We have NO DEAL!

Look! Just look. Look at what they've done to my truck. The birds. I was washing my truck this afternoon (just before another downpour, naturally) and noticed a large hole in the grill. The only thing I can figure is that it happened when I hit that bird a few weeks ago. So now there's like a gaping six inch wide hole in my grill. Great.




That's it! No more games. No more Mister Nice Animal Lover. No more swerving to miss the birds. It's on, now! It's on like Donkey Kong! On a good note, there doesn't appear to be any damage to the radiator. It's a pretty large hole though, so I'll have to get an estimate and try to get it fixed. On another note, I just can't believe I would not have noticed it in three weeks. I haven't washed my truck lately because of all the rain, but I was thinking I washed it a few days before the beach trip and the hole wasn't there then.

"If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me, time after time. If you fall, I will catch you. I'll be waiting, time after time..."

My Baby Takes The Morning Train...

Ah, back to the ol' 9 to 5, or 6 to 2. I was just thinking how Cassie said the other night that she has to get up at 3:15 AM and has to be at work by 4:30. Uh, no. It's all I can do to get here by 6... or 6:30ish. Whichever. I know that vacations and holidays are supposed to be relaxing, but after having both the past couple of weeks, I've been pretty tired physically. I do feel mentally refreshed, however, so that is good. I guess the holidays are just busier than normal days sometimes. But I'll still take one anyday.

Well, our seventeen straight days of rain ended yesterday. Seriously, we had received measurable rainfall seventeen days in a row, ending Sunday. Felt like I was back in Seattle (or in Seattle for the first time ever) for a while there. For those of you keeping your own Bone Quicken file for fun, I spent $143 on gas during June, down from $214 or whatever it was in May. The decrease in gas prices, along with the fact that I parked my truck for four days for the beach trip, were contributing factors.

Wow, I just had a triple sneeze. I'm normally a double sneezer. Anywho, wound down the long weekend yesterday going to my aunt's house. They grilled pork chops and ribs. They were excellent. Jessica came by and we ended up going to my little cousin's t-ball game. They lost, but she got on base both times. It breaks my heart to see her try to run. Dad called and said their computer was messing up and he couldn't get online (which is pretty much the equivalent of DEFCON 2), so I ran by there when I got home and got it going fairly easily.

Random funnies:
"Too bad they don't make Nintendo games based on getting dates with girls."

"Who just IM'd you?"
"Um, I dunno. Camgirl167497?"

"Man, it's a hot one. Like seven inches from the midday sun..."

Recapping the 3rd and 4th on the 5th

The memories of time spent with family and friends will linger on throughout our workaday lives. And on holidays, moreso than other days, we tend to spend more time with loved ones. Let us cherish these moments today, for we never know what tomorrow will bring. Let us be thankful for this land in which we live. Perfect? No. But thousands and thousands have given up the better part of their life to preserve our freedom.

Wow, it has been a busy weekend. After work Saturday, I met K for lunch at Applebees. Hadn't been there in at least a couple of weeks, and Davina was nice enough to comp my entire meal. What a sweetie. Decided to take advantage of the sun and go hit some tennis, but by the time we got up there it was starting to rain. So I put my racket cover over my head to try and wait it out, but it wasn't stopping, so we decided to play thru the shower. It finally stopped and the court dried up after about half an hour. Played for about 90 minutes, I think. It was sort of like a sneak preview of the Roddick/Federer Wimbledon final, except we weren't hitting near as hard and there were lots more balls hit into the net and stuff. After that, it was about 4:30. I headed home and tried to fix a couple of things on my truck. My right turn signal was blinking like really fast on my instrument panel, and when I checked it outside, the rear signal wasn't flashing at all. So I didn't know if there a fuse out or what. I checked the fuse and that wasn't it, so I figured a bulb must be out, causing it to be pulling too much current or whatever. Went to Wal-Mart and found a couple of bulbs. Turns out that fixed it. I also had to replace one of my license tag bulbs. Jessica called and wanted me to come to town to watch her little cousin's softball game. So I showered and went over there. Got home about 11:15. Watched the end of the NASCAR race at Daytona. Gordon won again, so I was happy about that.

