My blog is going to be going without an update for a little while, just know this is planned and absolutely nothing to worry about. I'm just going on a vacation that is much deserved if I do say so myself and very much needed. Part of this includes me disconnecting from the internet.
Whether the disconnect from the internet is a good or bad thing is still up in the air.
I'm sure my wife thinks it's a great thing, since she thinks I spend too much time on it, but the internet has given me folks to talk to who are just as passionate about the same things I am as I am, and when you're me, this is wanted very much. I like to talk to folks and I'm sparing my beloved wife the hassle of hearing all sorts of jibberish about guitars.
And there's always my blogs. I'm leaving the 5th Fret to my contributing writers while I'm away. I hope to come back and see at least a couple more articles. I could imagine it would be like starting from scratch if there weren't any updates. I've (we've) put in a lot of work to the 5th Fret blog and each time another person comes to the site I feel pretty good about it, like maybe we're gaining ground.
The more ground we gain, the more real it'll become and then maybe we can get into NAMM, my highest aspiration for the site.:-)
Anyway, I'll be back, don't you worry. In the meantime, keep checking back to see if there are any updates.
Have a merry X-mas.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Reading Journal
I call it a journal because "log" always reminds me of poop.
I started a reading journal that officially started on January first, 2008. I started it because 1) I have been wondering just how many books I've read in my life and as opposed to trying to remember, I figured I would just keep track from then on and see how many books get read from then on.
What I did not expect was that, after a while, when you look at the list you remember little things about where you were when you were reading that book and what you were doing when not reading it.
It's like a little reminder of the past and completely cool. I recommend everyone do it.
So, in 2008 (so far) I've read the following:
The Summons - John Grisham
Kingdom Come - Tim LeHaye and Jenkins
Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
Untitled - Julie Kaewert
State of Fear - Michael Crichton
Wolves of the Calla - Stephen King
Song of Susannah - Stephen King
Timeline - Michael Crichton
The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore
Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk
Coyote Blue - Christopher Moore
Hamlet - Shakespeare
The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson
Soldier's Heart - Elizabeth D. Samet
Yes, You're Pregnant But What About Me? - Kevin Nealon
Nothing's Sacred - Lewis Black
Slaughterhouse-five - Kurt Vonnegut
In A Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson
Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
Unsigned - Julie Kaewert
Island of the Sequined Love Nun - Christopher Moore
The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
Cujo - Stephen King
The Testament - John Grisham
1984 - George Orwell
Clapton - Eric Clapton
That's it but I'm hoping to read at least one more before the year's done.
I started a reading journal that officially started on January first, 2008. I started it because 1) I have been wondering just how many books I've read in my life and as opposed to trying to remember, I figured I would just keep track from then on and see how many books get read from then on.
What I did not expect was that, after a while, when you look at the list you remember little things about where you were when you were reading that book and what you were doing when not reading it.
It's like a little reminder of the past and completely cool. I recommend everyone do it.
So, in 2008 (so far) I've read the following:
The Summons - John Grisham
Kingdom Come - Tim LeHaye and Jenkins
Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
Untitled - Julie Kaewert
State of Fear - Michael Crichton
Wolves of the Calla - Stephen King
Song of Susannah - Stephen King
Timeline - Michael Crichton
The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore
Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk
Coyote Blue - Christopher Moore
Hamlet - Shakespeare
The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson
Soldier's Heart - Elizabeth D. Samet
Yes, You're Pregnant But What About Me? - Kevin Nealon
Nothing's Sacred - Lewis Black
Slaughterhouse-five - Kurt Vonnegut
In A Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson
Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
Unsigned - Julie Kaewert
Island of the Sequined Love Nun - Christopher Moore
The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
Cujo - Stephen King
The Testament - John Grisham
1984 - George Orwell
Clapton - Eric Clapton
That's it but I'm hoping to read at least one more before the year's done.
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Final Chapter
In 2004 I started readin the Dark Tower series from Stephen King. It's been a long road reading them obviously since I am only halfway through with the last book. I remember reading the last page of the Gunslinger on a concrete step outside a police station as I waited to clock in to work thinking "what a piece of crap. I'm mroe confused about everything in life now than I was before I read it."
I was told, however, to read the second book.
After a while I did. I don't know, maybe I was bored. I read it and loved it. And on I went to the third book. I breezed through those books and then for Christmas that year ('05) I got the fourth book which took a while to get through. I wasn't in the mood to go trapsing through Roland's past. As a matter of fact I really objected to it since Roland was a pretty mysterious guy, just a gun that talked, really. I liked that. I liked not knowing anything about him and now here I am reading about the circumstances that made him who he was. I couldn't care less. Because of this it took a long time to get through it.
Then I deployed. Let me tell you something about deploying: you can read. A LOT. I wore through the collection of books I wanted to and a friend was reading the last three books in the series so I borrowed them. I read through them very quickly and when I came back to the States I started reading the last book, the Dark Tower.
I'll say this: the series is weird. There's a definite turn in the road from book four to five and I wasn't really a fan. But they are written well and I do like reading them. It's an odd ride to be on and I'm enjoying it. Going through the book however was a fast process until something (two things actually) drastic happened that made me stop reading.
And now I'm reading it again.
I have mixed feelings about it though. This is a series I've put a lot of time into and now it'll be over.
I have this feeling often with just about everything. Perhpas I'm just weird, but it's more likely that this is a case of one more thing that I had as a less responsible youth that will be done. One more chapter finished. As much as I love being a dad and a husband, I kind of hang on to these things. I don't know. It seems kind of sad in a way or maybe I'm just thinking about this too much. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I'm not happy - I am - but, you know, it's still sad.
I was told, however, to read the second book.
