I liked matching a living live song up to something on my mind so much last time with the (non) global warming theme that I decided to do it again.
I am a Minnesotan. I bleed purple. I just happen to live in Wisconsin. That changes nothing.
There's this guy...named Brett Favre. He is an OK QB that has retired twice. (Al might argue that he is starting to look like Garth Brooks). Editor's note: The Orracle likes to imagine what Al might think.
Anyway, this clown, whom I have never liked cannot make up his mind. He wants to retire, he wants to play. He cries when he retires. He cries when he decides to come back. He needs therapy.
Commuting to the cities, I see so many Cheesehead Rubes (not to be mistaken for "The Rube") with the "G" license plates. I think they need a new plate for Packer fans with a tear on it next to a number 4. Honestly Brett, grow a pair and stop the sniveling.
So, for the crybaby Brett, here is Roy Orbison singing Crying. P.S., I looked for an old 80's one hit wonder song called CRY but could not find it because I do not know who sings it. Oh well, Orbison is the bomb.
Orracle and Family
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
FATE! It Wins Every Time!
In past posts, a story developed where a friend in the USMC from high school reached out to me. I talked about it in this post. Then a friend of his tried to find him and reached to me and I helped them get together as a friend of theirs was killed in Afghanistan. I posted about Buzz in this post.
Well, Parke was at the funeral in DC last week. His flight from DC to MSP was delayed by weather and he missed the last option to San Diego by 10 minutes.
After all of that storyline and because of this blog ultimately, things came together ended with a stranded Major Parke Paulson in MSP. How fitting that he get a chance to come out to New Richmond and stay a night catching up with me?!
It was great to see Parke (even though he is still ugly as sin). We looked at pictures of Jim's wake which despite the sad occasion, seemed to be a good celebration of Jim's life. We checked out 100's of pictures of his Iraq trips. It put some non-media pictures and stories with the war that have given me a different feel. I still don't think we should be in Iraq but I have a different perspective now. These guys (and gals) are doing good things for the Iraqi people and seem to enjoy making a difference.
The other good thing is that we realized that we are not getting any younger. We have to get the old crew together. 10-20 years is too long. I call out to Joel Kosman (said to be in Alaska), Don Ellis, Chris Schlagel and Dan Marquardsen. More Aitkinites from 89 are welcome! EMAIL me. Leave me a comment. Tell me where you are. We need a reuinion of our own. I don't care if it is in New Richmond, San Diego, Alaska or McGregor. It's time.
Well, Parke was at the funeral in DC last week. His flight from DC to MSP was delayed by weather and he missed the last option to San Diego by 10 minutes.
After all of that storyline and because of this blog ultimately, things came together ended with a stranded Major Parke Paulson in MSP. How fitting that he get a chance to come out to New Richmond and stay a night catching up with me?!
It was great to see Parke (even though he is still ugly as sin). We looked at pictures of Jim's wake which despite the sad occasion, seemed to be a good celebration of Jim's life. We checked out 100's of pictures of his Iraq trips. It put some non-media pictures and stories with the war that have given me a different feel. I still don't think we should be in Iraq but I have a different perspective now. These guys (and gals) are doing good things for the Iraqi people and seem to enjoy making a difference.
The other good thing is that we realized that we are not getting any younger. We have to get the old crew together. 10-20 years is too long. I call out to Joel Kosman (said to be in Alaska), Don Ellis, Chris Schlagel and Dan Marquardsen. More Aitkinites from 89 are welcome! EMAIL me. Leave me a comment. Tell me where you are. We need a reuinion of our own. I don't care if it is in New Richmond, San Diego, Alaska or McGregor. It's time.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Living Live Going Cold!!
Today, Newsweek (A Pillar of Journalism Excellence as stated by The Rube) released THE REPORT. Which one? The one that makes it official that global warming has caused the nasty floods, etc this summer.
Newsweek, just a couple of days ago (practically in "earth" time) reported widespread GLOBAL COOLING. That artical was published on April 28, 1975. 33 years ago. WOW! You can read that article by clicking HERE.
Hey ORRACLE - this is not a Living Live post! YES IT IS! In honor of the 1975 article, here is Foreigner with Cold as Ice LIVE! I will post the Newsweek article below the youtube box as well.
Over and out....the Brrrrrracle.
NEWSWEEK ARTICLE FULL:
There are ominous signs that the Earth’s weather patterns have begun to change dramatically and that these changes may portend a drastic decline in food production – with serious political implications for just about every nation on Earth. The drop in food output could begin quite soon, perhaps only 10 years from now. The regions destined to feel its impact are the great wheat-producing lands of Canada and the U.S.S.R. in the North, along with a number of marginally self-sufficient tropical areas – parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indochina and Indonesia – where the growing season is dependent upon the rains brought by the monsoon.
The evidence in support of these predictions has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it. In England, farmers have seen their growing season decline by about two weeks since 1950, with a resultant overall loss in grain production estimated at up to 100,000 tons annually. During the same time, the average temperature around the equator has risen by a fraction of a degree – a fraction that in some areas can mean drought and desolation. Last April, in the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded, 148 twisters killed more than 300 people and caused half a billion dollars’ worth of damage in 13 U.S. states.
To scientists, these seemingly disparate incidents represent the advance signs of fundamental changes in the world’s weather. The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the cooling trend, as well as over its specific impact on local weather conditions. But they are almost unanimous in the view that the trend will reduce agricultural productivity for the rest of the century. If the climatic change is as profound as some of the pessimists fear, the resulting famines could be catastrophic. “A major climatic change would force economic and social adjustments on a worldwide scale,” warns a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, “because the global patterns of food production and population that have evolved are implicitly dependent on the climate of the present century.”
A survey completed last year by Dr. Murray Mitchell of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals a drop of half a degree in average ground temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere between 1945 and 1968. According to George Kukla of Columbia University, satellite photos indicated a sudden, large increase in Northern Hemisphere snow cover in the winter of 1971-72. And a study released last month by two NOAA scientists notes that the amount of sunshine reaching the ground in the continental U.S. diminished by 1.3% between 1964 and 1972.
To the layman, the relatively small changes in temperature and sunshine can be highly misleading. Reid Bryson of the University of Wisconsin points out that the Earth’s average temperature during the great Ice Ages was only about seven degrees lower than during its warmest eras – and that the present decline has taken the planet about a sixth of the way toward the Ice Age average. Others regard the cooling as a reversion to the “little ice age” conditions that brought bitter winters to much of Europe and northern America between 1600 and 1900 – years when the Thames used to freeze so solidly that Londoners roasted oxen on the ice and when iceboats sailed the Hudson River almost as far south as New York City.
Just what causes the onset of major and minor ice ages remains a mystery. “Our knowledge of the mechanisms of climatic change is at least as fragmentary as our data,” concedes the National Academy of Sciences report. “Not only are the basic scientific questions largely unanswered, but in many cases we do not yet know enough to pose the key questions.”
