Making arrows out of pointed words.....

Giant killers at the call.....

Sorry, listening to Rush as I blog, and that's the song that's on. If you really want to, you can go here and read them all: Different Strings.

So, I worked today. It was my 1st Sunday, and it was good. I work a shorter shift (7 hrs) but get paid for 8. It's a 10-5 shift, and I may have already shared those facts with you, and if I did, just suck it up.

The Raiders won today. What can I say, I'm shocked. They're now 2 and 2. They've actually won as many games this year as they did all last season.

I really feel for H's Irish.

No, really. I'm not a fan of college ball, in fact I never even watch it, but I saw the movie Rudy, so I count myself a fan.

Oh, and I'm a quarter Irish.

Rush has given way to Journey.

Send Her My Love, since you asked.

The iPod is such a wonderful toy. My shuffle is still treating me right. It's one of the ghetto ones, you know, the 'pack of gum' ones, and it's only 512k, but criminy I can listen to it a long time.

And with 5gigs to chose my 130 songs from, I've got quite a range of moods I can pack into it. I'm going to get one of the baddie boys one of these days, but I just don't know how long I should wait. The top of the lineris up to 160 GIGS.

Are you fucking kidding me? My sweet mary, my entire library, 1315 songs, is a mere 5.08 gigs, and it's worth 3.7 days. 160 gigs is like....108 days if my math is correct. 3 months and 18 days. That's like every song ever.

Oh, and the new ones (even the new nano) can of course play video. They've even got 'iPhone iPods', with the wide touch screen in 4 and 8 gig models. Those aren't cheap.

Hell, the 80 gig is down to 249. Even that's obscene.

Ok, time for a new Simpsons, so I'm outttie.

Jalepeno del mucho,

T.

A couple movie tips.....

First, Not Another Teen Movie was not as bad as I thought it was going to be, and the soundtrack is actually pretty rockin', with some good original artist tunes, and some good covers as well.

Second, avoid Nacho Libre. I think I may have laughed twice the entire time. And I'm a big fan of Jack Black. On most occasions, he cracks my shit up.

Not so much in this flick.

Well, at least I only spent $3.98 on it, so no big waste. There are some special features that I may or may not watch, but I don't think I'll watch the movie again.

Now, I think it's time for a nap.....

Frijoles con diego,

T.

Friday and Saturday.....

It seems that these are the days off that I'm going to have.

I don't mind that so much. I mean, I'm old enough now not to care what days I have off, as long as I have 2 in a row.

I don't have any school dances to attend, or any football games to go to.

Hell, I don't even have any parties to go to.

I'm rapidly becoming a fuddy duddy.

In other news, I did get my 1st paycheck today. It was for a whopping 21 hrs. It was kinda cool tho, as Friday is payday. My manager....we'll call her T... said that she tries to have checks ready for the people that have Fri and Sat off so that they don't have to come in on their days off.

I also found out that Sunday's are a short shift, meaning that I go in at 10 (an hour later) and get off at 5 (an hour earlier) but still get paid for 8 hrs. I also get a 30 min paid lunch, so even tho I prefer not to work on Sundays, I think this will be ok

For now, at least.

I can smell the hot beef sandwiches downstairs, so you all have to fend for yourselves for the rest of the night.

El fuego de las gatos,

T.

I couldn't help myself.....

Well, to be perfectly honest I guess I could have, but where's the fun in that. You see, our coffee grinder died yesterday, and we had to go get a replacement. That meant a trip to WalMart.....

I have a running love affair with their $5 movie bin, as you well know. Sometimes (like this evening) they also have special movie deal displays in the front of the store.

Today the deal was $3.98. Of course, the only reason I had any money to spend at all is because of my luck at keno last night. The worst part is, there's never just one movie that I have to have.

From the $3.98 display, I got: Paycheck (in widescreen for a dollar less than the full screen version i refused to buy), Mission Impossible: III, Nacho Libre, and The Stepford Wives. I had planned on getting a movie or two, but like I said, for the price I had to get these 4.

Now, fast forward about 15 minutes, and picture me at the infamous $5 bin. See me standing there? Well, if you look closely, you'll see that I have four more movies in my hand. Yes, that's right, I couldn't help myself.

There are some movies I've been looking to buy for a while, and when I find them in widescreen for 5 bucks a pop, you just know they're going home with me.

So, to the list above, add Charlie's Angles: Full Throttle, not technically one I'd been searching for, but it's a special, unrated edition. Clash of the Titans, a classic that I've loved since I first saw it circa 1982, True Lies(another all time fave), and Not Another Teen Movie.

