Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
@#$%&* Construction Masters!!!
So we're having a closet built in the den for extra storage. I thought about doing it myself, but decided to hire it out so it'd be done right.
As usual, dealing with Construction Masters is maddening. Here's a summary of my day today ...
"Sure, Scott, we'll be there Monday morning between 8-9." - Friday at noon.
"Well, I don't know where the crew is I gave the job to. I'll send a second crew right over." -10 a.m.
"Sorry, we got hung up at the shop getting supplies." - 1 p.m.
"Well, looks like we'll need to go get some extra 2x4s. We'll be back in half an hour." - 1:45 p.m.
"Did the boss say this would be a one day job?" - 3:10 p.m.
"That's about all we can do for today. We'll be back tomorrow morning between 8-9." - 4:37 p.m.
You know what "That's about all we can do for today" means? Carrying in some drywall and paneling. Stacking 2x4s outside. Pulling quarter-round and molding. Taking some measurements.
For that, I spent a vacation day.
As usual, dealing with Construction Masters is maddening. Here's a summary of my day today ...
"Sure, Scott, we'll be there Monday morning between 8-9." - Friday at noon.
"Well, I don't know where the crew is I gave the job to. I'll send a second crew right over." -10 a.m.
"Sorry, we got hung up at the shop getting supplies." - 1 p.m.
"Well, looks like we'll need to go get some extra 2x4s. We'll be back in half an hour." - 1:45 p.m.
"Did the boss say this would be a one day job?" - 3:10 p.m.
"That's about all we can do for today. We'll be back tomorrow morning between 8-9." - 4:37 p.m.
You know what "That's about all we can do for today" means? Carrying in some drywall and paneling. Stacking 2x4s outside. Pulling quarter-round and molding. Taking some measurements.
For that, I spent a vacation day.
We Are Everywhere II
No matter which party wins the November election, a Steelers fan will be VP.
That's right, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin both share a rooting interest in the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers.
Palin ...
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_517252.html
Biden ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101954_2.html?referrer=emailarticle
Who says there isn't common ground between the two parties!?!
That's right, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin both share a rooting interest in the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers.
Palin ...
She relishes moose burgers because "they taste better than beef with no chemicals, steroids or hormones." She adopted the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the team's success in the 1970s and because there are no major professional teams in her state.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_517252.html
Biden ...
On Friday night, when Obama and Biden met Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, Biden recounted how "Old Mr. Rooney" -- Steelers owner Dan Rooney -- dispatched some players from his championship team to the hospital room in Wilmington where Biden's two toddler sons, Beau and Hunter, were recovering from the accident. They brought the boys an autographed football as a Christmas present.
"And I have been a Steelers fan since that day," Biden told Tomlin.
"Not much has changed," Tomlin responded.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101954_2.html?referrer=emailarticle
Who says there isn't common ground between the two parties!?!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Never Again
What'd you do Wednesday night?
I spent two hours in Hell, or as it's known in Fort Smith "The Growing Kids Consignment Sale."
Angie said we just had to attend. There were bargains galore. Strollers that go for $300 new sell for $50. Kids' furniture, clothes, diaper bags, you name it they've got it.
On the plus side, the people running this thing are sticklers about what they accept for the sale. Teeny little stain? Nope, won't accept it. Missing a button? Sorry, no thanks. And, thanks to Angie putting Jen's name on some of her own kids' clothes, we got to go on Wednesday night before it was open to the general public.
On the minus side, it was overwhelming. Here's a photo of the setup from the sale's Web site (yes, it has a Web site) ...
(Click on the photo and you can get a bigger look at it.)
Now if Wednesday was like that photo, I'd have been fine. But imagine a few hundred women, dozens of kids running loose and a sprinkling of men carrying the piles of clothes being bought. And I do mean piles. People were using 50-gallon trash cans as shopping carts and were filling them up.
Naturally, these women were ruthless too. They'd nudge you with the strollers they were buying to get you to move when they wanted to look at something. I had one woman ask me if I was going to buy a diaper bag ... that I was holding in my hands! (We did buy it. Laura Ashley, $10 and in perfect condition.)