Meteorologists think that they can forecast the short-term results of the return to the norm of the last century. They begin by noting the slight drop in overall temperature that produces large numbers of pressure centers in the upper atmosphere. These break up the smooth flow of westerly winds over temperate areas. The stagnant air produced in this way causes an increase in extremes of local weather such as droughts, floods, extended dry spells, long freezes, delayed monsoons and even local temperature increases – all of which have a direct impact on food supplies.
“The world’s food-producing system,” warns Dr. James D. McQuigg of NOAA’s Center for Climatic and Environmental Assessment, “is much more sensitive to the weather variable than it was even five years ago.” Furthermore, the growth of world population and creation of new national boundaries make it impossible for starving peoples to migrate from their devastated fields, as they did during past famines.
Climatologists are pessimistic that political leaders will take any positive action to compensate for the climatic change, or even to allay its effects. They concede that some of the more spectacular solutions proposed, such as melting the Arctic ice cap by covering it with black soot or diverting arctic rivers, might create problems far greater than those they solve. But the scientists see few signs that government leaders anywhere are even prepared to take the simple measures of stockpiling food or of introducing the variables of climatic uncertainty into economic projections of future food supplies. The longer the planners delay, the more difficult will they find it to cope with climatic change once the results become grim reality.
—PETER GWYNNE with bureau reports
Newsweek, just a couple of days ago (practically in "earth" time) reported widespread GLOBAL COOLING. That artical was published on April 28, 1975. 33 years ago. WOW! You can read that article by clicking HERE.
Hey ORRACLE - this is not a Living Live post! YES IT IS! In honor of the 1975 article, here is Foreigner with Cold as Ice LIVE! I will post the Newsweek article below the youtube box as well.
Over and out....the Brrrrrracle.
NEWSWEEK ARTICLE FULL:
There are ominous signs that the Earth’s weather patterns have begun to change dramatically and that these changes may portend a drastic decline in food production – with serious political implications for just about every nation on Earth. The drop in food output could begin quite soon, perhaps only 10 years from now. The regions destined to feel its impact are the great wheat-producing lands of Canada and the U.S.S.R. in the North, along with a number of marginally self-sufficient tropical areas – parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indochina and Indonesia – where the growing season is dependent upon the rains brought by the monsoon.
The evidence in support of these predictions has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it. In England, farmers have seen their growing season decline by about two weeks since 1950, with a resultant overall loss in grain production estimated at up to 100,000 tons annually. During the same time, the average temperature around the equator has risen by a fraction of a degree – a fraction that in some areas can mean drought and desolation. Last April, in the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded, 148 twisters killed more than 300 people and caused half a billion dollars’ worth of damage in 13 U.S. states.
To scientists, these seemingly disparate incidents represent the advance signs of fundamental changes in the world’s weather. The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the cooling trend, as well as over its specific impact on local weather conditions. But they are almost unanimous in the view that the trend will reduce agricultural productivity for the rest of the century. If the climatic change is as profound as some of the pessimists fear, the resulting famines could be catastrophic. “A major climatic change would force economic and social adjustments on a worldwide scale,” warns a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, “because the global patterns of food production and population that have evolved are implicitly dependent on the climate of the present century.”
A survey completed last year by Dr. Murray Mitchell of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals a drop of half a degree in average ground temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere between 1945 and 1968. According to George Kukla of Columbia University, satellite photos indicated a sudden, large increase in Northern Hemisphere snow cover in the winter of 1971-72. And a study released last month by two NOAA scientists notes that the amount of sunshine reaching the ground in the continental U.S. diminished by 1.3% between 1964 and 1972.
To the layman, the relatively small changes in temperature and sunshine can be highly misleading. Reid Bryson of the University of Wisconsin points out that the Earth’s average temperature during the great Ice Ages was only about seven degrees lower than during its warmest eras – and that the present decline has taken the planet about a sixth of the way toward the Ice Age average. Others regard the cooling as a reversion to the “little ice age” conditions that brought bitter winters to much of Europe and northern America between 1600 and 1900 – years when the Thames used to freeze so solidly that Londoners roasted oxen on the ice and when iceboats sailed the Hudson River almost as far south as New York City.
Just what causes the onset of major and minor ice ages remains a mystery. “Our knowledge of the mechanisms of climatic change is at least as fragmentary as our data,” concedes the National Academy of Sciences report. “Not only are the basic scientific questions largely unanswered, but in many cases we do not yet know enough to pose the key questions.”
Meteorologists think that they can forecast the short-term results of the return to the norm of the last century. They begin by noting the slight drop in overall temperature that produces large numbers of pressure centers in the upper atmosphere. These break up the smooth flow of westerly winds over temperate areas. The stagnant air produced in this way causes an increase in extremes of local weather such as droughts, floods, extended dry spells, long freezes, delayed monsoons and even local temperature increases – all of which have a direct impact on food supplies.
“The world’s food-producing system,” warns Dr. James D. McQuigg of NOAA’s Center for Climatic and Environmental Assessment, “is much more sensitive to the weather variable than it was even five years ago.” Furthermore, the growth of world population and creation of new national boundaries make it impossible for starving peoples to migrate from their devastated fields, as they did during past famines.
Climatologists are pessimistic that political leaders will take any positive action to compensate for the climatic change, or even to allay its effects. They concede that some of the more spectacular solutions proposed, such as melting the Arctic ice cap by covering it with black soot or diverting arctic rivers, might create problems far greater than those they solve. But the scientists see few signs that government leaders anywhere are even prepared to take the simple measures of stockpiling food or of introducing the variables of climatic uncertainty into economic projections of future food supplies. The longer the planners delay, the more difficult will they find it to cope with climatic change once the results become grim reality.
—PETER GWYNNE with bureau reports
Friday, June 20, 2008
Living Live! On DRUGS!
It is sad that I have had only one post since my last Living Live but face it, it is summer and I am a busy boy. Grandma is here this week from Seattle so I have been pretty occupied trying to work and still find time to visit with her.
Today's Living Live! takes us to one of my first concerts. My official first was the Del Fuegos, Georgia Sattelites and Tom Petty at the Met Center in Bloomington. Shortly after that, I wanted to see Huey Lewis. Who didn't? (Probably Al). Anyway - the Fore! tour was on and I bought tickets. This video is circa 1985 so very similar to what I saw then. I remembered Delbert McClinton opened for him. Amazing that he still has a career even though he was a nobody then and to many still is.
Here is Huey doing I Want A New Drug....BTW, is that Michael J Fox on Sax?
Today's Living Live! takes us to one of my first concerts. My official first was the Del Fuegos, Georgia Sattelites and Tom Petty at the Met Center in Bloomington. Shortly after that, I wanted to see Huey Lewis. Who didn't? (Probably Al). Anyway - the Fore! tour was on and I bought tickets. This video is circa 1985 so very similar to what I saw then. I remembered Delbert McClinton opened for him. Amazing that he still has a career even though he was a nobody then and to many still is.
