Been busy, sorry for no blogging today. But I couldn't let Leap Day go by without mentioning it.
Plus, as Craig pointed out, it delays my birthday for another 24 hours.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
I've been playing this song a lot lately
And notice what's hanging behind Buffett's right ear. Now you know where I got the idea for the braid prior to my 30th ... 10 years ago.
Maybe I need to come up with lyrics for "A sports writer looks at 40."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
R.I.P. Myron Cope
The longtime Steelers announcer/inventor of The Terrible Towel died today.
The best part about Cope? He donated the trademark of The Terrible Towel to a school for developmentally-challenged people, where his autistic son has lived for years and years. Every bit of Terrible merchandise generates cash for that school.
The best part about Cope? He donated the trademark of The Terrible Towel to a school for developmentally-challenged people, where his autistic son has lived for years and years. Every bit of Terrible merchandise generates cash for that school.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
First time for everything
Jen and I have been married nearly eight years. We've been together almost 10 years total.
For the first time that either of us can remember, she is sick. Might be a light touch of the flu. Might be a bad cold. But she's feverish, getting chills, has a cough and feels congested.
I'm not sure what to do, other than offer to run to Walgreen's to get whatever she wants. It's going to be rough though, because it's state basketball tournament week and I'll be at the office most nights. Plus I'm getting more dental work done Wednesday morning as Dr. Saviers begins fitting me with bridgework to replace my now-removed freaky teeth.
Anyway, if any of y'all try calling and she doesn't answer the phone it's because she's buried underneath flannel sheets, a comforter, a fleece blanket and a 40-year-old quilt that weighs about 10 pounds.
For the first time that either of us can remember, she is sick. Might be a light touch of the flu. Might be a bad cold. But she's feverish, getting chills, has a cough and feels congested.
I'm not sure what to do, other than offer to run to Walgreen's to get whatever she wants. It's going to be rough though, because it's state basketball tournament week and I'll be at the office most nights. Plus I'm getting more dental work done Wednesday morning as Dr. Saviers begins fitting me with bridgework to replace my now-removed freaky teeth.
Anyway, if any of y'all try calling and she doesn't answer the phone it's because she's buried underneath flannel sheets, a comforter, a fleece blanket and a 40-year-old quilt that weighs about 10 pounds.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Oscar choices
Given I didn't see any of the movies nominated for an Academy Award (how didn't "Knocked Up" or "Superbad" get nominated!?!) here are my choices for tonight's Academy Awards ...
HGTV's "Luxurious Log Homes"
Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" - that Mike Rowe cracks me up, he's a funny, funny man
Whatever huntin' (yeah, there's no "g" on there, that's how it's pronounced) shows on the Outdoor Network
"FIFA Soccer" on the PS3
If Will Ferrell shows up and does something funny on the Oscars show, I'll watch it on YouTube.
HGTV's "Luxurious Log Homes"
Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" - that Mike Rowe cracks me up, he's a funny, funny man
Whatever huntin' (yeah, there's no "g" on there, that's how it's pronounced) shows on the Outdoor Network
"FIFA Soccer" on the PS3
If Will Ferrell shows up and does something funny on the Oscars show, I'll watch it on YouTube.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I am in the wrong line of work
Doormen in Las Vegas are regularly making $8,000 to $10,000 per night.
How? By accepting big tips from regular schmoes who don't want to wait in line to get into the hottest nightclubs. The way it works is the guy working the rope line takes a toke to allow people to cut to the front of the line. This starts at $200 per person, though some idiots with more cash than brains will often tip $1,000 per person to get to the front of the line.
Once they get to the door, the door guy then charges them a higher cover charge. Since they've already tipped the guy to get to the front of the line, these dumbasses then have no problem paying $50 to $100 to get inside, even though the official cover is "only" $30 or $40. Anything above the cover goes into a kitty for the door guys to divvy up.
The IRS is investigating now. And raided the offices of some LV clubs.
