Hey all....
Sorry its been so long since my last post. Its hard to keep readers interested when you don't post every day. I'm working on a couple of new posts to put up. I promise they will be up real soon.
Until then... have a great day!
About Me
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Cooling World
Here is a story from Newsweek April 28,1975 that I found most interesting. It seems we (the earth) are not warming up as the scientists would have us believe. As a matter of fact... in April 1975 everyone believed that we were headed for a ice age.
I in no way am looking to turn this blog into a political one... but with all the BS floating out there about global warming (now renamed "Climate Change") I just couldn't pass this one up.
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The Cooling World
By Peter Gwynne
Newsweek
28 April 1975
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. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the 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.
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Lest we forget just how wrong the climate experts can be.
It’s funny isn’t it?
Everyone complains about the weather, but only liberals try to legislate it.
I in no way am looking to turn this blog into a political one... but with all the BS floating out there about global warming (now renamed "Climate Change") I just couldn't pass this one up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Cooling World
By Peter Gwynne
Newsweek
28 April 1975
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. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the 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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lest we forget just how wrong the climate experts can be.
It’s funny isn’t it?
Everyone complains about the weather, but only liberals try to legislate it.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Unforgiven
I did not pen the following. I just like the story. Feels like me sometimes.
How could he know this new dawn’s light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure.
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid, always afraid,
Of the things he’s feeling.
He could just be gone.
He would just sail on
He’ll just sail on.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
And how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
These days drift on inside a fog
Thick and suffocating.
His sinking life, outside its hell.
Inside, intoxicating.
He’s run aground. Like his life,
Water much too shallow.
Slipping fast, down with his ship,
Fading in the shadows.
Now a castaway.
They’ve all gone away.
They’ve gone away.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
And how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
Forgive me.
Forgive me not.
Why can’t I forgive me?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure.
How could he know this new dawn’s light
Would change his life forever?
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
So how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
Metallica, 2008
Death Magnetic
How could he know this new dawn’s light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure.
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid, always afraid,
Of the things he’s feeling.
He could just be gone.
He would just sail on
He’ll just sail on.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
And how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
These days drift on inside a fog
Thick and suffocating.
His sinking life, outside its hell.
Inside, intoxicating.
He’s run aground. Like his life,
Water much too shallow.
Slipping fast, down with his ship,
Fading in the shadows.
Now a castaway.
They’ve all gone away.
They’ve gone away.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
And how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
Forgive me.
Forgive me not.
Why can’t I forgive me?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure.
How could he know this new dawn’s light
Would change his life forever?
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive.
So how can I blame you,
When it’s me I can’t forgive?
Metallica, 2008
Death Magnetic
Monday, October 26, 2009
Yeah.... Wrong again.
So my son is like a dog. He likes to squirrel things away to find later. This can include sippy cups with milk in them.
Yep.. you guessed it. He found one yesterday.
He took a couple of good pulls from it before Beth or I could get it away from him. This was about 3pm yesterday. After going all day without puking, crapping, or mixing the two... we thought we had dodged a bullet.
Yeah... wrong again.
About 3am I woke up to the Little Man crying. It was no big deal to me... he's been pushing a molar through for the past couple days... so I went in to pick him up, give him a pat on the back, turn Pooh back on and go back to bed. I knew something was wrong when I walked in the room and smelled what I thought was a ripe diaper.
Yeah... wrong again.
Turned the light on and noticed what looked to be cottage cheese on his forehead. Upon further inspection, found more of this unidentifed cottage cheese on his sheets. VOMIT!!!
Oh no!
Now... you can poop on me, pee on me, leak your bodily fluids on me, and I'm fine. A little digusted, but fine.
Puke on me?!? There's gonna be trouble.
So... 2-3 taps later on the wall and Beth had joined me in Jr's bedroom. I left Little Man in her care, stripped his bed and brought it downstairs to rinse in the sink and start laundry. She started a bath and put him in it. After the bath was over, we diapered-dressed him and brought him into the living room with us. He immediately got off my wife's lap and began playing with his toys. After 20 or so minutes of watching him play - chase the cats - laugh/smile, we thought it was a one time shot and he was doing better.
Yeah... Wrong again.
About an hour later I woke up to what I thought were intense coughing sounds.
