More updates

Well, it is looking more and more like we are not going to be able to find a suitable home for Luna. There is just nobody out there willing to take in a potentially dangerous dog. Everyone is more than happy to refer a dog trainer or a behaviorist. Each person or place has given us a different one however.. This just isn't going to work. People are more than happy to refer a behaviorist, but none of them would ever take on the responsibility that going through that would require.... both monetarily and just in sheer time spent. They will happily look down their noses at someone that will put their dog down in a desperate situation, but they would never actually put themselves in those people's shoes and completely alter their life for a misbehaving dog. It is looking more and more like our only option is the one I have been dreading most. I know she can't live with us anymore. The risk isn't worth it. I made the decision that I don't want to live with an animal that would just as soon bite me if the mood strikes than kiss me. There is something really wrong here that I am pretty sure a trainer would not be able to cure. It would be us having to adjust and change so that we would limit the opportunities for her to strike and well, we have been living like that these last few days and that just isn't a long term option. and there is no way in hell that dog will be present when we have children. It just is not an option, she has to move out.... and truly, with all the bleeding hearts and all the PETA folks out there.. I am positive not one of them would take her in at this point, but they would be glad to scream at me for what I am planning to do. I can't stand that, and I don't care. No amount of behaviorists or trainers professional opinions are going to change the fact that we can no longer have her in our house and we are completely unable to find anyone else willing to take her in. At the end of the day it is us that have to live with her, and live with the consequences of both decisions. I am not happy about it in any way, but we may be forced into the circumstance where we have to bring about the premature end of an animals life that we love dearly. I can honestly think of no alternative.

we still have her

So Luna is still with us. The SPCA basically said that they would take her, but they would immediately euthanize her. There would be no chance for adoption because of the incredible amounts of dogs they already have that HAVEN'T ever bitten someone. So we took her back. Anna is still very set that she will not be staying with us permanently. Which I understand... There is just too much of a chance she will do that again. Yesterday Anna took her to the vet just to see if there was something physically wrong.. Nothing. The vet says it isn't a physical thing and her basic recommendation in this circumstance is to put her down. I am really against this, but it is looking more and more like there will be no choice. We are now looking for someone, anyone really that will take her in and save her life. I know now that we can't keep her, I just can't believe that our only option would be to kill her. I love that dog, even if she has bitten me. Anna will flat not allow that to ever happen again, and I understand. Someone could really get hurt, well really I am the only one that would probably get hurt. I want to be able to just accept the fact that she will maybe hurt me. I could live with that, but Anna can't. It is looking more and more like we have no choice at all and that really really sucks.

what a weekend

I know it's been a while for this from me but, how's this for a weekend? Aside from the Harry Potter book, which I am about 3/4 of the way through at this point. I went and conversed with a buy at the Apple store about computers for the business. Went really well, and I am starting to genuinely get excited about this. Still a long way to go, but it is moving well so far.

Later on I get a call from my mom saying that they are considering a move to Birmingham.. Alabama. My only thought really on that was that it would be a pretty extreme culture shock for them.. This will be MUCH different from anywhere else they have ever lived. Pretty interesting option though... but my question is.. who moves to Birmingham? It might be really nice though.. who knows, I've never been there.

The last thing was easily the most scarring. Yesterday afternoon there was a major meltdown by Luna. She had been acting really weird all weekend, but yesterday we were all sitting on the couch and I went to move a little and apparently it rubbed her the wrong way because she immediately went into insane growling mode. Well, I pushed her out of there to get her away and let her chill out, but she just came back. This time ready for battle. When she came at me I just grabbed her neck and tried to get her to stay still and calm down. She was NOT backing down. She has done this many times for really no reason and usually will calm down and snap out of it after a few seconds, but this time she wasn't settling down. She was just sitting there growling at me like a a freaking wounded wolf. Well, I just kept holding her there, and she kept growling. Eventually I pulled her towards me a little so I could hold her a little tighter and keep her from biting and she just snapped. Just absolutely flipped out. She has bitten me before, but she usually just mouths me a little to tell me she isn't happy. This was different, she bit me as hard as she could and just was fighting for her life. I had to basically take her by the neck and pin her to the wall to keep her ripping my hands off. It was a scary situation. She bit me pretty bad this time. I have a couple puncture holes on my hand, scratches up and down my arm and some great teeth marks and divots running across my wrist. A good bit of swelling to go along with it as well just from the impact of it. well.. this was all Anna could take. The dog is gone. We are giving her away today. This really is heartbreaking to me. I just want my dog, but I understand if she is going to bite me for no real reason, I can't really have her. I can only hope that she will find a home where someone who knows how to handle her anxiety issues can take care of her and get her to calm down. I just don't know what else to say about it. This hurts... Both my hands from the bite and my heart. I really love animals. and I really love that dog, even if she did bite me and annoy the hell out of my 90% of the time. I'm having a lot of trouble seeing her go. I can't do it, Anna has to take her away by herself today because I just can't face it. I just hope Luna will be ok. I'll really miss her

