My last night in Vegas. I'm seriously ready to go home. I can only take so many Fremont Street Experience shows. And I think I've had enough buffets, cheap drinks and mullets to last me a good, long while. Seriously, I didn't realize so many dudes still considered a mullet a "good" look. Walking around down here is like walking through every episode of COPS from 1987-1995. I was pretty sure the first guy I saw sporting the look was going for some kind of weird hipster/ironic look. I've since changed my mind. He was just groovin' on the party-in-the-back attitude. Damn, those boys sure are proud of their bad hair! Of course, they actually have hair. Bastards.
Time to log off for the night. The 11:00 show is getting started and I'd hate to miss my second to last 80's medley. Party on, dudes.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Day 3: Vegas Getting Old
So I've been here since Sunday, and things are getting a little strange. I did my workshop today (blah, blah, blah) and we decided to leave downtown behind and hit the Strip. Different friggin' worlds. Seriously. Downtown is a much more mellow crowd. Lots noisier, more chances somebody will do something stupid and not get "arrested". The Strip has more "rules". Anyway, we were gambling, i.e., "drinking" at Caesar's and I saw this sign outside the Celine Deion theater. I thought it was a little ironic that weapons were specifically not allowed in the theater. I don't know if that's so you don't shoot Celine or you don't shoot yourself. Either way, your pain is over.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Vegas: Day 2
As many times as I've been to Vegas, I never quite get over how un-subtle the place is. Just in case you're not sure what they mean by "Discount Liquor", they put up the "BOOZE" sign. Sweet. FYI - Think twice (or three or four times) about staying at one of the downtown hotels. The Fremont Street Experience goes off every half hour. Lots of loud 80's music until midnight. Listening to a Madonna/Cyndi Lauper combo right now. Rockin' tunes.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Vegas, Baby!
I've been in Vegas for two hours and I'm already down $1.40. I'd probably be down more, but I couldn't get a seat at one of the penny slots. If you've ever spent much time in Vegas you should recognize by the picture that I'm staying downtown. Downtown ain't the flashy Vegas you see in Ocean's 11 (Rat-pack or re-make). It's more the Vegas you see in CSI. The body-in-the-alley-in-a-skeevy-part-of-town part of CSI (ironic, but I'm hearing multiple police sirens as I write this). The silver lining is the $1 beers. And the Topless Girls of Glitter Gulch.
There should be more updates tomorrow. Thanks to the half-ass service of Showtime Shuttles (don't EVER take those bastards if you come to Vegas), it was late when I got in and I have to work in the morning. A cold beer on top of my country fried steak and eggs makes Kelly a sleepy boy. Hasta.
There should be more updates tomorrow. Thanks to the half-ass service of Showtime Shuttles (don't EVER take those bastards if you come to Vegas), it was late when I got in and I have to work in the morning. A cold beer on top of my country fried steak and eggs makes Kelly a sleepy boy. Hasta.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Decaying Orbit
After 44 years, the Orangevale Orbit will soon be gone, replaced by a sparkly new Chevron. Screw Chevron. I've got to say, this is one of my favorite buildings in Sacramento. This gas station was built back in the early days of the space program, JFK was going to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, "The Jetson's" were in their first season and personal jet-packs would be on the showroom floors within a few years. OK, that last one didn't happen, but I still dig the design. Tell me how an old, concrete building with a wing-like roof can't be some sort of historical landmark. The sneaky bastards didn't even release the news to the "Mainstream Media". I had to read about the "project" in the weekly Orangevale News. I'm smelling cover-up here. I'm going to have to keep a really close eye on Orangevale Feed next door. I'll be out front with a picket sign if they try to get rid of Socks. As long as it's not summer then. It gets really hot in Sacramento.
Moving on to what I did read in the real newspaper today, I think I'm truly in the wrong business. I've been with the same company for 16 years, and I get 4 weeks of vacation a year and 6 sick/personal days. Not great, but pretty standard. Then I read an article on cnn.com about the benefits al Qaeda operatives get. Married dudes (no chicks in al Qaeda; apparently not an "equal opportunity employer") get 7 days of vacation a month (single guys get 5 days a month) and 15 sick days a year. First thing I thought (shortly after "al Qaeda's got benefits?!") was how mundane this actually sounds. When I think of al Qaeda, I'm picturing guys hunkered down in caves, scratching out crude plans and diagrams in the dirt. What I'm NOT thinking about is guys with vacation and sick days. Weird. Still, not exactly a job I think I'd enjoy. Too much "blowing shit up" and "getting killed". Not a lot of that happening in my office. Besides, they didn't say anything about a 401(k).
