It. Is. Alive! ~ Bill Murray in Stripes

Well, it has been 16 months to the day since my last post.

At that time I was getting ready for a great trip to the island of Bonaire (the "B" of the ABC islands) off the coast of Venezuela. This island of Dutch rule is an extraordinary place with much history.

I have been heavily work-involved during my absence. I apologize to those who might have been concerned for my extended leave with no warning. Hubris to believe I have been missed?..maybe.

I received a few emails from Ninja Alex and just now saw a comment from Pat Tillet waiting lonely for approval to publish. Beyond on that, Nancy Thompson and I have traded opinions and thoughts on Facebook and Robin Engel has commented once or twice on my FB posts. Thank you all.

I have tripped to Cozumel and Ohio twice. In two months my wife and I travel to the Maldives for 12 days of her leading a dive trip and my relaxing...on a boat for 7 of those days. A stop-over in Dubai both ways. A little disconcerting as the world turns today. At least we are far enough from Somalia to not have to worry about their pirates. I do not want to find any parts from MH370 on my trip.

I have read many books in the last 16 months. Alex's latest (and I hope not the last) was awesome. Nancy's sophomore work Leverage was just great. Period. I have read numerous books revolving around the Muslim threat and our government ignorance and ineptitude. I have become a fan of Glen Beck and his new TV network...Blaze TV. Some of the things that have been uncovered about the condition and state of our country will keep you up at night.

I have read many prepper tomes and even have a small start on a bug out bag and a plan. I am more aware as I move through society. Watching your surroundings is not paranoia it is sensible in this day and age. Avoid being a victim.

In Garland, Texas where I live, you may have heard of the shooting that occurred earlier this year at the Prophet Mohammad caricature drawing contest...this was just a couple miles from where I live. It created quite the media storm.

I'm rambling now so I will end with this...to those who actually read, I don't know yet when I will be returning on a regular basis. I would love to say it will be tomorrow. But I really don't know. I may start slowly and post once a week to ease myself back to the task.

I miss all those who regularly read and commented on what I wrote. I also miss reading all the blogs I enjoyed so much.

Until then...

May the force be with you,

Chuck

Addicted...Again, No Fooling

Several of my posts for this 2014 A-Z Challenge will deal with the recently completed Winter Olympics.

Oops, I did it again.

The Olympic games came about (winter version) and I vowed once again to NOT get sucked in to watching the zillion hours of televised events. I do this every Olympics, summer or winter. And once more I became addicted. Even accidently seeing results on the Internet or hearing them on the morning news, I still could not help tuning in to see the actual running of the events.

Even a 10-hour time difference couldn't derail my watching of the Games. A couple things were working against my plan to be more productive than watching the tube. First, my wife had major oral surgery on the 12th of February and I took 5 days off to care for her. Yes I am awesome that way. So I was home with many things planned to stay productive as she spent most of the days sleeping. Having the games on in the background was probably not a good idea if I was to stick to my plan. Second, the weather had been cold and wintery and conducive to bonding with a winter sporting event.

As always the hiatus of the regular programs I watched, to make room for Olympics viewing, meant there was nothing else on TV in the evenings.

Sking, snowboarding, biathlon, bobsled, skeleton, skating, speed skating (long and short track...all distances, even a hockey game (I basically hate hockey), and...get ready for this>>>curling! All these were on my radar.

The USA seriously underperformed on events they were favored in. Bode Miller flamed out, winning only a bronze in his final event. Although in all fairness to him, the death of his younger brother earlier this year put a huge damper on things. Julia Mancuso failed. Ligety disappeared. Shani "blame the suit" Davis was never in it, and Shaun White failed by oh so slim a margin in what might have been a snowboarding passing of the torch. In all, we left a lot of hardware on the courses and ovals that we were expected to at least seriously contend for.

We had great human moments like Emily Scott, short-track speed skater, who had to turn to the Internet to raise money to make the trip to Russia. And her dad took a 4-day odyssey of multiple air trips through 3or 4 countries to get to Sochi. How's that for a first trip outside the US at age 55. All for Emily to get knocked out of the final in a three person crash. Dream over at 25.

Noelle Pikus-Pace finishes her final Olympic skeleton run winning the silver medal. And the end of the run she jumps into the arms of her husband and kids in the stands.

The US swept the  men's ski slopestyle event.

And in the most telling event of the games that had the undercurrent of the 1980 Miracle on Ice, the US men's hockey team failed to defeat the home ice Russian team.

In the end we can be disappointed that our top athletes didn't perform as we believe they should have while representing the USA...when we really should be proud to have 230 athletes, who received no government support to get to the games, go out and give their all on the quoted, "worlds biggest stage" for their country.

And the most amazing moment of the Olympics...can you believe the Latvia flag bearer was dragging his country's flag on the ground when their team marched into the stadium for the opening ceremony?

There's your trouble...

Oh, and if you missed the commercials with the 7 1/2 month old baby water skiing, you have got to see this:



And at 11 months...that tow boat is flying!

Venom - The Guy Test

There are many things in this world that could be considered "guy tests". Things a guy would give up something serious for. Like the proverbial left testicular appendage or sex for a week...you get the idea.

From the time I was a kid playing with Hot Wheels slot cars, driving a car really fast has been a craving. Vicariously I have lived through being close enough to a dragster to gag on the nitrous fumes and feel the ground shake when they turn on all 6000 horsepower. It is just awesome!

