The Drive

My drive into work today was amusing...


brrrrrrrrr!!!

Have a great weekend!

Saw this and I just had to share.

I want what's in those barrels.

Happy Friday!

Ducks Beware!

Had a BLAST last weekend!

Friday night was pretty mellow since I was heading out to the duck pond with my buddy Keith early Saturday morning. We were at our beloved pond and settled into our hunting spots well before the sun even started grace us with it's presence. The shooting started early and my pup, Arrow, showed us he hasn't skipped a beat since last season.

Arrow and I were back at 10:30am so I decided to hit the gun range with Jason for a few rounds of trap...by the way...you owe my 20 bones kid...don't worry, I'll give you a five bird handicap next time. ;o) Larah joined us later that day for her first full round of automated trap. She did REALLY well! I was impressed to say the least.


Saturday night, Larah and I headed to Benny Hanna's to celebrate her stellar performance at the trap range. We then met the Franklins at the Proof and got our boogie and our draaaaank on, bad-bad!

We must have been able to shake our hangovers fast because we ended up back out at the trap range for a few more rounds (we had so much fun the day before that we couldn't stay away).
See all those guys to the left of me down there? I whooped 'em. ;o)


We were a little late off the range but left just in time. Larah and I picked up Country Dinner Playhouse tickets to see Moon Over Buffalo for my Mom's birthday. We all had a great time!


Goodbye Summer. :o(

Mustang Pride

I don't think it's wrong to continue to take pride in one's high school long after they have graduated. Moreover, I don't feel that it's iniquitous to be overjoyed when they beat the hell out of their rivals 47-13.

Eat 'em up Mullen.

25 for 25

I finally broke 25 out of 25 clay birds yesterday at the trap range! This has eluded me -literally- since I was a kid. I'm always within range (23 or 24) but a perfect round is just something that has been out of my grasp. It's actually kind of sad to think that you were better at something when you were a kid.

In any case, I shot a perfect round but better yet...I now know what I did in order to shoot that perfect round. It gets really technical so it's probably easier if I just show you what I did rather than try to explain it...

The Boob...

...Tube!

It's the FRIDAY 5!

1) What TV show(s) do you find yourself watching the most?
Ya know, I'm not really into TV all that much. I do love Deadwood, The Sopranos and Rome though.
2) What if any TV shows do you own on DVD?
None right now. I'll own all of the above by the end of the year though. ;o)3) Can you name your favorite TV show theme song?
No but I have the Dukes of Hazard theme song stuck in my dome..."They're just good-ol-boys! Never meanin' no harm."
4) Have you ever been on TV and if so for what?
Remember that thing with OJ and the white bronco? I was actually driving that bronco and I had my music up so loud that I never heard the 800 police officers behind me. Whiiips. ;o) Actually, I've been on TV a few times for various wakeboarding and watersking events.
5) What is your favorite YouTube video (feel free to post a link)?
That one...you know which one I'm talking about. uhhu...That one.

Da Rocks!

Long time no post, I know. I have a few things in the works so posting will resume yet again.

So I didn’t make it to many Rockies games this year. Yeah, I always start off with great intentions but it seems like I’m always really busy that time of year. I did go last night though. They played LA and we had four prime seats just a few rows up from home plate. Being that close to the action and being that we decided to go to the bar before hand meant that somebody was going to get heckled, simple as that.

That said, it’s time for a little multiple choice…
We almost got kicked out for heckling who at the Rockies game last night?

1. the LA players
2. Governor Owens
3. Dealin' Doug (the local used car dealer in town who has his face plastered on every other commercial from 5pm on: “Nobody beats a Dealin’ Doug deal…Nobody!”…drives me nuts)
4. the LA fans sitting behind us
5. all of the above

Yup…all of the above. Even poor Governor Owens had to deal with our relentless chants. I’m even a Republican! He took it like a champ but I could tell that Dealin’ Doug was losing patience with us by the way he kept taking off his gold rings and putting them back on. The LA fans and the LA players liked it even less.

I’ve proven it time and time again…that’s what happens when you mix Jack, Rumple and Jose.

Oh yeah…work today has been fun. I tried to pee earlier and I think it coughed powder. Is that bad??? :o)

The Investors

The meeting last night went well for the most part. I was able to put a face to a name as it relates to both the investors and some of the neighbors. It also solidified -for me anyway- that our journey is just beginning and that we (the existing neighbors) are behind and have much to learn to catch up.

