tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35163659994755484782024-03-14T14:13:17.308-04:00The Adventures of Beerman and Big MikeA chronology of the misadventures of two comic book superheroes who like to find the humor in everything and believe that there is no such thing as taking a joke too far.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-86568380780035328532011-08-10T14:32:00.006-04:002011-08-10T16:36:28.574-04:00Profiles of us<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ui1WcDeB2VSEBcQjLnImxe2zskCyXcx_28h7WmUrTVLizeCXPR1hWR0PKyvzBoXxCa4SmCvzhaDKvMB-hm-mUQvEzHKa-AJRNX0O_7db-IquVt4w_OeOMsU34XygeoJkcbZ9zrvAAnc/s1600/lunchbox+headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ui1WcDeB2VSEBcQjLnImxe2zskCyXcx_28h7WmUrTVLizeCXPR1hWR0PKyvzBoXxCa4SmCvzhaDKvMB-hm-mUQvEzHKa-AJRNX0O_7db-IquVt4w_OeOMsU34XygeoJkcbZ9zrvAAnc/s320/lunchbox+headshot.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;">LunchBox</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike Capner</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
43 years old</div><br />
Born in Blackwood, NJ<br />
<br />
High School Education<br />
<br />
Truck driver for 20 years<br />
<br />
Bartender at a bowling alley that serves $1 drafts<br />
<br />
Moved to Florida to take care of his parents… Father lost his lower leg to Diabetes, Mother had both knees replaced.<br />
<br />
Lives with his parents. <br />
<br />
6’5” 425lbs <br />
<br />
never married<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;">Fungus</span></u></em></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;"></span></u></em></strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURUttdnNGAVHWPMRDTRpY7lbMRDdjvGjbqdkjaeBOKtG3jLHTgb22EmWvJ28UJRg45MdX7p5Zej9JV2bcANloW-QX5L1h-X9bitSOX2lgl_0hipKmID6hrmjWXLOXgGOHtvqeatwwbfw/s1600/fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURUttdnNGAVHWPMRDTRpY7lbMRDdjvGjbqdkjaeBOKtG3jLHTgb22EmWvJ28UJRg45MdX7p5Zej9JV2bcANloW-QX5L1h-X9bitSOX2lgl_0hipKmID6hrmjWXLOXgGOHtvqeatwwbfw/s320/fungus.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div align="left">Dave Cabott </div><div align="left"> </div>48 years old<br />
<br />
Born in Lancaster, PA (Amish Country)<br />
<br />
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. 8 credits shy of a Masters.<br />
<br />
Once worked giving blood<br />
<br />
Beer Hawker at a Minor League Stadium<br />
<br />
Moved to Florida to escape his ex-wife<br />
<br />
Lives with his 110lb Rottweiler who suffers from IBS<br />
<br />
6’1” 325lbs.<br />
<br />
divorced for 10 years<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisakXB4GWYPaJNtxD02sDVGLGqw01oDv6D2sHtqyJ9hNi2F0qhJF3UWv76iOyfyHYbFUFWGOCUKm_pKLmx7tg8f0SMUwQlKJtmuJaM9CJWmfkzN0rP1UBJoVlca4fxMy6dBOgylp-qaAc/s1600/matty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisakXB4GWYPaJNtxD02sDVGLGqw01oDv6D2sHtqyJ9hNi2F0qhJF3UWv76iOyfyHYbFUFWGOCUKm_pKLmx7tg8f0SMUwQlKJtmuJaM9CJWmfkzN0rP1UBJoVlca4fxMy6dBOgylp-qaAc/s320/matty.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;">Big Matty</span></u></em></strong> </div><br />
<br />
Matt Free<br />
<br />
43 years old<br />
<br />
Born in Port Charlotte, FL<br />
<br />
High School educated<br />
<br />
Retired Asst. Fire Chief<br />
<br />
Divorced<br />
<br />
5’10” 385lbs.<br />
<br />
living with current 23yo girlfriend and her 4 kids and several cats, changing diapers and cat litter.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDMshTUv8nCX9ET8GHlIWDUWNWfG_83iVX2LGHY6GfITKfhqjxqY_siFuJD9UgsU-8z4uBJQrv0NQsqgUD530tDktc_pE1IGv87fziJX_YubhLdN1NaSBmW5zKai2NXD54CO1RbOGy1A/s1600/Three+Munchkateers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDMshTUv8nCX9ET8GHlIWDUWNWfG_83iVX2LGHY6GfITKfhqjxqY_siFuJD9UgsU-8z4uBJQrv0NQsqgUD530tDktc_pE1IGv87fziJX_YubhLdN1NaSBmW5zKai2NXD54CO1RbOGy1A/s400/Three+Munchkateers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If we were a rap act, we would be Run-KFC</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-18528513986557797622010-12-31T13:03:00.000-05:002010-12-31T13:03:25.144-05:00Thinking About the Good Things to Come<em>come on now peace train...</em><br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7sjSHazjrWg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7sjSHazjrWg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
The Wiki Page:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Train">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Train</a><br />
<br />
The perfect song to celebrate a new year about to begin....<br />
<br />
the birth of a good friend's triplets, healthy and happy...<br />
<br />
and the return of Taco Bell's $5 Box....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-4127360001286836132010-12-17T12:42:00.000-05:002010-12-17T12:42:58.943-05:00Shine<em>I think you need to stop following misery's lead</em><br />
<br />
<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/urB43BQXYKY" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<em>you've only begun to shine...</em><br />
<br />
It was a great day of iPod selections. There was John Prine's <em>Fish and Whistle</em>... there was G Love's <em>Peace, Love, and Happiness </em>but this one struck me. I am an Anna Nalick fan. Not a huge fan... just haven't been exposed to that much of her. I have some tunes because I liked <em>Breathe </em>but usually I skip over it. Not today...<br />
<br />
and what a lucky break for me. This is now my new favorite AN song. Very positive and very fitting for my mood of late. I'm trying my best to change my outlook on life and to become a positive person. I believe we all know right from wrong and we all have the power to be happy. We choose to ignore it, maybe because it's too hard or because of past fears, but bottom line... you know what to do, so do it. You know what's been holding you back. You know the bad choices you made. <br />
<br />
I'm reading a book that makes a good point. The mess you're in right now is not for something that's happening to you, it's the result of a bad decision in the past. You have the CHOICE of what to do next!<br />
<br />
Enough soapbox...<br />
<br />
a link to a better YouTube video of this song but not embedable:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgiZz-aqheU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgiZz-aqheU</a><br />
<br />
Anna's Wiki Page:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Nalick">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Nalick</a><br />
<br />
Her official page (there's new music coming soon)<br />
<a href="http://www.annanalick.com/">http://www.annanalick.com/</a><br />
<br />
A link to her accoustic version of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's <em>Breaking the Girl</em><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBjo_s6Ag3k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBjo_s6Ag3k</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So Shine ON... we're all waiting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-50063161345789087592010-12-16T11:18:00.001-05:002010-12-16T11:31:15.345-05:00Speaking Words of Wisdom<em>when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me</em><br />
<br />
<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1cfHhAoj3P4" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
An interpretation of the meaning of this song according to a lyric site...this seems to be one of the more popular theories...<br />
<br />
<br />
PAUL circa-1994: "One night during this tense time I had a dream I saw my mum, who'd been dead ten years or so. And it was great to see her because that's a wonderful thing about dreams, you actually are reunited with that person for a second... In the dream she said, 'It'll be alright.' I'm not sure if she used the words 'Let it be' but that was the gist of her advice, it was 'Don't worry too much, it will turn out okay.' It was such a sweet dream I woke up thinking, 'Oh, it was really great to visit with her again.' I felt very blessed to have that dream." <br />
<br />
Sweet Dreams to ALL!<br />
<br />
<br />
Let it BeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-28096374034791364842010-12-14T10:31:00.001-05:002010-12-14T10:41:34.941-05:00Separate the Sorrow...<em>separate the sorrows and collect up all the cream</em><br />
<br />
<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zRf1Ad_Txsg" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
the Wiki Page for the song, originally sung in the 1971 version of <em>Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Candy_Man">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Candy_Man</a><br />
<br />
The Wiki page for Sammy Davis Jr. who was an amazing man.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr</a>.<br />
<br />
When Sammy was married to May Britt interracial marriages were still illegal in 31 states. Sammy was left of the invite of the inaugural ball, hosted by Frank Sinatra because of this. Sammy was later invited to sleep over at the White House by President Nixon and is believed to be the first African American to be invited to do so.<br />
<br />
He has won a Grammy and an Emmy and been nominated for a Golden Globe and a Tony. <br />
<br />
The Rat Pack was originally known as the Clan but changed because Sammy objected because it was too similar to the Ku Klux Klan.<br />
<br />
There are many more interesting facts about this great entertainer, born in Harlem and died in Beverly Hills, who first toured at age 3. He died the same day as Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets.<br />
<br />
If you're so inclined, here's another link to an amazing video of Sammy that brings a tear to my eye... after TEN years I still grieve when the dog up and died...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/SMcfUjIguSs">http://youtu.be/SMcfUjIguSs</a><br />
<br />
In your honor today, Samuel Davis Jr., I am going to make myself a groovy lemon pie...<br />
<br />
and I just might even eat the dishes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-84203214079455460832010-12-08T14:32:00.000-05:002010-12-08T14:32:51.456-05:00My Tender Fantasy...<em>Love me true</em><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Y-bd3aDMGA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Y-bd3aDMGA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
This has to be one of the most loving sensitive ballads ever written. Elvis Presley had the most amazing voice and this song showcases him perfectly.<br />
<br />
I love the way it begs and states at the same. This song should be played in the middle of every argument and epitomizes what love should strive to be.<br />
<br />
It was followed on my iPod, ironically enough, by this Ludacris song.<br />
<br />
<em>in the pouring rain...</em><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U5bjlL0vDw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U5bjlL0vDw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Different songs but not necessary that far apart. True love comes in many colors and flavors. In some ways, it is every bit as romantic.<br />
<br />
Two sides of the same coin....<br />
<br />
<em>"Some times you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't..... "</em><br />
<br />
<em><strong> Almond Joy/Mounds</strong></em><br />
<br />
The wiki link for the song Love Me Tender<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me_Tender_(song">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me_Tender_(song</a>)<br />
<br />
The wiki link to Ludacris' page<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludacris">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludacris</a><br />
<br />
Both pages have some interesting insight....<br />
<br />
like the fact that it was standard procedure for Elvis to receive a 50% writing credit to any song he sang. The other 50% of Love Me Tender was given to the producers wife. When asked why, the producer replied:<br />
<br />
<em>She had nothing to do with writing this song either.</em><br />
<br />
Pretty funny.<br />
<br />
Enjoy them both.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-39858098003449934822010-12-01T10:21:00.000-05:002010-12-01T10:21:50.301-05:00Gray Morning<em>without you here there is less to say</em><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O5J-DtKldpE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O5J-DtKldpE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I woke up to a chilly December morning. Chilly meaning 70 here in FL. It had rained overnight and the morning gray hasn't burned off yet. It reminds me of Maine.<br />
<br />
This was the shuffle song and it grabbed my heart.<br />
<br />
The singer/songwriter is one of my favorites. He was the front man for <strong><em>Men At Work</em></strong>, an Aussie band from the early 80's.<br />
<br />
My iPod includes several of his acoustic songs and I hope to get the chance to see him perform live someday.<br />
<br />
Here's his WikiPage<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Hay">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Hay</a><br />
<br />
and his official page<br />
<a href="http://www.colinhay.com/">http://www.colinhay.com/</a><br />
<br />
This song reminds me of a girl I missUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-86032822633931063282010-11-29T10:27:00.000-05:002010-11-29T10:27:51.436-05:00BuBBly...<em>when you kiss my nose, the feeling shows</em><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jnT193S9F_U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jnT193S9F_U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
This song is for my Rotty... Osceola.<br />
<br />
