In My Humble Opinion

It Must Be Election Time

2010-08-19T16:06:00.002-04:00

Elections are always an exciting time for a political geek like me. There are always the tell-tale signs that election day is drawing near. The coolness in the evening air, the changing of the leaves, and the Republicans trying to scare up irrational fears about brown people, and to exploit tragic memories about September 11, 2001 for political gain.
To their credit, this seems to work. It's not always race issues, and not necessarily about 9/11, but they always try to find a wedge issue. In 2004, for example they had all sorts of people scared to death that the gays were going to break into their homes, force them to sign divorce papers, and proceed to have their way with their teen-aged sons. The result, the GOP won the election, and 11 states amended their constitution to bar gays from marrying.
This year's election cycle is proving to be par for the Republican's Boogey Man, Election Day course. The fear mongers at Fox News and the folks at the RNC have calculated that, facts be damned, they were going to create hysteria to drum up votes. Luckily for them, they had a big win with the racists "Papers Please" immigration law in Arizona. Despite facts to the contrary, they made it look like the immigration problems in this country happened over night, that the federal government under Republican rule had somehow secured the border until Jan 21 2009, that immigrant communities didn't have record-low crime rates, and that we had an invading illegal army raking havoc on society, decapitating farmers and having their way with their teen-aged sons. The immigration discussion is very complex, and I think I will leave further words on the "debate" for another day.
I wish to address the hullabaloo du jour that has been festering in the hateful bowels of the GOP for this election. By this, I mean the alleged "Ground Zero Mosque." This has apparently been a gold-mine for the "thinkers" and strategists in the GOP based on the huge amount of air time the the issue has received. It has brought up emotions from victims of those who were involved in the heinous acts of that horrible day, and has allowed them to act like they are emotionally invested in their pain, while those who wish to build the GZM are heartless, and insensitive to their suffering.
Let's set some facts straight first: One, there is no "Ground Zero Mosque." The proposed building is to be a 13-story cultural center known as Park 51. Similar to a YMCA which serves for recreation, education, and happens to have area dedicated to prayer--like a chapel in many recreational facilities. Also, the building will not be located at Ground Zero. It will be two blocks away. In my neighborhood or yours, two blocks may seem nearby. However, in the concrete jungle that is New York City's financial district, one block may as well be a mile. It won't be possible to see the WTC site from Park 51, nor will Park 51 be visible from the WTC site. No one going to that hallowed ground will see the "mosque" unless they actively seek it out.
People are up in arms about this issue, and the flames of intolerance and hatred are being stoked by prominent leaders in the GOP--most notably, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity.
The problem with the opposition to building Park 51 is the assumption that because one group of Muslims wish to build this site, that they are somehow related to the murderers from 9/11. They say that a mosque would be a shrine to honor the killers, not differentiating those extremists from the vast majority of peaceful worshipers of Allah. This assumption would be similar to saying that all Baptists are murders because one of their extremists killed a doctor who provided abortions, or to assume that all Catholics are similar to the IRA in Northern Ireland, or, for that matter, that all Mormons have multiple wives. The assumption based on ignorance plain and simple--considering the source, though, it's pretty much standard fare.
What's worse in this chaotic mess is that people are suggesting that planners of the development abandon their constitutional right to build. They are suggesting that we limit the freedoms of others because it is a sensitive issue. The truth is, it's not a sensitive issue, no one would even know of Park 51 if it weren't for the agents of hate and their microphone being supplied by a media that thrives on sensationalism.
This country has from its founding been a bastion for religious tolerance and religious freedom. To take away a religious group's right to construct a building because the majority doesn't feel it is right it anti-Constitution, and frankly, un-American.
If the terrorists wished to destroy our way of life and ruin the freedoms we as a society enjoy, the mere fact that this argument is being made today is proof enough that our society is willing to throw away the rights we hold dear.
What's worse however, is those politicians who are willing to encourage the trampling of constitutional rights shrouded in patriotism all for their political gain. It's disgusting, and frightening.
I am reminded of the quote by Sinclair Lewis, and I will leave it as a closing thought, not to frighten, but to invoke thought:
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

Catsup or Ketchup?

2010-08-09T11:55:00.003-04:00

Either way, I've got to play catch up for all of my adoring fans (all one of you, if that).
Last I left you, I had left a three-post recap of the amazing trip Mel and I took to Spain and Portugal. The trip was amazing and has left us wanting more travel.
That leads me to my next point. As an FYI, I have been in the process of applying to the Foreign Service. This process began last November with my signing up to take the FSOT written exam. At that point, it reserved a spot, which would allow me to schedule the test in the February 2010 testing window (which lasted through the first week of March). I took the exam on March 3. A few weeks later, I was notified that I had passed. At which point, I had had to answer six personal narrative questions in 200 words, demonstrating experiences of when I displayed certain characteristics such as leadership, effective communication, etc. That step, known as the QEP (Qualifying Evaluation Panel or something to that extent), was submitted prior to our Spain trip, and I was notified that I passed about 1 1/2 months later.
I was then told that I could sign up between the dates of June 21 and June 26, for an oral exam to be held this fall. I did that, and now have scheduled my FSOA for Sept 8, 2010. If all goes well for that, I would only need to pass a background check and medical exam to be able to be listed on the register, from which I could be selected to serve as a Foreign Service Officer. Looking at it, it really seems like a ridiculously long process. But, I think it will be well worth it in the long run. To read more about the Foreign Service, click HERE.
More importantly, and also stemming from our trip to Spain...We're having a baby!!
Said child is set to be born around January 1. We've been told a few dates, so I say around just to cover my bases. I am really hoping, though, that daddy's little tax write off will show his/her smiling face in 2010, so I can have the tax deduction for the whole year. That would be a great, albeit belated, Christmas gift from our little child.We don't know what we're having yet. We'll be finding out on Friday--Friday the 13th at that, so I hope it's not a ware wolf or something like that.
So that's about it for the catch up. I'm sure there's plenty of other things that could be mentioned, but I just don't want to bother right now.

El Grande Adventura a Espana... Ole!! Iberian Peninsula Travelogue Part III

2010-04-16T12:51:00.010-04:00

Monday, April 12, 2010:

On Monday morning, we had to check out of our hotel, Pensão Residencial Portuense, and take our bags to where we would be staying for our final two nights, the Ritz Four Seasons Lisboa (I know, poor us). What a difference a mile (and what I guess would be a few hundred dollars a night) makes. Thanks to some sweet hookups, we were able to stay in the room free of charge. This was a super-nice place. The doormen were in top hats and tails, they give you slippers and bathrobes to use there, and there was even a separate room and phone inside the bathroom for the toilet (and bidet—I was surprised it didn't play music). This may not be much to some people, but to a kid growing up in northern Utah, this is big time. It had a great view from the balcony, which allowed you to see for miles around. The only problem was that it was at the top of a hill, and the closest metro stop was at the bottom , so that would mean after a long day of travel, we would still have to climb to the top before getting there. That, however, was easily overlooked due to all the comforts provided.

After dropping off our bags, we hurried to the train station, where a friendly woman helped us to get our train fare to the nearby town of Sintra. We just missed the first train when we got there, and due to a strike, had to wait 20 minutes for a second (as opposed to 10 minutes on a non-strike day). The train took about 40 minutes and let us off a little bit outside of the major tourist sites. The town is a charming village where the royals historically would go to leave the city for a summer respite. There is the national palace, which was a royal residence, parts of which date back to the 1100s. And the surrounding homes are large chateaus where the nobles would go to be close to the royalty. We went on a self-guided tour of the palace, which was fine, and we were able to go at our own pace until we got stuck behind a huge group of Spanish tourists and their tour guide. Everywhere they went, they clogged the exits to the rooms, so we were stuck with them for half of the tour. Luckily, I can understand Spanish, but unfortunately for Melanie and the other five who weren't with their group, they were just stuck with the loud chatty group. After the tour, I overheard their guide saying that they had some free time to go wander around and she suggested that they go to a café, A Periquita, which Mel and I had already planned to do. Knowing we wanted to beat them there, we bolted off to make it in ahead of them. We ordered a traveseiro (pillow in Portuguese), a cream filled pie, and some queijados, which tasted kind of like buttered toast with cinnamon sugar. The Spaniards arrived en masse and soon the place was very loud, but still enjoyable.

Following our snack, we wandered around and found a tourist info place and got directions to get to the very top of the hill where the Moorish castle stood overlooking the village. We caught a bus that took us on some very narrow, windy roads, and finally to the top of the hill. We decided not to pay the fee of 8 Euros to go into the castle, since it was pretty much in ruins and we could see a lot of the outside without paying. The age of the castle was very amazing having been around for about 1200 years. The setting (of the town in general, but here specifically) was very magical. It seemed as though it was a sort of enchanted forest. This seemed to be more so the case when we went to our next destination, O Palácio Nacional da Pena. This palace was really a treat to see. The Romantic-inspired architecture was amazing, and the whimsical pastel coloring was fantastic. We (mostly Melanie) didn't want to pay the whole price to go in (12 euros). But we wanted pictures from outside, so we paid to enter the park, which had trails and different views of the palace and hidden oddities like a little pavilion and a statue of a warrior. At this point I was just amazed with the city and country as a whole, but we still were headed for more fun later in the afternoon.

We took the bus back to the train station. Across the street from there, we were able to get a bus that would take us to the coastal city of Cascais. We took the longer route which took us past the western-most point in all of Europe, Cabo da Rocha. The bus ride bordered on terrifying with a seemingly insane bus driver being encouraged to go faster by some Portuguese mad men cheering him on through the bumpy, winding country roads from a few rows back. After an hour's ride, we made it to Cascais. Needing a quick snack, we decided, contrary to our better judgment, but not wanting to wander looking for food, to get something from McDonalds. Ironically, after eating there, the queasiness from the bus ride subsided.

We walked to the beach and though it was quite warm outside, we decided not to swim since the water was frigid—it was the first week of April after all. It was unfortunate, because the water was perfectly clear and calm. We walked barefoot down the beautiful beach between Cascais and the neighboring city of Estoril. When exiting the beach there, we were "interviewed" by some local girls about "sustainable tourism" probably because we're the most obvious foreigners they had seen all day. I gave some lame answer to their questions, and will probably be laughed at by their classmates, but it was all in good fun. After that, we caught the train back to Lisbon, and went to our hotel to relax for a bit, and got a late dinner of pizza and fruity milkshakes at a place called the Bella da Impanema. We returned to the hotel and looked at the amazing view from there at night, which included going to the outdoor track on the roof.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010:

Our last day in Europe. We certainly didn't let that slow us down. On Tuesday, we went to the hillside neighborhood to the east of Baixa. The neighborhood is called Alfama, and it is the oldest part of the city, dating back to the times that the Moors ruled Portugal. It also has some of the hilliest terrain in the city. The Moors constructed a huge castle at the top of one of the tallest hills in Lisbon as a strategic lookout over the port and surrounding area. In 1147 they were ultimately kicked out, but their castle remains in amazingly good shape considering its age. The problem being, that getting to the castle was a bit tricky, leading us to many wrong turns and dead ends. However, a friendly neighborhood drunk gave us directions, and we ultimately found it.

After spending some time there, we found a place for a quick lunch, and went to look at a nearby church, Igreja São Vicente Fora, but didn't go in because we were not going to pay to see another church. After that, we went to the Pantheon of Portugal, which, with its blazing white dome, was one of the first things we saw flying in. Architecturally, it was one of the coolest things I saw on the whole trip. It apparently took more than 260 years to build, and was supposedly cursed, but they finished it in 1965, and now it holds monuments and some remains of famous Portuguese. Entrance to the building allows you to go to the top, just under the dome, and to go out, onto the roof, which was awesome. Unfortunately, while we were there, we saw some clouds gathering out across the water, which were coming towards us.

We left from there, walked down the river and up through Baixa looking for a few souvenirs. After that, we went to the hotel to organize some things, and take a break for a bit, and to wait out the passing storm. Then, later that evening, we went outside the old city center to the modern Parque das Nações, which, on a normal, non-rainy day looks like it would be a really cool place. It still was a lot of fun even though no one was out because of the earlier rainstorm. We were able to see the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which is one of the longest in Europe, and played around on some of the things they had there. After getting an interesting dinner (hamburger topped with a fried egg for me, turkey in a banana cream sauce for Mel) at the nearby mall, we headed home to go to bed as we had an early flight the next morning.

Lisbon was amazing. It reminded me of San Francisco with the hills, the cable cars, and the suspension bridge. The entire trip to Europe was amazing and I'm glad I had Melanie, my travel buddy, to take me along with her. She's quite the planner. She made all of this flow. We had a great time, and wish we didn't have to come back to the real world.

PS this is only a fraction of our pictures. They should be up on Facebook soon enough.

El Grande Adventura a Espana... Ole!! Iberian Peninsula Travelogue Part II

2010-04-16T12:50:00.012-04:00

Saturday, April 10, 2010:

Our last day in Spain. From what I had heard others say, Madrid kinda sucked. I can understand why they may say that – it's a big noise city – if they hadn't gotten to experience the city like we had in the previous two days. We were loving it, but still wanted to see a few other things.

I had heard there were creepy baby head statues at the train station there, identical to the two in Boston. So I wanted to see them and come full circle. (I hope there aren't any other baby head statues in the world or I may have to go find them, as disturbing as it may sound.) We went to the train station where I had heard they were located. I asked a security guard, who had no idea about them and thought I was certifiably insane. After wandering around, I finally asked a very nice lady at the information desk, thinking that they're never going to see me again, and knowing that I wanted to find the sculptures, I didn't have much to lose. Sure enough, she knew where they were. However, they are in an area where only ticketed passengers can go at the station. This, you see, is the very station where the Al Qaeda attack in Spain happened a few years back, killing 191 people. However, we were able to see them through the door, and I snapped a photo, even though I wasn't able to get in. As this was the site of the tragic bombing, they also had a memorial to those lost that day. It was an interesting memorial. Just inside, all the names of the victims are listed on a plaque outside of a deep-blue room with a glass pillar in the center rising above ground which acts as the only light source. In the glass column, they have a paper cover with various quotes about the attack from around the world printed on it, circling to the top of the column. It was a very somber, and sad to think of the tragedy of that day. It made me wonder why after nearly ten years, we still don't have a 9/11 memorial in New York.

After leaving the train station, we returned to the hotel, passing Madrid's answer to Times Square, to get our bags and were off to the airport to catch our flight to Lisbon. I'll tell you what…an afternoon flight with a plane full of Spaniards and Portuguese is one of the loudest things a person will ever experience in their life.

There was a distinct difference between the two cities, noticeable right outside of the airport—yes, they're two different countries, but more than that. Where Madrid seems more arid, Lisbon is a city right on the water, and what a difference water makes to beautify a city. I was in love with the place on the bus ride to our hotel. The thing that bugged me though, is that it seemed almost too welcoming to English-speakers. As a Portuguese speaker, I don't mind if everything is in their language, however, I can appreciate that they want to help. To me though, it seemed as though they tried too hard. Still, I ended up having more than enough opportunities to speak Portuguese.

We made it to our hotel, a bare-bones pensão , with very little by way of decor. The room was supposed to have a single, queen sized bed, but instead had three twin beds, a thirteen inch TV with four channels that intermittently turned off while watching, and a bidet. There were two annoying flies that seemed to just hover in place as well. We eventually took care of them with my trusty baseball cap. However, the place was decent and clean. It was in a perfect location, just off of one of the main plazas in town, Restauradores. It was also right atop of the most popular place to visit in the city, the Baixa neighborhood, providing easy access from there to nearly any place in town.

Since we got in fairly late, we decided to look around Baixa, walking down to the Tagus River, and find a restaurant nearby. The area is very charming except for the number of people on the street offering to sell me hashish, pot, whatever you wanna call it. The age and years of pollution have also made the buildings there look a little dingy, but the underlying structures made for a place that I've certainly never imagined before. At the bottom of Baixa, very near the river, there is a great plaza and an arch that marks the start of the Baixa neighborhood. While taking pictures there, we heard a small scream from a tourist walking with her husband nearby. We quickly looked over to see her legs flying into the air as she tripped over a stone bench-type thing right outside the plaza. We struggled not to laugh as she was obviously not seriously hurt, but we were reminded of the Mel Brooks quote, "Tragedy is me cutting my finger, comedy is you falling into an open sewer and dying." We wandered around looking for dinner. Still feeling a bit miffed over the cost of dinner the night before, we were looking for something cheap. Oddly, there were many Indian/Italian combo restaurants to be found. Though we were intrigued, we never actually went in to one. That evening, we walked past the window of a restaurant that had some tasty snacks I recalled from my days in Brazil, namely a coxinha, which has shredded chicken, chopped olives, and a few other things in a potato-based dough, formed into the shape of a teardrop and fried. As I pointed it out to Mel, the waiter saw us looking in the window and came out with a menu. When he spoke to me in Portuguese, and we saw the price for the place was cheap, we knew we had a winner. We ended up getting two coxinha, and salted cod with rice and vegetables, a very common local dish, to share. I never order fish in a restaurant, but I certainly didn't regret that. It was very tasty – heavy on the salt and chopped garlic -- and the garnishes were a welcome change after not having vegetables for much of the three previous days. Afterward, we looked for ice cream, which Melanie said she had seen, but whereas this was not Madrid, and places close much earlier, every place seemed to be closed or closing. Finally, however, we found a place with an Olá brand (Good Humor in the States) ice cream freezer in a bar and we got ice cream bars to eat as we returned to sleep in our not-so-comfy twin beds.

Sunday, April 11, 2010:

Sunday started off great. We left our hotel and ventured to the bottom of the Baixa area to catch a bus to the Belém neighborhood of Lisbon. This was more difficult than we would have imagined as the system of busses and trolleys overlaps and led to some confusion for us. After asking a shopkeeper for some directions, we found the bus stop/trolley stop and got the first mode of transport to Belém. Sunday is a great day for tourism in Lisbon as many museums are free of charge. Historically, Belém was a different city, which served as a port in the time of the explorers and huge Portuguese shipping trade. It makes sense, then, that they would put the Discoveries Monument there. We first went to the monument, walking down the riverfront and passing many joggers as well as many fishermen trying to catch a tasty lunch from the river. However, based on the smell from there, I wouldn't knowingly eat anything that came directly from the Tagus. After the Monument, we went to the Torre de Belém (tower of Belém), which served as a sort of lookout in the shipping days. It was huge, and as it was free of charge, we were all over that place. We climbed clear to the top and took lots and lots of pictures. From the tower you could get a great view of the river, the suspension bridge nearby, and could see many sailboats that were heading out from the nearby marinas for a day of fun. After the tower, we went to the Jeronimos monastery and cathedral, built in celebration of Portugal's successful expeditions. It was housed on beautifully maintained grounds with nice fountains and gardens. After a wait for the end of the early mass, we were able to go into the church, where we saw the burial site of explorer, Vasco da Gama. The church itself was nice, but due to church services, much of it was closed so we didn't get much time to look around. Later, we went to find the Casa Pastéis de Belém, where we got their famous Pasteis de Belém, a tasty little cream tart. It's like flan but good in my opinion.

Rejuvenated from the tarts, we continued on, swinging by the Coach Museum, which sounded really lame to me until I saw a picture of the inside. And as it was free, I thought we should go in. Mel wanted to anyway, but thought I wouldn't like it. There, they have all sorts of coaches and carriages that had been used by Portuguese royalty. They were very ornate in detail, and the oldest dated back to 1619. The last coach in the museum was the one being used by the royal family in 1908 when the king and his oldest son were gunned down while his wife attempted to fight off the assassins. The coach still showed two bullet holes from the attack. Leaving the Coach Museum, we hiked up a very long hill to get to the Royal Palace in the Ajuda neighborhood. This palace was apparently only half-finished; from the outside you can see it ends rather abruptly, but given the dozens of sumptuous rooms, what more did they need? I wish we could have taken pictures inside, because it was quite a treat. It was just amazing to see how the other half lived there. The Newport Mansions in Rhode Island are amazing, but this was something else all together. By this time we were pooped, but we still had half of the day left. We were determined, though, to not walk much to get back to Baixa. We hopped on a trolley from the top of the hill near the palace, and caught a bus from where it dropped us off back to the hotel. Since we didn't want to get anything big to eat at that point, we swung by the local grocery store to get some apples, bananas, and some cookies. Also, I might note, that a bottle of water there was only 5 cents as opposed to the $1.50 it would be in a store here; a bottle of water in a restaurant would be much more, though – over $2 sometimes.

