Holiday fun

Here's something fun to do:Drive out to your area Amish community and check out the Christmas light displays.

What a travesty

Tonight, something happened to me that just made me want to share.
How something like this can happen in this country is beyond me. And hopefully, by my bringing this to the attention of the general public,(ok, so it's just to the four or so of you that read my blog), maybe somewhere, someone can do something about this, to make sure it doesn't spread to every corner of the globe.

I drove to the city my folks live in,(only 30 miles away), to do some grocery shopping and last minute gift getting.

I'd made my way to Target, Wal-Mart, stopped by the folks', and then made my way to Hy-Vee on the way out of town. On my way, I'd thought "I'm kinda hungry", and planned to get some cash and grab something just before leaving town.

Now, I must point out, that the main places to get fast food, is on the west end of town. On the east end, where I was getting groceries, the choices are limited, but it is possible.

I'd gotten my cash, put the groceries in the trunk, and decided to make my way to a Dairy Queen that was located in the same "shopping area" as Hy-Vee.

Upon pulling up to the 'voice in the box' menu, I was alerted that, "I'll be right with you".
"Ok" I replied to the faceless voice.

I started scanning the selections and noticed something odd about this DQ.
"Hot Dogs"
"Hot Dogs w/chili"
"BBQ Sandwiches"..............but no burgers...............

"Can I take your order?"
"Yea, can I get a cheeseburger with an order of fries?"
"I'm sorry, we no longer serve burgers"

Are you kidding me?

"You don't serve burgers here?! That's just silly!" and I drove off.........hungry...frustrated........and confused...........

Now, for years, I've known Dairy Queen to be famous for a few things.
Their ability to make a cake out of ice cream, and their logo of Dennis the Menace chomping on a cheese burger. But today, my world was shattered as I was looking forward to having a sandwich, and being told there was no way in Hell this particular franchise was going to be providing me with one.

I mean, COME ON!
Do you spell 'America' with a "K" now?!

I thought it was a big deal when Hardee's "upped the ante" with their 'angus burgers', but now, an American staple dropping something as American as burgers from their menu??

But don't cry for me, Ike and Tina, (come on...sing it like you mean it), I only had to wait a paultry 40 minutes with my stomach yelling at me for not going back accrossed town to fill it.
Then, after putting away the groceries, I rewarded my gullet with what's become a "great American hero" of hunger awareness:the Hot Pocket.

M.I.A.

Yes, it's true.
The Holiday Depression has reared it's ugly head again this year, and forced me into a hiatus.
Thank you for your continued interest, to each and every single three of you!

Also, I have to see my vet as I've discovered my puter has worms. ba dum dum

Hope to be writing again soon.

Brass, woods and percussion!

Tonight was the older boys' first school concert since switching to percussion.
I've been helping him a long to kind of catch up with the other drummers, and he's come along quite nicely if I do say so myself. (being a musician has it's advantages when it comes to your kids being in band!).

I decided to sit on the floor (in a chair silly), as opposed to having sat in the bleachers in the past. And let me tell you, it's like a whole new world sitting that close.

As stated before, I am a musician. I've been involved in playing instruments since grade school, so I know a thing or three when it comes to tempos, sounds, and notes (right and wrong). But, I sit listening as a parent, and not someone who is critiquing anything.

Before, I'd watch the first year band students with enthusism and slight jochularity as I'd watch them 'try' to keep tempo by tapping their foot. At the risk of sounding harsh, it looked like they were all trying to kill something that was running around their music stands.
BUT, this is the first year they are put together as an actual group and directed to play the same piece of music.

This year was no exception. However, sitting on the same level as the band, and a mere 30 feet from them, allows one to actually hear the chaotic stompings of twenty-five or so first year band students.

Being my boys' second year band/first year percussion, lent itself to a new type of experience.

While I was excited to hear how this group had grown since last year, I was equally excited to see how the boy would handle his new 'position'.

For the first movement, he played the bells, or xylophone.
Overall, he didn't do too bad. He could have been a bit more agressive, but standing next to a girl who's almost a foot and a half taller, while being in the same grade, could have had something to do with that.
But I'm getting off track here. Or am I?

Basically, I'm glad half of my children have taken to playing in the band (although, I'd prefer them to try the orchestra like their dad did. But this town has no string program.), and I see the other half getting his recorder so there's hope yet.

I look forward to more concerts.

It's a weekend for sports!

Being the parent of a 'band child' comes with many rewards.
One of which is being volunteered to work the concession stand at sporting events.
Last night, was such a night. And being Home Coming week, added to the excitement.

We showed up, not knowing what we had gotten ourselves into.

Within minutes of getting there, we had our assignments:Austin would work 'the cooler', getting the drinks that were called out and I, the parent, would work 'the counter'.
DUN dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh.

Not being a people person, I settled in for what seemed like it would be the "Homecoming from Hell". Plus, not being aquainted with the prices, OR being able to do simple math within micro-seconds, I had a feeling it would be a LONG night.

Luckily, there were plenty of other "volunteered bodies", and there were plenty of counter people. I took a few orders over a period of 45 minutes, and by that time, the two band students (one of which was mine) were bored and ready to go watch the game.

SUCCESS! With Austin wanting to be let out of his "endentured servant status", I took over the cooler with much enthusiasm.

Soon, I was tossing drinks to the counter with the finesse of an NFL quarterback, and not much after that, I had spread my special personality" to the other parents and we were reliving the days of Saturday Night Live:"CHIP CHIP.....COKE............NO COKE! PEPSI".

Of course, this brand of comedy was lost on a majority of our patrons, as the average age was that of a teen-ager.
Still, we had fun, which is what it's all about.

btw:the Final Score as 35-0..........our team snuffed the other team BIG time.

As for today's sports news:BOTH boys had soccer games with Garrett's team won 7-2, the biggest win so far.
Austin's team was dealt a 3-5 loss.
Next time bud.....next time.

Just keeps getting better and better

*The following may be boring as hell to some. But I got nothing else to write on today. Cheers*

Today I finished work on a revision of five windows.

Now, sometimes, a revision has come down from the main office before the paper work hits the shop floor. And other times it will come after the material has been cut.
Occasionally, a revision entails either a colour change, change in sizing, or even a change of style altogether.

Normally, a revision doesn't really phase me much because, unfortunately, it has become common practice where I work. But this recent event has me livid and contemplating searching out other avenues of employment. Here's the low down.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in April, an order came across my table listing twelve windows, all panels (single piece of glass as opposed to double pane), with five of them measuring a whopping 88 7/8" x 76 7/8", five @ 88 7/8" x 45, and two easy round top measuring 24" x 40".

*I know for some, this may be hard to picture, but pay attention to the first set of numbers*

Now, within a week, the smaller two were complete, and the other ten were all made except for the glass. Some discussion was going on as to what type of glass to use, and the fact that glass would have to be special ordered as we don't carry anything large enough to accommodate the largest five.
Fast forward two weeks.

The first revision came down.

The colour was being changed from tan to white.
Shit.

This meant that everything had to be scraped (nothing could be reused as it was either bent or already processed. Frame, insert, and expanders all were scraped out.
Great.

Again, within a week, everything was either redone completely or done to the point of waiting on the glass.
That was the end of June.

My glass finally came, and everything was completed the first week of August.
Of course, they weren't shipped until the last part of August.

Now, take a moment and look at things so far, and put yourself in the shoes of the customer.

You've placed an order for 12 custom windows sometime in (probably May).
It's now almost September before you are seeing results.

Ok, got your "mood" on? Get ready for round three.

Thursday, during our coordinators meeting, the production manager informs me that "those (hotel name) windows are coming back."
What? Are you shitting me? wtf?
He continues,"something about they're the wrong size".
I couldn't help myself.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA".

That's right. I sat at the end of the table, opposite our shop boss, and laughed in his face.
The other six at the meeting looked on horrified.
I continued.
"So you're telling me that those 12 windows that were first made in tan four months ago, then again in white three months ago, and only shipped ONE month ago, are freaking wrong?! AGAIN?!? Who's fault is that? Is (parent company) going to try and slip that one on us too???"
"Well, I don't know who measured it. And I won't know how much too big they are until I hear from (home office)".
*in my best Scottish accent:"Well THAT'S just frikkin' great".(it's more impressive if you actually hear it).

So I get into work today, the windows have been off-loaded and the order is sitting on my table.
Now, mind you, this has been in the back of my mind since last week.
"How much could it be?"
"Are we still doing it in white?"

And then, I see them.
The five biggest windows from the project, just sitting there on an A-frame, silently taunting me with their oversized............size. And to the side, the two smaller, easy ones. The ones that have been completed twice before their gi-normous brethren, also seem to have a sense of foreboding. And on the side of the wall, the expanders for the big fukkers.

Of course, the shop boss wasn't in today. But he was nice enough to leave the new order on my work table so I would be sure to "get right on them" first thing this morning.

