2006 Review and 2007 Predictions

Major things from 2006.
Started talking to chic in early part of year only to find out by mid summer she is absolutely nuts. Liked a lot for a while. Communication with her is back but only as a joke almost.
Bought a house that most of the readership has seen as did Poot.
Finished grad school in June and finally got my piece of paper in early December. I think I need to get that framed soon.
Had a big ass party to celebrate birthday and the two other good things listed above. Awesome time seeing everyone. Chic in first comment was a bit of a buzz kill there but oh well.
Joined a social club to get out and meet some other folks since bars = talking to the same few people I went out with and spending lots of cash and having a 50/50 shot at making a fool of my self.
Sat through a football season with lots of hype and promise to watch it fall apart down the stretch.
Met a couple chics that I enjoyed talking to and spending time with. The one in Charlotte is a straight friends zone thing. The one in the upstate is really awesome but may never speak to me again because of the train wreck that was this past Friday night. For those details talk to Poot, Agent, or Jessie. I recommend the second two for a clearer rendition of the night. Sometimes you get what you deserve.
I thought I had gotten better about getting plastered. The reality is, I am just as bad about it as I was if not worse. Instead of spreading it out though, I throw several days worth into individual evenings and end being a real dumb ass. Effects are probably worse this year than in ones past as the stories aren't any funnier but the things I do have much longer staying power.
Married off several friends and watched another get engaged. Congrats to all these folks.

2007 Predictions/Expectations/Direction
Keep doing the social club. Will try to do some of the stuff that aren't happy hour and sports related. Otherwise my under 35 network won't expand, which it hadn't really been doing as planned. I'll probably get frustrated with is by late spring and say screw it.
Get more involved in doing things for my professional organization as I am in line to be VP then President of the local chapter beginning fall of this year and rolling through 08-09 on the time line.
I will be attempting to cut back on the booze. It's fun at the time. It accomplishes nothing. I'm too old to act like I'm 20 on weekend nights. Any help or friendly comments to take it easy will be greatly appreciated. Hitting be in the head when I take these comments as a challenge to prove I can drink more will be acceptable and is officially encouraged. Please have someone print this off as a reminder I said it.
I'll actually get to the doctor and get my body checked out. I'm sure this crap with my skin will be something extremely odd and will continue to piss me off as it gets worse before they find a medicine that must be taken 14 times a day to get better. Alcohol won't be recommended with it, which won't be as big a deal. Unfortunately, neither will be lots of summer sun without 30+ sunscreen. My pastiness will continue.
I'll keep being a workaholic and hopefully doing well. Little things at work will continue at piss me off after they build up in which case I will look into other job options. The likelihood I actually change will be less than 5% as I get away with a lot at my office.
I'll enter the 07 college football season with high hopes. The Tigers will find a way to dash those. Some one will be the new Proctor.


Keep on keeping on and see what surprises pop up. There is always something out there that blindsides us. Who knows what it will be in 07.

Mid-Holiday Report

So this is how things have shaken out since the post last Thursday afternoon:
Got email diss from Charlotte girl and went to the party with Poot as mentioned in comments on the last post. Party was a pretty good time. Good drink special, decent music but low on scenery other than the girls that work at the place, which can never be complained about. Called to wish the other a Merry Christmas while traveling from one house to another on Christmas Eve. Rang three times, then sent to voice mail (typical when someone sees who is calling and hits the ignore option). No text messages, calls, or emails since, sent or received. Last night I drank a big glass of fuckitall and have said the hell with them. They have to make quite an effort for any further attention.
As a funny side note, I did get a Merry Christmas email from crazy girl from this summer. Apparently I am still in one of her email lists for some reason. I replied, more to be a smart ass than anything. I'm guessing she didn't realize I am still on that list though I haven't received anything in quite a while from her and she would peridocially send forwards to a large list of people. Anyway, referenced seeing her at a big social shin dig though I we never spoke. Wished her well and said to let me know if she ever wanted to get together or chat. I expect nothing more than a smart ass email from her or nothing at all. I have little desire to see her unless she decides she wants to prove some big talk in the bedroom from before. I really don't expect to hear from her at all.
On to nothing inparticular but at least not going to think/worry about where I stand with what was believed to be current options. Will laugh if I hear back from the crazy girl from summer. Any suggestions on how to fill some time this winter are more than welcome.

Confused...In Need of Help

I'm once again in need of the publics’ opinion. As Agent Orange once stated, I live in a Soap Opera and it entertains him greatly. Some of you are familiar with my efforts over the past few months, some, not so much.
Quick re-cap. There was slump buster that most of you know about. She has not been and won't be part of any future considerations of options and hasn't been in them for over a month now. Her purpose has been served outside of being a decent person to hang out with in town with other friends present. These other two individuals of interest have been at least acquaintances since early in the football season. One, a person I met here in Charlotte, the other, a person I met during the season that lives in the upstate.
Breakdowns:
Charlotte girl. Cute, kinda country as she grew up outside Aiken. Lives here and we know each other through friends. We have dinner or hang out occasionally. Tonight possibly being one of those nights. She will randomly call without prompt and talk for 10, 15, 20 minutes or so. She has mentioned New Years plans and asked if I want to join her and two of her girlfriends. I have somewhat declined as I am not interested in the uptown on NYE thing. The last two years this has been attempted and neither has been a rousing success due to crowds and additional cost in comparison to a normal night out. She is quite attractive as Poot can attest. I can’t read her or her intentions. Though she definitely shows interest in keeping contact. Joining three girls out sounds like a sucker punch for a free sober driver or an attempt at a set-up with one of the friends. As mentioned, I can’t read her though.
Upstate girl. Many of the general readership has met this one over the course of the last half the season of home games. She took my extra ticket to GT along with MD and NCSU. We hung out a little prior to the USuCk game as well. I stayed at her place the Saturday of NCSU and slept on the Aerobed as I intended. She has come to Charlotte, and stayed at the house with several of her friends for her birthday a couple weeks ago. Contact prior to that was sporadic via phone and every couple of days while checking on football plans via email prior to her visit. Now emails are at least every other day and we have spoken on the phone in similar intervals, with time lengths anywhere between 10 minutes and close to an hour. I am not making half of these initial calls/emails either. I even received an email this morning after she didn’t get a chance to call me back last night as she was out late, asking if she could call me back this evening while she was traveling. That came along with the text message sent late last night indicating she would call today instead. She has no NYE plans and they haven’t really been discussed past the fact she has friends that want to do something in downtown G’ville and may possibly do that. She, like I, am not too geared up for heading out on NYE with the clustered masses and would much prefer hanging out with friends or a house party. The funny part about this one is she has told mutual friend(s) that she doesn’t want to give me the wrong impressions or that things are “like that” between us. My quandary with this one is I don’t know many, if any girls, that aren’t interested in a guy that make this kind of effort to stay in regular contact with them. May be it’s the time of year and she’s single. Maybe she is interested. I was filled on the past relationships the other night without prompt so I know she is getting pretty comfortable with me and the info she passes along. Now if she would just make her intentions or wants more apparent, I would know how to handle things and which way to go.
Now, here is what I feel my options are and I would like general feedback to he above, alternate opinions, or your thoughts on the following:

Option 1- Hope to hang out with Charlotte girl tonight. If she makes a special effort to hang out, see what happens. Push to do something on NYE or at least the night before depending on how her out of town visitor situation plays out. Mainly hoping for her to show her cards tonight and go from there with her.

Option 2 – See how conversation with Upstate girl goes this evening, and assume it goes well as it has been, especially after the wealth of personal info given last time. Parlay it into additional conversation over the holiday weekend by phone and suggest to just hang out NYE with her doing something low key just to have something going on.

Option 3 – Let tonight happen as it may. If Charlotte girl doesn’t call to hang out, I go meet Poot at some party around 9:30 and get my conversation in with Upstate girl prior to or on the way to meet him. Don’t mention any plans unless they are presented to me by either female. Assuming none are, play things by ear over the next week. Don’t bring up the subject of NYE put don’t avoid it, and be as equally prepared to head out of town or out on the town next weekend as I would be to sit around and watch football all weekend.

There it is. Let the fun begin.

Number 3?

I hope not. Saw the crazy girl last night that I was big time "into" this spring/early summer. I didn't speak but it was the first time I had seen her out and about since I quit. Her friends that are so damn cool usually are having parties and I have been out of the downtown loop for a while. Presence was duly noted with an eye lock across the floor fora few seconds but no other acknowledgment or attempt to communicate. The only reason I ask if this could be good thing three is I had been waiting for this to happen at some point, especially with holiday social parties going on. I didn't know how I would react, had come up with some things to say, but didn't know if I actually would. Obvisouly I didn't. I'm not worried about it, and glad it has happened so now I'm not doing double takes when I catch a red head out of the corner of my eye. I thought it would be more of a bumping into her kind of thing in, forced contact and forced speaking but am the encounter or lack their of went as it did.
Now to cross my fingers and hope this was more of bound to happen thing and that my number three is actually waiting around the corner sometime in the next few days. Hopefully so as I believe these things happen in a week to 10 day time frames and that span will quickly have come and gone by the end of the week.


UPDATE: Number three has been completed. My class ring was found in Clemson by a meter reader and returned to the alumni association and should be back in my possession Friday.