After a few minutes at the hotel, we were off to a neighboring area, Bairro Alto, to see some things there. Baixa, which means low, down, or bottom in Portuguese, is aptly named as it sits between two hills to the east and west. Bairro Alto sits on top of the western hill. There is an insane incline that takes you to the top. Luckily, they have a cable car/elevator that gets you there without all the effort. The director was a jovial chap, joking with many of the boarding passengers, many of whom were tourists. While climbing the hill in the car, he honked and motioned a runner who got pooped out mid-way to the top to get going—kind of a "you had to be there" thing. Once on top, we hurried to the Igreja São Roque, which was the earliest Jesuit church in the Portuguese world. The chapels in the church were very beautiful, and the most admired is the chapel of John the Baptist. I did find it funny, though, that the pictures in that chapel showed him pouring water on Jesus, which isn't quite what I remember the Bible telling me about the baptism, but I digress. We left, and next went to the ruins of a church which partially collapsed during the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon. While walking around and taking pictures, we were approached by some dude from Senegal. It was unfortunate because we were in a corner, and there was no real easy way to avoid him, so we made the small talk, and I knew that it was a manner of time before he would hit us up for money. He did, however, have a different approach. He said it was his birthday, and that they give presents on their birthday. He tried to "give" me a bracelet and Melanie a necklace, but asked that we give him money. We continued to refuse, and only were able to rid ourselves of him after we told him we didn't want the jewelry and that we were going to leave it on the ledge right above a big drop to the bottom of the neighborhood below.

After that, we walked to a few nearby plazas, did some people watching, and took in the great views of the city below. While at one plaza, we saw an older couple walk by. Shortly after passing us, we heard a familiar squawk from the woman. We looked over as she was falling face first into the plaza beneath her. We hear a thud and saw the crowd react. This one looked like it hurt more than the night before—that and the fact that she was an older woman. Now we were wondering if we had some adverse influence on people strolling around us in Lisbon. We left shortly after and saw the offending storm drain that caused the fall. We wandered a little more, and by this time, my camera was telling me that I was out of room on my memory card. So I spent time clearing off duplicates and blurry pictures;by the time that was done, the battery on the camera had been drained. I knew picture taking would need to be limited, and unfortunately our best day was supposedly ahead.

El Grande Adventura a Espana... Ole!! Iberian Peninsula Travelogue Part I

2010-04-16T12:49:00.008-04:00

Wednesday April 7, 2010:

After a late-arriving taxi from our apartment made us miss the shuttle bus to the airport, we were very anxious for what might be in store for us on our European vacation. However, with only a delay of 30 minutes, we made it to our flight with plenty of time to spare. The flight was mostly fine, barely half full with on-demand movies. The only slightly irritating aspects were the fact that they ran out of the chicken dish for the in-flight meal, the little old lady in the purple track suit who had a sneezing fit about three hours into the flight, her husband who was continuously wandering the aisle to get to the restroom, the non-dimming of the cabin lights for the night, and my late breaking residual NOVA allergy fit (AKA my own sneezing fit). We flew "through the night" with little activity to get to Madrid.

Thursday, April 8 2010:

We touched down at 7:30 a.m. having very little (read: absolutely no) sleep in what was supposed to count for a whole night, and made it through customs with no problems. We were then off to brave the amazing subway system of Madrid—seriously, this thing beats DC hands down, kick you in the face. We made two transfers and got off at the La Latina neighborhood in Madrid. It is supposedly one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, having once been the Moorish section of the city as well. The winding narrow streets and a misunderstanding of the location of our hotel left us wandering La Latina, looking in vain for a place for us to drop off our bags, which seemed to be exponentially increasing in weight with every hill we climbed. After about 25 minutes, a man finally stopped us and said, "Can I help you find something, because I've been watching you walk around here for a while." He directed us to the correct location and we soon found Doña Norma at the Abracadabra Inn on Calle Bailen. The quaint bed and breakfast apartment was decorated with an odd and charming assortment of hats, birds, and other Spanish-inspired décor. We dropped off the bags, but because check-in wasn't until 1 p.m., we didn't have a place to rest. So, we went off to our first activity, a bike tour of Madrid.

We made our way back to the metro and found a bakery where we had a small breakfast consisting of a crème and chocolate filled pastries, and we were told about a good place nearby to get churros and chocolate later on. We made a mental note. We took the train three stops to the Gran Via area to begin our tour with Trixi Bikes. With the two of us, there were six others on our English-speaking tour. Let me make myself clear that this city of 5 million people is not a bike-friendly place—at least not in the center of town. But with a little briefing by our tour guide, we were off on a nine-mile trek to discover the city. Early on, before we had gained the necessary confidence as a group, there was a split in the group due to some hesitation to riding in front of a moving vehicle on the bumpy cobble-stoned rodes. Melanie ended up getting stuck, and I found myself waiting, slightly panicked, for her while the tour guide continued ahead. She eventually came up the street walking her bike along, having narrowly escaped a hit-and-run. We hopped on the bikes and took off to reach the group, who eventually noticed we were missing about ½ mile ahead. From that point on, I was very careful to stay in first or second position in the group. I didn't want to be "that chubby guy who held up the group." That spot was left for the 60-year-old woman from Jacksonville Fl, who expressed an odd concern about Pizza Hut not being in Madrid.

We went to all of the interesting spots in the center of the city, and let me tell you, there were a lot. We saw the ancient temple that was donated to Madrid from Egypt, the Royal Palace, the city's main cathedral, the old neighborhoods and the oldest building in Madrid. We went on to see where Cervantes lived and died. We rode past the Prado and a lot of other places—it may be a blur because of the lack of sleep at the time. We ultimately ended up at El Retiro, which is their huge city park, and had a soda and some olives. We rode around the park and headed back to the bike shop to finish up. It was quite an experience and it gave us a chance to see a lot more than what you might normally see on a typical tour bus.

After the tour we headed to our hotel, and took a short nap. We got a briefing from Señor Eduardo, the owner of the place, who gave us a nice map and many suggestions on things to see/do while there. We left to go directly to the Prado since it was free from 6 pm to 8 pm. We walked around, saw some Rafael and looked in vain for Goya; it was cool, but seriously, after a while, there are only so many pictures of Jesus you can see before you're bored out of your mind (or maybe that was just me being grumpy from allergies and hunger). We left on a search for something for dinner. We couldn't find too much that met our criteria of being non-touristy, cheap, and with seating, but eventually we found a sort of bar that had some decent looking, fairly inexpensive stuff. I got a rundown of the menu from the waiter, which involved us both quacking like a duck. We ordered a tasty potato and rice thing baked in a tortilla, an empanada, and some bread with a cheese fondue. It was very delicious, especially on an empty stomach. We walked around a little bit and found the previously mentioned churros at "El Diamante" bar, which were delicious, and one order gives you a ton of them (we ordered two, not realizing this). Finally, we headed home, exhausted and ready to sleep after our first day.

Friday, April 9, 2010:

Today's activities involved a trip to the hill-top town of Segovia, which is about an hour north of Madrid. After Norma's breakfast of yogurt, pound cake, a roll, chocolate milk, toast and a grilled cheese sandwich (identical both days we were there), we took a bus from a stop within walking distance our hotel. The ride was nice, and allowed us to see a little of the Spanish countryside. It looks to be a pretty dry climate, but the mountains in the distance had some beautiful snow caps on them, and, according to our bike guide, offer some decent skiing.

We arrived at the bus stop in Segovia and promptly walked to the massive Roman Aqueduct at the edge of the city. At the top of the hill Melanie found a family of cats—her one true love. After spending what seemed to me to be an hour taking pictures of the furry, feral felines, we headed on to see more of the city. We walked down the narrow streets and came upon a small plaza which opened up to frame the city's amazing cathedral. We looked at a map and, upon my insistence, headedleft to find the entrance. We circumvented the entire cathedral and found said entrance about 50 feet to the right of where we began. A bit of a fail on my part. The gothic cathedral was very striking. The ornate exterior stood in contrast to the interior, which did have soaring, vaulted ceilings and stained glass but few frills. Our guide book attributed the less dramatic interior to the economic condition of the area around the time that it was being constructed, in the 16th century.

We explored the cathedral and were off to the Alcazar, or formal royal residence/fortress. The city of Segovia sits atop a mountain, and the Alcazar is perfectly perched above a steep drop off. The building is truly a visual treat to see. It is reminiscent of what you might imagine in an old fairytale. We descended the side of the hill the castle sits on, walked around to a nearby church and to the other side of the hill to hike up into the Júdaria, or former Jewish area of the city. This part of the city is known for its interesting use of stenciling on the stucco of the buildings. At this point, we were tired, and very thirsty. However, being in Spain, in the afternoon, nearly all the shops were closed. We wondered why for a bit, but then realized they were doing what we wished we could be, taking a siesta. However, at four, the bell rang, and the town seemed to come alive again. We bought a Fanta and had a drink in the sun at a nearby plaza. From there we began to wander back towards the bus stop in search of something to eat. The local favorite, cochinillo, or roasted suckling pig, was more food and cost more money than we wanted so we opted to not get it. Instead, I ordered a pastry at a small shop to hold me over until we had a bigger, better dinner back in Madrid.

Upon arrival, we walked to a lookout tower that was recommended in the tour book. What was not noted in the book, however, was that the observation/lookout building would be closed for construction. There were no signs about that either for the entire half-mile that we walked to it. So we walked back to the metro station, and headed to our hotel to freshen up before dinner. Luckily, we were just able to see the sun set on our last evening in Spain. From there, we walked around, looking for a place to eat, and snapped photos of La Latina. It's a very romantic area—very European with the many street side cafés. We really wanted Paella in Spain so we thought we were in luck when we found it reasonably priced, or so we thought. Sitting outside next to the oldest building in the city, we had a delicious meal, splitting a plate of paella and a pizza-like flat bread thing. The meal should have been about 22 Euros, but it was an hour later and probably a mile away that we realized our paying 35 Euros, plus a tip, was far more than it should have been. We wandered around the area near the Plaza Mayor, got some souvenirs, and found the Guinness World Record holder for the Oldest Restaurant in the World -- Botin. We didn't eat, but I took a picture. We walked down to see the cathedral and the palace, all lit up at night. After, we went back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

In Case You Haven't Noticed

2010-03-01T12:50:00.003-05:00

I have been sucking at blogging. I think it's a phenomenon that's plaguing many people's blogs. Much like everyone getting a blog at once, we all quit updating them at once when they lost their charm.
However, it doesn't mean that I haven't had adventures or opinions in the past four months, so I will hopefully get around to updating this puppy.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T11:03:00.004-04:00

We had some guests over to our house for pumpkin carving last week. Here are some pictures:

Melanie and Milu carving away

Melanie showing off her proud pumpkin

Sara and Milu displaying their great gourds

Melanie's spooky haunted house

My homage to the Dark Lord (Voldemort if you couldn't tell)

The two on our porch. Sorry it's kinda blurry.

But anyway, Happy Halloween to all.

O Shenandoah

2009-10-22T20:27:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, Mel and I decided to go out to look at the fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park. We went to the Skyline Drive, which we didn't realize would cost 15 bones to get in and drive up a road. So, wanting to get our money's worth, we took advantage of the week pass that accompanies the $15 entry fee. We drove there both on Saturday and Sunday to hike on a trail or two, to breath the crisp autumn air, and to take some pictures. As seen below.

On Sunday, we did a small hike to some cool cliffs. The view was amazing.

On Saturday, on our way home, we found a pumpkin patch where we picked out the pumpkins we're going to carve this Saturday.
and here's me looking really lame with the pumpkin I picked.

Summer 09 (Second Half)

2009-10-09T08:48:00.007-04:00

It's true that my blogging has been very sparse lately. I know I need to change that. I want to keep the goings on of my life up to date, because that way, I don't have to call people and tell them what I've been up to. I just type for 20 minutes or so, and then no calls are necessary, except to my mom, who wouldn't have the foggiest idea of how to turn on a PC, let alone be able to navigate her way to find my obscurely-titled blog--if she even knows what a blog is.
So since Mel and I have done a few things over this summer since my last post, I think I'll share. Then, I plan on updating more frequently and get back to sharing my "Humble Opinions" (I've got a wicked rant on crazy children's names waiting in the wings).
Last post, discussed the 4th of July, my birthday, and such...
Since then, we went to Niagara Falls:

We took a last minute trip with Adam and Megan to go to the Palmyra Pageant (a landmark moment for any Mormon's life). Since it's so close to the Falls, we took a day trip there.

Waiting for the Pageant to start

We also went to see the mid-night opening of Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince. Good times were had by all. We waited for about four hours for the movie to start. So there was trivia and board games and refillable popcorn to pass the time.

Then, Sara and Tony Got married. So, a belated congratulations is in order. And, an apology for not uploading pics sooner.

My car hit a kinda fun land mark, 77,777 miles. We watched Senator Kennedy's funeral procession (and you can too).

Then, in September, we went to Utah for a whole slew of reasons: My high-school reunion, Peach Days, and the fact that we could only make it out there one time this year. None of which alone are reason enough to fly across the country (maybe the last of the three), but when they all converged on one weekend, we decided to go.

The reunion was fun and less awkward than I thought it would be. Except for a few moments which I'll have to talk about in a later post.

We were, obviously, the best-dressed table.
Mel and I did our traditional "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" stop, visiting Ruth's Diner, which was absolutely delicious. Anyone in Utah must go there.
After Ruth's, we got caught in the worst rain storm I've ever seen in Utah, so we went an looked at the newly-renovated state capitol building.
And finally, last weekend, we went to Florida with Melanie's parents for a long weekend. It was a lot of fun. On Sunday morning, I got up early enough to catch the sunrise.
Later, we went on to Lion County Safari before leaving, and we saw a whole heap of cool animals right by the car. It was pretty fun, and only a little bit of cheesiness for the children.

So, that's a quick recap of my summer. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Duke

2009-08-30T20:41:00.002-04:00

The other day, I overheard interesting bits of a phone conversation between Melanie and her grandma, Ms. Lunelle Annabel Westphal (I love her name in its entirety).
Melanie called home to talk with her mother on her birthday last week. It turned out that her grandma had gone to visit from Florida for about a week. Now, Grandma is a real old-time southern bell from somewhere like South Carolina or Georgia. I've never met her, but have heard a few stories.
So, while talking to Mel, my mother-in-law asked Melanie if she wanted to speak to Grandma, and handed the phone of.
They shared all of the pleasantries that you would normally share with a grandparent with whom you haven't spoken in a while. And, since she wasn't able to make it up to the wedding, she apologized for not making it here, and then got onto the topic of the wedding and the pictures.
Here's where it gets good...she said, "He's a beautiful man...and a Westerner!! He could be a John Wayne type."
That made my day.

I Had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!!

2009-07-16T09:48:00.006-04:00

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I think Melanie's awesome. Best wife ever!! The fact that she spearheaded the week-long celebration of my birthday is just one more reason. That being said, I'll let you in on what the festivities included.
My birthday was on a Tuesday, so that meant that the celebrating began on the preceding Saturday. That day, we went with a select group of friends, to go tubing on the Shenandoah.
We went to a place called Butts Tubes, located right by Harper's Ferry, on the VA side. Mel and I went, of course.
Then there was Kasey and Lex (photos courtesy of Lex BTW).

Then there was Adam and his then-new flame Megan. (They kinda shied away from us)

Sara was unfortunately sans significant other, as Tony was off for training. Turns out he got back that morning, and she dropped us like a hot potato once she caught word that he was back, not joining us for dinner.

This is me, looking hot on a rock. At this point, Melanie had floated past me, and I was wondering where she was, judging by the fact that I was smiling, I might have found her by this point on a rock further downstream. The tubing was a lot of fun. The river was calm, but had some fun whooptie-dos. All-in-all, we had a great time.

On Sunday, Melanie invited other friends to our place for cake and ice cream. She pulled through amazingly, buying a chocolate cake from Costco. It was delicious.
And these are the people who came. In our little apartment.
On my actual birthday, we went to dinner at the Sweetwater Tavern, which was really good. I got a steak and mashed potatoes. We also had a coupon sent to us from them for a free dessert with each entree purchase. While there, my lovely wife gave me my gifts in three envelopes. The first was a card...it wasn't the sappy lovey-dovey type--she knows I hate those. The second envelope had tickets to the Capitol Steps, which is a comedy troupe in DC that parodies songs and mocks politicians, a perfect choice for me.
The last envelope contained a print out from Amazon.com showing this (picture was taken during a Pantene commercial in case you're curious of who the lady is) :
On the paper was written "okay, let's talk about this." I've been pining for a big TV since I left my old apartment and it's Hi-Def goodness. She hadn't purchased it, but had done a lot of research on it. We did some further research, and found that the one she had found, was the best deal, had a great picture, and had great reviews. We bought it on sale at Sears, which made me wax sentimental from my days of employment there (haha, just kidding). Thus far, we've brought it home, but we need to upgrade our cable to get all the sweet channels, but we'll get to that soon enough.
Finally, on Saturday, we made it to the show by the Capitol Steps. It was a lot of fun. The music was very topical, the entertainers were very energetic, and hillarious. I enjoyed it very much.
Ultimately, this was probably the best B-day celebration that I've ever had. Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes from everyone. Especially, a big thanks to Mel who organized all of the birthday goodness. I'll definitely have a hard time trying to top this for her next January.

Happy Birthday America!! You don't look a day over 200

2009-07-13T18:14:00.011-04:00

Hey everybody. How are you? It has been quite a while since I've put anything on this boring blog of mine. Don't be thinking that it means I haven't been doing anything. There are about three or so posts that need to be put up with events that have taken place in the past month since I last blogged. One very important one was our Northeastern Fourth of July Trip.
I've always wanted to go to Boston to see the fireworks on the Fourth, and was thinking about it this year, but Mel and I didn't really make firm plans for the holiday other than our Yankees game that we got tickets to, courtesy of Mel's dad. So we went, and had some sweet seats. Unfortunately, the Yankees decided that they would end their winning streak on the game we went to.
So, our plan was to spend the holiday with Mel's family since we didn't really have anywhere else to go. However, Kade mentioned that he was going to be in Boston with Dear Brenda, visiting his sister, Kami Jo. Knowing that we'd be in Connecticut already, I knew that I had to go to Boston to hang out with them and see the fireworks there.
Boston is by far my favorite city here in the States. I had only been once before, and it had been nearly four years since my last trip, but I still loved it.
We left on Saturday morning, and got to Kami's house at 9:00 am, just in time to get breakfast.We went to Mike's City Diner (as featured in the Food Network's "Diner's Drive-ins and Dives"). We had some delicious pancakes, and then got headed out for some adventuring.

First stop was to find the creapy baby head I had seen in pictures, and knew I needed to find them for my own pictures. We went to the Museum of Fine Art, and sure enough they were there

Next stop was to head out on our whale watching tour.

We got on our ship with Captain Debbie, and headed out. While leaving the outer harbor, we passes a bunch of islands and lighthouses.

Here's a view of the city as we were pulling out.
We cruised for about 1.5 hours and then got to the preserve area where they find the whales. And sure enough, there were whales a-plenty.

Then we came back and were really hungry. So we went to Legal Seafood where I was dissuaded from getting the Lobster Feast (it was $50 a person), which sounded delicious.
I settled on the Lobster Roll, which turned out to be rather tasty.
After dinner, we headed out to find the Old North Church, and Paul Revere's Home (I'll spare the pics).

This is Kade being angry or something.
We next decided to head towards Cambridge to get a spot for the fireworks. However, on our way there, we passed a happening Italian bakery in Little Italy. Since it was so hopping, we decided that we needed a treat for our firework watching.