Best movie of the summer

Transformers is easily the best movie of this summer. Just totally blew all the sequels out of the water.. Just great stuff. Funny, entertaining, silly, great effects, great storyline (in my opinion at least).. a little too long.. but great all the same. This is a must see movie. I am tempted to go again.. which is really crazy... I never do that. The last movie I saw more than once in the theater was the phantom menace... yeah.. episode one.. 8 years ago. The only reason for that really was that I was in Peoria with nothing to do but go see a movie...

Anyway, I will spare you spoilers. Good stuff all around.. I will say this though... when there is a sequel (which there will most definately be) if they kill optimus prime... I'm done.. I can't take him dieing again.. It's just too much...

Today is the day

So it is finally here. Transformers is out wide today and I am all set to go tonight. I went from excitement to dread, to acceptance... it really has been a roller coaster ride. Right now I would best be described as giddy... I can't sit still. I am VERY excited about this thing. I can't help it. I have been hearing a real buzz around this thing in the last couple days. The critics are lukewarm on it, which is to be expected... but the fans are absolutely nuts so far. That's huge. It definitely seems to be a real pleasant surprise. This thing could be absolutely huge. lets hope... full report coming soon.

transformers

So I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the Transformers movie next week for well over a year now. I am still very excited about it, but I have basically resigned myself to the fact that it will suck. Odds are I will go, be somewhat entertained by it.. but ultimately disappointed with no real interest in ever watching it again. Pretty much the reaction that everyone had to Spiderman 3.

I guess that's ok... but not really what I wanted. This had the possibility of being the next huge franchise.. multiple movies, all summer blockbusters... but they picked michael bay as director, and that immediately turned it into something else.. huge blockbuster yes.. but not for the right reasons. It will be all based on hype, but it will have no staying power. That's sad to me. We are talking about a franchise that I LOVED as a kid. So much so that I still watch the old movie from time to time. Now I will have this, with the weird designs for the transformers, and the human oriented plot, and probably REALLY lame lines delivered by Tyrese and Josh Duhamel.... can't wait.

I'll still be there the day it comes out, but I'm expecting the worst with this one. If they work it out, great.. but it may just be that this director can't actually make a good movie.. it is very possible.. I might be overwhelmingly satisfied, it does happen.. but usually movies that fly under the radar a bit and make it big based on merit.. Think the 300 here... that movie was advertised a bit, it looked pretty awesome with the visuals.. then the movie was EPIC.. just awesome... Too many summer movies go on all hype like the transformers movie is.. I tend to find that the more hype a movie gets, the worst it will be. They are hyping it to try and cover other shortcomings. The big shortcomings for this one appear to be the overuse of CG robots that become muddled and confused, especially when you blend that with the impression I get of this is that you will only really get glancing views of these things.. almost as if they are a teaser for a majority of the movie.. I could definitely be wrong on that, but still... unidentifiable CG is always bad.. never a good thing that's for sure.... then there is the complete lack of attention to the fact that robots are the stars and not the humans.. the really awesome part about the cartoons is that it was the robot characters that lead the way.. they were given real human emotions, but in the form of this huge hulking cold metal machine.. it was interesting and fun.. but too much of this looks like it will make the robots too much like in the terminator, where they have a complete lack of emotion and act well... robotic.. that's what made the transformers different, and it looks like the director and producers really missed the boat here... ah well.. I'm still going on the first day.

found a name

I think we may have found a name... Now for the even harder part.. Forming our LLC, getting registered, getting trademarked and getting started....

