To The Lady In The Silver Gray Corolla In Front Of Me At The 965-Commerce Drive Intersection:
If the light turns yellow and the rear tires of your car are already in the intersection, you don't have to stop. Indeed, at that point it's probably for the best that you keep going forward, because the person behind you waiting at the light has probably A: seen the light turn yellow, B: seen your car in the intersection, C: assumed that you weren't some sort of idiot who was going to hit the brakes and back up out of the intersection and therefore D: gunned it in order to make it through the yellow light, thus resulting in a near collision.
Thanks
The Guy Who Almost Rammed Your Car This Afternoon
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Even More Admissions You Don't Expect Rachel Ray To Make
"I've got a pound of sweet sausage ready to go."
So do I, Rachel Ray.
So
do
I.
So do I, Rachel Ray.
So
do
I.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Why?
My son is now in the "Why?' stage of life. Almost everything he gets told is responded to with a "Why?" It's an interesting stage. On the one hand, it's an opportunity to educate, to inform, to teach. On the other, it's incredibly annoying. Plus, after you've said that the sun is hot because it's a flaming ball of gas, there really isn't a satisfactory answer to the question "Why is the sun a ball of gas?" other than "Because". Still, it's nice to be regarded as someone who knows everything, because I know it won't be long until I'm regarded as someone who knows nothing.
Where's The Beef? In MY Pants!
Man arrested after trying to shoplift two steaks from John's Grocery by stuffing the steaks down his pants. Film at eleven, story in the Press Citizen.
Iowa City police arrested a man Thursday after trying to steal two Angus ribeye steaks from the meat cooler at John's Grocery at 401 E. College St.
But the defendant, Earl Scott Surette, 47, of North Liberty didn't just try to walk out with the steaks. According to police, an employee at John's saw Surette stick the two steaks down his pants and walk out the front door without paying.
...
Police reports state Surette had red, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. He also had an open container of alcohol and "directed profanity at officers." The police report also states Surette had "problems with judgment."
Problems with judgment. Good thing that's not a crime.
Iowa City police arrested a man Thursday after trying to steal two Angus ribeye steaks from the meat cooler at John's Grocery at 401 E. College St.
But the defendant, Earl Scott Surette, 47, of North Liberty didn't just try to walk out with the steaks. According to police, an employee at John's saw Surette stick the two steaks down his pants and walk out the front door without paying.
...
Police reports state Surette had red, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. He also had an open container of alcohol and "directed profanity at officers." The police report also states Surette had "problems with judgment."
Problems with judgment. Good thing that's not a crime.
Monday, August 13, 2007
So Where Were We Part Deux
Okay, I'm pushing violating my own "You must post at least once a month" rule, and I'm sure we're all tired of that You Tube post by now. So where were we?
Oh yeah, I had just been punted from my job. What have you been doing since then, Dweeze, you're all wondering. My, you're a nosy bunch. But I'll tell you anyway.
As for the job search - well, let's call it more of a job scan. I haven't really put much effort into it yet, for a variety of reasons. I did just finish (last Friday) a temporary assignment at my old employer. It wasn't in the department I was in when I got canned, but the department I was in 10 years ago. It was strange doing work I used to do, work I was good at though didn't really love. It was also strange working with people I worked with a decade ago. Indeed, aside from three people who were new, everyone else was still there from when I was there last. That struck me, and continues to strike me, as rather bizarre. It's an operations department, the people are all very smart, and only a few have left for greener pastures. The rest have stayed.
It was very nice and yet very wierd. It was nice because it offered me some small shred of dignity after getting tossed out unceremoniously after 15 years. Nice because of the number of people who stopped me to tell me how shocked they had been that I got let go. I got told several times that "If you could get re-organized out, no one is safe." Very nice words to hear. It was weird, in addition to the situation described above, because I feld sadder leaving last Friday than I did the day I was canned, and I feel emptier today than I did the first day after I got canned. I'd say it was because this time I don't think I'll ever be back, but I didn't think I would ever be back last time. No, it's because when I left last time I was in shock, and I stayed in shock for a week or so. No shock this time. Just the sensation of being unemployed.
