show and we wrap it up on Saturday night for good.
It's been a long run but a good one. Lots of hard work went into this show, many many hours. I've got a lot to catch up on though when the show closes in the evenings that I've been putting off.
I'm also about to start a dynasty fantasy football league. The current league I play in has been around for close to fifteen years now. It has been very successful in terms of core players and stability. I'm going to mirror the success of that league with one that isn't a redraft league and hold a rules meeting on August 1st.
I'm excited about it! Sometimes you become attached to your players over the course of a season and want to retain them over their careers. This will be an excellent way to do that!
It's been a long run but a good one. Lots of hard work went into this show, many many hours. I've got a lot to catch up on though when the show closes in the evenings that I've been putting off.
I'm also about to start a dynasty fantasy football league. The current league I play in has been around for close to fifteen years now. It has been very successful in terms of core players and stability. I'm going to mirror the success of that league with one that isn't a redraft league and hold a rules meeting on August 1st.
I'm excited about it! Sometimes you become attached to your players over the course of a season and want to retain them over their careers. This will be an excellent way to do that!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Watchmen
This is a modern day masterpiece of film. Based on the graphic novel of the same name it was once thought to be un-filmable, if you read it you'd know why. This is also not Batman or Iron Man, it is a very cynical look at how these characters lived.
Yeah there are a couple of action pieces but really it isn't as dramatic or as intriguing as the lives they lead while they weren't using their masks.
If you have read the graphic novel then you'll have seen this movie, it is a shot for shot recreation and sometimes panel for panel. There were some minor changes and one major change but only the geek in me would notice that. I really wanted to see the apocalyptic ending that the novel had but I understand the reasons it was changed to the way it is now. It is still just as effective but not as hokey as was in the comic.
This is also a very violent movie about violent people and it is set in a very violent alternate time line in American history. These people are hard, they do what they do because it gets done that way. They really don't feel anymore which is a big part of the movie. Some characters lose interest in the human race, some ache to feel what they felt years ago in their prime, some are afraid to feel and go through life as a shadow of what they used to be.
This movie warrants multiple viewings, easily. There will be an ultimate edition coming out in the Winter that will have Tales of the Black Freighter edited into the running time of the movie. It is a sub story in the comic. It was animated but due to the running time not shown in the theaters. Fortunately DVD will correct that mistake:)
Yeah there are a couple of action pieces but really it isn't as dramatic or as intriguing as the lives they lead while they weren't using their masks.
If you have read the graphic novel then you'll have seen this movie, it is a shot for shot recreation and sometimes panel for panel. There were some minor changes and one major change but only the geek in me would notice that. I really wanted to see the apocalyptic ending that the novel had but I understand the reasons it was changed to the way it is now. It is still just as effective but not as hokey as was in the comic.
This is also a very violent movie about violent people and it is set in a very violent alternate time line in American history. These people are hard, they do what they do because it gets done that way. They really don't feel anymore which is a big part of the movie. Some characters lose interest in the human race, some ache to feel what they felt years ago in their prime, some are afraid to feel and go through life as a shadow of what they used to be.
This movie warrants multiple viewings, easily. There will be an ultimate edition coming out in the Winter that will have Tales of the Black Freighter edited into the running time of the movie. It is a sub story in the comic. It was animated but due to the running time not shown in the theaters. Fortunately DVD will correct that mistake:)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
No Rehearsal Last Night
And it felt pretty good! I really didn't want to cook when I got home even though I enjoy cooking a lot so I packed up Thing Two and we went to get Chinese food. It was really good, she had sushi for the second time. Her first experience with wasabi was over the weekend and it was really funny.
She didn't know it was hot. She steered clear of the wasabi last night.
I had a couple of my Blade Runner glasses of The Glenrothes. A sixteen year old single malt scotch that The Date purchased me a couple of weeks ago. No cigar. I've been re-seasoning my humidor and currently none of my cigars are in smoking condition. It would have been nice though with the lightning and mild temperatures last night.
Hopefully the cooler weather remains throughout the day. It'd be nice to have a couple of days of cooler weather before we get back into the triple digits.
She didn't know it was hot. She steered clear of the wasabi last night.
I had a couple of my Blade Runner glasses of The Glenrothes. A sixteen year old single malt scotch that The Date purchased me a couple of weeks ago. No cigar. I've been re-seasoning my humidor and currently none of my cigars are in smoking condition. It would have been nice though with the lightning and mild temperatures last night.
Hopefully the cooler weather remains throughout the day. It'd be nice to have a couple of days of cooler weather before we get back into the triple digits.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Apollo 11
Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Apollo 11's mission to the Moon. I was born ten months after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked upon the Moon for the first time while Michael Collins observed.
What is amazing is that we as the human race had this kind of drive to accomplish something so monumental. President Bush set forward a program to eventually, someday, maybe, lay the ground work to eventually set foot on Mars. Somehow it lacked the passion of JFK's speech to make and achieve the goal of setting foot on the Moon and return safely to Earth.
Instead we have abandoned the Moon and nearly all space exploration except for a pathetic international space station, something unthinkable in 1969. I'm sure by now they had envisioned a lunar colony and regular flights back and forth.
Instead we have a worn out work horse of a space shuttle that is due to be retired before we even have a suitable replacement. Our space program has gone the way of the Sony Betamax player. Instead of solid Moon exploration we aren't even close to accomplishing another moon walk and likely wouldn't be for another twenty years.
Even though we have taken immense giant sized steps forward in technology we have at the same time taken bigger steps backward. My iPhone has ten if not one hundred times more computing power than the entire Apollo lunar lander.
These men were giants among men. Their courage was beyond belief. I'm a coward by the standards they exhibited in their time, nothing but a bug in their shadow. The sheer mental stress caused by being so far away from safety, home, Earth and being able to coldly calculate their mission is beyond belief.
If I could have five minutes to talk or share a drink with anyone still living who is a major historical figure it would be Neil Armstrong with Michael Jordan as distant second. Sadly we have relegated Astronauts as the forgotten past of American history. Yeah it was exciting once but now it is common place. Most people don't even know when the shuttle goes up unless there is a mishap.
After Challenger and then the stalwart Columbia disasters our space program was set back for decades. The victim of bad timing, shrinking budgets, and lack of interest.
We no longer have a goal that is seemingly impossible as walking on the Moon to rally around. Something that takes the country as a whole and unites us instead of divides us as Americans.
This might be a lament of what could have happened to our space program, to what could have been if we would have stayed the course instead of retreating, it might very well be an epitaph to a giant.
What is amazing is that we as the human race had this kind of drive to accomplish something so monumental. President Bush set forward a program to eventually, someday, maybe, lay the ground work to eventually set foot on Mars. Somehow it lacked the passion of JFK's speech to make and achieve the goal of setting foot on the Moon and return safely to Earth.
Instead we have abandoned the Moon and nearly all space exploration except for a pathetic international space station, something unthinkable in 1969. I'm sure by now they had envisioned a lunar colony and regular flights back and forth.
Instead we have a worn out work horse of a space shuttle that is due to be retired before we even have a suitable replacement. Our space program has gone the way of the Sony Betamax player. Instead of solid Moon exploration we aren't even close to accomplishing another moon walk and likely wouldn't be for another twenty years.
Even though we have taken immense giant sized steps forward in technology we have at the same time taken bigger steps backward. My iPhone has ten if not one hundred times more computing power than the entire Apollo lunar lander.