You guessed it - wrong again.
More cottage cheese looking stuff, mixed with the mandarin oranges and some of the noodles we had given him the previous day. I'm thinking by this time... "I'm pretty sure I'm gonna puke soon. I better find a recepticle for this so we aren't cleaning up a bigger mess." Luckily, I was able to get through this second episode with only mild gagging, however I was quickly losing my reserves. So... another sheet/pajama change later, he was back in bed for what I was hoping would be the last time that night.
Yeah.... Wrong again.
One more puking episode... One more change of sheets... One more change of pajamas... he was back in the living room playing with his cars.
After a few minutes of playing he began showing signs of being tired, so back to bed we went. Again... hoping this would be the last time.
Yeah... wrong again.
I woke up to the most horrible noise a father could wake up to. Some one had snuck into my home, grabbed a dull knife from the kitchen, and was torturing my son with it in his bedroom. I quickly threw off the covers and raced to his room. I found my wife attempting to hold a squirming little boy who wanted no part on either one of us. He was kicking, squirming, screaming, and just causing general mahem.
We brought him to the livingroom and put him down on the floor, where he continued to wail and thrash around - something I had never seen before. He would not respond to my voice and was acting like I wasn't even there. After several more long minutes, I was becoming quite concerned. Then... just as quickly as it started, it stopped. My wife and I looked at each other, looked at Reece and thought, "well, what ELSE could happen tonight?"
After putting him to bed once again, we began digging into the "What to expect - toddler years" book. Turns out Reece was having a possible night terror. We learned from the book not to interact (that includes any touching except to keep him safe) with him as this will prolong the terror. The child will seems awake, however will not recognize you and will attempt to "get away" from whatever is spooking him.
It is now about noon and he is still sleeping. Beth and I are exausted but are afraid to go back to sleep due to the fact every time we do, he pukes, craps, or has a night terror.
Its gonna be a looooong day.
Yep.. you guessed it. He found one yesterday.
He took a couple of good pulls from it before Beth or I could get it away from him. This was about 3pm yesterday. After going all day without puking, crapping, or mixing the two... we thought we had dodged a bullet.
Yeah... wrong again.
About 3am I woke up to the Little Man crying. It was no big deal to me... he's been pushing a molar through for the past couple days... so I went in to pick him up, give him a pat on the back, turn Pooh back on and go back to bed. I knew something was wrong when I walked in the room and smelled what I thought was a ripe diaper.
Yeah... wrong again.
Turned the light on and noticed what looked to be cottage cheese on his forehead. Upon further inspection, found more of this unidentifed cottage cheese on his sheets. VOMIT!!!
Oh no!
Now... you can poop on me, pee on me, leak your bodily fluids on me, and I'm fine. A little digusted, but fine.
Puke on me?!? There's gonna be trouble.
So... 2-3 taps later on the wall and Beth had joined me in Jr's bedroom. I left Little Man in her care, stripped his bed and brought it downstairs to rinse in the sink and start laundry. She started a bath and put him in it. After the bath was over, we diapered-dressed him and brought him into the living room with us. He immediately got off my wife's lap and began playing with his toys. After 20 or so minutes of watching him play - chase the cats - laugh/smile, we thought it was a one time shot and he was doing better.
Yeah... Wrong again.
About an hour later I woke up to what I thought were intense coughing sounds.
You guessed it - wrong again.
More cottage cheese looking stuff, mixed with the mandarin oranges and some of the noodles we had given him the previous day. I'm thinking by this time... "I'm pretty sure I'm gonna puke soon. I better find a recepticle for this so we aren't cleaning up a bigger mess." Luckily, I was able to get through this second episode with only mild gagging, however I was quickly losing my reserves. So... another sheet/pajama change later, he was back in bed for what I was hoping would be the last time that night.
Yeah.... Wrong again.
One more puking episode... One more change of sheets... One more change of pajamas... he was back in the living room playing with his cars.
After a few minutes of playing he began showing signs of being tired, so back to bed we went. Again... hoping this would be the last time.
Yeah... wrong again.
I woke up to the most horrible noise a father could wake up to. Some one had snuck into my home, grabbed a dull knife from the kitchen, and was torturing my son with it in his bedroom. I quickly threw off the covers and raced to his room. I found my wife attempting to hold a squirming little boy who wanted no part on either one of us. He was kicking, squirming, screaming, and just causing general mahem.
