Laundry Night

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:03:53 GMT

Memorial Day

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:51:53 GMT

Put down your burger. Turn off the TV. Take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate price for the Freedoms we enjoy today. To those who serve and those have served, thank you.

Fall update

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:39:13 GMT

I had another doctor's appointment today. Nothing much new except my kidney has stopped bleeding (good news). I also went back to the job site with Jimmy to take pictures for the report. This is where I fell.

I was standing on the top aluminum step of the ladder when I fell. I wound up face down just to the left of the gas meter. Of the available evil things for me to hit on the way down, the gas meter was by far the best option. They kinda get lost in the background but there are also two grounding rods sticking out of the ground. These are basically two 8 foot pieces of 1/4" rebar with a copper wire connecting them with the power meter. One is just to the left of the step ladder sticking about a foot out of the ground. The other is lost in the foliage just downhill from the gas meter. If I'd managed to hit either of these, they would have seriously fucked me up. I also managed to miss all the sharp corners of the framework. The fall and impact was still pretty bad but it could have been much, much worse.

Just for a little perspective. Jimmy is standing on the ground level I wound up on.

Total Failure

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:40:16 GMT

I fell off my ladder today. I was working on the side of a house on the side of a hill. I had my step ladder on a fairly level piece of ground. Unfortunately some of that ground was soft. As I neared the top of the ladder, the front legs shifted onto the not so solid ground and proceeded to twist and sink. I was not ready for this, I didn't have a good hand hold and I was tossed off. Unfortunately because of the hillside it wasn't a simple little four foot fall. Instead I fell onto the terrace below, approximately six to eight feet below. This probably still would have been OK except for the for the fact that a gas meter currently occupied that space. I caught the gas meter with my lower back, just below the ribs on the right side.

The fall happened shortly after six this evening. I got one of my coworkers to come out and help me finish the job (the last thing that needed to be done was at the top of the ladder I just fell off). I drove my self to the ER around 7:30. I've only just now gotten home. The news from the ER is mostly good. It looks like I've only bruised my ribs (not broken thank god). There was only a microscopic amount of blood in my urine so the kidney is probably also only bruised. The fun part is the spasms that are running wild in my back. If I lean to the right or move anything on the right side of my body the muscles in my back lock into the worst charlie horse I've ever felt. Hopefully the Vicodin and flexoral will allow me to sleep tonight.

Mow the Lawn

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:44:47 GMT

Wow. Talk about Innuendo. LOL I love the ahem . . hairless cat in the final scene. Subtle it taint.

Two more

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:31:39 GMT

I had two more (last two I hope) of my 30 year old fillings replaced this morning. My mouth is just starting to wake back up. I've rediscovered just what a pain in the ass it is to have my back most, upper molars worked on. Tipped all the way back with two hands and an assistant all working in my mouth. It is actually rather hard to breathe in that position. I don't understand how pron stars do it.

Vegas Wrap Up part 2

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:14:21 GMT

Vegas

My plan for Vegas was to play a whole lot of poker. The Luxor runs 5 tournaments a day. I figured this would be the least expensive way for me to donate money to the casino. I was wrong. I got my ass handed to me in the first tournament on Sunday night, and didn't play in another. I tend to do alright in our home games but against the poker pros in Vegas I am out of my league. I played smart but got blinded to death. I didn't catch playable cards until the blinds had gone up and by that time two people had already been eliminated. I went all in with a suited Ace-King. Unfortunately I was against the the chip leader who decided to call me with crap in his hand. 5,7 off suit. The flop had two 5's in it. So ended my tournament. I'm going to need to practice more before I try that again.

Sunday was Dean's birthday (the reason for the trip). However because our group didn't really get assembled until late Sunday night (Tim and Scott also had their flights delayed), we decided to do the celebrating on Monday. We started the day with the breakfast buffet at the Luxor and than donated more cash to the various slots and video poker. (Dave loves the Alien game and actually did reasonably well with it). I've never been much into slots but they are a way to pass the time. In the afternoon we headed over the the Rio for dinner and a show.

*** A quick word on the differences between the casinos. Luxor is near the low end. It was the cheaper option for us to stay on the main part of the strip. The wait staff is a little older, and mostly artificially enhanced. Still mostly nice to look at but still a step or two down the ladder. Rio on the other hand is much more expensive to stay at. The wait staff were all young and smoken' hot. They have to be. The uniforms the Rio employs leave very little to the imagination.

