Vacation

You'll have to forgive me. I've been busy. I'm going to be off-line for a few days and will write when I return. Have a safe 4th of July. Enjoy these fireworks until I return. I can honestly say that I have at least 12 things I want to write about but do not have time to dive into them. In the meantime, here's a teaser. What rock star's home is selling for 12 million dollars?

Peace

I should not go into Best Buy. I don't venture within very often but when I do, it's like a haze comes over my 'good judgment' side of my brain. I went in the store today to purchase two mice, one for my dad and one for me. My work PC is a laptop and I have grown tired of the touchpaddy thing as a way to work within MS Word. I walked by a bin that proclaimed a sign "Movies - $3.99 Each."

Of course, I pause and look at what they have. There's some horror movies and movies I've never heard of. There's some comedies and dramas that I wouldn't consider assets to my DVD collection.

Then I see two jewels.

The first jewel is "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," a movie I have a love/hate relationship with. It was in high school, at some time, when I watched a VHS version of this movie at John Rath's house. I remember the occasion quite vividly. I remember laughing at the clever use of humor. I walked out of JR's house thinking, "Mom and Dad will love this movie." I rented it, popped it into the VCR and... it felt like I had rented an albatross for my neck. I thought it was the dumbest thing I had ever seen. I never drank alcohol in high school so it wasn't funny at JR's house because of a drunken lapse of judgment. I don't really know exactly why it wasn't funny when I watched it with my parents. Could have just been the atmosphere and the hype I had built up for them to watch it. Needless to say, I do not believe we sat through the entire movie that night. At some point, the movie was stopped and, somewhat dejected, I returned it to the video store the next day.

Fast forward to May 2011 and it was on TV, for some odd reason. Megan and I watched a little part of it. We watched the knights clap coconuts together as they galloped their fake steeds. She thought it was funny and, in fact, has referenced it several times since then. So there it was today, in the bargain bin, a measly $3.99. I had to have it.

The other movie I saw has a less thrilling history with me. It is the often criticized Starship Troopers. I like the film. I think it has a good plot and dazzling special effects.

Proceeding with the continuation of the trip to Best Buy, we are almost out the door when I decide to look at CDs. Another of my weaknesses in Best Buy. I see a bargain bin of CDs, each priced at $4.99. AH!! There's an Aerosmith live CD (blech!) and then I see it. Loverboy's "Get Lucky", a gem from my youth. There are even bonus tracks, including a demo of their hit single "Working for the Weekend."

All three of these jewels are still in the shrinkwrap. I should partake in them from 7/5-7/7!

Dio, Yngwie, and Death

1. This is an interesting video.
   

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   Editor's Note - the video in question was removed from youtube.com

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2. It's no secret that my former employer has had to go through a lot in the last year and one-half. In 2/2010, my co-worker's daughter was found dead. In 8/2010, my co-worker was killed in a bike v. truck accident. Also that month, my manager's mother passed away. Now I have learned that the woman hired to replace me has died. All of this is in the same department. I feel bad that I can not really do anything for them.
3. Today was my 3 week anniversary at my new job. I really like my job. I have been contributing in my department and I really like my manager.
4. My son cannot sleep and should have been asleep over one hour ago. Now my daughter just came downstairs.

Eat Shit and Live? Really?

this is totally gross

Snakes... why'd it have to be snakes?

This video makes my skin crawl.

700

There was a movie called 300, there is a game called 500, but this is my 700th blog post.

Too Many Women Catching Up

It may just be hype, it may just be an act, but wow. Looking at the body language on both of these people... Wow. They both look terribly uncomfortable and neither of them is putting on an act for the camera. It looks like genuine contempt in Tweed's eyes and Simmons... he's obviously being grilled.

Drum Week on Letterman

I had absolutely no idea that this was on TV this week but, apparently, David Letterman was having a Drum Solo week and here is Neil Peart's performance.

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Time Moves Fast

It has been an amazingly awesome and excellent week. I have gone to bed ~midnight and awakened refreshed and excited to go to work. The last week has truly been the best week in my professional career since shortly before October 15th, 2010. From 10/18 to April was hell and I have been waiting for a week like 5/31 to 6/7 for a long time.
There are three things I would list that have made this new employer, this new step in my career, this new opportunity, and this new era in my life.

1. People are nice
2. My opinion is respected
3. Co-workers who think documentation is important.

There is nothing negative going on in my life.

Clothes, clothes, CLOTHES!!!

Wow. We went through Alex's closet and took out two huge black garbage bags of clothes to give to a nephew. The boy was a trooper, going through 2 hours of grueling 'try this on' type commands from his mother and I. Megan, for her chore, worked on her own clothes and, apparently, was able to perform the task of organizing her closet properly without the commands to try different outfits on. As far as I'm concerned, Alex has 'entered' 7th grade. It is now his responsibility to determine what fits him and what does not. If it does not fit, I expect him to let us know.

Good Vid