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| I don't really know what else needs to be said re: this: |
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Couldn't End on That...
Life is pretty good for me. I work Tue - Friday and then am off all of next week. My time off is going to be well-spent. Starting with 12/27, Brian Guitar, Joe, Matthew, and I are rehearsing from 11-3. I'm planning to take Karen to work Thursday and Friday mainly so that I am up in the morning and not sleeping too late. I'm not exactly sure what I will do on Friday. As I wrote about earlier, life is busy!
Change Focus
I don't mean to make light of the situation in CT - there are 20 kids *KIDS* who are dead, thanks to someone who went into the school and shot those kids. They are just starting to have the funerals for these kids who all had so much ahead of them.
Now, personally, I don't feel the need to have a gun. I don't feel like I need to carry it around with me when I go to the mall or to church or to the grocery store. That's me. I know others want to carry one and are trained to do so.
The big debate will be whether teachers should be trained in how to shoot a gun. Whether they should have a gun in a locked closet in their classroom. Whether that would have saved those 20 kids. We are just now starting to hear about the heroics of the teachers. I don't mean to make one teacher above any other teacher when I single out what I heard about the principal. The principal of the school confronted the gunman and was shot. There was a teacher who hid students in a closet and told the gunman the kids were in the gym. The gunman shot the teacher, but those kids that she protected were survivors of this ordeal.
I won't pretend to know the answers. I won't pretend that anything I say or do now will bring those kids and teachers back. I agree that there needs to be something done. We can't live like this. Every day there are all these terrible things happening in our world. Some blame violence in movies and video games.
WWE Catchup
So the TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) PPV was last night. The new heel (bad guy) stable is called the Shield. They were in a 3 on 3 match with Kane, Daniel Bryan, and Ryback. Tonight, Ric Flair showed up to announce the WWE wrestler of the year award. It was awarded to John Cena (I wasn't surprised) so, of course, CM Punk came out and got into a verbal sparring match with Flair. Punk is on crutches after having knee surgery so he says, "I could kick your ass with one leg." Flair marched down to the ring and lured Punk in. Punk broke a crutch over Flair's back. Flair then put a thumb in Punk's eye and Punk bailed. Flair put Paul Heyman (the walrus) into a figure four leglock, which is Flair's signature move. When he released Heyman, the Shield appeared in the crowd, like they always do. They came down as Raw went to commercial. As the show resumed, Kane and Daniel Bryan had come down to the ring to help Flair. The Shield got the upper hand and was clearing the announcer table to put Flair through it. About the time that Flair was going to be put through it, Ryback made the save. He demolished the Shield and, with Kane and Daniel Bryan, Flair was hoisted onto the shoulders of Kane and Ryback to the cheers of the live audience. WHAT A WELL-SCRIPTED sequence! It put Flair over as the hero and it made Kane, Bryan, and Ryback as the new dominant current face team.
Birthday Present Recap
The kids gave me a shirt, 4 undershirts, a bag of M&Ms, and gloves. They put each in a paper bag with a handle. On the bottom of the inside of the bag, they wrote a letter. H A M S were the four letters. The four letters were a clue for my other present. What was my other present?
Editor's Note: It's 12/4/2017 and the answer to the question requires additional research.
Editor's Note: It's 12/4/2017 and the answer to the question requires additional research.
Cool Drum Solo
Karen bought me a Crush Acrylic snare drum last year. The rest of my drums are Ludwig Vistalites but they are clear like the ones in this ----22 minute ---- video.
Fiscal Cliff Catch-Up
Obama, Boehner close to agreement on 'fiscal cliff'
In pursuit of a compromise, President Obama has offered to slow the growth of Social Security benefits and lowered his demand for new taxes, according to a person familiar with the talks.
But Obama's counteroffer to House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) seeks additional stimulus spending and a two-year extension of the federal debt limit, which Republicans have so far opposed.