As I'm looking over the new order, I notice a few things.
First off, this is an entirely new order.
By that, I mean, it's not a re-work order. It's an order as if it was an entirely new product. wtf?

Next, I notice that there is a small notation concerning the two smaller roundtops.
"Raymond, these need to be changed into quarter-rounds, but I don't have that one layed out yet."
Are you freaking kidding me? How does someone fuck THAT up?
First off, someone mis-measures and I make these behemoths too big, and that same someone gave me the wrong shape for two all together?!

*oooooooohhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm*

Ok, I'm composed. I'm in my 'happy place'. Just how much off are these big-ass muther............."Hide the kids. Hide the pets. Something bad is about to happen"

THIRTY INCHES TOO BIG? ARE YOU FREAKIN' SHITTING ME? HOW THE HELL CAN YOU F*CK UP BY THIRTY FREAKIN' INCHES?

I go into the office, carrying this "payload of joy" and slam it on the desk.
"I wanna know who was in charge of this. I want their cell number, I want their exact location at this point in time, and I want you to notify their next of kin!"

Ok, so, it didn't quite go like that.
But believe me, the people that should know,
knew now.

Now, after all that ranting and raving about the stupidity of what has transpired, it only took the better part of a day to cut down those five windows. But it really makes me think about the future.

The company I work for is divided into two companies, in two different states, but owned by one man.
The factory employees maybe 35 people, including three in the office, one salesman, and a retired gentleman who still comes in daily who has the respect of us all.
I don't know about the employee status in the other facility, but all in all, it's a family run business.

The problem is mainly that the CEO feels he has to have his hands in EVERY aspect of the business. He's been in charge for maybe 20 out of the 35(?) years the company has been in operation, and he's still "trying new things" that is really pushing the limits of the shop personelle.
There are even talks that if he goes bankrupt again, there'll be no coming back.

So what's a guy to do?
Working in a factory that hasn't seen ANY profit sharing for at least five years (although the main office has seen profit every year and even "decided to share it's profit with us" one year), is constantly sending down mistakes that are making their way sometimes all the way to the customer, and making obviously horrible business decisions.

The only reason I stay in this town is because my children are now here, and hearing from aunts and uncles of theirs (what can I say? They still love me!), that "those boys really need you".

Being a non-colleged, single income, single dad doesn't have a lot of options in a one horse town.

RenFest 2006

RenFest 2006
Originally uploaded by bat-a-ray.

After twenty-something years, I returned to the Minnesota Renasainnse Festival.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take my kids with me.
A friend had some freebies from work and invited me and another friend of ours (I'm awaiting approval to post that pic).

Take flight, my minions

Ok, so, for some time now, I've liked squirrels.
I've become fascinated by how they act, interact, and react to one another and other creatures.
The sounds they make, the way they claw upside down on a tree trunk and look at you as if they are checking you out. I can't explain it:I just think they are damn cool.

Here in Northern Iowan,we have the reddish-brown variety.
They are a bit bigger than their solid grey cousins.

I've even gotten some shirts depicting squirrels from "Squirrels gone wild" to "Protect your nuts". I'm just odd I guess.

To entertain myself and my kids, whenever we come across one, I'll jokingly say something like "AT EASE JOHNSON", which of course, they usually do reacting to a human speaking to them. They kids love it.

I've even gone so far as to come up with movie titles interjecting the word "squirrel". For example, "Squirrels of the Caribbean:Deadmans' Squirrel", or "Star Wars Episode II:Attack of the Squirrels".

So imagine my surprise when I found the following article, sent to me by my dad, provided by Scripps Howard News Service:



Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed -- the threat
Scripps Howard News Service
An editorial / By Dale McFeatters
Scripps Howard News Service



We know that what with fire ants, killer bees, northern snakeheads, Asian tiger mosquitoes and whatever else is slithering this way, you
probably have your hands full with obnoxious and unwelcome wildlife.
But in our role of spreading groundless panic and needless alarms we feel obligated to alert you to a new menace — crazed and violent squirrels.
Just this Friday came reports out of Mountain View, Calif., of rogue squirrels attacking folks in a local park. It is not an isolated event, people.
Just recently, an aggressive squirrel terrorized Winter Park, Fla., until the authorities captured it.
In Lawrence, Mass., a squirrel attacked an 8-year-old boy in his front yard, and when his mother came out, the rodent clamped onto her leg. ``I have no idea where it came from,'' she told local news, ``but it was on there for a while.''
In Leominster, Mass., a drug suspect's pet squirrel attacked a police officer. A hunter outside Madison, Wis., heard squirrels rustling in the leaves and then suddenly one of them jumped him.
There are documented cases of squirrels attacking deer. And the list of colleges that have warned students against squirrel assaults is endless.
The authorities wring their hands in the face of the menace. For every squirrel removed, two take its place, they insist, and trying to discourage them by removing their sources of food only makes them more aggressive.
In England, there was a proposal to deal with rogue squirrels by eating them. One peer suggested including them in the school-lunch program. It went nowhere.
Your best defense: Be wary, be very wary — especially around acorns."

You can run, but you cannot hide from my furry friends..................

joke of the day

Tom Fogerty has died.

He wakes up and finds himself on a stage on which a number
of instruments are set up. A door off-stage opens and in
walk Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, John Lennon,
Otis Redding, and Buddy Holly.

Each musician picks up his favourite instrument and begins
tuning up. All of the instruments are taken but, to Tom's
immense pleasure, the drums. He walks up to Jimi and says,
"Man, so this is what heaven is like."

Jimi looks at him and says, "Heaven? You think this
is heaven?"

At that moment, Karen Carpenter walks in, takes her seat
behind the drums, and calls out, "Okay guys, 'Close
to You'. One, two, three, four..."

Ever suffer from deja vu?

That feeling that you're experiencing something you've experienced before?

Ever suffer from deja vu?

That feeling that you're experiencing something you've experienced before?

Honest question

So, with all the hype about "the speed of light", ever wonder what's the speed of dark?

Just wondering

Ever wake up in the morning and grab the magic marker instead of the Chap-Stik?

You can't take me anywhere............

So today, my bud and I made our bi-weekly venture to Mason (a town 30 minutes away offering much better shopping/bumming around than here).
Or usual dining excursion has become Burger King.
So this time, I thought I'd spruce things up a bit by providing a floor show. My buddy almost shot Coke out his nose, as he's not seen this yet.

Later, as we were sitting there, watching the cars go through the drive-thru.
On this occasion, we noticed a car stop about 30 feet past the window. Normally, this would not be anything spectacular. However, I should note, that this particular BK's drive through incorporates a SINGLE LANE. The only want around would be if you had a Hum-vee and were to jump the curb and drive on the grass.

This prompted me into a five minute rant about the silliness of having someone pull ahead to wait for their food (making room for the next customer to be served) when there's no way for them to get the freak out of the way!
I mean think about it for a minute. The person ahead of you has placed a "special order" requiring a bit more time to prepare, thus prompting the "window worker" to ask said orderer to "pull ahead".
You've now placed your simple order, paid for said order, and now in a very timely manner, received previously stated order. But upon preparing to drive away and enjoy the fruits that ARE Burger King offerings, there is a single vehicle, in the single lane provided, blocking you from taking your bounty either home to enjoy, or mash into your face as you drive.

All I can say is, wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I ALWAYS have a good time.

a boy and his axes

a boy and his axes
Originally uploaded by bat-a-ray.

bored one day

This weekend in news.............

Ok, so not major, national or even local news.............just things that happened to me this weekend. ;)

Saturday was the local car show hosted by the car club I recently joined.
The vice pres wanted me to enter my truck cuz "it's so freakin' cool!".
To be fair, yea: it is cool but no where near show quality, even for a small town event like this. (btw:I was in good standing for third in my class until more trucks showed up!).
There was a turnout of about 80 entries, including some 'specialty class' entries (gas powered "Little Red Wagon", other gas powered kids cars) and about 8 motorcycles.
I was able to get my kids for the day as they were invited to help selling bags of salted peanuts. They were being sold to get patrons to make their way over the the 'beverage garden'. All 60 bags were sold! And ya, I bought one or two.
All in all, it was a good day.

Sunday was my 38th birthday.
Pretty uneventful as it was celebrated this past Thursday (so my kids could be there). My folks got me a new four serving set of dishes (like I ever entertain), and the boys gave me cards. Even though it was celebrated early, ya can't beat sharing w/the kids.

Today, I actually had a pretty neutral conversation with the ex.
Seems that the parents of band kids (our oldest plays percussion) are volunteered to help at football games in the consession stand.
Well, she and (husband) were on the list, but she wanted to include me if I wanted to be.
It was kinda spooky that she'd involve me whereas I'd not really been involved before and she even said "yea, the single parents get screwed". (ok..........who are you and what have you done with my ex-wife?!).
So we agreed that one of us would work the stand with our 'band boy', and the other of us would take the little brother to the game. This is G's second year of flag-football, and since he's getting into it more this year, (he made a GREAT 3/4 field, zig-zagging touchdown) he might seeing the high school kids play.