Blocked

So the last several days there has been some hardcore brainstorming to think of a name for our new business. This is hard stuff, whatever it is we choose is something we have to live with for a long time. It has to be catchy, but informative, and all at the same time not sound stupid, or too funny, or anything that could in any way be a turnoff to anyone that may want to shop there. This is not an easy task, and one that we definately are taking seriously. It feels like we will never figure it out though, and in that case nothing will ever happen. We'll see though.. We are creative enough people, it shouldn't be THAT hard. I think what it will come down to is just finally settling on something and rolling the dice. Hopefully it will grow on us with time. If not we're fucked.

Finally some encouragement

Something very cool just happened. As you may know I am getting pretty serious into this whole business venture idea, well I had sent out an e-mail or two to some people around the country who had started similar businesses, looking for advice, encouragement... whatever. Well, one of them sent me an e-mail back just now... basically, just saying to stick with it. It is worth it, and they are happy to have more and more people to get the word out so to speak about this stuff. Well, they even included some vendors/manufacturers for me to check out that would be great for inventory once I get started. REALLY AWESOME stuff here.. I mean, I knew pretty much all the names already, but this is a for real recommendation from someone that is already actively selling the stuff. Needless to say I am now VERY charged up. This is seeming more and more feasible every day. I can't wait to do more.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, this is one of the companies that I plan to almost definitely carry. Looks pretty easy to become a dealer, and their products look amazing.

I've been looking into becoming a dealer for biodiesel production equipment as well. If anyone out there knows of any good ones you know where to go. I've found some, but most of them just look a little too amateur... People are only going to buy them if they look sleek and professional.

Hitting the wall

Things here recently have started getting pretty serious around the household over this possible business venture. For those that do not know I have been tossing around the idea of starting my own business for a while now. I finally came up with what I felt was a feasible idea, and I decided to do some more looking into it. I am really early on in this... but I have started attending a class to help me through a draft of my business plan, and to help me secure funding to get this off the ground. It is just going to be an extremely hard and long process. Pretty scary as well.. just no way to know how things will pan out. I could very easily end up in a real financial mess over it, but the general feeling is that I just can't keep doing what I am doing now. The pay and responsibility are progressively getting better, but I just don't think I can stay in this industry. I'm not happy with it and that will never really change.

Right now though, after the initial excitement of trying this new thing has worn off, I am sitting here contemplating what the hell I am doing.. The feelings of, how the hell is this going to work out? and why am I even wasting my time on this? keep cropping up. It is at this point that most people walk away from an idea and the main reason why most ideas are never brought through to anything useful. I realize that, but it is tough.. It's just a lot easier to just walk away from it and keep pulling in OK paychecks every couple weeks. Mentally I just can't do that though. I think I'll probably totally lose it if I don't walk away from it sometime in the pretty near future. still though... that wall is a tough barrier to keep moving through/over.. I have another class thursday, perhaps that will re-energize me. The fear of course is that it just digs me farther into this hole I'm in now, but I've decided that I have to give it a shot. If it doesn't work out at all, oh well..

Hybrids are NOT the answer

I've discussed the use of hybrid cars with friends, etc. quite often. Recently more and more often. The general idea is that by getting A hybrid you are somehow helping the environment. I disagree with this 100%. You may indeed be buying slightly less gas, but you are still buying it. The oil companies KNOW that something has to be done, and Hybrids allow them to continue to make money. There is also a distinct reason why the car companies are pushing the idea as well.. They get a bigger cut. Instead of that money going to the oil companies, it will now go to the automakers for their more expensive hybrid models.

I put this spreadsheet together a couple years ago where I compare the total cost of several cars... this would the car payment and the average amount spent on gas in a month. Unfortunately I cannot attach files to this page. If you want to see it, feel free to e-mail me. I will gladly share it.