If you don't know me, then you don't know that I was blessed with the world's most "non-people-friendly" dog known to man for 17 years. My shepherd Czar, whose ashes still rest on my nightstand, went almost everywhere with me. He saw my ups and downs and everything in between. This hundred pound dog lived in a townhouse condo with me. He got dragged around to volleyball tournaments. He endured an awful marriage with me. <br />
<br />
Imagine 17 years... late twenties to early forties...<br />
<br />
think of all the things we go through in that time period. He endured relationships, jobs, different homes, friends, and hardships. I will never forget this dog. Watching him grow old and eventually needing to be put down was the hardest thing I've ever had to endure.... <br />
<br />
So why Bubbly?<br />
<br />
It's because my new "puppy" has become such a joy.<br />
<br />
He's a rescue who was found wondering the streets. He was afraid of people and it took ten days to corral him. He showed signs of abuse and weighed in around 45 lbs when he was coerced by an angel. He eventually ended up with me and he's grown into quite the animal.<br />
<br />
He now weighs in over 100lbs and has become the world's biggest lapdog. He makes me smile EVERY SINGLE DAY. The vet has determined he is somewhere between 4-6 years old and I've had him now for 2 years. He learns new things constantly.<br />
<br />
He sleeps with me.<br />
<br />
He's my alarm clock.... FAITHFULLY.<br />
<br />
He has recently taken to standing at the bedroom doorway and staring at me until I tell him it's ok to go to bed. <br />
<br />
He absolutely loves his Mom-Mom and he loves his walks. <br />
<br />
It is impossible not to smile at him when he prances!<br />
<br />
He's my favorite horse.....<br />
<br />
cuz he's BuBBly!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TwRtgbh1Dr3xgsobbKqgg_J-GsaxGLl7FZyE7HckomJj7sWRj_ibD6nlB0AoS300tCrpdGz5IcyA3SI6lx9tljIXr-y6unQ3pxha-Z813TDf-0it6UesBJv8H2rinkGwwEZGUtIL3Ko/s1600/IMG00008-20100225-0917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TwRtgbh1Dr3xgsobbKqgg_J-GsaxGLl7FZyE7HckomJj7sWRj_ibD6nlB0AoS300tCrpdGz5IcyA3SI6lx9tljIXr-y6unQ3pxha-Z813TDf-0it6UesBJv8H2rinkGwwEZGUtIL3Ko/s320/IMG00008-20100225-0917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-23341203343207322002010-11-24T10:38:00.002-05:002010-11-24T10:38:00.412-05:00Hostage-O<i>All you have to do is ask, I'll be happy to say yes</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FuJAqSkyphQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FuJAqSkyphQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I must confess, the song that came up on shuffle was not this one. The one that did come up is also included at the bottom of this post. <br />
<br />
When it comes to Warren Zevon there is a good chance that you will hit one of his songs at least once every hour on my iPod. I'm a huge fan and the stories I can tell about my relationship with his music would take me hours to relate.<br />
<br />
Let me try to be brief.<br />
<br />
I've heard Warren play on several occasions. I've been a fan of his through his ups and downs. I bought cassettes in bargain bins, albums the day they came out when I'm pretty sure no one knew he even had new music, I've followed his career up until the day he passed away of mesothelioma. I believe he was a troubled genius who was destined not to be realized in his time. I was in the second row for his last live performance on the Late Show with David Letterman, one in which he was the only guest. If you slow the VH1 special down real slow, you'll see me at the backstage door standing in the rain with less than a dozen people waiting to shake his hand.<br />
<br />
Why the change in song from what came up on shuffle?<br />
<br />
As I was searching YouTube for videos I happened to come across this one which happens to be from the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia and I noticed the date was March 17, 2000 (St. Patty's Day) and I realized that I was at this show. <br />
<br />
The TLA was an old movie theater that they had ripped the seats out of. It was not all that nice at the time (they have since renovated it and made it a little nicer). At the time there were no seats, tables, or waitress service. You just kinda stood around and waited for the act. My wife (at the time) and I met friends there and got there early enough to stand two feet from Warren. He has a long introduction to this song as it is his sequel to Poor Poor Pitiful Me.<br />
<br />
I'm amazed at how quiet it was during the song. <br />
<br />
I remember that night he did a great version of Hand of Fate from the Rolling Stones. The show was outstanding and I will never forget it.<br />
<br />
Pretty cool to stumble onto this audio.<br />
<br />
Here's the video of the song that actually came up on shuffle...which was written about David Crosby...<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bg_fj2bWFiM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></P><p></P><p></P><p></param></P><p></P><p><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></P><p></P><p></param></P><p></P><p><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></P><p></P><p></param></P><p></P><p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bg_fj2bWFiM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
Here's Warren's wiki page: <br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Zevon">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Zevon</a> <br />
<br />
and his official page where you can sign a petition to get him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: <br />
<a href="http://www.warrenzevon.com/">http://www.warrenzevon.com/</a> <br />
<br />
When asked by Letterman what he had learned in his battle with terminal cancer, Warren replied "Enjoy every sandwich." <br />
<br />
I agree.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-75954062185361523632010-11-23T10:11:00.001-05:002010-11-23T11:57:42.399-05:00I was AFRAID...<em>at first...</em><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBR2G-iI3-I?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBR2G-iI3-I?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Seriously, how does one NOT feel empowered with this song?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnBxXZ6x_p4vH0v0XMoC9EePY_9h3C6KlXAFP7guRGwPAscFZDnlFMzsC4eP4GG344Wt-52ZgarNDMnuyv8Vmi8-YIgRd4dH5C9N-s1OtXGPt2D3jmZUxpYPoVP6mZkVMxEbKI7TcZyA/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnBxXZ6x_p4vH0v0XMoC9EePY_9h3C6KlXAFP7guRGwPAscFZDnlFMzsC4eP4GG344Wt-52ZgarNDMnuyv8Vmi8-YIgRd4dH5C9N-s1OtXGPt2D3jmZUxpYPoVP6mZkVMxEbKI7TcZyA/s200/poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I will always associate this song with the movie <strong><em>The Replacements</em></strong>. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I love the intro of this song in the movie by Orlando Jones.<br />
<br />
<br />
" At first I was afraid....<br />
<br />
long pause.....<br />
<br />
I was petrified. "<br />
<br />
... Clifford Franklin<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm1W63cSclIEnoR2uQcGJDBODU1ScUhltm8LEfh2B19UVaZSs_QCNcu3t3ng3Qz9vra8_nQf_f7oAzZ-01-EzZkTtYnBgf0FEd8nysiSnHSa1ib26PTC1FvcVcAV121ppYmBLmwRE3E4/s1600/orlando_jones_the_replacements_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm1W63cSclIEnoR2uQcGJDBODU1ScUhltm8LEfh2B19UVaZSs_QCNcu3t3ng3Qz9vra8_nQf_f7oAzZ-01-EzZkTtYnBgf0FEd8nysiSnHSa1ib26PTC1FvcVcAV121ppYmBLmwRE3E4/s320/orlando_jones_the_replacements_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnBxXZ6x_p4vH0v0XMoC9EePY_9h3C6KlXAFP7guRGwPAscFZDnlFMzsC4eP4GG344Wt-52ZgarNDMnuyv8Vmi8-YIgRd4dH5C9N-s1OtXGPt2D3jmZUxpYPoVP6mZkVMxEbKI7TcZyA/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-82608943528841796482010-11-21T11:34:00.001-05:002010-11-21T11:55:29.553-05:00Second Wind<em>wait in that corner until that breeze blows in</em><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VlQ6Ka4yg_8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VlQ6Ka4yg_8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Billy Joel was asked to write this song to bring awareness to and prevention of teenage suicide. He donated all the royalties from it to suicide prevention. He admitted that he once attempted suicide as a teen.<br />
<br />
The wiki page has a cool fact about the original video as well. Apparently the young boy in the video later grew up to be one of the hosts of MythBusters.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Only_Human_(Second_Wind">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Only_Human_(Second_Wind</a>)<br />
<br />
The the lines from the song:<br />
<br />
<em>You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good</em><br />
<em>You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood</em><br />
<em>It's alright, it's alright</em><br />
<em>Sometimes that's what it takes</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes</em><br />
<em>You better believe there will be times in your life</em><br />
<em>When you'll be feeling like a stumbling fool</em><br />
<em>So take it from me you'll learn more from your accidents</em><br />
<em>Than anything that you could ever learn at school</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Don't forget your second wind</em><br />
<em>Sooner of later you'll get your second wind</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain</em><br />
<em>You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again</em><br />
<em>It's alright, it's alright</em><br />
<em>Though you feel your heart break</em><br />
<em>You're only human, you're gonna have to deal with heartache</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Just like a boxer in a title fight</em><br />
<em>You got to walk in that ring all alone</em><br />
<em>You're not the only one who's made mistakes</em><br />
<em>But they're the only thing that you can truly call your own</em><br />
<em>Don't forget your second wind</em><br />
<em>Wait in that corner until that breeze blows in</em><br />
<br />
<em>You've been keeping to yourself these days</em><br />
<em>Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong</em><br />
<em>Sometimes you just want to lay down and die</em><br />
<em>That emotion can be so strong</em><br />
<em>But hold on</em><br />
<em>Till that old second wind comes along</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else</em><br />
<em>But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself</em><br />
<br />
<em>It's alright, it's alright</em><br />
<em>Sometimes that's all it takes</em><br />
<em>We're only human</em><br />
<em>We're supposed to make mistakes</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>But I survived all those long lonely days</em><br />
<em>When it seemed I did not have a friend</em><br />
<em>Cause all I needed was a little faith</em><br />
<em>So I could catch my </em><br />
<br />
My thoughts:<br />
<br />
Billy Joel is an inspiration to me...<br />
because if that toad-looking sap can score some sweet model love....there's hope for all us "not so beautiful" people (No offense Billy)<br />
<br />
My three favorite lines are :<br />
<br />
<em>Like a boxer in a title fight, you got to walk in that ring all alone</em><br />
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Pretty powerful image. We all fight the good fight and we all have the power to dig down and be Rocky. Life kicks ALL of us in some way or another, and we all have the Rocky stamina in us... sometimes you just need the right John Williams' music to catch that chicken.<br />
<br />
<em>Wait in that corner until that breeze blows in</em><br />
<br />
Sometimes you just have to sit on the stool and catch your breath. Imagine if you were a knight with the flu and had to go fight a dragon, you probably wouldn't stand much of a chance now would ya? So realize that sometime you just have to wait out the flu and fight when you're ready. There's no shame in that. It's just smart!<br />
<br />
<em>Cause all I needed was a little faith</em><br />
<br />
This one is a favorite because I am an agnostic. I believe every man's religious beliefs are his own. But that does not mean I don't have faith. Faith is an amazing thing. We all have some kind of purpose, sometimes we just don't get to realize it in our time.<br />
<br />
A good read:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_People_You_Meet_in_Heaven">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_People_You_Meet_in_Heaven</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-9148680213991170292010-11-19T08:19:00.000-05:002010-11-19T08:19:07.804-05:00The Bride<blockquote><em>If the groom would've known, he'd have had a fit</em></blockquote><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qbDAp0lKolc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qbDAp0lKolc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<em>"A memory of true love is like a favorite song; No matter how many times it plays again, You never get tired of it." </em><br />
<br />
This song evokes memories of a blue-green Ford Fairlane 500, chasing skirts, smiles, laughter, and a time when there were no cares in the world. <br />
<br />
This song was released in 1983 on the album Too Low for Zero by Elton John. I remember being naive back then. Freddy Mercury was still alive and I had no idea what AIDS was and had absolutely NO "gaydar". Now I find it a testament to the bliss of ignorance of a teenager. Everyone at that age thinks they know the true meaning of everything and now I look back and see that I really knew very little and it makes me smile. Ain't life grand!<br />
<br />