These men were giants among men. Their courage was beyond belief. I'm a coward by the standards they exhibited in their time, nothing but a bug in their shadow. The sheer mental stress caused by being so far away from safety, home, Earth and being able to coldly calculate their mission is beyond belief.
If I could have five minutes to talk or share a drink with anyone still living who is a major historical figure it would be Neil Armstrong with Michael Jordan as distant second. Sadly we have relegated Astronauts as the forgotten past of American history. Yeah it was exciting once but now it is common place. Most people don't even know when the shuttle goes up unless there is a mishap.
After Challenger and then the stalwart Columbia disasters our space program was set back for decades. The victim of bad timing, shrinking budgets, and lack of interest.
We no longer have a goal that is seemingly impossible as walking on the Moon to rally around. Something that takes the country as a whole and unites us instead of divides us as Americans.
This might be a lament of what could have happened to our space program, to what could have been if we would have stayed the course instead of retreating, it might very well be an epitaph to a giant.
Hippie Fail
I have to confess something, I love me some whales. I'm not a tree hugging wacko as any of you who know me know however I do believe that whaling should be banned world wide.
There likely isn't any scientific reason to go off to the Antarctic and go whaling anymore. I could be wrong on that but this post really isn't to debate whaling, it is to talk about the show Whale Wars.
For those of you unfamiliar with the show on Animal Planet it follows the crew of the Steve Irwin as they attempt to thwart a Japanese whaling fleet. What usually happens is a bunch of hippies fail, get hurt, or likely get high and do nothing.
Nearly every time they attempt to take on the Japanese fleet they get lost in ice, attempt to deploy the small boats to throw acid onto the decks of the ships, it isn't harmful acid it just smells really bad according to the hippies. What results is a lot of nothing.
Tonight they attempted to foul the props of a harpoon ship with ropes. The first time they predictably were thinking about their bong on their home ship and failed to deploy the prop fouling ropes correctly but were able to capture and foul a small iceberg.
The second time they deployed the prop fouling ropes correctly (the weed was probably wearing off by now) in front of the ship. They were expecting the ship to come to a hard stop in the sea as the small, thin, ropes got entangled in the props and locked up the massive, powerful engine with sharp metal propellers.
They were actually stunned to learn that the sharp metal propellers cut up their fouling ropes into small pieces. Obviously the designer of the fouling ropes plan might have been spending some quality time with his bong while he came up with that one. He probably failed to take into account that these ships had very powerful engines with big metal propellers that are frequently in the Antarctic where there are lots and lots of icebergs that probably get around the propulsion area of said ship....
I again believe whaling should be banned and I have no love at all for whalers. Whale Wars is fun to watch because essentially you get to watch hippies fail week after week. I like watching hippies fail. These are radicals and they use terrorist tactics on law abiding ships who are quota whaling. I have no love for the whalers but I have even less love for hippies. Most of the characters on the show are not sympathetic people, they tend to be arrogant and elitist. They are quick to jump on and criticize any mistake made by their fellow crew mates, which happens a LOT. They have condescending attitudes and are just very unlikable.
Laughs are plentiful, well for me but I understand that not everyone enjoys watching hippies fail as I do. These idiots are a riot to watch. They have accomplished nothing but failure in the past two seasons of this show. Every ship is still operational, I doubt they have stopped the fleet from getting their quotas, the Japanese fleet have adapted to the terrorist tactics and have really solid counter measures now. It is unlikely they will be able to come up with anything to hurt whaling now. I guess they did succeed in one way, they pushed the Japanese far enough along technology wise to develop these counter measures to protect themselves so their job of protecting whales is ten times harder now....or wait is that another fail????
There likely isn't any scientific reason to go off to the Antarctic and go whaling anymore. I could be wrong on that but this post really isn't to debate whaling, it is to talk about the show Whale Wars.
For those of you unfamiliar with the show on Animal Planet it follows the crew of the Steve Irwin as they attempt to thwart a Japanese whaling fleet. What usually happens is a bunch of hippies fail, get hurt, or likely get high and do nothing.
Nearly every time they attempt to take on the Japanese fleet they get lost in ice, attempt to deploy the small boats to throw acid onto the decks of the ships, it isn't harmful acid it just smells really bad according to the hippies. What results is a lot of nothing.
Tonight they attempted to foul the props of a harpoon ship with ropes. The first time they predictably were thinking about their bong on their home ship and failed to deploy the prop fouling ropes correctly but were able to capture and foul a small iceberg.
The second time they deployed the prop fouling ropes correctly (the weed was probably wearing off by now) in front of the ship. They were expecting the ship to come to a hard stop in the sea as the small, thin, ropes got entangled in the props and locked up the massive, powerful engine with sharp metal propellers.
They were actually stunned to learn that the sharp metal propellers cut up their fouling ropes into small pieces. Obviously the designer of the fouling ropes plan might have been spending some quality time with his bong while he came up with that one. He probably failed to take into account that these ships had very powerful engines with big metal propellers that are frequently in the Antarctic where there are lots and lots of icebergs that probably get around the propulsion area of said ship....
I again believe whaling should be banned and I have no love at all for whalers. Whale Wars is fun to watch because essentially you get to watch hippies fail week after week. I like watching hippies fail. These are radicals and they use terrorist tactics on law abiding ships who are quota whaling. I have no love for the whalers but I have even less love for hippies. Most of the characters on the show are not sympathetic people, they tend to be arrogant and elitist. They are quick to jump on and criticize any mistake made by their fellow crew mates, which happens a LOT. They have condescending attitudes and are just very unlikable.
Laughs are plentiful, well for me but I understand that not everyone enjoys watching hippies fail as I do. These idiots are a riot to watch. They have accomplished nothing but failure in the past two seasons of this show. Every ship is still operational, I doubt they have stopped the fleet from getting their quotas, the Japanese fleet have adapted to the terrorist tactics and have really solid counter measures now. It is unlikely they will be able to come up with anything to hurt whaling now. I guess they did succeed in one way, they pushed the Japanese far enough along technology wise to develop these counter measures to protect themselves so their job of protecting whales is ten times harder now....or wait is that another fail????
Sunday, July 19, 2009
One More Show!
We have had full shows (although four were rehearsals) every day this past week since Monday. We have one more show today and then everyone gets a break for two days. I really doubt if we will have full tech and orchestra going on pick up rehearsal on Wednesday but with such a complicated show we might.
The cast party was great last night! The Date and The Things all enjoyed themselves as well as the vast majority of the cast and orchestra! Very fun! Good food, great friends, and a wonderful evening!
I came home around one forty last night and got up about fifteen minutes ago. This is why I do theatre, well one for the challenge and second for the great cast parties so I can hang out with my incredible friends:)
The cast party was great last night! The Date and The Things all enjoyed themselves as well as the vast majority of the cast and orchestra! Very fun! Good food, great friends, and a wonderful evening!
I came home around one forty last night and got up about fifteen minutes ago. This is why I do theatre, well one for the challenge and second for the great cast parties so I can hang out with my incredible friends:)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Opening Night
This is probably one of the most emotional and well lit scenes in the whole show. It has a great feel to it. Opening night was amazing. It was a full house and had a long standing ovation.
Opening night was a rousing success. I hit all of my cues, I always pull it together by opening night.
I'm proud of all of my friends who are involved in the show. Top notch work. Every one of you hit your marks, nailed your lines, and I have nothing but love and respect for every single one of you.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Better Rehearsal!!!!