Moving on to what I did read in the real newspaper today, I think I'm truly in the wrong business. I've been with the same company for 16 years, and I get 4 weeks of vacation a year and 6 sick/personal days. Not great, but pretty standard. Then I read an article on cnn.com about the benefits al Qaeda operatives get. Married dudes (no chicks in al Qaeda; apparently not an "equal opportunity employer") get 7 days of vacation a month (single guys get 5 days a month) and 15 sick days a year. First thing I thought (shortly after "al Qaeda's got benefits?!") was how mundane this actually sounds. When I think of al Qaeda, I'm picturing guys hunkered down in caves, scratching out crude plans and diagrams in the dirt. What I'm NOT thinking about is guys with vacation and sick days. Weird. Still, not exactly a job I think I'd enjoy. Too much "blowing shit up" and "getting killed". Not a lot of that happening in my office. Besides, they didn't say anything about a 401(k).
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
People Are Idiots
I just read an article that said 20% of Americans think their calls have been monitored by the government. Who the hell are these cocky bastards? I wish somebody would listen to me. I post to my blog on a semi-regular basis and I'm pretty sure I have a readership of about six. And I'm counting myself. Hell, I'd be happy to post transcripts of all my telephone calls if I thought anybody'd be interested. Sample call:
KELLY: Hello?
RACHELLE: I'm on my way home. What's for dinner?
KELLY: Ummmm, meatloaf? We're out of beer.
RACHELLE: We've got wine.
KELLY: Cool. See you in a few minutes.
RACHELLE: 'Bye.
I've got more if Bush, Dick & Co. would be interested.
I'm absolutely NO fan of the current administration or their quasi-legal wiretapping program, but I don't believe most Americans have been intentionally singled out. There are roughly 300 million Americans, about 210 million over the age of 18 (I'm pulling out the youngsters because, based on what I heard at the mall last week, government interpreters wouldn't have the slightest idea what those dumb-asses were talking about). Figure 20% of the remaining people and you've still got 42 million people to monitor. Screw that. Even with smart NSA sniffers, somebody's got to go back in and listen to that crap. I would last about a week before I wigged out and climbed a clock tower.
That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that certain high-profile individuals with no ties to al Qaeda have had their calls, mail, e-mail, etc., intercepted. That's the whole idea behind a "slippery slope". Almost everybody would say that they are cool with listening in to "terrorists", but how far does that go? Is the ACLU a terrrorist organization? Bill O'Reilly seems to think so. People who aren't in lock-step with W. and his cronies are apparently not patriots and are just waiting to be invaded by the Commies/Islamo-facists/Mexicans (take your pick; I was channel-surfing on the way home from work and heard about the dangers of all three groups). Should their phone calls and mail be fair game? Maybe. Anyhoo, I'm pretty sure some of the people who are defending this program the most would be screaming the loudest if there were a Democrat in the White House. But it's possible I'm just cynical.
Enough of my ranting for now. Think I used enough key-words in this post to trip the NSA sniffers? I hope so. I'd hate to be part of the 80% of American losers who are not having their conversations monitored.
KELLY: Hello?
RACHELLE: I'm on my way home. What's for dinner?
KELLY: Ummmm, meatloaf? We're out of beer.
RACHELLE: We've got wine.
KELLY: Cool. See you in a few minutes.
RACHELLE: 'Bye.
I've got more if Bush, Dick & Co. would be interested.
I'm absolutely NO fan of the current administration or their quasi-legal wiretapping program, but I don't believe most Americans have been intentionally singled out. There are roughly 300 million Americans, about 210 million over the age of 18 (I'm pulling out the youngsters because, based on what I heard at the mall last week, government interpreters wouldn't have the slightest idea what those dumb-asses were talking about). Figure 20% of the remaining people and you've still got 42 million people to monitor. Screw that. Even with smart NSA sniffers, somebody's got to go back in and listen to that crap. I would last about a week before I wigged out and climbed a clock tower.
That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that certain high-profile individuals with no ties to al Qaeda have had their calls, mail, e-mail, etc., intercepted. That's the whole idea behind a "slippery slope". Almost everybody would say that they are cool with listening in to "terrorists", but how far does that go? Is the ACLU a terrrorist organization? Bill O'Reilly seems to think so. People who aren't in lock-step with W. and his cronies are apparently not patriots and are just waiting to be invaded by the Commies/Islamo-facists/Mexicans (take your pick; I was channel-surfing on the way home from work and heard about the dangers of all three groups). Should their phone calls and mail be fair game? Maybe. Anyhoo, I'm pretty sure some of the people who are defending this program the most would be screaming the loudest if there were a Democrat in the White House. But it's possible I'm just cynical.