CRIKEY

That's right friends, everyone's favorite Australian madman has passed away.

Kids say the darndest things.

The other day, my (almost) 12 year old asked,"How come you never got remarried?".
I figured if he was old enough to ask, he was old enough to hear my answer.

I started by telling him that I didn't like the fact that someone else was given the 'right' or 'opportunity' to raise my children. So, in turn, for me to get involved with a woman that already had a child would be hypocritical,(of course I had to explain what a "hypocrite" was).

I continued that as far as I was concerned, he and his brother were my family, and just because their mother was now with another person, I still held my role as their father as my number one priority.

Any thoughts?

Snippets

-I recently got "Guitar Hero" for the PS2, and I must say I'm very happy with it.
Normally, I'm not very good at vid games,(usually ask my 11 year old for assistance), but I'd heard about this game a few months back and have been looking forward to it.
Of course, my nine year old says I "cheat" because I have "an edge". So I play guitar. So what?

-School has started and I overlapped my summer time with the boys with the first week of school. I registered them, got their school supplies, and even picked them up from school (as my work schedule allowed). I think it was equally enjoyable for them as much as it was for me.

-I've joined an area car club, (which a younger female co-worker says it reminds her of what "old people do"). The co-pres was cool enough to waive this years fees due to the fact that not only is it late in the season, but that I've participated in the last few events put on by the car club.

-I'm totally jealous of Ozzy. I'd planned on taking the course, getting a license and a bike, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to. "Maybe next year" you say? Not likely. I've taken on the S-10 as my toy.

-This coming week is the last week of "Summer Hours" at work,(starting an hour early and getting off an hour early). Didn't really matter however, because we were working overtime and staying until the normal quitting time.

-I'm starting to feel "the itch" again. It's about time I put forth some effort into meeting a nice gal who can offer up some intelligent conversation, be a formidable challenger at Scrabble, likes at least SOME of the same things I do, and whip up a good meal (something OTHER than the pizza, hotdogs, and mac&cheese menu I'm used to).

-My allergies were in overdrive this week as pollen counts skyrocketed.
I'd wanted to take the boys to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, but it'll have to wait until sometime next month.

Just plain insensitive

Today's "Bob the Squirrel" reminded me that I'd had a similar occurance.

I was seeing "Batman Begins" (for the second time) at the local theater.

It was during the week, and there was only two other people seated when I got there.

I found a seat about half way down, and sat in the middle of the aisle.

About five minutes before the movie started, two rather large women (I wouldn't be surprised if they were "special friends"..........at least I got that from the flannel they were wearing) sat DIRECTLY in front of me.

Plenty of seats to choose from, but no:they had to plop their fat-asses right in front of the little guy!

Future pilots?

I recently received this link.

All I can say is, THIS is what our pilots should be allowed to do!

We interrupt this blog for the following rant

I just heard a local news report about vandalism that occurred to some of the classic cars that were in attendance to this past weekends events.
Apparently, paint was thrown on several cars while they were parked at the gathering place either late Saturday, or early Sunday morning.

To those responsible, I say this,(brace for impact people):
"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU??? WHAT KIND OF JAG-OFF POURS GALLONS OF PAINT ON A PRISTINELY KEPT POSSESSION, THAT TO THOSE WHO OWN IT THINK OF IT NOT ONLY AS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE ART, BUT TO SOME AN ACTUAL MEMBER OF THE FAMILY??"

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLOTTING THIS DISGUSTING DISPLAY OF LACK OF INTELLIGENCE AND LACK OF RESPECT FOR SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF COULD NEVER HOPE TO CREATE??"

"I HOPE THAT YOU ARE FOUND AND NOT ONLY MADE TO PAY RESTITUTION TO EVERYONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO'S LIVELIHOOD YOU HAVE DESECRATED IN THE AMOUNT UPWARDS OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, EACH, BUT THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO'S WEEKEND YOU ENDED, NOT WITH THE UPBEAT FEELINGS THAT THIS WEEKEND IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE, BUT A WEEKEND THAT WILL MAKE THEM THINK TWICE BEFORE ATTENDING AGAIN,IS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO LOOK YOU STRAIGHT IN THE EYE BEFORE BENDING YOU OVER AND ANAL RAPING YOU WITH A 5" FLOMASTER DUAL EXHAUST TIP COMPLETE WITH FLAME THROWER ATTACHMENT!"

"YOU LITTLE FUCK!"

Sorry about that.
Now that I've regained my composure, I'd like to offer this:These events are supposed to be fun for everyone. From those who share their automotive visions to those who come just to look at these metal marvels,this particular event has been heralded for 22 glorious years without not as much as an accidental door ding.

But now, for reasons one can only speculate until these vandals are caught,in my opinion, this single incident could possibly create such a change of attitude in participants, that next year may not see what many have enjoyed for over two decades.

i weep for you, you little fucks...................

Farewell Petros

Tonight, was our weekly game session,(instead of last night) and it was one of our members last adventure with us for a while as he is going back to college.

It was a memorable battle as the four of us battled Huge Fire Elementals, Steel Predators, and even a Giant Fire Elemental.
We lost two non-incidental characters,(unless you ask Josh who was in control of them!) but in the end, our little band of fighters were victorious, vanquishing the evil that dwelled within the fiery domain.

Petros will be missed as his high damage arrows, extreme way of thinking (I mean, come one:who would think to shimmy up the backside of a Buelette and start firing off arrows??)and invaluable trap detection and disarming, will be retired to the steel mills.

Adventures won't be the same without you.......

Reconnecting

This weekend, I had the opportunity to do something I've missed doing over the years:go on a car cruise.

Now, a few weeks back, I went on a locally sponsored cruise, and that was ok.
It's the first local one I participated in.
But to really get the feel of what a car cruise SHOULD be, you have to go on the one in Clear Lake, Iowa.


It's held every year about this time and is followed the next day with a car show.
This is the 22nd annual cruise/show and even though it's been through some changes, it's going on strong.

The first one I went on was almost 15 years ago.
It started at a local drive-in (eatery style) and had about 100 cars show up.
But over the years it grew in numbers and had to be moved to the Legendary Surf Ballroom. For those unfamiliar with this venue, it's the last place Buddy Holly (and the Big Bopper as well as Richie Valens) performed at back in the 50's before being killed in a plane crash just outside of Clear Lake.

For the next several years, the Surf played host to the yearly cruise/show until ownership changed hands and the present owner just didn't think it was good business to house such an event.

Now a local national chain hotel has opened it's arms to the ever growing event.
But I'm getting away from my point. (imagine that?!)

I'd taken my little S-10 on a cruise several years ago, while still relatively in it's stock state, only to get bombarded by comments along the route such as "that's not a classic!" and "why is THAT in the cruise??".

Fast forward to present: I finally achieve lowering my truck, have it back on the road after years of being in storage, and decide this is the year 'we' return to the cruise.

This year my little S-Dime was welcomed with open arms, so to speak.
No rude comments.
No leering eyes.
Only positive vibes the entire way.
It's odd what a few years will do to sooth the savage spectator!

All in all, it felt good to get back behind the wheel, get together with a few other car enthusiasts,(truth be known, I heard the total number of participants was close to a thousand!), and revel in the camaraderie one looks forward to each and every time one goes to one of these events.

And as a final note to Sunny,I know of your love of cars and whatnot, and think you and Paulius should check some of these out in your area. If nothing else, just to watch.
And if you're both ever in my neck of the woods, you can check out this one I've talked about. Although, mine's only a two-seater, I'm sure P would be comfortable riding in the bed (even though it's got a hard bed cap. ;)

Spectator-What's that thumping coming from the bed of your truck?

Rayray-Wha? Oh THAT. Well, that's the latest in bass technology.

Spectator-How come there's no music? Just thumping. And, how come I hear some sort of accent?

Rayray-Oh, um, I sent away for it.........got it from the UK.

KIDDING P......Just kidding!

Quickie

Check this out
My favorite quote

Oh yea? Then why did you say it??
If it has nothing to do with the type of person you are, you wouldn't have made that comment in the first place............jackass.

Bringing back classics

I recently heard a rumour that the Chevy Camaro may be making a comeback in a few years.

At first I was skeptical as GM has a hit and miss history in bringing back monikers from days gone by, (from the Impala to the Nova). But after doing a bit of research, I've come to believe that Chevy may be onto something.

Ford set the bar when it re-introduced the Mustang this year and set it high.
Now it seems that other companies are getting it.
When Pontiac brought back the GTO, people were disappointed when this "suped-up GrandAm" hit the market.
But if this Camaro makes it to the streets, and if Dodge produces it's vision of the Challenger, muscle car enthusiasts will be brought back to the day when cars were cars.

For more,check this out.

Just thought I'd share.............

Right now, it's 2:30 in the morning, and I'm drunk.
This doesn't happen very much, but I thought it was blog worthy.
;)

You can do that for me???