In pursuit of a compromise, President Obama has offered to slow the growth of Social Security benefits and lowered his demand for new taxes, according to a person familiar with the talks.
But Obama's counteroffer to House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) seeks additional stimulus spending and a two-year extension of the federal debt limit, which Republicans have so far opposed.
Blue Man Group
One of the live events that is circling the realm of possibility is to see the Blue Man Group in Cedar Rapids in March.
If I knew they were going to do this medley, I would definitely be there!
If I knew they were going to do this medley, I would definitely be there!
Master of Puppets ... again
Just for the record, I do NOT get tired of listening to this song. I have known about its existence for at least 20 years. I didn't get the release on CD until after Karen and I were dating. Karen bought me the Master of Puppets release and Ride the Lightening release on CD in, I think, 1990.
G-n-R Revisited
I really wish I could remember more of the G-n-R concert in Iowa City. I remember bits and pieces.
I remember Brian May opened (this was after Freddie Mercury's death) and had Cozy Powell playing drums. I remember thinking Powell was a much more interesting drummer than Matt Sorum. I also remember there was a banner someone had made that said "May is God" and not really liking that - I believe God has not come back to earth as a human. I recognize Brian May as a talented guitarist - I get it - but I also just fundamentally reject the idea that man is worthy of being worshiped like a God.
As for the G-n-R portion, I do not remember any songs they played except they played "Patience" while sitting on a couch they had brought up from backstage. I don't remember if they were late getting on stage.
I went to this concert with members of Old Stew - James, Stoff, and Shoebox. We walked from Carver Hawkeye Arena, where the concert was held, to the Mill in downtown Iowa City. I was at the Mill last Monday, 12/10/12. It made me think about how far I had walked. I was in disbelief. It seemed to be a short walk back in 1993-ish, but in 2012, wow, it was a long ways!
http://www.hennemusic.com/2012/12/axl-rose-talks-about-guns-n-roses.html
I remember Brian May opened (this was after Freddie Mercury's death) and had Cozy Powell playing drums. I remember thinking Powell was a much more interesting drummer than Matt Sorum. I also remember there was a banner someone had made that said "May is God" and not really liking that - I believe God has not come back to earth as a human. I recognize Brian May as a talented guitarist - I get it - but I also just fundamentally reject the idea that man is worthy of being worshiped like a God.
As for the G-n-R portion, I do not remember any songs they played except they played "Patience" while sitting on a couch they had brought up from backstage. I don't remember if they were late getting on stage.
I went to this concert with members of Old Stew - James, Stoff, and Shoebox. We walked from Carver Hawkeye Arena, where the concert was held, to the Mill in downtown Iowa City. I was at the Mill last Monday, 12/10/12. It made me think about how far I had walked. I was in disbelief. It seemed to be a short walk back in 1993-ish, but in 2012, wow, it was a long ways!
http://www.hennemusic.com/2012/12/axl-rose-talks-about-guns-n-roses.html
Fist Up Baby, Fist Up!
I like to read articles like this. It makes me feel comfortable. I like the fact that the product, going to concerts, hasn't actually changed. It makes it an event to stay up late. When I would drink at concerts over the last decade, I would sometimes not drink the weekend before because I wanted to "save up" for a 'good time' with my friends at the show. I am really happy to be sober. I like knowing that if I attend all of those live events I wrote about in my previous post, I will do so sober.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelecatalano/2012/12/03/music-for-the-metallica-generation-talking-to-mike-doughty-about-aging-and-music/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelecatalano/2012/12/03/music-for-the-metallica-generation-talking-to-mike-doughty-about-aging-and-music/
FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!
What was that crap about writing a blog post every day?
I have stockpiled some interesting things and while Karen sleeps, I will release the stockpile as separate posts, since that is what they were supposed to be. Not going to number them b/c I'm not sure what the point of that would be.
