Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Lazy Sunday morning
For reason unknown to me I just reread Slaughterhouse Five.
For this particular time in history, I'm not sure if it was the best or the worst thing for me to read.
Also....people.....PLEASE.....its BOWS of holly. Bowels of holly would be something completely different.
For this particular time in history, I'm not sure if it was the best or the worst thing for me to read.
Also....people.....PLEASE.....its BOWS of holly. Bowels of holly would be something completely different.
Friday, December 10, 2010
three questions
We're actually suppose to believe that the Prince and Camilla accidentally drove into a full on riot ?
And we're supposed to believe that their secure, bulletproof limo was busted up by a balloon with paint in it ?
Are we such suckers that they're not even trying anymore ?
And we're supposed to believe that their secure, bulletproof limo was busted up by a balloon with paint in it ?
Are we such suckers that they're not even trying anymore ?
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Passing notes
My youngest daughter has some separation anxiety in the morning. She leaves for the bus in tears each morning bumming out herself and her mother.
In an attempt to provide her some sense of control, I suggested that maybe she could try putting on a happy face and trying to control her emotions for her mother's sake.
" It's hard'" sniff sniff, " but I'll try Daddy."
This morning she woke up, had breakfast, got dressed then locked herself in the bathroom.
My wife knocked on the door, " honey why are you locking yourself in the bathroom ?"
" I can let you see me or hear me upset"
" Well this isn't going to work. I want to say goodbye to you."
"If you want to talk to me Mommy then slip me a note under the door. Its for your own good."
Sure enough they passed notes back and forth through the door crack until the bus came. I'm not sure if I'm making it better or worse.
In an attempt to provide her some sense of control, I suggested that maybe she could try putting on a happy face and trying to control her emotions for her mother's sake.
" It's hard'" sniff sniff, " but I'll try Daddy."
This morning she woke up, had breakfast, got dressed then locked herself in the bathroom.
My wife knocked on the door, " honey why are you locking yourself in the bathroom ?"
" I can let you see me or hear me upset"
" Well this isn't going to work. I want to say goodbye to you."
"If you want to talk to me Mommy then slip me a note under the door. Its for your own good."
Sure enough they passed notes back and forth through the door crack until the bus came. I'm not sure if I'm making it better or worse.
Friday, November 19, 2010
funny stuff my daughter says
Me: Hey kids, hang on a sec I want to run in here and get a bottle of wine.
8 year old: Keep your eye on the prize, keep moving old man.
8 year old: When I grow up I want to be Irish.
Me: Irish ? What Irish ?
8 year old: Because I want a farm and animals and stuff
Me: Do you mean Amish ?
8 year old: (annoyed sigh) Amish....Irish....whatever.
8 year old: I want to get married, but just for the wedding.
Me: Well you'll need a husband
8 year old: I suppose, but it doesn't mean I have to like him.
Me: Don't you want kids ?
8 year old: KIDS ?! What needs that pain.
Me: Having babies doesn't hurt. That's just a rumor.
8 year old: I'm not talking about THAT ! I mean just having to hear all the whining.
8 year old: When I have a farm I'm going to be friends with all of the animals
Me: Well I wouldn't get too friendly
8 year old: Why ?
Me: Well if you have a farm, sooner or later your going to have to eat something or sell something.
8 year old: Well that's going to be awkward.
Me: Well that's how it is.
( long pause while she's thinking)
8 year old: OK. I got it.
Me: what's that ?
8 year old: I'm just going to have to lie to the chickens.
8 year old: Keep your eye on the prize, keep moving old man.
8 year old: When I grow up I want to be Irish.
Me: Irish ? What Irish ?
8 year old: Because I want a farm and animals and stuff
Me: Do you mean Amish ?
8 year old: (annoyed sigh) Amish....Irish....whatever.
8 year old: I want to get married, but just for the wedding.
Me: Well you'll need a husband
8 year old: I suppose, but it doesn't mean I have to like him.
Me: Don't you want kids ?
8 year old: KIDS ?! What needs that pain.
Me: Having babies doesn't hurt. That's just a rumor.