10 things I learned last night:

1. "The Investors" (in every meeting held to date) have been trying to get feedback from the neighbors so they can expedite their cause...which in turn exploits the neighbors in one way or another
2. "The Investors" plan to rezone and subdivide the property to maximize their return (i.e. 50 divisions will yield a greater return than 20 but will also greatly reduce the property value for the surrounding neighbors and produce significantly more traffic)
3. "The Investors" plan on selling these newly created subdivisions to other investors who could then sell to other investors and so on and so forth
4. The current owners, "The Investors", do not plan to develop the land themselves but rather they are in it to rezone and sell as fast as they can
5. Our neighbors MUST become better informed on the processes for rezoning
6. Our neighbors MUST become better informed about the proposed rezone (1-R to 2-R).
7. Our neighbors MUST be in-the-loop regarding letters (formal or otherwise) between the city and the investors as letters to City officials regarding public matters are public knowledge
8. "The Investors", though smoke-n-mirror-type tactics, continue to try to convince the neighbors that they will be building homes (see point 3 and 4 above) that will rival the value of the existing homes in the neighborhood although they really have no intentions to do so. They even went so far as to print out pictures of houses that would (read: could possibly) be built.
9. Since most of the neighbors have been there for 25+ years, most of them have never had to deal with anything like this. It is all very foreign to them.
10. My Mom and Dad are extremely strong willed people. I almost actually feel sorry for the City and "The Investors"

More to come as time permits...

Think you had a bad day?

I just got this email from my buddy Shawn who is a New York City fireman.

--------------------------------------

From: SHAWN ******
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 8:20 PM
To: Jimmy
Subject:

what's up? I got to keep this short. We had a building collapse on us at a fire on Sunday. I made it out but two of my friends didn't make it. One kid was only a fireman for one fucking month. This is the second time in 1 1/2 years my firehouse has lost guys so its been pretty shitty. Couple that with the wife on my ass about why I want to be a fireman and, well you get the picture. I'm busy with the funerals for the rest of the week and i'll give you a shout after that.

--------------------------------------

Aside from telling him that you're sorry for his loss and telling him to be safe, what the hell do you even say to that? On my worst day, the stress I have to deal with doesn't even come close to his. The act of running into a burning building (think NYC, not Denver which pales in comparison) when everyone else is running out takes a certain something most do not have and how he stays sane is beyond me. Although he would argue with me -yes, he is that humble- there is nobody better suited for that job than him. He was born to help people in dire need of being helped. As fluffy as it sounds, he cares that much about his fellow man.

Please be safe brother. Thank you for being you.

Thursday...

First of all, thank you all for all the advice...both in the comments section and via email! It is greatly appreciated...even HK. You must already know how I roll.

Sadly, this process will not be a short one. Since all the neighbors do not agree, it's pretty safe to assume that there will be many (read: almost excessive) city council gatherings. This I'm told is an exercise frequently practiced by the City and investors to wear down the resolve of the neighbors who have joined together to fight this investor backed, city imposed thoroughfare and the rezoning that would occur because of said thoroughfare.

The first of these meetings will be held on Thursday (tomorrow). Rest assured, I will post frequently as the truth unfolds.

Thank you again!

So I have this problem...

I'm planning to purchase a house that currently belongs to my parents. The house in which I grew up is in an ideal location in that it is situated at the very end of a dead-end street. Additionally, there is a "blue ribbon school" only three houses away. Directly across the street there exists an enormous park, double tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court and a extremely large playground.

Unfortunately, there are two very large plots of land (think farmland and horse pasture) to the west that are currently being considered for R2 rezoning (houses that would be considered less than desirable for the neighborhood) and the owner\investor will surely subdivide to maximize his profit. In addition, the city plans to make our beloved dead-end street a thoroughfare - a through street. We, the neighbors, are currently writing letters to the city and the investor condemning both the R2 rezone and said thoroughfare. Tonight we will be circulating two petitions: one condemning the thoroughfare and one condemning the R2 zoning.

Any other (legal) ideas on how we can rise up and fight the power?

Days like this...

...make me really miss Lake Powell.

Long time no post...

Yeah, things have been hectic lately here in cubeville so I have not had a chance to post. Let us recap, shall we?

I took Larah to the Cherry Creek trap range a couple of weeks ago and taught her how to shoot a shotgun. Only time will tell if teaching her how to shoot was a good decision...needless to say, I've been very sweet lately...just in case.

We started at the spring loaded hand-throwing machines. To her credit, she stood in there like a champ despite the fact that I did not bring a 20ga. for her. She was forced to shoot my 12ga. land cannons which were not only too heavy and too long for her but also tend to bruise the shoulder after a few shots. She quickly got the hang of though and was able to shoot down six clay birds. We both had a blast and can't wait to go back.

We headed to the Lee's new house for a house-warming party in Ft. Collins last weekend. What started as a quaint little house warming, quickly developed into a drink-fest complete with drinking games such as "beer-pong", "asshole", and "mexicali" followed by a few no-stakes games of Texas-hold 'em. Too old for drinking games? I think not! Was like riding a bike.

Here's a sign you'll probably never see in Denver or the Tech Center. It's posted on the front doors of the building in which I work. Don't be a hater...I know you want a sign like this where you work...

Mike Wazowski!!!

There's a guy here with a name so similar to the Monsters Inc. character Mike Wazowski that every time I hear or read his name, what jumps into my dome almost makes it out my pie-hole. Not that it's that bad or anything but I can totally see me (after hearing his name and not having much sleep the night before) stand up and scream "Mike Wazowski!!!" in a meeting or on a phone call. I'm hoping this will pass as time goes on and I will be able to suppress the urge however, all bets are off if alcohol is ever involved.

Where has this week gone?