Today, while going home for lunch, I heard a sultry feminine voice on the radio:"How would you like to have sex free for ninety days?".

What? Free sex for three months? Are you kidding? OF COURSE I WOULD!!

Turns out, what I was listening to was an advertisement in the latest product in erectile disfunction.

Great.

So, here I am, divorced for six years, nary a date have I had in sometime, a woman on the radio is hawking free sex, and all she's going to talk about is how this product will help lil Johnny stand at attention.

SURE! GET a brother goin' then douse his dreams in his own fluids! (ok, so, perhaps that was a wee over the top).

The thing that got me thinking about this product was the fact that it's a topical male enhancement formula, or cream.

Ok, so we know how it affects Mr. Winky, but what about your hands?
I mean, you've got to apply this stuff SOME how, right?
Will my hands get bigger?
Will they become stiff and, being usually dexerous, hard to handle??

How about providing some kind of loofa or something to apply this crap?

Or am I the only one that thinks this way?

Coming along nicely

Back in the Fall of '94, I was in need of reliable transportation.
I'd been limping back and forth 30 miles in a car, that in my opinion, .was designed for cruisin'.

So, I went down to the local Chevy dealer and decided that an S-10 was what I wanted.
Not only could I afford it, but it would be great on gas mileage.
There were two on the lot. One was white. The other, raspberry.
Now, being somewhat of a stand-outish kinda guy, I obviously couldn't pass up the raspberry one.

Once I got it home, I had to 'personalize' it, and being on a somewhat low income,I did what I could.

But having been in a group of friends that prided themselves on our rides, my thirst for individuality (or at least being able to 'keep up with the Jones''), I never stopped thinking of ideas for my little truck.

In a few years, I'd be rear-ended by an over-zeloused teenager.
I'd use the insurance money to not only repair, but initiate the custom process.
A molded in rollpan, relocated tailgate handle, and colour-matched tonneau would be the first alteration.

Next came the carpet kit for the bed. Not too practical, being designed to haul things, but I couldn't resist.

For the following eight years, I'd toil at the notion of lowering my ride from stock height to a mere six inches (measured at the body line) from the pavement. I'd liked to have been able to drop the frame rails on the ground, but that'll have to wait.

I'd save some cash from my tax return with the intention of having my S-Dime dropped, but each year a 'mystery bill' would pop up, dashing any hopes of achieving new lows with my ride.

But this year was different!!
I've finally been able to get some gratification after all these years and have (mildly) slammed my little truck to the pavement!

Now that I've finally achieved this monumental occasion, I can become docile once more in my fascination to be what I was truly borne to be:an attention whore!





Next on the chopping block:the roof's comin' off!!
(I've always wanted a convertable)

Pee Wee's influence

Pee Wee's influence
Originally uploaded by bat-a-ray.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank my Dad for 'exposing' my son to Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Now, I can be in the kitchen, tending leftovers when from the other room I hear my son exclaim "I HEAR FOIL!!".

Again, thanks for that.
I wasn't THAT bad of a kid was I???

How do YOU play?

Tonight, I went over to my buddy, Lizard's, to play Scrabble with him and our friend Jen. Liz and I occasionally play, and have recently included her.

Now, when it's just the two of us, we follow normal rules. But when Jen plays, it's her rules.
The thing that messes me up is the fact that she plays that you can reuse bonus squares after they have been used once.
Of course, it increases the point possibilies, but to me it just seems weird.

Has anyone else played this way?

Getcher geek on.........getcher geek on............

Ok, so, that'd be more impressive if Nelly Furtado was actually singing it. But you get the point.

I thought I'd go away from my normal posts and do something fun:blog about my weekly D&D session.

There are five of us, six if you include our,(Dungeon Master, or God for lack of a better term) DM's 12 year old son that sits in with us now and then. And we have two different bands.
Our main group, which we affectionately refer to as "The Good Group" has a Dwarf Druid (funny, he doesn't LOOK Druish) (my character), a human cleric, Greg (praise Ilmater), an Elvin Ranger, and a Human Rogue. Then there's the sometimes Barbarian Fighter.

Then, there's our other group, or "The Evil Group" which we play when our Cleric friend cannot join us.
This group allows our DM to play a character, a Monk, and our "Good Group" Ranger to fill in as DM.

Otherwise, we have a Half-Orc fighter (me) and our Wizard. We usually get our asses kicked by some form of lower level beastie as we don't have a cleric in our midst to help with the healing process (praise Ilmater).

Tonight, was our "Evil Group" and we were joined our 12 year olds character, a Halfling Thief. Basically, a throwing aid to my Half-Orc, "Hey Monk! GO LONG".

Anyway, tonight was basically a chance for the three of us, sans Halfling, to heal from our last battle,divvy treasure, more healing, upgrade armourment, and oh yea:did I mention heal?

We did, however, have the opportunity to begin a new leg of our adventure where the first creature we encountered, was a shambling mound.

Of course, being the courageous fighter that my character is, Karn decided to rush this foul creature and rend it dead "D-E-D, DEAD!". Well, it went well for a few hits of his double headed axe.
But then it was the mounds turn. And guess what, in what would have been an epic battle between Hero and monster, this bushkilled my character.
Imagine my embarrassment by having been bested by a shrubbery! The horror!
And to add insult to injury, our wizard fired a magic missile into the mound setting it ablaze. NOW I was not only bested by a bush, but now being hovered over by a FLAMING BUSH. (I'll wait for the adolescent audience to stop giggling over the suggestive nature of my last sentence).

Suffice to say, the green fiend was beaten by the others in our group, and Karn was revived to fight another day.

Next week I wouldn't be surprised if I get attacked by a stick.

btw:praise Ilmater

Anything to save a buck

I've noticed that automotive makers have taken another step in cutting down the cost of their vehicles in order to increase sales. What is this 'money saving' thing?
Selling cars with optional turn-signals.

Back in the day, muscle cars were everywhere, until raising gas prices forced auto makers to create more fuel efficient cars and trucks.

Then they wanted to make a safer vehicle, so steel was substituted with plastic skins over a steel substructure.

Now, in an effort to make things even MORE inexpensive, it seems that now we have a choice whether or not our cars and trucks come with working turn signals!

I know you've seen em! They're easy to pick out:they surprise you at the last minute before making either a lane change or turn around the corner.

These cars and trucks must be geared towards the elderly, knowing that our senior citizens are on a mostly fixed income. Although I've never seen such an ad, they must be being played at a time when I am not watching television. Either that, or they've tuned into the frequency of America's hearing aid populous.

So, the next time you slam on the breaks so you don't hit that 'blue-hair' because they've come to a complete stop, and then turned, applaud our automotive manufacturers for their continuing endeavor to supply us with cheaper transportation.

C'mon, don't be shy!

I've been blogging for just over a year now, and while I've had a lot of visits to my site, I've received only a smattering of comments.

Now, either my entries are really uninteresting, or people just don't know what to say!

I've noticed a few 'reciprocating visits' which I appreciate very much!
But, for you other 'hit-and-runners', don't be shy! Say something! Let me know you care! ;)

Always use your brain for good, not evil

Sometimes, you just can't make this stuff up.

During my groups D&D sessions, we can come up with some very entertaining dialogs and situations that make our DM cringe.

One example was when we encountered an Otyugh protecting a horde of treasure in a shallow pool of water. How were we to coax it out to lay claim to this bounty?
After some debate on who would be the bait to draw this beast out, our Rogue remembered he had a grappling hook and length of silken rope,(strong stuff).

In a nutshell, we ended up "fishing for Otyugh" as we hooked the creature, and teamed up to pull it from it's vantage point. Hooray! Gold for everyone!

Probably one of the better instances, created the epitome of all that ends in one holding their head in anguish.

(As read by the DM) "Upon searching the now abandoned castle, you come upon a room that appears to be used for worship. At the other end of this room, you spy a Dais.".

Rogue- "A what?"
DM- "A Dais".
Ranger- "What's a 'Dais'?"
DM- "It's like a raised part leading to an alter. Like small steps"
Cleric- "So why not just tell us it's 'small steps'?"
DM- "That's what it says in the module."
Dwarf- "Wouldn't it just be easier to refer to it in terms we know?"
DM- "Can I continue or what?!"
Group- "Fine."
DM- "You can see something sitting on the Dais."
Rogue- "I check for traps and move closer to see what it is."
DM- "You see that it's a stone with an elaborately carved pattern on it's surface"
Cleric- "So, it's a rock."
DM- "No, it's a stone."
Ranger- "On the Dais?"
DM- "Yes. Upon the Dais."
Dwarf- "A rock, upon the Dais?"
DM- "YES! A ROCK UPON THE DAIS!!"
Group, singing- "On the Dais on the DAIS........On the Dais on the DAIS........"

Sing it with me now!



I have the feeling it'll be a few weeks before our DM has regained any sense of sanity in order to continue our adventure.

*on a personal note, I much prefer the version "Eat me I'm a Danish".

