Here in Charlotte the central business district has been referred to as “Uptown” since the late 1970’s. Uptown sounded more progressive and positive and everything produced by the Center City Business Partners had the term uptown referring to what most cities call downtown.
Now there has been an official change. Center City Business Partners is now called Downtown Business Partners and Uptown is now Downtown.
Okay.
Plus…Ballentine Resort located in South Charlotte changed its name to Ballentine Hotel and Lodge.
It seems that the term resort was a bit too ostentatious in these tough times.
There now. All is right with the world here in the Queen City.
Charlotte was named after Queen Charlotte. If you ever come to our airport there is a big bronze statue of queen Charlotte that looks like Barney Fife in drag.
What is this crap for crying out loud?
What it is…is my Explorer window after I scrolled the page. This Microsoft Explorer running in a newly installed XP (Microsoft) operating system and it does a real good job of smearing my content.
This happens regularly after a few hours. The browser becomes slow and unresponsive then crashes. Only a reboot will restore the browser to “good order”.
I love Chrome but it doesn’t like some secure sites I have to use in my work.
Any suggested fixes anyone?
I Hate Uncertainty
The Kentucky Derby and the local PGA event are behind us and this signals summer is just around the corner. It was a muggy unsettled weather wise day yesterday and kept me off the lake for a second weekend.
There has been a strange turn of events for my upcoming Bermuda visit. The schedule and visit had all hinged around the Roseway’s scheduled return from St Croix to Boston via Bermuda.
That is where we would meet our friends who were to work the crew for a long weekend of fun and island exploration.
As of Friday night a new schedule surfaced that would take Roseway to Jacksonville, then a delayed trip to Bermuda.
This throws a turd in the punchbowl. Jacksonville is nice but it’s not Bermuda. We could cancel Bermuda and meet Michael and Terry there in Jacksonville. Then perhaps show them the beauty and uncluttered South Georgia coast.
Or we can go on to Bermuda ourselves with two less people although I am certain our chubby cheeks will be tear stained at their absence.
We should find out today what will be decided by the Roseway board.
There has been a strange turn of events for my upcoming Bermuda visit. The schedule and visit had all hinged around the Roseway’s scheduled return from St Croix to Boston via Bermuda. That is where we would meet our friends who were to work the crew for a long weekend of fun and island exploration.
As of Friday night a new schedule surfaced that would take Roseway to Jacksonville, then a delayed trip to Bermuda.
This throws a turd in the punchbowl. Jacksonville is nice but it’s not Bermuda. We could cancel Bermuda and meet Michael and Terry there in Jacksonville. Then perhaps show them the beauty and uncluttered South Georgia coast.
Or we can go on to Bermuda ourselves with two less people although I am certain our chubby cheeks will be tear stained at their absence.
We should find out today what will be decided by the Roseway board.
Good May Saturday
In the South perfect weather has arrived for you and me and I am grateful. This past week I rode the Jeep topless to work every day.
The pollen has been brutal this year but some reason it has been more of an eye irritant than an allergic irritant. Because of the lack of rain every surface has a powdery yellow dust covering the surface.
I have had a million things to do this week but for whatever reason most chores went undone.
A few weeks ago I was filling out an online form that required my email address to continue. As a spoof I put Dr. in front of my name instead of Mr. The company assured that they would keep my email address private. Yeah, right.
Now I am getting email solicitations medical stuff in Spanish. So now in the email world there is a Hispanic Wreggie, MD.
Finally I really don’t like web sites that make noise. Even swooshes with fancy flash rub me wrong. The reason I don’t like noisy sites isn’t the sound but the noise identifies to others where I am and I like to keep my surfing anonymous.
Same for TV noises. There is no reason to have a swoosh noise on a TV graphic. It is cartoonish.
Somebody on St John is Living My Dream
A friend saw this last week on St John. It's not Wreggie but close enough. Good luck Reggie.
Help Me Understand
Something I learned today.
It is wrong for car company executives to fly to Washington in corporate jets for a congressional hearing about car companies and the economy.
But it is alright to fly Air Force One with a two jet fighter escorts over New York City for a photo opportunity.
Help me understand this please.
Don't you think New York City folks might be a tiny bit jumpy about this concept?
It is wrong for car company executives to fly to Washington in corporate jets for a congressional hearing about car companies and the economy.
But it is alright to fly Air Force One with a two jet fighter escorts over New York City for a photo opportunity.
Help me understand this please.
Don't you think New York City folks might be a tiny bit jumpy about this concept?
Disgusting
We have a new crapper on our floor at work. This guy is in the john almost every time I go in the bathroom.
Disgusting it is.
The way I see it is you get one courtesy crap a day and that’s it. Go home if you are sick.
It ought to be in the terms of the lease that “no single individual shall shit more than once a day”.
I’m tired of holding my breath.
Disgusting it is.
The way I see it is you get one courtesy crap a day and that’s it. Go home if you are sick.
It ought to be in the terms of the lease that “no single individual shall shit more than once a day”.
I’m tired of holding my breath.
Origami Improvements
It’s been called a “Fugly Boat” by a callused few but she’s mine and she’s paid for. Look what is new for 2009.
Wheels...Huh? Yep they work. I can set her up and roll her to the water. Then pop them off and off we go.
A real seat that swivels! And look...a deck for the dog and cooler.
A New Theme
Today is the first day of the year when I could walk out in shorts and flip flops and not be cold. And it promises to be glorious day weather wise.
Gigi and I are headed to Advance, NC mostly on beautiful back country roads in the Jeep to meet a bunch of people to look at some thoroughbred horses and to have a surprise party for my sister who just passed a major decade that will go unmentioned.
This is my third summer with my Jeep and it is truly my land boat. I have the most fun driving it in the warm weather.
This summer I have a new theme….gone is Shore Patrol and in with Wreggie Legend.
I have new stickers too. (Island readers: Have you ever wondered what we do with those stickers we buy at Scuba and Riddems?)
So the cooler is packed, the jeep waxed, plenty of sunscreen on board, a dog sitter will come by later to let the kids do their business and hopefully a wonderful ride in the country.
(Island Readers: This will be the equivalent to a Buck Island day in Origami.)
Gigi and I are headed to Advance, NC mostly on beautiful back country roads in the Jeep to meet a bunch of people to look at some thoroughbred horses and to have a surprise party for my sister who just passed a major decade that will go unmentioned.
This is my third summer with my Jeep and it is truly my land boat. I have the most fun driving it in the warm weather.
This summer I have a new theme….gone is Shore Patrol and in with Wreggie Legend.
I have new stickers too. (Island readers: Have you ever wondered what we do with those stickers we buy at Scuba and Riddems?)
So the cooler is packed, the jeep waxed, plenty of sunscreen on board, a dog sitter will come by later to let the kids do their business and hopefully a wonderful ride in the country.
(Island Readers: This will be the equivalent to a Buck Island day in Origami.)
Very Cool
Yesterday was a fun day. The weather was perfect and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
I had the good fortune to be eating lunch outside at my club with a client as we prepared for an afternoon round of golf.
I sat there making small talk when a beautiful young woman walked up and asked me, “Are you Wreggie with a “W”?”
I was shocked and momentarily speechless. “Yes I am.”
She went on to explain who she was and she was a friends cousin and that she read my blog and enjoyed it. She recognized me from my pictures.
Words and Plan B
Native whites around NC say “bidness” for the word business. Native blacks say “bitness”. I can’t stand to hear either mispronunciation.
It’s like when someone says something about their teef. It ain’t your damn teef, its teeth dumb shit. Teeth! Yes I understand and accept this and even find it endearing when I travel to the Caribbean. Native Africans don’t pronounce a “th” like Hispanics don’t pronounce a “v”.
Caribbean blacks have preserved their African culture far better than their US counterparts.
But if you are 50 generations away from Africa and or white and live in the mainland US, say teeth please or Wreggie is going to be pissed.
I get miffed when someone uses the “l” in salmon. Why the hell the “l” is there is a mystery and I can understand someone falling for this trap but please learn to silence the “l”. No need to say it again.
And finally about my post yesterday. I had many emails behind the scenes asking what it was that was my plan B. My sister got very close after 8 tries so I told her.
My plan B was to be at a point in my life when I had nothing to prove to myself or society and I could do what I wanted when I wanted. At a point where income is still needed but where income doesn’t define me or make me a slave to my lifestyle.
I always loved the years I spent in the service industry. I like the direct contact of serving someone and making their life better for just the few moments they are in front of me. I also love the food and restaurant bidness.
