Well another week has come and gone. How about the weather? Wednesday night was simply gorgeous. It is Friday and I am planning on going to see "Hurt Locker". You know it won the Oscar for best Picture. It is playing at the Ridge Cinema in New Berlin at 9:30. If you want to join me, let me know.
Saturday, I am taking some of my nieces and nephews, 4 of them, to see "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D at the Majestic at the 12:10 showing. I am so hooked on the 3D movies. I would never go see Clash of the Titans, but the fact that it is in 3D, I will definitely go. Then Saturday night I am going to be having 6 of the kids sleep over at my house. My roommate, M.K.A., is in Vegas so this is really the only weekend I can have the kids over.
Sunday, I am taking the kids bowling. I don't know that I will be bowling. I think that might be against doctor's orders. Speaking of my back, a couple people have asked me about it. I feel pretty good, and I have an appointment a week from today. I am hoping that he gives me the green light to do whatever I would like. My goal is to run a triathlon this summer. I would actually like to do a couple of them. But back to Sunday's schedule. After dropping off the kids, I am thinking about heading down to the Bradley Center for some March Madness. If that doesn't work out. I was going to stroll over to the Riverside for the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Friday, March 19, 2010
More Help with Colors
I still have not finished the installation of the windows on my upstairs. I have been slowly working on drywall repair around those windows. Once I complete the drywall work, I need to do some painting. I was planning on just painting the walls white. But that is pretty boring. Here are some picturs of the upstairs: What colors do you think I should use?
The fake fireplace. Or more accurately the $200 night light.
So mature. 36 and your bed still sits on the floor. I do have a bedframe for the spare bed, that has to count for something. With the slanted ceiling, I don't think having the bed up off the floor is a real positive. Oh and look my college graduation party invitation is up on the closet door. What was that 13 years ago?
And if you are going to have a fake fireplace you might as well have a fake bear skin rug.
I will tell you this, the fireplace toolset is actually real.
Yes, I have a blanket covering the window. If you don't know by now, well I have some issues. I don't need but I like to have my room pitch black when I go to sleep. I even taped over the LED on my stereo. I also have shipping paper taped up around the brand new windows. My plan is to actually print out a picture of the Grand Canyon or something equally as picturesque, then tape it up in the window so whey you look you, that is what you see. I have a lot of time on my hands.
I also have my pillows at the foot of my bed, I like to have my head in the center of the room. For the acoustics. So I sleep with my feet against the wall.
So mature. 36 and your bed still sits on the floor. I do have a bedframe for the spare bed, that has to count for something. With the slanted ceiling, I don't think having the bed up off the floor is a real positive. Oh and look my college graduation party invitation is up on the closet door. What was that 13 years ago?And if you are going to have a fake fireplace you might as well have a fake bear skin rug.I will tell you this, the fireplace toolset is actually real.Yes, I have a blanket covering the window. If you don't know by now, well I have some issues. I don't need but I like to have my room pitch black when I go to sleep. I even taped over the LED on my stereo. I also have shipping paper taped up around the brand new windows. My plan is to actually print out a picture of the Grand Canyon or something equally as picturesque, then tape it up in the window so whey you look you, that is what you see. I have a lot of time on my hands.I also have my pillows at the foot of my bed, I like to have my head in the center of the room. For the acoustics. So I sleep with my feet against the wall.I got more comments about my garage paint color than I expected. Which means I am expecting alot from you people. So any ideas on a paint scheme? Mind you I will probably replace the carpeting to match what is downstairs.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Gaelic Storm
Last night I went to see Gaelic Storm at the Pabst Theater. I went with Nate. I haven't been out for drinks with Nate in a long time. And yes I was having drinks. I think the no drinking New Years Resolution is officially over. But it was a good run while it lasted. As we were driving down to the Pabst Theater I told Nate that I hadn't been to the Pabst Theater since I was in the 3rd grade. I don't remember the name of the play, but it had a frog in it. Oddly enough Nate went into a much longer story about his last trip to the Pabst Theater in 4th grade. I used roll my eyes when Nate went into a story, only because I lived with him and I had heard them all. But now that Nate has matured and become a father, I don't see him all that much. Now these stories are gold. So in the 4th grade Nate missed his school, Williams Bay's, school bus and he had to ride with the Lake Geneva Grade School's bus. As Nate recalls the story, one of the girls on that bus really liked him. But he had broken glasses and they had tape all over them.
Nate and I finished the night off at "Brewski's" which used to be "My Place" which is 2 blocks from my house. It was as busy as I have ever seen that bar in the 12 years I have lived in the area. Not only was it pretty full, but it was a young crowd. That might just be because it was St. Patty's Day. We got in 18 holes of Golden Tee. And I think I finally got home at 1 in the morning..on a school night.
On to the concert. My buddy, Russ, sent me a text a couple months ago informing me that I should see the band,Gaelic Storm, if they ever came to town. They are an Irish band, but not U2. I liked them alot. I highly recommend seeing them. In fact, they will be back in town for Irish Fest, and I think I will take in the festival that night.
