Heh.
M&G
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Waiting for the FIOS Guy
I had and appointment.
It was a lovely window between 7am and 9am (Pacific Time).
I was ready. Up, coffeed, dressed. You know, ready.
As of right now, no one has arrived.
I've called verizon twice, and been told
1. The tech picked up the ticket at 8:20 PT
2. We called him, and he'll be there within the next half hour (this was about 37 minutes ago now).
I am thinking that this FIOS TV stuff needs some work.
M&G
It was a lovely window between 7am and 9am (Pacific Time).
I was ready. Up, coffeed, dressed. You know, ready.
As of right now, no one has arrived.
I've called verizon twice, and been told
1. The tech picked up the ticket at 8:20 PT
2. We called him, and he'll be there within the next half hour (this was about 37 minutes ago now).
I am thinking that this FIOS TV stuff needs some work.
M&G
Monday, September 15, 2008
How Do Wii Fit?
For those of you that may have been stuck in a cave somewhere, there is a "game"(?) out for the Wii Game Console called Wii Fit.
As with most other things Wii, it's pretty darn amazing.
Truth be told, I've had this particular addition to my Wii library for a couple of months, and it's just this very morning that I unpacked it.
I know, it's not gonna do anything for me in the box (in the cabinet, in the living room...hidden away....).
Point is, I finally got it out and set it up. My main motivation for this is that I've spent real money (cash americana, were) in hiring a personal trainer. I see her twice a week for a marvelously satisfying hour of nearly pure torture. It's a strange phenomenon. I don't like it one bit - although I do like the social part of it, as it's me and Goofy with the trainer together - but other than that, I'm a whiny baby head. Seriously a big, big, baby. I wanna work out, but part of what I am getting with a trainer is the ability to bitch about to someone that doesn't care one damn bit. I confessed my bitching/whining prior to starting and was assured she'd heard worse - even after the first two sessions. I'm not feeling good about being a big baby, but I am feeling good about actually finishing a workout planned by someone that spends nights thinking of ways to specifically torture me. I think that she is trying to make me the biggest whiner...hahaha. But seriously, she does.
Part of her evil plan is to send me email saying things like: "Hey, don't forget our appointment tomorrow, and be SURE todo at least 30 minutes of cardio today". Sweet girl, Jill...really. So, because I really am trying to do things for myself that improve my health (and ability to dive more/longer), today, among other things, I did the required 30 minutes of cardio. Sweating like a waterfall (that's a good sign, right?), and no one to complain to, I did it and so there! I ended up trying the yogo and strength training and balance too...did an hour total.
I learned a few things.
I can hula hoop pretty well - very surprising, since I never could as a kid. I can also catch hoops thrown at me and continue twirling them all at once. I am a hula hooping prodigy. It's fun, because the friends that have put their WiiMe on my Wii are the ones throwing them at me...I wonder what that means, but I digress...
I was able to improve my ability in step and I actually jogged (OMG! I can't believe it either). I found my little leader friend a bit annoying, as I couldn't pass and had to jog at the correct pace, when generally, I wanna get that stuff over with as fast as possible. I endured, though, and felt better after I was finished. :)
I also learned that I have a decent center of balance in yoga and strength training, although in the balance "games", I have absolutely no balance. This is not surprising to me or anyone that knows me. I was surprised by the fact that I do have any balance at all, but I digress...I did not do this pose yet (see below regarding my "balance" status...LOL).
In the soccer exercise I get kicked in the head by shoes, panda heads, other stuff, but I can't hit the damn soccer ball with any predictability. This too, is pretty true to life. I'm not exactly sure why Panda heads are thrown my way, but I'm supposed to dodge them better than I do. My little WiiMe hangs its head in shame and frustration. I also cannot ski particularly well through slalom gates - I did see improvement, but still have a long way to go.
I did best in the ski jump - at least on the times that I didn't crash off the end of the ramp and turn into a very impressive rolling ball of snow and skis! Truly a sight to behold...LOL. Almost worth the crash, actually...heh.