Today I have to look back and ponder...<br />
<br />
what was Elton thinking when he sang the line...<br />
<br />
<em>"if the groom woulda known he'd have had a fit...</em><br />
<em>about his wife and the things we did....."</em><br />
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Did he mean shopping?<br />
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I dedicate this today to a girl named Jen who just happens to be getting married today. It's a fun song and carefree... just like a wedding should be! <br />
<br />
Enjoy it Little!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-29887403895853803722010-11-18T14:29:00.001-05:002010-11-18T14:36:02.837-05:00Choked Up<em>the Home of the Brave</em><br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QRvVzaQ6i8A?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QRvVzaQ6i8A?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
This version comes from the 1983 NBA All Star Game. I remember watching it live on TV at the time and I remember thinking to myself that there would never ever be a finer version of this song done.<br />
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There's several interesting videos out there that relate to this event. In 2004, The anthem was sung by Marvin Gaye's daughter Nona with a large video screen of Marvin behind her. It was a memorable duet. There are also several other videos featuring Marvin singing tamer versions at NFL games and MLB games. He sang at the request of Tiger broadcasting great Ernie Harwell for game 4 of the 1968 World Series and did a more traditional version only to be followed on the following night by a non-traditional version sung by Jose Feliciano. It caused quite a stir. It is available here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrY9RVfVkws">Jose Feliciano at the World Series</a><br />
<br />
Feliciano was asked to repeat his performance this past May. The story and the video is worth the 2 minute watch.<br />
<br />
As most of us know, Marvin Gaye was tragically shot to death by his father on April 1, 1983, less than two months after performing the anthem. Some facts you may not know. He died the day before his birthday. He was shot with the gun he gave his father for protection. The previous year he had staged a major comeback and won the first two Grammys of his career for <em>Sexual Healing</em>. Marvin's father received only 5 years probation for the shooting after it was determined he was beaten by his son before the shooting.<br />
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You can read much more about Marvin on his Wiki page:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye">Marvin_Gaye</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-63399406127259274902010-11-17T14:48:00.001-05:002010-11-17T14:52:30.497-05:00Drop Kick Me Jesus<i>I've got the will Lord if you've got the toe</i><br />
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<i> </i><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jsWg0bt9kp4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jsWg0bt9kp4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
<br />
The wiki page for Grammy award winner Bobby Bare who recorded the song:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bare">Bobby Bare</a><br />
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This song itself was released in 1976 and nominated for a Grammy. It was used in a great bar scene from the movie <strong>The Deer Hunter</strong>.<br />
<br />
I was introduced to the music of Bobby Bare by my good friend Jeff Orr in high school. We spent lots of time drinking to his music and he could very well be responsible for the enjoyment I have for country music. Thanks Jeff!<br />
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This particular version has a third verse which isn't included on my iPod but may soon replace the version I do have.<br />
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Enjoy it football fans.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-44983130600051067782010-11-16T12:54:00.004-05:002010-11-16T12:57:41.464-05:00We had Joy!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><i>"The stars that we reached were just starfish on the beach"<br />
<b></b></i></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DXWvb3sDVlo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DXWvb3sDVlo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></div></div><br />
The band is Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. The song is Seasons in the Sun.<br />
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Here's the band.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QS6ocrkeBjrm3ukl8LZvoSgUVRz46vJYIlVLHAq0_B1LNcJXwW6qLM45CBygvfv7e3IN8jc5-oGRqPeyZcIk6o9qDC1wDZcoAEfAiPCQHEBlN-13Stv_BxALZeoAaBBzDTHqN7kVJ7o/s1600/me+first+a+the+gg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QS6ocrkeBjrm3ukl8LZvoSgUVRz46vJYIlVLHAq0_B1LNcJXwW6qLM45CBygvfv7e3IN8jc5-oGRqPeyZcIk6o9qDC1wDZcoAEfAiPCQHEBlN-13Stv_BxALZeoAaBBzDTHqN7kVJ7o/s320/me+first+a+the+gg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And their Wiki page. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_First_and_the_Gimme_Gimmes">the Wiki link</a><br />
<br />
The Song:<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonHBFk-UZEQhhbcTldEAYG5V-YIxeuUoj0TRdWv0V9Gky5sOBneTNwOcnTKR-95NxivxwphozZqwQj_zs1FzViYQ7jAWsRnRbonB35w0Kx1UBUfCxavV6AqZv8rjtPk46jocE4ohnZis/s1600/SEASONS_IN_THE_SUN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonHBFk-UZEQhhbcTldEAYG5V-YIxeuUoj0TRdWv0V9Gky5sOBneTNwOcnTKR-95NxivxwphozZqwQj_zs1FzViYQ7jAWsRnRbonB35w0Kx1UBUfCxavV6AqZv8rjtPk46jocE4ohnZis/s200/SEASONS_IN_THE_SUN.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The Wiki Page for the Song <br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasons_in_the_Sun">Seasons_in_the_Sun Wiki page</a><br />
<br />
Some little known facts gathered from the page. The song was a no.1 hit for Terry Jacks in 1974. The B-side is a song called "Put the Bone in". He released it right after his wife left him. It was previously recorded by the Beach Boys and left off their latest album. The song was originally written by a Belgian singer songwriter. It has been covered by many people in many different languages, including Vietnamese. The song is actually a goodbye.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-86242647224628445142010-11-15T11:02:00.014-05:002010-11-15T16:59:45.684-05:00Shuffle<strong>Oh Snap!</strong><br />
<br />
This is what came up on my iPod while I was walking the dog this morning.<br />
<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zc7UOUU4wo0?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zc7UOUU4wo0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's a link to his homepage which includes links to future appearances and a bio.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bizmarkie.com/">http://www.bizmarkie.com/</a><br />
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There's also videos of his Radio Shack and Heineken commercials.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and then there's this too....<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58o-jQsi91LeIfG0Juf7jf-EEZ5txRcRWz6GyJ_nbS8USgftkjg2BIq9H1U0QgBzntlw9K7ggIdKT9-oyY501kIeiRADvfQDGIWuNs90MnmFmu07Hs2CfSIOyaKj1g572EEvLtB4a5-k/s1600/doll_lg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 263px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539811737444655186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58o-jQsi91LeIfG0Juf7jf-EEZ5txRcRWz6GyJ_nbS8USgftkjg2BIq9H1U0QgBzntlw9K7ggIdKT9-oyY501kIeiRADvfQDGIWuNs90MnmFmu07Hs2CfSIOyaKj1g572EEvLtB4a5-k/s400/doll_lg.jpg" /></a><br />
This little doll comes in the cereal box packaging and is available thru the webpage store only....<br />
for $150 each!<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's a link to the Wikipedia page.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biz_Markie">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biz_Markie</a><br />
<br />
There's a lot of interesting facts that I didn't know including the fact that Biz Markie was one of the first rappers sued for "sampling" without giving credit to the original artist. He was sued by Gilbert O' Sullivan for sampling his hit <em>Alone Again (Naturally)</em> on his track <em>I Need a Haircut</em>. He eventually had to pull the record until the rights were cleared. The suit set a legal precedent for the emerging rap industry.<br />
<br />
On a personal note, this song has special meaning for me because it has become a favorite of my niece and I. We sing it loud and very offkey... and of course we giggle like the children we are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-74417149146869595322009-09-08T13:13:00.006-04:002009-09-08T13:40:52.780-04:00Beer Ten ThousandBeer number 10,000 was a Michelob Ultra.<br /><br />After enduring a rainout and a double header with less than spectacular sales, we finally made it to Thirsty Thursday. The magic number had been reduced to 29 and it was a given that it would happen today. 29 beers on a $2 Thursday would be easy as pie… sweet delicious pie.<br /><br />My sister had rounded up her friends and we were definitely going to finally put this milestone behind me. <br /><br />The staff was ready and had put together an announcement.<br /> <br />The fans were ready as I was constantly approached with “did you do it yet?” <br /><br />The ushers were all aware and ready for it to happen.<br /> <br />Shaun in the kitchen was following along to see who it was going to be. <br /> <br />The GNO girls were buying beers trying to be the one.<br /> <br />My best customer Paul didn’t care if it was him… I’m pretty sure he has bought a thousand off me this year and deserves an award himself.<br /><br />Another great pair of customers Ray and Kari bought four trying to be the one…<br /><br />They were close.<br /><br />I was choked up when I sold it. It seemed perfectly fitting that the couple who bought it was celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary. They told me they had been out to the park for Thirsty Thursday before and had even bought beer from me on occasion. I’m sorry to say I didn’t remember them… but I will from now on.<br /><br />It was raining and the field was drenched. It was also fitting that the game was eventually rained out and I was soaked to the bone. After the rain out, I made my round of regular bars but none of my regular bartenders were working and my favorite crew at Friday’s were all out of commission due to their bar championships earlier in the day, so I ended the day all alone telling my story to a nice couple of fill-in bartenders from Fort Myers. They were very nice and even gave me a little crown to celebrate. I overtipped on the way out.<br /><br />It left me some quiet time to reflect on the year and the milestone that was reached. I can’t believe it went so fast. It has been a great year of selling beer for a great organization. Ripken baseball has hired all the right people for each and every job. It has been a joy dealing with customers and I really can’t remember more than a handful of unhappy patrons.<br /> <br />Tomorrow is the first playoff game in the team’s history. It may well be the last game of the season as the remaining two games are on the road. I’m sure it will come and go with little fanfare but after the game I will take a moment to watch them hose down the mound and sweep clean the basepaths, like I usually do. I will sit quietly as the cleaning crew does the final cleaning of the year and I will watch the cathedral slip quietly into silence. I will sell my final beer of the season to myself and I will wait patiently for Spring Training to start in February.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who made the year a memorable one. Thank you Joe Hart for being a great GM and putting out a product we can be proud of. Thank you Nick for being an awesome boss, who kicked me when I needed kicked and patted me on the back when no-one else did. Thank you to EVERY one of the ushers who were all an awesome group of people. They made every lap around the stadium fun. I will miss you all and hope that you will come and see me at the Broad Street Bar. Thanks to all the kitchen staff and runners/servers. We all worked together in the heat of the commissary and made it through the war as a team. Thanks to the parking crew who made me smile as I strolled in late. Thanks to the crew in the store, the bartenders in the tiki bar, the ticket office, the interns whose names I never learned but consider friends nonetheless.<br /><br />I’d also like to thank Broad Street Bar and Grill/Treasure Lanes for donating a gift certificate to patron 10K, as did TGIFridays. I’d also like to thank Peace River Distributing and Budweiser for their donation. I’d like to thank Leslie and Eric Gowdy for donating a round of golf at KingsGate and Waterlefe, and of course the Charlotte County Stone Crabs and Ripken Baseball for giving me the opportunity to sell 10,000 beers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQUFxFZ4qvoicxIXstGKkY1EdyFzUagLIi5BJdkahuTFkhhXn5BHrLhe2i7UcU3egh_JEEfiFPo9epZyQk_zHOzj98OUO3WmeoAfrt3x0Xdtu4322iVHly_V2nyzIeWeM6Fk_y4Co0vU/s1600-h/10K+beer+pic1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQUFxFZ4qvoicxIXstGKkY1EdyFzUagLIi5BJdkahuTFkhhXn5BHrLhe2i7UcU3egh_JEEfiFPo9epZyQk_zHOzj98OUO3WmeoAfrt3x0Xdtu4322iVHly_V2nyzIeWeM6Fk_y4Co0vU/s400/10K+beer+pic1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379147135328582930" /></a><br />Thank You Dan and Bobbie Durso from North Port!