Official

We all hear about bad things happening in three's. Maybe this is a week for me to have good things happen that way. With a little help from Paul, I finished decorating Casa del Wha for Christmas (not the holiday's) yesterday evening. I must say it actually looks like we are adults and know what we are doing. No foam finger tree toppers (sorry Poot), and no beer cans from the tree. I even have multiple wreathes hanging about.
The second good thing of the week was my MBA diploma showed up in the mail at the office today. Classes, as you probably know, have been done since June for me. I expected to get this sometime in September or October as my paperwork would process with the rest of the summer finishers and diplomas were to be sent out. My name is due to appear in the program the end of this week though I don't plan to go through the ceremony and have another hot dog stand incident. After battling the admin departments in the grad and business schools, along with another office (registrar maybe) who swore it had been mailed previously, I reign victorious and without an additional dent to the pocket.
Now for the third thing. Who knows what it will be as my prior hurdle was reached over a month ago, thus being a singular event (which did pretty much happen in triplicate itself) so I have something else good coming. Tomorrow night is Second String Santa. A large sociallite shin dig in Founders Hall at the B.O.A. coporate tower. I am hoping I can hit all three over as many days, otherwise something good better come up towards the end of the week.
My confidence is high, which usually sets me up for disappointment, but hey, maybe I'm on a roll for a change. Stay tuned, blog activitiy and the fun factor may be on the rise!

Two Posts in One

You folks get a buy one get one free day.

First: Why I hate USuCk. I had started to accept them. I even had gotten to where I hoped they won games when not playing us so that the rivalry would gain more national attention and have more bearing on the wide angle scope of college football, not just on a couple local recruits. But in typical USuCk fashion they are almost good enough to win some decent games but can't come through. Now I have to leave Tennessee at the absolute butt crack on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (tradition indicates I go drinking with friends the Friday night after). Also, we had hoped to throw one more kick ass tailgate for the last game of the year. Can we now, oh hell no. At best we can plan for a post game event but I would hate to plan a celebration for game that is always close, regardless of record. USuCk, get to do what you are good at and suck on deez...
Oh and Spurrier, you are a bitch, with a faggy looking visor. I hated you at UF when I was a big Vol fan. Now, I hate you the most.

I am headed to TN for Thanksgiving if you couldn't tell. This weekend is actually completely uncommitted and I look forward to it. The football games have been fun (though the recent outcome have been a bit rough until this week) but i am ready to sit on my butt, do yardwork only if I choose to do so, and go uptown like I used to on Friday and/or Saturday. I've seen most of this readership recently so I nothing big time to report. I do havea request for any info on the Richmond VA area if it is available. Just curious to know, will advise why later on.

Quite a Chuckle

A store that sells new husbands has just opened in New York City, where woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates: "You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights.The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot> go back down except to exit the building!"
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs.
The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With housework.

"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!" Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-Dead Gorgeous, Help with the Housework, and Have a strong Romantic Streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the Sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the New Husband's Store.

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opens a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money.

The third through sixth floors have never been visited.

Just a thought

Sometimes I get pissed off at people. When that happens, I think "God, I would love to beat the stupid/shit out of this person." Then I come to my senses and realize that if that occured, I would have to bury their clothes, and it makes me chuckle. Not currently feeling this but this mood/thought typically comes at some point on a Friday when something that shouldn't get messed up, does. That's all.

Damn it Paul

I get back in the game and I have no one around to enjoy the sweet goodness that cracking a bottle of Single Barrell Jack Daniel brings when it touches your lips. Damn you Paul, damn you.

My Bad

As with most of the blogs linked on teh sidebar, less Nobrainer, I've been pretty slow and boring in posting recently. Sorry folks. I've been pretty darn busy but no great stories have entailed. Went home, sister backed into the car but no major damage though the fam sent me back to Charlotte in a sweet ride for about 10 days while mine was made pretty again. Had dinner with them tonight as they spent the day in town and swapped cars back. Been doing some random stuff at night, working a lot, working on the beer pong table. Took a long weekend following Temple game. Spent Friday sleeping. Seriously, due to hang over, until 3:30 and not back to normal until like 6. Weekend was dedicated to doing a bunch of piddly stuff around the house. BAck in the gym routine. That's about it. Most blog efforts are at the Gnomes along with Agent and some of Nobrainers attention. This weekend holds much promise with the biggest game in the ACC schedule in the Valley to coincide with Homecoming. Serious tailgating will ensue. The reason the effort but forth for the pong table. Guess that's it. I come up with stupide story to tell over the weekend or some insight or why I hate the national media or why I think gas prices suck (well, maybe the first one of that batch). Until then, hang on for a few more days. Some girl may get drunk and hang around me long enough to make things interesting between now and then. Honestly, no one in mind, but stranger things have happened.

Will the author please come forth.

I wish I could claim the following but can't. As one friend who recieved the same email has already stated, "We should build a temple to this beautiful, anonymous writer and all the truths he speaks of." I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. It does hold lots of truths. Without further ado:


During my five-year college reunion in May, I snuck into my old fraternity house, which at the time was being used as some sort of communityservice dorm. As I wandered about taking pictures, a student approached andasked politely, "Excuse me, who are you?" Instinctively, I turned around andyelled menacingly, "Who the fuck are YOU?" The girl scurried off, but theincident made me introspective.

Here I am, twenty-seven-years old, with a relatively successful career,regular car insurance payments, and pillowcases that match my comforter. Yet at the same time, I can't drink one beer without drinking twenty, I can't converse with a girl withouttrying to take her home, and I can't even step foot in a fraternity housewithout immediately regressing into an asshole. While college is many yearsbehind me, vestiges of the experience remain deeply ingrained inmy personality. Welcome to the world of a recovering frat boy.

-Of course, I'm not the only one. There's an entire faction oftwenty somethings out there who live seemingly mature lives - but only to the naked eye. Take my friend Mike, a successful software developer in NewYork whose downtown apartment has actually been passed down for years tosuccessive generations of graduates from his fraternity like an off-campusparty house. Or my buddy Justin, a writer here in LA who is looking to moveto a new place - but has yet to find one big enough to fit his beer pong table. Unfortunately for him, "Hardwood floor quickly soaks up cheapbeer" is generally not an amenity typically found on craigslist.

-Recovering frat boys aren't required to have ever been Greek. In fact, theydon't even have to be boys. On average, every other Evite I received fromgirls over the past year has been for some sort of elaborate, costume/themeparty that reminds me of sophomore year. If you're a strong, independentwoman in her mid-twenties who is still throwing parties entitled Pimps &Hos, Forties & Hos, or Golf Pros & Tennis Hos, you are mostdefinitely a recovering frat boy. Dressed like a whore.

-To me, the phrase, "Let's grab a drink" is both the rallying cry and secretpassword of the recovering frat boy movement. For some reason, no one usesthat phrase until they've graduated college, and then they use itso frequently it becomes virtually devoid of meaning. If you really thinkabout it, you only actually grab a drink with about 10% of the people you saythat to. Of that 10%, most think you literally want to have a solitarycocktail and exchange pleasantries or discuss current events (thesepeople are often married or lawyers). The remainder - who you quicklyrecognize as kindred spirits - take "grab a drink" to mean "play beer pongand find that party where chicks are dressed as hos."

-Why is it, then, that so many of us, whether subconsciously or not,have adopted this quasi-Peter Pan lifestyle? These days, it's no longer, "Iwon't grow up." It's more like, "OK, I'll grow up, as long as I can stillthrow up once a weekend." I think the answer is simple: because we can. The world is changing. Getting married in your twenties is no longer the norm -in fact, those unfortunate souls who do are now outcasts, scorned andshunned, spit on and kicked to the side of the road by the rest of ussingle folk. And that means we now have more time to live our lives the waywe want to and, most importantly, have evolved the ability to do so whilestill excelling in the adult world. People ask me all the time how long Ican continue calling myself a recovering frat boy. Those people areusually sober and annoying. And my response is always the same: "Who the fuck are you?"



Thank you kind sir, thank you. And as an aside, my own beer pong table is, and has been, in the works. Much more than the Orange plank sited this past summer. It should be ready for Ga Tech next weekend if I get after it following the Temple blowout this week.

2nd Residence

I've decided to invest in real estate. I am currently working on a 4 bed room, 2 bath chalet in the friend zone. It's quite spacious and will be upfited with the finest amentities. It's also easy to get to. I personally prefer to take the expressway. My decision was based on the fact I spend so much time there that just pitching a tent for the evening or renting from month to month are a waste. As most of this readership has ventured far from the friend zone, feel free to come back and visit periodically. It gets pretty boring here as there are less and less of us hanging out in the area these days. At one time Heilmann could be counted on to be here but he has long since pulled up stakes and moved on. I applaud the rest of you for getting out, many before you ever really got there.

When in Springfield...

...eat at Doe's, as in Doe's Eat place. No this isn't an attempt to make a funny rhyme with the Simpson's Springfiels and Moe's. It's a little whole in the wall looking place in Springfield, Missourri. Looks like a place you would grab lunch at with the single guys at the office who wouldn't get vegetables if not for the meat and two place down the street. However, this place is known for it's steaks and hot tamales. Apparently it's a small chain in the south central (or at least central) part of the country. I think it's only in some smaller to mid-sized towns, not your typical high end big city steak place like Sullivan's, Morton's, The Palm, etc.

No steak (other than the filet's) were under a pound and a half. I knocked down a 1.5 lb T-bone. It was about an 1 1/4" thick and cooked to perfection. Probably one of the best steaks I've had, easily top 5. that includes a couple trips to some of the places listed above. Washed it down with a cold beer and lead off with a little salad and some hot tamales. Fantastic meal, and I didn't have to pick up the bill. God, I love factory trips. Night before we ate the country club that Payne Stewart belonged to growing up. They have a trophy case dedicated to his memory. That was a ribeye night along with some great appetizers. Those midwesterners sure know how to put away some beaf, I mean food. Well, to them it's all the same.