They were tasty.
It was cold so, I bought a sweatshirt, which was good because last time I was there I wanted one, but hadn't bought it. I didn't use it, cause my wife got a little chilly, but at least I now have a souvenir from this trip.
Then the fireworks were awesome!! The best fireworks I've ever seen.
See Look: (there were about 30 minutes of this)

And The Finale:
So there you have it, that was how I spent my Independence day. It's definitely my favorite holiday, and I think this may have been the best one. I would go to Boston in a heartbeat next year.

Boy My Life Sure Seems Boring

2009-06-12T08:54:00.005-04:00

At least according to my blog...But I we have had a couple of adventures in the past few weeks.

Like this one:

Our Trip to Pittsburgh, PA

We went over Memorial Day weekend. It was a fun road trip with just the two of us to see a new city. And, it turned out to be a surprisingly nice place. I really liked it with all the bridges and the water and such.

Our first stop was to the Carnegie Science Center. Which, at first had me worried that we had paid too much for a kids museum, but it was awesome!!! They have all sorts of hands-on activities that give you an understanding of light, weather, sound, aviation and all sorts of other things.
Here I am building a structure to withstand an earthquake.

We got to go inside an actual submarine.

It was a lot of fun, and it made me feel like a kid again, which is a tough feat, considering how old I am getting.

The science center is located across the street from the home of the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Field.

Part of our reason for going was because Guy Fieri on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" is in Pittsburgh a lot. We like to watch the show, and have decided that we're gonna try to hit up some of these joints. So, in Pittsburgh we went to not one, but two restaurants that had been featured in the show.
First was to Big Jims, where I got an open-faced roast beef sandwich and fries. They put the fries on the sandwich and put the gravy on it. It was delicious.

The other was the Dor Stop Restaurant, located in a nice little neighborhood within the city. We went there for breakfast on Sunday morning. They have the most amazing pancakes ever. You should definitely check the place out.
Saturday night was probably the coolest part. We went to a redeveloped area on the water front called Center Station (something like that). It's been made into a nice shopping/dining area with all sorts of activities going on at night, including a cool fountain that does a show to the music. Unfortunately, the battery in my camera died so I couldn't get pictures of that, or the "incline." The incline is a mining trolley that takes you up to the top of a hill in the city, right by the downtown, and you get an amazing view. Below is a picture I found (cause, as I said, my battery was dead). I wish it showed how cool it was--and we were there at night, so it was even better.
After breakfast on Sunday, we planned to go to the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Falling Water, cause I've wanted to see that ever since I took an architecture class my freshman year in college. I called the place that morning, but there was no availability for tickets, so we decided to go to the zoo, and will go to the house some other time.
After being mis-led by the GPS to the opposite side of town we finally found the Zoo by calling to get a better address (based on the fact that the first selection on their call menu is "if you're having trouble with GPS, press one" I imagine that it's a pretty common mistake). It was a pretty cool zoo. They had all sorts of animals, and you could even see them there, which you can't hardly ever do here in DC's zoo. My favorites were the Polar Bear cause you could get so close to him.

And the Tiger Shark tunnel. (check out the guy's look in the reflection--I hadn't noticed it until just now).

All-in-all, I have to say that in my humble opinion, Pittsburgh is a pretty cool place.

Our Next adventure took us to Connecticut:

We went up there about two weeks ago for an open-house for Mel's family and friends who didn't make it to our wedding. It was nice to have good food, meet the extended in-laws and get a bit of loot to bring home with us.

We flew up, had the openhouse two hours later, then we got to take Mel's mother's birthday present from a year ago out for a spin.I think it suits us quite nicely.

I got to see more sights of Simsbury this time than I did at Christmas. For example, we drove past the haunted tavern, where Anabell Pettybone is roumerd to have been sighted by multiple guests after her violent murder at the hand of her husband.
And this:The largest tree in all of Connecticut (how they know? I don't know, but now you've seen it too) It is pretty big.

And I love going to cemeteries, especially when they're old. This one had graves from 1707. It was pretty cool. They have old-school writing on the head stones and some of them look like they're sliding down the hill cause the earth's moved over the past couple of centuries.
It was a quick trip, but it was a lot of fun.
So, there you have it. We do have good times since we've been married. If anyone has ideas for other fun adventures for newlyweds, I'll be happy to hear them.

New Motivation

2009-05-18T11:21:00.002-04:00

So, as I previously mentioned, I have recently decided that I like cake and ice cream more than being thin. Having noticed that I have put on a couple of lbs since the wedding hasn't been enough motivation for me to stop eating crappy-like.
Well, with the absence of the wedding as a motivator, I was given a new motivation yesterday via a facebook invitation to my ten-year high school reunion. Now, don't be thinking that I really want to go to this thing, but hear me out. I have said previously that I didn't care for these people in high school, why would I want to see them 10 years later? It still holds. My two best friends from high school, Kade and Cammie Jan, were talking about their plans to actually go; I scoffed, telling them that it would be a cold day in hell before I would pay to go across the country for a reunion.
So, for the past few weeks, Mel and I have been talking about when we could go back to Utah to visit. She thought that we could go over Peach Days. I hate Peach Days, but have spoken about it to her in the past, and she kind of wants to see it. So, I said that it could be a possibility. And we were pretty much planning on it, and looking for tickets. Then I get a notification that the HS reunion would be held over the Peach Days weekend. Wahoo!! (note the sarcasm) So, since the two will coincide, and the fact that the two friends were planning on going, I figure that I might as well. Anyway, I also made tentative plans to get ready and run the 10k the morning of the big parade. I'm looking forward to this whole trip as much as one would look forward to going to get a root canal, but hey, I'll get to see my family and hang out with friends, so that will be fun.

Update

2009-05-06T09:58:00.003-04:00

Not much has happened in my life lately (since the last blog posts, lately, I mean).
I just realized that my blogging skills (read frequency) have been woefully lacking. Small bits o' news. The company I work for is bankrupt, and is being acquired by another firm. Luckily, I will be making the transition to the new company. However, this did include needing to fill out an application for my same job after I received an offer letter. This was no small task--40 printed pages. But it looks like all will go smoothly.
I am in my last week of classes. I have had finals and papers. Tonight is my last final for this semester. Huzzah!! Only who knows how many more semesters to go.
I am also becoming a fatty again. This is not good. The past weeks with an abundance of treats in our house, lack of time to hit the gym regularly, and the absence of a deadline such as a wedding to look forward to I feel that I am getting all gross and fat again.
To that end, I will now commit myself to returning to a more healthy lifestyle after this class has officially ended. I hope to somehow find a way to include this in my blog. I have been watching The Biggest Loser this season, the only one I will ever watch (it's way too edited for dramatic effect). It has been kind of inspiring. If these people can run a marathon, I am sure I can train to do it. I am not happy with the brown team, however, and want them to lose. Please vote for Ron to make it to the final episode (call 1-866-613-0001). That way, either Helen or Tara will win.
Anyway, I also want to make my blog look more interesting. I will work on that.

Violated

2009-04-16T09:06:00.003-04:00

My car was ravaged the night before last. Upon leaving my house for work yesterday, I was surprised to see the hood of my car was not fully closed. I thought, "That's weird, I would think I would have noticed I was driving with my hood opened." So I quickly went to the door to open up and make sure things were okay. I noticed they weren't. The locks were all unlocked, which was odd because I never leave the car unlocked. Realizing something was amiss, I completely missed the biggest problem of all (which I'll get to in a moment) searching for how the doors were unlocked. I then noticed that the rear passenger vent window was broken. I am sure I muttered some expletives when I looked at the scene and it all came together. I realized that the glove compartment was completely open, its contents strewn about the floor. Then I saw the gaping hole where the passenger airbag normally would be found. "What the?" I thought. Then I looked at the steering wheel and saw this:

Yes, they took the driver-side airbag too. This is how I felt (anger could not explain what emotions were running through my psyche, but Mrs. White here does a good job):

As I tried to turn on the car, nothing happened. I briefly thought "oh crap, this could be bad." Then I checked the battery cable, which they had removed very quickly as to quiet any noise that the car's alarm would have made, which explains why I didn't hear anything--they must have been real speedy with that.
It turns out that airbag theft is a growing trend. Thieves will steal the airbags and sell them to shady auto-body shops for a couple hundred bucks. Then, the auto-body shop can charge over $1000 to install them in your car after an accident in which your airbags deployed. In fact, as I was speaking to the police officer on the phone, I was informed that she had just finished a call with a guy whose airbags were stolen from his car.
It just pisses me off that people would do that. The funny thing though, is that they didn't steal anything else. Not that I had much else in there to steal, but my watch was left there, they didn't even try with the cd player, and to their credit, they did a good job at not damaging anything other than the window they broke. I haven't seen a scratch or broken piece of plastic where they did their work, so that's nice.

Here's a pic of the passenger side:So, my resolve from here on out will be that no matter how innocent the behavior, I will call the Fairfax County Police to report any activity that seems out of the ordinary on the grounds of the Fairfield Crossing apartment complex. I don't care if it's a family breaking a Pinata for their daughter's fifth birthday, or a man checking the air pressure in his tires. If it's not something that could be found in a scene from the Andy Griffith show, the cops are getting a call. Hopefully it will never happen again.
So, that was my fun activity for yesterday, what did you do?

So, This One Time, I Got Married

2009-04-09T09:54:00.009-04:00

Once upon a time, I met this really cool girl. Long story, short...we got married about two weeks ago. Then, we went to Costa Rica on our honeymoon for a week.
Thus far, things are great. It's been interesting getting used to living with someone...sharing the same bed, getting used to one another's schedules, etc. But, at the same time, it's been great to have someone to come home to, to not have to say goodbye every night, and other perks that go along with marriage.
Below are some pictures from the big day, and from our Costa Rican adventure.

The Washington DC temple

Not your typical Mormon gym reception--you won't find any basketball hoops hidden by flowers here, nor is there a slushy drink found in a punchbowl anywhere.

First dance as Mr. and Mrs.

Cutting the cake

People having a good time dancing (further evidence that this is not a typical Mormon reception)

My lovely bride getting down

View of the Arenal Volcano from our hotel room

Our bag was delayed the first day, so we went exploring in downtown Fortuna.

Me looking pissy by the fountain in the plaza.

One of the two pools at the hotel/resort.

We went zip-lining, here were are in our safety gear great look for both of us.

View from our zip-line canopy tour

After the pool near our hotel room.

Lake Arenal

Tons of flowering trees.

We went to a pricy restaurant for dinner on our last night. Sadly, it wasn't the best meal we had there.

Opening our gifts. It was a lot of fun checking out our loot.

And there was no way we were going to let our cake stay in the freezer and get all gross for a year. We decided to dig into it the night we got back. Mmm Tasty.

So, that's my first couple weeks of married life in a nutshell. It's been great so far. Just looking forward to it getting better for, well, forever :)

For a Good Laugh, Go Here

2009-03-25T10:42:00.000-04:00

http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/

Four Days

2009-03-24T09:28:00.002-04:00

So, I think the reality of my impending nuptials finally sunk in last night. See, before now, I have been excited and all, but I don't think it seemed real. Last night, however, I was lying in bed, and was just thinking "it's this week. This is awesome." I got so giddy. When I went into bed, I was so tired. This was at like midnight. Then I got psyched up, and I couldn't sleep until about 2 AM.
So now, I am dragging, but I am happy that in four days I'll be a married man. And not just that, but I'll be married to the coolest girl in the whole world.
Sorry if this is cheesy or sappy. I'm just stoked.

Umm

2009-03-11T09:10:00.002-04:00

I just realized my blog was set as a link from another. This means that people might click it and have their first impression of me be that I am an angry person who hates the elderly, Asians and women. I don't...all the time. In fact (and as an exciting side note)two weeks from today, my first guests for my wedding will be arriving. Obviously I don't hate women if I'm marrying my favorite one. The elderly, however, that's another story. Mostly I'm scared of them.
So this little post here is really just a buffer for anyone coming from here. I am a happy person, usually.

The end :) <-- see, happy!!

Today's List of People Who Should Not Be Allowed to Drive

2009-03-06T11:26:00.002-05:00

1). The Elderly (always)
2). Asians (Usually--there is a stereotype for a reason)
3). Women (occasionally)

Funny Observation

2009-02-12T08:52:00.002-05:00

Last night I was at the gym, and when I made it upstairs to the bikes where I would finish up my workout, I was disheartened to see that the television which hangs from the ceiling in front of the upstairs bikes had been changed from the normal CNBC to Fox News. Now don't think that I am a fan of CNBC. I think it is a terrible network, dedicated to personal and corporate greed, and that the hosts on and viewers of said network are sad people who are slaves to making more money, oftentimes due to the misfortune of others. That being said, compared to the idiocy that is Fox News Network, the avarice of CNBC is like springtime--a breath of fresh air, really.
So I get going on the bike, iPod on shuffle, and then I look up and see my least favorite of all of the right-wing blow-hards, Glenn Beck. I can't help but read the captioning cause, it's something else to do to take my mind off of the fact that I'm getting pretty tired, having run six miles, and having used the elliptical for 45 minutes, but I digress (btw, the trifecta, Stinky, Moana and G'ma Moses were all in front of me momentarily while I was on said elliptical yesterday). So he's going off on some uneducated diatribe, infuriating me with his ignorance. Then I thought, "He's not that bright. I bet he doesn't have much education--you know what, I bet a lot of these right-wingers don't have much of an education."
So last night, I went looking on the Wikipedia. Turns out, I was right. Some of the biggest names don't have a college education.
Glenn Beck--Drop Out
Rush Limbaugh--Drop Out
Sean Hannity--Drop Out
Bill O'Reily did obtain a Bachelor's degree in History and I must mention that Anne Coulter did get a JD--maybe that's why she has no soul.
But you look at the ones who have their own shows (TV and Radio), who have the most influence, and they're a bunch of college drop outs. But then again, they're making the big bucks. Makes me wonder why I'm dropping a lot of money for a graduate degree. Maybe I should have just started spouting off uneducated opinions on a microphone. That probably would have been more lucrative.
Just a note that I'm not aware of too many ultra-liberal hosts. I did, however, look at Rachel Maddow, who has earned a Doctorate, and Al Franken graduated cum laude from Harvard.
Like the title says, it's just a funny observation. I lay out the facts, and you can judge for yourselves.

So...

2009-02-10T23:29:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while. I feel like I should, but I don't think that I really have the desire to write anything. It's not that I haven't had much going on. I've got quite a bit. But I just have been lazy is all.
Anyway, in case you've forgotten, I'm getting married at the end of next month. So, if you've got a minute or two, you can check out my sweet wedding website at: www.weddingwire.com/melanieanddarin
Enjoy.
Hopefully, I'll write something witty soon and I won't feel like such a slacker.

The End

Super Bowl XLIII

2009-02-02T11:33:00.003-05:00

No things that must go this week, just a sweet picture from the super-bowl party I went to.
So, I present to you, Twinkie Stadium '09:

I just noticed this is not the completed project. Fritos and Tostitos were both added. I just took the picture a little early.

Today's Things That Must Go

2009-01-26T08:42:00.002-05:00

I can only think of two this week, and I don't want to try too hard to think of others. One of them may even be a repeat, but it still must go.
1). Mustaches--I'm not opposed to facial hair in and of itself. The problem I have is men who grow a mustache and nothing else. Unless you are a 70's porn star or a child molester, the look doesn't fit you. Yet, oddly enough, I've seen an abundance of upper lip hair in the past two weeks. I don't get it. I wonder if the fellows who grow them think they're sexy or something like that, cause they just aren't. A mustache is definitely something that shouldn't be found today, and as such must go.
2). The Duggar Family--they're those crazy Arkansas folks who have 18 kids. Worse than that, they named all of their kids with the same letter, J. So they breed like rabbits, what do I care? It shouldn't entitle them to a tv show, a book deal and everything they're getting for their odd mating habits. I had the misfortune to watch part of an episode last night, and they're just strange folk. Of course they're from Arkansas, so that explains a lot of the back-woodseyness. But they're like uptight Mormons, but less fun it seems as well. Their oldest son, in this episode, was making plans for his wedding. I completely understand the religious motives for the two of them "remaining pure," but these two weren't even allowed to kiss. They had chaperons at all times. C'mon where's the trust? Anyway, they're odd folk, maybe that's why they've gained popularity (like a train wreck that people can't help but look at). For me, though, I only see Jim Bob and Michelle as a couple of old, horny Jesus Freaks who haven't got the slightest idea about birth control. As such, they must go.

Today's Things That Must Go (Gym Edition)

2009-01-19T09:58:00.002-05:00

So, I've been going to the almost daily for the past two months. There are some people and things there that have been bugging me, and I thought I would share.

1). Stinky McOnionpits--this old man is a balding 60-something who has been going about daily since New Years, and he smells like a Burger King Whopper (that's why I don't eat Whoppers--they smell like human body odor). It's great that he's going to get healthy, but he wreaks--especially when he gets on the treadmill next to me. The first time I noticed, he was two down from me. A few minutes later, his smell came wafting down, and hit me like a freight train. I wanted to hurl. I don't know how to deal with this, I only hope that his new year resolution fizzles out soon enough, and I won't have to deal with his foul aroma.
2). Moana--The lady who gets on the treadmill, turns the incline up to 5.5 or 6 and then starts her walk/jog. That's fine. Good for her for the effort. Other than her bizarre spandex bottoms and floral-print tight top, her being on the treadmill wouldn't bother me. It's the fact that a few minutes into her treadmilling, she starts making noises. Noises like "Oooh, OH OH" "MMM, Ahhh." The lady gets louder and louder. It sounds like she's totally getting it on. I can't help but think that she enjoys the treadmill a little too much. The tough thing is, you don't know who else is noticing this and you just want to laugh, but you can't.
3). Grandma Moses--is the most frustrating part of the workout experience. She's there every day. I can't help but think, "you're here every day, and look like that?" The thing is, she's like late 60s, and looks like she's had like five kids. Fine, fine, right? The problem there is that she takes her tee shirt and makes it into a like bikini-type top. It's gross. The funny parts about her is that she's always got these headphones with an antenna so that it gets radio reception, she always has her drink from McDonald's (every day), and she's just a slob. She'll have a newspaper or magazine while she's on the elliptical; when she's done with a page, she just throws it on the floor. She, must go.
4). The old men who feel absolutely no shame in the locker room--I don't have a problem with naked dudes in the locker room per se. It's a locker room, people shower at the gym, nudity is to be expected. My issue is with the dudes who after working out, strip down, and walk around completely in the buff. They should have some decency and cover up while walking between the showers and lockers. That's just my thoughts. Cover up a little, gentlemen.
5). Inappropriate use of hair driers--Old men tend to use the hair dryers to dry off other areas than their scalps. I've never felt sorry for an appliance before, but the horrible things that these hair driers must see must be horrific. It's weird. My thought is, "just use a towel."
So these probably aren't as funny to you as they are to me--more of a you'd have to be there thing--but trust me, they all must go.

Today's List of Things That Must Go

2009-01-12T11:05:00.002-05:00

1). The BCS--How lame is it that the only undefeated team doesn't even have a chance to play for the national championship? It's a biased system, and I think there really should be anti-trust investigations into it. Sure, Florida looked like a good team on Thursday, but they barely beat Alabama, who Utah beat handily. And, if you're handing out national championships to teams who don't have the best record, USC and Texas looked good as well. The BCS system is a joke, and it must go.
2). "Black" Olives--I know there are green olives in this world. But you can't get them on pizza at any normal pizza shop, nor can you at Subway. I was standing in line and I over heard a man order "black olives" on his sub, and thought, "what other type would there be there?" It's a quirk, and doesn't really bother me, but it just seems unnecessary, and as such, should go.
3). Crooked Picture Frames--This is a big pet peeve, or rather, a minor compulsion of mine. I will straighten frames in others' homes if they can't see me. If they are crooked and out of reach, it will bother me for an entire evening. Case in point, last month I went to North Carolina to visit Kade. While there, we went to his friend's house for a game night. He had many frames that were off, but three in particular, that were in plain sight of everyone and out of my reach. They irritated me every time I looked in that direction. Today I saw a picture someone posted on Facebook, and saw that their living room pictures are crooked, and I even straightened a picture or two at the future in-laws while visiting for Christmas.
4). Not drying off partially before stepping out of the shower--I can understand if there is a wet footprint on the bath mat, but lately the mat in my bathroom is soaked. The problem is that if it gets wet, it air dries really slowly. This means that when I go in with just socks on, I step on a soggy mat, and it makes my sock wet. This is one of the worst feelings ever, wet socks. Like when you step on a spot of melted snow in your house without shoes on. It's just gross. I'm obviously going to have to say something to the offendor, but just thought I would mention it here first.
5). Can't think of a number five today. I had a thought last night as I was falling asleep, but can't remember it now. Too bad.