Here is Huey doing I Want A New Drug....BTW, is that Michael J Fox on Sax?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Jottings...
So many things on my mind and not one of them worthy of their own post!!
NUMBER 1: Basketball. Finally KG gets a ring. He deserves it after all of the years in MN and how hard he played night after night. He is a class act, stays out of trouble and was good for our community here. He even thanked "'Sota" last night in his interview with Tafoya. That brings me to Kobe. He sucks. Anyone can get 30 points if they don't pass the ball and take 50 shots. He is nothing but a big crybaby. Good for him to taste total anihilation last night! The Celtics winning is just more proof that Kevin McHale should have been let go of years ago. Thinking about it more, Boston should praise Minnesota. They got Randy Moss (indirectly) and a great football team, David Ortiz (another rockstar we did not need) and a world series win and now KG. Add that to the gifts we've given Dallas (the Dallas Stars and 3 super bowls courtesy of The Jeff Diamond trade for Herschel Walker). If there was a hall of shame for bad trades, the main building should be named "The Minnesota Wing".
NUMBER 2: Grandma Jensen. We flew grandma in from Seattle. All I can say is that I hope I can remember half the life stories she remembers not only of herself but of every one of her 5 kids and their grandkids, etc. She is 87 and while she is moving a little slower, she she can remember stories. I should be recording them. Hindsight wins again.
NUMBER 3: Small victories. Life is better with them. I have been fighting a battle with a VP at work over a fundamental decision. I have won. It feels good but I always feel bad for having dragged that person's style and bad decisions in front of the world. After 8 years here and not always standing up against those that were making yet another mess, I am glad I did this time. I just hope too many work relationships were not completely ruined in the process.
That's it. Nothing big here. Just small news. But at least small news lets you know that I am still alive and kickin. Until next time.....
NUMBER 1: Basketball. Finally KG gets a ring. He deserves it after all of the years in MN and how hard he played night after night. He is a class act, stays out of trouble and was good for our community here. He even thanked "'Sota" last night in his interview with Tafoya. That brings me to Kobe. He sucks. Anyone can get 30 points if they don't pass the ball and take 50 shots. He is nothing but a big crybaby. Good for him to taste total anihilation last night! The Celtics winning is just more proof that Kevin McHale should have been let go of years ago. Thinking about it more, Boston should praise Minnesota. They got Randy Moss (indirectly) and a great football team, David Ortiz (another rockstar we did not need) and a world series win and now KG. Add that to the gifts we've given Dallas (the Dallas Stars and 3 super bowls courtesy of The Jeff Diamond trade for Herschel Walker). If there was a hall of shame for bad trades, the main building should be named "The Minnesota Wing".
NUMBER 2: Grandma Jensen. We flew grandma in from Seattle. All I can say is that I hope I can remember half the life stories she remembers not only of herself but of every one of her 5 kids and their grandkids, etc. She is 87 and while she is moving a little slower, she she can remember stories. I should be recording them. Hindsight wins again.
NUMBER 3: Small victories. Life is better with them. I have been fighting a battle with a VP at work over a fundamental decision. I have won. It feels good but I always feel bad for having dragged that person's style and bad decisions in front of the world. After 8 years here and not always standing up against those that were making yet another mess, I am glad I did this time. I just hope too many work relationships were not completely ruined in the process.
That's it. Nothing big here. Just small news. But at least small news lets you know that I am still alive and kickin. Until next time.....
Monday, June 9, 2008
Living Live!
Today's Living Live is a twist. Everyone knows my love of Garth Brooks. I have another side that loves a good cover. I would love to see a greatest covers collection come out some day. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are the ultimate cover band. In fact, their fame is predicated solely on covering other guys songs.
This recording is not very good but has them covering the greatest Garth song ever, Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) (even Al agrees with that).
This recording is not very good but has them covering the greatest Garth song ever, Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) (even Al agrees with that).
Thursday, June 5, 2008
This one time, at band camp....
Well, we are back from our week at band camp. Technically, not band camp but close enough. Jess, Jake and I played chapparone to the 103 middle schoolers of the New Richmond Middle School Marching Tigers on the 9 day journey. The itinerary looked like this:
Day 1: Depart NR, drive all night to Cleveland.
Day 2: Perform field show and march in 3 mile parade. Visit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Drive all night to Jacksonville, FL.
Day 3: Perform for Mandarin Middle School (1568 students) in Jacksonville, FL. Bring kids to Blizzard Beach where I am certain we left an oil slick. We all were starting to stink!
Day 4: Drive to St. Petersburg. Do a field show and perform again on the field for the Tampa Bay Rays. Awesome! Head back to Orlando to get to the Magic Kingdom. March in Spectromagic Parade for 55,000.
Day 5: Magic Kingdom all day with another parade, the daytime Share a Dream Come True with roughly 38,000 onlookers.
Day 6: Drive East to Kennedy Space Center. Perform field show and tour center. Go to Cocoa Beach for fun, sun and a BBQ.
Day 7: Load busses at 6:30 AM. Character breakfast at Animal Kingdom. Leave AK for EPCOT at noon. Stay remainder of day at EPCOT with the 1 mile+ parade around Showcase Lagoon. Approximate viewers was 45,000. Load busses at 11 and leave for Memphis.
Day 8: Memphis - with performance for Elvis and tour of Graceland. See Mud Island in the Mississippi River. Head to Interstate BBQ (Best in Memphis and has been on every food TV show) for BBQ and peach cobbler. YUM! Drive all night to Madison.
Day 9: Perform at Wisconny State Capitol in Madison and tour. Head for New Richmond
I have to say, despite the smelly people, 4 nights on busses and very little sleep, it was a fantastic trip. Here are 2 of my favorite photos. The first is a lucky chance that I saw Ashlie on the big screen at Tropicana Field as the jumbo screen was behind us. The other is the band at Kennedy Space Center. This was a once in a lifetime trip for many of the kids. It showed on their faces and I am so proud to have been a part of it. GREAT JOB New Richmond Tigers!!
Day 1: Depart NR, drive all night to Cleveland.
Day 2: Perform field show and march in 3 mile parade. Visit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Drive all night to Jacksonville, FL.
Day 3: Perform for Mandarin Middle School (1568 students) in Jacksonville, FL. Bring kids to Blizzard Beach where I am certain we left an oil slick. We all were starting to stink!
Day 4: Drive to St. Petersburg. Do a field show and perform again on the field for the Tampa Bay Rays. Awesome! Head back to Orlando to get to the Magic Kingdom. March in Spectromagic Parade for 55,000.
Day 5: Magic Kingdom all day with another parade, the daytime Share a Dream Come True with roughly 38,000 onlookers.
Day 6: Drive East to Kennedy Space Center. Perform field show and tour center. Go to Cocoa Beach for fun, sun and a BBQ.