We brought him to the livingroom and put him down on the floor, where he continued to wail and thrash around - something I had never seen before. He would not respond to my voice and was acting like I wasn't even there. After several more long minutes, I was becoming quite concerned. Then... just as quickly as it started, it stopped. My wife and I looked at each other, looked at Reece and thought, "well, what ELSE could happen tonight?"
After putting him to bed once again, we began digging into the "What to expect - toddler years" book. Turns out Reece was having a possible night terror. We learned from the book not to interact (that includes any touching except to keep him safe) with him as this will prolong the terror. The child will seems awake, however will not recognize you and will attempt to "get away" from whatever is spooking him.
It is now about noon and he is still sleeping. Beth and I are exausted but are afraid to go back to sleep due to the fact every time we do, he pukes, craps, or has a night terror.
Its gonna be a looooong day.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Vehicles suck!
Good morning, readers....
Thought I'd fill you in on my vehicle situation.
About a month ago now the oil light on my wife's Expedition began flashing on and off. So... I checked the oil... or so I thought. Ford at some point switched to a different dipstick (looks like heavy wire with a lead weight at the end) By the way... here's a tip for ya... it doesn't wipe off well with just a towel. The raised lettering on the tip holds oil gunk. Use a paper towel and press hard.
So anyway... I checked the oil, thought there was plenty in there, and decided that it was a bad sending unit going to the gauge.
Well... it wasn't.
As my wife was turning into the station running a fire call, the engine seized. Yeah... I know... whoops. My bad. So there my truck sat for a week while we shopped for motors to put in it. We now have the motor - good deal by the way... 1000 bucks for a '04 with 53000 miles on it - much better than my '98 with 240,000 miles on it. The bad news is - it's hunting season and I can't find anyone to put it in for less that a bazillion dollars. I'd try it myself, but I always end up with leftover parts.
So there my truck sits, patiently waiting for someone to replace her insides.
Now... on to my car.
Shortly after the truck died, my car began shaking.... and shaking... and shaking. At first, it was like hardly noticable... noticiable enought to me who drives 70,000 miles a year in it, but probably not to the regular passenger. However... it kept getting more and more worse as the days went on. At first it almost felt like a miss in the engine, leading me to believe that I had a bad plug or wire. And it would only miss upon acceleration, further leading this belief to be true. So.... 47 bucks in plugs and wires later, the car still shook. And I MEAN shook. The next time I drove it to work, it shook so bad I thought my brain was gonna rattle right outta my head.
It finally got so bad that A) I actually started wearing my seatbelt cuz I was SURE the front end was going to fall off and B) I borrowed another car to take to work so my wife could take my in for repair.
So in it went to McCalls Garage in Lowell (if you ever get the chance to take your car there, do it. They don't charge for inspections, and they are CHEAP.) Good people. After a short test run, they tell me they think it's something to do with a motor mount or somethin', and that it wouldn't be too expensive to fix. I thought, "cool! sounds good to me!" Upon further inspection, it was found to be a bad front axle. I thought, "this is going to cost me a bunch of money I don't have." However.... $125 later, it was out the door runnin' just as smooth as the day I got it.
So anyway... I'm going to sell my car, my truck, and anything else with a motor and buy me a horse. If the horse breaks it's leg, I'll shoot it and buy me another horse. Much simpler method, don't you think?
Thought I'd fill you in on my vehicle situation.
About a month ago now the oil light on my wife's Expedition began flashing on and off. So... I checked the oil... or so I thought. Ford at some point switched to a different dipstick (looks like heavy wire with a lead weight at the end) By the way... here's a tip for ya... it doesn't wipe off well with just a towel. The raised lettering on the tip holds oil gunk. Use a paper towel and press hard.
So anyway... I checked the oil, thought there was plenty in there, and decided that it was a bad sending unit going to the gauge.
Well... it wasn't.
As my wife was turning into the station running a fire call, the engine seized. Yeah... I know... whoops. My bad. So there my truck sat for a week while we shopped for motors to put in it. We now have the motor - good deal by the way... 1000 bucks for a '04 with 53000 miles on it - much better than my '98 with 240,000 miles on it. The bad news is - it's hunting season and I can't find anyone to put it in for less that a bazillion dollars. I'd try it myself, but I always end up with leftover parts.