Anyway, I offer this video up as a guy's bucket list item...a stock street car called the Hennessey Venom GT. Certified as the fastest production car on the world at 275mph and 1250 horsepower. This thing looks badass enough rolling down the street to stop a gang fight in its tracks. And runs like the wind.

They make 3 to 10 of these cars a year.

Ride along as a ordinary driver takes this car up to 200mph. Bit of a wimp he didn't do more but whatever, this is on my bucket list of things to do. Giving up whatever is necessary, of course.






The camera man is bravest of all!!

A Brief Musical Interlude

I am a fan of the Punch Bros and really like the rendition of How To Grow A Woman From The Ground. Some of the darkest lyrics ever written. Check here for a listen...Punch Brothers.


I also found this great cover they did of the classic Cars song from the '70's called Just What I Needed. Give it a whirl...

I Knew it Would Happen

Those of you that have followed for a while have seen me post about a fantastic young lady in California who absolutely rocks on the drums...Meytal Cohen. Well I am proud to announce she has advanced from doing just great drum covers of great rock songs, to work on a full album of originals. The song below is her first original song from the upcoming album. She co-wrote the music and lyrics.

I think it is friggin' awesome!

Give a listen...



You can find more of Meytal under the Music Stuff page (her videos are at the bottom of the page). She rocks!

Open Letter To Holiday Card Companies

Dear Hallmark,

You are the biggest most well known card manufacturer and retailer in the industry. It falls to you to set the example for all the other smaller fish in the card sea. So here is the feedback from this consumer-by-proxy (aka, card recipient). I seldom buy cards but that fact is not really relevant to this post.

First, in the interest of full admission, I find this concern with other products that have nothing to do with your cards. But this does not enhance my displeasure with some of your products, it is merely a  addition to my annoyance overall.

What the hell am I talking about...GLITTER! Seems simple and harmless. Seems entirely avoidable as a adult. Kids cannot seem to get away from it and indeed may even revel in it. This is NOT the case as an adult. Certainly not as an adult male.

Glitter. Specifically holiday cards (most heavily, Christmas cards) seem to contain glitter. Not the funny and irreverent cards, but the solemn, religious oriented cards. Not to say glitter and religion go hand in hand but rather the thought must be that glitter MAGNIFIES the religious connotation of the season.

Glitter is insidious. Glitter does not adhere where intended. Glitter is forever where it is unintended. I wonder about the people who chose these solemn Christmas cards and the manner in which they handle them, sign them, insert them in the envelope and then pass out these holiday menaces. How do they contend with the inevitable glitter residue left after each card handling? Do they rent a Motel 6 room to do this dirty deed? I don't know.

This is the crux of the matter isn't it? The residue. I submit to you I still have glitter somewhere in the house, lodged in carpet, blankets, couch cushions, etc. from 10 or 12 Christmas celebrations ago. As I type I am staring down two flakes of glitter stuck in my table cloth. One red, one green. By turning my head just right and having the light above the table on, they reveal themselves. Then a fraction of the inch more and they are gone. The game of holiday hide-and-seek has begun for another year.

Of the few real cards I got (many were photo collages or e-cards) 4 of them contained copious amounts of colored glitter, primarily red and green of course. Just pulling them out of the envelope showers the table, floor, counter, or me with the stuff. This is going to lead to weeks or months of finding glitter on my hands unexpectedly. Which will result in glitter somewhere on my face. This is the burn of my angst.

Nothing makes a meeting at work like a co-worker telling you that you have "glitter on your face". How emasculating. And from there it goes to discovery in public places. I am constantly now checking myself in a Tourettes-like fashion when I get up from the table to ensure I do not carry the stuff with me on hands, arms, clothes, etc.

This year I not only got one card 70% covered in glitter but the ENVELOPE was encrusted with the stuff as well. What are people thinking??

I think by now you get the point. I would like to see a couple changes in your card making process. One, would be to eliminate glitter completely, the minimal loss of sales (probably none) would easily be offset financially by not having to purchase glitter.  Two would be to use a super glue like substance to adhere LARGE flakes of glitter (like maybe 4 per card) to the card.

I have advised all friends who insist on giving me these cards each year that I will not open any card containing glitter from this day forward. They are forewarned and therefore well aware of the penalty.

Now I must take the time during this holiday (read: minimal activity) season to get the Dyson out and vacuum the dog. His dumb ass rolled on the floor under the table and now he sparkles. Shameful.

Have a Happy New Year,

Chuck

Peace Out!

How Did We Get To This Point?

The other day on the news I heard a story about a grade school who had banned the use of any type of ball during recess.

Seriously.

No footballs, softballs, basketballs, soccer balls. Nothing. The only allowable "ball type" was a Nerf ball.  The reasoning: the school didn't want to take the chance of any of the kids getting hurt. This made me laugh. Nerf balls are for toddlers and hemophiliacs. Not 8, 9 and 10-year old kids.

What are we doing here people?? Turning our kids into de facto "bubble children"? How much protection do they need?

When I was in grade school we played dodge ball, 4-square, tether ball...and there were always footballs flying through the air. There were 4 basketball hoops in use. Were there bruises and bloody noses...yes. Every once in a while someone got smacked on the nose playing tether ball. A football would sail long and bonk someone on the head. So what? We were kids having fun and playing. Outdoors. Exercise.

There were skinned knees and elbows. Maybe even a black eye if you were really lucky. Badges of battle to show off the rest of the day in school!

I don't know where the school is going with this, but it is nowhere good.

Thoughts?

BANNED!!