Day 7: Load busses at 6:30 AM. Character breakfast at Animal Kingdom. Leave AK for EPCOT at noon. Stay remainder of day at EPCOT with the 1 mile+ parade around Showcase Lagoon. Approximate viewers was 45,000. Load busses at 11 and leave for Memphis.
Day 8: Memphis - with performance for Elvis and tour of Graceland. See Mud Island in the Mississippi River. Head to Interstate BBQ (Best in Memphis and has been on every food TV show) for BBQ and peach cobbler. YUM! Drive all night to Madison.
Day 9: Perform at Wisconny State Capitol in Madison and tour. Head for New Richmond
I have to say, despite the smelly people, 4 nights on busses and very little sleep, it was a fantastic trip. Here are 2 of my favorite photos. The first is a lucky chance that I saw Ashlie on the big screen at Tropicana Field as the jumbo screen was behind us. The other is the band at Kennedy Space Center. This was a once in a lifetime trip for many of the kids. It showed on their faces and I am so proud to have been a part of it. GREAT JOB New Richmond Tigers!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Living Live! Take 2!
Today's living live is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. I finally heard it live for the first time in April of 2007. Yes, that means it is not one of his mainstream "must play" songs.
My overall favorite will always be New York State of Mind which will undoubtedly get its day in the Living Live spotlight. As a piano player, NY State of Mind is great but not too hard to play. This piece is a different story and really shows Billy's depth of writing and playing ability. The Saint Paul show's video is also on YouTube but the Dallas bootleg is much clearer.
Presenting....the one and only Billy Joel performing Root Beer Rag!
My overall favorite will always be New York State of Mind which will undoubtedly get its day in the Living Live spotlight. As a piano player, NY State of Mind is great but not too hard to play. This piece is a different story and really shows Billy's depth of writing and playing ability. The Saint Paul show's video is also on YouTube but the Dallas bootleg is much clearer.
Presenting....the one and only Billy Joel performing Root Beer Rag!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sabrina Sucks!
How can it be that she wins our American Idol pool again. Is this 3 or 4 years consecutively? It is not like she had the first pick every year. Nor did she have any special insight - no matter what BS she gives you.
We pick when there are 20 or 24 players left (usually 24). The draft order is random. To actually score the winner is a guess at that point since the show is obviously rigged and every knows Chekezie was the best this year. OK, I'll conceed that maybe he was not #1 but....Carli was the best - but did they win? NOOOO! It came down to "Diapers" and "Swirly".
I guess since it was down to them and that made my $10 bill go to either The Rube or Sabrina, I'd have to pick her just on looks alone. Although, if Diapers would have won, we would not have had to endure the upcoming right-wing-conspiracy-its-the-liberals-fault crap that The Rube is about to spill all over us.
I don't see Sabs as being the type to gloat, but this might change her. I mean, she really is the undisputed AI Champ at LTCG. I think minimally, drinks on her are in order. Oh, and you might want to buy a lottery ticket.
We pick when there are 20 or 24 players left (usually 24). The draft order is random. To actually score the winner is a guess at that point since the show is obviously rigged and every knows Chekezie was the best this year. OK, I'll conceed that maybe he was not #1 but....Carli was the best - but did they win? NOOOO! It came down to "Diapers" and "Swirly".
I guess since it was down to them and that made my $10 bill go to either The Rube or Sabrina, I'd have to pick her just on looks alone. Although, if Diapers would have won, we would not have had to endure the upcoming right-wing-conspiracy-its-the-liberals-fault crap that The Rube is about to spill all over us.
I don't see Sabs as being the type to gloat, but this might change her. I mean, she really is the undisputed AI Champ at LTCG. I think minimally, drinks on her are in order. Oh, and you might want to buy a lottery ticket.
Monday, May 19, 2008
An Inconvenient Truth
Now if you thought I was going to waste good ink on that stupid movie on the myth of global warming, you are wrong. That makes me think of the 12 year old girl in the grocery store today with a "Stop global warming" T-shirt. Here's an idea....stop making your kids that cannot form an opinion on things from spreading stupid propaganda on things they don't understand.
deep breath....in through the nose, out through the mouth....
What I am writing, er, ranting about here is the apparent difficulty of checking IDs. Do people really hate to have their ID checked that badly? Do they throw tantrums because they had to prove they were not committing a fraudulent act?
I primarily use my check card visa which drafts from my primary checking account. On the back it says in big black letters:
deep breath....in through the nose, out through the mouth....
What I am writing, er, ranting about here is the apparent difficulty of checking IDs. Do people really hate to have their ID checked that badly? Do they throw tantrums because they had to prove they were not committing a fraudulent act?
I primarily use my check card visa which drafts from my primary checking account. On the back it says in big black letters:
SEE WI ID!!!
My success rate? About 18.296% and then it is usually the Dairy Queen or something that cost me $3.95. Go to Dick's Sporting Goods for shoes....$90, don't question the card or look for ID. Go to Best Buy EVER and you won't get it checked. They even insist it is illegal for them to check. Apparently (and this is from some 16 year old geek cashier), but apparently some tranny came in and they questioned for ID. The picture of him/her did not match the makeup job of him/her and therefore he/she sued. So, 1 tranny gets upset for completely deviating from their picture and now Best Buy will allow you to use anybody's card for anything - NO QUESTIONS ASKED! I've even signed "SHIT" and "CRAP" and "X" and they just laugh at me. The best part is that if you write a check, the MUST see ID. Apparently transvestites don't write checks.
I can tell you right now. Next time I buy something of any value at Best Buy, I'm using someone else's card.
Here's the bottom line. Theft is rampant. You can trust NOBODY! Hell, I just had $450 stolen from my house presumably by my dog walker while we were out of town. They of course deny it. Crap....I get sidetracked so easily.....
What I was saying is that theft is everywhere. A quick check of the ID and we are on our way. At least make the crooks a little timid before they use your card.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
LIVING LIVE! James Taylor and Joe Walsh - Steamroller
Back on Feburay 18th, I mentioned that I wanted to emulate (a.k.a. "copy") a them used by another blogger. He posts a theme called "Way Back Wednesday" which shows a YouTube video of some older song. I liked the idea but wanted to share live songs. I think I want to call this "Living Live" since no days of the week start with "L". Plus, to even begin to think I could do this with any sense of schedule is simply a joke.
Here is my first one. I know Al would assume Garth might be my first post but it is not. I am hitting 2 great musicians here. Joe Walsh and James Taylor. Steamroller live is a great song. I have one recording where James even scats a "MFer" in the end which is classic. Add in the great blues riffs by Joe and you have a hell of a live performance.
One more note to this song (and any others), I have a sincere love for the sound of a Hammond B-3 organ. When played right, it will instantly pulsate chills up and down my spine. There is a nice B riff at about 2 minutes into this song. I have always wanted to compile a CD with the best B-3 solos.