As mentioned I was on a factory visit to Loren Cook Fan Company. These people know fans. Top notch product line with one of the widest arrays of products on the market, great pricing, customer service, quality and reputation. Needless to say I'm about to bust one with the excitement of now being able to rep this company. It means good things for the Double D in the future.

Oh, and if you go, be aware they have a nice little downtown area reminiscent of Clemson. Reminiscent because of the string of bars that attract the college crowd. Missouri St. (20K+ enrollment, formerly SW Missouri St of NCAA B-ball tourney notability) is there along with a few small schools. Plenty of hot brunnettes, definitely the girl next door/farmers daughter types. Needless to say I enjoyed the scenery when we were out at night or at lunch/dinner out. The Cook folks take note of this and are known around town too. Everywhere we went we had the top notch/hottest waitresses and were taken care of right. If any of you have vendors that want you to spec/use their product, you need to find a place like this to go on a factory visit. Otherwise, get your company to buy my fans and I'll take care of you. Good times for a work trip, good times.

Whatown

I’ve been meaning to post but have been pretty busy so here are some thoughts about things that I have forgotten, read about, etc.

First, Tuesday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day….and I missed it. I think we all did. I found a couple sites that talked about it. One had some cool terms but no phrases. Most we all know but it’s still funny. I would have worn an eye patch just for giggles at some point had I been warned in advance. I remember several radio channels talking about it last year but not this year. In honor of the day though I got me a cool pirate name.
Bloody Tom Rackham
Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the food. For you, it's definitely the fighting. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham...blah blah blah.
Get yours here before ye get to swab the deck you land lubber.

Second, an article came out in my professional organizations email newsletter. The title was “Survey Says More Engineers Going Online for Information.” You can probably guess where this article is going so I’ll save you the details. To my professional organization, and I try to keep this blog PG-13 in language, I say with resounding tone “NO SHIT!" We should sign you up with the NSA due to your excellent investigative skills. I bet Heilmann knows someone they can get in touch with for a position as we all know he really doesn't design computer hardware like his cover job indicates.
Third, the same email also had a quick snippet about HP releasing a new engineering calculator that hooks up to USB ports and has all the bells and whistles. Surprisingly it’s the HP50G. 50 sounds about right as many of us had the 48G or GX starting somewhere around 10 years ago. I’m curious what this does to the used calculator market for old 48GX’s still in good condition. I really would like to get a replacement seeing as how I am still attached to the old one and it’s busted screen. Still looking for someone to sell one at a reasonable price.

Finally, I am headed to Springfield Mo. this afternoon for training and should be back to the QC sometime midday Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to get one last day on the lake. For those that don’t know Springfield is the state capital and about 30 miles from Branson, the midwest version of Gatlinburg, which is also known as Myrtle Beach in the Mountians. You get the drift so I expect to see some funny crap, at least in the airport. If I have internet access in the room, you’ll hear about it sooner rather than later. It’s a work trip for a new fan line. Lots of drinking will be done on someone else’s tab. It will be with old people. I hope to not sing Karaoke like my last trip to Missouri. My drunken rendition of the Chuck Berry classic “My Ding-a-Ling” was not too good but I still give many thanks to the Univ. of Missouri Co-eds who were kind enough to step in and sing back up for me. That was a funny trip but 3 years ago now. Wow, I’m getting old fast.

Fitty Cent

Roughly the amount gas prices have dropped in the past month or so. Some will point to the decrease in traffic with the summer travel season past, others say futures pointed that way prior to Labor day, I say we were getting screwed all along. Nothing in Iran or Iraq has really improved. Yeah, discussions are headed in the right direction but did you see what Iran said today? "Things would be calmer in Iraq if the US wasn't there." If this isn't sneaky attempt to say if you leave things will calm, I mean, give us an opportunity to take finish what was started 25 years ago and raged for 8+ years, I don't know what is.
Anyway, that is another story, but as for the gas, I find it quite humourous. There are three gas stations at my work exit. At 7:45 AM they were either $2.59 or $2.64 a gallon. At 1:30PM they were all $2.49 for regular unleaded and the premium was down around the regular prices from a couple days ago. Just this week I think they are down between $.15 and $.20 a gallon. Rhyme nor reason to this other than oil per barrel has dropped. I jsut find it amazing how much they can drop this. We all knwo the basic trend of running up fast and cutting back slowly but to drop back this fast over a couple days? Makes you wonder how bad we are getting shafted.

Remember

Most of you are probably looking for a recap of the Boston trip but that will have to wait. Today we will be keeping in our minds the events of 5 years ago when our great country came under attack by a radical sect of a supposedly peaceful religion. Never forget the events of this date nor the many events that occured in the 20 years prior (Trade Tower explosion in early '90's, USS Cole, etc) and keep in mind the common link all these events have. My senselessness will return later this week but today we are being serious in Whatown.

Chowda!

This weekend bring on one of my first true road trips to watch the Tiger's play since fall of '00 when we watched a debacle at the hands of FSU in Doak Campbell then laughed for the next month as the voters from the same state couldn't figure out how to punch a ballott card, but I digress. True, I have madea couple over night trips to Raleigh but when you are crashing on a friends couch, is it really much different than going back for a home game and doing the same at a friends place in Clemson?
Big weekend planned. Touching down in the land of uber-liberal dems with funky accents and good seafood around midnight. Nothing on the agenda specifically for the day tomorrow but a Red Sox game is in line for tomorrow night. Tickets are around for everyone making the trip. Late night possibly planned following the Sox game.
Saturday is the main course with the BC/Clemson game kicking off about 3:30 on ABC so keep your eyes open for us. Plenty of tailgating isplanned for pregame. Psot game is still a mystery as who knows what energy we will have following the day. Hopefully a good meal in the Italian north end will be on tap but I have no problem grabbing some seafood on the wharf. We'll see how that shakes out. A good report will follow I am sure. Return Sunday morning. Early flight out, layover in ATL, and back to the Queen City around 2, hopefully in time to get into something fun in that afternoon/evening unless I fall on my face from exhaustion.

Labor Day Plans

So, big weekend ahead I am hoping. Tonight will be strictly tailgate prep. Patting out burgers, getting the coolers ready and making sure the Jeep is packed properly with all the main equipment. Drinks will be had as the liver needs to get it's act together as well. The hell with a night off. So, all the readers of this little rag will alreay know where I will be tomorrow, so you'll get details on the actuall shananigans next week. I should be returning to Charlotte sometime during the 11PM hour. Additional Satturday debauchery is doubtful but if the heat and beer are not too draining, I may make a cameo at a party or one of the bars at the lake.
sunday and Monday should be good as a day on the lake and a round of golf are in the cards. I'm looking forward to this part of the weekend almost as much as tomorrow. No offense, but it's nice to be able to go do things near home form time to time as for a long time I would end up just screwing around online or watching TV/movies.
I think Poot is involved in most of this same stuff. He has been on a bit of roll in at least getting phone numbers of chics to hang out, so manybe I can provide a mode of entertainment if we can get them around. Here's to hoping he, Nobrainer, and myself have a helluva weekend wiht plenty of eat, drink, sleep, wash and repeat.

You can take Reality TV and..

well, if that reality TV is "Dirty Jobs", put it on the damn TV more. I find this show to be a damn riot. Tonight's episodes included Mike Rowe (the host) on location at a Monkey Refuge while he is supposed to be off the South African coast filming something for shark week. Apparently they have Spider Monkey's at this place and lots of them. It makes the line from Talledega Nights about coming at Chip like a Spider Monkey extremely relevant not that it wasn't funny anyway. The other episode he was chipping hardened concrete from teh inside of a mixer truck with a jack hammer. This is a hilarious show as they only bleep the comments and don't completely edit out those parts. It gives you a true understanding of the pure hell that many of them all. Be glad you are sitting behind your desk at work reading this and if you haven't tuned in, do it soon.

D.L.

No, I don't have any juicy gossip of fun conquests for the readers out there to keep quiet amoungst themselves. Sorry to disappoint but half of you would have received celebratory phone calls on that anyway. This is pertinent to my last post about the moron and the softball game from last week.
After hobbling around in a cheap-o brace that provided little actual support last week, watching teh swelling hardly subside, and more than likely tweaking it while buzzed with customers at a conference in the mountains the end of the week, I finally went to the doctor. The hell with the the family doc, I hooked up with the Ortho guys immediately. Sweet talking the receptionist for an appt the morning of the phone call was easily my biggest accomplishment here. Doc checked it out, thoroughly, took some x-rays, saidI had a sprained MCL, gave me a Robo-Cop brace and said take it easy for the next two weeks. If no improvement between now and then, an MRI would be in my future to check out possible tearing though he felt that was unlikely. So, I'm on the DL. The brace is pretty nice though and provides a lot of support but is a a bitch to get off as bending the knee that far is not exactly comfortable. Golf is still in the cards for Sunday. Hopefully enough progress will be made by then and the brace will keep that from being an issue. Football season could be humorous though as I will be sporting this thing at the first tailgate. I may be "That guy" in khakis and rainbows just to cover it up and prevent any cool knee brace tans. Until it comes off though, I think I may try and play it off, espcially considering I have a good sympathy story togo with it. Unfortuantely Poot and company lost the championship game I couldn't play in. It had little to do with my not catching and a lot more to do with our good pitcher not being on the mound and the backup getting shelled past the teams ability to score. Oh well. My days of fastpitch are probably over as I think I will stick to the slowpitch leagues and try and get on a co-ed team. I doubt any 120lb chics will be trying to break my leg...or at least I hope not.