In the end, though, the Wii Fit did it's assessment of my prowess in the balance exercises. It declared me
UNBALANCED!
ROTFLOL. I don't disagree, but it made me laugh out loud - something I generally never do while exercising.
Leave it to Nintendo...
M&G
As with most other things Wii, it's pretty darn amazing.
Truth be told, I've had this particular addition to my Wii library for a couple of months, and it's just this very morning that I unpacked it.
I know, it's not gonna do anything for me in the box (in the cabinet, in the living room...hidden away....).
Point is, I finally got it out and set it up. My main motivation for this is that I've spent real money (cash americana, were) in hiring a personal trainer. I see her twice a week for a marvelously satisfying hour of nearly pure torture. It's a strange phenomenon. I don't like it one bit - although I do like the social part of it, as it's me and Goofy with the trainer together - but other than that, I'm a whiny baby head. Seriously a big, big, baby. I wanna work out, but part of what I am getting with a trainer is the ability to bitch about to someone that doesn't care one damn bit. I confessed my bitching/whining prior to starting and was assured she'd heard worse - even after the first two sessions. I'm not feeling good about being a big baby, but I am feeling good about actually finishing a workout planned by someone that spends nights thinking of ways to specifically torture me. I think that she is trying to make me the biggest whiner...hahaha. But seriously, she does.
Part of her evil plan is to send me email saying things like: "Hey, don't forget our appointment tomorrow, and be SURE todo at least 30 minutes of cardio today". Sweet girl, Jill...really. So, because I really am trying to do things for myself that improve my health (and ability to dive more/longer), today, among other things, I did the required 30 minutes of cardio. Sweating like a waterfall (that's a good sign, right?), and no one to complain to, I did it and so there! I ended up trying the yogo and strength training and balance too...did an hour total.
I learned a few things.
I can hula hoop pretty well - very surprising, since I never could as a kid. I can also catch hoops thrown at me and continue twirling them all at once. I am a hula hooping prodigy. It's fun, because the friends that have put their WiiMe on my Wii are the ones throwing them at me...I wonder what that means, but I digress...
I was able to improve my ability in step and I actually jogged (OMG! I can't believe it either). I found my little leader friend a bit annoying, as I couldn't pass and had to jog at the correct pace, when generally, I wanna get that stuff over with as fast as possible. I endured, though, and felt better after I was finished. :)
I also learned that I have a decent center of balance in yoga and strength training, although in the balance "games", I have absolutely no balance. This is not surprising to me or anyone that knows me. I was surprised by the fact that I do have any balance at all, but I digress...I did not do this pose yet (see below regarding my "balance" status...LOL).
In the soccer exercise I get kicked in the head by shoes, panda heads, other stuff, but I can't hit the damn soccer ball with any predictability. This too, is pretty true to life. I'm not exactly sure why Panda heads are thrown my way, but I'm supposed to dodge them better than I do. My little WiiMe hangs its head in shame and frustration. I also cannot ski particularly well through slalom gates - I did see improvement, but still have a long way to go.
I did best in the ski jump - at least on the times that I didn't crash off the end of the ramp and turn into a very impressive rolling ball of snow and skis! Truly a sight to behold...LOL. Almost worth the crash, actually...heh.
In the end, though, the Wii Fit did it's assessment of my prowess in the balance exercises. It declared me
UNBALANCED!
ROTFLOL. I don't disagree, but it made me laugh out loud - something I generally never do while exercising.
Leave it to Nintendo...
M&G
Thursday, September 11, 2008
They Just Keep Growing...and Growing and GROWING
It's been a little while since I blogged about our little Porkchop.
He is getting so big! Definitely a testament to his mother; a poster boy for a thriving baby.
<---------------------------------------------------------
Here he is on his first day...July 4th. He's a few hours old and nearly 9 pounds of bouncing baby boy. His little shoulders don't even extend beyond the liner and his head doesn't come near the label.