EDIT: When I added my tags, etc - I lost the inserted YOUTUBE view. Until I figure out how to do that on my own, here is a link to the video.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A Good Fish Story
Everyone likes a good fish story. Hell, I grew up on Mille Lacs Lake (Note to all you media types....note it is NOT LAKE Mille Lacs....it is Mille Lacs Lake....yes, that bugs me and now I feel just a little better about getting it off of my chest.)
Ahem....stack to my bory. (Capital Steps Improv Group reference there....sorry)
So this local guy, Tim Pawlenty (MN Gov Guy) hereafter known as T-Paw....tells a story about the big fishing opener on the radio.
He said, "I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here," the governor said before adding, "She loves football, she'll go to hockey games and, I jokingly say, 'Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me.'"
This just in. He's human. Who gives a rat's cahoony? I am not all that much of a T-Paw guy and really don't care if he gets the VeeP nod from McCain or not as I really do not care for McCain.
Why in this country do we have to make a big deal about people just being people?
Now at the risk of getting in my own personal trouble with the other half, I won't draw any parallels between my wife, her love of hockey and/or fishing or.....
Nope. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. Besides, the couch is cold!
Ahem....stack to my bory. (Capital Steps Improv Group reference there....sorry)
So this local guy, Tim Pawlenty (MN Gov Guy) hereafter known as T-Paw....tells a story about the big fishing opener on the radio.
He said, "I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here," the governor said before adding, "She loves football, she'll go to hockey games and, I jokingly say, 'Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me.'"
This just in. He's human. Who gives a rat's cahoony? I am not all that much of a T-Paw guy and really don't care if he gets the VeeP nod from McCain or not as I really do not care for McCain.
Why in this country do we have to make a big deal about people just being people?
Now at the risk of getting in my own personal trouble with the other half, I won't draw any parallels between my wife, her love of hockey and/or fishing or.....
Nope. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. Besides, the couch is cold!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
I Need The Powerball...
OK, I don't really need to win the Poweball, but tonight I was helping one of Robyn's exchange students with information on Chicago and New York since I have been to both for pleasure and business. She is from Brazil and her father is flying to Chicago to meet her at the end of May. Robyn was in Vegas with us and knows that I find good deals and like to research stuff like this so he had me email ideas to her.
Since I was in the travel planning mindset, I looked for some other ideas to save money on our cruise that I just booked for November. Primarily, airfare. We really wanted to cruise the Southern Caribbean so that means embarkation from San Juan, PR. Simply put, there are no good ways to get from MSP to SJU. NWA flies there but only from Detroit (DTW). Hmmm - what if I fly on NWA to Atlanta or DTW or Orlando and then catch a cheapo airline to SJU like Sprirt? Still, no good deals. The best is on NWA via DTW for $344. The catch is that even though our cruise is 11/30-12/7 (Sun-Sun), it is right after Thanksgiving so fares are crazy if I don't fly on Thanksgiving Day and return on Monday 12/8 (Happy Birthday to me...). I guess we need to start Turkey Day damage control soon. Cruise is just 206 days away. The neat thing of flying to PR on the 27th is that we'll have 2 solid days to explore more or PR than Jess and I did on the Destination Excellence trip there 2 years ago. I think on the 28th, we want to take the $2.50 ferry to Culebra and see Flamenco Beach. Saturday - either a drive somewhere remote on PR or go out snorkeling with the Salty Dog again.
OK, Orracle, you seem to have this figured out....what is the concern?
I'm getting to it....have a beer and calm your ass down.
I saw a link from the Spirit Airlines page offering the "free dining" at Disney (WDW). We did that plan back 2 years ago and it is great. This year, New Richmond does not go back to school until well into September so it would be a great time to take advantage of this deal. For those of you unaware, check this out...
Book your WDW vacation by June 22 for travel between 8/24 and 9/20 and receive their dining plan totally free. This is MORE food than you can eat and the choices are endless. Each night of your stay you get 1 snack, 1 counter service meal (includes entree, drink and dessert) and 1 table service meal per person. WDW has so many options including dinner shows and ethnic foods at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom that choosing is a challenge. Add in the free bus service to and from the airport and it is hard to beat a vacation like Disney. I priced 7 nights/8 days at a moderate resort for 2 adults, 1 Jr and 1 child with the unlimited park hopper, free dining and transports and it was only $2700. Pretty tough to beat that. Downgrade to a Value Resort and it would probably be around $2000.
I want to do both. Why can't I? Oh yeah, the 60 year old couple from Waconia won the 180 million. I don't need that much. 2 or 3 million will get me by for now. OK, gas is high...better make it 4.
Back to our cruise though....we are booked on Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas. 3100 passengers at double occupancy. Average cruise has around 3600 plus the 1200 crew. The ship features rock climbing, pools galore, in-line skating, ice skating, mini golf and great food. We are booked way up on deck 10 in the rear of the ship. Balcony cabin 1392. This guy has a great review and pics on his website and was next door in 1390. The view from the back should be extraordinary. FYI, the Jr. Suites next to us are available if you wanna book. We'd love the company!
Ports of call for this itinerary are:
Since I was in the travel planning mindset, I looked for some other ideas to save money on our cruise that I just booked for November. Primarily, airfare. We really wanted to cruise the Southern Caribbean so that means embarkation from San Juan, PR. Simply put, there are no good ways to get from MSP to SJU. NWA flies there but only from Detroit (DTW). Hmmm - what if I fly on NWA to Atlanta or DTW or Orlando and then catch a cheapo airline to SJU like Sprirt? Still, no good deals. The best is on NWA via DTW for $344. The catch is that even though our cruise is 11/30-12/7 (Sun-Sun), it is right after Thanksgiving so fares are crazy if I don't fly on Thanksgiving Day and return on Monday 12/8 (Happy Birthday to me...). I guess we need to start Turkey Day damage control soon. Cruise is just 206 days away. The neat thing of flying to PR on the 27th is that we'll have 2 solid days to explore more or PR than Jess and I did on the Destination Excellence trip there 2 years ago. I think on the 28th, we want to take the $2.50 ferry to Culebra and see Flamenco Beach. Saturday - either a drive somewhere remote on PR or go out snorkeling with the Salty Dog again.
OK, Orracle, you seem to have this figured out....what is the concern?
I'm getting to it....have a beer and calm your ass down.
I saw a link from the Spirit Airlines page offering the "free dining" at Disney (WDW). We did that plan back 2 years ago and it is great. This year, New Richmond does not go back to school until well into September so it would be a great time to take advantage of this deal. For those of you unaware, check this out...
Book your WDW vacation by June 22 for travel between 8/24 and 9/20 and receive their dining plan totally free. This is MORE food than you can eat and the choices are endless. Each night of your stay you get 1 snack, 1 counter service meal (includes entree, drink and dessert) and 1 table service meal per person. WDW has so many options including dinner shows and ethnic foods at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom that choosing is a challenge. Add in the free bus service to and from the airport and it is hard to beat a vacation like Disney. I priced 7 nights/8 days at a moderate resort for 2 adults, 1 Jr and 1 child with the unlimited park hopper, free dining and transports and it was only $2700. Pretty tough to beat that. Downgrade to a Value Resort and it would probably be around $2000.