<br /><br />I decided to give a little back by donating all of my tips on the last game of the season to Dollars for Mammograms, a non-profit charity which supplies mammograms for under and non-insured women of Charlotte County. It has been a favorite charity of my sister and the girls of GNO, who have always been supportive in everything I do. <br />It worked out well as tips were very good for the day. The charity was happy and I felt good. I was especially touched by those who gave money without buying anything. I was however a tad bit “uneasy” about the number of people who said I looked good in my pink shirt. Maybe it would have been better if more of them were women and not men? Personally, I felt like the big pink elephant in the room…<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxBEuCAixEvGYJ6Wpd-8wq03XVnjqzzdBlf5_VH9Dq_rFNgVfbyN8OOdRNwWiFfrbSBr2hCy4tZkk7agT9FZUoYsrGWEsqYpNkEKOroUHWwp6myIQeXQC0QEJTiokP04we8JoAtehI1o/s1600-h/Dave+in+Pink.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxBEuCAixEvGYJ6Wpd-8wq03XVnjqzzdBlf5_VH9Dq_rFNgVfbyN8OOdRNwWiFfrbSBr2hCy4tZkk7agT9FZUoYsrGWEsqYpNkEKOroUHWwp6myIQeXQC0QEJTiokP04we8JoAtehI1o/s400/Dave+in+Pink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379150940300238370" /></a><br />Pretty in Pink?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-32080579813469977652009-08-19T16:12:00.003-04:002009-08-20T08:51:13.815-04:00A Few Good BeersWhat a busy week this could be.<br /><br />For those of you who aren’t in constant touch with me, here’s a brief explanation of where I happen to be in this wacky world of Fungus/Beerman/Davey.<br /><br />I was blessed enough to get the opportunity once again to be the mobile beverage dispenser at Charlotte County Stadium, not just for the local minor league Charlotte Stone Crabs but also for the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. Some days I have help from the professional vendors from the Trop in Tampa, but most days it’s just me.<br /> <br />If you’ve been to a game this year, you’ve seen me. So far, I’ve missed only one game, and the day following that game I was bombarded with so many complaints about taking the day off, that I knew it would be my only one. No worries… because I am a trooper. Besides, on my off day, I missed the park as much as it missed me.<br /><br />The weather has not proved as cooperative as it could be for this inaugural season. I’ve spent many days soaking wet yelling through the raindrops and I’ve been drenched most nights either from humidity or precipitation. I’ve spent every night following a game doing laundry, since I only have one shirt. We’ve seen some extremely hot days and have had our share of older fans overcome by heat, but that’s all part of the price to live in Paradise. <br /><br />Sound like a fun job? <br /><br />I love it.<br /> <br />I love everything about it. I love feeling tired at the end of the day. I love trying to make everyone happy and providing an atmosphere where the fans feel like they’ve gotten entertained and not cheated out of their hard earned dollars. I love the staff. I love the regulars. I love the ballpark.<br /> <br />Part of my duty (yes Box… I said duty) is to keep track of my sales. My paycheck is commission based and therefore calculated from the totals. In case you were wondering, YES… I DO ACCEPT TIPS! I know beers are pricey at $5 each but I do have a large dog to feed. Anyway, this means that from Day 1 of Spring Training I’ve had my beer total noted on my calendar. One day a while back I got curious and decided to add it all up.<br /><br />I was amazed by the sum.<br /> <br />Some time in this upcoming homestand, barring a hurricane or plague, I will sell beer number 10,000.<br /> <br />Ten thousand bottles of beer…<br /><br />Think about that for a while.<br /><br />160,000 ounces… 413 cases… 1,250 gallons… 83 half barrels?… 10,000 bottle caps twisted off…<br /><br />10,000 mostly happy people.<br /> <br />I remember some of the good ones and some of the bad ones too. Some have fallen to the ground and been replaced. Some have been to family and close friends. Some have been to weathered veterans and even a couple to a stripper on her 21st birthday (bought by her mother). Many have been to regulars who buy at almost every game and many were to people I met once and will probably never see again.<br /><br />But EVERY one was a joy…<br /><br />Even the difficult ones with no tip.<br /><br />I’ll post the running total in the side bar so you can all follow along. I’m planning on taking a camera that day and writing a press release celebrating beer 10k so everyone will know when it is and who buys it.<br /><br />Thanks to all involved.<br /><br />Stay tuned for the next blog where I’ll be promoting the grand opening of the Broad Street Bar and Grill, a new deck bar in town that has decided it’s in their best interest to hire two fat guys to bartend.<br /> <br />Honestly… what could they have been thinking???<br /><br />The grand opening party is all weekend August 28 to 30. Come on out!<br /><br />FYI… the tagline at the bar says it all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDJTLCXr57T4GpUmEa8BEBA7dJ40NF07zPgnYrjdgLAM9MaXHJzUzl1-0LhJRehJkYqZzPYmigpGtElppdha0Y4-8KYq9geCOUfj8cb6fBjIJP7Qt-Sew0YvFJpSJk9S43DaQyZCY8Jo/s1600-h/Broad+Street+logo+version+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDJTLCXr57T4GpUmEa8BEBA7dJ40NF07zPgnYrjdgLAM9MaXHJzUzl1-0LhJRehJkYqZzPYmigpGtElppdha0Y4-8KYq9geCOUfj8cb6fBjIJP7Qt-Sew0YvFJpSJk9S43DaQyZCY8Jo/s400/Broad+Street+logo+version+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371772310514148194" /></a><br /><br />NOTE: I had to remove and reinstall the poll due to the fact that the moron who developed it could not spell. If you voted and it doesn't appear, please vote again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-20847763310586428552009-08-13T03:40:00.007-04:002009-08-13T04:06:56.517-04:00PerspectiveTonight’s post has a lot to do with the ballpark. It was a busy Wed. night…. Not according to management, or ticket takers or ushers or parking… but it was a good night to me. Apparently we had beer drinkers.<br /><div><br />I like beer drinkers. They are happy… for the most part.</div><br /><div><br />Yesterday I caught my second foul ball. I felt bad and gave it to the guy I stole it from. It’s not the ball that gets me; it’s the thrill of the athletic ability to time the catch.</div><br /><div><br />No one at this park knows that I once played in a state championship… that I should have played in college… that I could have played at this level…<br /></div><br /><div>Perspective.<br /></div><br /><div>Tonight our home team blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth. I bought our pitching coach a beer afterwards, because I knew he thought it was his fault we lost, but more so because I just like him. He felt like he was to blame because it was his decision to put in the new guy… 3-1 lead in the ninth….</div><br /><div><br />Perspective.<br /></div><br /><div>I love the park. I love my job.</div><br /><div><br />I meet so many fun people. I meet interns who are just getting out of college and working for peanuts. I meet people trying to climb the ladder into major league baseball. I meet young girls chasing future stars. I meet fans, trying to get autographs. I meet …</div><br /><div><br />Everyone.<br /></div><br /><div>And I love it.<br /></div><br /><div>Perspective.<br /></div><br /><div>I tried to tell Bill our pitching coach that for every one we lose… we win one we shouldn’t have. That’s life too. Sometimes it just doesn’t matter what choice you make…<br /></div><br /><div>One of my favorite lines from a movie is from Remember the Titans…<br /></div><br /><div>Coach Boone’s wife says, “Sometimes life is hard, for no reason at all” </div><br /><div><br />That’s perspective.<br /></div><br /><div>And sometimes… we just get that good day. We get the rainbow. We get to see the osprey fly into the left field lightpost carrying a fish. We see the awesome catch and the comeback.<br /></div><br /><div>Perspective…<br /></div><br /><div>When I was in high school I lived close to my high school. I never missed a day of high school and I was the first one there every day, mainly because I love my friends… they are my family.<br />I remember driving to the school one afternoon and sitting in left field, past the foul pole, all alone. I remember thinking (at 18) if I was ever to be buried somewhere, this would be it. They had just mowed the grass and it was heaven. There was a grove of three evergreens there and the view overlooked the valley.<br />I am now almost 30 years older and I had that same feeling tonight. After the game, the cleaning crew sees me sitting in the stands and we joke and laugh about making me leave and go home… but to me… <br /><br />it’s all perspective….<br /><br />Some of the people I have met when I played ball in high school are still friends of mine that read this blog… and some of the new friends who read this I will have just met this year… but they are all friends.<br /><br /> And good ones at that.<br /></div><br /><div>Perspective.<br /></div><br /><div>Yes… we lost tonight, but I feel lucky because I seem to win every night.<br /><br />Happy birthday Dawn, I luv ya Keith, I miss ya Big Jim, You are the best bartender (without a doubt Mary), Go Vols (for Nick), I’ve been crushing on you for 30 years Kim, Thanks Ray for ending Beercott 2009, Stick with the school Box, Luv ya Sis and Nipper and GNO and this could go on and on…<br /></div><br /><div>And this was supposed to be a post about getting to beer 10,000 at the park…</div><br /><div><br />To be continued?<br /></div><br /><div>I’ll end with a picture.</div><br /><br />This was a regular when I was working for the Redfish. I remember him because he always smiled and he was always happy. His name was Jay and he always had his boy JJ with him…<br />He was killed in a car accident a couple weeks back.<br />I did not know him all that well, and he probably only knew me as beerman… yet it has me in tears because he was a good soul and I miss him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8W4viE2Ewf9I1vCmIfjvbjvJmK15qffng9SjAMMfRjEJtVxZn2POd_2LNCZMcwhFpf75SAtD00V6Ub-5NoErrUMI6ctmJVjn9Zkb8sG_PvMnAXGAw3NisfYjUilowqiq7rWPPMj53RE/s1600-h/Jay.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369351750508384210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8W4viE2Ewf9I1vCmIfjvbjvJmK15qffng9SjAMMfRjEJtVxZn2POd_2LNCZMcwhFpf75SAtD00V6Ub-5NoErrUMI6ctmJVjn9Zkb8sG_PvMnAXGAw3NisfYjUilowqiq7rWPPMj53RE/s400/Jay.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Perspective.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-89103480842833267992009-07-12T21:42:00.004-04:002009-07-12T22:27:43.596-04:00The Perfect Redneck MomentA sign from above said it was time.<br /><br /><br />I’ve been blocked for months.<br /><br /><br />Oh, I have had plenty to write about but just haven’t felt the proper motivation…<br /><br /><br />Until today.<br /><br /><br />I’ve had plenty of stories to tell…<br /><br /><br />I’m back doing what I love (selling beer at the ballpark); I’m still doing all kinds of silly things while drinking beer with Box. We’ve traveled across the country, from Washington to St. Augustine in a 22 foot truck full of furniture, complete with awesome pictures from Mt. Rushmore, Budweiser in St. Louis, Sturgis, the Corn Palace in Iowa, GRACELAND (capitalized for reverence), Beale St., New Orleans, and even a Testicle Festival sign in Wyoming.<br /><br /><br />I’ve met celebrities like Cal Ripken Jr. and Jamie Lee Presley.<br /><br /><br />I’ve rescued a Rottweiler who has bitten me, bitten Box, has irritable bowl syndrome, and eats 50 lbs. of dog food every three weeks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJyBDHAuAIkTLHJHVK0938JQJbCPfUiGKkJI-lYJi0lEigqe2wa4KjM4ioQNhSELfFBATJ6FwaBFImMG6e8rZPm_XWv4MrBuEnXC246dzzu7fizbTwN5xfI1_q4KrtJeOwhkA0saPqCY/s1600-h/PhilsWSchamps2008.jpg"></a>I’ve taken a second job as a bartender, had a girlfriend for awhile, been back and forth to PA several times, shared the World Champion Phillies experience with friends in Philly, shared the AL Champion Rays experience and Spring Training with Tampa Bay Rays players, seen parades, printed shirts, sold shirts, had 4 ft of grass in my yard to mow, sold beer to 7,000 people, won a Dead Pool, made new friends, found old friends, made more new friends….<br /><br />You get the picture.<br /><br />All this things were blogworthy, yet they did not inspire me to write again…<br /><br />Until today.<br /><br />I got to the Broad Street Bar and Grill at 1PM. Box is working the bar, tending solo for the first time. He was there for me yesterday, when I soloed for the first time, and I would be there for him for the duration of his inaugural run at the rail. We were working on developing our new signature shot, the Jelly Donut (what else would two fat guys have as a shot?) Needless to say, I tried to keep him busy by keeping me oiled to make the time fly. Luckily we also had two Mexicans to help us stay entertained by playing Mexican heavy metal and Mexican polka music (think Chicken Dance… they did ironically order chicken wings!)<br /><br /><br />Afterwards we were going to TGIFridays for an outdoor fundraising event. The event was held in the parking lot, following a motorcycle run and all our favorite bartenders from Friday’s were working in some capacity or another. Our buddy RayRay was playing in the band. He even dedicated a song to us, with a story behind it. We had coerced the girls in the crowd to scream Simple Man because it’s his signature song but he’s grown weary of playing it. Why would you tell us this RayRay?