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This is an archive collection of entries from my main personal blog, My Mundane Mid-Life.
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This collection of entries is from June 2003.
Monday, June 30, 2003
Why am I not surprised???
We have the post office hold our mail when we go on vacation. Carol went today to restart mail delivery and pick-up what was held. She came home with an entire postal container full of mail. Buried in there was the latest issue of Playboy. There they were - on the cover. Survivor: The Amazon winner Jenna Morasca and her buddy Heidi Strobel have a 10-page pictorial in the latest issue. The shoot was done the day after the finale aired, right after Jenna's appearance on Letterman, and they were approached as a team, not individually.
posted at 06:52 PM | Link | Survivor § |
Back to the grind...It's back to work for me after a week of vacation. The drive almost seems "foreign". I went through an entire week not thinking about the place, and even maybe not even caring about it as well. It's the first time in a long time where as I sit down after a vacation, things just feel "different" even though as I look around my miserable cube, nothing has changed.
Update: Wow... the main page looks pretty empty... I have lots of entries that are un-published from my Orlando trip. That will be up in a day or so.
posted at 08:36 AM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, June 29, 2003
White Sox 2 - Cubs 5posted at 04:07 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Friday, June 27, 2003
Friday 5 - Summertime
Time for another Friday Five...
1. How are you planning to spend the summer [winter]? Hey! This kind of fits being on my vacation! Watching as much baseball as possible and enjoying the weather as much as possible... oh and enjoying my vacation in Orlando!
2. What was your first summer job? I never had a "summer" job.
3. If you could go anywhere this summer [winter], where would you go? Every year I really want to vacation in Washington DC around the 4th of July. Carol & I did that one year and absolutely loved it.
4. What was your worst vacation ever? Wow... has to be a fmaily vacation, but I'm not sure which one...
5. What was your best vacation ever? That 4th of July in DC or it just might be the one I'm on right now!
posted at 06:59 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Amazing Race 4 - Episode 5 THEME
"You Are Just Deliberately Trying to Make Us Lose"
read more of this entry »
Well, here I am on vacation in Orlando, enjoying a wonderful meal at Emeril's, and overall I think I'd rather be doing this than watching tonight's episode. Unfortunately, my hometown boys - Air Traffic Controllers Steve and Dave are eliminated from the race. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:08 PM | Link | Reality TV | 1 comment § |
Saturday, June 21, 2003
Liki Tiki Village
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The landing in Orlando was the worst I've experienced for no good reason - no wind, no rain, just a hard, smackdown landing. A 757-300 should have handled better. Baggage claim was long - it just seems to get longer with every flight. A quick shuttle bus to Hertz Number 1 Gold to get a Ford Taurus (hey, it's a full-size car and it really wasn't bad).
It became obvious that we needed food now. Fortunately, outside the Hertz lot was a Cracker Barrel. After a lunch that was delayed by over 40 minutes, we went out to the car, plugged in our destination coordinates into the NeverLost GPS system, and we're off to our condo at Liki Tiki Village. It's a timeshare place and much better looking than the name implies (Carol won a week for us in a Christmas raffle at work). The condo is a 2-story villa, with 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, complete kitchen washer & drier. Perfect for our stay.
We took a quick trip to a Publix for some snacks and necessities for the week, Walgreen's for things that we couldn't find at Publix, and it was off to Downtown Disney for dinner. We had made reservations at Gloria Estefan's Bongos Cuban Cafe . Really fell in love with the place and the food is just great. It was a great find and we'd go there again in a heartbeat. After 9 o'clock they had live salsa music and dancing. it was just a great vibe... Oh! and we discovered Mojito's!!! YES!!!
Drove back home to the condo and watched the Lennox Lewis fight on HBO. Gruesome. There must be a re-match... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:59 PM | Link | Travel § |
American Trans Air 536Well, here I am, stuck in seat 26A on ATA Flight 536. We're somewhere in the air - have no idea where - on or way to Orlando.
read more of this entry »
This has been an experience this morning. I didn't expect that getting to to a small airport like Midway 2½ hours in advance of your flight was unreasonable. We got on the plane 20 minutes after it started boarding. The check-in lines for ATA were horrendous. Note to self - always get an e-ticket. The new buildings at Midway, though nice, can't handle the new security procedures. I'm used to just going up to a ticket counter and checking your bag. Those days are gone now. First you have the extremely long line to get up to the counter. We hit the counter an hour before the flight. We were lucky that the rep was good and processed people quickly, unlike others who where lallygagging (Yes, I actually used that word). From there, it was over to the baggage scanner to make sure the luggage clears - and they did without a problem. Then it was the long walk to the security checkpoint - I didn't make it through. My damn Rockports have metal shanks in them for the arch support! I'll remember that for the return flight. Then it was the mad sprint for the door. Of course, the plane pushed-back late, so the rushing was a bit moot.
So here we are in the air. As you would expect, there are kids on the flight. Not a lot, but quite a few. I think I have heard every single one of them during the flight. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:22 AM | Link | Travel § |
VA-CA-TION!!!!!I'm up early to go pick up Barry & Buffy - We're on our way to a week in Orlando!!!! I am off for a WEEK!!!! Hopefully I will fill you in during the week - if not, you'll know where I am.
See ya!
posted at 05:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 20, 2003
crappy response times here...I'm so friggin' frustrated right now... it's taking up to 20 minutes to navigate page-to-page in MovableType to do some blog entries... so if you don't see anything here for a while, it's because I can't get in to do anything!!!!!!
posted at 11:57 AM | Link | Blogging § |
She's baaaa-aaaack!!!
I was driving to work this morning, minding my own business, when I looked into the rear view mirror and... there she was! It's the lady from yesterday! Today, however, there's no makeup in her hands (it's already applied), just a cigarette. Oh, and she's paying attention to the road today. Amazing what you can do when you're not distracted.
posted at 08:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday 5 - Hair
Time for another Friday Five...