So if you boiled all that desire down to its essence then you would have me standing at a place with a lot of people behind a hotdog cart making people smile with good food and friendly service.
You never would have guessed it huh?
It’s like when someone says something about their teef. It ain’t your damn teef, its teeth dumb shit. Teeth! Yes I understand and accept this and even find it endearing when I travel to the Caribbean. Native Africans don’t pronounce a “th” like Hispanics don’t pronounce a “v”.
Caribbean blacks have preserved their African culture far better than their US counterparts.
But if you are 50 generations away from Africa and or white and live in the mainland US, say teeth please or Wreggie is going to be pissed.
I get miffed when someone uses the “l” in salmon. Why the hell the “l” is there is a mystery and I can understand someone falling for this trap but please learn to silence the “l”. No need to say it again.
And finally about my post yesterday. I had many emails behind the scenes asking what it was that was my plan B. My sister got very close after 8 tries so I told her.
My plan B was to be at a point in my life when I had nothing to prove to myself or society and I could do what I wanted when I wanted. At a point where income is still needed but where income doesn’t define me or make me a slave to my lifestyle.
I always loved the years I spent in the service industry. I like the direct contact of serving someone and making their life better for just the few moments they are in front of me. I also love the food and restaurant bidness.
So if you boiled all that desire down to its essence then you would have me standing at a place with a lot of people behind a hotdog cart making people smile with good food and friendly service.
You never would have guessed it huh?
My Secret Desire
All of my life I have ad an inner desire that has been unmet. Gigi is aware of it as is a few of my close friends.
Time is wasting as I see my life now well past the 4th of July and heading toward autumn.
I have daydreamed about this desire and realized that most of my close male friends have the exact same dream. That surprised me because I though my thought was unique.
I have watched others do what I want to do and they seem satisfied in their efforts.
What I want to do does not involve riches but more of an attitude. I call it plan B. It is a life sustaining activity that would lead in my opinion to the ultimate in freedom.
However the dream is not without risk and a small investment of capital.
It may be something I’ll never do but to have the option to do it I must invest the capital or forfeit the chance of ever living my dream.
I am trying to decide whether to leave the door open or just close the door and forget the dream. Gigi is behind me on whatever I decide.
Time is wasting as I see my life now well past the 4th of July and heading toward autumn.
I have daydreamed about this desire and realized that most of my close male friends have the exact same dream. That surprised me because I though my thought was unique.
I have watched others do what I want to do and they seem satisfied in their efforts.
What I want to do does not involve riches but more of an attitude. I call it plan B. It is a life sustaining activity that would lead in my opinion to the ultimate in freedom.
However the dream is not without risk and a small investment of capital.
It may be something I’ll never do but to have the option to do it I must invest the capital or forfeit the chance of ever living my dream.
I am trying to decide whether to leave the door open or just close the door and forget the dream. Gigi is behind me on whatever I decide.
RV Guy
I had the RV Guy come out this afternoon to give my 5th wheel a once over before we hit the road this spring.
I recall last season late that the water heater was not working on propane. In addition the 12 volt lights were constantly dimming.
It is really a pain in the butt to be into a nice relaxing RV camping trip and some system goes completely down.
This “RV GUY” is a new service whereby I sit on my ass and the guy comes to me. It is a lot less trouble that hooking up the monster and dragging it across town. Then unhooking the beast only to come back a few days later to hook up, tow and park the behemoth.
He fixed some unique to RV stuff that was mainly cosmetic and “unwinterized” the plumbing, checked the tires, propane systems, blew out leaves and cobwebs and found two problems.
The water heater has two valves and one is bad and will require a new valve to work on propane.
The 12 volt light flickering thing appears to be a relay in the converter box and this will require a pricy item to make it work. He said this was unusual but I suspect it is damaged from some constant electrical issues we had down in Southport last summer.
I am a person that can’t stand for stuff to be broken. I am also a maintenance freak.
In a few days it will all be fixed and good as new.
I recall last season late that the water heater was not working on propane. In addition the 12 volt lights were constantly dimming.
It is really a pain in the butt to be into a nice relaxing RV camping trip and some system goes completely down.
This “RV GUY” is a new service whereby I sit on my ass and the guy comes to me. It is a lot less trouble that hooking up the monster and dragging it across town. Then unhooking the beast only to come back a few days later to hook up, tow and park the behemoth.
He fixed some unique to RV stuff that was mainly cosmetic and “unwinterized” the plumbing, checked the tires, propane systems, blew out leaves and cobwebs and found two problems.
The water heater has two valves and one is bad and will require a new valve to work on propane.
The 12 volt light flickering thing appears to be a relay in the converter box and this will require a pricy item to make it work. He said this was unusual but I suspect it is damaged from some constant electrical issues we had down in Southport last summer.
I am a person that can’t stand for stuff to be broken. I am also a maintenance freak.
In a few days it will all be fixed and good as new.
First Snake...Make a Summer Wish
Yep…it’s that time of year again. I was blowing the tree sex residue out of the gutters with an extension blower and look what plopped out at my feet.
The first snake of the year.
Do you ever have those dreams when as best you try you cannot keep your eyes open?
I dreamed last night I was in the cavernous wooden hull of a ship. It was dark, dank, and foggy. I was walking with an acquaintance trying to make out a path in the darkness and fog.
I remember having my yellow swim trunks on and a bandanna around my neck. I was barefooted.
To make matters more difficult I had my eyes closed and strained to open them every few seconds to see where I was going.
I didn’t want my companion to know I was walking with my eyes closed because he might think I was strange.
Bermuda Day
I picked late May to go to
What I have come to find out is we will be there at a very festive holiday called Bermuda Day which is also the 400 year celebration of
So what started as an innocent long ass weekend trip turns out to be a great celebration of summer on the island. Go figure…me find a party on an island.
So I’ve been doing a lot of research about the island, do’s and don’ts, local customs, weather expectations, apparel (these are Brits with tea times) and such.
I looked at a list of prohibited items and it included yams, porn and carrots.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m all about yams and porn especially in late May. I wrote Michael and he commented that “What is Bermuda Day without yams?”
I have to agree. I’ll leave the yams and porn at home out of respect for the locals.
I can take 200 cigarettes if I so desire.
A New Adventure
I’m going to Bermuda….yep that settles it.
Yesterday afternoon I was caressing my checks that I was about to send to the government when my phone rang.
It was Michael from St Croix. We discussed manly stuff for a while then he got to the meat of the conversation. But I digress further…..
Back in January he and his lovely bride Terry were at a charity silent auction. One of the prizes was a one way ticket for two from St Croix to Bermuda as working crew members on the 100 year old sailing vessel The Roseway.
Now you have to be a certain type of individual that would find this appealing. No baths, no booze, hard work at the high seas for a week or more in cramped quarters with strangers.
That adventure appeals to me and it did to them so they bid and won.
It was suggested that Gigi and I meet them when they arrive sometime in May. After all Bermuda is closest to North Carolina and Gigi and I have always wanted to visit.
Michael detailed the trip as he knows it. The sailing times are as uncertain as the weather. But it looks like Gigi and I will go there on a Thursday in May and stay through until Tuesday the day after Bermuda Day or Memorial Day back home.
Now comes the Internet Stalking part where I study as much as I can about the island and culture. It will be my first visit to British territory and our closest neighbor to the sea.
What I have learned so far is they have a beach with bright pink sand, The Queen still has her rule over the culture and this place is a bit more formal than what I am accustomed to seeing on an island.
They must be a hearty bunch out there surviving on a small patch of land in the middle of nowhere. This will be fun.
Yesterday afternoon I was caressing my checks that I was about to send to the government when my phone rang.
It was Michael from St Croix. We discussed manly stuff for a while then he got to the meat of the conversation. But I digress further…..
Back in January he and his lovely bride Terry were at a charity silent auction. One of the prizes was a one way ticket for two from St Croix to Bermuda as working crew members on the 100 year old sailing vessel The Roseway.
Now you have to be a certain type of individual that would find this appealing. No baths, no booze, hard work at the high seas for a week or more in cramped quarters with strangers.
That adventure appeals to me and it did to them so they bid and won.
It was suggested that Gigi and I meet them when they arrive sometime in May. After all Bermuda is closest to North Carolina and Gigi and I have always wanted to visit.
Michael detailed the trip as he knows it. The sailing times are as uncertain as the weather. But it looks like Gigi and I will go there on a Thursday in May and stay through until Tuesday the day after Bermuda Day or Memorial Day back home.