After a while I did. I don't know, maybe I was bored. I read it and loved it. And on I went to the third book. I breezed through those books and then for Christmas that year ('05) I got the fourth book which took a while to get through. I wasn't in the mood to go trapsing through Roland's past. As a matter of fact I really objected to it since Roland was a pretty mysterious guy, just a gun that talked, really. I liked that. I liked not knowing anything about him and now here I am reading about the circumstances that made him who he was. I couldn't care less. Because of this it took a long time to get through it.
Then I deployed. Let me tell you something about deploying: you can read. A LOT. I wore through the collection of books I wanted to and a friend was reading the last three books in the series so I borrowed them. I read through them very quickly and when I came back to the States I started reading the last book, the Dark Tower.
I'll say this: the series is weird. There's a definite turn in the road from book four to five and I wasn't really a fan. But they are written well and I do like reading them. It's an odd ride to be on and I'm enjoying it. Going through the book however was a fast process until something (two things actually) drastic happened that made me stop reading.
And now I'm reading it again.
I have mixed feelings about it though. This is a series I've put a lot of time into and now it'll be over.
I have this feeling often with just about everything. Perhpas I'm just weird, but it's more likely that this is a case of one more thing that I had as a less responsible youth that will be done. One more chapter finished. As much as I love being a dad and a husband, I kind of hang on to these things. I don't know. It seems kind of sad in a way or maybe I'm just thinking about this too much. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I'm not happy - I am - but, you know, it's still sad.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Animal Crossing City Folk AKA Back In Debt
I've been a fan of Animal Crossing ever since I watched an old friend of mine play it in college. My wife and I watched him for about twenty minutes and then we both drove out to get the game (in Kim's case she also bought the Gamecube to play it on).
I bought it for the DS when it came out and had some complaints but I got used to the controls, the rolling-pin world, etc. etc.
And now I'm playing the Wii version which is very similar to the DS version. I actually took my character from the DS version because he had the look I wanted (always a roll of the dice with Animal Crossing).
I think it's a great game. The motion control of the Wii takes a back seat if you want it to and I'm glad that, when fishing, I don't need to constantly be flicking up in the sky with the Wiimote to pull the fish out of the water. One tug and that fish is as good as mine.
I like the look, which isn't so different from the previous two (you can see a lot better than on the DS version though), the rolling-pin world is still there, but I've gotten used to it. I haven't been able to do any favors for the town's folks yet which I think is a little odd. They just tell me random stuff (interesting stuff, but I want to get stuff to sell so I can make money and get out of debt).
Ah yes, the debt. That old Nook is at it again and I think it's great that this time he gets called out on it in a way. I was talking to a wolf named Fang who was saying that Nook casts a long shadow and we've ALL been in my position, just moving into town, with no money and a need for a house.
I bet ACORN would help me out.
Anyway, now I'm in debt up to my eyeballs for a tiny one bedroom house and am I asking the town of Rukian for money to pay it off? Nope. I'm busting my butt fishing, collecting seashells, trying to win competitions and digging up whatever I can to pawn (if I haven't already given it to the Museum, a very worthwhile pursuit) and help pay my house off.
I really like the game. I can't wait to play with my friends on line.
I bought it for the DS when it came out and had some complaints but I got used to the controls, the rolling-pin world, etc. etc.
And now I'm playing the Wii version which is very similar to the DS version. I actually took my character from the DS version because he had the look I wanted (always a roll of the dice with Animal Crossing).
I think it's a great game. The motion control of the Wii takes a back seat if you want it to and I'm glad that, when fishing, I don't need to constantly be flicking up in the sky with the Wiimote to pull the fish out of the water. One tug and that fish is as good as mine.
I like the look, which isn't so different from the previous two (you can see a lot better than on the DS version though), the rolling-pin world is still there, but I've gotten used to it. I haven't been able to do any favors for the town's folks yet which I think is a little odd. They just tell me random stuff (interesting stuff, but I want to get stuff to sell so I can make money and get out of debt).
Ah yes, the debt. That old Nook is at it again and I think it's great that this time he gets called out on it in a way. I was talking to a wolf named Fang who was saying that Nook casts a long shadow and we've ALL been in my position, just moving into town, with no money and a need for a house.
I bet ACORN would help me out.
Anyway, now I'm in debt up to my eyeballs for a tiny one bedroom house and am I asking the town of Rukian for money to pay it off? Nope. I'm busting my butt fishing, collecting seashells, trying to win competitions and digging up whatever I can to pawn (if I haven't already given it to the Museum, a very worthwhile pursuit) and help pay my house off.
I really like the game. I can't wait to play with my friends on line.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Five Guys & Fries
I went to a new restaurant (new to me) called Five Guys and Fries and oh man, let me tell you about it.
I walked in and went up to the counter and said flat out that this was my very first time here, I need some help. The lovely lady behind the counter explained that the burgers are all two patties each one made from fresh, never frozen, lean US beef that weighs in at at least a quarter pound pre cooked. All toppings are free as well.
She explained that the fries are freshly cut and in plentiful supply.
OK, I say, I'd like a cheeseburger, fries, and a medium drink.
When it was brought out to me it was brought out in a pretty big brown bag. The bag was FILLED with fries. Somewhere in there was my burger (which was delicious) and it took some time for my friends and I to work through the two orders of fries the three of us got (I bought the normal ones, one friend bought cajun fries. I prefer the normal fries, FYI).
All this food was under ten dollars too!
If you have a Five Guys in anything resembling the general area, you need to check it out. Amazing food!
I walked in and went up to the counter and said flat out that this was my very first time here, I need some help. The lovely lady behind the counter explained that the burgers are all two patties each one made from fresh, never frozen, lean US beef that weighs in at at least a quarter pound pre cooked. All toppings are free as well.
She explained that the fries are freshly cut and in plentiful supply.
OK, I say, I'd like a cheeseburger, fries, and a medium drink.