Sad but True

2009-01-06T09:37:00.002-05:00

Listen Up!!

2009-01-05T09:51:00.002-05:00

Listen to this guy's arguments. He's got some great emotion to it too.

And, since my roommate loves his bro-in-law's plan, I'll give it a plug here:

http://www.theladdieplan.com/

Oh, and Go UTES!!!

Out with the Old, In with the New

2008-12-31T09:29:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybody (or the handful of you who sometimes read this thing). On this final day of the year of our Lord, 2008, I find it appropriate to recap some of my favorite moments, accomplishments, etc. of the past year. And I'll be upfront, and admit that I am stealing the format from Jules.
Accomplishments:
2008 had a quite a few adventures and accomplishments for me, some bigger than others:
-Kept my New Year's resolution to go on at least two dates per month
-Started grad school, and survived (by the skin of my teeth) a very harrowing second term there
-Voted in a Presidential Primary for the first time
-Traveled to two new states, and a foreign country (if you can consider Canada foreign)
-Seriously took up learning to play the guitar--it's kind of fizzled, but will be back
-Saw two of the "big three" (my term) Mormon historical sites, Kirtland, OH and Palmyra, NY
-Got more familiar with the many historical and geological sites near my home
-Successfully found and set up housing for my roommate and me when our old lease expired (my first time to do the groundwork)
-Made my first campaign contribution(s), and volunteered time in a presidential campaign
-Got a sweet window office, and gave it all up a few months later for a cubicle and a pay raise
-Helped to make history by voting to elect the first black president of the US
-Helped some of my family to do the same
-Began dating, fell in love with, and got engaged to my future wife (only 87 days from today), surviving a brutal summer while she was away in Russia
-Successfully met her entire family, and fit in well with them on their family vacation, and at their family Christmas
-Introduced her to my family at Thanksgiving
-Managed to lose 12+ lbs during the holiday season
-Braved driving the streets of New York City (wouldn't recommend that to anyone)
Best new book read in 2008: I'll be honest, I didn't do a whole lot of reading for leisure this year. Any that I did do was for school, and when I had free time, I certainly didn't want to read since I had to read so much for class. Currently I am reading Ender's Game, which is surprisingly interesting, but I have yet to get to a point where I don't want to put it down. Of the books I read for school, one called "Being Good" was pretty good, and I did read "Believing Christ" one day in January, and that was a good. I have plans to read more this next year.
Worst new book read in 2008: Econ text book
Best book re-read in 2008: Don't re-read books generally, but maybe I'll start
Worst book re-read in 2008: See above, but couldn't imagine that I would re-read one that I wouldn't enjoy
Best new movie seen in 2008: Dark Knight--Loved the Joker
Worst new movie seen in 2008: The new Indiana Jones movie--got it as a gift at our office Christmas party. It's a little far-fetched...even for Indiana Jones
Best decision made in 2008: To start dating Melanie
Worst decision made in 2008: To take Stats and Econ in the same semester
Best purchase made in 2008: Either Mel's engagement ring, or the tickets to the play we went to on our first date
Worst purchase made in 2008: I haven't really bought anything that I haven't used. I bought one shirt for the gym, which I returned after deciding that I didn't really need it at that point.
Best month of 2008: November--Obama won, I got engaged, and the Utes embarrassed BYU on the football field, thus giving them a perfect season and their second trip to a BCS bowl
Worst month of 2008: June--Mel left for Russia, and then my roommate Adam, my back up plan for entertainment, was sent to Tulsa for the summer on business. I was very bored.

So that sums it up, here's hoping that 2009 will be even better than 2008.

Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time

2008-12-18T10:12:00.002-05:00

I think there is some strange romanticized version of Christmas in the nation's capital. During the past few days at the gym, the one TV that was set to TNT showed an advertisement every commercial break for "Christmas in Washington" that aired last night. The host was Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin. They had some local celebrities (I think--singers/performers), along with some B or C list celebrities (remember I said Dr. Phil Hosted?). I couldn't imagine that it would be all that great, but I thought it funny that there would be some sort of idea that Washington is the magical place at Christmas time. So, I watched with Melanie for all that I could handle, which was about two songs, but it was funny how they showed shots of the capitol in a computer-generated blizzard. So I thought it was corny and lame and bizarre all at once (and that was just the frozen look on Laura Bush's face).
Then I came into work this morning. I had left the radio on the all-Christmas station after riding with Melanie to the store last night. I decided to leave it there to be in a festive mood, as today is our work group party. After a long commercial that lasted most of the way to the office, I hear this slow 4/4 beat that had a bong-dong-DONG-dong sound. I'm like, "hmm, I've never heard this, what could it be?" Then the lyrics start: Something about snow in the Blueridge....then something going on in the Chesapeake Bay. I'm like "those are both near here." Then a mention of Georgetown and the Capital Dome. "What the?"
This was quickly becoming the lamest Christmas song ever. "It's Christmas Eve in Washington, America's hometown"...and it gets cheesier from there. So, I'm like, "does America really think that DC's a great place for Christmas?" It's not bad. It's a decent city. There are wreaths on buildings, there's the National and Capitol Christmas trees, and every office building has a nice tree inside, but that's about it. There is absolutely no snow at Christmas, and when there is snow in January, it becomes solid ice within a day. I was sitting there wondering why, if they wanted to give a realistic portrayal of Washington at Christmas, they weren't mentioning the mounds of homeless folks a block away from the White House in McPherson Square, or the crack whore in Southeast whose welfare is about to run out? Curiously left out was the drag queen in DuPont circle who was just dumped by his/her boyfriend for a younger, firmer catch, and is strung out on some drug from the neighbor, or the shot up corpse of a gang-banger who was found near U Street, not to mention that funky smell wafting off the Potomac. There was no talk of corrupt politicians or lobbyists, and not a word of drunken senior management getting sloshed and trying to feel up the interns at the corporate holiday parties. See, that's what Christmas in DC means to me.

Coolest Game Ever

2008-12-16T09:45:00.002-05:00

Per tradition of the Langley Singles Ward, we delivered gift baskets to needy families for Christmas last night. This same family was the family to whom we donated money and food for Thanksgiving last month. They are recently-arrived refugees from Afghanistan (kind of awkward with the Christmas thing, but we played it off as an over-all holiday thing). We pretty much took Target gift cards, a gift card to the grocery store, and we bought a soccer ball for the two boys in the family since we had met them previously. There were three of us who went to this family last night, and they invited us in to visit when we showed up. We had small talk which moved to sports, and then we found out about the national sport of Afghanistan, Buzkashi.
"What is Buzkashi?" you may ask. Only the coolest game ever from what it sounds like. So, here's a brief description:
Items needed--One large field, 20-40 men with horses, and the carcass of a large goat, or small calf.
Per the description of the family we visited, play is as follows:
The game can be played as individuals or teams. The goat is soaked in water for two to three days. All participants wait at the periphery of the playing area while one person rides on a horse, carrying the goat into the center of the playing field. The goat is dropped into a demarcated circles, and play commences. The participants ride from outside the field into the center to snatch up the goat and carry it to the far side of the field and drop it into a circle there.
The catch to the game is that the water-logged carcass is rather heavy (approx 150 lbs.) and you are competing with dozens of other men on horseback who are fighting for the same goat. It takes great strength and equine agility. Apparently, it is standard practice for two to three people to be killed in a match, with several others sustaining injuries.
This game has been played for centuries in the region. Before the coming of Islam to the area, instead of a goat, the decapitated remains of an enemy were used, but with the religious influence on the region, that quickly became verboten, and they decided a cow or goat would be a fine replacement.
The winner of the match will generally win a cash prize, and will be showered with prizes from the spectators. Other prizes used to include Soviet Jeeps, or an AK47.
So, what do you say? Anyone up for a match? If you find the field and the horses, I'll bring the goat.

Question

2008-12-12T08:58:00.003-05:00

What I don't get is why the financial institutions on Wall Street get $700 billion, and Detroit can't get a (comparatively) measly $15 billion.
Sure the model of the Big Three in Detriot has been flawed, but seriously, wasn't the model used by the CEOs of the big Wall Street firms equally messed up too? They ended up making Americans lose $1.2 trillion (12 zeros) in two days. Something's not right there. Now what gets my goat is that companies who are receiving tax dollars for bailouts are giving huge bonuses to executives. Doesn't seem right.
Without money to the auto makers, let's see how much more than $15 billion our economy loses in the next few days. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. It just doesn't make sense to me that the congress was so willing to trow tax dollars to white collar industries but are unwilling to budge when it comes to issues concerning the average American.
On the bright side, if the economy tailspins and goes into the next Great Depression, it'll be because of the Republicans. Just think how long the Dems will be in power then... (mwah ha ha ha)

Today's Things That Must Go

2008-12-08T10:07:00.002-05:00

1). Commercials Targeted to the Elderly--If you're looking for an exhibit of the worst acting skills possible, listen to a little-old-lady singing the praises of her new Jazzy scooter, or watch the old man lauding the delivery of his Diabetes testing supplies to his front door. Granted, old people watch far more television than most, and should likely be targeted for advertising, but this type of commercial is an eerie reminder of what is to come to me. I don't ever want to get old, but seeing Wilford Brimley hawking some product only shows the depressing eventuality of my one day being a senior citizen.
2). The List of Potential Side-effects from Prescription Drugs Read on Commercials--I hate it when the list of what could happen ends up taking as much time as the explanation of what the drug does. No way would I want to take half of these things when I hear what could happen to me from using them. My favorite is the one that says "Seek emergency medical treatment if you experience an erection lasting four or more hours." Ouch!! I could only imagine that would be terribly uncomfortable. Hopefully I won't need to use Cialis or any of the others any time soon. Props to the commercial makers who have tried to get creative with reading the list (like having fake med-students listing them to their professor), but still it's irritating.
3). Irritating Christmas Music--I hadn't realized until this year just how much crappy Christmas music there is. And each of those crappy songs last at least one verse more than they should. I used to like the music of the holidays a lot, but I hadn't though of just how annoying most songs are for instance: "Feliz Navidad," Whatever the name of that song that the Chipmunks sing, the Beach Boys should never have ventured into Christmas tunes, "Malikalikimaka" goes entirely too long, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," though comical in theory (who wouldn't laugh at an old woman being trampled by a heard of reindeer?), is just to red-necky for me. "Santa Baby" is just kinda gross, as is "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus," and I still hold that "The Little Drummer Boy" is the absolute worst Christmas song ever--EVER, followed closely by "Do You Hear What I hear." All of the above and many more should go, and thus, make my holiday music experience far more pleasurable.
4). Mitt Romney--Still a douche bag, still needs to go. Why? you may ask, I answer with why not? I was going to feel sorry for him and his wife Anne with her having had an operation for breast cancer this past week (best wishes for a speedy recovery--even though I think your husband is a disingenuous, lying, two-faced, scum bag who is willing to say, or do, or pay anything to try to get the presidency), but I can't. Yep, Willard is back to his old tricks again. as reported by the Boston Globe, he has raised over $2 million with his PAC, claiming that it was to help Republican candidates get elected. Guess how much his PAC gave to candidates...$240K. That's it. Where'd the rest go? To his own political consultants and campaign allies. Though there is really nothing illegal about this, the fact is, President-Elect Obama hasn't even been sworn into office yet. This just shows that Mittens only cares about his political career and doesn't really give a hoot in hell about America. While the vast majority of Americans are hoping that the next administration can succeed and help our country move out of this most-difficult chapter of our recent history, the spoiled, two-talking rich boy from Mass...wait, Michig...Utah (who the hell knows--I'm sure he'll claim wherever is politically expedient for him to be from) is praying for things not to be better so he can move in. C'mon you jerk, get over yourself and work for a better America, and give the next President the chance to get it right.

Anxiously Engaged

2008-12-05T11:02:00.002-05:00

Today marks one month of my being engaged...betrothed, affianced, intended, what have you. Until now, I hadn't posted anything about it since most anyone who reads my blog (all ten of you) knew about my having popped the question within a few hours.
I won't bore you with details of the engagement. It wasn't a big production. It just involved my favorite place on the Mall in DC, and with my being a political nerd, I tied it into the historic event that had happened the previous night (I know I am lame. In fact, you might say I excel at it). So we chatted a bit, I tried to say something sweet, but mostly ended up fumbling up words, I got on one knee and with my hand shaking terribly, I groped for the ring in my pocket. By the time I presented it, I felt like an epileptic having a seizure, but I managed to at least ask if she would marry me. I don't know why I was so nervous. I knew what she was going to say. Maybe it's because I was afraid she wouldn't like the ring, though I was almost positive she would (and she really does). But she did say yes, and now, I am looking forward to four months from now when she'll be my wife.
It's a crazy, strange and terrifying prospect, but at the same time it makes me very happy to think that I'll get to spend my life with the woman I love. So that's enough schmoopyness from this guy. Below, you can find a picture of the ring. The pictures of the two of us from that night are still on my camera, so I'll put one on soon. Hopefully this will suffice for now.

Chat with Former Co-worker

2008-12-03T08:57:00.002-05:00

This was a gchat conversation between a former co-worker and me yesterday. FYI GP stands for Granny Panties, which refers to an unfortunate incident (maybe two) where said former co-worker walked into the restroom and an older lady in the office was letting it all hang out in the stall with the door open. The image of her hurriedly pulling up her granny panties was permanently seared into her memory. From that day on, that woman (whose name I never learned though I worked in that particular office for well over a year) permantly became known as Granny Panties, or GP between the two of us.

Former Co-worker: um, you are supposed to be here

i am traumatized

me: uh oh

FCW: i went into the ladies room and...oh my eyes

me: what?

oh dear

GP again?

FCW: there's a conference here today. i went into the LR.
some woman looked at me weird. whatever. i do my thing.

i hear a weird noise. odd. i come out

that woman was pumping milk

WTF

me: WTF indeed

sick

FCW: she's at the sink closest to the door no less!

me: yikes

FCW: her equipment was on the counter, she's standing there with both udders getting milked

me: two at a time?

i didn't know they did that

FCW: i think so
me: eww

FCW: i didn't stare and was too freaked out to, anyway

all i saw was stuff attached to her. looked to be more than one attachment

me: so, you awkwardly washed your hands and ran to your office?

FCW: yeah

me: LOL
FCW: ok, i get it's natural, best for baby etc. but why do it so close to the door?! why not at the sink farthest from the door?!

me: yeah

for real

was it some electric thing

i've seen my sister's pump but it was manual

FCW: DUDE i do not know. it made a whirring sound

me: LOL

FCW: DUDE TMI!!!!!

me: no not on her

that would be sick

FCW: this woman looked like she was being milked like a cow.

so weird

And those were the good times that we had back in the old days.

Also, as an FYI, my first day to go to my new gym, guess who was there, none other than GP herself. Who Knew?

Does This Make Me A Bad Person?

2008-11-19T08:16:00.002-05:00

So, I was coming to work today. I was hurrying in much earlier than normal. I lost my phone last night, and thinking I had left it in the office, wanted to get here before the alarm to wake me up went off (see earlier). Turns out, I dropped it in the lockerroom at the gym, and someone turned it in. Thankfully it is there safely awaiting my pickup.
Anyway, en route to the office, I was cruising down the street to get here. I see a car ahead of me at a stop sign with its hood up. I'm like, "Dang, that sucks. I wonder if I should see if I can help?" I determined that I probably should hurry to the office to turn off my alarm, and also I would likely be of no assistance. But still felt like maybe I should try. As I am getting closer to the car, I see a bumper sticker, and I'm trying to figure out what it says...closer and closer, then I read "Sarah!" Referring to the former VP candidate, the Winking Wonderwoman from Wasilla. 'Nuf said, I wasn't stopping on this cold morning.
Okay, it's not just that she was a Palin supporter, but a whole group of things, my needing to hurry to the office, the fact that I had no tools nor a cell phone to help out, and it was friggin' cold. So I hurried to the office. No phone, so I decided to call the gym since that's the next likely place that it would be. Sure enough, it was there. Yay!!
If, when I go home for lunch, the lady is still broken down in the intersection, I promise I'll help her out.

Because I Am An Obnoxious Supporter of The University of Utah

2008-11-18T10:04:00.004-05:00

attributed to coloute on Utefans.net.

OK, after hours and hours of study, Here's what I know about BYU.................

Now, I don't claim to be an expert on this or anything, but based upon my Film Study of BYU's defense, let me relate to you what can be easily discerned, and hopefully exploited.BYU (AKA, "The BYU", "The Brig", "Breed-em Young","The Zoo","Joe's Joy-Joy Factory","The World's Only Non-Drug Induced 4-Year Euphoria", and "The Mating Ritual So Bizarre that Even National Geographic Won't Cover It.")
BYU is an All-Girls school specializing in the socialization of recovering nymphomaniacs who aren't hot enough to make it as East Coast nannys, cheerleaders with both eating and attention deficit disorders (you know, the ones who turn "binge and purge" into "binge and .... 'Ooooohh, American Idol's on'"), and sensitive spirits who just can't contain the flow of tears brought on by the love sub-plot in "Teen Wolf Too."
It was founded in 1970 by a former top Lieutenant from the East German Stasi, who discovered that if you insert a pixie stick into a twinkie, shove it into your nasal sinuses and inhale, you can turn a patch of barren dessert into a magical realm where faeries and happy green elves play. He acquired a Chalk Board, a leather bound copy of the Work and the Glory, and nailed a sign to an iron gate stating, "Übereinstimmung ist, Was Sie Verschieden Macht" (Absolute Conformity is What Makes You Different) and the glorious academy was born.
Today, more than 27,000 souls are blessed each day by the three-fold mission of the LDS Church's Flagship Institution:
1) Provide a partially research-based education in an environment free of the five greatest wickednesses of society: facial hair, visible knee-caps, foot-worn paths in the grass, NCAA Tournament victories, and research.
2) Develop innovative methods for: A - Consuming dairy based snack foods, B - Masking male-pattern-baldness C - Side-stepping the prevalent "hook-up" culture at other universities by having just as many orgasms without technically "having sex."
3) Fat Chicks Need Lovin' Too.
So I hope that this will provide the team and coaches with a little bit of technical insight into this little piece of Orwellian heaven on earth.

Oh, and GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. don't let my fiancee read this, it's a touchy subject in our relationship. I think though, now she realizes that my hatred for BYU is irrational, and there's nothing personal about it.