Enough of my ranting for now. Think I used enough key-words in this post to trip the NSA sniffers? I hope so. I'd hate to be part of the 80% of American losers who are not having their conversations monitored.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Shhhh! I'm hunting wabbits!
So, Dick finally shot somebody. That we know about. Call me crazy, but I'm guessing this ain't the first time something like this has happened. That "hunting trip" with Antonin Scalia right before the Supreme Court was going to rule for or against Cheney/Enron/Haliburton, et al, sounded suspiciously like Michael taking Fredo out on the boat for a "fishing trip". Say the wrong thing and it's, "Hey, Tony! Duck! (heh, heh, heh)". It's either really dark and evil (hey, it is Cheney), or he's just truly a piss-poor shot. If that's the case, I've got a looooong list of people I'd like him to take hunting next time. At least the guy he shot is a Republican. Something about Karma.
Moving on to the good-news/bad-news part of the program. Based on the aforementioned Mr. Cheney and his boss' fiscal policies, I'm getting a little worried about my financial future. Fortunately, the good people at Safeway are watching out for me. For two (2) weeks in a row, they've had 6-packs of PBR on sale for $3.50. In bottles! Sure, you can get a 12-pack of cans for $6.04 (a bargain), but it's cans. How low-class can you get? I prefer to swill my crap-ass beer out of a frosty bottle. After 4 or 5 it actually starts to taste beer-like. Almost.
Moving on to the good-news/bad-news part of the program. Based on the aforementioned Mr. Cheney and his boss' fiscal policies, I'm getting a little worried about my financial future. Fortunately, the good people at Safeway are watching out for me. For two (2) weeks in a row, they've had 6-packs of PBR on sale for $3.50. In bottles! Sure, you can get a 12-pack of cans for $6.04 (a bargain), but it's cans. How low-class can you get? I prefer to swill my crap-ass beer out of a frosty bottle. After 4 or 5 it actually starts to taste beer-like. Almost.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Super Bowl Stripping?
So Ken and I went to the Powehouse in Folsom for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Place is a little weird, but they have the best TV of any sports bar I've ever been tanked in (and I've been tanked in PLENTY of sports bars all over the country). Half-time rolls around and I head inside to see if I've won the raffle (no). Suddenly, much to my dismay, the woman pulling the raffle numbers suddenly "loses" her top. I was shocked! So shocked that I wasn't able to get the camera on my Treo zoomed in for a better shot. I will be better prepared next year.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Vacuum Fresh!
I picked up a FoodSaver at Costco a couple of weeks ago. I'd been looking at them every time I went to Costco for several months, but I couldn't really justify buying one. Fortunately, Rachelle was just as intrigued by the idea, so we eventually broke down and got one. Seeing as we were already at Costco, we took the opportunity to pick up a 10 pound family-pack of hamburger. The first weekend was taken up with forming said 10 pounds of hamburger into various meal-type shapes and vacuum packing them for future generations. After we ran out of meat-products to seal, we moved on to sealing dry goods in Mason jars (using the optional Mason jar attachment). Rock on. At this point, two weeks in, I seem to have run out of things to seal. Fortunately, there is an entire chapter in the FoodSaver DVD dedicated to sealing "non-food items". Since I get home from work a good hour before Rachelle, I have plenty of "me time" to come up with "ideas". I'm emptying my pockets out on the counter and I see the FoodSaver just sitting there. I start thinking, "Hey, why not vacuum seal the contents of my pockets". Why not?
OK, moving on to a different topic, I was really friggin' hungry 'round about lunch time today (something about getting to the office in time for a 7:00am conference call) and decided to Google the pizza place down the street for a menu. Google didn't find a menu, but it did find a review for the place on a web page called "Pizza Magazine Quarterly". Good God, how do you get a job at a place like that? It's like being editor-in-chief at "Big Boobs, Free Beer & Sports Monthly". Man, I gotta get out of this Medicare gig.
- Wallet
- Listerine Breath Strips
- Keys
- $2.87 in change ($7 pesos?)