8 year old: I'm not talking about THAT ! I mean just having to hear all the whining.
8 year old: When I have a farm I'm going to be friends with all of the animals
Me: Well I wouldn't get too friendly
8 year old: Why ?
Me: Well if you have a farm, sooner or later your going to have to eat something or sell something.
8 year old: Well that's going to be awkward.
Me: Well that's how it is.
( long pause while she's thinking)
8 year old: OK. I got it.
Me: what's that ?
8 year old: I'm just going to have to lie to the chickens.
Friday, October 15, 2010
OK, I admit...its me
After 9 straight days of people completely losing their shit in my presence, I'm going to go ahead and concede that its my fault.
I don't know why, or how, or what I'm doing, but pretty much every day for about two weeks somebody has started screaming or crying and/or threatened to kick my ass.
And no matter how nice I try to be it only makes me more of a hostility magnet.
I'm going to try whistling this all day and see if that helps.
I don't know why, or how, or what I'm doing, but pretty much every day for about two weeks somebody has started screaming or crying and/or threatened to kick my ass.
And no matter how nice I try to be it only makes me more of a hostility magnet.
I'm going to try whistling this all day and see if that helps.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
The UCI is great
The UCI is going to regulate rider's agents.
After this maybe they can go after the big littering problem in Compton.
After this maybe they can go after the big littering problem in Compton.
Monday, October 04, 2010
recommended add to the reading list
Emergency: This book will save your life : by Neil
Neil Strauss chronicles his evolution from a city boy who's greatest survival skill is ordering room service to someone who can survive for three days in the wilderness with nothing but a knife. The book is a candid look at fragility of our social structure and an evaluation of modern man. If you like Fight Club, you'll enjoy this book.
Neil Strauss chronicles his evolution from a city boy who's greatest survival skill is ordering room service to someone who can survive for three days in the wilderness with nothing but a knife. The book is a candid look at fragility of our social structure and an evaluation of modern man. If you like Fight Club, you'll enjoy this book.
Monday, September 27, 2010
One year
Yesterday marked the one year anniversary when I gave up on being fit.
I was overtrained, overworked, overcooked.
I didn't make a conscious effort to go totally into the tank. I had planned on taking one month off, but true to two laws of physics;
* An object at rest, stays at rest...etc etc
* and I've never done anything in moderation
one month turned into one year.
The results.....
* 26.5 lbs weight gain
* all new shirts because "fitted shirt" actually means fitted and I now have a much fatter neck.
* two inches in the waistline, at least, resulting in one popped button (so far) and one new belt.
There are also a slew of side effects such as soreness, not being able to touch my toes, and the like...the worst of which is no longer being able to dunk on the house front hoop and reminded of it daily by my 10 year old son.
So we'll see if we can turn the boat around. I'm not hopeful, but I'm definitely not hopeless. To those ends...
Day 1.
I was overtrained, overworked, overcooked.
I didn't make a conscious effort to go totally into the tank. I had planned on taking one month off, but true to two laws of physics;
* An object at rest, stays at rest...etc etc
* and I've never done anything in moderation
one month turned into one year.
The results.....
* 26.5 lbs weight gain
* all new shirts because "fitted shirt" actually means fitted and I now have a much fatter neck.
* two inches in the waistline, at least, resulting in one popped button (so far) and one new belt.
There are also a slew of side effects such as soreness, not being able to touch my toes, and the like...the worst of which is no longer being able to dunk on the house front hoop and reminded of it daily by my 10 year old son.
So we'll see if we can turn the boat around. I'm not hopeful, but I'm definitely not hopeless. To those ends...
Day 1.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
JOHN P. "HAPPY JACK" CONNOLLY
JOHN P. "HAPPY JACK" CONNOLLY
AGE: 85 EDISON
John P. "Happy Jack" Connolly, 85, of Edison, completed his journey on earth peacefully with his wife at his side on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. He left in his wake legacies that will live on for generations to come.
Born in Scotland, he came to the U.S., living in New Brunswick before moving to Edison 60 years ago. John was employed as senior supervisor at Bristol Myers Squibb for 36 years, retiring in 1982, then superintendent of sanitation for Edison Township for eight years, retiring in 1990.