HAIR?????? This week it's about HAIR????? How evil is this! I'm going bald and they're doing an F5 on HAIR????? Oh, cripes...
1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short? Whatever is there is straight
2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime? Other than going gray and falling out on top, it hasn't changed much at all
3. How do your normally wear your hair? Ummm... OK, look, I refuse to do the comb-over thing. I'm not attempting to hide the fact that there's hardly anything up there anymore... I just don't want it to go away...
4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like? I would PUT IT BACK on top!!!!!
5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened? I can't recall a disaster of any type... unless you call balding a disaster...
posted at 06:43 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Amazing Race 4 - Episode 4 THEME
"Check Your Tires Because... Oh God, You Never Know What'll Happen!"
read more of this entry »
OK, I'm way behind here and I'm running out of time... response time on my server is WAY TOO LONG to try and blog anything... I'll have to get to my synopsis some other day (I don't really know when)... needless to say Steve & Josh have been eliminated from the race... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:08 PM | Link | Reality TV § |
UK Honda Accord AdI just saw this from a post at Mike's site. It has got to be the coolest Rube Goldberg contraption built to show off a car. It's a commercial that's running in the UK for a Honda Accord. If you go watch this commercial, remember these facts: 1) There are absolutely no special effects in this commercial. 2) It took 606 takes to shoot it. 3) There have been only 6 hand-made Accords in the world. All of the parts you see in this ad are from two of those cars that were disassembled (well, this excludes walls, floor, ramp, and the complete Honda Accord at the end)
posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Odd § |
They're still out there
I've been working here for about six months now. Prior to that, since I hadn't worked often in the prior year and a half, I hadn't been driving during the morning rush hour.
This morning, I finally saw and experienced something I haven't seen in a while.
A woman, applying makeup, while driving in the left lane of a 3 lane road (Higgins - 6-lanes divided), going under the speed limit and causing all kinds of traffic disruption. Not only was she was applying mascara while driving (and I'm not sure if she actually had both hands on the wheel during this), but she was also smoking.
She was an accident waiting to happen. When she finally pulled-up behind me at a light (after I had to blow her away after being behind her), she had to finish the eyes, move on to lipstick application, and oh, get rid of the cigarette.
When she finally was finished, she passed me, so she had no idea about how slow she was going. Oh, and not to be mean or anything (but I will anyway) - the makeup didn't help the look.
I get so pissed off at any driver that is just not aware of the traffic around them or that their actions are causing problems for other drivers. Just another one of my Pet Peeves...
posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Nuts. That hurts.I found some old Rocksport sneakers in my closet the other day and I started wearing them at the office. Bad idea. They don't have any arch support at all. The arch of my right foot is absolutely killing me. So, it was back to Rockport tonight and I got a pair of shoes identical to what I bought over a week ago, but in white leather. Feels better already. Well, not really. But it will feel better...
posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
I miss Alan
BBC America started running the new series of Ground Force - this one without Alan Titchmarsh. I miss him. Never thought I'd say that. I mean, Charlie, Tommy, Will and new addition of Kirsty King are fine, but I just miss him. It's not the same. It isn't bad, it's just not the same. Did they have to change the theme?
posted at 09:13 PM | Link | TV | 1 comment § |
Monday, June 16, 2003
Cat's AwayMy boss is away this week, and it feels good. It's not that we're sitting around goofing-off. We're working, but it just feels different. Like an added pressure is off your shoulders. Like you can focus on what you need to do instead of getting whip-sawed around at every turn to do something different from what you are doing, sometimes 3 or 4-times over. It's just nice to focus on something, you know?
posted at 12:58 PM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Father-less DayHere it was - my first Father's Day without my father. It sounds weird, but I was exactly where I wanted to be today - at a ballgame. I've said this here before that it was my dad that really turned me on to this game - and I don't think he ever had a clue how profound of a thing that was. To me, this is exactly what I wanted and needed.
I spent the evening with family tonight. We never talked about this being Fathers Day, and that was OK, too. Though dad did come up in conversation, we didn't dwell on anything. We're moving on, but not forgetting.
posted at 10:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
White Sox 0 - Padres 1
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So, how do you celebrate Fathers Day? Why, you go to "The Joan" for Willy Wonka Kid's Day! (Hey, at least it made more sense than yesterday!) Now, today is finally a really nice day. This is baseball weather and it only took us until the middle of June to get there.
But is was another forgetful, painful game. Jon Garland pitched a 3-hitter and lost. Why? Run support, my friend. In a nutshell - 7 hits (including 2 lead-off doubles in the 4th & 5th), but we stranded 9 baserunners. Ordonez had one of the doubles - it was his 200th of his career. Garland threw a good game. He deserved better.
Oh, and Frank Thomas? He DH'ed today and was 0 for 3 with a walk. Now, do you think we would have won the game if he played First Base with all of those opportunities?
Here's some more pain - former Cub Rod Beck (who joined the Padres just two weeks ago after winning his release from a minor-league contract with the Cubs), earned his first save since Sept. 20, 2001.
Thanks.
Here's an interesting stat for you - The Sox have used 60 different lineups in 68 games, and they have not used the same starting lineup in consecutive games all season. Consistency? Not here.
I can't wait for tomorrow when the Red Sox are in town and Pedro Martinez pitches against this team. Who do we have on the mound? That would be our "ace" - Mark Buehrle who is 0-9 in his last 12 starts (2-10 total in 15 starts, 5.18 ERA). What a great year this guy is having...
(Boxscore) « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:07 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Saturday, June 14, 2003
White Sox 6 - Padres 5
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So, how do you celebrate Flag Day? Why, you go to "The Joan" for Caribbean Night! (yes, I know, don't try to make any sense out of it). I knew it was going to be an odd game when we walked through the parking lot and saw two guys - one dressed in a parrot costume and another dressed in a shark costume. It's been 3 weeks since we've been to a game, and it's still not warm with that wind off the lake! We're at the trailing end of the Interleague games (or, as Carol calls them, "cross-pollination"). We finish-up with the San Diego Padres.