Nate and I showed up a little late. The concert was general admission so by the time we got a couple drinks and made our way into the lower level, it was full. So we climbed a flight of stairs to the second level, also full. We then climbed a good 4 or 5 flights of stairs to the top level. You will be able to see from the video clip that we were pretty high up there. After the second or third song it was time for another beer. Neither of us were looking forward to the stairs, but as luck would have it, may the luck of the irish, they had a bar on the third level. All was right with the world. After the intermission we found our way down to the second level for the second half of the concert. I guess you will get a better idea of the band if you just go to the video clips.
Here are some quick pictures. The huge chandelier in the middle of the ceiling. Nate and I marvelled at ornate molding all around the theater. It really is a beautiful theater. If you haven't been there since the third grade I recommend going back.
Nate coming up to the second level after a trip to the little wrangler's room.
Nate coming up to the second level after a trip to the little wrangler's room.Yes, he is playing a bagpipe. But you don't see him squeezing the bag. Could that be an electric bag pipe?
Here are some dancers. But I thought this type of dancing was German. Can any one clear this one up for me?
Here is the drum solo I guess. But he wasn't playing the drums, just a wooden box. And the band really didn't have drums, just bangos. "My own conga, my very own conga."
Nate and I finished the night off at "Brewski's" which used to be "My Place" which is 2 blocks from my house. It was as busy as I have ever seen that bar in the 12 years I have lived in the area. Not only was it pretty full, but it was a young crowd. That might just be because it was St. Patty's Day. We got in 18 holes of Golden Tee. And I think I finally got home at 1 in the morning..on a school night.
Dog Poop and Door Knobs
I needed to drive by my brother, Dan's, on Sunday to deposit some doors in his fire pit. The doors in my house were replaced. I suppose I could have stripped, sanded and restained them, but that seems like a lot of work. As I was making the walk from his driveway to the firepit through the back yard, I was amazed at home many landmines (dog Crap) they had. In fact, yes I stepped in a pile. As I was carrying out the last door, Jody came out with the mine sweeper to start taking care of the mess. She filled 3 grocery bags and wasn't even half done. I told her, that seals the deal. I am never getting a dog. Here is Jody sweeping some mines. She is going to kill me for putting this picture up.
On a semi related topic, I removed a couple of the door knobs off of the doors. They are the crystal glass looking things. Just look at the picture and you will know what I am talking about.
Do you think they are worth anything? Better yet, do you want to buy them?
On a semi related topic, I removed a couple of the door knobs off of the doors. They are the crystal glass looking things. Just look at the picture and you will know what I am talking about.
Do you think they are worth anything? Better yet, do you want to buy them?Stupid Question
I have been thinking about doing some tile work. But not in my house, I was thinking of tiling my front porch. I have never seen anyone with tile outdoors in Wisconsin. Is this a good idea or will all of the tile pop off after / during the first winter?
I have also been flirting with the idea of ripping up my entire yard and instead of having grass, installing field turf. No more cutting the lawn, and raking the leaves would be a snap.
I know that this is pretty big down in Arizona. I already emailed a contractor for a quote.
I have also been flirting with the idea of ripping up my entire yard and instead of having grass, installing field turf. No more cutting the lawn, and raking the leaves would be a snap.I know that this is pretty big down in Arizona. I already emailed a contractor for a quote.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Roundabouts Take Two
I was out for dinner Saturday night and the topic of roundabouts came up. Everyone was against them. I am a very pro roundabout person. Roundabouts are safer. Roundabouts increase traffic flow. Roundabouts are more economical. These are facts.
SAFETY: I stated that roundabouts are safer than intersections. If you can count, well then you have no choice but to agree with me. A standard two road intersection has 32 points of conflict. A standard roundabout has 8 points of conflict. Go ahead and count them.
According the Arizona Department of Transportation, roundabouts cut down the number of fatal crashes by 90%. Why? Roundabouts all but eliminate right angle (T-Bone) and head on collisions. I am actually shocked, I thought that number would be higher. They save lives and that can not be disputed.
A 2001 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of 23 intersections in the United States reported that converting intersections from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 80 percent and all crashes by 40 percent.
Similar results were reported by the New York State Department of Transportation, a 75 percent decrease in injury crashes and a 37 percent decrease in total crashes at 35 intersections that were converted from traffic signals to roundabouts.
People these are facts, not opinions. They work. I was just at the American Society of Civil Engineers Spring Technical Conference last week. I sat in on a break out session discussing this very topic. They analyzed newly constructed roundabouts in De Pere and Appleton. The results of studies from both cities backed up the information I am giving you here. They are safer and increase traffic flow. But they made it very clear, to get these results it is important for drivers to get familiar with them and for drivers understand how to navigate them.
Despite the demonstrated safety benefits of roundabouts, some crashes still occur. An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of crashes at 38 roundabouts in Maryland found that four crash types (run-off-road, rear-end, sideswipe, and entering-circulating) accounted for almost all crashes. A common crash type at both single-lane and double-lane roundabouts involved vehicles colliding with the central island. These crashes, which often involved unsafe speeds, accounted for almost half of all single-vehicle run-off-road crashes. Collisions occurred more frequently at entrances to roundabouts rather than within the circulatory roadway or at exits. There were no right-angle or head-on collisions, potentially severe crash types that commonly occur at traditional intersections. Institute researchers concluded that unsafe speeds were an important driver crash factor. That sounds to me like inattentive driving, i.e. pilot error.