<br /><br />As we sat in the back of the crowd quietly laughing at everyone around us (don’t judge us, it’s not personal), we began to notice the tattoos.<br /><br /><br />Our bartending buddy Mike… also known to us as Pac cuz he thinks he’s gansta and we gave him the nickname Tu-4-one Pac. (Don’t tell him because he doesn’t know yet)… just got a new tattoo. He has a “Made in Newark” tattoo and recently added an Ace Frehley to go with his Paul Stanley in his ongoing KISS arm sleeve.<br /><br />In front of us, I notice on the left calf of an older gentleman, the Earnhardt number 3. I am a NASCAR fan and this tattoo is not uncommon in the state of Florida, nor do I necessarily think it’s all that redneck.<br /><br /><br />I didn’t say it wasn’t redneck… just not ALL that redneck.<br /><br />But…<br /><br /><br />I then noticed that it contained the Groodwrench logo above it (Dale’s sponsor) and the word Sr. underneath it.<br /><br />Then I saw the right calf contained the red #8 with the Budweiser logo above and Jr. written underneath it.<br /><br />Not enough to make me write…<br /><br />Sure… I pointed it out to Box and we laughed about it… until I noticed his left arm had a tattoo of a snook on it. For those that don’t know, a snook is a local Florida fish.<br /><br />We are well on our way to a true redneck.<br /><br /><br />Can it get better?<br /><br />Yes… right arm… a grouper… (another local fish).<br /><br /><br />We are on our way to the perfect redneck moment.<br /><br />David Allen Coe sings a song called the perfect country song. In it the author claims to have written the perfect country song, to which Coe refutes his claim because the song does not contain anything about his mama, prison, a pickup trick, or being drunk in the rain. He adds a verse and it becomes the perfect country song… if you’ve never heard it, download it.<br /><br /><br />I am trying to describe the perfect redneck moment.<br /><br />We were trying to get a picture on Box’s camera phone but the resolution and lighting would not have done it justice… so I will attempt to describe it.<br /><br />It is in my opinion, the perfect redneck picture of the perfect redneck moment.<br /><br /><br />Frame:<br /><br />Older gentleman, shorts, tattered white tee shirt containing a Confederate flag, baseball cap (flag design… These Colors Don’t Run), dark sunglasses…<br /><br />Nascar and fish tattoos.<br /><br />The band is playing David Allen Coe’s perfect country song. They have just gotten to the line “I was drunk, the day my mom, got out of prison.”<br /><br /><br />In the background there is a young woman who is 9 and one half months pregnant. The indentation is still on her belly button from the portion of the cord they neglected to remove from the last toddler she gave birth to approximately nine months and a day earlier.<br /><br />She is wearing a shirt that says Sexy on it…<br /><br />She is smoking a cigarette.<br /><br /><br />She is smiling to reveal her missing tooth.<br /><br />Next to her is a woman holding a small infant, who is catching the exhaled smoke.<br /><br />In the far background, you can see a decked out Harley from the ride.<br /><br />In the foreground, you can see yellow caution tape blocking off the parking lot.<br /><br />My perfect Redneck photo would have to contain audio, not just for the twang of the Perfect Country Song, but for the words that Box leaned over and said into my ear, which made this the Perfect Redneck Moment.<br /><br /><br />“Dude...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think that baby’s retarded.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You may all thank Box for making the perfect redneck moment to inspire me back to this blog after almost a year.<br /><br />Come do it in person at the new outdoor bar which he and I will be ‘tending, adjoined to Treasure Lanes in Port Charlotte. (The Broad St. Bar and Grill… opening soon…stay tuned!)<br /><br />I am determined to add a new Facebook, Myspace and blog for the bar so you can all be virtual regulars. We are also in the planning stages of the grand opening in which we hope to include music from RayRay, Bruno, et.al and a kick-ass party. You will all be invited.<br />Circa end of August.<br /><br />Comment me on this and keep me motivated to tell you the stories of the cross country trip and post the hundreds of pictures, including Box riding a giant bunny and me drooling at the Budweiser plant and posing with ClydesDale Earnhardt.<br /><br />It’s good to be back!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-9810346744880382502008-09-12T14:02:00.003-04:002008-09-12T14:15:49.777-04:00I KNOW I KNOW (geez... I have a life ya know!)Hi there boys and girls.<br /><br />I had a post written awhile back and all it needed were the pictures added.<br /><br />Then I wanted to change it to a new idea.<br /><br />Then I got drunk. <br /><br />Box too.<br /><br />Now, I am juggling a bunch of things right now, but I will have a new one up by Monday BECAUSE... I'm flying out on TUESDAY.<br /><br />That means all you PA peeps who read me need to contact me and schedule your drinking time.<br /><br />The trip to OBX leaves Friday and returns the following Saturday.<br /><br />YOU KNOW there will be plenty of posts from that trip!!!<br /><br />And yes...<br /><br />There is a layover on this flight!<br /><br />and yes...<br /><br />I have not booked the return flight...<br /><br />C'mon... <br /><br />I'd only cancel it anyway<br /><br /><br />Keep checking and thanks for reading.<br /><br />Take the poll at the bottom!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-78269004034567119262008-08-15T14:28:00.029-04:002010-11-28T11:22:38.024-05:00Back in the FL<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To all you that voted that I wouldn't leave PA…</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;">YOU'RE WRONG!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">My flight back was a great one. Someone remind me to send an email to <a href="http://www.usa3000.com/">http://www.usa3000.com/</a> and comment on how great their service is. They got me into town 40 minutes early. They beat United by a good 15 hours!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Anyway, being back in town has put me right back under the gun again. I was able to get to Damsel's birthday party, although 'Box and I ruined the surprised by stopping in on Wed. after a couple buckets and wings at the ex-Jet kickers place (if he wants me to use the name, I gots to get paid!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">The party went well and led to a couple more days of a whirlwind tour of "welcome back to town", complete with some kind of monkey jello shots at the Nav-A Gator (they don't have to pay me!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Since there's so much to relay… it's on to the funny.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">First, here's a picture of my volleyball team from the Rumble back in June. Yes, this is the team that let this old man walk off the court playing in the highest division, in the biggest tourney on the east coast, making the playoffs and beating a team of 18yo's 15-1. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE9H9RZv9TevBGaRrXDp37siVSesRYYnhwg9PfTOC-xrGvaWTO5HZuVY7p2vR5TTOhStEJ1gDUCPCPZJRXvnNkYyN8W2H3myabIua8oZEr-H3XCMdX4rH051oiOMqvQlZ-gucULciLT0/s1600-h/ball.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234814497379456178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE9H9RZv9TevBGaRrXDp37siVSesRYYnhwg9PfTOC-xrGvaWTO5HZuVY7p2vR5TTOhStEJ1gDUCPCPZJRXvnNkYyN8W2H3myabIua8oZEr-H3XCMdX4rH051oiOMqvQlZ-gucULciLT0/s320/ball.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>We forfeited our spot in the playoffs due to the 3 hour wait for them to start. Old muscles seem to stiffen when they are forced to sit that long. Besides, it was well passed beer-thirty and we had already proven that we could still play one last time. I was so proud that after a 6 year layoff I didn't embarrass myself and also so proud of my teammates that they put up with this fat, slow old man. I have pictures of me in motion that will remain "un-blogged" at this time. Anyway, thanks guys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Next… Here is what I've been doing in PA. For those of you that don't know, I was one half of a company known as Cherrystone Graphics. We were a textile silkscreening company that had very good success printing for the AVP (beach volleyball) and the NLL (pro lacrosse). We also did work for QVC (a home shopping channel) and ran our own line of volleyball apparel (VB Bones). There are way too many stories to even start this subject in this forum, so I will just say it was a great experience that I will always remember. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">My partner in crime at CG is Dubya. When I'm in PA and he has work (he still dabbles part time, having since moved into the technology field) he will set me up back behind the "wheels of steel" and allow me to produce his wonderful designs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Here are just a few.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ScVvgfD2gDahkrNI2fw6r45yLIlFY3JaKIaxrgTR7y627qbDUmtm__AduRx71TN9WGL2bVIooQeMMLke6eBrlMzAWkxjvP9lMyVoLT152xwp2ab1BZISV0pex3jK7ACXJy_PxoQjWks/s1600-h/compilation+tees.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234821521779086434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ScVvgfD2gDahkrNI2fw6r45yLIlFY3JaKIaxrgTR7y627qbDUmtm__AduRx71TN9WGL2bVIooQeMMLke6eBrlMzAWkxjvP9lMyVoLT152xwp2ab1BZISV0pex3jK7ACXJy_PxoQjWks/s400/compilation+tees.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Having been in the "t-shirt" business for quite the while, here are some designs I would have liked to have produced! They are collected from <a href="http://www.snorgtees.com/">http://www.snorgtees.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.tshirthell.com/">http://www.tshirthell.com/</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">These ALL apply to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfiY7BKjRTsY8qxve6fxP_pQFG0aPGef4r8OMACFh-Pfv4MQRQJA5K192A842zNoEDVNYo_OqAAPzZcpUEBxgH5tuq8-hMbT0DV3cwxdLNyKNWyYr2NW-ySFlOGCvKgn2F2L4wSA0huI/s1600-h/a982_bm.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234825844499344754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfiY7BKjRTsY8qxve6fxP_pQFG0aPGef4r8OMACFh-Pfv4MQRQJA5K192A842zNoEDVNYo_OqAAPzZcpUEBxgH5tuq8-hMbT0DV3cwxdLNyKNWyYr2NW-ySFlOGCvKgn2F2L4wSA0huI/s400/a982_bm.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0j7xYNnxWfuJjY9U7795t5iEITO5Pwd3Gl7qGpD5FjO2iYg74vcvErPxRkAqwMfTFKd_wEAnC6hSZnupQv3Ufy6zn-HYTPbFhWZDYTiyQJvyl5p_4Qx2_F-JorIQ6MU6iyZn1_OVOsM/s1600-h/sorry+bout+what+happens+later.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234826347084684242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0j7xYNnxWfuJjY9U7795t5iEITO5Pwd3Gl7qGpD5FjO2iYg74vcvErPxRkAqwMfTFKd_wEAnC6hSZnupQv3Ufy6zn-HYTPbFhWZDYTiyQJvyl5p_4Qx2_F-JorIQ6MU6iyZn1_OVOsM/s400/sorry+bout+what+happens+later.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XUTZPZrA3YmHxc4Ne47ivTMS6UhQgpgwYcSj1xACap72c94581S3KdKBguO4xzJLBFkR0B_TH_5P0r9-MRPXbY3cGHQ451kxw9pvL2ALu5CbAVzEzSLlQWIhyNraBoKSnzYiL-1dc84/s1600-h/junk.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234826349417158098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XUTZPZrA3YmHxc4Ne47ivTMS6UhQgpgwYcSj1xACap72c94581S3KdKBguO4xzJLBFkR0B_TH_5P0r9-MRPXbY3cGHQ451kxw9pvL2ALu5CbAVzEzSLlQWIhyNraBoKSnzYiL-1dc84/s400/junk.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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Strategically printed low<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuguYghvujf1nFBYF1uwzgtBJ3S0fcMVmx6Yr2WboEP7Q5Ivi_cMTjaqVyyxGKZNpcGz0SObYVzKfYe-xGQMxWDWkddyqkRfX-af-NbI_FA1Y4t4gbcNhBkckZ0YwyIrI3cfg1T-VVqQ/s1600-h/midgets.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234826982607792434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuguYghvujf1nFBYF1uwzgtBJ3S0fcMVmx6Yr2WboEP7Q5Ivi_cMTjaqVyyxGKZNpcGz0SObYVzKfYe-xGQMxWDWkddyqkRfX-af-NbI_FA1Y4t4gbcNhBkckZ0YwyIrI3cfg1T-VVqQ/s400/midgets.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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Just plain funny<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DzOQGnuDXFObOEci6v9HQjWzP-e2oovOOb2uRPKcExSKbjYWeCA6q2xeGTlt3cwzzaqYwuc0BTZJX3HaE1NjDaiXCmtnfoFb2M5qt3DSuf0mWaUfry5nJfl0aQI-O6dXcvKMzU2uKLE/s1600-h/BaghdadAssUp_Fullpic_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234829360401596114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DzOQGnuDXFObOEci6v9HQjWzP-e2oovOOb2uRPKcExSKbjYWeCA6q2xeGTlt3cwzzaqYwuc0BTZJX3HaE1NjDaiXCmtnfoFb2M5qt3DSuf0mWaUfry5nJfl0aQI-O6dXcvKMzU2uKLE/s400/BaghdadAssUp_Fullpic_1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavwj3dnkBFlSjQ-NpEImuMAp0GM1KUvdc0fE9cueZEZhhXKjgtsM2OQ0dISAHjCW-F297_aIxhiQ240fmxePCiy6LvUk9q6XIp97vXTbdHG37a0XM2ve8SnRWz-BOXqMPzdTi8z5k1EU/s1600-h/hung+horse.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234829358783146786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavwj3dnkBFlSjQ-NpEImuMAp0GM1KUvdc0fE9cueZEZhhXKjgtsM2OQ0dISAHjCW-F297_aIxhiQ240fmxePCiy6LvUk9q6XIp97vXTbdHG37a0XM2ve8SnRWz-BOXqMPzdTi8z5k1EU/s400/hung+horse.