The game wasn't memorable. It was up and down, give and take for the whole game. It was a struggle. Three home runs tonight (Ordonez, Lee & Thomas), though. And Danny Wright didn't get a decision for his seventh straight start. "Jose Friggin' Valentin" (as our friend Janie likes to call him) got stupid again and was thrown out by about 40 feet when he tried stretching a double into a triple in the 3rd inning. Am I a happy Sox fan? Not in the least. The boys have failed me this year, for absolutely no explainable reason.
They, quite frankly, suck.
Let me vent on one specific issue: Frank Thomas. This arrogant bastard has just about downright refused to play first base, wanting to focus on being a DH. Two issues: this year; he's been crap as a DH. Then on top of that, statistically, he performs better if he's playing first base. It's like his head is actually in the game with each pitch and he involved, instead of being isolated in the dugout, maybe taking a few swings in the cage under the stands, and eventually going up to the plate and usually popping-out. Great. It makes me question where his loyalty really is - to the team or himself.
When we last saw Frank three weeks ago, he was batting .253, 18 RBI, 9 HR's 34 walks, 32 strikeouts. His slugging % was .487 and his on-base % was .403. Yeah, this is a good DH.
Jerry Manuel started playing him at first base a few games before and throughout Interleague play. Since then, he's hit in 15 of his last 16 games, going 22-for-57 (.386) with 17 RBI, 6 doubles, 7 HR's, drew 10 walks - his on-base % was .485 and his slugging % was .860. Just because his head is in the friggin' game. Thanks for contributing to the crappiness of our season. Any side bets that he doesn't remember any of this when he's back DH-ing and his stats slide again?
Anyway, tonight was Caribbean Night, sponsored by Jose Cuervo, who gave away White Sox beach towels and handled the fireworks. Lots of Caribbean music, everyone is dressed up (or I guess dressed down is more appropriate) and every one is a lot mellower. It's a Jimmy Buffet night. In fact, they're selling parrot hats at the souvenir stands, that I just had to buy for Carol. I don't think she was all that appreciative. (Check it out in this video (4.74 Mb AVI File - 320x240 15fps 18 seconds)) We had a calypso band concert after the game with the local Parrothead Fan Club supplying the dancers in the background. Odd, but fun.
(Boxscore) « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:31 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Friday, June 13, 2003
How is this going to effect sales?
Anybody catch the two George Bush's on their Segways in Kennebunkport? the elder George (George the 41st) handled his quite well. George the 43rd... well, he fell off. Wonder if this will effect sales?
posted at 04:25 PM | Link | Odd § |
HP5 HypeWell, here we are a week from the release of the Next Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the hype is now in full gear. I keep forgetting that not only does the book come out in print, but there's also the audio book on cassette or CD. Problem? Since the book is over 800 pages, that means the audio book comes on 17 cassettes or 23 CDs, lasting 26 hours, 30 minutes. If you go to the Amazon page for the CD Audio Book, they have put up a 105-second excerpt to listen to before the book gets released.
posted at 11:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday the 13th?I'm trying to figure out how that date just snuck-up on me. I wonder what great things it will bring me today?
Oh, and Happy 33rd Birthday to Kate!
posted at 08:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday 5 - Potpourri
Time for another Friday Five...
1. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never have? Go into space. OK, how about a Zero-G environment? I was supposed to feel that about 15 years ago (has it been that long) but never made it.
2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest? Well, yes. I can't help myself.
3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn't? What happened? Not that I can recall.
4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why? The Jetsons. Everything is just so friggin' cool. Everything is high-tech, flying everywhere. And just think - everything is clean, there's no racial strife, there's no wars, there's no poverty.
5. What's one talent/skill you don't have but always wanted? Something to do with music - either be able to sing or play an instrument (either guitar or piano, but I wouldn't mind knowing how to play a horn - could come in handy at hockey games...)
posted at 06:47 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Amazing Race 4 - Episode 3 THEME
"I wasn't Even Going to Touch You Until You Slammed My Head Backwards"
read more of this entry »
Well, here we go again, another episode where the teams don't finish in the order that you think...
We're still in Venice as Team ATC (Steve & Dave) leaves the Pit Stop at 2:45am to take a train 300 miles to Vienna, Austria with $480 for the leg. After talking to a local at the train station, they decide to get out of Venice now and go to Padua and get a train from there. Team Rainbow (Reichen & Chip... I want to call these guys something different... maybe Team Arrogant... yeah, that's it...) leave the Pit Stop at 5:20am.
Now, to show you how everyone bunched up at the Masquerade Party last week, remember that the doors to the party didn't open until 5pm. The first team out from that party was Team Arrogant at 5:20, only 20 minutes after the Road Block started. The last team to leave the Pit Stop on tonight's episode (Team NFL) leave at 5:31. That's tight.
A discussion at the train station with Chip and a local produce another route - go to Verona, then Innsbruck and a very fast train to Vienna. Team Arrogant and Team NFL join up and take this route, along with Team Bimbo (Tian & Jaree), Team Buff (Kelly & Jon), Team Who? (David and Jeff - hey, TWoP came up with the name and it's just appropriate right now). The train leaves at 6:54am. Then, all of a sudden you hear Millie yelling "Chuck!! Chuck!!" Millie is in trouble - she's having a asthma attack in the train station. Team Clowns stay with them and give support to Millie. Team Bimbo are now having an actual argument on the train. They're not doing well as a team at all.
Meanwhile, Team ATC finds out that Padua doesn't work out - the only way to Vienna is through the Venice train station. They have now lost a substantial piece of time.