Now comes the Internet Stalking part where I study as much as I can about the island and culture. It will be my first visit to British territory and our closest neighbor to the sea.
What I have learned so far is they have a beach with bright pink sand, The Queen still has her rule over the culture and this place is a bit more formal than what I am accustomed to seeing on an island.
They must be a hearty bunch out there surviving on a small patch of land in the middle of nowhere. This will be fun.
April 15
Normally I have my annual tirade about taxes but this year I’ll just suck up and write a check.
I actually made less in revenues last year but ended up with more taxable income and paid a lot more in taxes.
You see I cut my business expenses drastically trying to conserve money for bad times. Money conserved not wining and dinning means more income passed along to me and more taxes.
This year I vow to play a little more golf with clients, entertain a little more, maybe buy a new company car.
Either that or give it away for someone else to do it.
Monday Briefing
The Obama administration has told GM to prepare for bankruptcy. It looks like Ronald Reagan’s record of union busting will be broken by a long shot.I bet the unions didn’t see this coming last November when they supported our current President.
One tip….run, don’t walk to the bank if you need to borrow money. Now is the lowest rate you will see for decades once this budget spending comes back to haunt us. Prepare for days of Jimmy Carter and 17% prime rates. You’ll be glad you locked in at 4 7/8% fixed.
Hooray for the US Navy in rescuing a civilian hostage from the Somali pirates. I couldn’t understand why the sharpshooters didn’t have laser pointers on their thieving foreheads from minute one.
I see a business opportunity with armed and paid gunboats to escort ships. I could round up enough crazy rednecks itching to shoot something to staff half dozen boats myself.
Tragic News
Remember my favorite pajama bottoms from last year?I regret to inform my reading audience that just a few moments ago the ass end gave way as I was bending over setting down the electric saw.
I have worn these pants each winter for at least 5 years as my number 1 go to PJs.
I’m going to miss these pants. And please…don’t tell yellow boys for now.
Easter
We are having a cool spring but its spring none the less and I am grateful.
Yesterday I bought all of my spring flowers and set 90% of them out around my deck. I am gay about flowers. I love them like I do doilies. Neither is necessary but they make life better.
When I was a small child Easter marked the end of the Great Holidays in my mind. They started with Halloween then on to Thanksgiving, Christmas and it all culminated with Easter. This marked the beginning of summer in the calendar of my young mind.
Today I have a few more things to do around the deck and then guests come over in the afternoon. I will grill a leg of lamb. We will eat outside if it’s not too chilly.
Yesterday I bought all of my spring flowers and set 90% of them out around my deck. I am gay about flowers. I love them like I do doilies. Neither is necessary but they make life better.
When I was a small child Easter marked the end of the Great Holidays in my mind. They started with Halloween then on to Thanksgiving, Christmas and it all culminated with Easter. This marked the beginning of summer in the calendar of my young mind.
Today I have a few more things to do around the deck and then guests come over in the afternoon. I will grill a leg of lamb. We will eat outside if it’s not too chilly.
Wreggie Gets Political
I just noticed that when I rearranged my blog links a few weeks ago to a lower spot on the right column that I deleted the links by accident. I’ll get your links back up this weekend. Sorry, I hope I didn’t come off snobby not having my fellow bloggers there with me.
I am up early for two reasons. The weather is perfect and I am playing golf at 1:10 PM.
Second, it is Masters Weekend and I going to watch Arnold Palmer tee off at 7:45 AM to get the tournament underway.
I see my president is getting around to talking to the enemy now like he promised and they don’t much want to talk to him. North Korea and Iran pretty much hate everyone and they have at least unofficially snubbed my president. I hope he has a plan B.
Mr. Obama sent the congressional black caucus to Cuba for talks and Fidel and Raul seemed more than happy to jump in the sack with the US. Next year this time we’ll be drinking Cuban Rum and smoking Cuban cigars for sure. I wonder if they’ll have a non stop from Charlotte.
I did see Mr. Obama is winding down the war in Iraq as he promised but starting up another major conflict with the Afghans. This doesn’t seem wise to me but who am I to say. The Soviets tried with 110,000 troops and couldn’t flush the scourge out of the rocks.
Personally I would continue this conflict with drones and small tactical forces to keep the bad guys at bay but again who am I to say. Afghanistan just looks like a bunch of rocks to me.
I am up early for two reasons. The weather is perfect and I am playing golf at 1:10 PM.
Second, it is Masters Weekend and I going to watch Arnold Palmer tee off at 7:45 AM to get the tournament underway.
I see my president is getting around to talking to the enemy now like he promised and they don’t much want to talk to him. North Korea and Iran pretty much hate everyone and they have at least unofficially snubbed my president. I hope he has a plan B.
Mr. Obama sent the congressional black caucus to Cuba for talks and Fidel and Raul seemed more than happy to jump in the sack with the US. Next year this time we’ll be drinking Cuban Rum and smoking Cuban cigars for sure. I wonder if they’ll have a non stop from Charlotte.
I did see Mr. Obama is winding down the war in Iraq as he promised but starting up another major conflict with the Afghans. This doesn’t seem wise to me but who am I to say. The Soviets tried with 110,000 troops and couldn’t flush the scourge out of the rocks.
Personally I would continue this conflict with drones and small tactical forces to keep the bad guys at bay but again who am I to say. Afghanistan just looks like a bunch of rocks to me.
Rwednesday with a silent "R"
I woke up this morning to learn that the Russians and Chinese have been spying on me. Yes right here in my home.
They both have penetrated our electrical grid which runs right up to my bathroom hairdryer.
That kind of gives me the creeps. Where’s my tin foil hat?
The human mind and psychology amaze me always.
Why would anyone judge their complete future on their current condition only, without considering their complete past?
The best advice I ever got was “Never judge your life by its lowest point”.
What I am seeing now are fatally stupid decisions being made in this economic climate. The decisions are being based on irrational fear of the future and the present without regard to the facts of the past.
Lighten up people. Happiness doesn’t always spawn from excesses. We are building character here.
Or maybe people are just plain dumber than I suspected?
They both have penetrated our electrical grid which runs right up to my bathroom hairdryer.
That kind of gives me the creeps. Where’s my tin foil hat?
The human mind and psychology amaze me always.
Why would anyone judge their complete future on their current condition only, without considering their complete past?
The best advice I ever got was “Never judge your life by its lowest point”.
What I am seeing now are fatally stupid decisions being made in this economic climate. The decisions are being based on irrational fear of the future and the present without regard to the facts of the past.
Lighten up people. Happiness doesn’t always spawn from excesses. We are building character here.
Or maybe people are just plain dumber than I suspected?
My Weekend
Saturday was one of those 10.0 days as far as I am concerned. It was clear and 73 degrees with slight breezes.
I spent the entire day outside replacing the vertical deck rails.
Earlier in the month the deck was power washed to bring back some new life to this now ageing deck. With the addition of the new rails I gotta say the old deck is looking good.
I bought some plants and a 27 foot rope light for the “dining area” of the deck. I finished the job, blew off debris and saw dust and fired up the rope lights. It looked good.
This morning when I got up to let the dogs out I noticed I forgot to turn off the rope lights. Three of the dogs ran out immediately to the picnic table and starred at the lights like perhaps an alien had landed over night.
We have two cold nights coming and then I think we may be out of the woods as far as winter is concerned.
I also “Jailbroke” my iPhone yesterday. Jailbreaking is a method of hacking an iPhone to allow 3rd party applications that Apple doesn’t offer. I now have video and can tether my phone to my PC to gain access to the Internet from the 3G network.
Today I picked up 8 bales of hay and unloaded two bags of feed for the horses and then burnt the burn pile. It still had Christmas wreaths in the pile and they set ablaze like gasoline.
Now it was time to fire up the lawn tractor for the season. The tires were flat and the battery was dead. It finally fired up with the proper charge and I cut the grass after picking up an entire winter worth of broken limbs and sticks.
I love the results of yard work but I gotta tell you I hate every minute of doing it. I wanted to get on the lake this weekend.
I spent the entire day outside replacing the vertical deck rails.
Earlier in the month the deck was power washed to bring back some new life to this now ageing deck. With the addition of the new rails I gotta say the old deck is looking good.
I bought some plants and a 27 foot rope light for the “dining area” of the deck. I finished the job, blew off debris and saw dust and fired up the rope lights. It looked good.
This morning when I got up to let the dogs out I noticed I forgot to turn off the rope lights. Three of the dogs ran out immediately to the picnic table and starred at the lights like perhaps an alien had landed over night.