But yeah, some dolts working a nightclub door in Vegas is making between $400,000 and $500,000 per year. And to think I used to get psyched over $100 and free drinks for working the door at Papa's on St. Patrick's Day and NYE.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/15834017.html
How? By accepting big tips from regular schmoes who don't want to wait in line to get into the hottest nightclubs. The way it works is the guy working the rope line takes a toke to allow people to cut to the front of the line. This starts at $200 per person, though some idiots with more cash than brains will often tip $1,000 per person to get to the front of the line.
Once they get to the door, the door guy then charges them a higher cover charge. Since they've already tipped the guy to get to the front of the line, these dumbasses then have no problem paying $50 to $100 to get inside, even though the official cover is "only" $30 or $40. Anything above the cover goes into a kitty for the door guys to divvy up.
The IRS is investigating now. And raided the offices of some LV clubs.
But yeah, some dolts working a nightclub door in Vegas is making between $400,000 and $500,000 per year. And to think I used to get psyched over $100 and free drinks for working the door at Papa's on St. Patrick's Day and NYE.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/15834017.html
Jen is always a good hostess
It just dawned on me that Jen straightened up the main bathroom this morning.
She hid the toothpaste, the water cup and wiped down the sink. I never do understand hiding the toothpaste, but not hiding the toothbrushes. But hey, I'm not the hostess with the mostest.
I guess she wanted it to look nice for the construction workers, in case they needed to take a whiz ... which they never did. Or, if they did need to, they did it out in the backyard or something.
She hid the toothpaste, the water cup and wiped down the sink. I never do understand hiding the toothpaste, but not hiding the toothbrushes. But hey, I'm not the hostess with the mostest.
I guess she wanted it to look nice for the construction workers, in case they needed to take a whiz ... which they never did. Or, if they did need to, they did it out in the backyard or something.
Lunch break
Construction has started
The construction crew is here working on enclosing the den.
As many of you know, a former owner of our house had turned the one-car garage into a den. They did it cheaply, by putting in a sliding-glass door where the garage door used to be. While it was a cheap fix, it was not a good one.
Thanks to poor workmanship, there was a lip on the old driveway that caught rainwater and funneled it underneath the door. Also, they never ran ductwork to the newly-created den. With a big glass door on one end of the room, that meant it would be in the upper 50s out there in the winter and the upper 80s in the summer.
But now, a crew is here installing a couple of big, energy-efficient windows and building a wall to replace the sliding-glass door.
While I'm psyched about getting this done, I wish the weather would cooperate. It's freezing outside, which means a whole bunch of cold air is rushing into the house through the folding door that separates the den from the rest of the house. I'm wearing a tee shirt, sweatshirt and fleece pullover (Yes, the Patagonia one I wrote about last month).
Anyway, before and after photos will be coming soon ... unless I get frostbite.
As many of you know, a former owner of our house had turned the one-car garage into a den. They did it cheaply, by putting in a sliding-glass door where the garage door used to be. While it was a cheap fix, it was not a good one.
Thanks to poor workmanship, there was a lip on the old driveway that caught rainwater and funneled it underneath the door. Also, they never ran ductwork to the newly-created den. With a big glass door on one end of the room, that meant it would be in the upper 50s out there in the winter and the upper 80s in the summer.
But now, a crew is here installing a couple of big, energy-efficient windows and building a wall to replace the sliding-glass door.
While I'm psyched about getting this done, I wish the weather would cooperate. It's freezing outside, which means a whole bunch of cold air is rushing into the house through the folding door that separates the den from the rest of the house. I'm wearing a tee shirt, sweatshirt and fleece pullover (Yes, the Patagonia one I wrote about last month).
Anyway, before and after photos will be coming soon ... unless I get frostbite.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I'm not 39, I'm 36
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Drumk
Crook passing out before 1 a.m.!?!
Must have been the Wii golf or tennis that wore him out, right?
Must have been the Wii golf or tennis that wore him out, right?
Friday, February 15, 2008
Going Green? Not at the Fort Smith Home Show.
The Fort Smith Home Show is this weekend. This year's theme is "Going Green." It's splashed across a full page ad in the paper. It's on a billboard on Rogers Avenue.
Being a greenneck, I was absolutely interested. And since I got a free ticket via work, I had to go check it out.