Still, it has it's benefits. Chief among them is the fact that later today I will see Ethan for the first time since March. He'll be here for a few months, and me not working means I can spend much more time with him than I could if I were employed. So that's a benefit, and I'm sure I'll have more to say about it later.
Another benefit has come healthwise. I was going to make this another post, but that was a couple of months ago. Shortly before I was let go, I had finally decided to go to the doctor. I hate going to the doctor, but I was having pains in the chestal area, and I don't want to ever catch Landru in the "Major Cardiac Event" category. This, however, wasn't enough to get me to go to the doctor. The tipping point came during AED-Defibrulator training, when I realized that I didn't want to be a statistic. The doctor did an EKG, and the heart was normal. No worries there. My weight, on the other hand, as well as my blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, were extremely high.
I've been put on medication for the blood pressure and cholesterol and I'm watching the diet and exercising for the blood sugar and weight. I'm down over 20 pounds in two months time, and the blood pressure has dropped considerably as well. As much as I want to credit what I've done, it's more what I haven't done - without vending machines to go to, I go all day without snacking. I briefly shot up the first week of the temp assignment, then forced myself into a strict no-sweets policy during the day, and I'm back almost to where I was when I began the assignment. So that's a positive. I had been at 283, I had gotten to 258, and right now I'm at 262. My goal by the end of the year is 220. Ambitious, yes, but worth it if I can get there. For one thing, those chest pains? Gone. I don't know if it was related to carrying the extra weight around, but they're gone.
One other positive thing. The casino in Riverside is having a $100,000 guarantee tournament Labor Day weekend. Seats are $600, or you can win a seat in a $30 qualifier tournament. Guess who won a seat? Yep. There were over 70 people in the tourney, 6 people won seats, and I was one of them. Later that week I went to a cash tourney, made the final table, took tenth place, and won $65 from a $30 entry. In three trips, to three different tourneys, I've made the final table twice. Not bad if I do say so myself.
Anyway, that makes for a nice catch-up post. I'll do my best to keep posting. Or posting more regularly. Or keeping regular. Something like that.
Oh yeah, I had just been punted from my job. What have you been doing since then, Dweeze, you're all wondering. My, you're a nosy bunch. But I'll tell you anyway.
As for the job search - well, let's call it more of a job scan. I haven't really put much effort into it yet, for a variety of reasons. I did just finish (last Friday) a temporary assignment at my old employer. It wasn't in the department I was in when I got canned, but the department I was in 10 years ago. It was strange doing work I used to do, work I was good at though didn't really love. It was also strange working with people I worked with a decade ago. Indeed, aside from three people who were new, everyone else was still there from when I was there last. That struck me, and continues to strike me, as rather bizarre. It's an operations department, the people are all very smart, and only a few have left for greener pastures. The rest have stayed.
It was very nice and yet very wierd. It was nice because it offered me some small shred of dignity after getting tossed out unceremoniously after 15 years. Nice because of the number of people who stopped me to tell me how shocked they had been that I got let go. I got told several times that "If you could get re-organized out, no one is safe." Very nice words to hear. It was weird, in addition to the situation described above, because I feld sadder leaving last Friday than I did the day I was canned, and I feel emptier today than I did the first day after I got canned. I'd say it was because this time I don't think I'll ever be back, but I didn't think I would ever be back last time. No, it's because when I left last time I was in shock, and I stayed in shock for a week or so. No shock this time. Just the sensation of being unemployed.
Still, it has it's benefits. Chief among them is the fact that later today I will see Ethan for the first time since March. He'll be here for a few months, and me not working means I can spend much more time with him than I could if I were employed. So that's a benefit, and I'm sure I'll have more to say about it later.
Another benefit has come healthwise. I was going to make this another post, but that was a couple of months ago. Shortly before I was let go, I had finally decided to go to the doctor. I hate going to the doctor, but I was having pains in the chestal area, and I don't want to ever catch Landru in the "Major Cardiac Event" category. This, however, wasn't enough to get me to go to the doctor. The tipping point came during AED-Defibrulator training, when I realized that I didn't want to be a statistic. The doctor did an EKG, and the heart was normal. No worries there. My weight, on the other hand, as well as my blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, were extremely high.
