I went to Belize a few years back. One of the things I did there was a night hike (with guide) in a preserve where Jaguars lived and had been spotted. I had a pretty big hard on with the hopes of seeing one ... hopefully not clawing out my guts, but seeing one walking or hunting or whatever. No dice (although I did see some other cool stuff).
Well, it looks like perhaps my hard on will return if the Jaguar's comeback continues like this: Rare Jaguars Spotted in Arizona and Mexico
Big cats in the U.S.! I like it.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
No Stearing Required
So last night after work I decided to splurge $5 and get my car washed automatic style. After weeks of shitty, messy, cold, the weather here in Cleveland got its ass over freezing for a minute so I figured that even though more cold and more precipitation (and hence more salt on the road) is on the way it would be nice of me to get rid of the already existing filth funking up my ride.
I go to the car wash, get in line, pay and roll into the bay. There is a girl in front of me whose car is already riding along the track, on its way into cleaner pastures. I get lined up, drive in, put it in neutral and off I go. The soap is happening, the cloth whappers are beating against my car, the car wash magic is happening. Then there is a bit of a jolt and a thud. I figure it's just a joint in the track or something. Then it happens again. I put on my wipers to see if I can see anything and that works. The thud is actually me hitting the girl in front of me. Not hard, but hitting nevertheless. My car hits then backs off, then the next roller catches my tire and pushes for another hit. There's not a lot I can do. Brakes aren't going to help, I can't back up because there is another car there, I can't get out unless I want a soapy soaking and even then my car will keep doing what it's doing ... trapped!
After a couple more bumps, the guy running the place realizes that there is a bit of an automotive log jam happening and stops the wash. He comes walking through and notices that the girl ahead of me is sort of off the track. I think she must have been steering instead of just letting the car wash take care of everything. So she's sort of perched on the edge of the guide track. The attendant tells her that she's going to have to put her car in gear and try to slowly drive out. She puts it in gear, rolls a bit and comes off of the edge of the track. That's all good, but when her car hits the floor she hit some sort of drain which became dislodged and in went her front tire. She was stuck. She was crying.
She was there to stay until someone figured out how to lift the car a bit. There was talk of a tow truck, but none of that was my concern. I had been entertained enough. The cars behind me backed out and then I did too. I got the guy working there to rinse off the soap on my car and also got a coupon for a free wash for use some other day. So pretty much two washes for free. I guess that some low speed impacts were worth it.
I go to the car wash, get in line, pay and roll into the bay. There is a girl in front of me whose car is already riding along the track, on its way into cleaner pastures. I get lined up, drive in, put it in neutral and off I go. The soap is happening, the cloth whappers are beating against my car, the car wash magic is happening. Then there is a bit of a jolt and a thud. I figure it's just a joint in the track or something. Then it happens again. I put on my wipers to see if I can see anything and that works. The thud is actually me hitting the girl in front of me. Not hard, but hitting nevertheless. My car hits then backs off, then the next roller catches my tire and pushes for another hit. There's not a lot I can do. Brakes aren't going to help, I can't back up because there is another car there, I can't get out unless I want a soapy soaking and even then my car will keep doing what it's doing ... trapped!
After a couple more bumps, the guy running the place realizes that there is a bit of an automotive log jam happening and stops the wash. He comes walking through and notices that the girl ahead of me is sort of off the track. I think she must have been steering instead of just letting the car wash take care of everything. So she's sort of perched on the edge of the guide track. The attendant tells her that she's going to have to put her car in gear and try to slowly drive out. She puts it in gear, rolls a bit and comes off of the edge of the track. That's all good, but when her car hits the floor she hit some sort of drain which became dislodged and in went her front tire. She was stuck. She was crying.
She was there to stay until someone figured out how to lift the car a bit. There was talk of a tow truck, but none of that was my concern. I had been entertained enough. The cars behind me backed out and then I did too. I got the guy working there to rinse off the soap on my car and also got a coupon for a free wash for use some other day. So pretty much two washes for free. I guess that some low speed impacts were worth it.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Not a Washout
So the leaking water issue subsided with a non-disaster status. No collapsed ceiling, no lost sentimental goods and only slight irritation.
Basically, I took a long lunch break during work, some roofing guys came over, shoveled snow off the roof and chopped ice out of the gutters and through some salt up there to get things melting and flowing off the roof rather than melting, getting stuck behind the ice and flowing back under the shingles and into my living room as it had been doing.