It went really well last night. It was the final dress rehearsal which means that friends and family get to come in and for the first time the cast has someone reacting to their performance.
They get to know when to pause a little bit for laughs or applause. I blew two cues outright. I was adjusting the intensity of one light on two different scenes and saved them so that put off two other cues and I made them up too fast. They are saved now though and I'll nail them tonight.
To my rather small credit I nailed every cue in the second act. I should have been able to do that last night but it'll be good tonight!
There is a show tonight, tomorrow night, and Sunday afternoon. That means it is one busy weekend!
The Date has a full day ahead of distribution. She has some of the area towns to get to yet. The response she has gathered from the magazine has really been incredible so far! Advertisers are literally lining up now. I've never seen a business take off with this kind of initial success that I've been around or a small part of. I know as the reputation of the magazine grows it'll get better and better too!
They get to know when to pause a little bit for laughs or applause. I blew two cues outright. I was adjusting the intensity of one light on two different scenes and saved them so that put off two other cues and I made them up too fast. They are saved now though and I'll nail them tonight.
To my rather small credit I nailed every cue in the second act. I should have been able to do that last night but it'll be good tonight!
There is a show tonight, tomorrow night, and Sunday afternoon. That means it is one busy weekend!
The Date has a full day ahead of distribution. She has some of the area towns to get to yet. The response she has gathered from the magazine has really been incredible so far! Advertisers are literally lining up now. I've never seen a business take off with this kind of initial success that I've been around or a small part of. I know as the reputation of the magazine grows it'll get better and better too!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Much Improved Rehearsal!
Last night's rehearsal was very much improved over the previous two nights. That's three down and now final dress is basically showtime from here on out! I've pretty much got my cues down now and really don't anticipate any problems or late cues. Some of you long time readers and personal friends of mine will notice I asked someone to come in and help with sound cues. There are two reasons why.
First I've got my hands full anyway and some sound cues and light cues are synchronized and its a pain for me to do both.
Second she is a long time friend, over ten years. The past couple of years she has been in a rut in her parent's house. She has desperately needed adult interaction and new people to talk to and has grown lonely. I almost begged her to come and help me and to meet some new friends. Since I basically have the best friends in the entire history of the world, I think these friends will do nicely. So I would consider it a favor on which you can call me at any time and ask me for help (not that I wouldn't anyway) for any of you to introduce yourself to her, hug her, and treat her like a regular at the Theatre. She really needs that kind of help right now. She is very shy and that would go a long way into cracking that loneliness shell.
The Date started to distribute her magazine yesterday. At the start she was anxious it would be rejected where ever she went. A natural reaction to anyone who has put this kind of time and love into a project.
Turns out people took more copies than she imagined they would. She got calls already asking them to put it in their business as well. She picked up advertisers from here and the area and the reception of her magazine has been far better than she imagined it would be. She has picked up several offers for contributions that would go nicely into the magazine as well.
She also has a scheduled radio interview for today set up. She's nervous about that but I think it will go better than she thinks. I'm proud of her. I'm happy this is working for her. I can't wait to see where this magazine takes her!
First I've got my hands full anyway and some sound cues and light cues are synchronized and its a pain for me to do both.
Second she is a long time friend, over ten years. The past couple of years she has been in a rut in her parent's house. She has desperately needed adult interaction and new people to talk to and has grown lonely. I almost begged her to come and help me and to meet some new friends. Since I basically have the best friends in the entire history of the world, I think these friends will do nicely. So I would consider it a favor on which you can call me at any time and ask me for help (not that I wouldn't anyway) for any of you to introduce yourself to her, hug her, and treat her like a regular at the Theatre. She really needs that kind of help right now. She is very shy and that would go a long way into cracking that loneliness shell.
The Date started to distribute her magazine yesterday. At the start she was anxious it would be rejected where ever she went. A natural reaction to anyone who has put this kind of time and love into a project.
Turns out people took more copies than she imagined they would. She got calls already asking them to put it in their business as well. She picked up advertisers from here and the area and the reception of her magazine has been far better than she imagined it would be. She has picked up several offers for contributions that would go nicely into the magazine as well.
She also has a scheduled radio interview for today set up. She's nervous about that but I think it will go better than she thinks. I'm proud of her. I'm happy this is working for her. I can't wait to see where this magazine takes her!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Success!
The magazine was printed yesterday morning and by the early afternoon The Date was on her way to pick up the thousands of copies! She sent out a mass text to the entire circle of friends, minus a couple that she didn't have a number for but I did so I made up the difference.
Everyone has been super supportive and I know that it has had a huge effect on The Date. She was emotional yesterday morning after being anxious the previous few days about what could go wrong next. I'm sure she half way expected the printing press itself to be the victim of a terrorist attack for being a radical infidel.
It wasn't and it printed. She arrived to find the people who work at the printing location actually sitting on the dock and reading her magazine. Keep in mind they had no idea when she would arrive as she did not call ahead but had a general open window of arrival.
After loading up the entire run into her car she started to make her way back home via a few small towns to start the distribution process. She was tired but hit a few places already. This morning she will continue distribution from her car and then hopefully finishing up tomorrow and if necessary Friday.
It is very early yet on how well the magazine will be accepted but I believe the area is big enough for the big newspapers as well as this magazine. Newspapers will never fully go away as they are expanding their online presence more and more now. I feel most people do want a physical newspaper or magazine in their hands to start their day though.
Yes you can get your news faster online and when it breaks but there is just something about reading something in your hands that feels better.
Congratulations baby, you have done a great job! I am sure this will be a long and successful endeavor!
Everyone has been super supportive and I know that it has had a huge effect on The Date. She was emotional yesterday morning after being anxious the previous few days about what could go wrong next. I'm sure she half way expected the printing press itself to be the victim of a terrorist attack for being a radical infidel.
It wasn't and it printed. She arrived to find the people who work at the printing location actually sitting on the dock and reading her magazine. Keep in mind they had no idea when she would arrive as she did not call ahead but had a general open window of arrival.
After loading up the entire run into her car she started to make her way back home via a few small towns to start the distribution process. She was tired but hit a few places already. This morning she will continue distribution from her car and then hopefully finishing up tomorrow and if necessary Friday.
It is very early yet on how well the magazine will be accepted but I believe the area is big enough for the big newspapers as well as this magazine. Newspapers will never fully go away as they are expanding their online presence more and more now. I feel most people do want a physical newspaper or magazine in their hands to start their day though.
Yes you can get your news faster online and when it breaks but there is just something about reading something in your hands that feels better.
Congratulations baby, you have done a great job! I am sure this will be a long and successful endeavor!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
First Tech Rehearsal
This is just my own critique of my job last night at the tech rehearsal: Train wreck. I was late on at least a dozen cues and blew a half dozen others out of over one hundred and twenty cues. I believe there are a couple of cues that are mixed up, I'll fix them tonight and get them into the right order.
I got lost at least twice in the script, a couple of times because one actor wasn't there and it threw me for a couple of pages. I'll have it down though by the time opening curtain rises....or splits I guess.
Tonight will be a little bit smoother, Wednesday night smoother still. Thursday night's show will be what it is supposed to be as well as on through the weekend's shows.
The Date's project [five eighty} prints today. In fact by eight A.M. it should be nearly done or finished even! There are a lot of hopes riding on this first issue! She even got a business call yesterday and the magazine was brought up in a business meeting and as I said it isn't even printed yet! That is pretty good word of mouth so far!