Ok, now that last one isn't one I've been hunting for, nor have I even seen it. I expect it to be bad.

I expect it to be cheesy.

I also expect that I may never watch it more than once, but I did see many of the horror films it's based on, and it is the special, unrated edition. I'm a big fan of unrated editions, simply because the MPAA is such a waste of time.

Don't believe me? Watch the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated sometime.

And the best part? With the exception of The Stepford Wives, all of the abovementioned movies are widescreen, and all but 2 (clash and teen movie) have commentaries.

I love commentaries.

So, yeah. I spent like 40 bucks on movies. Well, the Gold Dust West did anyhow.

Ok, I'm outtie.

Buenos con queso,

T.

Money = good

This will be brief, because there's food downstairs with my name on it.

I worked today (it was cool).

I gambled today (won 130).

I had a couple beers....

So, yeah...that food...I'm on it.

T.

Oh deer.....

It's time for a change of photos.

And it's also time for a photo post. A neighbor of ours needed a ride to the doctor's today, and I offered to help him out. I had decided before leaving the house that I'd just wander around taking pix and jamming to my iPod.

Imagine my shock when I saw:



these deer right in downtown Carson City. It was even before I got to the doc's office.

I think this one's part snake:




I just had to:




This is for 1 specific reader. You know who you are...:




Well, they may not, but if you look carefully in the background there are a couple outhouses:




Oh, and our trees are already starting to turn:




The pigeon was not planned:




And finally:




The things I find....

Ok, that's it for now. I know you are all expecting a Dland post, and I promise it's in the works, but I've got like 800 photos to sort through to get some good ones.

Buenos con queso,

T.

Pass it on.....

This little gem is brought to you courtesy of Kat, who got it from Nate.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Chester Subaru

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chunky Monkey Milano

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
J'str

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Black Wolf

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Louis Walnut Creek

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
StrJo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Purple Brewski

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
John Don

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Obsession Butterfinger

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Nothing Lee (she doesnt have one)

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Hampton Huston

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Fall Gerber (daisy). Sounds kinda ghey.

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Orange Shortsy

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Bacon Oak

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)

The Photography Thunderstorm Tour

Have fun with it! Let me know if you feel compelled to do it, too! I wanna see what you come up with!


Ok, there you have it.

Buenos con queso,

T.

Learning a new routine.....

So, bright and early this morning (well 847 to be exact) I started my new job. It's always an adventure, starting a new job.

Today I learned the extent of my duties. There's quite a bit I'm responsible for, but I think it could be fun. Now, the main part of my fun is listing like.... everything for sale.

Today I put up among other things, a collectible plate, Hitachi nail gun, and a custom graphite fly rod.

And yes, I took the pix (and wrote the words). I'm not sure I'm allowed to blog about this kind of stuff, so I guess I'll check.

It's cool in another way that I started today, because the 2 managers that know the ebay side of the business are off on Sunday and Monday. What this equates to, is that for the next 2 days, there isn't going to be anybody at the store that could help me if I had a problem.

The solution?

They gave me Sun and Mon off too, so at least one more week of football.

Woo Hoo!!!

That means I can watch my Raiders lose again. It's now 11 I think regular season games they've lost in a row. This goes back to last season, just so you know. I wonder if they're ever going to win another fucking game.

Ok, that's my shifter.

El gato del frijoles,

T.

One application = One job.....

Yeah, so I'm totally freaked out.

I mean "Awesome, oh wow, like totally freak me out, I mean right on....Toros sure are number One!!!" freaked out.

I have applied for one (1) job.

That was on Wednesday. Today is Friday, and I've been offered a posistion.

Yeah, I don't believe it. It's a pretty cool thing, in a way. I mean, I am making a living off the misfortune of others.

Now, that's not as bad as it sounds. I'm not personally going to benefit directly from their misfortune, but I'm going to be taking care of the loose ends.

I am now an ebay lister for a local loan company.

My day will consist of taking pix (you know how much i hate taking pix) listing, and packing items for ebay.

A loan company, I hear you ask?

Well, in the main, yes. It has other names.

Hockshop.

Pawn Shop.

Yes, I am now going to be auctioning off the small debris in the war of the economy.

Or something like that, I'm not sure.

Anyhow, they started me at almost my last salary, and I can wear jeans to work, so I'm stoked.

I don't have a set schedule yet, but I think the hours are 9-6. It's been a while since I've had a day job, but with how early I've been waking up lately, it's not like it matters.

Anyhow, I'll be in a back office with my own computer taking pix and writing descriptions of various and sundry items. This of course equates to very little, if any, customer contact.