So there my truck sits, patiently waiting for someone to replace her insides.
Now... on to my car.
Shortly after the truck died, my car began shaking.... and shaking... and shaking. At first, it was like hardly noticable... noticiable enought to me who drives 70,000 miles a year in it, but probably not to the regular passenger. However... it kept getting more and more worse as the days went on. At first it almost felt like a miss in the engine, leading me to believe that I had a bad plug or wire. And it would only miss upon acceleration, further leading this belief to be true. So.... 47 bucks in plugs and wires later, the car still shook. And I MEAN shook. The next time I drove it to work, it shook so bad I thought my brain was gonna rattle right outta my head.
It finally got so bad that A) I actually started wearing my seatbelt cuz I was SURE the front end was going to fall off and B) I borrowed another car to take to work so my wife could take my in for repair.
So in it went to McCalls Garage in Lowell (if you ever get the chance to take your car there, do it. They don't charge for inspections, and they are CHEAP.) Good people. After a short test run, they tell me they think it's something to do with a motor mount or somethin', and that it wouldn't be too expensive to fix. I thought, "cool! sounds good to me!" Upon further inspection, it was found to be a bad front axle. I thought, "this is going to cost me a bunch of money I don't have." However.... $125 later, it was out the door runnin' just as smooth as the day I got it.
So anyway... I'm going to sell my car, my truck, and anything else with a motor and buy me a horse. If the horse breaks it's leg, I'll shoot it and buy me another horse. Much simpler method, don't you think?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Is 8 Ounces Enough?
So what is it about Homecoming that makes teenagers think they need to get dressed up, rent limos, and eat at 5 star restaurants?
My wife and I went out with SlackerMom and her husband the other night to a very nice eatery (and when I say nice, I mean they have someone who's job it is is to walk around with one of them tiny broom and dustpan sets to clean the crumbs from your table between each course). In short, it's fancy.
My wife and I were there first, so we seated when J and S walked in. The atmosphere was nice. Lighting was good... sound level was good... everything you'd expect in a 5 star place. We were seated close to one other couple in our side of the restaurant. All was good.
And then THEY showed up. You know who I'm talking about. THEY. The 17 year old, loud, obnoxious, uncouth, no mannered teenagers.
They began walking in 2-3 at a time, not waiting for a hostess to seat them. Of course, this causes those already seated to shout out the names of the wanderers from across the room. The dB level has now gone up at least 3 fold by now.
Once THEY are finally all seated (12 in all), THEY began looking at the menu. Obligatory comments made regarding the prices of the dinner selections were now being shouted from one end of the table to the other. Apparently adequate research into the dinners prices was not done by the group so not enough money was brought to cover the cost of the check.
And then she said it....
"Is eight ounces enough?"
I'm not sure which one of them said it. All I know is that it sent everyone in our group into hysterics. S and I looked at each other and began making comments who would be blogging about it first. (She won, by the way... only because I had to spend the entire day yesterday working on my car.)
"Is eight ounces enough?" I guess it must have been. Four of the girls ended up ordering one (1) twelve ounce filet and splitting it four ways. Three ounces apiece... thats like an appetizer to me for pete's sake.
After they had placed their order, of course the cameras HAD to come out. I don't know about you, but I try to avoid picture taking (especially with a flash) at a nice place to eat. (Unless of course Carrie Underwood were to walk in... I'd be stealing someone's camera for photo frenzy... especially if she were wearing tight fitting jeans with a white t-shirt and a hat with her pony tail sticking out of it - but I digress...) I understand that you want to remember the evening, but c'mon... turn off the flash! Take your pictures outside of the restaurant. Or the limo. Or at the dance. And if your camera has one of the features that sends lit design aross the room so the flash can adjust itself, turn that off too. I spent the evening watching different shades of green checkerboards and red balls flash themselves against the wall. I thought I was in a disco with as much light that was displayed.
And then the fun REALLY started. I guess the girls were getting bored, so they began putting the fake tealight candles between their breasts. (Which had they been a little older, might have been fun for J and I) More pictures of course. I mean, who wouldn't want to remember that they went to a 5 star place and put fake candles between their boobies. The guys were hoot'n and hollerin' for more. The atmosphere was now that of BW3's.