There are two local radio stations who have traded advertising for advertising so there are now radio ads going on to promote the magazine! How cool is that? What I've found really cool is the amount of support The Date has had so far in this endeavor. She has been a nervous wreck the past few days but has kept it together and last night got the final two pages sent to the printer.
Personally, and yes I'm biased, I think that once these issues hit she will have to expand the size of her magazine before September, not only the page count but the run as well. She is starting small and leaving room for potential which it has a lot of.
Over the next two to three days she will start to circulate the issues. There have been a some businesses who have put in requests of at least one hundred issues to distribute. The really amazing thing is that she ran out of time before getting to many of the area towns! Those are probably ninety nine percent untapped at this moment! Now THAT is potential!
I got lost at least twice in the script, a couple of times because one actor wasn't there and it threw me for a couple of pages. I'll have it down though by the time opening curtain rises....or splits I guess.
Tonight will be a little bit smoother, Wednesday night smoother still. Thursday night's show will be what it is supposed to be as well as on through the weekend's shows.
The Date's project [five eighty} prints today. In fact by eight A.M. it should be nearly done or finished even! There are a lot of hopes riding on this first issue! She even got a business call yesterday and the magazine was brought up in a business meeting and as I said it isn't even printed yet! That is pretty good word of mouth so far!
There are two local radio stations who have traded advertising for advertising so there are now radio ads going on to promote the magazine! How cool is that? What I've found really cool is the amount of support The Date has had so far in this endeavor. She has been a nervous wreck the past few days but has kept it together and last night got the final two pages sent to the printer.
Personally, and yes I'm biased, I think that once these issues hit she will have to expand the size of her magazine before September, not only the page count but the run as well. She is starting small and leaving room for potential which it has a lot of.
Over the next two to three days she will start to circulate the issues. There have been a some businesses who have put in requests of at least one hundred issues to distribute. The really amazing thing is that she ran out of time before getting to many of the area towns! Those are probably ninety nine percent untapped at this moment! Now THAT is potential!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Rehearsals Are Set
Spent about eight hours over the weekend programming light cues. You long time readers will recall that Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Clause was a very complex show and had a ton of light cues.
This show has probably fifty more cues than Yes Virginia, well over one hundred cues. It is complex show, a lot of my cues are orchestral cues. I've been to rehearsals the past two weeks now and despite me not sticking around the whole show or being back stage I'm actually pretty familiar with how the show flows now.
That's not to say I'm not going to blow cues. I've got a lot to do in the booth as I'm relaying information to my sound partner and the spot light guy as well as my own cues. It's a job.
Every night is a full rehearsal now with everything going at once. It'll go slow tonight as tech, music, and actors are synchronized. Thursday is the full dress rehearsal then the shows begin. This is the toughest week. Next week will be easier.
This show has probably fifty more cues than Yes Virginia, well over one hundred cues. It is complex show, a lot of my cues are orchestral cues. I've been to rehearsals the past two weeks now and despite me not sticking around the whole show or being back stage I'm actually pretty familiar with how the show flows now.
That's not to say I'm not going to blow cues. I've got a lot to do in the booth as I'm relaying information to my sound partner and the spot light guy as well as my own cues. It's a job.
Every night is a full rehearsal now with everything going at once. It'll go slow tonight as tech, music, and actors are synchronized. Thursday is the full dress rehearsal then the shows begin. This is the toughest week. Next week will be easier.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thirty Perfect Rounds Post Script
I wrote a blog post some time ago called Thirty Perfect Rounds about three perfect fights between "Irish" Mickey Ward and Arturo "Thunder" Gatti.
Find it if you want to know the context of what I'm going to tell you next.
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was found dead yesterday in Brazil. HE was an amazing fighter, a rock hard chin, a thunderous punch, gritty and mean! He was everything you wanted in a boxer. From reports I've read he was also a great guy outside of the ring.
Boxing is on its way to becoming obsolete while MMA takes its place. It is a shame in a lot of ways as there aren't many fighters like Gatti in any sport.
Rest In Peace Thunder.
Find it if you want to know the context of what I'm going to tell you next.
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was found dead yesterday in Brazil. HE was an amazing fighter, a rock hard chin, a thunderous punch, gritty and mean! He was everything you wanted in a boxer. From reports I've read he was also a great guy outside of the ring.
Boxing is on its way to becoming obsolete while MMA takes its place. It is a shame in a lot of ways as there aren't many fighters like Gatti in any sport.
Rest In Peace Thunder.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Mad Dog Meltdown
I know this isn't going to make a lot of sense to you regular readers who don't have Sirius but stick with me for a minute. It was a compelling story anyway. Usually on the way to work I listen to Mike and Mike on ESPN radio however due to a tremendous amount of commercials I've started switching to other channels in the morning to see what else is out there. It is Sirius after all and there are over one hundred channels to pick from.
You would think it would be set on the NFL channel all the time, sometimes you would be right too! But I'm just browsing around in the mornings now and seeing what is on. So I come across Mad Dog Radio yesterday morning. The morning host is railing against his boss, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, a former New York sports radio legend apparently. I knew he had jumped to satellite radio and they made him a manager of some sort and power to program his this whole channel.
First he is very New York, I find him hard to listen to. He cares about who pitched in the fourth inning of the 1952 World Series and all kinds of minutia like that. He is gold on baseball history but to me, I don't care. My main sport I follow is football. Everyone who knows me knows that. Stick with me, it will make sense in a few. Russo wants his hosts to know and care about golden age movies, to know things like the entire Gone With The Wind cast, to be able to break down a game that happened over fifty years ago, and he gets angry if you don't.
So as I'm listening yesterday morning the morning host plays a clip from the previous afternoon during Mad Dog's show. Russo ripped his entire staff that he hired...for five hours then fired his update man and friend for over twenty five years! He ripped every host, producer, and assorted staff. Keep in mind he is the man in charge of the channel and hired every individual that works on that channel.
As I'm listening it becomes apparent that Mad Dog got some bad numbers about how his channel ranks. His internet numbers are way down he has a "greatest baseball team of all time" tournament on his site. People go and vote on who they believe is the greatest team of all time. Now that could get me off on a baseball rant and about how it just isn't as relevant as it used to be anymore, NFL is king, and a few other sports that beat baseball on a regular basis in my viewing hours but this is about the drama, baseball isn't the subject.
The morning host was angry. He ripped into Russo for the length of his show! Then the next show came on, The B Team and THEY ripped Russo for four hours! Then finally Russo's show came on and he responded. He not only didn't back off of his comments but enforced them! Callers called in and defended the hosts and pretty much told him how unprofessional he was!
The general mood was Russo was an idiot who cared about things that just aren't relevant in today's radio listening environment. Seems that one day last week Mad Dog went stroke by stroke with commentary over his golf game, now if that isn't compelling radio I don't know what is! A trucker called in and told him he wanted to drive off of a cliff, that's how bad it was.
I was able to form the opinion that if this was the first time I was going to listen to Mad Dog's show it would likely be the last. Mad Dog seems stuck in the past and unable to become up to date on anything that is relevant in today's world, not only that but he doesn't even care to give his listening audience outside of statistical baseball fanatics anything to listen to.
If you would top that with his unprofessional attitude towards his people, who he should be defending and not throwing under the bus and firing at will then you have a channel that I am kind of hoping fails and is replaced with sports talk that I want to listen to.