Anyway, let me just share some numbers with you that came from this sheet. I calculated the average car payment from the general rule of thumb of $200 for every $10k of total price. I estimated the price of the car based on the MSRP (Going about $1000 below MSRP for your standard cars, and right about at MSRP for Hybrids, which is what you would see in a real world situation) the rest is based on about 15000 miles driven per year and gas prices at $3 a gallon.

Based upon those assumptions you will be paying an average of $2000 more a year to own an Accord Hybrid than you would just an Accord EX 4 Cylinder. Getting a Civic EX Rather than a Hybrid will save you $575 a year and $500 a year will be saved if you bought it instead of a Prius. True.. at $3 a gallon you will be spending about $30-50 less a month on gas, but you will be more than making up for that in what you will be giving to the car companies.

So, basically with a Hybrid you are STILL forking money over to oil companies. It may be less, but they are still getting your money. Meanwhile you are shoveling so much more money to the car makers that you are actually spending MORE per year total. So... you are telling me I should feel great about hybrids because I am replacing one evil with another.. not just replacing, but ADDING MORE COST. Oil companies are still getting your cash, and car companies are getting even MORE of it. Is there any mystery why both of them are pushing us into the idea that these things are the answer??

Environmentalists will tell you that buying a Hybrid will help. The better gas mileage, the less fuel is burned, etc. While this may indeed be true, how much of an impact is buying an Accord Hybrid (with the same EPG MPG as the 4 cylinder) really making.. uh none at all would be the right answer to that question. A Prius, though one of the ugliest and possibly most uncomfortable cars ever made might be consuming gas at an outstanding 55 MPG, it is still running on gas. The umbilical cord to oil has to be cut totally for any real impact on the environment to truly be felt. We have had electric cars on the market.. where'd they go.. oh yeah, the car makers replaced them with hybrids. (there are many reasons why. Who Killed the Electric Car? is a GREAT movie about this). Please be smart people. The Hybrid cars are not the answer, an alternate fuel is the answer. Amazingly we already have 2 perfectly good alternatives that are ready to go RIGHT NOW... no waiting until 2030 for Hydrogen.. I am talking about Biodiesel and Electric. We have the technology and infrastructure to move forward RIGHT NOW with both of these. What we do not have is support from automakers and the government. We the people are the only ones that can make it happen... sadly every time someone buys a hybrid automobile we are just prolonging our attachment to oil.

nice...

check this out, just passing it along to folks.. this is funny funny stuff...

My question is how they figured out it had this effect... I mean.. really.. Did the patients instructions for the clinical trial include inhaling this no more than 15 minutes before sex and then running it on a stopwatch?? This is just too damned funny to me, but aren't there other factors in this that they just can't account for... such as how long has it been for the guy.. 2 weeks?? or 2 years?? How hot is the girl?? is the girl his wife or a hooker?? Did she suck his dick first?? I mean... this is hardly a black and white scenario...

I couldn't imagine ever paying money for something like this.. but, I guess some guys are really desperate..

Draft Lottery

So am I the only one that has been laughing HYSTERICALLY ever since the draft lottery last night??? After reading Bill Simmons constantly writing about Oden and Durant and how the Celtics MUST get one of those guys somehow some way.. They just gotta have them.. They got the lottery odds on their side.. yadda yadda.. So how's that Joakim Noah parting gift treating you right about now... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thats a nice shit burger to wake up to this morning. After months of telling yourself that these 2 guys are must haves and after them there is a huge dropoff.. you now have to settle for just one of the rest. It isn't like they have anything to trade to move up.. As if either the Sonics or the Blazers would trade those picks for ANYTHING.. oh man I am giddy.. This is just too damned funny.

This is literally the deepest and best draft I can ever remember.. Must be what it was like nearly every year in the 80's.. but still.. one lucky bounce of the ping pong ball means the difference between Oden and Durant... or like.. Spencer Hawes.. awesome.