The Road Less Traveled...
1. What don't you understand?
How this entire week has slipped away from me. I'm totally behind and will probably end up working this weekend to catch up.
2. Name someone in your life with blue eyes:
Larah...they were the first thing I noticed about her.
3. When is a lie not really a lie?
A lie is a lie no matta what. Of course some are more severe than others but it doesn't change the fact that you're still a liar-liar-pants-on-fire!
4. When is the last time you got really dirty?
Notice it says dirty, not duuuuuuuurty. Last weekend at the lake. I was loading sand to take home to see if it'll loosen the bentonite (clay) that plagues my lawn and everyone living in the Denver area. I've tried it all folks.
5. Are you a lefty or a righty?
righty

I'm it! 5 Things...

Gaaaaw! I'm IT!
5 Things always in my "laptop bag" (I guess it's like my really big man-purse):
1-pens
2-MSDN subscription (DVDs and such)
3-Tide toGo stain stick
4-GNC vitamin organizer
5-Change (if needed for parking)

5 Things always in my wallet:
1-debit card
2-credit card
3-driver's license
4 -a 50 that just stays there
5 -a flat and round, flat-head screwdriver my dad gave me when I was a teen (it has come in handy)

5 Things always in my refrigerator:
My refrigerator is such a lonely place. If it weren't for that pesky "always" above, I might have actually been able to make this at least sound a little respectable.
1 -Ketchup
2 -Ranch dressing
3 -Something in a zip lock bag in the waaaaay back. I have no idea what it is but I'm afraid to touch it.
4 -sad, huh?
5 -yeah, I know.

5 Things always in my closet:
1 -pants
2 -shirts
3 -shoes
4 -like 5 Halloween costumes
5 -a few guns

5 Things always in my car:
1 -Flashlight
2 -A TON of CDs of which I never listen
3 -Tools
4 -my .380...the truck doesn't move without it
5 -Insurance card and Registration

5 (or more) Things always on my desk:
1 -four trees worth of design documents. They were probably really pretty trees at one point too.
2 -Big plastic mug (for water not beer, damnit!)
3 -Trailmix (when I'm concentrating really hard I find it helps to be eating something chruchy)
4 -phone...oh how I really dislike my phone.
5 -Rugged-ized laptop (...the kind cops use). It's pretty pimp. You can forcibly throw this thing against the wall and it still works. Leave it out on your dash when it's say 100+ degrees outside...for hours? No problem. Spill water on the keyboard? No worries. I really wanted to tie one end of it to my ski rope and drag it in the water for awhile to see what happens but they wouldn't let me.

5 people i'm tagging...
EverLastingKnowItAll
Happykap
Pandora
WhatTheFlop?
AM_PM

Now you're it. Ya like apples??? ;o)

Two...

all beef patties, special-sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.Yes, that's right...delirium, induced by long hours here at the office, has finally decided to rear it's ugly head and now I can't get this damn slogan out of my head. That coupled with me silently singing "red-rover, red-rover send [insert coworkers name here] over" when I needed to converse with one of my peers means I've already lost the battle.

The only known cure: Jack and coke, Rumplemintz and Tequila...in that order.

I'm lovin' it!

My Very Own Friday Fiver

Name the last person you...
1. Hugged:
Larah...the night before last.

2. Smiled at:
Our IT guy like 2 minutes ago.

3. Deceived:
Same IT guy when I promptly pressed ALT+Tab from this blog post to something a little more...ummm...work related.

4. Glared at:
I don't glare. I'm a guy.

5. Lusted after:
A brand spankin' new Malibu LSI with all the fixin's.

Dance Fever

Now I'm not claiming to be the best dancer in the world but I can at least hold my own whereas these cats need to give up while they're ahead.

I have no idea what that is.

I love www.youtube.com

Back in the Saddle

I just love to take four days off just to come back and work another six so I can catch up. Oh well...it's the American way I guess.

We had a blast at the lake! We ate and drank in excess, boarded until our hands were callused, explored the outskirts of the lake, saw a group of big prong-horns, went to a '50s dance and car show, drove my Dad's cherry '50 Merc (for the first time ever), played horseshoes, attended my God-daughter's first birthday party, sun-worshiped, hung with the boys, and spent some much needed quality time with Larah and my folks.
I'd say it was good to be back but I'd be fibbin'!

OOO

T-minus 30 minutes until vacation officially starts. I need to break free of these cube walls for awhile so I can enjoy what's left of the water we have at the lake. Damn Colorado and the water policies here.

Anyway, this weekend should be especially fun. They're having a '50s car show and dance one night and a horseshoe tournament the next day. I know it sounds all redneck but I'm actually looking forward to the horseshoe comp. I'm thinking about not shaving, wearing a stained wife-beater, a pair of jeans, and a John Deere cap. I have my technique worked out and everything: I'll "pitch" with a beer in one hand and the "shoe" in the other. I figure the beer will balance the weight of the shoe...it's simple physics, dear Watson. Yeah, I'll bring home the bacon (or I'll run off with at least one horseshoe - they can't stop me...they can only hope to contain me).

Adios! Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down, c'mon. ;o)

I didn't know Uranus is bigger than the Earth!

A little Monday fun fact to know and tell your friends.