He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with the Army's 501st Parachute Regiment in the Pacific, European and African Theaters and was a recipient of the Bronze Medal.
Jack was a communicant and founding father of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Edison for 50 years and a member of the Matt Talbot #66 Retreat Group.
He was a Democratic committeeman in Edison for 25 years, and a member of the Executive Board, a member of the Democratic Organization Zoning Board and various other committees.
Happy Jack managed and coached for the Midtown Little League in Edison, a member of Knights of Columbus 4885, 4th Degree in Edison, and was a friend of Bill W. for 23 years.
Jack was predeceased by his first wife, Gertrude, in 1962; his second wife, Victoria, in 1984; and a son, John J., in 2005. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of eight years, Marie Wieder Connolly; his loving children and their spouses, Ginny Connolly-Manhardt and her husband Andrew of Sanford, N.C., and Barbara Laudien and her husband Harold of Fairless Hills, Pa.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 at Boylan Funeral Home, 10 Wooding Ave., Edison. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 from the funeral home, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Matthew's R.C. Church, Edison. Burial will be in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Happy Jack to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
AGE: 85 EDISON
John P. "Happy Jack" Connolly, 85, of Edison, completed his journey on earth peacefully with his wife at his side on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. He left in his wake legacies that will live on for generations to come.
Born in Scotland, he came to the U.S., living in New Brunswick before moving to Edison 60 years ago. John was employed as senior supervisor at Bristol Myers Squibb for 36 years, retiring in 1982, then superintendent of sanitation for Edison Township for eight years, retiring in 1990.
He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with the Army's 501st Parachute Regiment in the Pacific, European and African Theaters and was a recipient of the Bronze Medal.
Jack was a communicant and founding father of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Edison for 50 years and a member of the Matt Talbot #66 Retreat Group.
He was a Democratic committeeman in Edison for 25 years, and a member of the Executive Board, a member of the Democratic Organization Zoning Board and various other committees.
Happy Jack managed and coached for the Midtown Little League in Edison, a member of Knights of Columbus 4885, 4th Degree in Edison, and was a friend of Bill W. for 23 years.
Jack was predeceased by his first wife, Gertrude, in 1962; his second wife, Victoria, in 1984; and a son, John J., in 2005. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of eight years, Marie Wieder Connolly; his loving children and their spouses, Ginny Connolly-Manhardt and her husband Andrew of Sanford, N.C., and Barbara Laudien and her husband Harold of Fairless Hills, Pa.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 at Boylan Funeral Home, 10 Wooding Ave., Edison. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 from the funeral home, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Matthew's R.C. Church, Edison. Burial will be in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Happy Jack to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
I bow to the king
Any other freak-out chronicled on this blog pales in comparison.
Flight Attendant Slater: A Real American Hero
......
The argument began when one of the 100 passengers on the flight, got up early to get her luggage from an overhead compartment, according to sources. Slater told the passenger to sit back down -- but, as he approached, the woman continued to pull her belongings down and struck him in the head with her bag, authorities said.
Slater asked for an apology but the woman cursed him out, saying in effect "go f--k yourself" and calling him a "mo-fo," according to law enforcement sources who are still sorting out the specifics. Then Slater got on the flight's announcement system and allegedly cursed out everyone on the plane -- especially the person who mouthed off to him, according to law enforcement sources.
When his tirade was through, he then took a some beers from the galley and pulled the emergency chute and slid off the Embraer 190 plane. According to police sources, he threw his luggage down first and said something to the effect of "there goes 28 years," before he took the plunge.
After getting down the slide, Slater took off into the terminal, law-enforcement sources said.
The steward was "having a bad day," sources said.
Slater was later arrested at his home in Belle Harbor by Port Authority officials. Police sources said that when authorities found Slater he seemed to be in the midst having sexual relations.
Flight Attendant Slater: A Real American Hero
......
The argument began when one of the 100 passengers on the flight, got up early to get her luggage from an overhead compartment, according to sources. Slater told the passenger to sit back down -- but, as he approached, the woman continued to pull her belongings down and struck him in the head with her bag, authorities said.