In the News

I'm sitting at my desk today responding to way too many emails mainly because it hurts to walk. Last time I checked going for the catchers knees neither constitutes a slide in the traditional since of avoiding a tag and scoring nor is it "running over the catcher" where you put a shoulder into their chest or shoulder in hopes to knock the ball away. It seems more like an "I'm a dumb ass and don't know what I am doing" or an "I'm a prick who takes adult softball way to seriously" move. At least he went out with what one can hope is a concussion. Now I understand we all want to win when we play. Guilty as charged right here. Guess I am more pissed off than anything. It hurts to walk as mentioned and not being quite the youngster anymore I have a gut feeling whatever is wrong with my knee isn't going to be healed up anytime soon. I'm just a terrible injured/sick person more than anything and get mad about it.

Well, now that you know why I am sitting here reading the news and replying to the morning email barrage, this is what I have come across. Is anyone really surprised? Is it really news? I can't believe (read in sarcasm so thick you need a steak knife) that people who actually made the effort to relocate themselves are fairing so much better than those who sat on their butts only to get stranded atop houses that weren't swept away. You can use all the excuses you want about these same people being far worse off beforehand, etc, etc, but that doesn’t mean you can't make a change. Things sucked where you were, you got moved whether by your own accord or someone else’s and now you are some place new which means maybe you can at least attempt a new start is it really any big shock?

In another story, unrelated but in the same lumped headline section there is apparently a charm school for men where you spend a nice chunk of coin to learn to approach women, initiate and hold conversation, and read their subtleties. They through you to the wolves after doing some teaching then the following morning the group comes back together for a debriefing. Oh yeah, and utilizing the affects of alcohol is minimalized though bars are used in the trial runs along with bookstores and other social places. Classes are in NYC, LA, San Fran, London, and Sydney AU. Great in theory but can John Doe function back in his normal environment knowing no-one there is grading his efforts other than the two buddies he hangs out with weekly that are in the same rut? I have my doubts. I am guessing the removal of heavy alcohol would alleviate some problems for a lot of guys out and about. That and women actually using body languages and gestures somewhere in between simply moving hair behind their ear and grabbing a guys crotch.

Sunday Night Quicky

Yeah, so I spent both Thursday and Saturday nights at Poot's due to excessive alcohol. Stellar performance as you can tell. It can't/won't happen this week though as I am in the mountains Thursday night through Saturday for a conference. As you may have read over at the gnomes page, the beach held some of it's expectations. I guess that is it for now. Nothing big to report. No block buster ideas or deep thoughts and no antics that are unexpected or trumps to previous events or Nobrainers protected post. Football season is less than three weeks from now though so you folks know what that means. I am setting a couple goals though. First: To make all games other than FSU. Tickets are either set up or easily obtained for all the remainder other than Va Tech. Second: I will not "take a nap" in the Jeep or deface any of Peppinoes serving wear now will I do these acts in any other vehicles or locations. I plan to have my first "clean" Clemson football season. could be interesting, I just hope there are no Fun Bobby reprocussions from the plan.

Redneck Riviera

Due to a NC Hospital Engineer Association Conference I will be in Myrtle Beach next Monday, tuesday and Wednesday night. Fortunately I will only be "working" about 3-4 hours each day. Unfortunately, I won't be down there with anyone I know to hang out the rest of the time. The bossman will be there Monday and leaving after the expo hours at 2. I havea room so if anyone decides they want a dayor two off to hit the beach or a golf course, let me know. I'll have my sticks. I don't plan on hitting any of the fun locations (Master's Club) but if I get bored enough I may have no other choice.

Today

Last night I worked until 6 or so ended up home by 9:45 and in bed by 11. What a wuss. Today I have mowed and trimmed by yard and am watching Modern Marvels - Metals and the history of going from copper, bronze, and steel. My mainliness is returning. I'll pobably clean and lay out in the sun like a little woman at some point in the next day and half but don't worry, I have plenty of beer and Jack around to balance that out.

Isn't it ironic

My A/C is out and I can't fix it. Just don't have the equipment to pull it off though through consultation with Poot, I know what the problem is, just not the severity. Good part: because I was smart enough to get a home warranty included on my house at time of purchase, someone else gets to pay all but a minimal fee. Bad part: I know at least half a dozen contractors that do both commercial and residential that would be happy to take care of my needs. I, however, was not given the option to select who comes to fix my problem (and possibly pronounce it deader than hell and get another half ton larger unit) and now have the joys of the dreaded time frame waiting on some rinky dink contractor to come tell me what I already know and probably not do a job worth a damn. So much for industry connections on this one.

I think Tater would approve

It's been a damn good Friday I must say. The best part is the weekend is just getting ready to start. Didn't make it home last night as having had a few drinks and being kept in close watch by local law enforcement, I needed to stay at a friend’s house. Too bad the friend didn’t have mammories but oh well. Anyway, woke up around 8 grabbed a shower, didn't shave and headed to my first contractors office. Other than a bit of dry mouth, nothing noticeable about me screamed I'm wearing the same shirt I wore out last night and the same pants for two days. While there they kept making requests for me to price additional stuff on a couple jobs I am doing with them (first jobs with this crowd) which increases my price and profit while taking a little away from the competition that is already on the job for some of the same equipment I also sell.
Contractor stop two was to drop off some submittal and just touch base. Same contractor called me back this afternoon and threw a softball up for me to knock out on a nice little warehouse order. Contractor stop three was to have lunch with a new estimator/project person along with a partial stake owner of a firm that I have been racking up orders with. My big boss made the trip and they talked a little money. Us getting paid as a firm means I get paid. I like getting paid, a lot. I think some details were straightened out so I won't have to wait as long in the future on their orders hopefully.
Contractor four stop after lunch and I firmed up my first pool unit (think big expensive equipment) order, got my PO and released it. Got another little order while I was there.
Conveniently, they are just down the road from the DMV where I was able to get my updated license. That's right; to top off my day I officially received my driving privileges back with a little piece of plastic. Granted, there is a stipulation (1 beer an hour or so basically) on the back until 2009 but that's cool. I think I learned that lesson.
So to recap: Contractors are liking me right now. Battles I have been fighting on getting orders are being won. I got my license back with an updated picture even. I haven’t shaved since yesterday morning since I partied last night and still felt like a rock star this morning for the most part. The weekend is just beginning. And some advice to Nobrainer is making his research show some results. Awesome.

Done and Done

As reported previously excursions to the North End (Italian Side of town) and a Bo-Sox game were set for Wendesday and Thursday nights during my Boston excursion. Planned and accomplished. Parking in the North End was impossible ( a couple guys had a rental car) but after 15 minutes of circling one way streets about as wide as my front door, we got a great spot (probably for local residents) within a block or so of many of the authentic restaurants and Hanover Street, the main drag. We were smart though and got off the main drag and found a joint that seated maybe 40-50 people max and had dinner there. Good wine, great food (I had my standard Veal Parmesean) and good company. Following we ended up at a place called Mike's Pastries. When in Boston, find this place if given the chance. AWESOME Tirmasu and tons of delicisous looking candy, gillato, pies, etc. Don't know how some of it would hsip but worth it if you are a yankee and yern for this stuff or if you are asoutherner and want a real taste of some of these delicacies for the pallett. It rained off and on most of the time we were out but our time on the streets themselves were pretty dry so that helped.
Thursday we were on a mission. Red Sox tickets were to be had. Of the 7 in class, 6 intended to go and three were able to secure in advance. The other three of us journeyed downtown via a cab to the T-line and on in via this route this time around. Snagged Right field bleacher seats for $50/ea but three in a row. They faced for about 23 but just to get to go to a stadium that old with that much history was worth every penny. Who knows if I will ever get back in there before a new stadium is built as this was my forth Boston trip and first time they were in town or it was even baseball season. Had a couple hot dogs, spicy brown mustard, relish and all, peanuts, and a couple beers. It was straight out of Field of Dreams minus score keeping and James Earle Jones. I was like a kid ina candy store. Got back to the hotel about 12:30 with plenty of picso n the camera phone as the digital stayed in Charlotte due to my lack in faith of fun for the week and inability to read an online schedule in advance.
Return trip was rather uneventful though I think I could teach whoever runs shuttle logisitics at the Charlotte Airport a thing or twelve. Class was good. Got to see more of Boston than my prior trips combined and now I am ready to start having a normal life less grad school here in Charlotte from here through the duration.

Not so bad

Thus far the trip hasn't been too bad. Got a front seat shuttle ride to the hotel and had no issues getting picked up and getting out here. Dinner in the hotel bar was more than a little steep for a panini and 4 beers but it was expected. Thought there wasn't going to be any places to grab food close by and even more concerned that most of the other trainees here wouldn'tbe people I would care about grabbing dinner with anyway. As it turns out, as long as a couple folks are willing to split the cab fair, there are plenty of decent, cheaper places around to eat. Most of the people here are younger, including a pretty cool chic from Omaha that has been to a couple of the same sales and training meeting that I have in the past. Always nice to see a familiar face and a group of young folks up for going out at night helps the attitude. An excursion to the Italian northside of town is in the works for tomorrow, also helping keeping the cost down and getting some fun in with a good meal. To top it off, I can't read the schedule and the Sox are in town Thursday night and we are goingto try and pull that off. I may be broke at the end of the week but if I can have an Italian meal from folks who don't speak any other language and get to see a game in Fenway, I won't care, it will have been worth the entire trip. Oh, and the class isn't going so bad either.