I do know there are a mere nine days until Christmas! I wish I could reveal what Karen and I are getting the kids this year. I don't think the kids read this blog but I'm sure not going to be responsible for them accidentally finding out about our plans for them prior to 12/25.
Before I get to the purge of stuff I wanted to post, I will summarize some of what has been going on in my life since I last wrote - which is, after all, the purpose of a blog.
Karen, Mark, Susie, and I went to the Isle casino in Waterloo on Saturday night. Mark and I sat at the same blackjack table. I started with $20 and walked away with $42.50. I don't want to believe I know what I am doing because then, I think, I will want to return. I liked hanging out with Mark. It was the longest I've played blackjack at a casino on $20. Mark thinks he's a good luck charm or some bullshit like that.
There are some upcoming live events and concerts that I am trying to work my way into.
I have stockpiled some interesting things and while Karen sleeps, I will release the stockpile as separate posts, since that is what they were supposed to be. Not going to number them b/c I'm not sure what the point of that would be.
I do know there are a mere nine days until Christmas! I wish I could reveal what Karen and I are getting the kids this year. I don't think the kids read this blog but I'm sure not going to be responsible for them accidentally finding out about our plans for them prior to 12/25.
Before I get to the purge of stuff I wanted to post, I will summarize some of what has been going on in my life since I last wrote - which is, after all, the purpose of a blog.
Karen, Mark, Susie, and I went to the Isle casino in Waterloo on Saturday night. Mark and I sat at the same blackjack table. I started with $20 and walked away with $42.50. I don't want to believe I know what I am doing because then, I think, I will want to return. I liked hanging out with Mark. It was the longest I've played blackjack at a casino on $20. Mark thinks he's a good luck charm or some bullshit like that.
There are some upcoming live events and concerts that I am trying to work my way into.
- We received confirmation yesterday that the entire family is going to go see the Harlem Globetrotters in Moline, IL, on Saturday 1/5. It will be Dave, Chris, Emily (?), Rachel (?), Adam (?), Mark, Susie, Jonathan, Tyler, Karen, Megan, Alex, and I. Alex and I are very excited. Karen and I saw them sometime between 1998 and 2010. Alex was a baby but the exact year is fuzzy. We didn't think, at the time, Megan would like it.
- Next is ShineDown, Three Days Grace, and POD in Moline, IL, on Friday, 2/1. I don't have confirmation that I will get a press pass (aka free ticket), but I'm pretty sure I will get a photo pass.
- A couple of weeks later Doro is playing with Sister Sin opening in Waterloo on 2/15. Kevin wants me to go to that show. I am not the biggest fan of either band - can't name a single song from each band - but it may still be worth going to go see them.
- The next night, Mark's band plays at the Hub in Cedar Falls for what may be their second-to-last gig. Their singer is moving to St. Louis after school is out. My vote is to advertise it as their last gig and then, if a final gig materializes in the spring, advertise it as "Back by Popular Demand, for One Night Only!" I don't know what their marketing budget is. I know our friends Jeff and Karen are planning to go see them as well.
- The following weekend, 2/23, Sevendust plays in Waterloo with Lacuna Coil opening. I need to spend some time with Lacuna Coil to get more familiar with their music. As for Sevendust, I had a beer with Lajon, the lead singer back in 1998 when they were opening for Megadeth. There was also the night they headlined the Five Seasons Center for a charity concert. Admission was $5 and I drank waaayyyy too much. I saw one of their songs before passing out. I have been sober for nearly two years so I don't see that repeating again. Then, just over a year ago, they were on the bill with Five Finger Death Punch in Waterloo and played an excellent set. I'm anxious to see them again, though, to be honest, I have no clue what their songs are about. I've always thought Lajon needs to sing more clearly - he kind of mumbles.
- Bon Jovi plays in Des Moines on Sunday, April 14, 2013, but that is only lightly written in pencil on my calendar. I have never, ever, seen them in concert. I have also enjoyed their music since their debut, always considering "She Don't Know Me" to be one of many personal anthems for how I view high school.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Damnit, Put on Your Wet Jeans and Like It!