I want to do both. Why can't I? Oh yeah, the 60 year old couple from Waconia won the 180 million. I don't need that much. 2 or 3 million will get me by for now. OK, gas is high...better make it 4.
Back to our cruise though....we are booked on Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas. 3100 passengers at double occupancy. Average cruise has around 3600 plus the 1200 crew. The ship features rock climbing, pools galore, in-line skating, ice skating, mini golf and great food. We are booked way up on deck 10 in the rear of the ship. Balcony cabin 1392. This guy has a great review and pics on his website and was next door in 1390. The view from the back should be extraordinary. FYI, the Jr. Suites next to us are available if you wanna book. We'd love the company!
Ports of call for this itinerary are:
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- Willemstad, Curacao (actually pronounced cha-ra-sa)
- St. Maarten (1/2 Dutch, 1/2 French)
- St. Thomas
So, if you can help out at all with my Disney Quest donations, let me know.
Catching Up
I had some annonymous comments that I was SURE came from The Rube. I accused him and he declined involvement. I really did not believe him. All along it was an old friend of mine from high school that I had lost contact with. Major Parke Paulson, USMC. I should have figured it out by the "setting your ankle on fire" comment. OK, I was drunk that night....those brain cells are dead.
Lastly (for now) an old Golden Nugget sign. This is one of the originals and was the sign in most of the old "Fremont Street Pics". It had the big gold chunk on it with 1905 which was not the start of the Nugget but rather the year Vegas became a city. There were 3 or 4 Nugget signs from the years in The Boneyard. Very cool!
Since the comments, we have exchanged some email and a phone call. How great it is to catch up with someone. For those of you that do not know, Parke is the reason I now know to ask where a wedding is before agreeing to be the Best Man. Our conversation on that went like this....
Parke: Will you be my best man?
Lyle: SURE - I'd be honored.
Parke: Great the wedding is in June....in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Lyle: Ra-what?
We were virtuously penniless at the time but made the 17 hour drive in 100 degree weather to the plains of Saskatchewan. All in all, it was a great time and as a gift, Parke gave me a baseball signed by every player and coach of the World Champion 1987 Minnesota Twins which I still cherish today.
So to Mr. Paulson, thanks for reaching out. You made my day! Now if we could just find Kosman, Marquardsen, Ellis and Schlagel, we'd be in business!
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Today, Eddy Arnold died. No, I am not a huge fan. Most people have heard "Cattle Call". Why do I post this useless information? Because my grandpa LOVED that song. Made me think of him today.
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Lastly, I promised some pics from The Boneyard...here are a few of my favorites.
The House of Lords Steakhouse was a Rat Pack hangout. If I could go back in time, seeing or better yet, hanging with the Rat Pack would be at the top of my list.
An old Lady Luck sign. Not just any sign though....this is the sign that Marisol Nichols (hottie) danced on in Vegas Vacation. The rails on the other side that you can see were added for her safety.
Lastly (for now) an old Golden Nugget sign. This is one of the originals and was the sign in most of the old "Fremont Street Pics". It had the big gold chunk on it with 1905 which was not the start of the Nugget but rather the year Vegas became a city. There were 3 or 4 Nugget signs from the years in The Boneyard. Very cool!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Hey Jude by New Richmond Middle School Jazz Band
I have been planning to buy some video software so I could extract some of Ashlie's band stuff. Here was my first shot at it going to YouTube and now posting to my blog. Ashlie has 2 nice solos here in Hey Jude.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Where the Hell is the Vegas Post?
People are waiting apparently.
I posted a trip report on tripadvisor.com but never made it over here.
Vegas was good. I am a little upset with myself for not doing a few of the "I'm alone" things I had planned. No, that does not include a hooker or happy ending.
I found that I did less this trip than any other. This was partly because I was the guy with the car and the guy that knows vegas. Still, it is hard to get so many people moved at the same time let alone agree on what they want to do. Face it, Vegas just is not for everyone. Having said that, we all had a good time despite some coordination issues.
Monday was a long day. With just 3-4 hours of sleep, I was up for 26+. Dinner was at Mr. Lucky's (Hard Rock) for either the $7.77 steak & shrimp or $9.99 AYCE prime rib. Prime was delicious! Thanks for buying supper, Dano!! Once I was on my own, I made it back to Terrible's and played video poker into the wee hours of the morning downing countless beers and bloody marys. Yum. Finally, dozing off at the poker machine, throwing away pairs from time to time, I decided sleep must not be delayed any longer!
Tuesday was wedding day. Shuttle service began before noon. Lindsay and Kelsey were slow. There was some excuse in play but I don't remember what it was. Needless to say, we were late for the shuttle to the wedding. Wedding was nice. Typical, 10 minute Vegas wedding. Dinner at Dan Marino's. Good ribs - not as good as Ellis Island though. Back to Terrible's, stayed up way too late again.
Wednesday - up way too early to drive out to Mesquite. Dan has relatives out there so made the ~90 mile trip to there. Casinos were just average. Scenery was neat, especially at the golf courses. I will post pics of them tomorrow from my laptop. Back to LV and dropping Robyn and Cindy off at the airport. Dan and Cindy and I went to EI for free drinks and dinner. Rib place was closed for the night so we ate in the dining room. Dan had shrimp, I had the $6.95 steak and Cindy had breakfast. Service sucked but food was good. With the coupon, total bill was around $13.00. Cindy LOVED the karaoke bar. Always voted best in LV. I think she said it best...."what a great little dive". Exactly. Did I mention how good their wheat beer is?
Thursday - finally slept in. Waited at Terrible's for my host to comp my rooms. Choked down Terrible's buffet. HIGHLIGHT of my trip....went downtown for the Boneyard Tour. This is the museum that is by appointment only and has the old Vegas signs awaiting restoration. VERY VERY VERY COOL! Best $15 I spent in Vegas. Great pics...I'll post some tomorrow.
Headed to The Orleans with 2 drunk neices, drunk Dano and Cindy. Instead of using the child care, we used three 2-4-1 coupons for their buffet and let the girls soak up some of the booze since we had to fly out that night. Cindy treated us all to tickets to go see Terry Fator. Look him up on YouTube if you don't know who he is. Very talented ventrilloquist that sings impressions...but through his dummies. Unbelieveable show. From there, straight to the airport. Nice first class upgrade for the redeye. Flight felt like 10 minutes I slept so hard.
So, I missed the Atomic Museum & Pinball Museum. 2 new casinos away from the strip I wanted to visit too. Oh well. Incentive to go back. Vegas needs me. Per this article by VegasRex, Vegas is hurting. I like his thoughts and analogies. Vegas is not dying, but the strip is killing itself. The first call I got from Dan and family was, "Come pick us up and take us where the beer is cheaper. We cannot afford $7.50 here at Mandalay Bay anymore!". Nuff said. Sinatra would roll over is his grave if he heard $7.50 for a beer on the strip. Are they making this stuff from crude oil now?