It sounds like Team Clowns (Jon & Al), Team Virgins (Millie & Chuck), Team Weezer & Geezer (Steve & Josh) and Team Friendly (Russell & Cindy - look it says Friends/Dating and I think each of them has a different view of their relationship. You can tell by the way they're talking to - or at - each other) take the same route as the leaders, but a later train one hour behind. Team ATC (Steve & Dave) are now back in Venice waiting for another train which leaves 2 hours after the first.
The first train arrives in Vienna at 6:37pm and the teams find the Route Marker in town. But alas, the great equalizer has come into play - the Route Marker has Hours Of Operation of 8am to 4pm. The teams now decide to get some sleep at the Hotel Kaiserhof.
The next morning, the teams start lining up at the Route Marker - it's an entrance to the Vienna Sewer System, where the teams will have to follow a marked route to get to the next Route Marker. As the teams go underground, the comments from the members are priceless. I believe it was Josh who said "Stinks like ass!". Wonder why Jerry Bruckheimer didn't use that for the title of this episode? Then another one, a woman's voice: "Is this potty water?" Finally, it's back into the winter cloudy daylight. The Route Marker says "chose a flagged Fiacre and find your way to Schonbrunn Palace". Phil explains that a Fiacre is a horse drawn carriage and you claim it by grabbing the ticket that's hanging on the outside of the carriage. They then have to direct their driver approximately 6 miles to Schonbrunn Palace for their next clue. the Fiacres will depart in groups of 3 or 4 every 30 minutes.
So this is how it goes down: Team Arrogant gets to the Fiacre Stand and climb in one of them. Team NFL and Team Buff do the same. Team NFL leans outside the carriage, pulls their pass of the door handle and gives it to their driver. The other teams are arriving and are standing in the line to wait for the other Fiacres to show up. There's a discussion between Team Clowns that the clue says to grab the pass to be able to go. Team Arrogant is just sitting in their carriage trying to figure out why they're not going anywhere. Next thing you know, Jon pulls the pass off the carriage and kick out Team Arrogant. Jaree pulls the same thing on Team Buff's carriage, kicking them off, only after Kelly hits Jon in disgust!
Reichen narrates that the clue says "as soon as you see the horses approaching you may go and claim a tag..." so this is going to look ugly. The horses approach and everyone goes tearing toward the carriages. There's asthma-plagued Millie running like a "bat out of hell". All of a sudden, the camera goes into slo-mo as Chip and Millie fight for a tag as a carriage passes. Chip gets it, Millie gets another and it looks like Jon has the third. Chip starts calling out "I only got one". What the...? They were in a little alliance with Team Who? to get a tag for them. Guess that didn't work out. Millie climbs into her carriage with a "God, he's a jerk! He is.. such a jerk. Oh my gosh." A little later we see Chip coming up to Millie's carriage and Millie saying "Did I do that?" to which Chip replies "It's not your fault". It turns out that somehow, Millie cut Chip's lip during the scramble for the tag. And then Millie says the title of tonight's episode: "You know, I wasn't even going to touch you until you slammed my head backwards because you started the manhandling crap". Hmmm... OK, that's it - Reichen and Chip are in my Black List. They need to be taken down.
The first team to Schonbrunn Palace is Team Bimbo. They find the Route Marker is a Detour. Phil explains tonight's choices of "Mozart" or "Beethoven": In "Mozart", teams must carry a string bass 6 miles to a house where Mozart wrote The Marriage of Figaro. The house is well-known and finding it should be simple, but lugging a bass fiddle across town could be exhausting. In "Beethoven", teams must carry a portfolio of sheet music 11 miles where Beethoven wrote a famous letter known as The Heiligenstadt Testament . It's not a physically demanding task, but in a city where Beethoven occupied at least 5 different homes during his lifetime, finding this little-known house could take a while.
Everybody takes "Mozart" - except Team Buff. They're going to the Beethoven Memorial, but Kelly complains that Jon is doubting everything. Team Weezer & Geezer decide in their carriage to take the Fast Forward. Phil: In this Fast Forward, teams must search the Palace grounds for [this] ballroom and put on formal attire. Then each team member will have to successfully cary a tray of champagne-filled glasses across a dance floor full of waltzing couples. The first team to cross the dance floor with all their glasses standing upright can claim the Fast Forward. Well it took a few tries, but they do it. They can now go to the Pit Stop via train - the Seeschloss Orth in Gmunden.
Team Buff is on a subway or train car asking people where Beethoven memorial is when someone on the train says "which memorial?" Confusion ensues. Team ATC is in their carriage, knowing they're in last place. They give a nervous giggle when the read the Detour that says that "each house is between 5 and 15 miles from here."
At what appears to be a bookstore, Kelly finds out that Jon was right - they're not going to the correct place. Team Bimbo & Team NFL trick Team Clowns into thinking that they didn't know where the house was - they waited until The Clowns left and ducked right into the house, earning them the next clue: "Make your way to the Route Marker at the base of the Donauturm..." - an 1,150-foot "spire" overlooking the Danube River.
Team Buff finds a "cute little old lady" that showed them where to go and they get the next clue.
The teams start arrive at Donauturm, or The Danube Tower and find that the Route Marker is a Road Block. In this Road Block [that] team member will take a 460-foot bungee jump off this immense tower. This gigantic leap is the tallest tower jump in all of Europe. Nothing really unusual happens - everyone readily accepts the challenge (though Millie starts to have another asthma attack at the top of the tower, and Dave does the Road Block to save Steve's knee).
It turns out, that getting to Gmunden isn't all that easy, as Steve & Dave find out as they take a train to the Vienna North station, and Team friendly gets tickets to Gmund instead of Gmunden. Team ATC now has to go to the Vienna West station instead, and Team Friendly just happen to find out they're going to the wrong town and have to go to a different train station, loosing 45 minutes in the mix-up.