I called on Saturday to report that our dryer doesn't heat. After my unsatisfactory phone call with them, they sent an email regarding completing a customer survey. If you read carefully, you will figure out from whom this dryer was purchased.
I wrote this:
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Our dryer doesn't work. It will take a week to get a part. In this day and age of overnight delivery, crazy that we have to wait a week. Do you know how much laundry a family of 2 teenagers and 2 adults have? Can you accept not drying your clothes for a week? It's unacceptable. The earliest a tech could come is Thursday, but (ha ha) the part we need can't be ordered at the same time. It's either order a part -or- schedule a tech. Why can't you have the part ordered so that it can arrive by Thursday? Again, this is just crap. I was not happy to have purchased a product from Sears on Saturday. I didn't expect someone to come out on Saturday but I didn't expect to not be able to address the problem until NEXT Saturday. That's a lot of laundry we have to take to the laundromat and dry. I already bought a dryer and I've had it for a year. Why am I paying to use a dryer at a laundromat? That makes no sense. Here's what should have happened. Sears should have ordered the part so that it arrived on Wed. and scheduled the tech for Thur. That's what should have happened
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Then the idiots sent a second email to confirm my Saturday appointment that had a link to a customer survey, this time allowing 2000 characters. I wrote this, which started with the message above as a base.
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Our dryer doesn't work. It will take a week to get a part. In this day and age of overnight delivery, crazy that we have to wait a week. Do you know how much laundry a family of 2 teenagers and 2 adults have? Can you accept not drying your clothes for a week? It's unacceptable. The earliest a tech could come is Thursday, but (ha ha) the part we need can't be ordered at the same time. It's either order a part -or- schedule a tech. Why can't you have the part ordered so that it can arrive by Thursday? Again, this is just crap. I was not happy to have purchased a product from Sears on Saturday. I didn't expect someone to come out on Saturday but I didn't expect to not be able to address the problem until NEXT Saturday. That's a lot of laundry we have to take to the laundromat and dry. I already bought a dryer and I've had it for a year. Why am I paying to use a dryer at a laundromat? That makes no sense. Here's what should have happened. Sears should have ordered the part so that it arrived on Wed. and scheduled the tech for Thur. That's what should have happened. I will not recommend Sears to another soul because of what happened on Saturday. It was poor customer service to say, "You can take a chance on Thursday that the tech can fix it BUT IF HE CAN'T you have to wait another week for a part my computer system will not let me order. There should be some sort of override in the software, requiring Admin-level credentials - meaning a supervisor - should be able to use professional judgment, all in the name of satisfying a customer. You, reading this. What if you couldn't dry your clothes for a week? How much inconvenience would you experience? What if it was a washer that you bought NOT THAT LONG AGO and the only response for your product, which is under warranty, is "too bad" That's like buying a cafeteria plan for a college student and then having that student spend their own money on pizza that isn't part of that plan. It's stupid and wasteful.
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I wrote this:
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Our dryer doesn't work. It will take a week to get a part. In this day and age of overnight delivery, crazy that we have to wait a week. Do you know how much laundry a family of 2 teenagers and 2 adults have? Can you accept not drying your clothes for a week? It's unacceptable. The earliest a tech could come is Thursday, but (ha ha) the part we need can't be ordered at the same time. It's either order a part -or- schedule a tech. Why can't you have the part ordered so that it can arrive by Thursday? Again, this is just crap. I was not happy to have purchased a product from Sears on Saturday. I didn't expect someone to come out on Saturday but I didn't expect to not be able to address the problem until NEXT Saturday. That's a lot of laundry we have to take to the laundromat and dry. I already bought a dryer and I've had it for a year. Why am I paying to use a dryer at a laundromat? That makes no sense. Here's what should have happened. Sears should have ordered the part so that it arrived on Wed. and scheduled the tech for Thur. That's what should have happened
|
Then the idiots sent a second email to confirm my Saturday appointment that had a link to a customer survey, this time allowing 2000 characters. I wrote this, which started with the message above as a base.