------------------------------------------------->
This is the same little guy at about 10 weeks.
He's nearly 15 pounds now. And you can see by the difference in the pictures - with his carseat as a measurable background - that he's growing like a weed! He's already being mistaken for a much older baby...growing like a weed, and taking over our hearts.
Serously...Porkchop is a happy little guy.
He smiles now...it's something to see. :)
And, we are so totally in love...
M&G
He is getting so big! Definitely a testament to his mother; a poster boy for a thriving baby.
<---------------------------------------------------------
Here he is on his first day...July 4th. He's a few hours old and nearly 9 pounds of bouncing baby boy. His little shoulders don't even extend beyond the liner and his head doesn't come near the label.
------------------------------------------------->
This is the same little guy at about 10 weeks.
He's nearly 15 pounds now. And you can see by the difference in the pictures - with his carseat as a measurable background - that he's growing like a weed! He's already being mistaken for a much older baby...growing like a weed, and taking over our hearts.
Serously...Porkchop is a happy little guy.
He smiles now...it's something to see. :)
And, we are so totally in love...
M&G
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
You Ever Wonder????....
What the hell are we thinking when we give government our money to spend?
I realize, intellectually, that some central group needs to be "in charge" of projects and things that benefit the masses. Even though I know that my road would be way better than yours, it doesn't make sense that we all build our own little parts of the whole - some jerk would just let their part of the road go to seed, and then we'd all end up with bent wheels.
But what the hell were we thinking when we gave our MONEY to some elected and appointed "officials" that have their own agendas.
There is NEVER enough money to do things right, but there is ALWAYS enough money to do things over.
My case in point is the GREAT SEATTLE TOILET SCANDAL OF 2004 - 2008.
These FIVE little gems cost the city one million dollars ($1,000,000) EACH! And that's just the procurement cost. It doesn't take into account the installation and maintenance of these public potties...not to mention their removal and the restoration of the public sites that they were installed in.
Who would have thought that a locking room in the middle of the poorest (and sadly, higher crime) areas in the city would ever be used for illicit activity? OMG! Drug deals? Prostitution? Surely, these down-trodden citizens would celebrate the generosity of our city fathers! I cannot fathom it!
Others did though.
And in what is increasingly becoming the norm, these toilets that were put there for altruistic (and sanitary/health) reasons, were abused and broken and generally destroyed by the population they were supposed to "serve". These toilets cleaned themselves too...awesome - unless you got caught inside during a cleaning I guess. But instead, they vandalized and broke and plugged it all up. Made filthy messes beyond the ability of said RoboPotties to clean on their own. Although I doubt it was the prostitutes...i mean, who wants to work in a toilet? uhmmmm... I mean a filthy toilet? whatever...
The powers that be decided that their little experiment in treating the homeless and small bladdered people of Seattle should come to an end - especially when maintenance costs FAR exceeded the expectations of those same PTB's. So, they decided to put them up for auction on eBay. Starting bid was $89K per toilet (a seriously good deal they thought, considering they were into them for nearly $2M each at this point). They photographed and listed all the beauty and luxury of RoboPotty[ they sang it's praises. They posted their auction and sat back with excitement. Surely, someone would take advantage of such a fine deal and bail them out of this mess with a little bit of face saving.
They had NOT ONE BID.
I KNOW! I know...you are SHOCKED, as am I.
They then decided to relist them with no minimum bid. GUESS WHAT?! At that price, they had some takers. Over 100 folks bid for a chance at one of those fine automated toilets. One guy won them all...and paid (sit down now, this is astonishing).
$12,000 for the five!
Wooeee, Greg! Them's real cash! American dollars! Or maybe PalPal dollars in which case, there's a fee (oh, and from eBay too). I imagine they netted less than $10K for the lot...
Hell, I can't even go on, I'm depressing myself...