Team Weezer & Geezer is Team #1, Team NFL #2. Team Arrogant #3, Team Bimbo #4, Team Virgins #5, Team Clowns #6, Team Who? #7, Team Buff #8.
There are a lot of cutaway shots to Team ATC and Team Friendly on trains, discussing being last and what their chances are.
It's dark. Figures emerge and walk on the mat. Team ATC arrive as Team #9 and can't believe they're still in the race. Team Friendly - Russell & Cindy, arrive last and are eliminated from the race. (Or, as TWoP says - Philiminated!)
Next week - race cars! Chuck has a panic attack! Team Bimbo causes a "showdown in Marseilles"! And we see the title of next week from ATC Steve: "Just check you're tires when you pull out because.. Oh, God, you'll never know what will happen." And it's said as a threat to Tian! The Chicago way! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:08 PM | Link | Reality TV § |
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Poker NightIt's poker night at our house. Unfortunately, we don't play - we watch. We've got ourselves hooked on the World Poker Tour on The Travel Channel. Two-hours every Wednesday night and they package the action so that it really sucks you in. Tonight was the PartyPoker.com Million II Tournament hosted by Card Player Cruises - a $25 Buy-In Single Table event (they're already qualifying people for PartyPoker.com Million III in March 2004 here with Super Satellites every Tuesday Night). I'm feeling a strong urge to learn Texas Holdem.
posted at 10:07 PM | Link | TV § |
Air Force OneOn the way into work this morning I saw a huge C-5 transport on the ground at O'Hare. It's not something that you normally see at O'Hare, even at the USAF Ramp area in the northeast corner of the field. I had to run an errand at lunch today, and looked over to the military area on the field, and there it was Air Force One. George the 43rd was in town, and his plane was on the tarmac at O'Hare. I love that plane. Not only does it look good, but it really is the symbol of America when The President travels, almost like an ambassidor itself. By the time I had come back from my errand, Air Force One was gone, but the C-5 was still there with its nose swung open for cargo loading. I wonder if the C-5 is like an advance plane, carrying limos/cars and other support "items" for The President when he travels?
posted at 01:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
I'm cleanMy car has been significantly overdue for it's Vehicle Emmision Test. Somehow, even though I pass the sign every day coming home from work, I have forgotten that there was a testing station on the way home. I stopped-in tonight. I've been putting it off because, well, that "Service Engine Soon" light (or MIL for Multifunction Indicator Lamp, which I will learn later) has been on my dash for quite some time. I thnk it was lit the last time I was there two years ago.
But now they've changed the testing. Since my vehicle is "new enough" (1997 Infiniti), it now just gets plugged-in to their compuiter for an On-Board Diagnostic test. If you pass the ODB, then that's it - you get you certificate and show up again in two years.
The tester leans in my window as I pull into the bay, see the light, and says I'm going to have to sign a waiver. OK, not a problem. I am escorted to a waiting area (a long, glass tunnel next to the testing area) and he hooks up the computer. OBD TEST RESULT - FAIL
P0440 - EVAP Control System
P0136 - O2 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
P0446 - EVAP Control System Vent Control Circuit
Great. Wonderful. Now they actually have to put the car on the rollers and do an exhaust test. The car passes the test and I'm certified that my car is clean. I've dodged the bullet for another 2 years. I should get the car serviced by then. I mean, most of the past 2 years was eaten-up by my unemployment time and I didn't want to spend the money. I hope I can spend some on the car in the next two years.
posted at 06:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
ClerkI'm wearing too many hats... today I played shipping clerk sending equipment around the country. This, after having to deal with one snooty beeotch after getting treated like crap by another (who thought we were working a problem since Friday... until I told her that no one told us there was a problem to work on...) to new users who I have never talked to on the phone and don't even know how to describe a problem:
"I need help"
"With what"
"The computer"
"Can you tell me what you were doing?"
"Well, I got hung-up"
"In what?"
"I-uh-know"
and it goes on from there...
Crap, I hate this job...
posted at 03:04 PM | Link | Work § |
Monday, June 09, 2003
That's not right...
I was late getting to work this morning. I don't like that on a Monday morning - people are usually calling because there's always something that broke over the weekend.
So, I'm on Golf Road by my house, right in the middle of the construction, when I noticed that the traffic just isn't moving. At all. It's hard to see, as we're heading east into the morning sun, but as I look ahead, I can see something that looks like a crane and it appears to be over the road ahead. As we all inch forward I realize that it's not a crane.
The crews had put up telephone poles along the road months ago to run ether power or some signaling cables (there's not a lot of cables and they're pretty thin). We've been having some pretty good rain over the past week. Off and on, but when it rains, it rains. My guess is that it made the soil on the side of the hill by the parking lot to a strip mall a little soft. Why would I say that? because what I thought was a crane is actually a telephone pole leaning over the road, snapped cables and all. Carol had passed through here within the last 15-20 minutes and all was fine. Traffic was fine after that.
Gorgeous morning, though. Maybe we've turned the corner from the cold,wet Spring.
posted at 08:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Wireless SundayWell, we tried watching the Tony Awards when we were at my mom's house, but I hate that show. I may enjoy the theater, but since I am never in New York, I just don't give a damn about the awards or the show. Tried to watch the ESPN Sunday Night game - but it was the Cubs and Yankees - and since I was in such an anti-New York funk at the time, I couldn't stomach that either.