Buenos las vegas,

T.

Gar....I'm so fuckin' pissed right now.....

I can barely see straight.

I'm not going to vent on you tho, so all is well.

Let me just say, 'People Suck.'

That's all.

T.

Now the fun is upon us.

I took yesterday off as my final day of doing nothing.

Today I'm getting applications and starting the job hunt.

What can I say, I'm stoked. It's been wierd not working these last few weeks, but it's been nice too. I'll admit that the money I'm getting from unemp is a pittance in relation to a real paycheck, but at least I'm getting something.

I have no idea what I want to do this time, so this will be a very interesting day. I do intend to apply at the photolab at the local Costco as my sister knows the manager. There's also a local pawnshop looking for someone to do Ebay listing for them.

I think I could handle that.

However it works out I'll keep you posted.

Leche con huevos,

T.

You're never going to believe this.....

But as God is my witness, it's absolutely true.

After I spoke to you last, my day took one of those 'surreal' turns. I went downstairs to have some coffee and read the Sunday paper.

I was sitting in the living room chair, reading the Best Buy ad when I heard something. It was one of those sounds that can only be one thing, like a garbage disposal or glass breaking.

It was, unmistakably, the sound of fluttering wings. I've known people over the years that have had birds, and I've been around a fair few wild ones, and I know the sound. That I should be hearing it in my living room is strange, but what was even stranger is that it was coming from the woodstove.

Yes, you read that right, the woodstove.

Not without trepidation, I warned Pops, and slowly opened the door. Out popped a bird. It was a sparrow of some type, and it was covered in ash, but appeared othewise unharmed.

He (or she) took off and began flying around the house. I grabbed a piece of the newspaper and a bamboo drink tray, and tried to herd him (or her) out the open back door. It was a fiasco. He (or she) would fly to the kitchen and land. I'd move to the kitchen and the bird would fly back to the living room, headed for the back door, and land on the curtain rod above it.

This went on for a while, and then the bird found the stairs.

So, once upstairs, the bird finds the bathroom. Now, my only concern at this point is to get birdie back downstairs and out the door unharmed. Into the bathroom I go, and the bird flies over me, and straight into Pop's room. After flying around the room a couple times he (or she) alights on one of my dart trophies.

Knowing it wasn't going to work, and expecting the bird to take flight at any second, I slowly extended my hand toward the base of the trophy. I grasped it, and encouraged by the fact that he (or she) allowed me so close, I slowly took the trophy off the shelf.

The bird stayed put.

I began a slow walk to the back door. All the way down the stairs and out the back door, he (or she) remained motionless. Once outside, my charge glanced about and took flight. Within seconds he (or she) gained sufficent altitude to disappear.

Now, I must sadly report that I have no photographic evidence to support my story, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

Or Pops', he saw the whole thing.

If you want I can give you a number to call, and he'll confirm my story.

So, yeah.....that's all for today.

Buenos con queso,

T.

A day of rest.....

Why is it that vacation wears you out more than your daily routine, I wonder.

I had tons of fun at Dland/California Adventure, but the amount of walking is always an issue. Every night, upon returning to the hotel, my feet were fucking killing me, and I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.

That lead to early bed times, which, of course lead to early rise times. I don't think I slept past 5 am a single morning.

Except for the last day, of course.

My alarm (on my phone) woke me from a deeeeep sleep at the stroke of 5, and I was not a happy camper. I called my sis (cause i told her i would) and did the final 'gather everything up' run around.

3 hours later, my sister arrived, and we headed home.

Yes, 3 hours. We were supposed to leave at 7, but you know how things go. We took the 'back way' home this time, and while not very scenic, it did get us all the way home in a little over 8 hours.

Less, if you don't count the time we spent in lovely downtown Bishop, CA. I'm sad to say that we missed Mule Days, but what can you do?

Compared to some of the towns we rolled through though, it seemed as if we had driven into downtown Dallas. With such notable towns as Independence, Big Pine, and Lone Pine behind us, it was refreshing to see open business, working cars, and actual people wandering the streets.

But I'm getting ahead of the story.

I'm going to work on processing the photos today (a major chore i can tell you) and should have a blog summarizing the trip in a day or two. I don't plan to post all 700 or so photos that I took, but I'll have the cream of the crop up here, and may post more over at photobucket or flikr if anybody is interested.

Ok, it's time to go get some blank cd's so I can make photo discs for my mom, sis, ex, and my granny Millie.

Pulpo de las muertes,

T.

*yaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnn*

Oh my gawd, but I'm tired.

In case you can't tell, I'm back from Dland.

I'm also absolutely done in.