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aJFDSoiZLX21lqdF7iCgrqQ4bmnmjElZwjr1QKWjLjuY8RO97US-J3apvMM3abuchl9JaoCvTQumfnjDIOtLLbKP-p-so9pgiZIlWfRfoeKjeuCJAFq5bqSJu1zCAwgewZJq5t9EowQ/s1600-h/MyButtHurts_Fullpic_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234829360325435746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aJFDSoiZLX21lqdF7iCgrqQ4bmnmjElZwjr1QKWjLjuY8RO97US-J3apvMM3abuchl9JaoCvTQumfnjDIOtLLbKP-p-so9pgiZIlWfRfoeKjeuCJAFq5bqSJu1zCAwgewZJq5t9EowQ/s400/MyButtHurts_Fullpic_1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">For Mr. and Mrs. Rhythm<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETX4vD1MWdF2IsrqonGKGlA9B2jVMLXgEOUAlTSy9y4LZ-WVBk438ETH1794MO8jCwvqWRwqXtX_6A_j1i2Ov-Hfo3TUKCJ1qvwxuQxiaO6KhwnpLnj3H7yLq_MhxRWMgU5svXmLryZI/s1600-h/clown+killer.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234829834227562594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETX4vD1MWdF2IsrqonGKGlA9B2jVMLXgEOUAlTSy9y4LZ-WVBk438ETH1794MO8jCwvqWRwqXtX_6A_j1i2Ov-Hfo3TUKCJ1qvwxuQxiaO6KhwnpLnj3H7yLq_MhxRWMgU5svXmLryZI/s400/clown+killer.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">For my friend Cinderella, who lives in Idaho, miss ya 'Pea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QIRZtQOJnLlZzjj811VWkhv1lOOOIXsdai_4Dme9m5IqSS4cRgxZ6DFxnHTLU_4VId-V1JeJNj4ne7yDshPXxi5wxe-vRNp5xqDJQxOnuQdbdIwdf4Lc3LaVqnUx6P01zcWMSJ45Azk/s1600-h/idaho.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234830386151214834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QIRZtQOJnLlZzjj811VWkhv1lOOOIXsdai_4Dme9m5IqSS4cRgxZ6DFxnHTLU_4VId-V1JeJNj4ne7yDshPXxi5wxe-vRNp5xqDJQxOnuQdbdIwdf4Lc3LaVqnUx6P01zcWMSJ45Azk/s400/idaho.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">For 'Box!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKdWgBbDer6smEReFQnblULNpHelcDASW9rssVJ8CklPIN7YyDr1Kuidpx-ztMR5E5lAPj1uFxzWZETpo8FF6MFxdxTAEhXLCUXBV7Kf6t6Q5-o1NuezctuX0pSvtVO26Yv61gCi73AQ/s1600-h/ur+mom.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234830723151436354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKdWgBbDer6smEReFQnblULNpHelcDASW9rssVJ8CklPIN7YyDr1Kuidpx-ztMR5E5lAPj1uFxzWZETpo8FF6MFxdxTAEhXLCUXBV7Kf6t6Q5-o1NuezctuX0pSvtVO26Yv61gCi73AQ/s400/ur+mom.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Not PC?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSpMpRqOAfgTvhEEPKNy8ZcOvhW16uLXr-mAzBraWm4XWGLpPISNapHlbSM1Nt28h_bap9OmUQH8_959mleNPgb5IMF_4u2OKnKxyjrbTsvyz49tvvtM7Wbcsfem1A6SHN59ZJZPnl_8/s1600-h/whinnie+the+pimp.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234831136396704450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSpMpRqOAfgTvhEEPKNy8ZcOvhW16uLXr-mAzBraWm4XWGLpPISNapHlbSM1Nt28h_bap9OmUQH8_959mleNPgb5IMF_4u2OKnKxyjrbTsvyz49tvvtM7Wbcsfem1A6SHN59ZJZPnl_8/s400/whinnie+the+pimp.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqXGBc9woYUHJFCFm3Yb9fwfmUhU7sWpikkU5iQDF0Q1ike5k-JJF5MZ3CMZvKobjtkm6JgM-lyqnoJl9sGW01Dw5jpn0MzEDCqQVKysSSbSmecZTFE2q47ft_j0vBe39rD3fsa_zZYE/s1600-h/white+flour.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234831140126352994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqXGBc9woYUHJFCFm3Yb9fwfmUhU7sWpikkU5iQDF0Q1ike5k-JJF5MZ3CMZvKobjtkm6JgM-lyqnoJl9sGW01Dw5jpn0MzEDCqQVKysSSbSmecZTFE2q47ft_j0vBe39rD3fsa_zZYE/s400/white+flour.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Three from T-Shirt Hell's Baby Hell<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLnwLjMThqyKVtJqkQKEM-akJxlmypsuEyh0dlB66qzwO8VE7pgtrnu9q3EYaEBTKtNivbXaYoL5Fkgs5VaOYg47azToCat7fRd-zJqzPxCSiOBt7NhGCHwtCdsziGMnZv8eI3bDW1fk/s1600-h/taking+naps.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234833019387542834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLnwLjMThqyKVtJqkQKEM-akJxlmypsuEyh0dlB66qzwO8VE7pgtrnu9q3EYaEBTKtNivbXaYoL5Fkgs5VaOYg47azToCat7fRd-zJqzPxCSiOBt7NhGCHwtCdsziGMnZv8eI3bDW1fk/s400/taking+naps.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF6yRzmiETBMqIYT0bFHX6t1LLf7O-yCWg8FO64U-kLker5xyCq2xzEL_AqunrE6IZZz8SCT0r1o-fw_idE7sVb6QTa6adLaFUExIYp5J_uN8iLdkpE0beiGSgw1SPb1OCve0QD0YgSA/s1600-h/they+shake+me.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234833025543558226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF6yRzmiETBMqIYT0bFHX6t1LLf7O-yCWg8FO64U-kLker5xyCq2xzEL_AqunrE6IZZz8SCT0r1o-fw_idE7sVb6QTa6adLaFUExIYp5J_uN8iLdkpE0beiGSgw1SPb1OCve0QD0YgSA/s400/they+shake+me.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n02YM9DPmwj8u6TtyvkTE0uDxb9rTCR5C3RUvCzsKHu9_UxSlWcnbsSf4_5xPRYycDOLSngDzNumuO1m0GQiL5p75nhe56rh-PFo5rxDKxYN_tvLMXARmh8d3oPsof7-RpE24nVacoc/s1600-h/IceIceBaby_Fullpic_1.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234833026872747426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n02YM9DPmwj8u6TtyvkTE0uDxb9rTCR5C3RUvCzsKHu9_UxSlWcnbsSf4_5xPRYycDOLSngDzNumuO1m0GQiL5p75nhe56rh-PFo5rxDKxYN_tvLMXARmh8d3oPsof7-RpE24nVacoc/s400/IceIceBaby_Fullpic_1.gif" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">The last one will lead me into 'Box and I's next foray into funny. It is taken from a scene in Talladega Nights where Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are improv-ing saying Grace. They argue over how to picture Jesus and one of John C. Reilly's visions starts with "I like to picture Jesus wearing a tuxedo t-shirt".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4PlZ2r3oBOWlhsUihE3X-9VQwxS0sQitEg3hlOYkqX0JvWUWH34cfFogU2hbWFwpOvsKpLUXSEVbdb9ElCMk7PQOKAfve_8CSuVrq5wTdySujvBEViufm20I1hGyPNNDVXiqdq7Q4tg/s1600-h/TuxedoTShirtJesus_Fullpic_1.gif.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234834068906335794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4PlZ2r3oBOWlhsUihE3X-9VQwxS0sQitEg3hlOYkqX0JvWUWH34cfFogU2hbWFwpOvsKpLUXSEVbdb9ElCMk7PQOKAfve_8CSuVrq5wTdySujvBEViufm20I1hGyPNNDVXiqdq7Q4tg/s400/TuxedoTShirtJesus_Fullpic_1.gif.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">This scene has gotten 'Box and I to start texting each other with random thoughts on IL2PJ… (I like to picture Jesus)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Here's a teaser…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">My favorite from 'Box…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>IL2PJ as a mediocre bass player in a Foghat cover band.</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">His favorite from me…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>IL2PJ as a senator from the great state of Milwaukee</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Let me know if you think this idea is funny. I think it's hilarious but I've been called offbeat before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Here's some more from the list of un-PC album titles:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Eric Clapton</strong>: Open Window</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Freddy Mercury</strong>: Full Blown</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Nancy Wilson</strong>: The Titanic Soundtrack</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Santana</strong>: Up On the Roof</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Karen Carpenter</strong>: All Out of Lunch</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Earth, Wind, and Fire</strong>: Hurricane Katrina</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Phil Spector</strong>: My Aim is True</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Pussycat Dolls</strong>: Tunnels of Love</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>James Brown</strong>: Under a Good Foot</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>James Brown</strong>: Poppa's Got a Brand New Body Bag</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Snoop Dogg</strong>: Weedin' with a Ho'</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Boy George</strong>: You'll Be a Woman Soon</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Vince Neill</strong>: Grabacab</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Michael Jackson</strong>: My Roots are on Fire</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Michael Jackson</strong>: Smokin' in the Boys Room</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Kurt Cobain</strong>: Shooting My Mouth Off</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Aretha Franklin:</strong> MacArthur Pork</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Madonna:</strong> Yankin' the Rod</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Elvis, & Freddy Fender</strong>: Box Set.<br />
</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Any of those funny?<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Here's a picture of Breezy's rugrats. It was used in an advertisement for their dentist (I think it was the dentist.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwN27YZEqLxUUNFiYfQiyCV_RphnS8jIvJVq6pARLwT8azDBRiSC5w7jlxLBSovAz_a94KhGNqakFPE_EtdKqdW9vEhRa7n5IK4uckZ3_eNyxZKzxn0Lbq4yt3wJFHtJdteZCP2JNUKQ/s1600-h/LliamJudeMohawks.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234834872576808610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwN27YZEqLxUUNFiYfQiyCV_RphnS8jIvJVq6pARLwT8azDBRiSC5w7jlxLBSovAz_a94KhGNqakFPE_EtdKqdW9vEhRa7n5IK4uckZ3_eNyxZKzxn0Lbq4yt3wJFHtJdteZCP2JNUKQ/s400/LliamJudeMohawks.gif" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">And last but not least….</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Sitting at the rail, Box and I discussed…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">If we were going to the Olympics, what country would we represent?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">First the easy ones…<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Turkey</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Chile</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Hungary</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Greece<br />
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Then came the creative…<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Tawain-on</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Lickinstein</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Largemenistan</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Fatvia</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Norweigh</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Largentina</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Sandwich Islands</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Isle of Mode</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Bellyrus</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Crowateya</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>El Salivador<br />
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Or my fav…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Mayonnaisia</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Please take the time to add any and scroll down to vote on your favorite one!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Hope you enjoyed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Coming next blog… more IL2PJs and we will be discussing exactly WHICH Olympic events we will participate in..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Beached Volleyball?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">Stay tuned!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-83547399859496122312008-08-02T21:47:00.011-04:002008-12-09T14:31:42.014-05:00Crab SaladGood Morning…<br /><br />Or is it?<br /><br />I know I promised to write once a day while I was house sitting and of course I have not. <br /><br />It’s a shame there isn’t a professional league for procrastinators… I would be the Manny Ramirez of it. <br /><br />Oh Wait….NEWS FLASH.<br /><br />Manny’s been traded.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDDxjrPrK1Xpbn4OMkdU7xRTcaoNw2oZA3bnXWowW5awwsMoXbe56GAiOCquk1-i68kwgAWdvVpWIVxKa3fsQeypa5oKANCN4PZv47tjHHeNX6LmmI73xN3Nu0YpLqUjvPASy7a0FEi4/s1600-h/manny.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDDxjrPrK1Xpbn4OMkdU7xRTcaoNw2oZA3bnXWowW5awwsMoXbe56GAiOCquk1-i68kwgAWdvVpWIVxKa3fsQeypa5oKANCN4PZv47tjHHeNX6LmmI73xN3Nu0YpLqUjvPASy7a0FEi4/s400/manny.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230102766105165778" /></a><br />Manny is now a member of the Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL.<br /><br />Manny and Joe Torre, manager of the LA Dodgers:<br /><br />J: Manny, we need you to play left field.<br />M: WHAAAAAAT?<br />J: Manny, left field.<br />M: WHAAAAAAT?<br />J: Go out and play left field Manny.<br />M: OKAAAAAY.<br /><br />A candidate for the Hall of Fame fo’ sho’!<br /><br />It’s been a less than stellar morning for me here today. It’s the end of the month and bill-paying time. Strike one. <br /><br />This week I have lost the tiniest of screws out of two sets of glasses, bent a third pair and snapped a fourth. When it comes to glasses I am CURSED like no other. If you add together what I’ve spent in my lifetime so far on glasses, it would be enough money to buy the NY Yankees. (OK, maybe it just feels like it to me.) <br /><br />Anyone with good vision want to call me and listen to the anger in my voice when it comes to discussing the frustration of trying to rescrew a mini-millimeter screw back into the hole with a butter knife while holding together the pieces of two flimsy ends of the frame and trying to keep the glass part where it needs to be? <br /><br />And of course, I’m doing this while I can see absolutely NOTHING. <br /><br />E-mail me for a list of obscenities that have spewn forth when the screw lands on the kitchen floor which already has 80,000 little pieces of other crap on it and an intricate pattern to boot. It’s mandatory that the foul verbiage continues constantly while I’m on my hands and knees panning for the screw. It is homage to my late grandfather who taught me the value of swearing at inanimate objects and continuously doing it until the item was found, fixed, or broken beyond repair. I’m pretty sure he made up combinations of swear words that would still amaze a dockworker. I remember my beloved old hound running to hide under the coffee table every time I broke out the tool box. He knew what was coming. Eyeglasses… strike two.