We have two cold nights coming and then I think we may be out of the woods as far as winter is concerned.
I also “Jailbroke” my iPhone yesterday. Jailbreaking is a method of hacking an iPhone to allow 3rd party applications that Apple doesn’t offer. I now have video and can tether my phone to my PC to gain access to the Internet from the 3G network.
Today I picked up 8 bales of hay and unloaded two bags of feed for the horses and then burnt the burn pile. It still had Christmas wreaths in the pile and they set ablaze like gasoline.
Now it was time to fire up the lawn tractor for the season. The tires were flat and the battery was dead. It finally fired up with the proper charge and I cut the grass after picking up an entire winter worth of broken limbs and sticks.
I love the results of yard work but I gotta tell you I hate every minute of doing it. I wanted to get on the lake this weekend.
Cheese Toast
It stopped raining this morning! It has been raining for many weeks with few breaks. Yea blue skies! Boo rain.
I love cheese toast. I made it yesterday and today. Nothing fancy…good Colby jack cheese, butter and I like Pepperage Farm Sourdough bread. Did you know you can find Pepperage Farm Sourdough bread in St Croix only it’s frozen?
Anyway I broil it slow and make sure it bubbles and browns nicely. Damn it’s good comfort food.
I was checking airfares this morning to several destinations and do you know I can fly to Moscow Russia for slightly less than it costs me to go to St Croix?
Now talk about some massive layovers heading to the Russian Federation but none or maybe one in Miami if I travel south.
I kind of like island hopping to get there but Gigi doesn’t. I consider Miami an island because it is culturally isolated with a heavy Cuban influence.
Then San Juan is fun for a layover. There you see white guys like me just yapping away in Spanish. The next minute they are talking in English better than I can speak.
Next St Croix where the whites speak plain old run of the mill English with no discernable accent but the black have this wonderful thick accent and speak Cruzan along with English.
Damn that was good cheese toast. Ya’ll have a good weekend.
I love cheese toast. I made it yesterday and today. Nothing fancy…good Colby jack cheese, butter and I like Pepperage Farm Sourdough bread. Did you know you can find Pepperage Farm Sourdough bread in St Croix only it’s frozen?
Anyway I broil it slow and make sure it bubbles and browns nicely. Damn it’s good comfort food.
I was checking airfares this morning to several destinations and do you know I can fly to Moscow Russia for slightly less than it costs me to go to St Croix?
Now talk about some massive layovers heading to the Russian Federation but none or maybe one in Miami if I travel south.
I kind of like island hopping to get there but Gigi doesn’t. I consider Miami an island because it is culturally isolated with a heavy Cuban influence.
Then San Juan is fun for a layover. There you see white guys like me just yapping away in Spanish. The next minute they are talking in English better than I can speak.
Next St Croix where the whites speak plain old run of the mill English with no discernable accent but the black have this wonderful thick accent and speak Cruzan along with English.
Damn that was good cheese toast. Ya’ll have a good weekend.
In the Future....
This morning I woke up early, went into the living room and turned on the Wii Fit.
“Good morning Wreggie, you’re up early this morning.”
I smiled and thought about the April fools joke it told me yesterday morning. I never thought I would have a machine interacting with me like this.
I did my exercises and headed over to the guest house to clean out the robotic vacuum cleaner. This Roomba is doing a fantastic job on the wooden floors and rugs. I don’t mind at all walking barefoot over there. No more cat hair on the floor.
On my way to work an alarm went off on my GPS warning me of a Railroad track that didn’t have warning lights and cross arms when it suddenly occurred to me.
I’m living in an age where computers, satellite driven devices and robots are a part of my life now and I appreciate them beyond them being a novelty. They really help me live a better life.
I texted my nephew at the next traffic light and checked my email.
“Good morning Wreggie, you’re up early this morning.”
I smiled and thought about the April fools joke it told me yesterday morning. I never thought I would have a machine interacting with me like this.
I did my exercises and headed over to the guest house to clean out the robotic vacuum cleaner. This Roomba is doing a fantastic job on the wooden floors and rugs. I don’t mind at all walking barefoot over there. No more cat hair on the floor.
On my way to work an alarm went off on my GPS warning me of a Railroad track that didn’t have warning lights and cross arms when it suddenly occurred to me.
I’m living in an age where computers, satellite driven devices and robots are a part of my life now and I appreciate them beyond them being a novelty. They really help me live a better life.
I texted my nephew at the next traffic light and checked my email.
A Comment on Life and Death
Do you ever wonder how you will die? I do.
A fellow once told me he had worked out a deal with God and he was going to die in his sleep. He did die in his sleep at age 62.
At a meal my stepfather told me he did one of those online surveys where they could predict life expectancy and it said he had six months to live. He died in six months. He was in his 80’s but still healthy at the time of the survey.
A friend of mine dropped dead in his garage while I was on the island back in February. He was in his early forties and had beaten leukemia twice only to die by an aneurism.
Just the other day and not far from here a man busted into a nursing home and shot 8 people. One of them was a woman aged 98. Imagine making it to 98 and end up dying of a gun shot.
Medical authorities have for years told us that stopping bad habits like smoking will ad years to your life and reduce the burden to the health care system. But didn’t explain that it will add years to your life at the end when you are old and hanging on. And the reality is that these old farts hanging on to life cost the health system much more that the smokers who died prematurely.
I waste a lot of my life but I enjoy my life so waste by definition must bring me some joy I suppose.
I find I am less tolerant of negative thoughts and negative people, arguments, crime, and hate.
I don’t know the answers for sure but I do know one thing for sure…there is a very thin veil between life and death.
Enjoy your day, your family, your friends and your life today.
A fellow once told me he had worked out a deal with God and he was going to die in his sleep. He did die in his sleep at age 62.
At a meal my stepfather told me he did one of those online surveys where they could predict life expectancy and it said he had six months to live. He died in six months. He was in his 80’s but still healthy at the time of the survey.
A friend of mine dropped dead in his garage while I was on the island back in February. He was in his early forties and had beaten leukemia twice only to die by an aneurism.
Just the other day and not far from here a man busted into a nursing home and shot 8 people. One of them was a woman aged 98. Imagine making it to 98 and end up dying of a gun shot.
Medical authorities have for years told us that stopping bad habits like smoking will ad years to your life and reduce the burden to the health care system. But didn’t explain that it will add years to your life at the end when you are old and hanging on. And the reality is that these old farts hanging on to life cost the health system much more that the smokers who died prematurely.
I waste a lot of my life but I enjoy my life so waste by definition must bring me some joy I suppose.
I find I am less tolerant of negative thoughts and negative people, arguments, crime, and hate.
I don’t know the answers for sure but I do know one thing for sure…there is a very thin veil between life and death.
Enjoy your day, your family, your friends and your life today.
Can't They Just Get Along?
Tomorrow I am scheduled to play golf and it is going to rain. Big deal.
Now my foursome is breaking up because they may get moist.
One my partners will swim laps this afternoon for exercise and the other will snorkel at the drop of a hat. Both activities require one to be half naked and totally submersed in water. This they enjoy.
Yet the idea of moisture repulses them on a golf course.
On a completely unrelated note why is it that crows and mocking birds just can’t get along? It is common around here to see a single crow and a single mocking bird in an areal battle that lasts for some time. I’ve observed this all my life.
Prepare For Summer!
Sunday I waxed the Jeep and the full red color came sparkling back from neglect during the winter.
Next the roof came off and Cedie and I went for a long drive in the country.
The air was cool in the low 60’s but I didn’t care. I turned on the heat and drove no faster than 45 MPH to conserve the heat bubble around my legs and feet.
This coming Saturday promises sunny and 77 so the boat is definitely coming out. I’m dying to get back to the peace and calm of the lake.
Hopefully I can find that family of muskrats I saw last year. I know if you live on a lake or maintain a pond they are not so cute because they destroy dams and seawalls. They are darn cute in the water.
This year I plan a few custom additions to my Porta-Bote like a lightweight plank floor for my dog to sit on and for the gas tank and or cooler to sit on. Otherwise everything (dog included) tends to funnel down to the middle of the boat. I don’t know how many times my cooler tipped over last summer causing potential beer hardship.
I found this cool swivel that attaches to my plank seats so I can add a fold down swivel seat with a back. Now that’s high styling.
Oh and I found a cheap battery bilge pump to keep the water out from waves splashing over. No more hand bailing for this man.
I’ll have my Bote so loaded down this summer that it may not float.
Next the roof came off and Cedie and I went for a long drive in the country.