After securing out tickets for the show we wandered a bit and eventually decided on "Hamada Asiana" for dinner. We had teppanyaki for dinner, which is both dinner and a show. The food was very good and it is fun to watch them cook it in front of you. After dinner and a bit of gaming we headed up to the Show. Penn and Teller are amazing. They mostly tell you exactly what they are going to do and still manage to surprise . It was a blast. Several of the other guys have pictures from this but the only camera I took was my blackberry so my pictures suck.

After the show we took a shuttle to Paris. Much to Mike's chagrin, the transformers had invaded. John and Dean both have pictures of mike posed in front of "Bumblebee". Paris is by far the brightest casino I have ever been in. The ceiling is painted to resemble a blue sky. It is quite a cool effect. Unfortunately the elevator to up the tower was closed when we got there so we were unable to go up. Most of the group did however leave with a novelty Eiffel tower drink.

From Paris we went next door to Planet Hollywood. There was a club at Planet Hollywood that Dean wanted to check out. Unfortunately it turned out to be closed. However this is also where my trip became different from everyone else. I started winning. While Dean was looking for the club, I decided to try my hand at three card poker. Up to this point I had avoided the table games because most were a $10 minimum bet. Three card poker has three bets. At $30 a hand it can eat cash real fast. I burned through my first $100 in just under 10 min. I almost got up and left at that point. I figured Dean would be a while at the club to I plunked down another $100 to try to change my luck. It worked. I hit a straight flush on the second hand. The payout on a straight flush on the "pair plus" line is 40-1. Suddenly I'm back to even on trip. Almost immediately after I got the call that the club was closed and we were moving on so I was able to get up and walk with my winnings intact. This trend continued for the rest of the trip. Three card was very good to me. By the time all was said and done I managed to pay for all my time, food, hotel and flight. Nice when it happens. I'm usually in the business donating cash to the casino, not the other way around.

After Planet Hollywood we decided to walk back to Luxor. This was a mistake for me. I am out of the walking boot but my foot and ankle are not in good shape yet. The walk was a trial, however Vegas at night is an amazing sight. While the others went to Aurora for a nightcap I went back to the room to rest my foot and passed out (it was 3 AM).

Much of Tuesday was spent by the pool and after a quick snack at the over priced food court, we headed down to Fremont street. After wandering around the Fremont street experience (a little more wandering than my foot liked) We tried to get good cheep food. We failed. Unfortunately everyone goes to Fremont street for cheep eats. The lines were insane. We were also trying to seat 7 people so that did have a little to do with it. We wound up at "The Buffet" at the Golden Nugget. We did get there a little late in the day but it wasn't cheep ($20, same as Luxor) and it didn't have much selection and just wasn't all that good. Oh well. the rest of Fremont Street was great. I won a little more on the lower stakes tables at the Golden Nugget, Dave won on a slot and then we headed over to Mermaids.

Mermaids is the home of the Deep fried Twinkies and Oreo's (I'd already had too much bad food on this day to tempt fate) and is one of the few places in Vegas to still use coins in their slots. They also have some of the friendliest, most attentive wait staff in all of Los Vegas. I had three girls ask if I need a anything to drink, before I sat down. Needless to say, we drank a lot there. We also had our first bombing run of the night there. After we closed down Fremont street we headed back to Luxor and the Aurora bar for more drinking. I passed out around 3:30 AM.

Wednesday was check out. Nobody was much in the mood for breakfast and Dean looked about half Dead (none of us were much better but Dean had it the worst). After checkout we stored the bags and wondered back into the casino. I think Dean had a nap and a massage at the pool. I won a little more at three card and than proceed to not lose at the slots (win just enough to keep playing). After a very late breakfast we headed out to the airport.

The Return

Here is where the trip goes funky again. We got to the airport about two hours before departure and breezed through security. After hanging out for about an hour or so the counter guy comes on the intercom and announces that our departure will be delayed 2 hours because of delays in Seattle due to fucking Snow in April. One of the Drunks in first class goes ballistic and starts yelling at the guy at the counter. He had also apparently kicked Dean several times while he was sleeping on the floor, and told his kids to kick him as well. What happened next is entirely predictable and amusing. TSA, an air marshal and local PD showed up at the counter. After a long, loud discussion, Jackass and his family were removed from the flight. Unfortunately not in handcuffs but I guess you can't have everything. This opened several spots in first class which Dean and John snapped up. We finally left Vegas around 9 PM and after a very long and hot 2.5 hours we arrived back in Seattle. It was a fantastic trip but it is nice to be home.