Saw The Lake House on Friday night. I liked it despite being told that I cried -I didn't- and being hit on the arm because I said she should have sent the sports scores and lotto numbers to him.

The truck needed a little TLC on Saturday so after brunch at the local cafe I spent most of the day vacuuming, washing, waxing, and Armor-All(ing) every square inch only to have to rain\hail later that night. Good times...yeah, I know...but what do ya do. It needed to be done. I guess it's back to the car wash again tonight but this time it'll only take like 10 minutes.

Larah and I had a ball at Dan's 30th birthday party. We started off at the Texas Road House - I can still out-cook them- and then went to his house to booze it up and play some cards. All my friends are really into playing poker and I've just seen way too many IOUs for hundreds of dollars to even attempt to join in. I work too hard for the money I make. Aaaaah, I miss the days of playing "Asshole" and including the girls. Was still good to see them all though.

Yesterday was a lazy day.

T-minus 4 days and counting until vacation. Larah and I will be heading up to the lake for ten days of much needed R&R. I think we'll have a blast! On the stack for this weekend (at the lake):

• Saturday, July 1st (8am to 11am) - Breakfast Burritos
• Saturday, July 1st (9am to noon) - Fun Day (games and such for the kids)
• Saturday, July 1st (7pm to midnight) - Car Show, 50s Dance & boozin'
• Sunday, July 2nd (9am to whenever it's over) - Horseshoe Tournament (redneck and I love it!)

Oh! Check it...I put together a collage of pics from Jackson this year...
...that's about as creative as it gets, folks.

hasta!

psssssst...it's friday!

Friday Five
1. What was the last new song you discovered?
Kenny Chesney, Summertime
2. What was the last new dish you tasted?
Marinated chicken breast and some shrimp dish at Tami's house on Monday. That girl can cook it up.
3. Where was the last place you visited for the first time?
I had to help move a piano last night for a guy who works here at the office.
4. Who was the last new person you met?
His wife...albeit briefly.
5. What was the last new toy you played with?
Oh, this is so loaded. I'll take the high road and plead the 5th. ;o)

Is it really Friday? Man, this week seemed to fly.

We're actually not going to the lake this weekend if you can believe that. The weekend lineup:
Tonight - We'll probably be draankin' and swimmin' in the Franklin's new pool (props to HK for the link). So pimp...I'll get to see my God-daughter! She's getting so big!
Tomorrow - I'll probably be working on the house...I've slacked so much this summer.
Tomorrow night - My buddy Dan's 30th birthday get-together.
Sunday - I'm assuming I'll be hung-over so the day will probably start a little later. I'm going to makes some calls to see if anyone is going to any of the local lakes. I also really wanna see a movie. I haven't been to a movie theatre in ages. I'm thinking "The Lake House"...but who knows. Looks interesting anyway.

The AC

...went out in my car so I had to get a little creative.

Don't be a hater.

In other news, soccer sucks...k-bye. I've tried to watch it many times and I think I'd almost rather watch golf or paint dry. Worse yet, we can't seem to put a team together that can compete. Give up. Free up the air time for reruns of Charles In Charge or The Incredible Hulk...hell, I'd even settle for a cooking show.

THIS is a football...'nuff said.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day, Pa! You're the best friend a son could ever ask for and I love you very much. I strive to be the best son, man and a gentleman that I can be because of you.

I love you Dad!

Phat Phriday Phiver

The Friday Five
Name your favorite...
1. Candy:
I don't have one. I was born sweet enough. ;o)
2. Cookie:
Chips and salsa
3. Donut:
Chips and salsa
4. Cold drink:
Water, Jack and Coke or Fanta (and vodka)
5. Hot beverage:
Coffee sometimes...I just don't consume hot liquids all that often.

Driving into work today...

...I came upon a great little custom Mustang. The custom features of this little gem might be hard to distinguish at first glance. Let me know if you're having trouble and I'll help you out.

Rochambeau

I know what I'll be watching on Saturday, June 17th at 12pm\11C.

Paper RULES!!!
Rock Paper Scissors Championship

It's Been Awhile...

...since my last post. It happens when everything comes at me all at once. I suppose even I have my limitations. It's been one thing after another.

Things have been hectic here at work fo' sho' but that's pretty standard operating procedure. The pups are both doing better so that's finally a load off my mind. Then I get an email out of the blue asking me why my best friend E was in the ICU. I swear...when it rains, it pours for that cat. He's dealt with a lot in the past few years and I have no idea why. The latest? He fell down a flight of stairs and hit his head on a tile floor.

Allow me to give you a little background on my buddy. Let's see...E is about 6'5" and probably tips the scales at around 320...yeah, he's a big boy...a soldier. He's also probably one of the toughest individuals I've ever met. I've seen him lift things that shouldn't be lifted and take a punch that would have knocked pretty much anyone I know out cold. He's had two fingers ripped off loading horses and countless other construction related injuries including nail impalements -yes, more than a few- which he pulls out with a pair of pliers in his tool-belt, wipes off the blood on his pants and continues to work. The kid (I say "kid" but he's older than me) is tough.