I had a good time with Cindy and Dan but more than that and it was a few too many to keep everyone happy. Eventually someone complained or just sat there waiting for others. I think that is a lesson learned. Even though my Mancation was fun and I was free to do what I wanted, I think I'll just go back to hitting that city with Jess. My odds are better there.
I posted a trip report on tripadvisor.com but never made it over here.
Vegas was good. I am a little upset with myself for not doing a few of the "I'm alone" things I had planned. No, that does not include a hooker or happy ending.
I found that I did less this trip than any other. This was partly because I was the guy with the car and the guy that knows vegas. Still, it is hard to get so many people moved at the same time let alone agree on what they want to do. Face it, Vegas just is not for everyone. Having said that, we all had a good time despite some coordination issues.
Monday was a long day. With just 3-4 hours of sleep, I was up for 26+. Dinner was at Mr. Lucky's (Hard Rock) for either the $7.77 steak & shrimp or $9.99 AYCE prime rib. Prime was delicious! Thanks for buying supper, Dano!! Once I was on my own, I made it back to Terrible's and played video poker into the wee hours of the morning downing countless beers and bloody marys. Yum. Finally, dozing off at the poker machine, throwing away pairs from time to time, I decided sleep must not be delayed any longer!
Tuesday was wedding day. Shuttle service began before noon. Lindsay and Kelsey were slow. There was some excuse in play but I don't remember what it was. Needless to say, we were late for the shuttle to the wedding. Wedding was nice. Typical, 10 minute Vegas wedding. Dinner at Dan Marino's. Good ribs - not as good as Ellis Island though. Back to Terrible's, stayed up way too late again.
Wednesday - up way too early to drive out to Mesquite. Dan has relatives out there so made the ~90 mile trip to there. Casinos were just average. Scenery was neat, especially at the golf courses. I will post pics of them tomorrow from my laptop. Back to LV and dropping Robyn and Cindy off at the airport. Dan and Cindy and I went to EI for free drinks and dinner. Rib place was closed for the night so we ate in the dining room. Dan had shrimp, I had the $6.95 steak and Cindy had breakfast. Service sucked but food was good. With the coupon, total bill was around $13.00. Cindy LOVED the karaoke bar. Always voted best in LV. I think she said it best...."what a great little dive". Exactly. Did I mention how good their wheat beer is?
Thursday - finally slept in. Waited at Terrible's for my host to comp my rooms. Choked down Terrible's buffet. HIGHLIGHT of my trip....went downtown for the Boneyard Tour. This is the museum that is by appointment only and has the old Vegas signs awaiting restoration. VERY VERY VERY COOL! Best $15 I spent in Vegas. Great pics...I'll post some tomorrow.
Headed to The Orleans with 2 drunk neices, drunk Dano and Cindy. Instead of using the child care, we used three 2-4-1 coupons for their buffet and let the girls soak up some of the booze since we had to fly out that night. Cindy treated us all to tickets to go see Terry Fator. Look him up on YouTube if you don't know who he is. Very talented ventrilloquist that sings impressions...but through his dummies. Unbelieveable show. From there, straight to the airport. Nice first class upgrade for the redeye. Flight felt like 10 minutes I slept so hard.
So, I missed the Atomic Museum & Pinball Museum. 2 new casinos away from the strip I wanted to visit too. Oh well. Incentive to go back. Vegas needs me. Per this article by VegasRex, Vegas is hurting. I like his thoughts and analogies. Vegas is not dying, but the strip is killing itself. The first call I got from Dan and family was, "Come pick us up and take us where the beer is cheaper. We cannot afford $7.50 here at Mandalay Bay anymore!". Nuff said. Sinatra would roll over is his grave if he heard $7.50 for a beer on the strip. Are they making this stuff from crude oil now?
I had a good time with Cindy and Dan but more than that and it was a few too many to keep everyone happy. Eventually someone complained or just sat there waiting for others. I think that is a lesson learned. Even though my Mancation was fun and I was free to do what I wanted, I think I'll just go back to hitting that city with Jess. My odds are better there.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Bush is Bush-League
Headline today.
Oil hits record high as dollar hits record low.
$115 a barrel.
Stupid ass bush league, texas tea money making, loser of a president. At one point, I felt NONE of the presidential canidates were any good. Now, I realize that we cannot do any worse.
Yesterday Bush said of the Pope's visit:
"On his visit to America, the Pope will find that we are a country of prayer."
No shit Dick Tracy. We pray because our country is folding underneath us because of the single worst loser of a no-brained, facsimile of a president this country has ever had.
That's all I have to say about that.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Delta-NWA
In Minnesota, this IS the news today. Delta and NWA are going to merge assuming the DOJ investigation which is estimated to take 6-8 months finds it to not be a monopoly. That makes me wonder how THIS could be approved but the Sirius/XM merger has been waiting for more than a year. We'll get to that on another day I suppose.
Maybe the hard times for NWA will finally be over. This means no more need for baggage porters to panhandle everyone they service.
Ah, you say. This is not about the merger. This is about a personal issue The Orracle has with the Panhandlers - oops I mean Porters.
Right you are.
I was sure I had blogged about this in the past but could not find any evidence of it.
Let me set the story right. I travel quite a bit. When I am forced to check a bag, I use the outside porters to do so. I always tip them a couple of bucks. But man, if you do not have those greenbacks in your hand, they start to hint. OK, they don't hint. They come right out and tell you.
"This is a tipping service" I have even heard them grumble out loud when they do not get a tip... "You think we stand our here for nothing?"
Do waitresses come to your table and as they take your order remind you of the tip they expect? NO!
Like I said, I always tip them. When I get panhandled for the tip, it really turns me off. I imagine in my head that a no-tip service will reroute my bags somewhere else. I never give the tip until my bag is on the belt and out of their reach though.
Let's look at the NWA porters at MSP specifically. Since this is a hub (at least for now), they have a belt behind them that they drop the bag on. This is NO different than the ladies inside at the counters which do not beg for money nor do they expect it. They put the sticky tag on the bag and drop it on the conveyor belt. If these guys had to put the bags on a cart and haul them inside like at some of the airports with a smaller NWA presence - then the tip is GREATLY deserved. Simply doing the same service as the people inside - not so much. But I still tip them.
Maybe with the merger, these poor souls standing under heat lamps will get the compensation they need to do their job such that they don't feel the need to panhandle me.
Maybe the hard times for NWA will finally be over. This means no more need for baggage porters to panhandle everyone they service.
Ah, you say. This is not about the merger. This is about a personal issue The Orracle has with the Panhandlers - oops I mean Porters.
Right you are.
I was sure I had blogged about this in the past but could not find any evidence of it.