But wait a second, it is possible that roundabouts are safer for pedestrians as well. It may surprise you but yes there are. Allow me to explain. In a roundabout, when pedestrians cross the roadway, they cross only one direction of traffic at a time. In addition, crossing distances are relatively short, and traffic speeds are lower than at traditional intersections. Studies in Europe indicate that, on average, converting conventional intersections to roundabouts can reduce pedestrian crashes by about 75 percent. Which would you rather have your child navigate? A roundabout or a standard intersection?
INCREASED TRAFFIC FLOW: One of the principles of a roundabout is that you don't stop. Vehicles are continuously moving. I have personally driven through roundabouts in Europe and they fly though them there without any problem. Here in the United States where roundabouts are new, I have noticed that far too many people come to a stop before entering the roundabout. It is a "YEILD" sign, not a "STOP" sign.
The fact that your vehicle does not stop means that not only do you get to your destination quicker, but you are also reducing vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Here are three studies from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety that back up this argument.
A study of three intersections in Kansas, Maryland, and Nevada, where roundabouts replaced stop signs, found that vehicle delays were reduced 13-23 percent and the proportion of vehicles that stopped was reduced 14-37 percent.
A study of three locations in New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, where roundabouts replaced traffic signals or stop signs, found an 89 percent average reduction in vehicle delays and a 56 percent average reduction in vehicle stops.
A study of 11 intersections in Kansas found a 65 percent average reduction in delays and a 52 percent average reduction in vehicle stops after roundabouts were installed.
These are again researched facts, not opinions. People once had the opinion that the earth was flat.
SAFETY: I stated that roundabouts are safer than intersections. If you can count, well then you have no choice but to agree with me. A standard two road intersection has 32 points of conflict. A standard roundabout has 8 points of conflict. Go ahead and count them.
According the Arizona Department of Transportation, roundabouts cut down the number of fatal crashes by 90%. Why? Roundabouts all but eliminate right angle (T-Bone) and head on collisions. I am actually shocked, I thought that number would be higher. They save lives and that can not be disputed.
A 2001 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of 23 intersections in the United States reported that converting intersections from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 80 percent and all crashes by 40 percent.
Similar results were reported by the New York State Department of Transportation, a 75 percent decrease in injury crashes and a 37 percent decrease in total crashes at 35 intersections that were converted from traffic signals to roundabouts.
People these are facts, not opinions. They work. I was just at the American Society of Civil Engineers Spring Technical Conference last week. I sat in on a break out session discussing this very topic. They analyzed newly constructed roundabouts in De Pere and Appleton. The results of studies from both cities backed up the information I am giving you here. They are safer and increase traffic flow. But they made it very clear, to get these results it is important for drivers to get familiar with them and for drivers understand how to navigate them.
Despite the demonstrated safety benefits of roundabouts, some crashes still occur. An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of crashes at 38 roundabouts in Maryland found that four crash types (run-off-road, rear-end, sideswipe, and entering-circulating) accounted for almost all crashes. A common crash type at both single-lane and double-lane roundabouts involved vehicles colliding with the central island. These crashes, which often involved unsafe speeds, accounted for almost half of all single-vehicle run-off-road crashes. Collisions occurred more frequently at entrances to roundabouts rather than within the circulatory roadway or at exits. There were no right-angle or head-on collisions, potentially severe crash types that commonly occur at traditional intersections. Institute researchers concluded that unsafe speeds were an important driver crash factor. That sounds to me like inattentive driving, i.e. pilot error.
But wait a second, it is possible that roundabouts are safer for pedestrians as well. It may surprise you but yes there are. Allow me to explain. In a roundabout, when pedestrians cross the roadway, they cross only one direction of traffic at a time. In addition, crossing distances are relatively short, and traffic speeds are lower than at traditional intersections. Studies in Europe indicate that, on average, converting conventional intersections to roundabouts can reduce pedestrian crashes by about 75 percent. Which would you rather have your child navigate? A roundabout or a standard intersection?
INCREASED TRAFFIC FLOW: One of the principles of a roundabout is that you don't stop. Vehicles are continuously moving. I have personally driven through roundabouts in Europe and they fly though them there without any problem. Here in the United States where roundabouts are new, I have noticed that far too many people come to a stop before entering the roundabout. It is a "YEILD" sign, not a "STOP" sign.
The fact that your vehicle does not stop means that not only do you get to your destination quicker, but you are also reducing vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Here are three studies from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety that back up this argument.
A study of three intersections in Kansas, Maryland, and Nevada, where roundabouts replaced stop signs, found that vehicle delays were reduced 13-23 percent and the proportion of vehicles that stopped was reduced 14-37 percent.
A study of three locations in New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, where roundabouts replaced traffic signals or stop signs, found an 89 percent average reduction in vehicle delays and a 56 percent average reduction in vehicle stops.
A study of 11 intersections in Kansas found a 65 percent average reduction in delays and a 52 percent average reduction in vehicle stops after roundabouts were installed.
These are again researched facts, not opinions. People once had the opinion that the earth was flat.