When it was brought out to me it was brought out in a pretty big brown bag. The bag was FILLED with fries. Somewhere in there was my burger (which was delicious) and it took some time for my friends and I to work through the two orders of fries the three of us got (I bought the normal ones, one friend bought cajun fries. I prefer the normal fries, FYI).
All this food was under ten dollars too!
If you have a Five Guys in anything resembling the general area, you need to check it out. Amazing food!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
PROGRESS!
To everyone I say the following:
Do not give up on the residents of Warner Robins, Georgia for I have seen evidence that would indicate what no one ever thought would be seen.
Progress.
Yes folks, I said progress. I was driving how from work and saw a gentleman standing next to the road, not trying to cross it, not timing out his frogger-like trek across the FIVE LANE road, just standing there. Then I was stopped at a light and the cross walk light changed and the gentleman crossed the road.
HE CROSSED THE ROAD IN THE CROSSWALK!
Oh MAN! Can you believe how big this is? I have been here since 2005 and this is the FIRST time I've seen ANYONE wait until the light changed to cross the street let alone cross it IN a crosswalk and stay INSIDE the lines.
Oh MAN! PROGRESS! Soon everyone will be doing this and less people will wear cammo and then building can be built and it can be properly called a City.
Yay Warner Robins! Kudos!
Do not give up on the residents of Warner Robins, Georgia for I have seen evidence that would indicate what no one ever thought would be seen.
Progress.
Yes folks, I said progress. I was driving how from work and saw a gentleman standing next to the road, not trying to cross it, not timing out his frogger-like trek across the FIVE LANE road, just standing there. Then I was stopped at a light and the cross walk light changed and the gentleman crossed the road.
HE CROSSED THE ROAD IN THE CROSSWALK!
Oh MAN! Can you believe how big this is? I have been here since 2005 and this is the FIRST time I've seen ANYONE wait until the light changed to cross the street let alone cross it IN a crosswalk and stay INSIDE the lines.
Oh MAN! PROGRESS! Soon everyone will be doing this and less people will wear cammo and then building can be built and it can be properly called a City.
Yay Warner Robins! Kudos!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Burger King De-Throned
I said a while back, when talking about being a parent, to try and get sick at different times than your significant other (provided you have a significant other). This makes it easier to watch your child and it take a lot of stress of you, the sick one. It does add some stress to the non-sick one but their time is coming and you're going to pay it back.
Always be certain, you WILL pay it back. Hopefully you don't mind though.
Well, the other day was the first time that both Kim and I were sick at the same time and since it was food poisoning (provided by your friends at Burger King's breakfast menu) it was a little... sporadic. At first I didn't feel bad, Kim was the first to start hurting. But then I started to not feel well and from about 11:30 in the morning on both Kim and I were very much of the "I don't want to move" mentality. But poor Annie wanted to move and I volunteered to take her outside on the porch. She could play with her crayons and I could lie in the chair and do my best not to die.
I think the worst part about getting this kind of sick is the build up. Once you start expelling whatever you have inside of you OUTSIDE of you from whatever entryway or exit, it's more of a feeling that you feel better for a little while and then it's back to the bathroom. That's what it was for us, too. We both felt so bad until about 3:00pm when we started asking each other "You got her? I need to go!" as we're running to the bathroom. I'm sure Annie didn't know what was going on.
A couple times Annie was privy to seeing us puke though and that must have been awful. She doesn't have any experience with it so I'm sure it didn't make her want to get sick, no sympathy puking here, but she didn't like seeing her mommy and daddy yelling at, say, the sink.
Last night we were so beat up that we decided she had a dedicated bed time and hopefully she'll be able to go to sleep. Kim was in the bedroom laying down because I told her to and I was getting Annie in her PJs. I was about halfway up the snaps when I broke out in a sudden sweat, a sure sign of getting sick VERY soon. It's not like I could have asked over the monitor for Kim to come in and help out, it would have been too late. I didn't want to put Annie on the ground just to upset her more when I'm supposed to be calming her down for bed either. So I hurried up with the snaps, put her in her crib, turned on the glow worm, stuck a pacifier in her mouth, threw some blankets on her and ran out of the room, turning the lights off and closing the door HOPING to make it to my bathroom but I ended up making it to the kitchen sink instead (I'm not complaining since we have carpet).
Annie did indeed to go sleep.
Kim and I however were up for a long time, drifting in and out of consciousness and utilizing both the bathroom and our puke buckets.
It was a long day and a LONG night and this is why you want to be sick at different times.
I will say that, in the past, I’ve often thought about how sweet it would be to have family living nearby. Usually this coincides with me thinking about how nice it would be to be out of the military (a feeling that comes and goes). It’s just that I know that if I wasn’t in the military I would probably be living in beautiful Tucson, AZ and my in laws would be nearby.
And what a resource that would be. I would LOVE to be able to call someone close to the family, like more family or really close friends and say “Look, things aren’t looking so hot for Kim and me right now. Would you mind watching Annie for the night/weekend?” That would be pretty much the most awesome thing ever. It would also be great to have babysitters for when we just want to go out and have dinner, watch a movie, maybe take a short trip, just the two of us.
I’m sure there are some out there crying out “bad father, bad father!” but sometimes you really want to get away and if you can get away for just a little while you’ll come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to step back into that role. It is NOT like I’m talking about dumping her off with her grandparents for a month or anything. I love having my Annie around, it’s just that sometimes you want to do adult stuff without worrying about bedtimes, high chairs, diapers etc etc. By no means am I not appreciating my daughter.
But yes, never before have I wished so freaking HARD to be near family. It was bad enough worrying about Kim and me at the same time (there was lots of “How are you feeling, sweetie?” as you lay there feeling like crap, but worrying about Annie was kicking my ass all night, having her see her dad like that.