OK... I'm really not trying to be judgemental. I'm trying to be understanding that it was an important night to them and they wanted to celebrate. However, until you have the class on how to behave at a nice place - perhaps you should stick to TGI Friday's.
My wife and I went out with SlackerMom and her husband the other night to a very nice eatery (and when I say nice, I mean they have someone who's job it is is to walk around with one of them tiny broom and dustpan sets to clean the crumbs from your table between each course). In short, it's fancy.
My wife and I were there first, so we seated when J and S walked in. The atmosphere was nice. Lighting was good... sound level was good... everything you'd expect in a 5 star place. We were seated close to one other couple in our side of the restaurant. All was good.
And then THEY showed up. You know who I'm talking about. THEY. The 17 year old, loud, obnoxious, uncouth, no mannered teenagers.
They began walking in 2-3 at a time, not waiting for a hostess to seat them. Of course, this causes those already seated to shout out the names of the wanderers from across the room. The dB level has now gone up at least 3 fold by now.
Once THEY are finally all seated (12 in all), THEY began looking at the menu. Obligatory comments made regarding the prices of the dinner selections were now being shouted from one end of the table to the other. Apparently adequate research into the dinners prices was not done by the group so not enough money was brought to cover the cost of the check.
And then she said it....
"Is eight ounces enough?"
I'm not sure which one of them said it. All I know is that it sent everyone in our group into hysterics. S and I looked at each other and began making comments who would be blogging about it first. (She won, by the way... only because I had to spend the entire day yesterday working on my car.)
"Is eight ounces enough?" I guess it must have been. Four of the girls ended up ordering one (1) twelve ounce filet and splitting it four ways. Three ounces apiece... thats like an appetizer to me for pete's sake.
After they had placed their order, of course the cameras HAD to come out. I don't know about you, but I try to avoid picture taking (especially with a flash) at a nice place to eat. (Unless of course Carrie Underwood were to walk in... I'd be stealing someone's camera for photo frenzy... especially if she were wearing tight fitting jeans with a white t-shirt and a hat with her pony tail sticking out of it - but I digress...) I understand that you want to remember the evening, but c'mon... turn off the flash! Take your pictures outside of the restaurant. Or the limo. Or at the dance. And if your camera has one of the features that sends lit design aross the room so the flash can adjust itself, turn that off too. I spent the evening watching different shades of green checkerboards and red balls flash themselves against the wall. I thought I was in a disco with as much light that was displayed.
And then the fun REALLY started. I guess the girls were getting bored, so they began putting the fake tealight candles between their breasts. (Which had they been a little older, might have been fun for J and I) More pictures of course. I mean, who wouldn't want to remember that they went to a 5 star place and put fake candles between their boobies. The guys were hoot'n and hollerin' for more. The atmosphere was now that of BW3's.
OK... I'm really not trying to be judgemental. I'm trying to be understanding that it was an important night to them and they wanted to celebrate. However, until you have the class on how to behave at a nice place - perhaps you should stick to TGI Friday's.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Followers
Ok.. one more quick post this morning.
So I have gained two followers over the last few days. (Hope to gain more, spread the word :-) )
I'm trying to see the followers own blogs, however I seem unable to do that.... anyone know how? I have slacker-moms blog already, but I can't seem to find Kristens....
So I have gained two followers over the last few days. (Hope to gain more, spread the word :-) )
I'm trying to see the followers own blogs, however I seem unable to do that.... anyone know how? I have slacker-moms blog already, but I can't seem to find Kristens....
Security
Good morning, readers!
So.... I get to be a security officer again. SlackerMom (confessions-slackermom.blogspot.com) signed me up to be security at their annual MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) sale. The job is unpaid, however she promised me a trip to one of my favorite restuarants downtown (Louis Bentons Steak House) if I were to sign up. Now... anyone who knows me knows that I'll do just about anything for a good steak. (What I didn't tell her is that I'll also do just about anything for a good cause, paid or not... but TOO LATE!) From what I've heard, MOPS is a great program and worthy of my time. I'm even trying to get my wife to join.
Now... here's my issue.