I guess that's why it was so hard for me to go see him in the hospital. I had the opportunity on Friday. I made the plans and I was going to do it. I balked. It scared me to think he could be seriously injured. I didn't want to see tubes coming out of him. I didn't want to see the machines and I damn sure didn't want to see him helplessly laying in that hospital bed with his arms shackled down because he kept trying to rip the tubes from his throat. I think it's safe to say that it shook my world.

I don't do that often...normally the things people do rarely surprise me anymore. I can normally gauge the outcome and get prepared for whatever the future holds. My own little way of dealing with things that come along, I reckon. When it comes to E, I just never know anymore. We're getting older and we're just not able to shake things off the way we used to.

Slow down a little bit brother. Not much...just a little. I'll see you tonight...when it's safe -for me- and you're well enough...so I can call you a pussy for having to go to the doctor. ;o)

Friday Five -- Curses!

Friday Five -- Curses!

Favorite phrase when you have:
1. Ate food that tastes bad
"NASTY! Someone already ate this once." hehe! ;o)
2. Stubbed your toe
I get mad and incoherent when stuff like that happens and I'll put words together that don't necessarily match like, "fucker-ass", "damn-dick" or "sonofa-puke-fucker"
3. Become frustrated
"For the looooove!"
4. Broken something
Pretty standard here - "shiiiiiiiiiiiit!"
5. Been cut off by another driver.
See number 2 followed by hand gestures.

Geeeeeeez, is it Friday already??? I'm thinking I could get used to these short weeks. Plan for tonight is just about the same as it was the last few weekends: strap the girlfriend in the truck (notice I didn't say "on the truck" or "to the truck"), load up the pups and head to the lake.

Gonna have to watch the speedo this go-round. One of CHP's finest tagged me last weekend going 86 in a 75. That's two tickets in a span of 8 months. You can bet I brushed my teeth before I kissed my Mom after that horseshit.

TGIF!

The Bachelor Party vs. The Bachelorette Party

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Phriday Phiver

It's been a looooooooooooooong week. Between the pups, the vet bill(s), planning for the weekend and the funeral I have to attend in t-minus 3 hours I'm due for some much needed R&R in the form of good friends, boats, jetskis, sun, sand, Jack-n-Coke, tequila, good food and a wakeboard.

The Friday 5
1. Where did you grow up?
Denver
2. Have you ever been to Indiana?
Nope but I like corn.
3. Describe yourself at age 18:
Hmm...hell on wheels. I tried to be good, I swear. Not much has changed.
4. How do you deal with pain?
Mental - I have a few different outlets at different times of the year (see above).
Physical - I suck-it-up and focus on the task at hand.
5. When is the last time you screwed up?
1980 - if I remember correctly, it was a cold day that day.

Have a save and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Rest in peace, Neil. Your pain is no more but you've left me wondering what I could have done to help you.

t-shirt

I just ran across the most amazing t-shirt website! Good times!

Defeat Communism in '08!

Bo and Arrow

So I've been on doggie duty for the past (almost) two weeks. Both dogs were at the vet the Monday before last and it was deemed necessary for both of them to go under the knife yesterday. Poor pups. Arrow is still at the hospital but I get to pick him up tonight and I was able to pick up Bo last night. He's home and recovering.

Here's the run-down thus far...

• Bo - Vaccinations, removal of abscess on both eyelids, teeth cleaning, nail trimming
• Arrow - Impacted dew-claw (removal of abscess), teeth cleaning, removal of 4 gum abscesses, nail trimming and vaccinations

Needless to say, both pups aren't feeling their best right now nor is their owner's nerves or his pocketbook. Doggie Insurance is looking like a mighty-fine idea right about now.

Bald Friday

A few weeks ago a guy in my company decided to put on a charity event. No biggie - I see emails all the time for some really great causes but this one caught my eye. It had a link to http://www.stbaldricks.org. Being the good Catholic boy that I am and never hearing of dear Saint Baldrick, I decided to take a look at the website for some gainful knowledge about said organization. Seems St. Baldrick's is the worlds largest fun-draiser dedicated to conquering childhood cancer. A noble cause indeed! I read on...

The premise behind this fundraiser is that the organizer of said event chooses to shave his or her head in the name of this great cause for donations from friends, family and in this case, coworkers.

Now this poor organizer could take the Pepsi challenge with any hair band from back in the 80s when it comes to hair length...I could tell it was his pride-and-joy. But he was willing to give it up all in the name of charity so I tip my hat to him. He needed a barber and since I'm already bald, I was designated as the man with the golden shears. I just know it was like passing a kidney stone as he saw his rocker-locks falling to the floor so I kept reminding him of all the good karma he'd be receiving and of all the kids we were helping. He ended up getting through the event with his chin held high and a smile on his face.

All-in-all it's such a great event for such a great cause! I highly recommend it!

Take a break, think of the kids and check out the site then let me know if you're in need of a good barber. I'd gladly offer up my services! ;o)

Happy Friday!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

To the best, hardest working, most fun, most active, most patient, most talented, most beautiful, most loving, most gentle and most caring Momma a guy could ever ask for. I'm extremely fortunate to have a Mother as great as you.

I love you Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Kick ass weekend!