Hire Dan Patrick, let him program the channel! Now THAT would be entertainment! He stays abreast on everything that is relevant today, stories I want to know more about, and pop culture. I love the Dan Patrick show, the only problem is that Sirius doesn't run it live for some stupid reason so I have to catch the delayed show in the afternoon.
That's the story of the past two days at Mad Dog Radio and why for the first and likely last time I'll be glued to that channel.
You would think it would be set on the NFL channel all the time, sometimes you would be right too! But I'm just browsing around in the mornings now and seeing what is on. So I come across Mad Dog Radio yesterday morning. The morning host is railing against his boss, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, a former New York sports radio legend apparently. I knew he had jumped to satellite radio and they made him a manager of some sort and power to program his this whole channel.
First he is very New York, I find him hard to listen to. He cares about who pitched in the fourth inning of the 1952 World Series and all kinds of minutia like that. He is gold on baseball history but to me, I don't care. My main sport I follow is football. Everyone who knows me knows that. Stick with me, it will make sense in a few. Russo wants his hosts to know and care about golden age movies, to know things like the entire Gone With The Wind cast, to be able to break down a game that happened over fifty years ago, and he gets angry if you don't.
So as I'm listening yesterday morning the morning host plays a clip from the previous afternoon during Mad Dog's show. Russo ripped his entire staff that he hired...for five hours then fired his update man and friend for over twenty five years! He ripped every host, producer, and assorted staff. Keep in mind he is the man in charge of the channel and hired every individual that works on that channel.
As I'm listening it becomes apparent that Mad Dog got some bad numbers about how his channel ranks. His internet numbers are way down he has a "greatest baseball team of all time" tournament on his site. People go and vote on who they believe is the greatest team of all time. Now that could get me off on a baseball rant and about how it just isn't as relevant as it used to be anymore, NFL is king, and a few other sports that beat baseball on a regular basis in my viewing hours but this is about the drama, baseball isn't the subject.
The morning host was angry. He ripped into Russo for the length of his show! Then the next show came on, The B Team and THEY ripped Russo for four hours! Then finally Russo's show came on and he responded. He not only didn't back off of his comments but enforced them! Callers called in and defended the hosts and pretty much told him how unprofessional he was!
The general mood was Russo was an idiot who cared about things that just aren't relevant in today's radio listening environment. Seems that one day last week Mad Dog went stroke by stroke with commentary over his golf game, now if that isn't compelling radio I don't know what is! A trucker called in and told him he wanted to drive off of a cliff, that's how bad it was.
I was able to form the opinion that if this was the first time I was going to listen to Mad Dog's show it would likely be the last. Mad Dog seems stuck in the past and unable to become up to date on anything that is relevant in today's world, not only that but he doesn't even care to give his listening audience outside of statistical baseball fanatics anything to listen to.
If you would top that with his unprofessional attitude towards his people, who he should be defending and not throwing under the bus and firing at will then you have a channel that I am kind of hoping fails and is replaced with sports talk that I want to listen to.
Hire Dan Patrick, let him program the channel! Now THAT would be entertainment! He stays abreast on everything that is relevant today, stories I want to know more about, and pop culture. I love the Dan Patrick show, the only problem is that Sirius doesn't run it live for some stupid reason so I have to catch the delayed show in the afternoon.
That's the story of the past two days at Mad Dog Radio and why for the first and likely last time I'll be glued to that channel.
Friday, July 10, 2009
One More Week!
Then next Friday I'll have my first full paycheck in seven weeks! It's true! Next week is week seven of the screwed up remnants of the strike. I'm very glad I went and found a second job for three weeks now.
It really kept my bills up to date! Some guys at work didn't and are really struggling now. I just wanted to make sure everything was taken care of and was willing to take on extra work to do it. No big deal at all. It wasn't torture but I really didn't like working the weekends. I did it though and now I'm glad I did.
I should be getting my final check from there in the next day or two! Woohoooo!
Rehearsal has gone well. I'm really not able to do much right now except bring The Things to rehearsal so they can practice and paint respectively. Next week I can actually get to work and start with the lights. I'll be busy then but just not a lot to do until then.
It really kept my bills up to date! Some guys at work didn't and are really struggling now. I just wanted to make sure everything was taken care of and was willing to take on extra work to do it. No big deal at all. It wasn't torture but I really didn't like working the weekends. I did it though and now I'm glad I did.
I should be getting my final check from there in the next day or two! Woohoooo!
Rehearsal has gone well. I'm really not able to do much right now except bring The Things to rehearsal so they can practice and paint respectively. Next week I can actually get to work and start with the lights. I'll be busy then but just not a lot to do until then.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Yesterday's Memories
I had to actually stop myself from calling my dad's number in my phone yesterday. In the past we'd talk about Deadliest Catch the night before. He got to love the show. I went into the room where I could get some good phone reception and then I stopped and remembered.
Force of habit I guess. I wasn't thinking. I know his phones are turned off but I haven't erased him out of my contact list. I doubt if I will. In six months those phone numbers will probably belong to someone else, that's fine. The world doesn't stop living because someone has died.
I might actually reach for my phone again soon, I'm impulsive like that sometimes. If you see me do it, let me, I'll catch myself before I dial.
Force of habit I guess. I wasn't thinking. I know his phones are turned off but I haven't erased him out of my contact list. I doubt if I will. In six months those phone numbers will probably belong to someone else, that's fine. The world doesn't stop living because someone has died.
I might actually reach for my phone again soon, I'm impulsive like that sometimes. If you see me do it, let me, I'll catch myself before I dial.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Set Phasers To Fail
How do you alienate a large(r) audience than you already have? Well in the past they have questionable programming changes. You lose focus on what made you a success to start with and lose your niche. You start airing wrestling for instance.
Then if that wasn't a big enough kick in the crotch you change the spelling of the name of your channel for no apparent reason other than to make sure the fanboys never watch again.
Scifi is now Syfy, I'm not joking. I wanted to gouge out my eyes with a spork when I read this. I had come to grips with Scifi losing its way and becoming the bad movie with a big CGI monster channel. They did away with Stargate: Atlantis despite good ratings. Destination Truth was ok but every single show ended the same way! They didn't find ANYTHING!!!! Cha$e, Estate of Panic, and Scare Tactics were their experiment into reality TV....eh. Not really that exciting to me. Yes Warehouse 13 looks mildly interesting. I never got into Eureka. Loved the Stargate franchise. Battlestar...well depends on who you ask about that show. I didn't get into it, a lot of people did. That was some serious and gritty scifi though and a perfect example of what the channel was capable of when they were focused!
They insist on getting bad newer movies instead of classic scifi movies that made the genre a genre to start with! They run dreck over and over again while they should be focusing on what made scifi popular to begin with and start from there!
While I love me some Ghost Hunters and GHI is interesting enough for me to watch I believe they can add more original programming that is scifi based. There is so much potential for this network and it is now in flailing mode...a few steps from fail mode.
I believe this rebranding is just going to usher in more non scifi product I have no desire to consume ala ECW wrestling. Before long it will be TBS light. You want a channel that your audience will take seriously? Take a Star Wars geek, give him some programming choices, a modest budget, and some freedom and you'll have some ratings!
I'm so mad I can't see straight but thankfully there are plenty of choices online for me to get my scifi fix! Bones! I needs some Alpha Centari Scotch, bring Scotty along, that Vulcan can't handle his drink!
Then if that wasn't a big enough kick in the crotch you change the spelling of the name of your channel for no apparent reason other than to make sure the fanboys never watch again.