Slater vs. Morris

I came across this linked from another blog earlier. It's the Slater Vs. Zack fight from Saved by the bell.. A REALLY well done fake fight. It really is about how a good school fight goes down.. starts with pushing.. maybe one guy throws a punch, then it is just rolling around on the ground trying to get the upper hand.. One thing.. There is absolutely no way Slater doesn't just absolutely mop the floor with Zack.. I'm sorry. It's true.. I can buy that Zack could get in the first punch.. but from then on it would have been absolute domination. Allowed to continue there is truly no doubt that Zack would have been crushed. His only hope was that the weird haircut guy was actually able to break it up in time.

Another interesting Saved By the Bell reference happened yesterday.. Flipping though channels I came to TBS.. next scheduled was the Braves at the Red Sox, but that's not what was on. I got some studio guy giving me highlights from around MLB, so I stopped for a minute to check it out. Turns out the Braves game was in a rain delay, and this is what the guy said at the end, word for word. "Right now the Braves are on delay. They hope to get the game started here at 2:35. We will provide updates as they come, but for now we will be bringing you an exciting episode of Saved by the Bell." Then he IMMEDIATELY cuts out and the multi colored opening credits begin to run. I loved that. I absolutely love what you get out of WGN or TBS or whatever when you are in a rain delay. It is normally stuff that is so damned bad that they only have it in case there is a rain delay. It is pretty much the only time you can ever find Alf, or Mr Belvedere on TV anymore. I wish it happened on ESPN more.. they of course just show you the feed of ESPNews.. but I would prefer it if they had to just go to old episodes of Playmakers.. or Worlds strongest man... They already show poker constantly on the other stations... so that wouldn't really fit into this category.. but it really should.. They have to fill programming space I guess.. and it really isn't any worse than bowling or golf.. still though... There really is nothing quite like a good rain delay. Just one more thing to add to the list of things that make baseball great.

Is it august yet???

For the love of god can fall football practice start already?? PLEASE!!! The Reds are ALREADY in last place and I just don't know if I can sit through an entire Summer like this. At least Junior is tearing it up.. not that that helps.. They actually have decent pitching this year, and guys are hitting really well.. so what the hell is going on.. how is the bullpen THAT bad?? how is that possible. No lead is safe.. they better have about 4-5 runs minimum going into the 8th or it's a loss. That is absurd.. absolutely unreal to me. The best Reds teams in my memory have always had shut down relief for basically the 7th inning on. The 90's team with Dibble, Myers and Charleton was the best.. they were deadly... which is why they went on to a world series. Nobody could claim a comeback against them. All 3 of those guys (the Nasty Boys as they were called) were legit closers, and they all did close for other teams once they left the reds. the 99 team that missed the playoffs by a game had about 4 young prospects in the bullpen that would clamp a game down from the 7th on.. this team.. no such luck.. decent starters, decent run production.. a bunch of pansies in the bullpen.. I can't take it anymore.. They are dead to me until they figure out how to fix this problem (my suggestion is to trade Dunn, or Encarnacion.. or Hatteburg for a for real live young arm.) it may be too late anyway... they have lost something like 7 in a row... ah well.. August can't get here soon enough..

I am craving football big time right now... There is NOTHING to talk about, but I can't help myself. I need it, I want it.. All that is really going on right now is that they are installing field turf at the Horseshoe... Looks pretty damned nice to me.. The big stress this year among fans is the red endzones.. I kinda like it.. Keep checking that link periodically to see any updates (just find the most recent photo timestamped on the list).. they just got all the numbers on in the last couple days. anyway, it has to be an improvement from the slop they were playing in last season. I just wish we had been able to see Ginn play a year or 2 on it. He had a kickoff return in Minnesota a couple years ago on field turf.. and it was completely unfair.. He was mindbogglingly fast on that stuff. ah well.. maybe another speedster will show up to wow us all... Not really holding my breathe on ever seeing someone as fast as Ginn though.. I said the same thing about Robert Smith though.. so who knows.. They have this kid Saine coming in to play RB that ran the 100 in like 10.3, so who knows.