Once (maybe twice, I'm not sure) a year, MOPS has a large garage style sale to raise money for their organization. They get people to donate lightly used items and put on a great sale (think "Day After Thanksgiving") that has people lined up outside the door for hours to get in. They have great deals on clothes, appliances, you name it, they got it. The prices are VERY reasonable and affordable.
So... why the need for security?
Apparently there are some moms out there who feel they are entitled to some of this reasonable and affordable stuff for free. They believe that they don't have to pay for these donated items. They think the world owes them and they are going to take what is due. Sad, isn't it? Its sad to me that a non-profit organization who needs to have fundraisers to stay open (to these very moms who are shoplifting) requires security officers at their event.
So thats where I come in. I get to roam the halls looking for people who feel they are better than everyone else so they don't have to pay for their merchandise.
Now I know that times are tough right now. Michigan has a large unemployement rate, and people are looking to scrimp by wherever they can. But c'mon.... there are programs out there to help. I'll bet that if you seriously needed help, and talked to the person who runs the MOPS sale, explained that little Jimmy hasn't a stitch of clothes to wear - that he was going to go hungry if you had to make a decision to buy clothes or food, I'll be you would leave there with at LEAST one good outfit, a good pair of shoes, and a winter coat. I mean, there is no mom out there who likes to see little Jimmy suffer. (However... please do not show up in your BMW sporting your Rolex watch and $400 dollar Coach purse. Yes I know that even rich folk can have a hard time, but sell your B'mer, Rolex, and Coach and buy a Buick, Casio, and knockoff)
Whew! That feels better to get off my chest. Sorry if I seem mad or jaded.... I just don't like to see this kind of crime at a fundraiser. If you're going to steal... go steal a laptop from Bill Gates. He can afford to lose a laptop or two. I kid! I kid!
So watch out ladies... I have brought my handcuffs, flashlight, and pepper spray out of retirement. Well OK... the handcuffs were never retired... just relegated for uhhhhh other uses. Oh... and I've gained a few pounds - so when I tackle you to the ground be prepared to have the wind knocked out of ya.
So.... I get to be a security officer again. SlackerMom (confessions-slackermom.blogspot.com) signed me up to be security at their annual MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) sale. The job is unpaid, however she promised me a trip to one of my favorite restuarants downtown (Louis Bentons Steak House) if I were to sign up. Now... anyone who knows me knows that I'll do just about anything for a good steak. (What I didn't tell her is that I'll also do just about anything for a good cause, paid or not... but TOO LATE!) From what I've heard, MOPS is a great program and worthy of my time. I'm even trying to get my wife to join.
Now... here's my issue.
Once (maybe twice, I'm not sure) a year, MOPS has a large garage style sale to raise money for their organization. They get people to donate lightly used items and put on a great sale (think "Day After Thanksgiving") that has people lined up outside the door for hours to get in. They have great deals on clothes, appliances, you name it, they got it. The prices are VERY reasonable and affordable.
So... why the need for security?
Apparently there are some moms out there who feel they are entitled to some of this reasonable and affordable stuff for free. They believe that they don't have to pay for these donated items. They think the world owes them and they are going to take what is due. Sad, isn't it? Its sad to me that a non-profit organization who needs to have fundraisers to stay open (to these very moms who are shoplifting) requires security officers at their event.
So thats where I come in. I get to roam the halls looking for people who feel they are better than everyone else so they don't have to pay for their merchandise.
Now I know that times are tough right now. Michigan has a large unemployement rate, and people are looking to scrimp by wherever they can. But c'mon.... there are programs out there to help. I'll bet that if you seriously needed help, and talked to the person who runs the MOPS sale, explained that little Jimmy hasn't a stitch of clothes to wear - that he was going to go hungry if you had to make a decision to buy clothes or food, I'll be you would leave there with at LEAST one good outfit, a good pair of shoes, and a winter coat. I mean, there is no mom out there who likes to see little Jimmy suffer. (However... please do not show up in your BMW sporting your Rolex watch and $400 dollar Coach purse. Yes I know that even rich folk can have a hard time, but sell your B'mer, Rolex, and Coach and buy a Buick, Casio, and knockoff)
Whew! That feels better to get off my chest. Sorry if I seem mad or jaded.... I just don't like to see this kind of crime at a fundraiser. If you're going to steal... go steal a laptop from Bill Gates. He can afford to lose a laptop or two. I kid! I kid!