Despite being fairly hillbillyish, these roof guys did an alright job. No more water in my living room so crisis averted I suppose. Now I just have to move my stuff back where it belongs and life in my little apartment will go back to normal. Messy, but dry normalcy.
Basically, I took a long lunch break during work, some roofing guys came over, shoveled snow off the roof and chopped ice out of the gutters and through some salt up there to get things melting and flowing off the roof rather than melting, getting stuck behind the ice and flowing back under the shingles and into my living room as it had been doing.
Despite being fairly hillbillyish, these roof guys did an alright job. No more water in my living room so crisis averted I suppose. Now I just have to move my stuff back where it belongs and life in my little apartment will go back to normal. Messy, but dry normalcy.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Leaks Ruin My Mexican Buzz
So I went out for some tasty Mexican food this evening with some work chums. That's right, I said "chums." When I came home, I walk in the door and happen to look over and notice that a box and some other crap I had over by the front of my living room is wet. I look around and eventually up and there is dripping going on. A leak in the ceiling thanks to, I'm presuming, all of this lovely Cleveland snow sitting up on the roof.
It's dripping down through a crack in the ceiling and also down through the ceiling fan/light. None of this is looking very good. I have two buckets, a pan and a big flower pot catching water right now.
I have renter's insurance so all of my useless shit is covered (I guess). I moved the stuff I think I might give a shit about (photos, CDs, stereo, DVDs, Xbox, books) but some of it I just can't be bothered. I intentionally left the TV (my soon to be ex-wife's) as I want a new one and this might be my chance. I know I should bother with this stuff now because it will be way less of a bother now than it will be after it gets wet, but I'm lazy. And I'm trying to be optimistic. So drip, drip, drip.
Hopefully my landlord will come do something about it tomorrow but I'm not really sure what can be done with layers of ice and snow on the roof. We'll see. At this point I won't be surprised if the roof caves in while I'm sleeping. It doesn't look that bad yet, but these things generally progress quickly.
The drippy wall
Ceiling crackage
It's dripping down through a crack in the ceiling and also down through the ceiling fan/light. None of this is looking very good. I have two buckets, a pan and a big flower pot catching water right now.
I have renter's insurance so all of my useless shit is covered (I guess). I moved the stuff I think I might give a shit about (photos, CDs, stereo, DVDs, Xbox, books) but some of it I just can't be bothered. I intentionally left the TV (my soon to be ex-wife's) as I want a new one and this might be my chance. I know I should bother with this stuff now because it will be way less of a bother now than it will be after it gets wet, but I'm lazy. And I'm trying to be optimistic. So drip, drip, drip.
Hopefully my landlord will come do something about it tomorrow but I'm not really sure what can be done with layers of ice and snow on the roof. We'll see. At this point I won't be surprised if the roof caves in while I'm sleeping. It doesn't look that bad yet, but these things generally progress quickly.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Year In Tunes - 2008
I almost forgot about doing my (semi-)annual list of my favorite albums of the year. I feel like I'm one of the only humans still buying albums, but that's neither here nor there. Whatever the fuck that means. Anyway, here goes.
My favorite albums of 2008 (in no particular order):
Local H - 12 Angry Months -- an album done after a miserable break-up (go figure). 12 months. 12 songs. Get it? That considered or not, it's a good album. And even if the album sucked, how can you go wrong with a song title like track 8: "Jesus Christ! Did You See the Size of That Sperm Whale?" Really.
Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt -- this one is questionable to be quite honest. As an album, it's definitely not as good as their previous ones, but it has enough good, catchy shit on it that I still find myself listening to it in the car quite often.
Jimmie's Chicken Shack - Fail On Cue -- JCS came out back in like 1994 and you'd think they'd quit or disappear or start to suck, but they keep grinding it out. They've gotten a bit more mellow I suppose, but haven't we all? Oh, and there's a good cover of "Waiting Room" by Fugazi. I likes.
mc chris - mc chris is dead -- Funny, catchy, funny and good. Some can't get past his voice, but I think it adds to the whole aura. And some legit rappers think mc has skills. (Or is that skillz?) so it's gotta be true then, right?. This album has it all ... including songs about Reese's Pieces, ninjas and feeling old, not to mention a guest appearance by Andrew W.K. What more do you need? Well, there's plenty more too. Get on it.
Mindless Self Indulgence - If -- Offensive to some, funny to me. Original, spazzy electro/punk rock.
Trivium - Shogun -- I don't think I like this one as much as their last two, but it's still some quality metal (even though I don't really buy their toughguy image) and it seems to be growing on me more and more.