Youth Baseball

Last night I did a little work with the town's youth baseball league.. specifically the 9 and 10 year olds. Now, I'm not one to boast, but I remember clearly when I was that age (4th grade) that I was making plays at shortstop (diving catches, rifleing balls across the infield) ALL the time. It was pretty damn common as a matter of fact. I was good for a diving catch about once a game. but these kids... my god. They could barely throw the ball back to the pitcher. For one they don't even HAVE a pitcher.. They are using a pitching machine set at freaking 38 miles an hour.. and they could still barely hit it. For one... they are up there swinging at everything with absolutely no reguard for balls and strikes. For the other, they still can't hit it a lot of the time.. I had to send several kids to the bench after their allotted 5 pitches.. often times giving them extras because they swung at bad ones when they should have let them go. I was even dropping the speed from time to time a mile an hour or so to help some of them out. The coach saw me do this and berated me for "confusing them.. they can't make the adjustment." I was like.. I am dropping it a mile an hour, this will make no difference in adjustment, just make them able to get around on it slightly better, they should be facing real pitchers anyway... you don't think a pitcher will vary a mile an hour or 2 on any given pitch?? It wasn't liek I was dropping it 5-10 miles and hour... throwing them sliders and brushing them back... . whatever... anyway, how much do we really need to baby kids these days?? I know for a fact that the little kids in venezuela and puerto rico aren't having perfect balls thrown to them out of a pitching machine. These kids reminded me more of what a 5 year old playing t-ball should look like, not a 10 year old. It was bad.. there were a couple injuries as well.. One kid took one HARD off the nose. They play on these damned sand fields that are hard as a rock and the balls FLY off these things, so it took a high hop and got him.. He was out of commission the rest of the game with an ice pack on his nose... Another kid took one off the chest just because he hadn't been taught how to catch.. He had his glove turned the wrong way and it hit him right in the middle of the chest. He had no business out there, he will hurt himself unless he learns how to actually catch a ball. I was ashamed of the state of youth baseball. I used to get popped with balls all the time.. usually because I was trying to make a hard play and sticking my face in there.. these kids both were afraid of the ball and were turning their heads.. thats why they got hurt.. There is no reason why they shouldn't have kids pitching at that age either. And they should DEFINITELY have balls and strikes.. and strikeouts.. They can go to the batting cages and hit all day long if they want something from a machine.. but once you are out on the field.. it isn't practice time anymore.. either you can hit, catch, throw, slide, etc. or you can't. We need to stop babying kids and shielding them from defeat. It is no wonder so many people grow up feeling entitled to get what they want.

Cheerleaders in baseball???

This came to my attention yesterday and I just now have the time to post it. The Cincinnati Reds now have cheerleaders... or a dance team... or whatever.. They call themselves the MDX Crew. How stupid is this.. I think the cheerleaders or dance teams in professional sports are retarded. I always have. Do they serve ANY purpose whatsoever? Would you miss them if they weren't there? The answer to both of those questions is most definitely NO. They are lame and pointless and I honestly have to ask what is wrong with these girls. At least when you do this in LA you can always say you are trying to be noticed and get into acting.. but not in Cincy... They just like the attention it gets them I guess. Whatever.. I genuinely hope that this is not something that catches on in other ball parks, and I hope the reds end it pretty soon as well...

All that said.. the knee high stirrup socks are NICE....

Cali Trip Tidbits, Part 3

Alright, where were we... Well I had just fallen asleep at the hotel in Cali after a VERY long day. The night went by uneventfully and I finally got myself out of bed somewhere around 8 AM and immediately hit the room service. They had a cinnamon french toast that I had to try.. I was no disappointed, it was awesome... soo cinnamony... smothered in syrup and butter. Good stuff.. The problem with room service is all the damned hidden cost. You have the delivery fee, the tip money etc.. I wound up having a nice $18 plate of french toast.. ah well.. it was somewhat worth it.

I whiled away the rest of the morning watching Cosby reruns and basically just lazing around the hotel room. This in itself was awesome to me.. I never really have the chance to just hang out alone like that. It is pretty nice from time to time.