Luckily, the next time there's one of these sales I won't be attending. I'll pull a Jason and say "Sorry, but somebody has to stay home with the baby."
I spent two hours in Hell, or as it's known in Fort Smith "The Growing Kids Consignment Sale."
Angie said we just had to attend. There were bargains galore. Strollers that go for $300 new sell for $50. Kids' furniture, clothes, diaper bags, you name it they've got it.
On the plus side, the people running this thing are sticklers about what they accept for the sale. Teeny little stain? Nope, won't accept it. Missing a button? Sorry, no thanks. And, thanks to Angie putting Jen's name on some of her own kids' clothes, we got to go on Wednesday night before it was open to the general public.
On the minus side, it was overwhelming. Here's a photo of the setup from the sale's Web site (yes, it has a Web site) ...
(Click on the photo and you can get a bigger look at it.)
Now if Wednesday was like that photo, I'd have been fine. But imagine a few hundred women, dozens of kids running loose and a sprinkling of men carrying the piles of clothes being bought. And I do mean piles. People were using 50-gallon trash cans as shopping carts and were filling them up.
Naturally, these women were ruthless too. They'd nudge you with the strollers they were buying to get you to move when they wanted to look at something. I had one woman ask me if I was going to buy a diaper bag ... that I was holding in my hands! (We did buy it. Laura Ashley, $10 and in perfect condition.)
Luckily, the next time there's one of these sales I won't be attending. I'll pull a Jason and say "Sorry, but somebody has to stay home with the baby."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I thought of Sean (and Sean)
On storm stories, TV reporters are required to interact with the weather and become, potentially, human sacrifices to it.
This makes weather reporting different than every other kind of breaking TV news story. No one covers a house fire by rushing into the burning building, or reports on a war by doing stand-ups in the middle of a tank battle.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102740.html?hpid=topnews
So TV guys, why do y'all insist on standing out in the rain and wind? I mean, aside from the ratings.
Monday, September 1, 2008
I'll miss you most of all, Comfy Chair
When I was a kid, we had a hound dog named Red. One day, he was gone and Mom said Dad had taken him up to the cabin. Our yard, despite being a double lot, was too small for him she said. And at the cabin, he could chase rabbits and have more fun.
I never did see that dog again.
Hopefully, the same won't happen to Comfy Chair.
I loaded her up on the Jeep today for the trip to the cabin.
Once we got there, I put her in a place of honor in the bedroom my branch of the family sleeps in during hunting season. In fact, she's right next to my bunk now.
So after years of dedicated service, countless football games on TV, hours and hours of PlayStation, thousands of meals eaten while sitting on her and lots and lots of naps, she's now retired to the country. Where, hopefully, she'll have several more good years serving as a spot to sit while putting on hunting boots and post-hunt napping.
(And yes, Jennifer is horrified the slip cover was that grungy.)
I never did see that dog again.
Hopefully, the same won't happen to Comfy Chair.
I loaded her up on the Jeep today for the trip to the cabin.
Once we got there, I put her in a place of honor in the bedroom my branch of the family sleeps in during hunting season. In fact, she's right next to my bunk now.
So after years of dedicated service, countless football games on TV, hours and hours of PlayStation, thousands of meals eaten while sitting on her and lots and lots of naps, she's now retired to the country. Where, hopefully, she'll have several more good years serving as a spot to sit while putting on hunting boots and post-hunt napping.
(And yes, Jennifer is horrified the slip cover was that grungy.)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Kung Fu Panda
Took my niece to see it last night so mom could go play bridge.
I give it a C.
An older kid probably would have liked it better. Erin spent most of the movie playing with her bracelet that lit up when you press a button.
(Sorry for the lack of posts, but this Fort Smith Classic drama is wearing me out.)
I give it a C.
An older kid probably would have liked it better. Erin spent most of the movie playing with her bracelet that lit up when you press a button.
(Sorry for the lack of posts, but this Fort Smith Classic drama is wearing me out.)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Shameless pimping
My fearless forecast for this season (Super Bowl prediction included) ...
Arkansas won't go bowling this season
Arkansas won't go bowling this season
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