But oh well, I guess. She’ll get over it and we’ll go back to normal. I’m here, able to write today and yes, I don’t feel top notch, I don’t feel all that up for ANYTHING but at least I’m not as bad as I was yesterday. I kind of wish that if I were to ever get sick again that it would be like this with a fast bounce-back time. It’s a lot better than the slow build up and slow recovery to wellness (though there really is nothing like that first day when you wake up and feel GOOD again, is there?). Yup, quickly getting sick and quickly getting better. That’s where it’s at.
Always be certain, you WILL pay it back. Hopefully you don't mind though.
Well, the other day was the first time that both Kim and I were sick at the same time and since it was food poisoning (provided by your friends at Burger King's breakfast menu) it was a little... sporadic. At first I didn't feel bad, Kim was the first to start hurting. But then I started to not feel well and from about 11:30 in the morning on both Kim and I were very much of the "I don't want to move" mentality. But poor Annie wanted to move and I volunteered to take her outside on the porch. She could play with her crayons and I could lie in the chair and do my best not to die.
I think the worst part about getting this kind of sick is the build up. Once you start expelling whatever you have inside of you OUTSIDE of you from whatever entryway or exit, it's more of a feeling that you feel better for a little while and then it's back to the bathroom. That's what it was for us, too. We both felt so bad until about 3:00pm when we started asking each other "You got her? I need to go!" as we're running to the bathroom. I'm sure Annie didn't know what was going on.
A couple times Annie was privy to seeing us puke though and that must have been awful. She doesn't have any experience with it so I'm sure it didn't make her want to get sick, no sympathy puking here, but she didn't like seeing her mommy and daddy yelling at, say, the sink.
Last night we were so beat up that we decided she had a dedicated bed time and hopefully she'll be able to go to sleep. Kim was in the bedroom laying down because I told her to and I was getting Annie in her PJs. I was about halfway up the snaps when I broke out in a sudden sweat, a sure sign of getting sick VERY soon. It's not like I could have asked over the monitor for Kim to come in and help out, it would have been too late. I didn't want to put Annie on the ground just to upset her more when I'm supposed to be calming her down for bed either. So I hurried up with the snaps, put her in her crib, turned on the glow worm, stuck a pacifier in her mouth, threw some blankets on her and ran out of the room, turning the lights off and closing the door HOPING to make it to my bathroom but I ended up making it to the kitchen sink instead (I'm not complaining since we have carpet).
Annie did indeed to go sleep.
Kim and I however were up for a long time, drifting in and out of consciousness and utilizing both the bathroom and our puke buckets.
It was a long day and a LONG night and this is why you want to be sick at different times.
I will say that, in the past, I’ve often thought about how sweet it would be to have family living nearby. Usually this coincides with me thinking about how nice it would be to be out of the military (a feeling that comes and goes). It’s just that I know that if I wasn’t in the military I would probably be living in beautiful Tucson, AZ and my in laws would be nearby.
And what a resource that would be. I would LOVE to be able to call someone close to the family, like more family or really close friends and say “Look, things aren’t looking so hot for Kim and me right now. Would you mind watching Annie for the night/weekend?” That would be pretty much the most awesome thing ever. It would also be great to have babysitters for when we just want to go out and have dinner, watch a movie, maybe take a short trip, just the two of us.
I’m sure there are some out there crying out “bad father, bad father!” but sometimes you really want to get away and if you can get away for just a little while you’ll come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to step back into that role. It is NOT like I’m talking about dumping her off with her grandparents for a month or anything. I love having my Annie around, it’s just that sometimes you want to do adult stuff without worrying about bedtimes, high chairs, diapers etc etc. By no means am I not appreciating my daughter.
But yes, never before have I wished so freaking HARD to be near family. It was bad enough worrying about Kim and me at the same time (there was lots of “How are you feeling, sweetie?” as you lay there feeling like crap, but worrying about Annie was kicking my ass all night, having her see her dad like that.
But oh well, I guess. She’ll get over it and we’ll go back to normal. I’m here, able to write today and yes, I don’t feel top notch, I don’t feel all that up for ANYTHING but at least I’m not as bad as I was yesterday. I kind of wish that if I were to ever get sick again that it would be like this with a fast bounce-back time. It’s a lot better than the slow build up and slow recovery to wellness (though there really is nothing like that first day when you wake up and feel GOOD again, is there?). Yup, quickly getting sick and quickly getting better. That’s where it’s at.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
...So That Other May Read Hits 100 Posts!
That's right my inability to stop blogging has pushed me over the 100 post mark! I'm sure they aren't all winners, but it's a milestone nonetheless and a little thing to be proud of.
I plan on milking it for all it's worth.
So! During the 100 Posts there have been visitors from all over the world, who seem to mainly come by due to my post so long ago about guitar giveaways, but that isn't important right now. The blog has been visited from people the world over and it has been visited over 2,000 times. I know that's chump change to the bigger blogs but when blogs rise and fall so quickly I'm pretty pleased to see that this kind of traffic is coming to my lowly blog.
And the visitor rate has been slowly growing. It isn't really seen on a day by day scale where the numbers are more or less equal with slight growth and reductions, but on a month by month scale the sight is very impressive. Check THIS out:
Now, for those of you who can't see the numbers on this picture, I'm sure the bars really help out. The blue bars is the only one that REALLY matters when you get down to it as the orange is counted in the blue but the orange is important too. The orange represents return visitors while the blue represents ALL visitors. 24 visitors total in August when I started the blog, 123 in September, 558 in October, 741 in November and SO FAR, 139 people this month. This is current as of 7Dec08 (A day that will live on in infamy).
And let's talk MAPS! I posted a map of the most recent 500 visitors a little while back and I think they're fun to look at so this is the most current one.