Oh, and a joke..."Being a BYU fan is like competing in the Special Olympics...even if you win, you're still retarded" (hold off on the angry comments on that one, I know it's insensitive. Just laugh. I don't harbor ill feelings to people with special needs)

Today's List of Things that Must Go

2008-11-17T17:14:00.002-05:00

1). My Econ Class. I hate it. It doesn't help that my professor is woefully lacking in skills to present the subject matter to the class. It is so boring, that it makes it difficult to pay attention, but I think that there is potential for it to be a good class. But a word to the wise, if you're ever going to take PUBP 720 (Mangerial Econ) from George Mason University's School of Public Policy, do all you can to not take it from Perry.
2). People who won't even give Obama a Chance--C'mon people, don't you want him to succeed? If our president does well, it generally would mean that our country does well. I saw various ignorant facebook friends who put status lines like "it's going to be a long four years." Screw you guys!!! It's been a horrifically long eight year administration in which Dubya has run amock, disregarding the Constitution, waging wars, racking up huge debts, and destroying our standing in the world. It's time for an about face, and a chance to clean up after the Bush administration.
3). Wedding planning--Not that I don't like them, or am not looking forward to my own upcoming nuptials, but the whole show that goes along with it is kind of funny. Why do we do it? I don't know. It's fun and all, but the months of planning and stress for one event is just amazing, and the fact that you see some of these things that run into six figures is ridiculous. But don't take this to mean that I am not totally excited to get married in a few months.
4). Meat slime--you know what I mean, the slimey juice on meat that's been around for a while. It's sick and it stinks, and it must go.
5). My Gut--I've called him Chuck, and he's been a part of me for much of my life, but he really must go. I was doing okay at losing weight last year, but I found that I liked mint Oreo cookies more than the idea of being thin. And since I've moved from an apartment that had an available gym, my exercising regimen has decreased. Thankfully my roommate and I got a deal on gym memberships near where we both work, so now we plan to go regularly. My goal is to go at least five times per week. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I Thought This Was Funny

2008-11-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

It's Been a Week...

2008-11-11T09:29:00.005-05:00

And we're still not socialists. But I'll keep you posted as to when we are :-)

Last week, as election results came in, we had a mini-party at my house with friends to watch the historic results. As I promised, I was on my best behavior. As would be expected, I got happy with each Democratic state won, and with each Senate seat that was taken over, but nothing over the top.

I have pics still on my camera. I'll try to post them tonight.

It was kind of weird. Due to the mixed nature of the crowd (a 50-50 split of Obama and McCain supporters) the reaction to the win was less positive than I would have liked. Regardless of the fact that McCain didn't win, I would think that those who voted for him would still have been happy to see just how historic that moment in history was. But no, the sat with glum faces, and some of them went into my roommate's room and started goofing around.
I must say that I John McCain was very magnanimous in his concession, and though it doesn't make up for the very negative campaign he ran, he did show class that he had abandoned in his attempt to win the presidency (truth be told, I bet the real John McCain never wanted to have the campaign he ran--I think he's more decent than what they became).
When the Obamas came out, having been announced as the next first family, I'll admit a tear or two did come to my eye. I was so proud of my country at that moment. The thought that a man who was born in a time that people of his color were still fighting for the right to vote here seemed absolutely amazing to me. It showed that we were truly able to judge someone, "not by the color of [his] skin, but by the content of [his] character." He didn't campaign on his race, but on hope and unity--something that we as an American people were obviously hungry for after eight long years without it.
My hope though, is that people realize that change won't come quickly. Cleaning up after what could arguably be the worst president ever will take some time. I have hope that President-Elect Obama will run the country as effectively as he ran his campaign. Of course he'll make mistakes, but I am confident he and his advisors will look at the big picture and do the best they can.
Congratulations to the Obamas and to America.

Maybe A Little Obsessed

2008-11-04T15:44:00.003-05:00

But I thought this was cool. It wasn't a simple copy/paste either. I had to go line by line. This gives a new meaning to an emoticon. But here's hopin' he's our next president.

? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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+++++##++++#####+++#++#####+####++++++?

+++++##+++##+###+++#+++****++####+++++?

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My Less Than Harrowing Voting Experience

2008-11-04T09:41:00.003-05:00

So, I got to work about an hour ago after having voted. It's kind of a no stress situation because my boss is working from home today. I had also cleared my potential tardiness by explaining that I was going to vote in the morning, and would be in whenever, based on the length of the lines.
I woke up, got ready and turned on the TV. Watching CNN, they showed lines of people in Chicago, Manhattan and even Richmond, VA. So I thought, "sweet, this will be good," and readied myself for a long line at George Marshall High School. When I was pulling up, the lot was packed, there was even a news van out front. I was stoked, and was ready to wait with the good Americans of both parties, basking in the historic nature of this election, and what it's implications could mean to the country and the world--to think that this is possibly the embodiment of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. So I walked down the hallway, turned a corner, and saw a line snaking down and back, which was encouraging to me. As is human nature, I stood in the line with the others, assuming it was where we all were supposed to be. Then a kind fellow came and said "this line is for h-m and s-z, the others are inside." Someone questioned about a-g, but no mention of n-r, which is where I would fit, last name-wise. So after a very slight confusion, I walked into the main room, which had two rally long lines, one short one for the a-g's and then there was n-r with nothing. I thought it was weird, but I walked to the front (kinda feeling like I was cheating because everyone else had to wait). One other guy was in my same position, and we were dumbfounded that we were the only two from our letters of the alphabet. So I walked up to the kindly blond lady who was very eager to help. She checked my off her roll and gave me a permit to vote, telling me to go to the girl in the green who would point me where to go. Said girl in green gave me a choice of a paper or electronic ballot, I chose electronic, fearing that a paper ballot could get lost or not scanned properly. Also, it appeared to be a longer line, and as such would take slightly longer.
So I did it, voted for president, senator and congressman, and on a bond issue, got my sticker and left.
That was it. Then I had one of the smoothest drives to work I have experienced. All-in-all, not a bad experience, but I would say that it's a little anti-climactic. Waiting for two years, writing all sorts of irrational rants on my blog, being part of history, and it took only seven minutes. I kinda feel gypped. So that was my experience--see how easy. If I hear of anyone not voting, I will be an angrier white man than John McCain.

Vote for the Scary White Man or You Don't Get Candy

2008-11-02T01:55:00.002-04:00

You may not know this, but I don't care much for Republicans. This clip is the epitome of why I hate the "Grand" OLD Party. Simply put, they're awful people, who need to get a grip. Yes, this is a blanket statement, but I do feel that if someone is voting for that nasty old McCain, and that horrendous pick of a VP he made, they really need to evaluate things and realize exactly what they're doing. They have run a dishonorable campaign with a following of despicable supporters like the nasty old women in this video. This is America dang it, and though I may think you're an absolute buffoon for supporting the crotchety old man and Nanookie from the north (who is showing us daily that she hasn't got a clue about much of anything pertaining to the US government of the Constitution in general), I am not going to deny you or your kids candy on Halloween.
Watch it, and then offer a prayer of thanksgiving that you are not as bitter as this old hag.

Obamapalooza

2008-10-30T09:16:00.002-04:00

So, of course, I watched the infomercial last night. I hope you all did too. But if you didn't, I've posted it here for your benefit. I encourage everyone (yes everyone) to watch it. I was touched, and if you're not, you really don't have a heart. I would bet that everyone in this country knows someone who is exactly like one or more of the people in this video. And what's even more refreshing is the fact that Barack Obama lays out his plan, talking directly to the people for 1/2 hour. In that time he never mentions one negative thing about McCain. It was great. It's hope and it's what we need in our country now.

(Okay so I can't embed it from this computer, and I've spent too long trying)
Here's the link, you should watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA

If you don't like Obama, that's your right. But I would like to ask you to give me any reason why McCain would be a better president. And don't resort to insults or sarcasm, or hyperbole. Obama isn't doing that. He's not running a campaign based on fear or anger. He's calling for us to be united and fight the challenges we face. He's not mocking his opponent or calling him names. And the reason why is that he's got a plan. So, any McCain supporters, I challenge you: What is your man's plan?

Today's List of Things That Must Go

2008-10-27T10:14:00.002-04:00

1.) The Upper Peninsula of Michigan--Why is it part of Michigan? Doesn't make sense to me. It actually has a long border with Wisconsin, and I don't think it ever touches Michigan.
2.) Michiganders--Not to be unduly harsh on Michigan, but I've just been thinking of it lately. So Michiganders? Really? I thought Oregonians were bad, and for the sake of being phonetically pleasing, I would move that it should be Michiganers.
3.) John McCain calling me his friend--I may have mentioned this before, but increasingly it is irritating me. I am not your friend, old man. You are an angry, unpleasant old codger who has run a distasteful, honor-less campaign against my candidate of choice. You are not the admirable "maverick" from 2000, you are now just a desperate, puffy white man who is completely out of touch with the real needs or concerns of Americans.
4.) Elizabeth Hasselbeck--Now she's just dumb. Anyone who can so adamantly defend the McCain-Palin ticket like she does, really shouldn't be worth the time I am taking to write about her on this ridiculous little blog, but it needs to be said. She's an idiot. I realize it's her schtick (sp?) on "The View" to be the token conservative. But there are real conservatives out there who have brains (shocking, I know). They realize that McCain has run a terrible campaign topped off by his terrible pick of a running-mate. But not Mrs. Hasselbeck, she's now out on the stump, introducing Caribou Barbie (AKA Sarah Palin) at rallies and not mentioning anything of substance, but talking about Ms. Palin's wardrobe, and trying to twist the story of the Republicans spending $150,000 on her clothes in the past few months (sheer stupidity on the part of the GOP, especially in this election) into it somehow being the media's fault for reporting it--phooey!! They spent money foolishly on a foolish candidate, and that's that. Anyway, these idiotic partisans (and I know Elizabeth isn't the only one) need to go. They could claim that I am in the same boat, but on the other side. I don't think so though. If Barack Obama were to claim that because he could "see Russia from [his] front porch" he had foreign policy experience (and the list of stupid things the McCain campaign has said goes on and on and on), I would think he was a moron too--luckily he hasn't.
5.) Stupid Facebook fan clubs--I saw recently that one of my "friends" became a "fan of Dieter F. Uchdorf" and a whole slew of other things. I think they are ridiculous. I really feel uncomfortable with the ones that are of LDS general authorities. It just seems to me that someone in a position like that deserves more respect than to be trivialized as a Facebook application.

That is all

The Great Pumpkin Caper

2008-10-22T23:32:00.004-04:00

So, Mel and I are pretty darned cool. We have had some fun adventures lately. A couple of weeks ago, as a matter of fact, we were in Intercourse--Pennsylvania that is.
It's a nice little town in the middle of Amish country in PA.
We first went to get some apples from a local orchard there. While there we picked up a couple of pumpkins and this past week, we carved them.

Pics of the applesThere were so many, and boy were the free samples tasty. We bought some and made the tastiest pies ever, but I didn't take a picture.
Then, we went all the way in Amish country to Intercourse

A week later we carved them. This is Melanie's creepy spider and web

I carved a Barack-O-Lantern
My pumpkin and me. I'm just that cool.

Rise and Shout, the Cougars Are Out

2008-10-17T09:46:00.002-04:00

So, we'll take a breif sojourn away from the campaign world today.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have an irrational hatred of Brigham Young University. The odd thing is, most of my best friends went to that school. I like them. I am an active member of the church that runs the school. However, I never had any desire to attend the place, and to this day, I am very happy I didn't. I went to BYU's rival, the University of Utah, and as a UTE, I root for the U and anyone who is playing BYU.
I think it's something that was bred into me. My mother did graduate from the U, and I think that is why I decided to go there. However, it wasn't just that. Coming from Utah and being Mormon, there is a mindset that accompanies attending BYU. It's like people there (at least) feel that they are on a higher spiritual plane than those who don't. So that's where our hatred comes from. It's the disdain with which that BYU fans look at the University of Utah.
There are often occasions in which a student or alum of that school will refer to it as "the Lord's University," or talk about the "coffee swillers" up at the University of Utah. And the funny thing is that anyone who doesn't have their head in the sand knows that the same stuff that goes on at the U or any other college campus can be found going on at BYU--it's just that it's all in secret there.
Last year, after the BYU-Utah game, their receiver, Austin Collie, made a dumb ass comment, saying ultimately that when you obey God's will, he'll step in during a football game to help you win. Which angered me because a) why would the Almighty give a hoot in hell about a d a m n football game, and b) it implies that they are holy because they are Mormon and the University of Utah is not--sorry buddy, you're in Utah, no matter where you go, you'll find good Mormons and jack mormons. So there are probably both on both teams.
All that being said, it is with glee that I report that I watched the Cougars from BYU get trounced by the TCU Horned Frogs last night. I was going to be a causal observer since the five other people in my front room went to BYU and were fans, but when they fumbled (or was it an interception?) on their first drive and TCU scored. I was ecstatic, and could not hide my emotion. They ultimately ended up losing, 32-7, which only begs the question, What have you been doing Austin?
In gloating like this, I am only setting myself and my team up for failure. But I can't help but be happy that I can finally feel justified in thinking that BYU has been overrated (last season definitely) and their true colors showed last night.
So, let's got Utes. Kick some horned toad hiney when they come to Salt Lake, and then do the same to the school down south.

Special Commentary

2008-10-15T08:59:00.001-04:00

Nobody states my (or most sane American's) feelings about the despicable McCain-Palin campaign strategies of late better than Keith Olbermann. So here's his special commentary on it from last night.

Vote "That One" 08

2008-10-08T09:01:00.002-04:00

Last night, in case you missed it. John McCain showed what could be his most un-presidential behavior yet. Never mind the lies and mudslinging that are defining his campaign of late. In the debate, rather than calling Senator Obama by his title, or by his name even, he referred to him as "that one." He didn't even look at him, and just pointed across his chest at Senator Obama. "Well," you might say, "why is that so wrong?" Here's why it's wrong:
The fact of the matter is that the McCain camp knows that based on the issues alone, they've lost this race. Their own campaign admitted this last week. They have proven to the American people that they have no substance. So, in their attempts to make this a race about character, they're pulling out all the stops. This, I'm sure, is only the beginning. They're gonna continue to paint Obama as different--(not so)subtly reminding us that he's black. They will try to dehumanize him. Look, quite overtly here Sen McCain has refused to aknowledge that his opponent is even a human being. "That one." Shame on you Senator McCain.
This is all part of their campaign now. Sarah Palin is now going around the country saying "Our opponent doesn't see America the way that I [or you] see it." She means this negatively, but I think that really, Obama doesn't see America the way Sarah or John do. He sees America as a light to other countries--a beacon of hope. He sees a land of peace and prosperity, where oportunities abound and the American dream is real. But Sarah won't tell you that. She spouts off discretited rhetoric and lies, stirring the crowd up to anger. Now at rallies, shouts of "terrorist," and "kill him" are being heard regularly, speaking of Obama. No, Sarah Palin, no, John McCain, no, Repulicans, that is not the America that I love!! Maybe hatred and anger are how you see America, but it's an entirely different view than what Barack Obama has, and it's entirerly different from what I see and the vision Senator Obama has for the future.
Their attempts to point out Obama's "otherness" are pathetic. He's a stronger candidate, and they look weak. They show they are desperate and will stoop to any level to try to win. I hope Americans are noticing. As McCain himself once said "if all you run is negative attack ads, it shows you don't have much of a vision for the future." Well, Senator, you're complete lack of honor shows that you have sold your soul, and that you have absolutely no plan for the future.

John S. McCain, Too Risky a Choice

2008-10-07T10:46:00.002-04:00

Friends, Readers, or any casual observer who happens to stumble upon my blog:

I write this today to say that, after the past few weeks, if you have any inclination of voting for John S. McCain for president, you are stupid. That, I assure you will be the meanest thing that I will say directly to you through the entirety of this post. Now see, that didn't hurt much. Please bear with me now as I explain why.

Eight years ago, I would not have said that (however, at that time, I didn't know that he had cheated on his disabled wife, trading her in for a new beauty queen because she wasn't pretty enough anymore—but I digress). The John McCain from that time was a decent candidate. He did offer "straight talk" and may very well have been the "maverick" that he claims to be now. However, times have changed. With his desire to become president, he has given in to the same smear tactics and lies that were played against him in 2000, and costing him the nomination. We have seen and heard the constant barrage of negative ads, shrill stump speeches and disingenuous sound bites—this after a vow to have an elevated campaign that would not venture onto the low road. I guess this just shows that when the going gets tough, John McCain is willing to throw all integrity out the window in the hopes of a win. I think that's my biggest issue with him. I do, however, think that his policy stances are mostly worthless as well.

John McCain, in selling his soul to win the Republican base has voted to support George W. Bush's policies more than 90% of the time. And, in keeping in line with Bush, he has pretty much decided to embrace Dubya's failed policies for the future. Tax cuts he once argued against, he now wants to make permanent (never mind that we're fighting two wars that have cost nearly one trillion dollars). In the past eight years, our country has racked up one third of its national debt—keep in mind that we have been around for 232 years—financed by countries who don't have our best interests in mind. On the war, John McCain is opposed to any withdrawal from Iraq, when even George W. Bush is supporting a timetable for it. He claims that victory is near, but I would ask him to explain exactly what a victory would entail. In fact I would ask anyone who supports this un-ending war in Iraq to define what a victory there means. Most experts are in accordance that a victory won't come militarily, so I ask Senator McCain, why are we still there?

John McCain is a conservative who has utmost faith in the markets and has called for deregulation over and over. Looking at the financial mess we are now in, it is clear that regulations are needed. He claims that the market is the solution for healthcare issues, when experts show that his plans would (after giving tax dollars to insurance companies) cause an additional 20 million Americans to be un-insured. And here's just some food for thought, imagine if the call for privatizing Social Security, embraced fully by the Republicans a few years back, had passed and tax dollars had been invested in Wall Street for that. Now, millions would have been lost in this vital security for our elderly and less fortunate over the past month alone.

It's a well-known fact that John McCain is a gambler. But with the dire circumstances that our country finds itself in, it's certainly too big a risk to go support a man who will willfully wager the nation's future on the ability to gain political points. I say this in the three major gambles he has taken in recent memory. Last year, at the time of the "surge" in Iraq, John McCain stood for it, when most voices were against it. Yes, that was bold at the time. The surge does seem to have paid off, for now, though contributing all recent success in Iraq to it would be foolish as well. This was a gamble that paid off for now, but it exists in the context of a war that should never have been waged; a war that Senator McCain called for even before George W. Bush. Second, his pick of a running mate in Sarah Palin was a risky wager that has held mixed results. This is a woman who is clearly not qualified to lead the United States. Before being picked, she had given no thought to national or foreign policy. She is well-liked in Alaska, but I would bet that it's hard to have a big gripe against any part of government there when each citizen is paid by the government. She may have "shaken up" the Republican establishment in Alaska, but when she claims (falsely) that she can see Russia, from her home and that gives her foreign policy experience, she fails any competency test that would qualify her to be a breath away from the presidency, especially with a delicately frail candidate. Even this year, she claimed that she didn't know what the Vice President did. She hasn't given thought to the Supreme Court, to economic policy, or to American foreign policy. She has proven that all she can do is talk in circles, avoiding questions, and focus on talking points given to her by her handlers. She can read a speech well, but in this election there's one who can do that far better. The thing is, her speeches are laced with anger, disdain and mocking lines that belittle and degrade. She claims to be Christian, but her words certainly don't reflect that view. Last week she was the laughing stock of America and managed to "wow" some with her performance at the debate because she didn't run from the stage crying, but she offered nothing substantive, nothing more than memorized buzz words. She's a pretty face for a ticket without a plan. Lastly, with the economic crisis, two weeks ago John McCain "suspended" his campaign to look like he was helping resolve the problem. It turns out he was more of a hindrance than anything else. America saw this as a gimmick and it backfired. This is a man who, the day after one of the biggest financial collapses in history, claimed that "the fundamentals of the economy are strong." He proved he had clearly no idea about what is going on, and that going to Washington to "work" on this was just a ploy. This has been a risk that hasn't paid off, and I hope it seals his fate. John McCain is a risky choice, one that we, the American people can't gamble on.

Now we see that when they have nothing else, the campaign will stoop as low as they can to bring up irrelevant acquaintances that mean nothing and try to paint a candidate as evil because he knows a person who did a bad thing at one point in his life, what's the old adage, "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones? They are a desperate campaign and are grasping at straws.

So those are my thoughts, and that doesn't even include why Barack Obama is the superior candidate. I can do that tomorrow I guess. But for now, remember that in light of current events, if you still support John McCain, you're an idiot—my dad even said he won't vote for him, and for Darrell to not support a Republican, that means a lot.

Funny

2008-10-01T09:36:00.002-04:00

Thoughts on Thursday's Vice Presidential Debate:

However, I think that it may be premature. With all of her hair-brained remarks of late, the bar is set very low for Ms. Palin. But here's hoping that once and for all she'll prove to the entire American electorate just how un-qualified she is.