Of the 83 businesses and services that had booths, only a few were even remotely connected to environmentally-friendly building or products. There was one (1) booth that had information on solar energy. Some of the appliance displays had energy-efficient washers and dryers. That was about it.
Some of the Realtors had maps of their latest McMansion-filled subdivisions on display. I stopped at one looking at the map, trying to figure it out. It was confusing because the map was flipped, with the southern landmarks at the top of the page and the northern landmarks at the bottom.
This dippy Realtor chick comes over and asks if I'm interested in the neighborhood. I ask about the neighborhood covenants and if I'd be able to put solar panels on one of those houses. She did that combo smile/cringe thing that salespeople do and said "No." I said "Really not going green then, huh?" and walked away.
Oh, there was a booth there for that expanding spray-on insulating foam like they use on "This Old House." I am so getting that sprayed in the attic before the summer heat gets here.
Being a greenneck, I was absolutely interested. And since I got a free ticket via work, I had to go check it out.
Of the 83 businesses and services that had booths, only a few were even remotely connected to environmentally-friendly building or products. There was one (1) booth that had information on solar energy. Some of the appliance displays had energy-efficient washers and dryers. That was about it.
Some of the Realtors had maps of their latest McMansion-filled subdivisions on display. I stopped at one looking at the map, trying to figure it out. It was confusing because the map was flipped, with the southern landmarks at the top of the page and the northern landmarks at the bottom.
This dippy Realtor chick comes over and asks if I'm interested in the neighborhood. I ask about the neighborhood covenants and if I'd be able to put solar panels on one of those houses. She did that combo smile/cringe thing that salespeople do and said "No." I said "Really not going green then, huh?" and walked away.
Oh, there was a booth there for that expanding spray-on insulating foam like they use on "This Old House." I am so getting that sprayed in the attic before the summer heat gets here.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Why didn't I think of that!?!
Empty beer cans + tin snips + simple jewelry-making skills = Cool stuff and big profits
Bracelet $90 ...

Ring $40 ...

http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/D-LICIOUS_MCA2_136.html
Bracelet $90 ...
Ring $40 ...
http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/D-LICIOUS_MCA2_136.html
Indiana Jones
As many of you know, I'm not big on going to the movie theater. I'm kind of the anti-JohnL.
Between the cost and the damned kids yapping on their cell phones, it's just not as fun as it should be. (Somebody should build a nobody under 21 theater in Fort Smith that serves beer. I might go to more movies then.)
Anyway, I might have to break down and go see this on a big screen ...
Between the cost and the damned kids yapping on their cell phones, it's just not as fun as it should be. (Somebody should build a nobody under 21 theater in Fort Smith that serves beer. I might go to more movies then.)
Anyway, I might have to break down and go see this on a big screen ...
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Quiet Man
The best part about February and March? "The Quiet Man" plays on all the movie channels. It was just on TCM as part of the 31 Days of Oscar since it won John Ford the best director award
If Jen is flipping around and sees "16 Candles" or "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" (two lousy 80s movies). If I'm flipping around and see John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, I stop.
And even though I've seen it hundreds of times and know the lines by heart, that Michaleen Flynn (the little guy who plays matchmaker in the village and is the bookie during the climatic fight) always makes me laugh. I could watch this movie once a week.
2008 - A Huge Year for the Squad
So 2008 will feature, in no particular order ...
• Craig and Katie having a baby
Still early in the pregnancy, but I'm pulling for Craig to name it Dean while Katie is still drugged up after the birth. Either that or they should use the Brazil soccer name generator to come up with a name ... http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml
• Nash and Karen getting married (and buying a house!)
I don't think I've seen Jennifer this excited for an event since ... Sean and Tammy's wedding. That girl loves weddings. Hey, I just realized we'll get to throw a bachelor party for Nash. Woo-hoo! It'll be a crowded week for the PS when they get hitched. Maybe we can do a combo baby shower, housewarming party, birthday parties and wedding shower.