After church Sunday, I watched the world hot dog eating championship on ESPN. (I'm sure you're not going to read that previous statement anywhere else.) Kobiyashi, or whatever his name is, downed 53 in like 12 minutes to win for the 4th year in a row. It was held at Nathan's on Coney Island. Sweet. Went over to Jessica's grandma's about 2:30 for 4th of July festivities. Had some good ribs and barbecue chicken for lunch. Then several of us walked down the street to play some tennis. It was blazing hot at first, then after about 45 minutes, a major storm blew up. We were dodging falling pinecones running back to the house like they were napalm bombs. Jessica's Mom got hit, but that was our only WIA. Man, those things really become projectiles in a storm. It remained pretty cloudy, but once the rain stopped, we went swimming at this huge house in Woodland Hills subdivision. I'm talking three stories, probably 5-6 baths, three decks, pool, hot tub, etc. There was a nice Brunswick pool table downstairs, but I couldn't get anyone to play with me. At some point during the evening, Kyle called and said Cassie had called him wanting to know if we were going to Point Mallard. He said was trying to decide whether to do that with her or go play video games with Jon and Kevin. That cracked me up. I'm pretty sure he was kidding. Pretty sure. I was like, "Dude, if you pick playing video games over doing something with Cassie, you've got a problem." Fortunately, he made the right choice. Anyway, after swimming we headed over to Point Mallard ourselves to watch the fireworks show. Well, not actually to Point Mallard. We sat in some alley a few blocks away, but still had a good view. Man, watching those fireworks really makes you appreciate the fireworks last year over East River in NYC more.

I left around 11:00. Gave K a call and he said they were searching for some dinner. I was, too, since I had not eaten since lunch. So I met him and Cass up at Steak & Stink for some imitation food. I do enjoy the cheese fries. Had some good conversation, and discussed a possible NYC trip for Labor Day Weekend. Including Bunny, the four of us are really easy-going and get along well. Left there around 12:30. Matt had been calling, wanting to know if I wanted to come out and shoot fireworks. So, I rode by there for a bit. They were down to just a few by the time I got there. Hung out there for awhile and got home around 2:00. Just relaxing today, although I need to clean house a bit at some point. Anyway, it was a good, busy weekend, and I didn't hit my head any the entire weekend.

Holiday funnies:
K: "I left early. Went home and worked on the dance recital."
C: "That sounds funny. You went home to work on the dance recital."
J: "Yes, he went home, put on his tights and danced in front of a mirror."

"I've never played tennis with anyone who had their own towels before."

"I see her face and I can't let go. She's in my dreams and my heart, so let me know. Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?"

My Maria!

Sharapova Defeats Williams, Wins Wimbledon

Way to go, babee! I'm sure we'll be celebrating tonight. Or, you'll be celebrating and I'll be home surfing the net and watching NASCAR. Whichever. I'm sure everyone is going to jump on the bandwagon now. Go ahead. For more, check out wimbledon.org and Maria World.

In other news, the Tour de France begins today. Go Lance!

"I understand that lovin' a man shouldn't have to be this rough. You ain't the only one who feels like this world's left you far behind. I don't know why you gotta be angry all the time..."

That's a short year right there

Time only seems to go by faster and faster. Sure doesn't seem like it has been a year since the NY trip last 4th of July. Let's see, a year ago at this time, we were driving up from Richmond. Got into our hotel in East Rutherford around 9:30 on July 3rd, I think. We were going to go over into the city that night for a bit, but we weren't exactly "in the know" on the bus schedules. Apparently, just because you are at a bus stop doesn't necessarily mean that every (or any) bus is going to stop there, as we found out as bus after bus rode by with the people on board laughing at us. Anyway, that was the best trip ever. Looks like there is the possibility of a return trip later this year. It's kinda neat how you lose track of time and days while you're on vacation. Then you get back to reality, and everything is so dependent on time and date and day and a schedule.

I am having to work today until 1:00, then I won't have to be back until Tuesday, thankfully. Went and played a little pool last night. Headed to Logan's for dinner after that. I guess K didn't want to risk it, so he ordered water, but my salad and tea were free. Amazing how quickly we seem to have achieved "regular" status there. Pretty cool.

Not sure what is going on the rest of the holiday weekend. Maybe soon we will have a day without rain. I think it has rained at least a little for the past 2-3 weeks, seriouslah. And when it hasn't been raining, it has been cloudly. I'm ready for the sun. Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th ;-)

"Slow down. It feels like time is flying by me now. I'm not asking for this crazy old world to stop spinning around and around. Just slow down. What I'd give to have back all those long afternoons, I wasted being bored..."