Vegas Wrap Up part 1

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:30:06 GMT

We are finally back from our trip down to the desert. In Vegas it was 75 Degrees and sunny. Here is is cold wet with a chance of snow???! The trip was a blast. Transport to and from Vegas could have been better but overall we had a great time.

The reason for the trip was to celebrate Dean's birthday. In addition to the birthday boy, Dave, John, Mike and I made the trek down form Seattle. Tim and Scott joined us in Vegas. All our flights were rather epic.

Departure

John and I left Seattle first. When I booked the tickets the direct flights were twice as much as the flight we ended up on, so we had a layover in Salt Lake. The itinerary called for us to depart Seattle at 6:05 AM, have a 45 min layover in Salt Lake, and catch a connecting flight to Vegas. Unfortunately things didn't quite work out as planned. First of all 6:05 is an ungodly time to have to catch a plane. We left the house around 3:30 AM for the drive to the airport (thank you Summer for the ride). We got to the airport fine and through security screening(I forgot to remove a pack of gum from my pocket and had to get wanded and a pat down). We boarded the plane on time and prepared to leave. That is the last time I will use the phrase "on time" in conjunction with any of our flights. Our plane had to be deiced before we could leave. Apparently this took a while ( I didn't really notice as I was mostly dead to the world.

The flight was a little bumpy but I've had much worse. We arrived in Salt Lake a little late but then had to go around because a commuter plane was slow clearing the runway. By the time we pulled up to the jet way it was 9:35. Our connecting flight was scheduled to depart at 9:40 and was on a different concourse. We ran through the airport and made the connecting flight. Fortunately there were 30 people from our Seattle flight on the connecting flight to Vegas, so they held up the departure to wait for us. Nice. Would have been even better if they had bothered to tell us this. So after sprinting through the airport to catch the flight, we waited 20 minutes for them to transfer the luggage. Just as we landed in Salt Lake the airport was hit with a blizzard. Once the plane was finally loaded we then had to wait another 40 or so min in line to be deiced. They got the plane about halfway deiced and ran out of deicer. They refilled the deicer trucks, deiced the plane for a second time and we finally got to take off for Vegas. We were supposed to arrive in Las Vegas at 10 AM. It was closer to 11:30 by the time we landed.

Dave, Dean and Mike were on a different flight. Theirs was a direct flight that didn't depart Seattle until 8 AM (booked a week after I booked our flight and for the same price. Whatever) . They were supposed to get to Vegas a half hour after us. Their flight was also delayed,(due to a faulty fuel gauge) but they still beat John and I to Vegas. After an insane shuttle ride to the Luxor we joined another epically long line to check in (The Luxor is a huge hotel and even with the economy in the tank they still had long lines to check in). We finally got a room, dumped our stuff and joined the other three (Scott and Tim didn't get in until that evening) for a very late brunch. Then the party started. . . after a nap. I must be getting old.

End part 1. I will post the rest of the trip tomorrow.

Home again

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:07:19 GMT

We all made it back from Vegas mostly intact. Completely exhausted. Will post more in the morning.

So long little buddy. We hardly knew ya.

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:48:17 GMT

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts119/launchbat.html

http://www.space-bat.com/

Bill Maher on Religion and Politics

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:50:20 GMT

I feel like a bobble head

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:25:28 GMT

I can't sleep. I've been awake since just after 4 am. I finally gave in and took some decongestant nasal spray so at least I can breathe. Yesterdays bus has turned into a 747 and it is parked squarely in between my ears. I really need to work today. Vegas is at the end of the month and it would be nice to not have to dip into my savings for the trip. Unfortunately work is looking less and less likely today. My alarm goes off in 40 minutes. I'll make the decision then. Fucccck!

Creeping Crud

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:16:48 GMT

Dave has been fighting the crud for the last week or so. Last night I felt fine when I went to bed. This morning I woke up with a bus parked on my chest and head. I'm takin a sick day today and this shit WILL go away. That is all. Back to bed.