Scifi is now Syfy, I'm not joking. I wanted to gouge out my eyes with a spork when I read this. I had come to grips with Scifi losing its way and becoming the bad movie with a big CGI monster channel. They did away with Stargate: Atlantis despite good ratings. Destination Truth was ok but every single show ended the same way! They didn't find ANYTHING!!!! Cha$e, Estate of Panic, and Scare Tactics were their experiment into reality TV....eh. Not really that exciting to me. Yes Warehouse 13 looks mildly interesting. I never got into Eureka. Loved the Stargate franchise. Battlestar...well depends on who you ask about that show. I didn't get into it, a lot of people did. That was some serious and gritty scifi though and a perfect example of what the channel was capable of when they were focused!
They insist on getting bad newer movies instead of classic scifi movies that made the genre a genre to start with! They run dreck over and over again while they should be focusing on what made scifi popular to begin with and start from there!
While I love me some Ghost Hunters and GHI is interesting enough for me to watch I believe they can add more original programming that is scifi based. There is so much potential for this network and it is now in flailing mode...a few steps from fail mode.
I believe this rebranding is just going to usher in more non scifi product I have no desire to consume ala ECW wrestling. Before long it will be TBS light. You want a channel that your audience will take seriously? Take a Star Wars geek, give him some programming choices, a modest budget, and some freedom and you'll have some ratings!
I'm so mad I can't see straight but thankfully there are plenty of choices online for me to get my scifi fix! Bones! I needs some Alpha Centari Scotch, bring Scotty along, that Vulcan can't handle his drink!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Nothing Interesting
Nothing really other than a couple of very interesting things. Skate and I have decided to put my soap theory to the test soon. We will do about five different soaps and see if soap is really soap. The Date is concerned it might ruin the washing machine. I contend there isn't a lot to ruin as long as the water drains it is good. The soap certainly won't hurt the big metal basket that holds the clothes.
The Date's project made a big leap yesterday when the articles started coming in. She found another really good writer who will write on every issue! They came from Tulsa where they did a regular weekly feature! This is a big addition and will make a splash!
The feedback just on her idea has been 110% positive thus far. Everyone has embraced the idea and the concept behind the idea. Five Eighty will be in print very soon! Something really cool will start happening this weekend as well;) Stay tuned for that!
She got her first cover picture yesterday and has started to edit it into the very first issue! She has been very nervous about the project. It is understandable to deal with anxiety on a project this big. She is risking a lot but I think when we are in a position to look back on this she will realize that the benefits have far outweighed the risk involved. This is just something I believe people will look forward to, something they will enjoy reading, something that will bring a lot of people with common interests together!
The Date's project made a big leap yesterday when the articles started coming in. She found another really good writer who will write on every issue! They came from Tulsa where they did a regular weekly feature! This is a big addition and will make a splash!
The feedback just on her idea has been 110% positive thus far. Everyone has embraced the idea and the concept behind the idea. Five Eighty will be in print very soon! Something really cool will start happening this weekend as well;) Stay tuned for that!
She got her first cover picture yesterday and has started to edit it into the very first issue! She has been very nervous about the project. It is understandable to deal with anxiety on a project this big. She is risking a lot but I think when we are in a position to look back on this she will realize that the benefits have far outweighed the risk involved. This is just something I believe people will look forward to, something they will enjoy reading, something that will bring a lot of people with common interests together!
Monday, July 06, 2009
Soap Is Soap!
Ok so if you have been in this scenario then you are NOT alone! You find that you are out of laundry soap....you have forgotten to go to the store to get some, you find yourself having to go to work in the morning and might be a little (or a lot bit tipsy) and have decided to play it safe and stay in.
What do you do?
1. Wash your clothes in water only?
2. Wash your clothes in shampoo and/or dish soap?
3. Throw some scotch in the laundry with your clothes and hope you don't get pulled over in the morning.
That's right ladies and gentlemen! YOU THROW IN SOME SOAP, any soap will do! Soap is soap! It cleans what you want it to clean! If you have dirty hair can you use dish soap? Absolutely!!!!
If you have dirty skin can you use laundry soap?!?! YES! Why not? It cleans, gets the spots out, and leaves you feeling summery/lemony fresh on top of all that!
Don't believe me, try it! So in summary, soap is soap, it cleans, cleanses, freshens, and will do just as well on your hair, skin, or clothes.
Your clothes go on your SKIN!!!! Anyone want to care to dispute that?!
Didn't think so! So what works for one should work for all. And that concludes my presentation for the day. Do you want to know what I'm going to try next?! Next time I've got something fairly white that needs to be washed, I'm going to throw some Colgate on there and see how white it gets my clothes!
What do you do?
1. Wash your clothes in water only?
2. Wash your clothes in shampoo and/or dish soap?
3. Throw some scotch in the laundry with your clothes and hope you don't get pulled over in the morning.
That's right ladies and gentlemen! YOU THROW IN SOME SOAP, any soap will do! Soap is soap! It cleans what you want it to clean! If you have dirty hair can you use dish soap? Absolutely!!!!
If you have dirty skin can you use laundry soap?!?! YES! Why not? It cleans, gets the spots out, and leaves you feeling summery/lemony fresh on top of all that!
Don't believe me, try it! So in summary, soap is soap, it cleans, cleanses, freshens, and will do just as well on your hair, skin, or clothes.
Your clothes go on your SKIN!!!! Anyone want to care to dispute that?!
Didn't think so! So what works for one should work for all. And that concludes my presentation for the day. Do you want to know what I'm going to try next?! Next time I've got something fairly white that needs to be washed, I'm going to throw some Colgate on there and see how white it gets my clothes!
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Awesome Day
Yesterday was the kind of day I love. Such a monumental holiday as the birth of our nation was celebrated for the two hundred thirty third time, it always calls for moments of reflection to start the day as to where we started and where we are going.
I did that, during the very pleasant rainstorm with a cigar.
Then it demands that you see or speak to your family. Did that, my brother and mom both came over and talked for a while, mom with cupcakes:)
Thirdly a great holiday needs to be shared with friends. That took up the bulk of the day and evening! I could not ask for better friends, no one could. First we stopped by my filmmaking buddies house for shishkabobs. Then Skate, Jassie, KN, DK, MAC, Ky, and a half dozen others (whom I just don't have nicknames for yet so don't take it personal that I don't mention you here) from the cast of Into The Woods showed up at the director's house for a cookout, pool fun, and general frivolity....and singing...
I could do without the singing but I loved every part of the day...save one. Our local sportscaster had left and stopped back by with some sad news. Former veteran quarterback Steve McNair had been found shot and killed. McNair was always a class act, one of the good guys in the NFL from what I have read. He never posted Manning like numbers but his teams were always happy to put the ball in his hands and let him make the plays. No one is sure what has happened at this point yet but a murder/suicide is suspected.
It has been a sad couple of weeks for celebrities. What I find morbid however and beyond bad taste is that there will be tickets drawn from a lottery for people to attend the Michael Jackson memorial service. I understand that a lot of people want to go but to me it just seems like a hot ticket event and something I would have no part of. It is ghoulish to me, the jackals will be there.
Don't believe me? I bet you that whoever is selected for the event (if you can call a funeral an event) will be scalping their tickets for thousands of dollars. The tickets are free but someone has to profit from this. Its sick.
I did that, during the very pleasant rainstorm with a cigar.