Going to Boston

I would write about the weekend that was, however Nobrainer has the pictures covered partially. References abound throughout a couple blogs I think, and if you knwo the crew on facebook and myspace then you have seen even more of hte debauchary. Thanks to everyone who made it. You missed a helluva time for those that missed out (not ro rub it in, honestly). If you want more details, get a hold of the right people and get the disk.
Mom is in to see the house for the first time tomorrow and I fly to Boston Sunday afternoon for a weeks worth of training that I am not so happy about. I don't expect us to have this line more than 3 years from now, it ain't gonna be a cheap trip (which I am partially responsible for paying on), I won't make any money being out of the office, and I am busting my ass to get to a somewhat decent place before leaving. Oh, and hte Bo-Sox aren;t in town not that I would be less than a $40 and hour commute to Fenway from the hotel to see them if they were. I don't even get to be a tourist for a day. Maybe something random will happen. Blogging will either be light or heavy depending on what I manage to get into and free hotel internet access. If nothing else, throw some crap up for me to read while I'm on the road.

Oooooficial

Well folks, keep your ear open for the fat lady. Grades are posted and the Double D finishes with an A of all things. That's right, not only did I complete the progaram, I went out with a pseudo bang. Unofficial (but close enough) GPA, 3.286. Yeah, thats a good half point above Clemson M.E. Amazing what a couple years and a change in perspective will do for you. Most of you are here or on the way so celebration starts soon. Gonna be a blast!

Moment of Silence

Former Clemson University President and 2 time football letterman Walter T. Cox passed away Wednesday. This link will take you to the details via the Clemson News page where all the details can be found. Many of you are familiar with the name as the plaza area we routinely pass through outside of Johnstone A and the Student Union is named in his honor.

Welcome to....

Toronto, Birmingham, or New Mexico? Wow, sounds great! Oh yeah, we are going to continue to welcome folks to Houston, but we haven't figured out what we are calling this new/replacement bowl game. The above have all been approved by some Bowl Liscensing Committee to host during the following post season. This, on top of the added BCS game in Arizona and all the bowls I can't keep straight anyway as they all go by their corporate sponsor names instead of their traditional tag (It will always be the Peach Bowl damnit). My math isn't too sharp today but I counted about 32 games for the post season. That means 64 teams get to travel. No less than a third of them will lose money (ala Tiger to the Humanitarian) in this venture. More than a couple won't be able to pull a fan base large enough to see their share of tickets for the event, even if it is in a decent place. Toronto? Are we prepping some Sunbelt talent for the CFL? New Mexico, package in a January ski trip to Taos and I may consider it, or not. Can you say watered down? I didn't even think their were enough teams with winning or .500 records to fill that many slots. I think starting this year, I will not ackowledge any bowl that can't be played after Christmas Day and start whittling them down from there on merit of existence.

Class Post VII (The END)

Well, Verizon has been a complete bust as far as being a news maker over the past 6 weeks or so. They did decide to sue Vonage, the internet long distance provider whose stock has floundered since it's IPO release. News of the lawsuit coupled with other factors has the Vonage stock tradings below $10. It IPO'ed at $17. The base of hte suit is patent infringement as confirmed last Monday.
Otherwise, Verizon is plugging along with little coming out abotu he NSA case hitting major headlines. I'm sure there is some other blog talk but unless it hits the big boards, I'm not really paying attention as it is probably hearsay or speculation though some good juice occassionaly does sneak out.
At this time I'm signing off as far as posting about Verizon for class. As it did spark my interest some future post may arrive if something really major hits but nothing on a regular basis. To those who found this blog via class, feel free to keep tuning in and feel free to comment. My antics can often be found here and the comments usually invoke a laugh. This class ahs slowed some things down but as it is my final hurrah in the MBA program posting may gain some interest and hopefully some humor as I get to pay attention more to the things outside of a text book. It should get good when they involve filling in the blanks that I can't seem to remember. As for the normal readership, you know what to expect out of me.

Class Post VI

This post is a little random but does relate. The reason I began focusing on Verizon was the whole NSA mess that I thought was going to hit the fan with wire tapping and phone records. Needless to say, all the three letter agencies in Washington have made it "disappear." Well, at least until today. Talk about the media flare up over the wire taps will probably resurface with the announcement the government has also been monitoring bank accounts. In the wake of 9/11 and the fact that we can pretty much target knuckleheads in our country who are up to no good (see recent events in Miami) this doesn't surprise me. It's not like you and I have much to worry about....unless the IRS has a reason to be not happy with you. Anyway, I think it is good anti-terrorism practice and the reality of it is we are protecting ourselves and until the media reports these things, we aren't any worse for them or even affected. I'm guessing the banks will get to share the scrutiny Verizon and the other telecom folks have but don't expectto hear much about it for a while. At least once the new wears off.

Class Post V

Verizon Communications announced a major agreement to help bring Public Television to digital programming. That's right, now you get Big Bird and the Seasame Street gang in all their colorful glory. I will admit programs like Nova and some of the other nature based programming will be pretty cool in HD. The big deal with this is the fact that prior to the agreement. those people on Verizon's FiOS fiber optic TV service did not have access to these channells and their programing. Though it doesn't do anything for folks in the Carolinas, large markets in FL, MD, NY, TX, CA, and MA do have the 400 channel cable option. This is a major achievment if you are a big Public Television supporter. Honestly, I can't say that this would affect my desire to pick up the cable package since my days of Seasame Street are over and I was too old to get hit with the Barney craze. Now if Ken Burns updates The Civil War documentary with some cool effects suitable for HD, I would be excited. For the parents out there, I hope this helps you in some way.

Class Post IV

In an article posted at CNNMoney there is an interesting run down of "Old School" companies (Verizon falls under this as they are a conglomerate of formerly established firms) that are freezing their pension plans. Many of these are a direct effect of issues being encountered both on their bottom lines as well as what is being seen across their industries. In a big surprise, IBM froze their plan. Both Verizon and IBM are increasingly competing with tech stars that never adopted the tradition pension or benfits plans, keeping thier cost down. Also with the addition of foreign competition that already competes at lower marginal costs, companies like Verizon have no choice if they want to keep costs down and compete over the long haul. This occurence with the likes of GM, and the airlines is no surprise as they have been hurting for a while. Seeing it in "healthy companies" come as a surprise to many but shouldn't. If you are with these firms, consider yourself lucky. At least your parent company is having the foresight to do something now instead of waiting until it's to late (Delphi, UAL, Delta...)

CLASS POST III

As I mentioned in class, the newsi n hte Verizon/NSA fiasco is there is no news to report. I have been tryingto keep up with this and other thna the initial flurry not much has been said. I expected this to drag out as the government is involved but nothing has happened at all in the past couple weeks it seems. For those who know Verizon only has one of the main names in cell phone service/coverage here is a quick snapshot at some corporate info so you can realize how big they are.
Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD).
Customers
53 Million
Employees
56,000
Annual Revenue
$32.3 Billion

This info is straight from the home page found here.
What you see aboveis jsut he Verizon Wirelss info. Verizon Communications is much bigger. Their numbers are here

Updates, sorta

So another week has come and gone and I have not had much to say. Work is staying busy and class is on a compacted schedule so things are moving along and I'm just happy to keep up. Along with the crazy schedule has come little progress on the dating scene. Last Thursday night happened and was nice. An agreement that schedules suck and neither party (her more so than me honestly) has the ability to fully invest in it so we were just going to keep doing whatever it is we are doing. Buffett concert came around Sunday, TRAINWRECK. She was there, the Margarita's were too strong, I drank most of those, then it started raining. Dark, cold rain, all parties overly drunk. One big mess. All parties made it home by the grace of god. She had carpooled up with friends from her side of town. Since then, I have talked to her all of about 5 or 10 minutes. The mess of the concert has supposedly been forgiven/deemed not a big deal but her schedule has prevented any further visits and I have the gut feeling that things aren't ok. At this point, I'm going to just go with it, let her make a call on what happens next and start moving on and seeing what else is out there until she figures out what she wants and if I'm part of that equation.

Loooong Weekend

Well, here is a quick update of the long weekend: Aforeblogged about dating fiasco straightened out. Was taken not jsut to grille out with the other couple but a whole crowd of folks, most if not all of whom already knew girl and were paired off. So, as Agent as mentioned, I was taken out in public. Another date is in the works for Thursday probably, then Buffett concert in a week. The rest of the weekend went as follows: fiasco scheduling began Friday, I drank a 6 pack of Bass and packed it in for the night around 1. Did house stuff Saturday like wiring the bedroom stereo (the old faithful set most are familiar with). Recaptured the apartment fan, and painted the ceiling of the garage. All painting now done. Went out Saturday night with a friend nad stared at lots of nice scenery at a couple venues in Southend and Uptown while avoiding Speed Street crowds. Yesterday, Coca Cola 600. Drank from 11:30 through end of race (you can take beer in) . Got seperated from the crowd I was with early as there were plenty of seats and the one I ended up in was in roughly the right area. Started walkin back to car after race, still seperated. Became directionally challenged but knew of the main road I needed to be on. Started walking and later jogging once I was on the road with only cars passing me. Cell phone rendered useless due to high volume of calls. Was picked up about 6-7 miles into my voyage "home" by one of the car loads of people I had been with, approximately an hour and half after race. I think I am now known as Forrest Gump with those guys. Home and passed out in bed around 1. Woke up with Wal-Mart feet/legs from the journey and took it easy msot of the day. Trying to swap out fans this afternoon. Would be easy if the existing one would come off the damn ceiling. Put up some window shears in the front foyer around the door. Putting an end to any voyerism. Any suggestions on how to remove the initial mount of a suspended ceiling fan owuld be appreciate. Thing doesn't twist and there are no accessible screws that I can find. Much more frustration and there may be a rather hefty drywall repair bill for ripping it out in unconventional manners. Heilmann stopped in with the Missues to get the car as I was about to leave. He was little lighter in step. I wonder why? That brings us back to the date thing and being in public. Typical Wha events already cleared for the weekend so it was a safe bet for her. That's it. Hope everyone else had a great weekend, all in all, I can't complain.