<br /><br />I’m missing SuperDarlin’s birthday this week AND gonna miss the yearly anniversary of Damsel’s birth next week. I HATE that I’m not going to be back home for this...I mean I REALLY HATE THIS ONE.<br />I miss all the people back in FL but since I had the opportunity to work here in PA I had to take it… and that SUCKS. Work should NEVER get in the way of what is truly important in life. I miss seeing my buddy Ray and seeing his newborn grow. I miss the Nipper…BADLY. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDZUoAFf5IX7nJSybcrqtnnoBadLZxfImHx2-xy7A-Kg0MRAjFmGZETinFisxvH27AoFPPP-QeqnSr3ZuQseon0yBnq8xyNVM9uNAMD9XnRTIllA8bDiFGRPc-07Y3RMHMvK9HN6CIuw/s1600-h/nipper+goggles.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDZUoAFf5IX7nJSybcrqtnnoBadLZxfImHx2-xy7A-Kg0MRAjFmGZETinFisxvH27AoFPPP-QeqnSr3ZuQseon0yBnq8xyNVM9uNAMD9XnRTIllA8bDiFGRPc-07Y3RMHMvK9HN6CIuw/s320/nipper+goggles.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230116058234837234" /></a><br />I miss WonderTwin and the gals, especially Not So Innocent Jill and Pool Diva. <br /><br />Let’s add to this the facts that LunchBox is now out of a job and may be moving out of the area, the newfound throbbing in my right ear that I can hear nothing out of, the fact that I have had to care for 2 cats every morning and night this week, the fact that my good buddy Bob had to put down his faithful dog Gus this week which has done nothing but remind me of my faithful puppy from so long ago, and you have strikes 3 thru 10.<br /><br />Let’s examine some of these things a little at a time…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LD8Oltb0xPUhLfvzJIjjs3bD7RQDjlE3rJgXl-cMED8P5q4ndCvNb8kusDBGXx10w8B-EFXncT0_d6v9R9ooQ_sPs-A6edzv0jGOQON1nCyxnWygmFGdhdn6tR4vduTX_-sonZt3GxE/s1600-h/irish+cat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LD8Oltb0xPUhLfvzJIjjs3bD7RQDjlE3rJgXl-cMED8P5q4ndCvNb8kusDBGXx10w8B-EFXncT0_d6v9R9ooQ_sPs-A6edzv0jGOQON1nCyxnWygmFGdhdn6tR4vduTX_-sonZt3GxE/s320/irish+cat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230108153922117746" /></a>If you know me… you know there is one and only one animal I will swerve to hit on the highway. It’s not quite as intense as my hatred for the University of Notre Dame but it’s close. Canned cat food is almost certainly the most disgusting thing on the face of this or any other planet. Why would anyone want to have a pet that craps in a box and makes you scoop it up… <br /><br />Honestly… I’m asking. <br /><br />I’m pretty sure if you were trapped in a fire, a cat would not alert the fire department nor drag you to safety. In fact, they would sit and lick themselves while you burned. They serve no purpose other than to infuriate me. I am reminded of an ex-wife.<br /><br />The pain in my ear. I lost all the hearing in my right ear from an ear infection over a year ago. There may or may not be an operation to restore the hearing but it doesn’t matter since I have no insurance nor the money for such an operation. Shouldn’t basic healthcare be more important than a war thousands of miles away that claims to be protecting our oil interests but is still costing me a fortune at the pumps? Shouldn’t basic healthcare fall under the line about inalienable rights and the pursuit of happiness? It’s self-evident to me. How much different would Capitol Hill be if there were no healthcare for politicians? Would it change how things worked there?<br /><br />Why can’t dogs live as long as humans? They really are one of the few things that make life bearable and should have a much longer lifespan. <br /><br /><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=26007816&albumID=521123&imageID=6762933"><img src="http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images01/18/c05dbb9aba6c002174261a4f7786ea35/m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />RIP Gus.<br /><br />Does LunchBox know how miserable life will be if he moves away? I’m not sure I can allow this to be an option.<br /><br />This week our goal was to come up with the most un-PC list of album/CD titles that we could think of. It took 4 days and about 100 text messages at all hours of the day and night. We are nothing if not committed to the joke.<br /><br />The list is being edited and updated and will be posted on the next blog, which will come sooner than later…YES BOX I KNOW I OWE YOU BEER!<br /><br />Here are some nuggets from the <a href="http://www.sun-herald.com">Charlotte County Sun-Herald</a>.<br /><br /><em>If you're going to steal someone else's checks, don't write the amount to yourself.<br /> <br />Apparently, Michael Frances Robinson didn't get the memo. <br /><br />The 23-year-old Port Charlotte man was charged Wednesday with four counts of forgery and four counts of uttering a forged instrument. <br /><br />The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received a complaint in June from a man stating someone had stolen his checks and cashed them at Bank of America. The name on each check said "Michael Robinson," according to a sheriff's office report.<br /> <br />Robinson, of the 3800 block of Tamiami Trail, reportedly received a total of $1,350 from four checks. <br /><br />Bank video of the transactions showed Robinson cashing the checks on four separate occasions, the report said. <br /><br />Robinson told detectives he found the victim's checkbook in his yard, and forged the man's signature, according to the report. <br /><br />Robinson is being held on $20,000 bond.</em> <br /><br />Do you think he saved a check for bail? <br /><br /><strong>Report: Man brings toddler to drug deal </strong><br /><br /><em>Authorities arrested an Englewood man who reportedly brought his 2-year-old son with him to purchase crack cocaine Monday.</em><br /><br />The article goes on to state that because of a recently enacted law, this is now a felony and not a misdemeanor. Question, if you are stupid enough to take a child to a crack deal, is the upgrade in severity of punishment going to make you think twice before dragging said child in tow? Can’t you hear the decision making process… if I leave the child at home alone it’s just endangering and the deal is a misdemeanor… 2 misdemeanors vs. 1 felony? What to do, what to do.<br /> <br />I’m going to end with some funny things that I’ve accumulated in the past couple days and proceed to finalizing the non-pc list…<br /><br />Here’s a teaser:<br /><br /><em>Michael Jackson: Gin and Juicy Juice<br /><br />James Brown: No Longer Living in America<br /><br />Amy Winehouse: Coughin’ to Coffin<br /><br />R. Kelly: Golden Hits<br /><br />Johnny Cash: Cashed In<br /><br />Tupac: It’s a Rap</em><br /><br />Feel free to join in!<br /><br />Here’s a nice redneck tattoo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1uHQC95kss-7pcuS41_dWVeFcMU5ezQF6_4b8i7TALmPjmJI8XXNPuJEMn_NiZj5L0PDKZj7TVSKnQRKlGIQEDTaV1I3h3usOFLwx0WAF4kpdbNqizCPZ1vgGmd3qXO2fcorviafsc8/s1600-h/redneck_pics_tattoo4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1uHQC95kss-7pcuS41_dWVeFcMU5ezQF6_4b8i7TALmPjmJI8XXNPuJEMn_NiZj5L0PDKZj7TVSKnQRKlGIQEDTaV1I3h3usOFLwx0WAF4kpdbNqizCPZ1vgGmd3qXO2fcorviafsc8/s320/redneck_pics_tattoo4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230105820600122402" /></a><br /><br />Here’s a favorite of mine taken from <a href="http://bitsandpieces.us">Bits and Pieces</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBlgynvglZT79xgXqS3jgHEr3WcXCJE2RDYdFwIY0zhXTCGhsytjnNgiRXNix3ptRpHsb152kfwpyqqdl6QhP3EZVrGUoHETq_HCAJ04cC1xp1jhW1ORzs6vwAApQUO174_renlGC7uE/s1600-h/imagesheath-20mcledger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBlgynvglZT79xgXqS3jgHEr3WcXCJE2RDYdFwIY0zhXTCGhsytjnNgiRXNix3ptRpHsb152kfwpyqqdl6QhP3EZVrGUoHETq_HCAJ04cC1xp1jhW1ORzs6vwAApQUO174_renlGC7uE/s400/imagesheath-20mcledger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230106460327732866" /></a><br />Heath McLedger<br /><br />And one more…<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj942X5Pgfc8viqamLj9G81QWM1nueJ_CyeHtYx4KrVUzkvxidfkKSjF8XiQV9eGCjadMVVQznQpdw0YHnk81W7nbvHw_vZrgARr38gkVfwEo3Y6jNrVer6R-Yh78J8QIIM_Jtf-_-SvQg/s1600-h/Fire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj942X5Pgfc8viqamLj9G81QWM1nueJ_CyeHtYx4KrVUzkvxidfkKSjF8XiQV9eGCjadMVVQznQpdw0YHnk81W7nbvHw_vZrgARr38gkVfwEo3Y6jNrVer6R-Yh78J8QIIM_Jtf-_-SvQg/s400/Fire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230106895891211682" /></a><br /><br />Why do I see Box and I replicating this silly feat!<br /><br />I’ll be home before you know it Box… hang in there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-60715870588047336932008-07-18T18:34:00.008-04:002008-12-09T14:31:43.640-05:00Flying Too Close to the GroundHere I am again… back in the Pennsyl of Vania.<br /><br />The last blog was just hours before I left for the airport for what was supposed to be a 7AM flight.<br /><br />HAHA. <br /><br />Guess again.<br /><br />What follows will be the account of my 16 hour journey from Fort Myers, FL to Coatesville, PA via Chicago, IL. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLNJA1tqGI2cyBTiVOhaLNqvnFzIDEfSjDyY80HkYox4yt_7AaiRe_mMmSJHS1sV2dEsv6jPFyjBF2Q6liDpbpaP9t9xgeUXy0G5y4-5D0owfUq2kppvVX2GO1TwsQI_5-qIz5SPIkgQ/s1600-h/Chicago.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLNJA1tqGI2cyBTiVOhaLNqvnFzIDEfSjDyY80HkYox4yt_7AaiRe_mMmSJHS1sV2dEsv6jPFyjBF2Q6liDpbpaP9t9xgeUXy0G5y4-5D0owfUq2kppvVX2GO1TwsQI_5-qIz5SPIkgQ/s320/Chicago.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224491004246900466" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes... Chicago. <br /><br />Yes... 16 hours.<br /><br />No... I wasn't driving.<br /><br />The flight was a frequent flyer gift from my mother’s reserve due to the need to fly in a huge hurry to attend the funeral of a friend. It was a trip I was not at all anxious to make. It was a trip I would have given pretty many things not to have occurred. It was a trip that was mandatory. So of course it was a nightmare.<br /><br />The miles were on USAir, an airline I never fly if I can help it. They are rarely on time and the lost luggage stories of friends and family are long enough to fill a blog and a half.<br /><br />Because USAir could not accommodate my needs, their affiliate United Airlines got the task of getting me to the chapel on time. <br /><br />Here goes:<br /><br />I was later than I would have liked to be getting to Fort Myers airport. I had stayed up the night before paying bills, writing a memorial blog, writing a temporary blog for here, packing, and generally taking care of all that crap that one stresses over when leaving home. Mind you, the packing was easy. I was going for a viewing, a funeral, and flying back the next day. One suit, one tie, one pair of dress pants, one collared shirt, wing-tips, one pair of shorts and two tee shirts. Socks were optional since the pants were long enough to hide their existence, but I packed a pair just on principle because my lovely PA friend Shemptini would ride me all day if I didn’t wear socks. (She’s good like that).<br /><br />I packed in a large suitcase because the last time I was in PA (10 days before) I had to leave things that would not fit into my “queen of the beach” bag. I left my light-up shoes at home as well. I had hoped to bring all the things back that I had left. I took my laptop as I would never leave home without THAT.<br /><br />Back to the trip… Dear Sweet Momma picks me up at 5AM… 5:07 to be exact because I told her 5:15 and I knew she would be early. She brought me a cup of coffee and a sweet roll for the trip. Traffic was light (as it should be at 5AM) but DSM will not drive over 60…ever. I was a little nervous but not much since SWFL airport is small and it was a Wed.<br /><br />The drop-off is made and hugs and “I love you’s” exchanged. <br /><br />Then I hit the terminal. <br /><br />There was only one line and yes it was my flight. ALL other counters were abandoned. It was nearing boarding time and I still had to check in but I don’t get flustered in airports. I have flown enough to know that eventually everyone who is supposed to get on a plane WILL get on the plane. I was recently reminded of an adventure I took with a friend long ago who had terminal lung and bone cancer. He had wanted to see Wrigley Field before he died and a friend and I went along. On the return trip, we got lost, ran late, goofed off, or all of the above and checked in at ticketing rather late. I remember the words EXACTLY from the countergal. <br /><br />“You boys may want to run”<br /><br />My buddy and I took off a-running but our friend who had a hip replaced and was working on one good lung and used a cane was not as mobile. He said he would do his best and thought the smart thing to do would be for us to run ahead and try to hold the plane. <br /><br />We ran.<br /><br />When we arrived at the gate the countergal had just shut the door. We explained the situation and were told under NO circumstances would we be making this flight. We begged and pleaded with a headshake every time…<br /><br />Until Mikey arrived on the tram… with his head bald from chemo and his cane in hand.<br /><br />She picked up the phone.<br /><br />The plane was returned to the gate to let us on. Faces were angry as my friend and I walked the aisle of shame towards the seats in the back, but they changed quite a bit after Mikey worked his way behind us. I am reminded of it when I see people quick to anger at situations where one might not have all the facts.