I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

A Year in Hot Dogs

It was a banner harvest as you recall.

First of the season dog and a cold beer.

Gigi style with cheese.

and wReggie style without said cheese.

Spiral cut came into my life this year.

This is a tailgate dog.

A very rare sighting ...This is a Durhamite (someone from Durham, NC) eating a real Derm (Durham) dog in Charlotte.

A store bought dog at Pine lake Country Club.

I hoovered up the first dog before I could pause to make this picture.

© 2012 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

My Review of the iPhone 5

It is mine, all mine. Keep your greasy hands off of it.

It is beautiful, slender, and feminine. I talk to it and it talks back with respect.

Brilliant styling and it is so fast.

One More Dive Trip Planned

The dive season is waning down, so I jumped at the chance when I saw one slot open on a late month charter.

I booked a ride on Aquatic Safaris out of Wilmington for late October. The dive is to The Hyde and The Markham, which are intact ships sunk in the late 1980s, for fishing and diving enjoyment, off the coast of North Carolina. (I try and spell out North Carolina because it is a beautiful and name and comes across so much better than NC)

This will likely be my 99^th and 100^th dive, so that is kind of big.

It will be my third attempt at diving The Hyde and Markham. The first time I booked and the weather got the best of us, so we never attempted the 20 mile ride. The second time I made it to the Markham, but the current was bad, and the visibility was almost zero. I did make it to The Hyde but just felt it up because the visibility was maybe a foot.

Quite possibly the third time will be a charm and I can get in two nice dives before dry suit season at the quarry.

This will be my first “cattle car” dive trip. There will be 18 divers on board, descending all at once.

Finally, Gigi and I will be able to take the RV to Southport like the good old days. It has been over a year since Gigi and I have camped.

Plans

The planned mountain trip this weekend was a bust. The owner of the house called just hours before we were to leave and told us the main water line in the town broke and they didn't expect water for a week. Oh well.

Gigi’s surgery has been called off and we have decided to back off further surgery and give her body more time to heal. The decision is a relief for both of us.

My new iPhone 5 is head and shoulders better than my old iPhone 4. The camera is off the hook good.

This Will Be Fun

Special Times

Big doings today...but first this is a day of remembrance. One year has passed since Gigi’s monumental surgery. She has come a long way since then. It seems her next surgery will be postponed due to some test result. We’ll find out today.

This afternoon my iPhone five will be delivered. I have watched my iPhone be manufactured and shipped from ZhengZhou, China, and shipped to Incheon, Korea, then on to Anchorage, AK, then to Louisville, KY, on to Greensboro, NC where it will likely end up in Monroe, NC and then be out for delivery today to Midland, NC. That is so cool. What a small world and such an efficient logistics/delivery system.

Yesterday we discovered that Costco sells a bolt on bidet that has a heated seat, heated water, and a blow dryer built into one system.

They even had a demo on the floor.

Tomorrow Gigi and I are headed out of town for some R and R time together and plan on seeing some leaves change colors. Sounds like the Mountains of North Carolina.

Why Do I Do What I Do?

Because there are actually assholes just like this, and I have worked for several of them. There is so much to more to happiness than an $80,000 car, big house and gold watch.

I tried to be a dick like them, but it wasn't natural. Once I got so angry in a public chewing that I took a swing at my boss, and barely missed. It is hard to get a good punch in from a swivel chair. He enjoyed the encounter and brass balls I showed.

Alas, I set myself free in 1992 and have rarely looked back.

When I ran across this video, I realized once again my decision was correct, then, and now.

I have been in this room too many times but I am free and love my life. I have enough, and more than most.

Oh, and throw in one more thing. My father on his death bed told me similar tales of sales and he had regrets. He couldn't get his time back, but I could, so I did.

Sunday Funday

Perfect weather yesterday. The temperature was in the low 70s. I met some friends and we headed to the quarry. There must have been 100 divers there.

Before I suited up I had to visit the outhouse. I never pee in my wet suit. This is a two room outhouse for men and women.

Later we grilled chicken burgers and fed the fish and turtle bread rolls.

In the a afternoon I watch some of the best finishes to the 1 pm game on NFL Sunday Ticket.

I drifted into a nap....a perfect day.

Happy Dance

You know that great feeling one gets when one sees an email from Apple that an item just shipped from ZhengZhou, China? And it is coming to me?

My iPhone 5, yes sirree.....or should I say, yes Siri? Hahahaha....I'm am giddy.

I love Apple products and I love tracking packages so this is kinda a super dooper moment for me.

Soon I'll put old sparky iPhone 4 on the auction block and let some poor Soviet college student buy it. I can get around $200 for the old phone which is what I have in it.

I am really excited about the camera because my iPhone is my camera. The camera on the phone has been vastly improved from the iPhone 4.

Ass Whooping

The great and mighty wReggie says, "We got our ass whooped on national TV last night. They beat us like a rental mule. How embarrassing. "

How Can You Keep Phfrankie Busy?

Okay fellow propeller heads. Yesterday was the day Apple released operating system 6.0.

What this means is…fellow blogger Phfrankie Bondo can have Siri on account of he has an iPad three. Upgrade Bondo.