Try, Try Again

Well, tonight is on after 3 reschedules starting with last Friday night. Grilling out with girl and one of her best friends and that girls boyfriend. Sounds to me like a couples thing. Does that mean we are a couple? I don't have a freakin clue but being brought around the friends has to be a good sign. Watch for an update later to see how things went. Until then, I have more house work to do though great strides have been made.

Alrighty then

So, you can't beat a Friday date that turns into a Saturday date that turns into Saturday lunch that turns into Monday date. Yeah, that's fun when you are actually in town and had tried to plan accordingly. Stuff happens but damn. Oh, nad when you read this, don't think it became this wonderful weekend with another perosn, those are reschedules. I better get rewarded for patience in the not so distant future otherwise, I'm taking this show back on the road.

Interns

I love interns. Not in the Monica and Bill kind of way. We have one for the summer. We had one two years ago but he didn't have much personality. The new one is a local Charlotte kid who is an M.E. at Clemson right out of his Sophomore year. Seems to be picking up what we do around here quickly, fits in with the craziness and wears Orange on Friday's (along with other days). The best part is he does my bitch work. All the little things that take more time than I have to invest but he contractor likes, he gets it done. The icing on the cake is we made him the Bojangles runner this morning. A job typically reserved for me and my hang-over Friday antics. He is still not of legal age however but having been in his position before, I have a feeling I will be taking care of the ocassional bee double E, are you in, this summer. Good stuff.

Class Post II

As reported by a UK site Monday, Verizon is close to gaining rights to a 45% stake in itself held by European Telecom giant Vodafone. The deal is supposedly worth about $56B. Sadly, I had to go to the second page of google to find even this as hits on "Verizon" get lots of kickups on their retail online sites for various products along with numerous venues around the country where they have naming rights. No kickbacks on the recent NSA "scandal" and definitely no mention of it on their site. I don't think this is going away but until the accusers have some hard evidence I don't know how much we will be hearing. On a brighter note, it looks like they are coming out with some new Motorola. The QTM will be exclusive to Verizon customers and is "much anticipated." We will see.

Class Post 1

For the regular readers feel free to comment or do the normal, read through, and move on. You will see the "class post" a few times over the coming weeks as weare doing blogs for one of my grad school classes. Now for the meat of this post.

As we are covering current events in class and how they may affect management policy, I will be interested to see how the NSA issues work out with Bell South, AT&T, and Verizon. Verizon today announced they were only providing documentation in accordance with the law. Bell South has made similar comments, leaving AT&T as the only one of the three to not deny some form of shady involvement. Read more here. Not surpisingly Verizon's stock is down due to the knee jerk reaction of Wall Street, however, there could be a number of hefty lawsuits regarding privacy from this, depending on how it washes out. I will be keeping an eye on things and posting updates and my thoughts as we go.

You got booted

Most people are familiar with the song they play on American Idol when someone gets kicked off. "Bad Day" It getsa lot of airplay on the Top 40 and Adult Contemp radio channels. More than I care for though the song can be quite fitting from time to time. Suprisingly, since I have been living on my own for a month or so, I have been able to avoid that song at least once a week. Of little shock it's at then end of that show that I no longer get my dose. Don't get me wrong, Pickler was hot, dumb blonde and the McPhever chich is rediculously sexy but I just don't care for the show. Other than a couple Kelly Clarkson songs, what has it really produced? Not a whole damn lot.
Anyway, most of the last paragraph has been a random tangent not related to this post. My day has been crap.Stayed at the office until 7ish, came home and still have an hours work to do only so I can get up early and go back to work to get out this quote (that I will type myself, thank god I am one of 5 sales people in the office proficient enough to do so) but that is not the issue. Today's mail was packed. Lots of the nomal crap and some I was expecting. Of the crap was a Williams Sonoma catalog. Cool kitchen shit that I can't afford or even afford to finance. Pipe dreams. That was fun to skim through. The others, coupons. Not just any coupon though, 20% off at Bed and Bath. Not the crappy one purchase thing we got in the mail, but the whole damn purchase. Yeah, so that would have started offsetting the other. I won't say the number but let you math wizards or calculator owners figure it out. Due to previously mentioned incident, my car insurance is officially upa factor of 4, inclusive of my copolicy discounts, etc. The base was somewhere in the $400/6 month range. You do the math. So between the coin I will be forking out (expected, but not at this level ) and the coin I didn't save because the coupon vendors are about a month late (who lives without most of this shit or without updating if they had already planned on it for that long) I am not in a happy mood. I'm celebrating tonights glory with a tall Jack and Ginger or 5. If ya hear me, raise a glass. If ya don't, raise one to "Fuck It" or go away.

Oh yeah, and other stuff isn't going the way I hoped unless I got a really good phone message while I was posting this. Again, fuck it.

Had Enough

OK, I've been relatively quiet on here for a while now. Posted some comments in the Stack, on the Hate Capacitor, and on the Agents site but nothing full blown on here. I've hear enough of this bashing of oil companies now all you Commie pinkos and tree huggers are gonna get it.
The prices are up, yes. GET OVER IT. Just because you are paying $60 bucks to fill up your SUV don't bitch at me about it. I am too. If it bothers you that much, go get a Kia Rio or the new little Chinese thing about to hit the market. Yeah, didn't think you would. You wanna know why they are making more money, it's a combination of things, so quit bitching about how you paying at the pump is padding their pockets and read on for a moment.
Oil companies don't just make three grades of unleaded gas. For example, everyone's favorite "crooks," "gougers," "thieves," etc. Make the following products:
Fuel for automobiles, aviation, and marine transportation vehicles.
Lubricants for the the same transportation sectors (motor oils, gear greases, etc), basestocks for conversion to other products by third parties, synthetic lubricants, metal processing fluids, paper machine oils, compressor oils (refrigeration), hydraulic oils/fluids, turbine oils (power production) and others.
Chemicals (now this one is very broad so I will hit the high spots) including polyethylene, plastomers, polypropylene, elastomers, alcohols, and products used for aromasizing and dearomatizing fluids, just.
Basically if it is a direct or by-product of oil, they are in the industry. Does this mean that anything that is a lubricant, fuel, or plastic is made by ExxonMobile, BP, Royal Dutch Shell or ChevronTexaco, no. They do pump a large percentage of crude from the ground and even the Dow's and Duponts of the world have to get their fix from somewhere. Even the smaller energy firms are getting their share. Take for example Penn-Virginia Corporation. The stock was in the mid $20's in summer of '02. Today it is at about $74.50 or so. This companies core businesses include oil and natural gas exploration and production as well as land management for coal properties from which they obtain royalties on coal and timber production by lessees. They are the primary stake holder in Penn-Virginia Resource Partners, L.P. who announced yesterday a $25.1M distributable cash flow in Q1 '06 up 54% over the same quarter last year.
See folks, it's not just the Gas manufactures making money in this industry. Take a look at any half way decent run energy company who is in the Coal/Oil/Natural Gas realm at this time. Profits and stock prices are up. They were in the right place at the right time. Many of you have heard of Hubbert's Peak from an article posted months ago on Nobrainer's site. This is one reason. It basically states that from this point on oil production can only go down. The last significant oil find was in the late 70's. Everything else is miniscule in the grand scheme in enabling us to match supply to the ever increasing US demand, much less that of the uber development occurring around the Pacific Rim (including China of course) and India. So basically we have increasing demand worldwide and decreasing supply. Last time I checked, any economist would tell you this means you can expect prices to go up. Unfortunately in this case, it's not something that can be righted as the market can't correct the supply side. Many folks say open Alaska or build more refineries. Well, have fun. There is a reason no one has built a refinery in the US in 20-30+ years, and the EPA weighs in strongly here along with the insane cost. Also, opening Alaska will mean that we live the good live for a little while and then we run out sooner. I'm guessing at some point someone in the middle east will get pissed enough to not sell to us. Fine, then we have a backup. Until the reserve is truly needed, hold it. Everyone still gets from point A to point B, our machines still run and every other product I use is plastic, was wrapped in it at one time, or has a part made from it. Apparently we can manage fine, it just costs a little more. Speaking of costing a little more, I have a comment on this as well:
I sell a commodity item, something that gas (since this is what so many people want to focus on) was. It quickly is becoming something much different. I sell many of my products at 15% mark up. When the metal markets went crazy a couple years ago (due to many of the same expanding markets) my prices went up. My mark up, by margin (percentage) stayed the same. The thing is 15% of 100 isn't as much as 15% of $125. If my cost is now $125, you are now gonna pay $143.75 instead of $115.00. So my cost went up 25% and so did yours but the volume gap is now $18.75 instead of $15.00 between my price and yours. Voila, my profits by volume increase on the same units sold, welcome to the wonderful world of inflation.
Is it unfair for the oil companies to make money this way on their many products? No! Right place, right time, barriers to entry, and previously taken risks in capital investments and product diversification covering a multitude of markets. Next time you hear about these guys making a ton of money congratulate them on a job well done, instead of chastising them, unless, of course, you've got a couple billion lying around to do some exploration, production, and refining after you've waited 10-20 years to clear the EPA and get your stuff actually built.