• Sean and Tammy moving out of sunny Florida
Oh, sure, housing prices are astronomical there. But moving from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic? I can't wait until this happens so Brownie won't be able to send out his e-mails that say "There's a cold front moving in today. Temps should hit the mid-60s. I might have to wear a jacket when I'm playing golf in February."
• MaryL turning 40
I still don't know what to say about her and JohnL catching Anthony doing it with his girlfriend. Craiggers is going to be changing diapers while y'all are worrying about becoming grandparents. And how's my godson Evan doing? Has he learned how to say "Go Pack Go" yet? Can he say "Favre" yet? How about "Cowboys suck?"
• Me turning 40
I'M A MAN! I'M 40 ... almost.
• Craig and Katie having a baby
Still early in the pregnancy, but I'm pulling for Craig to name it Dean while Katie is still drugged up after the birth. Either that or they should use the Brazil soccer name generator to come up with a name ... http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml
• Nash and Karen getting married (and buying a house!)
I don't think I've seen Jennifer this excited for an event since ... Sean and Tammy's wedding. That girl loves weddings. Hey, I just realized we'll get to throw a bachelor party for Nash. Woo-hoo! It'll be a crowded week for the PS when they get hitched. Maybe we can do a combo baby shower, housewarming party, birthday parties and wedding shower.
• Sean and Tammy moving out of sunny Florida
Oh, sure, housing prices are astronomical there. But moving from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic? I can't wait until this happens so Brownie won't be able to send out his e-mails that say "There's a cold front moving in today. Temps should hit the mid-60s. I might have to wear a jacket when I'm playing golf in February."
• MaryL turning 40
I still don't know what to say about her and JohnL catching Anthony doing it with his girlfriend. Craiggers is going to be changing diapers while y'all are worrying about becoming grandparents. And how's my godson Evan doing? Has he learned how to say "Go Pack Go" yet? Can he say "Favre" yet? How about "Cowboys suck?"
• Me turning 40
I'M A MAN! I'M 40 ... almost.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I feel naked
So the other day, my last hemp anklet finally fell off.
I'd been wearing them around my ankles for about 15 years. At one point, I think I had three on my left ankle and two on my right. As one would rot off from being worn in the shower, I'd replace it. But now I don't have any left ... except for one I make out of some spare poly-pro string (like a small climbing rope).
Jen says that it's a sign I should enter my 40s without my old long-haired, tie-dyed ways.
But it still feels weird to take off my socks and not see an anklet there. It'll be really weird when warm weather arrives and I'm back to shorts and sandals.
I'd been wearing them around my ankles for about 15 years. At one point, I think I had three on my left ankle and two on my right. As one would rot off from being worn in the shower, I'd replace it. But now I don't have any left ... except for one I make out of some spare poly-pro string (like a small climbing rope).
Jen says that it's a sign I should enter my 40s without my old long-haired, tie-dyed ways.
But it still feels weird to take off my socks and not see an anklet there. It'll be really weird when warm weather arrives and I'm back to shorts and sandals.
Friday, February 8, 2008
UPS
So I ordered a Patagonia sweatshirt and cap (don't tell Jen, she thinks I've got too many caps as it is) last week from one of my outlet Web sites. Heck of a deal on them at 75 percent off.
I got the confirmation e-mail with a link to the UPS package tracking Web page. So each day I've logged on to see where my shipment is located. Monday, it was in Reno. Then it was shipped to Mesquite (home of the mighty Skeeters, says Sean Brown). From there it went to Little Rock, before arriving in Fort Smith at 4:08 a.m. this morning. Then it left the local UPS warehouse at 6:53 a.m. ... and I still don't have my stuff.
I'm usually pretty patient. But come on, bring me my stuff. It's been nearly five hours since the truck left the depot. Aargh!
I'd have been better off not logging onto that site at all.
Update: Hooray, UPS finally arrived a little before 5 p.m. I'm now wearing my rocking new sweatshirt and will be sporting the cap soon.
I got the confirmation e-mail with a link to the UPS package tracking Web page. So each day I've logged on to see where my shipment is located. Monday, it was in Reno. Then it was shipped to Mesquite (home of the mighty Skeeters, says Sean Brown). From there it went to Little Rock, before arriving in Fort Smith at 4:08 a.m. this morning. Then it left the local UPS warehouse at 6:53 a.m. ... and I still don't have my stuff.