I think this blog might be more popular in Europe than it is in the States!
I'm pretty pleased with this, like I have accomplished something. I'm not entirely sure what that something is, but I feel the accomplishment. I know I say it a lot but I want to say it again and please know that every time I say this, I mean it. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read. There are literally millions of other blogs you could visit and I think it's great that mine is in there. It's because of you that the bar graph is so impressive (without a single reduction from the previous month! Hopefully this trend continues) and it is because of you that my Google AdSense account is filling up slowly but surely (just click on any ad in the top left). It's because of you that I feel good about what I'm doing and I really mean it when I say thank you.
THANK YOU!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Top Chef
Top Chef is blowing my mind! Three chefs went up on the chopping block on Wednesday, December 3rd each for failures in their dishes that they were to present on television. One of them, a guy who was set to be married in a month chose to cook creme brule and there was no way that he had enough time to even PREP it, let alone cook it live. I bring up this marriage thing just so you know. Later I'll go into this a bit more.
The next chef (a woman) cooked an egg that was basically raw and when confronted about it in front of the camera (because she had also run out of time) she folded her arms and looked down as if she was all of five years old.
The last chef (also a woman) cooked shrimp that was so spicy that one of the professional chef judges said he considered it inedible. One of the other judges said that half of her mouth was throbbing.
This is ridiculously bad. The challenge was television related which means that you're playing to a huge audience. A huge audience does not usually consist of people who like things hot. I like things hot but going from what she was using, even I would never cook anything like that.
So right away I'm thinking that one of the women are going home. All the guy did that was wrong was pick a dish that was impossible to accomplish in the time permitted, a small mistake that didn't involve taste or personality and it is something I doubt any show's producers would give the go ahead (they would probably at least ask to confirm on ANY dish "You CAN do this in the allotted time, right?") on it anyway. The other two had serious problems, one serious, one wickedly serious. Raw eggs are bad and can lead to bad things, things you do not want all of America trying out (they'll sue you if things go bad). As bad as raw eggs are though, telling someone to use habaneros is pretty ballsy and very limited as far as the market goes.
True, the egg lady could have SAID toward the end when time was running out, "make sure you leave YOUR egg in the pan a bit longer so it cooks all the way through but since my time is limited I'm going to go ahead and plate this fairly raw egg just for demonstration." That would probably save her in the long run, at least with the audience. The judges are always a different story.
The shrimp lady was very vehement about defending her dish though claiming to the bitter end that she likes spicy food and basically called the judges pussies for not being able to take it. Then she mentioned sort of off hand that SHE wants to stay there very much while some OTHER people may want to leave (hint hint: the dude who's getting married in a month and has said that the competition is not the thing that makes his life) and the judges asked who did NOT want to be there and she said "Oh I don't know, but I'm just saying that I DO want to be here."
Weak. I'm sure if you turned the guy around there would be a boot print and tire marks from getting kicked under the bus.
So who did they send home? The guy.
BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL! Now, he wasn't my favorite chef of the season (Richard is still number one to me, it's a damn shame he had to go home) but I think as far as the challenge and results of said challenge went the dude should have gotten a scolding at best to be a little more thoughtful on his dishes in the future and the chick who was STILL SAYING HER SHRIMP WASN'T THAT SPICY should have gotten the boot.
On a slightly different note, one of the judges said to the shrimp girl that she should not have used habanero peppers because people who aren't experienced with handling such a hot pepper shouldn't even try. I paraphrased there.
I use habaneros in a dish I make and it only once has gotten the best of me (where I washed my hands THREE times and about a half hour after the last washing itched my eye and felt like my left eye was going to shrivel up and wave a white flag just before dying) so I felt pretty good that me, not even an amateur chef manages to work around the ticking time bomb that is the habanero.
The next chef (a woman) cooked an egg that was basically raw and when confronted about it in front of the camera (because she had also run out of time) she folded her arms and looked down as if she was all of five years old.
The last chef (also a woman) cooked shrimp that was so spicy that one of the professional chef judges said he considered it inedible. One of the other judges said that half of her mouth was throbbing.
This is ridiculously bad. The challenge was television related which means that you're playing to a huge audience. A huge audience does not usually consist of people who like things hot. I like things hot but going from what she was using, even I would never cook anything like that.
So right away I'm thinking that one of the women are going home. All the guy did that was wrong was pick a dish that was impossible to accomplish in the time permitted, a small mistake that didn't involve taste or personality and it is something I doubt any show's producers would give the go ahead (they would probably at least ask to confirm on ANY dish "You CAN do this in the allotted time, right?") on it anyway. The other two had serious problems, one serious, one wickedly serious. Raw eggs are bad and can lead to bad things, things you do not want all of America trying out (they'll sue you if things go bad). As bad as raw eggs are though, telling someone to use habaneros is pretty ballsy and very limited as far as the market goes.
True, the egg lady could have SAID toward the end when time was running out, "make sure you leave YOUR egg in the pan a bit longer so it cooks all the way through but since my time is limited I'm going to go ahead and plate this fairly raw egg just for demonstration." That would probably save her in the long run, at least with the audience. The judges are always a different story.
The shrimp lady was very vehement about defending her dish though claiming to the bitter end that she likes spicy food and basically called the judges pussies for not being able to take it. Then she mentioned sort of off hand that SHE wants to stay there very much while some OTHER people may want to leave (hint hint: the dude who's getting married in a month and has said that the competition is not the thing that makes his life) and the judges asked who did NOT want to be there and she said "Oh I don't know, but I'm just saying that I DO want to be here."
Weak. I'm sure if you turned the guy around there would be a boot print and tire marks from getting kicked under the bus.
So who did they send home? The guy.
BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL! Now, he wasn't my favorite chef of the season (Richard is still number one to me, it's a damn shame he had to go home) but I think as far as the challenge and results of said challenge went the dude should have gotten a scolding at best to be a little more thoughtful on his dishes in the future and the chick who was STILL SAYING HER SHRIMP WASN'T THAT SPICY should have gotten the boot.
On a slightly different note, one of the judges said to the shrimp girl that she should not have used habanero peppers because people who aren't experienced with handling such a hot pepper shouldn't even try. I paraphrased there.
I use habaneros in a dish I make and it only once has gotten the best of me (where I washed my hands THREE times and about a half hour after the last washing itched my eye and felt like my left eye was going to shrivel up and wave a white flag just before dying) so I felt pretty good that me, not even an amateur chef manages to work around the ticking time bomb that is the habanero.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
I'm Impressed
Did you know there’s a blogger out there, a Mom Blogger at that, that writes a new blog every day and has done so for ages? I’m not talking about the weaker Nablopomo two short paragraphs and maybe a picture blogs but seriously lengthy blogs. I’ve seen longer of course, but the fact that this is a consistant thing and not a random lengthy post followed by a ton of short ones (like mine, I guess) is very impressive to me.
What really impresses me though is that she writes a MOM BLOG and still manages to write that much! I mean, I think I can rant pretty well. I used to rant and complain all the time on MySpace and I think the reason I scaled back on the length is that by the end of the blog I would have contradicted myself, marked myself as a hypocrite and therefore not worth reading and what started as venting left me feeling even more frustrated because I realized that I was wrong to feel frustrated in the first place. I’m pretty sure that’s why my blogs became shorter and shorter. It just made sense really.
By all means I am not saying that I am fine with letting emotions go and stop at a specific point without exploring them to their finality but I started to think that maybe I should do that BEFORE ranting on the internet, which I am convinced is a bad idea in the long run.
Famous Russ Tangent: A girl was given the boot from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Squad for having pictures of a… I wouldn’t entirely call them sexual persuasion, but they were of her in her bikini or underwear or whatnot. The pictures looked very high school / college “not a care or aspiration in the world.” I found it interesting though that these pictures came back to haunt her this way. One day she’s doing fine in the training camp for the most famous cheerleading squad in the world, the next thing she knows she’s being dragged into an office to be told that she is OUT because of these pictures. They were saying that the DCC is not an organization that smiles upon pictures like this, that they are as professional as professional can be.
I was fine with this. I loved seeing a situation that you always know is going on with bikini contests, Girls Gone Wild, etc. etc. that is looked at as fine, acceptable, just kids being kids. I loved seeing this situation have repercussions. Take THAT! Ha ha!
Now back to my being impressed.
I’d like to write longer blogs that are more thought-out and a little more involved, but this means less blogs and less… spontaneity of writing. My usual blog style back pre-child was “Oh man, that doesn’t sit well with me at all! I’ll be right back!” And then I’ll go to the computer room, knock out a blog and come back to the living room. Now that just doesn’t happen.
But do you really mind? I hope not. I hope you’re fine with reading my tiny (by comparison) blogs about random stuff with a few jewels of blogs tucked in there somewhere.
So this is basically me saying I’m sorry for not being able to write lengthy, engaging blogs that entertain to no end and bring THOUSANDS of people per day to check it out. I’m doing my best though. And if you dig it, come back often, tell your friends, make them come and check it out, click click click on the ads (the money it generates is very much appreciated and I have not gotten to the point where Google sends me a check and it’s almost W2 season. I’d hate to have to pay taxes on money I haven’t even received yet).
But yeah, come back often. I love the company.
What really impresses me though is that she writes a MOM BLOG and still manages to write that much! I mean, I think I can rant pretty well. I used to rant and complain all the time on MySpace and I think the reason I scaled back on the length is that by the end of the blog I would have contradicted myself, marked myself as a hypocrite and therefore not worth reading and what started as venting left me feeling even more frustrated because I realized that I was wrong to feel frustrated in the first place. I’m pretty sure that’s why my blogs became shorter and shorter. It just made sense really.
By all means I am not saying that I am fine with letting emotions go and stop at a specific point without exploring them to their finality but I started to think that maybe I should do that BEFORE ranting on the internet, which I am convinced is a bad idea in the long run.
Famous Russ Tangent: A girl was given the boot from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Squad for having pictures of a… I wouldn’t entirely call them sexual persuasion, but they were of her in her bikini or underwear or whatnot. The pictures looked very high school / college “not a care or aspiration in the world.” I found it interesting though that these pictures came back to haunt her this way. One day she’s doing fine in the training camp for the most famous cheerleading squad in the world, the next thing she knows she’s being dragged into an office to be told that she is OUT because of these pictures. They were saying that the DCC is not an organization that smiles upon pictures like this, that they are as professional as professional can be.
I was fine with this. I loved seeing a situation that you always know is going on with bikini contests, Girls Gone Wild, etc. etc. that is looked at as fine, acceptable, just kids being kids. I loved seeing this situation have repercussions. Take THAT! Ha ha!
Now back to my being impressed.
I’d like to write longer blogs that are more thought-out and a little more involved, but this means less blogs and less… spontaneity of writing. My usual blog style back pre-child was “Oh man, that doesn’t sit well with me at all! I’ll be right back!” And then I’ll go to the computer room, knock out a blog and come back to the living room. Now that just doesn’t happen.
But do you really mind? I hope not. I hope you’re fine with reading my tiny (by comparison) blogs about random stuff with a few jewels of blogs tucked in there somewhere.
So this is basically me saying I’m sorry for not being able to write lengthy, engaging blogs that entertain to no end and bring THOUSANDS of people per day to check it out. I’m doing my best though. And if you dig it, come back often, tell your friends, make them come and check it out, click click click on the ads (the money it generates is very much appreciated and I have not gotten to the point where Google sends me a check and it’s almost W2 season. I’d hate to have to pay taxes on money I haven’t even received yet).