Summer is finally inching it's way into Colorado and I love it! We went up to the lake last weekend and I took my first run of the year. The water was even flat enough for me to strap on the slalom ski but sooooo effin' cold! I didn't bring my thermometer but I'm guessing it was in the 50s.



And yes, I was finally able to cook my kabobs. They were soooooooo good!


Here's the link to the entire set.

Shish Kabob

...was what was on the menu tonight but the damn weather isn't cooperating! I have both chicken breast and beef marinating in a top secret marinade, peppers, mushrooms and all sorts of yummy veggies waiting to be skewered and cocktail shrimp screaming to be BBQed. The hickory chips have been soaking in red-wine\water all night and I'm all but ready to kick the tires and light the fires on the Weber. How lame is a severe thunderstorm warning which will undoubtedly include hail?
I really don't know how I can concentrate on trivial matters such as food preparation while the poor French are rioting in the streets over having to "possibly" work more than 6 hours a day, "possibly" not be able to take the whole month of August off (paid of course) and "possibly" losing their jobs if their employer asks them to work more than 6 hours a day...of course that's only if you're 26 years of age or younger which means you can pretty much do whatever you want if you're 27 and not get fired. How do these people do it? I mean, that's pretty much slave labor, isn't it?

I KNEW it!!!

In case there was ever a question...Fellatio may significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer in women. And, ya'll thought I was just being selfish.

I'm Your Huckleberry!

I think we all know Tombstone is the all-time, undisputed, single greatest movie ever made so I really don't have to cover that. It's the rulez. You can't argue with the rulez.

Anyone who has had the misfortune of watching it with me knows I can pretty much quote the entire movie - front to back...of course this is normally after a few too many cocktails but what do ya do? Annoying? Yes, but I really don't care.

Anyway, a friend sent this link to me yesterday and I learned a few things.

A Day Without Illegal Immigrants

Normally I don't share my political views on my blog or otherwise (I'm sure you can guess which end of the political spectrum I fall) but I just came across a pretty disturbing website. I about fell out of my chair when I saw it. Do the Mexican people (these in particular) realize how much money flows into their country from America?

In my opinion, amnesty is not an option when there is a process and laws backing up that process for entry into this great country. By all means, come in, raise a family, build a life, and work hard...but (and here's the kicker)...enter the states legally (and pay your taxes like the rest of us).

It seems the Minuteman Project volunteers and websites like NumbersUSA may actually make a difference.

Don't call it a comeback...

My Friday Five

1. What's missing from your life?
Right now? Summer! Bring it on bebe!
2. Do you like to get drunk?
See previous 300 posts or so...or skip to number 5. Yes, I'm a lush and I accept that.
3. Have you ever kissed a stranger?
I'll just say "yes" and leave it at that.
4. Do you smoke?
No.
5. What makes you happy?
Fridays, booze, Summer, blonds, booze, family, good friends, booze, wakeboarding, my pups trashing a field - seeing them get "birdy", booze, bikinis, short skirts, thigh-highs, booze, sense of accomplishment followed by booze...so many things make me happy.

TGIF! It's been a looooooooooong week.

Real World

It's about time we show everyone how we do it up here... 1920 Market Street is an awesome location too!

Hiatus

I've been OOB (out of blogger) for a week or so but I'm still around. I'm trying to play catch-up here at work and play as much as I can when outside of work.

Let's see...
Went to the Rockies home opener on Monday. For those that don't know, Opening Day in Denver officially kicks off Spring-fever for most of us. Well, we never really made it to the game. Actually, I didn't really see the game at all. Basically, my friends and I took the entire day off, went to LoDo and got our draaank-on.

Big-E and I started off at Soiled Dove at around 11:30ish (yes, AM folks), fought our way upstairs to the deck, bobbed-and-weaved our way to the bar where I ordered two-double jack-n-cokes and a shot of cuervo. I carried on like that for most of the day.

Once the game started, Big-E flagged down one of those bike-courier-guys to take us to somewhere to eat. I tried to convince him that the walk would do us good but he wouldn't have any of it. I felt so bad for the guy that ended up taking us...we were being rowdy - we almost flipped the cart several times...but I needed sustenance or I was going down for the count. Happy hour finally set in by the time we got to McCormic's so we ordered lobster tails and one of everything on the happy hour menu. Much to the surprise of our waitress and pretty much everyone there, we ended up devouring everything they put on our table. Everything tasted wonderful...but at the time, I was thinking "half-time"...we had so much more damage to do that day.

After our lunch\dinner\sustenance break, we headed back to Soiled Dove but decided we better stop in at Market 41 first since the SD line to get in was spilling out into the street already. We both had a few cocktails and then decided we'd better grease the bouncer or we weren't ever going to get in to see the rest of our friends. A ten spot each was all it took and we waltzed right in. I thought it was packed the first time we were there! It was insane! People everywhere. I ran into people I hadn't seen in years! LoDo's (the bar across the street) was just as packed...as was just about any other bar downtown.

At around 7ish, we ended up at some sushi place down the street from SD. Those poor, poor waitresses...I'm shocked they didn't kick us out. Several groups of people actually got up and asked for another table. I'll plead the 5th on the rest of the story and just say we had a blast!