Slater asked for an apology but the woman cursed him out, saying in effect "go f--k yourself" and calling him a "mo-fo," according to law enforcement sources who are still sorting out the specifics. Then Slater got on the flight's announcement system and allegedly cursed out everyone on the plane -- especially the person who mouthed off to him, according to law enforcement sources.
When his tirade was through, he then took a some beers from the galley and pulled the emergency chute and slid off the Embraer 190 plane. According to police sources, he threw his luggage down first and said something to the effect of "there goes 28 years," before he took the plunge.
After getting down the slide, Slater took off into the terminal, law-enforcement sources said.
The steward was "having a bad day," sources said.
Slater was later arrested at his home in Belle Harbor by Port Authority officials. Police sources said that when authorities found Slater he seemed to be in the midst having sexual relations.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Mr. Sensitive
PennDot's reputation of being unreasonable is well earned in my experience.
My relationship with them reached an all time low when their temporary summer pothole patching crew mistakenly filled in every one of our manholes covers....and then PennDot asked that I submit a road opening permit to dig them back out. In that case, I appreciated a coworker talking me out of returning the application after using it for the same purposed as toilet tissue.
So this afternoon I got a call from a PennDot contractor telling me that there was a situation he was "concerned about". The concern was that there was a wheelchair ramp close to two storm water inlets and next to some stairs leading up to a local bar.
My question, naturally, was " what do you mean concern ? The ramp is either in violation or not in violation of the regulations ?"
He replied, " Well I can repair the road without addressing the concern, but while we have it all dug up I think its probably a good idea that guys have us fix up the corner. "
" Well then go ahead and fix it up", I said.
" I'd like to do that, but its outside of the scope of work. I can do it, but its going to cost you a couple of extra dollars.", he replied.
Then I got irritated, " Yeah I bet it will. You know I'm sick of this stuff. You guys always coming around and forcing us to comply with ridiculous regulations. I'm all for accessibility, but enough is enough. Can you or can you NOT get the ramp and the landing in ?"
" Yeah. I mean we can get the ramp and landing in, but then then the person is going to be...."
I interrupted, " Ok then you can get the ramp in. Then put the ramp in, do what's on the work order and that's in. I'm not going to be nickle and dimed to death on this job."
The guy tried again, " I don't think you understand. The stairs are right there near.."
I interrupted again, " yeah...yeah...yeah...so some fat guy in his rascal is coming home from WalMart there and he's gotta cross the street and its narrow right ? So his cart bumps the stairs, big deal, he has to back up and go around. That's for the offer..I'm not interested.
" Um...ok....would it be ok if I sent you a picture ?", he asked.
" Sure."
I'm sure that the guy thought I was a total douchebag. Meanwhile I thought I won one for the good guys. That is...until 10 minutes later when I got this....
AH...apparently stairs go both up AND down.
and apparently, I'm an asshole.
My relationship with them reached an all time low when their temporary summer pothole patching crew mistakenly filled in every one of our manholes covers....and then PennDot asked that I submit a road opening permit to dig them back out. In that case, I appreciated a coworker talking me out of returning the application after using it for the same purposed as toilet tissue.
So this afternoon I got a call from a PennDot contractor telling me that there was a situation he was "concerned about". The concern was that there was a wheelchair ramp close to two storm water inlets and next to some stairs leading up to a local bar.
My question, naturally, was " what do you mean concern ? The ramp is either in violation or not in violation of the regulations ?"
He replied, " Well I can repair the road without addressing the concern, but while we have it all dug up I think its probably a good idea that guys have us fix up the corner. "
" Well then go ahead and fix it up", I said.
" I'd like to do that, but its outside of the scope of work. I can do it, but its going to cost you a couple of extra dollars.", he replied.
Then I got irritated, " Yeah I bet it will. You know I'm sick of this stuff. You guys always coming around and forcing us to comply with ridiculous regulations. I'm all for accessibility, but enough is enough. Can you or can you NOT get the ramp and the landing in ?"