ECONOMICAL: The construction of a roundabout can be higher than traditional intersections. The main reason for this higher price would be real estate acquisition. But once the roundabout is built there is little more cost other than landscaping maintenance, and freshening up the pavement markings at regular intervals. Signalized intersections are far less cost effective in the long run. The cost of a standard two phase (which means just red yellow green in both directions running on a timer) can run around $60,000 in construction expense. Now if you get into more complex intersections with loop detectors, left turn green arrows, etc, you are getting into $150,000 - $200,000 range. That money comes from the tax payers. It comes from the tax on gasoline, vehicle registration, etc. This doesn't even take into account the electricity to run the lights, which run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Try leaving all the lights in your house on for that time duration and see what your electric bill is.
Still not convinced? Still hate them? Well I have some bad news for you. Any intersection in the state that is getting reconstructed and is being funded through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation goes through a roundabout feasibility study. That means if at all possible they will construct a roundabout.
I believe that the main reason that roundabouts fail is due to uneducated drivers. The next time you are approaching a roundabout, hang up your phone, turn off the radio and stop talking to the person next to you. Maybe if you were paying attention to your surroundings you would be better prepared to navigate the roundabout. As I was told when I first started driving, it isn't a right, it is a privilege.
Obviously there is going to be a learning curve with our driving public on the use of roundabouts. In the end, the reason people are against roundabouts is nothing more than ignorance. Get your heads out of the sand people. The sooner the driving public as a whole accepts roundabouts, the sooner they will come to understand that roundabouts are safer, increase traffic flow and more cost effective. I look forward to the time when you tell me that I was right.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
NCAA Pool
This is one of my favorite times of the year. The NCAA basketball tournament is the biggest sports spectacle in the world. Well maybe not the world. I guess that would be either the Olympics or the World Cup. But as far as the United States goes, the tournament is the biggest spectacle. The only thing that could eclipse it, is if NCAA football ever got around to having a tournament even if it was only 8 teams. Plus this little tournament is a bridge that gets us through to opening day.
But this year is going to be different. I sent out invitations two weeks ago. Certainly that should be plenty of time for any responsible non-deadbeat to get me their money. But you know what, it won't be. And this year I am deleting sheets. The nice guy, he doesn't live here any more. Not only do I not care if your sheet gets deleted, but I will be doing it with a smile on my face. Sure this decision will come back to haunt me. Not a doubt in my mind, someone is going to throw this back in my face, when I need to ask them for a favor.
I have already started to hear the excuses:
My wife deleted the email. Maybe it is time to get your own email account.
I have been really busy with the wife, the kids and the job. So? I didn't tell you to get married, in fact I probably tried to talk you out of it. And I didn't tell you what career path to take. Although I probably told you not to be an engineer.
I put it in the mail Monday so you should have it by Thursday. Hey that is great. If you had put it in the mail last Monday then you wouldn't have to worry about it. If I get it late, I will send it back to you. Don't believe me? I will happily pay $0.41 to make a point. I have spent more to make smaller points.
I am really tired from working all day, can you come over and pick the money up? Are you kidding me? I know my life is sad and depressing, but it isn't so sad that I need to drive to your house to pick up your money.
Let me ask you something. Do you pay your other bills on time? Oh sure, I think you could be late with a credit card payment once, maybe twice before they start tacking on late fees. I have been claiming for years that I will delete sheets. Consider those last couple years your warning.
Everyone enjoys participating in a poll on my blog. I have 16 people registered so far for my pool. But at press time I have only received payment from 8 of them. According to my sources the first tournament game starts at 11:25 a.m. (Central Time), if you are one of those who hasn't paid yet, I invite you to log onto the site at that time and watch your sheet get deleted.
I also like to do my share of gambling. And this is gambling.
Another reason is that I get to post my favorite basketball picture to accompany this posting. Check this guy out. That was a long time ago. Those were my college years. If I had only applied myself better and actually took care of my body instead of taking it for granted. Why lament? But still check out that vertical.
Now most of you know that I get a pool together for the tournament. I used to keep track of all the sheets, but thanks to the internet, I can do it all on the computer and there isn't much work for me to do other than collect the money. And that is the topic of this post.
Every year the same thing happens. Someone doesn't get their money into me before the tournament starts. They always tell me that they are "good for it". But the first day of the tournament comes and goes, then the next. Then the weekend is over and people are too busy or I wasn't around for them to get me their money. Then they take look at their sheet and realize they have no chance of winning so they decide not to pay at all. Then the tournament is over and the person who wins demands their winnings. These deadbeats still haven't paid and I end up forking out more money to cover this person who is "good for it". Do you know why? Because I am a nice guy. I know there are some people out there who are still going to say that won't happen. Well you know what those people are? They are deadbeats.
But this year is going to be different. I sent out invitations two weeks ago. Certainly that should be plenty of time for any responsible non-deadbeat to get me their money. But you know what, it won't be. And this year I am deleting sheets. The nice guy, he doesn't live here any more. Not only do I not care if your sheet gets deleted, but I will be doing it with a smile on my face. Sure this decision will come back to haunt me. Not a doubt in my mind, someone is going to throw this back in my face, when I need to ask them for a favor.
I have already started to hear the excuses:
My wife deleted the email. Maybe it is time to get your own email account.