The air was cool in the low 60’s but I didn’t care. I turned on the heat and drove no faster than 45 MPH to conserve the heat bubble around my legs and feet.
This coming Saturday promises sunny and 77 so the boat is definitely coming out. I’m dying to get back to the peace and calm of the lake.
Hopefully I can find that family of muskrats I saw last year. I know if you live on a lake or maintain a pond they are not so cute because they destroy dams and seawalls. They are darn cute in the water.
This year I plan a few custom additions to my Porta-Bote like a lightweight plank floor for my dog to sit on and for the gas tank and or cooler to sit on. Otherwise everything (dog included) tends to funnel down to the middle of the boat. I don’t know how many times my cooler tipped over last summer causing potential beer hardship.I found this cool swivel that attaches to my plank seats so I can add a fold down swivel seat with a back. Now that’s high styling.
Oh and I found a cheap battery bilge pump to keep the water out from waves splashing over. No more hand bailing for this man.
I’ll have my Bote so loaded down this summer that it may not float.
Sorry You Died Guys
I hate it when I discover an entertainer I really like and discover that they are dead.
This has happened to me twice this year.
The first is a comedian by the name of Mitch Hedberg. He is a very funny dude that I started hearing on Raw Dog satellite radio. So I Googled him and found out he died in 2005.
So much for any new material but he left me an abundance of funny stuff to keep me busy for a long time. Thank you Mitch.
The second entertainer is a musician named Stevie Ray Vaughn. Man can that guy play a guitar is an understatement.
I listen to Texas Flood and just melt into the blues.
Sorry guys…I didn’t appreciate you when you were alive.
This has happened to me twice this year.
The first is a comedian by the name of Mitch Hedberg. He is a very funny dude that I started hearing on Raw Dog satellite radio. So I Googled him and found out he died in 2005.
So much for any new material but he left me an abundance of funny stuff to keep me busy for a long time. Thank you Mitch.
The second entertainer is a musician named Stevie Ray Vaughn. Man can that guy play a guitar is an understatement.
I listen to Texas Flood and just melt into the blues.
Sorry guys…I didn’t appreciate you when you were alive.
PC Blues
I got a nasty stinking virus this past week and it took me days to shake it. I know exactly when I caught it too because things started acting strange to me right away.
It was my dear old rebuilt laptop that caught the bug not me.
I am struggling along with this 3 year old PC not wanting to spend $1500 for a new one. I never buy the low end $399 Acers at Wal-Mart because I want speed and power.
Last week I got a CD in the mail from a friend with photos on it from our February trip to St Croix. The CD was made at the CVS pharmacy shop so I felt safe to pop it right in and have a look see.
The next day my computer was bogged down and pop up were flying everywhere. My virus vault was full and the Trojan virus was replicating itself. No matter how many times I cleaned it the darn thing kept coming back.
Then I realized just yesterday that the beast had taken up residence in my “Restore” area of my computer. I finally cornered the little bastard and now everything is back to normal.
I gave my MIL a lesson on her $399 Wal-Mart Acer laptop yesterday. It was like trying to teach a pig to whistle. It ain’t going to happen and you’ll just end up pissing off the pig. She is totally and completely mouse deficient.
Something between the hand, the eye and the brain is completely burned out.
I was going to put her on my new Wii Fit for laughs and giggles but Gigi reined me in and told me to act nice.
It was my dear old rebuilt laptop that caught the bug not me.
I am struggling along with this 3 year old PC not wanting to spend $1500 for a new one. I never buy the low end $399 Acers at Wal-Mart because I want speed and power.
Last week I got a CD in the mail from a friend with photos on it from our February trip to St Croix. The CD was made at the CVS pharmacy shop so I felt safe to pop it right in and have a look see.
The next day my computer was bogged down and pop up were flying everywhere. My virus vault was full and the Trojan virus was replicating itself. No matter how many times I cleaned it the darn thing kept coming back.
Then I realized just yesterday that the beast had taken up residence in my “Restore” area of my computer. I finally cornered the little bastard and now everything is back to normal.
I gave my MIL a lesson on her $399 Wal-Mart Acer laptop yesterday. It was like trying to teach a pig to whistle. It ain’t going to happen and you’ll just end up pissing off the pig. She is totally and completely mouse deficient.
Something between the hand, the eye and the brain is completely burned out.
I was going to put her on my new Wii Fit for laughs and giggles but Gigi reined me in and told me to act nice.
Please Mr. President
I got to tell you I see a disaster coming and no one sees it but me.
I’m watching nightly how the local townsfolk are sandbagging the banks of a cresting Red river in
Two things can be done to avoid a white folk’s version of Katrina.
First, get your ass out of there now. I said now!
Second, the President himself needs to stand on the banks of the river and command that the water dissipate. You’ll recall the accusations that George Bush refused to use his God Like powers of the Presidency to command the waters go away in
Yes this all makes perfect sense now. I’m going to put on my tin foil hat and wait.
2 Days Off
We are in for another 4 day cold/rain/fog blast ending with severe thunderstorms and wind. Such is spring in the south.
Yesterday I played golf in the cold rain with the only person who could be considered my boss. I call him a boss because he alone could step on my air hose should the need arise and end my job and worse yet my career.
So I treat him with respect but he is actually a good friend and mentor. Yes people in their early 50’s still have mentors. There is always room for improvement.
Upon seeing the forecast for golf I went out to Dick’s and bought a golf rain suit and rain gloves.
I don’t usually play in the rain but will if it is light rain.
Sure as shit we tee off on number one and it begins to rain. I whoop out my spiffy new rain suit and gloves and I am warm and dry and continue a decent game.
By number 6 the others look like wet dogs and play was halted.
Any way I took the rest of the day off and actually I’m taking today off as well. I needed a rest after the stress of the audit.
Today, I’m going to get a massage, lunch with Gigi at the club and get a haircut.
The mother in law will be in this evening for the weekend. My epileptic dog has already started turning circles at her impending arrival.
Spring, Audits and Taxes Oh My
I have my annual internal audit today. I hate audits because I hate details. I’m a big picture guy in the role of an accountant today and this make my head smoke. There will definitely be an ozone smell in the office by 5 PM.
The fact that I’ll be hanging around until 5 PM make me tired.
Gigi and I are on the verge of a home remodel. We have the plans, the estimates, good credit, decent income, and home equity. The problem is we have unusual property and it takes someone with balls to give us an appraisal.
8 acres, a house and a small unconnected guest house, and a barn was impossible for the last person to assign a number and therefore no loan.
We have tentatively decided on a return to St Croix episode 16. It looks like the first week of September barring any hurricanes or home remodels.
The place we have decided on is a tiny one bedroom villa located in the Cane Bay area. This is a view from the deck with waves crashing below.
Oh I just about forgot. I’m playing golf tomorrow for the first time since December. It’s supposed to be 49 degrees and raining. Whoop dee damn doo. That ought to get the blood ah pumping.
The fact that I’ll be hanging around until 5 PM make me tired.
Gigi and I are on the verge of a home remodel. We have the plans, the estimates, good credit, decent income, and home equity. The problem is we have unusual property and it takes someone with balls to give us an appraisal.
8 acres, a house and a small unconnected guest house, and a barn was impossible for the last person to assign a number and therefore no loan.
We have tentatively decided on a return to St Croix episode 16. It looks like the first week of September barring any hurricanes or home remodels.The place we have decided on is a tiny one bedroom villa located in the Cane Bay area. This is a view from the deck with waves crashing below.
Oh I just about forgot. I’m playing golf tomorrow for the first time since December. It’s supposed to be 49 degrees and raining. Whoop dee damn doo. That ought to get the blood ah pumping.
Monday...Okay
I drove to a wedding this weekend in Baltimore Maryland. It was my last nephew to give in and he finally jumped the broom at 30 something.
The wedding was nice and it is always good to see family.
But the driving was to be 500 miles each way. It was a distance that makes me consider air travel.
I reasoned that the weather was nice and a good road trip can be good for the soul. Plus air fare for both of us was around $450 plus airport hassles and this money could be squandered in more fun ways than flying to Baltimore.
We decide to break the trip going up with a stopover in Richmond. That was fun. We stayed at a nice hotel in downtown, ate a fancy dinner, and ordered room service for breakfast.
There, that was $300 spent of the airfare and it was a discounted rate because of the recession. Plus we got some good time together to laugh and bond.
On to Baltimore and the wedding…..
Coming back we did it all in one run. I did fine, we talked listen to the radio, talked some more and the finally pulled in the driveway around 5 PM.