Let me set the story right. I travel quite a bit. When I am forced to check a bag, I use the outside porters to do so. I always tip them a couple of bucks. But man, if you do not have those greenbacks in your hand, they start to hint. OK, they don't hint. They come right out and tell you.
"This is a tipping service" I have even heard them grumble out loud when they do not get a tip... "You think we stand our here for nothing?"
Do waitresses come to your table and as they take your order remind you of the tip they expect? NO!
Like I said, I always tip them. When I get panhandled for the tip, it really turns me off. I imagine in my head that a no-tip service will reroute my bags somewhere else. I never give the tip until my bag is on the belt and out of their reach though.
Let's look at the NWA porters at MSP specifically. Since this is a hub (at least for now), they have a belt behind them that they drop the bag on. This is NO different than the ladies inside at the counters which do not beg for money nor do they expect it. They put the sticky tag on the bag and drop it on the conveyor belt. If these guys had to put the bags on a cart and haul them inside like at some of the airports with a smaller NWA presence - then the tip is GREATLY deserved. Simply doing the same service as the people inside - not so much. But I still tip them.
Maybe with the merger, these poor souls standing under heat lamps will get the compensation they need to do their job such that they don't feel the need to panhandle me.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
I'm In A Funk!
Hey everyone,
I don't know what my problem is but I have been in a funk. That translates to not being a nice guy at home sometimes. Not wanting to blog. Not wanting to do much of anything. There must be a reason. It could be this never-ending jackass version of winter or spring. It might be that I am a little short on ca$hola. Let's look at them individually...
WEATHER: It needs to warm up. Plain and simple. I feel like a fat (OK, yes I know that I am) but I feel more lazy than ever. I cannot get motivated to do anything because of the weather. Jess hints that she worries about depression. If I am depressed (don't think I am), I think some weather above 35 and no more snow will help.
CASH FLOW: It's one of those things. Timing. Everything due at once. Taxes ($1800 owed to Federal) and the fact that I never sent my state taxes which have a $1300 refund to help offset the $1800. That is pissing me off big time and I am the only one to blame. Then, the housepayment is due. I guess that is automatic - but what if I could skip one? (more on that later). As you may know, I am headed to Vegas on the 21st. I am very happy about that and it could help my funk about the weather. BUT - Vegas needs cash. DAMN!
The stupid part is that in May, I have just the opposite situation. See this: In May, we have 3 paydays. In May, I will probably get the "Stimulus" check (is that like a "happy ending"?) and also in May, I have no house payment. WTF? Yep - you heard right. I called the mortgage company because I am getting concerned about my ARM coming due next January and my 5.5% interest rate going buh-bye. I said that I might have a hard time making a higher payment (which is not totally true). But with the mortgage crisis, they felt like helping and I received a letter saying that they are restructuring the note to lock in at the 5.5% for the duration of the loan. Say what? In that process, I have no May payment. 3 checks. No house payment. Gov't stimulus check. Holy....need to start planning a vacation or something.
So....May will bring the cash and weather I need in April. Figures.
Oh well, I think I have it figured out and I will still make my obligations and have some money to spend in Vegas. Maybe I can turn over a new leaf and do something besides sit on my ass on the couch too.
See now. Don't you feel better?
I don't know what my problem is but I have been in a funk. That translates to not being a nice guy at home sometimes. Not wanting to blog. Not wanting to do much of anything. There must be a reason. It could be this never-ending jackass version of winter or spring. It might be that I am a little short on ca$hola. Let's look at them individually...
WEATHER: It needs to warm up. Plain and simple. I feel like a fat (OK, yes I know that I am) but I feel more lazy than ever. I cannot get motivated to do anything because of the weather. Jess hints that she worries about depression. If I am depressed (don't think I am), I think some weather above 35 and no more snow will help.
CASH FLOW: It's one of those things. Timing. Everything due at once. Taxes ($1800 owed to Federal) and the fact that I never sent my state taxes which have a $1300 refund to help offset the $1800. That is pissing me off big time and I am the only one to blame. Then, the housepayment is due. I guess that is automatic - but what if I could skip one? (more on that later). As you may know, I am headed to Vegas on the 21st. I am very happy about that and it could help my funk about the weather. BUT - Vegas needs cash. DAMN!
The stupid part is that in May, I have just the opposite situation. See this: In May, we have 3 paydays. In May, I will probably get the "Stimulus" check (is that like a "happy ending"?) and also in May, I have no house payment. WTF? Yep - you heard right. I called the mortgage company because I am getting concerned about my ARM coming due next January and my 5.5% interest rate going buh-bye. I said that I might have a hard time making a higher payment (which is not totally true). But with the mortgage crisis, they felt like helping and I received a letter saying that they are restructuring the note to lock in at the 5.5% for the duration of the loan. Say what? In that process, I have no May payment. 3 checks. No house payment. Gov't stimulus check. Holy....need to start planning a vacation or something.
So....May will bring the cash and weather I need in April. Figures.
Oh well, I think I have it figured out and I will still make my obligations and have some money to spend in Vegas. Maybe I can turn over a new leaf and do something besides sit on my ass on the couch too.
See now. Don't you feel better?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Who is the Rookie?
Clearly, someone in Minnesota (or Wisconsin) is a rookie. An amature. A nubile being to the winter rules.
YOU DON'T TAKE THE FRIGGIN SCRAPER AND BRUSH OUT OF THE CAR UNTIL JUNE!
Someone did and now we have 8" of frozen slop to deal with. Way to go.
For those of you keeping score on the greenhouse gas effect. On this day, the record low in MN was in 1975 with 9 degrees while the record high was in 1882 (82 degrees). 10 years ago, it was around 75 when the massive F4 twister hit St. Peter and Comfrey. Today, it is blustery and snowy as hell.
Looks like weather changes. Up-Down-Up-Down....trends can be drawn but are just trends until the trend changes.
Get over it people. Global warming is a joke.
ONTO SOME OTHER MORE CHEERFUL TOPICS
I have been away from the blog for a while. No excuses. Just have not had things in my craw to jump on about. A few have come up and I will get to them this week along with my thoughts on the movie "21". Speaking of gambling, I have crossed 2 blogs about Vegas. Yes, I am in full Vegas planning mode trying to soak up all I can prior to my 4/21 solo venture to Vegas. That reminds me....I should ask Al if he wants to come to town and hang out. I promise I won't get you drunk old buddy. Now that his local "camp director" has met me in Idaho this summer, she'll understand and completely trust us for a few days of guy fun in a somber, boring town like Vegas won't she?
The first blog is a local Vegas resident. A self proclaimed professional gambler. He plays mostly video poker and blackjack. Interesting watching his posts and his swings of money. I don't think I could do it. Vegas Gambler is found here.
The other guy's blog was found as a result of Vegas Gambler. This is Vegas Rex and his site comes complete with pics, videos and a forum to chat about Vegas. Vegas Rex's site is right here. Pay it a visit!
See you all soon! Happy April Fool's Day!
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