Rise Against - Appeal To Reason -- Sometimes they get a bit much with their PETA love and their political stances, but maybe we all need some of that once in awhile. Afterall I don't necessarily have to buy into all of it to like their music. And I like the music so I'll tolerate some attempts at making me eat vegetables. Only vegetables.
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Turbo Ocho -- Eight songs in eight days, plus a bonus three that grew from those eight days. As a indicator of difficulty, I haven't written one legitimate song in 35+ years. Along with that feat, it's actually a really good album. And let's not forget that RCPM are great live. As a matter of fact I just bought myself a Lonely Planet Mexico because I am plotting to go to Mexico to see them in June. Join if you'd like!
Reggie & The Full Effect - Last Stop: Crappy Town -- Is it pop? Is it metal? Is it alternative? I have no fucking idea. I guess it's all of the above plus some piano just to add to the fun. All the songs are named after stops on the NYC subway which is cool (right?). Also, I like how this listens like an album. It's laid out well from song to song to song. Sort of like albums used to be before the advent of "shuffle" and "random" and the ifuckingPod.
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone -- This really is some brutal stuff. I know some people think the masks are corny and the whole "scene" around them might be a bit much for some, but close your eyes you'd never know about that. This has some thrash, some old school metal riffs and some aggression that is hard to come by these days ... with a random, dare I say "ballad"(?) too.
Two that I wish I had listened to enough to judge:
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
Metallica - Death Magnetic
My favorite albums of 2008 (in no particular order):
Local H - 12 Angry Months -- an album done after a miserable break-up (go figure). 12 months. 12 songs. Get it? That considered or not, it's a good album. And even if the album sucked, how can you go wrong with a song title like track 8: "Jesus Christ! Did You See the Size of That Sperm Whale?" Really.
Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt -- this one is questionable to be quite honest. As an album, it's definitely not as good as their previous ones, but it has enough good, catchy shit on it that I still find myself listening to it in the car quite often.
Jimmie's Chicken Shack - Fail On Cue -- JCS came out back in like 1994 and you'd think they'd quit or disappear or start to suck, but they keep grinding it out. They've gotten a bit more mellow I suppose, but haven't we all? Oh, and there's a good cover of "Waiting Room" by Fugazi. I likes.
mc chris - mc chris is dead -- Funny, catchy, funny and good. Some can't get past his voice, but I think it adds to the whole aura. And some legit rappers think mc has skills. (Or is that skillz?) so it's gotta be true then, right?. This album has it all ... including songs about Reese's Pieces, ninjas and feeling old, not to mention a guest appearance by Andrew W.K. What more do you need? Well, there's plenty more too. Get on it.
Mindless Self Indulgence - If -- Offensive to some, funny to me. Original, spazzy electro/punk rock.
Trivium - Shogun -- I don't think I like this one as much as their last two, but it's still some quality metal (even though I don't really buy their toughguy image) and it seems to be growing on me more and more.
Rise Against - Appeal To Reason -- Sometimes they get a bit much with their PETA love and their political stances, but maybe we all need some of that once in awhile. Afterall I don't necessarily have to buy into all of it to like their music. And I like the music so I'll tolerate some attempts at making me eat vegetables. Only vegetables.
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Turbo Ocho -- Eight songs in eight days, plus a bonus three that grew from those eight days. As a indicator of difficulty, I haven't written one legitimate song in 35+ years. Along with that feat, it's actually a really good album. And let's not forget that RCPM are great live. As a matter of fact I just bought myself a Lonely Planet Mexico because I am plotting to go to Mexico to see them in June. Join if you'd like!
Reggie & The Full Effect - Last Stop: Crappy Town -- Is it pop? Is it metal? Is it alternative? I have no fucking idea. I guess it's all of the above plus some piano just to add to the fun. All the songs are named after stops on the NYC subway which is cool (right?). Also, I like how this listens like an album. It's laid out well from song to song to song. Sort of like albums used to be before the advent of "shuffle" and "random" and the ifuckingPod.
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone -- This really is some brutal stuff. I know some people think the masks are corny and the whole "scene" around them might be a bit much for some, but close your eyes you'd never know about that. This has some thrash, some old school metal riffs and some aggression that is hard to come by these days ... with a random, dare I say "ballad"(?) too.
Two that I wish I had listened to enough to judge:
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Those Cows Are Tasty
Last night I, along with two of my co-workers (and former NYCers) took our boss out for a late Christmas present of Morton's Steakhouse. That is some tasty (and pricey) Christmasing.