Eventually, it is time to head up to the front for check out and the airport shuttle. After checkout I ask if the shuttle will be here for me on time, and they say yes of course.. They give the impression that the shuttle is something that comes and picks me up.. even telling me the night before that we have to fill out the book and reserve the time now otherwise they may not get here to get me.... Well I still have some time to kill, so I head into the restaurant and sit down to a nice piece of cheesecake.. this is the first thing I ate the entire time I was there that wasn't awesome.. it was just run of the mill frozen stuff you get anywhere... well I finish that up and walk outside to sit and wait for the shuttle. It is such a nice day and all.. I just lay back and relax.. at about 12:15.. 15 minutes late... the guy from the front desk comes strolling out.. "here for the shuttle??" "uh... yes.." I say.. confused because I just asked about it 20 minutes ago.. well he says, "ok, I'll pull the van around for you..." huh.. so why did they make such a big deal out of this.. it seems as if I could have just walked up to the desk anytime and said.. hey I need to get to the airport in 20 minutes... really weird...

In the car on the way to the airport I may have inadvertently talked the guy driving into moving away from southern California.. I told him how expensive our house was and he about shit himself.. He and his brother live together and they will have to pay $3000 a month on a "small" townhouse they are planning to buy together.. He currently works 2 jobs and 14 hours a day to pay his rent. (which is twice what I pay a month for our mortgage) anyway... hearing this.. he thought for a second.. then said. "I should move.. I work all the time and never get to enjoy anything around here anyway.. If my house was cheaper I could actually work only one job and have time to do things." I was like.. oh... well... I'm sure it's worth it for the weather here... uhh... I didn't mean to make the guy want to move.. but well.. unless you are loaded, southern California doesn't really make a lot of sense as a place to live. It just doesn't... You have to be bringing in some serious cash in order to live in a somewhat comfortable place... and still have time and money to enjoy the other benefits of the place... sad but true...

anyway, I get on the plane and go... The return trip was pretty uneventful. No delays... I refused to watch the movie ( Music and Lyrics) and so I just watched star wars on my portable player.. By the time I got home it was basically midnight.. I'm exhausted.. and walking through the place to get to the baggage claim.. Apparently I looked friendly because this middle aged woman just decides to strike up conversation... I do my best to give her my attention but it was hard... All she was talking about was the leg room in the plane.. I say.."yeah it can get kinda tight in there." And she just goes on and on about how "Nelson" gets in the aisle seats because you can stick your leg out... but she likes the window cause she can see out.. though you can't really see much can you??? uh.. I guess not I say.. and she just goes on and on about how she needs to use the aisle because she has to go to the bathroom every time... even though she hates using the ones in the plane.. then goes into this story about how she was stuck in the window seat on a flight next to a "young couple" and the girl was asleep and she had to climb over her to get out because she"was just a young girl... probably a young mother trying to rest and have a little getaway" giving me great details like that and that she had "black hair" and her husband "seemed really nice" good times..

I finally somehow escaped that trap.. I think she veered off to the bathroom.. and began the stand around and wait at the baggage claim.. Usually I have to stand around FOREVER and wait.. my bag is always seemingly the last one off the plane. This time I won the baggage lottery.. I was maybe 2nd or third off.. AWESOME.. I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.. Had to brush off some dude in the parking garage looking for jumper cables at 1 AM... and FINALLY I was in my car going home..

Overall.. fun trip... Cali is a REALLY nice place.. just way way way too expensive a place to have to pay to live in... to visit is great.. the food is relatively cheap, the scenery nice.. plenty to see and do.. I didn't get to really take part in any of that, but it was definately a good place to visit. The interview was nice.. it went well... I just don't see it happening. It would be a big step back for us financially just because we would have to pay mountain more for a crappier house... or a freaking condo.. not exactly in my list of wants at this point. I would rather continue to toil in my same crappy job for the same crappy money in relative financial ease, then move to a new place away from everyone and pay as much for our rent as we currently do for our house, 2 cars, cable, cell phones and food.

Cali Trip Tidbits, Part 2

Where I left you last time was getting onto the plane for the 4 hour flight from Chicago to California. I lucked out and got an exit row, which was nice, and find that our in flight movie will be the painted veil (ended up being a pretty decent flick actually) Nothing too eventful really from the flight other than the dude next to me with some outstanding snoring. He even had the whistle in between snores going for a while... I thought that only actually happened in cartoons.