Today's Things That Must Go

2008-09-22T10:03:00.002-04:00

Whereas I started a new job last week, I've got some related items that must go

1). Office speak--I didn't realize before, but now that I am at a larger corporation, I hear stupid phrases all of the time. Sayings like, "We need to circle the wagons," "There's no I in team," "Synergize," and the most annoying, that I have heard about thirty times in this week "At the end of the day..." I hate them all, but that one in particular irritates me. It's like they're trying to teach a lesson. Let's just speak normally, and not give the motivational talks. C'mon, when people talk like that, I feel like I am being treated like a child, but maybe that's just me.

2). Show-offs in training classes--There was this guy in orientation who would ask questions, knowing the answer he was going to hear, seemingly only to hear himself talk, and to impress the others with his vast knowledge of corporate mumbo-jumbo. This man must go. He's nice enough, but that behavior is un-acceptable.

3). Training videos--They're not interesting. They put you to sleep. Worst of all are the ones about sexual harassment, especially when they try to be overly dramatic. I can't imagine that anyone at a decent-sized corporation, who has made it through the screening process for the job would not have an understanding of what harassment is. And if they didn't, I would imagine that a simple video isn't going to change their behavior. I'm sure it's a CYA move that every company (actually my previous company never did, come to think of it) does to limit their liability, but for me, I don't think that I'll be harassing anyone any time soon. And that has nothing to do with the stupid video I watched, and the un-believable cast of characters who starred in it.

4). Cubicles--I miss my old office. I moved from a 11' x 13' window office (newly renovated) to a 48-square-foot box with ugly fabric on the walls. There's no room for my Van Gogh print on the wall, no bookcase, no potted plant. Instead, I am relacated to a cage, much like a creature at the zoo. However, I won't complain too much, cause now I make more, I have a commute that is half as long and an opportunity to learn things that may lead to a real career. But the cubicle is not a fun stop on that career path.

5). Leaving lunch at home--Yup I packed it all up (breakfast and lunch today) and realized, half way to the office that I had left it on the table at home. Boo!! It wasn't worth my time to turn aroung and get it. It will just mean that I'll have to go out, which I didn't want to do today. Anyway, that's that.

Today's List of Things That Must Go

2008-09-08T10:01:00.004-04:00

I don't know where this will end up, but after a week's worth of pus and bile that was spewed to the good American people from the stage of the republican National Convention, I think this week's "must go" should have theme.
1) Calling McCain a "maverick"--we know this isn't true, and hasn't been for at least the past four years while he's been prepping for his run for president. He's said and done whatever he could to make him look good to the public, while voting against the exact measures, whose virtues he extols. John McCain 2000 may have been a good guy, but McCain 08 definitely is not. Case in point: (don't disregard it because it comes from a comedian)click here if video doesn't work

2) Sarah Palin--Face it, she wasn't picked for any other reason than the fact that he has a uterus, and a well-used one at that. Sure, she delivered her speech well. It's a damn good thing too, because as a Communications and Journalism major, had she failed to deliver, it would have proven that all five of the universities she attended while pursuing her undergrad had failed her. But what has she got? A tenure as mayor of a small town that is proving daily to show controversy and problems that have been left to Wasilla? Or the fact that she's been the governor of one of the least-populated states in America, during which time, she likely misused her power to get revenge at a former brother-in-law. We could maybe have an idea of whether or not she has any idea about the world at large if she would ever allow herself to be questioned by the media. But that doesn't happen. America take note, this hockey mom doesn't have a clue.
3) Sarah Palin's well-used uterus--Not her children per se (even if they have the most ridiculous names I have ever heard), but the fact that this "loving" mother is exploiting them for political gain. In her speech, she throws their life story at us, she has her knocked up teen display her "sex on skates" boyfriend as America's hope for the future, and when anyone tries to question that, they call foul. But I guess the republicans are the kings of the double-standard.
4) Making this election about the little stuff--There are huge issues our country is facing. Most of our problems have been caused by the moronic republican party. Now, when they haven't got anything to offer except more of the same, they want to divert American attention and try to act like the Democrats are to blame. Smoke and mirrors kids. Look at McCain's speech. He hasn't got a plan. He spoke entirely in generalities and offered not one specific. Then compare that to Obama. Side by side, you'll see that there are stark differences. If you, like the 80% of America who thinks we're on the wrong track, want to change the direction of this country, you need to realize that John McCain is the exact same as George W. Bush.
5) Not a thing that must go, but just a note, an observation I had while watching McCain's speech. There were people in the crowd who began to protest--Iraq veterans against the war. Whenever they got up and yelled, the entire crowd of know-nothing republicans began chanting in unison "U S A, U S A..." It just seemed very symbolic of what they really are. They can say and do the most ridiculous things, run amok in the government, doing untold damage to our country, but when someone tells them they're wrong, what do they do but try to argue that they support the "U S A" and that the other person is not patriotic. I AM SICK OF THIS, AMERICA!!! ENOUGH!!! THROW THESE ASSHOLES OUT!!! They have destroyed the image of the country I love. They have vilified dissent, the one true keeper of our freedoms. They pay lip service to the brave men and women who wear this country's uniform and protect this land, but do nothing to protect or help them afterward. They mock reason and logic. They make a joke of the poor and lowly in spirit. They condemn the opposition for the exact same human foibles they have, themselves, on many occasions exhibited. They rail against big government and government swelling, while on their watch, the budget deficit has grown by billions. They are in the pocket of big business and don't give a damn about me and you. They have destroyed the American dream, they daily making the world a worse place for me and my children. GET RID OF THEM, PLEASE!!!

Life's a Beach

2008-09-03T13:35:00.003-04:00

Dear Readers:

I have been away for a while, and thus, I haven't posted much in the past couple of weeks--with good reason. I was here for a week of my break.

On the beach with Mel's family in Virginia Beach.

We were right on the beach this is the back fence of the deck.

On the Wednesday, we all went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. I went on all of the following rides.

And this is the latest addition to Busch Gardens, The Griffon. It was awesome.

The week was great, and relaxing. It involved pool time, the driving range, jig-saw puzzling, great food and, oh yeah, the beach. Here are a couple more photos from the trip. It was awesome. Thanks Mel's family.

A family effort got this done in a couple of hours

Amber and Mel in line for our 4-D leprechaun ride

Mel standing next to the ugliest mullet ever

Mel after escaping from Pompeii

Thank goodness I didn't need to try this on, it's a sad commentary on our society I think though.

One Is the Lonliest Number

2008-08-15T14:24:00.003-04:00

Reading an entry of by a friend of mine has prompted me to write this. You see, I'm a religious person, and I thoroughly enjoy the big picture of what my beliefs offer. I happen to subscribe to the Mormon way of thinking, in case you didn't know (officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints--so I don't ruffle any of my Mormon friend's feathers). Whereas I am not married, I attend a congregation that is made exclusively of other single members like myself. I like the idea of this, as it offers the large number of us in our geographical region to have a network of others who become a second family or support net for most of us who are far from home and out on our own. Ultimately, (I think) the grand-scheme of it is to put singles in their twenties with pent-up sexual tension and anxieties together so that they'll be in closer proximity to other Mormons who are feeling these same feelings. They'll date, fall in love, marry (hopefully in that order), and make lots of Mormon babies. Now, Mormon friends, don't get angry, you know that's what "they" want. So, that being said, I have been in my current ward for a little more than two years, and I quite enjoy it for the most part. There have been ups and downs, but I have met some of the most interesting and enjoyable people during these past two years in the Langley ward. I happen to find myself in the previously mentioned pattern of dating, falling in love, and...well, you know the rest, and it comes as a result of being in said ward.
So, I don't really have a beef with the ward itself, but rather how we're being treated. As I mentioned in my previous post, we just got booted from our old building (which, incidentally is a bit of a deal, as it now takes 20 minutes to get to church rather than the previous location, which was seven), which was centrally located in the ward boundaries, was within walking distance from public transportation for those of us who don't drive (that was me a year ago), and now we are forced to meet at 2:30 because of "limited" parking spaces--never mind that there's a whole block of street parking on the very quite street. And, the ward's schedule will remain that way indefinitely because no one will complain to anyone who could change it. Before we were constantly at the later, 1-4 pm time slot. The logic is that the "family" wards have small children, and the early schedule works better for them. Last I checked, I was a small child in a "family" ward once, and we rotated every year, like every other congregation in the world. My parents dealt with it. So should the McLean Virginia stake!!
This is merely an illustration of an over-reaching mistreatment of singles in the church I feel. Maybe mistreatment is a harsh word, but I don't know what else to call it. You see, we're active, we contribute a lot to the church, we have the highest temple attendance in the stake, we volunteer time in our stake's family history center and at stake service projects, and we get shafted in return. All this because we haven't gotten married. Last I checked, we were all God's children, and equal in his eyes--regardless of marital status or fertility (heaven knows Sherry Dew harped on this a lot).
I refuse to see myself merely as a half of a future Mr. and Mrs. Darin. And, no accomplishment that I have made, or those of my many single friends, is of less worth because I , or they, are not married. I've worked hard for the life that I have, I've struggled, and have worried about a lot of things over the years. I have had many opportunities that I feel will help me be a better husband and father for them one day. Had I been married, I very well may not have had these experiences.
I don't want to belittle the lives of those people my age who went on a mission, came home and married a few months later and now continue to live in my home town (okay, maybe a little). It's not easy to raise a family, but to assume that I am not as mature as someone who is in this boat simply because I am single is preposterous.
I don't know entirely where I meant to go with this post, but just to get some of my sentiments out of me. I am not disgruntled with anyone who happens to be married. In fact, I'm quite gruntled with the prospect of being married and having a family, but I think some people need to take a look at what we singles are capable of and not treat us any differently because we don't have a husband or wife.

Today's List of Things That Must Go

2008-08-04T09:17:00.002-04:00

It's been a few weeks since I have posted an enumerated weekly list of complaints, so here it goes:
1). Butt Parkers--Why do some people insist on backing their cars into parking spots? It irritates me to no end. I'm guessing that there is some theory of a quick escape if necessary. But when I see it in my parking garage at work(or at the grocery store), I know that it's less than likely that these folks are going to pull off a bank heist, and will need a quick escape. Besides that, in witnessing people backing their cars into a parking stall, it's apparent that it takes much more time ease your way slowly into the spot than to drive in forward and then back out fairly quickly when you leave. This must go (not always, but the people who insist on it every time they park must).
2).Cathy Mitchell--Well, not her in particular; she seems like a lovely lady, but the infomercial line "Who has the time?" must go. You see, I'll admit that I enjoy the occasional infomercial, and I have seen Cathy on quite a few of them. In fact, her latest endorsed item, the GT Express 101, is one that I personally find quite intriguing. What gets me though, is that while expounding on the great time saving benefits that the little machine offers, she says over and over "who has the time?" (to sit and wait for cinnamon buns to bake, or a chicken breast to cook, or what have you). Cathy, obviously someone who has nothing better to do than to spend 30 minutes watching you peddle a glorified George Foreman grill HAS THE TIME!!
3). 2:30 p.m. church--This is insane, we were informed yesterday, over the pulpit, that our congregation will be moved to a different meeting house about 1.5 miles away, which doesn't bother me much, but now we will begin at 2:30. Having a 3-hour church set means that we won't get out of our blasted meetings until 5:30. Come Sunday night football, I may have to start leaving a little early to make it home for some games. Ridiculous I say. I don't really think that it's fair that because we're the singles ward, we get stuck with the worst schedule possible--indefinitely at that.
4). John McCain--He must go. I'm sure I'll dedicate an entire post to my reasoning of why he's now a miserable human being, and is better suited to be the grumpy old man, sitting in a lawn chair, hand-watering his lawn while yelling at the "damn neighbor kids" for running over his hose with their bicycles rather than being the leader of the free world. But for now, suffice it to say that he must go. He complains that Barack Obama is "just talk," but he's not even that. Though Obama hasn't been entrenched in Washington the requisite amount of time to have the "experience" that the old codger has, at least he offers ideas. McCain doesn't even offer that, he offers bile, anger, a yellowed, slimy smile and a guarantee of four more years of the same failed policies that we're currently living with. So that grumpy old man must go.
5). People who try to make their testimony in Sacrament Meeting a stand up routine-- a joke or two is fine if that's your style, or if it puts you at ease to speak in front of a crowd, but seriously, when you go off on complete non-sequitur for the sheer purpose of a laugh--that ends up not being too hearty of a laugh at that--is not acceptable. 'Nuf said.

There are so many things that I think of, but never write them down. I'll try to keep better track of my annoyances as they come.

Commander In Chief Test

2008-07-30T00:27:00.001-04:00

I Really Don't Like that John McCain

2008-07-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

McCain's Got 99 Problems

Seth Grahame-Smith of the Huffington Post

John McCain is having such a bad July that writing about his collective woes would require the patience and talent of David McCullough. Since I have neither, I turned (as I often do) to the wisdom of Jay-Z, and listed the first 99 that came to mind:

99. Bush's willingness to talk directly with Iran.
98. Bush's new time "horizon" for troop withdrawals.
97. al-Maliki's endorsement of Obama's Iraq strategy.
96. Obama's headline-dominating foreign tour.
95. His disagreement with the majority of Americans on Iraq.
94. His lack of economic expertise and policy.
93. Obama's $52M June.
92. His $21M June.
91. 29% of the Latino vote.
90. 2% of the black vote.
89. Charles Keating (he'll be back).
88. Vicki Iseman (she'll be back).
87. Randy Scheunemann (he'll be leaving).
86. His band-aid approach to energy (more drilling, more nuclear, a $300M "prize").
85. His band-aid approach to healthcare (tax credits, more competition).
84. His band-aid.
83. Saying things like "I know how to win wars," despite his never having won a war.
82. His wife.
81. His ex-wife.
80. The Hagee/Parsley un-endorsement debacle.
79. An uninspired base.
78. Ape rape.
77. His bff, Joe Lieberman.
76. His claim that Czechoslovakia still exists (it doesn't).
75. His claim that Iran is training Al-Qaeda (they aren't).
74. His claim that Iraq and Pakistan share a border (they don't).
73. His claim that Somalia is the same place as Sudan (it isn't).
72. His claim that Vladimir Putin is the president of Germany (he isn't).
71. 71.
70. The images of 70,000+ screaming Democrats at Invesco Field.
69. Phil Gramm's "nation of whiners" implosion.
68. His unwillingness to call the situation in Afghanistan "urgent."
67. Steve Schmidt's failure to right the ship.
66. A new generation of Evangelicals who don't care what James Dobson thinks.
65. "C-nt."
64. "I hate the gooks."
63. His plan to resurrect Bush's plan to privatize Social Security.
62. The writer's rooms of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
61. His tarmac birthday party with Bush -- as Katrina made landfall.
60. "General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed Humvee."
59. His belief that Americans are better off than they were eight years ago.
58. His "Frankenstein on barbiturates" oratory skill.
57. His beyond-pathetic "Pump" ad, which blames Obama for $4.50 gas.
56. His "Obama Love" ad, which blames the MSM for his terribly-run campaign.
55. His computer illiteracy (c'mon...this is 2008).
54. A tax plan that doesn't even TRY to hide the fact that it's geared toward the wealthy.
53. Bob Barr.
52. Ron Paul.
51. Rupert Murdoch.
50. His gay adoption/marriage high wire acts.
49. His immigration high wire act.
48. His torture high wire act.
47. His drilling high wire act.
46. His tax cuts high wire act.
45. Not churchgoing enough for some evangelicals.
44. Too evangelical for some independents.
43. His temper.
42. "I know what [Iraqis] want."
41. The starlet gap: McCain = Heidi Montag; Obama = Scarlett Johansson.
40. The Facebook gap: McCain = 173K supporters; Obama = 1.17M supporters.
39. His 1983-94 opposition to the Rev. Martin Luther King holiday.
38. His 2008 opposition to the Ledbetter Fair Pay [for women] Act.
37. His 2008 opposition to the G.I. Bill.
36. "100 years."
35. Viagra-gate.
34. His 0% rating from Planned Parenthood.
33. His 0% attendance record for the last six Senate Afghanistan hearings.
32. "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."
31. David Plouffe.
30. David Axelrod.
29. Republicans losing elections in traditional GOP strongholds.
28. His October 2002 insistence that victory in Iraq would be "easy."
27. His January 2007 insistence that he never said it would be "easy."
26. A resurgent Taliban.
25. Europe's Obamamania.
24. Kneeling at the feet of Jerry Falwell.
23. His penchant for gaffes.
22. 80% of Americans convinced we're on the wrong track.
21. The National Review calling his campaign strategy "likely to fail."
20. Another terrorist attack on U.S. soil "would be a big advantage to him."
19. Record turnout in the Democratic primaries.
18. A free Osama bin Laden.
17. "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."
16. A campaign hierarchy dominated by lobbyists.
15. Suggesting Obama is a "Socialist."
14. The Dow Jones down 2,000 points for the year.
13. Foreclosures soaring, banks failing, and inflation at a 17-year high.
12. Still pushing his ridiculous, Big Oil-friendly gas tax holiday.
11. Being out-raised by Obama 2:1...in West Virginia.
10. His "no" vote on SCHIP (healthcare for poor children) reauthorization.
9. His support for overturning Roe v. Wade.
8. His consistent opposition to minimum wage increases.
7. Obama's 50-state strategy.
6. Al.
5. Bill.
4. Hillary.
3. Mitt.
2. John McCain.
1. George W. Bush.

Holier Than Thou

2008-07-22T22:34:00.005-04:00

I've never really been big into LDS Church history, but judging by my summer, you might think that I was one of the Mormon fanatics who obsesses over this stuff--okay, not so much. But, considering my previous lack of interest, you'd be surprised to hear that I've been to not one, but two of what I would call the big four of the LDS Church hot spots outside of Utah here in the contiguous United States.
First, in June, my ward took a trip to Kirtland, which I wasn't totally stoked about, but decided to go check it out as sort of something to check off my list of things to do in my lifetime. I think that most Mormons have a sense that before they die, they should see Kirtland, OH and Nauvoo, IL definitely, and if they get a chance, Palmyra, NY, and the Missouri church-related spots (what I call the big four. Of course there's a couple others, but these are the biggies). I think it could be equated to the Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca--except ours isn't a tenant of our religion. However, during the trip, I realized just how important the years in Kirtland were to the church. This is kind of where the church grew up, and where many important revelations were received.
So early on a Friday morning, we loaded up the buses (we travel in style), and made our way on the seven-hour journey.

See, stylin, along with Shelley, enjoying the picturesque scenery that is Ohio.

The first stop was the Johnson Farm, where Joseph Smith and Emma stayed for a while during their time in Kirtland. At one point this was the headquarters of the church. This is where the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants was received. The feeling there was great, it was a small witness, confirming again that what I believe is true.

After the farmhouse, we went to a bar-b-que that was thrown by the local single adults in the area. It was kinda lame, and I decided against posting the two photos I took there.

After the BBQ, we went back to the hotel, and since I had seen the pool, and knew that having about 75 people there wouldn't be all that fun, I went with some friends (Adam, Dan and Melissa) to the bowling alley across the street where we played pool.

After the revelry at the pool hall, we went back to the room and played a spirited game of spoons, which I won. And I thought for a minute there that I would surely lose. (Adam and Rich may look a little stoned, but they're not).The next morning, bright and early, we went to the temple and had a testimony sacrament meeting. All I can say about it was that it was truly amazing. Knowing the history of the spot, of the original dedication and all, helped to gain a new appreciation of it, and helped me to feel the Spirit in that meeting more strongly than I have in a very long time. It was truly beyond description.Adam, me and Kasey outside afterward

An artsy sort of pic of the temple

The Newell K. Whitney Store, where Joseph and Emma stayed for part of their time in Kirtland. It also housed the School of the Prophets. And that's our missionary tour guide and Sydney.

This room housed the School of the Prophets, and was where the Word of Wisdom was received.

We had lunch and went to one other farm before leaving but had a good time in Ohio. I am very glad I went.