I'm usually pretty patient. But come on, bring me my stuff. It's been nearly five hours since the truck left the depot. Aargh!
I'd have been better off not logging onto that site at all.
Update: Hooray, UPS finally arrived a little before 5 p.m. I'm now wearing my rocking new sweatshirt and will be sporting the cap soon.
Lost
So now there's a ghostwhisperer, physicist, archaeologist and drunken marine biologist/Oceanic pilot on the island? And they're looking for Benjamin? Who has a man on their ship feeding him info?
W.T.F.
Whenever we're watching Lost, Jen will turn to me after these weird plot twists and ask for an explanation. Half the time, I just have to say "I have no freakin' clue either." I've almost given up trying to figure out what's going on with this show, but I keep watching.
And Survivor returned last night (the TV show, not the band). So that's good.
W.T.F.
Whenever we're watching Lost, Jen will turn to me after these weird plot twists and ask for an explanation. Half the time, I just have to say "I have no freakin' clue either." I've almost given up trying to figure out what's going on with this show, but I keep watching.
And Survivor returned last night (the TV show, not the band). So that's good.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Satellite radio rocks
Yeah, I'm behind the times. What do you expect out of somebody who didn't get a CD player until 1999?
The Jeep is in the shop, thanks to a problem with the clutch. There was a recall on it, but I never got the info about it. So yesterday afternoon, the recalled part broke.
As a reward, Dad hooked me up with a 2007 Dodge Durango to drive while it's being fixed. And it's got built-in Sirius Satellite Radio, which means I don't have to listen to the doofuses on the local sports radio shows nor the two classic rock stations playing the exact same songs.
I've been glued to channel 17 "Jam On" where I've listened to the Grateful Dead, DMB, Allman Brothers, moe, String Cheese Incident, Rusted Root, Phish and all those other hippie bands I like. I've also flipped over to channel 31 "Margaritaville" where they play Jimmy Buffett 24/7. All-Elvis is channel 13 and all-Sinatra is channel 75. And, for what it's worth, there are two Howard Stern channels. I listened to one yesterday for about five minutes. I still don't see how this guy is so popular.
Anyway, the Jeep might be ready Thursday. Depends on whether or not the parts warehouse in Memphis was damaged by Tuesday's storms.
The Jeep is in the shop, thanks to a problem with the clutch. There was a recall on it, but I never got the info about it. So yesterday afternoon, the recalled part broke.
As a reward, Dad hooked me up with a 2007 Dodge Durango to drive while it's being fixed. And it's got built-in Sirius Satellite Radio, which means I don't have to listen to the doofuses on the local sports radio shows nor the two classic rock stations playing the exact same songs.
I've been glued to channel 17 "Jam On" where I've listened to the Grateful Dead, DMB, Allman Brothers, moe, String Cheese Incident, Rusted Root, Phish and all those other hippie bands I like. I've also flipped over to channel 31 "Margaritaville" where they play Jimmy Buffett 24/7. All-Elvis is channel 13 and all-Sinatra is channel 75. And, for what it's worth, there are two Howard Stern channels. I listened to one yesterday for about five minutes. I still don't see how this guy is so popular.
Anyway, the Jeep might be ready Thursday. Depends on whether or not the parts warehouse in Memphis was damaged by Tuesday's storms.
Y'all remember Rusty Jackson?
The former roommate of Chris Nash and 40/29 sports anchor, is now a missionary ...
http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Arkansas is not Hillary Clinton's home state
OK, I don't want to get into politics here, but I'm watching tonight's Super Tuesday coverage (along with coverage of the tornadoes that hit eastern Arkansas and Memphis).
The commentators on both MSNBC and CNN keep saying "Hillary Clinton wins her home state of Arkansas." But that's not true. Not even close to it. The only time she's been in Arkansas since heading to the White House with Bill is for funerals, the opening of his Presidential Library and for fund raisers. She's not been back to an Arkansas football game, or to Oaklawn, or even to hang out with old friends in Little Rock. Every single time she's been here, it's been because she had to be here.