I have been really busy with the wife, the kids and the job. So? I didn't tell you to get married, in fact I probably tried to talk you out of it. And I didn't tell you what career path to take. Although I probably told you not to be an engineer.
I put it in the mail Monday so you should have it by Thursday. Hey that is great. If you had put it in the mail last Monday then you wouldn't have to worry about it. If I get it late, I will send it back to you. Don't believe me? I will happily pay $0.41 to make a point. I have spent more to make smaller points.
I am really tired from working all day, can you come over and pick the money up? Are you kidding me? I know my life is sad and depressing, but it isn't so sad that I need to drive to your house to pick up your money.
Let me ask you something. Do you pay your other bills on time? Oh sure, I think you could be late with a credit card payment once, maybe twice before they start tacking on late fees. I have been claiming for years that I will delete sheets. Consider those last couple years your warning.
Everyone enjoys participating in a poll on my blog. I have 16 people registered so far for my pool. But at press time I have only received payment from 8 of them. According to my sources the first tournament game starts at 11:25 a.m. (Central Time), if you are one of those who hasn't paid yet, I invite you to log onto the site at that time and watch your sheet get deleted.
Political Humor
You all know that I could give a flying whatever, or a squirt of something else about politics. I normally don't vote, and I normally don't comment on politics. I am content to accept what my government deals me without much of a complaint. And if I want to complain well then I had better start voting. My one gripe are my property taxes, but I don't see them changing in a negative direction anytime soon.....strike that never. And if they really bother me that much well than maybe I should move to Florida. With all of that said, here is some political fodder I received in an email that I thought I would share. Here is the new United States Logo.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Rebecca's Birthday
Last Saturday was my good friend, Rebecca's 37th birthday. I like to give Rebecca a hard time because she is so much older than me, by 1 year and 3 months. Some how I was fortunate enough to sit next to Rebecca so I don't have any pictures of her. But I did get a picture of Denise, Butch and Al.
Here is our whole table. 13 of us. From left to right, Jody, Missy, Rodge, Caleb, Trinity, Al, Rebecca, Me, Pookie, Butch, Muffins, Denise and Adam.
My favorite line of the night was when the owner, whom Rebecca's knows rather well, came to greet our table. Rebeeca was saying, "Yes it is my birthday. And I wanted to come to my favorite restaurant." After which I quickly interjected, "But they were closed so we came here." Hey Ohh. It was a special occasion so I broke my New Years Resolution of not drinking. I had one drink and one shot. Because you have to do one birthday shot...right?
Here is everyone singing to Rebecca.
Parenthood
The new show on NBC I just started watching. I was remotely intrigued in seeing the promo 
commercials. I thought the pilot episode was good and like the second show as well. So far the show has been nothing but a train wreck for each and every member of that family. Maybe that is why I like the show. There hasn't been too much going on with my life as of late. Since my surgery, I have limited my activities quite a bit. And not drinking also helps to keep me out of trouble. When I watch the show, I see the obstacles that lay ahead of these characters and it makes me think that maybe my life isn't that so bad. It has been said, "if you want to feel thin, hang out with fat people." Likewise, if you want your problems to seem small hang out with people with bigger problems. Time will tell if I remain interested in this show. Prediction: before the end of the season, one of the two parents / grandparents will end up sick and in the hospital.
commercials. I thought the pilot episode was good and like the second show as well. So far the show has been nothing but a train wreck for each and every member of that family. Maybe that is why I like the show. There hasn't been too much going on with my life as of late. Since my surgery, I have limited my activities quite a bit. And not drinking also helps to keep me out of trouble. When I watch the show, I see the obstacles that lay ahead of these characters and it makes me think that maybe my life isn't that so bad. It has been said, "if you want to feel thin, hang out with fat people." Likewise, if you want your problems to seem small hang out with people with bigger problems. Time will tell if I remain interested in this show. Prediction: before the end of the season, one of the two parents / grandparents will end up sick and in the hospital.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Hangover
I don't know that my movie reviews are all that spectacular. In fact I think they suck. I was watching TV the other day, and I don't even know what movie the commercial was for, but one critic described the movie as "deliciously unsettling". Why can't I come up with such a witty and smart description for movies? Or how about "It was much much better than 'Cats". I am going to see it again and again'"(SNL, anyone). I am going to have to try much harder. I will try to use two words to describe all movies I see. I wonder how long that will last. So with that let me get to my movie review of "The Hangover".
I finally saw "The Hangover". People had been telling me to see it ever since it came out. Yes, it isn't even in theaters anymore but I wanted to give a review. I wasn't 20 minutes into the movie when I said to myself, "Wait a minute, I have seen this movie before. This is the same plot as 'Dude, Where's My Car?'". The only difference is that instead of losing a car they lost a person. Granted it is a much hipper and classier version of the same story with the only true backdrop you could have for a movie of this type, Las Vegas.
The central character, Doug, is getting married and his two best friends, Stu and Phil, throwing him a bachelor party. In an effort to fit in with his soon to be new family, Doug invites his future brother in law, Alan, on the trip to Las Vegas. Alan desperately wants to fit in with the rest of the groups and drugs everyone with roofies. The movie fast forwards from when they first get to Las Vegas to the next morning. At which point, Stu, Phil and Alan try to sort out what happened the night before and more importantly find Doug.