Insomnia sux

Ok, so, I have to be up for work in less than six hours............
Somebody puh-LEEZE pass the NyQuil

"Animal" in training

Last year, my eldest son got into band.
His first choice was to play the drums, of course,(which also entails playing the xylophone/bells). And why not?
It's cool! It's loud! It gets all the chicks! Oh wait, that part doesn't come for another (gawd I hope) several years.
But, children are required to have three years prior piano training to be able to play the drum(s). So he went with the trumpet.
He did pretty well, even though he didn't put much effort into it.

This year, however, he got his wish.
Seems that at the end of the school year, two students chose to play a wind instrument instead of percussion. This created two, count em TWO openings, which my boy quickly jumped at the chance.

Being as how two spots were created, the aforementioned requirement was waived and he got right in.

So now, he's happy.
He gets to drive his mother (and step-dad) and me crazy while banging the day away on his little drum.

However, myself growing up a musician and self-proclaimed 'metal head', I think it's great!
I've known some drummers in my time, and am happy to be able to share what little knowledge I have about drumming.

"Ok, so, take the drumsticks between your index and middle knuckle."

"Yea? Now what?"

"Slightly move your fingers back and forth in a rhythmic style."

"Say what?"

"See? Isn't this cool?! This is how to twirl your drumsticks!"

"You're a dork, Dad."

"No!No! This will get you all the chicks! You just twirl one stick while playing the beat with the other one! It rocks!"

"Would you mind leaving my room now? I have to practice."

"Ok, but try it with both hands at the same time. You can do that while you are in between sections."

"Don't you have somewhere to be, Dad?"

It never fails. You try to teach your children important life lessons, and all they do is shut you out.

He is doing really well at both the drumming and xylophone though.
And it seems as though since he got the instrument he really wanted, he may go very far with it.

I hope so. If he does REALLY well and keeps with it, I may go as far as to get him his very own set of drums. But don't tell him that!

sing along! you know the words!

For years, I went by my nickname,Bill (short for William), and it's become somewhat of a running gag with Dave to bring back fond memories of that old Schoolhouse Rocks classic, "I'm Just a Bill".
So without further ado, in honor of my good friends sense of humour (and the fact that I need something to blog about), I submit the following:sing it brother!

I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law some day
At least I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill.

not sure about the legalities, but I offer props to the Schoolhouse Rock site

..........know when to fold em

Ok, so, I've posted rants about online dating in the past, and at the risk of beating a dead horse, I offer up the following that I hope will be the last time I have to say anything on the topic.

Online dating is a farce.
Situations are created by a lack of being able to detect one's motive or actions solely based on what you read in those little chat box. Case in point:

I'd decided I'd send a 'flirt' to a gal on a site primarily based on her proximity to me.
Yea, she was easy on the eyes, which didn't make it a hard decision, but the fact that she was only an hour away made me throw caution to the wind and extend the hand of friendship.
Upon chatting, we seemed to hit it off pretty well.
She has a wonderful sense of humour, and got my personality quite nicely.

We found out that we were both looking for the same thing:meeting someone nice, that didn't live too far from us in the hopes of finding "everlasting love". (ok...I think I threw up in my mouth just a little bit)

Because of her living arrangements, she could only get one weekend a month to herself, which I figured "ok...............", and was willing to roll with it.

*note:it would be about a month before we could even think of meeting in person

Within the first week or so of chatting, she told me she was taking her profile off of the site we'd met on, and made a rather large mention of it.
I thought it was kinda sweet and decided I'd follow suit. I'd was in the process of deleting my profiles off the various sites I'd had, but hadn't gotten around to this one yet.

So another week or so goes by, and things were getting kinda hectic for me, which would make getting online to chat with her tricky, so I'd sent her a message (as she wasn't online at the time) telling her I'd be offline for a few days.

That weekend, out of boredom or something, I decided to go back to the site and do just a basic search. Call it sadistic curiosity.
Upon getting the results, I noticed that she had put up a new profile 'in search of dating'. hmmmmm

I thought about it a bit, and decided "ok, this gal is playing with me, and I don't do mind games".

I then decided to call her on it by sending what would end up being an offline message (as again she wasn't online) basically stating that I was confused by why she would resubmit a profile and I wasn't about to compete for her "one weekend dating window". So I wished her well and signed off.

A few days passed, and while online, she messaged me.
She said I was trippin' and the only reason she put a profile back up was due to the fact that she hadn't heard from me for a few days and decided I'd either met someone or just wasn't interested in her any longer. hmmmmmmmmmm.

*note:hadn't I sent her a message stating I wouldn't be online for a few days?

Whatever. Maybe she hadn't gotten that message as sometimes messenger services lose messages. Ok. I can buy that one. So, once again, she took her profile off the dating site, without my even asking mind you.

So we chatted for the next week, and once again, I wasn't going to be online for a few days, which I let her know, (this time during a chat).

Well, turned out, I ended up being online (not in a sneaky way or anything. It just ended up that I wasn't doing what I thought I would be doing to prevent me from being online for the weekend).

So, once again, due to morbid curiosity, I did a basic search on that site and guess what? Yep, her profile was right back where it was before.

Ya know that old adage "fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me."?

This time, I sent her a basic "thanks for playin' the home game" salute all the time wondering "why is it I ALWAYS pick the whack jobs??".
Because it seems that mostly people that are lonely, pathetic, jobless, carless, and basically social misfits spend their time in online dating sites.

And yes, I realize I fit into that category somewhere, so please don't accuse me of being a hypocrit. That subject is for another entry.

So this time I get a message from her saying that I'm the one that's trippin' and how she doesn't need someone like me playin' games. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

So I ask you:do I trip over nothing, or am I better than reading a woman's actions better than I'd ever given myself credit for?

All I know is that while some people think that online dating is the 'way of the future', I have found through trial and error, (resulting mostly in error), that unless both people have an understanding of each other, it ain't gonna work.

People have to be able to read one another and trying to do that in a little box through typed conversation can not and will not work.

Just go back to dating the way it was meant to be done:find a woman you like, bonk her on the head and drag her back to your cave.

Some days are good.......some bad

This Memorial Day weekend, some friends from High School had invited me for their annual camping/boating weekend.
They chose a local some distance from where we live and have a self-contained "men's camping trip", and this year I'd planned on going.

They'd approached me last year, but as I had my children, combined with the fact that I'm an inexperienced camper, I declined.

As the weekend excursion neared, plans were being formulated and it was sounding like a good time.

Greg and Dave had taken their home built canoes and engineered them into a catamaran setup that proved to be entertaining, at least, to watch them sail.

Sonny and Darin would join them with canoe/kayak in tow and I would bring my kayak.

Camping would be on an "island" set up in North West Wisconsin.

I'd finalized my preporations and had my car packed and ready to go after a quick nap after work. But my decision to go would be influenced.

I found out that a local friend of mine shot and killed himself that morning.

In itself, that news was troubling. But the rumour that accompanied it was even moreso.

I shouldn't go into it, as being just a rumour, it's best not to fuel such a beast.

Needless to say, the circumstances surrounding his past few months closely mirrored my own during the breakdown of my marriage. And news of his end brought back memories of the choices I'd made some six years ago.

There surely will be future trips to go on, and I hope that my friends will understand my choice not to join them.

Rest in peace G.
Rest in peace.

TWO! TWO! TWO posts in ONE!

Today, a couple things happened that prompted me to make a combined post, as alone, neither one would fill up too much space.

FIRST:
It's official; I am an asshole! (pause for uproarious applause).
Since my taking a coordinating position, some of my co-workers have been less than pleased. But today was my first "direct experience".

I'd walked into the breakroom before first bell to get my daily caffeine boost.
Later, even before first break, a gal that still talks to me told this to me:
"(name withheld) said you were being an asshole."
"Say huh?"
"When you walked in this morning, I commented 'Raymond doesn't look too happy today."
"And?"
"(name withheld) said 'Oh, he's been an asshole lately.'"
"I have?"
"That's what she said. I wanted to ask her if there was a side of you that I had missed this week!".

So, basically, this woman's view of me has been tainted by the fact that I've accepted a position that may or may not even work out. But whatever.
Unfortunately, the position will NOT allow me to write disciplinary warnings. rats.


As for my second subject, my ex-wife's grandfather passed away last night.
She called this morning to let me know (as she'd been keeping me apprised of his health), and to let me know about visitation and the funeral.

The visitation happens to land on a day that I have our boys.
She asked if I would forfeit the time so they could go to the visitation with the rest of the family. Of course, I said yes.
She then offered tonight as time with them. Again, of course, I said yes.

About an hour before my scheduled return time, she called, asking if I'd mind dropping them off at her grandmother's house, as that's where they'd be.
By the end of our short conversation, I got the feeling she was wanting them earlier than I was to bring them back. I 'called her' on it, to find that I was right.
I offered 1/2 hour earlier, as we were just finishing supper, and thus allowing the boys to have some "down time" before heading back.