Anyway, the plane landed in California... some awesome scenery coming in.. I had no idea there were mountains like this within sight from the ground in southern california.. I knew there were hills and such, but these were more than hills to me. Very picturesque. It was definitely brown.. I mean it is very dry there... but really pretty all the same. I could definitely see myself living there.. no problem at all... well... some problems, but we will get to those later.

Upon arrival I was supposed to meet Lorenzo at the airport and he would drive me on to the company for my interview. Now, name me what you picture when you think of the name Lorenzo... If you said funny looking Persian dude with goofy glasses and ridiculous comb over you would be correct. After several minutes of awkward conversation with Lorenzo, we finally arrived for my interview. Just to give you a little background on this place... I found out once i got there that it was owned and run by Persians.. There is a HUGE population of Persians in Orange County that settled there after fleeing the oppressive Muslim regime after/during the revolution in the late 70's. So I walk in the door and this place it everything you would expect from a company that is trying to impress people with the look of the building.. marble floors... lots of glass.. typical corporate architecture right... well because of the Persian Ownership I spent the entire time wondering where all the blue curtains with gold trim and hardware were...

The interview itself went well. No complaints... the manager was a really good guy, as were all the people working there. They had good people and VERY diverse. A lot of Persians there for sure, but in my industry there are a lot of different nationalities. I went to lunch with a girl from Bolivia, a Persian and a Chinese guy.. by the way... Persian food is GOOD... trust me on this... get the Kabobs with strips of meat... stay away from the ground meat... but it was damned good. Basically just marinated and grilled meat with some saffron rice.. yum...

There was one really discouraging part of the interview... that was with the HR rep.. usually this portion of an interview is just a pep up and someone being a total shill for the company telling you about how great their benefits are. In this case I really just did not mesh well with the girl.. She had NO sense of humor (she was Indian, go figure) and just seemed to think I was telling her lies the whole time when I told her what my current compensation/benefits/time off was. Basically.. to work there I would get half as much vacation, far worse 401K and decreased medical coverage... and I was supposed to be excited about that??? Then she kept pushing me for an answer on how much money I would want... I told her well about 60K, but honestly with the decreased benefits and the cost of real estate.. it would take more than 70 at this point. I highly doubt they will be able to do that.. but honestly.. I need time off.. 13 days isn't going to do it for me. I would take less money for more time off. That's just me... so ripping my time off in half, cutting all the other benefits.. paying me more money, but all of that is going to a house anyway... not gonna get me there. So that was sort of a depressing portion of the interview.

Once that was over I talked with a few more people and it was off to my hotel. The holiday inn in Laguna.. nice.. just a hotel really.. I was expecting to go out to dinner that night with the recruiter that had contacted me for this job initially, but she was sick... so I just wound up eating at the hotel restaurant after laying around for a couple hours and talking to Anna on the phone.

Dinner rocked... Just awesome.. I got this Turkey club sandwich... It came out and was easily the biggest sandwich I have ever seen. It took up the entire plate.. Here is the order in which it was built... Piece of toast, Mayo, Mounts of Turkey, Bacon, Tomato, Piece of toast, little more mayo, lettuce, cheese, thin slices of avocado, piece of toast... I could not get my mouth around this thing. It was AWESOME.. I wish I could go get it again.. I can't find a sandwich this good pretty much anywhere else. So after that thoroughly satisfying dinner I decided to try and find out about renting a car.. since there is nobody to drive me around this place I might as well try and see some stuff for myself.. all the rental places were closed.. shit.. well that sucks.. so I stroll back to the room with plans to come back out to the bar in a little bit to get a few drinks before bed.. That did not happen... being awake since 4 AM eastern caught up to me and I fell asleep sometime around 9 PM Pacific.

More to come...

I'M OUTRAGED

I am simply outraged by the obvious and malicious attempt by Tony Parker to hurt Steve Nash last night.. The poor guys nose was bleeding everywhere... oh wait.. video evidence shows it wasn't on purpose??? well he should be suspended for playing so recklessly... people can get hurt playing like that.. you know.. like playing hard... where do they get off... we can't have people accidentally getting hurt out there.. (hoping the sarcasm actually translated through the computer)