For me…. not as much. I have ancient, dilapidated hardware, some of which is TWO YEARS OLD! I know…it is embarrassing.

Alas my new iPhone 5 is being manufactured as I type, somewhere in China, and should be at my doorstep by October 5.

Until then rest assured that my iPad is talking to my iPhone, and my Mac is talking to my iPad and iPhone, and all three are in perfect harmony in the iCloud.

I Can't Take It Anymore

Flash is shit. I hate it.

Go to ESPN and look for a score. You have to wait for all the bullshit flash applications and advertising to load before you can proceed, because flash is holding your entire computer resources hostage while it loads all the bullshit you don’t want to see.

Here is another classic example of flash overkill from a blog I read daily. Go ahead and check it out on your PC....I'll wait. Now move your mouse around just a bit.

Another reason to own an iPad.

I Want One

A few weeks ago I sent off my underwater camera housing for my flip video. It takes super fantastic video, however the on/off button never worked properly. The manufacturer called me yesterday and they are repairing and shipping it back for free.

Thursday we have a nationally televised football game in town versus the Super Bowl Champions New York Giants. My truck is still full of crap from Sundays game.

Today….heavy rain. I hope my grass seeding efforts from last weekend don’t wash away.

I have Sunday off from football so I might have to head up to the quarry to dive.

Carolina Tailgate Opener

The covered kitchen is set up and prepping. 2 grills and a steamer going this week.

Leslie stepped it up with some mighty fine girly drink fixings.

Start in line here to build you po boy sandwich.

That's how you do it. Pile on the beef, add cheese and peppers while Leslie grills it nice and hot.

Then relax and enjoy with friends.

Finally, the masses converge to watch the game. Security slows things up now. Everyone (70,000) must be wanded and searched.

In the end, we won handedly.

Yard Work...or Garden as they say in England

This machine punches holes in my clay soil. It helps to grow grass and it kicked my ass.

Fall is the time to start a lawn in the South US. I felt like rich folks watering my lawn.

Certain parts of my property look like Mars.

Then and Now

Then

Now.

Form and Function

I jumped out of bed at 4:30 AM to order my new iPhone 5. Two weeks baby and I am cutting edge again.

I woke up in the middle of a dream where this designer agreed to make me a custom set of swim trunks for eggs. I didn’t really give a crap about the trunks, but he was insistent that he barter for the eggs.

Then I went to the public restroom in his office, and it was a unisex bathroom. There were men and women standing at the urinal. They were very different urinals and were designed like art work….maybe something Apple would design. I was very curious about how the women were using the urinal and was going to ask Gigi about this.

This is when I woke up to order the phone. What the hell goes on in my brain? I guess the beautifully designed urinals got me to thinking about the beautiful iPhones and my brain said, “Hey wReggie…get your ass up!”

My Life

My life has come down to paper shuffler and faxing. I miss you Michelle.

Side Mount Scuba

I have been on a slow tedious process of acquiring a side mount system.

Instead of just plunging in, wallet first, I decided to gather some skills on rented equipment. I have spent many hours researching equipment. None of it is cheap.

I have made my decision....a Nomad XT system. This is about half the set up. I will need two new regulators hose system, tank hardware and lots of practice. My goal is to be comfortable enough on the new system to take it down in February to St Croix.

I Will be Here Today

It is where I work. They just installed new landscaping there to the right.

Very soon we will move up one floor to a new office.

I was Ready...my Team Wasn't

"Most significant takeaway from this game - we WILL need to bring alcohol when tailgating this year."

The Day I Have Been Waiting For

Fall blooms on the shrubs.

Hibiscus blooms from all the late summer tropical rains.

The banners are hung.

The decorating done.

The smell of fresh cut turf. It is football time...the real deal.

3 things and a Shout Out

I ran into a diver/fireman that was using this tool box to stow his scuba gear and lock it. It rolls on wheels too. I was so impressed I bought one for my scuba gear. Now I have to get one for tailgate gear too. At Lowe's for around $50.

I don’t think I would like to live in a place called Wichita.

Next Wednesday is speculated to be the release of the next iPhone and I am giggly as a school girl. Of course I will be first in line to get one. Mine is ancient technology from about two years ago. Get this; my phone is so old I can’t even have a conversation with it. I know…. it’s embarrassing to admit.

A shout out to Phfrankie and Fritz on their recent marriage and celebration today. I wish I could be there with you. Many happy years together.

Our Stadium is Spared from Barry

Blessings have been bestowed to die hard conservative Panther Fans.

Just look at the mess on our turf

The president, as you may have heard, was supposed to speak at Bank of America Stadium, but under threat of bad weather and a television blackout if the stadium weren't sold out, moved his speech to Time Warner Cable Arena.

It was the political equivalent of an audible.

Not a drop of rain fell and our turf was not violated.

Carry on faithful fans.

Update from Charlotte

A New Chapter

Yesterday I opened a new chapter in my life by becoming an American Hobo. Trust me, it was a baby step. I jumped a train.