I had some awesome bread, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Cajun Ribeye Steak and Hot Upside-Down Apple Pie. And of course, some cocktails. All tasty as hell and a great waiter and staff in general.
We followed that up with some beers at Harry Buffalo, where we experienced the worst waitstaff on the planet. I've never had a problem there before, so I don't want to say to avoid the place or anything but last night was pretty awful. The bartender was fine -- quick and friendly -- but the guy that should have been serving our table, didn't. He asked if we'd be eating when we first got there and that was it. His only return visit was to remove our forks/knives and to take the napkin/condiment organizer back to the kitchen. He was useless. Not that we really cared. We are fully capable of walking to the bar and ordering for ourselves, but it just seemed beyond unhelpful to his wallet and the wallets of the bar owners. End rant.
So today I'm going to go try to run off some of that eating, then watch some playoff football ... and pray for some Ravens choking.
I had some awesome bread, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Cajun Ribeye Steak and Hot Upside-Down Apple Pie. And of course, some cocktails. All tasty as hell and a great waiter and staff in general.
We followed that up with some beers at Harry Buffalo, where we experienced the worst waitstaff on the planet. I've never had a problem there before, so I don't want to say to avoid the place or anything but last night was pretty awful. The bartender was fine -- quick and friendly -- but the guy that should have been serving our table, didn't. He asked if we'd be eating when we first got there and that was it. His only return visit was to remove our forks/knives and to take the napkin/condiment organizer back to the kitchen. He was useless. Not that we really cared. We are fully capable of walking to the bar and ordering for ourselves, but it just seemed beyond unhelpful to his wallet and the wallets of the bar owners. End rant.
So today I'm going to go try to run off some of that eating, then watch some playoff football ... and pray for some Ravens choking.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Enter '09
So it's a new year, still the same lacking blog.
Hmmmm, well it's now 2009. Maybe some things will change on the blogging front? One never knows. New Year's was pretty chill. Just a few friends, some board gaming and some drinks/eats. I woke up hangover-free. That's three years running for no hangover January 1st. Amazing.
As for 2008, I guess it went pretty well. I ate a lot of bacon and accomplished my anti-resolution. I made some new friends, kept some old ones and continue to overthink everything. I went to some concerts (Local H, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, mc chris, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Everlast, Hammel On Trial, Rise Against) traveled some (St. Kitts, Seattle, NYC, Cedar Point) watched some some sporting events (Browns vs. Giants, CSU vs. Marist), ran some, rowed some, ate some, drank some, cursed a lot, etc.
Due to various lawyer and other side slowness I continue to be married to someone I have now not laid eyes on and only spoken to on the phone once over the last 19 months. That's not all that awesome for my head or the heads of the people around me. Pain in my ass.
I've now officially been in Cleveland for one year. My original plan was a year and out, but I don't have a plan for the out part yet so here I remain. I'm already four days off schedule for leaving. Late as usual. If it's any consolation, I do plan on getting my resume in order this month and see what happens, but between this crappy economy, my lack of direction and my on again/off again fear of moving somewhere new, my confidence in a change of venue isn't too high. Damn me!
Anyway, hopefully this blogging will get off the ground a bit this year. Maybe.
Hmmmm, well it's now 2009. Maybe some things will change on the blogging front? One never knows. New Year's was pretty chill. Just a few friends, some board gaming and some drinks/eats. I woke up hangover-free. That's three years running for no hangover January 1st. Amazing.
As for 2008, I guess it went pretty well. I ate a lot of bacon and accomplished my anti-resolution. I made some new friends, kept some old ones and continue to overthink everything. I went to some concerts (Local H, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, mc chris, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Everlast, Hammel On Trial, Rise Against) traveled some (St. Kitts, Seattle, NYC, Cedar Point) watched some some sporting events (Browns vs. Giants, CSU vs. Marist), ran some, rowed some, ate some, drank some, cursed a lot, etc.
Due to various lawyer and other side slowness I continue to be married to someone I have now not laid eyes on and only spoken to on the phone once over the last 19 months. That's not all that awesome for my head or the heads of the people around me. Pain in my ass.
I've now officially been in Cleveland for one year. My original plan was a year and out, but I don't have a plan for the out part yet so here I remain. I'm already four days off schedule for leaving. Late as usual. If it's any consolation, I do plan on getting my resume in order this month and see what happens, but between this crappy economy, my lack of direction and my on again/off again fear of moving somewhere new, my confidence in a change of venue isn't too high. Damn me!
Anyway, hopefully this blogging will get off the ground a bit this year. Maybe.
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