|
Our dryer doesn't work. It will take a week to get a part. In this day and age of overnight delivery, crazy that we have to wait a week. Do you know how much laundry a family of 2 teenagers and 2 adults have? Can you accept not drying your clothes for a week? It's unacceptable. The earliest a tech could come is Thursday, but (ha ha) the part we need can't be ordered at the same time. It's either order a part -or- schedule a tech. Why can't you have the part ordered so that it can arrive by Thursday? Again, this is just crap. I was not happy to have purchased a product from Sears on Saturday. I didn't expect someone to come out on Saturday but I didn't expect to not be able to address the problem until NEXT Saturday. That's a lot of laundry we have to take to the laundromat and dry. I already bought a dryer and I've had it for a year. Why am I paying to use a dryer at a laundromat? That makes no sense. Here's what should have happened. Sears should have ordered the part so that it arrived on Wed. and scheduled the tech for Thur. That's what should have happened. I will not recommend Sears to another soul because of what happened on Saturday. It was poor customer service to say, "You can take a chance on Thursday that the tech can fix it BUT IF HE CAN'T you have to wait another week for a part my computer system will not let me order. There should be some sort of override in the software, requiring Admin-level credentials - meaning a supervisor - should be able to use professional judgment, all in the name of satisfying a customer. You, reading this. What if you couldn't dry your clothes for a week? How much inconvenience would you experience? What if it was a washer that you bought NOT THAT LONG AGO and the only response for your product, which is under warranty, is "too bad" That's like buying a cafeteria plan for a college student and then having that student spend their own money on pizza that isn't part of that plan. It's stupid and wasteful.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Chaos
It was chaos at work. Sonia is in India for the next week and Matthew is gone until Monday. All tech writing-related inquires came to me. I don't mind, but it meant I didn't work on what I wanted to work on, which is to audit all [outrageously large number] help text files. I have today, though, and am making good progress on the effort.
Funny
WinZip... ah. It's obsolete now that Windows added support for the .zip file format. I don't need WinZip for anything in my daily job. I used to use it to create .exe files that were placed on a website for clients to download. It was a purchased version... I think.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
We Have a Toshiba
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| It is unfortunate that we now expect company-branded crapware on OEM computers, but this is just a bit much! |
Monday, December 3, 2012
Alex Bent
I have watched this video multiple times and, each time, when he gets to the 3:31 mark and my jaw drops even further than the floor.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Disaster Averted
There was an empty space on the wall. A picture should be hung. Not just any picture. A rectangular picture. With three snowmen. The same picture that was hung last Christmas season.
I'm asked. Where is it?
In the basement.
I need it.
Okay.
Days pass.
Did you bring up my picture?
No, I didn't see it downstairs.
It has to be down there. I want it on the wall today.
Okay.
I return to the basement.
I find it! YEAH!!
The moral? Remember where the snowmen are placed at the end of the Christmas season.
I'm asked. Where is it?
In the basement.
I need it.
Okay.
Days pass.
Did you bring up my picture?
No, I didn't see it downstairs.
It has to be down there. I want it on the wall today.
Okay.
I return to the basement.
I find it! YEAH!!
The moral? Remember where the snowmen are placed at the end of the Christmas season.
Here's the Plan. Kazoos.
So here's the plan. I need 60 blog posts to reach 1000 by 1/1/2013 and there are 30 days left in the year. That means 2 posts a day. I promise to my 3 faithful (?) followers that I will not be satisfied with posting 60 posts of junk.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Cruising Along
I have been spending my Saturday, first the AM, now stretching into the PM, burning the MP3s from the LP to MP3 conversion.
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