Big-E took us to this downtown penthouse loft he worked on and showed us around. More drinks, a few calls and we headed to...yup, the strip club. The people at PTs were all too happy to see us.

I'm sure I left a detail or two out here and there but you get the picture. The day started early and ended late. 12+ solid hours of quality draaaankin'. Gaaaaaaaawd, I'm glad this only comes around once a year.

Is it really Friday already?

The Friday Fiver!

1) Of the various cultures, ethnicities or nationalities you belong to, which most strongly do you consider yourself?
My descendants were from Germany...and here. My Grandpa was a Cherokee Indian. When it all boils down, I'm American...and proud.

2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
No.

3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
Spanish - I'm choppy at best right now.

4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
Boats, beaches and ballads, bebe! The Florida Keys

5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
The birth of Christ, the birth of rock and roll (Sun Studio) or an average day in the life of my Dad when he was 20(ish) years old.

HNT #6 - Smiles all around!

Smiles all around!



Good friends, cold drinks and a night out on the town.

You have to be kidding...

A few articles that caught my attention today...

Coyote Captured in New York's Central Park
- I guess I've seen my fair share of coyotes so it's hard for me to comprehend why this is a headliner...but then again, I don't live in New York.

Mississippi outlaws sex toys
- I guess it speaks for itself. I'll stay clear of that state for awhile...I'd never stand in the way of a woman and her toys. Think it'll create an underground toy railroad? Headline next month: Battery Sales Plummet - Women Revolt

Charges dropped - Debra Lafave
- HUH? What was she thinking in the first place? I'm sure blondie could procure just about any guy with more experience at a local watering hole. What gives?

What Movie?

"It's gonna be a brutal assault on all your senses. I'm gonna twist ya. I'm gonna flip ya - frap your body 'til your bones hurt! When you squeal, I'm just going to go faster and harder."

I'll give you a hint...it came out in 1998. Don't know what made me think of it this morning but I dig this quote!

Happy Patty's Day! Hope everyone is safe and sound tonight.

HNT #5 - Find the Shamrock

"Find The Shamrock"...

We finally found the B&W setting on my camera and decided to take a pic of my calf. ;o)

HAPPY Patty's Day - HNT!!!

Overhaulin'

...is possibly one of the coolest shows on cable. I'm hopelessly addicted....even more so than those home improvement shows. Chip Foose is simply killin' it! The man is a genius...truly an artist. I've had bloodshot eyes all day because I stayed up late watching him take a 1930 Model A Ford "rat rod" and transform it into something I'd almost be too scared to drive. Who am I kidding? I'd drive the hell out of it. His attention to detail is outstanding. Who would have thought of making a checkerboard firewall? The pics don't really do it justice. Makes me think. Hmmmmmm...wonder how much those plasma torches are now. ;o) You'll get a kick out of this Dad.


Before:


During:


After:

Weekend happenings

Larah, the boys and I decided to beat-it out of town by heading up to the lake last Friday night for some much needed R&R. Upon returning home from work, we packed and were on the road in about an hour...a new record for me.

Much earlier that day we decided to purchase fishing licenses because I heard that the State Game and Fish Department stocked the lake with game-fish. I was taken aback by the cost of said fishing licenses...the last time I purchased a combo small game\fish license I think I spent no more than 25 bucks. The fishing ONLY license was over 30 this year. Not only does the Colorado SGF get our lottery money, they have to gouge our pocketbooks to hunt and fish too. grrrrrrr!

Now, I wouldn't classify myself as a professional fisherman nor do I pride myself on my fishing technique -I'm more the "drink in one hand and a wakeboard in the other" type- but we did end up catching a good buzz and a few fish Saturday afternoon and I have the pictures to prove it! Larah even brought in possibly the biggest grass-bass I have ever seen!!! Apparently there ARE fish in Jackson Lake. I've heard tales that fish other than the notorious party-carp roam the waters there but I've never been able to catch them so I dismissed any such claims as crazy-talk and went about my business.

After a couple of hours the weather turned on us so we loaded up the truck and proceeded to drive around the park. I was amazed at how much the park has grown. I remember when the park consisted of baron lots with nothing more than a fence separating each plot...sometimes there wasn't even a divider. Now, property owners are building multi-story houses with large decks and garages. Alas, it really is one of the only places in Colorado where you can own a piece of land so close to a large body of water.

We headed back to the lake house to replenish our drinks and I managed to crank out steaks and salad for dinner...then retired early.

We woke up to snow and below freezing temperatures on Sunday. After breakfast we decided it was too cold to go fishing so I broke out the DVDs, a blanket and some milk and cookies. ;o)

The drive home was interesting to say the least. The closer we got to Denver, the more snow seemed to fall. Wrecks and stalls littered the interstate and I was worried I was going to miss the Sopranos premier. I did see a Texan with a big Ford .5 ton in the ditch though...I know it sound bad and it's probably bad karma but it did make me smile.

Anyway, we made it home safely and the Sopranos was just starting. All in all...a great weekend and it was just what the doctor ordered.