Now, since our divorce, I've been overly accommodating to her requests, sacrificing my time with the children.
I didn't feel this an arbitrary request, so we left early to take them back to their mother.

Hers is a large family, and it seemed they were all there.
Mind you, I was a part of this family for nearly nine years.

We pulled up, and she popped out, walking the boys over to her car so they could put their personal belongings away.

As I pulled away, I asked her when the visitation was again.
"Thursday" she said, hesitantly.
"What time?" I asked politely.
"Well........." she began,"It's from five until eight. But it'd be appreciated if you didn't show up."
As she said this in front of our children, I simply said "ok" and "see ya tomorrow" to the boys.

What pisses me off is that first off, who the hell requested I not even go to the visitation??
I was part of this family for over eight years, got along famously with the now passed on grandfather, had gone to her cousins wake a few years ago,(in which her aunt and cousins sister BOTH hugged me at once), bent over backwards to make her life easier, and am now being asked not to pay my respects??
wft??

I understand that there remains friction between myself and my ex-wife (mostly caused by her inability to not only grow the hell up, but move on from the past) and her parents, who happen to be a drunk and a control fiend, (oh yes......it's all on now kids), but the rest of her family is more than cordial when we happen upon one another. Some of her family STILL doesn't understand why the hell she left me for some ancient,decrepit ex-cop (oh wait.............retired cop pension) who played with popular band back in the early 70's.
WAKE UP PEOPLE! He played with the group for a month................that's probably 2-3 gigs at most!!

But I digress.............

The fact is that a member of my previous extended family has passed away, and will be missed.
May he rest in peace, and his widow carry on with strength in family.

Gloom, despair, and agony on.........................

Not me!

After going on ten years, the company I work for is rearranging the internal infrastructure (the CEO's wording, not mine), and I've been asked to take on a product coordination position. It will mean even more responsibility and a higher pay rate.

Hooray.

My posting is not for congratulatory comments from my fan (lol), but to speak on the narrow mindedness I have to deal with in my co-workers.

About two weeks ago, the CEO approached me on the shop floor with his thinking I would be an asset in the newly created position. He told me a bit of what it would entail, and asked me to think about it for the next week or so, and then we could meet again and talk further. (cue leering looks from co-workers as if to say "I wonder what's going on with Raymond")

The following week, the CEO asked to meet with me in the office, where we spent about fifteen minutes talking more about the new direction he was wanting to take management. (cue more judging eyes)

I'd said I'd thought about it and it seemed a viable idea and may be willing to undertake such a daunting and daring task. (He's kinda laid back, and I can speak with him in this manner)

This was on a Thursday. By the next morning, rumours began to circulate that I was the new Supervisor. The thing that pisses me off is not that people jumped to their own conclusions about my meeting with the bigwig himself, but that now, the people I'd worked along side of for many years, joked with, been out to drinks with and other small gatherings, were now not speaking to me. On top of that, there was a certain silent belligerence whenever I was in the area. wtf.
Only a couple of people actually had the tenacity to approach me with the rumour, asking if it was true or not (not that I'd tell them as ours was a confidential meeting), and the two people that I am closest with still, were privy to comments like "well, HE doesn't know everything" and "no matter WHO had that position, we aren't going to work with them".
I'm not a hard guy to get along with, really. T

The fact that a large percentage of the workforce happens to be older females fuels the setup for having a lot of gossip occurring on the shop floor. It's a wonder we get anything done at all!
I mean, if they aren't surmising how much someone makes compared to them, they're attacking the work ethics of another.
I say, you'd better look in the mirror before you point your finger at someone else.

Over the weekend, I thought about what had transpired by the resulting treatment and comments/sudden silence and decided that the new position wouldn't be worth the effort. Besides, management has commented that I'm probably the most efficient person they've had in the position I hold right now.

Monday came, and still the scorn continued. But I held my chin up as always and just did what I was supposed to do.
People were even more silent than before, if that's at all possible. And Tuesday wasn't much better.

That night, after collecting my thoughts, I wrote a very professional letter to the CEO respectfully declining his offer and gave key generalities as to my decision.

Today, the CEO was scheduled to come to the plant and was planning on announcing the revamped personnel. He also was given my letter of intent.

Of course, he wanted to meet with me. (cue the gossip lines!).
He said, "I read your letter, which by the way, was one of the more professional letters I've read," (cue self patting of back), "but, at this time, your request is denied".
Say which?
He continued,"After reading your letter, I realized that I've got the right guy for the job".
Really?

Over the next hour,which I'm sure was just driving the masses CRAZY with speculations, he and I chatted about my concerns that there has been no discipline for those who just arbitrarily leave work, using vacation time, when they run out of work in their own department and don't want to go to another, and other management concerns.

In the end, I think we came to a mutual understanding and respect that should allow for going forward in his new vision.

Afterwards, he had a plant meeting in which he announced productivity in the company, his new idea for improving communication, quality, and hopefully promoting growth of the company.
Then came the announcement followed by what I found to be an inspirational speech on how he was NOT going to put up with gossip, innuendos, and the general lackadaisical attitude that had been going on.
He reminded them (I avoid saying "us" because I'm the victim here!) how they are adults and not junior high kids and should conduct themselves accordingly.

That was brilliant, in my view.

So it will be a few more weeks before implementing the big change, and while I'm still nervous as to the "in's and out's" of what my new enhanced job will be, I embrace the challenge it invokes.

Without change, we eventually curl up and die.

Needless to say, I've requested, and probably will be getting a cattle prod.

you like me! you REEEEEELLY like me!

Ok, so, I've ranted about online dating before.
I've also ranted about how there are entities that get hold of your email addy, mostly Yahoo addy, and solicit you in the form of a Russian woman that woos you until the day she asks for money for a visa to come visit you and spend the rest of your lives happily ever after.

Well, this is another along the lines of the latter, due to the fact that I've been "entertained" by another lovely lass.

As always, it starts out innocently enough:you receive an email from a Russian woman, seemingly in their mid twenties.
They will speak of how poor of a lifestyle they have (even though the young woman is dressed in 'today's finest'), they've lost one or both of their parents,they work for mere peanuts a day, but somehow have come acrossed your profile and just HAD to write.

Within a few emails (even if you DON'T respond, they still write as if a dialog has been opened!), they start to fall in love. By this time, they've enclosed a picture here and there of themselves. Nothing pornographic (yet), but just a lovely picture of said woman amongst some trees, flowers, on the beach, or holding their beloved pet.

Now, I've gotten such emails. Several over the past few years,but the latest created a sense in me that makes me feel somewhat unsafe online (see above picture).
This time, the woman in question not only sends me two pics of her naked, which by they way the pictured girl has BOOMIN' body, but sends me this picture of proof that she is real.

While I have no doubt that this girl is a real girl, somewhere, one can clearly see somethings not quite right with the paper. wtf.

Why do people feel the need to prey on us single, lonely, and usually horny men for a few hundred dollars?
Why do they feel the need to use the fact that Russian (and Asian) women are among the most beautiful women in the world for minimal monetary gain?

Yes, I find both Russian and Asian women very beautiful.
That doesn't mean I want some anonymous pictures and sweet words from someone I will never meet!
I'm not that pathetic.

some mornings it DOES pay to chew through the straps.........

Ok, so, unfortunately, this is going to be a posting on my ex.
But, for me at least, it's just so priceless that I gotta share.

This coming week, I am watching my children,(basic day to day parent stuff) so my ex and her husband can go to Chicago for a vacation.
They were going to go to Las Vegas, but their flight was cancelled.

ANYway, I'd left work the other day with the daycare provider I use (and sometimes she did) what the upcoming schedule would be. I had to leave word with a worker, as the "boss" wasn't available. Today after work, I had a message to call them for verification.

Turns out that the "boss" wanted to know who was going to be responsible for billing of that week. I told her that I was being as how I was going to have the kids 'for' my ex.
She said "Oh, ok then."
After chatting a bit more (as I'm on good standing with the daycare peeps), I found out that my ex hasn't paid a rather large daycare bill in over a year. Furthermore, she was told, to her face apparently, she was not allowed to bring the boys to that daycare anymore.

I know I should be more than over my ex, and I pretty much am.
It's just when I hear shit like this it makes me laugh.

Open up and say "aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh................."

Don't ya just love it when someone unsuspectingly sets them up for a fall and you just happen to be paying attention?
Here's the scene:
I went to a co-workers house last evening for 'Taco Tuesday', and several others showed up. I won't mention names, but Dick just happens to be one of the names..................

At the end of the evening, after Dick and his gf left, a guy that started at the factory only a few months ago, and just happened to be sought after by a recent 25 year old separated woman (that happened to be there also), opened himself up to the muther of embarrassing moments.

In front of us all, especially the girl that was hot to trot for his bod, said, "I like Dick".
That's right people, he said it. And before he could follow up his statement with something like "He's an ok guy", I stepped in with the following comeback:"Bet ya didn't know THAT", as I looked at the gal.
She turned BEET red, as did he, but he was laughing so hard he almost shot his drink out of his nose.