She's a Senator from New York. New York is her home state, not Arkansas.
And speaking of tornadoes and Clinton ... a tornado hits Clinton, Ark., on the day Hillary won the state's primary. That can't be a good omen for her campaign.
The commentators on both MSNBC and CNN keep saying "Hillary Clinton wins her home state of Arkansas." But that's not true. Not even close to it. The only time she's been in Arkansas since heading to the White House with Bill is for funerals, the opening of his Presidential Library and for fund raisers. She's not been back to an Arkansas football game, or to Oaklawn, or even to hang out with old friends in Little Rock. Every single time she's been here, it's been because she had to be here.
She's a Senator from New York. New York is her home state, not Arkansas.
And speaking of tornadoes and Clinton ... a tornado hits Clinton, Ark., on the day Hillary won the state's primary. That can't be a good omen for her campaign.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Enjoy it SK
To the only Giants fan I know, congrats on your team winning the Super Bowl.
Hopefully you found a Patriots fan to comfort and to fix breakfast for Monday morning.
Hopefully you found a Patriots fan to comfort and to fix breakfast for Monday morning.
Friday, February 1, 2008
R.I.P. Rib Room
That's right, it's gone. Until at least 2009.
Depending on what version of the story you hear, either Neumeier got into a dispute with the guy who owns the land the Beer Garden is on or the architects who designed the second story addition to the Beer Garden screwed up the price. (You can see the design for it here ... www.ribroom.com) Either way, Bill announced it's not opening this summer.
I'm not sure if that means the Rib Room restaurant itself won't be open. I sure hope it is. I can't go a full year without some of that smoked chicken. And I'm almost out of dry rub!
This is the worst thing to happen to downtown Fort Smith since the 1996 tornado.
First the Stardust, now the Rib Room. If Papa's closes, I might curl up into the fetal position and die.
Depending on what version of the story you hear, either Neumeier got into a dispute with the guy who owns the land the Beer Garden is on or the architects who designed the second story addition to the Beer Garden screwed up the price. (You can see the design for it here ... www.ribroom.com) Either way, Bill announced it's not opening this summer.
I'm not sure if that means the Rib Room restaurant itself won't be open. I sure hope it is. I can't go a full year without some of that smoked chicken. And I'm almost out of dry rub!
This is the worst thing to happen to downtown Fort Smith since the 1996 tornado.
First the Stardust, now the Rib Room. If Papa's closes, I might curl up into the fetal position and die.
Super Blah
Is anybody really that interested in Sunday's Super Bowl?
Two years ago, it was my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers playing Seattle in the greatest Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
Last year, the very likeable Peyton "Cut That Meat" Manning was trying to finally win a championship. He did, and we got a lot more funny commercials thanks to it.
This year, it's the New England Patriots and their insufferable Bahstan fans vs. some team from New York and Peyton's younger brother.
Do you root against the Patriots because Boston has had too much success lately? Does a city deserve a World Series championship, SK fixing breakfast for the ladies, the inaugural Man-cation and an undefeated season? I think not.
Then again, part of me thinks seeing a 19-0 season would be cool in a historic way. Much like how I hate Barry Bonds, yet I had to see him break Hank Aaron's HR record. But wouldn't the schadenfreude of seeing NE go 18-1 be even better?
Two years ago, it was my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers playing Seattle in the greatest Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
Last year, the very likeable Peyton "Cut That Meat" Manning was trying to finally win a championship. He did, and we got a lot more funny commercials thanks to it.
This year, it's the New England Patriots and their insufferable Bahstan fans vs. some team from New York and Peyton's younger brother.
Do you root against the Patriots because Boston has had too much success lately? Does a city deserve a World Series championship, SK fixing breakfast for the ladies, the inaugural Man-cation and an undefeated season? I think not.
Then again, part of me thinks seeing a 19-0 season would be cool in a historic way. Much like how I hate Barry Bonds, yet I had to see him break Hank Aaron's HR record. But wouldn't the schadenfreude of seeing NE go 18-1 be even better?
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