If it wasn't for "Dude, Where's Your Car?" this movie would be a 9, but since the plot is so familiar, I can't give it more that a 7.
Two words: frighteningly relatable.
Throughout the course of the movie, while entertained, I tried to determine which of the three characters, Phil, Stu or Alan, most resembled myself. I think in my past I have displayed the same characteristics of each. But who do you think I most resemble.
Stu
Phil Alan
I finally saw "The Hangover". People had been telling me to see it ever since it came out. Yes, it isn't even in theaters anymore but I wanted to give a review. I wasn't 20 minutes into the movie when I said to myself, "Wait a minute, I have seen this movie before. This is the same plot as 'Dude, Where's My Car?'". The only difference is that instead of losing a car they lost a person. Granted it is a much hipper and classier version of the same story with the only true backdrop you could have for a movie of this type, Las Vegas.
The central character, Doug, is getting married and his two best friends, Stu and Phil, throwing him a bachelor party. In an effort to fit in with his soon to be new family, Doug invites his future brother in law, Alan, on the trip to Las Vegas. Alan desperately wants to fit in with the rest of the groups and drugs everyone with roofies. The movie fast forwards from when they first get to Las Vegas to the next morning. At which point, Stu, Phil and Alan try to sort out what happened the night before and more importantly find Doug.
If it wasn't for "Dude, Where's Your Car?" this movie would be a 9, but since the plot is so familiar, I can't give it more that a 7.Two words: frighteningly relatable.
Throughout the course of the movie, while entertained, I tried to determine which of the three characters, Phil, Stu or Alan, most resembled myself. I think in my past I have displayed the same characteristics of each. But who do you think I most resemble.
Stu
Phil Alan
Thursday, March 11, 2010
What Color Would You Pick?
If you have been to my house, you probably think my garage means a lot to me. I guess it does. It keeps my truck sheltered as well as my next prized possession in there, my snow thrower. It is hard to find a more unusual garage. And you would think that there isn't anything more I could do to the garage. But there is. I have been meaning to do this for the last couple of years, but my garage is in need of a serious paint job, on the outside. While I want the inside to be as outrageous as possible, I think I want outside to be a little bit more subtle. Currently is it brown. Look at the sad shape this thing is in.
If it was a horse they would shoot it.
I think I want to go with something different. Any ideas? What color would you pick?
If it was a horse they would shoot it.I think I want to go with something different. Any ideas? What color would you pick?Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Good News
Good news. No wait, excellent news. Today marks the first day of the year in which the average high temperatures are in the 40s. 
I was flipping through the channels about a week ago and I landed on the weather report of one of the local TV stations. The forecast for the following day was a high temperature of 24 degrees and described as cool. Cool? dictionary.com defines "cool" as - moderately cold, neither warm nor cold. Sorry about that, but 24 is not cool, it is cold. In fact, I believe that it is actually below freezing. That is if my memory serves me correct from my chemistry days. But let me add this posting on a high note. It is getting warmer.
I was flipping through the channels about a week ago and I landed on the weather report of one of the local TV stations. The forecast for the following day was a high temperature of 24 degrees and described as cool. Cool? dictionary.com defines "cool" as - moderately cold, neither warm nor cold. Sorry about that, but 24 is not cool, it is cold. In fact, I believe that it is actually below freezing. That is if my memory serves me correct from my chemistry days. But let me add this posting on a high note. It is getting warmer.
Passwords
Is anyone else overloaded with computer passwords? I am just sick of them. They must be 8 characters long, have at least one number and one capital letter. The ones that I really hate are the ones that need to be changed every two to three months. Allow me to run down my list of all the passwords I have. Let me start with work:
My work laptop,
My work desktop,
Getting on my company's server from a remote location,
Getting on my company's email server,
The project management program for my Appleton project (but that project's paper work will be turned in this week)
The project management program for my USH 45 project (this project will also be turned in this week)
My time sheet at work,
Getting onto the Wisconsin DOT website,
My companies benefits website,
My health insurance website,
My office telephone.
Now let me get to my personal passwords:
ATM pin number (which is redundant)
My garage keypad number,
Two credit card web sites,
My Yahoo account,
My blog account,
It is rare that I buy things on Ebay, but I do have a Paypal account,
My retirement fund website,
My banks website,
My house payment website,
My cell phone website,
My cell phone password to listen to voicemails.
I think I am missing a couple but that is 23 passwords. Anyone else think that is rediculous? Can anyone beat that number?
My work laptop,
My work desktop,
Getting on my company's server from a remote location,
Getting on my company's email server,
The project management program for my Appleton project (but that project's paper work will be turned in this week)
The project management program for my USH 45 project (this project will also be turned in this week)
My time sheet at work,
Getting onto the Wisconsin DOT website,
My companies benefits website,
My health insurance website,
My office telephone.
Now let me get to my personal passwords:
ATM pin number (which is redundant)
My garage keypad number,
Two credit card web sites,
My Yahoo account,
My blog account,
It is rare that I buy things on Ebay, but I do have a Paypal account,
My retirement fund website,
My banks website,
My house payment website,
My cell phone website,
My cell phone password to listen to voicemails.