I then started a crashing mode that literally had me in bed by 6:30 PM and here I just woke up at 6:30 AM. Wow, 12 hours of deep restful sleep.
One cool dream I remember was that I was on my deck looking around and noticed a body of water for the first time. It had been obscured by a bush for the past 20 years. I brought out my shears to cut back the bush and it threatened me with bodily harm if I took to cutting on her.
I cut it down to a stump. I’m not having a bush threatening me I thought.
The wedding was nice and it is always good to see family.
But the driving was to be 500 miles each way. It was a distance that makes me consider air travel.
I reasoned that the weather was nice and a good road trip can be good for the soul. Plus air fare for both of us was around $450 plus airport hassles and this money could be squandered in more fun ways than flying to Baltimore.
We decide to break the trip going up with a stopover in Richmond. That was fun. We stayed at a nice hotel in downtown, ate a fancy dinner, and ordered room service for breakfast.
There, that was $300 spent of the airfare and it was a discounted rate because of the recession. Plus we got some good time together to laugh and bond.
On to Baltimore and the wedding…..
Coming back we did it all in one run. I did fine, we talked listen to the radio, talked some more and the finally pulled in the driveway around 5 PM.
I then started a crashing mode that literally had me in bed by 6:30 PM and here I just woke up at 6:30 AM. Wow, 12 hours of deep restful sleep.
One cool dream I remember was that I was on my deck looking around and noticed a body of water for the first time. It had been obscured by a bush for the past 20 years. I brought out my shears to cut back the bush and it threatened me with bodily harm if I took to cutting on her.
I cut it down to a stump. I’m not having a bush threatening me I thought.
On the Road Again...
Gigi and I are in Richmond, Virginia this evening. We got a great rate at the Omni and it is what I expected. Very nice accommodations discounted for a recession.
I entered the room and immediately took off my pants for comfort.
I told Gigi, “Ali does this you know.”
“How in the hell do you know about Ali taking her britches off?”
“She blogged about it once and took a picture.”
Gigi here…..
For those that are faint of heart or easily nauseated you might not want to read this part!!
But You know you will anyway right????
Wreggie is getting ready to shower at Hotel & says “now you know the bar of soap is going directly on my butt? So are you sure you don’t want to go first??”
Me “you mean you are literally going to stick the bar ‘up there’ ???? ooooohhhhhh!!!!” “Why can’t you just soap up your hands or a washcloth….please??”
Wreggie “ No way, it’s soap anyway & I rinse it off”
Me “ I don’t do it that way & I just don’t think it’s ‘proper’ aka sanitary ….oh well , I’m using the hand soap : )!!!!!
Oh hush woman…
I entered the room and immediately took off my pants for comfort.
I told Gigi, “Ali does this you know.”
“How in the hell do you know about Ali taking her britches off?”
“She blogged about it once and took a picture.”
Gigi here…..
For those that are faint of heart or easily nauseated you might not want to read this part!!
But You know you will anyway right????
Wreggie is getting ready to shower at Hotel & says “now you know the bar of soap is going directly on my butt? So are you sure you don’t want to go first??”
Me “you mean you are literally going to stick the bar ‘up there’ ???? ooooohhhhhh!!!!” “Why can’t you just soap up your hands or a washcloth….please??”
Wreggie “ No way, it’s soap anyway & I rinse it off”
Me “ I don’t do it that way & I just don’t think it’s ‘proper’ aka sanitary ….oh well , I’m using the hand soap : )!!!!!
Oh hush woman…
Tin Foil Hat
I’ve always loved technology. This inbred nerd streak served me well in the 1990’s. I loved to stay on top of computers and software.
I couldn’t wait yesterday for the 3.0 iPhone release details and now I can daydream about the possibilities.
Gigi remarked that I was acting like I did back when DOS 6.0 was released. Yes, I was one of the nerds in the parking lot waiting for the midnight release outside of Egghead Computers.
I am no longer cutting edge because technology has forked in so many directions.
What I know is I want technology to serve me.
I love my iphone more that I ever thought I would. The possibilities are endless with this new upgrade due out in the summer.
It reminds me back about 9 years ago when I attended a conference. A speaker there that I can’t for the life of me remember his name told us about all the wonderful things we could expect in the next 10 years. This guy was dead on predicting storage would be measured in terabytes that broadband and wireless networks like 3G would be common, that medical information could flow remotely from the patient to the doctor and back.
He told us that computers would be tiny and handheld.
Did you see the new iPhone application that will measure blood pressure and pulse and send it to you doctor if you ask?
My medical records are going completly digital I was informed. No longer will hand written prescription be given out and soon I could download my complete records on a memory, Google Health, or my iPhone. This type of stuff is not good for the tin foil hat crowd but I love it.
This speaker also warned of pending doom in the housing markets. Damn I wish I could remember who he was.
I couldn’t wait yesterday for the 3.0 iPhone release details and now I can daydream about the possibilities.
Gigi remarked that I was acting like I did back when DOS 6.0 was released. Yes, I was one of the nerds in the parking lot waiting for the midnight release outside of Egghead Computers.
I am no longer cutting edge because technology has forked in so many directions.
What I know is I want technology to serve me.
I love my iphone more that I ever thought I would. The possibilities are endless with this new upgrade due out in the summer.
It reminds me back about 9 years ago when I attended a conference. A speaker there that I can’t for the life of me remember his name told us about all the wonderful things we could expect in the next 10 years. This guy was dead on predicting storage would be measured in terabytes that broadband and wireless networks like 3G would be common, that medical information could flow remotely from the patient to the doctor and back.
He told us that computers would be tiny and handheld.
Did you see the new iPhone application that will measure blood pressure and pulse and send it to you doctor if you ask?
My medical records are going completly digital I was informed. No longer will hand written prescription be given out and soon I could download my complete records on a memory, Google Health, or my iPhone. This type of stuff is not good for the tin foil hat crowd but I love it.
This speaker also warned of pending doom in the housing markets. Damn I wish I could remember who he was.
Sliders Anyone?
The restaurant downstairs in our building had a special on their board yesterday for “2 Grecian Chicken Sliders”. That sounds so gross that I want to do a back flip and puke.
I’m sorry; a slider is not a good name for any food.
We are headed to a wedding this weekend in Baltimore, MD and I can’t wait to get out of town. In fact I’m leaving a night early so Gigi and I can have a romantic evening at the Richmond Omni.
I have a big fancy room reserved. We’ll get in early and stay late and order as much room service as needed.
I always carry a swim suit when I go to a nice hotel thinking that I’ll swim. I love to swim in the blue salty waters of the Caribbean however when I walk in to a steamy heated closed in hotel pool area thick with a chlorine fog I can only think of foot fungus and dead bacteria floating around me.
I’ll carry my swim suit again, not yellow boy of course but a back up just in case.
Well I have to run now and check the chickens, clean out the Roomba, and unload some hay.
I’m sorry; a slider is not a good name for any food.
We are headed to a wedding this weekend in Baltimore, MD and I can’t wait to get out of town. In fact I’m leaving a night early so Gigi and I can have a romantic evening at the Richmond Omni.
I have a big fancy room reserved. We’ll get in early and stay late and order as much room service as needed.
I always carry a swim suit when I go to a nice hotel thinking that I’ll swim. I love to swim in the blue salty waters of the Caribbean however when I walk in to a steamy heated closed in hotel pool area thick with a chlorine fog I can only think of foot fungus and dead bacteria floating around me.
I’ll carry my swim suit again, not yellow boy of course but a back up just in case.
Well I have to run now and check the chickens, clean out the Roomba, and unload some hay.
Tree Sex and Ball Games
My property is a quagmire from so much rain and more rain is to come today. I think Sassy is so sick of the bad weather that she would spill her bowels if she could find a sharp object and had opposable thumbs.
Oh…and I have a sick chicken in my bath tub. Her name is Ashley and she is the youngest hen. Gigi is in full doctoring mode and has been reading up on chickens. She was opposed to me getting chickens and now she wants a bigger coop.
I am trying so hard to enjoy college basketball but it just doesn’t do it for me anymore. I was happy for my nephew that Duke won the ACC tournament and I watched the whole game. But afterwards, I felt unfulfilled and switched over to golf.
It annoys me when someone refers to a sporting event as a “ball game”.
“Is there a ball game on tonight?” my FIL will ask.
“Why sure, there’s bowling on ESPN89, or ping pong on ESPN Classic 76, or basketball on ESPN 2, golf on the Golf channel, football on the NFL channel. What kind of ball are you referring to?”