I've been put on medication for the blood pressure and cholesterol and I'm watching the diet and exercising for the blood sugar and weight. I'm down over 20 pounds in two months time, and the blood pressure has dropped considerably as well. As much as I want to credit what I've done, it's more what I haven't done - without vending machines to go to, I go all day without snacking. I briefly shot up the first week of the temp assignment, then forced myself into a strict no-sweets policy during the day, and I'm back almost to where I was when I began the assignment. So that's a positive. I had been at 283, I had gotten to 258, and right now I'm at 262. My goal by the end of the year is 220. Ambitious, yes, but worth it if I can get there. For one thing, those chest pains? Gone. I don't know if it was related to carrying the extra weight around, but they're gone.
One other positive thing. The casino in Riverside is having a $100,000 guarantee tournament Labor Day weekend. Seats are $600, or you can win a seat in a $30 qualifier tournament. Guess who won a seat? Yep. There were over 70 people in the tourney, 6 people won seats, and I was one of them. Later that week I went to a cash tourney, made the final table, took tenth place, and won $65 from a $30 entry. In three trips, to three different tourneys, I've made the final table twice. Not bad if I do say so myself.
Anyway, that makes for a nice catch-up post. I'll do my best to keep posting. Or posting more regularly. Or keeping regular. Something like that.
Friday, July 06, 2007
You Tube Fun: Derek and the Dominos Edition
From one of the best albums of all time, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, from one of the best supergroups of all time.
Bell Bottom Blues
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
and, of course, Layla
Special Derek and the Dominos related bonus song:
Bell Bottom Blues
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
and, of course, Layla
Special Derek and the Dominos related bonus song:
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
So Where Were We?
Oh yeah. I lost my job.
Last Wednesday I got reorganized out of my position. I'm getting a very nice severance package - almost 15 weeks - plus full benefits during that time. It came as a shock - I was told at 2:00 pm that I had to be out by the end of the day. I was repeatedly reassured that it had nothing to do with job performance, that my job functions were being absorbed elsewhere. Still, though, it would be more understandable if it were performance-related. I mean, I gave 15 years of what, in the balance, can only be called very high-quality service to the company, and I get dumped without warning with a two hour window to get out? That's a shock. I wasn't even given a chance to try to find another position, even though I was assured that I was welcome to apply to get back into the company. On the other hand, who would want to return to a company that punted them that unceremoniously?
So, I find myself at a crossroads. No, not this crossroads.
Or this one
Or even this one
But a crossroads in my life as to what to do next. Fifteen weeks of severance means I'm not in a rush to find something, though if I could, it would mean double income for awhile. And that's always nice. And I haven't had a vacation in forever, so I've been taking it easy the past few days. But the hunt for the next phase of my life needs to begin in earnest soon. Yes, I'm waiting for my real life to begin.
I'm not ruling out anything, including moving to try to put our family back together in what would probably be our last chance of making things work. So if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to pass them on. In the meantime, as you can tell if you read the post below, I'm making nice headway on my "to be read" pile.
Coming Soon in the next installment of "So Where Were We?": Dweeze goes to the doctor and finds out he has high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and a troublesome blood sugar level.
Last Wednesday I got reorganized out of my position. I'm getting a very nice severance package - almost 15 weeks - plus full benefits during that time. It came as a shock - I was told at 2:00 pm that I had to be out by the end of the day. I was repeatedly reassured that it had nothing to do with job performance, that my job functions were being absorbed elsewhere. Still, though, it would be more understandable if it were performance-related. I mean, I gave 15 years of what, in the balance, can only be called very high-quality service to the company, and I get dumped without warning with a two hour window to get out? That's a shock. I wasn't even given a chance to try to find another position, even though I was assured that I was welcome to apply to get back into the company. On the other hand, who would want to return to a company that punted them that unceremoniously?
So, I find myself at a crossroads. No, not this crossroads.
Or this one
Or even this one
But a crossroads in my life as to what to do next. Fifteen weeks of severance means I'm not in a rush to find something, though if I could, it would mean double income for awhile. And that's always nice. And I haven't had a vacation in forever, so I've been taking it easy the past few days. But the hunt for the next phase of my life needs to begin in earnest soon. Yes, I'm waiting for my real life to begin.