I think I am missing a couple but that is 23 passwords. Anyone else think that is rediculous? Can anyone beat that number?
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Finished at Last
I think I have finally finished the latest remodel job. This past weekend I put the remaining trim around the picture window and the crown molding in the living room. I still have the upstairs to do, but I am going to take a break for a little while. Plus no one goes up there anyway. Here are some pictures of the now completed living room.
This is what the window looked like after it was first put in.
Check this out. I had the wall stripped all the way back to just the brick.
And here is the completed wall. Note the new crown molding. And the Borky original hanging on the wall. I know I need to take it in and get it framed.
Yes, I am eventually going to take a step into the year 2010 and get a TV that hangs on the wall. But this one still works and it is 11 years old. Maybe once I pay off my credit card debt.
I initially planned for this remodel job when I refinanced my house. But that extra $5,000 went pretty fast, and I stopped keeping track of the cost once I doubled my original estimate. Note the dogs playing poker on the wall. My second favorite piece of art work. Borky you are number one.
I am man enough to admit it. I screwed up on the crown molding. Now you just have to find out where the screw up is.
No shoes on the new carpeting.
This is what the window looked like after it was first put in.
Check this out. I had the wall stripped all the way back to just the brick.And here is the completed wall. Note the new crown molding. And the Borky original hanging on the wall. I know I need to take it in and get it framed.Yes, I am eventually going to take a step into the year 2010 and get a TV that hangs on the wall. But this one still works and it is 11 years old. Maybe once I pay off my credit card debt.
I initially planned for this remodel job when I refinanced my house. But that extra $5,000 went pretty fast, and I stopped keeping track of the cost once I doubled my original estimate. Note the dogs playing poker on the wall. My second favorite piece of art work. Borky you are number one.I am man enough to admit it. I screwed up on the crown molding. Now you just have to find out where the screw up is.No shoes on the new carpeting.Monday, March 08, 2010
Has Spring Sprung?
What beautiful weather we are having. After a few days of sun and temps in the 40s makes you think that winter is over. But is it really? I don't think so. I am looking forward to the night when I can watch a Brewer game outside in the backyard. I am guessing that will be the first week of June. Here is a question for you all, I know it will snow yet again this year. But will is snow again with enough snow that I will need to get the snow thrower out again?
Friday, March 05, 2010
Crown Molding
I am nearing completion on the latest home improvement project. I remodeled my two spare bedrooms, the hallway (if you can call it a hallway), the living room and the front entry. All got new windows (except the hallway and front entry, they have no windows), a new coat of paint (in some cases 3 or 4 coats of paint), new baseboards, casing around the windows and crown molding. I had some issues with the crown molding. In fact I will be brutally honest with you, I suck at it. I ended up having my brother Jeff, help me with the spare bedrooms, and they turned out looking great. I told Jeff, that I would be able to handle the hallway and front entry. Wrong. They didn't come out right. I decided to use these cheater blocks that I saw at Menards. Which you put on the inside corners. But I didn't buy them at Menards, I told myself I could make them on my own. But I did take pictures at Menards so I would have some idea what I am doing.
I made them out of all of extra pieces of crown molding that I had screwed up with. And I had plenty of extra pieces. I wanted to know which way you thought looked better. The correct way, shown here without the corner blocks. 
Or the cheater way, shown here with the corner blocks.
I would have posted close ups, but I didn't want you to see the gaps.
I made them out of all of extra pieces of crown molding that I had screwed up with. And I had plenty of extra pieces. I wanted to know which way you thought looked better. The correct way, shown here without the corner blocks. Or the cheater way, shown here with the corner blocks.I would have posted close ups, but I didn't want you to see the gaps.Thursday, March 04, 2010
Happy 40th Birthday
I was recently informed that one of my loyal readers just celebrated his 40th Birthday. Up and over the hill goes another one. A friend, reader and former co-worker/boss, Steve Nevermann.
I have known Steve since I was a freshman in high school and he was a senior. Steve has a lot of stories to tell. Let me briefly go through a couple.
As long as I have known him, if he dresses up for Halloween, it is as a female something, cave woman, biker chick, etc.
In high school during Homecoming he was accused and punished for ripping a 20 foot by 40 foot door off of a barn that was sheltering the sophomores Homecoming float. He was also accused and punished for trashing said float. In fact I think he took the fall for everyone and was the only one punished.
He learned to barefoot waterski but first screwing ping pong paddles to the bottom of a pair of shoes. While on the topic of barefoot waterskiing, he performed two of the coolest water ski moves I have ever seen. Number one, a deep water start after jumping off of the top of a pontoon boat. Number two, a double ski jump out.
Once while at a bar we were playing darts, he told me if I got three bullseyes that he would tip over a row of motorcycles that were parked in front of the bar. I know it is shocking but that was the first and only time I have ever hit three bullseyes in one turn. The bikes never got pushed over.
In his high school / college years he fixed up two beater cars that he had purchased. Both were involved in car accidents that totalled them shortly after the last coat of paint was applied. In fact, my mom and I were the only ones to see the first car with a fresh coat of paint, as he got in an accident and flipped the first car the night he got it back from the paint shop.