And we wonder why we have potholes the size of vdub bugs (HEY! now there's a use for those toilets...just use them to plug up the holes! )
I am wondering if Canada has as generous property laws as we do...it's getting damn scary in these here parts...
M&G
I realize, intellectually, that some central group needs to be "in charge" of projects and things that benefit the masses. Even though I know that my road would be way better than yours, it doesn't make sense that we all build our own little parts of the whole - some jerk would just let their part of the road go to seed, and then we'd all end up with bent wheels.
But what the hell were we thinking when we gave our MONEY to some elected and appointed "officials" that have their own agendas.
There is NEVER enough money to do things right, but there is ALWAYS enough money to do things over.
My case in point is the GREAT SEATTLE TOILET SCANDAL OF 2004 - 2008.
These FIVE little gems cost the city one million dollars ($1,000,000) EACH! And that's just the procurement cost. It doesn't take into account the installation and maintenance of these public potties...not to mention their removal and the restoration of the public sites that they were installed in.
Who would have thought that a locking room in the middle of the poorest (and sadly, higher crime) areas in the city would ever be used for illicit activity? OMG! Drug deals? Prostitution? Surely, these down-trodden citizens would celebrate the generosity of our city fathers! I cannot fathom it!
Others did though.
And in what is increasingly becoming the norm, these toilets that were put there for altruistic (and sanitary/health) reasons, were abused and broken and generally destroyed by the population they were supposed to "serve". These toilets cleaned themselves too...awesome - unless you got caught inside during a cleaning I guess. But instead, they vandalized and broke and plugged it all up. Made filthy messes beyond the ability of said RoboPotties to clean on their own. Although I doubt it was the prostitutes...i mean, who wants to work in a toilet? uhmmmm... I mean a filthy toilet? whatever...
The powers that be decided that their little experiment in treating the homeless and small bladdered people of Seattle should come to an end - especially when maintenance costs FAR exceeded the expectations of those same PTB's. So, they decided to put them up for auction on eBay. Starting bid was $89K per toilet (a seriously good deal they thought, considering they were into them for nearly $2M each at this point). They photographed and listed all the beauty and luxury of RoboPotty[ they sang it's praises. They posted their auction and sat back with excitement. Surely, someone would take advantage of such a fine deal and bail them out of this mess with a little bit of face saving.
They had NOT ONE BID.
I KNOW! I know...you are SHOCKED, as am I.
They then decided to relist them with no minimum bid. GUESS WHAT?! At that price, they had some takers. Over 100 folks bid for a chance at one of those fine automated toilets. One guy won them all...and paid (sit down now, this is astonishing).
$12,000 for the five!
Wooeee, Greg! Them's real cash! American dollars! Or maybe PalPal dollars in which case, there's a fee (oh, and from eBay too). I imagine they netted less than $10K for the lot...
Hell, I can't even go on, I'm depressing myself...
And we wonder why we have potholes the size of vdub bugs (HEY! now there's a use for those toilets...just use them to plug up the holes! )
I am wondering if Canada has as generous property laws as we do...it's getting damn scary in these here parts...
M&G
Sound Right to You?
You Are A Peanut |
 You are popular, even with people who tend to have picky taste. Kids love you, as do dogs. From rednecks to snobs, most people have a place for you in their hearts. As popular as you are, there are some people who can't be near you. Don't take it too personally. There's just a few people you rub the wrong way. |
And what about this one? I'm not sure....LOL
You Are Kidnapping |
 You love to be in control. You are incredibly dominant. A part of you even likes to make people suffer. It's all about power! You love to take risks, especially if the potential payoff is huge. But you wouldn't be in crime only for the money. You're twisted enough to just enjoy screwing with people. |
Guess I should have known...LOL
M
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Another Reassurance That Some People Can't Be Beat Down
I was reading through the blogosphere this morning, and came upon mention of this auction currently running on eBay:
Box of Spite
It's totally worth the read, and gives yet another example of how some people can get through a really rotten situation with their sense of humor intact.