<br /><br />Anyway, back to RSW (the Fort Myers airport code). I noticed on the teeny tiny monitor that my flight, going to O’Hare in Chicago, had been bumped from 7AM to 8AM, which was a good thing since the two gentlemen working the counter checking people in were “heads or tails” to remain alive until I reached them. Honestly, I live in SWFL, where the average age approaches the temperature on any given July day. I understand that ANY line will not be moving in SWFL. This one was no exception. An Air Wisconsin gentleman was trying to help people with self check-in to try to alleviate the backup. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ER2Hz9aUQOBTEboRclgJlGCdMOW1S1bU4HXXIrilI_-x6z8xFFXzSdKlvpXX0fi7wyBUfGKI9MTAqIHZIeLZ2j3WN9e6mjpCj2l2afOMsZjdAiQ019o-eD2tZGdtWVGWUc5E3KFpzTk/s1600-h/selcheckout.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ER2Hz9aUQOBTEboRclgJlGCdMOW1S1bU4HXXIrilI_-x6z8xFFXzSdKlvpXX0fi7wyBUfGKI9MTAqIHZIeLZ2j3WN9e6mjpCj2l2afOMsZjdAiQ019o-eD2tZGdtWVGWUc5E3KFpzTk/s320/selcheckout.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224489163725755106" /></a><br />Side tangent… Doesn’t airfare cost enough to staff a counter? I don’t want to ring myself out at the grocery store or at Home Depot or the frickin’ airport! Will I have self haircuts next where I just pay them to use their chair and scissors? Can we go ahead and blow the extra $7/hr and hire someone? Maybe someone collecting Welfare could step in???<br /><br />Anyway, after winding my way and finally getting the grand prize that was my turn at the counter, I was told that my connector in Chicago going to Philly would be missed and I would be rebooked on the next available. What was to be a half hour layover would now become two and a half. I’ve told this story enough that I don’t remember the exact times spent in each airport, but I darn sure remember the start/finish!<br /><br />Because I don’t easily rattle, I took my seat assignment and boarding pass with a smile and cracked a joke to the poor septuagenarian working the counter. I had to help him with my bag even though it wasn’t full and I cracked a little joke about “how could I possibly be upset, I was headed to Philly. Any delay would be welcomed.” I think he appreciated the change of demeanor from the panic of the rest of the passengers. <br /><br />Flight left… oh sometime or another… I slept pretty much from the time my butt hit the seat until the air hostess/flight attendant/stewardess/whatever they are called now woke me up to tell me the local temperature in Chicago. I wasn’t leaving the terminal. I didn’t pay attention to the temperature. <br /><br />Two hours to kill in Chicago. Ok, I can do that. Every airport has a bar. Hmmm 10:30AM…little too early even for me. (sometimes!) <br /><br />I found an outlet to recharge the phone. I found a wireless kiosk to connect to (didn’t work, but I wasn’t surprised). I sent 20 text messages and made a dozen phone calls. Everyone who knows me KNOWS there will be some adventure; I had to alert them all! I walked all of terminal B. I went into a couple of bookstores and contemplated lunch before my plane embarked at 1:30, but couldn’t bring myself to spend the 8 bucks for a deli sandwich made at sunup and wrapped in cellophane.<br /><br />Well I thought it left at 1:30.<br /><br />I found my gate and was informed that flight had since been bumped an hour later due to weather. Geez.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jbY-GI3UZXZVFSZt6lH1xTyu_q-UY93Hql7qs4Uccm_Til54rHORpAigq-Vx735aUVb5gRmoYVbPjPRygAt23-PSSYDnGJq21G_dlfoH0ndsSB_KShVxATkL1QJJdI3q1WClVtXojmE/s1600-h/motivatorsnoopsj0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jbY-GI3UZXZVFSZt6lH1xTyu_q-UY93Hql7qs4Uccm_Til54rHORpAigq-Vx735aUVb5gRmoYVbPjPRygAt23-PSSYDnGJq21G_dlfoH0ndsSB_KShVxATkL1QJJdI3q1WClVtXojmE/s320/motivatorsnoopsj0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224486838552925506" /></a><br />Now it begins. I bought a pack of chewing gum to kill the coffee/morning/sleep on the plane breath I had working. I’m an excellent bubble blower so I amused myself and several small children around me with almost an hour of blowing bubbles the size of my head and trying not to get them stuck in my mustache and goatee. The kids were amazed.<br /><br />Update on the flight… add another hour.<br /><br />More phone calls and text messages. I started a game with my friend Dead Clown whereby we texted each other only in <em>Chicago</em> lyrics. He started with something about me being the "Inspiration" and that my layover would be 25 or 6 to 4. I countered with Wednesday, in the park, I think it was the 9th of July. <br /><br />This went on until the next addition of 40 minutes to departure time.<br /><br />Yes… you are thinking what I was thinking. <br /><br />BAR.<br /><br />I rewalked Terminal B for the 20th time only to find both bars full. I stopped at one and was about to order a beverage when my phone rang. I grabbed a seat and had a 20 minute conversation with the Sausage Queen of Atlanta. We laughed and she made me smile as only she can with her sweet southern twang. She was reminding me that I owed her dinner because her beloved Bulldogs had outlasted my FL teams in the College World Series. I got no service at the bar during the conversation, so I walked a little farther and found a Quizno’s.<br /><br />Yes a Quizno’s.<br /><br />A Quizno’s with beer. Seven dollar drafts to be exact. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWGbtlfw_dWtAekzyMTBJyvKHUOKzev5oXJMoShfkQc9R36c-KAUFtRLR-SmvH5jUWmxsp1DOhrNm6P8GLsh4GRzsWjQYTiD4tww0qurR6H7xAi4UWViGPqlDqBMAMEhyHfl2YVrdZWI/s1600-h/quiznos.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWGbtlfw_dWtAekzyMTBJyvKHUOKzev5oXJMoShfkQc9R36c-KAUFtRLR-SmvH5jUWmxsp1DOhrNm6P8GLsh4GRzsWjQYTiD4tww0qurR6H7xAi4UWViGPqlDqBMAMEhyHfl2YVrdZWI/s200/quiznos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224487785550415826" /></a><br />I had a couple of Budweisers, talked to a guy on layover headed to Alaska buying sandwiches for his flight (remember when you used to get a meal on a flight?) I chatted up the bartender (Harriet) who I promised I would say goodbye to when I left. She was irked because people never said goodbye to her when they left, they just hurried off. “I have feelings” were her words I believe. I ran up a $30 tab.<br /><br />By this time the flight had been bumped another 30 minutes and I had texted and called everyone I knew. I joined my fellow flyers to moan in unison until our time came. <br /><br />It did.<br /><br />We were corralled onto the jet, ready to roll.<br /><br />WRONG.<br /><br />“This is your captain speaking. Due to congestion around Philadelphia airport FAA has grounded us here on the tarmac. Our staff has had a long day as well so please bear with us. We have been told an update will be coming in 30 minutes, but we expect to wait at least an hour until resuming our flight. I will update you in 30 minutes. We apologize for the delay”<br /><br />Nice.<br /><br />I struck up a conversation with a gentleman in front of me. He was a last minute add coming from overseas. We were sitting in the emergency exit rows and discussed rallying the passengers. I suggested we tunnel out and he was leaning towards a hostile takeover, having had some flying experience. <br /><br />The woman next to us seemed oddly frightened.<br /><br />I was meeting a friend in Philly who was also flying in for the funeral. She was coming from Hawaii. She was concerned that I would be waiting too long in the airport to offer her a ride home. She was due in at 5:30. I was originally due in at 1. She was stuck in Harrisburg refueling because they didn’t have the gas to circle Philly any more.<br /><br />“This is your captain speaking…<br />FAA has added another 30 minutes to the delay as expected. We are turning the seatbelt sign off so feel free to travel about the cabin.”<br /><br />I tried to organize a basketball game and a nature hike. Really, travel about the cabin? Where did he expect us to go? Were we gonna start races? Hide and Seek?<br /><br />And where the hell is the drink cart!!! My flight buddy in front of me was all over that one!<br /><br />We started making up fake captain’s announcements…<br /><br />“This is your captain speaking…<br /><br />Umm… the airline has gone bankrupt. Your luggage has been seized as an asset and will be auctioned off. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you again for flying United Airlines. We realize you have a choice in air travel and we’re pretty sure it won’t be us again.”<br /><br />Eventually the plane took off. We circled Philly for long enough. We met my galpal from Hawaii who arrived before me and scooted out of the Philadelphia Airport….<br /><br />right into the delay on the Schuylkill Expressway.<br /><br />I have decided to miss my return flight on United (big surprise) and stay in Philly with dear, dear friends until the first week of August. I took them up on an offer to soak up AC and housesit for them while they are in Mexico. I’m hoping that I will find the time to write all those blogs from the last trip that I put off. I’ve made myself a mental promise to try to blog once a day while they are gone….SO try to keep up.<br /><br />I can see ‘Box laughing because he thinks he knows it won’t happen. (Bet me a beer Big Man?)<br /><br />That’s enough for today… I have to go to Walmart for clothes!<br /><br />By the way, I booked my airfare back.<br /><br />I’m flying FedEx.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUMUByqs-E01CAH3YiUIqRgOxBgt1ZyMRDwRrpQAwd91T-ESTC_cuapyvSU5RtXc3c-q_MR06sq8Z1UjjbkXguocMS3KsKwItcJcLPZWcNW9GCZ89WySZ1bnUiZJt6oKL83GYPM5Lo2I/s1600-h/stophammertime.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUMUByqs-E01CAH3YiUIqRgOxBgt1ZyMRDwRrpQAwd91T-ESTC_cuapyvSU5RtXc3c-q_MR06sq8Z1UjjbkXguocMS3KsKwItcJcLPZWcNW9GCZ89WySZ1bnUiZJt6oKL83GYPM5Lo2I/s200/stophammertime.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224487142835162642" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516365999475548478.post-71584201555763350392008-07-09T01:47:00.005-04:002008-07-09T02:12:45.491-04:00I Wanted To...Well…<br /><br />Been a long time coming.<br /><br />And it may be awhile longer.<br /><br />I just finished working on a new blog in memory of a very good friend of mine who passed away over the holiday weekend.<br /><br />It is 1:30AM and my ride to the airport leaves at 5AM and of course I haven’t packed yet!<br /><br />I am truly the KING of procrastination. Ask Box!<br /><br />Anyway, I’ve been back in FL for approximately a week and it’s taken me that long to get back in the swing. Box and I have been catching up and generally reacquainting me with my long lost bartenders.<br /><br />There was a nice little birthday party waiting for me when I got back. Damsel gave me a blanket to take with me on future adventures into the frozen tundra of Pennsylvania in the summer. We had a good time playing our new jukebox theme game, with the night’s theme being Professions (guessing that was a hint, huh guys?)<br /><br />As I think about trying to get a couple hours sleep before I have to leave to get back on a plane for a trip I’d give almost anything not to have to make, I wonder what I’ll put into this blog…<br /><br />I’ll post a few cool pictures of designs Dubya had me printing while I was in PA.<br /><br /><br />I’ll add a picture of the team I played the Pottstown Rumble with…<br /><br /><br />And the $5 Wal-Mart light up shoes I wore since I only packed flip-flops.<br /><br />I want to add so much to these two stories… I want to tell the story of walking through two airports carrying a “Queen of the Beach” duffle bag barely able to walk due to the tournament and a day of helping move furniture while wearing light up shoes and the looks I got.<br /><br />I want to add the pictures of Breezy and I taking cell phone pics of some girl’s big ole purple panties riding halfway up her back and the drunk at the end of the bar commenting after she left that “it looked like she was driving a funny car and the parachute deployed.”<br /><br />I want to add some new funny photos that have been e-mailed to me.<br /><br />I want to add the sound of Box laughing at me today when he texted me how the mowing was going… since the front yard was high enough to hide giraffes.<br /><br />My reply to his text…<br /><br />I fought the lawn and the lawn won.<br /><br />Of course we made up a whole verse to the song.<br /><br />I wanted to tell of the fun we had at Applebees with RayRay… singing Fergie’s hit “Big Girls Deep Fry”<br /><br />I wanted to tell the stories of my birthday party in PA, my volleyball friends that carried an old man to his last time on the court…<br /><br />I wanted to tell the story of B&K and the rhythm!<br /><br />I wanted to add a new poll question...<br /><br />I wanted to tell y'all that I now have the ability to e-mail you an update notice when I publish something new. Just e-mail me and tell me to add you!<br /><br />I wanted to add a music player to the page so that you would be forced to listen to what I chose for the page...LOL.<br /><br />I added a new link for a great web blog called Bits and Pieces...it is awesome, check it out.<br /><br />I want to do all this and more…<br /><br />But it will have to wait upon my return as it was proven to me all too cruelly how precious life is.<br /><br />I promise I’ll be back writing up a storm when I get back…<br /><br />I'll repost this blog in a week with all the stories and pictures (server wouldn't let me upload anything anyway and I'm drowsy besides).<br /><br />For now…<br /><br />RIP Benny C.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2