I love it when people do shit like that.

Cats.......WTF

Today's posting is inspired by Kato,
but taken in a different direction.

As he had recently had an experience with suspiscous animals, I too recently had an encounter that was both curious and frightening.

The other night, as I made my was from my garage to my house, I noticed a cat sitting on the next door neighbors back steps.
This caught my attention as my next door neighbor doesn't have a cat.

Even odder was the fact that as I moved acrossed my pathway, the cat's head turned as it watched me walk, giving me a foreboding feeling that I could be it's next meal.

If I may take the time to interject an observation here, I wonder:ya ever notice how cat food commercials talk about "flavours cats crave" such as tuna and beef?
Beef..........yeah......cat's crave beef.....I can't TELL ya how many times I've been cruising through the country side, past an open plain and have observed a bunch of cats tearing acrossed the field taking out an Angus.............

Now, as this was merely a house cat, and usually not to be given a second thought, the way this feline kept it's gaze fixated on me was kinda creepy. I even went as far as to stop, lock gaze with it, take a few steps back, a few steps forward, a few steps back.....you get the picture.
All the while I was doing this, this cat watched my every move as though it was priming itself for a pounce.

Having some Druidic tendancies, and communing with nature, I even went as far as to drop to one knee, as to invite said kitty to come over for a pet. But this cat would have nothing to do with pleasantries. OH NO! He was content to add to my already growing daily paranoia, mocking me as I offered kindness to it.

This brings me to my point that cats are simply evil incarnate.
They do what they want, when they want, and with/to whom they want.
EVERYTHING is of their mindset.

So remember this the next time you are at the pound looking for a pet.
Do you want to spend time with an animal that considers YOU the pet?
Or would you be happy with a slobbering drooling poop machine?

For me, it's a no-brainer:go with a turtle.......they already come with their own casket!

A star is born

Last night was my youngest boy's (third grade) Spring musical program.
It was titled "Who Pushed Humpty" and was a light hearted murder mystery.
In the end, the audience decides who of the four suspects is guilty, which turned out to be a surprise to the actors and teacher!

I love going to watch my children's performances. The plays/musicals are always entertaining and all of the children are a delight to behold.

Now, MY little boy is a tad on the entertainingside as he gets rather animated while singing, or while others are singing.
Nothing embarrassing or out of line mind you, but it's still fun to watch him really get into the music while not too many around him do the same.

After missing the first few years of their school life (which I've mentioned the reasons here before, so I won't rehash them), it's a joy to be able to experience this part of my kids' lives.

Austin the Scientist

Austin the Scientist
Originally uploaded by bat-a-ray.

This year was Austin's first Science Fair.
He chose to show how plants (in this case flowers)get water.

We got some carnations, cups, water (of course) and food colouring.
It was especially exciting for me as his Dad to actually be able to be involved as he kept the experiment at my house.

In essence, we started four flowers over four days to see the effects of how long it would take the coloured water to make it's way up the stem to the petals.

In addition to having a display, he and his fellow students gave presentations at class.

He received an "A" which makes me additionally impressed as it's nice to see your children succeed.

I can't wait for his future endeavors.

Exes can be SO much fun......

As previously posted, I'm divorced. And I'm sure there are a bunch of you that can relate to the joys of dealing with an ex-spouse especially if one or more of the following are present: there are children involved thus giving actual reason for dealing with said ex, and my personal fave;if the divorce was a messy one.

During what turned out to be the latter part of our relation, it became increasingly impossible to carry on a conversation with the ex due to the fact that what ever came out of my mouth, was wrong in her eyes. Even if I was using logic (which appearantly was against the rules), or making a valid point, I was wrong.
As a result, I developed a "delete" button in the middle of my forehead, (which is easily accessible by slapping oneself with an open palm), which, to this day, I use when I have something that I need to discuss with her.

But the other day, something arouse so disgusting and revolting, that I had to physically prevent my hand from raising about my shoulder.
What could be so dispicible you ask? According to my older son, his mother, my ex, was using what could only be defined by the words "pack your bags, we're GOIN on a guilt trip!".

It seems that her husbands children are coming for a week long visit. They have Spring Break while our two still have school.
On Tuesday, our older son has his weekly scheduled, after school, school sanctioned, reader promoting, activity session, which lasts for an hour. This week is the last one for not only the year, but next year he won't even be eligible (middle school does not offer such a program).

The conflict comes in that while while the other kids are here, Aus (our boy) will miss out on ONE FREAKING HOUR of time with his step-siblings.
Aus really wants to go, as he should. He works hard on his reading and the elementary school set this session up for those excelling in reading. But all his mother sees is that he'll miss out on sixty minutes of what would end up being "video game" time.

But that's not the worst part. What I say next will most likely send a shiver down the spine of any normal, sensible parent, nay, human being.
According to Aus, when he told his mother that he really wanted to go, she said, and I'm quoting an 11 year old here:"If you do go, (her husband) will be upset and think that you don't like his kids". I'll pause for the weak.

Can you believe it?? A grown woman, ok, grown in age only, using emotional blackmail on not only an eleven year old child, but HER eleven year old child!

Now as I've said in the past, she is a very hard woman to talk with.
But how can I NOT talk to her about it? Even though going in I know what the result will be, I still have to confront her on behalf of MY son.
And for those "devils advocates" out there, no, he wouldn't make up a story like that.

Welcome to the 20th Century

Ok, so, it's really the 21st, but I've FINALLY become able to get a cell phone, which came out in the last century. Hence my attempt at being cutesy.

Yes, I finally have gotten my credit (which was detonated by my divorce SIX YEARS AGO) to where I didn't have to give a $700 deposit.

Of course, I just HAD to get a camera phone and download (what else) but the T.V. theme from Batman.

So, now I join the masses that are dialed in, hooked on, and all about.............;)

The buzz this week

For those of you that haven't heard, Isaac Hayes has left the vocal cast of "South Park". Hayes provided the voice for "Chef".

Apparently, he wasn't happy about an episode that pokes (a LOT) of fun at Scientology.
Fellow believers John Travolta, Tom Cruise and even R. Kelly were singled out in the episode.

Thursday, Comedy Central was going to re-air the episode but when millions of viewers, (ok....maybe a few hundred?) tuned in, we instead saw a different episode which reps for C.S. later were quoted as saying they wanted to show an episode which showcased "Chef" because Hayes was leaving.

The REAL scuttle-butt was that Tom Cruise himself was to blame for the last minute switch-a-roo. This was further promoted by the fact that the company putting out his latest movie, "MI-3" also owns Comedy Central and Cruise threatened not to promote the movie if the episode, which has a Cruise character hiding in a closet, was ran.

Now, I personally have not heard any news confirming Tom's snit, but my gut instincts say that he seems like the type of guy (after seeing a clip where he is on a Red Carpet event overseas to promote "War of the Worlds", and after getting squirted in the face with water by a fake microphone, goes on a small tirade) can totally see him pulling a stunt like this.

Since when have actors gotten SO big in themselves that they can not, will not,see the humor in parody?
I mean, come on! South Park has been satirizing everything from gays in the military, to the Ku Klux Klan and Hayes has not had a problem cashing his checks. But once Parker and Stone (the creators of S.P.) go after Scientology, put Tom Cruise in a closet and fill almost an entire episode with jokes of "trying to get Tom Cruise to come out of the closet", they've gone too far?
(Ok, I'll admit that that last part does seem like a personal attack on Cruise but DAMN it was funny).

One episode had the S.P. kids trying to build a ladder to Heaven, and showed a Saddam Hussain character having a gay relation with Satan, and that was ok??

As long as there is South Park, and other forms of parodies and satires, there will be people that don't like it. But is it really fair for one or a few entities to have the power and clout to be able to whine "well that doesn't make me look very good. I don't want anyone to be able to see it."

Putting representatives of real-life people can add to the comedy of a situation to remind us that dumb things are happening around us all the time.

"Chef" will be missed.

ERIN-GO-BRA-LESS

Happy St. Pattie's Day to all!
(especially the gals that choose to "go commando" today)
;)

"We got the dog fixed"

I've often wondered about this phrase.
"Getting fixed" is the way to say you've had your pet (or human) spayed or neutered, which is a staple of Bob Barker's.

To me, when you fix something, you repair it, mend it, or make it workable again.
But when applying this thought to your pet (or human) it just doesn't make sense.

Was your pet (or human) broken to begin with?
Did he/she need mending in some way? NO! NOW YOU'VE MADE IT SO THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE.............EVER............

Ok.........so one could argue that they've "fixed it" so they can't make babies.
But it just doesn't sound the same.

It would make sense to think that based on their previous state, that now they are broken, for they cannot make babies............ever...........

Welcome to North Iowa....................

For as long as I can remember, the weather has been a hot topic of discussion, especially during the winter months.