We have been warned that as soon as this rain stops we’d better be prepared for massive tree sex. Our city is ranked third in the nation for pollen and the yellow clouds are just days away.
Can you tell I’m a bit grouchy this morning?
Oh…and I have a sick chicken in my bath tub. Her name is Ashley and she is the youngest hen. Gigi is in full doctoring mode and has been reading up on chickens. She was opposed to me getting chickens and now she wants a bigger coop.
I am trying so hard to enjoy college basketball but it just doesn’t do it for me anymore. I was happy for my nephew that Duke won the ACC tournament and I watched the whole game. But afterwards, I felt unfulfilled and switched over to golf.
It annoys me when someone refers to a sporting event as a “ball game”.
“Is there a ball game on tonight?” my FIL will ask.
“Why sure, there’s bowling on ESPN89, or ping pong on ESPN Classic 76, or basketball on ESPN 2, golf on the Golf channel, football on the NFL channel. What kind of ball are you referring to?”
We have been warned that as soon as this rain stops we’d better be prepared for massive tree sex. Our city is ranked third in the nation for pollen and the yellow clouds are just days away.
Can you tell I’m a bit grouchy this morning?
Newspapers
This morning I am slowing cooking some peppery thick sliced bacon to go with my home grown eggs and reading the Wall Street Journal online while sipping rich coffee.
Winter still clings here. It has rained for days and the temperatures hover around 40 day and night. This pattern should continue for a few more days.
I don’t read conventional news papers anymore. I read the Wall Street Journal extensively every day online. I align my thoughts with many of their editorial opinions and enjoy their fine journalistic writings on many subjects. This newspaper has great content and I pay $79 a year for it.
What I find intriguing is that once a month or so I’ll email the writer of a particular article and more often than not they’ll write me back.
I also read The Charlotte Observer Online mainly for sports, local business and news. Sometimes I email a comment the writers too but never have any written me back.
A local paper verses a national paper. Free subscription Verses a paid subscription.
I think if more people knew how to use an RSS reader like Google reader then papers like The Charlotte Observer would be ancient history. I certainly wouldn’t pay for their fluff.
Winter still clings here. It has rained for days and the temperatures hover around 40 day and night. This pattern should continue for a few more days.
I don’t read conventional news papers anymore. I read the Wall Street Journal extensively every day online. I align my thoughts with many of their editorial opinions and enjoy their fine journalistic writings on many subjects. This newspaper has great content and I pay $79 a year for it.
What I find intriguing is that once a month or so I’ll email the writer of a particular article and more often than not they’ll write me back.
I also read The Charlotte Observer Online mainly for sports, local business and news. Sometimes I email a comment the writers too but never have any written me back.
A local paper verses a national paper. Free subscription Verses a paid subscription.
I think if more people knew how to use an RSS reader like Google reader then papers like The Charlotte Observer would be ancient history. I certainly wouldn’t pay for their fluff.
Counting My Eggs Before They are Laid
I collected my first two eggs yesterday afternoon. Gigi and I were so excited.
I had gone out to toss a muffin stump in the coop and decided for a look see and there they were two light brown eggs in a cartoon looking chicken nest.
I figure with the cost of the coop and the chickens that I was looking at 2 eggs worth $100 a piece. That’s okay…I’m having fun and living large.
I checked the nest box this morning and I was greeted by a big Golden Comet chicken ass settling down to lay an egg. Make that $67 an egg.
Eggs Tomorrow?
“Dude…have you ever touched a chicken?” my colleague asked.“No”
Tonight I’ll be a chicken farmer….not a chicken rancher. Google chicken ranch and you’ll see what I mean.
I have been tweaking my chicken tractor for a week now and yes chicken tractors need tweaking. I had to paint it with wood protection and make some adjustments to the doors for the nesting boxes.
This morning I checked the fit of the doors and wild birds had started building nests in the nesting boxes. That is a positive sign I thought.
Today I felt confident enough to go ahead and get some chickens. I looked on Craig’s list and a fellow wanted to sell a lot of 30 all or none. I called Renfro Hardware and it turns out this is the New York Stock Exchange of chickens around these parts. They have all kinds of chickens but they are chicks and need to mature before laying eggs.
I want eggs now so I called a fellow on Craig’s list and he has plenty that are 9 months old and laying.
I will pick up six Black Sex Link Pullets at 5:30.
The chicken adventure begins.
New Words
About a month ago I was on the island of St Croix and I was eating lunch prior to departure at the local hangout for tourists called Cheeseburgers in American Paradise. (Yes they had to change their name for threats from Jimmy Buffet some years ago)
One of our group members…I’ll call him Joe, because his name is Joe, asked the waitress for a ramekin of ranch dressing.
“A ramekin…huh…WTF?”, I thought.
The waitress said okay and I’m beginning to quiz Joe.
“Joe, what the hell is a ramekin?”
Judy starts laughing.
“Why it’s a small bowl Wreggie.”
Soon the waitress returned with a small plastic cup/bowl of dressing.
Judy said, “They use that word a lot.”
I personally never heard the word and neither had Gigi.
Tonight Gigi and I were at supper at Outback Steakhouse and Gigi quizzed the waiter.
“Sir, what is this called”, while pointing to a small bowl of butter.
“Why that is a ramekin mamm."
Enjoy the video.......
One of our group members…I’ll call him Joe, because his name is Joe, asked the waitress for a ramekin of ranch dressing.
“A ramekin…huh…WTF?”, I thought.
The waitress said okay and I’m beginning to quiz Joe.
“Joe, what the hell is a ramekin?”
Judy starts laughing.
“Why it’s a small bowl Wreggie.”
Soon the waitress returned with a small plastic cup/bowl of dressing.
Judy said, “They use that word a lot.”
I personally never heard the word and neither had Gigi.
Tonight Gigi and I were at supper at Outback Steakhouse and Gigi quizzed the waiter.
“Sir, what is this called”, while pointing to a small bowl of butter.
“Why that is a ramekin mamm."
Enjoy the video.......
Peaches is A New Girl
Yesterday Peaches had a few doggy accidents and acted miserable so I drove her to the vet to see if there was anything we could do.
Peaches was sure I was going to off her and she was shaking like a leaf. They actually put us in the exam room where I have put down a cat and a dog of mine. I comforted her while she trembled and panted.
The vet examined her, watched her walk, get up and get down. Weighed her and collected a urine specimen.
She has a blazing kidney infection which is fixable. Her back legs hurt from all the years of Frisbee catching and that can be fixed with doggy pain meds. She has lost 11 pounds which was deliberate and good for her.
Today she is a new dog enjoying life.
Blast From My Past
This was part of my childhood growing up in a tobacco and cigarette manufacturing town. We had both Leggett and Meyers Tobacco Company and American Tobacco Company.
Every fall the auction houses would be full of cured full leaf tobacco from the recent harvest. Farmers would come to these auctions to sell their crops and as a child I would sneak away from time to time to see the excitement.
The rich smell of tobacco enveloped the city and the tobacco leaves that blew from covered trucks landed on sidewalks like fall leaves.
This was the lifeblood of Durham’s economy…the town where I grew up.
Every fall the auction houses would be full of cured full leaf tobacco from the recent harvest. Farmers would come to these auctions to sell their crops and as a child I would sneak away from time to time to see the excitement.
The rich smell of tobacco enveloped the city and the tobacco leaves that blew from covered trucks landed on sidewalks like fall leaves.
This was the lifeblood of Durham’s economy…the town where I grew up.
Hmmmm....
Notice the nose, lipless mouth and hair. Could accused master mind of the mother of all ponzi schemes Burney Madoff be George Washington?
He stole so much money he looks like a dollar bill.
He stole so much money he looks like a dollar bill.
How to Self Destruct a Liberal – They Can’t Help It
Anyone who knows me knows that when it comes to politics I am right of a Libertarian. So steadfast and unique in my views am I that I decided no political party could represent me so I went unaffiliated last year.
What is curious is I tend to attract friends and clients that are politically polar opposites of my political views. They tend to range from old line yellow dog Chicago/Roosevelt union democrats to Hollywood greenhouse gas regulate everything because absolute government is good liberals.
What I have found in common with them all is if exposed to their Kryptonite it will make them cringe like a vampire staring at a crucifix and will result in them collapsing into a babbling pile of mush.
I was talking to a client Thursday and simply asked in these exact words, “What do you think of the President’s economic stimulus package?”