- Swiss Army knife
OK, moving on to a different topic, I was really friggin' hungry 'round about lunch time today (something about getting to the office in time for a 7:00am conference call) and decided to Google the pizza place down the street for a menu. Google didn't find a menu, but it did find a review for the place on a web page called "Pizza Magazine Quarterly". Good God, how do you get a job at a place like that? It's like being editor-in-chief at "Big Boobs, Free Beer & Sports Monthly". Man, I gotta get out of this Medicare gig.
Sacramento RT
Rachelle and I took light-rail downtown for lunch yesterday. We almost made it all the way there before a crazy dude started yelling about government agents, genocide, war crimes, etc. We weren't completely sure he was crazy, but the woman sitting a few rows from us explained that when people "tell such big whoppers it's a sign of mental illness". Glad she was there to clarify that. I was starting to get worried. If anybody's looking for a free mental health evaluation, you might want to consider taking the Gold Line to downtown Sacramento. Start asking people if they think you're crazy. Lots of entertainment for your $1.75.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Winter Wonderland
Rachelle and I were both in Salt Lake City helping my dad and Sheila move last weekend. As you can see by the snow and Rachelle's happy look, we're not moving to a cold-weather locale in the near future. That said, we both really enjoyed our weekend in the cold. Salt Lake is kind of a weird place. There is a definite religious vibe to the place (OK, more than just a "vibe"), but there are also some really good restaurants and bars. Some strange rules at some of the bars, but still good. One thing I learned about SLC that I really liked was how the streets are laid out. Everything starts at the temple and works its way out. It's like a graph in high-school geometry. The temple is 0/0. Everything else is X number of blocks E, W, N or S. Makes it friggin' impossible to get lost. Almost. They do toss in the rare named street just to make things interesting. Bastards. Other than that, I would have to say that it is a very civilized way to grid out a city. Seems to be kind of wasted on a city where more than half of the population doesn't drink, i.e., people who can EASILY find their way home at night. Vegas needs to be set up like this. You'd have a bunch of strip-clubs and casinos with names like "NUDES, NUDES, NUDES at 300 West, 1200 South". A lot easier on the cabbies with the midnight to 8:00am shift. Just a suggestion for the future city-planners out there.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Salt Lake Livin'
This is the goldfish that came with my room at the Hotel Monaco. I think I'll call him "Sparky". I don't get to take him home, though. I could, but he costs $15 and can't go on the regional jet back to Sacramento. Spent the past couple of days getting my dad moved into his temporary digs. A couple of Costco trips for the important stuff (flat-panel TV, cleaning supplies, etc.) and we found the nearest State-run liquor store. The only kind in Utah. Closed on Sunday, holidays and election day. I think I'll be staying in Cali. SLC is pretty, though. Beautiful mountains, great biking and hiking, friendly people everywhere. OK, friendly people can get old after a while, but I think Dad and Sheila will like it here. Enough for tonight. Rachelle and I hit one of the local brew pubs and I'm getting sleepy. And Sparky needs to go for a walk.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I Love L.A. (area)!
Biggie Breakfast at the Carrow's in Pomona. On historic Route 66. I don't feel so good.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Progress
I don't seem to have as much energy to post updates of the home improvements when I'm actually doing the work myself. I wasn't nearly as tired every night last year when we had the kitchen/bathroom done. It seems that I may not be in "good" shape. Anyway, ran out of light again last night so I didn't quite finish. Hope to get the cutting done today and finish at least the flooring tonight. The baseboards and transitions may take a while. As long as we're not living on a bare concrete slab anymore.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
New Project: Take 2
OK, I'm too tired and in too much pain to go into great detail about how much both Home Depot and Lowe's suck, but I'll make sure to get to that in the very near future. Long story short(ish), Rachelle and I had to deal with living on a bare concrete slab for several days because the crap they sell at H.D. is exactly that: crap. Last week's flooring has gone back and I picked up a new batch of Bambo bamboo at Carpet's Direct in Orangevale. It had to "acclimate" for a couple days so I wasn't able to start the installation until today, but I've got to say I'm happy so far. Almost half done and I still have all 10 fingers (God, I love my new table saw). And I'm still married. Very little swearing with the new stuff. I'll send more pictures when it's done, as well as post my several-part rants about H.D. and Lowes. Got plenty there.