But yeah, come back often. I love the company.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A Sleeping Baby
Annie woke up after about an hour of sleep and was really wailing so I went in and picked her up, found her Nuk, sat down in the rocking chair and started rocking her back to sleep. Kim is addicted to this stuff. I had never done it because Annie does not like to fall asleep in my arms. Something about it makes her stay awake but tonight, after about ten minutes she was falling asleep and watching those big eyes droop a little, then open up wide, then droop even more, then open back up and finally, slowly, descend all the way down...
That was priceless.
I love my Annabelle.
That was priceless.
I love my Annabelle.
Friday, December 5, 2008
eBooks and eReaders
Those who are in the know, know I read. I don’t read nearly as much as I would like to, but between juggling my hobbies of guitar playing, blogging, reading and trying to spend time with my beautiful wife (because when my beautiful daughter is awake I probably won’t be doing any of the previously mentioned activities) I do not have enough time to dedicate to one particular hobby for as long of a period of time as I would like. Maybe if I did not need to sleep I could, but until then, I just have to settle for doing them all, just not enough of each.
On my Blog Reader today I found this:
http://www.ebooksjustpublished.com/2008/12/04/the-state-of-ebook-technology-today/
I’m the kind of guy that gets excited for things like this. Progress. I think the author nails it with the idea of fiction books that cost under five dollars and non-fiction for under 25.00. I especially like the non-fiction price. I think if College book stores sold eReaders and all of their books were available for download at 25.00 a pop the amount of sales for both eReaders and eBooks would SKYROCKET. Right through the roof. Could you imagine? You could get an entire semester’s worth of books for the price of ONE average printed college textbook.
But I already wrote about that and the amazing potential of these devices and as easy as it would be to slide back into that and tell you all again that if you don’t support new technology there will be no development of said technology and it will fall to the wayside with the developers thinking there’s no market for it and the market “just waiting for a better version,” I won’t.
I wanted to write and just put this guy’s blog out there because it makes sense. He makes sense. I wanted to spread this around in case any of you are thinking about being authors (and with digital distribution ANYONE can be an author) this is a viable option and if you are looking to see eBooks prices fall or better eReaders to come out, try to buy them (the books or readers).
I wish I could say that I have a Kindle but I don’t. They’re still out of my reach but maybe someday I can take my own advice and get one. Just in case you’re curious, I put that sentence in so no one would comment with something along the lines of “how dare you preach like this when YOU don’t even own one!” I know, OK? But I’m doing the next best thing and reminding people about these great devices and asking you to support them.
On my Blog Reader today I found this:
http://www.ebooksjustpublished.com/2008/12/04/the-state-of-ebook-technology-today/
I’m the kind of guy that gets excited for things like this. Progress. I think the author nails it with the idea of fiction books that cost under five dollars and non-fiction for under 25.00. I especially like the non-fiction price. I think if College book stores sold eReaders and all of their books were available for download at 25.00 a pop the amount of sales for both eReaders and eBooks would SKYROCKET. Right through the roof. Could you imagine? You could get an entire semester’s worth of books for the price of ONE average printed college textbook.
But I already wrote about that and the amazing potential of these devices and as easy as it would be to slide back into that and tell you all again that if you don’t support new technology there will be no development of said technology and it will fall to the wayside with the developers thinking there’s no market for it and the market “just waiting for a better version,” I won’t.
I wanted to write and just put this guy’s blog out there because it makes sense. He makes sense. I wanted to spread this around in case any of you are thinking about being authors (and with digital distribution ANYONE can be an author) this is a viable option and if you are looking to see eBooks prices fall or better eReaders to come out, try to buy them (the books or readers).
I wish I could say that I have a Kindle but I don’t. They’re still out of my reach but maybe someday I can take my own advice and get one. Just in case you’re curious, I put that sentence in so no one would comment with something along the lines of “how dare you preach like this when YOU don’t even own one!” I know, OK? But I’m doing the next best thing and reminding people about these great devices and asking you to support them.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Singing The Blues
Today was a raffle for the TDPRI, a forum I just joined today. I am a member of its sister forum Gretsch-Talk. Because I am a member there I was eligible to enter the raffle too for some truly awesome gear. They did not have any Gretsch guitars but I think Gretsch-Talk has only a fraction of the members that the TDPRI has, and it’s pretty new so that was to be expected. Four Telecaster (or “Tele Style”), two amps, three pedals, four bridges, and a completely new set of hardware. Over $11,000.00 worth of gear all together.
How awesome is that? The entry to the raffle was 25.00 which is the most expensive raffle I have ever entered but the prizes were also far greater in value too, so it was worth it to me.
The raffle was to take place today at 11:00 Eastern on a live blog that required no refreshing, no page loads, just sit there and watch. It was entertaining to say the least. No one but the MC had the power to talk so we all just had to sit there and stew or exclaim to whoever was around us our feelings. He knew how to draw it out too. The whole giveaway was an exercise in building tension and by the time that there were only two prizes left, one that was pretty cool and one that was REALLY cool (and greatly desired) I had a strong feeling I was not going to win either.
And I was right.
But the ticket price went to a good cause (keeping my forum up and running) and I’m glad I participated. I can’t lie and say I’m not a little bummed I didn’t win anything, especially when so much would have been useful to me. Like I said though, it was worth it.
So now I’m playing the blues, but not seriously.
How awesome is that? The entry to the raffle was 25.00 which is the most expensive raffle I have ever entered but the prizes were also far greater in value too, so it was worth it to me.