Check it out and see what you think. The auction listing is a hoot...
M&G
Box of Spite
It's totally worth the read, and gives yet another example of how some people can get through a really rotten situation with their sense of humor intact.
Check it out and see what you think. The auction listing is a hoot...
M&G
Friday, September 5, 2008
What Is It About Camping, Anyway?
These guys look like they are having fun, don't they?
I just don't get it
Why do people find it "fun" to pack up a ton of equipment (tent, trailer, sleeping bags, food, bug spray, bear rifle, tarps, stove, lanterns, fuel, flashlights, batteries, books, games, toys, bikes, beer, boats, rain gear...and more), only to find some spot in the woods or at the shore or in the mountains to unpack it all and sit around?
Many years ago, our grandparents and great-grandparents (and probably great-great-grandparents), spent much of their daily lives trying to get us farther and farther away from "camping". It wasn't called "Little Tent on the Prairie". No one aspired to "move up" to that new four room canvas model farther away from the mosquito breeding pond. Well, maybe farther from there, but I'm trying to make a point....
They (and we) wanted a house.
A HOUSE! Preferably one in a good neighborhood with good access to services like DELIVERY PIZZA and a good dry cleaner. And, if we are lucky, a housekeeper, a gardener and a cook. No chauffeur, though, I LIKE to drive (but I wouldn't mind a car butler to wash/wax/vacuum my toys :)
(We do not, as far as I know, aspire to beat our clothes on rocks in the nearby stream to clean them either). In fact, a washer and dryer are high on the list of wants...as are refrigerators, dish washers and television. OH! And indoor plumbing...and lights...and heat! What the heck?
Why, then, do people find it FUN! and RESTFUL! to go out into the woods with whatever stuff they can pack into the SUV and spend their time living without these things?
It's not fun or restful...it's going backwards...your grandpa would be shaking his head and saying something about spending all that time working when he could have been playing if all you really wanted was a TENT!
Now there are those folks that will yell and scream that they go camping to get "back to nature" or to see beautiful areas of the country...OK...but can't you get that by going to the lodge and enjoying room service while sitting on your own little deck with a glass of wine and a whole building full of people that want nothing more than to do whatever you need done? OK...no room service...now THAT'S camping! LOL.
There are also those folks that become what we call "camp contractors". They take it all with them and just set it up wherever the hell they land. Case in point...the camping bar...(it's real, but currently out of stock/unavailable through amazon.com here (sorry contractors - you know who you are!)
I guess if you get dragged out into the "wild" you might as well get blotto while you are there. Nothing makes the cold, hard ground (when all the air has gone out of your pretty little air mattress) feel better than a margarita induced bout of amnesia (your bones remember, but your brain doesn't...LOL).
And, I guess, some people just don't have time to go home...so I can see needing to sleep...
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
OK...so here's the deal...camp if you want...but remember that my idea of camping is the Hyatt (Regency) without room service. If there's one near where you are camping, I'll come along...if not, enjoy the bugs and the bumps and smoke in your eyes, and I'll be waiting at home with a nice margarita for you when you come to your senses and head on home.
Seriously, just call my cell.
M&G
Friday Funny
For some reason, this struck a funny bone with me this morning...lol.
I was, actually, spending lots of time while floating in the swimming pool in Maui, trying to figure out how to make a living being on permanent vacation.
I didn't figure it out (YET), but I'm working on it...how bad would it be to spend my days in Maui, hanging out at the pool, scuba diving, visiting with friends...I guess that's why it's vacation though....only can spend so much time doing that.
I'm up for the challenge of trying it full time though...I'm thinking that there could be grant money for a study of how people react to being happy and just doing what the hell they want all the time.
They gave grant money to study whether or not ketchup qualified as a vegetable in school lunches (hell, no! - they could have just given me that money directly on that one)...
So, if you have any ideas, shoot 'em to my email, will ya?
Aloha!
M&G
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