Then it demands that you see or speak to your family. Did that, my brother and mom both came over and talked for a while, mom with cupcakes:)
Thirdly a great holiday needs to be shared with friends. That took up the bulk of the day and evening! I could not ask for better friends, no one could. First we stopped by my filmmaking buddies house for shishkabobs. Then Skate, Jassie, KN, DK, MAC, Ky, and a half dozen others (whom I just don't have nicknames for yet so don't take it personal that I don't mention you here) from the cast of Into The Woods showed up at the director's house for a cookout, pool fun, and general frivolity....and singing...
I could do without the singing but I loved every part of the day...save one. Our local sportscaster had left and stopped back by with some sad news. Former veteran quarterback Steve McNair had been found shot and killed. McNair was always a class act, one of the good guys in the NFL from what I have read. He never posted Manning like numbers but his teams were always happy to put the ball in his hands and let him make the plays. No one is sure what has happened at this point yet but a murder/suicide is suspected.
It has been a sad couple of weeks for celebrities. What I find morbid however and beyond bad taste is that there will be tickets drawn from a lottery for people to attend the Michael Jackson memorial service. I understand that a lot of people want to go but to me it just seems like a hot ticket event and something I would have no part of. It is ghoulish to me, the jackals will be there.
Don't believe me? I bet you that whoever is selected for the event (if you can call a funeral an event) will be scalping their tickets for thousands of dollars. The tickets are free but someone has to profit from this. Its sick.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Rainy Morning Cigar
Freedom. Yes this is the freedom to appreciate a beautiful Saturday morning. It is cool, rainy, a slight breeze. A Cusano cigar. The Date and The Things are inside waking up.
It is quiet, peaceful, and I can grab a few moments of solace:)
-- Post From My iPhone
Happy Independence Day
Two hundred thirty three years ago our forefathers had decided to challenge the rule of the British Empire. The superpower of the age, they ruled the seas with their armada, and the land with their army.
Our ragtag army decided we had had enough and wanted the right of self rule instead of being a colony of the Empire. They wanted many rights. They wanted to do something as radical as limiting what the government can do to its people.
Their concept was simple, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Seven amazing words that summed up what is inside everyone's soul. People gravitate towards liberty and freedom naturally. Governments limit freedom, curtails liberty, and want to guarantee equal outcomes despite people being individuals and different.
Millions of people are smarter than I am and have more ambition than I do. I should not be guaranteed the same outcome as someone who works twenty hour days, seven days a week. I should also be able to do better than someone who wants to stay at home and watch TV all day when they refuse to get a full time job. Failure is ok as long as we have the opportunity to go back to the beginning and start again without government interference.
People are different, each and every one of us. We should all have the same starting line but different finish lines.
On this Independence Day lets remember the principles of our Founding Fathers and what they fought for. Concepts such as I described above, not for another entitlement from the government that tries to equalize individual people.
Our ragtag army decided we had had enough and wanted the right of self rule instead of being a colony of the Empire. They wanted many rights. They wanted to do something as radical as limiting what the government can do to its people.
Their concept was simple, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Seven amazing words that summed up what is inside everyone's soul. People gravitate towards liberty and freedom naturally. Governments limit freedom, curtails liberty, and want to guarantee equal outcomes despite people being individuals and different.
Millions of people are smarter than I am and have more ambition than I do. I should not be guaranteed the same outcome as someone who works twenty hour days, seven days a week. I should also be able to do better than someone who wants to stay at home and watch TV all day when they refuse to get a full time job. Failure is ok as long as we have the opportunity to go back to the beginning and start again without government interference.
People are different, each and every one of us. We should all have the same starting line but different finish lines.
On this Independence Day lets remember the principles of our Founding Fathers and what they fought for. Concepts such as I described above, not for another entitlement from the government that tries to equalize individual people.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Friday Part Two
Finally payday is here! Yes it is only for four days however it is still a huge help! I've had an appreciation for my job since the layoffs last year but there are some people who even after the strike are back to being unappreciative and are more comfortable in their bad mood groove.
They just aren't happy unless they are unhappy. It sucks to be around them. I just want to grab hold of their shoulders and punch them, tell them to wake up, tell them that you are really fortunate to have a good paying job with good benefits.
No we aren't like the UAW, we don't get lifetime benefits and eighty dollars an hour. We do get really good pay and good benefits as long as we are employed. We aren't rich but we make a good living too, and federal holidays:)
The Date's project is still rolling ahead full steam. Bad news is that the printer moved the deadline up to this Monday, a few days before it originally was scheduled. She is working like a mad woman to meet the deadline! Amazing to watch!
I think she will meet it but it isn't the end of the world if the printing is rescheduled, the magazine will come out one week later than originally planned, since it is the first issue there really isn't a precedent as to when it comes out. No big deal but I think she will make this deadline and hit it perfectly!
Advertisers are in place, outlets are in place, the software she ordered got here yesterday, and it is all coming together like a jigsaw puzzle! It'll be great to see the whole picture!
They just aren't happy unless they are unhappy. It sucks to be around them. I just want to grab hold of their shoulders and punch them, tell them to wake up, tell them that you are really fortunate to have a good paying job with good benefits.
No we aren't like the UAW, we don't get lifetime benefits and eighty dollars an hour. We do get really good pay and good benefits as long as we are employed. We aren't rich but we make a good living too, and federal holidays:)
The Date's project is still rolling ahead full steam. Bad news is that the printer moved the deadline up to this Monday, a few days before it originally was scheduled. She is working like a mad woman to meet the deadline! Amazing to watch!
I think she will meet it but it isn't the end of the world if the printing is rescheduled, the magazine will come out one week later than originally planned, since it is the first issue there really isn't a precedent as to when it comes out. No big deal but I think she will make this deadline and hit it perfectly!
Advertisers are in place, outlets are in place, the software she ordered got here yesterday, and it is all coming together like a jigsaw puzzle! It'll be great to see the whole picture!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Friday Part One
Friday's are so good that you just have to have two of them per week! Today is my first Friday, tomorrow my second....which will also be payday! A much needed payday! It'll only be for four days but still a little is better than being on strike and getting nothing.
Thankfully I still have some of my strike fund money left even after fueling up. Plenty of food about the house. Bills caught up. Everything is really good:)
Yesterday I went to rehearsal and watched as they went through the show. Complicated show, there will be lots and lots of technical stuff added to this one. The cast has their hands full and the orchestra will be another challenge for the sound guy as they will be playing with actors but trying not to overpower them.
This show will go down in theatre history and one that is talked about for years to come among the cast. A stellar cast too. That is why I wanted to be involved with this one, musical or not, most of the cast I count as friends and those I'm unfamiliar with, well they will be by the time the show is over.
Thankfully I still have some of my strike fund money left even after fueling up. Plenty of food about the house. Bills caught up. Everything is really good:)
Yesterday I went to rehearsal and watched as they went through the show. Complicated show, there will be lots and lots of technical stuff added to this one. The cast has their hands full and the orchestra will be another challenge for the sound guy as they will be playing with actors but trying not to overpower them.
This show will go down in theatre history and one that is talked about for years to come among the cast. A stellar cast too. That is why I wanted to be involved with this one, musical or not, most of the cast I count as friends and those I'm unfamiliar with, well they will be by the time the show is over.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Thednesday
Again not a real name of the week if you are illiterate or if you have a learning disability, but then again if you do how are you reading my blog so no worries, usually only very smart people read this so I don't have to dumb it down at all.