I'm not ruling out anything, including moving to try to put our family back together in what would probably be our last chance of making things work. So if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to pass them on. In the meantime, as you can tell if you read the post below, I'm making nice headway on my "to be read" pile.
Coming Soon in the next installment of "So Where Were We?": Dweeze goes to the doctor and finds out he has high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and a troublesome blood sugar level.
Brief Editorial Comment
Hmm. Posts are being written yet not appearing. In that case, I'll take this opportunity to tell the Bush Administration:
YOU GO TO HELL! YOU GO TO HELL AND YOU DIE!
YOU GO TO HELL! YOU GO TO HELL AND YOU DIE!
Potterpalooza!
I have a confession to make. I've never read any of the Harry Potter books. At least, I never had, prior to last Sunday.
Sure, I owned them all. I had a nice box set of the first five books and a trade paperback of the sixth, but other than an aborted attempt to read the first one with Drew a couple of years ago, nothing. I had told myself I would wait until the final book was about to be released, then read them.
So I waited. Finally, getting a touch nervous about the fact that the last book is due in a few weeks and I might not get them all read by then, I figured I better get started. I picked up the first one Sunday and haven't looked back since.
It's Wednesday, four days later, and I'm a couple hundred pages into the fourth book. I shouldn't just have everything read by the time the final book comes out, I might have everything read before the next movie comes out.
By the way, I haven't seen any of the movies, either. At this point, I don't know what my course of action will be in regards to those, whether I should wait til all seven movies are released and then watch them all, or get through with all the books and then watch the movies. Tough call, that.
It's funny. Part of me is pissed at myself for not reading these before. They're quite good, quite quick reads. On the other hand, reading them all back to back shows more clearly, I think, how skilled Rowling is at putting all of the chess pieces on the board, not just in the book in which a particular action takes place but in the series as a whole. It shows more starkly how minor items in one book come into their own in a later volume. I can't put them down, and look forward to making it through Half-Blood Prince and then getting the final piece of the puzzle.
A very hearty four paws up.
Sure, I owned them all. I had a nice box set of the first five books and a trade paperback of the sixth, but other than an aborted attempt to read the first one with Drew a couple of years ago, nothing. I had told myself I would wait until the final book was about to be released, then read them.
So I waited. Finally, getting a touch nervous about the fact that the last book is due in a few weeks and I might not get them all read by then, I figured I better get started. I picked up the first one Sunday and haven't looked back since.
It's Wednesday, four days later, and I'm a couple hundred pages into the fourth book. I shouldn't just have everything read by the time the final book comes out, I might have everything read before the next movie comes out.
By the way, I haven't seen any of the movies, either. At this point, I don't know what my course of action will be in regards to those, whether I should wait til all seven movies are released and then watch them all, or get through with all the books and then watch the movies. Tough call, that.
It's funny. Part of me is pissed at myself for not reading these before. They're quite good, quite quick reads. On the other hand, reading them all back to back shows more clearly, I think, how skilled Rowling is at putting all of the chess pieces on the board, not just in the book in which a particular action takes place but in the series as a whole. It shows more starkly how minor items in one book come into their own in a later volume. I can't put them down, and look forward to making it through Half-Blood Prince and then getting the final piece of the puzzle.
A very hearty four paws up.
True Tales of the Drive-through
Overheard at the Arby's drive-through today:
Employee: What kind of shake sir?
Customer: Uhm. Uhm. Do you mean flavor?
Employee: Yes sir. What flavor of shake.
Customer: Oh. Uhm. Uhm.
Employee: We have chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and right now banana.
Customer: Uhm. Uhm. What were they again?
Employee: They're listed on the menu board right beside you sir.
Customer: Uhm. Okay. Uhm. Just give me the first one.
Employee: Chocolate sir?
Customer: Sure.
This has been another edition of True Tales of the Drive-through!
Employee: What kind of shake sir?
Customer: Uhm. Uhm. Do you mean flavor?
Employee: Yes sir. What flavor of shake.
Customer: Oh. Uhm. Uhm.
Employee: We have chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and right now banana.
Customer: Uhm. Uhm. What were they again?
Employee: They're listed on the menu board right beside you sir.