I'm not crazy, but I could be a little unwell

The other day as I'm getting ready to go cut the grass at Dad's, I go to get a bandana to put on my head while I'm outside. Then I start to the bathroom so I can look in the mirror as I tie it. About halfway to the bathroom, I realize that instead of a bandana, I have picked up the iron! What the crap?! I mean, that's not even closely related. And besides, I picked the iron up off the ironing board. Where else would I be carrying it anyway?

Anyway, that is just one example. Such incidents have become alarmingly more frequent in recent weeks for me. I know everyone has episodes of absent-mindedness, but the increasing number of these episodes concerns me a bit. Add that to the fact that I have banged my head really, really hard at least three different times the past couple of weeks, and I wonder if there is a connection. Jessica has what I call a doll-house doorway between the computer room and the bathroom, and there is probably just under six feet of clearance under it. One day I banged into it really hard and cut a little place on top of my head about an inch long. It like scabbed over and stuff. (Gross, I know.) Then Saturday in Nashville, we were walking upstairs in the parking garage and I leaned down to look underneath the stairway into the garage and banged my head right into the steel railing. Ouch! I had a headache for the next couple of hours after that one. And there have been a couple of more similar incidents recently. It's like my awareness has deteriorated, and I forget to watch out for my own head.

My head feels really foggy and stuff a lot. So I just wonder if it's the multiple cases of head trauma I have suffered recently, or maybe the continued lack of sleep. I had a concussion one time, back in 1995 when I ran head-first into the goal post, not wearing a helmet, while playing a pick-up football game. (No, it wasn't on purpose.) That knocked me out cold and I was in the hospital overnight, but didn't notice any lingering symptoms, other than a previously undiscovered affinity to Sonny Bono music. What? But here lately, I've been feeling... I don't know... not good. Kinda like Steve Young on LSD or something.

"I don't mind spending everyday, out on your corner in the pouring rain. Look for the girl with the broken smile. Ask her if she wants to stay awhile, and she will be loved..."

Rhymin' and Stealin'

Gettin' ready to watch Amanda Bynes on Regis & Kelly, if I can get this piece of crap TV to work. Will Ferrell is on Letterman tonight. Be sure to catch that. He cracks me up. He does the best Harry Caray. I wonder if they have the best of Will Ferrell DVD out yet from SNL. Hmmm. I've been thinking, the white body/paint guy on Pimp My Ride sorta looks like a white Snoop Dogg. Whaddya think?

In other news, I ran by Wal-Mart yesterday to pick up a few things and they had "Licensed to Ill" for like $7.94. You can't pass that up. I never bought it on CD, just had it on cassette, so I had to pick it up. Needless to say, I've been rhymin' & stealin' ever since.

Tammy brought some chocolate oatmeal cookies to work. Mmmmm. I was craving some yesterday, so I had asked her for the recipe (not wanting to ask her to make me some). So today, she brings in the recipe, along with a batch of cookies. How nice. That makes me happier than dropping an f-bomb makes Dick Cheney.

Watched The Marine Biologist last night. A good ep, even if it is a little predictable ;-) I love when George is on the phone with Diane:

"Algae... obviously plankton. I don't know what else I can tell you. Oh, I just got back from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. I was living with the turtles." ROFL

"We got the combination, bass and highs. White castle fries only come in one size. What you see is what you get, and you ain't seen nothing yet..."

Magical Moments With J & K (Episode 1-1: The Zima)

One night at Shane and Melody's, we were playing Phase 10, and Tammy was over there. She was downing Zima's like they had bottled the fountain of youth in there or something. Anyway, she offers one to Kyle and he turns it up and takes a sip, or so I thought. I'm sitting there thinking, "Wow, I can't believe he just did that." Tammy is like, "Tastes like 7-Up, doesn't it?" Kyle says, "Yeah, it does." Well later, we get out to the car and I'm like, "So how was the Zima?" Kyle says, "Oh, I didn't really drink any. I just pressed my lips together and pretended to be drinking it." WOOOOOOOOOO!!!

"I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pickup truck. But I knew that I was out of luck, the day the music died..."