I have been thinking about the massive tax called the Cap and Trade but I get pretty frustrated by even thinking about the largest tax on the American public in history so then I thought I'd blog about cleaning out my dad's truck last night so I can surrender it to the dealership. There wasn't anything exciting about that other than I broke down a couple of times as I was doing it.
The Honduran President coup, that was pretty interesting but only our President's response to it. This guy decided he wanted to unconstitutionally change their law and stay in office past his four years (like the dictator Hugo Chavez) so the military kicked him out of the country. Our President was on that President's side....as well as Hugo Chavez and Raul/Fidel Castro...
Moderately interesting but again something that ticks me off so I won't write a whole blog about it.
So The Date ordered her software last night for laying out her magazine, it will likely be here tomorrow as I don't believe it had time to ship overnight from where it is to us at the time she ordered it. She also got a big advertising deal that I can't talk about until this weekend I think.
She has been riddled by anxiety of it not coming out on time, the unexpected things that crop up, not hitting deadlines, things like that but she has plowed through all of that and it will happen now!! The software or lack thereof was a major anxiety source but not anymore! Now when it gets here the layout will begin The actual nuts and bolts work of building her dream in the physical will start!
This is going to be a great magazine, a fun project, and a dream fulfilled all at the same time! I hope that those of you who are reading this have a passion for something similar and will follow it, make it real, and if you need an extra hand hit me up about it. I'll help you:)
I have been thinking about the massive tax called the Cap and Trade but I get pretty frustrated by even thinking about the largest tax on the American public in history so then I thought I'd blog about cleaning out my dad's truck last night so I can surrender it to the dealership. There wasn't anything exciting about that other than I broke down a couple of times as I was doing it.
The Honduran President coup, that was pretty interesting but only our President's response to it. This guy decided he wanted to unconstitutionally change their law and stay in office past his four years (like the dictator Hugo Chavez) so the military kicked him out of the country. Our President was on that President's side....as well as Hugo Chavez and Raul/Fidel Castro...
Moderately interesting but again something that ticks me off so I won't write a whole blog about it.
So The Date ordered her software last night for laying out her magazine, it will likely be here tomorrow as I don't believe it had time to ship overnight from where it is to us at the time she ordered it. She also got a big advertising deal that I can't talk about until this weekend I think.
She has been riddled by anxiety of it not coming out on time, the unexpected things that crop up, not hitting deadlines, things like that but she has plowed through all of that and it will happen now!! The software or lack thereof was a major anxiety source but not anymore! Now when it gets here the layout will begin The actual nuts and bolts work of building her dream in the physical will start!
This is going to be a great magazine, a fun project, and a dream fulfilled all at the same time! I hope that those of you who are reading this have a passion for something similar and will follow it, make it real, and if you need an extra hand hit me up about it. I'll help you:)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Weusday
Since Friday is a day off for the Fourth of July, one of the most important dates on the American calendar, today isn't quite Tuesday and it isn't quite Wednesday either. Hence Weusday.
I slept in about ten minutes later this morning than I usually do. Feel pretty good though! Took The Things to rehearsal last night for Into The Woods. Thing 1 is in the orchestra, Thing 2 is painting the set and both are enjoying it a lot.
This will be a massive show. Very complex as I blogged about before and lots of people and story to tell. I believe the light plot will be relatively easy over the course of two and a half hours. No major switches like Yes Virginia, the lights here will likely be on, off, one color or another representing the time of day or evening, and a spot light.
It'll be fun! I'll start next week turning the lights on while the actors are on stage and get it roughed out, then as the rehearsals go on I'll get it fine tuned to the cues, then its showtime!
I slept in about ten minutes later this morning than I usually do. Feel pretty good though! Took The Things to rehearsal last night for Into The Woods. Thing 1 is in the orchestra, Thing 2 is painting the set and both are enjoying it a lot.
This will be a massive show. Very complex as I blogged about before and lots of people and story to tell. I believe the light plot will be relatively easy over the course of two and a half hours. No major switches like Yes Virginia, the lights here will likely be on, off, one color or another representing the time of day or evening, and a spot light.
It'll be fun! I'll start next week turning the lights on while the actors are on stage and get it roughed out, then as the rehearsals go on I'll get it fine tuned to the cues, then its showtime!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Two Kinds Of People
There really are two kinds of people in the world. There are people who have iPhones and people who lie about wanting one. Regardless of AT&T the iPhone is a marvelous device and once you drink the KoolAid you can't go back to not owning one.
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Great Set Call
Yesterday was really a lot of fun. I took Thing 2 up to set call for Into The Woods and within an hour or so she had settled in and was painting up a storm on Rapunzel's Tower!
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Cool Friday
If you have been to my house in the past two years you'll have noticed a large blue and white bus in my back yard. It was my dad's bus. The city of Waukomis was hassling him about it so he moved it to my yard.
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Jackals
So last night I'm watching the wall to wall coverage of the death of Michael Jackson. I've got to wonder many things about his death.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I Slept
Last night I made a decent amount on tips. Almost enough to cover the fuel I put into my truck. The last tip of the evening I made nearly ten dollars on, rare but very nice when it happens! I put in my week and a half notice. I told the owner I could work for him until next Friday, that I had too much going on right now to hold down two jobs.
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Loooonngg Day
My day started around six thirty and ended at eleven last night. I went to my regular job (Woohoooo!!!!!) and after I clocked out had about twenty minutes to get home, change clothes, get a bite to eat, and get to my second job (Boooo).
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hi Ho!
This morning it's off to work I go! Finally after two weeks of no pay, feelings of worthlessness, and overall high stress level I get to go back to work!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Strike Ends At Day Fifteen!
I just received the vote count, 705 voted 554 to accept the contract.
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
Strike Day Fifteen
And hopefully the last day of our strike. I'm really looking forward to clocking in to my regular job tomorrow and ending this thing! I'm sick of it, I was sick of it from the start and now I'm fifteen days into it and feel that no one has really won anything.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Strike Day Fourteen
And hopefully the penultimate day of the strike. Our negotiators reached an agreement with the company last night! I believe we did pretty well as all of the sticking points were talked about and resolved, hopefully to the satisfaction of our membership.
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Strike Day Thirteen
Talks are resuming as I am typing this. Work was pretty busy last night. I made close to forty in tips, which was very nice. It'll help a lot until I get a regular paycheck again.
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Strike Day Twelve
Everyone is still excited about the talks that will go on tomorrow. We are at least hoping for a temporary agreement so that we can get back to work Monday morning.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Strike Day Eleven
Yesterday we received great news that the negotiations will go start up again on Saturday morning! Everyone I talked to was just really happy to hear that! There is hope of a resolution now and that we can get back to work as early as Monday or Tuesday!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Strike Day Ten
My Northern brother came down to hang with me yesterday with his oldest. What a great pleasure that has been! I've enjoyed every minute of it! His support as well as everyone who has been in contact with me has been very helpful and needed. Not that there is anything anyone can do but just the thought that they are thinking of me and my family during this time is more than enough.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Strike Day Nine
No resolution yet. I'm hoping negotiations will be jump started soon.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Strike Day Eight
....And that concludes the worst week of my life thus far. Not kidding. I have never had a more terrible week in my entire life.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Strike Day Seven
Not a good night, last night. Got a call that dad needed some help so my mom goes down there to take care of him. I get there and she had just called the ambulance. He was having a hard time breathing.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
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