At Least the Bar is Open

things are coming along much more slowly than anticipated with the house. I still don't have tables and entertainment center/stand on order, no bedding or mattress either. I still need to get some towels and flatware as well. The kitchen is pretty much good to go though and the cable and internet are hooked up. At this point, I have about 6 total chairs and a kick ass TV to go along with the fully stocked bar and at least a few pint and highball glasses. Basically the hearty can head this way, get drunk, riad the fridge or pantry and sleep on the aerobed or floor. Hopefully at this time next week large amounts of progress will be made. The tables should be on order, the towels and flatware will be taken care of, hopefully a mattress will be in the works and a majority of my furniture should be delivered. I also plan to do some yard work and paint the garage. Neither of these should be a big deal but are going to take a few hours. By 9 each night, I will probably be shot...so the Jack won't take quite the hit before I crater for the night. A couple big weekends and things should be all good and maybe I can start enjoying the promixity to the lake as the neighbors hit it up last weekend and said it was wonderful.

Third times a charm

When shopping for appliances in Charlotte, Queen City appliance has pretty darn good pricing. Your pleasurable experience will stop there! If you have the ability or desire to rent a truck/Uhaul and your own team of movers, then maybe. I am guessing "delivery" from the box stores will be cheap enough to offset this expense and the difference in prices.
This morning, at about 10 AM, the third attempt to deliver my fridge and dryer occured, finally with success. Last tuesday they were to be dropped off with washer and TV as I wrote about previously. This happened about 4:45 and I was supposedto be in class at 5:30. Showed at 7 and quickly began finding out my purchase location was a mistake. Since then I have had no less than 5 other people tell me the prices are good but service sucks worse than the carousel-o-morons you deal with in the box stores. Thanks for the advanced warning (not that I asked anyone really but they knew I was shopping)folks! I willsay the delivery guys were not too abd andtoday's crew, as opposed to the guys from last tuesday and Saturday were extremely quick. I think it was a more balanced squad with both capable instead of one who was pushing to get done and the other quite slow. Grand total I was given a combined 12 hour time period in which to wait for my appliances. I played last Tuesday to a tee, showing up at the house after them though I was promised advance notice that never happened. Saturday they arrived at 11:15...tail end of the AM delivery time frame. I had little to nothing to do that morning either as I still had essentials shopping to do prior to unpacking as it took maybe 30 minutes to unload that mornings run. Today they had me captive until 11 with installation and everything. I was the second stop. Wow, that's bad turnover between stops. About 3 yesterday I received a call confirming the PM delivery for today. Needless to say I was one notch below "It fell the f*ck off" pissed. Apparently my comments to the dispatch and service people were well heeded at some point. Having not received a later AM, first stop confirmation I called in around 6:15 and left a rather scathing message. When I finally talked to someone this morning I wasscheduled for thte second stop. Amazing what threatening forcing a refund and taking business elsewhere will do I guess. I'm just happy I was home as I thought about heading to work and forcing them to call but had taken enough stuff home to work on and keep busy this morning. That same 1 hour note on the ticket from last week was put into affect 10 minutes prior to delivery. How do I know. I used the one hour delivery warning as ample time to get to Hardees 5 minutes away for breakfast and watch the Queen City truck turn towards the house from the drive thru lane. I was back in under 15 (slow ass drive thru) and they were unloading as I pulled in.
Now if the dryer will have cut itself off and the fridge will still be on when I get home things will be back on track. I'm just happy I was home when they came by.

Success

Many of us stress out about our jobs and everything that we have going on. Most of this readership, if not all, is college educated and at least attempting to be upwardly mobile in our respective careers. With this in mind and the pressures we all put on ourselves, or have put on us by in various ways by others, I like to reference back to the following quote. Apparently there is a debate about who actually wrote it, at least as far as the site I am copying the test from indicates. I'll give attribution to Ralph Waldo Emerson he is given credit on the small framed copy of this I received for high school graduation and it has traveled with me since. I re-read it the other day while packing and wanted to share it with you all.


Revamped to include the long version I mentioned in comment.

"The definition of success--

To laugh much

To win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children

To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To give one's self

To leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--

This is to have succeeded."

~ Emerson

Casa del Wha

Well it is official, I am now a homeowner. On top of the lovely check that passed across the table I was able to partake in the continuing downward spiral of going into debt. House debt is one thing. Real estate at least holds it's value if not appreciating. The wonders of appliances and furniture...not so much. After moving some stuff immediately after closing then enlisting help from Poot both Friday and Sunday and a little assistance from Skippy and Nobrainer Friday night, I was able to get about 7 cra trips worht up to the hosue. Needless to say the cars were completely loaded down but no run was pointless. At this point, a few kitchen items, clothes and my bedroom furniture is all that remains in the apartment. Hopefully with a little U-Haul action this weekend or a pickup truck, that will be knocked out as well. One good run with the truck should be all it takes to get the dresser, mattress and box springs. The ole Jeep can handle the rest.
After most of the moving was taken care of, the spending began. It started with a run to Target for basic maintenace stuff. Cleaning supplies, paper towels, etc. Three bills later that was over. The next day it was Lowes for a vacuum and drill/saw Black and Decker set. Nothing nice as it is a rechargable battery set up and don't expect the battery to worth a damn in a year. After this is where the real fun began Sunday afterrnoon. One appliance store stop (I had shopped the boxes over the span of a couple weeks and stopped by this place Saturday on referral) and I walked out with a new fridge, washer, dryer, and, drum roll please, 42" Plasma HD. Yes, it began to sting at this point but I was only half way through the madness. Next stop, Haverty's. Here I knocked out a master bedroom set (King Bed, 3 drawer TV Chest/armoir, two night stands, and dresser/mirror) as well as a couch and love seat for the living room. And then I was done for the weekend. By this point my head was pounding, I was usinga little fuzzy math to justify everything and figure out exactly when things would be paid off as each of the two big purchase stores had 6 or 12 mo same as cash offers that I coupled with money down via our friends at Visa. Hey, the hell with the check card. I want the damn points. I think I have enough for a toaster now...sweet! This weekends agenda: finish aforementioned moving, find a mattress (no go at the furniture store or local rertailers) probably at a local manufacturer then find a coffee table, end table, and entertainment stand. It would be nice to find them all in the same wood, but I'm not holding my breath. I guess that wraps things up. I'm sure as many of you as possible will get to see it at the shin dig I plan on throwing around the 4th of July. More news to come on that at a later date.


Monday night Amendment: Ofthe four appliances that showed up, The TV was in one piece, and the washer is installed. They brought a dryer with a standard rear vent instead of the side knockout like I requested (standard feature but must be requested) and the fridge wouldn't turn on. Lights were on inside, but the compressor wasn't home. Neither was the mouse on on the treamill to run the water dispenser. Now I have to deal with scheduling all this crap for Saturday morning. Plus they didn't give me the hour notice they promised. More like 5 minutes. Good thing I was up in the area for work anyway. Hopefully this isn't a bad house omen!

Time for Reform -Whastyle

This article by Agent Orange got me fired up and thinking. So here it goes. At one time there was a pseudo joke of Wha-Nobrainer 2020-something. By that time we will both be of age to run the show. After the article I have our director of homeland security pegged, especially considering his fmaily proximty and experience with 9/11 events. I think the platform will be something like the following with regards to brief comments on each issue. Granted, a few of our issues will be split, but hey, I think it makes for a better TEAM. He'll appear to more of hte libertarian feel, I got the traditional rebuplican thing downand relate to Joe Average pretty well with many of my shananigans that I will talk freely about. A little personlaity will help politics, Kept Clinton in for 8 years. Need a Republican rebuttle to that. Without further adoo:

Immigration - Get them the hell out. They cross, without papers, shoot 'em. They keep crawling, shoot 'em again. Citizens of the United States have, for the most part, less NYC ethnic gang wars ala recent movies, accepted immigrants from foreign countries with open arms. At one time, most went through formal processes, bothered to learn at least chunks of the language, and brought a little spice that makes this country great. I'm all for allowing others to come here and make a better life. In one way or another, all our families are here for the very same reason. I just ask that they do it right. If you can't play by the rules, we throw your cheatin ass out of the game. No one likes a cheater, they will not be tolerated.

Welfare/Social Security - Scrap it. Spend a fraction of the funds educating people how to save their cash for later on, or at least how to put it to work. Oh and work, yeah, if your other family members aren't supporting you, get a job. Got kids? Fine, we'll sponsor day schools. If your income is below a set amount, you will pay a fractional amount. They will be staffed by others who need jobs as well. It may not be as good as what the CEO's kids go to but your kid will be fine and may actually learn to get along with others. And you won't have a need for food stamps or the ability to say that childcare costs more than you can make. We'll even cut you some slack and hook you up for 6 mo in the case a loved one passes that has been supporting the family. After that you better hope the insurance was paid up or you haven't been sitting on your ass, cause those checks will quit coming.

Defense and International Relations - Screw with us or our allies and we will whoop your ass. We will sell our cool stuff to our friends but only after we have developed new super secret cool stuff to kick you ass even more. Stuff not even Discovery Channel knows about. It will be like Reagan and Star Wars again. Saw it on a movie, liked it, Northup Grumman, go build it. Have your people protest against us all you want, don't expect us to do business with you. You will learn that the protesting is a losing situation for you only. We are resilient for a relatively young country and our true grit only really comes out when you force it. Don't force it, you won't like the result. If you are a candy ass, say you want to verbally back us, then don't. We cut ties with you. Liars are looked upon about the same as cheaters. You will be tossed out of our game. I'm pretty sure Britian and Australia like us. So do some other places that know where their bread is buttered so to speak. Yeah, Wal Mart won't be as cheap, but no one really likes going there anyway. Oh, and all the industry we outsourced, we'll need it back. All you folks bitching about not being able to work, jobs, their baaaacccckkkk! So welfare becomes a moot point anyway.