Two weeks later, I went on another adventure involving church history. This time to Palmyra, the birthplace of Joseph Smith, and where the church began here in the states.

The childhood home of Joseph Smith

This is one picture from inside the Sacred Grove. It was an amazing feeling there. It was cool because in the group of people I was with at the time, we had people who had served missions, speaking three different languages. We each recited the First Vision in our respective language. It was pretty remarkable. I had told the experience probably over 1,000 times, and still know how to say it flawlessly in Portuguese, but I think that being in the place where it happened really seemed more profound than ever.

Trying to get an artsy photo inside the grove.

On top of the Hill Cummorah

After our whirlwind trip through Palmyra we packed in the Honda and drove back to Virginia. It was good times. So, though I don't think I had a proper appreciation for locations important to church history, I am certainly glad that I got a chance to visit these sites during this summer.
Since most people who read this are of my same faith, I didn't go into great detail about things that most already know. However, if you happed to read this and are completely confused, feel free to ask me a question anytime.

My Chat with A Verizon Rep

2008-07-16T15:59:00.008-04:00

My Phone is awful. I have replaced the battery once, got a new phone cause the original was defective, and now the battery has been acting up for the past two or three months, and I need a new one pretty soon. I went to the Verizon site to find the price for a new battery, cause I was going to see if it was comparable to one I saw online through Staples. Then a box popped up, offering me a live agent to chat with. And, as I love to chat digitally, I couldn't resist.
Here is what transpired, and my thoughts (in parenthesis).

Please wait for a Verizon Wireless sales representative to assist you with your order. Thank you for your patience!
A Verizon Wireless online pre-sales specialist has joined the chat. You are now chatting with Lori
Lori: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. May I help you with your order today? (A little Pushy I would say, not knowing what I wanted and just assuming I was going to order)
You: well, I don't want to order per se,
You: but I was wondering if you know the cost for a new battery for a motorola Krzr phone?

Lori: I'd be happy to help you with that. (This Popped up before or at the same time I mentioned the battery--how could she help me? She could have had no clue what I wanted--Lori didn't score points early on)
Lori: Are you an existing Verizon Wireless customer?
You: Why yes I am (Of course I am, you idiot, why would I be on this page if I weren't?)
Lori: Are you on the accessories page?
You: yes (Oh, I see, I just needed to click further)
Lori: It is $39.99 for the standard battery and $49.99 for the extended battery. (WTF? That's insane!! Staples had it for $13)
Lori: Which would you prefer to order? (Whoa!! Hold on there Lady!!)
You: that's ridiculous
You: neither
You: i can find it online cheaper elsewhere
Lori: I understand your concern. (This pissed me off, because having taken customer's calls--pretty much the same situation here--and knew that came straight from a card or screen Lori had in front of her)
You: how? how do you understand my concern? ("Lori, have you had to replace your phone's battery only to have to replace that same phone the same day, then have your the replacement phone start acting up about four months later? I don't Think so." I also kinda wanted to see how automated the system is, if there was a real Lori or if it was really Padma in New Delhi, or maybe not a person at all who would kind of get tripped up with a turn in the conversation there)
Lori: I understand your concern with prices, however I am unable to make any changes to the prices that are set forth on the web site. I am a consumer as well. (good one!!)
You: well, I know that
Lori: I've been in a very similar situation myself. (Have you really? Do you have the crappiest phone known to man?)
You: and I don't expect you to be able to
You: the thing is, this is the second time I've needed to replace the battery for this phone
Lori: Have you contacted Technical Support before regarding this particular problem?
You: and, from what I've read online recently, battery issues are common for this model
You: i've taken it to the store
Lori: You can contact our technical support team and they will be able to assist you with this today. The number is 1-888-233-4813.
You: well, Lori I appreciate that
You: thanks
Lori: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
You: not really
Lori: Are you eligible for an upgrade?
You: i wish
You: in a couple of months i think
You: i hate this phone
You: it's terrible
Lori: Unfortunately, you may have to pay the full retail price for a new phone. To see the full retail prices for our phones, you can log into My Account and click on the Upgrade Your Phone link. If your account is eligible for a discount, the phones will be listed at the promotional prices. If your account is not eligible for a discount, the phones will be listed at full retail pricing.
You: okay, thanks
Lori: They maybe able to honor you an early upgrade if the phone is messed up.
Lori: Thank you for visiting Verizon Wireless, I look forward to speaking with you again. Have a great evening!

So, That was my experience with Lori. In my humble opinion, my phone blows, but Lori was nice, as have been most of my Verizon agents. Thus making me not want do deal with the hassle of changing phone companies, but rather stick with them.

"Who Cares, I Never Get Lonesome Cause I Treasure My Own Company"

2008-07-16T00:05:00.002-04:00

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but since my girlfriend left me for Russia for the summer, I've been very bored. As a result, I have taken up a new hobby. Thanks to my roommate's being gone for the summer (thus making my summer even more boring) he has no use for his guitar for a couple of months. I've wanted to learn to play it for a while, and a good friend of mine is offering free introductory lessons, so in the past four weeks, I have been becoming quite the guitar pro. So, not really, but I have learned a lot, I have calloused finger tips and I have improved substantially--even being able to play a song or two. I'm stoked.
Anyway, as part of my not having much to do, I decided that I would finally go to a movie by myself. Plenty of people I know have done it, and do it often. I, however, have not been courageous enough to venture out to the theater by my onesies until today. I tackled going to a sit-down restaurant by myself last year before a doctors appointment (both are things that I didn't know if I would ever do by myself). I went to see Wall-E. It was a delightful film, but it made me miss a previously-mentioned person, who left me for Russia, a bunch. Though Wall-E and EVE were robots, I found their little romance rather charming, and the whole movie was just a lot of fun.
Turns out, I am a cheap date. I got a ticket, popcorn and a soda for $11. I may start to take myself out more often.
But, as I figure it, there's only about 16 days 'til Mel gets back (but who's counting?), thus ending my bored spell, and meaning we'll have to make up for a lack of adventures in the remaining weeks of summer once she returns. Any ideas are welcome.
Now, I'm off to practice the guitar again.

Experiment's Over: I Don't Know If I Win or Lose

2008-07-15T23:48:00.003-04:00

So, I caved. Last week I decided that I was tired of living in filth. However, it took two weeks to get there. I thought it would come more quickly. I was actually surprised that the clean house lasted for nearly a week. Then, when I came home from Canada, he had made homemade ice cream (which was very tasty), and hadn't cleaned up the mess entirely.

I never had a clear hypotheses in this experiment, but what I did learn is that left to his own devices--or lack thereof, my roommate would ultimately end up in a pile of filth, squalor, and I'm sure vermin. However, it wouldn't come as quickly as one would think, as he took out a bag of trash twice in the week (part of which was mine, and for which I am appreciative), and he ran the dishwasher twice.
I spent about an hour cleaning on Saturday morning and had a nice clean house, which is once again in need of cleaning as a big Sunday meal was made (not by me) and is very slowly being cleaned.

Here are some picks I took when I decided that it was a losing battle, and that I needed to just clean it.

Note: the mail and flashlight are still there. They still haven't moved since the beginning of the experiment.

Sadly, though I cleaned it to a near sparkling state on Saturday morning, I'm pretty sure that it is worse now, even more so than these pictures.

Admittedly, the balloons are mine, but they're gone now. And for a picture of how it is now, add two empty gatorade bottles, a box of cheese its, an empty glass and a used napkin to the table and viola.

Today's List of Things that Must Go

2008-07-14T11:53:00.002-04:00

1). The tendency men have of spitting in the urinal--Yeah it's a weird one, but it bugs me. I guess spitting in general bugs me (my mom taught me some manners), but I've noticed out of the corner of my eye often (of course you always look straight forward or down while at the urinal, however I notice movements in my periphery) that a lot of guys spit while peeing. And I wonder, "why?" It doesn't make sense to me, I personally don't have any Pavlovian tendencies that make me salivate when I enter the men's room, but maybe a lot of men do. What's really gross is that men don't aim their spit much better then they aim otherwise, so a lot of times I look down at the top of the urinal and find a bubbly pile o' spit, and it's pretty disgusting.
2). While we're talking about urinals, people talking to me while I'm using the restroom--this must go. It's just weird. This is bad because even some of my best friends try to be chatty while I'm using the facilities. In this case, I always do my best to answer in partial words and monosyllabic answers because I don't want to be seen as somebody who would engage in conversation while using a public restroom. If you are engaged in a conversation while entering the facilities, propriety would dictate that you leave the conversation while you enter the room, and resume about thirty seconds later while washing your hands if necessary. What's even more awkward is when a complete stranger talks to you at the urinal--I'll stop there. But, talking to people while peeing must go.
3). The lingering scent of banana peels in the trash. I often take a banana with me to work to have at lunch or a mid-morning snack. after I discard the peel into my trashcan under my desk. About an hour later, I get faint whiffs of banana, and they're not pleasant. Granted I realize that to avoid this entirely, I could walk the peel to the trash in the galley, but that would mean I wouldn't have anything to complain about. This is a place where I mention my annoyances, and that smell annoys me. So there.
4). The lady in the white Mercedes on Washington Blvd. who has her Arabic music blaring out the window--Twice last week I ended up near her, and she bugged me. She seemed to be very vain tossing her bleached-blond hair, and preening herself while at the light. Then the light changed, she took off and ended up being the car directly in front of me. She ended up nearly running a stop light and did other stupid things. I thought "that lady really must go." So because of her maneuvering, she got ahead of me, and I thought I had lost her, but about five minutes later I got to the light on Washington and Glebe, and guess who was at my side, meaning all of her crazy driving was for naught. Yup, it made me laugh.
5). People who act shocked that Barack Obama has moved to the center for the general election. People are acting all crazy saying that he said he wasn't the same as other politicians. Well, big shocker, he's running for president--he IS a politician. As far as I remember though, he's only said that he wanted a new dialogue in politics, one that isn't based on hate or fear, one that focuses on real issues. He's pretty much doing that. So to those on the left who are upset that he's moving to the center--get over it, they all move to the center for the general, and just think of the alternative, and how bad four more years of the same will be.

O Canada

2008-07-08T12:17:00.014-04:00

How more patriotic can you be than by leaving your country for independence day? Don't worry though, it was just across the border and I don't think that there was any point at which I couldn't turn my head and see the good ole' US of A.
So Thursday afternoon the second car of our group left to the great white north. By the time that we got onto the beltway, however, it seemed that everyone else in the DC Metro Area was on their way out as well

This was after one hour on the road and only 5 miles-ish

In my car was me, Jess, Annie in back and behind the pillow was Cat. The four of us were in for a long, long, drive.
Somewhere near Altoona (actually, I don't know where, but I wanted to mention Altoona) we saw this sign. I don't know about you, but it sounds amazing. I want to see it for sure.

Finally, at 1:30 a.m. we reached the foreign land. I was so slap happy by then, that everything was making me laugh hysterically.
I learned they do things differently in Canada. They call them washrooms instead of restrooms, they don't call it macaroni and cheese, but rather, Kraft Dinner, and they eat some horrible things like these:

Ketchup Potato Chips (I bought them for your sake Shelley) . They made me gag a little.

Does anyone find this sign as funny as I do?

The next morning, we woke up, made a trip to the Wal-Mart (now their Wal-Marts in Canada are the 1980s style here--at least the one I was at), made breakfast and then went to see the falls.

They're amazing!!

We went on a "Maid of the Mist" boat tour--fascinating did you know a little boy fell down the falls in only a life vest and survived? One of these boats picked him up.Another fun sign, what exactly is he falling on?

Whole group photo front to back left to right: Annie, Jess, Cat, Amy, Reed, Me, Brian, Sundee

On our boat tour . The Line to get there was horrendous, but the actual ride was worth the wait.

After the boat ride, we went up to see the city of Niagara Falls, and to ride their giant Ferris Wheel. It was nice, sort of. Kinda like Las Vegas, but more tacky.

View from the ferris wheel

We went back to camp and hung out for a while, playing games and waiting 'til dark to watch the fireworks. We went across the street to the river and had a nice view to see no less than six fireworks shows from the Falls to Buffalo, NY. This is us waiting for the fireworks to start.

The next day was really laid back. We didn't do much but play games. Reed's birthday was on the 4th so Brian, his roomie had bought him this game, mostly as a joke. Though the 40-something creator who surely lives at home in his mother's basement must love this game, I did not find Dragon Land and it's many complex rules all that exciting. However I enjoyed that the dice were called "destiny cubes."The next game was Ticket to Ride, and I enjoyed that a lot. Having previously told myself that I would not enjoy it, I was pleasantly surprised.

That night we went to the falls again to see them illuminated. After parking, while walking back down, we came across this lovely car. Definitely the closest I have ever been to a $200,000 sports car.This is the city at night (like I said, like Vegas...)

I got some really cool pics of the falls at night, but am tired of trying to make this work, so this is all I will put here. But it looks super-cool at night.Me in front of the falls--I didn't take the picture (obviously) so don't blame me for it's blurry quality.

Both nights, we had fun with glow sticks, The pictures aren't nearly as cool with the flash, but this one kinda made me look so cool, I posted it (no, I realize that I don't look cool at all).

This is our Rave:

And:

We're awesome!!

It's funny to watch and see when people hit themselves with the glowsticks. ("Thud, Ouch")

We woke up early Sunday and headed off. I got the biggest prick for a border patrol agent. I can't even do justice to his doucheyness by writing, just suffice it to say he was a jerk.
We left Canada and then went to Palmyra NY, but that will be in a follow-up post.

Bye Canada

The ride home was nice, little traffic until we got here. Awful little town.

All-in-all, Canada was great. My Canadian friend (pay attention to #6) would say to not judge Canada by the little towns near the falls, but I must say that they were some friendly folks there. I would guess that this part of the country is similar to our hillbillie parts in the States, but it was a lovely area with some fine folks. Canada is O-K in my book Eh'

I Can't Resist

2008-07-03T12:27:00.002-04:00

I was shown one of these clips on Youtube, and then I found another because of that first one. Anyway, I know that I hate most other peoples' children, except for my nieces and nephews, especially at the grocery store when they are throwing fits (not to say that I never did that), or anywhere near my seat on a plane; it's times like those that I think that I would never have kids. But videos like these make me want to be a dad, really badly. Sorry if you don't approve, but they are really funny.

Little Victories

2008-07-03T09:53:00.003-04:00

Okay, so for two days in a row, I have had a near perfect commute to work. I have been shocked both days when looking at the clock while pulling into my garage here and noticing that it's only been about 16 minutes since I had left my house. Today, I only had to stop at four lights; yesterday, only three. I didn't even have to stop at the lame light on Washington and Lee Highway, which never happens (well, yesterday it did).
Oh, and in other news, I am leaving early from work to begin on my adventure to our neighbor to the north to celebrate America's independence. I'm going to Niagara Falls, It just happens that the camping spot we got is on the Canadian side. So, I've been told to find some Canadian specialties, such as Ketchup potato chips, a Mr. Big bar, among other things. I'll buy me a toque, and enjoy them along with some Kraft Dinner, I'm sure. Eh'

One Year Older and Wiser Too, Happy Birthday to (well, me)

2008-07-01T09:22:00.003-04:00

So, I had a birthday (shout hooray!!). Yesterday, I officially entered into my late twenties. I've complained for weeks that 27 seemed so old, but now it's here, and I don't really feel any different than when I turned, say 23.
I have to say though, that 27 was really a good birthday. I had been bracing myself for what I thought would be a pretty lame-o day. This because most of the people with whom I spend most of my time are in various parts of the country (or the planet). And I figured that most of my other friends didn't really know that it was my birthday (I know, It's hard being Darin--spoken in a gloomy, Eyeore voice).
Anyway, as I mentioned yesterday, I got to Skype with Mel and that was good. I had received a couple of comments on Facebook saying Happy Birthday and all. I got to work and got emails and calls--even a few people singing to me over the phone. Throughout the day, a whole bunch of people posted birthday greetings on my Facebook wall. And I spent lots of time im-ing with friends (not that there's a whole lot different there from any other day, but this time they said "happy birthday" to me).
Come lunch time. Some of us went out to lunch. We went to Chevy's and enjoyed some tasty Mexican (pronounced MeHEcan) food. Our group training manager insisted that the people there sing to my boss Tripop and me (which, when does that go from being the highlight of going to eat on your birthday as a child, to the source of sheer embarrassment?) since we were the birthday boys. Of course it was embarrassing, but for free ice cream and sopapillas, I'll look like a fool in a big hat.

The pictures were taken on a camera phone, so they're not the greatest quality.

I know I look kinda douchey, but I was smiling for another camera when this one was taken (not to mention the fact that I have a big ole' sombrero on my head).

When I got home from work, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a couple of friends had come by to my apartment and left a treat for me. While at home I got a call from my Mom and Dad and also my sister, Kristine (my sister Amy emailed me, since her phone with my number is being used by my parents in SLC while they're down there for a while with my mom's bone marrow transplant--but that's an entirely different story--and she can't remember it, I'll take that as plenty good reason to not call). No word from Julie, but no surprise there.
Shortly after that, I walked over to FHE where they had a birthday cake. It was delightful. Amy had bought a carrot cake, which I like a lot (even though the rest of my family doesn't), and we played a spirited game of croquet. I hadn't played that for about 21 years, and my only experience was with a neighbor girl who probably mis-informed me of the rules and cheated so she could win, so I wasn't such a pro at it (p.s. I stink at put-put golf, so It was no surprise to me that I'm not too handy with a wooden mallet and balls).
After that, my buddy Kasey came by, and we had planned to use my DQ coupon for a free Blizzard (suggested by Shelley), but printer problems foiled that plan. We ended up buying pizza and ice cream, and played some mad Mario Kart.
So, that was my Birthday. It was nice. I've got to say that I know some of the coolest people. Thanks to everyone for making it a good day.

Today's List of Things That Must Go

2008-06-30T11:06:00.002-04:00

So today has been kinda tough to think of things that are irritating to me. It's been a good day. It started out with my getting many salutations from friends and well-wishers on this, the 30th day of June in the year of our Lord, 2008 (including one from Melanie, and one from her parents too). Following the emails, I connected with Melanie via Skype and we had a video call for about 40 minutes--ish (not the best connection, but it was nice). So I was super happy on the way to work, and then when I got to the office, she had sent me a video she had made with pictures of our many adventures since we've been dating. It was super-sweet, and I don't think I'll share it with the whole world (and, yes I do think the whole world reads my blog--they should at least). So here it goes:
1). Roadkill on the way to work. It's unpleasant. I passed a dead raccoon, and two squirrels today.
2). Possibly having to spring for the bosses birthday lunch on your own birthday. Didn't happen yet, and likely won't but there was a possibility. I got an email from a co-worker on Friday (bosses b-day) about a birthday lunch for him today. I thought "sounds fun, but I don't want to have to pay for his lunch that day." (update: coworker/organizer just passed my office and wished me happy birthday, so she's aware, and extending the merriment to me).
3). Parents who don't call you on your birthday--last year I was in New York and only got a call from one sister (you know who you are and thanks BTW) as far as family goes. This year, I'll hope it'll be better, but I consciously decided not to call anyone yesterday so as to not give them an excuse to not to call me. (note to the sibling who actually will read this, don't give anyone a heads up, I wanna see if anyone else remembers)
4). Fireflies only being around for a month or so. They should be around for most of the year. They're super-cool. I never saw them growing up in Utah. My first experience was in Brazil, but now they have them here in VA, and I like them. I want to try to squish one on the sidewalk, to see if it really does glow in the streak where they get smeared (sorry PETA people, I'm curious is all).
And that's that. Maybe I'll be more angry next week. Apparently, though, last week's entry was a little harsh. I got rebuked from a couple of people. So, I'll have to find a happy medium.

It Starts...