" Yeah. I mean we can get the ramp and landing in, but then then the person is going to be...."
I interrupted, " Ok then you can get the ramp in. Then put the ramp in, do what's on the work order and that's in. I'm not going to be nickle and dimed to death on this job."
The guy tried again, " I don't think you understand. The stairs are right there near.."
I interrupted again, " yeah...yeah...yeah...so some fat guy in his rascal is coming home from WalMart there and he's gotta cross the street and its narrow right ? So his cart bumps the stairs, big deal, he has to back up and go around. That's for the offer..I'm not interested.
" Um...ok....would it be ok if I sent you a picture ?", he asked.
" Sure."
I'm sure that the guy thought I was a total douchebag. Meanwhile I thought I won one for the good guys. That is...until 10 minutes later when I got this....
AH...apparently stairs go both up AND down.
and apparently, I'm an asshole.
Friday, July 30, 2010
good points
http://www.theservicecourse.com/2010/07/raceable-moments.html
# Speaking of jerseys, what of the great RadioShack wardrobe tragedy? Frankly, I wouldn’t shed too many a tear for them – contrary to appearances, I suspect the whole thing went off exactly as it was intended. If TRS really was counting on wearing the jerseys, they would have requested UCI approval, and given the stated nature of the effort, I bet they would have received it. But they didn’t take that step, choosing instead to go the six-year-old route and get more attention by acting out. With that, they also got the added bonus of getting to look persecuted one more time for the general audience.
I found it all pretty distasteful, and not because I’m a stickler for the uniform rules. Armstrong’s previous teams wore modified uniforms onto the Champs Elysees all the time, and nobody, me included, cared a bit. I didn’t care then because they’d earned the media spotlight by winning the race, so in my mind, they were welcome to do with that Champs Elysees spotlight as they pleased, whether that was pushing Livestrong or whatever else their sponsors wanted or allowed. But this year, the spotlight wasn’t theirs to bask in, but they tried to point it at themselves anyway, when it should have been shining squarely on Contador, Schleck, Chartreau, and Petacchi. They know it, we know it.
Finally, the whole affair kept 161 other guys - who just wanted to get the hell to Paris and be done with the whole damn thing - waiting while they huffed around with faux offense and fumbled with safety pins. That’s just rude.
# And yes, it will sound callous, but I’m tired of cycling being the cancer sport. And yes, I say that as someone who has the obligatory family history. But I’m not going to recite that history here as some love to do in such discussions, because validity of opinions on the matter shouldn’t be decided on some chest-puffing “who’s more cancer” contest.
# Speaking of jerseys, what of the great RadioShack wardrobe tragedy? Frankly, I wouldn’t shed too many a tear for them – contrary to appearances, I suspect the whole thing went off exactly as it was intended. If TRS really was counting on wearing the jerseys, they would have requested UCI approval, and given the stated nature of the effort, I bet they would have received it. But they didn’t take that step, choosing instead to go the six-year-old route and get more attention by acting out. With that, they also got the added bonus of getting to look persecuted one more time for the general audience.
I found it all pretty distasteful, and not because I’m a stickler for the uniform rules. Armstrong’s previous teams wore modified uniforms onto the Champs Elysees all the time, and nobody, me included, cared a bit. I didn’t care then because they’d earned the media spotlight by winning the race, so in my mind, they were welcome to do with that Champs Elysees spotlight as they pleased, whether that was pushing Livestrong or whatever else their sponsors wanted or allowed. But this year, the spotlight wasn’t theirs to bask in, but they tried to point it at themselves anyway, when it should have been shining squarely on Contador, Schleck, Chartreau, and Petacchi. They know it, we know it.
Finally, the whole affair kept 161 other guys - who just wanted to get the hell to Paris and be done with the whole damn thing - waiting while they huffed around with faux offense and fumbled with safety pins. That’s just rude.
# And yes, it will sound callous, but I’m tired of cycling being the cancer sport. And yes, I say that as someone who has the obligatory family history. But I’m not going to recite that history here as some love to do in such discussions, because validity of opinions on the matter shouldn’t be decided on some chest-puffing “who’s more cancer” contest.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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