CPAC

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:45:36 GMT

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CPAC After Party

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Bill Hicks Perfectly Describes Rush Limbaugh (NSFW)

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:25:51 GMT

Oh Joy

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:29:56 GMT

Today I have my first of what I'm sure will be many visits to a physical therapist. We are starting deep tissue massage to stretch out the scar tissue I have been building over the last month. My foot is mostly pain free unless I put direct pressure on the injury. Unfortunately that is exactly what will be happening today. Long term it is a good thing and it should restore some flexibility to my foot. I am not looking forward to the process which sounds something akin to torture. We'll see.

Hmm

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:16:39 GMT

Your result for The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test...

The Resistance

Achtung! You are 31% brainwashworthy, 23% antitolerant, and 57% blindly patriotic

Welcome to the Resistance (Der Widerstand)! You believe in freedom, justice, equality, and your country, and you can't be converted to the the dark side.

Breakdown: your Blind Patriotism levels are borderline unhealthy, but you show such a love of people from everywhere and a natural resistance to brainwashing, you would probably focus your energy to fight the Fuehrer with furor, so to speak.

Conclusion: born and raised in Germany in the early 1930's, you would have taken up ARMS against the oppressors. Or even your friends' oppressors. Congratulations!

Less than 5% of all test takers earn a spot in the Resistance!

The Would You Have Been A Nazi? Test

- it rules -

Take The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test at HelloQuizzy

Star Wars as a Silent movie

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:12:34 GMT

Dammit!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:00:43 GMT

Well it is official. I have a 2/3 tear in my Plantar Fascia. I had the MRI Friday evening and today was the followup to discuss results. The good news is I probably won't need surgery. The bad news is I'm stuck in this damn "walking boot" for four more weeks. I better be out of this thing in time for Vegas in March. Fuck!

NSFW

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:15:27 GMT

OK I normally would not post this kind of stuff but I damn near fell out of my chair from laughing so hard. Again. Very not safe for work. I give you . . .

"Fast froward blow jobs"

http://fastforwardblowjobs.com/

Tip: Leave the sound on, it is much funnier that way.

Japanese Slip-n-slide

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:41:13 GMT

Unfortunately I don't speak Japanese but perhaps it is better not knowing what is said.

My right foot

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:06:30 GMT

Earlier this week I slipped (did not fall) on some stairs while working at an apartment in Redmond. I stepped down hard and funny. I had what felt like a bruised heel. Painful but not debilitating. Yesterday while working in Seattle I hooked the toe of my boot (same foot) on a broken piece of concrete hidden in some grass and severely fucked up my foot. It stretched out the bottom of my foot and I felt something tare. Apparently that kind of pain is white because that is all I saw for a minute. I finished the job I was on, went home and took a vicodin (left over from when I fucked up my back)and went to bed. Today I can barley but weight on my right foot and then only on the outside edge and toes. Hopefully I have just torn my arch but a break is also possible. I really don't want to spend time in a cast again. Anyway now it is off the the ER to find out.

Edit: Well it's not broken. Just a bad sprain.

Hardcore

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:28:18 GMT

By hardcore I mean totally insane.

I spent my Sunday working in West Seattle and I finished around 5:30 out on the tip of Alki (just behind the Spuds). It was cold. Cold only the way it can get when the wind whips in off the sound and stabs through every protective layer you were foolish enough to think was enough. It was also dark and actively snowing. This shouldn't come as a surprise to most people. It is winter. The days are short and usually cold. The snow was unexpected but this winter it was not entirely surprising. . . or welcome. As I turned on to Alki to head for the bridge and home I happened to look out into the sound. Much to my surprise I see a very large kite. Attached to the bottom of the kite was a guy in a wetsuit on a surfboard, in the sound. It is dark. It is below freezing and actively snowing and this crazy motherfucker is kiteboarding. I need a hot bath just thinking of it.

**edit** This is not the guy. This is just a photo I pulled off the web to illustrate kiteboarding. Also this picture is in daylight and in Baja, where it is warm.

Obama Action Figure

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:15:47 GMT

I shit you not.

http://gamu-toys.info/sonota/sw/obama/obama.html

Fuck You Chris Wallace

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:33:07 GMT

Leave it to Fox News