Customer: Uhm. Okay. Uhm. Just give me the first one.
Employee: Chocolate sir?
Customer: Sure.
This has been another edition of True Tales of the Drive-through!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Revealed: The Never Before Seen Final Shot From The Final Episode Of The Prisoner
Via Kissing Suzy Kolber. As Drew says there, “I dare you not to watch it 40 times in a row.” Although, having watched it 40 times in a row, I think it really needs a "The end...?" to close it out.
(Note: Moved to the top because I just CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS!)
(Note: Moved to the top because I just CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS!)
You Tube Fun - Warren Zevon Edition
You can find anything online. You can find the set list from an October 1984 Warren Zevon concert you attended. This was a great show by a great artist. I mean, look at the songs:
01 Lawyers, Guns & Money 02 Detox Mansion 03 Boom Boom Mancini 04 Johnny Strikes Up The Band 05 Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner 06 Banter 07 Jungle Work 08 Accidentally Like A Martyr 09 Band Intros 10 Sentimental Hygiene 11 The Envoy
01 Veracruz 02 Carmelita 03 Play It All Night Long 04 Ain't That Pretty At All 05 Reconsider Me 06 Mohammed's Radio 07 Werewolves Of London 08 Poor Poor Pitiful Me 09 Excitable Boy 10 Desperados Under The Eaves 11 Jeannie Needs A Shooter
I recently purchased Crystal Zevon’s memoir of Warren and two of the three Rhino CDs, Stand in the Fire and The Envoy. Remarkably, it is the first time either has had a major CD release. Even more remarkably, both are as good as I remember them being. Indeed, The Envoy is better than I recall. So without further adieu, some Warren Zevon You Tube.
Lawyers, Guns, and Money
Excitable Boy
Jeannie Needs A Shooter
Keep Me In Your Heart
01 Lawyers, Guns & Money 02 Detox Mansion 03 Boom Boom Mancini 04 Johnny Strikes Up The Band 05 Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner 06 Banter 07 Jungle Work 08 Accidentally Like A Martyr 09 Band Intros 10 Sentimental Hygiene 11 The Envoy
01 Veracruz 02 Carmelita 03 Play It All Night Long 04 Ain't That Pretty At All 05 Reconsider Me 06 Mohammed's Radio 07 Werewolves Of London 08 Poor Poor Pitiful Me 09 Excitable Boy 10 Desperados Under The Eaves 11 Jeannie Needs A Shooter
I recently purchased Crystal Zevon’s memoir of Warren and two of the three Rhino CDs, Stand in the Fire and The Envoy. Remarkably, it is the first time either has had a major CD release. Even more remarkably, both are as good as I remember them being. Indeed, The Envoy is better than I recall. So without further adieu, some Warren Zevon You Tube.
Lawyers, Guns, and Money
Excitable Boy
Jeannie Needs A Shooter
Keep Me In Your Heart
Friday, June 15, 2007
You Tube Fun - Toby Keith Edition
How Do You Like Me Now?
Who’s That Man?
Stays In Mexico
Who’s Your Daddy?
Should’ve Been A Cowboy
Who’s That Man?
Stays In Mexico
Who’s Your Daddy?
Should’ve Been A Cowboy
Monday, June 11, 2007
Welcome To The World
A big Corn O'Copia welcome to Piper June, born to Matt and Sharon on June 10 at 5:20 PM. According to the press release (okay, the email sent to friends) she weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz and measured 19 3/4 inches and is a good eater and snuggler and has a lot of dark hair. Piper's mom is feeling good and her sisters are both thrilled to have a little sister. Welcome Piper!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
Steve Gilliard, RIP
I don't post about politics as much as I used to, for a couple of reasons. First off, I no longer feel like my viewpoint is being ignored. Hell, if polls are to be believed, most of my opinions are shared by the vast majority of people in the country right now. Secondly, there are many people writing about politics doing a much better job of it than I, or at least expressing the opinions I have better than I think I could. One of those people was Steve Gilliard, operator of the News Blog, the only blog where I ever contributed money. Well, after a longish illness, he passed away on Saturday. His was a wonderful voice, and I am among the many who will miss it.
Friday, June 01, 2007
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