Friday, December 30, 2005
New Project: Day 1+
The new year is just around the corner and I started thinking, "Hey, why don't I turn our house into a crap-hole every year at this same time?" I am one day into what I hope is a long weekend project to install wood floors. Myself. Seriously. As of 8:14 pm (Pacific Time), I have removed all of the carpet, pad and original 1958 tile. I also have 30 cases of tounge-and-groove flooring. Currently, I am married. I'll fill you in after the true project starts.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
California Class
Rachelle and I aren't going to be headed back to Omaha for Christmas this year (something about the airlines wanting "lots of money" for a ticket), so we're celebrating quietly in Orangevale. I was in line at Trader Joe's yesterday picking up Christmas "supplies", i.e., booze, and I saw this really interesting display. Little 4-packs of champagne in a can. The truly interesting part was that the canned champagne was from a decent Napa winery. Even from a decent winery, I was a little hesitant until the woman in line ahead of me mentioned that the cans came with their own individual bendy-straw. A grown-up juice box. Sweet! While it was very strange to be drinking champagne out of a can and through a straw, I would have to say it was pretty decent stuff. Fun, too.
All for now. I need to hit the mall for some last minute shopping. HA! Screw that. Anybody who doesn't already have a present is getting cash. Whatever I can find in the change jar. Or I'll be wrapping cans of soup/beans. Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas!
All for now. I need to hit the mall for some last minute shopping. HA! Screw that. Anybody who doesn't already have a present is getting cash. Whatever I can find in the change jar. Or I'll be wrapping cans of soup/beans. Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Not Working...
Don't people work anymore? I'm sitting in It's A Grind at 10:00 this morning and the place is jammed. I'm actually taking a vacation day. These people look like they live here. About a 50/50 mix of dudes who look like they're working and slack-ass students from the community college up the road. I may just be getting old (OK, there's no "may" about it), but I don't think I would have enjoyed a $4 cup of coffe when I was that age. $4 was a good dinner out at Taco Bell. I truly miss those $0.49 tacos. Damn, that sounds tasty!
Rachelle had her office Christmas/holiday party at Carmelita's in Fair Oaks last night. It was her second day at the new job so it was a little strange. By the time we were seated for dinner I had actually spent more time talking to her boss than she had. I had to make sure I was on my best behavior. No talk about crazy families, no talk about Bo's "issues", no rants of any kind. And a strict two-margarita limit. Oddly enough, the company picked up the tab for the whole thing. My office party is going to consist of a meat & cheese platter from Costco in the conference room. No margaritas.
Rachelle had her office Christmas/holiday party at Carmelita's in Fair Oaks last night. It was her second day at the new job so it was a little strange. By the time we were seated for dinner I had actually spent more time talking to her boss than she had. I had to make sure I was on my best behavior. No talk about crazy families, no talk about Bo's "issues", no rants of any kind. And a strict two-margarita limit. Oddly enough, the company picked up the tab for the whole thing. My office party is going to consist of a meat & cheese platter from Costco in the conference room. No margaritas.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Christmas Grilling
December 3. December. And I'm grilling on the patio. Meanwhile, where I grew up (Omaha), today's high was 23 with a crap-ton of snow. I'm not sure I made the right choice in moving.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Not Too Tasty...
So I was invited to a baby shower for a woman in our office this afternoon. I'd never been to a baby shower before (I'm a dude), but I was promised cake. Imagine my confusion when I went to the conference room and saw a cake that was made completely out of (new & unused) diapers. Cute, but I'm a fat pig and was expecting cake. With frosting. Fortunately, this was just a decorative thing that apparently is part of the baby shower thing. Whatever. As long as there was going to be REAL cake served, too. Anyway, there's a reason guys don't usually get invited to baby showers. Lots of cute little baby things, no electronics, no tools, no small talk about sports, no beer. And waaaaay too much talk about how babies are born. Ooof. I prefer not to think about things like that. I'm much more comfortable with the stork concept.
On to the movie review for this week. If you haven't rented "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", DON'T. Lots of promise, little follow-through. I had high hopes going in; hot hit-man/woman, Vince Vaughn as comedic relief, explosions, fighting, etc. There was only about 30 minutes of actual entertainment in a 1:52 movie. And it wasn't all lumped together. Slooooooooow pace. If you happen to catch it on HBO at 3:00 in the morning when you can't sleep, enjoy. Otherwise, take it off your Netflix queue.
On to the movie review for this week. If you haven't rented "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", DON'T. Lots of promise, little follow-through. I had high hopes going in; hot hit-man/woman, Vince Vaughn as comedic relief, explosions, fighting, etc. There was only about 30 minutes of actual entertainment in a 1:52 movie. And it wasn't all lumped together. Slooooooooow pace. If you happen to catch it on HBO at 3:00 in the morning when you can't sleep, enjoy. Otherwise, take it off your Netflix queue.
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