Healthcare - Yeah, we need a program, honestly. I'm not saying everyone gets everything for free but everyone will get an alotment. We don't have welfare or Social Secuirty to fund anyway so there is some cash in the coffers. Children under 10 and foggies over 70 get more than the middle age folks. If you are that age and sick, it's because you didn't take care of yourself. You also have the abilty to work, so paying for your fees over the alotment shouldn't be a problem anyway. Insurance will still be an option too, so don't sweat too hard. Yeah and the fee/alotment thing, you want better care, fork over the dough. I'm not sending you to Duke on the countries dime, Carolinas Medical is just fine. The difference is on you. This one will need more thought and tweaking I'm sure.

Alternate Energy -
Solar is a pretty good idea. I think Arizona and California have lots of sunny spots that no one lives in or even visits for the beauty. They would make good places to make up some juice. I like wind and hydro too. We have lots of running water and the last time I checked there was always a breeze near the coast. I think we know what New Orleans will be good for now? Mardi Gras at the Windmill farm...woo hoo. Yeha, west TX, you fit the bill too along with all you places in the mid/southwest where you have oil dericks. Keep pumping but we are going to strap a few pin wheels to towers on your land and double up the energy your plot is producing. Never fear, you'll get pair, utilities will remain private and they will have to buy/lease the land and provide the equipment. Oh, and there is this thing called Nuclear. If you stick them in mountains the bad stuff can't get out. So much for that danger.

Tax Reform -
Flat tax. You don't make a lot, that sucks. You make a ton, good for you. We need the same percentage regardless. hey, it's all ratios so the rich will be paying more, don't worry. Most of these loop holes will be crap canned, both personal and business. John Kerry won't get to pay $50 while you and I pay $500 because he has some screwy situational clause to apply for being a reformed hippy. After Defense and Healthcare, we won't need a whole lot anyway. Just some cash for funding travling arts groups to promote some poignant liberal activities as well as museums and park systems. Some of that stuff is cool and shouldn't be just for the wealthy. Make their asses stand in line every now and then for the good tickets too. It's governemnt run, so the point is only to approach breaking even on expenses, and not like the pro sports do with ticket prices. We'll figure this one out too.

Government -
Most of us will have to go get real jobs. one way or another. Pres capped at two terms. House Members and Senators at four. No more ability to to raise your own salary or benefits. It's a set amount, more if you chair a committee. Adjusted for inflation based on economic indicators only. Part of your pay is the honor of serving your country if you didn't do so in the military. By the way, if you work hard and show leadership, I'm pretty sure our thriving industry will want to hire you. If you suck and dont really do anything, welcome back to the real world. My local Wal-Mart needs another cashier in a bad way, especially Sunday afternoons. Get your crap together and do something productive or learn how to use the scanner in a hurry.

Abortion- I'm against it but I'm not you and it's your child. You make the call. If babies daddy is against having it and you want to keep it, you have two options, place for adoption, or don't expect him to have to pay. This only kicks it at time of conception. You can't "get out" after the first tri-mester fellas. It takes two to tango, both get to shoulder the responsibility and decision making. Rape and sexual assault cases are differnt for obvious reason, all up to the mother, she never was afforded the decision in these cases.

Gun Control -
You can have as many as you want. You must register them just in case you do something stupid later. Committed a heinous crime or are a sex offender? You forfeited your right to carry one. Quit your bithcin'. If everyone has the ability to pack, then I don't think messing with them is agreat idea. Your IQ small enough to think it's a good idea? I hope they shoot your ass because they can. It will always be self defense, the lawyers won't have time to do your case, see below

Lawyers and Judges-
Quotas will be placed on how many can practice in a county in a particular field. They also won't be able to pass legislation as congressmen regarding redistricting or incorporation to "shrink and multiply" the municipalties that they are restricted within. They will be forced to work on cases that are legit not frivolous stuff because of milited hours in a day. Better hope the existing ones find your case interesting, otherwise, you won't be going to court unless you can manage to represent yourself. Judges will lay down sentences. Parol for causing death of any kind will not be tolerated. You get 10 yrs or two retrials to prove you were innocent. Doesn't happen and you are in for life, your life ends. More cash for the system to run properly and support the arts and education. I think $30K is much better spent on motivating our teachers than supporting a crack addicted in prison who killed a child with a stray bullett, or for that matter, a drunk driver who killed anyone else in the accident.

Education-
Haven't run the numbers but I see we axed Welfare, Social Security and took a big chunk out of fleeced government expenditures and law system. All the rest goes to Education. Budget surpluses equal bonues both to high perfomring classrooms and ones that have shown marked improvement. I see lots and lots of money going here. Oh, and no teacher gets tenure. It's now run like private business. Our product is educated youth. Failing to make a good product is like not making shareholder profit. You are sinking your company, which in this case is the country.

I think that about sums up my ideas for tonight. If you like it, spread it around. If you don't, too bad, don't vote for me/us. After writing this, there will definitely be points Nobrainer disagrees on. If so, he can bail whenever and run on his own ticket, I understand. This is what I would like to see so if he does take a different overall approach I'm looking for other running mates.

That'll piss ya off

I've spent the last 9 years using the same calculator. Not just any calculator either. None of this sissy TI-85 crap, no an HP-48GX with expandable memory capacity that sucks down triple a batteries like a kids juice box. This thing had expandable that existed before anyone really knew what it meant and could be programmed for stuff I still can't fathom doing. Most importantly, if entered properly, it could convert any measurement from SI to Imperial units in a few quick key strokes. Many folks went through a couple in college due to the rough and tumble abuse of that lifestyle but mine was fortunateto make it as well as most of my first four years out of school. How I don't know as the damn thing kicked out some messed up numbers and was thrown a couple times. However, it was often given due credit as the one thing most attriutable to graduation. As I pulled it out for work Friday morning and to extreme dismay, the screen was inner cell was cracked and a blob of mystery fluid/plasma was covering most of the screen. Though the internal operations still appear to operate and it can be used for basic output, the full usefulness has been compromised. I am extremely upset as you can tell. Those outside the realm of Clemson Engineering between '95 and '03 may not understand and I don't expect them to. Classes changed, pencils broke, and computers crashed but the HP and it's reverse polar notation was always there with an annoying beep when you performed an action not allowed (adding two number when only one had been entered for example). The calculator had even brought a reputation here as when it was broken out smart comments abounded. My biggest concern? Going back to a regular calculator or heaven forbid, an adding machine that works like neither a standard calculator nor the machine I have so well bonded with. A little liquor will be poured out in it's memory this week. It may have happened Friday night, but I don't think anyone can remeber honoring it.

WHAtch out o'er thur!

As many know and most of this readership, or at least respondents know, this weeknd forces of the Clemson world between '96 and'03 collide in Chucktown to celebrate the right of passage to honeydoodum for one Mr. Benjamin Louis Heilmann ('01, '03) of Raleigh, NC. Yeah, I am prepping this shit for Clemson World publication. Granted the actual ceremony isn't for two more months and the activities in the next 72 hours could constitute revokation of acceptance on his bride to be's behalf we are gathering to give him one last breath of true single manhood. It will be ugly, the dreaded ball and chain will be slapped on tight and done at an early hour. Much Jager and Red Bull will be consumed, a golf course will be abused by some, bars will regret the party of 12, and a strippers ass may get slapped all in good, somewhat clean, fun. Hell, Carn may even put a down payment on a family, again. This occurence, as a whole, has been planned in some form or fashion since this fall. The soon to be Misses knows what is going to ensure and has faith in her future husband. A warranted faith I may add as it's the group that scares the hell out of me. Thousands of miles will be traveled for the party to assemble and most do not expect to see the light of day until after the noon hour on Saturday. I'm sure edited versions of the weekend will crop out in the realms of the Agent, Funk, Nobrainer, back here and within comments elsewhere. If all goes as planned this will be a weekend that stories and legends are born. I just hope no one has to lie to Best Buy when it's all over about why their computer shorted out. Stay tuned kids, this could get interesting come Sunday.

Got a song

but I ain't got no melody. I got a blog button but I got no clue how to use it. Any suggestions? Somedays I am even more stupid than the rest. It looks kinda nifty but I don't know how to display it or link it to toher for display. It's like having a big ding dong but not having a place to stick it. I know all about the second part but not the first. Fun stuff.

I Fell Off

I fell off, I fell the fuck off. The wagon of course. Did you expect anything else from me? Just like any other Lent fasting, I never quite pull it off or have some loop hole like last year with no soft drinks (except for class purposes when I needed the kick). Anyway, things were and have been going well, less last Saturday. Did a little grilling, had a few brews, felt good, having a goodtime out and about and the dreaded Yeager Bomb was offered up. We had even taken a cab out to ensure minimalized stupidity, typically brought on by Jack's peer pressure. Well, upon surveying some fine female specimens and have unusually warm weather, we decided it was true party night and we weren't missing that boat. Bring 'em on, we'll repent later. Well, one turned into four plus beer chasers and what we were going through anyway. At least mixed drinks were never brought into the picture. With Patty's Day and the Hyman smack around, I mean bachelor party, I hope to hold strong. In true NCAA tourney form though, I only truly expect to go .500 on this prediction. I predict that if anything gets me, it will be the Car Bombs this week as I plan to be coherent in my abuse of Hug-a-bunch next weekend. By the way, if the guantlet hadn't been thrown down previously in his direction, it has been now. I think I'll go buy a lock this weekend.


Update: It has come to my attention that the Lent thing was ammended. We reverted back to no Jack during the 6 weeks as that was the original intent. Other alcohol is on. With that being said, if you have anything resembling an Irish Car Bomb ingredient near you this weekend, hide it. This is also applicable to vodka and cranberries prior to noon next weekend and Yeagerr bombs at any point. That is all.

Wha