And, in honesty, I'm more than a little drunk.

There are tales to regale, and photos to impress, but alas ye must wait until....well, give me a couple days for the Dland post.

I'll prolly put some up in the meantime tho.....

El gato de las muertes,

T.

You don't get much today.....

I've got a million things to do, and absolutely no time in which to do them.

Well, in all honesty, I don't have that much to do, and I have plenty of time, but that sounded more dramatic.

We are leaving tomorrow, and I have to make sure that I've gotten everything together for the trip.

We're also supposed to be going to breakfast, and I've got to take my shower, and then stow my bathroom essentials in my bag.....

Well, speaking of showers, that's where I'm headed.

Fiesta con mucho,

T.

So, yeah, it's Thursday.....

And so, yeah, I'm supposed to post some pix.....

Well, naegunnadoit.

Why you ask?

Because I'm drunk

That's right, I've had too much to drink. And I'm not done.

Ok, it goes like this:

I'm leaving Sat am at like....11ish or so. I may get a chance to post from Michael's house, but no promises....and still no takers.

I mean, I understand. If you don't feel able to stop in for a minute, and just say....well anything, I understand.

Ok, as I said, I'm drunk.

Anyhow, I may post pix tomorrow, but it's going to be a very busy day.

Saturday? No chance. I may do a mobile blog tho, it depends.

Guess I'm done.

Leche con mucho,

T.

It was still dark out when I woke up.....

I tried and tried to go back to sleep, but yeah, right.

I'm surfing as I blog, so I may seem a bit distracted.

I'm also still putting off the final packing for Dland, but I imagine I'll get around to finishing today sometime.

Again, yeah, right.

On a completely different topic, I've decided that next year on our trip, I'm going to get a tat at L.A. Ink. Well, that's the plan anyhow. I talked to Michael (my son for those of you living in a cave) and we've decided that we're both going to get one. I think that would be cool.

Ok, so the problem (aside from the cost transportation and all the other things going on during vacation) is that I'm not sure what I should get.

With that in mind, I am now soliciting suggestions. Yes, you now have the chance to mark me forever. All suggestions will be considered, but there are no promises that your idea will get under my skin.

Carne del diablo,

T.

A million tiny details.....

Or at least that's how it seems.

Everytime I get something done, it reminds me that there's something else I need to do to get ready for dland.

It's nothing major, mind, but things like finding my pirate shirt.

You know not end of the world panic status, but it's bothersome.

In other news, I got an email from my buddy Greg today.

He's the one whose wedding I attended a year or so ago. You may remember the pix I posted.

Then again, you may not.

I know that this is very random and disjointed today, but I can't seem to think straight.

Yeah, think I'm done.

Fiesta sin pantalones,

T.

This is the final countdown.....

It's Monday, and we leave on Saturday.

The offers to guest blog haven't been pouring in, so if you're up for it, you've still got a chance.

Or soemthing like that.

As you might imagine from my almost debilitating procrastination, I'm still finishing my vacation laundry.

I may finish today, and actually start packing, but don't hold your breath.

In other news, we did get a little rain over the last couple days.

I saw a single (one) bolt of lightning the other day, and of course I ran to get my gear and get to a good location to take some pix.

I sat, camera tripodded and pointed at the thunderhead to the east of town from just dusk until full dark.

Not another bolt, not even a rumble of thunder to instill me with hope.

Yeah, it's pissing me off. I really like taking lightning pix, and here I am, with the time, the tools, and the desire to make some images, and Mother Nature is crapping in my hat.

What's that about?

Ok, guess I'll leave you alone now.

Carne del diablo,

T.

Another Sunday.....

I've always liked Sundays. Unless I'm working on Sunday that is.

You see, Sunday has always been a 'let's go fishing' or 'I'm going to go take pix' kind of day. You know, the kind of day where you don't mind doing something, but if you do, it's gonna be something fun.

Today's slightly different tho, as the stuff I need to get done (laundry and packing) are not exactly fun.

The only thing that makes it tolerable in the slightest is that it's all prep for Dland.

That's news update, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program, already in progress.....

Buenos con queso,

T.

The time has come once again.....

In one short week, a mere seven days, I'll be off and running.

Yes, folks, it's Disneyland time again. I intend to do a couple blogs from my phone while I'm away, but they will be necessarily short due to the length restrictions on the mobile posting, and once again I'm sending out the call for Guest Bloggers.

If you've posted for me before, I'm happy to say that you are still a 'member of my team' and can thus post whenever you like (even if im not out of town btw).

So, there you have it.

Any takers?


Carne del gato,

T.