2008-06-25T22:55:00.005-04:00

I'll be the first to admit that I am not always the most tidy of people. For proof, you can look in my bedroom. However, I spend so little time in my room, and most of that is spent sleeping, so having a cluttered room doesn't bug me as badly as it probably should. That being said, I do enjoy having a tidy apartment--especially the parts where I spend time: the front room, where I watch TV or play the occasional game of Mario Kart, the kitchen, where it's nice to have clean spaces for food preparation, the dining area, where, if I get crazy and decide to eat at the table, I can do that, free from crumbs and over-flowing trash cans sitting in the corner, and lastly, having a clean bathroom is always nice.
I have two roommates, and that in and of itself can prove difficult to keep a place clean. However, two of us do a decent job at maintaining the place. The other, not so much. I don't know how, but I gather that said roomie never learned how to do basic chores. When I moved in ten months ago, the place was pretty filthy. As dysfunctional as my previous living situation was, you could always say that the place was clean, but I needed to find a new place and went with this one even though it was dirty, and I have liked it a lot. However, when I moved into the current place, the two roommates had been sharing the bathroom that I now was going to be sharing with one of them for about six months (I don't know if it had been cleaned in that time, or how long it had been prior to that). I made a special trip to the store that day to buy cleaning supplies so that I could clean the shower before actually jumping in to take a shower (now, after observing the situation for ten months, I think that the one who likes things clean just decided to give up on the house and let it go).
Now, one of the roommates is gone on travel for work for about a month, leaving me and the not-so-tidy one in the house for the majority of the summer. On Tuesday, I decided that I would do an experiment to see just how dirty the house would have to get for him to clean up after himself. The impetus for this? About two weeks ago, said un-tidy roommate was in the front of the apartment with a lady friend, while the other two of us were in the back just chilling out in our rooms. I heard the girl say something like "should I put this in the dishwasher?" To which this response was given: "It's a guys apartment, don't worry, somehow it'll get clean." I thought "Um, no. Maybe that's how you think it works, but in the reality, somebody's got to take care of it." Up until then, I hadn't gotten too angry about cleaning after him, thinking that letting it irritate me would only get to me and make me unhappy. Now, I'm thinking where it's just the two of us, I'm gonna let it go, and only clean up after myself, and see how long I can take it. So Tuesday, I decided to clean the house to start from zero and see what happens. I got it fairly clean and will probably finish things this weekend, making sure to not clean the places where he will have dirtied between Wednesday and then. I shall photograph the progress and post it here.

Note the two garbage cans. I purchased the larger as it was becoming irritating to empty the smaller one, which used to sit under the sink until traveling roomie cleaned the whole place and found remnants of critters under there (they are gone now, and the small can is no longer under the sink). I think I will actually sort out my trash and take it out, however I need to devise a scheme that is neither obvious, nor disgusting.

Shiny, clean kitchen. The floor needs mopping, and I will organize the dishes in the cupboards when I unload the dishwasher from the last load of dishes I ran this morning.

Front room. I will vacuum it on Saturday. Note the letters and flashlight are not mine. The book is, but it's supposed to be there as a coffee table book.

The hallway. When I moved in, there was a pile of dust and hair along the walls, the length of the hallway. I pulled part of it up in a solid, three foot strip.

Ultimately, I figure I'll probably cave and get sick of seeing junk on the coffee table, or will be revolted by the mass of dishes that will inevitably pile up in the sink. But at least I'll try to have fun with it in the meantime.

Artomatic

2008-06-24T15:40:00.003-04:00

About a month ago, Mel and I went here:

"What is Artomatic?" You may ask. Artomatic is this, and it was pretty cool.
In case you didn't click on the link, Artomatic is a showcase for local artists, done annually here in DC, and it is held in a multi-storied non-finished office building. It has floor after floor, showcasing locals' works, and gives them a chance to sell some of there pieces.
There were a lot of cool pieces of art, and a whole lot more that were just kinda weird, and made me wonder how someone would think that was art. For example:

This is somehow supposed to represent the Potomac--however, I don't see any dead bodies floating in it

I did think that this was pretty cool.

Who in the world knows what this is supposed to be? But, Melanie seems to like it.

My favorite part was the Peeps diorama display. Here are some samplings from that.

Tarantino Fans?

"A major prize, a major prize. I won, I won, I won!!"

That is all, if you're in DC next spring, you should check it out.

Today's List of Things that Must Go

2008-06-23T15:49:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I have put up my weekly airing of grievances, so I thought that I would mention a few things that, in my humble opinion, should go:
1). The name Mona. I know that no woman has been named this in the past 50 years, and rightly so. No one should have any semblance to the word moan in their name--conjures up all sorts of strange images that shouldn't be associated with a first name.
2). News Reports on High Gas Prices. I know gas costs a lot. I see every time I drive past the Exxon station near my house that it's at $4.15 per gallon. It doesn't make me happy, but I deal with it. Not happily, but I do. I really hope something will be done about it, but having to hear people who make upwards of six figures (or more) try to sympathize with my pain of paying $40 to fill up my little Honda Civic makes me sick. Shut up!! all of you.
3). Mormons (sorry, I write what I know) Who Laugh Way Too Much at Jokes That Don't Deserve Much More Than a Smirk. Drives me nuts, and, in fact, is likely the reason why I won't go to institute this summer. The teacher was fairly funny, showing his wit on many an occasion a couple of weeks ago, but nothing that prompted more than a smile or brief chuckle. However, judging from the reaction from the class, you would have thought it was Laurel and Hardy themselves up at the front of the class. You see it often in General Conference as well. Often, humorous things are said, but not funny to the extent that often is exuded. I sometimes can't help but think "man, these people need to get out more."
4). Stop Lights on My Route to Work. It takes me 22 minutes to get from my house to my parking garage at work. At least seven of these are me waiting at a stop light. It's rather aggravating. In fact, I was at one of them last week for more than five minutes when I thought, "ah, screw it, I'm going, and I turned left." I couldn't handle it any more.
5). Baby On Board Window Stickers. I may have mentioned this before, but they make me mad. I don't give a crap if you child is in your car. Do you really think that effing sign makes me want to drive more carefully around you? Oh no, it really makes me want to rear-end you just to spite you. Don't just suppose that I give a damn that you spawned and now are now carrying your little critter around with you, and as such I should be more careful around your vehicle.
So, that's that. Those things have bugged me over the past few weeks. Sorry it's been a while (like you all really care--I just like to pretend that I have a fan base who is eager to read what I write), but I hope to be more regular in my postings of things that must go. As I've mentioned before, please feel free to send me your suggestions of things that must go.

Meet Virginia, I Can't Wait to Meet Virginia

2008-06-22T22:42:00.002-04:00

As this weekend marks the two-year anniversary of my exodus from Utah, I was just on the phone with Kade and mentioned this to him (the two of us left from Utah together to come east, him to Raleigh, NC and me to DC). He promptly pulled up his email, and found what he sent to friends and family on our second night of the trip. Please read and enjoy. It's lengthy, but worth it for a good laugh. Our third day was fun as well, and I may have to find something about that, but enjoy this for now.

Hello Friends!
Greetings from the other side of the country! It has been quite the adventure and we're only on our second day. Right now, we're in Zanesville, Ohio, which is 78 miles out of Columbus (Columbus is quite the beautiful city at night). We were hoping to make it into West Virginia tonight, but we're bushed. It's 12:45 a.m. and we've been driving since 9:00 a.m. We didn't get to bed until 4:30 a.m. That was twice as much sleep as we received the night before.
I was pretty much packed by Thursday night, but I still had a few things to throw in and then my room to pick up. I also wanted to go spend time with my family and then had to pick up Darin in Brigham. We got back to my house at 1:30 a.m., got the car packed, and then we were up until almost 4:00 a.m. getting stuff finished. We then woke up at 6:30 and got on the road. It was rough. Anyway, we survived the drive through Wyoming (the UGLIEST of states) including seeing some giant statue of Mary or Jesus (we couldn't tell which it was) and then we got to see a trailer house with teepees built into it. Like, permanent, concrete teepees built into the middle of a trailer house. It was insane. Don't worry, I took pictures. Anyway, we then headed into Nebraska and that is where the fun began.
A few miles into Nebraska, Darin was driving and noticed this HUGE field full of cattle. He was like, 'Wow! That's a ton of cattle.' I meanwhile was studying the atlas (Did you know Ohio is the 7th most populated state in the US?) and looked up and said, 'That is a lot of cattle.' Those were almost the last words I spoke. The cows were not just any cows. They were primed and ready for the slaughter, which meant they were fed a warm grain and it stunk to high heaven. We coughed, we gagged, we gulped down the vomit, and we tried to hold our breath. Because we were crying and laughing so hard, that proved impossible. So, we shoved our noses in our armpits to smell the deodorant over that hideous stench. I was brave a couple of times and tried to see if the smell was gone. It wasn't. It honestly was the worst smell on earth and lasted for MILES!! I would rather smell ten dead skunks at once than smell that again. That was our introduction into Nebraska. It was almost a death by toxic fuming. The reason I know about the warm grain, etc., is because I was texting my dad at the time, who drives through that area constantly. I told him I was taking my last breath and that it was due to these horrible cows. He wrote back, 'Oh, those ones on the right hand side? Yeah, that's pretty bad. There's a rest area a few miles ahead. Pull over, walk around, and get a cold drink. It will help with the sickness.' I don't think anyone will ever understand how bad it was unless they were to smell it themselves.
OK, so beyond the cows, we kept seeing urine filled bottles by the road, mile after mile. I couldn't figure out what I was looking at, until Darin explained that a lot of truck drivers do that to save time and then throw them out. That made me sick to my stomach too. But, a few miles later, we were both sick as we looked over to see a lady vomiting by the side of the road. OK, OK, I'll stop with the nasty details of the trip.
So, last night, we were planning on making it to Des Moines, Iowa. We were so exhausted though and tried to stay in Omaha, Nebraska instead. It turns out there was some college world series going on and the entire town's motels were booked, including all of the towns for the next two hours. We were exhausted, couldn't find a place to sleep, and we were starving. We finally found a place somewhere by Elk Horn, Iowa. I almost ran over a family of raccoons, but due to my sharp sight at 2:00 a.m., I avoided the tragedy. The funny thing is that Darin and I were playing the either/or game earlier in the day and one of his questions was, 'Would you rather run over and kill an entire family of kittens or watch Duchess get eaten by a boa constrictor?' Of course, I'd much rather run over the cats. Anyway, a few hours later, there we were, with me almost running over a mama raccoon and her four babies. Disaster was avoided, so I hope Duchess doesn't meet up with any boa constrictors.
OK, so we couldn't get food b/c everything was closed, so we backtracked several miles to an open gas station to grab some junk to get by on, including refrigerated deli sandwiches. It was awful. But, for those of you who have seen me when I'm tired and hungry, you know it was best that I get something, anything really, to eat. It was essential. So, we were up early this morning and have driven about 1800 miles, maybe a bit more, between today and yesterday. We've driven through Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and most of Ohio. We're going to hit it tomorrow and try to get to Washington, DC by 1:00 p.m. I am aiming to get to South Boston, Virginia by 5 p.m. I'll head into Raleigh on Monday morning. I have an apartment now and a roommate, so that'll be fun. I'll meet him on Monday or Tuesday. I'll still be house sitting for the week, but will be able to drop all of my stuff off at the apartment so I'm not unpacking twice. I limited my packing to 120 shirts, 40 pairs of pants, 25 pairs of shoes, and then a lot of crap that I just had to have. Darin didn't do much better, so poor Luh-fawn-duh the Honda is loaded to no other. Bless her soul for surviving so far. We bought a cargo bag for the top of the car for luggage and it's stuffed too. The straps go through the car and hook inside, so now the door seals are separated making it soooooo noisy in the car. We solve this by stuffing kleenex and toilet paper in the door frame by the straps. We are both about the same height and the straps hang down a few inches from the roof of the car, so we are slouching down in the chairs to avoid having a strap pushing down on our heads the whole time.
OK, OK, I'll let ya'll go. I need to get to bed and this e-mail is long enough to keep you busy for a while. I hope you are all doing well. I'll catch ya' later. Have a blessed day!

Love,
Kade

She's No Betty Crocker

2008-06-17T09:51:00.002-04:00

So how's this for funny? Remember a couple of months ago when Cindy McCain got in trouble for using some Rachel Ray recipes and claiming they were her own? Well, she's back at it again. Apparently, she submitted a plagiarized recipe from the fine folks at Hershey, when she with the (then) other two remaining potential first-spouses were asked to submit a family cookie recipe to an online magazine. Not to say that this is a valid reason that her hubby shouldn't be president--heaven knows there are plenty of those--but it just makes me wonder if her addiction to Percocet and Vicodin have caused some permanent damage. But then again, I have a feeling that Mrs. McCain isn't much into baking cookies. I gather they don't do that too much on her home planet, and I am sure that it wasn't her cookie-baking skills that won over John McCain when he was cheating on his first wife, who had been crippled in a car accident, with her.

Here's a link to the story. I just think it's kinds funny. And the cookies look delicious too. Maybe I can make them and claim them as my own.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-weiner/re-heat-offender-cindy-ba_b_107428.html

It's Funny 'Cause It's True

2008-06-13T11:36:00.002-04:00

So, in case you didn't know, my best girl just left me for the summer. Well, it's been about two weeks now. And she'll be getting back in exactly seven weeks and one hour (not that I am counting).
Anyway, I find that my evenings have been extremely open since she left to Russia. I enjoy hanging out with my roomie and playing Mario Kart, but that can get old--particularly so when the roommate beats me and I pout like a child. So we (well, at least I) need fun activities to do during this summer. Suggestions?

Before and After

2008-06-12T20:37:00.004-04:00

Yup, the last time I shaved my whole face was on March 16th--well, that is until this morning. I think it'll be my new summer-time look. But, I have a slight feeling it will return at the beginning of August. Thoughts (other than my looking like a complete gomer in the photos)?

Why I'm Voting Republican

2008-06-11T14:10:00.003-04:00

I've had a change of heart, and here's why:

Recent Additions

2008-06-11T12:42:00.001-04:00

Last week, I got to thinking (and we all know how dangerous that can be at times). I thought to myself, "Self, you haven't used your iTunes gift card that you got for Christmas yet." Then I realized that two bands I like had both recently released CDs and I could use it to buy at least one of those, so after much thought and deliberation, I decided to download Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie, which left $5.01 on the card. Since that wasn't enough for the other CD, and since I could get it on sale at Target for cheaper, I went there the next day and purchased Weezer's Red Album.

Critical Review:

Both offer very nice sounds. Neither is an aberration from their band's normal stylings, so as a fan I appreciate that, but would kind of like to hear a little more from them--I must note, however, I am not a die-hard fan of either group, and am not super-familiar with either group's earliest stuff.

Narrow Stairs, by Death Cab was not one that I popped into the CD player and instantly loved. I don't think any of their albums have been yet. However, in listening to it in my car during my commute (FYI, I don't Metro anymore--thank goodness), I have become a big fan of it. My favorite song is number seven, "Grapevine Fires." It's so smooth and cheerful. However, I do like other songs on there like "No Sunlight," "Your New Twin Size Bed" and "Long Division." I would say that the first radio release from the album, "I Will Possess Your Heart," is arguably the weakest song on the CD.

Weezer's self-titled Red Album is a catchy one. The first three songs are the best (my favorite of which is "Pork and Beans," which has the best music video to accompany it), and number four is really good. After that, they blend into the background in my office, so I can't tell you right off the top of my head if I like the rest of them a lot or whatnot. But I do like the CD as a whole.

Both CDs are really good, but I wouldn't say they're life-changing. They don't fit in the lines of say, Stadium Arcadium, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers or some of my other most-favorites. However, they are sure to get plenty of play time in my car and on my iPod.

So now I have five dollars left to use towards songs or an album on iTunes. Suggestions?

I Heart New York

2008-06-08T20:03:00.004-04:00

Two weekends ago for Memorial Day weekend, Melanie, her former roommate, Marin (Muh rin), and I went to the Big Apple and stayed with Melanie's sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Tim. Turns out it was a trip that the two had planned way before I was ever in the picture, but since Mel was leaving only a week after, I was able to work my way into the plans.
We left on Saturday morning, and got there in the afternoon after a decent bus ride. We went to Amber and Tim's, dropped our stuff off, and promptly went sight-seeing. First off, we went to Rockefeller Plaza and went to the "Top of the Rock," which I had never done before, and actually found preferable to the top of the Empire State Building.

Mel and Me on the top of the building

St. Patrick's Cathedral from above.

After we came down from the top, we went to the Nintendo World store. It was a nice chance to play the Wii, since I hadn't done it before. Now, I want to buy one more than ever.

Then to Times Square

While in Times Square we found Junior's, which has the most amazing cheesecake. I got Devil's Food, and the others got Carrot Cake cheesecake. It was just about life-changing. We walked to Bryant Park and rested our weary legs while enjoying some of our delectable treats.

View of the Chrysler building at sunset.

The next day we went to Central Park with Amber and Tim, had a picnic, and played frisbee for a while. Thousands of others had the same idea of going to the park to enjoy the amazing weather.

Marin, Tim, Amber and Mel

After Tim and Amber left, we went to further explore the park. This is my favorite bridge ever. and we got an adorable picture together. Don't mind that it looks like I've got a death grip on her.

After we left the park, I got a hold of a friend of mine from Brazil named Everton, who is here in the states, living in New York. We went to FAO Schwartz, and then to SOHO and Little Italy. We got pizza and then got some fantastic rice pudding at: The next day we went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

This was my third trip to Ellis Island, and the first time that I had looked at the museum stuff they had there (don't ask why, I don't know). It was fascinating. Probably one of my favorite things to have seen this time. After we got off the ferry, we went to see Wall Street, and Ground Zero. We then went to Amber and Tim's I said goodbye and went to get a bus home. Mel and Marin stayed another day so they could go see Wicked (the original purpose of their trip).
I think I really do heart New York. Definitely not a place I think I would like to live (who knows for sure), but it's a lot of fun to visit.

Decision 2008

2008-06-04T11:08:00.003-04:00

Now, after five long months of campaigning, caucuses, primaries, 3 a.m. phone calls, bickering, crazy pastors, superdelegates and the kitchen sink, we have a presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2008 general election. Though I am glad that now it's official, and that my guy is the winner, I can't help but feel a little bad for Hillary Clinton. I know, I know, after all the negative things I've written here, and angry feelings that I have had for her throughout this process, I may sound crazy saying that. But with as much drive and ambition and desire that she has had to win the presidency, it's hard to not sympathize with someone whose life goal falls out of their reach--and just barely by the way this worked out.
Ultimately though, the stronger candidate prevailed, and through this whole process, he's come out even stronger for a general election match up. People may say he lacks experience, but to take on the Clinton political machine and come out on top is no small feat. He set up and ran a successful national campaign. Sure he lost some races big, but he's shown to be one who can learn from his mistakes and improve from them. He's shown he has sound judgment and is willing to admit when he is wrong. He also has the courage to tell us what we don't want to hear but what is right.
There may be Clinton supporters who will see her loss to Obama as his stealing from her, and as such may be willing to support McCain. They shouldn't. Though the campaign may have had sexist tones, they have no more right to blame that for her loss than Obama did for his setbacks due to racial overtones--he won't and they shouldn't. If anything, her gender helped her to gain votes from millions of women who may not have voted had they not had the historic opportunity to vote for a viable woman candidate. Barack Obama ran a clean campaign, always rising above the mudslinging that went on. If he tried to fight dirty, it didn't suit him and it did him no good. His message has always been a message of change, and those who wanted to see change through Hillary would be foolish to vote for a continuation of failed Republican policies by supporting John McCain.
McCain is truly out of touch with America. He provided great service to this country, but should not be it's president. He's admitted to not know much about the economy, which is not what we need during these trying economic times. He's certain that all is well in Iraq, professing this yesterday while yet three more American lives were taken over there. As Barack Obama said in his speech last night "John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy – cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota – he’d understand the kind of change that people are looking for." At one point in his career, he may have been a "straight-talking maverick," but certainly is not now that he's trying to woo his party. He's embraced Bush's failed policies and offers nothing different, except possibly "bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb[ing] Iran."
So now, though no one knows exactly what Hillary will do from here (I, and many others, wish she would have graciously bowed out last night), it is time for the party to come together uniting around our candidate, and work for change this fall.