During a high school soccer game while playing full back he caught a shot from the other team while in the penalty box not knowing that the goalie was standing right behind him. This is a move that I have copied and done a couple of times in the past. It never gets old, unless it is a close game.
I think those are all of the stories I can come up with for the time being.
Happy Birthday Steve.
Oh I remembered some other stories that have been previously posted. Here are the links:
Wedgie Fever
Hunting For Dogs
Picking Up the Tab
There is another story about snowmobiling through downtown Dousman that I have to find.
I have known Steve since I was a freshman in high school and he was a senior. Steve has a lot of stories to tell. Let me briefly go through a couple.As long as I have known him, if he dresses up for Halloween, it is as a female something, cave woman, biker chick, etc.
In high school during Homecoming he was accused and punished for ripping a 20 foot by 40 foot door off of a barn that was sheltering the sophomores Homecoming float. He was also accused and punished for trashing said float. In fact I think he took the fall for everyone and was the only one punished.
He learned to barefoot waterski but first screwing ping pong paddles to the bottom of a pair of shoes. While on the topic of barefoot waterskiing, he performed two of the coolest water ski moves I have ever seen. Number one, a deep water start after jumping off of the top of a pontoon boat. Number two, a double ski jump out.
Once while at a bar we were playing darts, he told me if I got three bullseyes that he would tip over a row of motorcycles that were parked in front of the bar. I know it is shocking but that was the first and only time I have ever hit three bullseyes in one turn. The bikes never got pushed over.
In his high school / college years he fixed up two beater cars that he had purchased. Both were involved in car accidents that totalled them shortly after the last coat of paint was applied. In fact, my mom and I were the only ones to see the first car with a fresh coat of paint, as he got in an accident and flipped the first car the night he got it back from the paint shop.
During a high school soccer game while playing full back he caught a shot from the other team while in the penalty box not knowing that the goalie was standing right behind him. This is a move that I have copied and done a couple of times in the past. It never gets old, unless it is a close game.
I think those are all of the stories I can come up with for the time being.
Happy Birthday Steve.
Oh I remembered some other stories that have been previously posted. Here are the links:
Wedgie Fever
Hunting For Dogs
Picking Up the Tab
There is another story about snowmobiling through downtown Dousman that I have to find.
MP3 Player Update
I am sure you may be wondering how my MP3 player is working out for me. Not too good. First allow me to explain the situation here. I ordered two MP3 players from a website which claimed that they got them from China at wholesale before the mark up. I purchased an "Ipod Nano" and another MP3 player which plugs into your vehicles cigarette lighter and transmits to the vehicle through an unused FM radio station.
While the "IPod Nano" looks like an Ipod it isn't an Ipod. The menus look different, not to mention that when you turn it on it takes at least 30 seconds before the main screen comes up. It also has an annoying habit of skipping to the next song after playing the first 30 to 40 seconds of the current song. Every time I have plugged it into my computer to load new songs on it, my computer says that the "IPod Nano" is unreadable and must be formatted. So we are going to write that one off as not working, but be sure to check under the tree next Christmas, you may be the recipient of it.
Moving on to the car MP3 player. I have yet to get it working correctly as well. There is always back ground noise. It also came with a remote control. Sadly my Chinese is a little unpolished and I have no idea what each button means.
You think that is funny? I would if it happened to someone else. I paid $70 for the "IPod Nano" and the Car MP3 Player. This past weekend I was so frustrated with them that I went and bought another MP3 player from Best Buy. So below you see on the left, the "IPod Nano", in the middle, the Car MP3 player remote and on the right, my new MP3 player which was another $70.
So in the end I should have just gone to Best Buy and bought the real $140 Ipod Nano and I would have been ahead of where I am now. And what did I learn from all of this, that I am not as smart as I thought I was, but if nothing else you found it entertaining.
While the "IPod Nano" looks like an Ipod it isn't an Ipod. The menus look different, not to mention that when you turn it on it takes at least 30 seconds before the main screen comes up. It also has an annoying habit of skipping to the next song after playing the first 30 to 40 seconds of the current song. Every time I have plugged it into my computer to load new songs on it, my computer says that the "IPod Nano" is unreadable and must be formatted. So we are going to write that one off as not working, but be sure to check under the tree next Christmas, you may be the recipient of it.
Moving on to the car MP3 player. I have yet to get it working correctly as well. There is always back ground noise. It also came with a remote control. Sadly my Chinese is a little unpolished and I have no idea what each button means.
You think that is funny? I would if it happened to someone else. I paid $70 for the "IPod Nano" and the Car MP3 Player. This past weekend I was so frustrated with them that I went and bought another MP3 player from Best Buy. So below you see on the left, the "IPod Nano", in the middle, the Car MP3 player remote and on the right, my new MP3 player which was another $70.So in the end I should have just gone to Best Buy and bought the real $140 Ipod Nano and I would have been ahead of where I am now. And what did I learn from all of this, that I am not as smart as I thought I was, but if nothing else you found it entertaining.
The Marriage Ref
I stated in a previous posting that this show
would not be good. I saw the first show after the Olympics. Not good. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a 2 drink minimum for the audience to make sure that they laugh.
would not be good. I saw the first show after the Olympics. Not good. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a 2 drink minimum for the audience to make sure that they laugh.
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