The raffle was to take place today at 11:00 Eastern on a live blog that required no refreshing, no page loads, just sit there and watch. It was entertaining to say the least. No one but the MC had the power to talk so we all just had to sit there and stew or exclaim to whoever was around us our feelings. He knew how to draw it out too. The whole giveaway was an exercise in building tension and by the time that there were only two prizes left, one that was pretty cool and one that was REALLY cool (and greatly desired) I had a strong feeling I was not going to win either.
And I was right.
But the ticket price went to a good cause (keeping my forum up and running) and I’m glad I participated. I can’t lie and say I’m not a little bummed I didn’t win anything, especially when so much would have been useful to me. Like I said though, it was worth it.
So now I’m playing the blues, but not seriously.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Treasure Chests of GOLD!
Kim thinks I'm pretty silly about this, but I don't think it's silly at all more... unconventional.
Here's the plan: get a pirate treasure chest and put a lock on it and cut a small hole in the top so you can drop coins into it. Gold coins. Gold dollar coins.
And then you could go to the bank every week or so and turn in five dollars and get five golden dollar coins and into the chest it goes. This saves you money, is fun to do, and when it's full you can pry the lock off (because by then you probably would have lost the key and besides, it's more fun to pry), open up the chest and see all that gold!
GOLD!
Then if you wanted to you could roll them all up, deposit them in a bank account, or just go out and spend them. I'm even thinking of maybe making one for Annie and the other kids too. A pirate chest for their gold coins that they cannot get into until they graduate high school. It would be for their college tuition. I know, about $4,320.00 isn't really all that much but it would be $4,320.00 more than they had previously! And maybe they wouldn't need it for college and they can keep adding to it over time with gold or silver dollars.
I don't know, I thought it was a good idea. It would be a fun way to inspire saving for the kids and it would make for an impressive reveal once the lid finally gets opened (can't deny that!).
Perhaps when they start getting allowance I could say to them "I will give you 20.00 a week but you have to put half of it away for your savings (and your savings will go to either college, emergencies, or retirement)." And then we can all go down to the bank and they can get their coins (or they could use bills, just so long as they are saving) and bring it home and put it in their box. Maybe when they turn 18 they can invest it if they like. That would be a direct thing that can take part in and see their money grow or shrink.
I think it's important for them to have their own box at home where they can grab it too. Maybe they can even have it unlocked so they could count it or just look at it (I'm a big fan of doing that). When I was a kid I had a savings account through the school and it didn't really teach me anything other than how to fill out a deposit slip. The money was, for all intensive purposes, not available to me so there was no draw, no temptation to remove the money and spend it and it's that temptation that needs to be dealt with at an early age that is going to end up benefiting them later on in life.
I know I could take that ten bucks from each of them and without telling them dump it into three savings accounts for whenever I think it's right to use it, or to put it in the stock market and hope to see it grow but I'm not trying to make them rich here, I'm trying to tech them monetary responsibility and from a very early age, saving needs to be emphasized. That's what is going to let them retire.
I figure if I can teach those kids to save and to not use credit cards in stupid ways, then they'll be set for life money-wise.
Here's the plan: get a pirate treasure chest and put a lock on it and cut a small hole in the top so you can drop coins into it. Gold coins. Gold dollar coins.
And then you could go to the bank every week or so and turn in five dollars and get five golden dollar coins and into the chest it goes. This saves you money, is fun to do, and when it's full you can pry the lock off (because by then you probably would have lost the key and besides, it's more fun to pry), open up the chest and see all that gold!
GOLD!
Then if you wanted to you could roll them all up, deposit them in a bank account, or just go out and spend them. I'm even thinking of maybe making one for Annie and the other kids too. A pirate chest for their gold coins that they cannot get into until they graduate high school. It would be for their college tuition. I know, about $4,320.00 isn't really all that much but it would be $4,320.00 more than they had previously! And maybe they wouldn't need it for college and they can keep adding to it over time with gold or silver dollars.
I don't know, I thought it was a good idea. It would be a fun way to inspire saving for the kids and it would make for an impressive reveal once the lid finally gets opened (can't deny that!).
Perhaps when they start getting allowance I could say to them "I will give you 20.00 a week but you have to put half of it away for your savings (and your savings will go to either college, emergencies, or retirement)." And then we can all go down to the bank and they can get their coins (or they could use bills, just so long as they are saving) and bring it home and put it in their box. Maybe when they turn 18 they can invest it if they like. That would be a direct thing that can take part in and see their money grow or shrink.
I think it's important for them to have their own box at home where they can grab it too. Maybe they can even have it unlocked so they could count it or just look at it (I'm a big fan of doing that). When I was a kid I had a savings account through the school and it didn't really teach me anything other than how to fill out a deposit slip. The money was, for all intensive purposes, not available to me so there was no draw, no temptation to remove the money and spend it and it's that temptation that needs to be dealt with at an early age that is going to end up benefiting them later on in life.
I know I could take that ten bucks from each of them and without telling them dump it into three savings accounts for whenever I think it's right to use it, or to put it in the stock market and hope to see it grow but I'm not trying to make them rich here, I'm trying to tech them monetary responsibility and from a very early age, saving needs to be emphasized. That's what is going to let them retire.
I figure if I can teach those kids to save and to not use credit cards in stupid ways, then they'll be set for life money-wise.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Team Rainbow
I was watching Top Chef and Richard was let go, or chopped or however they want to say it.
I thought it was uncalled for, honestly. I thought that Richard, if he had to go home, should have gone home way later in the season. He had the drive and desire and his food looked like it tasted great. It blows my mind that chefs like Aryana are still around even though they've demonstrated that the whole reason they are still alive is from dumb luck and people like Richard go home.
I thought he was one of the coolest this season and hope he doesn't get discouraged. His was the most gut wrenching goodbye too. I genuinely felt bad for him.
So here's to you, Richard. You'll always be Top Chef for Season 5 in my heart.
Monday, December 1, 2008
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