I realized that the introduction of politics even at this arms length level would expose her raw angry liberal side. She couldn’t help herself and within 70 seconds she was berating Sara Palin like she was running the federal government.
It used to be that Dick Chaney would self district a liberal but I’ve gotta say this new and more powerful Sara Palin Kryptonite is impressive at bringing a polar bear loving tree hugger to the point of spewing angry hate at a woman with a bun in no time at all.
Give it a try …next time you are talking to a liberal just toss out the name of Sara Palin and watch the fun unfold. They can’t help themselves.
What is curious is I tend to attract friends and clients that are politically polar opposites of my political views. They tend to range from old line yellow dog Chicago/Roosevelt union democrats to Hollywood greenhouse gas regulate everything because absolute government is good liberals.
What I have found in common with them all is if exposed to their Kryptonite it will make them cringe like a vampire staring at a crucifix and will result in them collapsing into a babbling pile of mush.
I was talking to a client Thursday and simply asked in these exact words, “What do you think of the President’s economic stimulus package?”
I realized that the introduction of politics even at this arms length level would expose her raw angry liberal side. She couldn’t help herself and within 70 seconds she was berating Sara Palin like she was running the federal government.
It used to be that Dick Chaney would self district a liberal but I’ve gotta say this new and more powerful Sara Palin Kryptonite is impressive at bringing a polar bear loving tree hugger to the point of spewing angry hate at a woman with a bun in no time at all.
Give it a try …next time you are talking to a liberal just toss out the name of Sara Palin and watch the fun unfold. They can’t help themselves.
Life's Thresholds
My dear friend and confidant Peaches has crossed the doggy threshold of her rear end giving out. This is not good.
She is unable suddenly to get up and down and she is having accidents. This just started a few days ago.
I know the signs but just for today I am in denial. Gigi will take her to the vet this morning for an evaluation.
On a brighter note Gigi will soon cross her own threshold and turn 50. I have been telling her that now is the time to cut off your hair and get it styled to look like a gaseous planet.
Or I ask openly…”Hey…I wonder what its like to have a roll in the hay with a 50 year old woman?”
She replies, “Oh shut up or I’ll whoop your ass.”
Oh by the way General Motors….take it like a man and file bankruptcy. You have a failed and outdated business model. Enough begging for money to stay alive.
Reorganize and come out competitive. Make something I want and I will buy it.
She is unable suddenly to get up and down and she is having accidents. This just started a few days ago.
I know the signs but just for today I am in denial. Gigi will take her to the vet this morning for an evaluation.
On a brighter note Gigi will soon cross her own threshold and turn 50. I have been telling her that now is the time to cut off your hair and get it styled to look like a gaseous planet.
Or I ask openly…”Hey…I wonder what its like to have a roll in the hay with a 50 year old woman?”
She replies, “Oh shut up or I’ll whoop your ass.”
Oh by the way General Motors….take it like a man and file bankruptcy. You have a failed and outdated business model. Enough begging for money to stay alive.
Reorganize and come out competitive. Make something I want and I will buy it.
This Makes Me Mad Too
I had lunch today with a group of my peers and the speaker was noted CNBC conservative economist Marci Rossell. It was intriguing to hear about what she thought of the current banking crisis.
Her “warm up” was a fellow from a product sponsor that paid her fees trying to pump up some of his xyz product.
He was a speaker that constantly asked questions and expected audience responses.
Please don’t do this to me ass lips. Tell what you have to say as best as you can. The act of switching my powerful brain from listening to thinking and back to listening angers me. I don’t participate in “showing of hands” about what I think either. Just leave me alone and tell me a story.
Her “warm up” was a fellow from a product sponsor that paid her fees trying to pump up some of his xyz product.
He was a speaker that constantly asked questions and expected audience responses.
Please don’t do this to me ass lips. Tell what you have to say as best as you can. The act of switching my powerful brain from listening to thinking and back to listening angers me. I don’t participate in “showing of hands” about what I think either. Just leave me alone and tell me a story.
More Good Things are Happening
I got the crown put on this morning and I can mouth breathe again.
Recently I applied for my 2 free government converter box coupons that Santa Fed is giving out. The bastards only sent me one card. I remembered I needed these boxes in my RV to update over the air station when I am traveling local and don’t want to take the satellite dish.
I went to Radio Shack at lunch with my $40 coupon and a fellow approaches me and asked if I was about to buy that converter box. He had one in his hands he was about to return to get his $20 back.
The way this thing works is the box costs $59.99 and the coupon is good for $40 off netting a cost of $20.
This fellow offered to sell me his box for $20 so he wouldn’t have to stand in line.
I bought his box and another with my coupon and that was as good as having two coupons.
Nana nana boo boo feds.
Recently I applied for my 2 free government converter box coupons that Santa Fed is giving out. The bastards only sent me one card. I remembered I needed these boxes in my RV to update over the air station when I am traveling local and don’t want to take the satellite dish.
I went to Radio Shack at lunch with my $40 coupon and a fellow approaches me and asked if I was about to buy that converter box. He had one in his hands he was about to return to get his $20 back.
The way this thing works is the box costs $59.99 and the coupon is good for $40 off netting a cost of $20.
This fellow offered to sell me his box for $20 so he wouldn’t have to stand in line.
I bought his box and another with my coupon and that was as good as having two coupons.
Nana nana boo boo feds.
I'm Not Really a Grouchy Person
I’m getting the feeling that you folks think I complain too much so as of today I'm turning over a new leaf.
It is a wonderfully crisp 19 degrees this morning with a refreshing wind. This makes the cold mo better.
I had a temporary crown fall out yesterday and wouldn’t you know it the cold wind on an exposed tooth nerve makes you know you are very alive. Very exhilarating it was.
I tried to call my rascally dentist but he was closed because of all the beautiful snow that had fallen. Closed also was his emergency back up and every other dentist in town yesterday.
But not to worry, I learned not to mouth breathe as much and that is a wonderful thing.
Yep...It's the End of the World
Is it just me or does anyone else gets annoyed by toast scraping?
I was at Cracker Barrel the other morning and this fellow beside me was applying a very thin and even coat of butter to his well cooked toast. He was very fastidious doing this all the while making this annoying scraping sound.
It gave me the urge for a well placed liver punch but I decided to be nice. The old fart was obviously enjoying his toast scraping and I figured someone two tables down from me was annoyed by something I was doing.
We got 4 inches of snow last night so you know what that means…oatmeal for breakfast and a general state of emergency for this southern town. All the schools are closed and the local TV stations have multiple reporters on live cams scraping their feet on streets to show us just how slick they are.
Since I call the shots at my office I have instituted “Operation end of the world” whereby we forward the phone extensions to our cell phones and fire up the instant messenger and work from home. This also calls for me to put on my rarely used Fire Marshall green reflective vest since this is an emergency situation.
I was at Cracker Barrel the other morning and this fellow beside me was applying a very thin and even coat of butter to his well cooked toast. He was very fastidious doing this all the while making this annoying scraping sound.
It gave me the urge for a well placed liver punch but I decided to be nice. The old fart was obviously enjoying his toast scraping and I figured someone two tables down from me was annoyed by something I was doing.
We got 4 inches of snow last night so you know what that means…oatmeal for breakfast and a general state of emergency for this southern town. All the schools are closed and the local TV stations have multiple reporters on live cams scraping their feet on streets to show us just how slick they are.
Since I call the shots at my office I have instituted “Operation end of the world” whereby we forward the phone extensions to our cell phones and fire up the instant messenger and work from home. This also calls for me to put on my rarely used Fire Marshall green reflective vest since this is an emergency situation.
I Am Not A Fan of Rain
I find it really disgusting how water is delivered to earth.
Right now we are in the middle of a three inch rain storm that has gone on for two days and promises to end with 2 to 4 inches of snow.
Everything is a cold soggy mess.
Wouldn’t it have been nicer to have rain spew from geysers in a controlled fashion that would save us from this disgusting mess?
Even my dogs are disgusted with this nasty event.
Geysers with a piping system would work better. It would be sunny every day and the sky would be cloudless.
Make your opinion known and vote in the right column.
Right now we are in the middle of a three inch rain storm that has gone on for two days and promises to end with 2 to 4 inches of snow.
Everything is a cold soggy mess.
Wouldn’t it have been nicer to have rain spew from geysers in a controlled fashion that would save us from this disgusting mess?
Even my dogs are disgusted with this nasty event.
Geysers with a piping system would work better. It would be sunny every day and the sky would be cloudless.
Make your opinion known and vote in the right column.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