(oh yeah! To the fishermen in the boat over my left shoulder...I'm sorry for catching all your fish! Those poor guys were out there all day and I think the only thing they caught was a cold.)

Fill up my jug...

...and I'll hush up my mug. Just got my annual review back and I think I need a drink to celebrate my ability to "walk on water". That was actually said in the meeting...walk on water. Makes it sound so easy, huh? Like I have an innate ability to crank these projects out and make them shine.

Uuuuummm, no. It wasn't easy and of course I didn't do it alone. Wonder why my blog sucks lately? I worked my ass off over the past review cycle. In any case, it's time to celebrate being part of a very small team who brought home and closed-out the biggest project in the history of this company (at least for this phase and payment milestone). It's time to celebrate high marks in a really tough review cycle. It's time to celebrate...so fill up my jug and I'll hush up my mug.

Snow, snow and more snow

It's snowing here today...big, phat, wet flakes. It's the kind of snow that makes you want to cuddle up in a blanket - hot chocolate in-tow - and sit next to a fire while watching a really long movie. Yes, March in Colorado is finally here. March and (early to mid) April seem to be the most volatile months as it relates to weather at least in CO. Interestingly enough, it was like 65 degrees yesterday.

This snow really doesn't hurt my feelings...quite the contrary actually. We desperately need the moisture... so I can board as much as possible this year.

Speaking of...I heard that Jackson Lake just opened the boat launches. While still a bit too cold (can you imagine the shrinkage factor right now), hearing about it actually made Spring-fever set in. Time to dust off the Jimmy Buffett CDs and get my liver...I mean, my body...back into "boarding shape".

A love story

A friend just shared this article with me. It's a tragic love story about a man and...well...just read it. Reading this just about brought a tear to my eye.

Snowboarding vs. Working

Yes, it's official...I prefer snowboarding over working (especially on a Friday).


I could get used to weeks like last week...

• Took Monday off and extended my stay at the lake.
• Worked on Tuesday.
• Was off sick on Wednesday.
• Worked on Thursday.
• Boarded all day Friday.

Viva Mardi Gras!

...viva Fat Tuesday and viva New Orleans! I wish I could be there to help y’all celebrate (especially after Katrina). You really have cause turn it up a notch-er-two. Aaaaaah, the food, the beads, the dabloons, the music, the hospitality and the endless supply of booze. I had never been in the company of such hospitable people in all my life.

Everyone should experience it at least once.

On Cheney and Hunting

Everyone seems to have an opinion about it so I might as well add my $0.02. Here's my take on Vice President Dick Cheney's hunting accident...

Hunting is a sport but it's not a sport in which you play. That is, you don't "play" hunting because when you play hunting, someone dies. As an avid hunter and sportsman, I know accidents happen. I take every single precaution I can - up to and including getting to know the hunting styles\practices\etc. of those around me well before I go into to the field with them. Hunter and shooter safety is first and foremost in my mind at all times when guns are involved. Even still, in my 25 years of hunting I've experienced at least three very close calls afield.

The first time it happened, I was very young. I was sitting on hay bales with a friend whilst hunting geese. My friend was bored and started playing with his shotgun. His 12ga. went off and sent a pattern of projectiles less than a foot in front of my leg.

The second time something happened, I was stalking pheasants with Big E (who I think reads this blog). It was late in the day and we hadn't seen a pheasant for at least a couple of hours. One finally busted and it scared him. His safety was not on but his finger was on the trigger...which he squeezed as a reaction. Again, it sent a pattern not more than a foot in front of me.

The third close call (and probably the closest scenario that relates to Vice President Cheney's situation) took place in South Dakota. A line of 30+ men walked a CRP field where the brush was over our heads and was so thick that you couldn't see the man next to you. Pheasants began busting and people started shooting. After two or three near misses, I pulled back and so did my pup Arrow. We stood at the top of a hill and watched as divine intervention was the only thing saving each of these men.

All three of the above mentioned scenarios could have been avoided. All three of the above mentioned scenarios frustrate me. However, all three of the scenarios listed above were accidental. When you are afield the number of elements you can control are far outweighed by the number of elements you cannot.

Among many, there exists a very basic hunter's safety rule - almost common sense, really: Always know your backdrop before, during and after you turn the safety off and pull the trigger. Sounds simple but it is not. That means, for every shot you have a mental checklist of items you have to go though before, during and after you take a single shot. If your vision is impaired for any reason, you should not shoot. If your vision gets blocked during a follow through (shotgunning), you should not shoot. If you do not know beyond all doubt that your shot will be safe, you do not shoot. Vice President Dick Cheney should not have pulled the trigger. His backdrop was not clear.

That said, it angers me that it happened to a man of his stature...he is after all in the public eye. It gives hunters (like me) a "black-eye" because the general public probably does not know that hunting related accidents are down over 33 percent (nationwide) over the past decade. They don't take into account that accidents can and certainly will occur and that hunters are being more safe, more responsible and are operating safer hunting and camping equipment today than ever before.

The bottom line is that a man - a fellow outdoorsman - almost lost his life because of a split second lapse in judgment...an accident. I find no humor in that...I don't care how left-wing you are.