The only cool thing of the day happened earlier. I was at CompUSA and I noticed that they had the Linksys WET11 Wireless Gateways on the shelf. I've needed one of these for years, as I've been using a 75' CAT5 cable to cascade my 12-port hub upstairs with my Linksys Router downstairs. Now, I can finally do it wirelessly. It is, however, a tad bit slower.
posted at 10:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 07, 2003
I gots me some new shoes
Well, we're leaving on vacation two weeks from today (Hey - I haven't talked about that yet, have I?) We're going to be doing a lot of walking, so I wanted to get some walking shoes. Oh, and I prefer that they not be white. So, we went to Woodfield to scour the shoe stores. I hated everything I saw. They were white, or Moc-like or trail boot-like. So, we wound up at Rockport. All of the shoes I own (except my more formal Florsheim's) are Rockports. Well, they had what I wanted but not in my width (8½ D). I wound up getting casual shoes instead that were real comfy. I'd rather have the walking shoe, but these will have to do. Then we had dinner at Stir Crazy. Yummm...
posted at 08:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Baseball collisionI actually had the Cubs game on the TV. That wasn't scary enough, but what I saw happen on the field was really scary. It's the top of the 4th Inning, 1 out, a 1-0 count on Jason Giambi, who pops up the next pitch. The popup is in the infield, in front of the mound. Kerry Wood sort of goes for it, but first baseman Hee Seop Choi comes in to make the grab. The two of them collide, and when Choi comes down, his head bounces hard off the the foul line dirt between 3rd and home. Well, he looked like he was out (as in unconscious). The trainers rushed out there and got in his face to see if they could get a reaction (I couldn't really tell), then they place a hand on his chest, sort of to make sure he was breathing and they took his pulse (carotid and wrist). He looked in really bad shape. They opened-up the big doors in right field and brought in a Fire Department ambulance (fortunately, there's a firehouse a few doors across the street and a few doors down from the left field corner). They eventually got him on a gurney, got him in the ambulance, worked on him a while, and they finally left. It shook up the teams and the fans. You never want to see a player get hurt. Oh, BTW, he held onto the ball for the out.
Update: He's in fair condition with a concussion.
read more of this entry »
posted at 01:26 PM | Link | Cubs § |
Breakfast with The Away TeamI had breakfast this morning with my old buddies John & joe, as well as Barry (who I see regularly at work). We ate at Egg Harbor Café in Glenview (or Northbrook - it's right next door). It's nice being able to get together with old friends every once in a while and just talk and catch-up on things. I think we overstayed our welcome, though - the waiter was getting a little snippy wit hus toward the end. We need to do this again.
posted at 12:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 06, 2003
8 GamesChicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa has been suspended for eight games for violating Major League Baseball Rule 6.06 (d) in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 3, 2003, Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations, announced today.
Sammy immediately appealed the suspension, allowing him to play in what is being described as a "historical" series against the New York Yankees. Hmmmm... it's supposed to rain this afternoon...
Update: Yankees 5 Cubs 3. Sosa 1-for-4 2 strikeouts. (Boxscore)
posted at 11:35 AM | Link | Baseball § |
Friday 5 - Love
Time for another Friday Five...
1. How many times have you truly been in love? Other than my wife??? What, are you nuts??? You really expect me to answer that???? I'm letting this go...
2. What was/is so great about the person you love(d) the most? Oh, God, I hate this week's 5... I don't know right now... and if I don't say anything, Carol will kill me and if I say something wrong, Carol will kill me so why should I answer?
3. What qualities should a significant other have? Empathy and the ability to make you feel good - and that could have soooo many different meanings.
4. Have you ever broken someone's heart? I don't think so...
5. If there was one thing you could teach people about love, what would it be? That there's so many facets to what love is and could be, don't overlook or ignore the tiny things
posted at 06:38 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, June 05, 2003
Amazing Race 4 - Episode 2 THEME
"It Doesn't Say Anything About First Come, First Served. And We're Bigger"
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Here we are again, starting at the last Pit Stop - the Hotel Lajadira, with 3 teams departing at 11:52pm. "Make your way to the bottom of the Trampolino Olimpico... then take the raft van to the top of the hill... and snow raft to your next clue." Well, this is actually the hill underneath a ski jump that was built for the 1956 Winter Olympics, and it's only a mile and a half away in Cortina. They walk the distance, and the rules state only one team per raft van. This looked like a blast! The clue at the end: "Make your way to the Pone Della Guglia Bridge in Venice." The teams have to go to Venice and use one of two train stations (the clue also said "Note: you may not fly"). The Calalzo train station which is closer (only a 30-minute drive) or Alpi which is further away but has an earlier train. (They show the Route Marker on the bridge - and it's the first time I can remember seeing one that had "Hours Of Operation" posted on it.) The first oddity happens when Team Buff (Kelly & Jon) take a cab to the rafting site - but get let off at the top of the hill. They must take the raft van from the bottom to the top. What does Jon do? Why, he slides down the hill on his ass. Kelly follows. They get in the van, go to the top, and then do it correctly in the raft.
Everyone heads to the Calalzo train station, basically when they ask about a train to Venice, everyone tells the teams to goto Calalzo. Everybody is now bunching up... but something weird happens. Team Rainbow (Reichen & Chip) are now after Team Weezer & Geezer (Steve and Josh) and muscle themselves to the front of the line and physically hold onto the door handles and block the entrance (of course, it's pretty damn early in the morning and there's no one around but them TAR'ers). There's even a slight verbal altercation between Team Rainbow and Steve. Odd. A bus pulls into the parking lot and someone asks if the bus goes to Venice. The driver says no, this is the bus to the Alpi train station. The group then finds out about the earlier train to Venice and everyone gets on the bus to go to Alpi to catch the train. Except, everyone isn't there yet. Team Bimbo (Tian and Jaree) and Team Buff (Kelly & Jon) get to the train at Calalzo at don't have a clue where the other 9 teams are. They find out later when talking to a conductor about the earlier train. Cindy & Russell have a little spat. The Route Marker on the bridge is a Detour "Waterway" or "Pathway". In "Waterway", teams travel by gondola using a map to guide their gondolier along the canals to a small plaza... The teams must navigate using only the map and without asking for directions from anyone. In "Pathway", teams must travel by foot to the same small plaza... these teams can ask for directions from the locals and if they use the information correctly, they can complete the task quickly." What they don't know is that it's really not going to matter. Why? Well, Millie and Chuck are the first to find out that the Route Marker in that little plaza has a clue that says: "Make your way to the Route Marker outside the Pallazzo da Mosto..." where they will attend a party which doesn't start until 5pm. Here we go again - everyone bunches up again since this appears to be hours away. Well, eventually after Kelly & Jon find their way.