It was all quite inadvertent. I had my money in my hand and was in line at the train station. I was behind some ancient fossil who couldn't work the ticket machine. The train pulled in the station and I said what the heck and jumped on board with my two dollars crushed in the palm of my hand.

Ready to jump in plain sight of the bulls

Suddenly there I was, riding the rails. Care free and craving cigarette butts and beans….I mean snipes and bullets.

Oh I still have the slang and secret languages and signs to learn. I don’t even have a bindle but I think Ralph Lauren makes some really nice ones.

My Thought on The President

I have given it some thought, and the following is why I doubt I will vote for President Obama:

The debt has gone from 10 trillion to 16 trillion in just 4 years.

Joe Biden is VP and he is an idiot. At least be smart enough to appoint a new VP.

Gas was $1.85 a gallon when you took office. Now it is close to $4.

The debt has gone from 10 trillion to 16 trillion in just 4 years.

Medium income was $54,000 four years ago. Now it is $50,000. This is middle class and you claim to love the middle class. You are hurting the middle class.

The unemployment rate is higher now than 4 years ago.

The economy is stagnate and has not grown.

You spent 800,000 billion dollars for a stimulus, and gave the money to state and local governments and Solyndra. It stimulated pavers and ditch diggers until the money ran out. Solyndra just pissed theirs away.

More people are getting food stamps now that ever in history.

The debt has gone from 10 trillion to 16 trillion in just 4 years. This I can’t get over.

So many people now don’t work because they know they can get by on handouts. That is sad to me.

The president said, “My success was not because of me, but it was because of the government helping me”. That is a personal insult at so many levels.

You are a socialist and I am not a socialist. United Socialist States of America (USSA) does not appeal to me. I want to reverse this trend before we can’t reverse it.

General Motors was nationalized. This is what socialist countries do and I am not a socialist. Then you forced a product called the Volt that no one wanted. Manufacture of the cars is suspended and another colossal waste of dollars.

Americans have no idea how to plan for future taxation. This is bad for everyone. Are the rates going up? Will they stay the same. If one don’t pay taxes like most of your voters then it doesn’t matter. But to those of us who drive the economy it matters greatly.

You have set up class warfare…it is us vs. them. This is not good. It causes conflict.

If you get reelected Mr. President, and the debt goes to 22 trillion….we are toast….in our lifetime. I am not willing to assume otherwise based on your track record.

No one to this day understands the new health care plan…but I know we can’t afford it. Someone explain it to me.

The debt has gone from 10 trillion to 16 trillion in just 4 years.

Mr. President…you do not understand a modern economy. Your concept of jobs is a model of 70 years ago. This is so sad for all of us.

You claim college is more affordable? The tuition goes ups every year. This is spin.

We desperately need jobs but you don’t know the environment needed to create jobs.

Ten years ago the auto industry employed 1.2 million. Now it is 780,000. This is not a recovery.

As much as everyone admires Michelle Obama….she is not the President.

It is abuse of power and unconstitutional to appoint Czars with great powers accountable only to The President.

This is just not a good track record where a reasonable person can say, "Job well done, stick around and do it again".

Life Goes On

Galaxy

I had a friend get married last week. I had a friend die last week.

I contemplate, and life goes on.

Sometimes I wish I could live more in the present like my dear friend Galaxy.

This is all real and not a dress rehearsal. Live life and enjoy. I sure try.

My Quarry Vacation

I am lucky to have this little dive resort so close to my home. For $70 a year I get access to decent inland diving 24/7. It is the Piedmont Divers Rescue Association, and Ken's brother makes the flags. We have three quarries in all but I usually dive the Lake Norman Quarry. We call it The Quarribean.

The facilities are nice. We gave fake ocean breezes to keep us cool while getting in and out of wet suits or having meals.

This is another staging area. There is enough room for 20 divers in this one area and we have many such staging areas.

Often after a dive we fire up the gas grill and break bread and have a beer.

We even have a fake boat where one can practice the giant stride technique for getting in the water.

From this deck, you can grab some rays and watch everyone in the quarry.

Sometimes I just drive after a dive to my regular watering hole for a beer and a take home supper. It is a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It was dive 95.

An Old Friend Drops By

Here is an old friend and mountain man that I used to hunt Grizz with back in my younger days. I wonder how he found me. Good to hear from you Jeremiah Bondo. I still have that 50 caliber rifle.

What If

Carley had a big puffy tail?

I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

A Year in Hot Dogs

My Review of the iPhone 5

One More Dive Trip Planned

Plans

This Will Be Fun

Special Times

Why Do I Do What I Do?

Sunday Funday

Happy Dance

Ass Whooping

How Can You Keep Phfrankie Busy?

I Can't Take It Anymore

I Want One

Carolina Tailgate Opener

Yard Work...or Garden as they say in England

Then and Now

Form and Function

My Life

Side Mount Scuba

I Will be Here Today

I was Ready...my Team Wasn't

The Day I Have Been Waiting For

3 things and a Shout Out

Our Stadium is Spared from Barry

Update from Charlotte

A New Chapter

My Thought on The President

Life Goes On

My Quarry Vacation

An Old Friend Drops By

What If

About Me

Archive

The man...wReggie