I can remember back when I was a kid, November through the end of March were the months we had snow. And lots of it.
My folks have pictures of our old house and there was at least a couple feet of snow.
But as times go on, the weather seems to have changed.

Today, it is raining. RAIN................in MARCH..........wtf.
Yesterday there was actually thunder AND lightning which is odd since there is still several inches of snow on the ground. Even today, it looks as if it could have snowed only yesterday, but we are encountering a lovely rain shower. The temperature is a mere 34 degrees, so there is a fear of waking up tomorrow to a cornicopia of accidents due to slick roads.

I guess the old saying is true. If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change.

Winter boredom

Fighting the 'Winter blahs' can sometimes be a chore in itself. This Winter was no exception.

I'd kicked around the notion of taking my kayak down hill sledding, but opted against it in the event I might meet up with a tree, thus negating any usage out if it this summer. So instead, I gave into a suggestion a friend of mine had been beating me about the head and shoulders with for quite sometime:playing D&D.

D&D, or Dungeons and Dragons, as it's formally referred to, is a game dating back some thirty years. Essentially, it's a fantasy role playing game where you create heroic characters and embark on any of various scenarios in search of treasure, rescuing fair maidens, or slaying monsters.
Or as the official website describes it:
D&D is an imaginative, social experience that engages players in a rich fantasy world filled with larger-than-life heroes, deadly monsters, and diverse settings. As a hobby game, D&D is an ongoing activity to which players might devote hours of their time —much like a weekly poker game, —getting together with friends on a regular basis for weeks, months, or even years.

I've taken on the role of a Dwarven-Druid. Basically, a short nature-boy capable of using magic spells and talking to animals. A bonus to this character is that it is awarded an 'animal companion' which fights along side. Picture "BeastMaster" meets "Lord of the Rings".

I must say that in the beginning, I'd held off playing due to the fact that this game requires a LOT of imagination, memory, and creativity.
Now, I possess a pretty good imagination, but not much common sense. Meaning, I could picture a monster, but short of wetting myself, wouldn't know much of what to do.

When chosing what character and class you wish to be, some deal of thought should go into it. EVERYone wants to be the Barbarian. Smashing, killing, creating havoc appeals to just about anyone and truthfully, it's pretty much the easiest character to play. Not much thought goes into how to deal with a monster when playing a Barbarian.

I chose a Druid because by nature (no pun intended), I'm kind of a nature-boy at heart. I couldn't survive in the wilderness, but I sometimes enjoy watching the fauna and strollig around the flora. So a druid seemed the right course of action. As for taking on the race of a Dwarf, I'm short. 'Nuf said.

I've met with a group once a week for the past few months and I must say that I really enjoy it.
It's kinda geeky, yea, but it sure beats the hell out of staring at a video game for several hours at a time doing the exact same thing I can do with a small group AND I get to use my brain! (bonus)

My character has achieved Level 5 which basically means he can use a certain amount of spells per day, has a strong animal companion (which at present is a rather large badger), and now has the ability to morph into an animal once a day, which will certainly come handy.

So anyone wanting to do something different, check out D&D for yourself.

And yea, I pretty much have given up getting laid ever again.

Long time coming.............

Greetings, again.
It's been a while since posting and there's a darn good reason:I've been spending more time offline in order to try and sort some personal things out.

When I first started blogging, it was on the advice of my good friend Dave, and up 'til now, I've shied away from the very reason I began:dealing with my divorce.

In terms of blogging, he said I should watch what I say on here for fear of repercussions, which makes total sense. But in my quest for topics, I seemed to come right back to what I've been steering away from. As a result, coming up with other topics just seemed to hard a task as I'm not a writer by hobby anyway.

But now, in terms of my own therapeutic resolve, I just felt it was time to at least put my thoughts down once and for all in the hopes that I will be able to move on completely.

In essence, this is my story.

I met a girl back in '93. I'd heard stories dealing with her alleged 'character', but ignored them due to my having not dated for a while.
Essentially, we had our first son in '95 and our second in the latter part of '96.

In the middle months of '99, we decided to wed, feeling it would somehow 'solidify' our new family. Unbeknownst to me, she had been having an affair with a man she'd met online for a few months before wed.

A few months after we wed, I found out she'd been carrying on this affair with him, who I found out was twice her age. Eww.

For the following few months, she went back and forth between, "I want to stay" and "I am going to go". Christmas Eve of 1999, she wanted time to think.

January of 2000 came, and I was staying with her brother. Against his advice, I called her to try and reconcile. After a heated conversation, she said "I love him and after our divorce, I'm moving WITH the children to be closer TO him". Did I mention he lived 10 hours away from us?

Needless to say, I went ballistic and subsequently spent 60 days in the "gray-bar-hotel". She was not hurt, but scared.

In the middle of '00, while I was in jail, she packed up with the children and moved those ten hours away. By the time we got to court to deal with our divorce, been living there two months and the judge could do nothing to make her move back.
As a result of her moving, and my wishes not to have two young boys on the road 20 hours every other week, I accepted being allowed to see them every third weekend started at 5 on Friday, ending at 7p on Sunday. But as a result of her moving before papers were even served, she had to drive 8 hours, with me picking up the last few.
She was pissed.
All of a sudden, it became MY fault that our children would miss one if not two days of school. It was MY fault she'd been in near accidents due to her fatigue.

Fast forward five years when her new hubbies, (yep. she married the old guy), ex wife got remarried and moved HIS two children ten hours away from where they were living,stating her new husbands job would keep them there for at least five years.

My ex decided she wanted to move back to our town to be closer to her family.

After discussing it with her, and her not agreeing to share placement (we'd already been awarded shared custody, but, how can that work ten hours away??), I took her back into court to amend our decree.

I went in feeling confident that no judge in their right mind would deny this request.
I mean, come on! My children were going to be living mere minutes away now, giving us more time together, and me more opportunity to help raise them. (btw:my relation with my children seemed to become stronger due to the move. THEY did not like being away from their daddy).

In a nutshell, I got a sexist judge who thinks it's the mothers job to raise the children and a fathers to provide support. My shared placement hearing was turned into, by the judge, a custody hearing. Which is odd if you take into consideration we already HAD a shared custody in place.
One comment made by the judge was that "(she) should not be penalized for wanting to move closer to her family". To hell with what the kids want, I guess.

Oh, on a side note:just a mere three months after my ex moved back to town, her husbands ex moved HIS family BACK to the same town they'd moved from. Of course, my ex said "yea, she really screwed US".
Wait a minute, didn't you screw your children when you moved THEM ten hours away from their father?


So there you have it. The story that's been gnawing it's way to come out and be released from the bowels that have kept it somewhat dormant for way too long.

Some might say that I've been holding on too long. But in my defense, you just can't get over something like that. At least not very easily.

I've become somewhat of a recluse, not really doing much in the social world.
I've also gained some rather odd views on the whole dating situation, not to mention "step-children" which I may share someday.

So for now, I sign off again, hopefully for not as long a time period this time.

Saturday Morning Post

(for those of you that get the loose reference, you win!)

Today's post should probably live up to the overall title of my little page, as it will have no cohesiveness to speak off.


This weekend, I have my kids.
Last night, we went to a buddy's house so they could play with his kids, leaving the adults to an all night Super Scrabble fest.
Super Scrabble is different than regular Scrabble in that there are twice the amount of tiles, a bigger board with higher point total squares, and takes about twice as long to play as regular Scrabble. Needless to say, I rocked by scoring almost ninety more points than my friend. (Incidentily, this game allows us to get well above the 500 point level).

Today, we are going to go shopping for valve oil (please, no "Band Camp" references), and a metronome for my eldest son.
At the beginning of the school year, he wanted to get into band and took up the trumpet. I tried to get him to take up the sax, but he wants to be just like another buddy of mine.

This year, a few of my resolutions include:
getting into a slightly larger house as my children and I are outgrowing our present one.

getting my motorcycle license.

getting a motorcycle. (not necessisarily a Harley. I do know how to be realistic).

blogging more.

blogging more and interesting.

blogging more and interesting enough to get on other bloggers' "fave lists".

and my hardest and possibly most futile resolution of all......................
find love!

take me into commercial Paul

RIP Jonathan Kent

For fans of "Smallville", tonight's 100th episode was not only an achievement in actually making 100 episodes, but one that finally answers how/when the "Pa Kent" character meets his demise.

Anyone who knows the storyline of Superman knows that Jonathan Kent suffers a fatal heart attack when Clark is in his teens. And even though we knew it was coming, to have it finally play out doesn't make it any easier to accept.

Since it's premier back in 2001, we've watched the elder Kent, played by John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard" fame, guide young Clark as his son slowly grows into his super powers.

On a more personal note, and to step away from my uber-geek personae for a moment, I've never dealt well with death. Even if it is the death of a ficticious character, just the notion of someone losing another to death has bothered me.

On that, I'm sure that other viewers of "Smallville" will miss John/Jonathan.