Team ATC, since they're all busted up, decide to use the time for the Fast Forward - by joining the Commedia dell'Arte street performers. They get the Fast Forward and proceed to the Pit Stop - the Citti di Padova boat docked in front of the Pallazzo du Calle on the Venice lagoon.
Meanwhile, the party eventually begins. The Route Marker is a Road Block And as Phil explains that "A Road Block is a task that only one person may perform", we find out that in this Road Block "that person has to take one photograph from a doorman who is holding pictures of 4 different masks into the Pallazo and search among rooms full of masked revelers and match the masks shown in their picture. If they find the right person, they'll receive their next clue. If they hand the picture to the wrong person, the masked reveler will take the picture and silently walk away. The team member must go back outside and go to the back of the line. Since the doorman will only allow 4 people into the party at one time, getting back in could take a long while." OK, people - this party is CREEPY. Like something out of Eyes Wide Shut, but without the sex and nudity. Think 1600's Masquerade Ball. On top of this, there are a lot of those "revelers". Russell is first Inside, followed by Monica (or as Phil has been saying, "Monicker"), Chip, and then Josh. It is shot twisted, and distorted with odd sound effects and music. CREEPY, I tell ya. Josh gets his photo rejected - back to the back of the line. Jeff is 5th inside. Chip is first out. Tian is 6th in. Russell is next to get his clue. Tian gets her clue. Jon (as TWoP calls him BuffJon) is next inside. Chris in next in. Jeff gets his clue. Jon gets his clue. Millie is the 9th inside. Chris gets his photo rejected. Clown Al is last inside. Josh gets his clue. Notice something by now? Monica is still inside! Team Rainbow (Reichen & Chip) hit the Pit Stop in 2nd Place. Team Buff (Kelly & Jon) are Team Number 3. Monica is still inside. Chris is back inside. Chris is rejected again. Chris goes back inside. Team Bimbo (Tian & Jaree) finishes as Team Number 4. Dave & Jeff are Team Number 5 (I need a team name...). Monica is still inside looking. Al gets his clue. Millie gets her clue. Team Clown (Jon & Al) are Team Number 6. Monica is still looking. Team Friendly (Russell & Cindy) are Team Number 7. Monica is still looking. Team Virgins (Millie & Chuck) are Team Number 8. Team Weezer & Geezer (Steve and Josh) are Team Number 9. Monica finally makes the offer of her picture and she gets her clue. Chris is still looking around and finally gets his clue. Everybody is out and now it's another final race to the Pit Stop with the last two teams. Team NFL (Monica & Sheree) get there earlier and are Team Number Ten. That could only mean one thing - Team Date (Amanda & Chris) are the last team and are eliminated from the race.
Next week: Millie has an asthma attack and puts them way behind, but I think she slugs Chip! We see possible bloody nose! Bungee jumping from a 1200' tower! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:08 PM | Link | Reality TV § |
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
*ouch!* What the... *ew*So I get out of the shower, dry my hair, and start coming it when I notice that those fine hairs that are still struggling for survival on the top of my head are all knotted up. Then I look a little closer, and it looks like there's something in my hair. Then I look even closer and realize that my scalp is peeling from my sunburn from last week.
Great. What a wonderful look.
posted at 07:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Corktroversy
So much for going to bed early... it's all over the news. In fact, lead story on each of the newscasts: Sosa ejected after cork is found in shattered bat. First inning of the game tonight (Boxscore), Sammy Sosa comes to the plate with Alex Gonzalez on 2nd and Mark Grudzielanek on 3rd, and with a 3-2 count from former teammate Jeremi Gonzalez he hits a ground ball to 2nd and his bat explodes. Sure enough, there's cork in it. Sammy is ejected.
read more of this entry »
Rule 6.06
A batter is out for illegal action when ...
(d) He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire's judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball. This includes, bats that are filled, flat surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance such as paraffin, wax, etc. No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand. In addition to being called out, the player shall be ejected from the game and may be subject to additional penalties as determined by his League President.
OK, now look: I do not follow the Cubs (I have chosen to follow the other Chicago Baseball Franchise). I really have never liked Sammy. Yes, he does hit home runs. Well, in my eyes, that's all he's good for. He just came off the DL last Friday (he's only played in 39 of 55 games this year) and his team did absolutely fine without him. His Fielding Percentage has been at or below the league average for years. He has 47 strikeouts for those 39 games (an average .340 per at bat, compared to .258 for all of last season) and he only has 6 homeruns - his last was May 1, and he's batting 283. Since coming back, he's 2 for 15 in the three games he's been in, with 8 strikeouts (5 of which came in one game). He hasn't been the same since getting beaned on April 20 (broke the visor on his helmet, even) by the Pirate's Salomon Torres. It's clear that he's struggling now.
No matter what happens, the man is now tarnished. It doesn't matter if the bats that Major League Baseball security confiscated last night all turn up un-doctored. Because of this one incident, everything he has done and everything he will do will have a question around it. (Update: MLB tested 76 bats, all were "clean").
Here's the thing that just bothers the hell out of me.
He admits to using a corked bat. ("It's a mistake, and I take the blame for it.") That's the good thing - he actually owned-up to it. OK, fine.
But why the hell is he using a corked bat to begin with? He claims that he uses a corked bat "for exhibition and batting practice".