So watch out ladies... I have brought my handcuffs, flashlight, and pepper spray out of retirement. Well OK... the handcuffs were never retired... just relegated for uhhhhh other uses. Oh... and I've gained a few pounds - so when I tackle you to the ground be prepared to have the wind knocked out of ya.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Changes...
I have been contemplating some changes to my life recently.
For 18+ years I have been a firefighter. I have walked around with a pager strapped to my hip, ready to respond at a moments notice to my neighbor who needs my help. I have saved peoples' lives by preforming life saving CPR. I have cradled the child that has lost everything in a house fire on Christmas eve. I have given the bad news to parents that their son/daughter is not coming home because they were killed by a drunk driver. I have also gotten up at 3am for the 80y/o lady stuck in the bathtub. I have done all this without looking for thanks or limelight.
But at what price am I or my family paying for this? I cannot count how many times I have had to turn down dinner invitations, ball game tickets, golf outtings, invitations to visit family because of fire department related issues. (Duty weekends, training, large calls) Last night I had to turn down (again) what I think would have been an excellent prime rib dinner and a good time with some friends because it was fire department training night. And it wasn't even a good training... it was "check the trucks" nights. Do I really want to continue missing opportunities? What about when my son is in school and I have to miss the school play because of a fire call... will he understand? Or will he just know that his father wasn't there.
I keep telling myself... "dude... you've dedicated over 18 years of your life to the fire service. Isn't that enough? Thats over half your life! Maybe its time to let some of the younger folk take up the cause for awhile. You've pulled your weight. You've done your best. Now move on and enjoy your friends and family for awhile." Each time I have these thoughts, I hear from others "you can't quit! You'll miss it too much. It's who you are." Maybe who I am and who I WANT to be are two different people. Maybe I no longer WANT to be the guy that gets out of bed at 4am because someone has flu-like symtoms (who has had them for two days and decides at 4am that thats the best time to go to the doctor, but instead of waiting till 9am when the office opens instead calls 911.) Maybe I no longer WANT to get up at 2am because some drunk guy who just closed down the bar runs his car into a tree. Maybe I no longer want to work with some of the guys who aren't happy on the department unless there is controversy and strife. I don't even remember what normal life was like BEFORE the deparment.
I guess I need to think about it for awhile....
For 18+ years I have been a firefighter. I have walked around with a pager strapped to my hip, ready to respond at a moments notice to my neighbor who needs my help. I have saved peoples' lives by preforming life saving CPR. I have cradled the child that has lost everything in a house fire on Christmas eve. I have given the bad news to parents that their son/daughter is not coming home because they were killed by a drunk driver. I have also gotten up at 3am for the 80y/o lady stuck in the bathtub. I have done all this without looking for thanks or limelight.
But at what price am I or my family paying for this? I cannot count how many times I have had to turn down dinner invitations, ball game tickets, golf outtings, invitations to visit family because of fire department related issues. (Duty weekends, training, large calls) Last night I had to turn down (again) what I think would have been an excellent prime rib dinner and a good time with some friends because it was fire department training night. And it wasn't even a good training... it was "check the trucks" nights. Do I really want to continue missing opportunities? What about when my son is in school and I have to miss the school play because of a fire call... will he understand? Or will he just know that his father wasn't there.
I keep telling myself... "dude... you've dedicated over 18 years of your life to the fire service. Isn't that enough? Thats over half your life! Maybe its time to let some of the younger folk take up the cause for awhile. You've pulled your weight. You've done your best. Now move on and enjoy your friends and family for awhile." Each time I have these thoughts, I hear from others "you can't quit! You'll miss it too much. It's who you are." Maybe who I am and who I WANT to be are two different people. Maybe I no longer WANT to be the guy that gets out of bed at 4am because someone has flu-like symtoms (who has had them for two days and decides at 4am that thats the best time to go to the doctor, but instead of waiting till 9am when the office opens instead calls 911.) Maybe I no longer WANT to get up at 2am because some drunk guy who just closed down the bar runs his car into a tree. Maybe I no longer want to work with some of the guys who aren't happy on the department unless there is controversy and strife. I don't even remember what normal life was like BEFORE the deparment.
I guess I need to think about it for awhile....
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