OK. Exhibition. Like, Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game? (And, you know, I was looking at that bat he used in Milwaukee at that event last year and it has this weird-ass knob on it - identical to the one tonight.) Yeah, that's fair. I mean, nothing is really on the line, but was everyone doing it? If not, it's not fair. It's not fair to the competition, it's not fair to the fans. Period.
Batting practice? "...To put on a show for the fans." What? Hey, shouldn't you be more concerned with how you're swinging, your timing? Concerned with placement and consistency? Wouldn't you want to use a heavier and not a lighter bat to warmup with than what you use during the game? BP is actually The Sammy Sosa Show???
So, he admits to owning and using corked bats. Are they marked? Wouldn't he know he was using an illegal bat? He doesn't make an effort to keep the illegal bats away from the ones that he can use? Or is this going to come down to blaming it on the bat boy?
What it now boils down to is this: can Major League Baseball believe him? Can the fans (other than the ones sipping the Cubs Kool-Aid) believe him? And if there's any doubt that he may, just may have used a corked bat in the past, then what about the valiudity of those home run races he was in for few seasons, or his career 505 home runs?
And what about punishment? - a suspension should be levied. It says so in the rules. He damn well better not get a pass on that. And I don't want to hear "After all he has done for Chicago baseball..." bull crap. Punish him. Period.
And here's the next big leap... if you have trouble believing that he never used a corked bat before, then you call into question his integrity about what he says about how he plays the game. And, if you have that doubt, can you still believe he is innocent of using steroids or other performance enhancing drugs?
See what I mean when I say that this one public incident has the potential to tarnish him?
So, punish him and move on. Oh, and knock him off his pedestal. He's a human for cripe sakes. A human that cheated - intentionally or unintentionally. And after his latest non-hitting streak, and the way the Cubs have played without him - I say they really don't need him.
(BTW, here's an odd coincidence: umpiring crew chief Tim McClelland who ejected Sosa also was the umpire who took away a home run from Kansas City's George Brett of the Royals at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983 because of excessive pine tar, and was on the umpire crew for the Albert Belle corked bat incident at Comiskey Park July 15, 1994!) (That one was the weird one - Umpires took the bat to their dressing room before Indians Pitcher Jason Grimsley crawled across the ceiling and switched Belle's confiscated bat with one belonging to teammate Paul Sorrento.) « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:24 PM | Link | Baseball § |
100 Heroes/Villains
I really wanted to get some things done early tonight so that I could make some attempt at catching up on my lost sleep, but I got absolutely hooked watching the American Film Institute's "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains" on CBS. It was a great show, and I have to say that I agree with everyone that was selected for the list, though I have one complaint with the ranking - though I love the character and agree that he should be on the list, I just don't believe that Indiana Jones should rank as the #2 hero character of all time. Here's a PDF from the AFI website of the press release of the list. What I hadn't planned on was sitting in front of the TV for 3 hours...
posted at 10:02 PM | Link | TV § |
It really is closed...
I was wiped yesterday. My body just doesn't like getting up in the morning. I'm just not a morning person.
So, in my morning stupor, I was driving to work like normal. For the last two weeks, as I'm driving on Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village, I cross over some train tracks. I think they're just single tracks, normal bells/lights/gates crossing. There's been am orange construction sign that says "Road Construction Begins 05-31-03" near the tracks, and then right at the tracks there's another orange sign that said "This road will be closed 7 days". Higgins Road at that point is 6-lanes wide, and with it being such a heavy track traffic route, I'm thinking there's going to be significant lane closures so that they could do whatever they have to do to the tracks.
I didn't trust that sign. I should have.
Sure enough, Higgins Road is closed, and the detour is to use Oakton. Oakton is 4 lanes, tight, and just cannot support the additional traffic. The commute is now absolute hell. I need a new route. I'll check it out on the way home and see how bad it is going west.
Right now, eastbound sucks.
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 02, 2003
Woo Hoo!!! Some 419'ers sentencedSome (6) Nigerian 419 scammers were sentenced in Dutch courts to between 301 days and 4½ years in prison. Bastatrds... quit clogging up my email...
posted at 11:10 AM | Link | Nigerian 419 Fraud § |
Dragging...
I had to be at work this morning at 6:30am. Ugh! We have some eye clinics going live on NextGen, so I had to field the help desk calls for them (their in the eastern time zone and they open at 7:30am). Well, when I got here at 6:15am I found out the hard way that my security key fob doesn't allow me access to the building off-hours! I was able to "piggy-back" on someone going in that had access, but then I found out that the security cards are used to activate the elevators and are coded for the specific floor you work on. Since our floor isn't heavily populated, I had to wait for the building to "unlock" at 7am. I sat in the lobby eating my Krispy Kreme doughnuts, just biding my time. Now that I'm upstairs, there hasn't been a phone call. So, I'm groggy and bored. Going to be a long day...
posted at 07:03 AM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Mesmerized...So, I'm driving home from my mom's house tonight, and I'm trying to get onto the Kennedy at Nagle, but I can't. I am mesmerized. In front of me is a black Cadillac Escalade that has what appears to be a gorgeous LCD monitor that's at least 14"-15", in clear, bright, vibrant color, playing what I'm assuming is a DVD of Rolie Polie Olie. I can't get my eyes off of it. I'm not watching the car, I'm not watching the stop light, I'm not watching traffic around me - I'm watching friggin' Rolie Polie Olie as clear as if I was sitting at home! I can't get my eyes off the thing! Something that big, bright, and clear should be outlawed for night-time driving! Or be required to put up a shield on the back window!
posted at 10:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Damn cable company...Though I am a very happy DirecTV customer, I still use Comcast for my broadband internet connection... which is now down. If a few graphics don't show up correctly on this website, you'll know why.
posted at 09:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
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That's it for the entries in this particular Archive of my blog. If you want, you can look through other entries by selecting the links in the right-hand column of this page under either Archives by Month or Archives by Category, or you can search the site for specific keywords by using the Search page.
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